So this year was my first year attending the Angels spring training. I have been trying to go for years but for some reason I never made it. This year my buddy Jeff convinced me it was time to make the journey and what a journey it was. I believe the drive is normally a 6 - 7 hour drive but we managed to make it there in 5 - 5.5 hours. Needless to say I was frightened most of the time we were in the car (although this is not anything new to anyone who knows me). We arrived to Tempe around 2 am. We were knowingly staying in a very low budget motel room. After all what do we need with clean accommodations. I jokingly said to Jeff before we arrived that there were going to be roaches and hookers everywhere. Well I didn't see any roaches but sure enough there were two hookers hanging out in front of the place. What did I get myself into? Anyway the stay wasn't that bad and the next day we got up early and headed to the ball field. The weather couldn't have been any better. Once we got there I was immediately amazed. They had three practice fields where the Angel hopefuls and some starters were practicing on. You could watch them do hitting or fielding from a very close distance. Scioscia was even getting down and dirty playing first base. We then moved in to position to catch some fly balls. The first one hit in our range I went for. Anyone who knows me knows that if there is a fly ball in our area they had better watch out. I am like a bulldozer going after the ball. I even once knocked down a man with one leg to get a ball (but that is a different embarrassing story). In this instance I managed to trip over a curb and land on some kid. Needless to say I did not make it to the ball. The next fly ball I was a little more lucky but only a little. It was a screaming line drive hit straight at me. I didn't even have to move. I got extremely excited, put my hands out and prepared for impact. Only I wasn't prepared for that impact. It hit my hands with such great velocity that my hands flew apart and the ball landed comfortably in Jeff's hand. I couldn't do anything but stare at my useless and tingling hands. The right fielder asked Jeff if he was going to give me the ball since I did all of the work. He abruptly told him "No". He gave it to me any way. I then was able to get it signed by my favorite Angel Reggie Willits in addition to Napoli, Mathis and Wood. I was also able to get my hat signed by numerous other Angel hopefuls. I was amazed at how close we were able to get to the players. Most of them were very friendly with exception to Kendry Morales. I am not much of a fan of his any more. After the signing we went in and watched the game from our amazing seats located right behind homeplate. We were close enough for Jeff to heckle the opposing team which he loves to do. The game was great with Hunter belting a three run homer. When the game was over I was able to get Brandon Wood to sign another baseball for "Kaleb". In reality it is going to sit on my shelf with the rest of my memorabilia until he is older.
Tempe Diablo Stadium
Our awesome seats behind homeplate
Jeff getting some pre-game photos
Torii's 3-run homer
After the game
Enjoying a Sonic shake 
Jeff enjoying his Sonic Blast
