Sunshine State
Allowed myself to sleep in this morning, blowing off the 6:00 wake-up call and getting up at 7 instead. While I made it to Mets camp yesterday in time to hear Pedro Martinez needle Roger Clemens, I did so in long sleeves and jeans, having flown in from Washington. Today will mark my true indoctrination to the wonder that is spring training.
It's my favorite time of year, work-wise. We get great weather, nights off (generally) and more freedom to pick our subject matter than during the regular season, which is obviously shaped by the games.
Given our New York readership, there's not enough compelling storylines to merit a trip to Arizona this year, so I'll spend the next few weeks in Florida _ mostly with our two locals, but perhaps with some bouncing around to other camps.
Sadly, I've never been to Vero Beach. Maybe I'll find my way over there to check in with Joe Torre, before the Dodgers head West forever. For now, however, for those of you making your way down or contemplating such a trip, here are my thoughts on the other Florida locales:
St. Peterburg (Rays): Beautiful hotels, and a great, old-school ballpark that should generate positive memories for old-time Mets fans. Nothing to dislike here. Unfortunately, they'll soon be leaving here for disgusting Port Charlotte. Grade: A
Tampa (Yankees): While I know people in my business who will disagree, I enjoy Tampa for its convenience (the airport is 10 minutes from the ballpark - still struggling with that new name), its central location in the state and its abundance of amenities in both the dining and shopping arenas. Grade: A
Clearwater (Phillies): Love the beach area, and the new ballpark is pretty nice, too. Grade: A-
Fort Lauderdale (Orioles): Great city, perhaps the best of all Florida spring training sites. Horrible stadium, although they're trying to get the funds for upgrading it, and it's far, far away from all opponents. Grade: A-
Lake Buena Vista (Braves): Your stance on Disney World will dictate your feelings of this place, since it's located right on campus. The ballpark is highly regarded enough to have hosted big-league games (the Rays played Texas in a three-game series last year) and World Baseball Classic action. Grade: B+
Jupiter (Cardinals and Marlins): No major complaints here. Nice new facility, and pretty close (about 15 minutes) to Palm Beach International Airport. Grade: B.
Lakeland (Tigers): After spending four years in Michigan for college, I can appreciate the charms that Joker Marchant Stadium offers to Tigers loyalists. You can buy Little Caesars pizza _ which makes sense, since Tigers owner Mike Ilitch owns the pizza company _ and daily copies of the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. Nothing much better than chain restaurants in the surrounding area, but what's wrong with chain restaurants? Grade: B
Port St. Lucie (Mets): For years, I heard horror stories from veteran writers about "Port St. Lousy" and "Port St. Lonesome." But since coming here in 2005, I've had no major beefs. Both the town and the ballpark _ and, I suppose, the Mets themselves _ have benefited from upgrades. Grade: B
Sarasota (Reds): The Reds might move out of here, but that speaks more to finances than the area itself, which is fine. Grade: B
Bradenton (Pirates): More than anything else, it smells like oranges here, thanks to this. Who doesn't love oranges? But not much of interest, otherwise. Grade: B-
Winter Haven (Indians): A charming, old-school ballpark (so old-school, however, that it didn't have wireless Internet access as of last year for hacks like myself) with pleasant crowds. Pretty surrounding area. Grade: B-
Dunedin (Blue Jays): Profoundly unmemorable in all regards. At least it's close to Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Grade: C
Kissimmee (Astros): The surrounding area is pretty gross. The ballpark is serviceable. Sort of close to Disney, at least. Grade: C-
Fort Myers (Red Sox and Twins): Someone please explain to me what I'm missing here. I find this to be one of the more dreadful places in the country. How does it support an international airport? Naples, which is 45 minutes away and quite nice, must have more rich people than I realize. The two ballparks are good enough, but otherwise, it's a hellhole. Grade: D-
Viera (Nationals): The absolute pits. Terrible ballpark, terrible area, terrible team. Only for die-hard Nats fans. Grade: F
UPDATE: Okay, I'm at Space Coast Stadium as I type _ it's Saturday, at about 1:00 _ and this has become less awful since my last visit in 2000. They've built up the town a little bit. So I'll change the grade to a D+.
Feedback, as always, is encouraged. Have a great weekend.
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Comments (16)
Ken- Too bad no one has weighed in on your Florida travel guide today. So I just felt like keeping your "comment streak" alive. That's all.
Did you bring your metal dectector and have your 430pm dinner?
How about your lifeline in case you fall and cannot get up?
Now you know why teams are moving spring training to Arizona!!
Thanks, Jon! Pity comments count the same as any others!
Pedro is a loser. How do we know he didn't do steroids? We know for a fact it's even easier for Latin players to get steroids and that they have been continually busted for using it -- and they are not always illegal in their countries. Every small pitcher gets the excuse of being small, but why did Pedro's velocity disappear? Even before he totally broke down, his velocity went from peak years of 97 down to 91-93. He also lost his dominance overnight, incidentally when they first started testing players. (Billy Wagner is a small guy, but he still throws 95-97.)
Here's the bottom line: you could shoot some AAA pitcher -- Brian Lawrence, say -- and he's not going to be Roger Clemens or Pedro Martinez. Also, no matter how many steroids Clemens did, he was still probably the hardest-working pitcher in baseball. It was his commitment to fitness that kept him active as a pitcher. Not steroids. Look at the steroid users -- Canseco, Giambi, McGwire, Caminiti -- do you see a common theme? They all fell apart -- their joints disintegrated on them. Bonds, too. Clemens had injuries, but never the ones you think of when talking about steroids.
I'm not saying Clemens didn't do 'roids, but to say his accomplishments are in question is absurd. Steroids won't win you a Cy Young. They simply won't. It's like tweaking an engine to make it work harder, but it doesn't CREATE the engine that exists already.
Take a look at the guys who presumably did 'roids. There's no a Bonds or Clemens among them. Those guys are just naturally great. And in the case of Bonds, his steroids were too good and his ego too big: it was too obvious he was juicing.
Ken two questions to ask:
Andy Pettitte, Dan Naulty and Paul Byrd seem to have gotten a free pass because they were religious/born again. Why?
If you believe some estimates, 50% of players were using some illicit substances. According to Don Fehr, about 80% of players are very religious. Compare those numbers and you will see that a significant portion of the devout players are "cheaters". Should it make a difference whether they act like Bonds or act like the local reverend in their punishment or treatment in the press?
Pettittee- how will he be treated by other players? They respect his ability, but know that he tells his wife everything and was a source against a fellow player.
RMT, I hardly think Paul Byrd has gotten a free pass. Naulty is too irrelevant to be judged one way or the other. Pettitte, I agree, has gotten very positive press.
As for how Pettitte's fellow players treat him, I am curious, myself. I think you can speculate on that with a greater base of knowledge than can I.
Byrd was ambushed by Mitchell, but served no punishment - the entire team was sandbagged by the Red Sox director! Recent pieces on Herges and Hill also give the holy rollers a pass.
I know you are a non-Godfather fans, but I feel Pettitte will be initially trated like Fredo by Michael - you're dead to me now - and by the all-star break if he's pitching well all will be forgiven. The bogger issue will be his wife. Inter-wife competition and agita can ruin any team. Mrs. Pettittie will not be welcome for the rest of Andy's days, as the other wives will not say anything in her presence.
Can you ask Pedro, who bashed Clemens today, why he spent the winter working out with Nao Presinal, who was caught with steroids in 2001 (as mentioned in the enclosed link?). The Mets supposedly had no knowledge of this?
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/2006/07/30/2006-07-30_bag_men__gonzalez___trainer_.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2763231
I hate that loser Roger Clemens. Pedro for president!
Hey Ken.
It's 7:25 PM so you've probably finished your 'early bird meal' and watching Matlock in the hotel room.
On a more serious note, I heard rumors that Duaner Sanchez is 100% healthy. Should we expect big things (8th inning perfection) from him?
Enjoy your time in the Sunshine State.
~Howard
Sanchez looks good, Howard - pretty slim. Randolph said today that Sanchez is 100% healthy, but that they would nevertheless take him along slowly in spring training. In his news conference today, Willie called Sanchez a "big key," and I very much agree with that.
I love cheesy TV, but "Matlock" is just too boring for me. I'll take "Murder, She Wrote" over that any day of the week.
10:00 PM so you've been sleeping for 3 hours. I'm sure after Angela Lansbury's detective work, you placed your white shoes under the bed and will be rising at 6 for a prune danish.
Question, why is Orlando Hernandez ahead of Maine and Perez in the rotation? Shouldn't it be: Santana, Maine (yes, ahead of Martinez), Perez, Martinez and Hernandez?
Just a thought.
~H
I don't think anyone is placing El Duque higher than the fifth starter's slot. Pedro gets the number two spot because of everything he has accomplished, and everything that Maine and Perez have yet to accomplish.
My bet on the Mets' opening rotation, assuming good health, is Santana-Martinez-Maine-Perez-Hernandez. El Duque can be skipped the first time though, setting up Pedro for the home opener on April 8.
Ken,
Having visited both the east and west coasts of Florida in the last few years, let me share a few thoughts on the ballaparks and their amenities.
Holman Stadium, which for the first half of March will host the Dodgers for the final time, is small, intimate and charming. You sit amazingly close to the action. You have to be touched by seeing the street signs with the surnames of Dodger icons. Bring a camera to capture it the campus while it's still Dodgertown. (If you'd like to see a charming night time view at Holman Stadium, check the bottom story on my website -- mikemccann.blogspot.com).
Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter serves the flat-out best hot dog in any major or minor league park. You MUST try a Dean dog. It's a thick, juicy, grilled Chicago style dog properly surrounded by grilled onions and peppers. Good sightlines, as well.
As befitting the winter home of Canada's team, Dunedin's Knology Park, during our 2002 visit, served that fine Canadian beer on tape and Milwaukee-grade sauasages as well hot dogs.
Based on last winter's visit Tradition Field gets the award as Florida's most improved ballpark.Brighter atmosphere, nicer amenities and excellent parking (it might currently have more usable spaces than Shea).
Hey Ken.
LOL on your column re: discussing 'Clemens mangled the English Language.' But as this reader points out, 'irregardless' is a word too but no one uses it; the proper usage is 'regardless.'
(Sticking up for my man KD)
~Howard
Thanks for the love, Howard, and Mike, thanks for the tips. I'm biased, but I'd recommend everyone check out spring training at least once.
Clemens learned to speak from the same school as our dear bozo George W. Bush!