Tagged: Joe Gardner
Rockies Fall Short to Dodgers
5/31/13
Dodgers @ Rockies
Game 1
The day started out very early for me since I had training downtown then managed to make my way over to Coors and was there at about 1:45 in the afternoon looking to see who I could get. After waiting a few hours and not getting anyone I decided to call it and head to Jacksons to get some grub with Rox Addict!
Once gates opened I headed inside for BP! The Rockies only hit a few out and so once the Dodgers started I didn’t stay and headed over to their wall. Nothing was signed and it was essentially a bad day for graphs.
On the mound for the Rockies tonight was Jon Garland and on the mound for the Dodgers was Clayton Kershaw.
The first two innings was very good for both pitchers going 1-2-3 each inning but in the third is where Garland hiccupped and the Dodgers took advantage. Uribe doubled which scored Luis Cruz, Mark Ellis then singled which scored Uribe and then Adrian Gonzalez singled which scored Ellis, making it 3-0 Dodgers on top.
In the top of the 4th the Dodgers decided they needed another run so the pitcher Kershaw doubled which scored Scott Van Slyke and Juan Uribe. 5-0 Dodgers.
Finally in the bottom of the 4th the Rockies got on the board with a single by Cuddy which scored Dex and then a ground out by baby bull that scored Tulowitzki. 5-2 Dodgers.
The rest of the game was pitched very well on both sides not giving up any runs until the Bottom of the 8th Rosario grounded out again but it scored Dex. 5-3 Dodgers still on top.
In the bottom of the 9th is when the real magic began! With 1 out and 1 on in Todd Helton came into the PH and smacked one to the second deck of right field tying it up at 5. This got the stadium alive and people were ready for a win.
In the bottom of the 10th though Betancourt gave up 2 runs which essentially lost it for us.
It was another tough game to watch and now it is making me think I we are the team that we were last year. This team was doing so well and now they are not. Pitching is horrible yet again and we can’t seem to hit with runners in scoring position. This team needs to figure it out before the fall below .500 and fall too far behind!
This is where I’m leaving this one! This is also my last game for a while since I have to temporary live in the springs due to my internship but will try and make it to as many as I can!
Thanks to everyone who has been reading and following!
I’m Blake St Babe and this is The Take: From 20th and Blake
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @BlakeStBabe
Swpet at Home
5/30/13
Astros @ Rockies
Game 2
Wow was this was a ridiculous game… It was actually a very good game but it is always hard to watch your team get pounded on when they were up almost the whole game. Anyway let’s start from the beginning!
I showed up at the park around 4ish and parked then casually walked over to the stadium. It was rather windy and so you knew it was going to be very windy inside with it coming off of the field. I got in and got into BP and it was a good BP I got a toss-up from Garland and had the play on two baseballs and missed them both. I hated to feel crowded and that is when I got scared and missed them but hey I ended up getting one of the balls back and it was an Astros Commemorative 50 year anniversary ball from last year! This was practically a new ball!
After BP I headed to my spot on the wall which Michelle, her mom and Tanya and her friend Lexi were holding! We waited until game time and I ended up getting all my Francis cards done which is great, Todd signed but went the other way, and that was all that signed!
After getting to ours seats in the normal spot, Nicasio was throwing out the first pitch and game was on!
The score doesn’t do justice to how well Nicasio pitched! In the 3 innings he didn’t give up a single run which is great but the Astros pitcher Lucas Harrell was at work early with the Rockies scoring a run in the first 3 innings, making it 0-3 heading into the 4th inning.
In the 4th Pena hit into a double play but Castro who was on base scored, 1-3 Rockies still on top!
In the 6th though the Rockies were destroyed. With Lopez pitching and replacing Nicasio he gave up back to back homeruns which was 4 runs and then gave up two more in the inning. 7-3 Astros.
In the bottom of the inning Cargo singled which scored Dex making it 7-4, Astros still on top!
Man did Adam Ottavino give a great 2 innings of work! He didn’t give up a single run and maybe let 2 people on base! Great outing and quick work by Brooklyn! You know I was cheering for him and people were staring at me like I was crazy because they didn’t know who he was but when you have an inside thing with players and they have a nickname it is necessary!
The 9th inning finally rolled around with the Rockies losing by 3 and with 1 out Todd hit a sac fly to left which scored Cargo but it wasn’t enough to but the Rockies on top. They fall to the Astros 7-5, and get swept at home. I saw a fact on a friend’s Facebook page tonight that said that in 4 games the Rockies have left 92 guys in scoring position… ARE YOU KIDDING ME! 92!!!!! Wow something needs to change… STAT!
Hope it starts to change soon! If you follow the Blog I just want to let you know that I will probably not be blogging as much because I start working this weekend with my new weekend job and start my internship in the Springs on Monday. So there might be more Sky Sox and less Rockies but I will try and get to as many Rockies as I can!
I also feel like it is time to do another give away but not sure what I’m going to do yet. If you have ideas please let me know!
I’m Blake St Babe and this is The Take: From 20th and Blake!
Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Istagram @BlakeStBabe
Say hey if you’re at the stadium!
Halos Rise Above Rox
5/29/12
Yes Belisle we feel that way too!
Astros @ Rockies
Really this is game 4 of the series but the first game home for the Rockies. Showed up early again but clouds were hanging low and the tarp was on the field which meant no Batting Practice. So once the gates opened at 5 we headed to the game used booth and tried to see how much the game worn memorial jerseys were. For Ottavino the one I wanted they wanted $300, now Adam and I discussed this and agreed that this was overly priced and so we will need a plan on how we are going to get this jersey at a reasonable price. (Brooklyn if your reading this, think about a way) Also Nelly told me not to buy one of his game-worn, so I didn’t…YET!
After deciding not t get anything we headed to the Rockies side to chill and see who we could get… NOTHIN that is! JP signed and so did Jim Wright signed a photo I needed but that was it. I wonder everyday if I will ever get Tulo… chances are slim to one but hey you never know (I really do know that I will probably never get him…just saying)
Once the game started I headed over to turn in my all-star ballots and check out the bullpen. It was very breezy hangout above the pen but I ended up standing there till the 8th inning.
On the mound for the Rockies was Tyler Chatwood and on the mound for the Astros was Erik Bedard. Astros scored 1 in the 2nd off of a Matt Dominguez sac fly to left which scored J.D. Martinez.
Rockies came back in the 4th by a solo shot by Tulo that barely got out in right field then in the 5th he had an RBI double which put the Rockies ahead by 1.
Fan being tackled
Fan being dragged out
The Astros decided they wanted that run back in the 6th inning and they tied it up with a sac fly by Jason Castro to Cargo which scored Brandon Barnes. Tied at 2 headed into the 7th.
Helton pinch hitting
In the 8th that is when Houston started to go crazy. They scored 1 in the 8th and 3 in the ninth making it 6-2. The Rockies however did get another homerun in the 9th by Tulo making it a final score of 6-3, Astros over Rockies.
Coolest part of this whole thing was that there were 2 fans that decided to run on the field tonight on jumped down from the pavilion onto the field during a pitching change (ABOVE) and the other was right as Tulo hit his second home run in the bottom of the 9th!
Dexter up
Tulo scoring after his 2nd homerun!
This was very disappointing to see the Rockies lose to such a terrible team but something needs to change between tonight and hopefully tomorrow… we shall see!
But this is it for this one! I’m Blake St Babe and this is The Take: From 20th and Blake!
Lopez and I
Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @BlakeStBabe
If you see me around Coors say hey!
Hip Hip Jorge!
5/22/13
Diamondbacks @ Rockies
This was another early game and looks like my last day game for a while. Anyway started out by getting to the gate early and waiting to get around to the Rockies side. When the gates finally opened we made it down to the Rockies side and waited to see who we could get for autographs.
Signing on the wall today was Jeff Francis, Adam Ottavino, Rex Brothers, Wilton Lopez, Tyler Chatwood, and The Baby Bull! I was excited because I was finally able to get some players on my helmet that were needed.
I got Tyler Chatwood and Jeff Francis which was great then talked with Brooklyn, fist pounded Wilton Lopez and Chatted with Francis! BUT BOOM only big guy that I need left on the Helmet is Tulo.. Shocker who knows if I will ever get him. The funny thing is that I told Francis I only really needed him and tulo and he told me “getting Tulo is like getting the President.. I can’t even get him.”
Once the players came out to warm up DJ LeMahieu came to the wall to pick up his photo from Mike and signed my helmet as well. Thank you DJ!
It was a pretty good day getting graphs and it was a good game for the Rockies.
On the mound for the Rockies was De La Rosa and on the mound for the Diamondbacks was Trevor Cahill.
The Rockies decided to get to work early starting with De La Rosa going 1-2-3 in the top of the 1st and in the bottom of the 1st Carlos Gonzalez decided it was a good time to get us on the board with a solo homerun to right field. Dexter then doubled to right and Nolan brought him in on a line drive to left field making it 0-2 Rockies!
The 2nd inning was very slow with no one scoring and the top of the third we held the diamondbacks to none again but in the bottom of the third Cargo hit a triple which scored DJ and then on a wild pitch to Nolan Arenado Cargo scored which put the Rockies up by 4.
In the 4th though the Diamondbacks decided to strike on a double by Wil Nieves, which scored Cody Ross. 1-4 Rockies still on top!
The next few innings went by pretty fast and there was some threatening but no one scored. In the bottom of the 6th though the Rockies Dexter Fowler hit a deep fly ball the right field which it looked like a homerun and they had to go back a review it!
Even though they came back and it wasn’t ruled in the Rockies favor it is always cool to see a play go under review. That was it for scoring! Rockies take this one easily 1-4 over the Diamondbacks.
This game they looked very very good! Pitching was good and offense was good enough to get us the win!
This is where I’m leaving it! Please share the blog the next few days to help me get as many views as I can!
I’m Blake St Babe and this is The Take: From 20th and Blake!
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @BlakeStBabe
Bull Comes Through in 10
5/21/13
Arizona VS Colorado
Baby Bull was HBP making sure his hand was ok!
This was the second time the Diamondbacks have been here to Coors Field and the third time they have met already this season.
On the mound for the Rockies was Jhoulys Chacin and on the mound for the Diamondbacks was Ian Kennedy.
Kennedy had a rough night giving up 2 in the 2nd 1 in the 3rd and 1 in the 4th making it 0-4, Rockies ahead early! The 5th and 6th innings were pretty quick with no one scoring and then the Diamondbacks strike back in the 7th by scoring 4 and essentially tying up the game. After going 10 strong innings the Rockies finally got a single by Baby Bull which won in for the Rockies.
Sorry this is so short but thought this could be an extremely short blog and a lot of pictures.
Thanks to Brooklyn for signing my jersey it says if you can’t read it… “to the inventor of the ‘Brooklyn’ knickname” to me that is pretty exciting!
This is it for this game!
I’m Blake St Babe and this is The Take: From 20th and Blake!
Follow me on Twitter @BlakeStBabe
Bobblehead 1, Rockies Pen is Undone
Ottavino and Outman warming up
4/21/13
Sunday is always a fun day especially when you hang out with my group of friends. It was an early morning at the field to celebrate Rachel’s birthday!
Rachel, Wil, and I
While waiting for the gates we saw Wil Nieves walking in and Rachel and I decided we wanted a picture.
Bobblehead Sunday
We knew gates were going to be busy because it was a bobblehead giveaway. I love this day but hate it! I love the fact that we can get people in the gates and that people want to be there but I hate that there are that many people there for autographs. Half of those people bring nothing to get signed but whatever.
Jerry doing a Running Man!
It was packed for autographs!
We got in and got our bobbleheads and headed down to the wall for autograph Sunday. 4 players autographing were Jon Garland, Reid Brignac, Rex Brothers, and Adam Ottavino. As we got down to the lines we didn’t know who was signing where but you picked a line until they brought them out and decided who was signing where. I really wanted Reid Brignac and so I thought if I tried the second line that I might get lucky and I did! Thankfully Reid was the only one out of the 4 that I needed on my helmet, so after getting Reid I headed up to Ottavino’s line to get my throwback jersey signed.
I was only about 30 up but didn’t end up getting through his line but yelled at him and he waited and called me down and signed the jersey. Thanks Brooklyn!
Herrera signing
After getting him I hung out on the wall until the Rockies came out to warm up. We did get Johnny Herrera (I got him on my helmet) then we sat in the sun and enjoyed the game.
On the mound for the Rockies was Juan Nicasio and on the mound for the Diamondbacks was Brandon McCarthy. The Rockies got on the board in the 3rd inning by a single by Jordan Pacheco, single by Carlos Gonzalez. Rockies up 0-3.
Herrera batting
Both teams went 3 up 3 down in the 4th and Arizona finally got on the board in the 5th inning. Colorado on top 2-3. The Rockies added to their lead though in the bottom of the 6th inning by a solo shot by Tulo to center field.
Tulo solo shot!
Brooklyn batting!
The pitching was very good, Belisle let up 1 run in the 8th making it 3-4 Rockies still leading. The 9th was sketchy though once the Rockies put Wilton Lopez in 9th which he gave up a single to Marte, Pollock scores from 3rd, 4-4 Rockies. Next batter was Gerardo Parra who hit a sac fly and gave Arizona another run, which pushed them ahead of the Rockies 5-4.
Brooklyn!
Outman pitching
Rockies came up in the 9th but didn’t do anything special and lost the game.
This was the first home game that they had lost and very happy to get it out-of-the-way! It would have been even better if they would have won and swept again but maybe next series!
After the game we headed outside and got Nelly to sign his locker tag, Ottavino to sign his locker tag and he signed my Brooklyn jersey! Then we head around to the other side and waited to see if we could get anything and sure enough CARGO stopped and signed photos along with my helmet! It was amazing! JP also stopped which was awesome because I got the rest of his cards done! I would say that it was a very successful day!
I only need 6 more players that are here in the majors and then the rest should be taken care of down in the springs! The helmet is coming out great and I hope that I can get it done before June!
All of with our signed Cargo stuff!
This is where this one ends! Rockies takes the series 2-1.
I’m Blake St Babe and this is The Take: From 20th and Blake!
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @BlakeStBabe
Also please keep an eye out for the Braves series!
At a Mile High, the Diamondbacks Can’t Complete the Comeback
4/20/13
Game 6 of this 10 game home stand and game number 2 between the Rockies and the Dbacks.
I showed up early with the rents to go to BP and to get the poster that they handed out. It was nice that they had the posters already rolled and in a plastic bag! One of the few convenient items they have ever given out!
We headed down to BP and I was SOOO close to 2 baseballs but was scared at the last second and didn’t catch them… I need practice when it comes to baseballs coming at me! My dad ended up getting a roller which was beat up!
In the middle of BP I decided that I wanted to head over to the game used store and pick up my Adam Ottavino throwback and Chris Nelson nameplate. Once I paid for those I headed over to the Rockies wall and met up with Jamie, Rachael, and Michelle to see if we could get any autographs!
Rachael and I
Jamie and I
Wouldn’t you know it… we didn’t get anything again! Man this is like three days shut out and didn’t get ANYTHING! Frustrating but have to remember that the season is still very early!
Once they went in we went up to our seats underneath club because we did not want to get rained on (if it rained of course.) We decided that we did like these seats because they were a little further up which was nice for photos.
On the mound for the Rockies was Jorge De La Rosa and on the mound for the Diamondbacks was Trevor Cahill. Colorado was the first to get on the board in the bottom of the second when Reid Brignac singled on a line drive to right and Josh Rutledge scored by a throwing error by catcher Wil Nieves, 0-1 Colorado.
In the 3rd inning EY came up and tripled to lead off and Dex was the next batter who walked. Cargo was next to hit, he grounded out but Dex stole second during his at bat and ended up at 3rd when Cargo grounded out. Tulo ended up hitting a sac fly which scored Dex, 0-3 Colorado. De La Rosa pitched 6 innings with no runs scored and was pulled in the 7th inning. To add to the Rockies lead Cuddy came up in the 6th inning and CRUSHED a homer to Left Field!
Cuddy Homerun
It would be the last run Colorado would get but not the last runs in the game.
Ross after getting thrown out
This was the first game this season that I saw someone get ejected! In the middle of the 7th inning Cody Ross was about to attack the Homeplate umpire and was ejected then Gibson went out to argue and also got thrown so 2 people were ejected!
Escalona ended up coming back for .2 of an inning but he gave up a 2 run HR to Eric Chavez in the 8th, 2-4 Colorado still on top. Rex brothers ended up getting the last out of the inning.
Rockies bats were silent in the 8th and Betancourt was ready to rumble in the 9th. I’m not sure how many of you have been to a game this season but they have a video that plays when Betancourt is jogging in to close in the 9th inning. Perfect for Betancourt, I will try to record it at tonight’s game and post it!
The Diamondbacks ended up scoring one more run in the 9th but it wasn’t enough to come back and beat the Rockies! Rockies ended up taking this one by a hair 3-4 over the Diamondbacks.
After the game we went and had some drinks over at the ViewHouse.
This is it for this game! Rockies had a nail bitter but pulled it out! This was there 7th win at home in a row which is a franchise record! Not sure where this team came from but seeing the Rockies Win on the scoreboard is a great sight!
Till the next one, I’m Blake St Babe and this is The Take: From 20th and Blake!
See you around Coors Field!
Follow me on twitter @BlakeStBabe
First Time Snakes are in Town but Not the Last
4/19/13
I showed up late to BP because I got stuck in a meeting at work and we seemed to hit traffic along with every light on the way to Coors Field which was very irritating. It always seems like when your in a hurry you get slowed down that much more but then I finally made it.
Trevor Cahill
As I walked in a decided to change things up and try down Arizona’s wall to see if I could get Wil Nieves (Rockies former catcher) and Matt Reynolds (Rockies former Relief Pitcher) on cards. As I was standing down the third baseline I snagged a foul ball which was awesome then later received a toss up. I could have had three but Rox addict decided he needed one and stole one of the toss ups from Wil Nieves.
Wil playing catch with Aspen Mike’s son
After a while I decided to walk over to the top of the dugout and talk with Wil. After he was done with BP we chit chatted about the off season and I told him that it was great to see him on a major league team instead of down in AAA. It is always a pleasure to talk with him and again great to see him up here! All my best Wil!
Rosario practicing with Jerry
The Deuce
Nelly
After we talked I headed over to the Rockies wall and waited to get graphs… wouldnt you know it we didnt get ANY… again.
Rox Addict and I moved around this game but as we sat down in the 1st I was asked to do the Topps promo! Here are a few photos thanks to Rox Addict, @Blakebomber and @msroxrock!
On the mound for the Rockies was Chacin and on the mound for the Diamondbacks was Ian Kennedy. This seemed to be a pitcher’s duel for the first couple of innings when each went 3 up and 3 down in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Chacin in the 4th.
Rox Addict and I decided to go find Kevin and Tim from RockNation and sit with them the rest of the game which was over in right field in the mezzanine.
Tulo scoring
Once the Rockies got to the plate in the 4th Rutledge was on due to a walk and Troy Tulowitzki hit a 2 run homerun to put the Rockies up 0-2!
The Diamondbacks bats started to warm up in the 5th and got 2 base hits but the Rockies defense held them to no runs. During the bottom of the 5th Nelly ended up tripling and Jhoulys Chacin hit a sac fly to score Nelly.
I also ran into a good friend from high school and talked to her for a few innings.
The rest of the game was not very interesting and the Rockies should have shut out the Diamondbacks but they did not. In the top of the ninth Rafael Betancourt came in to close the game. By the way if you have to seen the closer video as he walks in you need to watch it, so inspirational and very god choice for a closer!) Parra ended up singling off of Betancourt and Prado came up right after and lined out to center and Goldschimdt ended up striking out also. We should have had 3 outs but Miguel Montero reached base by a throwing error on Nelly which gave Parra enough room to score.
Not much luck for autographs before or after so really just hung out. This was somewhat of a boring game but some days you have those.
This is it against the Dbacks!
Matt Reynolds
I’m Blake St Babe and this is The Take: From 20th and Blake!
Follow me on Twitter @BlakeStBabe
See you around Coors!
Charity Workout… but Not Many Graphs
4/4/2013
A few years ago they did a Charity Workout at Coors which was very open and very accessible. This year that was not the case. This year you got in and then had to wait for them to come out which was cool because there were a few of us Rox Hardcores were there, so we hung out and essentially stood around and got sunburn.
Me, EB, Jared, Mariano
Jamie and Rachael
Gary X, Betty X, Losh, A and her friend
Anyway the whole team ended up coming out and stretching together and started to warm up, pitchers ended up pitching and running while most of the other guys threw and had a live batting practice.
It was cool to watch some of the guys pitch and just hang out and be themselves. They unfortunately did not let anyone into the second deck of the Right Field Mezzanine or Left field bleachers which sucked because we could have got so many baseballs with such a small amount of people there.
Dexter crushing one
During the practice EB and I were interviewed by Kami of Fox 31 news (not sure if anything ever aired) but while I was getting interviewed there was a little scuffle on the field between Juan Nicasio and Edgmer Escolona. Later we found out that Nicasio had snapped Edgmer with an exercise band and Escalona flipped out and threw the first punch. They then were separated but we still were not sure what happened.
Cuddy
Ottavino and Bo hanging in the outfield
When they decided they were done with practice they had to go in for a meeting and we were not sure if they were going to come back out to sign for all of us. Well they never came back out and they never told us to leave so we ended up getting fried waiting for nothing.
A few players (Rosario, Dexter, Belisle, Lopez, Ottavino, and Volstad all ended up signing for a few select fans along with Tulowitzki’s sole 5 autographs!) Kind of of disappointing that more guys did not sign but on the other hand I’m ok with it because they helped me make decisions on what we were going to do with the rest of the afternoon.
Autographs today:
Dexter Fowler- Helmet
Chris Volstad-Helmet
Edgmer Escalona- Helmet
Wilton Lopez- Helmet
Wilin Rosario- 2 cards
Baby Bull signing
After practice was over we headed to a Denver Post Q&A which was nice because wouldn’t you believe it, Adam Ottavino showed up to be the special guest. I asked if he wanted to sit with me Jamie and Rachael and he said yes which was awesome because after he was done speaking I was able to ask a few questions and knew I was getting honest answers from him.
Ottavino answering some questions
The artist at work
The Q&A was very good and very informative so thank you to Troy and Patrick for coming out and having that event. Also another thanks to Brooklyn for being AWESOME!
This is where I’m going to leave it, I know that I’m a day behind but slowly getting in the mode and squeezing a lot of blogs in during this home stand.
I’m Blake St Babe and this is (first of many) The Take: From 20th and Blake
Make sure to follow me on twitter
@BlakeStBabe
The Take: From 20th & Blake 