4/13/2015 Columbus Clippers, Louisville Bats PPD

Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY

Game 1 of 2

The game that wasn't a game...my first visit of the season, and the first game I've ever attended that was rained out before the first pitch was even thrown.

Chihiro and I were all fired up and ready for based ball, and the weather really wasn't looking that bad...we've seen it a lot worse. The look on our faces above is primarily the result of what we are seeing happen on the field only 20 minutes before first pitch.

YUP...they're rolling out the tarp!

...5 minutes later came the rain, an hour later the game was postponed officially.

Of course, we had time to eat something and participate in the Mystery Rookie Card game for the first time of the 2015 season.

Chihiro picked a card that looks much nicer than mine, this 2008 Bowman Draft Prospects BDP36 Rich Thompson refractor. Rich (known by most of us as "Chopper") hails from New South Wales, Australia and was signed as an amateur free agent by the Anaheim Angels in 2002. 

He was a hero on the Australian Baseball squad of 2004 that defeated Japan to earn a Silver Medal, and seemed to be a consistent performer in the Angels' minor league system leading up to his MLB debut in 2007. Even though the High A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes worked him out as a starter in 2004 and 2005, he was primarily a reliever. He made appearances during the offseason with the ABL Sydney Blue Sox in early 2011, and at the time was a potential success story for Australian players in MLB.  His only considerable major league season would be 2011, the following spring the Angels placed him on waivers, when he was claimed by the Oakland A's and only appeared in 1 MLB game before being granted free agency. He signed with Toronto at the end of 2012, but never pitched for any MLB team or its affiliates since. Rich currently lives in Arkansas and is a personal trainer. He's also very active on twitter (@Chopper_54). You know how down I am with Australian Baseball, folks.

My pick brought a dry chuckle at first...this rustic 1988 Donruss 174 Ellis Burks card. I chuckled because I was sure I already had it; fact of the matter is, I don't.

Burks was the 20th pick in the first round of the 1983 Draft by Boston, and signed with them a few months later. He was with the Red Sox organization for 10 years, making his MLB debut in 1987 and only playing fewer than 130 games per season two times; despite shoulder surgery and, later, bad knees and back spasms plaguing him from time to time. Burks' OPS+ during his playing years in Boston was a rather impressive 116; he continued his success at the plate with the Chicago White Sox in 1993, and signed with the Colorado Rockies at the end of that year. His first season in Colorado was abbreviated somewhat, but from 1994 until the trade deadline in 1998 his OPS+ blossomed to an even more impressive 133 with a near 1.000 OPS; Burks was an MVP candidate and competed with the likes of Tony Gwynn for the batting title in 1996. At the 1998 trade deadline, Burks was sent to the San Francisco Giants for Darryl Hamilton, Jim Stoops and PTBNL Jason Brester. Burks continued to be bestial for the Giants, appearing in no less than 120 games again, despite his ever-increasing injuries. He was 35 at the end of the 2000 season, ripe and ready to finish his career as a DH in the American League, and signed with the Cleveland Indians, where he played in 317 games in 3 seasons (still bringing in the baconesque 133 OPS+), and ended his career where he started, with the Boston Red Sox, in 2004.

My scoresheets, stood up at the prom...you can still download the scoresheets for free HERE!

Official Program (featuring Donald Lutz) and Scorecard

Ticket (Dylan Axelrod)

Bat Chat and Gameday Stats

If you enjoy my work, I encourage you to spread the word via Twitter

(I am @yoshiki89), and also please leave a comment!

7/8/2014 Toledo Mud Hens 3, Louisville Bats 4

Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY

Game 3 of 4

STOP THE PRESSES! Today, for the first time this season, I can record a legitimate WIN in the Mystery Rookie Card game...hands down!

Not only that, but this could be the biggest WIN of all, since I started the game a few seasons ago!

One thing I'm seeing here this season that I haven't seen for a while is really good pitching. Tonight's originally scheduled starter was Tim Crabbe, but as Crabbe went on the DL yesterday, recent call-up Mikey O'Brien was pencilled in to start for the Bats against Derek Hankins...both pitchers I had never known of before tonight.

Tonight is 24-year-old O'Brien's AAA debut; he started the season in Pensacola, appearing in 17 games (9 of them starts) and owning a 3-3 record with a 3.86 ERA. He then was demoted to Bakersfield, for unknown reasons, and was 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA in 3 starts there. Cincinnati picked up O'Brien in the December 2013 Rule 5 Draft from the Yankees.

Toldeo's starter Derek Hankins is another story; he's just turned 30 and has spent time in the Pirates and Rangers organizations since 2004, prior to signing with the Tigers in 2013 (when he also spent some time with the mighty Doosan Bears of the KBO). Hankins, who hails from Effingham, IL, was pretty good with the Mud Hens last season (4-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 14 starts) but has seen his line slip a little this season, entering the game with a 4-9 record and a 5.93 ERA.

Fact of the matter is, both starters were excellent; both going at least 6IP and neither one allowing more than 2 runs. Neither pitcher was handed a decision tonight, as that trophy went to the bullpen. The damage to either team was minimal, but the game's outcome was decided during the 7th inning...one that saw the Mud Hens in the lead by 1 at the middle, and was met with a response by the Bats with 2 more runs scored. Neftali Soto's sac fly in that inning, against LHP Mike Belfiore in relief, ended up being the game-winning RBI.

SCOREKEEPER'S NOTE: While we're on the subject of the 7th inning, the first batter O'Brien faced was the legendary Mike Hessman, who reached on a throwing error by Soto. Later in the game, the Official Scorer reversed the call and ruled it a hit, but I was not about to change the ruling on my scoresheet.

I also got a second look at Donald Lutz this evening  Bloodied, yet unbowed, by his lack of #sparkle on June 14th I am hoping to see some #shine tonight...especially since Lutz has an 8-game hitting streak going on. Here, Lutz is facing Hankins.

Tonight, Lutz did see some action in left field, but ended his hitting streak at 8 games, with a sac fly RBI to his credit.

SCOREKEEPING PRO TIP: Of course, I'm trusting that all of you are always being sure that you're wearing sunscreen. That being said, when it's miserably HOT (as it was tonight), the sweat and sunscreen can add some misery to your scoresheet. We all know that sweat, sunscreen, and a little bit of rosin helps a pitcher with the grip on their ball; it's also true that sweat + sunscreen + paper = a medium that isn't fair to the application of graphite on paper (or ink, for that matter, if that's how YOU roll).

Everyone should have a small hand towel or dry washcloth in their Scorekeeper's Utility Belt. I can't handle life without mine, as it's great to keep the sweat out of your eyes and even better...to rest your sweaty, sunscreeny hands on and protect your scoresheets. It works!

Chihiro and I are all smiles this evening!! Go Tuesday Baseball! That means $1 Hot Dogs!!

The lede for this post proclaimed my joy in finally "winning" the Mystery Rookie Card game today. Where I was nearly despondent when my pal Marty pulled a Barry Bonds RC a month ago, this is my day to celebrate the same, victoriously.

There isn't a card in the 1986 Donruss set that looks quite this amazing. Regardless of what it's "worth," it's a keeper, and also a badge of sorts. I'll keep this card in my scoring clipboard for the rest of the season.

Chihiro's pick sported a familiar face on this 2006 Topps #230...yes, I remember that guy! It's Tim Corcoran!

Tim had a really good outing with the Gwinnett Braves when I saw him here early last season. He was a 44th round draft pick by the Mets in 1996, yet didn't make his MLB debut until 9 years later, as a Tampa Bay Devil Ray, and pitching for his 3rd organization. He only appeared in 40 games with the Rays from 2005-2007 (17 of them starts), and never appeared in an MLB game afterwards. He signed with the Florida Marlins later that year, then with the Dodgers (twice) in 2009, and again in 2012. He played in 16 games with the Delfines de Cuidad del Carmen of the Mexican League in 2012, and found himself in the Braves organization in 2013 at the age of 35 and isn't active this season.

BONUS CARDS: Sure, my wallet is hurting, but certainly not my pride. Bottom line, Matt (who runs the Slugger Monkey kiosk at LSF) is keeping to his word on my requests for Jose Altuve cards, and had quite a stack for me tonight. I couldn't pick them all up, but here's what I was able to take home with me:

The 2013 Bowman Chrome Jose Altuve Refractor #194 is numbered 60 out of 250. The 2014 Topps Heritage #28 is simply darling. The 2013 Topps #35 Refractor is also darling.

Here's a 2011 Bowman #11; the 2013 Bowman #108 is numbered 4 out of 500. Sweet!!

Last time I was at LSF, I challenged Matt to find some other Astros hits for me. Here are two Carlos Correa cards, what a stud!! 2013 Topps (Pro Debut) #4 and 2013 Bowman #BP100.

My scoresheets, using my new pitch-counting method! Read about it HERE, download the scoresheets for free HERE!

Official Program (featuring Tucker Barnhart) and Scorecard

Ticket (featuring Corky Miller, this season he broke the record previously held by Bill Lyons for most games played for the Louisville franchise)

Bat Chat and Gameday Stats

If you enjoy my work, I encourage you to spread the word via Twitter

(I am @yoshiki89), and also please leave a comment!

6/14/2014 Gwinnett Braves 0, Louisville Bats 1

Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY

Game 4 of 4

"Homer Bobblehead wouldn't do that."

It's Homer Bailey Bobblehead day at LSF, and yes, I got mine!! Now I can assure you that whatever Homer Bailey does (or doesn't do) in real life, I have tangible evidence in the Dungeon that proves his plastic and resin counterpart would have stood by idly, eternally locked in his peculiar windup.

Chien-Ming Wang, the infamous Taiwanese MLB organizational nomad who signed as a free agent with the Reds in late 2013, has made 13 starts for Louisville this season with mixed success. His 8-5 record and 3.89 ERA is a bit deceiving; out of his 9 previous outings, 8 of those were Quality Starts, and the Bats are 8-5 when he's on the mound...and 6-1 in his last 7 starts. That being said, his record isn't as good as it was with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in  9 starts last season, but really looks more like his work with AAA Buffalo later on that same year.

Toss Braves starter Cody Martin into the mix, who is also good, but not great, and you could never expect a pitcher's duel of any kind. But we got one today, as Wang hurls a gem - 7.1IP, 9 H, 2K, 0 runs...and the Bats bullpen contributes to hold the Braves scoreless, despite allowing a combined 10 hits. Martin stays in for 6 innings, striking out 7, walking 3 and only allowing 5 hits and one earned run...the run that costs the Braves the game. That earned run happened in the very first inning, when leadoff batter Jason Bourgeois (who reached on a BB) actually stole home during a double-steal attempt.

This is also my first live Donald Lutz experience! He was on the roster for my previous visit to LSF a couple of weeks ago, but had been called up to Cincinnati 'real quick' and did not play. 

"Der Brauner Hulk" looked ferocious at the plate, yet saw no action whatsoever in LF...he went 0-for-4 tonight with 3Ks (2 swinging) and a lineout to right field. 

Here he is facing Martin in the 4th inning, when he was called out on strikes.

The sun was ferocious today, and proved problematic to most of my attempts at getting decent photos. But this is a good thing, as the last time I was at a game with my oldest daughter Kei, we went home early with decidedly frozen extremities.

It's Saturday, we got bobbleheads, and I'm wearing my Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs "Bacon Saturday" cap. A fun and unusual game, a great reason to beat the heat with some cool base ball and a Souvenir Soda. No complaints.

For the Mystery Rookie Card game, Kei picks this 2008 Upper Deck Denard Span #718. The price tag is $1.50, so she's kind of a winner. THIS IS DSPAN.

My pick has no price tag, but it sure does have a story. Featured on this 2004 Bowman #263 is one Jeff Allison, who was a first-round pick for the Marlins in 2003 and was a Baseball America top-50 prospect at one time (BA also honored him as the 2003 High School Player of the Year). 

Unfortunately for Allison, his story isn't really your typical "Prospect to Promise to Bust" tale, and you won't see what went wrong for him in any box score or on the back of any of his cards.  Allison will always be remembered for his substance abuse issues (addicted to Heroin and OxyContin) and would always be linked to the similar downward spiral of Josh Hamilton. Allison's struggles were documented in a 2009 feature by Thomas Farragher for the Boston Globe ($), and included episodes of suspensions for non-disclosed reasons (2005), overdoses (2006) and even prison farm assignments (2007). Unlike Hamilton, there was no rubber mattress for Allison to bounce back into pro baseball on, and in 2012 he told Peter Gammons that he was likely to retire, mostly due to a lingering potential elbow injury that would require surgery and rehabilitation...yeah, and all of that other stuff too, I guess.

BONUS CARD: 2013 Allen & Ginter Jose Altuve #AGR-JA, game used jersey. No words. Wait, I have one..."sharp."

My scoresheets, using my new pitch-counting method! Read about it HERE, download the scoresheets for free HERE!

Official Program (featuring Tucker Barnhart) and Scorecard

Ticket (Daniel Corcino, who did pitch for Louisville last year, but has spent this entire season in AA Pensacola)

Bat Chat and Gameday Stats

If you enjoy my work, I encourage you to spread the word via Twitter

(I am @yoshiki89), and also please leave a comment!