A Flying Turtle or What Just Happened?

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.

Ellen Glasgow

My favored Bullpen Pub is no more.  It has been replaced by The Flying Turtle.  The menu is sparse and the service took long enough that I had enough time to change my mind.  I didn’t really want to eat at The Flying Turtle anyway.

I must say that I did enjoy the tribute to Dave Niehaus.  Even my dad, not a huge fan of rap, appreciated Macklemore’s performance, citing his annunciation as a reason why.  I liked seeing Dave’s family and wife throw out the first pitch.  Congratulations to Franklin Gutierrez, Ichiro, and Felix Hernandez on their well deserved awards.

However, as I looked around Safeco Field last night I felt uneasy.  Luckily not everything has changed, but as the banner in the sky circled advertising the nearby strip club, it became very clear that this was not the same Safeco Field. 

It also felt particularly crowded.  My sister offered up the comment that perhaps we hadn’t been to a sold out game in awhile and so it felt overcrowded.  I contest that I have been to several opening days, and sold out games.  It has never been this crowded. 

Numbers aside, this was a meaner crowd.  There was a man seated in front of us that yelled expletives to even the groundscrew as they danced and children as they passed.  I was flanked by a group of haggard women in their mid-thirties who had clearly been drinking too much, magnifying their naturally crude behavior.  We escaped our seats to go walk around the field, but after my disabled father was shoved by a gaggle of drunken youths, we decided it best to leave.  Not sure what the reason is, but there appeared to be alot of underage drinking last night in addition to adult binge drinking.  No one asked to see mine or my sister’s card, although I am in the habit of showing my card before I’m asked.  Safeco Security appeared to be overwhelmed.  Listening to the radio in the car, we made it home in time to turn on the tv and confirm the loss.

Seattle 12-3 loss to Cleveland.  I’ve been to many games we’ve lost, I’m a Mariners fan.  I’ve also been to games where someone said or did something rude.  The term I’m choosing to describe my frustration and bewilderment at what in my opinion is the worst game I’ve ever been to in both categories: “A Flying Turtle”.

xoxo

Your Safeco Sweetheart,

Ms. Mariner Monroe