Tales from the Scoreboard

Greetings everybody!

As we quickly move through the month of August, there are some recent developments I'd like to let all of you know about. They have a measured effect on baseball roadtrips, so it is important to note them.

But first, as the title for this entry indicates, I have started a neat little tradition at my PK Park place of employment. As many of you may know, my duties at the ballpark have shifted from a sole grill cook to the operator of the manual scoreboard in the right field bullpen. While it is nowhere near the size of the old manual scoreboard at Civic, it does indicate runs, hits, errors, innings and outs. It is a great job as I get to watch the game from the bullpen, change numbers and visit with the players.

There are times during my work where the game slows down, the players are busy doing other things, and I get kind of bored. I have, thus, started a little tradition of sending out tweets from my phone about what life is like sitting out in the bullpen. Titled Tales from the Scoreboard, I remark on observations I see, conversations I've had with players and fans, and just general comments. It is a lot of fun and has created almost a dialogue of sorts for people who want to know a different side of the game.

Now, on to the developments. I have FINALLY landed a job here in Eugene that pays a living wage and is full-time. I start on the 23rd of August, so the Silver State roadtrip will be shortened to just a quick weekend down to Vegas. I'll fly down to Vegas on the 20th, see the Beavers play the 51s on the 21st, and come back on the 22nd.

I have also declared my candidacy for Councilor for the Creswell City Council. It will be a lot of work organizing a campaign and running for office, but it is what I want to do with my life and I feel that my hometown needs fresh and vibrant energy.

So, that is it for the changes. I am very excited to start out anew with a career and the rest of my life. I'm really glad that baseball will still be a part of it and that I can continue my hobby of baseball roadtrips.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)

The Silver State Beckoning

Greetings followers!

The midway point of the 2010 Baseball season has come and gone and I wanted to first write about my recent trip up to Portland, the recent scathing editorials about PK Park, and, finally, the next planned Baseball Roadtrip.

Last Sunday, I took another routine trip up to Portland. Unlike my last excursion to the Rose City, I was graced with incredible weather that didn't even hint at any precipitation. With temperatures in the low eighties, I took the opportunity to do some walking around Portland and really enjoy the seeming routine of going to Beavers games. I took the train up, went to Powells, hit the game grabbed dinner at Panda Express an came home. It worked like clockwork and, as always, I had a great time.

Looking at the schedule, it appears that I have one more date available to make a trip back up to Portland for the final time. The Portland Finale, scheduled for September 3, will undoubtedly have the same emotion that the last game at Civic had last year. However, being the ardent supporter of the Beavers and of PGE Park, I have to see the park one last time before baseball leaves.

The past week in the Register-Guard there have been multiple scathing letters to the editor from disgruntled fans complaining about PK Park. Everything from the ticket prices to the atmosphere to the concessions have been fair game for the dozen or so letters that have poured onto the pages of the Guard. I have to walk a very fine line here in my opinions simply because I am an employee with the Eugene Emeralds, but as a baseball fan and the ever-analytical side of me has to weigh in, at least somewhat, on these accusations.

Attendance at PK Park has been significantly less than what it was at Civic. It certainly is a smaller ballpark, but I also feel that the "over-the-top" promotions that the Emeralds are doing may turn some people off. One of the biggest draws of Civic was the simplicity and uncomplicated nature of the atmosphere. The fans didn't require stimulation like on-field promotions or gimmicky-themed nights to bring them out to the ballpark. They were attracted to the cheap ticket prices, the cheap food, and the old ballpark. I think that PK Park is holding up well as a venue, but the Emeralds are not holding up so well as an organization. I think the business plan they have now is suited more for places like San Bernardino or Stockton, where there are other attractions for people to go to besides baseball, but not necessarily here in Eugene.

There are some things about the new Emeralds organization that I really do like. First, the addition of Sunday day-games is an awesome thing that I tried for years to get the old management to do at Civic, but to no avail. Second, I really admire their efforts to cover up all the Oregon logos and stuff and make the park feel like it IS the Emeralds park. Thirdly, I am very glad they have decided to let me run the manual scoreboard in Right Field. It is sort of a a vestige of the old park and brings about a certain degree of nostalgia to an otherwise modern park.

Ok, now on to the title of this blog post. After much research, I have decided that the next roadtrip I will go on will be to the State of Nevada and the two Triple-A teams they have there. First, I will fly to Las Vegas and see the Portland Beavers take on the Las Vegas 51s at Cashman Field just north of The Strip. The next day, I will fly up to Reno and see the Tacoma Rainiers play the Reno Aces at Aces Ballpark in Downtown Reno. This trip will be taking place over the weekend of August 21-22.

I will be going with a very good friend who has talked about a trip to Vegas ever since we graduated from high school, so I'm also very excited to hang out with him.

Of course, there will be the obligatory activities that are involved with a trip to Vegas and Reno, and I promise not to waste all my baseball roadtrip money at the blackjack table. But, remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

So, that is the update on the Baseball Roadtrip front. I will post an update before I leave for Vegas and Reno.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)

The Back-Up Plan

Greetings everyone!

Sorry for the delay in this post. this last roadtrip really took it's toll on me and I have been so tired these last couple days because of it. As I have said before, driving on baseball roadtrips is nice, but it makes everything so much more tiring for some reason.

Anyways, my brother and I drove up to Seattle this past weekend for a track meet and to see the Yankees-Mariners game at Safeco. Unfortunately, by the time we got up to Seattle, we found out that the game was sold out. I immediately consulted the Baseball America Directory and found that the Tacoma Rainiers were playing the same night, so we went to that game instead.

This is the fourth time that I have seen a game at Cheney Stadium, and every time I go, I have a great time. It is a very nice ballpark that seems to pride itself on no-frills and genuine baseball tradition. There is very little in the name of promotions and on-field nonsense. You really get the sense that the Rainiers organization is focused on providing entertainment in the form of baseball and not gimmicky games or promotions.

While being built in the 1950's Cheney Stadium has held up very well despite it's age. The Rainiers have added some modern touches like an HD Jumbotron, a bleacher section down the right-field line, and two party decks in the extreme left and right-field corners. Other than those additions, the essence of the original ballpark is the same with the un-supported concrete roof, twenty-foot high outfield fence, and the basic concessions setup on the main concourse.

I got into a conversation with a fan at the game who informed me that the Rainiers are embarking on a multi-million dollar renovation to the park beginning at the end of this season. The fan said that they were going to gut the grandstand and redo it to have an open mezzanine level where all the concession stands will be located. When I heard this, I became concerned. Here is a ballpark that really has nothing wrong with it and they are changing it. I got home and immediately did some research on this planned renovation and was soothed a little by what I saw.

The fan was right in saying that the renovation was going to be extensive, but based on the drawings I saw, it looks like they will simply be adding a building that will straddle the existing historical grandstand. This new addition will act as a new facade for the park, contain more modern concessions, and of course luxury boxes. While I'm not too thrilled about this, I am glad that the Tacoma Rainiers organization will be keeping the essence of the park intact and elect for a renovation to add stuff to the park instead of starting from scratch and getting a new one.

I was very pleased with the decision to go to Tacoma rather than Seattle. Minor League Baseball just seems so much more pleasant and fan-friendly. When faced with a decision to go to either a Minor League or Major League park, the odds are great that I will choose Minor League.

On Sunday, I will make my second trip up to Portland in 2010. I'm not sure if I will drive up or take the train, but I am going one way or another. So, until Sunday...

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)

Baseball in the Great Northwest

Greetings everyone!

In a real last-minute trip, my brother and I are driving up to Seattle today to go see tonight's Yankees-Mariners game at Safeco Field.

Traditionally, this trip is reserved for the end of summer as sort of a finale for the Baseball Extravaganza, but since my brother has a track meet up in Seattle this same weekend, it made sense to go see the Mariners play, especially considering the opponent they're playing.

I'm bringing the computer along and I will update the blog after the game. I will be tweeting from the game, as well.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)

Final Thoughts on SoCal

Good day everybody!

I hope all of you are gearing up for an exciting 4th of July and all the surrounding festivities for the holiday. Here in Creswell, we're all getting ready for the large parade through town. I thought I would post this before grabbing a spot on the parade route. I have also delayed this posting because I wanted to gather my thoughts in order about this past trip.

Baseball Roadtrips were a concept I created back in 2007. When I first concocted the idea of traveling around the country seeing games, this particular trip always was forefront on my mind. I think I did a great job planning it, I saw a lot of neat things, met up with some great people, and had an overall great time.

Angel Stadium was a very fun place to see a game. The Angels organization has done a great job of distancing themselves from the Disney-led image to create a pleasurable experience at a game. While I wish that Angel Stadium was a downtown park, I'm willing to cut it some slack because of all the good qualities. It ranks very high in my book of ballparks.

Orange County was a very interesting experience. There is so much money there, but what separates it from other rich metropolises I've been to is the image of it all. Vancouver, Chicago and San Francisco are all cities that require lots of wealth to live in, but it just seemed that Orange County flaunted the wealth more. In Newport, Mazeratis, Porsches, Beemers were everywhere, and the developments of palatial mansions seemed to spread as far as the eye could see. It was something that I was not used to as I grew up in a modest family from modest means. While there were parts of Orange County that were modest, the wealth of a certain few municipalities overshadowed all of it. It makes me wonder if the people who have all that wealth and live in those ocean-view mansions of Newport are really happy with themselves. It is not my place to judge them, but I just wonder.

Arrowhead Credit Union Park was a neat place to take in a game, but it suffers the same fate as the park in Fresno, great ballpark, but lousy location. It was very unique in it's design and I felt very comfortable at the park. It shined with an openness that can only come through a Minor League park. I felt invited and welcomed. If you eliminate the smog, the view behind the fence of the San Bernardino Mountains will probably be one of the best in the entire country. Certainly one of the better Minor League parks I have been to.

The same cannot be said for the city of San Bernardino. The city is decrepit, abandon, dirty and I felt very unsafe walking around downtown after dark. I guess this is an example of a failed attempt to redevelop a downtown area around a ballpark. I said the same thing after my visit to Fresno in 2008, thus I draw a lot of similarities between the two parks and cities. The only inference I can make as to the failure here is that San Bernardino and Fresno just have these stereotypes of grittiness and insecurity in there downtown which dissuades businesses from settling there. The years of neglect really were showing and it is too bad when you consider such a gem of a ballpark San Bernardino had. Maybe it would take an increase in police protection or massive investment into economic redevelopment to save this dying city. It is a shame and it makes me sad inside.

The final park I went to was Petco in San Diego. I had a wonderful time there and it was a refreshing change of scenery from Orange County and San Bernardino. Petco was a quirky park that really created it's own unique identity. The downtown setting was awesome and added to the experience as a whole. I really enjoyed the whole experience of the Park at the Park, I really dug the whole Western Metal Supply Company Building built right into the park but what really made me enjoy myself the most were the fans. Everyone who sat around me were so gracious and pleasant. Nice enough, in fact, that I went out and had a drink with a few of them after the game. I have rarely seen this at the Major League level as most fans are drunk and belligerent.

San Diego as a city was a nice change of pace from the two previous cities. It seemed that San Diegans were more committed to green forms of transportation, i.e. walking and public transit than their neighbors to the north. The downtown area felt safe and inviting. The Gaslamp Quarter around the ballpark is a fun area that even draws people not affiliated with the baseball game. What puzzles me, however, is why San Diego became such a different community than Orange County and LA above it? Why didn't the culture of wealth (not necessarily the prevalence of it as some downtown properties in San Diego are worth millions) seep into the city? Questions that can be answered at a later, but the bottom line is this: I really dug San Diego. Out of the three places I visited, I tolerated San Diego the best.

So, now what? This was the only trip I had planned for the summer. I need to figure out some stuff first before I plan some more. Where to? I don't know. But I will certainly keep this blog running and I will most certainly update all of you as to the status for the rest of the summer.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)

Baseball in Sandy Eggo

Good day to all of you!

Well, it has been a very long last day of the SoCal baseball roadtrip, but it is a grand and satisfying feeling with which I leave this region. I am leaving the city of San Diego early tomorrow morning to return to Oregon. But first I will review the day I have had here in this city and the experiences I had at Petco Park watching the Padres.

So many people had told me just how awesome this city was. That there would be so much to do and so much to see. To tell you the truth, I was giddy when I left San Bernardino, but it was quickly tempered by a thick marine layer of clouds that had rolled in. I was worried that San Diego, famous for it's warm weather, would be socked in with cloud cover more appropriate for San Francisco. However, I came to find that the hype surrounding this city was true and honest.

San Diego is unlike any city I have been to in California. It is a very walkable city that has an excellent public transportation system. The city is laid out in a design that is highly dense and encourages mixed use development with many small commercial establishments intermingling with high-end residential. This, as a result, creates a lot of pedestrian traffic in the core downtown, increased reliance on public transportation, and a safer city. When I was walking around, I couldn't believe that I was in Southern California. I had gotten used to driving everywhere, inefficient public transportation, and having to avoid dark alleys.

After dropping my stuff off at the hotel, I decided to take a walk towards the waterfront and slowly make my way towards Petco Park. Walking directly west, I hit the Waterfront where the massive USS Midway aircraft carrier was moored. I took a few pictures and proceeded down the waterfront only to see another two massive carriers anchored off-shore. I then remembered that San Diego is a huge military city with multiple military bases in and around the city. But what is more important are the gargantuan size of the ships I saw. They make every other boat in the water look like a bathtub play toy. The military's presence can be a bit intimidating, but I find that it adds to the character of the city rather than detract from it.

Petco Park is located at the south end of Downtown in a large entertainment district known as the Gaslamp Quarter. Obviously the entertainment district of the downtown, the Gaslamp District is filled with small bars and clubs, upscale restaurants, and trendy souvenir shops. After the waterfront, I strolled down here to walk around a little. Even three hours before the game it was bustling with loud music, drinking and reveille, and pedestrian traffic. I stopped in one of the drinking establishments for a margarita and a quesadilla, but mainly to gauge the community and fandom which concerns me. This observation revealed to me that San Diegans are social people and are devoted fans to the Padres. They are quick to root the team, and are also quick to wallow in the defeats that have become numerous in the past years.

After some quiet observation, I walked over to Petco Park. I must say that Petco is a very nice park that certainly ranks high in my book. There are a few quirks that I absolutely love. First, in dead centerfield, there is the "Park in the Park." The Padres used approximately two blocks just outside the centerfield fence to create a sort of park like setting where families can bring blankets and picnic lunches and watch the game. This is not the classic lawn seating found at so many parks, but it is rather a separate section that blends in well with the ballpark as a whole. It is complete with a massive statue of Tony Gwynn, a shrunken baseball diamond for the kids, a gently rolling hill to sit and watch the game, and numerous concession stands. Fans can gain entrance to this part of the park for only five dollars, which makes it very affordable for many people.

Since it is a downtown park, the designers had to squeeze the ballpark in between buildings and streets, creating a weirdly shaped ballpark. But, most obvious, the designers incorporated the old Western Metal Supply warehouse into left field. Containing a restaurant, bar, team store, and suites, the Building sticks out as the main distinguishing feature of the park. The leading edge of the building acts as the left-field foul pole with some of the sections of suites actually hanging over the outfield fence. I'm not sure of the ground rules with regards to this, but it is very interesting to see fans literally on top of the leftfielder.

Thirdly, the view from the upper-deck seats I had was spectacular. The skyline of the city looked right down onto the park. It was a view that, in my book, could rival that of Pittsburgh.

Now to the fans. I have been so lucky this trip to have met some very nice people and fans. The fans here in San Diego were so polite and very eager to talk with me. I, in fact, went out after the game with a few of them for a couple drinks in the Gaslamp Quarter. I know I have railed on how boring it can be sometimes on BRTs when I go by myself, but when I fly solo it forces me to interact and observe more.

The Colorado Rockies, bolstered by a 4-rbi night from Clint Barmes, beat the host Padres 6-3. It is worth noting that the plate umpire for the game tonight was none other than Jim Joyce.

After the game, I walked back to the hotel through the Gaslamp Quarter. For a Tuesday night, the place was hopping. Clubs and bars were spilling out into the streets, restaurants were overfilled, and the amount of people walking around and socializing was simply staggering. It was at this point that I said to myself "Yes, downtown parks DO work." After my trip to San Bernardino last night, it was refreshing to see a success story when it comes to building downtown parks.

I really enjoyed my time here and the visit I had to Petco Park. My last day in the SoCal roadtrip was very pleasurable.

Early tomorrow morning, I will board the train northwards back to Oregon. I will hold off on a "Final Thoughts" entry until after I get back. I have thirty hours to process what has been an exhilarating last week of travel, friends, sights, and baseball.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)

A Thick Haze of Sadness

Good morning everyone!

I'm writing this update the morning after it happened considering I was just flat-out exhausted when I got back from the game last night. However, the delay has given me an opportunity to lay out my thoughts completely and to create a blog posting that is insightful and informative for all of you.

Currently, I am in San Bernardino after witnessing the Lake Elsinore Storm play the Inland Empire 66ers (another whimsical Minor League name!). The 66ers play at Arrowhead Credit Union Park in downtown San Bernardino. It is about a fifteen minute walk from the train station to the park if you cut through a massive parking lot at an adjacent mall.

Arrowhead Credit Union Park is very curious in the setting which it exists. It reminded me a lot of Fresno in the way that there is a beautiful downtown ballpark built to spur development, but it just hasn't come. I will be the first to say that downtown San Bernardino is very freaky at night and walking back to the hotel kept my head on a swivel. This really is too bad because downtown ballparks usually work so well in this area, but maybe it just has to do with the pre-conceived stigma of these less desirable communities, like Fresno or San Bernardino. Whenever I see thick bars on windows and rampant graffiti on the buildings, I know that there are some issues with a city. To be honest, the area looked like a de-militarized zone.

When you first arrive at the park, there is little doubt that you are in California. The ballpark is designed in the Mission Revival style as it is sandy-gold in coloration and has the distinctive California style arches. This is the first time I have seen a stadium look like this, and it really is nice to see a more unique touch rather than the often repeated brick or red coloration of parks nowadays.

What it does lack in placement in the downtown, the ballpark makes up for in the setting from the seats. The San Bernardino Mountains tower over the park creating a beautiful backdrop, especially when the sun goes down. Unfortunately, the beauty is tapered slightly because the enormous amount of smog in the area creates an orangish-haze on the mountains that renders them almost invisible aside from a faint outline. I can only imagine what the view would be if there was no smog.

The grandstand seats 5,000, but it really felt smaller than that. I know that they barely drew 1,000 to the game I went to but the way the grandstand was shaped and how it was overall laid out, it really created an intimacy within the crowd and with the players on the field. You could hear the conversations of the umpire and manager, the signals being barked out by the catcher, and so forth. I find it funny how a stadium like PK Park, which is much smaller, lacks this type of intimacy. It seems like it is much bigger than it seems, which I think is kind of a detriment in a Minor League setting.

The fans, while sparse in number, certainly seemed into the game and were incredibly nice. The staff who worked the game were very nice as well even coming up to me during the game and talking to me about baseball. This really allowed me to gain some knowledge of the park and to tout my baseball roadtrips. One thing is for sure, these last two ballparks I have been to have had some of the nicest fans I've ever met.

I do have to knock the stadium operations down a little because of their concessions. While they were quick and efficient in taking and delivering my order, the hot dog and pizza I had were downright nasty. I work concessions at a Minor League park, so I know how tough it is to work in a setting like this. But with the sparse crowd and with zero line, I expected more from the concessions in terms of quality. I actually felt a little sick after eating those two items.

Lake Elsinore used a six-run fifth inning to vault ahead of the host Inland Empire to take an 8-6 victory.

The real question now is how does Arrowhead Credit Union Park stack up in the broad scheme of Minor League parks? I would have to say pretty good. I like the uniqueness of the design and I love the intimacy. These are certainly pluses in my book. But the real depressed setting, the crumbling downtown and smog covered hills, and a sparse crowd knock this down in my book a little. It is really sad because if they can clean some of that stuff up, I think this could legitimately be the best park in the Minors. I come away from Arrowhead Credit Union Park with a smile on my face, but a sadness inside. It really is too bad that they exist in that type of setting, which I think they have no control over. Like Fresno, a nice park knocked down because of intangibles.

I will shower up here and walk back down to the San Bernardino train station. Thankfully, it is light out, so I will be able to visually identify any attackers that may come and mug me in this depressed city. I will board another Metrolink train back to Los Angeles where I will board an Amtrak train to San Diego. I am hoping to be in San Diego in the early afternoon. I would like to just walk around and see the city, considering I have no real sight I want to see. Around fiveish or so, I will make my way to Petco Park to see the Padres play host to the Rockies.

Until tonight...

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)