Short road trip report

[Ritterskoop]

I drove to Atlanta, arranging to go through downtown after the evening crush. I flew to St. Louis, spent the night, took the Amtrak train to Kansas City.

KC afternoon was lovely, visiting the Negro Leagues Museum (yes Leagues plural; there were several). A very nice guy explained to me which bus to take to get to Kaufman, and I asked was he going to the game and could I follow him, and he said yes. Another guy kept me company before that on the bus from the museum back downtown.

The game tonight was very strange, with far more Red Sox fans in the stadium than locals. Josh Beckett took forever to deliver his pitches, and I felt myself aging. I walked to my hotel (farther than it looks) and watched the rest of the game on TV. Those fountains they have in the outfield are great because you feel cooler just looking at them, but then I had to take away points because I couldn't get IN them.

Sort of like the showerhead in the room here. Lose points for being at the height of my nose, but points awarded back for water pressure.

In the morning I will take the train back to St. Louis and go see Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers visit the Cards. I will fly back to Atlanta Thursday (available for lunch if anyone wants to meet - PM or email Kay for my cell number) and then I will drive home. Just in time to give the cat a pill.

[Snaxx]

Cool! Your trip is similar to some of my trips in recent years. I like the Amtrak ride in the area, as long as there isn't construction or weather-caused "bustitution." Your Josh Beckett description reminds me of Steve Trachsel when he was with the Mets. Hope the rest of your ride goes well!


Snaxx







_______
The last season at Yankee Stadium


Where is the stache?

[Appa23]

Skoop, did you go into the American Jazz Museum?

[dodgersteve182]

Sounds like my kind of short or long road trip! Haven't gone on the road for a game in ages. Loved going to Fenway in 94, although I really wanted to see a day game there, but the schedule didn't cooperate.

[Ritterskoop]

I had time only for the Negro Leagues part, though they are in the same building. There was an exhibit about Rosa Parks I wished I had time to see.

There is also a bunch of Truman stuff I will have to see on a return trip. He is maybe my favorite president.

[Ritterskoop]

Back home after another long day of travel. Next time I will not put so much train and plane and driving in a short trip.

Cards-Dodgers game was great. Hung out with lb for batting practice; the same guy two rows back of us caught two balls. Top of the first inning, Manny hit one into the section next to lb, and the fan threw it back. I think the staff brought the fan a reward later; it looked like everyone was cheering about something off the field.

Bottom of the fourth, Pujols hit a grand slam near my section. I am not so much a fan of the home run, but what I loved about that one is that the pitcher (as a batter) made it possible. Joel Pineiro got an infield hit to start the inning, then advanced on a hit-and-run, advanced again, and scored on the homer. They say he pinch runs when Ankiel is not available. I love pitchers who can hit and run and are actual members of the team.

Piniero loses a little of his studliness because his name is pronounced Jo-elle, but he is still pretty tough in my book.

[T_Bone0806]

Back home after another long day of travel. Next time I will not put so much train and plane and driving in a short trip.

Cards-Dodgers game was great. Hung out with lb for batting practice; the same guy two rows back of us caught two balls. Top of the first inning, Manny hit one into the section next to lb, and the fan threw it back. I think the staff brought the fan a reward later; it looked like everyone was cheering about something off the field.

Bottom of the fourth, Pujols hit a grand slam near my section. I am not so much a fan of the home run, but what I loved about that one is that the pitcher (as a batter) made it possible. Joel Pineiro got an infield hit to start the inning, then advanced on a hit-and-run, advanced again, and scored on the homer. They say he pinch runs when Ankiel is not available. I love pitchers who can hit and run and are actual members of the team.

Piniero loses a little of his studliness because his name is pronounced Jo-elle, but he is still pretty tough in my book.

Sounds like a good trip, travel exhaustion aside. With these two added to the list, how many major league stadiums have you seen so far?

I am assuming Buck O'Neill was well represented at the Museum. He would be on the short list of famous people, living or dead, that I would have liked to meet. The man was fascinating to listen to. The fact that he is not in Cooperstown is a travesty.

[Ritterskoop]

Sounds like a good trip, travel exhaustion aside. With these two added to the list, how many major league stadiums have you seen so far?

I am assuming Buck O'Neill was well represented at the Museum. He would be on the short list of famous people, living or dead, that I would have liked to meet. The man was fascinating to listen to. The fact that he is not in Cooperstown is a travesty.

I bought a baseball with O'Neil's picture on it. They have a nice short film narrated by James Earl Jones that was very good.

I have 10 teams remaining to visit. I have been to Denver, Phoenix and Houston for football but not baseball.

NY Mets
Houston
Cincinnati
Arizona
Colorado

Toronto
Ch. White Sox - they were sold out the time I intended to go
Minnesota
Detroit
Texas

[littlebeast13]

Back home after another long day of travel. Next time I will not put so much train and plane and driving in a short trip.

Cards-Dodgers game was great. Hung out with lb for batting practice; the same guy two rows back of us caught two balls. Top of the first inning, Manny hit one into the section next to lb, and the fan threw it back. I think the staff brought the fan a reward later; it looked like everyone was cheering about something off the field.

Some guy caught that homerun (with his bare hands!), and immediately dropped it in his little boy's glove. The boy then proceeded to raise his arm up as if to throw it back, and everyone in the bleachers there got up.... half encouraging the kid to throw it back, and the other half pleading with him to keep his souvenir. I, as always, am in the latter half, as I think that is one of the most ignorant (not to mention illegal) traditions at the ballpark. The kid eventually lobbed the ball back on the field, which got the usher down to have a talk with the kid's father, much to the displeasure of everyone around. One of the Team Fredbird girls came down a few minutes later with another ball to give the kid.....

That was quite a game. My next game in 2 weeks would have made it exactly 5 years since I last saw a grand slam, but Albert obviously took care of that. I was wondering where you were sitting, because I was unable to spot you from where I was, and I figured that shirt would stand out among all the red and white in the stands.....

lb13

[Ritterskoop]

I have a ticket to next Friday's Cincinnati game but I doubt I can get a reasonable flight, and it is farther to drive than I realized.

[Ritterskoop]

I was wondering where you were sitting, because I was unable to spot you from where I was, and I figured that shirt would stand out among all the red and white in the stands.....

lb13

593, beside the visiting bullpen. Close enough for some idiots to think Manny could hear them. It would have been fun if they had been creative.

[littlebeast13]

I was wondering where you were sitting, because I was unable to spot you from where I was, and I figured that shirt would stand out among all the red and white in the stands.....

lb13

593, beside the visiting bullpen. Close enough for some idiots to think Manny could hear them. It would have been fun if they had been creative.

The creative hecklers were in my section. One in particular that's always on the center fielder, but keeps it relatively family friendly. They were cracking up Matt Kemp, and he even responded to them after the 8th inning by throwing up his arms (They were yelling at him to do the wave)...

lb13

[Here's Fanny!]

Some guy caught that homerun (with his bare hands!), and immediately dropped it in his little boy's glove. The boy then proceeded to raise his arm up as if to throw it back, and everyone in the bleachers there got up.... half encouraging the kid to throw it back, and the other half pleading with him to keep his souvenir. I, as always, am in the latter half, as I think that is one of the most ignorant (not to mention illegal) traditions at the ballpark. The kid eventually lobbed the ball back on the field, which got the usher down to have a talk with the kid's father, much to the displeasure of everyone around. One of the Team Fredbird girls came down a few minutes later with another ball to give the kid.....

Why would people do that? Isn't the whole idea of catching a ball in the first place is that you have a souvenir?

[littlebeast13]

Some guy caught that homerun (with his bare hands!), and immediately dropped it in his little boy's glove. The boy then proceeded to raise his arm up as if to throw it back, and everyone in the bleachers there got up.... half encouraging the kid to throw it back, and the other half pleading with him to keep his souvenir. I, as always, am in the latter half, as I think that is one of the most ignorant (not to mention illegal) traditions at the ballpark. The kid eventually lobbed the ball back on the field, which got the usher down to have a talk with the kid's father, much to the displeasure of everyone around. One of the Team Fredbird girls came down a few minutes later with another ball to give the kid.....

Why would people do that? Isn't the whole idea of catching a ball in the first place is that you have a souvenir?

Because team loyalty sometimes turns people into idiots, especially in mob situations.

Plus, for some reason I have yet to figure out, St. Louis seems to have some kind of a deep seated hatred towards Manny Ramirez, despite the fact that he's never played for the Cubs or the Mets. I guess he's the one to blame for the Highway 40 shutdown or something....

lb13

[tanstaafl2]

Sort of like the showerhead in the room here. Lose points for being at the height of my nose, but points awarded back for water pressure.

Completely off topic, which I know is frowned upon on the bored, but WHY IN THE HELL do motels/hotels build showers with shower heads placed 5 feet high?

A shower head that is too high is still pretty functional for short people but a shower head that is too low ain't worth a damn for tall people. Or even average-ish height people like myself.

That is all. We now return you to your regularly scheduled bored programming.

[Ritterskoop]

Sort of like the showerhead in the room here. Lose points for being at the height of my nose, but points awarded back for water pressure.

Completely off topic, which I know is frowned upon on the bored, but WHY IN THE HELL do motels/hotels build showers with shower heads placed 5 feet high?

A shower head that is too high is still pretty functional for short people but a shower head that is too low ain't worth a damn for tall people. Or even average-ish height people like myself.

That is all. We now return you to your regularly scheduled bored programming.

I decided that someone who is 5'1" cannot reach the showerhead if it's where I like it.

It is inconvenient for me to duck below it but not impossible. It is impossible for very short folks to use it if it's too high.

That's why.

[lilyvonschtupp26]

Remember, Skoop, when you're coming back to Chi White Sox, give me a call. Sounds like you had a good time despite the heat and hectic pace.

[tanstaafl2]

Sort of like the showerhead in the room here. Lose points for being at the height of my nose, but points awarded back for water pressure.

Completely off topic, which I know is frowned upon on the bored, but WHY IN THE HELL do motels/hotels build showers with shower heads placed 5 feet high?

A shower head that is too high is still pretty functional for short people but a shower head that is too low ain't worth a damn for tall people. Or even average-ish height people like myself.

That is all. We now return you to your regularly scheduled bored programming.

I decided that someone who is 5'1" cannot reach the showerhead if it's where I like it.

It is inconvenient for me to duck below it but not impossible. It is impossible for very short folks to use it if it's too high.

That's why.

Nah, they can always stand on the side of the tub to adjust it. Or call housekeeping to come pick them up so that they can reach if they are that damned short...

Besides, Randy Newman was right!*

No shower head should have its bottom edge below 7 feet. Shaq can shower on his knees if necessary but I see no reason why anybody under 7 feet should have to!

Spoiler

* Yes people, I know it was tongue-in-cheek satire.

[Here's Fanny!]

Some guy caught that homerun (with his bare hands!), and immediately dropped it in his little boy's glove. The boy then proceeded to raise his arm up as if to throw it back, and everyone in the bleachers there got up.... half encouraging the kid to throw it back, and the other half pleading with him to keep his souvenir. I, as always, am in the latter half, as I think that is one of the most ignorant (not to mention illegal) traditions at the ballpark. The kid eventually lobbed the ball back on the field, which got the usher down to have a talk with the kid's father, much to the displeasure of everyone around. One of the Team Fredbird girls came down a few minutes later with another ball to give the kid.....

Why would people do that? Isn't the whole idea of catching a ball in the first place is that you have a souvenir?

Because team loyalty sometimes turns people into idiots, especially in mob situations.

Plus, for some reason I have yet to figure out, St. Louis seems to have some kind of a deep seated hatred towards Manny Ramirez, despite the fact that he's never played for the Cubs or the Mets. I guess he's the one to blame for the Highway 40 shutdown or something....

lb13

Oh, they throw it back to show disdain for the player? "I wouldn't keep your damned ball if it was dipped in gold dust you visiting team, bastard!" type thing?

They should have been punished by being escorted from the park, not rewarded by being giving another ball by one would assume an attractive girl with one would assume attractive bosoms.

[Here's Fanny!]

Nah, they can always stand on the side of the tub to adjust it. Or call housekeeping to come pick them up so that they can reach if they are that damned short...

Besides, Randy Newman was right!*

No shower head should have its bottom edge below 7 feet. Shaq can shower on his knees if necessary but I see no reason why anybody under 7 feet should have to!

Spoiler

* Yes people, I know it was tongue-in-cheek satire.

What if it's a shower stall with no ledge and you don't have a housekeeper? Seriously, I have to use a stick to get my shower handle out of the holder (it's one of those on the hose kind) and then tippy toe and hop to get it put back in the bracket. Which is probably not safe in a wet shower stall, which is why I try to remember to do it before I turn on the water. Ha!

And then there's poor Luuucinda, who's only four foot ten...

[littlebeast13]

Why would people do that? Isn't the whole idea of catching a ball in the first place is that you have a souvenir?

Because team loyalty sometimes turns people into idiots, especially in mob situations.

Plus, for some reason I have yet to figure out, St. Louis seems to have some kind of a deep seated hatred towards Manny Ramirez, despite the fact that he's never played for the Cubs or the Mets. I guess he's the one to blame for the Highway 40 shutdown or something....

lb13

Oh, they throw it back to show disdain for the player? "I wouldn't keep your damned ball if it was dipped in gold dust you visiting team, bastard!" type thing?

They should have been punished by being escorted from the park, not rewarded by being giving another ball by one would assume an attractive girl with one would assume attractive bosoms.

Well, it was a 7 or 8 year old boy who threw it back. Otherwise, they'd have definitely been escorted somewhere else, if not on the street. But it's a big deal to throw homeruns from the other team back, though it's much rarer here than in places like Wrigley, where the tradition supposedly started.

Ironically, the only HR I saw in the only game I ever saw at Wrigley was hit by the Padres Adrian Gonzalez.... and they didn't throw it back, which would've shocked me were it not for the fact that it was 30 degrees at that game and I could do nothing but shiver....

lb13

[tanstaafl2]

Nah, they can always stand on the side of the tub to adjust it. Or call housekeeping to come pick them up so that they can reach if they are that damned short...

Besides, Randy Newman was right!*

No shower head should have its bottom edge below 7 feet. Shaq can shower on his knees if necessary but I see no reason why anybody under 7 feet should have to!

Spoiler

* Yes people, I know it was tongue-in-cheek satire.

What if it's a shower stall with no ledge and you don't have a housekeeper? Seriously, I have to use a stick to get my shower handle out of the holder (it's one of those on the hose kind) and then tippy toe and hop to get it put back in the bracket. Which is probably not safe in a wet shower stall, which is why I try to remember to do it before I turn on the water. Ha!

And then there's poor Luuucinda, who's only four foot ten...

I will be happy to come by and assist you with retrieval of your shower head. That's just the kinda guy I am!

I could no doubt be handy whilst in the shower as well. Or is that handsy?

I can even put the shower head, and the "hose", away when we are done...

Lucinda can come as well. Although as I recall 4'10" seems a bit less than I remember.

Anywho, the more the merrier! I believe in good clean fun. Plenty of shampoo to go around...

[KilljoyWasHere]

Nah, they can always stand on the side of the tub to adjust it. Or call housekeeping to come pick them up so that they can reach if they are that damned short...

Besides, Randy Newman was right!*

No shower head should have its bottom edge below 7 feet. Shaq can shower on his knees if necessary but I see no reason why anybody under 7 feet should have to!

Spoiler

* Yes people, I know it was tongue-in-cheek satire.

What if it's a shower stall with no ledge and you don't have a housekeeper? Seriously, I have to use a stick to get my shower handle out of the holder (it's one of those on the hose kind) and then tippy toe and hop to get it put back in the bracket. Which is probably not safe in a wet shower stall, which is why I try to remember to do it before I turn on the water. Ha!

And then there's poor Luuucinda, who's only four foot ten...

I will be happy to come by and assist you with retrieval of your shower head. That's just the kinda guy I am!

I could no doubt be handy whilst in the shower as well. Or is that handsy?

I can even put the shower head, and the "hose", away when we are done...

Lucinda can come as well. Although as I recall 4'10" seems a bit less than I remember.

Anywho, the more the merrier! I believe in good clean fun. Plenty of shampoo to go around...

MR. TANSTAAFL! GET BACK TO YOUR OWN ROOM!!!!

[Here's Fanny!]

They should have been punished by being escorted from the park, not rewarded by being giving another ball by one would assume an attractive girl with one would assume attractive bosoms.

Well, it was a 7 or 8 year old boy who threw it back. Otherwise, they'd have definitely been escorted somewhere else, if not on the street. But it's a big deal to throw homeruns from the other team back, though it's much rarer here than in places like Wrigley, where the tradition supposedly started.

Ironically, the only HR I saw in the only game I ever saw at Wrigley was hit by the Padres Adrian Gonzalez.... and they didn't throw it back, which would've shocked me were it not for the fact that it was 30 degrees at that game and I could do nothing but shiver....

lb13

All the more reason that they should have been 86ed rather than given stuff. This just reinforces the idea that bad behaviour on the child's part is not only encouraged, but rewarded. He'll probably grow up to be a street hooligan at best.

[Here's Fanny!]

I will be happy to come by and assist you with retrieval of your shower head. That's just the kinda guy I am!

I could no doubt be handy whilst in the shower as well. Or is that handsy?

I can even put the shower head, and the "hose", away when we are done...

Lucinda can come as well. Although as I recall 4'10" seems a bit less than I remember.

Anywho, the more the merrier! I believe in good clean fun. Plenty of shampoo to go around...

Are you bringing Kona coffee and Macadamia nuts with you? When I installed the bracket, I put it at a left handed angle, anticipating just such an occasion.

Luuucinda (or, as I like to call her, "Shortstack") will probably be here momentarily to chime in.