Nature 2-Philadelphia 0

Few questions could start a conversation with a stranger with more immediacy last week than  "Where were you during the earthquake?" Whether in the subway or by the standing room only counters, chatting up the food vendors, or waiting in line for the bathroom, everyone  at the game had a story to tell. Admittedly, the most interesting were from people on higher floors in Center City. In fact, a friend who I saw the next day, was evacuated from  the 40th floor of the Comcast building, He definitely got the win.

I did feel the rumble in my first floor office, wondering if the students in the classroom next door were having a wild party. All the staff converged in the main teachers' room uncertain about what had just happened. And though the earthquake had lasted only a few seconds, it was as if we had experienced a devastating event. No books came off of shelves, no glasses crashed onto the floors. Still, an earthquake in Philadelphia? enough to keep us talking and even a bit anxious for the rest of the day.
Then just to keep us 'awake alert  alive enthusiastic' (thanks to my brother Marc for that delightful ditty), along comes Hurricane Irene with enough rain to wash out a few games, and to bring flooding to areas in the Delaware Valley.
Games postponed, roofs unhinged, creeks arisin' and the rain kept coming. Even Cliff Lee couldn't pitch his way out of such a storm.

Winning is Sweet

At the August 23 game I laughed more heartily than I had in a long time. Maybe it was the warmth of being with good  friends, the 15th row height of our 419 section seats just above home plate, or the great weather. Or it could have just been Shane Victorino's  home run, John Mayberry Jr's three run home run, Shane's three run triple, or watching this 'Mets men's group' on the mound. What are they saying anyway? "What the ### do we do now?", or "Stop being such sensitive new age men and start kicking butt", or "I hear they make great cheese steaks in this part of town, let's get outta here NOW." Whatever they were saying, it didn't matter 'cause at least tonight they were being out hit, out run, and eventually, out pitched.

Worley had a rough first two innings, getting out of some jams with some good defense from the infield and catches from the outfield. Once he settled down, though, his teammates  helped him out with a great batting barrage. Oh, and Worley hit some, too. Yeah, 2 out of 3 times at bat, and he came home on an RBI.
For a few innings we were up on our feet most of the time, screaming or clapping. How surprised we were to look back to see a fan sleeping through  most of the whole game

The only place the Mets showed up the Phillies was when they completed a 'hit and run'. Okay,  I didn't really know what that was, and had to use my oft said expression "What just happened?" So here is the explanation: A hit and run normally occurs when the coach sends the runner to 2nd while the batter attempts to hit the ball. If it works correctly the runner will get to third on a single (which happened) or he will get to 2nd and avoid the double play on a grounder to an infielder. (thanks Joe).

 That just went by too fast for me, but it was fun to watch.

This game made up for the torrential rain game last on the 18th, which was the first game that I had ever left before the end. We had seen the best 3 innings, the Phillies did eventually win it, and it was a good decision not wait out the 2 hour delay, but still left me disappointed. Tonight no rain, no delays, all fun.

Joe, Tobie, Vic, Peter, and an errant Red Sox fan.
 (Just behind Joe's head is the guy who slept through most of the game. His head is down in this picture!)

Winning IS sweet.

Pretzels, water for a buck, t-shirts for five

I usually take pictures of the park, the players, the fans. Tonight, arriving early, gave me a chance to talk with and take pictures of the people who 'work for their money'.

If you worked at the ball park, what would you do?

Would you sell beer and pretzels like Al and Vernon? You can find them at Ashburn Alley, named after Phillies Hall of Fame center fielder Richie Ashburn, who played for the team from 1948 to 1959 and was a Phillies broadcaster from 1963 until his death in 1997.
Al worked at the Vet for 30 years, then made the transition to Citizens Bank Park when the first ball was pitched on April 12, 2004. He is the kind of guy you would love to sit and talk with for hours, knowing that he has great stories to tell. Of course, having chatted for awhile, I had to buy a pretzel from them which, I admit, was much tastier than the ones I had bought outside the ballpark .

Or would you like to whisk the paper cone into the cotton candy machine, spinning the pink giant bouffant of sugar fluff?



Could you imagine yourself as the artist  in front of your easels  ready to draw those exaggerated cartoon portraits?




How heavy are those cases?
Beer is a big seller. (duh) Some bottles are sold at stands around the park, but the hardest job at the park is carrying around cases of beer. When I asked to take the picture of the seller to the left, he immediately put down his load to stand up proudly with all his buttons on display. I did see him later hauling his case on top of his head while clamoring up and down the 400 level steps.  With a South Philly carnival hawkers voice, loud, boisterous, he seemed happy to be working.

 And finally, when the game is over we pass the ever present saxophone player, the New Orleans style brass band, and entrepreneurs with coolers full of gaterade and water, and then there is that woman selling CDs (3 hours of content, ???? she explains),

We approach the SEPTA subway station greeted by the chant:  

Pretzels, water for a buck, T-shirts for five.

It was a dark and stormy night

The east  coast has been ravaged by afternoon and evening storms in the past week, menacing storm clouds, large plumes of black crawling across the sky. So it was on Thursday night for the August 18 game sitting this time on the first base side. Here was the  perfect perch to see the approaching storm coming in from our left raucously announced by thunderous lightening bolts that took the crowd's breath away.

Behind me someone remarks, " I didn't know they were going to have fireworks tonight!"

The game proceeds with Worley on the mound. The Phillies score 3 runs in the first 3 innings, enough excitement to keep me screaming and on my feet. Then the inevitable happens. The infield cover is unrolled, with an announcement, barely in time, warning us to get under cover. A few short minutes later, the torrential rains pour down on the field and throughout the ball park, debris swirls everywhere. A young boy starts to cry, and for a few minutes, there is a sense of real danger in the air. Packed under the the ballpark awnings, we are treated to a downpour that ultimately lasts over 2 hours.
After an hour, Melvin and I decide to go home. Walking to the subway in a more subdued rain, we still assume that the game will be called off completely because the thunder continues all around us. But when I arrive home to switch on the radio around 10:30,  they have actually resumed play. The Phillies score again and win it 4-0.

Phillies are hitting again! Happy Birthday Eric

The dynamic foursome, Harold, Tobie, Peter and Isaac are together on August 17 for a picture perfect evening. The weather couldn't be better, and the ballgame a dream. What could be more sublime than a homerun for Jimmy  Rollins on the first DiamondBacks pitch.

After a lull, Hunter Pence gives us a bit of drama, tripping on his way to third from a hit by Mayberry. Pence keeps going around third to make it home. From then on the Phillies get back their batting mojo and we are standing more than sitting, screaming with excitement more than somber and quiet. The day ends with a satisfying 9-2 victory.

With seats in the upper decks, we never expect the cameras to make it up our way. But for some reason, the cameraman is enamored with a family in front of us. The two sons are barely interested in the game, and the father is following the game on his Smartphone. We nudge ourselves into view to make sure we can be seen  on the big screen for our 3 seconds of fame.
During  a relatively calm moment in the game, we call my brother Eric, (he of both Pirates and San Fran Giants allegiance) to sing a birthday wish on his voice mail.

Quote of the day from a seat behind us: First I thought Goldschmidt was a pasta, then a beer, then I found out he was a ballplayer.

Under the bridge-Watching the Camden Riversharks (pictures)

Campbell's ballpark home of the Camden Riversharks. Camden New Jersey, just over the Ben Franklin Bridge