PIGS ~ The Baseball Elixir

Last week sucked!

I just deleted and replaced three paragraphs and saved 4 minutes of your time with three words. 

How stellar.

Work had me taxed last week.  I was beat.  If I wasn't running 24 hours I was out late just the same.  In itself that's fine because it all pay$ off in the end if you get my drift.  But I hate falling out of flow from reading up on every one's content and making my own posts.  Oh yea...I had to work Saturday also.  Yeah...I was a little cranky about that.  But the real source of frustration for me was my car.

I was at a point where I wanted to decide whether to spend money on this one to get it back up to snuff or trading it in for a new one.  I chose to pump-up my baby with a cash infusion and I bought her some tender loving care.  I like her.  And I don't feel like payments again. 

She just needed some things to get her like new again.

My frustration came from arguing with the mechanic about what he recommended and what I wanted.  They were two very different ideas.  What he wanted to do was going to earn me a visit right back to the shop in 6 months.  My plan was to never see him or him see my car ever again.

A third source of my frustration this year is in my lack of having attended hardly any games this season.  Yea...I'm just a little more than #$*@!;! upset over that one.  It's just been that kind of a year for me at work and what has suffered most is me attending games.

Then there was the matter of ..uh...Argentina getting pounded by the Germans.   : o

What was I to do? I channeled all my sources of annoyance last week into action and did what must have been done in that situation.  That's right; ROAD TRIP!

But before I get to that, there was the matter of a Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday which took place a few minutes from my house.  I had planned on being there this year because I really didn't make any plans to leave the city.  I went Saturday morning and snapped a few pictures at Nathan's as they prepared the sight for the next day's festivities.  Not only was I not there Sunday, I didn't even watch it on TV.

But...I'd like to wish everyone a belated Happy Fourth of July. 
I hope America's Birthday was a blast for everyone.

So what happened? I got my car back and she felt Nice!  I was done with work Saturday by 3:30pm.  My son is hanging out on the Jersey Shore this week.  There was just me and my wife left pondering the next 2 1/2 days.  More in anger than anything else I said I was getting in the car and I was going to drive far away and find a baseball game somewhere.  Of course that meant her too.  But when I get like that she knows I'm serious and she just asked where did I have in mind.

I said Pawtucket because I haven't been there yet.  She said Baltimore (her favorite).  I said keep it within 100 miles for this trip.  I said Binghampton.  She said...uh No!  She said Connecticut.  I said for that I'm going straight through to Pawtucket.  She said...OK Fine!  I said~Fine!

I looked at the schedules and guess what?  Pawtucket was away Sunday.  But guess what?  They were in Allentown PENN, playing the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs!  We both looked at each other and said ALLENTOWN?

Oink   Oink  Oink

You guessed it!  Allentown here we come!

I checked for tickets on the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs website. 
Main seating was sold out but I got a pair of general admission tickets.

That meant little to me because I usually find myself roaming around if I'm in a new place anyway.  I like checking out every nook and cranny of a new park and I take a picture of everything.

A couple of minutes later I booked a room for 2 nights on Expedia.

We left the house 10:30pm Saturday night and were in Allentown by midnight without a hint of traffic anywhere.

Let me wrap this up with the short version.  I wanted to give the car a good driving.  I did just that.  I'm happy.  I felt all of my V8 again.  Saturday night we still managed to get some crab cakes at 1a.m. across from the hotel.  My wife was thrilled with that.  Like I said no traffic what so ever.  The next morning breakfast was outstanding.  Blah blah...We drove out to the Outlets and did some shopping.  We ate lunch.  Back at the hotel we took a nap and we were at the park by 5:30pm.  It was a sizzling 97 degrees at game time but without any humidity to speak of, I never broke a sweat once all day.

The game between the Pawtucket Red Sox and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (AAA ~ Phillies) featured a rehab start by J.A. Happ (PHILA) for Lehigh Valley and numerous sons of former big leaguers making their way through their respective systems.  The game was very enjoyable and entertaining, the weather was tolerable, my wife and I were having a good time, The Forth of July Fireworks Show was a smash, we got ourselves a good night's sleep after a long day, we were in the car heading home Monday morning by 10:30 and arrived home by noon without so much as a hint of traffic again......

All of which made for, I dare say, a perfect way to end the Holiday Weekend
(as perfect goes).

Road Trips; the Baseball Elixir
"fixer of frustrations"

Enjoy the pics of the game:
AAA Minor League Baseball
Pawtucket Red Sox @ Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
Coca-Cola Park
Lehigh Valley/Allentown, Pennsylvania
Sunday  JULY 4, 2010

Front view, Coca-Cola Park

East Gate

Game Program

Adam Mills warms-up for his Pawtucket start.

Iron Pigs pre-game warm-up.

Pre-game meeting at home plate.

PLAYING of our NATIONAL ANTHEM

FIRST PITCH

Iron Pig starter JA Happ makes his first pitch.

different views

Iron Pigs have a meeting on the mound.

Dusk; time for the bullpens to start getting busy.

Night falls over Lehigh Valley

One final look around and...

Pawtucket down to their last pitch...

...and this game went final.

****EXTRA INNINGS****

Jerseys at the game.

By the time the sun set on Monday my world was a much happier place.

Mike.BTB

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/

The True Metropolitan Baseball Round Up

Sunday   JUNE 27, 2010      The Final


The ATLANTIC LEAGUE:

Final
NEWARK BEARS 9  ~  York Revolution 6
Newark scored 5 runs in the 9th inning.
cf - K. Jones  2 for 4, 3rbi
lf - L. Cooper  2 for 3, 2 runs
rf - B. BARTON  2 for 5 Grand Slam, 4rbi,  Game Winner 9th inning 

Final
LONG ISLAND DUCKS 0 @  Bridgeport Bluefish 7


The NEW YORK PENN LEAGUE:


Final
BROOKLYN CYCLONES 6  @  Aberdeen Iron Birds 3
Game 10

Line-Up:
ss - SANDOVAL    2 for 5
dh - CECILIANI     2 for 4, double, triple, run, rbi
cf - VAUGHN         HR, 2rbi
1b - FLAGG            2 for 4 , double, rbi
lf/rf- CHERRY        1 for 4, HR, rbi
3b - BONFE            3 for 4, rbi
rf - STEINHAUER
rf - SCHROEDER
 c - CENTENO

Pitcher ~ HOUCK ~ WIN
7 innings, 8 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts.

Brooklyn batters ~ 13 for 37
Brooklyn Cyclones improve to 6-4



Final
STATEN ISLAND YANKEES 8  ~  Hudson Valley Renegades 6


The NATIONAL LEAGUE:

Final
NEW YORK METS 6  ~  Minnesota Twins 0
(NIESE)                            (BAKER)

METS Record: 42-32.  Improve to 43-32.

Line-Up:
ss - REYES
cf - FELICIANO    3 for 5, double, run
3b - WRIGHT       3 for 4, HR, 2rbi, stolen base
1b - DAVIS         2 for 4, HR, rbi, 2 runs scored
lf - BAY           1 for 4, triple, run (1,000th career hit)
 c - BARAJAS      single, rbi
rf - FRANCOEUR     3 for 4, HR ,double, 2rbi, run
2b - TEJADA          single (10 game hit streak)

Pitcher - NIESE ~ WIN ~ 5-2
6 innings, 0 runs, 4 hits, 3 walk, 5 K's

METS ~11 for 23 against Baker
David Wright and Ike Davis ~ back-to-back HR in 5th inning
Jose Reyes 0 for 5.
METS finish 13-5 in Inter-League play.


The AMERICAN LEAGUE:

Final ~ 10 innings
NEW YORK YANKEES 8  @  Los Angeles Dodgers 6    
(Pettitte)                                    (Kershaw)

Yankees: 2 errors

Derek Jeter ~ 3 for 4
Alex Rodriguez ~ 1 for 3, HR (#594), 2rbi
Robinson Cano ~ 2 for 5, 2 run HR in 10th inning, 3rbi
Brett Gardner left game due to injury.

Pitcher
Andy Pettitte ~ LOSS
5 innings, 6 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
Joba 
1 inning, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk
Mariano Rivera ~ gets WIN

L.A. ~ Broxton can't close out this game to save his life!
He just loaded the bases by walking Granderson.  Only one out; Yanks down 3.
Base hit by HUFFMAN* (rookie) that scores two more runs.  Yanks have tying run at third base.
Curtis* up; one out; tying run on third.  Broxton almost uncorks wild pitch. 
Count 2-2.
Ball three
fouled off breaking ball
fouled off fastball   37 pitches by Broxton this inning.
fouled off fastball
fouled back a slider
 Ground ball to 1B, Loney steps on first, throws home for a tag play; throw off to the right of home plate ~ SAFE, Granderson scores. Two outs now.  Game tied 6-6.
Intentional walk to Jeter puts runners at first and second base.
(Mariano Rivera starts to warm up)
Torre still has Broxton his closer in.
Cervelli at-bat ~ ball, strike one = 46th pitch by Broxton, strike two,  grounds out 4 to 3.

Yankees tie game in top of 9th with 4 runs
Dodgers coming up in Bottom 9th.
Cano HR in 10th inning.
Mo coming out for 2nd inning of work.
end



BTB

World Cup ~ ARGENTINA vs. Mexico

WORLD CUP

2010

SECOND ROUND; KNOCKOUT

Sunday  JUNE 27, 2010

ARGENTINA

VS.

MEXICO

Argentina is deep with skill and the offense comes at opponents in waves.
You combat that with one of Mexico's greatest strengths;
Sound Defense and Expert Counter-Attacks.
This will be an excellent match.

2:30 PM

FIRST HALF

ARGENTINA 2  ~  MEXICO 0

GOAL - Tevez

GOAL - Higuain

SECOND HALF

ARGENTINA 3  ~  MEXICO 0

GOAL - Tevez (2)

90:00 Complete

3 minutes added

FINAL

Argentina 3

Mexico 0

Argentina advances.

Mexico is eliminated.

BTB

Mike

BTB

World Cup: GERMANY vs ENGLAND

WORLD CUP MATCH

Sunday  JUNE 27, 2010

GERMANY vs. ENGLAND

End of First Half

GERMANY 2  ~  ENGLAND 1

England clearly had a match tying goal which the referees did not count.

Germany jumped out early to a 2 - nil lead.  England got one goal back and appeared to have the match tying goal but play continued on without recognition from the referee.

SECOND HALF

COMPLETE

FINAL:

GERMANY 4

ENGLAND 1

Muller 2 goals for Germany.

England is eliminated.

BTB

WORLD CUP; Sunday Matches

WORLD CUP 2010

Sunday Matches

JUNE 27

Knockout ~ Round 2

GERMANY vs. ENGLAND

ARGENTINA vs. MEXICO

BTB

The True Metropolitan Baseball Round-Up

Saturday  JUNE 26, 2010                  a/o 11:00 pm


The ATLANTIC LEAGUE:
Final
NEWARK BEARS 7  ~  York Revolution  9
Carl Everett ~ 3 for 5, rbi, run
G. Suarez ~ 2 for 4
M. Mejia ~ 2 for 3

Final
LONG ISLAND DUCKS 7  @  Bridgeport Bluefish 1     
Ray Navarrete - 2 for 2, HR, double, 3rbi, 3 runs scored, 3 walks 
J. Esposito  WIN - 5 innings 7 K's



The NEW YORK PENN LEAGUE:
Final
STATEN ISLAND YANKEES 1  ~  Hudson Valley Renegades 8

Final
BROOKLYN CYCLONES 2  @  Aberdeen Iron Birds 3
Game 9
Tonight's Line-Up:
lf ~ HOLLIDAY    2 for 4, double
cf ~ CECILIANI    1 for 4  (.361 avg)
rf ~ VAUGHN      rbi
1b ~ FLAGG       1 for 4, rbi 
dh ~ CHERRY
3b ~ BUTLER
2b ~ BROWN
 c ~ FREEMAN       double
ss ~ SANDOVAL    2 for 3  (.320 avg)

pitcher ~ WRENN - No Decision,  6.0 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 3walks, 4 strikeouts

Brooklyn as a team 9 for 35 in the game.
Aberdeen just took the lead with 2 runs in the 8th inning.
Brooklyn fails to score in the top of the ninth inning.
BROOKLYN CYCLONES record:  5-4


The NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Final
NEW YORK METS 0  ~  Minnesota Twins 6
(Johan Santana)                  (Carl Pavano)

ss - REYES
cf - FELICIANO
3b - WRIGHT
1b - DAVIS
lf - BAY
c - BARAJAS
rf - FRANCOEUR          2 for 3
2b - TEJADA  dnp ~ CORA
P - SANTANA

REYES, FELICIANO, WRIGHT, DAVIS, BAY and CORA
combined 0 for 20 in today's game

SANTANA ~ LOSS  5-5  
6 innings; 8 hits; 5 runs; 2 walks; 4 strikeouts
Santana was hit hard to the tune of 4 doubles and fell behind early in a start again.



The AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Final
NEW YORK YANKEES 4 @  Los Angeles Dodgers 9
(AJ Burnette)                                (H. Kuroda)

Mark Teixeira ~ HR, 3 rbi
ARod strikes out looking in the 7th.
Brett Gardner ~ 2 for 3
Dekek Jeter ~ 1 for 3, 2 runs scored, walk, stolen base

AJ Burnette was horrible again AND pitching to Cervelli
LOSS  6-7 ~ 3 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 6 walks, 5 strikeouts


BTB

WORLD CUP MATCH: USA vs Ghana

USA will play from behind again.  They gave up the first goal of the match to Ghana.  A mid-field turnover was converted by Ghana and USA finds themselves down one ~ nil.  Ghana is clearly playing with a little more energy than the Americans.  They are getting to loose balls quicker, their passes are crisper, and their opportunities have been of better quality.

Coach Bradley gambled with a line-up shuffle starting Clark in today's mid-field.  In what seemed to be a decision to correct his strategy, Coach Bradley made his first substitution 30 minutes into the match inserting EDU when perhaps he should have started from the outset.  30 minutes is awfully early for a substitution.  He'll have to pick his moments very wisely with his remaining two substitutions.

The Americans find themselves behind....again.  At least they are accustomed to being in this situation.  Is it dipping into the well one too many times?  The second half will bare that out.  Ghana has carried play for the first 45 minutes.  They've maintained possession as I mentioned with their very crisp passing.  They are quick.

Coach Bradley has adjustments to make during the break.  The American mid-field has been a sieve thus far.  They need to shore that up.  The turnover that put us down one - nil was of the egregious variety; inexcusable.  Ghana's midfielder, Prince BOATENG, from the mid field circle dribbled alone with two defenders nagging but unable to slow him down even the slightest bit.  What success USA seems to have on attack has been coming from around the outside with crosses into the box.  Ghana has plugged up the middle well.

FIRST HALF

USA 0   ~  GHANA 1


(in-game)
SECOND HALF

In minute 46:00 the Americans had a brilliant chance at scoring.  USA looks a little quicker at the 52:00 point.  Their opportunities are becoming more numerous.  They are passing more quickly this half.  On my count this half the Americans have threatened with three very quality chances.  A corner kick was fruitless at 55:00.  Ghana and USA both have 4 shots on goal.  Ghana has a slight percentage lead in time of possession.

PENALY at 60:30
Landon Donovan draws a penalty shot!

61:49
GOOOOAL !!!!
LANDON DONOVAN
A strike to the keeper's right side.
His 45th MARK as a USA player!

USA 1   ~   GHANA 1

64:00
at 66:40 another brilliant chance on a lead pass to ALTIDORE and break-away (if I may) headed off by Ghana's keeper brilliantly.
A Yellow Card by Bocanegra warded Ghana a free kick secured by Howard.

At 71:30 Bradley just launched a booming long range shot.
Ghana has owned the last 3 minutes.  I see a lot of standing around on offense by USA when they have the ball.  BRADLEY...just as I spoke...USA passed crisply and put four consecutive touches together for an opportunity on goal by Bradley; stopped cold by Ghana's keeper.
77:00  uh Oh!   Prince, of Ghana just pulled up lame with a hamstring it appears.  BOCANEGRA just made a great defensive stop in front of the American net.  79:00 minutes are elapsed.
Ghana in the American zone...USA clears...

Another pass over the top for ALTIDORE...in the box..Penalty?!  NO!...and a strike just wide to the right as Altidore was falling down.   81:38...a free kick for Dempsey ~ into the wall.

Ghana in USA end.  A pass and header goes very wide.  Ghana gains the zone again 83:30.

USA shot blocked 84:30.  America loses the zone.  GHANA!! Offsides! 

86:00  USA settling for long passes and minimal movement again.  They are not putting together short accurate consecutive passes.  USA in their zone...87:00.  88:00...out of bounds..USA ball.
Howard kick into Ghana zone.  Free throw in for USA.  Turnover.
Ghana gains USA zone.  A cross from the right corner..cleared.  An injured Ghana player down
interrupts play.

90:00 !!  
3 MINUTES ADDED TIME.

92:30
Ghana controls...coming wide on the left...out by USA.  A Ghana corner kick coming!

From the right side...CORNER...headed out by Ghana.  USA ball.
3:00 minutes of injury time are over!

EXTRA TIME
30:00 Minutes
coming up!

ALTIDORE was a down field force today.  His size presented several chances today. 
He's been substituted.  Me personally, I thought

it doesn't matter anymore...
GHANA JUST SCORED!!!!!!
at 92:55

Unbelievable.  What seemed to be a relatively harmless ball lobbed forward was played by Ghana's #3 GYAN who managed to penetrate deep into the US zone sandwiched by two US defenders.  Incredibly after a shoulder bump and harassment on the other side, he got off a shot pass Howard.  Inexcusable by two American defenders to allow that kind of penetration and ball possession.

A corner kick coming up for USA 96:45....ends up wide.  Bocanegra was part of the exchange.
USA is scrambling now.

100:00 minute mark
(two fifteen minute periods in extra time)

One minute of extra time has been added to the first 15 minute half of Extra Time.
There were no real chances in the last 15 minutes to speak of.  No one could maintain possession.

They switch sides now and the next 15 minutes will start post haste.

105:00
Ghana ball.   USA gains possession...in Ghana's end.  A clear.  And foul.  Ghana ball.
Howard's kicks action back into Ghana end.  Free kick to USA right outside the penalty box.
Donovan will kick...punched away by Ghana's goal keeper.
Ghana back in America's zone at 109:20.
Ghana...short passes...offside.  Howard will free kick it out.

USA in Ghana's end...  On a cross...
UNBELIEVABLE...the referee is stopping play for a Ghana player down who had no one near him.  He cleared the ball out and took to the ground untouched.  How wrong is that?!  They better add all that time back on.  The Refs are letting the Ghana'ns milk the clock like a cow.

A corner kick coming up for USA 113:30
...headed out....USA loses possession.  6 minutes left.

USA gets off a shot....the other way Ghana will get a corner kick.
115:30
the kick...blocked out..Howard will kick.

Ghana gains ball.....
USA has three minutes left.
Ghana controls...USA gains.  USA will not short pass up field.  They settle for tired long passes which result in Ghana possessions.

USA turns it over again....gains it back.. Howard kicks long.
USA ball inside 119:00
USA crosses...and  they get a shot off!  Blocked!
Another shot by Gomez goes wide.  USA will kick from the corner  120:01!!
the cross....!  USA gets off several shots on good pressure.

12:40  3 minutes added on!

USA at mid field...Ghana gains and goes offside.
USA in last minute of added time!!
USA with ball...a shot goes wide by a Dempsey header.

122:05
Ghana clears......30 seconds!  Ghana has the ball.

TIME!!!

USA 1
GHANA 2
Final/Extra Time

USA loses to Ghana again. 
Just like in 2006, USA is eliminated from WORLD CUP competition by the Club from Ghana.
USA put forward some very special efforts during their participation in this tournament.
They've certainly proven to many fans all over the globe they are a club as good as any.  What they still need to demonstrate is that they're better.  Their next chance to do so will come four years from now.

I'll be back later for more wrap-up.

BTB

 

USA!! KnockOut Round

Today's front page New York Post.

Go USA

Nonsense stat of the day:

GHANA is favored by 51.3%

due to home continent advantage?

pfff!

fugheddaboudit