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7/19, 7:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Baltimore Orioles, Oriole Park at Camden Yards
(Or, "Mmmmmmmmm, waffles")
| Box score | Recap |
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After years of hype and stories and hype, Jeff and Steve finally
make their way to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, a.k.a. Oriole Yards
at Camden Park, a.k.a. Oriole Park at Camden Field, a.k.a. that
really nice ballpark that they based all the other nice new ballparks
on. |
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Ok, despite the lack of arm rests and Brooks Robinson accouterments,
this park shines beyond the outfield walls. The bullpens, located
just past left-center field, are tiered, allowing the fans to see
who is warming up for both teams. The hitting backdrop is covered
with ivy, recalling the classic look of Wrigley Field. |
The Orioles retired Steve Gray's number 5 in 2001 to commemorate his errorless career with the MABL Boston Orioles. |
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The
concourse areas are spacious (unlike those in Boston and New York)
allowing fans to mill about without bumping into everybody they
see. The Park even boasts an open-air concourse around the upper
deck. And the famous warehouse is even more impressive in person,
towering over the bleachers and providing a tantalizing target for
hitters. |
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Today's game made Jeff and Steve a perfect two-for-two in seeing games in which the leadoff batter hit a home run, as Kenny Lofton duplicated Jacque Jones' feat of yesterday. It was, however, the first game during their trek that included a post-game fireworks display. |
After being informed that they would most certainly suffer a horrible, fiery demise if they remained in their seats, Jeff and Steve scampered up to the upper deck behind home plate. This move made for a fantastic view of fireworks in front of a Baltimore skyline backdrop. An excellent conclusion to the evening. 'Round about the fourth inning, the scoreboard at Camden Yards flashed its coming attractions. A casual glance at the scoreboard by our heroes gave birth to an important amendment to the trip: they would RETURN to Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday night to see game two of this three game set. With Baltimore only a short jaunt from Philly, they could easily come back for the O's and make it back to DC for a good night's sleep at Jeff's friend Lauren's place. |
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As great as the game was, clearly, the highlight of the day was their stay with hostess extraordinaire, Lauren Prestileo. Ms. Prestileo provided our heroes with a place to stay, MADE THEM WAFFLES AT 1 AM, and regaled them with scintillating stories and anecdotes. An excellent conclusion to the mid-morning. |
 Lauren Prestileo, hostess extraordinaire, shown here making fantastic waffles for Jeff and Steve. |
| The Orioles fans were among the best Jeff and Steve have seen. They were very spirited and supportive of their team. Of course, they won 10-4, but they are approximately 76 games behind the Red Sox, who were three games behind the Yankees at game time. You do the math. One fan, however, rubbed Steve and Jeff - particularly Jeff - the wrong way. Since we don't know his name, we'll refer to him as Jerky McJerkface. Mr. McJerkface had brought his son and daughter to their first game, a fact which he made sure every fan, usher, coach and player knew. Following is an excerpt of their first conversation: Jerky McJerkface: (politely condescending) Oh, I'm sorry, we have this seat. See? (shows Jeff his ticket stub) Jeff: Oh, no problem. I just moved up a row so I didn't have to jostle with this clown (motions towards Steve) for any balls hit this way. JM: Hey, that's cool. Although now, you've got a couple little kids behind you and you'll probably be obligated to give the ball to them since it's their first game and all. Jeff: (Says nothing, turns around.) At this point, Jeff just thinks this guy is trying to be funny. He doesn't really expect that by suggesting, with all the subtlety of a kick to the groin, that he'll give his kids a ball if he catches it. At least, Jeff hopes he doesn't think this, because now Jeff wants to catch a ball solely so he can give it to any other kid in the section, just to get this guy's goat. Jerky McJerkface had other designs, though. Upon spotting an opening at the right field wall, he proceeded to take his daughter down, hoist her onto his shoulder, and yell to anyone on the field who was near a baseball, "HEY, C'MON! IT'S HER FIRST GAME! HOW BOUT A BALL! C'MON! FIRST GAME HERE! FIRST GAME!" Jeff was none too pleased by this angle. Who is this little three year old girl to get a ball at her first baseball game? YB: So, you were pretty upset by this guy, huh? JB: Yeah, I mean, it's her first game. Great, wonderful. Welcome to the show. How does that entitle her to a ball? YB: Well, maybe that guy wanted to make her first game that much more special…really give her something to remember. JB: Yeah, but it's her first game. First of all, you don't want to peak too early. I mean, if she gets a ball this time, she's going to expect one every time she goes. YB: Hmmm… JB: But even more importantly, how many games has she been to? YB: Only one, right? JB: Thanks, that was rhetorical. Like I was saying, how many games has she been to? And how many games have I been to? I'm 23! I've put my dues in! I've probably been to a hundred games. I've screamed at all those scrub pitchers who have to shag flies during BP. I've run through the rows of the bleachers trying to chase down stray foul balls. I've had beer spilled on me by drunken fans who don't even know the infield fly rule. And now I'm getting screwed out of a ball because this clown is using his daughter as a bargaining chip? Not bloody likely! YB: "Bloody?" JB: Whatever. Do you see my point? YB: It seems valid enough. JB: Of course it does. And if I caught a ball, I probably would give it to a kid. But not any of that guy's kids. YB: How noble. JB: I thought so. Of course, as fate would have it, Jerky McJerkface did end up with a Major League Baseball, reaching his hat over the wall to snag a deep drive by The White Sox' Jeff Liefer. Isn't that always the way? Of further note, during the middle of the third inning, another family arrived to the row behind us. Jerky McJerkface was in their seats. |
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