Spring Training Baseball Town

People, like myself, that live in Florida tend to forget how lucky we are sometimes. The weather is great, the beaches are beautiful and spring brings a lot of action. When I say action, I am not just talking about a bunch of out-of-control partying spring breakers. I am talking about the flurry of spring training facilities we have for Major League Baseball teams. I live in a small town about an hour or so south of Tampa and within five minutes from home I can see Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Evan Longoria, David Price, or BJ Upton. And I don't even have to go to the ballpark. Of course if I want to see them on the field it is pretty easy to get tickets to most games. I can show up early and get something signed or get a chance to talk to some of the big leaguers. But the best place to find these guys, and the most intriguing is around the town.

I think the most fans of baseball, or any sport for that matter, love to see their idols somewhere around town. Maybe they will get a chance to shoot the breeze with them? This week I talked to friends that have seen Manny Ramirez, a new player for the Tampa Bay Rays but a veteran of the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox around town at three different places. My niece said he posed for pictures with some customers and employees of the Pizza Hut she works for. Others have seen him around different shops and restaurants. He happens to renting a home in a golf course community in our little town of 65,000 people. For most of us this is an exciting time of the year. I saw three Rays players just tonight, at a small taco dive I frequent. David Price and BJ Upton were in the group and it took some time for it to register with me. David Price was an Allstar pitcher and BJ has always been one of my favorites for his quickness and base stealing ability. After talking to numerous people about all the players around town it is evident that having them here brings plenty of excitement for sports fans.  I'll never forget hearing from my buddy how he waited on Nolan Ryan at the meat counter of his grocery store.  The Rangers used to play in town at that time.  He talked about it like he had shook the hand of the President.

I do consider myself lucky to live here, so close to so many great baseball teams. We have the Minnesota Twins, the Baltimore Orioles, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees all within an hour of us here and I love it. Then after the spring is over and the teams head back to their homes.  The days get warmer and the humidity climbs to 150%. The snowbirds head back to their northern homes.  the roadsbecome drivable again.  We head to Tampa to see the Rays play for real.  But when spring rolls around again we look forward to seeing Evan Longoria in his flip flops at the Publix grocery store. Who could ask for anything more?