BlueClaws team photographer Dave Schofield is down in Florida for spring training and is doing some blogging for us at BlueClaws Blog. Click here to read his first entry and below, find his second.

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Sometimes during spring training, surprises come along that simply delight me and the job I am so fortunate to be doing. On March 5, a Monday, I was up very early to photograph the Phillies minor leaguers headshots for three Philies minor league teams; Reading Phillies, Clearwater threshers and our own Lakewood BlueClaws. Early starts are nothing new to me. Most teams want their headshots done early before the players begin their morning workouts at about 9am.

My schedule on this particular day called for me to photograph the Yankees against the Phillies in Brighthouse Networks Field, the home of the Phillies during spring training and the home of the Clearwater Threshers during the season.

As I walked onto the field during batting practice, I noticed across the field, Al Santisiere, the editor and publisher of Yankees magazine. I am responsible for many of the Yankees minor league photos that appear in Yankees Magazine and Al and I have become good friends. He approached me and told me that he was about to do an interview in the Phillies dugout and that I might want to get some photos of it. He was sure correct about that!

Al was about to conduct an interview with two Hall of Famers: Reggie Jackson and Michael Jack Schmidt. One of the really wonderful things about spring training is the sheer number of former players who are around during camp. I suspect that most teams want former players around so that the young players can learn from them the importance of dedication and work to sustaining a major league career.

It is fun to watch some of the younger players reactions to the like of Schmidt and Jackson as they show up at the ballpark.

I noticed that the temperature at FirstEnergy Park has been in the 60s, that sounds really nice. It has been sunny and in the 80s here in Florida, perfect weather for both playing and photographing baseball. Friday is the last day of headshots for me as I will be doing the New Hampshire Fishercats of the Blue Jays.

The Yankees played the Phillies in each of their first three spring games, that is quite unusual for spring training, but since many of the teams have left Florida for Arizona, some measures had to be taken to insure that teams would have games every day. On the 14th of March, all of the minor league teams will begin their games.

When the minor league games start I will post some photos from both the Phillies and Yankees camps. This is a perfect situation for the baseball fan. There are two games being played at one time at the minor league camps. For the Phillies on one day both A teams will play and the AA and AAA teams will travel, usually to either Tampa to play the Yankees or Dunedin to play the BlueJays.

BlueClaws team photographer Dave Schofield is heading to Clearwater for Spring Training and he is chronicling his journey for BlueClaws Blog. Below is entry #1, from Cary, North Carolina. Enjoy.

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There is perhaps, no time so hopeful as spring and spring training. Teams and players rise from the frosty ashes of winter like a phoenix to begin anew. This is why I look forward so much to my yearly pilgrimage to Clearwater, Florida and Phillies spring training.

This year’s trip began in Cary, North Carolina. I was shooting photos for 5 different colleges: Canisius College from Buffalo, NY (which also happens to be my alma mater), St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Youngstown State from Ohio, Marshall University from West Virginia and local school and BlueClaws partner Monmouth University.

Monmouth played against St. Joes and Youngstown State. In the St. Joes game on Friday February 17, Monmouth sent highly regarded righty from CBA, Pat Light to the mound.

Light was masterful in front of a gaggle of big league scouts sitting behind the plate. As you can see, all came armed with the mandatory radar guns. Light did not disappoint as he came away with the win.

After a few days visiting with my daughter and her husband in Georgia, I lit out on Saturday Feb. 25 for Clearwater and made the 8 hour drive without incident.

I will be doing the Phillies headshots on March 5. During this shoot I will be working with Miles Kennedy the Phillies team photographer and while he shoots every player in minor league camp wearing Phillies shirts and caps, I will shoot all the players in either Reading, Clearwater or Lakewood caps. The entire process, which we start with a 6am set up, is finished by 9:30am when the players must take the field. Miles and I have been doing this for 8 years and have it down to a science.

Until then, I have several fun assignments. Tomorrow I am heading out to Winter Haven to Chain O Lakes Stadium to photograph St. Bonaventure against Mt. St. Mary’s of Maryland. The next day I am photographing Rose Hulman Institute of Technology at Winter Haven. On Feb. 28, I will begin the Yankees minor league headshots. I do what Miles does and shoot all of the Yankees minor leaguers and also headshots for Trenton, Charleston and Scranton. That process goes for two days concluding on March 4. The photos are done at Raymond James Stadium while the players are getting their physicals. Not only the players are photographed but also the Athletic Trainers, coaches and manager.

In my next blog post I will talk about the college games I shot and then the headshots. The weather is promised to be wonderful for the next week.

Throughout the spring, BlueClaws team photographer Dave Schofield will be checking in and doing some guest blogging. Dave got down earlier in the week. Here is entry one:

CLEARWATER, FL – The day began early for me on this the first day of my work here in Florida. I had a long drive to Winter Haven and Chain O’ Lakes Park for the St. Bonaventure University v Northeastern Univ. baseball game. The day started out with a slight drizzle and some threat of rain. Well the threat was realized at Chain o’ Lakes as the rain fell steadily until the start of the game and the after two innings it began to pour resulting in a 2 hour delay. I shot the two innings and then left for Clearwater again.

In the next few days I will shoot five college baseball games. On March 3 the season opens with the Yankees at 1PM at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa as they take on the Pirates. After that game I will head to Brighthouse Networks Field to shoot the Phillies playing Florida State University. I will begin posting photos with my blog with that game.

If anyone has anything they want to ask me about spring training or any of the former and future BlueClaws feel free to email me at blueclawblog10@gmail.com and I will try to get to all of the questions.

Should anyone feel any jealousy about me being in Florida, the temperature at Winter Haven today was 42 degrees with winds and rain…it was COLD! But I didn’t have to shovel anything.

We will talk again in a couple of days.

Dave

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(photo is a collection of credentials Dave has for the spring)

In advance of what will be an exciting 2009 World Series between the Yankees and Phillies, we’re opening up the blog to you. We want your opinions on the series…

• Who will win? Why?
• Who are you rooting for?
• Who are your favorite former BlueClaws in the series?
• If you are a Mets fan, who are you rooting for? Why?
• Anything else you can think of…

Just two restrictions…1) have fun, 2) keep it clean

Email everything to ggiombarrese@blueclaws.com to play. We’ll post them all here on this blog, on our Facebook page and on our Twitter page.

Thanks and enjoy.

BlueClaws team photographer Dave Schofield checks in from Florida, where he is covering Spring Training.

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First off I would like to apologize for the lack of blogs from me here if Florida. The internet connection here at my hotel has been less than spectacular during my stay here. In order to email anything, I have to get it done before 7am. It seems that if more than a couple of people are using the internet it slows down to a stop!!

I had a great experience the other night. While I was sitting in my room working on some photos, a friend from the area called to tell me that the shuttle was going to be launched on the other side of the state in 2 minutes. I went outside with my camera in hand to see if I could see it. And surely off into the darkening eastern sky a trail of fire and smoke rose  and was a spectacular sight. I thought that it might be somewhat frightening to someone traveling east on I-4 if they did not know a Shuttle launch had
been scheduled. This was a nice little bonus to the work I am doing here, I am attaching a photo, perhaps it will find it’s way onto my blog on the website.

This past week the Phillies made some cuts to get the big league roster down to a little over 40. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and J C Romero are still away on WBC duties so they are not in camp. John Mayberry JR. is still making a strong push for his inclusion onto the opening day roster. He has 3 homeruns and continues to play well  in the outfield. Jason Donald has played three positions for the Phils in the infield and also hit very well. You will remember his as a former Lakewood BlueClaw and bronze medal winner in the Olympics.

(more…)

Here’s part three of our guest blogger series. If you want to participate, feel free! Just email me at ggiombarrese@blueclaws.com with your favorite BlueClaws story. Whether it be your favorite game, your favorite player(s), your thoughts on the 2009 Phillies, the World Baseball Classic, or anything else. Submit an entry, and we’ll give you a free three-month subscription to PhillyBaseballNews.com (a $24.95 value), a great Phillies fan site. Here’s our third entry, thanks to Phil of Toms River.

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The World Series trophy has been the most difficult sports championship to defend. The last repeat Super Bowl winner? The New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005. The last NBA team to win back-to-back titles? The Los Angeles Lakers in 2001 and 2002. The last baseball team to successfully defend its title? The New York Yankees all the way back in 1999 and 2000. The Phillies won the 2008 World Series and have their work cut out for them in their attempt to be the first team to repeat as champions in nine years. 

It starts with the health of one of the team’s leaders, Chase Utley. Utley underwent hip surgery in November and the worst-case scenario return wasn’t until June. Currently, Utley insists he’ll be ready for Opening Day, but should the team rush back its star player and jeopardize his future? Even if he is healthy enough to return, how will his play be affected? He played the entire season and was clutch in the playoffs, but it was obvious he was hurt in the second half, he wasn’t himself. 

Joining Utley on the road to recovery in the offseason was third baseman Pedro Feliz. Feliz went in for back surgery and should be ready for the season opener, but again, the team is being cautious. Feliz’s hit in Game 5 of the World Series proved to be the game, and series, winner. 

Another player that won’t be joining the team for the first game of the season is reliever J.C. Romero. Romero was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance. He was one of the key pieces in the Major League’s best bullpen. 

However, if there is any team that is best prepared to battle through these setbacks, it is the Philadelphia Phillies. This team has shown that it never quits, that it’s never over. They followed up 2007’s late season surge by passing the Mets once again, down three and a half games with 17 left to play. The Phillies came from behind against the Mets twice during the season, scoring six runs in the ninth to beat them in a July game, and overcoming a 7-0 deficit to win 8-7 in 13 innings in an August game. It’s the same grit that helped the Phillies score 4 runs in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the NLCS to beat the Dodgers 7-5. 

No matter what happens to the Phillies, they won’t quit. They’re a resilient bunch. The team is nicknamed the “Fightin’ Phils” for a reason.

Here’s part one of our guest blogger series. If you want to participate, feel free! Just email me at ggiombarrese@blueclaws.com with your favorite BlueClaws story. Whether it be your favorite game, your favorite player(s), your thoughts on the 2009 Phillies, the World Baseball Classic, or anything else. Submit an entry, and we’ll give you a free three-month subscription to PhillyBaseballNews.com (a $24.95 value), a great Phillies fan site. Here’s our second entry, thanks to Ed of Toms River.

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My name is Ed and this is how I became a hardcore BlueClaws fan. I moved to the area from up north in April 2003. In 2004 I met one of the SAL League umpires at my place of employment. I don’t remember how we got on the subject but he told me he was an umpire and arranged for two tickets for me for that nights game. One game was all it took and I was hooked. The family friendly atmosphere and a chance to watch some good baseball close to home how can you go wrong?

I attended 15 games in 2004, 40 games in 2005. In 2006 I became a season ticket holder and 2009 will be my fourth year as a season ticket holder. In 2008 I really became involved in the off field activities the BlueClaws offer. I attended the ALS dinner, bid and won Freddy Galvis jerseys at the breast cancer and MS auctions. After the season ended I purchased Freddy’s jersey from Military appreciation night. I was the winning bidder 4 times on the press box suite auction which is an experience I can highly recommend. If the BlueClaws are playing at home I’m there rain or shine. Watching the young players play to me is the purest form of baseball without the hype of Major League Ball.

Rain delays, I will wait them out no matter how long they last. I was once one of a handful of people still in the stadium on a weeknight after midnight and I was interviewed by Sam Christopher. Why was I still there so late on a weeknight, what did I like about the BlueClaws etc. My nephew who is now 13 has been coming to the games with me since he was 9 and I have always felt comfortable bringing him to the games because of the family friendly atmosphere. He refers to me as his BlueClaws Buddy. Looking forward to 2009 GO BLUECLAWS!!!!

Here’s part one of our guest blogger series. If you want to participate, feel free! Just email me at ggiombarrese@blueclaws.com with your favorite BlueClaws story. Whether it be your favorite game, your favorite player(s), your thoughts on the 2009 Phillies, the World Baseball Classic, or anything else. Submit an entry, and we’ll give you a free three-month subscription to PhillyBaseballNews.com (a $24.95 value), a great Phillies fan site. Here’s our first entry, thanks to LeAnn of Brick.

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