Los Angeles Lakers (26-15, .634, 1st NL West)) @ Phoenix Suns (21-19, .525, 4th NL West)
In Phoenix for four games – not ideal, we have a history me and this town, but, on the bright side, I’ll spend at least one of my mornings before reporting to the ballpark in a hot air balloon taking in the sights and sounds of the Sonoran Desert. Their website claims that, afterward, when safely back on the ground, I’ll get to enjoy a Champagne breakfast, and chat with the group about my flight experience… I’m not sure why they want me scaring the other passengers with my tales of severe terror and all-encompassing fear, but I do love a mimosa. At 21-19, the Phoenix Suns are one of those teams that just can’t get healthy – they have the pieces to be a legit contender and even signed Julen Morales out from under us during the offseason – but, alas, here we go again with the injuries… Al Van Wilder is still out – a ruptured UCL takes some time to heal (he’s got at least 3 months left), Wil Lewandowski is DtD with back tightness (not to be confused with back spasms), and stud 3B Homer Wingard is out for 3 weeks with a broken bone in his elbow (I’m not sure which one though…). When you add it up – this is a team that needs better training staff or something – sheesh. There are some bright spots too – take, for instance, their offense – it’s stellar – 1st in runs scored, AVG, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and HRs… they can bat it around and often do – with a reckless abandon no less. Not unlike our last two opponents – Phoenix’s trouble area is their pitching & defense where they rank 11th in starters ERA and runs against. They are the peanut butter without the jelly, the bacon without the eggs, and the pizza without the pineapple. Could be an interesting stretch for us here as we engage in an old-fashioned duel with the Suns to see whose pitching will falter first…
42 of 162: Dejuan Burns (4-3, 3.28) @ Julen Morales (2-3, 5.76)
Win, 5-2. Dejuan outduels Julen – 7.1 IP, 2 earned, and 3 K’s – while Otto gives Phoenix some of his vintage stuff in a 4 for 4 performance with a HR, RBI, and 2 runs. PEPPER also gave his former club the business in this one – the recently injury-free third baseman finished 2 for 4 with a HR and 2 RBI. We’d score all 5 runs on Julen – he really hasn’t looked great this year so far… Kyle Weaver contributes 2 hits, Gay drives in a couple, Otto steals a bag & gets an OF assist, and the infield unit turns FIVE double-plays – we’re out here treating Phoenix’s fans to some web gems…
43 of 162: Michael Brisk (4-2, 2.83) @ Jack Sanchez-Flores (2-4, 6.38)
Loss, 3-2…
Heartbreaker… Sanchez-Flores spins a masterpiece over 8 with only 2 charged to his name & Brisk responds in kind but takes out a note on an additional run that we can’t afford to pay the interest on. Mullens & Williams drive in the runs and Otto is good at the plate in a 3 for 5 performance. There isn’t a lot that stands out in this one – we’re more serviceable than good, just going through the motions a bit I guess.
Elsewhere: Washington gets by Clemson by a score of 3-1 (lame), UAA squeaks by San Jose State, 2-1, and Polk CC lost a heartbreaker to Purdue in extras where they went up by 1 in the top of the tenth only to have Petino Ortiz walk them off on a dramatic 2-run homer. Petino, despite have a cool first name, is not widely considered a professional prospect – his ceiling looks to be a season or two in the Bush League… max.
Note: Ran out of time this morning, so, I’ll finish this 4-game stretch later this evening or tomorrow…