Three games this week – home games for the Rockies, Rangers and Astros – as the MLB tour continues. Week One featured reports on home games for the Athletics, Giants, Dodgers, and Padres. Week Two included home games for the Angels and Diamondbacks.

Game #7: Padres versus Rockies at Coors Field, May 10

It’s not easy being the worst team in baseball. Each day is a new challenge for the Rockies to underachieve. The fans are still coming out to games, but they are not happy. Fans with bags over their heads make their displeasure known – but they still stay until the final out. “Living in Colorado, we’re used to some kind of winning,” said Antonio “Kreskin” Rivera. “We have the Broncos and Nuggets. It’s disheartening to watch the Rockies.” More on the “Kreskin” moniker later. Rockies owner Dick Monfort is coming under fire from fans. After the seventh inning, one fan who was seated in our row left the game, but made sure I heard his parting shot for Monfort: “Put this in your blog: Sell the team!”

Game atmosphere: Positive

The Padres started fast – and in the middle of the 5-run first inning, Jada Thomas asked her boyfriend, Antonio “Kreskin” Rivera, “Do they have the mercy rule?” The Amazing Kreskin’s response: “Not even if they score 20 runs.” After six innings the score was 20-0. The closest thing to mercy was the Rockies giving their pitching staff a break by offering up catcher Jacob Stallings to pitch the final two innings. It turned out to be quite entertaining for the remaining fans with some of Stallings’ pitches clocking in under 37 mph. And he struck out a batter!

Despite the early indication of a blowout, and a football-score final with the Rockies losing 21-0, more than a third of the 38,000 in attendance stuck it out to the last out. Granted, many of those were likely Padres fans. But the bagged-headed fans stuck it out as well as many other Rockies fans. And the fact that the worst team in baseball is still drawing 38,000 fans shows that this town is not giving up on its Rockies.

Why so many people in attendance for such a bad team? Two reasons: First, very cheap tickets. Second, they know they will get a good show overall even if the baseball team is not providing it. The cheap tickets are in a section called the Rockpile. It’s the uppermost section of the stadium but tickets are only $1 for fans 12 years of age and younger or 55 years of age and older. And $5 for anyone else. They are only available starting two hours before game time. The good show for this game included a pregame parade of more than 1,000 youth baseball and softball players, and the national anthem performed by a choir of 100 elementary students. The between-innings video fillers are mostly live interactive contests with Rockies fans. During the “Hat Shuffle”, instead of collectively trying to guess which cap has the ball under it, fans get to try to help one fan win a cap by helping them pick out which cap has the ball under it. … In this game the fans did The Wave the entire bottom of the sixth inning. I’m not a fan of The Wave because fans pay attention to the wave and stand up in front of those fans who are trying to pay attention to the game. But Rockies fans get grace this time because by the bottom of the sixth there was no longer a reason to keep watching the game.

Ballpark cuisine: Neutral

Why Famous Dave’s – a food truck in the left field stands - doesn’t get all the concession business at Coors Field is a mystery. Their specialty sandwiches, ribs and rib tips offered at their restaurants are also offered here. The ballpark fare special is the BBQ Mac & Cheese Bowl: Mac & Cheese topped with your choice of pork, pulled chicken or BBQ brisket. “The Mac.& Cheese Bowl is not offered in the restaurant,” said Famous Dave’s Tyler Massey. “It is a specialty item only for Coors Field and it’s our best seller. A lot of people come back for it.” Dey Barrandey will be one of those returners. After her first taste, she was a believer. “It’s very juicy and very flavorful. I would definitely get it again.”

Most of the other offerings at the park are standard fare, aside from the Rocky Mountain Oysters at the concessions in Section 144. … The Helton Burger Shack was particularly disappointing. … There are a couple of unusual stops on food row – a gluten free menu and a Kids Favorite menu with prices under $4. Another favorite is Berrie Kabobs which features your choice of fresh strawberries and banana, frozen cheesecake, or strawberries and brownie bites - each on kebobs swirled with white and milk chocolate.

There was also a crazy Amazon concession where you go in, tap your credit card, grab your food, and leave - and your credit card is charged automatically. (How did these Rockies season tickets get on my credit card??)

Club hospitality: Positive

The Rockies provided parking and two tickets down the left field line, 16 rows up.

Game details: Padres win 21-0. Attendance 38,423. Time of game: 2:35.

Helpful tips: Bring your own water bottle/tumbler. There are many hydration stations and the water is cold and filtered. … Parking is nearby for $20 or $18. … Bags must be clear but regular-sized purses are okay.

You don’t see that every day: Twenty-one runs scored – the second most by a team this season, and the most in Padres history. (The Reds scored 24 on April 20 versus the Orioles.) … Stephen Kolek pitched a complete-game shutout. There were only 16 of those in 2024 – and only 26 complete games total. The odds to see a complete game on this trip were 3:1, and 5:1 against seeing a complete-game shutout. (One guessing game question is now answered: Yes, we will see at least one complete game during our 30 games.) … The Rockies manager Bud Black was fired after the game.

Game 8: Rockies versus Rangers at Globe Life Field, May 13

Globe Life Field opened in 2020 and it still seems brand new. Clean, shiny, comfortable, air conditioned. “We’re not outside agonizing in the Texas heat anymore,” said Rangers fan John Nicolini. “There is not a bad sight-line in the stadium, and I’ve been on every level.” On this day at first pitch (7:08 p.m.) it was 92 degrees outside and 74 degrees inside. What sets Globe Life Field apart from most other baseball stadiums is its roomy concession areas with plenty of seating areas. And so many bathrooms that waiting in line is a rarity. The only downside is that there were not drink stations, only drinking fountains. And the water at the drinking fountains was clown water, i.e., it tasted funny.

Game atmosphere: Positive

“We’re coming off a World Series championship (2023), so all games here have a good energy,” said Nicolini. Attendance was down because the Dallas Stars hockey team was playing a home playoff game the same night. Still, that did not dampen the enthusiasm. The baseball-hockey connection showed itself in two ways. First, during the national anthem the words “stars” and the “star” part of “star-spangled” are amped up by the crowd. Second, each Dallas Stars goal was shown on the big screen to wild acclaim. (The Stars won that night, 3-1.)

Besides the hockey highlights, the game book-ended the crowd enthusiasm with great excitement early (the first six pitches the Rangers saw ended up with a single, single and homer for a quick three-run lead), and more excitement late when closer Shawn Armstrong struck out the side to end the game.

Ballpark cuisine: Positive

The eventual consumers of the Boomstick Hot Dog are Megan and Tommy Falcon. Megan graduated from Eureka High in 2009.

Fulfilling its “everything is bigger in Texas” motto, in Section 132 you will find a 24-inch hot dog called the Boomstick. This year they added a 26-inch Boomstick Burrito and a Triple Play option that has a hot dog, hamburger and nachos. The Boomstick is a 1-pound all-beef hot dog topped with chili, nacho cheese, grilled onions and jalapenos. It comes with its own carrying case. Sometimes bigger is not better; bigger is just bigger. But will fans order these massive food portions just for the challenge of eating the whole thing? The answer is, yes, of course they will!

The heart of the concession offering is Hurtado Barbecue with Loaded Brisket Nachos, Smoked Wings, Brisket Sandwiches, and a Birria Quesadilla. Hurtado is a popular local barbecue joint with four locations – five if you count Globe Life Field. Generous portions of brisket are loaded on the nachos – and you can also get the brisket on a baked potato.

Other dining options include Whataburger, Lobster and Mac (lobster mac or lobster roll), Blue Mint Asian Cuisine (crazy noodles), and Going Going Green (vegan nachos or vegan hot dog). There is also an all-you-can-eat section where for $75 your seats include all you want of chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, snacks and drinks.

Club hospitality: Positive

The Rangers have vaulted into the No. 1 spot for club hospitality, providing your LoCo correspondents with media credentials. We were free to roam the park as desired, including pregame field access.

Game details: Rangers win 4-1. Attendance 19,924. Time of game: 2:28.

Helpful tips: No backpacks allowed. Purses okay. One sealed water bottle per guest is allowed, and outside food is allowed as long as it is inside a clear, sealed quart-size plastic bag. Parking is plentiful and costs $25 to $55.

You don’t see that every day: Three swinging and three looking. Starter Mark Leiter for the Rangers struck out the side in the fourth inning, and each strike out was on a swing and miss. (Seven of his 13 pitches that inning were swing and misses.) Then, in the ninth inning, the Rangers reliever Shawn Armstrong struck out the side and each strike out was a called third strike.

Game 9: Royals versus Astros at Daikin Park, May 14

Houston became a Major League town in 1962, the year of the great baseball expansion. They began as the Colt .45s but Houston’s prominence in NASA’s space program called for a change in names in 1965. The team, its new domed stadium and even its turf (needed because the original natural grass playing surface died) all became astronaut-related. Astros. Astrodome. Astroturf. Thankfully, the Astrodome and Astroturf are things of the past. There was nothing as sterile as watching a baseball game in the Astrodome. And Astroturf contributed to tens of thousands of knee injuries nationwide. But the Astros keep plugging along. Daikin Park (formerly Minute Maid Park; formerly Astros Field; originally Enron Field) opened in 2000.

Game atmosphere: Positive

Daikin Park has an old-school intimate feel to it but with all the modern amenities you expect. The left-field side of the stadium is the comfort side. That’s where a train moves along an 800-foot track; it’s where the manually-operated out-of-town scoreboard is located; and it’s where see-through panels allow for a view of downtown Houston. And if you’re seated on the first-base side, still bring your hat even though the roof will likely be closed. You’ll need it for the 20 minutes the sun sets and shines through the panels. The right-field side of the stadium has the massive video screen and it’s where the fireworks erupt after Astros home runs and victories.

“The fans are high energy here,” said lifetime Astros fan and current season-ticket holder Robbie Schubert. “I’ve been going to games my entire life, and I like that they carried some things over from the Astrodome such as the fireworks.” It was not a huge crowd for a Wednesday night game against the Royals, but it sounded like one. Every Astros milestone was met with raucous cheering, engine and horn noises from the train, flashing lights and booming fireworks. Home runs, defensive gems, an eighth-inning rally. Most fans stayed until the final out.

You can also count on a comfortable air-conditioned environment when the roof is closed, like it was for this game. Ushers and game personnel were especially friendly at Daikin Park.

Ballpark cuisine: Positive

The Chicken & Waffle Sandwich rises to the top of the list: crispy fried chicken breast, pepper jack cheese, bacon onion jam, honey chipotle aioli, and two Belgium-style waffles with a generous pouring of maple syrup. Best chicken sandwich ever. You will find it at the Fry-4-3 locations in the 200 and 400 levels of the park. Another go-to is the Mac Daddy Dog – a footlong angus beef frank loaded with chopped brisket, mac & cheese, dill pickles and barbecue sauce. Best ballpark hot dog so far.

There are plenty of other options as well: Beef empanadas, SmokeShack burgers (with cherry peppers and applewood-smoked bacon), Astronautchos (burnt ends, barbecue aioli, jalapeno slaw, pico, green onions and jalapenos), and a limited Chick-fil-A menu (chicken sandwiches and wraps).

Club hospitality: Positive

The Astros provided two tickets 35 rows behind the first-base dugout, parking and a guest credential which allowed us to wander within the stadium.

Game details: Astros win 4-3. Attendance 24,641. Time of game: 2:29.

Helpful tips: Parking is available from $20 to $45 but be prepared for post-game gridlock. Food and bottled water are allowed into the park. Food must be in a clear, plastic bag no larger than one gallon in size. Regular-sized purses are okay.

You don’t see that every day: Pinball double up the middle. Often when a batter hits the ball up the middle, the pitcher’s reflex is to try to nab it and, as a result, he often knocks it away from what would have been an easy play for a fielder. Maikel Garcia of the Royals hit a ball up the middle in the top of the fifth, and pitcher Shawn Dubin successfully side-stepped it as it bounced over the pitcher’s mound. But instead of finding its way to a fielder’s glove, it ricocheted off second base and into left field, turning a ground ball into an RBI double.

###

Tom Trepiak is the former sports information director at Humboldt State and a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics Hall of Fame.