It was one of those days when players have to pace themselves. The lack of humidity did not require ammonia towels, salt licks, or constant potassium renewals – but it was bloody hot.
For players, helmets that get left in the sun upside-down singe the forehead. Metal cleats that stay on the dirt infield too long start to cook the soles of feet. For fans, the breeze that blows hot air actually feels like the Schwarzenegger-portrayed Mr. Freeze is at the game and the sno-cone becomes colored liquid corn syrup fast from the heat transferred by your hand.
The mercury levels may have adversely affected the gate for the Sacramento Rivercats’ game at Raley Field. Then again, it gets this hot in the summer. Every Sunday home game is a 1:05 start. There are 11:35 AM weekday start times as well. The official game time temperature was 104 degrees. Wunderground said the highest temperature in the city was 106. After the game, the car said it was 117. Hellooooo, Riyadh!
The team announced a paid attendance of 8,056 for this game. Perhaps one-third of that number were there. Maybe 40%. All this for the best team in the league against their newly-formed geographic rival the Reno Aces. By the third inning those that were not in their assigned seats or under umbrellas, tents, and trees on the outfield lawn congealed in shaded sections at the top of the stadium.
Two of the heartiest souls were long-time Rivercats’ fans Tom and Rebecca from a nearby town in the Sacramento area. They have not missed any of the 51 games so far this season and they do not plan on missing any of the remaining 26. While they too sought relief from the sun for an inning or two, it presumably gave them strength for the rest of the game.
General sports fans aware of the support the area is capable of as evidenced by the love shown the NBA’s Sacramento Kings earlier this decade when it consistently made the playoffs. The Rivercats receive the same support from its fans. Sacramento leads the league in attendance through July 19. Tom and Rebecca are a big part of it.
If anyone has the proper perspective – it’s them. They seem like any team’s perfect season-ticket holders: always there, always participating, and not just rooting.
For example, the night before had fireworks. It was also Susan G. Komen ‘Swing for the Cure Night’. That’s a double bill rarely seen in the minor leagues because of the “lost gate” theory, but there is not a better night to have a fundraiser than on a night when you are guaranteed a big crowd.
Tom said the night was a lot of fun. The team won in pink jerseys rounding pink bases. Unfortunately, the fundraiser did not seem to raise as much money for the breast cancer–focused charity as it did last year. Fewer bids and smaller bids appeared in the silent auction. One of the player jerseys that Tom and Rebecca set money aside for all year – and won – was one of the highest bids of the night and certainly lower than what they remember what some of the jerseys went for last year. They thought there could really be only one reason for that.
They also shared a perception that crowds had been trending smaller in the summer months. “It might be the economy,” we thought. The average temperature for the Aces’ series was 99 degrees. That might play a part as well. There could be a bit of Atlanta-syndrome too. The theory there is that the team has been a perennial winner over the last ten years that perhaps fans are not coming out like they used to. They are waiting for the games to mean something. The Rivercats are two-time defending Triple-A champions after all.
A quick back-of-the-envelope check reveals that while the actual turnstile count may be lower, the average announced attendance for the Rivercats’ last 19 home games, dating back to June 11, has been 9,545 or 4.5% above their season PCL-leading average of 9,130*. That’s a small victory for a team in an area that saw hyper-growth in the ten years leading up to last year fueled by cheap land, urban/suburban exodus, and a recall.
Fans are guaranteed a great time at Raley Field whenever they go. Tower Bridge as backdrop provides a major league view, very similar to that of PNC Park in Pittsburgh. They are going to get good baseball. I can personally vouch for the manager, Tony DeFrancesco. He was the first person, I ever heard say, “Nothing good happens after midnight.”
Tom and Rebecca already know all this though. Despite whatever is going on in their lives, or in the capitol building two miles away they, will be there. When asked as to whether or not they would renew their season tickets, the answer was a resounding, ‘yes’.
Nothing more needed to be said. Few wanted to engage in conversation this day. Tom and Rebecca’s enthusiasm for the endeavor powered this exercise. Minds and bodies were focused on staying cool rather than the economy, the budget, and even the field in some cases.
In other words, “They’ll be back.”
In other news – Shawn Chacon threw six effective innings and got the win in the Rivercats’ 4-1 victory over the Reno Aces. 2B Eric Patterson led off B1 with his ninth home run of the year and had three hits on the day. 1B Daric Barton hit his ninth home run of the year a well – a two-run shot B5. The win put Sacramento, owner of a 10-game lead in their division, 22 games over .500 on the year.
* Note – The average for six Sunday games is over 9,800 so far, in much more temperate weather. The average for six 11:35 games to this point is a respectable 7,625.
Petit (foreground) and Barton (background) sign autographs for fans of all ages.
Success
Looks like you’re off to a great start!
Oh, were there any of those “high, puffy, cumulus clouds” over Raley?