... and a baseball game broke out.
Last night, we met Mark and Cindy at the Peoria Baseball Stadium. We were coordinating by text for where to meet... Mark texted me "Raise your hands so we can find you," and the pregame entertainment broke into Y-M-C-A! LOL
We did find each other and waited in line at the gate while players from both teams came out to entertain the crowd...
We made our way into the stadium and found seats...
Who's playing? Thanks for asking: the Savannah Bananas vs the Party Animals. (Like the Harlem Globetrotters are always playing the Washington Generals.) This is baseball... kinda... with rules that differ from, and are more entertaining than, regular baseball. It is "Banana Ball!" And entertaining is what it is all about. There isn't a lull in the music that is blasting - both teams dancing through it all.
What are the rules in Banana Ball? Teams score points by winning an inning (no matter how many runs are scored during the inning). The only exception is the last inning, where every run counts. While the traditional game goes 9 innings, Banana Ball is on the clock: 2 hours or 9 innings, whichever comes first. There are other "entertaining" rules, but this is how you win the game.
It is open seating, so you want to get there early to get good seats. In this stadium, built for the Spring Training leagues, every seat is good - our seats were on the first base line, just beyond first base. There is an announcer (Ring Master?) and all kinds of things going on at the same time... like trying to watch a "3-Ring Circus." Merchandise sales are brisk - I waited in line twice: once to get a jersey for myself, and a second time to get a jersey and hat for Dan (he and Cindy were holding our seats while Joan, Steph, Mark, and I went "shopping." Judging by the lines, sales were brisk.
More images during the game...
It was definitely more entertaining than a traditional baseball game, but the players are all good. They range in age from 18 to 23 and some are drafted into the MLB. It is a for-profit venture; the team is valued at 20 million dollars. Real baseball with a large measure of showmanship. They regularly have the crowd on their feet.
In the end, the Bananas won. No, it isn't "fixed," last time Mark went to a game, the Party Animals won. But, the crowd always gets a good show... and it starts while you're waiting in line to get in.
Walking back to the car, my ears were ringing. The volume level is more like a rock concert than a sporting event. I was wore out - you get your exercise at one of these games.
Our thanks to Mark and Cindy for making tickets available to us: these games are always sold out, wherever the Savannah Bananas and Party Animals play. Mark is a member of the K-Club, a fan club for the team - members get first shot at tickets for any venue around the country. As a member, you can get tickets (there is a "lottery" to get to buy) at the face value of $35 each... on the secondary market, tickets sell for $150 and up.
The Peoria Stadium is the Spring Training (Cactus League) home for the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. Seating capacity is around 12,000... and this was a sell out.
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Chillin'...
Taking it easy this morning, all three of us were out on the patio. I was the first one out, slipped into the hot tub. Joan came out next and opened up the patio umbrella and rolled the catio out of the shed. Then, Murphy joined us... the boy likes his catio...
8 comments:
Sounds like a great event. Ear plugs are mandatory for me these days any time that amplified music is involved. I have driven past that field in Peoria many times, but never went to an event there. When visiting mom in Sun City, we usually stay at the La Quinta Inn or the Holiday Inn Express where 83rd intersects with Bell Road, a few blocks north of the ball field.
Glad to see that Murphy and his parents are all enjoying the patio, catio, and hot tub. We woke to a dusting of "s***" this morning, but it melted already. A damp and dreary 39° here today -- a good day to stay in and play some guitar -- and banjo!! I signed up for a four-day bluegrass and banjo camp nearby in early June and need to get some chops going beforehand. Banjo rolls (the foundation of three-finger Scruggs style) are WAY different than any fingerstyle pattern on the guitar. The mechanical skills are certainly there, but it will take 17,000 repetitions to get it all happening smoothly on autopilot.
Hi Earl. I never would have imagined I'd need ear plugs - when we've been to Spring Training ballgames the volume has never been even close to this; it was rock concert levels.
I know 83rd and Bell Rd well - been to Arrowhead Mall there many times (they have a good Apple Store there). And a Vespa dealer just west of 83rd.
Murphy really seems to like being in his catio... I think he is better sitting in there, than on a leash on the patio couch; he is an adolescent, so sitting still isn't his strong suit, except in the house.
Banjo camp? You are my friend, so I will try my best to not make some sarcastic remark about it being like a form of punishment. Because that would be rude. So I won't say something like: how long does it take to tune a banjo? Answer: no one knows. I support your right to march to the beat of a different drummer... or plunk to the tone of a different stringed instrument. ;-) I have many more banjo player jokes when you're ready. But I won't pull them out until I can see that your skin is as thick as your guitar callouses.
Bring them on…. I actually heard a new-to-me banjo joke recently. A major bluegrass band accidentally locked the keys in the van after the gig. It took them 40 minutes to get the banjo player out. [rimshot]
LOL How do you know your front porch is level? The banjo player drools out of both sides of his mouth.
What's the difference between an onion and a banjo? Nobody cries when you cut up a banjo.
What's the difference between a mattress and a banjo? Nobody cares if you leave your boots on when you jump on a banjo.
What's the difference between a Harley Davidson and a banjo? You can tune a Harley.
What did the banjo player get on his IQ test? Drool.
How is playing the banjo a lot like throwing a javelin blindfolded?
You don't have to be very good to get people's attention.
When do banjo songs sound the best? When they're over.
A man walked into a bar with his alligator and asked the bartender, "Do you serve banjo players here?"
"Sure do," replied the bartender.
"Good," said the man. "Give me a beer, and I'll have a banjo picker for my 'gator."
For three years, the young banjo player had been taking his brief vacations at this country inn. The last time he'd finally managed an affair with the innkeeper's daughter. Looking forward to an exciting few days, he dragged his suitcase up the stairs of the inn, and stopped short. There sat his lover with an infant on her lap!
"Helen, why didn't you write when you learned you were pregnant?" he cried. "I would have rushed up here, we could have gotten married, and the baby would have my name!"
"Well," she said, "when my folks found out about my condition, we sat up all night talkin' and talkin' and decided it would be better to have a bastard in the family than a banjo player."
LOL!!! I've head (and told) most of those in the past, but the innkeeper's daughter one is new to me. I like the gator one too.
I'll be here all week - tell your friends. Be sure to tip your waitresses and blog writer.
What's the most important tool when doing a set-up on a banjo? Wirecutters.
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