Cubs vs Giants at ATT Park

The World Champion Chicago Cubs are in first place in their division and in town to play a 3 game series against the Giants - who are currently 25 games below .500 and 35 games behind the division leading L.A. Dodgers. But, that does not tell the whole story. The Cubs just lost the two previous series in Wrigley field and, like most Cub fans - I am seriously angst ridden about the way they are playing in 2017:


The Cubs weren't playing at home when I was in Chicago last spring, and I won't be back to Chicago until late October. Unless they are playing in the World Series, this may be my only chance to see them play this year. The Cubs won Monday night, amid the hoopla about Barry Bonds breaking the all-time home run record 10 years before. That brought back memories, as I was at the park that night in 2007:

Roy and I decided to go the Wednesday game. It was an afternoon game and, after the Cubs lost on Tuesday,  the rubber match of the series.

The Arcade Section - Between the Field and The Bay

ATT is a great baseball park to watch a game. Probably the 2nd or 3rd best park in the country behind Wrigley Field. It's in the City, so I can walk the 4 miles from Russian Hill to proactively work off the over-priced beer and food I would indulge in the park.  Got the tickets on GameTime at 50% off of face, met Roy at MoMo's for a beer and went in to watch the Cubs lose yet another series.

They're still in first, but I have my doubt whether they'll still be playing late October. Unhappy outcome but a fun outing. Some pics from the day:

A foggy morning to start the walk from Russian Hill

Stopped to watch this guy catch a monster ray fishing along the Embarcadero

I have some video footage of that amazing catch, which I'll post later. 

Then on to MoMos to meet Roy for a a pregame beer or two.

And into the Park:

 We sat in the Arcade Section. It's the closest thing to being in the Left Field Bleacher in Wrigley.

No Chicago Style Italian Beefs, but Cheesesteak was an acceptable substitute.

It didn't turn out the way I hoped. 

I hate having to explain a Cubs loss to Giants Fans.

Pence goes deep, Bumgarner puts in quality start, Giants beat Cubs

"Hunter Pence played 42 home games this season before launching a home run. After Wednesday, the San Francisco Giants right fielder has hit two in his last four starts. His eighth-inning, opposite-field shot gave the home team an insurance run in its 3-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in the series finale from AT&T Park. It also allowed starter Madison Bumgarner to breathe a little easier from the bench after submitting a quality start over seven innings. Bumgarner’s win wasn’t secure for most of the game."

#ThatsCub\- at least so far in 2017. 

Two Cub Fans, Chairman of the Board, and ATT Park

Is there anything sadder than Cub fans in San Francisco?

Steve was the VP of Sales at my first enterprise software gig at McCormack & Dodge in the late 80's. I had some success and made lifetime friends there. I hadn't seen Steve in decades, so when he let me know he was in town and suggested we catch a game, I was all in. We started the night at Momo's (of course), and caught the first period of the Blackhawks sweep of the Wild. A good way to start to the night.

The first inning was underway when we walked across the street to AT&T Park. Scored tickets on the first base side club level and paid below face value. The scalper never had a chance against a couple of old enterprise software jocks.

It was Steve's first time in ATT Park - the second best baseball venue in the country. He was suitably impressed.

It was Frank Sinatra night at AT&T Park. The song stylings of the Chairman of the Board between innings was more entertaining than the game itself. Giants gave up 17 hits and lost to the Marlins 7-2. These two old Cub fans couldn't have cared less. 

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

On civic pride, civil disobedience, civic duty, civic centers and free tacos.

Preparations are underway at City Hall for the big Giants victory parade and celebration tomorrow. Should be quite the spectacle. Hopefully the traditional riot will be scheduled after dark and limited to destroying 2 or 3 more municipal buses.

Every event in Ess Eff attracts protesters demonstrating one cause or another.

Looks like the politically powerful nudist constituency will be making their case tomorrow.  Generally I am pretty libertarian about this sort of thing, but I draw the line on this issue. Most people should be required to wear clothes. Say, for example, the guy in the picture. There are exceptions of course.

There is always something interesting to see on the stroll down to the Civic Center.

This line stretched down the block from a Taco Bell. Apparently they were giving away free tacos as part of a Word Series promotion. This particular outlet is located near the Tenderloin. Think "skid row". Not sure this is what Yum Brands had in mind when they ran this promotion, but these folks were certainly appreciative of the free food offer.

But  - I was not in the Civic Center for celebrations, or protests, or free tacos.

 The Dividist casts his not so secret ballot.

I was at City Hall to perform my civic duty and cast my early ballot for President. If our cab can find a way through the celebration tomorrow, we'll be winging our way to London and Africa. This was my last chance to vote.

I voted for Obama  in the hope of avoiding the disaster of One Party Republican Rule, just like I voted for McCain in 2008 hoping to avoid the disaster of One Party Democratic Rule. That turned out to be even worse than I feared. Perhaps enough independents finally learned their lesson and will vote to keep things divided this time. Neither party can be trusted with all the keys to the castle. Ever. Not under any circumstances. No matter how much you want to "get things done".  If our elected leaders cannot agree to a compromise that satisfies (or dissatisfies) both parties equitably, we are better off with less "getting done".

Perhaps things will turn out better this cycle.We can only...

Sent from my Sprint HTC smartphone. Then edited extensively.

Giants win World Series! Fans riot celebrate!

Two Championships in three years. Quite an accomplishment, even if a bit gluttonous.  But - I am not going to throw a wet blanket on their extraordinary achievement by indulging in the usual whining and self pity so often heard from Cub fans like myself. You know - stuff like:  I am a life long Cub fan and I've never seen the Cubs win a World Series my entire life... My Dad is 90, and he has never seen the Cubs win World Series in his entire life...  Haley's Comet has come and gone TWICE since the last time the Cubs won the World Series... You know. Stuff like that. I am just not going to be that guy. 

There is nothing like being in a city of baseball fans celebrating a World Series. I really enjoyed watching the celebration last time, or at least until I had to listen to some clueless TV announcer:

"I had to leave when the TV broadcasters started going on and on about the "long suffering Giants fans" deserving this title. Hey I am happy to celebrate with my adopted city on a great World Series Championship. But, as a Cub fan, nothing grates on my nerves quite like hearing anyone else moaning about a World Series drought."

No... no. I am not going there. Lets get back to the celebration. The Mayor arranged for the most rabid fans to watch the game as a mob outside of City Hall on a big screen TV,  and the celebration began as soon as the last out was made.  It was interesting to see the choice of words used by various news outlets covering the outpouring of civic pride:

USA TODAY: Giants win in World Series spawns riot in San Francisco

Huffington Post: Giants' World Series Win Sparks Riots In San Francisco

Tech Crunch: Riots With iPads: When SF Won The World Series

NY Daily News: San Francisco Giants fans burn bus, smash windows

Russia Times: World Series victory triggers mass riots in San Francisco

Only the local fishwrap got it right...

San Francisco Chronicle: 

Fans celebrate: 36 arrested, 70 fires, bus torched

Bonfires in busy intersections, arrests, destroying million dollar municipal buses - just all part of any good civic "celebration".  I mean, c'mon - "riot" or "celebration" - are we really going to quibble about semantics?  It's all in good fun.

Just not sure how we are going to top this when the Cubs finally win one.

I guess we'll just have to burn the entire city of Chicago to the ground. 

City of Champions and Irrational Extremists

I was at SF City Hall for a capital committee meeting for Rec and Park (not the picture above - more on that later). I thought I should attend after learning about the latest WEBLEEDU (Wild Equity Biodiversity Litigation for Ecological Extortion and Deep Untruths) coalition effort to destroy the Sharp Park golf course. This one was utterly bizarre.

Having failed to make the scientific case to close Sharp Park based on the protection of endangered species who have thrived at the park since it was created 70+ years ago, then failing again to close the park by promoting false and misleading statement about the financial status and popularity of golf at the park, and also failing (thus far) to intimidate The City into closing the course with threats of laughably and provably pointless lawsuits, they came up with a real doozy. They were at City Hall to fight the funding of a job-creating, stimulus-subsidized, PUC-sponsored, City of San Francisco, and Pacifica supported project to bring recycled water to supply the course. Really. I am not shitting you. A coalition of ostensible "environmentalists" were fighting to stop a project to use recycled water instead of potable Hetch-Hetchy reservoir water at Sharp Park. Needless to say, they lost this one too as the commission voted unanimously in support of the project.

Next up for WEBLEEDU - more baseless lawsuits. That's ok. One thing we have no shortage of in San Francisco are really good lawyers. No judge in the world is going to rule to close a course in the face of a good faith plan to enhance the habitat for the protected species that is based on unimpeachable scientific support and sponsored by the most environmentally progressive City government in the country. It is purely an intimidation and EAJA compensation ploy. That's what WEBLEEDU does. Envriornmental bullying, and the City must stand up to it.

Anyway, I knew something about this water issue, and may have inadvertently provided the WEBLEEDU's with some ammunition. A couple of years ago, I highlighted the potential for stimulus fund waste on this project if our Board of Supes were not willing to stand up for golf at Sharp Park. Since then the mayor, most of the Supes, the local government and our Federal representatives have aligned themselves with popular support for the course, so no problem. Anyway, I felt obligated to show up at the hearing as penance for my earlier faux pas.

While there, I ran across a rotunda celebration of Larry Ellison bringing the America's Cup event coming to the city:

I just keep running into this trophy. As I've noted before, I think this is all very cool and will be a great boon for the City. Of course that does not prevent our local pols from embarrassing themselves as pointed out by SF Mike (who, as usual, has much better pictures and a somewhat different opinion of the benefits).

Moving on, before leaving the rotunda area, right across the hall I see this line...

It is the continuing SF Giants World Series celebration!

Fans have donned their finest orange & black to line up and have their picture taken with the World Series Trophy (almost visible through the glass in the picture above).

World Class baseball, sailing, and golf... I left City Hall smiling.

It all just seemed like a really good way to kick off the new year.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Barry & Hizzzoner

Bonds speaks ....

Big appreciative crowd.

Hizzoner Mayor Newsom

Announcing giving Key to City to Barry Bonds

Press is out in force

Live Blog - Barry Bonds 756 tribute

Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco. Enthusiastic crowd.

Sportscaster, ex-Giant Mike Krukow kicks it off.

That's a wrap.

So is this guy

This guy is buying ticket stubs for $20

I'm not waiting in line to buy crap.

I'll get the hat tomorrow.

Got the pin

Line for collectible pin

Winding down

Barry is out of line up. Don't think many of the pics went through. Net work sucks. Will fix later.

Characters in the crowd.

After all the excitement ...

I need some garlic fries

More.