2012 Florida Trip Summary

Being somewhat self-indulgent, I like to post quick trip summaries when I finish an extended journey. During the most recent trip, which began June 8 in Atlanta and ended July 8 in Toronto (yet is called the 2012 Florida Trip as I spent 3 weeks touring the Florida State League along with the Marlins and Rays), I saw 12 MLB games, 14 minor league baseball games, the NBA championship being won, a CFL contest and my first Indy Car race.

The Blue Jays were involved in 8 of those MLB games, going 4-4 naturally as they are 43-43 at the all-star break. It still amazes me that their trip to Miami coincided with game 5 of the NBA Finals and I was able to go. Such scheduling luck is rare on these trips and seeing LeBron win his first is a memory that will last the rest of my life.

I put a bit of a dent in the Quest for 400, visiting 12 venues on that list for the first time, bringing the total up to 182. Still a long way to go but hoping to get to 200 this winter with a few new hockey rinks. A lot depends on how the NHL labour negotiations proceed; if there is any delay at all, I won't be wasting my time or money on watching them for a long while.

Until then, it will be quiet in terms of sports travel as I start a new job in Singapore. I'll probably watch a few S League games, including one in Brunei, and travel around the region, but there isn't much in terms of interesting sporting events. I'll be updating this blog with some opinion pieces here and there, so check back regularly to see what's up.

Best,

Sean

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Honda Indy Toronto - July 8, 2012

In 1986, the city of Toronto was awarded a CART race, marking the first appearance of the series in Canada. It was met with incredible excitement, attracting an estimated 60,000 fans. For the next several years, the Molson Indy was an annual highlight of the series. Even the contentious feud between Champ Car and the IRL didn’t dissuade local race fans from heading out to Exhibition Place every July, with crowds exceeding 70,000 throughout the early part of the 2000s.

In 2006, Molson stopped sponsoring the event, setting in motion a sequence of events that cost the race its reputation. When the IRL and Champ Car merged in 2007, the Toronto Indy was cancelled for the following season. Fortunately Andretti Green Racing purchased the assets of the defunct Grand Prix and reinstated the race, this time under the sponsorship of Honda. But the poor economy and Toronto's changing population have affected attendance, as only 25,000 showed up for the 2011 event and there were plenty of empty seats this year as well.

The street course has a reputation as being one of the most difficult on the Indy Car schedule, with relatively narrow roads surrounded by concrete walls on both sides. Drivers have no time to relax during the minute-long lap. Turn 3 is the key point on the track and it was here that driver Jeff Krosnoff and a race marshal were killed in a horrific accident in 1996. Since then, safety standards have been improved, but racing is still an inherently dangerous sport, both for participants and fans.

The entire event lasts three days, with Friday being free for all. Saturday sees autograph sessions, the first Star Mazda Race, the Indy qualifying, and the Indy Lights race, while Sunday includes the second Star Mazda race before the main event. I didn't want to spend 7 hours outside, so I showed up around noon in time for the 12:30 start of the pre-race festivities.

I was fortunate to be staying within walking distance to the course, as parking was a ridiculous $25. Tickets are also overpriced, with the best seats going for $135 ($185 for the weekend). If you only want to walk around, you can get general admission passes for $35 ($45 for both days). I would recommend this option and using the GA section near turn 3, which likely has the most action. I found a $25 seat for Turn 9 (regularly $65) and would advise against this area, as there is no passing done there, although it is good for pictures, with a part of the fence open for official photographers, as you can see in most of the car shots here. Above is the view I had from my seat, while below is the actual seating area at turn 9, much smaller than I expected.

The Direct Energy Center housed the Support Series Paddock with dozens of cars on display (such as the Ferrari below) from the other races. Here is also where you can find a few specialty food stands that provide some variety from pizza and hot dogs. There was a sushi spot where the rolls where made right there in front of you; I had a pedestrian tuna roll which was a bit too much at $9. There was also a crepe stand that was not cheap but might have been more satisfying.

The introduction of the drivers was held at Victory Circle about 30 minutes before the race. The last three included Canadian James Hinchcliffe, who was accompanied by some flames that even surprised him, while Dario Franchitti appeared surrounded by smoke. It was a bit of an omen as Franchitti's race went up in smoke after a bad pit stop and he finished 17th. Hinchcliffe had mechanical troubles and was forced to retire after just 28 laps, a sad ending for the hometown hero.

I don't want to recap the entire race because frankly, I had no idea what was going on from my vantage point. There were speakers and I could hear the announcers calling the race, but even then all the passing and incidents occurred elsewhere. All I could do was see if the order changed from lap to lap, which it did on occasion. Simon Pagenaud (#77 above) had the lead for much of the early part of the race, but Ryan Hunter-Reay (#28, below) took over on the 49th lap and held the lead the rest of the way except for a single lap when JR Hildebrand briefly led.

It was Hunter-Reay's third straight checkered flag and he took over the points lead with just 5 races left. That's him below at Victory Circle.

Charlie Kimball finished 2nd, a career best for him in the #83 car.

Third went to Mike Conway, a British driver, #14 below.

The Honda Indy was a good experience although I was fortunate to find a cheaper option as $35 for a 90-minute race is a bit much in my mind. But if you spend the full day there, or even the weekend, the value is more apparent and you should enjoy yourself with plenty to see and do. 

Tony Kanaan finished 4th, but at least he saves money on car insurance

Notes

Dr. Pepper was giving out free bottles and cans of their horrid cherry drink and some fans picked up half a dozen to carry home. Those that finished the freebies on site must have felt that the Exhibition Place grounds were their personal garbage disposal, leaving their litter everywhere despite plenty of empty garbage bins and recycling containers nearby. Clean up your act, Toronto!

After the race, I made my way up Dufferin Street and happened upon a quiet pub called Cafe Jolly. They had a very nice pint and panini combo for just $10 and a small patio that was a good place to sit and relax after a short day.

Next Up

I'm flying back to Singapore today. I'm hoping to see a Malaysian Super League game this weekend, so check back next week to see how that went.

Best,

Sean

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Calgary Stampeders 36 at Toronto Argonauts 39 - July 7, 2012

When I visit Ontario in the summer, it is usually to see family and perhaps the Blue Jays if they are in town. What this means is that I am rarely in Toronto at the same time as the Argonauts, Toronto's CFL franchise. However, with the Quest for 400 now my main focus, I planned this trip to ensure that I finally got to see the Argos at Rogers Centre. So after a break in Belleville to recharge the batteries, I returned to Toronto for the Argos home opener, with the Calgary Stampeders the honoured guests.



Rogers Centre (CFL Version)

The main difference between the Jays and Argonauts is that the upper deck is closed for the latter. This means there are only 31,074 seats available for a CFL game. As a comparison, capacity is 53,506 when the Buffalo Bills come to town. You would expect a good crowd given that it was the home opener and the Argos acquired QB Ricky Ray during the offseason, but with the Honda Indy also on the sports docket, only 20,862 bothered to show up for the game.



The other noticeable changes are the Argo Grey Cup banners (above) and retired numbers, which were not on display earlier in the week. I'm not sure if these remain up for the CFL season, but I'd guess not. Seems like a lot of work to set them up and take them down for every game, but I guess the Blue Jays don't want to be overshadowed.

The seating bowl is somewhat different, with the third base seats moved around so that the football field lies between the two lower bowls. There are some backless seats that are added in the end zone where those 3rd base seats used to be, while the other end zone beneath the videoboard is closed off. The 200 level is open as well and there are no changes here from the baseball configuration. Ticket prices range from $85 for the platinum seats (2nd level midfield) down to $23 for the blues, which are the corners on both levels. However, I managed to snag a lower midfield seat for less than half-price so do talk to the friendly resellers if you want a bargain.

With fans concentrated into a smaller area, there was more atmosphere than at a typical midweek Blue Jay game. There was even a band called the Argonotes who performed on the concourse during the action and added to the proceedings. I found supporters here to be more passionate as one would expect with football, and they were well entertained with a game that had a little bit of everything.

The Game

The CFL is entirely different from the NFL, with 3 downs, 12 men on a longer and wider field, more passing, and much more scoring. You could probably call it firewagon football and not be far off.

I want to avoid a play-by-play recap as there was so much going on, so I'll try to keep it brief. Both teams scored on their first possession to set the tone for the afternoon. Calgary's starting QB, Drew Tate, was sacked on the first play of their second drive and separated his shoulder, forcing him from the game. Kevin Glenn (below) replaced him and had trouble moving the offense for the rest of the half.



Glenn was helped by his defense though. On Toronto's 2nd possession, Ray's pass to Dontrelle Inman was tipped and intercepted by Eric Fraser who romped 61 yards for a pick-six. But their offense was unable to do anything, being forced to punt twice and turning the ball over on two other occasions. Toronto did not take full advantage though, grabbing three field goals from Noel Prefontaine (below) and a beautiful 53-yard TD pass from Ray to Inman to take a 23-14 lead at the break.



As the second half began, the Argos continued to run the ball effectively with Cory Boyd (taking the handoff below) but again they couldn't get the big score, adding two more field goals. Even then, the 29-14 lead looked safe given Calgary's inability to mount a consistent attack.



Of course, these are the Argos, so the key word there was "looked". In fact, the lead was not safe at all. First, Glenn finally managed to complete his first scoring drive, moving the Stamps 75 yards for a TD, cutting the lead to eight at the end of the third. But Glenn threw another interception early in the fourth quarter and Toronto took over on the Calgary 20, ready to close things out. Oops, not so fast. A face masking penalty pushed them back and forced Prefotaine to attempt yet another FG, this one from 36 yards out, which he missed. In the CFL, missed kicks are often run back to avoid giving up the single point, and Larry Taylor did just that, catching the ball 15 yards deep in the end zone and then taking off, beating tackles here and there before turning upfield and racing into the Argos end zone. The 125-yard return was stunning to watch, but also depressing as it brought the Stampeders to within two, and they quickly tied it on the 2-point conversion.



The next three possessions saw Ray get intercepted, Glenn lose a fumble, and Argos backup QB Jarious Jackson get stuffed on a goal line sneak. That's three turnovers in less than 3 minutes and left the fans befuddled. Did anybody want to win the game? After Calgary was forced to punt from deep in their territory, Toronto took over with good field position and capitalized with Inman scoring his second TD reception of the game to make it 36-29 with just 3:08 to go.

Calgary's next drive stalled as well and they punted, giving the Argos the ball with just two minutes left, and certainly the game was in the bag now, right? Nope. I guess I'm used to the NFL, where the extra down generally means a team with the lead under two minutes pretty much wins the game. That was not the case here. Boyd carried twice for just 9 yards and the Argos punted stupidly, sending the ball right to Taylor who rumbled for 64 yards to the Argo 25. On the next play, Glenn hit Nik Lewis for the easy score and the game was tied again. Overtime loomed.



Or did it? Toronto returned the ensuing kickoff to their 47 and had 61 seconds to get into field goal range. On the first play, Ray found Andre Durie over the middle for a 36-yard gain, easily close enough for Prefontaine. A couple of runs took the remaining time off the clock and then Prefontaine booted his 6th FG of the afternoon (above) with no time left to give the Argos the 39-36 win.



So much for the brief recap. It was a crazy finish to a strange game. Even with all the action though, the contest took only 2:50 to complete, a nice change from those 3 1/2 hour marathons the NFL showcases.

Ray finished with 407 yards passing, Boyd had 101 on the ground, while Glenn went 15/19 coming off the bench. His two interceptions and fumble were costly though, counting for three of the four Stampeder turnovers. The Argos had 3 giveaways of their own, meaning nearly a quarter of the 32 total possessions ended in a turnover. Not a well-played game but highly entertaining and I'm looking forward to seeing the other stadiums in the league in the next few years.

Notes



This season will see the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto and the Argos are celebrating their championship history with fancy tickets (1921 champs shown above) as well as honouring the great teams of the past. Today, the 1971 Argos, who won the Grey Cup that year and were led by Joe Theismann, were given a short halftime introduction.


This doesn't exist on an NFL gridiron

After the game, fans were allowed onto the field. There was a ten-minute wait while they cleaned up, and then about 1,000 fans made their way down the aisles to wander to and fro. A few kids tossed footballs while other fans chatted with the cheerleaders or took advantage of unique picture opportunities. It was my first time on the field at Rogers Centre and I tried to figure out exactly where Joe Carter's home run landed, but didn't see any memorial plaque. At any rate, I got a cool shot of the Blue Jay pennants along with the uprights (below). More teams should do this, it really adds to the experience.



Next Up

Today is the Honda Indy and that is how I will spend my last day in Canada on this trip as I fly back to Singapore on Monday. I hope to be back home for the Winter Classic on New Years Day, but if the NHL decides to delay their season, I'll be skipping that and perhaps watching some AHL. In the meantime, I'll be posting about various topics in sports as well as attending a few things here and there in Southeast Asia, so check back on occasion.

Best,

Sean

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Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays - July 2-3, 2012

I'm spending a week in Canada before returning to Singapore and the Blue Jays thoughtfully scheduled a home series against Kansas City, so I went to the first two games at Rogers Centre (the big white spot in the aerial shot below, taken during my flight from Atlanta).



On Monday, Ricky Romero was torched to the tune of eight earned runs as KC won 11-3. No pictures from this nightmare. Despite being a holiday Monday, only 17,127 showed up. The good news with such a poor crowd is that you can buy an upper deck ticket and then sit in the lower deck without being hassled.



On Tuesday, the team played a truly enjoyable baseball game. After falling behind 3-0, the Jays fought back by sending 11 batters to the plate in the 4th. Colby Rasmus' bunt single and a 3-run jack from Adam Lind were the highlights as Toronto took a 6-3 lead.



Starter Brett Cecil and three relievers kept KC off the board the rest of the way, with Casey Janssen (above being congratulated by Jeff Mathis) getting his 10th save. With the win, the Jays hit the halfway mark of the season at 41-40.


Yunel Escobar singles

For this game, my friend Chien was visiting from Beijing and he brought his young son to his first ballgame. We were able to procure good seats from a friendly scalper, just eight rows up from first base and cheaper than the box office. With only 15,516 on hand, the place was deadly quiet at times. To compare, the AAA Buffalo Bisons had 414 more fans for their Independence Eve game. The Jays need to find ways to get more fans into the ballpark for these less popular opponents.


Yuniesky Betancourt returns to the dugout

The roof was closed when the game began as there was a threat of rain, but when the skies cleared, the roof was opened (below). Interestingly, it was during the 4th inning and the Jays responded with their six-spot once they had some natural light to work with.



Stupid Stats

In the two summer trips this year, I saw the Jays 11 times, 5 in Toronto and 6 on the road. They went 3-2 at home and 3-3 as visitors. In those 11 games, they committed only 2 errors and generally played very good defense. They also have a great offense but the injuries to their rotation have doomed them this season, I fear. Great fun to watch though and it will be enjoyable to see them develop over the next few years.

Next Up

I'll be returning to Toronto this weekend, first for the Argos home opener on Saturday and then the Honda Indy on Sunday. Check back for updates next week.

Best,

Sean

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Washington Nationals 5 at Atlanta Braves 7 - June 30, 2012

I started this trip three weeks ago with a 3-game set featuring the Jays visiting Turner Field in Atlanta. The Braves had a ticket special that day, four tickets for $30, so I picked up the three Jays games and added a fourth for June 30th against Washington. Originally, I had planned to visit the Gwinnett Braves of the International League, but figured if Stephen Strasburg was starting for Washington, I'd check that out instead.

Well, the pitching rotation worked out and Strasburg (below) was scheduled to start, so I decided to revisit Turner Field. After a 7-hour drive from Daytona Beach,  I arrived in Atlanta and parked at College Park Station, taking MARTA to the ballpark and arriving just as first pitch was thrown at 4:05.



It was a stifling day, with temperatures reaching 106F, the hottest in Atlanta history. It was even hotter on the field and this affected Strasburg. He tossed two shutout innings and managed an RBI single as Washington grabbed a quick 2-0 lead. But in the third, he was visibly tired, and also seemed frustrated by the home plate umpire. A couple of walks (his 3rd and 4th of the day, unusual for a pitcher who averages about 1.5 per game) and a pair of doubles, including one from Dan Uggla (below) gave Atlanta three runs and the lead.



Strasburg batted in the third and walked but was stranded. In the top of the 4th though, he didn't make it back to the mound (it was later reported that he was suffering from heat-related issues). He was replaced by Chien-Ming Wang, who gave up four runs in two innings as the Braves took a 7-2 lead which was enough in a 7-5 win. Phenom Bryce Harper (below) also had a bad day, going 0-5 although he hit the ball hard a couple of times.



A rather disappointing turn of events but it was better than going to the Gwinnett game in the end, as that was delayed for over an hour. With a very early flight back to Toronto for Canada Day, I wouldn't have been able to stay to the end of that one. As the G-Braves are part of the Quest for 400 though, I'll be back in Georgia sometime to check them out.

Best,

Sean

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Dunedin Blue Jays 11 at Daytona Cubs 10 - June 29, 2012

The Daytona Cubs are the only team in the Florida State League who don't play in a stadium that is also used during spring training. So I was really looking forward to seeing a typical minor league ballpark to finish off the Florida portion of the trip and complete the entire league at the same time. It turned out to be one of the best experiences I have enjoyed on a sports road trip.

Jackie Robinson Ballpark

In 1946, Jackie Robinson was to play in his first spring training with the Montreal Royals after signing a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Royals' parent club. The two teams were scheduled to face off in an exhibition game that would be the first integrated game in the majors in the modern era. (Little known fact: there were two black ballplayers in major league baseball with the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884.) Cities such as Jacksonville and Deland chose to close their ballparks rather than allow the game to take place. Fortunately, Daytona Beach was a more progressive town and allowed the game to occur on March 17th at their City Island Ballpark. Sixty-six years later and that same ballpark still stands, now renamed Jackie Robinson Ballpark in honour of the man who broke baseball's colour barrier.



Built in 1914, the park has undergone numerous renovations in the intervening century, but still retains the aura of a bygone era. The ticket window outside the Magnolia St entrance (below) is the first sign of this. The other entrance is on Orange St and it is here that you will find the Jackie Robinson statue. Note that the free parking lot behind the stadium leads to the Magnolia St entrance and you should walk around to the other side if you want to get a look at the statue before going in.



The stadium was renamed to Jackie Robinson Ballpark in 1989 and since then, a number of additions have made this more than just a sports venue, but a historical lesson as well. On the wall behind the Cubs' clubhouse are several panels describing Robinson's life and the struggles he faced in trying to break the colour barrier.



As well, there are panels along the Riverwalk that talk about other "Barrier Breakers", such as Willie O'Ree who was the first black player in the NHL. At the Picnic Porch in right field is another display, this time related to the Jim Crow laws that were in force in the 1940s. It is no coincidence that this is set here as the Picnic Porch area was once the Jim Crow section where black fans were forced to sit. Take the time to walk around and read all of these, they are well-written and informative. I should also note that much of this is open to the public between 9 and 5 during the day, so even if the Cubs are not in town, you can stop by for a visit.



After you have refreshed your history knowledge, it is time to refresh yourself by enjoying the plaza next to the Riverwalk. I found the food selections here to be the best in the league and affordably priced. Large (32 oz) beers are just $5.75 and there were plenty of options both at the concession stand and a grill on the third base side, where a freshly-cooked cheeseburger was only $4.25. There are several picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy your pre-game feast next to the river. You will also notice banners of famous players who plied their trade here, including Stan Musial and Kerry Wood. As well, there is a "Road to the Show" wall that lists every Daytona Cub who has made the majors, including the year(s) he spent in Daytona as well as the date of his first MLB game. Most obviously made their debut with Chicago, but a few were traded, such as Eric Hinske, who won Rookie of the Year with Toronto in 2002.



Inside the seating bowl is where you realize that this is really an old-time ballpark. A low-hanging roof covers the entire grandstand, where all seats are $7, except those in the first row which go for $12. There are even obstructed view seats as the poles supporting the roof are near the front of each section. As you might be able to see below, the entire section here is protected by netting.



Despite being covered, the setting sun does strike the grandstand before the game, making it a pleasant place to watch the players warmup.

The bleachers along third base are uncovered, but even there the netting above the dugout obstructs the view. Given that this ballpark is nearly 100 years old though and that home plate is quite close to the seating area, the netting is a necessity to protect fans. You can avoid this by sitting at the top few rows here.

The scoreboard is manually operated by two people throughout the game. It may appear to be old, but was actually added in the most recent renovation. Even the ball/strike/out counters are done manually and sometimes the count is partially blocked by one of the gentleman working out there, at least from the angle I was sitting at.

Overall, this is the best ballpark in the league. Sure the others are newer and bigger, but if you want the true minor league experience in the Florida State League, you only need visit Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.



The Game

Dunedin was in town so I wore my Blue Jays jersey, the only one I saw in the lively crowd of over 3,000. The Jays jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first when Jake Marisnick (3rd, 2009) led off with a homer (just like he did in Dunedin) and Marcus Knecht (3rd, 2010) followed with a 2-run shot. Jesse Hernandez started for Dunedin and retired the first six hitters he faced, but fell apart in the third and fourth inningss, giving up 9 hits and 7 runs before being relieved by Alan Farina (3rd, 2007). Farina was equally inept, yielding a threespot in his inning of work. In other words, it was 10-3 Daytona after five frames.



These young Jays have a powerful team that just won the first-half title so I still had hope. Sure enough, Cubs starter Frank Del Valle (above) tired in the sixth, walking Knecht and giving up a single to Kevin Ahrens (16th overall, 2007) before leaving. Ryan Searle came in and walked Jack Murphy (31st, 2009, now promoted to New Hampshire) to load the bases. DH Oliver Dominguez followed with a monster grand slam to cut the margin to just 3. Searle remained in the game despite being clearly fatigued, as the Daytona bullpen was overtired and had no other options, due to a promotion earlier in the day. This worked in the Jays favour as Jon Talley (13th, 2007) simply crushed one in the 7th to make it 10-8.

Scott Weismann (46th, 2011) worked a scoreless the 8th for the Cubs while Dunedin relievers Englebrook and Dustin Antolin (11th, 2008) had kept Daytona off the board through the same inning, sending us to the top of the ninth with the Cubs still up two.

Weismann remained in and Marisnick led off with a single to bring the tying run to the plate. After a couple of out, Talley was the Jays' last chance. Down to his last strike, he lined a single to left to bring up Knecht. Two quick strikes and again it was do or die time. Knecht connected (see what I did there?) with a hanging curve and sent it deep into the night, a 3-run shot that gave Dunedin the lead and stunned the remaining fans, who had likely thought the game over long ago.



Dunedin closer Danny Barnes (35th, 2010) was brought in for the save and got Rebel Ridling (25th, 2008) looking, except the umpire missed the call, much to the disbelief of the Jays' dugout. Given a second chance, Ridling doubled and was pinch run for by Dustin Harrington (34th, 2010). A sacrifice bunt moved Harrington to third and Ronald Torreyes walked. Chad Noble (37th, 2010) came up and flew to shallow right. Surprisingly, manager Brian Harper sent Harrington and Jonathan Jones (29th, 2010) throw was on the money. Murphy held on as Harrington bowled into him and the game was over! Blue Jays win 11-10. Amazing! There is no way the runner would have been sent in the majors, but given the defense in the minors, it makes sense to force the issue and Jones responded with a great throw.

One of the best minor league games I have seen, mainly because Dunedin was involved. It is gratifying when you are wearing the jersey of the visiting team and they storm back from seven runs down to win, even at this level. The local fans were gracious in defeat as they knew they had seen a great contest. A perfect way to end my three weeks in Florida.

Notes

It was Military Appreciation Night which is why the Cubs were wearing those camouflage jerseys you see in the picture above. Before the game some new Marines were sworn in, and then the guest of honour, Sgt. Slaughter appeared. Yes, a pro wrestler was there and he made sure the crowd cheered on the military in attendance. He also did sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and signed autographs all night long.



Jackie Robinson wore #9 in that first game before switching to the now universally retired #42, and this fact is noted on a sign in the outfield. Richie Zisk's #22 is also retired on a pole beyond right field.



One somewhat intoxicated fan, noticing my Blue Jays jersey, asked me where "Duneldlin" is. I told him it was a town in the Tampla Blay area.

Best,

Sean

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Brevard County Manatees 1 at Tampa Yankees 7 - June 28, 2012

In 1989, the Cincinnati Reds moved their spring training operations from the Tampa area, ending a stretch of 75 consecutive years in which the city had hosted a major league team during the pre-season. It took seven years before Tampa could find a team to fill the void, using the promise of a new spring training stadium to lure the New York Yankees from Fort Lauderdale. The Yankees are baseball's biggest franchise everything they do is over the top, including their very impressive spring training stadium, which is also the summer home of the Florida State League's Tampa Yankees.

George M. Steinbrenner Field

Dubbed Legends Field when it opened in 1996, the stadium was renamed when the famed Yankees owner fell ill in 2008. After his passing in 2010, a bronze statue was added in front of the ballpark in time for the 2011 season.



There are a number of other notable features outside the stadium. First is the patch of grass that contains all of the Yankees retired numbers, a smaller version of Monument Park.



There is also a sculpture made from steel recovered from the World Trade Center, much like what sits in front the Mets' spring training home in Port St. Lucie, although in this case it is an actual reproduction of the Twin Towers.



The ticket windows are behind the staircase with reserved seats costing only $6 and general admission $4, the cheapest seats I have seen on this trip. There are other specials such as Facebook Friday, where those who have liked the team on Facebook get in for $2 and enjoy drink specials until 8 pm.



After going up the stairs you enter the stadium and will find yourself on a spacious concourse. There was only a single concession stand open with nothing special, although at least it was Thirsty Thursday when I was there so I was able to get a $2 beer; again only available until 8:00. Scooter Dogs are only $2, with chicken sandwiches and bratwursts the "specialty" items at $5.50.



There are banners here honouring a few Yankee greats like Ruth, Gehrig, and Berra decorating each walkway into the seating area, as well as pictures of past teams. The Yankees have won 27 World Championships, don't ya know. Well if you didn't, you will now.



The seating bowl is huge, with a capacity of 11,000, or double what is held at Dunedin. There is a concourse that bisects it, with rows below designated with double letters. Note the facade above the seats that evokes the original from the House That Ruth Built. There are several suites behind home plate; in fact, this ballpark was one of the first spring training stadiums to make use of suites.



The Tampa Tribune party deck is beyond the right field fence but this is reserved for groups for the most part and wasn't being used when I was there. With a crowd of about 1,000 spread out, the place is quiet during the game and each individual cheer can be heard by the players. The sun sets behind third bases, giving the field some interesting shadows before the game and during the early innings. The dimensions here are the same as at Old Yankee Stadium.



The mascot is Blue, an alien from the minor planet Pluto, a fitting choice for a minor league team.



What surprised me here given the size of the stadium is that the scoreboard is fairly basic, and there is no speed gun. I always expect the Yankees to spare no expense and it was a bit of a relief to see that there are some areas where they keep things simple.

Overall, Steinbrenner Field is what one would expect from the Yankees. It is oversized, honours their past and all those championships, and is likely a great place during the spring. Fortunately the Tampa team realizes the minors is a different attraction altogether and keeps their prices surprisingly low, making it a good place to check out a game when you are in town.

The Game

This was the fourth time I saw the Yankees on this trip and every time they have scored multiple runs in the first inning, this time courtesy of a 3-run homer from Kyle Roller (8th, 2010).  Eduardo Sosa led off the second with a a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly. Shortly thereafter, Ramon Flores doubled and came around on a J.R. Murphy (2nd, 2009 and the Yankees #9 prospect according to Baseball America) single as Tampa took a quick 5-0 lead. Slade Heathcott (29th overall in 2010 and #10 prospect, below) added a 2-run homer in the 5th to end all doubt.



Starter Caleb Cotham (who has a great name for a New York prospect, given one of the city's nicknames is Gotham) was the beneficiary of this offense, but made it easy on himself by tossing six scoreless innings, scattering 5 hits and striking out 8 without yielding a walk. A very impressive performance from Cotham (5th round in 2009), who was only making his fifth start at this level and bears watching.



The Manatees got a solo shot from Cody Hawn (6th, 2010, derisively referred to as "Goldie" by older fans) in the 7th but Mark Montgomery, who I mentioned in a previous post, retired the side on just nine pitches to end the game, a 7-1 victory for the Yankees.



They say that minor league relievers don't become major league relievers, but I'm betting that is not the case here; look for Montgomery (below) to be in the Yankees pen by 2014.



After a Yankees win, the familiar "New York, New York" refrain is played, just like at the big stadium in the Bronx.

Notes

I have no idea how they measure the game time anymore. This game started at 7:01 and ended at 9:14, yet was listed at 2:17 in the boxscore. I know it's only four minutes difference but in a sport that depends on accurate statistics, it troubles me greatly that there can be such a discrepancy. Can anyone explain?

Next Up

I'm driving to Daytona today to finish up the FSL portion of the road trip as the Blue Jays are visiting the Cubs. Saturday sees a long drive back to Atlanta, where I'm probably going to see the Nationals and Braves as I have a ticket and Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to start for Washington. Check back regularly for updates.

Best,

Sean

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