Tough break for Kameron Loe.  He has been optioned to AAA Oklahoma City and will not break camp with the Rangers this year.  I know that he will be back up with the big club later in the year.  He had a rough spring and could not avoid the long ball.  One thing about the Rangers pitching staff is that is a very fluid segment of the roster and Kam will no doubt be back up in Arlington soon.  Until then the Snake Pit will be here when he returns.

Go Rangers!

We are home from Surprise and exhausted.  What can I say, it is great fun for the baseball loving fools that we are. 

I have tons of pictures and hope to get some more of them posted soon.  It will take me a while to sort through the 400 or so shots we took.  I have posted some already but we have lots more.

The Rangers staff was great, the players were great, the Surprise complex was great, and the weather was great.  Do you get the idea that I thought it was great?

We are ready for the season to begin.  We are working on where we will have dinner and watch the game Monday when the Rangers open in Seattle.  I sure it will be some place with a large TV and good food.

Go Rangers!

Another great day at Spring Training.  We spent the morning at the practice fields.  It is nice to be able to take part in spring training as fans.  We tried to check out the White Sox in Tucson on Wednesday but security would not let us in.  I guess not all teams allow full access by the fans.  THANK YOU RANGERS!  We are lucky enough sit in the same bleachers as Nolan Ryan or JD and check out the minor league games.  TOO COOL!

Caught the Saturday afternoon game in Peoria against Seattle.  Rough start for Hurley.  He got knocked around pretty good in the first inning, 4 runs and 6 hits.  He regrouped and came back to spread 4 hits and 1 run over the next 4 innings.  Not a bad recovery for the young man.  CJ and Benoit are back and impressive as ever.  Ian and Michael are a great 1-2 punch in the offense.  I think I like the idea of them 1 and 2 in the batting order. 

Note to others, do not sit in the metal bleacher in Peoria on a afternoon game.  Hot, uncomfortable, and squashed in with the strangest people I have sat with in a long time.  We should have sat in the grass in the outfield.  When you are in Arizona and watching baseball in the afternoon, metal bleachers are a very bad idea.  I think I walked out of the game cooked medium well and insane.  The Rangers winning made it bearable though.

Go Rangers! 

It was a FULL day at camp today.  Wow!!  I've got a steady diet of baseball and more baseball.  12 full hours of hit, run, field, pitch, spit, scratch, and bunts.  Drills early in the AM, two minor league games in the afternoon, and a sold out record game for the night cap.  We met Nolan Ryan and got several autographs.  Aubrey played all day with Scott Coolbaughs kids.  I chatted up baseball with all who would hear me.  I even got a couple of Michael Young autographs.  I talked with J.D., Jamey Newberg, Nolan, Sunny, and various other Ranger staff.  Heck I even had a long conversation with the security gaurd at the front gate.

Talked at length with John Rheinecker about his recovery from injury.  We had struck up a friendship with John on the cruise last November and it was good to see him again.  I can only give him all my best and hope he recovers soon from surgery and is back on the bump for us soon. 

Got to visit briefly with Kameron.  I made sure to let him know that Angel is doing in fine.  We are pulling for him to make the final roster cut.  I know that he will.  He is a good pitcher and he should be there opening day. 

I got a big hug from C.J. Wilson.  I haven't seen him since February 1st when I took photos for him and Robert at their Guitar Hero Charity Benifit.

We will do it again tomorrow.  I really enjoy watching the minor league games.  It is great to see the young up and coming players.  It is just awesome to have some many games going on around you with so much talent on all sides.  It is almost overwhelming at all that is going on.

I have posted a few spring training photos on the site and plan on putting up some more later.

If you ever get a chance to come to spring training, I highly recommend it.  There is nothing like it.  It is especially great for the kids.  They get to watch, talk, and hang out with all the players up close and personal.  Great fun!

Well off to bed and back at it tomorrow.

Go Rangers!

Great shot of Byrd.

Not the greatest of bunts. Ended up as a double play.

Great shot of Millwood's delivery. Good day against the Diamondbacks.

We call Ramon The Scribbler because he draws a tribute to his kids and Grandmother every at bat in the dirt.

Josh Hamilton with sign anything any time. He is just great about autographs. Here he stopped his pregame stretching exercises to sign a ball for some kids in the stands.

The Picture says it all.

Kevin Mench grounding out.

Here is Josh on his way to first after a scorching double. The ball was fastest groundball I ever saw. It screamed past the second baseman and into the outfield. The centerfielder was lucky to cut it off before it got to the wall. In the fielder's haste, he bobbled the ball and Hamilton took 3rd on the error. A run scored.

Josh after a very hard out. The fielder was lucky to snag that hit from the air. You can tell how hard it was hit, because Josh is not far from home plate when the out was made. He tosses the helmet cause he knew that one was tagged hard.

We spent a little time at the practice fields this morning before heading to Tucson for the 1pm game against the Diamondbacks.  Millwood had his first start of the Cactus League today and we did not want to miss it.  Millwood's five innings of work was well worth the drive time.  We sat right behind the Rangers dugout and enjoyed the whole game.  Millwood walked off the mound after a 5 inning, 3 hit, 5 strikeout, 1 walk, and zero run performance.  His only shaky inning was the first but he was saved by a wonderful outfield assist by Byrd to cut down the Diamondbacks only threat at home plate.  As sweet it was to watch Millwood, Littleton's one inning was very painful.  Poor Wes did not have a good day at all. 

At the plate the day belonged to Salty and Hank.  Both hit doubles and home-runs.  Josh Hamilton even got in on the party with a blistering ground ball double past second.  Everything thing Josh hit was hard and solid. 

Tomorrow should be even better than today.  We will catch all the minor league games in the morning and polish off the day with a night game against the Angels.

Dinner and bed.  A lot more baseball tomorrow.

Go Rangers!

It's 6:30 AM.  Going to get some breakfast and head out to the practice fields.  Weather this week for those who care, sunny and 85 as far as the eye can see.  I smell the baseball in the air.

Go Rangers!

Finally we are in Arizona.  The Rangers were off today, Wednesday, so we spent our first day hanging out in Tucson.  We watched an epic battle of poor pitching in a 12-12 tie between the Rockies and White Sox.  Thome hit a lazer beam home run to right that cleared the stadium and into the parking lot.  It was a very impressive shot.  I had to get that first game of the year out of the way.  I had my first hot dog, pepsi, and peanuts of the year.  That kicks off six months of ball park food and 15 pounds. 

The next three days, Thursday thru Saturday, will be nothing  but Rangers, Rangers, Rangers.  I have the digital camera and video camera charged up for Josh Hamilton and his legandary batting practice sessions.  Three days of back field minor league games.  Three days of pitcher bunt and pick off drills.  Three days of talking baseball with anyone that I can corner for conversation.  I must have had four or five long conversations with Rockies fans today. 

We will get to see Milton Bradley's debut in Cactus League play this weekend.  I hope he does well. 

It will most certainly be an exciting and exhausting three days.  By the time we get home Sunday, we will be pumped for opening day.  I will consume all the baseball and Rangers I can during this trip.  I cannot wait.

Go Rangers! 

"In the beginning, there was no baseball, but ever since, there have been few beginnings as good as the start of a new baseball season.  It's the most splendid time in sports."  Writer B.J. Phillips

Just a few more days until our trek west to Spring Training.  The California leg of our trip has been canceled but we are still going to Surprise.  In fact we are going to add a few days to the Arizona trip.  I think Tuesday through Saturday should be a great time.  I really do not want to travel on Easter Sunday, but hey sacrifices must be made.

"A hot dog at the ballpark is better than steak at the Ritz."  Actor Humphrey Bogart

As with all Ranger teams, the biggest question coming out of spring will be starting pitching.  It is a broken record that we keep playing over and over again.  It will all hinge on Millwood, Padilla, and Jennings.  So far 2 of the three are performing great.  Hopefully Millwood can get over the hammie and get on track.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock.  You've got to throw the ball over the plate and give the other man a chance."  Orioles manager Earl Weaver

The biggest joy of the spring is Josh Hamilton.  I cannot wait to get to see him play.  Ian, Josh, and Michael are tearing the cover off the ball.  Michael got off to a slow start this spring but now he is on track.  If Hank Blalock can get into a good groove and Laird give us anything better than last year, we should be in good shape offensively.

"Baseball is one of the arts."  Boston's Ted Williams

Defense, Defense, Defense.  With a struggling pitching staff we need better defense.  A good solid defense can make a mediocre pitching staff look good.  The outfield has already been improved over last year.  Laird is an excellent defensive catcher and the infield is in great shape.  Who knows, maybe our pitcher can benefit from the defense this year.  Problem is that there is not defense for the walk or home-run.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."  Writer Roger Kahn

All in all, I feel good about this year.  I do not believe the team is as bad all that.  In fact I think there might be a surprise or two in store for Ranger fans.  It's spring and hope springs eternal.

"Spring is a time of year when the ground thaws, trees bud, the income tax falls due, and everybody wins the pennant.  Writer Jim Murray

Go Rangers!

Just 10 days to go until a little R & R in the sun.  The Snake Pit family will take a nice 10 day vacation over spring break.  Half of that time will be spent in sunny southern California visiting my uncle.  He is a long time employee of The Disneyland park.  I had to give the kids a couple of days at Disneyland and California Adventure so I can get a little time in Surprise with The Rangers.  It will be a great time.  We'll load up The Snake Pit Luxury Conversion Van and make the 20 hour trek to Orange County. We will hit Surprise on the return trip home and spend a few days there taking in all the Baseball I can consume in three days. 

The family road trips have always been the greatest fun for the Snake Pit clan.  The kids sit in back consuming all the DVD, PS2, Music, Books, and sleep they can handle.  My lovely wife, Erin, and I sit up front and pilot the clan to togetherness and fun. 

We have made this trip and many others so many times and yet it never gets boring.  This trip will be bitter sweet.  This will be the first time that our oldest will not be joining us.  She has a life of her own for the most part.  College, work, boyfriend, and being a young adult has her going in another direction this time.  I will have to enjoy this trip because now I realize that the kids are growing up and soon there will be fewer on these little treks.  Before long it will be just Erin and I adventuring alone like we did when we started out 20 years ago.

We will take in three games in Arizona.  I look forward to seeing a little baseball.  It is long overdue and needed.  The sights, sounds, and smells of the game will be greatly appreciated.  I want to hear the sound Josh Hamilton's bat makes on the ball.  I need to feel the hot sun on my face, see graceful sight of a Young, Kinsler, Brousard double play.  Soak it all in and satisfy the need for a little baseball.  This should hopefully keep me until April 8th.  A little fun and sun before the long season begins.  A vacation before the real fun begins.  It just can't get any better that this.

Go Rangers!