My Day in Baltimore

I went to the Red Sox game today, and have some notes to share about things that aren't seen in the box score. After all, there are plenty of other recaps out there.

And Now, an Assorted Chocolate Box of Game Notes (Wait, what?):

• I had seats behind home plate. They were in the 5th highest row in the park, but still behind home plate. (Actually, high up seats have a pretty good view)
• It was "Youth Sports Day" at Camden Yards. A kid had been randomly selected to throw out the first pitch. He was a member of the Columbia Clippers, who I swam for in the '07-'08 season. The pitch appeared to be right down the middle (well, close enough for a first pitch. It was better than most.)
• The weather was sunny and comfortable, and the game started pretty much right on time.
• The woman who sang the National Anthem and God Bless America was an opera singer. (Just wondering- why are only guys asked to take off their hats for the anthem?)
• There were LOTS of Sox fans, a decent number of O's fans, and some fans of various other teams, but there were some nearly empty sections in the stands (mostly the upper deck near the outfield).
• I overheard people near me talking about which cities didn't know much about baseball. One of them had once been keeping score when a fan of another team asked her what she was doing. She answered "Keeping score" , to which the other fan replied "You can do that?!?" They had just mentioned Seattle not being baseball-knowledgable, so I think the story is probably about Mariners fans.
• Seen in the stands: a Dave Trembley jersey, a sign reading "Bird's the Word", and a beachball being played with in the seats down near the RF line.
• There was a stand outside the stadium selling Sox and O's stuff. It was relatively reasonably priced, and my mom bought me a two-piece Sox swimsuit. Seriously.
•  I had a pit beef sandwich from Boog's BBQ. It came with a side of Boston baked beans.
• After Tek K'd to end the top of the 9th, some little kid shouted "Yay, we won" , though I'm not sure what team the kid was rooting for.
• After giving up the HR to Luke Scott, Dice-K went behind the mound and appeared to be playing with the infield grass or something, and there was some delay. Was he just stretching during a commercial break (like a goalie)?
• Relish won the hot dog race. If you've been to Camden Yards in the past few years you should know what that means.
• Ya know how people sometimes try too hard to pronounce Spanish words and names (they say it with a fake accent, basically)? The O's PA announcer was doing that.
• In today's edition of "This or That" (again, a video played on the scoreboard during commercials), more Orioles voted for James Bond than Austin Powers.
• Lastly, I bought a 16 month Orioles calendar to benefit the Maryland SPCA. It has adorable pictures of O's players (and Aubrey Huff) posing with dogs and cats. 
  

GO SOX! We probably won't win the division, but we're hot right now and the Yanks (whom we play after going to Kansas City) are cooling off. Let's keep it going!