Robin Twelker was belly-up in the outfield at Safeco Field.
Eyes closed, arms and legs spread out to soak up sun. Like a starfish
stuck in the left-field grass, basking in July afternoon.
While Seattle Arsenal Coach Dana Papasadero checked on catcher David
Mandley, Twelker was lost to the glory of a cloudless day in a $517
million tabernacle of big-league baseball.
"You don't appreciate it until you get down on it," Twelker said. "It's
just like a picnic, a day at the beach. It's a pretty surreal experience."
Natural grass and sunny skies were a potent mixture. An elixir strong
enough to erase any disappointment over Seattle Arsenal's 11-4 loss to
Chaffey in yesterday's exhibition opener of Safeco.
Chaffey and Seattle Arsenal are two summer-league teams composed
of high-school age players. The Mariners invited the teams to play the
exhibition to test the field and facilities under game-day conditions.
The set-up for the game was authentic right down to the game balls and
player introductions. Seattle Arsenal played the part of the San Diego
Padres, Seattle's opponents in the July 15 opener.
Chaffey was the home team and center fielder Mike Hass raised
his cap high in the air when Ken Griffey Jr. was called out as the
starting center fielder in the top of the first.
Chaffey starter Jason Castro struck out the first two batters,
then Seattle Arsenal's Jeff Culpepper stepped to the plate as the
scoreboard flashed Tony Gwynn's name, number and stats. Culpepper drove an
outside pitch between short and third base for the first base hit in
Safeco history, an opposite-field single that would have made Gwynn proud.
The ball was quickly given to Culpepper's parents, who were among more
than 200 fans at the game. His dad, Gary, proudly pointed to the smudge of
blue ink where his son made contact.
"I even called where he was going to hit it," Gary said.
Gary and Alea Culpepper also had the first taste of sunlight during a
game at Safeco as the roof opened one hour into the game.
"We wanted to see what kind of effect opening it would have during a
game," said Steve Peeler, Safeco groundskeeper.
The first sliver of sun sparked applause, fans cheering the dawn of
outdoor baseball at Safeco. It took 20 minutes for the roof to
fully open, the shadow creeping across the field. Seattle Arsenal's Dale
Sherrow told Peeler it was hard to pick up the ball.
"The roof opening was a little adjustment for the eyes," Peeler said.
And once the roof was open, the wind swirled through the stadium. The
flag beyond the left-field stands was fluttering to the south, but players
in the infield felt the breeze coming in from the east.
Marty Springstead, American League executive director of umpiring,
attended yesterday's exhibition and said it plays like a different stadium
with the roof open.
"That wind is going to play heck on flies," he said. "It might make the
game a lot more interesting."
And more enjoyable on summer afternoons when the grass field is bathed
in sunlight, making the game seem like a day at the beach for Twelker.
