Take me out to the ballgame

Forums:

Oh joy, I went to two Giants games this week, Monday & Tuesday nights.

It was incredible, amazing and surreal.

Incredible & amazing because it was just so great to be back out, doing what I love and seeing the beauty & glory of major league baseball in person again.

It was surreal because, even though the Giants are allowing 8,000 people a game, the Monday game had no more than 2,500 people there, and the Tuesday game was a little over 3,000.

I've been to well over 200 games in that venue, and even at their worst I have never been to a ballgame there with less than 25,000. The place was EMPTY!

It was so bizarre walking through the deserted concourses and watching that first game in a virtually empty stadium. The game sucked, the Giants only got two hits and lost, yet the entire experience was so great, just being back out in the world again, and experiencing a game in that venue so unlike any other, that it was easily the most fun I've ever had at a Giants loss.

(A poor photo taken from my archaic flip-phone on Monday, when I was there by myself...)

sfgiback_1.jpg

That shot is taken from my favorite spot in the venue, and talk about social distancing, I was the ONLY person in that end section and the next two closer to home plate (both beers are mine).

I owned the place! It was spooky, and it was pretty freaking great.

The next night I went with three of my best & oldest friends, and what a freaking blast it was to again be out and back with such great old friends. It was a party, and it was a GREAT game to boot!

meandboysmask_0.jpg

(One of these clowns I've been friends with for 49 years, the other two for 46. It's those specific guys who are responsible for starting me on the weed and turning me onto the Grateful Dead, and we were all at the Closing of Winterland together, as well as countless other shows & games & life experiences over so many years...) 

At some point this pandemic horror is going to be a memory and things will be back to "normal", and HOORAY for that, but there are some good things, things we've taken for granted, that have been illuminated that shouldn't be forgotten. Being with good friends is one, going to a ballgame is another, and as an old dude who can be annoyed with all the rest of you people, I very much enjoyed having that great venue all to myself. 

I'm going to four more games this month, all weeknight games (my favorite) and they'll likely be much like these past two. That won't last, and hopefully I'll be to MANY more in the near future with a full house again, but I will embrace these as something unique, and as something great.

And if/WHEN the Giants win those games it will be even greater!

Fight the fight.

Get vaccinated.

Get back to life.

And...

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's the warmest area of the stadium, right? 

We like it in those left field wall boxes. I don't like the center field box or left field stands. 

Down by third base was rad. Up in the second level third base was ok. 

 

I need to go to a day game next. 

>>>>>Monday game had no more than 2,500 people there

 

Reminds me of a few games I attended at Candlestick, maybe 1982 or so?

very cool pics but yes, strange .

 

i miss wrigley 

 

>>>That's the warmest area of the stadium, right<<<

Definitely NOT the warmest part of the stadium. 

That shot is taken from section 302, at the very end of the right field upper deck, wide open to the elements with the bay right below, but also with the best overall views by far and the least people around, even when the place is full.

(A much better shot I took before a World Series game, taken just feet away from the photo I posted above...)

splashcam1.jpg

That section is relatively far from the field so they're not the best seats for little kids, but that section (and everything down the right field line) is still a great view of the field and far better views of the bay than anything on the left field side, and 302 also has the cheapest seats in the house.

I highly recommend section 302, and if you can get 302 box that's better, and Knot, if you link to ADA seating on the Giants tix site, go for 302 row D, which is at the lower price of the upper seats ($10 for midweek games) but with much more arm & leg room (the row in the first photo with my beers that I always stand directly behind).

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Great stuff, Lance. What a joy to have lifelong pals like that, and to be grateful, period.

It's part of the bizarro-world COVID-times trip going to these iconic places that are minimally attended by the mask-wearing faithful.  It will be a strange memory for years to come.

Glad you got back in your park, Lance. 

Play ball!

My daughter and SIL in DC this week, they took in a Nats game. His comment was only a few thousand "like the good old days". 

Niiiiiiiice,, get out to a game before they fuck it up anymore.

MLB to have Atlantic League experiment with moving back mound, 'double-hook' DH
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31256639/mlb-atlantic-league-experim...

I haven't been to a ballgame in at least 20 years, but this thread has me thinking I should look into some Dodgers tickets just to get out an see a game. I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan, but being in a ballpark sounds like the thing to do right about now.

I haven't been there since 2010- but I don't live in the BA anymore. That night I sprung for 2 club level seats behind first base for myself and a longtime pal.

Zito shut out the Mets 1-0.  It was July 16th -  the start of their first WS  championship drive. Pretty good night.

My dad used to take me and the neighborhood kids to a couple Indians games every years in the late 60s early 70s and we could sit where ever we wanted, and we would move around the cavernous Cleveland Stadium 80,000 plus seats and watch an inning from different areas. I remember them announcing the crowd size as over 3,000 one game, no way, so my friend counted everyone in their seats and a total of 380 people were at the game, of course they counted the season ticket holders seats too, and the majority of them were not there. 

>>>Reminds me of a few games I attended at Candlestick, maybe 1982 or so?

 

I was going to say the Oakland A's games in the 2000's when the upper deck was still open.   Fucking awesome to spread out and had no one within 100' of you.   I watched a guy catch four foul balls in one game.   He had three little girls with him (maybe 6-7 years old) and it got awkward after the first two he caught as he had gifted them to two of three ladies.   No worries, two more right at him.    

>>>get out to a game before they fuck it up anymore<<<

Yeah, no kidding.

The funny thing is, the league doesn't seem to know what they want. They seem to be obsessed with shortening the games, with all the foolish changes they've already made with the extra inning BS & restricting pitching changes, etc. but they also are wanting to cut down on strikeouts, get more balls in play and have more on-field action, which are IMO good changes, but are completely counter to "shortening the game", i.e. they don't know what the fuck they want.

I really wouldn't have that much of a problem with what is suggested in that article. Strikeouts are out of control in today's game; with almost all pitchers now hitting 95+ with ease, along with the fact that every hitter is trying to hit a HR on every swing (HRs are what make the BIG money come contract time) so much of an average game now is filled with strikeouts & home runs, and SO & HRs are not the most exciting things to watch.

Moving back the mound a foot, changing the DH rule, along with another change I've heard they're considering - making the bases bigger to make it easier to be safe when stealing or on close plays, the idea to encourage more stealing and baserunning, are not as bad IMO as any of the game-shortening changes they're shoving in.

I've also changed my position on the electronic strike zone. I'm tired of umpires arrogantly ignoring the official zone as it's written and having their own interpretations, but it's more frustrating when they're inconsistent and screw up so many calls, which they do every game. But then that will also result in longer games, as the hitters will be much more locked in to the same exact zone over the course of the season.  

Whatever they do, every time they suggest or make new changes I keep thinking that those will likely push me away from baseball, but then I go to a game, see that glorious expanse of green field and those amazing athletes racing around catching & throwing that little pill, hear the pop of the ball into a glove, hear the amazing crack of a well-hit ball and watch a screaming liner split the outfielders, roll to the wall and create a great relay & a close play at a base or at the plate, and I realize I'll likely never be pushed away.

Despite whatever the damned suits come up with next, baseball is still a very cool game.

GO TO THE GAME!!!

As bad as Cleveland Municipal Stadium was for baseball it was still better than that shithole stadium the Tampa Bay Rays play in, sorry Earl, it had to be said

 

they should rename the place the concrete mausoleum 

Lance - your pictures and words have gotten me Jonesin' for a Giants game.  I'm also hoping they continue with a competitive season that makes it more fun to go out to the ballpark. 

GTTG!

 

Cleveland Municipal Stadium<<<<

Cavernous- and classic.

We're going next Sunday, I am psyched!

I don't know much about sports but I know this:

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the official anthem of North American baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. 
-Wikipedia 

I know it is only a month in, so don't think you need to remind me.  But the Dodgers lost today. Giants idle.

And the Giants are in sole possession of first place in National league West with the second best(percentage points) record in baseball.

Who'da thunk?

Giants starting pitching has been nothing short of brilliant. That probably won't last at that level, but if they can start hitting closer to their capability they could still be tough to beat.

May brings a bunch of road games and a bunch of games against the Padres & Dodgers, which could all bring things back down to earth. We'll know a lot more about this team one month from now, but at least for today, the Giants are #1!!!

Far out.

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ha, just re-read my original post...

>>>And if/WHEN the Giants win those games it will be even greater<<<

Lucky me, every game I went to after the first one was a winner... 5 - 1 for the month, that's a good month.

I even got on the tube for a moment last night, caught in my favorite spot, hanging with the very cool cameraman Mike... 

mesplashcam (2).jpg

GTTG!!!

GO GIANTS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet!

I attended last Sunday's game, had a lot of fun in the light rain abs watched the Giants win!

Mask down, drinking a cold one.  Don't go Blue MAGA now.
 

Giants and Royals are early surprises, and the Red Sox too, I suppose.  The Yankees look surprisingly bad.

 

Yeah.  That's a bright spotsmiley

Popi's post on Facebook. I've never heard of it and love the design

Glovolium baseball glove dressing_1.jpg

I was never much of a player, but there's nothing like working a baseball glove into perfection.

And the one-of-a-kind smell of the thing.

That right there is enough to play ball.

Heading down to the ballpark (it's currently T-Mobile Field) in a bit for the matinee getaway game of the Mariners/Orioles series.  Sunny and highs in the low 70s makes for a good day for me to finally get back to the ballgame.  Good pitching match-up on tap with the Mariners Yusei Kikuchi (who went no-no through 7 his last start) vs. the Orioles John Means and his 1.70 ERA.  
 

My first game in a couple of years, so I am looking forward to getting to see the Orioles in action and check out the local side too.  The former Safeco Field is a good park.  I'm in the Club Level, down the right field line by the foul pole.

 

My hardball/softball gloves still have a ball wrapped with rubber-bands to preserve the "pocket"

Does MLB still rub their balls with Delaware River mud? (there's a funny thought)...

Free tickets to the Yanks/Mets if you let them vaccinate you at the ballpark

Means with the No Hitter.  Great day at the park!

Awesome for you herbal, watching your favorite team no hit the new home team. You picked the right game to attend.

Madbum was robbed of his no-hitter

MLB weak sauce...

Bumgarner wasn't robbed of a no-hitter, he was robbed of the chance for a no-hitter.

The new MLB rules are beyond ridiculous, but no no no for you bum.

And your Oriole threw a no-hitter at the game you were at today Dave? Very cool.

Were you the only one rooting for him?

3A5C2B23-585E-422D-84DF-4621C653D341.jpeg5193C9C4-FF60-4D54-96B3-98F49D5D001F.jpeg
 

It turns out that there's always good representation of Orioles fans whenever I see them in Seattle.  Not as much interaction what with the COVID protocols though.  It was weird to see the centerfield beer garden closed.   Enjoyed being back in a big venue again though, regardless.  That 's from my seat in the top picture, and a zoomed in shot of Means pitching to the 2nd to last batter of his no hitter below.

His only base runner was on a passed ball third strike, and Pedro Sevarino made up for the miscue by gunning down the runner trying to steal on the next pitch.   Means faced the minimum of 27 batters, had no walks, no hits, no errors and no hit batsmen.  They think it's the only no hitter with only a passed ball preventing a perfect game.

I saw Hisashi Iwakuma no hit the Orioles at this park a few years ago when it was still called Safeco Field.  It was nice to get one back at T-Mobile.  The Orioles first individually thrown no-hitter in 52 years, since Jim Palmer did it in 1969.

Back to back 2-1 series wins over the A's and Mariners makes for a sweet and short Western trip for the Birds.

>>> with only a passed ball preventing a perfect game<<<

Ah the ever-elusive Perfect Game.

The most rare of all things in sports?

I'm greedy, I saw Matt Cain's in 2012.

I don't want to share.

Yeah, I clearly remember you glowing right after that one Lance; we had a good talk about it and it was great

to hear about from someone who was there...

It was something to see. (Wasn't there but did see live on tv).

    My dad would have loved that one.

When is the 7th inning stretch during those newly ruled 7 inning double headers?

tradition be damned...

>>>glowing right after that one Lance<<<

It exists in it's own space of greatness in my mind.

Not quite as great as the post-season/World Series victories I've seen, but a different kind of great; stunningly, shockingly amazing in it's own way.

Somewhere around a quarter of a million major league baseball games have been played, and only 23 perfect games.

Damn.

No matter how many games you go to there's almost no chance of seeing a perfect game, but if you don't GO TO THE GAME, you have NO chance.

And much like the Grateful Dead, no matter how many games you've gone to, you never know what you're going to see when you go to the next one.

So,

GTTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And...

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What an awesome trip to the ballpark Dave. Great way to spend an afternoon.

>>The most rare of all things in sports?<<
 

in baseball; I'd say triple crown or unassisted triple play

 

in all sports; 100 point bullride?

SAY HEY!

Willie is a class act.  So glad that my Dad took me to see him in his last season when he was playing for the Mets.  He was my first favorite player, and remains so.  
 

I didn't expect the Angels to DFA Albert Pujols yesterday.  Doesn't sound like he's ready to hang up the cleats yet.  Wonder if anyone gives him another shot?

I haven't seen Pujols play, and his numbers are not good, but they're about as good or better than most of the Giants hitters right now.

I wouldn't mind seeing him smack a few out of Pac&Tcle Park for the Orange & Black.

He wants to start and play every day.   He may be retired.

 

I want to start and play every day too.

We don't always get what we want.

It almost certainly wouldn't be a good or smart fit, but especially given the Giants hitting woes it would be fun to see him platoon with Belt at 1st, with some late-inning pinch-hitting thunder off the bench.

Sometimes aging, fading greats have one last hurrah in them after changing teams.

The Giants sure need SOMETHING to start happening other than great starting pitching, or they're going to sink hard & fast.

A big game starting a big series tonight. Steal two out of three from the damned Padres and the fun & dreams can continue for a while longer.

I'm going tonight, looking for some fun & dreams. They're celebrating Willie tonight as well, it would be great to see him at the ballpark.

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

my kids would snicker every time they said "Pujols" on tv...

The Dodgers got him for next to nothing.  He may have something left in the tank.  They're looking up at the Padres and the surprising Giants, and Pujols just adds another spice to what should be a classic three-way pennant race in the NL West.

Nice comeback win for the Orioles last night at Camden Yards to avoid the sweep from the Yankees and their noisy invading fans.  Homegrown rookie lefty Bruce Zimmerman came on in the 2nd after opener Adam Plutko got hammered for 4 runs in the first, and shut-down the Yankees for 5+ innings (other than a solo shot to Aaron Judge, who owned the Orioles pitching staff this series) to get the win.  Baby steps for the Baby Birds, who have more talent down on the farm that will be here soon.  Still a ways to go, but by 2023, they will have rid themselves of the albatross that is the Chris Davis contract, and should be primed to contend.  

I was hoping the Giants would pick Pujols up and platoon him with Belt at 1st. No one on the Giants is hitting except Buster (who's hitting out of his mind right now, amazing what not catching for a while will do for a hitter) and they're absolutely desperate to score runs. I thought Pujols on the cheap might give them at least a short-term bump.

Oh well.

Now I hope he blows.

As for the Giants, if a few of their hitters don't start HITTING THE BALL they are going to sink. Their starting pitching has been brilliant almost every game so far, but that won't last forever. Their bullpen is sketchy, with two or three good to very good pitchers and a few you close your eyes and pray, and they don't have a real closer, so they've got to start getting a few larger leads. They've got a few hitters who are not hitting at all right now so there's some hope, but with baseball you just never know.

Baseball is such a weird game.

Ultimately, the Giants are probably not talented enough to hang with the big boys as the summer drags on, but still, it's been a real fun six weeks and I'm enjoying it while I can. I'll be in the park this Friday & Saturday against the Dodgers, hoping they can keep this thing going a while longer.

Down with the dirty blue!!!!!!!

GG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!