Baseball in May
It was a lovely day for a ball game. The Nats had a 4:05 start and looked good until the 6th. They ended up losing 3-1 to the Padres. The weather was perfect and Peter and I were in our usual section 401, row M seats.
I think the Nats were running the special “Pigeons in the Park” promotion.
Nats v Bucs
A perfect late September evening for baseball. Nats won in the bottom of the 9th on a walk-off single by Alejandro De Aza. Thanks to Peter’s work friend Kristina for the tickets. It was funny when we saw where we were sitting as we were in virtually the same seats for a pre-season game in 2015. Here is a link to a post I did then. This is a better photograph. Thanks Kristina, and to all the folks at DHS who have been so kind, generous, and wonderful to Peter.
D.C.
It is always a treat to be in D.C. The weather was perfect for baseball yesterday. Peter and I copped a couple of $5.00 seats (section 401, row M, seats 1 and 2). As far away from home plate as you can get, but for us, the best view in the house.
I have posted a Sulgrave Manor photo before, but I am always drawn to this particular entry. I really like this part of Connecticut Avenue. It was a lovely evening for a walk. So much is in bloom and the temperature is perfect.
Wishing all you Massachusetts residents a relaxing Patriots’ Day tomorrow. And to everyone, a happy and productive week.
Washington Nationals v Miami Marlins
I usually attempt to put up posts in a timely manner, but Peter and I got home very late after the game on Thursday and I was up and on the road back home by 7.00 AM on Friday. Yesterday I drove to Gillette Stadium to shoot the UMASS football game which was pretty much a 12 hour day.
I generally dislike sports mascots, but the presidents at Nationals Park are so cool. And Teddy is the coolest. Good thing he has his pince nez on so he can see the selfie that this guy took.
It was Hispanic Heritage Day, and it was nice that some of my favorite players were mentioned in the pregame ceremonies, including Roberto Clemente
Peter and I scored $5.00 tickets (the best deal in baseball) and sat in our favorite section (402).
It was pretty sparse up there.
It was a perfect night for baseball; about 70 degrees with a lovely breeze.
Apologies to my vegan/vegetarian friends, but another great thing about section 402 is that there is a Ben’s Chili Bowl at the bottom of the stairs. If you like sausages, the “half smokes” are the bomb.
This is my favorite baseball situation. Bases loaded, 2 outs, 3 balls and two strikes on the batter. The runners are going on the pitch (if you look closely, you can see the ball on the way to the batter.) In this case, Ian Desmond ripped a single into right field and two runs scored. The Nats lost 6 – 4 and are barely hanging in for a playoff spot. Maybe next year.
Nationals v Yankees Exhibition Game
The Nationals held their last exhibition game of the Spring today at Nats Park. Peter and I got a couple of $15.00 seats (row X, section 234) and had a great time. It was quite cool and very windy, but hey…baseball! Nationals fans got the chance to boo A-Rod and see him strike out three times, which seemed to make them happy. The Yankees were down early, came back in the 8th, and ended up winning 4-3. The crowd was listed at over 36,000, which for a pre-season game was great. Red Sox open on Monday in Philadelphia and the first game at Fenway is against the Nationals on the 13th (if all the snow has melted).
Washington Nationals
I am in DC for the weekend visiting Peter. Last night we went to dinner to celebrate his new job and this afternoon we headed down to Nats Park. There was about an hour rain delay, but we walked up to the ticked office and got two $5.00 seats. We asked to be under the overhang in case the rain came back, and were totally excited when we saw our seats.
The end seats of the last row of section 401. I don’t think you could get farther from home plate anywhere in the park. We like to be up high at games because it gives a great feel for the whole park.
In these particular seats, one has a great view of the Capitol dome. And all this for $5.00. Amazing
The Nats beat the Giants 6-2. Jordan Zimmerman pitched a great game and the Nats are really on a roll. It seemed like old times when someone yelled “Hugo Chavez” when Wilson Ramos came up to bat.
Here are Ray Knight and Johnny Holliday about to start the post-game show.
DC in August
Cris and I took the train from New Haven to DC on Monday. She has a couple of days of consulting and I get to hang out with Peter.
This tiny restaurant is near to the Van Ness metro station and has been closed since Peter moved to the neighborhood. I really like the retro feel of the facade, and with the building permit in the window you know it will change soon.
I have always enjoyed shooting in underground stations. I like the movement of the trains during long exposures.
I will often stop after exiting the giant escalator at Dupont Circle to look down on cars that are passing below.
Peter was working the Nationals game last night so Cris and I showed up at around 6:00 to get tickets. The Nats are struggling this year and with playoff hopes low, they are selling seats for $5.00! $5.00; unbelievable. We got a couple of great seats in section 402 and saw a really good game with a win over the Marlins. My current favorite pitcher, Ross Ohlendorf, was on the mound and his old school wind-up is unique. You can get a look at it here. / Every time Wilson Ramos came up to bat, some guy behind me started chanting Hu go Cha vez, Hu go Cha vez. (There is a Venezuelan connection; only in DC can you hear something like this at a ball game.)
It was beautiful night, and between innings it was nice to look around at some of the architectural features of the park. Cris noticed these lights just above us and pointed them out to me.
We are off to the Lincoln Memorial in a bit to see if we can see the President speak in honor of the 50th anniversary of the MLK “I have a dream” speech. Could be interesting.
Washington Nationals
Cristine and I are visiting Peter in DC for the weekend. Pete is working as a “fan ambassador” for the Nationals. His job is to welcome people into the park and help them with any questions that they might have. So if you go to a game, chances are good that he will be around the center field entrance just inside the main gate. Look him up! He is a great guy and would love to chat. / The Nats are having a rough season this year and last night was emblematic of how things are going for them. A difficult loss in 10 innings. Everyone was moving very slowly on a hot summer’s night and the game lasted over 4 hours. It was a sell out and the only tickets Cris and I could get were standing room. But at $15.00 a real deal. Peter got us comp tickets for Monday’s game vs the Pirates and we are looking forward to having actual seats.
Pups in the Park
I made a run down to DC yesterday to deliver more household stuff for Peter’s apartment. Today we went to see the Nats and were delighted to discover that it was “Pups in the Park” day. And as is obvious, there was sniffing.
This picture shows Gio Gonzalez’s first pitch, which B.J. Upton promptly put into left field for a double. It went downhill for the Nationals from there. The final was 9-0 Braves, but it was a fun game to watch. Peter was especially excited about being able to walk up to the box office and get $20.00 seats an hour before first pitch. Something that hasn’t happened at Fenway for a very long time.
This is my second trip to the park, and the fact that you can see the Capitol as you are exiting from the upper levels is way cool.
Pete also told me that these cherry trees were an important part of the planning of the park. So nice to see them in bloom. It was beautiful here in the District today and a perfect day for baseball.
Jon Crispin's Notebook 
2 comments