Big League Spring Training

Another big baseball announcement for Adam means another set of questions from all our friends and family. I love sharing our baseball journey with all of you - and honestly these posts after big announcements are some of my favorite to write. Because that means that people are asking questions about what we are going through and they want to learn about life in the baseball world. And more than anything, it means they care about what is happening with my sweet husband, Adam! Last week I shared this post on Instagram and I have received even more questions - once again - so I wanted to fill you in on all the details of what it means to be invited to Big League Spring Training.

Since the Diamondbacks officially announced it I guess I can too! After three minor league seasons, five different teams, three All Star selections, two instructional league invites, one Arizona Fall League invite, and 16 months spent apart from my husband we are extremely pumped that Adam got an invite to Big League Spring Training! It's been a great adventure so far and I cannot wait to see what comes next. Congratulations @skinnymill!

A photo posted by Deidre Miller (@deidreemme) on Jan 11, 2016 at 5:05pm PST

A photo posted by Deidre Miller (@deidreemme) on Jan 11, 2016 at 5:05pm PST

Didn't he already go to Spring Training?

Yes he did. Adam goes to Spring Training every year before the season starts. So this will be his third time heading down to Arizona to get ready for the season ahead. The first year was really great because we were in Arizona when he went but last year and this year Spring Training adds a little extra time to our length apart. The last two years Adam got invited to what is called early camp - which is an invite only pre-spring training camp. Usually the organization sends their potential prospects that weren't invited to Big League camp there. But basically - everything I am saying right now leads to the same answer. Yes, Adam goes to Spring Training every year. It is just part of baseball.

Then what does it mean to go to the Big League Spring Training?

Big League Spring Training is also invite only. There are about 70 men invited to Big League Spring Training - forty of them are current on the Big League roster, or the active 40 man. Then every organization is able to invite top prospects from their pool of players to Big League Spring Training Camp. So in Adam's case - he was one of the prospects invited to the Arizona Diamondbacks Big League Spring Training. He will play with major league players in the major league Spring Training stadium. The whole idea of behind being invited to Big League Spring Training is to give guys an opportunity to play at the higher level - that way organizations can see how they do at that level of play and get an idea of what needs to be fixed and adjusted to move them up eventually.

Then what does that mean for Adam?

For Adam it means he will report a week or so earlier than normal. He will get to be in the Big League locker room, he gets a nicer jersey, he gets to be a part of Fan day - all those sorts of things. Basically he gets a major league player's experience without actually being on the 40 man or 25 man roster. It also means he was one of 23 non-major league players invited to the Big League camp. That is right, only 23 guys not currently on the 40 man were invited in the Diamondback Organization. So it is a huge deal for Adam! It means that he did something this past season that the organization was impressed with and they would like to see him again.

Does that mean he made the Arizona Diamondbacks then?

Technically, Adam is already part of the Arizona Diamondbacks Organization. He was drafted by them in 2013 in the 20th round. So unless he was traded, if he were to make it to the Majors it would be with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Currently he is a minor league players and plays with one of their minor league affiliates. But being invited to the Big League Spring Training Camp is the next step to potentially making the team. However non-40 man players can be cut and moved back to the minor league side at any time during Spring Training. In fact, they make cuts once a week. So we are hoping that Adam's hard work pays off and he stays in with the major league club team as long as possible. If he stays on until they release their roster he has the opportunity to make the official 25 man roster for the Arizona Diamondbacks right out of Spring Training.

Where is Spring Training at?

Spring Training is in Arizona and Florida. For the Diamondbacks specifically it is held in Scottsdale, Arizona at Salt River Fields.

How can I watch him? What games will he pitch at?

This is a great question. There will be some games on TV, some will be just on MLB.com. You could also make the roadtrip to Arizona to watch him live. Which would be awesome! Adam always appreciates support from our friends and family. Generally speaking with guys that come out of the bullpen, like Adam, you never know when they will pitch. You just have to wait and hope they get in on a day you are watching. During Spring Training, they like all the guys to get time pitching live so they will assign them games and innings. Adam will usually find out the day before or the day of that they plan for him to pitch.

How long is he gone for?

Adam will be gone for about 7 months. The first month and a half will be at Spring Training. Then from about the first week of April until Septemberish - give or take depending on his team and their chance at playoffs - he will be in season. So once he leaves for Spring Training he is gone until the season is completely over - he doesn't have any breaks to come home for the most part unless he doesn't make the All Star team. But I always hope he does his best and makes the All Star team, so we will just pretend he doesn't get any breaks.

If I didn’t answer a question you have, feel free to ask! Basically these are the handful of questions I have been asked since the announcement of Adam getting the Big Leagues Spring Training invite. We are taking this journey one step at a time and can't wait to see what this season will offer us! I said it last baseball Q&A post, but I will say it again. It is crazy to me how much goes into baseball and how many options there are for your regular season – then add in all the off season options and your mind will be blown. I am just excited for the opportunity for Adam and I to work towards our goal to be a permanent part of the Diamondbacks family.

Mobile from the Mobile

Say what? It has been just over two months since I went to Mobile to celebrate three years married to this husband of mine. Can you believe it? Probably not because I never even really mentioned it. And unless you follow me closely on Instagram this is all new to you. Well. In August I went to Mobile, Alabama with Slider in tote to see Skinny Mill one last time before he came home. And basically this trip was all puppies and baseball again.

I felt it was important to take advantage of the Mobile in Mobile pun once more with all photos from my phone. Basically I will sum up this whole post one photo at a time. Just follow from left to right and the photos are seriously not in order at all.

Slider and I took off from the Boise airport bright and early to get there in time for the game on Friday. \\ While we were there Adam and I were able to try out a really delicious restaurant called Felix's Fish Camp thanks to a rain storm that resulted in a cancelled game for our anniversary. \\ Slider loved to be at the games, but sometimes he just gets a little tuckered out after kids chase him for two innings and he just naps.

The view at dinner was amazing. Right on the water. So I was trying to get a photo without looking awkward.... Nailed it. \\ Adam and I don't take a lot of photos together so sometimes I force him to take them on the way out of our hotel room. \\ The one jersey photo we got while I was there. I was aiming for a new pose.

Slider at the airport. \\ The sign at anniversary dinner was totally cool. This photo does it no justice. \\ Slider and I right after the downpour. I was literally in the rain for... maybe 1 minute max and that is what I looked like.

Slider and Luba at the game. Luba is a baseball girlfriend and was there every time I went this summer. And I just really adore her. And she adores Slider. \\ This photo basically sums up all the feelings of my heart. Adam, Slider, Baseball. I melted. And had to snag a photo of it. Slider was just chasing Adam down the baseline and so Adam stopped to pick him up. \\ The best appetizer of all time at Felix's. Artichoke crab dip. I can't even.

One more photo from anniversary dinner because we can. \\ Jeff fed Slider a bunch of nacho cheese and Slider LOVED it. Jeff is Wade's - the best batboy in the world - Dad and always a hoot to hang out with at the games. \\ And my favorite photo from the whole trip. Adam and I were sitting holding hands like we always do on the way to the airport and Slider just set his paw on top. We are family.

Basically it was a fabulous little Mobile vacation. And I loved seeing Adam play baseball. And I loved seeing Adam. I loved being in the town where he spent his summer. That is all I can say. Anytime with Adam is a good time. But it is a lot of fun to be able to explore new places as we travel with baseball.

Fall League

Baseball is a world of it's own. There is so much that isn't known upfront unless you have followed the ins and outs of the baseball world for years and years. And even some people I talk to that are die hard baseball people don't know the intricacies of the sport. They know that they love their team and that baseball season lasts from the start of Spring Training and goes until playoffs and the World Series. They know that there is a minor league system with Single, Double, and Triple A. They know that they have prospects... but what about the rest of it? There is so much more. Last week I posted this photo on my Instagram and I have received a lot of questions since then. So I thought I would share with you what the Fall League is all about.

It's an incredible feeling to get a photo from Adam of his very own professional baseball jersey with his last name on it hanging in his Fall League locker. It makes it even better that it is our name on the back of the jersey because becoming a professional player isn't just his dream, it's our dream. And if that means I stay home and work while we work towards our dream, that's okay. And moments like this make it more okay. Small wins and small victories on our way to the Bigs. Now go kick some Fall League booty, Adam!

A photo posted by Deidre Miller (@deidreemme) on Oct 12, 2015 at 5:55pm PDT

What is the Fall League?

So I am pulling this straight from the Arizona Fall League website, "There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League: the Scottsdale Scorpions, Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters, Glendale Desert Dogs, Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Saguaros. These club names were picked by Major League Baseball as reflective of the Southwestern desert traditions in the state.

The teams are broken into two divisions, East and West. Each Major League Baseball team sends six top prospects to the Arizona Fall League, 180 players in all. The games are played in the Spring Training stadiums used by the Giants, Mariners, Padres, Cubs, A's, Royals, Rangers, D-backs and Rockies.

How good are the players in the Arizona Fall League? The 2014 All-Star Game in Minneapolis featured 36 AFL alums. Nearly 60 percent of all AFL players make a Major League roster, with an incredible 212 All-Stars, 12 MVPs, four Cy Young Award Winners, three World Series MVPs, 66 Silver Sluggers, 58 Golden Gloves, and 25 Rookies of the Year.

Each August, Major League clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will go to Arizona. Most are Double-A and Triple-A Minor League players. Each club can opt to send one player considered a Class A player."

So basically to sum it all up - it is an invite only league for top prospects in every organization. Mostly made up of upper level players, you have to be high enough in the ranks to even be considered for a Fall League invite. Once the guys are selected they all come together to create prospect teams that play each other for 6 weeks straight. During that time the guys are able to get a feel for what it will be like to play at the Big League level because all of the guys have what it takes to potentially be in the Majors within the next year or so.

So that is a good thing to get invited to the Fall League?

Absolutely. My favorite description of the Fall League is on their Twitter page, "MLB created the Arizona Fall League in 1992 to serve as an off-season “graduate school” for top prospects." Things like overall health and innings played get taken into consideration when they are selecting, so some of the organization's favorite might not end up going, but overall an invite to the Fall League shows that the Organization has you on their mind. They want to see what the guys can accomplish. And in my opinion, that is a great thing.

Where does he play at?

Adam's team - Salt River Rafters - have their home base at the Salt River Fields. That is where the Diamondbacks and Rockies are for Spring Training. Every year the Salt River Rafted swap between the two organization's big league locker room and this year they are in the Rockies' locker room. They have games at a few other facilities throughout the Phoenix area but his home base is Salt River fields.

How long is he gone for?

He is gone for about 2 months total. Adam left October 1st for practice and training. His games started October 12th. And his final game of the Fall League will be November 21st. Which means I get him home just in time for the holidays.

Does that mean he will get invited to the Big Leagues next year?

There is no guarantee with anything in baseball. But if he does well at the Fall League then there is a good chance he will be heading to Big League Spring Training. And then once again, we will see from there. If there is anything I have learned during baseball it is to always work hard and never get your hopes up. Something can chance in the matter of seconds and you can only hope for the best and plan for the worst. Whatever happens we know that it is because it is supposed to be. Adam works hard and hopefully all the hard work pays off for the move up to the Bigs!

If I didn't answer a question you have, feel free to ask! The Fall League is something I didn't even know existed until last year when Adam mentioned that maybe next he would have a chance to get invited. And here we are in the next year and he is at the Fall League. It is crazy to me how much goes into baseball and how many options there are for your regular season - then add in all the off season options and your mind will be blown. I am just excited for the opportunity for Adam and I to work towards our goal to be a permanent part of the Diamondbacks family.

Mobile from the Mobile

Every time I got to visit Adam we talk about the same things before I head out. We need to make a music video, we need to be better about taking photos, and we need to go out and explore a little more rather than just sitting around. Basically our whole time together can be summed up and told be the photos from our phones. Lots of puppy time, lots of baseball, and lots of relaxing.

 

This time we did about one and half things on the list... we took a few more photos, most of them were of Slider and not of us. In fact we took a photo of us the first day I was there and on our way out the door the last day I was there - so that is the half. And we for sure made a music video, that Adam wasn't a huge fan of making but he loves me so he humors me. The one thing we totally missed the mark on was getting out and exploring. In fact, that is the one we miss the mark on the most. We did get out for baseball games, food, walks with Slider, and a movie... but other than that it was lots of quality bonding time and playing with the puppy because Adam hadn't met him until my trip this time!

The first day I was there - well the first day we were both there because I got in at 2pm Friday and Adam was still on his way back from a road trip that night - we slept in because Adam didn't arrive in from his road trip until around 5AM. Then we woke up and Adam got a chance to meet the puppy. We played and ate and then Adam was off to the field. Slider and I hung out at the apartment and then head over for the 4th of July celebration - a game followed by fireworks. Oh so American.

The second day we head to church and then back home to get Adam over to the field - only for the game to be cancelled! So we went to Inside Out and late night appetizers at Applebees.

The third day was a double header. Which meant lots of time at the field. Followed by some more Applebees.

The forth and final day was just a day to pack and say our farewells. I know, we are so exciting. So the weekend could be summed up with these words: Slider, baseball, chicken, and rain. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe next time I will get some more photos for you instead of just a Slider collage? But probably not. I tried!

MLB Opening Day

It is OFFICIALLY baseball season! Spring Training wrapped up on Friday and all the teams are opening up their gates for a little home field advantage. This is an exciting time of year at our home because that means another season of Adam chasing his dreams and working his way to the bigs. If you haven't caught it yet - this last week was big in our family for baseball. Adam was assigned to the AA team in Mobile AL and he got an opportunity to play in a Major League Spring Training game. He ROCKED it too. His minor league season opens today!

So if you haven't guessed it by now, our team of choice is the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gotta cheer for the hand that feeds you, right!? And they had their season opener last night. Since I am not down in sunny Arizona I put together a casual outfit to cheer from my couch. This round I went with a sweatshirt so I could keep warm while the weather is still on it's way up! I sent a photo of it to Adam, since he is already gone for the year, and he responded, "I like. Majestic brand?! Fancy!" When I was browsing through the site I had a really hard time narrowing it down to this sweatshirt - I almost ended up with a tee or another hat, but I decided I might as well embrace the sweatshirt for as long as I can! Because hopefully someday I will be watching Adam pitch at Chase field! Which means shorts and tees, no one wants to wear a sweater in the heat.

 

Sweater: Fanatics c/o
Shorts: Aeropostale
Hat: H&M
Shoes: Sanuk

I ordered my item from Fanatics.com - they are the best because they have a little of everything for everyone. And not just in sizing. They have apparel for every licensed sports team too - college and professional. There are have some things that I would have never thought about looking for, it was fun to browse and see all they had to offer. Here are a few of my other favorites from the Diamondbacks section of their site:

 

Grey Tee | Black Hat | Red Baseball Tee | Jersey

Fanatics is the largest retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise and provides the ultimate shopping experience to sports fans. Plus, Fanatics offers hundreds of thousands of officially licensed items for all major professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, PGA), major media brands and over 200 collegiate and professional team properties. You can buy your favorite MLB hats & jerseys on Fanatics.com, the one-stop website for all fans. What do you wear for opening day for your teams? Do you have a specific team item you look forward to buying every season?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.