WE HAD SEASONS IN THE SUN: Usually Magnolia Prep field trips are a Monday affair, but we bumped it up a day this week so that we could take the kids to the last Mariners game of the season. There will be no playoffs for the Ms - today's the end of the road. Of course we had to be there. We were there for the season opener, and the storybook return of Ken Griffey Jr., and you had to know we'd be there for what could be Junior's last game as a Mariner-or his last game EVER. And so we donned our Mariners "uniforms" for one final time in 2009, swung by Queen Anne to pick up Rick, and then headed for 'The Safe."
First stop: The centerfield play park. While pre-game festivities were going on, the kids clambered around the slides and tubes and nets and such. Christian headed for a concession stand to score the kids a Moose Meal.
Eventually, the National Anthem came on. I stood in the play park, facing the flag, and wishing more people would remove their hats. I was also wishing CeeJ and Bee would somehow miraculously hear the song and come out of the playground and face the flag. A ridiculous wish, I realize, as it was the wild west in there! I watched and listened to Old Glory flap on a very windy day, and at one point I glanced over to my right and there was CJ, standing stoically, silently and at attention, staring at the flag. I was very proud of him.
We headed to our seats - the bleachers in left center field. We were facing southward and staring into a strong October sun. Man oh man was it hot. How ironic that today, October 3, was by far the hottest game of the season we sat through. In fact, by the second inning I handed Rick $20 and gave him the directive to go find sunscreen (which he did, thank goodness).
And what a game it was. I'm not going to pretend that there was a lot - or any - Magnolia Prep-type learning going on. Rather, today was about sitting in the sun and savoring the moment. There would be no more baseball for five months.
And so we luxuriated in the moments - in watching future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. come up for his first at bat and tip his hat to the crowd. Magic. And we saw Cy Young candidate Felix Hernandez pitch 7-plus strong innings. Amazing. We saw Junior get a hit in his last (ever?) at bat. We saw closer David Aardsma come in in the 9th and slam the door shut on the Texas Rangers. And we saw the whole team embrace one another, and everyone was watching Junior, who was crying and not even trying very hard to hide it. I've been watching him for 20 years now. I've never seen him cry before.
Though the team finished just barely above .500, as jubilant as the fans and players were, you would have thought the Mariners just clinched a playoff spot. What was going on here? We saw Ichiro carried on a teammate's shoulders like a hero - which he is. Likewise, we saw Griffey hoisted up (no small feat!) and paraded around the ballpark.
Really, it was just a big ol' love fest - a bunch of people who love watching baseball, and a bunch of guys who love playing it. And really, that's why it was so much fun this season. For the fans and the players, it was all about: For love of the game.
I can't wait until April 12.
THIS GUY WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART: On the drive home, listening to the post-game show, catcher Rob Johnson was being interviewed. When asked what it was like to play with future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, he replied, "This guy will always be in my heart." Amen to that. Junior played in an era when cheating was the norm (yes, I'm talking about you A-Roid). But Junior always took the high road. He played hard and played clean and his accomplishments are amazing and have no * after them. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to watch him all these years.
And, of course, Junior was interviewed. He was asked what his favorite part of this season was and he said without hesitation it was being with his teammates. He said that to a man, they were each the type that you could call and ask for help and they'd be there. That's something that's hard to put a price on. Junior also made it pretty darn clear that he'd like to be back next year. I have to think that will happen. It's just the way this story is supposed to end.
BASEBALL HOUR: Before the game, we read an eye candy book about what goes on at a youth baseball practice. The photo realistic illustrations by Bill Thomson are in sepia tones-except for the baseball, which is always a bright white with red stitching, which makes it really pop off the page. For whatever reason, CJ asked that we read the book upside down, so we did the first time through.
First stop: The centerfield play park. While pre-game festivities were going on, the kids clambered around the slides and tubes and nets and such. Christian headed for a concession stand to score the kids a Moose Meal.
Eventually, the National Anthem came on. I stood in the play park, facing the flag, and wishing more people would remove their hats. I was also wishing CeeJ and Bee would somehow miraculously hear the song and come out of the playground and face the flag. A ridiculous wish, I realize, as it was the wild west in there! I watched and listened to Old Glory flap on a very windy day, and at one point I glanced over to my right and there was CJ, standing stoically, silently and at attention, staring at the flag. I was very proud of him.
We headed to our seats - the bleachers in left center field. We were facing southward and staring into a strong October sun. Man oh man was it hot. How ironic that today, October 3, was by far the hottest game of the season we sat through. In fact, by the second inning I handed Rick $20 and gave him the directive to go find sunscreen (which he did, thank goodness).
And what a game it was. I'm not going to pretend that there was a lot - or any - Magnolia Prep-type learning going on. Rather, today was about sitting in the sun and savoring the moment. There would be no more baseball for five months.
And so we luxuriated in the moments - in watching future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. come up for his first at bat and tip his hat to the crowd. Magic. And we saw Cy Young candidate Felix Hernandez pitch 7-plus strong innings. Amazing. We saw Junior get a hit in his last (ever?) at bat. We saw closer David Aardsma come in in the 9th and slam the door shut on the Texas Rangers. And we saw the whole team embrace one another, and everyone was watching Junior, who was crying and not even trying very hard to hide it. I've been watching him for 20 years now. I've never seen him cry before.
Though the team finished just barely above .500, as jubilant as the fans and players were, you would have thought the Mariners just clinched a playoff spot. What was going on here? We saw Ichiro carried on a teammate's shoulders like a hero - which he is. Likewise, we saw Griffey hoisted up (no small feat!) and paraded around the ballpark.
Really, it was just a big ol' love fest - a bunch of people who love watching baseball, and a bunch of guys who love playing it. And really, that's why it was so much fun this season. For the fans and the players, it was all about: For love of the game.
I can't wait until April 12.
THIS GUY WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART: On the drive home, listening to the post-game show, catcher Rob Johnson was being interviewed. When asked what it was like to play with future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, he replied, "This guy will always be in my heart." Amen to that. Junior played in an era when cheating was the norm (yes, I'm talking about you A-Roid). But Junior always took the high road. He played hard and played clean and his accomplishments are amazing and have no * after them. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to watch him all these years.
And, of course, Junior was interviewed. He was asked what his favorite part of this season was and he said without hesitation it was being with his teammates. He said that to a man, they were each the type that you could call and ask for help and they'd be there. That's something that's hard to put a price on. Junior also made it pretty darn clear that he'd like to be back next year. I have to think that will happen. It's just the way this story is supposed to end.
BASEBALL HOUR: Before the game, we read an eye candy book about what goes on at a youth baseball practice. The photo realistic illustrations by Bill Thomson are in sepia tones-except for the baseball, which is always a bright white with red stitching, which makes it really pop off the page. For whatever reason, CJ asked that we read the book upside down, so we did the first time through.
All children see the world upside down (it's a lens thing) until one day their brains flip the image over. Maybe CJ is in that transition. ????
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