On 3/14 we went back to Hammond Stadium to see the Red Sox vs the Twins. It was a nice day but the Twins lost 7-3. The pitching didn't look good. Of course we still had some key players missing, who played in the World Baseball Classic during this game. So we will give them a pass for this one.
Next game: 3/15. Back down to Ft Myers to jetBlue Park at Fenway South. This is the Red Sox new Spring Training home, a lavish edifice that they built for $80M. It is very reminiscent of Fenway with a Green Monster in the outfield.
The seating is even oriented like Fenway - in the outfields sort of at right angles to the way you want to be facing. But the overall architecture is very contemporary and the concourses and concession areas very spacious and accommodating. It is much like a major league regular season park.
Once again the Twins lost, 5-0. Not only did the pitching look bad, but they just can't seem to score runs!
Today (3/17) we went up to Sarasota to see the Twins play the Baltimore Orioles at the Baltimore Spring Training home, Ed Smith Stadium. This is another charming older stadium that has had a pretty major recent renovation. Really nice people both attending and working there. This was recently the Cincinnati Spring Training home until they moved to Arizona and now share a very nice new ballpark with Cleveland in Goodyear.
We have never seen a beer selection like the one offered there. Here is a sandwich board advertising the selection.
Once again the Twins lost, 7-1. Morneau was playing but came up empty. Mauer has returned from the US team (they lost to Puerto Rico and were eliminated), but he was not playing today. Once again, the pitching was not solid and Boggs hit a home run for the Twins only score. It's hard to know how representative this is for the season's potential.
We decided that, on balance for Spring Training, we like the older renovated stadiums to the glitzy new Red Sox park. The older ones have a warmer, more intimate feel, with seating closer to the diamond and the game. Its very "hahd" not to like the Boston fans, though.
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