Friday, September 12, 2003
SICK SYMBOLISM
Well, the truck driver that crashed into the power pole at 4th & Industrial put a 34-minute crimp on this game, which may have been just as well because John Thomson was in a groove up until the power outage, and he got it back after he gave up the homer to Boone in the 4th.
This was Joel Pineiro’s game, however. He was left in even after throwing a ton of pitches. But he did have seven days’ rest. He ended up with 129 pitches, which is pretty steep. After having a short leash with Franklin the night before and leaving Pineiro in well past 120 pitches, one just has to wonder about what the hell Melvin was doing.
On to the game…
Top 1: Young took a first-pitch ball and got to 2-2 and 3-2 before grounding out to Mac. Blalock hit a first-pitch flyout to Winn. Alex took a first-pitch ball before singling to center. Raf took a first-pitch ball, got down 1-2 on a nice change by Joel then flew out to Winn. Decent inning for Joel. Pineiro: 14 pitches, 9 strikes.
Bot 1: Ichiro took a first-pitch strike then doubled over Jason Jones’ head in right. Guillen grounded out on the first pitch to second to move Ichiro to third. Boone took a first-pitch ball then grounded out to Blalock at third, who clearly could have had Ichiro at the plate but must have had his mind made up to go to first. Ichiro scored. Edgar took a first-pitch strike, got down 1-2 then bounced out to Blalock. Thomson gets through okay. Thomson: 9 pitches, 8 strikes.
Top 2: Teixeira took a first-pitch strike then fell back to 0-2 before looking at a wicked curve for strike three. Spencer took a first-pitch strike and fell to 1-2 before also being caught looking. Nix got ahead 2-0 then had 2-1 and 3-1 counts before grounding out (3-1 putout). Easy inning for Joel. Pineiro: inn – 12 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 26 pitches, 17 strikes.
Bot 2: Olerud got ahead 3-0 before falling back to a full count then walking. Cam fell behind 0-2 before flying out to center. Winn took a first-pitch ball before bouncing into a 3-6 fielder’s choice. Mac took a first-pitch ball, got to 3-1, looked at a strike to make the count full, and on the pitch Winn was nailed trying to steal second. Thomson: inn - 16 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 25 pitches, 16 strikes.
Top 3: Jones fell behind 0-2 before battling to 3-2 then bouncing out to third. Greene took a first-pitch swing for a strike then got to 1-2 before singling to left. Young got ahead 2-0 before falling back full then walking. Blalock took a first-pitch ball then flew out to Winn. Alex took a first-pitch ball then hit a ball to Guillen to force out Greene at third. Pineiro had a decent, though hard-working, inning. Pineiro: inn – 23 pitches, 13 strikes; tot – 49 pitches, 30 strikes.
Bot 3: Mac bunted foul then flew out to left on 2-1. Wilson took a first-pitch ball before being caught looking. Ichiro got ahead 2-0 and 3-1 before bouncing out to third on a full count. Easy inning for Thomson. Yippee. Thomson: inn – 15 pitches, 9 strikes; tot: 40 pitches, 25 strikes.
Top 4: Raf looked at a first-pitch strike then got to 1-2 and 2-2 before swinging over a low Pineiro curve. Teixeira took a first-pitch ball then bounced out to short on a 1-1 pitch. Spencer (see Palmeiro’s at-bat, minus the curve). Good inning for Pineiro: inn - 15 pitches, 10 strikes; tot – 64 pitches, 40 strikes.
Bot 4: Guillen took a first-pitch ball then got to 1-2 and 2-2 (INSERT 34-MINUTE POWER OUTAGE HERE) before singling to left. Boone took advantage of Thomson’s post-power outage roughness to hit a homer to left on 2-2 after being down 1-2. Edgar took a first-pitch ball and got ahead 3-1 before getting a full count and hitting a flyout almost to the track in left. Note: all batters in this inning took a first pitch for a ball off Thomson. Thomson gets scathed. Thomson: inn – 27 pitches, 17 strikes; tot – 67 pitches, 42 strikes.
Top 5: Nix took a first-pitch strike then flew out to just short of the track in left. Jones took a first-pitch strike before bouncing out to third. Greene fouled off the first pitch and fell back 0-2 before flying out to Ichiro on 2-2. Easy inning for Joel. Pineiro: inn – 11 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 75 pitches, 48 strikes.
Bot 5: Winn took a first-pitch strike before fouling out to third on 1-1. Mac got ahead 2-0 before lining out to Jones in right on a running catch. Wilson bounced out to second in the first pitch. Very easy inning for Thomson: inn – 7 pitches, 4 strikes; tot – 74 pitches, 46 strikes.
Top 6: Young fouled off the first pitch before going 1-2 and full (8-pitch at-bat) then flying out to Ichiro. Blalock fell behind 0-2 and whiffed at an off-speed pitch. Alex took a first-pitch ball before flying out to Cam. Much easier inning for Joel if not for Young’s peskiness. Pineiro: inn – 13 pitches, 9 strikes; tot – 88 pitches, 57 strikes.
Bot 6: Ichiro took a first-pitch strike before bouncing out to second on 2-1. Guillen fell behind 0-2 before getting putout (scored 3-1). Boone fouled off the first pitch before going 2-2 and bouncing out to third. Once again, it was an easy inning for Thomson: inn – 12 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 86 pitches, 54 strikes.
Top 7: Raf fouled off the first pitch then lined out to Winn. Teixeira grounded out on the first pitch (3-1 putout). Spencer took a first-pitch strike then grounded out to short. Joel is on at this point, having retired 16 Rangers in a row. Pineiro: inn – 9 pitches, 7 strikes; tot – 97 pitches, 64 strikes.
Bot 7: Edgar bounced out on the first pitch to Alex at short, who made a nice play in the hole. Of course Edgar’s out on that play. Olerud fouled off the first pitch then fell back 0-2 before flying out to right (he pulled the ball?!). Cam took a first-pitch ball before going full and doubling off the wall in left. Thomson was lifted for Erasmo Ramirez. Winn took a first-pitch strike and got ahead 3-1 before lining out to left. Thomson: inn – 11 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 97 pitches, 62 strikes. Ramirez: 5 pitches, 2 strikes.
Top 8: Nix whiffed at the first pitch, fell to 1-2 then was caught looking on a sweet curve. Jones got ahead 2-0 and 3-1 before falling back to full and flying out to left. Pineiro had retired 16 straight. Greene whiffed at the forst pitch then singled to left on 2-1. Young took a first-pitch ball then hit into a 5-4 fielders’ choice on 1-1. I was surprised Joel wasn’t pulled by this point due to his pitch count and the short leash Franklin was on the night before. Pineiro: inn – 18 pitches, 11 strikes; tot – 115 pitches, 75 strikes.
Bot 8: Mac fouled off the first pitch before working a walk. Wilson, the “best bunter on the team,” bunted a foul fly to the catcher. Ugh. Way to move the runner over, you piece of crap! Ichiro took a first-pitch strike before falling to 0-2 when Mac was caught stealing. Ichiro then bounced out to short. Blow opportunity for Mariner insurance runs. Ramirez: inn - 13 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 18 pitches, 10 strikes.
Top 9: Somehow Joel is still left in the game. Blalock took a first-pitch ball then bounced out to second. Alex took a first-pitch strike before falling to 0-2 then bring caught looking on a drop-down Pineiro slider. Raf got ahead 3-0 then took a gimmie for 3-1 before Joel got too much of the plate and Raf hit a bomb. He was bound to strike sometime. Teixeira fouled off the first pitch then whiffed on a 1-2 pitch to end the game. Pineiro: inn – 13 pitches, 9 strikes.
Yay. The game notes are done a few minutes before the game. But it’s the notes for the game from two nights ago. Oh well.
This was Joel Pineiro’s game, however. He was left in even after throwing a ton of pitches. But he did have seven days’ rest. He ended up with 129 pitches, which is pretty steep. After having a short leash with Franklin the night before and leaving Pineiro in well past 120 pitches, one just has to wonder about what the hell Melvin was doing.
On to the game…
Top 1: Young took a first-pitch ball and got to 2-2 and 3-2 before grounding out to Mac. Blalock hit a first-pitch flyout to Winn. Alex took a first-pitch ball before singling to center. Raf took a first-pitch ball, got down 1-2 on a nice change by Joel then flew out to Winn. Decent inning for Joel. Pineiro: 14 pitches, 9 strikes.
Bot 1: Ichiro took a first-pitch strike then doubled over Jason Jones’ head in right. Guillen grounded out on the first pitch to second to move Ichiro to third. Boone took a first-pitch ball then grounded out to Blalock at third, who clearly could have had Ichiro at the plate but must have had his mind made up to go to first. Ichiro scored. Edgar took a first-pitch strike, got down 1-2 then bounced out to Blalock. Thomson gets through okay. Thomson: 9 pitches, 8 strikes.
Top 2: Teixeira took a first-pitch strike then fell back to 0-2 before looking at a wicked curve for strike three. Spencer took a first-pitch strike and fell to 1-2 before also being caught looking. Nix got ahead 2-0 then had 2-1 and 3-1 counts before grounding out (3-1 putout). Easy inning for Joel. Pineiro: inn – 12 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 26 pitches, 17 strikes.
Bot 2: Olerud got ahead 3-0 before falling back to a full count then walking. Cam fell behind 0-2 before flying out to center. Winn took a first-pitch ball before bouncing into a 3-6 fielder’s choice. Mac took a first-pitch ball, got to 3-1, looked at a strike to make the count full, and on the pitch Winn was nailed trying to steal second. Thomson: inn - 16 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 25 pitches, 16 strikes.
Top 3: Jones fell behind 0-2 before battling to 3-2 then bouncing out to third. Greene took a first-pitch swing for a strike then got to 1-2 before singling to left. Young got ahead 2-0 before falling back full then walking. Blalock took a first-pitch ball then flew out to Winn. Alex took a first-pitch ball then hit a ball to Guillen to force out Greene at third. Pineiro had a decent, though hard-working, inning. Pineiro: inn – 23 pitches, 13 strikes; tot – 49 pitches, 30 strikes.
Bot 3: Mac bunted foul then flew out to left on 2-1. Wilson took a first-pitch ball before being caught looking. Ichiro got ahead 2-0 and 3-1 before bouncing out to third on a full count. Easy inning for Thomson. Yippee. Thomson: inn – 15 pitches, 9 strikes; tot: 40 pitches, 25 strikes.
Top 4: Raf looked at a first-pitch strike then got to 1-2 and 2-2 before swinging over a low Pineiro curve. Teixeira took a first-pitch ball then bounced out to short on a 1-1 pitch. Spencer (see Palmeiro’s at-bat, minus the curve). Good inning for Pineiro: inn - 15 pitches, 10 strikes; tot – 64 pitches, 40 strikes.
Bot 4: Guillen took a first-pitch ball then got to 1-2 and 2-2 (INSERT 34-MINUTE POWER OUTAGE HERE) before singling to left. Boone took advantage of Thomson’s post-power outage roughness to hit a homer to left on 2-2 after being down 1-2. Edgar took a first-pitch ball and got ahead 3-1 before getting a full count and hitting a flyout almost to the track in left. Note: all batters in this inning took a first pitch for a ball off Thomson. Thomson gets scathed. Thomson: inn – 27 pitches, 17 strikes; tot – 67 pitches, 42 strikes.
Top 5: Nix took a first-pitch strike then flew out to just short of the track in left. Jones took a first-pitch strike before bouncing out to third. Greene fouled off the first pitch and fell back 0-2 before flying out to Ichiro on 2-2. Easy inning for Joel. Pineiro: inn – 11 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 75 pitches, 48 strikes.
Bot 5: Winn took a first-pitch strike before fouling out to third on 1-1. Mac got ahead 2-0 before lining out to Jones in right on a running catch. Wilson bounced out to second in the first pitch. Very easy inning for Thomson: inn – 7 pitches, 4 strikes; tot – 74 pitches, 46 strikes.
Top 6: Young fouled off the first pitch before going 1-2 and full (8-pitch at-bat) then flying out to Ichiro. Blalock fell behind 0-2 and whiffed at an off-speed pitch. Alex took a first-pitch ball before flying out to Cam. Much easier inning for Joel if not for Young’s peskiness. Pineiro: inn – 13 pitches, 9 strikes; tot – 88 pitches, 57 strikes.
Bot 6: Ichiro took a first-pitch strike before bouncing out to second on 2-1. Guillen fell behind 0-2 before getting putout (scored 3-1). Boone fouled off the first pitch before going 2-2 and bouncing out to third. Once again, it was an easy inning for Thomson: inn – 12 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 86 pitches, 54 strikes.
Top 7: Raf fouled off the first pitch then lined out to Winn. Teixeira grounded out on the first pitch (3-1 putout). Spencer took a first-pitch strike then grounded out to short. Joel is on at this point, having retired 16 Rangers in a row. Pineiro: inn – 9 pitches, 7 strikes; tot – 97 pitches, 64 strikes.
Bot 7: Edgar bounced out on the first pitch to Alex at short, who made a nice play in the hole. Of course Edgar’s out on that play. Olerud fouled off the first pitch then fell back 0-2 before flying out to right (he pulled the ball?!). Cam took a first-pitch ball before going full and doubling off the wall in left. Thomson was lifted for Erasmo Ramirez. Winn took a first-pitch strike and got ahead 3-1 before lining out to left. Thomson: inn – 11 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 97 pitches, 62 strikes. Ramirez: 5 pitches, 2 strikes.
Top 8: Nix whiffed at the first pitch, fell to 1-2 then was caught looking on a sweet curve. Jones got ahead 2-0 and 3-1 before falling back to full and flying out to left. Pineiro had retired 16 straight. Greene whiffed at the forst pitch then singled to left on 2-1. Young took a first-pitch ball then hit into a 5-4 fielders’ choice on 1-1. I was surprised Joel wasn’t pulled by this point due to his pitch count and the short leash Franklin was on the night before. Pineiro: inn – 18 pitches, 11 strikes; tot – 115 pitches, 75 strikes.
Bot 8: Mac fouled off the first pitch before working a walk. Wilson, the “best bunter on the team,” bunted a foul fly to the catcher. Ugh. Way to move the runner over, you piece of crap! Ichiro took a first-pitch strike before falling to 0-2 when Mac was caught stealing. Ichiro then bounced out to short. Blow opportunity for Mariner insurance runs. Ramirez: inn - 13 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 18 pitches, 10 strikes.
Top 9: Somehow Joel is still left in the game. Blalock took a first-pitch ball then bounced out to second. Alex took a first-pitch strike before falling to 0-2 then bring caught looking on a drop-down Pineiro slider. Raf got ahead 3-0 then took a gimmie for 3-1 before Joel got too much of the plate and Raf hit a bomb. He was bound to strike sometime. Teixeira fouled off the first pitch then whiffed on a 1-2 pitch to end the game. Pineiro: inn – 13 pitches, 9 strikes.
Yay. The game notes are done a few minutes before the game. But it’s the notes for the game from two nights ago. Oh well.
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