On Sunday, Nelson Cruz delivered a home run as part of the Rangers 4-0 win over the A’s. Eric Nadel was all but eulogizing the end of Cruz’s Ranger career with his looming suspension and free agency. All these wins have come with a dark cloud hanging overhead. Not fighting the suspension means he’s done for the year and likely with the team.
The Dodgers beat the Cubs Sunday, 1-0, to sweep a four-game series with them. The wind was blowing in. (Duh.) The 7th inning is only thing worth reporting on. Former Cubs’ catcher Jody Davis came into the booth to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” This exchange happened between him and Len.
“The guys in the production truck are asking me if you remember hitting a home run into the Center Field camera stand.”
“Yeah, it was an 0-2 count off of Dwight Gooden.”
“So you have some vague recollection of it?”
Meanwhile there was a shot of one of the cameramen in the dugout, yelling and complaining with another camera on him. Apparently, he’d been by that home run.
“Well, make a play,” says Jody.
On the next pitch, there’s a grounder to the dugout, and the cameraman does indeed “make a play” on it. Timing is everything.
At the beginning of the bottom of the 7th, five beach balls fall into the outfield, one at a time, interrupting play. It was like a bunch of confused Dodger fans forgot they were in Chicago. That’s bad fan etiquette in Wrigley, guys. The organist started playing Beach Boys music during the delay. Even the players on both teams got visibly annoyed.
More importantly during the frame, Hanley Ramirez injured his shoulder falling into the stands, catching a foul ball. Given how he looked when he came out, this will probably be his third trip to the DL this season. He’d already had a testy game. Earlier, he took offense to a pitch inside that started some jawing between the Cub’s pitcher and the Dodger dugout. Hanley drew a walk and then left his bat sitting on home plate. Cub’s catcher, Dioneer Navarro, promptly broke the bat on the ground before handing it to the batboy.
The only other highlight was one particular Cubs at bat which featured the Dodgers having an infield meeting on the mound, a visit from the pitching coach (along with the other infielders again), and two separate visits from the catcher. That’s all during one batter. I guess the pitcher was getting lonely and feeling insecure, or they were killing time warming up another pitcher. Proposed new rule: one visit per batter.
This may have been an expensive sweep for Dodgers. In addition to Hanley’s injury, Puig also bruised his hand on Saturday and was out for the game, though probably not much longer. I’ve got to say it. There are way too many headcases on this team. Right now, it’s all good because they’re winning, but I’m having a hard time seeing them win the World Series with these guys. I don’t think the implosion will happen until next season, but this current team is going to end badly and melodramatically.
Yeah, 1-0, second shutout in a row for the Cubs. Barney and Castro didn’t start the game to shake things up and try out some rookies, I guess. Great strategy. Len mentioned he was glad to be getting out of Chicago before the Alex Rodriguez situation comes to a head. The Yankees will be there playing the White Sox, and A-Rod says he’ll be there too. The MLB is planning on showing up with a suspension for him. Should be plenty of embarrassment to go around.
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