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Opening Day, The Tale of Two Cities, and The Great Hot Dog Debate

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On Thursday, many teams played their first game with 161 more to go. I visited the first stadium of 30 I will see this season. My story recounts the day – the glory of opening day, the National’s odd legacy “The Tale of Two Cities,” and my first installment in the “great hot dog debate”. Yes, I also had visions of the “Swinging Friar.” When designing my travel schedule, I originally didn’t consider going anywhere on Opening Day, but how could I not go? I couldn't say I did it all (baseball-wise) if I didn't go to Opening Day. Then I saw that my Metsies were playing the Nationals in Washington and I like Washington. Most importantly, I knew in November that the Mets opening against the Nationals likely meant a Scherzer vs. DeGrom encounter. That could not be missed! And long after I purchased my ticket I found out my pitching matchup hunch was right. Opening Day - Morning: 5:00 AM Rochester International Airport - TSA Pre Check Line I'm in the security line when I pass a priest (maybe a monk - but in Rochester? Do we have monks?). He's decked out in full regalia (no offense intended) in a full cassock, skull cap, big cross, and rosary beads. I'm only thinking about baseball. Thus, my first thought is: "He must be heading to a San Diego Padre's game dressed like their mascot the “Swinging Friar.” All I have is my Nats hat and my camera. What if he plans to go to all the stadiums dressed like the home team’s mascot? That's more than I'm doing.” 5:15 AM Rochester International Airport, Gate B1 I realize I'm going incognito, I’m a Mets fan in a Nationals cap. I bought the hat last year during a family outing to a Nats game and a weekend in DC. That was when I was trying the slow approach to "collect ballparks." Incognito At the gate I see the usual -- a few Yankee hats but no Mets gear. How do I explain if asked? "Going to Opening Day? Are you a Nats fan?" Do you think they will play the Yankees in the series?” “Actually no, I'm a Mets fan going to DC for the game. I'm wearing the cap because my goal is to get a selfie in the home team’s cap at every major league stadium. I have a blog, and I’m raising money for youth baseball.” 7:00 AM Delta Sky Club LaGuardia Terminal C I’m eating the standard hard-boiled eggs and bagel surrounded by business people and vacationers. The business people are talking on phones and pounding keys on their laptops. I used to do that - might do so again. Today I don't miss it and wonder how many of them want to join me at the ball game instead of doing business. 11:30 AM Outside Nationals Park I can't do it. My misgivings started when I saw all the fans at the L'Enfant Plaza metro station.…

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Spring Training – Heroes, Passion, and Surprises

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Monday Morning. I arrived home on Saturday, and now I am evaluating my first trip of many planned for this season. What did I learn this spring training? After all, in my last post, my feeling was that although there were some rough patches, I will go back to spring training again and again. I love the game and spring training is where it starts. I also learned about heroes, passion and possible surprises. Heroes - All Hail Ichiro! I could wax poetic - about the great Ichiro's accomplishments. He's only the third man to have more than 4,000 hits - yes 1,000 in Japan, but 4,000 is still a great achievement. Additionally, 3,080 hits in 17 years are awe-inspiring. Also, let's agree that basketball is the sport where we refer to players by their first name - Kobe, Lebron etc. It's not done in baseball, but Ichiro Suzuki is "Ichiro". Then, there is his defense and his arm - even on display the last week of his career. Lava via Flickr Question: now that we elect players to the Hall of Fame unanimously - see Mariano Rivera - how can anyone not vote for Ichiro? What I realized when I woke up early during spring training to watch Ichiro's last two games is that players revere the game's icons. Their admiration for the man that had played so long on two different continents, achieved so much and did so with dignity, was obvious: He realized the dreams that they all want to achieve. And when it was over, they showed their profound respect as the great warrior left the field for the last time. Keith Allison via Flickr Then there is the sight of Yusei Kikuchi crying as Ichiro left the field. Kikuchi was pitching in his first MLB game - at home in Japan - after playing in Japan. Ichiro led the way for guys like Kikuchi to play in America and Kikuchi idolizes Ichiro. Finally, Ichiro finished in Japan, in front of his adoring countrymen. Baseball seems to be very prone to these wonderful events. Wonderful, Ichiro Stat Do yourself a favor and follow Sarah Langs on Twitter - that alone almost makes Twitter worth it. Moreover, when great stats like the similarity between Ichiro's first and last game occur, relish the fact that the baseball gods are watching. I'm serious. Ichiro's first career MLB game (2001): Mariners beat A's, 5-4 Ichiro's final career MLB game (2019): Mariners beat A's, 5-4Sarah Langs - Tweet - March 21, 2019 Passion - Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Friday was our double-header day. In the late morning, we drove the 40 minutes or so to Tradition Field to watch the Metsies host the Cardinals. The Cardinals brought the "A" team and the Mets played the "B" team. Two position players (Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis) were non-roster invitees and are no longer with the team. Another, (Travis d'Arnaud) will likely start the season on the injured list. Finally, all six pitchers…

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Spring Training – “For The Love Of The Game”

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Middle Innings The game falls into three distinct phases. In the first couple of innings, you are enjoying your new surroundings, savoring the first beer of the night and anticipating how the game will go. In contrast, the last few innings of a close game are tense, how will it end? The middle innings, like a novel, are where the story develops. The same is true for my spring training trip - the story developed in the middle games and was where I reaffirmed my "love of the game." Two key themes were the so called "road roster charade" and the rain. Yes dear friends, I learned that it actually rains in sunny Florida. Monday - Cardinals vs. Phillies - Where's Bryce? Unfortunately, and not terribly surprising, visiting teams in spring training don't bring the "A" team if they have to travel far. The league argues that there are rules against this travesty happening. After all, they don't want fans to pay a lot of money and have high expectations only to be disappointed, or do they? MLB's rules state that at least four players who either played MLB ball last year or have the chance to do so need to play at least three innings of a spring training game.. So what's wrong with this lineup? The Phillies "B" Team In comparison, this is the Phillies projected 2019 lineup per MLB.com the bolded ones appeared in Jupiter: 1) Cesar Hernandez, 2B 2) Jean Segura, SS 3) Bryce Harper, RF 4) Rhys Hoskins, 1B 5) J.T. Realmuto, C 6) Andrew McCutchen, LF 7) Odubel Herrera, CF 8) Maikel Franco, 3B Rotation and closer: 1) Aaron Nola, RHP 2) Jake Arrieta, RHP 3) Nick Pivetta, RHP 4) Zach Eflin, RHP 5) Vince Velasquez, RHP Closer: David Robertson, RHP, or Seranthony Dominguez, RH So, no Bryce, no Rhys, no J.T. And where's McCutchen and Segura? Clearly, the Phillies did not field a compelling team on Monday and the fans deserve better. Although the Phillies train in Clearwater on Florida's west coast and Jupiter is on the east coast, it's not that far away. Per Google Maps, the drive from Clearwater to Jupiter is 209 miles which equates to 3 hours 29 minutes travel time. I assume the busses are nice, it's not clear why the players are not expected to appear. Thursday - Is That The Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders? Similarly, George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa is only 194 miles from Roger Dean Stadium. It's only a 3 hour and 9-minute drive. Yet the team that appeared seemed to be more like the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRaider, the Yankees AAA farm club than the mighty New York Yankees. Normally the minor league players in the major league spring training camp wear numbers 50 and above (Aaron Judge's #99 is an exception). However, Thursday's Yankees lineup featured 5 players with numbers higher than 50. Not The Real Yankees Moreover, no one in the starting lineup was a member of the Baseball Prospectus top ten prospects…

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Spring Training – “Beware of Darkness”

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Saturday morning was cloudy - and the clouds never really went away. Not an auspicious start to Spring Training in normally sunny Florida. We found the Beatles station on Sirius as we made the short drive from the West Palm to Jupiter. Along the way, we compared notes about our favorite albums -- we both like their middle period starting with Revolver. However, I lose a little interest around Sgt. Pepper, not enough guitar - too much orchestration. Then the subject turned to George Harrison, All Things Must Pass and one of my favorites - “Beware of Darkness”: Watch out now, take careBeware of falling swingersDropping all around youThe pain that often minglesIn your fingertipsBeware of darknessWatch out now, take careBeware of the thoughts that lingerWinding up inside your headThe hopelessness around youIn the dead of nightBeware of sadnessIt can hit youIt can hurt youMake you sore and what is moreThat is not what you are here forGeorge Harrison It occurred to me that the long winter was over and was time to look ahead. What started with the indifference displayed as the powers that be laid me off -- the bleakness and dread that followed was over. It's now spring, the season of baseball's resurrection. “Beware of Darkness” indeed! Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Home for the week is Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium - a nice little ballpark in Abacoa - a seemingly manufactured town in the middle of Jupiter. Yes, I am a Mets fan, but as I mentioned in a previous post, Jupiter works for us. We’ll see the Mets play three times this week along with the Cardinals, Marlins, Nats, Phillies and Yankees. Roger Dean "Chevrolet" Stadium Roger Dean Stadium was built in 1998, for $28M which equates to $43M in today’s dollars. It is one of only two stadiums in Florida to host two major league teams - the other is FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches which opened in 2017. Since the two stadiums are only roughly 20 minutes apart, there are four teams to choose from. The Cardinals and the Marlins in Jupiter and the Nationals and Astros in West Palm Beach. Also, the Mets are only 30 minutes north of Jupiter so there is a critical mass of five teams in a small area. The entire Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex is about 100 acres; each team has six practice fields each. Their two separate clubhouses border the outfield fences making a nice target for the hitters. The Roger Dean Chevrolet Complex via Google Maps The Cardinals and Expos were the original tenants. The Cardinals moved from St. Petersburg because MLB agreed to let the Tampa Bay Rays train there instead. In 2002, the Marlins replaced the Expos as part of their sale to Jeffry Loria. Saturday - Mets vs. Marlins "WTF Seth Lugo?" I'm a superstitious Mets fan - I'm sure others are as well. The deal is, if things are going well, don't move. Don't go to the bathroom, don't get…

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Spring Training – “The Best Week of the Year”

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"Life Begins Anew!" When my father was alive, he would call on that special February day and exclaim: "Life begins anew – the pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training!" It is in that spirit that we start our annual spring training adventure that we call "the best week of the year." It all started in business school in the late '90s. I met a new friend - Ken - and we realized that we were both baseball fans. Soon, our discussions began. "Wouldn't it be great if we went to spring training?” Or, "It's freezing here, and we could be in Florida." Or, "Another opening day and we didn't go to Spring Training!” In 2004, we called each other's bluff and decided to give the adventure a try. The result is that this year is the 16th installment of the weeklong tradition that we call “the best week of the year.” Hot Dog TossJacob DeGrom Where Should We Go? An evident and excellent question, when we started planning was "where should we go." Each of us had been to Florida and knew our way around, but had not traveled for Spring Training. We wanted a convenient place where we could indulge in baseball, sun, good food, and relax. We didn't want to drive a lot. Finally, it would be a plus if we could see the Braves (Ken's team) and the Mets (my team) occasionally. There are currently 15 teams playing throughout Florida. In 2004, I believe there were a few more, so we thought we had many choices. In actuality, we only found one spot that fit our needs. However, it was a great choice. We started deliberations - where all deliberations tend to start - at a local Starbucks. I brought a Spring Training map divided into three sections - Central, West Coast, and East Coast to help us decide where to focus. Later, I listed the games at each stadium for the four days that we had scheduled to be there. Yes, when we started, we thought that a short, four-day trip would be enough. Silly idea! Jupiter, Florida was the best choice that year, and we have been going ever since. Manny Machado...Bryce Harper......Not Bryce Harper Why Jupiter? Many towns/stadiums only support one team, and thus, daily games are likely not available. Since Jupiter hosts both the Cardinals and Marlins, we can expect to see at least a game each day. "At least" a daily game, because we can see a second game at another stadium if the planets align correctly. Why not one of the other areas that also support two teams? There are many teams clustered around Tampa. However, two of those teams are the Yankees and the Phillies. With our allegiance to the Mets and the Braves, do I need to explain the issue? OK, we don't relish the thought of spending a week dominated by the Yankees and the Phillies. After all, it's supposed to be a vacation. We're more…

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The Business of Baseball – Part One

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"Baseball is too much of a sport to be called a business and too much business to be called a sport."Philip Wrigley Bryce Harper is now happily ensconced in Philadelphia - Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado have signed big deals. In reaction, the Angels are considering a $350 million contract that will make Mike Trout an Angel for life. Pardon the pun. Thus ends a contentious offseason where some players signed epic deals. However, I'm leaving on my spring training trip, and there are still critical free agents without a home. Moreover, some players are so disgruntled that they are discussing striking when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ends. I'm sure fans everywhere are wondering how millionaires could be so disgruntled. So what gives? I am a reasonably knowledgeable fan but have only a cursory understanding of the business issues at hand. So, I've decided to focus some of my attention and this summer's blog posts on the current labor situation. In so doing, I hope to become better versed in the subject and so can you, if you want to. To start, let me outline what I understand to be the issues that affect the current labor market situation. I'll explore many of these in detail in later posts. The Players Share of Baseball Revenues Always remember that the players are the product. Fans don't buy tickets to watch owners own or general managers manage. Fans want to see great players play. As such, the players should naturally expect to receive the lion's share of MLB's revenues. These revenues continue to increase year over year. Total baseball related revenue in 2018 was a record $10.3 Billion. The sport has experienced dramatic revenue increases since 1992 when Bud Selig became commissioner. Revenue is up an inflation-adjusted 377%. However, the players’ share of these record revenues has decreased from 57.3% in 2015 to 54.2% in 2018. This rate may have accelerated since signing the latest CBA before the start of the 2017 season. Why would payrolls decrease in a time of prosperity? The disparity of Team Revenues One argument is that some teams can pay higher salaries than others. Each team generates its income from ticket, concessions and merchandise sales. Significantly, each team receives different sums from their local TV and radio agreements. Thus, revenue per team is uneven, and only the higher earning teams can afford costly player salaries. For example, in 2017, the top-earning team, the Yankees, generated $619 million in revenue. In contrast, the Athletics made the lowest revenue, $210 million. Median revenue was $281 million. Naturally, the A's shouldn't be expected to match the Yankees payroll. The disparity is likely a factor, but only to a certain degree. If it was the only cause, then we would see a correlation between revenue and payroll. However, it's hard to see this pattern. Note what happens when rank the teams by their 2018 opening day payrolls, leaving the 2017 revenue in the chart. While I expect some of…

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Is Baseball Like A Liquid?

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Citgo Sign Outside FenwayJJBers www.flickr.com I've always been intrigued by Thomas Boswell's question, "Does baseball, like a liquid, take the shape of its container?" From the ballparks that I have seen, I'll argue that the game changes as I go from park to park. The serene feeling I've had, looking over San Francisco Bay is different than the cold austerity of Yankee Stadium. I love the intimacy and the food at Citi Field - not to mention my Metsies. Fenway can be uncomfortable, but the Monster and the Citgo sign are beautiful. I love the idea of a row of vendors offering "street meat" outside, if not the quality of the food. Camden Yards is beautiful; the warehouse on Eutaw Street in right field enhances its charm. A ballpark’s dimensions, its signs, the height of its walls, and the view from the seats define a unique experience. My Stadium Travels As I mentioned in a previous post, I started picking up parks as I traveled on business. A presentation at a conference in San Francisco gave me the opportunity to visit and PAC Bell (now Oracle), for the first time. I returned many times after when I visited my company's San Francisco's office. Similarly, I was able to go to Safeco Field when I was in Seattle for meetings at Microsoft. I've been to North Little Rock's Dickey-Stephens Park when I was in town for business. Family adventures took me to Comerica in Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. It follows that my first thought when we plan a trip tends to be "is the home team in town and do we have time to go?" For example, I never miss a chance to go to Camden Yards when I am in Baltimore. I've been there when the Orioles were kind of good and when they were kind of bad. However, I've never been when the Orioles were awful - I guess this is the year for that experience. Camden Yards pixabay.com The last time I had the chance to go was when a friend's son had his bar mitzvah, in Philadelphia. Why I didn't think of going to see the Phillies and not the Orioles explains a lot about me. It might say a lot about the Phillies as well. Anyway, we flew into Baltimore on Friday, drove to Philadelphia Saturday morning and were back at Camden Yards that evening. It was the night Manny Ramirez hit his 500th home run. Doesn't everyone travel with baseball as the priority? We try to go to Citi Field every year. On one July 4th, we even made our only visit to the travesty that is the "NEW" Yankee Stadium. Stadiums Should Recognize a Team’s History I'll fully explain my issues with "the house that George built” in a future post. For this discussion, I'll state that it violates a key aspect of what I look for in a ballpark. I need a ballpark to celebrate it's team's history. Yes, the Stadium has…

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Hitchcock, Suspense and the Designated Hitter

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“There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.” -Alfred Hitchcock- I'm likely not the first person to suggest that a baseball game is like a nine-act play. Usually, it's a bit of a melodrama. Hopefully, it's never a comedic farce. Each inning is an act. The game flows from act to act and builds suspense through a series of finite events. The finite nature of the game's elements separate it from other sports and makes its form of suspense so unique. For example, the only finite element in football is that the game is over after 60 minutes of play, unless it goes into overtime. However, participants can stretch the time using timeouts. Similarly, one could argue, that the number of downs is finite, however, the downs repeat. There are only eleven players per side, but they are interchangeable, and players can reenter the game. Basketball and hockey are similar. In contrast, baseball is vastly different. Consider these finite elements: Players can’t reenter the game, once removed Hitters only hit four or five times a game The best hitter can't hit in critical situations if its not his turn Pitchers can only throw 100 pitches or so before he risks injury The most valuable commodity is outs, each team gets only 27 - three per inning It's the way teams use these finite elements throughout the game that creates the building suspense. The suspense occurs when the participants are forced to face the consequences of the plays and decisions already made. These are the times when baseball is at its best - the times when spectators are compelled to sit on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the next pitch. We should avoid anything that takes away from the chances to make the game suspenseful. Hitchcock’s Definition of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock was a wonderful storyteller the master of suspense. He always kept his viewers on the edges of their seats. This is how Hitchcock defined suspense: "We are now having a very innocent little chat. Let’s suppose that there is a bomb underneath this table between us. Nothing happens, and then all of a sudden, 'Boom!' There is an explosion. The public is surprised, but prior to this surprise, it has seen an absolutely ordinary scene, of no special consequence. Now, let us take a suspense situation. The bomb is underneath the table and the public knows it, probably because they have seen the anarchist place it there. The public is aware the bomb is going to explode at one o’clock and there is a clock in the decor. The public can see that it is a quarter to one. In these conditions, the same innocuous conversation becomes fascinating because the public is participating in the scene. The audience is longing to warn the characters on the screen: 'You shouldn’t be talking about such trivial matters. There is a bomb beneath you and it is about to explode!” The baseball game with the…

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Let The Children Play – Why Support Youth Baseball?

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I’m new to blogging. However, I understand that bloggers refer to key, foundational posts as "cornerstone content." In my opinion, the cornerstone content for the 4Bases4Kids blog should be my rationale for starting the program. In other words, I need to explain why I am doing this and why the reader should care. My first piece explained why I was starting this quest and why I included fundraising for youth baseball and softball. The second discussed my baseball background, answering the "OK I'm going on a quest, but why baseball?" question. My third post outlines my itinerary and hopefully garners enough interest so that readers will want to follow my progress. To complete the foundation, I need to explain why I think we need to support youth baseball. Is there an issue with youth baseball in low-income and inner-city areas that requires focus and donations? The knee jerk answer is "of course, don't low-income and inner-cities need help in any number of areas?" While that is the assumption, there is also evidence that indicates that youth athletics in these areas need support. The evidence indicates: Lack of activity causes physical and mental hardships in children. However, participation in athletics including community sports leagues (including baseball leagues) is shrinking. A significant part of the attrition is due to more expensive private club teams that are cannibalizing the traditional leagues. Registration and other participation fees make up a large percentage of local community league's revenue. Lower-income kids are more likely to stop participating in organized sports than middle and upper-income kids — likely due, in part, to these high costs. Some organizations work in low-income and inner-city areas but need increased funding and awareness. Active Kids Do Better in Life Yes, you’re likely thinking, “tell me something I don’t know,” but let’s start at the beginning. The Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative summarizes the benefits of sports activity in the chart below. If we want kids to avoid obesity, drug use, risky sex and pregnancy, we should encourage them to exercise. If they do, they are also more likely to do better in school, attend college, earn more financially and be more productive at work. Additionally, active children have a lower probability of disability, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. “Indeed, the physiological health benefits of sport participation are well documented. Sport participation for as little as 2–3 hours per week can result in significant cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal adaptations independent of age and gender, and is associated with a 7% lower risk of obesity in adulthood for girls. Numerous studies have also shown the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of sport participation. In addition, compared with school-sponsored physical education, youth sport programs provide a broader community support for addressing the physical inactivity and childhood obesity epidemics by engaging children and adolescents in addition to parents, coaches, and families." Benefits to Society I've always considered myself to be relatively compassionate. I'm one of those "do things for the good of humanity" sorts…

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Itinerary – “The Refuge Of The Roads”

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My Quest - My itinerary will help me find my new way. As I mentioned in my first post: “I needed a change, I couldn’t go back to my old life, but didn’t know what else to do. I still don’t.” Instead, I’ll search for a new path for my life in “the refuge of the roads”. "I was running like a white-assed deerRunning to lose the bluesTo the innocence in hereThese are the clouds of MichelangeloMuscular with gods and sungoldShine on your witness in the refuge of the roads"Joni Mitchell, "Refuge of the Roads" This is not a just a trip to see each ballpark and have other baseball experiences. Nor is it a trip to see my team play as much as possible. No, this is a personal quest to find a new path, a new destiny. I need to fulfill my penance and give something to society. I envision a pot of gold at the end of this trip to support youth baseball. However, to fully achieve the goal, I need the satisfaction of finishing the journey! I will not be satisfied if I don’t complete all forty-two planned stops. I’m like Frodo - I need to get to Mordor. Up until now, baseball has been a hobby for me. Now I plan to immerse myself in the game and hopefully discover who I really am. I imagine that there will be times where I will need to force myself to travel or to write. However, by facing the challenge, I believe I will find my elusive new path. Logistic Requirements How do I plan an eight-month journey with forty-two specific baseball stops? Scheduling the trip is a logistical challenge, to say the least. A fundamental difficulty is that the tour needs to fit team and event schedules. First of all, there are logistic requirements: Needless to say, I need to make sure that there the teams are home when I get to their cities.To conserve costs, I need to group cities together, so I don't retrace my steps and book more flights than necessary.Stay warm - there is no use in going north in late April - the sunny south will be better. Forty-Two Stops Of course, I’m going to all 30 MLB baseball stadiums. However, I have some specific things to see at the ballparks along the way. I discuss these in the section below. Twelve additional baseball experiences will make the journey complete: Field of Dreams LocationNegro Leagues MuseumCollege World SeriesLittle League World SeriesCooperstownLouisville Slugger Museum and FactoryInternational Games in London, EnglandInternational Games in Monterrey, MexicoSpring TrainingArizona Fall LeagueAll-Star Game and Home Run DerbyWorld Series My Itinerary As soon as the schedules came out, I charted my path to navigate the journey. As with most things in my life, I created a spreadsheet with the games, flights, hotels and associated costs. After a few edits, this is the plan: Spring Training - “The Best Week of The Year” - March 15th - 23rd This…

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