Eric Hosmer #35 and Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals get ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on September 5, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

As the dog days of August melt into the stretch drive of September it can get tougher and tougher to trudge out to the ballpark and get excited about shooting a couple of bad teams like the Royals and A’s. This week’s schedule saw the two sub-.500 teams squaring off in two days games and believe it or not I was excited. Why you might ask? Because the Royals come to town with some of the best young talent in all of baseball. I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity by trying to capture their youthful energy at the Coliseum in Oakland.

Mitch Maier #12 and Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals sit on Gatorade buckets in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on September 5, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

There are many great things about shooting baseball in September. The light is great. There are fewer photographers (many are off shooting football). The teams who are out of the race are super loose, allowing for some fun moments before the game in the dugout. Luckily for them my friend Michael Zagaris and I are there to capture the fun on film. I mean on a card! Between the two games I shot this week I am very happy with the pictures I was able to get of the Royals before the game- especially the young phenoms.

Melky Cabrera #53 of the Kansas City Royals gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on September 5, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Coming into Monday’s game I knew there were three kids I needed to shoot heavily: First baseman Eric Hosmer; 3rd baseman Mike Moustakas; and catcher Salvador Perez. I had seen both Hosmer and Moustakas in spring training in Arizona, but I had never seen Perez. What a great-looking young catcher he is! I can’t believe he is only 21-years-old. My main goal before Monday’s game was to hang around the Royals dugout before the game and try to get some pictures of the guys hanging out and goofing around. I was not disappointed!

Brayan Pena #27 and Johnny Giavotella #9 of the Kansas City Royals get ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on September 5, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Sure, I shot anyone who did anything interesting, even if they were a scrub. But while I was doing this the youngsters I really needed delivered by participating in some fun with their teammates, giving me the chance to come up with some pictures I really liked. Most of the guys seemed to enjoy having their picture taken, and many of them posed for our cameras. After all, they are just playing a game and they are so far out of the race they can afford to be loose. This is good for us as it makes our jobs much easier.

Yamaico Navarro #24, Alcides Escobar, Brayan Pena #27, Eric Hosmer #35, and Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals joke around in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on September 7, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Yesterday’s pre-game antics in the Royals dugout were just as good as Monday’s, and as Zagaris and I were busy having fun it all ended very abruptly. Royals manager Ned Yost came up to us and started yelling. “We got a game to play!” Yost bellowed. I ran one way and Zagaris went the other way but it didn’t matter. We had our pictures. We were happy.

Brian Wilson and Tim Lincecum of the National League pose in the dugout before the All Star Game at Angel Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

During the last two seasons I have had the best time photographing ballplayers relaxing in the dugout before games. Some guys love having their picture taken, like David Ortiz, and others hate it, like Kevin Youkilis. Having a nice set of pictures, shot with my wide angle lens, of guys hanging out in the dugout sure makes it more fun to edit my take after a game. My editors also enjoy the pictures. This philosophy of having fun shooting pre-game features came together for me last week. I had the great opportunity to photograph the 2010 Major League Baseball All Star Game in Anaheim for Sports Illustrated, and I decided I would try to work the dugout scene like I do in the regular season.

David Ortiz of the American League sits in the dugout with his son D'Angelo Ortiz before the Home Run Derby during All Star Game festivities at Angel Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The All Star festivities consist of two days involving the big league players, Monday and Tuesday. Monday is batting practice and the home run derby. Tuesday is batting practice and the game itself. The media is allowed on the field for a one hour window on Monday during batting practice, and a two hour window on Tuesday before the game. In the past I have joined the hordes of media folks on the field as the players hit in the cage, trying to shoot pictures of the players mingling around with my long lens in the bad light. My pictures from batting practice before the 2007 All Star Game in San Francisco were pretty awful. I was determined to do a better job this year.

Carl Crawford of the American League and his son sit for a portrait in the dugout before the Home Run Derby during All Star Game festivities at Angel Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Our baseball picture editor Nate Gordon was with us at the ballpark and he encouraged me to do my best in trying to shoot dugout features. We knew this was not a typical sleepy day during the regular season in Oakland. The dugout scene would be much harder to work. This was especially the case during these two days due to the hot weather. It was so warm and steamy on the field that many of the media types were seeking refuge in the dugouts, crowding the area and making it hard for the players to spread out, relax, and create opportunities for me to photograph them.

Nick Swisher of the American League laughs with Bobby Valentine in the dugout before the All Star Game at Angel Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Luckily a few of the guys hung out on Monday and I was able to get a few nice frames that I really liked. I was looking forward to Tuesday’s batting practice because we would have more time to work the scene and try to come up with some fun pictures. Once again the hot weather made the American League dugout way too crowded to get much done, so I headed over the the National League side before they came out for batting practice. This proved to be a wise move, because as the American Leaguers were gathered in center field to have their team picture taken by Matt Brown of MLB Photos, the National Leaguers came into the dugout wearing their real road gray uniforms, and not the blue All Star Game tops. As they entered the dugout and sat around for a few minutes waiting to have their team picture taken, I had the chance to get a few pictures of them sitting with their teammates, all in different uniforms (see below). I was really happy to have this chance.

Roy Halladay, Adam Wainwright, Jonathan Broxton, coach Mick Billmeyer and coach Davey Lopes of the National League sit in the dugout before the All Star Game at Angel Stadium on June 13, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

By the time the game started I was ready to shoot some baseball, but as I look back on All Star week some of my favorite pictures are the ones I shot in the dugout. After doing this at the All Star Game it will make shooting the dugouts during the regular season in the Bay Area a piece of cake. More cake please!

Manager Joe Torre #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers gets ready in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on June 30, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Dodgers vs Giants rivalry goes back to the glory days in New York when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn and the Giants played under Coogan’s Bluff in Manhattan. There are so many stirring memories of this great feud: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World; Mike Ivie’s Grand Slam; Joe Morgan’s Home Run; Steve Finley’s Grand Slam. The two teams squared off against each other for the first time in San Francisco this season the past three days and no great memories were created as the visiting Dodgers swept the Giants in a boring series that left the Giants hobbling to Denver to begin an 11-game road trip that could make or break their season before the All-Star break. On the other hand the Dodgers used this series to right their ship and send a message to the National League West that they were going to be in the race for the entire season.

Blake DeWitt #33 of the Los Angeles Dodgers goofs around with pumpkin seeds in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on June 30, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

After winning the first two games of the series the Dodgers were pretty loose in their dugout before yesterday’s game. There was no batting practice, so the first time I had a chance to see them was when they came into the dugout 20 minutes before the 12:45 pm first pitch to get ready for the game. They appeared to be relaxed and confident as they gathered in the dugout, and so did their manager Joe Torre (see top photo). Why wouldn’t they feel confident? They totally have the Giants number this season, especially in San Francisco. The Dodgers were pitching well and swinging the bats, something the Giants couldn’t do at all this past week.

Rafael Furcal #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers gets ready in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on June 30, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Sure enough, the confident Dodgers smoked the Giants 8-2 to complete the sweep. The sell-out crowd on a gorgeous Bay Area afternoon had nothing to cheer for, again. After the game the Giants traded their much-maligned catcher Bengie Molina to the Texas Rangers for a box of baseballs and a Mota Stick. This could be a huge turning point for the Giants. Buster Posey will now be the starting catcher. This could spark the team to start winning some games and ignite their offense. Or not. One thing is for sure- I am worried about the Dodgers. They look good. And loose.

Jim Thome #25 of the Minnesota Twins puts a bat in the bat rack in the Twins dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 5, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Minnesota Twins just left town after taking two out of three from the Oakland A’s. I am sad to see them leave because they are so much fun to shoot. This small market team with a big time superstar and a lineup of no-names continue to play great baseball in 2010. They also happen to be one of the coolest and most casual teams in all of baseball, posing for pictures in the dugout two minutes before the first pitch and playing winning baseball. Led by their terrific manager Ron Gardenhire and their local hero turned big money superstar Joe Mauer the Twins are a team that I wish would come to the Bay Area more than once this season. I am jealous of all the shooters in Minneapolis who get to photograph this team on a regular basis in their brand new ballpark, Target Field.

Danny Valencia #19 of the Minnesota Twins gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 5, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Saturday’s game was a 6:05 pm start, which meant great light for the first few innings and a chance to shoot the Twins in the dugout before the game. Naturally, the Twins did not disappoint (except for wearing the blue uniform tops). Danny Valencia was all smiles sitting on the bench joking with his teammates, and once Joe Mauer got back into the dugout after warming up starting pitcher Francisco Liriano in the bullpen he was his usual fun self joking around with his teammates and posing for pictures with Nick Punto (see below). Mauer has got to be the nicest superstar in baseball. I wrote about Mauer in November of 2009 when he won the 2009 American League Most Valuable Player Award. He really is a great guy who everyone can feel good about rooting for.

Jim Thome #25 of the Minnesota Twins applies eye black to teammate Matt Tolbert #20 in the Twins dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 6, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Sunday was Little League day at the Coliseum, which meant that over 5,000 kids would be parading around the field before the game, canceling batting practice. I slept in a little bit and did not get to the park til 11:00 am, which is super late for me. After some surprisingly good bowtie pasta in the A’s press lounge I got over to the Twins dugout to try and get some more fun pre-game stuff. As usual they were loose before the game, and made Michael Zagaris and I very happy by wearing their new road gray uniform tops, which look much better than the blue ones they wore Saturday night.

Nick Punto #8, Joe Mauer #7 and coach Steve Liddle #9 of the Minnesota Twins get ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 5, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Twins left town in first place in the American League Central with a 33-24 record. I expect this cool and casual bunch of guys, who happen to be playing in a new park, to ride the wave all the way to the post season. Maybe I will have a chance to see them again in their new park in October. That would be sweet!

Cesar Izturis (left) and Ty Wigginton of the Baltimore Orioles get ready in the dugout before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Orioles 4-3. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)

The Baltimore Orioles were in town this past weekend to play a four game set against the Oakland A’s. The O’s have gotten off to a rough start this season and dropped three out of four during their stay in the Bay Area. I went to the Coliseum to shoot two of the games and found myself rooting for the Orioles. Manager Dave Trembley seems like a real good guy and they have some good young talent, led by catcher Matt Wieters. However, after they were swept in Seattle this week their record dropped to 2-14, the worst start for the franchise since losing their first 21 games in 1988 to set a major league record.

Julio Lugo of the Baltimore Orioles gets ready in the dugout before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Orioles 4-3. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)

While the Orioles were in town I did my usual job of working their dugout before both games trying to get some fun candids of the players goofing around just minutes before the first pitch. They seemed like a real nice bunch of guys and were fun to shoot. After spending some time talking with a few of their guys (Will Ohman is a riot!) I was really rooting for them to do well.

Julio Lugo (left), Ty Wigginton, and Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles get ready in the dugout before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Orioles 4-3. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos)

As usual one of my main goals of the weekend was to get some nice stuff of the above-mentioned Wieters, and he did not disappoint before both games by allowing me to shoot him goofing around with his teammates in the dugout (see above). I shot him a bunch last season when he was first called up to the big leagues, and just like last year the teammate who was always close by giving him a hard time and making everyone laugh was Ty Wiggington. I love shooting Wiggington as he has a great smile and does not seem to take himself too seriously.

Manager Dave Trembley #47 of the Baltimore Orioles gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on April 18, 2010 in Oakland, California. The Orioles beat the A's 8-3. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I am sad to see this club get off to such a poor start. The crowds at their home ballpark in Baltimore have been small and their season is in jeopardy of being over before May even starts. Trembley held a closed-door meeting with his club in Seattle on Wednesday and ripped into his team. “I’ve been in a position where I’m a really nice fella and I’ll cover. I’ll get questions point blank and I feel like I’m a damn presidential press secretary sometimes instead of telling it what is it. I have to smooth it over,” Trembley told the Associated Press. “I’m not smoothing it over anymore.”

The Orioles are last in the American League in runs scored and on-base percentage, 11th in ERA and 12th in batting average. Second baseman Brian Roberts, outfielder Felix Pie and left-handed pitcher Michael Gonzalez are all on the disabled list. They will be making a trip to San Francisco in two months to play the Giants. I hope they are playing better by then, and I hope Trembley still has a job.

Kendry Morales, Juan Rivera, Bobby Abreu, Maicer Izturis, Erick Aybar and other teammates of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hangs gather for a picture in the dugout before a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds on March 10, 2010 at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Last season I wrote about the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the great vibe they have around their ballclub. I wrote that they had great team chemistry. They were so much fun to be around during the 2009 season when I photographed them in the dugout before games in Oakland and San Francisco I was excited to see how they would be during the relaxed atmosphere that surrounds spring training last month when I was on assignment for Sports Illustrated covering the Cactus League in Arizona. I was not disappointed!

Kendry Morales (right), coach Dino Ebel, and Juan Rivera of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hang out in the dugout before a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds on March 10, 2010 at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I was sent over to the Angels wonderful home ballpark, Tempe Diablo Stadium, to shoot a game between the Angels and Reds on a sunny and cool afternoon last month. My main objective was to shoot Angels slugging first baseman Kendry Morales for an upcoming feature story about him. I thought it would be fun to hang out in the dugout before the game so I could shoot some pre-game features of Morales joking around with his teammates. Boy was I in for a treat! After Morales and his teammates stretched in right field they came back into their dugout on the first base side of the diamond and immediately started talking to me and goofing on each other. Left fielder Juan Rivera (one of the nicest guys with the best smile in baseball) came over to Morales and posed with him and third base coach Dino Ebel for a fun set of pictures (see above).

Rivera then gathered all the Latin guys for an impromptu group photo. What a great group of guys who really seemed to get along! Their smiles were blinding and I knew I had a picture that would stay etched in my memory for a long time (see top).

Kendry Morales (right) and manager Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hang out in the dugout before a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds on March 10, 2010 at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Finally, the man who is responsible for the great vibe and great team play that personifies this perennial winner, manager Mike Scioscia came over and jumped into the middle of the picture to harass Morales. Amazing! The best part of this entire experience is that I was alone in the dugout as the only photographer. These pictures were mine and no one else had them. Moments like these are so much fun to witness and document. These are the pictures I am so excited to look at and edit when I get back to my hotel room in Scottsdale after the game.

I look forward to the Angels first visit to Oakland in a few months. I will check in with them before the game and continue my documentation of the great vibe that surrounds their club. They have something special going on in Anaheim.

Nelson Cruz, Coach Jackie Moore and Andruw Jones of the Texas Rangers sit in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on Saturday, June 20, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

A few years ago the Oakland A’s made a big mistake by letting coach Ron Washington get away and capture his first managerial job with the Texas Rangers. Instead of giving Washington the chance to skipper the A’s, Billy Beane decided to hire his good friend Bob Geren. The A’s loss was the Rangers win. I BIG win. Washington has had his best year with the Rangers this season as they have contested for both the American League West title and the Wild Card spot all season long.

Andruw Jones of the Texas Rangers sits in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on Saturday, June 20, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The second time I shot the Rangers this season was during an interleague series against the Giants in San Francisco. I was assigned to shoot the game for Sports Illustrated and got there almost three hours early to shoot batting practice in the pretty late afternoon light prior to the 6:05pm first pitch. The Rangers came out of their clubhouse early while the hometown Giants were still hitting. I was hanging out in their dugout with one camera and a wide angle lens when many of the players started joking around with each other and having a great time. They were super loose and playing really well when they rolled into town. They were a reflection of their manager. I was like a kid in a candy store as many of the best players on the roster were allowing me to hang out and photograph them as they joked around with each other. I was having so much fun and I WAS THE ONLY PHOTOGRAPHER THERE. I could not wait for my editor Nate Gordon to see my take from this game!

First I photographed Ian Kinsler, then it was Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz messing around in front of my camera. Finally everything came together when Andruw Jones came out with a sledge hammer with a bright yellow handle. What a subject! I shot fun portraits of him with his sledge hammer as he flashed his brilliant smile. Then bench coach Jackie Moore joined in the fun by putting his arm around Jones and posing for my camera. The heck with the game- this stuff was gold!

Ian Kinsler #5 of the Texas Rangers gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 24, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Rangers made their final trip to the Bay Area last week soI had the chance to shoot Kinsler, one of my favorites, one last time in 2009. He has the best hair and he was showing it off near the dugout as the game was about to start. I followed him out onto the field and had a blast shooting some cool backlit images of him. The Rangers kind of fizzled towards the end of the season, but I look for big things from Wash and his club when I see them in Surprise, Arizona in 2010.

From left: Erick Aybar, Chone Figgins, Juan Rivera, and Maicer Izturis of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim get ready in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Even though the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat my San Francisco Giants in the 2002 World Series (when they were the Anaheim Angels) I have always enjoyed watching and photographing this team- especially in recent years as they play a fun National League-style brand of ball. I have grown to appreciate this club even more this season as I started shooting them goofing around in the dugout before games in both Oakland and San Francisco. What great team chemistry they have!

The first time I shot them in the dugout was before an interleague game against the Giants in San Francisco. I was hanging out watching and waiting for some moments to happen when Erick Aybar, Chone Figgins, Juan Rivera, and Maicer Izturis all gathered together for an impromptu group photo. What a really fun group of players!

Bobby Abreu #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 19, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

We had one day in Oakland when Bobby Abreu would not stop posing for me right before the 1:05 first pitch against the A’s. This team always teams so loose! They really seem to enjoy playing together and man does Abreu have a nice smile!

Howard Kendrick #47 (left) and coach Dino Ebel #21 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim get ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Since the Angels have locked up another playoff spot and will be heading to the playoffs soon I look forward to them being super loose when I photograph them again in Oakland this Saturday.

Manager Lou Piniella #41 of the Chicago Cubs gets ready in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on September 26, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Chicago Cubs were in town this past weekend to play the Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco and as usual I hung out in the visiting dugout on the first base side to shoot some candid photographs of the Cubs as they prepared to take on the Giants. While most of the team was stretching in right field Cubs skipper Lou Piniella came out to the dugout top relax before the first pitch. While shooting a few frames of Lou we chatted a little bit about how great the weather was and what a beautiful day it would be for a ballgame.

When I got home after the game and edited through the 1,285 images I shot I noticed something familiar about the above frame of Piniella. It reminded me of a similar image I shot of him way back in 1990 when he was piloting the Cincinnati Reds and they were in town to play the Giants at Candlestick park. I went through my archive to compare the two images and I though it was a fun comparison.

Manager Lou Piniella of the Cincinnati Reds sits in the dugout and talks to Chris Sabo before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1990. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

What do you think?