My First Space Coast Ballgame

March 23, 2007

So the whole family is down here in sunny Florida now for a weekend of spring training goodness! While walking to baggage claim in Orlando this morning, my daughter looked at a couple and young boy behind us in the terminal and said “He goes to my school!” Stunned, we asked, “Really?” She didn’t know his name but insisted he did (but in the baby class). So to explain our stares, I said my daughter thinks he goes to such-and-such school. Shocked, the parents said, yes, why yes he does! Too funny! They then asked if we were going to Disneyworld. “duuu duuu duu… no, we’re going to spring training!” Darn, up until that point my kids had no idea we were in such close proximity to the mouse haven. Now I guess we’ll have to make an evening of it Sunday after the game. Anyway, I was so completely unprepared this morning for the game – I guess getting up at 4 AM will do that. Dead batteries in voice recorder, forgot to pack a notebook, and worse, forgot to pack the power cord for my laptop! Lemme tell you, finding a power cord for an Apple is no small feat. And I’m reminded just why I love Florida. [PHOTOSET]

So anyway, I didn’t realize John Patterson was due to start today until I got up this morning and quickly scanned the news. Cool! We checked into our hotel, grabbed lunch, and headed to the stadium. I hoped to have enough time to check out the minor leaguers, but as we walked at the pace of a five year old who has to go to the bathroom across the parking field, they were leaving just as we got over to the Carl Barger Complex. Ah well. Tomorrow is another day. So we headed back to the stadium and into our seats, which turned out to be right under the press box and Dave Jageler, who said hi immediately! And then I realized I had left my XM radio back at the hotel. I really regretted that later. I purchased a scoresheet (seems backwards – the home Nationals are on the left and the visitors are on the right, in reverse batting order of the teams) and settled in.

It was NASA day and an astronaut in full gear threw the first pitch. He then roamed the stands the rest of the game. Whew, that had to be hot.

So foul balls – wow! They ping pong all over the stands at Space Coast. I even managed to get one custom ordered that sailed over the right field bleachers, concourse, and fence and rolled to my awaiting foot outside the stadium complex where I was looking at the bullpen. I found out later it was Zimmerman who fouled it off. Hanging by the bullpen was very interesting and I think productive – might be some juicy Chief video coming soon!! (Who, btw, closed the game out with three strikeouts in a row)

So the ALCS winning Tigers played against the Nationals, the team many project to be “historically bad” this season. Well, the Nats showed them and beat the Tigers’ butts 10-4. The Tigers beat the Nats in errors 3-1. Heh! That had to make Logan and Young feel good!

Random notes: They don’t unscrew your beer bottle caps for you at Space Coast. Not that I mind – I kind of like being able to screw the lid back on. Too bad I didn’t do it before Princess Chatter kicked my bottle over and the leak crept toward my camera bag.

Hanrahan was skipping balls into the dirt before the plate while warming in the bullpen and nearly took out his catcher. Luckily, he seemed more in control once he entered the game.

Rauch likes to fish. Hmm… I hear my lighthouse is an excellent fishing spot! He was also about to give his phone number to a guy next to me who apparently knows him. Then he looked at me all suspicious like and had the guy walk down and meet him, where he programmed the number into the guy’s phone for him. C’mon – I am respectful with that kind of stuff!

Some guy was carried out of the stadium on a stretcher. Foul ball damage? Or drunken fall? Dunno.

Nook Logan was bringing it on! He hit a triple from the right side of the plate and later a double – possible triple from the LEFT side of the plate, but was caught in a rundown between 2nd and 3rd. Still, way to go Nook!

I was sitting next to a gaggle of know-it-all baseball guys when we sought out shade. When Fick came up to bat, one guy leaned over and eagerly touted his knowledge by saying, “they just picked him up yesterday!” I mumbled in an effort to point out he was on the team last year and when they “got him yesterday” they just bought out the minor league contract he already had with the team for this year. None of this crew seemed interested in what a girl had to say.

Did I mention I got a foul ball? ;-) I gave it to my daughter (since someone handed my son a ball as we entered the stadium).

Snelling collided with the Tigers catcher at the plate sliding into home. It was kinda dicey for a few moments there. The catcher seemed worse than him (trainer even came out), but I did notice Snelling limping back to the dugout. I guess he’ll be ok, though. Whew.

Dmitri Young surprised with a great diving defensive play to his right at first today and made the out after smothering the ball and flipping to the pitcher at the bag.

Ooh there’s karaoke in the bar next door. Two dudes just walked through the lobby (the only place there’s internet in this hotel) in cowboy hats and chatted with the hotel clerk, who apparently met them in a bar or something. I just love Florida!

I promise tomorrow’s photos will be much better. I’m ditching the family to actually “work”. Today was just a fun day at the ballpark.

Posted in Gameday, Washington Nationals