Baseball Journal MLB Rewind 11-15-12

7-22-12

The Cubs showed up today in St. Louis. Unfortunately it wasn't to play baseball as they lost 7 - 0. This after giving up a dozen (literally) run in one inning yesterday. On the day that Ron Santo was inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Cubs took the field today doing his trademark heel clicking. Even the most jaded fan had to appreciate that tribute.

[By the way, I think this is my favorite story of the year. I don't know why.] Speaking of tributes, forget Yu Darvish's great performance on Saturday, and the Rangers pounding the Angels into the ground. Forget Albert (Call Me Al) Pujols striking out multiple times with men in scoring position. I hope to forget soon, Chris Myers disinterested play-by-play seated next to an Angels homer broadcaster. Yeah, that was great, listening to two guys hyping a team that's getting smacked around on a national broadcast.

No, what I'll remember and so shall everyone else, Mini-Darvish. Yes, cosplaying taken to the next level. There he was in all his glory, a Yu Darvish impersonator in the stands, only the Mini-Darvish name on his back giving him away. Seriously, he looked just like him. I think he could have entered the game at any moment. Unlike the late arriving, early leaving crowds for the other LA baseball team, the Angels' fans never really materialized for this game. But Texas fans were there, and were hitting up Mini-Darvish to have their picture taken with him. Just simply awesome. [No doubt the rest of this Rewind is going to simply be a superfluous let-down after that story.]


7-29-12

Rizz! Oh, just a two-run, walk-off in the 10th. Ho hum. I want to see this kid in the playoffs and it better be in a Cubs uniform. I think even the Cardinal fans in the crowd were cheering.

The Dodgers took some batting practice yesterday against the Giants, who declined to do likewise during their half of the inning. I think the senior citizen "Ball Dudes" were the only ones who showed up to play. The TV coverage had fun watching one of the elderly gents puttering out to the warning track to snag a foul ball. Was he tired? Nah, he was smiling the whole time.


8-2-12

There I was thinking how I would have liked to have heard Eric Nadel's call of Wednesday night's Ranger/Angel game. Technically I watched about half an inning on the MLB Network, so I can comment on the game. I saw Albert's first home run and four of the six Angel runs of the frame. They were up 6 - 0 until the Rangers got back in it and managed to tie the score at 7 - 7 in the ninth. Top of the 10th, Albert gets his second home run and the Halos were up 10 - 7.

From there, I followed over the Internet and got to hear Matt Hicks call it later as the Rangers racked up four runs to win the game. Unfortunately, Matt was uncredited on the national sports talk radio, but this was called the game of the year.


8-3-12

Ryan Dempster made his Ranger debut last night. . . as a batting tee. As well as he has pitched this year in the band box that is Wrigley, Harry Kari Dempster was totally unprepared for the right field jetstream at Arlington. Unfortunately for the Angels, they had "Big Game" CJ Wilson on the mound. Bottom line, both starters gave up eight runs. Both bullpens stumbled as well, but the Rangers sucked less and the team eventually won. Joe Nathan was back out to finish in a non-save situation, presumably at his own request, after blowing it last night. After another 30-pitch performance, Wash couldn't even watch him pitch. [These last two entries were definitely a bad omen regarding Ranger pitching, but as long as the hitting held up, they had a chance to win.]


8-6-12

Rizzzz. . . No exclamation point this time because the Cubs lost, but three rbi's, one game-tying home run in the ninth, and a couple of spectacular plays around first base, and you're going to continue to be talked about.

Man, the bullpens on the Cubs and the Dodgers suck. I know that closers are headcases and nibblers (translation: they take an absurd amount of time between pitches and don't throw strikes), but this game was the extreme. Were you guys in the bullpen watching Joe Blanton out there earlier getting pissed because he wasn't getting close calls? What made you think you were going to get them, especially when you couldn't find the strike zone consistently anyway? If you're committed to walking batters, just throw four wide and do it quick.

The Cubs also brought up a new prospect yesterday, which unfortunately meant that they sent down Tony Campana. I'm not surprised. He wasn't doing the team or himself any good on the bench. Campana needs to play everyday to get better at hitting. The new guy Brett Jackson, and Rizzo are big farm boys cut from the same cloth as Josh Hamilton, right down to their left-handed swings (Paul Goldscimdt on the D-backs as well, except he's a righty). Seems like this is one of the molds, scouts are looking for for sluggers.