I'm going to the Mets spring training and Marlins spring training tommorrow in one day.

 

Question. I've never done this before.

 

What should I know in order to get autographs?

Where should I go to get them?

Is there a parking cost?

What time do players show up?

Are practice fields free to see, and the game a cost thing?

 

I am really looking forward to seeing both teams play vs. the cardinals and orioles.

 

Chris

 

BTW- General admission tickets rock--16 bucks total to see both games! Assuming parking is free.

What should I know in order to get autographs?

Get there early and wait by the Marlins bullpen area. Its on the 3rd base side. The players come out of that area so you can grab (not literally ) them while they are walking by. I would get there by 45 minutes before the game to atleast get a good spot by the railing. You can also get autographs for the bullpen guys between innings. I have gotten so many autographs, pictures etc the past few years. Somedays its easier to get them and sometimes its difficult.

Where should I go to get them?

See above

Is there a parking cost?

@ RDS park in the garage its free. If you park in the grass you have to pay.

What time do players show up?

30- 45 minutes before 1st pitch..

Are practice fields free to see, and the game a cost thing?

I think they are open during/before the game. The gate to get in is pass the Marlins parking lot.

 

I hope this helps.

Thanks, Yes, it does. I plan on leaving at 7am. Only thing that sucks is I thought I could print a 4x6 picture of every player and get them to sign that.

The pictures just look horrible printed though.

 

Thanks for info on parking. Otherwise, I'd be screwed!

All I'm going to say is wow, I love the Marlins spring training site. I hate the Mets site, but love the people working there.

 

And Ronnie Paulino is a f***ing dick for a guy who's been traded this offseason more then the Dukes "Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice" on the Commodities Exchange.

 

Details to follow once I get a charge.

All I'm going to say is wow, I love the Marlins spring training site. I hate the Mets site, but love the people working there.

 

And Ronnie Paulino is a f***ing dick for a guy who's been traded this offseason more then the Dukes "Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice" on the Commodities Exchange.

 

Details to follow once I get a charge.

WTF did paulino do? Your comment about him made me laugh though.

Look at it this way, Everybody when asked signed. They were very nice, especially if you addressed them with Please and Thank you.

 

Paulino, I asked for an autograph, along with Baker. Baker was nice and signed for Me. Paulino walked further away so I gave up, but when a older guy (in his 60's maybe) asked him for an autograph, Paulino said "No, Go away.."

 

I was shocked, but apparently this older guy had heard about Paulino before being like this in Pitt and Philly.

 

Marlins were awesome, Got JJ, Andrew Miller, John Baker, Matt Lindstrom, as well as Chris Coughlan, Mike Stanton, Kyle Skipworth, Logan Morrison, Matt Dominguez. All I had to do was ask, and each guy would walk by you, like a foot away. Got the Minor league guys on blank pages, and the players on little wallet sized photo's.

 

I wish I had more cojones (guts) to ask for more players. I didn't want to disturb them too much, and considering I'm about a year younger then most of them, I didn't want to start looking like a fool.

 

The Mets, on the otherhand practice in King Henry's Fortress. Black Mesh on the Chain Link Fence, Can't see anything, they pull up and the gates already being opened so no time to get em to sign. A few guys would waive. They would run into the clubhouse. Not one signed while I was there, and only 1 player showed up before me, David Wright. Only auto I wanted too . He signed for the person there too, only signer all day.

 

Then, the practice field was only opened for 45 mins, was only confirmed it was an open practice when they opened the gate . Then they kicked everyone out before practice was even over. Sad, but true. Not one player signed either, for the 10 plus fans, and 4 kids there.

 

Wanna laugh, at he player gate was Myself, My friend Mike (18), two 21 year old guys, and a NYPD officer on vacation. 5 people. Not one guy stopped. No one else was lingering either, we were all alone in the parking lot.

 

Will never go there again, period. Sucked Balls, and to top it off, I locked my keys in my car across the street in a parking lot. But I didn't know where they were and looked for 3 hours everywhere. Even got a security guard to get me back to the practice fields and look. He also drove myself my friend and a cop across the street in a golf card to help us out. When I finally got in, the keys were hidden in the glove box. Wish I knew.

But all the workers were very helpful. Very nice people. The players, not so much. At least Wright was nice apparently.

 

End Rant. f*** 24 mets players, f*** paulino- and f*** driving from homestead to port st. lucie to lock my only set of keys period in my car.