Serendipity:

The stars aligned for me on a business trip to West Virginia.  Flew in to Pittsburgh and rented the car at the airport per usual.  Per unusual, I did not have the M’s schedule in my head until I sat down in the rental and tapped my phone to do something else.  Since the M’s icon is in the upper left corner of my screen, right next to Google Maps, I conveniently missed Google Maps and hit the M’s button “by mistake”.   I realized I could check into my hotel in Clarksburg at midnight instead of 5pm.  I had not realized that I scheduled this trip so conveniently.

If you’ve never had the chance to see a ballgame at PNC Park, you’re missing out.  It is spectacular.  I’m a huge fan of Safeco Field, but in terms of sights, sounds, and ballpark feel there’s a reason it’s considered one of the very best.  Just a great venue. 

I had a seat that I picked up from a ‘scalper’ on the other side of the Roberto Clemente Bridge for $7 – a $35 face value.  (The seat wasn’t on the other side of Bridge…see you can misplace modifiers so easily?).

Impressions:

The Pirates can swing the bat.  If McCutcheon was anything close to his usual self that team would be more dangerous than they already are.

Felix isn’t fooling anyone and doesn’t look like himself.

Got behind the plate on the concourse during the 8^th specifically to watch Diaz pitch.  Filthy.   Not sure how they hit him, but a few pepper swings and a good guess on a breaking ball allowed them to put the ball in play.  Still hit 100 on the stadium gun a few times.

Wilhelmson stole the show from the pitching perspective.

M’s offense can pressure you (of course as I’m finishing this post, they don’t pressure aces who are on their game too well.

Advice:

Go to PNC park if you are ever in Pittsburgh.  You won’t regret it.