The View from 334 - Game Observations June 7, 2006  - by Bob Bryant

Attended my second game of the season last night, thanks to a special on-line promo. It seems that if one is signed up for e-mails from the O's, one feature is a special on-line Wednesday offer, wherein any 'box' ticket, from Field Boxes to Upper Boxes, can be purchased online till four PM on game day for half-price.

As I am seldom privy to corporate seats, having been in the Field boxes at The Yard a mere handful of times over the past 14 seasons, I took a peak at what single seats were available. I ended up in Section 30, just to the first base side of home plate, 14 rows back, for $24. So I took it. (Hopefully, we'll use this when we go during Belfry Week to get some close-in seats for a change!)

It was a great night for baseball, with just a nip in the air and zero humidity. When looking around, I noted that B.J. Surhoff  was sitting behind the dugout in the first row. I went over, as the kids all seemed more interested in autographs of current players, and the ushers were busy, to see if a 'hello' was in order. It appeared to be, as B.J. was talking casually with fans, so I did say hello, mentioned UNC, and eventually the Belfry. He smiled and referred to us as 'the website with the Mazzilli bench thing'! He said that link went all around the locker room and that everyone got a chuckle out of it, which was great to hear, needless to say. (He didn't seem to be a Maz fan.) I left wishing health for his family and continued success in whatever he decided to do next.

As I was leaving, Bobby Bo sat down, but the usher with him gave me a look, so I didn't attempt any conversation. Bobby was really heavy, as any of you who saw him on TV could attest. I wouldn't have recognized him on the street.

Move over, B-Ro. You have competition. No, not at second base, but as the team's resident heartthrob. I noted several girls milling about with signs directed at young Nick Markakis, as well as several teen girls sporting a Markakis jersey, and one with a jeans jacket with "I (heart) U Nick" on the back.

The National Anthems were great, sung a capella by a group of men referred to as "The Seventh Inning Stretch." Don't know who they were, but they were really good, and featured quick-paced renditions, which is always a treat.

One good thing about sitting this close in a poorly attended game - you don't feel that very much, as the seats in the lower bowl were pretty full. One thing I will note is that the energy level was surprisingly good. In the later innings, there were actual roars from the crowd during any O's rally as well as early on when Benson was in trouble (which was a lot.) They even cheered for the ketchup-mustard-relish hot dog race on the Jumbotron. (I went with Mustard, who faded down to the stretch to a hook slide by Ketchup. Should have told me something about the way this one would turn out.)

There are passionate fans in Baltimore...they just need something to root for!

A gentleman behind me asked about the Bromo Tower, so of course I knew he and his teenage son were not locals. It turned out they were from Chicago, on a little male bonding trip while his wife and daughter were in Italy on a choral junket. This was his first game at Camden Yards, and he was raving about what a wonderful venue it was, everything that he'd expected. They were going to go to RFK on Thursday to see the Nats-Phillies game. (I asked, Kerry. He is a White Sox fan, and not a -fair weather one', as he put it. He learned to hate the Cubs early on from his father.) They were good to chat with, as were the couple next to me and a 12-year-old boy in front of me who was an avid fantasy owner.

As for the game, you know all about it by now. My observations?

It was fun to watch Miggy run across the diamond after snagging the line drive. He wore a huge grin all the way in.

Brandon Fehey chokes up so much and is so skinny it's hard to see how he drove the ball into the gap on these outfielders, but he did.

Jeff Conine's glove should be burned, too. But you already knew that.

Fehey was pretty good in left. He tracked balls better than Matos does.

There was a collective 'groan' from the crowd when Todd Williams was announced. I fear he's moving into Terry Matthews' territory as far as the fans are concerned.

All the fans stood up for the seventh and ninth innings, and no one told us to sit down.

I saw Melvin Mora tagging up, and yelled, "NO!" But he didn't listen to me.

That was tough to take, since it happened about 100 feet from me. It was like a sudden punch in the gut. I don't know about you, but I don't see any long winning streaks coming out of this bunch.

But it was a great evening at the ballpark. Not sure I would have felt that way sitting upstairs, but at least I'll be back for some more Wednesdays, perhaps. My next game, though, will be with the three people I most enjoy going to ball games with: Kerry, Meg, and Craig. Hope that if you can, you'll join us for a game or two!