Baseball Journal September: Radio Silence and MLB Postseason Preview

9-22-26

It was an unexpectedly epic first game of the PCL Championship between the OKC Comets and the Las Vegas Aviators.    There was a decent crowd of 5,400 in Vegas to see their team going for their second PCL championship in a row.    There was even a squishy cube giveaway for the fans at the game.    Playoff games do not usually have a fan giveaway, but since LV clinched in the first half and knew they’d be hosting the games, maybe they ordered something.    Russ Langer was back on the call for the game with a co-host.

   

“Darrel barrels one into the gap,” Russ’ co-host announced in the first inning as the Aviators took the lead on a Darrel Hernaiz double.    A bases loaded sac fly made it, 2-0.    In the second, the Aviators followed with a two-run homer!    Err . . . Except, no.    It was caught at the tall left field wall and fooled the cameraman, Langer, the runner on first, and me.    I don’t know how we all got that wrong.    It sure looked like a home run.    In the third, “Lava” drove in a run for LV.    (That’s Bryan Lavastida.)    Luke Mann then dropped in a Texas Leaguer to drive in 2 more to make it, 5-0 LV.

OKC’s James Tibbs III homered to begin the fourth inning to make it, 5-1.    Judging by the cheers, there were a bunch of Dodger fans there.    (You could see them in the crowd later on.)    In the bottom of the fourth, Joey Meneses drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, but what a choice!    Hyeseong Kim at second laid out to get the liner and made a backhand flip to second for the out.    6-1 LV.

In the fifth, OKC scored a run, and then another single went between the legs of the left fielder and scored another.    After an odd pitch clock violation for a walk, the LV starter was chased from the game.    The reliever, Taylor Rashi, walked the bases full with no outs.    After giving up a single for two runs, Rashi struck out three in a row, but now it was a ballgame at 6-5 LV.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Aviators loaded the bases and poured it on with the runs.    Russ almost lost his voice cheering on the scoring.    It was a 6-run inning and 12-5 Aviators.    It wasn’t over yet.    In the top of the eighth, OKC got runs off of a bases loaded walk, a wild pitch, an infield error, a fielder’s choice, and another infield error.    The Comets had scored 5 runs when the dust settled, 13-10.   

The top of the ninth, started with another error (the sixth of the game, LV had 4).    LV turned a double play next, but then gave up a solo home run.    Lucky they turned that DP.    A strikeout finally ended it.    Las Vegas got a hard-earned (or at least stopped choking first) win, 13-11.

9-23-26

The two Triple-A Championship games were available as free games tonight.    Unfortunately, I wasn’t in to it and both games were blowouts.    I also discovered that the lower level playoffs have also been on this whole time and I wasn’t paying any attention.    I thought their seasons were over by now.   

   

The International League Championship series was between the Rochester Red Wings at the Memphis Redbirds.    It looked like a light crowd of diehards in Memphis.    I started watching, but got distracted away.    I looked back in the second and Memphis had suddenly scored 4.    I got distracted again and looked back in in the third and it was 11-0 Redbirds.    I checked back in the fifth and it was 15-0.    When do they run rule?    I watched the end.    Rochester had scored a few runs and the final out proved elusive.    The announcer said, “Match Point #3” after Rochester had been down to their final strike three times.    15-4 Redbirds win and split the series.

In the PCL Championship later, OKC took an early lead over Las Vegas.    In the fifth, down 3-0, OKC’s James Tibbs III hit a 3-run homer into the pool to make it, 6-0 OKC.    The final was 7-2 OKC and splits their series.    This sets up two finales tomorrow in Triple-A.

9-24-26

Our final weekday day game with the Rangers and Mets was a Rangers’ victory, but a loss for myself as the radio affiliate did not carry the game.    I’m still sad and disappointed about getting stiffed.    The Rangers lost the first two games of the series and lost the lead of the AL West.    However, the Astros have not been able to really capitalize.    This may come down to the final game of the season.

My final MiLB Free Games were a pair of decisive Championship games.    (The Triple-A Championship game will be a free game, but I won’t be able to see it.)    The International League Championship series was between the Rochester Red Wings at the Memphis Redbirds.    I think the crowd was bigger than yesterday.    It sounded bigger.    Memphis has a pretty nice modern stadium with a cool right field club section.   

Rochester took a 1-0 lead in the first.    In the fifth, it was still 1-0.    Rochester lost a runner at third trying to steal home. In the bottom, a solo homer tied it up. Memphis began the seventh leadoff double.    Young men in the club section and kids in the stands went “tarps off” waving their shirts. Another double brought in the runner and set the crowd roaring.    The batter on second was celebrating as it was 2-1 Memphis.    In the eighth, Rochester hit a double with 2 outs.    There was a pitching change, but another double and a single, gave Rochester back the lead.    3-2 Red Wings was the final score.    The key stat was Rochester being up 12 to 3 in hits.

Meanwhile, the PCL finale in Las Vegas began with OKC doubling in the game’s first run.    In the third, OKC loaded the bases with no outs.    They drove in 2 to make it, 3-0.    In the sixth, OKC walked the bases full of Aviators with 2 outs, but a ground out to first ended it.

In the eighth, two errors, including a flyball that clanked on the fielder’s mitt, brought in two runs for OKC to make it, 5-0.    LV scored 2 in the bottom when I wasn’t watching.    In the ninth, the Aviators threw out OKC runners at second and home in the inning.    A catcher’s interference call prolonged the inning with 2 outs, but a runner picked off second ended the inning.   

In the bottom of the ninth, a guy with a .000 batting average came in to pinch hit.    The manager was playing a hunch. Even with a dropped popup by the catcher, it was still a strikeout, though it was a long at bat. OKC wins it, 5-2, and will face Rochester in the Triple-A Championship on Saturday.    (OKC won it, 5-3, in 10 innings.    Sounded like a good game.    I wonder if anybody was there for it in Las Vegas.)

9-26-26

Today’s post is going to be mostly college football.    My Rangers’ affiliate did not broadcast today’s game.    Maybe they didn’t plan to and also, there was a rain delay before the game started.    They did beat the Twins to keep their playoff hopes alive.    However, the Astros also won, so it’ll come down to tomorrow’s games, along with Philly and the Diamondbacks deciding their fates.

The main event of the day was the 116-th Aggie/Lobo Football game.    I wasn’t hopeful about an Aggie victory after seeing last week’s score between Oklahoma and UNM.    OK won, 14-6.    I literally gasped when I saw that and so did a couple of other people I told.  It was only a 21-point spread to begin with.    I think the Lobos will be going to another bowl game at the end of the season.   

It was only an 11-point spread against the Aggies.    This assumed a rivalry game would be close.    I’d thought about asking Zanaya to the game, but she was already going to work security there. We did not want a repeat of the incident from October 2022, which caused the downfall of the Aggie Men’s Basketball team (1-7-23), so by all means, increase security.

I resolved to just listen on the radio.    Aggie hero quarterback, Diego Pavia, was interviewed in the pregame.    He was enthusiastic about being at the game today.    Interviewer MJ Newsom tactfully did not ask what Diego was doing currently, since he didn’t make it into the NFL.    (The guy did actually change college sports by suing for an extra year of eligibility.)    However the game would turn out, a lot of people would see it.    Attendance was listed at 25k.    That’s only 3k off of a full house.   

Sigh.    I gonna have to report on this other side story.    Football and Volleyball were crossed up in scheduling.    I’m not sure there was much they could do about it.    They were both going to have to play in the afternoon.    Volleyball was playing C-USA powerhouse, WKU.    They might not have been expecting a long match that might finish before the football game.    Instead, it went 5 sets and extra points (20-18) in the fifth.    The Aggies took the first two sets and they were all close, but the Hilltoppers prevailed, 3-2.    Tess Fuqua (13 kills) and Mia Fox (11 kills) were the standouts and the team out-blocked WKU.   

I was following along with the match and was pretty disappointed for the girls in real time.    I was more disappointed in the attendance, which was 320, well below normal, especially for a big game.    All of those Aggie fans outside tailgating for football and they couldn’t gone to volleyball if they’d wanted see the whole football game.    Given the price of tickets (I looked), you couldn’t even fault the decision.     

The first quarter, the Lobos got the ball first and converted with a long bomb and a touchdown to make it, 7-0.    The Aggies came right back. James Jones made a huge rush for 54 yards to make it first and goal.    The Aggies were kept out of the endzone and the team’s new kicker missed an easy field goal.    The next Aggie possession, they were pushed back in their own end.    It was a short field for the Lobos after a good return and they turned it into another touchdown, 14-0.

In the second quarter, the Aggies marched downfield, including a fourth and inches play.    The previous kicker was brought back out for a field goal and it was 14-3 Lobos.    UNM marched downfield themselves.    A penalty wiped out a touchdown and they missed a field goal.    The Lobos picked an interception late, but punted on the possession.    Both teams had some really sloppy play before halftime.

During the break, I went over to Dollartree for a couple of things.    Some people there were talking about the game.    There was a guy there in a Lobos shirt.    Zenaya did report there were a lot of Lobo fans there.    (There were four sections tagged for the visitors.)    I went next door to the Paleta Bar for a dessert and the girl making my paleta saw my Aggie shirt and asked about the game.    This game is a big deal here.   

I missed a bit of the third quarter.    In that time, Aggie quarterback, Trey Hedden, threw another interception, which was converted into a Lobo touchdown, 21-3.    I started listening just as Hedden fumbled.    The Lobos recovered and scored again, 28-3.    Backup, Adam Damante, came in as the Aggie quarterback.    He led a nice drive, but it ended on a turnover on downs.    The Lobos threw another bomb and that resulted in a third touchdown in the quarter, 35-3.

Damante led a touchdown drive with a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter to make it, 35-11 Lobos.    The Lobo put up a late touchdown, 42-11.    The Aggies got the ball back with under two minutes and Damante quickly took the ball downfield for a touchdown before the end.    The broadcasters had already given Damante the starting quarterback job after the last series.    He was passing the ball well, though I don’t know if it was against the starters.    42-18 Lobos final.    This wasn’t a surprising result.

I hate to say this at this time, but Aggie Football is going to be playing on the weekdays next month, and I’m not going to covering those games and likely the rest of the season.    There’s a possibility I might go to a game.    I’ll write it up, if it happens.   

I wasn’t totally shutout on baseball.    I picked up the Rockies’ game after the sun went down.    They were up 5-3 over the White Sox in the eighth.    The Rox added on in the top of the ninth with a Hunter Goodman 3-run homer, 9-3.    That was his 41-st of the season and his second of the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Benintendi hit a 3-run homer for the Sox with no outs.    The crowd in Chicago went crazy. However, Rockies’ pitching did finish it off, 9-6.    The White Sox were scoreboard watching, as the Indians won their game and won the AL Central.

It was late and I needed good laugh.    I tuned into Oregon State versus UTEP on the radio.    It was 20-0 Beavers at the half and 33-7 final. Broadcaster John Tischer said the 15k fans there likely enjoyed the large drone show afterward more than the game.    That’s a pretty good crowd for such a lousy team.    I watched this betting show in the morning.    They were talking about how bad UTEP was, but at least they’re getting some national attention.    

The heartwarming story of the day was Iowa beating Michigan on a last second touchdown.    A couple of weeks ago, lowly Central Michigan had beaten Michigan at Ann Arbor, but the refs added a second to an expired clock to give Michigan a second chance at a Hail Mary, which they converted on and won.    That was egregious meddling, so it was nice to see some payback.

9-27-26 MLB Postseason Preview

The Astros definitively punched their ticket with 9-0 win over the A’s.    The Rangers lost 6-4 to the Twins, but it didn’t matter either way.    My Rangers’ affiliate didn’t carry the game anyway.    Philadelphia also won to finally set the playoff field.

If you want a good laugh, go read my predictions in my Baseball Preview for this season.    I correctly predicted the Dodgers’ success and getting Tarik Skubal, but so did everyone else.    Just about everything else was hysterically wrong.    I owe an apology to the Rays.    Apparently playing fundamentals is a path to winning baseball.    Who saw the White Sox being good this season?    The Indians may have caught them to win the division in the end, but going to playoffs seemed so unlikely.    Then again, it was a terrible AL Central and a mostly terrible AL altogether.    (How is the AL Central sending two teams to the playoffs?    The Astros only won the AL West with a .500, 81-81, record.)   

Our playoff field is set:

AL: Rays (bye), Indians (bye), Yankees, White Sox, Red Sox, Astros

NL: Brewers (bye), Dodgers (bye), Braves, Cubs, Padres, Phillies    

I suppose I should say something here other than I feel like I barely saw any of these teams play.    (Thanks for ending the daily Free Game, MLB.TV.)    The Dodgers have the pitching and should win.    I’m hoping the Brewers, the only 100-win team, wins it.    Go Joey Ortiz (though he may be injured)!    (And speaking former Aggie greats, Nick Gonzales finished batting .300 for the Pirates.)   

Beyond those two teams, I think you have to make a more involved case for the others.    The Braves are a good all-around team.    The Cubs have a great offense and field defense.    I’d like to see the Phillies win just to give Bryce Harper a ring, and I’ve just liked the Padres for the last few years.    I wouldn’t put a bet on either team.    

Can the Rays really do it?    They came out on top in the AL East that sent three teams to the playoffs.    They must be doing something right.    The Yankees certainly have great pitching.    If only Aaron Judge could run, you might take them seriously.    (If he just hits home runs, he won’t even have to do that.)    I could see the Red Sox suddenly getting hot and running the table.    I wouldn’t even entertain the thought of the other three teams, though watching Munetaka Murakami party with a White Sox World Series win would be awesome. 

Baseball Journal September: So Long Pups

 

9-15-26

The Chihuahuas were starting their final series tonight.    They were playing OKC, who are expecting to be playing next week in the PCL Championship.    Their magic number was down to two, so there would be some out-of-town scoreboard watching.    The pups were not cooperating with the Comets clinching tonight.    In the second, Mason McCoy hit a 3-run double as part of a 4-run inning.    By the sixth, Las Vegas beat Sugar Land, which helped OKC.    However, the Chihuahuas were up 10-1 after 5-run inning.    El Paso’s starter, Ian Koenig, went 6 innings and only allowed 1 run off of a solo homer.    OKC did score 4 in the ninth.    The pitcher that started the inning came out with an injury after allowing a couple of runs.    His replacement gave up a 2-run homer, but the Chihuahuas won it, 11-5.

9-16-26

Today was overcast and 83-degrees after a rain shower last night.    It certainly would have been pleasant conditions to take in a day game in El Paso.    The Chihuahuas were facing the Comets again.    OKC’s magic number to advance to the PCL Championship was down to one.    You’d think they’d want to win it rather than having it handed to them.    El Paso, meanwhile, has a firm lock on last place in the league.     

The Comets got some traffic on in the first, but they were left stranded.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty was talking about the playoff and the split season formats.    In the International League with 20 teams, he mentioned that Rochester has an overall record over .600, but may not win either half of the season and will get shut out of the playoffs.    The players were making ABS challenges early in the game and were being correct.    Challenge strategy, at least in Triple-A, may come down to who is behind the plate.   

In the fourth inning, the Comets had runners on first and second with nobody out.    On a hit-and-run, the hit was a liner to first.    That was out #1.    The first baseman, Marcos Castañon, stepped on first for out #2.    He then threw to second for out #3.    Triple play!    Yes!    Yes!    Tim was fairly stunned as he reported this was the first time the pups had turned one in their 12-year history (1,760 games).  The team is leading the league in double plays, so this happening isn’t a total surprise.    He did say that the Chihuahuas have had three triple plays turned against them.    I wonder if I had heard any of them, though I probably wouldn’t have been cheering over them.

In the fifth, the Comets finally broke through with a sac fly.    The outfielder’s throw made it close.    1-0 OKC.    Meanwhile after five innings, Tim finally acknowledged that the Chihuahuas had not yet had a baserunner in the game.    He commented on the improbability of a scorecard with a perfect game and a triple play.    Comet starter, Jackson Ferris, completed the sixth inning with his tenth strikeout and still no baserunners.   

 

In the seventh, the sun came out and interfered with a flyball catch, which lead to a Comets run.    They scored three more before a pitching change.    With two on and nobody out this time, the Comets only had one of their runners take off for a stolen base.    The Comets then loaded the bases, still with nobody out, and their big home run hitter up.    He hit a liner to center that McCoy made a great play on, though it resulted in a sac fly run.    The next hit just got past him for another run.    Meanwhile, Ferris was pacing the OKC dugout.    It was an 11-batter, 6-run inning for a 7-0 Comets’ lead.

Miguel Andujar finally broke up the perfect game in the bottom of the seventh.    It was a slow dribbler to the third base side.    Ferris desperately ran after it and made a panic throw to first, but it was wide.    After a 5-run eighth, Tim was telling the clubhouse staff to get the champagne ready, as it was 12-0 Comets.    In the bottom of the eighth, Ferris came back out and went 7 2/3 innings, allowing 0 runs, 1 hit, and 1 walk with 13 strikeouts.    He was over 100 pitches when he came out.   

Edwin Diaz on rehab pitched the bottom of the ninth.    Andujar would get another hit in the inning.    He’d finish with 2 hits; the rest of the team had 0.    Comets win 12-0 and clinch.    A 14-game winning streak earlier this month got them in. It was a two-and-a-half hour game for 5,000 fans in attendance.    It was nice and short drubbing at least, so I could listen to all of it before going to work.   

The Las Vegas and Sugar Land game in the evening was now irrelevant, but I was listening, though Russ Langer not doing the game. The game was scoreless for four innings, but LV broke through on a bases loaded error for 2 runs with 2 outs. A double brought in 2 more runs to make it, 4-0. The Aviators went on to win 5-0 and only gave up 1 hit.

9-17-26

“Las Vegas is going to the playoffs; Sugar Land is playing for pride.”    I tuned into the Aviators versus the Space Cowboys, though there wasn’t anything at stake, as the broadcaster said at the beginning of the game.    Sugar Land scored in the first inning.    It was the first time they’d scored in 14 innings.    They had a giveaway tonight of college football team hats featuring Texas or A&M colors.    Not a bad promotion.

The Chihuahuas versus the OKC Comets came on a little later.    The UTEP Choir performed a powerful Anthem for UTEP Night at the park.    OKC took an early 2-run lead, but 4 doubles in the second put the pups up, 3-2. The Comets come right back in the third with 3 runs including a 2-run homer, 5-3.    This game was looking interesting.

Yesterday, former Chihuahua, Ethan Salas, hit his first and second home runs in a game for the Padres.    Lookin’ good.    In the fourth, the pups loaded the bases with 2 bunt singles and a walk.    The good news was that an error brought in one run and a sac fly tied the score, 5-5.    The bad news was that the game was stopped for rain and suspended until tomorrow.    (It was a pretty good shower here.)

Back to Sugar Land then.    It was 6-5 LV in the eighth.    They added an insurance run and won, 7-5.    Las Vegas now has the most franchise wins in a season going into the PCL Championship.

9-18-26

The suspended Chihuahuas/OKC game resumed play in the early evening. In the sixth, OKC took the lead on a run scored on a double play (no RBI) 6-5 and scored another, 7-5.    In the seventh, a solo home run and a 2-RBI triple made it, 10-5.    In the ninth, a 3-run homer made it, 14-6 OKC.    In the bottom, Nick Pratto tripled in a final Chihuahuas’ run to end it, 14-7 Comets.    The game had started so promisingly.

Our last MiLB Free Game was the Durham Bulls at the Worcester Red Sox.    I joined it in progress in the fifth with the game basically over at 12-1 Woo Sox.    They were playing as the Pawtucket “Hot Wieners” tonight.    Minor League teams have no shame. It was a full house there and a beautiful stadium. However, I didn’t watch much given the score.    16-1 Hot Wieners.    Bring on the Friday night fireworks!

Game 2 for the Chihuahuas and the Comets would be 7 innings.    It started about an hour late, but 7,900 still came out.    It was 1-1 in the third. Mason McCoy was hit on the hand trying to bunt.    He stayed in, wasn’t even given first, but got a hit anyway. There was some bad blood after another pitch came inside on another batter bunting. In the top of the fifth, OKC took the lead on a wild pitch, but another runner on base thrown out while stealing and trying to get to third. A double drove in two walked batters to make it 4-1 OKC.    In the bottom of the fifth, a Chihuahua single drove in a run.    McCoy made a headfirst dive to score on a passed ball.    Good thing he didn’t come out of the game, 4-3.

Top of the seventh, Bryce Johnson played the wall perfectly on a line drive and threw out the batter at second trying for a double.    The near full house crowd was going crazy and it sounded like there were lot of kids were there.    In the bottom of the seventh, McCoy led off with his third hit of the day and stole second and third.    The next batter walked with nobody out. Bryce then stole second, but reliever came in and intentionally loaded the bases.    It was a good move, as he finished off the inning and the game, 4-3 OKC final.

9-19-26

I was happy my Rangers’ radio affiliate was carrying the day game today, though the reception was lousy.    The Rangers were playing the Blue Jays with the Rangers and Astros tied atop the AL West.    Josh Jung homered in the first to give the Rangers a quick lead.    They added another in the second on an error and another on a wild pitch to make it, 3-0 Rangers.

Through the fifth the Rangers had used two pitchers and a no-hitter alert was declared, but the Jays broke it up and scored in the next inning, 3-1.    In the bottom of the sixth, Wyatt Langford doubled in 2 runs.    With the bases loaded, a hit by pitch made it 5-1.    On a shallow sac fly to center, Langford came in from third.    The throw beat him there, but passed the catcher.    Langford leapt over the covering pitcher, missed the bag, but leapt back and touched it for the run, 6-1 Rangers and they’d win it, 6-2.

Zanaya and I were invited to tonight’s Chihuahuas/OKC game by my co-worker Toni.    Unfortunately, Zanaya would be working at a mud volleyball tournament (and there were some sore losers there and a near fight), so I declined as well.    Toni ended up not going.   

I tuned in to the game in time to hear a 3-run homer by OKC in the third to start the scoring. They ran it up to 5-0, before the Chihuahuas sac’d in a run in the third.    In the fourth, the pups scored 4 more runs, one at a time, and took a 6-5 lead.    The inning nearly ended prematurely, but the final out was instead ruled a foul ball.    With that new life, the pups scored another run to take the lead.   

Broadcaster Tim Hagerty reported there were dueling fan cheers for the teams.    Were those Dodger fans cheering?    OKC tied it right back up in the fifth.    In the bottom of the sixth, a sac bunt with 2 on and an error by pitcher, scored 2 to give the Chihuahuas back the lead, 8-6.

I noticed the Rockies were playing Seattle late.    I don’t notice that was scheduled, but I tuned right in when I found out.    I arrived just as the Rockies took the lead, 5-3, after a 4-run seventh. 34k were there at Coors Field and they were fully into it in the ninth as the Rockies held the lead and won it.

I turned back to the Chihuahuas.    It was now 13-6 Chihuahuas!    Holy Cow!    I missed a 12-batter, 7-run inning in the sixth.    Nick Solak made all 3 outs in the right field in the ninth for a 14-8 Chihuahuas’ win in front of 8,900 fans.    Oops.    I feel like I owe Toni an apology for not going to this game.   

9-20-26

It was the final Chihuahuas’ game of the season today.    It was 1-1 early against the OKC.    The Comets scratched out a run in the eighth and that was the ballgame, 2-1 OKC.    After the game, the players and the coaches brought out a banner thanking the 6k in attendance. It was our final sad goodbye to our old friend Tim Hagerty doing the broadcast.    He was already looking forward to next season.

The Rangers were playing the Blue Jays.    They had already taken the first two games of the series and taken the lead in the AL West over the Astros.    The Jays took a 2-run lead, but in the fourth, Jake Burger tied it with a 2-run homer.    Unfortunately, Jacob deGrom, the Ranger starter, gave back the lead in the fifth and worse, he came out of the game hurting.    From there, the Jays poured it on and won 7-2.    Luckily, the Astros lost as well, so the Rangers are one game up with six left to play.

On TV, there was a College Volleyball match with Louisville at Kentucky. (This was great counter-programming to the NFL.)    Kentucky dropped their first set at home this season, but came back to win the next 3 sets to take the match.    The Student Section took “Tarps off” to a new level.    The Men’s Swim team came to support the girls just wearing their Speedos.    It was quite the sight.   

Baseball Journal September: Mullets

 

8-9-26

The MiLB Free Game was the Erie Sea Wolves at the Reading Fightin Phils.    The Phils were wearing sweet red pinstripes tonight.    Their stadium has something almost like a giant warehouse in right field, like Camden Yards.    A couple of top prospects were playing against each other.    Gage Wood was pitching with the Phils.    I saw him load the bases in the fourth, but stranded the runners.    He pitched 5 innings, with 2 runs and 5 strikeouts.    Zyhir Hope was playing for the Sea Wolves.    He was the loose change the Dodgers handed to the Tigers for Tarik Skubal.    I wasn’t really watching.    The Phils won 11-3 with several home runs.    Their magic number was down to 1 to make it into the playoffs.

The Chihuahuas were playing Rainiers in Tacoma and were wearing their alternate Matachines uniforms.    In the first inning, Nick Solak drove in an unearned run.    When I tuned in late, that single run had held up until the eighth.    This was in spite of the Rainiers’ best efforts with 2 errors and the Chihuahuas had left 12 runners on base.   

In the eighth, the Chihuahuas loaded the bases with 2 outs.    The Rainiers intentionally walked the batter before Solak, who flied out.    It was the third time the pups had left the bases loaded.    There wasn’t great attendance tonight.    The Seahawks were playing their season opener.    There was some random cheering in the crowd this inning, indicating a Seahawks’ win.

In the top of the ninth, Nick Pratto led off with a home run.    After another error letting on a runner, Mason McCoy drove in a run with his fifth hit of the night.    Another single brought in another run, 4-0 Chihuahuas, with 3 unearned runs.    In the bottom of the ninth, Connor Joe hit a line drive 2-run homer, but the Chihuahuas finished it out, 4-2.    There was no shutout, but where has this good pitching been all season for the pups?    The Chihuahuas finished with 17 runners left on base and 13 hits.    Losing this one would have been criminal.

I tuned into the Rivercats versus the Aviators afterward.    This was a good decision.    It was nil-nil in the eighth.    Las Vegas got 2 on, but they were left stranded.    They’d only scored 1 run in 26 innings, and that’s with Joey Meneses, who is leading the league with 109 RBI’s.   

In the top of the ninth, LV catcher, Bryan Lavastida, stole an out with a challenge.    He was 6 for 6 in challenges today.    (And might be avoiding the ump after the game.)    A Rivercat tripled with 2 outs.    A girl was screaming on every pitch and I guess it worked as the next batter fouled out.    In the bottom of the ninth, it was a “Splash off” home run into the pool by Lavastida to win it, 1-0 Aviators.    This guy must be living right.   

9-10-26

It was a late afternoon game today between the Rangers at the Mariners.  Unfortunately, it was on the west coast, so I knew I was only going to be able to listen to maybe an hour of the game.  The pregame started with an interview with the M’s voice, Rick Rizz, who is retiring.    He’s going to the Mariners’ Hall of Fame, like his predecessor, Dave Niehaus.    Him and Eric Nadel had a nice time reminiscing about past meetings between the teams.    The Mariners’ great 1995 season is particularly fondly remembered for their first playoff appearance and it helped them get a new stadium and stay in Seattle.   

It was a nice afternoon in the city, so the roof was open.    Jacob deGrom was pitching against Logan Gilbert for the fourth time this season.    This was an MLB first in this current schedule format.  Both pitchers were sharp early.    In the third, Joc Pederson hit a two-run homer to put the Rangers up 2-0.    deGrom had 8 strikeouts through 3 innings.    He threw 9 pitches for 3 outs in the fourth.   

In the fifth, there was a safety squeeze with Evan Carter on third after a stolen base and an error.    Nicky Lopez made a great bunt to bring him in, 3-0.    However, the Rangers had two runners thrown out at the plate in the inning.    I had to go to work and listened to those plays on my car radio.   

I brought up Gameday at work later to follow along with the rest of the game.    The score was 4-3 M’s, which would be the final.    What happened?    In the sixth, the Mariners got their first baserunner on a line drive that hit deGrom on the mitt.    He finished the game with 12 K’s.   

In the seventh, another Ranger was thrown out at the plate.    Gilbert finished his day with 11 K’s.    23 was the most combined strikeouts in a game this season.    Jakob Junis came in to pitch the seventh.    The Mariners finally broke through and scored.    Then, Julio Rodriguez hit a 3-run homer for the lead and the win.    This might have been the back-breaking loss dismissing the Rangers from the playoffs, but we’ll see.

The MiLB Free Game was the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.    A school choir did a lovely Anthem before the game.    Beyond the outfield was a view of the Gulf of America in the background.    It was overcast there in the Florida panhandle with weather incoming, but it still looked very pleasant.    There was a party in a pavilion in the outfield.    Lots of fans were in Hawaiian shirts and shorts.    For some reason, the field is artificial turf.    How hard could it be to grow grass in Florida?

The Wahoos were in neon green 80’s-styled jerseys with their alt identity as the “Mullets.”    Their logo was a shark sporting a mullet.    This game was a playoff preview between the first and second half winners of the Southern League.    The Wahoos went up by 2.    In the third inning, they hit a solo shot in the bay to make it, 3-0.    Still, the broadcasters were worried about the weather.    “The wind suddenly shifts direction and dark clouds are rolling in,” said one.    “I’m not a meteorologist,” answered the other announcer.    There was rain over the bay, so they were hoping the game would be official before it got there.

The announcer also used the phrase, “Choke and poke approach,” as two-strike batting strategy.    In the fourth, a pitcher got hit on his shoe.    He stayed with it and got the out at first.    In the fifth, another Wahoo batter slapped a bay shot.    It was not wind-aided; it was all muscle.    The whole game did finish and the Wahoos won, 7-2.

Meanwhile, the Chihuahuas were at Tacoma.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty’s crowd mic was picking enough noise that I kept hearing fans conversations in the background.    Double-A call up pitcher, Luis Gutierrez, did well throwing 4 innings and giving up 1 run.    In the fifth, the Chihuahuas scored to tie it at 1.    The inning ended on a double play. It was a strikeout and a multi-throw (7 touches) run down with two runners on base taking off.

It was 3-2 Rainiers in the top of the ninth.    Marcos Castañon started off the inning by cracking two bats, but he got a double.    Bryce Johnson doubled him in to tie it.    Neither team could break the tie, so we went to extras.    The Chihuahuas immediately scored in the tenth.    Tacoma tied it on a triple with 1 out.    Patrick Wisdom was intentionally walked to load bases and face Nolan Jones, but a line out ended it.   

In the eleventh, a couple of kids were chasing down a foul ball.    What were they doing there this late on a school night!    (Real baseball fans being raised there.)    The Chihuahuas didn’t score in the top.    In the bottom, the Rainiers loaded the bases with no outs.    The pups brought in a fourth infielder, but a soft liner deflected by the pitcher scored the winning run, 5-4 Rainiers.

9-11-26

The MiLB Free Game was the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at the Portland Sea Dogs.    It was the two ladies doing the call again.    The Sea Dogs were wearing patriotic stars and stripes uniforms.    It was a full house.    Much of the crowd was wearing jackets and sweatshirts, so I assume it was cool there.    (It was 101-degrees here.)   

Willson Contreras was on rehab with the Sea Dogs.    He scored on a disputed home run in the second.    It did go over the yellow line on the outfield wall.    It was 7-0 Portland after 10-batter inning.    In the bottom of the third, the Ponies’ second baseman got the out at first, after the ball deflected off the pitcher and the shortstop.    In the sixth, the Ponies successfully made a double steal from the corners and stole a run at home.    However, that only made it, 8-2 Sea Dogs.    It was an 8-4 Portland win, though there was some base traffic in the ninth.

The Chihuahuas were playing the Rainiers later.    Trailing 1-0, in the fourth, the Chihuahuas hit 3 doubles in a row.    That, with a single, scored 3 to take the lead, 3-1.    In the bottom of the fourth, Rainiers scored and it sounded like a huge crowd there in Tacoma.    An error loaded the bases and a walk tied it at 3.    Two more runs scored after a pitching change.    The bases were reloaded for a grand slam by Nolan Jones, 9-3.    That was 8 runs, 7 unearned.    Even broadcaster Tim Hagerty got caught up in the moment with the scoring and became excited calling it.    9-4 Rainiers win.    “One ugly inning,” as Tim said in the postgame.

I did switch over to the Rivercats at the Aviators.    It was 6-5 Las Vegas in the fifth there.    There was a great crowd there too, a sellout.    The seventh inning stretch went a bit long with an extra singing of God Bless America.    They carried Take Me Out to the Ballgame live on the radio broadcast.    Broadcaster Russ Langer reported that pitcher, Jamie Arnold, who was hit in the face on a comebacker **(9-8-26)** was going to be okay.    That’s good news.

Russ complimented a fan catch in the ninth before the game finished with a 9-6 LV win.    A young Rivercat player drove in a run in the ninth, but was thrown out going to third to end the game.    Never make the first or last out at third.    Also reported during the game, the Brewers beat the Reds, 20-0, to clinch a playoff spot.    Way to show up, Reds.    You had no pitching and no hitting in the game.

9-12-26

After a somewhat disappointing lunch date with Zanaya (she’s insane for blind box collectibles, insane), I came home in the late afternoon and listened to the Chihuahuas at Tacoma under cloudy skies there.    The game was moved up three hours for impending heavy rain.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty was really impressed with the Tacoma fans, who filled up the stadium with a 24-hour notice on the time change.    It’s especially impressive given that this move probably canceled fireworks.    This is also their final home series, so the fans wanted come out.

It was 2-0 Chihuahuas in the third.    In the fourth, the Rainiers loaded the bases with nobody out.    A foul out and a 3-2-3 double play ended the threat.    In the sixth, the Rainiers had a DP with the centerfielder running down a sure double and then easily doubling off the runner at first.    In the eighth, Rodolfo Duran was injured on a check swing and had to come out of the game.    In the bottom of the eighth, the Rainiers scored off a solo home run, 3-1.    At this point, I got call from Zanaya and turned it off.    It was a pleasant call (she’d acquired another little collectible figure).    I don’t think I missed much with the Chihuahuas winning, 4-1.

While chatting, I saw on TV something I hadn’t seen in a NASCAR race before.    During the O’Rilley race at St. Louis, they had The Big One, but it happened on pit lane!    A couple of cars went sideways at the front of the field under caution coming in to pit.    11 (?) cars were involved in the crash.    What a mess!

I picked up the Rangers on their Amarillo affiliate after dark.    They were up 6-1 over the Diamondbacks in the sixth.    In the eighth, Evan Carter got on base, but forgot the number of outs and got called out by the announcers.    At 6-2 Texas, Nathan Evoldi was pitching in relief.    Maybe he’s off rehab and they’re building him up.   

As usual for this radio station, there was a weather alert for a severe thunderstorm during the game.    I think this has happened every time I listen to this station.    The only surprise was that it only happened once.    The Rangers won it, 6-2.    The pivotal play was in the fifth, before I started listening.    There was a challenge at first that looked like an inning-ending out for the Rangers, even to the announcers, but the review let the call stand.    The Rangers scored four more runs afterward.   

The big news was in the Rangers’ postgame, when an exuberant announcer said, “How about Texas State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Texas all winning tonight!”    I had watched those first three wins earlier.    However, #1 Ohio State was beating #4 Texas 23-3 in the fourth quarter and I didn’t bother watching the end, since there were two other close games on.    Yeah, the Longhorns came back and won 24-23.    Shame on me for giving up on that one.    I was watching a sports betting show in the morning.    They correctly picked Texas to win.

At 10:00pm, the Aggies versus the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors came on the radio.    It was 5:00pm local time in Hawaii, I think.    HI was a 7.5 point favorite at home, probably not so much because they’re hugely better, but because NMSU has never won in Hawaii.    HI is still playing at a temporary facility that’s like a high school stadium, while they’re waiting for their new Aloha Stadium to be built.    The field at the stadium is artificial grass.    These guys don’t know how to grow grass in Hawaii?

     

On the Aggies’ first series, NMSU got a gift third down conversion from a penalty, however quarterback, Trey Hedden, fumbled the ball on a rush.    Hawaii quickly worked downfield for a touchdown, 6-0, but with a missed PAT after a penalty.    Next, HI threw a 55-yard bomb, but the Aggie defense held them to a field goal, 9-0.    Then, there was another Hawaii bomb and a rushing touchdown for the finish for a 16-0 lead.    I didn’t recognize the color commentator, but he said, “We haven’t gotten any rain here this week, but it’s pouring now.”

Finally in the second quarter, Hedden found AJ Williams III on third down for 40-yard bomb.    With first and goal and a penalty putting them on the 2, James Jones took it in.    After a failed 2-pt conversion, it was, 16-6.    The Aggie defense finally got a lick in on HI QB, Micah Alejado, and forced a punt.    The Aggie offense capitalized.    TK King finished a two-minute drill with a 33-yard reception for a touchdown, 16-13.    However, HI marched right back down the field with a minute left.    The Aggie defense held them to a field goal, 19-13 Hawaii.

Sorry, Aggies.    At about midnight, I’d had a long day and wanted to go to bed.    I had to read the game recap the next day.    To start the third quarter, the Aggie defense came up big by forcing a fumble and scored.    After another missed PAT, it was tied at 19.    Hawaii was limited to a field goal and a touchdown in the second half.    Unfortunately, the Aggie offense did not show up and it was a 29-19 Hawaii final.    Well, they weren’t favored in the game, but this one was winnable.    The Aggies have a bye week to figure things out before meeting the Lobos here at home.

9-13-26

The first weekend of the NFL season means there’s little baseball to be had.    Nothing on Mexican TV or NBC.    Today’s Rangers’ game was preempted on the radio.    (They won and still have a good chance of catching the Astros.)    I watched a pretty exciting Bills/Texans game at dad’s apartment and then went over to Buffalo Wild Wings to join my neighbor, Monty, to watch his Packers play at the Vikings.    I finally found something I liked on the menu there: mac and cheese and seasoned fries.    It was very tasty.    Monty ended up ordering the same.   

I left at halftime.    It was a good thing I did.    The Packers would lose it badly in the second half and Monty’s a very vocal, passionate fan.    I did see a cool scene at the game.    After a Packer touchdown, the receiver found a couple of Packer fans by the endzone and handed them the ball.    They were thrilled and stunned.    There were also Washington fans there watching another game.    One of the guys was wearing a Redskins t-shirt.    I wanted to thank him.

I got back home and listened to the last few innings of the Chihuahuas at Tacoma for their final road game of the season.    I didn’t miss much.    It was 1-0 Rainiers in the sixth.    I had heard the opening of the game to make sure it was on.    Yesterday, broadcaster, Tim Hagerty, had said the forecast wasn’t good.    He came on today and said it had rained all night and was gloomy now, but the tarp was off and we’d be playing.    7,000 fans came out for their team’s final home game.

Shockingly for a Triple-A game, Connor Joe’s solo homer held up for the entire game, 1-0 Rainers.    In the ninth, the Chihuahuas got two on thanks to a couple of great at bats, but both were left stranded.    At least the Chihuahuas got some terrific pitching today, which they’ve been lacking all season.