We’ll have to go some to beat today’s baseball game. It was about 101 degrees out at 10:30 am and there were no seats at the Giants Spring Training facility at Camelback and Hayden. The game was free, but these players—rookie wannabes from the Giants and Angels—played their hearts out. They played as if it was for their very baseball lives—which is was.

The players are a mix of high school players and JC (Junior College) players who were drafted or recruited by the Giants or Angeles. There were no number 1 picks here, but a lot of very talented young men. It was cool to think that in early March, on this very field, the “real” Giants practiced before Spring Training. At that time, there were barriers and guards and hoards of fans. Today, I stood next to the cage, talked with the young players and shot video…lots of video.

A true standout for the Giants is Antoan Richardson, a 35^th round pick from Vandertbilt. He had been drafted before by the Orioles and The Mariners in higher rounds, so something must have happened for him to drop. He is a leadoff hitter with speed and power. Richardson, who is not identified in the videos because there was no roster) is #1, and has the look of a big league player.

The two pitchers who hurled for the Giants (we left in the 6^th inning lest we pass out from heat stroke) looked good. They were two Dominicans: Shairon Martis and Frolian Ramierz..  Also, we met Ryan McGovern’s mom, who made the trip from Canada to see her son pitch. He just turned 21 a few days, and she was here to help him celebrate his birthday and lend some moral support. McGovern was on the shelf for a year after having Tommy John surgery.

For the Angels, Robert Cassevah was on the hill. He was talented, but man did he look young. I see where he won’t be 20 years old until the fall.

We’re psyched to come back as the season unfolds. We might even have some rosters with numbers so I actually know who I am talking about.

The Summer of Baseball began with a game at Bank One Ballpark between the Diamondbacks and the Detroit Tigers. A small crowd just over 24,000 braved the 100-plus degree heat to see an interleague game of minor significance. I don’t think many Tigers fans live here, but when the NHL Red Wings come to down (or least when they did)… look out—it’s a sea of red jerseys.

One of the highlights here is the ceremonial first pitch by the members of the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team who just barely missed the finals of the College World Series.

This was the first of six games for us between June 24^th and August 10^th. The others include a Rookie League game, a game at Camden Yards, one at Citizen Bank Park, the Atlantic League All-Star Game and then, my first trip to the Bronx to see the Yankees host the Chisox on Cap Day. The game at Camden Yards also is Cap Day.

I hope to be able to shoot video at each game.