Over the past couple of games this team is competing very well. Just not good enough to win. We lost on Friday 1-0 on a superb pitching performance by our #1 starter. Chillicothe scored their only run on an error in the first inning and again, we couldn't muster any hits together to squeak one out. The bright spots were the pitching performances of the starter and the relief pitchers. We even lost our starting shortstop to a 1 inch gash in his arm by being spiked on a head-first slide into second. He had to leave the game and have 6 stitches; he'll be out a few days.
Yesterday, we finally broke through with the sticks and scored some runs, leading 4-3 in the eighth. The relief pitching wasn't as dominant and gave up a tying home run, with a throwing error and we lost 5-4. I feel really bad for the guys and they are trying their best and the effort is there. We need to win today to make us feel better about ourselves.
Will post tomorrow.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Negro League Museum
We just can't get a winning streak together. We traveled back to Clarinda, IA to play the A's which we beat 16-8 last time we played them, but couldn't get the big hit with men on base. We are getting better at the plate and our approach is improving. We pitched decent in the game but lost 7-4. I've found that we are not as talented as the other teams, only because we are facing DI talent most of the time. However, these guys are hard working and improving everyday and enjoying their time playing. That's what this summer is all about!
Yesterday, the team traveled to downtown KC and spent the afternoon at the Negro League museum. It was a great look back at US history and how the league began from racism. There were many great players that couldn't play in the big leagues. They played before enormous crowds as those teams had tremendous support from the black community. I read about one white owner who began a team to launder money for a gambling ring, but found he made more money running a legit Negro league team. Great stuff.
We head to Chillicothe, MO tonight to hopefully get back on track. Over the course of the weekend, we have our top three pitchers throwing, all with sub 2.5 ERA. Gives us a good chance to win some ballgames.
Yesterday, the team traveled to downtown KC and spent the afternoon at the Negro League museum. It was a great look back at US history and how the league began from racism. There were many great players that couldn't play in the big leagues. They played before enormous crowds as those teams had tremendous support from the black community. I read about one white owner who began a team to launder money for a gambling ring, but found he made more money running a legit Negro league team. Great stuff.
We head to Chillicothe, MO tonight to hopefully get back on track. Over the course of the weekend, we have our top three pitchers throwing, all with sub 2.5 ERA. Gives us a good chance to win some ballgames.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
No Bullpen Needed
We found the win column yesterday with a 5-2 win over the Topeka Giants. Jesse Bachman threw a complete game for us and helped to preserve our bullpen. We've had to use pitchers quite a bit the last week and that effort helped set us up for the rest of the week. We got timely hitting and solid defense to keep us in the hunt in the league.
The guys are dragging a little bit and we've had some injuries to overcome. One of our players might have torn a shoulder muscle and is out for the summer. However, we did pick up another pitcher who is coming back from an injury to his non-throwing hand. He'll be a much needed boost in our bullpen later.
We're back in Clarinda, Iowa tonight and trying to put together a win streak. Will post on Friday.
The guys are dragging a little bit and we've had some injuries to overcome. One of our players might have torn a shoulder muscle and is out for the summer. However, we did pick up another pitcher who is coming back from an injury to his non-throwing hand. He'll be a much needed boost in our bullpen later.
We're back in Clarinda, Iowa tonight and trying to put together a win streak. Will post on Friday.
The Family Arrives!
On Sunday, Angela and the kids arrived a week early. It was awesome to see them after three long weeks. The kids looked bigger and Claire even has a loose tooth. Looks like we'll have the first installment of the tooth fairy, better save the change! Nolan was strutting his stuff and has been ruling the roost a little bit since I've been gone. But a little bit of rough play and tickling has settled him down somewhat, even though I've had to discipline a little bit. I got to spend Angela's 30th birthday with her alone, as one of the assistant coaches and his wife watched the kids so we could go out.
It's good to have them here, although it has been an adjustment getting back on the kid's early wake-up schedule. But it's summer and we can lay around and take it easy. We have some fun plans for the time their here such as the zoo, Oceans of Fun, parks and swimming. I'm looking forward to the time spent together.
It's good to have them here, although it has been an adjustment getting back on the kid's early wake-up schedule. But it's summer and we can lay around and take it easy. We have some fun plans for the time their here such as the zoo, Oceans of Fun, parks and swimming. I'm looking forward to the time spent together.
Beatrice Bruins.....Socked Again!
We faced what the coaching staff believes in the best team in the league, the Beatrice Bruins. They have a collection of Big12 freshman and sophomores and big-time talent on the mound. Again we faced their #1 and #2 pitchers over the weekend, the same guy drafted in the MLB draft. He was throwing 91-92 and beat us 1-0. We lost the first game 13-2, and the final game we faced a pitcher throwing 94 mph. Couldn't touch him! We lost 8-0. It was a brutal trip and sapped some life out of us.
We wanted a chance to come back last Sunday and play a non-league game, but the game was called due to a scheduling conflict. So goes the life in summer ball.
We wanted a chance to come back last Sunday and play a non-league game, but the game was called due to a scheduling conflict. So goes the life in summer ball.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Meltdown
It's getting hot in KC. You know those summer days: hazy, humid, sticky, hot breeze. Unfortunately, this is just a taste of what will actually get worse this summer. It's only 85 here and mercifully a nice breeze is blowing. It's not so bad right now and we'll deal with the weather when it arrives. That's what summer baseball is all about.
We had three games over the last two days, starting with a 13-2 loss to the Topeka Golden Giants. This is the same team we felt we could've beat last time, but lost 4-3. It was one of those games that invariably rear it's ugly head. Mental mistakes, fielding errors, bad approaches to the plate. We were beaten on the field and demoralized in our psyche. We just didn't have a good day. Didn't compete at all. The staff let out some frustration on the boys after the game and hopefully used it as a wake-up call. We just couldn't get anything done! The team was embarrassed.
But that's why you play the game. The great thing about baseball is there's always tomorrow and a new day. Put the previous game away, because there's another one today. Especially early in the year, we can chalk it up as a learning experience and move on.
The guys did just that. The Chillicothe Mudcats were in town for an unscheduled double-header. This was the team that was rained out on Sunday, so we tacked on the game on this day. After the debacle in Topeka, the guys rallied and won a tight extra inning game 2-1 in the eighth. We were leading 1-0 in the top of the 7th when the Mudcats tied it at 1-1 on a quality pitch hit up the middle with 2 outs. Could've been a letdown for us and I was afraid the team would have withered. They did not and after holding them down in the eighth, we came back to win on an infield single to get the monkey off our back and break a four game losing skid. It was nice.
We played at the same level during the second game, but couldn't muster any scoring threats and lost 4-1. The boys played two complete games and had a chance to win both. That's what the staff likes to see from game to game. It was a 180 degree turn around from the night before.
We travel to Beatrice, Nebraska for a 3 game series vs. the Beatrice Bruins. We look to do better this time around.
We had three games over the last two days, starting with a 13-2 loss to the Topeka Golden Giants. This is the same team we felt we could've beat last time, but lost 4-3. It was one of those games that invariably rear it's ugly head. Mental mistakes, fielding errors, bad approaches to the plate. We were beaten on the field and demoralized in our psyche. We just didn't have a good day. Didn't compete at all. The staff let out some frustration on the boys after the game and hopefully used it as a wake-up call. We just couldn't get anything done! The team was embarrassed.
But that's why you play the game. The great thing about baseball is there's always tomorrow and a new day. Put the previous game away, because there's another one today. Especially early in the year, we can chalk it up as a learning experience and move on.
The guys did just that. The Chillicothe Mudcats were in town for an unscheduled double-header. This was the team that was rained out on Sunday, so we tacked on the game on this day. After the debacle in Topeka, the guys rallied and won a tight extra inning game 2-1 in the eighth. We were leading 1-0 in the top of the 7th when the Mudcats tied it at 1-1 on a quality pitch hit up the middle with 2 outs. Could've been a letdown for us and I was afraid the team would have withered. They did not and after holding them down in the eighth, we came back to win on an infield single to get the monkey off our back and break a four game losing skid. It was nice.
We played at the same level during the second game, but couldn't muster any scoring threats and lost 4-1. The boys played two complete games and had a chance to win both. That's what the staff likes to see from game to game. It was a 180 degree turn around from the night before.
We travel to Beatrice, Nebraska for a 3 game series vs. the Beatrice Bruins. We look to do better this time around.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Let's Play Catch-Up!
Thanks for being patient with me over the last few days. I was unable to get over to the coffee shop after our games this weekend. Here's a recap of Friday and Saturday's games:
6/8 vs. Wichita Wheat Kings - These guys are a collection of former and current college players playing in the summer and had already played 12 games. We had no pitching to speak of and were going to piece together some innings with our bullpen. Our starting pitcher came out and pitched and competed with only giving up 1 run. We lead 3-1 going into the seventh and the Wheat Kings were clearly frustrated. Unfortunately, we woke them up in between innings after an errant throw reached their dugout. Those guys had some choice words for our guys and a fight almost broke out. They came back over the next few innings and lead 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth. We had the tying run on third but bounced into a game ending double play to lose a heart breaker! They hit their way to a win, but we didn't execute in crunch time either to give ourselves a chance. It was non-league game, so the staff chalked it up to a learning experience.
6/9 vs. Beatrice Bruins - We ran into a pitching buzz saw on Saturday, as we faced the best pitching we've seen this year. The Bruins had three players drafted over the weekend in the MLB draft and they happened to pitch that day. We were overmatched on some at bats, but had a small window to put runs on the board early. We couldn't do it and lost 5-0 and 8-1 on the day. The guys were obviously frustrated, but were reminded that good pitching beats good hitting every time. I could sense that they were eager to get back on the horse and get after it on Sunday.
6/10 vs. Chillicothe Mudcats - We didn't get the chance to rebound from Saturday as a thunderstorm rumbled through in the morning and dumped 3 inches on rain in Kearney. The field was extremely damp and we couldn't play the game. We were off yesterday and today and travel to Topeka for a game tomorrow.
We are a little beaten up health wise, so pray that our guys would stay healthy for this week.
6/8 vs. Wichita Wheat Kings - These guys are a collection of former and current college players playing in the summer and had already played 12 games. We had no pitching to speak of and were going to piece together some innings with our bullpen. Our starting pitcher came out and pitched and competed with only giving up 1 run. We lead 3-1 going into the seventh and the Wheat Kings were clearly frustrated. Unfortunately, we woke them up in between innings after an errant throw reached their dugout. Those guys had some choice words for our guys and a fight almost broke out. They came back over the next few innings and lead 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth. We had the tying run on third but bounced into a game ending double play to lose a heart breaker! They hit their way to a win, but we didn't execute in crunch time either to give ourselves a chance. It was non-league game, so the staff chalked it up to a learning experience.
6/9 vs. Beatrice Bruins - We ran into a pitching buzz saw on Saturday, as we faced the best pitching we've seen this year. The Bruins had three players drafted over the weekend in the MLB draft and they happened to pitch that day. We were overmatched on some at bats, but had a small window to put runs on the board early. We couldn't do it and lost 5-0 and 8-1 on the day. The guys were obviously frustrated, but were reminded that good pitching beats good hitting every time. I could sense that they were eager to get back on the horse and get after it on Sunday.
6/10 vs. Chillicothe Mudcats - We didn't get the chance to rebound from Saturday as a thunderstorm rumbled through in the morning and dumped 3 inches on rain in Kearney. The field was extremely damp and we couldn't play the game. We were off yesterday and today and travel to Topeka for a game tomorrow.
We are a little beaten up health wise, so pray that our guys would stay healthy for this week.
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