Last night, Daniel McCutchen didn’t look good at all on the mound. Just learned that he’s been suspended 50 games for violating substance abuse policy. At least he won’t be getting lit up tonight…at least not by Durham anyway.
Tag Archives: Harbor Park
About That Pitching…?
This is my new card. Of course, if you’re reading this, you already know all of the information on it.
i enjoyed last night at Harbor Park, as always, but the game was a bit difficult to watch. An 11 – 2 shelling of four pitchers always is. The bottom line of this game was that the Tides were out-pitched. I was seeing some control issues from our guys. They were missing some fundamentals – the usual suspects of inconsistent release points and pitch selection. You can’t throw fastballs all of the time against the Bulls.
That said, the Tides have two chances for redemption tonight. The Opening Day rainout resulted in a double-header tonight at 6:05. Game 1 should feature our first look at Jurrjens on the mound. By the way, I neglected to mention that there is a Groupon available for the upcoming homestands with Charlotte, Gwinnett, and Toledo. I believe the tickets are $8 with the Groupon, which is a deal. Prices have gone up this year at Harbor Park. The “cheap seats” are $13. Pizza is $5/slice for cheese, and Bud Lights are $8.50 for drafts and $9 from the vendor. Parking remains $5. So, my ticket, parking, two beers, and two slices last night were over $45.
I’ll post more after the games tonight.
Opening Day Redux
Let’s try this again. Last night didn’t turn out the way any of us planned. Instead of enjoying Opening Night at Harbor Park, I spent Almost Opening Night at my local watering hole staying out of the cold 37-degree rain. Well, I’m going to Harbor Park tonight, period. I ran down to the box office today at lunchtime and got my ticket, so I shouldn’t even have to stand in a long line for anything but food.
I’m about to revise my lineups on 6-4-3 that I entered yesterday, and then I’ll be ready. See you tonight!
Opening Day Thoughts
I have been checking the weather almost hourly since last night. It’s starting to look like we might actually get this game in before the monsoons hit later tonight. Still, I’m not taking any chances. I have all of my foul-weather gear ready to go and a good pair of running shoes on so I can make a dash across the street for the truck if required.
A sane person would go home and listen to the game on the radio on a night like we’re expected to have here. However, I believe that there is nothing like Opening Day/Night at the ballpark. After driving by a dark and still Harbor Park too many times during the winter (including driving by it sideways during that one very-frightening Friday ice storm), the park will soon come to life with everything that we know and love. It will capture all of our senses, as it always does. The familiar sights of the picnic area in left field, the huge TV screen in center field, the party deck in right, the neon of “Hits at the Park Open To The Public” glowing in the window, Rip Tide dancing on the dugouts, and the goofy between-innings games will again greet us. The smell of pizza, pretzels, burgers, hot dogs, and beer will float through the concourse once again. These things will taste better than they do anywhere else on Earth. We’ll finally hear the old-time music, cheering fans, national anthem, announcements, and new “walk-up” music. And, it will feel cold. The wind off the Elizabeth River this time of year is unforgiving and, of course, “Blowing Out To Left”.
You don’t get all of that on the radio, even if you do stay dry and warm.
So, I’m optimistically going to get my ticket later today, and I’ll write you again from Harbor Park tonight.
Bottom Line…
Here is the bottom line about the Norfolk Tides’ prospects for the first part of the new season: the bench depth right now in Baltimore means that the Tides are going to field a team that could beat many major league teams. Take a look at the players that have been sent to us over the last few days:
- Jurrjens (RHP)
- Hendrickson (LHP)
- Dickerson (OF)
- Garcia (RHP)
- Hoes (LF)
- Pridie (CF)
- Jackson (RF)
- Robinson (OF)
- Gausman (RHP)
- Ishikawa (1B)
They are joining what was shaping up to be a strong roster earlier in the spring. This is the best team we’ve seen since at least 2005. The other good news is that I don’t believe we’re going to see the “revolving door” that we came to know last season, with 75 different players and 25 different pitchers coming through Harbor Park during the course of the year. All in all, we Tides fans have a lot to look forward to in 2013.
Possum Plantation Post 