Bowden's day looked something like this: a strong 7 inning outing during which he allowed 1 run, 6 hits, and no walks. He struck out 6, and threw 80 pitches, 60 for strikes. WOW. That's amazing, that last bit. 75% of his pitches were strikes. He threw about 11 pitches per inning. Phenomenal. You cant measure a Paw Sox pitcher by his wins/losses... they simply dont have the run support. Bowden lowered his ERA to 2.96, back down below 3 once again. His last 3 outings have been very strong, and I had a serious case of Bowden pride today tracking the game at work (simultaneously listening to the Red Sox game... both were day games).
Papi... all I will say (for now, and maybe ever) is that if you were surprised by this bit of news- that David Ortiz is named among the 104 who tested positive for PEDs in 2003- you are blind (sorry to sound harsh) or have been in denial for a long time. Look at the guy (notice, spring training headlines this year were all about how he "slimmed down") and even forgetting about that, look at his history... from no power, to BIG power, to steep decline. Injury. These things are all by-the-book when it comes to steroid use. I would have been surprised if his name WASNT on the list. I'm one of very few people (it seems) who felt compassion towards ARod when his big steroid story broke, and so I am now feeling the same towards Ortiz. Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Orioles, i dont care who is exposed. I dont like that they were using in the first place, but I REALLY dont like that names were leaked at all, or that they continue to be leaked. REALLY dont like that. It's not because I dont want to know but because these results were supposed to be anonymous and were never going to be released. I cant believe that there have not been any lawsuits... I would think that the players have every right to get (legally) angry about this, because back when these tests were administered, the stuff wasnt banned (lest we forget- and again, I dont like that anyone juiced, now, then, whenever. but the rules regarding all of this have changed between now and then and it's important to keep that in mind for objectivity's sake).
Yikes, that wasnt supposed to take up this much space. I'm stopping right there, although so much could be said. Really dont want to ramble on into the night about something that's talked about enough as it is. Summary: poor players. boo whoever leaked/is leaking names.
Saw the Spinners tonight. It was Celebrate How Much of a Quitter Manny Is night... the anniversary of his being traded from boston to the west coast. Interesting idea for a promotion. For my part, I barely even noticed... they did some contests and things but it wasnt really such an active promotional night. They WERE selling programs for 50 cents instead of a dollar (whoopdeedoo right? hey, i'm frugal). Saw Richie Lentz there, who in my mind of course is supposed to be up in Portland- heard later from him that he was finishing up a rehab stint, will be back in Maine by the end of the weekend.
Quick Richie Lentz story... no, I'll write it tomorrow, I need to get this post finished and go to bed.
Anyhow, Spinners won. Swept Tri-City, in fact. I found it interesting how much more the pitching seems to revolve around pitch counts/inning limits. Our starter was going strong but was out after 3 innings... 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 bb, 1 k. yeah. Before the game he had hurled 15 innings over 6 games (!!!) and had a .60 ERA. Looking at those stats, I was understandably confounded. Low ERA, and yet averaging just over 2 innings each game! What kind of sense does that make? Now I get it a bit more. I think I had noticed this trend at the other games I've been to this season but hadnt really dwelt on it. We got 5 pitchers into the game so lots of kids got their work in for the night. Wilkerson (strong performance in RF, 3-5 with 2 runs and a SB), Hedman (1-4 with 4 RBI and a near triple-called-out), Almanzar (reached base all 4 ABs with a walk, single, hbp, and drop 3rd strike), and Bermudez (3-4 with a stolen base) were players of note for tonight. Wilkerson continues to impress everyone. Unfortunately Ryan Westmoreland (another "very impressive young man") had the night off. Relief pitcher Michael Bugary pitched 1 inning, striking out the side (allowing two singles).
Time for sleep. Soulfest tomorrow night and Saturday. I cant believe I'm almost 24.
TRADE DEADLINE: HASTEN.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Jammin To Oasis All Day Long..
Everyone knows. Petey didnt hit Kottaras home. We lost. It was embarrassing and it wasnt the first time this season that the Red Sox have disintegrated mid-game. Thankfully, I think the Sox are still widely considered to be the team that will pull off a rally when a rally is needed. Nothing is ever over till it's over. Papelbon is a problem, and the red flags that have been popping up all season with regards to him are not going away. True- relatively speaking, he is still mostly getting it done. He plays for a great team that has the ability to give him run support. I'm not even close to the first one to say it- and I've been thinking this for the majority of the season, so nothing new about any of this- but Paps isnt clutch anymore. Those lights-out 9th innings are few and far between these days. He walks guys (a lot). He gives up home runs. He's not the closer he was last year, not by a long shot. Does he really deserve that big $$ contract that he was chattering about this past offseason? I've no doubt that someone would offer it to him. But as for the interests of our team, i'm split- I miss the adrenaline and cocky energy that Paps brought last year.. it was truly electric. He doesnt bring the same presence in 2009. My excitement at his entrance into a game begins and ends with Shipping Up To Boston.
This is not all to say that Paps lost the game for us... we had some other issues defensively, and though Clay had a pretty bland outing in my opinion (underwhelming I guess... nothing like the ACE he's projected to be), there were errors and plays that didnt get turned and things that didnt fall our way. Whatever happened to pitching endurance by the way? 5.2 innings is ok for a starter. Not great. In the 6th I recall that he walked a guy on 4 pitches. Whoever comes up from AAA, I would hope they'd bring a serious fresh arm. I dont know, maybe my standards are too high. Then again, we've got one of the most powerful pitching staffs in MLB. If the standards arent high here then I dont know how we got to where we are.
Phillies just acquired Cliff Lee. The anxiety continues regarding talks between the Red Sox and Blue Jays.
A few of us from work are heading to McGreevy's this evening. We have a voucher for 2 hours free in the downstairs VIP room, access to whatever video games they've got, and some free apps.... all because our last trip there was VERY unsatisfactory. I couldnt believe the way I was treated by the manager, or whoever he was. In thinking about it, I'm really not aware of any other instance in which I have been more aggressively disrespectfully treated. The only reason I'm bothering to go back is because of the free stuff. Too bad because it's a cool place. Baseball bar. Co-owned by Dropkick Murphys guys. Right around the corner from the office.
Back to work. Adios...
This is not all to say that Paps lost the game for us... we had some other issues defensively, and though Clay had a pretty bland outing in my opinion (underwhelming I guess... nothing like the ACE he's projected to be), there were errors and plays that didnt get turned and things that didnt fall our way. Whatever happened to pitching endurance by the way? 5.2 innings is ok for a starter. Not great. In the 6th I recall that he walked a guy on 4 pitches. Whoever comes up from AAA, I would hope they'd bring a serious fresh arm. I dont know, maybe my standards are too high. Then again, we've got one of the most powerful pitching staffs in MLB. If the standards arent high here then I dont know how we got to where we are.
Phillies just acquired Cliff Lee. The anxiety continues regarding talks between the Red Sox and Blue Jays.
A few of us from work are heading to McGreevy's this evening. We have a voucher for 2 hours free in the downstairs VIP room, access to whatever video games they've got, and some free apps.... all because our last trip there was VERY unsatisfactory. I couldnt believe the way I was treated by the manager, or whoever he was. In thinking about it, I'm really not aware of any other instance in which I have been more aggressively disrespectfully treated. The only reason I'm bothering to go back is because of the free stuff. Too bad because it's a cool place. Baseball bar. Co-owned by Dropkick Murphys guys. Right around the corner from the office.
Back to work. Adios...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
dun dun dun
one more. bottom of the 11th, and we are staging a comeback. lowell and kottaras got singles to start the inning, green sacrificed, ellsbury grounded out but scored lowrie who was pinch-running for lowell. petey's up. he's gonna take it really hard on himself if he doesnt score georgie..
Buchholz Bombs
Well, maybe not that bad. vs A's. 5.2 IP, 9 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. But the pace he set for the game is something we never recovered from. 107 pitches thrown by Buckaroo. 2 hours into the game, and we were just at the mid-4th mark. I didnt watch his last start but I know that this one was comparable to that one with regards to pace/pitch count. Going too deep in counts. I dont mean to sound overly critical here- if you're reading this post, you've likely read others, and have picked up on my decided non-fandom. I've got to say, he's one of ours, and as such I want him to succeed so that the Red Sox can succeed. I mean it. Anyhow, the game is still going. We're in the 11th now... A's just scored a pair.
Spent most of the game watching from the Bleacher Bar. i give it two thumbs up. wasnt crowded which was nice, though that must just be a tuesday night thing. sweet to be field-level. If you've never been there, it's a bar that's built into the wall / under where bleachers would continue on to be out in center field. If you look at the wall behind where Jacoby stands you can see a square of metal gate which is colored/shaded so that people on the field side cant see in but those inside the bar can see out. biggest gripe- my soup was good, but for $4 it was tiiiiiiiiny.
So Buck and Bowden and Westmoreland (who apparently wasnt part of the offer afterall) and Lars and Josh etc etc are still ours. The story changes hour by hour but I cant help tracking it all the same. PawSox games wont be the same without those furtive glances that i still have yet to really understand. I'll admit to my lack of perspective on this whole trade deadline thing. Kind of feel like i've had the rug pulled out from under me... thought that Theo was a little more protective of his team's future, a lot more keen on building as much depth as possible in arms down through the system (several writers have made the point that with smoltz flopping, penny cooled off, wake on the DL, dice-k... aaahahahaha, and buchholz adequate at best, our pitching "depth" consists more of kids who will be ready in a year or two- that all of a sudden, we're down to trying out bowden next, and tazawa come september). where do we go if we lose buchholz and bowden or masterson? i just dont get it. yes, we'll have halladay, lester, beckett... and then? tell me who you'd insert there. because no matter who i think of (major league ready), it means two days of REALLY hit or miss ball. struggle, inconsistency. Coming into 2009, pitching was supposed to be our no-brainer. It has proven to be anything but.
I am very literally falling asleep in my chair. gonna make the switch to my bed. no more energy to write good night!
Spent most of the game watching from the Bleacher Bar. i give it two thumbs up. wasnt crowded which was nice, though that must just be a tuesday night thing. sweet to be field-level. If you've never been there, it's a bar that's built into the wall / under where bleachers would continue on to be out in center field. If you look at the wall behind where Jacoby stands you can see a square of metal gate which is colored/shaded so that people on the field side cant see in but those inside the bar can see out. biggest gripe- my soup was good, but for $4 it was tiiiiiiiiny.
So Buck and Bowden and Westmoreland (who apparently wasnt part of the offer afterall) and Lars and Josh etc etc are still ours. The story changes hour by hour but I cant help tracking it all the same. PawSox games wont be the same without those furtive glances that i still have yet to really understand. I'll admit to my lack of perspective on this whole trade deadline thing. Kind of feel like i've had the rug pulled out from under me... thought that Theo was a little more protective of his team's future, a lot more keen on building as much depth as possible in arms down through the system (several writers have made the point that with smoltz flopping, penny cooled off, wake on the DL, dice-k... aaahahahaha, and buchholz adequate at best, our pitching "depth" consists more of kids who will be ready in a year or two- that all of a sudden, we're down to trying out bowden next, and tazawa come september). where do we go if we lose buchholz and bowden or masterson? i just dont get it. yes, we'll have halladay, lester, beckett... and then? tell me who you'd insert there. because no matter who i think of (major league ready), it means two days of REALLY hit or miss ball. struggle, inconsistency. Coming into 2009, pitching was supposed to be our no-brainer. It has proven to be anything but.
I am very literally falling asleep in my chair. gonna make the switch to my bed. no more energy to write good night!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Rollercoaster.
Some pics from Bowden's start back on July 19th..
His latest start on Friday night 7/25 was great. I was chatting with a friend for the last few innings but MB's 7 innings got charted. 2 ER, 4 hits, NO WALKS, 5 K. Pitch counts per inning: 15, 8, 7, 15, 11, 13, 14. 83 thrown over 7 innings. VERY impressive.
The JUICE improved to 5-0 on the season as of yesterday morning. 5 wins was our goal for 2009 in total. we were so terrible last year, and the thing is, nothing has changed. we have three new people taking the places of 3 players from last year. that's it. new management. it's remarkable. we come out on top every game by 10+ runs. i did just fine... the field was larger than regulation size so one particular at-bat could have been more, as I made as solid contact as i've made all season and drove it on a line to the 2nd baseman. the infield was so much bigger to begin with. i got a hit, and i did well in left field, assisted in a double play even :) not commonly done from way out there.
Charlie Zink.. walked about a batter per inning on sunday, but in the end only gave up a few hits (didnt score it... he went 6 innings, and i think it was only 2 hits through 5 innings, with 2 more in the 6th). We won, he got the win, it was pretty nice. They were making contact off him but not productively. Made sure I was there early to see him warm up (arrived well before that though, in time to catch a few side sessions featuring Gonzalez, Bowden, and Johnson.. that was an unexpected surprise) and was just as fascinated watching him pitch up close as I had been a couple weeks earlier. What a sweet pitch, the knuckleball. I've mused with friends here and there over the idea of pitchers learning the knuckler, not as a primary pitch, but as something to pull out a few times each game, to really just mess around with batters. They wouldnt have to be really strong knuckleballers, they'd just have to be able to command it (as much as you can command it) one pitch at a time, a handful each game. I wonder why pitchers dont. Maybe it's just that tough to throw correctly.
...here it is, nearly 48 hours after i started this post. Finally, it's hot out, the sun is shining. While i was walking outside during lunch, I actually thought to myself...
*Wild Thing just came on. PAPELBON flashed into my mind*
...I actually thought to myself that I was glad I was working today and out of the sun. Sounds crazy? Ever since I read about Kelli Pedroia's story a year or so ago, I have had very little desire to sit out in the sun. Dont get me wrong... I love playing outside. I love walking around Boston in the sun. I love sitting out on the lawn before a Paw Sox game, I love going to the beach though I never do anymore. But as I get "older" (almost 24, wow dee dow) I think more and more about the long-term reality of the body i'm living in. I have one semi-significant sunspot on my back and I really dont care to acquire any more. I'm also terrible at taking the time to put on sunscreen, so if I'm in the sun for more than 30 minutes I am burnt. It's just not good for me. Thankfully I've found good ways to be out and enjoying the warmth... more often than not I'm under an overhang at Fenway or McCoy, and even if I'm not I'm generally at evening games. Working through the day helps too for the same reason- when I get out, I can play soccer or wiffleball as the sun is fading.
When I was learning about audio engineering in college it changed the way I treat my ears. When I hurt my back in high school pole vaulting, it changed things too (it's never been the same... regardless of phys training sessions, etc, I think my back is always going to be slightly damaged goods from here on out). I'm really hoping I can continue to be smart about the sun/my skin.
This is a crazy tangent I just went off on.
Another day is passing by, and we still have some of the guys I've been most fearful that we'll lose. Watched another Bowden interview... he's got great composure, very well spoken- granted, everyone asks him the same things so he should have his answers down pat!
..speaking of whom, Twitter just informed me that the Red Sox made an offer of Buchholz, Bowden, and Westmoreland for Halladay. my heart is racing. i am not happy, and i dont understand this trade. i dont know how much you know about Ryan Westmoreland but he is just as much of a prospective-powerhouse as Buckaroo and Bowden have been considered over the past year+. i havent felt this unhappy and suddenly preoccupied in ages.
i need to go work. i can bury myself in research/searches. i try to tell myself that there's no way the jays will take 1 unproven major leaguer and 2 guys who are not major league ready for the best of the best, but i have no idea what's going to happen.
His latest start on Friday night 7/25 was great. I was chatting with a friend for the last few innings but MB's 7 innings got charted. 2 ER, 4 hits, NO WALKS, 5 K. Pitch counts per inning: 15, 8, 7, 15, 11, 13, 14. 83 thrown over 7 innings. VERY impressive.
The JUICE improved to 5-0 on the season as of yesterday morning. 5 wins was our goal for 2009 in total. we were so terrible last year, and the thing is, nothing has changed. we have three new people taking the places of 3 players from last year. that's it. new management. it's remarkable. we come out on top every game by 10+ runs. i did just fine... the field was larger than regulation size so one particular at-bat could have been more, as I made as solid contact as i've made all season and drove it on a line to the 2nd baseman. the infield was so much bigger to begin with. i got a hit, and i did well in left field, assisted in a double play even :) not commonly done from way out there.
Charlie Zink.. walked about a batter per inning on sunday, but in the end only gave up a few hits (didnt score it... he went 6 innings, and i think it was only 2 hits through 5 innings, with 2 more in the 6th). We won, he got the win, it was pretty nice. They were making contact off him but not productively. Made sure I was there early to see him warm up (arrived well before that though, in time to catch a few side sessions featuring Gonzalez, Bowden, and Johnson.. that was an unexpected surprise) and was just as fascinated watching him pitch up close as I had been a couple weeks earlier. What a sweet pitch, the knuckleball. I've mused with friends here and there over the idea of pitchers learning the knuckler, not as a primary pitch, but as something to pull out a few times each game, to really just mess around with batters. They wouldnt have to be really strong knuckleballers, they'd just have to be able to command it (as much as you can command it) one pitch at a time, a handful each game. I wonder why pitchers dont. Maybe it's just that tough to throw correctly.
...here it is, nearly 48 hours after i started this post. Finally, it's hot out, the sun is shining. While i was walking outside during lunch, I actually thought to myself...
*Wild Thing just came on. PAPELBON flashed into my mind*
...I actually thought to myself that I was glad I was working today and out of the sun. Sounds crazy? Ever since I read about Kelli Pedroia's story a year or so ago, I have had very little desire to sit out in the sun. Dont get me wrong... I love playing outside. I love walking around Boston in the sun. I love sitting out on the lawn before a Paw Sox game, I love going to the beach though I never do anymore. But as I get "older" (almost 24, wow dee dow) I think more and more about the long-term reality of the body i'm living in. I have one semi-significant sunspot on my back and I really dont care to acquire any more. I'm also terrible at taking the time to put on sunscreen, so if I'm in the sun for more than 30 minutes I am burnt. It's just not good for me. Thankfully I've found good ways to be out and enjoying the warmth... more often than not I'm under an overhang at Fenway or McCoy, and even if I'm not I'm generally at evening games. Working through the day helps too for the same reason- when I get out, I can play soccer or wiffleball as the sun is fading.
When I was learning about audio engineering in college it changed the way I treat my ears. When I hurt my back in high school pole vaulting, it changed things too (it's never been the same... regardless of phys training sessions, etc, I think my back is always going to be slightly damaged goods from here on out). I'm really hoping I can continue to be smart about the sun/my skin.
This is a crazy tangent I just went off on.
Another day is passing by, and we still have some of the guys I've been most fearful that we'll lose. Watched another Bowden interview... he's got great composure, very well spoken- granted, everyone asks him the same things so he should have his answers down pat!
..speaking of whom, Twitter just informed me that the Red Sox made an offer of Buchholz, Bowden, and Westmoreland for Halladay. my heart is racing. i am not happy, and i dont understand this trade. i dont know how much you know about Ryan Westmoreland but he is just as much of a prospective-powerhouse as Buckaroo and Bowden have been considered over the past year+. i havent felt this unhappy and suddenly preoccupied in ages.
i need to go work. i can bury myself in research/searches. i try to tell myself that there's no way the jays will take 1 unproven major leaguer and 2 guys who are not major league ready for the best of the best, but i have no idea what's going to happen.
Friday, July 24, 2009
More rain.
It just keeps on a'comin. I dont know why this has to be, but Boston has been under one big grey cloud for the entirity of "summer". And of course, before summer was spring, which is rainy. And winter is dark/cold/snowy. Basically, it's been a long stretch of tough weather. I dont think there's anyone here who hasnt felt the effects.
Another little note from last night... Cameron Rupp, huge kid, power hitter, catcher. Could be a future there.
Ahh, one of the bat boys from last night was named Victor Martinez. For one night, it looked like V-Mart had come to boston... and we still had Bowden/Bard/Masterson/etc, so I was happy :) Heh. Hmm. They used all of the Red Sox' plate songs as each player came to bat... that was fun. And they played Night Moves! Youk's Beard of Truth (look it up if you dont know what i'm talking about) was trying to start a movement to get Kevin "Night Moves" Youkilis to have "Night Moves" as his at-bat music. It seems that the song is slowly making it's way.. infiltrating Fenway. I'd never heard it played there before.
Just started coming down again. Rain had been threatening all day after a rambunctiously stormy night last night. Hope Bowden gets to pitch... he doesnt need any more rest, he needs to be turned loose! Matt LaPorta is in town (well, in Pawtucket) with Cleveland's farm team.
WOAH! i love Oasis.
Belly filled with oreo soft serve frozen yogurt. Great tunes. Hour and a half left of work. And my shorts finally dried out (from the rainy commute this morning). Not unhappy.
Another little note from last night... Cameron Rupp, huge kid, power hitter, catcher. Could be a future there.
Ahh, one of the bat boys from last night was named Victor Martinez. For one night, it looked like V-Mart had come to boston... and we still had Bowden/Bard/Masterson/etc, so I was happy :) Heh. Hmm. They used all of the Red Sox' plate songs as each player came to bat... that was fun. And they played Night Moves! Youk's Beard of Truth (look it up if you dont know what i'm talking about) was trying to start a movement to get Kevin "Night Moves" Youkilis to have "Night Moves" as his at-bat music. It seems that the song is slowly making it's way.. infiltrating Fenway. I'd never heard it played there before.
Just started coming down again. Rain had been threatening all day after a rambunctiously stormy night last night. Hope Bowden gets to pitch... he doesnt need any more rest, he needs to be turned loose! Matt LaPorta is in town (well, in Pawtucket) with Cleveland's farm team.
WOAH! i love Oasis.
Belly filled with oreo soft serve frozen yogurt. Great tunes. Hour and a half left of work. And my shorts finally dried out (from the rainy commute this morning). Not unhappy.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Cape Cod All-Star game
It rained, and so -admittedly- I did not stay for the entire Cape Cod All Star game. I'm usually a trooper through rain and cold (and shorts, and no sweatshirt) but tonight was just not the night for all of that. Anyhow, I arrived around 4 at Fenway, so though I'm not saying that I had already spent plenty of time there by the point at which I left (around 7:45pm) I AM saying that my entire body was as wet, my hands and clothes as spongy, as 4 hours out in the rain will make a person.
I loved every second of it, though.
If you ask me in person, I'll rave to you about everything I witnessed on the field during and prior to the game. The pre-game homerun derby was a bit weak, but fun anyhow. I was in a field box seat behind the sox dugout and in prime position despite the umbrellas that kept popping up thoughout the section.
...just a note: you paid $10 to see a game. i paid $10 to see a game. you are watching the game. i am watching your umbrella. if you want to have it open, well, you cant. or you're not supposed to, because it takes up a WHOLE lot of space- more than you think. go sit under the overhang if you're really that worried about the rain.
well, again, it wasnt so bad for me, but i knew that the people around me were unfortunately in seats where umbrellas had become unexpected but full-on obstructions to their view of the field. anyhow, i cant wait to pay attn to the cape league next year. kind of a drive, but then again, so is Pawtucket. I'll tell you this- Pawtucket cant play like these kids can. Everyone on the field from both teams was a Dustin Pedroia, was a Jacoby Ellsbury, an Evan Longoria... super talented, super young, and always motoring. I was impressed just from watching each team take BP and then fielding practice prior to the game. Guys were running on and off the field as if they were aggressively running the bases! The game itself was pretty fast-paced. A ton of very sharp-looking plays in the 3 full innings I stayed for. Every batter blazed towards first after making contact, and so many routine ground balls to short or third were very close plays, always a near tie at 1st between the batter and the ball.
There was one particular pitcher on the West team (plays for Wareham) who impressed me the most- though the West pitching was clearly dominating the East for the time i was there. Workman was our starter over two innings, and then Eric Pfisterer came in. He was born in 1990. yes, FIVE WHOLE YEARS after I was born. THREE after my younger brother. I cant even fathom... but he was so efficient and was really workin it tonight. A lefty with a fastball that generally clocks in through the low-90s, a curve, and a changeup (minus the lefty bit, sound familiar?).. also has one of those fully-overarmed deliveries where it looks like he's brought the ball straight up over his head and then uses his upper body in a motion that seems to hurl the ball downhill (another point of familiarity..).
.... i got sidetracked. for over an hour. it's way past bedtime. more later.
I loved every second of it, though.
If you ask me in person, I'll rave to you about everything I witnessed on the field during and prior to the game. The pre-game homerun derby was a bit weak, but fun anyhow. I was in a field box seat behind the sox dugout and in prime position despite the umbrellas that kept popping up thoughout the section.
...just a note: you paid $10 to see a game. i paid $10 to see a game. you are watching the game. i am watching your umbrella. if you want to have it open, well, you cant. or you're not supposed to, because it takes up a WHOLE lot of space- more than you think. go sit under the overhang if you're really that worried about the rain.
well, again, it wasnt so bad for me, but i knew that the people around me were unfortunately in seats where umbrellas had become unexpected but full-on obstructions to their view of the field. anyhow, i cant wait to pay attn to the cape league next year. kind of a drive, but then again, so is Pawtucket. I'll tell you this- Pawtucket cant play like these kids can. Everyone on the field from both teams was a Dustin Pedroia, was a Jacoby Ellsbury, an Evan Longoria... super talented, super young, and always motoring. I was impressed just from watching each team take BP and then fielding practice prior to the game. Guys were running on and off the field as if they were aggressively running the bases! The game itself was pretty fast-paced. A ton of very sharp-looking plays in the 3 full innings I stayed for. Every batter blazed towards first after making contact, and so many routine ground balls to short or third were very close plays, always a near tie at 1st between the batter and the ball.
There was one particular pitcher on the West team (plays for Wareham) who impressed me the most- though the West pitching was clearly dominating the East for the time i was there. Workman was our starter over two innings, and then Eric Pfisterer came in. He was born in 1990. yes, FIVE WHOLE YEARS after I was born. THREE after my younger brother. I cant even fathom... but he was so efficient and was really workin it tonight. A lefty with a fastball that generally clocks in through the low-90s, a curve, and a changeup (minus the lefty bit, sound familiar?).. also has one of those fully-overarmed deliveries where it looks like he's brought the ball straight up over his head and then uses his upper body in a motion that seems to hurl the ball downhill (another point of familiarity..).
.... i got sidetracked. for over an hour. it's way past bedtime. more later.
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