Library, Sprinkles, Bonds

We had no specific plan for today, so we went to the Original Pancake House near Fashion Square Mall for the best pancakes on the planet. Lots of celebrities have eaten there over the years, and they signed the walls nearest the rest rooms. Some of the signatures were painted over, but my favorite celeb, Gene Siskel, was still there, as was Jon Miller and lots of sports figures.

We read in the newspaper that Barry Bonds was going to make a rare road game appearance and planned to go to Peoria to play in the Mariners’ game today, so we decided to go.

On the way to the park, we stopped at Scottsdale Library and I had a chance to see their Children’s Room and Teen Area. The children’s room is decorated with two themes—castle and “cat & mouse”, with tables that look like Swiss cheese, chairs that look like mice, and a “Cat’s Paw” slide that looks like a paw coming through a huge mouse hole. They have lots of games and puzzles, and kids who are "Cleanup Helpers" get a chance to win a prize. The Teen room has an industrial basement look, and has a magnetic poetry board, a snack machine, and a TV (the plasma is out for repair). There is a glass enclosed room that subdivides. Their foam cube furniture is cool and comfy, but I was told that it was only a year old and was mostly trashed. All the computers had headphones. There was some sort of "cone of silence" for music which also didn't really work out.

Out at the Peoria Sports Complex, despite information on the team website that said the stadium opened two hours before game time, we learned that it was really only open an hour and a half before game time. After being let in, there was still no one in the park until nearly 12:30. The Giants had taken batting practice at Scottsdale Stadium, and the Mariners had used one of the fields in the complex. Far right field is THE place to get autographs, as players from both teams come in there from the bus and/or clubhouse. My autographs today included Omar Vizquel—the first one at the park (he drove from Scottsdale Stadium instead of taking the bus)—Guillermo Rodriguez (who told us that “Bonds isn’t here”), Jack Tachsner (on a photo I took at Fan Fest), Billy Sadler, manager Bruce Bochy, and the elusive Benji Molina. A lady from Hawaii and I asked him for an autograph while he was warming up, and he said “When I’m finished” .We were both under the impression that he meant when he was finished warming up, and then when he was finished warming up the pitcher, Matt Morris. After waiting nearly a half hour for him to be finished, we were finally informed that he meant “I meant after I’m finished playing”. So after the third inning, I ran down to catch him before he could escape the park. He did sign two items—a photo I had taken during his warm-ups and a mini catcher’s mitt.

I also got an autograph prior to the game from Mariner Willie Bloomquist. The lady from Hawaii told me later that she tried to get an autograph from Ichiro Suzuki when he left the game, but she couldn’t even get close—it was total chaos.

Bonds was there—he arrived in a golf cart so that he wouldn’t have to make that long walk past the pesky fans. He was the DH and only had two at-bats. His one hit was a double. Other highlights of the game included a slight sprinkle of rain despite the 80+ degree weather, and the multiple foul balls that landed in our section (210--which was shaded). I missed one by inches--it nearly hit the Japanese cameramen behind us, hit the wall, sailed over my glove on the rebound and a guy two rows in front of me got it. Oh well! The Giants won in the ninth inning, thanks to the minor league players.

Dinner was from Old Town Scottsdale’s Schlotsky’s Deli, and back to the room to watch the girls sing on American Idol.