Gaslamp Ball: FanPosts

Traveling to Petco

2013-05-21T04:02:02Z

Next month I will driving from Portland, OR to San Diego to see two Padres games on the 11th and 12th against the Braves. I want to know where to go shopping to add to my Padres collections, card shops and thrift shops in San Diego. Also what are must see and must do things at Petco Park. I am looking forward to seeing the Padres play, the last time I saw them play in San Diego was in 1998 at the Murph against the Giants. I would to meet up some of you whose post I have read. Thanks for any help.

I just drank four shots of espresso and now I want to talk about the Padres

2013-05-20T18:15:34Z

When you live in the Pacific Northwest for over a decade, you drink a lot of espresso. It helps to combat the feelings of depression brought on by near-constant gray skies and drizzle. Seriously, don't move to the PNW. You won't like it.

Now that we got that PSA out of the way, let's discuss a few items (I do realize that I'll be lucky to get one comment here as most fanposts languish from the moment that they are published, nowadays. What's up with that? There used to be a pretty vibrant fanpost/fanshot scene at this site.)

The beards seem to be working. Mine was going grizzly adams until I trimmed it last week. How are you guys doing with the face pubes? Any ladies out there gonna post some pictures of unshaven legs? This ritual has obvi become beneficial to the Padres. Keep up the good work, ya hippies.

I read a post on another site authored by @VocalMinoritySD, in which he suggested that we sign Jedd Gyorko to a seven year deal NOW. Keeping him through the age of 31. The gist of his argument being that Gyorko has proved that he is a consistent hitter (throughout his college career and his three year stint in the minors) and that locking him up now, for his most productive years, would be a good idea. I agree with this thinking 100%. What about y'all?

I'm not a fan of Nick Hundley. Never have been and never will be. He will probably never be more than a backup catcher on a mediocre team, if he even sticks in the bigs. Anyone can take a look at his career stats and his age and see this. That being said, I'm all for keeping John Baker, who will probably end up with similar stats and happens to be a really solid dude and a huge positive presence in the clubhouse. Was that a terrible thing for me to say? Take a look at my poll...

Poll

Would you rather? John Baker or Nick Hundley?

Kyle Blanks: Give this phenom the nod over Quentin

2013-05-20T00:57:14Z

Kyle Blanks Vs. Carlos Quentin

Quentin: Bad Knee CHECK

Mendoza Line BA Check

Kyle Blanks: 6' forever Check

Has power Check

younger Check

will run himself into walls Check

Has stormed the beaches of Normandy UNCONFIRMED

I am real giddy when it comes to Kyle Blanks ever since he came up and hit 10 home runs. He has had a bad string of luck. Imagine giving this guy 500 AB's; the upside is obvious. Quentin, he may work at a soup kitchen, the time has come to send him packing.

Kyle Blanks Vs. Carlos Quentin

Quentin: Bad Knee CHECK

Mendoza Line BA Check

Kyle Blanks: 6' forever Check

Has power Check

younger Check

will run himself into walls Check

Has stormed the beaches of Normandy UNCONFIRMED

Returning Players Logjam and Long Term Contracts

2013-05-18T14:23:01Z

Bud Black needs to stop playing Jesus Guzman so much. I'd rather see Kotsay or Kyle Blanks or James Darnell for starts. I think you reserve Guzman for the bench and as a pinch hitter and you might just designate him. His defense is a liability and it is not 2010 anymore. It looks like James Darnell is finally healthy. Yasmani Grandal is coming back from PED suspension. Logan Forsythe seems like to will return at some point. Cameron Maybin is a few weeks away. I just see that Guzman may be the odd man out, possibly with Baker. As much as I like Maybin's defense, with that swing, he seems like an automatic out. The offense took off once he wasn't in the lineup. Hundley is starting to 2012 again.

Everyone faults Pads for not signing young players to long-term affordable deals and not signing Chase Headley to a long-term extension. But people seem to ignore Byrnes doing just that last year in locking up Maybin ($25 M), Luebke ($12-27.7 M) and Hundley ($9 M) and those seem to be like disasters of guaranteed money, not exorbitant, but still tough when added together they make up at least $45 M of negligible production. I still love Luebke but there's always that risk of injury especially with pitchers. With Chase, who is going to lockup a 29 year old player that hits .260 with 4 homeruns playing good defense at third?

Everth Cabrera seems like a time to sign given the dearth of anything behind him other than Jace Peterson but I could see the risk there too. Yonder Alonzo has got be more consistent and show more power before the Padres can justify giving him Anthony Rizzo type money. On the bright side, can't help getting dreamy about a 2014 rotation of Cory Luebke, Burch Smith, Matt Wisler, Donny Roach, and Robby Erlin with relief help from Joe Wieland, Adys Portillo, Miles Mikolas, Brad Boxberger and Joe Ross and Max Fried in the wings.

Friar Friday Merch #40

2013-05-17T13:23:04Z

This is one of the better Compadres Club rewards. The Compadres Club was awesome; I miss it so much. Anyways, this is a 1998 NL Champions baseball. I like the orange stitching, it makes it pop ("pop! pop!")

The ball was made in China.

1998 NL Champs logo

The Warren C. Giles Trophy. The most prestigious team award in baseball (ever since the DH was introduced to the World Series in 1976).

Scores from the NLDS

Scores from the NLCS

The ball was made in China.

1998 NL Champs logo

The Warren C. Giles Trophy. The most prestigious team award in baseball (ever since the DH was introduced to the World Series in 1976).

Scores from the NLDS

Scores from the NLCS

Friar Friday Merch #39

2013-05-10T13:05:59Z

Hey look, it's a shiny brown and yellow padres jacket.

It doesn't photograph well as the material is quite reflective. It has pockets but it's probably hard to see.

The main thing I love about this jacket are the patches.

There is a interlocking SD patch.

There is a swinging friar patch

There's a 1969 inaugural season patch

There is a 1984 NL Champs patch which doesn't exactly make sense as it's brown with orange instead of yellow...but I like it anyways.

Oh, one other little thing...the jacket is reversible. The reverse side is some blue and white garbage though. Nobody cares about that.

Hey look, it's a shiny brown and yellow padres jacket.

It doesn't photograph well as the material is quite reflective. It has pockets but it's probably hard to see.

The main thing I love about this jacket are the patches.

There is a interlocking SD patch.

There is a swinging friar patch

There's a 1969 inaugural season patch

There is a 1984 NL Champs patch which doesn't exactly make sense as it's brown with orange instead of yellow...but I like it anyways.

Oh, one other little thing...the jacket is reversible. The reverse side is some blue and white garbage though. Nobody cares about that.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Jersey: Yosemite!

2013-05-06T20:34:15Z

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Jersey is a Gaslamp Ball community project that chronicles the Padres' season through the lives of their greatest fans and an old jersey.

I had heard all the tales of The Jersey. I had been in it's presence. I've felt its power. So when I planned my trip to Yosemite and had a chance to bring the jersey to one of the most beautiful places on earth, how could I resist?

Our first stop on this tale was in Fresno. It wasn't until I was looking for a local bank that I remembered that terrible organization up north has a minor league team there. It was about 10 a.m so no game was going on but I figured I'd take a picture in front of the stadium. It brought them terrible luck as they lost that night 6-8.

Upon arriving at Yosemite National Park we were told by a park ranger that it was free to get in thanks to it being Earth Day. The ranger also decided to tell me he was a Dodger fan so the jersey was making him lose his concentration. I tried to convince him to role play and take a picture with me. He would be Greinke and I would be Quentin, but he declined. So we decided to head to Mariposa Grove and check out some big trees.

Yes, I'm wearing that horrible Opening Day shirt under the jersey. Sue me.

Not impressed with Sergio Romo.

We weren't camping in the valley but we definitely wanted to see it that first day. We decided to pack up some sandwiches and eat dinner on a log. At least the views were tremendous.

The second day we spent in the valley was full of walking. We thought it would be a great idea to go on a 15 mile long hike around the valley floor. Turns out it wasn't such a great idea. We scrapped that idea and decided to walk around and check out some specific sights instead of the alternative...dying.

Just checking out Yosemite Falls

The lady and I in front of Lower Yosemite Falls

That night we went back to camp and made some dinner. I let the smell of hotdogs and charcoal engulf the jersey. I also chopped wood and toasted marshmallows in the jersey, but no photos were taken.

The next and last day we were in the valley we decided to hike up to the top of Vernal Fall. I had my doubts on whether I would be up for it. I tired to make every excuse to my girlfriend I could. I even faked being a Padre and needing Tommy John surgery. In the end though she convinced me to do it. It was one of the reasons I had made the trip after all. It was about 4 miles total with about 4,000 in elevation change, but it was worth it.

0.8 miles up is the bridge.You can kind of see the waterfall in the background.

They jersey and I got a little wet climbing the mist trail.

Made it to the top!

Here is a little taste of what the jersey helped me conquer. About 12 million steps.

So rather then get completely soaked again we opted to take a different route down. We took the very old Muir trail. So of course we had to go higher up before we got to go back down. It did lead to this wonderful photo op though.

After such a long day we decided we needed drinks. So we headed over to the Awahnee Hotel. On there way the jersey got to have a run in with some wildlife.

Bambi didn't really appreciate what was in it's presence.

SQUIRREL!

Enjoying a $13 old fashioned at fancy hotel.

That night we cooked chili over the fire. The only footage I could find....

The next day it was time to say goodbye to Yosemite. It was such a great time and hope if you haven't been before you take the time to go and visit such a natural wonder. The jersey isn't with me anymore and that sort of bums me out. As soon as I sent it away I ended up getting sick. How's that for it being lucky? Hopefully I can get it back again for my trip to the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Jersey is a Gaslamp Ball community project that chronicles the Padres' season through the lives of their greatest fans and an old jersey.

Yes, I'm wearing that horrible Opening Day shirt under the jersey. Sue me.

Not impressed with Sergio Romo.

We weren't camping in the valley but we definitely wanted to see it that first day. We decided to pack up some sandwiches and eat dinner on a log. At least the views were tremendous.

Just checking out Yosemite Falls

The lady and I in front of Lower Yosemite Falls

That night we went back to camp and made some dinner. I let the smell of hotdogs and charcoal engulf the jersey. I also chopped wood and toasted marshmallows in the jersey, but no photos were taken.

0.8 miles up is the bridge.You can kind of see the waterfall in the background.

They jersey and I got a little wet climbing the mist trail.

Made it to the top!

Here is a little taste of what the jersey helped me conquer. About 12 million steps.

After such a long day we decided we needed drinks. So we headed over to the Awahnee Hotel. On there way the jersey got to have a run in with some wildlife.

Bambi didn't really appreciate what was in it's presence.

SQUIRREL!

Enjoying a $13 old fashioned at fancy hotel.

That night we cooked chili over the fire. The only footage I could find....

Headley and Fowler tussle, errr... I mean talk.

2013-05-04T14:33:58Z

According to a report from the Associated Press, Chase Headley ran into Ron Fowler last night just before the start of the Arizona game at Petco Park. Headley apparently expressed his concerns, and reaffirmed his stance that he would prefer to wait until after the season. His rationale behind that decision when asked later on if it has been a distraction:

"I would say so. I'm trying to pour water on the fire as much as I can," Headley said. "This is why I didn't want to do it during the season. I wanted it to be about what's taking place on the field. The reasoning for my wanting to do this in the offseason and not the regular season is because I know me better than anybody else. For me to go out and play the best that I can, not only for myself but this team, more importantly, I need to be completely focused on the field. That's the sole and only purpose behind it."

Headley also went on to explain what transpired during that conversation:

"...had a good conversation. We both kind of reiterated that there is no misunderstanding the way it came out. He wanted me to know that he wasn't negotiating through the media. That was the big thing. Maybe could have done it in a better way and he didn't mean to put the spotlight on me. I appreciated that. I explained my position and why I thought it was best to hold off on it. He respected that. We're good. There's no tension between us."

"We're done with it for now," Headley added. "Mr. Fowler made it a point to say `Hey, we do want you here and we do want to keep you here a long time.' I appreciated that. I had a great conversation with him but as of right now we're focusing on the field."

Fowler gave a much shorter, and less detailed answered through an e-mail response when asked about it:

"a brief, friendly conversation with Chase today ... that's all I can confirm. Just happened to run into him."

So, as fans, where does this leave you? Disappointed, frustrated, not surprised in the least, etc...?

P.S. - My fanpost cherry has now been broken.

"I would say so. I'm trying to pour water on the fire as much as I can," Headley said. "This is why I didn't want to do it during the season. I wanted it to be about what's taking place on the field. The reasoning for my wanting to do this in the offseason and not the regular season is because I know me better than anybody else. For me to go out and play the best that I can, not only for myself but this team, more importantly, I need to be completely focused on the field. That's the sole and only purpose behind it."

Headley also went on to explain what transpired during that conversation:

"...had a good conversation. We both kind of reiterated that there is no misunderstanding the way it came out. He wanted me to know that he wasn't negotiating through the media. That was the big thing. Maybe could have done it in a better way and he didn't mean to put the spotlight on me. I appreciated that. I explained my position and why I thought it was best to hold off on it. He respected that. We're good. There's no tension between us."

"We're done with it for now," Headley added. "Mr. Fowler made it a point to say `Hey, we do want you here and we do want to keep you here a long time.' I appreciated that. I had a great conversation with him but as of right now we're focusing on the field."

Fowler gave a much shorter, and less detailed answered through an e-mail response when asked about it:

"a brief, friendly conversation with Chase today ... that's all I can confirm. Just happened to run into him."

So, as fans, where does this leave you? Disappointed, frustrated, not surprised in the least, etc...?

P.S. - My fanpost cherry has now been broken.

Friar Friday Merch #38

2013-05-03T13:06:22Z

This may be the only merchandise I own that is unlicensed. I don't necessarily shy away from unlicensed merchandise, but it's not something I run into too often. For this item, I have no guilt buying it. As far as I know, there isn't a licensed version of this product and it's MLB's fault they are missing out on my money.

It's a poncho! Not the rain kind, the Mexican kind. Wikipedia says ponchos are more Peruvian and South American in origin, but I actually bought this in Mexico so it makes it decidedly Mexican.

So yeah, I like this thing. It's got tassles on the bottom (fancy!). Embroidery work is pretty decent for something that cost like $15 or whatever it was. I think ponchos would make a good giveaway for the padres, it's cheap and fun. I suppose some jackhole will complain that it's racist though. Then again, other teams seem to get away with luchador masks. Padres should go all out with the slightly racist cheesy Mexican gimmick giveaways: ponchos, luchador masks, huge oversized sombreros, chicklets giveaway for children, the dresses with the ruffles that you hold while dancing for Mother's Day, carne asada cookout in the park.

It's a poncho! Not the rain kind, the Mexican kind. Wikipedia says ponchos are more Peruvian and South American in origin, but I actually bought this in Mexico so it makes it decidedly Mexican.

Padres Preparing Contract for Headley

2013-05-01T21:49:44Z

According to the article written by Chris Jenkins, the Padres are preparing a contract offer to Savior that will be presented to him before the All Star break and will be the largest in San Diego Padres history! This is all coming straight from Ron Fowler so it makes it even more exciting. Lets see what happens.

Story Link HERE!

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah 75 words Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah LOL

Story Link HERE!

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah 75 words Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah LOL

Padres Win: Start Winning Streak

2013-04-27T05:13:07Z

The Padres kept their winning ways going with a 2-1 demolition of the Giants. If I had 1 verb to describe what the Padres did to the Giants it would be "Cashner-ed".

Not only did Cashner pitch a gem (6 innings with 5 hits and only 1 ER while striking out 5) he also:

Retired the last 12 batters he faced
Led off the bottom of the 3rd with a line drive single
Proceeded to steal 2nd base on a delayed steal after Venable struck out
Slid multiple times without injuring himself
Scored the game tying run (Headley singled him to 3rd and Quentin singled him home)
Scared the rest of the Giants hitters with his massive wild man beard from bench aiding the PadPen

The Padres only got on the board in the 3rd with Cashner's single then steal then 2 outs and finally 3 consecutive singles by Headley, Quentin, and Alonso which gave the Padres a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The offense struggled the rest of the game only managing 2 hits outside the 3rd. Somewhere in there Lincecum struck out like a gazillion Padres... (9)

Thatcher, Thayer, and Gregerson set it up for Street who allowed the first Giants base runner since the 2nd inning. Street didn't let the fans go home just yet, he wanted them to get their moneys worth so he let the Giants hit another single and have runners on the corners before getting Crawford to ground out into a fielders choice to end the game.

This is the kind of win that the Padres have actually sent in papers to the Federal Licensing Bureau to get trademarked. Whether or not that comes to fruition is an entirely different matter.

In the end they beat the hated Giants and it's time for a couple more revenge wins.

The Padres kept their winning ways going with a 2-1 demolition of the Giants. If I had 1 verb to describe what the Padres did to the Giants it would be "Cashner-ed".

Not only did Cashner pitch a gem (6 innings with 5 hits and only 1 ER while striking out 5) he also:

Retired the last 12 batters he faced
Led off the bottom of the 3rd with a line drive single
Proceeded to steal 2nd base on a delayed steal after Venable struck out
Slid multiple times without injuring himself
Scored the game tying run (Headley singled him to 3rd and Quentin singled him home)
Scared the rest of the Giants hitters with his massive wild man beard from bench aiding the PadPen

This is the kind of win that the Padres have actually sent in papers to the Federal Licensing Bureau to get trademarked. Whether or not that comes to fruition is an entirely different matter.

In the end they beat the hated Giants and it's time for a couple more revenge wins.

Friar Friday Merch #37

2013-04-25T13:09:47Z

I've stated before that I'm not a fan of bobbleheads. They don't do anything for me. They sit on a shelf and collect dust. Perhaps the Padres have turned the corner and finally agree with me on the subject. The padres have had their only bobblehead giveaway this year. Instead of bobbleheads, they are going to give away cool things like.....golf towels? ugh. There are 5 Saturdays (including one this week) where ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is being given away. It's infuriating. Even a bobblehead is better than nothing at all.

I like how this came in a nice glossy box. Each side of the box lists a different 2012 Chase Headley accomplishment/award. The lid doesn't like to stay down though.

They did an okay job on the face, it sort of looks like him. I imagine beards are tough to do, but they did an okay job. There seems to be some sort of mold or painting error on the jersey though.

The silver bat is a removable piece. So far I haven't had any problems with it falling out without glue. The pose of the bobblehead looks more like a bunt than a hit to me, but I'm pretty sure that's just me.

The logo sponsor and player name are strangely not displayed on the side of the bobblehead that I would likely position for display. Sponsor logo (Fox Sports San Diego) is decently unobtrusive.

I like how this came in a nice glossy box. Each side of the box lists a different 2012 Chase Headley accomplishment/award. The lid doesn't like to stay down though.

They did an okay job on the face, it sort of looks like him. I imagine beards are tough to do, but they did an okay job. There seems to be some sort of mold or painting error on the jersey though.

The logo sponsor and player name are strangely not displayed on the side of the bobblehead that I would likely position for display. Sponsor logo (Fox Sports San Diego) is decently unobtrusive.

Byrnes Makes This Burn Worse

2013-04-23T05:11:46Z

I went to a small liberal arts college outside Philadelphia that few people on the west coast have heard of. I love the school and am always pulling for fellow alumnus. Josh Byrnes is a fellow alumnus, so this hurts to write, but he is killing me and the team. It is one thing to have a small market team struggle, understandable given the spending differences in MLB. And it may be defensible given the rash of injuries to our young, good pitching. But it is quite another thing to create self-inflicted wounds. Those fester.

I did not like the Cincinnati trade at the time and am still amazed at it. At the time, for some uninformed reason, I thought Volquez was good. Now I realize he is the type of pitcher, always available, to whom you pay $3-4m on a one year deal. We gave away a top starter for players we did not need. Volquez is replacement fodder. We had Rizzo so we did not need Alonso. We had Hundley, warts and all, and am not sure we needed Grandal. Now with the PED, I would bet on Hundley being our starter even when Grandal returns. Boxberger has some promise, but we did not need a marginal impact reliever.

And then he trades Rizzo because he brought in Alonso, an inferior player. Classic "good money after bad".

Yes we are waiting for guys to heal and Casey went down somewhat unexpectedly, but this starting rotation is horrible. Last in ERA and OPS allowed in the NL. Maybe he had some salary constraints in the off-season, but assembling a rotation comprised of Volquez-Richards-Stults (who I kinda like)-Marquis-Ross/replacement is gross negligence or incompetence. Richards had the worst PVORP of any pitcher in baseball last year. And he is our #2? Yes, I hope that Cashner will become a stud but that is mostly aspiration at this point.

This rotation is consistent with throwing in the towel. Fine, rebuild, etc. But why in the hell do you sign Quentin and Street if you are throwing in the towel? And then hang on to Headley who we will absolutely not be able to keep once he hits free agency? If you are not throwing in the towel, what the hell is he thinking with this rotation? None of these guys are regressing; they are just not very good.

So I just get pissed when I watch this team struggle. Rizzo already has 6 HR and is 23. Latos has 29K/4BB ratio in 26.1 IP pitching in the bandbox in Cincinnati. We could use those guys and build around them. Instead I get to watch our team struggle.

I hope things turn around, but I sincerely doubt Byrnes is helping us much and is the guy to craft a winning team. I really hope, sincerely hope, I am dead wrong and get to laugh at my misguided opinion in the future. But I doubt it.

And then he trades Rizzo because he brought in Alonso, an inferior player. Classic "good money after bad".

Friar Friday Merch #36

2013-04-19T13:09:38Z

Mac: Well, first of all, it's not a t-shirt sleeve. It's a tattoo sleeve. It's like a t-shirt sleeve only it's longer, thinner, and far more bad-ass. I look like Lorenzo Lamas, and women find it irresistible.
Dee: Well, that part's just simply not true.

Quoting and referencing movies and tv shows is lots of fun by the way.

Derek says it's always good to start a fanpost with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and start out strong.

I'm glad that it's adult size. If anyone needs an adult, I'm an adult, sort of.

It's also nice to know that it's officially licensed.....too many unofficial tattoo sleeves going around what with people drawing logos on women's panty hose with sharpies.

Quoting and referencing movies and tv shows is lots of fun by the way.

Derek says it's always good to start a fanpost with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and start out strong.

I'm glad that it's adult size. If anyone needs an adult, I'm an adult, sort of.

It's also nice to know that it's officially licensed.....too many unofficial tattoo sleeves going around what with people drawing logos on women's panty hose with sharpies.

Let's talk about something not so heavy - promotional ineptitude

2013-04-15T22:27:53Z

Lots of serious business talked about lately. Which is good. Serious things deserve serious thoughts and should be talked about. I'm a bit burned out though.

So yeah, we've discussed how the promo give-away schedule is terrible. It is. I don't know why the Padres don't care. If you don't have a good on-field product, why are you also torturing us with terrible give-aways?

Military Opening Day felt lackluster. Which is not to say I don't appreciate it. Nobody honors the military like the Padres....and truthfully the Padres could do even more. I'm trying to figure out what was missing. Mostly I guess it was just missing a giant flag on the field. There were also no flyovers or parachute-men...but that could have been a result of the weather.

The TV promos are so boring. They are all serious business with words like "honor", "loyalty", "hustle", and "teamwork" flying across the screen. They have the players just standing around looking serious all while dimly lighted in front of a dark background. A lighthearted commercial would work better. Show that it's fun to watch the team. Show that it's fun to be in the crowd and cheering along. Being serious only works if the team is winning. A fun lighthearted attitude goes quite a bit further with a losing team.

I bet you don't even know this year's slogan....it's something like "It Takes A Team". Yawn.

Where are my free jack in the box tacos? I loved those things.

The pad squad seems inconsistent with their uniform. They all wear different stuff and/or they change it each game. I haven't quite put my finger on it. I had a pad squadder say hi to me and I was all confused as I didn't know she was a team employee. I figured she must have simply taken an interest in my rugged manly good looks; oh well.

They changed the Sunday breakfast at the park. It's a buffet now ($14). And mostly requires a reservation. I was able to get in without one, but I guess they had limited spots. The food isn't as good. It was a decent (ballpark) value for $14. It's not a bad setup, but I wish it was communicated to the fans that it changed.

Speaking of communication problems, I guess the meeting spot for the ballpark tours changed. I haven't been on one actually, but figured I'd give it a try. Bought tickets online for Sunday at 10:30. I think the website might have sold me a bum ticket. I waited by the Western Metals Building like it said, but nobody ever came. Got conflicting reports from staff (ticket window personnel, security at employee entrance, ticket takers as to if there actually was a tour that day and where it would meet. I need to call them up and get a refund. It was a mess.

I still hate the giant golf club. I still hate the ugly fox sports stage at the park.

Had a problem with some a-holes throwing peanuts. Tried to get some help from the nearby usher. Took 2 different conversations before she got security to come by. Security only said that they'd keep an eye out. The peanut throwing still continued for at least 1.5 more innings (I got frustrated and left).

You'd think they'd get their act together with this sort of stuff. This is the stuff that gets the casual fan interested in the losing team....

I think I'm done rambling now.

I bet you don't even know this year's slogan....it's something like "It Takes A Team". Yawn.

Where are my free jack in the box tacos? I loved those things.

I still hate the giant golf club. I still hate the ugly fox sports stage at the park.

You'd think they'd get their act together with this sort of stuff. This is the stuff that gets the casual fan interested in the losing team....

I think I'm done rambling now.