Conor Jackson's throwing error in the top of the 9th busted it open for the Mets, and they beat the Dbacks 5-2.
Both the Mets' Johan Santana and the Dbacks' Dan Haren pitched 6 strong innings.
Dbacks pitcher Micah "Manny Mota" Owings once again pinch-hit, and delivered a single.
Flavor-Of-The-Week and Monday's starter, Max Scherzer, pinch-ran for Orlando Hudson in the 6th inning.
Yeah, that WAS strange.
No, I don't know why.
I know, if some freak thing happened and he was injured, it wouldn't have been good.
I'm not on the phone. I'm simply answering the questions you're asking in your mind as you read about Scherzer pinch-running.
I like Dbacks manager Bob Melvin's sometimes-unorthodox ways. They're adventurous and exciting. But I don't think I would have put MightyMax on the basepaths today.
I think the most disturbing thing about the Dbacks losing 2 of 3 to the Mets is this stat: 55 Dbacks left-on-base in the 3 game series. Yay! We're gettin' guys on. Let's just get a few more to cross the plate.
Sen. John McCain(R-AZ)was at the game today.
The crowd was alive and full of people who loved hamming-it-up for the camera, which made my job easy.
For some reason, there were 5 television cameras within about 5 feet of each other and all in-use in center field alone.
Today was "Kids Run The Bases" at Chase. After the game, kids can lineup in the stands and then run the bases on the field. I would estimate at least 2500 kids took advantage of the opportunity.
For me, it meant my first chance to actually work down on the playing field at Chase. And I marked-out. It was WAY cool! I spent about an hour on the field, including a few minutes standing on home plate so a few other photographers could make adjustments to their cameras. It's quite a different perspective of the ballpark and just a special feeling for a baseball fan. You see the entire ballpark in a different way that most people never experience. I'll get to work on the field again, and I think it will be exciting to me each time.
I've been on the field in a few ballparks before, including the late Comiskey Park in Chicago and Wrigley Field. Sometime when the Dbacks are on the road, I'll tell the story of one of my on-field experiences at Wrigley. I'll tease it by simply saying if you've ever wondered what the Wrigley Field scoreboard clock looks like from the Cubs dugout at 4am on the night the Cubs lost the NLCS, I can tell you.
Speaking of dugouts, have the Mets ever heard of a garbage can? Their dugout was a pit.
Monday night, Max Scherzer gets his first Major League start in what will now be his third Major League game. He goes against the Philadelphia Phillies and Jamie Moyer, who will be making his 558th start and appearing in his 611th game.
His name sounds like that of a stereotypical director wearing a monocle and knickers in one of those episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies" where Jethro tries to become a 'mat-e-nay idol'.
But Max Scherzer is actually a rookie pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks who was dominant in his Major League Debut Tuesday night in Phoenix. 4 1/3 perfect relief innings, 7 k's, 47 pitches and 35 were strikes.
The Dbacks lost to the Astros 6-4, but "The Scherz" was a major silver lining.
Oh, there was another Major League 'debut' Tuesday night. The right field ball 'boy'(I think he was a boy when John McCain was born)fielded a ball down the line that was fair and in-play.
Oops!
The crowd was kind of strange tonight. Could have been due to the Suns game. But it seemed like people were a little slow(or maybe dumb)tonight. I'd go into my little picture spiel and get alot of "HUH?" and "WHAT?" or people looking at each other waiting for the other to make a decision or say something. Normally, it's a very pleasant and cool crowd that can comprehend a simple sentence. Oh well.
It was probably the most beautiful night of the season weather-wise. The roof and wall panels were open, and there was even a pleasant little breeze. Really nice.
On Monday, Dan Haren pitched a decent game in a 5-3 Dbacks win. The crowd was only 19,000 and some change and late arriving. At game time, I was wondering if the game was even on the schedule. If you're reading this(Is anybody reading this? Hello? Is this thing on?)and coming to a Dbacks game, come out early, walk around the park, get a few autographs, hang out in left field and chase some batting practice homers. And let the friendly gang in the green shirts with cameras take your picture!
Speaking of batting practice, I arrived at Chase around 4 pm on Monday. And the place was empty. I mean not one person in any seat. Now, the gates aren't open at that time, and I always arrive before the gates are open to the public. But usually there are guests of I-don't-know-who scattered around, with some out in left field chasing those BP homers. And there's usually some guests of the visiting team sitting near their dugout. Maybe only 50 people total in the park, but still some life.
On Monday, I was it.
I watched Eric Byrnes take BP from the first row by home plate. Then I headed to center field, where our office is located. From out there, I couldn't see exactly who was in the cage(I think it was Orlando Hudson)but whoever it was was putting on Homerpalooza. Ball after ball landing in the empty left field seats.
I couldn't resist. I walked over there and snagged a ball. One of my co-workers arrived and I told her to go treasure hunting. She snagged 2. There were probably another 6 or 8 we left behind. So some early arriving fans got a nice surprise.
Getting a home run ball is truly one of the most magical moments for a baseball fan.
Even if it's a batting practice home run ball and you can leisurely stroll over and simply pick it up in an aisle.
Hell, now that I think about it, that might make it even cooler!
Wednesday is a 12:40 pm start. Shawn Chacon(0-0) starts for the Astros. 5-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson(1-1) takes the mound for the Dbacks.
And once again, I'll be taking the camera for the fans.
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I am a fan photographer at Chase Field for Arizona Diamondbacks games. I'll be sharing the unique perspective this job allows me of the ballpark, the fans and the games with you.
I was a lifelong Chicagoan until June 30, 2007, when my girlfriend and I spent our first night in our new home in Phoenix.
Chicago is a great city, but it was time for a new adventure. I had a good-paying job that was a pain in the BLEEP. I had winters and snow. I had high taxes and fees for everything.
Phoenix is also a great city. They don't nickel-and-di me you to death. And the weather! They don't sell snow shovels and icemelt here. Oh baby, the weather!
And as a baseball fan, I have a great job. I look forward to going to work for the first time in years. I actually have fun while working.
