GABA 2010, Week 7: All about the Eastern seaboard. We'll be knee-deep in Sally League and Carolina League action in a week long on Southern charm. Week 7, I declare!
Monday, May 17th:
Kinston, NC (171 miles from Myrtle Beach)
Kinston Indians (A Indians) vs. Salem Red Sox (A Red Sox)
Can we just board the Salem team bus from Myrtle Beach to Kinston? Our 15th stop in 15 days is chock full of Southern baseball history. Kinston’s now in its second century of minor league ball, and 60-year-old Grainger Stadium doesn’t have a seat farther than 53 feet from the action. Apparently, an old Kinston manager once got ejected, dressed up as the mascot, and went back to the Kinston dugout. This, folks, is a real-life “Bull Durham”.
Tuesday, May 18th:
Travel day. Or we might just follow the Salem Red Sox around Kinston all day, just to keep the stalking theme going.
Norfolk, VA (168 miles from Kinston)
Norfolk Tides (AAA Orioles) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA Red Sox)
The city that once tried to land the Expos is now home to the Orioles’ top farm team. 24 different Tides players from last year also played in the majors, which is a kind way of saying the Orioles needed a lot of help in 2009. This game will be stopped for 15 minutes as Norfolk fans laugh uncontrollably at Red Sox faithful trying to pronounce the Tides’ stadium, Harbor Park.
Lynchburg, VA (190 miles from Norfolk)
Lynchburg Hillcats (A Reds) vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Royals)
What, a Carolina League game that doesn’t involve the Salem Red Sox? Blasphemy! Lynchburg did beat Salem for the League title in 2009 (maybe the last time the Pirates beat the Red Sox at anything) before switching affiliations for ‘10. The City of Seven Hills boasts a renovated, 70-year old stadium, and actor Skeet Ulrich. What else do you need, people?
Salem, VA (68 miles from Lynchburg)
Salem Red Sox (A Red Sox) vs. Potomac Nationals (A Nationals)
I swear we don’t own any stock in the Salem Red Sox, although we might by this point. It’s our 4th time to see Salem, but our first time checking out their home digs, and their mascots “Lefty” and “Righty” (two socks, distinctly marked with an “L” and an “R”). Word has it “Lefty” will be converted to a situational reliever for 2010.
Winston-Salem, NC (140 miles from Salem)
Winston-Salem Dash (A White Sox) vs. Lynchburg Hillcats (A Reds)
What better way to start our mad “dash” through the Tar Heel State? The Dash move into a brand new park in ’10, complete with luxury suites. Yep, luxury suites… in a single-A park. For an extra few bucks, Ozzie Guillen will go off on random, highly amusing tirades on a TV monitor in your suite. Sweet!
Greensboro, NC (29 miles from Winston-Salem)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (A Marlins) vs. Lexington Legends (A Astros)
The shortest trip all year between minor league parks, so there’ll be plenty of time to, uh, do whatever it is people do in the Triad. Sadly, Greensboro’s old World War Memorial Stadium gave way to a modern yard in 2005, but like Elton John, it’s still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah!). 8 Sally League games in 11 days, and I'm talking real, fried-okra-and-catfish South Atlantic, not that Lakewood New Jersey, how-did-we-get-stuck-in-this-league stuff.
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