I love Sunday afternoons because I get four games to watch. I get either the White Sox or Cubs on WGN, either the Red Sox or Yankees on TBS, and the Reds and Braves on the two Fox Sports stations I get. Today most of the games started at 2 with the Braves slated for a 4 pm start in San Diego, the Yankees in New York playing against the Rockies, the White Sox in Chicago against the Nationals, and the Reds visiting Baltimore.
I turn off the Playstation at about 2:45 and began my power watching.
2:45: Robinson Cano lets a player tag from first on a shallow fly to right field. The first and third situation dictated that Cano be mindful of the runner on third but not at total expense of the guy on first. Cano’s constant laziness, and nonchalant attitude have often been covered up by media types as the typical Dominican style of play. I’m tired of it. I know he’s talented but, quite simply doesn’t have the drive to be great. Cano needs to get it together and become the perennial MVP he should be or maybe he was still rusty after the 16 minute rain delay to start the game.
2:46: Ty Wiggington hits a homer in New York. He’s getting hot.
2:48: I get see Phil Humber pitch for the first time. I’ve had the guy on my fantasy team for awhile now but this is my first opportunity to see him. He’s got a real good curve and he uses it to strike out some Nationals player. I’d take the time to look at who but, I know nobody cares… they’re the Nationals.
2:49: I find the Reds game, and the first pitch I see is Derrek Lee’s home run off of Homer Bailey. You gotta love when Homer gives up a Homer. Its really too easy.
2:51: Two batters after Lee’s homer, Mark Reynolds hits a bomb on an atrocious swing. Swings like this should not be rewarded with a trip around the bases. I’m wondering if we should move the fences back like they were in the 1920’s when the game was first invented.
2:54: Omar Vizquel (44) gets a hit off of Livan Hernandez (36) with Ivan Rodriguez (39) catching. That’s got to be some sort of record.
2:55: Rodger Bernadina falls down trying to make a catch in center field on a move he must have learned from Adam Dunn in pregame warm ups.
2:58: Paul Konerko does a great piece of hitting to drive Vizquel in. Opposite field line drive on a pitch a few inches off the plate.
2:59: Livan Hernandez blazes an 84 mph fastball past Adam Dunn for the strikeout. Dunn is then booed off the field.
3:05: Hawk Harrelson tells us about the Brewers-Twins game in the Bottom of the First. It’s 0-0 and 12 pitches have been thrown. Thanks Hawk.
3:10: I realize the pitching matchups I get to see today. Ivan Nova vs Juan Nicasio, Homer Bailey vs Jeremy Guthrie. and Phil Humber vs Livan Hernandez. I hope Cy Young voters are watching attentively.
3:14: Nick Markakis has another 2 hit game. This gives him a 16 game hitting streak and his 4th multi hit game in the last 6.
3:19: Hawk Harrelson talks about how important local scouts are to the game then somehow makes the connection between watching Bryce Harper and Livan Hernandez and how if you saw Livan at a beer league game, you probably wouldn’t sign him. He’s annoying.
3:22: I’ve decided to only watch this game on mute because of Harrelson.
3:33 Chris Ianneta hits a home run on an 0-2 pitch right down the middle. Ivan Nova looks like he didn’t notice.
3:43: It’s now 5-4 in Baltimore, was 5-0 and Buck Showalter is laying into the home plate umpire about a pitch that’s clearly a ball. I think he should be laying in to his pitching staff which just walked 4 straight batters. Inning ending groundout and everybody skips off the field.
3:45: There’s a DirecTV blimp over Yankees Stadium providing great aerial views of Manhattan that nobody has ever seen before.
3:46: AROD pops up a ball to right that goes to the warning track. Right by the 314 sign. I played on a field that was 314 to right when I was 13.
3:47: Robinson Cano gets the first hit and baserunner for the Yankees against Juan Nicasio who has mostly thrown fastballs past the famous Yankees lineup thus far. It’s the fifth inning 3-0 Rockies.
3:49: A nice bunt by the Oriole’s Tatum. Don’t know his first name but, its a bunt in an AL park with nobody out and against the Reds pitching staff that has already given up 5 runs and a bullpen that has a seaon ERA of 3.31. Oh, maybe that is the right call.
3:55: Nick Markakis gets another hit, his third of the day to drive in the runner. 6-4 Orioles
3:57: Jason Giambi comes up for the Rockies. He strikes out and is now 0-3 but, I think he gets traded before the year’s up. My pick? It’s going to be an AL team in need of help at DH, that isn’t afraid of an aging player, and maybe a bit too high salary: sounds like the Yankees will at least make the call.
4:00 Apparently the Yankees scored 3 runs that last inning. I wonder how. Huh, back to back homers from Swisher and Posada.
4:02: Ty Wigginton hits another home run to go ahead 4-3. Told you he was getting hot. That gives him 5 home runs in his last 14 at bats.
4:04 Livan Hernandez has 8 strikeouts. I bet someone would sign him if he pitched like this in beer leagues. Stupid Hawk. Also, what kind of name is Hawk? I’d much rather be named Eagle or Velociraptor.
4:06: Phil Humber has given up one hit through 6 innings. I bet this gets him some recognition on SportsCenter.
4:08: The Braves/Padres game is on and Jordan Schafer promptly strikes out off of Cory Luebke and then Heyward rips a ball down the right field line (foul) before striking out. Chipper then takes strike three on the outside corner. Impressive first there by Luebke and so I’ll hold off on the Cy Young joke.
4:12: Humber’s second hit given up was a home run by Danny Espinosa, his 14th of the season. Humber looks tired.
4:13: AROLDIS CHAPMAN! Yay, I get to see him pitch. First two are 95 apiece before a slider in the dirt to get Vlad swinging. 98 strike, 99 ball, 96 ball, 96 strike, 97 strike, 97 ball, 96 strike: homerun by Luke Scott. First career homerun given up by Chapman. New batter: 97 strike, 88 slider strike, 95 ball, 87 slider ball, 97 foul, 97 foul, 85 slider ball, 94 ball. Chapman doesn’t know where its going and he’s not throwing hard enough for that to be excusable.
4:14: I flip back over to the White Sox game and Humber has given up two more hits and Ozzie goes to get him… Two batters too late. Good start from him though. 2 Earned over 6.2.
4:23: All four games are on commercial. I choose to watch the one about paint over the Michelin Man and some freaky one about the mysteries of a beard.
4:25: Livan Hernandez gets sent back out for the 7th with 111 pitches. Gets the first two, then an infield hit and is taken out. Not bad for a guy in his mid-30s and a bit overweight.
4:30: Its time to wrap this up. But, one final joke. A one Liner:
Max just got a job at a pet store, people keep asking how big he’ll get.
-Sean Morash
(A quick note from Max: Just read this diary and I’m compelled to say a couple of things:
- Not only was a running diary my idea but Sean even stole one of my lines: the one about Ivan Nova not noticing. I used that on May 19th. Poor form, Sean.
- I totally disagree about Robby Cano. He’s the man. And was it just me or was Sean’s comment vaguely racist?
- I’m not working at a pet store, I’m a delivery driver. So there.)
