With the All-Star Game over and done, it’s time to trudge through the second half of pro baseball’s 162-game season. The Padres, at 36-52, are last in the National League West, 20 games behind the Dodgers.
If you’re a die-hard fan—and I hope all 20 of you are reading this—or if you’re forced to take your company’s season tickets, here’s a fun and easy way to enjoy that night’s loss: Add up the home team’s home runs.
Trust me, it won’t require a calculator—and your ticket could be worth big discounts at downtown’s Manchester Grand Hyatt. A ticket to a home game where a Padre hits a home run gets you 20 percent off a hotel room or any other service at the property, including bars, restaurants or spa.
Two home runs equal 30 percent off; three homers get you 40 percent; four dingers means your next Hyatt purchase is half off. One grand slam by the hometown boys also chops 50 percent off your bill.
Before you start eying the Hyatt’s Presidential Suite, know that the Padres are not exactly knocking the cover off the ball, and Petco Park is a notoriously bad hitter’s field.
The Padres hit 79 four-baggers in 88 games before the All-Star break (in comparison, the Philadelphia Phillies went yard 122 times in 86 first-half games). In 43 home games so far, the Padres have just 35 round-trippers. Slugger Adrian Gonzalez had 24 long balls in the first half—but only eight were at Petco.
Nonetheless, should you find yourself at a game in which some unknown prospect just brought up from the minors hits a grand salami, lean over to your loved one and…propose marriage. Then, head over to the Hyatt (it doesn’t have to be that night) and book the ceremony. If you spend the average price of a wedding ($30,000), that means you get $15,000 off.
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If you saved your stubs, check for these two-tater/30-percent-off dates: May 19, June 17 & 21 and July 5. Remember the 16-inning game on May 16? The three moonshots in that marathon make the ticket worth 40 percent off a Hyatt purchase. The offer is valid until March 31, 2010.
Ron Donoho is a regular contributor to NBCSandiego.com and a contributing editor to sandiego.com. His Web site (sandiegoDTOWN.com) is dedicated to news, sports, culture, happy hours and all things downtown.
