The Official Mesa Miners thread

Brian in Mesa · May 23rd, 2005, 01:09 PM

Starting this Thursday (May 26th), professional minor league baseball games will be played at Hohokam Stadium.

Affordable fun for the family.

Here's the list of promos for this coming weekend - first, all seats - $1. Thurs-Sun's games.

BIM's going Thurs-Sat.

Enjoy a night of fun and family entertainment on opening weekend for only $1! All tickets on May 26-29 are a buck. Many special events are planned including:...

THURSDAY, MAY 26 @ 6:35pm vs Yuma Scorpions-
Opening Night; pre-game pep rally starting at 4:30pm at HoHoKam Park; FREE Mesa Miners magnetic schedules.

FRIDAY, MAY 27 @ 6:35pm vs Yuma Scorpions-
Wheel Of Fortune's Pat Sajak Bobbleheads for the first 2,000 fans through the gate; Pat also has the honor of throwing out the first pitch.

SATURDAY, MAY 28 @ 6:05pm vs Yuma Scorpions-
FREE foam pick axe to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of ABC Plumbing & Rooter; plus a post-game FIREWORKS show!

SUNDAY, MAY 29 @ 6:05pm vs Yuma Scorpions-
post-game run the bases for kids 12 and under.

For more info, here's their website: Mesa Miners

You can order tickets from there, or call 480-39-MINER

Go Miners !!

BIM

Brian in Mesa · May 23rd, 2005, 01:13 PM

Here are the teams in this league:

California Division
Chico Outlaws
Fullerton Flyers
Long Beach Armada
San Diego Surf Dogs

Arizona Division
Japan Samurai Bears
Mesa Miners
Surprise Fightin' Falcons
Yuma Scorpions

DjaugheOld · May 23rd, 2005, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian in Mesa

....Wheel Of Fortune's Pat Sajak Bobbleheads for the first 2,000 fans through the gate....

azsouthendzone · May 23rd, 2005, 01:27 PM

Quote:

SATURDAY, MAY 28 @ 6:05pm vs Yuma Scorpions- FREE foam pick axe to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of ABC Plumbing & Rooter; plus a post-game FIREWORKS show!

What are they gonna do with the extra 1500 foam picks? I hope they do good, but in the valley people barely support the majors. Hopefully people go out and see them. I'll try to make it ta game this weekend. When are they gonna have dollar beer night?

DS · May 23rd, 2005, 03:51 PM

I heard about this on the radio. It should be cool.

Brian in Mesa · May 26th, 2005, 09:59 PM

Awesome first game. Miners beat the Yuma Scorpions 12-1.

Got my wife a foul ball.

We gave a couple of others to some kids.

Was picked to participate in a "bat race" just after the first inning. One in which you hold your head to a bat handle, run in a circle around the bat ten times, and then race toward a ribbon down by third base. I got so dizzy that I almost ran into the Miners' dugout - saved by a player who put his hands out to stop me (lol) - it was freaky...you see the place you need to run to but your legs just will not cooperate. Finished second to some guy named Chuck. Everyone got a kick out of how messed up we both got after going around the bats.

Later in the game, my wife's folks got called down to the field and played musical chairs. My mother-in-law was going to win, but at the last second the Miners' mascot (Diggs) interfered so a little kid would win (a Miners t-shirt).

Great game. Some great hitting by our team against some crazy pitching by Yuma. Their pitchers mostly threw two kinds of pitches: Those that our players could hit...and those that hit our players.

Second baseman, and leadoff hitter's name is: Diggz Edwards. Nice player. Nice name for a Miner.

After the game, we went and had some of the players autograph a poster my wife drew up (with the Miners' logo on it). Each player we interacted with was so nice - one actually said "Nice job in the bat-race." to me...

They were thrilled to see each and every fan and encouraged us all to come back out and support the team.

We definitely will - it was a blast.

azsouthendzone · May 27th, 2005, 08:38 AM

You caught three foul balls and got called on the field? How many people were there? I reserved a couple of tix for tonight. Can't pass up a Pat Sajack bobblehead.

Brian in Mesa · May 27th, 2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azsouthendzone

You caught three foul balls and got called on the field? How many people were there? I reserved a couple of tix for tonight. Can't pass up a Pat Sajak bobblehead.

They announced 3,264. The league has said from the beginning that it must average 1,500 per game to be financially stable. This weekend is "every ticket just a buck" so people will come out. I just hope people will come out all season long.

It was a blast.

We were sitting in the first row along the first base line. We saw a lot of foul balls come toward us. The first one I got, I actually left the park and found it in the field just South of the stadium (where cars were parked). It even has a black scuff on it from hitting the black top.

When we entered the stadium (about 5:30) they asked if we wanted to fill out a form to be in special events (Name, age, and seat #). Those entry forms are how my in-laws and I were picked to participate on the field.

Minor league baseball is awesome. Reminds me a lot of when I'd go to Phoenix Muni and see the Phoenix Giants play. One time I chased down a foul ball while I was inside Legend City (next door to Phoenix Muni back then).

azsouthendzone · May 27th, 2005, 02:09 PM

That's cool. I'm dragging my wife down there tonight. When I told her about it, the first thing she said was "its gonna be soooooo hot." Thats the only way I could figure they wouldnt draw is if the heat keeps em away. Hopefully they got $1 brews to go with the $1 tix.

WizardOfAz · May 27th, 2005, 02:16 PM

So much better business plan than the minor league hockey that is going to play at AWA - nice to see!

azsouthendzone · May 27th, 2005, 08:58 PM

I had a blast. I'm definitely going back. It had a Bull Durham kind of feel to it. Small crowd though. I hope it picks up.

Brian in Mesa · May 27th, 2005, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azsouthendzone

I had a blast. I'm definitely going back. It had a Bull Durham kind of feel to it. Small crowd though. I hope it picks up.

All I have to say is - 10 unanswered runs!! Woohoo!! Way to go, Miners!!

Going for 3-in-a-row tomorrow night, and we're possibly going Sun and Mon too!!

It's going to take word of mouth, but I feel this league can make it!!

azsouthendzone · May 28th, 2005, 07:26 AM

everyone in Mesa..go support the Miners!

The best play was when a Yuma player squared around to bunt and fouled it off his head. You heard plenty of "way to use your head" "keep your head in the game" remarks. What I really liked about it was none of the headaches associated with a Dbax game existed. We parked close. We sat behind home plate, ect ect. They just need a bigger crowd, and a organ player, or at least a fake organist.

Brian in Mesa · May 28th, 2005, 10:38 AM

I forgot to mention - opening night, three guys jumped out of a plane high above the stadium and paraglided into right field...fast landings...pretty awesome to see so close. They were all from Skydive Coolidge.

Last night, Pat Sajak came in (with his wife) on a helicopter which landed out in left/center field, then he threw out the first pitch and signed autographs.

The people next to us were nice folks. They were at the opener also - they looked at me and both said "Weren't you in the bat-race last night?"

Go Miners !!

azsouthendzone · May 28th, 2005, 08:01 PM

Bottom of the 9th down by 4, runner on 2nd no outs...its cool to listen to on the net.