Ever dream of making it to the Big Leagues? Imagine getting drafted, signing a contract and reporting to Spring Training as the newest member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Imagine walking into the locker room and seeing your name on your uniform hanging in your locker. Imagine spending a week among such stars as Matt Williams, Luis Gonzalez, Mark Grace and many more. Imagine the stories you'll hear and memories you'll make.
THIS IS WHAT WAS ADVERTISED ON THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS WEBSITE AND DID THIS EXPERIENCE DELIVER. I CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MY FIVE DAY EXPERIENCE, PRETENDING TO BE A BIG LEAGUER WITH 70+ OTHER BASEBALL ENTHUSIASTS. KNOWING A COUPLE OF THE COACHES AND HAVING A FRIEND WHO'S PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMP FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, I DECIDED TO GIVE THIS EXPERIENCE A GO (THANKS TO MY IN LAWS FOR HELPING WITH THE KIDS SO I COULD GO TO ADULT DAY CARE).
THE ACCOMMODATIONS WERE TOP NOTCH BEING PLACED AT THE TALKING STICKS CASINO AND RESORT. HAVING FULL ACCESS TO THE TRAINING FACILITY AND THE TRAINING STAFF, YOU BASICALLY HAD A FULL TIME TRAINER AT YOUR FINGER TIPS FROM 8AM TIL 5PM. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MANY OF US SPEND MORE TIME IN THE TRAINING ROOM THAN WE DID ON THE BASES. NOT HAVING THROWN A BASEBALL ROUTINELY IN YEARS, I WONDERED HOW MY ARE WAS GOING TO HOLD UP. AFTER A DAY OF EVALUATIONS AND A DRAFT OF PLAYERS, THE REST OF THE WEEK ENTAILED PLAYING TWO GAMES A DAY FOLLOWED UP BY A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WITH THE TOP TWO TEAMS. THE DBACKS HAD 12 COACHES IN CAMP, TWO PER TEAM WITH NOTABLE NAMES SUCH AS MARK GRACE, MATT WILLIAMS, ROBBY HAMMOCK, GREG SWINDELL, AND MIKE MORGAN.
THE COACHES WERE GREAT, INTERACTING WITH THE CAMPERS AND GIVING US TIPS ON HOW THE BIG LEAGUERS DO THINGS. ASIDE FROM GETTING INSTRUCTIONS FROM FORMER MAJOR LEAGUERS, MAKING MEMORIES AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK, WHICH ENDED WITH AN AWARDS CEREMONY. MUCH MORE WENT INTO THE WEEK THAN ONE COULD WRITE. THOSE PAST THEIR PRIMES AND ONES WHO NEVER HAD THEM, THE WEEK WAS SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE. IF YOU EVERY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN ONE OF THESE FANTASY CAMPS, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
