It is always fun when the Tigers come to town, even if it is only for one reason: Miguel Cabrera. Watching one of the best players to ever play the game is something you may not appreciate now, but will be a story you tell your children and grandchildren.
With the Astros out of town and the Tigers in (what a drastic shift in talent, eh?), I went through my normal routine: board the light rail at about 3:30, get to the stadium about 45 minutes before the gates open, get in a line that avoids my bag-checking nemeses and take a photo:
By time gates opened, it was the usual cast of characters: Alex Kopp and Grant Edrington, plus some other semi-regulars.
When I got into left field, I was content with the room I had to move around.
To my left:
To my right:
Of course, in front:
For most of Orioles’ batting practice, I was frustratingly close to a lot of baseballs, but they all seemed to be caught by others around me regardless of what I did. Eventually, however, I was able to grab a ball that was hit about three rows over my head, but was bobbled by a couple fans trying to catch it. It fell down to me where I picked it up off the ground.
After the Orioles left the field and the Tigers began to take their swings, there was a bad sign:
If you can see in front of the Orioles’ dugout, there is a line of orange shirts. That, of course, is the Orioles’ grounds crew, ready to remove everything from the field in the event of rain. The simple fact that they were out there meant that there was a good chance for rain. Great.
But, at this point, it was dry and the Tigers were still hitting.
After the first group of Tigers, an all-right-handed group that consisted of Ian Kinsler, Torii Hunter, Austin Jackson and some others — none of whom supplied me with a baseball — I moved to the bleachers in right field. The second group did contain Miguel Cabrera, but I was not comfortable with how crowded the left field seats had become.
With the switch-hitting power bat of Victor Martinez, the left-handed bat of Alex Avila and the power-to-all-fields Cabrera, my spot in right field saw some action. But, with most of the balls landing in the first two rows a few sections to my right, it took me a little while to grab my second ball of the day.
Martinez put one in the air that was for sure going out. I tracked it through the open row to my left, towards this:
Tracking the ball, my full attention was on the ball, not the big wall I was quickly approaching. But, as the ball descended, I felt it looming. By time the ball was about to land, I was completely through the row and in the stairwell. Knowing the wall was close, I jumped towards the wall, much like Adam Jones would while tracking one in deep center. I made the catch without hitting hard into the wall. I did, however, land awkwardly on the stairs: my right foot was half on the short step you see above, and half off. How that did not cause me to severely roll my ankle, I’ll never know.
The ball was my second on the night, and also my 50th of the season.
Because of my spectacular catch, they shut down all of batting practice:
Just kidding.
Apparently, rain was on its way. Even though it was dry at the time, something had to be quickly approaching for them to force the Tigers off the field like that.
Naturally, Alex and I went here:
Funny story on how Alex and I got to club level:
We took the elevators that are located in Home Plate Plaza, which usually are the only ways to make it up there without getting your ticket checked. But, this time, upon entering, the woman operating the elevator asked to see our tickets after we told her we were going to club level. Alex and I shifted to the back of the elevator while I dug in my bag for the season plan holder card (I don’t know if that would have worked, but it would have been better than nothing). Meanwhile, a group of middle-aged men got on the elevator with us and said they were also going to club level. The woman asked if we were all together, and one of the men responded yes, not realizing she was referring to us as well. The guy then corrected himself, saying something like, “except these guys. I have no idea who these two are,” then laughing. The lady took it as the classic oh-I-know-this-guy-but-I’m-pretending-like-I-don’t joke. Thus, we got into club level.
Anyway, waiting for the game to start, I spotted a Maryland Lottery scratch-off machine and walked towards it, expecting to buy just a $1 scratch-off. Instead, all they were selling were the $5 Orioles scratch-off. So I bought one anyway:
And won $5. I wanted to cash it so I could buy another one, but of course there is no place around where you could cash in the winners. Good call, Maryland Lottery: let’s sell scratch-offs at Camden Yards, but have no where to cash them in.
Finally, a message came on the television screens:
“The game will start at approximately 7:35PM”
Thank goodness.
So Alex, Grant (who had joined us) and I went down to the field level. Since we were already close to home plate, I decided to hang out against the wall in the concessions area and wait for Jones, Hardy and the others to do their pre-game throwing.
When I was leaning against the wall, something weird happened:
This beer vendor decided to put his bucket down, stand right in front of me and sell his beer.
Really?
You can see how much space there was between my orange bag and the backs of his shoes. Mind you, I never moved the bag after he stood there: he was that close from the beginning. He kept looking back at me, giving me an annoyed look as if I was the one who decided to stand behind him. Being stubborn, I stood there until the players came out to throw. What a freaking idiot.
I went out into the seating bowl and stood next to one of the handicap seats in the back row while Jonathan Schoop, Hardy, and Manny Machado played three-way catch:
I was playing that far back for a reason: my target was Adam Jones. As I’ve mentioned before, Adam likes to make far, difficult throws when dishing-out baseballs. Why? Probably because it is fun for him to try to hit his target. I don’t blame him; it’s fun for us, too.
Of course, I stayed there when Adam and Nick Markakis began to throw:
When Adam finished, I waved my arms above my head in an attempt to get his attention, but it did not work.
Before the game started, I hurried over to left field in order to grab a seat:
With the game just starting, I was pleased with the room I had to move in case of a homer, especially to my right:
It wasn’t terrible to my left, either:
As it got later, the rain that had delayed the game was far gone and the weather was simply beautiful:
There is no better stadium in Major League Baseball to enjoy a spring night than Camden Yards. That’s a promise.
I did not get much action at my seat, but I was ready as always:
In case you are curious: yes, I use a softball mitt. The extra inch gives me an added advantage on balls carrying over my head.
The best thing that happened during the game:
… the benches clearing. Even though nothing physical happened, it is always exciting to see. Plus, you have to love the passion of Bud Norris.
After the game, on my way out, this ball caught my eye:
See it in the far corner of the visiting bullpen? I was hoping to get it tossed-up, but Tigers bullpen catcher Jeff Kunkel picked it up and put it in his bag. If there is one thing I learned in the series against the Tigers: if the ball makes it into Kunkel’s hands, it is not going in the stands.
Season Stats:
17 Games
50 Baseballs
– 29 hit
– 9 ball retrieved
– 7 thrown
– 6 found
