4926. Go to Brewer’s a taxi squad practice/game

 Because the Pandemic messed with baseball in more ways than one, Appleton became home of the Brewers taxi squad, basically AAA players that will float between AAA and the majors to help when players are injured or out due to COVID.  Appleton was picked because it is the home of the Brewers A team and it's only about 90 miles up the road from Milwaukee. It made the most sense. 

Even though the T-Rats would have loved to have fans in the stands last year for taxi squad practices and games, they couldn't. When Major League baseball pushed back the start of the AAA season so there could be a month of taxi squads, just in case, Appleton was again chosen to be the Brewers taxi squad partner. This time fans were allowed in on a limited basis.

I told the hubby I wanted to go. Most of the practices/scrimmages were held during the day for about three hours. The hubby reluctantly agreed to go. I bought tickets. Then he got stuck waiting for Grandma at the doctor for over two hours. I was nervous he wouldn't get back in time to catch any of the scrimmage but he was home by 3:30 and we hightailed it to Fox Cities Stadium.

The taxi squad scrimmage was kind of like being at spring training. The players worked different positions in the field and took swings of the bat. A pitcher pitched a set number of pitches and types of pitches. There was a real minor league umpire calling balls and strikes. I figured a local umpire would have that job. Not every position was covered on the field at all times. The coaches set up different scenarios and that's what they focused on during the half inning.

We were able to watch about an hour of baseball. For $5, it was cheap entertainment. There were probably about 20 people there. Not many foul balls were hit but the one that was, I tried to get but someone else beat me to it.

I did stamp in. I got the first stamp at Nueroscience Field at Fox Cities Stadium since 2019. I was surprised that the stamp had 2021 because some of them did not. Getting a stamp was the real reason I wanted to go to a taxi squad game but it was fun never the less.

The hubby enjoyed it and if more games fit in his scheduled, we probably would have gone to more. It was ALMOST like being at spring training. 

Hopefully we don't need to have any more taxi squads in future seasons but we would definitely go back if we had the opportunity. 

Now we wait for the minor league season to begin and figure out when we can go to to a T-rats game this season.

2021 Baseball Stadium Tour -- American Family Field

American Family bought the naming rights to Miller Park. It is always sad when your home team ballpark changes names. Sure Chicago White Sox and Atlanta and many other teams have changed names of stadiums several times but I've only known County Stadium and Miller Park. 

There have been been some cosmetic changes to American Family Field besides the name change. The Brewers went back to the navy and yellow color scheme with the ball and glove logo. The colors and logos have all been updated. 

Bernie's Chalet got a makeover. The chalet now resembles the old Bernie Chalet. However, the roof looks just the American Family logo. The biggest change to the chalet is the slide. It went from yellow to white. That white slide is going to take some getting used to.

The clock in right field is no more. I keep glancing at right field to check the time and it's not there. There's a digital clock on the marque of the loge level in left field but it's hard to spot at times. I really miss the clock. 

TGI Fridays was renamed to a Restaurant to Be Named Later. It is still in left field and you can watch the game from you table. It will be open round eventually.

Guest Services does have the new stamp as well. Even though I never got my Miller Park stamp, American Family Field was the first stamp I got in my big book. Look for another post soon all about this new(ish) crazy hobby of mine.

Because of COVID restrictions, we haven't wandered too much of the ballpark. Hopefully in the coming months we will be able to wander the ballpark more. 

American Family Field will always be Miller Park to me until they build a new stadium. It is great to be back at ballpark even with reduced capacity, digit tickets, and no bags. Looking forward to many more games at American Family Field this year and for years to come.

Quarantine Adventures: Happy Hour with the Brewers

Andrea: Are you gonna do the virtual happy hour with the Brewers

Me: Not this week. I should but gotta make dinner. What time is it?

Andrea: 5:15.. there's a link on the page

Me: I might be able to multi-task

Andrea: Charlie Berens is on this week

Me (thinking): who... oh yeah the guy from the Manitowoc Minute

Me: Then I better.

That is how I ended up joining a Zoom Virtual Happy Hour with BA, Counsel, Trevor Hoffman, and Corey Knebel. 

I really wasn't planning on it but I figured I could multitask. I was one of the lucky 1000 fans that joined them for a Virtual happy hour.

It was an hour of shooting the breeze, talking about their careers, Bull Dunham, and life in general. The hubby even listened in. It was pretty hilarious hour. You got to see their basements and man caves.

At one point in time, Craig Counsel changed his Zoom background to a picture of him on a riding lawn mower. Trevor won that lawn mower and gave it to Counsel. The hubby was in stitches.

The last portion of the happy hour call featured Charlie Berens who chatted with the guys about baseball and life. It was hilarious.

I am glad Andrea made me join. I am glad that the Brewers had an event where they could connect with fans. I miss baseball. Hopefully we will be able to see the Brewers play again this year. Until that happens I guess this is the best I can hope for.