baseball
Best of 2011 Slideshow
Click here for my Best of 2011 slideshow. 125,000 pictures cut down to my favorite sports pictures of the year. Enjoy!
Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and grew up with both the “We are Family” World Series winners and the disappointing but fun-to-watch Pirate teams of the late 80s/early 90s. It’s been a painfully long drought for Pirates fans, but this year Clint Hurdle’s men have been playing good baseball and finished the first half with a share of first place. They have slipped a bit so far in the second half, but taking two of three in San Francisco (the two games I shot by the way) stopped their losing streak, and hopefully will get them back on track.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen warms up in the on-deck circle.
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen hits a third-inning home run.
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen celebrates with teammates after hitting a third-inning home run.
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen slides into home, but can't beat the tag from Giants catcher Eli Whiteside.
Pirates third baseman Brandon Wood jokes around during batting practice.
Pirates third baseman Brandon Wood
Pirates left fielder Ryan Ludwick
Pirates second baseman Neil Walker turns a double play over Giants shortstop Mike Fontenot.
Pirates catcher Michael McKenry looks to the dugout for a signal.
Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton
Pirates relief pitcher Jose Veras
Pirates relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan
Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants 6/9/11
On Thursday I was back at AT&T Park for my third Giants game in five days, and the first person I saw when I stepped onto the field before the game was Tommy Lasorda:
Former Dodgers manager Tommy LaSorda.
Every time I see Lasorda, I can’t help but think of this:
I’m so mature. Anyway, they played baseball:
Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner.
Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto.
Edgar Renteria received his World Series ring in a ceremony before the game and was cheered by the crowd whenever he batted:
Reds shortstop Edgar Renteria warms up in the on-deck circle.
The Giants didn’t really have it together on offense or defense:
Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff throws to third despite protests from catcher Eli Whiteside and third baseman Miguel Tejada.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips prepares to tag Giants center fielder Andres Torres.
Tejada did make a nice double play…
Giants third baseman Miguel Tejada races to third to force an out.
Giants third baseman Miguel Tejada forces Reds left fielder Jonny Gomes out at third and turns to throw to first to complete a double play.
…and recorded a double:
Giants shortstop Miguel Tejada doubles in the first inning.
Mad Bum pitched reasonably well, and played some defense, but got no run support:
Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner throws to first after fielding a bunt.
Tejada looks over Scott Rolen’s shoulder:
Reds third baseman Scott Rolen fields a grounder in front of Giants third baseman Miguel Tejada.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips warms up in the on-deck circle.
Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto lays down a bunt.
As the game wore on, I experimented a little bit with my 85mm 1.4 (a traditional portrait lens) to get a different look, almost tilt/shift selective focus:
Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner.
Giants third baseman Miguel Tejada bats.
The Reds won 3-0, thankfully in 9 innings…
Washington Nationals at San Francisco Giants 6/6/11
There’s an unwritten rule among the guys I shoot baseball with: “DO NOT MENTION EXTRA INNINGS OR ELSE THE GAME WILL GO INTO EXTRA INNINGS!” AP photographer Ben Margot broke this rule last year at an A’s game, and sure enough we were treated to a few extra frames. And sure enough, after the Giants tied Monday night’s game with the Nationals at 4-4, Ben tempted fate again by speculating about different scenarios that would break the tie and avoid extra innings, a huge no-no. And just then, Giants CF Andres Torres got thrown out at home, ending the Giants best chance to win during regulation.
Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez applies a tag to retire Giants center fielder Andres Torres at the plate.
The game went 13 innings and covered 4 hours 29 minutes. Between the 12th and 13th innings, Ben got a picture of my “I’m tired, hungry, thirsty and need to use the restroom” face:
The Original MC x 13 innings (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Tim Lincecum started for the Giants, and usually that means a quick game as Timmy works fast, throws strikes, and doesn’t give up many hits. He recorded his 1000th career strikeout, but also gave up 4 runs in 5 innings.
Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum.
Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum.
Jayson Werth has been struggling since signing a huge free agent contract, and went 0-5 with two strikeouts and left six runners on base. He was less than pleased.
Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth walks back to the dugout after striking out.
Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth flips his bat after striking out in the 10th inning.
Cody Ross got rid of his bat another way:
Giants left fielder Cody Ross loses his bat.
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond slides into second for a stolen base under the tag from Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford.
I wish I could have heard this conversation, Sean Burnett had just given up a two-run single to Aubrey Huff, the only batter that he faced. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman was on the way to the mound to replace him, yet he was laughing like he was on nitrous:
Nationals third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. supports relief pitcher Sean Burnett as Burnett was removed from the game after giving up a two-run single.
Speaking of Huff, there’s literally no one the Giants would want sliding into home to beat a throw less than him, yet Huff managed to get around the tag from Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez:
Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff slides home with the tying run in the 8th inning.
Rodriguez is 39 years old, but it looks like he still has the fire:
Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez complains about a called strike.
Miguel Tejada heads to the plate to the sounds of “Hey Mickey” by Toni Basil. Questionable. Here he made a nice play barehanded:
Giants shortstop Miguel Tejada fields a grounder with his bare hand.
Giants shortstop Miguel Tejada lays down a bunt.
Giants shortstop Miguel Tejada makes contact.
Giants relief pitcher Javier Lopez.
And as I was contemplating knocking myself out, Freddy Sanchez knocked a single scoring Chris Stewart from third and ending the game:
Giants catcher Chris Stewart scores the winning run in the 13th inning.
Teammates congratulate Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez after his walk-off single in the 13th inning.
Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants 6/5/11
Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong
Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta gets a high five from third base coach Rich Dauer after hitting a home run.
Giants shortstop Miguel Tejada throws to first.
Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez fields a ground ball.
Rockies first baseman Todd Helton dives to tag the bag after fielding a ground ball.
Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford overruns a ground ball.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki fields a grounder behind diving third baseman Ty Wigginton.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki squares around for a bunt.
Rockies second baseman Chris Nelson fields a grounder.
Rockies relief pitcher Matt Lindstrom
Rockies second baseman Eric Young Jr. warms up in the on-deck circle.
Giants relief pitcher Brian Wilson takes the field.
Giants relief pitcher Brian Wilson