Here we go Su-uns, here we go (clap bonk ow!)

~~~




The Nats web site said that there were three prospects in Single A that were mighty darn good at the playing of the baseball. Suffering from a bad case of seller's remorse after I gave up tickets to all three games against the Pirates, I convinced family members that they should accompany me to Maryland to watch The Hagerstown Suns get beat on by the Lakewood Blueclaws.

Single A ball has a lot going for it. You can park in a lot just a few feet from the stadium entrance, if you're willing to accept the risk of foul ball windshield damage. You can sit wherever you want, with the exception of the plush living room sofa positioned at the first base side of home plate. You can't sit there, pal. Only ONE LUCKY FAMILY gets to sit on the couch, brought to you by Some Local Furniture Store. Wherever you choose to park your junk, you get to experience the exhilaration that comes from the very real chance you'll get plunked by a foul ball.

A 12ish year-old kid just down the row from us took one on the melon in the second inning. When we came back with our fried dough covered in sugar, volunteer medics had a giant bag of concession stand ice on her face while they asked her if her fingers felt tingly. To her everlasting credit, the kid was back in the stands - in the same spot - by the sixth inning.



Then there are the aforementioned Super Stars of Single A. Chris Marrero, the Suns' center fielder, lived up to promises by slamming a sweet homer over the right field billboards. It was his 13th dinger, tying him with his teammate Justin Maxwell for second in the division.
Justin Maxwell. Photo taken using a Loch Ness Filter.





If you're wondering where the American Family Like The One You Grew Up With went, go see a home town game.










Michael Martinez played in AA Potomac Nats last year after signing in free agency in 2005. Guy's maybe good enough for the bigs, but playing in Hagerstown.






"Mom, we're going out marauding."
"Yeah fine. Just be back by the 7th ... and bring me one of them $1.00 warm dogs."




~~~K. Provost~~~