I know I am woefully lax in sharing photos from Games 3 and 4 of the World Series in Denver... so I'm correcting that error right now. And a perfect time for it, right in the middle of celebrating the Anniversary of the Blessed Event. So I'll give you a few teasers below, and then go after the jump to find a whole bunch of pictures from that weekend at Coors Field.
Like father, like son. These two are adorable.
The three Ellsbury brothers, and the girlfriend- so sweet!
Even sweeter: the three Varitek brothers, arms slung around each other,
taking a walk out to the empty expanse of center field, and sharing that moment together
Lots more photos, and my random notes and observations, after the jump...
This is a mixture of photos from Games 3 and 4 - I'll try to remember and indicate which is which.
Coors Field by day.
Inside the park, for BP before Game 4.
You can see the Sox players out warming up.
Seriously- how cute are these two? Curt had his son Gehrig out on the field for BP before Game 4- and he fielded balls and threw them up to the crowd in the stands just like a real ballplayer.
Pregame view before Game 3
You can see the Rockpile seats up high, and the forest of random trees that the call a bullpen down to the right. I fully expected to see Mike Timlin emerge with a deer carcass slung around his neck- as though he spent the first 5 innings out there bow hunting in the tundra.
Starting Lineups! Dustin, just after getting smacked on the head by Tito.
Everybody loves Papi! OK, maybe not Rockies fans.
Now that's a lethal starting four. Sharp-looking, too.
Now this group looks like a bunch of rogues and troublemakers.
Timlin in high socks? Check. Lester blowing a bubble? Check. Tavarez looking slightly unhinged? Check.
Things that are cute about this picture:
1. Lugo leaning in close to J.D.
2. Papi's back pocket hanging out of his pants.
3. Tito's arm around Dustin's shouler.
Jacoby's in the batter's box, ready to lead off Game 3.
Pedro, taking some warm-up cuts with the bat and donut.
DICE!
Big Papi at the plate, making other ballplayers look teeny-tiny by comparison.
Mike Lowell prowling the hot corner. MVP!MVP!MVP!
The Admiral takes the mound in Game 3. RE-SIGN THIS GUY, PLEASE.
Battery love: Papelbon gets props from Varitek for a job well done.
Switching vantage points to our seats for Game Four...
WE WIN! WE WIN! WE WIN!
(I admit - I shed a few tears. I'm such a girl.)
Winning pitcher Jon Lester. He and his parents all met up in a giant ball of hugs and squees right down next to us. He kept just looking up at the sky with a big grin and look of disbelief on his face, and shaking his head-- like he couldn't believe this was happening to him. And when his mom and dad first ran onto the field for hugs, he started to cry - and then i started to cry. It was beautiful.
Jacoby was one of the first guys from the team (along with Curt and Jon) out back onto the field after the trophy celebration down in the locker room. He did about 10 different TV interviews down in front of us.
Coco was a little subdued on the field- almost like he could tell those were his last moments with the team. But he would grin and wave like a little kid every time someone hollered his name in the stands.
Varitek getting the TV treatment.
Big Papi making the rounds, in his champagne goggles.
Dice-K quite literally had a mob of Japanese press surrounding him on all sides at all times on the field. They moved around like a horde of bees in a jumble. Okajima largely was unmolested.
Lester, in his beer-soaked shirt, giving interviews.
Curt was the first guy out onto the field, and there was a huge massive cheer for him. Everyone broke out into "ONE MORE YEAR! ONE MORE YEAR!" and he grinned and waved madly.
The three Ellsbury brothers were cute as cute could be. When they came over to stand by us, our section was all "Hello, Ellsburys!" and they were tickled pink to be given some love, and were grinning from ear to ear.
Dice-K carried that blanket around like a flag, waving it around and stuff. Also, I don't think that grin ever left his face.
Mike Lowell hoisting the trophy up for the crowd to see.
It's a battle royale between the three Ellsburys and the three Variteks for the title of "Most Adorable Sox Brothers".
Other random thoughts and notes:
Before Game Four, they showed a montage of the season's greatest moments on the jumbotron in the ballpark -- and the nice Colorado folks applauded everyone... except Barry Bonds. He got a chorus of boos so loud, it could probably be heard from miles away.
The Hank Aaron Award was presented before Game Four as well, and when they announced A-Rod didn't bother to show up, the crowd went ballistic with boos (he was apparently busy getting ready to upstage the Sox with his contract opt-out news). His boos were louder than Barry Bonds. How in the freakin' world are you going to not show up for that? HANK AARON was there. How do you not show up for Hank Aaron?!?
There was a Sox fan inexplicably dressed up as Ricky Bobby, complete with a "Shake and Bake" sign. He would also stand up at random times and holler "SHAKE AND BAKE!"
Youk's fiance, Papi's wife and Coco's wife were the only WAGs (wives and girlfriends) who came out onto the field not wearing those awfully garish bedazzled shirts- earning major bonus points in my mind. Youk's fiance Enza also collected dirt from the batter's box into a glass jar for him. Awww!
Dustin Pedroia's brother looks EXACTLY like him. Except older.
During the celebrations, Mike Timlin was walking around the field with a beer bottle sticking out of the back pocket of his baseball pants, and two more in his hands. AWESOME.
Josh Beckett came out from the locker room early, and didn't stay out very long- very quietly moving through the crowds on the field without attracting any attention, dragging his girlfriend along behind him.
The Rockies played the shittiest music ever over the PA while we were celebrating, total elevator-type stuff. The crowd starting chanting for "Sweet Caroline" while we were waiting for the guys to come back out from the locker room -- and when they wouldn't play it, everyone simultaneously broke out into the song, a capella.
Jon Lester could not keep still. He was literally bouncing around like a kid hopped up on pixie stix. He was standing way back behind home plate at the backstop forever, just hopping around like a jackrabbit.
You could pick Bobby Kielty out of the crowd from a mile away with that red, red hair that's like a neon beacon.
Curt Schilling's kids are apparently used to this sort of thing, because they just kind of walked around on their own... and rolled around on the grass in front of the Rockies dugout. I would totally roll around on the grass if i had the chance, so I don't blame them.
We didn't get kicked out of the field for several hours after the game was over. Thanks, Rockies!
Big props for the photos goes to my partner in crime, J-Money- because I was too superstitious to bring my camera, so I relied on her camera to record the games for me. I'd spot the photo op, she'd deftly snap the scene. She also makes killer signs.
on November 29, 2007 7:51 AM
No pictures of the brothers Beckett?