The Oaks

I took me out to the ballgame. I took me out with the crowd.

I skipped the peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and I did care that I did ever did get back – cause it was a little cooler than I expected and it was close to my bedtime.

Yep, pholks, I went to my first Visalia Oaks game this season and the home team won, 6-4 in a good ball game.
I was curious about how Recreation Park looked from the inside during major renovation of one of the most renowned minor league baseball parks in the nation. Ironically, the cost of expanding and updating the baseball field has become a political football, if one chooses to use sports metaphors. I do so choose. Political hot potato would work but I refer to decision makers being at “the hot corner,” another sports term (third base).

Anyhow, I must admit I was more than a little surprised the venerable Recreation Park looked so good despite the construction activity and the fact that several days before opening day things did not look ready, from my passing glances.

The right field light tower still was on the ground and there was no scoreboard to be seen. Outfield walls were void of sponsor signs and it just didn't look like it was nearly time to play ball.

Although the Oaks scheduled their first 17 games on the road to provide time to get the park ready, I had serious doubts the delayed home opener would happen as scheduled.

I don't know how many games I will make this season but it's likely it will be more than last season when I finally got to the final couple of contests. Annually, I swear that the next season will be different and I will spend some spring and summer evenings catching a live game rather than trying to watch “Jeopardy,” reading a book and listening to the Dodgers on the radio all at the same time. Honestly pholks, I will continue to do that, but insert more Oaks games into my nighttime schedule.

With the ongoing Recreation Park construction this season certainly will have some added appeal if you happen to be one of those pholks who like to watch things being built. Being a “sidewalk superintendent” while sitting in the stands enjoying a ball game, cheering for the home team, harassing the umpires, watching the antics of some poor soul stuffed into a loony looking sweltering squirrel mascot outfit, and taking advantage of pizza, hotdog or burger specials is darned good entertainment.

People-watching has always been one of my favorite pastimes and ballgames, especially at the minor league level, are a great place to do just that.

Seeing civic and community leaders and lots of business pholks in a very casual and relaxed atmosphere is a good thing. However, there are times when you see someone in shorts or cutoffs, flip-flops or sandals wearing a ball cap and you don't make the connection until the seventh or eighth inning, if at all.

I do have one major issue, however, rooting for the Oaks. Since they are an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, a strong rival to my beloved Dodgers, I try very hard to block that out of my mind, especially during the seventh inning stretch when singing the lines “for it's root, root, root for the home team, if they don't win it's a shame…”

But that, pholks, isn't too much of a problem if it takes my mind off of $4 a gallon regular gasoline and $3.89 cent run-of-the-mill bread.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com