SPORTS DIGEST, 4-1-09

SPORTS DIGEST, APRIL 1, 2009

HOLMES BEACH, FLORIDA 

QUICKIE LOOK BACK 

Our voyage to the Anna Maria Island has ended and we can honestly say we were not cheated by the weather. Three cloudy days with the daytime temps in the high 70's and rain that was there one minute and over there the next minute.

Despite the very scary economic issues, tourism was running full tilt  on the popular island of three cities just off the causeway from Bradenton. While I can state we were not weather cheated, we leave the Island and all of Florida fully knowing their desperate need for rain to end what has become three and a half years of drought. A drought that has become so serious that community leaders are setting down fines of up to $250.00 if a person is caught washing a car or watering a lawn.

MY PIRATES BEAT THE RAYS  - 

There are eight major league baseball teams who "winter" in Florida (and eight major league teams that now "winter" in Arizona) and we have spent the month of March in Bradenton which has hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates for 41 consecutive spring seasons.

This past weekend, with nine more games to go before heading north, the Bucs carried a record of 14-10-2 (ties are common in spring training) with nine games left to play. That put them on track for their first winning spring since 2003 when they left here at 14-12. The did play to a 14-14-2 in the 2005. The Pirates were, as of this past Saturday, third in the National League standings. The Phillies were 12th with a 10-13 record.

The worst part of being a today Pirate fan is that they are about to open a record setting year. For the past 16 seasons they have been under the .500 record. If that is the case this year they will set a new record for major league baseball for consecutive losing seasons. The only other team to string together a losing streak like that was the Phillies between 1933-1948.

TAKING NELLIE TO A GAME-

It was one of the rare cloudy days we have had here since March 1 so I felt it was a good time ask if we could pass up the beach and head across to see the Pirates play Tampa Bay.

"Wanna go see the Pirates play"
"Well, I guess if that is what you want to do." 

"Are you sure?" 

"I just said so. You want to go see a game. What time do we have to be there? ."

"We should get there early.  It could be a good one since the Pirates are playing Tampa Bay. You know, the team called the Rays who went from last to first last year in the American League. The team we watched in the World Series. Remember?"

"Oh yea. The guy who was from over in Pittston with the silver hair."

"Right." 

So we get there early, pay our five dollars to park in behind somebody's garage and got in the ticket line. We were able to get them for Section 18 down the right field line and up to Row 11. 

" Son of a gun. I see they have raised the ticket price. Ed, Jim and I just paid six bucks for those same seats. Today, eleven bucks a piece! But, heck, we are in and ready  to see a major league game."

Then the rains came. One of those typical afternoon Florida rains. Just came. Hangs around for a few minutes, long enough to make all things wet and then quits just as the PA guys tells us "There will be a 15 minute rain delay." 

We had joined hundreds of other ill equipped fans rushing for any overhang. Ours happened to be along Hot Dog Row , right in front of a serving window.

"Good time for a hot dog!", yells the vendor inside. "Please don't block the windows!"

We had no choice but to make a buy. 

She says, "Let's just get one hot dog and split it. Ok?"

I'm smiling because I know from many years past I will get the biggest half of the split because hot dogs are not high on her eating list.

"Ok. Get one.", says I.

We eat the dog and, with the sun now on our backs, we climb up into Section 18, Row 11 and find seats 19 and 20. She had been smart as they have these large rolls of napkin paper you can tear off. She took quite a bit off one of the rolls to use to dry the seats off.

We are seated among a mixture of  fans, the anthem was sung (as it was written, Jim) and the game began.

After one inning the Pirates lead 2-0 and our section is happy. Our team is up with good pitching (Zack Duke) and two walks ( Nyger Morgan and Andrew Mc Cutchen) followed by a double steal and a 2-run triple by former Ray Eric Hinske.

And the rains came.

This time the game played through the rain. Remember all of that napkin paper Nellie took? Out it comes and is placed on the top of her head to protect the hair as a swarm of those grey and white seagulls you see on the beach descended over and around the ball field. Swooping all around players and fans alike. Now she is most concerned about getting more than water on her head. Didn't happen.

Again the rain was short lived. The birds, that provided the extra entertainment, left the field and the Pirates went on to beat the Rays 4-1.

We are working to beat all of the traffic away from the ball park when she said, "I am glad I got you to a ball game. That's better than I did last year."

What else could I say but, "Thanks."

THAT'S 30