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Viewing Baseball in Oaxaca: The Guerreros of the Mexican LeagueBaseball in Oaxaca: The Guerreros of the Mexican League
By titosarah
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Only in Mexico can you enjoy a quality baseball game with seats beside the dugout, and indulge in pizza, beer and pastries, with your car parked close to the park, while marveling at cheerleaders with some flesh on their bodies, all for $18 a couple. Alvin Starkman M.A., LL.B. Only in Mexico, can you park beside the park, buy seats near the dugout, eat a pizza, have beer, pastry, and lollipop, and be entertained for three hours, all for $18. The Mexican baseball season begins in March, with Oaxaca's Guerreros playing a short walk from downtown. When my wife and I attended our first game, we were impressed, not without noting some amusing differences as compared to attending The Rogers Center to see the Blue Jays. The league is equivalent to Triple A, so the quality of play is good, with potential and former Major Leaguers on the teams. In 2005, the Guerreros had Felix Jose, of the Cardinals in the 90's. I attended for tickets a couple of days before the game, wanting to ensure premium seats, only to be told that tickets go on sale at 4 pm, game day. My wife asked for a pair of the best. When she returned to the car, I noticed that the tickets were not in sequence, so I sent her back to exchange the seats if necessary. I was right ... one seat was a row above the other. Who knew that when you buy a pair of tickets, you should stipulate that you want them beside each other? We returned to the park for opening pitch, easily finding street parking ... no $20 charge for a lot. But where were our seats? We asked four stadium employees, no one being able to point us to our seats, until finally someone directed us appropriately. Not only field level beside the dugout, but also covered in the event of drizzle, and alongside the bullpen. The game followed AL format, with DH, and the announcer doing just as his counterpart in the Majors, not without prefacing each batter's name and position with an advertisement for one of many sponsors, advertising on the players' uniforms and across the field walls. The scoreboard was predictable, but it took a while to figure out some of the positions of the players by merely seeing the letter designations ... no problem with SS, 1B, 2B and 3B. But what about JI, CF and JD? I thought I had it down pat with the center fielder, but the other two threw me off. Then the announcer introduced the right fielder, the Jardinero Derecho (JD), which translates to 'Right Gardener'. It made sense since he does tend the grass in right field ... but why is the center fielder's position not similarly adapted to the Mexican style of designation? All fell into place in short order, with each player having a number on his jersey. Cheerleaders, a pleasant surprise, did an admirable job, albeit not choreographed as well as in the big leagues. The music was a mix of what one finds at MLB and NHL games with the standard CHARGE and the like, traditional Oaxacan tunes, and American and Canadian numbers. The fifth inning crew did their job without the Lone Ranger to egg them on; there was the traditional kids-on-field contest; and hawkers selling raffle tickets. While baseball is the most boring of spectator sports, since the gradual changeover in parks to permitting alcohol consumption, I've come to enjoy getting to a game to chat with a friend, soak up some rays and fresh air, and have a beer and my fill of dogs, doughnuts, and bars. There was the tempting taco stand a few steps from our seats, in addition to the customary vendors winding through the stands. The fare includes Corona, soft drinks, tacos, Domino's pizza, packaged nuts and dried fruit, as well as gum, chocolates and smokes. The greatest similarity to attending an MLB game was that the home team lost... just like in Toronto after the two aberrations in the early 90's. I wouldn't expect that attending a game would be a priority for those spending a week in the city, but for both residents and travelers here for longer stays baseball in Oaxaca provides an entertaining few hours. The regular season runs through July, with the playoffs beginning thereafter, running into September. Attend at the stadium to learn more about promotions including T-Shirt day, Mothers' Day, etc. About the Author: Alvin Starkman received his Masters in Social Anthropology in 1978. After teaching for a few years, he attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, thereafter embarking upon a career as a litigator until 2004. Alvin now resides in Oaxaca, where he writes, leads small group tours to the villages, markets, ruins, and other sites, is a consultant to film production companies, and operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed and Breakfast (http://www.oaxacadream.com). Article Source: Adult Escapes - http://www.AdultEscapes.com More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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