Baseball Tag

Before we get into the heart of this month’s travel blog I feel it would be best to introduce myself to you all. My name is Jake Alleruzzo, the newest addition to the Sports Traveler staff. I myself have a very deep passion for sports travel and thought writing our latest blog entry would be a great way to share my experiences with you fellow sports travelers.

About a month ago I took a trip to Missouri to a beautiful region called Lake of the Ozarks, located just a few miles south of Kansas City. Being in the far western edge of Missouri is quite a unique experience, considering the mixed fandom between Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals fans. While we were in the western tip of Missouri I could have sworn I was in the heart of Kansas City as I drove through town and saw Royals flags hanging about. This goes to show you that you never know what kind of fans you can find as you travel through any given town.

Now going through this town you would figure there is not much to do besides

Whoa!  The sports world is going crazy right now!  So much going on and it is all too exciting to miss.  To catch up with the sports world I have harnessed all the major news/results from the recent events.  I am going to briefly hit on each sport and give a few predictions for the Masters, MLB, NBA, and NHL.  Ready?  Lets go!

NHL

Seems like the season just started but it will shortly be coming to an end.  But I guess that's what happens when you are in a shortened and compressed 46 game season.  Thanks lockout.  The story early on in the season was the winning streak by the Chicago Blackhawks and then both the Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins went on their own winning streaks.  Although no one has matched a start like the Blackhawks, it seemed for a while like the Penguins might be the best team.  Now that Crosby is out the battle for best appears to be between the Ducks and Blackhawks.

Well that was quite a season folks.  Yesterday marked the end to 2012 MLB regular season and it seemed like history was being made all over the place.  The two individuals who lead the way with historical accomplishments were Mike Trout and triple crown winner Miguel Carbrera.  Both of these players had outstanding seasons and figure to be the only 2 competing for the AL MVP award.  Before I get into to Cabrera's triple crown feat, I just want to briefly list off the highlights of Mike Trout's season.

Mike Trout (2012)
R - 129
H - 182
HR - 30
RBI - 83
SB - 49
AVG - .326
OBP - .399
OPS - .963

- Set AL rookie record with 14 straight games with a run.
- Youngest player to hit 20 HR's and steal 40 bases.
- Set Angels record for most runs in a season.
- Fourth rookie in baseball history to record 120 runs.
- Set Angels rookie record for most hits.
- First rookie ever to hit 30 HR's and steal 40 bases.
- Youngest player to join 30-30 club.

This Labor Day weekend we will watch the calendars flip over to September and on we go into the final month of the MLB regular season.  Lots of news worthy stories have been fluttering around baseball all season.  It has been a season with 3 perfect games, a possible PED stained batting title, major trades, and in the first season of the additional wild card spot we could see both the Nationals and Orioles in the postseason.

The 2012 season has been more packed with history than any season I can remember in recent past.  Aside from the things I've already mentioned, we might have a rookie win both ROY and the MVP.  Not since 2001 has anyone completed this feat and Mike Trout would be just the third player ever to do so.  Heck, why not?  Trout has already become the only player to achieve 20 HR/40 SB as a rookie among other "first player ever to" distinctions.  And any time in baseball you are the first player to do something it is a pretty incredible feat.  Lets just say there have been a few games played over the years and plenty opportunity for just about anything and everything to happen.

As we approach the coveted month of October it is interesting to experience the playoff races for the first time in the era of two wild card spots per league.  Seems like there won't be as much panic for teams until the final couple weeks.  There is a little more breathing room to make the playoffs.  Although I will say that there is a clear advantage to being the division winner so don't look for the teams at the top to let off the gas at all.

Last night Matt Cain became the first San Francisco Giant to throw a perfect game and he did so in exciting fashion.  It isn't often that you see a pitcher throw a complete game with 14 strikeouts and certainly not a perfect one at that.  Throwing 14 k's in a game is impressive enough but doing it while being perfect is practically unheard of.  His 14 punch-outs tied Sandy Koufax and his modern era record for most strikeouts during a perfect game.

There is a lot of buzz going around that this might be the greatest game ever pitched.  Now I did not get to see the game but the numbers are ridiculous.  Here is the stat line from Matt Cain's perfect game last night.

IP - 9.0
R - 0
SO - 14
GB - 6
FB - 7
P - 125

(innings pitched, runs, strikeouts, ground ball outs, fly ball outs, pitches thrown)

Its only May 10th and we have already had an incredible year in baseball.   Thanks to Phillip Humber we have seen the 21st perfect game in MLB history, and on Tuesday night Josh Hamilton belted 4 dingers in one game to become only the 16th player to do so.  These two incredible achievements have never been accomplished in the same season until now.

In addition, Angels pitcher Jered Weaver pitched the 10th no-hitter in Angels franchise history on May 2nd.  This is the second no-hitter for the Angels in as many years.  Ervin Santana hurled the other no-hitter on July 27th of last year.

In other historical news, Jamie Moyer became the oldest player in MLB history to win a game at 49 years old.

30, 30, 29, 28, and 30.  These numbers represent where the Florida Marlins rank in attendance amongst all the teams in Major League Baseball from 2007 to current.  There are 30 teams in MLB, which means the Marlins finished last 3 times in the past 5 years.

Since the Marlins entered the league in 1993, the team has had issues drawing crowds to all their homes games.  Some blame the "ballpark," others blame the weather being too hot in Florida, and a few blame it on poor ownership.

Sports Traveler has improved our Cubs Baseball Travel Packages! We have now included guided tours of Wrigley Field & roundtrip transfers from your hotel to the airport.

The Wrigley Field Tours include stops in the press box, bleachers, mezzanine suites, clubhouses, dugouts, and an opportunity to walk on the field*!

On July 12, baseball fans around the world will be watching the best players in the game in the annual All Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. See Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Jose Bautista, Cliff Lee, and more in this great game.

Baseball All Star Game Tickets & Packages Still Available!

Book a Baseball All Star Game Package today and see the best players in the game. All Star Game Packages include:

The College World Series begins on June 18 in Omaha, Nebraska. This season marks the inaugural year the tournament will be played at the new TD Ameritrade Ballpark. This new venue includes many upgrades from Rosenblatt Stadium including more seats, better concessions, and superior views of the field.

College World Series Packages are now available during the Championship Round. All packages can be purchased today with the following inclusions: