July 2010
On Field Photo Day (7/10/10)
Today was the day my friends and I have been waiting for since last April. On Field Photo Day. I got the gate around 9:30 and was surprised how many cars were lined up already. Just before the gate opened, I walked over and ran into Jessica. As we were walking/running in, someone next to me said, “my [sister]* wants me to tell you that she reads your blog.” I was thrilled! Out of breath from walking so fast, but thrilled none the less. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to talk to her and find out her name because at that moment, Pat called me to find out where I was. I was about five feet to her left. I apologized to the girl and her mom and said I had to run, my friend was right there. Pat, Norma, and I joined the huge line of fans waiting to enter in. Just as I was about to call Cat, I spotted her too.
*CORRECTION: I was wrong. It was her sister Cindy telling me that Katie reads my blog. Thanks for the comment and the correction, Katie!
We went in and found a spot across from where we were last year. Last year, my goal was to get a picture with Randy Wolf. Mission accomplished. I also got pictures with a few other players. That was before I started this Dodger blog. So the posts are published on my old blog. Here are the links to last year’s Photo Day.
On Field Photo Day Part One
On Field Photo Day Part Two
This year, since I realized I have photos with a lot of the players and several photos with several players … I was aiming for players who I DON’T have a photo with. Like Clayton Kershaw, Jonathan Broxton, Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake, and A.J. Ellis. Of the five i named, only one of them I got. The other four didn’t even stop. They waved. They shook hands. They gave high fives. None of them stopped long enough for you to even get a still photo.
A.J. Ellis was so sweet. He took his time with everyone. Someone behind me had a little itty bitty baby and after he held her, he asked how old is the baby. He said he has a 3 week old himself. I think he said 3. Maybe he said 6. I forgot.
Travis Schlichting came by. I have a photo with him from last year that I absolutely LOVE. So, I just said hi. He just stood there and smiled at me. He didn’t move so I snapped a quick picture. It looked like he was waiting for someone to ask him to get a photo with him, which Cat obliged. He is so sweet. I’m glad he’s still up with the team. I thought they would’ve sent him back down by now. Fortunately, his ERA is the complete opposite of other players in our bullpen who shall remain nameless. Actually, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named didn’t even come by our section and I wanted to get a better photo with him. I have one with him from last year but wouldn’t mind an upgrade.
I managed to get one more player to stop and it was Garrett Anderson.
It took a while to get off the field. We walked by where they normally have autograph alley and “Manny” was sitting there taking photos with fans. I think there were a handful of fans who saw “Manny” on the Dodger Vision and thought that Ramirez was really at the game. I even told one lady, he’s probably doing his rehab assignment somewhere in the Minors. She scoffed at me like I was some idiot and said with an attitude, “yeah right. I bet we see him down in the dug out.” Unless she went to the Single A Inland Empire’s game, I doubt she was going to see Ramirez in the dug out.
From the Dodgers’ website:
Manny Ramirez wasn’t at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, the day his
three-game rehab stint with Class A Inland Empire was to begin, but his
name was all over the dugout before the game. Literally. Ramirez signed a
portion of the Dodgers’ dugout, with his signature looming over manager
Joe Torre’s left shoulder. A note on the Dodgers’ whiteboard in the
clubhouse reminded all players to wear their white jerseys and report to
the field at 11:30 a.m. PT for photo day. Someone added, “That means
you Manny” — even though Ramirez is in San Bernadino. Ramirez is to
play Saturday, Sunday and Monday, likely playing one game in the field
and the other two at DH, Torre said. …
Blogs
Imagine my surprise when I clicked on my MLB.com MLBlogs shortcut to go to the main page and they were featuring Dodger fan blogs. The main featured blog For the Love of the Game is by a fellow fan who started the same year I did, 2006. Though, I do have a disclaimer on mine. I went to my first game in Sept 2006 but didn’t become a full fledged Dodger fan till 2007. I glanced at the other blogs featured, recognized Jon SooHoo’s photoblog. What really surprised me was the last blog featured… MINE! I was like, whhhatt??? No way! How cool is that?
There it is!
Meeting Carlos Monasterios
On Friday, it was originally scheduled that Ramon Troncoso was going to be signing at a Kragen’s in La Habra. Well, soon after that was announced, Troncoso got sent down to the Minors. Earlier this week, I called the La Habra store to confirm that it was canceled and there wasn’t going to be a replacement. An hour or so after I got the confirmation, Cat texted me. Carlos Monasterios was going to be signing at a Kragen’s… in Covina.
Figuring since it was Carlos and it was going to be on a Friday, I didn’t think I had to leave as early as I would for other players. I went to Troncoso’s last year and I showed up around 10 and there were probably about a dozen people in line. So, for Monasterios, I figured if I showed up by 9 that I would be fine. Sure enough. There were about a dozen people in line in front of me.
I brought my friend Kevin. Good thing too because I needed him to hold our place in line while I went Silver Sharpie hunting. I thought I had checked all my Sharpies the night before. I pulled out my Sharpie to write something and discovered I didn’t have my good silver Sharpie. I had the old one. Good thing there was a Wal Greens across the street from Kragen’s. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any silver Sharpies in stock. They were in the process of restocking other areas of the store, just not the area I was in. So I walked across the street to see if the Dollar Tree had anything. Nothing. I finally found a set at CVS. One of the guys asked me why I was going through so much trouble to get a silver sharpie.
I met Kevin, a kid who reads my blog. My blog isn’t as big as Roberto’s or the mysterious guys behind Sons of Steve Garvey. It’s really cool when I meet someone who reads my blog. I’m sure any blogger can relate.
A little bit before noon, Carlos showed up. He came with two other people, a guy and girl. Not too long after he went in, the line started to move. We looked through the window and it looked like he was signing more than one item and was taking photos with everyone.
Then it was my turn. I had my scrapbook ready to the page with the article, box score, and ticket stub of his first major league start. One of the Kragen employees was walking the line earlier and he was talking about something till he saw my book. He lost his train of thought and exclaimed, “wow! What is that?” Next up was Pat’s photo of her and Carlos. I asked him, “this is for Pat”… he signed it and then said, “can you ask Pat for a copy?” and pointed to Pat in the picture. I said I would. And I asked, “can you sign ONE more thing please? My team ball?” He signed it and then took a photo with me.
Fireworks at the Ravine
As pointed out at Sons of Steve Garvey, there was an article in the L.A. Times comparing “how the Dodgers and Angels have approached fireworks
this 2010 season“. I haven’t opened my Sunday issue of the L.A. Times, so I haven’t read the whole article yet. So, I haven’t decided whether or not the article will make it into my scrapbook. I’ll decide once I see the article in print, whether or not it has photos and is going to make the cut.
Tonight was one of the two nights the Dodgers were going to be having fireworks after the game. Since they were on the road on the Fourth of July, I guess having fireworks on the Fifth of July wasn’t too far off. Sorry any residential neighbors or anyone else who will be having dogs and other pets freaking out because of the fireworks. I’ve been house sitting for a friend and ever since Saturday night, their dog has been escaping from the backyard. She’s an older dog, so she doesn’t go far. I get back to the house and she’s sitting on the door step waiting for me. The first night, she got out two more times and I heard her whining at the front door. Hopefully tonight she’ll stay put.
I brought my friend Kevin to tonight’s game. In 2007, he was my game buddy. We went to several games together but due to personal reasons, he hasn’t been to a game in almost 2 years. It was nice to bring him. As soon as we got inside, I found my friends Pat and Cat. While standing next to Pat, I saw Justin Miller heading towards a ball on the ground. Since everyone around me was calling out his name, I joined in for fun. Totally didn’t expect Justin to look my way and toss me the ball. In turn, I tossed the ball to Kevin. It was his first game in two years and the only batting practice ball he had (he got from Joe Beimel in 07) was stolen.
It was a tough outing for John Ely. He didn’t get out of the third inning. Our starters have had a start or two where they couldn’t seem to get out of their own way. Both Billz and Kershaw had that outing and both were against the Brewers. Ely only gave up about 6 runs. I forget how many Billz and Kershaw gave up in May to the Brewers. I just remember we lost like 11 or 13 to them. Thankfully our Bullpen pulled through and put up ZEROS the rest of the game. Too bad our bats couldn’t light up the Marlins. We managed to get within ONE run but that was it.
While Kevin and I were watching the game, this lady and her daughter came and they couldn’t find their seats. So her daughter sat down but she proceeded to stand… RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. They kept talking, trying to figure out where their seats were. Well, I wanted to watch the game and I like to help people out when they’re not comfortable asking an usher. So, I asked her if they needed any help. I looked at her ticket and she was in 29 T, seats 7 and 8, That put her about three rows in front of us, where there was already one guy sitting in seat 7. I told her she was in our section, about three rows up, in row T. She said something about, no, that’s P or something like that. So, she stands in front of us for another at bat before she and her daughter finally go to an usher. Damon directed her to exactly where I told her where her seats were.
Oh, and I finally had a friend today with me who wanted to get garlic fries. I like garlic fries, but usually they’re too crunchy for me. I like soft, almost soggy fries. The “wormy” fries from McDonald’s are my favorites. Usually I go to games alone, or the friend I’m with doesn’t want any. Kevin said he’s been thinking about the garlic fries since I asked him to go to the game with me. Well, here I am hours later … glad there’s no one around me to smell garlic on my breath.
It was nice to see some of the players out with their families, enjoying the fireworks. I won’t name names, but the three players I saw were players with young children.
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