Ballpark Check-ins

Last June I downloaded the "At the Ballpark" app. That month I checked in Angel Stadium and Citizens Bank Park. Not too long later I got the idea to check in at all 30 ballparks. I've now checked in at 23. As you'll note by looking below the Astros game was game 21. While my app counts those two ballparks, I haven't gone to them since I started this blog. So while those check-ins count on the app, they don't count here. I'll go to and review Angel Stadium next month, but won't go to Citizens Bank Park again until next season. I wonder what the app will do when I get to 30 ballparks. Will it act like a slot machine hitting the jackpot?

Game 21: July 13, 2014 Red Sox at Astros

Sunday was a tough day for my carefully planned trip, but I saw all nine innings of the baseball game. So even when things go wrong, there's enough cushion. I'd scheduled a Super Shuttle to pick me up at 7:00 for a 10:00 AM flight. Because I scheduled it so early, a driver arriving 40 minutes late didn't put a serious crimp into my plans. Because I still arrived at the airport early. When I got there, I discovered that my flight was going to be late. Again. It was only a 45 minute flight where the plane flies back and forth from Houston to Dallas.

So we didn't land until 11:45. The game started at 1:10 PM. I figured I had time. I was down in ground transportation around noon and went over to the information booth to find out where the #50 bus left from. The guy informed me that if I took the bus I'd never make the game. I told him that I looked it up that the bus only took 40 minutes. He said that it was on a Sunday schedule, the next one didn't leave for some time, and I wouldn't make it. Okay. I needed alternatives. Rent a car? $105. Nope. Taxi? $35. Super Shuttle? $26. I chose taxi because I had no idea where the Super Shuttle would take me or how long it'd take. The cab took me to the game. That was pricier than I would've liked, but the situation warranted it. And I did make it with time to spare.

Minute Maid Park feels like a train station when you walk in. Maybe it's the archway.

The stadium did feel big and comfortable and I did have a club seat. I think club seats are my favorite. The food is better up here, it's uncrowded, and air conditioned. Of course that'd be a bigger deal in an outdoor stadium.

I got myself a carved turkey sandwich with chips, along with one of their beers on tap. I don't remember which one.

The food was certainly better than Globe Life, but not so great.

I must admit that the hand scooped ice cream with toppings was yummy.

Then I sat in my seat. The Club Level is one level up. So it's further than the lower level seats but you can retreat inside and still see the field if it's hot. Which it wasn't in a dome. When I'm inside I don't feel like I'm in a baseball stadium. It feels like a warehouse.

They do have the train. It probably does something, although I have no idea what since the Astros didn't score. What's up with the Citgo sign? Is this Fenway?

The Red Sox demolished the Astros 11-0. It was ugly. Unless you were a Red Sox fan.

I took the #50 bus from outside the stadium back to the airport. It did take about 40 minutes. I admit that it went through some questionable neighborhoods and the other passengers looked dicey, but no one tried to rob me and it cost a whopping $1.25. I had plenty of time before my flight. In fact, I had even more than I expected. Because my flight was... 2 hours late leaving. Yes, again.

Game 20: July 12, 2014 Angels at Rangers

When you fly and your flight is late there's only one place to be, the airport. It's the only place that you'll get a straight answer about what's going on and the only place that you can make a change easily. As I continued to get texts that the flight was running late Saturday, I felt uneasy. So I went to the airport, arriving four hours before when my flight was supposed to leave. I discussed the situation with an agent and she got me on a later flight on American. It's a good thing that I did that when I did because I looked at the monitor I saw the flight was cancelled. I'm sure everyone else on my flight was trying to get on another flight at that point. If I'd waited, I never would've gotten to Dallas. This plane got me there.


I've preached that you try to get to the next game as early as you can, in case you are delayed. My flight arrived at 4:10 and I made it to the hotel at 4:45. I actually had a half hour to relax before the hotel shuttle took me to the game. The Hilton Arlington was a little more expensive than some hotels, but there probably aren't many that'll shuttle you to and from the airport and also to and from the game. I saved more there. And the Hilton is a great hotel. I wish I'd been there earlier to enjoy it, but the late flight shows that even when something goes wrong I can still make it to the game.


Here's the obligatory shot of me in front of the ballpark. One thing I judge ballparks by is how easy it is to get around. Are the corridors narrow like AT&T Park or wide like Citi Field? Maybe it's just me, but I don't want to constantly be jostling with people as I walk. Not only was the corridor wide, but it was open, with lots of sunlight shining through. I didn't feel like I was in the basement the way I did at Fenway or Busch.


Of course, one important thing for me is the quality of the beer. Do they just have Budweiser beers or are local microbrews on tap the way they were at Camden Yards or Progressive Field? While these microbrews weren't all local, they provided some variety.


I must admit that I liked that they had Texas size food. I didn't partake, but I found it appropriate.


And they like to slap Nolan Ryan's name on things too.


Text

I went for the barbecue chicken sandwich and I'm sad to say that it was terrible.


Anyone who has ever been to a day game during hot weather can tell you how unbearable it is. One mistake I made was that I didn't go for indoor club seats in Oakland, Kansas City, and St. Louis. It was very hot outside. I expected things to be bad in Dallas since the temperature at the 6:15 first pitch was still over 90 degrees. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't feel that warm. I was in the shade of late afternoon shadows and there was even a breeze. I sat in my seat and took a look at centerfield. I enjoy when you have a view at the ballpark. The Yankee Stadium outfield is littered with billboards, but Camden Yards enables you to see the warehouse. Granted, Comerica you see buildings beyond Comerica Park but at least they're nicer than billboards. Well, Globe Life Park surprised me. No view and no billboards. The outfield is covered with offices. Maybe this is done for a good reason, but it is ugly. O.Co Coliseum ugly.


I liked right field better, however. They only had two levels and the scoreboard was very nice.


So were the Angels. They were robbed early in the game by two nice Smolinski catches, but broke it open with five hits in the sixth.


The Angels triumphed 5-2 and I leisurely walked out to the Hilton shuttle to take me back to the hotel.

Game 19: July 11, 2014 Twins at Rockies

I usually don't have the time (or Internet access) to do a blog post in the middle of a trip, but I got a text from United saying my flight will be three hours late due to "flight crew availability." Really? The good news is that by taking an early morning flight, I have enough give in my day to weather a three hour delay. The game starts at 6:15 PM. If the flight does arrive (at the new) on time, I should make it to the game on time. Of course this means no relaxing swim and I might not get there in time to get the bobblehead. Again. [Sigh] Why is the bobblehead important? I should've mentioned that I get a souvenir from each stadium and a giveaway is certainly unique. I'll have to show you pictures of what I have some time soon.

That's for today. Back to yesterday. Denver lacks a light rail system and the only choices for ground transportation from the way distant airport are taxi, Super Shuttle, bus, and rental car. The bus would've been the least expensive. The problem is that it takes you to several locations nowhere near my hotel. And it doesn't run that often. So I was going to be a prisoner to their schedule. I decided to rent a car. They were expensive, but I was checking back. I found a reasonable price at Hertz for "the manager's special." I broke leg a few years ago and it's not as strong as it once was. So I normally like to rent an SUV due to my difficulty getting out of low cars. But I figured how bad could the manager's special be? And I only needed it to drive to and from the hotel. They gave me a mini-van.

That's right. A low gas mileage car designed for seven passengers. Just for me. Woo woo! I drove to the hotel, relaxed a little bit, and then the rain came. Hard. I waited until it dissipated and then walked to the stadium. I anticipated that I'd be able to do this and it was less than a mile away.

Here's the obligatory selfie. Apparently when you take a selfie like this letters are reversed. No, Coors didn't turn them backwards.

Just beyond the gate was a Blue Moon brewery. Now, I don't know if they actually brew beer there, but they had all the equipment to do so.

So I got myself a Blue Moon Farmhouse Red and a burger. Both were actually quite good. I do wish I could say the same for the weird pretzel they sell. I decided to try it because it was something new. Not the best choice. But I was able to get taste out of my mouth by having gelato. Yes, real Italian gelato. That I forgot to take a picture of.

I inspected the stadium. I like wide corridors, although they got very crowded when it started to drizzle.

The kid's area was closed? Before a game? Why?

They did have the speed pitch and a batting cage, something fans also enjoy.

The stadium itself has held up very well. I wish they had more of a view in the outfield and do wonder why they need four levels in right field, including a roof top bar that's new this season. I didn't check it out, but it sounds great.

Of course, no trip to Coors Field would be complete without a few dingers. Troy Tulowitzki was happy to do so, hitting one, and even gave me a spectacular fielding play to kill a Twins rally. The Rockies triumphed 6-2.

I'm positive on Coors Field, although it's not as nice as some of the more recently built stadiums.

Games 19-21 This Weekend

I could've done this quest in one season. Some people do 30 stadiums in 30 days. I've actually heard of people doing it in less. One guy is planning to go to a game a day for all 183 days of the season. One guy went to one inning at five stadiums in 29 hours. The problem for me is that those trips don't sound enjoyable. Now some people might think that doing what I'm doing isn't that enjoyable. After all, I come in, go to the game and leave without seeing the city I'm staying in. I went to the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Pike Place Market in Seattle, and the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, but I haven't been to many other tourist attractions. I've been to tourist attractions. I've noted the cities I want to go back to.

For me, this is about baseball. And I love flying in, going to the game, and getting to the next city. But it can be exhausting. The five game road trips I've been on are about the limit I can go before I get sick of doing this. I'm not doing it to say I've done it. I'm doing it because I'm having fun doing it. And the whole thing is fun. I love planning the trip, shopping for the best deals on air, hotel and tickets, and I love going. And all my plans have been executed the way I envisioned, except maybe San Francisco, where I wish I'd gotten there so I didn't miss the first inning. That said, I missed more than one inning in Boston because it was so darn cold.

I'll be on a 3 game, 3 city, 3 day trip starting tomorrow. I'll be in Denver at Coors. I was there 19 years ago. Then it's Dallas and Houston, two ballparks i've never been to. Blog posts will follow.