Results tagged ‘ Ushers ’
8/1/09 Mets vs. Diamondbacks
No long detailed-entry needed for this day with a horrible start…
My 1st Autograph:
I ran into the stadium. I had seats by dugout so I headed over there first. I saw Pedro Feliciano signing over on the foul line, so I went over there. I was able to get a big signature with a black sharpie he was using. It’ll start bleeding soon.
My 1st Baseball:
I didn’t bring my glove trick to this game, so when a ball landed on the batters’ eye I was helpless. I ran over to where the guards who get balls that land on the batters’ eye are (in Center Field). I waited patiently until they were done talking and then asked them to get a ball that landed on the batters’ eye. One went to get it and the remaining usher started joking about my Diamondbacks’ hat. I saw the usher who went to get it toss a ball into the stands so I thought he gave the ball away. But turns out that there were two balls there and he flipped me the other ball when he came back (No. 172 on the season).
My 2nd Baseball:
I was trying to get a ball Emersling Vasquez out in Left-Center when a ball landed right beneath me on the dirt. Emersling didn’t retrieve it, Clay Zavada and his cool mustache got it. I called out his name and I was able to get Clay to throw the ball 18 feet high right into my glove (No. 173 on the season).
My 3rd Baseball:
I moved over to Right Field because the group batting was all lefties. Of course baseballs were being hit to the deck that overhangs the seats, but I didn’t feel like going up there so I stayed on field level. It paid off because one of the people shagging in right field, Chip Hale (the other was Lorenzo Bundy who I kept calling “Luis Dorante”), threw me a ball that landed nearby (No. 174 on the season).
My 2nd Autograph:
Angel Berroa started signing at the dugout where I already was, so I took two baseballs and stood patiently behind the dugout. I didn’t get Angel’s autograph, but while he was signing a random Gatorade cup appeared from underneath the dugout. He landed on the edge of the dugout and I could see that it was signed. Everyone else wasn’t paying attention to it, so I sprawled out on the dugout and grabbed the cup, which I later saw was signed by Jeff Francoeur.
Game Time.
My 4th Baseball:
I had just gotten Fried Dough out in Right Field and I was heading back to my seats. I showed my ticket to the usher and since the Mets were on the field warming up for the inning I moved down to the front row. There were two kids there also, but I was focusing on getting the warm-up ball from Luis Alicea. Right as Daniel Murphy threw the ball at Luis Alicea the kids turned their heads. I yelled “Luis!” and he peeked he head out from the dugout and threw me the ball with my fried dough in my none glove hand (No. 175 on the season).
My 5th Baseball:
I was at the Diamondbacks dugout at the end of the game. I was trying to get something from the Diamondbacks, as usually you could get one thing from the visiting team. I got nothing from the players in the dugout at the end of the game. But there were players coming in from the bullpen. One of the players (I don’t know who) had a ball and flipped it towards the foul line, but I thought that at least one more person would have a ball. I saw one player who I recognized had a ball. At first I didn’t know his name, but after thinking about it I realized it was former Met and current Diamondback Scott Schoenweis. I called Scott repeatedly as he approached the dugout. I got the ball thrown to me easily and immediately handed it to a cute 4-Year-Old who I had been sitting next to and it was his first game ever, so I couldn’t not give him a ball. Here is a blurry shot of me getting the ball (the ball is circled in red, I am circled in blue, and my glove is circled in green):
Stats:
- 5 MLB Balls Today
- 2 MLB Autographs Today
- 107 MLB Autographs in this Season
- 146 Total Autographs in this Season
- 176 MLB Balls in this Season
- 197 Total Balls in this Seasno
- 3 BP, 1 During, 1 After
- 5 Thrown
- Attendance: 39,574 People
- Competition Factor: 197,870
- 5.87 Balls / 1 Game
- 30 Consecutive Games with at least 3 MLB Baseballs
- 20 Consecutive Games with at least 1 MLB Autograph
- 15 Consecutive Games with at least 4 MLB Baseballs
My next games will be over 1,100 miles away…
7/18/09 Yankees vs. Tigers
It’s a good sight to see your home stadium, a major league ballpark, for the first time in 12 days. It’s not a good sight to see nothing happening on the field.
That’s what happened when I got there. I had to wait 30 minutes for just two people, Jose Molina and Tony Pena, to play catch, and they kept the ball. BP Started at about 11:05, 25 minutes late. I started off in Left Field for the first two rounds during which a ballboy tossed me a ball, which was ripped out of my glove. Then two home runs landed in the bullpen. I asked an usher who retrieved the first ball for it, but he handed it to a girl. I asked him for the other ball which was hidden by the benches for the players to sit on. He walked over to the ball,
picked it up, inspected the commemorative logo, and flipped it to me, my 1st ball.
It wasn’t a regular baseball. It wasn’t related to the Mets or the Yankees. It was a type of ball used by a Major League Team in the 2009 season for regular season games. What ball was it?
If you guessed a Metrodome baseball, you are correct!
The Yankees had been in Minnesota just before the All-Star Break, and I already booked a trip for 3 games in August to go to the Metrodome.
But thanks to one particular a**hole usher in the right field bullpen I didn’t get anything for the rest of Yankees BP.
I had to go back into Left Field because they kicked people out, so I took a spot near the foul pole,
and asked Tigers Pitcher Brandon Lyon for his ball when he was done throwing.
(Ignore the missing fragment in the ‘N’)
It took a while for him to be close to finishing up, so while I was waiting there I saw a fly ball flow right in my direction. It flew over me and bounced off a lady’s face, breaking her glasses. Edwin Jackson came over there to see what happened and he ended up staying there to shag baseballs. He tossed one ball to a little boy, but then he tossed me the next ball he got, my 2nd ball.
Then I hit a dry spell. There were no more baseballs to be snagged with the crowd of 46,423 largely arriving early to get a ring from ring day. I was able to get Bobby Seay’s autograph for my 1st autograph of the day and my 2000th MLB Autograph of my LIFE. Not a very interesting 2000th autograph, but I’ll take any autograph I could get. I was in the outfield and I saw him signing on the foul line, so I ran over there and got him to sign.
BP ended and there were 3 baseballs in the bullpen. The usher from before picked up one, then two, but he left the third there! I had to get that ball. The first Tiger that entered the bullpen was bullpen catcher Scott Pickens, but he did his best Ronnie Deck impression and ignored me. The next Tiger in was pitching coach Rick Knapp. I got him to hand me the aforementioned baseball, my 3rd ball.
It was a ’09 Yankees Commemorative Baseball, as was the previous ball I got from Edwin.
I didn’t leave that area just yet because a bullpen coach also existed. After Verlander finished, the coach didn’t give me a ball. But Gerald Laird was leaving, and he took a ball from his pocket and flipped randomly into the bullpen where it settled against the back wall. The coach, Jeff Jones, walked over to the ball and flipped it me my 4th baseball, a regular baseball.
4 balls is low for me, so I wanted another ball to make my average not drop as much as it would with only 4 baseballs.
I did that by going to the Yankees bullpen in the 6th. I asked Mike Harkey for the warm-up ball when they were finished. He nodded, but I ended up waiting for a bit.
Finally in the 8th inning he took a ball and threw me and on-target overhand throw for my 5th ball of the day, and 4th bullpen ball of the day.
Tomorrow I will be inside a stadium 4 hours before the game starts, but I expect only 3 baseballs.
Stats:
- 1 MLB Autograph Today
- 5 MLB Balls Today
- 91 MLB Autographs in this Season
- 130 Total Autographs in this Season
- 146 MLB Balls in this Season
- 167 Total Balls in this Season
- 2 BP, 2 Pre-Game, 1 During
- 4 Thrown, 1 Hand-To-Hand
- 5.84 Balls / 1 Game
- Attendance: 46,423 People
- Competition Factor: 232,115
- 15 Consecutive Games with at least 1 MLB Autograph
- 25 Consecutive Games with at least 3 MLB Baseballs
- 10 Consecutive Games with at least 4 MLB Baseballs
5/5/09 Yankees vs. Red Sox
Finally I now have some time. I now can start catching up on my entries. This one will be short.
We arrive late. 30 minutes late. I didn’t expect anything to be happening, but there is. There are some Yankees throwing and a Red Sox bullpen session in left field. When I get there:
“Do you want to take pictures?” an usher asks.
“Oh, well I, uh, there’s a ball down there, and I was wondering if I could try to get it?”
“Go ahead, but come back up.”
When I get there, the only ball I see is Penny’s warm-up ball. But when John Farrell shows him some mechanics, I see another ball. I ask John for the ball, but he just looks up.
But since it is wet out, Penny and Farrell exchange balls, so then Farrell takes the water ball used by Penny and tosses it to me for my 1st ball.
I go over to the area above the black because I see one ball in Center.
When I get there, I see an elderly worker pick up the ball. But there was another one I didn’t see. When I was leaving, I saw a Red Sox walking back towards the dugouts with a ball. Too Late.
And then there is nothing until the Red Sox start throwing.
My 2nd ball came when a guy (bullpen catcher), who looked like Alex Cora, finished throwing. I didn’t know his name, so all I did was hold up my glove and he tosses it to me.
Then Takashi Saito finished throwing. This time I just laid off a bit and I just held up my glove, inside the legends area (I was in the corner spot) and he tosses the ball exactly towards me, and I catch it for my 3rd ball today and my 62nd on the season.
“Aw, come on. I was brave enough to wear a Red Sox hat here,” a fan with an army colored Red Sox hat said after my catch.
“Hey, I’m brave enough to wear a Red Sox hat and a Red shirt here,” I reply.
“You got me there.”
Just then I move over a bit to where Hunter Jones and the no longer on the Red Sox Javier Lopez are finishing throwing. When they finish, I call Hunter’s name. He wants to throw it to me, but there are people around me. I hold my glove low and he throws it at me, but the people next to me knock it to the ground! And I don’t get it.
And then nothing. I try for stretching, but this usher asks me for my ticket. I show him my 130 ticket, but he makes me stand in 130. I can’t move over a couple seats before game time. It’s stupid because you can’t cross and imaginary line he made. I could rant about him more, but I’m tired. Here’s his photo:
I dislike him.
So my B.P. sucks. I get no more autographs. I really really hate that usher for that. But here’s a story to tell you. At around the 3rd inning, I went to the grandstand and saw some elevators. I looked and saw one of the stops was the Legends Seats. When I get on the first stop is the Delta Sky Suite, the best foul ball spot there. I was shocked and I could’ve gone, but I didn’t. The doors close and the next stop is: The area between the Legends restaurant and the gates. There is a woman checking tickets there, so I can’t get there anyway. I would’ve kept going on the elevator, but an usher controlled it. I go back upstairs again. I see the Delta button pushed, but it doesn’t stop there. So I end up back in the entrance and take some photos. Nothing really happening there. On Thursday I’ll try again.
Now the rest is summarized in bullets:
- Get stub for sec 123, Row 18, Seat 6.
- Sit and Hope for a 3rd out ball from the 6th inning on.
- No third out ball, only one ball tossed into area above the partition
- No ball after the game
Not the best day. I am pissed at a bunch of things. I really want Thursday to be good. I may need a little extra help…
Stats:
-
3 MLB Balls Today
-
49 MLB Autographs in this Season
-
52 Total Autographs in this Season
-
62 MLB Baseballs in this Season
-
78 Total Baseballs in this Season
-
3 BP
-
3 Thrown
-
Attendence: 46,810 people
- Competition Factor: 140,430
- 6.2balls / 1 game
- 10 Consecutive games with 3 MLB Baseballs
5/2/09 Yankees vs. Angels
UGH. I haven’t blogged for a while, but I’ll tell you at the end of this entry to save it for only the people who wan’t to hear my rant. So back to the game entry.
Our trip to the stadium starts off with the Grand Concourse being blocked off.
Not only that but all the side streets were blocked off also. Long story short, we took the Deagan and ended up taking a familiar trip to the New Yankee Stadium. We walk past these old things, which will soon turn into this:
When we get there, another fabulous thing happens. We have tickets for the wrong day! It wouldn’t work, but I was able to use our Main tickets to get inside while my dad had a helpful experience with the ticket office and all 4 of us got in. When I get inside, there is an Angel running and A.J. and Joba throwing on opposite sides. What do I do?
After stubbornly staying put for an Angel trainer (read on,) I go over to the Yankees bullpen. There are some people there already so what I do to stand out is I go to corner of the open air food area above the black. This was my view:
After being denied by Bruney and Joba, I call out to Mike Harkey for a ball. He tosses one to me, but it falls short.
“One more!”
Well, luckily he gives me another attempt , but that one falls inexcusably short.
“Jump!” Mike says.
I ask a bleacher usher if I can go down, and he lets me. I get Mike’s attention to show that I am done closer, but he says:
“There ya go.”
Dave Eiland is throwing with Brian Bruney, and when he’s done, he points at me with his glove. I get ready, but he tosses THAT ball short and it hits a sign! UGH. (Reminiscing of that day in Camden Yards). Wow.
Luckily, since it was his fault, he gets another and tosses me that ball, my 1st ball to end my streak of missed catches.
If you can’t see, Dave Eiland is just off screen on the right, and the ball on the ground is the one I got.
Nothing else happens until less than half the Angels throw. When I get there, the mystery guy from before (trainer) is throwing.
Note: I still think he is a player.
Well when he is done he tosses me my 2nd ball today and my 55th on the season.
Who is he?!
Then two of the Angels, each with baseballs, finish throwing and stand right next to each other. I know one of them is Rafael Rodriguez, so I ask him for a ball.
Rafael is on the left.
But the guy next to him tosses me a ball, my 3rd ball. It turns out, after looking at team photos, that it is Jose Arrendedo.
Now just to show you why you need the opposing team’s gear, a kid next to me with a pinstripe jersey ask the guy (trainer) who gave me my 2nd ball for a ball. The guy look at the kid, then points to me and says: “Angels!”
Now, while he is walking in I ask Rafael Rodriguez for his autograph. He gladly comes over and signs two for my 1st autograph today.
And then a bit later I ask an unknown player to sign, and he walks over to sign two for my 2nd autograph so far today. Turns out I got both Rodriguez’s (Fernando and Rafael).
All the Angels have disappeared, but Jered Weaver comes out to throw. I position myself in the corner spot and when he finishes, he tosses me a ball for my 4th ball today from far away.
Jered is on the right, and Spier is on the left.
Since the Yankees are still hitting in BP, I go over to fair territory. I stay there for a couple minutes,
before an usher asks to see my ticket. I say over a couple sections and move over two sections. The reason I am so clsoe to the wall is that I don’t want to be noticed by people, but he came over to me.
One usher I know comes up behind me taps my shoulder and says:
“Now I know you’re not supposed to be here.”
“Well it’s O.K. I’m not causing any trouble, right?”
He laughs and walks away, but then the evil usher comes a couple minutes later and asks to see my ticket. I say “over in 130,” so he kicks me over there. Turns out the usher was trying to convince the evil one I am not bad.
By about 1 hour and 20 minutes before game time, Vlad, Kelvim, and the Mystery guy come out. Kelvim throws with someone, while the other 2 run, (still think he’s a player).
Orlando Mercado is the guy throwing with Kelvim, so when they finish, Orlando gives Kelvim 3 balls. He tosses on up to the main level and then with me, standing in the second row, holding my hat, Kelvim tosses me my 5th ball over the first row.
The Yankees finish B.P. with very little time between now and the 1st pitch, so there is no Angels B.P. When I go to the corner spot, an usher asks me:
“So you’re coming Monday and Tuesday with a Red Sox’s cap?”
“No, I’m coming Tuesday…with a Red Sox cap.”
A cop earlier also noticed me changing hats, but no one seems to have a problem with it.
Brian Fuentes, who is one autograph I want, walks out to the bullpen. I ask him to sign, and he does, gladly walking over and signing two baseballs for my 3rd autograph today. He starts to chat with people and I think:
“Isn’t he the stuck up closer? No wait, that’s K-Rod!”
Like the A’s on 4/21, Orlando Mercado and Mike Napoli throw. When they finish I let out an “Orlando!” He turns around, sees me, and tosses the ball towards me. It is short, but I lean over and barely get it on the webbing of my glove for my 6th ball.
That is how far away the ball was thrown to me from.
Game Time!
Here’s a short summary of during the game:
2nd-3rd: Sit near Legends for foul balls.
4 ½ th- 7th: Work my way to Delta Sky Club seats.
7th-8th: Try for foul balls, none.
Perfect right? Well, there wall only one foul ball near me, but I get seats there for the whole game next time, I am getting a ball.
8 ½ th-9th: Ask people for stubs.
Now for the ticket stub. I immediately go to an usher. He looks at the ticket and says:
“Someone gave you this ticket stub, didn’t they?”
Confused and honest I said “Yes.”
“I can’t let you down.”
After disguising myself I go to the usher at the staircase over and he waves me down. HAHA! That that bad usher #2!
But sadly, I get nothing from the dugouts.
I am afraid of the outfield. I might get too noticed, so I have to play right field now.
Stats:
-
3 MLB Autographs Today
-
6 MLB Balls Today
-
49 MLB Autographs in this Season
-
52 Total Autographs in this Season
-
59 MLB Baseballs in this Season
-
75 Total Baseballs in this Season
-
3 BP, 3 Pre-Game
-
6 Thrown
-
Attendence: 44,970 people
- Competition Factor: 269,820
- 6.56 balls / 1 game
- 9 Consecutive games with 1 MLB Autograph
- 9 Consecutive games with 3 MLB Baseballs
- 4 Consecutive games with 5 MLB Baseballs
I almost forgot about the virus rant. So what happened was that my computer suddenly was new. Like it was a “Temporary User Profile” and McAfee wanted to know if I wanted to accept a registry change. So I blocked the change and called my dad. Originally, all of my documents and pictures were gone, POOF! Then I realized it deleted all of the saved passwords. So we sent it away, and it turns out that it was indeed a virus and that the virus was a: “secret administrative account and that had we allowed the registry change it would’ve made the computer seem like nothing happened, but all of the stuff I do, all of the information I get would be sent to a master computer which sorts through everything.” Luckily my computer didn’t have any financial or special information so it won’t do any harm. I am getting my computer back on Monday so I needed to create a new password because I was falling behind on my blogging so I am using my parents computer. I hate viruses. I hate the person who created that virus. Anybody who creates a virus and sends it to people is a complete a-hole. Ugh, viruses suck.
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