Let the season (08) begin ...

Good idea FBM.

Mine left this morning for a 6 day road trip. No travel outside the state this summer but it is a BIG state with 12 teams.

Well, mine hasn't cracked the lineup, yet.

Maybe tonight.

Should we transfer, TPM?

But, here's some good pictures of a minor league baseball game.

Stockton Ports

FO ...

Way cool pictures. It only took me 20 shots to realize that when they put a number in parenthesies next to the player's name that it was their jersey number and not their age. Man oh man ... been away from the fields too long.

Ours threw relief in his first outing last night. BAses loaded, 2 outs, and the first batter he faced ... an 0-2 count, guy hits a chopper up the middle, over son's shoulder and son somehow manages to field it and throw the guy out at first. Whew !!!

I think he was inspired by the special guest in the house ... OZZIE SMITH ... who was there last night and threw out the first pitch.

Not much to tell other than last night - he played in 38 degree temperature in Fort Wayne Indiana.

Ouch!

quote:

Originally posted by itsinthegame:
Not much to tell other than last night - he played in 38 degree temperature in Fort Wayne Indiana.

Ouch!

Ouch is right, here it's balmy high 80's. Mine has really lucked out with the weather, but soon it will be a stiffling close to 100 and 500% degree humidity. Good ting that most games are in the evening.

Next saturday is dog day afternoon at the field, if not too warm we will bring our granddog. This is way too funny.

Jeff Alison was the opposing pitcher last night. Even though son has seen him pitch, it's interesting to see a player that has had so many issues. I heard up at the field the other night he really has to do well this year.

Prepster's son has the start today.

Doggie could be in big trouble.

I dont know who to root for - Robert or Darin. LOL

Its,

You are allowed to root for D against Robert. For all of D's teammates' at-bats though, you have to root for Robert!



Julie

LOL - It worked out OK

Robert got him on a check swing dribbler back to the mound in the first at bat - and walked him in the second.

So ironic how all of our son's playing everywhere are playing with players that we have known for years.

Alan Farina got the win last night for D's team in relief.

Academydad's son's teammate (3rd baseman) is one of DK's BF and trainer.

quote:

Originally posted by FormerObserver:
Well, mine hasn't cracked the lineup, yet.

Maybe tonight.

Should we transfer, TPM?

But, here's some good pictures of a minor league baseball game.

Stockton Ports

FO, picture 2 of the photo gallery is of Jason Fernandez signing. "Fern" was a Ragin Cajun 2 years ago. Small world.

Barrett came up with a gimpy elbow catching Maddux last night and went on the DL (no idea yet how long). So Morton got called up from AA. So Aeden is on his way to Lake Elsinore (I expect Canham went to SAT). So it goes....

And IF they're both playing, he'll be making those throws down to second to a former teammate MIF. Way former. 12 years ago, on Chet Lemon's 12u Juice. Yes, it is a small baseball world.

And aren't we all thankful we're part of it!


(Why is my son always a week behind everybody else )

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
Barrett came up with a gimpy elbow catching Maddux last night and went on the DL (no idea yet how long). So Morton got called up from AA. So Aeden is on his way to Lake Elsinore (I expect Canham went to SAT). So it goes....

And IF they're both playing, he'll be making those throws down to second to a former teammate MIF. Way former. 12 years ago, on Chet Lemon's 12u Juice. Yes, it is a small baseball world.



And aren't we all thankful we're part of it!


(Why is my son always a week behind everybody else )

Wow..Tommy King?....it's getting smaller by the day. The Lake Elsenore 1B is another Renegade teammate Jeremy Hunt. You have a PM on the way.

I saw Lake Elsenore P Corey Luebke pitch for Ohio State last June at the Regional in College Station.

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
So Aeden is on his way to Lake Elsinore (I expect Canham went to SAT). So it goes....

Okay, should I check the schedule and see what fits my plans ... ???

Stockton

Monday May 12 7:08 PM @Lake Elsinore Storm
Tuesday May 13 7:08 PM @Lake Elsinore Storm
Wednesday May 14 6:08 PM @Lake Elsinore Storm
Thursday May 15 7:08 PM @Lake Elsinore Storm

"Fern" can chunk it.

O,


FBM,
You can go check the boys out and give "hugs".

Canham's still in LE, FBM, get your seats near the bullpen!

LE's a great place to play, here's hoping he gets a chance!

Might just have to make some plans ... probably need to get a couple of goodie bags ready for the boys and play 'momma'.

FO ... are you coming out for that series?

Son had his second professional hit and his first professional run scored ... and I quote "I had a blast out there tonight" ... memories of games gone by come to mind.

There's the arguement --- End The DH Now!

O --
Wouldn't it be cool to have "End the DH NOW!"? t-shirts? Anybody out there got graphics skills? I'd buy one!

O ...

The Southern League is strange ... don't know if the other AA and AAA leagues are the same ... but if a National league team is playing against an American league team ... whether home or away they use the DH. I personally think they should have to play according to the rules of the 'home field' MLB league affiliation, just as they do in the Bigs.

I am not a fan of the DH because I think it is more challenging to manage a team with the pitcher having to hit. That being said ... we were all surprised AJ hit for himself last night because we knew he was not coming back into the game. But if they had replaced his spot in the line-up before his at-bat, they would have had to do a double switch. Besides, it was fun to know that he kept the game going ... as I understand it, he 'went the other way' and poked the ball into right field. Even the radio announcer sounded excited ... and a bit surprised. Too bad AJ doesn't like to bat (does not like the idea of a 95 mph ball coming at him) because hew as always a good hitter ... oh well. He pitches better when he doesn't have to worry about hitting or being hit LOL.

Last 2 games.

Yesterday - 41 degrees and a 15 MPH wind with a light steady rain.

Today - 37 degrees and a 20 MPH wind - with snow flurries.

Welcome to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Its really gotta suck playing in that type of weather.

Yes, its...
...but it would suck worse NOT playing in 75 degree weather

I thought this was pretty cool......

quote:

When you get up and do it, it's like 'Wow, I can't believe I did that,' " Simmons said. "I thought you had to be really, really famous to be on the radio.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200...100336/-1/A_SPORTS06

When I first saw this, I just thought about a day off from school at the ballpark.

Read the article, then see pictures 35 and 37 to 42 in this link to a photo gallery in the same newspaper.

Photo Gallery

Awesome pictures, but where are the ones of Matt?

quote:

Originally posted by itsinthegame:
Last 2 games.

Yesterday - 41 degrees and a 15 MPH wind with a light steady rain.

Today - 37 degrees and a 20 MPH wind - with snow flurries.

Welcome to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Its really gotta suck playing in that type of weather.

Ouch on the weather. Tell him to work his butt off to get to Dunedin!

We got a chance to see son for the first time on the mound as a pro, it was awesome. He had on his "cardinal sunday blues".

Brewers Casey Baron (belonging to Bear) was in relief today, it's awesome to put faces to names.

quote:

Yesterday - 41 degrees and a 15 MPH wind with a light steady rain.

Today - 37 degrees and a 20 MPH wind - with snow flurries.

Welcome to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Its really gotta suck playing in that type of weather.

YES it does! but it's even harder to be a spectator! BTW, its, I couldn't attend any of the games this series, but I see there are a lot of former PG guys on that LugNut roster along with Darin.

Always have to chuckle when the southern boys and Dominicans show up for the very first time. What a shock! They are easy to spot because they have 7 layers of clothes on.

It's all good experience because there are a lot of cold weather teams in the Major Leagues.

Nothing beats last year... it was in the 20's several night games were moved to the afternoon... and yet it was still too cold and games had to be rescheduled

There are a very interesting group of minor league promotions this month led by:

Augusta GreenJackets (South Atlantic League)
Mad Chad Performance, April 18
Here's another Minor League performer worth mentioning: Mad Chad the Chainsaw Juggler. Chad's act entails (wait for it) chainsaw juggling, which is one of the most compulsively entertaining art forms known to man. On Friday, Chad will visit Augusta to bring his act to the Minor League masses. Expect a death- (or at least limb-) defying performance from a man who knows how to bring the drama. As it says on Chad's web site: "If you really want people to put two hands together, you've got to risk one of your own!"

MiBL Promo Nights

PG,

Its an odd thing - with each passing year - as I get older - I whine a little bit more about the weather.

NC has spoiled me - bad. LOL

Those promos sound great.

Tuesday morning was school day at the park, it was packed, all school kids. Dave said he didn't think many were paying attention, just glad to be at teh park instead of school for the day.

Dog day at the park, about 100 dogs, it was very quiet. I am not sure they really enjoyed the game.

Its,

I've been following the lugnuts as my neighbor's son is also on the team! Nice to see them doing well and living the dream, weather be d amned!

Wish the Asheville Tourists had some websters sons on their team. Any websters son's playing in the South Atlantic league this summer?

02^04, my son is also playing in SAL. He plays OF for the Greenville Drive. His name is David Marks. They are off to Augusta this AM to play the Greenjackets. We are going to the game this evening and hope the weather gets better. Yesterday the weather couldn't have been better in Greenville. Kid didn't play last night after taking a foul ball off the ankle on Thursday nights game. Our first trip to see the Drive and just can't believe the stadium!!!

0204Mom,

I am sure you are speaking of Justin. Darin and Justin have become good buddies.

Justin has tremendous talent!!!

Outlaw,
I see they play the Tourists in June, I will probably get to at least 1 of the games in the series and say hello to David if given the chance, but for sure will be cheering him on!!

Its, of course it is Justin. He is such a nice young man. Well grounded, he deserves everything he gets as he had worked very hard for all he has gotten.

Haven't posted too much here, I guess due to uncertainty.............

But, it's all uncertain, ain't it?

An assignment to High A in Stockton for a player with 38 minor league games under his belt when many of the players are there with 200+ games.

"We don't normally do that Smitty"

So, there was an expected return to Kane County.

"Not a demotion, Smitty."

So, for some of you that check on him in in the Stockton area, he's been tranferred to Kane County.

And, for those of you interested in the Midwest League area, he's back.

A limo ride at 3:00AM to the airport for a 6:00AM flight to Chicago and another flight into Lansing to catch up with the Cougars on the road yesterday.

Wasn't in the lineup last night, it's or I would have said something last night.

On to Great Lakes this evening after a 1/3 day with a double off the wall.

Just about ready to get an extra car out of the shop for shipment to CA next Monday or Tuesday, then decided to drive it to Chicago for a three game series in the next weekend or so and fly home.

With the music playing and not many chairs, it's pretty easy to look around and see who is gonna get the empty seats.

But, no movements noted, yet, and then this, which I think some of you will find interesting.

"Dad, the other catcher is a Naval Academy graduate, and has to leave for two weeks to serve his country recruiting."

FO,

I had no idea that Matt would be there last night. We could have had some fun - at my expense given D's 0-fer yesterday LOL

Matt roped his double to CF today though - and as luck would have it - today D had his first day off this season.

That would have been cool - another HSBBweb link - Matt doubles to CF and D has to go and chase it.

My best to you and Matt!

quote:

That would have been cool - another HSBBweb link - Matt doubles to CF and D has to go and chase it.

I know!

And, it could still happen.

The good news is that I know my way around in Chicago, now.................................

FO,
I met Brad Furnish tonight, guess he and Matt played against each other.
One thing they say is true, you never fully unpack your bags in pro ball. Dave's friend just got called up to AA to help the struggling Springfield as a closer. He was called at night and told to pack up he was on a plane asap. Stranegly enough that opened a place for Dave to stay without 4 others in an apartment.

Good luck to Matt, looking forward to a KC vs. LL match up between him and D.