History made tonight....

[Van]

Pretty epic night....

Figuring I'd go catch Randy Johnson in person, before he's through, I'd planned a trip to my guitar tech in San Francisco around a scheduled Randy Johnson start at AT&T.

I sprang for a good seat, about thirty rows up, a few feet to the right of home plate.

Well, RJ hurts his shoulder, and I'm bummed, because I really didn't need to see Jonathan Sanchez again.

Jonathan Sanchez has just been dogshit, this season. 2-8, horrible ERA, and he even got banished to the bullpen a few weeks ago. His spot in the rotation had been taken by some rookie.

He's also been a bad luck charm, for me. Besides seeing Tim Lincecum beat the Dodgers earlier this season, it seems that every time I go to a Giants game I get stuck with Jonathan Sanchez.

He's always wild. He never has any command of his breaking stuff. He's always falling behind in the count.

Now he's been demoted, and he's only starting this game because of an injury to the HOF-er I'd made a point of seeing.

I watched Sanchez warming up before the game, for a good fifteen minutes. I didn't think it a good omen when he pitched from the stretch during his entire warm-up.

It was like he just knew there were always going to be baserunners, so why bother warming up with a full windup?

Oh well, earlier in the day, at least three of the Hooters chicks were unusually hot, with perfect asses. Most of the time, that particular Hooters is loaded with decent Asians, with only decent bodies. Today, this place had a really good crop. There were only a few of the usual stubby Asians, and one of 'em was this amazing Thai chick, plus they had these two Russian looking brunettes who were just outstanding.

Pretty damn good, for the San Francisco Hooters. So, at least there was that.

The game begins, and Sanchez is quickly staked to a 4-0 lead. He has a very quiet first couple of innings, just moving right through the depleted Padres lineup.

In fact, just the night before, Lincecum carried a no-hitter into the 7th, against them.

The game soon became a blow out, with SF up 7-0, and then 8-0, but...what the hell? Sanchez still hasn't even given up a hit.

Now it's the end of the sixth, and he's twice gone through the entire lineup without giving up a hit. Or a walk.

Dude is throwing a perfect game, which, IIRC, has never been done before, not by any SF Giant pitcher. I know for a certain no Giant pitcher has tossed a no-hitter since 1976, when John "The Count" Montefusco did it, and unless Gaylord Perry managed one I don't think there has ever been a perfect game thrown by a SF Giant. Probably a NY Giant managed it, but no SF Giant, I don't believe.

Okay, typically a lot of no-hitters get broken up in the 7th, since that's when the pitcher is facing the top of the lineup, for the third time.

The Giants make a defensive switch, pulling their star third baseman from the game, after he'd already hit the longest HR of the year at AT&T. That fucker cleared the 25' wall in right center, above the 421' sign, and he cleared the bleachers atop the wall. Were it not for the metal railing behind the concourse, that blast would've cleared the stadium, into McCovey Cove.

Instead, it hit that damn railing, caroming back towards the bleachers.

That one had to be 475', easy. It might've been pushing 500'. I'm pretty sure it would've been the first "Splash Hit" in deep right center, ever.

So, anyway, they pull Sandovar, for a 7th inning defensive replacement. They replace him at third with their usual second baseman, Juan Uribe.

One, two, three. Sanchez isn't even working hard. All night long, he was getting way ahead in the count, and he was just killing them with pinpoint breaking stuff on 0-2 and 1-2 counts.

They just kept chasing. He's now got ten Ks, as a result.

The 8th inning sees Adrian Gonzalez leading off; he, of the 24 HRs, and SD's only real threat in the lineup.

Sanchez goes 3-0 on him, going 3-0 to a batter for the first time all night. He only went 3-1 one other time, he was just that much in command.

He fights back, and finally Gonzalez launches one, but it dies on the warning track.

I'm thinking, "That was it. That was their last chance. This is going to happen."

Only five more outs to go, and Sanchez has now cleared the meat of the lineup.

The next better hits a topper to third base, right at Uribe, the recent defensive replacement, who'd moved over from second base.

He hesitated. He allowed himself to get caught between hops, and he fucking botched it, kicking it away. He still had time, though, but then he couldn't get a handle on the damn thing. He picked it up, and bobbled it again.

E-7.

There went the perfect game. What a way to lose the franchise's first perfect game, on an eighth inning error, by the defensive replacement. Jesus fuck.

The no-no is still intact, though, and Sanchez finishes up the 8th, without further incident.

By this time, the crowd was on its feet. They'd begun standing in the 7th, and every time he got to two strikes the whole place would go berzerk. A guy would foul one back, and it'd get silent, then the roar would begin anew when Sanchez would begin looking in for the sign.

Finally, it's the 9th. The first batter goes down without a fight.

The second batter...doesn't.

He launches a mortar shot to dead center, and everyone thought it was a home run. The announcers screamed that it was heading out of the park, but Aaron Rowand, the Giants' center fielder, he kept tracking it. He timed his leap perfectly, and he caught it, at the top of the wall, in dead center.

Fantastic catch, under any circumstances. There, with the weight of the no-hitter riding on his shoulders?

A catch for the ages. He saved the no-hitter, which Sanchez then made good on, by whiffing the final batter.

Of course the place went berzerk. After the players all mobbed him, and after all the curtain calls and standing ovations were given and received, the center field screen showed a middle aged man in the dugout with Sanchez, crying as they hugged.

Listening on the radio during my ride home, they explained that the guy was of course his dad.

He'd flown in last night, from Puerto Rico, just to see this game.

He'd never seen his son pitch before, in person, not in the major leagues. Tonight was his first time. He wanted to be there to support his kid, to encourage him to take advantage of this second chance he was being given, following his demotion to the bullpen.

Yeah, I guess so.

In addition, it turns out that the no-hitter was also Sanchez's first career shutout. In fact, it was his first complete game, in the entire time he'd played pro ball. He'd never even managed a complete game in minor league ball.

Then there was his catcher, a career journeyman named Eli Whiteside. This guy has all of 42 ABs, and the only reason he was even catching tonight was Benjie Molina's wife was giving birth, so Benjie had to miss the game.

A 2-8 pitcher, a last minute sub for Randy Johnson, and his battery mate is also a last minute sub, basically a nobody, and nearly a complete stranger.

These two most improbable guys just went out and engineered a perfect game, at least on their end. They didn't allow a single batter to reach base.

Now in its tenth year, this was the first no-hitter at AT&T Park, by anybody.

This was also the first one I'd ever witnessed, in person.

Pretty cool, I gotta say.

[Moby Dick]

hell i thought it was going to be that m2ool had an original thought and take about his Kal Bares.


cool as hell you got to see a no-no tho.


havent been to a ball game in a few years...but i did get to see Tettleton hit his last home run (which i missed having the opportunity to catch by about 5 seats) and Ripkin Jr go yard in the same game.

you know Uribe had to feel like a shit-heel after it was over with. Wonder if he's kin to Jose Uribe?

[Atomic Punk]

After work I came home and watched the game as it was the 6th inning and the Gnats were up 7 - 0 by then. I was going to "change my station" but I like Kruk and Kuip as announcers so much that I left it alone as I studied. I just remember the 3rd baseman or shortstop fucking up an easy out in the 8th and hearing boos.

Cool, Van was at a local San Fran event and m2 nowhere to be seen. Well off to the hospital to do another clinical. You better have pics of the game Van.

[Shoalzie]

RACK Sanchez...I got to see his last three outs at a bowling alley.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Did you just walk right up to the stadium and by tickets, or were they purchased in advance?

Rack the post. Had you just thrown a few carefully selected pics in there, that'd have been PET-OFF worthy stuff.

[Van]

R-Jack, yep. the place got really loud and crude in voicing their opinion of that move, especially since that was the second time he'd tried it that night. The first time, he managed to get it down, up the first base line, but he bunted it too hard, right at Ishikawa.

I was sitting in a section of families. Nothing but families. To my left were the grandparents. 70-ish, very respectable. To my right were the grandkids, who were 18-ish, plus their girlfriends. In front of me were the parents, completely outfitted in Giants garb. They had their little four year old daughter all dressed up in orange and black too, including those little Reggie Bush band-aids on each cheek, with little "SF" logos.

It was all very Norman Rockwell-ish....

...that is, until dude squared around to bunt, and the entire stadium, including my whole section, even including the Burl Ives looking grandparent, began yelling, "PUSSY! PUSSY!" at the guy.

The girlfriend of one of the grandkids, she was obviously shocked. Her hands went to her mouth, and her face lit up in astonishment, but soon enough even she joined in the chant.

Had that guy managed to get that bunt down, and had it worked, he may not have gotten out of there with his ass.

[Van]

Mgo, I purchased the ticket in advance, before it was announced RJ was going on the DL.

No pics. I don't even own a camera. We used to have one, since I needed one to sell stuff on e-bay, but first it got dropped into a toilet, and now it seems to have gone missing.

[socal]

but first it got dropped into a toilet...

When did you fly over Detroit?

That was a very loud, very agressive voice of displeasure. It sounded like the reaction Giant fans would give if Tommy Lasorda dragged Willie Mays' statue into centerfield, dry humped it and then defecated on it.

I could see R-jick Monday drop over the railing and sprint into centerfield to lay Tommy out like Jack Tatum.



Rack Sanchez and the no-no, the little battery chuck. At least he had the decency to rise up against a division rival.

What say you, Mikey?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

but first it got dropped into a toilet

Fuckin' HATE it when that happens.

[Atomic Punk]

Van, one of the RN's that was at my clinical site today took his kid to the game yesterday and sat up in the $12 left field seats. He also told me if you get to the game 90 minutes to 2 hours early there is a free parking area over across from where McCovey's statue is. So he avoids the $30 parking fee. I don't remember exactly where it is but he never pays for parking.

[Van]

Neither do I. I just park somewhere there in the neighborhood. Parking metering stops at 7:00pm, and I arrived at 6:40, for a 7:15pm first pitch, so I put enough change in the meter to cover the final twenty minutes, and that was that.

[Blueblood]

He also told me if you get to the game 90 minutes to 2 hours early there is a free parking area over across from where McCovey's statue is. So he avoids the $30 parking fee.

Complete BULLSHIT !




the truth

[Blueblood]

Neither do I. I just park somewhere there in the neighborhood.

Which "district" is this ???

Just curious to see if things ADD up. You know, some guy (Van)... that drove an hour and a half to San Francisco from the Central Valley... and found parking "no problem" in this area.

Oh yeah, there is a distinct flavor and culture to this " neighborhood"... would you like to tell me what it is ???

Anyone who has been there... would know this "right off the bat" . No pun intended.






the truth

[Van]

Okay, m2....

Just down the street, off of Embarcadero, is a mixed residential/business street called Brannan St. It's a five minute walk from the Orlando Cepeda statue, outside the northwest stadium entrance.

So, now you want my itinerary, as proof? Need to fact-check it, do you??

Cool.

Friday afternoon, I ate at Amicis, in Vacaville. Just in case you don't believe me, okay, when you walk through the door, the table I sat at is immediately to the left, against the wall. There's a picture of a young Frank Sinatra kicking back in some hotel room, with his feet up on an ottoman. Sitting dead ahead on the facing wall, there's a picture of a snarling, flexing Rocky Marciano.

I had a medium, hot sausage pizza. It came to just under $20. I left $25, and headed out.

This would've been somewhere around 2:00pm.

I then jumped back on 1-80 west. About an hour or so later I pulled into Gary Brawer's guitar shop, on Lafayette St, which is a tiny alleyway off of Mission, near the corner of Van Ness and Mission. I dropped off a guitar there to get PLEK'd, among other things. It's a Robert Cray Strat.

The number to Gary's shop is (415) 621-3904. I invite you to give him a call on Monday (they're closed on Sundays), and ask for either Gary, the owner/proprietor, or Fernando, the counter guy. Go ahead and confirm with them that a guy named Van has a Robert Cray Strat there, which was dropped off on Friday.

After I left Gary's shop, I drove down Van Ness, all the way to the end, adjacent to Fort Mason. That's usually where I park, near the Aqua Park, whenever I go to Fisherman's Wharf.

I then walked about ten minutes, up to Ghirardelli Square, and into the main Ghirardelli shop, where I continued my tradition of never going to San Francisco without bringing back some chocolate covered blueberries from Ghirardelli, for Susan, my wife.

She used to prefer the cherries, but now she prefers the blueberries, with her explanation being that sometimes the cherries are a little dry.

Since my elderly mother just moved in with us, I also bought her some chocolate covered raisins.

I added a pack of chocolate covered penaut butter squares. The grand total was twenty eight fucking bucks, just for those three little things.

Okay, now it was about 4:30 pm.

Exiting Ghirardelli Square, I headed down the hill, towards the cable car stop, stopping first to check out the Salvador Dali display in one of the art galleries.

The Marquis DeSade display was also very cool, especially the chick with the perfect tits and the shaved pussy. The well put together gallery chick was this severe looking Germanic blonde, and she was an easy 9. Stunning. Thing is, she looked like a Domme, and she was doubtless amused at watching me enjoy that woman's perfect tits and shaved pussy.

Exiting that place, I checked out some of the Leroy Neimans, in the next gallery. The Tiger Woods one, driving towards an island green, that one was cool.

Time to head down the hill, to Fisherman's Wharf. I passed through that World Music shop, as I usually do. I can't help myself. I have to go bang on whatever weird drums they have out, and I always have to finger the harps.

While I was there, I noodled around on one of their acoustics, and I bought a Celtic music CD.

Now, finally, popping out on the side where the musicians always play in that little enclosed courtyard, I ended up on the wharf, down the street from the Argonaut Hotel, and that one bar with the bazillion beers.

First thing, I walked down the street, to my usual blues bar, Lou's Pier 47. The music room is upstairs. Downstairs is the cajun restaurant. One of my favorite people, Daniel Castro, was playing there last night, but not until the 9:00pm-to-closing set. I often catch the end of his late set, after a Giants game.

Chris Cobb was playing there, when I arrived.

I didn't stick around long for Cobb's set, and I went across the street, to Hooters. I didn't eat, I just went in there to scope out the talent, while talking to a buddy on the phone. He wanted me to check and see for him if that "smokin' hot Thai chick" was still there, and she was.

Okay, now I walked back over to where I was parked, and I put my bags in my car. I then walked up that little hill, where we always watch the Blue Angels over the water, and up to Fort Mason. I then walked over the hill, to Fort Mason Park, which is where I saw Buddy Guy and Santana, at the SF Blues Festival, a few years ago.

I always make that little trek, whenever I'm at the wharf. There's something about that little tree shrouded hill. There are always roller skaters, bicyclists and other people around, but once we get off the main walkway it's a great place to take Susan for a quick fuck, overlooking the bay.

So, by now, it's going on 6:00pm. I head back to my car, and I take North Point to the Embarcadaro, where I hang a right. I then take Embarcadero to Brannan St, where I made a right. Within about fifty yards, I saw an open parking space, in a metered parking zone.

I listened to the radio for a bit, then, at 6:40pm, I got out, fed the meter, and walked the few minutes it takes to get from Brannan St to the stadium. Lotta damn nice apartments there, opposite the park, down the street.

I went straight to the Will Call vending machine, near Willie Mays Plaza. I stuck my credit card in the machine, the machine verified my card, out spat my pre-paid ticket (Section 112, row 32, seat 13...I'm thinking I should probably keep that ticket) and I went into the stadium.

It was 7:00, and the game was fifteen minutes away.

A twelve year old black chick with the first name of Symphone sang the national anthem, and of course she had to go all American Idol ghetto when she got to "...land of the freeeeeEEEEeeeEEEeeEEE," but she was 'aight, up until that point.

They made a special home plate announcement that Lincecum and Cain had made the All-Star team. They mentioned that Kung Fu Panda didn't make it, then they announced a special "Panda" code, for $10 off tickets to the next game, at SFGiants.com.

Finally, the game began.

Any other fucking questions?

[Blueblood]

I've NEVER... seen someone go "google" to the extent that you just went... for an hour and a half....

by Blueblood » Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:08 pm

then.... Post...by Van » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:32 am

UNREAL.


I asked you.... a couple of questions... you "can't ...google" !!!

You missed on ALL counts...





m2 is the truth

[Van]

What are you talking about? I didn't google anything. No need. I just described the exact whos, whats, whens and wherefores of my day, and it's all spot-on.

Of course it is. Make any attempt to dispute a single word I just said, and you're an imbecile.

[Atomic Punk]

He also told me if you get to the game 90 minutes to 2 hours early there is a free parking area over across from where McCovey's statue is. So he avoids the $30 parking fee.

Complete BULLSHIT !




the fool

You know the triple A team is right here doncha? Many people from here also go to the big league games up there. Why would they lie about not paying an extra $30 to park next to Mt. Tam?

[Mikey]

but first it got dropped into a toilet...

When did you fly over Detroit?

That was a very loud, very agressive voice of displeasure. It sounded like the reaction Giant fans would give if Tommy Lasorda dragged Willie Mays' statue into centerfield, dry humped it and then defecated on it.

I could see R-jick Monday drop over the railing and sprint into centerfield to lay Tommy out like Jack Tatum.



Rack Sanchez and the no-no, the little battery chuck. At least he had the decency to rise up against a division rival.

What say you, Mikey?

If any team's a candidate to be no hit this season it's gotta be the Padres.

Always have to rack the effort no matter who does it to whom.

[Mikey]

Last time I went to a Giants game, while visiting an old friend in Portola Valley a few years ago, I saw Greg Maddux get his 300th win. I also got my one and only ML foul ball, off Yorvit Torrealba, during the last AB of the game.

[LTS TRN 2]

Yeah, Van, it was a great game, and surely boosted Sanchez's trade value. Too bad your account is so tedious and boring. Really, can't you spice it up or add some verve? You suck at writing. Just sayin'.

[War Wagon]

Yeah, Van, it was a great game, and surely boosted Sanchez's trade value. Too bad your account is so tedious and boring. Really, can't you spice it up or add some verve? You suck at writing. Just sayin'.

Between mtool and yourself, I can't quite decide who's more tedious and boring. But trust me, you both are off the freaking charts when it comes to mind numbingly horrific prose.

Excellent story, Van.

[smackaholic]

I had a medium, hot sausage pizza. It came to just under $20. I left $25, and headed out.

I'll bet the hot sausage pizza is big in frisco.

got any trannies working the hooters there?

[Van]

Nick, it might simply be a case where you're too fucking stupid to realize that I intentionally wrote that piece in a dry, "police report/news column" fashion.

Same with the follow up piece, to m2.

Actually, there's no "might" about it. You clearly are that stupid, since you were unable to divine even that obvious of a concept.

Let me clue you in, dumbass....

Years ago, there used to be a sportswriter in L.A., by the name of Allan Malamud. He wrote for the now defunct L.A. Herald Examiner. He was famous for a particular daily sports column, his signature column, "Notes On A Scorecard."

In this column he chronicled the day's events, in an almost Sgt. Joe Friday manner of, "Just the facts, ma'am."

He was also famous for his use of the ellipsis, following each entry in his column....

What you're reading here, and what you often read from me in some of my short narratives on this board; they're in that same vein.

Notice the conspicuous lack of adjectives and adverbs? Notice the dispassionate feel ?

It's a chosen style.

When I choose to write in other narrative styles, the results are significantly, and quite obviously, different.

If this is as much as you're able to bring to the table, please, stick to ZioNazi C&Ps, and leave the creative writing analysis to those who know what they're doing.

[War Wagon]

In this column he chronicled the day's events, in an almost Sgt. Joe Friday manner of, "Just the facts, ma'am."

It's the preferred style of journalistic writing for newspapers and what are now the wire services, pioneered by the likes of Hemingway. I believe his instuctions to cub reporters at the KC Star were "words are precious, don't waste them".

Of course, LTS TARD has never met an adjective in his thesaurus he didn't want to abuse... so there you have it.

[JMak]

...In addition, it turns out that the no-hitter was also Sanchez's first career shutout. In fact, it was his first complete game, in the entire time he'd played pro ball. He'd never even managed a complete game in minor league ball.

Pretty cool, I gotta say.

Pretty lame and yet another reason I dislike baseball these days. A nobody 2-8 loser no-hits a major league lineup. Says more about the state of talent in the league than it does of this particular pitcher. Tells me it's time to close a few franchises, well, probably more like 3-5 and go back to the two division league on both sides.

Good for this nobody to no-hit a talentless Padres club that the local Babe Ruth little league champs would have taken to the 13th inning.

[MDTerrapins]

Then there was his catcher, a career journeyman named Eli Whiteside. This guy has all of 42 ABs, and the only reason he was even catching tonight was Benjie Molina's wife was giving birth, so Benjie had to miss the game.

Former Orioles "catcher of the future" Eli Whiteside. Syd Thrift was a dick.

[LTS TRN 2]

Great story, Van. I've never witnessed a MLB no hitter in person and you truly did witness some history. Props to you. I'm not going to question your itinerary or where you parked, but.....an error on the third baseman is scored E-5, not "E-7". Thought you'd like to know that, just in case you intend to keep a scorecard at the next game. :)

Thanks for the correction, Mace. No one should expect Van to actually know how to score a game. As far as the intentional style of dry , lifeless observation, fuck "just the facts." Try emulating Herb Caen, or Scott Ostler. For that matter, the L.A. sensibility to which you refer also seems to regard Vin Scully as some kind of "great" announcer. In fact he's a rigid and robotic twit--especially compared to Jon Miller. And for that matter the reporter style of Hemingway is all but unreadable. Boring and tedious--especially compared to the true master of the style, Raymond Chandler.

Look, if we wanted a dry account, we could easily check out an article from the AP wire. In this palsied forum I think one has some obligation to liven it up--get inside. Step your game up.

[Van]

Great story, Van. I've never witnessed a MLB no hitter in person and you truly did witness some history. Props to you. I'm not going to question your itinerary or where you parked, but.....an error on the third baseman is scored E-5, not "E-7". Thought you'd like to know that, just in case you intend to keep a scorecard at the next game. :)

:doh:

Swear to god, I did know that.

[Louis Cyphre]

I've NEVER... seen someone go "google" to the extent that you just went... for an hour and a half....

by Blueblood » Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:08 pm

then.... Post...by Van » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:32 am

UNREAL.


I asked you.... a couple of questions... you "can't ...google" !!!

You missed on ALL counts...





m2 is the truth

Yeah... no shit, Van! Couldn't you have stole someone else's pictures from Facebook and claim them was your own of something? It would have made an awesome PET!