Pitchers & Catchers Report

Some places have the first robin of spring. Here in Fort Myers, we have Popa Goose. He drives down from California so pitcher Joe "Goose" Gault can have the use of his truck while he's here.

"(Mike Radcliffe) tells me he's going to be on a real team next year," he says of his son. "I'm not sure what he means by that."

I said I think that means one where they charge admission and actually have people in the stands. Joe pitched fairly well in the Gulf Coast League last year, where the highest crowd we had was 35.

That mean's Goose will likely have to drive his truck to Tennessee, but I'm sure that a 19 hour haul is a piece of cake after tooling over from California.

Like every other pitcher and catcher in the Twins minor league system, Goose was here for the start of minor league spring training. While one might compare MLB Spring Training to a three ring circus, minor league training is more like...

Honestly, I'm not sure there's a comparison. There are flocks of pitchers spread out all over the four fields, plus the training areas that comprise the Twins training facilites. Each field has one - and sometimes two - flocks on it working on various drills and the flocks move around from station to station.

"Hey! You guys do this yet?" Stan Cliburn yells at a group of pitchers dressing in red, many of which pitched in for the Fort Myers Miracle last season, who were lounging about in front of the new training facilities. They hadn't, and Stan waives them over.

There is some order. The players are color coded: dark blue is both the AAA players and the High A players, red is the AA players, grey is the single A players and white is the rookies. These aren't promises of things to come, but just and easy way to tell the work groups apart.

Position players report tomorrow, and the Twins will make their first cuts on Monday. A training camp roster should be available on Tuesday.

The Twins were using some new training camp tools as well as the new fitness facility. These including the instructional pitching charts set up behind the bull pen area. Yellow ropes were strung to mark the strike zone in the bullpen area.

Teaching is a high priority during the minor league camp. If someone does a drill wrong, they will likely have a coach show them the correct way, and then have to do it all over again.

"I want to see all of you throw strikes" coach Gary Lucas tells them before one drill. One player throws a little to high to catcher Greg Najac. "That's a ball," Lucas points out. "Try again, throw a strike."

On another field, the position players that have arrived are taking fielding drills, although several middle infielders are helping out the coaching staff including Tommy Watkins who played last season for the New Britain Rock Cats.

In the back behind the bullpens, Eric Rasmussen is explaining positioning of pitches to another group, and behind that yet another group works through a set of obsticals in fitness drills.

Everyone gets a bullpen session, making the catchers the hardest working of the group in camp.

There are more catchers in camp than I expected. While Bryan Kennedy and Jose Morales wear Red Wings blue, it's still a bit decieving at this point as the actually catchers that will report for the Red Wings are still up in major league camp. They will likely switch to Rock Cats red by the end of the week, a color which the two Kyles (Geiger and Phillips) are currently wearing.

Some of the pitchers will move around as well, once cuts get made, but it's not as easy to predict where the pitchers will end up at this point.

As the pitchers and fielders get through all the stations, they vanish into the locker rooms and re-appear, garbed for running. They go in two huge groups for a run around the outside of the Sportsplex facitilies, while the catchers finally catch a break of crouching and take in some batting practice.

"Wait, wait, wait," Floyd "Sugerbear" Rayford stops them all from milling around. How many groups do I have here?"

Kennedy converses with several of the other catchers and they arrive at the number three. Group one is to report to the batting cage, the other two groups to the outfield.

The catchers mill around and look at each other. Sugerbear sighs and pulls out a piece of paper. "Group one: Kennedy, Johnson, Daigle, Morales..."

And they tell me catching is a mental position.

Rayford makes for a very amusing pitcher for batting practice however. "Look at this! I still got it!" The former Orioles third baseman tells them as he hurls balls at this chosen targets. "I just can't get my arm over my head anymore!"

Work outs start between 9 and 9:30 each morning over by the "Big White Building" on the Lee County Sportsplex. So if you're in town for spring training, take a walk over from the fields by the stadium, and have a look at the players that comprise the future of the Minnesota Twins.

Rounding Third

Sometimes, I Don't Know really WAS on third!

I bet you thought I was going to cover second base tonight. Hah! Tricked you. I hit a triple this outing.

Actually third base is one of the biggest controversial subjects this spring (the other being short stop). Is Mike Cuddyer the answer? What about Eric Munson? Who is Terry Tiffee?

And Why, Oh Why didn't they keep Corey Koskie.

Let's start at the beginning. Basically, it's Cuddyer's job to lose. And I don't think he's doing that. Munson's chances of making the roster are slim, in part because it's so hard to knock out an incumbant, and in part because Koskie has given Cuddy his blessing and Cuddy's seening a lot more work at 3rd than Munson is in Spring Training.

So in my endlessly optimistic state of mind, I'm going to ignore Munson's bid as a 3rd base candidate and I'm also going to believe he will choose free agency over Rochester, NY. Sorry Munson fans. Ditto for Andy Fox.

So, our next top candidate for third is in fact on the 40-man roster and will the the player most likely called up if Cuddy gets hurt or can't do his job.

That would be Terry Tiffee. A 6'3" switch hitter from Little Rock Arkansas, he is one of those guys who came in kind of low under the radar, especially after a slow start in Class A Quad Cities.

He progressed steadily, but one of the things that really helped him was an increase in his athleticism. That was part of the knock against him in High A. New Britain went better, a .315 batting average and a trip to the All Star game. But it wasn't until he hit Rochester that he became a serious prospect for the Twins. He rather redefined himself and his talent.

He hit .307 and was second on the team in RBIs to Jason Kubel.

The major question about Tiffee is his health, following first some back problems in Rochester and then a shoulder injury while playing for the Twins.

He will start the year in Rochester and have another year to refine his skills before the Twins have another look at him in the Fall when rosters expand again.

In New Britain, things become a little hairy. Stan Cliburn wanted his corners solidified, so he had Billy Munoz signed for first and Ryan Owens signed for third. Owens played 68 games for the Cats, going .204 with 33 RBIs. By June, the position was being platooned with utility infielder Tommy Watkins and and short stop Jake Mauer playing when Owens was not. This was in part due to Owens going up to cover third when Tiffee was out with a back injury. He played in 42 games up there, hitting .218. Following the end of the 2004 season, he was released.

The Twins signed both Glenn Williams and Brent Abernathy to minor league contracts. Both are AAA players and are likely to stay with the club in Rochester and both can play second or third. Whether either of these will go down to Rochester, or bump Tiffee down, remains to be seen.

Tommy Watkins is a local Fort Myers boy. What he lacks in skill he makes up for in heart. He did not want to leave Southwest Florida to go to New Britain, but once there he acquitted himself well, batting .267 with 47 RBIs. Watkins is a the ULTIMATE utility player, having played games at each position on the field except for catcher. He's even pitched a couple of games as a closer, with a 0.00 ERA and one strike out.

Watkins progress has been slow and steady. While he may never be considered a top prospect for the Twins, his work ethic may end up surprising everyone. He was stated he'd like to pursue a career in coaching, hopefully with the Twins organization, once he finishes playing professional baseball.

Jake Mauer lives in the limelight of his younger brother, Joe. A short stop by trade, he played a good deal of third as well. Jake played Divion III baseball for the University of St. Thomas. The major knock against him is his lack of batting power.

Jake hit .258 last season with two triples and 11 doubles in 283 plate appearances. He has never hit a home run in his professional career.

Still he's good on the basepaths and not bad defensively and can put the ball in play on a relatively consistent basis.

Jake will either repeat with the Rock Cats or be released and signed by the independent league St. Paul Saints who would kill to have a Mauer on their roster.

Ben Pattee: I had a dream mid-season that Pattee was called up to the Miracle. "Why Pattee?" Miracle trainer Larry Bennesse asked me. "He had a good training camp but..."

A week later, Michael Sandoval a prospect who never should have been playing third base was released by the Miracle and Pattee was called up. Another utility infielder, and primarily a second baseman, Pattee did a fairly decent job defensively for the Miracle. He will likely repeat in Fort Myers, but not as a third baseman.

(Just a side note, Sandoval signed with the independent, Brockton Rox as an outfield following his release from the Twins Organziation. I only found it interesting that he was released because of his lack of production at the plate, and not because he stunk at third.)

Omar Burgos started the year at third for Fort Myers but was sent down to Quad Cities after 32 games, in part for his .208 batting average and five errors.

His batting average did not improve with the Swing, as he only hit .206 there. But all is not bad. Baseball America did rate him as having the best infield arm in the Twins minor league system.

Matt Moses....Wait! what? I don't have a page for Moses? I though I did! Oh yeah, here we go...Matt Moses a former first round draft pick for the Minnesota Twins.

Who scouted his guy? First he shows up for the Gulf Coast League following his draft and is diagnosed with a hole in his heart. Minor surgery corrected this. Okay good. Last year, he suddenly has a bulging disk in his back, reportedly from a trampoline accident he suffered in Junior High. How do you miss these kinds of medical problems?

My understanding of scouting is your supposed to know EVERYTHING about the guy, down to how many holes he has in his socks, let alone is heart.

Hit .223 in 29 games in the Quad and is making people wonder if this is another bust first rounder.

Projected to start the season with the Snappers and should receive a promotion to Fort Myers mid-season if he can stay healthy.

David Winfree: I LOVE OPIE! I made some remark to Don about the lack of 3rd base talent on the Miracle. "You should go over to Field D someday and check out those kids," he said around his toothpick.

I replied that I had and they actually had someone who could play the position!

Batted .286 for Elizabethton in 59 games after a solid outing in extended spring training. He was a "second year" rookie, but only played 23 game for the GCL Twins in 2003.

Will likely start the season with the Snappers, spelling Moses on third.

There were no clear third baseman in the Gulf Coast League as the position was pretty much platooned between second year rookie Travis Kalin (.244, 11 RBIs, 1 HR), Jilmar Arratia (.320, 29 RBIs, 2 HR), Michael Lysaught (.186, 7 RBIs, 0 HR), and Juan Portes (.327, 31 RBIs, 8 HR).

Portes and Arratia will likely advance to Elizabethton. Lysaught will spend another year in the Gulf Coast League and as there really isn't such a thing as a "third year" rookie, I have no idea what will happen to the very likeable Kalin. Hopefully they will ship him to Elizabethton as well.

TOMORROW: Pitchers and Catchers report so we will interrupt our look at the Twins minor league system by position for news from pitchers and catchers camp.

A Show to be Named Later

If you're in the Twin Cities area, tune in to Channel 11 Saturday night at midnight following Saturday Night Live for "A Show to be Named Later".

Kind of like "A player to be named later" they tell be ("but nobody gets it"). They shot footage at Spring Training last Sunday, the day Joe Mauer pulled up lame. I know that they shot a segment which I was in, but I have no idea if it will make it to the air.

In any case, check it out, as it seemed like a fun crew and let me know how it goes.

A Good Friday, but only for the Miracle

We were given Good Friday off because my boss says he used to be an alter boy, one of the few that was not molested, and because, well...the Board of Realtors was closed. So I'm enjoying my long easter weekend at the ballpark.

Having three days to watch games, I had to pick and choose who I was going to watch when. My first priority was to track down Travis Bowyer and find out when he was pitching. He said Sunday, so...it's Red Wings on Sunday. This left Friday and Saturday to sort out.

I want to watch the rookies one day but I wasn't sure about the college game. Anyway, a couple of the guys on the Beloit squad asked if I was going to watch them play today, to that settled that.

I'm not sure I'm their good luck charm though. Once again it was a slaughter of the Snappers, this time at the hands of the High A Fort Myers Miracle during an inner-organizational scrimmage that ended with a 13-2 score.

Oswaldo Sosa took the start for Beloit and pitched two very solid innings, walking only Justin Arneson and striking out Ryan Spataro and Javier Sanchez.

Meanwhile Beloit drew first blood. J.P. Martinez took the mound for the Miracle, and pitched well in the first. But he fell a foul of high winds in the second. With two outs, catcher Tim Lahey singled and then Javier Lopez got on base after catcher Josh Johnson lost the ball on a third strike call. Patrick Ortiz then sent a flyball to the outfield which got shoved around by the high winds and hit the ground out near center, driving in two runs.

Unfortunately, it would be the only two the Snappers would get.

Sosa came back out in the third, allowing a single to Johnson and then walking Denard Span. Mark Tolbert's high fly to left was also uncatchable as the winds again interfered, and he notched a triple, driving two in and then coming home on Arneson's following sac-play to center. Brock Peterson, who looked to be a threat at the plate, lined out to end the inning.

Bo Pettit, who is in camp on a try out agreement came into pitch for the Miracle. Deacon Burns made it a little hot for Pettit, lighting him up for a homer. Trevor Plouffe then singled, but that was all the Snappers would get out of Petitt through two innings. He issued no walks, and struck out Lahey in the fourth.

Meanwhile, lefty Mike Rogers came in for Beloit in the fourth. "Rock" usually has it going on, but not this afternoon. He issued two walks, a double and a single in the fourth, allowing two more runs, both earned. He also allowed a runner to advance on a wild pitch. He did however strike out Paul Rutgers in the fourth and Mark Zamojc in the fifth. In fact the three batter fifth was a little bit more of what we've come to expect from the Rock.

"Miracleman" has long been a fan of Peter Tautor and was hoping for him to come up back in the 2003 season, but this was my first look at Tautor.

He struck out both Landon Burt and Korey Feiner, but he allowed singles to Spataro, Heath Anderson, and Angelo Fermin, all of which came back to bite him when Paul Rutgers homered. With the bases cleared, Beloit manager Kevin Boles requested the inning be rolled and Tautor came in without a third out, something which made him very unhappy.

Tristan Crawford took the mound for the Miracle, allowing a single to Australian rookie Michael Lysaught, but then shut down the next three batters he faced all on pop-ups, including Burns, who fouled out.

I was somewhat surprised when Tautor took the mound again in the seventh, but he did redeem himself, taking out the three batters he faced, including one strike out to Zamojc.

Kevin Culpepper's parents were at the park today, and he did well by them, taking down Plouffe, John Woodard and David Winfree through the heart of the Beloit line up. Robbie Hebert came in for the seventh inning, striking out Travis Kalin to start, and sending Dwayne White out on a fly ball before allowing singles to Tarrance Patterson and Greg Najac. But he would finish off by striking out Lopez.

Alex Merricks was next up on the mound for Beloit. The eigth inning looked looked good -- three up and three down, but he got into trouble in the ninth. He walked Rutgers, and then hit Zamojc with his first pitch to him. It was not a good day at the park for Mark Zamojc who was struck out twice, and then took a ball to his arm. Arneson singled and then Ramiro Chamizo, also in camp on a try out agreement, doubled to bring in three runs. Boles again requested them to roll the inning, and Merricks came off without only two outs.

The eighth inning was little better for the Snappers. Trevor Plouffe tripled, but Woodard failed to bring him home.

I've long waited to have a chance to see Josh Hill pitch. He was injured at the start of last season and pitched some Gulf Coast League games last season, but given my weekend warrior schedule and the somewhat static pitching rotation in place for the GCL, I never got a chance to see him. Highly thought of in Quad City in 2003, 2004 was probably a disappointment for the Aussie righty. However, I have to say, he worth the wait. He dealt Winfree a fly ball, struck out D-White, and lined out Patterson.

Because Boles optioned to roll the ninth inning, we played ten. Lou Wieben, another player in camp on a try out, pitched the tenth. I was beginning to think we might go to eleven. He walked Rutgers, Spataro, Anderson and Feiner, bringing in another run that the Miracle really didn't need. Then Fermin singled, but I have to call it a fielder's choice as they took Spataro out at home on a really smart play. Burt singled as well, and Fermin was taken out at 2nd. Arneson would have reached on a fielder's choice, but they took Burt out at second to end the inning.

Which left it all up to Hill to end the game.

Greg Najac got a nice little single off Hill to open the bottom of the tenth. Not to let it go to waste, Burns followed him on base. Plouffe, who would end up 2-for-5 on the day flew out. Kalin followed, but Hill issued a walk to Lysaught, giving Beloit three men on base. Unfortunately, Lopez's grand slam hommer turn into an outfield fly ball to end the game.

On the whole, I'm not sure it was great batting by the Miracle squad, so much as it was really bad pitching by some of the Beloit squad. Both Tautor and Weiben are on the Miracle roster, but were loaned to Beloit for the game. I find it interesting that for a squad that has Jay Rainville, Kyle Waldrop, Anthony Swarzak, Matt Fox and Chris Marini on it, plus Sosa and the usually good Rogers, I find myself watching some really bad pitching when I'm watching Beloit.

That being said, I don't care how nicely the boys ask tomorrow, I'm watching the Rookies play.

I have often said I am easy to find at the ballpark. Just ask Kyle Waldrop's dad. He had no trouble finding me at all. He knows me from the DTFC board and he's also followed the discussion over to Twins Territory now. I feel bad that I've never gotten to see Kyle pitch yet, but as I've previously noted, the GCL schedule and pitching rotation allowed for some pretty stagnent line ups. I heard Kyle groaned a bit when he found out he was facing the Red Sox farm yet again on Wednesday, as he's faced them something like twenty times already. He got in 1 1/2 innings worth of work in the rain shortened game.

Sean Aronson and Justin Stecz from the Miracle staff stopped by during the game for a chat. Sean reported that shortstop Kaulana Kuhaulua is out with a broken ankle. They also believe that pitcher Jeff Randazzo will be starting with the AA New Britain Rock Cats.

Travis Kalin's parents were in attendance, parked in lounge chairs under a shadey tree as always. I told them that Elizabethton was going to be a bit of weekend haul for them and suggested maybe they take a week off. His dad said "More like a couple of months off".

Justin Arneson, who was a free agent signing and whose playing time was shortened in Quad City last year by injury impressed me quite a bit. I could easily see him sticking with the High A Squad this season. Brock Peterson and Paul Rutgers are two guys I'd also like to see on this year's version of the Fort Myers Miracle.

Matt Moses did not play, but did put in an apperance as "first base coach" and had no problem cutting it up with the Low A coaching staff while he was out there. Very amusing.

A gentleman asked me after the game if I was the ultimate Twins Fan. I guess he was impressed with my scorekeeping through a minor league game and the fact that number of the players and staff know who I am. "You seem to have quite a following," he said. I cannot lay claim to that title, but I do have several minor league pitchers who have stated in writing that I am the #1 Twins Fan. I am sure there are many of you out there who would like to contest the title, but...who are your references? I do not lay title to either the #1 Miracle Fan or the #1 Rock Cats Fan, however, I am without a doubt the #1 Gulf Coast League Twins fans because well...it's not like they have that many fans in the first place!

The gentleman turned out to be Trevor Plouffe's father, who thought that perhaps Trevor would make it to the Miracle mid-season this year. We shall see. Right now, I'm expecting to have Jesus Merchan and (fingers crossed) Sam Taylor at short for the Miracle this season. In any case, he said that Trevor had not been playing short as his arm was a little sore from throwing so they gave him five days off and that right now, he's more than ready to be back in the infield line up. I also had a request from Max Bats to get a picture of Trevor for their website, which I set up after the game. Trevor, by the way, is very fond of his Max Bat.

Today, the Minnesota Twins assigned catcher Gabby Torres, infielder Brent Abernathy and outfielders Todd Dunwoody and Jason Tyner to minor league camp. Righty Pat Strange was released by the Twins yesterday.

Rock Cats Spring Training Dates Released!

Rock Cats' Fans take note! The Rock Cats 14-game Spring Training Schedule has been released. New Britian pitchers will report to Spring Training in Fort Myers, Florida, on March 11. The position players report two days later, on March 13th.

The Cats play their first game against the Portland Sea Dogs on March 18th at the Lee County Sports Complex - home field for the Cats.

The Cats and Dogs tangle often on the short schedule which ends on April 3rd on the Dogs' home field. Unlike last year, there will not be an inter-organizational confrontation between the AAA Rochester Red Wings and the AA New Britain Rock Cats. Evidently, Rochester has not forgotten they spanking they recieved by the Cats last season.

All games are open to the public and are free. Some parking fees may apply. The schedule is subject to change without notice.

The game against the Altoona Curve on March 20th is played in Pirates Town in Bradenton, Florida. The game against the Chatanooga Lookouts on March 30th is played at the Reds' training complex in Sarasota, Florida. All games played at the Portland Sea Dogs are at the Sea Dogs' Training Complex at the end of Edison Ave. in Fort Myers, Florida (about 3 miles from the Red Sox City of Palms Park).

Some 2004 Rock Cats are already in Fort Myers and getting a jump on Spring Training. The Fort Myers News Press reported today that outfielder Kevin West is already at the Complex and working out. He has trimmed his weight from 230 pounds to about 210 to 215. A 16th-round draft pick in 1999, West has slowly inched his way closer to the majors and believes he'll make it.

"I do," West said. "Sometimes it takes longer for certain guys, for whatever reason."

Infielder Jake Mauer has also been working out, along with his brother Joe. His brother, Billy, a pitcher, is currently rehabbing from off-season surgery. While the St. Paul natives do work out indoors, they maintain a condo in the City of Palms and enjoy coming down to Florida for workouts.

"There's only so much you can do indoors," Jake Mauer told the News-Press.

Finally, utility fielder Tommy Watkins is a native of Fort Myers, a graduate of Riverdale High School. He appreciates the warm weather. The offseason is a time for him to prepare.

"Got to get ready for spring training," Watkins said.

He's trimmed his weight from 214 pounds to about 197. Tuesday morning, he joined other players on the practice field.

"It's so good for us," Watkins said of workouts in Florida. "It's not cold down here. If I lived in Minnesota or someplace up north, I don't think I'd get anything done. I don't think I would leave the house."

The Cats will break camp on April 5th, and return to Connecticut briefly before they beginning their season the road against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Check back here for the Rock Cats spring training roster and for game results!

Josh the Ripper

I had worked late on Thursday night, so I left early on Friday to head over to the ballgame. I figured I had as good a chance as any to be made into a bobble-headed doll, but as I had to attending the game to have a chance at all, I might as well take the opportunity and go. I asked for section 115, but was told they only print that section for fireworks nights, so she gave me 114 and told me to move over one.

"You’ll be the only one over there," she tells me.

"No I have a friend that sits with me. We were going to buy season tickets there next year."

"They’ll be waiting for you!"

Ragged on Izzo for not being there the past few games, bought a cheeseburger and a draft beer (the beer patio was not open yet) and was just settling down in my seat to eat my cheeseburger when they announced that Josh Rennick would be signing autographs in the concourse for another ten minutes. I carefully folded the foil back over my cheeseburger, and headed up to the concourse again, spilling my beer in the process. I wondered who to ask about where Rennick was signing and then figured guest services would know. As it turns out, he was with Andy "the perpetually injured" Persby at a table right next to guest services.

I try to juggle the cheeseburger, the beer and my program and finally set my beer down on the table.

Andy ogles my beer. "That beer looks really good."

"You can have one after the game, son," I tell him. Even offer to buy him one if he looks me up. I try to find the autograph page, get frustrated with having my hands full, and so just hand the program over. "Isn’t there a generic autograph page in there?" I ask.

"There is," Andy replies, "but we have pictures in here. We can sign our pictures." He proceeds to find his picture and sign it.

"He doesn’t have a picture in there, does he?" I say meaning Rennick. "Those are mostly the old guys."

"I’m an old guy," Josh protests.

"You’re not that old!"

By old guys I mean mainly all the ones from last season who have all now graduated to New Britain. Gabby Torres even has a picture in there, as if we’d be lucky enough to see Gabby in Fort Myers this season.

"So now that Rabe left," I tell Rennick, "you’ve become my favorite player."

"Yes!" he jumps about on his seat and nearly falls off. "I’m finally someone’s favorite player!"

"It helped that I got to see you stalking about in front of the dugout in Jupiter, swinging your bat around like an axe murderer. I really like that in a person."

Josh hoots and laughs. He thinks that is really cool.

I left then to the people behind me could have a chance to get autographs.

I wander about and rag on a few people about becoming bobble heads. "Don’t you think Don would make a good bobble-head?"

"Yeah, I’ve seen him in the bar with his head bobbling already!"

End up talking to Will, one of the locals who’d been up in North Carolina about the team, the impending MLB strike and the state of baseball in general until Aaron finds me.

Jeff Lincoln got off to a shaky start on the mound, finally settled down and started throwing goose eggs. They announced that the Kevin West fan club was in attendance, but I neither saw nor heard them, so I don’t think they were there. I explain to Aaron about wanting to talk to someone who belonged to one of the clubs to find out about them. I further go one to explain about the demise of the Florida Everblades Booster Club and how I wonder if these so called "fan clubs" might be an alternative.

I told him I got Rennick’s autograph. He says "Josh has a fan club."

I laughed. "I’ll have to join that one!"

"It’s the Josh Rennick Thirsty Thursday Fan Club."

I start laughing. That is SO appropriate. "Rutgers has a fan club too!" I think I will have to join that one too. (Rutgers is the Miracle Mascot. He’s a golden retriever.)

We both agree that Josh needs better music when he comes up to bat. He likes rap, and I’m sure there are tougher sounding rap songs then what he has picked out. I suggest maybe Ozzie, but then Rob Bowen comes up to bat and he’s got the Metallica/Ozzie stuff wrapped up.

Bowen knocks in a homer. It would be the only score of the game, which the Miracle would go on to win 1-0.

I think maybe a bit from "Out Comes the Evil" by Lords of Acid, but now how to convince Rennick of this…

Somewhere in there Aaron suggests that Rennick needs a nickname. We had Mad-dog for Josh Rabe. "Too bad his name is not Jason, that would have been perfect," Aaron points out. We bat around some serial killers, really and fictional when I finally hit upon Ripper. Instead of Jack the Ripper, he can be Josh the Ripper. Aaron likes that too.

Josh comes out to bat. "Hey Ripper!" I scream. "Rip one out of the park, Rennick!"

"How do you supposed we’re going to tell Josh about his new nickname?" I ask Aaron.

"I think you just told him," he points out. (By the end of Saturday’s double header in Charlotte, everyone was calling him Rip or Ripper, so I guess it’s a good nickname.)

Jeff Lincoln starts to struggle again, so they pull him. Rennick is up playing around on the mound while they are waiting for the relief pitcher to come in. "Hey Rennick! You gonna pitch now?" Aaron joins in on that one too and we heckle him unmercifully. The kid sitting a few rows in front of me turns around and says "Hey, are you his Mom?" Aaron nearly falls out of his seat laughing. Well, I did call Andy "son" earlier. They’re all about old enough to belong to me!

Having no idea how they were going to choose the bobble-head winner, I was pleasantly surprised when they brought out all the ticket stubs they’d collected at the gate in a big fishbowl, took them out on top of the dugout and pulled at random. A gentleman above us in section 216 turned out to be the winner.

So, okay, I didn’t win. I’m not going to bobble my head, except maybe in a bar. But it turned out to be a fun night anyway!