I attended my first games at Safeco Field at the beginning of the 2010 season. This is a nice park. Not a great park, but really nice. From the outside it’s an imposing red brick structure. It’s next to Qwest Field where the Seahawks play. One of the first things you notice about Safeco is the retractable roof, however, when the roof is closed it doesn’t make it an indoor field like Miller Park or Bank One/Chase Field. The sides of the field, notable past left, is open. The roof is like a giant umbrella. Perfect for Seattle. Safeco opened in 1999 which makes it of median age for active ballparks. [17th oldest currently] What gives its’ age away is the main scoreboard. It’s the large monochrome with smaller color screen to the side which was typical for that era.
Both games I saw were against the A’s in the home opener for the season. The first game was a pitching gem for the first five innings, then it was just a pitching gem for the A’s. The Mariners were shut out in a 2-hit/2-walk performance by Justin Duchscherer and two relievers. The second game was another pitching gem, this time with the Mariners on top. Doug Fister gave up 3 hits/no walks over 8 IP. Milton Bradley – who was 1 or 25 entering the game went 2 for 4 including a 3-run blast in the 8th for the game’s only runs.
A few things to note. Prior to the opening game, I arrived to the park early to walk around and check the park out. I was in the club level between 3rd and home. I had seat #2 and seat #1 had a guy in his early 20’s who was…interesting. He knew baseball, which was good. He was also the only person I know who stood and cheered leading up to and counting down for the pre-game show. The ceremonial first pitch for the home opener was thrown out by Randy Johnson. As a surprise Dan Wilson [his old catcher] caught the pitch. Then Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, and Ken Griffey Jr. came out on the field for a mini reunion. The last time I was in Seattle for a game, they were all still playing.
For the second game I sat field level by third base. Three rows in front of me was a guy wearing a Giants hat and jacket. Through a conversation with the beer vendor, he claims he is the brother of Tim Lincecum. Do I believe this? It seems unlikely, but he looked about the right age, was Filipino, and Lincecum grew up in Washington and played for UW.
