Baseball is my study partner, providing background noise while I work on a reading or writing assignment. Baseball is my therapist, calming me down after a rough day away from home. More sounds of strikeouts & bloop singles have echoed from my car radio than guitars & drums.
Baseball has given me quite a ride so far, but nothing as wild & emotional as these last four days before the All-Star break.
On Thursday, as you all well know by now, a fan lost his life at the ballpark. His name was Shannon Stone, a 39 year old fire-fighter. He fell in the gap between the score-board & outfield grandstand. He was reaching for a ball thrown to him by Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton, lost his balance, and fell twenty feet. He lost his life, not in an inferno, but trying to get his son a souvenir. Tragedy. Hamilton, a recovering drug addict & very humble human, was described as distraught & guilt-ridden upon hearing of Stone's death. Who wouldn't be? Too lose your father while attending a baseball game is . . . heartbreaking. My heart & thoughts went out to the Stone family after hearing about their lost on SportsCenter. I was troubled. But, like a good friend, baseball helped comfort me.
Friday night the Pirates began a three game series against the Chicago Cubs. I was extremely excited about this game all day for, well, no reason at all. Maybe I needed it to forget the tragic affairs in Arlington? I don't know, but the game didn't disappoint. The Cubs carried the lead, 4-3, into the bottom of the eighth after roughing up Jose Veras. Cubs reliever Sean Marshall recorded two outs, but surrendered the tying run on birthday boy Josh Harrison's single which scored Neil Walker. Cubs Manager Mike Quade hooked Marshall after that for his closer Carlos Marmol.
Baseball has given me quite a ride so far, but nothing as wild & emotional as these last four days before the All-Star break.
On Thursday, as you all well know by now, a fan lost his life at the ballpark. His name was Shannon Stone, a 39 year old fire-fighter. He fell in the gap between the score-board & outfield grandstand. He was reaching for a ball thrown to him by Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton, lost his balance, and fell twenty feet. He lost his life, not in an inferno, but trying to get his son a souvenir. Tragedy. Hamilton, a recovering drug addict & very humble human, was described as distraught & guilt-ridden upon hearing of Stone's death. Who wouldn't be? Too lose your father while attending a baseball game is . . . heartbreaking. My heart & thoughts went out to the Stone family after hearing about their lost on SportsCenter. I was troubled. But, like a good friend, baseball helped comfort me.
Friday night the Pirates began a three game series against the Chicago Cubs. I was extremely excited about this game all day for, well, no reason at all. Maybe I needed it to forget the tragic affairs in Arlington? I don't know, but the game didn't disappoint. The Cubs carried the lead, 4-3, into the bottom of the eighth after roughing up Jose Veras. Cubs reliever Sean Marshall recorded two outs, but surrendered the tying run on birthday boy Josh Harrison's single which scored Neil Walker. Cubs Manager Mike Quade hooked Marshall after that for his closer Carlos Marmol.
The Pirates sent Michael McKenry to the dish. McKenry had only three RBI,
batting .241, & was only there because the Pirates have more injured catchers than Nicolas Cage has bad movies. So sure enough, the rookie sends the ball into the left field bleachers and puts the Pirates ahead, 7-4. In front of a decreasingly rare sellout & uber-loud crowd, the beastly Joel Hanrahan closed out the game and the Pirates win. The energy and excitement of the fans leaped out from my television into my family room. It was a magical July night.
Friday night helped me cope with Thursday's disaster, but Saturday afternoon showed me greatness. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter collected his 3,000th hit by homering off Tampa Bay's David Price, becoming the 28th member of that elite club, the only Yankee to do so. No matter how yins feel about the Yankees (love 'em, hate 'em, or HATE 'em) you got to respect Derek Jeter. He is baseball purity. Jeter plays the game with a grace we'll never see again & is an amazing role model for youngsters. He is so well liked & respected by his peers, that when he rounded first, Tampa's Casey Kotchman tipped his cap to him. Jeter is a living legend in the likes of Mantle, Ruth, Gehrig, & Dimaggio.
It makes me ill too remember how badly the Yankees' brass treated him during off-season contract negotiations, especially when all the media hears from Jeter is how New York is the only organization he ever wants to play for. Class, such class beyond belief. #2 will be retired in Monument Park & Derek Jeter will take his place amongst other immortals.
Saturday also saw Andrew McCutchen replace Milwaukee's Ryan Braun in the All-Star Game. Sunday brought news of Kevin Correia replacing Coles Hamels, bringing the number of Pirate All-Stars to three (Joel Hanrahan). The last time Pittsburgh sent three players to the All-Star Game was 1990 (Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, & Neal Heaton). Also, the Pirates beat the Cubs to earn their 47th victory of the year. That's the most they've had since 1992 (the last winning season). I will ride that high til Thursday when the season picks up again. For as long as I have been cognitively aware, the Pirates have lost. Can that change this year? The tension is like cinnamon rolls cooking in the oven, I cannot bare the wait but love the smell. I'll be on pins 'n needles the entire second half of the Pirates season.
With all these grand ups and horrible downs, the All-Star break has come at a perfect time. I thank the Pirates for a great first ninety games & hope success continues to come their way. I thank the Red Sox & O's for letting the hot days of summer amplify their tempers. I congratulate Derek Jeter on his milestone & offer the Stone family my deepest condolences. Baseball is my favorite show with plot twists, incredible highs, &sorrowful lows.
Written by, Andrew Brown
batting .241, & was only there because the Pirates have more injured catchers than Nicolas Cage has bad movies. So sure enough, the rookie sends the ball into the left field bleachers and puts the Pirates ahead, 7-4. In front of a decreasingly rare sellout & uber-loud crowd, the beastly Joel Hanrahan closed out the game and the Pirates win. The energy and excitement of the fans leaped out from my television into my family room. It was a magical July night.
Friday night helped me cope with Thursday's disaster, but Saturday afternoon showed me greatness. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter collected his 3,000th hit by homering off Tampa Bay's David Price, becoming the 28th member of that elite club, the only Yankee to do so. No matter how yins feel about the Yankees (love 'em, hate 'em, or HATE 'em) you got to respect Derek Jeter. He is baseball purity. Jeter plays the game with a grace we'll never see again & is an amazing role model for youngsters. He is so well liked & respected by his peers, that when he rounded first, Tampa's Casey Kotchman tipped his cap to him. Jeter is a living legend in the likes of Mantle, Ruth, Gehrig, & Dimaggio.
It makes me ill too remember how badly the Yankees' brass treated him during off-season contract negotiations, especially when all the media hears from Jeter is how New York is the only organization he ever wants to play for. Class, such class beyond belief. #2 will be retired in Monument Park & Derek Jeter will take his place amongst other immortals.
Saturday also saw Andrew McCutchen replace Milwaukee's Ryan Braun in the All-Star Game. Sunday brought news of Kevin Correia replacing Coles Hamels, bringing the number of Pirate All-Stars to three (Joel Hanrahan). The last time Pittsburgh sent three players to the All-Star Game was 1990 (Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, & Neal Heaton). Also, the Pirates beat the Cubs to earn their 47th victory of the year. That's the most they've had since 1992 (the last winning season). I will ride that high til Thursday when the season picks up again. For as long as I have been cognitively aware, the Pirates have lost. Can that change this year? The tension is like cinnamon rolls cooking in the oven, I cannot bare the wait but love the smell. I'll be on pins 'n needles the entire second half of the Pirates season.
With all these grand ups and horrible downs, the All-Star break has come at a perfect time. I thank the Pirates for a great first ninety games & hope success continues to come their way. I thank the Red Sox & O's for letting the hot days of summer amplify their tempers. I congratulate Derek Jeter on his milestone & offer the Stone family my deepest condolences. Baseball is my favorite show with plot twists, incredible highs, &sorrowful lows.
Written by, Andrew Brown
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