Here are all of the pictures I took at yesterday’s Reds-Cubs game at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Arizona. You can click any image to view a larger version.

Former Cincinnati Reds slugger George Foster, along with several former Chicago Cubs greats, signs shirts, baseballs, and cards at HoHoKam Park in the concourse by right field.

A Chicago Cubs groundskeeper’s grass-tending tools lie unused in center field.

The visiting bullpen at HoHoKam, with the Reds supplies ready for the pitchers.

Former Cub Ron Santo’s number behind home plate, in remembrance of his passing during the offseason.

A few Reds players and coaches in their dugout before the game.

Stretching with the trainer before the game.

Jay Bruce and Edgar Renteria walk through the outfield to the foul line to begin their pregame stretching.

Homer Bailey and Ramon Hernandez get their arms loose before the game.

Scott Rolen long-tosses before the game.

There’s nothing like drinking some Heilman’s Old Style at a Cubs game. Plus, it’s the cheapest beer at HoHoKam!

Edgar Renteria knelt to pray upon taking the field to start the game.

Jeremy Hermida got the start in left field.

Chris Heisey started in center field.

And Jay Bruce started in right.

Chris Heisey throws to cut-off man Edgar Renteria as Brandon Phillips covers second base after a Cubs hit.

Scott Rolen bats against Carlos Silva.

Marlon Byrd smiled to the crowd after someone yelled, “Marlon Byrd! You’re my hero!”

Homer Bailey delivers a fastball.

Brandon Phillips and Yonder Alonso get into defensive position as Bailey pitches.

Jeremy Hermida touches home plate after his home run.

Dontrelle Willis on the mound in relief for the Reds.

Dontrelle Willis walks with a trainer after tripping on a bat in a play at the plate.

Logan Ondrusek pitches with Paul Janish ready at short.

The Compass Restaurant is the rotating restaurant at the top of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix. Like all rotating restaurants (and I have been in several, since my son developed a fascination with them a few years ago) the view is fabulous. At 24 stories in the midst of all the city skyscrapers, you’re looking both up and down at the sights of the city. At night we could see all the lights, but not the mountains. I imagine the view is similarly good during the day.

The food on the other hand…well that’s a different story. Neither skillfully prepared nor particularly well designed, it fails to live up to the pretense of the restaurant. Unless you count unusual ingredients as raising the bar. My salmon was served with figs, for example.

Unfortunately, it was also salty and overcooked. Jon’s lamb shank was similarly mediocre. And the real kicker? The mac and cheese my son ordered was OBVIOUSLY from Kraft. I don’t mind paying high prices for good food, but $10 for Kraft dinner? You can boil pasta and add your own cheese, you know.

All-in-all, it was an adequate meal that I’m not likely to duplicate. If you go, maybe just try the view with a little wine. They purport their wine selection to be great.

Here’s the view of HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Arizona from the left field berm. The place holds more than 10,000, much of that in the grass, so be sure to arrive early if you want a decent view.

We were having such a good time today at HoHoKam Park watching the Cincinnati Reds play the Chicago Cubs–and eating Island Noodles–that we whipped out the audio recorder and grabbed our ramblings to share with the wide world at large.

There are also lots of pictures of the Reds 7-6 win, and those will be uploaded later.

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The day has finally arrived! After a day of packing and getting the house ready (and maybe one or two beers in the afternoon), I and my family will be hopping our flight to Goodyear, AZ.

It’s just a long weekend; nothing like the glories of the 1- or 2-week long visits of the past, but who can complain about a forecast like this? (Not the current temperature; it’s still only 6 a.m. there.)

Nevermind that it’s going to feel like flying into the depths of Hell after a few weeks of getting used to 55 feeling like t-shirt weather out here in the Midwest.

So, as soon as this evening, RHM will be hosting some southwestern pictures, though we don’t actually attend a game until tomorrow until we see the non-Las-Vegas leg of the split squad game at the Cubs facility. Then Sunday we’ll go to our only home game against the Angels, and Monday we’ll go out to the Rockies park.

I’d like to spend more time at the Goodyear facility when we go out for these weekend trips, but the team never seems to have a significant homestand. At least we’ll get to try the island noodles at three different parks.

Time to pack. Stay tuned.