The Great American Baseball Adventure has already seen three weeks and 19 games, but the party's just getting started! Bust out the clam chow-dah, cause we're headin' for a weekend in New England in Week 4 (cheesy Barry Manilow songs not included):
Monday, April 26th:
Reading, PA (99 miles from Moosic)
Reading Phillies (AA Phillies) vs. Harrisburg Senators (AA Nationals)
Week four of the GABA has five Eastern League games in six days. Give the Phillies credit for having all their minor league teams are right in the big club’s backyard. Maybe that’s to get their players acclimated to the climate, or to Philly cheese steaks. Reading’s ‘Gluttony Night’ was one of the minors’ top promotions in 2009, with 40,000 food and soda items devoured. I’m hoping April 26th, 2010 is “Gluttony Night 2, Electric Boogaloo.”
Tuesday, April 27th:
Trenton, NJ (82 miles from Reading)
Trenton Thunder (AA Yankees) vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA Blue Jays)
We cross the Delaware River into New Jersey, home of… of… of… John Bon Jovi. And some really good minor league ball, apparently. The Thunder won back-to-back Eastern League titles in ’07 and ’08, and there’s always the chance Roger Clemens could be on rehab while plotting another comeback at age 68. No offense to Trenton, but we won’t be staying there overnight – we’ve got to cross through NYC, something best done really, really late at night. And preferably without stopping.
Wednesday, April 28th:
New Britain, CT (179 miles from Trenton)
New Britain Rock Cats (AA Twins) vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA Giants)
This was going to be a battle for Connecticut minor league baseball supremacy, but the Connecticut Defenders bolted for Richmond, leaving the Rock Cats as the only baseball entertainment for ESPN employees tucked away in nearby Bristol. That is, if you don’t count New York or Boston, but what do those places have on New Britain anyway? New Britain Stadium has the Sam Adams Bar & Grill, a surefire sign that the GABA has reached New England. Break out the chow-dah!
Thursday, April 29th:
Pawtucket, RI (112 miles from New Britain)
Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA Red Sox) vs. Indianapolis Indians (AAA Pirates)
Ultra-modern, super-uber techonology filled stadiums with iPod charging stations and robots serving quiche are just fine. But I’m really hyped about McCoy Stadium, built during World War II and still going strong. Yes, it’s been renovated, but it’s still a throwback to much simpler days when a player’s contract, signing bonus, and agent’s name weren’t his most important stats. The seats are elevated off the field, so fans put items on makeshift ‘fishing poles’ to get autographs. Now that’s old school. No granite countertops, no stainless steel appliances. Sorry… slipped into HGTV mode there.
Friday, April 30th:
Manchester, NH (94 miles from Pawtucket)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA Blue Jays) vs. Reading Phillies (AA Phillies)
Add New Hampshire to the list of teams who’ll be filing a restraining order against us. Three Fisher Cats games in three different cities in less than a month. When the Fisher Cats moved to Manchester, they were supposed to be called the New Hampshire Primaries… and it’s a travesty that name didn’t hold up. Maybe we can vote in the 2012 Presidential election after this game.
Saturday, May 1st:
Portland, ME (96 miles from Manchester)
Portland Sea Dogs (AA Red Sox) vs. New Britain Rock Cats (AA Twins)
Let’s see… a former high school field converted to a mini-Fenway, complete with a mini-Monstah in left field, and the chance to play “Which Celebrity’s On Vacation On The Maine Coast”? Wicked cool! Do they serve lobstah… I mean, lobster? The GABA isn’t even a month old and we’ve passed the 2,500 mile mark. Only 25,000 miles to go!
Sunday, May 2nd:
Travel day. By New England law, the only activities allowed on Sundays are heaping praises on Tom Brady and Randy Moss, or dumping tea into harbors.
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