Williams: Storm delays leads to ‘Heartache Tonight’

Tuesday, the sportswriter had a (seemingly) brilliant idea. Since he and his wife were going to be in downtown Cleveland at 8 p.m. for the Eagles concert at Quicken Loans Arena, why not go a little early, maybe beat traffic and watch a few innings of Major League Baseball at the ballpark next door?

A quick check on StubHub (one of the best things the Internet has given us) found half-priced seats.

What could spoil this plan?

It’s been a few years since the sportswriter had been to Progressive Field — a few things have changed. For instance, those $5 parking lots down in the theater district (about three blocks from Ninth Street) no longer charge $5.

Some rent spaces for $10, the rest $15 — so much for saving a few bucks if you’re willing to walk a few blocks after the show or game to escape the nasty jams in the parking decks closer to the ballpark and arena. And with “The Lion King” opening a five-week run at Playhouse Square, there’s no reason for the parking operators to offer discounts.

We arrived about an hour ahead of the scheduled first pitch. The Indians provide fans with a “Batter Up” program that includes rosters and a parking guide. (It turns out there still are some garages/lots charging $5.)

Once inside Progressive Field, the health-conscious spouse quickly spotted the grilled chicken sandwich concession stand in the right-field concourse.

As we ate, she looked out on the field and noticed that the players were no longer taking infield practice.

They had been replaced by the field crew.

“Why are they rolling out the tarp?” she asked. Good question — there were no storm clouds hovering over the field.

However, the video board soon put up an alert that severe weather was expected within the hour.

The sportswriter ate quietly, mentally calculating that the new cost of the chicken sandwiches on the baseball/rock doubleheader.

It happens, and the money was already gone.

Having trouble facing reality, the sportswriter sprung for ice cream. But before the waffle cone was consumed, dark clouds were rolling in and the wind kicked up. Papers were flying through the concourse as fans scrambled from their seats for shelter (a tribute to life in the fast lane).

The cone cracked — a fitting omen. It was time to abandon the baseball portion of the evening. That led to a pleasant discovery, sort of a peaceful, easy feeling. If the ticket takers scan your ticket on the way out, it can be used for re-entry. (Take that, Miami Heat fans who left early at Game 6 of the NBA Finals and were not allowed back in.)

Once inside the Q, the storm hit. The sportswriter figured if the game was delayed an hour, maybe, just maybe the baseball game would still be going (it’s an American League city, after all) and maybe a little of the baseball half of the doubleheader could be salvaged.

It was not to be. After the Eagles ended the first set (“Take It to the Limit,” for anyone going to Consol Energy Center on July 23 and wanting to beat the bathroom rush), the sportswriter checked the phone for MLB scores. Somehow, the Indians and Blue Jays — rain delay and all — already were in the fifth inning.

When “Hotel California” closed the second set about 80 minutes later, the Indians had won, 3-0.

When “Desperado” ended the four-song encore, Progressive Field was empty.

The spouse was kind enough not to mention how the plan didn’t unfold as hoped. No one would have blamed her if she had channeled Ralph Kramden and Don Henley by saying “One of These Nights.”

Tom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.