What You Can Do NOW to Get Ready for the 2014 @IronPigs Season

Oh, so you’re cold.  You’re sitting around lamenting the snow.  And, you’re complaining about the amount of time until pitchers and catchers report.  All you  can do is grouse and whine about the weeks and months until IronPigs opening day (on Monday April 7 at 5:05PM).

Reppin’ the Pigs in the Snow Photo: Kram

Well, we’re sick of hearing about it.  OK, so we’re sick of participating in it, too. 😉  Here in Kram’s Korner, we’ve been thinking of things to do to bide the time until opening day, and make sure we’re ready to hit the ground running when April 7 rolls around. Think about undertaking some of these eleven things while you wait:

1. Check Your Schedule     Note that 5:05PM start time for opening day.  Make sure you clear your schedule to get there in time.  I still haven’t heard an answer as to why they did that, but I suppose it’s a school night and it’ll be cold–so why not get it out of the way early?  It does create a little bit of overlap with the Phillies home opener–I’m not sure if that’s on purpose or merely coincidence.  Anywho, mark your schedule for all of the home games in your plan.  Download the iCal or CSV version once it becomes available (editor’s note: they tell us it will be out before March 1).  Dig out those magnet schedules we received late last season and position them strategically about your home and office.  Save online links on your computer for not just the IronPigs, but the Phillies, Reading, Scranton, and any other stadiums you might like to visit during the season, so that you can reference and cross-reference quickly.  If you already have tickets to games elsewhere–a Reading package or a Philadelphia package for example–make sure those games are on your calendar as well.  Remember the 222 game will likely be played in Reading this season on Tuesday April 1, and will likely start early, perhaps 6:05PM.  Make a note of it!  Mark your calendar for March 1:  It’s National Pig Day.  Single-game tickets will go on sale then for non-season ticket holders.  The preliminary promo schedule should be coming out any day–we’ll report on it here, and you can mark your calendar for the promos that are most important to you.
2. Do Your Taxes   Look, it’s a drag I know.  Just get that stuff out of the way so that when the IronPigs start up you’re not still spending time on it in early April.  Plus, if you’re due a return, you’ll have some extra cash to spend….
3. Get New Glasses or Contact Lenses     Not a self-serving idea as some may think.  It’s hard enough to see that little white ball.  Good vision is important in order to enjoy live baseball.
4. Get an MLB.TV Package for Spring Training Games    It doesn’t look like they have the specific Spring Training package available yet, so unless you want to pony up for the entire off-season package, you might have to wait a bit.  I found this useful and handy last season for taking in S/T games every afternoon at the office.  Also, when it gets closer, consider the MiLB.TV package as well.  The IronPigs open on the road, and unless you’re thinking of driving to Pawtucky on April 3 (don’t tempt me–the woods in Rhode Island beckon…) you might want to catch some early season away games via that package.  The quality gets better every year, and it’s easier and easier with new technology to put it up on a bigger screen if you don’t want to watch on your computer.  Last year I could watch via the iPhone app as well!  For home games you’ll need Service Electric.  Look in to that, too, if you need to.
5. Buy Tickets.  Buy More Tickets.  Buy Other Tickets:     If you’re thinking about a season ticket plan, there’s no better time than now.  Read about why:  here .  Add a complimentary plan if you need.  Or, look forward to advance sales of single game tickets coming some time in February for IronPigs Season Ticket Holders.  Oh, and there are other baseball teams too (gasp!).  Pick up some Phillies tickets or Reading or for the away games in Moosic.  Go crazy.  The sooner you get them, the better the seats will be and you won’t get shut out, if, say, Derek Jeter suddenly schedules a rehab in Moosic…
6. Get Your Vehicle Ready:     I mean, don’t bother washing it yet or anything…  But get ready to stash an extra blanket, and extra sweatshirt perhaps some sunglasses or an extra hat in there for game days.  Any rain gear for game days should be ready to go–umbrellas, ponchos and the like.  Make sure you’ve get your portable radio in there, with fresh batteries and operational ear buds if applicable.  If you’re partial to tailgating, as I am, have your tailgating kit ready to go:  I keep a box with tailgating supplies (napkins, plates, cups, utensils, grill tools, plastic bags, extra propane, a small football, etc.) ready to go at all times.
7. Get a Seat Cushion:   Maybe you don’t sit in a seat, preferring to stand?  Maybe the padding on the club level seats is enough for you?  Maybe you don’t plan to leave the club to begin with, planning for a seat at the nice warm bar?  But for the rest of us, staying warm is of major concern during the first month of the season, and we’re not getting any younger.  Years ago my parents bought me these heated seat cushions.  I never thought much of them until the past couple IronPigs seasons.  Now, they’re crucial early season gear.  There might be a couple different varieties available now, but an example is:  here
8. Get Some Warm Clothes:   OK, this may seem obvious.  But layering is crucial for those early-season games, so I’m thinking of picking up some Under Armor “Cold Gear” style stuff.  The players wear it and my kids wear it for their cold-weather sporting events.  Why can’t I wear it as a spectator?  We all can! Like here
9. Pick Up Your Tickets:   This might seem obvious, too.  We’ll let you know when they’re available–usually around the middle of March.  However, the last thing you want is to rush to the stadium in time for that 5PM start on opening day and have to stand in line to pick up your tickets or ticket package.  Make sure you get it ahead of time!
10. Read the Roster Posts So That You’ll Know the Players:   Here at the award-winning Horn and Bell Blog, we’ll try to keep you apprised of the players battling for roster spots for the IronPigs.  If you familiarize yourself with the names and the players, it’ll make the early season games that much more interesting!  Go Pigs!
11. Follow Players and Staff on Twitter So That You’ll Know All The Inside Scoop:   Once you’ve got a handle on the potential players, go give them a follow on Twitter to get to know them a bit better.  Also consider following some of the IronPigs Twitter feeds for news and info about upcoming season.

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In these 11 steps you’ll find yourself more ready than ever for the 2014 season.  And it will help pass the time.  Everybody wins!

Shopping for Cold Gear,

@Kram209