I just got back from the game, and let me say this was by far the funnest game I've been too. First, I caught Bobby Estalella's first home run(the one in the 2nd inning). Second, when Biggio hit his homerun, Preston Wilson went to throw it into the stands...he looked right at my brother and threw it. Too bad the wind blew it to the guy next to the guy next to the guy next to us. Then, (I dont know if any of you guys were there, but....) they had this thing called the kiss cam that went around filming couples kissing. The last couple they put the camera on were two of the Rockies in there dugout! Next, this guy standing by us was heckling Preston Wilson after he fell in center field on that one play... He started saying some innapropriate comments towards the rockies. He said "Hey Irockies, where's Sadaam." Then, Todd Jones walks out of the bullpen(we were standing to the right of the crawford boxes if you were looking towards the outfield from home) and the guy goes, "Hey Irockie, get back in your bunker.". Jones then turned to him and said something straight out of Major League. He goes, "Nice hat dirt cork!" (the guy had his '80's style hat turned inside out). Now about my HR "catch". Alright me and my brother were standing there (by the crawford boxes like I said) and Estalella's hit is coming right towards us. I told my brother before the game that since he had a glove and I didn't I would "back him up". So, this ball is coming towards us, and I get a good ten feet behind my brother. The ball goes over his head and over my head. This guy tries to catch it off the bounce and misses...the ball bounces up against the glass that runs along Crawford Street, and I DIVE HEAD FIRST TOWARDS IT. Out of the about 20 people going for the ball , I was the one to get it! This guy working for the Astros came over to me and was like, "I saw you dive for that ball....are you OK?" So I told him,"yeah but I scraped my knee, but it doesn't hurt." He sees it and is like, "Do you want me to call first aid to put some cream on it?" "No." I reply laughing. This was an awesome game for me, being that I'm a 15 year-old kid and this was my first hr ball.
Also forgot to mention...I was talking to these kids standing next to me when Brian Bohannon's(former Rockie and Reds Pithcer) son came over and started talking to them. He said they were there to see Bohannon's former teammates.(They live in Houston) Larry Walker got up and he was like "I know him". I asked him if he knew Estalella and if he could get him to sign the ball for me but he didn't know him.
Estalella is a great guy. He came up through the Phillies farm system. The Phillies triple A team (Scranton Red Barons) play just up the road from me. I have met several players who have gone on to the Major Leagues. Andy Ashby (married a girl I used to work with), Pat Burrell and Bobby Estalella. All the players used to stop in the bar at the stadium after the games. Bobby was quiet but freindly once you get talking to him. All the bartenders liked him because he would leave big tips. I'm sure if you wait around after the game, next time the Rockies visit, he would sign for you.
Eeeeeeeevrybody off!!! And just to think the bandwagon seemed so crowded after yesterday's game. There's 159 more games, don't get your panties all in a wad just yet. The fact that Reynolds has gotten nothing more than a minor league offer from the rest of the pitching-starved MLB ranks should speak volumes as to his current abilities.
I agree, Shane is not the answer. He has nothing left, and it's too bad. I don't know what the answer is, but I seriously think every game with our 3-5 starters will be an all out battle.
The majority of staffs have a legitimate #3 starter that we don't have. A 2001 Shane Reynolds type or a healthy Carlos Hernandez is a legitimate #3 starter. Most #3 and 4 starters do not have 5+ ERAS. Our best setup guy pitched 2 innings, our closer 2 innings, and Brad Lidge pitched for the 3rd staright day. That's to get 1 victory. Watching these guys, we are in BIG TROUBLE
It was his FIRST start!!!! Greg Maddux got roughed up bad in his first outing of the year...are the Braves in "big trouble?"
I believe if we put things into perspective, we will see that our starting lineup now is better than we ae started with last year - top to bottom. Our bull pen can be better also with the addition of Chen and of course a steady Munro and Stony. Our bats also looks livelier especially with the addition of Kent. Hildago looks like he is ready to bark again and Ausmus is not only throwing out base steallers, he is also driving home some valuable runs. Bagwel started off well this year. Berky will be Berky. Kent will be Kent. Solid bat off the bench. Our biggest competition is the Red birds - it will not be easy to dethrone them. Losing Kile was a sad deal for us all and a big blow to them. Edmonds still kills us; Pujols has proven he is no fluke. Matt Morris is simply solid as usual. But we can take them. Not only can we take them we will take the central and also win our first playoffs series in franchise history. Yes we can and yes we will!!! This is our year and outside of 1998 (during Randy's shot stinct) our best chance of getting to the WS in the past 10 years. Yes we can! I believe.
