Sunday, May 29, 2016

Update

I have posted all the MLB stadiums I have been to. For those keeping score at home, I have been to 12 stadiums. But I have only been to 9 that are currently operational. I have many more that I need to see.

Now that I have gone as far as I can go for the time being with this blog, I have created a new blog. The link can be found on the right side of the page. I will continue to post every Sunday, unless I am out of town or something. My Sunday post will be as follows:

1. I will post on my book blog if I finish a book.
2. If I have not finished a book, but attended a new MLB stadium, then I will post on my stadium blog.
3. If I have not finished a book or attended a new MLB stadium, my posts will be at my new Seinfeld blog.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

The Kingdome (Seattle Mariners)

This is the old Mariners stadium that was in obvious need of replacement. I went to at least two games here, maybe three. I can't quite remember. Whenever we came we always sat out in the right field seats, behind Jay Buhner.

The only game that I clearly remember was a doozy. Randy Johnson was on his "A-game" and had only given up two hits through six shoutout innings. Unfortunately, he hurt his finger and had to be pulled from the game after six. He had struck out eight batters. Edgar Martinez hit a solo blast to left-center in the 4th for the game's only run, a 1-0 M's victory. It was a really fun game, but too bad The Big Unit didn't get to pitch further into the game.

I also remember a near fight after the game when a fan got upset at a smoking fan for blowing cigarette smoke in his face while the packed crowd was filing out of the stadium. Good times.

Here is the box score:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA199708200.shtml

Sunday, May 15, 2016

RFK Stadium (Washington Nationals)

This is a multi-purpose stadium of the Redskins and other professional teams where the Nationals used to play. The Nationals played here for their first three seasons (2005-2007). I attended one game in 2006. My older brother moved to Virginia for dental school and my Dad and I helped him drive out. We got to his place and had nothing to do. So we decided to drive up to D.C. to catch a Nats game.

They were giving out free Nationals visors, but we didn't arrive in time to snag any. We sat up in the right-center outfield seats and pounded a lot of sunflower seeds. It was an ok stadium, but not ideal for a baseball game as is the case with any multi-purpose stadium. Hopefully I'll get the chance to go to their nice, current stadium some day.

The only things I distinctly remember from the game was Rafael Soriano crushing a leadoff homer on the very first pitch he saw and seeing Trevor Hoffman record a save.

Here's the box:

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=260708120

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Busch Stadium II (St. Louis Cardinals)

I have officially posted all of the stadiums I have been to that are currently in operation. Now I will post a few stadiums that are no longer used. This version of Busch Stadium closed in 2005. The game I attended at this stadium was my very first ever Major League Baseball game. Three days earlier I was hit by a car in Kansas City, Missouri. I stayed in the hospital for three days.

I was released and we drove to attend a Cardinals game. Good times.

I remember quite a bit about this game even though I was only six years old. I remember both Terry Pendleton and Kevin Mitchell hitting home runs. But what I remember most about the game was the tremendous pain I would experience every time the people next to us would scoot by and bump into my severely road-rashed knees. It happened repeatedly. I wore a large beach towel over my body to protect my knees.
It helped a little but not too much. Seriously though, how many times do you have to get up and leave during a game?

Here is a link to the box score:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198907070.shtml

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Dodgers)

I have been to one game at this stadium, back when I was a wee little guy. We sat up high down the first base side. I remember Tim "Rock" Raines hitting a homer for the Expos and Eddie Murray hitting a homer for the Dodgers. What I didn't remember, for some reason, is that Fernando Valenzuela pitched. Seems like that would be way obvious to remember. But I only learned it when I found the box score for this blog post.

And here is the box score:


I encourage you to look at the box score. There are several classic names that played in this game that will bring you down ole' memory lane.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Oakland Coliseum (Oakland A's)

I have attended one game at this stadium. It is the last stadium that is a shared stadium with an NFL team as the Oakland Raiders play their tackle football games here as well. This makes it slightly less enjoyable because it doesn't have quite the same feel as other stadiums have. The field is much further away as you can see from the picture above with the crazy huge foul territory. Balls that would be 10-15 rows deep in the stands at other parks are caught quite easily here. I guess it can lead to some cool running catches by the infielders.

But even if the stadium is not as cool as other stadiums, an MLB game is an MLB game and I enjoyed my time at the ballpark. We went with my brother's family on a Wednesday for dollar dog night. The tickets were like $4.00 each which was great, but parking was like $20.00. There is something wrong when it costs more to park your vehicle than to watch a Major League Baseball game. We sat up high in the right field stands and had a great time even though there was nothing particularly memorable about this game.

But here is the box score: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/y2010/index.jsp?gid=2010_05_05_texmlb_oakmlb_1&mode=classic

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Turner Field (Atlanta Braves)

I've been to one game at this stadium and will likely never go again because I have heard that 2016 is the last year for Turner Field.

My sister lived in the Atlanta area and flew me out for a visit right after I got back from my two-year church mission trip. We had plans to attend a particular game, but I looked up who the starting pitchers were and talked my sister into going to the next day's game because Curt Schilling was pitching for the Red Sox. Big mistake. The game we would have gone to was a great game and went into extra innings (with one run scored in both halves of the 10th and concluding with a walk-off homer in the 12th). Our game was fairly uneventful with Schilling shutting down the Braves for an easy 6-1 victory (although it was pretty cool to see Schilling dominate with a CG and 10 K's). But the worst part was that it was on July 3rd and we didn't realize that this was the firework show game in celebration of the Fourth. So the game was completely sold out and we had to bum some super expensive tickets off a guy on the street. Not only that, but the tickets were for some standing room only section. Yes, we had to stand the entire game. We were standing half way up down the first base side. The view was ok and standing wasn't the worst thing ever. It's just that we could have gone to a better game the day before, for less money, and sat throughout the duration (excluding the 7th inning stretch of course). Plus, fireworks are extremely overrated and my sister and I just walked out of the stadium at the end of the game and enjoyed a very traffic-free drive back to her house.

All in all, a baseball game is a baseball game and there is no finer place to be than at the ballpark.

So here is the box score for interested parties:

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=240703115

Sunday, March 27, 2016

AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants)

I've been to one game at this stadium back when it was pretty brand new. It is a very nice stadium, one of my favorites.

Our family got seats located in two different places. I sat for the first half of the game in the upper deck down the third base line. I moved down to our other seats which were amazing, a few rows up right by first base. It was fun watching Furcal rifle throws from short.

The game was a dandy as well. It was Greg Maddux v. Livan Hernandez in a pitcher's duel. Maddux budged first by giving up a pretty deep solo home run to left by Jeff Kent in the sixth. But Livan immediately gave it away by giving up two runs in the seventh and received the eventual 2-1 loss despite only allowing two hits. It was a great time.

Here's the link to the box score:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200108170.shtml

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City Royals)

I have been to a game at this stadium once. It's a nice stadium and looks awesome from the freeway at night.

When my brother moved to Virginia for Dental School, he lured me in to help him drive across the country by showing me that we would be in Kansas City the same day the Bluejays were playing the Royals. It was a clever ploy. I went with my brother and my Pa.

My last blog post was about my first ever Jays game. This one was my second ever Jays game. It was during the same season. And as was my luck, Ty Taubenheim was again named the Jays starter. Ugh. So at that point I had only attended two Jays games ever and Ty Taubenheim started both of them. If you don't recognize the name Ty Taubenheim, it is probably because he only started nine games in his career. And I witnessed two of them. I've attended more Ty Taubenheim games than just about anyone ever.

This game was a dud. Just like how the Jays didn't have a baserunner until the 5th inning in my first game, they didn't get a baserunner until the 4th and were already down 4 - 0. The best part of this game was that the cheap tickets were really cheap and we sneakily sat down low on the fourth row right by first base. The stadium was nearly empty because the Royals hadn't become a trendy bandwagon team yet. The only cool things I remember from the game was a sweet diving catch by Eric Hinske in RF and a very, very deep homer from Vernon Wells to left in the ninth.

Here's the link to the box score:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=260706107

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Coors Field (Colorado Rockies)

I  have been to this stadium one time. It was for my first ever Bluejays game. I was living in Utah still and convinced two "Rockies fan friends" to go with me (they are FINO's - Fans in name only - so I was surprised when they decided to come along).

When I picked up my friend in the wee early hours, his mom said, "That's an awful long way to drive for a little ball game." I drove the entire way there. I kept trying to tell my friends to sleep a little because I would need their help for the drive home (because we were driving right back home after the game). But instead they fought off sleep in order to contribute as little as possible for the drive home. On the way home I drove for a few hours and then switched. My next friend drove for a little more than an hour and then had to switch. Then the other friend drove for not even an hour and had to switch back to me. I then drove more than half of the rest of the way home. Thanks friends.

Anyway, we got to the game a few hours early and got to watch some BP. That was fun. We got super cheap seats up high in straight away center field. $4.00 seats I believe. Can't beat that. I'm sure those seats are much more expensive nowadays. It was a pretty rough game for the Jays. They got shut down hardcore by Jeff Francis. They didn't have anyone reach base until a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth. In the ninth, Alex Rios hit a double off the wall in left center that I thought for sure was a homer off the bat. Other than that, the only other highlight of the game was the Dad behind us giving sips of beer to his 4-year-old. Good old Coors Field. The lowlight was listening to my "FINO" friends cheering like they actually cared or knew anything about the players and team they were cheering for.

Another thing to mention about this game is that it was Ty Taubenheim's major league debut. He was the Jays starter who didn't do great but didn't really do too badly all things considered. He was saddled with the L though at the end of the day.

Here is a link to the box score:

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=260520127

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners)

Just an absolutely gorgeous field, in my opinion. In fact, several years ago, when asked where is the most beautiful place I have ever been, my answer was Safeco Field.

I have been to a handful of games here. My sister used to live in the Seattle area and lured us out for visits with promises of Mariner baseball games. We went to the second ever game played at Safeco Field. I remember sitting out in the right-center field seats.

Here is the box score for that game:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA199907160.shtml

We also went to another game (maybe the next day?) and had sweet seats down low on the third base line. I'm not posting a box score because I can't say for sure what game it was.

Now that I live in the Portland, OR area, Safeco is the closest MLB park to me, about three hours away. Last season we drove up to Seattle to catch a couple Jays games. A friend of mine who lives out here (the same friend from the last post who got the Choo HR ball) is a Mariners fan. I talked him into going to the games with me. I told him that Jays fans turn out really well for the Seattle game so we need to make sure to get tickets early. I don't think he was expecting the type of Jays fan representation that takes place at Safeco. Neither did I, at least to the degree of representation. I would say that there were probably more Jays fans than Mariner fans at the two games we attended. It was crazy. Just tons of blue all throughout the stadium. Tons of "Lets go Bluejays!" chants throughout the game. Whenever Seattle would score there would be chants of "USA!" After the game my friend said, "Well, now I know what it feels like to attend a Bluejays home game."

The Mariners won the first game as I had to again watch King Felix carve up my Jays. And Marco Estrado was uncharacteristically off his game. We sat in the center field seats which were fine, but I never like not having a good view of the scoreboard.

Here is the link to the box score:

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_07_24_tormlb_seamlb_1&c_id=sea#game=2015_07_24_tormlb_seamlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

Fortunately, the Jays won the second game. Poor starts from both pitchers with Drew Hutchison getting lit up like he was all season on the road and J.A. Happ walking tons of batters and getting the early hook. It was looking pretty bleak until Ezequiel Carrera hit a pinch-hit two-run homer to tie the game in the 8th. I was confused why he was pinch hitting and was voicing my displeasure with the move when he randomly hit the homer. Needless to say, I was very happy to be proven wrong. Jays took the lead in the ninth on a two-run single by Chris Colabello. It was a nice come from behind W. We sat up high down the third base line. I liked sitting up there better than center field.

Here's the box score:

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_07_25_tormlb_seamlb_1&c_id=sea#game=2015_07_25_tormlb_seamlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

Here's Carrera's HR:

http://m.mlb.com/video/v293851683/torsea-carrera-hits-gametying-tworun-homer-in-8th/?game_pk=415112

Colabello's go-ahead single:

http://m.mlb.com/video/v293951183/torsea-blue-jays-take-lead-on-colabellos-single/?game_pk=415112

And the Osuna save:

http://m.mlb.com/video/v294035083/torsea-osuna-fans-gutierrez-to-save-86-win/?game_pk=415112

The videos are cool because it really shows how many Jays fans are in the Seattle stadium. Also, it was very shortly after these games  that the Jays season took a turn toward playoff contention after making some big time trades. It would have been fun to see the playoff version of the Jays play last season, but this was fun too.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Progressive Field (Cleveland Indians)


This is the MLB stadium I have been to the most times. By far. We lived in Cleveland for three years and took pretty good advantage of only being 20 minutes away from MLB action. I would estimate that I probably went to about 15 games here. A lot of the games were really, really good. I will mention the ones that seem noteworthy and leave out the rest. The pictures above are of our first time to the stadium. The pictures below are also from our first game which resulted in a tenth-inning walk-off HR down the right field line by Asdrubal Cabrera:

Here's the link to the box score:
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_08_28_kcamlb_clemlb_1&c_id=cle#game=2010_08_28_kcamlb_clemlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

And here's a video of the walk-off:
http://m.mlb.com/video/v11486991/kccle-cabrera-homers-to-deliver-a-walkoff-win/?game_pk=265740

Our next game was another good one. There was a fairly long rain delay, but we fortunately stayed warm since we were given Indians snuggies at the gate:
We had sweet seats and were treated to another great game. This one went 12 innings. Unfortunately, Cassie was very pregnant and due to the rain delay, it was quite late and we were quite hungry (we didn't get scammed into buying majorly overpriced concessions). Cassie was a big time trooper, but we decided to call it after the 11th inning. As we were leaving we were still able to watch the game while we were walking behind the right field seats. And that's when Jim Thome (of the Twins at the time) hit a solo bomb. So we parked ourselves in the right field seats and watched the rest of the game in which the Twins took it 1-0.

Box score here:
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_09_11_minmlb_clemlb_1&c_id=cle#game=2010_09_11_minmlb_clemlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

Our next game was also great. We had amazingly awesome seats. And it was Mallory's first ever baseball game. She sat on my lap the entire time without moving a muscle.

After the game the plan was to leave the two ladies at the field while I went to the car and I would come pick them up. However, I walked out of a different gate that I have never gone through and I got myself turned around a little bit. It was very dark and a very sketchy looking guy asked me if I was lost. I asked him where Walnut St. was and he said he would take me there. As we were walking together, alone, through downtown Cleveland, he informed me that he just got out of jail. It was at this moment that he told me of a shortcut that goes through a very dark and skinny alley. The kind of alley where dead bodies are found. But I followed him through and we came out the other side and he pointed me right where Walnut St. was located. I gave him a hearty thank you and hustled back to my car. Good times.

I have also watched my Jays play several times at Progressive Field. It's fun going to opposing ballparks in my Jays gear because people always welcome me to America or make Canadian jokes or chant USA! My first Jays game here was also my third Jays game I ever attended in person. Jays were 0-2 previously, so I was hopeful to finally see the Jays win a game in person. My first game was going great. Jays led 4-0 going into the bottom of the ninth. Frank Francisco (worst closer ever) promptly loaded the bases without retiring a batter. Luis Perez came in, got an out and let one run in. He then gave up a walk-off grand slam to Travis Hafner. I was so bummed. Hafner crushed it so far. I knew it was gone right off the bat and so did everyone else in the crowd. It was one of the most amazing atmospheres I have ever been in, but unfortunately I was not taking part. As I walked out of the stadium to many jeers from Indians fans, I wondered if I would ever witness a Jays victory.

Here's the box:
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_07_07_tormlb_clemlb_1&c_id=cle#game=2011_07_07_tormlb_clemlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

And here's Pronk's bomb:
http://m.mlb.com/video/v16733457/torcle-indians-walk-off-on-hafners-grand-slam/?game_pk=288229

Finally, Jays won a game for me the very next day. The day after that was another sweet one. Jon Rauch (another sucky Jays closer) blew the game in the ninth. Jose Bautista hit his second homer of the game in the top of the tenth and the Jays hung on for the one-run victory.

Box:
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_07_09_tormlb_clemlb_1&c_id=cle#game=2011_07_09_tormlb_clemlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

Go-ahead HR by Joey Bats:
http://m.mlb.com/video/v16812697/torcle-bautista-homers-in-extras-to-put-jays-ahead/?game_pk=288259

My next Jays game was yet another sweet one. After Kelly Johnson hit a go-ahead HR for the Jays in the top of the ninth, Sergio Santos (another sucky Jays closer...sensing a trend?) blew the game in the ninth. Fortunately, Jays scratched out four runs in the 12th to pull out the W. We watched much of this game down in some pretty good seats amongst some very loud Jays fans:
Box score:
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_07_tormlb_clemlb_1&c_id=cle#game=2012_04_07_tormlb_clemlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

I watched Jays win one out of three in 2013. Their lone victory was super intense. Jays broke a 2-2 tie by scoring three runs in the top of the ninth and almost blew it in the end (aided by a huge throwing error by Kawasawki), but hung on for the one-run victory. Delabar stranded runners on 2nd and 3rd for his first career save.

Box score link (that I am sure no one is actually clicking on):
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_07_10_tormlb_clemlb_1&c_id=cle#game=2013_07_10_tormlb_clemlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

Final out video:
http://m.mlb.com/video/v28788479/torcle-delabar-picks-up-first-career-save-in-win/?game_pk=348107

I only have two more games to note. First, is the game where I choked catching a homer by Shin-Soo Choo. The instant the ball came off the bat I knew it was coming right at me. I could just tell. If I would have brought my glove then it would have been game over. I tried to catch it with my bare hands but flubbed it (partially due to being bumped by my friend who was next to me; this same friend came up with the ball off the ground during the ensuing scrum). I still should have caught it though. My thumb was in a decent amount of pain for the next several days. I tried to find the video of the homer, but can't find it on mlb.com anymore. I know it was once on there because I watched the video after the game and saw me going for the catch and dropping it.

The second, and last, game to mention was a sweet game I went to with my Dad who came out to see my graduation ceremony. It was a great back and forth game against the Mariners. Tribe took a 6-5 lead in the 7th. M's tied it up in the 8th on a Kyle Seager homer. M's took the lead in the ninth on an Endy Chavez home run. Indians tied the game in the bottom of the ninth when the pitcher dropped the ball for the would-be final out at first base. Mariners took the lead again in the top of the ninth on a Justin Smoak homer. But Indians prevailed in the bottom of the 10th on a walk-off three-run homer by former Jays catcher Yan Gomes (his second homer of the game). It was one of the better games I've ever been to.

Here's the box score:
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_20_seamlb_clemlb_1&c_id=cle#game=2013_05_20_seamlb_clemlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

Here's a good recap video of the game which shows most of the action I mentioned above:
http://m.mlb.com/video/v27287441/52013-gomes-walkoff-homer-lifts-tribe-in-extras/?game_pk=347408

I really like this stadium. I have sat all over and like sitting anywhere. My favorite spot (other than being way close up, obviously) is probably up high on the 3rd base side. It's a great view and is in the shade. It is also good to sit at least once out in the left field bleachers nearby John Adams, the Indians drummer guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdvM8lhJ2mI&ebc=ANyPxKpwDaQYNRe6BoUv_9TQ1LpnpL9j1X5kDzhpDVV49A81ihUg06hHWFRu-EaYo8BgKnKdpG7gJ638PiXrOmGAZa7deM54kg

They also have a really good and informative Indians hall of fame area behind center field:
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/history/hof_heritage_park.jsp

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Rogers Centre (Toronto Bluejays)

My first MLB stadiums post has to be of my favorite team's stadium - da Jays. We lived in Cleveland, Ohio for three years and managed to get up to Toronto one time to take in a series against the Seattle Mariners. It is only a bit over 4.5 hours away. Seems like we should have made the trip a few times, but we didn't.

We (myself, the Mrs. and little Trevor) went up right after my last law school exam, but prior to the graduation ceremony and bar exam study period. We stopped at Niagara Falls for a quick looksie. Proof:


But, even though we had plenty of time, I was anxious to get to the stadium, so we departed the Falls after getting the gist of it. It was a good thing we left quickly because we were only a few miles from the stadium and got caught in some extreme traffic. Super frustrating to say the least. I even got flipped off by an angry Canadian. Cassie dropped me and Trevor off at the stadium while she went to find a place to park. Trevor and I rushed in to see one out had already been recorded in the top of the first. I immediately looked to the left field fence where Joe Carter hit his World Series walk-off homer and was pretty happy to be there. We watched the rest of the top of the first from the concourse down below. Trevor and I then got settled in to our seats up high on the third base side and this usher girl was obsessed with Trevor and Trevor was flirting with her nonstop. Come on son, focus on the game.
Notice the fan in the background hanging his head. It was that kind of game. Ricky Romero (former all-star who forgot how to pitch) was called up from the minors for a spot start and King Felix was on the bump for the M's. Cassie finally made it to the stadium around the 4th inning. This picture below was taken after the game concluded. I put on a fake smile for the camera after the disappointing Jays performance.



Here is the box score (I can't figure out how to post the box score on the blog directly, so you'll have to follow the link if you care to take such a bother):

As you can see, it was a dominating performance by King Felix.

The next game was also a dud for the Jays as Iwakuma picked up right where Felix left off. Plus, R.A. Dickey made me hate more than ever the trade where they gave up Syndergaard and d'arnaud. 

It was a beautiful day for a ball game as you can see:






Here's the box score:

So after two terrible losses, the next game was huge. I did not want to drive all the way up to Toronto to watch the Jays get swept at home. Fortunately, Brandon Morrow was on the mound and he always has pitched well in the few games I've watched him pitch while in attendance. Plus, we switched to the first base side to mix it up.



Cassie tricked the Jays staff to believe that it was my birthday (because I got these tickets for my birthday a month earlier, so it was my birthday trip and an extension of my birthday). This picture below is of me while they are singing Happy Birthday to me:
And below is the girl from the first game that had a crush on Trevor. She randomly was assigned our section again on the other side of the stadium. She played with Trevor for a handful of innings.
The last game was great. Jays dominated. The worst part though was that for some reason it was pretty difficult to pick up the ball off the bat from the first base side of the field. It was weird. I could never see where the ball was hit. I just had to watch the fielders to see where they moved to. So that put a damper on an otherwise very enjoyable game. As you can see from the box score below, I finally got to fulfill my lifelong dream of seeing Mark DeRosa hit a homer and have an all around swell game.

Box score:

Cassie spent much of the last game going around getting us free Bluejays t-shirts. It was a great trip and an awesome stadium which will be even better once it gets grass (it is getting a dirt infield this year).