No Glory Blog: Let's Go 2014 Texas Rangers!

Well, good thing about Game 4 of the NLDS was that it seemed the crowd was way more into it but maybe that's just because we sat in good seats rather in the SRO tower. I don't know. The people there all seemed to care *a lot* about the game. One section over was an area the Cardinals had to give to their close people. So, that sucked. Here's a shot of flag country, courtesy of "Bad Luck" Bill. (Just kidding, Bill! Not your fault!)



Also what sucked was rookie sensation Michael Wocka Wocka Wocka. I'm not even going to look up the spelling of his name. I don't care. I hate him. He was perfect through 6 at least, until I gave the reverse curse by texting Jessica that I was going to see history. He gave up a walk immediately after that. But the reverse curse didn't work saying he had a no-hitter until Pedro's third dinger of the series in the 7th. Charlie Morton had matched him under higher duress until this fateful pitch (good shot, Bill!):


We had a chance there, in the 9th. Tying run on, two outs, and McCutchen up. It could have sealed his place in Pittsburgh history but nope. Weak pop-up to shallow right. One more chance in St. Louis. I'm not confident at all but at least it's Cole rather than Burnett and this team has surprised me a lot this year.

Heading to the Wild Card game, Reggie the stupid Sax Man I hate was shouting, "I see you walking! *toot toot honk* Trying to avoid me! *bleep honk toot* All you people only have yourselves to blame if they lose for not tipping the Sax Man!"

I never tip the Sax Man. I hate the Sax Man. They won the game. Today, heading to the NLDS Game 1, I didn't see him on the bridge at all. Oh well.
 

Greg and I used my standing room only tickets. We got there at 3 but apparently the gates had opened two hours before game time so there wasn't a "great" spot. Just a decent spot. We could see home. There was a big pole next to us and an annoying dudebro in the bleachers just a reach across, obsessive-compulsively high-fiving every single person and freaking out if they didn't high-five him. His friend almost got in a fight with an old guy who poked him with a cane trying to get him to sit. "I'm 24 years old. I want to stand at a playoff game."

In general, I felt like the crowd was a little tamer than the last game. The people right around us were very quiet the whole time and seemed annoyed if we clapped.

This game didn't feel like they were going to win it, even though they were always either ahead or tied. It just had a feel like those frustrating games. But then, it wasn't! Byrd had a clutch 2-out 2 rbi hit. Martin hit a clutch sac fly. Pedro came through with a hit off a lefty to take the lead for good and Martin hit a two-strike single to stretch it to the 5-3 final. Liriano wasn't great but left with a lead. Watson was good. Melancon blew the lead and eked out of the 8th. Grilled Cheese time gave up a soft hit then went 1-2-3. Here's the last pitch:


Reggie the Sax-Man was on the bridge on the way back, high-fiving people, too busy to hector. Game 4, possible clincher for Bucs, tomorrow at the thanks-a-lot MLB time of 3pm. All day games for this flyover country series! Jerks. We'll show 'em.

Wow, what an experience. I have never had a more intense baseball experience. Being in this crowd on this night was almost indescribable. I'm giddy. Freaking giddy. The Pirates kicked the Reds' tails and now head to St. Louis. They look so good right now.

Somehow my one seat was about 8 feet from the field. Sat with some very annoying unknowledgeable Pirate fans, two easily depressed Reds fans, and a Pirate fan who came from Virginia for the game. He was cool.

Getting to the park, the bridge was already crazy packed with people more than two hours before game time. Franktuary was actually there so I got veggie dogs for the first time ever at a Pirate game!



The wait in line for the veggie dogs meant no wait to get in and I found my way to... THESE AMAZING SEATS.


I'm wearing all black including the ugliest hat ever and my 20+ year old shirt that I have the collar held together with packing tape.

We heckled the hell out of Johnny Cueto and he got rattled and then blew up.

You can see the douchey Ashton Kutcher hipster guy in front of me. He got on TBS for interfering with a ball in play. Fulmer saw me on TV screaming at him to leave it the hell alone. Jagoff.
Russell Martin had two of the three team dingers. Here's him scoring on his second, making me feel a whole lot better about the lead.

Francisco Liriano was great, at times dominant, at others, reaching deep. Here he is with his last pitch of the game to close the 7th.

Soon enough it was Grilled Cheese Time

Then, mayhem ensued, on the field, in the stands, and on the bridge.