Ramblings of a Technology Addict

Thursday, April 24, 2003

The Best Words in English: Free Baseball

Ladies and Gents, there comes a time in every man's life when he is far from home and looking for a good time. Tonight, I returned from a long day in the field, knowing the Cards and Braves were playing at Turner Field. I stopped at the concierge desk of the Marriott Marquis to ask about directions, and he told me that my best bet was Marta and the shuttle bus, he handed me directions to the field and asked me if I'd bought my tickets yet. I said no, but that I hoped to get them at the door. He told me the game was sold out, but that it was my lucky day. He pulled out two tickets for the game. 11th row. Section 108, which is between the dugout and the screen. Wow.
I rushed off to Turner Field despite the threatening clouds and the partial raindrops. Catching Marta beneath Peachtree Center headed for Five Points and then the Braves Shuttle, I stopped to snap a picture of the station, which is rough-hewn rock with posts in the wall, quite striking as compared to the cement of the metro stations in DC. The Braves Shuttle is picked up from Underground Atlanta, which seemed to be a bizarre cross between an arcade and a street show, all on an acid-trip. It was bizarre. To make things more bizarre, you're driven through the shops on golf-carts piloted by teenaged girls in Braves uniforms. I was amazed.
Once on the way to Turner Field, you're dropped off at the gates and left to your own devices. The large brick façades of Turner Field are imposing, like Comerica Park, but not quite as majestic as Camden Yards. Once inside, you're treated to all the niceties of a modern ballpark. Concessions, Souvenirs, Condiments, you're golden. Once you walk out through the arch and into the field, though, it's a different story. It's a large field without being cavernous and definitely more regal than the coziness of Wrigley or the Jake.
We were under rain delay when I finally got to the seats, which was a bit of a bummer, but I was glad not to have missed any baseball. I put my bag down and went to get a dog and a coke. By the time I got back, they were rolling up the tarp and grooming the field to get the game started. This is what I love about baseball, it is as much a game of individuals as it is a team sport. The grounds crew was top notch, they were raking, tamping, chalking and adorning the field for the game, I was so impressed at their attention to detail. Each chalk line had to be perfect, each rake was drawn with intent and care, each base perfectly aligned and placed carefully.
I remember we'd go to the Coliseum and they'd chain-drag the infield and there were always four guys who would run and cover the infield with a sweep. At Turner Field, though, there were seven guys who would do this, their infield, despite the heavy rain, looked beautiful. They kept that field in fantastic shape in the pouring rain.
The fans that stuck it out despite the rain were fantastic. Three guys two rows back were huge Cardinals fans and were very vocal. Four guys in front of me had come from Fayetteville for the game, which is no small hike. The couple next to me had brought their young daughter who was just adorable through the whole thing.
The game itself was amazing. Mike Hampton pitched five innings of no-hit baseball before he finally gave up two runs. I thought they were going to call the game if the Braves were shut out in the bottom of the sixth, but sure enough, they put some hits together and scored a pair. That's when I packed it in, soaked to the bone, but loving every second of it.
Thanks much to the Marriott and to the Braves for a great game.
Of course, I took pictures. View them here
11:40:16 PM comment []