Pirates 23-26, 4th
Cubs 29-20, 1st
POTG (for multiple reasons: 1B D Lee (2R, 2H, 2B, BB)
Runner up: 3B A Ram (2B, 2 RBI, R), C Soto (2 H, RBI, 2B, BB), RF Fukudome (2 H, RBI, 2 BB), RP Bobby Howry (1.2 IP, 2 H, K)
There are reasons why these have been slow, but not a single one is good. Maybe we’ll get to that later, but I ought to be honest and say I’m thinking about dumping this for uselessness compared to where else I could be spending my time. I like doing it, but when I’m not finding time to do it during a season like this, it’s all very questionable. Until I actually decide on something, I might as well keep on going…
…but, I can’t claim to see this entire game. I tried, oh I tried. Went to the Cougars game, but had this one all TiVo-ed and ready to go. The TV attached to the TiVo is 18 months old and already going on me, but that wasn’t the issue. Yet another extra inning game in Pittsburgh, except I had no clue until I was at around 3:40 of my 4:00 taping window and realized there was no way this one was coming home in time. I can’t hate extra innings baseball – it was an 18 inning game in Three Rivers that’s among my most vivid childhood memories. (I totally remembered Scott Sanderson went 8 innings in relief before looking it up.)
All I really needed to see is Derrek Lee being taken out of the game for Henry Blanco. We all love the Hank White, but this was Lou’s hyper usage of the complete roster to a bad end. I like Lou’s willingness to use every bullet he has (often as quick as he can) over a more conservative approach. This game was both an overreach (never ever take out D Lee) and a backfire (Fontenot being burned for one defensive at bat, Eyre being taken out for Wuertz so quick) on his part. Everyone has bad days and this was definitely Lou’s.
I don’t write about the Cougars games, because it’s just low on the list of things to do before I fall asleep (and I have hilariously horrific looking score sheets I should post once I acquire a scanner or camera again), but I still can’t get the woman sitting next to me at that game out of my head. Completely and totally insane White Sox fan – someone who that believes every word Hawk says is unquestioned correctly (and suitable for wearing.) In between about ranting how great the White Sox were and how all Cubs fans should know nothing, should stop expecting their team to go to the World Series, and “don’t have a ring – we have a ring!!!!”, she also was insistent to place the Quad Cities as “someplace in Minnesota – Minneapolis and the other one”, taunted Alex Frogriguez – not the short stop, but the inflatable mascot – that he was not a good defender as Joe Crede, and talked about how Red Sox fans were stupid people who weren’t paying attention in loud whispers, while three girls in Red Sox hats sat in front of her. She said the same about people who keep score. I mostly tried to keep from laughing and/or engaging her (or her friend, who started dancing to Shout and splashed half her beer on people in the aisle), but the people on the other side tried to defend the Cubs. Two innings later, she was still yelling about the ring they got. And then she left early.
All Sox Fans are not like this – I know people who are who are not completely insane – but people without social awareness are always interesting to watch. For about an hour, then you kinda want them to be quiet so you can watch the game.
I’ve got tickets again today – that’s where I’m going instead of finishing the next two – and I’m hoping the game is entertaining and the crazy people sit at least a row over, so I don’t have to keep getting up for beer runs.