Pictures from Mariners-A's this weekend

by Deanna on Aug 7, 2006 3:00 AM PDT

I bought a new camera last week and a new lens this morning and I basically ended up using the Mariners and A's bullpens as a great place to test out the new lens. Oddly, I ended up taking a lot more pictures of A's players than Mariners, in the end, I think, so I figured y'all might enjoy these.

I don't think my bandwidth could suffer me direct-linking all of my pictures here, so here's a link to the whole gallery:

Mariners vs. A's, August 6th

If nothing else, you should follow the chronicles of "Our Closer's a Dummy", as Brandon Buckley did something really silly in the first inning, and dressed up the batting dummy as Huston:

Hmm... what should I do with this dummy?
I know, I'll bring it out front.
Yeah. Right here.
I told Huston he shouldn't leave his jersey around...
Hey, tuck in his butt, will you?
Huston says, "Why, it looks just like me!"
Gaudin totally agrees.
So long, doppleganger!
Well, okay, maybe I should fix it.
"Huston" watches the game.

Whee! Are the A's bullpen guys always this silly?

BTW, if any of the people in this picture are on AN, I did mean to stick around and get a better picture, but you all seemed grumpy after Blanton gave up those two runs, so I ran off.

I haven't finished dealing with my Saturday pictures yet, but I actually also have a set of pictures from Friday, with some Swisher, Komine, and piggybacking.

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Comments

excellent pictures!

I love the, uh, interesting placement of the Longhorn "Hook 'Em Horns" symbol (aka, "Black Sabbath Rules" or 'Yngwie!").

I am a little concerned people won't bother to click through the links to see a pretty unusual bunch of pictures... you should investigate photobucket or some such that can survive the AN beating...

by Apricot on Aug 7, 2006 3:46 AM PDT reply actions

snerk

"people won't bother to click through the links?"

Are you serious? This is AN, home of photo-obsession and Moneybutt -- we live to click for pics! ;)

"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 7, 2006 6:33 AM PDT up reply actions

missed you at AN3

but hope I'll see you at AN4 or Nico3. I was too busy keeping Hopey from eating crayons and you were too busy hiding from other humans.

by Apricot on Aug 7, 2006 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I wasn't hiding!

I was busy feeding crayons to all the babies...

"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 7, 2006 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

I think that "Hook 'Em Horns"

doesn't involve the index finger, just the thumb and pinky. And some people will make fun of you for making meal devil horns with the thumb, since that's sign language for "I Love You".

by hunter on Aug 7, 2006 6:49 AM PDT up reply actions

the definitive answer

Thumb in. And let me say, it makes very fetching headgear.

by Apricot on Aug 7, 2006 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh dude.

I can't believe I didn't realize what the hand was actually supposed to be, especially since I have several friends who went to UT Austin.

Yeah... especially since Dreamhost's been giving me such trouble, but I didn't really have time last night to investigate an alternate image hosting after spending like 5 hours going through pictures. I just wanted to sleep :)

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Aug 7, 2006 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Thank you!

Great shots. The A's are a pretty silly bunch.

About "Huston riding Duke"...UGH. If Duke's back starts to act up again, we'll know who to blame.

Swish needs to shave.

"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 7, 2006 6:46 AM PDT reply actions

deja vu!

Although it was then debated who was riding whom...

"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 7, 2006 6:50 AM PDT up reply actions

lol

"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 7, 2006 6:53 AM PDT up reply actions

All rights reserved, all lefties traded to Chicago

LOL. That's awesome. Thanks for the pictures.

Kettlecorn! Swishercorn!

by TurnTwo on Aug 7, 2006 7:57 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks!

That shot of Cupcakes is art, baby!

"If I'm on, they're probably going to have a not-so-good day." --Zito

by BlondeBomber on Aug 7, 2006 8:15 AM PDT reply actions

It's amazing.

Dark green uniform next to dark green wall makes darkly evil Blanton. I couldn't believe it either when I got the picture off my camera.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Aug 7, 2006 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for the shots...

they are great!!

"If it doesn't work out, call me"-Nick Swisher .............(as signed on my wedding card.) heheheheeee

by rocketgirl on Aug 7, 2006 8:31 AM PDT reply actions

Nice

Thanks for the pictures! On page two, it almost looks like Swish is doing his best Ichiro pre-AB imitation. Thanks for getting the funny sequence with Buckley, Street and the batting dummy. I've never seen a batting dummy... or did we call up Keith Ginter for the Mariner series?

Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by JLaff on Aug 7, 2006 8:43 AM PDT reply actions

I'll see those guys in the photo tonight:

That's Bobby (510), Mo, Tony and Nick.

While taint is everywhere and baseball is certainly no different, it's important that it be treated with open attention-Devo

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 7, 2006 8:52 AM PDT reply actions

Smack Bobby

He was apparently a bit surly towards Deanna. Btw, Deanna's blog is generally pretty awesome (http://marinerds.blogspot.com/)

by LoveDemAs on Aug 7, 2006 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

HAHAHA!!! he is as passionate as they get:

I don't see how wanting to cheer for Blanton over posing for a photo for a Seattle fan is being "surly".

While taint is everywhere and baseball is certainly no different, it's important that it be treated with open attention-Devo

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 7, 2006 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions

I wasn't there...

Deanna just commented about it on her blog. Could have been bad timing or simple miscommunication. Still I wouldn't want people thinking about A's fans like we were, I dunno, Red Sox fans or something...

by LoveDemAs on Aug 7, 2006 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions

I still don't get it:

She wanted to take a picture of them, they said wait...She left.

While taint is everywhere and baseball is certainly no different, it's important that it be treated with open attention-Devo

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 7, 2006 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions

I waited until after the inning break, actually

At one point he did turn around and see me with this look of, "Oh, you're still here?" and turned away again, so I figured I wasn't going to push it while the team was losing. I like capturing fans, but not THAT much, and I felt like a big dork just sort of standing around with a camera waiting to take a picture of them.

(my original wording in the post was a bit more harsh, but I realized it was uncalled for, so I edited it out. I don't really blame people for not wanting to get their picture taken -- and in retrospect, the picture from the back was probably better anyway so you could see the "LF Bleachers 510" jersey, so in the end it all worked out!)

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Aug 7, 2006 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

That is more like it:

I just got off the phone with Bobby and he said, "man we posed for so many pictures!!!".

He is stoked with the way the series went and said that the A's fans were numerous and LOUD!!!

He did remember you and said that they were going to pose for you and you were gone.

Believe me that when I say they are Die-Hards they are as die hard as they get. Bobby and Mo were practically raised in the LF Bleachers.

I bet that if you came back after the Thomas Home Run You would have had a CLASSIC SHOT!!!

Cheers and thanks for the great photos.

While taint is everywhere and baseball is certainly no different, it's important that it be treated with open attention-Devo

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 7, 2006 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

ahhhh, whoops

Then I'm really sorry about my bad timing! Feel free to let him know that... and that I was pretty impressed that the group stuck it out there all weekend. I hope they had good sunscreen, seriously, I got burnt just walking around.

And oh man speaking of missing classic shots -- I can't believe that I managed to be in the infield for every at-bat of Swisher's EXCEPT THE ONE WHERE HE HIT A HOME RUN. That and missing Huston's warmup were my biggest photo-shooting blunders of the day. I was just finishing eating lunch when Frank Thomas hit his home run, too. Sigh.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Aug 7, 2006 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I was standing right behind the center field fence

when i looked up and saw a familiar sight. The 510 jersey and hockey mask and then remembered that Bobby played on the Rebels in the SFNABA. I play shortstop for the FOG and happened to be up in Seattle for the 3-game set. Take care Saint.

by dontparkthere on Aug 7, 2006 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Right on man:

You saw a helluva series!!!

Come out to the LF Bleachers some time and we'll have a few!!!

I blew my knee out on a freak play against the Mad Dawgs so I'm probably done for the year, as, most likely, is our team?!?! URGH!!!

See ya in the bleachers

While taint is everywhere and baseball is certainly no different, it's important that it be treated with open attention-Devo

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 7, 2006 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for sharing these

Deanna. They're great stuff.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Aug 7, 2006 9:26 AM PDT reply actions

You're welcome!

I figured they'd probably be more appreciated here than around the Mariners loop. You guys have awesome photo threads here all the time, which we don't.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Aug 7, 2006 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

They were nice to me!!!

Got a picture with them and my family.... they were awesome!!!! I was sitting behind the M's dugout and could hear them during the game.... the wife told me to go up there and get a pic with them.... A's fans are the BEST!!!!! told her we are just like family and saw that from all the A's fans saying "HI" on our way thru the concourse.... I will get the picture posted here sometime this evening.... GREAT GAME!!!!!

Still haven't forgiven my dad for not letting me storm the field in 1974, but, in his defence, I was only 5.

by Ludawg6 on Aug 7, 2006 11:19 AM PDT reply actions

Let me clarify

510, Mo and gang were nice to me... even got a hat for my youngest to wear for the picture!!!! A's fans are the BEST!!!!!

Still haven't forgiven my dad for not letting me storm the field in 1974, but, in his defence, I was only 5.

by Ludawg6 on Aug 7, 2006 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions

I think it may have been

a function of what time you went to talk to them. They were probably in a lot better mood after Frank Thomas hit that home run :)

Also, in fairness, I was just wearing a plain green shirt, not an A's shirt, no idea if that influenced it. And, I did talk to that one guy in the green and gold socks and he was pretty nice...

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Aug 7, 2006 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Great photos.

The Swisher ones make me wonder how much weight he's lost this year. He seems mighty skinny, especially when you notice how loose his clothes are.

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 7, 2006 11:24 AM PDT reply actions

Why wasn't Huston

wearing his jersey? Was he running around naked? I MISSED IT!! AHHHHHHH!!! <slits wrists>

<censored> ROLAND MCDONALD!

by Jennifer on Aug 7, 2006 11:40 AM PDT reply actions

Egads!

Swisher looks TERRIBLE!!! JUST TERRIBLE!!!

Thanks Deanna! You and your photos are welcome any time!

"I'm living in a cuckoo clock!" ~HollywoodOz
"I'm your huckleberry." ~grover

by baseballgirl on Aug 7, 2006 12:35 PM PDT reply actions

Love those pics

I'm new to the Athletics Nation and I am sooo happy to see pics.

I was beginning to think I was alone at the away games I go to.

Thanks to All for this!

BaseBallDiva "Practice Safe Eating - Always Use Condiments"

by BaseballDiva on Aug 7, 2006 5:07 PM PDT reply actions

Welcome to AN!

<censored> ROLAND MCDONALD!

by Jennifer on Aug 7, 2006 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions

GREAT PICS!

altho i'm a little confused as to where exactly you were sitting (or what kind of telephoto lens you have). at first i thought you were right behind the bullpen. but then you have so many great pics of the guys at bat.

the ones of buckley are classic - literally laughed out loud on those.

we have almost the same name...

"One time I climbed a fence to get a baseball that had been run over by a lawn mower. I thought it was beautiful" *Scott

by MisplacedOakFan on Aug 7, 2006 6:43 PM PDT reply actions

Lots of places.

I wrote a few entries about it on my blog, but in short:

Last Thursday, I bought a Nikon D50 dSLR, which came with an 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens, which was ok for close stuff, but I really wanted a zoom.
Sunday morning I bought a 70-300mm 4-5.6 lens. It's the cheapest AF 300mm I could find for my camera. I went straight from the camera store to the stadium.

So, at Sunday's game, I bought a bleacher ticket and didn't actually sit there (or anywhere else, for that matter). I just wandered around behind the concourses on the main level, every now and then looking out at the field and shooting a few pictures from wherever I was, to see how well the zoom would work at the distance. I went to the bullpens before the game, then started wandering in the first inning; went back to the bullpens, went back to the infield, went to the outfield, went down to the bullpens, back and forth and back and forth.

It's weird because I usually plant myself in my seat for the first pitch and don't move until the end of the game. This time, I have no real clue what happened in the game, except that both sides wanted a lot of relievers to warm up!

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Aug 7, 2006 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions

not that anyone's gonna read this a week later...

I just wanted to say that I was there for the Huston-dummy thing!!! Yeah, my friends and I had talked to Huston on Friday, and then we were talking to him again on Sunday (and for both of the games we were at the bullpen from a couple minutes before gametime until after the game.....really obviously obsessing over Huston), and then Buckley made the dummy and dragged it over right in front of us, and then he showed Huston, and Huston was like, "Oh, jeez..." and then asked us, "Did y'all let them do this??" Wow he is sooooooo cute with his southern accent and everything. Anyway yeah I just wanted to agree that it was HILARIOUS...even though probably no one is going to read this...oh well...

by itskaka on Aug 16, 2006 11:52 PM PDT reply actions

I read it :)

I remember you guys, actually, because you were the only other ones around after the game started, which surprised me. You might have seen me wandering around taking pictures of the entire thing... I was the tall girl, green t-shirt and jeans, brown hair ponytail, carrying an enormous camera around. I didn't realize the dummy was specifically for you guys but it makes sense if you were there by the bullpen all weekend!

Yeah, Huston's a cutie.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Aug 22, 2006 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions