SEE THE SEA DOGS

I'm at a minor league baseball game when pro sports break out.

First of all, the minor league teams playing are both teams for whom I root: New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Portland Sea Dogs.  The last time I saw them play each other was in New Hampshire, when Sea Dog Mookie Betts embarrassed the hometown boys until rain forced the game to a merciful end at something like 18-0.  The following week, Betts was called up to the Red Sox, and he has been there ever since.

This time I am in Portland at Hadlock Field, home of the homerun lighthouse, mascot Slugger, and the unrivaled Sea Dog biscuits (ice cream stuffed between two chocolate chip cookies).  Tonight there are two MLB players rehabbing, both pitchers, both starting: Eduardo Rodriguez from the Red Sox (starting pitcher for the Sea Dogs) and Aaron Sanchez from the Toronto Blue Jays (starting pitcher for the Fisher Cats). As if that's not enough major league sports, the first pitch tonight is being thrown out by Boston Bruin Kevan Miller.

I love going to a minor league sporting event and having major league sports break out.  Not only is it fun for fans to be so up close and personal with these players, but it's also a reminder to the players on the field and to the little kids in the stands (and maybe even to all of us, young and old): Dream BIG because dreams really can and do come true.