Braves Home Opener!! Twenty wonderful friends came along with me for this game, including a couple of blog friends, a Mets fan, and a couple of guys from B'ham. Some of us went early for BP -- let's get to the pictures!
Obviously, this is the best picture of the day. I already loved O'Flaherty, and you guys give him a Blow Pop? *sighs happily* Eating the blow pop pics 2 and 3.
- Garret looks up at the crowd
- MattE's mouth guard
- Baby and Huddy hanging out! Huddy's still lookin' fly.
- Gonzo and Jeff B playing pitcher-catcher. JB's hat is home plate!
- Schafer got booped in the nose by a fly ball, and Gonzo and New Javy comforted / laughed at him. 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4
- I don't know why, but Pete wound up as if he was going to pitch (overhanded), then drilled the baseball straight into the ground. It was hilarious!
Okay, up to the ticketed seats! We were a bit split up since our group was so large, but we had plenty of time to hang out during the rain delay. More on that in a few, but let's talk about the pre-game first...
- Anyone watching this cycle of ANTM? Doesn't this member of the Tomahawk Team look like Celia?
- Baby and Lowe being respectful during the National Anthem
- The Braves honored long-time announcer Pete Van Wieren, who retired this off-season. Here's the video:
Awww! You'll be missed, Pete.
- Lineup! pics 1 and 2, and video:
(Sorry for the shakes when Baby was introduced -- my friend B was a little too excited for me, and he shook my shoulders before realizing I was recording the lineup!)
- The buzz cut, pics 1 and 2... and even better, the big screen pic!
- Frenchy swings.
- Schafer's pic looks so thuggy!
The rain switched from sprinkles to pouring buckets, and we had a 2+ hour rain delay. I've never stayed through a rain delay, and it was SO fun!
- Tarp 1 ~ guy in poncho ~ Rain Delay ~ Tarp 2 ~ the puddle in short left field ~ Tarp 3
We walked around, had some snacks, laughed at/with the drunk people, and one of the best parts was watching the Heavy Hitters. Well, more like 'listening to' the Heavy Hitters, since the crowd was so thick it was almost impossible to see.
A lot of people left during the rain delay, so we were able to move to a lower section for the remainder of the game.
- I really love it when the umpire puts his hand on the catcher's back. Maybe because I'd do the same thing? ;)
- Marquis Grissom, a member of the Braves 1995 World Series champion team, was in the Nats dugout. So cool!
- Check out what was in the bottom of my friend's Coke cup. Scary! He got a free Coke out of the deal.
- Yunie on third
- Baby's swing
- As B said, "Well, at least his opponent's batting average can't go up!"
- Mmmm, O'Flaherty!
- The Home Depot Tool Race has actual people in tool costumes running this year instead of just a cartoon on the jumbotron! This was almost as funny as last week's nut vendor, and the drill bit bobbing might be funnier!
- MattE minus hat
- Gonzo came in to hold the game close -- here's a little action for you ladies:
- Baby watching his friend bat, then sitting together in the dugout. :)
- KJ knocked in Schafer for the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th! Video ~ pic 1 ~ pic 2
We started filing out of the stadium at 1:20am. Woo, Braves win! Please enjoy the entire photo album here. :)
By CABravesFan April 12, 2009 - 10:23 am
love love love the blow pop!
And the big screen shot of Mac:)
And Gonzo:)
Ok before I go on & on…Thanks for the great pics as always Lauren and you're awesome for hanging through the entire game!
By CABravesFan April 12, 2009 - 10:25 am
Oh! I remember what I was going to say- I cracked up listening to Pete & Boyer (arguably two of the more popular braves) get loudly booed during intros…no idea why but I found it funny. Fans can be sooo fickle!
By Crista Michelle April 12, 2009 - 12:56 pm
i was cheering for pete.
i actually didn't notice the boos. but i was pretty excited.
as for boyer, i just didn't say anything. i'm not going to boo someone at the when the years just begun :)
By Leah April 12, 2009 - 4:17 pm
I was there! Until it started downpouring and hailing. I stayed about thirty or so minutes with my sister during the rain delay and our phones were almost dead (we live around 2 1/2 hours away). We decided to head back home. I was so disappointed! :( Oh yeah, I did buy a program, though, because my friend pointed out that my question to KJ that submitted was printed in it. That did make the night slightly better..for a little while anyway.
By CABravesFan April 12, 2009 - 5:14 pm
By the way- if it takes getting popped in the face to get Gonzo to console me where do I sign up? Black eyes fade…
By Lauren T. April 12, 2009 - 7:04 pm
Leah, I wondered if that was you in the program! My program got soaked (as did everything else that night), but hopefully it's drying out well enough to scan some things in. The artsy photos of the guys are great, and I especially love how they list some of the guys' "best friend in baseball". I plan to put up a whole post about that, because boy is it a mess! :D
CA, I love Blaine, but a lot of the fans don't. Of course, a lot of my love for him isn't dependent on his performance — I just like the company he keeps and how he always seems to be light-hearted. I've never gone for the brooding types.
By Chop-chick April 12, 2009 - 8:34 pm
I hated seeing Blaine get booed. It really bothered me. I was cheering for him and when I heard the boo's I shouted "Hey, c'mon! This isn't Philly, people!" I wanted to run onto the field and give him a hug. Poor guy!
By flbravesgirl April 12, 2009 - 8:56 pm
Woohoo! Thank you, Lauren!
By CABravesFan August 19, 2011 - 7:37 am
I see to recall seeing it too so it must have run nationally (or my brain is just making things up. Entirely possible at 7:30 in the morning). He looks so weird with HAIR!!! ;)
By Lauren T. August 19, 2011 - 7:44 am
I love the perfectly styled curl in the front. It's adorable! I want to hug 3-year-old Jonny right this second, he's so cute!!! <3 …I'm fine.
By Lauren T. August 19, 2011 - 7:44 am
:D
By Jennifer V. August 19, 2011 - 8:55 am
I think that's the most amount of words he's ever said an one time frame… :-)
By Lauren T. August 19, 2011 - 5:06 pm
Well you know, they probably shot this all in one day and then edited it to 30 seconds. ;)
By Emily Sipe August 19, 2011 - 8:38 pm
He had his dreamy eyeballs when he was a kid Lar!!! This is too cute…I've watched it 1/2 as many times as you!
By vanfanusa August 20, 2011 - 9:30 am
Yeah it played nationally. I'm from Philly and I remember it.
By Lauren T. August 20, 2011 - 10:02 am
Em, you crack me up.
vanfanusa, thanks! I knew I remembered it! I've always loved ads/commercials — I took a lot of extra marketing and advertising classes in high school and college (was one class short of a marketing minor in college).
By MollyG August 22, 2011 - 8:43 pm
Oh bless this video. Its so bad its good? They both did a good job but its a good thing they're really good at baseball ;)
By MollyG August 22, 2011 - 8:43 pm
Also, why isn't Jonny in this video? He has previous acting experience! lol
By Lauren T. August 22, 2011 - 8:50 pm
Jonny needs his own! Actually, I'd like a video starring JV and EO. Or our 7-8-9 guys. Or all the bullpen. or anyone and Jonny. Whatever. :)