Midwest over Labor Day Again

I started this quest this past year right before Labor Day and made a Labor Day weekend trip. I’d like to repeat that in 2014. I have six stadiums for this trip, although I doubt I’ll go to all six in 2014. I should leave a few stadiums for the Boston trip in 2015.

Friday, August 29: Detroit @ Chicago, U.S. Cellular Field
Saturday, August 30: Yankees @ Toronto, Rogers Centre, 1:07 PM
Sunday, August 31: Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh, PNC Park, 1:35 PM
Monday, September 1: Pittsburgh @ St. Louis, Busch Stadium, 1:15 PM
Tuesday, September 2: White Sox @ Minnesota, Target Field, 7:10 PM
Wednesday, September 3: Texas @ Kansas City, Kauffman Stadium

This trip includes Pittsburgh, which was also in my April trip. I don’t think I’m going to hit that stadium then, as I can start in DC and end in Philadelphia, taking only the train to get from stadium to stadium. Since I’d cut this trip to 3-4 stadiums, I could move around the stadiums to different days.

I’ll start the trip in Chicago, a hub city that has plenty of flights from Los Angeles, many of which are non-stop. This may be tricky, as it requires flying from city to city and some of these cities may have limited flights to others or be very expensive.

So what do you say? Are you in?

Atlanta, Tampa, and Miami

I’ve given you three trips to 11 stadiums. I'll go to Angel Stadium some time during the season, as it’s a short drive. So that’ll put us at 12 stadiums and 19 overall. I don’t know if I’ll hit any of the remaining 11, but I do have two possible trips to go to as many as 9 of them. Unfortunately, Chase Field in Phoenix and Fenway Park in Boston aren’t on my list of possibilities for 2014. Neither the Diamondbacks nor the Red Sox are home at a time convenient with other nearby teams. That’d mean saving them for 2015, which has always been part of my plan. I’ll likely leave a few other stadiums so I can make trips out of them.

If I make the weekend trip to the Southeast it’ll be either Friday-Sunday 8/15-8/17 or 9/19-9/21, late enough in the season that I can make that call mid-season.

Friday, August 15: Oakland @ Atlanta, Turner Field
Saturday, August 16: Yankees @ Tampa, Tropicana Field
Sunday, August 17: Arizona @ Miami, Marlins Park, 1:10 PM

It’s important to start the trip in Atlanta. First, it’s a shorter distance from Los Angeles, making it easier to fly into on a Friday and still be able to attend a game. Secondarily, it’s a Delta hub, so there’ll also be non-stop flights. Again that means it should be easy to arrive well before the game. Unfortunately, the choices on flights back to LA after a Sunday afternoon game in Miami might be limited. I do have family in Miami that I might visit. So I can stay an extra day or two.

Denver, Dallas, and Houston

A second weekend trip next year can be taken 7/11-13 or 7/25-27. This one requires taking a day off on a Friday, but it does fit in nicely in July, after the two previous trips are in April and May.

Friday, July 11: Minnesota @ Colorado, Coors Field, 6:40 PM
Saturday, July 12: Angels @ Texas, Ballpark @ Arlington
Sunday, July 13: Boston @ Houston, Minute Maid Park

This trip works well because Denver is a great jumping off city for any trip. It's about halfway to Dallas and it's a United hub. So flights are relatively inexpensive and non-stop. As with any trip, the getaway game should be during the day. That'll mean I can catch a flight back to LA after the game.

So what do you say? Are you in?

San Francisco, Oakland, and Seattle

The major trip next year will be the East coast one I mentioned below. I have three mini-weekend trips possible. One of them will be going to Seattle, Oakland, and San Francisco. I have two possible dates for this trip.

Saturday, May 24: Houston @ Seattle, Safeco Field
Sunday, May 25: Minnesota @ San Francisco, AT&T Park, 1:05 PM
Monday, May 26: Detroit @ Oakland, O.co Coliseum

The trick here is to find days where the Giants and A's play back-to-back days, since I couldn't find a weekend where they both played. Doing it on Memorial Day weekend enables me to see three games in a weekend without having to worry about missing a day's work. I could also do this June 13-15, but the June 13 game would be a Friday night. That'd require taking the day off.

They haven't set the game time for the Seattle game. If it's a day game, I can easily fly to Seattle in the morning and then have the flexibility to stay in Seattle or fly to San Francisco after the game if I want. It's usually preferable to be in the city the day before so you don't have to worry about flight delays. Either way works. If the game in Oakland is a night game, catching a flight after the game may be impossible. A 7 PM game that ends at 10 PM would mean catching a flight close to midnight. I doubt anyone has a flight that late.

So what do you say? Are you in?

2014 East Coast Baseball Trip

I went to 9 stadiums in 2013, but only 7 of those are on here. So I’m not going to include them and say I still have 23 to go. I may revise that if I get close and it’s a stadium I’ve been to before.

I’m going to lay several possible 2014 trips that’ll include 20 of the 23 stadiums. I doubt I’ll go on all these trips and some of them overlap. I’m throwing them out there. If people want to join me, that might push one trip over another. Hey, maybe you’ll take a trip I lay out that I don’t end up doing. There are three stadiums which won’t be included, Fenway Park in Boston, Chase Field in Phoenix, and Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Fenway and Chase were excluded because the Red Sox and Diamondbacks aren’t home around any of the trips I’m planning and the Angels are a drive for me. I’ll go to a game at some point next year.

My goal is to hit at least half of the 23 next year, leaving the rest for 2015.

One of the big problems with planning a trip now is that most teams haven’t scheduled game times. That makes it difficult to plan flights.

Game 1: Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Coors Field, Giants at Rockies
This is optional for me, as Denver is a great hub that’ll fit in well with another trip. What makes Denver a great hub is that there are a lot of non-stop flights into and out of the airport and it’s far enough from LA to provide some good mileage but not so far that I’d have to worry about making the game on time.

Game 2: Wednesday, April 23, 2014
PNC Park, Reds at Pirates
I think this is where I want to start my trip. The problem with doing that is that Pittsburgh is a long flight from LA and it’s likely that I’ll have to make a connection. It should be a night game, but even then flying in the day of the game could be tight.

Game 3: Thursday, April 24, 2014
Nationals Park, Padres at Nationals
This should be a short flight. I’ve been at Nationals Park a couple of times in the last five years but that was before the Nationals got good. Maybe they’ll show some life now.

Game 4: Friday, April 25, 2014
Camden Yards, Royals at Orioles
I haven’t been to Camden Yards in at least 15 years. I wonder if it’ll seem as nice as it did then compared to all the new stadiums. The nice thing here is that this is just a short train ride.

Game 5 and 6: Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, 2014
Yankee Stadium, Angels at Yankees
Citi Field, Marlins at Mets
There are only 7 days when the Yankees and Mets play at home the same day. This is he only weekend. My goal is to both stadiums in one day if one is playing during the day and the other at night on either of these days. If that’s the case, then I may shorten my trip by one day and move things around.

Game 7: Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Citizens Bank Park, Mets at Phillies
Unfortunately, the Phillies don’t play at home on April 28, but going to this game would give me a chance to visit my family for a couple of days.

So that’s a possible trip that has 7 games in 6 cities in 8 days. There are two in trip flights, but only to the first two cities. Five of the games are connected by train or car.

I do have another possible extension on the trip that right now I don’t plan on taking, because the trip will be long enough.

Game 7: Monday, April 28, 2014
Busch Stadium, Brewers at Cardinals
Rather than take the day off I could fly to St. Louis.

Game 8: Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Kauffman Stadium, Blue Jays at Royals
A short flight.

Game 9: Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Target Field, Dodgers at Twins
Just in case I’m not baseballed out at this point.

In this scenario, I go to 9 games in 8 cities in 9 days, but I do leave Philadelphia off the east coast trip.

How To Take A Baseball Trip

When planning these trips I want to squeeze the maximum number of stadium visits in the minimum amount of time and do it for a reasonable price. So far I’ve documented visits to seven stadiums on this blog, while taking only three flights and spending only three nights in a hotel. Granted, two of the stadiums were within driving distance and I did stay with friends for two nights.

Watch for fare sales
There’s no point in even thinking about airline tickets until a sale comes up. Usually Southwest is the one doing the sale and that can be great for short range flights. The other airlines will match the sale. But be warned, the sale will only be on routes that the first carrier has on sale. Virgin had a sale earlier this year. Prices on flights to Houston, where they fly, dropped dramatically but flights to Dallas, where they don’t fly, didn’t.

Where to start
The legacy airlines (United, American, Delta) fly most of their flights into and out of hubs. The newer airlines (Southwest, Jet Blue) tend to fly shorter routes. Starting your trip in a hub has three benefits. 1) It’s usually cheaper 2) You fly non-stop 3) Flying non-stop means you’ll arrive earlier.

A long flight that changes planes might mean you won’t arrive in time to see a game your first day. Thus, you waste a day and pay for an extra night hotel. If you’re flying from the west coast, as I do, you’ll likely arrive in the afternoon. So the first game should be one at night. I flew into Chicago, arriving about an hour or so before a day game at Wrigley Field. I might’ve made that, but instead chose to drive to Milwaukee and see a game there. I had plenty of time to spare.

This means it might be a good idea to start with a game closer to you, in between you and the next game you want to go to. I’m looking at an East coast trip next season. I’d like to start in Pittsburgh, but that might be difficult. There are limited non-stops to Pittsburgh, meaning that flying there from LA could mean arriving close to game time, if not during a game.

It may make more sense to start with a game in Denver. Since that’s a hub, I should be able to get a non-stop there from LA and then to Pittsburgh. That’d also be a shorter flight, making it easier to find one that’ll get me there with plenty of time to spare.

Where to go next
It’s possible to do several trips with a minimum number of flights. I was able to fly to drive several of the games in the Midwest and I plan to do the same thing with the train on the east coast next year. This saves money for flights and time spent at the airport and on airplanes. In many cases you have to rent a car any way. So why not use it to get the next city if you can? And who really wants to spend all their time on planes anyway?

Where to stay
In some cities it makes sense to stay close to the airport. I did that in Chicago, as I was coming and going from the airport and they had strong public transportation. I didn't need a car here. I was planning that for Dallas, since the stadium is close to the airport. I was set to arrive two hours before the game. My hotel was between the airport and stadium. So they had a shuttle to the airport and one to the stadium. Since I was planning on leaving early the next morning, I didn't need to worry about staying close to the city of Dallas.

I stayed in suburban Cleveland. I suppose that meant that we didn't experience the nightlife in Cleveland, but we certainly could've done that because we had a car. We were so tired after driving for nearly 3 hours that dinner and a Jacuzzi were the most attractive choices.

When to end your trip
End it on Sunday or with a day game. That way you can fly home after the game. Any night game is going end so late that there will be no flights for you to take. Ending with a night games means staying overnight and paying for a hotel room when you could be sleeping at home. My friend Brendan did this by ending his part of the trip with a Cleveland day game on Labor Day.

Mariano Rivera Stuck It To Me

Mariano Rivera announced that he wouldn't pitch in Houston yesterday. That must've made the interest in going to Rivera's last game drop dramatically. So I dropped my ticket price down to $120. That was still more than double what I paid for it. So I suppose I shouldn't complain. The ticket sold a few minutes ago. After Stubhub takes their fees out I'll see $87.97 of that. Overall, I sold my tickets for $95.02, a $14.02 profit. That doesn't make up for the United fees I'll incur, but coming out ahead on anything feels pretty good.

Rangers-Angels Game Going On Now

I'm listening to the Rangers-Angels game on my MLB At Bat app. That's the Rangers-Angels game I had a ticket for. If I went through with my plans I'd be preparing to leave for the airport. I did sell my Rangers ticket for $11.80 and got $7.05 for it. So I lost $18. I currently have my Astros ticket listed for $145. If I get that, I'll probably keep around $115 and make a nice profit overall.

It's raining in Arlington. They're still playing. I'm glad I missed that.

Texas Trip Cancelled

I got a message this morning from "texasrangers.com".

The starting time for Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Angels has been moved from 7:05 p.m. to 11:05 a.m. CT due to the threat of inclement weather later in the day.

Argh! Why "argh?" My flight was scheduled to arrive in Dallas at 5:22. In the absence of a time machine, I'd arrive after the game ended. I looked at United's flight schedule and the only way I was going to get to the game before it started was to fly tonight. I don't think anyone had a Saturday flight that'd get me in before the game started. So I'd have to cancel my Friday night plans, find a hotel for an extra night and leave for the airport in about six hours. That wasn't a good choice. So I decided to cancel my trip.

All I can say is thank heaven for the Internet. In the span of the last hour I cancelled my flights, hotel, rental car, LA airport parking, and relisted the game tickets on Stubhub. I might only have cancellation fees on the United tickets as change fees when I rebook. The baseball tickets are another story. You can't cancel those.

I relisted my $25 Ranger ticket for $17, of which I'd get $11. If it sells, and it might not, I'll lose $14. The Rangers are still in the playoff hunt. So I'd guess someone will want to go. The Astro game is a different story. My ticket cost me $58 because it'll be the Yankees first trip to Houston in three years. There are a lot of Yankee fans in South Texas who likely have been chomping at the bit to see their team. What makes the game special is that Sunday will be Mariano Rivera's final game. The Astros will honor him. Demand for this game is huge. I listed my ticket for $118, of which I'd keep $88. That seems like a lot, but it includes the fee I pay and the fee the buyer pays. Regardless, if I sell this ticket and the Ranger ticket goes unsold I still would come out ahead. That's not a big profit considering all the time and effort I've put in, but considering that before the Internet I would've likely taken a bath by canceling so late.

Games 8 and 9: Dallas and Houston

This project would be easy if I could do travel every day and I had the money to do so. But would it really be as interesting? I didn't think so. So far I've managed to attend 7 games in 7 cities while taking only 3 flights and spending 3 nights in hotels. I asked myself whether I could go to any more stadiums before the season ended on September 29. I noticed that both the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were home the final weekend. I looked up flights and saw that that Virgin was having a fare sale between Los Angeles and Dallas. They don't fly to Houston, so there was no fare sale there. Yet going to Houston and Dallas on one trip was way too enticing.

I had some miles in my United account and saw that I could do the trip with miles.

United could provide me a flight into Dallas that'd get me there 1 hour 40 minutes before the game and then fly out to Houston the next morning, go to the game, and then catch a flight home. I'd see two games, spend one night away, not miss any work days, and even have to hire a dog walker for the minimum number of walks. Sure, the timing is a little tight, but wouldn't that make it more of a challenge?

So now I needed to find a hotel for the one night in Dallas. The best hotel would be one that'd pick me up at the airport and then, a few minutes later, take me to the game. All complimentary, of course, so I could save some bucks. I found it, the Hilton Arlington. They told me they'd do both, although they indicated that I might not get a reservation on the trolley to the game because I arrived so late. I'll work on that one. The Rangers, currently in free fall, are in the playoff hunt and probably will be then. They'll play the Angels. I was able to find a ticket in Section 322 Row 5 for $25. Reasonable.

My flight the next morning would be easy. I made 6 AM and 7 AM flights during my last trip. 9:23 AM? Got it. I'd get into Houston at 10:30, well before the game. But this one wouldn't be as easy. I don't know anyone in Houston, so I'd get no help there. Unlike Dallas, where I could use a hotel between the airport and hotel, there's be no hotel to help me. And the distance to the stadium is 20 miles, greater than in Dallas. I decided to rent a car. I found that Dollar would rent me a Midsize SUV for $24. That'd be much cheaper than a cab. TaxiFareFinder.com indicated a one way trip would be $52.60. Even with parking, this would be cheaper than a one way trip to the game.

I looked for tickets and they were very expensive. What? To the last game of the season for the horrible Houston Astros? It turns out they're playing the Yankees. This will be their only trip into Houston this year and, in fact, will be the first trip since June, 2008. Those ex-New Yorkers are likely chomping at the bit to go to see the Yankees play. I'm guessing half the crowd will be Yankee fans. At least. So my seat is in Section 216 Row 9 and will cost me $68. That's a lot pricier than the Rangers and that game will count. Still, I got to two games and pay of hotel, car, game tickets, parking at LAX, and dog walkers for around $300. I have to like that.

2014 MLB Schedule Out Today

The 2014 MLB Schedule is out today. Since I have a long winter where I'll rarely post, I'll save my analysis of it and the games I might go to for October. You are, of course, welcome to give suggestions.

Game 7: September 7, 2013 Rockies at Padres

On Saturday, I trekked down the 5 Freeway, stopping briefly in scenic Oceanside for lunch. I was a little early for the game. So I stopped in the Gaslamp Quarter for a beer.

I haven't mentioned this before, but I like it when a stadium is in a fun part of town. Of course most teams don't have control over this. Real estate isn't usually available in fun parts of town. I remember that Coors Field was in the LoDo and that was a lot of fun. Some might argue Wrigleyville is fun, but there all the bars I tried to go to before the game were overcrowded. The Gaslamp Quarter has a lot more going on.

We went in the 7th and K entrance, passing this little gem, where a Padre official was playing with the kids. It gave the stadium such a homey feel. We grabbed some barbecue and my friend Bill suggested we eat on the lawn behind the field that's beyond right field.

There aren't many stadiums where you can make yourself a picnic, so that was a new experience. Maybe it was because there wasn't a big crowd, but it was easy to find a good spot. Of course, the view of the game wasn't great. So we did go to find our seats.

I should explain how I got these seats. I've purchased most of the seats on Stubhub.com and I love buying from them. You can find affordable tickets, with all fees included, and download them immediately. These I bought directly from the team. Why? Well, I gave blood in July. In Los Angeles. The Red Cross likes to give stuff to people who give blood as a thank you. One of those thank you gifts was discounted tickets to a Padres game. Petco Park is 135 miles from the church I gave blood at. You drive past the Dodgers and Angels on your way.

I wanted to go to Petco, however, so it was perfect for me. The seat selection was limited by the Padres, however. So I had to choose Field level in the outfield. The sight line wasn't terrible, although I prefer infield. Still, these were the least expensive seats, by far, of any I'd purchased and they were priced higher than some.

I liked the scoreboard, reminiscent of Great American and Progressive, and those seats added on to the Western Metal Supply Building. Cool. They grill here too and, liked the two stadiums noted above also have local microbrews.

They make you wait for the end of a batter before going back to your seat. Not to worry. It's easy to follow what's going on.

Tyson Ross was very impressive. It must be his presence in San Diego, but I'd never heard of him before. He's 5th in the NL in ERA, among pitchers with at least 100 IP. The Rockies tied the game at 1 in the 8th, but Jedd Gyorko hit the ball off the top of the right field fence, just out of the reach of Michael Cuddyer. The game ended bizarrely when Cuddyer took off from first on a sinking liner to right that looked like it'd be caught. It was and Cuddyer was doubled off.

Game 6: September 3, 2013 Cardinals at Reds

I don't have a picture of myself outside of Great American Ballpark. Why? Because my friends Janet and Michael got Mercedes Diamond Club tickets.

When you sit in these seats, you enter through a garage that leads to a private entrance. There, you have a buffet with gourmet food, wine, beer, and fantastic deserts. All included in the price of the ticket.

Yes, I was, in fact, there.

The seats were right behind home plate, about four rows up.

Fancy high end restaurant dinner, dessert, and drinks included. Would they stop there? Nope. They bring you food and drink from a smaller menu during the games. Also included. I could learn to really enjoy this. Big props and big thank you to my friends Michael and Janet.

I didn't see that much of the park since I didn't walk around the concourse. Yet I enjoyed their special outfield seating, Cincinnati Bell has their own "ship" for clients. And the game was an amazing pitchers' duel, like Sunday's Tigers-Indians game. It was 1-0 in the 9th when the Reds brought in Aroldis Chapman. I'd never seen him live. He was a treat. All of his fastballs were over 100 MPH, with the fastest at 103. His sliders were 90-91 MPH. He retired the Cardinals on three strikeouts. No Cardinal batter even connected with a pitch. There were no foul balls.

Great game. Great seats. Great ballpark.

Game 5: September 2, 2013 Orioles at Indians

When you go to Cleveland, your day has to start at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. Since this blog reviews ballparks, I'll leave that open for others to review. I enjoyed it.

Then it was off to Progressive Field. The giveaway was a 1970's Indians T-Shirt. It's kind of cool, although they gave out XL to everyone, whether you were a big guy, like my friend Brendan, who joined me for Detroit and Cleveland, or a child. Go figure.

The food was very good and diverse. I had fresh popped popcorn and pizza, but I could've chosen something from the Food Network.

Holy crap! They even had microbrews. And not just one of two. There were ten from different Ohio brewers.

And look at this stadium. It was gorgeous aesthetically. No, there wasn't any gray concrete. There was brick and stone and the concourses were wide with a lot of choices.

Overall, Cleveland's Progressive Field really rocked, even if the Indians were really lame on Monday.

Game 4: September 1, 2013 Indians at Tigers

When I circled this game on the schedule, it was with hopes that it'd be a fight for first place. Instead, the Indians went into the tank and could only see first place with a periscope. They were still fighting for a playoff spot, however, and Tiger star Miguel Cabrera was out of the line-up. I don't think I've ever seen him play in person. I thought about asking for my money back.

Game 3: August 31, 2013 Phillies at Cubs

Nothing beats a late August match-up in the heat between two teams who have either already traded their impending, the Cubs, or are about to, the Phillies. The Phils shipped two players off to contenders after the game. Okay, almost everything does, especially when the Phillies two most promising young players, Cody Asche and Domonic Brown, were out of the line-up with injuries. Still, it was Wrigley Field! It was baseball! It was Ryne Sandberg's return to Chicago! Of course it was gluten free.

I was told I needed to arrive early to get my Anthony Rizzo bobblehead, which would surely turn up on ebay for oodles of cash. I didn't make it in with the first crowd, but apparently with a game like this, there was still a Rizzo for me.

Wrigley is a nice place to watch a game. I decided to try the legendary bleachers there. They were fun, not rowdy, although one guy did spill beer on me while going for a ball thrown by the Cubs left fielder.

He offered to buy me a beer, but Wrigley, like most ballparks, has overpriced swill, not the New Holland Oatmeal Stout I got with my deep dish pizza after the game.

Wrigley is primitive. Do you want to know the speed of that last pitch? How many errors have been made? Maybe see a replay of that home run? Not here you won't. My MLB At Bat app could show me those things, but everyone else was out of luck.

Wrigley is what it is. You get a good view of the game. You get old time charm. You don't get much else. I must admit I liked Wrigley more the last time I went, 15 years ago, before modern amenities were part of the experience.

Game 2: August 30, 2013 Angels at Brewers

I must admit, it was a struggle getting to Miller Park, but well worth. It started with getting up at 3:30 AM to make a 6 AM flight to Chicago. Then I spent way too much time catching a few winks in my hotel before heading over to the rental car place. The line at Dollar was ridiculously long and it took forever to get a car.

And then there were massive thunderstorms, which made traffic look like Los Angeles.

Eventually, I got to Miller Park, arriving in the first inning.

I was fortunate enough to be able to buy Loge seats, which gets you to the Club Level food.

Don't those desserts look delicious?

My seat was a little high, but it provided a good view of the stadium. Miller Park does have that warehouse feel you get from domed stadiums, but overall I liked it. The people were seated around me were cool. At the ballpark, everyone is your friend.

I could go on and on about Jared Weaver beating up on the Brewers or the Angels blowing the game open, but what you really want to see is the sausage race.

Game Previews From the Trip

My trip starts tomorrow, so I'll do a preview:

Friday, August 30 - Los Angeles Angels at Milwaukee Brewers
This is a game that doesn't figure to draw many people, as both teams will struggle to win 75 games. The Angels have been playing better lately but they are just finishing a disappointing season. Jered Weaver faces Wily Peralta, two pitchers who typify what went wrong for both teams. Weaver isn't having a bad season, but after three consecutive top 5 Cy Young finishes, his ERA+ of 109 hasn't been good enough when you consider Joe Blanton and Tommy Hanson have been terrible. For the Brewers to contend, Peralta, a top 100 prospect, was going to have to post an ERA like the 2.48 he had last year in a cameo appearance. His WAR (wins above replacement) is -1.4, meaning you can find someone who can do better on a minor league roster. There may be some rain, but Miller Park has a retractable roof. I'm good.

Saturday, August 31 - Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs
Another game that has no playoff implications. It does mark new Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg's return to Chicago, for the team he had a Hall of Fame career. Chris Rusin faces Cliff Lee. Rusin has been impressive since he was added to the rotation and Lee is having a Cliff Lee season. So those are bright spots for both teams. The weather figures to be warm, but no rain.

Sunday, September 1 - Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers
Finally a battle of contenders. The Indians chances of winning this division don't hinge on this series, but they certainly could be greatly helped or hurt. Former Cy Young winner Justin Verlander faces Indian phenom Danny Salazar. That's a reflection of the two teams. The first place Tigers have the established star and the Indians are relying on an up and comer. There's a chance of thunderstorms. I'm packing an umbrella, but it'd suck to have the game rained out.

Monday, September 2 - Baltimore Orioles at Cleveland Indians
If the Indians don't win the division they'll be trying for the Wild Card. So are the Orioles. So both teams need this. Indians ace Justin Masterson goes up against Bud Norris. The Indians were 9-4 in their last 13 before dropping two this week to Atlanta, while the Orioles have been treading water. There's also a chance of rain for this game. Yuck.

Tuesday, September 3 - St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds
The Cardinals recently recaptured first place and the Reds want it. Both teams figure to make the playoffs regardless, but if you can avoid that Wild Card game, you want to do it. Joe Kelly goes up against Mat Latos in another premium match-up. It figures to be cooler but there's no chance of rain.

Game 1: August 25, 2013 Red Sox at Dodgers

I've already been to 11 stadiums, including Dodger Stadium, but if I attend a stadium for the first time subsequent to starting this blog, I'll give a new review. It'll be a challenge to hit the remaining 19 stadiums, without having to repeat the 11 I've been to. I don't know when, or if, I'll complete this challenge. It's relatively easy to hit several in the Midwest at once. Besides the two New York stadiums, the rest of the stadiums are at least 250 miles from one another. I may be able to knock a couple out driving, but not many.

I went to Dodger stadium last night, mostly because my cousin is a big Red Sox fan and I wanted to do something nice for him. So I bought two tickets in the bleachers. Less than 90 minutes before game time, and less than 15 before we planned on leaving, he texted me he wouldn't make it. Seriously? We were going for him. His excuse was lame.

I took a new way to get to the stadium, getting off the 10 Freeway and going through Downtown LA, thus avoiding the 110 parking lot freeway. It was a great move for a Sunday. So I got there a little early and parking was a breeze.

Then I was faced with the question, beer or no beer. Here was the selection:

Not only was the selection lame, but they were charging $12.50 for a beer. Nope. No beer. I went to my seat, where I sat in front of these people.

There were a bunch of Red Sox fans, who were all very nice, and who had a good time. In fact, the fans were very nice to each other, regardless of the team they rooted for. There weren't any boorish drunks and there were only a couple of fans making off color comments about Jacoby Ellsbury's wife. I'm not sure that's boorish, although Ellsbury wasn't rattled. He made a great diving catch. In fact, the Red Sox weren't rattled at all, hitting three home runs that went to left field, if not near me. They won 8-1.

Food selection in the Left Field pavilion concessions was very limited, but I saw someone with french fries, a major weakness of mine. They weren't for sale at the concession stand, but I was told I could go to a different level. Just see one of the Dodger concierges. I did, but she was giving a "pass" to someone looking for a veggie burger and told me that she couldn't let me go to the Field level. Could I come back in 20 minutes? Twenty minutes? It was the 7th inning. By the time I got my food and got back to my seat, we're talking 35-40 minutes. The game could be over. Disappointed, I bought a beef dog, one of about three choices for someone who doesn't eat pork.

Yeah. It was about as tasty as it looked.

Overall, the view was good, the fans were nice, and the game was a good one. I even made it out of the parking quickly for once. I enjoy Dodger stadium. I just don't plan on enjoying the food or beer.

Stadium Review: AT&T Park

I was up in San Francisco a few years ago and the place was a mad house. I'm sure there were no more fans than there are in many other parks, but there was a great energy coming from these fans. I sat in the bleachers and had a good view of the game. I can't give a great review of the food, but I remember I enjoyed it. The ballpark is in China Basin and you can walk there. That's a big plus in my book. My big problem was that I wanted to go to 21st Amendment Brewery after the game and the place was overrun with people. I couldn't get in. Fortunately, after another 10 minute walk I made it to Thirsty Bear and all was good in the world.

Where I'm Sitting

I'll let you know where I'm sitting at each game, so if you want to join me, you can. I've added a new game onto my journey, as detailed below.

Sunday, August 25 - Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers, Section 313PL, Row D
My cousin is a big Red Sox fan. So I thought I'd take him as a late birthday gift. We're seated in the Left Field Pavilion. I've been going to Dodger games for years, but have never sat out there. I wonder if this'll be the best way to watch Yasiel Puig miss the cut off man?

Friday, August 30 - Los Angeles Angels at Milwaukee Brewers, Section 331, Row 3
I'm on my own for this one, so please come by and say hello. It's almost directly behind home plate in a "Club Infield Box." I doubt that means much, because a lot of their seats are called boxes.

Saturday, August 31 - Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs, Bleachers
I'm on my own again and this time I'll be in the bleachers. Yes, the famous bleachers! I've never actually sat in them, but I'm really looking forward to it. I assume that's open seating. Any tips on sitting in them? Will I get killed if I wear a Phillies cap? Did I mention it's Anthony Rizzo Bobblehead Day? Excitement!

Sunday, September 1 - Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers, Upper Box Infield 332, Row 4
The Tigers are doing their best to make this a non-race and the Indians recent mediocre play hasn't helped. I'm being joined by my friend from Philly Brendan, who has never been to Comerica either. The seats are a little high but on the third base line, which I like. I have my 1980s Thomas Magnum Detroit Tigers cap in a closet somewhere. I may wear it. Be warned.

Monday, September 2 - Baltimore Orioles at Cleveland Indians, Infield Lower Box 254, Row E
Brendan will also be going to this one too and hopefully both teams will still be alive for a Wild Card, as they're both on the outside looking in right now. The seats are much lower than Comerica and it looks like they're right in front of the suites. It's 1973-78 Primary Logo T-Shirt Giveaway. I don't know what that means, but I'm sure I'll want it.

Tuesday, September 3 - St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds
My friends from Cincinnati, Mike and Janet, will be taking me to this game. They're getting the tickets from some super secret inside source, so I don't know where they'll be.

Saturday, September 7 - Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres, Field Box 117, Row 30
I gave blood last month in Los Angeles and one thing that entitles me to is discount San Diego Padre tickets. Yeah, that makes sense. Just what people in LA want. But I wanted the tickets. So I bought what they were offering and ended up down the right field line. My philosophy on tickets is that I don't care how high the ticket is as long as I'm between the bases. Tickets down the line like this usually don't face the mound. So you have to twist all game to watch the action. Maybe because the Padres are out of it, we can move closer. I'm planning on taking my friend Bill. Where do you park?

So there you have it. Seven games. Seven ballparks. Thirteen teams. Join me. Give me advice on parking or concessions or whatever.

Stadium Review: Nationals Park

I went to games at Nationals Park twice in the last five years, one a day game, and one at night. The stadium was a delight. First, the location is terrific. It's an easy Metro ride from most anywhere in DC or Virginia, but I probably could've walked from my hotel the first time I went. I've heard parking is limited but when public transit is this good, who needs a car?

When I went, tickets were easy to come by, although I think they were much tougher in 2012 when the team was good. We sat down close to the field on the first base line both times and site lines were great. Home plate is usually in the southwest corner of the stadium so that the sun won't get in the players' eyes for afternoon ames. I think it's in the northeast corner here, probably to give fans the best view. Great for the fans. Tough for the players.

The stadium features Dogfish Head and Flying Dog Breweries, both of which make very good beer.

The crowds were decent but the fans didn't get as excited as they do in other cities. Maybe it's because they hadn't yet had a winning season.

Stadium Review: U.S. Cellular Field, Coors Field, and Oriole Park

I've got to admit that I went to U.S. Cellular Field about 20 years ago, Coors Field about 18 years ago, and Oriole Park about 16 or 17 years ago. I don't remember a ton about any of them. I sat in the upper deck and I was pretty far from the field and it was dizzying. My understanding is that they've renovated since then. Coors was a lot of fun because we sat in the lower deck close to the field and it was intimate. I do remember that the stadium was located in the Lower Downtown neighborhood and it was fun to leave the ballpark and be in the middle of some good nightlife. Oriole Park definitely felt intimate and their incorporation of the warehouse into the stadium was clever and innovative, something others have copied.

Stadium Review: O.co Coliseum

I've never heard of O.co Coliseum either. When I went for a football game the stadium in Oakland was known as Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. When I went for baseball it was McAfee Coliseum. Well, now it's O.co Coliseum. That's apparently Overstock.com's marketing name. I have no idea how to pronounce it. "Oh dot see oh?" That's about the most interesting thing I can say about it.

It's pretty much Angel Stadium pre-renovation. It's configured for football, which means that the seats aren't close to the field, and they don't all face the infield. It's enormous and usually mostly empty. When I went, they had tarps over much of the upper deck. That didn't make it feel more intimate. I could go on about the stadium, but just assume it receives low marks in just about everything. Avoid it and Athletics, run!!! Go anywhere. I've never been but I'll bet your AAA stadium in Sacramento is better.

Stadium Review: Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Angel Stadium is the 4th oldest current stadium. I first went there when they shared the building with the Rams. Like all dual purpose stadiums, it really sucked for baseball. They've since renovated the stadium, more than once, and the stadium experience has improved. The sight lines are okay and I find the outfield rocks unique and aesthetically pleasing. Beyond the stadium is the 57 Freeway. I know some might not like looking at a Freeway but you can check the traffic!

It has some of the big concrete slab negatives that Dodger Stadium has and the concession stands do feel like an afterthought. They do have Corona Beach and Budweiser Patio and local microbrews Bootlegger’s Brewery in Fullerton and Hangar 24 in Redlands. The concession stands are also open to outside the stadium, something that gives them a bit of a wide open feel.

Stadium Review: Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium is 51 this year and it shows. Don't get me wrong. Going to a game here is a fun experience. It's rarely too hot or too cold, the sight lines are good, and you feel close to the action. Since you're there for the game, that's enough for it to be a good experience for most people.

They've done upgrades and makeovers throughout the stadium over the years but that doesn't change that inside it feels like a big dank concrete slab. The concession stands are limited in selection and there aren't many. I know there's allure to the Dodger Dog, but I don't eat pork. Aside from that, you'd better like Panda Express or Carl's Jr. If you search you can find Brooklyn Dodger Pizza on each level. There are water fountains, although they aren't always easy to find.

The beer selection is poor, although they've added some small stand alone beer stands. The problem is that they serve Gordon Biersch, a semi-passable beer, although not one that you'd hope to be the best they have.

The stadium is surrounded by three freeways, but it's also just off downtown, making it in one of the highest traffic areas in the city. On weeknights, it can take forever to get to a game. Taking public transportation to the game isn't really an option. The Dodgers have a shuttle that goes from Union Station, but then you have to be lucky enough to be near one of the city's few subway lines that goes there. And public transportation in LA doesn't move quickly.

So you drive. Well, the Dodgers have done a lot over the years to improve parking but parking can still be a nightmare. Other stadiums have lots spread out over city streets with each having an exit. All the lots are on the Dodgers' remote property and there are a limited number of exits. So each lot has to merge with other lots to reach an exit. After a playoff game in 2008 it took 50 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

I do enjoy watching a game at Dodger stadium, something I can't say for everywhere, but the overall fan experience isn't that good.

Stadium Review: Fenway Park

I went to Fenway Park back in 1988. Yes, 25 years ago. Since then I saw games at Veterans Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, the Kingdome, Candlestick Park, and Jack Murphy Stadium. All those stadiums are defunct. In fact, since then 24 teams have opened new stadiums. Fenway is still standing, because it's just that nice a place to watch a game. You feel the history of all the games played there and it has an intimate feel. Of course, there's the Green Monster, the 37 foot fence that's only 310 feet from home plate at the foul poll. In order to fit into the lot, bounded by a city street, the fence had to be closer. So they built it higher in order to prevent cheap home runs and to prevent people on the street from watching the games. It is part of the charm of being here, something that can't be really replicated no matter how retro teams try to make their ballpark. Fenway was definitely a fun time, even if the concessions left something to be desired. I'm sure they've renovated those since.

Cardinals-Reds

I just firmed things up with my friend who is going to the game with me in Cincinnati. I've only been in Cincinnati a few times and have had fun there each time. The tickets will be courtesy of Fox Sports, so they promise to be good seats. I'm not sure what I'll be doing before the game, but Janet mentioned a few things that sound like fun. Of course I'll be giving the whole travelogue here.

The Midwest Trip in Detail

The idea to do a trip to see a baseball game a day in different cities has been in my head for a few years. It sounded like fun. I'd visit new ballparks, meet new people, and catch a lot of baseball. I mapped out a schedule where I could go to 30 games in 30 cities in 30 days, knowing that I could never take that kind of time off. And, of course, all that flying would be very expensive. Earlier this year, the airlines decided to have a sale. So I put the schedules into a spreadsheet and found a way I could see five games in five days, visit some friends, and do it over a holiday weekend. I'd add four new stadiums to those I'd seen.

Friday, August 30, 2013
I'm flying non-stop from LA to Chicago O'Hare. The fare was great and it wasn't a non-stop. At the time I wasn't sure if I wanted to see my beloved Phillies play that afternoon in Chicago or go to Milwaukee and see the Angels and Brewers. As the Phillies' fortunes have faded, and realizing it'd likely be my only opportunity to go to Miller Park, I decided to rent a car and drive to Milwaukee. It isn't far from Chicago and I'd actually be more likely to make this game than the Phillies-Cubs game. That game is an afternoon game and this one is an evening game. So making the Phillies game was going to be tight.

So I'll be driving to Milwaukee Friday afternoon. If you want to join me at the game, let me know. I have yet to buy my ticket. I looked for a hotel in Milwaukee and everything was either sold out or very expensive. WTF? I decided to look a little further south in the Racine area and found the same thing. I finally had to retreat to the other side of the Illinois border to find a 2 star hotel. Then I found that DoubleTree Chicago O'Hare Airport had a great rate, far below anything else I found, and it was 3.5 stars, 4.2 by Hotels.com guests. Okay, it'll be a bit of a drive late at night, but it'll be a better hotel.

Saturday, August 31, 2013
So I'll be in Chicago already. I don't know what I'm going to do during the day yet. Suggestions? The Phillies-Cubs games is at 3:05 PM. So I'm going there. If you want to join me, let me know. I suppose I'll have some Chicago deep dish pizza and a microbrew or two. Suggestions? If you live in Chicago, join me.

Sunday, September 1, 2013
I'll be hopping an early morning Southwest flight to Detroit for the finale of the Cleveland-Detroit series. These two teams are battling for first place in the AL Central. So it figures to be exciting. My friend Brendan, who I hope will guest post at some point, will join me for this game and the one on Monday. I'll probably buy tickets in the next few days, but you're welcome to join us for the game. I'm not trying to slight Detroit here, but we'll be driving to Cleveland right after the game. Okay, I am slighting Detroit a little bit, but the city is in bankruptcy. Yeesh. We'll hit Cleveland Sunday evening, but are staying at the Doubletree in Independence, Ohio. Suggestions for Sunday night?

Monday, September 2, 2013
The Orioles and Indians clash at Progressive Field on Labor Day, both competing for a playoff spot. The game isn't until 4 PM, so we have two choices here, Rock n Roll Hall of Fame or Pro Football Hall of Fame. Which one should we go for? After the game Brendan is headed back to Philly, but I'll be on the long drive to Cincinnati.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013
I'll be visiting my friends, the Grueters, and their adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Ettie. Ettie, and his momma Janet, used to live in LA and I took care of Ettie. Okay, I'm a dog guy and have a soft spot for a cute dog. I haven't worked out the plans with them yet, but we'll go to the Cardinals and Reds, perhaps also competing for the division title, that night.

Upcoming Trip

Friday, August 30, 2013, LA Angels at Milwaukee, Miller Park, 7:10 PM
Saturday, August 31, 2013, Philadelphia at Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, 3:05 PM
Sunday, September 1, 2013 , Cleveland at Detroit, Comerica Park, 1:08 PM
Monday, September 2, 2013, Baltimore at Cleveland, Progressive Field, 4:05 PM
Tuesday, September 3, 2013, St. Louis at Cincinnati, Great American Ball Park, 7:10 PM
Saturday, September 7, 2013, Colorado at San Diego, Petco Park, 5:40 PM

I'll be adding five more stadiums to my list in the next month to give me 16. I'll give an overview later this week. Two things you'll notice are that I'm going to Wrigley Field, where I've already been, and there's a gap between the fifth and sixth games. Wrigley is the best stadium in baseball, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go there. I'll be coming back to LA after Cincinnati. So the San Diego excursion is an add on to hit another baseball stadium.

Start with 11 Stadiums

I'm a huge baseball fan, mostly following my beloved Phillies for the last 42 years. There were two World championships, some playoff berths, and a lot of losing. I live in Los Angeles now and enjoy the Dodgers and Dodger stadium. What I haven't done is visit all 30 stadiums. I'm not sure when I'll accomplish this goal, but it's a task I realize as a baseball fan I should take up. Baseball has had a lot of stadium turnover, so there are 9 stadiums I've been to that don't count.

Dolphins Stadium, Miami
Shea Stadium, New York
Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
Olympic Stadium, Montreal
Old Yankee Stadium, New York
Memorial Stadium, Baltimore
Kingdome, Seattle
Candlestick Park, San Francisco
Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego

There are two additional stadiums I've been in, but I haven't seen games at:

Chase Field, Arizona - I was in Phoenix on business and had lunch at the TGI Friday's at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks weren't playing that day but we got a nice view of the field.

Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg - I was there for the 2012 Republican National Convention.

I've been to 11 stadiums currently being used by Major League teams:

Angel Stadium, Anaheim
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
O.co Coliseum, Oakland
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Nationals Park, Washington
Coors Field, Denver
Camden Yards, Baltimore
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
AT&T Park, San Francisco
Fenway Park, Boston
Wrigley Field, Chicago

I plan on adding five stadiums in the next month. I'll give you those in my next post.