6/27/2009 - U.S. Cellular Field - MLB Ballpark #10

2009 Game #8 - Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox
Final Score: White Sox 8, Cubs 7
Hot Dog - 4/5

Many of you know how I feel about interleague baseball.  For those that don’t, I’ll give you the condensed version:  I loathe it.  Other than the continued existence of the Designated Hitter, it’s my single biggest pet peeve pertaining to Major League Baseball.  I don’t think teams from different leagues should see each other during the regular season.  That’s what made the World Series so magical to me as a kid; I never saw the ‘88 Dodgers or ‘90 Reds.  I did see Oakland beat my Red Sox both of those years, but it was special to watch the A's go down to these great, mysterious National League teams (hyperbole, I know, but hey, I was 10!).  The All-Star Game was unique then, too.  Other than baseball cards, those of us in New England never saw most of those players, and it was amazing to do so in that one, special game.  Now, some of the magic is gone.


Having said all that, I must now climb down off my soapbox and admit (however difficult it will be) that today’s White Sox-Cubs game was an example of everything great that interleague play can be.

 

First, unlike the heated San Diego Padres-Seattle Mariners “Rivalry” series (I’m sure much blood was spilled in the stands), this Chicago series actually seems to mean something to the teams.  Both squads were fighting in today’s game, chipping away at each other’s leads until a dramatic walk-off finish in the bottom of the 9th.

Second, the fans really get into it.  There was arguing and raucous rooting, sure, and a few drunks acted like idiots, but for the most part, these fans were passionate (in the truest sense of the word) about their teams.  They were rooting for their team more than they were rooting against the other team.  This is a far cry from every Yankees-Red Sox game I’ve been to (quite a few).  New York and Boston fans become ruthless, drunken imbeciles for each of those series, paying more attention to each other than the game on the field.  That’s why I don’t like going to Yankees-Red Sox games (although we’ll be at one in the Bronx near the end of the trip).  Okay, off my soapbox again.

I guess I’m just saying that I was caught up in it today.  I completely got it.  Maybe I was wrapped up in the emotions of a great game, but that’s okay.  I had a blast.

So… about the park.  U.S. Cellular Field is (I believe) the first of the newer batch of stadiums and it looks and feels like it.  We sat in the 500 level (we weren’t allowed down to field level for photos when we entered) in some pretty good seats, at least as “cheap seats” go.  The concourse felt like Progressive Field, with no clear view of the playing field; only the newer ones have that.  The seats were comfortable and the park design is really nice.  I really love that they have a real park organ, with a real park organist.  I think all parks should have organs, but sadly, very few do.  You should’ve heard “Carry On My Wayward Son” being played!

The White Sox also have an inexplicably hideous, muppet-esque, non sequitur mascot (*climbing back on my soapbox*).  I’m not sure why teams feel the need to pander to little kids with these over-sized stuffed animals.  I fell in love with baseball as a kid because it’s such a great game.  Now, teams try to distract kids from the game in order to get them interested in it.  You figure it out.  Okay, off my soapbox (last time, I promise).

Let’s see… what else?  Oh, Better than Ezra performed before the game and sang the National Anthem.  It felt like 1995 all over again.  On the topic of music, I’ve noticed two other songs that have been oft repeated in ballparks on our trip so far: The main them from Pirates of the Caribbean and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” (which, I’m warming up to).

There was a roaming Margarita vendor wearing a Ghostbusters-style backpack full of the stuff.
Also, apparently, the White Sox have a theme song.  After a big, run-scoring play, the lyrics came up on the board and the Chicagoland faithful began to chant.  It was a bit strange (the friendly folks sitting next to us agreed) at the moment, and in retrospect, it’s even more strange.

Off to see the Brewers-Giants tomorrow.  We scored a room outside of Milwaukee, which was more difficult than you’d think.  Apparently, there’s some sort of festival or convention here.  Probably something to do with cheese.

-Rich