First Spring Game

Spring Training – first BBRT’s 2013 MLB game, freebie, completed scorecard.

Game on!  BBRT made it to my first Spring Training game of the year – so, also, first MLB game of 2013.   It was the Braves versus the Yankees at Tampa – Braves won in a squeaker: 2-1.

Lots of 2013 baseball firsts for BBRT.  Not just first MLB game attended this year, also:

– First freebie – Yankee water bottle.

– First completed scorecard – accurate, despite the forty-two players used.

– First new stadium pin – George Steinbrenner Field.

– First two hot dogs.

– First obnoxious fan.

That last first (“last first”, I like that) was pretty good.  When we arrived (30 minutes prior to game time), my spouse Denise was seated next to a woman who obviously had already been enjoying adult beverages.  After the National Anthem, which she belted out loudly and off key, she announced proudly to the crowd in our section: “Get ready.  I’m drunk.  I’m loud.  I was cheerleader.  And, you’ve got me for nine innings.”  She delivered on almost all promises.  She was drunk and loud and she did cheer – over and over again “Come on, (insert Atlanta player’s name.)  You got this.  Let’s go Atlanta.”  There were also a few F-bombs, usually when her husband tried to quiet her down.  Her other favorite cheer was “Come on, (insert player’s name).  Look over here, show me your pretty face.”  She also attempted to call “a penalty” on an Atlanta error.  She did not, however, keep her nine-inning promise. She downed six large beers (we counted the spent containers) in five innings and left in the sixth.

Good seats at a good price.

On the plus side, for only $37.50 each, we had seats at the home plate edge of the third base dugout, just six rows back, it was nearly 80 degrees (and BBRT is from Minnesota) and the refreshments were reasonably priced.  And, of course, IT WAS BASEBALL.

Other observations.  About half the players used were not in the program (Too many off to World Baseball Classic?).  And the game’s key moment – bottom of ninth, two on-two out for Yankees in a 2-1 game, saw a Braves’ pitcher wearing number 82 (Travis Wood) facing a Yankee hitter wearing number 96 (Addison Maruszak) – gotta love Spring Training.

Derek Jeter showed up.

Still we did get to see future HOFers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera – and a sharp young pitcher (Jose A. Ramirez) for the Yankees, who started the game, faced only 12 Braves’ hitters (the only hitter to reach base was tossed out trying to steal) with four strikeouts.  Great fastball, considering his size – 6′ 1″ and just 155 pounds.

All in all, a good day at the ball park.

Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless inning for us old guys.