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TRAVELING Magazine

Turned out that Castro run-scoring slide image was indeed my favorite, as I could not see any other image working for the cover of my image-only-no-text TRAVELING Magazine.

Talking Stick

Loved the new ballpark at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, home of both the Rockies and the Diamondbacks. My last night in Arizona, I took in a game there between those teams. I did get a few game action shots, but none better than this shot of security guard on duty and this shot of the bullpen catcher after warming up the starting pitcher. I think I will call this picture "Warrior."

Son of an Analyst

In the late innings, Cub minor league catcher Mike Brenly got an at bat and a chance to catch a couple of innings. Brenly is the son of Cub analyst Bob Brenly.

Earlier in the game, SS Starlin Castro scored with a nice slide and I managed a closeup shot that might be the shot of the week.

One More Day

On my third day of baseball, I was able to watch Kerry Wood taking some time fielding grounders around 1B, and then during the game I saw hard-hitting Anthony Rizzo show that he can play some strong defense. Here he is running straight out into RF for the catch.

Lineup Changes

I still keep a scorecard for every game and have them all filed, beginning with the 1959 season. As such, I tend to love the spring training lineup changes where future big leaguers get an inning or two to make an appearance and try to turn some heads. Today these two Cubs are assigned to Iowa and Tennessee, but before this year is over, Jackson should be in CF. If all goes right, a year later Szczur will join him. For those two to join Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro in the regular lineup would be the most powerful homegrown Cub lineup in my lifetime. And remember, I have 53 years worth of scorecards in that collection!

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Long Home Run

Cub prospect Anthony Rizzo looks like a future star and by my calendar, he should be in Chicago playing 1B every day by Labor Day at the latest. Hopefully earlier. Here he hits his first HR in a Cub uniform an estimated 460 feet over the bullpen and on top of a restaurant. A massive shot. The Giants RF never moved, never even looked.

Back at the Ballpark

After the morning at the minor league camp, it was back to the ballgame as the Cubs visited the Giants. Chris Volstad was the starting pitcher, and prospect Josh Vitters played third base.

Future Trips?

Driving from the Cubs ballpark to the Giants home stadium, I came across a location I had read about. Riverview Golf Course, filled with golfers was about to close . . . three days after I left, it was finished with golf. This is the future spring home of the Chicago Cubs. Start counting practice areas and you will see a huge difference from their current situation. The sign suggests a 2013 opening, but I expect to have it be ready by 2014.

Famous Name

A mid-round 2011 draft choice, Trevor Gretzky is working on earning a first base/outfield spot in the Cubs system. During the drill I saw, he was not asked to throw the ball, but just toss it to a teammate, but he looked smooth near first in fielding grounders or taking throws. Certainly one of the more famous athletic names in the Cub system, Trevor is the son of hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

Future Pitchers

Up close, two future Cub pitchers working out at the minor league camp. Rob Whitenack is listed among the top prospects for the team, and lefty Gerardo Concepcion was working out only three days after signing his first professional contract. Concepcion was a star on the Cuban National team a year ago.

Jeff Samardzija fires a fastball on his way to earning a spot in the 2012 Cubs' rotation, while Starling Castro avoids an interfering slide while try to turn a double play. The runner should be within reach of second base but he is trying to slide into Castro. The umpire could well have called the interference and it would have been a double play, though this is rarely called.

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Arizona Dreaming

Future Cub IF Junior Lake, soon to be on the major league roster, rips a line drive. A few innings later, three young ballplayers watch and wait for their turn. I see stardom coming for Rizzo and Szczur (pronounced 'Caesar.')

Old and Young

OF Brett Jackson, soon to be a young Cub star, races for second after a solid hit. Three batters later, veteran LF Alfonso Soriano blasts a line drive off the scoreboard.

Hope Springs Eternal

Hope Springs Eternal, and Cub fans follow hope to the Sonoran Desert to see the new season as a tiny seedling. Three games in three days and a nice collection of photography. Here we see P Paul Maholm and 1B Bryan LaHair.

Travel Week

Yogi #2

Yogi Berraism

Travel Week

SUNDAY POSTER: BASEBALL

Big Shot

My favorite photo from the recent hockey game is trailing the shooter, who has just launched the puck at the goal. Lots of action at the local hockey arena!

Nice Save

Traffic in front yielded the deadly tip shot but this time the Everblades got the spot on a quick glove save.

Traffic Out Front

The Express put plenty of traffic in front of the net, resulting in a pair of rebound scores.

Faces

Hockey seats on the glass yield that close-in look at the facial expressions of the players which cannot be seen from higher up. Watching hockey players skate, you see smooth and easy at high speed. You still see that kind of skating down here, but the faces show how tough it is. Not easy.

Thought for the Day . . .

Everblades

Florida Everblades, stickhandling and leaping over the wall on a line change.

Ten Minute Ride

Well into the second period of a scoreless hockey game, the Express RW tallied from close in, jumped for joy, and skated by the bench fiving the teammates while riding the hockey stick. It was a long ride; the lower picture shows his reaction to a 10-minute misconduct penalty. Jumping and fiving are OK but this was considered taunting!

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A very old quotation, but with great relevance to what passes for political discourse in our modern world.

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