An open Saturday on the calendar??? Rizzo in town for the first time at Wrigley??? Yeah, OK, the price may have been twice what I like to pay, but my son and I were in the house on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley, looking to go 3-0 this season. Is it possible to still be winning despite losing the game? I can make an argument for yes.
Friday afternoon was Anthony’s first game back at Wrigley; great tribute by the way. I may have had something in my eye watching that. Being there on Saturday, I hoped they played his walk up song again; I knew he’d get another ovation for all those not there Friday. They did play his walk up song, and everybody rose to their feet; that was the loudest the crowd was all day. Of course, out of all the guys that we dumped from the 2016 team, the one guy, if we only had to choose one, that should have retired a Cub, it was #44. Now, we have to cheer for him at Wrigley wearing another uniform; that’s sick, kind of like the Cubs offense in this one, getting shutout for the 2nd straight day, losing the first 2 games in the series to the Bronx Bombers. I think we still came away winners though…
We got there early; the Yankees were taking batting practice. My son wanted to go stand down the right field line, the Yankees side of the field. We did, and as Gerrit Cole walked over to the stands, he had his first chance at something. No autograph though; he took his phone… nada. Next up was catcher Luis Trevino; this time, jackpot. Luis ended up taking his phone and taking a selfie of them; my son was happy. Then he put his glove on, to be ready in case one of the Yankees threw a ball into the right field stands, instead of the bleachers; my son disappeared into a mass of people. Mark Leiter Jr actually chucked the ball towards the crowd; I couldn’t see who got it… until a second later, when my son pulled his glove back with the ball in it!!! I can’t believe this kid. I heard the people around him telling him nice catch; he was cheesing… OK, to our seats!
We watched the first couple innings, then played catch outside for a few. Back into some upgraded seats in the 6th, we saw Rick Sutcliffe on the big screen; he was in the house too. With my son wearing his 1984 Cubs hat, it would be perfect to get the Red Baron to sign it. After the stretch, we went on the hunt; nada… we doubled back, this time zig zagging it up and down the lower sections; nada… but when I was zagging up one of the aisles, I walked right past someone… yeah, I think that’s Ben Zobrist; I called my son back. He got up a minute later and I asked for a pic with my son; after checking with the lady who was about to escort him up to the suite, he said yes; nice! I snapped one, but as he walked away, I checked my phone… it didn’t take! My son’s face dropped. I chased Zobrist and told him; he gladly took another. Thanks Ben! We saw somebody else too…. We went back to see if he was still there, and yep, sure enough, sitting there in the middle of a convo was none other than Kerry Wood; we waited. I walked up to him finally and asked him; no problem. Took a snap of my son and Kid K; this time the picture saved. Thanks Kerry!
Now you know what I mean. No autographs after the game this time, and the Cubs sucked, but… not a bad day in the office. For me, my moment came later in the game, when my son responded to my “we’re not in a rush” comment with a “right, we’re in one of the best places on earth” comment… I was a winner too.
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