FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Today my traveling road show pulls into Fort Lauderdale, formerly the notorious headquarters for Spring Break and spring home of the Orioles for the past decade. The sun is shining and temperatures are expected in the low 80’s, but it’s clouding up just west of here and we could be in for one of South Florida’s famous soaking thunderstorms in a little while.
 
If you’ve been reading this blog and have ever been here before you might have raised an eyebrow at the fact that I named this  my favorite spring training stadium. Well here’s why. As a youngster I used to come here all the time to see the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees, the Class A Florida State League affiliate of the Yankees. Among the players I got to see don a class A uniform were longtime major leaguers like Rex Hudler, Jim Deshaies, Carlos Martinez, Kevin Maas and a couple of guys named Al Leiter and Jay Buhner. This is also the place that one spring training I saw a White Sox outfield prospect by the name of Michael Jeffrey Jordan play in an exhibition game. While the Orioles look towards a move north to Vero Beach, this building continues to deteriorate. The seats are all faded, the lightstands look like they haven’t been painted since Mickey Mantle trained here, and the facilities are worse than most municipal recreational baseball facilities (you should check out the O’s makeshift Cybex setup under a tent in the parking lot). Yet, this place is still home when it comes to my love for the game, and once it’s gone, I’m going to miss it.

Now onto today’s game. The Cardinals sent a very interesting (and for these purposes, useful) travel team the hour or so drive down I-95 from Jupiter for this game. Today’s starting pitcher, Anthony Reyes, has a lot to prove after having one of the worst pitching seasons in recent memory and losing his spot on the staff in ’07. He had been one of the game’s most promising pitchers and is now pitching coach Dave Duncan’s top priority. Also in the lineup of note for the Cards are rookie Colby Rasmus in center field and leading off. He has an outside shot at making the club with a strong showing in center, but more than likely will open the year at Triple A with right field going to some combination of Brian Barton (the dreadlocked one, not to be confused with third baseman Brian Barden), Ryan Ludwick and today’s third hitter and DH, Juan Gonzalez. Igor (or Juan Gone if you like) hasn’t played in a major league game since but appears to be in excellent shape, especially for someone who has played but one major league game since 2004. Another player to watch is hard-nosed infielder Brendan Ryan who is playing second and batting ninth today. He’s 4 for 8 this spring and pushing Adam Kennedy (2 for 9) for a first string spot. I also can’t wait to see Chris Perez, a closer prospect who saved 35 of 37 games between Springfield and Memphis.

On the Orioles side, the specter of a potential Brian Roberts-to-the-Cubs trade hangs over the club although after the departures of Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada, this is certainly not a surprise. Roberts is in today’s lineup, leading off, followed by mainly regulars in Mel Mora (3B), Jay Gibbons (DH), Kevin Millar (1B), former Astro Luke Scott (LF), Ramon Hernandez (C), Luis Terrero (RF for Nick Markakis), former Mariner Adam Jones (CF) and rookie Luis Hernandez (SS).

Check back after the game to find out what happens. In the meantime I’ll be watching the small planes go into and out of the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport just beyond the leftfield fence.