Arizona - early arrival

by WhistlerWilliams on Feb 8, 2008 7:46 AM CST

I am looking for tips about how to follow the Cubs in Arizona before the spring training games begin. The dates I am interested in are February 21-26.

I think they will be at Fitch park, practicing at that time. Fitch Park is located at 655 North Center Street. Minor Leaguers also practice at Fitch Park.

I checked the BCB reader guide to Arizona Spring Training but it mainly covers spring training games.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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You've got it right.

Workouts are at Fitch Park every day until games begin. Parking and admission at Fitch Park are both free.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 8:10 AM CST reply actions

I'm heading out for Spring Training

I'll be there March 3-6.

I have my game tickets for the afternoons, but do they workout at Fitch in the moring before the games?

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on Feb 8, 2008 8:48 AM CST reply actions

Once games start...

... no. But you can watch the minor leaguers work out at Fitch the entire month of March, and there's generally a game there every day at 1, sometimes more than one game (there are two fields).

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 8:56 AM CST up reply actions

Practice Schedule

I'm also going to be there early, and I was kinda wondering the same thing. Does Fitch Park release any kind of practice schedule? I know Indian School Park used to release the Giants practice schedules before spring workouts began.

by slumpbuster17 on Feb 8, 2008 10:11 AM CST reply actions

Not sure.

But I'm pretty sure they're on the field by 10 am most days.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 10:27 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks, Al

Thanks for this and the previous response.

I go to Arizona every year. 25 or so years ago, there was a strike that delayed the start of spring training and no games were scheduled for when we were there. Watching the Cubs practice was great but in a different way from games.

One memory sticks with me. I was fascinated (but not interested in watching much) over how the pitchers spent hour after hour practicing covering first. They lined up on the mound and took turns; a coach rolled the ball to the first baseman; and the pitcher rushed over to time his run to first with the ball. Even with this, we have games like the one two years ago where three different Cubs' pitchers failed to cover first base.

by WhistlerWilliams on Feb 8, 2008 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

Two years ago...

... we had a manager who wasn't interested in pushing fundamental play like this.

I doubt you'll see this happen in 2008.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

I hope you are correct

Did anyone go to spring training before the games started when Dusty was managing? I would be interested in hearing if there was less emphasis on these type of drills.

I agree Dusty did not care enough about fundamentals but I would have thought drills like these had a life of their own regardless of who was the manager or coach or even there.

by WhistlerWilliams on Feb 8, 2008 11:07 AM CST up reply actions

new poster

just checking to see if i did this right. looking forward to ST!!

by bg4300 on Feb 8, 2008 10:13 AM CST reply actions

Welcome!

you realize of course that as the newest rookie here, you have to carry the little pink BCB backpack around every day...

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Feb 8, 2008 7:38 PM CST up reply actions

A few years ago

I went to watch the practices at Fitch Park, I saw Jody Davis working with the catchers. I watched a cut off man drill where a coach would hit the ball to the warning track, the player would run to catch or field the ball, throw it to the cut off man who would then throw home to a catcher blocking the plate. I watched this drill for about 30 minutes, these guys were not going to make the team but they were damn good. They never missed the cut off man and the throw home was a strike every time. No real point to this story, just trying to say how good these players are.

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Feb 8, 2008 11:26 AM CST reply actions

boysofspring

i read BCB a lot but hardly ever post. I wanted to say that a few years ago i discovered a nice resource. The PA announcer at HoHoKam has produced a couple of documentaries on the Cubs in AZ, etc. His website for the DVDs actually has some good spring training guides, pictures and other resources. Sadly, he doesn't update the website very often, but what he has might really help out a first time visitor. It's http://boysofspring.com

cubscast.com chicagosportscasts.com

by cubscast on Feb 8, 2008 12:38 PM CST reply actions

Love how he announces Fonzie's name

at HoHoKam. Clearly belts out his name:

Al-FON-so.....Sor-i-AN-o!

Can't wait until 29Feb, my 1st ST game of the season.

by blackhawk24 on Feb 8, 2008 1:12 PM CST up reply actions

Boys of Spring is now CubsAZ

Funny, I had just emailed Al about this very subject, thanks for the mention cubscast.

Just to let everyone here know the story; originally I set up the website 4 years ago as "boys of spring" to mainly promote the Cubs DVD's I was working on. Prior to last spring we changed the name to CubsAZ.com and re-worked the website to be your complete Cubs spring training resource. I am confident no other place on the net has more or better Cubs Spring info than CubsAZ.com.

I'm not sure what you meant cubscast by "doesn't update the website very often" because we update the site prior to every spring training. My personal blogs with photos, videos, and audio clips of Cubs players are posted on a regular basis from Mid-Feb to opening day. Since the site is a "Spring Training" resource after opening day I don't blog often because I am not around the action at that point.

In fact you can see photos of some of the Cubs working out this week at Fitch Park on my blog page.

Tim Sheridan
Cubs Spring PA Announcer

by 1984hohokam on Feb 8, 2008 1:36 PM CST reply actions

This link...

... is now listed under "Cubs Blogroll" on the right sidebar.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks

Thanks for moving the link Al. And thank you blackhawk24, I do love sayin that name!

by 1984hohokam on Feb 8, 2008 1:50 PM CST reply actions

As a longtime spring training attendee

I do enjoy your voice!

Keep up the great work!

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on Feb 9, 2008 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

You're quite welcome

If you happen by HoHoKam early in the day on the 29th or 2nd before game time, stop by our tailgate right off Center St on the grass. We'll be the ones playing hillbillie (also called ladder or rodeo) golf. Us Chicago guys can't wait to get out of the cold weather for a few days.

by blackhawk24 on Feb 11, 2008 10:37 AM CST up reply actions

n/t

Gotcha. And you're right. Of course you're not able to update when it's not spring training. I guess I just get so used to your great coverage during spring that I miss it the rest of the year :)

cubscast.com chicagosportscasts.com

by cubscast on Feb 8, 2008 4:57 PM CST reply actions

One month from just about right now

One month from just about right now we'll be hokey pokeying over to Ohare to go to Mesa.

We're going from the 9th through the 18th.

An internet friend is possibly singing the anthem that week to make it even cooler. She's sung at other spring training games but this would be the first one involving the Cubs.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on Feb 9, 2008 10:42 AM CST reply actions