ashbury

The past week, in whch JJ played in 4 games, continued his cooled-off trend at the plate. He batted .176 in 17 AB, plus one walk. One of his hits was a solo homer. But he struck out 8 times. He DHed 3 times and played RF once. I do not know why he isn't seeing time behind the plate; with Navarreto out, the catching is being done by Brett Doe and Rainis Silva, neither of whom I believe to be so highly regarded as prospects as to relegate another catcher to only spot duty. I would guess lingering effects from the concussion, but it's only a guess.

Another pretty good game for Felix. Only one of the three runs was earned, although the unearned ones came via his own fault (didn't cover first properly). I'm not a big fan of counting unearned runs when it's the pitcher's own mistake - I do have some slight sympathy with wanting to separate a pitcher's ability at throwing the ball from absolutely everything else - but if you are evaluating a pitcher then you get the complete package. Sez I. Anyway, five hits and one walk, three strikeouts, 6.1 innings. Not his best work, but he kept them in the game, which eventually was won in 13 innings. His season numbers remain very good, with an ERA just a touch under 2, and just a touch more than a strikeout per inning.

I am a huge Hu fan, but I expect this to be the dreaded "learning experience" for him. Batters with more experience will react differently to his off-speed pitches than he is used to, and his fastball isn't by itself enough (true of most good pitchers). Win or lose, he'll go back to Ft Myers with some things to work on, and perhaps renewed appreciation for the things his coach has been telling him. Now watch him make a liar out of me and pitch a 7 inning no-no.

There was some Waltzing Matilda there for a moment.

Word.

It was the best of threads, it was the worst of threads. It was a Game Thread.

Slama.

The.

I will show off my scouting ability by saying that triples are a very good thing.

The people at mlb.tv must have read Brian's intro. They have a new ad for Dr Scholl's Odor-X during breaks tonight.

I call shenanigans, right there at the start.

And, funnier.

The first rule of Cat Fight Club is: You do not talk about Cat Fight Club. The second rule of Cat Fight Club is: You do not talk about Cat Fight Club. Third rule of Cat Fight Club: Someone yells stop, goes limp, taps out, the cat fight is over. Fourth rule: only two cats to a fight. Fifth rule: one cat fight at a time. Sixth rule: no shirts, no shoes. Seventh rule: Cat Fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: If this is your first night at Cat Fight Club, you have to cat fight.

Morris's voice is less deep than I would expect from his demeanor. I would have expected more like Chris Finch from The Office.

Which country's national anthem is that? It's inspiring.

Ah yes, my drive back from Indianapolis to Minneapolis entirely via US 52 one Christmas Holiday season. I was a stubborn youth and would not deviate from my master plan.

Has Cedar Rapids park been renovated? I was there maybe 25 years ago and I don't remember it as standing out, but things change. Reno has a nice new ballpark, and though I don't like AAA ball (not one single person on the payroll wants to be there or believes he should be), the rest of the experience there is good. Indianapolis also has a downtown park that I like. Raley Field in Sacramento isn't so hot, either by location (away from downtown in a dumpy area) or by amenities. I just was there once, and never have made a reason to go back. I concur that Quad Cities is worth at least one visit (3rd base side, night game) for the bridge as backdrop. However, beware during flood season, as the park sits about 3 inches above the river's natural level and a flooded baseball diamond is not a pretty thing. I seem to recall outfielders dealing with puddles. The most run-down little ballpark I ever attended a professional game at was in Waterloo IA back when they still had a single-A team. Not surprising they lost their team, to Grand Rapids MI. However, I enjoyed the low-minors atmosphere there very much. The game makes much more difference to me than the facilities.

The renovations at Kauffman Stadium remind me that my only visit was in 1996, so I may be underrating it now. I forgot Met Stadium in my list of defunct ballparks. My lasting memory of the place is mosquitoes. That, and bad teams to watch; I arrived in 1978. Riverfront and old Busch, too. I complain about Minute Maid, but cookie cutters are bad as well. Oh, and Candlestick. How could I forget Candlestick. Extra innings at a night game there would make you wish you'd dressed in 4 layers instead of only 3. I don't know which was the bigger improvement, Metrodome->Target or Candlestick->AT&T.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv5jLsLoYcE

Maybe his new employer is paying all the relocation costs, so he's buying up what he can in ND so as to get his money's worth from the movers. Used riding mowers, concrete blocks, bushels of topsoil, lead pipes. He can sell any excess in Michigan.

TD provides blog space for all members. So you have one, even if you didn't realize you had one. OK, you have to take a few steps to activate it. Click on your username near the top of the page and select "Manage Blogs" and you should be able to follow your nose from there.

Came for this, leaving satisfied.

I hate ranked lists, but I'll give it a go. It's as much dependent on the experience you happen to have as what the designers put into it. AT&T Park (SFG) - get upper deck behind home plate and it's tough to beat the viewCamden Yards (BAL) - been years since I visited but it was just a solid experienceTarget Field (MIN) - haven't been there as much as I would like but it's been great (thanks glunn!)O.co Coliseum (OAK) - my controversial pick, but I've never had a bad experience there - Oakland weather in summer is sunny and temperate - Saag's bratwurst is my must-have treat thereRogers Centre (TOR) - now come a sequence of good indoor parksSafeco Field (SEA) - continuingChase Field (ARI) - continuing - I like all the little points of interest as I walk the circuit hereKaufmann Stadium (KC) - I liked it, nothing really memorable nowUS Cellular Field (CHW) - some call it antiseptic, I like the experience better than WrigleyProgressive Field (CLE) - I liked it, nothing really memorable nowAngel Stadium of Anaheim (LAA) - nothing really memorable nowBusch Stadium III (STL) - my one game was seated in RF and couldn't see deep flies, disappointing for a new park billed as state of the art.Fenway Park (BOS) - if you like the smell of urine...Wrigley Field (CHC) - ... try either one of these. The neighborhoods are fun of course, particularly Wrigley, but I have had too many bad experiences at Wrigley games (hot, cramped, no vendors, frigid cold, fans throwing debris on the field when their closer blew it, you name it) and just can not rate it well.Citizens Bank Park (PHI) - oh just soooo blandDodger Stadium (LAD) - my one experience there was with prior ownership - nothing to eat but Dodger Dogs and few concession stands were open to sell even these. I'm sure it's better again but I can only go by what I saw.Miller Park (MIL) - I hate everything about Milwaukee, including this roofed monsterMinute Maid Park (HOU) - the bad roof, plus stupid short LF porch and stupid CF hill, and what I felt certain was artificial crowd noise Three parks no longer standing: Municipal Stadium (CLE) - I had two games there before they tore it down and this gave witness to both the best and worst of the old ballparks - my first game was in the lower deck and the view was obstructed by pillars - my second game was down close in the upper deck and you felt so close to the game you could practically pick up the cap off the on-deck batter if you wanted to.Tiger Stadium (DET) - they had it freshly painted near the end of its life and I enjoyed the visit there even though the experience outside the park was less than stellar.Metrodome (MIN) - I have so many happy memories inside this miserable dump, one that I had to apologize for to out-of-towners, that I truly don't know how to rate it. Best? Worst? Personal rating somewhere in between I suppose. When filled to capacity for a game that mattered it was an experience.

You mean my reaction when I checked back again, and found out the mess Duensing and Graham had made? Who knew at mid-game that Pelfrey would be our best pitcher today (except for Pressly's short stint)?