Who Let the Dogs Out?

And yet another baseball road trip is being concluded while on the train. Today was the final day of the Puget Sound 2013, and I am very glad to be going home. The train is running on time, and I cannot wait to curl up in my bed and go to sleep. Like all baseball road trips, I'm plum wore-out, but the experience was well worth the time, effort and money.

When I last left all of you, I was sitting on the bus going down to Tacoma. Once we got there, we dropped off our bags at the train station and made our way to the game. One of the unique aspects about my trips to Tacoma is the reliance on public transportation while there. I was really excited to share that experience with someone and show them just how taking public transportation can enhance the experience by so much.

I knew we had some time to kill, so we boarded to light rail into downtown Tacoma to grab a bite to eat. There was a neat little brew pub just a block away from the last light rail stop where we had an early lunch and just relaxed for about an hour. We ordered way too much food, so it meant we didn't have to shell out the bucks at the game for food. It was a little tucked away and I doubt we would've found it had we not gone downtown. 

We boarded the Number 2 bus out to Cheney Stadium about a quarter after noon. This particular bus goes through the middle of downtown, along a main drag and lets you off about a half mile walk from Cheney Stadium. It traverses some quaint neighborhoods, but also some rough projects. As a result, you see some unique and varied people use that bus line. This is an aspect that is not experienced while in a car.

We got to Cheney Stadium about 45 minutes before the first pitch. I had no idea that today was "Dog Day" at the park. Hundreds of dogs were in attendance, some of whom sat right next to us. Before the game, we roamed the park just saying "hi" to as many canines as we could. All of the dogs were VERY friendly and seemed genuinely thrilled to see a baseball game. I remember when I took my dog to a Portland Beavers game a few years back, and it was just as much fun then as it was now. 

Probably the one promotion the Rainiers did that got the most attention was the dog Bat Boy. Just like in Greensboro (Baseball Extravaganza 2009), a dog would trot out to the field to pick up the bat. A difference between Greensboro and Tacoma, however, was that the Tacoma dog had a hard time focusing between innings. Instead of getting the bat, the dog would run to the mound and get the ball that the umpire had thrown out in preparation for the next inning. Bad dog...lol. 

Amidst all the barking of dogs, Cheney Stadium seems to be holding up quite well with the new renovations. What I like about Cheney is that the character of the old park is still very much intact. The Rainiers organization did a great job of recognizing the good practices they had established and brought them back into the fold, even with a renovated ballpark. I commend the organization for this.

For the second straight year, we got a great game for Tacoma too. The Rainiers scored two runs in the bottom of the eight to overcome a 4-3 deficit to beat the Fresno Grizzlies 5-4. 

After the game, we got on the bus, transferred to the light rail and walked back to the train station to catch the train going home. 

Yes, one heck of a long day with some crazy experiences. We're scheduled to get back to Eugene at midnight, so I'll probably head straight to bed. I'll probably pen a final thoughts either tomorrow or Tuesday, so keep an eye out. 

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)