The old ball game

[susandennis]

I'm afraid the Mariners have ruined me. I have long been a huge fan of minor league baseball. The baseball played by guys who are the very best in their high schools and colleges and not nearly good enough yet to play in the major leagues. They are barely old enough to shave and some are tiny and they are so so so young in every way.

And the ballparks are old and rickety or just rickety or built out of aluminum. The profit margins are thin and every penny is squeezed until it screams. They will do anything to get people into the park for a game. There are major shenanigans between every inning. Some are fun and some are silly and some are good times to go pee or get something to drink.

The baseball is mostly really bad. It's always been bad but my point of comparison with watching live baseball had not been tempered with a lot of major league ball. So I didn't really realize how bad. Bad.

Last night we went to an Everett Aquasox game.



They do have the cutest logo in baseball. It was blazing hot in the sun but we managed to find shade. And it was fun. There was one guy, playing for the other team, who looked like he really did have a chance to make it to the big leagues. But the rest were just postponing real life, I'm afraid.

But before that, we had lunch at a very very cool place. zyzyly reminded me of it when he reported on eating at a McMenamins place in Oregon. From their website "McMenamins has been a neighborhood gathering spot throughout Oregon and Washington since 1983. We handcraft our own beer, wine, cider, spirits and coffee. We offer an eclectic mix of pubs, historic hotels, movie theaters, concert venues, spas, events and just pure fun—join in!"

I remembered there was one in Bothell (a town north of here) that I had long wanted to check out because I had heard they had a swimming pool. So we headed there for lunch. It's an old school that is now a hotel, several restaurants, theater, and fabulous swimming pool!

The pool is:

1. Open to the public ($7 for seniors)
2. salt water
3. open from 7-9am for laps (no children)
4. open every single day of the year

And it is a, very odd, 37 yards long. (My every day pool and most lap pools in the US are 25 yards.) I am very excited about this. It's a 30 minute drive from here and so not one I would do often but on holidays when my pool is closed and there is no traffic on the road? ABSOLUTELY!!! And maybe even on odd weekend days, maybe, for a treat.

Also the food was delicious and they are open for post swim breakfast. What a find!!

Comments

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

We love our Kansas City T-Bones, too. They have a very nice, modern stadium about fifteen minutes from the house, cheap tickets, free parking, and as you say, shenanigans between the innings. It's a great place for a group outing.

[susandennis]

I'm surprised to hear that Kansas City has a minor league team! It's rare to have one in the same city as a major league team. But yep. Cheap tickets, cold beer, fun. And 15 minutes from home is PERFECT!

Fun fact. I went to my very first major league baseball game in Kansas City. It was 1955 and I was 6. It was the Kansas City Athletics. They played 12 innings and won with a home run. I thought it was splendid.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

The Royals are in KCMO, and the T-Bones are in Kansas City, Kansas. All the same metro area, but that's probably the catch. And it's not a farm club-type minor league team.

I've been to the K exactly once in my life, about 30 years ago. Honestly, I can do without $45 parking and $12 beer. (I made up those prices, but I bet they're on the low side.)

[susandennis]

ahhhh interesting about the non-farm team. that would add some coolness. i forget about the 2 kc's. we were an MO family. But, it's been a while :)

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

You were in my neighborhood! If it's dark out and the Aquasox stadium lights are on, I can tell.

[susandennis]

cool!!

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

That's so cool about that pool!

[susandennis]

And I never would have found it without you so ... THANKS!!!!

p.s. I'm enjoying your trip enormously. Thanks for sharing it.