Lineup and Game Notes – May 4, 2013
Once you’re halfway home, you know that you can probably get the rest of the way there. – Janis Ian
Dow Diamond; Midland, Michigan
You may tune in for today’s broadcast a few different ways:
In the listening area, dial around to AM1280, WNAM. This is one of the internet links to listen to the game. WNAM is also available on IHeartRadio as a website and as an app for your smart phone.
The series in Great Lake is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV. This will be stadium video with the audio call from the Great Lakes broadcast team.
Timber Rattlers lineup:
Tyrone Taylor – CF
Alfredo Rodriguez – 2B
Mitch Haniger – RF
Victor Roache – LF
Adam Giacalone – 1B
Jose Sermo – 3B
Clint Coulter – C
Chris McFarland – DH
Orlando Arcia – SS
Wisconsin Starting Pitcher: Austin Blaski
Great Lakes Starting Pitcher: Carlos Frias
Timber Rattlers Game Notes: RattlersGameNotesMay42013
The Loons are a Dodgers affiliate….so, of course, Tommy Lasorda is here:
It’s like an episode of The Baseball Bunch.
Earl Weaver was right – Postgame post for May 3, 2013
In baseball, you can’t kill the clock. You’ve got to give the other man his chance. That’s why this is the greatest game. – Earl Weaver
Rattlers 10
Lansing 8
Boxscore | Game Story
Dammit. That was beautiful.
But before I get to the comeback, David Chavarria may be a wizard.
Funny thing. Before the game today the Rattlers pitching coach and I were talking about pitchers needing to learn how to limit damage. Basically, he said that you’re not going to throw a no-hitter every time you pitch.
Once in awhile the other team is going to have the bases loaded and no outs. When that happens early in a game in the big leagues, that pitcher will not try to strike the next three guys out. That can sometimes get you in even deeper. Get the grounder for the double play. If that run scores, so what. Get the next guy and you only let in the one run. How many games are going to end 1-0? Do your job. Get out of the inning. Let the offense go to work.
Let’s look at Leonard Lorenzo’s third inning.
- Aaron Munoz walks.
- Kellen Sweeney walks. Aaron Munoz to 2nd.
- Dwight Smith singles on a fly ball to center fielder Mitch Haniger. Aaron Munoz to 3rd. Kellen Sweeney to 2nd.
- Dalton Pompey grounds into a double play, second baseman Christopher McFarland to shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Aaron Munoz scores. Kellen Sweeney to 3rd. Dwight Smith out at 2nd.
- Christian Lopes lines out to first baseman Adam Giacalone.
I’m pretty sure I laughed at end of that inning because that’s when I knew that David Chavarria was a wizard.
After some quick research…. Friday night was the biggest comeback in a victory for the Timber Rattlers of the Brewers Era (2009-present). They were down 8-2 after the bottom of the seventh inning. Down six runs with six outs left to play and they won 10-8 in ten innings.
Wisconsin has rallied from five run deficits four times since 2009:
- July 12, 2010 – Down 12-7 after the top of the 7th vs. Burlington. Won 15-12 in regulation
- July 4, 2011 – Down 6-2 after the bottom of the 3rd at Beloit. Won 11-8 in 11 innings
- June 29, 2012 – Down 6-1 after the top of the 3rd vs. Peoria. Won 8-7 in regulation
- July 11, 2012 – Down 8-3 after the bottom of the 4th at Lake County. Won 11-8 in regulation
Those are wiped out of the books after Friday night in Lansing.
Tip of the cap to Jose Sermo. He was 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in the series. He had been hitless in 17 straight at bats. Lansing walked Adam Giacalone to set up a double play in the top of the tenth. That hitless streak did not reach 18. I need to find the highlight on the radio broadcast because the sound of ball hitting bat for the triple that put the Rattlers up for the first time in the game was….wow…just wow.
Have a series Mike Garza! He went 4-for-5 on Friday to put him at 8-for-12 with five RBI in the three games at Lansing. Average moved from .173 to .250
Mitch Haniger stole three bases in the game (Now 8-for-8 in steals). He also walked three times and was on base a total of five times.
Aside from Sermo’s triple, who had the hardest hit ball of the night for the Rattlers? Alfredo Rodriguez…again. He lined out to right to drive in the tying run in the top of the ninth. That thing was a rope. It was deep enough to get the run home, but I thought that ball had a chance to get to the wall.
I mentioned this last part in the game story, but it is worth bringing up again…In the first 23 games of the season, Wisconsin had not scored a run in the ninth inning. They scored five in the ninth inning on Friday.
Last note on the game goes to Damien Magnifico. The Rattlers comeback is wasted if he gives up a run in the bottom of the ninth. He didn’t. The possible winning run got to third base, but Magnifico did not allow a run. That set up the tenth inning.
A few pictures.
Mike Garza drives in the run to make the score 8-7.
Alfredo Rodriguez drives in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.
Pinch runner Orlando Arcia heads for home and Jose Sermo streaks for third in the tenth inning.
Lineup and Game Notes – May 3, 2013
What you have to remember is that baseball isn’t a week or a month but a season – and a season is a long time. – Chuck Tanner
Jackson Field at Cooley Law School Stadium on May 3, 2013.
You may tune in for today’s broadcast a few different ways:
In the listening area, dial around to AM1280, WNAM. This is one of the internet links to listen to the game. WNAM is also available on IHeartRadio as a website and as an app for your smart phone.
Timber Rattlers Starting Lineup:
Alfredo Rodriguez – SS
Michael Reed – RF
Mitch Haniger – CF
Victor Roache – LF
Adam Giacalone – 1B
Jose Sermo – DH
Parker Bereret – C
Chris McFarland – 2B
Mike Garza – 3B
Rattlers Starting Pitcher: Leonard Lorenzo
Lugnuts Starting Pitcher: Javier Avendaño
Timber Rattlers Game Notes: RattlersGameNotesMay32013
Lose one, win one – Postgame post for May 2, 2013
I love doubleheaders. That way I get to keep my uniform on longer. – Tommy Lasorda
This is the start of Garza’s 2-out, 2-run single in the second game.
Game 1:
Rattlers 3
Lugnuts 5
Boxscore | Game Story
Game 2:
Rattlers 9
Lugnuts 3
Boxscore | Game Story
From the This Does Not Make Any Sense file: Timber Rattlers pitchers walked eight Lansing players in the first game of the doubleheader. NONE of those walks scored in the game. NONE. In the words of Ron Burgundy: I’m not even mad; that’s amazing.
Let’s select the start of the last homestand (April 21) to pick a totally arbitrary point in time. Since that game, there have been 11 games. Wisconsin is 4-7. Wisconsin had the lead in five of those losses.
Mitch Haniger showed off some speed by running down a ball in the gap in game one. He showed off some power with a home run to left in game two.
Tyler Wagner’s night in game two: 6IP, 6H, 3R, 0ER,0BB, 6K. Unofficially, I had him at 82 pitches/60 strikes. That is pounding the zone, right?
Just putting it out there…Including the spot start by Ben White in game two, Lansing used five relievers to pitch thirteen innings of the twinbill.
Victor Roache with a 2-for-6 night to bump his average to .282. He scored three runs, stole a base, and made a nice catch against the wall in foul territory.
Pictures from the games:
This 2-2 pitch from Mike Strong missed to make it 3-2 with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 4th in game one.
Tyler Wagner strikes out Carlos Ramirez in the bottom of the fifth inning in game two.
This guy….the guy in the black shirt who looks like he’s a ‘YUUUUUUUUUP’ hat shy of being Dave Hester.
Was doing this for about two straight innings during game two:
Not as bad as this:
I mean…look at this:
Klement’s should sue.
Game time on Friday is 6:05pm at Cooley Law School Stadium.
Only fans of a certain 1960′s TV show will get that reference.
Game Notes – May 2, 2013
On the road we’re somebody else’s guests – and we play in a way that they’re not going to forget we visited them. – Knute Rockne
It’s almost like the good weather followed the team over to Michigan.
You may tune in for today’s broadcast a few different ways:
In the listening area, dial around to AM1280, WNAM. This is one of the internet links to listen to the game. WNAM is also available on IHeartRadio as a website and as an app for your smart phone.
Today’s Timber Rattlers Transactions:
RHP Jono Armold transferred to Wisconsin from Helena
RHP Martin Viramontes placed on the Disabled List
Updated Timber Rattlers Roster: Timber_Rattlers_Roster_050213
Timber Rattlers Lineup:
Tyrone Taylor – DH
Michael Reed – RF
Mitch Haniger – CF
Victor Roache – LF
Jose Sermo – 3B
Clint Coulter – C
Chris McFarland – 2B
Mike Garza – 1B
Orlando Arcia – SS
Game 1 Timber Rattlers Starting Pitcher: Mike Strong
Game 1 Lansing Lugnuts Starting Pitcher: Daniel Norris
Game 2 Timber Rattlers Starting Pitcher: Tyler Wagner
Game 2 Lansing Lugnuts Starting Pitcher: Ben White
Timber Rattlers Game Notes: RattlersGameNotesMay22013
What do ya say, Ernie?
Let’s play two today!
End of the homestand
Poets are like baseball pitchers. Both have their moments. The intervals are the tough things. – Robert Frost
South Bend 12
Wisconsin 3
Boxscore | Game Story
Some quick points because there is a lot to do tonight before leaving for Lansing tomorrow.
- The Timber Rattlers were 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position in this game
- Michael Reed had a double in the first inning. He moved his hitting streak to 7-games with that hit.
- The top of the sixth inning was tough to describe. A pair of windblown popups dropped in for foul balls, an error, and a double play that wasn’t turned. It went on way longer than it should have.
- South Bend led 5-3 with no outs and the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh. From there…it gt out of hand in a hurry.
- The – originally unscheduled – off day comes at a very opportune time. The team will travel to Lansing on Wednesday and start that series with a doubleheader on Thursday. Here are the scheduled starters for that series:THU G-1: RHP Tyler Wagner v. LHP Daniel Norris
THU G-2: LHP Mike Strong v. RHP Javier Avendano
FRI: RHP Leonard Lorenzo v. LHP Alonzo Gonzalez
Highlights:
Lineup and Game Notes – April 30, 2013
April is a promise that May is bound to keep. – Hal Borland
Homestand ends today. Game time is 12:05pm.
You may tune in for today’s broadcast a few different ways:
In the listening area, dial around to AM1280, WNAM. This is one of the internet links to listen to the game. WNAM is also available on IHeartRadio as a website and as an app for your smart phone.
This game is also available on MiLB.TV.
Timber Rattlers lineup:
Tyrone Taylor – CF
Michael Reed – DH
Mitch Haniger – RF
Victor Roache – LF
Jose Sermo – 3B
Parker Berberet – C
Alfredo Rodriguez – 2B
Adam Giacalone – 1B
Orlando Arcia – SS
Timber Rattlers Starting Pitcher: Preston Gainey
Silver Hawks Starting Pitcher: Jesse Darrah
Timber Rattlers Game Notes: RattlersGameNotesApril302013
This must be brief – Postgame post for April 29, 2013
Given the brevity of our time here, it does seem likely that our species, too, must have at best a blinkered understanding of the shape of things, the import of certain events and what distinguishes ‘good’ from ‘bad’ luck. – Karen Russell
Silver Hawks 6
Timber Rattlers 5
Boxscore | Game Story
The strikeout to end the top of the seventh.
If only there weren’t a game in 13 hours. I could spend awhile on this one. Instead, I’ll have to be brief.
Five lead changes in this game. South Bend up 1-0. Rattlers up 2-1. South Bend up 4-3. Rattlers up 5-4. South Bend up 6-5.
Michael Reed got on base five times on Monday night. He had three hits, drew two walks, scored two runs, and stole two bases. Good night. He’s extended his hitting streak to six games and bumped his OBP to .397.
The team drew a season high eight walks. Reed, Jose Sermo, and Clint Coulter all drew two walks in the game.
Jorge Lopez gave up a home run to start the game and you were probably thinking…here we go again. Not this time. Lopez showed flashes of what he has – including a fastball that reached 96 – and was much better for the next four innings. In the fifth, he gave up three runs on two hits. But the improvement was there. Keep working on that.
In the highlights, you’ll hear me say 98! on Gibbard’s strikeout of Alex Glenn to end the Silver Hawks seventh inning. I did not think that was possible for Gibbard. It was the only time he got up there. More information needed to hear if that was adrenaline or if it was a glitch on the radar.
Whatever the velocity, that was impressive. South Bend had the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the seventh. Gibbard stranded all three runners to protect that lead.
Tyrone Taylor showed off his arm with a great throw to the plate to get a runner at the plate in the fifth inning. He has three outfield assists this season.
Orlando Arcia was just elusive enough to stay in the rundown long enough to let Chris McFarland score the go ahead run. Watch for it in the highlights.
Watch the highlights. Sleep fast. See you tomorrow.
Highlights:
Lineup and Game Notes – April 29, 2013
I want to play music when I want, write a song if I want or watch a baseball game if I want. - John Lee Hooker
Let’s go!
You may tune in for today’s broadcast a few different ways:
In the listening area, dial around to AM1280, WNAM. This is one of the internet links to listen to the game. WNAM is also available on IHeartRadio as a website and as an app for your smart phone.
My NEW32′s Sports Showdown has the TV broadcast.
This game is also available on MiLB.TV.
First pitch tonight is scheduled for 6:35pm.
Timber Rattlers Transaction:
RHP Jorge Lopez has been activated from the disabled list. The Rattlers are at the 25-player limit.
Updated Timber Rattlers Roster: Timber_Rattlers_Roster_042913
Timber Rattlers Lineup:
Tyrone Taylor – CF
Michael Reed – RF
Mitch Haniger – DH
Victor Roache – LF
Jose Sermo – 3B
Clint Coulter – C
Chris McFarland – 2B
Adam Giacalone – 1B
Orlando Arcia – SS
Timber Rattlers Starting Pitcher: Jorge Lopez
South Bend Starting Pitcher: Cody Wheeler
Timber Rattlers Game Notes: RattlersGameNotesApril292013
So Close – Postgame post for April 28
You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space. – Johnny Cash
South Bend 6
Wisconsin 3
Boxscore | Game Story
Sacrifice fly by Roache scores Reed.
Haniger running on a pitch to Roache in the eighth inning.
The Tyrone Taylor home run did not make the highlights. Not sure why, but it was a line-drive, no-doubt long ball to left. Two home runs on the season for Taylor.
Mitch Haniger with three more hits. It’s still early so there are some wild fluctuations in his average. When this homestand started last Sunday, he entered play with a .293 average. After an 0-for-3 on Thursday, he was down to .267. He is 5-for-8 in his last two games and his average is up to .310.
Look at the play on the highlights that tied the game 3-3. Victor Roache did all he could do on the play, but the breaks went against the Rattlers. Coulter’s ball was in the off the bat. You can see him head back to second – like players are taught to from the time they are six. Then, he takes off. Almadova, the South Bend centerfielder booted the ball back to the infield, but the ball took a perfect hop for him to pick it up and fire in a strike to get Roache at the plate. It’s just one of those bounces.
Austin Blaski pitched well in four innings and in his first start since May 29, 2012. If you didn’t click on the game notes from this morning, you will now find out that the start on May 29, 2012 was also at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium when he was with Marietta College for the NCAA Division III World Series.
The run he gave up in the first inning was an unearned run after an error let the leadoff batter on base. But, he threw strikes (33 out of 52 pitches) walked one, and got ground balls…lots of them.
If you had Taylor Mangum in the pool for first reliever to ride the new Bullpen Car in from the bullpen, please hold on to your ticket. I tried to get a picture of him riding in on the passenger seat, but I couldn’t get a decent shot. Then, I could barely continue on the call because I got a case of the guffaws from the scene of a player getting out of that thing to go to the mound.
Have I mentioned that I love minor league baseball in the last few days?
We need to get Tom Berenger to do an appearance here as Jake Taylor from Major League so that he asks to borrow the Timber Rattlers bullpen cart to go after Rene Russo/Lynn Wells….Heck, let’s get Rene Russo here and I’ll ask to borrow the cart to go after her.
By the way, it looks like Jorge Lopez will come off the disabled list and start for the Timber Rattlers on Monday night. Ryan Gibbard will be in relief as part of the tandem.
The reason the radio broadcast went out today was because of a fire at a power pole near the station transmitter. WPS reported the outage and we never got back on the air, but the internet feed worked…at least the iheartradio.com feed worked. There have been way too many gremlins on the broadcast of late. I may need to perform an exorcism. It will involve…we’ll I can’t really say.
Highlights:
rattlerradio
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