Baseball Journal May: The Dirty Sodas

5-1-26

It was a team record for the Isotopes and the Chihuahuas for most runs scored and most runs given up.    Unfortunately, the pups came up on the wrong of the 26-8 ‘topes win.    It got out of hand early and just got worse.  The Isotopes batted around in two innings.    Chihuahuas’ pitching gave up 13 walks and 4 wild pitches (though 3 of those were by one pitcher).    Albuquerque fans might have enjoyed the game more with it hadn’t been 40-degrees there by the end.    The remaining fans were chanting, “Fireworks!” to conclude the Friday night game.    (This was just an opening act for the Aggies final baseball game a couple of weeks later.)        

5-2-26

The Chihuahuas had a 5-run lead early, but the Isotopes came roaring back.    They batted around again in consecutive innings and scored 7 runs in each for a 19-7 win.    The pups are in a bit of a pitching rut.    The Isotopes are doing surprisingly well this season, especially for a Rockies affiliate.

5-5-26

Ooops.    The Chihuahuas began a home series against the Rainiers.    Tacoma came back from being down 7-1 with a 5-run eighth.    It was 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth with 2 Chihuahuas on.    The Tacoma manager accidentally went out twice to visit the same pitcher.    As per the rules, he had to change pitchers immediately and brought in someone with no warmup.    The pitcher walked first batter to load the bases, but got a strikeout to end the inning and send it to extras.   

The Chihuahuas won it, 10-9, in the tenth on a wild pitch, after a sacrifice moved over the automatic runner.    That was the pups’ seventh extra innings game out of 34 games.    I seem to remember a couple of years ago, the Chihuahuas didn’t play an extra innings game for like half a season.    (I have no way of going back and finding that stat.)       

In MLB news, I’m still not getting to watch MLB games, but in further depressing news, Tarik Skubal is now out with an injury.    The Tigers’ season is already slipping away from injuries.    The good news is that the division is very bad and Skubal should be back soon (so he can be traded the Dodgers for two bags of Cheetos and really depress me).   

5-6-26

It was a day game in El Paso with the Chihuahuas and the Rainiers with a bunch school kids present.    There were 6,900 in attendance.    The little dogs gave up 4 in the top of first and 2 more in the third.  In the bottom of the third, Samad Taylor homered or did he?    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty initially called the ball that hit the wall as in play.    Taylor was doing a home run trot and was tagged when the ball was thrown back in.   

None of the umpires signaled home run, but conferenced and awarded him the run.    This was a reversal, so the Tacoma manager was incensed.    The kids were cheering.   
Tim checked the replay and seemed unconvinced, but let it go since it helped the Chihuahuas.    Pablo Reyes followed with a no-doubt homer.   

In the fourth, Jose Miranda hit a 420’ home run two-run homer.    With two on, Taylor hit a bunt inside-the-park home run.  The throw from the catcher to first on the sacrifice went into right field.    Taylor blew through a stop sign to score and give the pups the lead, 7-6.    Reyes followed this with a 2-run homer.    Tim was surprised by it going over the fence, so the wind must have taken it.    Rainiers got the first out on the ninth batter of the inning, but it was 9-6 Chihuahuas.

The Rainiers promptly tied it in the fifth.    Triple-A had implemented ABS check swing challenges.    Tim was eagerly awaiting the first check swing challenge.    He was practically begging for it.    The balls kept flying out.  In the eighth, the Rainiers took the lead on a solo homer, 10-9.

The pups tied it in the bottom of the eighth with Rodolfo Duran doubling in pinch runner, Clay Dungan.    They took the lead on a Mason McCoy RBI single with 2 outs.    There were still a few kids there watching and cheering, though most of them had to leave earlier.  Chihuahuas win, 11-10.   

5-7-26

The Yankees hit 2 triples in the first inning of a day game against the Rangers I was listening to. It was a 9-2 loss for the Rangers, though Yanks lost Jasson Dominguez, after he after he hit the wall going for a catch in the first.    He held on to the ball.

Later at night, the Chihuahuas were playing the Rainiers.    In the eighth, Nick Schnell thrown out at home on near inside the park homer. Broadcaster Tim Hagerty was hysterical during the game call. The throw came in from the from the EP bullpen mound, which is on the field. The Chihuahuas would win, 4-1, for their third win in a row.

5-8-26

The Rainiers turned 4 double plays in 5 innings?   I was only sort of listening, as the Chihuahuas were getting blown out in the game.    In the sixth, Jase Bowen hit a 462’ home run over the green seats and out of the stadium, but it was still 9-1.    I got to watch the instant video highlight on Gameday.    I think that’s a new feature.    Jase homered a second time in the eighth, but it was still 12-2.    A Rainier grand slam later made it, 17-2, which was the final score.    Clay Dungan, a position player, came in to pitch after that for his first pitching appearance.    He got a flyball out to end that inning.

5-10-26

The Chihuahuas won another extra innings game over the Rainiers, 7-6.    The big news, though, is that broadcaster Tim Hagerty finally got his first check swing challenge.    It’s not just that ABS was making the call, but for this to work they had to actually define a check swing strike.  The bat has to be at a 45-degree angle to the baseline for it to be called.    I was listening to this by chance in dad’s car, after we’d had lunch at Arby’s to try their new barbecue sandwich.    (They should stick to roast beef and curly fries.)

Back at dad’s apartment, we were watching a Savannah Bananas game.  At one point, the home plate ump had chopsticks and was eating lunch between pitches.    He was pushing eggrolls through his mask.    These guys put on a pretty good show.

5-12-26

“For the first time in baseball history, the fans have convinced the umpires to call a balk.”    Tim Hagerty’s call might have been a little hyperbolic, but it did happen in the Chihuahuas’ first game against the Salt Lake City Bees.    The Chihuahuas lost the game, 11-4.    The Utah crowd sounded pretty happy to see a win from their last place team.

5-13-26

The Salt Lake City Bees were playing as their alternate identities, the “Dirty Sodas.”    It’s a soda mixed with creamer and fruit flavors.    It’s what you get in a “dry” state like Utah when you order a mixed drink.    I’m not tired of weird minor league baseball team names yet.       

My other interest in the game was that former Aggie, Sammy Natera, was pitching for the Bees.    He played for Mexico in the WBC, along with Nick Gonzales and the Joey Ortiz.    It was an Aggie-heavy team.    Natera pitched 2 innings with 4 strikeouts, 2 hits, and no runs.    He got the win, as the Dirty Sodas won, 12-4.    The Chihuahuas had been leading 4-1, but gave up 7 unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth.    (Natera made another appearance on Saturday and did well again.) 

 

5-15-26

“He’s saying some bad words!” Tim Hagerty reported on a player disagreeing with an umpire at a Chihuahuas game.    Before the game, Tim and the Sportstalk guys had been talking about Banana Ball playing in El Paso while the pups were away.    I suddenly remembered that Banana Ball streams on Youtube, and I quickly found the game (and sort of abandoned the Chihuahuas).   

It was the Texas Tailgators playing the Firefighters.    (Shouldn’t it be “Firemen,” since its all guys?)    It was a full house at Southwest University Park with 10k in attendance.    One of the Tailgators was wearing a Chihuahuas jersey.    I think he was a former player.    It was a fun event.    The Tailgators were grilling in front of their dugout.    There was a ninja umpire first base umpire.    Two of the players were in a Lego building competition during the game.    Maybe the highlight was the hot salsa dance off.    A 77-year old won by taking his shirt off and whipping it around.

5-17-26

It was Rivalry Weekend in the MLB.    I discovered that MLB.TV was finally doing a free weekend and I was missing it.    Or was I?    I ended up listening to some of the Rangers and the Astros.    I saw the Dodgers and Angels on Mexican TV (while listening to the Chihuahuas game on the radio).    Finally, I was surprised to find NBC broadcasting a Sunday night game between the Padres and the Mariners.    (Okay, not all of the rivalries are natural.)    None of these games were all that great, but I was happy to get plenty of baseball today.