Won't You Take Me To Dodgertown?

Ah yes, baseball is in the air! What better way to enjoy Spring Training season than to visit the newly opened 141-acre complex called Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. This state-of-the-art facility is the new Spring Training headquarters for the Dodgers and the White Sox.

As my husband and I approached the complex, the jolly sound of steel drums grew louder. It seemed as if the lively Carribean beats were being played by a Baseball Pied Piper who is luring fans of the sport and promising them a day of enjoyment. The day couldn't have been more beautiful in baseball wonderland: sunny with blue skies, calm winds, and a high of 88 degrees.

Walking past the main gate, we made our way to the genuine MLB merchandise store FIRST and got us some Dodger hats and shirts. (Of course!) Then I had to stop for some grilled corn-on-the-cob, brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with seasoning salt. (Just couldn't resist.) Finally, we followed a winding pathway to the stadium to find our seats. The Dodger players were already warming up on the field. I ran to take a picture of Ethier (ooh, Ethier!), Kemp, and Pierre. (I almost lost my hat in the process!)

The place was just gorgeous and everyone around was friendly and in good spirits. The lemonade vendor walked up and down the stands yelling "GIT yer ICE cold LEMonade...RIGHT herrree..." while I was busy digging into my backpack for all my gadgets: camera, videocam, and camera phone. Thank goodness I sat next to a Whoopi Goldberg look-alike who was happy to take our picture.

The are 13 full baseball fields in this facility: 6 for each team plus the 10,000-seat main stadium. A man-made lake in the middle of the property separated the Dodger team practice fields from those of the White Sox.

We returned the next day as early as 9 am so we could watch the players practice. It was amazing to be among these great MLB players up close! Players like Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin were just a few feet away from us. Funny how their warm-up exercises -- stretching in the outfield, catching and throwing drills, and batting practice --were not any different from those performed by college baseball players.



Amidst all this excitement, little miss mini bladder here wandered into a building looking for the ladies room. In the hallway, I walked up to a man wearing a badge. "Which way to the restrooms?" I asked and he politely gave me directions. The restrooms were clean and regular-looking. But on my way out, I began to think that there was something peculiar about the place.

I saw a media room where two young uniformed players were reviewing a video tape. Across was another room that had a big green screen and a professional camera in front of it. This place is a bit odd, I thought. I glanced around and to the left of the hallway I found a cafeteria, a therapy room (with rows of massage tables), and a gym. To the right of the hallway, I noticed...(gasp!) the Manager's Office...(double gasp!) the Coaches Lounge, and...(triple gasp!) the Players' Locker Room! OMG! I was in the Dodger Clubhouse!

Later on, I found out that officials told my husband to shoo when he happened to stand in front of the pathway leading to the building. He was told that only those with proper credentials are allowed in the area. I still don't know how I got there or how I didn't get kicked out right away.

As the players left the practice fields, we joined the fans in approaching them them to take their pictures and request for autographs. My husband asked me if I wanted a picture with Furcal. "Where is he?" I asked with wide eyes and then hurried to the spot where he pointed. I couldn't believe that the Major League player leaned close to me (we were almost cheek to cheek) for the shot!

"Ugh! My eyes are closed!" I cried when I reviewed the photo. But that's not all. I later realized that it wasn't even Furcal. It was Xavier Paul. But hey, he's still a Dodger!