Darkavich's Daily Ramblings

Keep the faith people. The pitching is great, but the hitting is bad. I am sure they will turn the corner soon and start hitting again.

[sorry this is such a long post, but those that fell asleep (angie) or left early might appreciate it]

Well after going to the baseball game last night and watching a fantastic pitching dual dissolve away in the top of the 9th as the padres pitching had a complete meltdown and let 7 runs score we went home rejected.

The great thing about baseball is that your going to loose 40% or more of your games and still be the first place team. The next day (tonight) the padres had their ace pitcher starting. He pitched a shutout 8 innings, the only problem is so did the rockies pitcher.

As I type this, we are in the top of the 16th!!!!!!!!!!!!

The game was tied 0-0 going into the 14th. The rockies scored 1 run in their half, then the padres came up and had the bases loaded with only 1 out. They were only able to score 1 run to tie it up. The score is still tied 1-1.

These are the games that make you really appreciate what it takes to be a ball player. Both sets of fans are really getting their moneys worth.

The padres just walked a runner with 2 outs. You can tell that some fatigue is setting in. The rockies have brought up their last bench player who now has 2 strikes on him. The padres are 1 strike away to end this half of the inning. The pitcher looks the runner back to first and delivers the pitch…..and he singles into center field. The rockies now have runners on 1st and 3rd.

The next batter comes to the plate and takes the first pitch for a ball. The next pitch is a ground ball to the second baseman who throws him out to end the top of the 16th.

The padres come up in their half of the inning and the 1st batter lines an out to the left fielder. The next batter comes to the plate and takes the first pitch for a ball. The next pitch is fouled into the 3rd base side. The next pitch is a ball outside and then fouls off the next two pitches and takes the third ball of the at bat. The next two pitches are fouled off and then grounds the ball to the third baseman who throws him out for the 2nd out.

As you look around the ballpark the cleaning crew is sitting waiting to clean.

The next batter comes to the plate and takes a strike before he bloops a ball into right field for a single.

With two outs and a runner on first, the catcher comes to the plate (who has played the entire game, kneeling behind the plate) and takes a strike and then a ball before he grounds to the second baseman for the third out.

ON TO THE 17th!!!

The batter for the rockies takes the first pitch for a ball, and then the next pitch for a strike. He then swings and fouls off the next two pitches. The next pitch is taken for a ball and he fouls off the next pitch. The padres still have a pitcher in the bull pen. The next pitch is sliced foul down the right field line. The next pitch is hit into the left field gap for a double.

The next batter is the Rockies catcher. He appears to be bunting, but he is pitched a ball inside. I never understand why when a batter is giving himself up they don’t pitch strikes and take the out…. The next pitch is bunted down the 3rd base line and is thrown out. The runner advances from second to third. A fly ball can score the go-ahead run.

The Padres pitch out: No idea why they did that. (perhaps thinking a squeeze bunt). The next pitch is grounded to second. The second baseman holds the runner at third and throws out the batter at first. Two outs with a runner at third, the infield is now back.

The next batter fouls the first pitch down the first base side. The next pitch is popped up to the right fielder and the padres dodge a close one.

BOTTOM of the 17th

The padres bat in their half of the inning and the batter hits the ball up the middle of the pitcher and the second baseman gets the ball and throws the runner out at first.

The next batter takes the first pitch for a ball and then swings and misses the next pitch. He then lines the next pitch to the gap in left field, but the center fielder was able to run it down (even at this late hour).

The next batter is thrown a pitch that hits the dirt for a ball and then singles into left center for a single with two outs.

The next batter takes a ball, then the pitcher throws to first to keep the runner close. The next pitch is fouled off and then another toss over to first. The pitch is taken for strike 2. The pitcher throws a ball that looked like a pitchout that the catcher didn’t expect. the count is 2-2 with 2 outs. The next pitch is lines out to center field.

On to the 18th!!!!

The 18th inning means they will have played two full games in one night 😉 A single game double header.

The lead off hitter runs the count full. A bad call for ball 4 put the lead off runner on first. This is not he first bad call that resulted in a base runner tonight.

This is the 513th pitch of the game and it was for a strike.
What we need now is the pitchers best friend (a double play).
This is officially the longest game ever played at this ballpark.
The batter lines a pitch through the 5.5 hole for a single.

There are now runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.

The count is now 1-2. The padres have to leave for phoenix tonight, they are not sure if they will leave tonight or not. The batter lines into the pitchers best friend!!!! a 6-4-3 double play!

There are now two outs with a runner on third.

The batter takes strike 1. The next pitch is low for a ball. He swings and misses for strike 2! The crowd is really load for an 18 inning game as the batter swings through the pitch for strike 3!

The padres have the rally goat out!!! They are pulling out all the stops to try and win this game.

The lead off batter starts with a 2-1 count and then fouls off sending the count to 2-2. He then flies the next pitch to center field for the first out.

The longest padres game ever played was 21 innings.

The batter runs the count to 2-1 and then swings and misses for a 2-2 count and then swings at the next pitch and misses for the strike out.

The next batter tried a failed bunt attempt and fouls off the first pitch. He then takes the next pitch for a ball. He then pops up the next pitch to short left field for the third out.

We are now on to the 19th inning… The time is 12:14am! The teams will both be leaving tonight. They will both fly out of north island because there are no flight restrictions on the time they can leave.

This is the longest game I have ever watched. Not including double headers. The sprinklers are running in the park-in-the-park. Hope nobody was out there watching when they went on.

The first batter runs the count to 2-2 and takes the next pitch for strike 3!

This game has only had two extra base hits. The pitching (on both sides) is incredible. This is also the longest game in colorado rockies history.

The next batter swings at the 2nd pitch and misses for a 1-1 count then fouls off the next two pitches. He takes ball 2 then fouls off the next pitch. The next pitch is taken for ball 3 and then fouls off the next pitch. He finally grounds the ball to Greene at short and is thrown out at first.

The catcher is up (same one for the entire game) and swings for the fences and misses and then pops the ball up to center field.

On to the bottom of the 19th.

The Rockies change their pitcher. This is their last available player. The padres have one pitcher left but will not use him because of the 9th inning last night and all the pitches he threw.

Greene leads off the bottom of the 19th as the pitcher tosses a ball inside that gets away from the catcher. the next pitch is flied out to center field for the first out.

Next is the catcher Bard batting from the left hand side of the plate. He takes a ball and then a strike and then lines a foul ball down the 1st base line. The next pitch is a ball as the fans behind home plate start doing the angel wave. They forget that they are not in Anaheim 😉 The next pitch is chopped up the middle and snagged by the pitcher with a great leap and tosses the ball over to first for the second out.

The next batter swings and misses for strike one. You can hear the chants of “Let’s go Padres” as the next ball is outside and the next ball is low for a 2-1 count. The next pitch is a ball. The batter swings and breaks his bat as he grounds to the second baseman who throws him out at fist for the last out of the inning.

On to the 20th!!! Boy this is exciting! They have a chance to break the team record for the longest inning game (21 is the record).

The rockies first batter fouls off the first pitch then takes a ball. The next pitch is fouled off. The next pitch is lined on the ground to the 3rd baseman who dives and stops the ball, he gets up and throws to first and gets the runner by two steps for the first out.

The next batter takes the first pitch for a strike, then the next two pitches for a ball. He then fouls off the next pitch to even the count to 2-2. He is jammed on the next pitch and grounds the ball to short and thrown out to first.

The announcers claim this is the only game on planet earth being played because the last australian rules football game just finished.

The next batter brings the count full and then lines the ball up the middle for a single.

2 outs with a runner on first.

The next batter lines the ball to center for the last out of the inning.

The padres head into the dougout for the bottom of the 20th.

The padres batter takes the fist two pitches for balls, then takes the next pitch for a strike. With a 2-1 count he chops the ball to short and is thrown out.

There has only been a single error and two extra base hits in this game. That is incredible if you think about it.

Brian Giles comes to the plate and takes the first pitch for ball. He then takes the next two pitches for a strike and ball, then fouls off the next pitch evening the count to 2-2. The next pitch he turns on and lines foul to the first base side. He was just ahead of the pitch. The next pitch is grounded to second and he is thrown out for the second out.

The next batter steps in and takes a strike. He swings at the next pitch and misses. He fouls off the next pitch to stay alive. A swing and a miss sends us to the 21st inning!!

This is now tied for the longest game the padres have played. They are tied with the team record of 21 innings. This is the third time in their history they have played 21 innings.

The first pitch of the 21st is a strike. The next pitch is a ball and he swings and misses for strike 2. The count is 2-1. The next pitch is high for ball 2. the next pitch is fouled off. The next pitch is blooped into center field for a single. The ball was just missed with a valiant effort. I think the fatigue is getting to them.

The next batter takes strike 1 as he attempts to bunt. The next pitch is offered at but missed and on appeal did not go around. the next pitch is a ball. He bunts the next ball and leaves it in front of the plate as the catcher grabs the ball and throws a strike to second base to get the lead runner making the bunt worthless.

The first pitch is fouled off and a swing and a miss at the next pitch. A ground ball DP would be nice here. Swing and a miss for strike 3! What a curve ball.

The first pitch is taken for a ball. The next pitch is right down the middle for the first strike. A swing and a miss for a 1-2 count. The crowd is on their feet cheering! Just inside for ball 2. A fly ball to second base for the third out.

It’s time for the 3rd 7th inning stretch!

The center field cameraman has fallen asleep 😉
There are actually a lot of people still at the game. Probably at least still 2000 or so.
Remember this was a game that was normally played at 1:05pm that was switched to 7:05pm. I bet they regret that decision.

The padres 3rd baseman takes the first two pitches for strikes. He swings and misses for strike 3.

The next batter comes to the plate and takes the first two pitches for balls. He swings and fouls off the next two pitches. The next pitch is in the dirt for ball 3. Full count now. The next pitch is lined into left field for a single!

Arg, the next batter grounds the first pitch to the shortstop for a 6-4-3 double play!

On to the 22nd inning. Now increasing the record of the longest game ever played.
The game is now over 6 hours old.

The first batter takes a ball, then a strike for a 1-1 count. The next ball is low for ball 2. He grounds the next ball to second base and is thrown out at first.

The first pitch is popped up to shallow center field for the second out.

The next batter takes the pitch inside for a ball. The next ball is taken for a strike and then another ball. A swing and a miss to even the count at 2-2. He chops the next ball foul. He grounds the ball to short and the thrown is a little high taking the first baseman off the bag for the first error for the padres.

2 outs and runner on first. The pitcher tosses a few balls over to first to let the runner know he is watching him. the next pitch is takes for a strike, the runner goes and the throw is in the dirt and gets by the second baseman and the runner advances to third.

The count is now 1-2 and a double into the gap of left field scores the run.

The score is now 2-1 with a runner on second with two outs.

The first pitch is a ball to the next batter. The next pitch is chopped to first for the last out.

The bottom of the 22nd the padres need to score to keep playing. The only way this game was going to finish was with a bad thrown or a fielding error. The top of the inning had two bad throws for errors that resulted in that run. Let’s hope the padres can rally back.

The stands only have a few hundred people in them now.

The lead off batter is Greene. He takes the first pitch for a strike. We really need a bloop and a blast. The next pitch is outside for a ball. The next pitch is lined foul down the third base line. The next pitch is up and in to even the count to 2-2. The next pitch hits the batter on the elbow. Not the way we wanted a runner, but we will take it.

The catcher comes to the plate. and fouls the ball down the third base line. Someone is getting a lot of baseballs down on the line there. The next pitch is chopped to third for a 5-4-3 double play!

The padres are down to their last batter. Paul McAnulty is up (who made a base running mistake that could have ended the game earlier in the 9th). He takes the 1st pitch for a ball. The second pitch is inside for ball 2. A swing and a miss to send the count to 2-1. The next pitch is outside. The pitcher is on-deck. The next pitch is outside for ball 4.

2 outs runner on first. The pitcher digs in and gets ready to face the pitcher. He takes ball 1. The determination is on his face. He wants to tie the game up. He takes strike 1. The next ball is taken for ball 2. The count is 2-1. A swing and a miss (good swing) for strike 2. Padres down to their last strike! Takes strike 3! Padres loose, Rockies Win!

The official time is 6 hours and 17 minutes.

So no matter what the scoreboard says, this is why we watch baseball. On any given day you can see an incredible effort by one or two players, but this was an incredible effort by two TEAMS. Time to go to bed and get ready for tomorrows, uhm todays game in arizona.

Baseball! What a game!

Have these people never heard of the mercy rule?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080417/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_baseball_japan_score

Well, I think we were bad luck for the Padres. The two games we saw this weekend they lost. It might have been us or it might have been the military uniforms they wore both days… It’s also possible that the Dodgers sneaked in players from other teams and put their uniforms on them. They played so a-typical defense this weekend.

They beat San Francisco today in their home opener. so they are up to 5 and 3.

So the saying in baseball is to forget about yesterday because in one day you can turn things around.

After a heartbreaking loss last night in the top of the 9th with two outs the Padres came back and won todays game. So it’s a pretty good start to the season. They are 3 and 1 and Trevor has 2 saves.