Spring Has Sprung!

Day 1 of A's spring training camp was a decidedly overcast affair
Day 1 of A’s spring training camp was a decidedly overcast affair (photo from Kate Longworth’s Twitter @KLongworthCSN)

Well, as you may already know, Monday was the big day for A’s pitchers and catchers to report to the team’s spring training camp in Phoenix. As usual, lots of other players chose to show up on Day 1 to join their pitching and catching comrades. The reporters covering the A’s beat showed up as well. And among the news trickling out on the first day of camp thanks to those beat writers…

*The team has reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with left-handed Japanese reliever Hideki Okajima that includes an invitation to the major league camp.

*Catcher Derek Norris has shed a few pounds and has also made some alterations to his swing.

*New shortstop Hiro Nakajima said that manager Bob Melvin told him not to worry about the Jed Lowrie trade, that he was his shortstop.

*Third base and infield coach Mike Gallego has apparently been working Nakajima out over the past week and is “pleasantly surprised.” He also noted that the shortstop has great hands, above average footwork and an average arm.

*Top prospect Michael Choice is ready to go after missing the second half of last season with a broken hand.

*Pitching prospect Michael Ynoa is still in the Dominican Republic suffering from a case of chicken pox.

*Coco Crisp arrived with a beatbox, and it wasn’t long before the ‘Bernie Lean’ music was blasting in the A’s clubhouse.

 

Here’s a sampling of photos from Day 1 of spring training camp from various A’s beat writers…

A's Manager Bob Melvin holds court on Day 1
A’s Manager Bob Melvin holding court on Day 1 (photo from CSN’s Twitter @CSNAthletics)
Coco Crisp takes a casual approach on Day 1
Outfielder Coco Crisp takes a casual approach on Day 1 (photo from Casey Pratt’s Twitter @CaseyPrattCSN)
Hiro Nakajima: Mr. Popularity!
Hiro Nakajima: The A’s Mr. Popularity! (photo from John Hickey’s Twitter @JHickey3)
Pitcher Tom Milone desperately trying to think of something news-making to say on Day 1
Pitcher Tom Milone desperately trying to think of something newsworthy to say on Day 1 (photo from CSN’s Twitter @CSNAthletics)
Daric Barton shows off his insane facial hair in an attempt to fit in
First baseman Daric Barton shows off his insane facial hair in an attempt to fit in (photo from Jane Lee’s Twitter @JaneMLB)
Derek Norris and Brandon Moss wonder why no one else wants to play catch with them on a cloudy day in Phoenix
Derek Norris and Brandon Moss wonder why no one else wants to play catch with them on an overcast Phoenix day (photo from CSN’s Twitter @CSNAthletics)

 

See what the A’s beat writers have to say in their Day 1 columns…

Susan Slusser/SF Chronicle

Jane Lee/MLB.com

John Hickey/Bay Area News Group

Casey Pratt/CSN Bay Area

 

Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm to keep up with all the news down on the farm!

3 Replies to “Spring Has Sprung!”

    1. i wouldnt worry just yet, tkteics can get sold many times before the game, the original owner wants a profit the scalper wanted a profit i wouldnt worry call the ballpark and see if they can check the tkteics for valididy but i buy tkteics all the time from people never had a problem yet

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