Durham Bulls, Asheville Tourists... they're not just in movies; they're real-life teams! GABA 2010, Week 8 chows down on some Carolina cookin'... just watch out for lugnuts in Kannapolis. They're not as crunchy as you think. Here's Week 8:
Monday, May 24th:
Durham, NC (57 miles from Greensboro)
Durham Bulls (AAA Rays) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA Red Sox)
It’s hard to come up with a more classic minor league stop than this one. The old bull’s still hanging in the concourse of the Bulls’ new stadium. And at some point, Crash Davis will crouch behind home plate, get shaken off by Nuke LaLoosh, and tip off the next pitch that’s coming. The real-life Bulls are defending AAA champs, proof that ‘hit bull win steak’ really is a great life motto.
Tuesday, May 25th:
Hickory, NC (151 miles from Durham)
Hickory Crawdads (A Rangers) vs. Delmarva Shorebirds (A Orioles)
I’ll get to spend birthday number 36 in a town started when a man built a tavern of logs under a hickory tree. I can’t make this stuff up. One night last August, the Crawdads let anyone with the first name ‘Michael’ or last name ‘Jackson’ into the stadium for free. And there isn’t a ticket in the stadium more than nine bucks. Classic GABA stuff!
Wednesday, May 26th:
Asheville, NC (79 miles from Hickory)
Asheville Tourists (A Rockies) vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers (A Marlins)
Apparently the Rockies like their prospects to play in elevation as part of their training. McCormick Field’s no Biltmore House, but it’s 86 years old and Tourists’ manager Joe Mikulik once threw the best tirade in the history of tirades. Lou Piniella was seen blushing. I can identify with the Tourists, since that’s exactly what we’ve been for two months straight, and will be for four months to come.
Thursday, May 27th:
Greenville, SC (63 miles from Asheville)
Greenville Drive (A Red Sox) vs. Charleston RiverDogs (A Yankees)
Red Sox. Yankees. Baseball’s fiercest, nastiest rivalry, a bitter conflict between two proud, sometimes obnoxious Northern cities, played out in… South Carolina?! Flour Field at the West End is even built like a mini-Fenway, Monstah and all. This might be a good game to stage a protest against singular nicknames… Greenville Drive is a street address, not a team name!
Friday, May 28th:
Fort Mill, SC (103 miles from Greenville)
Charlotte Knights (AAA White Sox) vs. Indianapolis Indians (AAA Pirates)
You read that right. The Charlotte Knights don’t play in Charlotte… they don’t even play in North Carolina. Knights Stadium’s even built to MLB specs in case Charlotte lands an MLB franchise one day. Although a 10,000 seat stadium might still look empty if the Expos had moved there. This castle marks game #50 – 1/3 of the way through GABA 2010!
Saturday, May 29th:
Kannapolis, NC (29 miles from Fort Mill)
Kannapolis Intimidators (A White Sox) vs. Charleston RiverDogs (A Yankees)
Baseball’s a little different in the heart of NASCAR country. Relief pitchers speed in from the bullpen in brand new Mustangs. Mound visits and stadium repairs must all be done in 14 seconds or less. Runners round the bases just inches from each other to help aerodynamics. And a prospect’s 95 mile an hour fastball is referred to as “2nd gear”. And yes, number 3 is retired, in memory of the real Intimidator.
Sunday, May 30th:
Travel day. I’m envisioning knocking on the doors of Roush Fenway Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and all the other NASCAR outfits near Charlotte, begging for jobs as we realize that we will have no life to go to once this trip ends. This from a guy who once poured motor oil in the windshield wiper compartment of my car.
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