Monday, July 2, 2018

Baseball Journal June 25-30, 2018

6-25-18

It was the Os versus the Ms in the MLB.TV free game (also known as the Orioles and Mariners).  It was Halfway to Christmas at the Camden Yards ballpark.  The statues at the stadium were wearing scarves and sock hats.  The bird mascot (I dont know his name) visited the announcers in the booth in a Santa outfit.  There was a snow globe giveaway.

As for the game, Andrew Cashner for the Orioles got the announcers attention in the second.  After two quick outs, he suddenly couldnt find the strikezone.  He gave up three walks and two runs scored before he got the last out.  The Os loaded the bases in the sixth.  Jean Segura at short made two great plays on grounders.  A pair of runs scored, but he got two outs and limited the damage.  In the eighth, Ms manager Scott Servais started arguing a reviewed call, which sort of defeats the purpose of reviewing calls.  One of his coaches ran out and got him, not wanting to have to manage the team today.  The Mariners won 5-3

I was listening to the Chihuahuas game against the Grizzlies today, but just couldnt pay attention while at work.  That was a shame since it was a good game.  The pups won 7-5 and that was their sixth win in a row.


6-26-18

The Tigers played the As on the MLB.TV free game.  Rod Allen is one of my favorite color commentator guys.  On a sliding play at the plate, he pointed out the on deck hitter gave directions to the runner to get him in safely.  Theres all sorts of little things going on during a game that you never notice. 

The ballpark reporter did an interview with Stephen Piscottys father.  His extended family was there, taking up a whole section.  I think Piscottys mother had recently died and the family was there to support him.  As hes an As player, the group was wearing a curious mix of Tigers and As gear.  His father was stoic, but obviously holding in his emotions.  He was wearing an As hat, but finished the interview with a Go Tigers, statement.  The broadcasters said they were rooting for the Tigers, but also rooting for Stephen.     

It was 7-6 Tigers in the seventh and a steady stream of Detroit fans were leaving their seats.  Hmph.  Oh, then I turned up the volume and realized that it was raining there and they were headed for cover.  There was a more noticeable deluge a couple minutes later.  They questionably played through it, but after five minutes the rain stopped.  Im guessing they had a close eye on the radar.  The Tigers didnt hold on though and lost 9-7.

The pregame chat before the Chihuahuas game actually had me laughing out loud.  Steve Kaplowitz was relating a story from several years ago.  He was out on location for the radio station wearing an Elmo costume.  Across the street, there was a robbery of an armored car with shots fired.  Local news showed up and started interviewing witness, of which Kappy was one.  Since hed been wearing the costume for a while, he looked terrible.  Not wanting to go on camera with his hair messed up, he did the interview wearing the Elmo costume.  He says he has the tape somewhere.  If Kappy finds it, he said hell post it immediately, fully expecting it to go viral.

Even with that great story, the game was still interesting.  The Grizzlies starting pitcher was named Dykxhoorn.  Thats pronounced Dykes-horn, if youre calling the game at home.  The pups went down by four after two innings, but came back in a big way in the third with six runs on seven hits.  The wind really picked up at the stadium (and here) at that time, so there might have been a correlation. 

They put up three more next inning and almost needed them.  In the sixth and up 9-5, the Grizz loaded the bases with AJ Reed coming up to bat.  Hes hit the most home runs against the Chihuahuas in their existence.  Thankfully, he struck out.  Whew!  The Chihuahuas won 9-5 and thats their seventh in a row.


6-27-18

It was another audio-only game on MLB.TVs free game.  Since it was the Diamondbacks, thats okay.  I understand.  The Marlins guy wasnt doing it for me.  I was able to switch the audio this time.  Unfortunately, it wasnt much better.  Wheres Greg Schulte?  I used to listen to him all the time when KROD carried D-Backs games.  I guess he didnt go on the trip.  And it didnt matter, I wasnt able to listen anyway.  D-backs won 2-1.

I got to hear a bit more of the Chihuahuas and the Rivercats.  The pups were down 3-0 until the fourth.  They had a scoring chance, but the runner was held at third.  Tim Hagerty chuckled as the crowd bood.  The coaches are aware that the El Paso fans are passionate and want aggressive baserunning, but one must be prudent.  It was a good call.  The Chihuahuas went on to score five runs in the inning and batted around, 5-3 Chihuahuas.  The next moment of drama came into the ninth.  The Rivercats got two on and a single and an error brought in a run.  Phil Maton had to come in, and he got the save.  Thats 5-4 Chihuahuas and their eighth win in a row.  Whoa.


6-28-18
I missed the MLB.TV free game.  I also couldnt get the Chihuahuas game at my other desk at work.  But fear not, I still had access to FOX Sports Radio and got to listen to, wait for it, the Richmond Flying Squirrels.  They were playing the Harford Yard Goats.  It was the battle of questionable team names.  I just heard the end; the Goats beat the Squirrels.  (I cant believe I just wrote that sentence.)  The announcers were really impressed with the Goat starter, Peter Lambert, and predicted hed be in Triple-A soon.  They also did a postgame haiku about the game.  Yes really, and its a regular feature.  If I hadnt been listening to Eric Nadel doing limericks all season on Rangers baseball, it would have been the strangest thing Id ever heard on a baseball broadcast.

Back at my desk, I picked up the Chihuahuas just as they went down 5-0 to Grizzlies in the third on a wind-aided home run.  The Chihuahuas have the Grizzlies right where they want them, said Tim Hagerty.  Certainly, theyd made some good comebacks lately.  Indeed, the pups scored two in the fourth.  Unfortunately, the Grizz kept scoring and won 12-4.  

Chihuahuas pitching, not good
Fickle wind blows out
The winning streak ends tonight

Okay, not my best work, but five minutes well spent.  (Dont ask me to do a limerick.)


6-29-18

The MLB.TV free game was the Cardinals versus the Braves.  I wrote my Aunt Judy to tell her I was watching her team.  They had a couple of guests in the booth for the Cardinals broadcast.  One was AJ Pierzynksi.  I didnt realize he was a former Cardinal.  I dont think I liked him as a player (respected, not liked), but Ive enjoyed it whenever Ive heard him do color commentary.  They showed a clip of AJ catching, where he framed a pitch that bounced to the plate, and did it again on another pitch of the at bat.  He actually argued with the ump, trying to get the call.  Hunter Pence, the batter, was confused and wasnt sure if he should be laughing or arguing too.

It was still 0-0 going into the seventh inning.  The Braves finally scored via Ender Inciarte, former Chihuahua, getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  They loaded the bases again in the eighth and scored two more.  The final was 5-1 Atlanta.  Starting pitching was good for both teams, but the Cardinals bullpen gave it up.  The Braves are still looking good.

It rained in El Paso before the Chihuahuas/Isotopes game, which surprised me, since it didnt rain here in Las Cruces.  The pups were wearing some kind of special top.  I never quite understood what it was for or looked like from listening to the radio call.  Strangely, they were wearing grey (visiting) pants with it. 

The Chihuahuas went down two early, but Raffy Lopez, back on the team, tied it.  In the fourth, an error contributed to the Isotopes retaking the lead.  As some more rain started falling in El Paso (not here), the topes kept hitting and scoring.  The wet grass seemed to give the fielders some trouble.  Walter Lockett would get knocked out after giving up 8 runs, but only 3 earned.  The Chihuahuas two errors hurt.  10-3 Isotopes was the final.


6-30-18

I was really busy with quarter end processing the night before.  I woke up feeling okay, but I nearly fell asleep during the two games I sat down to watch on Saturday.  I was either exhausted or it was the games themselves.  The Tigers and Blue Jays game on a Mexican station in the morning was at least a close one.  It was 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth when Justin Smoak hit the second pitch of the inning for a walkoff home run.  4-3 Blue Jays.  The Tigers now have an 11-game losing streak going.  Ive seen both of these teams a few times this season and honestly, I dont recognize half their players.  I may as well be watching a Triple-A game.

Well, there was a more marquee-type match-up in the evening on FOX, Yankees versus Red Sox.  Usually, Id complain about this ubiquitous pairing, but I havent seen it much this season and both teams are playing +.600 baseball.  Sonny Gray started for the pinstripes and got two quick outs.  Then he let on the next three batters and gave up a grand slam to Rafael Devers.  4-0 Red Sox in a 20-minute half-inning.  Typical.  There was a curious level of cheering in Yankee Stadium for the Red Sox.  Enemy balls flying into stands were even appreciated by the receiving fans.

Chris Sale started for the Red Sox and went seven innings.  Thats all you need to know about Yankee hitting tonight.  Gray only lasted into the third with the score 6-0.  Aaron Judge did have a highlight as he threw out Xander Bogarts at the plate to end the inning.  In the bottom, the Red Sox had some good defense with Jackie Bradley Jr. running back and stealing a double, near home run, off the wall.  By this point, the other regional FOX games were two innings ahead of this game, including the Rockies and the Dodgers, which Id hoped to see (and the Rockies won).  11-0 Red Sox in a rout.
          
The big news at the Chihuahuas/Isotopes game tonight was that the Rockies had sent their Opening Day starter, Jon Gray, down to the topes.  This is bad news all the way around.  He wasnt pitching tonight though.  The Chihuahuas had a good bounce back game after two bad losses and won 7-1.  They got two runs on a dropped popup in the outfield.  Luis Urias also threw out a runner at the plate.  They had a huge 9,000+ crowd in El Paso for the game and for fireworks afterward.  

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