BALLPARK HISTORY

Ballparks are full of history. They each have thier own distinct features, The bricks and ivy in Wrigley, monument park and the mystique of Yankee stadium, the warehouse at Camden, the green monster at Fenway, and more, but when you go to a park its more than to see the game, its to take in the environment. As much as I dislike it, part of going to Turner is listening to the fans do that tommohawk chant. I also enjoy seeing the statues or plaques of players who have contributed to all that history.

Each ballpark also gives you a different perspective of the game. What might be a HR at one park is just a fly ball in another. The site lines, angles and views of a game vary from park to park, even if your sitting in the same general area. Also the in game extras , like the mascot races, or singing the stretch at Wrigley, Sweet Caroline at Fenway, or the 7th inning God Bless America at Yankee stadium.

Another great thing about parks is visiting the local bar near the stadium. Harry Carays and Murphy's in Chicago, Pickles in Baltimore, Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit, Hooters in Anaheim, Rock Bottom Brewery in Denver (and Cinci), Harpoon Brewery in Boston, and Billys sports bar in the Bronx.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Upcoming trip

 Well I didn't get to go to the Braves game saturday. Kind of sucks because Strasburg was pitching and Bryce Harper hit a homer. I was gonna go with my wife and in laws, but there were hardly any consecutive seats left because of some American Idol dude having a concert after the game. Its kind of funny, the Braves cannot sell out a playoff game, but have a country bumpkin sing after the game and, well..........
 Anyway, I am leaving in 15 days for Cali and the 5 parks out there. Its all booked and ready to go. I am really pumped. Not just for the baseball, but a week with my son, Chris, as well. We will be sitting right under the "glove" at AT&T, which is kind of cool. in my opinion.
 Its gonna be SD, LA, SF, Oak, and Anaheim in that order. I get to see Albert Pujols twice on the trip, at home and in an interleague game vs. the Dodgers.
 I will be going to a Cubs/Braves game the first week of July, and I will NOT miss that. Even as bad as the Cubs are, I have to see them at least once.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Enemy bobble head

So it's a month in and I still haven't been to a MLB game yet. I usually hit a Braves game early on, but it's been a busy spring. I have gotten by with going to some AAA Braves games. I went to see the Mudhens play and an old Cub, Leon Durham is the hitting coach for them. I got him to sign my stub. It was also Brian McCann bobble head day. I don't have any bobble heads from other teams, but hey it was free and he's a good player. Of course he will go on a different shelf, not with my Cubbie ones. 


The Cubs are playing a bit better, they took 2 of 3 vs. the Dodgers and Braves,but have lost the first 2 vs. the Brew Crew. Hopefully we can pull out game 3. Either way, I still don't have high expectations this year. I will hopefully be going to the May 26 Braves game vs. the Nats. Hopefully Strasburg will pitch, if not at least Bryce Harper should be playing.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Crazy week in baseball

While its only in the second month of the year, a lot has happened so far. I caught the last 3 innings of Jared Weavers no-no a few nights ago, about a week after a perfect game by Philip Humber of the White sox. Someday I might be lucky enough to see one live. I had my chance when I turned down a friend in NY to go to a Yankee game, that perfect one by David Cone. Hindsight is 20/20, but hopefully the baseball gods will give me another opportunity.
We are almost 30 games in and King Albert is hitting about .230 with 0 home runs. He is getting some pretty loud jeers from the Angel fans .I am pretty sure he will come around, and even though he is a former Cardinal, I respect the type of player he is. Speaking of, what about Mo Rivera.. Hate to see an icon end a career like that. He says he's not done, and if anyone can come back its him. There have been several barnburner games as well in the last week, and the AL east standings are Rays, O's, Jays, Yanks, Sox. Haven't seen that in a while. We will see how long that lasts. While the Cubs record isn't great, the pitching has been very good. Well, the starting pitching anyway. Between the bullpen and errors, it's amazing we've won any games at all.