Previously chronicled here

For my girlfriend’s brother Keith’s birthday present we decided to take him to a game at Citi Field. Problem was, she couldn’t make it and the first day of school was the next day. I said too bad we’re going and off we went on to Citi Field.

I did not know then but 20 minutes before the gates open I ran into a familiar face, Zack Hample. So Keith got to meet Zack, both forgetting each others names slightly thereafter, but that’s okay. I ridiculed Keith for his obscurely small glove which prompted Zack to tell a story on how a former pro player at a baseball camp he was at was fielding grounders with an even smaller glove.

So we eventually all enter the park. We agree that we’re going to try our best to stay out of Zack’s way (a great idea for many). As the gates open we see Zack bolt through the turnstiles and up the stairs toward the left field seats. They’ll be his for now, Keith and I ventured to centerfield where we got four out of the six we’d snag on the day.

We helped Zack get one ball with his glove trick in center field. A ball landed near the warning track, Zack saw it and came to our position. I told Keith to get to the side of him so the security guard wouldn’t see Zack and his “device”. Then, in about 30 seconds, the glove trick was done. So fast I only had time to shoot 3 pictures. (below)

So here I am after I got Josh Thole to throw a ball right to me. It’s a Yankee Stadium 2008 baseball. The Mets are good like that.

One of mine was pure luck later when a ball bounced from the left field seats into an empty row where I was walking where I could simply scoop it up. I was walking towards the Marlins pitchers warming up and a convenient bounce if that. My last baseball came from Tim Wood when I was decked out in Marlins gear. His baseball came with the “Practice” stamp right on it.

We made our way down to the 2nd row thanks to acquiring tickets from a leaving fan.

Here were our seats for the last inning or two.

Here were our results:

9/8/09

Me: 4 from Josh Thole, Sean Green, HR bounced to seat, Tim Wood…
Keith: 2 from John Maine and Bobby Parnell…
Zack Hample: 10 & a lineup card

9/10 was a different day. I chose another date to go and we splurged hoping to grab a foul/3rd out ball. Instead I set my record for the year. You could tell it was going to be a good day when a Home Run ball bounced right into our section and I made the scramble to grab it first. From then on, I got into a zone. Asking Omir Santos for a ball in centerfield. Then getting John Maine to motion to me after I yelled for Bobby Parnell for a ball. Parnell inspected his glove, nodded to Maine and Maine tossed me a 2008 All Star Game ball! That was truly cool.

Then I ventured to right center field. Near the deepest part of the right field seats to ask Josh Thole for a ball. A kid on the other side asked “Hey Thole!” but my “Hey Josh, can I get that ball from you please” won out in the end. I think players like it when they know you know their first name and more than whats on the back of their jersey.

Then after the Marlins pitchers warmed up, I asked Brendan Donnelly for his warmup ball after his long toss with Matt Lindstrom. On the 8th it was crowded and I did not get a ball in the corner, but today, no competition got me that one.

Then in left center field I asked Brett Carroll for a ball where he then proceeded to ask me whether or not I’d change out of this Marlins gear I had on. I remember saying something to the capacity of “I love baseball” (this is true) and I convinced him enough that he tossed the ball right to me. The last one for batting practice for me was deep in left center field, as Cameron Maybin went to retrieve a ball off the warning track I got above him and asked him for it, he flipped the ball up and I secured the catch for #7 on the day.

9/10/09
Me: 7 from HR LF seats, Omir Santos, John Maine (ASG), Josh Thole, Brendan Donnelly, Brett Carroll, Cameron Maybin…
Adam: 1 from Sean Green

2: Streak of games with at least one ball
2: Streak of games where attendee with me got at least one ball*

The second number there I am proud of.

For SienaSaintsBlog.com I reached out to the two AP poll voters who voted Siena #15 and #19 in the country.

Nick Jezienry of the Idaho Statesmen said (among other things):

… It’s a program that’s been battle-tested and it wouldn’t shock me if they ended up in the Sweet 16, which is why I ranked them 15. I also see the Saints got way more than the 11 points I gave them, so obviously I’m not alone. Is 15 too high? Maybe. But at this point, with what they return, I think the rating is justified.

The more unusual vote? Steven Bradley of The Daily Journal in South Carolina voted the Siena Saints as his #19 team.

He told me (among other things):

The fact is Siena has been a Top 25-caliber team two years running now, and with four starters coming back, I just feel it’s deserving of inclusion.

Our first, of likely many, trips to Citi Field. Myself and Jenna on our first trip. It costs 18$ to park anywhere near the park, I supposed part of that money went towards the poor construction of the exits to the park. I used to get out of Shea and onto the LIE in under 10 minutes, it might be trouble to do that at the new park.

I am under the belief that the man who threw me the ball was Matt Capps. He was unavailable to pitch until Tuesday and did not do any throwing with the other relievers when the Pirates came out for BP. He noticed my old Pirates hat and lobbed me an easy ball and I secured the catch with both hands. Brand new ball see?

First of the year, second overall. After BP we wandered around the ballpark’s field level for a little while. After that it was time to find the promenade deck seats. After those stunk we made a decision to try and take a look at the standing room on the field level.

After the game was over we snuck down to the Pirates dugout and asked the Pirates bullpen members for a ball. After it looked like we weren’t going to get anything, a ball rolled over onto the dugout from below, Jenna quickly snatched it with both hands. 2 for us!

That’s right. We both got baseballs. The game was boring, Mets dominated and won 10-1. I will say that our seats were obstructed and I’ve been told that the Promenade Reserved, supposedly like many seats, are obstructed from certain places.