This entry should be shorter, because there was not as much going on this time as the last entry.
Let me state for the record, that I should not have been at this game. I had tickets for the previous day’s game, and I mistakenly assumed that they were for the game I went to. It was a struggle and took a lot of loopholes to get tickets for the Wednesday game, but soon enough, I had seats in section 7. If anyone paid attention to the Tuesday Pirates-Phillies matchup, they would know that I had tickets to the best game of the season, and blew it big time.
So I went to the game again with my friend Colston, and upon entering the park I was a little upset. As my ticket was being scanned, the gates were being open to everyone, so I would be behind in getting to BP. I did get in, and caught up with Erik Jabs. After a quick hello, he was off to right field to capitalize on the lefty hitters.
I did not get any balls during BP, but I also failed in my chances to get autographs. Pedro Martinez was jogging along the warning track when all of a sudden, he stopped to say hi to Manny Sanguillen and signed autographs. I went over and got in a good position for him to sign my Gold Glove Baseball, but he said to us that he had to leave.
Still, I did not see much problem with this, as Raul Ibanez was to my left striking a conversation with one of his friends. He then proceeded to sign his friends ticket. When the conversation ended, I asked him if he would sign my baseball, but he said this instead, “I don’t sign during batting practice”. While he did respond to me, his response was an absolute copout. I had just seen him sign for his friend, so understandably I was upset at him, but I decided not to say anything, as I tried to blend in as a Philly fan. I didn’t want him to think I was a Pirate fan, because that would not bode well for me.
Later on Ibanez seemed to be even more foolish as Phillies reliever Scott Eyre briefly signed. So I ended up with no signatures at BP and no balls to boot. I did end up with something though, as I got my pain in my knee to come back.
After BP, I went to the bullpen area to see if there were any baseballs in there, but there were none. Seeing the lost cause, I decided to head to my seat.
Things did not get much better at my seats though. One of the reasons I pay the extra money to get the close seats is because of the autographs however I was in for a big surprise, and not a good one.
I was standing in the front of the row as usual with the full understanding that many of those with me would be leaving as they would be kicked out of the section at 6:30. However, the ushers were either really cranky or the extra rules and regulations set by the Pirates were absolutely pathetic. Not only would the fans who were not in the section going to be kicked out from seeking autographs at 6:30, but those not in the front row of each section would have to return to their seats as well.
I asked my usher, who looked like former baseball player John Wehner if I could stay in the front since I am in the section, but got a no since I was not in the front row of the section. Then he added, “Nobody’s going to be signing.” Well of course nobody will sign when you force everyone to sit down in their seats. So because of the Pirates and their stupid regulations, I got no autographs. Based on the way the ushers acted, you would have guessed that each member of the Phillies had swine flu, but no, they were just trying to ruin everyone’s good time.
It just felt awkward just waiting for the game started. I already had the lineups filled out and it was watching paint dry. I also was right in the middle of my row which made things harder because I always had to get up. My knee was still in pain, so that never helped.
The game started and of course Philly gets a home run in the first inning. I ended up leaving my section in the third inning (and I could not leave fast enough), for dinner. I then grabbed my dinner and went straight to the Riverwalk.
Nothing was really going on there, but the winner of Pirate Quiz got a set of Rolling Stones music, so not that bad of a prize.
After that, I decided to try my luck at the bullpen. I also shaved the night before to appear younger to those in the bullpen. I was a little more careful, because I was not sure if Luis Dorante would recognize him from five days earlier.
I was able to get much closer than I did when I started a few days ago, when I was as far as can be. On this day, I was a spot away from the corner spot, but a kid was there and never left. So with not much action, I stayed and chatted with those by the bullpen. Eventually, a group of three people came over, one of them looking like former Pirates pitcher Ian Snell (picture below).
In the ninth inning, I put on my rally cap and continued talking. However when Brandon Moss came in to pinch hit, someone asked what good he was going to do. I then replied saying, “just watch, he’s going to hit one right over the wall.” She laughed, but sure enough, Moss went deep, and all of us celebrated as if the ball had just dropped during New Year’s at Times Square. High fives were exchanged with all, and after I correctly predicted that Ramon Vazquez would ground out to the shortstop, we went to extra innings.
After Steven Jackson allowed the first two Phillies hitters on base, he was lifted for fellow reliever Phil Dumatrait. Dumatrait has been warming up, and was put in to face Chase Utley, a lefty. This was obviously done to get a favorable matchup as Dumatrait is the lone left-hander in the Pirates bullpen.
After Dumatrait finished throwing, I saw this as my last chance. It was bullpen catcher Heberto “Herbie” Andrade who had the ball and I called down to him to toss it. After he told me that he couldn’t hear me, I asked my request again, but louder, and he said yes. Andrade (pictured below in the Pirates batting practice jersey), then tossed me my first and lone ball of the day.
The really good thing about this ball, was that it was not a practice one. You could tell that it was used more than just that one bullpen session, and the quickness in my request ensured that Andrade unlike Dorante didn’t have time to switch balls.
Dumatrait unfortunately came in, and allowed a first pitch three run home run to Ryan Howard and effectively ending the game.
The game was a fun one, but compared to the game before was a big letdown, because other than getting the baseball, nothing happened.
I will be at the ballpark 9/4 and 9/6 so entries will come soon for those.
