I’m more upbeat than usual for August Baseball, and you should be too. I’ve come up with ten reasons to come to the park in August. Here’s the latest installment:
#3 Reason to come to the park in August: Ballpark Food
I know, I know. You’re sick of ballpark food as well. You’ve been eating it all spring and summer. You swore you’d do better with eating before the game and saving money (See Also: Saving Money at the Park). But, it gets busy, and you don’t get a chance to eat. “I’ll just grab something at the game,” you say. Next thing you know you’ve had it all. Twice. Or, more.
But look, it’s going to be a long winter without ballpark food. So go ahead and have another Aw Shucks Corn, another All Star Sandwich, and a Boss Dog. You know you need the Nacho Porker again too. Maybe a Philly Phries late in the game. Or, a funnel cake if they still have them? And, I know our own IronPigsChef Jan will have some nice choices for us in the Club Level for these final games. Eat up. Food is something your body needs anyway.
The Buffalo Shuffle
The team is 2-1 now in their four game set in Buffalo, with the finale tonight at 7:05. They’ve won behind a gem from Pettibone and a really solid day-game start from Cochran. Scott Elarton is on the mound tonight, and I can only hope for him to reach deep and give us a chance. Hopefully the bats continue to come alive; some run-support might be good for Scott. Valle’s bat has been awakened as well, and Fox has been hitting nicely. It’ll be good if we get Luna back when Polanco gets activated either later this weekend or Monday. I hope Luna can get himself back to town and in the lineup right away.
A Look Ahead
The Toledo Mudhens come to town for a four-game series starting Saturday at 6:35PM. Fireworks are on tap following the game. Sunday’s game is at 5:35 featuring Domonic Brown replica jerseys for the kids. In the past, these replica jerseys (all star game, Scott Mathieson, etc.) have been really nice. Sunday pre-game is the IronHeads Tailgate Party in the Plaza. I wonder how many will be there. Monday is the fan cave finale` and Tuesday is Dog Day with Spongebob and Patrick. The scheduled starters are: Saturday Cloyd, Sunday Brummett, Monday Pettibone, Tuesday Cochran.
See you at the park,
@Kram209
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
replying to my own post:
Conspicuous by absence above, I did not mention our friends Philly Pretzels. Here’s why: You don’t have to do without them once baseball’s over. Go to one of their local outlets and pick up a ten-pack or twenty-pack. Get some dips. Maybe order a party tray if you’re having folks over.
My kids get rivets
every.
single.
game.
and once IronPigs is over, and NFL season starts, it becomes our Sunday routine: Church, Pretzels, Football. What was once bagels or donuts is now pretzels. I even make my own dips sometimes, although I don’t think anything can ever be as good as that buttercream icing. Evil for my diet, it is.
Did I miss something, or does CCP not serve hot wings, at least not on the main level?
My new favorite food is the Xilantro burrito, next to the Trough. While I’m used to having six more things stuffed inside the tortilla, the meat, rice and beans are a great combo. Pity their regular location is a high-end restaurant rather far away from here near Wayne.
And Philly Pretzel is great even without the dips (but always keep a bottle of Dasani® handy)
You are correct: There are no chicken wings at field level. And, only at club level on selected Fridays (watch Twitter for my unending “wing night” tweets when this is about to occur). Really they’re only average at best, but I love them anyway. I’m a big fan of the Sriracha-based sauce. At home, I use a blend of Sriracha and Frank’s, and add Sambal Oelek for extra heat if I’m trying to kill people. Sometimes using the peppers from my garden creates nasty-hot wings, but I digress…
On one hand, wings are difficult to do well for such a big crowd, they’re messy, and there’s the matter of the bones.
On the other hand, if PNC and Heinz in Pittsburgh can do them (Quaker State and Lube: thelube.com) then why not? People like them, and they’re low in carbs.
Perhaps this is an opportunity for a local wing joint to open a stand?
I admit I have not tried the burritos. I’ve heard mixed reviews and I walk to the trough less and less now that much of the ‘Nation has moved to the club level. I’ll make it a point to try one in the coming home stand I think.