Keith, Stacy, and Sue at Camelback Ranch

The last fan we spoke with during our time wandering Camelback Ranch was Stacy Todhunter from West Covina, Calif.  Stacy was a little hard to miss, as she was enthusiastically rooting on the Dodgers during each and every at bat from her primo seats behind first base.  We had to get a few questions in with her!

So how’s your Spring Training experience been so far?

This is my first one and it’s awesome.  I love it.  Even though we’re struggling, I still love it.

What do you think of Camelback Ranch?

It’s nice.  It’s smaller than I thought, but I love it.  I want to come back here.

What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?

I’m pretty excited for the new players that they have on the team now.  We lost a lot of good ones last season, so I can’t wait to see what the new ones are going to be like.

Anyone in particular you have your eye on?

Not really, I kind of like them all.  You clearly heard me cheering for everybody [laughing].

Anything you want to see out of the team or one guy this year?

Like I said, I don’t have one in particular, except Russell Martin was my favorite player and unfortunately he left.  I just want to see us do better, now that we have a new coach and everything.

What do you think the chances are of making the playoffs?

I don’t know, I’m hoping better than last season.

Anything else?

Just go Dodgers!

Eric and Craig at Camelback Ranch

We found Craig Weimer watching the game down the third base line of Camelback Ranch.  A Dodger fan for all of his 41 years, Craig now lives in Golden, CO.  Here’s what he had to say about the Dodgers in 2011:

How’s your Spring Training experience been so far?

Great, been here since Friday.  Went to a Rockies game last night and we’re here today.

What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?

The prospect of at least making the playoffs.

What do you think the chances are of the Dodgers making the playoffs?

I think they’re pretty good.  It’s a soft West, we should be able to come out of that.

Anything in particular you think needs to happen to make the playoffs?

Need to get the hitting going.  I think we’re good on pitching, I think we’ll do well on pitching.  I think it’s the hitting where the sore spot is.

Anything you want to see out of the team or a particular player this season?

I definitely need to see some guys in left field step up and play, fill in and get some home runs.  Get some scoring potential going and score some runs.

Jackie, Donna, and Joyce

The other week, Alex and I roamed Camelback Ranch and talked with the fans about their time at Spring Training and their thoughts on the upcoming season.  We quickly found Joyce Park from Murrieta, Calif. relaxing on the right field lawn with her two nieces.   A Dodger fan for more than 50 years, Joyce’s infectious laugh and positive attitude reminded us of the joy that comes from just watching the game, and not overanalyzing ever transaction or coaching decision.  She’s a gem!

How long have you been a Dodger fan?

For 50 years.  I watched Drysdale and Koufax pitch.

Tell us about your Spring Training experience so far.

We came hear the very first Spring Training that Camelback Ranch opened two years ago and we sat in seats over there [by third base].  I loved it.  And then last year we came and sat up here [the right field lawn] and it’s a lot more fun.  You don’t have the seat confinement so you can move around.  I love it.  I love it here.

How many Spring Training games have you been to this year?

This will be our fourth or fifth one.

What are you the most excited about for the coming season?

I love Ethier in right field.  Loney at first base.  All the young guys that have been working.  Kershaw…last year I got his autograph.  I was so excited.  He was surrounded by all the little kids.  I said ‘Aw, come on, Kershaw.  I watched Sandy Koufax pitch and you’re going to be him some day.’  He got this big smile on his face and autographed my hat.  So I’m excited.

Is there anything you really want to see from the team or a particular player this season?

My whole thing is that I’d love to see all the young guys really make it this year.  Kemp…Ethier…Loney and all those guys.  I would love to see them all have a huge, breakout year.  Huge.

What do you think are the team’s chances of making the playoffs?

Sigh.  I would like to say…they’re going to do it!

Anything else?

Only that I love the Dodgers and bleed Dodger Blue, just like Tommy Lasorda!

Mike Van Wie (2nd from right) with his extended family

Next up in our “voice of the fans” series from Camelback Ranch is Mike Van Wie.  Mike and his family currently live in Phoenix, but he hails from California and has been a Dodger fan since 1960.

Tell us about your Spring Training experience so far:

This year, this is our first game, but we’ve been to a bunch of them.  Never did get down to Florida since we used to live in California, but we’ve been to a bunch of them since the Dodgers have been here.  This is the first game this year, but I went to about 15-20 last year and the year before that, about the same.

What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?

I want to win a pennant!  I want to win a pennant this year!

Since you brought it up, what do you think the odds are that the Dodgers actually win the pennant?

To be perfectly honest, I don’t think they’re that great.  They need some help everywhere, but teams have done as good or better with less, so we’ll see.

Anything you really want to see from the team or a particular player?

Yeah, I’d like to see Matt Kemp do a hell of a lot better than he did last year.  I know he had big numbers, but his average was down.  I’d like to see some improvement out of the catching position.  I’d like to see the pitching a little bit stronger, but I think we’ve got enough to get there.

Any final thoughts?

I’m just glad the Dodgers moved to Arizona!

Also, check back later this weekend for a dodgerfan.net exclusive (we’re keeping it under wraps for now)!

 After returning late last night from a weekend at Camelback Ranch and having a chance to reflect on the Dodgers new Spring Training home, I wanted to share a quick list of the “best of the best” of the new stadium, as well as a few tips to keep in mind before you go:

- There’s no bad seat in the house!  While Camelback Ranch is the largest stadium in Arizona with 10,000 fixed seats and 3,00 seats on the grass berm, it’s very easy to navigate and you can easily see the action on the field no matter where you are (although it seemed to us that the only way 3,000 people would fit on the grass was if they were standing up – something that just doesn’t happen as families are spread out on blankets and chasing after kids while watching the game).

view from section 118 at Camelback Ranch

- If you want to work on your tan, make sure you sit on the third base side of the stadium.  We sat on the third base side on Friday and were in the sun the entire day, and in Arizona you better be packing that SPF 50 sunscreen.  I found the first base side to be the perfect mix of early sun, followed by shade for the last five innings.

- There’s ample parking at the Ranch, and freeway access was a breeze.  We drove by Peoria, Ariz. on the way to Glendale, and the line for the Mariners stadium was really, really long.  I felt like I was looking at rush hour traffic in downtown LA!  We were naturally apprehensive about the traffic experience at Camelback Ranch, but we sailed right in with limited delays.  The parking staff was fantastic as well and parking was $5 (note: we also went to a game at the Giants spring training complex and found that parking next to the stadium was $10, so the Dodgers and White Sox are keeping the cost reasonable).

- One parking tip: make sure you get there slightly early and park at the lot near the main entrance.  The first lot you come to off the freeway is a dirt lot, and it’s a bit of a walk especially if you’re pushing a stroller or have older people with you.  There are plenty of peddle cabs on hand though.  In the future, this walk is going to be really something, as the Dodgers will be adding a local Walk of Fame along the banks of a meandering river (of sorts).  I’m guessing this will be done by the beginning of next season.

- On to the important stuff: the food!  On our first day, both Alex and I stumbled upon the Polish sausage with sauerkraut and never looked back.  Sure, it’s no Dodger Dog (and I’m sure you know, Dodger Dogs are NOT sold at the Ranch), but it was damn good. It’s worth noting that the Dodgers and White Sox don’t control the concessions stands.  Plus, would you really want Dodger Dogs being sold at White Sox home games?  No way!  The Dodger Dog is ours, and those Chicago fans will have to go to Chavez Ravine of they want one.  Oh, I also heard the Vienna hot dog was also really good as well, so there’s something for you hot dog traditionalists out there.

- Camelback Ranch also boasts an impressive array of beers, with about 15-18 different varieties available on draft or in the bottle.  As with the food, everything was reasonably priced at about $6.50 for a beer and they were damn cold (a concessions worker told me that the kegs are cooled to 35 degrees and I believe it).

- The campus itself: while I never had the opportunity to go to Vero Beach, Josh Rawitch told us that many of the little things that made Vero special have made their way to Camelback Ranch.  For example, you know that the old street signs made their way to Arizona, as did the yellow ropes guiding fans from practice field to practice field.  There’s a respect given to the fans that is understated, yet appreciated.  Interestingly, there seemed to be a lot more fences on the White Sox side of the complex, while the Dodgers had a more laid-back, relaxed atmosphere.  The famous golf carts also made the trip west, but the staff and players tend to walk, making them a bit obsolete.

Camelback Ranch Campus

- Tip for navigating Camelback Ranch: ask for directions frequently.  The complex is brand new and while the general layout outside the stadium is fairly intuitive, there needs to be more signs alerting you where to go (we walked around the entire stadium just trying to enter the Dodgers offices which were not marked).  Fortunately, the security staff is everywhere and very helpful (although they do take their job VERY seriously).  Josh tells us that this is on the list to be remedied for year two.

- Finally, let’s talk about the fans:  They’re fantastic.  Everyone we ran into was so psyched to be out there and the stadium received nothing but rave reviews from everyone we talked to.  Saturday’s game was billed as a “road game” against the White Sox, but Dodger fans clearly outnumbered the White Sox fans by about three to one.  My flight home was packed with Dodger fans sporting shirts, hats and jerseys, all telling tales of their weekend at Camelback Ranch.

Overall, the Dodgers and White Sox have done a tremendous job in getting Camelback Ranch open for business.  Keep in mind that construction only began on April 1, 2008 and the fact that they were able to pull off their inaugural season is a testament to the vision of Frank McCourt and the Dodgers.  This is a Dodgers facility through and through, and the White Sox are just along for the ride.

In the coming days, we’ll share our thoughts on some of the coolest behind the scenes elements of Camelback Ranch, but we wanted to start things off with taking a good look at the fan experience at the Dodgers new spring home.  Congratulations Dodgers, you’ve hit a home run – hard to believe that construction only began on April 1, 2008.  To complete as much as they’ve done in under a year is truly a hurculean task and Frank McCourt and the organization deserve a lot of credit for taking Frank’s vision and turning it into reality for Dodger fans.

Tunnel to Dugout at Camelback Ranch

Some of the most impressive things about the facility include how they’ve managed to keep many of the quirky traditions from Vero Beach, while also giving the coaches, players, staff and fans everything they’ve dreamed of, from state-of-the art video facilities, to a professional locker r00m to having 18 different beers available for fans to choose from. 

“It’s [Camelback Ranch] more about what the Dodgers should be,” said Vice President of Public Relations Josh Rawitch (and fellow blogger from Inside the Dodgers). 

Again, there’s way too much to cover off on now, but safe to say, this is truly a jewel in the desert and the McCourts deserve a lot of credit for pulling this off so quickly.

Additional highlights of the trip included meeting Hall of Famers Don Newcome and broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, chatting with Charley Steiner and sitting down for a good hour and fifteen minutes with general managers Ned Colletti.  We learned a tremendous amount about the thought that goes into every baseball decision the club makes, and we look forward to sharing these insights with you throughout the season.

Again, more to come, but we wanted to say thanks to Josh for organizing such a fantastic experience!