Opening Night with Friends Phillies vs. Brewers

A deceptively warm day turns into a chilly evening especially in the windy 400 level sections, but it is a lovely night of baseball with Ellen, Peter and Shaofei,  a student who helped the Drexel visitors to China in July 2013. I had been waiting for a chance to reciprocate his generosity in guiding us in Beijing, and this was the perfect opportunity. You see, he had never seen a professional baseball game, and knew little if nothing about the game.

With just a few tips from me about watching the pitchers, the scoring, and after introducing the unusual vocabulary of baseball, we were able to enjoy a game that had all that you'd want for a demonstration of the pleasures of baseball (except a win!). All in all he saw a balk, a steal, strike outs, two double plays, a triple, a home run (darn, for the other team), a batter getting hit, some walks, beautiful diving catches, some errors, and the newest twist in the game-replay reviews. Not to mention, an elementary school singing the Star Spangled Banner (really it was cute, but couldn't they get a real singer for the opening night?!), and the four of us swaying as we sang Take me out to the ballgame
.

Wearing the opening night T-shirt on a glorious, chilly night

The Phillies were playing some nice 'small ball', and the first pitcher Hernandez was doing well. At 4-4 in the 8th, we were quite hopeful. Too bad it fell apart when the relief and closers took over.With an error by Ryan Howard, the runs started pouring with the final discouraging score of 9-4

Let the season begin 2014

I am never sure in the beginning what I will feel like when the season starts, but this year I have these sensations of excitement, of Halleluyah that surfaced in the past week. There is a new TV program on every night that shows all the games in progress, which is helping me see who all the players are on the other teams. Of course, I'm quite happy when the Phillies are highlighted especially when they are winning.

I know, I know it's early. Looking forward to Wednesday's Opening Night game. Hope the weather is good

Will winter never end?

Can't believe it's been 4 years since I started this blog to document  my epic Vancouver Olympic adventure. Go back to the beginning entries to get a taste of what I experienced.

Now  4 years later, , I've written more about the .'..And More'  continuing each year to learn  about being a Phillies Phan with my friends cheering me (and the Phillies) on. With one week to Clearwater baseball, and another 4 until opening day, in the thick of this seemingly endless winter, the ritual preparation has begun as Peter and I chose our six dates for April through September. With 6 sets of tickets in hand, and some checking around to see who wants to go to Opening Night, we long for the time when skiing is a distant memory and skating seems just wrong... a time to hear

Let's Play Ball.

 See you in April.

What a great life I have!

Indulging in a bit of revelry

Yes, what a great life I have.

This is the sentiment that wafts through me walking around the  ballpark for perhaps the last time this season. Peter, Isaac, Joe and I attend the last of our 6 ticket series, commenting on the great weather, a combination of a warm almost hot day with no rain in sight. We've arrived early enough to walk right up to the fence to see the whole bullpen doing pitching practice on the field (who knew!).

We settle into our seats to eat our lunches bought at the supermarket on the way to the Fern Rock subway station, talking about our hopes for the game.
We want
 1)  an 8 1/2 inning game so we can go to the pool afterwards
 2) Cole Hamels to win the game
3) Papelbon not to blow any leads

 4) Cody Ashe to show his stuff

 5) a win ( see #1).

And the result: They all come true. Hamels pitches brilliantly, Papelbon doesn't mess it up, Cody Ashe makes some beautiful plays from 3rd and

We win.

Happy New Year!

Peter on the right at a Phillies game

Peter has been my baseball buddy for the past 3 years and a pool buddy for many more than that. He shared this story.......

Peter's Best Rosh Hashanah 

A number of years ago in the early-mid 1990s, I was doing a craft show in Evanston, IL (I am a furniture maker).  It happened that this was the last time the High Holy Days were as early as they are this year.   Erev Rosh Hashanah was prior to Labor Day that year.  In fact, Erev Rosh Hashanah and  the evening service for Rosh Hashanah was the night of the end of the show, Sunday night.   

The friends I was staying with, in Willamette, had obtained a ticket for me to go to services with them.  A few of my friends in the show who were Jewish, and not going home the next morning made me an offer.  It turned out that The Cubs were at home, and playing a day game the next day, and they asked if I wanted to celebrate Rosh Hashanah at Wrigley Field.  My friends said go---how often could I go to a gem at Wrigley? 

Walter, Tobie, and Peter at School Lane House Pool

So, we went.  We got there as early as we could buy tickets, got great seats, second level, right  behind home plate, right below the announcer's booth (During the seventh inning stretch, Harry Carey led the singing of Take me out to the ballgame) and we could hear Harry without his microphone.  They were playing the Pirates, back when they were a good team.*  The wind was blowing out.  There were a bunch of home runs.  The Pirate homers got thrown back onto the field, and the Cubs stole defeat from the jaws of victory.  

Probably my most memorable Rosh Hashanah.

L'shanah Tovah to all. Play Ball! 

* How bout them Pirates in 2013!