Play Ball!

For decades Albuquerque had a semi-pro baseball team called the Albuquerque Dukes.  So named because this area was originally part of a Spanish land grant involving the Duke of Alburquerque.  (Yes, the extra 'r' is correct in the Spanish spelling of the word.)  The Dukes were a farm team for the LA Dodgers.

About 10 years ago (or more), the franchise was sold to a group up in the Northwest (Oregon, I think) and subsequently was moved there.  Albuquerque went without semi-pro baseball for a few years.  Then another group formed a team which was named (with a distinct nod towards The Simpsons TV show) the Isotopes.  As before, they are a farm team for the LA Dodgers.

Back when they were still the Dukes I went to a couple of games over the years.  I remember the old stadium had the concessions on a lower level that always seemed dark and closed in.

After an extended period of unemployment, I have signed on with a new employer.  I started my employment just in time to take advantage of a group night at the Isotopes.  This happened last night (8/27).

When I got to the stadium, I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with the renovations done to the stadium for the Isotopes.  The walk-up to the stadium is lovely.  The concessions are up on an open-air mid-level concourse that is user-friendly.  I found my seat and then went to got a beer and some popcorn and finally settled in to watch the game.

My seat was located way down the first base line.  Here's a photo of my section taken from behind third base.  Locate the long white sign on the left side of the photo.  You'll notice a large blue circular logo on the right side of the sign.  My section was under that circular logo.

The Isotopes were playing the Round Rock (TX) Express and the evening went well for the 'Topes who won by a score of 8 to 3.

It was a fun evening.  It was rather hot when I first got to the stadium - in the mid 90's and initially my section was in the sun.  It was better when the sun went behind a cloud and then eventually set.  After it got dark, the temperature dropped into the upper 80's and a nice breeze sprang up so it was quite nice.

Here's a photo of what the game looked like from where I was sitting.

See that expanse of nighttime sky on the right side of the photo?  We kept seeing lightning off in the distance (the northwest section of the Albuquerque metro area).  Not a lot.  Plus, it was far enough away that we never heard any thunder.  Still. it made me nervous to be sitting near large light poles knowing there was lightning in the area.  I don't know if the lightning meant somebody was getting rain.  While driving home, I didn't see any spots that looked like they'd gotten rain.

I took a closeup shot of the game.  This is while Round Rock was at bat in the top of the 8th.  They're in the gray uniforms.  The 'Topes players were in blue shirts.

All in all, I'm glad I went.

Papillon