The dust has settled on yet another baseball road trip. Just like the other road trips I have taken this year, the I-80 was filled with adventure and experience. However, the I-80 had some elements that will make it stick out as a unique trip unlike any I have taken before.
Minus a trip on water, I took every conceivable form of transportation on this trip. Bus, plane, train, car, walking...this trip had it all. I was amazed at how seamless all of it went and how I didn't miss one thing and it was all on time. I credit my planning and flexibility of allowing myself to move out of my comfort zone.
My lodging experience was a little scattershot. At first, I thought there was no way anything could be worse than a hostel, but the floor of PDX probably will take the cake. However, I think that with a little more preparation and some different circumstances, that experience could have been doable. After getting into Reno, the Sands was fine and a welcome relief. Finally the train home was easy to sleep and was, actually, kind of comfortable.
Reno is a very interesting city. While I don't think I got the same chance for community analysis as I have done in other cities, what I did see was a little depressing. Maybe I came in wanting to compare Reno and Las Vegas, but the empty streets in downtown and the barren casinos were kind of a drag. Walking around before and after the game, Reno kind of had this dark vibe behind it that was ever present.
Yet, you drive 30 miles to Virginia City, and your opinion changes. My trip up to Virginia City was absolutely fabulous. I love the whole ambiance of the place and you really get the feeling that you have stepped back in time. The old buildings, solitary whistle from the steam locomotive, and the scenery of desert just made you believe you were Wyatt Earp or Butch Cassidy. All I needed was a horse, and I would've been set.
Back into town, I was a little disappointed with Aces Ballpark. I understand that the park was built in 14 months and some features just simply couldn't be put in, but my apprehension in giving it a good rating is larger than that. Set in between busy railroad tracks, a beautiful river, and a large skyline, Aces Ballpark failed to incorporate any of these elements into the park. From my seat, I couldn't see any of these elements. PNC Park in Pittsburgh wouldn't be lauded as much if it weren't for the view. It's the same for AT&T Park in San Francisco. How you incorporate elements outside of the park is incredibly important, and Aces Ballpark just didn't do it for me.
My second day in Sacramento was a little too quick, I think. I got in, took some tours, went to the game, and then boarded the train. From what I could see when coming in , Sacramento looks like an overall shady place. There's a lot of poverty and shantytowns surrounding the tracks. Again, I may be completely off target with this assessment. Old Town was fine, but I got the feeling like I wanted to stay away from the outlying areas.
I had been to Raley Field before, but I was younger and nowhere near as experienced. I haven't done it yet, but I'd like to look at my old blogs and see how I ranked Raley Field. Now that I'm older and wiser, I'm compelled to give Raley Field a little more credit. I do think it is one of the better parks in the PCL. Is it better than Tacoma? That's a toss-up. Fresno? No. Colorado Springs or Reno? Yes.
There's been some talk of the A's moving to Sacramento. I think this would be a bad idea because the city has embraced Triple-A ball. The stadium is filled almost every night, and people are pretty devoted to that team.
To close out Baseball Extravaganza 2012, I can think of no better way. Making my way across a part of this country I've never seen and engaging in the communities where I'm staying epitomizes the concept of the baseball road trip. While I'm glad to be home, I am satisfied with how the trip went and the stuff I saw.
This was the final baseball road trip of the summer. I will throw out a final update after the week is over mainly because I'm closing out the season on a high note with something I have always wanted to do. On Friday, I'll be throwing out the first pitch at the last Emeralds game of the year. It is related to my Mayor campaign, but it seems like a fitting way to end a very successful Baseball Extravaganza 2012.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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