{"id":824,"date":"2013-07-29T20:34:47","date_gmt":"2013-07-30T00:34:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/web.colby.edu\/ldbaseballtour\/?p=824"},"modified":"2013-07-31T00:15:42","modified_gmt":"2013-07-31T04:15:42","slug":"basically-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/ldbaseballtour\/2013\/07\/29\/basically-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"“Base-ically” Fun!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Game 24: Safeco Field, Seattle, WA<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Minnesota Twins vs Seattle Mariners – Sunday, July 28, 2o13<\/span><\/p>\n

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We took an evening flight out of Oakland and arrived in Seattle just after 10 PM on Saturday. Our longtime friend, M. V. Thomas, whom we haven\u2019t seen in ages picked us up at the airport and took us to his home. The next morning, we had a delicious breakfast, with Thomas and his family (wife Latha, daughter Dimpu, and son Nihal), of idlis, sambar, coconut chutney, mangos, and cherries. We then went downtown with Thomas and Nihal. Our first stop was at the Experience Music Project (EMP), created by Microsoft co-founder and Jimi Hendrix fan Paul Allen, that was housed in a most unusual and architecturally distinctive building (it\u2019s kind of shaped like a guitar). What a fabulous place! When you first walk in, you see a towering tree built entirely with musical instruments that goes all the way from the ground floor up to the third floor. For fans of rock music, this place is Nirvana (pun intended)! There was a huge section on this legendary Seattle-based grunge group as well as Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, and Foo Fighters, among other bands, that enjoyed mega-success and worldwide fame. There was another section of equally fascinating displays of memorabilia celebrating Seattle-born guitar hero Jimi Hendrix. A substantial portion of the third floor was devoted to \u201cWomen Who Rock,\u201d and contained many individual stalls with beautifully displayed memorabilia of women artists like Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Madonna, Cher, and Tina Turner, to name just a few. There were also many interactive areas where fans could play different instruments, mix music, etc. The four of us actually took part in a simulated rock concert known as \u201cOn Stage.\u201d We formed our own band called \u201cThe Eds\u201d and played Purple Haze by The Jimi Hendrix Experience to a packed and wildly cheering, but completely imaginary, crowd. We even have a poster of our performance and a DVD to prove it! Why the Eds you ask? That\u2019s because one of us (Luca) is a huge fan of the cartoon show Ed, Edd, \u2018n\u2019 Eddy.<\/p>\n

After EMP, we drove to Safeco Field and got there about ten minutes before game time. It was a beautiful day, sunny and pleasantly warm. We picked up Mariners caps and balls at the team store, and after the grown-ups got their microbrews, headed to our seats that were located in the third tier behind home plate. These were great seats with terrific views of the entire field! We could easily tell balls from strikes and were in on all the action! A nice Sunday crowd of over 35,000 also added to the exciting atmosphere.<\/p>\n

The game was a beauty. The Twins drew first blood in an exciting second inning. Ryan Doumit hit a deep fly ball that hit right fielder Endy Chavez\u2019s glove before spilling into the right field fence and then on to the field. It was ruled a double. Twins manager Ron \u201cGardy\u201d Gardenhire immediately came out of the dugout and asked the umpires to review the play, which they did. This was the first time that we saw a baseball game stopped for an instant replay review. Three umpires left the field and the fourth stayed behind. After reviewing, the initial ruling on the play was upheld and Doumit stayed put at second. Any disappointment that Twins fans might have had was laid to rest right away by the very next hitter, Chris Colabello, who crushed the first pitch he saw to dead center for a two-run homer. In the third inning, we saw a miraculous catch by Chavez in right field, who leapt up to rob Colabello of what might have been his second home run of the game (and a potential three pointer). In the bottom of that frame, the Mariners got a run on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Seager that scored Brad Mills. They then added four more in a loud fifth inning to take the lead. Michael \u201cThe Condor\u201d Saunders led off the inning with a mammoth solo shot to right to tie the game. Later in the inning, rookie Nick Franklin launched a monster three-run homer to right that also scored Henry Blanco and Mills. The Twins clawed back in the sixth inning. Clete Thomas hit a grounder up the middle that scored Doumit from third. They visitors closed the gap to 5-4 on Aaron Hicks\u2019 sacrifice fly that scored Colabello. The Mariners added an insurance run in the seventh when Franklin hit another homer, this time a solo shot, to right center. That made it 6-4, which ended up being the final score of the game. With this win, the M\u2019s split the four game set with Minnesota. Their manager Eric Wedge, recovering from a minor stroke, must have been very pleased. There was a nice video of get well wishes to him during the game. Robby Thompson was the acting manager in this one and we found out later that Wedge actually came to the ballpark to visit his players before the game. We like Wedge. He and many of his staff used to be with the Indians just a few years ago.<\/p>\n

After the third inning, Nihal and the two of us – Thomas decided to stay back for a bit – walked around the stands. We saw the action from various points and took plenty of pictures. Later on, Thomas joined us and we toured the Mariners Hall of Fame and Museum that is just off the level one concourse. That was really cool. We then grabbed something to eat and watched the rest of the game from behind home plate close to the field.<\/p>\n

It was \u201cKids Run the Bases Day\u201d at the ballpark, so after the ballgame, we joined the long winding queue that went all the way up and then back down again through the right field gates. (Along the way, we looked down at the train tracks and saw a cargo train carrying giant fuselages of jet planes! Not surprising, given that Seattle is the home of Boeing.) Before long, we came through the doors and onto Safeco Field! We were actually walking onto a major league ballpark!! Wow!!! We made our way to first base and soon the two of us (not named Thomas or Das) sprinted from first to second, then to third and finally to home! It was an incredible experience!!! We then took some more pictures from inside the field before heading out. As we didn\u2019t have time to walk around the ballpark before the game, we did it on our way out, taking pictures galore.<\/p>\n

Thomas retrieved his car from the parking lot and the four of us drove around Pike Market for a while before stopping at the Hard Rock Caf\u00e9 for drinks and pictures. We then headed off to see the Space Needle. We got a glimpse of this iconic Seattle landmark earlier in the day because it was right next to EMP, but wanted to go back to get a better look. We thought about going up to the top, but it was getting late and the lines were long. So we took pictures from the outside instead. We also got to see parts of the colorful Glass Garden that is also in the same complex. Finally, Thomas took us to Ananda Mela, an annual Indian festival\/fair organized by the Indian community in Seattle. There, we enjoyed great music performed by an amazing live band that fused Indian and Western styles with a highly octane, energetic beat! We also sampled a variety delicious and authentic Indian food. All in all, it was a fabulous experience to cap off a wonderful day!<\/p>\n

We returned home from the fair, tired but happy. One of us (Luca) still had some energy left to get in a video game with Nihal, but after that, we packed up and went to bed. We had to get up early to get to the airport in time for our morning flight out of Seattle.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll see you tomorrow after our next game. Bye now!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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