Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009

Spreading love for Safeco, rally fries

By Eric Degerman, sportstricities.com

This month, a deadwood edition of The Sporting News ranked the 30 big-league ballparks. And the survey says...

Fenway Park was No. 1, and the piece featured Gonzaga product Jason Bay posed in front of the Green Monster. No. 3 was PNC Park and included a grinning Nyjer Morgan, however the former Walla Walla Community College player/Regina Pats forward has since been traded to the Washington Nationals.

Safeco Field came in at No. 7, slipping just behind the renovated Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

I didn't find the criteria, but the item included a photo of four children whose faces highlighted a banner that read "These Washtucna Wildflowers will cheer for Rally Fries."

And the caption referenced broadcaster Mike Blowers, a former Mariners third baseman and University of Washington product who teams in the FSN booth with Dave Sims. There's a Mr. Potato Head reference in TSN's blurb, which might create confusion.

Until now, I hadn’t invested the time to learn how "Blow" began this craze, but Seattle P-I.com columnist Jim Moore, in typical Go 2 Guy hilarity, detailed its origins with this 2007 column.

There's more love for Safeco deeper in that issue from Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, who wrote the "A few of my favorite things" column with staff writer Stan McNeal.

His favorite ballpark? Safeco Field. "The infield is legit, the park is nice, the clubhouse is spacious. I was there when Ken Griffey returned (as a Red in 2007), and I saw how the fans greeted him. That right there made me love Seattle."

His favorite opponent to watch? "Ichiro Suzuki — the best player in baseball. He can hit for power, for average, he's great defensively. I would pay money to watch Ichiro."

If Phillips, a Gold Glove second baseman, batted left-handed, then it would make more sense to consider moving Jose Lopez to third base and dealing for Phillips.

However, Phillips made headlines in notorious fashion earlier this week, and the M's just got rid of an infielder who didn't give his all at all times.