CLEVELAND, Ohio – From SpongeBob fever to a fan’s love of Tom Hamilton, we discovered some colourful people in and close to Progressive Stadium because the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians met in Sport 4 of the American League Divisional Sequence.

SpongeBob fever continues

Earlier than this season, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a SpongeBob Sq. Pants costume outdoors of Halloween. However with the theme track of the tv present serving as Oscar Gonzalez’ walk-up music, it’s attending to be a bit extra widespread on the ballpark. Michael Hook from Lakewood, a Domino’s Pizza driver, stated he wore the costume on a dare on Saturday.

“My mother dared me to put on a SpongeBob go well with to Sport 1 (of the Wild Card collection),” he stated. “I made a decision to go away it as much as Twitter. I used to be, ‘50 re-Tweets, I’ll put on it to the sport.’ ” A slew of re-Tweets from the Guardians account didn’t damage, both. “I gotta maintain it going,” stated Hook as he descended the stairwell after Saturday’s thrilling end, high-fiving followers who had been singing the track as they exited the stadium. And sure, he stated, he was a giant SpongeBob fan when he was a child.

“Oh, 100%,” Hook stated.

If nautical nonsense, be one thing you would like. SpongeBob SquarePants! Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish! SpongeBob SquarePants!

Hoosier hat’s off for Hammy

Sandi Landwerlen will get the die-hard fan award. She has seen nearly each postseason recreation Cleveland has performed in The Jake / Progressive Subject since 1995. That’s a feat contemplating she lives in Flat Rock, Indiana – a tiny burg greater than 320 miles away. Her most fun reminiscence? “Final evening,” she stated. “I do know it’s contemporary.” She additionally was right here for Sport 7 of the 2016 World Sequence vs. the Chicago Cubs – an thrilling recreation with a less-than-exciting final result for Clevelanders, clearly. “I’ll by no means watch them (opponents) have a good time on my area.” She was drawn to baseball years in the past, she stated, listening to radio veteran Tom Hamilton. “It’s why I fell in love with baseball,” stated Landwerlen, who nonetheless has a 20-game ticket package deal she shares with family and friends.

Busking central

A number of entertainers stationed themselves on E. 4th Avenue earlier than Sport 4 to supply some distinctive leisure. A magician who goes by David of Lake Erie Illusions moved right here eight years in the past. Through the recreation issues had been gentle for his performances since people had been within the ballpark or in bars watching. However on the recreation’s ending, the group noise exploded, he stated. “I’ve by no means heard a roar like that,” stated Dave, who watched the sport by the window at Nook Alley, the place televisions had a five- to 10-second delay. So when Oscar Gonzalez was on the plate within the ninth, the group went loopy simply blocks away. “There was a roar, after which we noticed the hit,” he stated. Dave – who stated he stayed on the road till 1 a.m. – stated he is among the people participating within the Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s busking program, which has drawn saxophonists, magicians, singers and others.

Just a few ft away, Laser Randy tapped out poems on a traditional Remington typewriter. He stated a pair individuals gave him $20 every the earlier evening, although most gave him $10 to $15. Individuals appear drawn to the distinctiveness of it, he stated: “You don’t see road poets too usually.”

And in entrance of Flannery’s Pub, 74-year-old Michael Kirkpatrick – bearing a slight resemblance to Samuel L. Jackson – was establishing store three hours earlier than the sport to craft caricatures. For $20 plus $9 for lamination, he’ll draw portraits for folk. He does it on an iPad and sends it to the individual.

Play ball!

In your planning functions, ought to the Guardians advance to the best-of-seven ALCS, right here’s TBS’ schedule for the next video games (* if wanted):

Sport 1: 7:37 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Houston.

Sport 2: 7:37 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at Houston.

Sport 3: 5:07 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Cleveland.

Sport 4: 7:07 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at Cleveland.

* Sport 5: 4:07 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at Cleveland (Observe: If the NLCS is over after Oct. 23, the ALCS Sport 5 will transfer to five:07 p.m.)

* Sport 6: 6:07 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Houston. (Observe: If the NLCS is over after Oct. 24, then ALCS Sport 6 will transfer to 7:37 p.m.)

* Sport 7: 7:37 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Houston.

This and that …

The big selection of parking prices downtown continues, with costs from $40 to $100 Sunday afternoon close to Progressive Subject. We are able to solely guess what the potential of costs for the American League Championship Sequence shall be. … John Stowell, the E. ninth Avenue hot-dog vendor we spoke to every week in the past, had his finest recreation for gross sales final evening. “It’s simply thrilling. It’s electrifying down right here, you realize?” … It was day weather- and sports-wise for the Goodyear blimp to hover atop downtown. … Followers from FirstEnergy Stadium who had sufficient of the Browns recreation stuffed downtown streets three hours earlier than first pitch. … Bought-out Guardians and Browns video games have introduced a crush of individuals downtown. Saturday evening, attendance at Progressive Subject was a sold-out 36,483. The Browns drew 67,431 whereas Sunday’s Guardians recreation bought out about seven hours earlier than first pitch (36,728). … To no shock, the loudest pregame cheer on our belief decibel meter was for Oscar Gonzalez, hero of Sport 3. It hit 101 decibels. … Former Cleveland pitcher Cody Allen threw the ceremonial first pitch to Bryan Shaw who, regardless of being designated for task on Oct. 1, continues to be an integral a part of the group (to study why, right here’s Paul Hoynes’ story.) … With the brisk climate, prime sellers on the Guardians Gear stand alongside the lower-level left-field concourse had been sweatshirts, wool hats and, after all, postseason gear. … After a difficult common season, Mustard has been sizzling within the put up season and is undefeated within the hot-dog derby.

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I’m on cleveland.com’s life and tradition group and canopy meals, beer, wine and sports-related matters. If you wish to see my tales, right here’s a listing on cleveland.com. Invoice Wills of WTAM-1100 and I discuss foods and drinks normally at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Twitter: @mbona30.

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