My Wrigley Experience

On Saturday afternoon, I was fortunate enough to experience one of the joys of being a fan. I was able to watch a Chicago Cubs game from the bleachers at Wrigley Field.

This wasn't my first time at Wrigley. Back in 1991 I went to a game with my parents. We sat down the first base line. It was the only time my parents ever bought scalpers tickets to a baseball game. They let my brother and I wait against the fence where the players park their cars to get autographs (I got Mitch Williams) and then we entered the stadium as soon as the gates opened so we could be right up against the wall to get autographs of the Expos. It was only about a week after Dennis Martinez pitched his perfect game. I wanted his autograph so bad, but to no avail. After standing out in the blazing sun that August I dreamed of returning. I finally got my chance.

It is a different experience attending a Cubs game with 18 buddies rather than your parents. This time the day started a little later, since the Friday night was a bit of a party. In the cab ride to the stadium, I began to get excited. You begin to see the names of the streets that surround the stadium and you know you are getting close - Addision, Clark. After getting dropped off, we strolled around the stadium and got in line for the bleachers. The buzz outside the stadium is great. Vendors on the street, all the fans wearing Cubs gear and people already enjoying the day to the fullest.

Once inside the stadium, we were actually able to find 18 seats together in the general admission bleacher section. We sat in three rows in front of each other near the top in right field. With the sun beating down and still some time before the first pitch, we had time to absorb the surroundings and start the party all over again.

Ted Lilly was the starting pitcher for the Cubs on Saturday. He was coming off a masterful pitching performance five days earlier when he pitched 8 no hit innings to beat the White Sox. Lilly was the first Cub to take the field and it was to a great ovation as he jogged along the warning track.

Before the game started a couple of other moments...two fans won the opportunity to play catch in the outfield. Neat promo, but I would probably have taken the chance to try and throw a runner out at home. The other was actor Channing Tatum (GI JOE) throwing out the ceremonial first pitch...and then the game was under way!

Three pitches later it was 1-0 Angels as the home run went into the first row of the right field bleachers. The route was on. After Lilly struggled to get through the first couple of innings and the Cubs bats weren't hitting Weaver, it allowed the group to concentrate on our surroundings. We had a mean game of mound ball on the go, picking out random jerseys and caps (saw a couple of Expos hats) and of course cheering and heckling - the left field bleachers.

The experience of going to a game at Wrigley is different than anywhere else. This could be a bad thing or a good thing depending on how old you are. There are no jumbotrons, no replay screens and the scoreboard is manually operated. By not having all the distractions and in game entertainment, it really does make you pay more attention the game and that is not a bad thing.

The only in game entertainment was the 7th inning stretch. On Saturday it was former SNL alum Tim Meadows who did the honour with the sold out stadium singing right along with him.

As the game came to a close and fans started heading to the exit, I took the chance to sit row 1 in the bleachers. Not a great seat, but to be that close to the ivy and Fukodome was awesome. A nice reward for sitting through a 12-0 loss.

After the game, the day doesn't stop. The outside of the stadium has just as much to offer as inside. The bars with all the fans, more vendors out in the street selling t-shirts and hats and the big noodle or the statue of Ernie Banks.

As you can tell it was a great day at Wrigley Field for me, and this would be a excursion I would make every year.

How To Keep the SkyDome Rockin'!

Tuesday was a great day at the ballpark, even if that stadium was SkyDome and the roof was closed.

The game was a great pitchers duel between the student and teacher - Halladay vs. Burnett. What made it even better, beside the win was the fact that 43 000 fans were in attendance. The atmosphere was great, reminiscent of 1989-93. Lots of cheering, the wave, go Jays go chants and of course heckling of the Yankees superstars.

The concern is Wednesday night. The game tonight was attended by about half as many fans, the energy and the walk up crowd just wasn't the same. So how do the Jays continue to get 40 000+ fans to the SkyDome for games?

Here is a top 10 things the Toronto Blue Jays could do to bring the fans out to SkyDome

1. Every game is a bobblehead game
2. Play against the Red Sox and Yankees 82 times a year
3. Give away more chicken wings during the 5th inning
4. Pitch Roy Halladay on 1 day rest
5. Ensure that the opponent always has a former Blue Jay that is hated
6. $2 tickets
7. Wear the throwback baby blue uniforms for every home game
8. Reduce the cost of concessions ($11 for a draught beer, WTF?)
9. Change the name of the stadium back to SkyDome
10. Bring back Diamond the mascot or add cheerleaders!

Visit "MMMMBLT Stadium"

With the economy what it is, you knew we were eventually going to get to this...I just wished I lived near Rochester to take advantage of this promo. Okay, don't really want to live near Rochester...(h/t Deadspin)

Welcome to "Your Name Here Stadium"

Take Me Out To The Ballgame...

Going to baeball games can be great fun. The sun, the smell of hot dogs, the gambling, getting a souvenir and obviously seeing your favorite team take the field. What can make the day even more special is seeing the game played in unique venue. Some stadiums have more character than others, better fans or better sight lines. Whatever that unique characteristic is, going to a game in that stadium is just a better day out - even if the home team doesn't play there. Here are my top baseball stadiums to see a game in...

1. Fenway Park
The oldest stadium in MLB and perhaps the location that is most revered among fans. Famous for the Green Monster that dominates left field, Pesky Pole in right, the manual scoreboard and the odd garage and triangle in centre. In the past couple of seasons the Red Sox ownership have taken advantage of the success of the team and the demand for tickets and have added seats in some odd places at Fenway. The top of the Green Monster now holds some of the most sought after seats and the seats on top of the Budweiser sign are gaining traction. Whoever the BoSox are playing it is guaranteed to be a sell out, so plan early and make certain you see this Park.

2. Wrigley Field
"The Friendly Confines" isn't far behind Fenway in terms of age, it's reverence and some odd seats. Located in the middle of a residential area it has some of the most die-hard fans, who have even taken to naming their children after the Field. With the ivy covered brick wall in the outfield, the crazy bleacher bums and the ability to watch games from the roof tops of neighbouring buildings, going to Wrigley is a fun day out - just make sure it is a day game and that Ozzy Osbourne isn't signing "take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.

3. AT&T Park
For those of you who can't keep up with stadium naming rights - AT&T Park was SBC Park and before that Pac Bell Park. Ring a bell now? (no pun intended)The home of the San Francisco Giants is located in the waterfront and gives you an extraordinary view of the golden gate bridge and the appropriately named McCovey Cove beyond the right field wall. Between the giant Coke bottle, over sized mitt and being able to hit home runs into the water and seeing kayakers go after them like they rare gems, this Park has something for all fans. Even though it was built in 2000, they have taken cues from the older stadiums like Fenway and Wrigley and have a manual scoreboard to compliment the HD scoreboard. Although you won't get to see any more Barry Bonds home runs into McCovey Cove you can still see some great action at AT&T Park

4. Camden Yards
The first of the new-old stadiums that were built in the 1990's and 2000's, Oriole Park at Camden Yards first opened its gates to fans in 1992. Opened in the Baltimore harbour area it launched a new wave of building around the stadium that made going to the ballpark fun again. The shops, restaurants and bars made the game an experience instead of a chore. Like the ballparks named above Camden also has some special traits that endears it to fans. The B&O Warehouse building stands behind left field and was incorporated into the design instead of being torn down. Although many players have tried, only one has it on the fly since it opened - Griffey Jr. during the 1993 All-Star game Home Run Derby. Another unique feature of the Stadium is the two-tiered bullpen. The first of its kind in the major leagues is very cool to see in action, even though it holds bad memories for some Jays fans (think '93 All-Star game, Mussina warming up and not getting into the game). A fun evening and a great seat can be had at Camden Yards.

5. Miller Park
The home of the Milwaukee Brewers since 2001, Miller Park is always going to provide fans with a great day/night to watch a ballgame. The innovative retractable roof that was built in a convertible style like a fan, can open and close in 10 minutes. What is even better about this stadium is the open style windows in the outfield that let in natural light and allow grass to be grown instead of using artificial turf. This makes playing and watching a game so much better. Again, like the other stadiums on the list, Miller Park does not shy away from having attractions in and around the stadium. Unlike some of the others, Miller Park concentrates more of theirs in-stadium and in-game. With some of the best food choices in the concession area, and obviously fresh beer it helps keeping fans happy. Other activities to look out for is the sausage race in the middle of the 6th inning and mascot Bernie Brewer goes down a slide into a mug of beer. Luckiest mascot ever!