A PETCO PARK SERIES 2005

With the St. Louis Cardinals in San Diego, home of our daughter Courtney who was in Costa Rica, it afforded Caroline and me an opportunity to cat sit one of our grandkittens, Missile, while taking in three Cardinal games. It is the first time I have ever gone to a whole series. And it was a hoot.

Petco is very similar to the New Busch Stadium in downtown locale, seating, design, and even like the proposed Ballpark Village.

The dimensions in St. Lou are going to be a lot more realistic than Petco, which I predict will move in fences soon. It is a cavern to all fields, and the ball doesn't carry much in generally cool weather and ocean breezes. You can't really see the Pacific from the park, but you know it's near. Especially for night games, even in late July.

The views are spectacular, especially cool is eating at the Western Metal Company: a brick building holdover from an earlier downtown San D. It is built into the park down the left field line. They have some great brats with sweet peppers and some great nanchos. It's fun to get there early and take in BP from the fifth floor terrace. The first day we were there, Mr. Pujols deposited one off the plexiglass on the terrace some 450 feet or so from the plate.

Just past the left field seats is a mini field where little kids and stadium employees, along with some fathers hit and run the bases all game long. Next to it is the hill or berm where you can throw down a blanket and sit there and watch the game on a big screen and eat Randy Jones bbq.

It's a great time. Everybody seems to enjoy without being told to "Make some noise," and gimics like that. Hey, it is California after all. An A stadium all the way, except for the home run alleys.