Pablo Sandoval's Splash Hit #49

I am one of the Bonds Navy kayak fans from McCovey Cove and I have been to a lot  of Giant Games in the Cove.  Sitting in the Cove is not for everyone.  It's pretty cold and windy, more so than just being in the park.  Plus getting garlic fries and beer is not easy!  To be a Giants fan in the Cove you need to be a good radio listener, a decent paddler and very very patient.  As I already owned a kayak and love the water, I was born to be a Giants fan in the Cove. 

My McCovey Cove day starts with 2 hours of batting practice where I practice my grabbing skills. I usually grab 1 or 2 balls.  Not as many balls come out in the post-Bonds era, but enough to make it fun.  When the line-ups are announced,  we turn on our radios.    I could go on and on about the interesting personalities of the fellow kayakers and everything that happens in the Cove, but that is for another day.   Here are some highlights of the Panda splash.

 The Bonds Navy has been hoping Pablo Sandoval would hit a splash hit soon since he is such a beloved young player.  I even told Pablo somewhat jokingly at the KNBR Fanfest in February that I would be waiting for it.  On July 30th, when he got up in the third inning, I took my position with about 6-8 kayakers.   Then I heard the "deep to right" comment on the radio and I knew we might have a Splash Hit.  I could see the fans on the top of the arcade wall running towards the ball and they were aligning with me.  A second later, I could see the ball, like a small white meteor coming right at me and it fell only 3-5 feet short of my kayak.  That in basketball terms is a lay-up!  Withone flick of kayak paddle to bring me a little closer, I could reach out and grab it  with my right hand.  I am a bare hand grabber, but others like to use small nets. A few seconds later I switched it to my left hand (I'm a lefty) and held it up for the fans to see.  Pablo had his first Splash hit and his 169th career hit and this was his 16th HR of the season.  It turned out I was in the lucky spot and for the rest of the night I was drunk with excitement.  My cell phone was ringing and the test messages where coming in as the right field camera had done a close up of me.  One of my kayak friends had grabbed Bonds HR # 660 that tied WIllie Mays (and Larry gave it to Barry) and another his last Splash hit #757 which Barry signed for Martin, and while I do not have a BARRY Bonds splash hit, I feel very very lucky to have Pablo Sandoval's first Splash hit.  I doubt it will be his last!

The ball is now sitting next to the other two splash hit balls I grabbed, #'s 39 (Randy WInn) and 44 (Ryan Klesko), but somehow this one feels more special.  Maybe it is because the Giants are playing so well or maybe it is the excitement Pablo brings to the team  Maybe both!

I am trying to get a season ticket for this game to keep as a souvenir.  It someone wants to trade me, I will give a batting practice splash hit  for any number of Giant players (including Bonds) for one.  I will be at this Tuesday's Giants game in my kayak.  Let's beat those Dodgers!

If anyone wants to join me in the Cove, I will show you all the basics.  It's not crowded there now, but when the playoffs come, these will be coveted cheap seats! :)

BTW, Pablo's ball travelled 395 feet per my GPS unit.  I got to take a GPS waypoint of home plate the previous day when I was on Brian Murphy's "Take the Cut" Challenge in the Park.  From now on, the kayakers can measure balls that reach the Cove.  Some of of the longest HR's have reached the 450 foot plus mark (the closest Cove buoy is 450 feet) mainly hit by Barry Bonds.