My Minor League season came to an end this past weekend, and it is of endings that I will be talking about today. Sure, it was my final games at Inland Empire and up in the High Desert, but it also was a send-off of an all-to-familiar feeling. The bottom line is that the 66ers are facing an uncertain future, and the Mavericks are picking up and leaving the California League for North Carolina.
Saturday was the last 66ers game of 2016 for me. In all, I went to 34 games at San Manuel Stadium, which is 8 more than last season. It certainly didn't hurt matters that I was getting paid to be there and getting free tickets to keep score for Baseball Info Solutions. However, it's my home park, and I very much enjoy going to games there. The atmosphere is so fun, they draw great crowds, the food is good, beer is cold, promotions are unique, and staff is friendly. I don't think I had established such roots for a home park since my heady days with the Emeralds at Civic Stadium.
The storm clouds are gathering, however, when it comes to San Manuel Stadium. It doesn't seem like it, but the ballpark is 20-years old this year, and in certain places, it's starting to show her age. The concrete is cracking, some painting needs to be done, and some other things I've noticed in my limited building rehabilitation knowledge. Since the ballpark is owned by the City of San Bernardino, the team is asking for their help in paying for these repairs. Well, the City of San Bernardino doesn't have a whole lot of money as their beginning to emerge from municipal bankruptcy. From what I can see, there is a desire by the City leaders to fund the repairs, but the money just simply isn't there. Negotiations are on-going, so hopefully something can be worked out. The 66ers did renew their player development agreement with the Angels for another two years, which has to signal their optimism in a deal being reached.
It's the same story up in the High Desert, but with a wholly different ending. High Desert became my "easy" road trip. I made six trips up to Mavericks Stadium this season. It reminded me of those trips to Portland I used to do a few years ago. I had developed a good routine while there, got to know some of the people who worked there, and became familiar with the intricacies of the stadium. While it certainly didn't have the charm that old PGE Park in Portland had, it did have a unique niche that I enjoyed.
I had written earlier in the year about the troubles the Mavericks franchise was having at that stadium. They were in a bitter legal struggle with the City of Adelanto over the stadium where it eventually crested into the team being forcibly evicted from the stadium. A County judge put a moratorium on the eviction until after the season, but us baseball junkies had an inkling that the writing was on the wall. This past week, High Desert and Bakersfield announced they were departing the California League for good and moving to Kinston and Fayetteville, NC, respectively. The move will be done the minute their seasons place over, which for both teams will be after postseason play.
So, as a result, Sunday was my final visit to Adelanto. It was bittersweet seeing the Mavericks take the field for that last time. It dawned on me that I had been party to now three separate teams departing stadiums as I witnessed the Eugene Emeralds leave Civic Stadium, the Portland Beavers leave PGE Park, and now the High Desert Mavericks leaving Mavericks Stadium. Trust me, folks, this is a distinction that I do not relish.
As the next weekend approaches, I'm about to set off on my now-annual Angels Road Trip for 2016. Last year, I went to Minneapolis to see the Halos play, combining it with trips to Milwaukee and Chicago. This year, I'm heading north to the Bay Area to see them play the A's at the Coliseum. I haven't been to the Coliseum since 2007, so I'm due for a return. I'll post an itinerary tomorrow.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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