Got Pudgey Hauling My CarGo To Chipotle (Spring Training 2013 - Picture Heavy)

[elmesero5]

I, like several other Benchies, made the trek (for me a 16 hour drive) to Arizona for Spring Training. We tried to get out and see as many different games involving as many different teams in as many venues as we could in the 6 days we were there. In the past, we just kind of stayed around the Rangers but this time that wasn't an option because the Rangers, at least the Major Leaguers, weren't there. I saw all of one full team workout and never saw the Rangers upper tier players like Andrus, Kinsler, Cruz, Beltre, etc. So, I think I did exceptionally well all things considered. By the way, the title was the brain child of the one and only Chris Winkles. Here's the haul:

Brandon Allen

Jeff Baker (I was literally the only one who knew who he was as he walked back from the batting cages. Was very gracious when I asked him to sign. Apparently was impressed with my card selection as he said, Wow! You got some rookies. This was back when I was a good looking guy. Age has not been very kind to me." Ha ha.)

John Baker (Part of a 19 autograph, 1 game onslaught from the Padres. The Padres always sign great in Peoria)

Gordon Beckham (Walked out and signed for everyone who wanted him after a game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium)

Heathe Bell (D'Backs are extraordinary at signing as almost every player walks down the LF line to the dugout, signing all the way) and Brandon Belt (Big props to the bigger Giants who made an appearance in Peoria that night like Belt, Pence, Zito, etc. because they all stayed and signed for about 45 mins after being relieved from the game despite there being about 200 fans there)

Bud Black

Charlie Blackmon (Was tremendous, signing everyone who asked before the Rockies - Rangers game)

Gregor Blanco (Might've been the most impressive Giants signer that night as he stayed and signed probably close to 250-300 autographs)

Cody Buckel

Joey Butler

Evereth Cabrera

Trevor Cahill

Lorenzo Cain

Eric Chavez (Has to be one of the nicest guys I've met in baseball, signed everyone down the line twice before the game)

Brandon Crawford

Aaron Cunningham

Kellin Deglan

Danny Duffy (Best Royals signer I saw. He signed for everyone.)

Jarrod Dyson

Neftali Feliz

Logan Forsythe

Joey Gallo (Kid has got insane power and one of the most humble young men you'll ever meet. He stayed around after practice just talking to us for about 20 minutes.)

Kirk Gibson

Carlos Gonzalez (He and Tulo both took several minutes signing and taking pictures with fans. It's great to see superstars taking time out for their fans.)

Mike Gonzalez

Luke Gregerson

Jeremy Guthrie (Thanks to my great buddy CW, I found out that Guthrie was giving away free burritos at Chipotle after the Royals game saturday. So, of course, I went and hung out with him for a while. He was one of the funniest and most genuine players I've met. He would shout at everyone going into the building to see if they wanted a free burrito and creeped at least several girls out. Ha ha.)

Aaron Hill

Derek Holland

Nick Hundley

Luke Jackson

Mark Kotsay (Was less than thrilled to sign but did it anyway)

Jason Kubel

Josh Lindblom

Cory Luebke

Leonys Martin (Had a pretty epic...well...as epic as a ST hit can be...bases clearing, game winning 3 RBI double to bury the Halos the night before)

Kevin Matthews and Roman Mendez

Wade Miley

Mitch Moreland (Lost quite a bit of weight and apparently thinks he can steal bases now. Ha ha.)

Mike Olt (Signed the most autographs of any Rangers prospect)

Jordan Pacheco (Class act all the way)

Hunter Pence (signed 2 different prolonged periods of time. Big props to him.)

Martin Perez (That's what a sig with a broken arm looks like. Ha ha. It sure didnt' stop him from signing for lots of people though.)

Salvador Perez (Apparently was offended by my Rangers cap the first night so I took it off and he signed for me the next. Ha ha.)

Carlos Pimentel

A.J. Pollock

Martin Prado

Jurickson Profar (Notoriously one of the biggest jerks and non-signers in the Rangers system but he decided to muster up about 10 autos for the fans by the batting cages on Thursday.)

Alexei Ramirez (Came out after the same game at Beckham and also signed for everyone. Reall classy guy and an SP set hit.)

Cody Ransom

Nate Robertson

Pudge Rodriguez (Had to be one of the best signers while I was in Phoenix and it was nice to get these backlogged set hits done by him.)

Brendan Ryan (Literally sat down in the grass and started signing for about 30 mins for everyone who asked. Great guy!)

Hector Santiago (Same story as Beckham and Ramirez. I was very impressed by their fan friendliness. This is a custom I made and printed by JJVAZQUEZ.)

Logan Schafer

Huston Street (Excellent signer, as always.)

Ramon Troncoso

Troy Tulowitzki (SP set hit)

Will Venable

Tom Wilhelmsen and Ned Yost

Eric Young, Jr. and Barry Zito

Hector Santiago

Alexei Ramirez

Jeremy Guthrie

TTM While I Was Gone

Daniel Hudson 2/2 c/o Diamondbacks ST in 17 days

Barry Bonnell 3/3 c/o Home in 8 days

Dave Cash 3/3 c/o Home in 15 days

Brian Elliott 2/2 c/o St. Louis Blues in 60 days

Dan Fouts 2/2 c/o Home in 11 days

Kiko Garcia 3/3 c/o Home in 11 days

Ron Kittle 3/3 c/o Home in 30 days

Dave Morehead 1/1 c/o Home in 10 days

Randy Niemann 2/2 c/o Home in 16 days

Charlie Puleo 2/2 c/o Home in 23 days

Allen Ripley 4/4 c/o Home in 27 days

Thanx for looking and God Bless!
Arron

 

[mr.js36]

Congrats Arron
Great stuff

 

[whalerfan9]

Terrific additions, wow!

 

[The G]

It was fun looking at all the auto's can just imagine getting them! Congrats.

 

[SLNoble13]

nice pick ups Arron!

 

[levi]

Great stuff Arron!! Must have been fun!!

 

[CW13]

WHERE"S MY BURRITO??????????????????

Just kidding. Sweet haul. First props to my Arlington High brother, Hunter Pence. He is always awesome with the kids and looks like he even hit up the bigger kids. Also to my UT connections, Brandon Belt and Street. I bet the Giants bring out the fans in AZ.It's good to see those guys signing. And you got Zito on the day he sued a close friend of his for $3 million dollars. So nice job Barry(just work on that chicken scratch auto, dude)...

From what I hear,the Dbacks even have a daily auto session before the game with 2 guys. Now that's pretty awesome!!!

Great job with the big guns i.e. PUDGE(3?? were you stuck in an elevator with him?) Gibby, Cargo, Tulo.(and Mr. Profar)Very good scores there. I kinda wish you would have kidnapped Salvador Perez and brought him back to Arlington. Bright future...

You got some good Rangers. Love the Olt's(one of the best signer out there in the minors) and Gallo is a personal fave of mine(not in Lewis Brinson category tho. He's toolsier). LuJack is pure octane, need a good year out of that kid. Better stuff than Buckel imo. And my other favorite, Leonys...(time for the Cuban to break out this year.)

On another note, rank the AZ parks by eye-candy?? I'm guessing Scottsdale had some good looking phillies.
Anyway, excellent work. AZ is the place to be. When KC comes to town, we'll have to bring Guthrie a steak burrito bowl.

 

[zlw1]

Guthrie is the man.. He took time out in Maryland a few times to do his charity bike run, and also his Signings at local malls where he "ate" chiptole. haha Class-act, and why I collect him.

 

[elmesero5]

That's cool of him to always do stuff like that. I told him he could keep all of the cards he wanted and he said that it was cool because he thought he had all of his cards. So, apparently, he collects himself, too. Ha ha.

 

[scc76]

Those are some really nice pick-ups. Congrats.

 

[Scobes]

Congrats on an impressive haul!

Scobes

 

[aspoe093]

Great Job