Monday, April 22, 2013

4/17/13 MBC vs. San Quentin A's

It wasn't our finest showing, but not our worst shellacking either.  And that is saying something....

Elliot told us that we couldn't get in any earlier than 5:00 pm, so we waited like good little boys in the parking lot, until Len showed up and asked why we hadn't come earlier.  That is the kind of cracker jack communication that we have come to expect, but hopefully next time we can get in a little earlier and get some more game in.  We were two men light as Adam and Bob were late scratches from the game.  The entry rules, or at least the officer at the gate, are very stringent this year.  He actually searched our bags, asked us to pull everything out, told us several times about no sunflower seeds, which must be some sort of high risk security thing... or they don't want the prisoners getting too much sodium in their diet.

Through the gates and on the field, we were playing the A's, which we know meant that we were probably going to get creamed, given our success rate.  It was after 5:30 before the first pitch was thrown, and surprisingly we, actually scored first, something that has not happened in a while.  But the elation did not last long, the A's are still a bunch of hitters, and they took Satch to the woodpile, early and often.  The end of the first inning the score was 5-4.

The end of the 2nd inning, the score was 17-4.

Take that Matt Cain, with your puny 9 runs in one inning....

Yes, I got spanked good and proper.  We also met with a series of challenges of which there was no good solution:

1.) I gave up a lot of big hits, despite throwing the pitches I wanted to.  Only one home run though.

2.) The umpire refused to call a strike for the first three batters for the A's and then just refused to call strikes that were strikes.  Greg would hold his glove as long as he could, hoping for a late call, but nope, nothing doing.  He also would not call the change up for a strike, which is rough when that is your bread and butter.

3.) Sean lost a series of balls in left field, trying not to run in to random convicts that were walking around out there. I asked the field umpire if we could get some recognition of interference.   He said they stop the play if there was contact made.  I told Sean he just had to start running into guys out there....he was less than enthusiastic.

4.) The third base coach was stealing Greg's signs.  At first I thought he was just yelling out encouragement,  pitches to be aware of, but eventually we realized, no, he was just stealing signs.

5.) We got through the 1st inning with out our accustomed 6 SQ nerves errors.  But they showed up in the 2nd.

6.) I hit about three guys, all with 2 strikes.


Now I know all about the similarity of excuses and assholes, so I won't whine too much more.  We did manage a nifty little rally, without getting more than 1 hit.  They put in there B squad once it was clear that we were not going to win, and we stole off the catcher, who couldn't hold on to the ball.  Chris Powell got the one hit in the inning, the rest were walks, steal 2nd, 3rd, home.  Even Greg!

So at the end of the top of the 5th, the game was called, due to the fact that all the inmates had to be back in their cells soon.  The final, 19-11.

Highlights:

* Great atmosphere, everyone had a good time playing and watching.

* The Native American drum chant in right field made it feel like we were at the Coliseum.

* Mitch was a perfect 0-0, with a run scored.  HBP x2!

* I waved Greg around third and he had time to exclaim "Really???"

* Ed gets the ambitious award for basecoaching and Phelps gets the how many awkward plays at the plate can one man have award

* The A's had about 10 hits that went over 1-3 feet over SS's glove.

* Despite not seeming very good, the relief pitcher struck out 4 guys in two innings.

* The field umpire said he was going to write about my changeup in the newsletter....

* We had a guy out at the plate, umpire missed the tag, the runner rolled over Greg's head

* Umpire called the latest 3-0 strike I have ever had, I took a moment in the box to give him a chance, then when I still didn't hear anything, I started for 1st.  Then he called the strike.

* Next game May 11.

S. Paige

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