With the BP yesterday in mind I decided to stay put the same way, but the BP had a big regression, it sucked.  Pirates and Astros, and my man, El Caballo, he didnt take BP.  I was beginning to think my streak may end, but I stayed positive in my head.

Ball 1 of the day was a ball hit by an Astros coach behind second base that went over the head of JD Martinez, it took a hard bounce right at me and I made the catch.

Ball 2 was a caught home run from an unidentified Astro player.

And that was it, a disappointing day when I have been near an avg of 8 bpg at PNC.  It was just that day where things dont bounce your way, I made little attempts to change my approach, or relocate either.  And both BPs were crappy.

Thats a recipe for two of these.

Day-2

Year-87

Career-1183

Heberto Andrade, in a good mood playfully fired a ball right at my chest when I called out to him for Ball 3.  Coolest bullpen catcher in the league, hands down.

That is my man.  But let me tell you about another bullpen pitcher that is cool as the other side of the pillow, ‘having a blast like a kid in little league, the resurrected Grilled Cheese Grilli, I asked him for the ball, he says, “dont you have some already.”  Me-”Yea but I have never got a ball from you, and I would like to put you on my player list.”  Grilli- ”What kind of list?” Me-An alphabetical list of all the players I have gotten a hit or thrown ball from.”  Grilli-”Well alrite man, here you go, check it off the bucket list!!!”  Me-”Alrite thanks alot.”

And when he saw me trying to get a pic this was his pose for it, cool as ice.

My next ball, a smash that was right at me on the cross walk, off the bat of who else, El Caballo (the horse), it started to fall short, and two other people converged trying to reach for it, plus the nasty sun.  I maintained eye contact through the sun and reached over the railing and it smacked hard into the palm of my glove for Ball 5.  Here is the railing which is higher this year for food and drink, you cant hurdle it anymore like I was able to last year.

My next ball, a towering homer from El Caballo would land behind the last section of bleachers, I read the trajectory well and sprinted to the landing zone, it bounced hard and nearly straight up, it slowed down as it rolled toward the concourse area where I gloved it for Ball 6.

It bounced by the picnic tables in this pic.

My last two balls of the day were caught home runs from unidentified Astros players, Ball 7 and 8.  The 8th ball was a Web Gem for sure as it was a long reach to my left against the wall, and caught it squarely full extension.  A little dude that was reaching his best for it had his glove out, when I got it I flipped it into his glove.  He was happy for it, and said thanks for saving the ball.

Day-8, 1 give away

Year-85

Career-1181

Ball 2 was a scrum for an unknown HR quickly after the Hughes toss up.

After a long drought of nothing coming of the Pirates bats, I got Brad Lincolns attention on a toss up for Ball 3.

If your wondering why I didnt take any pictures I didnt want the hassle of taking pics today, I wanted to run around and expend all the energy that wasnt used the past two days.  Also there was a bunch of competition.

Ball 4 was another scrum for a home run, unidentified player.

Ball 5 was a nice catch reaching forward with the sun glaring down on me which was real tough today, (more on that later), but it was a great ball, pretty much a pearl LA Dodger commemorative.

Ball 6 was another scrum.

Now, more on the sun, I never mind talking about bad plays, with the good comes the bad, with the bad comes the good.  So a ball is right at me, nice space, just camping out and pitching a tent waiting on the next ball.  And it crosses slightly through the path of the sun, which I should have blocked better.  Anyway I flinched when it did and ducked cause it blocked my vision right as it came in.  So I turn to track it on a bounce, but the bounce was a bounce right on the edge of the step and right at my bottom lip.  I took it on the chin and moved on, deciding to leave for RF where Laroche, Ankiel and other lefties were due up.

Things were good there at the start as I got a toss up from Ross Detwiler, but nothing else would materialize.

Here is a pic of the baseballs from today.

Day-7

Year-79

Career-1173

And this.

Although the forecast was better then what nature gave, which really wasnt much, a carbon copy of yesterday, and same decision by the head groundsman, call it off for a brief period of rain at 4.  Yes Pgh is rated as the best ballpark in America routinely, and yes we have the lamest groudscrew, they are like some Wicked Witch of the West syndrome, get a little wet, and poof (gone in a cloud of smoke.)  Like they fear that 5-10mins of rain, which has been the last two days will a. ruin the field, and b. cause too much work.  Whatever the case it was bad luck for ballhawks again, and I made a late decision to go for it again.

I started off on the Right Center crosswalk and watched as the Nationals pitchers warmed up, I had 40 mins til getting into the lower seating bowl on the RF line where they were so I watched for any overthrows.

But then I noticed that Pirates pitchers were warming up and the locale of the LF bleachers to them was much better, I changed and ran over there.  Kevin Corriea who had a rather quick throwing session wrapped things up, I made some eye contact, waved my hat, and he threw one from a good distance to me for Ball 1.  In the picture below he is the farthest away on the right side of the pic.

I ran back to my original location and resumed watching the Nats warm up in my Nats gear.  Near 5pm I watched closely as a Nats coach threw three balls into neighboring sections, and watched as an overthrow landed in the handicapped section.  Judging by yesterday in the same sections when two balls that Erik and I were sure of on location were snagged up by ushers all I could do was look up at this daunting, and dark staircase to hopefully grab these easter eggs, which could have also been LA Dodgers Stadium 50th yr commemoratives.

I finally got to run up these steps full speed at 530pm, and what I found was alot of empty rows and seats.  The ushers had cleaned up well once again even though they are supposedly not allowed to pocket baseballs.

With nothing to do for a while I waited, and waited more, then some, the Nats position players finally came out to throw.  When they wrapped up Bryce Harper was on his way out so the last ball that ex Bucco, X man-Xavier Nady had would go un-noticed as everyone swarmed like vultures for his penmanship.  I waited for Xavier to get to the dugout, asked politely, and got the toss up for Ball 2.

The last ball I got on the day was a toss up from Andrew Mccutchen, I had one other ballhawk competing for it, a few rows in front and to my left.  Ball 3, thanks Cutch and great game 4 for 4 with a late homer.

That was it, it started getting cold and I wanted to watch Hangover part 2 with Lauren which right now is cracking me up.

Day-3, 1 given away

Year-72

Career-1166

So I decided to lay it all on the table, just as Harold does at the casino.  Nevermind a streak, Im attending all games rain or shine, because you truly never know what you can miss, check out the shirt man, he hit for 200 bucs, and got this to style in.

Such as this.

Completely unexpected, I was just trying to get on the board and had no idea the Nats had the Dodger Stadium 50 yr commemorative baseballs.  It was thrown to me by Chad Tracy, Ball 1.

Then, with Bryce Harper in the house, signing a load of autographs I got in position to have him autograph the commemorative ball, Dodger Stadium, where a young phenom made his debut.

I had the ball and pen in hand, but the mob made it so I could only squeeze in at the corner.  Bryce was going nicely down the line, but after many john hancocks decided he was done, that would have been awesome to get him to sign.

Check him out.

When my man Edwin Jackson warmed up, he has thrown me baseballs with the White Sox, and Cardinals (the Cardinals one fell short and was tossed up by a Pittsburgh Police), I switched to Nats gear and screamed his name when he finished.  He looked up to see what it was all about and tossed it high over the fence to me for Ball 2.  Thanks Edwin and nice pitching in the game, giving up only two solo shots.

Lastly I was positioned up high on the Clemente Wall for a Garrett Jones toss up, today with the huge threat of rain I wore my yellow Lets Go Bucs shirt which helps to stand out among a crowd, or in todays case a very thin crowd.  Garrett spotted me and kindly threw up Ball 3.  Thanks Garrett and sweet homer of the majestic type to tie the game 2-2.  I decided to be charitable with a young kid in the front row with a glove, and tossed it to him, everybody happy.

Roberto,  a reminder to have fun, play with passion, and play with integrity.

And the baseballs, one given away.

Day-3

Year-69

Career-1163

I would defend the 160 game with at least one ball anyway possible, but it turned out when I ran in the cages were up, the Reds starting lineup all took bp.  The bleachers had a few jams but for the most part were easy to navigate.  Ball 1 on the day for me was a line shot right at me, as I positioned myself it got on me quicker then I thought but I made the catch, I wouldnt call it clean though.

Ill tell you who is clean though, BP, Brandon Phillips, slick, smooth, and towering home run hitting Brandon Phillips.  You remember his homer in Milwaukee, the one that looked like it might knock down that freak Bernie.  BP is up on my list of fav overall players, he was hitting like he wanted to wear out the grass in right field until the end when he launched one over the 410 portion of CF, I snaked through a small crowd and made the clean catch off the bat of my man, Ball 2.

After bp I took a walk around and looked for some shade and watched my friend and major, longtime, Pirate fan Irene putting up her Bucco charms and trinkets, animals, and posters, one in particular that I love seeing, someone who played the game with pure passion and integrity.

I might take a pic of it everyday, so if you read my blog, get used to seeing it.

And the things that caught Shianne and Dominiks eyes, they love playing with her stuff.

Happy kids again, this didnt last long, the sun won over and made them naughty, cranky, tired.

In the top of the first I played an old friend in that of Nate Mclouth in a row alone kinda high in the section.  With a wave of the hat and glove he fired it right at my glove for Ball 3.  His throws when you are open are hard and crisp, Mccuthcen always throws high balls with a soft toss, I like catching Mclouths much more.

Thanks Nate, three balls from Nate in three games.

Fun day with fam, and two sweet balls.

Day-3, 1 given away to a kid

Year-66

Career-1160

Things jumped off nice and early, I found Ball 1 near the bullpen, and then scrummed Ball 2 both within the first minute of being in the bleachers.

Then after Nate Mcclouth made a running catch in my direction I waved him down for the toss up, Ball 3. 

My man Nate and alot of Pgh ballhawks go way back with him as when he played CF for us he fired us ball after ball, and he may have hit a slump in his career but he still hooks up the fans with throws to the chest.  This was Ball 3.

And wouldnt you know moments later I would scrum a toss up from Nate on the other side of the bleachers towards LF, a guy with an obscenely large, that may take a whole side of a cow to make, seemingly impossible to make nice catches with let Joel Hanrahan use it.  Joel wanted someone to throw him a long toss, and Nate was the man, and he overthrew the (damn I dont even wana call it a glove) thing and I scrummed it easy for Ball 4.  Here it is.

Ball 5 was a toss up from Euclides Rojas, he threw one behind the back way high which sailed in and took a seat on a bleacher, bounced right back up into my glove.  It was a pretty bounce, Ball 5.

Ball 6 was some sort of home run scrum that bounced up into the upper bleachers, I jumped on it and as I raced up the steps in the pic below it trickled down into my glove, I was glad to not have to expend a ton of energy searching around up there, Ball 6.

Next ball was a scrum for  Joey Votto blast off to CF over the 410 sign, Ball 7.

Logan Andrusek tossed me up a ball for Ball 8.  I guess he didnt mind that I had Matt Latos fuming, redder then his Reds shirt, and ready to jump in the bleachers.  One of my PNC ballhawk friends made a catch in front of him and he had something ignorant to say about it, so I yelled consistently and loud right at him ROBBERY!!  Anyway thanks Logan, your cool.

Hes a tall dude.

Ball 9, my last on the day was a clean caught hr which I was wacked in the face with someones glove who I guess thought they could jump high enough to catch it.  It was a clean one on my chin, and my glasses almost flew off.  I knew it wasnt intentional, but it sucked.

And onto the next game, Saturday.

First ball was from the bat of Luis Silverio, yea hes a coach who was hitting balls to utility man Jamicheal Navarro or whatever is name is.  Luis wacked one way over everyone bout 4 rows back, I made the catch and offered it back to Yanichael who said go head and keep it.  Ball 1.

Thanks Jemichel.

Following this would be two scrums which I had good positioning and movement on for Ball 2, and Ball 3, nothing to take a picture of though, unless you like looking at bleachers.

Heberto Andrade, my dude, my consistent hook up, always firing shots at my chest, hadnt thrown me a ball all year yet.  Well that would all change today.  He looked at me, but fired a high lob up into the upper bleachers, Erik and myself were ascending oppostite staircases, it was  50.50 chance of getting it as we were up there at the same time, the ball rolled toward the side I was on and I scrummed a Herbie ball for Ball 4.

Heres where I was with Herby hanging out in the green grass.

As Herbie left the field I got his attention and he fired one to me, it was low so I ended up scrumming it for Ball 5.  Hopefully this is a sign that the always reliable and most friendly to ballhawks player or coach who won last year on My game balls is back in cool mode again for the year.

Remember what I was saying about how heated I had Latos the last game, well I didnt want to look like a fool and ask him for the toss up when I had the same thing on, and was easy to notice.  I stood there, and he made himself look like a fool, lets just say he doesnt have the memory of an elephant because he threw me a nice knuckleball with some speed to it right in the chest, Ball 6.  Thanks Matt, you rock.

That was it for a while until I made a catch of a home run, some wily teenager tried to make a big play on it running through the aisle, he nearly knocked it out of my glove but I hung on without losing it, Ball 7.

After bp I took a walk to cool off under the Clemente Wall and gigantic Pirate fan Irene had her Roberto poster up, its inspiring so I took a pic of it.

I got one more ball on the day from you know who, Herbie Andrade at the bullpen, Ball 8, this I gave to Dominik who was with me when Herbie through the ball up high from down in the bullpen to over the fence.

Here I am happy in Redleg gear.

Here are the balls from the last two games, 2 given away.

4th and 5th combined balls-17

year-63

career-1157

And the crowd goes wild.

This would cut into four possible night game bps, so I planned to travel alot a while ago to start the season, or I would have been off to a really slow start, with alot of Pirate games coming up in May and another trip to Baltimore and possible Cleveland May should be a big month to follow up on this wild April of trips to Mexico, Cleveland, Washington, and Baltimore.

It was chilly as can be on the waters of Lake Erie and the wind made it worse, but it made for a low crowd.

In the pic below near the bullpen in the furthest two sections I was able to scrum a home run ball and make a catch on a can of corn for Balls 1 and 2.

Chris Perez, the charismatic, and cool closer for the Indians who is very friendly with baseballs would pad my stats well.  He threw me a ball, and then would throw a ball up in the air behind a high school baseball team which was clamoring loud and obnoxiously for every ball his hand touched to see them scrum for it.  Well I was standing right where it landed and picked it up easily.  Ball 3 and 4.  I decided to give it to one of the teens, reluctantly, because of their presence as such loud disruption, but I was cool to give it to one of them who was intended for it.

Thanks Chris Perez.

I would also snag an easy ground rule double play about three rows back as well for Ball 5.

Last ball of the day was from a cool usher.  Earlier when Erik and I were in RF watching a righty we noticed a hr hit into the cross aisle behind the handicap seats in LF.  This usher raced for the ball like it was a Abomb from A Rod, or a Grandy Man slam, or light hitting Albert Poopholes’s 1st home run of the season.

When I ran in to the LF bleachers, he tossed me that ball for ball 6, go figure, thanks dude.

Day-6

Year-46

Career-1140

Here I am in Reds gear in the hotel lobby.

You wana know what really got me going tho.  Let me tell you, when we took a wrong turn from our usual route to Washington D.C. and I saw the Washington Monument, damn.  Instant motivation, a symbol of freedom, the Constitution, and the American Way babe!  Even an inspiration to some to ballhawk, I was psyched.

When we got to the gates things were tense for a bit, I hadnt even purchased a ticket until we heard from a head security guard that there would be batting practice today.  Erik and I ran and got tickets, but there would be no action for quite a long time.

I noticed while Erik and I were throwing in the street a lady bug on my hand, at that point I was feeling a little more hopeful about things.

The only opportunity was to wait for the Nationals up high, real high!  While I waited for the Nats pitchers to warm up I took a pic of a part of the scoreboard that I like.

After a long time of waiting and the majority of the pitchers leaving the field ignoring any requests for baseballs, I was able to get the attention of who I thought was Ross Detwiler because thats the name I was screaming out to him from the upper deck and it was thrown to me for Ball 1, and a big relief.  I would later find out that Ross Detwiler was the starting pitcher, so that couldnt have been Ross, Eriks theory was that he may have thought I said Boss, but either way I was relieved, and alls well that ends well.

While I waited that long time to get on the board I noticed one of the fat bullpen coaches toss two balls up, right to that section above in the pic, that rolled down to the front row.  So I quickly ran down and found out I could enter there at noon.  I ran into line, and ran into the section finding one of the balls for Ball 2 on the day.  I told Erik that there was likely two in the area as we both ran in and he found the other.

The final ball I would get on the day was a fairly easy scrum of a Brandon Phillips home run in LF.  I grabbed it just as a younger girl reached for it so I gave her the easter egg game ball I had, so I would end things at three on the day.  I was happy to have gotten that given the very unballhawk friendly confines of the Nationals ballpark, I dont plan on being back here for a very long time.  I got a pic of myself in my Reds gear which helped me avoid breaking my streak from the BP toss up.

On my way out of the stands, on Jackie Robinson day, I noticed a teenager in a Ken Griffey Jr t-shirt.  Griffey is above and beyond my fav player of all time.  It reminded me that even when you have a bad game, or a bad ballhawking day, a bad anything you should be happy to be a part of the game, you should also play hard in the game, and you should always keep your head in the game.  I had to get a pic.

So that was it.

I walked out to the CF gate and took some time to check out the statues that are just inside the CF gates.  And how did I always miss these statues, cause Im always running, right past them.  Well I noticed that two of them were the Pittsburgh native Josh Gibson who played for the town that I work in, Homestead, he played for the Homestead Grays and the Pitsburgh Crawfords.  He is known by some to hit a ball out of right center in old Yankee Stadium and had 800 some home runs in his career.  Hes known to have hit home runs further then anyone, ever, and he is from Pittsburgh, baby!!

And then I took a pick of one of the greatest pitchers, Walter Johnson, Big Train.

And that was it, and like I said before.

Washington Nationals park has went downhill.

Day-3

Year-40

Career-1134, thats a creepy number!

Today was Stephen Strasburgh bobblehead day for the first 1500 ppl.  It made things quite tough.  The main reason I have a problem going to Nats park anymore after this wknd is that you can no longer be in RF until an hour after the gates open.  This greatly reduces chances, and makes Nats park a claustrophobia problem for me.  But yea, this bobblehead, which I hope to get about 30 dollars for on ebay was the reason that today would be a day I was able to dodge a huge bullet fastball aimed right at cracking my games with 1 ball streak.

I felt the heat for sure.  Throughout the Nats and 3/4ths of the Reds I was shut out!!  There were little chances with the huge crowd, the Reds bp stunk, and with so many people lined to the front it was hard to get any players attention.  Yet I was able to get the attention of the cocky and confident BP, Brandon Phillips, newly signed and happy!!  He was running in the outfield before he hit and a ball was hit near him and in line with me.  Immediately I yelled, hey BP, can you throw that up loudly.  I waved my Reds hat at him and gave it a tip, he tossed me up the streak saving Ball 1, and the only ball of the day.  Sweet ball from an All star caliber player.  Thank You BP.

That was it I was glad to scram out of that zoo, after I left there and walked to the parking lot this is what I thought of Nats stadium with their increased rules, and lockdown of RF.  I would think of Nats stadium like I think of this bum’s collection of trash.

The days stats.

Day-1

Year-37

Career-1131