Day 4 Photos

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Greg Maddux started a AAA game for the Padres.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Padres prospect Mitch Canham gets a hit in his only at bat against the Mariners in a AA game.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Mitch Canham takes some time after a game to pose for a picture with Padre fan Andrew Carlson.

Day 4

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Padres are still in Tucson and the Mariners have the day off. My wife Shannon wanted (needed!) a break from our six year old son Andrew to spend some time with her aunt to do some girl stuff, so I have my son with me today. I packed up my gear and Andrew, and we headed out to the ballpark to watch some minor league games. The Padres and Mariners were playing in both AA and AAA games, so I got a chance to shoot both teams at the same time. I got a real surprise when I got out to the fields: Greg Maddux was starting the AAA game for the Padres! This was a real bonus since I am only getting to shoot the Padres twice, and the first time most of the starters were in Bejing, China playing the Dodgers. It was really interesting for me to watch these young players that are on the verge of making the big leagues, playing so hard, and watching all the coaches and scouts around evaluating them. Andrew had a blast talking to the ballplayers and collecting baseballs and autographs. Mitch Canham played late in the AA game and got a hit in his only at bat. He took some time after the game to talk to Andrew and sign a baseball card and ball and take a picture with him. Mitch is a great kid! I look forward to watching his progress over the next few years on his way to the big leagues.

Day 3 Photos

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Ichiro makes a great sliding catch in centerfield against the Brewers.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Matt Tuiasosopo got the start at thirdbase against the Brewers going 2-4.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Tony Gwynn Jr went 2-4 against the Mariners.

Day 3

Monday, March 17, 2008
I arrived at the stadium at 9:00 am and spent some time catching up on photo editing and finally getting the blog posted. I had a few networking problems over the past two days-- my wireless router was not working at our "hotel" (actually my wife’s aunt and uncle’s guest house in Sun City West) and yesterday when I got to the ballpark, I couldn’t connect to the network so things got a little delayed. However, now I am finally caught up. Today, I again caught my faithful shuttle golf cart out to the Padres practice fields. By the time I got out there, things appeared to breaking up, so I missed the morning workouts. I headed to the pressbox to just sit and absorb the atmosphere. It was supposed to be cooler today with a chance of rain, but it was mostly sunny and in the 70’s--perfect weather for baseball. At this time of the morning it is fairly quiet around the stadium. The grounds crew is out mowing and preparing the field for the game and there are some workers cleaning, but overall not much is happening. It is St. Patrick’s Day and both teams wore green caps and the vendors sold green lemonade. Tony Gwynn Jr. was in the lineup today for the Brewers. He went 2-4 today, raising his average to .387 for the spring in 12-31 in 13 games. Could he have got the hitting gene from Dad? I grew up in San Diego, so his dad is one of my all time favorite players. I guess you know you are getting old when your favorite players’ from your youth have kids in the big leagues. The Mariners had a rough day today--the pitchers just couldn’t keep the Brewers off the basepaths, giving up a total of 25 hits. Starting pitcher Carlos Silva gave up 10 runs, nine of them earned on 13 hits in 4.1 innings. His spring ERA is now 9.20 and he is now 0-2 in four starts. The hitters were a little more successful, banging out 10 hits, including Matt Tuiasosopo going 2-4 with a double and Richie Sexson going 2-3 with a homerun.
The Mariners lost to the Brewers 17-3 in Peoria, AZ.
The Padres lost to the Diamondbacks 8-4 in Tucson, AZ.

Day 2 Photos

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

In a minor league game a Mariner player slides safely into third base as the Royals third baseman blocks the ball.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks slides safely into second base as Mariners Jose Lopez takes the throw.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez is 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA, so far this spring in four starts. He has pitched 15.1 innings and given up 13 hits.

Day 2

Sunday, March 16, 2008
I arrived at 9:45 am and again got set up in the pressbox. Today it is partly cloudy and a lot cooler than yesterday, so of course I am dressed for a 95 degree day. I again hitched a ride over to the practice fields on a golf cart; this is becoming a regular thing for me. As I entered the complex I noticed Bill Bavasi (the Mariners General Manager) leaning against a chain link fence, watching the big league workouts. He looked as if he hadn’t slept and shaved in days. He looked up as I approached, so I said, "Good morning, how are you?" He didn’t even acknowledge me, just gave me a look as if to say, "Why are you talking to me?" Maybe his hotel mattress is lumpy or he is just having a bad weekend, but I totally got snubbed. I overheard in the pressbox that the Mariners big wigs were here…..maybe that’s why he’s a bit distracted?? I went over and checked out the Mariners minor league camp and there were two A-level games going on, so I stopped and photographed them for a while. It is hard to know the players since the Mariners do not put names on the backs of their minor league jerseys, and unless you really know the players, it is hard to tell who is who. There is a much larger crowd today than for yesterday’s Padres game. I would guess that more people are here from the Pacific Northwest to escape the cold, rainy weather than people from San Diego leaving warm sunshine to come over to Peoria for more warm sunshine.
Scores:
The Mariners lost to the Brewers 8-4 in Peoria, AZ.

Day 1 Photos

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwwest

An early morning view from the pressbox at Peoria Stadium.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Mitch Canham takes some practice swings before taking batting practice.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

Mitch Canham waits his turn to take batting practice.

Photo by Rob Carlson/Sports Media Northwest

San Diego Padres second baseman Tadahito Iguchi makes a tough throw from his knees after making a diving stop.

Day 1

Saturday March 15, 2008
I arrived at the Peoria Spring Training Complex around 8:00 this morning. The first thing I noticed is that the place is HUGE! I had no idea what to expect, but I didn’t expect this many fields. I began by checking in with both teams and figuring out my logistics so I wouldn’t have to walk too far. The best set up was in the press box, so I caught a ride on a golf cart over to the Padres practice fields. I located Mitch Canham, Lake Stevens High School class of 2003, and was able to shoot a few shots of him while he took batting practice. I introduced myself as he walked from the field to the cages for more swings. He seemed quite surprised that someone from the Lake Stevens Journal was here to cover him. I believe he is in the AA camp but will have to double check that. He said he dresses for the big league game every other day and is usually in the bullpen, but today he was playing in the AA game--not the big league game. He has only had one at bat in a big league game so far this spring. I headed back to the press box to do a little prep work before game time. The sun is shining (it is probably in the 80’s) and baseball music (Kenny Rogers, I am the Greatest) is playing over the intercom. The smell of baseball is in the air: peanuts, popcorn, and hot dogs. What awesome atmosphere! I have been to Spring Training several times when the Padres were in Yuma, the last time being in 1984, but this is my first trip to Spring Training as a part of the media, and wow, there is really nothing like this.
Scores:
The Padres lost to the A’s 9-3 in Peoria, AZ.
The Mariners lost to the Giants 14-8 in Scottsdale, AZ.

Spring Training 2008