Mike Potter ·
7 Jul 2009, 4:14 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Back for the finale of the Carolina Mudcats’ short four-game homestand against the Tennessee Smokies, and the home team finally has a bit of momentum following Monday night’s 8-1 whipping of the boys from Sevierville.
They’re still in last place in the Southern League’s North Division, but less than 20 percent of the second half has been played.
It’s getaway day for Tennessee, and although it’s going to be a hot one neither team is going to squeal about a noon start. The Smokies are home Wednesday against Montgomery, while Carolina will have the day off and leave for Thursday’s contest at Jacksonville.
In an aside it’s going to be a long day for me, as I’ll be covering the Durham Bulls’ home game with Gwinnett seven hours and five minutes after the start of this one. The trip is right at 50 miles.
Smokies manager Ryne Sandberg is in Game 2 of a three-game Southern League suspension for altercations with umpires.
And a particularly fun thing going on in the press areas is a “broadcaster camp” being conducted by Mudcats play-by-play guy Patrick Kinas, who also does play-by-play for N.C. State women’s basketball among other duties (I too, now have several jobs.)
The campers are rotating some play-by-play stints on the internet broadcast, and some of them off-air are doing simulations in another box. That, of course, has the potential of ending up like the scene in “The Naked Gun” when Dick Vitale, Dick Enberg, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Dr. Joyce Brothers and the late Messrs. Curt Gowdy and Mel Allen all start commentating at once.
But about the game … well, Carolina wins 6-0.
The Mudcats get to Jay Jackson for a run in the first, as Carson Kainer hits a one-out single to right, advances on Juan Francisco’s infield single to second and later scores on a two-out balk. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alex Maestri, Carson Kainer, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Curt Gowdy, David Bell, Dick Enberg, Dick Vitale, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Durham Bulls, Eric Eymann, Gwinnett Braves, Jacksonville Suns, Jay Jackson, Jeremy Hellickson, Jim Palmer, Juan Francisco, Korey Feiney, Logan Parker, Marcos Mateo, Mel Allen, Montgomery Biscuits, Patrick Kinas, Ryne Sandberg, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, The Naked Gun, Tim McCarver, Travis Wood, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
6 Jul 2009, 11:48 PM ·
Comment
FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s Game 3 of the Carolina Mudcats’ short four-game homestand all against the Tennessee Smokies, and the home boys are desperately in need of getting this thing headed in the right direction.
To review, the Mudcats are in last place in the Southern League’s North Division, have lost three straight games overall and six of the last seven to Ryne Sandberg’s Smokies coming in. Sandberg isn’t in the third-base coaches’ box because he’s serving a three-game league suspension for some trouble with the umpires.
It’s very cloudy but fortunately isn’t going to rain, and the crowd is small for the first home game since June with no post-game fireworks scheduled.
Tonight it’s back to the chicken tenders.
Play ball.
The Mudcats are taking care of business early against Chen Hung-Wen, en route to a very badly needed 8-1 win behind an outstanding outing from Matt Klinker (pictured). Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, N.C. State Brian Peterson, Brian Schlitter, Carson Kainer, Chen Hung-Wen, Chicago Cubs, Chris Kelly, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Durham Bulls, Florida State League, GCL Reds, Gulf Coast League, International League, Jacksonville Dolphins, Jake Muyco, Jay Jackson, Joe Ayrault, Jose Castro, Juan Francisco, Lee Tabor, Logan Parker, Matt Klinker, Pat Kelly, Ryan Jackson, Ryne Sandberg, Sarasota Reds, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Tyler Colvin, Zack Cozart
