Bill's Journal Entry #2

Tropicana Field

Date: April 19, 2002

Location:  St. Petersburg, Florida (home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays)

Opponent: Baltimore Orioles

Travel companion: None

Link to my photos: http://cards.webshots.com/cp-31050372-IrWy-album/36176063IgnGOy

Game Result: This was a game that went back and forth several times. The Devil Rays took a one run lead in the bottom of the sixth, but Baltimore came back and tied it in the top the seventh. The Rays once again took a lead, this time by two runs, in the bottom of the seventh, but the Orioles were up to the task and tied the game once again in the eighth, sending it to extra innings. Baltimore scored once in the top of the 13th, sending many of the fans to the exits before the bottom of the inning.  But they should have stuck around a little longer, as Bobby Smith of the Rays sent the first pitch in the bottom of the 13th into the stands. Baltimore scored once more in the top of the 14th on a squeeze bunt, and this time the Rays were out of answers, finally falling 6-5.

Stadium Summary: Although this is not a great stadium by any means, I do think that it gets a lot of criticism that it doesn't deserve. (Then again, my visit to Tropicana may have been slightly skewed by coming directly from Pro Player—when compared to Pro Player, nearly any stadium can look good.  I was also comparing it to my hometown Metrodome, the only other indoor baseball stadium I’ve ever been in, and this was far more open, with much more of a baseball feel.) The crowd was not huge by any means, at just over 11,000, but that was still more than twice the size of the crowd I had been part of in Miami, and the fans here seemed much more ready to support a winner than the Marlins fans did. I've heard many critiques of the catwalks, but honestly, they seemed much farther away and less of a factor that many other stadiums’ overhead obstructions. The stadium did have a very cavernous feel to it, and I would prefer that the roof be removed, especially on a gorgeous night like that one. But having spent a summer in South Florida in 2001, I definitely understand the need for an indoor facility. Access to and from the stadium was easy, and walkways in and out of the stadium were attractive and well kept. Despite this, I’d much rather have watched these teams play in one of the many area minor league or spring training facilities. The most fun spot in the Trop is “The Beach”, but the most fun beach in the area isn’t in the Trop.

Best way to see free baseball: Extra innings.  Not only do you get more baseball, but you know that it’s a close game!

Worst effect of extra innings: Tired kids. By the 11th inning, there were children everywhere that clearly were tired of the action on the field.  I was beginning to feel sorry for Raymond, the D-Rays mascot, who was their primary refuge from their fatigue.

Funniest collision in a pregame event: Early in batting practice, a well-hit fly ball slammed into the blimp that drifts around the stadium between innings. It sent the blimp into an out-of-control plummet to the field, very reminiscent of the Hindenburg crash. The blimp was back up and advertising by the time the game started, with no visible damage.

Best freebie that ties into my personal collection: As I mentioned in the “Intro” section of my journal, I am collecting the home team’s official New Era game hat at each stadium.  While I was buying my hat at the Trop, I noticed a display from New Era, where with any New Era purchase, you could get a free poster showing all the official caps of all 30 teams.  It was intended for each team’s opening series, but there were still four posters left in the bin.  Three of them were quite beat up, with the ends shredded, as if they had been handled by an Enron accountant.  But the last one was in good shape, and is now on my wall with my collection of hats.  I’ve since seen the poster on a couple of souvenir stand doors and the like, but no where that I could have gotten the poster for my own use, so I’m glad I got it there!

Stadium Grade: D+  A decent modification effort, considering the summer climate in the area and the pre-existing stadium they had to work with, but the Trop still falls short.

Overall Grade of my experience at the game: C-  A good competitive game, with five extra innings, decided by a squeeze play. It's always nice to see quality small ball in action. If only it had happened outdoors.

-- Bill Verkuilen  biggbill@hotmail.com

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