How often have you been at a sporting event when some goofball mascot pulls down the pants of the umpire or douses the ref with a bucket of water. At the AAA All Star Game in Albuquerque, this umpire shows up the bird-like mascot.

(Here's the kicker: that's not a real umpire.)

It wasn’t planned, but in one week, we have been to two famous Route 66 destinations: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and now Albuquerque, NM. Because it was rather hot in California, we didn’t get to explore that portion of Rte. 66, but we did get to explore the famous highway in New Mexico. Know as Central Avenue, in the area known as Nob Hill (no relation to the neighborhood of the same name in San Francisco), the area we visited was lined with hip restaurants, converted gas stations, galleries and even a Starbucks built to fit the area.

It was difficult to find, but the Tuesday Santa Fe Farmers Market was a nice little gem that was worth the effort. It may not have the expanse and star power of the ones we visited last week in Hollywood and Sana Monica, but there was a nice assortment of growers with local produce. We were told the Saturday market (held in the back parking area of a shopping mall) is three times the size and has three times the attendance. Definitely worth seeing next visit.

 

 

As my wife/producer says, since we were not able to get tickets to the MLB Home Run Derby this year, we were demoted to the minors. As it turns out, the HR Derby at Isotopes Park was far more exciting and dramatic than the one west of here in San Francisco. In San Francisco, Vlad won the big one, and whatever he walked away with was pocket change compared to the millions he earns each year (deservedly so). In Albuquerque, the winner, former Isotope Robert Stratton, probably is using his winnings to bay bills. No longer an active player, Stratton is in process of becoming a local real estate agent.

 

This clip shows the  dramatic overtime final as Craig Brazell of the Omaha Royals lost hitting only two homers to Stratton’s three. A few other players were notable making it to the semifinal round: Scott Seabol of the Isotopes and John-Ford Griffin of the Syracuse Chiefs. Former Dodger Mike Marshall was the official old-timer participant.

The Hollywood Farmers Market, held Sunday mornings along Selma & Ivar Sts in Hollywood is an amazing market not only because of its produce wares, but its sights and sounds are a delight. Here's The Rainwater Bluegrass Band performing at last weekend's market.

It's minor league baseball week for us as we are off to Albuquerque next week for the AAA All-Star game. As a prelude, we took in a Rancho Cucamonga Quakes game (High A, California League) on our drive home from LA. It was fireworks night, sponsored by Laughlin, Nevada. The Quakes (LA Angels farm team) played the Lancaster Jethawks (Red Sox farm team)

The Epicenter is a cool park that is as nice as the better Spring Training facilities in Arizona. The level of play far exceeded what I expected and there are quite a few players we are likely to see in Fall League this year and the major in a year or so. Chris Speier, new to the Angels this year, pitched one inning on a rehab assignment. He;s been out with a viral infection for quite a while.

One major oddity: after a pitcher strikes out the sides (as Kevin Jepsen did in the 8th) ushers come around to take up a collection for the player. I am serious. The same goes for home runs. Do these players give it back in some fashion (maybe to a charity) when they make it big? Consider the litany of players (Griffey, A-Rod, etc..) who played in this league; hope they did not pass the hat for each of their homers.