Mid-Season MLB Report 2023

Wow!  Did I get it wrong (to this point)!  It’s near complete embarrassment to this point for my prognostication skills.  Nevertheless, I plow on.  Even my poor punditry will not stop me from doing more baseball posts. 

 

I’ll start with my preseason analysis of the rules changes.  At least, I was right about the games being sped up with the pitch clock.  I knew that was going to happen from listening to Chihuahuas games last year with the new rules.  The games may or may not be good enjoyable in and of themselves, but at least they’re not as arduous to endure.  We can only hope this trend continues. 

 

The best thing about the pitch clock is that it has eliminated a lot of bitching by the hitters at the umps.  There’s not enough time between pitches or after at bats for them to do it.  Genius!  (Now, we need to work on getting rid of challenges.)  I was so sick of this, but it doesn’t mean the batters were wrong.  Home plate umps are not doing themselves any favors this season with some of their balls and strikes.  We’re going to get an automatic strike zone one way or the other in the near future. 

 

I read the Baseball America preseason issue well after posting my preseason thoughts.  Their take on eliminating radical shifting was that it had no effect on overall batting averages in the lower leagues.  When the season started, hitting seemed to be up, but since it has gone back down.  Luis Arraez on the Marlins flirting with .400 aside, .300 hitters are still rare in the game.  (There aren’t even ten batters in either league hitting over .300.)  What does this mean?  It means all that shifting crap was basically geek nonsense.        

 

I’ll get to some team performances in a moment, but in an overview, results to this point have been surprising.  The biggest alteration to baseball this season that has changed the game has been . . . the balanced schedule?  I’m forced to conclude this because teams playing irregular opponents has apparently led to some real surprises.  (Hey, five of the six division leads are close.)  Some teams have been exposed.  Other teams have suddenly become contenders.  The differences between the divisions have been stark.  This likely won’t last (perhaps not even to the end of the season), but for now the league isn’t as predictable and that’s a good thing. 

 

One last note.  MLB team TV broadcasts ownerships are still up in the air.  The league took over the Padres’ broadcasts after the season began.  They’ve offered to take over for any other team.  I don’t know where this is going, but we can all still watch for now. 

 

We’ll breakdown some of the teams and start with the unexpected losers first.  What happened to the Cardinals?  Everyone (not just me) had them as a lock to win the NL Central.  They’re in last right now only because that is as furthest down as they can go.  Everyone had questioned their pitching, but apparently recently retired catcher, Yadier Molina, was only thing making them any good.  Will the Cardinals tear down at the trade deadline?

 

A lot of predictors’ choice for winning the World Series (including me), the San Diego Padres, are in fourth place in the NL West.  Lucky for them that the Rockies exist to fill that bottom spot.  This failure is inexplicable.  They’ve got the pitching and their hitting doesn’t look that bad statistically.  The intangibles are killing them.  The fix is likely to be subtraction.  There’s too many stars with no leadership amongst them.  A couple of huge Padres fans I know have already given up on them.  There’s plenty of talent on the team for them to turn it around, but some good teams ahead of them are going to shoot themselves in the foot for the Padres to get into the playoffs.

 

Speaking of one of those teams, the Mets have the far and away biggest payroll in the MLB and are playing sub .500 ball and are fourth in their division.  The lesson for the Mets and Padres seems to be that you can only buy a championship if you’re the Yankees or Dodgers.  (Of course, other teams have purchased championships, like the Marlins.  I kind of like this years’ team to sneak into the playoffs.)   

 

This Mets team was just never as good as their payroll said it would be.  I have a feeling there might be a comeback in their future, though.  They might even add payroll at the deadline.  (Shohei!  Just kidding.  I don’t think they have the chips to trade for him, but they’ll make some moves.)

 

Enough losers.  Let’s talk about the surprise winners so far.  We’ll start with the Rangers.  Yay!  (I’m tempted to call them “my Rangers,” but that would be premature.)  Jacob deGrom’s presence on the team turned out just like the all experts predicted: a huge money sink into a continuously injured player.  What wasn’t predicted was that the rest of the team was really good, especially the offense.  Of course, manager Bruce Bochy has pulled it all together.  I think losing deGrom for the rest of the season has affected the pitching staff, on field and psychologically.  I’m worried they’re going to come down to earth (which they have recently).  Getting Aroldis Chapman for the bullpen helps.  They might not be done dealing.  (Shohei!  No.  The Angels aren’t going to trade him to a division rival.) 

 

Who’s leading the NL Central?  It’s America’s Team, the Cincinnati Reds!  Elly de la Cruz’s call up has been the most epic rookie reinforcement ever.  It was so cool to see Great American Ballpark full of cheering fans.  (What a great time to bring up their new City Connect uni’s.  They’ve probably sold a ton.)  Granted the division is weak, but the Reds are on fire and have totally earned the lead.  Will it last?  Who’s going to challenge them?  The Brewers and Cubs do have talent.  Will they trade for some reinforcements?  (I’m having a hard time seeing Shohei with either team.) 

 

Then again, how about the Pittsburgh Pirates?  They’re in fourth place with a losing record, but they had a thrilling 20-8 run to start the season.  And this was after losing their up-and-coming star, Oneil Cruz.  After that streak, they went on two long losing streaks and dropped out of first, but I already consider this season something of a win, because it showed potential. 

 

Their two major call ups (as the Pirates tried to stop their losing streaks), Henry Davis and Nick Gonzales, have performed admirably.  (I’m totally nonbiased about Nick, who is clearly Hall of Fame material.)  And they aren’t done with good prospects.  Put some investment in this team (they’re getting Shohei, I’m calling it, they’ve got prospects they can deal) and get Cruz back, I like their chances, if not this season, then next.     

 

Who’s leading the NL West?  It’s been the Diamondbacks.  I can’t believe I’m writing this.  The Dodgers have just statistically overtaken them before the break, but the D-Backs have got a great team with a couple of great players, Corbin Carroll and Zac Gallen.  If they can get some reinforcements (they’re getting Shohei, I’m calling it, though I doubt they have anything to trade for him), they might get back their lead.  Of course, the Dodgers’ lack of moves in the offseason means that they’re getting Shohei (I’m calling it).   

 

The Braves have almost buried everyone in the NL East.  The Braves do not need Shohei on their team.  Ronald Acuna Jr. is already like a two-way player.  He’s doing so well, he’s like having two guys in the lineup by himself.  Meanwhile, after a slow start, our reigning champions, the Houston Astros, are gaining momentum and catching up on the Rangers.  I sense they’re lacking some magic.  Could there be some Shohei in their future?  (I’m calling it.  JK.  Division rival.  Not happening.)

 

Then there’s the AL East.  No losers here.  Nobody has a losing record.  (Unlike the AL Central, where the leader, the Indians, have a .500 record.  The winner of this division will have a losing record.  I’m calling it.)  The Rays have cooled off a bit, but these “frauds,” as I called them, have the second best record in baseball (behind the Braves, who just beat them two of three).  They’re just fundamentally sound.  The Orioles are right there behind them and looking pretty good as well.   

 

These two teams also have two of the three lowest payrolls in the MLB.  (Plenty of Luxury Tax space to add Shohei.  However, that’s not going to happen.)  This just warms my heart, as I see the Yankees, second in payroll, but a distant third in the division.  Tracking with my prediction, Aaron Judge is on this second stint on the IL with no timetable to return.  (It’ll be right after the All-Star Break or if the team starts falling out of contention for a Wild Card spot or right before the playoffs, if they’re in for sure.)  The Yankees have played decently without him. 

 

If the Yankees do start fading this month without Judge, they’ll pick up Shohei, and that is my legit prediction.  Otherwise, it’ll be the Dodgers doing it.  There’s plenty of teams that need him, but the Yankees and Dodgers are probably the only ones with the prospects to trade for him and don’t care who they give up.  The other teams don’t have the trade bait without giving up good big leaguers or can’t afford to burn their farm system for a rental. 

 

I’m actually kind of excited to see what happens at the trade deadline and with the rest of the season.  MLB schedule changes have shaken up the established order pretty good here in the first half.  Will things start to return to normal in the second half, or are there more surprises in store?  I’ll be back with a Trade Deadline report if something interesting happens then.                   

Baseball Journal May-July 2023 Part 3

7-4-23

Happy Independence Day.  I am living The Sandlot the last two days.  It’s all one summer baseball game that never ends.  Unfortunately, my teams aren’t winning any of them.  I blame MLB.TV for enabling my addiction by putting all their games up for free the last two days.    

 

The Chihuahuas lost 20-2 on Sunday to the Isotopes.  I tuned out on that game early.  They lost 11-10 on Monday.  They had been up 9-5 after a six-run fourth inning, but the Isotopes came right back.  For the first time in their 10-year existence, the pups would have a home game on the Fourth.  It was a 12-6 loss to Las Vegas, but at least the crowd got fireworks.  Needless to say, the Chihuahuas’ pitching staff has been pretty ineffective at this point.   

 

I found myself somewhat fascinated by the Tigers vs the A’s today.  It was an exercise in complete offensive futility through 9 innings.  The A’s finally won it, 1-0, in the tenth.

 

Oh, the Angels.  Mike Trout was injured last night with a broken hand.  Anthony Rendon had to be assisted off the field today after taking a foul ball off his knee.  (No real loss there.)  And then, Shohei Ohtani developed a blister on his finger and could no longer pitch and had to come out of the game.  But the Angels are still in it.  They could be buyers at the trade deadline.  (No.  Shohei will be traded.  Anything else would be irresponsible.)    

 

It was an awesome night for former Aggie star, Nick Gonzales, and the Pirates against the Dodgers.  Nick had a 2-RBI double in the first and went 3 for 4 in the game.  Down a run in ninth, Nick worked a walk to put tying run in scoring position.  The Young Bucs scored 3 in the inning to take a 9-7 lead for the win.  51k Dodger fans disagreed with the final two strike calls in the bottom (they were right), but the Pirates raised the Jolly Rodger and celebrated on field anyway. 

 

7-5-23

My poor Aunt Judy and her favorite team.  The Cardinals’ terrible season continues.  After a 15-2 loss to the Marlins on the Fourth, they went down 5-0 today.  However, the Cards battled back.  In the ninth, rookie Jordan King homered to give them a one-run lead.  In the bottom, with two runners on, a comebacker to the pitcher was airmailed over first base and the two runners scored giving the Marlins the 10-9 win.  I had dad text Aunt to make sure she was okay.  She was stunned and disappointed, but otherwise fine.

 

The Pirates led early against the Dodgers, but the Blue came back to win it with a big inning.  I needed the D-Backs to win with the Dodgers winning to keep them from getting closer to first place, but it wasn’t to be.  They had the Mets down 1-0 in the ninth and down to their last out and last strike.  Even more than that, a dropped foul tip almost ended the game.  But with new life, the Mets solo homered and then scored another run to win, 2-1.  Earlier, the Rays dropped another to the Phillies.  At least the Orioles finally beat the Yankees today after two hurtful losses to keep me from crying.      

 

7-6-23

After 9 mutually scoreless innings Tuesday, A’s won the next day 12-3 over the Tigers.  Then today, the Tigers won, 9-0.  Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on myself and my preseason predictions.  This game is pretty unpredictable.  Former Chihuahuas star infielder, Jace Peterson, pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth for the A’s. 

  

There was a lengthy rain delay in Washington in the Nationals’ game with the Reds.  When play resumed, Screech, the Nationals’ eagle mascot, was behind home plate at one point wearing a bright yellow rain slicker and hat.  It was a tight game.  Tied in the ninth, Nick Senzel made a game-saving catch for the Reds.  He came up first in the tenth and hit a two-run homer, which would be the winner.  America’s Team just finished a four-game sweep. 

 

What’s going on with baseball offense?  After yesterday’s 9 scoreless inning game with the Tigers and A’s (which, admittedly, wasn’t that surprising given the teams), the White Sox and Blue Jays went 10 scoreless innings.  The final was 6-2 Blue Jays in the 11-th, which made it even weirder. 

 

The worst of it was that that was Game 1 of a double header.  I’m thinking they wished they’d kept that 7-inning double header rule.  The Jays won Game 2.  The most significant play happened late.  A foul ball went into the White Sox broadcast booth.  Steve Stone ducked out of the way and the ball busted the large flatscreen behind him.  Who pays for that?

 

Former Aggie pitcher, Kyle Bradish, started for the Orioles in tonight’s game against the Yankees.  He was on.  Kyle went 6 innings and gave up no runs.  The O’s offense gave him plenty of support with a 7-run third inning.  They piled on from there.  Gunnar Henderson had 4 hits, 2 homers, and 5 RBI’s.  In the ninth, you got something you never see: a Yankee position player pitching at home.  The final was 14-1 Orioles.  That one run scored in the bottom of the ninth.  The remaining fans cheered, and I think it was an honest cheer.  The O’s entered the belly of the beast and won two of four from the Evil Empire East.

 

Meanwhile, the Evil Empire West (the Dodgers) beat the Pirates, 5-3.  Another Aggie, Nick Gonzales, had a good game.  He doubled in two runs in the second.  (I was walking somebody out at work and missed it.)  His OPS was briefly 1.036 after that hit. 

 

The Rays lost all three home games this week to the Phillies.  Tonight’s game was 1-1 until the 11-th inning (again, what the hell?), before the Phils won 3-1.  Meanwhile, the Rangers lost to the Red Sox again.  The Rangers were mostly leading until the Sox had a 6-run seventh.  I almost lost it during these last two Ranger games . . . because of the radio commercials that played during the breaks.  It was the same spots every inning.  I was enjoying the booth banter so much, but I couldn’t take the commercials.  I had to kind of tap out on listening. 

 

Whew!  That was a lot of baseball this week.  I didn’t even list all the games I watched or looked in on. 

 

7-8-23

Technically, I’m reporting on a game from July 5-th, but it was new to me on Saturday morning.  Stadium was showing a replay of a game earlier in the week between the Columbus Clippers and the Nashville Sounds.  I’d seen the Sounds before on the MILB Showcase.  They have a nice stadium and a bunch of fans.  They are a good candidate for MLB expansion.  That night they were wearing a faux-City Connect jersey with “Hit City” stitched on the front.  Sweet.

 

The announcer was talking about the previous night’s game on Independence Day.  The Sounds were short on pitching and had to have two position players pitch four innings in a 19-2 loss.  Oddly, the team is still leading Triple-A in pitching, even after this loss. 

 

Tonight’s game, which featured the Country Legends Nesting Doll giveaway, had the Sounds up 9-3 going into the eighth.  The team was still a little short on pitching, though, to the tune of giving up 11 runs over the next two innings.  The Sounds were down 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth. 

 

This game wasn’t over yet.  The Clippers had their own pitching problems with 6 walks in the inning.  The Sounds tied the score with a couple of forced in runs.  During the inning I saw two former Chihuahuas players and Skye Bolt, former Las Vegas Aviator.  With two outs and little kids all over the stadium jumping up and down and cheering, former pup player, Abraham Toro, popped up on the infield.  Four Clippers converged under the ball . . . and let it drop in between them.  Oh, it wasn’t funny for them, but I laughed so hard.  What a game!  15-14 Hit City.

7-9-23

Chihuahuas vs Las Vegas Aviators.  The second half has been a disaster for the pups and resetting the record hasn’t helped (they’re 2-10).  Tonight, they really tried against the Aviators.  They tied the game twice after falling behind by 5 runs and then by 4 runs, but they couldn’t get outs on defense.  The final was 13-10 Las Vegas. 

 

This 9-inning game ran over three and a half hours.  Thankfully, that’s an oddity now.  There were four consecutive 9-batter half-innings late that contributed to the duration.  This was the final active baseball game before the break because of the length.  The MLB games I kept up on today were quick, as the players wanted to get to the ASG break.                

Baseball Journal May-July 2023 Part 2

6-11-23

Chihuahuas vs OKC Dodgers.  It was a record loss for the pups at 24-5.  Worse, it was a national TV game on Stadium.  What’s amazing was that there were still fans there at the end and they were cheering any good play.  Catcher Michael Cantu pitched a scoreless ninth with a 40-mph . . . umm . . .  I’m not sure what to call it.  He flung ball in the general direction of home plate. 

 

Broadcaster Tim Hagerty tried to answer a question about the highest-scoring minor league baseball game ever in the bottom.  Some team in the 1800’s scored 200+ runs, however that wasn’t the official record-holder.  Unfortunately, the game ended before he could finish the story.  [Note added later: Unfortunately, I think this game functionally broke the Chihuahuas this.  They haven’t recovered from it since.]

 

6-12-23

Rockies vs Red Sox.  Tied in the tenth at 2 in Boston in downpour, the Red Sox first baseman, Triston Casas, made a rain-induced error on a grounder that scored the Rox’s second run of the inning.  Then the umps stopped the game for an hour and a half.  For the bottom of the inning, all of the remaining fans at Fenway were standing behind home plate.  These were the hardcore Sox fans and they were cheering, booing, and groaning on every pitch.  It was kind of great to see.  Unfortunately, they weren’t able to will their team to victory, as the Rockies won, 4-2.

 

6-18-23

Blue Jays vs Rangers.  I don’t really have a game report on this.  I was still suffering with a bad case of heartburn from enjoying a local race last night when the game came on.  I finally laid down to nap in the afternoon, hoping to recover, with the game on the radio.  In and out of sleep, I heard the Rangers go down 6-0.  Semi-conscious, I thought I heard the Rangers were suddenly back in it.  Finally, I got up, feeling much better, and the Rangers had won 11-7.  I missed a heck of game.

 

6-20-23

Chihuahuas vs Tacoma Rainiers.  It was a high-scoring game to begin with, but when the pooches scored 4 in the seventh to put the team up 10-5, it looked like it was going to be the Chihuahuas’ night.  Gag!  Then the Rainiers scored 6 in the next inning to put them up by 1.  With two on and two out in the bottom of the ninth, Taylor Kohlwey improbably hit the right field line and scored both runners on base.  Luis Liberato unnecessarily executed a belly-flop slide to win the game for the pups, 12-11.  I watched the hit a couple of times on Twitter and never saw the ball hit the line.  The whole ball must have directly bounced on the line.

 

6-22-23

I watched 9 scoreless innings between the Phillies and the Braves.  There were some great defensive plays in the game, as you might expect.  The Braves did bust it open in the tenth to finally win it. 

 

6-23-23

On Friday, unbeknownst to me, former Aggie star, Nick Gonzales, was called up to the Pirates and scored a run in the game.  I found this out Saturday evening.  Dad had mentioned something about a call up earlier (it was on the local news), but didn’t have the name right.  I later tuned in to Stadium’s Minor League showcase game to see Nick playing with the Indianapolis Indians, when I remembered what dad had said and then got the news off Aggie Baseball Twitter.

 

It’s been a full day of baseball this Saturday.  I started out watching the London game between the Cubs and the Cardinals with dad.  There was a great crowd there.  A groundout to short to start the game brought out a huge cheer.  Unfortunately, only the Cubs showed up to play and won, 9-1.  I got back home just in time to start listening to the Rangers play the Yankees on the radio and was highly disappointed by a 1-0 loss by Texas.

 

I decided to watch the MILB Indians game over the Internet right after, even without Nick being there, since I enjoyed their commentators the last time I’d heard them.  They’re a good mix of an older guy and a younger guy doing the call.  It was a tight, close game, and I enjoyed it, but I may have missed out not watching the Dodgers and Astros on Fox.  The Dodgers went up by 3 right off the bat.  The Astros stormed back with 7 runs, but then the Dodgers came back.  In the eighth, the Dodgers took the lead and the win, 8-7, on a balk.  I started watching right after that happened.  The Astros’ pitcher was infuriated with the ump after the inning. 

 

I just about bailed on the Chihuahuas/Rainiers on the radio.  The pups went down 8-3 halfway through the game.  They did not give up.  They put up 4 in the fifth.  In the eighth, Jantzen Witte hit a grand slam to give the Chihuahuas an 11-9 lead and the win.  There was a big crowd there in El Paso for fireworks.  They went crazy for homer, the team went crazy, and Tim Hagerty on the radio call went crazy.  (I didn’t go crazy, but I was pleased.) 

  

Finally, I turned over to the Angels/Rockies game on the radio.  I’d already been warned by Tim, as he was recapping MLB scores.  His last update was that it was 24-0 Angels in the sixth inning.  The Rockies’ experiment in using a batting tee, instead a pitcher, was a disaster.  I came in in the eighth, just as Brenton Doyle hit a home run for the Rockies to make it 25-1.  A large crowd cheered.  (Perhaps they were all waiting for fireworks afterward, too.)  The game took under three hours, by the way.  (And just to irritate Angel fans, the Rockies would go on to win two of three from them in the series.)

 

6-27-23

I got a text from NM State Baseball last night directing me to their Twitter.  (I’m not sure how they have my number.)  Nick Gonzales, in his first home game with the Pirates (and debuting their City Connect uniforms), had gotten his first hit, an RBI triple, and a 442’ home run to center.  Yeah. 

 

6-28-23

Then the next day, NMSU came back down to earth with an $8M settlement with the former Men’s Basketball players suing for sexual abuse.  The possibility of criminal charges are still pending, but they’ll likely be dismissed.  Only the lawyers were made whole.

 

The Chihuahuas beat the Isotopes, 11-8, to start the second half of the season with a new 1-0 record.  (Triple-A has gone to the split-season format.)  Jantzen Witte hit his third grand slam of the season.  However, the pups also gave up a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth.  New record; same old team.

 

The Yankees were playing the A’s in the MLB.TV free game.  It was a game I’m sure nobody was excited for.  When the Yankees went up big early, I sort of tapped out.  A little later, I noticed the “Perfect Game” notation on the scoreboard.  As it was in the seventh, the alert was legit.  I was called out of the room at work, just after Domingo German got the 27-th out and completed the perfect game, so I did get to see it.  The A’s broadcast I’d been watching had been trying to jinx it.  They were even bringing up graphics about perfect games during play.

 

7-3-23

It’s been a little frustrating rooting for the Rangers the last two weeks.  I’d listened to them lose two of three to the Yankees in close games.  They dropped two of four to the terrible Tigers.  I listened to the last one of those.  Then came this important four-game home series against the Astros, who are in second behind the Rangers. 

 

The Rangers had lost of two of the first three by July third.  I was waiting to go to work, unlike a lot of people on that day, and watched the game.  MLB.TV was offering all their games for free for the next few days.  It was third day game in a row and the fourth sellout in a row with a decidedly mixed crowd in Arlington.  Jose Altuve has been getting the loudest boo/cheer every time he comes to bat.    

 

The Rangers immediately went down 6-0 with a grand slam mixed in.  The Astros drove it up to 10-2, before I tapped out and checked out the Cubs at the Brewers, when I remembered Bob Uecker would be doing the call.  The Brewers had also gone down 6-0, but had clawed back to 6-3.  They tied it in the seventh with a loaded bases double.

 

I’d hardly dared to look back at the Rangers, but suddenly they were only down by a run.  Just as I started watching again, Adolis Garcia homered to tie it.  Corey Seager hit a sac fly in the 8-th to give the Rangers an 11-10 lead.  The Brewers scored 2 in their 8-th to take an 8-6 lead and the win.  That worked out okay for them, but the Rangers couldn’t hold their lead.  They gave up 2 in the 9-th and lost 12-11.      

 

The Astros won with 3 errors in the game.  Frankly, neither team really deserved to win.  There was good news for the Rangers.  Travis Jankowski is batting over .300 and had 5 RBI’s in a career day.  His two-run homer in the fifth sparked the comeback.  Who picked Jankowski to be such a key piece for the Rangers this season?  New arrival, Aroldis Chapman worked two scoreless innings in two games since being acquired.  I suspect he’ll be the new closer.

Baseball Journal May-July 2023 Part 1

As usual, I make notes whenever I see or hear something interesting happening in ball game.  This is what I’ve noted so far in the season.

 

5-30-23

Chihuahuas vs Las Vegas Aviators.  I stayed late at work this night to hear the end of this one.  The pups had the lead early, but the Aviators came back and took a 2-run lead, 7-5, in the fifth.  Then the Chihuahuas put up 4 in the seventh to retake the lead, but LV scored in the bottom to make it 9-8. 

 

Okay, the Chihuahuas put up 6 more in the eighth to go up by 7.  Oh yeah, well the Aviators scored 5 in the bottom and hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth.  They came up just a run short, as the Chihuahuas won, 15-14.  The fans there were going crazy in the ninth.  The game finished in just under 4 hours.  It’s hard to complain about pace of play when the teams combined for 29 runs.

 

5-31-23

Chihuahuas vs Las Vegas Aviators.  The Oakland A’s are on pace for one of the worst records ever for a season.  Don’t look for any help coming from their Triple-A team, the Aviators.  They lost again to the Chihuahuas, 20-5.  23 hits for the pups.  Jose Iglesias had quite a night.  He when 5 for 7, with 8 RBI’s, and 3 home runs.  The Aviators most effective pitcher was their DH, who came in for an out in the eighth and for all of the ninth and didn’t give up a run.

 

5-31-23

Chihuahuas vs Las Vegas Aviators.  The pups scored 12 unanswered runs in this game.  The Aviators didn’t score until the eighth and lost 12-2.  The crowd in Sin City went wild (no sarcasm).  Credit to the Las Vegas crowds through this series.  They’ve been large and loud.

 

6-2-23

Orioles vs Giants.  LaMonte Wade Jr. hit the 100-th Splashdown homer into McCovey Cove.  The coverage showed the first one, which was, of course, hit by Barry Bonds.  Two small boats went after it.  A guy with a net snagged it, as the other boat flat out rammed him.  But, Orioles win tonight 3-2. 

 

Padres TV broadcasts have been taken over by the MLB.  Interesting.  In tonight’s game, Rougned Odor had already hustled in the Padres’ only run earlier.  In the eighth, he pulled up lame on a single, as the outfielder let the ball get past him.  Ruggie hobbled along the basepath and slid in to make it to second.  What a gamer!  Cubs did beat Padres, 2-1.  Brutal.  

   

The marquee matchup of the night was the Yankees at the Dodgers.  The blue crew handled them 8-4.  The pinstripes did make a late charge with a 3-run homer by Josh Donaldson in the ninth.

 

Lastly, Las Vegas finally beat the Chihuahuas, 10-4.  It was a back-and-forth game actually, but the Aviators finally busted out with a big inning to win it. 

   

6-4-23

I finally got to see Aggie alum, Nick Gonzales, in action today with the Indianapolis Indians.  He’s now sporting a mustache and batting leadoff.  This Indians team has declined to change their name.  They’ve partnered with a local tribe to give them some backup.  During the game, an Indians player ran into the home plate ump while crossing the plate.  The player grabbed him and held on to keep him from falling over.  After, the ump patted him on the head for the effort.  Also, the Indians have a great broadcast team.  They’ve paired up an older and younger guy, who play off each other well.  I was impressed.

 

6-6-23

Chihuahuas vs OKC Dodgers.  Tim Hagerty was interrupted during his broadcast by a lady in the suite next door wanting him to put birthday wishes up on the video board, mistaking him for the PA.  (This type mistaken identity also happened to Adam Young at Aggie Baseball.)  Unfortunately, this happened as he was trying to call an inside the park home run by Luis Liberato.  Next inning, Tim got information from the lady, though with some difficulty due to a language barrier, so that he could properly wish the person happy birthday over the air.  Tim was giddy tonight as a storm blew through and delayed the game, but the pups won, 15-5.

 

6-7-23

Dodgers vs Reds.  Phenom Reds’ call up, Elly de la Cruz’s, second game brought his first home run in the first inning.  It was nearly a blast out of the stadium.  The Dodgers went up 6-3, but the Reds tied it in the third.  In the bottom of the ninth, Will Benson hit a 2-run homer to win it, 8-6, for the Reds.  It was his first MLB homer as well.  It was also the Reds’ second walk off win in a row over Dodgers during this series.

 

6-8-23

Chihuahuas vs OKC Dodgers.  Two nights in a row the pups tied the score in the ninth to force an extra inning.  Yesterday, rehabbing Nelson Cruz drove in a game-tying run, though the team lost in the tenth.  Today, the dogs got the tying run in the ninth and won it in the tenth, 4-3.  The Dodgers are the best team in the PCL and the Chihuahuas are playing them tough.

 

6-9-23

Chihuahuas vs OKC Dodgers.  Chico had the play of the game tonight.  He caught a foul ball late in the pups’ loss.  The crowd started yelling for it, but he wouldn’t part with the ball.  The PA eventually came on and started chiding him before he relinquished it to a kid.

 

6-10-23

There was a drone delay in El Paso during the Chihuahuas game tonight.  Players were cleared off the field.  You never know when a drone might be armed with Hellfire missiles.  Less funny, there was a fan injury delay in St. Paul on Stadium’s Saturday MILB Showcase game.  A ball tossed into the stands caused a fan to fall over the rail over a concourse next to the dugout and on to the concrete.  They didn’t show anything other than the EMS workers there taking a gurney into the tunnel.  Some of the fans around applauded, so the broadcasters thought the person was still conscious.  I didn’t see any news about it the next day.  

Fort Selden 50-th Anniversay Celebration Part 2

Part 1

There was a small museum for the fort, but very nice.  They were selling chunks of the Fort Selden walls up front, which gives you an idea of what condition they're in.  Here's a display with some cute sheep.

They had a couple of uniforms on display.  I question those spiky helmets, especially out in the desert.  General Douglas MacArthur was here as a child when his father was the commander here.   

Here's a small canon.

Outside, the staff had started a cookout with burgers and hot dogs.  (Yes, it was hot out, over 100 degrees.)  There were probably over a 100 people there for the celebration.  My hot dog was excellent.  Dad and Gerald enjoyed their burgers.  There were several displays outside, including this buck wagon.

I was wearing the Fort Union shirt that dad had bought me last year on his trip around the state.  (It's at the northern end of the state.  It's in somewhat better shape than Fort Selden.)  A guy stopped me and told me he'd been there.  He'd served in the Cavalry.  Gerald had as well.      

This is a statue of a Buffalo Solder out on the former parade grounds called, The Sentinel.    

 

Here's a couple of views of the fort ruins.  I was honestly a bit too embarrassed to take better pictures of the site.  It is not in good shape.  The adobe walls were originally 10' tall and 2' thick.  Time and the elements have worn them down to nothing.  Some of the walls were only standing because they're being propped up.  There is a rock-built stockade, but it's in the same shape.

There was a tent set up outside with chairs.  We sat for a couple of speeches that were not about the fort, but rather the Historical Society and their efforts to preserve what's left.  There was a guided tour afterward that dad and Gerald, surprisingly, didn't want to stay for.  (The guide was going to detail the preservation efforts.)  We wandered around the ruins by ourselves for a little bit, before going back into the museum.  They had cake inside, which we enjoyed before leaving.    

The helpful staff at the site were positively giddy.  They were the best parts of the experience.  I liked the museum, but honestly, the ruins probably aren't worth saving in the condition they're in and given what they're made of.  I would recommend taking a trip out there, especially if they're having an event.  Leasburg Dam State Park is right next door.  I'd probably recommend going when it's a bit cooler or bringing plenty of water.  I may have gotten a little heat exhaustion on the trip.  

Fort Selden 50-th Anniversay Celebration Part 1

 

Dad invited myself and his friend, Gerald, out to the Fort Selden site 50-th anniversary celebration Saturday night.  Admittedly, I had nothing better to do, so I was okay with going.  There was also supposed to be some free food. 

The historic site is just outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico, just off I-25.  The parking lot was full when we got there.  

This is a view of the nearby Robledo Mountains.

We passed this car in the parking lot.  It's a green Jaguar.  We think it probably belonged to a state senator who was in attendance.  

This was a little bench area outside of the museum.

This event and the site are maintained by the Dona Ana County Historical Society.  You can see some of the ruins of the fort walls on the brochure.  

More pictures in Part 2.