Better than autographs

In the grand scheme of things, getting autographs really isn't all that important. There are times, like last Saturday night, when it's more important to just sit back and enjoy the moment. Besides, you never know what will happen.

Sure, an hour-long rain delay before a Florida State League game between the Tampa Yankees and Dunedin Blue Jays was a bit of a factor to keep the Sharpies and ballpoint pen tucked away. I didn't want to expose any baseballs or cards to the elements. So, too, was that we've hounded both the Blue Jays and Yankees this season.

As the 2010 Summer of Baseball nears its end, it was time to simply be a fan. I didn't want to spend an inning trying to identify unfamiliar signatures scribbled on a baseball. I didn't want to think about where Colin and I would have to go, at game's end, to snag a handful of signed cards. All I wanted to do was watch a baseball game -- all nine innings -- and enjoy an evening with the family.

Before the game, as well as the rain delay, I found that I wasn't the only one with that goal in mind. Minutes before the Dunedin Stadium gates opened, I gave away some of our remaining ticket vouchers. A pair went to a couple who made the trip to Dunedin to cheer on the Yankees. Their trip, however, has far longer than a ride from Tampa. In fact, it started in Nebraska.

The Vendittes, Pat Sr. and Janet, were attending the game to watch a son, Pat Jr., possibly pitch in the game. Some of you may have heard of Pat Venditte Jr. , as he's an ambidextrous pitcher, something of a rarity in baseball.

As you would expect, the parents are very proud of their son. Even if the FSL is only at the Advanced-A level, it still must be something to watch a child, even if he's an adult, perform in a professional setting. Before the game, I spent time talking with Pat Sr., soaking up his stories about his son, his career and living in Nebraska.

During the game, The Missus and Colin walked over to the Vendittes and gave them a couple of FSL balls that we'd brought to the game. Their souvenirs, however, got better. Pat Jr. entered the game in the seventh inning and, ultimately, earned his fourth win of the season.

After the game, we saw the Vendittes. Their smiles, understandably, were a mile wide.

Nice job

You have to give the Tampa Yankees staff a well-deserved round of applause for salvaging what could have been a bad night. A band of strong thundershowers soaked George M. Steinbrenner Field, rendering the outfield unplayable in the eyes of the umpires, on the Florida State League club's pre-Fourth of July Night.

Rather than sending fans home damp in disappointment, the team had the players line up across two dugouts for an autograph session, allowing fans to easily work a team item. In Colin's case, it was 21 autographs (albeit in three different inks) on his seventh team ball of the 2010 Summer of Baseball.

Shaeffer Hall, who signed before the game was rained out; and

Myron Leslie, Zoilo Almonte, Jose Pirela and Dellin Betances; and

Mitch Abeita (I believe), Melky Mesa (I believe), Ray Kruml and Adam Olbrychoski; and

Walter Ibarra, Corban Joseph (shown above, signing for Colin), Ryan Baker, Trent Lockwood, Jonathan Ortiz and unidentified and;

Manuel Banuelos, Jack Rye, Trent Lare, Bradley Suttle, Noel Castillo and Juan Marcano.

Pinch-hitting appearance

After a short, but long, day at work Saturday, as well as a mad dash to the rink to watch Colin play hockey, I had little energy left for hounding of any sort. That's when Momma stepped up to the plate and got these three cards signed by Tampa's Dellin Betances and Corban Joseph in the post-rainout autograph session last Friday.

My bad

As part of a break from hockey during Colin's first hockey camp last week, we planned to take in a Tampa Yankees-Dunedin Blue Jays game last Wednesday. Well, it didn't happen.

After camp closed for the day Wednesday, Colin and I joined rush-hour traffic and headed north to Dunedin. About 45 minutes later, we pulled into Dunedin Stadium. The parking lot was empty, the ticket windows were closed and the gate was locked shut.

At first, I thought I'd mixed up who was the home team. Once I got home and checked my schedule, I discovered my mistake. The game started at 11 a.m., not 7 p.m.

After blowing off the Tampa Yankees a few weeks ago to get an autograph from Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito, Wednesday's trip was to be our last chance to get a team-signed ball from them. Now, we'll try to get one July 29.

We'll be busy

With three games scheduled for this week -- actually, three within four days -- you'd think we'd be busy enough. Ha! I wish that was the case. No, we're not content enough to take in two Florida State League games as well as a Tampa Bay Rays game.

Starting in about an hour, Colin hits the ice, taking part in his first-ever summer hockey camp. For the next five days, he'll work on his skating, stickhandling, shooting, passing and conditioning at the Pinellas Police Athletic League camp in Clearwater.

On Wednesday and Thursday, after spending nearly four hours on the ice, we'll head north to Dunedin to watch and hopefully get team balls from the Tampa Yankees and Daytona Cubs of the Advanced-A Florida State League. On Saturday, a day after Colin's hockey camp ends, we'll watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play the Rays. After that game, the Barenaked Ladies (one of my favorite bands) will perform.

Sounds like a full week to me.

Beyond balls and strikes

Most times, the action on the diamond commands our attention during a baseball game -- diving catches, double plays and one-hoppers off the left field wall.

But, have you taken the time to really look around at a game? There's more to one than hits, runs and errors. There's art and irony. Color and detail. Nuances beyond the mundane that a casual fan might overlook.

For the past few weeks -- using only a FujiFilm Finepix S1000 point-and-shoot digital camera, not some tricked-out, top-shelf model favored by professional photojournalists -- I've tried to capture some of these moments and scenes at three Florida State League parks in the Tampa Bay area.

It's these slices of life, captured in quick glances, that only add to the texture of America's pastime:

Yes, it does look like a few members of the Sarasota Reds might be taking part in some martial arts before a game against the Dunedin Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium. Instead, it's just Sarasota's Jake Long, from left, Denis Phipps and Neftali Soto participating in pregame stretching.

The bargain of the summer: A replica Team Canada hat from this year's World Baseball Classic for just $10 from Diamond Outfitters at Bright House Field in Clearwater.

Even before the sun sets, tower lights come on at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

Watering down the infield is part of pregame preparations at Bright House Field in Clearwater.

A foul ball sits high atop screening at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

With his feet atop the Threshers' dugout, Colin kicks back at Bright House Field in Clearwater.

Lines, shapes and surfaces blend at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

Work on an infield practice field doesn't stop a game between the Sarasota Reds and Dunedin Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium.

The infield gets a between-innings grooming at Dunedin Stadium.

Another one's done

Here's another instance where a few minutes of hustle as pregame warmups came to a close, at the tail end of our double-dipping efforts for the visiting Fort Myers Miracle and the hometown Yankees, helped us knock out the rest of the 2009 Tampa Yankees team ball.

With these five signatures, we're closing the book on this ball at 19 signatures:

Damon Sublett;

Adam Olbrychowski, Walter Ibarra and Austin Romine; and

Daniel Brewer.

Making a dent

Given that we picked up a free team set for the 2009 Tampa Yankees, we have plenty of cards for the players in pinstripes to sign.

The first three players to sign the team set, shown above, were, from left, Mitch Hilligoss, Austin Romine and Damon Sublett. And, as you can see, Romine, the No. 4 prospect in the New York Yankees organization, also signed a couple other cards for us.

Now, all we have to do is find time for one last trip to Tampa so we can knock out more of the set.

Better late than never

Earlier this Florida State League season, when Colin's Nana and Babop, a couple of Yankees fans, were visiting from New England, we took them to see a Tampa Yankees game.

During the game, Tampa's Mitch Hilligoss, an infielder, tossed Colin a ball as we sat behind the Yankees' dugout. Last Wednesday, as part of our double-dipping duties, we were finally able to have Holligoss sign it for Colin.

Brett's FSL Report No. 2: Fan Fest

When the Florida State League All-Star Game rosters were released a few weeks ago, it looked as if it would be a great event with many future stars on hand. But, one by one the so-called stars began to get promoted to AA.

From Sarasota's Yonder Alonso, Fort Myers' Carlos Gutierrez, St. Lucie's Brad Holt, Jupiter's Michael Stanton, Clearwater's Dominic Brown and Kyle Drabek, and Tampa's Jesus Montero, the FSL has lost a ton of talent in the past few weeks. All in all, there have been 21 players named to the original roster who either were injured or promoted.

With what was left on the original roster, and the replacements, I made out better than I expected during the FSL's All-Star Game Fan Fest. The event, held at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, was well-organized by the host team Miracle, with many games for children to play, live music, food and player autographs.

For most of the event, players were just hanging around, mingling with fans, playing games with children and signing just about anything. Most everyone signed next to their player bio in the program and I got plenty of cards and other miscellaneous items signed. In total, I was able to get 206 autographs (editor's note: Jeezum crow!) altogether from this year’s All-Stars.

Among the players signing cards , shown above, were Tampa’s Austin Romine, Fort Myers' David Bromberg and Ben Revere, Palm Beach’s Adam Reifer and Shane Peterson, Jupiter’s Jeff Allison and Matt Dominguez, and Daytona’s Starlin Castro and Jody Davis.

Right up front

Colin got a great start on his Tampa Yankees team ball last week, snagging 14 signatures before a Florida State League game against the Daytona Cubs. He had a great time, too, announcing the Yankees' batting order in the bottom of the fifth.

The biggest deal about the game, though, was watching it with Colin's Nana and Babop, visiting from New England. They're fervent New York Yankees fans, so Babop bought us all seats right behind Tampa's dugout. That alone made for great memories.

Besides Matthew Cusick (shown above), the following prospects, listed top to bottom, signed this New York Yankees ball (the park's souvenir store didn't have any Tampa Yankees logo balls):

Jack Rye, manager Luis Sojo, a former big leaguer, and Blue, the squad's mascot;

Jonathan Hovis, Austin Krum, Craig Heyer, Cusick and Grant Duff;

Mitch Hilligoss (who tossed us a game-used ball between innings), Addison Maruszak and Jonathan Ortiz; and

Brandon Laird, Jesus Montero (the Yankees No. 2 prospect) and Eric Fryer.

Back in the game

While some fans may pooh-pooh baseball's minor leagues, we actually embrace them. Believe it or not, our affinity for the leagues, especially the Florida State League, goes far beyond getting autographs.

First and foremost, a night at a minor league game is much more affordable. We can get three tickets and parking for under $20. Can't find those deals at a Major League Baseball park, can you? A hot dog doesn't cost $5, either.

Secondly, the games are seldom crowded. Good seats are available and the autographs, save for the occasional 19-year-old egoist, come pretty easy. Though premium giveaways and holidays draw packed houses, they are the exception, rather than the norm.

Finally, there's always some sort of promotion going on. In this case, it was Kids Night at Dunedin Stadium, home to the Toronto Blue Jays' Class High-A affiliate, the Dunedin Blue Jays, and the prerequisite picture with the team's "feathered" mascot.

As the top photo shows, Colin (that's him with the catcher's glove and American League All Star Evan Longoria T-shirt) got to join two Dunedin players Justin Jackson, left, and John Tolisano on the field Saturday during the national anthem. How cool is that?

Down here in the Tampa Bay area, we're fortunate enough to have two more FSL teams within an easy drive -- the Clearwater Threshers, a Phillies farm team, and the Tampa Yankees, a New York Yankees club. Though we'll take in a handful of Tampa Bay Rays games, many a summer weekday night will be spent at minor league parks.

It's been awhile, hasn't it?

Welcome back to Baseball Mondays, our offseason pursuit that provides a pleasant, but muggy, diversion from hounding NHL teams. Started two years ago, the blog's weekly postings chronicled our first foray into baseball autographs.

Unlike our Hound Central franchise -- now wrapping up its fourth campaign -- Baseball Mondays takes a more leisurely approach to the hobby. Having fun is more important than anything else. And that's where the Tampa Bay Rays, select MLB opponents and Florida State League clubs in nearby Clearwater, Dunedin and Tampa come in.

Between now and the Lightning's training camp, we'll attend 20 baseball games, providing more than enough fodder for the postings.

Two points of interest, I believe:

Shark Week: On Thursday, June 11, and Saturday, June 13, we'll watch the Jupiter Hammerheads play the Clearwater Threshers. Colin love sharks.

Thursday, July 9: We take in a MLB-FSL doubleheader (Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays at 12:08 p.m. and then the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Dunedin Blue Jays at 7 p.m.)

I've also strong-armed Moody and Al, a couple of Hound Central 4.0 correspondents, into providing occasional reports from Atlanta and Toronto, respectively. I'll likely introduce you to a few more hounds and their efforts over the summer, too.

Really, the hiatus isn't as long as it appears. Rather than resurrecting Baseball Mondays (which, in hindsight, would have been the more logical choice), last summer's baseball musings and additions were chronicled on Hound Central 3.0.

Who did we get? Given our proximity to the Trop, most came from members of the Tampa Bay Rays:

~ a pretty sweet team ball in one, long afternoon;
~ a couple from AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria; and
~ and a postcard from Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry.