Opening Day D'Back Style

[rudedawg]

What an awesome event it was. My oldest son and I got to BOB at a little after 10:00 yesterday. Got our tickets from the will call window....pretty sweet tix Sec. 112 Row 10 Seats 9 & 10..... section is about halfway between the dugout and the bull pen.

Stroll out to the LF bleachers and get ready to watch BP. First HR ball hit, yours truly jumps over 3 bleachers and sprints a section away to retrieve the ball (luckily not that many people were out there that early)...... the smile on my son's face when I tossed it to him was worth the whole day. Talked to Damian Miller for a few minutes......he acted deaf when I was yelling at him until I finally told him I didn't want a damn ball and that I played with him in the minors. Saw a lady get smoked by a HR ball in the RF bleachers...... Why do people not watch the fucking ball when they are at a baseball stadium and balls are flying all over the place?????

Pre-game ceremonies they opened the roof, everyone loves that, then they announced they would be closing it before the first pitch. Baseball indoors sux.... even though it was 95 degrees yesterday. Anyway they had a huge ass World Series Trophy replica in mid CF.....firework etc..... then the mascot jumps out.....well it took him like 5 trys to get completely out. Players were announced...... 25 man rosters and coaches and trainers and clubhouse guys, etc.... takes a long ass time. Then a moment of silence for Mike Darr the Padres OF who was killed when he rolled his truck during spring training. Then of course a moment of silence for Sept 11 the day none of us will ever forget. Then The Star Spangled Banner was played by the D'Backs good luck charm trumpet player (can't remember his name but he is fucking awesome when he hits those high C's) then the passover of the 4 F-16's. Colangelo threw out the first pitch. All in all it was a good ceremony......overdone somewhat but what the hell ya never know when you might get another chance.

Top it off Johnson throws a 6 hit shutout while topping out at 101 MPH. He was virtually unhittable when he kept that slide piece down and I can't remember anyone getting good wood on his fastball.

Son and I got our mugs on the jumbo tron....YEAAAAAA he was excited.

Drive home sucked during rush hour but a day WELL SPENT.

 

[rudedawg]

thanks for rubbing it in-you lucky bastage..

I had the "dubious"honor of seeing the Royals opening day...well, at least it was warm, I wasn't at work, and they had dollar beers..

Hey man the Royals are still a fav of mine. I grew up 100 miles south of there and got to meet quite a few of the guys from back in the 70's.....Dan Quisenberry, George Brett, Dennis Leonard, Cookie Rojas, Frank White, Paul Splittorf and lots of others. One of the judges in town was in tight with all the players and they used to come down to his farms and hunt and sometimes I was lucky enough to get to go along.

Royals stadium is still my favorite ball park. That big ass crown and the waterfall are tough to beat.

 

[TheProject]

That's pretty cool, dgreen. I'd loved to have been there.

I'm still a Royals fan, even though they've sucked the past few years.

George Brett was one of my heroes growing up, and I've heard I shouldn't meet him because he's notorious for being a dick. I'd rather not know than be disappointed.

 

[bigschweeler]

thanks for rubbing it in-you lucky bastage..

I had the "dubious"honor of seeing the Royals opening day...well, at least it was warm, I wasn't at work, and they had dollar beers..

Sorry, man. Good thing the Twins started out the season with a win. They need to have a great year this year and quell all that contraction talk. How can you eliminate a franchise with two World Series wins, and all that tradition and history. I'm hopeful that the people in Minnesota finally arrange a new, outdoor stadium for them.

Jones should have an awesome year. Started it out with two homers.

 

[rudedawg]

That's pretty cool, dgreen. I'd loved to have been there.

I'm still a Royals fan, even though they've sucked the past few years.

George Brett was one of my heroes growing up, and I've heard I shouldn't meet him because he's notorious for being a dick. I'd rather not know than be disappointed.

I have never heard that about Brett. He always seemed cool to me. He was my hero too. One of my favorite things in my collection is my signed ball and card in a cool little plaque thingy that I got from him.

 

[TheProject]

Am I the only one who's not overly upset about losing the Twins and the Expos?

If it helps baseball survive, I'm all for it.

What they really need is a cap and real revenue sharing though.

 

[bigschweeler]

I could care less about the Expos, but I would prefer they move them to a city in the US that want baseball like Washington D.C. or someplace.

But the Twins, man, how can you say that? Look at their history of great players - Harmon Killabrew (sp?), Rod Carew, Kirby Puckett, Frank Viola - not to mention the historic World Series wins they've had. Game 7 in 1991 was as good as game 7 of the D-Backs win in 2001.

 

[TheProject]

I could care less about the Expos, but I would prefer they move them to a city in the US that want baseball like Washington D.C. or someplace.

But the Twins, man, how can you say that? Look at their history of great players - Harmon Killabrew (sp?), Rod Carew, Kirby Puckett, Frank Viola - not to mention the historic World Series wins they've had. Game 7 in 1991 was as good as game 7 of the D-Backs win in 2001.

I'd love to see both teams in a city where they could thrive, but I don't know that that's a realistic possibility.

The Twins have had their players and their moments, no doubt, but I think that all the teams could say the same thing. The Expos might be the exception to that tho.

 

[bigschweeler]

The Expos might be the exception to that tho.

I can agree with that. I think the Twins would be fine if they could manage to move to a new, outdoor stadium where people would enjoy going to the games. The St. Paul Saints have a great following and play outdoors. There isn't a shortage of baseball fans in Minnesota, but going to the Metrodome for a baseball game is lame.

 

[rudedawg]

I can agree with that. I think the Twins would be fine if they could manage to move to a new, outdoor stadium where people would enjoy going to the games. The St. Paul Saints have a great following and play outdoors. There isn't a shortage of baseball fans in Minnesota, but going to the Metrodome for a baseball game is lame.

Would people go sit in 30 degrees and below weather to watch the Twins? There seems to only be about 3 - 4 weeks of "Summer" in Minneapolis. In 93 it was snowing the first week of the season. I am all for baseball outside only but I wouldn't freeze my ass off for it.

What do the Saints average....attendance wise I mean?
Holy SHIT I just went to the SP Saints website, Wayne Terwilliger is still fucking coaching????????? WOW!!!!!!!!! Nevermind on the attendance.....the stadium seats 6329.

 

[rudedawg]

dawg - it always makes me laugh when you talk about diving for balls in the stands. Didn't you play on the same team as Kirby Puckett? What does a foul ball do for you?

Unless you're getting the ball for the boy.

Yes I did and I have several balls and a bat signed by him BUT my remember when you were a kid going to the games and hoping with all your might to get a ball? That is why I will do that for my kid, cuz I know with all of the guys (like me jumping and diving) he has little chance of getting a ball......so I try to be an equalizer so to speak.

BTW.....He took that ball to school for show and tell.

 

[bigschweeler]

Would people go sit in 30 degrees and below weather to watch the Twins? There seems to only be about 3 - 4 weeks of "Summer" in Minneapolis. In 93 it was snowing the first week of the season. I am all for baseball outside only but I wouldn't freeze my ass off for it.

Good question, but I think they would if the ownership would make a consistent effort to field a competitive team. The problem is Pohlad, being the rich fucker that he is, hasn't been willing to spend on payroll to do that. However, if you look at when the Vikings played at the old Met stadium they would sell it out in January when the temps could be below zero. For the Twins you would schedule away games in early April, and then by mid-to-late April it should be warm enough for baseball. The other option would be to build a stadium with a retractable roof like in AZ or Toronto.

 

[rudedawg]

Expos attendance opening day = 34K something

2nd day = 4771!!!!!!!

 

[TheProject]

Expos attendance opening day = 34K something

2nd day = 4771!!!!!!!

I believe that. The Royals had the highest opening day attendance in over 10 years, and I'm sure yesterday's attendance was dismal. Of course, gametime temp was about 37 degrees.

 

[bigschweeler]

I believe that. The Royals had the highest opening day attendance in over 10 years, and I'm sure yesterday's attendance was dismal. Of course, gametime temp was about 37 degrees.

I think it was just over 10,000 for the second game of the series.

 

[rudedawg]

I believe that. The Royals had the highest opening day attendance in over 10 years, and I'm sure yesterday's attendance was dismal. Of course, gametime temp was about 37 degrees.

37??????? Damn and to think it was 93 here.

 

[TheProject]

10,000 fans for that cold is not too bad. I'm surprised it was that high.

We're finally getting into spring here. I think it's gonna get warm soon. I hope, anyway.

Did you guys hear about the prank they pulled at the opener? They had a guy propose to a girl on the jumbotron, she told him no, threw a beer on him, and she ran off with him following her.

Everyone thought it was real, and it turned out to just be an April Fool's gag.