Results tagged ‘ Brad Hawpe ’
Rain and Hail…Next Stop…Maryvale
3-18-12
Part of this Spring Training adventure was spent camping at Lake Pleasant. This is a beautiful lake, with lots camping sites and more importantly showers and electricity.
Mike and I each had our own tents and the combination of 50 mph winds and torrential rains that started on Saturday night really put a kink in our Arizona camping experience.
Saturday night was a nightmare weather-wise and everything Mike and I had in our tents got drenched.
Props to my buddy Dan(thank you) for hooking us up with a coupon for a room at the Talking Stick Resort near Salt River Fields. This was a really nice hotel and after our bout with the rain this was a little slice of heaven. We spent Sunday and Monday night at the Hotel and by doing that we avoided the snow and hail that visited our campsite.
Brewers vs Rangers
Maryvale Baseball Park holds a special place for me. It was here I snagged my first live game home run ball.
Here’s a link to that blog entry back in 2009:
Snagged my Holy Grail at Maryvale
This would be my first time back to Maryvale since 2009 and I had visions of another home run snag, however this time I wanted to catch it on the fly. The weather was sketchy at best with the sky clear in some areas and pouring rain in other.
I hardly took any pictures at this game as my focus was a home run ball.
If you want to see some game pictures check out the Rox Addicts blog entry on this game.
I did try to get a good one of Brad Hawpe for Queen Geri..Here’s the best I could do Queen, just know I was think’n of ya 
Although not in the best neighborhood Maryvale Baseball Park is my favorite little spring training stadium. I love the vibe here. Nobody messes with you, the food is reasonably priced and this park has a fantastic berm.
Here’s a few shots of this little gem.
Look at the flags in the above picture. The wind was blowing and it wasn’t one of those warm desert winds. This was a chill you to the bone cold wind.
This park is Happy Youngster stomping grounds and I was on the lookout for that bright yellow shirt. Unfortunately I didn’t run into my friend Nick.
Due to the rain this game was called before it got to the 5th inning, so in the end this game really wasn’t a game.
I’m ”D” The Ranter and I’ll be back Maryvale, my ticket is good for two years.
Minus the snow…We’ll give it another go.
Happy New Year Rantics!
The Tom Helmer of FSN Rocky Mountain interview/Rantic get together is back on. It will be held at Champps at 8325 Park Meadows Center Drive in Littleton at 5-6pm on Saturday January 8th.
It’s on the weekend this time and the weather will be decent so hopefully those of you who couldn’t make it before will be able to attend.
Remember folks this is all non-formal. Tom’s interview might take ten minutes and the rest of the time you can ask Tom questions, have a drink, eat some dinner if you want (I am), or just hang out and drink a hot chocolate.
Krista and I will be there, I really hope to see you there.
Rockies News
I gotta say I’m glad the Rockies were able to sign Carlos Gonzalez. I know it’s a lot of money, but seven years for 80 million is a bargain for Cargo. I figure Cargo took this deal is because he’s happy here and he’s extremely well liked by the Rockies fans.
A total win/win situation for the Rockies.
From everything I’ve witnessed this season Cargo is well on his way to becoming a superstar and it’s nice to know he’ll call Colorado home for the next seven years.
So we’ve got Cargo and Tulo to build a team around. That my friends is a great start :)
I also read that former Rockie Brad Hawpe is soon to be a Padre.
That ought to make Queen Geri happy as she’ll at least get to see him several times a season.
I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter and it’s gonna be a good year.
Grand Slam…No Thanks Man
6/9/10 Astros vs Rockies Game Three
Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, In from LF.
Temperature: 2:55.
Attendance: 27,114.
Hunter and I arrived at the Rockpile gates early today and played a little catch. Hunter threw one over my head and it rolled through the fence and stopped about eight feet inside.
No worries, I still had the string attached to my glove from my trip to KC so I figured I’d swing my glove and try to knock the ball back to us.
It was actually starting to work until the string separated from the glove and my glove landed inside the fence.
Guess I need a bit more work on my glove trick. One of the Ushers walked around and retrieved my glove and Hunter’s baseball…Thank you!
As I was making my way over to my spot in the pavilion Jason Hammel shouted at me “Heads up”. Seconds later a ball bounced about six feet in front of me and I picked it up on the roll for ball number one.
During Tuesday’s batting practice I noticed Dan heading up the stairs to almost the last row in the pavilion. I was wondering what he was doing until I watched Carlos Lee start to blast baseballs all over the concourse.
Today I didn’t want to compete with Dan on the concourse(plus at the time I thought he was a little crazy for going that far up), so I stayed near the top of the pavilion. This paid off because I had play on four of Carlos Lee’s BP homers and eventually I was able to catch one of the last homers he hit.
Dan stayed on the concourse and straight-up caught two of Lee’s homers and snagg’d the third on the roll. Good Call Dan!
My hand still smarts from that Lee homer.
Soon after that I was able to catch a BP homer from Hunter Pence. Hunter hit that ball about 1/3 of the way up the pavilion.
Three baseballs for the day. That’s a good day snagg’n at Coors Field.
Here’s Robert showing you on his hands and feet how many baseballs he’s snagged in the last couple of games.
He’s been on a roll since I made fun of his absence of baseballs.
That’s right…We Bad
Today was a great snagg’n day. Everyone played fair and kept in their own space. I always point out the idiots so I felt obligated to mention one of the days when batting practice goes smoothly. Hunter was shutout today.
I call this next set of photos:
”BUSTED”
USHER…..”Hey guys how’s it going?”
USHER-”Could I please see your tickets for these seats?”
DUDE-”Yeah,….. hold on”
USHER-”Sir… It says right here you should be sitting in the Rockpile”.
USHER-”Gentlemen I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Been there myself many times, but still fun to watch the scenario unfold when it’s someone else:)
The Hoser and the Miss Colorado Contestants
Ok, I’ve rewritten this part of the entry three times in the last three days. I’ve had some time to think about how I want to say this so I’ll be short and to the point.
Bullpen Catcher Mark Strittmatter was walking past the crowd and Hunter asked me if he could go over ask Strittmatter for the baseball in his hand.
I said, “Do it buddy” So Hunter walked over to Mark and asked for the ball.
Strittmatter did what he always does and asked Hunter a question “How many outs in an inning?”
Hunter immediately replied “Three”, which we all know is wrong. Strittmatter told Hunter he was wrong, but didn’t tell him the correct answer and then walked away.
Not a very classy move in my eyes.
These dudes leave huge impressions on kids and I could tell Hunter’s interaction with Strittmatter left him speechless and disappointed.
So here’s our plan of action next time we have an encounter with Strittmatter.
Hunter plans to trip him up. Hunter will ask him a baseball question. If Strittmatter manages to answer correctly I’ll toss him a baseball. If he answers it incorrectly, I’ll make him feel exactly like he made Hunter feel
***************UPDATE***************
I always hesitate when I write anything negative about any Rockies player. I always try to tell the story the way I see it. My blog entries are basically my memory from the games we attend.
This morning 6-13-10 I received an email from Mark Strittmatter with an explanation.
Here it is:
Stumbled upon your blog last night…wanted to let you know that I am very sorry to have hurt your son’s feelings. Obviously you have seen me ask questions to other kids before…hope you know that all of it is done in fun, certainly not with any malicious intent. I am a father myself, and would never seek to hurt a child in any way. Please introduce yourself to me whenever you get a chance.
Sincerely,
Mark Strittmatter
In the 2 1/2 years I’ve blogging about the Rockies Mark is the first player to write the Rockpile Rant personally. The fact that he cared enough to take time and explain says a lot about his character. Mark… Hunter says “Thanks it’s all cool” and I agree…Very Classy.
Thank you Mark, thank you for re-affirming why I support the Rockies…”D”
Chris Iannetta back to his same routine. First one out, first one to sign.
Melvin Mora puts everything into his slides. He’s cool to watch.
Jonathan Herrera playing second.
Random pavilon shots.
Seth Smith in overdrive.
And in the background on deck, game winning, grand slam hitting Carlos Lee.
Here’s a link if you want to watch the Rockies painful loss in the 10th inning.
Told you this guy could crush a ball…It figures.
Rockies lose game three to the Astros 6-2
My next game is Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Go Rockies…D
Don’t Mind If I Do, I Think I’ll Take Two
4/3/10
When I woke up Saturday morning I was still amped from yesterday’s baseball experience.
Game two of the Rockies vs the Mariners was today at noon and Isotopes Park was opening two hours early.
One of the things you learn when you attend Rockies batting practices(or most teams for that matter), is that when the previous game was an evening game and the next game is an early one, it’s rare for the batting cages to be out on the field. Usually In this case the players take batting practice inside.
Every now and then the planets align and you get treated to a early BP following an evening game.
Being that I’m nobody special the planets didn’t align for me and the playing field was empty. That’s ok, that gave me the opportunity to take some pictures and work on snagg’n some autographs.
After I scoped out the park it seemed the place to be for getting autographs was leaning against the rails along the tunnel that leads into the innards of the stadium.
I had arrived early enough to secure a decent spot and I can tell you being tall and having long arms really helps in situations like this.
As I waited leaning on the railing I watched Brad Hawpe and Todd Helton walk in and out of the tunnel several times barely looking up and never stopping to sign. Moments later I stood there and witnessed Tulowitzki do the same thing.
Jason Giambi walked out of the tunnel.
Then he stopped and signed for one lucky kid.
I refuse to pass judgement on what I witnessed because it’s early on in the season and as I’ve mentioned before the best time to get autographs is the early part of spring training.
Also I’ve seen those same guys stop and sign many times. Most of getting autographs is luck and it boils down to being a the right place on the right day at the right time.
But as always…. “I Calls ’em as I sees ‘em”
The first player kind enough to stop and autograph a baseball for me was Tommy Everidge.
Tommy plays first base for the Mariners.
This is Orbit the Isotopes mascot…. A real gender bender here as nobody knows what the hell he/she/it is.
Classy as always EY Jr stopped to sign for the fans.
I finally was able to get Aaron Cook to sign my Rockies magazine. It’s the one where he’s wearing an apron grilling.
Clint Barmes making the rounds.
I mentioned to Clint at Rockies Fest I’d be at the game in Albuquerque and when he saw me he looked up, smiled and said “Hey”.
Jeff Francis was being really cool and stayed and signed for everyone. 
Don Bayler signed for everyone as well.
Ryan Spilborghs signed my Rockies magazine for me. 
Left handed pitcher Greg Smith.
Chris Iannetta was kind enough to sign my Rockies magazine.
Ichiro Suzuki out warming up.
I didn’t take near as many pictures as I usually do today.
Jack and Kim enjoying the warm weather.
It was fun to relax with the wife and Jack and Kim and just watch the game.
Here’s a couple though.
By the 5th inning the Rockies were up 3-0 and Jason Giambi comes up to bat.
Giambi launches a solo homer into the batter’s eye in center field. It lands about midway up in the brush.
Here’s a link to Giambi’s hit:–—> Jason Giambi’s homer in the 5th inning.
I think to myself…”Wow…there’s a Giambi homer just sitting there untouched” and I continue to watch the game.
In the 6th inning Brad Eldred blasts a homer into the batter’s eye and it lands almost exactly where Giambi’s homer did but rolled a few feet below it.
Here’s a link to Eldred’s hit: ——> Brad Eldred’s homer in the 6th inning.
I think to myself…”Holy crap, now there are two Rockies home run balls sitting in there untouched”.
From that moment forward with the Rockies comfortably in the lead the game was over for me. I found myself staring at the batter’s eye thinking about those two baseballs. I was talking to my buddy Jack and mentioned the baseballs and the fact that they were just sitting there untouched.
I realized at that point that I couldn’t leave Isotopes stadium without those two home run baseballs in my possession.
Jack and I got up and walked over to the batter’s eye and started to scope it out from all angles. We decided there were three possible ways into that pot of gold.
The first one would require me running along the front of the outfield in gravel with total exposure from the front.
The second would require me hopping a railing and dropping down into the batter’s eye. This one had good cover but a harder escape as a climb back up was involved.
The railing I would have to hop over and drop down from was to the right of Jack pictured here with hottie Marge Simpson.
The third possible way into the batter’s eye would be to come in from the left as the batter sees it. That required two fence hops in and two fence hops out and had a little more visibility than I was comfortable with.
Here’s another view of the batter’s eye and the good sized crowd sitting on the berm.
Isotopes park has amusment rides for kids, I thought that was a nice touch.
Remember Rockies fan favorite former D-Back Eric Byrnes? He’s a Mariner now…Boooo
Really good attendance for both days. Remember this is a AAA stadium.
Here’s everything I was able to get autographed today.
Anyways, I decided that hopping the fence next to Marge Simpson was the best way to go. My plan was to wait till the exact moment the game ended and make my move.
Krista had my camera so she was able to capture video of me snagging both game home run balls.
COWABUNGA DUDE…What a rush!
I was in and out of there in less than a minute and as far as I can tell I was smooth like butter because I strutted out of Isotopes Park with both of those baeballs in my possession.
Here are the two home run balls retreived from the batter’s eye just as the game finished with a Rockies win 10-4 over the Mariners.
Giambi’s is on the left, Eldred’s is on the right.
I was the featured story on one of my favorite baseball websites, MYGAMEBALLS.COM
CLICK HERE to read the article written by Alan Schuster.
All I can say is had I not taken the chance and grabbed those two game homers it would have grinded on me for the rest of my life.
I’m afraid that with a haul like this I may have set the bar for my own personal season a bit high.
Do it and make damn sure your having fun while you’re doing it.
D..The Rockpile Ranter
The streak is broke, now I’m stoked
9/1/09 Mets vs Rockies Game 1
If you’ve never smoked before and you live in the front range of Colorado you were a smoker yesterday. The smoke from the California fires was thick and for once there wasn’t any rain to wash it away.
Hunter was with me today and we were ready for some batting practice. The weather has been cruel to us this season as far as batting practice goes.
Hunter and I were itching to get in side and start scratching , catching some balls 
Hunter was the first to enter the Pavilion and I headed over to “my area”. By the time I reached “my area” there were a couple of younger dudes inhabiting it. I quickly found another spot.
I looked over and saw Hunter running up to me all excited. He had just found his first Coors Field Easter egg.
Easter Egg = A ball just lying there when you get inside.
The ball was lying at the base of the pavilion and he was the first to stumble across it.
I’ve yet to find an easter egg.
I’m sure the Rockies knock several baseballs into the pavilion before they open the gates for Coors Field. I wonder what happens to those baseballs?
Do the Ushers keep them?
I’d be ok with that. Ushers stand for hours and get paid minimally.
Or do they just toss them back onto the field?
Maybe, if I ever discover the answer I’ll let you know. Another one of baseball’s mysteries.
As for me…”The Pavilion Poacher, “The Sultan of Snatch“ I got diddly squat. I had play on several homers but the dude who initially adopted my spot ended up with my two.
I’ve noticed that none of you have commented on my hair I’m growing it for several reasons.
1. The economy. Haircuts are expensive.
2. I live in Nederland, it’s ok here.
3. Helton hasn’t cut his so I’m following his trend.
Thanks for not asking. I’ll be sure and keep you posted,…frequently
Mile High welcome to Jason Giambi. Giambi had no hits tonight but was walked on his first and only at-bat.
I’ll keep the picture show short today.
Carlos Gonzalez launched a ball into the second deck. He doesn’t look big enough to do that.
The stretch.
The DEA is on to me so I’ve been having trouble finding quality crack for the “Coors Field Crack of the Game”. So I’ll have fill-in awards until more “Crack” is discovered.
The award for today’s game is for “The Best Use of Purple“.
The next award is for the “Best Costume of the Game“. This dude was in the pavilion with a suit on. I can’t tell you how wrong that is.
Next thing you know you’ll have the likes of me sitting in Club Level..ewwww!
Quite possible the best picture I took tonight that didn’t come in a pair.
Garrett Atkins,…. it wasn’t his fault the throw was way to late.
Yorvit Torealba
Superstar Seth Smith
Atkins
The tag on his shirt says “Tip me or die of thirst”. To quote
Earth’s own words…”Aint no sissy sippin here” :)
The moon and stars were aligned tonight and the Rockies get the win over Mets at Coors in front of 26,190.
The majority of the crowd here tonight were glad to see this win.
Remember folks it only takes one win to end a streak and begin a new one.
Oh here’s one more…I call this video the ”Coors Field Sprinkler Guy“.
You’re welcome
It’s my job to keep you aware of the freaks of society…I love my job.
My name is D The Rockpile Ranter. Coors Field is my 2nd home and nobody is safe.
I’ll be at the Game 2 in a few hours..D
Forget the D-backs lets stay on track
7/5/09 Happy B-day to my brother Dean
We had a blast on Fridays Game 1 against the D-Backs. The Rockies made it look easy at Coors and sent the Snakes slithering back to their pit with a final score of 5-0.
Unfortunately I had to watch Saturday and Sunday’s game on TV and it was shockingly painful. Home games are not the place for the Rockord to be slipp’n up.
Maybe it’s all this wet weather of late.
Anyways I can’t quietly stand/sit by and watch all that the Rockies have gained in the last month just wash away with the rain.
Jim Tracy, talk to this team.
Put your foot down and let em know this is unacceptable. In past seasons even when the Rockies sucked we usually could hold our own at home.
Why can’t we win at home this year? I just don’t get it.
Props to Ubaldo Jimenez today. 
Rockies were up 3-0 and it looked like we had a possible no-hitter working until the sixth inning. With two out Jimenez walked the next two batters and when Mark Reynolds stepped up to the plate Ubaldo served him a perfect fastball that made it’s home in the left field pavilion.
All of a sudden it’s a tie game.
So much for Ubaldo’s no-hitter, missed it by that I——-I much.
IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME !
Congrats go out to the newest members of the 2009 All-Star Team Brad Hawpe and Jason Marquis.
Hawpe will be starting in place of injured Mets player Carlos Beltran.
Two fine additions and I’m sure will these fellas will not disappoint.
C’mon Brad, show those dudes how it’s done Rocky Mountain style.
How about MLB’s best pinch-hitter our very own Seth Smith?
This guy is f’kin amazing in the clutch. He’s money in the bank and someone I didn’t even factor into the Rockie equation at the beginning of the season. Seth is hitting close to .500 as a pinch-hitter.
We all know how a sucessful team works, you get three or four players who really step up their game and all of a sudden you’re a team that starts winning.
The way I figure the players listed below have really out performed what I thought capable of them. Their outstanding play this season is an unexpected bonus and a good part of why the Rockies are above .500.
Seth Smith
Dexter Fowler
Ian Stewart
Carlos Gonzalez
Brad Hawpe
Todd Helton, we all know he’s good but we didn’t know what to expect at the beginning of the season.
Houston Street
Tomorrow is a new day and a new team. I’m going to forget these last two games and focus on this next series against the Nationals. This weekend was just a temporary setback in our quest to win this division and ultimately win the World Series.
Don’t believe me?…Fine, but you can’t knock my enthusiasm…Go Rockies…D
Didn’t miss it by a foot, it hit my foot
5/13/09
Something had to change from the previous game. Over a dozen missed opportunities to snag a ball. Being right there, so close and having to back off at the last second because someone else happened to be sitting in the perfect position to catch the ball.
Some days it just beez that way, but not today. My first ball was a toss up from Ubaldo Jimenez. Originally I thought it was for Hunter (and it may have been) but he overshot Hunter by 15 feet or so and I nabbed it.
The second ball I snagged was hit by Dexter Fowler I tracked perfectly. The ball bounced off the tip of my glove, deflected onto a bleacher and landed right in front of me. I reached down quickly and nabbed my own blown catch.
It was game on from there. The next two were gloved perfectly and within 15 feet of each other. Chris Iannetta hit one of them.
One was a practice ball and the other ball was one I had been waiting for.
I finally nabbed a 2008 All-Star ball.
No big deal to some snaggers as most of you probaly have one, but it was my first.
A teenage girl asked me for it. I told her she could have a ball but not that one. I reached into my backpack and gave her the practice ball.
Rockies left then the Astros were up and within a few minutes I was tracking another ball. I followed this ball as it sailed about mid-way up the bleachers.
I turned then tripped over the bleacher and caught the ball as I was falling down backwards. It wasn’t pretty (more funny), but I caught that sucker.
I gave that ball to the brother of the teenage girl I had handed the other ball too. That family left happy.
Ball six was about thirty minutes into Astros BP and was a quick dash to the right and perfect catch on the run.
Just as batting practice was about to end some big white guy crushed one out to mid-pavilion about 2/3 of the way up and I was on it perfectly.
At the last second I realized I was up one row too high and I missed as it landed perfectly under the bleacher directly on top my foot.
White flash, ouch, oh sheet don’t act stupid Don everyone is looking. Hide the pain because nobody saw it hit your foot.
The whole thing was hidden by the bleacher. Had I danced around in pain people would have wondered what the F’ck was wrong with me so I had to act somewhat normal.
Man, I couldn’t even swear. Me not swearing, I impressed myself.
It was a perfect shot. My first instinct after the white flash was to get that damn ball and as I reached for it a kid in a Rockies jersey scooped it up. I was like “What the” and when I looked up it was Hunter.
It was his only ball of the day and I was glad he got it.
Afterwards we did have a discussion about him not snaggin so close to me and how I don’t like competing against my son for baseballs that I bobble.
I think it looks silly he and I chasing after the same ball,…but anyways.
It was at that point I noticed my shoe was getting tight. That’s not good.
The ball that landed on my foot just happened to have a big H on it.
Some may say that “H” stands for Houston. I don’t think so. I say it stand for “Hurts like Hell” when it smacks you in the foot full force.
My foot throbbed for about 20 minutes and then it went numb.
I figure if you’re going to get hit with a pitch you want it to be in the meaty part of your body. On most people there’s no meat on top of your foot. This type of BP injury was a first for me and hopefully the last. I’ve got almost two weeks to heal up.
After BP we went over to the Rockies side and tried to get some autographs.
Unfortunately were kind of late and were standing in the wrong place for Todd Helton.
Glenallen Hill and Jeff Francis. Hill is looking at me like he remembers me from Spring Training. My favorite line from Hill in Tucson was “What you guys do with all those autographs?” 
Hurdle and Francis
Francis gets the first pitch duties on a regular basis.
That is one happy kid.
Everybody was happy, at least before the game started.
Marquis warming up before the game.
Best haircut of the game. In case you’ve never seen one, this particular hairstyle is know as a Mullet. Very popular in the 80′s but now is usually only found in the deep south.
Southerners do travel and when I get a chance to photograph a rare haircut like this I just cant resist.
This ones a beauty
The Mullet… business in the front, party in the back.
Marquis first pitch.
His second pitch.
Tulo
Ian Stewart had a Grand Slam yesterday and another homer today.
Brad Hawpe tracking a baseball.
Another
Todd Helton at bat.
Spilborghs getting ready.
Helton out at first.
Garrett Atkins proving that white men can jump.
Tulo in action.
Atkins ready to go.
First off if you’re brave/man enough to wear a pink shirt, your picture makes this blog. But the fact he was standing there talking to Bill Gates, well that’s seriously blog worthy.
Although wouldn’t you think Bill Gates would at least sit Club level?
Don’t you think the sweatshirt over the shoulders is a nice touch?
A shot of Dan, Emily and Ryan in the pavilion from my “chosen” seats which were along the first base line.
Dan’s daughter Emily was interviewed on Thursday’s game by Fox News and by Mark Stout of FSN.
I’ll post or link some video when I have it. That should be really cool.
The combination of having to work early the next day, my foot hurting like nobody’s business and the Rockies getting pummelled at home was enough to make me want to go home.
So we did.
I went home and put my foot up. No DL list for me, I’ll be ready by next homestand. Unless I broke a bone and then I’ll be there in a cast.
Final Score Astros 15, Rockies 11.
Coors Field Crack of the Game
Sorry it’s a little blurry, I was laughing
RPR’s Hagg’n Points for this Game
1 Point- For showing up.
15 points- For catching 5 balls on the fly.
2 points- For a toss up from Ubaldo Jimenez.
Total = 18 points
Hunters Hagg’n Points for this Game
1 point- For showing up
3 points- For snagging a ball on the bounce off of my size 12 shoe.
Total = 4 points
My next Rockies home game is Tuesday the 26th. Gotta give some props to my Denver Nuggets. I believed at the beginning of the season when everyone thought I was crazy. I’ve been somewhat silent about their success of late because I didn’t want to jinx anything.
This is the team, this is the Nuggets year, The Lakers are beatable and the Nuggets will do it…D
The fishing today sucked WTF?
5/9/09 Marlins vs Rockies Game 2
I always wanted to catch the introduction of the Rockies players on video and today I did.
Batting practice was OK but I was totally shutout. It still happens once in a while but not so often anymore. I just can’t bring myself to ask a player for a baseball. I love catching or racing up five row of bleachers to beat someone to a ball that has taken a bounce.
It’s all about the chase for me. There’s no chase/play involved when you ask a player for a baseball. Props to those who can do it I’m not knocking you. I just can’t do it.
I had a little bit of play today but everytime I would track a ball and almost get to it, somebody was in my way and I had to let the ball go.
The best batting practices are during the week when the pavilion is less crowded. My friend Emily an MLBlogger who writes the Rockies blog “I live for this” was at batting practice with her friend.
Hunter managed to snag two baseballs today. The first one was a toss up from Manny Corpas.
It was an 2008 All-Star ball and the first one he’s ever snagged.
I’ve yet to get an All-Star ball.
Manny tossed one to Hunter on Friday too. Hunter had another opportunity when the Rockies finished batting practice.
Manny tossed the last ball to Hunter and Hunter didn’t expect it and it hit him just below his neck in his chest.
The ball rolled to the right and some lady kept it for her kid.
Personally any kid that gets hit with a ball like Hunter did should have been given that ball. But like you’ve heard me say here before “Some people don’t get it”.
She doesn’t get it and neither did my boy. No worries, Hunter was ok and already had a ball. After the Marlins BP we went around to the Rockies dugout to see what was up.
When Brad Hawpe finished warming up he headed back to the dugout and on his way tossed Hunter his second ball of the day.
Thank you Brad !
Jorge De La Rosa copping a squat before the game.
Jim Tracy and Alana
Helton taking a stretch.
Ian Stewart doing the same.
Seth Smith
There was a moment of silence for two members of Event Services Staff that had passed away. That was a nice way to pay respect I thought.
BBCHICK asked if I would get some pictures of the High School band performing the national anthem as she some friends who are in the band. I actually shot video of it
Here’s Jeff Francis doing some more public relations work to keep busy.
Then Francis and Dinger head back to who knows where?
Bob, Yorvit and Jorge doing the walk.
Clint Hurdle was out signing autographs today. A few others did but not many. Spilborghs was out there for a good ten minutes signing today.
Jorge De La Rosa is pitching decent I’d say despite his lack of wins. Jorge pitched for 8 innings and had 12 strikeouts. Jorge is (0-3) for the season.
Garrett Atkins went 0-3 and is really struggling only batting .218. It will be nice when he finds his groove cause Atkins can hit. 
Tulowitzki homered in the first inning and went two of four for the day. Troy was replaced in the ninth inning because of a slight strain on his quadricep. The same one he injured last season…I don’t even want to think about Tulo going on the DL right now.
Take it easy Tulo..Heal up that quad brotha
Torrealba broken bat.
I believe if I had to I could kill dinner for my family with that weapon.
I call this picture “Floating Bat Boy Broken Bat”
Jorge at bat.
Jorge and Tulo
Jorge on display
Don Baylor
Torrealba and Baylor
Tulowitzki about to throw
Dexter Fowler at bat
Dexter Fowler swingin.
Hawpe and Atkins
Matt Murton
I call this picture “Tulo’s invisible bat”
Hunter chillin
Jason Grilli was up on the mound after De La Rosa.
Jason keeping a close eye on first base
A quick chat
Hawpe letting one go by.
Barmes and Hill
Look up
A shot of the final score.
RPR’s Hagg’n stats for this game
Attendance 28,227
1 point- Showing up for the game.
1 point -Staying until the end of the game and getting a picture of the final score.
1 point- Snagging four season ticket stubs from the game.
Total = 3 points
Hunter’s Hagg’n Stats for this game
1 point- Showing up
4 points- Two tossed up baseballs worth 2 points each.
1 point- Staying until the end of the game.
1/2 point- Snagging two season tickets after the game.
Hunter has been kicking my butt.
When are YOU going to start Hagg’n? I have prizes …D
Rockies taste the pain in the rain
4/12/09
I love baseball and I don’t mind cold weather. Combine cold wind, rain and baseball and that’s a mix I don’t care for.
The game today was the first professional sporting event I have ever attended with my parents.
My parents enjoy watching some sports but the closest professional “Live” anything is in Edmonton, Alberta.
That’s 350 miles away.
My parents live in Canada.
Attending major professional sporting events is not common place for them.
So the fact that they attended this game with me despite the weather really meant a lot.
My mom said she enjoyed it and my dad seemed mildly entertained
We bailed out at the bottom of the fifth inning. At least my parents were able to witness the Rockies score all of their runs.
You’ve got to love Dexter Fowler. This dude is already making a name for himself. He crushed his second homer of the season tonight off of Chan Ho Park.
At one point in the game I could hear some people in the crowd chanting “Chan Ho Walk”, that’s funny.
I’ve mentioned a few times in my blog that I think Dinger the dinosaur should have a little/lot more of a masculine appearance.
With all due respect to the guy inside of that big festive muppet, I think Dinger looks like a cross between the purple Teletubbie and Barney.
As you can tell in the picture below, it being Easter did nothing help out old Dinger’s masculinity. I bet this guy goes to bed every night praying they change his costume or promote him to Usher so he can get out of that embarassing purple/pink sweatsuit.
I’ve got it, since Dinger is a “required to be a people person”, lets make him a beer vendor and make Captain Earthman the Rockies Official Mascot.
He owns a set of bunny ears and he’s probably tired of carrying that heavy beer around for three hours.
See if I think long enough I can come up with a solution for anything 
Here’s a thought….How about a mascot called the “Rock Man”? He would sort of look like the Michelin man but would look like he was made of boulders.
That would be a freggin tough looking mascot. I think the kids would dig it too.
I figured the Rockies had game three in the bag with the great start they had and the fact they owned the lead until the 8th inning.
Corpas and Street let the lead slip and the Rockies lose to the Phillies 7-5, thus allowing the Phillies to take two of three games and win the set at Coors Field .
Rockies are now 3-3. Next up,…the Cubs at Wrigley.
Hagg’n points.
I didn’t show up for batting practice as I figured there wouldn’t be one,..I was right.
Attending the game- 1 Point
Eating a foot-long brat- 1 Point (I should get an extra point for having to choke that thing down before the bun got soggy from the rain, then two points for the indigestion that followed later.)
We didn’t stay to the end of the game because I was quite done with the rain and cold at this point and figured for sure this game would be called and the Rockies would win.
No such luck today
Total points today’s game = 2
Overall total this season = 13 Points
Here are a few more pictures I took…Clint Barmes
Here’s a random crowd shot, look how everyone is dressed.
Manny Corpas
Jason Grilli
Ok now to R-Luv’s points. This girl is good. She was on it and she discovered a great way to snag points was by taking pictures with the Ushers.
I have to make a change to the Hagg’n points but R-Luv was so hardcore into Hagg’n she gets credit for all her pictures because she earned those points before I fine tuned the Usher picture point thing.
Here is how the Usher thing will work from now on. In order to have the point count the picture has to have the actual Hagger and the Usher in it. The other change is you can’t earn more than five points per game using Usher pictures or autographs.
I have to put a cap on it. As far as hot dog/brat points go, you can only earn a point if ”you” actually eat it.
Remember this first season of Hagg’n is experimental and I’ll have to tweak things now and then.
Here are R-Luv’s stats as she reported them to me:
What a game! And what a madhouse! I’ve never seen the stadium that full. Yikes!
Hagg’n points:
I got pictures of 18 ushers, they got a kick out of being asked
2- hot dogs
Dinger’s autograph
attending the game
So, I think that gives me a total of 23 points. Here are a few of the pictures I got, I
think you’ll enjoy them. One of the pictures is Hurdle having words with the umpire. I
think that could be another category for getting points.
These are the three pictures R-Luv/Marianne sent me.
Hurdle arguing with the Umpire
And one with an Usher her son and some freggin weirdo in the background.
She gets all 23 points, that’s a good goal to shoot for.
R-LUV-23 points in one game.
ROCKPILE RANTER- 10 points in 3 games
Thanks Marianne and Good Job!
Donnie’s first game is on the 15 th. So far nobody else has reported any stats. I’m having fun with this and I know R-Luv is. Interested?? Scroll back a few entries and check out what Hagg’n is and how to accumulate points while attending a baseball game.
Thanks for choosing the Rockpile Rant…D
PSS- Game 7 Rockies lose to the Cubs today 4-0, ouch.
Phillies pay on Rockies Opening Day
4/10/09
Incredible, what a day! On my way to Coors Field I realized I forgot my glove. No joke, the first game and I left my glove at home. I turned around and went back and got it. I figured for sure that I’d blown my chance at a good place in line but lady luck was on my side.
We arrived at Coors about 11:10 AM and the gates opened at 12:00 PM.
As we were walking up I could see a huge line of people and my heart sunk. Upon closer inspection I realized the line was for people waiting to hopefully purchase Rockpile tickets.
We already had our tickets so my day was looking real good as there was nobody in line at the Rockpile gates. Always plan ahead you’ll be glad you did.
Number one like it should be.
They opened the gates and I was the first one through, As I worked my way over to the Pavilion I saw the Rockies out on the field and when I entered the bleachers I could only see one kid way on the other side of the Pavilion.
I worked my way down to field level and saw Jorge De La Rosa, Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales in the outfield chatting. A ball was hit to them and Jorge picked it up.
He looked into the bleachers and the only one standing there was me. I held up my glove, didn’t say a word and he tossed it to me. Just like that the Hagg’n begins.
Thanks Jorge for starting my season out right. Before Jorge tossed me that ball Helton had hit a BP homer and a kid had snagged it. The ball Jorge tossed me was the first baseball tossed to a fan at Coors Field this seaon. I also hold the honor of snagging the first baseball tossed to a fan during Game 1 of Rockies spring training in Tucson.
Not a huge thing but worth mentioning I figure.
The second baseball I snagged was kind of embarassing.
You know that fan that goes way overboard chasing a ball and winds up looking like an idiot.
I was that fan.
I was tracking a BP homer and had to lean over a row of bleachers and extend as far as I could to snag it. The ball hit my glove then rolled out and started rolling down the stairs.
I started stumbling over the bleachers in an attempt to snag that ball I dropped. About half way through chasing that ball I realized that I looked like a total moron.
So what do I do in that situation?
Do I stop right then and try and save my dignity, or realizing that I already looked stupid follow through and get the ball so I can say yeah I looked stupid but at least I got the ball?
I’m a Hagger so I chose to get the ball and take my critism. Nobody was harmed in the pursuit of the baseball, just my ego. Plus there’s always a witness when you don’t need one.
Anyways, that was ball two, Hagg’n is on baby.
While at batting practice I ran in to Marianne aka R-Luv, she was Hagg’n big and bad. She was going around getting pictures of the Ushers earning her Hagg’n points.
Here she is below taking pictures of her son with an Usher.
Dan and Emily were there, looked like Dan was handing out yummies but I didn’t get one??
Robert was at the game and I ran into Super Vendor Captain Earthman handing out his business cards.
Guess who else was at this game? My buddy Vinny Castilla was at the home opener.
Vinny, I thought you told me you weren’t a player?
If that’s the case, I guess I’m not a blogger who takes pictures of you.
Does it look like he’s flexing for the camera?
Here are some warm-up pictures of the Rockies.
Barmes and Stewart
Spilborghs and Fowler with the Military in the background.
Todd Helton ready to go.
Brad Hawpe in front of the Navy.
Spilborghs in front of the Air Force
Catcher Chris Iannetta at bat.
Pitcher Jason Marquis, the wind-up
The release
Tulowitzki
Howard at bat.
There’s something just right about seeing Helton on first base.
That’s right Howard, we won’t boo you like your own fans will, but you need to sit down.
Todd Helton at bat.
I was able to meet up with an old buddy of mine named Chuck.
Chuck rode up from Colorado Springs in the Coors Light RV. I’ve known this guy for over twenty years.
Here is Chuck and my wife Krista in front of the RV.
I need to say something to all those who predicted that the Rockies will come in 4th in our division.
I hope your squirming in your pants over your prediction. I’m not saying that the Rockies won’t come in 4th place, that could totally happen. But I love the fact that the Rockies have everyone who made that prediction thinking twice about the Rockies right now.
Congrats to Marquis, goes to show you what a Veteran can do when called upon to get the job done.
I have 400 more pictures I could post but I’m going to save them for ”Rockpile Ranter’s PIcture Blog”
Now to my Hagg’n score for the day.
Showing up for the game = 1 point.
Two snagged baseballs, one which bounced out of my glove and was snagged rolling down the steps = 3 points.
One toss up from Jorge De La Rosa = 2 points.
As shot of the scoreboard at the end of the game = 1 point.
Total for the game = 7 points.
I’m still working on how to count pictures of Ushers. It’s not hard to take pictures of Ushers but getting a picture of you with an Usher is hard because you have to ask someone else to take the picture. I might need some help with this.
I’m off to Game 2 agains the Phillies in an hour or so. The Rockies impressed the hell out of me yesterday. Let’s keep this train rolling.
Go Rockies, Phillies aint nutin but a thing…D
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