Does anyone here go to the minor league games? Are they fun and enjoyable to watch?
I've never been to an actual baseball game (excluding little league ), and I'd have to plan a trip to DC to see the Nats.
I'm thinking about going to some Suns games since I live less than 20 minutes away from Hagerstown. Tickets are dirt cheap, so it seems like it could be a fun cheap night to go out to see a game. Plus there is a chance to see Storen pitch, which would be cool.
So, worth it or a waste of $7?
It depends on what you're watching for. If you love the game, you'll love the minors. If you want a game driven by big stars, you'll be disappointed.
My local team puts on a pretty good show. We are a short season, single-A club so most of, if not all of, the players are under 23. You will see some mistakes made, some questionable decisions, etc. You will also rarely see a pitcher go more than 5 innings - that sort of thing is dictated by the parent club. But what you will see are great athletes with a ton of raw talent that has yet to be harnessed.
I've never been to a AA-game, but I have seen a ton of AAA-games in Durham, NC and in Pawtucket, RI. AAA can be depressing because a majority of those rosters are guys who are older and still hanging on and holding out hope for that call-up and the rest are the kids on the 40-man roster of the parent club.
As a fan of baseball first and the Nationals a close second, I will attend any baseball game anywhere. I love watching the game. And the minors intrigue me because the games really are layed differently than they are on the major league level. It takes some getting used to, but IMO - it's WELL worth the $7.00.
Plus, the beer is cheaper too and the parking is probably free.
EDIT:
IMO, the stadium helps too. I've been to some real dumps since not a lot of money is poured into minor league clubs. I am extremely lucky now that N.Y. State Senator Joseph L. Bruno passed legislation through the Senate to build a park in his district a few years ago and the atmosphere is unbelievable.
http://www.ballparkreviews.com/troy/troy.htmKid friendly, fan friendly, lots of space on the concourse, lots of parking, luxury boxes, lots of local vendors for concessions. It's the crown jewel of the NYPenn League.