Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers - May 13-15, 2016

In the 2015 MLB playoffs, the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers in the Division Series in a wild ending that saw Jose Bautista horrify baseball purists with the bat flip seen round the world. They two clubs met in Toronto the weekend previous with no shenanigans, so I expected something would happen as the teams finished up their season series at Globe Life Park in Arlington and I continued my Toronto on the Road quest. It eventually did, but it sure took a long time.



I flew back to Dallas from San Francisco and met my buddy Sean, who was last on a sports road trip with me in 1992. We had a hotel near the ballpark, but there are no sidewalks in the area, so we decided to take a shuttle from Humperdinks, a bar next to the hotel which offers 32-oz. beers to entice you to visit after the game. Many fans park in the lot and use this service, which is a bit more reliable than the trolley that makes it way around the hotels in the area (and is only free for those staying in those hotels). There is also cheap parking along Arlington Downs Road, with one lot charging just $5.



Globe Life Park opened in 1994 as one of the first retro parks, just two years after Camden Yards. It was built on a parking lot next to the old Arlington Stadium, which was demolished shortly thereafter. AT&T Stadium sits just a couple of blocks away and is quite impressive from one of the staircases on the southwest side of the ballpark.



The Rangers employ a dynamic pricing system, so tickets vary depending on demand. Even StubHub was not a good option as fans were pricing the tickets above the box office. I guess people wanted to see Bautista get his, because all 3 games were well attended.



The ballpark is designed like the old "jewel box" ballparks, with a completely enclosed field.  The right field porch is reminiscent of Tiger Stadium complete with obstructed view seats (now an all-you-can-eat section), while a four-story office building occupies the area behind center field, with the white facade similar to that at old Yankee Stadium. The main problem here is the air doesn't move inside most of the seating bowl; fortunately the concourses have plenty of windows and arches that allow for air circulation. Note that the concourse is divided into two areas, one shown below that is quite spacious, and another closer to the breezeways that gets quite crowded.



The best place to sit is the 100 level sections between the bases (view below). These seats are covered by the club section, keeping you out of the hot sun in afternoon games, but also a nice breeze comes through that area, making it quite comfortable in the evening as well. Few fans actually sit here and there are no ushers, so you can get the cheapest box office ticket and just plant yourself in row 40 or so without worrying about getting kicked out. You do miss high fly balls, but that is about the only drawback and we spent most of the weekend in this area.



The shot below gives you an idea of the structure of the ballpark; the shaded areas in the lower deck are the areas to which I am referring.



We took a walking tour on Sunday afternoon; sadly the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame was closed for a private event that day, so I never did get a chance to see it. Now that the Rangers are my least favourite team in sports, I'm glad I missed it. In the area behind the center field fence there is a Nolan Ryan statue, but that is about all I saw in terms of history.



The batters eye is actually a section of grass known as Greene's Hill, named after a former mayor of Arlington. These days, four buxom women parade Texas flags back and forth here after the Rangers hit home runs, something that happened far too often on this weekend.



The view from center field...



...and from high above left field. This is one of the farthest seats in major league baseball, and I couldn't even see the ball off the bat when it was twilight. The bright spot is that in an otherwise full park, this area was mostly empty and I could stretch out for a few innings.



I always enjoy finding unique things in a ballpark and the table below qualifies. These can be found in an area behind home plate. There are also picnic tables along the outer concourse which are a good place to relax and enjoy a meal before the game. Food options were decent though typically overpriced, with a personal sized pepperoni pizza a relative bargain at $9.50. There were also $1 ice cream cones available on the concourse, which are heartily recommended. There is also a designated driver program which nets you a free soda, but for some reason lids and straws are not provided. This better not be for ecological reasons because when you have 40,000 people driving to the ballpark since there's no transit, a few straws and lids are the least of your environmental worries.



Overall, Globe Life Park is one of my least favourite ballparks in the majors. The first problem is its location, which is in the middle of nowhere with no public transit options as mentioned. Inside, the concourse is crowded, and I found tickets overpriced for what you get. Fans were not that friendly, no doubt because of the Blue Jays gear I was sporting, and of course, many references to the bat flip were made. I think that this might be the first completely cynical ballpark (i.e. one constructed for revenue generation at the expense of fan comfort) that has made attending top-level sports so annoying. I'll likely never be back here and won't regret it at all.

The Games

On Friday, R.A. Dickey pitched one of his best games as a Blue Jay, going 8 innings giving up just three hits and a walk. The Jays scored 1 in the 5th, 1 in the 6th, and broke the game open with 3 in the  7th on homers from Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki as they won 5-0. Matt Bush made his major league debut in the game, tossing a scoreless ninth for Texas. The victory made the Jays 3-1 on the road trip and all they needed was another win on the weekend to make it a successful journey.



Saturday was Rougned Odor bobblehead day (if they had waited, they could have had him in punching position) and tickets were surprisingly expensive, with the cheapest at $40 for SRO at the box office. I found a good seat at the last minute on StubHub (view above) while Sean went for the all-you-can-eat option, each costing about $60. In the bottom of the 2nd, Bobby Wilson hit a grand slam for Texas, which netted all fans a coupon for a free Grand Slam at Denny's, a double gut punch for us Blue Jay fans who used the coupon. Ryan Goins got the Jays on the board with a solo shot in the 3rd and they added another on an Ezequiel Carrera single in the 5th. But the Blue Jays, playing very poor fundamental baseball, allowed a run to score on a Russell Martin passed ball in the 6th and the Jays entered the 9th down 5-2. Closer Shawn Tolleson came on, much to the chagrin of the Rangers fans around me, who had seem him blow several saves in recent days. He did exactly that, giving up a 2-run homer to Justin Smoak and a solo shot to Tulowitzki that tied the game. Unfortunately, the Jays could not get that key go-ahead run and that passed ball turned out to be a killer. In the bottom of the 10th, Gavin Floyd came in to pitch for Toronto and got two quick outs before Drew Stubbs surprised everyone with a homer to win the game. Ugh.



Sunday was an afternoon game, and things got off to a strange start when first base coach Tim Leiper was ejected in the third inning after arguing with the first base umpire about something. Manager John Gibbons followed Leiper to the showers in the bottom half after arguing balls and strikes, but the Jays used a 4-run fifth to build a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the 7th. Starter Aaron Sanchez was replaced after giving up a run and Jesse Chavez came on to pitch with runners on first and second and two out. He promptly gave up a 3-run homer to Ian Desmond and the Jays suddenly were down 7-6, which is the way the game finished.

Of course, the excitement followed in the top of the 8th. I had to return the rental car so Sean and I had moved to the center field area behind the Blue Jays bullpen. Bautista was hit by a Bush pitch leading off the inning, no doubt the payback that the Rangers had been waiting for. Manager Jeff Bannister later said that it was not intentional as they would not put the tying run on base on purpose, which makes him a pretty big liar. With Bautista on first and Jake Diekmann on to pitch, Smoak grounded to third. Bautista tried to take out Odor with a hard slide, Odor (who threw wide to first) took exception and punched Bautista after a couple of pushes, and the benches cleared (above).

When all was said and done, Bautista's late slide led to Smoak being called out and the Jays were pretty much done. I think Odor's punch was gutless, but Bautista brought it on himself; if he had taken a normal slide, the whole silliness would be over, but it will probably continue into next season now.



So the Jays went 3-3 on the trip, and I have to say that they look terrible. They could easily have gone 5-1 if their bullpen (shown above watching the replay of the brawl) was remotely decent, but beyond that, their offense is non-existent and their fundamental game is very weak. It seems like they spent the winter reading all the positive stories about their hitting instead of getting ready for the season. As I write this, they are 21-24 and in danger of falling out of the race before Canada Day. I'll be seeing those final games in June in Denver and hope that they have gotten things straightened out by then.

Notes

It was announced that the Rangers are looking at building a retractable roof stadium to open no later than 2024, when the lease to Globe Life Park expires. This is a very bad sign indeed, particularly as Atlanta has already abandoned Turner Field after only 20 years. New stadiums are a complete waste of public money that could be used to help people other than rich owners, and I hope the taxpayers of Arlington get some sense and put a stop to this idea.

Best,

Sean

BYU Cougars 5 at San Francisco Dons 6 (NCAA Baseball, WCC) - May 12, 2016

After watching the Jays take 2 of 3 from the Giants, I had a day off before returning to Texas to see the Jays continue their road trip. Sharpy and Duncan joined me as we walked from Market Street to Fisherman's Wharf, up and down many, many hills. We stopped at several tourist spots, such as twisty Lombard Street and Ghiradelli Square, before enjoying lunch at the Buena Vista Cafe (below).



All in all, a very nice morning that ended with a visit to Pier 39 to check out the lazy sea lions. What a life, just lying around in the sun all day having your photo taken. Kind of like celebrities.



After that, it was time to head across town to check out some more San Francisco baseball, this time of the college variety. Sharpy and Duncan must have been inspired by the sea lions because despite our plans to make the three-mile walk, they insisted that we take the bus after only a mile on foot. Pathetic. I couldn't leave them alone in the big city, so we hopped on the bus, and eventually made it to Benedetti Diamond, home of the USF Dons baseball team.



It is amazing that a Division I baseball diamond exists in this city and almost nobody knows about it. Located at the northeastern edge of campus where Golden Gate meets Masonic, the ballpark is only noticeable as you approach for the large amount of netting that protects passersby from foul balls.



The full name of the facility is Dante Benedetti Diamond at Max Ulrich Field. It was opened in 1953 and named after Ulrich, who donated a substantial amount of money to the university. When Coach Dante Benedetti retired in the 1979 after 29 years at the helm, his name was added, and over time, it has become known as Benedetti Diamond.



The entrance is down a small laneway off Golden Gate, where the ticket office will charge you $10 for general admission. There are two small seating sections along first base, with an unprotected berm section further down. The seats used to be entirely benches, but a few plastic chairs have been haphazardly installed to make things slightly more comfortable.



There is also a grass area down the third base line, which is where the sun will shine throughout the game. There are no lights here, so all games are played during the day, and the sun sets behind first base, which makes it chilly as the evening approaches. There is a small concession stand down first base selling hot dogs, popcorn, and soda. Of course, as an NCAA venue, there is no booze available. The only history I noticed were the pennants on the left field fence representing the years that the Dons made the NCAA regionals. The other thing to note is the very shallow outfield, particularly along the lines, with the right field foul pole lying only 300 feet away, necessitating yellow tape high along the mesh to make home runs a little bit more difficult.



Overall, this is a surprising find in the city and one that escapes most sports travellers. It is a simple venue, but extremely pleasant and well worth a visit if you are in San Francisco and want to get away from the hordes of tourists, none of whom are aware of this hidden gem.

The Game

The BYU Cougars were in town to open a 3-game West Coast Conference series, coming in at 13-9 in conference play, while the Dons were 13-11. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Dons opening the scoring in the 2nd on a solo home run from Aaron Ping only to have BYU take a 2-1 lead in the third on two doubles and a single. A three-run shot from Ross Puskarich in the 5th got USF back in front, but again the Cougars responded immediately, as Brennon Anderson cracked a 2-run shot to tie the game, and then Brennon (a common name in Utah I guess) Lunn was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a single by Hayden Nielsen.



The pitching settled down after that and the Dons entered the bottom of the 9th still down 5-4. That is when things got a little weird. For simplicity, I'm going to minimize using player names. The Dons started with a walk and brought in a pinch runner. BYU brought in their closer, Mason Marshall (pitching above), so USF pinch ran for the pinch runner, bringing in Blake Valley (#30 above). Valley quickly stole second but the batter, Puskarich, walked anyway. A sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, and a pinch runner, Beau Bozett was brought in to replace Puskarich on second (the scene above). Pinch hitter Riley Helland singled to tie the game as Bozett was held at third. An intentional walk to Harrison Bruce brought Ryan Matranga to the plate. Matranga stroked a fly ball to center and Bozett scored on the play. But Bruce never returned to first, and the Cougars brought the ball there to make the third out of the inning. The umpire actually signalled out and the Cougars celebrated, thinking that the final out prevented that run. But it didn't, as you cannot have a force play on a fly ball, instead it is a time play and since the runner crossed home plate before the out was made at first, the game was over. The umpire should never have made the out signal as it led to a bit of confusion on the field, but in the end, the Dons won a thriller 6-5.



This game was equally as entertaining as any of the Blue Jays/Giants games, with four lead changes and a walkoff sacrifice fly. NCAA baseball usually is best when you see the first game of a weekend series as both teams start their aces, and that was the case here as the next two games were won by BYU 12-6 and 9-3.

Notes

Near the end of the game, there was a foul ball that cleared the mesh and bounced out onto Golden Gate Avenue, rolling up Annapolis Terrace. I watched it closely and had an idea where it might have ended up, so after the game, I headed that way and sure enough, the ball was under the wheel of a car. I picked it up, a rare find because fans generally have to return foul balls at NCAA games. I now have balls from the majors, both AAA leagues, and two AA leagues, so I might try grabbing one from each remaining minor league to complete the collection.



Best,

Sean

Toronto Blue Jays at San Francisco Giants - May 9-11, 2016

I have two goals left that keep me going on these seemingly endless sports road trips. The first is to complete all minor league ballparks (plus the AHL rinks and CFL stadiums) while the other is to see the Maple Leafs and Blue Jays in all road cities. The most difficult part of this dream is seeing the Jays in all 15 National League parks, as they only visit every six years assuming a regular rotation. This year, they play the NL West, which means trips to San Francisco, Colorado, and Arizona for the team. I saw them play the Diamondbacks back in 2010, so this year I would only have to follow them to SF and Denver, both home to fantastic baseball venues.



So after completing my Texas League trip, I flew from Dallas to San Francisco early Monday morning, enjoying clear views the whole way and some amazing scenery, as you can see above. I had clear views of El Paso and Tucson as well. After I arrived, I headed to my hotel, where my buddy Sharpy, who had arrived from Ottawa the night before, met me. After dropping off my stuff, we explored the neighbourhood around AT&T Park (i.e. bar hopping). Along the way, we saw many other Jays fans doing the same thing. The 21st Amendment is the establishment of choice for many fans as it is just a couple of blocks from the stadium, but if you are looking for something a little less crowded, try the Brickhouse Cafe and Bar, which has $4 pints during happy hour from 3-7, ideal for both day and night games.



From there, it is a short walk to AT&T Park, which is located at the corner of 3rd and King. Transit options abound as well, with the Muni stopping directly across the street, while CalTrain's terminus is at 4th and Townsend if you are coming from the South Bay. If you wish to brave the Bay Area's rush hour traffic, you can always drive and try to find parking but I do not recommend this option.



Before going inside, you should take a walk around the entire stadium. There are statues of past Giants stars (Orlando Cepeda above is one example), and along the Port walk next to McCovey Cove, you can see 22 plaques that celebrate many Giant achievements that took place at the stadium, such as when Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run back in 2007.



You can also view the iconic Coke bottle and glove from behind, an angle that is rarely shown for obvious reasons.



When I first visited here in 2001, the area behind right field was open to the public who could stand and watch the game for free. On the day I visited, it seemed that it had become a party area, though this may only be true before the game as the Giants website still indicates that these viewing portals, known as the Knothole Gang, are available to the general public. Note that you are limited to three innings if you decide to stand here, so don't bring a scorebook.



Once inside, the first stop is along the lower concourse to look at three World Series trophies and marvel at the Giants recent run of playoff luck.



Then head to the outfield area known as the Fan Lot, where you can get a close up look at the bottle and glove, which is the largest in the world.



I've included Sharpy and myself so you can see just how big it really is.



There are a number of colourful concession stands here that offering items that are slightly more unusual than what is available at the more mundane markets.



A small tribute to Candlestick Park can be found on this level, including a set of four bright orange seats. I saw the Expos there in 1992, and of course, the final 49ers game there on my NFL road trip in 2013. Candlestick was demolished in 2015.



Another interesting feature is the Buster Posey Lego figure, which looks remarkably like him. Check out the link to see how it was put together.



Oh yeah, there's also a baseball field here.


The obligatory view from behind home plate, which is not recommended because you really should be sitting up high so you can see the surrounding area.



Finally, the panorama shot from Section 302, which includes downtown, the Bay Bridge, and McCovey Cove. I met a fellow from Calgary here who had purchased the seat furthest from home plate and couldn't disagree with his logic as it is the best view in sports.



The Giants franchise has a long and storied history, including 75 seasons in New York, and AT&T Park includes references to those years as well, with old-time jerseys on display and world championship pennants along the roof of the stadium. There is so much on offer here that a single visit is probably not enough. When I first visited here in 2001, I considered this to be the second-best stadium in MLB behind PNC Park in Pittsburgh, but with the team's recent success and subsequently more history on display, it might have taken over top spot. Regardless of where you rank it, it is a must-see for any baseball fan.

The Games

Toronto is not a big draw in San Francisco and tickets for all three games were very cheap on the secondary market. For the first game, we sat about 30 rows back between home and first which set us back $20.



The Jays came in at 16-17 having lost 2 of 3 to the Dodgers back in Toronto, while the Giants were one game better at 17-16. The first game saw Aaron Sanchez facing Jake Peavy in a walkfest as the teams combined for 11 free passes. Josh Donaldson walked in the first and scored on a Michael Saunders single and then Jose Bautista walked in the third and scored on an Edwin Encarnacion homer that gave the Jays a 3-0 lead. In the 6th, Matt Duffy walked, moved to third on a Brandon Belt double, and scored on a Hunter Pence groundout. That was the only run given up by Sanchez, who completed 7 innings while scattering 3 hits and 5 walks. Gavin Floyd pitched the 8th and Roberto Osuna closed it out, getting pinch-hitter Posey to ground out as the tying run for the save. A good start to the trip.



For Tuesday's game, my friend Duncan flew down from Ottawa to join us, making his first sports road trip appearance since 1990. Fellow sports traveler and Bay Area resident Tike Narry, a Giants season-ticket holder, met us at the 21st Amendment before the game for a few libations. He had also received an invitation to a pregame wine tasting in the club area and kindly brought us along. Free wine and a chance to see the club section? Yes please. Several area wineries were on hand offering as much wine as you cared to drink, and the quality was outstanding. Sharpy and I were dressed in our Blue Jays jerseys and received many curious looks and a few questions, but all the fans were quite friendly, no doubt helped by all those frickin' championships. Anyway, once we had (more than) our share of wine, we took a brief tour of the club area, which includes a lot more memorabilia, such as a case honouring Dave Dravecky (above), and one celebrating the 2014 title (below). I had nothing against the Giants before I went there, but now I think they are just a bunch of show offs.



We eventually made it to our seats and watched as J.A. Happ pitched 8 2/3 shutout innings, only to give up a single and a walk to end his evening. Osuna came in and walked the bases loaded before striking out Jarrod Parker to earn a ridiculous save as the Jays won 4-0, with Troy Tulowitzki finishing with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI.



Wednesday was an afternoon game, and as Tike was working, we were able to use his seats. As you can see above, the view is not that bad. I really was hoping the Jays could complete the sweep, but they were down 5-2 after 7 innings. However, they scored 2 in the 8th and then Saunders led off the 9th with a homer and we went to extra innings with hope in our hearts. In the 11th, Encarnacion swung on a 3-0 pitch with men on 1st and 2nd and flew out to end the threat. I'm not a big fan of the 3-0 swing, but in this case, it made sense. In the 13th, Ryan Goins led off with a single but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double, in a play that was upheld after review. The next two batters singled, so yeah, Goins aggressiveness cost them a run. Of course, the Jays could not score, and in the bottom of the 13th, Ryan Tepera came in, essentially waving the white flag. A hit batter, misplayed sacrifice, wild pitch, and intentional walk loaded the bases. Joe Panik lined out, but Posey walked on 4 pitches to give the Giants the 6-5 win in 13 innings, leaving both teams at 18-18.

I'll take a 2-1 series win any day, but just once I'd like to have a 3-0 sweep on one of these trips.

Notes

The lateness of the game forced us to miss the San Jose Earthquakes game that night as we missed the last CalTrain that would have got us to Avaya Stadium in time. We instead went back to the Brickhouse and lamented the loss with a few more beers.

After this season, I still have to see the Jays at five National League parks: Washington (rained out last year), Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Los Angeles, as well as Seattle and Oakland in the AL. I suspect that this goal will keep me road tripping until 2020 at least.

Best,

Sean

San Antonio Missions 0 at Corpus Christi Hooks 2 (Texas League) - May 7, 2016

The final game of my Texas League trip took place in Corpus Christi, a resort town right on the Gulf of Mexico two hours southeast of San Antonio and three hours southwest of Houston. With weekend hotel prices surprisingly steep due to the beach crowd, I stayed an hour away, which allowed me to take a leisurely route from Round Rock, using TX-123 rather than I-35. These side roads are so much more appealing, as speed limits are still 70 or 75 MPH but there is almost no traffic, so you can actually drive at those speeds. Interstates might be more direct, but they are also more stressful with their left-lane lollygaggers, road work every few miles, and the same fast food restaurants at every exit. On your next road trip, consider avoiding the Interstates if possible and see more of the country, and enjoy some small town diners instead of another stop at McDonald's.



Anyway, Corpus Christi is home to the Hooks, Houston's AA affiliate who moved from Round Rock in 2005. The Hooks play out of Whataburger Field, with naming rights belonging to the Texas burger chain that used to be based in Corpus Christi before it moved to San Antonio. You can't miss the 18-foot tall statue in front of the main gate, known as "For the Love of the Game" and considered to be the largest bronze statue of a baseball player in the world. It was Jose Altuve bobblehead night, which meant a large crowd, so I decided to arrive early so I could find some free parking. There are parking lots right across the street that cost $5, but a bunch of uncontrolled free parking can be found just on the other side of those lots, underneath the Harbor Bridge as it descends. There was a festival going on just on the other side of the bridge which added to the traffic but parking was not a problem.



There were already big lines at both gates as many fans wanted to guarantee their bobblehead. I went to the box office and overheard a lady at the window asking "What do I do with my extras - just give them away?" Yes, that is exactly what you do. When she had completed the transaction, I played dumb and asked her if she had any extras and she handed me a GA seat ($8 value). She had four others and she asked me if I wanted to try and get rid of them. I agreed, and so I stood in front of the box office trying to give away these tickets. Nobody wanted general admission though, so I was about to give up when another guy came up holding a bunch of tickets. I asked if he needed any more, and he said he was trying to give his tickets away. These were season stubs and so I took one of those instead and it turned out to be directly behind the plate (view below). You can see the Harbor Bridge below, which is the iconic feature of this ballpark backdrop.



I entered on that ticket and noticed that there were people entering to get a bobblehead, then immediately exiting only to re-enter on a different ticket for another bobblehead. I gave one of these guys my five GA tickets which he was happy to receive. I guess that there is a thriving market in giveaway memorabilia but I can't see how you could make a living at it.



Inside the ballpark, there is quite a bit to see. Note the Citgo sign above, reminiscent of the one behind the Green Monster at Fenway.



The design is similar to most ballparks of this size with a single seating bowl and suites above the spacious concourse. Food choices are very good; of course there is a Whataburger stand with hamburgers for $4.75 and onion rings for $2.50, and the Nolan Ryan Grill (Ryan is one of the owners) but I opted for a beef fajita wrap for $6. It was quite good, with generous helpings of beef, but the wrap concept eluded the server, who just folded it in half so that all the fillings fell out when you picked it up.



The Astros have had a great farm system over the past few years and current major leaguers are recognized on banners around the ballpark.



You can walk around the entire venue, and there is quite a bit to see in the outfield area.



There is a children's diamond, again with the bridge in the background. Other areas include a trampoline and a rock climbing tower.



Corpus Christi is a thriving port town as well, and the ballpark is right next to the basin and you can see ships passing beyond the outfield. As well, the ballpark makes use of abandoned buildings such as below. I'm not sure if those broken windows are the result of home run balls or not.



The stadium is also next to a waterpark, so you can spend the whole day there with the family as the  waterpark closes at 6, just in time for the evening game.



One nice touch is a statue honouring a fan who had passed away in 2009. Every ballpark has its regular attendees and it is really thoughtful that the Hooks recognized their #1 fan.



Overall, I was very impressed with Whataburger Field. Gates opened 90 minutes before first pitch, which really gave me time to explore. They've thought of a lot of unique additions here, with the bridge behind the outfield fence the obvious highlight. Corpus Christi is not as remote as it might at first appear, so if you are in the Houston or San Antonio area in the summer, check out the Hooks schedule and make the short drive to enjoy an afternoon at the beach and an evening with the Hooks.



The Game

San Antonio (San Diego) started Bryan Rodriguez while Corpus Christi countered with Keegan Yuhl (35th round, 2014). Both pitchers were very sharp, with Yuhl throwing 5 scoreless innings, while Rodriguez made one mistake in the 4th inning. Unfortunately, it was to MLB vet Evan Gattis, who was down on rehab. Gattis launched a home run over the left field fence that scored Alex Bregman (2nd overall pick in 2015, and the Astros top prospect) who had walked. Joe Musgrove (drafted 46th overall by Toronto in 2011, traded to Houston in that 10-player deal in 2012, now Houston's #8 prospect) pitched 3 scoreless frames for the Hooks and Brendan McCurry (who melted down the previous Saturday in Frisco) struck out the side for the save as Corpus Christi won 2-0 in a game that took just 2:01.



A great game to end the trip. It was fun to sit directly behind the plate for a change and see the pitch movement and the umpire's consistency.

Notes

Whataburger Field was my 8th and final active Texas League ballpark. Overall, I have seen 116 of the 160 active parks.

With such a quick game to end this portion of the trip, I skipped the Texas State ballgame on Sunday morning. The 11 am start time was not conducive to me getting some much needed rest, but I guessed that a Sunday game between two non-power teams would be a snooze. As it turned out, it was as visiting Georgia State won 10-9 in a game that took 4:22 despite lasting only 9 innings. I can't believe that anyone enjoyed watching that. I am attending 1 or 2 College World Series games in Omaha next month, but after that I am going to cut back on college baseball as too many games are just not that interesting.

Next Up

I'm on my way to San Francisco for the Blue Jays series against the Giants. I'm then returning to Dallas for the three games between the Jays and Rangers. I'll be hanging out with friends, so I won't be updating here until I'm back in New York next week. Until then, Let's Go Jays! And Raptors!

Best,

Sean