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California Dreamin'

What: 9 A’s games in 10 days at 3 NL Parks
When: June 12th to June 21st, 2009
Ballparks Visited: AT&T Park, Dodger Stadium, Petco Park

Bonus Feature: The A’s are at home the previous week (June 5-11) if you want to tack on a home series to the trip, and if you want to hit all five California stadiums within 12 days, the Angels play at home (against the Rockies) starting June 22nd.

As an unofficial member of the ‘Let’s Plan a Girls’ Baseball Road Trip’ coalition that always involves an interesting mix of my long-time friends, new baseball friends, and always the random AN guy or two, I pay close attention to great trips that involve the A’s…and boy, do I have a doozy for you this year.

For you out-of-state NRAF’s, this is the week to come out to California. For my NL ballpark fans who have been waiting for a visit from the A’s; you too. Anyone from California, north to south, put it on the calendar, and some ANers on your couches.

Here is your chance to attend nine A’s games in ten days, and see three truly awesome NL parks in the process. Our journey begins on Friday, June 12th in San Francisco’s AT&T Park, where the A’s play a three-game series against the Giants, and we all get to spend a fun-filled weekend in beautiful San Francisco. Monday is the travel day for all of us, as the team and the road trippers head from San Francisco to Los Angeles as the A’s take on the Dodgers on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, leaving the days free for Los Angeles sightseeing. Friday the 19th starts another road-trip weekend in gorgeous San Diego as the A’s cruise a couple of hours south for a three-game series against the Padres. After Sunday’s day game, you can return to your regularly scheduled lives or travel to Anaheim to complete the California sweep.

If you have ever wanted to travel California with baseball as an excuse, I’ve highlighted what I think is the best road trip of the year for A’s fans, and if you wanted a full week of baseball, with plenty to see and do during your downtime, it’s hard to top San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego back-to-back-to-back. Of course, you can throw Oakland and Anaheim in at the start and finish of the trip, if you really want to get fancy; or if you simply have to see the A’s at home.

Stadium single tickets go on sale:

Oakland: January 24th (this Saturday) at 10AM
San Francisco: Saturday, February 7th
Anaheim: TBA
Los Angeles: TBA
San Diego: TBA

Even if you have seen these ballparks before, they are some of the best, and the A’s don’t visit the Dodgers or the Padres very often. I make no guarantees on how the A’s will play, or who will be on the team at the time of the trip, but I can promise you three great cities, three great parks, and at least some fellow A’s fans. If you are thinking of one baseball trip this year, I highly recommend this one.

Poll
I will be attending:
I am going to all or part of these two weeks of baseball
41 votes
I am thinking about going
58 votes
I can't go, and I am sad
137 votes

236 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  80 comments

Comments

Random AN guys?

Better be careful who you call Random!
May catch up with you on the back-end of the roadtrip.
Otherwise…how many days till our pitchers and catchers report?

Haha...you fall into the "long-time baseball fans" category for sure!
Hell yeah.
That's the spirit!
No twisting of arms necessary here.

And, “unofficial” member? Please woman.

Yea, seriously?
I was going to say, "why not plan a 'Guys baseball road trip'?"

But I then realized we would only make it out of whatever parking lot we decided to meet at, get lost and drive around the block for the remainder of the series because we refuse to stop for directions.

Haha, that's why we invited you!

:-) It’s a baseball roadtrip…everyone’s welcome!

Yay! a no standards roadtrip!
Those are the best kind!
make it out of the parking lot?

you mean, turn up, decide that that is too much beer to be setting out with, and procede to lighten the load, as twer. at which point, driving would be impossible.

repeat, ad inf

ah, great minds think a like
I think you mean "ad nauseam"
I imagine I will hit up some of the games down here

Probably at least one during the week at Dodger Stadium and then maybe a couple on the weekend at beautiful Petco…..We need a night out in the Gas Lamp for A’s fans.

Yes!

I want that!

Count me in!
The outdoor upstairs bar

in the hotel across from the ballpark. Go there.

Been looking forward to this since the schedules were announced

Planning on hitting Dodger Stadium, Petco, and, as always, Anaheim. Went to Petco the last time the A’s were down but the whole family came and did not really get a chance to walk around and check out the stadium.

I’ll definitely get up to Norcal at some point this season but probably not for those games.

The Dodgers/Petco for SURE here...

…trying to make it up to SF the weekend before; never seen a game there, believe it or not.

Dude.

San Francisco is integral to this being a California coast baseball road trip. You must be here. 9 games in 10 days!

Do you think missing your siblings' PHD graduation...

…can be explained by a baseball trip conflict?

If you have seen one, then you have seen them all

Unless Phil Donahue is the speaker link

SF is the nicest park I have been to

you can walk around beyond right field with the field on one side and the bay on the other.
More variety for food and drink than any other ballpark I have been to.

2nd favorite – Safeco.

I tried doing something like this

last season. Didn’t work. And since I am doing the Hall to see Rickey, chances are slim this year. Too bad. I am about as random as it gets.

I'm thinking about . . .

One Dodger game, all three Padres, and one Angels. I’d love to do the whole thing but I fear I won’t be able to get away for that long. Bidness is bonkers, weird I know.

Okay okay, if you insist, I suppose I can play San Diego tour guide...

Sheesh, I tell ya, all this arm twisting is completely unnecessary…

But seriously folks, get your rear ends down here and check out Petco and the rest of America’s Finest City this summer. Let’s hit up the beaches, let’s hit up the Gaslamp, let’s hit up the swanky ultra-lounges and rooftop bars… first round’s on me!

Well if you insist....and are buying!
Seriously, if you insist! I'll be there!

(Petco is one of my FAVORITE parks…just gorgeous!)

I'm a little skeptical of the random AN guy or two.

There should be some kind of application that they will need to fill out first before they are approved to join a Girl’s Baseball Road Trip.

I couldn't agree more.
I think the first question will be...

Will you be bringing any farm animals?

I am sure any guy there...

Will have no problem finding stuff to do in the Gas Lamp if you turn down their application to join.

Allow me...

Name:
Real name:
Age:

1. Why do you want to join this Girl’s Baseball Road Trip?
2. I see that you used the word “fun.” What kind of “fun” are you expecting to have?
3. Scenario #1: We are in a vehicle racing down Interstate 5 just past Kettleman City when ZigFan31 asks us to pull over on the side of the road because she has to tinkle. How many feet away from her will you stand and open your trenchcoat so that passersby (or is it driversby? I digress) do not get a sneak peek at her goodies?
3a. Will you sneak a peek at her goodies?
3b. Will you please answer these questions honestly?
4. Scenario #2: We have arrived at our hotel and upon check in, it appears that there was a mixup and we are all sharing one room. It is time for the girls to change into their gameday apparel. Will you turn around politely so that we may undress with some privacy?
4a. Will we have to remove the mirror in the room first?
5. Scenario #3: The game is over, we have all performed an impromptu rendition of “Celebration,” and we are now headlong into a night of intense drinking and dancing. Last call is announced, and we scramble to find an open liquor store to take the party back to the hotel room. Once in the room, the girls immediately complain that “It’s too hot in here!” and begin giggling and removing their clothing. A pillowfight ensues, and when it ends you are left with a room full of sweaty, panting, half-naked women who will do naughty things to you if you can tell them Matt Holliday’s Home/Road OPS+ splits. How quickly do you call Sixto80 to come over and to bring a wifi-capable laptop and a can of whipped cream with him?

Based on your questionaire alone...you are approved.

See you in the Gas Lamp! Or somehwere on I5…I’m not sure.

Wow...you were skeptical and THAT appeased you?

Hmm.

Do we need to go back to my post from a few days ago?
And for the record...

I can make it from the Bay Area to SoCal w/o stopping to tinkle. So you’re SOL on that one.

LOL well I'm already down in SD

So I guess it’s just our hypothetical trenchcoat guy who’s missing out.

Bummer for you!
Bummer?

Did you not read about Scenario #3? ; )

Hypothetical?

< returns trenchcoat to closet >
< looks around shiftily >

Name: WaddellCanseco

Real Name: Not WaddellCanseco
Age: More than Jamie Moyer

1) I’ve been to two A’s games in the past 17 years, and I’m unemployed.
2) 12 A’s wins — they lost the two games I went to.
3) Why am I wearing a trenchcoat in the middle of summer in California?
      3a) No sneaking. You have to ask nicely first.
      3b) Oh all right.
4) No I prefer to wait in the bar.
     4a) Depends on who else is in the room.
5) No need for Sixto. I have a BlackBerry and can order room service.

Works for me.

1) We need to change that.
3) Good question. And I’ll be good and not give answers.
3a) Asking is good.
5) I like room service.

And what are you doing posting at that awful hour?

I was in China.
That certainly wasn't the fun answer I was expecting.
I had fun.
But did you have Broccoli Beef?
What were you doing there?

If that’s too personal, you don’t have to answer.

I've come out for the AT&T sets for the last two seasons

Two years, two sweeps.

I’m hoping to add the following week on, if possible . . .

LOVE the NRAF in your user name!
Thank you

The NRAF is made possible by ANers Like You, and a grant from the Paul Thomas Foundation For Less-Frequent Posters.

Nothing to post. No smart comments about Nico and randomness
maybe I'll see you at a few games

Hi Baseballgirl

I live in Santa Monica and will be attending two at least 1 dodger game and 2 padres games that week. Maybe I’ll see you at a game or two.

have fun!

Awesome...they'll be plenty of more talk about it before the week, I'm sure
Man...

…now this almost makes me want to cancel my plans for a Milwaukee – NY (Yankees and Mets) – Cooperstown – Boston (vs Oakland) – Philly – Baltimore – Denver trip in late June/early July.

I live in San Diego

Going to the entire 3 game series — GO A’s

San Diego is already planned for me

My BF’s family lives in San Diego, so when I saw the schedule I told him to mark his calendar for a trip to see his family. Then it turns out, he is going to have a new neice that same week!! So I will definitely be in So-Cal then. I would like to squeeze in Dodger Stadium. But it will depend how things work out.

So yeah, I will be there for sure if anyone would like to meet up at Petco! I am so happy to know that the A’s fans will be out there with me!

WHAT IS 24?

How many days till our pitchers and catchers report.

How often do you get to answer your own question on AN?

Thank you, Alex!
Also the best show on television!
also the number of days i have left being in my twenties!
30's are the best!
does that mean

that it won’t take two days to recover from playing soccer? i do hope so…

no. it will take four.
crap

time to move back to England and play more sedate games. like cricket.

Man, I've got a GOOD look at 30 coming up too :(

However, I share my B-Day with a unicorn, so I’ve still got a little time.

But I agree on the soccer thing. I have Friday night matches and I’m usually worthless on Saturday because of it.

The cost of two beers and two pretzels
Oh fellow NRAF you have lots to learn

You sneak the flask in the baseball glove. At that point it’s the cost of two beers, two pretzels and a flask of the strongest whiskey!

But once you get into the Ballpark

and try to get ye flask, you find that you can’t get ye flask!

I am interested

but it depends on several factors, the most important of which is if school lets out in time.

hey BBG,

hopefully you can guarantee experiencing an A’s victory sometime in there!

This sounds like a good idea

I’m 21 (22 in March) and never attended an MLB game—pretty pathetic, but it’s hard to get to a game from Hawaii. I’m graduating this semester from college and I’m planning to go a trip before I head into 40+ hour work weeks with only 2 weeks of vacation. I hope I can meet up with you folks if I ever get my plans finalized. Maybe I can bribe some ANers (or whatever we call ourselves) with some macadamia nuts and Kona coffee for some help?

We'll help...stay in touch with AN....
This sounds like a lot of fun!

I’ve never been to AT&T Park, Dodger Stadium or Petco Park, and I think that I might be able to make most of those games. A Girl’s Baseball Road Trip sounds great.

How soon before Summer?

College Graduation road trip.

A’s Dodgers Thursday night, A’s Padres Friday night, Angels Dodgers Saturday, back in Davis by Saturday night.

To whom do I submit my background check?

I’m still deciding on whether I’ll make this an official vacation or not (I get a mere 12 days at my job), but being an RAF means it’s a foregone conclusion that I’ll be at the three games in San Francisco. And being a California resident for 24 of my 26 years on this planet who, for no justifiable reason, has never set foot in San Diego, means I definitely need to hit up those games as well. There are still details to work out on that front (whether I’ll fly or drive, where I’ll stay in the Gaslamp), but I can think of no better reason to finally bring me to San Diego.

It bruises my pride, though, to be thought of as little more than a “random AN guy.” Can’t I at least be elevated to “resident AN geeky guy?”

Applications, questionaires, and pictures...

should be sent to me. Talk to BBG about your title. I have no knowledge/control over that.

CC me on all application stuff too! :-)

We’ll work out the details and title.

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