Author: Teddy Ballgame

Played an APBA series with Nick Thursday in Cleveland before heading to Pittsburgh for a double header featuring the Buccos versus the Cincinnati Reds. Grabbed a Primanti Brothers Sandwich before the game at PNC, everything’s on it from cole slaw to fries. Then met up with Nick’s cousin Ray & Captain Will who just relocated to Pittsburgh. Zach Duke was going for the Pirates in the opener, but left the game after throwing just 74 pitches. It was his first start since rolling his ankle on the basepaths. It also turned out to be his first loss of his career after a 6-0 start. He trailed 1-0 after four innings of play. The Reds added seven more runs against five Pittsburgh relievers making the final 8-2. Captain Will shook hands with former Pirate & White Sox skipper Chuck Tanner. Under the theory that nobody wins doubleheaders Nick placed a bet on the Buccos in the nite cap. It took a two run rally in the bottom of the 9th after a rain delay to prove that theory as the Pirates split with the Redlegs, winning game #2, 5-4. We all had our rally caps on, Captain Will was shaking his hat like he was making Jiffy Pop Popcorn, whatever it takes. As we were leaving PNC (my favorite ballpark) some guy yells out, “Hey Tedd!” Turns out he’s a Reds fan who remembered me from APBA’s 50th Anniversary Convention a couple of years ago in Lancaster, PA. Joe was still busting me for not winning a game in the tournament with the 1976 Cincinnati Reds. Joe is a big Reds fan and still was all over me for batting Joe Morgan 1st, Johnny Bench 2nd, & Pete Rose 3rd. Small world, huh. After the game we had some fun at a local club. At one point Nick was wondering where I’d gone, but then he looked over to see a pair of long girl legs in the air of where I was and figured I was doing okay.

We arrived in Cleveland to watch the Indians take on the Oakland A’s. The Indians seem to have put it all together just in time to put some serious pressure on my Chicago White Sox. We had a delicious meal at a local bar with Nick’s cousin, the President of the Cleveland Barrons & their GM, and a new good friend. The skies erupted and we got really wet, but luckily we were able to dry off with drinks in the Sky Club, very nice. Even though I’m a big White Sox fan I had to pick up Victor Martinez & Grady Sizemore tee shirts, because they’re on my APBA team. Jake Westbrook lost his perfect game, no hitter, and shutout in the 6th inning. Jay Payton started the rally with a walk, Marco Scutaro followed that up with a basehit, and Nick Swisher belted a bomb to put Oakland up three nothing. The Tribe got the momentum back when Ronnie Belliard launched a three run shot into the leftfield stands to tie the game at three. Belliard put Cleveland up with an RBI single, the Indians went on to win 6-4. Then the team watched as the White Sox blew a lead in KC and lost 10-9 to the Royals. I didn’t find out the Sox had lost till coming home at 3:00 AM. Went to a couple of great clubs in Cleveland, where we saw Ronnie Belliard celebrating at one place. Before heading to bed there was time to check out Steve’s Hot Dog place on 44th, nothing like it!

Our 2nd game in our 2005 baseball trip was between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers. After driving from Chicago to Detroit we checked into our motel near Dearborn and headed to the ballpark. We got to the park before the gates opened, which only gave us plenty of reason to stop off for dinner at Leo’s. I had a veggie gyro with fries, very yummy! Picked up a Jeremy Bonderman tee shirt as he’s on my APBA team. Nate Robertson would be the fool on the hill for the Tigers, opposed by Brad Radke. Matthew LeCroy did some yard work for the Twinkies, but it would be Luis Rivas’ three run shot, his 1st of the year, that iced it. Robertson’s 1-7 with a 6.79 ERA in his last ten starts. Final score 9-3 at Comerica Park. After the game we made it to one of my favorite haunts where one of the girls Calindra remembered me from last year. We’re such geeks that we kept looking around the girls to catch glimpses of Baseball Tonite on TV.

Went to Wrigley Field to see the Cubbies battle the Cincinnati Reds Monday night 9/12. While most everybody’s minds seemed to be focused on football with the NFL season opening the day before, Nick & I were getting set for our annual baseball trip. Both of us were dressed in our Cubby blue, which is kinda funny seeing Nick’s a Yankee fan and I’m a White Sox supporter. But on this night I was pulling for Greg Maddux. Maddux needed to win out to get 15 wins this year to keep his streak of 15 win seasons going. We got to our seats in time to see the Reds taking batting practice. Wily Mo Pena was launching ball after ball out onto Waveland Avenue during BP. Nobody must’ve put much into the BP session as Pena was batting 8th in the order. Javier Valentin hit a solo shot off Maddux and then Pena followed it with one of his own to give the Reds a 2-1 lead. Valentin was batting .600 off Greg lifetime, while Wily Mo had a .400 lifetime mark against the former Cy Young Winner. Sure enough Pena added a three run bomb in the top of the 9th to seal the deal, making it 5-1, before the Cubs scored a run in the bottom of the frame to make the final 5-2. It looks like Dusty Baker will juggle his pitching rotation to get Maddux another start in his quest for 15 wins. GO GREG GO!!!

San Diego catcher Miguel Olivo’s strange night began with the Colorado Rockies leading 4-0 over the Padres in the 7th inning of last night’s game. Olivo’s attempted pickoff of Cory Sullivan, who had walked to open the frame, skipped past firstbaseman Robert Fick, and went into the rightfield corner. Todd Helton walked and Matt Holliday hit a sacrifice fly to leftfielder Ryan Klesko. Klesko’s throw was up the firstbase line. Miguel fielded the throw, walked toward home, and flipped the ball to a bat boy near the Padres dugout rather than returning it to the pitcher. Helton was waved in from secondbase. The Padres lost the game 6-5, dropping their record to 68-69, which is the latest a division leader had a losing record.

Jeremy Hermida hit a Grand Slam home run in his first major league at bat in the 7th inning of last night’s game for the Florida Marlins. It was the first time since April 21st, 1896 that this feat was accomplished. A pitcher by the name of William “Frosty Bill” Duggleby did it then for Philadelphia against the New York Giants. With a nickname like that you’d think he could play for DonS’ APBA team, or at least go out drinking with him, or possibly be a member of his bowling team. Barry Bonds is the only other player in the history of the game to hit a Grand Salami in his first game in the majors.

Although it’s not been nearly as long ago as 1896, on Tuesday AROD became the first righthanded hitter to hit forty home runs as a New York Yankee. Alex Rodriguez’ numbers thus far are 40 homers, 105 RBIs, & a .320 batting average. These are the numbers expected from the highest paid player in the game today. Joe Di Maggio hit 46 home runs for the Bronx Bombers in 1937.