Take Me To the Ball Game
Yesterday I went to see a baseball game. Had four free tickets so I could not refuse that. Loaded up the women folk, picked up my brother-in-law and drove over to Minute Maid Park. Why? Because I wanted to see my boys, the Houston Astros of the National League, take on the Minnesoto Twins of the American League.
Our tickets were compliments of Ameriprise, who I contract for financial planning. Every year they have a client appreciation day which takes place at a ball game. Because of that we needed to arrive early. That would give us a chance at winning door prizes and my ticket was so close to some cool stuff. I really would have been happy with Astros National League Champion t-shirts. But no luck. Everyone still recieved a goody bag. Each one came with T-Shirt commemorating the day and some other knick knacks, cracker jacks and a bag of peanuts. Normal baseball game goodies. The speaker was good, though I cannot recall his name even though he sat our table.
The buffet line was incredible. The vegetable trays had fresly cut cucumbers, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli. There were as many hot dogs and hamburgers as a person could hope to eat. The nachos were never ending with melted queso and chili that was to die for. Popcorn was in abundance. Huge cookies that would have scared Mrs. Fields burdened this large table and they had quite a variety with oatmeal, macadamia nut, and M&M in the mix. But that was not all they provided to kill the South Beach Diet on just my second day. They served chocolate and vanilla ice cream in baseball caps with the Astros star on it. And they had all the fixings from crushed oreos and butterfingers, multicolored sprinkles, nuts, and maraschino cherries. There was whipped cream, Hersheys chocolate, and my choice butterscotch. I may not have to eat again until I go to Alaska next month.
The game was disappointing as the Astros lost 6 to 5 in 10 innings (a game normally lasts 9 innings, but there are no ties in baseball). The Twins sent Brad Radke (5-7) to the mound against Houston’s best pitcher Roy Oswalt (6-3). The Astros were cruising pretty good. Burke hit a homerun in the first inning to give them an early lead. But the Twins’ Michael Cuddyer came up in the second with a homerun of his own. In the third inning the Astros broke out their big bats with the Killer Bees. Chris Burke and Lance Berkman had a base hit. That set the stage for Morgan Ensberg who knocked the ball into the Crawford Box seats for a three run dinger and a 4-1 lead.
I’m thinking that is a big enough lead for Roy O to hold. But in the 7th inning Oswalt’s pitching suffered and a fielding mistakes hurt the ’stros. Jason Kubel had a base hit with one out. Jason Bartlett followed him with a single putting runners at first and second. At that point the Twins brought in Terry Tiffee to hit for Radke. He hit a one hop single to Preston Wilson. The smart play is to hit the cut off man and keep the runners at first and second base. But Wilson wanted to stop the run and made a horrible throw that was not close enough to the plate to allow a play. By missing the cut off man the runners advanced to second and third base. Castillo grounded out, a ball that could have been a good candidate for a double play ball if the runners had been at first and second. Instead it was two out with a run scoring and the other runner going to third. Nick Punto came up and had a base hit sending Tiffee home to tie the game. Joe Mauer, a deadly hitter, fortunately grounded out to end the Twins half of the inning.
In the 9th inning they starting cranking Metallica on the PA system. This is the sign that Houston’s Closer Brad Lidge is on the mound. A sure sign that the Twins should just give up and not play anymore. His slow pitches were clocked at 95 mph (150 kph) and his real heat firing in at 102 mph. Unfortunately the Twins did not listen and scored a run. And the Astros looked like they would lose right then. With two outs Preston Wilson stood one strike away from ending the game. But he hung in there hitting foul ball after foul ball against the Twins Joe Nathan. Nathan hung a pitch up on the outside corner and Wilson drove it 335 feet (102 meters) into the right field stands to tie the game and make up for his earlier mistake.
But as I wrote earlier the Astos lost. In the top of the 10th Trevor Miller allowed a pitch to get away from him and Justin Mourneau pounded it to left center. The Astros could not find an answer and that was that.
It was a good evening. Even though my arm is a bit sore from my bro-in-law pounding on it as he made his point on a variety of topics. I geuss I have to look forward to a week of that when we go on the Alaska cruise next month. May have to get some spikey shirts. muahahahaha. And my daughter is just bad. Banging on the missus all game. Affectionally mind you. But damn she’s gonna bruise her and I’ll get blamed for wife beating. I just see this coming. Gotta splain to her that we ain’t teenagers and she better chill round us. Damn I feel fucking old now.
June 21st, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Er, ok! GO Korea Go!!! YEAH!.. Sorry, part from the food, everything abt Baseball is kinda greek to me…
June 21st, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Haha L B. I tot it might be. Go Korea go! It is my anti-FIFA post in a way. hahah Blue ribbon for you!!!
June 21st, 2006 at 4:05 pm
OOOPPSSS! know NOTHIN’ about baseball but i come in here to hug hug hug YOU! missed you and thanks for always leaving me some lurve!
MUACKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!
lb!!! for you too!!!
June 21st, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Aww. Let me tie Red Ribbins in your hair and hughug you back CC. I know I can always catch good lurven from you.
June 21st, 2006 at 5:00 pm
That game was really good last night. I would have given anything to be at MMP when Wilson hit his homerun. I was jumping out of my chair here. Everyone calls him the strikeout king but he sure came through last light. Too bad it was short lived. The Astros lost but they looked really good and even RoyO was on fire. I just love the Astros. I call them my boys too. Everyone asks me who my favorite player is and I always tell them, “asking me that question is like asking me which of my children is my favorite. It’s just not possible to choose.”
I am keeping my fingers crossed for tonight. Wandy did pretty bad last outing so he is due for a scorching win, don’t you think? Also, I miss getting those free ticket opportunites like you had. Those were the days.
June 21st, 2006 at 5:02 pm
oh I think my comment got lost so sorry
June 21st, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Sorry your “STRO’s” lost, sounds like an awesome day! I was so jealous reading about the game! I will soon be hitting some of our AA baseball team, The Pirates Minor.. The Altoona Curve… I can’t wait have not been able to co cause they serve zalcohol and I am almost off the probation for it.. JULY 3RD!!!!!!! CAN NOT WAIT! Funny about your bro in law and his physical punctuation..is he Italian?? HAHA!
June 21st, 2006 at 7:48 pm
but the whole world is watching football. or soccer if you like.
June 21st, 2006 at 9:17 pm
Don’t know why these last comments went to spam. Fighting spam is a pain in the butt.
I hope they pick it up tonight Daphnewood. Roger should be back in the next couple of days and that will get things settled quite a bit. I been cheering for the Astros since 1966 when I discovered baseball. They put the players pictures on Coca Cola bottle caps and I tried to collect all of them. I rooting for them all the way. The good thing for me last night is I finally saw the Twins live. I want to see every team play once live before I kick the bucket. Might even try to visit all the parks. The only fields I have visited outside Houston are Coors Field in Denver and Toronto’s Skydome.
Naw Candi. My brother in law is Chinese. He never remember being like that before. I want to go see some minor league games too. Think you can really get the spirit of baseball at those games. MLB is fun, but it is so damn corporate. Tickets ain’t cheap.
I been watching Stanley Cup, NBA Finals and baseball Ahpek. You have to have cable to see soccer on ESPN. I don’t have cable. Would not know what I’m watching if I had cable or went to a bar.
June 21st, 2006 at 9:26 pm
chup. read later. i kiasu.
June 21st, 2006 at 10:09 pm
Don’t know much about baseball but I sure like what you wrote about the buffet line
June 21st, 2006 at 10:43 pm
I see you then misti. So busy hor?
I loved the buffet line. I will always go no matter what team the Astros play.
June 22nd, 2006 at 1:23 am
sir, can i demand for pics next time?
my imagination is very bad… sometimes…
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:11 am
The buffet line sounded like fun. Your daughter sounded like she had loads of fun. Does it mean that both you and Mrs. SA have matching bruises?
Wow! Ice cream with sprinkles! O.O
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:48 am
food…all I care about is food! Oh.. and you! Hugs…
never got any ribbon here..
June 22nd, 2006 at 6:28 am
Baseball and buffet…what a wonderful combination! Can you feel the envy emanating at you from Denmark?!
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:10 am
You cannot take cameras into the ballpark. Sure folks sneak cameras in, but I have this big Canon Rebel and you cannot sneak that in anywhere.
My daughter had a great time Plinksan. Can you believe she stole my peanuts. Children have no respect la!!! Call me and the missus black and blue.
Someday Jane. You’ll get a ribbon. I know it.
Hugs!
Not Danish envy Kimananda. I bet you all have some wonderful food. Work out a trade.
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:23 am
something is wrong with your server.. let me try once more.
I can relate to the food more than the game itself..
Btw, it looks more like a food fest than a baseball game to me. How does one stay awake during the game after eating so much?? I guess that’s why your BIL has to pound you. Were you falling asleep??
Alaska?? I’m so envious!
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:34 am
I had no trouble staying awake ZM. I love going to the ball park. Something is always happening. And there’s a baseball game too. But it was a food fest. You know this is the week you would have visited Houston hor? I could have got you a ticket.
June 22nd, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Go Twins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Ouch! I was waiting for you to speak up Simmie.
June 22nd, 2006 at 3:37 pm
i oso wanna chup first and come back laterz… zzzzZZZzzzzz…
June 22nd, 2006 at 3:37 pm
oh shucks…chup at the wrong post laaaa!
June 22nd, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Angel is sleep chupping. hahaha!!!!!!!!!
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:40 am
Wow sounds like a blast! The descriptions of all the (junk)food made me hungry!
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:09 pm
It was incredible DU. Never miss free tickets. Especially when food is provided too.
June 24th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
I’m not sure. Bruising being what it is, there is a good chance that you and Mrs. SA were red, white and blue… for a short while.
Yalah! Children have no respect these days!
*looks over shoulder for pMom and pDad*
June 24th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
The missus was red, yellow, and green. Chinese lah!
Should I pass this on to pParents?