Expensive Baseball, Also Good Baseball

The Big Chou Family Reunion was last weekend, and we splurged a bit and got a luxury box for the Red Sox at the Giants. This, after reporting on my adventures trying to find "cheap baseball". The big advantage to having a private suite (there are many) is, not only the privacy and the easy accommodation of older and younger family members, but the ability to actually gather and talk which a row of seats simply does not afford. To be honest, the seats, view-wise, were only mediocre, but the service and the company were first class for sure.

It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, and AT&T Park was jammed for the big pitching duel: Lester vs. Lincecum. Like our family, the crowd seemed to be split about 50-50 between the Red Sox and Giants. The Suites staff provided us with souvenir hats that included both team logos - a nice touch.

Lincecum seemed to start well, getting a fly out from Scutaro, and a strike-out of young Daniel Nava. Then Big Papi sent a hanger into the Cove. I saw the swing on the TV as I was getting my parents settled, and it stayed in the air long enough for me to run to the seats and join in the cheering. I did not actually see the ball as it left the Park, I mostly saw the right-field crowd watch as the ball sailed over their heads, but I guess I can say I witnessed my first "splash hit".

It's a bit disconcerting to see a whole section of the crowd turn and watch the action outside the ballpark. There was a big splash-fight between the a guy on an inflatable dragon and a guy in a blue kayak. Stranger still that the whole crowd seemed to react to the replay of the paddle-race for the home run ball, shown on TV minutes later, during the next at-bat. The loud cheers coming at this random time must to have thrown off Youk, who struck out swinging.

Not trying to make excuses, I'm just saying: tell me that's not distracting.

In the bottom of the first, the Giants got a dribbler, infield hit from Andres Torres. He quickly stole second and then third, and scored on a fielder's choice. There are two ways to score runs, and they both count the same - game tied.

In the second it became clear that Lincecum did not have his good stuff. V-Mart walked, Bill Hall doubled. The Giants then intentionally walked Darnell McDonald to load the bases and get to Lester. Lester then put up a pretty good at bat, working the count to 3-1 til he got one he could drive - about 400 feet to the triples alley in right center. Sac fly, and Red Sox were back in front 2-1 (turned out to be the game-winning RBI). A Scutaro single added another run in that frame.

Red Sox fans cheer!

In the bottom of the second, Martinez took a foul ball off his foot, and hopped around the infield for quite a while in obvious discomfort. Collectively wincing, I think everyone could feel his pain. He later came out of the game; another Red Sox June injury - but it turned out he had a broken thumb, and as it swelled, he could not get his hand back into his mitt. I hope he's a faster healer; he sure is a gamer.

The Sox tallied another in the third on a single by Youkilis, walk by Drew, and a single by Hall. Lincecum came out of the game after that: 3 IPs, 5 Hs, 4 ERs, 3 BBs and 4 Ks - not a stellar outing.

Two other highlights: in the sixth, Lester worked a walk, fouling off pitches like he was a real hitter. In the ninth, Beltre tagged a solo shot to left. Lester went the distance for a 5-1 win. He was awesome: 9-5-1-1-9, 103 total pitches.

Giants fans have their say.

Boy did we have a great time. Good food, and a good Red Sox win. Apologies to the Giants fans in the family and sorry that the rally caps did not work - but they made for great photo album fodder. And the kids got to run the bases after the game. The luxury box cost several pretty pennies (damn dynamic pricing!), but it was worth it.