February 19, 200323 yr Fans Will Have 10-Minute Window to Get Autographs .c The Associated Press MESA, Ariz. (Feb. 19) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks will have a mandatory 10-minute autograph session before every night home game. Owner Jerry Colangelo said all team members except that night's starting pitcher will be required to sign for the fans. After batting practice ends, approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes before gametime, players and coaches will be available to sign. The Bank One Ballpark scoreboard will count down the 10 minutes, and the visiting team will then be allowed to start batting practice. Colangelo said Tuesday the autograph sessions are designed to help the team better connect with fans at time when the economy is soft and 10 percent of last year's season-ticket holders declined to renew. "You better reach out, you better extend yourself, because it's the right thing to do. At this time and place, it's a requirement,'' he said. There was some grumbling about disrupted pregame routines, but players generally endorsed the idea. "I don't mind,'' closer Matt Mantei said. "I sign anyway.''
February 19, 200323 yr That's a cool idea. Give something back to the fans. When I go to Shea, the players are always relunctant to sign except for a few...
February 19, 200323 yr thats a good idea... most Marlins sign anyway(and those who dont, most dont care for *AGon*lol) so its not a problem here...
February 19, 200323 yr Exactly, the Marlins have ALWAYS been great about this. Whenever I see them at Shea, 3/4 of the team will sign autographs...
February 19, 200323 yr Finally there is someone smart enough to do that! the marlins should do this to brad penny and Pudge! They never sign especially penny although he is signing way more than last year. Thats very good what the d-backs owner is doing. That is a great way to be with players and meeting them...
February 19, 200323 yr AGon has signed a lot of stuff for me...I think it's just the way you approach the player...if you look not really interested and like about him, then that's what you get....As with Penny, in 2001, he wasn't really the "autograph signer", but in 2002 he was...Pudge, wow, really don't think he's the most difficult guy out there to get, might be one of the easiest.
February 19, 200323 yr true, its happened a couple of times with me and AGon.... and that is when I liked him :lol
February 19, 200323 yr Finally there is someone smart enough to do that! the marlins should do this to brad penny and Pudge! They never sign especially penny although he is signing way more than last year. Thats very good what the d-backs owner is doing. That is a great way to be with players and meeting them... Oh btw, I'm not sure if you remember this, you might have too young (like 6 or 7), but do you remember the Autograph Sunday's where tables were setup by Gate D and there were four players at the tables signing autographs to the first 600 (then changed to 400) fans? I know they got rid of that, but I know that the Marlins still have Family Sunday's. You can take a picture with a player and/or Billy. There's another thing called Bullpen buddies, that's an opportunity for kids 42" under to get autographs in the bullpen. But putting these programs aside...I think that the best thing that one as a fan could do, is show these players that you care. like I mentioned before if you look blah at them, they'll look back the same. Show them interest...see them as your friends....oh..and one thing...don't scream out AJ AJ AJ AJ AJ AJ 24/7, because that annoys the hell out of them. Be nice....think of how you would feel if you were a player and you had someone doing one the above mentioned things...How would you feel?
February 20, 200323 yr Thats a good idea every team should have that and is true mantei signs alot. If the marlins had that policy I'am sure D.Lee will mind he always avoids the fans...
February 20, 200323 yr Lowell read post above....D. Lee signs like crazy too...ask nicely and you'll receive.
February 20, 200323 yr These are the players that will sign often from 1 to 10 : 1)castillo 2)Lowell 3)Juan Pierre 4)D.Lee 5)M.Tejera 6)AJ 7)Pudge 8)redmond 9)encarnacion 10)Penny
February 20, 200323 yr AGon has signed a lot of stuff for me He isnt much of a signer......in the whole season i only got 2 auto's from him and none from penny untill this seasons fanfest and spring training!
February 20, 200323 yr AGon has signed a lot of stuff for me He isnt much of a signer......in the whole season i only got 2 auto's from him how many do u need?
February 20, 200323 yr These are the players that will sign often from 1 to 10 : 1)castillo 2)Lowell 3)Juan Pierre 4)D.Lee 5)M.Tejera 6)AJ 7)Pudge 8)redmond 9)encarnacion 10)Penny Tejera signs more than Lee. Lee after the game goes the way the fans are not in so how could I even ask him?
February 20, 200323 yr I thought you said penny was hard to get...... Das I agree with you... I think they are all easy to get and there's not set list...that's just my opinion...
February 22, 200323 yr Penny is very hard he only signed 1 autograph the last season! Ramp: I got all the marlins already including PUDGE! :w00t
February 22, 200323 yr Penny is very hard he only signed 1 autograph the last season! Ramp: I got all the marlins already including PUDGE! :w00t all im saying is once you have an autograph from a player, why do you need 10 more?
February 22, 200323 yr I got about 3 or 4 of every player.As an autograph collector you need to keep on going and going
February 22, 200323 yr I think he's the type of guy that Mike Lowell doesn't like. (As per the press conference at FanFest). I am a collector....and umm I have one of each....no point in having 10 baseballs signed by Alex Gonzalez. (just to name someone)
February 23, 200323 yr Pudge is a stud i am very that he here in Florida but he still kinda ga* cuz he doesnt sign. He passed me 3 times with noone around and i said Ivan autograph plz he look at me like saying ' yea right ' and kept walking i was like ' u stpuid fa*
February 23, 200323 yr Pudge is a stud i am very that he here in Florida but he still kinda ga* cuz he doesnt sign. He passed me 3 times with noone around and i said Ivan autograph plz he look at me like saying ' yea right ' and kept walking i was like ' u stpuid fa* Ah yes, I've always judged someone's sexual orientation by whether they sign autographs or not. Some players are just better at others when it comes to signing. It has always been that way. later........
February 23, 200323 yr A subject I am familar with. Most Marlins are kool for signing, sometimes it seems some may be disinterested and the next day they sign forever. I have met Mike Redmonds Uncle in Philly and he said his sister "Mikes Mother" had told Mike to never refuse an autograph because thats all some people wait for and it makes some peoples day. Now CJ came over to sign last year and a guy asked for an autograph and he replied " I signed for you yesterday, I signed for you earlier today--How many times do you want me to sign for you?" -->so these guys know when people want the "auto" for more then their collection. Too many sell the sigs. On the subject of Multiple Autographs-- I do it 1 on a Ball, 1 for portrait (only certain guys), ALL-STAR or WS Balls or change of league balls. When you follow a guy, its as much an honor that you ask them to sign for their accomplishments (AS /WS Balls) as it is for you to get them. Some players appreciate that you notice them. Players are human, bad days and being in a rush one day can make you look like a jerk too individuals that don't understand. Patience is the biggest key in getting someone to sign.
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