Wednesday Night at the Ted

1:45...Will talked me into going to the Braves Yankees game...leaving Ceil & Anna home to finish painting (Ceil DID give us her blessing).

2:05...slipped out of work. Picked up Charles on the way home.

2:50...left home, without watering the new grass. Had to stop and get gas before hopping on 75 south...durn Civic only went 445 miles on 12 gallons! Traffic not too bad on the connector.

3:25...dropped off Will & Charles to get in the Skyline ticket line & parked. In my rush, I forgot my scorebook...and glasses. Despite reports of gates opening 3-1/2 hours before game time, we had to wait until 4 pm. Had a nice chat with a dad from upstate NY, taking his 2 kids to their first game. Later we sat with them, as our tickets were next to each other.

4:00 - 4:50...Braves take infield. Escobar & Chipper studiously take grounders at thier positions. McCann stretches and sprints. Francoeur goofs off. Nothing new there.

4:50-5:35...Braves BP. A much heavier BP crowd than usual. I spot one regular. Yankees fans think nothing of crowding the ailse and standing right in front of seated fans. The foul section adjoining the Yankee dugout is opened, and there's a mad dash for the front row. Fans are lined up ten deep.

5:35-6:20...Yankees BP. You'd thought it was the second coming. Fans worshipped, calling out to the gods before them. CC. Johnny. Mariano. Quietly alongside, Hideki Matsui gracefully fielded balls, waiting til the ballboy was available to take his throw. Later his graceful swing reminded me of Chipper's. Johnny Damon sported some awful white shoes (later a reliever wore some IN THE GAME).

A young family next to me tried to keep tabs on their wandering seven year old. Just as I told them I'd lost my 15-year old, Will breaks through a crowd to athletically snag a home run ball. Five minutes later he caught another...one each for he and Charles. 6:20-7:00 After BP we slowly circled the stadium, clockwise from LF. Saw the Lemmer and Chip Carey leaving their broadcast book. I'd always thought Chip to be a slender guy, but I caught a glimpse of his backside...he takes after his dad and grandfather, for sure. Caught up with the lady at the designated driver booth, who pulls double duty now that the G-Braves are in town.

The Game...Kowakami retired 9 straight, but Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain's line drive up the middle knocked him out of the game. Medlin continued the perfect game through five innings, then after walking the leadoff man in the sixth, picked him off first. The Yankees had gone scoreless in 14 straight innings. With nothing to lose, Yankee skipper Joe Giraldi got himself thrown out of the game arguing. The first base ump gracefully turned and threw him out.

After that it was all New York. The next batter homered, breaking up the no-hitter. The Braves mounted a couple of rallies, but could never catch up.

Hit the Varsity on the way home. They changed theor chocolate shake recipe, so I need to stop getting them. The rings seem less greasy, but you don't get as many. Oh, for the good old days. Still, not a bad evening.

And I'm going back tomorrow!