The Expat

There has been a large amount of clamor around this blog that all the contributers blog, and I'm the last writer to jump on the blog-train.

September, there isn't a better time to write about baseball, well, I guess for a Cubs fan like myself, April when we haven't started thinking "wait 'til next year" might be best month. As Zambrano cools off and the Cubs stumble to the finish line, I'm trying to avoid thinking about records, stats, standings, etc. I recently moved to the District of Columbia - home of the Washington Nationals. The Nationals are the remains of the dysfunctional Montreal Expos. They moved to DC in 2005, and took up roots in RFK Stadium, a multipurpose complex on the Southeast side that opened it's doors in 1961. RFK was the first stadium designed to serve more than one sport; unfortunately, this "cookie cutter" design proved to be unideal for any sport. From the upper-deck, the stadium looks like a deep canyon with bright yellow glossy sandstone walls. The perfect arc that creates the homerun fence lends itself well to a geometry; unfortunately, it doesn't help the baseball aesthetics of the stadium. However, despite the recent move-in, stadium, and losing record the Nationals still create a strong presence in the city. Nationals gear and support can be spotted all over the city from the Mall to the hip bars of Adams Morgan.

Tickets are $5 on Wednesdays, so I organized a group trip to the game. 15 people responded yes. I asked my friend if I should buy the tickets in advance, so we could all sit together. "No need," he replied. "There will be seats. Decent seats" Against my instincts, I went with it.

On the subway heading to the game, we ran into some young GW students who were also on their way to the game. They already had tickets. They offered us tickets. Modestly we said, no, we had a lot of people.

"No, really. We have a ton of extra tickets."

"Okay, we'll take 15." I joked.

"Alright, hold on. Let me count them out."

After a bit of research taking with some locals, I discovered that receiving free tickets is a common experience. Everybody has tickets; most people are willing to give away those tickets. They're like iTunes gift cards - impractical but guaranteed to be given away at any fundraiser. In many ways, this appeals to my root baseball instinct - you can't guarantee them to win, but you can guarantee a good time. When the tickets are affordable you can eat a hot dog, spit out salted peanut shells, and drink a cold beer on a warm summer evening. For me that's the best way to see a baseball game - no matter how the team does or how eroded the stadium is.

The Baltimore Uh-O's

My hat's off to Clay Buchholz. The young fellah just threw a no-hitter for the Boston Red Sox. No-hitters are always pretty historic, and this was no exception. It was the 3rd no-hitter caught by Jason Varitek. No one has caught 3 since some guy for the Black Sox. It was also the first rookie no-hitter in Red Sox history. Even more incredible, it was Buchholz's 2nd big league start, EVER! nice work.

But it was the Orioles.

This is the same team that gave up 30 (THIRTY!!!!) runs to the rangers. whoops. That hasn't happened in a hundred plus years. You weren't gonna run into a lot of people that saw 30 runs scored by a major league team, until the other week. This is a 59-75 team. They aren't having the best run of it here. 30 runs, no hits. What's next? Cy-type dominator Eric Bedard misses time with a strained oblique? OH WAIT. that just happened. Sorry Baltimore.

Also sorry to Buccholz. Congrats on the no-no, but the Orioles had it coming I guess.