Thursday night
with Bart, Erik, and Marc
Allentown, PA
Baseball Trip! What? Really? I've got twins at home! How the hell did I swing this? Dave couldn't believe it.
He e-mailed me, "Are you on a baseball trip for real?"
I wrote back that it was an abbreviated trip of 4 games.
He wrote back, "Wow--your wife is the best person in the world."
The boys and I were all geared up for the game in Scranton. We had bars to hit, breakfast places to try, and a hotel booked. Plus the Scranton ballpark looked like it was going to be kind of cool.
We arrived at the ballpark about 5 minutes before start time. The first thing we noticed was the empty parking lot. What was going on?
Marc wondered if he had read the Scranton website incorrectly.
(photo by Erik)Bart went to inquire.
He couldn't believe the news.
So --- there was too much rain in the days leading up to the game and the field was still too wet. The game had been moved to Allentown - about 75 minutes away.
(photo by Erik)After a brief moment to discuss, we piled back into our rental HHR and headed for Allentown. We were somewhat upset but also saw the humor in the situation. A first for a baseball trip! Marc planned on writing a letter. We discussed what we were going to demand upon arrival. Would we make them restart the game for us? Free tickets? Or at least they could serve us beer until the 9th rather than the usual cut off of the 7th.
We arrived in the 4th. We had beers in our hands before even sitting down. It was time to make up for lost time.
It was Raul Ibanez Rehab Night as sponsored by the local rehab center. Brilliant marketing. In fact, the next night Ibanez was with the Phillies. Could the nefarious Allentown rehab clinic be responsible for making sure that this game was in Allentown rather than in Scranton thus sabotaging the game there?
For obvious reasons, the game wasn't terribly crowded. But I did find it odd that the picnic area was completely blocked off. That is, except for when foul balls were hit into it and it was a madhouse dash to retrieve them.
Female mascots are rare. Especially ones that lift their skirts to give the fans a show like this one did.
Bart was too cool for school to do the YMCA.
Many beers later.
I should have bought this for Sam & Otis.
A few days after the trip, I read this article in the NY Times. Looks like Scranton could lose their team if they don't do something about the drainage. They even have tried to dry the field using a helicopter.
Other things of note:
1. I found out (or was reminded) that the first game of Baseball Trip '05 was the first time Balgavy ever had Dippin' Dots.
2. Bart would never throw back a home run ball if he caught it. Not even if it was a Jason Varitek homer at Yankee Stadium.
3. I liked how they had the Phillies game on at all the concession stands. There were a lot of people watching it. I wish the Mets would do that at Cyclones games. Well, maybe not this season.
4. My favorite name of the night - Yurendell DeCaster.
5. 4 innings into his first baseball trip and Bart had already been placed on Baseball Trip probation. I can't recall why but maybe I blamed him for the change in venue.
6. Is the Ironpigs the worst name in baseball?
Posted: 8/11
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