Tuesday, August 19, 2003
The 2003 major league baseball season is winding down. The NFL season is winding up, with the Browns and Steelers involved in their initial preseason clashes last weekend against the Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions.
The Pirates and Indians once again have been relegated to also-ran status with the Bucs about nine games out of first and the Tribe even worse at 14 back. Wait until next year. Things could get worse before they get better.
With the Bucs and Indians out of the chase (all but mathematically), my thoughts have changed to the minor leagues. In the past couple of weeks, we made it a family thing, and traveled to Cafaro Field in Niles to see the Mahoning Valley Scrappers entertain Batavia (N.Y.) and just the other night, journeyed to Akron to watch the Aeros play the Erie SeaWolves.
Too much rain
At Cafaro Field, we were not so lucky as the rains came, a steady drizzle, which lasted the entire game. We finally departed in the seventh, and the Scrappers went on to post a convincing victory.
Well, it wasn't all that bad as I managed to latch on to a Frisbee that was launched from the field by the entertainment personnel. It was a nice grab if I do say so myself and that's coming from a former shortstop and second baseman.
What I wanted to point out in this column, however, is the fact that Cafaro Field is a nice place to watch a baseball game and the action didn't lag. Even on a wet, dreary evening, the entertainers kept up their work and had the fans engrossed during the break between innings. Good entertainment for the young and old alike. The area should be very pleased with such a fine facility.
And to make it even better, the price was right. Couldn't have asked for a better evening despite the inclement weather.
Canal Park beautiful
The Akron facility was out of sight. Never before have I ever seen such a beautiful ballpark. They call it Canal Park, home of the Akron Aeros, and it's located downtown in a beautiful area that has been completely renovated. It's in an area that also includes Children's Hospital.
Our son, Jeff, and his wife, Tracy, along with eight-month old Taylor, decided it was our night out and the top priority was to take in the Aeros' encounter.
It was not the Aeros night, however, and the SeaWolves took advantage of four or five Akron errors to win handily. It was Taylor's first ball game ever and he was not about to miss even one pitch. He was awake the entire game, just taking in the sights and sounds of minor league baseball at its best.
It was Scout Night and a good crowd was on hand. Besides the action on the field, it was a beautiful night with a pleasant breeze in a beautiful park. It was one of those nights you just didn't want to see end.
Heading back to the parking lot, I told my wife that we'll have to return, if for nothing else, to just see the ballpark and the friendly people whom we met. Taylor was in agreement.
There's something about minor league baseball that keeps you coming back. It could be that these guys on the field are playing the game the way it should be played, even more so maybe than those in the majors.
Marino makes it
We recently featured Dan Marino in an article when he visited the Pirate broadcasters in a game at PNC Park. Well, this past week, Marino was named as an inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was enshrined last Saturday in South Bend, Ind., along with 23 others. Marino played his college ball at Pittsburgh and his pro ball with the Miami Dolphins.