This Tuesday (June 16), another ballpark was added to BBRT’s list of “Baseball Venues Visited.” This time it was Raley Field in West Sacramento, California – home of the Triple A, Pacific Coast League (PCL), San Francisco Giants-affiliated Sacramento River Cats. The third-place (Pacific North Division) River Cats were taking on the division-leading Fresno Grizzlies (a Houston Astros’ farm team). As always (well, at least, almost always), there was something special to see during the game. I’ll get to that, but first a few observations on the Raley Field and the Triple A experience.
When you get to Raley Field the first thing that strikes you is the large parking areas that adjoins the stadium – and the fact that parking is free. No, that is not a misprint; River Cats’ fans enjoy free parking.
Raley Field and Sacramento’s Tower Bridge.
Once in the ballpark, you’ll notice a similarity to Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. Considered one of MLB’s finest ballparks, PNC offers a picturesque view of the golden/yellow Roberto Clemente (Sixth Street) Bridge, which crosses the Allegheny River beyond the outfield wall. Adding to the vista is a view of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline. At Raley Field, the view beyond the ballpark’s outfield perimeter includes the golden/yellow Sacramento Tower Bridge – a vertical lift bridge across the Sacramento River. The bridge, which opened in 1935, is on the National Register of Historic Places – and it’s a beauty. Fans also enjoy a view of the downtown Sacramento skyline beyond the bridge.
The stadium opened in May of 2000, the first season of the current Sacramento River Cats’ franchise (the relocated Vancouver Canadians). Raley Field has approximately 10,600 permanent seats, and plenty of room for additional fans on the berms beyond the outfield fences. The team has averaged better than 8,000 fans per game in every year of its existence and the River Cats have led the PCL in attendance in 13 of their 15 full seasons in Sacramento (2000-2014).
Overall, Raley Field is picturesque and fan-friendly – ample concourses, plenty of traditional and unique food choices, reasonably-priced seats (for the most part), baseball just one level shy of the majors and some of the friendliest staff and vendors I have run across. More on the Raley field ambiance in a bit, but first a look at Monday’s game and the Triple A experience. Note: If could improve on thing, it might be the on-field lighting – an issue at many minor league ballparks.
The very first pitch of the game, which I attended with my son-in-law Amir, illustrated the range of experience and talent you can expect at Triple A – where you will find a combination of rising prospects, rehabbing major leaguers of varying skill levels and players (both former major leaguers and career minor leaguers) looking for one more shot at “the show.”
In Monday’s game, the first pitch was thrown by the Sacramento River Cats’ Jake Peavy – on a rehab assignment (back strain) from the parent San Francisco Giants. The 6’ 1”, 195 pound, 34-year-old Peavy (you’ll see why all that data is important in just a minute) is a former Cy Young Award winner and three-time MLB All Star, with all or parts of 14 major league seasons and 139 major league victories under his belt.
Peavy’s first pitch was taken by Fresno second basemen Tony Kemp – 23-years-old, 5’ 6” and 160 pounds – just two years removed from Vanderbilt University, where he was the 2013 SEC Player of the Year, a 2013 Baseball America All American and on the 2013 SEC Academic Honor Roll. Kemp, taken in the fifth round of the June 2013 MLB draft, came into the contest having compiled a .313 average in 263 minor league games (for five different teams in the Astro’s system). The baseball distance between Peavy and Kemp, who started the game just 60’ 6” apart, is part of the beauty of minor league ball – especially at the AAA level.
The game itself was fairly-well played – a 3-1 victory for visiting Fresno, with each team collecting five hits – and Sacramento making the only error. Peavy took the loss, but took a positive step toward a return to the Giants’ rotation. He got in trouble with two walks and a two-run double in the first inning, but then settled down and gave up just four more hits and one run over the next six frames. Peavy’s final line was seven innings pitched, five hits, three earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts. In 20 1/3 rehab innings, he has walked six and fanned 20.
The star of the game – who also ensured there was something special to see – was Kemp. The diminutive second baseman walked to lead off the game, stole second and scored the first run. Then in the bottom of the fourth, with the River Cats having scored once (making it a 2-1 game) and having a runner on first with one out, Kemp turned a nifty pivot on a 6-4-3 double play (faithful readers know how much BBRT loves 6-4-3 and 4-6-3 double killings). Finally, Kemp led off the top of the fifth by scoring the game’s final run – crushing a ball off the center field wall and dashing around the bases for an inside-the-park home run after the center fielder took a slight stumble. The kid can fly – but that seems to be a patern for Astros’ second sackers (see the sidebar below).
The Houston Astros’ boast the smallest player currently active at the major league level – 5’6”, 165-pound second baseman Jose Altuve. How good is the 25-year-old Venezuelan? In 2014, he led the AL in average (.341), base hits (225) and stolen bases (56). Well, the Astros may be cornering the market on small, speedy second sackers. Listed at 5’6” and 160 pounds (165 pounds by some sources), Tony Kemp currently plays second base (and some outfield) for the Astros’ top farm club – the Fresno Grizzlies. How good can the 23-year-old be? As of June 16, he was hitting .364 with five steals in seven games at Triple A – after hitting.358, with 15 steals in 50 games at AA Corpus Christi. In 2014, Kemp (taken by Houston in the fifth round of the June 2013 draft) hit .316 with 41 steals at High A and Double A. No matter how you measure them, Altuve and Kemp appear to be real “keepers.”
Now, just a bit more on Raley Field and Monday’s game.
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Check out the clock/timer above the Coors Light sign – annoying.
The new pitch clocks (and pace of game rules) were in force – being introduced at the AA and AAA levels to allow any glitches to be worked out before implementation at the major league level. That means clocks counting down between innings and pitches – one large digital timer above the centerfield wall and one on the wall near each dugout. Allowable time – two minutes and twenty-five seconds between innings and pitching changes, twenty seconds between pitches. BBRT’s appraisal – distracting and annoying, but I am more than a bit old school.
- We had great seats – just beyond third base, practically close enough to pick the third-sacker’s back pocket – for just $18 each.
- Some great food choices – just a few examples include: a Fajita Chicken Rice Bowl; Chili Cheese Fries; Pulled Pork (barbeque) Sandwich (I had this and added onions and horseradish for a sweet and spicy treat); Hawaiian Melt Panini; and even Garden Salads. All in addition to tradition ballpark fare. (We were there on dollar hot dog night.) Note: Several fans swore by the “Loaded Fries” – French fries, nacho cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives.
- I’d also suggest a visit to the Beer Garden (in the left field corner). You’ll find a host of great “gourmet” beer choices, mixed drinks, sliders and lots of great baseball comradery.
- The Inside Pitch – The River Cats’ magazine – with scorecard inside is FREE.
- The River Cats had a between inning pop fly catching contest, where a youngster had a chance to win – a free hair cut?
- Attendance at the game was a bit low (6,214 – and that seemed a generous count). The reason became a bit more obvious in the seventh inning, when the loudest cheer of the game went up after the scoreboard announced the Golden State Warrior’s 105-97 NBA title-clinching win. Apparently, quite a few stayed home to watch that one on TV. (And, it was a Tuesday night.)
- I spent some time rooting for Fresno starting (and winning) pitcher Asher Wojceichowski (want to see that name on a jersey – and I am a Karpinski).
Finally, BBRT likes to review Bloody Marys at all the ballparks I visit. Raley Field’s wasn’t bad – and, in terms of relative value, was worth the $8. I received a generous pour of vodka and, although a standard Bloody Mary mix was used, the bartender “custom-spiced” it. Plenty of bite, but a little short on condiments (two olives and a lime slice) as compared to some other ballparks that add such items as celery sticks, pickle spears, peppers, beef sticks and even bacon. Still, a satisfying Bloody Mary – and great with pulled pork.
So, there’s a look at my night at Raley Field – all in all, pretty darn enjoyable.
