My Spring Training Trip

[Mueller11]

I'm a little behind in posting about my trip. But here it is.

 

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We arrived on Thursday (3/3) and when we got in the park Billy was in the batting cages. While my friend Lisa continued on I stayed by the batting cages. When Billy came out I yelled "Hey Billy". He looks up, with a huge smile and waves and says "Hey, your everywhere".

 

Friday we again got there for batting practice. I had on my new white Mueller jersey. When I saw Billy I showed it to him and he gave me a thumbs up. I asked him if he would sign it and he said he would later. That was fine. So later I'm standing by the main walkway watching the game. Next to me is an older couple. Down the ways a little I see a guy with a jeter jersey on. So I made the comment it should be burnt. Well the older gentleman next kindly says to me 'Now, now don't be bitter'. A few minutes later the older gentleman says "Billy's coming out". So, of course, I got see. That's when I see the older couple I was standing next to go greet Billy. It was his parents. It was his father who told me not to be bitter. As I saw Billy leaving I was giving him a hard time about not yet signing my jersey. He promised he would. I told him I was there til Tuesday. I told him I wasn't going to promise that was the only thing I'd have him sign but he was probably use to that by now. He just smiled and said that's fine. We went back and forth for a few minutes. I also told him I had something for him but wasn't sure how I would get it to him. He thought I had it with me so he told me to give it the Millar.

 

Saturday there was no game but we decided to go anyway and see who was there. I had bought a World Series pennant to have the players sign. I had already gotten Bellhorn and Dinardo and while there got Timlin and Embree. Later Billy also drove out and I got my picture taken with him. When he stopped I said "Hey Billy". He says "Hey How's it going?" I told him I had brought what I had for him with me in case I saw him. He reached out and I gave it to him. He then took my jersey and signed it. He signed for everyone that was there. Later I went to go get my pennant. I had left it in the bag I had given Billy. Oops. LOL I ended up going to buy a hat for others to sign.

 

The day before we left I was able to let Billy know that I had accidently left the pennant in the bag I had given him. He said he'd bring it to me the next day. But the next morning it was raining so there was no batting practice and I only saw him as he was leaving so wasn't able to get it from him. I guess I'll just have to write him and have him either sent it to me or I can get it from him at Fenway.

 

We made friends with one of the security guards, Jay. He drove us to the airport. Really nice guy. When it was time to clear the park out after a game he'd say ok everyone has to leave, especially you two troublemakers. Then he'd say he'd escort us out. Hopefully he'll make it up to Boston sometime this season so we can meet up with him for a game.

 

It was a great time. Was hard to come home. The guys looked great.

 

Here's my favorite pic from the trip. Me and Billy.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/muellerdamon1118/meandbilly.jpg

[yankeessuck013]

seems like you got to be good friends with Billy too, as well as the security guard

[Sox fan in Tex]

Glad your back safely. Sounds like it was a great spring training experience for you. One day I'll have to get down there for some games, sounds like everyone who has gone has loved it....

[Mueller11]

seems like you got to be good friends with Billy too, as well as the security guard

 

 

I love the fact that he knows who I am. I figured he might recognize me but when he actually did I thought it was pretty cool.

 

He really is a great guy. It was fun to be able to talk to him a few times while down at ST.

[Mueller11]

Glad your back safely. Sounds like it was a great spring training experience for you. One day I'll have to get down there for some games, sounds like everyone who has gone has loved it....

 

Thanks. We did end up getting back a day later than expected. Flight was cancelled due to storm in Boston. Sleeping in airport...Not Fun.

 

You have to get to ST someday. It is a great time. This was my first year and as you can tell I had a blast. You usually see the same people everyday so you really can make some nice friends.

 

Here's a link to more pictures. Enjoy.

 

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/usmcsister1974/album?.dir=83c5&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

[Manny24]

Me and my friend Zach (SchillingouttheKs) went down to spring training for a couple games, and I have to say everyone is a lot more relaxed and they look like their having fun at Spring Training. City of Palms Park is probly one of the nicer ST stadiums Ive been to, located ina bad part of Fort Myers though, but beautiful stadium (I especially LOVE the lemonade) My grandfather is pretty good friends with John Henry, and he got us season tickits right behind the Visitors dug-out. When I saw Adam Dunn i yelled to him "Your on my fantasy team!!! He smiled went to the plate and smacked a 2-run homer.

[DOrtiz4prez]

I went to 4 of the games: Here's my trip. It's not as cool as her's though. I mean, she's like friends with Bill. That's crazy.

 

First, I took a plane out of Logan to Philly. It got off really late so I missed my flight to Ft. Myers that night so I had to stay at a cheap hotel for the night. The amazing thing is, that I was on the same plane as 50 cent. You guys know him right? He had 3 huge bodyguards and a whole posse. His girlfriend might have been Olivia from Candy Shop but I don't know. It was weird that he was on a regular flight and not a private jet.

 

I finally got there at about 9 oclock on March 3rd. My hotel was amazing. Just off the Gulf of Mexico. It costed an arm and a leg though. I finally got to go to opening night that night. I was stuck in huge traffic so I only got there about 45 minutes early. I didn't get any autographs or anything. My friend got Kevin Millar though. They played the Twins and won. My seats were behind the plate but a ton of rows up.

 

The next day had 2 games. One vs BC and another vs Northeastern. The day game vs Northeastern was great because I had seats that were front row directly behind home plate. Wake pitched and most of the starters played. I got Lenny Dinardo and Adam Stern's autograph. They won the game 17-0!

 

At the night game vs BC I had dugout box seats. I got Trot's autograph before the game. I got some great pictures too. Hanley and Youk kept coming over to me in the dugout box seats and talking to me. Hanley is really nice. They won that game too.

 

It was time for my very last game, vs the Phillies. I got Jerry Remy's autograph and spoke to him a little. He was eating his lunch. My friend got Jimmy Rollin's autograph too. The Phillies seem like a really good team to me. They played pretty well offensively. But pitching was Randy Wolf and he did terrible. He had a ton of earned runs in just a few innings. They ended up winning that game.

 

They went 4-0 in the 4 games I went to. I must be their good luck charm. Phillies seem like an underrated team but the Sox played amazing. It looks like a repeat.

[Mueller11]

We were at the same games. Guess we brought them luck huh?

[mosox]

I got to two games, both against the Orioles, one in Fort Myers and one in Fort Lauderdale. The Sox didn't play well in both games, but it didn't matter, it's spring and we were having too much fun talking aboutlast season.

[element1151]

I wish I could go to ST, but the trip to either Arizona, or Florida is hard during school.

[yeszir]

Looks like you had fun, and awesome that you got to talk to Mueller on multiple occasions.