Baseball Journal 7-14-13

First of all, I’m pretty sure Freddie Freeman was voted into the All-Star Game by a bunch of American League fans, who didn’t want Puig playing.  Every other explanation I’ve heard makes even less sense.  However, Freddie Freeman was injured this weekend (along with the entire Braves outfield).  Yasiel is hurting too, but it’s not unthinkable there could be a last-minute change.    

Once again, I was doing the double-dip Saturday night with the Dodger game on the radio and the Ranger game on the TV.  It’s not the worst way to experience two games at the same time.  I wonder about those guys during the first year of the MLB Fan Cave.  I guess they had all the games on a TV wall at the same time.  That would seem like the worst way to do it, but I’d be willing to try it.  I think the Fan Cave is some sort of reality show now, where they vote out occupants. 

I was cringing at the thought of the Rangers facing 13-0 Max Sherzer and the Tigers, especially since they’d gotten pounded Friday night.  Then Derek Holland showed up.  I’ve seen him pitch bad, but in big games he can pitch big.  He got in trouble a couple of times, but pitched his way right out of it.  Sherzer had been getting like six runs in support in his outings.  That might have made him a bit less sharp in a close game.  The Rangers got ahead and then lit it up in the 9^th.  7-1 Rangers.

Gamebreak.  The Indians are playing the Royals in Cleveland wearing black pajamas.  Doesn't seem to be effecting their play though.  

I still think Zack Greinke going to fold like a Dixie cup under pressure, but he gave up two hits in nine innings in a 1-0 Dodger win over the Rockies.  He’s also hitting over .360.  I’m willing to change my mind about him at some point.  More troubling for the Dodgers, Puig was out of the lineup and they could only scratch out one run for the game.  The Dodger broadcasts had been promoting this game.  To show off their new Jumbotrons, they were going to be playing the movie “42” after the game.  What a cool promotion.

Late Saturday, the Zimmerman verdict came in.  Fox Sports Radio, which I was listening to, felt compelled to mention it, but clearly didn’t really want to talk about it.  Thankfully in San Diego, another breaking story in sports allowed for a distraction.  Tim Lincecum was pitching a no-hitter for the Giants.  Timmy hasn’t been having a great year, but facing a hapless Padre team, he had no trouble finding his good stuff.  He was at 100 pitches in the 7^th and the commentators were really questioning whether he’d be left in. 

FSR picked up Dick Enberg and the Padres’ TV coverage in the 8^th.  Hunter Pence made a great catch to keep the no-hitter going.  At the top of the hour, the Ben Maller show came on.  He immediately threw it back to coverage for the bottom of the 9^th with two outs.  “Let’s listen in.”    “Okay, apparently they’re letting the pictures tell the story here, which works well on TV, but not on radio.” You could actually tell by the roar of the crowd that the Giants had gotten the final out and Tim has his no-hitter.  Why the San Diego crowd was cheering for their division rival no-hitting them is beyond my comprehension.  9-0 Giants.  

Meanwhile in Seattle, they were showing the 9^th inning on their big screen in-between innings there, but took it off when their inning started before the game ended.  The crowd boo’ed.  I don’t blame them.  I wouldn’t have wanted to watch the Angels and the Mariners either if there was something better on.  

At 148 pitches, we’re hoping Lincecum doesn’t end up like Johan Santana after his no-hitter, though Johan was coming off a major surgery.  Edwin Jackson had even more pitches in his no-hitter and it didn’t hurt him (but playing in Wrigley Field clearly has).  In any case, with the All-Star break, they should be able to give Tim some extra rest.  I actually saw a little of the last no-hitter pitched, which was earlier this month.  The Reds no-hit the Giants.            

I had heard about Saturday’s double header between the Phillies and the White Sox.  Both games had gone extra innings.  At the start of Sunday’s game, the pre-game host asked Hawk and Stone how they were doing after 12 hours of baseball.  Thankfully, didn’t seem any the worse for wear.  Just a couple of weeks ago, they’d done the longest non-extra innings double header. 

It was a 90+ degree day in Philadelphia with high humidity.  Play and audience participation was rather listless.  The Phillie Phanatic did his best to work up the crowd.  I actually saw the Sox walk Jimmy Rollins twice to pitch to Dominic Brown late in the game.  My dad was reading his very impressive stats off the screen.  “He’s an All-Star,” I said.  In spite of that, apparently Dominic is vulnerable to left-handed pitching.  Both times, he made an out, so score one for the Sabermetricans.       

It took 9 innings, but Philly-Fan finally showed up when Papelbon blew the save and the inning ended in a tie.  A full deep-throated jeer followed him into the dugout.  As the game went to extra innings, most the crowd dissipated, but Philly-Fan wasn’t leaving and wasn’t done.  They boo’ed Chase Utley when he booted a ball.  Sox catcher Josh Phegley, who had gotten the hit that tied the game, got hit on the throwing hand and had to come out of the game.  Philly-Fan boo’ed when Tyler Flowers came in and wanted to catch a couple of warm up pitches.  In the 10^th, Utley got the game-winning hit and Philly-Fan cheered.  4-3 Phillies.  “Yeah, it was our boo’ing that made him a better player.”  I’m sure some self-congratulating Philly-Fan actually said that afterward.  

The Dodgers faced the Rockies again on Sunday.  Puig came into the game late.  He seemed okay if they need him for the All-Star Game.  Rick Monday had the weekend off and Kevin Kennedy was there.  His main contribution to the broadcast was continually mispronouncing Jhoulys Chacin’s name.  So, he’s a good complement for Charley Steiner, who had this gem, “His first pitch to Tulo was too low.”  That’s great Charley.  Oh, how I wish Vin was still doing the radio call.  3-1 Rockies.