Finding 15 while searching for a left behind Edwin Jackson Bobblehead is the best thing that happened to me at Saturday's Cub's game.
When I bought 2 terrace reserved seats off stub hub for 18$ each, and couldn't find a single person without a Graduation BBQ, OK Cupid date, or Kids to go to the game with, I had a sinking feeling that this day would be one to just survive, and not to expect much out of the world.
I was right.
Within moments of peddling off towards Wrigley, with plans to find someone to buy my extra, the chain fell off my bike. Easy fix, but the sinking feeling deepened. Tom Skilling, who apparently makes the weather around here, left us with a thick humidity that hovered like heavy spirits in expectation of Saturday's Super Moon that had the town abuzz. It was going to be a strange day. I could feel it in my bones.
The road to nowhere.
With a ticket to sell, the weird feelings, and a peckish for Al's Beef, I white knuckled it under the tracks, two parking lots, and two streets going the wrong way, parked, and went straight to the main box office asking if anyone needed a single. Everyone wanted Bleachers, and as I continued on, I noticed there was a large white dude kinda tracking me, then he was up on me, but not saying anything. I was born at night, but not last night. I knew he was a cop, so I told some lie about how I was supposed to go to the game with my Mom, but her basement flooded, and I had an extra, and I got the bejeesus outta there.
Decided to head down to Al's Beef and sell the extra closer to game time, but as luck would have it, I bumped into Ticket Man Terry across from the Salt and Pepper Diner down Clark asking if anybody was selling. I told the same lie as earlier about my Mom's flooded basement. Terry lied, and said he was just trying to get into the game. They all say that, thinking you might give them the ticket for free. I said, "How much will you give me?". He said, "10". I said, "fine". Down 8$, but at least I got something. And no cops....
I immediately spent the 10$ at Al's Beef. This isn't the original, but it's still a heluva beef sandwich. The fries are some of the best in the city, and unlike all the other bar and grills on Clark, Al's had seating.
These children are delicious!!!
Heading back towards Wrigley, I wanted to see if Terry had sold my ticket. He hadn't, but seemed like a cool guy, so I gave him my Son Ranto card and asked him a bit about the scalping business.
Time for a ballgame!
The ominous feeling had lifted slightly, as I had successfully gotten rid of my ticket, and was now full of beef. The crowd going through Gate D was thick, and the Edwin Jackson Bobble Heads were long gone. My niece had wanted one. I guess I'm a crappy Uncle.
Dale Sveum's tattooed forearms calling for the pitcher that will eventually lose the game loomed above, and the ominous feeling returned. Oh right. I'm going to watch the Cubs today. Not who I wish the Cubs were. But this manager, and these players. The actual last place Cubs. Yet, I hoped. I mean, it's a good Saturday crowd, Game of the week, and the Astros, a team even worse than us!
The National Anthem was decent, though he did go sharp during "Red Glare", and I settled into my favorite Right Field sun seats.
And here's what I saw.....
The Double Campana
The Astro's tied, it and I went to smoke
portfolio during the stretch.
Nice to meet you! I'm Goldendouche!
Cubs leave em loaded, and people leave em behind....
Oh, and the game itself? Well, Castro did this....
But then he did this.....
Nate Schierholtz did this!
But Castillo did this....
And Soriano did this....
The umpire did this...strike?! Umm...no....
An Arizona Fan did this....
Ronny Cedeno...yes...THAT... Ronny Cedeno did this....
And the Cubs went down 4-3 with a quiet 9th inning. Not even the #Cubes patented #fakerally to even have something to cheer about.
The Cubs had their opportunities, but failed, going 1-8 with runners in scoring position, and leaving the bases loaded. not moving runners, swinging at terrible pitches...you know the usual.
Travis Wood pitched pretty well, though it wasn't the best outing, giving up just a 3 run blast. But he should have been spotted to more runs. You all know what happens next right? The hitting is gonna come alive, just as the starting pitching falters. It's the classic Cubs move.
Anyhow, my ominous feeling was correct. I should never have gone to this game, or left the house, and I certainly picked the wrong game to stay sober. I was a bit hung over from the night before, and sweated it out over the first 3 innings in the sun. But as I said at the top of this post, while searching for an Edwin Jackson Bobblehead, I found 15$, which more than made up for my 9$ loss on the scalped ticket. It was a weird day. At least the Blackhawks won, and on the way home from Driftwood tavern, carrying my Mr. Salsa bag full of tacos, I passed by the cemetery that stands just north of the ballpark, while the Supermoon stood high above thousands of graves, drunken revelers, and Wrigley Field.
A strange ending to a weird day.
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