18 weeks of baseball and, somehow, someway, the Great American Baseball Adventure's still going strong! One last swing through the Deep South for Week 19 - bring your appetite for grits and catfish...
Monday, August 9th:
Springdale, AR (110 miles from Tulsa)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA Royals) vs. Arkansas Travelers (AA Angels)
The Battle of Arkansas, Part Deux. Keeping score of this game becomes incredibly confusing when every Naturals player changes his name to Robert Redford. It’s fun to play on the Nats’ nickname, but not nearly as fun as the second place finisher in the ‘name the team’ contest – Thunder Chickens. Oh, the jokes that could’ve been…
Tuesday, August 10th:
Travel day. My wife will visit family in Little Rock; I’ll spend the day writing down all my Thunder Chickens jokes. We’ve got a handful of Southern teams to go, and then it’s all Midwest, all the time for the rest of the minor league season.
Wednesday, August 11th:
Jackson, TN (412 miles from Springdale)
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (AA Mariners) vs. Montgomery Biscuits (AA Rays)
You can’t have baseball without salty, fatty, disgusting, fantastic food. And a game at Pringles Park featuring the Biscuits has me in one serious artery-clogging mood. I’m parking myself down on the front row in Wink Martindale’s hometown and humming the Tic-Tac-Dough theme repeatedly while mowing down the peanuts and Cracker Jaxx. That was a long way to go for a joke, and I don’t apologize for it.
Thursday, August 12th:
Chattanooga, TN (262 miles from Jackson)
Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Dodgers) vs. Tennessee Smokies (AA Cubs)
The place now called Dodgertown, Tennessee is another promotion-rich environment; last year fans sang exactly half of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” at the 3.5-inning stretch. Hey, the economy’s got everybody cutting back, right? And apparently, you can watch the game from a barber’s chair in left field while getting your mane trimmed. Which is good, since I didn’t build a lot of haircut time into the GABA.
Friday, August 13th:
Rome, GA (69 miles from Chattanooga)
Rome Braves (A Braves) vs. Augusta Greenjackets (A Giants)
Just another part of the Braves’ master plan to put each of their minor league teams within walking distance of the big league club. Rome ain’t suburban, but it ain’t far from the ATL. Since it’s Friday the 13th, we may decide to stay in our hotel room instead of looking for Romulus, Remus, or the Leasing Tower of Pisa.
Saturday, August 14th:
Lawrenceville, GA (89 miles from Rome)
Gwinnett Braves (AAA Braves) vs. Durham Bulls (AAA Rays)
Braves’ farmhands can literally take a cab ride to the big league ballpark from suburban Lawrenceville. Advantages to Gwinnett Stadium: it’s new, it’s suburban, and it’s actually the closest minor league park to the town where I grew up. Disadvantage: at the rate Atlanta’s growing, Lawrenceville will be annexed into downtown Atlanta by 2015.
Sunday, August 15th:
Huntsville, AL (236 miles from Lawrenceville)
Huntsville Stars (AA Brewers) vs. West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (AA Mariners)
One last swing through Alabama to reach for the Stars, aka the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers. Because once Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder leave for large market bucks, somebody’s gotta replace them, right? Joe Davis Stadium’s hosted monster truck rallies before; maybe we can get lucky and catch a two-fer. Or both events at the same time. After all, it is… SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Great American Baseball Adventure, Week 18: August 2nd-8th, 2010
We're done California dreamin' ... time to hightail it across the desert Southwest and on to a whirlwind tour of Texas. Hanson even gets a shout out in Week 18 of GABA 2010:
Monday, August 2nd:
Phoenix, AZ (355 miles from San Diego)
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals
Game time temperature: somewhere above water’s boiling point. Before the game, crowd is thrilled to hear the stadium will be cooled by Mark Reynolds’ swings and misses instead of traditional AC. In the 4th, Adam Dunn gives up and spends the next two innings in the right field pool. 10-year-old lucky fan wins a contest and pitches the 7th… for both teams.
Tuesday, August 3rd:
Travel day. Getting to 150 games in six months is the scheduling equivalent of a Rubik’s Cube - there’s at least one part that just doesn’t get solved. And this is that section of the trip. We have to squeeze in the four remaining Texas teams, plus Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas, in a six-day stretch. This is the point where I’m really happy my full-time employment has made this trip fictional.
Wednesday, August 4th:
Frisco, TX (1085 miles from Phoenix)
Frisco RoughRiders (AA Rangers) vs. Midland RockHounds (AA Athletics)
Rough Ride, indeed. We’re crossing half the country in two days, then hitting five Texas League games in six days (remember, Texas is one stupidly huge state). It’s our only time seeing the visiting RockHounds (our Midland trip was for the Texas League All-Star Game), and Dr. Pepper Ballpark’s village-like design sounds very cool. Wonder if they’ll let us sleep on the benches after all those hours in the car.
Thursday, August 5th:
Corpus Christi, TX (439 miles from Frisco)
Corpus Christi Hooks (AA Astros) vs. San Antonio Missions (AA Padres)
Nolan Ryan and his group own two of the best-run franchises in all of minor league baseball, the Hooks and the Round Rock Express. Whataburger Field has a great coastal location, a rock wall, a basketball court, and a pool. And hopefully they serve taquitos after 11PM (inside reference for you Whataburger fans out there – I miss that burger joint!)
Friday, August 6th:
San Antonio, TX (143 miles from Corpus Christi)
San Antonio Missions (AA Padres) vs. Frisco RoughRiders (AA Rangers)
Does the Texas League only have three teams? I did this park in 2007 and my greatest memory were the mascots, Ballapeno and Henry the Puffy Taco. After a few innings, Ballapeno and Henry got into a skirmish behind home plate and Ballapeno literally started ripping the “lettuce” stuffing out of poor, defenseless Henry. Kids were traumatized for life. I laughed (at the mascots). Does that make me a mean person?
Saturday, August 7th:
Round Rock, TX (98 miles from San Antonio)
Round Rock Express (AAA Astros) vs. Fresno Grizzlies (AAA Giants)
I can’t really talk about the Express and Dell Diamond without gushing. I worked in Austin for two years and had some of my favorite baseball moments at that park. I proposed to my wife during the 7th inning stretch at that park. The Dell (which we used to call The Mouse Pad) is across the street from train tracks, and every time a train goes by, they play Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues: “I hear the train a-comin’, it’s rollin’ round the bend…” One of the top franchises, best staffs, and best experiences in all of baseball. Period. Must... stop... gushing...
Sunday, August 8th:
Tulsa, OK (434 miles from Round Rock)
Tulsa Drillers (AA Rockies) vs. Springfield Cardinals (AA Cardinals)
Very few teams are switching stadiums in 2010 (the economy strikes again), but the Drillers have struck oil with the new ONEOK Field in Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District. I was hoping they’d go with MMMBOP Field in honor of Tulsa-based trio Hanson, but no one’s ever listened to me when naming stadiums before.
Monday, August 2nd:
Phoenix, AZ (355 miles from San Diego)
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals
Game time temperature: somewhere above water’s boiling point. Before the game, crowd is thrilled to hear the stadium will be cooled by Mark Reynolds’ swings and misses instead of traditional AC. In the 4th, Adam Dunn gives up and spends the next two innings in the right field pool. 10-year-old lucky fan wins a contest and pitches the 7th… for both teams.
Tuesday, August 3rd:
Travel day. Getting to 150 games in six months is the scheduling equivalent of a Rubik’s Cube - there’s at least one part that just doesn’t get solved. And this is that section of the trip. We have to squeeze in the four remaining Texas teams, plus Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas, in a six-day stretch. This is the point where I’m really happy my full-time employment has made this trip fictional.
Wednesday, August 4th:
Frisco, TX (1085 miles from Phoenix)
Frisco RoughRiders (AA Rangers) vs. Midland RockHounds (AA Athletics)
Rough Ride, indeed. We’re crossing half the country in two days, then hitting five Texas League games in six days (remember, Texas is one stupidly huge state). It’s our only time seeing the visiting RockHounds (our Midland trip was for the Texas League All-Star Game), and Dr. Pepper Ballpark’s village-like design sounds very cool. Wonder if they’ll let us sleep on the benches after all those hours in the car.
Thursday, August 5th:
Corpus Christi, TX (439 miles from Frisco)
Corpus Christi Hooks (AA Astros) vs. San Antonio Missions (AA Padres)
Nolan Ryan and his group own two of the best-run franchises in all of minor league baseball, the Hooks and the Round Rock Express. Whataburger Field has a great coastal location, a rock wall, a basketball court, and a pool. And hopefully they serve taquitos after 11PM (inside reference for you Whataburger fans out there – I miss that burger joint!)
Friday, August 6th:
San Antonio, TX (143 miles from Corpus Christi)
San Antonio Missions (AA Padres) vs. Frisco RoughRiders (AA Rangers)
Does the Texas League only have three teams? I did this park in 2007 and my greatest memory were the mascots, Ballapeno and Henry the Puffy Taco. After a few innings, Ballapeno and Henry got into a skirmish behind home plate and Ballapeno literally started ripping the “lettuce” stuffing out of poor, defenseless Henry. Kids were traumatized for life. I laughed (at the mascots). Does that make me a mean person?
Saturday, August 7th:
Round Rock, TX (98 miles from San Antonio)
Round Rock Express (AAA Astros) vs. Fresno Grizzlies (AAA Giants)
I can’t really talk about the Express and Dell Diamond without gushing. I worked in Austin for two years and had some of my favorite baseball moments at that park. I proposed to my wife during the 7th inning stretch at that park. The Dell (which we used to call The Mouse Pad) is across the street from train tracks, and every time a train goes by, they play Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues: “I hear the train a-comin’, it’s rollin’ round the bend…” One of the top franchises, best staffs, and best experiences in all of baseball. Period. Must... stop... gushing...
Sunday, August 8th:
Tulsa, OK (434 miles from Round Rock)
Tulsa Drillers (AA Rockies) vs. Springfield Cardinals (AA Cardinals)
Very few teams are switching stadiums in 2010 (the economy strikes again), but the Drillers have struck oil with the new ONEOK Field in Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District. I was hoping they’d go with MMMBOP Field in honor of Tulsa-based trio Hanson, but no one’s ever listened to me when naming stadiums before.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Great American Baseball Adventure, Week 17: July 26th-August 1st, 2010
A couple nights in Vegas, the rest of the California League, and the prettiest park in all of baseball. Week 17 of the Great American Baseball Adventure, 2010:
Monday, July 26th:
Las Vegas, NV (221 miles from San Bernardino)
Las Vegas 51s (AAA Blue Jays) vs. Portland Beavers (AAA Padres)
Game #100! So the Blue Jays’ top farm team is named for a land area, has an alien for a mascot, and is 2,200 miles from Toronto. Did somebody take a wrong turn at Albuquerque? Rumors of Cashman Field adding video poker touch-screens on seat backs are untrue, but ‘Dress Like A Slot Machine’ Night would really push my buttons.
Tuesday, July 27th:
Travel day. Hmm… whatever could we do with an off day in Las Vegas?
Wednesday, July 28th:
Rancho Cucamonga, CA (224 miles from Las Vegas)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A Angels) vs. San Jose Giants (A Giants)
Only an Angels farm team would play its home games at a stadium called the City of Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter Entertainment and Sports Complex. It’s Weenie Wednesday in the ‘burbs of LA… hot dogs for a buck, but only if you order the dog using an inordinate number of words. By the way, how does a 175,000-person suburb get built ON a fault line?
Thursday, July 29th:
Bakersfield, CA (147 miles from Rancho Cucamonga)
Bakersfield Blaze (A Rangers) vs. Modesto Nuts (A Rockies)
After more than a hundred games, you’d think the stadiums would start to run together in the mind. Not so for Sam Lynn Ballpark, the only stadium in pro baseball that faces west. Yes, west… right into the setting sun, meaning the Blaze have the latest summer start times in all of baseball. And the shortest center field, at 354 feet. Weird, quirky, and refreshingly fun.
Friday, July 30th:
Lancaster, CA (87 miles from Bakersfield)
Lancaster JetHawks (A Astros) vs. Bakersfield Blaze (A Rangers)
The Blaze apparently didn’t like their quirky home stadium, since they followed us out of town to Lancaster. Since it’s two Texas teams’ farmhands dueling in SoCal, they’ll be allowed to wear boots with spurs, fire six-shooters into the air when celebrating good plays, and brand the on-deck circles with outlines of the state of Texas. The only thing missing is the Visalia Rawhide. Or an ex-president named Bush.
Saturday, July 31st:
Adelanto, CA (58 miles from Lancaster)
High Desert Mavericks (A Mariners) vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A Angels)
OK, we’re reaching the point where the California town names are being made up. Seriously, Adelanto? Our California League finale features a Mavs team that nearly won the league title last year. And a Quakes team that we’ve seen 3 times in a week. Except I’m still not convinced Adelanto really exists.
Sunday, August 1st:
San Diego, CA (147 miles from "Adelanto")
San Diego Padres vs. Florida Marlins
We say goodbye to Cali in style, in what I think is the nicest ballpark in the country. Petco Park is like a Mediterranean social garden on the outside; it’s hard to tell it’s a ballpark from across the street. The inside view is great, and it’ll be fun to debate if the Padres and Marlins could combine forces to field a single, competitive MLB roster.
Monday, July 26th:
Las Vegas, NV (221 miles from San Bernardino)
Las Vegas 51s (AAA Blue Jays) vs. Portland Beavers (AAA Padres)
Game #100! So the Blue Jays’ top farm team is named for a land area, has an alien for a mascot, and is 2,200 miles from Toronto. Did somebody take a wrong turn at Albuquerque? Rumors of Cashman Field adding video poker touch-screens on seat backs are untrue, but ‘Dress Like A Slot Machine’ Night would really push my buttons.
Tuesday, July 27th:
Travel day. Hmm… whatever could we do with an off day in Las Vegas?
Wednesday, July 28th:
Rancho Cucamonga, CA (224 miles from Las Vegas)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A Angels) vs. San Jose Giants (A Giants)
Only an Angels farm team would play its home games at a stadium called the City of Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter Entertainment and Sports Complex. It’s Weenie Wednesday in the ‘burbs of LA… hot dogs for a buck, but only if you order the dog using an inordinate number of words. By the way, how does a 175,000-person suburb get built ON a fault line?
Thursday, July 29th:
Bakersfield, CA (147 miles from Rancho Cucamonga)
Bakersfield Blaze (A Rangers) vs. Modesto Nuts (A Rockies)
After more than a hundred games, you’d think the stadiums would start to run together in the mind. Not so for Sam Lynn Ballpark, the only stadium in pro baseball that faces west. Yes, west… right into the setting sun, meaning the Blaze have the latest summer start times in all of baseball. And the shortest center field, at 354 feet. Weird, quirky, and refreshingly fun.
Friday, July 30th:
Lancaster, CA (87 miles from Bakersfield)
Lancaster JetHawks (A Astros) vs. Bakersfield Blaze (A Rangers)
The Blaze apparently didn’t like their quirky home stadium, since they followed us out of town to Lancaster. Since it’s two Texas teams’ farmhands dueling in SoCal, they’ll be allowed to wear boots with spurs, fire six-shooters into the air when celebrating good plays, and brand the on-deck circles with outlines of the state of Texas. The only thing missing is the Visalia Rawhide. Or an ex-president named Bush.
Saturday, July 31st:
Adelanto, CA (58 miles from Lancaster)
High Desert Mavericks (A Mariners) vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A Angels)
OK, we’re reaching the point where the California town names are being made up. Seriously, Adelanto? Our California League finale features a Mavs team that nearly won the league title last year. And a Quakes team that we’ve seen 3 times in a week. Except I’m still not convinced Adelanto really exists.
Sunday, August 1st:
San Diego, CA (147 miles from "Adelanto")
San Diego Padres vs. Florida Marlins
We say goodbye to Cali in style, in what I think is the nicest ballpark in the country. Petco Park is like a Mediterranean social garden on the outside; it’s hard to tell it’s a ballpark from across the street. The inside view is great, and it’ll be fun to debate if the Padres and Marlins could combine forces to field a single, competitive MLB roster.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Great American Baseball Adventure, Week 16: July 19th-25th, 2010
California dreaming hits its peak in Week 16. We'll see baseball at four different levels this week: MLB, AAA, A, and whatever it is the Oakland Athletics play. GABA 2010, Week 16:
Monday, July 19th:
Oakland, CA (12 miles from San Francisco)
Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox
Out of 30 MLB teams, somebody’s gotta have the worst stadium, and this is very likely the one. Understand, the A’s have been my team for many years, so I feel entitled to say the Coliseum looks like a construction crane threw up a bunch of concrete. The good news is we shouldn’t have any trouble getting first row seats right behind the dugouts. Or home plate. Or I might just ask to pitch an inning or two.
Tuesday, July 20th:
San Jose, CA (41 miles from Oakland)
San Jose Giants (A Giants) vs. Stockton Ports (A Athletics)
A ‘down-on-the-farm’ version of the Bay Series in another very cool setting. The stadium’s old-school, the Giants have won three California League titles in five years… but most importantly, if the San Jose pitcher strikes out the designated ‘beer batter’, beer’s half-price for the next 15 minutes. Can I vote Mark Reynolds to be the ‘beer batter’?
Wednesday, July 21st:
Fresno, CA (152 miles from San Jose)
Fresno Grizzlies (AAA Giants) vs. Salt Lake Bees (AAA Angels)
They know crazy promotions in Fresno, from K-Fed Night to As Seen On TV Night. The Grizzlies even have an offseason short series called “I Hate The Offseason”. Indeed. And thank goodness for the promotions, ‘cause I can’t think of a single other thing to say about Fresno.
Thursday, July 22nd:
Visalia, CA (44 miles from Fresno)
Visalia Rawhide (A D’Backs) vs. Lancaster JetHawks (A Astros)
A baseball team named for a Western that starred Clint Eastwood? Rawhide! I know the name is actually an homage to agriculture, but I’m going with the Western anyway. How about the San Francisco Gunsmoke? The Bakersfield Bonanza? The whole California league could go Old West! Go ahead, Cali League… make my day…
Friday, July 23rd:
Los Angeles, CA (188 miles from Visalia)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets
No exploding scoreboards, no sausage races, no “pin the tail on Kevin Federline” promotions. Just good baseball, good hot dogs, and good weather. It’s amazing how cool baseball really is with all the fluff stripped away. It’s funny, but Dodger Stadium might be the only thing about L.A. that isn’t chock full of fluff.
Saturday, July 24th:
Lake Elsinore, CA (69 miles from Los Angeles)
Lake Elsinore Storm (A Padres) vs. Bakersfield Blaze (A Rangers)
We have 21 hours between games for this 69-mile trek through L.A. traffic. I hope it’s enough time. Apparently there’s a city ordinance in Lake Elsinore that bans team nicknames ending in ‘s’. I always learned that water puts out fire; we’ll learn if that’s true this night.
Sunday, July 25th:
San Bernardino, CA (39 miles from Lake Elsinore)
Inland Empire 66ers (A Dodgers) vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A Angels)
The 66ers are named for Historic Route 66, but their full name is the “Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino”. Clearly a Dodger-created tongue-in-cheek shot at the Angels’ 78-word club name. Now, the Angels’ and Dodgers’ farmhands can duke out their frustrations in a “Sunday Game Of A Sport That Lasts Nine Innings And Features A Small White Ball With Stitches”.
Monday, July 19th:
Oakland, CA (12 miles from San Francisco)
Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox
Out of 30 MLB teams, somebody’s gotta have the worst stadium, and this is very likely the one. Understand, the A’s have been my team for many years, so I feel entitled to say the Coliseum looks like a construction crane threw up a bunch of concrete. The good news is we shouldn’t have any trouble getting first row seats right behind the dugouts. Or home plate. Or I might just ask to pitch an inning or two.
Tuesday, July 20th:
San Jose, CA (41 miles from Oakland)
San Jose Giants (A Giants) vs. Stockton Ports (A Athletics)
A ‘down-on-the-farm’ version of the Bay Series in another very cool setting. The stadium’s old-school, the Giants have won three California League titles in five years… but most importantly, if the San Jose pitcher strikes out the designated ‘beer batter’, beer’s half-price for the next 15 minutes. Can I vote Mark Reynolds to be the ‘beer batter’?
Wednesday, July 21st:
Fresno, CA (152 miles from San Jose)
Fresno Grizzlies (AAA Giants) vs. Salt Lake Bees (AAA Angels)
They know crazy promotions in Fresno, from K-Fed Night to As Seen On TV Night. The Grizzlies even have an offseason short series called “I Hate The Offseason”. Indeed. And thank goodness for the promotions, ‘cause I can’t think of a single other thing to say about Fresno.
Thursday, July 22nd:
Visalia, CA (44 miles from Fresno)
Visalia Rawhide (A D’Backs) vs. Lancaster JetHawks (A Astros)
A baseball team named for a Western that starred Clint Eastwood? Rawhide! I know the name is actually an homage to agriculture, but I’m going with the Western anyway. How about the San Francisco Gunsmoke? The Bakersfield Bonanza? The whole California league could go Old West! Go ahead, Cali League… make my day…
Friday, July 23rd:
Los Angeles, CA (188 miles from Visalia)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets
No exploding scoreboards, no sausage races, no “pin the tail on Kevin Federline” promotions. Just good baseball, good hot dogs, and good weather. It’s amazing how cool baseball really is with all the fluff stripped away. It’s funny, but Dodger Stadium might be the only thing about L.A. that isn’t chock full of fluff.
Saturday, July 24th:
Lake Elsinore, CA (69 miles from Los Angeles)
Lake Elsinore Storm (A Padres) vs. Bakersfield Blaze (A Rangers)
We have 21 hours between games for this 69-mile trek through L.A. traffic. I hope it’s enough time. Apparently there’s a city ordinance in Lake Elsinore that bans team nicknames ending in ‘s’. I always learned that water puts out fire; we’ll learn if that’s true this night.
Sunday, July 25th:
San Bernardino, CA (39 miles from Lake Elsinore)
Inland Empire 66ers (A Dodgers) vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A Angels)
The 66ers are named for Historic Route 66, but their full name is the “Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino”. Clearly a Dodger-created tongue-in-cheek shot at the Angels’ 78-word club name. Now, the Angels’ and Dodgers’ farmhands can duke out their frustrations in a “Sunday Game Of A Sport That Lasts Nine Innings And Features A Small White Ball With Stitches”.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Great American Baseball Adventure, Week 15: July 12th-18th, 2010
One of my favorite weeks of GABA 2010 is Week 15. I must've rearranged the schedule ten times to get us to the All-Star Game on the 13th, but we also get a night in Reno and a weekend in San Francisco. Is the West Coast really the best coast? We'll find out in Week 15:
Monday, July 12th:
Modesto, CA (75 miles from Sacramento)
Modesto Nuts (A Rockies) vs. Stockton Ports (A Athletics)
Welcome to the California League, which we will see in its entirety in just 20 days. Some great promotions in Modesto, including a $10 All-You-Can-Eat night on Wednesdays and $2 tacos and Tecates on Tuesdays. On Mondays, you can donate two items to a local charity and get in free. I plan on donating two Oakland A’s relief pitchers.
Tuesday, July 13th:
Anaheim, CA (338 miles from Modesto)
The 81st Major League Baseball All-Star Game
I know, I know… I cheated again. We could’ve stayed in Northern Cali and gone to a hundred different places. But it’s the freakin’ All-Star Game! It could be the single greatest game of the entire trip… unless it ends in a tie. And if that happens, we’re calling the rest of the trip off. The baseball purist in my would like to proudly point out that this is the ONLY interleague MLB game scheduled for the entire trip, 0utside of the state of Florida. And let's face it, who's really watching baseball in Florida?
Wednesday, July 14th:
Travel day. Or, more appropriately, “soak-in-the-fact-that-we’ve-seen-90-plus-games-on-this-trip-including-the-freakin-All-Star-Game” Day. Great name. It would look nice on a banner.
Thursday, July 15th:
Reno, NV (544 miles from Anaheim)
Reno Aces (AAA D’Backs) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (AAA Mariners)
In 11 days, we’ve seen the Rainiers in 3 cities that are at least 500 miles apart. I swear, PCL teams travel enough to do a GABA every season. If only the Aces played the Clinton Lumber Kings. Aces and Kings… blackjack!
Friday, July 16th:
Stockton, CA (179 miles from Reno)
Stockton Ports (A Athletics) vs. Visalia Rawhide (A D’Backs)
We went three months without seeing anything related to the A’s; now we can’t seem to get away from them. The Ports’ Banner Island Ballpark isn’t actually on an island. And I was all ready to unleash a diatribe about a team called the Ports in a city that’s 75 miles inland, until I found out Stockton actually is an inland sea port. So I’m backing off, Stockton. I’m backing off.
Saturday, July 17th:
San Francisco, CA (83 miles from Stockton)
San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets
Nothing like a baseball game on a mid-summer’s night that’s 45 degrees with a 30 mile an hour wind. Really, AT&T Park is like the city itself – beautiful and well-designed. Just bring a hoodie… or three. And don’t think I won’t adjust our trip to match this stadium with a Tim Lincecum start.
Sunday, July 18th:
Travel day. Oh, who am I kidding. If you plan a six-month long cross-country trip, you’d better build in a day for the Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz, Lombard Street… really, we could spend a week there. Of course, by mid-July, we might want to just sleep for a week.
Monday, July 12th:
Modesto, CA (75 miles from Sacramento)
Modesto Nuts (A Rockies) vs. Stockton Ports (A Athletics)
Welcome to the California League, which we will see in its entirety in just 20 days. Some great promotions in Modesto, including a $10 All-You-Can-Eat night on Wednesdays and $2 tacos and Tecates on Tuesdays. On Mondays, you can donate two items to a local charity and get in free. I plan on donating two Oakland A’s relief pitchers.
Tuesday, July 13th:
Anaheim, CA (338 miles from Modesto)
The 81st Major League Baseball All-Star Game
I know, I know… I cheated again. We could’ve stayed in Northern Cali and gone to a hundred different places. But it’s the freakin’ All-Star Game! It could be the single greatest game of the entire trip… unless it ends in a tie. And if that happens, we’re calling the rest of the trip off. The baseball purist in my would like to proudly point out that this is the ONLY interleague MLB game scheduled for the entire trip, 0utside of the state of Florida. And let's face it, who's really watching baseball in Florida?
Wednesday, July 14th:
Travel day. Or, more appropriately, “soak-in-the-fact-that-we’ve-seen-90-plus-games-on-this-trip-including-the-freakin-All-Star-Game” Day. Great name. It would look nice on a banner.
Thursday, July 15th:
Reno, NV (544 miles from Anaheim)
Reno Aces (AAA D’Backs) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (AAA Mariners)
In 11 days, we’ve seen the Rainiers in 3 cities that are at least 500 miles apart. I swear, PCL teams travel enough to do a GABA every season. If only the Aces played the Clinton Lumber Kings. Aces and Kings… blackjack!
Friday, July 16th:
Stockton, CA (179 miles from Reno)
Stockton Ports (A Athletics) vs. Visalia Rawhide (A D’Backs)
We went three months without seeing anything related to the A’s; now we can’t seem to get away from them. The Ports’ Banner Island Ballpark isn’t actually on an island. And I was all ready to unleash a diatribe about a team called the Ports in a city that’s 75 miles inland, until I found out Stockton actually is an inland sea port. So I’m backing off, Stockton. I’m backing off.
Saturday, July 17th:
San Francisco, CA (83 miles from Stockton)
San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets
Nothing like a baseball game on a mid-summer’s night that’s 45 degrees with a 30 mile an hour wind. Really, AT&T Park is like the city itself – beautiful and well-designed. Just bring a hoodie… or three. And don’t think I won’t adjust our trip to match this stadium with a Tim Lincecum start.
Sunday, July 18th:
Travel day. Oh, who am I kidding. If you plan a six-month long cross-country trip, you’d better build in a day for the Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz, Lombard Street… really, we could spend a week there. Of course, by mid-July, we might want to just sleep for a week.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Great American Baseball Adventure, Week 14: July 5th-11th, 2010
GABA 2010 started so innocently; blissful weeks in the Midwest and on the Eastern seaboard lulled us into believing this was easy. Well, this is the week we're proven wrong. Our goal is to see every full-season major and minor league stadium in baseball, and in Week 14, that means three trips of 500+ miles... in the same week. Can we get frequent flyer miles in a car?
Monday, July 5th:
Salt Lake City, UT (534 miles from Denver)
Salt Lake Bees (AAA Angels) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (AAA Mariners)
Another schedule must after Albuquerque-Colorado Springs-Denver is to hit the Beehive State. The Bees’ stadium is nicknamed ‘The Apiary’ (grab your nearest dictionary for that one). No promotion schedule is set, but I’m rooting for ‘Dress Like Your Favorite Osmond Night’.
Tuesday, July 6th:
Travel day. Two off days in a 3-day stretch? It’ll feel like a vacation… except we have almost 800 miles to cover before the next stop. By comparison, there’s a 10-day stretch in April where we don’t cover 800 miles total. If the GABA were a song, this is where it starts being “They’re Coming To Take Me Away”.
Wednesday, July 7th:
Portland, OR (4.7 million miles from Salt Lake City)
Portland Beavers (AAA Padres) vs. Las Vegas 51s (AAA Blue Jays)
It’s actually 767 miles from Mormon country to granola heaven. Portland’s the greenest city in the U.S. (environment, not Benjamins), so we’ll ride a Smart Car to PGE Park. Soy hot dogs and no-sugar-added Cracker Jack for everyone! Game is delayed 45 minutes when the Oregon State Beavers show up instead of the Padres farmhands.
Thursday, July 8th:
Tacoma, WA (143 miles from Portland)
Tacoma Rainiers (AAA Mariners) vs. Fresno Grizzlies (AAA Giants)
Years before it became chic to put your AAA club in your backyard, the Mariners sailed into Tacoma and claimed the Rainiers (chosen over other names like Cobains and Starbucks). Nick Lachey owns a stake in this team, so it’s time to bust out the Tony Romo jersey!
Friday, July 9th:
Seattle, WA (34 miles from Tacoma)
Seattle Mariners vs. New York Yankees
Before the game, Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. will re-create “The Double”, Edgar’s 1995 ALDS-winning hit that saved baseball in Seattle. Griffey, now in his 40s, will need three times as long to round the bases, and will injure himself seven times along the way. Angered Yankee players will hit 20 home runs in the first inning, then try to sign Ichiro between innings.
Saturday, July 10th:
Travel day. We’re done with the Pacific Northwest (sorry, Northwest League – this GABA is for full-season teams only). It’s time to hop on Interstate 5, get behind the nearest cop, and book it for Cali.
Sunday, July 11th:
Sacramento, CA (752 miles from Seattle)
Sacramento River Cats (AAA Athletics) vs. Portland Beavers (AAA Padres)
It’s taken us almost 90 games to see our first Oakland Athletics farm team. Raley Field in Sacto is built ‘with expansion in mind’ in case a major league team wanted to relocate (hey Oakland – hint hint!). An annual attendance leader and two-time overall AAA champion, Sac-town might be the only place in the minors where players are actually upset when they’re called up to play for the major league A’s.
Monday, July 5th:
Salt Lake City, UT (534 miles from Denver)
Salt Lake Bees (AAA Angels) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (AAA Mariners)
Another schedule must after Albuquerque-Colorado Springs-Denver is to hit the Beehive State. The Bees’ stadium is nicknamed ‘The Apiary’ (grab your nearest dictionary for that one). No promotion schedule is set, but I’m rooting for ‘Dress Like Your Favorite Osmond Night’.
Tuesday, July 6th:
Travel day. Two off days in a 3-day stretch? It’ll feel like a vacation… except we have almost 800 miles to cover before the next stop. By comparison, there’s a 10-day stretch in April where we don’t cover 800 miles total. If the GABA were a song, this is where it starts being “They’re Coming To Take Me Away”.
Wednesday, July 7th:
Portland, OR (4.7 million miles from Salt Lake City)
Portland Beavers (AAA Padres) vs. Las Vegas 51s (AAA Blue Jays)
It’s actually 767 miles from Mormon country to granola heaven. Portland’s the greenest city in the U.S. (environment, not Benjamins), so we’ll ride a Smart Car to PGE Park. Soy hot dogs and no-sugar-added Cracker Jack for everyone! Game is delayed 45 minutes when the Oregon State Beavers show up instead of the Padres farmhands.
Thursday, July 8th:
Tacoma, WA (143 miles from Portland)
Tacoma Rainiers (AAA Mariners) vs. Fresno Grizzlies (AAA Giants)
Years before it became chic to put your AAA club in your backyard, the Mariners sailed into Tacoma and claimed the Rainiers (chosen over other names like Cobains and Starbucks). Nick Lachey owns a stake in this team, so it’s time to bust out the Tony Romo jersey!
Friday, July 9th:
Seattle, WA (34 miles from Tacoma)
Seattle Mariners vs. New York Yankees
Before the game, Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. will re-create “The Double”, Edgar’s 1995 ALDS-winning hit that saved baseball in Seattle. Griffey, now in his 40s, will need three times as long to round the bases, and will injure himself seven times along the way. Angered Yankee players will hit 20 home runs in the first inning, then try to sign Ichiro between innings.
Saturday, July 10th:
Travel day. We’re done with the Pacific Northwest (sorry, Northwest League – this GABA is for full-season teams only). It’s time to hop on Interstate 5, get behind the nearest cop, and book it for Cali.
Sunday, July 11th:
Sacramento, CA (752 miles from Seattle)
Sacramento River Cats (AAA Athletics) vs. Portland Beavers (AAA Padres)
It’s taken us almost 90 games to see our first Oakland Athletics farm team. Raley Field in Sacto is built ‘with expansion in mind’ in case a major league team wanted to relocate (hey Oakland – hint hint!). An annual attendance leader and two-time overall AAA champion, Sac-town might be the only place in the minors where players are actually upset when they’re called up to play for the major league A’s.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Great American Baseball Adventure, Week 13: June 28th-July 4th, 2010
GABA 2010 zooms right into the heat of summer by hitting the high altitudes. Yes, believe it or not, New Mexico and Colorado are the keys to baseball bliss. Here's Week 13:
Monday, June 28th:
Oklahoma City, OK (286 miles from Springfield)
Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA Rangers) vs. Omaha Royals (AAA Royals)
Buckle in… the miles are about to start really piling up. Monday’s the best day to plop down at Bricktown… every seat in the house is 7 bucks, and Choc beer is just a dollar. It was either that or the Hubba Bubba Bubblegum bubble blowing contest (a weekend RedHawks tradition), and in the rock-paper-scissors hierarchy of promotions, beer beats gum. Sorry, it just does.
Tuesday, June 29th:
Travel day. Priority one, sober up from all the Choc beer the night before. Priority two, get a gas card. The next two weeks of the GABA are going to make the first three months look like a walk to your neighborhood softball diamond. We’ll be taking donations for the “GABA Private Plane” for this section of the trip.
Wednesday, June 30th:
Midland, TX (434 miles from Oklahoma City)
Texas League All-Star Game
OK, I cheated. There, I said it. I got it off my chest. Midland is 2,000 light years from any other baseball-playing city on Earth, and we have to start heading west. And the Texas League clearly went along with the plan by scheduling its All-Star Game in Midland while we’re passing through. Sorry, RockHounds… we’ll see you in August in Frisco.
Thursday, July 1st:
Albuquerque, NM (433 miles from Midland)
Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA Dodgers) vs. Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA Rangers)
Have you ever wanted to schedule your own GABA? Listen (or read) closely. These four words are the secret – Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver. It’s one freakin’ huge country out there, and if you don’t catch those three teams at home on consecutive days, you’re gonna be doing some weird LA-to-Denver-to-Atlanta-in-three-days trip. The first three games I filled in for this insane baseball concoction were… repeat it, kids… Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver. And yes, the Isotopes are named for the Simpsons episode where the Springfield Isotopes relocate to Albuquerque.
Friday, July 2nd:
Colorado Springs, CO (378 miles from Albuquerque)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA Rockies) vs. Salt Lake Bees (AAA Angels)
The GABA hits a Rocky Mountain high – more than 6,500 feet above sea level. The Sky Sox are the only AAA affiliate the Rockies have ever had. Honestly, I’d type more, but I’m feeling a little light headed from the altitude, and I can’t get John Denver out of my head right now.
Saturday, July 3rd:
Denver, CO (72 miles from Colorado Springs)
Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants
Let’s see… in the last two months, we’ve seen two MLB games, and calling the Marlins “MLB” might be a stretch. Our oasis in the MLB desert is Coors Field, amazingly the fourth-oldest stadium in the National League. Think about that. The NL's relics are now Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, and the two stadiums from the 1993 expansion (Marlins, Rockies).
Sunday, July 4th:
Travel day. Picture it - random service shop in Wyoming or Utah that’s actually open on the 4th. “Hi, our car needs an oil change, new tires, and about 300 other parts replaced.” “Why the overhaul, sir?” “Well, we’re gonna drive it 18,000 miles in the next three months to watch baseball games.” (Random service dude passes out.)
Oklahoma City, OK (286 miles from Springfield)
Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA Rangers) vs. Omaha Royals (AAA Royals)
Buckle in… the miles are about to start really piling up. Monday’s the best day to plop down at Bricktown… every seat in the house is 7 bucks, and Choc beer is just a dollar. It was either that or the Hubba Bubba Bubblegum bubble blowing contest (a weekend RedHawks tradition), and in the rock-paper-scissors hierarchy of promotions, beer beats gum. Sorry, it just does.
Tuesday, June 29th:
Travel day. Priority one, sober up from all the Choc beer the night before. Priority two, get a gas card. The next two weeks of the GABA are going to make the first three months look like a walk to your neighborhood softball diamond. We’ll be taking donations for the “GABA Private Plane” for this section of the trip.
Wednesday, June 30th:
Midland, TX (434 miles from Oklahoma City)
Texas League All-Star Game
OK, I cheated. There, I said it. I got it off my chest. Midland is 2,000 light years from any other baseball-playing city on Earth, and we have to start heading west. And the Texas League clearly went along with the plan by scheduling its All-Star Game in Midland while we’re passing through. Sorry, RockHounds… we’ll see you in August in Frisco.
Thursday, July 1st:
Albuquerque, NM (433 miles from Midland)
Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA Dodgers) vs. Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA Rangers)
Have you ever wanted to schedule your own GABA? Listen (or read) closely. These four words are the secret – Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver. It’s one freakin’ huge country out there, and if you don’t catch those three teams at home on consecutive days, you’re gonna be doing some weird LA-to-Denver-to-Atlanta-in-three-days trip. The first three games I filled in for this insane baseball concoction were… repeat it, kids… Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver. And yes, the Isotopes are named for the Simpsons episode where the Springfield Isotopes relocate to Albuquerque.
Friday, July 2nd:
Colorado Springs, CO (378 miles from Albuquerque)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA Rockies) vs. Salt Lake Bees (AAA Angels)
The GABA hits a Rocky Mountain high – more than 6,500 feet above sea level. The Sky Sox are the only AAA affiliate the Rockies have ever had. Honestly, I’d type more, but I’m feeling a little light headed from the altitude, and I can’t get John Denver out of my head right now.
Saturday, July 3rd:
Denver, CO (72 miles from Colorado Springs)
Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants
Let’s see… in the last two months, we’ve seen two MLB games, and calling the Marlins “MLB” might be a stretch. Our oasis in the MLB desert is Coors Field, amazingly the fourth-oldest stadium in the National League. Think about that. The NL's relics are now Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, and the two stadiums from the 1993 expansion (Marlins, Rockies).
Sunday, July 4th:
Travel day. Picture it - random service shop in Wyoming or Utah that’s actually open on the 4th. “Hi, our car needs an oil change, new tires, and about 300 other parts replaced.” “Why the overhaul, sir?” “Well, we’re gonna drive it 18,000 miles in the next three months to watch baseball games.” (Random service dude passes out.)
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