AT & T Park - Giants v. Marlins

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Jumping off bus route # 10 four blocks from the ballpark, the trolley moves slower than the human brigade outside. Hopping off your intentions are to weave through the ever expanding crowd to find the one person holding a ticket with a seat and a price that suits you best. Having dealt with scalpers in the past, its always best to use a strong tactic of less is more on your end especially if the game hasn't started yet. It's also good to have an idea of what ticket prices are before entering into a bargaining debate with the scalper.

Without knowing ticket prices, generally speaking its good to just start asking scalpers as you walk in and out of the crowd. Listening mainly for the level you hope to sit at and judge the distance from the field. Honestly, the seat number itself doesn't matter unless you plan on using the bathroom often?

Six scalpers down and the best ticket thus far is second level, twenty rows up for $45 dollars. It seems overpriced even for a San Francisco Giants game. Never been good at bargaining but laughing and walking away always helps. Trying this gets under the scalpers skin. His face changes from pleasant friend-like, to repulsed enemy. After all this is a war. A war over your hard earned money. Sure, you could just walk up to the ticket window, examine all the ticket prices and find out if they have a ticket.

But hold onto this as your ace in the hole bartering chip. Ten scalpers down and you begin to notice they are really ripping folks off, trying to sell $15 tickets for $50!!! Incredible. Not in the mood to deal with any more raw deals, you stroll away from the park in search of food. Hot dog prices at AT & T Park start at $6.00, add a beer for $7.00 and you could have had a nice roast turkey sandwich with fries and draft for under $10.00 plus had enough leftover for a bag of peanuts, had you eaten outside the ballpark.

Strolling down King Street, you spot two cafe's. One across the street called South Beach Cafe and SB40. Approaching SB40, people are hanging about drinking, chatting, eating peanuts as scalpers approach with tickets waving in their hand. "Hey man? You need a ticket?" "How much?" "For you. Fifty-five dollars. That's 2nd level. Great seat man," the scalper notes. "No thank you. Think I'll eat instead." "All right. You let me know if you change your mind?" And he wanders off down the road.

Looking up and down the menu there options read like a butcher shop; cold cuts, turkey club, salami roll, sirloin sandwich... everything comes with fries or a salad for under eight-bucks. Feeling good, you walk to the end of the Pier. Nothing else is in sight. Your choices have been limited to this cafe, the one across the street or the nineteen packed places near the stadium.

Without options you return to SB40 cafe, reading through their menu closer this time. Choosing a table, you sit down. Your tired feet happy to have a place to rest. The ballgame begins as you order a turkey club sandwich with raspberry chutney and fries $8.95. They ask if you would like a beverage. You reply, water for now because you are thirsttttttty!

The food comes piping hot out of the kitchen, glancing around the cafe, you are the only person inside who isn't there for work. The people behind the counter begin to look like family not just your regular mix of employees. The elderly lady tells her daughter to go ask if the customer wants more water. She smiles and points to the beer tap. You shrug your shoulders and ask for a pint. Peeling back the layers of the sandwich, you remove the two thin slices of turkey and squeeze a long squirt of ketchup inside. Placing the bread down, it takes four quick bites and the entire thing is gone.

Sitting at the table, you enjoy each crisp fry as you suck back on the Anchor Steam lager. Feeling refreshed, you pay your tab of $15.25 and head for the door back towards the ballpark. Outside the park you read through the sections, levels and pricing. Scalpers you think, always trying to rip you off. All second level tickets start at $30, Outfield $15, First base $25 and the numbers just don't seem to add up.

Approaching the window, your debate about seeing the game is over with because you know the sights, sounds and smells. It all entices you to join the others and enjoy a game of baseball. Stepping to the window, a woman of 50-something smiles at you through the glass. She explains to you her best ticket is $37 and is Section 127, Row 26, Seat 5 just along third base. You laugh with joy because the scalpers were trying to sell you a third level seat for $15 more. Sometimes, you just need to trust your gut. You take a moment to think as other people approach the window. You ask Sandy, for a moment to really decide if you want to spend the time in the ballpark.

Standing there, reading the board, you hear the sounds from inside the stadium. The crowd begins to cheer, you can hear the booing and shouting. Your mind begins to play out the action and your hand reaches into your wallet. Stepping back up to the window, you inquire again. This time Doug, tells you his best seat is in Section 107, Row 33, Seat 7 for $37, and its a nice one. You agree handing over your credit card. He hands you a piece of paper. Signing it, he exchanges the paper for the ticket. You smile and thank him as you wonder off to show your ticket and enjoy the game.

Standing in the short line, the security wants to search the contents of your bag. You agree. She looks into the bag and shakes her head. "I'm sorry sir, we don't allow outside beverages into the stadium." You laugh. And reply, "It's okay. It was a promotional item given to you by the Monster Coffee team around the corner." The can goes into the garbage with the other collection of bottles and cans. Smiling she lets you proceed to the ticket scanning agent. Through the roundstall you walk, looking around at the commemorative items lining the wall. This is when it hits you...

Growing up in Colorado, I've always wanted to see a Giants or 49ers game at Candlestick Park but now here you are some twenty years later at AT & T Park ready to watch the San Francisco Giants take on the Florida Marlins. Oh well, at least this is a beautifully constructed "retro-style" ballpark.

Checking out the stadium a bit you wander into the souvenir shop, looking at apparel, hats and memorabilia then the crowd starts chanting over the loud speakers and you want to find your seat. Wandering around on the main level searching for a peanut seller and a beer vendor. Spotting them both, you grab a beer, then the peanuts and head for your section.

Sitting down, you now realize how far off the field you are but you are still satisfied with the seats. Setting down your bag and food, you stretch and release yourself into the plastic chair. Reaching into your bag, you pull out your camera and begin snapping off images. Thankfully the fans sitting around you aren't blue-collar, drinking and slurring their speech. Everyone seems fairly calm and excited to be at the ballpark.

Zooming into the action the game proceeds quickly. Three batters up, Three batters down and the teams switch. The innings fly by one after the other. Its a solid defensive game when Juan Uribe steps to the plate in the third inning. Two strikes down he rears back on his heels and rocks forward into the balls of his feet as the pitcher releases the ball. The bat comes around quickly a loud cracking sound as leather meets wood and the ball is shot out over the short-stops head. The left fielder runs aimlessly out into left-center field as the ball screams through the air landing twelve rows back in the stands. The Giants open up the score board lead with Uribe's home run.

Two-innings later Bryan Petersen and Wes Helms crank out solo-home runs giving the Marlins a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the sixth inning. Halfway through the beer the brain becomes mesmerized as facts from the days journey drift slowly inside my head. In 36-hours, I should hopefully be on a plane heading for Seoul, South Korea, to teach English with my wife? Unless, something miserable happens between now and picking up my passport (or her passport) from the consulate tomorrow.

Honestly, today, was one of the craziest whirlwind days, I've experienced in years. I woke up at the in-laws home outside of Onoway (Alberta, Canada), drove my sister-in-law's Subaru WRX to her hotel in Winterburn (35 minutes away), parked the car, turned over the keys then jumped into Brian's (father-in-laws) truck heading for Edmonton International Airport. He dumped us (Shauna and I) off at the departure doors. I shook his hand, hugged his daughter and walked into the airport ready for the flight to San Francisco.

In the airport I spotted a large-lengthy novel written by Peter James, to buy, bring and read during my travels. Next I sat down with a frothy cup of coffee and waited for the plane, boarded, sat down, read, landed. Waited around for luggage, grabbed it and waited around for the shuttle. Found it and checked into the hotel, then got a ride to the BART (rip-u-off subway), to grab a train ride into the city to search for a Post Office to get a Postal Money Order. Then grab a cab and locate the Korean Consulate. Afterwards I'd find a cafe, get a capucchino, locate a plane ticket on a discount ticket center like Expedia or Orbitz. Drink the coffee, buy the ticket, take some photographs (this is SF after all) catch a bus, get lost, catch another bus after a short walk down a steep hill. Manage to find a place that serves a sandwich within walking distance of the ballpark, score a ticket to a "sold out" game, and after all of that... sit down in the crowd to enjoy this beer, in AT & T Park, 33 rows up off the first base line, just above the home team dugout at the Giants v. Marlins game #2 in this 5 game series! Man... I am out of control. And Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawning, again because today has been a crazy nightmare and tomorrow is going to finally relieve this undue stress bubble I have been carrying on my shoulders for the past month!

Crack! Andy Rowand, snaps a shot into right-field, obliterating my concentration of reverie as the fans around me go wild; clapping, screaming, chanting, cheering and standing up for the break in the silence of the game! The following batter Travis Ishikawa sends Rowand to 2nd base with another single out to right field and then Juan Uribe steps back up into the batters box. The fans start chanting out his last name: "UUUUUUU" "RIIIIIIIBEEEEEEEE" "UUUUUUU" "RIIIIIIIBEEEEEEE" "UUUUUU" "RIIIIIIBEEEEEE." It sloshes into my brains, as I too start chanting, smiling and watching.

Juan steps to the plate. A fastball down the gut and Juan swings through delivering a solid crack over the outstretched glove of Marlins left-fielder, sending Rowand around third for the score tying the game 2-2. While pushing Ishikawa around to third base. With batters on 1st and 3rd, the following batter Buster Posey, wields a bit bat. Standing next to the plate his .357 batting average arrives before him. Settling into the plate he watches two balls go past. Resetting next to the plate a slider sinks in from the left and his bat crackles connecting with the ball, sending it directly up into the air a high lofting fly ball, arranging the third out into the Marlins 2nd baseman's glove!

Tied 2-2 into the bottom of the 6th. First batter up Logan Morrison, cracks a single low flying home run just over the right field wall. Marlins up 3 to 2. The inning goes by quickly after that. Then it is three up, three down for both teams until Juan Uribe steps back up to the plate in the 8th inning.

Uribe releases a single run firecracker out over the right field wall, tying the score 3-all. Next batter Aubrey Huff, steps up. Settling into the plate the balls fly past ball one. Strike one. Ball two. Strike two. Then crack-a-lack-a a strong shot left, deep into left field, rounding him a double. Next batter, Travis Ishikawa digs his heels into dirty soil knocking his boots clean and settling in for the first pitch. Strrrrrike one. Ishikawa taps the plate, does his dirty soil knocking his boots clean and settles in for the second pitch. Ball one. His ritual repeats. When the ball leaves Ohman's hands Ishikawa's eyes light up and he steps into the pitch with all his fiery unloading on the ball the bat knocks the snot out of the threads as it lifts higher and higher over the ground sending the centerfielder running back, back back to the wall as the ball continues to drift out of the park.

The entire stadium goes nuts Giants taking their first lead since early in the game! Giants 5, Marlins 3. The following batter is struck out. Two runs, one out and Buster Posey steps to the plate. Calm and cool he settles into his cleats next to the plate. Lines up the pitchers release opens his bat and Busts out for the 2nd inning. With such a strong batting average, one has to wonder where Buster's Muster is?

Then Andy Rowand steps up to the plate, shakes his boots, touches the plate and squares off against Ohman. First pitch, strike one. Second pitch, strike two. Third pitch, ball one. Fourth pitch, ball two. Rowand takes a step backwards, adjusts himself, spits on his gloves, rubs them together, digs in his right heel, then the left, taps the plate and squares up to Ohman. Ohman standing on the mound, turns to his left looks to his right, winds up, and pulls out of his glove a screeeeeeeaming fastball down the pipe at 98mph! Rowand catching a glimpse of hope and living on the prayer of his powers swings the bat, connecting just below the sweet spot hitting a rippling solo home run out over the 420 foot marker on the right-center field wall, the entire stadium erupts into cheers as Rowand rounds 1st, then 2nd, onto 3rd and steps across home plate! Giants 6 Marlins 3. Pat Burrell steps to the plate. Pitch one, strike one. Pitch two, ball one. Pitch three, strike two. Pitch four, grounds out to 2nd base. And the inning ends heading into the 9th inning.

28,000 Fans start packing in their things, heading for the front door while the other 10,000 hold steady in their seats awaiting the final out of the game. Since I have no idea where I am going or how I am getting back to my hotel in San Bruno, I decide to duck out of the stadium to take a couple of night pics of the stadium and find my way back to San Bruno. After taking photographs of two commemorative statues outside the stadium, I head towards the MUNI LRT which I saw fans coming in on before the game. I speak to a police officer who tells me to get my ticket from the ticket window at the stadium. I go pay my $2.00 and walk back to the train. At this point, I am still weary of where I am going? So, I ask a MUNI agent on the platform and he says you need to go to King Street Station and 4th Street, that way a couple of blocks, pointing south. Damn! I jump off the platform, head across the street and walk south until I find Caltrain Station on King Street and 4th. I get in line, show my ticket and am told "you have the wrong ticket, you need to buy a ticket from over there." I smile, thank the guy and go get another ticket for $2.50, I go back to the ticket checker, flash the tick and walk up to the train. Caltrain... gosh I hope you get me close to the hotel because I am running out of cash.

Even though in the end I paid for two-train tickets, the ride on the Caltrain was priceless with fans cramming on board from the ballpark. Drunken fans, young kids, parents and travelers all piled into a two-story train awaiting the same thing, departure near their beds. As the train pulled away from the platform, the guys behind me began tossing out pickup lines to the 22-year old sorority girls behind me. They said they were in town from the University of Arizona. This made the guys turn on their wicked sense of humors. Trying more corny lines then necessarily needed. However, the comedy roared on and on. Listening in but not really caring a kid standing near me asked where I was from because he swore, he knew me. Timidly, I asked if he'd been to Canada recently? His friends smiled. I explained quickly, I'd been in SF for ten hours. Fifteen minutes later, I was dropped off on a platform someplace in San Bruno. I spotted a couple of the younger guys from the train and inquired where I could find the hotel. They pointed up the street, and said "can't miss it." Thanking them, I walked off into the night, hoping the street and hotel would appear soon, since I was beaten and needing rest from the long days trip.

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Photos

Route # 10
Heading to the game

Crowds
Walking to AT & T Park

MUNI
Downtown LRT bringing in the fans

Pier 40
The view from the Patio at The Park Cafe

AT & T Park
North Side of building coming from the wharf

The Fan Shop
Would you like to sport Giants Apparel?

Section 107
Seat 7, Row 33... just off First Base $37.00 at ticket window

At bat
Travis Ishikawa

Pick Off
Marlins pitcher tries to catch Aaron Rowand sleeping at first

Self-Portrait
Hanging out in the "standing section" in Right Field

Commemorating
Willie Mays Hayes in front of AT & T Park!

Caltrain
$2.50 per 10-mile zone. Quick, Cheap and Reliable.

Comments

[Sheila Crabb]

Brewers Stadium
Hi, Just a few days after you, Sat., to be specific, I had an inside tour of Brewers Stadium and their folding roof. Did you know it takes just a 60 horse power engine to close the roof which weights 10 tons? I found that really, really fascinating!!!! Love, Mom