Baseball Trip 2014

It’s that wonderful time of the year again for me. The 2014 season schedules are out, which means one thing to me, planning time.

In 2011 I started my mission: 30 by 30.  I wanted to see a game at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums before I turned 30.  I was 25 when I started this, so I figured by 30 would be just enough time.  I will by 28 in April and have just 3 ballparks left.

I fell in love with the road, just as I did the sport of baseball.  2011, the inaugural year, I went on the road for 10 nights, and saw 7 baseball games in 10 nights at 6 different stadiums.  By the time I got back from that trip, I was hooked and ready to start planning my next trip.  2012, I did several trips, a quick 3 games in 3 days, what would have been 6 games in 5 days, and a handful of weekend trips.  My total went from 9 to 18.  This year, was a challenge.  My last job, I was laid off in October (just days after the A’s were eliminated from the playoffs, so that week was super awesome), put me in a bind.  It’s a little hard to plan vacations when you don’t have a job to pay for the trips, and if you find one to request time off.  I had to plan all quick weekend getaways, which is not fun when it’s an east coast quick getaway.  I managed to pull of 9 more stadiums this year.  I was tempted to get my missing 12, but it wasn’t going to happen.

Which brings me to 2014.  I have my final three stops planned out, wrapping up my stadiums when I head to Texas to see my A’s take on their divisional rivals, the Texas Rangers.  It’s only fitting.  I will also be making two stops in Chicago this year.  Once to check out the White Sox’s US Cellular Field and again to celebrate Wrigley Field turning 100 (one of my favorite stadiums).  Some other exciting news about the 2014 season is Opening Series.  Major League Baseball is opening the season in Sydney, Australia in 2014 as the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.  I will be there.  I have always wanted to go to Sydney, and I can’t think of a better reason to go now.  I am beyond excited and wish March would get here faster.

I am working on getting the information loaded into the Baseball Trip 2014 section so you can know the exact dates I’ll be on the road (I enjoy meeting you all).  Also, I promise to stop procrastinating and finish updating the Baseball Trip 2013 section.

2013

Thursday night marked the end of my season when the Oakland Athletics were eliminated from the post season by the Detroit Tigers.  They lost 3-0 in Game Five, for the second year in a row.  I was there last year, and I was there on Thursday.  It was a painful and felt like deja vu. Last year, after we lost Game 5, all of the fans stayed and cheered “Let’s Go Oakland” and it was beautiful and moving.  This year, it happened again, but I didn’t stay.  I couldn’t do it.  I stood at my seat last year tearful cheering for my team that had proved everybody wrong and shut up all the nay-sayers.  This year, they proved they weren’t just a fluke last year and fought the Boston Red Sox for the best record in the American League.  It was supposed to be our year.  To see it end that way, again, was just too much.  I sat in the car on the way home in shock of what just happened.  It felt like somebody had died, and somebody did- our season.  Our hopes of shutting up the Giants fans that were rooting for the Tigers, the Giants fans that dismiss the A’s as a second-rate team, and the baseball analyst that will always pick the Angels and Rangers over the A’s, saying they have no chance.  This team looked like the one.

Then the post season came.

I wanted the best record for two reasons: to say we had the best record, and to avoid playing the Tigers.  I have now been to three post seasons, and have seen our post season dreams end with losses to the Tigers all three times.  I thought this year would be our chance, especially the way the month of September went.  The A’s played well, including a four game sweep of the Minnesota Twins to clinch the division.  The Tigers, on the other hand, finished their season one game ahead of the Cleveland Indians and were swept by the Miami Marlins, including being no-hit in the final game of the regular season.  The odds were in the A’s favor.  However, the baseball gods thought otherwise.  The bats of the A’s players were silent against the Tigers dominate pitching, producing K after K.  I don’t agree with a lot of the strike calls that were made, and I can only hope that MLB is finally going to do something about that.  My point with that is when the umpire gives one pitcher a large strike zone and the batter is forced to swing at pitches they normally wouldn’t, it’s an issue.  That and having two different strike zones is not OK.

Last year, Game 4 was the best playoff game that I have ever seen in my life.  You couldn’t script a better ending to a game fi you tried.  Coco Crisp had the walk off hit that won that game, and the place when nuts.  I would have said that nothing could ever top that.  Game 2, however, did.  Sonny Gray, the A’s rookie pitcher, got the start against Justin Verlander.  Most people would think the A’s were stupid to start a rookie pitcher against Verlander, but they were wrong.  Sonny Gray showed the nation what we in Oakland already knew, that he is AMAZING.  Gray matched Verlander zero for zero on the board the whole game.  He dominated and it was a beautiful sight.  He deserved a win for the game he pitched, and while he didn’t get the win, the team did.  The bottom of the 9th was going to be special.  You could feel it in the air.  The crowd of 48,000+ was cheering and waiting for a walk off.  Yoenis Cespedes came to the plate, and I was hoping for another bomb, but I took the base hit.  Seth Smith followed that with another base hit.  The crowd was going crazy.  Then the Tigers walked Josh Reddick, who had been struggling badly, to load the bases.  Enter the hero of the night, Stephen Vogt.  I was there when Vogt got his first hit, a home run, against the St. Louis Cardinals, but this single was far better than the homer.  Vogt just singled home the only run of the game to win the game.  My dad, who was sitting next to me, complained that he thought he was deaf in one ear from my screaming, and my throat was killing me the next day.  Signs of a good game.

I had some great memories this season that I will never forget.  Opening Day, making new friends on Twitter (one of the best parts), traveling to see the A’s around the country, watching them clinch that final Sunday at home, and watching them in the post season.  Sure, the season didn’t end the way I wanted it to, but it was a great season.  Plus, we were lucky enough to make it to the post season.  There were fans from 22 other teams that didn’t get to watch their team in the playoffs.

I can’t wait for 2014.

The Oakland A’s rush onto the field after Stephen Vogt singles home the winning run in Game 2 of the ALDS

A’s at Orioles

I finally made it to a game at Orioles Park at Camden Yards!  If you’ve checked out my page from my trip last year, Baseball Trip 2012, you know that my first attempt didn’t go well.  For those that don’t know, I was walking to the game when some kid decided he wanted my phone and stole it out of my hand while I was using it.  It took an hour for the police to show up and by that point, I didn’t want to go to the game.  I vowed to make it back there, while my parents voiced their opinions to just forget about it.

When the A’s and O’s both made the playoffs last year, I said if they both moved on to the ALCS, I would find a way to go to a game, no matter the cost.  Well, that didn’t happen as both teams were eliminated from the post season in game fives of the ALDS.  So much for that plan.  I waited patiently for the 2013 schedules to come out to see when my boys were going to be in Baltimore so I could see them and the stadium.  The end of August.  And not just the end of August, but at 4pm.  Do you know that it is impossible to get from Oakland to Baltimore before 4pm?  I do.  The earliest I could get there was 4:15, which was not going to happen.  I started to think the baseball gods hated me and didn’t want me to make it to a game in Baltimore.  I needed a way to get to the game, and that’s where the Marlins game came in.  I was able to fly to Miami, go to the Marlins game, check off Marlins Park and get to Baltimore in time for the game.  Win-Win.

I admit, I was a little nervous walking to the game, even if it was the middle of the day.  Luckily, there was police everywhere and tons of other fans, so that helped.  I got to the stadium early to see the guys taking BP.  I kid you not, the outfield stands were packed with people as Yoenis Cespedes was giving balls away.  If only he did that during games more often!  I made my way to my seat to watch the end of batting practice and enjoy some relaxing time in the sun.  Once BP finished, I started walking around the stadium again, taking pictures and enjoying everything Camden Yards had to offer.  My friend is originally from the Baltimore area, I picked him up a Manny Machado bobblehead because he has a massive man crush on the kid.  As I walked around, I couldn’t help but think it was a really nice stadium.  It has the old feel and design to it, considering that it’s not that old.  Outside of the outfield gates there are all their retired numbers, with #8 right in front.  Speaking of #8, it was Cal Ripken Jr.’s birthday!  There is also a statue of Babe Ruth, who is from the Baltimore area as well.

Cal “The Iron Man” Ripken Jr.
Number 8 was retired in 2001

I left my A’s jersey at home, on purpose.  I think it used all of its magic last season.  Going into Baltimore, I had seen the A’s four times on the road this season, and had only seen one win.  Tampa Bay was a 1-0 loss to the Rays, Milwaukee was a 10-2 win over the Brewers, Seattle was an ugly 7-5 loss to the Mariners, and Anaheim (or is it LA) was a 2-0 loss to the Angels.  With the team’s recent struggles, I didn’t want to chance it, so I left the jersey at home and opted to wear my “Chicks Dig Diamonds” A’s shirt.

Pitching for the A’s was Jarrod Parker, who I saw pitch in Tampa Bay.  I am so proud of Parker.  After struggling the first month and change of the season, he has turned it around and has been lights out.  The start before this one, he had his first career complete game.  You can’t help but wonder what the standings would be like if he pitched this well all season.  The most exciting thing about this game though was the starting catcher.  Kurt Suzuki made his debut for the A’s, well his second debut, at the game!  After being traded to the Washington Nationals last season, Suzuki was traded back on Thursday night and made his first start back Saturday.  Myself and the other A’s fans all loudly cheered when they announced him, with several welcome back comments too.

The Orioles got on the board early with a solo home run by Ryan Flaherty in the bottom half of the 3rd inning.  I was having flashbacks to Tampa Bay when Parker pitched and lost 1-0 after giving up a solo home run.  Oriole’s pitcher, Chris Tillman, didn’t allow a hit until the 4th inning and was matching Parker with putting zeros on the board.  The A’s finally scored in the 6th inning with a double by Suzuki and Jed Lowrie.  Speaking of Jed, that dude is a doubles machine this season.  Both pitchers deserved a win with their pitching performances, but sadly, that’s not how the game works, and I want my team to win.  Just Win Baby!  Oh wait, I’m confusing my Oakland teams….

I love hot Coco, and I’m not referring to the drink.  Coco Crisp.  I am so happy that Billy Beane picked him up in December of 2009.  He’s such a spark in the lineup and makes some amazing plays in Center Field.  Game 3 of the ALDS robbing Prince Fielder was craze amaze, and then to walk it off in Game 4 of the ALDS.  After not playing due to an injury, it was great to have Coco back in the line up, and he was hot.  You knew he was going to make things happen when he came up in the 9th inning, and he rarely disappoints.  He hit the go ahead home run to put the A’s up 2-1.  The Aussie swear jar, Grant Balfour, came in and did his thing.  This would be the only game the A’s would win in their series against the Orioles.

Happy to say, this trip to Baltimore was far better than the last one.  I made it to the game, the A’s won, and I left with all of my belongings.  My next road game will be the end of the season to see the boys wrap the regular season in Seattle.  Hard to believe there is only 28 games left of the regular season.

Fans awaiting another souvenir from Cespedes

Babe Ruth Statue

Me at Oriole Park at Camden Yards with the A’s celebrating their win in the background

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Happy Labor Day Weekend!  Hope you are enjoying some baseball.

Rockies at Marlins

It’s official.  I have been to all of the National League stadiums.  It’s been a blast!

Friday morning I flew to Miami to see the Miami Marlins.  Things didn’t go nearly as well as I could have hoped, but not that bad.  Scratch that, it was that bad.  Let me just give you a brief overview of my day leading up to the game Friday night.  I rarely fly out of SFO, like 3 times in the last 10+ years rarely, but there was no flights to Miami that worked unless I flew out of SFO.  The Bay Bridge gets nasty early and often here, so we left pretty early.  Just not early enough to avoid an accident.  Traffic came to a halt.  I got to the airport a whole 30 minutes before my departure.  EEK!  To make matters worse, I was informed that the overhead bins were full and that I would need to check my bag there at the gate.  I NEVER check my bag due to the fact my luggage always seems to get lost.  I get to Miami and watch all the bags come and go.  All, except for mine.  At this point, it was now 6:10pm and the game started at 7:10pm.  It seems that United forgot to put my suitcase on the plane in Houston and it wouldn’t be arriving in Miami until after midnight.  You can imagine how excited this news made me.  I should mention that my camera, clothes and ticket were all in the suitcase.

After getting the suitcase situation “handled”, I made my way to the hotel so I could charge my phone so I could take pictures.  After what seemed like forever, my phone was charged and I was off.  As my taxi got closer to the stadium, the shadier the neighborhood got.  Say what you want about Oakland, but I think this place might give the O.co a run for the money on ghetto.  Now, I’m going to try and not come off as a stuck up white girl here.

The Miami Marlins have made a point of aiming for a certain vibe and fan base.  That’s fine, but when it gets to a point that if you are not that target fan, you stand out, there is an issue.  I got a lot of funny and dirty looks.  I will ignore the funny looks considering I was wearing leggings and a neon orange tank top.  When I got to my seat, there were two guys sitting there, one of which was in my seat.  When I stated my seat was #1, they glared at me, and started mumbling something to each other in Spanish.  Off to a great start.  The seat I had was amazing!

I was intrigued by the fish tanks behind home plate.  It’s different, but pretty cool.  I was fish swimming around, so it doesn’t seem to bother them being in there.  Plus, they have the best seats in the house!  Speaking of things that intrigue me, the statue thing that is out in center.  You know what I’m talking about.  It’s hard not to notice.  It’s large and pretty tacky.  It’s very…. Miami.  Colorful and over the top.  The stadium itself is very Miami too.  It could have been a beautiful stadium, but the bright lime green they went with, wasn’t the best plan.

I love the massive sliding windows in the outfield to open to look at the Miami skyline.  Sadly, they were closed, but it was still pretty cool to look at.  The only thing I wish I had stayed for was the fireworks after the game.  I was so tired and annoyed that I left in the middle of the 9th.  I got back to my room in time to catch the end of the fireworks show and the roof closing.

Why was I so annoyed though?  The guy sitting down from me was dangerously close to me going off on him.  I am very anti conflict and bite my tongue more often than not, so for me to get to the point that I had to leave my seat because of this guy says something.  While the Marlins were batting, one of the player’s bat broke and the barrel came barreling into the stands.  I managed to duck out-of-the-way of a small piece, but the barrel stuck a kid sitting two rows behind me and over a few seats.  He was OK!  However, the guy sitting just down from me tried to make it about him.  When the Marlins employee came over to check on him, this guy kept interrupting him asking for things.  He finally got a ball from Marlins first base coach, Perry Hill, to which he replied “Only one?”  Wow……really?  Later the game, a player tossed a ball up to a kid and he jumped in front of the kid to try and catch it.  While all of this was going, on he was also running his mouth that the Marlins “owed him” and he “paid to be there, they owed him a ball or two”.  The Marlins employee had said he was going to give the kid that got hurt a new bat, and the guy was said “Well what about me? It almost hit me, I ducked out-of-the-way, but I should get something.”  I had to get away.  The kicker though was when I was trying to leave and had to walk past him.  I said excuse me and he just stood there and said “It’ll be 5 dollars for me to move.”

As I made my way around the stadium, I couldn’t help but notice how empty the stadium was.  Everybody says that it doesn’t matter how bad a team is, fans will come to be at the new stadium.  Oh, that’s so not true.  I’m not sure if the lack of attendance is because the Marlins are struggling so much the last few years, or because of the stadium.  It’s in the ghetto.  The roads leading in, or at least the ones I was on, where residential house and apartments with bars on the windows and doors.  Much like Oakland.  I found it so strange that it went from apartment complexes to a stadium like that.

Marlins Park, Miami, Florida

Bobblehead Museum

The fish tanks in the area behind home plate

Yeah…..

PS.  I posted pictures of the statue thing on my Facebook page and a friend comment “Good lord that stadium is hideous”.  A relative actually referred to it as a monster.

Yankees at Padres

They say things happen for a reason.  My trip to Petco Park was originally scheduled for September 7th, but wedding of a close family friend happened to fall on that same day.  Forced to find a replacement game looked like it might be tricky, but as luck would have it, the baseball gods smiled upon me once again.

While flipping through the Padres schedule for the remaining part of the season a month ago, I stumbled upon something fantastic just as I was losing hope.  I needed a weekend game because of my work schedule and found what I was looking for.  The New York Yankees were going to be in San Diego, and on a weekend.  I was excited for two reasons, one because it gave me a chance to see Mariano Rivera and it gave me another chance to cheer against the Yankees.

Earlier this season, the Yankees came to the Bay for their first and only trip to Oakland, aside from any post season possibilities.  The A’s swept the Yankees, with Rivera’s only appearance coming in extra innings in the final game, but not in the game I was in.  I was really looking forward to seeing Rivera pitch this season, in person, so I was hoping this would be my chance.

This trip was not ideal for one reason.  I needed to be back in Oakland for the A’s game the next day, but I’m a trooper!  I flew down to San Diego Saturday afternoon, checked in showered and was on my way.  Downtown San Diego is really nice and I enjoyed my five-minute walk from my hotel on the marina to the stadium.  Since the Yankees were in town, there was Yankee fans everywhere.  I walked with a handful of them to the stadium, mocking other teams fans along the way.

Petco Park is really nice and different.  I came in the entrance out in left field and was really excited about the brick building there.  You see it on TV and it just don’t do it justice.  It’s really cool with a bar out there.  Right outside of that area is a cool history wall section.  We all know how much I love these areas in stadiums!

 

Petco Park, San Diego, CA

 

My seat was really nice and is the reason I love StubHub so much.  I love sitting as close to the field as possible and love being either behind home plate, or by the team’s dugout if I’m seeing the A’s on the road.  This seat was great for seeing the ballpark and parts of downtown.  It was cool to see the planes coming in between the towering buildings, the airport is really close by.

While making my way around the stadium there were several things here that I’ve never seen before at the other 24 stadiums I’ve been to.  The food stands are mostly stands.  Like actual stands.  I loved that.  The stadium is very open, almost with a spring training facility feel to it.  Very relaxing and chill.  It’s hard to explain properly, you just have to check it out.  Keeping with that spring training statement, the outfield has something I didn’t expect.  Walking around, you go out some gates that almost feels like you are leaving the ballpark, but you’re not actually leaving to additional seating.  There is a large grass area for people to sit out there and the back of the batter’s eye has a screen for the fans to watch the game from out there.  Very cool.  Also out there is the kids play area. 

The highlight of the night though came in the 9th inning.  With the Yankees up 3-0, this was a save situation and that means one thing.  Mariano Rivera was coming in.  As soon as the top of the 9th ended, everybody stood up and started cheering.  The doors to the bullpens opened and out trotted the man.  The crowd went nuts.  It was amazing.  I have never been a part of something like that in all of the games I’ve been to.  The only thing that could compare would be after Game 5 last year in Oakland.  With each pitch Rivera threw, the stadium lit up with flash bulbs.  Everybody wanted to capture this, myself included.  It was a 1,2,3 inning and Rivera locked down the save.  His first and only save at Petco Park in his career.  Rivera recorded the final save in Game 4 of the 1998 World Series, but that was at the Padres old stadium.

The final #42

Mariano Rivera pitching the 9th inning

I’m so happy I got to be there for this game!  With this stadium in the books, I have officially been to all of the west coast stadiums.  Hard to believe.

 

Petco Park

Me at Petco Park

 

Baseball Trips

It’s hard to believe that by the end of this season, I will be a mere three stadiums away from reaching my goal.  Looking back on that night in October 2010, I don’t regret anything.

It’s been an amazing three seasons of baseball, and life.  I fully admit, I am a quiet and shy person.  I know, hard to believe, but it’s true.  In this journey to see a game at every Major League Baseball stadium, I have learned so much about myself, and about our country.

Growing up, I always thought it would be amazing to see a game at every stadium, but thought it would never happen.  It wasn’t until the playoffs in 2010 that I made the smartest decision in my life.  I told my parents, and they thought I was crazy.  Crazy, yes, but the good kind of crazy.

Going into the 2011 season, I had been to three stadiums: Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks), AT&T (San Francisco Giants), and O.co Coliseum (Oakland Athletics).  By the time the season ended, that number would be nine.  I spent ten night on the road in the Midwest going to seven cities, seven games and six stadiums.  It was a blast and I was hooked.  It turns out, I love to travel.  Fun fact about me is that I collect baseball bats.  Since I love baseball bats and was in the Midwest, there was no way I was going to miss a chance to visit Louisville.  This was my only stop that didn’t involve a baseball game, but was just as fun.  I took the tour and was able to see how a baseball is made; plus a souvenir mini bat.  I was so pumped by the time I got back, that I couldn’t wait to go back on the road again.

I planned on visiting the East Coast for 2012, which was really exciting for me.  I was most excited about Fenway, celebrating it’s 100 anniversary.  This time, I planned a little bit of extra time to see the sights.  Being in New York City, I had to go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, especially since my grandfather came through Ellis Island.  It was only fitting that I was there in 2012, 100 years after my grandfather came through there himself.  Getting to see Washington, D.C. was amazing.  I made my way from the train station to the Lincoln Memorial before heading to the game.  Unlike 2011, I did a few trips.  And let me tell, you, flying back and forth across the country is not that much fun.

2012 was different because I did two multi city trips, and then a few weekend trips.  The total number of stadiums went from nine to eighteen.  Should have been nineteen, but things happen.  I will be going back to Baltimore this year and I’m hoping for a much better result.  Exciting things I got to see were: Chipper Jones final home stand of the regular season and a game in Houston’s final season in the National League.

The most exciting thing I have experience though, happened this weekend in San Diego.  My original trip to San Diego was scheduled for September 7th, but as a luck would have it, a family member is getting married that day, forcing me to change my plans.  I was scrambling to find another game to go to in San Diego, determined not to miss the stadium this year.  Looking at the schedule, I saw it.  The New York Yankees were going to be in San Diego on a weekend.  Perfection.  I was so bummed that I didn’t get to Mariano Rivera when the Yankees were in Oakland earlier this season, well not too bummed since we swept them, that I knew this was the game to go to.  The baseball gods smiled upon me.  The Yankees went up 3-0 going into the bottom of the 9th inning, which meant one thing, Rivera was coming in.  Rivera came into the game to a standing ovation from the fans and chants of RIV-ER-A!  It was amazing and touching.  Flash bulbs went off with each pitch and a roaring cheer when the final out was recorded.  This was Rivera’s first and only save at Petco Park.  No doubt, this will be the best memories from all of my baseball trips.

Mariano Rivera pitching at Petco Park in San Diego, CA

A’s at Angels

The West Coast tour continued last Saturday as I made my way down to Anaheim for the A’s and Angels game. I only wish I could have gone to Disneyland while I was down there, but there’s always next time!

Being an A’s fan, I naturally have a strong dislike (or hatred) for the Angels. I like to mock their name, especially since they are not in Los Angeles or even Los Angeles County, and to add to the mocking is the stadium name. It’s Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Again with the ‘of Anaheim’ in there.

All mocking and joking aside, the stadium is actually really nice. Out front of the main gates there are the giant Angels hats and on the stadium walls are pictures of their star players. They had a bunch of booths all set up giving some stuff away and fan interaction, including the Angels All-Star Mickey Mouse which you can get your picture taken with.

Me with the All-Star Mickey Mouse

Outside the main gates

I was excited to about going down there because I have family down there that I don’t get to see too often. They were nice enough to pick me up and give me a ride to the game as they got tickets to the game as well. Aside from the fact that they had on Angels gear, it’s old school Angels gear from the California Angels days so I’ll let it slide. I also got to finally meet my friend Mike (@MyHami) from Twitter at the game. It was great meeting you!!

I should mention that there was a country music concert after the game. I am not really a country music fan. I like some, but not a lot. There were a lot of country music fans there, or at least a lot of people with cowboy hats and boots. The dress entire down there was different from any other stadium I’ve been to, aside from the country western apparel. I’ll leave it at that before I go all fashion major on you. Since I’m not a fan of country music, especially for people I’ve never even heard of, I got out of dodge. Plus, I had just driven 6 hours and had to drive another 6 hours home the next day, so I walked back to my hotel and got some sleep. Also, I realized walking back that I’m still not OK with what happened in Baltimore.

Moving on. We got there nice and early to see batting practice, which was cancelled due to a freak rain storm. Judging by how the A’s played, they needed to take BP. However, the rain had let up enough for them to workout on the field before the game. It was great to see the guys and they were out there signing autographs for everybody, which I always like to see, especially when fans of the other team where over there. The highlight was watching Jerry Blevins, Sean Doolittle doing running exercises with Yoenis Cespedes. He’d beat them and kind of chuckle looking back at them.

The Angels had my least favorite pitcher on the mound for them in CJ Wilson. I don’t hate him for being extremely corny in his Head & Shoulders commercial, but for his comments about Oakland and how much he hates playing there. Good, we hate you too. Sadly, he was very CJ Wilson like, pitching 8.1 innings allowing 0 runs on 3 hits. It was painful to watch. On the flip side, we had Dan Straily pitching, who despite a pretty good start, got the loss. Straily pitched 7 innings allowing just 2 runs, one on sac fly and the other on a solo home run. I’ll take the blame on the home run. I got up to go get my mini bat from the team shop and before I even got to the concourse, Alberto Callspo hit his fifth homer of the year. The employee at the entrance to the team shop felt the need to get all up in my face talking smack, so much so that another employee had to come over to him to tell him to stop. Yeah, an EMPLOYEE of the Angels. I expect that from the fans, but not somebody that works there. Klassy.

I was really excited to see Grant Green play, finally. I met him at FanFest this year and he’s the nicest guy, so I wish him well. I hoped his first hit would be like Stephen Vogt’s first Major League Hit, a home run. That didn’t happen. Clearly. Unfortunately, Green was just sent back down to Triple-A, but I’m hoping he’ll be back and better in the near future.

Some cool things at the stadium, the fountain/rocks in the outfield with a big A in the rocks. Fitting since the stadium is known as The Big A. They also shoot fireworks off from there. I admit, it’s cool. Nearby there is a Jack in the Box. Yes, there is a Jack in the Box in the ballpark. Not as cool as Fat Burger (AZ), but still fun. On the main concourse and to the right of the main gates is something cool. They have the trophy from the 2002 World Series, the one where they beat the San Francisco Giants, on display along with photos and other mementos from that season. Across the concourse from that is a memory wall with photos celebrating their achievements over the years. Pretty cool. I like when teams do that, I know Houston and Philadelphia both have something like that.

The 2002 World Series Trophy

Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA

A’s at Mariners

I have been wanting to go to Seattle for years. It’s not that far away and I’ve always heard great things about the stadium. My grandfather goes every year to see the A’s up there with some friends for a series and I’ve always been jealous. I almost have to laugh at the fact that I’ve seen the A’s all over the country, but not anywhere near where I live. The closest I’ve seen them is in Arizona.

First off, Seattle is really pretty, or at least what I saw of it.  It reminds me of San Francisco.  The guy next to me on the plane made fun of me briefly when I looked out the window as we were coming into Seattle and I saw Mt. Rainer.  It’s a huge mountain.  I’ve been to the Rockies and this pretty much made those look small.  He gave me a list of places to check out that were less touristy than others.  Sadly, that didn’t happen as my friend from high school that I was staying with, took a nap Saturday afternoon.  I had a great time anyway, so it’s all good.

Safeco is beautiful.  I would highly recommend getting up there to see a game, if you haven’t already.  There’ s Pyramid Brewery right across the street that was packed with people living it up before the game.  I’m a big fan of Pyramid, so I was pretty happy to see it there.  There’s plenty of fun places to hang out around the stadium, so I say get there early and have some fun.

I went to the game with my friend and his daughter, which was weird for me.  That sounds wrong and strange, but I’m so used to going to games alone that being with other people is weird to me.  I actually had people to talk to other than the strangers around me, but I talked to them too.  We were surrounded by A’s fans, which was GREAT to see.  There was quite a few A’s hats and jerseys on my flight home on Sunday night.  I can’t wait to go back for the final games of the regular season, it’s going to be crazy.

Our seats were pretty good, down the third base line just past the infield dirt so all the A’s players were stretching and warming up right there.  I brought my ‘Vote 4 Donaldson’ sign from Milwaukee, which my friend’s daughter was super excited to hold up when she saw Donaldson on the field.

The A’s had Dan Straily starting the game, which is usually a good sign.  He keeps getting better with each start he makes, and was amazing in his start against Texas earlier in the month.  Unfortunately, you can’t win every game, unless you’re Max Scherzer, but that’s another topic.  Straily only lasted 3.1 innings before coming out having allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks.  Not numbers we are used to seeing out of him.  The Mariners scored twice in the 2nd inning, but failed to have a shutdown inning, allowing the A’s to score a run in the 3rd inning.

Now, I try to always walk around the ballpark I’m at to see what they have to offer and see the game from all over.  I guess I picked the right time to go, as the A’s rallied to score two runs to claim a 3-2 lead in the 5th inning.  I was so excited, plus I got to capture the rally from all over the stadium.   They kept the scoring going after I returned to my seat, scoring two more runs in the 7th inning to go up 5-2.  They just needed a shut down inning.

The bullpen, our glorious bullpen that’s been lights out all season, including a 19 inning game and an 18 inning game, struggled.  Big time.  Jesse Chavez, the hero of that 18 inning game, came in after Straily to pitch 2.1 innings of shut out ball.  Then things went south.  Jerry Blevins came in after Chavez, and didn’t have the stuff.  Blevins lasted 2/3 of an inning giving up three earned runs on two hits.  Raul Ibanez hit a three run homer to tie the game, and just like that, the momentum shifted.  Speaking of Raul, he is amazing.  I can’t believe that Yankees let him leave, especially after how he played in the post season last year.  He’s an oldie but a goodie.  Ryan Cook came in after the Ibanez home run, but met the same fate as Blevins.  The first batter he faced hit a ground rule double, but Cooke was able to save some kittens by getting the next two batters out.  Cook went back out for the 8th inning, but was pulled without recording an out while allowing two runs to score.  Sean Doolittle, who had been struggling lately, came in and retired the three batters he faced.  I like to think I helped him out there.  Every time I’m ‘Doolittling” at a game, he pitches like the Doolittle we have all come to love.  My friend laughed at me, but you gotta do what works!  I just wish Doolittle had started the inning, we could have been tied going into the 9th inning, rather than down by two.

I think I need to get a new jersey.  They win just about every home game I go to when I wear by jersey, but on the road, it’s now 4-3.  It has yet to see back-to-back road wins, but that does mean it’s due for a win on the next road game.  That next road game just happens to be in Anaheim, so it better get the job done!

Me after the game

“Doolittling”

Safeco Field
Seattle, Washington

Dodgers at Rockies

I would like to apologize for being so far behind. It’s been a crazy month, but crazy good.

I started the month off right, by hoping a plane to Denver for some baseball! I have been to Colorado before, I was visiting my then boyfriend’s family in the Colorado Springs and Pueblo area, and I loved it there. I even considered moving there for a little bit. However, I never actually made it up to Denver. Since I split my time between Phoenix and the Bay Area growing up, I guess you could say I’m a Diamondbacks fan. I cheer for them and all that, but if it came down to the A’s or them, I’d take the A’s every time. While living in Arizona, if I wanted to watch baseball, it was the Diamondbacks, or nothing, so dbacks it was. I got to see Coors Field on TV a lot in doing so and I was always intrigued by the ballpark. There are trees in the bullpens!

Everybody always laughed at me that I went to all the far away stadiums first and had never been to any of the west coast stadiums until this season. I’m mildly shocked at that fact myself. But alas, here I am doing the west coast finally.

The plus side to flying to cities on the west coast is being able to sleep! My mid-west and east coast flights leave Oakland between 6-7am for me to get there in time for that night’s game, so you can imagine my excitement that I could take a 2pm flight to Denver. I got into Denver and the weather was perfect for baseball, which was great since the last time I was in Colorado it not only rain most of the time, but hailed pretty bad too. I got to my hotel, The Oxford Hotel, which I would highly recommend to anybody going to a game at Coors Field. It’s just a couple blocks away, about a five-minute walk- if that. There was a lot of people out on the street walking to the game, just something to make you feel a little more safe (I’m extra cautious now after the Baltimore problem).

The stadium is beautiful. The brick works gives it that older stadium feel, which I loved, and the main gate features the park’s name with an analog clock. Another thing to add to that old stadium feel. It’s very open, which is weird, since looking back at the photos, it has a closed in feel to it almost. The outfield is the only section that doesn’t have a towering upper deck, but the massive, scoreboard is out there. Something I loved was the food options. I am maybe the World’s Pickiest Eater. It’s easier to tell you what I do eat than it is to tell you what I don’t. I’m that bad. So for me, ballpark food is always good. As my dad says, I eat like a 5-year-old. I love cheeseburgers, nachos (with cheese only), and chicken tenders at games. I’m really picky about my hot dogs, so I don’t go for those unless it’s Dollar Dog day at O.co. Anyway, they had a large selection of food, with booths marked as fan favorites, which is pretty cool. I did a whole lap because there was so many options, I couldn’t decide. That never happens.

Something I didn’t know going into the game, which I should have, silly me, was that this season is the Colorado Rockies 20th season. Horray! The Rockies are doing a lot of great giveaways this season to celebrate, which is always great for the organization and the fans. This game happened to be a bobblehead game, and yes I did get one! Former Rockies great, Andres Galarraga, was on hand for his bobblehead day and to throw out the first pitch. I got some fun facts from the guys sitting around me about Galarraga, included that he hit the longest home run in Rockies history, measuring at 573 feet as it landed 20 rows deep in the upper deck of the Marlins then ballpark (Pro Player Stadium) in 1997. That is extremely impressive. That was his last season with the Rockies, as they were excited about their prospect, Todd Helton, maybe you’ve heard of him.

I was really excited for the game, up until the night before when I found out some bad news. The Dodgers were scheduled to have Hyun-Jin Ryu pitch Sunday. I had heard so much about this guy, I was looking forward to the chance to actually see him pitch. Sadly, he was scratched from the start and rookie Matt Magill took his place. I saw Magill make his Major League Debut when I was in LA in April, and he wasn’t that bad. He got a no-decision in the game as the bullpen blew the game. Now, the last kid I saw make his debut on the road didn’t have much of career after that. I’m not saying I’m a jinx, but yeah, little bit. Magill got his first loss of the season as the Rockies beat the Dodgers 7-2. They say the ball carries well in Denver and it’s easy to hit homers, and they are right. Dexter Fowler started the game off with his first of his two home runs of the day to put the Rockies up 1-0 in the 1st inning. The home runs kept coming too. Todd Helton, who I’m glad I got to see play since he will most likely be retiring in the near future, belted his fifth of the season in the fourth, Michael Cuddyer hit his tenth of the year in the fifth, and Fowler hit his second of the day and tenth of the season in the sixth. As much as I slam home runs, they really are fun to watch.

Something cool I wish I had checked out is the ‘Mile High’ seats. There are a couple of seats that are marked as the Mile High seats as they are exactly one mile above sea level. That’s high. If you haven’t been to Denver yet, you are missing out! I high recommend getting out there.

Outside the Main Gate at Coors Field, Denver, CO

Me at Coors Field

Coors Field
Denver, CO

A’s at Brewers

Yesterday morning sucked. And not just because I got up at 3 for my 6am flight, but that does suck pretty bad. Monday night, the Oakland A’s greeted me and the large amount of other A’s fans to a beautiful game in Milwaukee. The hot A’s crushed the struggling Brewers 10-2.

I love my job, but wish I could have stayed for the whole series. Plus people there are really nice, aside from the several times I was asked where my accent was from. No joke. Somebody asked if that was a California accent I had.

I had planned on making a sign for my beloved Josh Donaldson to get some All-Star Game votes, but didn’t know what to do. Sign making isn’t really my thing. Not by hand at least- I blame my design degree. I also wanted to do a brewery tour while I was there. Sadly, it came down to sign making or brewery tour, and signing making won. I walked to Walgreens for supplies and quickly got started. A pencil would have been smart. Free handing with a sharpie is risky. My sign came out ok, not horrible, but not great. Or so I thought.

I got to the stadium and quickly found the Robin Yount bronze statue. I’ve been lucky enough to have met Robin through the Doug Davis Foundation and even have an autographed bat. While there, I started talking to some Wisconsin A’s fans. Great guys.

Robin Yount statue outside of Miller Park

I hurried inside, hoping to catch a glance of Donaldson before the game to show him my sign. He was out signing stuff for a massive mob of people. Hopefully they all vote for him now! Another A’s fan say my sign and waved Donaldson over to have him sign the sign. His face lit up with a huge smile, I wish I had taken a picture. He signed it and thanked me. My day, ok week, was made. I went to grab food and ran into some A’s fans from the bay that wanted a picture with me and the sign. One of them was telling me he was going to wear his Bringer Of Rain shirt to the game on Tuesday. We’re all trying to get his name out there and pick up some votes.

Donaldson signing autographs for fans

My seat was in row two behind the on deck circle for the A’s. It was AMAZING. It didn’t take long for the boys to get on the board as Coco Crisp took the second pitch of the game out of the yard. I knew it was going to be a good game. With the A’s getting to Marco Estrada early that meant one thing: Donaldson was going to be in the on deck circle and maybe batting. I quickly put my sign up and started getting tweets that I was on TV with my sign behind Donaldson. Month made.

View from my seat

The A’s who have been rolling as of late, looked great, but you know who really looked great? Tommy Milone. Milone was dealing on the mound and at the plate. The bar was officially set. Milone pitched 7 innings, allowing 5 hits and two runs just 2 runs on a home run by Rickie Weeks. His batting line was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored- even had a beautiful pop up slide at home plate. National League, you’ve been warned. Next time we have an 18 inning game, I nominate Milone to be our DH.

Tommy Milone is batting .286. Not too shabby!

Of the A’s 10 runs in the game, only two were from home runs, the one by Coco in the 1st and one by Brandon Moss, cause Moss is Boss, in the 2nd inning. Something cool to see was in the 9th inning when Brewers second baseman, Scooter Gennett, made his Major League Debut. He grounded out, but received cheers from everybody in the stands, myself included.

Scooter Gennett making his Major League Debut

I have seen the A’s on the road six times since 2011. I’m 3-3 after Monday’s game; happy to be back to .500!

If you have a chance, I recommend that you go to Miller Park. It’s a nice stadium and a great city. The people are really nice and they have amazing cheese products! I love cheese, so I was in heaven. I got cheese fries at the game and they were hands down the best fries ever. Yum-o! I also got a bratwurst and it was hands down the best one I’ve ever had. Ah, I almost forgot! The Sausage Race! I think those races are kind of silly, but they are a lot of fun to watch when I see them on the road. My first race was the Presidents Race in Washington D.C. last season which was pretty cool, so I was really excited for the famous Sausage Race. Italian won! As an Italian girl, I loved it.