| I'm one to always carry binoculars around in case | | | | stretching, etc. It was also really cool to see |
| I miss something. By missing something, I mean | | | | players conversing with one another, sometimes |
| not seeing something up close and personal; or | | | | smiling and laughing. We saw Yankees outfielder |
| not seeing the larger and enhanced version of a | | | | Johnny Damon laughing pretty hard after a short |
| particular shot or frame. Obviously for birding, | | | | conversation that took place at 2nd base; with |
| binoculars work. One can only get so close to a | | | | the Phillies' short-stop, Jimmy Rollins. We |
| nest of baby robins or a sparrow's bird house | | | | immediately wanted to know what these two |
| without being disruptive or intrusive. Binoculars | | | | stars (from opposing teams) were talking about. |
| enable you to remain at a nice distance and still | | | | That's what is so fun about seeing a live game. |
| check in on the birds and see a great deal. A | | | | Experiencing the personal connection between |
| mother robin feeding and protecting the family | | | | two regular guys that just happen to make a lot |
| can be clearly viewed from 100 feet or more | | | | of money playing baseball... makes fans become |
| without feeling like you're hovering near the | | | | even bigger fans. With my Carson YK 10X42's, |
| 'invasion of privacy' boundary. | | | | the experience was definitely better than it would |
| Bringing binoculars to a ball game, however, is not | | | | have been if we had not brought them. And had I |
| the same as using binoculars for birding. As a true | | | | not lent out my Leupolds, I never would have |
| baseball AND NY Yankees fan, I am often a little | | | | learned that a full-size 10x42 binocular actually |
| torn as to whether or not I should I bring my | | | | work very well for viewing a baseball game. |
| binoculars to the Stadium. If I don't bring them I | | | | As for the game itself, we were able to get |
| will still see the game just fine. Being obsessive | | | | some close-ups at key points in the game when |
| about not wanting to miss a single pitch, I feel | | | | we felt so inclined. At the end of the eighth inning, |
| that viewing the action through binoculars | | | | the Yanks were down 4-2. With the wind kicking |
| sometimes takes away from the pure enjoyment | | | | up a little bit, we contemplated leaving early to |
| of watching baseball. On Friday, the day before | | | | get some dinner. Up to then, the Yanks looked |
| my friend and I were to attend the | | | | pretty terrible at the plate. Obviously at this point, |
| Yankees-Phillies game, I realized that I had lent | | | | we did not know that we were about to witness |
| my Leupold 8X30 Yosemite Binoculars to friend. | | | | the best walk-off win of the season; in a season |
| The Leupold 8X30's are my personal favorite for | | | | that has already had several. Thankfully we |
| viewing baseball. Not a problem, I had my Carson | | | | stayed. With one out in the bottom of the ninth |
| YK 10X42's ready (I use these mainly for birding). | | | | and Damon on first, I viewed Alex Rodriguez |
| They aren't as light, and I wasn't sure how the | | | | through my 10X42's for each pitch thrown by the |
| extra weight would work out for a three hour | | | | Phillies pitcher, and last year's best closer in both |
| game. And much to my surprise, I found the | | | | leagues, Brad Lidge. In hind sight, I never would |
| weight to be not a factor at all. And with the | | | | have known how great the at-bat was without |
| extra magnification, the close-ups were more | | | | the binoculars. With a 3-2 count, A-Rod |
| intimate. Sitting in section 215, in between third | | | | connected, and then posed-just like he always |
| base and the left field foul pole, they certainly | | | | does when he knows he just hit one out of the |
| came in handy. | | | | park. We watched the ball fall into the right field |
| As for taking away from the pure enjoyment, | | | | seats. Wow! Tie game! I then got caught up in the |
| we picked our spots and it really worked out | | | | frenzy of the Bronx crowd and put down the |
| perfectly. I mean, what baseball fan is going to | | | | binoculars. Two batters later, Melky Cabrera got |
| watch an entire game through binoculars anyway? | | | | his third game winning hit of the year and the |
| That's pretty ridiculous. We got to our seats | | | | Yankees somehow won another game they had |
| about 45 minutes before first pitch and got some | | | | no business winning. And we were there to see it... |
| close views of the players during warm-ups, | | | | and had the best vantage point in the stadium! |