It’s been almost a month since my last blog post, but I have a really good reason why: I moved.
Yep.
I packed up my belongs and threw them in my car, Jeet (named after Derek Jeter), and then drove north until I got to New Jersey. I have family up here, so I figured this would be a good place to figure out my life without having to pay rent.
I’ve been here a week and so far, I really like it here. I’m a short train ride away from NYC and an hour away from Philadelphia. It’s great, it really is! So what’s a baseball nerd like me to do on a rainy Sunday? Go to a game, of course! My dad and I drove to Philly and had the chance to take in beautiful Citizens Bank Park. In the pouring rain. Because I’m just that lucky.
Actually, even though it was cold and rainy, I had an amazing time. Let me just say that Citizens Bank Park is probably my favorite ballpark that I have ever been to. Granted, I have only been to a handful of parks, but this ballpark takes the cake. It’s beautifully designed – the concourse is wide, the food selection is bueno (Chickie Fries, anyone?!?), and there isn’t a bad view in the house. Even the team shop is well designed!
Coming into the game, I knew the Phillies were quietly surpassing expectations (mine included) and I was excited at the idea of seeing them potentially sweep the Cleveland Indians! Not only that, but I was really excited to watch Vince Velasquez pitch (since I live in Jersey now, I should probably just call him “Vinny”). This guy has the potential to be a very good starting pitcher, and not only that, but he has some pretty sweet tats up and down his arm. I was also stoked to watch Danny Salazar pitch for Cleveland, since he has been their best pitcher so far this season. It was a pitchers duel the entire game and I loved it.
The fans in Philly really helped make the game special, too. These fans are hard-core sports fans. Even though it was rainy, they didn’t leave early and they stayed focused on the game. They booed their own players, cheered for simple pop flies, and talked intelligently about the game. I’ve always heard that Philly fans across all sports spectrums are ruthless, and I think that’s true. But “ruthless” doesn’t mean “bad” – it just means that they are passionate about their sports teams. It’s a great environment to be in.
In short, I just wanted to say thank you to the Phillies for introducing me to the sports scene in Philadelphia. I’m so excited to get to know the teams better! But, just remember, if my D-Backs or Yankees come to town, I’m rooting for them. I’m prepared to face the wrath of you Phillies fans.
She Steals Second 