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Contrary to what some say, for all intents and purposes, there is no Natty Boh' at Camden Yards.

I was at the game last night, the start of my season tickets, and I had a few drinks. Three to be precise. The first was a Blue Moon for $8.75. Not the greatest, but that was the best choice I thought from the Lites that were in this vendors box. Around the sixth inning, I felt like more beer and wanted to get my choice, Natty Boh'. I went looking...

And looking...


And looking...

It's out behind left field. The one lonely stall selling Natty Boh'. The lady was closing up shop but I had her pour me a draft.

Now there was supposedly cans being sold at certain vendors, but I didn't find them. It was nothing but beer 'ritas. Not sure why anyone would drink such a thing. I can't even imagine how they brew that up.

Anyhow, there is no Boh' there. Like it was when Camden Yards first opened.

Labels: anger and frustration, Camden Yards, drunkeness

Looking through my Lumix at pictures that were still on there and I found these from the August 30th day game versus the Chicago White Sox. Out of all the games I went to last season this one is a favorite. It came during the controversial "low attendance" "start of school" days. As you can tell, there's barely anyone there, but it was a fun, rollicking crowd. Orioles won, too, to boot! It was just the start of their push to the playoffs, and soon Camden Yards and The Birds were rolling.

Gahh! Where's baseball?!

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, Camden Yards

When did Ben Affleck become a decent director? He competently directed Gone, Baby, Gone and The Town. Now with Argo he's directed a nice 70's period piece of the Iranian Hostage Crisis.

Argo is about the incredibly incredulous story of how the US got six US Iranian Embassy workers out of Iran during the Hostage Crisis in 1979. Ben Affleck as a CIA agent who specializes in extraditing US people from harrowing situations. He comes up with the craziest way to get these hostages out: a Canadian Star Wars ripoff movie, Argo. He's going to go into Iran, scout out locations using the hostages as his "crew," and walk right out of there. Just like Ocean's 11.

Not a bad flick. It had me on the edge of my seat in the final third of the movie as I waited with bated breath on the escapees being busted. Except I knew that they escaped. It would've been known better as part of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. Sort of like the crash and burn helicopter rescue. They made it and it receded from my memory until this move brought it back in glorious 70's moustaches.

One final note, the CIA agent, Tony Mendez, is the father of Toby Mendez, the sculptor of the statues at Camden Yards.

4 of 5 stars.

Labels: Camden Yards, movies, review

This video is awesome. Sure was a fun season. Let's keep it going.

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, Camden Yards, NewsRadio quote

Wow. Just wow.

I bought my first Orioles season tickets for the 2010 season believing that good times were coming. It didn't turn out that way. The Orioles started bad and continued bad in 2010. They switched out the manager twice. So long Dave Trembley, hello Buck Showalter and his pod people Orioles. They played well to end the season and to give hope for 2011.

I, too, still had hope, so I bought season tickets for 2011. That season started well, then June hit and it turned awful fast. But the Orioles did finish out relatively strong. And it did give us #theLegendOfBobbyAndy Game 162. That stoppage of the dreaded Boston Red Sox gave us hope for 2012.

Once more, I go all in for the Orioles and get season tickets for 2012. This time not too hopeful. The Orioles started out strong sweeping the opening series with the Twins but getting swept by the dreaded Yankees. It seemed we were destined to be terrible. Yet, they kept winning series by series, game by game. By the All-Star break they were competitive in the division although their Pythagoras Number was abysmal, more runs scored against them than they had against other teams.

Last night, they beat the Boston Red Sox and Pythagoras down to earn their 90th win of the season. It's been a long time for the franchise to have a winning record. And finally, Baltimore has embraced this team's run.

I used my final season ticket for this year last night with The Seed, and it was one of the best final series season I have seen. (I missed last year's final tilt because Boston.) The crowd was electric and when Ryan Flaherty hit that first inning grand slam, the crowd erupted knowing that it was going to be a rocking night. Chris Tilman pitched a hell of a game so much so I didn't know that it was a 1 hit affair. We were jumping and jumping until the final out.


We wanted fireworks, and we got them.

It was a very successful season. I don't want it to end. I wish I had tickets for the rest of the weekend.

Thanks, Orioles, for the memories.

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards, NewsRadio quote

Oh, yeah! Generic playoff tickets. You gotta love that. Orioles playing whomever at whatever date the game will be played. And these are all so pricy. You should check out the World Series ticket. I cut off the prices, but don't you know that they cost just as much as my season tickets.

I don't know if the Orioles go, but we're very optimistic here.

#leggo

Labels: anticipation, Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards, NewsRadio quote

The penultimate game in my 13 game season ticket package. It's almost done, but the Orioles keep winning. They keep winning and they are vying for the first place in AL East and vying for a wild cards spot. Let's hope they win the East so that they don't have to worry about the tie-breakers for a wild card spot. It's gonna be tough.

Yet, I feel sad that this season is coming to an end. I'm having so much fun following this team. I'm glad that the town has started rallying around them. Better late than never. Although you should've been watching when they were scratching out the wins in the late spring and early summer. What turned out to be just an early season surge and surprise has turned into contention. What was a joke has now become real. What can't be explained now doesn't need to be explained. The Orioles are winning. They have to keep winning. They will win.

Lots to believe in. We believe.

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards, NewsRadio quote

Last year the Orioles finished the season with 69 wins. Here we are with a month left in the season, and the Orioles have tied last season's win total. It's starting to feel good to be an Orioles fan. We're still in this thing. No more #podpeople just good ball players grinding out the wins. There's still plenty of time left in the season, but for once a game in late August means something in terms of the playoffs.

Playoffs! And the team had sent out the playoff ticket request package. With my season ticket plan, I get 3 games one in the Division Series, one in the Championship Series, and one in the World Series. They cost as much as my 13 game plan. Ridiculous prices and due soon. Decisions. Decisions. Welp, if you're driving the bandwagon, you're gonna have to fill up the tank.

Who's with me? Come on Baltimore! Come out and support your team.

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards

Just got home from the Orioles game and a stunning loss to the hated Athletics. I am mad at how the whole thing went down. Mad at Zach Britton for giving up 4 runs in the first. Mad at that Socolovich character who gave up another 3 as the Orioles had taken the lead in the sixth. I am especially mad at Jim Johnson who blew a save and blows chunks since the All-Star game.

It was a game that should've been a W. Instead it was a blown opportunity to act like contenders. They battled back all night. Adam Jones is a true All-Star coming through with a lead taking 3 run homer in the fifth. He's the only good player we have.

This loss was hard to take as we knocked those fuckers down every time. Coming back big time for the lead, but losing on the supposed best reliever. Jim Johnson blows and I still hate him. This loss I blame on the idiot kid who wanted extra innings, because it was always extra innings whenever it was fireworks night. As I told him, you always take a W whenever its given to you. Dumb kid jinxing the team.

At least I have another baseball story to tell. Another ball was hit my way. In the three years sitting in that section for season tickets it was the only night a ball came near, and by near I mean right at me, again.

Top of the sixth. One out. Athletics first baseman Parker up. I'm in Row 2 Section 10 Seat 3. The drunk kid in front of me, the couple on the end, and the kid on the wall. The crack of the bat. "Ball," yells the kid in front of me! Woa, that's head right this way! "Oh, shit! Oh, shit! Oh, shit," goes the kid in front of me. I think that it's the dude's on the end he's got it. Except i carries some more. I'm gonna have to make a play! It curves in the air away from the end and is right to me, agan! I let it fall. The kid in front of me has it. I feel like a fool. Needed the nephew's glove tonight. One more time, please.

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards, I'm a fool

View from the new party deck in centerfield. Adam Jones playing catch with Nick Markakis.

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, Camden Yards

We need more Orioles fans.

Camden Yards celebrating its 20th anniversary, and on most nights, she's only a third full. Come on, Baltimore, show you're support!

Today's link takes you to a crazy Orioles fanatic who wants every Wednesday to be Orange Wednesday. I'll join her, you should, too. That's a lot of Wednesdays. Maybe she should've tried every other Wednesday of the season whenever the Orioles are home.

http://dundalk.patch.com/d/articles/dundalk-native-wants-town-to-see-orange

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, Camden Yards, get off your butt, great minds think alike, lotd

Where's BrowserMetrics? I had 4 seats and brought along the brother, sister-in-law and nephew.

Find us!

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/photos/gigapan/?gpId=8e5ace81447dca38b17374b151705391&c_id=bal

Labels: baseball, Camden Yards, games people play, lotd

Ignore the fact that they have no proven starting pitching. Ignore that their bullpen will be called into action more often than not. Ignore that their fielding is terrible. Ignore that hole in their lineup at the fourth spot. Ignore all the other weak hitting spots in that lineup. Ignore the front office that doesn't know what direction to take the organization in. Ignore the owner who is long past his welcome. Ignore the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays; teams and organizations that put to shame the one on Eutaw Street.

Ignore the shambolic state of the Orioles.

We still play in the prettiest ballpark in the US.

I've got my season tickets, but with the offseason moves and changes I'm not sure what to look forward. I've got opening day tickets, but may get rid of them to make some money back. Or sell off the Boston or Yankee series tickets to make some money back.

I will still watch games in the best ballpark in the US.

http://www.camdenyards20.com/

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards, no new tale to tell

Can the Orioles play the spoilers?

In the last week, the Orioles have shown that they are not gonna roll over. Their season may be over, but they've played the Yankees strong, halted the Rays' momentum, and have put some hurt into the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's playoff chances. They've got some good pitching and have knocked the hell out of the ball.

I'm really hoping that they turn it on against the hated Red Sox. I dream that they're the ones responsible for the Sox getting bounced out of the playoffs.

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards, picture, sports

I haven't finished out the "Gabe at the Park posts." Here he's trying to catch batting practice flies. He's not in position. It takes a special person to figure out how to snag a homer.

Labels: Camden Yards, NewsRadio quote

I'm gonna recant what I said about going to see bad baseball teams play bad, bad, bad baseball. It hurts, and I'm not hardcore enough. Yet, I was there for the 13-0 beatdown tonight. Every pitcher giving up a home run, even if they didn't give up a home run. It was a painful 9 innings and 3 hours. At least, I caught the beginnings of the Grand Prix of Baltimore.

The Hardcore is composed of the people I saw at the Yard tonight.

There's the gentleman who has season tickets a row behind me. He's been rotating his companions between his children and his friends. He jinxes us as he's always there for the beatdown.

There's the lady and the gentleman who have the two season ticket seats on my right. He's old and she's younger. I can't guess their relationship. Father-daughter? Husband-wife? Gentleman-escort? I can't tell. I'm afraid to ask. I'm hoping its husband-'trophy' wife. They are an interesting couple. She's also pretty.

There's the kids from Hopkins, the freshman from LA and NJ. They've come to catch a game at the Yard. Wish they got to see a better game. Although, I did tell them to go sneak into the seats behind home plate. Hopefully, you got to see them on television.

There's the group of high school kids. They came down from the upper level to catch the final innings. They had seen last night's game, too. It's great to egg these kids on in their taunting. We're getting on the Jumbo-tron!

There's the dude from work. He's still at the game in the ninth. What are we doing and why do we subject ourselves to this junk? WHY!

There's the guy who's vacation is watching some ball games. He wore an Orioles shirt tonight, but wore a Blue Jays shirt last night. He's on his way to Boston for three games, Yankees then Rangers. I thought he was here for the Grand Prix. He hates motorsports.

There's the kids who sat in the seats for the first two innings. They were very loud and I kept looking at the dad a few rows back. I couldn't help it. Maybe, subconsciously, I wanted him to get his kids out of there. They did clear out, but they cheered loudly for the Orioles even though we wer down 7 by the third.

In there place came the mother and her 2 children. They were shooed away by the husband-wife couple.

I didn't talk up the ball girl. It wasn't Kirsten.

Orioles play a day game tomorrow and I doubt they'll get 5000 fans. I don't think they got 10000 tonight. We're number 32!

Labels: Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards

Though this team really sucks and cannot play sound fundamental baseball, it's still fun to go down to the Yard and catch a game. Although, at times, it is very trying, but still, it beats cancer. Following the team will kill you (RIP Flanny), so only the hardcore can get through a season. I've been through 4 and now I have the thousand yard stare.

"Hey Joker, we ought to put you up for the congressional medal of... ugly!"

"The Horror... The Horror..."

Labels: baseball, Camden Yards

I would've been at the early game of today's scheduled Yankee-Oriole tilt, but Hurricane Irene caused today's games to be cancelled. Unlike Joe Gerardi, I'm okay with it. It was a makeup game for another rained out game from April so another week or two doesn't make a difference. I'm not gonna whine about it. I can wait. Maybe another 14 years.

You have to wait for those baseballs to come flying your way. Maybe you'll have some light hitting middle infielder taking his cuts, then you'll have the heavy bomber. You stand close to the wall for the ground rule double, then you back up, way back for the bombs. You've got to position right. Catch that ball!

Labels: baseball, Camden Yards

You've got to want it. If you're standing on the wall, call for the ball. Look at a player, call his name, throw your hands up, and yell, "Throw me a ball!" It don't matter what team. It don't matter what player. Do it. Call for the ball.

The nephew was shy. He couldn't even ask Guthrie for a ball. Me? I just yelled, "Hey, Blue Jay throw me a ball!" I had no idea his name. I had no idea his number which was unfortunate as I would usually call them by that -- "Hey, 57! Throw me one."

Sometimes they'll throw you one. It's happened. It'll happen again. Thanks, Nick!

Labels: baseball, Camden Yards, no new tale to tell

Last time at Camden Yards, I took my nephew to batting practice. This was for a Blue Jays game. We waited for Jose Bautista to "hit it here" and he did deliver...

Labels: baseball, Camden Yards, picture