7/21/2009 - Dodger Stadium - MLB Ballpark #22

2009 Game #20 - Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers
Final Score: Dodgers 12, Reds 3
Hot Dog - 4/5

On Tuesday, we made the trek into Chavez Ravine to watch a game at the Trolley Dodgers’ home park.  The trip was pretty easy, as it turned out, with [surprisingly] very little city traffic.  We stayed at a hotel right outside the stadium gates, so we walked to and from the game, saving us time and parking money.  Like U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, our upper-deck tickets did not allow us down to field level to take pictures or walk around.  Even after explaining our trip, we were still denied.  There were lots of nice views from our level, so that wasn’t a big deal, but it does bug me when stadiums do this.  I understand that lots of people (I mean lots) try to switch seats during games, but Karyn and I don’t.

The ballpark is really nice.  It’s getting old (built in 1962) and it could definitely use some cosmetic updates, but it stands as one of the better parks in which to watch a game.  [proper grammar for Brian C.]  The concourse at our level had an open view to the field all around (I was surprised at this because most of the upper decks aren’t open like this) with lots of vendors.  The park has some nice views of the surrounding hills (with the “Think Blue” sign) and also some nice views inside.  The trademark roof over the bleachers (wavy, ziz-zag triangle-shape) is repeated in other parts of the park as well, including the original scoreboard.

The game we saw was a blowout from the moment Lorenzo Lamas finished singing the National Anthem.  In the first inning, Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez hit a two-run triple.

...

Yes, you read that right.  A triple.  Manny Ramirez.  With the hair and the baggy pants and the loafing and the “Mannywood” and the arggh…

Unfortunately, later in the game, Manny was hit on the wrist and taken to the hospital for precautionary x-rays.  No injury.  Juan Pierre got a rousing ovation when he pinch-ran for Manny.

Good fans, good park, good game.

Other notes:

• I’m not sure if it was tonight only, or a common occurrence, but our seating area had tons of beach balls.  At times, the crowd was louder for the beach ball misses than it was for the Dodgers’ run-scoring plays.

• The “Dodgers Win” song is Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.”  As it’s a song written and performed by Newman, it sounds exactly like all his other songs.  Unlike “Short People,” this one doesn’t hold a special place in my heart.

• This was our fourth (and final) Reds game on the trip.  It’s the most we’ll see any team.  To this point, we’ve seen the Reds in 1/5 of our games.  By the end of the trip, that number will be 2/15 [fractions reduced for Karyn's sake].

-Rich