So Long, Mr. Jones…

Yet another way Seattle screws Tacoma: Even if MY Tacoma Rainiers are in the business of prepping players for the bigs in Seattle, it kills me when the big club up north takes our town’s best away, even more when they trade them right out of the gate.

A Gift

MY Tacoma Rainiers have given the PCL a gift this year: Rainiers outfielder, and 2004 Olympian, Wladimir Balentien, was named PCL Rookie of the Year.

Full story here.

Jones Finally To The Show?!?!?

Rumors, rumors, rumors, but at a press conference, skipper McLaren said it’s so. Adam Jones will replace Jason Ellison on the roster. I know the Rainiers exist as a farm system for the Mariners, and they wouldn’t exist if it was not for the big leagues…but as someone who prefers the Minors over the Majors, I am a bit sad to see one of our stars go. Hopefully his new step up is a good one. Congrats, Mr. Jones!

Full scoop here over at TNT.

Still a Rainier (for now)

Just like last season at the All-Star break, word on the street was that Adam Jones was taking the step up to the show again. Word was he was gonna be wearing Mariners threads the next day. Well, word today is he’s still suiting up in Rainiers garb, but if you want to see him in that garb, better do it soon. Seems the M’s will bench their DH, then reshuffle the outfield to make room for him, where they hope he will be a major-league threat at base stealing and hitting. More info here and here.

Even though it’s the reason minor-league ball exists, I can’t help but get a little bummed when the M’s bring up a player from MY Tacoma Rainiers. The Rainiers, riding a 4 game winning streak AND no longer living at the bottom of the PCL, open a homestand tonight against The Fresno Grizzlies…and it’s dollar night.

We’re watching this, but you can also keep up on this over at the always excellent No Rhubarb!

Cheney’s Seats Named In Top 10

Note to Rainiers brass: every game MY Tacoma Rainiers play while I am in attendance, they win.

In other Rainier news, seems Mr. Cheney’s seats were named some of the best in minor league ball.

Hometown 9

MY Tacoma Rainiers have managed to find themselves in the basement of the PCL at 28-41. No worries. We don’t concentrate on the losing, since it happens to everyone. Last night they won, in extra innings, against the Tucson Sidewinders. Maybe tonight’s game against the same enemy will produce the 3rd straight night of extra innings at Mr. Cheney’s place. You should probably go get some fresh air and see it unfold in person. Support, people! Tonight is also the Family Meal promo…4 reserved tix, 4 Rainiers hats, 2 large pizza pies, some other breadsticks concoction, all for $49. You can just show up at the ballpark to order that. Pretty dang cheap since 4 reserved tix will usually run you 36 clams. Help the hometown club win another!

One for the W Column

A beautiful evening at Mr. Cheney’s, made even more beautiful as MY Tacoma Rainiers layed down a 7-5 win over some visiting cornhuskers. Adam Jones had a pair of homers…one that hit the top of left field and then jumped over, and then a crushing blow to left center. The hometown club got the bats working after a grip of errors, but not bad for a travel-weary team that spent the entire day learning the dark side of airport life.

As is fitting, me and my wife-to-be enjoyed the great american ballpark dinner. A Brat for her (and as much as I love that woman, her desire to deface any member of the sausage family with ketchup simply baffles me):

and a Super Dog for me:

The knotted up, dry buns alarmed me at first, especially since these were purchased pre-game…but, as mentioned before…everything tastes great at the ballpark.

Our hometown boys have 7 more games in this stretch at home, and Friday kicks off the later 7:05 game start.

Take Me Out

MY Tacoma Rainiers are back in town for a 8 game stretch facing off against the Omaha Royals, and then the PCL North leaders, the Iowa Cubs. This is shaping up to be an ideal week for nights at the ball park, so get out to Mr. Cheney’s place to get your hot dog and beer jollies before Adam Jones is shipped off to Seattle…

What to do?

Should find out this week on the 6th Ave space for opening The Red Hot. I think I would rather pull my toenails out with rusty pliers than delve over the finer points of commercial leases. Maddening, but a necessary evil. Not the first, not the last, I’m sure.

In other questionable news…what do you do when the Memorial Day cookout goes terribly wrong and someone forgot to bring that extra bag of hot dog buns?

The answer – adapt and persevere:

$1 For Your Thoughts

5 runs in the 8th inning will do wonders, especially if you’re only down by 3. MY hometown Rainiers put the kibosh on a homestand sweep by the Las Vegas 51’s with a 5-3 victory last night, even after being levied with THE WORST call at third base I’ve ever seen. Blue was unimpressed with my offer of letting him view the call again on my camera. He was even more unimpressed with my questioning, not one batter later, if the ball that flew over the pressbox directly behind home plate was foul or fair. Having first row seats directly behind third base has its privileges.

One privilege was getting in with a pal who scored the tix from his employers season ticket lottery. A second privilege was getting a free parking pass. Third was the magic slip of paper giving the bearer a free Rainier Dog, chips, and a drink.

Looks very ‘blah’. Kind of limp, and overly soggy…but everything tastes better at the ballpark. Since ballpark dining is always good, this is one of the few places in Tacoma (not for long) where YOU KNOW your dog will be tasty. This hand-held delight tasted like magic in the 5th inning, getting rid of the sour taste of what was shaping up to be a losing game. Onions and mustard are the only things I require. Bliss I tell ya, bliss (especially washed down with watery $1 beers from right field!).

p.s. – Not to be a weisenheimer, I gave the abused Blue the ‘good game’ as we left the park, and he gave a smile and a thumbs-up. Minor League Baseball, how I love thee.