BASEBALL: Los Wepas(Woo Sox) vs. Scranton Railriders, 8/18/2023

Minor league baseball has always occupied a niche in my mind, even before my brain became partially digitized.

As a youth I pored over the fine print in the back of STREET and SMITH’S BASEBALL 1970 detailing the exploits of the Mets AAA Tidewater team and pondering whether Ed Kranepool would make it back to Flushing? Yes.

Would Rod Gaspar would make it back to Flushing? No.

This was a stark contrast to the NBA and the NFL, I followed football at the time, where the “minor leagues” were the larger universities.

I have paid 2 visits to Pawtucket, R.I. to see the Paw Sox in both the original and renovated McCoy Stadium.

2012 and 2013’s summer breaks from work enabled me to see the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets short season A ball, 70 game season, at MCU park at Coney Island. (The Cyclones now play a 140 game season in long format A ball).

The 2022 Woo Sox had better than 70 players on their roster during the course of the season. Being “sent down” or DFAed/Designated For Assignment is an occupational hazard of the lower reaches of MLB. Sure enough Christian Arroyo, who lost his spot in the Bo Sox lineup with Trevor Story returning from the IL, is now a Woo Sox and playing shortstop; playing multiple positions being a part of player development and a way of keeping the rust from getting too rusty.

Old friend Franchy Cordero was in the lineup for the New York Yankee AAA affiliate Scranton Railriders, continuing his career ping-ponging between MLB and AAA.

The Woo Sox were Los Wepas tonight, Spanish for “energetically happy” for this Latin Night. Along that line attendees were greeted with a Jumbotron video on the career of Roberto Clemente. On that note it has been 50+ years since Clemente’s death and there more than a few Clemente jerseys worn by fans. Polar Park’s sound PA system was up to the task of amplifying Pirate announcer Bob Prince’s commentary.

Polar Park is a 70 minute trip from Back Bay Station via commuter rail and this newly minted senior citizen…AARP..! happily took advantage of the 1/2 price, $12, round trip fare. There were more than a few Woo Sox fans on board once we traveled west of Natick.

Union Station in Worcester is a twin turreted 1911 structure that originally served the Boston and Albany line and is now on the national Register of Historic Places. The repurposing of the station houses 2 restaurants both of which were busy on my 5:25 arrival time.

This enabled a brief wander through the Canal District of Worcester which boasts some early 20th. century architecture and some abandonment.

Independent specialty coffee shops nestled next to Vietnamese eateries are true diversity.

Polar Park rises up with an almost yellowish, greenish, bluish kind of glow. Walking towards the lights and hearing the crowd buzz is a feeling that I have never tired of…and I attended my very first game in 1966!

A Wormtown dedicated beer bar is among the 1st. attractions before the ticket entrance. I chose to get my pre-gaming on ASAP and happened into a gentleman who had the same idea. He asked if I had been here before and I replied in the affirmative.

“Let me buy you one!”

I gladly accepted and did the tipping, $5 on $28, The Summer Brew has a malty feel with a touch of citrus.

Friendly fans are always the best part of baseball!

Good drinking and I am not just writing that to please my non-sponsor.

Following the requisite pat-down and bag search, my 9″ x 5″ shaving bag containing a notebook passed muster I entered Polar Park’s blue industrial themed seating.

Polar Park is a 2 tier stadium. 329′ to LF, 402′ to CF and 320′ to RF.

Foul territory is commodious in back of the plate and up until the dugouts with virtually no foul territory beyond 1st. and 3rd. bases. This favors power hitters who foul into the outfield sets. In this sense Polar Park is very much like architect Janet Smith’s other parks; Camden Yard in Baltimore and Progressive in Cleveland.

The outfield is festooned with signage from Polar, Wormtown Brewery and Table Talk pies all of which reside in Worcester. This is in contrast with Fenway Park and most MLB parks which display as much national as local advertising.

I paid $25 on line at the Woo Sox site to get an 11th. row box seat. For $30 you can buy a padded seat in the first 10 rows. Contrast this with $61 for a Reserved Grandstand Section 16 seat at Fenway.

Likewise the official program was $5 for a 184 page volume that, although stuffed with ads for Polar Soda, Wormtown Brewery and Table Talk pies, offers a history of the franchise, surprisingly detailed biographies, former BoSox catcher Rich Gedman is a Worcester native and the hitting coach of the Woo Sox; of all of the players, a scorecard and the current roster of the Scranton Railriders.

The game began promptly at 6:45, a practice that MLB would do well to emulate as it enables attendance for kids and those with 8 A.M. jobs.

RHer Kyle Barraclough took the hill for the Los Wepas although none of his 290 MLB appearances has been as a starter. Barraclough throws from a 1 o’clock slot with a slight corkscrew of his upper body. His fastball had righties leaning back while the ball zipped down into the lower right quadrant of the zone. Foul balls went into the netting behind home plate.

If you ever in the mood to watch a game carefully note where the foul balls go.

Few balls went anywhere on this evening as Barraclough went 6 2/3 while King 11 to progress to 9-0 for his combined record in MLB and MiLB 2023. If the Sox fall out of the wild card chase I would expect to see Barraclough get a look during the last week or so of the season. Predicting anything in baseball is always tricky, especially the futures of pitchers but at 33 Barraclough could almost certainly help someone in MLB…or Japan.

As always screaming 10 year olds provided in house entertainment and screamed “WOO” after each strikeout.

In the 2nd. old friend Bobby Dalbec weaseled out a walk and Emmanuel Valdez boomed his 10th HR of 2023 deep into the LF berm setting off frenzied pursuit by screaming 10 year olds.

In the 5th. Railrider Andres Chaparro took out a Barraclough heater to LF. The nest 2 Railriders skied out to left center prompting the couple behind me to talk.

“Why don’t they take him out?”

“Because its the minors and I guess they figure he’ll learn a lesson.”

At this I turned around and asked, “Yeah, all of those balls were hit hard to left center. Do you come to a lot of games?”

The gentleman answered “I do.” while the woman smiled.

As always, friendly fans are the best part of the game.

In the 5th. Andres Chaparro put the RailRiders on the board with a screaming HR to LF.

I visited the concession stands and saw the long lines so I went to The Market where I bought, via debit card, a Polar Orange Dry and a bag of peanuts for $9.63

However, in the 5th. Los Wepas’ Dave Hamilton stole 2nd. and 3rd. in the same at bat followed by Wilyer Abreu’s single to add on an insurance run.

Hamilton also stole a base in the 8th. when the Woo Sox tried to tack on 1 more but was left stranded.

Like MLB MiLB has expanded the bases from 15″ to 18″ to encourage running and it has had a pleasing effect.

AAA players always run. This is in stark contrast to the nonchalant efforts of many Red Sox. Yes, I mean you Rafael Devers.

Polar Park’s infield dirt is dirtier than that of MLB’s as MLB added a higher % of crushed brick in 2023 to accommodate HD TV.

Perennial prospect Zac Houston was the opener for this bullpen game and pitched the first 3 innings, allowing all of the Los Wepas runs.

Houston was followed by the side-arming southpaw Josh Maciejewski’s 2 clean innings and the 35 year old Zach McAllister who each tossed 2 clean innings while Aaron McGarity allowed 1 run in his 2 innings.

Barraclough’s 1 run, 11 K outing was followed by Joe Jacques and Justin Garza’s combined 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

The PA announcer’s game summary was overwhelmed by screaming 10 year olds screaming “WOO!”

Following the game Uni Bank’s 70s Serenade featured 20 minutes of pyrotechnics. The Bee Gees’ “Night Fever” never sounded righter.

Ambling back to Union Station there were more than a few fans. it is a good sign that the 8,633 at the 9,051 capacity Polar Park made this their destination on a Friday night.

Wormtown Summer Ale, friendly fans, screaming 10 year olds and a …win!

I”ll be back.

Woo!

TIPS FOR SERVERS #2: Ordering…

“We’re ready

to order.

Now what do we want?”

…Sigh…

HAIKU 5*7*5: Beer

I sold my first beer

1977

It was cold and clear

At this time of year in 1977 I served my first adult beverage at Nassau Coliseum while working for Harry M. Stevens, the concession provider at that time.

Harry M. Stevens was bought by Aramark, the concessionaire and minority owner of the Red Sox, for whom I worked in 2002.

In 1977 Nassau Coliseum was home to the NHL N.Y. Islanders and the NBA Nets in the Nets’ sole Nassau Coliseum season in the NBA.

Being a beer vendor was about as good a gig as I was going to get at that point in my life. I was attending Nassau Community College as a Liberal Arts major. After my classes I would do my homework in the ‘stack’ room of the library where Mrs. McCarthy allowed me to work. Following the completion of my day’s work I would go to the cafeteria where leftover chef’s salads were sold for $1.50 and then stride over the parking lot to the Coliseum for the evenings’ game.

After the game I would hitchhike back to my home of Port Washington.

Bartending vs. Serving: Taste and compare.

How to get the job

–Bartender: Apply for management

–Server: Apply for bartender

Social status

-Bartender: Impresses friends under 30

–Server: Impresses guests over 30

Work status

-Bartender: Token

–Server: Token

Nickname

–Bartender: Joe Genius

–Server: Steve

Kicks

–Bartender: Adidas Dual Threat

–Server: Dr. Scholl ‘s Work with cushion heel

Socks

–Bartender: Thick

–Server: Thicker

Walking

–Bartender: Side-to-side like zone defense in basketball

-Server: Heel to toe race walking

Terra firma

–Bartender: Perforated rubber mat

–Server: Stone floor

Pants

Bartender: Tactical cargo shorts

-Server: Polyester dress slacks

Top

–Bartender: Muscle, theme and promo T’s

–Server: Company issued

Hair care products

–Bartender: TRESemmes spray gel

–Server: Water

Hydration

–Bartender: Iced tea with club soda and 4 lime wedges

–Server: Iced tea with club soda and 4 lime wedges

Nutrition

–Bartender: 16 oz. milk with CVS whey protein

–Server: 16 oz. milk with CVS whey protein

CVS

–Bartender: Across the street

–Server: Around the corner

Local attraction

–Bartender: Fenway Park

–Server: Theater District plays and shows

Sports metaphor

–Bartender: Bar/MLB, dance club/NFL

–Server: NBA

Weight

–Bartender: 176ish

–Server: 168ish

Aches and pains

–Bartender: Broken fingers, bruised knees

–Server: Callused insteps, sore arches

Job security

–Bartender: “Job security of an ice cube.”

–Server: Always understaffed so relatively secure for servers with 5+ shift availability

Sex

–Bartender: Yes

–Server: Overhear 2nd. dates and date nights chit-chat at tables

Music

–Bartender: Every genre imaginable

–Server: J. Trap; 45 minute loop

Career move

–Bartender: Management

–Server: Bartender

Income

–Bartender: $$$ now

–Server: Next day deposit to debit card

Guest payments

–Bartender: $$$ now

–Server: $$$, credit cards, Up n Go via phone, credit cards

Guests’ bad habits

–Bartender: “Make it strong.”

–Server: “Is there a charge for extra meat?”

Co-worker bad habits

–Bartender: Barback sitting down playing Candy Crush while you stock beer

–Server: Servers sitting down texting while you stock ice

Alcohol

–Bartender: Lots

–Server: Specialty cocktails

Food

–Bartender: $1 Honey cashews from vending machine

–Server: Pan-Asian cuisine with entrees up to $36

Management style

–Bartender: Personal and direct from G.M. and Asst. Mgr.

–Server: Corporate from as many as 4 managers

Future?

–Bartender: 2+ years ago in the rear view mirror

–Server: Bring on 2023

Woo Sox! Woo Sox vs. Syracuse Chiefs(N.Y. Mets AAA affiliate), Polar Park, 9/23/2022

AAA baseball is the bestest!

I had been wanting to visit the Woo Sox at Polar Park in Worcester, MA since the facility opened in 2021 replacing the Paw Sox at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I.

Worcester is a scenic 70 minute trip from Back Bay Station to the historic, turreted Union Station rail/bus station for $24 round trip. There were quite a few Woo Sox fans who got off for the game, likewise the buses. It is a circuitous 10 minute walk from Union Station to Polar Park.

Game time was 6:45 which enables screaming 10 year-olds with mitts to see games. MLB take note.

Polar Park is a 2 tier facility with a relatively large foot print compared to MCU, the home of the short season A ball Mets affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones on Coney Island

Admission were mostly via smartphone but your retrograde correspondent’s $39.99 Obid Voyage doesn’t read or generate QRs so my downloaded hard copy entitled me to a $22 Upper Box seat which featured a ledge for my Polar Diet Orange Dry and 2 bags of cashews.

The entrance to Polar Park has a kids’ playground with swings made of baseball gloves and a t-ball set-up where boys, and more than a few girls, hacked away amidst the Polar bears.

Lots of 50+ folks, screaming 10 year olds with mitts and more than a little Spanish being spoken on the Concourse.

Beauty is the word that describes the thrill of walking up the ramp and seeing the crescent of green and brown, calling to mind racing ahead of my parents on the boardwalk from the Port Washington line of the L.I.R.R. and entering Shea Stadium better than 50 years ago.

This alone justifies the price of admission.

I immediately bought a 16 oz. Polar Diet Orange Dry and began my sugar free slaking. I paired my diet Orange Dry with 2 bags of Planter’s Cashews which were $6 for a 3 oz. bag that sells for $2. at my 7-11.

Ouch!

For yeast lovers the Worcester micro-brew Wormtown is available at all concession stands and has a dedicated beer bar which I did not partake of.

It is interesting to note that here in the 21st. century independent brewers have proliferated while independent soda companies are an endangered species.

Polar Park is in its 2nd year of operation and still has that new ballpark smell. 330′ to RF, 405′ to CF and 330′ LF. CF is straight across and the power alleys are curvilinear.

There is about 20′ from home plate to the backstop but there is virtually no outfield foul territory.

Polar Park’s infield dirt is considerably browner than that of MLB as MLB has put more crushed brick into the infield since 2003 for the optics of HD television.

The wind blew from LF to RF.

The lighting was bright, without shadows and the bright green batter’s eye enables hitting.

Polar Park resembles PNC Park in Pittsburgh although it does not have the 21′ high Clemente wall in RF.

Additionally, the interior is similar to PNC in that concessions, bathrooms and the team store are equidistant and boast monitors so there is no need to miss any action. Everything is still pretty squeaky cleany and not yet marred by graffiti. I made a point of visiting 2 of the Men’s Rooms and both of the facilities had an attendant with a squeegee for the floor and mirrors.

The concourse is wide enough to accommodate 6 folks across and is a far cry better than that of McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.

One of the better features of McCoy Stadium was the outfield berm where a family can bring a blanket and spread out. Polar Park has kept this feature. Lots of Moms and Dads encircled by screaming 10 year-olds with mitts. Some things never change.

The Woo Sox were playing the Syracuse Chiefs the AAA team of the New York Mets which made for a certain comedic element as folks wearing Syracuse Chiefs and N.Y. Mets gear wandered about.

Ironically enough Syracuse was the Yankees AAA franchise during my long ago youth. Go figure.

The biggest difference between MLB and AAA is that not all of the players are known to casual fans. Some years I follow AAA but 2022 flew under my radar.

The Woo Sox starter was Nathan Eovaldi on a rehab stint from the BoSox; a sentence that was also served by erstwhile ace Chris Sales who succeeded in breaking his hand while “rehabbing.”

Other familiar Woo Sox included 2B. prospect Jeter Downs; a tough name for Sox buffs, and Jaren Duran whose nonchalant chase-down of a fly ball lost in the bog enabled the Blue Jays’ Raimel Tapia to hit an inside-the-park grand slam.

Yes, I booed Duran.

The Chiefs had the suddenly svelte Dominic Smith who lost his Mets role with the fine recent play of Mark Canha and perennial backup backstop Mike Perez, still wearing a Pirate cap on his Jumbotron pic, and former Sox backup backstop Deven Marrero who was playing 2B for no apparent reason.

Gotta love AAA!

Eovaldi gave up a towering blast to Dominic Smith faster than my butt could warm my Upper Box seat.

I was seated next to 2 women who chatted through the game about the game itself.

After the 1st. inning I intruded a little and offered that they knew the game.

“Oh yeah, we played high school softball together and I played park league ball for years.”

One of the true measures of live sports is meeting someone you have something in common with and nothing in common with at one and the same time.

Yes, they did know the game.

I lent them my binoculars for 2 innings.

In the 2nd. inning with Mike Perez of the Chiefs on 3rd Perez took too much of a lead and got caught in a rundown. Woo Sox catcher Ronaldo Hernandez chased Perez back to 3rd.

In the 2nd. inning with Mike Perez of the Chiefs got caught in a rundown between 3rd. and home with Woo Sox backstop Roberto Hernandez correctly chasing Perez back to 3rd; when Jake Mangrum began doing a little dance around 2B...

No!!!

…both of the women screamed as Hernandez has now left home plate abandoned while looking down Mangum which gave Perez the window of an unguarded home to slide into.

Hernandez hung his head in shame, not just for his mental gaffe, but for the fact that his 1st. inning HR had been nullified.

“Gratifying” comes to mind to see that my sister fans, and many others in the park, saw what was happening and it makes me smile to know that there are fans who know what they are watching.

The bestest part of the AAA is seeing players jet out of the batter’s box every single time.

Large player salaries do not bother me. It does bother me when players do not play hard…that means you, Ronald Acuna.

Baseball is a game defined by failure, If Lebron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo shot for a .333 percentage they would be at the Y in a “shoot to play” game.

In baseball if you can go 1 for 3 long enough you will be in the Hall of Fame.

Baseball truly is like life.

Pitch clocks will be coming to MLB in 2023 and have been used in AAA for 2 years. I never thought I would write this but the 9 seconds for pitches with the bases empty and 15 seconds for runners on base works for me. I am looking forward to the implementation at the MLB level next year.

MLB’s problem is more with the pace of the game, rather than the length of the game. My game took 2 hours and 20 minute, ending at 9:05, thus enabling working parents to bring their kids.

The current MLB game time is 3:04:

https:///mlb.nbcsports.com>mlb-average

Hurlers intimidated by the frequency of HRs spend all too much time stepping off, spitting and rubbing up baseballs.

This pacing problem is compounded by the batters, I’m looking at you David Ortiz, who walk all the way to Newton between pitches while grabbing themselves and spitting.

The pitch clock needs to be accompanied by a regulation limiting batters to stepping out once per appearance unless the umpire permits it.

No, I do not want an official game clock.

It is worth mentioning that AAA does not have the endless commercial “time outs” of MLB. Yes, I am looking at you MLB Network.

Ks at Polar park are accompanied by a PA of “Woo” that many of the fans, 8,913 in 9,500 seat Polar Park; and all of the screaming 10 year-olds take part in.

Fans stuck it out to the end of the Chiefs 5-4 win as the Woo Sox had runners on base in each of the last 3 innings to no avail, leaving 13 stranded for the game.

Friday night is Fireworks Night at Polar Park but with the next train back to Boston at 10:42 and the mercury sliding to 50 F I trotted over to the station as the detonation of fireworks commenced.

A good time. A cool home run, a major boo-boo, screaming 10 year-olds and smart fans sitting next to me.

Polar Park is a fine venue.

I am looking forward to 2023.

AAA is the bestest!

PASSING: Jack Hague, 1949-2022

On Saturday, June 18th; I attended the memorial reception for my boss at Our House and Our House East, Jack Hague.

I first met Jack at Our House in July of 1982…!?!…

I was working at the Landmark Cafe in Quincy Market 2-3 days and 2-3 nights as a waiter, before the current coinage of “server,” and then jumping on the B Line to 1277 Comm. Ave. Allston. This worked for me as the late wait shift at Our House began at 6 P.M.

It was my 2nd or 3rd shift…

Jack was a short guy cooking in short shorts.

This is how we met….

The late waiter’s shift involved taking the chafing dish which contained the buffet from Table 10 into the kitchen, emptying any leftovers and dismantling it for the dishwasher.

“Hey..uh..you.”

“My name is Steve.”

Jack inspected the remnants of the meatballs.

“Steve, you can eat these if you like.”

“I ate at work.”

“You can wrap these up to take home.”

“Actually, I’m a vegetarian.”

“Vegetarians can eat these meatballs.”

I laughed so hard snot bubbled from my nose.

…Jack Hague…

HAIKU 5*7*5* Beer

I sold my first beer

1977

It was cold and clear

TIPS FOR BARTENDERS: #3 Job security

“Bartenders have the job security of ice cubes.

You’re going to get swallowed,

crushed,

melted,

liquefied,

or just go down the drain.”

Noel Perez, Europa, General Manager/Partner

HAIKU 5*7*5* Machine Demolition

I’ll sip a few beers

The Machine demolition

I’ll just sip my tears

PASSING: PETE HAMILL, 1935-2020

Pete Hamill has passed.

Mr. Hamill was a contemporary and real life friend of departed journalists Jimmy Breslin and Jack Newfield.

Mr. Hamill wrote for the DAILY NEWS, N.Y. POST, NEW YORK and the VILLAGE VOICE.

Mr. Hamill, like Mr. Breslin and Mr. Newfield, began as a sportswriter and wrote occasionally about sports for his entire writing career.

Indeed, my first recollection of reading Mr. Hamill was an article in SPORT magazine about AFL star Cookie Gilchrist wherein Mr. Gilchrist related his thought that the A.F.L. and  Canadian Football league were friendlier to black players than the N.F.L.

This was at Merrick Avenue Elementary School in 1966!

Mr. Hamill’s A DRINKING LIFE is a pinspot accurate account of alcohol’s delights and drawbacks.

I have definitely read over 1100 hours of Mr. Hamill’s writing.

It wasn’t’ enough.