Dave Borton

A Night At CHS, St Paul Saints

If I could dream, I would live equidistant between Wrigley and Comiskey Park (I refuse to call it the Ringy Dingy name) and I could ride public transit between the two. Well, my kids live in The Cities, so guess where we retired . . . St Paul. Now, I don't have it bad. I live right in the middle between Target Field and CHS Field so I. drive 1/2 mile, park, hop on the light rail right behind the engineer and boom, heaven! I am at either ball park in 30 minutes. Boy Howdy, we live too well.

Tonight's blog is mainly for the out of towners who have never been to CHS. Do yourself a favor. Pull out the schedules and do a road trip when both teams are in town.

I attended the Saints tonite because Dallas Keuchel was pitching. I wanted to see if he had anything left in the gas tank and how well he could practice his craft. 

Well, Keuchel made it through 4.1 inn, and I am sure he was on a pitch count (86-47). He scattered 3 hits and no runs. As you can see, Keuchel had some control issues, walking 4 in those 4 inn, running counts up..  

Velocity? Keuchel never threw flames so I kept my eye on the gun and he topped out at 85 with his FB. Other pitches? I couldn't tell if they were changeups or slow curves, but he had several 78mph pitches. Most stuff was in the 81-83mph range. When he missed badly, his body language told the story of a 35-yr old,, realizing he has bus trips ahead rather than jet tarmacs; sandwiches out of vending machines rather than generous meal money; sharing a room with a gent who won't wear his CPAP.

This and that:

• In his 1st at bat, Wallner singled to right, with the 1B ducking out of the way so the drive didn't go through his sternum.
• Sold out. 7,200. I grabbed a cushioned box seat, two rows behind home since that was all that was left. Boy, CHS seats are tighter than Target. Great seat -- I never sit behind home. Always just inside 3rd base unless I am upstairs in Vets seats during the week. Great, civil, decent crowd. 
• Less business meetings in the concourse than at Target. Folks were there for ball.
• By my unofficial count, more StP regalia per capita than Twins shtuff at Target.
• Gwinnett's catcher often looked to the dugout for the pitch calling. Drives me crazy. See it all the time in Div I baseball in Arizona. Show some confidence in catch. Use the dugout for immediate coaching if he errs. He is at AAA for development, not the Stanley cup.
• Williams caught for StP and he seemed slight. Roster says 225. I am not believing it. Camargo was the DH. Now there is a catcher's build.. I want to be a bullpen catcher if I ever grow up (born in '48 so you can do the math). I am 6'2", 240. That should do it, though my left knee and left hip replacements may have other ideas.
• Soto played 3B while Miranda grabbed a plane ticket to Baltimore after Lewis' oblique injury (nuts).
• Good game until about the 4th inn and then Saints took batting practice, 10-0, before Saints relievers decided to pitch batting practice. 10-6 Saints.
• Gardenhire coaches 3rd base. Not sure if it is personal preference or economics.
• Several guys have high top cleats. I have never seen them before. I remember my first pair of cleats -- from the "pass it down" era. The metal triangle (inner part of the cleat brace) was clean through the inner sole. I was tickled to have them. I wonder how many guys had worn them before me. I just added cardboard inside the shoe.
• Garlick (.222) played 1st (I looked for Cave <winks>). Reminds me of an old adage, something about a penny returning or something like that. Trying to be kind.
• One ump short. Is that standard for AAA?
• 3 times the catchers appealed a home plate ump's call. Ump was right every time. I will have to drill down and read up on the rules surrounding that.
• Prices are no cheaper than Target Field. A California burger, fries, and a 15% tip? $20.
• Fireworks after the game. Very well done. Had a chance to watch them groom home after the game while we wait for the fireworks. Took over 50 minutes. Quite an art and they were very particular and exacting.
• Food trucks in the OF after the game. I walked out and couldn't get over the quality of the turf. I squatted down (if I got down, I wouldn't be able to get up) and plucked the grass repeatedly. Holy smokes, that is well tended.

Enough of my rambling. Out of towners, do yourself a favor. Make that road trip and come up and see us for a Saints and Twins game.. And make sure to send me a message off line. I roast my own coffee and I will treat you to some of the best coffee you have ever had.

db