San Francisco Giants Extended Spring Training--Zito sighting!

This morning we planned to go to a "matinee" of Midnight in Paris at the only theatre in the metro area showing it--in Scottsdale. We arrived in town early, and I asked my husband if he wanted to stop at Indian School Park to see if the Giants were out and about. Last year we saw an extended spring training game (I think it was in Peoria) at 10:30 in the morning. When we arrived at Indian School, we saw action on two fields: the Giants were on one, and the A's were on the other. It was only about 10:15, so we took some photos and wandered about. One of the Giants personnel threw two baseballs over the fence to Tracy. He wasn't inclined to share (or at least not share right away...), so one of the A's players threw me two baseballs. Woo hoo and thank you very, very much, whoever you were!! I was remarking something about the fact that the A's players didn't have names on their jerseys and the numbers on them were in the relatively high numbers. I reminisced aloud that I laughed the first time I saw Barry Zito on the field at spring training many years ago--"#75?? He probably won't make the team". Just as those words came out of my mouth, who should appear on the mound in his high socks but Barry Zito. We watched him pitch an inning. He allowed one hit, threw at least one pitch "just a bit outside" and tried some pickoff moves. No one scored though, so all was well, and we left for our movie, wondering at the serendipity of it all.

Tucson Padres--former Portland Beavers

On Memorial Day, we headed south to Tucson to see the Arizona's newest (and only) minor league team. The Portland Beavers

have suddenly become the Padres until 2013 when a new stadium in Escondido is ready for them. (Their stadium in Portland was made into a soccer only facility).

It was Family Night sponsored by radio station KIIM, who offered four tickets along with a hot dog and soda for each ticketholder for a total of $20--or as the announcer emphasized, a $66 value. Although there were only two of us, we purchased the four ticket pack and received behind the plate tickets. Directly behind the plate, in fact. We were in scout territory with at least five speed guns and a camera within a row or two. These seats normally sell for $10.50 so we were already ahead by $1, even before the hot dogs(4) and sodas (4).

We got photos of Friar the Mascot, and some of the wacky between inning fan entertainment. The hamster ball bowling was my personal favorite!

The Padres lost to the Salt Lake Bees 7-2, despite Jeremy Moore's strike out hat trick. Cole Armstrong was their hero, hitting two home runs.

We had heard about the Padre's Anthony Rizzo since he was named offensive player of the month. Sadly, he didn't do anything particularly impressive--he was 1 for 4 with a double. I recognized Will Venable as recently being with the parent club, but he struck out twice--his one for four was a single.

A foul ball landed one row in front of us and almost hit some teenager who was texting when it bounced. She was very lucky it didn't hit her in the face. The guy in charge of the musical selections erred when he started playing "Day-O" when the other team was at bat (and yes they scored). Although this is their inaugural season, there were quite a few people at Kino Stadium (formerly Tucson Electric Park)--nearly 3,500 people. That's a lot of hot dogs!