Let’s Playball!
What an opening weekend it was. The whole time I was kept incredibly busy, and entertained during my time in Seattle. My hosts during my time here were incredible. Jon and Margaret were almost too nice and generous during my stay. On Sunday, it was essentially an empty day before the hecticness and excitment of Opening Day at Safeco Field on Monday. Jon splurged me with a personal tour of the city. We toured the location of where the World Fair was held over 50 years ago. It was impressive that the city still does such an incredible job of maintaining a crucial part of the city’s history.
I even managed to become a major tourist by checking out the top of the Space Needle. It gave a pretty great sight of the city. It’s even more astounding to think that the Space Needle was built over 50 years ago, yet still looks futuristic. It’s a UFO on a stick! I’m surprised those aren’t sold at fairs all across the country. Just across the street were the Seattle Ducks! As some of you know, I spent two summers providing tours on WWII Amphibious DUKWs in Wisconsin Dells. However, these ducks in Seattle were not the original ducks, which, made me a little disappointed. I was hoping to see some double clutch shifting, and hoping to hear some grinding of the gears. To my dismay, they were all automatic.
Jon continued to show off the rest of the city, and did an incredible job of teaching me the history of Seattle. I’m the kind of guy who really enjoys understanding why things occurred. He did a great job with that. He could legitimately become a tour guide throughout the city! From the lock system and salmon ladder, to fish and chips, to different parks, I was entirely entertained from my day in the city.
On the itinerary for Monday, was a day full of activities. With Opening Day having finally arrived, the entire city of Seattle was amped up and ready for action. For me, as a Wisconsin alum, it meant the National Championship game as well for my beloved Badgers.
Seattle has been waiting a long time for baseball season to come around. After falling one game short of the postseason a year ago, the team made a few more roster moves to bolster an already solid lineup. By bringing in Nelson Cruz, Seth Smith, and hoping to revitalize the career of longtime Brewer Rickie Weeks, Mariners fans were justifiably enthusiastic about the team’s prospects this season. With Felix Day taking place on Opening Day, the crowd was riled up. They even passed out courtesy K towels for the King.
Safeco Field has a unique roof design. With being in Seattle, it’s always smart to have a solution to potential rain. The Mariners did this by designing a roof over the field. Genius. The roof baseball slides off of the stadium and hangs out outside of right field. When I entered the gates for the pregame festivities, the roof was on, and while walking around the stadium they opened it up to a gorgeous Seattle day. They did a nice job of designing the stadium with the idea that when the roof is open, you really can’t tell that there even is a roof. It tucks away nicely.
Before the game, I met up with a few redditors who had reached out to me and wanted to meet up during some point of the game. Nick, was a big Phillies fan who just recently moved out to Seattle for work. Like myself, he’s a fan of baseball, and just enjoys the baseball atmosphere. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t? Hayden just wanted to say hi, and welcome me to Seattle, and share his excitement about the season. In general, I was widely impressed with the Seattle fanbase. I shared my story with a number of different fans, and would talk all about Seattle sports with each of them. I had to make an agreement, that I wouldn’t bring up the Super Bowl, if they didn’t bring up the NFC Championship game this past year. Fair trade off.
Felix Hernandez took the mound for the Mariners, and for the most part, he was lights out. In the first, he struggled to put away Mike Trout, and Trout made him pay by taking him out to center field to put the Angels up 1-0. Though, it looked like Austin Jackson had a good read on the ball, only to mistime his leap. Definitely had a chance to pull that one back. Besides that mistake to Trout, Felix was Felix. Going seven innings striking out 10 in a typical dominant style of the king. New Mariners arrival Seth Smith did his best to impress his new fanbase. Going 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and a triple before being removed later in the game. Mariners fans have plenty to be excited for this season. With Rodney closing the door in the 9th, it should be an exciting season for the club.
Mariners fans are awfully dedicated. I sat next to a lady who kept leaving to answer her phone. I quickly learned that her sister was in labor. As in having a baby. Meaning giving birth. She was at the ballgame instead of the hospital. That’s Opening Day dedication. She insisted that the game was on in the waiting room, and a few minutes later showed me a picture of the newest Mariners fan. Welcome to the world PJ!
I feel like the Angels will always be contenders. However, Pujols is undoubtedly aging. Alongside with the Josh Hamilton debacle from the offseason, there is some uncertainty in the Angels lineup. Of course, you also have Mike Trout who is arguably the best all around player in all of baseball. He robbed a home run during the game, and made it look casual. In fact, most fans didn’t think it was robbed because he made it look too easy. An impressive play.
Oh yeah, Biking for Baseball was also thrown up on the jumbotron after the sixth inning! Pretty cool stuff. Not to mention, I had Angie Mentink of Root Sports interview me during the game. It should be aired during the game broadcast tomorrow, which is pretty dang exciting! I have no clue how she heard about myself, or Biking for Baseball but she came directly to my seat at the field to ask for an interview. Not too shabby, eh? Get to enjoy baseball, promote Biking for Baseball and youth mentoring, and the Mariners won!
As Rodney closed down the game in the 9th. Fans celebrated the Mariners 9th consecutive Opening Day win. That’s the second longest streak in all of baseball history. Only one game short of a streak in the late 1800s. An impressive feat by the ballclub.
At the conclusion of the game, I headed out to the Belltown Pub the local Badger bar to soak in the National Championship game with my fellow Wisconsinites. Chants of ‘Let’s go Red’ echoed through the bar, and if you weren’t wearing red, you got a few odd looks. Despite the disappointing loss, it was a heck of a run and season for my Badgers. One that will not soon be forgotten. Playing in the National Championship is no easy feat, but the Badgers made it to the game, and were in position to win. That’s something I may never see again in my life, so I made sure to enjoy it. On Wisconsin!
Tomorrow I start on the road down the coast to San Francisco. My legs are rested and ready to ride for the next six months. Let’s get this thing started!
Hi5!
Matt