SB Nation User Blog: phillybmore

Where you've been and impressions

phillybmore — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:48:22 -0000

Ok, so I'm taking an idea they had at Camden Chat and running with it here since many people there also listed their favorite minor league parks, so I figured this was an appropriate fanpost... What minor league parks have you been to and if you would like you can put your impressions of each. I'm including the independent ball stadiums i've been to as well, as though they're technically not minor league ball, they're probably "aa" level players.

For Me:

Wilmington Blue Rocks: Frawley Stadium. This is my home park, so i'm biased, but I truly love it here(If you've never seen it look at my profile pic, thats me at Frawley Stadium with my boys and dog) Not bad skyline views, plenty of free parking, very good food, and a good variety of mascots(Rocky Bluewinkle) Also love it that a celery runs out after every rocks run..Also helps that the royals suck, so theres always good prospects here!

Reading Phillies: First Energy: The best park in the minors. You literally can walk right by players while waiting to buy a soda as their locker room is on the concourse. The food is great and CHEAP. I love the Reading railroad thats runs by outside. Nice modern ammenties too like a exploding train sign and board, and pool in the outfield. GA seats are abundant and right next to the field, OR high behind home plate. You can't make parks like this anymore, its from 1950.

Aberdeen Ironbirds: Ripken Stadium. Great stadium, but VERY pricey tickets $15/10/8 FOR ROOKIE BALL is a lot!(if you can get them, they're always sold out) And if you're not a season ticket holder, you don't get a giveway item on hat night etc..Food is expensive too,its $3 for a hot dog $4 for a soda.. free parking though. I love the whole complex around it though. It truly does look like mini camden yards.

Bowie Baysox: Prince Georges County Stadium: Good park, but waaaaaaaay back off the main road,no views at all,its behind a home depot and chick fila if it is a good crowd, traffic snarls. Lots of good seats for ga price though, the whole upper part is..

Norfolk Tides: Harbor Park: Great views, I love the grilled pretzels they have. Tickets were reasonable, food not so much. It was $4 for a pretzel. Plenty of parking$3, and the seats from the upper deck have an awesome view of the field.

Trenton Thunder: Mercer County Waterfront park: Not bad water views, easy to get to from pa, tickets cheap, food not, and they charge $2 to park, only aa team i've ever had to pay to park at..

SWB Yankees: PNC Park: A mini Vet. Love the mountain views though. Upper deck was steep, but when I sat in the lower deck it was nice. Not too expensive $3 to park and food was reasonable

Orlando Rays: Cracker Jack Stadium: Not bad, but a bit big for AA, disney prices everywhere!

Bonus Orlando: Al Lang Stadium: Not great, but easy to get to, and I like the water/airport views

Independent Teams:

Cambells Field: Camden riversharks. AWESOME! Honestly the best views, the bridge here, Philly there. Well thought out park, wide aisles and concourses..No bad seats at all! I love the sharks name too...$3 to park, not bad at all for Camden, i've paid $10 to park at the aquarium before..

Ac Surf: The sandcastle: Great casino views, It was $3 to park very hard to get to though, and you have to go through a BAD area to get there.. which is probably a reason the team folded. I did like the park though, it had wide aisles and plenty of legroom..

Harford CC: Aberdeen Arsenal: Yikes! Just a temporary set up till ripken stadium, not fun at all, just seats and a few bleachers

Lancaster Barmstormers: Clipper magazine stadium. Very nice, plenty of FREE parking, a little hard exiting, but several ways to get in. Gotta love the bumper boats!

And finally 1 park that is no more:

Clearwater Phillies: Jack Russel Stadium. YIKES! Bad neighberhood, hard to get to, ok seat views though

Look forward to reading where you've been!

Bonus 2

I've driven by the Diamond in Richmond, didn't look like anything special, probably why the braves left..

Just Passing on another Mcnair tribuite from The Baltimore Sun

phillybmore — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:07:18 -0000

Hi all! Busy today so I just got to reading my Sun, and there is a great front page article, here is the link:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-te.sp.legacy06jul06,0,1390292.story

Also there are other Mcnair stories on the site as well.
I don't say this to be insensitive or critical of your paper at all, but it seems like the tenneseean has not put up any tributes such as this. I was looking and didn't see any. If that is true I wonder why. Anyway, as I've mentioned we had the privlege of sharing this great man, and I thought you all would enjoy the article.

Gotta Love this game

phillybmore — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:52:23 -0000

Hello Red Sox fans.

I know its of little or no consolation to the Red Sox Fans, but last night was yet another example of how great our game is that we all love. After all the odds that a team down 4 touchdowns in the 4th coming back are slim to none, but in baseball without a clock, its never over till its over. Remember a few years ago, he Mothers day Massacre(Miracle as you guys call it) It was fun to be on the other side of a comeback like that. I just wish it didn't rain so more fans could've enjoyed it...Also the beautiful thing about baseball is that you're right back at it today(and a day game at that too) Anyway, just wanted to share that thought, enjoy todays game everyone. By the way just for fun, I'm putting a poll on. Would you rather lose like last night, or a 1-0 game to the Yankees? I think I know the answer, you'd rather lose like last night than ever lose to a team I hate too, but hey I figure i'll have fun and say. See ya at 1:35 at Camden Yards everyone.

Poll

Red Sox Fans would You rather..

Loss a game like last night, with a huge run late or..

21 votes

Lose a very close say 1-0, 2-1 game vs the Yankees

11 votes

32 votes | Poll has closed

Marlins 7, Orioles 6: 12 innings of Baseball in front of Chewbacca and a few of his friends

phillybmore — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:52:06 -0000

First, if you didn't watch the game, there was a fan who stayed the whole game dressed as Chewbacca in a Marlins jersey. MASN must've shown him like 10 times. Also as usual attendance was horrible, announced 10,222, seemed like much less. The pitching matchup was Koji vs. Andrew Miller

The O's started the game with a run in the first on a sac fly by Nick Markakis to score Brian Roberts.

Koji s and went 6 innings with 7 hits and only one run, a Dan Uggla home run to left.

All was calm with nothing but 0's on the board for both teams until the bottom of the 7th, when Danys Baez came in for Koji. The bases were loaded after John Baker scored on a fielders choice, making it 2-1 Marlins.. Hanley Ramirez then hit a grand slam to left center field. Chris Ray came on and pitched very well, allowing only 1 hit in 1.2 innings, helping keep the defecit at 5 in his first outing back from Norfolk.

The Orioles have a lot of fight in them, and especially lately, never give up till the end. In the 8th they would chip away at the lead off new pitcher Leo Nunez. Matt Wieters lead off with a solo homer. Robert Andino would get to 3rd with nobody out. Unfortuanently the hero of the weekend Brian Roberts ground out into a double play. Andino scored, but then Nick Markakis struck out. Going to the 9th, Marlins 6, O's 3.

The 9th was so much fun to watch, and I loved the strategy of Dave Trembley to get the game tied. The Marlins closer, Matt Lindstrom came in to pitch. At first it looked like it was going to be an easy save as Adam Jones and Aubrey Huff both ground out, putting the O'd down to their last hope Melvin Mora. He singled. Let the fun begin!! Luke pinch hit for Ray and got another single. Then Matt Wieters did the same, scoring Mora. This is where Trembleys strategy got fun, with no one on the bench to pinch run for Wieters except Zaun, he chose the ace Jeremy Guthrie. This paid huge dividends, as he was able to get to 3rd on the next play a Ty Wiggington pinch hit single which score Luke. The final bit of offense was to tie the game, Oscar Salazar hit yet another single. The inning finally ended on a Brian Roberts ground out. In the bottom of the 9th there were 4 defensive changes from the pinch hitters/runners staying in the game or in the case of Guthrie Zaun coming into catch. This left no one for Trembley to use on his bench except pitchers. Off to extras we go...

Jim Johnson came in and pitched 2 very good innings, only one hit.

No real events in the 10th. The O's next chance to win came in the 11th, when with one out Ty Wigginton hit a single, but was for reasons unknown to me or anyone thrown out trying to leg it into a double He wasn't even close to safe. We would have had 1st and 3rd one out with Rich Hill pinch hitting, instead 2 outs, he lines to center, end of threat.

Brian Bass came in the 11th and shut the Marlins down.

The O's did nothing in the top of the 12th except a Markakis single.

The Marlins won in the bottom of the 12th of Brian Bass after a walk to Bonificio, wild pitch, and a single by Jorge Cantu.

Great comeback by the O's was squandered, gotta wonder how different it would've been without that Wiggington blunder .

Back at it Tommorrow 7:10, MASN 2 Berken(1-3) vs. Nolasco(3-6)

Orioles vs Marlins boxscore | FishStripes

Poll

Tonights MBP

Matt Wieters

92 votes

Koji

45 votes

Jim Johnson

11 votes

Chris Ray

14 votes

Oscar Salazar

37 votes

199 votes | Poll has closed

NBA Draft Party at the center 6/25?

phillybmore — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:24:47 -0000

Hello all, I got an email about a month and a half ago saying there will be an NBA Draft Party at the center on 6/25 from 6-9. However it has not been mentioned in any subsequent emails or there any listing on the teams website.I would love to go to this, as supposedly there wil be photo ops on the Sixers court, etc. I'm wondering if this was only supposed to be for season ticket holders and they accidently leaked it? Any help is greatly appreciated..

MLB 2009 Draft Will you be watching?

phillybmore — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:42:13 -0000

Just curious how many of you will be watching the MLB draft tommorrow on MLB Network at 6 pm. This is the first time its ever been on tv, and the o's have a very high pick at 5th. Personally, I would flick back and forth, see who got who, etc, and watch the O's selection live,but thats it, i'm so used to just hearing who we picked..Anyway, i'll be at the reading phillies game with my dog(yeah bark at the park!), so its a mute point for me,but i will check on my phone to see who we got.... All the pundts have us picking the hs pitcher Zach Wheeler.. Can't hurt..

Poll

Will you be watching the MLB draft?

Yes

9 votes

No

8 votes

In between Innings

10 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

LIDGE...UGGGGHHHH!!

phillybmore — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:44:16 -0000

2 blown saves in a row! OUCH!! i'm willing to forgive a blown save every now and then, thats baseball..Anyway, i'm wondering if we are seeing the "real" Brad Lidge this year. After all it was a contract year for him last year. Granted he signed the extension halfway through, but maybe he put pressure on himself to prove his extensions worth last year in the 2nd half, and this year, with him being the one who will be there with the tugger as one of only 2 men who threw a phillies ws winning pitch. I think hes not pushing himself, after all he has a new deal and he won the wold series. Thats my theory. I think we're seeing the true Lidge., the post Albert Pugols home run lidge who struggled for 2 years after that.. Anyway, we can't have that. Can we win the division with him as our closer the way the rest o the division is playing? Probably, but 6 blown saves in 20 opportunities is absolutely horrible. I nominate Lidge to go to the 7th, Romero the 8th, and Madson as closer. Of course who knows how ryan would perform in a higher pressure situation the 9th, but it can't hurt to try..

Poll

Should Lidge be demoted

yes

36 votes

no

36 votes

72 votes | Poll has closed

I never thought I'd do this but I must defend Peter Angelos

phillybmore — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:14 -0000

I never thought I'd do this but I must defend Peter Angelos. Today SI named him the worst owner in baseball. Bad owner? Yes, but certainly not the worst, especially based on sis criteria: The method was not scientific but based on numerous factors, some of which are indisputable and some of which are intangible. Among the criteria used to evaluate owners was the 1.willingness to spend money to improve the team; 2.the stability and capabilities of the front office and management; 3.the amenities at the team's venue; 4.and the club's culture and interactivity with fans. Of course, weighing heavily in the decision was the team's success or failure on the field, and ammenties of the teams venue.

1. Angelos will spend money in his mind to improve the team. not wisely sometimes(Albert Belle), but he will spend it. Lets not forget the long term deals for markakis and others.

2. He has owned the team since 94, and though past front office has come and gone Andy Macphail seems to be the man to build the team, and Angelos seems hands off in this case.

3. Camden Yards would be the best venue in baseball if it didn't have so many obstructed view seats, so does wrigley and fenway though, so thats not an issue.

4. Ok, so they're not the best with us, but they do have fan fest and players in the community every year.

5. You got us on the winning. We've been bad. But the future of Weiters, Markakis, Burris, Koji etc looks brighter.

My point is he is probably like 15th or so, but defiently not the worst owner, especially based on their criteria. I can name off the top of my head the Pirates, Nationals,Marlins,Royals, YANKEES, and A's as much worse owners..So there, I defended Angelos, probably for the first and last time ever..

Adam Eaton MUST GO!

phillybmore — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:34:10 -0000

Ok, let me start off by saying I'm a Phils fan as well for those who don't know and I was at the ring ceremony wed and PROUDLY booed him because I felt he had no right to be there, or get a ring, being as he barely played, and was horrible when he did.

But anyway, I was willing to give him a chance for the O's, figuring maybe a change of scenery would help. WRONG!! 4 runs, 8 hits in 4 innings. YIKES! I didn't get the ERA, but its same old same old! I know Albers had options, but I personally would've kept him up, and tried to find another 5th starter somewhere, pherhaps a trade. Anyone in Norfolk that could help? You guys know the far system better than me..To me the bottom line is, I now expect to lose every 5th day. Thats all.

2010 Big Free Agent Spending, not Just for the NBA Anymore, according to Angelos!

phillybmore — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:32:12 -0000

Hello everyone, Angelos is on the interview circuit again. I read today in the sun that Angelos is going to spend big when we become in the range of competitive in 2010 or 2011. Personally, I hope we are competitive very soon as well, but a couple things struck me 1. What is his definition of "range of competitive" After all we are in the al east, so he can say he'll spend the $, but who knows what he's thinking?500 would be a great season in the al east for this team.. it could be just talk to try to keep us patient still. Also was glad to hear he praised MacPhail so far but would he let him do his job when he spends all that $$? After all i remember Albert Belle and other huge free agent highly overpaid busts, so I hope he'll let Andy do his job..