ZackSnags@aol.com

I admit that in the grand scheme of things, being an expert on collecting baseballs is pretty strange, but the way I see it, someone's gotta do it so it might as well be me. I know I'm not the only expert, but random fans with questions about ball-snagging often contact ME for advice--and I love it. It's pretty cool to help make people's dreams come true. I know that sounds corny, but that's really what it comes down to. Check out my latest e-mail correspondence. You'll see what I mean...

RANDOM E-MAIL FROM JULY 30th:

Zack -

Perhaps you get this before I head out tomorrow...I just found out about your hobby and your book, which I am going to purchase. Tomorrow i am going to Turner Field in ATL and I noticed you said that is the best place for batting practice. Just curious if you could provide me any helpful info about BP there. Thanks!!

Scott

MY SAME-DAY REPLY:

Hey, Scott-

Thanks for writing. I'm jealous that you're going to Turner Field. I haven't been there for years.

The two best things about the Ted are the seemingly endless stretch of outfield seats and the gap between the outfield wall and the base of the stands.

I think you should stay in LF -- and stay several rows back. Stand in the staircase. Don't get trapped in the middle of any of those long rows. You need to be able to move in all four directions if you want to catch home runs. When you're in the staircase, make sure the rows on either side of you are empty. Basically, you should play DEEP left field...like, straight behind where the left fielder would play. Don't hug the foul line or wander too far into left-center.

As for that gap, you can seriously cash in if you have a some trick for fishing out all the balls that'll inevitably drop in there.

I don't know if you've seen my blog (http://snaggingbaseballs.mlblogs.com/) but if you check it out and scroll down a bit and click "april" in the archives section and read my entry from the 26th, you'll see how I use my "glove trick." Try to replicate it and practice at home and then unleash the magic at the ballpark.

Hope that helps.
Let me know how you do...

Zack.

SCOTT'S REPLY THE FOLLOWING EVENING:

Man....I can't believe it...you were exactly right...about 10 minutes into batting practice..as I was standing on the stairs in between two sections in left field...Here come a bomb during BP by Brian

Jordan (who is on the DL, didn't expect him to hit..) but I came away with the ball!!!! My first ever...wow Thanks so much for the tip!

END OF E-MAIL SECTION

In case you don't know my e-mail address, it's ZackSnags@aol.com. Feel free to drop me a line anytime...but if possible, post your comment or question here instead to give other people a chance to join the discussion.

14 days until I'll be adding to my collection at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.