Game 2 Open Thread: April 2, 2008

by lboros on Apr 2, 2008 6:06 PM EDT


Cook	W'meyer
8-7, 4.12	3-2, 3.11

here's a peek behind the scenes at SB Nation. this afternoon one of our better-known baseball bloggers (not me) was watching the cubs game, and at about 2:45 central time he sent out an e-mail on the listserve titled OH MY GOD. the text read:

Al Yellon can correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that he just caught a Derrek Lee home run in the Chicago Cubs/Milwaukee Brewers game. They showed him with his glove and everything on Comcast SportsNet Chicago celebrating.

Congrats, Al!

you all know Al, of course ---- blogs the cubs at Bleed Cubbie Blue and is a friendly visitor here at VEB occasionally. a bunch of congratulatory e-mails start flying around, with everybody getting a vicarious kick out of the image of Al --- one of the true-bluest baseball fans in the country --- out there shagging flies in the bleachers. we're all thrilled for the guy. 15 minutes later we get this:

Writing from the bleachers. That HR was two sections over from me.
Sorry to disappoint.

Al
Bleed Cubbie Blue

several of our bloggers weren't buying it; they'd seen the replay --- that was Al, dammit. but he's still not copping to anything. after watching the replay, i'm inclined to believe him. i see the resemblance, but Al's bigger and older than this guy (he's the oldest blogger in our network, even older'n me).

so ---- anybody here ever caught a homerun ball?

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ray lankford

ray lankford hit a home run right into my seat one year. unfortunately, i was getting a hot dog. but the nice guys around me were happy to inform me that they took the ball from my seat. no one even caught it, they took it from my empty seat.

by sra on Apr 2, 2008 6:20 PM EDT 0 recs

Lineups

CARDINALS
Schumaker lf
Ludwick rf
Pujols 1b
Glaus 3b
Ankiel cf
Molina c
Kennedy 2b
Wellemeyer p
Izturis ss

COLORADO
Taveras cf
Tulowitzki ss
Helton 1b
Holliday lf
Atkins 3b
Hawpe rf
Torrealba c
Nix 2b
Cook p

I guess Barton's first big league start waits another day.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Apr 2, 2008 6:23 PM EDT 0 recs

Also of note

Duncan has a hamstring injury and will miss tonight and tomorrow per Hummel's article.

by OCCardsFan on Apr 2, 2008 6:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

A close call story

Miguel Cairo hit a homer and the guy in front of me caught it. I believe it was his first at bat against the Cardinals after being claimed off waivers from the Cubs. It was a go ahead 3 run bomb that was the eventual game winner. I made sportscenter : )

I loved it because everyone around me was grumbling about the decision to pinch hit with Cairo (ugh was is La Russa doing?!?!) and BOOM!

Start Skippy!

by stltrav09 on Apr 2, 2008 6:28 PM EDT 0 recs

first at bat AS* a Cardinal ***

Start Skippy!

by stltrav09 on Apr 2, 2008 6:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not recently...

back in '48 I caught one, but unfortunately it didn't count.

by guayzimi on Apr 2, 2008 6:43 PM EDT 0 recs

Should have been here yesterday

To tell that tale.

by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Apr 2, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

I've said it before

We're very fortunate to have Derrick Goold writing about our ballclub.

(Are you the emailer who set him off on that quest?)

by liam on Apr 2, 2008 7:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Homerun ball?

I haven't even caught a foul ball yet.

Last year I nearly had my head taken off by a screaming liner fouled off about 6 inches above my head. Almost didn't see it coming. Left a dent in the seat two rows behind me.

by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Apr 2, 2008 6:53 PM EDT 0 recs

FYI...

... it really WASN'T me. I sit all the way in the LF corner, right on the foul line. That HR was in the power alley.

(Glad to see D-Lee pulling the ball. He hit nearly everything to RF in spring training.)

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 2, 2008 6:56 PM EDT 0 recs

man, these 8pm EST starting times are too late

when do some day games happen?

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 7:02 PM EDT 0 recs

Tomorrow ok?

by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Apr 2, 2008 7:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

nice

ask and ye shall recieve

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 7:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

not a bleachers fan

I'm not really a fan of sitting in the bleachers in the first place, so I've had few opportunities.

by madding on Apr 2, 2008 7:11 PM EDT 0 recs

So if Kip held us to 1 run last night

What can we expect to get off of Aaron Cook tonight?

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 7:14 PM EDT 0 recs

hopefully at least 10

it's a new season, so I think 10-Run Wednesdays needs to be established.

by madding on Apr 2, 2008 7:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

10 run-days

didn't we start the year scoring in double digits nearly every Sunday and scoring crap the rest of the week last season?

Thanks for the highlight moments 15 and 27!!!

by cardzfanbub on Apr 2, 2008 7:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

No homers...but...

I caught a Bobby Tolen foul when I was a kid...

by Timbo02 on Apr 2, 2008 7:15 PM EDT 0 recs

it's literaly making me sick

watching Danny Haren pitch right now vs the Reds. the new DBacks jersey's are red, and damnit he looks good in red. too bad it's the wrong shade of red.

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson

by gdm426 on Apr 2, 2008 7:21 PM EDT 0 recs

I could have gotten to

ankiel's home run ball at Dodgertown in spring training- may 8th?- as I was just about the closest person to it. It was hit on the berm in right field and I was in dead center, and no one was allowed to sit in right field berm for some reason. There were maybe 4 or 5 people to my left but they were elderly or had toddlers and had no interest in chasing.

But there was a horde of little kids running from the left field hill and I didn't want to be "that guy" who beats the kids to the ball... plus I probably would have spilled my beer(s).

Well the girls would turn the color of the avocado when he'd drive down the street in his El Dorado

by SleepyCA on Apr 2, 2008 7:26 PM EDT 0 recs

erm march.

always get the two m-months confused.

Well the girls would turn the color of the avocado when he'd drive down the street in his El Dorado

by SleepyCA on Apr 2, 2008 7:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Is that why

you're called Sleepy?

by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Apr 2, 2008 7:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Many is practice

But none in-game. Got a practice ground rule double last year during my visit to Fenway Park off of the bat of Gary Matthews, Jr., which is by far the coolest one ever. Begged the bullpen guy to hand it to me since I came from St. Louis, and he did. It's got a sweet stripe of green paint from the fencing protecting my poor skull from the incoming ball. Certainly one to remember (and I must vouch for those loyal Sox fans there, they're good fans of baseball).

Rasmus or bust.

by Zoop on Apr 2, 2008 7:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Does Batting Practice count???

Mother's Day 2005, Homer's Landing. I was going to refill my beer when Albert comes up. Hits one right to me. I reach up to bare hand it and it hits me in the wrist. The ball was heavy, it gave me an enormous purple and yellow bruise. Anyway, the ball fell to my feet and I pounced on it. In a fit of insanity, I gave the ball to my brother since he had given me the ticket gratis.

C'mon Welly... Get that first win!!!

"There is one word in America that says it all, and that one word is, 'You never know.'" Joaquin Andujar

by Big Mike on Apr 2, 2008 7:30 PM EDT 0 recs

BP home run ball

I got a home run ball that was either hit by Lankford or Gilkey during batting practice at this game:

<http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199509250.shtml>

Remember that night better because Gilkey broke up a potential no-hitter in the top of the 9th with two-out triple. I must've been the only one cheering out there in the bleachers. Also my first time in the bleachers at Wrigley when that happened.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~8-year-old Greg

by ChiTown CardFan on Apr 2, 2008 7:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Question

How do you remember what game it was, but not who hit the ball?

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 7:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

You're good Mr Redbird

Wish I had a memory for that type of detail.

by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Apr 2, 2008 7:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Answer

I guess that the game was just more memorable than getting the ball. (Breaking up a no-hitter for the hated Northsiders was awful fun, especially as the fatal hit came with two outs in the 9th. Drama. Plus I still have a ticket stub, plus photo of me with the ball, so I can remember the exact date of the game.) As for the homer, I have only this vague memory of both Lankford and Gilkey taking BP one after the other, and the next thing I know, there's a ball coming towards me. I had to beat out a little kid for it -- no, I did NOT shove him out of the way -- so I was sorta paying less attention to who hit it.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~8-year-old Greg

by ChiTown CardFan on Apr 2, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Can you remember if he batted right or left?

If you can, then that will tell you whom.

by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Apr 2, 2008 8:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

An excellent point...

Wish that I could remember, but I cannot.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~8-year-old Greg

by ChiTown CardFan on Apr 2, 2008 8:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Marlon Anderson, 2004 (or '05)

Two friends and I had Rolen plan seats in left field just fair from the foul pole, and one game Marlon Anderson roped one that looked like it was coming right for us. We all reach up but it went just over our hands two rows back. The whole section had stood, including this one huge guy who was holding a hot dog in one hand and a taco in the other. The ball hits this guy smack in the chest and he goes down in a heap, with taco fillings flying in the air. He gets up immediately with the ball to a huge cheer.

A couple of minutes later the next batter was up and the stadium had quieted down, and the guy stand up again and yells "I found my hot dog!" Once again, he got a standing O.

"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz

by taiko on Apr 2, 2008 7:50 PM EDT 0 recs

LOL

I'm laughing, particularly that he was double-fisting......food...

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Haha, great story!

In a related note, It always amazes me what people do with their beer when baseballs come their way. Anyway, I've had two close calls. One at Turner Field, the other at Wrigley. The Turner Field one was, I think, the last season for Gary Sheffield there. He crushed one opposite-field just inside the foul pole where we were sitting. It went right over my head, some fan ran down 10 rows and took it away from me (never saw him coming, he blocked my catch from the next row up). The other was two years ago at Wrigley on a Freddie Bynum homer to the right-field bleacher box seats that hit just below our reach off the brick and bounced back onto the field as a homer.

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on Apr 2, 2008 8:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

hungo

his mouth moves faster than his brain... and his mouth ain't movin that fast!

by Pujols Shot Ya on Apr 2, 2008 8:03 PM EDT 0 recs

here we go

come on cards!

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Shut 'em down, Welley!

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:16 PM EDT 0 recs

yeah that's a nice start to the game uh?

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson

by gdm426 on Apr 2, 2008 8:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

It is

But, if he keeps putting balls over the middle of the plate (like the K pitch to Taveras and the first to Tulo) it could be a loooong night...

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

but thats what you are supposed to do right?

pitch to contact?

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson

by gdm426 on Apr 2, 2008 8:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

LOL

I guess, but if that contact results in 3 HR for the other team...

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Free Extra Innings This Week!

Yay. Also love the direct behind the pitcher angle. Can really see location...

by glennrwordman on Apr 2, 2008 8:17 PM EDT 0 recs

god

no corners given!

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:18 PM EDT 0 recs

Any idea where

...those first two pitches were?

by glennrwordman on Apr 2, 2008 8:19 PM EDT 0 recs

my guess

first one wide, second one alittle high and same width

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

not by much though

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hard

...retire a guy when you have to throw six strikes...

by glennrwordman on Apr 2, 2008 8:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

I caught the first HR in Busch in 1993

April 7, 1993. Hit by none other than Germonio Pena.

by cardsfaninmass on Apr 2, 2008 8:21 PM EDT 0 recs

Argh

BB to Helton, but at least Welley made him earn it (the BB, that is)

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:21 PM EDT 0 recs

Which inning for Reyes?

At this pitch rate, Reyes will be needed by the 4th.

by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Apr 2, 2008 8:23 PM EDT 0 recs

Holiday

is a good hitter. Sadly.

by glennrwordman on Apr 2, 2008 8:24 PM EDT 0 recs

nice

pretty scary start

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:25 PM EDT 0 recs

All right all right

Escaped that jam.

Let's put a crooked number on the scoreboard!

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:25 PM EDT 0 recs

they better

looks like Welley will be living on the edge all night long

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson

by gdm426 on Apr 2, 2008 8:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'd go for double digits

but that would make me greedy.

by OKCARDSFAN_411 on Apr 2, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

I guess

...i'm not the onliest one with that avatar; interesting that it's such a different background...

by glennrwordman on Apr 2, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think they were probably taken from different angles

Yours field-level and mine from the stands, maybe

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wiggled

out of it. Good work; how's about a 7-pitch second, eh?

by glennrwordman on Apr 2, 2008 8:26 PM EDT 0 recs

haha

ill take a 20

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yep...

by glennrwordman on Apr 2, 2008 8:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

gameday on mlb.com

isn't working for me. anyone else having trouble with it?

by adiueordie on Apr 2, 2008 8:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Boy, oh Boy

That's a shortstop...made that look too damn easy...

by glennrwordman on Apr 2, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs

Tulo = really good

by cardsgirl95 on Apr 2, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Cook

pumping the zone full of strikes.

Start Skippy!

by stltrav09 on Apr 2, 2008 8:30 PM EDT 0 recs

man i hate when pujols is up with no one on and 2 outs

happens way too damn much

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Pujols BB

Probably smart on Cook's part

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:32 PM EDT 0 recs

yea

lets see troy do something

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Glaus

Needs to make him pay. That's why we traded for him, right?

by stl tyler on Apr 2, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

i think we traded for him bc rolen gets injured too much

so i think that worked out

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

That too

by stl tyler on Apr 2, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

alright Glaus

do what you are paid to do. which is drive in runs big boy, not K.

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson

by gdm426 on Apr 2, 2008 8:32 PM EDT 0 recs

Come on Glaus

Make up for that crapfest last night!

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:32 PM EDT 0 recs

I nearly caught one

It was in 2005 against the Red Sox at Busch. It was the game that Edgar Renteria hit a HR against us. We were in the first row of the bleachers and it was coming right for us. We all converged on the little grass section on top of the wall, and my buddy ended up coming up with it.

Then he did the worst thing I could think of and threw it back. You can see me on TV pleading with him not to throw it, and I flip out when he does. I would have kept it.

by eviljake on Apr 2, 2008 8:35 PM EDT 0 recs

no way in hell i throw a homerun ball back

those authentic baseballs feel so nice

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Threw it back?

It's not like it was a Sammy Sosa HR (post 1998, of course, when we knew it wouldn't be worth much on eBay). It was Edgar Renteria, a former beloved Cardinal. Tsk tsk on your friend.

by effin fisk on Apr 2, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

ugh, whats the time table

on the kids in the minors who can bend over & field at 3rd?

nice throw Rick.

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson

by gdm426 on Apr 2, 2008 8:38 PM EDT 0 recs

god i love ankiels arm

and he hits the target

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Apr 2, 2008 8:38 PM EDT 0 recs

Sort of caught one

I ended up with a home run by the immortal Hector Villanueva in the old Busch on April 9, 1993

But, it bounced off about 3 people first. Does that count?

by raisin1 on Apr 2, 2008 8:39 PM EDT 0 recs

Where the hell did that one miss??

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:39 PM EDT 0 recs

OK

Got it back

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Apr 2, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gameday

Someone mentioned that there was a way to get a pitchers view in game day? i looked everywhere for a button to switch but havent found it yet...any tips?

by brindled on Apr 2, 2008 8:39 PM EDT 0 recs