Progressive field stands right off the highway in downtown Cleveland. I didn't even know it, but I took this picture of the stadium as I was trying to get the skyline:
Progressive is one of the nicer of the "new-ish" ballparks, as I like to call them. The "New-ish" ballparks are the newest in terms of actual age, but are definitely designed to throw back to the old grandstands of yore. In the 60's-70's, huge concrete monstrosities were built in the name of economics and conveniences. The Astrodome, the Metrodome, Shea Stadium, etc. The 80's-90's brought with it a backlash against the concrete bowl that had dominated stadium design for the past couple decades. Some of the newer ones tried to bring back the grandstand feel, and Progressive does it quite nicely.
The jumbotron behind the bleachers. Neil had his back to this.
After breathing in Wrigley, any stadium was going to look a little glossy and fake, so I feel a little bit bad for Progressive (formerly Jacobs field) that I had to take it in the day after that. It seemed clean (but a little too clean), you get the idea. It's shiny and new.
One of my favorite parts of Progressive was their "Heritage Park." They have bronze plaques for every great Indians player, and a "Top 100 All-Time" players wall (cutoff was 2001). It was nice to grab a Great Lakes brew and mosey through this area, taking a glance at all the great names that have passed through Indians history.
Neil and Satchel Paige.
Notes on the game:
Scott Baker started for the Twins against the 22-2 and eventual AL Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee. Both pitchers struggled with command out of the gate, Baker leaving after giving up 4 runs in 4 1/3, Cliff Lee leaving after giving up the tying runs in the 6th. After that it was up to the bullpens.
The view from my bleacher seat.
Twins hitters are continuing to have good at-bats, from what I could tell. They forced all the Indians pitchers to go deep into counts, driving pitch counts up and shooting a ball over the infield. Justin Morneau is doing this better than anybody. He had 3 hits with 2 RBI's on hard-struck singles and one sacrifice. I know a lot of people probably miss the big-bopper Morneau, driving them over the fence, and I know I wouldn't mind seeing him drive in a few 3-run bombs now and then.
As has been the case this month, the bullpen allowed the Indians to re-take the lead late, and with my crazy case of "bleacher butt,"* I headed for the hotel after the 8th.
*Seriously. I've never had anything like it. I think it's a combination of driving and stadium seating, but the entire surface of my rear end started to itch like nobody's business. Rather than submit the few rows behind me to a 9th inning of scratching, I headed for the exit and a shower.
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