Baseball, my passion in life (sad, isn’t it?) and positively my favorite thing in the world, has been pretty mean to me over the last couple weeks.
First, the Wingnuts have been gone, leaving me very little to write about. As noted before, road trips are boring. But I am pretty proud of the Kash Beauchamp story that ran in Sunday’s paper. Two weeks without getting to come to the stadium, as I was saying, was pretty lame.
I also don’t think my favorite team, the Cleveland Indians, have won a game during the 12 days the Wingnuts have been on the road. Not that I had any hope left for them anyway, but every loss pretty much pushes the knife deeper into my poor heart. And as you may know, the Tribe today traded ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers. Just the latest in a group of Cleveland stars that have left the team because of financial constraits. Welcome to small market baseball. Yankees fans, you’re just not very creative.
But I’m refreshed today because the Wingnuts are finally back at home and starting a seven-game homestand tonight against Sioux Falls. I must say Monday games are my favorite because there’s nothing like watching and writing about a baseball game and the heading back to the ol’ apartment to watch WWE Raw on DVR. Just saying.
I’m trying to focus on the fact that I get to cover seven games this week and not the fact that after this homestand there are only 14 home games left. That’s no good because I absolutely love covering this team and this level of baseball. And it’s fun to get geared up with “Sioux Falls is coming in tonight.” It’s not “the Mets are coming in tonight” but it’s still fun. I have really embraced this league and I’m having fun.
Three Wingnuts were named to the American Association North all-star team today — infielders Michael Thompson, Kevin Hooper and Brenan Herrera. Fairly surprising, but not really, was the fact that closer Byron Embry didn’t make the team. His numbers warranted selection, but St. Paul manager George Tsamis picked reserves and pitchers — and we all know Embry’s history with St. Paul. Remember the brawl? Yeah.
Also making the team was St. Paul outfielder Heath Keel, selected as a reserve. Keel was released by the Wingnuts a few weeks ago but has been hitting well with the Saints and has nine home runs on the season. Wichita might be regretting that move because the player signed in favor of Keel, Leivi Ventura, hasn’t done much in his brief stint with the team.
It’s good to have baseball back. Check back every day this week.