The inaugural Field of Dreams recreation between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees one yr in the past became an instantaneous basic.
The TV presentation, the sight of “Field of Dreams” star Kevin Costner main the gamers by way of the cornfield to the ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa, the sounds of crickets chirping and the sport itself all lived as much as the hype.
It’s most likely unfair to evaluate Thursday’s Field of Dreams recreation between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds in opposition to the success of final yr’s, particularly as a result of each groups are properly out of rivalry within the National League Central.
But each sequel inevitably will get in contrast with the unique, and apart from “The Godfather Part II” and maybe a handful of others, it’s nearly unattainable to copy one thing that labored to perfection.
The Cubs, naturally, are excited to be a part of MLB’s largest in-season occasion in addition to the All-Star Game, figuring out they’re following within the footsteps of a basic.
“It’s a little part of history,” Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner stated Wednesday after homering in a 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. “Eight thousand people is going to be small, but I feel like everyone there is going to be excited to be there. Just awesome all around.”
Tim Anderson’s walk-off residence run capped the Sox’s 9-8 win over the Yankees within the inaugural recreation, which most thought can be a one-time occasion till the Cubs-Reds matchup was introduced shortly afterward.
“I watched it last year,” Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom stated. “I noticed how particular it was. And then once I noticed that we had been a part of it this yr, I used to be simply tremendous excited.
“And then to see my name on the (MLB) poster, it was really cool for me. Just honored to be a part of that. … I know it’s going to be a long day but something I look forward to.”
Seiya Suzuki, who like many gamers hasn’t seen the 1989 movie and was born after it was made, isn’t all that educated about its place in American film lore. But he is aware of it’s a giant deal to baseball and it places the Cubs on a nationwide stage once more.
“I have never watched the movie before, but obviously it’s great (playing) in a really historical stadium,” Suzuki stated by way of an interpreter. “I haven’t had the chance to be able to play in a countryside stadium as well, so I’ll get a different perspective. I’m very excited.”
The second Field of Dreams recreation apparently would be the final one till not less than 2024, in keeping with White Sox Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, a part of the possession of the Field of Dreams website. Thomas informed the Des Moines Register that building on the location brought about MLB to take a cross subsequent yr.
“It’s a lot going on,” Thomas stated. “They don’t want to come back if the stadium’s not prepared.”
The Cubs and Reds will fly out and in of Iowa on the identical day, lacking the enjoyable of staying in a single day in a roadside motel that advertises free HBO on the marquee. That would make for a extra lifelike Iowa expertise. But keep in mind the star of the present is the cornfield, and the visuals of taking part in in a ballpark surrounded by corn is the one factor that issues.
The 2021 recreation drew nearly 6 million viewers for Fox, making it the highest-rated regular-season telecast since 1998. Now the community has the unenviable process of constructing the whole lot appear new and fascinating. Costner reportedly received’t be available to repeat his dramatic pregame stroll, and holding a Field of Dreams recreation with out Costner is like making “Casablanca” with out Humphrey Bogart.
But who is aware of what Fox could have up its sleeve?
The community already has introduced Cubs left fielder Ian Happ and Reds first baseman Joey Votto will likely be mic’d up for the sport and in a position to speak to one another on the sphere.
A Twitter rumor Wednesday advised the community was testing a hologram of the late Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray for the telecast.
Hopefully there received’t be a repeat of the All-Star Game telecast, by which David Ortiz preened within the dugout throughout the motion below the premise he was “interviewing” gamers. But Ortiz and Álex Rodriguez had been featured within the promos for the Field of Dreams recreation, so we will most likely count on the worst.
After watching eight of the 16 mixed hits by the Sox and Yankees go away the yard and land within the corn final August, there’s little question Wisdom, Votto, Suzuki, Franmil Reyes and others will likely be swinging for the fences. Because the sport is meaningless within the pennant race, they could as properly go for broke and provides Fox its corn repair.
The Field of Dreams recreation undoubtedly would be the final time anybody in addition to Cubs and Reds followers have an interest on this matchup, not less than till one or each are contenders once more. From the appears to be like of issues, that might take some time.
Thursday’s recreation might not match as much as the unique, and Iowa is probably not heaven.
But for one night time, we will dream.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com