5/5/12

Braves vs Rockies Game 2

Today’s adventure started out early. Hunter and I headed to Groove Chevrolet in Littleton to support MVP Sports and  Colorado sports Artist Kyle Banister who was helping host a Wilin Rosario autograph session.

When we arrived it was still early on in the session and not many folks had arrived yet. I was able to shake hands with Wilin, get one of Kyle’s Rosario prints autographed, and get a picture of Wilin autographed for Hunter.

Wilin was kind enough to pose with us for a picture. I asked Wilin what his favorite part of being a Rockie this season and his face lit up and he said:

 ”Everything man, the fans, the players, I love it.”

What Wilin doesn’t know at this point is once you shake the hand of the Ranter..Good things begin to happen.

Wilin is a really nice guy and Kyle drew an awesome print for this autograph session. As we were leaving we ran into Amy, Eric, Gary and Alannah X who were hang’n round enjoying the free lunch after getting Wilin’s autograph.

What I love about Kyle’s artwork is when you step back a few feet it comes to life.

Whenever I think of the Braves I think of my buddy Andy from Spring training. As much as I’ve taken abuse from  him about the Rockies, I give it back too. I enjoy the Braves in town because it usually results in a good batting practice and today did not disappoint.

For a change of pace I switched up gloves. I had a small amount of play from the Rockies today but each time the ball would drop short or fly over my head. However, once the Braves took over the field I knew I had picked the right part of the pavilion to be standing. My first ball was a toss-up that bounced short of the first row. I was able to snatch it up on the second bounce. My second ball was hit hard and I knew it was going to land in the tunnel. I headed for the  tunnel, turned back and was positioned for a perfect tunnel catch. At the last-minute another dude reached into the tunnel from the pavilion and deflected the ball. It went into the tunnel and through the door. I ran in and snagged it.

At this point I’m glad I’ve snagged two balls but I still hadn’t caught one on the fly this season. This was grinding on me hard. Finally with about ten minutes left of BP Dan Uggla hit a homer that had my name on it. I took a few steps to my left and made a perfect catch. I can’t tell you how glad I was to get that first one out-of-the-way.

Today was Cinco De Mayo or as I heard a Rockies fan say Drinko De Mayo

Here are a few pre-game pictures.

My mission today was to get pictures of Chipper Jones last time at Coors Field.

Cuddy’s Grand Slam..A nice shot into the pavilion.

Jamie Moyers first hit as a Rockie.

Yeah!!

I told you once you shake the hand of the Ranter good things happen. This is one of two Rosario homers tonight.

Here’s not only Chipper Jones but Chipper as his bat is starting to shred. First time I’ve gotten a shot of a bat breaking this particular way. Chipper was money tonight and had a career high 5 RBI’s.

Here’s what Tracy had to say about Esmil Rogers:

“With Esmil, it’s back and forth,” Tracy said. “A good day, a bad day, a good day, another bad day. Which guy’s coming? Which guy’s going to show up? That’s what we have to sort out and get to the point where we know a consistent guy’s going to show up on a regular basis. That’s where we’re failing, right?

Major group duck!

 Jim Tracy and his thoughts about the loss:

 “That’s the worst game of the year for us. From the sixth inning on, we didn’t pitch at all. We had a 6-0 lead after two innings, and once we went to our bullpen no one that we ran out there threw with any consistency whatsoever. When you’ve scored 17 runs in the first two games of the series and you haven’t won one, it gives you a pretty good idea of where we’re failing.”

It’s tough to watch Jamie pitch so well then watch a nice lead slip away.

Final Score: Braves 13 Rockies 7…Ouch that’s two now.

I’m ”D” The Ranter and I’m thinking I need to shake hands with all of the Rockies.