…positioned just west of the NORTH General Parking lot.

The end of the pedestrian sidewalk takes you here…
…the NORTH General Parking lot.  Cost to park here = $8.00.  It’s tailgating heaven.  As you can see in the pic above, diehards came out equipped with gazebos to stay dry and insure the best possible tailgating experience.  Rain was in the forecast.

After passing back under the freeway through a tunnel, I came to this…
…notice the street sign??  Yeah, Bud Selig is still highly regarded around Milwaukee. 
He did run the Brewers at bottom dollar for years.  Perennial losers for over a decade.  But, he will always be respected for bringing baseball back to Milwaukee.  For that, I’m appreciative.

I went into the stadium and began watching the Brewers take BP.

Not long after, I gained the attention of Brewers pitcher JORGE JULIO (who had just fielded a baseball).  I framed my glove like a catcher as if I was about to receive the pitch.  He turned and lobbed it to me.  It fell short.  I said, “thanks anyways.”  He held up one finger as if to say, hold on, I’ll try again.  A minute later, he fielded another baseball.  He turned in my direction and I once again framed my mitt like a catcher.  This time, he put more on the throw and I barely had to move my glove.  Smack!  BASEBALL #1.  I turned to my right and rang the pitch up as a strike.

So far, he’s been used in mop-up time during games.  Because of that, I’m not sure what his future in Milwaukee holds.  However it works out, he’s been good to The Happy Youngster so far this season.

Check out the Julio toss-up ball…

It had the word “FISH” written on the sweetspot. 
If you remember from this entry, I had discovered the Brewers were getting creative with marking BP balls. 
I kind of like it.  Makes snagging that much more interesting…if that’s even possible.

That was it for the Brewers portion of BP. 
The Brewers are usually off the field by 5:35pm for a 7:05 game.

NOTE:  Gates to Miller Park only open 90 minutes prior to game time during the weekday.  Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Gates open 2 hrs. before the game only on weekends.  That takes valuable BP time away from the fans.  Now, imagine driving 5 hrs. across the state of Wisconsin to see your favorite team practice and play.  Only to get there and see the opponent taking BP.  Your kids ask you, “where are the Brewers?”  You respond, “geez kids, the Brewers Operational staff are like the Fun Police.  When there’s a little fun to be had, they swoop in and prevent it.  Alright, I’ll step down now.

The first group of D’Backs hitters in the cage included Chris Young, Justin Upton, Felipe Lopez and Josh Wilson. 

Let me tell you, Upton was hitting some bombs.  That kid swings like Babe Ruth.
I managed to snag one of the Little Bambino’s bombs…on a bounce. 
I estimated BASEBALL #2 traveled 460 feet before landing back to earth. 

Here’s a pic of the little red-laced meteoroid…

That mark on the side panel is where the ball met a bleacher seat when it finally descended to earth.

D’Backs pitcher JON RAUCH was roaming in left field during BP.  I tried gaining his attention but to no avail. 
A few minutes later, I finally got his attention.  He had fielded a baseball and was preparing to toss it up to me in the 2nd level LF loge bleacher section.  The throw fell probably 20 feet short.  It was the worst attempt by a major league player to throw a ball to a fan as I’ve ever seen.  All he said was, “oops, sorry.”  The tone of his voice was sarcastic.  His body language said, ‘whatever.’  So, I said, “next one, buddy.”

About 10 minutes later, a baseball rolled directly below me to the wall.  I yelled down to Jon Rauch again.  I said, “how about a 2nd chance?”  He looked up to me and tossed it up-this time right on target. 

BASEBALL #3 came courtesy of the tallest player ever to play in the major leagues.  At 6’11” tall, Jon Rauch could have slam dunked it in my glove from where he was standing (okay, that’s an exaggeration).

The remainder of BP was rough for me. 

A Mark Reynolds baseball was caught right next to me.  My glove was one of three in the scram and I didn’t come up with it.  I ALWAYS expect to come out with it…even in a crowd. 

Later, Eric Byrnes hit one right at me in the front row down the left field line.  I had been looking down at the field when he hit it.  D’Backs pitcher Jon Garland pointed up to the sky as if to say, ‘head’s up’!  I looked up into the sun and saw a white speck coming at me.  I reached out my glove at the last second in self defense.  It hit squarely in my glove and dropped harmlessly to the field.  I felt like absolute crap.  I DO NOT make errors.  That was my 1st true error on the season.  If you I get slammed into or something stupid like that-that’s one thing.  But there was no excuse for this one.  All on me. 

RULE #1 of Ballhawking:  Never watch a BP baseball you can no longer snag.
I had violated rule #1 and paid dearly for it.  I had been watching a baseball hit in a different location and I was not paying attention to the next pitch.

That was it for BP.  I had to lick my wounds.

NOTE:  The D’Backs were not very accommodating as far as toss-up baseballs were concerned.  They wouldn’t even look to the crowd.  Oh well.

Before the game started, I made my way down to the visitor’s dugout.  Felipe Lopez and Chad Tracy were warming up in front of the dugout. 

The national anthem began.  They stopped tossing.  After the national anthem, they resumed.  After they finished, CHAD TRACY walked to the dugout with the ball.  I asked him for it and he rolled it on top of the dugout to me for BASEBALL #4.

When the game began, I made my way out to my seat out in right center field.  About 99% of the time, I play for game home run balls.  It brings my total baseballs snagged down a tad, but throughout my whole ballhawking career, game home runs have always been the emphasis. 

Felipe Lopez led off the game with a home run into the right field bleachers (lower level).  That was it for game home runs for the day.

In the 2nd inning, I had a visitor to my section.

Take a look at this sharp dressed little man…
…his name is Ethan and he’s 8 yrs. old.  Check out the t-shirt Ethan is wearing. 
Recognize that??  For his good taste in clothing (or his Mom’s, for that matter), Ethan got himself a major league baseball.  Ethan is one cool dude.  His wonderful mother, Sarah (not pictured-but accompanying him), tells me baseball is becoming his thing.  Attaboy!

TO EVERYONE READING THIS:  If I see you or your kid at a game wearing my shirt, I’ll give you a ball, too.  It’s that simple.  “Happy” supporters get rewarded.

The Brewers ended up winning 4-1.  The home crowd was too loud for an ump ball and the D’Backs all disappeared into the dugout without a glance to the crowd.

My day was finished. 
I must admit, I’m getting a little spoiled.  I was actually disappointed in only snagging 4 baseballs on this day. 

I told you I have lofty standards.

Finals…
4 baseballs total (3 shown – 1 given away to Future All Star Ethan.

2009 BALLHAWKING STATS

• 4 total balls 4/30/09

1 batted ball

3 toss-ups

ATTENDANCE:  26,464

2009 TOTAL BASEBALLS

4/7/09   = 5   baseballs
4/8/09   = 10 baseballs
4/9/09   = 10 baseballs
4/10/09 = 3   baseballs
4/11/09 = 5   baseballs
4/12/09 = 5   baseballs
4/13/09 = 11 baseballs
4/14/09 = 6   baseballs
4/21/09 = 5   baseballs
4/27/09 = 15 baseballs
4/28/09 = 9   baseballs
4/30/09 = 4   baseballs
___________________

88 baseballs (12 games)
7.33 average per game