Last night for saturday’s game I went to AT&T ballpark for the first time this season. When we got to the bart station in dublin It was pretty windy and chilly for this time of year. Where I come from in California its very warm this time of year so I wasn’t expecting it. San Francisco was overcast and very chilly. My thoughts were how do these ballplayers play in this weather. I had a jacket on my hands were getting numb. I guess it’s a combination of them being used to it more then me, and them constantly moving around to stay warm.
Well you’re probably wondering what kind of seats we had. Well it was the 4th row along Left field. So we got to see all the action in left field. Matt holliday was in left field, coincidentally I wrote a featured article on Holliday for the blog Baseball Talk Pro BaseballTalkPro Blogwhich is a hot new baseball blog reviewing all star baseball players.
And of course #25 Barry bonds was in left field. When I buy the tickets ahead of time I schedule it in such a way that it is almost sure he will be playing on that day as I’ve learned which days he is likely to take off.
Some of the highlights in left field were a few line grounders. Barry and Randy winn met in the alley in left center for a outfield hit and Barry Bonds got in front of it while Randy Winn was right behind him at the same time, Bonds didn’t get a clean swipe of the ball. Bonds also fumbled the ball on the left field a little for a line drive on the foul line. Both plays though wouldn’t have been close plays if they were thrown in so I’m sure Barry’s main concern was just stopping the ball and not trying to make a clean effort at it. Then later in the game a outfield popup
went all the way to the warning track and Barry Bonds made a reach out catch behind his head and barely caught it in the webbing of his glove before crashing into the wall.
The big highlight of the game was when Kline the relief pitcher hit former giant Torrealba. There has been some “bad blood” with the colorado rockies this year. After he torrealba in the elbow both exchanged words and started walking towards each other. Eventually both benches cleared and Barry ran in from left field. It was the first time I could remember seeing the Gian’ts and the opposing teams benches cleared and the very time I see it, I’m there in person. Luckily no punches were thrown and unbelievable kline continued to pitch. While this was going on I couldn’t help but think Bonds was due up at the bottom of the inning and would they take retaliation on him?
When Barry bonds returned to left field there was a ball someone had thrown in. Bonds was so disgusted by the whole thing instead of throwing it to some fan he threw it to the foul pole area, but it didn’t even get that for and another pitch was thrown. Then vinnie chulk, the giants relief pitcher, came in from the dugout to retrieve the ball sitting out there.
By this time the giants were down 6-1 and after Bond’s final at bat in the bottom of the 8th inning where he was 0-4 for the day we and about half the fans at once left AT&T ballpark.
My worry had always been traveling a long way to san francisco and being in a blowout game. Well it wasn’t quite that, but all in all the game was exciting and I saw a few things that I wouldn’t have noticed if it had been on television. Hopefully it will be a lot warmer when I go later in the season.
