Results tagged ‘ Chris Iannetta ’
Iannetta Knew It…The Kid Blew It
7-16-11
Brewers vs Rockies Game 3
and
Our first Rockies Photo Day..For some reason we always seem to have something going when this day rolls around.
Our little roped off section of Coors field was filled with Rantics. The Rockies who were posing for pictures were all friendly and approachable other than “The Duece”, who once again lived up to his number. I made a comment that out of the group of eight of us who were doing this round robin with the picture and camera switch during the photo session, I bet that Tulo would diss four of us.
I was wrong, Tulo dissed six of us and left Hunter standing there just waiting for his picture as he moved past us as quick as he could.
Tulo, c’mon man…Most folks in this state look up to you…Hunter used to. I respect your athletic abilities brotha, but you need lessons on how to treat your loyal fans.
Believe me I’m not ripp’n Tulo for this just this “ONE” time. You don’t earn the nickname “The Duece” overnight 
.
Anyways….
Way too many pictures today of players and Rantics to post em all but I’ll share a few.
Skipper Jim Tracy
Jim and I
Rox Addict and his famous “Running Man” Pose
Must be contagious, here’s Dan striking a pose.
Me, I’m not really a running man, I’m more of a glider.
Tom Helmer sport’n a mustache?…Guess I have been gone a while
Gary and Alanna X and the Coaches
Mike and Chris Iannetta “aka Spongebob” holding Spongebob…Perfect!!
Me n Wiggy
Hunter and Ian Stewart
Ryan Spilborghs
Aaron Cook and the Rantic Red Beards
Cha-Ching on the mound, first pitch of the game after a brief rain delay was a strike.
Best hat of the game.
I was a little late to the action but I got some pretty good pics.
It was different watching Chris Iannetta getting gett’n all fired up as he’s usually quiet and reserved. I guess watching Chris pop his cork got Jim Tracy all fired up.
Usually stuff like this jump starts a team… But this was not the case today.
I’m the “Ranter” and despite the loss I had a great time hang’n with the Crew.
Rockies are Hot…Cubs are Not
4-15-11
Cubs vs Rockies Game One
Weather: 55 degrees, clear.
Wind: 10 mph, In from LF.
T: 2:22.
Att: 30,285
Something felt different at Coors Field today. Normally when the Cubbies are in town Coors Field is swarming with over enthusiastic Cub fans doing their best to try and own our stadium for a few games. Not today, Cubs fans were few and far between.
I thought maybe it was the weather, but the Cubs habitate in Chicago and they’re no strangers to cold April baseball. Then I though “Could they be scared or intimadated?
The Rockies are on fire right now and it’s hard to be over enthusiastic when you’re playing the number one team in baseball and they’re kicking your a-ss.
Batting practice was totally hampered today by the wind. Balls that easily would have landed in the pavilion were landing twenty feet short. I ran into Joy today at batting practice. She was hanging out waiting on the rest of her crew.
I gave her the last of the six “Helmer is my Homeboy” T-shirts that Tom Helmer gave me.
Just so you know, I gave them to:
Dan
Robert
Marianne
Mike
Joy
and me
If you want a “Helmer is my Homeboy” T-Shirt hang out behind the pavilion where ROOT SPORTS does their post-game broadcast after a Rockies win. Helmer has been known to toss a few of his shirts out to Rockies fans.
I believe someday they’ll be collectors items.
Batting practice was almost over and I walked up to Joy and said “I gotta feeling it’s gonna happen”. Not thirty seconds later a ball was hit my way and I realized it was going to fall a bit short. Fortunately this one took a hearty bounce and I snagged it.
First caught ball of the season, a ground rule double..I’m ok with that
In case you were wondering why all the players had #42 on their jerseys it’s because it was Jackie Robinson Day.
I think they do this just to mess with folks.
Here are a few pre-game pictures.
Robert and the Rox Addict (BFF’s)
Cathy Sabine making Coors Field look just a little bit better.
There were a couple of powerballs on the field as well. Notice how one of ‘em is hang’n just a bit lower?
Alanna Rizzo of ROOT SPORTS
I didnt know it at the time I took this picture, but these two would be the heros of this game.
Jim Tracy showing the Umpires which way the wind blows.
A few random game shots.
Umpire Jerry Layne was tagged in the left ankle by a line drive from Carlos Pena in the second inning. The dude tried to get out of the way but didn’t quite make it.
He was down for a couple of minutes but walked off the field on his own. Glad he’s ok.
Here’s a few action shots straight from the Rockpile.
Worst hair of the game…Cub blue…Ewww
Chacin was money again tonight. He pitched his first career shutout.
This game was all Chris Iannetta. In the third inning with bases loaded Chris hit a triple, scored the three on base and because of an error on the play at third Chris managed to get home.
It was beautiful. I was so happy to see Chris do that. He needed that.
Final Score: Rockies 5…Cubs 0
Rockies have won seven in a row and their record is 11-2.
That’s the best record in MLB right now.
Part-time Rockies fans, the bandwagon is rolling full speed, time to get on.
I’m D The Rockpile Ranter…I’m in it to win it…D 
Dodgers get none while the Rantics have fun
4-5-11 Dodgers vs Rockies Game 1
Weather: 71 degrees, clear.
Wind: 14 mph, L to R.
T: 2:19.
Att: 24,693
The game today was my third this season and the Rockies first against the Dodgers. I arrived at Coors Field and guess who was there ahead of me?
Leave it to the some of the Rantics to be the first ones at the gates. That’s what I’m talking about. Left to Right.. Mike the Rox Addict, Alannah X and Gary X.
Mike may be the Rox Addict, but he was a Rantic first
I was looking forward to this game as I knew it wouldn’t be nearly as crowded as it has been the last few games. As soon as they opened the gates Mike and I headed for the Pavilion. I was gravitating over to my usual spot and noticed a baseball sitting under a bleacher.
This Coors Field rarity is know as an Easter Egg and believe it or not it’s my first at Coors Field. The Coors Field Ushers unfortunately do a great job of picking up ALL the baseballs before we get inside and somehow they missed this one.
My first ball of the year…An Easter Egg…I’m ok with that. Something new right?
Rockies were on the field and batting practice was in full swing. Ball two was tossed up to me by Ubaldo Jimenez as the Rockies were leaving the field. I gave it to a little girl who was with her mom leaning on the railing.
Dodgers took the field and not long after I was tracking my third ball. In the chase for the ball I found myself in the tunnel and realized I didn’t have a chance at the ball as it was going to land inside the pavilion not inside the tunnel.
I’ve learned not to give up at that point as any number of things can happen, and did.
The guy who attempted to catch this homer let it bounce out of his glove and it dropped down into the tunnel right in front of me and I snapped it up. Game three of the season and still no balls caught on the fly 
I gave that ball away to a little boy standing close by with his family.
That would be it for batting practice.
As we walked by ROOT SPORTS I took this shot of R-LUV with Tom Helmer in the background.
R-Luv got to sit in the pavilon today so she gave me her ticket which wound up being in the first row of right field, prime home run territory. No luck, however during the very next game Todd Helton hit a homerun to that exact location.
George and Tracy pre-game.
Here are your Rockies warming up.
Tulo started today’s game with a .000 batting average.
In the fourth inning all that would change, Tulo gets his first hit of the season off of Kershaw with two out.
In the fifth inning with two out Chris Iannetta decided it was his turn. 
A few random game shots.
Dan and Emily during the seventh inning stretch.
Spilly tossing his warm-up ball into the right field crowd between innings.
Alannah X ran into a friend from school and the two of them got to watch the game together. I promised I’d post their picture.
Props to Chacin for pitching 7 scoreless innings. Rockies beat the Dodgers at Coors field with a final score of 3-0.
Mike, R-Luv and I hung around after the game. Here are a few shots of the ROOT SPORTS crew doing the post game report.
Check out the video of Tom tossing out his T-Shirts
A few entries back I mentioned that I wanted to interview a Rockies fan every other game or so. Well I had someone step up to the plate and volunteer, I like that.
Her name is Katerina and I first met her a few months ago while standing in line outside of Coors Field waiting to purchase Rockies tickets with Hunter and Mylee. She mentioned she had read the Rockpile Rant and really liked the blog Purple Row.
We talked about the Rockies while we waited in line.
Very cool lady, HUGE Rockies fan and my first fan interview of 2011.
1. How did you become a Rockies fan?
Becoming a Rockies fan was a choice I made four years ago this month. Wow, four years! But how and why: I just decided I wanted to follow baseball and learn more about it. The choice for the team I would root for was obvious, because the Rockies were the home team, and not to mention their colors were purple. I’m the only Rockies fan in my family, so I guess that makes me the purple and black sheep, but at least they raised me to root for the home team, and none other.
I hate to be classified with the ’07 bandwagon fans, but truth is: it was during that run when I first realized I loved them, and during that first offseason when I realized I had an addiction. It gets worse and worse, or rather better and better each year. It’s been a great ride, and I feel honored to be living during such a great time to be a Rockies fan.
- Who is your favorite Rockies player (current or past) and why?
My favorite player is Troy Tulowitzki. He always was, since his rookie year, and it’s awesome to say that he always will be, because of his contract extension.
I chose Tulo because he is a great player, defensively and offensively. Also, two had been my favorite number, and the fact that he was a rookie that seemed to be staying for a while certainly helped that choice. But the greatest reason I chose him was the fact that he wants to play the game the right way, and wants to be the best at it. I can relate to his competitiveness and passion. And Tulo wants to win. When he showed loyalty by signing to stay with Colorado forever he was cemented even more as my favorite player.
Yeah, his song and hair might be ugly sometimes, or most of the time, but it’s awesome to be stuck with Tulo as a favorite player.
- Favorite Rockies moment or memory.
Wow, only one? That’s hard.
I have to go with having mine and my family’s ears glued to the radio during Rocktober. That streak was just so awesome, and listening together, staying up way past our bedtimes is a classic memory I’ll never forget.
I’ve had a lot of good memories next to the radio these past few years.
Near seconds are attending a Rox game at AT&T Park last August, appearing on and being interviewed for Rockies All Access Tulo show last spring, and being at 2009 Game Four in the bottom of the 8th before Huston Street broke our hearts.
I feel the best is yet to come…very soon.
- If you could have any job with the Rockies organization what would you like to do?
If I would choose any job in the organization, I’d work on the Rockies Magazine staff. Even proofreading every issue would be cool.
Either that or be the person who secretly switches out the humidor-ized baseballs for ones that haven’t been in the humidor, and sneaks the “juiced balls” into the Giants ball bag when they come to Coors Field.
Alright, that last one is a joke.
Thank again Katerina, great job. I’ll change-up the questions each time.
I had a few more pictures but MLBlogs started acting up again so we’ll call this one done.
I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter, gett’n by, still trying to catch one on the fly….D
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
We Left our Mark at Isotopes Park
4/2/10
I have to say Albuquerque is a fun city with nice people. I also really enjoyed Isotopes Park. I can say this because after this weekend I officially own this Park.
The whole drive down from Nederland Colorado to Albuquerque I had a good feeling. Good things tend to happen when I have that good feeling .
Isotopes Park is a cool little AAA stadium which is home to the Albuquerque Isotopes. If you’re a Simpsons fan you probably know the Simpsons live in Springfield and they have a baseball team named the Isotopes.
So Isotopes Park has a Simpsons theme. 
The first game against the Mariners was on Friday at 5pm. I gave the Isotopes front office a jingle to find out what time they open the gates and I was told the park would open 2 1/2 hours early.
Opening that early would allow me to catch most of the Rockies and all of the Mariners batting practice and I like those odds. The extra BP time would end up being a good thing as I tied my own personal record for snagging baseballs in one game.
My total for the day was six baseballs. Of the six three were caught and three were snagged on the roll. The number of balls today wasn’t really important. What was important was who hit the balls.
BP homer number one was hit by Ian Stewart and snagged as it rolling down the berm and was given away to a little boy.
Ball number two was also snagged on a roll and was smoothly handed off to another lucky little boy. That ball was hit by Todd Helton and was the first of Helton’s BP homers I’ve ever been able to snag because I usually stand in left field.
Ball number three was caught on the bounce right by the outfield fence. Ryan Spilborghs hit this ball. Here’s the video.
Ball number four was a monster hit from Jason Giambi and I caught it straight up. That ball landed in my glove a bit off the mesh and believe me my hand felt it.
Ball number five was a Ken Griffey Jr home run that I caught and Krista managed to get on video. Griffey wasn’t out hitting for long and I didn’t get his autograph.
Catching Griffey’s BP homer was as cool as it gets for a ballhawk.
Here’s the Ken Griffey Jr ball. It’s perfect except for one bat mark.
I have no idea who hit BP homer number six but it was snagged on the roll and given away to another lucky kid.
Here’s video of a ball I caught and the dude in the white Rockies jersey(not me) knocked it out of my hand. He did that to several people throughout BP.
Some inexperienced ballhawks have no class. No worries, I have no problem letting them know just that
Robert got to experience the end result of a careless ballhawk himself. Although this guy made a pretty good catch, he was holding a bat and when he caught the ball he turned and the bat clocked Robert in the head.
Let’s just say Robert wasn’t happy.
Here’s Robert and I as batting practice ended.
The Isotopes have their own beer and I thought it tasted pretty good.
Here’s a shot of Robert, me, Jack and Kim chill’n on the grassy berm.
Good size crowd on the berm, all of them trying to snag a baseball.
Props go out to my wife Krista for the great pictures and video. The weather today reached a high of 50 degrees and by the sixth inning it was down right chilly.
I was with a group of four people and the group concencious was it was too damn cold to finish watching this game so we left in the sixth inning and at that point the Rockies were losing.
After the game Robert called me and told me I f’ked up by not staying. The final score wound up being an 11-11 tie.
Yeah..I was a bit upset, but that cold weather was giving me post-season flashbacks.
I can tell you that Isotopes Park of Albuquerque has never seen anyone the likes of me.
I was running up and down that grassy berm chasing baseballs making the local ballhawks look like chumps.
I went in there my first day and owned that ballpark.
Stay tuned for game two…Believe it or not it folks it gets better.
Go Rockies
D..The Rockpile Ranter
Baseball is Life, are you a Lifer?
3/20/10
Here are the next batch of pictures Robert sent me from Tucson.
Jorge De La Rosa and Rich Dauer.
Jorge throws a strike.
Chris Iannetta
Iannetta at bat.
Clap Clap.. Clap Clap Clap…Clap Clap Clap Clap,..TULO
Jay Payton
Robert said Jorge’s foul ball sailed over his head.
Note the temperature.
Just for the contrast check out the snow we received in Nederland yesterday.
I’m officially done with this winter.
I’ve had enough cold, I’ve had enough snow, I’ve just had enough. Jack Frost can kiss my a-ss and take a long walk off a short plank.
I can’t tell you how much it sucks to have sweet dreams of baseball then waking up at 2:15 AM and driving the icy snowy mountain roads an hour to work.
Don’t get me wrong, I love where I live. I’m just extremely ready for some sunshine.
Ok, I’m gonna go a little deep here….
For some folks baseball is a nice way to spend an afternoon in the sunshine. Those people are easy to spot as they are the ones with seats behind home plate and spend the entire game texting their friends. No worries somebody has to buy the expensive seats right?
For others they follow baseball so they have something to talk about around the water cooler. That’s ok too, I like good baseball talk.
For some baseball is their life. For 6+ months a year most of the spring and summer is spent preparing for and attending games. Their baseball stadium becomes their second home. When their team is out of town their extra time is spent making signs, watching the games, checking stats, hitting the team forums, you know trying to stay in the loop.
These people are baseball lifers. These fans are what holds baseball together and enables the sport to continue to exist through all it’s ups, downs and player controversies.
Lifers are the reason baseball WILL flourish in the post-steroids era.
Baseball owners take note: Take care of your lifers. Throw them a bone whenever you can. You should consider lifers as ”Messengers of the future of Baseball”.
Give them something good to say and they will spread the word. Case and point is my pops. Until last year he and my mom had never been to a professional baseball game. This year they attended a Rockies spring training game. 
So that makes me think that maybe my passion for baseball rubbed off on them and that’s why they went to the game…You see, spreading the WORD.
Who knows, maybe I’m wrong and they were bored and wanted to kill a nice afternoon?
On a funny note my dad mentioned that it was autograph day and he didn’t understand why nobody asked for his autograph?
Coors field in the spring and summer definately feels like a second home to me. I can tell you that it bothers (just a little) when I’m not the first one inside the stadium.
I love that feeling of being the first one to enter the Pavilion. Completly empty ‘cept for one solitary Usher.
The first few minutes of an empty stadium are surreal. It’s exciting working my way over to my favorite spot in the bleachers. Knowing that any ball hit into the pavilion in the next few minutes will most likely end up in my glove, and then in some lucky kids hand.
When you are the first one into a stadium there is that moment when you see the players and they look over at you.
Thats when you smile and think to yourself ” Yep they know me and they know I’m here to support them” That’s a cool feeling. Acceptance and appreciation from your team all wrapped into one short moment.
Then again it could all be in my head….Either way it feels real so I’ll roll with it.
I’ll tell you a secret. There’s a reason I prefer my sports live. I don’t watch a lot of TV and I really have trouble watching baseball on TV. At times it’s way to boring and I feel like I’m wasting the day watching TV.
I prefer baseball on the radio when the Rockies are out of town or if I’m not at a game. I will however go online and watch the hi-light clips if I hear a play on the radio that sounded cool.
I still for the life of me can’t figure why the Rockpile Rant continues to hold onto a top ten spot. I mean look who holds the top spots. You’ve got an accomplished professional writer in Jane who writes ”Confessions of a She-Fan” and has a couple of books. Red State Blue State has two writers and both are top-notch and feed off of each other.
Then there’s my fellow Ranter Julia. She’s a baseball lifer and she works MLBlogs like pro. She’s witty, funny, creative and the Red Sox biggest fan bar none.
In case you didn’t know it (I’m a fiddle player too, kidd’n), ”The Happy Youngster” is my favorite MLBlogger. I’ll tell you why….As passionate as I am about blogg’n, snagg’n and tagg’n, Happy is me times two with a list of accomplishments to back it up. He’s a family man, a baseball lifer and has rised above a bunch of bull-sheet that happened to him last year and is a better person for it.
I enjoy reading Happy’s take on things as they are quite often similar to mine and he always ”Tells it like it is”. I respect the hell out of that.
I can tell you which MLBlog will slide into the top ten if we ever have another “Latest Leaders List”. That would be another lifer known as the Rays Renegade. His blog is top notch and is filled with baseball history and written by guy who knows this sport inside and out. He’s an avid reader of other blogs and always has a bit of trivia or a kind comment to leave when he visits someone’s blog.
Guess what I’m saying is it is an honor to blog on this platform with such talent and fellow lifers. Each of us brings a different take on baseball to the masses and it’s fun to see who is willing to push the limits on what an MLBlogger can do.
Write On baseball freaks…Spread the Word
D..The Rockpile Ranter
I need a rest after Rockies Fest
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.
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.
I like what I see, Rockies take two out of three
4/28/09
Other than losing to the Padres (I hate losing to the Padres), it was a good game and a great day on all kinds of levels. As soon as I arrived in the pavilion and saw those batting cages on the field it was game on baby.
I’ve been waiting for a good snagging day and today was no disappointment.
Ball 1: Within a minute I saw a BP homer hit to the right of me and I was off like herd of turtles.
It bounced off a bleacher back and landed underneath the bleacher. I reached through the gap and grabbed it.
I looked up saw a young guy who would have gotten the ball had I not snagged it and I tossed it up to him.
That guy later said “Thank you Ranter” as he was leaving the pavilion.
Your Welcome Brotha !
The Rockies were hitting All-Star baseballs today and I wanted one.
Ball 2: The next BP homer was again hit to my right. I was running full speed and noticed that the ball was going to hit just below the fence so I swung my glove down and swooped it up so smoothly I didn’t even know it was in my glove until I looked.
I kept that ball because although it was dirty, it was a Yankee Stadium commemorative baseball and a bad-azzz catch.
I had another opportunity at another BP homer to the left of me but I misjudged it and missed it by inches. At that point I removed my sunglasses as they were not helping matters.
Ball 3 was hit to the right of me and it was just a plain old running catch. I gave that ball to a little red head girl who was standing next to her little brother who was already holding a ball.
Ball 4 was hit to the left of me and was another running catch snagged cleanly. It was given to a little boy.
I decided to reposition myself higher up in the pavilion and when ball 5 was hit I ran down a few stairs and caught it cleanly with no competition. I kept it because it was a pretty one with only one hit mark on it.
On my next attempt I hopped over three bleachers and ran left down the row as I figured I was in the perfect row to snag this hit. About halfway down the row I stopped positioned myself for the catch then from my left some dude came into my personal space held up his glove with his left arm and held down my arm with his right arm..
At first I thought we were just stuck from his collision into me, but when I tried to forcibly lift my arm I realized this dude had a tight grip on it.
I was like ” What’s up brotha, you don’t have to cheat, I’d have given your son the ball” .
He told me he wasn’t cheating and that I was the cheater by climbing over the three rows of bleachers to get to this spot.
I told him that was bullsheet and I can run, trip fall all over these bleachers and that’s ok, what isn’t ok is contact or touching/holding someone.
I realized right away you couldn’t tell this guy anything. He was one of those dudes. He was wrong, totally wrong and he knew it. You catch a ball with skill not force.
I also mentioned something like it better not happen again
This dude was there with his kid and I didn’t feel like continuing to promote his fine example of fatherhood.
Next time I won’t be so nice
A freggin Rockies fan to boot. I just don’t get it. Anyways, his brilliant block/hold caused us both to miss the ball. I knew dudes like this existed but up until this point I had only met ball whiners. This guy was my first official ball blocker.
Going forward, five snagged baseballs was my best day ever snaggin. There would be no All-Star baseballs for the Ranter today.
While I was on the stairs an Usher came up to me and mentioned she reads the Rockpile Rant and that she really enjoys it. She was very nice and I appreciate when someone tells me that. To find out that people read your blog and then to actually meet those people is very cool. If you’re reading thanks for saying hi and please leave me a comment with your name and I’ll give you proper credit.
Did it start with an “E”?
I always bring a pen for autographs, maybe I should use that same pen to take notes.
After batting practice was over I headed over to the Rockies dugout to again see what I could see. I saw a lot of players warming up.
I busted out my camera and started warming up myself.
Dexter Fowler, a guy who single-handedly is making center field in Coors field look smaller. Props to you brotha for your excellent effort and results in this last home stand.
Jorge De La Rosa and Yorvit Torrealba
tossing the ball
Todd Helton was out warming up also. Today I had brought two baseballs in case I was able to get more than one.
As soon as Todd Helton finished his warm-up walked over to a group of people about
ten feet away from where I was positioned.
Usually that means I wouldn’t be able to squeeze that far over so I didn’t even try.
But to my surprise Todd was working his way left and in no time he was just a few feet away from my spot.
I pulled out my baseball and Pentel RSVP pen.
Todd took them both and proceeded to autograph it on the sweet spot.
Thanks Todd I didn’t even have to ask.
How about that? All these years of not being to snag Todd’s autograph and then BAM, twice in two days. Life’s crazy like that.
Here’s a shot of Helton at bat. This picture was taken from the pavilion.
Helton
Tulowitzki and Stewart
Clint Hurdle and Ryan Spilborghs
Garrett Atkins 
Barmes and Hammel
More dugout shots
Helton and Baylor
A shot of Dan and Emily during the 7th inning stretch singing “Heeeeey Baby” oooh ahh.
Torrealba was behind the plate.
Going for that out.
A shot of Belisle
I thought for sure we’d take game two but the Rockies lose this one 4-3 to the Padres.
Hagg’n Stats for this game
1 point for showing up.
15 points for 5 snagged balls
2 points for Todd Helton’s autograph.
Total Points = 18
<—Actual Coors Field crack.
Well my friends, thanks for visiting the Rockpile Rant and remember to just say no to crack.
Spare the world a shot of your great divide and buy your T-shirts a little longer…D
Photos by the Rockpile Ranter
If there’s no Snagg’n there’s always Tagg’n
4/27/09 Padres vs Rockies
Ranter’s dictionary: Tagg’n = Getting baseballs autographed.
Monday’s game was straight up cold. I was hoping for batting practice but the field was empty other than a few Padres playing catch and doing sprints.
While I was standing there thinking about what I should do next I ran into Joy aka LUVMYROXX and her husband Jim.
This time I was able to take a picture and talk for a little bit.
Really nice folks and it was an honor to meet you both.
Thanks Joy for reading the Rant and being a regular commentor.
I have to say anyone brave enough to attend Monday’s game is a hardcore Rockies fan because it was quite nipply.
It was seriously overcast, the temperature was in the 40′s and a cold gusty wind was hitting us at times.
Great snowbarding weather but it can make watching a baseball game live a bit uncomfortable, especially when those wind gusts hit…brrrr
So after saying hey to some of the fellas in the first row I grabbed my backpack and headed over to the Rockies dugout to see what I could see.
When I arrived I saw Huston Street walking back to the dugout and before I could even ask he walked over to sign for a small group of fans. I quickly dug out a baseball and slipped into the group.
One thing I have noticed is that if you just hand a player a baseball they will usually not sign on the sweet spot. For me this is true 9 out of 10 times. Robert has been giving me sheet about not asking them to sign on the sweet spot.
He told me “just ask them to sign it on the sweet spot, they will”. So today I tried it.
I handed Huston Street the pen and baseball and asked “Huston will you please sign my ball on the sweet spot?”.
<——He looked at me with this look and said, “No, I’m not going to do that, you get it where you get it.
I about crapped my pants. You see the first time I ask I get slammed hard.
Naa I’m totally kidding, Huston Street is a great guy and will sign for anyone.
Here’s why it’s hard for me a to ask a player to sign on the sweet spot. I feel fortunate to just be getting a players autograph, so to be specific on what I want seems a tad rude.
But in reality unless it’s a World Series ball it needs to be signed on the sweet spot.
Its the perfect place for it….See what I mean.
Thank you Huston !
With luck like this in the first few minutes I figured I’d stay put there and see what unfolds.
So from a Hagger’s point of view the cold dreary day was getting better
Robert came over and was demonstrating to me the fine art of removing the word “PRACTICE” from a baseball.
It requires some very light sanding with fine sandpaper and then hitting it with a white eraser.
Neat stuff. Always pay attention to your elders, they are full of usefull information.
I knew the next player to come out would be Chris Iannetta.
I hopped in line and he signed the baseball Robert was fixing up for me.
I used a batting practice ball because Chris was signing in sharpie and I decided to work on a Team signed baseball mostly because I had only brought one new baseball and one used one.
Huston Street had autographed my new baseball so the only ball I had left was the one Robert fixed up for me.
The next guy out of the dugout was Bob Apodaca.
Bob looked like he was on a mission but when the older fella standing beside me called out his name Bob turned and walked over and started chatting and signing.
Nice guy, thank you Bob.
No batting practice today but I’ve snagged three autographs. Not bad eh !. It gets better my friends.
Here are the players warming up.
Mr. Helton
When Todd finished warming up he walked almost all the way to the dugout then he turned turned and walked over to my group.
I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never been able to get Todd’s autograph at Coors Field before and here he was two feet from me.
It was at that point I really wished I had a new baseball for him to sign. Oh well my team baseball was starting to look pretty good now especially with this this guys autograph on it
Look at the menacing sky in the background. My team ball is getting some character now.
As Clint Barmes was walking off the field he stopped and spent a few minutes signing for everyone.
Here he is signing my team ball–>
When he looked up at me I said, “Clint you tossed me the first batting practice ball of spring training this year”. He looked up at me and said “Yeah I remember you”.
Clint brotha, you don’t know how cool it was to hear you say that.
I’ve always liked Clint Barmes but now not only will the Rant be extra pro-Helton but it will be extra pro-Barmes. I take special notice when someone takes notice/remembers me.
Thanks for the autograph Clint. Good luck this season, the Rant has got your back.
I managed to get one more autograph but not a picture. Ryan Spilborghs signed the team baseball underneath Clint Barmes.
Spilly was working his way down the line signing with this head down and just before he got to me the guy beside me mentioned something about Robert catching his home run ball the night before.
I then asked Spilly if he had watched the video of it. Spilly said “Yeah I looked at it”. Then I said that I was the guy right behind Robert chasing it. He still didn’t look up. When he got to me he took my baseball, signed it, handed it back to me, stopped slowly, raised his head enough to see my face and acknowledge it, then he moved on down the line.
It wasn’t scary, but it wasn’t a “Cool man, better luck next time” kind of glance either. No worries Spilly, I’m a big fan and I’m glad you’re a part of this team.
We know a lot of the same people so I hope you get used to my face brotha :)
Some notes on this game. Dexter Fowler is amazingly fast.He stole five of the eight bases that were stolen in this game.
Tulo was benched?
Rockies get the win over the Padres 12-7.
I didn’t make it much past the fifth inning. I was cold tired, and had to get up for work at 3am. Had I stayed I’d have been in position to snag a ground rule double.
Let me just say that is not the first time that has happened to me and will surely not be the last. I think of it as the ghosts of baseball past teasing me for leaving my seat or going home early.
It will someday happen to you if you attend enough games. Eventually you’ll need to eat, drink or pee Precicly at the point that you cannot see your seat is when the baseball will land in your area.
Hagg’n totals for this game
1 Point for showing up.
12 Points for six autographs. Huston Street, Bob Apodaca, Todd Helton, Chris Iannetta, Clint Barmes, and Ryan Spilborghs. I couldn’t eat another brat this game.
Total points = 13
Two wins in a row, I’m digg’n this. Go Rockies…D
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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