Day 3: Spain vs Panama

The first game was postponed last night due to weather. I found this out when I went down for dinner and saw Willie Rodriguez. He was supposed to have the plate in the game. Corrie (from Canada) and I went in to dinner together, and by the time we finished, Willie and Neil (from Australia) had joined us and we had good conversation while we ate. After dinner, those guys were going to go out for a while, but I was still beat from the travel and lack of sleep. I actually was in bed and sleeping before 11:00 pm. Anyone who knows me would doubt that could happen (without alcohol being involved, of course).

Today was overcast and drizzly again, but nothing that would have much of an effect on the game. At breakfast I heard the Mexican umpires (who have been stuck in California for the past couple of days) would not be joining us due to Visa problems. That made for another re-working of the schedule. Runch has got his work cut out for him making all these changes. We left for our game at 10:00 am (noon start). The stadium was actually very nice, and the field was in good condition. Our locker room was huge, and they provided Subway meals for us prior to the game. Marta Santana (from Venezuela) had the plate. I was at first, and we had two umpires from Taiwan at second and third. The game itself was pretty uneventful. It was scoreless until the fifth or sixth, when Panama scored four runs, the last three on a home run. That was pretty much it. We worked pretty well together despite having one umpire who speaks Spanish, one who speaks English, and two that speak Mandarin. There was no crowd for this game, but I suspect we will have some pretty good crowds for some of the games that feature Taiwan, China, Japan, Cuba or the US.

I just finished watching Cuba avoid being upset in their first game with Australia on local TV. They were trailing 2-1 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and hit a home run to tie the game (Dits was at first in this game). They then won it on a home run in extra innings. Well, I think I'll clean up (no towels today at the ballpark) and go to dinner. The food in the hotel restaurant has been very good. It's buffet style, and there is a lot to choose from (some I know what it is, some I don't). We are provided meal coupons for this restaurant, and after eating over there a few times, I have no complaints.

I've got the plate in the late game tomorrow...Japan vs Mexico at 6:00 pm. it will be interesting, since I haven't called a pitch since late June. I'll have to find something to see around downtown during the day. Hopefully I can start getting some good pictures. Coming back from the stadium today on the bus I kept expecting to hear the theme from MASH or to see Hawkeye and Pierce come walking around the corner. It definitely gives you an appreciation for what we have back home.