Thursday, May 31, 2012

Gordon Beckham has made a new fan

There's something magical about attending a ball game. It doesn't matter the playing level either. The sound of balls cracking off bats, the uninterested whines of kids, and the cat calls of the vendors is enough to distract you from any worry. While I was sitting in my seat watching batting practice it didn't even register that I'm an unemployed college grad, sure I have a part time job, but no way do I want to stay where I'm at with barely enough money to buy a six pack of Oberon. It didn't register that I no longer have to cram for an exam in order to get the passing grade so I can piss away 3 years attending law school and burying myself in even more debt. I pray that the inevitable social collapse will happen within that time period so my debt will be forgotten as the financial institutions smolder and sirens wail. Enough ranting.
I attended a Tigers game when they played the Whitesox which I mentioned in an earlier post concerning my Felix Hernandez ball. After bar hoping in Greektown we stumbled over to Comerica park well before the game started. My girlfriend bought us great seats. 5 rows back from the third base line. I hurried down to the field to catch the Tigers wrap up batting practice in the chance they would stop and talk to fans...spoiler alert they didn't. I was even the creepy guy surrounded by little kids and their dads. Dejected I walked up and spent the 18 dollars for a beer (it wasn't $18 but it was damn close). I walked back down figuring I'd watch the Whitesox take batting practice.They were a lot more interesting to watch. Konerko cracked off home run after home run over the bull pen. It was awesome to see the little kids in hte outfield scrambling over seats. Adam Dunn who made Inge look good last year followed suit. Anyway I heckled the infielders enough that Gordon Beckham threw me over a practice ball. Sure I might have spilled my beer reaching over to grab it, but it was worth it.


The Tigers came back on the field for warm up stretches. Needless to say they still didn't greet any of the fans. Cabby gave an acknowledging hat tip and a wave, and Fielder ran sprints which made it look like time was going in reverse. Out of the Tigers lineup I have to say AJax was probably the coolest giving away warm up balls to the little kids and taking pictures. Raburn was also a nice guy carrying on conversations with fans and promptly signing everything handed his way. It's funny how those are the players that are the coolest. The game was great complete with your typical Tigers at bats. I don't think I saw 18 gidps so that was good, and Peralta hit a walk off home run which was awesome to see. I'll be going back soon, but this time I'll probably stick to trying to meet Andy Dirks and Drew Smyly since the big guys typically ignore everyone.

3 comments:

  1. Nice ball. Beckham was regarded as a good player, but just hasn't seemed to match the potential. I like him and hope he becomes a superstar.

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  2. Cool ball! Maybe you can get him to sign it one day.

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  3. It's always nice when ballplayers do stuff like this. I remember watching an Astros vs. Phillies game and Jose Lima (RIP) came and sat in the stands with my younger brother as the Stros finished up batting practice. That was awesome.

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