Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Sports Journal September 16-21, 2018

9-16-18

No sports today.  If only somebody would invent an American sport for these boring fall Sundays.  The closest I came was tuning into Stadium for a college soccer match.  Then I found out it was a guy’s match and immediately lost interest.  Speaking of sports that end in a tie, I noticed here in Week 2 of the NFL, there was another tie.  Ha, ha, ha!  Some ESPN Radio pricks the next day blamed the players, instead of more properly blaming the rules.  For that, I add another derisive laugh.  Ha ha, ha!  Actually, out of sheer boredom, I did listen to some of the Cowboys’ game on the radio.  (For their players’ stand on the Anthem, I exempt Cowboy games from my ban.)  Congratulations to Brad Sham for 40 years of broadcasting and having the press box named after him tonight.

Rangers’ baseball on the radio was preempted for an NFL game in the afternoon.  Hopefully that game didn’t end in a tie too.  Ha, ha, ha!  I watched the TV Azteca Pasion Depotiva show to see what Yvette Hernandez had to say about the Canelo/Glovokin fight.  I didn’t understand what she said, but I sure liked the way she looked when she said it.   


9-17-18

The MLB.TV free game was the Mariners and the Astros, but it was audio-only, since the Astros are in my local area.  I couldnt get into this game just listening.  The Ms won 4-1.  It was sellout in Houston thanks to another championship ring giveaway.


9-18-18

I did not like the MLB.TV free game matchup between the As and the Angels, but ended up watching and enjoying it anyway.  The fans in Oakland turned out to be part of the game, but unfortunately they werent helping their team.  Two different fans interfered with As players going after foul balls.  As few fans as were there, you wouldnt think this would be a problem.  The one in the sixth may have cost them the lead, as the Angels capped off a six-run inning with a grand slam to make it 7-4.    

The crowd was all bundled up as youd expect in Oakland on an early fall at night.  There was some guy behind home plate dressed as the Marlins Man.  The fans did contribute an interesting drum rhythm section during play.  And you could hear those soccer horns going occasionally, the hallmark of a low attendance baseball game.
 
Down 9-4 in eighth, the As did get tying run on base in a three-run inning, but 9-7 Angels would be the final.  Shohei Ohtani was in as a DH.  His off-season arm surgery will not keep him from being in the lineup next year.  While being an Oakland with football lines visible on the field, I found it interesting that the network broadcasting the game did a promo for 49ers football.  Were your bay area home for all things 49er!  Theyve already mentally said Goodbye to the Oakland Raiders

From the MLBs daily e-mail, I couldnt resist clicking on a video (actually this happens just about daily, its a fun e-mail).  Padre Travis Jankowski was asked by a fan which minor league mascot he preferred, the Sea Dogs or the Chihuahuas, since hed played for both teams.  He didnt pick the Chihuahuas.  I think Ive just about confirmed what the players think about the team name, though they like the facilities in El Paso and the fans.   


9-19-18
This was probably my last Rangers radio game of the season.  They faced the Rays in Arlington in the afternoon.  The game was delayed on my local affiliate as they switched over between FOX Sports Radio and the game.  At least I got to hear an interview with Charlie Blackmon in the meantime.  He sounded a bit down.  The Rockies have lost their last two games to the Dodgers and may have lost Trevor Story to injury, but Chuck Nazty was still interesting and insightful.

They were already in the second inning when coverage started.  Eric Nadel was again not calling the game.  Hes taken a lot of time off this season.  I know hes been doing this a long time and the Rangers are rebuilding and probably wont be good for a while, but surely he wants to hang around and broadcast in the new stadium in 2020.  Certainly the fans cant wait for the new stadium.  They had deserted the lower bowl today to hide in shadow of the upper deck, away from the sun.     

The Rays were using their opening pitcher/primary pitcher strategy.  Their second pitcher in the game was technically a reliever, but with a 14-5 win/loss record.  The Rays are also playing for something.  Though the remaining schedule is working against them, they have a shot at catching the As for the second Wild Card slot.  They played with motivation today and won 9-3

The Rangers only highlight was Adrian Beltre homering in the fourth.  His future with the team or continuing to play altogether will be decided in the offseason.  Matt Hicks and Jared Sandler told the fans to cherish the Captains possibly final moments with the team.  The game ended suddenly in the ninth with the Rangers going down with a nary a whimper.

     
9-20-18

No baseball today.  After getting to work after watching Aggie Soccer, I was later able to watch Aggie Volleyball versus the Cal Baptist Lancers over the Internet.  This was the Lancers first WAC match.  Theyve just entered Division 1 sports, but their volleyball team has already racked up a very good record, including beating Mississippi State on the road.  They play in a small gym which is dedicated to volleyball (or can converted to a pair of small basketball courts).  They also have some students with mops cleaning the court during breaks.  Thats a great idea.

I was really impressed with their announcer.  Whoever he is, he scouted our team like a coach.  Like an opposing player once said about Vin Scullys call of his play, I was learning things about myself I didnt even know.  It was like that.  I had no idea Megan Hart had been recruited by Arizona.  No wonder she played so well against them. 

Halle Razo started at libero for the Aggies.  Whos the libero this set? is becoming the game day question for the team.  In Set 1, the Aggies went down big early, but come back and tied it at 20.  But, CBU took it 25-23.  Set 2 was much closer, as the teams traded lead back and forth all set.  21-19 was an epic diving point for both teams.  CBU won it and the set 25-23.  The Aggies came back out fired up and took Set 3 25-19.  Jordan Pleasants became the libero for Set 4.  The team went on a 6-0 run on Briana Ainsworths serve and took it 25-20.  The announcer credited Tatyana Battle with 15 kills to that point.

Tied at 2 sets each, we went to a fifth and decisive set.  The lead went back-and-forth for most of the set and they were tied at 10.  CBU started going on a run.  The coach called a timeout.  The Lancer mascot ran across both sides of the court to hype up the crowd.  CBU ended up finishing the match with a five-point run to win it 15-11 and 3-2 for the match.  After this loss and Aggie Soccers loss, I was too depressed to write down the final stats.  Taty led the way in the kills and digs.  The announcer was really impressed with her.


9-21-18
The MLB.TV free game featured a marquee matchup between the Indians and the Red Sox with Trevor Baur facing Chris Sale.  Sort of.  Baur was rehabbing and came out in the second.  He was the opening pitcher then in the modern parlance.  The Red Sox took an early 1-0 lead.  In the third, Jose Ramirez came up with runners on the corners.  Sale got a groundout to end the inning.

My personal highlight of the game came right after.  They showed a commercial with Ice-T.  I think it was for an energy bar.  I didnt get the name, but had no trouble remembering his lines.  They offered to pay me in product or money, pause, I picked the money.  The companys tagline is No BS.  Ill try to get their name next time to properly credit them.

In the fourth, Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run to tie it at 1-1.  Between getting Josh and Edwin Encarnacion, I wonder which Blue Jay the Indians will acquire next.  Sale was chased from the game after a Yan Gomes two-run homer made it 3-1.  In the fifth, Francisco Lindor doubled, and Michael Brantley got on with a perfect infield bunt hit.  Ramirez hit a sac fly to bring in Lindor and Brantley hustled to second, 4-1.
 

By the eighth, the Red Sox were up 6-5 after a four-run seventh.  I was away from my desk during that time and didnt see it.  Indians loaded the bases in the bottom after an intentional walk to Lindor.  Brantley popped out to end the inning.  That was the Indians last threat.  7-5 Red Sox was the final.

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