AAA Baseball on a Sunday afternoon
Now that's what I call sweet! I finally got a chance to take my older boys to our local AAA team, the Pawtucket Red Sox, or PawSox for short. They are one step away from the big boys from Boston - you get to see the hot prospects play and enjoy a baseball game on the cheap. :thumb
Not great shots (or pp) but I had a fun day shooting so I thought I'd share, maybe give our international friends a taste of small-town USA.
A minor-league game starts with the ceremonial first pitch, in this case from the mascots for a large donut and coffee chain. For some reason the donut costume cracked me up, I think it was the "mouth"
This is followed by the National Anthem. It's always great to get kids to play it, so they trotted out one of the largest elementary school bands I've ever seen. (6th grade, 11 years old at the most)
They were good too! And the PawSox were playing the Lynx from Ottowa, so they had to play "O Canada" as well - I must say I really enjoy that song. The flags show you the weather - sunny, puffy clouds, a decent breeze. About 72F - perfect.
The credentialed photogs - the Nikon had more reach but the Canon guy made up for it with the sweet dual-head monopod rig...I want one...bad...
During the 7th inning stretch, "God Bless America" is played - the full-up old version by George Clooney's mom, no less. On the video board they flash photos of local servicemen who are currently in harm's way. Politics aside, it's a powerful thing that is not lost on the large crowd in attendance.
In the outfield there's a bit more space. You can even find room to dance with your Mom to the music between innings...
Or you can just hang on the fence and dream of the day you are big enough to play out there yourself.
Speaking of playing, a few shots in the next post.
Not great shots (or pp) but I had a fun day shooting so I thought I'd share, maybe give our international friends a taste of small-town USA.
A minor-league game starts with the ceremonial first pitch, in this case from the mascots for a large donut and coffee chain. For some reason the donut costume cracked me up, I think it was the "mouth"
This is followed by the National Anthem. It's always great to get kids to play it, so they trotted out one of the largest elementary school bands I've ever seen. (6th grade, 11 years old at the most)
They were good too! And the PawSox were playing the Lynx from Ottowa, so they had to play "O Canada" as well - I must say I really enjoy that song. The flags show you the weather - sunny, puffy clouds, a decent breeze. About 72F - perfect.
The credentialed photogs - the Nikon had more reach but the Canon guy made up for it with the sweet dual-head monopod rig...I want one...bad...
During the 7th inning stretch, "God Bless America" is played - the full-up old version by George Clooney's mom, no less. On the video board they flash photos of local servicemen who are currently in harm's way. Politics aside, it's a powerful thing that is not lost on the large crowd in attendance.
In the outfield there's a bit more space. You can even find room to dance with your Mom to the music between innings...
Or you can just hang on the fence and dream of the day you are big enough to play out there yourself.
Speaking of playing, a few shots in the next post.
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...but the real hot prospect is this guy, Jacoby Ellsbury.
He played left field although he's typically a center fielder. He has amazing speed - he started the year in AA ball but he batted over .450 (.300 would be "good") so he got promoted quickly. He's currently batting around .290 with the Pawsox, even though he fouled this pitch back.
His speed is impressive. He stole 3rd base in the first inning, a straight steal. Later in the game he got on first and sized up the pitcher...
Then he promptly stole 2nd base easily - I mean, look where the ball is! No contest!
(Yes, I cheated; those 2 pics are from different steals!)
Jacoby wasn't the only player there, here's some proof...
And this was the closest I got to the ball-on-bat shot, you can see the ball just in front of the bat. Guess I'll have to keep trying, and I'll have to remember to get my shutter speeds up a bit too.
Big sisters help out little brothers...
It's serious stuff for my 5 year old.
and even my somewhat grumpy 10 year old can't help but have fun.
It's so fun they actually can pretend they don't annoy each other for a minute...
But eventually that wears off!
That's a blow up Jim Rice jersey with thousands of signatures on it - a petition to get him his rightful place in the Hall of Fame. I mean really folks, check the numbers, he should be in already. Let's all make it happen.
Sony A700&VG; KM 7D&VG; KM 5D; Min 28-75/2.8; 50/1.7; Tammie 17-50/2.8; Tammie 90/2.8 Macro; Min 80-200/2.8; and Min 300/2.8, two flashes, and a couple of other accessories.