Spending Time In The Minors

As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, 2 friends and I went to Erie, PA to see my friend's brother, Chris Homer.  He plays for the AA Erie Sea Wolves, part of the Detroit Tigers organization.  We started off the day at a golf course in Erie to play a quick 9.  I'm not an accomplished golfer but it was fun nonetheless.  I think I shot a 66, par was 34.  We then went to lunch and it was cool to hear Chris talk about being a professional ball player.  I think I'd enjoy that life.  Get up late, work out, take a nap, play some video games, hang out at the park, pitch an inning.  I could dig it.  What I found was most interesting was stories he passed on from guys on his team that were up in Detroit.  Magglio Ordonez is taking all the rookies out and buying them suits when they go to New York City.  How awesome is that? 

The game itself was pretty awesome.  We saw a heck of a pitcher's duel.  On the hill for Erie was Humberto Sanchez.  He pitched seven innings, allowed 5 hits, no runs, and struck out 13!  He struck out the side twice and had 1 span of 5 straight Ks.  I was more excited to see Binghamton Mets pitcher, Mike Pelfrey, who was just called up the day before.  He looked awesome!  He only pitched 6, but allowed just 2 hits and struck out 9, most of which were caught looking.  His stuff was nasty and the Mets have a good one in Pelfrey.  Erie took a 1-0 lead into the 9th which meant we were going to see Chris on the hill since he's the Sea Wolves closer, and he didn't disappoint.  He was facing the 3-4-5 hitters.  The first grounded out and he struck out the final two and picked up the save.  He came over and flipped his brother the game ball and made his day.  He'd been to games before but had never pitched when he was there.  Chris didn't disappoint.  We had a great time and are already talking about making a return trip.

As for me, I felt like Zack the Baseball Collector. The top of the first ended with a 6-4-3 DP.  The 1B was running off the field and I yelled "Hey first, up here."  He looks up and tosses the ball to me.  We were a few rows up from the dugout.  The same thing happened in the 2nd inning but he ran into he dugout with the ball after giving me the head shake.  He did though toss me another inning ending groundout in the 8th so I made out with 2 balls.  My friends asked how I knew he'd toss them up and I told them all about Zack.  So Zack, thanks for the tips.  Chris tossed a few balls up to us as he walked to the bullpen so we had a few more, I think 6 in total.  Not bad.  It pays to have connections.  Chris was also able to get us some team-signed balls which was awesome as well.  We were pretty appreciative.  I hope he makes it to "The Show."

The only drawback of the Erie trip was missing the Yankee game.  From what I gathered I missed a fun one.  We finished golfing at the start of the game.  As we were driving back to Chris's apartment, we heard Toronto score 2 runs in the first.  I was frustrated with Johnson's poor start.  When we left Chris's to go to lunch, the Yankees had bounced ahead with 4 runs in their half of the first.  So I was pretty excited.  We're at lunch and they had the NFL draft on, no YES Network.  The score crawled along the bottom and it was knotted at 5.  Again, I was frustrated.  We left lunch and I quickly grabbed my XM.  Next to the restaurant was a store that sold fireworks, swords, stun guns, tasers, dart guns, things like that.  I checked the score before going in, it was now 9-5.  I'm excited again!  We leave the store and have time to kill so we decided to drive to the mall a few miles down the road.  Jays had a run in with the bases juiced and I drove a very nervous 2-mile drive.  But Johnson got out of it, and phew, relief.  When we left the mall it was 13-6, and that's when I stopped worrying.  The Yankees scored in every inning!  Damon went yard twice!  A good victory, sorry I missed it.  But it was a roller coaster ride getting updates.

I missed the first-half of today's game as well.  I came in just in time to catch Andy Phillips hit his game-tying HR.  The Yanks are up 2-1 and Rios just got nabbed stealing 2nd.  It was a bad call.  Finally, one of those goes our way!  Farnsworth just struck out Vernon Wells.  2-1 going to bottom of 7.  Another good one from Mussina!  He continues to impress.

Carl Crawford just went deep for the D-Rays against Boston.  If the games stay their current course, we may be tied for first and headed to Boston.  Let's hope!

Giambi just went yard!!!!  Let's Go Yankees!!

J