Diamondbacks Baseball Camp Day 1 & 2

Day 1
* The Diamondbacks Baseball Fantasy Camp has begun. Day 1 was relatively unassuming. After training for this for the last 2 months, I think I'm ready. I checked in to The Talking Stick Resort Hotel, then there was a dinner, and an orientation + meet the Coaches meeting. There are 94 Caampers (a sellout), and there are 17 Diamondbacks former players coaching us, including Luis Gonzales, Mark Grace, Matt Williams, Jay Bell, and Greg Colbrunn to name a few. This was my first time staying at The Talking Stick Resort, and of course the room is really nice. It ought to be at the $200/day rate. I called it an early day, because I have a feeling tomorrow will be busy.

Day 2
* I was right, busy day. The shuttle to The Talking Sticks Fields Baseball Complex picked us up at 7:30am. Did I mention that the Camp is being held at The Spring Training Facilities shared by The Diamondbacks and The Colorado Rockies? It is, and I can really tell there is an upgraded quality of the fields and the facilities, from what I'm used to. We have our own lockers that have been stocked with my 2 complete uniforms, T-Shirt, Hoodie, Shorts, all provided by The DBacks. We also have access to The Training Room and Trainers for any post game medical needs. Breakfast and lunch are included. Classy All The Way.

* Today is Skills Test Day in FULL UNIFORM! The Home Team Purple "Serpientes" uniform. After a photo session with the Coaches, we rotated around the skills test stations including: Outfield Play (pop ups, throwing), Infield Play (ground balls, throwing), and 2 batting cage rotations. This took most of the morning, then lunch, while the Coaches met for the Player Draft. I noticed that Most of The Coaches were observing the infield and outfield play.

* I have My Team! My Coaches are Ryan Roberts, and Chris Owings. There are 12 of us on the team, and they've modified standard baseball rules a bit to make it more fun for the Campers. For example..... everybody bats every inning. If you reach 3 outs before everyone bats, the remaining players still bat once each inning. Also, the team can field all 12 players. That has resulted today in 1 extra infielder, and 3 extra outfielders, but that may change. Also, if you hit the ball in the air and it lands in the outfield, you cannot be thrown out at first. 1st base is therefore automatic if a fly ball lands in the outfield. No bunting, No base stealing. Your own Coaches pitch to you, so the baseballs are thrown pretty much in the hitting area.

* We had a 3-inning scrimmage game to end the day. I went "2 for 3", and I would have went 3 for 3, but I got thrown out at first. Still,  that means that my current batting average is 0.667. I'm happy with that, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. By the way, My Team also named ourselves. We are now officially named....."Pitch Slap". Get it? 😁 

The Talking Stick Single Private Hotel Room $200/day

My Locker


All dressed up with someplace to go!

My Team

Rear View

Front View







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