"Train..."

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We hit a Saint Paul Saints game yesterday, the first one I'd been to in a couple of years. It was great fun, making me wonder why I go so infrequently. Anyway, I'm a bit of a list guy, so here are some observations...

• Despite my aversion to heat and humidity, outdoor baseball in Africa-type heat is better than indoor baseball under the dome. Things certainly did get a little sweaty, but the beauty of playing the game outside made it all worthwhile.
• I totally want to be the emcee dude. No, really. Whatever pay cut is involved, I don't care. Sign me up.
• Three hot dogs, two beers, two sodas: $20.50. I'm guessing that would easily have been $25 at the Metrodome. Speaking of finances, $5 for parking and $10 for tickets is pretty good as well.
• Of the 7,200 people at the game, I'd guess about 1% actually paid attention to the full game. But what's nice about the Saints is they assume that's going to be the ratio, and build in enough "entertainment" to make the game an enjoyable experience for everyone. Unlike the Twins, where the only non-baseball excitement can be found in the animated Tires Plus race on the Jumbotron.
• It's fun to watch a game featuring players with smaller egos. Less time stepping out of the batter's box, hustling back to the dugout, cleanup hitters being asked to bunt-- that sort of thing. Of course, it's hard to get much of an ego when you're being introduced by the daughter of a man who won the chance to announce a game on eBay. And she totally screws up your name.
• Highlight of the day (tie): a) the Winnipeg first-base coach being ejected on the second play of the game, and 2) the "train tally" at the end of the game ("Overall, twelve trains: four Soo, three Santa Fe...")

Overall.. great entertainment value. And this comes from someone who has pretty high standards when it comes to baseball. :)

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