So last night we came up with a little plan to have the last laugh with Ryan Franklin. He had been giving us girls all sorts of grief all week for our fondness for certain members of the bullpen. We decided we should all make rhinestone "Franklin #31" tanks tops to wear under our jerseys, perhaps for Picture Day at Busch Stadium this summer. Then we decided "What the heck, let's wear them tomorrow!". So at 8:30 p.m. we were off to Wal-Mart to buy tank tops, rhinestones and glue. We were up until midnight, but we each ended up with a very blinged out "Frankie" shirt.
Practice had limited attendance, both fans and players, because the game was in Vero Beach today, but "Frankie" was at practice, not traveling with the team, because he had pitched in recent games. We had taken up our usual post along the fence at practice when "Perry" (bullpen coach, Marty Mason) came by in a golf cart from another field. He stopped nearby, saw us, and laughed saying "You girls haven't found real jobs yet?". We waved him over and asked him to help us out. We told him that Ryan Franklin had been giving us the business all week and that we wanted to have the last laugh before we left the next day. We gave Marty a preview of our shirts (he was greatly amused and told us to make fun of Ryan's new super short haircut) and asked him to tell Ryan to make sure he stopped by.
Sure enough a few minutes later when "Perry" drove by the pitchers playing toss, he hopped off the cart and had a few words with Ryan. When the pitchers headed to our end of the field for fielding practice, sure enough Frankie came to see us and asked "So who is it over hear that needs to talk to me?". We said that we wanted to have the last laugh since he had been giving us the business all week, and we thought that maybe he felt just a little left out of our bullpen lovefest so.... then one by one we each opened our jerseys to reveal four very sparkling "Franklin 31's". His response was classic... after a few minutes of silence he stepped back and simply said "That is F***in' Beautiful!!!" Then he needed to start fielding drills and told us not to go anywhere... as if!
During the fielding drills he definitely pointed us out to the other pitchers and they all proceeded to stare and/or laugh at us. Frankie then took Tyler Johnson's (April's crush who started this all) glove and drop kick it towards third base. He was totally being the "spoon" we all had come to enjoy so much this week.... definitely stirring it up. After the fielding drills he made a point to come back to the fence and chat with us before shagging balls for batting practice with the other pitchers. He was so incredibly sweet and genuinely touched by our thoughtfulness. Unlike the rest of the week he wasn't sarcastic at all. He said that he had been having a really bad week (he had to get his haircut... evidently that wasn't his choice, he had a big old gash on his lip which he pointed out, he got a loss, and he said it was hot) and that we just made his day/week. He asked us if we would wear his shirts in STL (we told him to look for us on picture day) and asked if we were enjoying our Spring Training trip. He discovered that it was Angie's first trip to Spring Training, and he referred to her as "rookie". He said he was completely impressed with the fact that we just put them together on the fly because I have to admit they look "fierce" as Christian from Project Runway would say. We said that they were done quickly and Ryan then said that he did see a little extra glue on April's shirt to which she quickly replied "If you can see the glue you are looking too close." He got all embarrassed and then recovered quickly in total spoon style by saying that he was just checking to see if we had spelled his name right. While were were chatting Ryan Ludwick walked by and noticed the shirts and simply said to the other Ryan/Frankie... "Man!" to which Frankie responded with "Hey man, it is my fan squad, check it out". Before he left he thanked us once again, and then stuck his index and middle fingers through the chain link fence and we shook is fingers since we couldn't shake his hand... he said that is how they all shake hands through a fence :( Ryan Franklin... you are a total spoon, but gosh darn it if you aren't completely sweet as well.
Batting practice with Albert and Yadi was a stitch today. They were challenging each other to get home runs. Albert was teasing Yadi that he needed to just hit one over saying "Come on, we don't have all day!" When Albert didn't get a hold of pitch that he wanted he definitely said "Okay, just wait for next time. I am going to hit it out next time. I know I can do it". Okay, so how awesome is it that Albert Pujols, Albert freakin' Pujols thinks he needs to prove his hitting skills to his teammates, coaches and fans? Hello, you are Albert Pujols... I think I will take your word for it!
After practice we headed to Vero Beach to Dodgertown. On the way up we were slowed down a bit due to construction, and there must have been an accident there earlier involving a truck hauling napkins and plastic silverware as the roadway was littered with napkins and plastic silverware for nearly a mile. We just laughed and laughed at all the plastic spoons on the road, and thought fondly of our Frankie:)
Dodgertown and Holman Stadium is definitely old school, a step back in time. We are glad we got to go and see it before the Dodgers move their training camp to Arizona next spring. The game was great. The Cards won, and went ahead for good with bases loaded in the 9th with two runs scoring on a passed ball. Brendan Ryan was totally heads up scoring from second with excellent base running when he noticed the catcher being a little lax in chasing the ball. Unfortunately we were sitting in front of some very annoying men at the game. They didn't ever shut up, and they were definitely ogling Angie for a bit, but they quickly stopped when she turned around and said "Um, you are the same age as my Dad, so thanks but that is just a little gross"... they left us alone the rest of the game, but still never shut up. Nik caught a game ball tossed into the stands by Josh Phelps, and after the game I managed to get Rick Ankiel's autograph. He didn't stick around to sign for April, Nik or Ang for some reason... guess that makes up for me not getting a ball this trip.
It has been a great week. We head out tomorrow. Practice in the morning, a game up the road a bit in Port St. Lucie in the afternoon, and then head for home after the game. We plan to stop Saturday night, and then get home on Sunday. I am a little sad to leave Spring Training behind, but look forward to getting home and sleeping in my own bed.
Practice had limited attendance, both fans and players, because the game was in Vero Beach today, but "Frankie" was at practice, not traveling with the team, because he had pitched in recent games. We had taken up our usual post along the fence at practice when "Perry" (bullpen coach, Marty Mason) came by in a golf cart from another field. He stopped nearby, saw us, and laughed saying "You girls haven't found real jobs yet?". We waved him over and asked him to help us out. We told him that Ryan Franklin had been giving us the business all week and that we wanted to have the last laugh before we left the next day. We gave Marty a preview of our shirts (he was greatly amused and told us to make fun of Ryan's new super short haircut) and asked him to tell Ryan to make sure he stopped by.
Sure enough a few minutes later when "Perry" drove by the pitchers playing toss, he hopped off the cart and had a few words with Ryan. When the pitchers headed to our end of the field for fielding practice, sure enough Frankie came to see us and asked "So who is it over hear that needs to talk to me?". We said that we wanted to have the last laugh since he had been giving us the business all week, and we thought that maybe he felt just a little left out of our bullpen lovefest so.... then one by one we each opened our jerseys to reveal four very sparkling "Franklin 31's". His response was classic... after a few minutes of silence he stepped back and simply said "That is F***in' Beautiful!!!" Then he needed to start fielding drills and told us not to go anywhere... as if!
During the fielding drills he definitely pointed us out to the other pitchers and they all proceeded to stare and/or laugh at us. Frankie then took Tyler Johnson's (April's crush who started this all) glove and drop kick it towards third base. He was totally being the "spoon" we all had come to enjoy so much this week.... definitely stirring it up. After the fielding drills he made a point to come back to the fence and chat with us before shagging balls for batting practice with the other pitchers. He was so incredibly sweet and genuinely touched by our thoughtfulness. Unlike the rest of the week he wasn't sarcastic at all. He said that he had been having a really bad week (he had to get his haircut... evidently that wasn't his choice, he had a big old gash on his lip which he pointed out, he got a loss, and he said it was hot) and that we just made his day/week. He asked us if we would wear his shirts in STL (we told him to look for us on picture day) and asked if we were enjoying our Spring Training trip. He discovered that it was Angie's first trip to Spring Training, and he referred to her as "rookie". He said he was completely impressed with the fact that we just put them together on the fly because I have to admit they look "fierce" as Christian from Project Runway would say. We said that they were done quickly and Ryan then said that he did see a little extra glue on April's shirt to which she quickly replied "If you can see the glue you are looking too close." He got all embarrassed and then recovered quickly in total spoon style by saying that he was just checking to see if we had spelled his name right. While were were chatting Ryan Ludwick walked by and noticed the shirts and simply said to the other Ryan/Frankie... "Man!" to which Frankie responded with "Hey man, it is my fan squad, check it out". Before he left he thanked us once again, and then stuck his index and middle fingers through the chain link fence and we shook is fingers since we couldn't shake his hand... he said that is how they all shake hands through a fence :( Ryan Franklin... you are a total spoon, but gosh darn it if you aren't completely sweet as well.
Batting practice with Albert and Yadi was a stitch today. They were challenging each other to get home runs. Albert was teasing Yadi that he needed to just hit one over saying "Come on, we don't have all day!" When Albert didn't get a hold of pitch that he wanted he definitely said "Okay, just wait for next time. I am going to hit it out next time. I know I can do it". Okay, so how awesome is it that Albert Pujols, Albert freakin' Pujols thinks he needs to prove his hitting skills to his teammates, coaches and fans? Hello, you are Albert Pujols... I think I will take your word for it!
After practice we headed to Vero Beach to Dodgertown. On the way up we were slowed down a bit due to construction, and there must have been an accident there earlier involving a truck hauling napkins and plastic silverware as the roadway was littered with napkins and plastic silverware for nearly a mile. We just laughed and laughed at all the plastic spoons on the road, and thought fondly of our Frankie:)
Dodgertown and Holman Stadium is definitely old school, a step back in time. We are glad we got to go and see it before the Dodgers move their training camp to Arizona next spring. The game was great. The Cards won, and went ahead for good with bases loaded in the 9th with two runs scoring on a passed ball. Brendan Ryan was totally heads up scoring from second with excellent base running when he noticed the catcher being a little lax in chasing the ball. Unfortunately we were sitting in front of some very annoying men at the game. They didn't ever shut up, and they were definitely ogling Angie for a bit, but they quickly stopped when she turned around and said "Um, you are the same age as my Dad, so thanks but that is just a little gross"... they left us alone the rest of the game, but still never shut up. Nik caught a game ball tossed into the stands by Josh Phelps, and after the game I managed to get Rick Ankiel's autograph. He didn't stick around to sign for April, Nik or Ang for some reason... guess that makes up for me not getting a ball this trip.
It has been a great week. We head out tomorrow. Practice in the morning, a game up the road a bit in Port St. Lucie in the afternoon, and then head for home after the game. We plan to stop Saturday night, and then get home on Sunday. I am a little sad to leave Spring Training behind, but look forward to getting home and sleeping in my own bed.
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