Off By A Few Days

We don't really do Valentine's Day, but we are excited about this.  Enjoy!

Military Appreciation Night

Taking the oath

On August 10th we attended a Tides Game.  Happy coincidence?  It was also Military Appreciation Night!

We actually got a Luxury Suite in order to celebrate our 20th anniversary.  Our anniversary is actually the 13th, but that's a week day and we wanted to share this experience with our friends.

First pitch

This was something we'd been wanting to do for quite a while.  Even funnier is that most of our friends that came are military as well.  No surprise there right?

So we got to witness people taking their oath to join the military, the Navy band performing and military throwing out the first pitch.  And to top off the awesomeness of the evening?  Fireworks!!!

So we got our own box with a balcony, which was great.  We could sit in air conditioning or sit out on the balcony and enjoy the game.  It had rained earlier that day so it did get kind of muggy.  Something you may notice with a few of the photos I took.  Foggy lens.

Plus we ordered food and beer so that no one was hungry.  Hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and cookies.

YUM!

And don't forget the yummy beer!

It was a great combination of people.  And we were so glad that they could come out and celebrate with us!

 Some knew each other from other groups that I'm in or they lived next to us or they work with Jim.  So we felt it was a great mix!

Wow that was a bit of a ramble there wasn't it?

Good food.  I don't think anyone walked away hungry.

Good drinks.  And no one drove under the influence.  We are responsible people!

Silly Jim with buddy Terri

Sweet Caroline...  dum dum dum

Good company.  The best company.

And a great game!

Who could ask for more?

 And of course there were a few of us who had had enough to drink to sing along with some of the songs the ball field played.

And the game ended with a fantastic display of fireworks.

We were definitely pleased with the way this evening went.

So much so that we just may do it again next year some time.

And just so you can see how happy we were I've added a photo that a pal of ours snapped for me that night.

Bonus photo!  The happy couple!

St. Louis Trip Day Two

So our second day of our baseball vacation we had an evening game, but we went early in order to see batting practice. This is a fantastic baseball town. We got there an hour early, but it seemed like we were running late. lol

Sadly I was surrounded by close quarter people and it was EXTREMELY hot and humid. But our neighbors were pretty cool! I have learned that I prefer aisle seats.

We didn't catch the Cardinals batting practice, but we did manage to see the Reds swing a bit. And of course we could see into the Cardinals dug out from where we were sitting behind home plate. Awesome!!

Of course we HAD to get some shots of the stadium with the Arch in the background. It's just not a trip to St. Louis without at least acknowledging the Arch.

Apparently they were doing a nod to the D.A.R.E program and had a number of vehicles from different areas. Jim and I liked the PT Cruiser that they had painted to look like an old police car. We did see a vehicle from Alton, which is close to where we grew up, and had to cheer for it.

Had to get a picture of Fred Bird pleading to be put on the roster. It was SO funny! And of course we got to actually see them talk with the Umpires.

I know it might seem a bit odd that I have a picture of Ryan headed to bat, but he's wearing my lucky number so I had to have it.

We bought jerseys for this game. This was after visiting my mom and seeing some high school friends for lunch. I got Ryan (13) and Jim got Musial (6). I got 13 because that's my number. Jim got 6 because... Well click on the links and read to find out about this legend. It was a great time. Even if the Cardinals did lose this round.

St. Louis Trip Day One

So over the Memorial Day weekend we decided to do a little baseball trip. The plan was to fly into St. Louis on Monday, catch two Cardinal games and then fly out on Wednesday. Well that was the plan.

We were fortunate enough to purchase a new vehicle before our trip and decided to give my Saturn to Jim's mom. So instead we left Sunday afternoon and drove straight through (well we did stop for a two hour nap) to her house. Jim drove the whole thing! He so rocks.

So after a brief visit with Jim's mom and driving down memory lane checking out our old places. Lots has changed in our old town. We took pictures, but I won't bore them with them. If you went to school with Jim or I and haven't been to B-town in years, just email me and I can send them to you.

So with 2 hours of sleep under our belt we went to Busch Stadium for the first of our 2 Cardinal games. And no I have no idea how we managed it, but some how we did. The first two pictures are of us, of course, in our Cardinal red shirts. The next two are random shots from our seats.

We were along first base line about two rows back. Jim took most of the photos. I loved them. Especially the one of the guy talking to the people in the seats. He actually was giving the kids bubble gum. Gotta love how nice they are out here! And Jim didn't really use the zoom to focus in on them. That's how close we were!

Love the one of the little boy holding on to the ball. He was hoping for an autograph or two. Sadly he didn't get one, but the picture was just so Americana. Don't you think? Of course I got a picture of Ludwick. And no I didn't really zoom in on him.

The game started around three, but there was a rain delay. Like the dingbats we are, we sat out in the rain. As my darling sweetie said, 'We didn't drive 16 hours to be chased off by a little rain.' Gotta love the man! Of course so we were drenched and freezing.

Of course there is the obligatory photo of Albert Pujols. And the gentleman in the yellow shirt was our beer man. He was fantastic! Smart too! Wore knee pads so he never blocked your view of the game. I wish more beer vendors would think of that. And came back at regular intervals. Gone long enough for you to finish your beer, but not so long that you went to go find your own.

Of course the Cardinals won against the Reds. The score?
12-4! What a great way to end an extremely long day for us. So we had to take a photo of Fred Bird celebrating and the scoreboard.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

So on Sunday we decided to attend a Nationals game. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and we still had the rental vehicle. So we figured, why not?

We had fantastic seats! I've never sat this close before. We really had to keep a heads up for any foul balls. And there were quite a few.

Jim had the camera and took the pictures that I've posted. I had to do a few from our seats. Plus the one that the Nationals photographer took.

The Nationals won by a single home run in the tenth inning.

The Universe Is Against Me!

The baseball season is upon us. Yeah! I've purchased Extra Innings from Cox so that we can watch the Cardinals play.

They had a game against Chicago Saturday afternoon. We were all set to watch, but it was not to be. Apparently the game was on FOX in that area so we didn't get it. Why am I paying for Extra Innings again? Greedy FOX! What about fans that don't live in the area?

Another game was to be played Sunday evening. Again we were all set to enjoy the game. I'd hurried home from a previous engagement and was really ready for some baseball. It was rained out.

That is why I say the Universe is against me!

The next game is Tuesday, so we'll see if the fates are against me or not.

Being First

Being first requires a couple of things. First and foremost, you have to be in a position to be first. Second, you need the talent and the drive to take advantage of that position. Being in the position without the talent and drive just means the next guy in that position will be the first and you will be forgotten.

Last night, both of these conditions were satisfied for our favorite major league baseball player. Jody Gerut was the first person to hit a home run in NYC's City Park, home of the New York Metropolitans, aka the Mets. Clearly he demonstrated he had the talent and drive to take advantage of the circumstances he found himself in.

Not only did Mr. Gerut (We haven't met, so we're not on a first name basis.) hit the first home run in City Park history, he is also the first person to lead off a game in a new ballpark with a home run. In Elias Sports Bureau terms, that makes him immortal. Someone may repeat the feat, but he will always be first. The subject of mid-game trivia questions everywhere. A surefire way to make sure your name is never forgotten.

Pretty cool if you ask me.

Mr. Gerut also showed his class (we expect such classy acts from someone from Illinois) by donating the bat he used to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

What a great way to start the season. And now we have MLB Extra Innings, so we can watch the San Diego Padres, when my beloved Cardinals are not on of course.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

It's that time of year again. So in honor of it, I just had to post this. I never realized the many different versions of this song. So I chose the version done by Gretchen Wilson.

My hopes for this year are to see a few Tides games, possibly a Nationals game and to see the Cards do well. Please God please! Okay enough of that. Enjoy the baseball season everyone!

-Michelle

I thought winning was supposed to feel good

As noted in the "Dented Cans" update on the upper right of this blog, a player broke his arm at the softball game last night.  I was on base at the time, so I only saw the ball and the players' reaction to it briefly. 

It is my understanding that the left fielder attempted a feet first sliding catch when his left arm got caught on the ground. His body continued forward and his arm stayed in one place, the result of which was a broken arm and some torn ligaments. Serious enough to warrant surgery today.

Our thoughts and prayers are with him. We hope he heals quickly and fully, able to play again next summer.

In Soviet Russia the CANs crush you

Well it's official we're on a winning streak. We won tonight 10-4. I went 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored. I also made a horrendous play in the outfield and gave away an out at the plate by swinging at a bad pitch. The other two out were well hit balls to the outfield, at the right-center fielder.

-Jim

24 to 3

Yes ladies and gentlemen that was the score of the softball game for the hubby's team today. The Dented Cans won! Yea!!!   Please note this is not sarcasm. I am really pleased for them.

And it was a gorgeous day for a game too. The sun was shining, but not too brightly. It wasn't too hot, somewhere in the 70's. And for once the wind was calm. I didn't need to bundle up like an Eskimo to watch the game. And for that I'm truly thankful.  

My sweet baboo did quite nicely. I think the shorter bat helped. Even if he did get some ribbing for our $20 bat. He hit four singles and walked once. And hey I saw some of the other guys using that bat too. It's the first win, but the third game. We'll gloss over that though. They got a late start, because the umpire apparently forgot about them. Here's to many more wins!

-Michelle

I had to convince Michelle to post this. My (false) modesty wouldn't allow me to post it myself. 4 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. I don't think I had any RsBI (I know some people write it "RBIs," but the term is runS batted in, not run batted inS.). The bases were cleaned before I got to bat. Not bad though, it means we were scoring runs. We had a bit of batting practice prior to the game, so I think that helped as well. 

I know the bat was a big psychological boost for me. I used to love long bats, but hey, I know what type of hitter I am. I'm not going to hit the long ball, so why go for the bat with the huge barrel. The smaller bat helped me get around quicker and forced me to be disciplined, so I could just pop the ball over the heads of the infielders and infront of the outfielders. I did that three times today. The other hit was a seeing eye single. So I have five hits total this year in 10 or 12 ABs.

Now I know some people (Phil) would say that it wasn't batting practice or the bat and the confidence it gives at all. I'm sure he/they would maintain that going 4 for 4 was a direct result of wearing the Yankees' ballcap I bought outside of Yankee Stadium.

This I do know, until it stops working, I'm using the same bat AND wearing that cap!

-Jim

Phil isn't the only one

To get a foul ball. Heck, I didn't even have to go to the ball game. Michelle and I were waiting with a couple of friends for Cap'n Nick's pirate tour (Cap'n Nick's nickname is Slack Bladder) to begin when we saw a foul ball come flying out of the ballpark across the street. The ball landed at the corner of the intersection nearest the ball park and rolled all the way to the opposite corner, which was just across the street from me.

No one else was running to get it, so I thought what the hey? That ball must have been towering to get over the foul ball nets they have in place.

Dented Cans

I try not to duplicate my posts, but felt that some of these things had to be mentioned on both sites. Jim joined a softball team for the summer. Hence the title to the post. That's the name of the team. It's a long story and one I probably don't even completely remember so I won't be telling it. Once they get their team shirts I'll try to get a picture.

Of course here's Jim at bat. It's a group of guys that are in department head school. And they had their first game on the 19th. We won't talk about the score. Since their first game was actually like a second practice for them.

This is Jim in right field. It was a pretty day, but very windy. Most times the wind would grab the ball and move it back infield or away from where you thought it was going to land.

Jim was able to get a chunk of the ball and run. I'm not saying if he was tagged out or not. Hey I love my man and will keep his pride in tact. I look forward to more games, I just hope I'm not the only person for our team watching at the next game. It gets a little lonely out there.

-Michelle

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Sunday we went to New York to see a Yankees game with our buddy Phil. He came up to New York for the weekend and saw games every day. We drove up, figuring it would be easier on us and it was. At least going up there it was. Going home was a totally different story. It took us a little over three hours to get there and we found parking fairly easily. Something I was slightly worried about. And that only cost $17.

Phil had found a place for us to meet up and we wandered a bit before going in for the game. I thought this tribute to the Yankee greats was cool and snapped a quick picture. We even went into the 'official' Yankee store and I smashed a penny. Sorry Greta I only had one penny, so I wasn't able to get you one. I wasn't expecting to find a machine here. This was something Phil had never seen before, so he had to try it too. I think it really tickled him.

Here's the view from our seats. We had bleacher seats in center field. The Yankees are taking the field. I took this at the very beginning of the game.

I also took this shot from my seat with the help of the zoom lens. I don't know who's warming up. Maybe Phil could jump in and answer that as this is his team and he knows the roster.

I couldn't do a blog on Yankee Stadium without including a picture of the stadium itself. This is the best shot I could get. Sadly there's a lot of construction blocking the way and screwing up the shot. Grr! Which is one of the reasons we went to the game. It is the last season for this stadium so we figured since we're in the area we really should go.

Of course I thought I should include a shot of the new stadium. I like that this one is of the incomplete facade. What can I say? It tickles me.

It turned out to be a really lovely day. We had expected it to be chilly, but the sun came out. In fact I got a bit of a sunburn. I wish the weather people would learn to actually tell the forecast. We were so pleased to get to see Phil. Sadly we didn't have time to go have a beer with him. And wouldn't you know it Phil saw Shelley Duncan of Yankee fame on the subway platform. And he actually talked to him. Only our Phil. This must have been a great weekend for him. Three Yankee games (which they won), he's going to try and get a tour of Yankees stadium (hope you got it) today and he met a Yankee. Way to go Phil!!

-Michelle

A day that will live in infamy

Thirty-five years ago today the worst thing that has ever happened to the sport of baseball began. I am of course referring to the designated hitter. A sop to the union, this rule allows players who cannot field, throw or run to continue or have careers when they would otherwise not be able to.

It also allows for the crap we see in the American League where the pitchers get into bean-ball contests. Pitchers don't have to hit. There is little need for the art of the "productive out." It's sickening to a baseball purist.

A case could be made that this stupid rule distorted statistics far more than steroids ever could.

Astro-turf and cookie-cutter stadiums are going away, thankfully. I only wish we could put this sad chapter in baseball history behind us as well.

*UPDATED* Opening Day

It's that time of year again. Time for the Boys of Summer to entertain us all. I do believe the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A's already had their opening day in Japan. The Cardinals and Yankees start tomorrow, and the Nats open in their new ballpark today.

In tribute, I give you the greatest baseball song ever written:

Edited to Add:
A review of the San Diego Padres' roster shows #33 Jody Gerut as having made the active roster! Excellent news!