Spring Training Trip
March 15 to 20, 2023
At long last, after missing 2021 and 2022 due to COVID, we were able to take the scenic drive to Phoenix and hang out with good friends, have tailgate parties, and also squeeze in a few Padres Spring Training games.
We arrived at the Springhill Suites on Bell road after a long drive in our rented (a long story) VW Atlas. It was a great vehicle with plenty of room of all of our tailgate equipment.
Our first game was Thursday, the 16th and it didn't even include the Padres. We elected to see the Mariners vs. Giants rather than trek across town to see the Padres.
Here we are with Dave and Wendy. We've been friends for 40 years and now that Dave has retired, he has time for the more important things in life.
This is our spot in the far corner of the parking lot. It brings back lots of great memories of spending time with the Thompson clan. The horseshoe pits are still visible here and I still have a moment of silence at the site of Pedro the Cactus Man's final resting place. We missed Tom and Patty, Neal and Mary, the Thompson kids and cousins and all the friends and family that have joined us over the years.
On the other hand, we had a great weekend with our long-time friends Dave and Wendy, Doug and Karen, and other good friends I'll introduce later.
Our seats for this game were down the 3rd base line just past the end of the netting, so we had to stay awake and be mindful of foul balls.
There isn't a bad seat in the stadium
Me, Dave, and an unknown Mr. Grumpy
We were four rows from the field, close enough to yell at the umps.
Post game/pre-dinner refreshments
Doug and Karen arrived Thursday afternoon in time to join us for a nice dinner at Black Angus. Not sure what's so funny here. It may have something to do with Lorri taking over vacuuming duties from the busboy.
We had some issues at the end of the dinner - too much to delve into here - but nothing serious. All is well that ends well.
Friday, March 17th. St. Patrick's Day!
Irish Whiskey and Guinness! St. Patrick would have been proud!
We also had corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, tater tots, slaw, more Guinness, desserts and all sorts of stuff of which I forgot to take photos. Dang, must have been due to the Irish Whiskey!
Had sort of our "B" team going except for Tatis, Snell, and maybe Carpenter and Nola. Still fun to watch, though. For instance, the 19-year-old SS, Jackson Merrill has been tearing it up this Spring! Will we see him in the bigs in a couple years?
We were a little late getting into the stadium.
View from our seats!
Fernando getting loose in the on deck circle.
Section 104, as I recall. Selfie looking right.
Selfie looking left
The Friday night group at the end of the game...sort of
Stephanie and Chad along with Steph's daughter Sydney and her boyfriend Cody were a section over and a few rows down. They joined our tailgate the next morning.
View of the stadium as we made our way toward the exit
Saturday morning tailgate.
Chad, Cody, Stephanie, Dave, Wendy, Lorri, Doug, Karen
Same people minus Lorri, plus me.
We (Stephanie, Lorri, Dave, Doug and me) all worked at Hunsaker and Associates for many, many years. (OK, some of us not quite as many) We're all retired except for Steph, who has a few more years.
It was a beautiful mostly sunny day!
Heaven on earth! Donuts!
The chefs at work!
Here I am with my friends Bruno and Nancy. The three of us were roommates for a year or two waaaaaay back in the mid-seventies when we lived in Norristown, PA. Bruno is a fellow Penn State alum and they now live here in AZ, a couple miles from the Peoria Sports Complex. Great to see them!
And the crowd keeps pouring in! On the left are Jill and Chris, then Carol and Dan Smith. Dan is another long-time H&A employee, and Jill is Dan and Carol's daughter. In the middle is Lori and Bob, good friends of Doug and Karen and Joe Gerardi!
The Group Video: Saturday.MOV
Another shot with me in it but not Jill and Chris.
Got the "A" team going today! Should be fun!
Soto should see some good pitches this year. I don't think pitchers will be anxious to walk him to get to Manny. As a lefty he should also benefit from the new rule eliminating the infield shift.
Manny will also benefit by having this guy batting behind him.
Down 5-0 to start, the Pads turned it on in the later innings! The fans were happy!
Dinner at Chili's. Margaritas!
Quesadillas! It was quite a day!
On Sunday, Doug and Karen left for Sedona. Dave, Wendy, Lorri and I drove across town to Sloan Park, Spring home of the Chicago Cubs. This is us at our tailgate. Literally.
Photo op to prove where we were.
Sloan Park is much bigger than the Pads facility but still has a cozy Spring Training feel. Supposedly it is reminiscent of Wrigley with the brick back stop but no ivy on the outfield wall.
Pretty good seats on the first base side.
We had Chicago dogs! Delicious! A little messy to eat, though.
Harry Caray sings: HarryCarey.MOV
You can say one thing for Cubs fans - they have traditions!
Looking in from the cheap seats.
Lorri and Wendy discussing the Padres chances to make it to the WS. Personally, I'm not holding my breath. If they get that far, great. No matter, it's going to be fun to watch and see how the season progresses. Go Pads!
We left Monday. Here is a shot of the beautiful desert scenery somewhere along I-8 in AZ.
Here's a highway video: Homeward Bound.MOV
The last ten times we've been to Spring Training we've all autographed a baseball to commemorate the occasion. Each year has been different but they all have been a lot of fun! This year was no exception. The best part is not the baseball, the weather, or even the tailgate parties. The best part this year and every year is hanging out with good friends! Cheers to all and go Padres!