Stephen Strasburg: The Show

May 18th, 2009

Click here to read the intro post

May 18, 2009 — Drumroll please, . . .
“Live, from Lindquist Field in Ogden, UT. . .it’s the University of Utah Utes hosting the San Diego State Aztecs. And my first-ever, live-blog post.”

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May 15, 2009
5:14pm-OK, I’m trying this live blogging thing. I’ve arrived in time to snag a seat in the front row, just slightly left of home plate. Taking a look around, there are an awful lot of expensive watches in the seats for a college game. And radar guns. Well, time to go look for the pitcher warming up for SDSU.

5:33-The phenom is warming up in the outfield. Long toss with warmup jacket on.

What a crowd mix. Its almost worth it to come to a regular game to see what the crowd is usually like. My guess is that it’s a mix of parents, youth teams and organizational brass. Should have looked up photos of Washington Nationals scouts.

Talk radio throws out the figure 6-yr, 50-mil contract. 700 CALL. Pre-game analysts keep talking about draft busts. Josh Hamilton, Derek Jeter. And Ryan Leaf? Football?! They’re misquoting the stats, claiming only 2% make it from draft to a single appearance at the show. Have to look up the calcs I did for Wolffie, later.

Now the radio heads are talking about “overcoming intangibles” (I kid you not, they actually said that) and dealing with pressure. NBA high school draftees going to Europe.  Blah, blah, blah. Ugh. I hate talk radio. Still talking about NBA. Geez, these guys know nothing about baseball.

Looking around, there are lots of ex-jocks, youth coaches, college and/or juco players. D*mn, the place is overflowing with testosterone.

“Those Utah guys are probably p*ssing their pants,” comes a comment behind me, in that tight-lipped style that hints at a cheek packed with chew.

5:40-Long toss is over. Strasburg is jogging back and forth in the outfield. I think he’s avoiding the crowds. Come to think of it, Tony’s playing hard to get as well.

5:44-Should have brought extra batteries for the camera. Hope they last. Laptop too.

5:47-The place is filling up all of a sudden. Wonder if the 5:30 FrontRunner arrived? Glad I came early. It’s going to be fun tonight I think.

5:50-Looks like Budrow is warming up on the bullpen mound for Utah. Strasburg has taken off his jacket and is back to long toss. My radio is giving me fits. Why won’t the volume stay at one level. Where’s Tony? [Gwynn]

5:54‑‑The phenom steps onto the bullpen mound.

5:56-Umps have arrived at homeplate. Discussing ground rules, exchanging lineups. You know, that Tony is a BIG man.

6:10-I’m making friends—Rick and Frank—sitting behind me, came to watch the phenom. Seem to know about baseball. And lots more about fishing.

6:12-National anthem (canned version)

6:14-The phenom walks out to the playing field mound.

6:18-And proceeds to walk the leadoff, Shimada #3. Oops.

6:20-Sudden realization the talk radio heads are still blabbing away about something other than what I’m watching. I thought they were broadcasting this game. Stupid talk radio.

6:23-Next batter gets a three-bagger. Strasburg has allowed two hits already.

I get lucky. The Utes have a few switch/lefties batting. I may actually get some video footage out of this. [see end of post]

Third batter. Brave man, squaring around to bunt on a 96-mph pitch. [see bottom of 5th for another attempt] Get’s second hit, swinging away.

Strasburg’s pitches don’t seem to be moving as much as I’d expected. Or rather, his control seems a little loose.

6:35-Looks like Strasburg’s getting warmed up now. Swing and a miss. Next pitch, fouled straight back. Love that netting.

The homeplate dirt seems to be really wet, and soft. The batters practically have to climb out of the box on their hands and knees.

Next pitch. That was a loud pop.

Frank, “He eats those righthanders up.”

Frank and Rick think the game is broadcast on 910 AM. Frank has my radio and is trying to find call 910 for me. No luck.

6:40-It’s 1-2-3 for Strasburg in the bottom of second.

It got really dark all of a sudden. cloudy. Hope it doesn’t rain.

Stadium seats are filled up all from the 1^st to 3^rd base. Only the outfield seats in left are empty. (There are no outfield seats in LF)

Frank thinks he’s found it. 1280 AM, The Zone, but it’s a commercial. Waiting with baited breath. “Oh wait, I’ve got it on FM. Oops.”

Rick starts cracking up, “Good job.”

Now Rick tells me about the two girls on his softball team who used chew. One of them was played third base. She’d grunt when she threw to first. Frank dated her. Rick laughs some more. Frank laughs too.

It’s going to be a race with the laptop battery to live blog all of Strasburg’s start. I’m ½ down. and it’s only the bottom of 3rd. I expect the camera to hold up better.

Ditched the radio. Can’t get Klauke back home either. Screw it.

6:43-Bottom of 3rd. Lead-off Shimada grounds out.

Second batter  gets a single, hit number three for Utah. Next batter, Strasburg induces a sharp hit that becomes a 6-4-3 DP. Inning over.

6:57-Top of 4th. Budrow is pitching pretty well. It’s 2-1 Utah, SDSU has 3 hits. Utah has 3 hits.

7:00-Gets kinda quiet when Utes are pitching. Josh, to my left calls a friend, “I’m watching Strasburg. He’s a #1 draft pick.”

Utah SS had a chance for out at 1st, except he held the ball. Uh-oh. Here they come. SDSU just tied it up, so it’s 2-2 now. Two hits this inning, only two outs.

7:04-Bottom 4^th concludes with 5 hits for SDSU, 3 hits for U of U.

7:06-Top of 5th. First batter, Cron, #25, rips nice double. I wonder who’s catching Strasburg. Must be a tough kid.

7:09-Turn to ask man with radar gun, “Do you know Strasburg’s pitch count?” Doesn’t know.

Overhearing date horror stories behind me. Interrupted by, “Get your bat off your shoulder” “Choke up.”

We’re getting smoked out here. Literally. We make jokes about a grease fire in the kitchen.

Blanc, #23, watches pitches go by, with bat on shoulder. Strasburg works to full count. I ask a different scout, for pitch count. No one knows.

7:14-Felt a raindrop. Rick and Frank leave. 98 mph is Strasburg’s fastest pitch. Budrow’s throwing 89-91. More raindrops. aaggg! Nooooo!

7:18pm-Time out for ball on the field. Followed by another. Still a tie game, 2-2. 6 hits for SDSU, 4 hits for Utah.

7:21-Josh is still giving regular phone reports.

Watching Erik Castro, #15. This is Strasburg’s catcher. Two outs. Budrow works to 0-2. Now with boys gone, it’s easier to watch the game. They kept making me laugh. More raindrops. Castro hits it over the fence. Two-run HR off a changeup. So much for the tie. He can catch and he can hit. Stats-wise the two catchers are the best hitters for both teams.

7:26-Bottom of 5th. Leading off, Green #40, tries to bunt.

7:30-Oops, that was quick. Strasburg goes 1-2-3.

7:31-Top of 6. Blackburn grounds out to 1B. Next batter, Becker, #2, grounds out, 6-3. People are starting to filter out, although no one’s warming up in the bullpen.

7:34-And it’s 1-2-3 for Budrow too.

7:36-Bottom of 6. Down to last stripe on battery light. Hang in there, Pink Lady.

Utah catcher Cron #25 is up. SDSU Assistant Head Coach Filter comes out to mound for a chat. Returns to dugout.

Foul tip hits the netting 6 feet to my right and knocks empty Dippin Dots cup off ledge. Next pitch, Cron golfs a single into short left.

7:42-Wild pitch by Strasburg, runners advance. Runners on third and second . One out. Walker,#18, is batting. Count is 1-2. Slider goes outside for ball; but it was close. Strasburg works to full count 3-2. Jones, #6, on deck. Walker hits a moon ball to short left. Left fielder comes almost all the way to infield dirt to make out #2. Two away.

Runners still on 2B and 3B. Way outside. Nice stab by Castro to snag it. Count is 1-2. Still Jones, #6, hitting. Way outside. 2-2. SDSU coaches all lined along the railing, watching Strasburg like hawks. Outside.

“Hey ump, you’re squeezing him!” shouts the man (red shirt) with radar gun.

Austin Jones, #6, pops up to short right.

Strasburg’s done. SDSU bullpen is warming up. Phenom gets high fives from whole team.

7:48-Top of 7. Budrow works to full count, then walks leadoff.

I wonder how long it will take crowd to realize Strasburg isn’t coming out next inning. Young, vocal guys to my left have departed. Older gent moves to sit to my left.

7:51-Utah Head Coach has conference with Budrow on mound. And Budrow’s night is done too. Gets nice applause. Well deserved. Good job kid. New pitcher is wearing #37 (like Strasburg)

7:52-The mighty eeePC made it! Hey. Wait a sec. . .no one’s warming up for SDSU. Strasburg’s coming back for bottom of 7th?

I wonder if we’ll stretch? Nope.

8:09-Been yapping instead of blogging. And WTF? Strasburg is still pitching. Scout says he’s throwing harder now than in the middle innings. Bullpen is warming up now.

8:11-Uh-oh, battery critical light just came on. Guess I’m done blogging for the evening. Bye.

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Yours truly doesn’t have any insights to offer that would be more useful than the analyses from pros like Jonathan Mayo. So, instead, how about some video? . . .Your friend in baseball.

Entry Filed under: Major League Baseball