Beat LA! Beat LA (We didn't)

The Giants and Dodgers have an intense rivalry in the National League West Division. Simply put, we hate the Dodgers. Well, not really - because we love people.. but you understand. Kinda like Michigan hates Notre Dame! The Dodgers came into town last night for the first of three games that will help decide who makes it to the playoffs. The Giants are desperately trying to make it into the playoffs as a wild card. The Dodgers are trying to hang on the the NL West lead.

A good friend of mine invited Julie and I to go to the game with him - and it was with excitement that we accepted the invitation. Patrick, we love you and appreciate your generosity!

We arrived early so that we could do some walking and enjoy SF on a gorgeous Friday afternoon. AT&T Park resides on the edge of San Francisco Bay. There is a major street called The Embarcadero that runs for miles along the bay; more or less between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge (connecting SF and Oakland). That's part of the Bay Bridge below.















Just past the stadium is a Marina with a number of sailboats biding time until they get a chance to sail the Bay!















Further down The Embarcadero is this interesting sculpture. I'm not sure exactly what the artist is trying to 'say'. Perhaps this is the perfect spot?















Sadly, San Francisco is also home to many homeless people. Homelessness is a difficult problem and it breaks your heart to see so many people that lack a stable home to live in. But, it is a reality in our beautiful city. At least this gentleman seems to have a well crafted way of maintaining his stuff.



















As our walk concluded we were back at AT&T Park. One of the interesting features of the park are it's 'arches' in the right field wall. These arches provide a place where passer-byes can stop and watch the happenings at field level. Here's a picture I took during the pre-game warm-ups. However, the arches are open throughout the entire game. A cool feature when you aren't able to get a ticket.















Then, we met up with Patrick and went into the stadium. We were excited when we entered the stadium through the 'Club Level' entrance. It's not a place we had ever been before. You should know that the food at AT&T Park is consistently rated among the very best in baseball. Well, the food at the club level is even more amazing. I had a delicious brisket sandwich while Julie had a beef and broccoli rice bowl. It was delicious and we'll miss it!

Once we grabbed the food we were off to our seats. And they were simply impressive. The netting behind us is actually the net right behind the home plate! Yes, our seats were in the second row behind home plate! How good is that? Way to go Patrick!















Check out the TV camera that captures the images of the batters in the box right in front of our seats!



















There's a couple of things you realize when you sit in these seats. First, you realize there is no chance that you won't be on TV. So, you need to tend to personal grooming and such between innings. And, you've got to try to eat in a half way civilized manner ;D

You also get a very up close view of the players while they are batting. It's interesting to watch the pitches come and understand how little time the batter has to decide if the pitch is worth swinging at and to do so. It's just a tiny fraction of a second! But, I will say that when you are that close to the play - you feel totally justified in yelling at the umpire when they make a bad call! Here's Manny Ramirez who was soundly BOO'ed every time he came to bat! (Dodgers SUCK).



















The other thing you realize is that the players can probably hear you - since you are so close to the field. So, OF COURSE, Julie just had to stand up and scream 'Bengie, I love you!', when Bengie Molina (our catcher) came into the on-deck circle. Bengie is the player we named our tortoise after!










































Okay - so it's time to fess up that the actual game SUCKED. Yeah, the Dodgers had our number early and often. They whooped us 10-3. However, that did afford us the opportunity to witness a special event. The Giants have a prospect by the name of Buster Posey. He is viewed as a n0-brainer for massive success at the major league level. Buster was called up a couple weeks ago and had yet to enter a game for the Giants. So, it was a nice moment when late in the game he entered the game and got a chance for his very first major league at bat. Here he is in the on-deck circle and coming to the plate for the first time in his career. Alas, in accordance with the mood of the night - he struck out. But, if some time 30 years from now he enters the Hall of Fame.. we can say we were there at the beginning!

Date Night

Saturday was date night and Julie and I chose to take in a Giants game. We had a great time. AT&T Park is beautiful and features picturesque views; the team is doing much better lately and we had the opportunity to see Tim Lincecum pitch. Tim is the reigning NL Cy Young award winner and a fun young pitcher to watch. He is the league leader in strikeouts and didn't disappoint; striking out 8 and giving up no runs.


























































The only bad thing about the date was realizing we totally BIFFED. Yes, we biffed big time - because Saturday night was also 'take your dog to the game night'. As soon as we got there we started seeing all sorts of dogs in Giants regalia. Arrrgggg... we have three dogs! It would have been so fun to bring one of the them to the game. In addition to being able to sit out in the bleachers with your dog.. there was the opportunity to participate in a dog parade around the perimeter of the ball field itself. Bums!


































































































However, the game was fantastic and the company was delightful. The Giants won 2-0. And we ate some great food. All it all.. it was a great date night! I'm looking forward to the next one!

A Special Lunch Date

Today was one of my off Fridays and Julie planned a special lunch for us. The Rotary Club of Santa Clara hosted a luncheon today which we attended. The keynote speaker was Dave Dravecky who played many years ago for the San Francisco Giants.

Julie and I moved to California in the summer of 1984. The first few years we were here we had a difficult time rooting for any of the local teams. It wasn't too difficult to shift allegiance to the 49ers because, unfortunately, the Detroit Lions - our 'home team' never were very good. Even when Barry Sanders was there dazzling fans the team itself was pretty much a disaster.

However, it took some time for us to warm to the local baseball teams. There is something very special about listening to baseball on the radio as a child and following your home team. For me that was the Tigers and I can tell you the entire lineup in those golden years; Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich, Denny McLean, Mickey Stanley, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Gates Brown, Jim Northrup. They were all larger than life heros! I must have listened to thousands of games with Ernie Harwell at the mike. The Tigers won the World Series in 1968 when I was just 7 - and it was a magical time.

The Tigers returned to greatness in the mid 1980s. In fact, the Summer we moved to California (1984) the Tigers would go on to win the American League Pennant and the World Series. Alan Trammel, Sweet Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris, Lance Parrish... ahh.. the Tigers were fantastic.

So - it took us years to really warm up to our local team - the Giants. We picked the Giants because they played in the National League. So, we could still root for the Tigers and not feel like we were betraying our first love. We started following the Giants in earnest around 1987 which was the first year that Dave Dravecky played for the Giants. In fact, in 1987 the Giants won the National League West - eventually losing the NL Pennant to St. Louis; just missing the World Series.

Many of you may know the story - but the following year a cancerous tumor was found in Dave's pitching arm and in late 1988 he underwent surgery to remove the tumor and a big part of his shoulder muscle. A major story during the late 1989 Giant season was the remarkable - miraculous - return of Dave Dravecky to the mound on August 10, 1989 against the Cincinnati Reds. I remember watching that game - along with most of the Bay Area - and being amazed by his story. Dave pitched 93 pitches - leaving the game after 8 innings and the Giants went on to win 4-3. In was the feel good story out here in 1989.

However, the story turned tragic just 5 days later when Dave retook the mound against the Montreal Expos and in one horrific moment made a pitch which caused his left arm (his pitching arm) to snap in two. We all watched as he writhed around the ground in pain before medical help could get to him. I personally can remembering being so stunned at the time. It appeared that it was such an unfair loss after all Dave had done to rehabilitate his arm.

Eventually, Dave would have to have his left arm and half his shoulder amputated to fully remove all the cancer from his body.

The good news is that God is in control and has used Dave in unbelievable ways since 1989 to inspire people. Dave's unbelievable career and inspirational rehabilitation story opened up doors to speak to hundreds of thousands of people since - telling them of the strength he found in his relationship with Christ to overcome his cancer and his crisis of self worth that occurred after his loss.

It was a privilege to hear Dave this afternoon and to hear him be able to honestly say that he views getting cancer as a true blessing in his life. He didn't always feel that way, honestly. But, he has come to a deep understanding that without the cancer in his life he would not have developed the depth of character he has over the last few years. And he would not have had the doors opened that have occurred - allowing him to share the Good News with people and the encouragement that his story inevitable brings to those that hear it.

I am so glad I got a chance to speak with him for a few moments today - share with him how much I valued the memories of his career in San Francisco - and how delighted I was to see the results of my prayers, his prayers and the prayers of so many in those days that followed his tragedy answered so beautifully. It was a great lunch.


A funny side note. We had no idea she was coming.. but we ended up sitting right behind Sue - Diane Smith's sister. How funny is that. Here she is in rapt attention as Dave spoke!

Go Giants!

Julie, Joel and I are sitting in the stands right now rooting on our SF Giants against the dreaded rivals ... the Dodgers! Team Logan is just around the corner in a different section! (isn't blogging by email wonderful?)

Check out Joel drinking from the giant Coke bottle in left field before the game started! That's quite a challenge.

We're down 2-1 in the 7th.. But rallying! The stands are ringing with Beat-LA, Beat-LA!

It's great to do things as a family! And with our extended family!

Don't tell Jon Logan... But I arranged a late inning rally as a special 25th birthday present!

Okay... Back to the game!

Update: Well, with Joel, Grandma G and Rachel all in attendance with us.. and some financial incentives under the table.. (you can thank me later)... we pulled out a dramatic 5-2 win! How cool is that!