(Randy's perspective)
During the summer of 2015, life has gotten in the way. I know that phrase has become cliche'-ish, but it describes the past few months.
Penny and I had planned to continue our multi-year journey to visit every Major League Baseball park. We simply haven't been able to travel. An opening-day trip to Tampa Bay fell through when an outstanding dog named Stella - an abandoned, hungry, abused dog Penny rescued almost a decade ago from a Fairmont, West Virginia Cracker Barrel parking lot - fell terminally ill. We chose to hang with Stella during her last days.
After that, it was one obligation after another. Work overload. Work travel. Pre-scheduled stuff. All the usual distractions. And, let's be honest, this baseball adventure takes a lot of planning.
There's good news, however. Penny, after 35 years in the education business - as a teacher, an academic coach, an assistant principal, then a principal - retired. She worked until the end of June. Now she's adjusting to the next phase of her life. She has a little more time.
I am also looking forward to retirement. I hope to achieve retirement sometime around 2035.
Ok, enough of that. Everyone is busy.
As far as baseball goes, we didn't quit. We've taken in one Minor League and one Major League game. The Major League game was to a regular haunt, however: Orioles Park at Camden Yard.
Last month, we took in a South Atlantic League game in Charleston, West Virginia. Actually, it was Charleston visiting Charleston. The River Dogs from South Carolina vs. the West Virginia Power.
A couple of things about that experience.
The game itself was unremarkable. West Virginia, which actually is leading the division now (in the second half), was struggling in the first half. The Power got hammered.
The crowd was small and mellow. To cut the home team a break, it was a Sunday afternoon game, the temperature was in the mid 90's, and there were other attractions around town.
That, of course, never bothers one of the true "characters" in Minor League baseball: Rod "the Toastman" Blackstone, who attempts to always keep his section of the stadium lively.
Blackstone bellows all game long from his front-row seat along the third base line near the on-deck circle. He is a section leader, all game long holding signs that prompt cheers. No matter how bad the home team plays, Blackstone's cheers are insanely positive for the Power - and derisive toward the opponents. (My personal favorite: A foul ball by the Power, even if it's a tiny dribbler off the end of the bat is met with "STRONG MANLY FOUL! STRONG MANLY FOUL!" ... A foul ball by an opposing player, including screamers that fall just outside the line, receive the refrain "WEAK PIDDLY FOUL!")
Blackstone's signature move involves toast. When an opposing batter strikes out, the cheer is, "YOU ... ARE ... TOAST!" Replete with the Toastman tossing freshly made toast to the crowd.
I should add that the Power installed an outlet next to Blackstone's seats, allowing him to plug in his toaster. His loaf of bread and toaster rest on a cart. I meant to ask if the cart is also supplied by the home team.
I suggested to Penny that, with a slim crowd that Sunday, we should go hang out with the Toastman for a few innings.
I know Rod Blackstone from our "other" lives. I moved to Charleston, West Virginia in January 1998. I was a reporter for the Associated Press and spent many days covering the West Virginia governor's office. Blackstone in '98 was the press secretary for Gov. Cecil Underwood.
I should add that Blackstone is a Republican, as was the governor. Previously, however, he had worked many years for Democratic Congressman Bob Wise. In a weird twist of fate, Wise defeated Underwood in the 2000 gubernatorial race, a race in which Blackstone worked full-time on the Underwood re-election campaign. Wise was not amused
Now, Blackstone is now the Deputy Mayor of the City of Charleston.
And he is a good man.
I have read several web site comment sections where people say they tire of The Toastman's antics. Penny commented one day, unrelated to any story about The Toastman, that baseball people on the Internet can be mean.
True 'dat.
Regarding the Major League trip, last week we went to see Penny's favorite team and favorite park: the Orioles playing at Camden Yard. Penny's sister, Peggy, joined us. Peggy has been with us in Baltimore (four times), Washington and Philadelphia.
They've influenced me. The Orioles have become my second favorite team. The opponent on our evening in Baltimore was the team I have followed and cheered for all my life: the Atlanta Braves.
On this site, I have written about my history with and loyalty toward the Braves. I have also vented my frustrations about the various moves that have created a chasm between the Braves and us loyal fans. The end of national cable tv contracts, no more baseball on clear-channel WSB radio (which allowed me, in West Virginia, to hear every game if I chose), the trading of way too many fan favorite players, and the dismal erosion of what in the 90's and early 2000's was arguably the most solid, consistent organization in baseball.
No more, my friends. The Braves are a shell, apparently rebuilding - aiming at building success in two years when the move from Turner Field in south Atlanta to the white flight, suburban super-money of Marietta, Georgia. (Yes, yes, I know, it's a business. I get it.)
What I don't get though, is why the Braves recently traded one of the best closers in baseball (Craig Kimbrell), one of the most athletic players in the game (Jason Heyward), a fine clutch hitter and extremely popular player (Evan Gattis), a terrific young pitcher (Alex Wood) ... and that's just for starters. It's a fire sale. We're the damned Marlins.
This from a team that flirted with the playoffs last year and earned a Wild Card the year before.
All I can say is: I hope the trades work in the long run. I suppose all will be forgiven.
On our night in Baltimore, the Braves jumped out early. Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Braves a quick 2-0 lead. At that point, the highlights were over.
After Freeman's blast, the Braves stranded three runners in the first and only scored one meaningless other late-inning run during a 7-3 loss.
Penny and Peggy, the rabid Orioles fans, had a big 'ole time.
One other thing. The Orioles swept the series.
Ho-hum.
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