6/01/09 @ U.S. Cellular Field
A blog in pictures.
At the Waukegan train station, I looked to the sky…
…and Mother Nature was not cooperating.
I arrived at U.S. Cellular Field…
…still no rain.
So, I grabbed a spot in line.
When I ran up the ramps and into the seating area, this was the sight…
…mother#*%*! sonofa#@*&$&. Why the ****? Throw me a ******* bone wouldya?
No Batting Practice (capitalized for importance).
The Oakland A’s pitching staff was out warming up…
…maybe my only shot at a ball today.
After he completed his warmup tosses, A’s closer BRAD ZIEGLER was kind enough to toss me my first baseball on the day.
That was it for pre-game warmups. So, I wandered over to the A’s dugout for the chance at an autograph.
Who came walking out from the home dugout??
(where the underground batting cages are located)…
…none other than the “Giambino” himself, Jason Giambi.
Jason stopped by the small cluster of fans located in our area and began to sign autographs. I quickly tossed my backpack down and grabbed the game ball out (I bring one to every game for this exact reason).
Booyah!
The Giambino…
He did what he did and owned up to it. Gotta respect him a bit for that.
Here’s the baseball Jason signed for me…
…sweet. That kinda made up for the lack of BP.
Before the game, I purchased my customary slice of pizza and souvenir soda. Which, by chance, is one of the tastier deals of any ballpark around. $8.25 for a jumbo slice of pizza and a bucket of soda. The pizza is delicious.
Anyway, while I was waiting in line…
…I saw this guy.
Fellow ballhawk and friend, BRIAN, over at TXBASEBALLFAN, brought up an interesting topic. He asked if it was cool to wear another team’s clothing to a game where that team is not even playing.
My response: It is a bit odd. Further enhanced when it’s a Cubs fan (for me).
At Miller Park, there’s always a few guys wearing their Cubs gear when the Cubs are 1000 miles away. They do it just to rub it in our faces. I guess the same is true for “the Cell.”
Just before the 1st pitch…
…the grounds crew finally takes that disgusting rag off the field.
Then, this guy…
…very amusing.
It had rained earlier in the day, they covered the field, yet, they still have to water the area around home plate. Funny stuff.
The game would provide 0 baseballs for this ballhawk.
Final tally…
…1 lousy ball.
I hate rain. At least when it’s mentioned in the same breath as a baseball game.
2009 BALLHAWKING STATS
- 1 total ball 6/01/09
1 toss-up ball
ATTENDANCE: 26,038
2009 TOTAL BASEBALLS
4/7/09 = 5 baseballs
4/8/09 = 10 baseballs
4/9/09 = 10 baseballs
4/10/09 = 3 baseballs
4/11/09 = 5 baseballs
4/12/09 = 5 baseballs
4/13/09 = 11 baseballs
4/14/09 = 6 baseballs
4/21/09 = 5 baseballs
4/27/09 = 15 baseballs
4/28/09 = 9 baseballs
4/30/09 = 4 baseballs
5/01/09 = 7 baseballs
5/02/09 = 4 baseballs
5/08/09 = 11 baseballs
5/09/09 = 1 lousy ball
5/12/09 = 14 baseballs
5/13/09 = 12 baseballs
5/19/09 = 8 baseballs
5/22/09 = 3 baseballs
5/23/09 = 2 baseballs
5/26/09 = 3 baseballs
5/29/09 = 6 baseballs
5/30/09 = 5 baseballs
6/01/09 = 1 baseball
___________________
165 baseballs (25 games)
6.6 average per game
The Happy Youngster...Brew Town's Ballhawk 
Stinks that you only got one ball on the day. But hey, ran does that to you.
-Dillon
http://dillonm.mlblogs.com
Happy-
Thanks for the shout out! You’re still up on me brotha, I’ve been shutout the last 2 games. Oh well, there’s always next game right? You gotta be lovin’ home right now too (roof!). Maybe next year the Brew Crew will come down here for interleague play. Would you come down if they did? We should start an online petition to make that happen. Tear ’em up next game!
Brian
http://txbaseballfan.mlblogs.com
I love it – cover up the field only to water it! lol!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
Ah…so you take the Metra from Waukegan to the Cell? I haven’t been to the Cell in ALONG time mostly because I won’t drive in that traffic.
I live 20 minutes from Wakuegan. How hard is it to get to the Cell off that line of Metra?
Hey happy I met one of your groupies at the park last night rocking a happy shirt. He had a good night at the park. I put a pict of the lonestar man himself on the post. And I take the Rockies gear wherever I go in any ballpark because it’s the team I root for even if they aren’t playing that day. Just pride in the colors.
Tom
http://rcokymountainway.mlblogs.com
I type too fast for my own good. Its http://rockymountainway.mlblogs.com lol
Tom
Wow! Giambi looks like a tank up close. Great pictures. I like him so much more now that he isn’t a Yankee.
http://homerfoodandhistory.mlblogs.com/
i completely agree that it is odd to wear an irrelavant team shirt to the game. i never wear my pirates gear when i go to other stadiums. in fact i try to represent one of those teams whether it be the home or away team. i took alot of heat for this when i wore yankees stuff to an indians-yanks game in cleveland.
http://pittpeas.mlblogs.com
MATTPEAS-
1) If the Pirates are YOUR team and YOU are at the game, the Pirates are never irrelevant.
2) Unless you are from NYC, never, under any circumstances, wear Yankees gear.
-Todd
http://cookandsonbats.mlblogs.com
Hey Happy
I am in your home confines this week for the series. We took one today and hoping we can take em all. Gotta hope. if you’re at any of the games stop by and chat if you see me and I’ll do the same.
Tom
http://rockymountainway.mlblogs.com
DILLON…
There are good days and there are bad days, oh well. My goal has always been consistency. I never cared about any streak-just consistency.
BRIAN…
I would love that and would definitely come down to visit. The Brewers should be playing the AL west next season. Hopefully, it’s on the road in Texas!
JULIA…
ironic, isn’t it?
JMORISCO…
It’s simple. All you do is take the METRA to Ogilvie Station (downtown). Exit the Ogilvie Station building out to Madison St (turning left once you leave the building). Walk about 7 blocks east up to State St. Turn right on State St. and about 100 feet up is the staircase leading down to the RED LINE train. Take the Red Line south and get off on SOX/35th.
Booyah!
TOM…
That man in the “Happy” shirt looks damn good to me! Ha.
As far as your teams colors, my official stance is to each his/her own. If it’s your team-you love ’em anywhere. As long as it’s not the Cubs.
😉
JEREMY…
yeah, I think Giambi worked out once or twice!
MATTPEAS…
the beauty about baseball is you can do what you wanna do. Never let another fan pressure you. If you’re a Pirates fan, wear your Pirates gear. The bottom line is this: to each his/her own. I just don’t like the Cubs stuff at Miller Park.
TODD…
well said.
TOM…
I was hoping I would run into you Tuesday night. I was wandering around the stadium looking for you.
Then, I left town.
“Happy”