I’m not sure if this is something the fine folks in scoreboard operations have done before, but I noticed during batting practice tonight that all the songs had "San Francisco" in them, from local music icon Chris Isaak’s "San Francisco Days" to "San Francisco (Open Your Golden Gate)" to Vanessa Carlton’s "San Francisco" to the theme from "Streets of San Francisco." Pretty subtle, but pretty cool.

After the game, in honor of Orange Friday, there was a fireworks show. Somebody once told me the best fireworks show they ever saw was at a Giants game at AT&T Park, and though I can’t really see the show from the pressbox, I’m not likely to disagree. They shoot off the fireworks from a barge on the Bay, which has to be pretty neat.

After the game, just as the fireworks ended, the scoreboard flashed the notice that the Giants picked up Shea Hillenbrand from the Blue Jays. It was a lot of fun to see the sellout crowd gradually start to notice the message and excitedly poke their neighbors, saying, "Hey, look!" I’m sure it made the fans’ ride home even more electric, knowing the Giants are just a half-game behind the Padres after Matt Cain’s gem and offensive help is on the way.

I first became a Giants season ticket holder in 1993, and since 2000, I’ve had a pair of amazing seats in the Arcade section atop the right-field wall at AT&T Park, right where Bonds’ 73rd home run in 2001 landed (the view from those seats is at right).

But even though I think there’s no better place to be than watching a Giants game at AT&T Park, the best ballpark in the country, I sit in those seats perhaps twice a season. That’s because I’m lucky enough to have a job that allows me to sit in the lower pressbox for just about every home game, working for MLB.com as an editorial producer.

Whether I’m sitting out in the Arcade or in the pressbox, however, one thing remains the same — this is an amazing place to be. Though I don’t often experience the game from a fan’s point of view these days, I know exactly what it’s like and how special it is, coming to the yard. I love getting that free orange giveaway cap, buying that ballpark dog that tastes better than anything you could ever get in a store and taking in everything that happens, from the chicken dance they play when a Giants player is intentionally walked to watching the ferry dock right behind the outfield wall at the Marina Gate to hearing Tony Bennett sing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" as fans slowly, reluctantly leave the park. I think Dog Days is an absolute kick in the pants, I love to show my friends the actual cable car sitting beyond center field and I can’t wait to bring my niece to play ball at Little Giants Park out in the Coca-Cola Fan Lot.

So what I’d like to do in this MLBlog is share with you what’s neat about AT&T Park, whether it’s features of the yard that folks might not know about or upcoming promotions and special events or just cool stuff that happens during a game.

I hope my insider’s view of AT&T Park will be interesting both to those who’ve only seen the ballpark on TV and also those who are here on a regular basis. I think next to the outstanding ballpark operations staff, I possibly know this place better than just about anyone. I’ve photographed just about every nook and cranny of it, and I’ve even spent the night here more than once.

I want to hear from you as well — what do you like about coming to a
Giants game, what makes it so much more special than watching the game
on your couch or your computer.

So welcome to the corner of Third and King. Hope you have a great time.