Reporter's Notebook: Another Dream Fulfilled, Take Two

Last August, I was about to embark on a life’s dream to work a professional baseball game as a member of the media. If you recall, the game was called due to a nasty storm that rolled through CHS Field in Saint Paul. It not only washed out the St. Paul Saints-Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRiders game, along with the club’s LGBTQ+ Pride Night. 

This is Take Two. And, they made it a “Play Two.”

To catch up here, the Saint Paul Saints is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Future Twins players play here as a stop towards fulfilling their career goal of a callup to the big club. This also serves as a step down for players rehabbing their injuries, as well as those who were called up to fill spots on the big club.

Even with an ownership group change, the Saints’ motto remains the same: “Fun is Good.” To their credit, the Saints organization created a series of promotions that befit their motto, as well as to welcome everyone to the ballpark. That includes the LGBTQ+ community.

Based on the experience last year’s rainout, the Saints scheduled their 2023 Pride game during LGBTQ+ Pride Month – June. Originally, it was to be a 7:07 PM game against the Iowa Cubs on a Thursday evening. Due to an earlier weather-related postponement, they made it a doubleheader. Just as the late Ernie Banks would say: “Let’s Play Two!”

As we did the year before, the magazine wrote an article talking about the Saints’ Pride Night. The big difference is that it made it into print. Yet, when we wrote and submitted the story, we only had information on the single game, as opposed to the recently scheduled doubleheader. 

That’s fine by us – well, me. 

Prior to the first game, I drove the 2023 Mazda3 Hatchback to the parking lot across from CHS Field to work the ballpark. In my case, it would make sure the magazine’s photographer was there, as well as the community tables circling the main concourse of the ballpark. I perched myself in the press box, as I did the year before. 

The biggest change from last year was the inclusion of the rollator. I certainly needed assistance to get around the ballpark this year. I did OK prior to Game 1…

One of things that was interesting about these two games were a test of a computerized strike zone. Major League Baseball’s umpiring management was on hand to test out this system. To do so, they already measured MLB players for their biometrics to determine their natural strike zone in the batter box. 

In the minors, they are letting the cameras and sensors do the work by guessing their biometrics at the plate. During this game, the umpires are not allowed to call balls and strikes. The system does not read hit-by-pitches and foul balls, giving the umpire a chance to intervene.

This system does not follow a static system, as employed by Bally Sports, ESPN, AT&T, or NBC Sports Networks. This is a dynamic system. The computer will read back the call to the umpire through an earpiece, who will actually make the indication on that pitch. 

As for the games, well…the Saints’ Randy Dobnak was getting hammered for the first two innings. He had all the hype from last year, when he was up at the big club. He seemed to have some of his mechanics, but I was concerned. Heck, the entire Saints pitching staff gave up 13 runs in the seven-inning first game to the I-Cubs. The home team took a nasty loss in the first game, 13-3.

In-between games, there was a first pitch by the North Star Gay Rodeo Association and the national anthem sung by a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Which lead to the nightcap. It seems that the I-Cubs picked up where they left off in the earlier game. They started attacking the Saints Game 2 starter Simeon Woods Richardson who gave up three earned runs early. 

Unfortunately, I left after the first full inning of Game 2. I was sore and needed to get back home and rest. I wished I would’ve stayed for the comeback 7-6 win by the Saints in the nightcap. My body needs to speak for me more. 

Yet, I was able to take in a game as a member of the media and the community. An accomplishment after a year’s delay. Oh, and it won’t be the last – this season.

Wait until you see where I’m going to work at next…

All photos by Randy Stern