Baseball Journal September: Brats, INPLS, and Bol-tay

9-1-26

Tonight’s MiLB Free Game was the Double-A Altoona Curve versus the Harrisburg Senators.    I tuned in in the third, when a home run went into the Ollie’s Cheap Seats in left field.    “Good stuff cheap,” as their slogan says.    In spite of the cheap seats, it looked like kind of a lousy crowd in Harrisburg.    I wasn’t paying much attention to the game until the top of the ninth.  Former Aggie, Titus Dumitru, came up to bat.    The announcer said he’d hit 15 home runs this season for Altoona.    Good for him!    Dumitru got on via an error with two outs and down a run, but the Senators closed it out.    I wasn’t even paying attention to the score.

There were two big stories in tonight’s series opener between the Chihuahuas and Las Vegas in El Paso.    Ethan Salas was called up to Padres.    Good for him and likely good for the Padres at some point, but bad for the Chihuahuas given how well he was playing.    For the Aviators, it was the Triple-A debut of Jamie Arnold, their top pitching prospect.   

It was a bad sign right off the bat as the Aviators took a 4-0 lead in first.    Jose Leclerc later worked a quick fourth inning for the Chihuahuas.    He came back out in the fifth.    Leclerc loaded the bases, but got out of it.    Maybe he can be serviceable.    In the bottom of the fifth, Nick Solak was thrown out at the plate, which turned out to be the closest the Chihuahuas came to scoring tonight.    That was Arnold’s final inning.    He had faced the minimum through 4.  He threw 5 innings, 67 pitches, 0 runs, 4 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, and was featuring a 97-mph fastball.    Aviators win, 6-0.

Referencing the above picture, I found a story today about Milwaukee’s High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.    For German heritage “Bratoberfest,” the team was playing as the Wisconsin Brats wearing lederhosen-inspired uniforms.    A rehabbing MLB player got an amusing “welcome back to the minors” moment there.

9-2-26

There were two day games on at the same time on the radio with the Aviators playing the Chihuahuas and the A’s playing the Rangers.    I mostly listened to the Rangers’ game, but kept up with the Chihuahuas during the commercials.    We’ll tackle these games one at a time.   

Russ Langer, the Las Vegas broadcaster, talked about El Paso day games last night.    He said that El Paso was scheduling weekday day games for the business people downtown more than for school days, though I thought I was hearing a bunch kids during this game.    In the top of the first there was a delay to fix the dirt in the batter’s box?    That’s a new one.     In the bottom of the first, the Chihuahuas took the lead with three home runs in a row.    The scoring didn’t stop there.    The Aviators’ pitcher received two penalty balls, but finally got the final out, as the pups batted around for 5 runs.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty had a guest on in a later inning.    I think he was a contest winner.    Unfortunately, I missed the introduction flipping between games.   

In the top of the fifth, the Chihuahuas only had a one-run lead and LV had loaded the bases.  An error brought in the tying and go-ahead runs to make it, 8-7.  By this point, I figured out that I had picked the wrong game to listen to.    LV then hit a two-run homer at the same time as the A’s hit a two-run homer.    It was 10-7 Aviators in the bottom of the fifth.    The Chihuahuas loaded the bases in that inning, but left all of them stranded.

I laid down for a nap and left the Rangers on.    I woke up and checked back in.    It was 13-9 LV in the seventh.  In the bottom of the seventh, an error brought in a Chihuahuas’ run and loaded the bases, but a great defensive play ended the threat.    Still, the Chihuahuas scored 2 in the eighth to get within a run.    I listened to the ninth in the car while I was going to work.    The Aviators got an insurance run in the ninth and would win it, 14-12.    Tim reported it was the longest 9-inning game of the season for the pups.

Meanwhile in Texas, the Rangers were playing for a sweep.  Ezequiel Duran led off with a home run.    He is “The Solution,” indeed.    Justin Foscue led off the second with another solo shot.    In the third, the A’s struck back with Henry “Bol-tay” Bolte tying it with a two-run homer.  “Bol-tay?”  Zack Gelof made it back-to-back homers for a 3-2 A’s lead.    Jonah Heim, who is on the A’s, came up for an at bat.    The broadcasters mentioned that the Rangers did a tribute to Jonah last inning on the video board for his efforts during their 2023 championship season.    Class.

In the fourth, it was another 2-run homer by “Bol-tay” to make it, 5-2 A’s.   Heim added a shot in the fifth to make it, 6-2.    Broadcaster Eric Nadel commented on the “Sluggish pace” of the game.    Partner Matt Hicks said, “Did you say, ‘Slugging pace?’”    Another two-run A’s homer followed, 8-2.    The wind from the air conditioners at Globe Life Stadium must have been blowing out with 7 combined home runs in the game.    Eric, “It’s been a brutal game for Rangers fans to watch,” and listen to, I would add.    The A’s starter, Jacob Lopez, had a quality start going through six innings giving up 2 runs.    In the ninth, the A’s loaded the bases with Bolte up again.  The Rangers got him out.    Whew!    The A’s avoid the sweep and win, 9-2.

The MiLB Free Game was the Indianapolis Indians at the Toledo Mud Hens.    Or, as their uniforms read, “INPLS” versus the “Mudhounds?”    I think the Mud Hens and the Chihuahuas are the most popular minor league teams for merchandise, so I wouldn’t do any alternate branding for the Mud Hens.    Their stadium looked okay.    It was a modern, kind of cookie-cutter facility.    The crowd wasn’t great.

Konnor Griffin was on rehab with the Indians from the Pirates.    James Outman was on the Mud Hens.    He hit a 407’ home run in the second.    In the seventh, the Mud Hens poured it on with an 8-run inning.    It was punctuated with a 414’ grand slam to make it, 11-1.    However, the ball probably didn’t clear the yellow line and actually went under the railing beneath it.  The Indians manager was tossed for arguing.    Even the announcers agreed that replay likely would have overturned it.    11-2 Mud Hens was the final.

9-4-26

MiLB Free Game #1 tonight was the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers at the Asheville Tourists.    I’m gonna say it, I think this stadium is the one I’d like to visit the most.    It is a super cozy stadium built into a hollow with a forested hill in the background. There’s one shaded grandstand and a large outfield wall with advertising.    Trees surround the field and there’s no finding foul balls or home runs that go into them.    It’s the third oldest park in minor league baseball, which was built in the 1920’s. Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson played there.

With only two games left in the season, the announcer was getting wistful.    There was a full house sell out tonight of 4,001 for fireworks and Dollar Dogs, which the announcer was enjoying.    The press box was at field level down third base line next to the club area.    He reported that the team’s Beer City jerseys were selling well at the Tourist Trap, their team shop.

Jhostynxon Garcia, The Password himself, was on the Grasshoppers on rehab.    There seemed to be two umpires working at the game?    It was interesting watching a close play at first without an umpire.    I enjoyed the game, though I didn’t bother recapping it.    The final was 10-6 Asheville.    “Just an average Asheville scoreboard,” said the announcer.

MiLB Free Game #2 was a bonus High-A game that was the backend of a double header between the Great Lakes Loons and the Lake County Captains.    The field was super green, including the green seats area, which was mostly empty.    It was late there.    (The games had run from 5pm to nearly 11pm.)    The game was tied at 2 after regulation in the seventh.   

On to extras in the eighth, a double play went to the shortstop, who doubled off automatic runner at second to end it in the top. In the bottom, the Loon pitcher snapped his arm after getting first out. The camera respectfully turned away from him as he was taken out of the game. The Caps didn’t score.    They probably should have sac’d over their automatic runner. The Caps ended up down 2 in the bottom of the ninth, but they did not give up.    They drove in the automatic runner, put two runners in scoring position, and scored the winning run with a single, 5-4.

Meanwhile in El Paso, the Chihuahuas broke out the bats and won on Thursday against Aviators, 9-3.    Gage Workman was the standout going 3 for 4, with 4 RBI’s.    (I wasn’t really listening.)    For tonight’s Friday game, I decided to listen to the Las Vegas broadcast for the game.    It’s interesting to hear the other teams’ announcer talking about your team, especially when he also does the announcing for your Aggie Basketball team, Russ Langer.   

Russ began by reminiscing about Wednesday’s 14-12 game.    “Some would call it a debacle.    Others a track meet.    Others a PCL classic.” Russ defended the downtown El Paso stadium.    He insisted that there were places around the ballpark to go to after the game.    I think he’s wrong given that he only mentioned the museum.    I have to hand it to him. Russ was very equitable in his game call.    He was as excited calling Chihuahuas’ runs as he was Aviators’ runs.   

Admittedly, I wasn’t following the game that closely.    An unturned double play, an error, and a short Aviator bullpen, allowed the Chihuahuas to score 3 unearned runs and tie the game at 4.    However, Aviators took it, 8-5.

9-5-26

Just one baseball game to report on tonight.    The Chihuahuas had an 8-3 lead in seventh over the Aviators, but Las Vegas had a big inning. After a 3-run homer, it was 8-7.    The Chihuahuas would keep the lead and squeak out a 9-7 win.

Let’s talk Aggie Football, though.    I was mostly listening to this game on the radio.    I had brought up going to the game with Zanaya, which I didn’t mean to since I didn’t really want to go.    She’d already turned down going to the theater to see Star Trek 2: The Wraith of Khan in the evening.    She was interested in going to the game, so maybe another time.    We did have a nice pizza lunch at the Grounded Café at the Downtown Mall and went to Zia Comics.    We both got a comic.    I’ll review mine later.   

Trey Hedden was the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Florida State in Week 0, though I’m not sure if any other C-USA teams were playing last week.    It’s still better than UTEP’s first game against Oklahoma this week, a 51-0 loss, not covering the 41-point spread.    The Aggies would have a 27-point spread in their favor for their first home game against Mercyhurst.    I’ve never heard of them, either, no offense.   

   

The game certainly began well with Nick Session making an interception on Mercyhurst’s first play.    He broke several tackles and ran it in.    Undaunted, Mercyhurst marched right back down field for their own touchdown to tie it.    The Aggies got a big return on the kickoff, but drive stalled and ended in a missed long field goal.    On the Aggies’ next possession, a big pass play to TK King and then a rush by TJ Washington (who would have 2 TD’s in the game) gave NM State a 13-7 lead.    (The PAT was blocked.)

Mercyhurst scored to start the second quarter to give them a 14-13 lead.    An Aggie penalty blew a stop on a third down that would have ended the drive.    The Aggies retook the lead on a field goal after another big play to King, 16-14.    Aggies made a fourth down stop on defense and would get the ball back, which set up a 46-yd rush by James Jones for a touchdown, 23-14 Aggies. Worse for Mercyhurst, they lost their starting quarterback.    The two teams traded missed field goals end the half.   

Mercyhurt’s offense would not recover from losing their quarterback.    Sone Aupiu made an interception, which was converted into a touchdown, 30-14.    Next, Hedden made a long rush as the third quarter ended.    At the start of the fourth, he completed a touchdown reception, 37-14. Then came an 83-yard bomb to Terrione Graves for a TD, 44-14.    Graves was actually held on the play.   

Late in the game, the Aggies put in backup quarterback Adam Damante.    He marched the team right down field for a TD to AJ Williams III, 51-14.    After this, the Aggies put in their third-string quarterback to run it out. That’s a 51-14 Aggie win and a cover.    However, there were only 9k in attendance (out of 28k capacity), which is more like a well-attended basketball game.    The broadcasters did report that the student section was full.

Baseball Journal August: Date Night

Image courtesy of a Miami Hurricanes fan 

 

8-25-26

It was a big-time matchup in the MiLB Free Game tonight with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at the Worcester Red Sox.    Both teams had several rehabbing big leaguers on their rosters.    There was a big crowd present with what looked like additional media by the dugouts.    I was instantly charmed with this game with the thick Northeastern accent from the color commentator.       

Polar Park was a really nice place to watch a game.    The field looked very green.    The stadium has two levels.    The second level has suites and terrace seating.    The outfield has a club seating area and green lawn seats.    There’s a red Duck boat behind center and train tracks behind outfield wall.    (There’s a running motif of trains at a lot of minor league parks, including Southwest University Park in El Paso.)    There was a lady keeping a scorecard behind home plate, who was pointing out players to her husband.    Scorekeeping fans is a hallmark of a fine baseball facility.

The Woo Sox had the bases loaded in the second.    Roman Anthony, just up from the Portland Sea Dogs, who I was watching last week, took a walk to bring in a run.    That was their first run scored since Friday night.    The two shutouts over the weekend were the first in team history.    Trevor Story, also on rehab, took a walk to force in another run, as the SWB pitcher, Xavier Rivas, threw 12 straight balls.    However, the Sox only came away with 2 runs for a 2-0 lead.

In the fifth, Rivas settled down and got Anthony and Story.    He pounded his mitt in satisfaction.    The Woo Sox pitcher, whose name I didn’t get, had 8 strikeouts over 5 innings and gave up a solo home run.    In the sixth, the ump dodged a foul tip and got a round of applause from the crowd.    SWB tied it after loading the bases and took a 4-3 lead.

“The Roman Empire returns to the heart of the Commonwealth,” was reported as Anthony hit a 2-run homer in seventh to give the Woo Sox back the lead.    The Sox piled on 5 more runs to win it, 8-5.    Story made a dive catch at short to end it.    This was a pretty entertaining game and will likely be a great series for the fans.    (There were Yankee fans there, too.)

 

I tuned in late to the Chihuahuas versus the OKC Comets.    The pups had been up, 4-0, but the Comets scratched back into it.    They loaded the bases in the eighth.    A sac fly run made it, 4-3.    Mason McCoy made a jump catch at short to end the inning.    The dugout cheered for him as he came back.    The fans there booed him.    It was a shocking no-drama ninth with Alek Jacob getting the save.

8-26-26

The Chihuahuas played a double header today with OKC to make up an earlier canceled game.    It was a quick-moving Game 1.    The Comets had a one-run lead with 2 on and 2 outs in the bottom of the fifth.  Blake Treinen, on rehab, talked his way into staying in for one more batter and gave up a run.    On the other side of the ledger, it was one-hitter against OKC and even that one was questionable and could have been ruled an error.    Finally in the sixth inning of this seven-inning game, Samad Taylor had a clean hit to drive in a run.    The pups tied it and Ethan Salas drove in the go-ahead run, 3-2.   

OKC tied it in sixth and it went to extras.    The Chihuahuas scored twice in the eighth.    OKC threatened in the bottom and scored once, but El Paso took it, 5-4.    The second game I kind of tuned out on, but OKC took an early lead and blanked the Chihuahuas, 6-0.    The Chihuahuas were about as interested in that game as I was.

On the MiLB Free Game, the High-A Spokane INDIANS! (suck it, Clev-hole!) were playing north of the border against the Vancouver Canadians.    The Rockies’ affiliate had “Spokane” on the front of their uniform written in Indian, as Spokane is an actual Indian tribe.    The Canadians had a Mountie mascot logo on their uniform.

It was a one-level stadium in Vancouver and a roof over only the center part of the stadium.    That crowd behind home plate was sitting in the dark later in the game. There was a large terrace section on first base side.    So, it wasn’t a great facility, but it was pretty full of enthusiastic fans.    The camera work was kind of terrible, but that might have been because of a lack of coverage.    The announcer was fine, but didn’t have Canadian accent, so I was disappointed.

There was a fielding error in top of first and a run scored on a wild pitch in the bottom to give the Canadians a one-run lead.    A home run in the second by the Indians to tied it.    In the fourth, a Canadian outfielder crashed into the wall trying to make a catch, but oddly it was the batter going into the second that was injured on the play and had to come out.    The Indians loaded the bases with 1 out.    A new Vancouver pitcher came in.    He got an infield popup, which was caught with the fielder’s back to home, and a looking strikeout.    The female ump had nice demonstrative motion the on call.    In the fifth, the Indians loaded the bases again.    A sac fly broke the 1-1 tie.    A double off of the running right outfielder’s mitt brought in 2 more runs.    The center fielder made a running catch to end the inning, 4-1.   

In the sixth, a broken bat single sent the bat head directly back into the ump’s mask and hurt her jaw.    The trainer came out, but she stayed in.    From the announcer, if she’d been knocked out, they apparently would have had to have called around to find an ump in the area.    A caught stealing with 2 on ended the inning.    It was 5-1 Indians in the bottom of the eighth.    The bases were walked full to start the inning for the Canadians.    The crowd was into it.    A spiked pitch brought in a run and the crowd erupted.    They got another run on a fielder’s choice.    The bases were again walked full before another pitcher was brought in to finish it.    The Indians won it, 5-3.    Great game.

8-27-26

It was Joe Musgrove versus Will Smith, both on rehab, at tonight’s Chihuahuas versus Comets’ game.    Joe got the better of it in the first with a strikeout on Will.    Bryce Johnson made a great diving play to end that inning.    The Chihuahuas took a 1-0 lead in the second and ran it up to 4-0 over the game.    Musgrove came back out in the sixth, but gave up a couple of hits and a run before being taken out.   

In the bottom of the ninth up 5-1, the Comets hit a 3-run homer to make it a one-run game.    The Chihuahuas brought in a new pitcher.    The tying run got on, but was left stranded.    Chihuahuas win, 5-4.    Marcos Castañon brought in 2 of the runs and went 3 for 4.    Catcher Ethan Salas threw out two baserunners and went 3 for 4 with an RBI.

The MiLB Free Game was the Bees at the Rainiers.    The stadium in Tacoma was okay and so was the crowd.    Nothing to get excited about.    It was nice, but seemed kind of sterile.    In the fifth, the Rainiers loaded the bases down, 2-1.    A run walked in tied it.    Then the Rainiers’ big bruiser came up.    The announcer noted, “The Bees have their bullpen buzzing.”    The big guy struck out, though.   

In the sixth, the Rainiers loaded the bases again, but the threat ended on a soft low liner caught at second.    The fielder was perfectly placed.    I was busy in the bottom of the eighth, but saw there were two Rainiers on with no outs.    The batter was up to bunt the runners into scoring position, but a really wild pitch went over his head to move up the runners.    The Rainiers finally cashed in for four runs and won, 6-2.

8-28-26

I was late to both games tonight.    The MiLB Free Game was the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at the Reading Fightin Phils.    The Ponies had the word, “Bing,” on their colorful jerseys.    The Phils were in their Luchadores identity.    I came in in the eighth with the Ponies up, 5-1, but the Phils had the bases loaded.    A new pitcher came and got a strikeout where the batter wore a “gone fishing” sign.    The Phils didn’t make a comeback and the Ponies won, 5-1.    Tomorrow night is “Swiftie Night” with some Taylor Swift impersonators.    There’s also a drone show afterward.    It’s not nice to call Swifties “drones” (no matter how accurate that might be).   

I came into the Chihuahuas versus OKC with the Comets up 2-0 after 5 innings.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty announced that they had canceled the postgame fireworks show because of the wind tonight.    It was 2-1 OKC going into the ninth, when the wind came into to play.    Mason McCoy tied it on a solo home run.    Rodolfo Duran followed that with another solo home run.    I don’t know that these were wind-aided, but I wouldn’t be surprised. In the bottom of the ninth, the Comets got 2 on with 2 out and managed to tie it at 3.   

The Chihuahuas scored in the tenth, but an error to begin the bottom of the inning ended up putting two Comets on with no outs. The Chihuahuas intentionally loaded the bases to get a force at any base, but a single ended it, 5-4 OKC.    Since there were no fireworks, I guess the fans were okay with the game going late.

8-29-26

Lots of sports tonight, but who cares?    I had a great date with Zanaya.    The sports sort of figured into it.    We went to The Game to watch tonight’s Week 0 game between NM State and Florida State.    (This was after getting my tire fixed and getting a blind box toy at the Mall for Zanaya.)    There were several other Aggie fans there.    She really enjoyed her chicken sandwich.    I liked my club sandwich, but it irritated my stomach.    Zanaya got a call from her work in the first quarter, so we cut the viewing short.    She was probably okay with leaving early.    (I’d told her we’d only stay until halftime anyway.)    I was okay with leaving early after getting a wet, sloppy kiss when I delivered her back home.    

As for the game, it was a 31-point spread against the Aggies, but with a $1.4M payout for showing up.    I’d heard an interview with new Aggie quarterback, Trey Hedden, before the game.    He’s a very confident, well-spoken young man.    The new voice of the Aggies, MJ Newsom (who did a good job of calling the game later), did ask him a pointed question, “Trey, you’re ranked #138 out of 138 FBS quarterbacks.    Does this motivate you?”    Myself and every Aggie fan listening groaned in agony.    Hedden had been the quarterback at Furman, a school better known for basketball.    Actually, only known for basketball.    We didn’t know they had a football team.

Coach Sanchez had said in his interview that the team’s running game had been greatly enhanced, which seemed to further underscore a lack of faith in his new quarterback.    In what I saw at the restaurant, they were instead passing and doing so effectively.    Unfortunately, the Aggies’ first drive ended in an interception near the endzone.    That pass was a misfire, rather than bad judgment.   

When I got back home to watch the game, it was 17-7 Seminoles at half.    The Aggie defense was looking pretty stout.    They did give up a couple of big plays, but that’s the nature of college football for the most part.    Just don’t do it all the time, so you can give your offense a chance.       

On the first Aggie possession of the third quarter, a halfback option trick play for a wide open touchdown was dropped.    There was a near turnover next, but the team held its composure and managed to make long field goal, 17-10. It was 24-10 at the start of the fourth. At 27-10, the Seminoles blitzed Hedden, who stepped up and hit TK King in stride.    King went right down the middle beating two defenders for a 34-yard touchdown.    I could hear them cheering at The Game restaurant from my apartment, 27-17.   

The Aggie special teams and the defense made two bad penalties, but did come back with a big sack.    Florida State did score another touchdown.    The Aggies punted on their last possession, but got ball back on a penalty.    I’m not sure what that penalty was.    Was it too many men on the field?    The broadcast was counting players.    (It was an Illegal Substitution.)    The Aggies turned it over on downs near midfield.    In a nice class move, Florida State knelt on it for the last 1:30. 34-17 Seminoles.

There was a shot of Hedden consoling King on sidelines, but there was nothing to be ashamed of.    It was a respectable loss.    Florida State was not exactly celebrating the win confidently.    In an interview with a couple of FSU players afterward, you could see in their eyes, they know their coaches will be rimming them for not beating the spread.     From the stats, the Seminoles won it on rushing dominantly. Hedden actually did a good job passing, better than the Seminoles.    The Aggie defense also got to their quarterback pretty well.    Here’s hoping the Aggies can take away some confidence from not getting plowed by a Power Four team.

There were other college football games going on.    The game in Ireland was on cable.    Before leaving to get Zanaya, I did see a bit of #14 USC against San Jose State.    The Trojans beat the Spartans, unlike in The Odyssey, 35-3.    That was expected.    The crowd at the LA Coliseum, however, was a social media disaster. Attendance was officially 51k attendance in the 77k capacity stadium.    It looked a lot more like it was 1/3 to a quarter full.    There was also a HBSC SWAC match up on late.    It was good close game that I didn’t really pay any attention to.

I could have finally watched a NASCAR Cup race this season, but mostly stuck with the football.    They were at Daytona. Ryan Preece won it on the final lap in overtime with a massive wreck going on behind leaders that brought out a caution.    Preece earned his first playoff birth.    He’d even gotten in a wreck earlier.   

On the radio, the Chihuahuas were playing OKC.    I came in late. Ethan Salas had an RBI in the eighth to make it a 2-2 tie. Down 3-2 in ninth, Dustin Johnson was on base and took third on a bad throw on a steal attempt during a walk on the batter.    That was an odd play.    There were two in scoring position, but with 2 outs.    A groundball ended it for another close loss, 3-2 OKC.   

I did watch a bit of a Mexican League game.    I noticed the stadium was filled for the game.    The Monarchs (?) beat the Dorados and celebrated wildly on the field.    Oh, it was the Mexican State League Championship game.    Congratulations.    Finally, the El Paso Locomotive beat Louden (?), 4-1. It was 3-1 at the half and I thought it was going to be the highest-scoring soccer match ever at that pace.

8-30-26

I tuned in to the Rangers at the Brewers for a bit before going to dad’s apartment.    There was some first inning confusion.    A penalty ball was assessed on pitcher Kumar Rocker before the game started.    In the first at bat, ball 4 was thrown by the broadcasters’ and fans’ count, but did not produce a walk.    The umps conferenced, but agreed with the count.    Broadcasters Matt Hicks and Jared Sandler were counting the number of pitches thrown trying to figure it out.    The batter walked anyway.    The violation was actually mis-reported on the pitcher; it was on one of the fielders for not being in position?    So, what’s the penalty for that then?    I tried to continue listening to the game at dad’s apartment, but got no reception.    The Rangers found some offense today and won, 7-4.

The Astros were playing the Mets as part of the NBC Sunday double header.    I’m not sure if it was dad’s TV or the coverage, I was clearly hearing the crowd noise, but could barely hear the commentators.    Dad was asking me about getting a hearing aide.    I told him that it wasn’t just him having trouble hearing it.    Dad had a fan on, but I was sweating, had a headache, and kept falling asleep during the game, so I wasn’t paying much attention.    I did see the coverage showing a poor guy that lost a foul ball.    He was devastated.   

The Little League World Series was on at the same time between Nevada and Curacao.    I’m not a big fan of the coverage for this series, so I didn’t want to watch the whole thing.    It was disaster in the fifth for Nevada with two outs and the bases loaded for Curacao.    There was a hit batter and then a bases-clearing double and it was 8-2 Curacao.    They ran away with it, 11-2.    In the seventh in NYC, we were still watching Little League, as 2 Astros’ runs scored on a fielder’s choice and an error on a bad throw to the catcher.    The Astros win, 6-3.    Stupid Mets not helping out the Rangers.

   

Back at home on the radio, the Chihuahuas were playing OKC.    I heard Ethan Salas drive in a run in the first and throw out a runner as the catcher in the second.    I was on a call with Zanaya and missed almost all of the game. I tuned back in in the ninth in time to hear OKC get a walk off win, 2-1.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty was stunned in the postgame.    It’s been that kind of road trip with a bunch of close losses.    The Chihuahuas’ 1-run lead held up until the seventh before it was tied. Nick Pivetta on rehab threw four scoreless innings.

NBC’s night game (and thank you to NBC for showing all of these games) was the Reds versus the Cubs.    The game start was delayed by rain and the rain continued early in the game.    Most of the crowd was wearing rain ponchos.    Wait, did I see that White Sox fan, who was always wearing a Kyle Busch NASCAR jacket, sitting behind home plate?    Why did he change sides?    The White Sox are doing great this year.

The Reds hit several home runs in the game.    Two were thrown back.    One went to a kid that was a Reds fan.    There was some great conversations during the game between the commentators.    Anthony Rizzo: “If we were the Reds ownership, when are we going to extend Elly (de la Cruz)?”    Joey Votto: “We can’t afford him.    His contract will be the size of a small countries’ GDP.”

Sal Stewart homered the seventh into in the shrubbery.    There was no throwing that one back.    Rounding third, he looked into the camera and said, “Jesus is king!”    The     commentators were left speechless.    It was 7-3 Reds, but they lost Elly, who came out of the game afterward for a minor injury.    There was a bizarre disclosure that Votto never eats nachos at the ballpark.    That’s still not as weird as Tim Hagerty never having a hot dog at the park.    Pete Crow-Armstrong began the game with a Cubs’ home run.    He ended it with another in the ninth.    “MVP!    MVP!”    But, the Reds win tonight, 7-5.

In sad news, Shiyazh Pete was cut from the Cowboys today.    I have no doubt that he has a bright future ahead of him in whatever he chooses to do.    After his viral moment in the Cowboys’ locker room and having a whole section fans cheering for him, important people will want to talk to him about various opportunities.    I hope Shiyazh chooses wisely.    I’m sorry I didn’t get to see him play more, but I’m ever so glad I got to see him play for my team in the NFL.   

Baseball Journal August: Shiyazh

link to video

8-21-26

It was the Reading Fightin Phils at the Portland Sea Dogs again with our perky female announcer (8-18-26) for the MiLB Free Game.    Seeing the stadium in the daylight (but overcast), it has a faux Green Monster in left field.    It was another full house of 6k+ and was a sell out to see Roman Anthony on rehab.    The Phils were in their alternate identity as the Luchadores.    I thought only home teams used alternate identities?

There were a couple of great diving plays in the fifth by the Sea Dogs, though the Phils had a 2-1 lead.    In the sixth, a single got turned into an out when the Phil batter was thinking double all the way and found the ball waiting for him at second with the fielder.    It wasn’t even close and the announcer was giggling.    This was followed by another great diving catch in the outfield by the Sea Dogs.    Anthony cranked a giant blast in the bottom, but the stadium held it.    It was still a sac fly to tie it at 2 after a triple by previous batter.

In the seventh, another woman came on to do the game call.    Had I not noticed that it was two women doing solo game call?    They did not sound that much alike.    There was a brief camera view of the booth while they were eating chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches.    Kinda cute.    The Phils scored twice in the inning to retake the lead.    In the bottom, a Phills outfielder lost a ball in the lights and then there was an error, but it didn’t affect the scoreboard.    In the bottom of the eighth, Anthony gave one another ride, but it went foul.    That was pretty much it for the Sea Dogs, as the Phils won, 5-2.

Meanwhile, the Chihuahuas played Round Rock.    It rained like heck here in Las Cruces, out of nowhere, but it was dry in El Paso for the game.    It was another Harry Potter Night with the team wearing special jerseys, which were pretty cool.    There were 7,200 in attendance.   

The game started with a 2-run homer by Logan O’Hoppe in the first for the Express.    Broadcasters Tim Hagerty and Ian Napetian discussed the distance on the homer.    Tim mentioned that old-time announcers used to eye-ball the distance.    In the second, Chihuahua catcher Ethan Salas threw out another runner at second.    The kid has a bat and has some skills.   

In the third, Tim interviewed a young man who was the six millionth fan to come to a Chihuahuas’ game.    By unbelievable coincidence, he was also the first fan to enter the stadium when it opened.    The fan came in as a baby the first time and is now in high school playing ball.    After the interview, Tim admitted to Ian he wasn’t keeping up his scorecard.    In the fourth, O’Hoppe doubled in 2 runs to make it 6-0 and it was 8-0 by end of inning.    In the sixth, Round Rock had a grand slam to make it, 12-1.   

The Chihuahuas scored a few runs later and it was 12-6 Round Rock by the ninth.    Jose Leclerc came in and gave up a homer, and then a 2-run homer, and then a foul ball that knocked out a cameraman.    15-7 Round Rock was the final.

8-22-26

I was happily busy on Saturday afternoon on a date with Zanaya, though not with what I’d planned.    I’d thought we’d go to Aggie Volleyball and get autographs.    However, Zanaya was jealous of me looking at the girls playing, so that did not happen.    Admittedly, this was not an unfounded suspicion, though Zee is certainly attractive enough to play for the Aggie Volleyball team and be put on a poster.    I was iffy about going anyway, whether I was going out with someone or not.    I wanted her to go to see if she liked the sport.  I’d hate for this to be the coda for Aggie Volleyball this season, but that may be the case.                       

When I got home, I started listening to the Angels versus the Rangers.    The reception wasn’t good and neither was the baseball.    Through seven innings, it was 1-hit ball authored by Angels’ pitcher, Ryan Johnson.    The Rangers lost, 3-0, and only got that one hit.    Broadcaster Eric Nadel sounded disgusted at the end of the game and I think the crowd was booing in the background.    Eric finished with, “We’ll be back with the ugly totals next.”    At least it was quick at under two and a half hours.    The Rangers were not into it today.

The Chihuahuas against Round Rock game in the evening was another Harry Potter night.    Yes, really.    The team would be auctioning off their jerseys with an image of Hogwarts at night after the game.   

Trailing in the fourth, Dustin Harris tripled to clear the full bases of Chihuahuas.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty was very excited with the game call.    He hasn’t had much to cheer about lately.    It was 4-3 El Paso.    However, the Express tied it right back up in the fifth, though Clay Dungan made two great plays for outs.    Tim was excited on those calls.    He was into this game.

    

In the sixth, Dungan made another run-saving play, but a bases-load walk gave Round Rock the lead.    In the eighth, the Express took a 2-run lead.    The Chihuahuas got one back in the bottom on a sac fly.    Still down a run in the bottom of the ninth, Samad Taylor was picked off first during Ethan Salas’ epic at bat with 6 foul balls.    A popup ended it, 7-6 Round Rock.    It was at least an exciting game.

There was a late Cowboys versus Cardinals pre-season NFL game in Arizona.    Former Aggie offensive lineman, Shiyazh Pete, came in late in the fourth quarter again.    This time, however, there was a whole section of Navajo there for him.    They were even chanting for him to come into the game.    I was watching on a Mexican station and had the radio coverage on.    I did not know that Shiyazh was the first Navajo in the NFL.    The President of the Navajo nation was on the sidelines with owner Jerry Jones.    There was a mention of NM State on radio broadcast.

Shiyazh may have missed a tackle on a rushing play, but the running back, reversed course and ran it in for a touchdown anyway.    Christy Scales on the sidelines reported the fans going crazy for Pete when he came out of the game.    His teammates made a semi-circle around him and Pete held up his helmet to salute the crowd.    Christy was in tears watching this.    The whole broadcast crew thought he was a tremendous young man, which was my own experience from meeting him (2-24-23 was the first time I got to talk to him).    34-13 Cowboys was the final.    

8-23-26

The Chihuahuas went down 4-0 early to the Express for their Sunday series finale.    In the eighth, Jose Leclerc came in again and gave up 4 runs.    I don’t think this comeback is going to work out.    Pups lose 8-0.

Meanwhile, the Angels were playing the Rangers.    The Rangers called up Logan O’Hoppe.    This was not surprising given how well he was doing against the Chihuahuas with Round Rock, though that might not be a good gauge given the Chihuahuas’ pitching.    I was getting poor reception while at dad’s apartment and ended up listening to the end of the game back at my apartment.    The Rangers led 5-0, but Angels came back with 3 runs.    In the ninth, Angels got the tying run on after Mike Trout walked, but a strikeout ended it.    5-3 Rangers and they take the AL West lead with an Astros loss, though everyone in the division has a losing record.

The NBC Sunday afternoon game was between the Giants and the Red Sox and I was watching it with dad at his place.    The game started off overcast with a full house at Fenway.    Dad said the Giants’ starting pitcher was fat.    He’d been in the Little League World Series for Canada and was chubby then in a clip.

In the fourth, there was a challenge on a ball hitting the wall on a catch by the Giants.    You could hear the ball hit, though it looked on replay that it was a catch.    It was ruled to have hit the wall and then rebounded into mitt.    This drove in a runner at third to tie it at 3 and then the Red Sox went ahead 5-3.   

There was a view in the crowd of a lady wearing a “Yankees Suck” t-shirt.    Do Red Sox fans love their team more than they hate the Yankees?    In the sixth, a fan was ejected for interference on a foul ball.  The coverage lingered long enough on him to dox him. In the seventh, the Giants got a Little League home run off of an error on a throw to first and then a throw to third that went into the stands to make it 5-4 Sox.    In the eighth, some fans went tarps off in an upper deck section.  It was not a pretty sight.    Finally in the ninth, ageless Aroldis Chapman closed it out for a three-game sweep for the Red Sox.

   

Back at home, I switched on the Twins at the Padres on a Mexican station with the Friars up, 5-1, in the seventh.    For the Stretch, a female sailor sang God Bless America.  The section full of Marines stood at attention.  The Twins were in black and white uniforms.  It felt like an odd color choice for them.    

Oomph.    The crowd there in San Diego was kind of lousy.    It was kind of shocking.    The weather was perfect there (of course) and the team is competitive, so I don’t know why they weren’t showing up.    One of the Twins was using a pencil bat for Players’ Weekend.    That was the only player I saw doing something for it.    In the eighth, Fernando Tatis Jr. smacked a laser shot homer, his second of the day.    The Padres ran away with it, 8-1.

There was an ESPN Radio game for the Brewers and the Braves at the Little League Classic.    You could tell the Little Leaguers were there, because you could hear kids shouting in the background in the pregame and during the game.    They were giving out the other scores of the day.    The Phillies were down 4 in the ninth to St. Louis.    The Phils scored 6 runs to win it, 6-4.    Kyle Schwarber finished it with a 2-run bomb.       My poor Aunt Judy must be really upset with this loss.    Probably not as bad as Seattle fans, though.    They lost 19-2 to the Cubs.    Wait, didn’t they lose 22-0 last week?    Holy Cow!    Maybe the M’s should go back to using pitchers.    The Classic was a tight game.    Atlanta took a 3-1 lead, but the Brewers made it 3-2 in the eighth.    In the ninth, the Brewers got two on, but a great DP ended it, 4-2 Braves.