Day 5 July 7 Baltimore Orioles @ Oakland A's

 This was a good day - the last season for the A's in Oakland. And it was a giveawy - RollieFingers Bobblehead doll (which I brought to Lily on the next day - she put it in her "kitchen"...probably gone now.)

First the morning mess - I missed the shuttle to the airport at 5:30am...our Host Steve banged on my door...told me he'd wait for me in the lobby. Got the shuttle with him and his daughter Sydney...made it on time...Seattle airport under construction was in terrible shape/lines for TSA etc

We went straight to the game...had time to kill...Steve had a former minor leaguer and scout talk to us on the bus about his experiences with the Phillies...passed around his world series ring...a painful uncomfortable speech.

Then we went to wait in line. I waited with an old A's fan around my age and we talked about the situation in Oakland. The owner didn't try hard to keep them in Oakland and they are moving to Las Vegas...but they need to wait for the  new stadium to be built. meanwhile they will be playing in Sacramento at a minor league park...it's a mess - here's a story  LINK

When they opened the gates I got my RollieFinger BobbleHead. Then went to the room where Rollie and Dennis Eckersly were signing autographs. I waited in this long line for 40ish minutes then they said sorry folks no more autographs. Later we saw then on the field as they threw out the first pitch. Two of the greats.

Our seats as usual were very good...in the shade on another hot day...in left field.

The night before, the lowly A's surprised the league leading (almost) Orioles beating them 19 - 8!!!

So I expected the Orioles to come out and bomb the A's in this game. Oriole Heston Kjerstad hit a 3-run homer. The A's kept it close but lost 6-3.

I sat next to Aussie David who had a Aussie accent with mumbles so I never completely understood what he was saying. He was there for the event-didn't know baseball.

The stadium is old, the most 'beat up' stadium on our tour. But it has history. It was a good place to watch a game...sad that it's closing.

I bought an "Oakland Athletics" T-Shirt to remember the stadium/visit

Bye Oakland!

Box Score

Recap

 

Day 4 July 6 Toronto Blue Jays @ Seattle Mariners

 (doing this from memory on 7/23/24)
Early wakeup 7am bus leaves at 8am flight out of SanDiego Airport to Seattlle.
Day game....many Toronto BlueJay fans - they seemed to outnumber the Seattle fans.

Blue jays won:

"Yariel Rodríguez gets 1st win, Alejandro Kirk drives in pair to help Blue Jays beat Mariners 5-4" was the headline. George Springer of Connecticut with a big game.

In the sun...borrowed suntan lotion

Good exciting game...embarrassing for Seattle fans as the Toronto fans out-cheered them

Sat next to Tom-quiet knowledgeable MLB fan

After game we were taken to Pike Place Marketplace. LINK A place with many restaurants and bars but not too nice...everyone scrambled to find a place to eat. I got a Falafel sandwhich to go.

Then went to our Hotel LINK - wakeup call tomorrow for 5:30?!

BOX Score

Recap

Pano pic from my seat in Left Field

Trip Epilogue - People on the bus, Final thoughts

Here I am on July 17 entering info after the tour...cleaning up the blog.

See the picture below - one of the 2 group pictures taken. The other was before the GoldenState bridge walk. Diamond is laking in social media things though they have a Facebook page, they don't get everyone together for pictures etc

People on the Bus

- Steve Theime - he hosted the trip young 40-ish high energy 'midwestern-nice' from Iowa I think but family is now in Dallas. He brought his daughter Sydney..8 years old a cutie.

- Craig ??? - a host in training. Nice guy SanFran native big giant fan. A little pedantic-know-it-all but still a good guy will probably make a good host.

- Kevin ?? and daughter ?? - friends of Steve from Dallas - daughter older than Sydney but friends - nice guy/nice girl. They left when we got to SanFran (I think)

- Hunter Darling and Jeremy ?? - two friends in their 30s really nic e guys I hung out with them a lot - big Mets fans and Hunter is Ron Darling's nephew (Uncle Ron!!)

- Geordi ?? the other young 30ish dude...nice guy a little strange former Army...now a machinist. From Chicago.

 

 
I'm still filiing in the blog days that I missed...but my final thoughts:

- it is all about the event-going to the game, the stadium, the baseball...all of that is great

- schlepping is the challenge. A lot of early wakeups to catch the bus...but on this trip two plane flights made the schlepping worse.

- your on your own for food.

The bus rides are mostly fine. They play movies and sports videos. I sat with the young guys who were interested in MLB and did a lot of sports talk incl the Imaccculate Baseball app, I just chill on the bus...time goes by fast.

- having a catch with Richard during the trip is also a highlight...we are playing baseball...it's fun and reminiscent of my younger self

SO all in all I liked/love this trip partly because of the break to go to San Jose and see the family. But last year's trip was better. a better larger group of nice people...going to Williamsport was great.

I will do this agin...hope to get to see all the MLB parks...I have about 10 left

Day 3 July 5 DBacks @ San Diego Padres

We left LA early - bus trip to San Diego. 

The sightseeing event was going to Old Town San Diego. LINK

I found it to be a nice do-nothing "chill" (in 90 degree weather) time. We wandered around this area with mexican old buildings crafts etc. Some nice adobe homes with courtyards where you could sit....a few museum type places...but mostly boring. I wandered by myself, eventually met up with young guy Geordi who told me his life story (Army veteran, best friend killed by hit and run while crossing a street, machinist, training in Army etc) while we waited for the bus to board.

I was starving and found a place serving "Tostadas"? so I got a veggie sandwich which turned out to be delicious...I saved half for the hotels.

Hotel was beautiful - 4 star San Diego Bayfront LINK 

It is connected to the stadium via a walkway...so a walk from the hotel to the stadium was very nice. 

BTW parking for fans here is $50!!

Game at Petco Park LINK 6:40pm

It's embarassing to say that I left the game early. It was 7-3 after 8 innings. Saw some of the group leaving, I was beat, so I thought the game was over and I could walk back to the hotel and relax.

What a DOPE!

The next morning I ran into bus people "Wow what a game, 9th inning was fantastic"!!"

It turns out that the DBacks score 5 runs in the top of the 9th to take the lead.

But the Padres came back and won it in the bottom of the 9th 10-8.

So the same result...but Jeez Francheesh??!!!

There was no reason for me to leave early. WE WERE AT THE HOTEL!

This happened in one game on last year's tour when I left early at Philly and Bryce Harper homered to tie that game which they wound up losing in extra innings. I remember hanging out in the parking lot with Bus driver Kendrick and Richard.

 "All-Star Jurickson Profar hit a tying home run leading off the ninth inning and Manny Machado walked it off with a two-run shot in the San Diego Padres' wild 10-8 victory"

So I vow on baseball tours never to leave early again!

Recap

Box Score

Our seats in SD

Day 6 July 8 - San Jose family visit

 It is July 10th as I type this...I am way behind.

I have to board the bus in 10 minutes - going from Oakland to LA...a 6 hour bus trip!!

I especially need to document my Wonderful Trip to San Jose and day with Lily Emma LLH NH & MP...it was a great day for me.

********

OK...

This was a great day/great memory.

From our Hotel - Springhill Suites LINK - where we stayed for 3 nights!...

I investigated got Directions then took mass transit - Hotel shuttle to the Oakland airport where I got on Bart to the 'Coliseum' line...then switched to a train which took me to San Jose Berryessa station...then an UBER to Nats house.

When I got there Emma was shocked to see me...Lisa and Coco were hanging out...I played with Emma...then Coco got Lily from her summer school and she was so happy yo see me...we played, drew art, put on her bathing suit and did the pool/slde in the backyard.

Then Max and Nat came home from their day at work and we all went to the Pruneyard to LUNAs restaurant

Had a great meal, Lily played on the animal statues in the Pruneyard...then I went back to Oakland - had a blast a nice break from my tour.

Day 2 July 4 DBacks @ LADodgers

 Notes from Day 2 

(I'm typing this on Monday 7/8/24 morning...about to leave for bus/BARTs to San Jose and see LLH et al at Nats house!!!! Very excited.

But note I wasn't able to get to the blog before this because there is a lot of schlepping and on this trip two plane rides...to exhausted when I get to a hotel to start typing.

Also the luggage situation-packed one big check-on bag and I have to lug that and other bags to the room at each stop. Very difficult.)

Met up with the group in the morning. The guide is the tour owner Steve Theime. He brought his daughter Sydney...she is 8 very cute,Richard and I grabbed our gloves and had our first catch before getting on the bus. 

A word about my seat on the bus is key - sat with RM up front but will be changing that as we go during the trip. RM is a handful to listen to - a good guy but no filter, a lot of old man groans etc.

Then left the hotel for a long ride from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Saw a lot of mountains, deserts, casinos, brothels, and even StoneHenge!!! 

We stopped along the way for lunch had a choice of fast food RM and I went for Panda express...then I got a starbucks tea and mage two calls to LLH/Lily & Varb,

First the bus stopped at Griffith Observatory...In Griffith park-we were last there with Brother John, LLH, and young Val&Nat...pictures of Val on the carosel with John are in the house...but we were not near the carosel or the park. Ithe observatory to a science museum up on a big hill overlooking (great views) LA. I can't express how impressed I was with the GPO...a lot of space facts and exhibit, a working pendelom...all free...I learned a lot-our nearest galaxy is 25,000 light years away and there are a trillion galaxies beyond that LINK

Got to Dodger stadium - of course a lot of traffic but we were early,

Had a beer and relaxed to take in the first game atmosphere...then to our seats in Left field and kept score the whole game as I did on all the games.

The Game was great...I like the DBacks - they are hot right now They won this game 9-3 Christian Walker with 2 HRs. 

After the game, we were treated to Fireworks! Many people were let onto the field...we stayed in our seats in Left Field. Great show...then the long walk back to the bus

BOX SCORE

RECAP

Day 1 of West Coast Tour - July 3 2024

 Checked into my Room at the Tuscany Suites & Casino in Las Vegas this morning.

My lovely wife LLH also flew out this morning going to visit our San Jose family - Daughter Natalie, her husband Max and our granddaughters Lily 3 1/2 and Emma 9 months. LLH and I shared a 5am limo to JFK...I flew delta, she JetBlue.

I sat in the middle seat of three for the first time in ages...horrible but I did OK...never got up.

Nice guy former minor league baseball player sitting next to me.  We landed at 10:30isham and I was at the hotel within an hour. After checking in and getting my room (a suite-sweet!) I went poolside...did some swimming but pool crowded with adults drinking Daiquiris/non swimmers-still was fun. But so hot!! 110degrees. I just got back from a 20minute and back walk to LV CVS in this heat was difficult.

I am waiting for my friend Richard Majors to arrive from Colorado. RM coaxed me into going to this tour. We semi-bonded at last years tour. RM former truck driver fellow old guy we get along. His plane is delayed. See pic below of RM and me from last year.

Today is just a check-in...tmrw we get on the bus and go to LA to see game 1 DiamondBacks @ Dodgers. This will be my 3rd Dodgers game attended this year as I went to a double-header LAD/Mets in May...Dodgers swept but Mets were horrible then...they have rebounded and are hot/hitting/back in the race.

The Dodgers are so loaded with talent starting with the incredible Shohei Ohtani. He is a DH this year-cannot pitch due to UCL Tommy John surgery. But he will pitch again next year. Hitting-wise he is ridiculous. Current Stats: AVG .320 (4th in NL)...HR 27 2nd...RBI 64 5th...OPS 1.048 2nd

And he has 16 stolen bases! Oh and they have Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and new star Teoscar Hernandez. And they paid a bazillion to get Yoshinobu Yamamoto from Japan.

The DBacks went all the way the world series last year after barely making the post-season as a wild card. They have a good young team.

It is 3:47pm I am preparing this blog which I used last year to document the trip.

OK Back soon!

(Later) Met up with Richard...had a few beers at the bar,,,then went to the restaurant at the hotel (vegitarian chow mein)...then played some slots - video poker...went to bed

Richard Majors and Francheesh 8/21/2023