Three games in three days

A week ago, I was glowing and it wasn't just because of the California sun. I had completed a baseball pilgrimage attending three games in three days. It was an amazing experience. I watched the Padres, Dodgers and Angels all duel in their respective parks. Little did they know I was taking notes.

Game 1 – Saturday August 18, PETCO Park, San Diego, Calif.

It was a picture perfect day and San Diego was a great place to start.

The seats: Toyota Terrace level, in Section 204

The game: A sellout crowd of 44,272 watched the Houston Astros and their elite pitcher Roy Oswalt start. The game featured defense, defense and more defense. Padres’ outfielder Terrmel Sledge made SportsCenter’s Top 10 for his home run robbing catch in leftfield, but Houston won 3-2.


PETCO’s positives: The environment is a huge plus, there didn’t appear to be a bad seat in the house. The fans were ruckus at times trying to lift their Padres to victory and the fans appreciated the great defensive plays. Going into the bottom of the ninth the Mission Bells appeared, which was a unique symbol to rally behind.

PETCO’s negatives: The seventh inning stretch was a downer as they played a pre-recorded version with singers that drowned out the crowd. Also, the traditional ballpark hot dogs were just so-so. And too much butt rock was played. Maybe, the San Diego fans have a love affair with the 80s, but in my opinion “butt rock” and baseball don’t go together.

Game 2 – Sunday August 19, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.

The seats: Infield Lodge Box, Section 140

The game: The division rival Colorado Rockies were in town for the hottest starting temperature of the season. The game felt sleepy, as the two battled for 14 innings the previous night. L.A. coughed up their lead in the top of eighth, only to retake it in the bottom half of the inning. L.A. closer Takashi Saito was the most impressive player, striking out the side with filthy stuff. Dodgers won 4-3.

Dodger Stadium’s positives: The location of the stadium is a huge draw. Dodger Stadium was easy to access and did not feel like it was in the city. The view of the tree-line Elysian hills behind it and San Gabriel Mountains beyond was striking. The fans were very passionate. The crowd of 48,734 was louder and more obnoxious than their San Diego counterparts.

Dodger Stadium’s negatives: The stadium is dated. It was built in 1962 and shows. The main scoreboard needs to be replaced, the seats are noticeably smaller and the men’s restroom had a giant trough. Not to mention the sound from the speakers was muffled. This place needs a facelift desperately.

Game 3 – Monday August 20, Angel Stadium, Anaheim, Calif.

The seats: Field MVP level, Section 125

The game: Another sellout crowd watched as the Angels took on their hated rival from New York, the Yankees. The seesaw game featured lots of offense, but had to be settled in extra innings. Catcher Ryan Budde’s second career hit in the 10th inning earned him his first career RBI as the Angels won 7-6.

Angel Stadium’s positives: The stadium appears to be one of the older parks in professional baseball, but the ten-year-old renovations on the inside are great. One of the nicest features of the stadium is the number of scoreboards, showing everything from pitch counts to out of town scores and player’s stats. The rally monkey commercials were also a bonus.

Angel Stadium’s negatives: The inside of Angel Stadium resembles the outside of a NASCAR racecar. Advertising is plastered everywhere and detracts from the overall experience. You couldn’t even escape the commercial messages between innings as the stadium did an AT&T phone poll giveaway and a Chevy SUV Race on the main scoreboard.

IMPRESSIONS

Again, I had a blast. Baseball is a game for the ages and I would repeat this experience in a heartbeat.

Best Game – This is an easy one, Angels-Yankees. Their rivalry in its current form goes back to the 2002 playoffs, where Anaheim became known as the “Yankee killers.” Watching a walk-off win for the home team is special. Padres-Astros were a close second.

Best Park – This one belongs to the Padres. PETCO Park is in a class of its own in Southern California. The newest baseball stadium in the region provides fans with an intimate experience and showcases the best views of downtown San Diego.

Best Hog Dog – I ate hot dogs at every stadium and surprisingly, the best hot dog I ate was at Angel Stadium. Touted by many as the best hot dog in baseball, the Dodger Dog didn’t live up to all its hype. What made the Angel’s hot dog the best, was the fresh bun.

Best Experience – Even though they sung “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” twice, my best experience was in Angel Stadium. Who doesn’t love extra baseball for free or watching a walk-off win? More importantly who doesn’t love it when the Yankees loose?

Blogger's Note: All photo's are For Pete's Sake originals taken by Pete.