BIL Tour: 8/27/09 Washington Nationals 5, Chicago Cubs 4

Rain seriously threatened today; I remained optimistic for sure - our Terrace seats would keep us from getting drenched during the game.

We headed for the train in the morning to catch the day game at Wrigley. We've seen a lot of parks (and Milwaukee yet to come!) but there really is no place like Wrigley. The energy level is almost overwhelming.

By the Ernie Banks statue...Let's Play TWO!!


My "LV" seats weren't as bad as I had feared, but with the low attendance Mark and I easily 'upgraded' with ease. LV means limited view, that's a 'lesson learned' for this trip. More on that some other time, ha ha...

Gale Sayers throws out the first pitch!! Folks from Milwaukee sitting next to us: "Who's Gale Sayers?" then after I told them, one lady said "he looked so SMALL in that movie, not big like other football players..."


The series with the Nationals being even, I was very hopeful for a W - and also excited to see Randy Wells pitching live at a game for the very first time!!

NATIONALS 5 5 0
CUBS 4 6 0

EGADS. OK, offensively, Cubbies are showing some FIRE instead of smoke and mirrors. My boys Theriot and Fukudome were hitless, and Jake Fox only appeared as a PH, struck out...but Lee and Ramirez both launched rockets - only Cubs that hit safely today, but their hits counted with 2 RBIs apiece. Very disappointed in the tears that Randy Wells brought with him today; he pulled a 'Big Z' and blew chunks in the first inning, walking Nyjer Morgan (I told Mark 'he better not walk this guy'), who scored on Christian Guzman's double, and then Ryan Zimmerman sent a big 2 RBI jack to left-centerfield. After walking Dunn next, Wells knocked out the final 3 batters 1-2-3...however, those 3 runs on the board kept the Nats in top for the rest of the game. One more homer in the 3rd by Dunn sealed the deal. The Cubs started to come back (thanks to Lee and Ramirez) but a slow-boiling rally in the 9th was extinguished by an embattled Milton Bradley. BUT Bradley didn't blow this one, Randy Wells did...no question about it.

Bill Welke let a play at home (Lee stealing) go to pot when Nats catcher Jason Bard caught the flip from Burnett on a 'wild pitch' (that's how I scored it) and tagged Lee out with his glove, while the ball sat in his other hand!

Fukudome swings...


It was GREAT to be at Wrigley again, but this loss was such a bummer...we were so miffed we forgot to get our obligatory shot of the final on the scoreboard.




Official Scorecard MAGAZINE (the scorecard is inside, the mag is 'too big' for typical scanner beds...the front of the card itself is the same as the one I posted on my 7/7/09 game synopsis, only the team stats and info inside are updated)

BIL Tour: 8/26/09 Quad Cities River Bandits 3, Peoria Chiefs 7

Macht spass!! Mark and I spent the day at my parents' house, and primed ourselves for 'Wacky Wednesday' at O'Brien Field with a beer and some chips n salsa. Mom and Pop came with us to the game. As we rolled into the main gate, we had some happy snaps near the statue of Pete Vonachen (Peoria's "Mr Baseball").

Mark and I were approached by a young girl with a clipboard with the buy-in opening statement: "You guys look like fun people..."

Yup, you guessed it...Mark and I were hand-picked to play a game on the field between innings. Fortune favors the bold, we were picked for the "sack race." Hey, how could we refuse?

We loaded up on some hot dogs and peanuts ("Wacky Wednesday" means they are FREE, limit 2 dogs and 2 cups of peanuts per person per transaction), then found our seats. Pop said "great job" on the seats, they were very nice. Rain threatened earlier, but it wasn't that sunny, cooled off only slightly and the weather stayed great throughout the game.


O'Brien field was nice, but showing some 'frayed edges' over the years. Especially the poor Jumbotron...the pixels on the display screen shifted erratically, several lights were out and mixed on the scoreboard, and the colors were way off. If you're looking for a good cause, maybe you should start a 'save the Jumbotron' campaign for the Chiefs.

At O'Brien field you can 'party on' in the Sandberg Suite...


Save the JUMBOTRON!!


The game got started (the Quad Cities River Bandits are a St. Louis Cardinals low-A affilliate) and our sack race was scheduled between halves in the first inning. Pop covered for me scoring while Mark and I prepared for our 30 seconds of fame.

Mark and I competed against each other; we went out to the first base line as they set down burlap sacks and a cone. When the whistle blows, you pick up your bag, jump in, head for the cone, go around it, and come back to the finish line. Mark and I were pretty much neck-and-neck until the turn at the cone; I went around too wide, Mark got the jump on me, and then 6 pounds of chips, salsa, hot dogs, and peanuts started to take their toll on me. Mark got the "W" and I got the sack!! A great, 'special' event to add to our BIL Tour list...an on-field game!!

We didn't get any photos of the race, but (lucky me) my mother is getting us a video-tape. Oh boy!!

The lineup sheet had several promising names; we could have seen Brett Jackson (1st round draft pick) or Michael Brenly (son of Bob) play, but didn't. D.J. LeMahieu (2nd round draft pick this year) did start at second base; Chis Archer started for the Chiefs. One of the 'pep crew' at the field told us that Archer has great stuff, when he's on...but when he's not on he's not on, kinda like another Cubs pitcher I know.

RIVER BANDITS 3 6 2
CHIEFS 7 11 1

The game was exciting, the River Bandits opened up with a big 1st with 2 hits, 2 walks and a run scored. The Chiefs came up with their own brutal inning in the 2nd, with a sweet 3-run homer by Drew Rundle. The Chiefs had a great night offensively, with Rundle (2-3), Ryan Flaherty (1-4), Rebel Ridling (1-4), LeMahieu (1-3), and Nelson Perez (2-4) all driving in runs. Archer's start wasn't necessarily 'quality'...he struck out 5 and walked 5 during his 4 innings of work, allowing only 3 runs (all earned) and beaning a batter. His latter innings were much better than his initial outing, but reliever Alberto Cabrera earned the W, allowing only 2 hits, 3 BB and 3 K.

DJ LeMahieu at bat!


Drew Rundle prepares to blast off...


The River Bandits' pitching duo of Jorge Rondon and Jonathan Gonzalez were fun to watch; especially Rondon with his very aggressive delivery style. The offense was led by D'Marcus Ingram (1-2, SAC bunt, 2BB, 2R) and Frederick Parejo (2-4); runs were driven in by Jarred Bogany (2 RBI, 1-3) and Xavier Scruggs (1-5).

With plenty of baserunning highs and lows, and Rundle's storybook homer (his 3rd of the season) you couldn't ask for better baseball action - along with free hot dogs and peanuts!! The scorecard was FREE at this game, but the pencil cost a buck. So much fun having my parents along for this one...for the record, I haven't been to a baseball game with my folks since we saw Thurman Munson's last game at Comiskey Park on 8/1/79.

SCORESHEETS:



Official Scorecard (it was FREE, but the pencil cost $1)...I included the back as well, for the remarkable 'scoring the game' details...I found out later this graphic was designed by Patrick McGovern himself, he of The Baseball Scorecard fame.



Gameday lineup and info

BIL Tour: 8/25/09 Houston Astros 0, St Louis Cardinals 1

On our way to St. Louis from Kansas City, we stopped by for lunch at a bistro/winery near Columbia...Mark's suggestion, a spot he'd been to before (and one of my sister's favorites spots), and a great idea. Excellent view of the Missouri River, and a tasty burger. Mark tried to get me to get my picture taken with a large group of Red Hat Ladies, and I should've done it...but I didn't.

We arrived in STL in the very early afternoon, the weather was great as we strolled around the Waterfront Park and visited the Arch. We didn't take the tram up but we did wander through the museum, there was a very kool exhibit on the history of St. Louis baseball...since the Arch is a 'Westward Expansion' memorial, there was a lot of focus on how the St. Louis area served as the 'gateway' for the baseball world in that respect.

As game time approached we headed for the stadium, stopping by Mike Shannon's for a polish (as we were advised to do so by my friend Don). Mike Shannon's has an outdoor pub where the grill was located. Great stuff, excellent recommendation!!

2 beers + 2 brats = NO PROBLEMS


We arrived at Busch Stadium (right across the street from Mike Shannon's) just as the gates were opening and BP was underway!


Busch Stadium is beautiful; very little rememberance of the old field was evident and even though the sun was out in full strength, walking through the main level concourse was very comfortable. I promised our game-ticket benefactor I would dress neutral, hence my Hanshin Tigers gear. Given the present set of circumstances in the NL Central, I would have loved to see the Cubs and Cards a bit closer in the race but the Cards are playing well, the Cubs aren't, and regardless...the Astros have had the Cards' number lately...

What wasn't very beautiful was the PRICES of food and drink. I left the Big K in KC thinking their high prices was reflected by the cost of a newly renovated stadium...Busch has been open in its present form for a few years, so why $8.50 beers?!?

We made our way to the 'special' escalator to the REDBIRD CLUB, the bonus seating we were so generously gifted by our game-friend Gary!


This was a VERY nice area, large enclosed air-conditioned concourse, with rows of barstool seating against big picture windows, access to the broadcast booth (with proper credentials) and a variety of food and fare that was decisively a notch or so above offerings on the main level. We passed through our comfy padded stadium chairs and enjoyed BP in progress, with the shadows of the west creeping in...


As you can see, our view was totally shabby...he he...

The game itself was a very exciting pitchers' duel, the first of its kind on our trip and really the most intense battle of this sort I've ever witnessed since the Astros @ Padres game I enjoyed in San Diego a few years ago.

ASTROS 0 3 0
CARDINALS 1 3 0

Both pitchers served their skill dramatically, Adam Wainright against Wandy Rodriguez. Both carried on through late innings, allowing only a few hits each. Pujols' RBI double in the very first inning was St. Louis' only scoring opportunity. Rodriguez struck out 6, walked one; Wainwright struck out 4, walked none.

"old skool" Hunter Pence (left-hand glove, high n tight stockings) AB in the first inning


Yadier Molina rapid-fouls his way to a swinging strikeout in the 7th


No big ball tonight, although there were a few warning-track close calls on both sides of the fence.

Great game, mega-fun amongst a sea of Cardinal red. After spending a considerable slice of eternity getting out of the parking garage, we are off to see the mighty Peoria Chiefs!!!

SCORESHEETS



Official Scorecard


Official Souvenir 'program'


Gameday lineup and info

BIL Tour: 8/24/09 Cleveland Indians 10, Kansas City Royals 6

Another fantastic day for baseball!! Still recovering from our FANTASTIC dinner at Don's (thanks again, bro!), we started off our day upgrading Mark's BB (a little biznis, no problemo)...our planned visit to the Negro League Baseball Museum ended up bust as the museum is closed on Mondays. :(

We arrived at Kauffman stadium a bit early, so we ended up having a catch in the A lot. A fellow named Matt with a Boston cap joined us; a very special 'baseball tour' kind of tailgate activity!!

The new K is GORGEOUS; once again we had some very fantastic seats on the first base side (behind the home dugout), enjoying a little bit of BP and field workouts as we wandered the amazing concourse at the K. Don joined us and we walked through the Royals Hall of Fame (we missed the movie). We saw the Pine Tar bat, a room of George Brett memorabilia (including the home plate he kissed during his final home game), and Mark designed a ball park at the interactive kiosk.



The icing on the cake...the LARGEST stadium screen I have ever seen, you can't even call it a Jumbotron. It makes the big board at Churchill Downs look like a tube TV, and it also shoots fireworks once in a while.

Stevo-sama and GEORGE BRETT statue!


3 guys at the game. GO ROYALS!!!


Lots of great food and drink...be sure you get a Brett Beer at the PINE TAR PUB! (Nobody's going to run out and try to rip your head off if an excess of 18 inches from the handle is called...)


No foul balls at the game (we DID try), but lucky Mark caught a hot dog from the cannon. Nice going bro! I ended up eating it, the cannon didn't really make it warm...


Now, on to the game...

INDIANS 10 14 0
ROYALS 6 9 0

A very exciting matchup, I completely underestimated the firepower of the Indians, for sure. Not really a pitcher's duel; the once-great Gil Meche has been in a mini-slump lately, and as for Jeremy Sowers - he's a basketcase and showed his meltdown during the Royals' 4-run 5th inning.

Not holding Teahen...


Mark Teahen had a great game, hitting 2-4 with an RBI. A near rally in the 9th was put down as quickly as it started...the Indians were the beneficiaries of some fantastic offensive moves, notably 2 seperate 3-run HR blasts in the 4th inning (Travis Hafner) and the 8th inning (Luis Valbuena) respectively...Hafner went 3-5 with a whopping 4 RBI.

Disappointing to experience the loss (we are 0-2 on home team wins for the trip so far), but it was a VERY exciting game to watch, one of the best live baseball games I've seen to date!

SCORESHEETS



Official Scorecard (hey, look at the center...it's LOU!!!)


Official Souvenir 'program'


Gameday lineup and info

8/23/09 Philadelphia Phillies 9, New York Mets 7

Citi Field, Flushing, NY

Oliver Perez chokes on large chunks of pitcher vomit, Pedro holds his own, and both teams battle offensively. Eric Bruntlett makes history with his 9th inning-ending unassisted triple play.

PHI 9 10 1
NYM 7 11 0

This game had a little bit of everything...Perez gets the hook after allowing 6 runs on 4 hits in the very first inning. Angel Pagan starts off with a stunning inside-the-park HR on Perez's 0-1 pitch; the ball was hit sharply and 'nearly' rolled underneath the padding against the LF wall - Victorino made the "Ground Rule Double" sign but 2nd base ump Drake disagrees, and Pagan sails around to claim his base at home. During the Phillies' 9th, Eric Bruntlett's liner to Jeff Francoeur in RF was ruled 'not a catch' by 1st base ump Reed. The call was overturned, and Charlie Manuel was ejected after arguing the reversed ruling, so he missed Bruntlett's gem in the bottom of the 9th.

I scored this game 2/4/10.

BIL Tour: 8/23/09 New Orleans Zephyrs 6, Iowa Cubs 0

We strolled into Principal Park in Des Moines for game 1 of a doubleheader; a fantastic park and a beautiful day for baseball. Our seats were virtually 20 feet away from first base, only 10 ft. away from the visitors dugout.


It's BOBBY SCALES!! ...he didn't play in the game, caught him near left field talkin' 'business'...


Micah Hoffpauir and Zephyrs first base coach Dave Matranga


We ended up sitting next to a very nice family from Southern Minnesota; attendance was a bit lighter than we expected, but everything seemed right as the game began. Jeff Samardzija was bounced back to the I-Cubs a short time ago; the Zephyrs are a Florida Marlins fam team. Today, Jeff and the I-Cubs were facing Hayden Penn, also bounced back after some strong innings recently for the Marlins.

ZEPHYRS 6 9 0
I-CUBS 0 4 2

Penn and the Zephyrs more or less ruthlessly pounded the I-Cubs; Penn pitched 7 strong innings while Samardzija can't be completely blamed for the loss...3 of the 6 runs during Jeff's 4 innings of work were unearned due to 2 significant defensive errors, all in the 3rd inning. My totals differ somewhat from the official scorer as I not only ruled De Aza's successful bunt as a base hit instead of a sacrifice (he reached safely!); but I also ruled Maybin's reach to first base as an error and not as a base hit.

Offensively, the Zephyrs were hot...especially Gookie Dawkins going 3 for 3 with one of 2 home runs allowed by Samardzija in the 4th inning.

Right after the 5th inning, a fellow tapped me on the shoulder..."I noticed your Fukudome jersey back there, I thought you might like this..." and he gave me a BEAUTIFUL full color 8 x 10 of Fukudome running down the field.


Only 7 innings were played due to the double-header; we would have like to stay for the second game, but...Kansas City is calling!! The I-Cubs ended up winning the second game 2-1...we kinda joked about maybe the possibility of seeing Samardzija pitch in Peoria on Wednesday. We hit the road and showed up in KC in time for a fantastic dinner with my friend Don and his family...he whipped up some truly awesome barbeque. Quite a bit going on tomorrow!

SCORESHEETS



Official Scorecard Insert (full color lineup pics and bios inside)


Gameday Lineup and info


Official Souvenir 'program'


Official Scorecard