Los Angeles Lakers (19-9, .679, 1st NL West) @ New York Jets (16-13, .552, 2nd AL East)
The total flight time from San Diego to New York is about 5 hours and 16 minutes with 4 1/2 of those hours being spent in the air... it only sounds pleasant, 4 1/2 hours of uninterrupted work where I can idle my time by reading development reports, free-agent scouting reports, and to look in on players I’d like to add via trade. The problem is that I’m sharing the plane with 28 professional athletes, trainers, additional staff, etc - basically a collection of societal misfits whose weird mixture of self-aggrandizement, self-loathing, and anxiety make the most insecure of all movie stars look like a well-adjusted human being. By the time we land in New York, I had spent the last 4 1/2 hours listening to Otto tell me how a guru he found in the San Bernardino Valley helped him to fine-tune his swing, had helped Brisky pick out a new set of rims for his Lambo, and offered Voorhis my advice on some of the design choices he’d made on a new dining room table he plans to build from reclaimed wood (my advice was, of course, to wait for the offseason). Distractions… so, what do I know about the Jets? They have an average (or slightly below) offense anchored by the 5-time Boyce Award winner, 2B Rich Hamilton, who is still going strong (.343/5/18) at 36-years young for starters. They also have an average pitching staff (or slightly above) that is helmed by the incorrigible Tommy Mathieu, who, despite his advancing age continues to be one of the top hurlers in the game – he’s 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA so far… nothing flashy, just gets it done. And, lastly, I know that they have a new ballcap – and, for my money, it’s much better than the crown they used to wear.
29 of 162: Newton Weiser (2-1, 3.25) @ Tommy Mathieu (4-1, 3.78)
Loss, 6-2. What do you get when you pair a long flight with no game preparation? Embarrassed, that’s what. Newton gave us 6.2 and gave the Jets 5 runs (Ferdinand gave up the sixth) and we got an RBI each from Otto & Dom… and, well, that’s just about all of it. Jet lag had us sleepwalking our way through this one – Mathieu took advantage of our Zombie-like state for 5.2 (1 earned) and Hamilton chewed us up a bit with a 2 for 3, 2-RBI performance. Also… if you are looking for something, anything good – Voorhis and McDonnell (14) stole bags and we got two double plays. So, it’s not like we completely sucked.
Elsewhere: 2B Magmo Noyola, of the LSU Tigers, went 2 for 5 with 2 homers, EIGHT RBI, 3 runs and 2 walks in the Tigers’ 23-12 win over Boston College. The 19-year Cuban national is developing into something nice during his NCAA tenure – might have to keep an eye on this kid, he’s got something snappy. Also, Magmo looks like he's got some scraps, right? Good in the pocket, undoubtedly good to have around if/when a donnybrook breaks out.
30 of 162: Paul Yeager (4-0, 3.25) @ Lenny Rios (2-0, 3.32)
Loss, 6-2. This is nearly a carbon copy (what’s a carbon copy in 2077, anyway?) of the 1st game – Yeager went 7, gave up 5 (Garcia gave up #6 in relief) and Otto & Owen get an RBI each. Not sure we can use jet lag as an excuse two days in a row, so I’ll just go with this: WE KINDA SUCKED AGAIN YOU GUYS! Rich Hamilton, the Laker Killer, went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run. We didn’t steal any bases. Heck, we barely played baseball… even with all the great bagel options NYC provides – nothing, not even the comfort of a pizza bagel, can make you feel good about losing two in a row…
Elsewhere: Pennsylvania Quaker, C Jeremy Bogus, went 4 for 5 with a double, two jacks, 7 ribbies, 3 runs, and a walk-in their 19-8 win over the Michigan Wolverines. Bogus has a cool name, that much is clear, but what he doesn’t have is an MLB future – he could, MAYBE, play a couple of years as a pro in the Bush League, but that’s iffy. So, this might have been his shining moment – bask in the afterglow, young man, you may never reach this sort of individual athletic peak ever again.
31 of 162: Aiden Jensen (1-3, 5.45) @ Brad Davis (0-2, 4.67)
Win, 6-3.
Back in the saddle again (I listened to Classic Rock on my way to work today, this Aerosmith tune came on and I made everyone stopped near me at the intersection uncomfortable while we waited for the light to change -it's a bop as the kids like to say)… Aiden pitches a complete game where he struck out 7 and only allows 3 to plate, Voorhis drives one in, as do Hamza and Ethan, Otto went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI, and Pepper went 3 for 5 with a run scored. TWO SAC FLIES – Otto & Ethan showing some much-needed team spirit! Rajkumar and Mack took one for the team – literally – both were pegged by a pitch… AND we got two double plays. Let’s be honest though, folks, I’m just happy to have avoided a sweep.
A few notes before we head back to LA for a 9-game homestand: The Washington Huskies have a guy playing for them called Mahmoud FakhFakh – a so-so 3rd baseman from Morocco. I know this because he went 2 for 4 with a double, a jack, 7 ribbies, and 2 runs in a 12-6 win over Texas A&M. He’ll be a three and out International League guy most likely – but, hey, his last name is good for a laugh. Our lead in the NL West is only 1 ½ games – Phoenix is making a move and even the MINNESOTA NORTH STARS are in the mix at only 2-games back… Ethan is leading the league in being caught with his hand in the honey pot – dude’s timing has been suspect so far…SP Aiden Jensen is leading the league in HRA by TWO… he likes to live dangerously, hanging big juicy curveballs out there for power hitters on the regular… Bright-note – Tony Voorhis is leading the league in ZR at 6.5, CF Masaharu Watanabe (last years leader in K’s) is second at 5.8 so far… AND we are leading the league in attendance (by about ~10K), so, it’ll be good to get home in front of a raucous crowd as we welcome the Timbers to the City of Angels next.