Baseball Team USA @ Kissimmee, Florida in August

[fslshooter]

The USA National Baseball Team will be at the Houston Astros Spring Training venue at Kissimmee, Florida from August 16 to August 23, 2006 and play exhibition games against Gulf Coast League teams, Team Puerto Rico and Team Canada. Game schedules are as follows: Aug 18 vs GCL team, Aug 19 vs Team Puerto Rico, Aug 20 vs GCL team, Aug 21 vs Team Puerto Rico, Aug 22 vs Team Canada, Aug 23 vs Team Canada. If you're a baseball fan and live near or will be visiting in the Orlando, Florida area during those dates, the games should provide excellent up close and personal future major leaguer photo opportunities.

Meanwhile here are a few pics from a minor league Daytona Cubs vs Dunedin Blue Jays game I shot last night. EXIF data is embedded in all images.

#1 - Ryan Harvey is one of the Chicago Cubs top prospects
http://www.jerryhalephotography.com//potn/season/722/harvey,_ryan-060722_193025_2.jpg

#2 - Kurk was at AA level last week
http://www.jerryhalephotography.com//potn/season/722/isenberg,_kurt-060722_191451_1.jpg

#3 - Out at second
http://www.jerryhalephotography.com//potn/season/722/paralta,_juan_and-060722_193746_1.jpg

#4 - This hurts
http://www.jerryhalephotography.com//potn/season/722/perez,_carlos-060722_192419_1.jpg

[MJPhotos24]

Hey Jerry,
Good to see some pics from FL. I just looked at flight/hotel/car for those days that Team USA is there and it wasn't to bad so now that trip is on my radar! If I get a coaching job I just interviewed for I couldn't do it cuz pre-season would have started, but if not I might find my way down. I wanted to see Team USA before they made cuts up in the east but couldn't make the trip. I'd like to get some GCL stuff to, or least some other rookie league, AZL or APPY though this years draft really wasn't to great compared to recent years.

I'll also try to get some pics posted from my recent trip accross the midwest league, pretty good time though I did 15 games in the last 13 days so today I just burnt out and am skipping two more games, I might hit a local one though, 20 mins away and need a 2nd rounders headshot. Speaking of which, totally gone manual on headshots and though the camera is telling me "underexposed" they have been coming out really good. Right now I have about 23-24 teams to organize so when I get that done I'll post some.

[fslshooter]

Mike - Come on down! I'm not sure how many complete games I'll shoot but I sure would like to get the Team USA rotation if I can. I've tried to pace myself this season but the grind is wearing me down to the point that I'm missing some games now -- including one tonight. With luck, I'll get my second wind by then and be able to shoot 'em all -- we'll see. I'm sure I'll be at some of the games so do let me know if and when you'll be there and we'll hook up.

[MJPhotos24]

The grind got to me pretty good already, I went a bit overboard and picked a bad time for a trip only because when I got home it just melted in with one of the busiest weeks of the season. I'm supposed to have a game every day this week and on top of that shoot the local youth leagues soccer portraits/team pics. I think I'll be missing some games for sure!! I just went to get 3 Lowell headshots (shot them the last 2 days to but missed those 3 guys) so when I finished them hauled home to relax for once.

A trip down all depends on if I get this coaching gig, the guy told me he thought I'd be a good fit to the program so ya never know. If I don't get the job though, a trip to FL may just be what I need :)

[QUASIPHOTO]

Execeptional Jerry.........fabulously great. You do such awesome work. Just outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sittingshooter]

Great shots Jerry ! I just saw your PM, thanks for the info...Brad

[okiebass101]

awesome shots as always jerry

[Sledhed]

Hey Jerry - Good to see you back. I'm glad to see Harvey is moving up in the Cubs farm system. They drafted him a couple of years ago right out of High School and I think he was the Cubs number 1 pick that year. Colors and sharpness all look excellent on the pics.

I'm sorry I haven't e-mailed you the action yet, work has been nuts the past few weeks. I was in Menasha, WI last week visiting one our printer's and I went to a WI Timber Rattlers game (Midwest League) MiLB games are so much fun. It was $1 dog and $1 beer night, find that at an MLB park. I'll post a few shots tonight and I'll e-mail you the action.

EDIT - I don't know if you heard, Marshall went on the DL.

[superdiver]

Gteat shots...

Tha last one is just UN natural! The human body was NOT meant to do that....LOL

[MazerRakhm]

Great shots! Nice to see you posting again!

[fslshooter]

Thanks for the kind words everybody. When I'm post processing pics after games I almost always see some that I should share with the good folks here -- then I don't take the time to post them. I wanted to share the Team USA schedule info and I included those pics so that the thread would fit this photo sharing forum.

Chris - Ryan Harvey struggled all season at Daytona until the skipper moved him to the 7th spot. Since then his numbers are looking much better. The DL plagued Marshall when he was at Daytona and West Tennessee too. IMO he really does need to put some muscle on his frame -- but sometimes that throws them off too. I turned the TV on last night just as Marmol got hurt. I sure hope he'll be OK -- he's another one of the guys that came through Daytona who impressed me. Not to worry about the action -- I understand busy 'cause I've been there since late Feburary.

[Croasdail]

You know... USA Baseball is based here in Durham... and I have yet gone to see them play. Go figure. Nice shots amigo as always.

I am hoping to catch a Brooklin Cyclones game this week. You know, I just like minor league ball better now - it is just more real, close, intimate....... I can't beleive I am saying that. I wish more people supported the game.. they don't know how much entertainment they can have with for $7.

Cheers!

[MJPhotos24]

Jerry, just got offered that coaching job so won't be able to go to FL for Team USA. Oh well, someday I vow to catch them (and also to return to FL).

[fslshooter]

Jerry, just got offered that coaching job so won't be able to go to FL for Team USA. Oh well, someday I vow to catch them (and also to return to FL).

Congratulations on the job, Mike, but I was looking forward to meeting you in person. Perhaps ST will fit into your schedule next Spring and we can meet then.

[MJPhotos24]

Congratulations on the job, Mike, but I was looking forward to meeting you in person. Perhaps ST will fit into your schedule next Spring and we can meet then.

I keep lookin at that schedule telling myself I want to go. I just got an assistant so maybe she can coach for a couple days as I fly down for the weekend! Probably not but it'd be nice. Spring Training is a possibility though Arizona might be on my list next season, not sure right now with it so far away.

Mike

[OceanView]

Nice shots Jerry.

Are these shot with the 300mm 2.8 IS ?
If not, can you let us know what you used?

Thanks

[fslshooter]

Nice shots Jerry.

Are these shot with the 300mm 2.8 IS ?
If not, can you let us know what you used?

Thanks

Yep -- I've found the 300 f/2.8 perfect for the great majority of stuff I shoot but I seldom use IS. Quite often it's the only glass I take to the ballpark.

[MJPhotos24]

Yep -- I've found the 300 f/2.8 perfect for the great majority of stuff I shoot but I seldom use IS. Quite often it's the only glass I take to the ballpark.

For Minor League baseball the 300 2.8 is PERFECT!! In some stadiums I've found it almost to big but then just shoot from the waist up which is ok since all the companies crop that way anyways (makes it hard for 4x6 prints though which I give to some guys). IS I've found myself using a lot actually in darker/night situations and it's been great so far though it does at times seem like it slows the lens down. Of course this is at the end of games and with my shoulder (which is bad) I tend to twitch a bit more than a normal person. You do seem to get a bit more body in pics than I do. I think the NY-Penn League stadiums are a bit smaller and thus the photo areas are a bit cloeser. Then again Buffalo (AAA) and Erie (AA) you're sitting on 3rd base as you shoot, or so it seems like!