Game 7: NLCS for Phils

 Can you believe after 141 years, this is the first Game 7 in Phillies franchise history?  

I am watching the game from home, rather than at the Bank.  Both of the championship series, National League and American League, had to go to a Game 7.  The team that wins the 7 game series moves on to the World Series, for the honor of winning the commissioner’s trophy.  The Texas Rangers punched their ticket yesterday, by beating the 2022 Champs, Houston Astros. Either Diamondbacks or Phillies will move on after today’s game to the World Series; the losing team ends their season.

I am anxious, but will pay attention to every strike, ball, hit and run.  Hopefully, Ranger Suarez pitches a good game and the offense wakes up. Go Phils!

Update: Unfortunately, Phils bats were not there tonight. Credit goes to the Arizona bullpen. The main guys in Phils lineup could not get base hits.  We left so many players stranded in a 4-2 game. NLCS series was a terrible time to get into a slump. The Pitching was there (eg. Wasted good start by Wheeler and solid bullpen); the offense let us down.  It reminds me of the time we lost to Cardinals in divisional round in 2011. We could not hit and play fundamentals (singles, RBIs). I am disappointed, but I still support my team and love the game.  I am waiting until single game tickets go on sale for the LA Dodgers. Once they are available, I will book a trip to my 30th MLB ballpark, Dodgers Stadium.

Houston Astros home stadium: Minute Maid Park

 I visited Minute Maid Park  on Oct 1, 2022 in downtown Houston. The ballpark was first named Enron Field then changed its name when Coca Cola subsidiary Minute Maid bought naming rights. This stadium with a seating capacity of 41, 168,  has a retractable roof and was opened in 2000. At the Juice box (nickname for park), the park’s design integrated the former Union Station building’s main concourse. Also, a large model train is seen in the stadium as a homage to the former station.

There are statues of Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio in the Plaza of the ballpark. On the Phillips 66 Home Run porch, the stadium features a classic gasoline pump that displays the total number of Astros home run hits since the park opened.  

The Houston Astros are an American League West team, having moved to American League from spending 51 years in the National League. The Astros have 2 World Series titles (2017, 2022) and are perennial favorites in the playoffs. The Astros  have reached American League championship 7 years in a row.

The Astros were established as the Houston Colt .45s and entered as an expansion team in 1962. They once were a team on the bottom of the standings, now they are in the conversation year after year. The 2023 Houston Astros are one win away from returning to World Series to face the National League pennant winner, if they beat Texas Rangers in Game 6 of ALCS in Houston. They have players like 2B Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, and strong pitchers, like Justin Verlander and Christian Javier. 

This team is formidable, but I think they are beatable if you do not let them get momentum. They are comeback experts.  We will see next week which team of the 4 teams is left standing. I favor the Phils  but we will see how it plays out.

Texas Rangers: Globe Life Park (old)

The Texas Ballpark, renamed Choctaw Stadium (formerly Global Life Park), was the home field of the Texas Rangers, from 1994 until 2019. Located in Arlington, Texas, it was built in a retro style with no retractable roof. Those at the ballpark had to suffer the 100 degree Texas heat and humidity during those summer games. This became an issue for attendance (who would watch a game in such high uncomfortable temperatures), so management had to act. In 2020, Global Life Field, air-conditioned with a retractable roof, was built south of the old one and became the NEW ballpark of the Rangers in 2020.

The old stadium, that I visited in October 2015, was a beautiful park with its  brick and red granite walls. They had a hall of fame area honoring great Rangers, like Nolan Ryan, Ivan Rodriguez, and Adrian Beltre. As a baseball park, it was considered a hitter’s park, due to the high temperature, relatively short fences, and wind patterns in the park. At my afternoon game, Cole Hamels, former Phillies pitcher, started for the Rangers against the rival team, the Los Angeles Angels. Hamels pitched a three-hitter, his first complete game since being acquired at end of July. Rangers scored 9 runs; Angels scored 2. This game clinched the AL West title for the Rangers on the last day of the regular season. 

Fast forward to October 2023, the postseason is underway. The Rangers just lost to Astros in Game 3 at Global Life Field, now the 7-game series is 2-1.  Rangers and Astros are currently in the American League Championship (ALCS) series.  This series will be decided by which pitcher can keep the runs low, compared to their competitor, and which team can score more.

Texas Rangers have never won the World Series, have reached the series twice in its history, and compete in the American League West division. Deriving their name from the law enforcement agency, Texas Rangers, was established in 1961 as Washington Senators, an expansion team. In 1971, Senators moved to Texas and renamed themselves the Texas Rangers. 

I enjoyed my afternoon game in early October, probably because I chose a day in Arlington that was pleasantly 60 degrees. Weather plays a factor when I visit a park. I do not like being uncomfortable as I watch the game. I prefer night games over 1 pm starts. Also, having something to cover  my head is a smart move, which is why I added a Texas Rangers hat to my growing baseball cap collection.  

I sincerely hope Rangers claim the AL pennant, so they eliminate those pesky Houston Astros in the Battle of Texas. If the Rangers play the Phillies, my loyalty switches and lies with my National League Home team, the Phils, in a potential  2023 World Series. If both teams move on, the Phils and Rangers have good hitting lineups. Will playoff pitchers silence the bats of the opposing lineups?  You only know if you keep watching the screen or listening to it on the radio. I  love  this time of year.

Busch Stadium III and the St. Louis Cardinals

 When I went to St. Louis in 2015, I made a pilgrimage to Busch stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals. There is a number of shops, restaurants, and bars near the stadium, which is called Ballpark Village. This stadium opened in 2006 and has a record attendance of 48, 581 people. Many baseball fans especially Cardinals fans consider this Baseball Heaven. This is the team of Stan “the Man” Musial, Bob Gibson, Dizzy Dean,  Scott Rolen, and Ozzie Smith.

The stadium has a retro-feel, offering a panoramic view of skyline with Arch. The food is plentiful, ranging from typical bratwurst to St Louis favorites such as pork steak sandwiches and toasted ravioli. When Cardinals are playing, I felt as if this stadium was hopping and the fans were diehard in their support of their team.  The 2023 Cardinals are two starting pitchers short of making another postseason run. They do have young offensive players, but their pitching needs to improve.

The St Louis Cardinals compete in the National League Central Division. It is one of baseball’s  oldest and most successful professional clubs, established in 1882 as the St Louis Brown Stockings, and renamed Cardinals in 1900. This franchise has won 11 World Series Championships (1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011). The Cardinals are big on playing ball the Cardinal Way, which means developing from minor league talent, playing fundamentals, and working hard. I respect the Cardinals, but I always get an extra jolt of happiness when the Phillies beat them in the divisional round or wildcard (which was the case in 2022 postseason Phillies run).

Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Baseball trip

 I visited Oriole Park at Camden Yards, aka Camden Yards, in July 2022. This retro-style stadium opened in 1992 in downtown Baltimore, which is a couple of blocks away from Inner Harbor and Convention Center.  Camden Yards is the home of the Baltimore Orioles, a team that competes in the American League East division. Chartered in 1901, the Orioles have been World Series Champs 3x (1966, 1970, 1983). The former Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse is seen in the right field, with scoreboard in center and Baltimore Orioles (Maryland state bird) on each side above video display. 

After 2008 season, the park has been renovated, adjusting the left field to reduce the homeruns at the park, adding more concessions, updating video display and scoreboard, and adding standing room area. What I like about Oriole Park is that it is close to Philly, only a train trip away. When O’s (nickname of team) play a team within 3 hours (like Yankees, Nationals, Phillies, or Mets), the fans of the opposing team invade the stadium, especially if home team is not that good. When O’s or the Birds are good, Oriole fans do come out in droves. That area around Camden Yards is  full of orange and black-clad fans. However, in the years of rebuilding, the ballpark became the “home” park of the opposing team. This current 2023  team, which won the AL division East crown, has Baltimore fans back supporting baseball, so it becomes a strong home park for the Birds. Based upon the young talented core and those in the minor league, O’s have a lot to be excited about.

The statues around the ballpark, like hall of famers Brooks Robinson (3B), Cal Ripken, Jr. (SS), and Babe Ruth (local son of Baltimore, minor league-1914 Baltimore Orioles in International League), honors the O’s  of the past. This franchise started as the original Milwaukee Brewers (1901), then moved and became St Louis Browns (1902-1953), then moved a third time and became the Baltimore Orioles (1954-present).

I was fortunate to attend Game 2 of the American League Division Series (ALDS), this past weekend. The Orioles were defeated by 3 by the Texas Rangers (11 Rangers - 8 O’s).  It was a struggle to watch, for O’s pitchers kept walking Rangers players.  If you walk too many players, it will cost you. It did for the O’s in this game, because Texas Ranger player, Mitch Garver, hit a grandslam (all 3 players on base were from walks, unearned runs). The O’s are now down two games in a 5-game series to the Rangers. The O’s are one loss away from being swept in divisional round.  I would not count out the O’s.  If they can find quality pitching in young arms, there is fight in this O’s team, so Rangers better not discount a comeback at Arlington. I am hoping a Game 5 will be played in Baltimore. 

Trip to T-mobile Park: Seattle Mariners

On my trip to Seattle in 2011, I stopped for a ballgame at Safeco Field, which has been renamed T-mobile Park in 2019. This stadium has a retractable roof and has served as the ballpark of the Seattle Mariners since 1999. There is a statue to Ken Griffey, Jr, outside the home plate entrance to the park. There are also bronze plaques to famous greats who played for Seattle, like Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr, and Ichiro Suzuki.

The Seattle Mariners compete in the American League West. The Mariners are an expansion team established in 1977. This franchise has never won the World Series and have never captured the American League pennant. They are nicknamed the “M’s”, which they did use in earlier version of their logo.

The 2023 Mariners (88-74) are in that position of being good but not good enough to make the post season.  Their rivals, in the AL West division Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, seemed to steal the playoff spots available, that would have been theirs if Seattle played a bit better in the last games of the season.  Mariners get to watch as their division rivals, Astros and Rangers, make their postseason runs.

Tropicana Field: where Tampa Bay Rays call home

When I went to St Petersburg, FL in 2011, I stopped at “The Trop,”  aka Tropicana Field (a multi-purpose domed stadium ) to watch baseball. This arena used to house the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning, so previous name was Thunderdome (1993 - 1996), until they moved to better digs in downtown Tampa. To say I was underwhelmed is putting it lightly. The Trop opened in 1990, used as a ballpark since 1998, and renovated in 2014. This ballpark has the smallest seating capacity (42, 735 seats) of all MLB ballparks. It uses Shaw Sports Turf for its field.  This ballpark is located 24 miles away from Tampa (largest population in area), so it is a drive to get there.  Unique features are the catwalks, the slanted roof (indoor only arena, non retractable), and interior environment with a warehouse feel and an aquarium with stingrays in outfield.

Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Rays were swept by the Texas Rangers at home in wild card round. Attendance at this postseason game on Oct 4, 2023 was 20,198 fans, the lowest playoff attendance  since 1919.  The Tampa Bay Rays, founded as an expansion team in 1998 (known as Tampa Bay Devil Rays), compete in the American League East division with Yankees and Red Sox. They have 2 American League pennants (2008, 2020), but no World Series titles.  I sincerely feel for this franchise, for they waited 3 decades for a team. It seems like the Rays have outstanding regular seasons (eg. winning records, over .5 ball), but time after time do not have enough to get to the end goal, winning a championship. 

 This 2023 team which is now out of it as of yesterday illustrates my point. The team has playoff caliber pitching, but I do not think they have the offense or a big star to depend upon. Is it because Tampa Rays do not want to win? Tampa Bay has reached an agreement recently to build a brand new baseball only stadium for the Rays in St Petersburg. Now my question is will building it cause people in area to support the team. If the Rays do not spend the money to attract big stars (creating offense), it will be more of the same. They will get in the playoffs but only make a ripple. The Rays are a good team but stuck in the middle (good, not great).  How depressing if you are a Rays fan!

Cincinnati Reds and the Great American Ball Park

On the day before postseason starts, let me talk about the Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. On the shores of the Ohio River, this ballpark has served as the home of the Cincinnati Reds since 2003. This September, this team was at the cusp of qualifying (82 wins - 80 losses), but they did not qualify for the  wildcard this season. The current roster has 6x all-star  Joey Votto, first baseman who may or may not be retiring from baseball this season due to injuries. Votto has played as a  Red since 2007. He told reporters if he could not play to the best of his ability that can help the Reds win, he would rather retire than play injured. In the last year of his contract, it may be his last season.

I visited the Great American Ball Park in August 2013. The Brewers starting pitcher, Marco Estrada, baffled the Reds with his change-up and his other pitches. Estrada had seven shutout innings with only one single allowed. Score was 1 (Reds) to 3 (Brewers). Reds lost the game.

The Cincinnati Reds are baseball’s  first professional franchise. The Reds are proud of their history.  Their Hall of Fame and museum is adjacent to the park. Also, there are statues of ballplayers playing an imaginary baseball game. This scene depicted catcher Ernie Lombardi, first baseman Ted Kluszewski, and outfielder Frank Robinson. The ballfield is famous for “The Gap”, a 35-ft wide break in the stands between home plate and third base.  This gap provides views into stadium from downtown. In centerfield, one can view smokestacks reminding people of steamboats, which shoots fireworks, flash lights, and/or emit flames depending upon what occurred in the game (strikeout, homerun, Reds win). 

In the 1970s, Reds won back to back World Series (1975, 1976) as the “Big Red Machine”, composed of  Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Pete Rose. Near the stadium, there  is a rose  garden that symbolizes Pete Rose’s record breaking 4,192nd hit  (because ball landed around this area from Riverfront “Cinergy field” stadium, ballpark from 1970 to 2002).

The Reds (originally Red Stockings) were a charter member of the American Association in 1881 before joining the National League in 1890. The Reds are currently in the National League Central. This franchise has won the World Series 5 times (1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, 1990) and captured 9 National League pennants. Watch for the Reds. Next year, the Reds may be in the conversation when you talk about the postseason.