Hot Dogs and Lager - Premium Blog - Established 1978

As the Phillies limped their way from Arizona to San Francisco last night it dawned on me… West Coast road trips blow! I mean, I’ll find a way to watch the Phillies in a Vietnamese death camp with bamboo reeds sticking out of my fingers… but it doesn’t make the experience pleasant. Never mind who wins or loses… the God damned game doesn’t start until 10:15… who the hell is watching that? I mean, I know it’s more convenient for West Coast viewership… but you completely lose half your audience that way… and how does that help anyone? I’d love to believe that there are Phillies fans from coast to coast… but let’s face it… there aren’t that many. I believe Red Sox Nation has the “I love baseball and I wished I lived on the East Coast so I could be part of a more exciting fan base” constituency all wrapped up. Lame.

Further, the players always look so spent. By the time I nod off - usually around the 4th or 5th inning - I swear, they are all yawning more than I am. I mean, is it a stretch to ask West Coast networks to start games at 5pm or 6pm when an East Coast team is in town? …or, God forbid, play 3pm day games? I realize this would not accommodate advertisers… but it sure would make fans happier. Well… East Coast fans anyhow.

And for all of those cynics who might say that this a “purely East Coast - ist” view of baseball morals and standards, I say look at the Cubs. They didn’t even play night games until the late 80’s. Hell, I remember when it was a big deal that they were adding lights to Wrigley. I was like 10… and WGN had this big promotion going all Spring promoting it. (side note: I was born in Colorado in ‘78… we didn’t have a Major League baseball team at the time… so I rooted for the Cubs and - *gasp* - the Braves since they both had nationally accessible stations and games. My family moved to Philly in ‘89… I became a Phillies fan in ‘93… I liked Mitch Williams… until of course Joe Carter took him deep and broke my heart.)

Recently, the Phillies have had a few 3pm starts. It’s been great. I listen to the game from desk… and I manage to catch the last couple innings after work. All in all, a win / win! And if they started games at 3pm on the West Coast, then we get a 7pm, normally scheduled start… and everyone wins. I will be submitting my proposal to Selig this week.

This was my first year going down to Clearwater for Spring Training. The stadium was packed, my kid was sick and I forgot to bring my camera to the ballpark… twice. So all those memorable moments watching the game with my dad… they were left in a hotel room 10 minutes from the ballpark.

But all in all, the “game experience” was pretty sweet. There is something incredibly intimate about Minor League ballparks. They generally seat less than 10,000 people… and foul balls hit cars. Frequently. By the 5th inning, your favorite players are already hitting the showers, and guys with names you’ve never heard of hit the field wearing numbers that look more like basketball scores.

The thing that really caught my attention though was how freaking cold it was! I mean… I know it’s March… but 60° in Florida is unacceptable. I mean, the team could have stayed in Philly, I could have saved a few bucks on room and travel, and - as I discovered upon my return - the weather would have actually been nicer. Not that that’s any great insight on how well the team is going to do this season… but when you’re freezing your ass off in what some Floridians might consider sub-arctic temperatures, it’s virtually impossible to enjoy the game.

So that was the first night… we left early… and the Phils lost.

Our second game was met with equally interesting weather conditions. While the temperature soared to 67°, a typhoon burst came in from the Gulf and passed through Clearwater for a solid 3 hours. So our 12pm start turned into a 3pm start. My father and I sat patiently on a bench in front of our hotel for 2 of those 3 hours. We chatted about everything from childhood anicdotes to tricks and tips in fatherhood to the all-important “is James going to be an all-star pitcher… or a rock star”. It was awesome. It reminded me that sometimes baseball has nothing to do with… well… baseball. Sometimes its about the company you keep… not the score of the game. Sometimes. 

So I kind of stole that title from the Sports Illustrated article I just read about small market teams getting ready to make good on their promise to “wait ‘til next year”. What can I say… it’s been a busy week… and if you’re reading this, that means I most likely know you… and you know better ways to spend your time than to sue my overly inflated ass.

Speaking of which, I’ve been thinking about working out a little more. The family and I are heading to Clearwater in March to watch the Fightins get ready for the 2010 campaign, and I’m just not going to look so great in my thong bikini unless I get crackin’ on those crunches. But that’s the thing about Spring… anything is possible.

To many… and myself… the start of Spring Training always symbolizes the hope for better things around the corner. My mind swings to thoughts of two 30 game winners… maybe a home run record broken… and an unbelievable Phillies season that will certainly end with 130 victories. My heart is bursting with anticipation.

Okay… so none of that will probably happen. But as I look at the grey slushy mess through the gaze of a Fishtown apartment, I can hope. I wonder if, when the clouds part and the snow melts, will Carlos Ruiz hit 30 homers? Will Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge get back to their 2008 forms? Will Roy Halladay live up to the hype and carry the city and the Phils’ pitching staff on his shoulders? Will my son eat his first hot dog? Will I give it back to him within five seconds of it hitting the ground? I can only hope… and it seems like a good time of year to do that.