I can’t remember the last time the Cubs played a Friday afternoon game out of town. It doesn’t matter that it was merely the first part of a doubleheader, in fact that makes it all the more special. I don’t know the last time any Friday afternoon game wasn’t played at Wrigley.

Great American Ballpark is not among my favorites, however I think it would be a fun place to spend a Friday watching baseball. I haven’t been in over a decade and I don’t think the park itself or the experience has improved. What I did like was the neighborhood and its proximity to local hotels. I was a ten minute walk across the bridge into Covington, Kentucky.

And unlike some of the parks surrounded by artificial villages, GABP has a lot of dining and drinking options within a couple blocks. When fans from the first game are forced to leave the park if they hold a ticket to game 2. it’s nice to have options.

It’s also fun to see how the opposing managers handle pitching decisions and lineup construction for the two games. It also speaks to the different depth of the two teams. Coincidentally, both the Cubs and Reds are vying for a postseason spot. Fans of the two teams might question their teams’ intent on winning, but I’m not sure yesterday’s game are indicative of the Reds desires.

Growing up I remember how Leo Durocher, Jim Marshall, Whitey Lockman and Herman Franks would shuffle the decks in a twin bill, but none of those teams were in a pennant race. They were played earlier and more frequently too.

As a Chicagoan, I’m well versed in Wilbur Wood pitching in both games of a doubleheader and am certain it happened elsewhere as a matter of course. I had to laugh when I saw that the Cubs employed 9 different pitchers and David Bell used 10 different Reds.

We’ll see how both teams set up for the next two games. I’m not sure that either team can afford a split in the series if they hope to make up some ground in the battle for the postseason.