Padres versus Rockies

Padres vs. Rockies -April 19, 2003

My San Diego Padres were in Denver for a 3-game weekend series with those Colorado Rockies. The entire timing of the trip was planned around the games, and the games were the reason I even went to Denver in the first place. I had actually planned to go to Denver in the summer of 2002, during my Grand Circle trip. But, as I was planning the trip and what to see on the way there and back, the Denver part of the trip kind of got left off the itinerary; there was just a lot more to see and do other places.

But here I was in Denver. A very cold Denver. I actually saw the first two games of the series, but the pictures you will see are from the second game. The first game was a night game, and the second and third were day games. Didn't really matter, because you needed to have heavy jackets, hats, gloves, and blankets for all games - it was very cold. I only had the jacket during the night game, and froze my you-know-what off. I came prepared the second game - no blanket but everything else. Including camera.

A quick recap of the night game, which was very enjoyable if you were a Rockies fan and not so much so if you are a Padres fan. The final score was 12-1, and it wasn't that close. That is actually all I remember about that game. That and it snowed overnight after the game. I had to clean off my car at the hotel and I actually called the Rockies to see if the game two was going to be played. The Rockies assured me it was; I guess, short of a real disaster, the game must go on.

Dinger I arrived early for the day game and took pictures. A whole roll of them in fact. And I loaded up on the hot chocolate. Talked with a very nice usher about the park as we watched them take the tarp off the field. Had some lunch. Watched the Padres warm up. Watched the Rockies warm up. No batting practice.

And then the game began.

Clay Condrey was pitching for the Pads - that's him in the picture at the top of this page. I took that picture in the first inning. How do I remember that? Because it started to rain early in the second and the game was halted.

The rain delay went for about two hours. They actually kept playing in the rain for about half an inning or so before the game was halted. Everyone moved up under the rafters out of the rain. And we waited. And waited. And waited.

Denver sports actually had more going on than the baseball game - the Colorado Avalanche, the hockey team, was also playing somewhere in town in the NHL playoffs. The Rockies organization decided to help us pass the time by putting the game up on the monitors and the scoreboard. So at least we had something to watch. (I think the Avalanche lost the game.)

When the baseball game started again, the sun actually came out for a bit. The Padres began to play a little better, but still not as well as the Rockies. Mark Kotsay actually hit a home run for which the right fielder, Larry Walkkkk-er (that's how the PA announcer says his name, Larry Walkkkk-er) didn't even move. Didn't even watch it go into the stands.

I had to leave the game early. Well, early at this point with the rain delay and all. I needed to get on the road and go down to Pueblo, Colorado, to check into my B&B. So I didn't get to see the ending. What I know is that the Padres were up in the 9th inning, but that the Rockies still managed to win. I don't know the final score.

Rain Delay