My bags aren’t packed, I’m not ready to go (yet)…
I finally made my spring training plans and am ready short of reserving the rental car and getting a photo credential (Is anybody out there? –Pink Floyd). Once I get those tasks done, all I have to do is sit and wait until March 18th arrives and I board a plane for Tampa. Yes, Tampa. It was cheap and since I arrive on an off day, I get to spend it with my best friend from high school who I haven’t seen in 5 years, before driving across the very narrow state to my (cheap) hotel near Viera. I’m okay with that. Heck, we used to drive across to Daytona on a whim. I may be older, but I can still hack it.
Initially, I thought I would get five games in during my visit, thus almost assuring a glimpse of (and of course opportunity to photograph) Stephen Strasburg, provided he’s still in big league camp by that point. But since I leave on the 23rd and a night game is scheduled against Detroit, I won’t make it to five. Darn airlines not having flights out around midnight! So I’m down to four. I still thought odds were good. Then Mark Zuckerman reported today that Strasburg will only pitch at home games in Viera. Ok, one of my games is on the road, so scratch that. And then there were three.
But wait, he’s slated to debut on March 9th. So if you extrapolate that out, his third time out would be March 19th! Woo, that’s my first game! So… keep your fingers crossed. Even if the stars don’t align, I’m sure I’ll get other great stuff. I mean really, Strasburg is not the only Nat in Viera, FL. Just the one generating the most buzz at the moment.
Oh yeah, and as Mark points out, that would put him on schedule to make the opening day start at Potomac for those of you who bought the plan that was the topic of my last post!
