Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Winter Haven I go. After months and months of "off" season, it's finally here. Jogging from field to field and station to station. Back to basics to get back on track. I've had 6 months of preparation for a month of preparation for 5 months of straight up baseball. It's exciting. I've got my arm and body in shape and ready to go. Ready to be one of the 140-some-odd minor leaguers crammed into a sardine can of a clubhouse. It truly is amazing how they fit so many people in a locker room area without making it uncomfortable. It's never as bad as it could be. We've got the space we need and enough showers you never have to wait in an awkward line of half-naked men. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty happy about getting back to a scheduled life. I love having my life scheduled. I'm not being sarcastic. It's just easier that way. I look ahead when it comes to everything. Sometimes it's a flaw and sometimes it's good for me. In baseball, it's a good thing. Especially as a starter. I'll share some pictures I've found (around) that represent some of the qualities of life I get to experience for the next month. As time goes on I'll take real pictures and write "real" stories. In the meantime, these are all true pictures of EXACTLY what life in spring training is like for me...


Typical breakfast at the field


Typical morning for me at the ballpark


The Winter Haven Ritz-Carlton


Can you guess where I am? I suggest looking above the far dugout.