Two days at great amercian...

Friday April 24th, 2009 - Atlanta Braves at Cincinnati..

I really should have written this blog after the game, because my memory has fluttered since then. What I can tell you is that it was one of my two least favorite days at great american,.. those being set up and tear down at the beginning and ending of each homestand.

This season I am basically at 3rd base.. so when I get there (after working an 8 hour day already) I have to get it all together and set it all up myself. that’s no problem except that they open the gates two hours before the game, we have a crew meeting, and pre game begins about 40 minutes before game time. so i have to get set up in time to make the meeting.. upon coming up through the tunnel, i almost crashed into braves second basemen Kelly Johnson,... usually by the time I get to the field the away team is already out on the field taking batting practice so I tend not to pay much attention to what I am doing when I come out of the tunnel. It was ok though and after he said excuse me, I said "good luck" which I think weirded him out because he gave me a funny look.

At the meeting, Phil Castillini showed up to just hang out. Suddenly I was in the same room with the guy who basically owned everything in the room,.. including my paycheck. I was in awe... but not because of who he was, or the power he had.. but more because I couldn’t believe he was wearing such sensible shoes and was so down to earth. Most people you meet in his position are stuck up (and I have met a few in my day).. but he was generous and kind.

we got into the game and everything was great.. Laynce Nix, who is slowly becoming my new favorite player (for what reason I do not know) got to bat.. and I even got my friend Clint on the big screen during the beefcake cam which he did awesome at.

The game was a tough battle... and if it weren’t for a few untimely walks I think the reds would have won. It was fireworks night as well.. and some country singer was there that I definitely didnt know, and I am not sure anyone else did either. nevertheless he did the seventh inning stretch.. the game ended, and everyone enjoyed a great after-show. As I rolled back up past the front of the park I stopped at a certain place by the freedom center to watch some of the explosions amongst the lightstacks… its just simply beautiful how it looks sometimes.

Sunday April 26, 2009 – Atlanta Braves at the Reds…

I didn’t work Saturdays game because I had a championship to win of my own.. so I settled for my favorite day in redsland.. Sunday. Not only is it a great day to begin with, but in the media dining room its breakfast day and what I refer to as “omelet time”. After eating a hearty breakfast I was ready to see the reds win.. and in a great mood. I even told anyone who would listen “this is the day… todays the day”

and the day it was.. Jay Bruce lit it up hitting two homers and Joey Votto killed the ball to drive in 3 RBI’s that helped secure a dominance over the Braves.. surprisingly the only Braves highlight came in the form of a former Red, David Ross. I had never seen Ross do much of anything in his time here, but he was lighting up potential stolen bases and then after his hard shot into the bleachers I thought there must be something in that hotlanta water.

I got a highlight of my own, when somewhere mid game I saw a Louisville slugger flying at my face.

In the major leagues the bats are wood. Slick most often.. and the batters have to use pine tar to make them sticky for grip. Now I have seen bats go flying into the stands every once in a while.. and usually its in the stands somewhere close to where the batter is. Today though, both myself and Nick Prince were dodging the wood as I ducked and covered in time to see a bat fly right above me and shatter in the aisle only 6 feet away from me. Somewhere later in the game, Nick who was at first base had the same happen to him.. though this time the bat actually hit someone who had to be escorted out by EMT’s. A traumatic instance I am sure for the person that it hit.. and I think I speak for everyone at the Reds when I say that I wish them a speedy recovery.

Its odd the difference between having a bat fly at you.. and a baseball. the baseball doesn’t even phase me, as evidence early in the game when a foul ball line drived at the camera pit, blitzed off the wall behind me and almost took down the security guard standing next to me. I simple moved my head and continued covering the game. When the bat came flying at me.. you would have thought I was running from fire dropping out of the sky. I guess I have gotten used to the baseballs…

The Braves had their Japanese pitcher today, and its on days like this that the Japanese press and fans come out in mass amount. its great to see the Japanese media in the tunnel. they are always so kind and humble. its just too bad that it turned out to be such a bad day for him… yesterday I asked my friend Naoki what the Japanese word for shame was,.. “probably something like Baka” he said… today was definitely a Baka day for the Atlanta Braves.

Another great thing for me was that Laynce Nix was in the lineup today as more than pinch hitter, which has become one of his regular roles. During pre season batting practice while watching him I commented that he looked like he woke up and ate a set of free weights for breakfast… I don’t exactly remember how he performed, but I know the guy is a beast and has lots of potential.

Sundays at Great American are always Kids/Family day. Today the promotion was Brandon Phillips gold glove day… and we had a great crowd. Its great to see families come out and have a great time at the park. What’s greater is when one of the Reds does something awesome.. and then smiles when he sees the replay of what he did on the board (and by that I mean the replay from your camera). Joey Votto LOVES to see his replays. despite his otherwise permanently stoic nature, he does grin a little when he sees something he did on the big board. what’s good for me is that he is left handed, and my camera brings all the lefties up and then captures what they do. Seeing Votto watching himself on the board and grinning is awesome.. having the replay be one that I shot myself, and knowing that 30 thousand fans are enjoying it too… that’s just priceless.