I'm headed out to the old ballpark tonight. It's been awhile.I've mentioned before that I don't live close to a major league park. In fact, I don't live close to any ballpark that features professional baseball.
In the past, that wouldn't stop me. I'd hop in a car and head to any number of parks within driving distance. But ever since my daughter became old enough to care about where she was going, that practice has stopped. I've mentioned before that my daughter isn't interested in baseball. She jokes around with me about how worthless it is, saying swimming or Hannah Montana or Boogie Superstar (if you have a daughter and a Wii, you know what I'm talking about) is vastly more important. And I won't force her to go to games if she's not interested.
But now -- maybe it's her age, or I've finally worn her down -- she's looking forward to a ballgame. And I'm not going to stand around waiting for her to change her mind.
So, we'll be at Alliance Bank Stadium watching the Syracuse Chiefs take on the Charlotte Knights. Those are the Triple A teams of the Nationals and the White Sox. Among the recognizable ex-major leaguers on the rosters are: Corey Patterson, Ryan Langerhans, Norris Hopper, Wilson Betemit, Pete Orr, and Gregor Blanco.
It'll be nice to watch a game without having to cover it or rush to the locker room afterward for interviews. And it'll be nice to watch a game with my daughter, even if I half expect her to ask to be dropped off at the mall on the way there.
Anyway, this week's night card is Aaron Boone, chosen for this occasion. He's playing for Cincinnati's minor league affiliate, the Billings Mustangs, on the 1995 Upper Deck prospects card. Little did he know at that moment what kind of career he had ahead of him. I've read he's recuperating quite nicely from his heart operation. That's very good to hear.
Oh, and you may have heard that the Dodgers acquired reliever George Sherrill for a couple of prospects (including Josh Bell -- I guess my autographed card of him is expendable now). I can live with that. Will I be able to live with anything else the Dodgers may do in the next 24 hours? That's the question isn't it?
Comments
ave a good time!
but btw, Gregor Blanco is currently in Gwinnett playing for the baby Braves, and Ryan Langerhans is mannig LF for the Seattle Mariners.
I find it a PITA that the Isotopes are across town 30 mins away from my house, but reading the entry and some comments, I have it lucky they are so "close".