7-30-17
Happy birthday to me. Dad gave me a copy of the book, Moneyball. It looks interesting. I’ll probably do a book report when I’m finished. Today, the Rangers and Chihuahuas were playing at different times, so I could concentrate a bit better. There was a smaller crowd in Arlington for the game. The weather was described as a “sweltering” 92 degrees. I assume there’s humidity mixed in with that. The crowd was congregated on the first base/shady side. Presumably, the fans can’t wait for the new retractable roof stadium. As nice as the stadium looks on TV, I’ve seen some day games there that looked extremely uncomfortable for the fans.
We were all here for this game to see (well, listen to) Adrian Beltre hitting #3,000. His first at bat was in the second. He struck out on a full count. The first score of the game didn’t come until a four run fourth by the Orioles. Today was also Hall of Fame day. Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell, and Tim Raines were inducted. Pudge had some trouble keeping it together during his speech. Eric Nadel discussed his own HOF induction and about how hard it is to keep your emotions in check for such a momentous honor.
In the bottom of the fourth, Matt Hicks noted that the clouds parted as Adrian Beltre came to bat. The crowd was once again standing for him. The count went to 3-0 and the crowd boo’d. On the next pitch, Adrian belted a double for hit #3,000. The crowd roared for him. The game paused for a few minutes as Orioles players congratulated him, a pair of banners were unfurled in the outfield, and Beltre’s teammates and his family came out on field to congratulate him as well. (A co-worker said later he won money at Hooters by betting his friends that Beltre would do it in that at bat.) When play resumed, Rougned Odor knocked him and Normar Mazara in to make the score 4-2.
The scoring did not stop. In the fifth, the O’s hit a two-run homer and a three-run homer to make the score 9-2. In the sixth, Ruggie homered. In the eighth, Mazara homered. After a discussion of Beltre’s walkup music (which apparently couldn’t be politely translated), he struck out, but made it to first on a wild pitch. Ruggie came up and hit another home run. 10-6 O’s.
In the bottom of the ninth with two on, Zach Britton had to come in for a save in a game the Orioles had been winning by seven runs. Adrian Beltre made the last out. After the game in an interview with Eric and Matt, Adrian said he was aware of all the cheering for him during the at bats and had never felt such fan support before.
In the Round Rock, the Chihuahuas went up 2-0 while I was listening to the interview. A fan made a great catch of a line drive and even got a tip of the cap from one of the coaches. High winds at the beginning of the game were actually blowing fly balls foul. In the bottom, Kyle Lloyd, Chihuahuas pitcher, walked two and then struck out three. Nobody put the ball in play.
The third was a disaster for the pups. With two outs, five runs scored, included two off of a bases loaded error. Pete Kozma was in the game for the Express. I’d wondered where he’d gone, since he’d joined the Rangers. The Express tacked on a couple more runs. In the ninth, Collin Cowgill started off the inning with a home run on the first pitch, but that was all of the comeback. 7-3 Express, the Chihuahuas’ fourth loss in a row.
During the game, Tim Hagerty mentioned that Jonathan Lucroy was traded to the Rockies from the Rangers. Brett Nicolas came in for Robinson Chirinos late in the game. I wondered where Lucroy was, but no one said anything during the Ranger game. We’re still waiting to hear about Yu Darvish’s fate. I’m wondering if these trades were held until Beltre got his 3,000th hit and after Pudge’s HOF induction.
7-31-17
It was a really busy night. It was month end processing, which is a lot of work. In the middle of that, it rained heavily here and nearly flooded the building again. My baseball experience was necessarily limited tonight. I was too busy too even post.
Not to mention, it was a busy day in baseball, but I was able to get the news on the trade deadline before going to work. To no one’s surprise, Yu Darvish was dealt. That sweep in Baltimore last week, ended the team’s playoff run. It wasn’t even a surprise that he went to the Dodgers apparently. If they got the “good” Darvish and Clayton Kershaw comes back from injury still potent, they’re going to win the World Series. (Over the Yankees, who just acquired A’s ace, Sonny Gray.) That’s a couple of “if’s” though. I seem to recall Yu’s last playoff game didn’t go well against the Blue Jays. If his meltdown last week was mental, rather than physical, that doesn’t bode well. (Of course, neither does a physical problem.)
Yu’s time with the Rangers always seemed vaguely cursed. He’d be good, but the team would be bad run supporting him. He’d be bad, but the team would be good in run support. I remember a near no-hitter broken up in the ninth a few years ago. That seemed to be it in a nutshell, always on the edge of greatness, but not quite. This might be the softening in my dislike of the Dodgers (using good home-grown players and smart trades instead of trying to purchase a championship), but I have to wish Darvish well. If the Dodgers do win it all, I hope Yu is an integral component.
I have to go back to Sunday’s trade of Jonathan Lucroy for a moment. The Rangers didn’t trade him, so much as they apparently paid the Rockies to take him. Further, Rockies fans are “meh,” about the deal and not expecting anything from him. Since this is a “player to be named later” deal, I almost expect him to be sent back.
Wasn’t this guy an All-Star catcher recently? Last year, Rangers fans were ecstatic about getting him, and I seem to remember him contributing to the division win. Expert Rangers commentators were saying it was a done deal that the team would be signing Lucroy to long-term deal. What the hell happened? Where did his skills go? How did he wear out his welcome so quickly? Well, at least the Rangers got something for Darvish, but after Sunday’s triumph with Beltre’s 3,000th hit and Pudge’s induction, running up the white flag on Monday has to hurt.
I was able to listen in on the Chihuahuas taking on the Round Rock Express. It was ominous that Tim Hagerty started off the game mentioning that in the Chihuahuas’ short history, the Express seemed to have the pups’ number every year. It was interesting around the pressbox for Tim that afternoon. While the Padres held on to their only trade chip, Brad Hand, the Rangers had a flurry of activity and the Express’ lineup was shuffled as well. Tonight’s Express starter went up to the big leagues for Yu’s spot. Also, Jurickson Profar was put on the DL. Reportedly, he was put there because he’d complained that he wanted to be traded.
Again, I was super busy. I know it was Harry Potter Night at the Dell Diamond. I’m not sure what that meant, but a big crowd turned out for it. I missed much of the game. I heard the Express go up 5-1 for most of it, but the Chihuahuas made a comeback to get to 5-4. In the ninth, they tied it up, but there was some bad luck with a batted ball hitting Travis Jankowski for an out that ended the inning.
In the eleventh, Tony Cruz homed to give the pups a 6-5 lead. There were fans cheering there. Tim was excited. But in the bottom, former Chihuahua, Will Middlebrooks doubled in two runners to win the game for the Express, 7-5. All the damage came with two outs and nobody on. Tim was somber afterward, if not stunned by the loss. Five games out, with two teams ahead of them, it looks like a long, pointless August for the Chihuahuas. What am I going to do with both of my teams out of it?
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