Results tagged ‘ pnc park ’
Game 3: Pirates vs Brewers (4/20/10)
Its weird writing a game recap from Tuesday’s game with what has happed so far this week. Had I been writing it Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, I would have been saying that maybe it was just one loss but it was the beginning of one of the worst series this team has seen in it’s 100+ year history.
Without any homework, I headed down early to the ballpark. Knowing that this game was in the middle of state mandated testing us seniors got to come in late this week so I had no problem including this on my 20-game plan. Thank you No Child Left Behind.
I got to the gates right before the 5:00 opening. I knew this would be an easy day for getting BP balls. Weekday games at PNC Park are sparsely attended, throw in a Pens playoff game and the fact that it is still April and you have a recipie for an under 5,000 crowd. For the first half-hour it was only me, and a few other regular ballhawks such as Erik Jabs and Nick Pelescak were roaming the bleachers. The first ball of the day came from Bucco utility man John Raynor. He hit a home run into the area of the bleachers called the “North Side Notch” in left center that I beat two others to. Not a clean catch but still nice. The Pirates soon after wrapped up batting practice and out came the hated Brewers.
Ball #2 came off the bat of Rickie Weeks. He hit a ball right at me that I lost in the sun. I finally got sight of it right when it hit the warning track and my 1st baseman instincts took over. I stabbed my glove at it and made a nice scoop. Ball #3 came off an unknown Brewer (most players were wearing windbreakers over their jerseys, a major pet peave of mine). Like the Weeks hit it was a ground rule double I had no problem catching.
There is Ryan Braun taking pop flies in left. (sorry for the crappy pic quality, took these with my cell phone.) “Cryin’” Ryan must have been in a good mood. Nearly every ball that came remotely near the fence, he threw into the seats. I couldn’t get one but I would have probably given it to a kid anyway. I can’t imagine owning anything that Braun has also touched.
Randy Wolf was cool as he talked to some of us fans while the lefties were lighting up the seats above the Clemente Wall. Apparently the team spent the off day at the movies where they saw ”Kick-***”, which he highly recomended. Im hoping to see it and let him know what I thought of it.
That was it for BP. After making it 2/2 on winning a pair of free tickets on the prize wheel I headed to my seats. The place was more empty than I thought.
I took those pictures at 6:30. A half-hour before game time.
The view from section 316 as Charlie Morton delivers the first pitch of the game
Charlie continued to struggle mightily. He did not record an out in the second inning and when he left 9 of the 12 batters he faced had reached base. By the time mop-up man Brian Buress was able to get out of the 2nd, the game was 6-0 and pretty much out of reach. Other than the 1st inning when the Bucs loaded the bases and were looking to make a game out it, the offense was silent. The Pirates were finally able to put up one run as in the 8th as the “Cutch and Clutch” duo struck again, with back to back doubles. The final score would stand 8-1 Brewers. There would be no 7 game win streak to start the year for me, and it was a sign of worse things to come for the Pirates in this series
Toward the end of the game I moved down. They announced the attendance at 9,328. I’ll let you be the judge of that estimate.
One of my favorite pictures to take, the skyline from the riverwalk in RF
My pull
STATS
3 baseballs on the day/ 6 total (2/game)
Record at games attended: 2-1
“Lets Go Pens” chants heard at the game: 3
Next game im slated to attend is May 8th so I’ll try and think of something to ramble about on here before that.
Game 2: Reds vs Pirates (4-17-2010)
I was in an exceptionally good mood going to the game on Saturday. The Pirates, comming off a walk-off win the night before, were back to .500 and starting to catch fire. Also, it would be the first batting practice of the year, and I couldn’t wait to get on the board.
However, the weather didn’t look pretty. A cold front passing through last night left the city in an overcast freeze with temps stuck in the 40s. However, my friend Colin who is a bat boy tipped me off at 3:00 that the Pirates and Reds would be taking BP as long as it doesn’t rain so that was all I needed. Me and Adam arrived a little after 4:30 when the gates opened. There were only 5 other season ticket holders that were as crazy as I am to stand in snow flurries (yes it did snow) and chase after batting practice balls.
The Pirates were up and many of the players were sending theirs to the opposite field. Most of the balls that went into the stands were bouncing off the warning track and into the stands. As usual there were close calls, but no dice.
I would finally get my first ball of the year from bullpen catcher Herbie Andrade. He had a bat and was hitting balls sitting in left field toward the infield. After a while he decided to have some fun with us and started hitting the balls backwards into the bleachers. The first one went straight up and i ranged a litte to my left to get in perfect position. With a few converging on me it somehow ended up in my glove. I soon caught another one from him hit right at me, and I gave the ball to a kid who was struggling to get one through the whole BP.
At 5 the gates opened to the general public and things got crowded in left field. Rather than battle the people we decided to walk around a bit. We hit up the Prize Wheel (won two free tickets) and Press Your Buc (Got one of those reusable shopping bags they gave away last year).
Along the riverwalk we noticed security people opening the gates to the seats above the Clemente Wall. We entered and I was greeted by an usher who gave me a ball when I reached the top of the steps. I thanked him and was happy to see that it had been tatooed by whoever hit it
After a little more time up there we left and walked around some more. Said hi to our usher friends in sec 108 and 8, grabbed something to eat and headed up to our seats for the game.
The view from section 316
It was our first time in our new seats for the season, and I would love to hear of a better view than this one, and only $14/game to boot.
The game meanwhile got off to a fast start, and followed almost the same script as Friday’s. The Reds struck first putting up one run in the top of the first. The Pirates countered against Johnny Cueto, with the “Cutch and Cluch” duo of Andrew McCutchen walking, and then having Lastings Milledge comming up with yet another clutch hit, a double, to knock him in and tie the game. Milledge would score on a double by Delwin Young to take the lead. The score would then become 3-1 in the second when Ronny Cedeno out of the 9-hole hit a homer to LF. The Reds countered with two more in the third inning, as starter Daniel McCutchen, starting in place of the injured Ross Ohlendorf, would only last 4 innings.
The game went into a lull in the middle and late innings. The Reds would take a 4-3 in the 5th on a Brandon Phillips double. The bullpen kept things quiet into the bottom of the 9th. It was time for those never-say-die buccos to pull it off again.
Jeff Clement (barely hovering above the Derek Bell line at .107) grounded out to start the bottom of the 9th. Ryan Church, who has been a great spark so far this year got things started with a single to left. Reds Closer Francisco Cordero was struggling mightily. He then walked Ronny Cedeno and Aki Iwamura to load the bases for Andrew McCutchen. Cutch couldn’t pull through as he lined out to left. Could Lastings Milledge deliver walk-off hits on back to back nights?
Almost, he walked which brought the tying run home.
Garette Jones was now up and after looking bad swinging and missing on the first two pitches, he had worked the count back full. With the crowd of 25,000+ on their feet Jones sent a rocket into right center field that went off the wall and brought the winning run home. It was walk-off wins on back to back nights, and three in the last four home games. So far this year PNC Park has been a very exciting place to be.
Here are some pics from the game.
Former Bucco Bronson Arroyo with a trainer
Cutch dancing his way out of danger at the plate
After the 6th Inning, we moved down to section 8 where one of Adam’s friends has season tickets.
Cutch again (right before he gets caught stealing for the first time all year)
Lastings Milledge (gotta love the gold cleats)
The team swarms Garrett Jones after the game winner. Funny to see Brandon Philips untuck his shirt and throw his glove like a baby comming off the field as it’s going on
My pull
Will be at the game against the hated Brewers on Tuesday. I will have a recap of that one as well once its all said and done.
STATS
Balls: 3 on the day (1.5/game)
Times hitting my shins on a bleacher: 2
Bucaroos hot dogs eaten: 2
Pirates Scoreboard Videos
Today I could post about how the Pirates have crashed back to earth the past two days after an exciting two game winning streak to start the season. But I thought there were more exciting things to write about than 10-2 and 9-1 losses.
On YouTube, the Pittsburgh Pirates have an account where they have begun to post the scoreboard videos they show at PNC Park. As always they do a fantastic job.
This first one is a montage of Pirates history done like a pop-up book. This made its debut on Opening Day before the starting line-ups.
The next one, most bucco fans will recognize, is this battle animation shown before the team comes out on the field. A bit over the top but still cool.
This montage, which is probably the best, was shown before the Pirates came up to bat in the 1st inning on Opening Day. It was the debut of the teams scoreboard at-bat pictures which has them watch highlights on a curtain before pulling it down to reveal a live shot of the batter stepping into the box. Apparently they have 10 different sets of pictures to use this year, and I will showcase them here once I get the chance to see them all.
And finally, I’m sorry but I couldn’t resist.
I have been working on a breakdown of the new-look Pirates bullpen, and I hope to get it up here on either Sunday or Monday (homework permitting).
Lumber Company 2.0? Opening Day 2010
The scene could not have been better. A sold-out PNC Park on a sun-drenched and warm spring afternoon, throw in a Pirates victory….
Wait? The Pirates??? Winning??? It happened alright, and the worst offense in the league during the 2nd half of last year and 2010 spring training exploded for 11 runs and 3 dingers. Here is my account of one of the better days of Pirates baseball I’ve experienced in my life.
Perhaps one of the best thing about Opening Day is the atmosphere. The children are skipping school, the adults are skipping work, everyone is in a good mood and the hope of a great season of baseball ahead is in the air. This is usually the only day where tailgating is a big happening on the North Shore. Props to my friend Adam who today invited me to his large family gathering across the street from the stadium. Very good food and an atmosphere that put me in the mood for baseball.
After filling my stomach it was time to head inside. The tail end of batting practice was going on for the Dodgers, and so also a desperate attempt for me to get on the board in the ballhawk league. Some close calls while standing down the 1st baseline, but no dice. I’ll have to take a goose egg for week one as I can’t get to the ballpark Wednesday or Thursday.
A nice surprise (and change) for this season is the free programs that are now being given out every homestand.
Though I’ll miss collecting the monthly issues of the game programs (I have every one dating back to 1999), I won’t mind saving the money.
The view from section 4
Yes, I know this goes against the title of this blog but I could not pass up the chance to have better seats to the opener. I bought these for $25 as a part of my 20-game plan. I would like to see another team that offers that good of a seat for this price. The only drawback was that the 1st base coaches would occasionally obstruct the view of the batter, but flaws aside they were beautiful seats. Another good thing about my location was in close proximety to a ball girl. Though there was great hope I could get one from her, it just was not ment to be. Not a single foul ball rolled down the line and the only ones that came close to me whizzed way over my head. Oh well at least the game was a good one.
It did not get off to a good start however, as Zach Duke allowed two runs in the first inning. With how hard the Dodgers hit him in the 1st I thought for sure we were in for a long game. But Garrett (G.I./Freakin’) Jones erased all doubts with his 2 run homer in the 1st inning. It was a monster shot traveling 460 ft and landing in the Allegheny River. (View the video HERE) He had many doubters after having a breakout 2009 where he hit 21 HRs after spending the past 11 seasons in the minors. But he has thus far shut up the critics by starting the Bucco season with a bang. It got the crowd of 39,000+ rocking and back into the game tying it 2-2.
But Jones wasn’t done yet. In his second at bat in the he hit a high fly ball to the left field corner. It just kept carrying and carrying and it barely made its way over the short left-field fence (It also didn’t hurt having Manny Ramirez trotting over and failing to make a play on it). 2 HRs in 2 ABs? As unreal as it seems, it happened, and to none other than Garrett Jones. He also shone defensively making two diving grabs as well. It was an MVP effort that electrified the crowd.
The game remained close until the bottom of the 5th. With the pitcher spot up and the bases loaded John Russel elected to yank Duke to send newbie Ryan Church to the plate. He made quite the first impression ripping a double right-center and breaking the game open. Pinch me, the Pirates were up 7-2. It was 8-2 after the 5th when Russel then turned the game over to the new-look bullpen. Jack Taschner did a fair job, while DJ Carrasco and Evan Meek (the only returning member from the pen last year) let the Dodgers chip away at the lead, going into the 8th, the score was now 8-5. But in the bottom of the 8th Ryan Doumit crushed a 3-run homer that would put the Buccos up for good. New closer Octavio Dotel put together a quick 1-2-3 9th and the Pirates were victorious 11-5. It was an offensive explosion that I and many others were not expecting from the anemic Pirates, so maybe this year won’t be so bad after all?
Here are some pics from the day:
Andrew McCutchen accepting his award for Baseball America’s Rookie of the Year
The Dodgers on the baseline
The Pirates (Love DJ Carassco’s stirrups!)
The Parrott attempts some BP
Manny and other Dodgers warming up
RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!!!
My Pull-no baseballs 
STATS AFTER ONE GAME ATTENDED:
Record: 1-0 (Bullington jersey works its magic)
Balls snagged: 0 on the day 0/game
Times scolded by an usher: 1 on the day 1/game
Crappy songs played over the PA: 5 on the day 5/game
Highlights by MLB.com can be viewed HERE
Season Ticket Holder Shopping Event at PNC Park
In my first entry I mentioned that a holiday shopping event for season ticket holders was comming up at PNC Park. I was bullish on going at first, but my baseball withdrawl was kicking in so I figured why not. Only two-thirds of the trio could go (Brian went earlier today and gave us the heads up as to where the deals were.) So me and Adam hit the T around four and headed down.
We arrived and entered through the team store in Left Field. From there we were led to the bowels of PNC Park and to the Pirates Clubhouse. When we got inside the locker room was decked out in christmas decor. All of the stalls were filled with merchandise for sale. There were some truly bizarre items available ranging from 2009 schedules that were nailed next to ticket windows, to the gigantic player banners that grazed PNC during the season. I noticed a table with hats. I picked up an authentic Batting Practice hat normally $32 for $10. Not bad. Adam found good deals on a Nike track jacket and a promo banner for the 2009 interleague opponents that was hung from one of the light posts outside of PNC during the summer.
One area of the clubhouse featured T-shirts on clearance. I picked up one with tickets from the 1979 World Series on them for $5. A good steal and now I can say my Christmas shopping is complete.
I wanted to get something in the game used department, but the prices were steep. The jersey selection was minimal and was limited to the ’79 and 1909 throwbacks worn last year. The pants were also included for some odd reason further driving up the price (not to mention they were mainly players from the recently depleted bullpen).I’ll just wait until Piratefest until I decide on one of those. The bases collection was unique as ones from the final game at Three River’s Stadium as well as from the first game at PNC Park were available for purchase. They started at $100 and those were for ones from forgettable games. Not worth it. I then noticed that the cashier table had a list of game used baseballs that you could buy. Games included the past four opening days, Barry Bond’s final game in Pittsburgh, and the Yankee series in 2008. In the end I chose a ball from the Yankee-Bucco game on 6/24/08 over Bond’s last game.
We were ready to head out and were enjoying the free cookies and hot chocolate when our ticket rep from last year Joe visited us. Since he is a rep for new business we would no longer be his clients beginning this year. After a short talk, we were about to leave when he offered to drive us back to Washington Junction on his way home so we wouldn’t have to trek back across town to the T in the cold. We gratefully accepted and had a good time talking baseball on the way back. Say what you want about this organization, but they really roll out the red carpet when it comes to treating their fans well.
I got some word on what the Pirates Promo schedule for 2010 is shaping up to be so I should be posting on that soon. Piratefest is also slated for the end of January which isn’t all that far off. Here are some pics I snapped from the clubhouse. And if I don’t post before, Merry Christmas!
Ross Ohlendorf Game Worn 1979 Throwback Jersey
Not too bad for $45
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