Baseball Journal July 21-22, 2018

7-21-18

After some disappointment about not going out anywhere today (it’s hot as hell outside anyway), I settled in to watch the Yankees and the Mets in a rivalry series on a Mexican station in the morning.  I wouldn’t otherwise want to watch a Yankees’ game, but I was hopeful for a good game, even if the Mets aren’t so good.  It was also just about too hot to move.  Once I settled in, the game had all of my attention. 

The Stadium crowd seemed kind of quiet, though it was a sellout.  The scoring started with a Michael Conforto home run off Sonny Gray to make it 1-0 Mets.  In the third, the home plate umpire suddenly threw out one of the Mets’ coaches in the dugout.  He was arguing balls and strikes, but he must have really said some magic words to get tossed that quick. 

In the fourth, Didi Gregorious, after making a great defensive play earlier, tripled in a run past a diving Matt den Dekker.  There was fan interference on the next play by the right field wall that became a ground rule double and an RBI.  I really have to say something here.  Why the hell did they build this new Yankee Stadium to where the fans could keep interfering with potential home run balls?  Do you really think every Jeffrey Maier-like incident at the park is going to go your way?  You’re going to regret this someday and have to do some remodeling, mark my words.     

Den Dekker’s bad inning continued as a ball went over his head, which scored another run.  Next, he missed a single that died in front of him as he dove for it.  It was 4-1 Yankees when the inning finally ended.  In all fairness, if den Dekker had made any of these plays, it would have made a highlight reel.  An all-time great fielder might have made one or two of the plays, but probably not all of them. 

In the fifth, the cameras showed some pidgins wandering around the outfield.  I could just hear the Yankee call of the game under the Mexican announcers.  They referred to them as “Bronx ducks.”  As usual, the Yankee announcers put up a non-stop patter about how inferior the other team is.  It gets grating if you’re not a Yankee fan.

Speaking of testy, Asdrubal Cabrera was called out in the inning on a check swing.  He threw down his bat and the third base umpire immediately ejected him.  The Mets weren’t having a good relationship with the umps today.  In the bottom, I noticed that Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t wearing the faceguard on his helmet.  This is bizarre.  He’s the guy who needs one and popularized them.  I don’t know what to make of it.

In the sixth, Amed Rosario drove in a run for the Mets.  Then, Jose Bautista scored from third on a throw to first that hit Rosario, 4-3 Yankees.  But, the Yankees came back with a run in the bottom, an Aaron Judge home run in the seventh, and a run on a fielder’s choice in the eighth, 7-3 Yankees.        

Aroldis Chapman came in to close in the ninth.  He hadn’t pitched in a while and had skipped the All-Star Game.  It showed.  Chapman loaded the bases with no outs.  He walked in a run on four pitches that weren’t close and then hit the next batter, before being taken out.  The Yankees announcers then mentioned that the Mets had traded their closer, Jeurys Familia, in a deal that just went through.  See what I mean about taking shots at the other team?  

Yoenis Cespedes was lurking in the dugout, but he was deemed too injured to enter the game.  A double play scored another run to make it 7-6.  By this point, the crowd was finally into it as the Yankees got the last out and won it.  I have to say, that was a great game.  Glad I watched.

Later in the evening, the Astros took on the Angels in the FOX national game.  It was my third Angels’ game in a row.  Unlike the previous two Dodger/Angel games, at least I like one of the teams playing.  Justin Upton started off the game well for the Angels as he made a leaping catch at the wall of a George Springer drive.  The other Justin, Verlander, was pitching for the Astros. 

The first run came in the third with a Yuli Gurriel sacrifice with the bases loaded, 1-0 Astros.  At this point, the Rangers and Indians game came on the radio and I immediately turned down the sound on the TV.  I was getting tired of listening to Eric Karros complaining about the players anyway. 

In the fourth, Shohei Ohtani doubled off Verlander.  He stood at second and chatted amiably with Jose Altuve.  With runners on second and third with one out, Verlander got two strikeouts to end the inning without giving up a run.  In Arlington, it was the second inning.  Ranger starter Bartolo Colon scrambled off the mound to throw out a runner on an infield hit.  The ump took a minute to make the call.  As Eric Nadel put it, “Perhaps he couldn’t believe that Colon could move that fast either.” 

At that point, I lost local reception of the Rangers and switched over to the Chihuahuas and Rivercats game, which just started.  Giants Gregor Blanco and Evan Longoria were in the Rivercats’ lineup.  Francisco Mejia still wasn’t in the lineup for the Chihuahuas, but was in the dugout. 

Okay, at this point, my notes all mix together.  The Astros were up 3-0 in the sixth with the bases loaded.  Springer went from a 3-0 count to a full count and then hit a grand slam.  He kissed the bat in the dugout.  The Astros loaded the bases again before a double play ended the inning, 7-0 Astros.

The Chihuahuas were also hitting.  Brett Nicholas hit a two-run homer in the first.  Matt Szczur drove in two runs in the third to make it 4-0.  The crowd roared on that play.  Meanwhile, I just caught a scoring update from Arlington on the TV ticker.  It was 10-0 Indians in the seventh.  I may not have missed much there.

Back in Anaheim, Jabari Blash came in to pinch hit for the Angels.  I remember him from the Chihuahuas.  The announcers were amazed with his funky stance and swing.  I don’t remember him doing that when I saw him in person (6-15-16), but I do remember what a large physical specimen he is.  He struck out though. 

Ohtani doubled again in the ninth, but the Angels never scored.  7-0 Astros was the final.  Verlander and the Astros’ relievers and batters had a good night.  The Angels had three errors, though I’m not sure if those figured into the scoring. 

In the fifth in El Paso, Nicholas had a two-run double to make it 6-0 Chihuahuas.  I made an effort to bring in my Rangers’ nighttime affiliate.  In the eighth, it was still 98 degrees at 9:45pm in Arlington.  When the new stadium is finished, the fans will not miss the old one.  The Indians won 16-3.  Shin-Soo Choo’s on-base streak ended tonight at 52 games.

As the Chihuahuas game got more out-of-hand, Tim Hagerty told a little story about how suspended games sometimes result in rookie players having an official record before their actual debut.  Juan Soto on the Nationals has a home run, which by the books, came before he took his first Major League at bat, since the suspended game is still listed for the day the game started. 

In the eighth, a tossed bat got stuck up in the netting.  Some fans tried to shake it loose.  I’d be surprised by this happening, but I’ve seen it incomprehensibly happen before.  The Rivercats scored 3 in the ninth, but the pups were not really threatened as they won 9-5.  Starter Brett Kennedy now moves to 9-0.

7-22-18

Today, I went out, but was still disappointed.  I picked up lunch at Jack-in-the-Box.  I had a coupon for a $5 Buttery Jack meal, which was too good a deal to let expire.  The burger was pretty good, but not life-changing.  It was definitely better than the $5 Sourdough Jack meal I got a couple of weeks ago.  I still have the $5 Ultimate Cheeseburger coupon queued up for next week.  Restless, I went over to the bookstore at the mall.  I couldn’t decide about buying a couple things.  Before it became an existential crisis, I left without buying anything. 

It was also hot as an oven outside.  I’d walked over to my parents’ apartment and the mall, both nearby.  I was soaked when I got back.  My afternoon was spent watching the NHRA drag race on FOX and listening to the Rangers and the Indians playing.  As far as drag racing goes, I’ve watched several races, and I’ve come to the conclusion you really need to be there to get the most out of it.  TV is not the best venue for the sport.  The Media Agenda holy word “Diversity” was heavily used during the broadcast, since there are some good, winning female drivers in the series.  Just for that, I’m gonna say that some of them are pretty hot too.  Take that!

           

Right before the baseball coverage picked up, I flipped around on the TV and noticed an international Rugby tournament going on.  I was shocked it was in San Francisco at AT&T Park.  I wouldn’t have recognized it, if a few stadium features hadn’t crept into view.  I’ve tried watching Rugby a few times; I just can’t get into it.  I don’t know what to say.  Yesterday, they even showed women’s teams playing, but it still couldn’t keep my attention.

In Arlington, Eric Nadel was wondering if the people waving fans in the stands were distracting the fielders.  It was hot there too, to the tune of 108 degrees later in the game.  Jared Sandler was worried the fan in the booth might go out.  He also mentioned Shin-Soo Choo talked to the media last night about his on-base streak ending.  He thanked his teammates for their support in keeping it going and congratulated the opposing pitchers for pitching well.  What a gentleman. 

Joey Gallo made the highlight reel in the second, but for his throwing arm, not his batting.  He threw out a runner at third base from right field.  He did come out with an injury later in the game.  In the third, Roughned Odor drove in a run and sacrificed in a run in the fifth.  It was 2-0 Rangers for much of the game.

Yovani Gallardo didn’t give up any runs over six innings.  The top of the eighth seemed like the critical moment of the game.  Jake Diekman was in in relief and loaded the bases with two outs.  After a mound visit, he got a strikeout to end the inning.  Good talk.  In the bottom, Ruggie hit a solo shot and Ryan Rua hit a two-run homer to ice the game.  5-0 Rangers was the final.  Mike Clevinger was the hard luck loser, going seven and only giving up two runs.  Ruggie had a great game, going 3 for 3.

While waiting for the Chihuahuas/Rivercats game, I unfortunately listened to The Sporting Life.  It’s this canned ESPN Radio show they play if your affiliate doesn’t carry the sporting event they’re broadcasting.  And that’s all it is: filler.  For the millionth time, some ESPN “experts” informed me that baseball sucks.  I don’t know why I don’t listen to my betters and continue to enjoy the sport anyway. 

There was also some World Cup discussion with some English guy, who told me how great football is (soccer that is, not American football, or should I say Anti-American football, given the disposition of the players).  He also told me that Trump sucks to further make his point.  Gasp!  I had never considered that.  Such infallible logic.  I must change my sporting allegiances immediately.  But first, let’s listen to tonight’s game.  There’s nothing better on anyway.

(Yeah, typical ESPN “sports” reporting.  And the World Cup . . . The only worthwhile thing about the tournament was watching the hot chicks on the Mexican nightly recap shows, especially Yvette Hernandez.  The matches were irrelevant compared to Yvette sampling Russian street food.)     

Francisco Mejia was still not in the Chihuahuas’ lineup tonight.  Tim Hagerty assured us that he’ll be playing on Tuesday.  I’m starting to think the Padres got horse-traded here, which would be fitting since the Indians got stuck with Brad Hand.  Tim also reported that Tim Tebow had gone on the IR.  I’m not sure how that Double-A news fits in since it involves neither organization playing here, but perhaps Tim felt that baseball fans would want to know.  (Get well soon, Tebow.  We’re pulling for you to make it to the majors in September.)

Things went well for the pups right off the bat.  (See what I did there?)  Brett Nicholas drove in two runs in the first.  This was followed by a fielder’s choice RBI by Shane Peterson and a two-run single by Diego Goris.  The Rivercats did not help themselves with three walks, an error, and probably a couple of missed double plays.  The Chihuahuas sent nine batters to the plate.

Nicholas doubled in another run in the second.  In the fourth, he got another RBI.  He had 4 RBI’s and was 3 for 3 at that point.  Nicholas, Luis Urias, and Matt Szczur hadn’t made an out in three plate appearances apiece.  7-0 Chihuahuas. 

   

In the fifth, Rivercats scored two to make it 7-2.  In the sixth, the pups turned their second 6-5-3 double play of the game because of the shift.  In the bottom Brett got another hit, going 4 for 4 with another RBI.  He was seeing the ball well tonight (and well recently too).  8-2 Chihuahuas. 

In the seventh, Ryder Jones came into the game for the Rivercats.  I saw him hit a home run for the Giants on Friday.  Peterson made a diving catch in the inning, but the ball popped out.  However, he was able to throw out a runner on a force anyway.  It was that kind of night.  In the bottom, Javy Guerra tripled drive in two more to make it 10-2.  Chihuahuas’ starter, Jerry Keel, came out for a pinch hitter.  He went 7 innings, only throwing 70+ pitches.  There was a no-doubt home run on to the Big Dog House in the ninth for the Rivercats, but that was all.  10-3 Chihuahuas final.  Now that’s how to win at home guys.