Results tagged ‘ cardinals ’

A Grand Finale: Game 24 vs Cardinals 8-25-10

All good things must come to an end. Depending on what you think is good about the Pittsburgh Pirates, a lot of people may think it is a good thing to not go to anymore games. But for me it was a good thing to spend many of my summer nights and days at PNC Park following this young team. Call me crazy but thats the way I think.

Me and friend Brian decided to start our last game by going down real early. We were in line at 4:30, and we could see the Pirates were in the middle of hitting already. Apparently the Pirates have been holding daily team meetings to vent their frustrations over the losing. In turn, batting practice has been moved up. Thats bad news for ballhawks heading into September.
Sure enough, we were let into the park at 5 PM. At 5:03 the team headed off the field for their impromptu group therapy session. That left us staring at an empty field until 5:25.
The last bp of the year for me was very uneventful. I didn’t get a ball, as the Cardinals didn’t seem to hit many homers or ground-rule doubles. Of course they didn’t throw up any balls at all either.
What we lost in snagging we made up for in other crazy experiences. As we were heading up the riverwalk. My cousin approached me and Brian. He works in the game day entertainment department for the Pirates, and also holds a job with the Independent League Butler Bluesox. His job tonight was following the camera man, holding the antenna that sends the signals from the camera to the Press Box. Every game they do a live commercial for various publications (yearbook, media guide, etc…) he was wondering if we would like to model some of the merchandise on sale. Of course we said yes. Brian got to hold the 2010 yearbook and I got to model the scorecard. Another ballhawk, Zach, got to use the media guide. We got to keep the items, so I had a free souvenir from tonight.
Our good luck wasn’t over yet. After heading up to the 300 level we ran into Joe Klimchak, the in game host, in the empty concourse. He and Brian got to have a discussion during Saturday’s game in the PBC during the rain delay. He recognized him and after some small talk he asked Brian if he wanted to be a contestant on the first game after the second inning. It took him .00001 seconds to say yes, and we were whisked off to the PBC level.
We got to watch the first two innings from the deck on the club level.
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Then at the end of the second it was his time to shine.
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The games premise is picking a false fact about a Pirate player among three true facts. Tonight’s player was Andy LaRoche.
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Could you guess the fact that wasn’t true? I immediately knew the statement about the Backstreet Boys was false. Since Andy comes to the plate to the sounds of Foreigner he didn’t seem like one for boy bands. Luckily Brian was thinking the same thing. He got the question right and the Nike hoodie was his. 
Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to stay in the Club Level but we were allowed to head down to the box seats down the first base line where Brian’s grandpap is an usher. Of course I took a million pictures
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Albert Puljos was sitting on 399 home runs. He wouldn’t be able to get the milestone homer on this night.
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There are a lot of things I hate about being in the NL Central. But being able to see Albert Puljos in person is not. 
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This vendor is the cult vendor known simply as the lemonade man. He has become a youtube sensation with his shrill voice and funny call. Check him out HERE.
Obligatory Andrew McCutchen photos.
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John Russel pleads his case
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The bullpen shut the door on the Cards attempt of a rally.
Chris Resop
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Wil Ledezma
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and Joel Hanrahan
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The real hero of the night was Daniel McCutchen. He gave a very good spot start in a tough spot. The Bucs were able to get timely offense for once, and we were able to take two of three from the contending Cardinals. The fans who treked from St. Louis were beside themselves as they were now 5 games back of the Reds. It was a great note to go out on. After the game I didn’t want to leave. 
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The Parrot doing some celebrating of his own.
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Me and Brian didn’t feel like heading home so we made our way out the right field gate and waited by the parking garage exit hoping to see some players. There weren’t many people out there waiting. Just us, a couple kids with their dad, and an autograph hound who frequents the area following games. Most of the players didn’t stop but they were nice enough to wave. With about half the team gone an SUV finally pulled up to the curb. The tinted window lowered. It was no other than the Pittsburgh kid himself, Neil Walker. 
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Neil is having an amazing rookie season. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite Pirates and this meeting with him puts him higher in my book. 
Some more players left. Then a car, bumping with some intense spanish rap pulled over. Ronny Cedeno also decided to sign.
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This one came as a surprise to me. Ronny seemed very shy the first few times i met him but we were all appreciative of him stopping for us.
The amount of cars coming out was slowing down. Third base coach Tony Beasley stopped as well.In addition to coaching, he is a great singer. He sometimes sings the anthem before games which is always a treat
After Tony left, a friendly employee on a golf cart offered to see if any cars were left in the garage. He came out to inform us no one was left. So at 11 PM roughly six and a half hours after arriving, our final night at PNC Park came to an end.
It has been a heck of a ride this season. Through all the ups and downs it has been a great time. 
When I was crossing the Clemente Bridge, I looked back at the darkened ballpark.
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All of the memories from this season flooded back. All I could think about was Opening Day 2011 and getting back to seeing the game I love live.

Game 23 (well sort of) vs Cardinals/ Pitt Fan Fest

I tried to make the most of my last homestand here by attending as many batting practices as I could, even if that meant not staying for the game. That was the case Monday, however the weather would give me quite a scare. 

I arrived at 4:20 to a light rain falling. Some ballhawks were enjoying a game of catch in a rather unique location.
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The Pirates were coming off what has been an endangered species in the city of Pittsburgh…a win. The jolly roger still flew proudly.
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I waited until the last possible second to buy a ticket. Though the rain picked up at times, the Pirates continued to hit. 10 minutes before the gates opened I headed over to the window and used my season ticket card to get a ticket for $5. When I got over it wasn’t crowded.
However within 10 minutes some groups of kids with their parents were in. I guess not everyone was back in school. This made it hard to get the attention of players as the kids would get the ball every time. The Pirates were not putting many in the seats but the relievers were being generous. Once the little ones got their balls Joel Hanrahan turned around and asked me if I had one yet. I said no, and my honesty was repaid with ball #1. 
When the Pirates were finished and the Cards ready to hit I headed over to right center (a new favorite spot of mine) to play the predominantly left handed first group. Colby Rasmus was sending a healthy dose of balls toward us. Finally one got a good bounce off the warning track and into my glove for my second ball. Shortly after I was in the first row when Adam Wainwright wanted to throw a ball to a couple of Cardinals fans next to me. The throw went right and was heading into some empty space between them and me. They didn’t make much of an attempt and I stuck my glove out and made the catch. I immediately gave the ball to them knowing it wasn’t for me but Adam was still mad and gave me a look. He asked the couple “You want me to throw it to you again?”  Well make a better throw next time jerk.
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I headed into left field seeing that Puljos and Holliday were coming up. I decided to play the cross aisle that separates the two levels of bleachers at PNC Park. 
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It was a smart move as I knew the Cardinals are the stingiest team in baseball when it comes to toss ups, and they have big power up at the plate.
I had a few very close calls on Holliday’s three homers as hundreths of seconds separated me from a fourth ball. Puljos wouldn’t give us folks in left field much love as his hits were mainly to center field.
After BP I headed out down the street to another hallowed sports venue of Pittsburgh
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The University of Pittsburgh Panthers were having their fan fest and I needed a break from baseball, primarily losing baseball. It was a great chance to meet players and get in the mood for college football season which is the first mode I go into once baseball is over. Me and my dad have had season tickets the past couple of seasons and it is always a good time going to the games.
I met many players including Pittsburgh’s own and starting QB Tino Sunseri
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Another Pittsburgh native and fan favorite Cam Saddler
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Soon to be NFL players Jabaal Sheard
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and Greg Romeus.
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Though I wouldn’t get to meet All-Americans Dion Lewis and Jonathan Baldwin I still got plenty of autographs. The only downside is the fact I will only be at two games this season due to school.
When I made my way back to my car across the river I walked across the Riverwalk. I could hear Tim DeBacco announce Pedro Alvarez coming to the place. I looked up for an answer from above.
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Both him and Ryan Doumit didn’t do anything when they were up so I headed home. Walking across the bridge I couldn’t help but look back knowing my time here was running out in 2010.
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I would like to see a prettier sight in baseball than this one.
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32 balls/22 games/1.45 average

Game 4: Pirates vs Cards (5/8/10)

I hadn’t been to the ballpark in a while, 18 days to be exact, and I was just looking forward so much to be back at home at PNC Park. There were just a couple of problems facing us before we headed down.

First, the 40 MPH winds and threat of rain cancelled batting practice. Luckily I had a heads up from a friend that works with the team, so I wasn’t standing around in the cold for two hours with nothing to do.

Secondly, the Pirates were facing the top of the Cardinals rotation, and early season surprise Jamie Garcia was taking the mound against proverbial AAAA starter Jeff Karstens. The Pirates had played one of their worst games fundamentally of the season the night before and blew many chances to steal a game from the Cards and Cy Young candidate Chris Carpenter. Tonight they would have to right the ship.

The Buccos would certainly do so, getting good performances from unlikely players in addition to a little help from the umps.

The view from section 316 as Karstens deals to Puljos in the 1st.

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Jeff Karstens threw one of his best games of his career going 6 innings while holding the stacked Cards lineup to just 3 hits. The Pirates would get their first run of the game in the 2nd when Ronny Cedeno singled home Steve Pearce. Jamie Garcia would also settle in, as neither starter wanted to give in.

In the top of the sixth, with two on, and two out the Cardinals were looking like they were about to get on the board. Colby Rasmus singled to left and Ryan Ludwick was rounding third and heading for home. Lastings Milledge had unleashed a throw that appeared to be off-line. However, back-up catcher Jason Jaramillo was able to get the ball and make a swipe-tag on Ludwick. The replay showed that he was clearly safe, but a good sell-job by JJ bought the Pirates a very important out and preserved the 1-0 lead.

Another tense moment for the Bucs came in the top of the 8th. With men on first and second Albert Puljos came up to the plate. Joel Hanrahan, who has put his awful ’09 behind him, was able to strike him out and keep the 1-0 lead still intact.

Jason Jaramillo added insurance as he had an RBI single to make it 2-0 and ended up 3-4 on the day. Octavio Dotel pitched a clean 9th, and the Pirates celebrated a nice 2-0 victory.

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It is worth noting that there were some idiots who thought it was appropriate to chant “Lets Go Pens” after they clinched a 2-1 win over the Canadians tonight during the top of the 9th. I like hockey a lot, its prob my second favorite sport behind baseball, but it was very inapropriate to do this when there is one out in the top of the 9th and the closer is holding on to a slim lead. Save it for a blowout.

There were also fireworks after the game which capped off a great night.

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The only thing missing were a couple of baseballs.

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STATS

6 baseballs/4 games= 1.5 avg.

Hot dogs eaten 2 = 4 total on the season

Record at games attended: 3-1

Prize Wheel Results:
Adam- Aluminum Water Bottle
Johnny- Aluminum Water Bottle
Me- $6 off infield grandstand (streak of consecutive games winning free tickets snapped at 2)

 

 

 

 

 

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