Archive for April, 2006

Busch Stadium: 4/27/06
Cardinals vs Nationals

Friday, April 28th, 2006

The weather does not get any nicer in St. Louis than it was at the start of this game. The Cards jumped out in front in the 1st on an Edmonds 3-run homer. Sidney Ponson pitched his best game of the season thus far facing the minimum thru 4 innings, and the bullpen combo of Brad Thompson and Josh Hancock finished off the Nationals for a 6-2 Cardinals win. A trash fire (not pictured) broke out in the 8th inning in the right field stairwell tower.

View of the upper terrace concourse down the first base side from behind home plate Bird's eye view of the Musial statue View westward from the loge level
Pedestrian ramps up to the upper deck Eads bridge style architecture at sunset View westward from the pedestrian ramps
View from above the 3rd base line St. Louis skyline at sunset The smoke from the concession stands adds to the atmosphere in the upper concourse
Fans battle the sun in the right field upper deck Sidney Ponson and Scott Spiezio both had big nights for the Cardinals The sun sets on Busch Stadium

Busch Stadium: 4/25/06
Cardinals vs Pirates

Friday, April 28th, 2006

The Cardinals defeated the Pirates 6-3 on this cold April night. Suppan got his first win of the season going 7 innings allowing 3 runs. Juan Encarnacion was a single short of the cycle and made a nice diving catch in right field to end the 4th inning.

Albert Pujols stands in Pujols .344 AVG 12 HR 28 RBI Jeff Suppan went 7 innings allowing 3 runs for his first win of the season
View of right field bleachers from above Juan Encarnacion triples to drive in Pujols View of the area behind the right field scoreboard

Wrigley Field: 4/23/05
Cubs vs Pirates

Tuesday, April 25th, 2006

Since I was out of town for the recent the Cubs series, here are some pictures I took at Wrigley around this time last year. It was cold and there were even periodic snow flurries during the game. A 39 year-old Greg Maddux showed he could still pitch at a high level, but he got the no decision. The day was capped by a LaTroy Hawkins special in the 9th. The Cubs closer allowed the tying and go ahead runs to score as the Pirates won 4-3.

Sections surrounding the left field foul pole prior to the bleacher expansion of 2006 Greg Maddux fires to Craig Wilson Right field bleachers and rooftops prior to the bleacher expansion of 2006
Maddux gets the bunt down Wrigley cheers as Hairston doubles in a run 2005 NL batting champion Derrek Lee eyes the breaking ball
Budweiser roof and left field bleachers prior to the bleacher expansion of 2006 Greg Maddux gets David Ross to whiff Center field clock and out of town scoreboard. Notice the pitchers duel between Houston and St. Louis.
Aramis Ramirez swings for the fences Maddux loses his shutout in the 7th on a Rob Mackowiak RBI single View of Wrigley field from behind home plate
Jason Bay homers off LaTroy Hawkins in the 9th Another blown save for Hawkins means his days in Chicago are numbered Wrigley Field Home of the Chicago Cubs. Pirates 4 Cubs 3

Busch Stadium: 4/15/06
Cardinals vs Reds

Saturday, April 15th, 2006

Albert Pujols dominated this game with his bat (HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBIs) and his glove (2 spectacular line drive catches, including an unassisted DP), while Sidney Ponson got the win (just 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 and 1/3) in his Busch debut. Adam Dunn solo-ed in the top of the 1st but Yadier Molina’s 2-out bases loaded single in bottom half of the inning gave the Cards the lead for good.

Rolen congratulates Pujols on his 2-run homer in the 2nd while David Eckstein looks like a batboy next to Rolen A lot of red in the stadium today Upper terrace concourse on the first base side
Pujols doubled to right center on the ensuing pitch Ponson was solid in his Busch debut View of right field decks from 3rd base side
View of behind home plate from 3rd base side Notice the fan rocking out the #5 Gant jersey View down the ramps on the 8th St side
Josh Hancock got the final out against his former team Outfield scoreboard and St. Louis skyline under a light rain Upper terrace concourse on 1st base side

Busch Stadium: 4/10/06
Cardinals vs Brewers

Monday, April 10th, 2006

Absolutely glorious weather for Opening Day, as the Cardinals – led by Mulder (2 ER in 8+ on the mound, 2/3 at the plate including a double and his first career HR) Pujols (first Cardinal HR at Busch Stadium, excellent as usual in the field), and Rolen (who is now officially back both at the plate and in the field) – defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4. The Brewers’ Bill Hall – 0-fer the season coming in – went 3/4 including the first ever HR at Busch Stadium. First pitches were thrown by (Cy Young winner) Carpenter and (MVP) Pujols to Bob Gibson and Willie McGee. Musial was on hand, along with the other the living Cardinals HOFers.

The Busch Clydesdales make their way around the new Busch Stadium Chris Carpenter and Albert Pujols throw out the first pitches at Busch Stadium to Bob Gibson and Willie McGee Bases juiced in the 1st
Albert Pujols hits the first Cardinals home run at Busch Stadium in the bottom of the 3rd Sun trickles through to the upper terrace Mulder pitches as the shadows creep onto the field
Pujols gets his timing down in the on deck circle Mulder walks into the dugout Mulder and Rolen in a patch of sunlight
View of bleachers, scoreboard, and St. Louis skyline Future Gold Glove winner Albert Pujols Beer: $8.25 Soda: $4.50 Bottled Water: $4.50 Peanuts $3.75 A Cardinals win on opening day: Priceless
Post game view of the field and Arch from third base side They've started installing seats into the left field upper deck The Musial statue remains the epicenter of Cardinal Nation