About two months ago, I was going through some baseball withdrawals. Here it is, in the middle of winter, and I was dreaming of the warm weather and some peanuts. I knew that there was baseball going on in places like Mexico and Puerto Rico, but I knew I wouldn't be traveling to those places anytime soon. I went to the Baseball Road Trip scripture, The Baseball Fans Bucket List, for some inspiration and found the idea of Fan Fest. I read how every true fan needed to go one of these events because of the experience. So, I decided to take it for face value, book a train ticket, fork over the ten bucks, and go.
Fan Fest really is an event to get people excited for the upcoming season. In the case of the Seattle Mariners, Safeco Field was decked out with dozens and dozens of different booths and attractions all baseball related. Whether it was ziplining over right field, catching pop flys in left, or engaging in question and answers over the dugout, it was an atmosphere that bleed baseball. An analogy I would use to describe Fan Fest would be this: if there were to be a State Fair of baseball, it would look something like Fan Fest.
When I got to Safeco, I immediately got into line to take a picture with Mariners General Manager Jack Zduriencik. I guess the best term to describe the Mariners GM is much-maligned. The internet is full of sites devoted to firing him. Considering how the Mariners seem to have been losing out on some top talent, namely Josh Hamilton this past of-season, it isn't too crazy to see where some of these fans are coming from. While waiting in line, these thoughts crossed my mind. Yet, in a way, being a General Manager for any professional team is a thankless job with constant skepticism of decisions and transactions. I can see where the naysayers are coming from, but I have sympathy for the man. I got my picture with him, smiled, expressed disappointment in Hamilton not going to Seattle, and moved on. I'm sure he got ribbed all day about it, so I hope that my small modicum of positive reinforcement brightened his situation some.
After getting my picture taken, I met up with an old friend from my days in the Peace Corps. He lives in Seattle and graciously decided to attend with me. I have harped over and over on this blog at how lonely Road Trips can get, so having someone to talk to and hang out with was really nice. I think he had fun and I hope that many of you will consider joining me on a baseball road trip!
After checking out some of the booths and taking a walk on the infield, we made our way up to the Dugout Dialogue to do some questions and answers with the players. When we showed up, Mariner players Michael Morse, Franklin Gutierrez, and Michael Saunders were participating. Granted, a lot of the questions were asked by kids and they generally consisted of "What did you want to be when you grew up?" or "What's your favorite food?" While cute, I was interested in some more serious questions about being a Seattle.
With the microphone piped in over the entire ballpark, I decided to ask the three Major League players a question.
"With the AL West becoming so stacked with talent top-to-bottom, how will you adjust your game to this tough division?"
I was surprised how newly-obtained Mariner Michael Morse answered the question. In a very educated and sophisticated dialogue, he explained how these teams that quickly went out and got high-priced talent, meaning the LA Angels, are shooting to win today. The Mariners, by his opinion, were building for a successful team over the long run. It was a valid answer and I am glad that he was honest, if brutally so. Mariners fans have endured some lean years and may have caught the bug of paying for that high-priced talent now. For their biggest acquisition to be that blunt and honest is something that I respect in a ballplayer.
Once the three players ended, the next speaker came up. This was the headline speaker and someone that I had really been excited to hear speak. Legendary Mariners Designated Hitter Edgar Martinez has been in the news recently for being on this year's Hall of Fame ballot that produced no inductees to Coopsterstown. On the ballot, Edgar finished one vote behind infamous hitter Barry Bonds. On the train ride up, I was so interested in what he would have to say about the whole Hall of Fame, steroid, and Barry Bonds subject. You knew that the question was going to be asked and that he would have to answer it. My baseball senses were on high alert.
Yes, someone did ask it. Edgar really evaded the question and said that "baseball was doing everything it could" to fix the problem. He added by saying that the problem was "going away." In the political world, we call that ducking the question.
As many of you know me, I wasn't going to be satisfied with that. So, with all these people watching, I stood up and asked another question.
"This alludes to a previous question. Edgar, I think I speak for all of us here in saying that you're a Hall of Famer in our book. *applause* That being said, what is the one thing you would say to the Baseball Writers Association?"
Again, interestingly, he sort of evaded the spirit of the question by making his answer all about the position of the DH being considered for the Hall and not about use of PEDs. The whole back and forth on this topic made me think for the entire train ride home. Maybe in a few days I will write a more substantial post about this. I have a lot of feelings regarding this, and I think I'll chew on it for a day or two.
After the q&a, we decided to head down onto the field to catch some fly balls. In homage to my exceptional softball skills playing left field, I caught all three balls in the hard line. I was pretty proud of myself for reaffirming my position in the upcoming season. It was the first time I had actually used the baseball glove in my backpack.
Fan Fest was a ton of fun. I have to agree with the Bucket List, every true baseball fan should go. It was totally worth the ten dollars I paid to get in. Heck, just the q&a with Edgar Martinez was worth it. While it wasn't a literal baseball game, the place just oozed with baseball. There was a great vibe from the crowd and it did a wonderful job of getting me excited for the season. When it comes to experiences, this ranks towards the top of my list.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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