Results tagged ‘ Goodyear ’
Tribe GM to Fan Correspondent @ClevelandChick: ‘I’m comfortable with high expectations’
Our Spring Training Fan Correspondent @ClevelandChick had the chance to sit down with Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti and throw a few questions from Twitter at the Tribe executive. There were so many great questions from you and responses from Chris that there will be two parts to the Q&A! Below is the first half of their transcribed interview from Goodyear.
ClevelandChick: What’s been the biggest surprise in Arizona so far? Who will make the final roster choices?
Chris Antonetti: In terms of surprises, I think Scott Kazmir has been one of our more pleasant surprises. Candidly, we weren’t quite sure what to expect from Scott just because he spent so much time away from the Major Leagues. To his credit, he’s worked exceptionally hard; went to independent ball last year to try to rework his delivery, went to winter ball this year, and has come to camp and has thrown the ball really well. He’s in a good spot.
In the end, it’s my responsibility to make those decisions, but it’s a very collaborative process. We’ll certainly take input of not only our scouts, but Terry and his staff. They’ll be a big part of it.
CC: What’s the whole process for choosing the final roster?
CA: It’s really a process that evolves throughout the spring. We spend a lot of time talking about the roster composition and different combinations of players to build out the team. As players play or pitch, we get additional information that helps us make those decisions. The last thing we want to have to do is react to injuries. So if guys aren’t available, that could impact how we put the roster together.
Harlem Shake: Tribe Town 216 edition
Yes, we’re a little behind on the craze. Sue us. We’ve been a little busy, you know, with Spring Training and all.
We think, though, that the Harlem Shake: Tribe Town 216 edition is worth the wait. On Monday, we teased it with a partial roster; today, we bring you the full video, with, in our humble opinion, the best “Shake” intro of them all.
Hope you enjoy.
–TribeVibe contributor Joel Hammond
The Harlem Shake has come to Goodyear
In case you haven’t heard, Nick Swisher is excited to be in Cleveland and a member of the Indians.
On Monday, that excitement manifested off the field: as the organizer of an Indians Harlem Shake video. The video will be released on in the next day or so, so stay tuned to TribeVibe and our social media channels. In the meantime, this photo gallery will have to do. A partial roster:
- Green man: Jason Giambi
- Camo man: Mark Reynolds
- Human bear: Justin Masterson
- Lloyd Christmas/Harry Dunne (from “Dumb and Dumber”): Chris Perez, David Huff
- Mario with a diaper on: Lonnie Chisenhall
- Reno 911! cop: Ubaldo Jimenez
- Hot dog: Nick Hagadone
- Disco man: Carlos Carrasco
- Penguin: Zach McAllister
- Parrot: Jason Kipnis
- Ohio State football star: Nick Swisher
Cleveland media were on hand, too, and had these dispatches from Goodyear:
Paul Hoynes, Plain Dealer: “Told that bear costume he wore for Harlem Shake video looked like real bear, Masterson said: “It was a real bear. . .at one time.”
Jordan Bastian, MLB.com: Giambi on this morning’s Harlem Shake antics: “It was fun. That’s the stuff you need to build team unity.”
The Reno 911 sexy cop costume? Can confirm that Ubaldo Jimenez picked it out himself. Told Big U that I can’t un-see that. He laughed.
–TribeVibe contributor Joel Hammond
Tribe welcomes Purple Heart recipients to Goodyear
Indians broadcasters Jim Rosenhaus (left) and Tom Hamilton (right) meet with Daniel “Doc” Jacobs, one of a group of military veterans who visited Goodyear on Sunday.
The Indians hosted a group of about 20 United States Marines and Navy Corpsmen from Camp Pendleton and the Naval Regional Medical Center in San Diego, Calif., at their Spring Training complex in Goodyear Sunday. All of these servicemen were awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat and included in the group was a triple amputee who threw out a first pitch in last year’s World Series. Their visit was coordinated through Strikeouts for Troops and Wounded Warrior Project.
Their visit included a tour of the training complex, batting practice on the field, lunch and an opportunity to meet Indians manager Terry Francona and players Jason Giambi, Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher. Swisher, a strong supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, shared stories with the group about a recent visit he and his wife, Joanna, made to Afghanistan. The servicemen were also honored with a special ovation at Sunday afternoon’s game against the Texas Rangers.
“It is an honor for us to host such a special group here, more of an honor for us than it is for them I’m sure,” said Indians manager Terry Francona. “I hope they had a wonderful visit.”
Among the group was Akron native Daniel “Doc” Jacobs, a Navy Corpsman who lost his left leg below the knee from combat injuries. A lifelong Tribe fan, he spent time at Tribe games at Cleveland Municipal Stadium as a kid and was excited for the opportunity to visit the complex, as well as optimistic for the 2013 season.
“Thank you to the Indians organization for having us. This is amazing,” Jacobs said. “I’m always grateful to the Indians regardless, but to have a bunch of wounded vets out here is amazing.
“We talked to Giambi, Swisher and the coach, Terry Francona. Which, I’m glad he’s with the Tribe now! Hopefully this will be AL Central’s year for the Tribe.”
During the visit, Swisher presented Doc with a new Tribe hat to replace the old, “worn in” one he had been sporting. It had become so worn in that it was the only hat he had when he participated in an open tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on February 28. Not wanting to be disrespectful to the Dodgers for the invitation, he started it out hatless, but the trusty Indians cap was never far away.
“First I wasn’t wearing it because I didn’t want to intrude on the Dodgers and their invitation, but then I got six hours into the tryout and my face was sunburned, so I said ok, I’m going to go get the only hat that I carry around with me.”
He finished the tryout with Chief Wahoo firmly on his head.
Doc also had a chance to visit Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus in the radio booth during the fifth inning of Sunday’s game. When he was in the hospital recovering from his injuries, he said listening to Tribe games on XM Radio kept him going – he even scheduled his surgeries around the Tribe’s game schedule. Hamilton and Rosenhaus were excited to have him, even asking him to tell the story about his recent Dodgers tryout on the air.
We want to thank all of these courageous veterans for their service and sacrifice. They are the true heroes and it was our honor to have them all at the ballpark.
–TribeVibe contributor Anne Keegan
Fan Correspondent @ClevelandChick hits the Arizona roads
The merry-go-round at the Royals’ Spring Training home in Surprise, Ariz.
My Spring Training schedule is an easy one.
Get up, go to batting practice and catch a Tribe game. I follow the Tribe to their home field at Goodyear and all over the Cactus League. Fortunately, I was able to catch three away games this trip. Unfortunately, one got rained out.
Each ballpark tries to take on the feel of the home team. At Goodyear, there are pieces of Indians and Reds history along the walls – and Stadium Mustard at the concession stands, of course.
The San Francisco Giants play in Scottsdale at one of the largest ballparks. This ballpark was one of the most crowded on my trip. Maybe it was because the Giants have been in Scottsdale for 20 years, or maybe it was because the sun was shining or maybe it was the World Champion banners hanging everywhere. The day was fantastic, and people were everywhere. They had tables and chairs on the lawn area and I ended up meeting some Giants fans originally from Lakewood.
My next away game was to see the Indians and Kansas City Royals. The Royals share Surprise Stadium in Surprise with the Texas Rangers, and the place has a merry-go-round on the grounds! It was raining when I was there, so I didn’t get to see it in motion. Bummer. But, the park has a baseball cut into the outfield, which looks great from the stands. I may have to talk to the Indians front office about that one. The thing that surprised me the most, outside of the rain, was the batting cages that you could walk directly up to. The Rangers were batting and it was fun to watch for a bit, especially since it was covered. The game was called after a few innings due to the weather, but the grounds crew got loud cheers from the crowd each time they ran out.
The Chicago Cubs have played in Mesa at Hohokam Stadium since 1952 and you can tell. The best way to describe the stadium is to call it little Wrigley Field. Even though the weather was cold and crummy, there were tailgaters everywhere. Parking was tough to come by and scalpers were selling tickets on the street. When you walk into the stadium, there is no question that the Cubs play there, as evidenced by the team shop being called the Cubby Hole to the completely Cubbed-out vendor hawking Old Style. It was well worth the trip to see the Indians destroy the Cubs. (The Cubs, coincidentally, will leave Hohokam in 2014 for a new stadium, while the A’s will move in.)
If you come out to Spring Training, the Cactus League teams are in close proximity to each other, making it an hour or less to each park. There is no excuse not to follow the team.
I have a few more days in town, and a few more autographs to get so until next blog post, have a great day!
–TribeVibe Fan Correspondent Traci (@ClevelandChick)
Cleveland native Traci Christler, who blogs independently at http://www.HappinessIsaHotPierogi.com, is in Goodyear this spring and writing about the Indians for TribeVibe. The Indians are not compensating her for her coverage, nor did they fund her travel. For her first two blog entries from Goodyear, click here and here.
Indians/Reds Celebrity Golf Classic proceeds jump 50%
Slider gives Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis some pointers. (Dan Mendlik photo)
The third annual Indians/Reds Celebrity Golf Classic raised $21,586.40, a jump of about $7,000 over last year’s tournament in Goodyear, Ariz.
The money benefits the H.O.P.E. Team nonprofit organization, which serves the patients and families of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a national network of fully accredited cancer hospitals, including one in Phoenix.
H.O.P.E. Team Manager Scott Wellman said the proceeds will help families experience an Arizona trail ride and a trip to see holiday lights in December. The money also will fund the purchase of inspirational books for families.
The tournament, held Feb. 21, was the third annual played by the Indians and Reds, Spring Training neighbors at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. The festivities included longest drive and closest to the pin awards, along with prizes for the groups with the all-around lowest scores. A team featuring Indians lefty Scott Barnes won the overall top prize, while new Tribe reliever Bryan Shaw won — and donated back to charity — the 50/50 poker hand. Silent and live auctions along with various raffles also were conducted.
Silent and live auctions along with various raffles also were conducted.
Tournament participants check in.
–TribeVibe contributor Joel Hammond
Day 2 in Goodyear another great one for Fan Correspondent @ClevelandChick
There are two types of days at Indians Spring Training – good days and great days.
Yesterday, my friends, was a great day. It was the first full day in Arizona and we started it off right by heading to batting practice first thing in the morning. I was at the field 10 minutes when Cord Phelps came up to me and asked if I wanted his bat. My answer was a squeaky little “yes, please.” Awesome. The Indians have bleacher seats set up for those who want to watch practice and a fence to hang on for those who want to snag an autograph. I spent most of the morning on the fence waiting for Jason Kipnis and Matt LaPorta.
In my last post I mentioned how important it is to say hello to people. At batting practice, I would suggest the same. While hanging on the fence, sharpie and baseball cards in hand, I met some great people. An older gentleman that has been in Arizona 15 years and became a Tribe fan five years ago when the team moved Spring Training to Goodyear. The man had never been to Cleveland but loved the team just from seeing them at the park. I met a family with photos and cards split among mom, dad and an aunt to send back to a man cave in Parma. One proud grandma had a picture of her three grandchildren, all in Tribe jerseys, for the team to sign. There was a little good-natured ribbing from some Reds fans about Choo and Hannahan (that made me tear up a little). Justin Masterson came by and signed for everyone and chatted with fans. And much to my excitement, Mike Hargrove came over to sign my slightly bent card. It pays to say please, kids. I can’t forget to mention that Cleveland comedic son Mike Polk Jr. was there and I talked to him for a couple of minutes as well.
After practice, my friend and I went straight to the game, which is right down the street. A fan note here: Some players walk back to the practice facility from the game in case you want to take a walk as well. Goodyear Ballpark is, in my opinion, the jewel of the Cactus League. The park is fan-friendly with a mini field for kids to play catch and run the bases. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. The most important thing is how friendly everyone is. From the guy selling hot dogs to the ushers, everyone has a smile to greet you. The ushers also know that there are fans from all over the country (and continent with the World Baseball Classic going on) and it may be the only time someone can get up close and personal with their favorite players. I took a lot of fantastic pictures by simply asking an usher if I could go to the front row and take a picture. I have never been turned down.
The overall vibe at Goodyear is laid back and relaxed. The players are easy going and the fans are fun.
We ended our awesome day, a little sunburned, in Tempe for dinner.
Today is a new day, and I can’t wait to see what happens!
–TribeVibe Fan Correspondent Traci (@ClevelandChick)
Cleveland native Traci Christler, who blogs independently at http://www.HappinessIsaHotPierogi.com, is in Goodyear this spring and writing about the Indians for TribeVibe. The Indians are not compensating her for her coverage, nor did they fund her travel.
Welcome to Goodyear: @ClevelandChick arrives at Spring Training
Leaving behind freezing Cleveland for sunshine and 80 degrees in Arizona was one of the easiest things I have done in a long time. I’m looking forward to a week of hanging out with my best friend, quality time with my dad and some serious Tribe autograph snagging.
This of course, requires a little bit of planning. I landed in Phoenix, grabbed my rental car and drove straight to Scottsdale for the Tribe vs. Giants game. One of the keys to having a great Spring Training experience is simple: Say hello. I met all sorts of Giants fans — some were from Lakewood! — that stepped aside so I could grab some photos and talked baseball. We traded tips about each park (Goodyear and Salt River Fields are amazing), joked about who is going to take the pennant this year (totally the Tribe) and how beautiful the weather was. It was a great afternoon, all because I smiled and said hello to fellow fans. My mom would be proud. Fans at Spring Training are here not only because they love their team, but because they also love the game.
While the games are great, batting practice is downright fun. Each team takes practice on their respective practice fields four hours or so before each game. At Goodyear, the Tribe fields are down the street from the ballpark, and the best way to start the morning. The team works out on several fields, on a variety of drills, open for fans to watch for free. This is an awesome time to take pictures, get an autograph or even snag a ball. Keep an eye out, because it is easy to get a ball tossed to you. Or conk you on the head, so pay attention. At the Goodyear Fields, there are also bleachers and picnic tables to sit on, but restrooms are not around, so go easy on the big gulps.
Most of the players will sign autographs at some point during batting practice, maybe a few at a time as they cross the fields. Some guys will sign more after practice, so have your Sharpie ready. Be aware though, that these guys are working and can’t always sign. Be patient. The players usually go straight to a game after practice and can’t be late to work to sign autographs.
Let’s talk autographs for a second. Think ahead of time what you want to have autographed. Last year I bought a plaque from the Team Shop and had the players sign it for me and I love it. But you can get just about anything signed. A ball you caught from a game. A baseball card, a bat or as I saw last year, a fuzzy pink whale. If you want a player to sign a ball, use a blue ball point pen (not a fancy gel pen). A permanent marker will actually fade with time on a baseball, and according to all the autograph aficionados, a blue ball point pen is the way to go. A permanent marker, however, is great for bats, cards and fuzzy pink whales.
I’m looking forward to sharing a great week Tribe fans; sunshine, palm trees and Indians baseball!
–TribeVibe Fan Correspondent Traci (@ClevelandChick)
Cleveland native Traci Christler, who blogs independently at http://www.HappinessIsaHotPierogi.com, is in Goodyear this spring and writing about the Indians for TribeVibe. The Indians are not compensating her for her coverage, nor did they fund her travel.
Die-hard Tribe fan serving as Spring Training correspondent for TribeVibe
The Tribe is happy to announce that for the first time, the club will have a Fan Correspondent in Goodyear, AZ! If you are a Cleveland fan who is also into social media, you’ve probably seen her online or near the sidelines: @ClevelandChick, also known as Traci. She will be covering Spring Training from a fan’s perspective — where to get autographs, how to watch batting practice, what it’s like to travel to other ballparks, and more. Traci also will be fielding your questions in interviews with some notable Cleveland Indians.
She is definitely a die-hard fan, who is also a big fan of Ketchup – “he doesn’t cheat, he improvises.” Traci also won her first 10-speed bicycle at an Indians game: “It was a powder blue Huffy with a denim seat and rainbow stripes.” TribeVibe caught up with this fashionable Cleveland Chick before she heads west to the Cactus League and asked her a few questions:
TV: Have you been to Goodyear/Winter Haven in the past? If so, what was your experience like there?
CC: Going to Spring Training had always been a dream vacation of mine and when the Tribe announced that they were moving to Goodyear, it was a sign. This will be my fifth season going to Goodyear. My experience at Spring Training has been nothing short of fantastic. Let’s face it: palm trees, sunshine, and Tribe baseball … how could you go wrong?
TV: Why do you like to go to Spring Training?
CC: I love the easy-going vibe that surrounds Spring Training. The players are loose and joking around. The ushers are amazing at Goodyear, letting you walk around and take pictures or try to snag autographs. Meeting other fans is a great bonus. Walking into the ballpark, you can’t help but smile seeing all the old-timers decked out in their Tribe gear. Did I mention the sunshine, palm trees and baseball?
TV: Outside of the baseball, what has been your favorite part of Spring Training in the past?
CC: Spring Training is full of baseball fans from all over the country. I follow the Tribe to all of their “away” games, checking out each of the other ballparks. I’m particularly looking forward to the game against the Cubs. Each home park tries to take on the feeling of their team. Goodyear has Stadium Mustard and the Cubs park has red hots and old style. At the last Spring Training game against the Cubs, I saw an entire row of grown men with fuzzy bear ears sewn on their hats.
TV: What are you looking forward to the most this year?
CC: I’m looking forward to meeting the players, getting some autographs and watching Tribe baseball. More importantly though, I’m looking forward to spending quality time with my dad. A few years ago after my second trip to Goodyear, my dad told me going to Spring Training had always been his dream. So, this year, my dad is my travel buddy. After all the Indians games he took me to as a little girl, I had to do this for him.
Check back next week as Traci begins her journey!
– TribeVibe contributor Courtney Shilling
Traci, a Cleveland native, blogs independently at www.HappinessIsaHotPierogi.com and is in Goodyear this spring and writing about the Indians for TribeVibe. The Indians are not compensating her for her coverage, nor did they fund her travel. You can follow all of Traci’s Spring Training adventure on Twitter at @ClevelandChick and of course, here on TribeVibe.
Indians fan Alexandria Justice a finalist for MLB Fan Cave
Indians fan and MLB Fan Cave finalist Alexandria Justice (left) heads to Goodyear this week.
The Tribe officially has a fan flying out to Spring Training to compete for a spot in the MLB Fan Cave! Alexandria Justice was selected as a Top 30 finalist late on Tuesday and will arrive in Goodyear on Monday. TribeVibe caught up with Alex before she heads to Arizona to demonstrate why she is the ultimate baseball fan.
TribeVibe: What was your reaction when you found out you made the Top 30?
Alexandria Justice: Just like for the top 50, I’m not afraid to admit that I cried like a baby. Waiting for them to announce the top 30 after the voting closed at 5 p.m. was almost the death of me. I swear I didn’t blink for minutes at a time while staring at my computer screen and started to get lightheaded from holding my breath. Finally, I refreshed the page for the millionth time and there I was, in the top 30. My best friend was waiting outside of my room (I wanted to be alone, just in case) so when I screamed, “OH MY GOD, I LOVE EVERYONE IN THE WORLD!” she got the hint that it was safe to come in. She picked me up, spun me around, and we freaked out for the next five minutes. Once again, it was hard to believe that I wasn’t dreaming.
