Not Just a Spectator Sport!

On Thursday, July 22nd I took Margo (my sister) to see the Mariners play the Boston Red Sox. Given the current (sorry) state of affairs of the M's we were just there to visit and hand-off a birthday present (Gerry's niece's husband had commissioned a snowman quilt and we were meeting him during the 4th inning to make the delivery).

We had just gotten back to our seats after the hand-off (and finished our "Dippin' Dots" treat!) when Milton Bradley came up to bat in the bottom of the 7th. He popped one up in the air and headed towards our seats. I was sure that someone...anyone...was going to get it. It was pretty much a "marshmallow" kind of hit and I watched it carefully as it seemed to be headed directly to me.

For a nanosecond I actually thought about putting my hand up (more for self-defense than anything else) but still figured that someone...anyone...would snatch it at the last second. Then I remembered...this was Safeco and the game not particularly well-attended. The possibility that someone...anyone...was going to jump up in front of me and get it was pretty slim.

So as it came in on final approach, I leaned ever-so-slightly to the left, towards Margo. The ball, still in really-slo-mo, appeared to go past. A guy from a few seats over began hurriedly, almost frantically looking for the ball. Under the seats, in the row behind, no ball to be found. Then he looked over at me, began reaching for my seat and I began to think "no way"...

...but yes! The ball had landed in my seat - I had in fact caught the foul ball (albeit with my derrierre but any catch will do!)

I think they might have won that game, or more likely lost that game that night. It doesn't really matter since I brought home the game ball!

~later, tw