Baseball Journal August 22-24, 2018

8-22-18

Somehow, I was at work at 8:00am again for a meeting.  Once again, I stuck around all day.  If I’d been home, I could have heard the Rangers this afternoon on the radio.  The game was also a free game on Facebook, but only if you’re a signed-up, which I’m not.  The other MLB.TV free game was a power match-up between the Indians and the Red Sox.  The Sox had lost three-in-a-row, including two to the Tribe.  This was their longest losing streak of the year. 

They were showing the NESN feed.  Tonight, they were doing a fund-raiser for the Jimmy Fund, a cancer charity.  They had guests on during the broadcast.  Most striking was a kid, maybe 10 or 12.  He had cancer and problems coming from it, but was still brave and upbeat and a big Sox fan.  He was a New Englander in the best sense of the term.  Unfortunately, it was a short inning, but he loved the view from the pressbox.  “No wonder you guys can call home runs so quickly up here.”  The kid had plenty to cheer for with a 10-4 Red Sox victory.

On the Flying Squirrels tonight, Jeff Samardzija made a rehab start for the Giants’ Double-A affiliate.  Meanwhile, the Giants are trying to deal off Andrew McCutchen and Buster Posey may be about to have surgery, thus effectively ending their season.  In El Paso, it was the best-est Diablos Days of the season with a replica Diablos jersey giveaway.  Okay, I’m sorry I missed attending this game. 

So, we had the Diablos facing the Isotopes tonight.  The Diablos got off on a bad foot with a Luis Urias’ error and a single scoring two runs for the Isotopes.  Francisco Mejia made that lead short-lived in the bottom with a two-run homer.  The Padres organization may have gotten a winner in the Brad Hand trade.  Javy Guerra piled on with a two-run homer in the second to make it 4-2.  In the third, Tim chatted with a season ticket holder.  The fan actually called Ty France’s leadoff homer as it happened.  Javy doubled in another run that inning and singled in a run in the fifth to make it 7-2 Diablos, which was the final.  Logan Allen had a good start pitching, including a four-pitch sixth inning.  The Chihuahuas have got an eight-game winning streak going and their magic number for the playoffs is four.

8-23-18

Today started off with the MLB.TV free game between the Rays and Royals.  When I tuned in, it was Duffy versus Duffy.  In this case Royals’ pitcher Danny Duffy was pitching to Rays’ batter Matt Duffy.  The announcers were excited and had been waiting all day to make that call.  I didn’t actually watch much of the game, but I did see in the third when a fly ball hit the “B-ring” catwalk that was caught at the wall.  Balls hitting that catwalk are in play and it was almost a three-run homer.  You gotta be aware of those Tropicana Field ground rules. 

With the scored tied at 3 in the bottom of the ninth, the bases were loaded with Rays with one out.  Kevin Kiermaier grounded into a fielder’s choice.  The throw came right home.  Salvador Perez, very uncharacteristically, clanked on the low throw and the run scored.  The Rays won 4-3. 

I heard a bit of the pregame for tonight’s Chihuahuas’ game.  Steve Kaplowitz gave Tim Hagerty some news about the Isotopes, tonight’s opponent.  Matt Holliday was called up to the Rockies.  However, his cleats didn’t make the trip with him.  But, his cleats from his great 2007 season were there at Coors Field on display.  They broke them out for him and that’s what he used when he played for them today. 

The Chihuahuas’ magic number to clinch is 3.  Early in the game, Tim talked about the team’s division-winning plans.  He was unafraid of jinxing them at this point as it’s just about inevitable with a couple of week’s worth of games left.  The pups got it started with Ty France hitting a two-run homer in the first.  This kid is even not listed in my baseball season preview magazine as a top 10 prospect.  I’m simply amazed.

The Chihuahuas never looked back after that lead.  I was pretty busy during most of game (admittedly mostly stuffing my face with a large dinner).  I’ll just hit the highlights.  Forrestt Allday cranked a three-run homer in the fourth.  Santiago Casilla, former great reliever with the Giants, came into pitch for the Isotopes in the fifth.  Dusty Coleman hit a two-run homer off him.  Cal Quantrill started for the dogs and went six innings with only 1 earned run.  Dusty made a great jump catch at the wall to end the game with Tim making an emphatic call of the play.  Let’s add it up.  It was 14-2 Chihuahuas today.  That’s a four-game sweep of the Isotopes, a nine-game winning streak, and a 16-game home game winning streak.  I’m just going to let that speak for itself.

8-24-18

My definition of “work” is turning into being overwhelmed by paperwork on a daily basis.  Well at least today, that meant I was mostly at my desk and able to listen to a good game.  The MLB.TV free game was the Phillies versus the Blue Jays.  This was at least a meaningful game for the Phillies.  The pleasant baritone voice of Dan Shulman did the play-by-play with Buck Martinez providing color.  It was a bit like a good ESPN game where they talked about the players, teams, and baseball in general around the game being played.

There was a great crowd there at Rogers Centre in Toronto.  The Blue Jays do some good promotions.  Upcoming ones included a Buck Martinez alarm clock, an R2-D-Took sock hat, and a Jays batting helmet.  I caught a couple of glimpses of one of the hot waitresses that work the seats behind home plate.  At Turner Field, there was a girl working there for a couple of years that always got my attention during the game. 

The teams were wearing their Little League World Series-themed uniforms with nicknames on the back.  This is a great promotion for baseball.  Kevin Pillar, who wanted to be identified as “Superman,” but couldn’t because of trademark restrictions, threw out Scott Kingery at the plate from centerfield in the second.  Seemed pretty super to me.  In the bottom, Kendrys Morales homered for the fifth straight game, also pretty super.  He’s flirting with a record. 

In the fourth, Rhys Hoskins “Big Fella,” made a great diving catch in center.  (Hoskins’ teammate, Tommy Hunter, took the nickname “Bigger Fella.”)  Rhys came up shaking his hand.  Martinez reminded everyone that it’s concrete underneath that Astroturf.  Yeesh.  You don’t like thinking about those things.  There was a discussion later about bats.  Most players now favor shorter, lighter bats.  Martinez said it was because they were more like the aluminum bats they used in college.  Not to mention, it’s bat speed that causes home runs, not heavier bats. 

Curtis Granderson was not in the game.  His replacement in the lineup hit a homer.  They showed the “Grandyman” in the dugout a couple of times.  The announcers were wondering what he was going to be doing after he retires.  They thought, with his experience and personality, he could manage, go into broadcasting, try politics, or might work as a charity fundraiser (he’s raised millions for various causes).  His options are wide-open.  He’s pretty likeable player.  I remember him starting with the Tigers and then following him along to various teams. 

The Blue Jays won 4-2.  I was too busy to really keep track of the scoring, but I really enjoyed the commentary.  I admit I was rooting for the Phillies, but the Jays played a good game.         

Meanwhile in Arizona, Aggie Volleyball played ASU as the Soccer team played Northern Arizona.  Since I’ll hopefully be going to their matches in the near future, I think I’ll save my commentary for those reports.  Unfortunately, they both lost.  It was a bit disappointing.   

The Chihuahuas were in Tacoma and were looking to clinch the division tonight.  It was cool there in the Pacific Northwest.  It was projected to be 50 degrees by the end of the night.  There was smoke in the air from forest fires in Canada, but not bad enough to make it unpleasant.  I was busy and sort of mentally tuned out of the game, though it might have had more to do with the score.  I think it was 1-0 Chihuahuas for much of the game. 

Tim Hagerty was searching for Wi-fi in the broadcasting booth, looking for updates on the Salt Lake game.  The Chihuahuas winning and the Bees losing would decide the division tonight.  By the eighth, the pups were up 2-0.  The Rainiers loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom.  They got a run on a sacrifice.  Shane Peterson threw out a runner at home on a single to end the inning. 

The other game was close too.  Tim was basically alternating play-by-play on the games.  The Bees won, though Fresno nearly came back in the ninth.  The Chihuahuas won their game 3-1.  It was a bullpen day and they did a great job.  Their magic number is now 1.