Jim's comments are dead on, and count me in that phone booth, I'll be loading in my nickel, dime and quarters.
Burke's first step on balls hit straight on were not good at all, but thanks to his speed he was able to compensate for the most part. Looked like he lost Pence's ball in the lights (or lack of light) or at least that's what his mannerisms told me.
Carlos looked good at the plate as I expected and didn't cheat himself out on his swings, in the field there are still some questions. Being that it was a ST game and the wet conditions, I'll cut him some slack on the hustle, but I believe he could have gotten to that looping liner to short LF that ended up about 10 feet in front of him. While I and my 7yr old son was in my old seats (for those that weren't Express regulars that's the 3b coaches box...better known as row 1 3b) my wife and 3yr old son were in the LF birm and heard the jawing from the crowd telling Carlos he needed to take instruction from whoever it was in CF that made the sliding catch. Carlos turned around and chuckled. Also curious why he didn't fire one home on a short popup with runners at 2nd and 3rd. I think he could have got the runner at home. But as I told my son, it was a perfect strike to the cutoff man.
Pence looked good, but can also see that he needs to work on his approach with 2 strikes. His last at bat looked better with 2 strikes as he tried to battle the pitch...(hint, contact is needed though to see another pitch). Overall very impressed, and was thinking that the Chronicle summary might be asking if the wrong person was sent to Round Rock after he crushed that ball off Lidge.
AE booted a routine DP ball (told my son how rare it was to see one of those) and knocked in two with bases loaded. Good at bats for AE last night, including a smoking foul ball off the wall to the right of me...wasn't sure if that was going to come off the corner of the photographers stand or not, so I decided to keep the chicklets in place and let that one go by. Can't say so much for the dude that barehanded one of Carlos's liners into the 3b crowd. He stuck his skin mitt up there and pulled it in. Great thing about it is he can leave the ball at home and still go to work and show everyone his trophy...."yea, see right here next to that piece of ivory poking through...yea right there, all that black/blue/purple with the laces cut into it...that's right were I caught it! Good thing I'm amphibious and can use my other hand to...well you know".
Morgan...well it was good to see Morgan out there again. I'm biased as my family and I got to know Morgan pretty good in the season he was here. Still had a great attitude and came looking for us before the game. Brought a bat he gave my son in 2000. The bat broke when he hit a big fly out to the birm and he gave it to Mason after that game. It had 14 on the knob, but being in the minors, didn't have his name. So we brought it and he signed it for my son and took another picture with him. Now I can put that next to the picture of Morgan holding Mason on opening day 2000 when Mason was only 3 months old. Needless to say Morgan has always been his #1...Berkman is #2 since he's a left 1b too. Anyway, his throws looked more fluid than last year, and looked smooth at the plate. I thought his first AB was going to land on the equipment shack roof. Think the wind and thick air really knocked it down.
Garcia made a bad ass backhand play and submarine throw to start a DP.
Douglass was high and tight all night, including the chin music to Ensberg. I thought it was hilarious when Morgan got up and charged about 1/3 the way to the mound, crowd loved it, and so did Jackie. But Jim is right in that he looks to have the stuff.
Side bar: Mason and his two buddies got some good autographs. While everyone else was hanging out at the locker-room stairway down to the field, I had them at the back door between the locker-room and the batting cage, so the players just walked right down the fence in front of them and they were the only ones there talking to and getting each one of them to sign while daddy stayed off in the distance. The only disappointment was Berkman, he cut across the grass about 15 feet away from the kids and then ran out of the cage back to the locker-room. Whether or not he was avoiding the three boys on purpose (which left a bad taste in my mouth) or just in a hurry and getting in game mode I don't know, but didn't leave me all warm and fuzzy. I got over the avoiding the kids part, because hey, he's a ball player and they wouldn't avoid three little boys looking for an autograph from a hero! Was also a little disappointed that Morgan and Burke were the only ones to stop on the 3b line for autographs before the game (that I could see, could be wrong), and Morgan when leaving between innings stopped a few seats down from me to give two kids his batting gloves. The rest of the big leaguers just walked on by before and after the game without hardly a nod of the cap to the 3b crowd...especially Biggio. Didn't even acknowledge the crowed before the game walking down the 3b line before and after...(but I did see him sign a bunch of stuff by the 1b dugout). Not complaining just thought it was a little odd, especially for the kids that were there asking what the heck? (again, not bashing).
Congratulations to Jackie Moore on his 50th year of baseball and boy was it strange not seeing Spike Owen at 3b...congrats to him as well on his retirement.
Great time at the ballpark, love hearing the sounds of the game.
