This Tuesday (June 16), another ballpark was added to BBRT\u2019s list of \u201cBaseball Venues Visited.\u201d\u00a0 This time it was Raley Field in West Sacramento, California<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 home of the Triple A, Pacific Coast League (PCL), San Francisco Giants-affiliated Sacramento River Cats.\u00a0 The third-place (Pacific North Division) River Cats were taking on the division-leading Fresno Grizzlies (a Houston Astros\u2019 farm team).\u00a0 As always (well, at least, almost always), there was something special to see during the game.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get to that, but first a few observations on the Raley Field and the Triple A experience.<\/p>\n

When you get to Raley Field the first thing that strikes you is the large parking areas that adjoins the stadium \u2013 and the fact that parking is free.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 No, that is not a misprint; River Cats\u2019 fans enjoy free parking.<\/p>\n

$\"Raley$ <\/a>
Raley Field and Sacramento’s Tower Bridge.<\/p><\/div>\n
Once in the ballpark, you\u2019ll notice a similarity to Pittsburgh\u2019s PNC Park.\u00a0 Considered one of MLB\u2019s 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.\u00a0 Adding to the vista is a view of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline. At Raley Field, the view beyond the ballpark\u2019s outfield perimeter includes the golden\/yellow Sacramento Tower Bridge \u2013 a vertical lift bridge across the Sacramento River.\u00a0 The bridge, which opened in 1935, is on the National Register of Historic Places \u2013 and it\u2019s a beauty.\u00a0 Fans also enjoy a view of the downtown Sacramento skyline beyond the bridge.<\/p>\n
The stadium opened in May of 2000, the first season of the current Sacramento River Cats\u2019 franchise (the relocated Vancouver Canadians). \u00a0Raley 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).<\/p>\n
Overall, Raley Field is picturesque and fan-friendly \u2013 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\u2019s game and the Triple A experience. Note: If\u00a0 could improve on thing, it might be the on-field lighting – an issue at many minor league ballparks.<\/em><\/p>\n
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 \u2013 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 \u201cthe show.\u201d<\/p>\n
$\"RaleyPeavy\"$ <\/a>In Monday\u2019s game, the first pitch was thrown by the Sacramento River Cats\u2019 Jake Peavy<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 on a rehab assignment (back strain) from the parent San Francisco Giants.\u00a0 The 6\u2019 1\u201d, 195 pound, 34-year-old Peavy (you\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n
Peavy\u2019s first pitch was taken by Fresno second basemen Tony Kemp<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 23-years-old, 5\u2019 6\u201d and 160 pounds \u2013 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.\u00a0 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\u2019s system). \u00a0The baseball distance between Peavy and Kemp, who started the game just 60\u2019 6\u201d apart, is part of the beauty of minor league ball \u2013 especially at the AAA level.<\/p>\n
The game itself was fairly-well played \u2013 a 3-1 victory for visiting Fresno, with each team collecting five hits \u2013 and Sacramento making the only error.\u00a0 Peavy took the loss, but took a positive step toward a return to the Giants\u2019 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.\u00a0 Peavy\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
$\"kemp\"$ <\/a>The star of the game \u2013 who also ensured there was something special to see<\/em> \u2013 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\u2019s final run \u2013 crushing a ball off the center\u00a0field 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 \u2013 but that seems to be a patern for Astros’ second sackers (see the sidebar below).<\/p>\n
The Houston Astros\u2019 boast the smallest player currently active at the major league level \u2013 5\u20196\u201d, 165-pound second baseman Jose Altuve<\/strong>. How good is the 25-year-old Venezuelan? In 2014, he led the AL in average (.341), base hits (225) and stolen bases (56).\u00a0 Well, the Astros may be cornering the market on small, speedy second sackers. Listed at 5\u20196\u201d and 160 pounds (165 pounds by some sources), Tony Kemp<\/strong> currently plays second base\u00a0 (and some outfield) for the Astros’ top farm club \u2013 the Fresno Grizzlies.\u00a0 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 \u2013 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.\u00a0 No matter how you measure them, Altuve and Kemp appear to be real \u201ckeepers.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Now, just a bit more on Raley Field and Monday\u2019s game.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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$\"Check$ <\/a>
Check out the clock\/timer above the Coors Light sign – annoying.<\/p><\/div>\n
The new pitch clocks (and pace of game rules) were in force \u2013 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. \u00a0Allowable time \u2013 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.<\/li>\n
We had great seats \u2013 just beyond third base, practically close enough to pick the third-sacker\u2019s back pocket \u2013 for just $18 each.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Some great food choices \u2013 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 \u201cLoaded Fries\u201d \u2013 French fries, nacho cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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I\u2019d also suggest a visit to the Beer Garden (in the left field corner). You\u2019ll find a host of great \u201cgourmet\u201d beer choices, mixed drinks, sliders and lots of great baseball comradery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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The Inside Pitch<\/em> \u2013 The River Cats\u2019 magazine \u2013 with scorecard inside is FREE.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
The River Cats had a between inning pop fly catching contest, where a youngster had a chance to win \u2013 a free hair cut?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Attendance at the game was a bit low (6,214 \u2013 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\u2019s 105-97 NBA title-clinching win. Apparently, quite a few stayed home to watch that one on TV. (And, it was a Tuesday night.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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I spent some time rooting for Fresno starting (and winning) pitcher Asher Wojceichowski<\/strong> (want to see that name on a jersey \u2013 and I am<\/em> a Karpinski<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
$\"RaleyBloody\"$ <\/a>Finally, BBRT likes to review Bloody Marys at all the ballparks I visit. Raley Field\u2019s wasn\u2019t bad \u2013 and, in terms of relative value, was worth the $8. \u00a0I received a generous<\/em> pour of vodka and, although a standard Bloody Mary mix was used, the bartender \u201ccustom-spiced\u201d it.\u00a0 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. \u00a0Still, a satisfying Bloody Mary \u2013 and great with pulled pork.<\/p>\n
So, there\u2019s a look at my night at Raley Field \u2013 all in all, pretty darn enjoyable.<\/p>\n
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This Tuesday (June 16), another ballpark was added to BBRT\u2019s list of \u201cBaseball Venues Visited.\u201d\u00a0 This time it was Raley Field in West Sacramento, California \u2013 home of the Triple A, Pacific Coast League (PCL), San Francisco Giants-affiliated Sacramento River Cats.\u00a0 The third-place (Pacific North Division) River Cats were taking on the division-leading Fresno Grizzlies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n