Scoreboard Gourmet

MLB Earth Day: Astros, Giants, Mariners

Today is Earth Day so I'm starting a new category: green.

The Astros are giving away canvas shopping bags and green caps today (players will wear the same). The SFGiants are not home today but everyone already knows they're the first team with a solar-powered scoreboard, right? Plus, they gave away reusable shopping bags last week.

And the Mariners are going Carbon-Neutral today (which means they will offset the global-warming impact of energy used at Safeco Field during the game).

MLB Global Warming Impacts Include:

*Emissions associated with electricity and natural gas used to operate the ballparks.
* Disposal or recycling of waste generated during the game.
* Air travel emissions for both teams and umpires for the game.
* Hotel-related emissions visiting teams and the umpires.
* Ground travel to and from the ballpark by staff and fans.

Are other teams dropping the ball here or are their plans a secret?

Cheney Mountain Dogs: a vegetarian favorite

You got that right. Rhubarb the reindeer - the mascot of the Tacoma Rainiers (triple-A Mariners) - Loves Cheney Stadium's Cheney Mountain Dogs.

According to the Rainier's site...though reindeer are herbivores (meaning they eat leaves) Rhubarb does cheat on his vegetarian diet during the baseball season when he devours many hot dogs at Cheney Stadium.
In fact, the Cheney Mountain Dog is Rhubarb's favorite food.
Isn't that great? I really have to get to Tacoma to support this clever and funny staff.

The Rainiers season begins at 7pm on 4/3 when they take on the Sacramento River Cats (triple-A A's)

Tastiest Ballpark Eats, says Wine X, Part 2

(here's Part 1, if You missed it)

Kansas City Royals
Even if the Royals are cellar-dwellers, you can chow down on some authentic KC barbecue.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Chow down on chicken sausages, grilled chicken sandwiches and veggie sandwiches.

Milwaukee Brewers
Snack on shrimp quesadillas, grilled chicken sandwiches, hand-carved turkey breast hoagies, grilled chicken Caesar salads, BBQ chicken/pork sandwiches, grilled portobello mushroom sandwiches, grilled chicken wraps and bison burgers.

New York Mets
Savor succulent sushi, grilled chicken sandwiches and chicken Caesar salads, then wash it all down with Glen Ellen wines and Red Hook beer.

New York Yankees
The pin-stripers are pretty traditional, but potato knishes are a nice nosh.

Oakland A’s
Get ready for roasted chicken, international sausages, fresh fruit smoothies, herbal teas and 15 different premium beers, including brands like Pyramid, Red Hook and Sierra Nevada.

Philadelphia Phillies
Forgo the cheese steaks and go for grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled zucchini, Cajun fried turkey breast, Rita’s Italian Water Ices and fruit juices.

San Diego Padres
Legend says this was the first Major League ballpark to serve sushi. If you prefer your seafood cooked, go for the tasty fish tacos.

Seattle Mariners
Go fishing for gourmet grub like sushi, salmon burgers, panini sandwiches and Caesar salads.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Florida fans favor sushi, fresh shrimp and lobster rolls. Wash that good grub down with Monterey Vineyard and Sutter Home wines, or microbrews like Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam.

Texas Rangers
Whoop it up with Southwestern chicken Caesar salads, turkey wraps, chicken and beef fajitas, and frozen daiquiris.

Toronto Blue Jays
The sky’s the limit with grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken Caesar salads and pasta salads.

and here's the full article on winexmagazine.com. Thank you, Tina Caputo.

The Cactus League

Spring Training! Spring Training!
In the Cactus League (Arizona) there are eight stadiums within a 35 mile radius (Phoenix Area), and two more located in Tucson. That's cool.

Hohokam Park - Mesa, AZ
Cubs

Maryvale Baseball Park - Phoenix, AZ
Brewers

Peoria Sports Complex - Peoria, AZ
Mariners & Padres

Phoenix Municipal Stadium - Phoenix, AZ
A's

Scottsdale Stadium - Scottsdale, AZ
SF Giants

Surprise Stadium - Surprise, AZ
Royals & Texas Rangers

Tempe Diablo Stadium - Tempe, AZ
Angels

Hi Corbett Field - Tucson, AZ
Colorado Rockies

Tucson Electric Park - Tucson, AZ
Diamondbacks & White Sox

Concessions details to follow.
Which Cactus League Stadium has the best food? What's the signature food of each stadium? Is there one?
Any/all info appreciated. Email me or leave a comment. Thanks.

In the meantime, here's the Dining page of a great Cactus League site

thank you, Mariners fan; great play

I love that Trader Joe's has a giant ad in left field in Seattle. Is that always there? It's prominent. Makes me want some mini rice crackers, and black-pepper cashews. And I also love the help from that fan sitting by third base, but shouldn't people in those seats keep their hands to themselves? And shouldn't the camera follow the outfielder running to make the catch?

All-you-can-eat April in Appleton

Forgive me for the late mention of this month's special food deal for fans of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Single-A Mariners): all-you-can-eat buffet, two drinks, and your ticket for $10 (or $15 day of game).

Not including tonight's snow-out - which will not be made up as the two teams do not meet again until August - there are 7 more April games.

What's new in Appleton? First of all for those of you (like me) who did not know, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers were the Appleton Foxes until 1995. And guess who was a fox? Alex Rodriguez. Before that (I'm talking 1909-1953) the Appleton team was called the Papermakers.

Anyway, if you happen to be at Fox Cities Stadium you'll notice the new two-tiered outfield party deck (aka the Miller High Life deck). It's available for groups of 20 or more, for $20pp (less for kids under 12), which includes an all-you-can-eat and two drinks. More Food Specials: Bang for Your Buck Tuesdays: Chermake hotdogs, sodas, and beers are $1 Kids Eat Free Thursdays: all kids under 12 get a hotdog and a soda

Eating with the Mariners

photo by Jo from Seattle.

What you can find in Safeco Field?s 62 Food Stands, 26 Kiosks, 1 Restaurant, 1 Pub:

BBQ Sandwiches, Beer (various), Bento Boxes, Bratwurst, Candy, Carved Sandwiches, Chicken Tenders, Chili Dogs, Clam Chowder, Clam Strips, Coffee, Corn Dogs, Dippin Dots, Egg Rolls, Elephant Ears, Espresso, Fish and Chips, French Fries, Fruit, Skewers, Garlic Fries, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream (Ben & Jerry?s), Italian Sausage, Juice, Kettle Corn, Lattes, Lemonade, Milk, Shakes, Noodle Soup, Noodles, Pasta, Pastries, PB & J, Peanuts, Philly Cheesesteak, Pizza, Popcorn, Pretzels, Rice, Salad, Sandwiches, Tea, Teriyaki, Veggie Burgers, Veggie Dogs, Wine

FYI - Carved Sandwiches, Salad, Pasta and Pastries are only offered in Club Seats and Suites

Another FYI: Frozen Rope is (a) a hard line drive hit by a batter (b) where you can buy ice-cream and other frozen treats

what the West Coast's got that everyone else should want: Garlic Fries

I have only see/heard about Garlic Fries in California and Seattle. Am I wrong? Can this delicious treat - served in a giant heap - be had elsewhere? I mean, I get it that most US garlic comes from California, but that doesn't mean it has to stay there. I personally flew some garlic back from Gilroy a few years ago. Iceberg lettuce makes it cross-country every day. It can happen. <br>The Gilroy Garlic Festival, by the way, is very hot. Maybe it's not hot every year but it was very hot the year I was there and I've spoken to others who experienced extreme heat in other years. Bring water. Or, go to the one in Saugerties. It's less hot and has more or less the same stuff. I'm not trying to be a jerk, or to belittle either one, but these 'festivals' are basically street fairs with more garlic. <br>Pardon the sidetracking. <br>Here's what I set out to discuss: once upon a time the Gordon Biersch guys sold garlic fries at their stand at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Now the garlic, parsley and oil-coated potatoes can be found at their breweries, stands representing the breweries, and stands called Gilroy Garlic Fries that happen to sell, can you guess, Gordon Biersch brews. For best results, eat 'em while they're hot and crispy.

Labels: a's, garlicfries, mariners, padres, sfgiants