Tuffy the Toro

Tuffy the Toro has been one of Tucsons baseball mascots for as long as I can remember. He entertained the crowds at Hi Corbet field when the Tucson Toros were the AAA team for the Houston Astros when I first attended a Toros game. He even visited Tucson Electric Park and helped Sammy Sidewinder entertain crowds at Tucson Sidewinder games before they left town. It must get pretty hot inside that head on a warm summer evening.... This image was taken at 186mm focal length with an exposure of 1/160 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 800.

Apache helicopter

After my return from Kaua'i, I went to a Tucson Toros baseball game and found this Apache helicopter parked out in center field. Before the game and after the National Anthem, the helicopter took off an dleft the park. Here it is climbing from the field. This image was taken at 86mm focal length with an exposure of 1/200 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 800.

Safe by an eyelash

Rockie second baseman Omar Quintanilla beats the tag into third base with a triple in the 2nd inning of spring training game against the D'Backs. Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds tries to put the tag on. This image was taken at 168mm focal length with an exposure of 1/160 seconds at f/10, ISO 100.

Contact!

I'm always trying to get a shot of the ball while photographing batters and I got lucky with this shot as the ball has just left the bat. This image was taken at 214mm focal length with an exposure of 1/500 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.

The Pitch

I made it out to a D'Backs spring training game on Monday with my daughter who is visiting. As usual, I took my camera and lots of pictures. Lefty pitcher Jonathan Coutlangus delivers a pitch to one of the Rockies hitters. This image was taken at 283mm focal length with an exposure of 1/400 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.

Picture in a picture.

I saw this young lady taking a picture and couldn't resist.... This image was taken at 214mm focal length with an exposure of 1/250 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 800.

Contact!

Jeff Salazar of the Tucson Sidewinders is about to make contact on this pitch. I can tell that the ball is inbound still since he actually fouled this ball off on a line drive into the stands down the 1st base line and this ball is clearly still moving straight down the pipe. The next pitch he wacked into left field for an RBI double. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/250 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 800.

New Friends

Richard has fun with Tuugii as I take their picture near the end of last Thursday's Sidewinders game. I'm sure we'll find lots of other new things to expose our young friend to as he gets used to living in Tucson and the U.S. I can't imagine what it must be like to move to such a different place from where he was brought up in Mongolia.

"Chimping" at the bit....

Tuugii is busy "chimping" - that is, looking at the latest images he's taken on his LCD screen on his camera during the Sidewinders game last Thursday.

The $6 t-shirt

Tuugii displays the t-shirt he grabbed out of the air that cost him the $6 he spent on the ticket to the ballgame. Several times during the game, a truck was driven around and t-shirts were tossed to the crowd. This image was taken at 70mm focal length with an exposure of 1/250 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 1600.

Movin' on up

Sidewinder Center Fielder Jeff Salazar (#15) watches Randy Choate pitch with a runner at second base. Salazar was called up to the parent club, the Arizona Diamondbacks after the game, playing in Cincinnati the following day. This image was taken at 92mm focal length with an exposure fo 1/250 seconds at f/4, ISO 800.

The pitch

In the third inning, we moved behind the plate and although the protective netting provides some distraction, it is a great angle for watching pitches. It also gives you a great idea of just how fast a pitched ball arrives at the plate and gives you an appreciation for what the batters do in being able to hit baseballs. This iamge was taken at 133mm focal length with an exposure of 1/250 seconds at f/4.5, ISO 800.

Contact!

Sidewinder Jamie D'Antona makes contact during a 5 run rally in the 4th inning that put the 'Winders into a lead they would not relinquish. He later scored. This image was taken at 119mm focal length with an exposure of 1/250 seconds at f/4, ISO 800.

Happy Birthday Hillary!

My friend Richard and I took our new friend Tuugii from Mongolia to his first baseball game. We went to Thursday nights Tucson Sidewinders game. At one point during the game, the PA announcer mentioned happy birthdays which included one for my friend Hillary who works on Kitt Peak and is (believe it or not) even more of a basebull nut that I am! So, Happy Birthday Hillary! This image was taken late in the game from near the Sidewinder Bullpen beyond the left field fence and if you know Hillary, you can find her in the sparcely occupied seats. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/250 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 1600.

Fouled back

Diamondback third baseman Chad Tracy fouls a ball back. This image was taken at 238mm focal length with an exposure of 1/400 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.

The pitch

Diamondback outfielder Eric Byrnes leads off first base as Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg delivers a pitch. This image was taken at 190mm focal length with an exposure of 1/640 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.

RBI Single

Todd Helton onf the Colorado Rockies signles, driving in Steve Finley who had made it to 3rd base after walking. This image was taken at 190mm focal length with an exposure of 1/640 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.

Steve Finley at the plate

I was surprised to see Steve Finley with the Colorado Rockies. He was one of the stars of the World Series winning 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks and I always enjoyed watching him play center field. I hear he made the opening day roster too, so now he will have played for every National League Western division team! This image was taken during the first of his two at bats in the first inning - Colorado batted around and scored 6 runs in the first inning, but the D'Backs managed to come back and win the game 13-9. This image was taken at 238mm focal length with an exposure of 1/400 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.

Fielding practice

Orlando Hudson throws a ball to the shortstop while practicing turning double plays on the infield before the game. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/500 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.

Pregrame autographs

Before the game, some players stopped along the entryway from their clubhouse to sign autographs for fans - mostly young kids. That's a sure way to make a fan for life. This image was taken at 70mm focal length with an exposure of 1/500 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.