Game Review: Houston 3 @ Chicago (NL) 2
All photos by Randy Stern
The bucket list has been lightened by one item today. This one took ten years to complete.
My first actual trip to Chicago came in February of 2001 as a visitor from Madison, Wisconsin. One of the first things I wanted to see was Wrigley Field. I’ve seen it on television – dating back to the Dodgers’ road broadcasts in the 1970s – and I always wanted to see in person. Luckily, it was right by Boystown – a convenient stop for a wandering gay man wanting the feel of a big city enclave where everything happens all in one space.
Every time I come to Chicago, I would look at Wrigley and say “someday.” U.S. Cellular and United Center were already achieved by 2009…but, not Wrigley.
I had a few mixed messages about Wrigley – some from my fellow MLBloggers. In all, the overarching message is to simply go and experience it. Thanks to my friends who were pretty busy that day – Wrigley was the only thing on my agenda on a wet Sunday.
Obviously, the Cubs have been out of the pennant race for a while – a division dominated by the Milwaukee Brewers. They faced the someday-to-be-former division rival, the Houston Astros – that is if everyone involved in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations is smart enough to say “no” to the Commissioner’s request to move the ‘Stros to the American League.
The wet morning yielded to a decent start with the tarp coming off for an on-time first pitch. Ryan Dempster was not at his finest. It was the opposite. His first batter, Jason Bourgeois, eventually scored the first run. The Astros took command in the first, 3-0, before Starlin Castro led off the bottom of the first with his own answer to Bourgeois. The sacrifice fly by Bryan LaHair was deep enough for Starlin to trot home. Trot? You’re supposed to run, fool!
The game remained 3-1 in favor of the visitors until the bottom of the eighth. The rain had picked up by this time and the Astros left Brett Myers to his own devices. He simply ran out of gas. Darwin Barney came in for the ninth spot to help himself to get on base – well to third thanks to a fielding error by Brian Bogusevic. That opened the door for Aramis Ramirez. With Barney on third and Starlin on first, Aramis sent a ball far enough for Darwin to score. Now the Cubs are within a run away from tying.
Then, all hell broke loose. Starlin is on first with an out on the board when my old hero Carlos Pena heads to the plate. On the seventh pitch by Myers, Pena smacks one deep. It appeared that the ball hit the top of the basket on one angle, signifying a home run. However, the ground rule states that if the ball hits the basket and falls back into the field of play, it is not a home run. The umpires called it a home run, however Houston disputed the call and the red flag went out on the field…
Oh, wait, wrong sport.
Try this…the umpires exercise the review rule for controversial home runs. Well…after further review, the home run was overturned. Pena was given a double instead of a round-tripper and Starlin was awarded third.
Mike Quade was justifiably upset. Upset enough to head to the showers early.
The rain was simply too much for play to resume after Marlon Byrd’s fly out to end the eighth.
When play resumed, Ramon Ortiz bore down on the Astros. That opened for some glimmer of hope. But, I was for naught. No “W” flag flew at the end of today’s game over Wrigley.
The game and the weather is not the story here. It’s about finally accomplishing the Wrigley experience. Sure, I heard stories of nasty smelling bathrooms, rude fans and the ballpark’s overall condition. I found something completely different – history backed by friendly, helpful staff and legroom that rivals First Class on a mainline air carrier. I sat in the 200s, part of the lower bowl, and found that the steps to be a cit challenging, but was greeted to a comfortable seat for the game.
Of course, no game at Wrigley would be complete without a rousing round of “Take Me Out to The Ballgame.” The tradition Harry Caray left behind continues. This time, it was Pat Hughes and Keith Moreland of the Cubs’ radio broadcasting team that led the singing. I made sure to at least stay through that part of the Wrigley experience.
As soon as I arrived back to the Wood Dale Metra station to collect my vehicle that General Motors lent me for the week (for Victory & Reseda purposes, mind you), I knew that I accomplished something that would elude me for years if I hadn’t done so today. Wrigley had always been part of plan. Now, with a couple of weeks left in the lifespan of this blog, the Friendly Confines is now off the list.
Thank you, Chicago. You finally gave me a reason to justify my love for the game itself.
The First Golden Ticket of 2011
Image courtesy of Major League Baseball
Well…they won.
The Detroit Tigers won the American League Central Division last night against the Oakland A’s by doing what they do best – win. At the Oakland Coliseum (I mean, who cares what they call the place they hoped to have left by now for a bigger traffic disaster down Interstate 880), the Tigers knew they could do it on the West Coast without really trying. The rest of the division simply gave up. The Royals are looking to build with their new young nucleus – though a few seasons away. The Cleveland Indians gave it a good fight, but Manny Acta’s cub simply ran out of steam. The White Sox are a mess. Great talent, but one wonders what’s been happening that Ozzie Guillen couldn’t tweet about. The Twins – Mauer’s got pneumonia. ‘Nuff said.
What went right for the Tigers? Justin Verlander. Actually, there’s more than that. Verlander was boosted by the resurgent Doug Fister and Mark Scherzer. In fact, Fister had a good outing to enable the clincher to happen. That’s a change of plans since languishing in Seattle earlier this year.
You can also point to the emergence of Jose Valverde as one of the top closers of the year in the AL. If you slide away Mariano Rivera’s 600th save milestone, there had been few closers who actually got the job done. Valverde was one of them.
Then, there was everyone else. Miguel Cabrera was sober long enough to get his team across the line and stay out of trouble. Victor Martinez is ageless and enjoying his best season ever – not as a Cleveland Indian. Alex Avila is this decade’s Joe Mauer – for now. He may not have the sick boy’s numbers, but he has the defense to match.
As for the postseason, we’ll see how far they’ll go. One hopes for a World Series. One hopes to fulfill Jim Leyland’s career once and for all. Perhaps my cohorts in the automotive world will celebrate in November when their beloved ball club brings home the trophy.
Heck, congrats to the Tigers. You got this now. Enjoy it.
Heirloom Memories: My Favorite Season
All photos by Randy Stern
What was my favorite season of baseball?
That’s a tough answer. It may take some thinking to get around to an answer…
I could go back to 1975, though I do not recall every moment of it. One instance did put up an argument for the entire year – Carlton Fisk’s home run in Game Six of the World Series. Other than that…that was it.
Perhaps 1979 would be a better answer. The “We Are Family” Pittsburgh Pirates was a team that caught my attention all season long. Add the “Yes We Can” California Angels and it was certainly a year to remember in terms of how baseball could be shaken up from all angles.
There’s probably a few more years to throw out there: 1987 for the first of the division title “Humm-Babe” San Francisco Giants. Maybe 1989 when it was great to live in the Bay Area to have both teams in the World Series – until Loma Prieta decided to change things forever. I could throw in 1991 with both League Champions coming from worst to first – with the Minnesota Twins winning in the end.
Since I’m recalling time era of The Heirloom – 2009 was a natural choice.
It was the year where I stretched my baseball legs more by visiting more ballparks than I usually do in a single season. I returned to Miller Park in Milwaukee after a six-year absence. Then, I made my way to new places, such as U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Yankee Stadium in The Bronx and Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
It wasn’t about where I went, as it was the experiences I had at these places. Though I was put off by some of the insecurity on the South Side, the ballgame was fine. Being in Milwaukee with an exciting ball club was something I never had to experience earlier in the decade when living in the same state. Even the down home feeling of ballplayers from afar making their home in Central Minnesota was an experience I’ve finally got to witness.
Trumping all of these road experiences would be enjoying an amazing day inside the New Cathedral. Having never been there and heard the horror stories of fans getting hassled inside and out of the old building. Once inside, I noticed a paradigm shift in the way the Yankees fused the old with the new. The new being the attention to customer service by the Yankees staff. Not to mention being around fans that would talk to you instead of threatening you. This new Yankee world was indeed strange, but welcoming at the same time.
But that was not the biggest highlight of 2009.
For the Twins’ fan, that year was a special one. On August 20, I told my fellow local fans to count the Twins out. I was wrong. They came back as they have done a few times over the past ten years.
As soon as everyone thought the Metrodome would become football-only by the end of the regular season, fate gave it an extension. I was there for Game 163 – perhaps the greatest game I ever witnessed in person. There was so much going on since the final day of the regular season that it was beyond amazing. The crescendo of Game 163 was more than any sporting ever experienced in person.
To recall the entire five-plus hours of extra innings baseball would be a waste of bandwidth. However, the only way to describe the resonance of this particular game was “life changing.”
There is another highlight from 2009 I want to add to all of this. However, I’ll save that for another posting…
Triple-A Collision Courses
The minor league postseason can be a series of collision courses looking for an endgame. Yet, in the end, the trophies are passed around, the champagne overflows and everyone’s pretty happy with the result…sometimes.
Here’s a quick scoot around the farm system to peek into which collision courses are happening now. I’ll just concentrate on the bigger of the shows – Triple-A.
Let’s break this down: Ryno’s new team is taking on the reigning Triple-A National Champions in the International League, while the future of the Kansas City Royals face off against a perennial PCL finalist.
You see, that wasn’t too complicated!
The International League was exactly what Ryne Sandberg wanted after all. He wanted to be the best minor league manager so he could leverage a skippership in the bigs. After the Chicago Cubs failed to fulfill his want to replace Lou Piniella, he left their Triple-A club in Des Moines, IA for the Lehigh Valley with a shot back at his original organization – the Philadelphia Phillies.
Obviously, it will take something drastic for Ruben Amaro, Jr. to replace Charlie Manuel as the manager of the Phils. In the meantime, Ryno has led his improbable Iron Pigs to the IL final against a formidable foe – the Columbus Clippers. What chance do the Pigs have against the Clips? Honestly, these Clips are a continuation of the success the Cleveland Indians had with their farm system. The talent just keeps on coming.
Is this Ryno’s big year as a manager? No. The Clips move on.
In the Pacific Coast League, the Sacramento River Cats either are safe harbors for the future of the Oakland A’s, or they have a perpetual talent pool that refuses to go to the big club. Whereas, the Omaha Storm Chasers – rebranded and loaded with another deep talent pool courtesy of the Royals organization – made this year their own. They lost their biggest stars to the big club, but they reloaded quickly to dominate the American Conference.
The biggest question is will this be the year the Storm Chasers will take the PCL crown. I believe so. Yet, the River Cats always give whomever they face in the finals a run for their money. No, I’’l stick with my conviction that not only will the Storm Chasers take the PCL crown – they better one bloody game at TD Ameritrade Park to a packed crowd! C’mon Omaha, love this team for once!
That would mean Columbus could defend their Triple-A National Championship at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City against Omaha. That’s even tougher. I’ll say – Omaha pulls the upset on the Clips. Um, no…the Clips regain their title! Uh…uh…this is hard!
No matter what, this helps in avoiding obvious stress in the bigs…
One Season…Complete
Photo by Randy Stern
It’s all over for the St. Paul Saints.
As expected, the American Association Championship Series went the limit. Game five was tonight at QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie, TX, as both the Saints and the Air Hogs took two apiece at their home parks. Tonight was anyone’s game – even the road Saints had a lineup that could do the trick.
I listened to the game in the newest Victory & Reseda review subject, hoping for a road win. They came close in the seventh as the Saints came within one run. I was hopeful, but knew that time was running out.
Then, the Air Hogs blew the whole thing out of the water. In the end, the score was 8-5 Air Hogs. The bubbly began popping immediately…
For the third time since the re-formation of the league, the Saints lost a Championship series. Ironically, they were to teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (the first two were to the Fort Worth Cats).
But, one cannot lament too hard on this loss. I would prefer to honor the accomplishments this team made for our community. Again, the Saints went as far as they could. The Twin Cities sports community should take notice and congratulate them accordingly. We should celebrate the pride they gave those of us who are baseball purists and believe in a form of independence that makes leagues, such as the American Association, worth following.
The Saints helped make this season in the The Heirloom worthwhile. Come home safe and happy, Saints! You’re still winners in my book!
Ten Years Ago…
Photo by Randy Stern
…it affected me.
The attacks on both the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington sent a shockwave of emotions through me.
A city I once called home was a target by a team of terrorists using transcontinental airliners as weapons. The large five-sided building that one airliner hit was where I took my marching orders as a contractor holding several millions of dollars for one of their agencies.
Yet, the World Trade Center had more resonance amongst Americans as two airliners took out the grandest symbol of a great city.
One airliner never made it. There was heroism on board that United Airlines flight. One hero was a popular gay man who became a greater symbol of a sport fancied by the most masculine of his kind. It never hit its target, but it did take lives in the process.
But, I’m being trivial here. Perhaps, I’m being a bit trite. But, I’ll be honest; I feared that more would come from these attacks a decade ago.
Patriotism was fine. It was needed to help a country out of grief. Yet, as we saw in many wars, patriotism could be a wildfire where citizens would be targeted for the crimes committed against the nation.
Perhaps we needed to send troops, ships and fighter wings to go after the elements that attacked our soil. There are many arguments that I could go into, but I wondered why we didn’t just concentrate on getting the bad guys instead of kicking a nearby oligarch on the side for a false reason.
On September 11, 2001, we were already a divided nation. The election of 2000 was too close to call, but the courts deemed George W. Bush as the 43rd President of the United States of America. Would the attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon bring the nation together? Bush’s administration hoped so.
We simply had no choice but to go along and fly our flags high. We had to be on the side of America. If we weren’t, we’re no better than an Al Qaeda operative.
Baseball could have been suspended for the time being. We could’ve had a closure of the game in light of the attacks on our soil. That was not the case. Just like World War II, the game went on. In New York City, all emotions were on high with every Yankees and Mets game. We even anticipated the crowning of the Yanks as World Champions. The Arizona Diamondbacks had a different plan altogether. Were we better off with this result?
We made it through OK. Some ideals of this nation never changed. Others emerged out of this blip in our history. Are we as strong as ever? I can’t answer that. I have my opinions. Some may have been revealed in this piece.
If this is about baseball, the game survives despite our Commissioner screwing it up even more along the way. If this is about America – wake me up when I can feel safe, secure and equal again.
The Mind’s Playing Tricks on Me
For some sardonic reason, I am glad to put this blog to bed for good.
Think about it: Next year, Major League Baseball will be going through the craziest period in its long history. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement will be negotiated between the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Commissioner’s Office and the owners. The search for Bud Selig’s replacement will become front-page speculation.
Still, some things will not change. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will continue as FOX’s primary baseball broadcast team. The fitness of Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer will continue to be unstable and a constant topic of debate in the Upper Midwest. Jim Leyland will continue to manage the Detroit Tigers. And, New Era Caps will continue to make a killing off of hipster douchebags and other fashionable dorks who have nothing to do with the game.
Then, there’s this spot of news: A pending transaction to buy the team Houston businessman Jim Crane wants to buy Drayton McLane’s ball club for the sum of $680 Million.
There is a little catch to the deal. Commissioner Selig asked Crane to consider shifting the Astros to the American League, if the CBA is approved. One of the bargaining chips on the table for the upcoming CBA is a reformatting of the leagues and the postseason.
Are you kidding me?!?
Wasn’t back in 1961 when the National League gave the green light for expansion? Didn’t the National League award one of the franchises to Judge Roy Hofheinz with the caveat of building an indoor stadium in due time? Has it ever occurred to anyone since 1962 that Houston was meant to be a NL city? Plus, was it because Houston was a NL city that the second coming of the Washington Senators relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth Area as an AL franchise?
Apparently, Bud Selig hates history. He also hates the concept of legacy. He would probably hate his own legacy when he leaves his comfortable commute between Milwaukee and New York at the end of next season.
How do I sum up this little tidbit of news? Scarface said it best on the Geto Boys’ big hit: “I feel like I’m the one that’s doing dope.” When I read crap like this, I want to slap somebody. This is the type of stuff that repels me from a Major League Baseball stadium into a Ferrari 458 Italia! Screw the fact that the Italian supercar bursts into flames when driven hard around the track – I’d rather experience that than listen to another idiotic idea to screw with the bigs further than they were in the 1990s.
Would it be nice if there was sense being made in the world…or, at least in Major League Baseball?
The Houston Astros logo courtesy of Major League Baseball
Welcome Back, Strasburg!
Before I got to Midway Stadium for the deciding Game Five of the American Association Division Series, I had MLB AtBat 11 in my ears with Charlie Steiner and Rick Monday calling the Dodgers-Nationals game on Labor Day. Eventually, the Nats ruined Kuroda’s day by the Anacostia River.
Yet, the former Dodger and Cub outfielder announced something even more buzzowrthy: Stephen Strasburg’s major league return from Tommy John Surgery.
That was tonight. The former top draft choice faced Ted Lilly on a humid Tuesday night south of the Capitol. He did well…five shutout innings worth. His numbers were fine through five frames: 56 pitches with 40 strikes called. He struck out four, but had a hand on retiring ten in a row after a Dee Gordon hit early in the game.
Strasburg threw a 99 MPH fastball – something that everyone wondered if he could do after the surgery. Heck, he even helped himself out on offense with a bunt inducing an error to score Wilson Ramos. Strasburg left the mound with the Nats in the lead 3-0.
Then, his own team let him down.
Or, rather, the Dodgers took advantage of not having Strasburg on the mound anymore. They rallied for seven runs to take the win.
The hype’s over for now. Strasburg is back in a major league uniform. It may be simply too late for the Nats to run to the postseason, but with the phenom back – it’s spoiler time!
TWO PERSONAL NOTES: The St. Paul Saints will begin the American Association Championship Series on Wednesday at Midway Stadium against Grand Prairie. Tickets start at $5.00 and up. There is a possibility I will not make the series, but that’s no excuse for you not to do so, either. If you want to see a championship in the Twin Cities – just go!
Also, I will be in Chicago as early as this coming Monday. I have some automotive-related business there, so it may be a quick trip. If any of the Chicago-based MLBloggers want to say “whaddup,” let me know!
Photo of Stephen Strasburg courtesy of Major League Baseball
Game Review: St. Paul 5 vs. Winnipeg 4
All Photos by Randy Stern
One cannot compare games of such significance.
For example, this game went back-and-forth. There were moments when we thought it was all over, a twist came into play. It was that much of a nail biter.
The first inning alone was astonishing. After the visiting Goldeyes scored a run in the top half of the inning, the Saints answered with three – two of them were home runs. Ryan Patterson’s solo shot off of Winnipeg’s Ace Walker was a marvel to watch. Equally spectacular was Ronnie Bourquin’s two-run homer bringing in Ole Sheldon in the same frame.
Where the game got frustrating was in the top of the ninth. Just when the Saints could’ve ended it with an out when Tyler Walker dealt a two-out, 2-2 pitch to the Goldeyes’ Jon Weber, sending the antsy Price Kendall home from third.
Was it over? I thought it would be tough to avoid the extra frames. Somehow, I was proven wrong…
Plain and simple, the sequence of events that began with Richard Mercado on the ground after what could’ve been a hit-by-pitch. It wasn’t. Mercado answered with a short hit that was misfielded by catcher Luis Alen. Eventually, Mercado ended up at third when Jake Krause came to bat. On a two-out, 0-2 pitch, Krause sent one to third where the Goldeyes’ Louis Ott fielded it. His throw went to first…in the dirt and unrecoverable. Mercado crossed home sending the crowd of 1,200-plus and the Saints organization in a frenzy.
This could be considered the Saint Paul Saints’ own “Game 163″ – in reference to the 2009 extra game that decided the American League Central champion between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers. However, the comparisons stop for two reasons. This game could have went into extra frames as some of the Saints games ended up over the course of the season. It did not. Secondly, to compare the Twins’ Game 163 is considered a form of blasphemy on several fronts.
In the end, one important thing stands alone: The Saints advance to the American Association Championship Series. They open up the series at Midway Stadium on Wednesday, September 7 with the Grand Prairie Air Hogs.
Since coming to the American Association from the Northern League, the Saints been in two previous Championship Series – losing twice to the Fort Worth Cats. Is there something different about these Saints that could get them to the top of the league for the first time? It’s possible.
It would be great of the Saints could bring home a championship for this community. They could possibly be joined by the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, if they are successful getting through their playoffs. It’s certainly an offset for the disappointments the Twin Cities had with the Twins, the NFL’s Vikings, the NHL’s Wild and the NBA’s Timberwolves. I could throw in the NASL’s NSC Minnesota Stars, but a couple of friends would admonish me for doing so…
In all, my thanks goes out to the great folks at the Saints and The Goldklang Group for their support of The Heirloom and their help in a couple of pieces this season. Specifically, my gratitude goes to Manager George Tsamis, General Manager Derek Sharrer, Community Partnerships VP Annie Huidekoper, Director of Broadcast and Media Relations Sean Aronson, Group Sales Representative Adam Lowler and everyone else at Midway Stadium in Saint Paul.
I wish the Saints my best in bringing home its first American Association Championship.
On a personal note: If The Heiroom needed a last hurrah – this game provided that moment perfectly.
Win…or Move Out of Those Apartments!
Photo by Randy Stern
Today, at 1:05PM, the Saint Paul Saints will attempt to convert their Wild Card berth in the American Association Divisional Series towards a berth in the league finals. After two games in Winnipeg and another two at Midway Stadium, the tie between the Saints and Winnipeg Goldeyes forced this afternoon’s game at Midway Stadium…just a few blocks from the final day of the Minnesota State Fair!
The series has been evenly matched between exceptional performances, astounding comebacks and a few miscues. I’d expected nothing less from these rivals. Both teams were built similarly, but I’d give the advantage to the Saints for one reason – gumption. This team has been known to pull miracles out of dire situations all season long. George Tsamis is known for being the kind of manager who can change the game in a quick turn.
However, Winnipeg has a solid ball club. I won’t take anything away from them. Today will be tough on all counts.
Strangely enough, I thought that deciding game was supposed to be at the home of the team with the better record – Shaw Park in Winnipeg. I’m not sure how the Saints landed the decider…as Wild Cards. Was it that expensive to deal with Customs, twice in one week?
Today’s winner hosts the Grand Prairie Air Hogs on Wednesday. The loser clears out their lockers and move out of their team/league-paid housing for the winter.
Randy Stern
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