1/23/10

                                                    Rockies Fest 2010.

This would be the second time this special Rockies season ticket holder event has taken place and the second time we’ve been there. The weather was expected to be in the mid-40′s today and for January in Colorado I’ll take that.

                                            Below are two things that don’t mix.

Let me tell you though I did have to fight of the urge to run out there lay my a-ss on the field and start pumping out snow angels

 Mylee didn’t make Rockies Fest today because she’s been sick for almost a week.  

Let me tell you my little girl was extremely sad she couldn’t go so we promised to get her Rockies mini-bat signed for her. We did just that thanks to Huston Street. I chatted with a lot of people yesterday and everyone agreed Street has one of the nicest autographs in baseball today. 
 Hunter and I had a little time to kill before our the “Pitcher and Catcher interviews” so we toured the Press Box.

                                    While inside we each took our photo ops.

 Me in that chair, high above with the killer view of the field. I tell ya it felt like I was home.
 I must have been sitting in “The Cowboy’s” chair because it was broke in real good.

As we killed more time and wandered the Club levels of Coors Field we walked up on a huge bin of baseballs.
I was half expecting Zack Hample to pop out of them so when he didn’t I asked someone what this was.

I was informed that object was to guess the number of balls in the cage and it you could only enter if you were 15 or younger.

                    Lets just say the prizes were a baseball collector’s dream. 
 I took a few moments and filled out entries for Hunter and Mylee as did every parent with kids I’m sure. 

While we were standing there fixated on the autographed bats I bumped into Joy aka LUVMYROX who was there with her family. I believe they also were killing time waiting for their Outfielder interviews to begin.

A few minutes and a hundred feet later I ran into Marianne aka R-Luv who was also exploring the festivities with her family.

Funny thing and I hope I get this all correct. Joy and Marianne have known each other for years through the Rockies forums. During Rockies games they comment back and forth with each other on the forum but up until today had never physically met.

When I met up with Dan today he mentioned that the two of them finally met each other here at the Rockies Fest.

Ladies I’m sorry I missed that photo opportunity. Congratulations how appropriate that you met at Rockies Fest as you both are HUGE fans….Too Cool.

 It was time for us to head up to the Pitcher/Catcher interviews. This took place up in Club level. The MC’s hosting this Q N A were Alana Rizzo (my favorite FSN employee), and that other guy Drew Goodman.

 For some reason my hands started to shake every time I tried to take a picture of Alana. The above picture was the clearest of the bunch.

Here’s a shot of most of your Rockies pitchers and catchers for the upcoming 2010 Season.

 

     Let me break it down a little better. Below is Chris Iannetta and Matt Daley.
                      Taylor Buchholz, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Huston Street
                            Randy Flores, Greg Smith and Miguel Olivo
                          Last but not least Jason Hammel and Matt Belisle

Most of the questions they asked were a bit regular side. However,I did manage to get video of Jeff Francis when he was asked about his arm and his return.

                                                    Here’s the video:

              

                   So I guess he’s back. I wish him the best. We need the Canadian.

After the interview session it was autograph time. Our first session was Huston Street and first base coach Glenallen Hill.

As I approached Huston Street I said “Hi I’m Don I write the Rockpile Rant” and I asked him if he was going to continue his MLBlog. Street replied ”Yeah, I’d like to”.

You heard it here first. 

Then I moved onto Glenallen Hill. As he was signing my mini-bat Hill asked me “What do you do with all those autographs?” I started laughing and said” Mr. Hill you asked me the same exact question a year ago at spring training.”

 Hill looked at me and said “You know I don’t ask everyone that question”.

I’m not sure what he meant by that but he was smiling when he said it so I’ll take it as a positive.

Two down and we had time to burn again. As we walked by the Jeff Francis/Rich Dauer autograph session we noticed the line was short. I asked if we could just go through as it was the tail end of this session and the extremely cool Usher let us. 

That totally made my day because I just happend to have with me my 2007 Sports Illustrated magazine with Jeff Francis on the cover. Hunter went into the room first and right away Jeff asked him what his name was.

                          Then Jeff wrote “For Hunter” on the picture and autographed it.
                                         Very classy Jeff….Thank you.
I handed Jeff my magazine and he looked left at the Usher standing beside him and said “See told you, here’s the first one”. Again I was like WTF? But I think Jeff was making note that every time he autographs for fans someone hands him one of those Sports Illustrated issues.

              Least I hope he wasn’t making fun of me..We’re both from Canada?

Rich Dauer signed a picture for Hunter and a mini-bat for me and then we were outta there.

We headed downstairs and while wandering around an Usher asked if we would like Eric Young Jr’s autograph. Without hesitation I said “Yes Sir” and within a few minutes we were standing in front of EY Jr.

                                     Here he is signing Hunters baseball.
 

                                           EY Jr signing my mini-bat.
        EY Jr really seemed like he was having a good time. Keep’n it real, I like that.

When we walked out of there directly across from us was the long line for Don Baylor and Randy Flores. I felt a big smile growing because I’ve never managed to get Don Baylor’s autograph before. It’s not that he wouldn’t sign, just really bad timing on my part. 

Today Don Baylor signed an Inaugural Year Rockies Magazine with his picture on it for me. 

When I handed him the magazine I said ”Mr. Baylor you haven’t changed a bit”, He looked up at me and said smiling “Yeah right”. Then he autographed it for me. 

                          Here’s Don Baylor autographing Hunter’s baseball.

                               Here’s Randy Flores autographing Hunter’s baseball.

Hunter and I hurried upstairs so we could catch the tail end of Matt Belisle’s autograph session..

 These plates may not be fine china but I’m sure their worth more than the plates I eat off of.  
 
 
 
 These beauties are a couple of the bat-shovels used to break ground on the Rockies/D-Backs new Spring Training Facility east of Scottsdale last year.
I just wanted to show how the MLB labels game used items. Specifically ones from big games.

                Notice how they misspelled Tulowitzki’s last name on the first helmet. 

                              You can see me Tulo and Coors Field in this picture. 

        This is a special helmet made just for Charlie Hayes who suffered a broken jaw. This is the unsigned original artwork used to make the Coors Field Inaugural year opening day ticket. 
                           The World Famous Colorado Rockies Humidor.

                                    
          Todd Helton’s locker.

                                                Indoor batting cages.

                                     Hunter with a lean mean Don Baylor. 

     My Inaugural year Rockies magazine with Don Baylor’s fresh autograph on it. 
My 2007 Sports Illustrated with Jeff Francis on the cover with a fresh Jeff Francis autograph on it.  
My mini-bats In order…Glenallen Hill, Eric Young Jr, Huston Street, Rich Dauer, Randy Flores, and Clint Barmes.   
                         Here’s all of it minus the hampster and Hunter’s stuff.

                Here’s a shot of Ryan Spilborghs on his way to his next session.
 

          Just as Hunter and I were leaving Club level heading home we ran into Robert.                                           
         Best hat of the day.

                                   Hunter making his mark just like his pops.

  The Rockpile Ranter blessing Coors Field for the upcoming season.(I can legally do that). 
 

It was great to see all of you again. Dan, thank you once again for this special opportunity.

This is the year folks. The chemistry between this group of fellas feels right. We’ve had a taste of the post-season twice in recent years and we can’t go backwards right?

It starts with believing. I believe, Hunter believes, everybody I ran into at Rockies Fest believes.

               I’m D The Rockpile Ranter and I believe I’m finished with this entry.