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MLB ROAD TRIP 2001
2001.10.25 <VOL.36> Days 187-194
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*We are in Barstow, CA
Index
1. The Trip Continues
2. Fox Playoffs
3. Mariner Mood
4. Japanese Baseball Champions
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Trip Continues
A couple of weeks ago we went to a Chinese restaurant and at the end of the meal we received fortune cookies. Mine said "Your hunch will be correct" which is pretty vague, but Aya's fortune was more specific, saying "You will take a trip to the desert". I laughed and said to her "This means that Arizona will make it to the World Series and Seattle won't, and then we will have to go to Phoenix for the World Series." Well, I think you all know what happened. On Sunday evening, after Arizona clinched and Sasaki gave up a two-run homer to Alfonso Soriano, we decided that you must not ignore the power of the fortune cookie - my hunch was correct and Aya would be taking a trip to the desert. So Phoenix is now the next and final destination of the MLB Road Trip 2001.
Before you think us strange for driving another 1500 miles just to see one or two games, there is a method to our madness. First, Phoenix is also home to the Arizona Fall League. This league consists of 6 teams stacked with the best minor league prospects and operates for about 2 months from September to November. So along with the World Series, we can see some up-and-coming players as well. But that's not all. Phoenix is home to 3 other sports teams - the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL, the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, and the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL. Coincidentally, all are at home during the November 4-7 period, which made the decision to extend the trip an easy one. Even if we don't get to see the World Series (tickets for games 1 and 2 are already sold out) we will see some other sports action. And with Las Vegas just a few hours away, a few nights on the Strip will keep us entertained while the D'Backs and Yankees are in New York. So it was obvious that we had no choice but to extend the trip 3 more weeks. So there will be a few more updates coming your way - enjoy!
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Fox Playoffs
For God's sake will someone else please buy the broadcast rights to the MLB playoffs. Fox has them now and has destroyed my desire to watch games on TV. First, they stuck several of the first round games on Fox Family, a channel that many fans don't have. But even more annoying has been the incessant commercials bandying Fox's fantastic (note sarcasm please) fall lineup - if I see one more 'Bernie Mac Show' preview, I am going to scream. Is anyone really going to watch this show? Seriously, is anyone really going to watch this show?!
For those of you unfortunate enough to have watched Fox over the past few weeks, I think you will understand my feelings; for those of you fortunate enough to be FOX-less, sorry to take up your time ranting. We now return to your regularly scheduled update.
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Mariner Mood
We were in Seattle for the entire ALCS and it was interesting to observe the Seattle fans as their team went from World Series probable to possible to also-ran in 6 short days. The city was sunny for game 1 of the ALCS, but after the 4-2 loss, the clouds rolled in and stayed around while the Mariners went east to be eliminated. By Sunday and Monday, rain was the order of the day. The weather reflected the mood of the fans - from sunny optimism in game 1 to gloomy pessimism after game 2, a sunny break in game 3, but eventually tears of pain once the Yankees clinched.
Seattle is home to some good fans, but they are kind of dumb. Tickets for Game 6 would have gone on sale on Tuesday morning had the Mariners won game 5. Several fans were camped out in tents in front of Safeco from Saturday night, waiting in vain for tickets that would never go on sale. Despite the cold and wet weather, these fans spent two nights outdoors, earning the admiration of the news crews, but not much else. Considering that tickets could easily be obtained in Portland or Bellingham, it would seem much easier to wait until Monday night to see if game 6 would be necessary, and then drive to one of those places to get tickets. But I guess enthusiasm replaces common sense at times like this, which is what makes sports fans so interesting.
As for the radio call-in shows, we listened to a couple of them as we drove out of town, and the fans were so depressed. The hosts alternated between bitter ("Yankees bought the pennant") to realistic ("The Yanks are built for the playoffs") but the fans were mostly sad, with comments such as "Seattle are the World Champs in my heart (sniff)". As a Blue Jay fan, I sympathize with the Mariner faithful, but these painful losses will only make the eventual championship that much sweeter. Don't worry M's fans: Jeter and Williams won't be around forever.
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Japanese Baseball Champions
Finally, a quick note to congratulate the Yakult Swallows baseball club, winners of the Japan Series. They defeated the Kintetsu Buffaloes 4 games to 1 to get their first championship in 4 years. Led by Roberto Petagine and Alex Ramirez, two of the best players to not be in the majors, as well as mainstay all-star catcher Atsuya Furuta, the Swallows again proved that they are the classiest franchise in Japanese baseball (which isn't saying much). As a Tokyo resident I was a Swallows fan for the last 5 years and just want to say "Way to go!" - at least one of my teams is winning!
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We are on our way to Phoenix, as predicted by the fortune cookie. We don't have tickets to any games yet, but we will see what happens. We are also going to check out plenty of Arizona Fall League action and spend a few days in Las Vegas as well. For us, it is just a chance to keep things going and to enjoy some real nice warm weather for a change. After that, reality beckons, but we will try to hold it off as long as we can.
Talk to you later,
Sean and Aya
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