Yawn, stretch, early Akron gamethread (Therapy)
The Cleveland Indians are the worst team in baseball, over the last 5 games anyway.
At times like this, I occasionally pretend baseball doesn't exist. Other times I look for anything positive from the minors. And other times I write bizarre, spectacular, violent, delicious clip art poetry. (Actually, I don't do that.)
Anyway, I will be trying to follow the Akron game, and putting meaningless observations here. It is Lofgren after all, and we really need our system to produce some freakin' starting pitching. And hey, Hodges is there. But probably no Borowski.
Also! If Lofgren is too old and damaged for you, Chris Archer is also pitching early today.
Audio available for both games.
And by early, I mean very very early. Why don't these games start at 1:05?
about 1 year ago
dgcambridge
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GAME TIME. I wish it was Kinston.
Anybody watching Real World this year? Where they are manipulating the roommates by like putting stuff in their beds? And then acting like they don’t have footage of it?
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, Kinston is the most fun this year.
What kind of stuff? Should I ask?
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like, they put rocks in someone’s bed. And a bloody napkin in someone else’s. And money in someone else’s. And then somebody’s underwear got moved into someone’s bed.
It has to be linked to a trip their going on or something.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No Josh Rodriguez today.
Josh (not calling him that other nickname) is interesting because he walks and K’s a lot, in near equal amounts, but doesn’t have good overall numbers. The other guys we have that do that are doing pretty well: Weglarz, Gimenez, Andy Old Man Gonzalez, MIlls.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 10:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m still spooked about Mills. I feel like he’s behind the curve.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but when you look at his numbers, the bad one that sticks out is his batting average. That makes me worry a lot less.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really? That .405 SLG makes me pretty uncomfortable. My other big, hidden, hulking worry about Mills is that he already hit with wooden bats in college. So, where’s it at?
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He used wooden bats in college?
The point about the batting average is that is drags down the other numbers across the board. That’s why ISO slugging is useful. When the singles start falling in, his slugging percentage will look fine. (not great yet)
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I mean, his ISO is what .160? I’m not going pop eyed over that.
Yeah, cuz he played in NAIA. It was one of his minor selling points coming out.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NAIA uses wood bats? I did not know that.
I knew he’d used wood bats in the Alaska and Cape Cod Leagues.
by Jay on May 22, 2008 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I went to an NAIA D2 school and they used metal bats.
by NickFantana on May 22, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I could certainly be wrong. Maybe I’m just remembering that Alaska and Cape Cod Leagues.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It turns out that only Wes Hodges used wood bats in the NAIA, because he felt more comfortable with them and was so dominant anyway.
(Please please let this become an internet rumor)
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm, maybe I should use the right name if I want to start a rumor.
It was Beau MIlls who was too much of a man to use metal bats.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously though, why do they play these games so early?
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was just thinking, does it have to do with bus trips? Do these guys still use buses? Maybe that’s why they need the early games.
I’ve also heard that these games have a lot of field trips from schools, but that seems like an unlikely reason.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember hearing that last year or something, about the field trips.
But, I’m a teacher, and I can say we would be trying to get the game at noon or something so that it would likely be over at the same time as school or else we could give the kids their release at 3:15. The worst thing is an event that starts at like 10:30 because the kids won’t do anything in the morning and, if there’s time in the afternoon, that’s useless time too.
I think they still ride buses.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, they still use buses in AA, I believe. They definitely do in A-ball.
Disclaimer: this post doesn't mean what you think it means.
by AngG on May 22, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aeroes in order.
I know the minors are about development and all but, uhh, shouldn’t Crowe be moved down?
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nah, challenge the guy. Despite the average, he’s not getting overwhelmed yet.
I also think , like Aubrey, you can tell what the scouts and organization think of a guy when you look at his usage compared to his numbers. And by parsing through the comments they make about him. (I don’t want to lump Aubrey and Crowe together though.)
I think that they think the guy can be a major league player. That’s why he gets ST at-bats, and AFL at-bats. Still trusting the scouts.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm. I have to say I’m diametrically opposed to the scout’s view. I see nothing redeemable about Crowe. His absolute ceiling in my estimation is Jason Tyner.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn’t realize this was Crowe’s 6th game. He was hurt, I assume?
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m watching Hotel Rwanda in class. I need a nouning drink.
by Gradyforpresident on May 22, 2008 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Don Cheadles arrival to inane discussions of “Who’s the best actor in the world?”!
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Cheadle, but is he really in that discussion?
by Jay on May 22, 2008 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I said it was inane. A bunch of college dudes sitting around and arguing Cheadle, Denzel Washington, Sean Penn, Kevin Spacey, all those “Who’s who” of Hollywood actors who are “real actors.”
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Spacey doesn’t belong in there either. Penn does, Denzel I won’t argue.
by Jay on May 22, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The point, Jay, is that it’s not a real or legitimate argument.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And, to expand, the reason is because of a lack of information and standard for what makes “good acting.”
I think you’d be hard pressed to find one person out of a hundred who mentions a name like Gary Sinese or John Mahoney in some “great actors” argument but they’re considered exactly that by the theatre community.
It’s just a super nuanced and weird issue. I guess ultimately, to me, a good acting performance is one you enjoy.
I don’t know who I think the best actor in Hollywood is. It’s a good question if taken seriously, I guess.
I guess Malkovich and Penn are good places to start? Daniel Day-Lewis? Denzel is great sometimes?
I have trouble taking myself seriously while doing this. I don’t feel qualified.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Aw, don’t let Jay make you feel that way. And did you see there’s a huge article on Speilberg in today’s AVClub?
by dgcambridge on May 23, 2008 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would never make him feel that way. I would in fact advise him to go ahead and develop a point of view and be confident that it’s probably about as good as anybody else’s.
by Jay on May 23, 2008 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But my point is that being as good as anybody else’s still doesn’t mean much. The vast majority of people are woefully underqualified to do such a thing. Doesn’t mean some people can’t enjoy it, it just sort of stymies me.
by afh4 on May 23, 2008 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I meant that as more playful than it might have actually read.
But really, the Spielberg run down is interesting in light of that epic winter thread.
by dgcambridge on May 23, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lofgren is giving up a lot of hard hit flyballs?
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Curve color guy: The team that hits the most homeruns usually wins.
Hmm. Is this true?
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Paul DePodesta just wrote about this on his blog. Over the course of the year, there’s a pretty good correlation between out-homering your opponent and being in the playoffs. Reason 819 we’re in trouble.
by NickFantana on May 22, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but that doesn’t mean that more homeruns in a given game correlates to winning, right? That’s what the commentator was saying.
Maybe it does.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two words: Rally. Killers.
"A good body with a dull brain is as cheap as life itself."
by Fiddlesticks on May 22, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, walks clog up the basepaths.
Disclaimer: this post doesn't mean what you think it means.
by AngG on May 22, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That reminds me, I’ve been thinking, should Aubrey’s nickname be Rally Killer? Because he only hits home runs.
by Jay on May 22, 2008 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess so. I mean it “could” not. There’s certainly a possibility that a team wins all of it’s games when it homers over 4 times and more than the opponent but loses a larger number of games when it outhomers it’s opponents 1-0, resulting in a high total homerun count but a losing record in games where they outhomer opponents. I mean, that’s possible. It’s absurdist probably.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m unable to listen currently. Feel free to share anything interesting that happens.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently Lofgren has a good move. The Curve guys knew about it.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2nd scoreless inning for Lofgren. Doing it Paul Byrd style.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The most interesting guy to me on the Aeros is Randy Newsom. A soft tossing, sidearmer that has a 3:1 GO/FO, and very few HR’s in 100 innings of work. i don’t think he will be a closer one day .. but he could be a very important part of the bullpen one day.
by Toxicadam on May 22, 2008 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but what’s with all the walks right now. Can’t happen.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A lost cellphone story! The cellphone fell in the toilet. Hilarious!
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wes Hodges just drilled a ball to center for a triple. So he’s not as fat as he looks in the pictures.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
His name also makes him sound fat.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoever hits after Hodges popped up. Panther at the plate
RAWR!
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Panther got hit by a foul ball. Hobbling around currently.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m thinking about no longer following the Indians, just following their affiliates.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’ve found bad years are often soothed by the minors. At least one dude’s going to get called up from the minors. That’s almost like winning.
Not really.
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by AngG on May 22, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nate Panther strikes out.
Runner still at third, 2 outs.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Camacaro grounds out. Hodges stands at third for an inning then goes to the dugout to get his glove.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Also, that Jack Wilson is playing short for the Curve.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Curve guys talking about how he might play today and bat 2nd for the Pirates tonight.
CLEVELAND INDIANS: HELL, AT LEAST YOU DON’T CHEER FOR THE PIRATES
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah but they got jason bay
by Gradyforpresident on May 22, 2008 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Petey Powell just bunt singled down third for Altoona.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He got the pitcher to ht into a double play, getting Powell at 2nd.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
crowe is pitching from the outfield?
by Gradyforpresident on May 22, 2008 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Constanza bunts his way on. Apparently he does that a lot.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Andrew’s just playing hard to get.
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by AngG on May 22, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I bit my tongue when I mixed up Crowe and Lofgren earlier. I was going to say:
“Meh. I can’t tell all the disappointments apart.”
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the way, Crowe is playing DH. I assume this has to do with the injury?
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe. He’s played left a couple times already since coming back. I think that because these minor league teams don’t have an everyday DH, it just gets rotated around.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. They pretty much DH whoever in the minors. Which often leads to hilarity.
Disclaimer: this post doesn't mean what you think it means.
by AngG on May 22, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess Crowe actually doubled? I’m not sure how they got to 2nd and 3rd.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Giminez reaches on bad fielding by third basemen.
Crowe and Constanza score.
Apparently some guy named Pinckney was on too. These Curve commentators are confusing me.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hodges plates Pinckney from third with a hard hit ball to second. Giminez to third.
Rabble about Hodges being a run producer.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hodges has moved about .850, which means he is now on mcrose’s list.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hodges smells like 2007 Garko. Which isn’t a bad thing.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stephen Head pops up again, Akron third over. 3-0 Aeroes.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
An ad from budweiser telling parents not to host drinking parties. It’s a mom and dad talking about memories of their children.
“Oh look honey, there’s you and Ronnie at the Cub Scout rally!”
Look, I was a cub scout. Rally is not even close to a good word choice there. Cub Scouts aren’t a political isssue. Or pep.
by afh4 on May 22, 2008 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
you’re very critical today, andrew.
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by AngG on May 22, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has everyone else left me? ;_;
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by AngG on May 22, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m here. Trying to work too and unable to listen. We really need one person who can listen.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 12:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lake County is up 1-0 after 3. Archer is throwing strikes for once. New heart-throb Ron Rivas with the RBI.
by ken from alexandria on May 22, 2008 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Curve announcers: currently discussing heelies.
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by AngG on May 22, 2008 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You mean the little shoes with wheels? Are they pro or con?
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes. those. They are intrigued.
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by AngG on May 22, 2008 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, Lofgren can NOT throw strikes. Very disappointing.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 12:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Was no one listening last inning, when Chuck hit three batters, and had a walk, and a wild pitch? WTF?
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lake County still up 1-0. Archer has allowed only 3 hits and a walk, with 6 Ks, through six.
by ken from alexandria on May 22, 2008 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Captains have fallen behind, 2-1, in the seventh. Fire Jonathan Holt.
by ken from alexandria on May 22, 2008 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Andrew, I’ve seen some Real World. Inside scoop: dark haired hot chick who whines about everything hooks up with black guy with dreds.
by fleerdon on May 22, 2008 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Captains lose, 5-1. Fire Kyle Landis.
by ken from alexandria on May 22, 2008 1:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess I am the only one who needs closure on these things. Aeros win, 6-4. Lofgren was ridiculously wild. Stiller and Nottingham did well in relief. Buzachero, fresh from AAA, gave up a run in the ninth but got the Stupid Stat Save . Hodges has his OPS up to .847. Hodges has pretty quietly-except for one big game-driven in 38 runs. Constanza had 2 hits and scored 2 runs. Crowe a single and 2 runs scored. Therapy, yes, that’s about all that can be said for it.
by ken from alexandria on May 22, 2008 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wild like Ankiel. And Hodge’s OPS isn’t updated yet. He’s mcrose-eligible.
by dgcambridge on May 22, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was at the game today. To answer a few questions from the thread:
- The game was a 10:35 start because Akron has four games each year that are Education Days. These games have discounted tickets where schools can bring kids as a field trip or reward for good behaviors. I get to work them (for work) as a way to get tickets for our program, and my boss thinks its good team-building for our program.
- Hodges triple should have been an easy triple. As he was rounding second, he stopped, ran back toward the bag, looked out to CF where the CF was just picking the ball up and decided to take off for third base. It was pretty bad baserunning.
- Lofgren had some pretty decent stuff, but no real control, as has been his problem for most of the year. 5 walks, 3 HBP, and a pitch count that got high quickly. He didn’t have a lot of help from his defense though. There may not have been errors, but there were misplays.
- Costanza is fun to watch. He’s not a prospect, but he’s a guy with plus speed and had a fine bunt today. He has played pretty good defense in the games I’ve seen of his. Like I said, he’s not a prospect, but he is fun to watch. He’s one of those guys that are likely to stick at the same level for a while and become a fan favorite in Akron.
by Fundamentals on May 22, 2008 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They ended up changing Hodges’ triple to a double.
by dgcambridge on May 23, 2008 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then they awarded an extra run to Baltimore.
"A good body with a dull brain is as cheap as life itself."
by Fiddlesticks on May 23, 2008 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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