Friday, May 25, 2012

Lessons Learned in San Diego


As a courtesy to others, guests are asked to refrain from walking in aisles during player at-bats from the top of the second inning until the conclusion of the game. Guest Services Representatives are provided with handheld signs to remind guests to observe this policy.

--“Aisle Policy,” posted on the San Diego Padres website

Thus Petco Park ushers gave Angels fans some badly-needed schooling in common courtesy last weekend. Meanwhile, on the field, the Angels got schooled in the intricacies of National League-style baseball, and left town with only one win in the three-game series--and two outfielders on the disabled list.

Notwithstanding this dismal outcome, for me the series illustrated the superiority of the National League style of baseball.  Lacking the designated hitter rule, National League managers must make difficult strategic decisions their American League counterparts are spared:  Does the situation call for pinch hitting for the starting pitcher, even though he may be good for another inning or two?  If the pitcher needs to be relieved, is a double switch in order?  Mike Scioscia found it necessary to make both these moves, but his counterpart, Bud Black, clearly had the advantage in that he is accustomed to making such decisions every day.

After splitting the first two games, the teams met for the rubber match Sunday afternoon.  It turned out to be a 13-inning donnybrook, which the Padres won 3-2.  It was one of the most bizarre baseball games I have ever witnessed.  Rather than trying to describe it here, I refer you to this account:  http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120520&content_id=31811210&notebook_id=31851010&vkey=notebook_ana&c_id=ana

Petco Park is second only to San Francisco’s AT&T Park as California’s best venue for watching baseball.  Opened in 2004, Petco occupies the ground immediately southeast of the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which probably offers the best combination of live music and good food of any neighborhood west of New Orleans.  Petco is architecturally distinct from other ballparks of its generation, favoring sandstone and stucco in lieu of brick. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petco_Park.  Yet along the left field line, it incorporates the century-old brick structure that housed the Western Metal Supply Company, a feature reminiscent of the warehouse at Baltimore’s Camden Yards. 

Petco is also a great place to watch baseball because of its fan-friendly policies.  In addition to the aforementioned policy of staying out of the aisles during at-bats, the Padres have distinguished themselves from their northern neighbors with the following welcome policies, just under the “B”s:


BEACH BALLS
Inflatable items (such as beach balls, bats, dolls, etc.), Frisbees, and other similar objects are prohibited inside PETCO Park.

BICYCLE PAVILION
The Bicycle Pavilion will be open and available for all Padres Sunday games during the 2011 season. The Bicycle Pavilion, located at Park Boulevard and Tony Gwynn Drive allows fans to park their bicycles in a secured area staffed by a Padres representative.

BIKE PARKING
Bicycle stands are available for use during all ballpark events by guests and Team Members outside the Home Plate, Park Boulevard, Gaslamp, Downtown and Balboa Gates.


The Padres are to be commended for being bicycle friendly, and for banning egregious distractions like beach balls and moving in the aisles while the game is in play.  The Angels management would be wise to learn from their example and act affirmatively to curb the boorish behavior of far too many Angels “fans.”

What’s a ballpark without food?  Petco’s concessions offer all the unhealthy junk food you can get at any ballpark, but also offers some unexpected treats like the fish and chips offered by Anthony’s Seafood Grotto in the Mercado on the field level.  Also, beer is a relative bargain here.  For $10.00, one can get 24 ounces of a premium brew such as Karl Strauss Brewing Company’s excellent Red Trolley Ale.  (The only comparable deal I’ve discovered in Anaheim is for a Firestone IPA at the pizza window.  For a similar quantity of Guinness, be prepared to pay a couple of bucks more.)

One of the best things about Petco is its accessibility by rail.  There are two trolley stops nearby, and the trolley connects with the Coaster commuter line, as well as Amtrak California’s Pacific Surfliner.  The Surfliner is Amtrak’s third busiest line, and one of its most scenic.  It hugs the coast from Dana Point to Solana Beach, offering passengers unsurpassed ocean views.  Sandwiches and snacks are available, and is the excellent Stone IPA, brewed by Stone Brewing Company in Escondido.  (In the past, I’ve been enjoyed the IPA’s delightfully dark sister brew, Arrogant Bastard, on this journey, but it hasn’t been available of late, perhaps due to complaints about the name.)

The Surfliner delivered me from Irvine to downtown San Diego in less than two hours.  There were plenty of Angels fans on board, identifiable by their red attire.  The plethora of Angels fans presented a problem on the return trip.  For logistical reasons, I had planned to catch the train in Oceanside.  Due to the length of the Sunday game, we rushed to get there in time for the 7:05 departure, only to discover that the train was sold out.  The next one was at 10:00, so there was plenty of time for dinner.  We ended up at Ruby’s (a chain pseudo-50s diner) on the Oceanside Pier.  It was OK, but in retrospect, a better choice would have been Rim Talay Thai Cuisine on Mission Avenue.  The last train was less than full, but with plenty of red-clad passengers.  I was home before midnight after a long, but enjoyable weekend.




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