Silverhawks Drop the Ball on Opening Night

The home team bullpen home plate on the 'dirt'

Tonight I was able to attend Opening Night at Coveleski Stadium. I was excited to see some of the additions to the new park. They have started a dramatic overhaul of ‘the Cove’ to make it a little more fan friendly. Just a couple of weeks ago the Hawks tweeted a picture of the field that was completely covered in dirt. Tonight it was covered by field turf. The first thing that I noticed though was that the warning track was a dirt color, but was also field turf. I was wondering what kind of warning it would be if it does not feel any different? Maybe they have done something so that you can feel it. It is still weird to watch a baseball bounce on the ‘grass’ and see the black splashes as it hits.

Late Fireworks at the Cove

Today I was in South Bend to see the Lansing Lugnuts and the South Bend Silverhawks play a Midwest League game. Except for A.J. Jiminez hitting a solo home run in the 4th inning it was a quiet game. A.J. is shown above fouling off the pitch before the home run. The score was 2-0 Lansing, and it looked like both pitchers were in control. That is until the bottom of the eighth. The Silverhawks scored once to cut the score to 2-1. Randy Rodriguez came in the game to pitch the top of the ninth for the Silverhawks, and started getting hit hard right away. Jimenez smoked the first ball to centerfield, and would have had extra bases if not for Keon Broxton. That kid can cover some ground out in center. The next batter Brad Glenn took a ball out of the stadium in left for a home run. Another long out was recorded before the ninth hitter in the lineup, Oliver Dominguez, hit another shot. Rodriguez finally got out of the inning, but the Hawks were down 4-1 by the time he was done. David Nick closed out the scoring by hitting a two run shot for the Hawks in the bottom of the ninth. His two out home run that hit the church in left brought the Hawks to within one, but they could not pull the game out. They fall to 23-27 on the season.

Silverhawks Play Chicken With Lugnuts

For nine innings tonight the South Bend Silverhawks played chicken with the Lansing Lugnuts. Neither team wanted to win the game. I decided to go to the game to see the Famous (San Diego) Chicken in action. It was also a chance to see two Toronto farm teams (Lansing and Las Vegas) in the same week. I need to get my priorities in line. The beginning of the game was all Lansing. When Tyler Pastonicky hit his first home run of the season in the fourth they had a 4-1 lead. Tyler is shown to the left with an onlooker on top of the dugout. They jumped up 2-0 in the first inning off of Silverhawk starter Randy Rodriguez. He only lasted four innings allowing all four of Lansings runs. He was really getting hit hard. It is amazing he only gave up the four runs. In the fourth the Silverhawks had Jordan Meaker warming up. He was also up earlier in the game. He came out to pitch the fifth, but left the mound after warming up. There was a small delay while the team was given time to warm up Yonata Ortega. The closest that they came to scoring another run was in the 7th when A.J. Pollock made yet another great grab with two outs that saved a run. The chicken even showed him a sign that said ‘Employee of the Month’ as he came into the dugout.

The Silverhawks on the other hand wasted a lot of chances during the game. Clayton Conner who was only playing his second game for the Hawks stranded a few men on the basepaths. It was only fitting then that he would win the game in the 10th on a single to left field. Maybe it was the break he was given during the game that made all the difference. The Chicken gave him a magazine, a bottle of water, and a chair before the top of the seventh. He then took a rest instead of warming up the infield. Maybe that extra energy was the difference. The game would not have gotten to that point though if Alfredo Marte had not hit a three run home run in the sixth. He seems to be a hit or miss player, and he got all of this pitch. He sent the ball out of the park in left field. I have not seen too many balls leave the stadium at the Cove. Somehow this team is starting to win some games. It may be too little too late though as the season is winding down. They have been exciting to watch lately though.

I will have a little more on the Chicken’s visit to the Cove tomorrow.

http://csd72.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

On Dollar Monday played on Wednesday we get two for Tuesday

Sound confusing? Monday’s South Bend Silverhawks game was cancelled so they moved the dollar Monday game to Wednesday and played a doubleheader. The Silverhawks split the twin bill, but it was a great day for baseball. The Silverhawks are having trouble drawing, so I don’t know how many more Opening Week games I will be able to go to at Coveleski. It is a great way to spend the day though. Fourteen innings of baseball for $1 is alright by me.
I am still amazed at the lack of attention people pay at these games. A line drive comes flying in on the first base side nearly beheading some kids, and nobody pays any attention. They go right back to talking with their backs to the plate. It will take a tragedy for people to pay attention I think. That is one reason why I don’t go to dollar night anymore.

http://csd72.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss