Sports Journal 7-7-13

I had to see the IRL race at Pocono.  It’s like having the opportunity to watch the Hindenburg land at Lakehurtst, NJ.  I’d being told that open wheeled cars had run there before, but I had to see the archival footage to actually believe it.  The track is dangerous from a technical stand point, with its three corners, and dangerous from an attention stand point, because its so boring.  Putting NASCARs out there is reach, much less racing a bunch of cars that are a lot more fragile.  Oh, and they were promising a three-wide start. 

Hinchcliffe's first turn wreck seemed to confirm my fears of disaster, but actually there were only two cautions in the whole race.  The other caution was in the pits, as Takuma Sato had trouble negotiating pit road.  This lack of cautions was truly unfortunate.  All of the best racing occurred on the restarts.

The bottom line was that it wasn’t a disaster of crashing, it was more like a NASCAR race at the track.  It was hideously boring.  The perfect stock car race at Pocono is a rainout immediately after it goes halfway and the race is official.  This may have been worse.  It turned into a fuel-mileage race.  My lasting image was that of Marco Andretti, who lead most of the race, out of gas at the end and walking back to the pits.     

Ganassi’s cars finished 1-2-3.  Scott Dixion’s win was very popular with me as that meant I got to see an interview with his lovely wife Emma Dixon.  Seeing her gorgeous self and hearing her very proper English accent, all I could think was, “get this girl some acting lessons, put her in a period dress, and insert her into the Dowton Abbey cast, immediately.”   

Meanwhile, the Cubs and the Pirates faced off again in Chicago.  The only noteworthy event for most of the game was yet another resin bag gag pulled on Pirate pitcher, AJ Burnett.  Unlike the April Fool’s gag, this time the bag was emptied.  Play was stopped until another bag was found.

In the bottom of the 9^th, Kevin Gregg had two outs, two strikes, and a one run lead.  The large crowd was on its feet cheering.  And then, Starling Marte hit a home run to tie the game.  In the 10^th, rock solid Darwin Barney made an error at second base.  I’m not sure which failure was more shocking.  Never fear, next play, he started a double play, and then made a spectacular play on the next batter.  In the 11^th, with the bases full, Dioneer Navarro got another clutch hit to win it.  Thanks to the Pirates for doing all they could to lose it there.  4-3 Cubs.

It had to happen.  The Pirates came in the best record in baseball.  People started talking about them being on pace to win 100 games.  Then they lose two in a row to the Cubs.  All that needs to happen now is another 19 inning game right after the All-Star break to send them to their 21^st losing season in a row.  As a baseball fan, kinda glad I don’t live in Pittsburgh. 

Because of the length of this game I only caught the last inning and half of the Dodger-Giant game (and missed the Ranger game entirely).  That was plenty.  Tie game in the 8^th.  Puig makes a spectacular catch to end the inning.  He comes up first in the 9^th, gets a hit, and takes an extra base on an error.  The bases end up loaded and AJ Ellis (Hold it, is this the third AJ, I’ve written about this weekend?  Quick count.  Yes.) hit a bases clearing triple.  4-1 Dodgers.  AJ actually specifically thanked Puig for getting the rally started in a post-game interview.  The kid is turning into the Dodgers’ good luck charm.