Sports Journal September 7-14, 2018

9-7-18

After getting back from a day of Volleyball at the Pan-Am Center, I joined the Chihuahuas’ playoff game against the Grizzlies in the seventh.  This was a possible elimination game for the pups and it was a tense game.  Up to this point, the only scoring had been Allen Craig driving in two with a double with the bases loaded in the first.

Tim Hagerty referred to the bottom of the seventh as “The most suspenseful inning of the season.”  Unfortunately, I was on the phone talking about the volleyball for most of it and didn’t realize the drama going on.  I started listening at the end when the Fresno shortstop was ejected for tossing his equipment after a called third strike to end the inning with two on.  The Chihuahuas went through four pitchers in the inning.

The Griz left two more on in the eighth, and the Chihuahuas won 2-0.  Another Fresno batter argued with the ump at the end, but I don’t think he was ejected too.  Tim said this was “One of the most gripping games the Chihuahuas have ever played.”  And I basically missed it.  That’s the way it goes.  The Grizzlies were up 2-1 in the series now.

I just missed Rockies’ broadcast.  The Rangers were playing on the West coast and the game was still on, but I could barely hear it, so I gave up.  They lost to the A’s.

9-8-18

Today, Aggie Football had their Arizona Bowl rematch versus Utah State in Logan, Utah.  I’d recap the game except I didn’t really do it at the time.  By halftime, it was 33-10 Utah State and I switched over to listening to the Chihuahuas.  I tuned back later and the final was 60-13 Utah State.

Quarterback Matt Romero got a good pass into the corner for a touchdown in the first quarter, but he sent too much of the rest of the game on his back getting trampled on.  The possible backbreaker of the game came right after that play when Utah State ran back a kickoff, just like in the bowl game, but this time, the Aggies didn’t have an answer. 

There was a Rangers’ game in the evening, but it was preempted for Texas Tech football.  I may not get to listen to much more Rangers’ baseball this season.  Tim Hagerty was on a local sports show on Saturday morning on KROD.  He was asked about the call ups of Luis Urias and Francisco Mejia.  Tim said he was actually surprised the Padres hadn’t called them up well before the end of the season.  Personally, I really didn’t see any reason not to have left them playing with the Chihuahuas until their playoff run ended (hopefully after winning a championship).  He was also asked about the bad attendance for the two El Paso playoff games.  Tim blamed the weather for it.  That’s somewhat legit.  I’d also add that they should have started the games at 6:00 or 6:30, instead of 7:00 on a school night.

It was another tight game in Fresno.  The Grizzlies got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first.  In the fourth, Dusty Coleman made a great jumping catch with runners on to keep it at 1-0.  The Chihuahuas started the seventh with three hits in a row.  Brett Nicholas drove in Shane Peterson for their first run. Fresno starter, Cy Sneed, was driven from game.  Allen Craig then scored on a Raffy Lopez blooper, as the catcher lost ball on the play at the plate.  Coleman brought in Nicholas for the fifth hit in a row.  Javy Guerra’s fielder’s choice scored another run to make it 4-1 Chihuahuas.

In the eighth, the Chihuahuas brought in tomorrow’s starter, Jerry Keel to finish the inning.  This would have consequences tomorrow.  In the ninth, the Griz hit a home run.  The PA played “Who let the dogs out,” as they’d being doing frequently during this series, but the Chihuahuas won 4-2.  The series was now even and would go to a decisive fifth game.

9-9-18

Game Five of the PCL divisional series between the Chihuahuas and the Grizzlies.  The winner tonight would move on.  Walter Lockett was the starter for the pups as the scheduled starter, Jerry Keel, had been used yesterday.  Lockett was going on one less day of rest than usual.  I found out later that there were other considerations that somewhat mandated who would be pitching in this game.  The Chihuahuas scored first in the second as Raffy Lopez drove in Shane Peterson from third to make it 1-0.  They had another chance in the third with a runner at third.  A Griz player let a foul ball drop uncaught to keep that runner from advancing.

In the bottom, the wheels started to come off.  Fresno loaded the bases with no outs and got three runs off a single and a double play to make it 3-1.  And from here, a succession of Chihuahuas’ pitchers kept giving up runs.  Meanwhile, Brock Dykxhoorn (one of our favorite player names) steadily mowed down Chihuahuas’ batters.  By the sixth, it was 8-1 and our postseason hopes had been crushed.  AJ Reed finished it with a flourish in the seventh with two-run homer to make it 10-1 Grizzlies, which was the final.  The Grizzlies would be going to the PCL Championship.  The Chihuahuas’ players would be hoping for a late call up to the Padres.  Their fans would be looking forward to next year.

I’ve been so busy with Aggie Sports the last two weeks, I really haven’t had time to digest this.  The Chihuahuas had a truly great season this year.  I think if the Padres hadn’t called up Francisco Mejia and Luis Urias, this postseason might have turned out differently.  Then again, at this point the Chihuahuas barely have any room left on their stadium walls for pennants.  (Not kidding.)  I may go back and look through my posts to do a proper summary, but no promises.  I’m pretty wore out at the moment.

    

9-10-18

Here was my last day of vacation.  Since the Rangers/Angels game started late, I was able to listen to the pregame show on my nighttime affiliate, which my El Paso affiliate doesn’t carry.  Eric Nadel chatted with Manager Jeff Bannister about opening and starting pitcher strategies.  The team is apparently serious about this.  Unfortunately just as the game actually started, another station started bleeding into the broadcast and it became unlistenable. 

Thankfully, I had an option and switched over to KOA for the Rockies and Diamondbacks.  I got surprisingly clear signal and this was an important game in the razor-thin NL West race.  It was a good time to tune in.  Trevor Story hit a three-run homer to make it 6-1 Rockies as part of a six-run fifth.  In the seventh, Nolan Arenado was intentionally walked with two on to load the bases to pitch to David Dahl.  Dahl promptly cranked one out for a grand slam and a 10-2 lead.  13-2 Rockies was the definitive final.  Even more encouraging, German Marquez went seven innings for the Rox, only giving up two runs and getting 11 strikeouts.

9-11 to 13-18

I was back to work here.  There was no Chihuahuas’ game Tuesday or until next year.  I was too busy to watch MLB free game, which featured the Reds beating the Dodgers.  Wednesday, the Rockies had a walk-off win over D-Backs.  Thursday, they won again.  They’re on a heck of roll.  The MLB.TV free games for the last two days were on during the day, so I’d missed them.  They were also hosting games on Facebook in the evening, but I’m still not tempted to make up an account.  If I hadn’t been so busy at work, I might tried watching the Rockies on TV on Fox Sports Arizona.      

9-14-18

I finally got some baseball today.  It was the Red Sox vs Mets.  The game was a bit meaningless for both teams with the Mets out of it and the Red Sox definitely in.  With that in mind, the game commentary was a lot more conversational.  Jonny Gomes was doing the color and displayed a wealth of baseball knowledge.  It was kind of fun to listen to, even though it was 8-0 Mets’ blowout.

There were two Aggie Sports events tonight over the Internet.  NM State Soccer was in Albuquerque to take on the UNM Lobos, and Aggie Volleyball was in Tucson play a rematch against the Arizona Wildcats on their home court.  I mostly watched the soccer match.  The video coverage was a bit primitive at the pitch, but there was a lady doing commentary.  The volleyball match video was well-produced, but nobody was calling the game.

I’ve seen the Lobo soccer team before (11-4-17).  They were in the Mountain West championship game, but lost to the SDSU Aztecs.  I remember the game mostly for Jessica Nelson, a pretty girl with silver blonde hair, who does flip thrown ins.  She was doing them here too.  I’m sure a couple of Aggie girls asked Coach Baarts if they could try that.  He probably told them to go run laps.  (Jessica’s own coach won’t watch when she does it.)  

Ashley Martin was still in goal tonight, so Dmitri Fong still wasn’t right.  The biggest threat I saw in the first half was at 36’ (counting up).  A Lobo beat Ashley rushing out, but two defenders kicked the ball out.  The Lobos made a bad play around their own net in the last two minutes that almost cost them, but it was scoreless after 45 minutes.

In the second half, a new Lobo goalie started.  The announcer said they’d been switching goalies in-and-out this season, but I think the end of the first half might have had something to do it.  75’ there was a foul in box and a yellow card to Grace Olson.  The PK was good for a 1-0 Lobo lead.  86’ Ash had a one-on-one with a Lobo player.  She just deflected it enough that it missed.  The ball rolled next to the net, which confused the fans and the announcer, not sure whether it had gone in or not. 

1-0 Lobos was the final.  The ball was in Aggie end most of second half.  It was a minor miracle they only gave up one goal.  This hurts.  The Aggies are so close to being good.  They beat the Lobos last year, and they lost 1-0 to the Aztecs this year.  This was about as narrow a loss as you can have in soccer considering it was off a penalty kick.   

Earlier in the day, Aggie Volleyball beat UC-Davis in five sets.  Lia Mosher was back playing, which is great news.  A couple of hours later, they were playing the team they’d beat here a week ago, Arizona.  AZ won the first set 25-18.  In the second, the Aggies had a big 8 point lead about halfway through, but lost it, 26-24.  They even had set point four times, but couldn’t close it out.  Arizona closed it out 25-17 in the third and 3-0 for the match win.    

I’m pretty sure the girls ran out of gas in the second set, but that’s how these invitationals work with two games in a day for the visitors.  I identified Kendra Dahlke on AZ, who’d scored 30 kills in the game here.  I’d noticed her because she’s a striking young woman, but somehow I didn’t notice her getting all those kills.  I’m sure if I was an Arizona fan, she’d be my favorite.  Then again, there’s not a lot of competition for looks with the rest of the team.  They’re not pretty like our girls.  Of which, Tatyana Battle led with 10 kills.  Savannah Davison only had 5, and Megan Hart only 3.  AZ probably made some adjustments on them.  Lia had 3 blocks, so she’s able to jump again.