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Minor league baseball is known for adding a little creativity to the game. They don't change the rules at all, but the teams tend to do a lot to get the fans more interested in coming back to the ballpark night after night. Since they offer so many promotional deals, people tend to come to the games without knowing much, if anything, about the team or the players, but they still have a great time just watching the game and all the antics that take place between innings. 

Last night our family went to one of these games. The kids had earned several gift cards to In-N-Out so we stopped there for some real food on the way. Since I had six free tickets to the game, the whole evening was quite inexpensive. Keep in mind that these teams have to make money somehow and they didn't make much off us last night. That's where the classic advertising dollar becomes so powerful. 

It was the bottom of the third or fourth inning and the Lake Elsinore Storm were up to bat. Some guy named Number 12 was up and hit a hard shot to shallow right field for a base hit. After him a guy named Number 14 came up. He got a base hit as well. Both of those guys had practiced playing baseball for years to be able to get those hits. They had invested hours and hours of their lives perfecting a game they loved. The least you can do is to say their names over the PA system and give them credit for all of that hard work. Not in minor league baseball. After the second hit, the announcer said, "And those back-to-back singles are brought to you by Lake Elsinore Acupuncture and Chiropractic." 

Gee, I thought they were brought to me by Number 12 and Number 14. Some chiropractor who has probably never even hit a fastball or worn a baseball uniform just got credit for not one, but two base hits in a game he probably wasn't even watching. 

Such is the nature of the beast in the minors. You play as hard as you can and put up with all the hype in hopes that one day you will make it to the big leagues where you get your name on the back of your shirt (unless you're a Yankee) and a little recognition for what you do. Until then, its all about some chiropractor paying money so he can take credit for your success. 

I'm sure the kids will remember the night well. Not for the baseball, but for the bunny that danced after every run and the big green dog that hyped up the crowd as often as possible.