Mark Flies Down To Florida To Check Out The Baseball

My friend Mark, who works at the University of Denver's Anderson Academic Commons (the library), flew down to Florida this past Wednesday to check out the baseball action around here. First on the list was attending the Palm Beach Cardinals - Bradenton Marauders game last night at Roger Dean Stadium, located in Jupiter's Abacoa neighborhood. We had dinner before the game at DAS Beer Garden, in the neighborhood's downtown, just across the street from the stadium, which is where I took the photograph on the left of Mark and Susan.

Abacoa is a mixed-use development with a cute downtown, a branch of Florida Atlantic University, and lots of condos, townhouses and single-family homes, not to mention Roger Dean Stadium, which in addition to being home to the Florida State League Palm Beach Cardinals and Jupiter Hammerheads, is also the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. Just across the street from the downtown businesses is a town square, seen in the photograph on the right, which has concerts, as well as other events, every weekend, even in the heat of summer. And Abacoa is just a few miles away from Jupiter's beaches. No wonder it is filled with people of all ages having a great time. A wonderful place to live - if you can afford it, of course. That's the rub.

Mark was very impressed with our seats at the game. We were in the first row, right behind home plate, sitting directly in front on the on-deck circle, as seen in the photograph on the left. The cost - $17 each, including internet fees. If it wasn't for the netting to protect fans from foul balls, we could reach out and touch the batters in that on-deck circle while they were warming up. Which, of course, I assume those batters would not appreciate. I have seen people sitting in these seats, right next to the dugout, chatting with the manager as the game progressed, no doubt giving their advice on baseball strategy, which I know those managers appreciate more than they ever express - at least without using four-letter words.

The game itself was actually pretty good. The Palm Beach Cardinals dominated all the way up until the 9th inning, when it looked like the Bradenton Marauders might tie the game, forcing it into extra innings. These days, I am not an extra innings kind of guy, and so I was especially anxious as Bradenton began to close the gap. Fortunately, the Cardinals pitcher was able to get out of the jam, and the Palm Beach Cardinals won the game 7-5. The only negative part of the evening was that the ballpark was virtually empty. The announced attendance was 296, although it looked like there were only about 50 people in the park. On a Friday night? What gives? Granted, it is hot and humid here during the day, but in the evening, although humid, is not too bad, especially with a gentle breeze blowing. Mark says that attendance was poor because everyone was going to the game on Saturday, which is Pirates and Princesses' night. Makes perfect sense to me.