Gomez Rehab

I got to see one of the big league Brewers playing on a smaller stage on Sunday afternoon as Carlos Gomez joined the Timber Rattlers in Appleton.  It was part of a four game rehab stint for Gomez who is coming back from injury.

APPLETON – AUGUST 2011: Carlos Gomez (28) of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Class-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers singles to left center during a game on August 28, 2011 at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Gomez was only scheduled to play five innings as he eased back in to things, but still managed to come away with four at bats. He went 2 for 4 with a stolen base and scored a pair of runs to lead the Rattlers over the Cedar Rapids Kernels 11-1.

APPLETON – AUGUST 2011: Carlos Gomez (28) of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Class-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers crushes a ball to left that hooked just foul during a game on August 28, 2011 at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

Gomez is in town for two more games, tonight and tomorrow night before heading back to Milwaukee to join the Brewers for the stretch run as they try to lock up a division title.  The rest of my photos from Sunday’s Rattler game can be found here.

APPLETON – AUGUST 2011: Carlos Gomez (28) of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Class-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers races home to score a run during a game on August 28, 2011 at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

It’s A Great Day To Be Great!

Prior to Super Bowl XLV, Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy gave a speech to his team.  The message of that speech was to “outlive your life”.  A lot of attention has been paid to Charles Woodson’s “One” speech, and I still get chills hearing that one as well.  But McCarthy’s pre-game pep talk is just as motivational.  Basically he was telling his team, go out there and do something special. Something that people will remember long after you are gone. The Packers went out and did that, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in a memorable game to become World Champions!

That’s one of the things that I love about photography. It’s pretty cool to think that even after I’m gone, people will look back at a photo in a book or a newspaper somewhere and see my name attached to it.  I was lucky enough to have one of my images featured on the cover of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper that was on the sidelines in Dallas after the Packers won the Super Bowl.  They had purchased it from me several days earlier and had told me it was being used on the cover of a special Super Bowl edition if the Packers won. But still looking at the sidelines and seeing some of my favorite players like Nick Collins, Greg Jennings and Charles Woodson holding up the paper with my photo on the cover; and seeing images like these of Daryn Colledge, Diyral Briggs, and Chastin West is something I will never forget. 

I worked at the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame for parts of 8 seasons and still drop by to check things out there from time to time.  They currently have a “Return To Titletown” display on the Super Bowl 45 Champs. And while I was there to check out the trophies and Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl ring, I also noticed in a little corner there was a picture of the Journal Sentinel paper from the Super Bowl and in the lower right hand corner you can see (Photo Brad Krause). Then I started to look around the building and you see newspapers from Super Bowl 31, newspapers from the Lombardi years, and images from as far back as 1919.  It made me realize in 50 years I might not be around anymore, but some of the work I’ve done still will be.  If that’s not motivation to go out and capture the best possible images every time I shoot, then I don’t know what is.  In the words of Greg Jennings “It’s a Great Day To Be Great!” 

Back at Lambeau

Friday night was my first time back at Lambeau Field since the Packers “Return to Titletown” celebration two days after the Super Bowl in February. Sure it was only a Pre-Season game, but still good to be back at one of my favorite locations.  The Arizona Cardinals were in town with plenty of familiar faces like former Packers Daryn Colledge, Vonnie Holliday and Paris Lenon. 

GREEN BAY – AUGUST 2011: Jarius Wynn (94) of the Green Bay Packers locks up with Levi Brown (75) of the Arizona Cardinals during a game on August 19, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause).

Arizona got out to an early 6-0 lead thanks to a pair of Jay Feely field goals. But Aaron Rodgers and company answered right back with their no huddle offense, marching down the field and taking the lead on a 20 yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Greg Jennings.  The Packers increased their lead before halftime thanks to a couple of big plays from rookie running back Alex Green, and Green capped off the drive with a 2 yard touchdown run for a 14-6 lead.

GREEN BAY – AUGUST 2011: Tramon Williams (38) of the Green Bay Packers during a game on August 19, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Cardinals jumped back in the lead with a pair of third quarter touchdowns, one by Stephen Williams and the other by Alfonso Smith.  But on the first play of the fourth quarter, Green Bay went back on top, when Matt Flynn hooked up with Chastin West for a 97 yard touchdown pass.  Third string quarterback Graham Harrell would later throw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Kerry Taylor to put the Packers up 28-20 and an interception in the end zone by cornerback Brandian Ross would seal the deal and give the Packers the victory.

GREEN BAY – AUGUST 2011: Brandian Ross (39) of the Green Bay Packers in congratulated by teammates after intercepting a pass during a game on August 19, 2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Packers head off to Indianapolis for their third pre-season game next Friday night and then are back home September 1st for a game with the Chiefs before they kick things off for real against the Saints on Thursday September 8th.  Here are the rest of my images from Friday night’s game between the Packers and Cardinals. 

Riding Bikes

Being a Packer fan who lives right in Green Bay, one of the things that really annoys me is how the national media portrays everyone from here as being a bunch of campy rednecks who all talk like we are from Fargo, North Dakota.  I don’t paint my face. I don’t wear cheese on my head. I don’t speak with a crazy accent.  We aren’t all attention whores like the “Fence Painter”.  I’m just a normal guy who loves football and specifically the Green Bay Packers.  See I actually enjoy being a Packer fan because of the team ON the field.  Not because I can throw a foam piece of cheese on my head and look like a clown on ESPN.  So I cringe every time I hear a story about the Packers and their fans.  However, there is one story that gets brought up year after year that I absolutely love….the tradition of players riding bikes from Lambeau to the practice fields during Training Camp.

GREEN BAY – AUGUST 2011: Jarius Wynn (94) of the Green Bay Packers rides a bike on his way to a Training Camp practice as a young fan jogs along on August 18, 2011 at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause).

It’s been going on for years. Aaron Rodgers did it. Reggie White did it.  LeRoy Butler did it. Every year during Training Camp, neighborhood kids will bring their bikes out to the stadium and wait for the players to head to practice.  As the players exit the locker room, they pair up with the kids and ride their bikes to the practice field while the kids tag along.  It really is one of the coolest traditions in sports.

GREEN BAY – AUGUST 2011: Desmond Bishop (55) of the Green Bay Packers rides a bike to a Training Camp practice as a young fan carries his helmet, on August 18, 2011 at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause).

Growing up I was never one of the bike kids, as we lived about an hour away at the time but my parents were awesome about bringing my brother and I up to watch practice a couple times each year.  And I have some very fond memories of following the players from the locker room to the practice field.  The time my buddy Kris Olson asked Matt Brock to join us after practice at a nearby Hardees.  Brock’s response was “I gotta go home, kick the dog, beat the wife”. Totally tongue in cheek, but I don’t think the old ladies standing behind him waiting for an autograph found it all that funny. Or the time George Koonce signed an autograph for a friend of mine as “George I’ll Kick Your Teeth In Koonce”.  My favorite memories however are of Sterling Sharpe.  One of the all time great receivers in Packers history.  Sterling got a bad rap for not talking to the media and not signing autographs. But I can remember multiple times walking back to the stadium with Sterling as he talked to my friends and I the whole way about school, about football, about girls, and about any number of things.  He was really a great guy and will always be one of my favorites simply because of those few moments he took to chat with us.

GREEN BAY – AUGUST 2011: Alex Green (20) of the Green Bay Packers rides a bike to a Training Camp practice as a young fan jogs along side, on August 18, 2011 at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Brad Krause).

Like I said, one of the coolest traditions in sports.  And I hope it’s still going on another 50 years from now.  The rest of my bike riding photos as well as some shots from Thursday’s abbreviated practice can be found here. 

Principal Park: Des Moines, IA

The last stop on my road trip took me to Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa for three games between the Iowa Cubs and the Nashville Sounds.  As a Brewer fan I didn’t care much about seeing the Cubs Triple-A team in action, though several of my friends who are Cubs fans had been quite high on center fielder Brett Jackson so I wanted to make sure to keep a close eye on him.  My focus though was primarily on the Sounds, the Triple-A squad of the Milwaukee Brewers.

DES MOINES - JULY 2011: Eric Farris (5) of the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers during a game on July 19, 2011 at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

There were a lot of familiar names on the Sounds roster.  Many I had seen already in Milwaukee playing for the Brewers like Mat Gamel, Mike Rivera and Wil Nieves.  Other top prospects that will one day likely play at Miller Park like Caleb Gindl, Eric Farris, Michael Fiers and Frankie De La Cruz.  And still others I had seen earlier in their careers with the Timber Rattlers like Taylor Green, Daniel Meadows and Jim Henderson.

DES MOINES - JULY 2011: Mat Gamel (6) of the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers signs autographs prior to a game on July 19, 2011 at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Sounds won all three games while I was there. Beating the Cubs 5-3 on Monday, 4-3 on Tuesday and then blowing them out by a score of 10-2 on Wednesday night.  I came away even more impressed than before with the play of Mat Gamel, Taylor Green and Caleb Gindl (and not so impressed with the Cubs Brett Jackson).

DES MOINES - JULY 2011: Mike Rivera (11) of the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers in congratulated by teammate Caleb Gindl (13) after hitting a home run during a game on July 18, 2011 at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

All in all it was a pretty good trip.  I came away with a ton of good images from the week-long journey and am already looking forward to heading out on the road to check out some other stadiums next season.  Here are my photos from Monday and Tuesday night’s games between the Sounds and Cubs.

Veterans Memorial Stadium: Cedar Rapids, IA

I set out early on Monday for a day game between the Cedar Rapids Kernels and the Dayton Dragons at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.  I had really been looking forward to this game as the Dayton team featured one of the Cincinnati Reds top prospects, shortstop Billy Hamilton. Hamilton has amazing speed and is one of the most exciting players in Minor League Baseball.  And as if that wasn’t enough to be pumped about, the Dayton Manager was none other than former Montreal Expos star Delino DeShields.  Another one of my favorite players to watch while growing up.

CEDAR RAPIDS – JULY 2011: Billy Hamilton (4) of the Dayton Dragons, Class-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds during a game on July 18, 2011 at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Kernels are the Class-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and feature some exciting players of their own, including outfielder Travis Witherspoon and shortstop Rolando Gomez.  The fans and staff at Perfect Game Field were also the best I encountered on my trip.  They were all super friendly and knowledgeable and I really enjoyed myself in Cedar Rapids.

CEDAR RAPIDS – JULY 2011: Travis Witherspoon (2) of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Class-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during a game on July 18, 2011 at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The game itself was another close one, as the two teams went to the ninth tied 4-4.  The Dragons managed to push two runs across in the top of the ninth and then held on for the 6-4 win.  Juan Duran went deep for Dayton, and Travis Witherspoon and Ricky Alvarez both went yard for Cedar Rapids.  Hamilton swiped his 70th base of the season and seems well on his way to 100.

CEDAR RAPIDS – JULY 2011: Delino DeShields (90) of the Dayton Dragons, Class-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds during a game on July 18, 2011 at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

After the game it was immediately off to Des Moines.  Here are the rest of my pictures from Monday afternoon’s action in Cedar Rapids.

Modern Woodmen Park: Davenport, IA

Sunday afternoon took me to Davenport, Iowa.  Home of the Quad Cities River Bandits, Modern Woodmen Park is one of the cooler stadiums I’ve been to.  With the Mississippi River right beyond the right field wall, it makes for some great photo opportunities. The Single-A squad of the St. Louis Cardinals was taking on the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate, the Bowling Green Hot Rods on this sunny and warm Sunday afternoon.

DAVENPORT - JULY 2011: Derek Dietrich (32) of the Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays during a game on July 17, 2011 at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The Hots Rods jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the first inning, but after that Boone Whiting, the starting pitcher for Quad Cities really held Bowling Green in check.  He allowed just those two first innings runs and three hits while striking out eight to earn the win. 

CLINTON - JULY 2011: Oscar Taveras (15), Ronny Gil (3) and Victor Sanchez (5) of the Quad Cities River Bandits, Class-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals during a game on July 17, 2011 at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The River Bandits offense struck for four runs in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth.  They were led by Ronny Gil who had three hits on the day and Oscar Taveras who had a home run and two RBI.  The Quad Cities bullpen did surrender a couple of late runs, but held on for the 8-4 win.

DAVENPORT - JULY 2011: Ronny Gil (3) of the Quad Cities River Bandits, Class-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals during a game on July 17, 2011 at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa. (Photo by Brad Krause)

The rest of my images from Sunday afternoon can be found here. Tomorrow it’s two games in one day as I head to Cedar Rapids for an afternoon game before heading over to Des Moines for a Triple-A game between the Iowa Cubs and Nashville Sounds.