Game Thread: Principal Park

Wow

Very impressed with Principal Park. Great Ballpark. Stu’s prediction is in: 6-4 to the Baby Cubs.

We were impressed…

We are just about to have philly cheese steak nachos…in a batting helmet. I s*** you not.

Des Moines: City Notes

Des Moines City Pass Notes

Behold...the city of Des Moines, Iowa

Age:  Approx 161 years old

Appearance: I don’t know as I haven’t been there, but the city resides on adjourning rivers and is pretty much smack bang in the middle of the US if that helps at all.

Not really. Why the fork and spoon are you going to Des Moines? Glad you asked, it’s the 2^nd stop on our road trip and we needed a buffer day so we didn’t arrive in Kansas too early. It’s all about the schedule you know. Plus Billy Bryson is from Des Moines and I like him.

Bill Bryson, the entertaining travel writer? No, Bill Bryson the astronaut. Yes of course the travel writer – how many other Bill Brysons are there out there?

According to Linked In, about 408! Sigh

So what does Des Moines have to offer in terms of sports? Not a lot to honest. Mainly farm teams, including the Iowa Cubs who are the triple A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs – yes the team we talked about yesterday. We will be watching them play the New Orleans Zephyrs on Saturday night.

You boys really know how to party on the weekends eh? So any notable players that have plied their trade for the Iowa Cubs? I am glad you asked – yes of course. Greg Maddux, Rafael Palmeiro, Joe Carter, Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior all played here  before being called up to the Majors and then went on to have successful careers. Steve Trachsel played for them too.

Rookie Card for The Human Rain Delay..

Steve Trachsel the Human Rain Delay? Yes.

Have they won anything? They compete for the Pacific Coast League (PCL) Championship. Although they have won their division and conference titles before, they have not won the championship. They lost in the final to Sacramento in 2004.

What’s the stadium like? I hear you like stadiums. My industrious little jawa travelling companion Copus has just written about this. It’s called Principal Park and it has a capacity of 11,500. Never been there. But apparently they have a ‘haircut promotion’ on the Saturday night. Copus is the only one with hair. And also they have a nice fountain in right field where you can ‘cool off during the game’. Given its going to be early May, I am assuming we won’t get to try this unless one of us pushes one of us in. This would be childish.

Indeed. What else has Des Moines got to offer? Well, the insurance industry is very active there, accounting for a large amount of the professional employment opportunities. So it has a down town to explore, with water front options on the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. Then there’s the Iowa State Capital Building – with monuments commemorating fallen heroes in WWII, Civil and Vietnam wars amongst others. It’s got a gold roof. I reckon we will have a look at that. And there is a zoo. Maybe we can trade Terrill for a monkey?

Not a bad little gaff is it?

Don’t you need him to help with finding sustenance? True I guess. Although we are not going to be there very long. I believe the aforementioned Copus is doing some research on some microbreweries and I imagine Terrill is scanning the all you can eat chicken and rib options.

Do say? “I love your State Capital Building. It’s a pertinent reminder of our forefathers.

Don’t say? “Was Bill Bryson an astronaut?”