An Almost Perfect Day at TheTrop - With Two Dirty Old Men

I really wasn't looking forward to today's game, to be honest with you.  The Trop is not Baseball Paradise, and any of you who have been there, or who have witnessed a game on TV, can corroborate.  Plus, my 72 year old Dad and his 68 year old male/former bus driver/former New Jersey resident would be my companions.  Now, my 6'4" father takes up the air in any room he enters, and his proud to have passed his asshole gene to his son, so this would definitely be a public spectacle.  Oh, and the Sox suck in domes, especialy Tampa as of late (my last game witnessed there being the playoff game with larry, who takes up NO air whatsoever), and Matt Garza, he of the sub-2 ERA before today's game would be facing our 6 ERA-certain-to-regress-to-the-mean Gavin Floyd.  Plus, we had our Sunday "B" line-up, with Goggles at 3rd, the Bridge at short, andf BA in center.   I also was not hopeful that Getz would do well against Garza (I thought he'd be overpowered), so I foresaw 4 consecutive outs by our 8-2 hitters all game long.

I am happy to report that, other than my Dad's behavior, which after witnessing for 50+ years I believe I have a Kreskin-like ability to predict, the day was about as good as it gets.  I had purchased what I considered expensive tickets but was only hoping for good location.  I didn't realize that for $115 the seat was a sky-box-like seat with all you could eat and drink (beer and wine).  And not just dogs, sausage, and wings eats, but slicked turkey and beef (cut while you wait), salads, and a marvelous dessert tray.  Oh, and a waiter named Raymond who was going to "serve our every need". 

Still, it was the Trop.  A pre-game "documentary" inluded the life and times of the clubhouse manager.  I am not joking - the video took you through a work day in his life - scrubbing stains out of Longoria's pants, putting them in the washer, cleaning out clubhouse sinks, vacuuming the clubhouse carpet, and hanging up the clothes when he pulled them out of the dryer.  Scintillating stuff.

And bunting - lots of bunting adorning the railings.  I thought maybe someone had forgotten to take it down after the World Series, but I was informed that since Longoria was presented with his ROY award at yesterday's game, and Maddon was getting his AL Manager of the Year award before today's game they wanted to keep the atmosphere festive and positive.  (Remember in '06 when the Sox got their rings for the WS championship before a game?  The promptly lost.  So I was hopeful that the "nostalgia" would not help the Rays focus on today.)

In the meantime, my Dad and his buddy were scoping out women.  I kid you not.  They were 16 years old again, bird-dogging any woman with a heartbeat.  I mean, I never looked as hard at women as these guys.  All game long.  And of course my Dad was reminding anyone who would listen that "without Chicago there would be no Florida".  Very endearing.

Fortunately, the game began.  Getz and Bridge promptly each struck out, and Q went meekly.  Wonderful.  Upton proceeded to flare a hit into center (BA did not get it) and then stole 2 bases before Pena struck out looking to end the bottom of the inning with no damage.

And then the man, the myth, the AJ rose to the occason.  After a Thome leadoff walk, an indifferent Dye can of corn, and a liner Paulihit that was deflected by Garza for an out, AJ strode to the plate amongst a chorus of rather loud boos.  And I thought back to today's batting practice, when an old usher mentioned to me (I guess since I was wearing a Sox hat he thought I would be interested) that "that guy is really hammering the ball in BP.  Who is it?"  I told him the bleach-blond hair could only belong to AJ, and so it was.

AJ proceeded to hammer a Garza pitch, just as he had practiced in batting practice, deep into the rightfield stands.  Now of course I was thrilled, but I also remembered my last Tampa outing - the ALDS playoffs where we also scored the first 2 runds, only to lose.  Hopeful, yet realistic.

Nothing to fear - Gavin was on top of his game.  Watching his ERA steadily sandpaper down from 6 to 4 (until the meaningless dinger by Ben "Punto-with-power" Zionist (ah, Zobrist) he was in complete command, walking NO ONE (for a guy with 9 walks in 2 previous games, I'd say that was an improvement).  And everyone lent a hand - every starter had a hit (Getz with a nice 2 out, 2 run single,  the Bridge with 2 - TWO - hits, and even Betemit, who was practicing slicing curves down the leftfield line like Rod Carew in BP, drove in a run with a hit to - you guessed it - the left side), and everyone except Q was on base at least twice.  Q and Thome hit cosmetic dingers after we were walking out of the stadium to close it out (which was a big "eff you, Zobrist!!! after his ruination of the shotout).

So we took 3 of 4 in the hated Trop and looked damn good doing it.  And save one mightly swing from the Zionist in Game 2 it would've been a sweep.  Upton left the game with a quad injury, Longoria gimped to first running out a groundout, and the Rays look like yesterday's news after beating the Red Sox 2 of 3 in Fenway to open the season.  Enjoy your awards, boys - it's hard to repeat when everyone is expecting it.

One note of concern - Che looked awful during BP, and it was obviously a good move to sit him out (as The Bridge more than doubled his average with those 2 hits and walked yet again).  Lillebridge is not "The Answer" at short, and we need Alexei to round into shape.  He'll adapt.  He has to.

My only regret was leaving before JO (shudder) entered the game, so I was unable to boo him mercilessly.  Of course, he did not get a hit.  Some things are what they are, and there is no hope for change, despite what Obama promises you.  But, all told, a much better time in 2009 than both games I attended in the Trop last year.  AndI believe we are once again tied for first!