Intrepid reporter Rob couldn't resist a Kitchener Panthers game featuring a Ferguson Jenkins personal appearance. These days "Fergie" and "64" in the same sentence would usually suggest a bad Black-Eyed Peas cover of a Beatles' tune, but not this time. Take it away, Rob.
So how many people spent their Sunday night
a) waiting an hour for the home team's #5 hitter to bat for the first time;
b) watching 23 runs cross the plate; and
c) meeting a Hall of Famer?
I'd say about 600 or 700 had the first two down. A significant subset of those covered (c). But after the recent piece here on scoring oddities, I thought it odd that there existed a professional baseball game without a full Baseball-Reference-style boxscore and play-by-play available. Not knowing what I was in for, I decided this was my task for the night. Of course, there aren't 40 people watching every pitch with immediate video replays. There are five, maybe six, and only two are keeping score. But aside from my "was that a walk or a hit-by-pitch?" confusion in the long, long second inning, I believe the results are copacetic. (Scroll down for the boxscore if you're really anxious to find out how many hits Stevie Lewis had.)
So, could he have pitched the second inning?
The ceremonial first pitch came from Ferguson Jenkins, who I certainly don't need to introduce further. The ball was just a bit outside, but would that we all could do that at age 64. Fergie pitched for the London Majors after finishing up with the Cubs in 1983, so perhaps he's used to IBL teams scoring 13 runs in an inning. I didn't get a chance to ask him how in the world he threw 30 complete games in 1971, but then again, I didn't tell him he retired four years before I was born, so it was probably good that I simply shook his hand and told you all to check out the Fergie Jenkins Charitable Foundation. You did, right?
I knew as soon as I saw the Special Events Van, my loyal photographer Brock McNichols would be all over it. There's probably an entire article to be had from that one picture, especially the thought balloon apparently originating in the Canadian flag. I don't know how well "product marketing" pays, but it must not be enough: Brock was only able to get that picture because he elected not to give his camera to Mr. Jenkins. He later clarified: "Fergie said, 'That's a really nice camera," and then, 'can I have it?'"
We can come up with a better pun than "Baker's Dozen"
Unofficially, it was Chris Dickie's first start in years. Officially, it was his first start in a while. Either way, unfortunately for the Panthers, he threw 30 pitches, walked a batter, and gave up two hits in the first...and that was his better inning. He didn't last 50 pitches or 12 batters last night. My scorecard says the first reliever, Brad Earle, gave up 11 runs (6 earned), but even though I saw all 11 score, I don't believe it.
And from my uninformed position, I was confused to see Mike Andrulis last as long as he did -- yes, he was pitching well and yes, you don't want to empty the bullpen in a laugher like this one -- but when Kitchener used two pitchers for the last two innings, Andrulis' seventh inning in which he walked two batters (previously, he had thrown just four balls against 24 strikes) looked to be unnecessary.
Luke Baker, by the way, played second base for Kitchener. It's not any funnier in context.
How many of you would have said Manny Lee?
The trivia question for the kids was, "Which former Blue Jays shortstop is celebrating a birthday today?" Based on how many children ran up the stairs to guess, it was a tough one. I feel sorry for the father who told his son to run into the press box with "Roberto Alomar" as the answer. Don't blame me -- I thought it was Tony.
Finally, without further comment, your boxscore:
So how many people spent their Sunday night
a) waiting an hour for the home team's #5 hitter to bat for the first time;
b) watching 23 runs cross the plate; and
c) meeting a Hall of Famer?
I'd say about 600 or 700 had the first two down. A significant subset of those covered (c). But after the recent piece here on scoring oddities, I thought it odd that there existed a professional baseball game without a full Baseball-Reference-style boxscore and play-by-play available. Not knowing what I was in for, I decided this was my task for the night. Of course, there aren't 40 people watching every pitch with immediate video replays. There are five, maybe six, and only two are keeping score. But aside from my "was that a walk or a hit-by-pitch?" confusion in the long, long second inning, I believe the results are copacetic. (Scroll down for the boxscore if you're really anxious to find out how many hits Stevie Lewis had.)
So, could he have pitched the second inning?
The ceremonial first pitch came from Ferguson Jenkins, who I certainly don't need to introduce further. The ball was just a bit outside, but would that we all could do that at age 64. Fergie pitched for the London Majors after finishing up with the Cubs in 1983, so perhaps he's used to IBL teams scoring 13 runs in an inning. I didn't get a chance to ask him how in the world he threw 30 complete games in 1971, but then again, I didn't tell him he retired four years before I was born, so it was probably good that I simply shook his hand and told you all to check out the Fergie Jenkins Charitable Foundation. You did, right?
I knew as soon as I saw the Special Events Van, my loyal photographer Brock McNichols would be all over it. There's probably an entire article to be had from that one picture, especially the thought balloon apparently originating in the Canadian flag. I don't know how well "product marketing" pays, but it must not be enough: Brock was only able to get that picture because he elected not to give his camera to Mr. Jenkins. He later clarified: "Fergie said, 'That's a really nice camera," and then, 'can I have it?'"
We can come up with a better pun than "Baker's Dozen"
Unofficially, it was Chris Dickie's first start in years. Officially, it was his first start in a while. Either way, unfortunately for the Panthers, he threw 30 pitches, walked a batter, and gave up two hits in the first...and that was his better inning. He didn't last 50 pitches or 12 batters last night. My scorecard says the first reliever, Brad Earle, gave up 11 runs (6 earned), but even though I saw all 11 score, I don't believe it.
And from my uninformed position, I was confused to see Mike Andrulis last as long as he did -- yes, he was pitching well and yes, you don't want to empty the bullpen in a laugher like this one -- but when Kitchener used two pitchers for the last two innings, Andrulis' seventh inning in which he walked two batters (previously, he had thrown just four balls against 24 strikes) looked to be unnecessary.
Luke Baker, by the way, played second base for Kitchener. It's not any funnier in context.
How many of you would have said Manny Lee?
The trivia question for the kids was, "Which former Blue Jays shortstop is celebrating a birthday today?" Based on how many children ran up the stairs to guess, it was a tough one. I feel sorry for the father who told his son to run into the press box with "Roberto Alomar" as the answer. Don't blame me -- I thought it was Tony.
Finally, without further comment, your boxscore:
