Thursday, May 29, 2014

Oakland A's vs. Detroit Tigers - May 28th, 2014

A friend of mine got tickets to last night's A's game and gave them to me and another friend of mine. Little did I know, they happened to be field box level seats along 3rd base. I've never sat in better seats at O.Co ever before. Here's a few shots from our seats.


Our tickets. Yeah, I didn't pay attention to the big yellow 'Third Base Field Box' at the bottom.
 

Here's a more precise idea of where that's at.




Fantastic seats! Free peanuts and A's magazine and even food service.





Got to see my first Umpire Review/Challenge.
 Miggy knew he was out. He was smiling the whole time.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any pictures of the game winning walkoff 3-run home run that Josh Donaldson hit but, let me tell you, sitting down there and experiencing that was unbelievable.

I'm spoiled now. I won't be able to sit anywhere else. #Section117 #GoPorts

Baseball News From Around The Leagues












Monday, May 26, 2014

Congratulations, Josh Beckett! First Career No-No

Yesterday, Josh Beckett, would become the 11th pitcher in Los Angeles Dodgers history to throw a no-hitter and 21st in Dodgers history.

Just a year ago, Mr. Beckett had no feeling in his fingertips and would require surgery and yesterday would throw the greatest game of his career.

Thank you, Mr. Beckett. The Dodgers and their fans needed this.



Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Beckett. Unhittable.


#Section117 #GoDodgers

Sunday, May 25, 2014

#SHOWOFFSUNDAY -- 5/25/14

I missed last Sunday's so here's my collection updates as of the last couple of weeks.

Part of the fan interaction/season ticket holder appreciation at Banner Island Ballpark, a season ticket holder from the crowd is chosen to be the "Season Ticket Holder of the Day" and presented with an autographed ball. My wife and I were chosen and we were given a Manny Correa signed ball.

Got this one in a twitter contest with @SportSpeakLA . Zack Lee auto ball. Kinda weird since it's on a used Little League ball. Oh well, an auto is an auto.

Ron Shelton, director of movies like 'Bull Durham', 'Cobb', 'White Men Can't Jump' and 'Tin Cup'. Got this one signed on a game-used California League ball since, Mr. Shelton played on the 1969 Stockton Ports Championship Team.

Tom Browning, former Cincinnati Reds pitcher and current pitching coach for the Bakersfield Blaze. Mr. Browning threw a perfect game on Sept. 9, 1988, incidentally, against my Dodgers but also, oddly enough, the year the Boys in Blue won their last World Series Championship.

Current Bakersfield Blaze infielder, David Vidal. 2011 MiLB All-Star.

Current Bakersfield Blaze infielder, Seth Mejias-Brean. 2013 Chief Bender Award Winner.

Current Bakersfield Blaze outfielder, Kyle Waldrop.

Current Bakersfield Blaze outfielder, Jesse Winker. 2013 MiLB Hitter of the Year. 1st Round Pick for the Cincinnati Reds.

Current Stockton Ports infielder, Daniel Robertson. 2013 First Round Pick and No. 7 Prospectfor the Oakland Athletics.


Thanks to Brian over at The Elephant Farm for providing the cards for me. A truly generous guy and a huge baseball fan. Go check out his blog today!

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Alumni Night @ Banner Island - May 17, 2014

I was really excited to hear that Alumni Night was again to return this season, since last season's was so successful. I had heard in advance that, Ron Shelton, director of movies like Bull Durham, Tin Cup, Cobb and even White Men Can't Jump, was to make an appearance. Mr. Shelton was a part of the 1969 Championship Ports. While he went on to direct in Hollywood and even marry actress, Lolita Davidovitch, a few from that team went on to play ball in the majors. In total, I believe 18 former Ports made an appearance last night.

Unfortunately, I don't think that the new staff at Banner Island has figured out how to organize events. Last night's was definitely proof of this. In past years, any celebrity appearances with signings were organized such that the signers would be sat at a table in a breezeway with a line of fans started down a corridor that runs behind the suites. The celebrities would then come out, at their own convenience, and sit at the table. Once the guest celebrity or celebrities were seated, the fans would be allowed, a few at a time, to move along the table and request an autograph. Fans, knowing the policy from previous years, proceeded to the waiting area(myself included), once inside the gates. Again, based on previous years, said celebrities are allowed a suite to stay in and catered meals so, after on-field announcements(former player tributes, ceremonial first pitches, national anthem, etc.), they can go back to their seat/suite, acquire refreshments and come out when they are comfortable to do so. Fans have never complained about this process and wait patiently as I've experienced.

As we stood in line waiting patiently, a young lady whom I believe is the 'Community Relations Manager'(who never smiles, only in her picture from the website) approaches an older gentleman in line in front of me and states that "this is a voluntary signing" and that they will come out as they want. This was confusing to the rest of us that could hear this. She then went on to say that we should just go up to the table, get the autographs of who was already there, get back in line and go through again when/if more come out. What kind of managing is this?! Not only was this confusing but frustrating as we had come early in order to stand in line to meet and get autographs from these players, neglecting the on-field ceremonies. This also created a collateral 'no line' effect amongst fans. Now, anyone can go up to the table, regardless of who had waited since gate opening.

Not only was this the only frustrating moment of the evening but the Stockton Ports decided that Alumni Night fit best paired with Little League Night. Little League Night, although nice in theory, really is a fiasco of ghetto-Stockton proportions. Not only are the majority of these kids amped on sugar uncontested 'freedom' because either the parents aren't there or it's just that the coaches don't care. The coaches were out in the parking lot pre-game tailgating and getting drunk noticeable as we walked through the lot to get to the gates. Wild, uncontrolled groups and visibly overwhelmed staff was the theme of the evening.

Our section was overrun by out-of-control Little Leaguers and drunk coaches, cursing, sitting in others purchased seating, throwing food and drinks and climbing on railings and barriers unchecked. An announcement was made of ticket checks by the end of the 3rd inning which never happened.

I am a season ticket holder and pay a good amount of money to be such. Some may feel that I don't pay much to be one but I feel that over $700 a season, not counting food, drinks and merchandise is a healthy amount, especially for an event in Stockton, CA, not taking into consideration that we will be paying EVEN MORE next year due to rising prices. As a season ticket holder, I don't ask for much in the way of preferential treatment but based on the fact that we do pay to have seats all season in the same area, we would like some kind of acknowledgement. No, we don't sit in the "MVP" section and No, we don't sit in the suites or on the "Back Porch" every game. We do, however, love and support OUR Stockton Ports team and we sit in the same place year after year because we like where we sit and enjoy the company of fellow season ticket holders in our section.

With that being said, I believe, as many other season ticket holders will agree, that some new policies need to be enforced and some old policies need to return. Season ticket holders should be defended, just like all others in those 'privileged' sections that I mentioned. Just because we don't sit with the privileged few, doesn't mean we should have to have our seats stepped on and dirtied, food and drinks spilled on or obnoxious adults/children invade our area.

1. Take a cue from other stadiums/ballparks security and management. Hire more 'green shirts' and security to keep the aisles clear and perform ticket checks before guests are seated.

2. Management and staff should undergo some diversity training to learn how to talk to the public. Experience AND training is beneficial, not just one.

3. Establish policies and KEEP them. Changes every year to basic policies creates confusion and disorganization at the ballpark.

4. Season ticket holders should be acknowledged and treated fairly throughout the season, not just with a signed baseball.

5. Little League nights should NEVER be combined with other events. Notice, I didn't say remove little league nights completely. I do, however, think that there have been way too many already. Children should be urged to sit with their parents or coaches and in designated areas for teams.

6. Bring Jeremy back.

7. Upper management, including the president should not be performing stadium duties. They also cannot be blind to what the issues are.

8. Assign specific, people-friendly representatives to attend to celebrity events.

9. Ovations, the food distributors, should not be allowed to close up shop early. Closing in the 6th inning is unacceptable, regardless of the flow of guests.

10. A drink maximum should be enforced. A woman was witnessed ordering 5 margaritas last night, by herself.

11. The Ports social media accounts are slow to be updated, slow to respond and rarely used. See #6.

12. Last but not least, buy Splash some new shoes. They're from 2005 for Pete's sake.


I love baseball. I love the Ports. I don't love how this season is going. From other season ticket holders I've talked to, there may be even less of us next year if this is the way it continues. It may be beneficial for us just to pick and choose which games we will come to. This is both disappointing and sad for us fans who love the game but dislike so much the hassles.

I hope someone with the organization is listening and not just to me.

#GoPorts #Section117

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Showoff Time!

So, since last season, I've been amassing, stockpiling if you will, a number of baseball cards. I have found it way too easy to buy lots of cards on ebay and it has done me well, to my wifes dismay.

Here are just a few of my favorite hits, wins and suprises that I have acquired in the last 7 months or so.

Pulled this from a lot buy of Marlins from ebay. Don't ask me why I bought the lot because I won't have an answer for you, other than 120 cards for $4 sounded good. Score one for me. 

Another auto from a lot I bought a few months ago. Had an opportunity to see this guy play a few weeks ago when the Ports hosted the Visalia Rawhide, the Single-A affiliate of the D-Backs.

I didn't even know sepia cards were available until I pulled one.
Brandon Maurer Topps Chrome RC sepia auto

Oddball card but apparently there are 2 others that are supposed to flank Mr. Lee for the set.

Again, another decent card from my Marlins lot, Sean Townsley, Bowman orange parallel, #'d to 250.

Cutouts are a current favorite of mine. These two were pulled from another one of my odd purchases of a Toronto lot of cards.

Yu Darvish cutout I won from a twitter contest from Carolina Card Co.

The first Topps Five Star card I've acquired and they are truly magnificent. I have a certain affinity for Mr. R.A. Dickey so I had to have it.

 More cutouts, Rickey Henderson and Yoenis Cespedes

One of my latest purchases that I couldn't pass up. I just love that presentation.

King Felix cutout

Topps Chrome cutout Josh Hamilton

Derek Norris auto card I pulled from another lot of cards. Seems to be a running gag, huh?

Another one of my personal favorites since Hanley is probably my favorite player from the Boys in Blue. Topps Museum #'d to 75

Topps Chasing History Paco Rodriguez auto


The following cards I bought specifically to attempt to get signed. So far, I've succeeded. A little help from @bicemusic for some of the cards. Much appreciated, my friend.

To start off with, a couple of cards I bought before the start of this season. John Wasdin, the Ports new pitching coach and Ryan Christensen, the Ports new manager.

Since @bicemusic always has a leg up on A's cards, he provided me with this nice Kris Hall Bowman base to get signed.

I knew Renato Nunez was coming to Stockton, so I prepared myself. Nice guy, I don't think he speaks much english though.

Tom Windle, from last week's game with Rancho Cucamonga. He threw a gem that Friday.

Chris Anderson, from the same 3-game series in Stockton. These young guys have sometimes have some egos, this guy was no exception. Fortunately, I had one card worthy of him signing.

And then there are the guys that will sign anything you put in front of them and grateful that you are asking. Billy McKinney, Bowman base and chrome. I must have given him 15 of these cards and he has signed every one.

Another fellow that was limiting his signature to 1 card. Oh well. DJ Peterson Bowman base card.

Erasmo Ramirez had just been sent down to Single-A High Desert Mavericks to make room the day before we went to this game. Fortunately, I had pulled these from a couple different packs a month ago and had them on hand.

Jeremy Rathjen, Bowman Chrome. Another nice guy willing to sign anything.

Jeremy Barfield, outfielder turned relief pitcher. Funny guy and somewhat of a twitter whore. Go follow him @BarfieldRage and you can tell him I said so.

Former Major Leaguer and current manager of the Lake Elsinore Storm, Jamie Quirk. Thanks again to Brian Bice for these two.

@bicemusic strikes again! The man has an endless supply of A's. Matt Olsen, another top prospect with a slippery glove.

#1 Top Prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Corey Seager. A good guy that was willing to sign anything for me once the series was over. I came prepared for his debut at Banner Island. Unfortunately, so did most of Nor Cal's autograph seekers. It was good to see so many Dodger fans in Banner Island Ballpark.



Last but not least, the 2 balls I was able to get signed.
Corey Seager

Julio Urias. His signature is a bit off center but from what I've seen, he seems to do that. I failed and couldn't get any of his cards in time and Bowman had just come out.

Thank you for checking out just a few of my additions. Please feel free to comment or ask questions.

#Section117 #GoPorts #GoQuakes #GoDodgers