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Game in Dunedin today


ReclaimTheCrown

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I'm going to the game in Dunedin tomorrow; anyone ever been and have any insights on the place or parking in the area? Haven't heard the best things about it, but happen to have a free day in the Tampa area, so figured I'd check it out. Thanks

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I'm going to the game in Dunedin tomorrow; anyone ever been and have any insights on the place or parking in the area? Haven't heard the best things about it, but happen to have a free day in the Tampa area, so figured I'd check it out. Thanks

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I expect a report and photos! Yes, it is a very low amenity, older, small park. You are right on top of the players and staff though so it almost feels like a low A game. The fans are pasty white, but polite enough. The field is in rough shape so you won't see stellar defense. I have enjoyed seeing games there though.

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I've been and it is basically as has already been described. Kind of an old and nondescript complex. They don't have much in beer selection but the service is good and fast. Parking is a breeze as there are so many options around the stadium. There is also a surprising amount of good food in the area if you're a foodie looking for a meal before or after the game.

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I live in Florida and have been to that park twice: once for a spring training game and once for a minor league game (Cubs/Jays because why not...). The first was fine. As people said, parking is nearby, the amenities are lacking some from the newer spring training facilities, but it's got a nice, small feel. The latter, however, was depressing. I went on a weekend and was expecting a similar environment to the Keys games i went to in the past, but that wasn't the case. My buddy and I were two of maybe a hundred or so people there.

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The VFW across the street is a good place to park for $10 or so. They have a nice divey bar inside if you get there early enough. Plenty of similar options all around the place. Last year, a buddy of mine and I drove up the road (about a mile) after the game (North on Douglass Avenue), and there's a cool little downtown area with shops and a brew pub.

The stadium isn't too exciting, but worth a walk around the concourse to see all that they have on display.

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Wanted to follow up with some notes and observations from the game yesterday since I don't believe it was televised anywhere. I'll try to toss a few pictures in this thread, as well, if anyone is interested. Obviously it's just one game, so hard to draw any conclusions, but a few thoughts:

- Joey Rickard: Very slender build, and not a tall guy. Looks a bit like David Lough, too. Had two ABs where he swung at the second pitch (two lazy flyouts, I believe). He worked the count on his other two ABs, with a sharp groundout to 3B and a firm line drive single to center. He also made a decent throw to 3B from CF on the single that scored Toronto's first run (didn't appear we had a play at the plate, so he threw to the right base, which Buck will love).

- Trumbo's homer was a no doubt about it line drive missile to left. Showed his power. Had a chopper single to left (odd play) and a weak 5-4-3 in other ABs.

- Worley looked pretty good. Pitched mostly in the high 80s to low 90s, but touched 93 a few times (muscling up against the likes of Donaldson and Tulo) on what to me seemed like a fair gun. He mixed in three sliders or cutters at 85 and a curve at 75. He located his offspeed stuff well (I think all were strikes). He got squared up a couple times in the first inning, but ultimately he looked pretty good.

-Dariel Alvarez had a bloop single to right on a 3-2 pitch, then went first pitch swinging his next two ABs, one resulting in a pop out, the other in a smoked sinking liner to left that was caught on the dive. Unfortunately didn't get to see him use that arm.

- Andrew Triggs - sat at 90-91 with the fastball and some kind of slurvy curvy thing around 75. Though he looks like he could be deceptive (not quite as submarine as O'Day, but definitely sidearm at least), the Jays obviously weren't deceived. Martin's homer was probably wind-aided to right center, but Smoak crushed his and there was little doubt about Pompey's either (down the line). Triggs also, unwisely, tried to barehand a bouncer back up the middle and gave up a steal to a guy (Goins) who got a monster jump. Obviously not a great day at the office.

- Chris Jones' fastball sat at 88, curve at 75, with a couple other offerings (looked like a slider and a change) falling in between there. He threw nicely, with a good pitch mix. Seems to me the typical kind of crafty lefty. Also not a big guy.

- Steve Tolleson made a nice play far to his left at 3B, spun, and made the throw. Only mention because it was probably our best defensive play and was the first batter he saw in the game.

- Christian Walker had a good, patient walk then hit what was probably a wind-aided triple off Roberto Osuna (high fly ball to center that kept carrying and the CF couldn't make the play up against the wall).

- Ollie Drake looked like Ollie Drake - low 80s on the split, touched 91 on the fastball, made a few guys look silly in addition to a loud fly out to left center.

-Cesar Cabral worked around lead off walk and SB. Touched 90 with the fastball, maybe a slider in the low 80s. Big guy with at besn decent stuff. Mention mostly because of Matusz's injury.

- Trey Mancini worked a 3-2 walk. He fouled off a pitch hard down the right field line and swung through a fastball (only 85, but the lefty Toronto had throwing looked pretty deceptive). Only mention the latter because some concern in scouting reports with Mancini's bat speed. I saw the latter bit of batting practice (two rounds for Mancini) - no real key takeaways from that, but Scott Coolbaugh was enthusiastic with him and spent a few minutes talking with Trey after his second to last turn. Interesting to see.

- LJ Hoes had a rough at bat off the same lefty - three pitch strikeout, including looking bad on two what appeared to be changeups.

- Henry Urrutia, still long and pretty lean, hit into a weak 4-6-3 in his only at bat.

- Ashur Tolliver looked pretty interesting. Lefty that threw up to a pretty easy looking 93 a few times, he also had probably a curve in the upper 70s. Casey Kotchman did hit him hard a couple times, including if I recall correctly a lineout, but he has an intriguing arm.

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Darien Alvarez

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A Chance Sisco sighting.... Just warming up while Pena gets his gear on, he didn't play. Was on deck when Tolleson struck out to end the game. Bummed I didn't see him.

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Flaherty. Forgot to mention he made a throwing error at 3B on a play he had to rush. Later atoned with a nice 5-3 DP and a solid single.

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