However, I take solace in the bits and pieces of my life now, living in Southern California, that have been extremely positive. On top of this list has to be all of the baseball I have seen and I'm planning to go see. The thought of doing baseball every weekend, no matter the level, is something that gives me an escape from the frustrations I have encountered. This past weekend really was indicative of how important it is for me to do these Baseball Road Trips and to continue pushing the limits of the experiences to have something new every weekend for the rest of the season. It reaffirmed that no matter how bleak things may be, sticking with the small parts of individuality that you enjoy can blot out negativity and, in some cases, reverse the effects.
Up until a few weeks ago, I had planned to use this Saturday as a day of rest. Coming back from Oregon and getting settled in was expected to be tiring, but after looking at some various schedules, I saw that my alma mater, the Oregon Ducks, were going to be in Westwood to play the UCLA Bruins. I knew that this was an opportunity to see my hometown team on the road, see a new ballpark, and see just a tiny glimpse of my home here in this unfamiliar environment.
Westwood is about a ninety minute drive from here in Highland, without traffic. While on the way, however, I kept reminding myself how much I love the Metrolink and public transportation because every freeway in LA, especially the 405, was clogged with massive amounts of traffic. Here it is, a Saturday evening, and I'm stuck in traffic on the 405. It was frustrating and, had it not been for my work schedule and the game time, I would have definitely taken public transportation and ridden my bike. I'm so glad that the majority of my trips around the area are easily undertaken via alternative methods of transport, otherwise I would probably go crazy sitting in traffic jams.
When it comes to the stadium itself, Jackie Robinson Stadium is very small. In doing a little research, it is apparently the smallest stadium in the conference. This has the benefit of making a real intimate setting and giving a real intimate feel to the stadium and the seating. Outside of that, there are no real frills or gimmicks to the park. This surprised me considering that UCLA has been very successful in baseball and that they won the National Championship last year. I guess after seeing the parks at USC and Cal State Fullerton, which have very rich traditions and use it to their home-field advantage, everything else seems like a letdown.
Oregon used some solid pitching and clutch defense to beat the Bruins 4-1. UCLA loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Oregon pitcher Darrell Hunter was able to induce an inning-ending double play to quash the threat.
My original plan was to wake up early and catch the 7am train so I could ride my bike to the beach. After getting back post-midnight and after working all day, I decided to skip that journey, take my normal 9am train and just ride around Orange. This turned out to be a good decision for me on two fronts: first, the winds shifted and even from Anaheim Canyon to the Big A was a struggle as I faced a brutal headwind. I don't think I would have been able to go like that for 20 miles down into Newport. Secondly, because of the winds, smoke from all the raging fires in San Diego was blown into Orange County. The smoke wasn't necessarily thick, but it would have made a 20 mile bike ride really unpleasant.
I decided to explore a little around downtown Orange further, and I identified a couple more neat-looking brewpubs and restaurants that I might want to try out in the future. While I really do like the Ruby's Diner at the train station, exploration isn't necessarily a bad thing in this case. I also found a bike boulevard that makes it easier to bypass some of the busier streets I had been navigating prior.
While on the train ride down, I spoke a man who was taking his family to the Angels game. He expressed to me some frustration about how the train got you close to ballpark, but not close enough for a quick walking jaunt. I told him about my real enjoyment with cycling to the games and how convenient it was, and he responded that he would really like to do that with his kids next time. Considering how I have gotten to know the Bike Trails and routes around the Big A and Orange, I'm comfortable now advocating that mode of transportation to others. Wouldn't it be a lot of fun to get a group of people to put their bikes on the train, get off at Anaheim Canyon, ride to the game, get some drinks (21 and over, of course) afterwards, and put our bikes on the train home? Yeah, that would be awesome...
I was really excited to see Cy Young Award winner David Price pitch for the Rays. He had been the subject of a lot of speculation in the trade rumor circuit throughout the off-season, but I was sure he would be lights-out on Sunday. To the contrary, however, Albert Pujols decided to turn David Price into his own Batting Practice Pitcher. Pujols went 3-4 with two homers as Price gave up six runs in a 6-2 Angels victory. It got so bad that I was surprised Rays coach Joe Maddon left Price in as long as he did considering how the Angels kept getting hit after hit off of him.
After the game, the Angels hosted a game between Army and Marine Purple Heart recipients from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Considering the players on the field, it was an easy decision to stick around and support these real heroes. The teams invited fans who stuck around to sit around the dugouts and cheer for them. This was the easiest part of the entire trip as seeing men and women who had been injured in the service of our country playing the game I love. Even though I am partial to the USMC, I gladly cheered for both teams.
This was an event, and I usually have a couple each year, that transcend the game and make you realize just how Baseball Road Trips are about learning more about yourself and life experiences. Seeing the Army third baseman fielding grounders on a prosthetic right leg because he lost it in an IED attack puts things in a different reality. I left the stadium with a proud feeling, yes, but also a feeling of anger and sorrow. These men and women aren't much older or younger than me, and we sent them into a war that we never should have been involved with. It also frustrated me to know that a lot of these heroes are being denied access to medical care, both physically and mentally, because of a politically motivated bureaucracy. Aside from these political aspects, you realize that going to baseball games and enjoying the greatness of Baseball Road Trips was made possible by people such as these men and women, and we need to support them, no matter what.
With Memorial Day weekend coming up, baseball will most certainly dominate my social calendar. However, because of the long weekend, I'm pushing everything forward a day. This will give me a free Saturday night for a change, and I'm planning on meeting some friends down here in Highland and Redlands for some drinks. So, the schedule is for Sunday to travel into Anaheim to see the Angels play the Kansas City Royals, and then Monday I will go up to Lancaster to see the 66ers play the Jethawks. Lancaster is a new ballpark for me, bringing my lifetime total to 56 professional ballparks.
Until we talk this weekend...
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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