Dunedin 6 at Fort Myers 7
Record 3 - 5
W: D. Shinskie (1-0, 0.00); L: E. Estanga (0-1, 11.57)
HR: DUN: J. Butler (1), B. Jeroloman (1). FTM: E. Lis (1).
E: Lis (1, fielding), Portes (1, fielding).
Former Miracle catcher Kyle Phillips is now playing for the Blue Jays, he was their first baseman last night.
I wasn't all that impressed by Alex Smit. He got batted around a bit.
Alex Smit (Part 1)
Alex Smit (Part 2)
I need to convince Loek and Mushy to sit with me for his next outting and give me color commentary to go along with the video. It was way too crowded to try that last night.
I was even less impressed with Kyle Aselton in relief and was mildly ambivelant towards our fielding except for Erik Lis' error, which I screamed about. Toby Gardenhire didn't play and strangely enough, I didn't notice.
The fifth inning was pretty good.
4-Run 5th Inning (Part 2)
4-Run 5th Inning (Part 3)
(Part 1 is 103MB, so it needs to be edited and it not yet online.)
Whit Robbins looks funny from behind when he's batting. Part of the Hibbing branch of Eli Tintor fan club was at the game. He got a beauty hit for them and made several very nice catches in the field. I loved the T-Shirts!
Drew Thompson is having back problems. He said he's about a month away from playing, but I think he's being optimistic and is probably about 6 weeks out since he said he's not supposed to do anything for another 3 weeks.
Paul Kelly is having some knee issues and is not due back for a while. Jose Leger had surgery and is done for the season.
Boxscore
Log
Wrap
Miracle
News Press
Breeze
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Early season call ups may effect Miracle
Former Miracle oufielder Josh Rabe, second baseman Alexi Casilla, and left-hander pitcher Glen Perkins have all received early promotions to the Minnesota Twins.
While it's great to see former favorites progressing in the organization, it may not be good news for the Miracle. The Rochester Red Wings received catcher Chris Heintz from the Twins, but are still short two players and will be looking to the New Britain Rock Cats for help. That may well open an window for a couple of current Miracle players to earn trips to Connecticut.
And replacements might not be readily forthcoming.
Drew Thompson, Paul Kelly and Jose Leger are on the DL and nominally on the Beloit roster, but are expected to be re-assigned once they heal up. I have no word on the extent of their injuries so when they might be available to replace anyone lost to call ups is questionable. All three are currently attached to the Twins Minor League Complex at the Lee County Sportsplex.
Meanwhile, Rochester cancelled their game today against the Norfolk Tides due to poor field conditions following heavy rains in New York.
Beloit continues to lose games to snow, rain and poor field conditions, sitting out yesterday's game due to snow and then cancelling today's games, which would have been a double header. The team will make up the games in May and June.
The Miracle collected their first wins on the road against Lakeland yesterday in a double header. Juan Portes had two hits in the first game while Eddie Ovalle smacked one over the wall for two RBI's handing the Miracle a 5-4 win over the now Flying Tigers at Joker Marchent Stadium. Only Jeff Christy and Toby Gardenhire failed to record hits in the game, both going 0-for-3 at the plate.
In the second game, Frank Mata picked up the win in relief of Kyle Waldrop, while Erik Lis recorded two hits and batted in three to provide an offensive lift for the team. Steve Tolleson and Dwyane White were both 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs each while Portes continued to be hot, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs for the Miracle, who won the game 6-4.
The two teams play again tonight at 7:05 to finish off the three game series.
New Britain went 2-1 in a three game series against the Portland Sea Dogs. Former Miracle Brock Peterson, Luke Hughes and Kyle Geiger each had two runs batted in on Monday's game, which the Rock Cats won 8-6. Tim Lehay picked up the save in that one.
The hitting was more restrained in Tuesday's game, with Korey Feiner and Garrett Guzman getting the RBI's in a 3-1 victory. Jose Mijares had the save, while Korey Feiner and Brandon Roberts had two hits a piece in the game.
Last night was a different matter with the Red Sox AA affiliate roughing up Danny Powers for 4 runs in one inning. Trevor Plouffe and David Winfree each had two hits while Garrett Guzman batted in two runs, but the Rock Cats still fell 8-5 to Portland.
The Rock Cats open their 2007 season at home tonight against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Extended Spring Training continues at the Lee County Sportsplex. The Twins are at home against Pittsburgh today and Baltimore tomorrow and then take on the Red Sox in Fort Myers on Saturday. Game times are 12:30 pm for all contests.
Don't forget to check out www.miraclefans.com. We've added video clips of the game for the 2007 season including two of Oswaldo Sosa pitching for the home opener.
While it's great to see former favorites progressing in the organization, it may not be good news for the Miracle. The Rochester Red Wings received catcher Chris Heintz from the Twins, but are still short two players and will be looking to the New Britain Rock Cats for help. That may well open an window for a couple of current Miracle players to earn trips to Connecticut.
And replacements might not be readily forthcoming.
Drew Thompson, Paul Kelly and Jose Leger are on the DL and nominally on the Beloit roster, but are expected to be re-assigned once they heal up. I have no word on the extent of their injuries so when they might be available to replace anyone lost to call ups is questionable. All three are currently attached to the Twins Minor League Complex at the Lee County Sportsplex.
Meanwhile, Rochester cancelled their game today against the Norfolk Tides due to poor field conditions following heavy rains in New York.
Beloit continues to lose games to snow, rain and poor field conditions, sitting out yesterday's game due to snow and then cancelling today's games, which would have been a double header. The team will make up the games in May and June.
The Miracle collected their first wins on the road against Lakeland yesterday in a double header. Juan Portes had two hits in the first game while Eddie Ovalle smacked one over the wall for two RBI's handing the Miracle a 5-4 win over the now Flying Tigers at Joker Marchent Stadium. Only Jeff Christy and Toby Gardenhire failed to record hits in the game, both going 0-for-3 at the plate.
In the second game, Frank Mata picked up the win in relief of Kyle Waldrop, while Erik Lis recorded two hits and batted in three to provide an offensive lift for the team. Steve Tolleson and Dwyane White were both 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs each while Portes continued to be hot, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs for the Miracle, who won the game 6-4.
The two teams play again tonight at 7:05 to finish off the three game series.
New Britain went 2-1 in a three game series against the Portland Sea Dogs. Former Miracle Brock Peterson, Luke Hughes and Kyle Geiger each had two runs batted in on Monday's game, which the Rock Cats won 8-6. Tim Lehay picked up the save in that one.
The hitting was more restrained in Tuesday's game, with Korey Feiner and Garrett Guzman getting the RBI's in a 3-1 victory. Jose Mijares had the save, while Korey Feiner and Brandon Roberts had two hits a piece in the game.
Last night was a different matter with the Red Sox AA affiliate roughing up Danny Powers for 4 runs in one inning. Trevor Plouffe and David Winfree each had two hits while Garrett Guzman batted in two runs, but the Rock Cats still fell 8-5 to Portland.
The Rock Cats open their 2007 season at home tonight against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Extended Spring Training continues at the Lee County Sportsplex. The Twins are at home against Pittsburgh today and Baltimore tomorrow and then take on the Red Sox in Fort Myers on Saturday. Game times are 12:30 pm for all contests.
Don't forget to check out www.miraclefans.com. We've added video clips of the game for the 2007 season including two of Oswaldo Sosa pitching for the home opener.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Scoreboard for April 7, 2007
And on the third day, there was baseball....
Ottawa 11 at Rochester 12
Record 1-0
W: B. Korecky (1-0, 40.50); L: K. Davis (0-1, 27.00)
HR: None.
E: Garza (1, throw), Moses 2 (2, fielding, fielding), Morales, J (1, pickoff).
(I see MosEs is off to a fine start...)
From www.redwingsbaseball.com: Tommy Watkins drew a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, and the Rochester Red Wings beat the Ottawa Lynx 12-11 Saturday afternoon at Frontier Field in the season opener for both clubs. Jeremy Cummings pitched three shutout innings of relief for the Wings, who pounded out 11 hits - including key two-RBI hits by Garrett Jones and Matthew LeCroy. Both clubs struggled with the wintry weather conditions, committing four errors each.
After a postponement due to snow and cold on Friday, the teams lined up for introductions under partly sunny skies and 32 degree temperatures. The contest matched up Matt Garza, USA Today's 2006 Minor League Player of the Year, and last season's International League ERA leader Brian Mazone. Garza allowed a pair of first inning baserunners, but used a pair of strikeouts to escape trouble. In the Ottawa second, Garza loaded the bases with none out. Shortstop Watkins made a nice running play to snag a foul pop-up from Jason Jaramillo for the first out, but Chris Roberson's sacrifice fly brought in the game's first run for a 1-0 Lynx lead.
More trouble for Garza in the third, as his pitch count rose after issuing a pair of walks to open the frame. An error by Matt Moses set the stage for two more Lynx runs, when catcher Jose Morales tried to pick Jim Rushford off first with the bases loaded. Morales' throw went into right field, and both scored to make it 3-0 Ottawa.
Watkins led off the bottom of the Red Wings third, scorching a 1-0 Mazone pitch to left for Rochester's first base hit of the season. Jones drilled a two-out 1-2 pitch to center field for a two-run single, bringing the Wings back to within a run at 3-2. LeCroy followed Jones with another two-run single, and the Wings grabbed the lead 4-3.
Garza struck out Roberson to start the fourth, then gave way to Cummings. Garza's Opening Day line: 3 1/3 innings, two hits, three unearned runs and five walks to go with three strikeouts.
Fabio Castro relieved Mazone to start the Red Wings fifth, and quickly ran into a jam. After Alexi Casilla reached on an error, Jones punched a single to right and Casilla hustled around to third base. LeCroy plated Casilla with a run-scoring sacrifice fly for the fifth Red Wing run. In the fifth, the Wings knocked around reliever Yoel Hernandez for four hits and four more runs - highlighted by Josh Rabe's two-run opposite field single.
Cummings tossed three scoreless innings against his former teammates, allowing a pair of hits and fanning three. Mike Venafro pitched two innings and was charged with five runs; Bobby Korecky came on in the ninth inning with one out, two on, and two runs in. Korecky (1-0) allowed an RBI single to Lou Collier that brought the Lynx to within two at 9-7. Veteran Pedro Swann followed with a pinch-hit, first pitch double over the head of Trent Oletjen in center field that tied the score at 9-9. When Jason Jaramillo followed with a triple to left, the Lynx re-took the lead and then made it 11-9 on a run-scoring sacrifice fly.
Rabe struck out but reached first on a wild pitch to start the ninth. Jones lofted an RBI double to left-center that plated Rabe and made it 11-10 Ottawa; Kane Davis came out of the Ottawa bullpen to face LeCroy with the tying run on second. Davis skipped a wild pitch to the backstop to move Jones to third, then walked LeCroy. Glenn Williams tied the game at 11-11 when his sacrifice fly to left scored Jones. Davis walked Moses and Morales to load the bases with one out. Manager John Russell pulled Davis (0-1) and brought in Justin Miller to face Watkins, who worked Miller for the walk and run batted in, capping a wild back and forth contest.
Boxscore
Log
Wrap
Democrat
Notebook
Democrat 2
R News
New Britain 6 at New Hampshire 7
Record: 0-1
W: M. MacDonald (1-0, 5.40); L: A. Swarzak (0-1, 10.12); SV: L. Gronkiewicz (1)
HR: NBR: G. Guzman (1). NHM: C. Cannon (1), E. Kratz (1), W. Lydon (1).
E: Peterson (1, fielding).
Korey Feiner went 3-for-4. I don't believe Korey Feiner has EVER gone 3-for-4 in his career before.
Boxscore
Log
Wrap
Courant
Herald
Manchaster Union Leader
Photo Gallery
Fort Myers 6 at Sarasota 7
Record 0 - 3
W: T. Wood (1-0, 7.20); L: J. Hill (0-1, 10.12); SV: R. Ramirez (1)
HR: SAR: M. Griffin (1).
E: Tintor (1, fielding), Betsill (1, throw).
Outfield assists: Portes (DeJesus at home), Tintor (Bruce at 2nd base).
Boxscore
Log
Wrap
Miracle
Sarasota Herald Tribune
Cedar Rapids 1 at Beloit 2 (Seven Innings)
Record 1-0
W: D. Leatherman (1-0, 0.00); L: W. Madrigal (0-1, 13.50)
HR: CED: H. Conger (1).
(Dan Leatherman is listed in the Miracle program. Unfortunately, like more than half of the other guys, they have someone else's picture next to his stats.
He would also whine that the stats are wrong because he SWEARS he pitched an additional 3 innings in GCL which aren't showing up.)
This was supposed to be a double header, the second game was postponed due to cold weather.
Boxscore
Log
Snappers
Ottawa 11 at Rochester 12
Record 1-0
W: B. Korecky (1-0, 40.50); L: K. Davis (0-1, 27.00)
HR: None.
E: Garza (1, throw), Moses 2 (2, fielding, fielding), Morales, J (1, pickoff).
(I see MosEs is off to a fine start...)
From www.redwingsbaseball.com: Tommy Watkins drew a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, and the Rochester Red Wings beat the Ottawa Lynx 12-11 Saturday afternoon at Frontier Field in the season opener for both clubs. Jeremy Cummings pitched three shutout innings of relief for the Wings, who pounded out 11 hits - including key two-RBI hits by Garrett Jones and Matthew LeCroy. Both clubs struggled with the wintry weather conditions, committing four errors each.
After a postponement due to snow and cold on Friday, the teams lined up for introductions under partly sunny skies and 32 degree temperatures. The contest matched up Matt Garza, USA Today's 2006 Minor League Player of the Year, and last season's International League ERA leader Brian Mazone. Garza allowed a pair of first inning baserunners, but used a pair of strikeouts to escape trouble. In the Ottawa second, Garza loaded the bases with none out. Shortstop Watkins made a nice running play to snag a foul pop-up from Jason Jaramillo for the first out, but Chris Roberson's sacrifice fly brought in the game's first run for a 1-0 Lynx lead.
More trouble for Garza in the third, as his pitch count rose after issuing a pair of walks to open the frame. An error by Matt Moses set the stage for two more Lynx runs, when catcher Jose Morales tried to pick Jim Rushford off first with the bases loaded. Morales' throw went into right field, and both scored to make it 3-0 Ottawa.
Watkins led off the bottom of the Red Wings third, scorching a 1-0 Mazone pitch to left for Rochester's first base hit of the season. Jones drilled a two-out 1-2 pitch to center field for a two-run single, bringing the Wings back to within a run at 3-2. LeCroy followed Jones with another two-run single, and the Wings grabbed the lead 4-3.
Garza struck out Roberson to start the fourth, then gave way to Cummings. Garza's Opening Day line: 3 1/3 innings, two hits, three unearned runs and five walks to go with three strikeouts.
Fabio Castro relieved Mazone to start the Red Wings fifth, and quickly ran into a jam. After Alexi Casilla reached on an error, Jones punched a single to right and Casilla hustled around to third base. LeCroy plated Casilla with a run-scoring sacrifice fly for the fifth Red Wing run. In the fifth, the Wings knocked around reliever Yoel Hernandez for four hits and four more runs - highlighted by Josh Rabe's two-run opposite field single.
Cummings tossed three scoreless innings against his former teammates, allowing a pair of hits and fanning three. Mike Venafro pitched two innings and was charged with five runs; Bobby Korecky came on in the ninth inning with one out, two on, and two runs in. Korecky (1-0) allowed an RBI single to Lou Collier that brought the Lynx to within two at 9-7. Veteran Pedro Swann followed with a pinch-hit, first pitch double over the head of Trent Oletjen in center field that tied the score at 9-9. When Jason Jaramillo followed with a triple to left, the Lynx re-took the lead and then made it 11-9 on a run-scoring sacrifice fly.
Rabe struck out but reached first on a wild pitch to start the ninth. Jones lofted an RBI double to left-center that plated Rabe and made it 11-10 Ottawa; Kane Davis came out of the Ottawa bullpen to face LeCroy with the tying run on second. Davis skipped a wild pitch to the backstop to move Jones to third, then walked LeCroy. Glenn Williams tied the game at 11-11 when his sacrifice fly to left scored Jones. Davis walked Moses and Morales to load the bases with one out. Manager John Russell pulled Davis (0-1) and brought in Justin Miller to face Watkins, who worked Miller for the walk and run batted in, capping a wild back and forth contest.
Boxscore
Log
Wrap
Democrat
Notebook
Democrat 2
R News
New Britain 6 at New Hampshire 7
Record: 0-1
W: M. MacDonald (1-0, 5.40); L: A. Swarzak (0-1, 10.12); SV: L. Gronkiewicz (1)
HR: NBR: G. Guzman (1). NHM: C. Cannon (1), E. Kratz (1), W. Lydon (1).
E: Peterson (1, fielding).
Korey Feiner went 3-for-4. I don't believe Korey Feiner has EVER gone 3-for-4 in his career before.
Boxscore
Log
Wrap
Courant
Herald
Manchaster Union Leader
Photo Gallery
Fort Myers 6 at Sarasota 7
Record 0 - 3
W: T. Wood (1-0, 7.20); L: J. Hill (0-1, 10.12); SV: R. Ramirez (1)
HR: SAR: M. Griffin (1).
E: Tintor (1, fielding), Betsill (1, throw).
Outfield assists: Portes (DeJesus at home), Tintor (Bruce at 2nd base).
Boxscore
Log
Wrap
Miracle
Sarasota Herald Tribune
Cedar Rapids 1 at Beloit 2 (Seven Innings)
Record 1-0
W: D. Leatherman (1-0, 0.00); L: W. Madrigal (0-1, 13.50)
HR: CED: H. Conger (1).
(Dan Leatherman is listed in the Miracle program. Unfortunately, like more than half of the other guys, they have someone else's picture next to his stats.
He would also whine that the stats are wrong because he SWEARS he pitched an additional 3 innings in GCL which aren't showing up.)
This was supposed to be a double header, the second game was postponed due to cold weather.
Boxscore
Log
Snappers
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Spring!
"You can't wear that hat," John says. I pull my Miracle hat off my head and look at it. "What's wrong with this hat?"
"No Miracle stuff at spring training. They want you to wear Twins Cities stuff only."
"Yeah, at least until 4:00," Chuck chimes in helpfully.
I shrug. "I'm not on the Twins payroll," I point out. "I can wear any hat I want. I can even where my Everblades hat if it pleases me.
"Where is my Mike Cudyer bat?"
"They don't make them," John says.
"Yes, they do, and Skippy was going to get me one."
"Skippy left," he says helpfully.
"I know. Probably out of fear of reprecussions for not get me a Mike Cudyer bat."
Ah...the joys of start of Spring Training. There is grass on the berm. Not all of the seats are in yet. You can jump off the patio into the trash compactor there is no fence there yet. They were bolting green padding onto the walls even as the players were taking the field.
As always, it's a bit of a three ring circus and I can't be at all the rings at the same time. This bothers me.
"I need to be cloned," I tell one of my friends.
"You need a posse," he counters as he attempts to stop his six year old from braining another kid with an aluminum bat.
Players running back and forth, especially Santana who seemed to be trying to run over as many people as possible; a long term game of "Find Frankie" which was not proving difficult, just follow the autograph seekers; kids saying "Mister, can I have an autograph," even when they don't know who the "mister" in question is.
Corey turns one kid down with a "later". He seems unhappy with that. "But I said 'sir'". Another kid is on his cell phone telling everyone back home in Minnesota that "Joe Mauer flipped me a ball!"
I find Kevin Slowey. I lose Kevin Slowey. Anna finds me.
"Where's Santana?"
"That field I think," pointing to the one behind my back as I try to find Slowey again. "Just look for the path of mown down people."
"Where's Torri Hunter?"
Dear god, I can't even find my boys and she wants me to keep track of her boys too?
"Where's you son?" I counter.
"Over there, why don't you take a picture of him?"
"I already did, he's in the second base cluster shot."
"Oh..."
I found Justin Morneau in the batting cage, first thing. This saved him from having to find me. I found Justin, my season ticket rep, in the gift shop. I told him where I wanted to sit, he told me he'd see what's available and get back with me. I had to rearrange my initial idea because they've moved the netting.
I find Slowey again the bullpen.
"Kevin, I need an autograph."
"Yeah, okay, after we're done." Except he snuck out through the dugout while I was trying to change film. I really need to get a digital.
I think the autograph seekers who are taking whoever they ran into instead of trying to get the guys they wanted were having better luck. I mean given that the same four guys were chasing Frankie around the whole time...
The weather was a nice sunny 82 degrees, if was amusing talking to everyone again, and I guess I did rather enjoy tailing Slowey all over the park.
Ah well...
In any case...Pictures, pictures, pictures:
American League MVP
How many second basemen do we need on this team?
Carlos Silva
Catching prospect Jose Morales
The Real Deal, whose new spring training job appears to be driving Francisco Liriano around in the golf cart.
Batting practice with Joe Mauer
Found! Kevin Slowey
You left me home alone to go to spring training?
Duh!
Monday, February 5, 2007
Sara-Sox
(I had promised some baseball/autograph stories, so here we go...)One of the problems inherent in following the Gulf Coast League as much as I have the last two years is that it cuts down on my travel in following the Fort Myers Miracle. I do need to try to work more FSL road trips in, it's not like the stadiums are all that far away.
I see a lot of Ed Smith Stadium with the GCL boys, but it's not quite the same as seeing it during a FSL game. Attendance at both is questionable, but the people watching the GCL games are usually hiding up in the rafters, while the people for the FSL games are more or less down in the stands.
Ed Smith was built in 1989, and frankly, is not quite in keeping with the types of facilities built during that time. Originally the Chicago White Sox were using it for spring training, the Cincinnati Reds took it over in 1998, moving from Plant City. During the interum, the Boston Red Sox, who relocated to Fort Myers in 1993, took over the stadium for their High A Affiliate, apply named the Sarasota Red Sox, which operated for 11 years in the facility, with 2004 being their last year in the league.
The last two seasons, Ed Smith has hosted the FSL's Sarasota Reds, probably more in keeping with the number of spring training facilities in the state that also house the teams rookie league and High A league affiliates.
(It should be noted that the Red Sox would LOVE To move their High A affiliate into Fort Myers, but the Fort Myers Miracle affiliated with the Minnasota Twins, who beat the Red Sox into town by a year, and hold the territorial rights to the area. So the Red Sox have little recourse.)
My last FSL trip to Ed Smith was in 2004. At the time, their parking fees ($1.00) and admission prices ($5.00) were lower than the cost of a Fort Myers Miracle game, but their concessions prices more than made up for the difference. The stadium was "okay"...not really anything to write home about. City of Palms park is laid out along the same site lines, but the ammenities as CoP are better.
In any case, I'd gone over for a two game stint, April 30th and May 1st, with Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker being the starters respectively. (May 1st was the game I finally fell in love with Baker, as he pitched an absolute clinic out there.)
I'd gotten there early...with out of town games I always leave some leeway time for things like traffic and getting lost, and was able to more or less pick my own seat (not that I'd noticed it ever being a problem in that stadium) and watch the Miracle take some warm up practice. I sat next to the visitor's dugout - naturally.
A group of Cub Scouts moved into the section with me, and as they were coming in the they were all talking "We're going to cheer for the Red Sox!"
Anyway, I had a question so I got then Miracle coach Jose Marzan to come over and he stayed to sign some autographs for the kids. I'd also brought a bunch of Miracle pocket schedules which I handed out to the kids that had nothing to get signed. Sortly there after, Travis Bowyer, Brent Tamburrino, Jesus Marchan and quite a few of the other guys came over and was signing too.
Travis, of course, had to be Travis and gave me a hug when he came over, which set the kids off with "Is that your mom?" "Oh no!" Travis says "She's my girlfriend," and of course had to do the whole girlfriend skit for the delight of the stadium. I'm mentioning this because I believe it played a part in what transpired later. But that was just Travis, you know, playing the way he does.
But the kids had a great time and got just about everything they could think of to get signed, signed, no matter how inappropriate it was. We even talked one of the adults into getting his University of Miami hat signed by Hurricanes alumni Danny Matienzo.
The end result being that by the time the game started, they kids had totally forgotten about the Red Sox and were chanting "Let's go Miracle!" or at least "Let's go Miracles!" as the kids were want to do, not realizing that it's Miracle, singular, not plural.
Liriano pitched 4.2 innings, giving up three runs on nine hits, all earned and striking out six. Not quite the stellar numbers he put up for the Twins this last season, but...he was just learning.
Frankie was relieved by Travis Bowyer, who came bounding out of the bull pen and up onto the mound with much enthusiasm. He finished off the fifth inning, walking the first guy (why must he always do that?), before ending it on damage control.
It was in the next inning that "the problem" occured. This guy comes down from over the dugout and says "That guy promised my daughter a baseball and she doesn't have one yet and she's up there crying."I said "That GUY just got onto the mound and couldn't have promised your daughter anything." Knowing Travis, it wouldn't have surprised me if he'd promised a kid a baseball, but then, he'd usually give them one right away, not wait until later. I honestly don't think anyone "promised" him anything.
Besides this guy was cheering for the Red Sox. Why couldn't he go over and ask THEM for a baseball?
"Well then, maybe it was the guy that was up before him."
"Frankie speaks no english, so unless your daughter speaks spanish, I don't think he promised her anything."
"Well, she was promised a ball and she's up there crying."
"Sorry. I don't have any balls and I can't help you." I don't care if I was there supporting the team, I certainly don't have control of the team's balls.
And if you want your kid to have a baseball so bad, try spending $5 and buy her one.
Yeah, I know. What can I expect from Red Sox fans? I guess the whole Blow-Sox blow up over Dougie Mientkiewicz and his baseball didn't surprise me. Friggin' Bostonians, always gotta have a ball.
So the guy starts hanging over the railing, trying to get the attention of someone in the dugout to give him a baseball. I mean, bad enough when kids stand at the rail and beg, but this was a grown adult!
Finally an usher comes and makes him move.
Man...how rude is that? If you're such a big Sox fan, why would you want your kid to have a scuzzy baseball from the Miracle anyway?
It would have been nice if they Miracle had wooped up on the Sox for that game, but that would have to wait until the following night, as the Miracle blew a ninth inning lead with Justin Olson on the mound, to lose 6-4.
The next night, I had gotten my ticket and was waiting for the gates to open when the guy at the box office called me over again and gave me a baseball.
"What's that for?" I asked him.
"Well, you were here early last night, and you're here early tonight and you came all the way from Fort Myers to support your team. I wish some of our fans were that loyal."
I did NOT give that baseball to a kid.
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