West Virgina Power News List

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Places you go and People you meet... Part 1

After a four game homestand against Hagerstown, the schedule had the team off on Monday.  This might make you think that means a day away from the park or a chance to sleep in, but that is incorrect.  There are very few actual off days during the course of a Minor League Baseball season.  For the front office, it meant a 9 am report time for a standard day of work.  Sales calls to be made...  Prep work to be done for the next set of games (Marshall hosting Tulane this weekend)...  Like in life, once one thing ends, something else begins.  The season doesn't pause just because the schedule says "Off."

As for the team, the bus pulled out for Charleston, SC, at 9 am on Monday.  The series started Tuesday night, but the only day trip that the Power will make is to Lexington.  Everything else is a day-before journey.  After a stop for lunch outside Charlotte, back aboard the bus we go to complete the journey.  It was quiet ride to Charlotte, but the movie Beer League was the feature film of choice during the afternoon trip southeast.  I had never seen Beer League.  Let's just say that 42 has it beat by a little bit.

The Crowne Plaza in Charleston, SC, has to rank as the top hotel we will likely see in our excursions this season.  Luxurious rooms, a Tanger Outlet across the street, and plenty of restaurants to choose from.  The only down side is that it is 15 minutes from downtown and the ballpark.  I started with some bbq on Monday night and had Subway for lunch the next day.  Not every meal can be award winning... right?

Our first game against the RiverDogs was Tuesday night.  Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park is a decent stadium.  Not new... not old...  It has some advantageous factors, including a fairly creative staff.

It seems that Charleston routinely tries to push the envelope in each aspect of the operation.  They have a "Be your own Fan" campaign, geared towards having patrons select their ticket package based on what they are most interested in.  It's very similar to the approach other teams, including my own, take towards increasing attendance.  It is, perhaps, more targeted than what most other clubs do (or try).  One other area that the RiverDogs excel in is concessions.  Their "Homewrecker" hot dog was featured on Man vs. Food's ballpark edition.

This season, Charleston introduced the "Beer Shake" with the tag line Beer + Cow = Good.  
 I sampled one before Tuesday's opener.  Just so you don't think I went all Harry Carey/ Harry Doyle on you...  It is roughly eight ounces of beer and eight ounces of ice cream. They have three flavors:  Guinness Caramel, Sweetwater 420 Strawberry, and a Palmetto Chocolate.  I went for the last option.

It wasn't bad.  A little too thin maybe, but otherwise good flavor.  Some bite from the beer and a good ice cream.

I would have not minded a souvenir cup for my $6.00 though.  If you are going to get inventive, brand it bold.  Allow people take that cup home and think about beer shakes all the time.  How many of us have Disney cups from McDonald's or holiday glasses from Long John Silvers or Coke glasses... from McDonald's.  Ok...  maybe we all ate fast food too much growing up?

The Power lost 4-2 on Tuesday and then 6-5 on Wednesday.  I'm not going to recap the games in their entirety.  You can read the reports on the Power website in the news section.  I will say this though...  This team needs to win some games scoring less than six runs.  As I type this, the Power are 0-10 when scoring five runs or fewer in a game.

On Tuesday, I ran into Charleston's old broadcaster, Danny Reed.  Danny is a good friend and took care of us when I didn't travel.  He now works as the voice of the Citadel Bulldogs for baseball, football, and basketball.  He's is from Maryland and is a Pirates fan, so we have a good bond.  Danny sat in for an inning to catch up.  On Wednesday after the day game, he picked me up and took me downtown for dinner.  We went to a highly-recommended seafood establishment called Coast. 

I had the shrimp and & grits.  In hindsight, I should have tried something else.  In part due to my Thursday lunch plans and in part because they weren't as good as I was told they were.  Very creamy and heavy-handed on the pepper.

The story from Coast is not about the food.  The story is about who I ran into.  While I was sitting at the bar, I saw a younger guy who looked familiar.  I'd like to say that it took a minute to remember, but that would be a lie.

My baseball-centric mind quickly placed a name with the face.  It was Kevin Decker, a right-handed pitcher that played for the Power in 2011.  Kevin played baseball at the College of Charleston and was drafted by the Pirates in 2010.  He went 3-5 for West Virginia in 2011 with a serviceable 3.49 earned run average.  At the end of the season, he rolled an ankle and that was the last that Minor League Baseball saw of him.

He is back in school finishing a graduate degree and helping coach baseball.  We didn't have much time to talk because he was working as a server's assistant at Coast that evening.  One of the nicest guys I came across that summer.

When I mentioned this chance meeting to Jeff Johnson, our pitching coach, he said, "Oh yeah?  Swamp Thing?  How is he?" That was Kevin's nickname.  Swamp Thing.

On Thursday, I took the early bus to the park and walked a mile for lunch.  Hominy Grill.  This was my only true plan for Charleston, SC.

I'm a big fan of Top Chef and Tom Colicchio.  I saw a travel report for Charleston that Tom was quoted (and perhaps paid to) talk about three or four great restaurants.  He mentioned the Hominy Grill.

The most recommended dish was shrimp and grits, but I wasn't ready for that two days straight.  I went for the she-crab soup and The Big Nasty.

About a decade ago, I would try any she-crab soup you put in front of me.  The best bowl I found was at a place called The Mayor's House in Myrtle Beach.  It remains the best to the day.  She-crab soup, in my opinion, is best with a particular amount of cream and slightly heavier on the sherry.  This version at the Hominy Grill was very good, but  was slightly too thick.

By the way... the last time I just typed she-crab soup... I typed she-crap soup.  No thanks to spell checker for missing that one.

The Big Nasty was a sandwich featured on Food Paradise.  It is a homemade biscuit with a boneless fried chicken breast and sausage gravy.  Think gourmet Eat-N-Park, but much more amazing.
This heart attack-on-a-plate was very good.  A little on the heavy-side perhaps for lunch.

The Hominy Grill sells a beer float.  I wonder where the RiverDogs got their idea?  Nothing is new.  Just borrowed and rebranded.

I now needed a nap, not a two mile walk back to the park.

How was it one mile there and two back you ask?  Because the walk there was not through the safest neighborhood.

So I took the scenic route back.  I have added a few pictures from the walk back.  The safe route back.  Well fed... a shutout win to cap the series in Charleston... and a two hour ride to Savannah with baseball's oldest park coming up.

And I'll never have another bad day.

The exterior of the Hominy Grill.

Another shot of the exterior of the Hominy Grill.

A pier on the Ashley River... roughly 100 yards from RF.

Joseph P. Riley, jr. Park in Charleston, SC

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Shutout, sandwich, and Shoeless Joe...

Three days in Greenville, South Carolina, is not enough time.  This is a great city with so many things going for it.  Some friendly southerners, a diverse cuisine culture, incredible views, and a Double-A caliber ballpark for a South Atlantic League team.  Before I get too far, let me apologize now if this post turns in a photo dump.  During tonight's broadcast while my broadcast assistant was doing the play-by-play, I prepped 18 pictures from my stay in Greenville for potential use in this post.

My plan is simple.  When traveling to a new city, look for two things: a great restaurant (or local dish) and any attractions that stand out (to my interests).  The main criteria: it has to be within walking distance of someplace that I'll be (hotel or ballpark).  Unlike a vacation, I have actual work to do and need to work this stop in to my day.  Also  I don't have a car.  Just a coach bus and two feet, only one of which is at my beck and call.

By the way... I just Googled "beck and call" vs. "beckon call"...
The Free Dictionary- Beck and Call

I found an article in Esquire magazine that talks up Greenville as a rising foodie hotspot.  Almost all of the restaurants in the list were dinner-only establishments... save one or two.  I chose a place called Nose Dive and planned for a Tuesday lunch.

On to Fluor Field.  This is one of the class establishments in Minor League Baseball.

Greenville is affiliated with the Boston Red Sox and built this park in 2006 to be a near replica of Fenway.  The dimensions are nearly the same to spec, save the Green(ville) Monster in left is 30 feet, not 37.  Why must SAL teams have one incredibly high wall?

This ballpark would treat the boys playing for West Virginia fairly well over the three-game series, including an 6-0 shutout on Monday night.

Like Fenway Park, Flour Field has a hand operated scoreboard.  Greenville's is a smaller scale and only has the line score for the game we are playing, but the point is driven home.

What I don't understand, and may never understand, is why any club would spend tens of millions of dollars for a permanent setup (like a stadium) to match a relationship that is tentative.  Player Development Contracts are for two or four years.  Obviously they get extended and some relationships are very good and last for long periods.

But take the case of State College.  They built a field that has the same dimensions, nooks, and crannies of PNC Park.  31.4 million dollar writing on the wall to the Spikes original parent club, the Cardinals, that they were going to swap to be a Pirates affiliate.  And then...  six years later... they left the Pirates for the Cardinals. So the St. Louis team in the NYPL plays in a ballpark with the exact same dimensions of another big league club.

Fluor Field, regardless of parent club affiliation, is a class park.  I just wish that you could tell who was warming up in the bullpens, which are hidden behind the right field wall.

On Tuesday, I took the 1 pm bus from the hotel to the ballpark and had Jimmy, our driver, drop me off down town.  I was ready to try Nose Dive.

I was intrigued by the online menu and again asked the server what the best dishes were.  The bartender told me that their most popular sandwich was the Pulled Chicken Sandwich:  French bread, pulled chicken, arugula, basil puree, mozzarella, and preserved tomatoes with a side of sweet potato fries and a beer.  The beer was a bad idea because it made the walk to the stadium a slight stumble.


In hindsight, I would have tried something different.  Not because this wasn't a tremendous sandwich... it absolutely was...  but because Nose Dive is a Gastro-Pub.  A Gastro-Pub is "Food Forward," meaning that it's all about the food.  It's a time for chefs to create dishes that are both interesting and comfortable.  I should have stretched my boundaries more, though the sandwich I picked still had me salivating as it was placed in front of me.

On my... walk... to the stadium, it became evident how much pride Greenville has in its' people, heritage, and scenic views.  The streets are dotted with statues of important people who did important things.  Here are a couple of pics I snapped during the trip to the ballpark.
This last photo is of Shoeless Joe Jackson.  I'm fairly well versed in his history, but had completely forgotten about his beginnings in Greenville and Brandon Mill.  I made arrangements to visit the "Shoeless" Joe Jackson Museum on Wednesday afternoon.   A visit I was very excited about.

The Power won again Tuesday, nearly shutting out the Drive for the second straight game.  Greenville scored three in the ninth to snap a 32 inning scoreless drought.  During that same span, the Power scored 36 times.  I'm just saying.

On Wednesday after a sushi lunch, I walked across the street to the museum to meet with Arlene Marcley.  She is the curator and president of the museum, which will celebrate its' fifth anniversary this summer.  The museum is the house that Joe lived and died in.  In fact, while in the room that was the master bedroom, Arlene told me that I was standing in nearly the exact spot where he passed away in 1951.  I moved immediately.

The deadball era is a fascinating period of baseball history and I was hooked about 12 years ago.  I encourage you to watch Ken Burns documentary Baseball, especially the 19-teens segment.  Once you wake up, watch it again and try to pay attention.

Here are some photos from the museum visit.

This is the dinning room, which is now the entrance. 
 Here is the library.  By the way, Shoeless Joe Jackson couldn't read or write.
 A replica of Joe's bat- Black Betsy:

Joe and his wife Katie... in their 1908 wedding photo.
And a few more photos...


I also took some time to interview Ms. Marcley for the radio pregame show.  If you have seven minutes...  Take a listen.


After some rain fell in Greenville, the Power took on the Drive one final time.  West Virginia blew a four-run lead and lost the series finale 5-4.

I packed up quickly because I didn't want to be late getting on a bus that was already leaving later than anticipated.  In fact, as the post game show was in commercial breaks, I was tearing apart the equipment I was done with and packing it up.  

We "watched" Slapshot on the bus.  I say "watched" because it is tough to really watch a movie on a bus.  Or at least... its tough to watch a movie on the bus and get anything out of it.  Fortunately it was Slapshot.  Not much I needed to take away.  It did help spark my creativity to think up a way to make a Power version of Kmart's "Ship my Pants" commercial (the best ad campaign on TV right now).


Six hours later...  Three hours of sleep.  Maybe.  And then an hour and a half more in my own bed before an ill-scheduled dentist appointment (that I made six months ago).  We started a four game homestand on Thursday night, a mere 13 hours after arriving home.  I'm not complaining.  I'm just saying. And I'll never have another bad day.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Biscuits and Baseball...

On Thursday night, we opened our road trip... or at least we tried.  The rained started a few innings in and forced the game to be suspended to Friday.  It was tough to see this happen because our starting pitcher was doing a fantastic job.  One hit allowed over four innings against a team that beat us three times in our own park to start the season.

On Friday, I decided to venture downtown to try a highly recommended, highly decorated (awarded, not decor-ed) restaurant called Tupelo Honey Cafe.  It came up on several searches and even a few people at the ballpark said it was worth a trip.  I made the one mile walk from the ballpark through the downtown area.  Asheville seems like a great town.  I passed several breweries and pubs (we will get back to that in a minute), some great local eateries, and a music hall called The Orange Peel.  From the marquee, it looks like they get some really good acts.

On to lunch.  Tupelo Honey is located on College St. by a park that reminded of New York City.  Street musicians, chess being played on picnic tables, food carts.  A really cool atmosphere.  I walked right in and got a seat, probably because I was by myself.  It seemed like bigger groups had a decent wait.  I ordered my water (Asheville is a Coke town...  I'm a (Diet) Pepsi person).

And this this came:
A fresh, homemade biscuit with blueberry jam and.. yep...  Tupelo Honey.  Was it good?  Of course it was.  The women sitting beside me asked if I ordered that or if the waitress just brought it out on her own.  Had I not taken a bite, the two women (sisters from Tennessee) might have fought me for it.  A battle I'm pleased to not lose.

I asked the waitress what her favorite sandwich was.  She gave a couple suggestions, including the sandwich I was planning on getting (fried green tomatoes).  Then she mentioned a newer sandwich.  I tried that instead.

A grilled cheese on sourdough wheat with havarti, pimento cheese, carmelized onions, maple peppered bacon, city ham, fried green tomatoes, and fresh basil... with a side of homemade tomato soup.  Arguably the best sandwich I've eaten since the Paddy's Pot Roast Melt at Molly Branigan's.  

Good thing I walked...  one mile there.  One mile back.  Much needed after this amazing lunch.

We picked up the baseball action in the fifth inning and continued to roll over Asheville.  So over two days we won our second game of the season.  The Power lost a seven inning version of the regularly scheduled Friday game.  

On Saturday, I made sure to take care of the media notes early.  I had already decided to go see an 11:50 am showing of 42, the Jackie Robinson story and take the starting pitcher bus.  There are several bus times to leave and go to the stadium each day.  The coaches had been leaving at 11:30 or so with one players bus at 2-2:30.  The starting pitcher is the last person to arrive at the ballpark.  With notes done and it being a Saturday, I rode over with Tyler Glasnow at 3:15.     

Before we get to one of the strangest games I've seen, I'll give you my short take on 42: go see it.  If your are a baseball fan, go see it.  If you like period piece movies, go see it.  Historical dramas with social commentaries...  you get the point.  Chadwick Bosemen was tremendous as Jackie Robinson.  You could feel the anguish is his portrayal of the legend, especially in the scene above.  I know some are criticizing any liberties taken in filming, but I believe there were very few and those that were taken drove me back to the very first thing you see on the screen.

Based on a True Story.  

Harrison Ford was also exceptional, portraying Branch Rickey. His passion for doing what was right... Ford played it so well.  One of the best roles he has had in a long time.  And some phenomenal eyebrows.

There are some scenes that, in this day and age, are difficult to watch because of the rampant racism.  It was a period piece that accurately (at least I think it was accurate) portrays the mentality of the era... about baseball and society.  You see a comedy to laugh, a documentary to think, a horor film to scream, and a Nicolas Sparks movie because your wife makes you.  Watch this to see how far we have come and how far we still have to go.

Go see it.  And try not to be offended by the constant use of "Pittsburgh" as a punch line.

As for the Saturday game...  23 runs combined.  24 hits between the teams.  AND 12 ERRORS combined!  I said on the air, and I'll say it again... we had no business winning that game.  You should not win a game where you compile seven errors (matched the Power record for errors in a single game- July 22, 2009 vs. Savannah).  But we won.  Raul Fortunato hit a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth and we added five more runs in a 14-9 comeback win.  Michael Ryan told me that it was "A" ball and things like that happen.  I just hope they don't happen with this club too often.

And then we did it again Sunday.  Fortunato hit a three run homer to push us ahead 7-6 in the eighth en route to a 12-7 win.  Three of four from Asheville, who oh by the way beat us three out of four times at our place last weekend.  At least Sunday was error free.

I hate using the phrase "cardiac kids," so I won't.  But after 11 games, this might be the most resilient team we have had in Charleston.  One that the Toastman might talk about a decade from now.

Here is a pic of the right field wall at McCormick Field.  42 feet at its' highest point and 36 feet closer to the pole.  Tallest wall in all of baseball (the 42 foot part).  

Two more things about Asheville.  Their PA announcer went to Gannon University.  I, being a Mercyhurst Laker, was predisposed to disliking him based solely on his choice of college.  But he was a great guy to talk to.  Very casual on the mic with a voice you could hear across the stadium without amplification.

Beer.  That's the other thing.  No fewer than 10 people talked to me about beer.  Craft beer.  Brew pubs.  Where to go and what to drink.  Oh you have to try this... or if you like a good lager, try that.  Apparently that is a big thing there.  Because everyone talks about it.  All the time.  I began to wonder how anything got done. 

Off to Greenville, SC for a few days.  I heard there is a "Shoeless Joe Jackson" museum across from Fluor (floor) Field.  This I've got to see.

I'll update you again later this week.  For now, Gladiator is on TV.  I've got Almost Famous of DVD.  I had sushi for dinner.  And I'll never have another bad day.






Thursday, April 11, 2013

A new ballgame...

Greetings to you and welcome to my baseball travel blog.  After three years of spending Power road trips in Charleston and hearing someone else call our games, I'm now spending my first season on the road with the team.  My plan is to update this blog once or twice a week, regardless of where the team is.  Appalachian Power Park.  McCormick Field.  Grayson Stadium (I refuse to use Historic... but we'll get into that later).  I'll do my best to provide some insight into the lifestyle, the business, and the people of Minor League Baseball.  I just hope that you will enjoy it.

Several people are responsible for making the season on the road happen and I will thank them all in due time.  First up, though, is my wife Brienne.  Without her support and blessing, I would have never asked for this.  Our marriage and friendship is, hands down, the most important thing in my life.

Moving on.

After months of speculating and planning, I was ready to get on the bus for Asheville, NC.  After a 1-6 homestand to start the 2013 season, it was time to remember how to pack a baseball suitcase.  Seven days away.  I'll admit...  I started with a suitcase that was too small.  I asked an old friend and mentor for advice.  He said, essentially, go big or stay home.  So I went to the attic and got the beast of a suitcase that I could pack a Mini Cooper in.  And I filled it to capacity.  What if it is cold?  Long underwear.  Will I work out?  Probably not, but I should take extra shorts and t-shirts just in case.  Three pairs of shoes...  Check.

Next up... the dress code.  Since I haven't been on a team bus consistently since 2007, I had to check with our manager about proper attire.  I was told that what I had on at the moment of that conversation would have gotten me a $25 fine.  So much for my flip flops and shorts!

As the Wednesday school day game ended, I was packing the radio trunk before the broadcast even ended.  I wanted to be ready to go and not miss that first bus.  I had an extra 40 minutes of standing around, but I. Was. Ready.

Now for a disclaimer...  I will not be breaking any sanctity in this blog.  Not the bus ride.  Not the clubhouse.  Nothing.  Any story I tell that gets personal in any way will come with the understanding that I have permission to tell said tale.

We got to Asheville at about 8:30 on Wednesday night and checked in to the hotel.  About 20 minutes later, the coaching staff, support staff, bus driver, and I all went to dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse.  It was a good chance to bond a bit and tell a few stories...  Which led to me telling Orlando Merced (our de facto hitting coach since the Pirates don't officially call him that) about my favorite all-time Pirates game- Memorial Day 1990 against the Dodgers at Three Rivers- a benches clearing beanball war.  Hearing his take on it was great.  He then bought us all dinner.  A Major Leaguer bought me dinner.

On to Friday...

I woke up Friday and did some work (like game notes which you can read everyday at wvpower.com in the News section).  For lunch, I walked about ten minutes to a nearby plaza.

Another disclaimer...  I love delicious food.  I'll be posting pictures of some of the meals as I attempt to try local favorites, chef's specials, and authentic flavors everywhere we go.

Shrimp and Grits from The Hickory Tavern Grille and Raw Bar:


On to McCormick Field.


If the grass looks a little brown, that's because it is.  They put in a whole new surface this year, but it hasn't quite taken... yet.

Here is Jon Schwind taking a BP swing.















and finally... my home for the next four games...















At Appalachian Power Park, I have a room.  Eight feet by 12 feet perhaps.  In Asheville, I have a window.  2.5 feet by 3 feet... perhaps. With an additional foot to the right for equipment.  I'm not complaining.  I'm just saying.  I never knew how good the comforts of the ballpark in Charleston were.  I will also say that the staff here was great.  Everyone was friendly and personable...  making for a good experience to start with.

As for the first game, four plus innings before the rain banged it.  Don't ask me where that phrase comes from.  I can't say, because I don't really know.  But a rain out is considered a "banging" or that we "got banged".  5-0 lead for the good guys.  So...  my first road broadcast lasted an hour and a half and 4/9 of a game.

I'm on the road though.  As that friend and mentor often said...  I'll never have another bad day.