Camelback Ranch… Here We Come
I finalized all my travel, hotel, and car rental requirements for my trip to Camelback Ranch on February 20-23. My son and my nephew are going with me. My son is 25, and my nephew is 38. The last time my son was at Spring Training was at Vero Beach when he was five (see pic…
I finalized all my travel, hotel, and car rental requirements for my trip to Camelback Ranch on February 20-23. My son and my nephew are going with me. My son is 25, and my nephew is 38. The last time my son was at Spring Training was at Vero Beach when he was five (see pic below).
Tommy signed a ball for my son. We still have it. Tony Jackson was driving Tommy’s Cart that day. That’s where I first met Tony.
As a young man, I was very successful and was well off by the time I hit 30. In 1994, at the age of 41, I had nothing to my name and owed the IRS $200,000.00. In 2001, I was still so broke that I could not pay attention, so I started US Water Systems. It made us a good living, and later, my son told me that he thought we were rich (we weren’t even close).
This was taken in 2002. Baseball was my passion and sometimes, I could not afford it, but I went to Spring Training every Spring. By 2010, it was evident that I had to make a decision. If I wanted to be a baseball writer and blogger, maybe I could make $100,000 a year… OR I could build a $100,000,000.00 company. I chose the latter. It has proven to be a wise decision.
Camelback Ranch opened in 2009, and I was there… it would mark the last time until this year. I built that company and am now semi-retired at 71 years old. I am going back with my son and nephew this year. My son is now the CEO at US Water Systems, and my nephew is the Chief Revenue Officer. Below is a photo of myself, my son (Steve), Luke, and my daughter (Tasha) taken a couple of years ago.
So, this will be my second time at Camelback Ranch. The last time, I had a Press Pass and could go anywhere. It will be a lot different this time. However, my son and nephew are excited about going. It’s also a business trip as we have some clients that we will see while we are there. Phoenix is a big market for us. You never know what you might see at Spring Training…
That’s me in the Pressbox at Dodger Stadium. The next photo is Tommy with Carl Kemp (Matt’s Father), and what follows are just a bunch of photos all over the Ranch.
So… in a little over a month, I will be back, after a 15-year absence. I am looking forward to it and also eating at the Mellow Mushroom. JayB was so kind as to send me a bunch of gift cards to eat there. Hopefully, he will join us.
I think the Dodgers have a move or two up their sleeves before the team heads to spring training… Stay Tuned!
X-CITES
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Discussion (57)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Ben Badler of BA writes this about the Dodgers:
If the Dodgers sign Roki Sasaki, they will be elated with their class. As of now, with Sasaki yet to inform clubs of a final decision, the Dodgers are in a difficult position, with multiple players they were set to sign choosing to sign elsewhere given the uncertainty of Sasaki’s situation. That group includes Dominican shortstop Darell Morel, Dominican outfielder Teilon Serrano and Venezuelan outfielder Orlando Patiño.
If the Dodgers do sign Sasaki, the rest of the players listed here might also sign elsewhere, though it depends how much Sasaki signs for and whether some players might be willing to wait until another signing period. Everything here is pending Sasaki.
For now, the top position player linked to the Dodgers is Francisco Rivero, a catcher who was born and raised in the United States but will sign as an international free agent out of Venezuela. Scouts highest on Rivero who saw him early in the process praised Rivero’s offensive upside, both for his hitting ability and power he flashed in games. He has grown into a strong 6-foot-1 frame and is now more hit than power, though he has the potential to provide both. He’s a natural leader who clicks with both English and Spanish speaking pitchers, something that will help him as a catcher, where he has improved his defense to be able to stay behind the plate with an average arm.
The Dodgers are also linked to lefthander Adrian Torres from Panama. He has a projectable 6-foot-3 frame that he’s already starting to fill out to become a power arm with a big fastball for his age and feel for a hard slider.
Tommy Brown, the last living member of the 47 Dodgers, the team that Jackie Robinson broke in with has passed away today at the age of 97. Brown broke in with the Dodgers in 1944 at the age of 16. He played his last game in 1953 as a member of the Cubs. He was 25 years old. RIP
I believe the Sasaki circus is being done to inflate his image in order to maximize endorsements.
“I’m taking my talent to South Beach…”