Originally written August 31st, 2009

After I went to Myrtle Beach, it occurred to me, that in the 2009 baseball season, I had tackled three of the four homes of Atlanta Braves minor league affiliates. So, why not go for all four, and hit up Mississippi?
(I have yet to include Danville or Gulf Coast, because 1. I'm not that ambitious (yet) and 2. then I couldn't say that I've been to all Braves minor league affiliates)

The AA-Mississippi trip turned out to be one of the most difficult ones, due to the dwindling season, the lack of my desire to have to stay overnight in Pearl, Mississippi, and the lack of available day games for me to choose from. Not to mention that my previous attempt to go to Mississippi was thwarted, due to uncooperation from Mother Nature, and a whole lot of really fat people on an aircraft that got me bumped off my first shot.

But persistence pays off. I was able to find one more day game left in the M-Braves' schedule, and I made another shot to get out there. And this time, there weren't enough morbidly obese people on the aircraft to weigh it beyond capacity, but one was seated next to me, but fortunately, I was able to escape due to a low-occupancy, granting me the opportunity to move seats.

When I got to Trustmark Park, my biggest concern was that the weather was not going to cooperate with me, and that this was going to become one of those trips, where things get spoiled, and I feel like crap, having made a trip for bad weather. Fortunately, I played my hands against fate's cruel jokes, and I came prepared. Sure, it's goofy and lame looking, but I brought the rain poncho I purchased whilst at Myrtle Beach, in the event that there was rain. And sure enough, since I went to the trouble to prepare for inclimate weather, the exact opposite was sure to occur:

Out of all the Braves affiliates, I'm probably the least knowledgible when it comes to AA-Mississippi. Perhaps it's the distance, or maybe I'm just not caught up with the ebb and flow with the promotions into and out of Mississippi. Regardless, there were a handful of prospects that I had hoped to see, most notably Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman, but prior to my trip, I got the unfortunate word that both were deactivated for the remainder of the AA season, to prepare them for the Arizona Fall League. I got to see both of them, but neither played. Furthermore, I wanted to attempt to get autographs from either or both of them, but according to one of the autograph-savvy hounds at the park, I was informed that neither will sign anything prior to games, but are willing to sign for those who wait until after the game - and after they've dressed out, and are on the way out of the park. And as is the norm as with these day-trips, time is a luxury that I do not have.

As for Trustmark Park itself, I have to say it's not bad. I like it better than Gwinnett, but I'm not sure it's better than the A-level parks. There are a few criteria that I'd have to measure these opinions on - and I'm aware that most are based on a single visit, but hey, that's about as much time as I can afford each individual park.

The attendance at the game I went to was actually quite pathetic. Perhaps it's the lack of star power - no Heyward, no Freeman, and even the rehabbing Nate McLouth was already gone from the roster. Or maybe it's because Mississippi is like Georgia in the fact that they're a God-fearing state that doesn't sell beer on Sundays, and minor league ball in general gets so much popularity for cheap beer alone.

Food options at Trustmark was also very pathetic. I can't really think of any food that is synonimous with the state of Mississippi, and it certainly wasn't being served at Trustmark. In the end, I hate to satiate my appetite with a generic plate of chili-cheese nachos with jalapenos, that sure, filled me up, but left me unsatisfied. Both Rome and Myrtle Beach capitalize on their southern roots by offering barbecue options.

But the important stuff about minor league parks, is fan interaction. Mississippi is well designed so that the fans can get great angles of the game, and great views all around. And the fences are brought in extremely close, making the players extremely accessible prior to, and after the games, and maybe during them as well. Seats were available that literally were looking right into the dugout, and actually made me unhappy for getting dugout seats myself.

It's a cozy ballpark in general. There's nothing wrong with some generic aspects, but there's nothing that makes me go "whoa, I have to come back here." I guess we'll have to see the quality of talent that will be assigned to Mississippi in coming years to determine whether or not I want to go see them, or if should just try to intercept them in lower-A level ball, or wait for them to arrive in Gwinnett, or even Atlanta.

In the end, I'm proud to have been able to tackle all the Minor league parks in the Braves system - it's interesting to compare, and see which one I like the most, and which ones are best for the fans in various aspects. And it's also cool to watch some prospects move around, like in the case of relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel - I saw him out in Rome, twice more out in Myrtle Beach, and although he didn't pitch, briefly spoke to him and got a ball signed by him out in AA. Three levels, in one season. Not bad progression.