Results tagged ‘ Rockpile Ranter ’
Going Squirrely?…You Can Get in Early
3/23/11
I still can’t stop thinking about Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
I keep thinking woulda, coulda, shoulda.
It doesn’t help that Dan and Emily just got back from a week in Scottsdale a few days ago, Mike got back yesterday, Geoff is back and Robert has been there since the first game.
All I can say is next year I’ll have more time and now I sort of know the ropes. Look out!
I try not to set my goals too high as life has it’s own share of built in disappointments and I don’t need to add to it..But, living in the mountains gives you lots of time to ponder stuff.
Below is a list of things I’d like to accomplish in 2011. None of them may ever happen but a guy can dream.
Goals and Dreams for 2011
More than anything on this big blue earth I want to catch my first live game home run during the regular season.(4th year’s a charm). It’s got to happen, nobody can come so close so many times and not eventually snag one right?
All I can figure is there’s a master plan out there and my first homerun catch is gonna be a monumental one. Believe it or not I dream about this and in the dream it’s Todd Helton who homers to me.
Have the opportunity to rub up a few baseballs with Lena Blackburn’s mud that will then be used during the game. 
Throw out the first pitch of any game.
Take batting practice with the Rockies, hit a few maybe field a few.
Snag 50 BP baseballs in 40 games.
Have an opportunity to take game pictures in the media section right next to the Rockies dugout.
Try again to get Jason Giambi’s autograph on my Spring Training homerun of his from last season.
Interview one of the Baseball Authenticators that secretly inhabit Coors Field.
Make new friends and increase the Rant’s following with the goal of making the Rockpile Ranter a household name in Colorado.
Be part of one of Tom Helmer’s “Tom on the Town” segments along with the Rantics 
Find a way to make baseball a full time job rather than my hobby .
The Rantics are an intense group of loyal Rockies baseball fans. A Rantic is someone who would do almost anything for their team at a moments notice. If that describes you and we’ve never met, I want to meet you.
Every other blog entry or so this season I’d like to profile a new Rockies fan. I plan to take a picture of them and ask a variety of questions and I’ll post it on the blog. That is how I built the Rockpile Rant, one reader/friend at a time.
Give me three minutes of your time, I’ll make ya famous
If you want to get a sneak peak of your Rockies before opening day you might want to pick up a couple tickets for the “Rockies Workout for Charity” on March 31st.
Tickets are six bucks and all net proceeds benefit the Rockies Foundation.
With your six dollar ticket you will receive a voucher for a complimentary ticket for select April and May home games, subject to availability.
Gates open at 1pm. The Rockies will be signing autographs at 1:30 for twenty minutes along the first baseline. Similar to Autograph Sundays I presume.
The Rockies will take the field at 2:10 and will go through a full workout lasting about ninety minutes.
It will be cool, you’ll get to walk around Coors Field and check out all of the new stuff that was added, snag a few autographs and if we’re lucky get in a round of batting practice.
I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter and I’m ready for some home cooked food and some live baseball.
Wont you join me?..Go Rockies…D 
I end up with one…But damn it was fun
2/28/11 Rockies Spring Training Game Two
Today was all about relaxing, watching some baseball and maybe snagg’n a ball or two. Hunter and Mylee spend Friday-Sunday visiting grandma and grandpa and they had a blast cruising all over the desert in their grandpa’s tricked out Jeep Rubicon.
Today was their chance to see some baseball before catching our flight back to Denver at 6:50.
There were a few fans standing in line as we approached the centerfield gates but I could tell there would be a lot less people in attendance today. The weather was perfect. It was just shy of 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.
As soon as the extremely friendly Ushers let us inside we headed for the left field berm.
I learned my lesson from Saturday and was avoiding the right field berm. It took a little over thirty minutes but eventually the Rockies wandered out, started warming up and began to take some swings.
While Hunter and I were standing on the berm a guy who works for the Rockies (I think) walked up to Hunter and I and asked me how old Hunter was. I told him twelve. He said that was too bad. I asked “why”.
He said he was going to ask if Hunter wanted to be the Rockies bat boy for the game.
I was floored, Hunter was in shock. Unfortunately you had to be fourteen. He said come back in two years and I told him I’d hold him to it. As bummed as I was that Hunter couldn’t do it I was really impressed that he came over and asked us…Thank you Sir that was extremely cool.
With us today was Krista’s sister Angie who lives in Arizona.
If you’re in Arizona and are looking to adopt a small dog please check out her website.
Mini MIghty Mutts..Little dogs need good homes too.
How cool is this? The Vendors here sell Rice Krispy Squares 
Here are a few videos Krista took of batting practice.
This is one of many “I almost got”.
Here’s the second, I wasn’t even close but you never know?
Here’s the third…Are you starting to see a pattern here?
Now in this video the ball has been hit, I’m planted with my glove in the air mere seconds from snagg’n my first clean catch at Salt River Fields.
Out of nowhere the D-Backs dude in Red (who already had snagged three at that point) totally rips this one from me.
Then the dude said he was sorry and kept mentioning how this was his first batting practice ever. I seriously doubt that but he wasn’t the worse.
At this point I was beginning to get a bit frustrated.
Of all the missed opportunities today for some reason this next one got to me the most. In this video I’m tracking the ball perfect. I put my glove up to catch it and the older dude with black jacket, shorts, white knee brace and black hat with a red brim puts his glove up next to mine and knocks the ball away.
Guess who winds up with the ball?
The same D-backs guy who already had snagg’d three or four and kept saying this was his first batting practice. I was starting to sense a tag-team thing going on.
Dan…The dude in the above video is the “Overly Eager Grandpa” I was telling you to watch out for.
I’ll never understand why people do that. First off it’s dangerous. If you knock a ball away chances are that diverted ball could hit one of us in the face. Secondly, it’s just plain rude.
Here’s an excited Hunter after getting his third ball, a toss up from an unknown player. He’s a stud.
Here’s Mylee keeping herself entertained while the boys chased baseballs.
In this last video you can’t see it but this ball was the last ball hit during BP. It wasn’t a homer but it was close.
So close I leaned over the rail and the ball landed smack in the center of my glove and bounced out. Matt Belisle chuckled at me, picked up that ball and tossed it back to the bucket.
I just had to smile. I was too dehydrated to cry.
That was it for BP…I didn’t snag any baseballs on the fly and the only ball BP ball I got was a toss up from this player.
Anyone who can identify him please let me know. No it’s not Cole Garner.
I thanked him big-time as players don’t toss me a lot of baseballs.
Danny came over to the left field berm and visited with me for a while.
Danny was excited because he happened to snag a game rubbed Inaugural ball earlier and he was kind enough to let me photograph it.
Thanks for coming over and chatt’n Danny. It was good to see you and I’ll see you again on April 1st brotha.
I wanted one of those baseballs bad. Robert’s still down in Scottsdale and Dan, Emily and Mike will all be heading down soon, so between those fellas somebody will hook me up with one.
I headed over to the Rockies dugout as that’s kind of my routine. Here are some random shots.
I didn’t take any action shots today as I was just chill’n on the berm drinking a beer I purchased from a happily employed Captain Earthman.
Earthman thanked me for the blog entry for I did for him a few weeks back. 
Today was amazing. Not only did I spent quality time with my wife, kids and sister-in-law. I was able to relax, enjoy the warm weather and soak in the Rockies baseball taking place in front of me that I’ve been longing for all winter long
I mentioned to Krista that I never wanted to leave.
But we did have to leave, right around the 8th inning so we could be sure and catch our flight. Rockies get their second win over the D-Backs in as many games with a final score of 6-5.
I love it here in Arizona, and when Mylee finishes school this Ranter and his wife will officially be Snowbirds. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a gambler but for me batting practice is like being in a casino.
I don’t mind going home empty handed as long as I get some “play” while I’m there.
Today….I got me some ”play“ and I couldn’t be more excited for the Rockies home opener on April 1st.
This Stadium is one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to…Rockies and D-Backs fans, you’ll be proud when you strut around this complex. 
I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter and this concludes my Spring Training 2011 trip. The plan is to spend ten days in Scottsdale next year.
I’m thinking a Rantic Baseball Getaway? Mull it over, I’m giving you plenty of time
If your looking for live pictures from the games, the Salt River Fields practice facility and other teams facilities Dan and Emily will be heading to Scottsdale in a few days. When they arrive Dan will be posting pictures on he and Emily’s FACEBOOK page daily.
Click here—> Rox Fan Emily and Dan.
Also Mike, writer of the MLBlog Rox Addict will be heading down in a week or so and he’ll have some great pictures. Be sure and give his Rockies blog some luv.
GO ROCKIES…D
A Geezer and a Canadian open the New Stadium
2-26-11 Alternate titles for this entry were:
“Parking was free but man I had to Pee”
“Job Done now Where’s the Sun”
”When you write the Rant, there is no Can’t” 
Rockies vs Diamondbacks
The Inaugural Game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
I hit the highway amped at 2:45 am heading from Yuma Arizona to Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. Within five minutes of being on the highway I was stopped and found myself chatting with a “serious business” border patrolman at one of their security checkpoints. I guess I looked suspicious with my groovy Ranter hat and the fact I was driving alone in a rental car early in the morning?
Anyways, the officers informed me that the rental car and all of my belongings needed to be searched by their drug sniffing dog Lassie.
That experience took a good twenty minutes and other than slowing me up a bit the “military wannabe’s” wouldn’t let me grab my jacket and put it on. Let me tell you it’s flipp’n cold at 3am in the desert.
Thankful that there wasn’t some sort of body cavity search next, the border guys finished invading my stuff and I resumed my road trip to Scottsdale before they changed their minds.
At 6am I met up with Robert at Denny’s just outside of Salt River Fields. The two of us had a good breakfast and I had to take this picture of the Arizona sunrise as were getting ready to hop in our vehicles and drive the last mile to the new stadium.
By 7:10 I was officially the first fan standing in line to enter Salt River Fields. The centerfield gates were open and there wasn’t a sole in sight. I was damn temped to wander inside, but I’m an honest guy and I stood my ground just outside the gates :).
Other than the two steps I took inside when nobody was looking
I’ve been planning to be the first fan inside this stadium from the moment I heard about it and I love it when a plan works out.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Here’s the picture I took standing two feet inside. 
There was a local Arizona news team that was inside the stadium before me but for some reason they had no interest in interviewing the Rockies fan standing in line 
After about an hour of standing in line while Robert walked the entire perimeter of the training complex, the first D-Backs fan named Andrew arrived. 
He asked if I was the Rockpile Ranter. Impressed that a D-Backs fan knew me I gave him my card and in return Andrew gave me his. Andrew writes a really cool D-Backs blog called:
Andrew was an extremely nice guy and Robert and I had a good time chatting and waiting in line with him. Check out Andrew’s blog about game one. He wrote some nice things about Robert and I and gave the Rockpile Rant some luv.
Also, Andrew snagged the first ever batting practice homerun hit at Salt River Fields. It was hit by Chris Nelson. Andrew is a hardcore D-Backs fan and I’m glad at least somebody I knew caught the first BP homer.
Thanks Andrew, it was an honor to meet you brotha.
I also was finally able to meet a long-time FACEBOOK friend and Rockies fan named April.
April showed up early and was standing in line near us. I gave her a big hug and we posed for pictures.
If you notice the change in Ranter hat it’s because at the last minute I felt I should be wearing the original Ranter hat and not the new one I had made. I’m glad I did.
April it was extremely cool to finally meet you and thanks for supporting the Rockpile Rant my friend.
Both Robert and I were sport’n our “HELMER IS MY HOMEBOY” T-Shirts and it wasn’t long before Tom came over to the centerfield gate hung out for a while and posed for pictures with everyone.
Not counting me here are the first four fans in line to enter the stadum.
Robert asked Tom Helmer for a favor. He asked if he could get George Frazier to autograph a baseball for him with one of his famous quotes. Tom’s a superstar and was able to get George to autograph the ball it and had it back to Robert in no time flat.
Check this baseball out.
Props to Tom and George..That was an extremely cool thing to do.
Alanna Rizzo came over with a camera crew just before the gates opened and talked to us but no interview 
Below two photos by Andrew
Robert and I decided to make a deal. Since we both totally went out of our way to be first in the new stadium, we decided to share the honors and both walk in at the same time.
Here’s a picture of the video of Robert and I going through the gates first.
Here’s the video of Tom Helmer and The Cowboy mentioning on air that the first two fans through the gates were Robert and Don and they were both sport’n “Helmer is my Homeboy” T-Shirts.
Admit it Tom, you can’t buy better exposure than that .
Thanks Tom, Robert and I really appreciated the T-Shirts and the Rantics will too.
The giveaway for the Inaugural game was a ceramic Inaugural ticket.
Here’s the first picture of Salt River Fields “field” taken by a fan during the first few seconds of entering the stadium.
But Because I stopped to take the above picture Robert beat me to being the first fan to walk on the berm. So here’s a picture of the first fan on the Right Field Berm….Guess who?
First Rockies Blanket on the Berm.
Here’s video of the first two pitches thrown at Salt River Fields.
Here’s a couple shots of the Bi-Plane flyover.
Tasty treats, strawberries and mashmallows drizzled in white chocolate…Mmm
Tom gett’n ready for the post-game Rockies Win Report.
In case you thought I forgot. Here’s the Salt River Fields “Crack of the Game”
The sellout inaugural game went ten innings and the Colorado Rockies make stadium history with this special win over their Salt River roommates the D-Backs.
I’d like to think I made a little history in my own special way.
Thanks to everyone who stopped me, said hello and let me know they enjoy reading the Rockpile Rant. Stuff like that inspires me and keeps me blogging.
Sad to say I was shutout as far as baseballs go, at least at this first game.
Robert’s claim to fame was snagg’n the first BP homer ever caught by a Rockies fan in the new stadium. He caught a Troy Tulowitzki BP homer before the inaugural game started. If it wasn’t me I’m glad it was him.
I sure wanted it to be me though
I love this picture taken by Robert…It’s going on the wall…Thanks fellas..You Rock!
I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter and it was an honor and my unpaid duty to represent Colorado and Rockies fans everywhere who couldn’t make it to this game.
Stay tuned for game two.
Gett’n our Kix wait’n for Tix
2/12/11
Today Colorado Rockies tickets went on sale at the ticket windows at Coors Field. This is the day when a little patience pays off big. It was a bit chilly but the forcast for today was was mid 50′s.
The way the Rockies work it is you choose a wristband that’s numbered between 101 and 499. The 100′s represent line one, 200′s line two, etc. Then the second set of numbers decides your position in line.
Mylee pulled the best numbered wristband of the three of us #313.
Her wristband put us in Row 3 in the 13th spot. Actually there were only six people in front of us so we were sixth in that line.
Then the Rockies staff placed four baseballs inside a bag numbered 1-4. A little girl was chosen from the crowd to pick out the numbered baseballs. The order in which the baseballs were picked decided which of the fours row gets to line-up in front of the ticket windows first.
The little girl picked Row 3 first(sweet), so we were were one of the first six fans at the ticket window.
The Rockies were thoughtful and provided hot chocolate for everyone standing in line.
Once the line sequence had been determined the Rockies staff march each individual row over to the ticket window where we waited about ten minutes for the windows to open.
Here’s the long line of folks patiently waiting for their time at the window.
As always Dinger was around to help pass the time.
The kids and I were able to purchase four of the last few remaining Rockpile tickets for opening day on April 1st.
We were also able to snag tickets for all of the fireworks games which are on:
July 1st
July 2nd
September 16th.
And all of the Bobblehead games which are on:
April 3rd Ubaldo Jiminez
June 10th Carlos Gonzalez
August 20th Troy Tulowitzki.
Mission accomplished in less than an hour.
Only two weeks until we’re in Arizona opening the new Rockies/D-Backs stadium.
I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter and I’m just gett’n all my ducks in row for this season.
Salt River Fields…Of Dreams it Seems
2/1/11
Two Tribes, Two Teams, One Home….The opening of a new stadium.
This is what you get when you partner the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian community with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. This partnership has resulted in what’s known as Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Salt River Fields is the first Major League Baseball spring training facility to be constructed on Indian land. The stadium has an 11,000 seat capacity including the grass berm in the outfield.
Surrounding this beautiful stadium are 12 practice fields.
Scattered throughout the grounds are other buildings that will house Major and Minor league clubhouses, training facilities and offices for the Rockies and the Diamondbacks.
Entering the Stadium from the Rockies Clubhouse.
Main Gate entrance behind home plate.
Here are a few things of note about Salt River Fields
Tailgating is not permitted in any Salt River Fields operated parking lot. Persons may not consume alcohol in the parking lots, including inside their vehicles.
Salt River Fields regulations allow only soft-sided bags and containers 16″x16″x8″ or smaller to be permitted in the gates
The Centerfield Gate, which is located on the eastern part of the main stadium, will open 2 hours and 40 minutes prior to game time for Guests who want to view batting practice. The remaining gates will open 2 hour and 10 minutes prior to game time.
During the games, Guests are permitted to leave the ballpark and return through any of the four entrance gates. Please see the gate supervisor to have your hand and ticket stub stamped. When returning to the ballpark, Guests must show their ticket stub and hand stamp, and should re-enter through a special pass-out gate at each of the entrance gates.
There are 3000 parking spaces on site and parking is $5.00.
Permitted Items:
• One (1) Factory-Sealed Bottle of Water, Per Person. No larger than one (1) liter in size.
• Purses / Diaper Bags / Personal Medical Bags.
• Still / Video Cameras. Video cameras are permitted as long as live game action is not recorded.
• Binoculars.
• Baseball Bats for the purpose of autographs. Bats must be stored under seats once the game begins. No aluminum bats,
• Plastic baby bottles or any necessary items required for medical purposes or other special needs.
Prohibited Items:
• No Outside Food or Beverages. Except as provided under permitted items. No Illegal Drugs
• No Weapons / FireworksNo Glass Bottles / Aluminum Cans
• No Hard-Sided Coolers / Containers, Regardless of Size
• No Camera Tri, Dual or Single Leg Pods by Non-Media Personnel
• No Fish Nets / Poles / Umbrellas / Signs Attached to Sticks
• No Bullhorns / Noisemakers / Confetti
• No Animals. Except service dogs for guests with disabilities are permitted.
• No Beach Balls / Balloons / Inflatables
• No Skateboards / Rollerblades / Shoes with Wheels
• No Unauthorized Motor Vehicles / Mobility Devices
• No Stools / Folding Chairs
• No Squirt Guns / Bubble-Making Liquids
• No Laser Pointers
• Other Items Not Specified on this List as Deemed Prohibited by Management
From a baseball fans point of view the opening of a new stadium comes with a lot of firsts…Such as:
First fan to enter the gates.
First fan to catch a batting practice homerun.
First fan to catch a batting practice foul ball.
First fan to get a batting practice ball tossed to them.
First autograph inside the stadium.
First live game homerun snag or catch.
First live game foul ball snag or catch.
First ground rule double snag or catch.
First live game toss-up (ie. 3rd out toss-up).
Not to mention…The first pitch, first steal, first homerun, first single, double, first triple, first walk, first bunt, first hit batsmen, first out, first double play, first walk-off homerun…
You get my point the list goes on.
Everything is a first during the first game of a new stadium. Someone has their mind set on devouring the first foot long brat and some eager fan will take pride in knowing he purchased the first beer poured in Salt River Fields.
I couldn’t think of a better time to debut a “New Dinger”?
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is a giant step-up from Hi-Corbett Field in every aspect. The whole “new ballpark” experience should be a positive buzz for the Rockies and will hopefully spill into the regular season. It would be nice to get through April with a winning record.
The Rockies season begins at Salt River Fields on February 26, 2011 against the Diamondbacks at 1:10. Only 11,000 people will witness this once in a lifetime opportunity.
I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter…First in my Tulo’s eyes and maybe one the first to open this new stadium…Stay Tuned…D
Tag Along With Me at Rockies Fest Three
1-22-11
Rockies Fest…Go there once you’ll be there twice.
For me Rockies Fest symbolizes the very beginning of the baseball season. It’s my first exposure to the players since the end of the previous season and I get to wander Coors Field, take pictures, get autographs and hang out with other extreme Rockies fans.
What could be better?
I also was able to hand out Rockies Fest tickets to the Rockpile Rant’s “Rockies Essay” winners, Ken, Dave and Johnny.
Here’s Ken and his son.
Here’s Dave and his girlfriend.
Here’s Johnny.
I just want to thank everyone who took the time to submit an essay. I really enjoyed reading them and getting to know a little bit about you.
Leave a comment and let us know how your Rockies Fest went?
Here’s R-Luv..Just as excited as she could be.
Blake and his buddy.
After all the tickets were handed out the kids and I got in line.
Here’s Gary and Alannah X
The first thing on the agenda was the players/coaches interview at 10:30. So with an hour to kill we headed over to the ROOT SPORTS desk to see if Tom Helmer was around.
When we arrived at the interview area Tom came up and gave us a big friendly welcome. Hunter and Mylee decided that they wanted to get interviewed by Tom and Tracy Ringolsby. Usually there’s a line but at this point the only one in front of us was Ken(essay winner) and his son….So we got in line.
This was the first time I was able to shake hands with Tracy Ringolsby. I was really nervous but Tracy’s such a cool guy I wasn’t nervous for long.
Here’s Tom and Tracy interviewing Hunter and Mylee.
I’d like to thank Tom Helmer for taking the time to introduce me to a few very nice people from ROOT SPORTS. I have to say ROOT SPORTS has really nailed it.
From what I’m told and can see ROOT SPORTS is about the fan and I like that because the Rockpile Rant is about the fan.
As soon as the kids were done with their interview we were escorted over to where ROOT SPORTS was filming the Rockies commericals. The kids went first. I’m not quite sure if they ever got their timing right but they sure had fun sitting up there.
I was up next and I noticed how quiet and reserved everyone was being so I wanted to bump thing up a bit. I was reading a card that said “You’re watching ROOT SPORTS” and I did my best to represent the Rockpile Rant and the Rantics. Loud and proud baby.
It seemed like they liked it but who knows?
I also was given the chance to talk about Ubaldo’s no-hitter. I didn’t think I did so good but each time I do something like this I get a little bit less nervous. Thank you ROOT SPORTS for this extremely unique opportunity. It was a great experience and the kids and I loved it.
Apparently next season the Rockies are going to put pictures of their fans on the season tickets. How cool is that? You can bet our smiling mugs took the time to pose for those shots. How fun would that be attending the actual game in which your face is on the ticket?
At this point we needed to get to our player/coach interview. This interview session was hosted by Drew Goodman and Alanna Rizzo.
Check it out.
Here’s video from the session.
We had to leave the interview a few minutes early as it was time to get in line for our first autograph session. Rumor had it that the guy who signed right before we got there was Todd Helton. As we were standing in line Douglas walked by and told us that he was pretty sure Tulo would be signing for us.
As luck would have it Douglas was right.
Here’s a shot of Tulo signing for Mylee sport’n a fresh haircut. Tulo’s usually upbeat but today he seemed like he didn’t want to be there.
I wished “the duece” a good season and we were off explore Coors Field before the next session.
While wandering around we bumped into catcher Wilin Rosario and he signed for Mylee and Hunter.
Mylee picking a winner.
Ian Stewart getting his Rockband on.
Time to get in line for Autograph session two….Dexter Fowler
Dexter was all smiles and was talking with everyone. I really hope Dexter has a breakout year. He’s one of my favorite Rockies.
With more time to kill we headed into the bowels of Coors Field.
It’s become almost a tradition for me to leave my Ranter card in the Rockies lockers. With a quick flick of the wrist you can usually get the cards close.
This year I took a few pictures. Here’s the Ranter card next to the left of Dexter Fowlers gym bag.
Aaron Cooks locker sporting a Ranter card in the right corner.
Todd Helton’s locker. I missed this year and my card landed on the floor.
Tulo’s locker, unfortunately the card landed upside down.
Yoda…He was perched on top of a television in the Rockies locker room.
Here’s Ubaldo’s entire uniform and then some from his no-hitter in Atlanta last season.
..
Even his dirty socks.
The original Dinger suit. I still think Dinger should be a black and silver T-Rex but whatcha gonna do?
Coors Field groundbreaking.
Memorabilia from 2007.
The last autograph sesssion of the day was Glenallen Hill and Chris Nelson. Here’s Glenallen signing for Hunter.
Both of these guys were in a great mood and were chatting up the folks in line.
Here’s Mylee’s dog.
Here’s what I managed to get autographed today.
On our way out of Coors Field.
As I was getting ready to post this entry I received an email from essay winner Dave. He sent me a couple pictures and informed me he was able to snag thirty two autographs. Ten minor leaguers, four coaches and eighteen current major leaguers.
Check out Dave’s Coors Field sign…WOW!
Dave got lucky and ran into Jason Giambi.
I was on the hunt for Giambi all day. Thanks to Geoff for sending me texts as to Jason’s whereabouts but for some reason I kept missing the slugger.
That my friends is how you do it. Props to you Dave you worked it brotha.
A lot of baseball teams do something similiar to Rockies Fest but not all of them. Rockies fans are lucky we get this day to wander the entirety of Coors field, visit and chat with players and get to see precious baseball memorabila from historic Rockies games.
I feel privledged every time I’ve attended this event and honored to be a Colorado Rockies fan and their # 1 MLBlogger.
Thanks to all the Rockies fans who walked up to me and introduced themelves. I really enjoy meeting the baseball fans who read the Rockpile Rant. Thanks to ROOT SPORTS I think this year is going to be the “Year of the Fan”.
Make no mistake we Rockies fans embrace that concept.
A huge thanks goes out to Dan because we all know “He’s the Man”. I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter.
Baseball season has officially begun…D
GO ROCKIES…D
Meet the Coors Field “Rockpile Rantics”
Here are the “Rockpile Rantics” and a little bit about themselves.
Dan Sauvageau
I became a Rockies fan in 1996 when my wife and I moved here from Montana, and (don’t tell Emily this), but I was a Cubs fan before that. I am an insurance and retirement specialist for New York Life. I have caught 77 game home runs since 1998. I caught 10 home runs on the fly in one season in 2000, and caught 2 home runs in the same inning (Mike Lansing and Jeff Cirillo on June 28, 2000).
I was featured on Fox’s “You Gotta See This” in January of 2001. My favorite Rockies moment was Game 163 in 07′, after we went down 2 runs in the top of the inning, I was packing my stuff up pissed to no end ready to leave. After Holiday slid into home plate, you would have thought I’d just won the $400 million Powerball. My favorite pic ever taken of me at a Rockies game was at Game 4 of the World Series, bottom of the 9th, 1 out and Jamey Carroll up at the plate. He hits a long fly ball caught “RIGHT” in front of me. If the ball flies just 5 feet further, it’s in my glove, and Game 4 is tied at 1. As far as how many games I’ve been to, I’ve been to over 1,000 Rockies games since 1996.
I’ve never really kept track of how many batting practice balls I’ve caught, but we figure it is pretty close to about 2,500. My favorite all time Rockies player is Larry Walker.
Here’s the story and video of Dan getting interviewed prior to the 2007 World Series…..Denver Gripped with Rockies Fever
Emily Sauvageau
I have been a Rockies fan since September 15th, 2003, the day I was born. I have 2 game home run balls, not that my dad gave me, but two guys I didn’t know caught them behind us, and gave them to me. 
Also, my dad made me a “HIT IT HERE” sign with a target, and the middle cut out of it.
Geri Schmid aka “QUEEN GERI”
I’m an automobile accountant during the day, and work in all 3 stadiums at night.
I was a season ticket holder in section 331 (RIGHT behind home plate) for 8 years until my baseball dad got too old to go with me anymore.
One supervisor had been asking me for years to come work with them, so I decided to try it out at that point. I was a Coors Field usher for 2 seasons in the 140′s (third base to the LF foul pole), and now work in the wardrobe department for the Rockies.
I love hanging out with all of the Rantics on warm summer nights watching my favorite team playing my favorite sport.
My name is Hunter. I’m an original Rockpile Rantic because my dad is the Rockpile Ranter. I’ve been a Rockies fan since I was born and attended my first game at six months old.
My favorite Rockies moment was when Manual Corpas gave me his glove. 
I moved to Colorado in 1993 to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder (graduated with a bachelor of Environmental Design in ’96). I currently work for an architectural consulting firm in Denver (10 blocks from Coors Field) that designs maintenance facilites for cities, counties, and transit agencies.
Favorite player: That’s always such a tough one because they are all a favorite for different reasons….guess at this point it would either be Cargo or Joe Beimel.
I’ll Be Back if my Back Lets Me Back
It’s been a while since I logged into MLBlogs and clicked that “Create Entry” button. Now I’m staring into a solid empty white box with a lot to say but I’m having difficulty getting started.
Let me run this at you from the beginning. Last August I was lifting a box at work in the squatting position and as I went to stand up something pulled and my left butt cheek and leg went numb.
As the day progressed the numbness and pain got worse. At the end of my shift I was told to go see the doctor. My doctor figured I had a lower back strain and prescribed a few pain killers and some muscle relaxers (standard procedure).
I was put on light duty and I took it easy at work. As time passed I noticed that sitting and standing for long periods was beginning to become uncomfortable.
During an average Rockies game I’d say I normally stand four to five hours including batting practice. I’ve never had an issue with the prolonged standing at games but now after thirty to forty-five minutes my lower back would start to ache and I would have to sit.
Through the month of September my back issues kept getting worse. My left foot felt and still feels like it’s asleep. It’s a constant half-numb feeling. I started getting this things I call “stingers”. Stingers are deep stabbing pains that I’ve been getting in my hip, quad, calf, butt and foot.
These “stingers” as I call them are totally debilitating as they demand and get your full attention. If I’m driving or riding passenger and a stinger starts doing its thing, I’m looking for a place to pull over immediately and hopping around outside my truck until that f’ker lets loose.
At the beginning of Sept I was averaging 30-40 stingers a day. Now I get them all day long. I can’t sit for more than five minutes because the stingers start tap dancing on my sciatic nerve.
My day consists of sitting, standing and pacing until my lower back gets sore from standing then sitting again. I do get some relief from lying completely flat but eventually my lower back starts to hurt from that position and I have to get up.
It’s hard to sleep because the stingers could care less what time it is.
Still the doctor was convinced that I had a lower back strain. Finally after pleading with him I convinced him to take X-Rays and schedule me for an MRI.
The X-Ray showed absolutely nothing. A week later I was able to get the MRI.
I had another visit with my doctor a few days after the MRI and when I had a chance to say what was going on with me I just vented on the guy.
I told him how miserable it was just existing. I told him how I couldn’t sit, drive, sleep, or do anything. I told him about the severe leg spasms I was having. I told him the pain pills were not working..I layed it all out…”I’m getting worse not better doctor” was the last thing I told him.
My doctor was like “Well I have your MRI results right here let’s see what’s going on”. He opened the envelope and read it and he said,” Well that would explain it”.
I said “What’s it say?”
He reviewed with me the written results as he didn’t have the actual MRI pictures. He explained that according to the MRI results a good size chunk of my L5/S1 disc is severely extruding. The extruding disc has nestled itself nicely up against my nerve and that nestling is the cause of my misery.
The doctor immediately took me out of work, increased my meds and scheduled an appt. with a surgeon.
Fast forward (11/20/10)
My surgery is this Tuesday the 23rd thanks to some cool people who jumped in and helped a brotha out.(Thank you, you know who you are). They plan to remove the extruded piece of my disc, clean up any scraps and hopefully the rest of my disc will tuck back in nicely and I’ll be me again.
Anyways I’ve been out of work almost two months now and anyone that has known me for any period of time knows that I don’t do NOTHING well.
The term “going squirrley” would fit this situation well.
I’ve got an inner energy that drives me I can’t turn it off. However, not having my back and legs fully functional has severely hampered my energy flow. There is nothing worse than wanting to do something and just not being physically able to do it.
This surgery just has to work. Damn right I’m scared, my back is my life and my livelyhood and I’m still too full of pi-ss and vinegar to slow at this point.
If my surgery doesn’t work I’ll have to retire the Ranter and go back to being a regular Rockies fan who watches baseball on a non HD television.
I much prefer the 3-D HD I get at Coors Field.
Nov 23rd
I showed up for my surgery and all was a go. Unfortunately I had a bad reaction to the meds that were administered before they put me under and went through a ten minute session of ”I can’t breathe”. It felt like every breath that I took was getting shorter and I felt like I was suffocating.
After that episode my surgeon was like “Uh, I don’t think we’re going to do the surgery today.”
So as it stands right now my new surgery is at 10:15am on December 1st.
Any positive vibe or thought you can send my way is greatly appreciated.
Thanks…”D”
I dont’ like to end my blog entries on a sad note.
So here are some pictures I’m pretty sure sure not many of you have seen. These pictures were taken by Master Photographer Mike who now has a blog called Rox Addict.
Mike thank you for letting me use these pictures.
These pictures were taken after the final game of the season and is what you would call Rookie hazing…Rockies style I guess?
This season I personally met a crazy amount of people who read the Rockpile Rant.
One of the perks of writing a blog is getting to meet the folks who actually read my Rockies ramblings and enjoy looking at my pictures.
This season I met and got to hang out a little bit with Gary X and his family. In one season Gary and his family have mastered Coors Field.
If I’m correct Gary and family managed to get all of the Rockies signatures in just a few months. At the end of the final game the only missing signature was Troy Tulowitzki.
Gary and family happend to be hanging around after the game checking out the Rockies Rookies in diapers and guess who happend to walk by.
Tulo and the magic mullet.
Mission accomplished…One helluva job..Congrats to all of you!!!
Gotta love a happy ending.
I’m looking forward to the Pavilion Party at Gunther Toodys in December as I didn’t get to say see ya next season to all my Pavilion friends because I missed the last game of the year.
I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter…Wednesday’s almost here…Wish a brotha luck…”D”
The Videos Were Fun..Here the Number One
8/14/10
As much hype as I tried to put into the “Pitch Your Team” video contest other than two video entries it was kind of a bust.
As I’ve mentioned before, I haven’t given up and I will promote and hold this video contest next year. If for nothing else it motivates me to create my own Rockies video.
A while back when Dan and Emily submitted their video and Dan told me it wasn’t really an entry but more of an example of what to do. To get the ball rolling so to speak.
So Marianne’s video takes first place and Dan and Emily take second. I really want to thank you both for taking the time to do this for the Rockpile Rant.
I really do appreciate your Rockies loyalty. I guess in a perfect world I was hoping for an entry from each team.
First Place goes to R-Luv’s Video.
Second Place Video. It’s from Dan Sauvageau and his daughter Emily.
For fun I made a video too, mine is called “I Got a Feel’n”
Here is what R-Luv and Emily have won.
First Prize
Huston Street Autographed Baseball and Mini Bat
Second Place
Autographed Eric Young Jr. Mini Bat
Better start thinking about next year. I’ll have bigger and better prizes. Thanks for playing and showing your team support…
Go Rockies…”D” The Rockpile Ranter
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