Baseball Journal July 21-22, 2018

7-21-18

After some disappointment about not going out anywhere today (it’s hot as hell outside anyway), I settled in to watch the Yankees and the Mets in a rivalry series on a Mexican station in the morning.  I wouldn’t otherwise want to watch a Yankees’ game, but I was hopeful for a good game, even if the Mets aren’t so good.  It was also just about too hot to move.  Once I settled in, the game had all of my attention. 

The Stadium crowd seemed kind of quiet, though it was a sellout.  The scoring started with a Michael Conforto home run off Sonny Gray to make it 1-0 Mets.  In the third, the home plate umpire suddenly threw out one of the Mets’ coaches in the dugout.  He was arguing balls and strikes, but he must have really said some magic words to get tossed that quick. 

In the fourth, Didi Gregorious, after making a great defensive play earlier, tripled in a run past a diving Matt den Dekker.  There was fan interference on the next play by the right field wall that became a ground rule double and an RBI.  I really have to say something here.  Why the hell did they build this new Yankee Stadium to where the fans could keep interfering with potential home run balls?  Do you really think every Jeffrey Maier-like incident at the park is going to go your way?  You’re going to regret this someday and have to do some remodeling, mark my words.     

Den Dekker’s bad inning continued as a ball went over his head, which scored another run.  Next, he missed a single that died in front of him as he dove for it.  It was 4-1 Yankees when the inning finally ended.  In all fairness, if den Dekker had made any of these plays, it would have made a highlight reel.  An all-time great fielder might have made one or two of the plays, but probably not all of them. 

In the fifth, the cameras showed some pidgins wandering around the outfield.  I could just hear the Yankee call of the game under the Mexican announcers.  They referred to them as “Bronx ducks.”  As usual, the Yankee announcers put up a non-stop patter about how inferior the other team is.  It gets grating if you’re not a Yankee fan.

Speaking of testy, Asdrubal Cabrera was called out in the inning on a check swing.  He threw down his bat and the third base umpire immediately ejected him.  The Mets weren’t having a good relationship with the umps today.  In the bottom, I noticed that Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t wearing the faceguard on his helmet.  This is bizarre.  He’s the guy who needs one and popularized them.  I don’t know what to make of it.

In the sixth, Amed Rosario drove in a run for the Mets.  Then, Jose Bautista scored from third on a throw to first that hit Rosario, 4-3 Yankees.  But, the Yankees came back with a run in the bottom, an Aaron Judge home run in the seventh, and a run on a fielder’s choice in the eighth, 7-3 Yankees.        

Aroldis Chapman came in to close in the ninth.  He hadn’t pitched in a while and had skipped the All-Star Game.  It showed.  Chapman loaded the bases with no outs.  He walked in a run on four pitches that weren’t close and then hit the next batter, before being taken out.  The Yankees announcers then mentioned that the Mets had traded their closer, Jeurys Familia, in a deal that just went through.  See what I mean about taking shots at the other team?  

Yoenis Cespedes was lurking in the dugout, but he was deemed too injured to enter the game.  A double play scored another run to make it 7-6.  By this point, the crowd was finally into it as the Yankees got the last out and won it.  I have to say, that was a great game.  Glad I watched.

Later in the evening, the Astros took on the Angels in the FOX national game.  It was my third Angels’ game in a row.  Unlike the previous two Dodger/Angel games, at least I like one of the teams playing.  Justin Upton started off the game well for the Angels as he made a leaping catch at the wall of a George Springer drive.  The other Justin, Verlander, was pitching for the Astros. 

The first run came in the third with a Yuli Gurriel sacrifice with the bases loaded, 1-0 Astros.  At this point, the Rangers and Indians game came on the radio and I immediately turned down the sound on the TV.  I was getting tired of listening to Eric Karros complaining about the players anyway. 

In the fourth, Shohei Ohtani doubled off Verlander.  He stood at second and chatted amiably with Jose Altuve.  With runners on second and third with one out, Verlander got two strikeouts to end the inning without giving up a run.  In Arlington, it was the second inning.  Ranger starter Bartolo Colon scrambled off the mound to throw out a runner on an infield hit.  The ump took a minute to make the call.  As Eric Nadel put it, “Perhaps he couldn’t believe that Colon could move that fast either.” 

At that point, I lost local reception of the Rangers and switched over to the Chihuahuas and Rivercats game, which just started.  Giants Gregor Blanco and Evan Longoria were in the Rivercats’ lineup.  Francisco Mejia still wasn’t in the lineup for the Chihuahuas, but was in the dugout. 

Okay, at this point, my notes all mix together.  The Astros were up 3-0 in the sixth with the bases loaded.  Springer went from a 3-0 count to a full count and then hit a grand slam.  He kissed the bat in the dugout.  The Astros loaded the bases again before a double play ended the inning, 7-0 Astros.

The Chihuahuas were also hitting.  Brett Nicholas hit a two-run homer in the first.  Matt Szczur drove in two runs in the third to make it 4-0.  The crowd roared on that play.  Meanwhile, I just caught a scoring update from Arlington on the TV ticker.  It was 10-0 Indians in the seventh.  I may not have missed much there.

Back in Anaheim, Jabari Blash came in to pinch hit for the Angels.  I remember him from the Chihuahuas.  The announcers were amazed with his funky stance and swing.  I don’t remember him doing that when I saw him in person (6-15-16), but I do remember what a large physical specimen he is.  He struck out though. 

Ohtani doubled again in the ninth, but the Angels never scored.  7-0 Astros was the final.  Verlander and the Astros’ relievers and batters had a good night.  The Angels had three errors, though I’m not sure if those figured into the scoring. 

In the fifth in El Paso, Nicholas had a two-run double to make it 6-0 Chihuahuas.  I made an effort to bring in my Rangers’ nighttime affiliate.  In the eighth, it was still 98 degrees at 9:45pm in Arlington.  When the new stadium is finished, the fans will not miss the old one.  The Indians won 16-3.  Shin-Soo Choo’s on-base streak ended tonight at 52 games.

As the Chihuahuas game got more out-of-hand, Tim Hagerty told a little story about how suspended games sometimes result in rookie players having an official record before their actual debut.  Juan Soto on the Nationals has a home run, which by the books, came before he took his first Major League at bat, since the suspended game is still listed for the day the game started. 

In the eighth, a tossed bat got stuck up in the netting.  Some fans tried to shake it loose.  I’d be surprised by this happening, but I’ve seen it incomprehensibly happen before.  The Rivercats scored 3 in the ninth, but the pups were not really threatened as they won 9-5.  Starter Brett Kennedy now moves to 9-0.

7-22-18

Today, I went out, but was still disappointed.  I picked up lunch at Jack-in-the-Box.  I had a coupon for a $5 Buttery Jack meal, which was too good a deal to let expire.  The burger was pretty good, but not life-changing.  It was definitely better than the $5 Sourdough Jack meal I got a couple of weeks ago.  I still have the $5 Ultimate Cheeseburger coupon queued up for next week.  Restless, I went over to the bookstore at the mall.  I couldn’t decide about buying a couple things.  Before it became an existential crisis, I left without buying anything. 

It was also hot as an oven outside.  I’d walked over to my parents’ apartment and the mall, both nearby.  I was soaked when I got back.  My afternoon was spent watching the NHRA drag race on FOX and listening to the Rangers and the Indians playing.  As far as drag racing goes, I’ve watched several races, and I’ve come to the conclusion you really need to be there to get the most out of it.  TV is not the best venue for the sport.  The Media Agenda holy word “Diversity” was heavily used during the broadcast, since there are some good, winning female drivers in the series.  Just for that, I’m gonna say that some of them are pretty hot too.  Take that!

           

Right before the baseball coverage picked up, I flipped around on the TV and noticed an international Rugby tournament going on.  I was shocked it was in San Francisco at AT&T Park.  I wouldn’t have recognized it, if a few stadium features hadn’t crept into view.  I’ve tried watching Rugby a few times; I just can’t get into it.  I don’t know what to say.  Yesterday, they even showed women’s teams playing, but it still couldn’t keep my attention.

In Arlington, Eric Nadel was wondering if the people waving fans in the stands were distracting the fielders.  It was hot there too, to the tune of 108 degrees later in the game.  Jared Sandler was worried the fan in the booth might go out.  He also mentioned Shin-Soo Choo talked to the media last night about his on-base streak ending.  He thanked his teammates for their support in keeping it going and congratulated the opposing pitchers for pitching well.  What a gentleman. 

Joey Gallo made the highlight reel in the second, but for his throwing arm, not his batting.  He threw out a runner at third base from right field.  He did come out with an injury later in the game.  In the third, Roughned Odor drove in a run and sacrificed in a run in the fifth.  It was 2-0 Rangers for much of the game.

Yovani Gallardo didn’t give up any runs over six innings.  The top of the eighth seemed like the critical moment of the game.  Jake Diekman was in in relief and loaded the bases with two outs.  After a mound visit, he got a strikeout to end the inning.  Good talk.  In the bottom, Ruggie hit a solo shot and Ryan Rua hit a two-run homer to ice the game.  5-0 Rangers was the final.  Mike Clevinger was the hard luck loser, going seven and only giving up two runs.  Ruggie had a great game, going 3 for 3.

While waiting for the Chihuahuas/Rivercats game, I unfortunately listened to The Sporting Life.  It’s this canned ESPN Radio show they play if your affiliate doesn’t carry the sporting event they’re broadcasting.  And that’s all it is: filler.  For the millionth time, some ESPN “experts” informed me that baseball sucks.  I don’t know why I don’t listen to my betters and continue to enjoy the sport anyway. 

There was also some World Cup discussion with some English guy, who told me how great football is (soccer that is, not American football, or should I say Anti-American football, given the disposition of the players).  He also told me that Trump sucks to further make his point.  Gasp!  I had never considered that.  Such infallible logic.  I must change my sporting allegiances immediately.  But first, let’s listen to tonight’s game.  There’s nothing better on anyway.

(Yeah, typical ESPN “sports” reporting.  And the World Cup . . . The only worthwhile thing about the tournament was watching the hot chicks on the Mexican nightly recap shows, especially Yvette Hernandez.  The matches were irrelevant compared to Yvette sampling Russian street food.)     

Francisco Mejia was still not in the Chihuahuas’ lineup tonight.  Tim Hagerty assured us that he’ll be playing on Tuesday.  I’m starting to think the Padres got horse-traded here, which would be fitting since the Indians got stuck with Brad Hand.  Tim also reported that Tim Tebow had gone on the IR.  I’m not sure how that Double-A news fits in since it involves neither organization playing here, but perhaps Tim felt that baseball fans would want to know.  (Get well soon, Tebow.  We’re pulling for you to make it to the majors in September.)

Things went well for the pups right off the bat.  (See what I did there?)  Brett Nicholas drove in two runs in the first.  This was followed by a fielder’s choice RBI by Shane Peterson and a two-run single by Diego Goris.  The Rivercats did not help themselves with three walks, an error, and probably a couple of missed double plays.  The Chihuahuas sent nine batters to the plate.

Nicholas doubled in another run in the second.  In the fourth, he got another RBI.  He had 4 RBI’s and was 3 for 3 at that point.  Nicholas, Luis Urias, and Matt Szczur hadn’t made an out in three plate appearances apiece.  7-0 Chihuahuas. 

   

In the fifth, Rivercats scored two to make it 7-2.  In the sixth, the pups turned their second 6-5-3 double play of the game because of the shift.  In the bottom Brett got another hit, going 4 for 4 with another RBI.  He was seeing the ball well tonight (and well recently too).  8-2 Chihuahuas. 

In the seventh, Ryder Jones came into the game for the Rivercats.  I saw him hit a home run for the Giants on Friday.  Peterson made a diving catch in the inning, but the ball popped out.  However, he was able to throw out a runner on a force anyway.  It was that kind of night.  In the bottom, Javy Guerra tripled drive in two more to make it 10-2.  Chihuahuas’ starter, Jerry Keel, came out for a pinch hitter.  He went 7 innings, only throwing 70+ pitches.  There was a no-doubt home run on to the Big Dog House in the ninth for the Rivercats, but that was all.  10-3 Chihuahuas final.  Now that’s how to win at home guys.

Baseball Journal July 18-20, 2018

7-18-18

No Major League Baseball for the next two days.  I tried watching the MLB Network tonight, but I think I missed their mid-season report special.  I’ll check again tomorrow night.  There’s a bit of a buzz in Albuquerque, where the Chihuahuas and Isotopes will be playing tonight, over last night’s All-Star Game.  They’re excited over their hometown boy, Alex Bregman, winning the MVP award and he’s planned to come there over the break. 

I’m sure I’d heard that he was from Albuquerque, but I’d forgotten all about it.  I doubt he’ll be having a formal public event, but he’ll be out somewhere (like maybe the ballpark) and might sign a few autographs or maybe do an interview with a local radio station.  I like Bregman a lot.  He seems more like he should be from New York and starring in a WWII movie than a ball player from Albuquerque though.

The game started with a great electric guitar version of the Anthem.  That was the last part of the game I enjoyed.  The Isotopes started off with a two-run homer in the first.  By the third, they’d scored three more runs after three walks by Joey Lucchesi.  Even the opposing pitcher got a hit, his second of the year.  Lucchesi had to come out.  The inning ended on an infield hit with a runner getting thrown out at the plate.

It would have been nice to have been there though.  It was 50 cent hot dog night (limit six).  There was a hot dog eating contest between innings.  All of the Chihuahuas’ offense was Matt Szczur driving in a run in the fourth.  The Isotopes turned four double plays in the game to kill virtually any rallies.  I’m still trying to figure out a play in the second when catcher Brett Nicholas tried to steal second and was thrown out to end the inning.  Chihuahuas’ relievers did a good job.  Kazuhisa Makita came in with a submarining 59mph breaking ball.  The final was 7-1 Isotopes.  So much for baseball today.     

7-19-18

Big news to start today’s matinee between the Chihuahuas and the Isotopes.  The Padres finally traded their All-Star closer Brad Hand.  Him and another reliever are going to the Indians for Francisco Mejia, their number one prospect and the top catching prospect in professional baseball.  I’m pretty sure this helps the Indians.  Honestly, the Padres seemed to have plenty of good catching talent from what I’ve seen go through El Paso.  At least they got something good for Hand.  Mejia will be coming to the Chihuahuas.  Let’s hope that helps the pups in their tight division race.

Jordan Lyles came out for the Chihuahuas tossing batting practice.  He gave up three home runs in the first, including David Dahl hitting the pole on the hill, 4-0 Isotopes.  The Chihuahuas scored in the fourth on a fielder’s choice, but the Isotopes turned their third double play of the game in the process.  Colin Rea did a good job in the bottom by striking out the side.  In the fifth, a glove flip mishap by the shortstop put runners on corners for the pups, but a bunt by Rea led to an out at the plate.  A hit batter loaded the bases, but another double play ended the inning.

Rea didn’t do so good in the sixth.  The Isotopes opened it up with a three-run hr and a solo shot.  By the time they’d batted around, it was 9-1.  In the eighth, the Isotopes turned their fifth DP.  Tim Hagerty was looking up records earlier, but figured it was safe for today. 

In the bottom, I barely noticed that Diego Goris, a position player, was pitching.  With two vacancies at the Major League level, the Chihuahuas were probably limited in who they could pitch in the game.  He gave up his first runs while pitching, seven of them.  They must have scouted him.  Finally, him and Brett Nicholas exchanged places on the field.  Brett came in with a knuckle ball.  That didn’t work out too well either.  I actually started laughing.  The final out was recorded after seven runs, 14 batters, and the bases left loaded.

Needless to say, the Chihuahuas lost, 16-1, their largest margin of defeat in franchise history.  Dad called right after the game, “Is there a reason you wanted me to listen to the worst ballgame ever?”  “I don’t know.  It was kind of funny there by end.”  There were 5,000 in attendance for this afternoon game, including some kids groups.  It lasted two hours, 40 minutes, but seemed much longer.  

I admit I’ve been kind of enjoying Isotope, Daniel Castro’s Mariachi walkup music.  It was Adrian Gonzalez’s too.  I’m going to have to finally say something.  They are still running NHL Stanley Cup commercials during the game!  Has no one else noticed this?

There actually was an MLB game on tonight between the Cubs and the Cardinals.  It was kind of random given that that was the only scheduled game.  You’d think they would have promoted it.  If it was on TV, I don’t know where and it wasn’t the MLB.TV free game.  Too bad, since I would have watched it and it seemed like a pretty good game with the Cubs winning 9-5.

There was still baseball available though.  I got the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Akron Rubber Ducks over the Internet.  When I came in, the announcer was talking about Francisco Mejia.  I think he must have seen him play, since he had some in depth scouting on him.  Sportstalk in the afternoon also talked about him.  All of this concurred with my baseball preview, which said Mejia’s offense was better than his defense and game calling.  A move to third was being experimented with. 

“The Squirrels are bracing themselves for Tebow-mania,” the announcer (really should have gotten his name) said, as Tim Tebow was expected to be playing for the opposition in the next homestand.  He also talked about the other Giants’ affiliates and mentioned Jerry Sands was hitting .400 for the Rivercats.  Oh, oh.  That’s the Chihuahuas’ next opponent. 

He also talked about the game, which was a pretty good one.  The team has a player named Logan Ice.  “Ice is cooling this inning down.”  I guess all announcers hit the pun bag on occasion.  The Squirrels have a pitcher from South Africa.  He was in the Futures Game over the weekend.  “He allowed a home run, but who didn’t?”  I guess he has dual citizenship since he had to ask which team he was picked for.  There was also a player named Luigi Rodriguez.  (Parents were Super Mario Fans perhaps?)

The Squirrels “let a good crisis go to waste,” as they left the bases loaded in the eighth.  Down three in the ninth, they came back and took a one run lead.  However, they lost it in the bottom as the Rubber Ducks came back and won 12-11.  I could hear the crowd chanting, but couldn’t make it out.  The announcer said they were quacking.  “Quack!  Quack!”  What a rally cry!       

7-20-18

I didn’t believe it when I saw it yesterday, but there it was today.  MLB.TV was offering all the games for free this weekend.  Of course, the blackout rules were still in effect, and I wasn’t going to get video of anything I wanted to watch.  I picked the Padres and the Phillies so I could listen to Uncle Ted Leitner’s radio call. 

Sitting down to type this, I suddenly realize that I didn’t take much in the way of notes.  The Padres racked up four runs in the first and the Phillies didn’t look good in letting them score.  You could clearly hear the infamous Philly fans opinion on their team’s performance.  “The boo birds are out!  The sounds of Philadelphia!” said Ted.  After the final out, there were “Cheers of derision.”  My next door co-worker Mike came into my cubicle in amazement, “You . . . weren’t kidding about Philadelphia fans.”  I’d been making jokes about them for years.  Apparently, he thought I was exaggerating.

We boo them to make them better!  Mike Schmidt never would have amounted to anything without us booing him!  We boo’ed our loser Eagles into a Superbowl victory this year!  We were totally vindicated!  We’re going to boo more now!

As much as wanted to keep listening, I had to work away from my desk.  I could have paused the game, but I anticipated wanting to listen to some of the other games that were coming on later.  Even Mike was enjoying Ted’s commentary before he left for the evening.  I caught bits and pieces later.  Ted and his co-announcer credited the Triple-A El Paso coaches (without saying the name “Chihuahuas”) with improving the players that had been sent down.  Ted said he was contractually obligated to be sarcastic.  He even started singing a commercial jingle.

By the fourth, the Padres were now down 7-4.  They loaded the bases, but only got one to make it 7-5.  There was discussion about fan fights in the stands being much less common.  The co-announcer (never got his name) thought it was because people were too busy playing with their phones.  In the eighth, the Phillies put up four runs to make it 11-5.  The crowd cheered for real this time.  That would be the final.  In the last inning, the guys were talking about a showboating player.  Ted said, “There’s not enough mustard to cover that hot dog.”  What a treat to hear this guy.

The Chihuahuas were coming home to play the Rivercats today.  There were some definite hardships for the fans today though.  The freeway was closed in both directions due to a couple of terrible accidents, including a semi catching fire.  A team marketing person was on Sportstalk beforehand telling fans they should leave early for the game.  No mention was made of the temperature, which was 100 degrees at first pitch. 

The most impressive play I heard was in the third.  A foul ball went into a neighboring pressbox and someone there made a one-handed catch outside the window.  The crowd applauded.  Francisco Mejia was still not in the lineup.  The Padres guys mentioned that the organization now has three of the top prospects in baseball.  For the Rivercats, Evan Longoria was playing for them on rehab.  He doubled in a run in the third and was driven in by a home run to make it 3-0.  In the bottom, pitcher Walter Lockett walked to load the bases with no outs, but the pups just got one on a fielder’s choice, 3-1.

Back at my desk, I had some important decisions to make.  (Oh, and the air conditioner went out in the computer room and a server crashed while I was working.  It took a couple of hours to sort that out.)  The Padres game was over.  I brought up the Chihuahuas’ game on Gameday, but didn’t bring up the audio.  I brought up video of the Giants and the A’s, and I brought up the audio of the Rangers and the Indians (my only option). 

Ultimately, I just got to watch a little of the Giants, if for no other reason than the A’s were wearing eye-hurting Irish green jerseys.  The Oakland Coliseum was hosting a great crowd for the rivalry game.  I saw Andrew McCutchen making a tremendous sliding catch to end the fourth inning with score tied at 1.  Derek Rodriguez was pitching for the Giants and doing a good job.  In the fifth, Ryder Jones hit a home run for the Giants to give them the lead.  I had not heard of him before, but what a great name.  I wonder if that was his first homer, as the dugout and even manager Bruce Bochy looked happy for him.  The Giants would go on to win 5-1.    

For the Rangers’ call, Eric Nadel was there, but Matt Hicks wasn’t.  Jared Sandler was filling in again.  Eric read Jared’s effort at a limerick today.  The Indians were leading comfortably in the seventh, until they put in their new reliever, Brad Hand.  Joey Gallo hit a massive two-run homer to make it 7-6.  Their other new reliever from the Padres, Adam Cimber finished the inning.                 

I talked to a co-worker earlier who’s a huge Padres fan.  I asked her how she felt about them trading their All-Star closer, Brad Hand.  Her face lit up and she smiled.  She’d watched him blow too many saves this year; she was sick of him.  I told her they were getting a catching prospect in return.  This might put her crush, Austin Hedges’, job in jeopardy.  She was not as excited about that.  

In the ninth, the Indians scored on a misplay by Delino Deshields to make it 8-6.  In the bottom, Robinson Chirinos homered with two outs.  Gallo then tied it on another homer that went into the second deck.  Willie Calhoon, just brought up, struck out to end the inning with a runner at second.

I’d been checking up on the Chihuahuas.  They were down 6-2 until they made a comeback in the eighth to make it 6-5.  I totally missed how it happened.  In the ninth, while the Rangers’ game was also in the ninth, I brought up audio of the game.  The crowd chanted for Cory Spangenberg, who was leading off.  He walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball in short order with nobody out.  Crushingly, the next three batters all made unproductive outs and the Rivercats won 6-5.

In the tenth with the free runner at second (I’m just kidding), the Indians scratched out a run in the top.  The Rangers started their inning with three straight singles.  That third single wasn’t deep enough to send the runner on.  Jose Ramirez made a great play at third for the first out.  Then there was a strikeout. 

Then Gallo came up.  One of foul balls hit right above the pressbox.  Jared asked Eric if he flinched.  “No.  I was hoping it would blow fair.”  After a lengthy battle, Gallo struck out to end the game.  9-8 Indians final.  Yandy Diaz in his MLB debut for the Indians went 4 for 6 with 2 RBI’s.  It was 107 degrees at first pitch, a record, and the game took nearly five hours.  I wished I could have watched more (I was good and busy most of the night too), but I enjoyed having a pick of games tonight.  That was fun, even if I didn’t get all the results I wanted.

Artifacts: The Star Wars Question and Answer Book About Space

This is the other Star Wars book I found the other day.  Unlike the Star Wars Storybook, this book just uses C3PO and R2D2 as characters to introduce space-related concepts.  It's more educational (for a grade schooler) than entertainment.  I really like paintings though.  These are most of the original artwork in the book; the rest are stock pictures and artwork from the space program.  This was published in 1979.  Star Wars was still very popular a couple of years after the film came out.  We were all on pins and needles waiting for the next film.  (Now we're all just sticking needles in our eyes, hoping to blind ourselves before the next film comes out.)    

 
What?  No discussion of parsecs or the Kessel run?  (Books and a movie have done to explain that throwaway line.)

I find this slightly comforting.

The text with the page said we'd be more likely to send robots to Mars in the future than people.  They were right.

I had to put this picture in here too.  Quite striking, isn't it.  It's a space escape pod for the Shuttle.  I think I'd take my chances burning up on reentry in the spacecraft.

Artifacts: The Star Wars Storybook

Remember a time long ago and far away when you used to love Star Wars?  It seems like such a long time ago.

(Hey, do you want an extra reason to hate The Last Jedi?  Watch this and get sick.)

I know this is going to perhaps sound absurd, I forgot I had this.  I found this book and another Star Wars book (that I'll post about tomorrow) buried in my bookcase.  When I saw them I suddenly thought, these might be kind of cool to post.  I showed them to a few people at work who proclaimed them "Cool" and "Probably really valuable."  That last comment made for some nervous moments as I carefully opened up these books over the scanner.

I got these books via the Scholastic book service in grade school.  Once a month, the teacher would hand out some thin paper catalogs to everyone with kids books listed on them.  My parents hated whenever I brought home stuff like this that might cost them money.  I don't know how I talked them into getting these.  This one was published in 1978, a year after the movie came out.

I found this Character page a bit intriguing with that black shirt Luke is wearing.  Is there an action figure with him wearing it?

One of the most iconic shots in cinema here folks.

1

The scene with Biggs and with Luke in the floppy hat I found really interesting.  I remember them from the comic book version of the movie.  Yes, I had them.  I wrecked them and then traded them to a friend for some other comics.  If you can believe it, I almost couldn't give them away.  (Okay, I don't want to hear about it.  They were the reprint versions and in very poor condition and, therefore, likely not worth that much.  At least that's what I keep telling myself.)  The comic books were based on the original script, not the actual movie.  These scenes were excised from the final cut.  If you'd like to know more about them and how Star Wars was "saved" in the cutting room, watch this video.  That's not a loose comment either.  Star Wars won an Oscar for editing.  

Ah, the Cantina scene.  There's no illumination about whether Han shot first or not.

  This shot of Millennium Falcon entering the Death Star is even more impressive as a still.

 A couple of great space fighter effects shots.  Luke was part of Gold squadron in the text.  I seem to remember the novel version had that too.  I don't know why it was changed for the movie.

And here's the man in black himself on the back cover.  He used to be so cool.  Sigh.

Something even more Star Wars esoteric tomorrow.

Baseball Journal July 16-17, 2018

7-16-18 Home Run Derby

Okay, no Giancarlo Stanton, no Aaron Judge, no Mike Trout, no Chris Berman, but we’re still doing this.  Well, at least the commentary was as inane as ever.  The crowd there in Washington DC really came out anyway.  It was basically a full-house for the event.  I wasn’t able to watch all of it, but wandered into the break room as much as possible until I could sit down for diner.  To my surprise, the Derby was also being shown on the MLB.com website.  I would think ESPN would be upset with that.  (It’s too much to hope for that the All-Star Game will also be on over the Internet.)

I don’t know how they choose the batters for the competition.  I’m thinking whoever draws the short straw.  I think the players love the spotlight and adulation, but hate the actual event.  They’re convinced it messes up their swing for the rest of the season.  It’s hard to say.  At least it’s a good excuse for not performing well after the break.  The current timed head-to-head format is much more friendly to TV viewing, but a lot more pressure-packed for the players and does preclude another Josh Hamilton-like moment happening. 

Alex Bregman was the only American League participant.  I got to watch his turn.  He seemed to have the crowd behind him as he tried to tie Kyle Schwarber’s score.  Unfortunately, he came up just short.  I made sure to watch Bryce Harper’s turn at bat.  He said beforehand that he was only going to the event if he was voted on the All-Star team.  The whining campaign worked and here he was with stars and stripes on his sleeve, headband, and his bat.  (They should stars and stripes for the regular Nationals’ uniform.)  He advanced convincingly.

Rhys Hoskins from the Phillies got 20 on his second round turn, but Schwarber got 21 on a last second swing.  The final would be Schwarber versus Harper.  Fatigue would become a factor.  Schwarber hit 18.  Harper had 9 with one minute to go.  His dad pitching to him even seemed to have some problems getting it over the plate.  However, Harper put on a show for 60 seconds and tied it with nine runs on nine swings, and won it in his bonus time.  I have little doubt that Bryce is only playing in the Derby and the ASG in hopes to getting a bigger free agency contract, but I must say, he really came through for the hometown fans tonight.    

My co-worker Mike came back from vacation today.  He was at Dodger Stadium on the Fourth for fireworks, and he brought me back another cool Dodger Yearbook, like he did last year (7-4-17).  Before he left, I’d shown him the concessions menu at the stadium and he was excited for the trip.  I even showed him the Diamondbacks’ since him and his girlfriend would be staying over in Phoenix.  However, he ended up just having a Dodger Dog.  He didn’t even send me a picture of it.  Mike had a good time, but didn’t elaborate on the game or have any pictures, so, unfortunately, no remote game recap this year.      

Meanwhile in Albuquerque, the Chihuahuas were playing the Isotopes.  The game started with a short delay as it had rained before the game.  It may have been a good thing they weren’t playing here, since it rained a bunch in El Paso (but not here).  Mike did mention one thing about his trip.  At one point, it was 118 degrees there in Los Angeles.  They looked up the weather here in Las Cruces and it was 80.  (We were probably getting rained on.)  So much for a getaway from the heat. 

I’m not going to fake it.  I didn’t really start paying attention to the game until the sixth inning, after the Derby.  I noticed “The Lab” there has an interesting female PA.  Her voice was like something you’d hear an airport.  Tim Hagerty also mentioned the stadium has a live organist.  He seems to really like the facility.

The Chihuahuas had gone down a bit early, but come back to make it 4-2 in the sixth.  Kazuhisa Makita came on in the bottom with his 60mph breaking ball.  He had a shutdown inning.  In the seventh, Walter Lockett came in to pinch hit for him and worked a walk.  Lockett is a starting pitcher, but they like his bat too.  The Isotopes homered in the eighth to make it 4-3.  Shane Peterson, who’d hit a home run earlier, may have saved the game with a leaping catch at the wall to rob a sure double and RBI.

In the ninth, Auston Bousfield drove in Forrestt Allday.  He was ruled safe on a play at the plate.  The crowd reaction didn’t seem to back that up, but Tim assured us that it was the correct call.  Cory Spangenberg drove him in.  Bousfield would have been out at the plate, but the catcher clanked on catching the ball (though later, it was not ruled an error).  The Chihuahuas would win 6-3, breaking their losing streak.  Their starting pitcher tonight, Brett Kennedy, went to 8-0 on the season.

7-17-18 All-Star Game

Tonight was a night I definitely hated being at work with a game on.  Like Opening Day and the World Series, the All-Star Game is a baseball holiday.  I know that if I’d taken the night off, it would have been a lousy game.  I would have liked to have been able to watch the red carpet ceremony before the game that the MLB Network broadcasts.  But if I was home, I don’t get that channel, so I wouldn’t have been able to watch anyway.

The ceremonies and game started without me as I was busy working.  Aaron Judge homered in the first off NL starter Max Scherzer.  This would set the tone for the night.  In the second, Mike Trout homered off of Jacob DeGrom.  In the third, Willson Contreras homered to get the National League on the board, 2-1 AL.  I sense a pattern here.

As I finally got to sit down and watch in the fifth, Joe Buck reported that weather was on the way.  Oh, boy.  Yadier Molina came up to bat and gave Salvador Perez a hug at the plate.  He flew out deep to center, just missing a home run.  I wrote my Aunt Judy to see if she was watching her favorite player.  She missed him, watching the news. 

I was glad to see Trevor Story in the game in the sixth, though he made a bad play throwing to first.  Down in the AL dugout, Ken Rosenthal was asking Manny Machado what it was like to be on the verge of being traded.  That’s real reporting there.  Next, he asked Trout for a weather forecast.  Apparently, it’s a big hobby for him, and he was right about the weather.  And I couldn’t believe it, but I was getting poor reception on the cable.  I don’t know if it was from the source or the local cable company.

In the seventh, Christian Yelich lost a fly ball in the lights.  He looked like a Little Leaguer trying to avoid getting hit by the ball.  The pitcher threw up his arms and smiled as the ball dropped in front of Yelich.  There was a tantalizing glimpse of a catcher cam in the bullpen, but they broke away before a pitch was thrown.  The Army Chorus came out to do a powerful version of God Bless America for the stretch. 

During the break, there was a hysterical Geico commercial showing a play getting interrupted by Alexander Graham Bell receiving a couple of phone calls.  What cracked me up was the old fashion ringing from a wall-mounted phone and Bell answering with “Ahoy!  Ahoy!”  This was the original phone greeting before the word, “Hello,” was invented.  Before getting back to play, there was a spot showing some players expressing their love for the game Fortnite.

Francisco Lindor was mic’d up on the field to talk to the booth guys.  Certainly he’s got a great personality, but I have to question having the shortstop doing an in-game interview.  “I talk out here all the time.  I talk to my third baseman.  He ignores me.  I end up talking to myself.”  He made a comment on his pitcher, Charlie Morton’s curve ball, amazed to see it from behind the mound.  He even mentioned it to JT Realmuto when he made it to second.

Story came up and hit a homer to tie it at 2.  Buck made an offhand comment about the absurd height of the pressbox there in Washington like every announcer does.  Eugenio Suarez got hit on the thigh at the plate.  He made it over to second and Lindor went over to him and asked him where he got hit.  Lindor kissed his fingertips and pressed them against the spot, “Don’t cry.  It’ll be okay.  Be tough.”  He got the last out on an infield popup shouting, “I think I got it!”

For the eighth, Charlie Blackmon in the center was interviewed on the field.  They showed shots of him with and without the beard.  He was unrecognizable without it.  He said it was a bit of a superstition for him, since he’d grown it right when he was first called up.  They asked why he kept looking around between pitches.  Charlie said he was keeping himself entertained looking at the video board, the crowd, and the opposing bullpen.  (Actually, he’s probably looking at the flags to see where the wind was blowing and where the other two outfielders were positioned.)  There’s no one to talk to out there, “In the outfield, you got no friends.” 

Normally sure-handed Joey Votto missed catching a foul ball third out at the dugout railing.  Jean Segura made that costly with a three-run homer to make it 5-2.  Buck apologized to Charlie for the bad luck.  “If this next batter isn’t a double play, we’re done,” he said.

In the bottom of the eighth, Yelich homered to make it 5-3.  In the ninth, Scooter Gennett tied it on a two-run homer.  I seem to be typing the word, “homer,” a lot.  The tenth inning started without me while I was working.  I missed Alex Bregman homering to start the inning.  When I stepped came back in, George Springer had just done the same.  Ross Stripling, working his second inning, gave up four hits in a row.  Another run came in with a sacrifice.  Yes, that was the first and only, run of the game not brought in by a home run.

In the bottom of the tenth, I was on time watching, but FOX came back late from commercial and missed Votto hitting a leadoff home run.  However, that was it for the night as the AL won 8-6.  There were 10 home runs in the game.  I’m sure there’s some serious analysis that could be done on that stat.  Alex Bregman won the MVP.  Given the choice of vehicles, he said he had to pick the Camero.  His dad wanted the truck, but mom wanted the sportscar and he gave it to her.  She came running out on to the field after the interview.  What a great game!  And a bunch of idiot commentators didn’t even want to play the game because they didn’t think it could top Home Derby yesterday.       

I was listening to the Chihuahuas and Isotopes playing before I focused on the All-Star Game.  Tim Hagerty wasn’t complaining, but did say he was usually watching the game too.  MLB had moved the game at Washington DC’s request.  Usually, there’s no other baseball going on during the break. 

The game started off nervous for both teams.  In the first, Cory Spangenberg took second on some hustle and the ball getting away from a fielder.  He took third on a passed ball, and then scored on a wild pitch.  In the bottom, a runner got on via an error by Javy Guerra.  That runner scored when pitcher Jerry Keel threw the ball in to the stands trying to make a pickoff throw. 

Guerra broke the tie in the second with a home run.  In the third, Keel doubled for his first pro hit.  Auston Bousfield doubled him in and Luis Urias, finally back in the lineup, hit a two-run homer to make it 5-1.  In the fourth, backup catcher AJ Kennedy got his first home run to make it 6-1.  Keel walked in that inning, obviously they were pitching around him.  In the bottom, the Isotopes hit two doubles to score a run to make it 6-2.

I wasn’t listening by this time, but in the ninth the Chihuahuas added to the lead with a Spangenberg two-run homer.  Forrestt Allday hit a single in the inning.  Out of nine hits in the game, that was the first single hit by team tonight.  The Chihuahuas won 8-2.