(I guess I'm giving away my age with HAVE BILL WILL TRAVEL.  It refers to a legendary old TV Western from the 50s and 60s.  The hero, Paladin, had a business card that showed a chess knight and the phrase Have Gun Will Travel.  Richard Boone played an avenging hired gun.  The card also read "Wire Paladin" and under that, "San Francisco."  Paladin never used his first name in the episodes and a few people believed he had the odd first name "Wire.")

For the most part, it looked to some of us like both teams were just going through the motions.  The game was completed in a record 1:31.  The rules of engagement this night seemed to be "don't get hurt."  If that's not true, it should have been.  The game was totally meaningless and not worth the risk of a career (or play-off) ending injury on a wet field.  Both teams finished the season as class acts.  The play-offs begin Tuesday in Ft. Worth for 2 games.  The 3rd and other games (if needed) will be in Pensacola starting Friday.

UPDATE   Category: Where are they now?

Rafael Alvarez
The Pelicans released local favorite Rafael Alvarez in mid season while on the road at a time where we had roster spots open.  He eventually signed with Lincoln and batted .369 for them.  Yesterday, he led Lincoln to the play-offs with 3 clutch  hits (1 HR).  He knocked in 3 runs and scored 2 while playing flawlessly in the field.  Lincoln clinched a play-off spot by defeating Sioux City on the last day of the season!  It's not often that a player can help 2 teams win a championship!  We hope to see him at Pelican Park again this year! 

Luis Bautista   
On July 2nd, we traded Luis Bautista to Sioux City for catcher Lou Palmisano.  Palmisano batted .221 with 2 HRs for us.  However, it was his defense that we welcomed and needed.  Many credit the fine pitching we have experienced to have been helped by his performance.  Passed balls have become a rarity.  Luis Bautista has many Major League tools but as far as I can find, is no longer in baseball in the U.S..  He went on the American Association Inactive List shortly after the trade.

Jimmy Mojica & Jose Yepez
Jimmy is below the Mendoza Line, hitting just .187 for West Tennessee of the AA Southern League.  He has made only 1 error in 102 chances at SS and 2nd.  Jose Yepez is seeing part time duty behind the plate for the same team.  He is hitting .200 but his defense has been up to his high standards.

Kyle Middleton
Kyle is 4-1 with Midland of the AA Texas League.  His E.R.A. is 2.16 and he has fanned 35 batters in 50 innings.

Rookie manager Talmadge Nunnari led the Pelicans to their first ever American Association playoff spot.  He brought in some talented players and inspired an exciting brand of "Small Ball" that featured clutch running, hitting and fielding that combined with solid pitching to win a tough division.  Along the way, he even found time to help the umpires improve their skills, concentration and eyesight!

We lost 1-0  to Ft. Worth while Shreveport was losing to the pitching efforts of Justin Mallett of El Paso, 2-1.  It's strange, but had we won we still wouldn't have clinched more than a tie.  We actually dodged a bullet.  Had Shreveport won, we would have been forced to  win 2 out of 4 against Shreveport.  They lead the season series 12-8 against us.   A tie would have seen us in a 1 game playoff at Shreveport.  We need just 1 win in the final 4 games to win the pennant and face Ft. Worth is the playoffs.

Scheduling a 10 team league with 2 divisions and travel limitations, has to be a nightmare.  Shreveport plays only 8 games here, the first 4 and the last 4.  In-between, we had to play 16 games at Shreveport.  We will have played them 24 times by this Sunday's final game.  That's 25% of our schedule yet we haven't seen them here since May 17th. 

Last night's win clears the playoff picture a lot.  The magic number is 3 thanks to Aaron Jackson's 4 hit shutout and an explosive offense!  The tie scenario is gone and we  now need to win 3 games.  Basically, if we win tonight or tomorrow, Ft. Worth is eliminated.  If we win 1 and Grand Prairie loses 1, they are eliminated.  If we win the next 2, both Grand Prairie and Ft. Worth are eliminated and either 1 more win or Shreveport loss would give us the pennant.  Any combination of Pelican wins and Shreveport losses totaling 3 gives us the pennant.

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This was an incredibly important game.  The 2 we lost to last place El Paso  could prove to be very important.  At this stage of the season, an error  can decide everything.  We now stand at a magic number of 4.  If we win 4 games (4-3), we're in regardless of what the other teams do.  If we win less than 4, we need help. 

If we win 3, Shreveport, Grand Prairie and Fort Worth must each lose 1 and we're in. 

If we win just 2, each of those teams needs to lose 2 games. 

If we win just 1 of the final seven, the other teams must each lose 3 games.  

If we go 0-7, Shreveport wins if they defeat El Paso 1 out of 3.  Grand Prairie can also beat us if they go 4-2.  Ft. Worth wins if they beat El Paso 2 out of 4. 

A Ft. Worth miracle win would be interesting because they won the First Half Pennant.  One scenario: If they win both pennants, we can still make the playoffs if we beat Shreveport twice and Grand Prairie loses twice.  If the same team wins both halves, the 2nd place team with the best season record gets the playoff spot.  We were 24-24.  Shreveport was 22-26 and Grand prairie was 23-25. 

I think there is actually a possible scenario that would  have us benefiting by losing all 3 games with Ft. Worth!  In that scene, we would lose a chance at the playoffs by beating Ft. Worth!  Imagine the situation if we were playing them the last game of the season!  If Ft. Worth won the pennant, we are ahead of Shreveport in the season record and would be in the playoffs if they finished the second half 26-22 to our 25-23. It's highly unlikely to happen.  But it's still baseball! I imagine there are other odd scenarios if you include Grand Prairie. 

Try this:  We win 1 out of 3 vs Ft. W.  Shrport takes 2 out of 3 from E P
We stand 26-18   S. is  24-20  and Ft. W is 23-21
Shrport  takes 4 from us.  Ft W.  takes 4 from E P
We stand  26-22   Shrport is 28-20   and Ft. W.  is 27-21   Shreveport wins the pennant!

OK?  We lose all 3 to Ft. W.    Shrport takes 1 out of 3 from E P
We stand 25-19    Shrport  is 23-21     Ft. W.  is 24-20
We lose all 4 to Shrport      Ft.W.  takes 4 from E. P.
We stand  25-23   Shrport 27-21     Ft. W.  is  28-20 and wins the pennant

Tie breakers: we were 24-24 and 25-23   for a total of  49-47  Shreveport is 22-26 and 27-21 for a total of 49-47.    WE ARE TIED and have a shot at the playoffs because we LOST a game!  I am interpreting the playoff rules to require a one game playoff for the final position.!

I ignored Grand Prairie in my little scenario.  They play 6 games against non division foes and could be the in the catbird seat!  You figure it, I'm tired.  The Pelicans can simplify everything by taking the advice of football owner Al Davis:  "Just win baby."

We're in a pennant race.  We commit 2 errors.  Our pitcher is getting bombed and new acquisitions Francisco Butto and Kieran Mattison remain on the bench.  Our catcher is thrown out trying to steal 2nd base in the 9th inning while we are 6 runs down.  Have we misplaced "The Book?" When you're down 6 runs in the last inning, there is little advantage in stealing 2nd and a great downside.   Little things really aren't so little sometimes.   It's disappointing  to see a professional athlete not "run out"  a ground ball.  Equally pathetic is the hitter who doesn't realize that  you get a double with how fast you run from the batter's box to first, not just how fast you run from 1st to 2nd.   I saw it in the Yankee game on the tube yesterday.  I saw it later that night in the Pelicans' game.  It happens a lot.   Most of our players could have run faster than Pete Rose.  Only one or maybe two, could have sometimes out run him.

Antoin Gray hit a grand slam and Justin Mallett, the ace of the El Paso staff, went ballistic on the umpire.  It was a strike zone thing.  He really thought Gray should have been called out on a previous pitch!  Would that all pitchers (or players) be as dedicated...

Gray has had 2 straight days of errorless, and actually great, fielding.  Marshall McDougall is as good as we hoped. 

The magic number is 6.  If we win 6 out of the final 8 games, no one can touch us. Each game Shreveport and Grand Prairie lose is one less we have to win.  Grand Prairie could win if they close the gap a little and step in as we battle Shreveport 4 straight to end the season.  That's why these two losses to El Paso were so important!

Fortunately, those teams chasing us are playing no better than we are.  Both Grand Prairie and Shreveport lost.   I wonder if anyone understands what I was "saying" with the  August 21, 2009 inclusion of stories about 2  of the biggest collapses in baseball history.  Was it a premonition or maybe a cautionary tale?

The college shirt promotion is a great idea but it seemed to bomb because it wasn't promoted or advertised.  What was the point of the thing?  Giving away $20 bills wouldn't boost attendance if no one knew about the giveaway! 


It's been an interesting year and we only have one more homestand.  We appear to be going through the motions—between and outside the lines.  Too bad.

The quotes are from Uncle John's Band by Robert Hunter,  lyricist for the Grateful Dead.

Errors again.  Cooper pitched well enough to win.  Sometimes our official scorer is a little generous to the home team.  A throw that pulls a fielder off the bag is as much an error as one thrown into the outfield.  It's been pointed out to me that we commit more errors than we are "credited" for.  Last night 2 errors cost us a game.  Our magic number remains at 7.  Any combination of our wins and losses by the 2 teams chasing us, will result in a play-off spot.  The final 4 game series against Shreveport is looking huge.  We have a new pitcher, Kieran Mattison.

Sports fans ("fanatics?") are worriers.  I'm a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan.  Enough said?  I've seen a game lost by a fan interfering with a pop up and  a fielder booting  a sure out ground ball—in the same inning.  It was 2003 and it was not a good year for a team that saw it's last World Series in 1945.

Need more?  I'm a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals.  They had a key player discovered in a drug induced stupor just hours before the Super Bowl.  They had a defensive back get hit in the numbers with a sure interception at the goal line—with 100 clear yards between him and a TD.  He booted it, and with it, a Super Bowl ring.  The first poor soul is serving life in a California prison.  The latter  would die in a police chase in Orlando.  It's tough to get attached to some players.  It helped that the winning team in those episodes was the Niners—also one of my favorites.  It helped a little.

Yeah, we're worriers.  A loss brings to mind the 1964 Phillies.  They had a 6.5 game lead with just 12 to play.  Buy the cheap champagne.  Right?

Unknown rookie Chico Ruiz stole home for the Cincinnati Reds.  The move caught everyone by surprise, especially because the great Frank Robinson was at the plate!  It was the deciding run.   The slide was on in more ways than one and the Phillies ended up in a tie for 2nd. 

They lost 10 straight and were led by Jim Bunning who lost 3 games in the 10 game stretch.  It was a 3 way race.  St. Louis won the pennant.  Cincinnati was 2nd.  All the Reds had to do was beat the floundering Phillies  once to tie the Cardinals and twice to win the pennant outright.  Despite being out of the race, Philadelphia beat the retreating Reds twice. 

Hero Ruiz would later allegedly pull a gun on a star teammate and much later, die in a car wreck in San Diego.  In the spirit of "my kind of hero," the utility infielder once reacted to a long streak of playing everyday by issuing an ultimatum:  "Bench me or trade me."

In 1954, the Dodgers had a 13 game lead on the Giants with just 44 to go.  The Giants would follow with a 16 game winning streak and end up taking a  playoff win on Bobby Thompson's walk off homerun.  Baseball legend claims that the Giants used an elaborate system to steal the pitching signs at the Polo Grounds.  The oft told story had a man in the center field clubhouse with a telescope.  Recently installed wiring reached the dugout from which a coded shout of encouragement could warn the batter of the upcoming pitch.  Anyone who has played the game will tell you it is a huge advantage to know what pitch is coming.  My kind of team...

For real fans, no lead is big enough.  We're up 3.5 games on Grand Prairie and 4 on Shreveport.  I'll relax when someone hands me back my playoff ticket stub at the gate.

Local favorite, and former Pelican right fielder, Rafael Alvarez went 4-4 last night for Lincoln.  Thanks, Rafael!  He is hitting .394 for Lincoln since being released by the Pelicans.  The player who replaced him here, Kevin Reynolds, is hitting .284. 

Opinions about baseball player moves are like Alimentary Canals—everyone has one!  Comparing Alvarez and Reynolds is fair, but shouldn't just be limited to batting average.  Reynolds bats at or near the top of the order but still has driven in 13 runs in 26 games.  He has stolen 14 bases in 15 attempts and has committed 2 errors.  Alvarez has an RBI total of 11 while batting in a power part of the line-up in just 20 games.  He has 3 stolen bases in 5 tries.  He has 3 errors.  Each player has 1 homer.  Alvarez has a big lead in On Base Percentage at .506 versus Reynolds' .360.  Reynolds has scored 26 runs in 26 games.  Alvarez has scored 15 runs in 20 games.  This could be misleading as Reynolds is FOLLOWED by the best hitters in the line-up while Alvarez FOLLOWS the better hitters.

Who is the more valuable player?  A .394 average is gaudy to say the least, but .284 isn't too shabby either.  Certainly 14 steals in just 15 tries fits very well in our "small ball" game.  Leadership is always mentioned but never clarified.  I won't touch it.  Pensacola is 24-14 and Lincoln is right there at 23-15.    There are other factors.  Who is the smarter base runner?  Who is better in the clutch?  Who is the best fielder?  We could go on and on.  It's a tie.  The last 10 games will determine who is the most valuable.  This is one of those arguments where the opinions of teammates and the final record should prevail.

We had lost 2 in a row to Shreveport.  We needed a stopper and some timely hits.  We got both in a 10-2 victory.  We also got 9 innings of errorless play!

Aaron Jackson is the smallest pitcher on the staff.  Jeff Knox also says he is the most athletic and would be a cornerback if he weren't a baseball player.  It sounds strange to refer to a man who is 6-0, 175 as "small" but that's consistent with sport's over emphasis on size.  He's 6" taller than the great Bobby Shantz and 4" taller than legendary closer Elroy Face.  He's equal in size to such Hall Of Famers as Bob Feller and Warren Spahn.  Last night he was in command, going 8 strong innings.  Marshall McDougall contributed 5 runs batted in and Tyler Wilson pitched a scoreless 9th.  We have 10 games left and a 3 game lead.

Jeff Knox noted that Interstate 20 still runs past the Shreveport stadium—he has an imaginitve way to describe the setting and conditions.  He said he felt like a voyeur using  binoculars to try to discover who was warming up in the bullpen tucked behind the outfield fence. Funny simile.  I once heard a school official in another town describe the sex education program he had helped create.  He said they even cover such things as the "Voyageur" type perversion.  Ever since then, those two widely different words have evoked this mental image of a bewildered French explorer being dragged out of a fur laden canoe and given some serious stick time by  the local police.  Sacre bleu! 

Shreveport had 4 earned runs off Dane DeValk.  Our storied defense supplied the rest for Shreveport in their 9-0 rout of the Pelicans.  Who can you beat when you boot 6 plays?  Yourself.

The Pelicans have loaded up the line-up with player moves in recent days.  Four players have been added including two AAA level stars—Marshall McDougall and Francisco Butto.  This is how the game is played in the American Association and we've been anxious to have our team keep up with the Joneses.  Everyone else who is in contention, plays this game.  Last night, the Captains used a pitcher (Richard Salazar) they had just acquired, to defeat the Pelicans.  Those are the breaks of the game in this league. 

However, the acquisition of 22 year veteran Jorge Alvarez illustrates how far the American Association rules are from Major League Baseball.  This goes well beyond the concept of MLB teams calling up minor league prospects in September.  Contenders in our league are looking for starting players from any source, who can deliver an immediate pennant—not future development.  Alvarez just completed a 3 game series against Pensacola.  He then moves to the team next on the Pensacola schedule!  Did the Pelicans bring him along on the team bus to Shreveport?  Will he be traded back to El Paso for their next series with Pensacola?  He could hitch  a ride on our team bus to Pensacola for that 3 game series.  And of course, he could then be dealt back to Shreveport for the final 4 game series.  He could stay in town at the Holiday Inn and wait for the Captains to come to town.  Under the ridiculous Association rules, he could conceivably play 13 straight games against the Pelicans.  To save money, he could ride on our bus!   We should have found him a host family in Pensacola.

OK, my example is facetious.  And Alvarez is a rare talent who has no control over roster moves.  It's not about him.  It's about the folly of allowing these late season moves.  At some point, there needs to be a player move deadline.  July 4th would be a good date.  Why not limit roster moves after that date to be limited to replacements for promoted players and medically proven injuries and league approved retirements. 

I'm not sure there would be harm in allowing teams to keep one more Veteran player or a "Franchise" player exempt from roster rules or limits.

In the mean time, we need to support the Pelicans in their stretch  drive.  Talmadge Nunnari and Quint Studer didn't make the American Association rules but they've gone many the extra mile to deliver us a winner under the existing rules.  And it's been entertaining—at least the 6 error game was on the road.

Jeff Knox is hilarious.  He does great as a play-by-play/color guy and can be quite serious when needed.  Last night he described the error laden 9-0 debacle as being sliced or slashed quickly rather than being stabbed repeatedly and slowly.  It wasn't as grisly a comment as it looks on paper.  He added: "Of course I've never been killed myself...."  You can hear the games on 1620 AM or on the Internet through the American Association web site.

 The Pelicans have apparently released or traded Adam Brandenburg to make room for Francisco Butto on the roster.  By my suspect calculations, we have a full roster and are within the roster rules with 4 LS-4 and 3 Veteran players.

Ron Hill and Bubba Nelson combined for 6 innings of 2 hit shutout relief work as we out hit the Diablos 16-8.  Jeff Knox did his usual great job with the microphone and reported an exciting finish that saw El Paso bring the tying run to the plate.  Hunter Davis got hit hard and wasn't sharp.  He may well be one of those relievers who needs to be a little tired to be effective.  We out scored El Paso 35-18, not the scenario to be using your closer very much.  Knox pointed out that Davis sometimes has trouble when he has a big lead.  Newly acquired Francisco Butto is a highly respected relief pitcher with several years in AA and AAA ball for the Phillies and Yankees.  He has also played in Venezuela and Mexico.

You wouldn't know it from looking at the American Association web site, but the Pelicans have acquired 3 new players.  For that matter, the official Pelican web page roster is not up to date either. It is unclear how a roster spot will be freed to make room for Francisco Butto.  The last transactions listed for any teams are August 13th on the American Association web site.   The Pelicans' web site lists the last transaction as August 12th. That's an unusual and surprisingly unprofessional shortcoming for both sources.  The Pelicans' web site roster doesn't list Cooper or Butto but they are mentioned elsewhere.  I guess if this is all we can find to complain about, we should be very happy with how we're kept informed.

IMPORTANT   There are roster rules in the American Association that will complicate player moves.  I'm not sure how flexible the league is on these rules.  First off, you are allowed to carry only a maximum of 4 Veterans as defined by the league. We carry 2 at present.  I've noticed a few cases where the rosters we get at the games have listed some teams (Graand Prairie this year) as having too many Veterans.  This could be a typo, something being appealed or evidence the league office is flexible.  You must carry 5 Rookies.  We now carry the required 5, but there is no indication any of the new players are Rookies that would enable us to release 1 of the Rookies.  You may carry a maximum of 4 LS-4 players.  LS-4 players are a step below Veterans in experience.  It's all explained on the A.A. webpage under Roster Rules.  And you thought your computer manual was hard to understand!

NEWS FLASH:  Right handed pitcher Kevin Cooper is that pitcher we've been hoping to get. Cooper,  a starter for Bay Area of the Continental League, can claim a 2.22 ERA at this point in the 2009 season. In 11 starts, Cooper is 5-2 and looks to add a strikeout punch to the Pelicans’ staff, having struck out 67 batters in 65 innings this far into the year. Cooper comes to professional baseball from Angelina College and calls Beaumont, Texas home.  As of 9 AM, it isn't clear as to the exact particulars of the trade.  Hopefully, he was acquired for future considerations. (A particularly nasty rumor has us acquiring Cooper in exchange for several of the more vocal fans, including the writer of this blog, who sit in the first base field boxes.) We now stand at the league maximum 22 players. 


Defense has been shaky at times.  You put a lot of pressure on your pitching staff if you make 3 or 4 errors in a game or allow some passed balls.  On the positive side, Antoin Gray makes some errors but he also turns in some solid, even spectacular, plays.  It will be interesting to see how Jason Diaz affects the second base situation.  Dallas Christison is dependable at short.  He'll occasionally rush a throw, but like Gray, he hustles and works.  Marshall McDougall is a Major League third baseman and the problems there, may finally be solved.  First base?  Marcos Rodriguez is solid and extremely smart at the position.  He can also play the outfield very well.  And our outfield has 3 of the best arms in the league,  We've thrown out quite a few runners who tried to take an extra base.

CAVEAT:  Diaz and Cooper look solid but please consider that, IMHO, neither the Continental League nor the United League is on a par with The American Association.  I see the American Association as the premier independent league in all of baseball.  It has numerous players with MLB or high minor league experience.  Many, if not most, starters in the American Association could move freely to affiliated teams at the AA level on their way up.  My point is, player acquisitions from some leagues at this point (by Shreveport and Pensacola for example) are promotions for the players involved.  Acquiring McDougall from the Mexican League is not a promotion.  The Mexican League is AAA level and I would think a player like him came to us after the Mexican League season just to get more exposure.

It appears we have released or traded Lee Huggins.  He filled in well in what I was told, via rumor, was a temporary assignment.  He had a solid career at UWF!

What are we doing to improve our pitching staff?  Shreveport just signed Drew Coffey—a very talented lefthander.  They also signed Luis Guance off waivers from us.   Acquiring Guance gave them the depth to trade an infielder for Coffey.   Please school me on this.  We have a roster spot (and there is a rumor we'll have another).  Why didn't we keep Guance until we needed his spot?  He is talented and could come back to hurt us.  Allowing him to go to a major rival during a pennant race—I hope there is an explanation for this.  The longer we held Guance (and Alvarez) with roster spots open or Veteran status not an issue, the longer we kept talented players out of opposition line-ups.  We would also have altered Shreveports trading options.  WHAT IS THE REASONING FOR THIS???  Even if you pick up a key player or two in the next few days (and time is running out to get a player in and acclimated), it appears we have hurt ourselves.  I hope we come up with 2 good players and make this a moot point.  We don't stay around cheering to midnight because we don't back Our Boys Of Summer!!

Actually, nights are usually dark and the Pelicans waited out the storms to begin their game against Grand Prairie at almost 9 pm.  None of the 102 faithful in attendance were complaining.  That's right, 102!  Obviously the late start and earlier storms scared off a bigger crowd.  The food was still good and the baseball was fabulous.  The Pelicans didn't have the crowd needed to carry on the usual activities—although they were thinking on their feet and came up with an entertaining contest to guess the attendance.

Oh yeah, baseball—we won 6-3 in play that was highlighted by great pitching and tough defense in awful conditions.  Randy Beam gave up just 1 earned run in 6 strong innings.  Bubba Nelson, Ron Hill and Hunter Davis shut down the Air Hogs with 0 earned runs over the final 3 innings.

It was a battle of high leg kicks—almost like Spahn vs Marichal!  Randy Beam (top photo) has emerged as our stopper.  Cuban born Dimitri Camareno (Bottom) pitched well for Grand Prairie.  Actually, no one has a leg kick similar to either Spahn or Marichal. 

Antoin Gray was an important player again.  His defense secured it for us down the stretch.  He started 2 double plays on hard hit balls.  He also threw himself onto a wicked drive and, though obviously hurt, got up and threw out the runner.  I don't like the word heroic applied to sports.  The hero is the guy flying (or running)  into combat.  However, the word gutsy fits Antoin Gray's efforts tonight.  (I once her a golf announcer describe a player's shot as heroic.  I perked up.  Obviously there must be snipers on the course or maybe there were mines in the rough or traps.  There weren't, he was just exaggerating.)

Marcos Rodriguez is a quiet MVP candidate.  His .300 + batting average gets over looked because he doesn't hit homers.  At game time he had 49 runs batted in.  His hands are under rated.  So is his base running.  He has an excellent arm.  I'll say this again, if he were right handed he'd be a third baseman or second baseman in the Majors.  He can make it anyway, but his road would be easier if he wasn't playing a position reserved for homerun hitters.  The list of excellent ball players, at all levels, from Venezuela is long and dotted with all stars.  He belongs on the list.

THE LOOK OF FEAR!  Grand Prairie manager Pete Incaviglia returns from the mound.  He entered the 9th inning with a 7 run lead.  It was the 4th time this season he saw late inning big leads evaporate against the Pelicans.  This rally fell just short and the Air Hogs escaped—Pensacola having brought the winning run to the plate! 

We need pitching help big time!  We have 1 or 2 roster spots open.  We got 19 hits last night and we lost.  Ten runs will usually win in professional baseball.  We gave up 9  hits but we also gave up 11 walks and 1 wild pitch.   Four errors didn't help.

Yogi Berra said it best.  It really was deja vu last night.  For the 2nd time this year, the Pelicans came from behind to defeat Grand Prairie.  There's a lesson here:  "Don't ever leave a Pelican's game early."  Down 7-4 in the 9th, they tied the score.  Down 10-7 in the 11th, they scored 4 runs to win.  They had 2 outs and the bases empty when they started the rally—Darby—Christison—Palmisano—Huggins—Reynolds—Leandro—Gray!

Manager Talmadge Nunnari did a little intimidating of his own last night.  He was ejected but not before twice confronting umpires.  It fired up the Pelicans.  He was ejected back in May, the last time the Pelicans scored a late game come from behind victory over the same team.  Grand Prairie manager Pete Incaviglia usually confronts the umpires.  He was out managed by Nunnari this night.  It looked like Nunnari's players wanted it a lot more!

We lost 10-3 to Ft. Worth but maintained our 2 game lead.  You can't win them all and last night our need for another dependable starter was evident.  Choosing the bullpen "committee" approach kept us reasonably close but it's a hit or miss proposition at best.  This night they got the hits and our batters got the misses.  We were down 10-1 going into the 9th and even the comeback kids can't erase a 9 run deficit.  With 3 roster spots open, we were still hoping for a big signing for the stretch drive.  We like Bubba Nelson as a competitor but surely he's not the reason we've cleared so many roster spots and released Rafael Alvarez. (Alvarez was hitting .474 at game time Sunday for Lincoln)
Baseball is a cruel game.  The ball will find your weakest fielder.  Last night we had an infielder (Luis Guance) get hurt.  Adam DeLeo was needed to switch from catcher to third base and Lou Palmisano had to catch—ending the much needed night off every catcher needs from time to time.  DeLeo is a gamer but Guance is a much better defensive player.  We carry just 10 position players.  We have just 19 games left (10 at home).  A starting pitcher and back-up infielder are needed now (actually, they were needed yesterday).


Complaint Department: 

Some veteran season ticket holders have told me they are not happy with recent concession price increases.  One item went from $4 to $5...a 25% increase!

I found one concerned mother trying to tip a hand washing device so as to get enough water to wash her little girl's soap covered hands near the right field portable toilets.   Surely we 're not waiting for the CDC to trace an epidemic back to our ballpark before we start keeping the hand washing devices supplied with water and paper towels.  Parents:  I would carry a bottle of Purell even though it's not a substitute for hand washing.

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The Pelicans, with the best American Association record for the second part of the season, remain up by 2 games in the Southern Division race for the last playoff spot.  This night, Aaron Jackson gave us 5 strong innngs before he ran out of gas.   He left with the score tied 5-5 in the 6th.  Lou Palmisano put us back ahead with a "no-doubter" homerun.

That's Meg Tilly as Chloe in The Big Chill.  We Pelican fans aren't sure how to act with a 2 game lead.  Can we still cheer?  Should we dress better?  Is there a champagne batter instead of a beer batter?  Caviar with the half priced Margaritas?  Is this a dream?

Last night was Bike Night.  Twenty five bikes—pretty good turnout for a first time event.  Next time:  How about a tattoo contest.  Many of my bike owning friends have tattoos—they're mainstream now and not limited just to bikers.  Why not a "best tattoo" award?  How about allowing tattoo artists to rent a booth for the night?  How about temporary tattoos being distributed?  The bikes were cool—how about turning it into a show and allow fans to vote on the best bike?


Tonight is 80s Night!  I hope someone mentions Disco Demolition Night  (1979) because, while it wasn't in the 80s, it certainly kicked off that period.  In case you don't remember, the night turned into a riot.  Fans brought disco records to be burned but they soon became frisbees.   Some estimates say 90,000 fans showed up to Comisky Park which held 52,000.
                           
We beat Ft. Worth 8-3 last night.  I believe we can hit.  The pitching is brilliant at times, adequate at others.  We've got to have some blockbuster roster moves in the works.  We have 3 roster spots open—and 3 veteran slots available!

We are 1 game ahead of the field as we return home to face a hot Ft. Worth team.  We won 4-1 last night and didn't commit an error. HOWEVER, there is other big news.  It appears Jason Navarro and Lester Contreras are no longer listed on the website roster,  We're down to just 19 men on the roster.  The roster moves we're about to make might just decide the pennant!  We ought to pack the stadium this weekend.  I dislike this musical chairs roster stuff but it is a fact of life, especially in independent leagues.  We didn't invent it but if we're going to compete we have to keep up with the other teams!

Despite all the errors (just 1 last night), we are tied for first place in the race for the playoffs!  One more game with Grand Prairie and we're home to face Ft. Worth again.   We won 8-4 last night.  Is it true that Dick Stuart's old fielding coach has been hired by the Pelicans?  The late Stuart, nicknamed Dr. Strangeglove, still holds somee Major League fielding (error) records. 

Rafael Alvarez was 3 for 5 last night and is hitting .444 for Lincoln.  Kevin Reynolds was 2 for 5 and is hitting .265.  His base running has been stellar.  And his replacement for Alvarez did free a spot for a veteran on the roster.   He is , like Alvarez, an exciting player.   The roster spot is still open and what's done there could be the deciding factor in the race.

I have listed some good promotional stunts in red on this blog.  I think they would be fun.  Here's another good one:   UMPIRE RECOGNITION NIGHT!  Fans will be urged to come to the game dressed like umpires.  A prize will be given to the fan in the most authentic look, the most innovative look or the funniest look.  Fans can compete in making the best  third strike call etc.   For t he beer batter, discount beer would go to those dressed as umpires!  The field announcer and the ushers in the stands can  lead the fans in "helping" the real umpires with their calls!  Properly done, this could get some great publicity!  I don't know if it has been done anywhere, but it would be unique here!

Until Shreveport won the second half of their doubleheader with Lincoln, we were tied for first place.  We defeated Ft. Worth 6-1 behind Randy Beam and Ron Hill.  Beam continues to make himself attractive to affiliated teams with his multi inning performances.  It was a strong 7 inning stint.  Ron Hill looks better and better the more innings he gets.

No one has done more during the current 10-3 streak than Kevin Reynolds.  In this game he ran and fielded along with displaying a live bat. 

ALUMNI UPDATE  Brandon Sing is playing the outfield for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the Atlantic League.  He is hitting .316 with 15 home runs and an RBI total of 65.  He has stolen 3 bases in 4 attempts and has struck out 68 times in 298 at bats.

The Pelicans lost 7-6 to Ft. Worth.  We just couldn't close the deal but effort certainly wasn't the problem.  The usual suspects played well.  Antoin Gray hit a long home run as did Dallas Christison.   Kevin Reynolds looks more and more like a great acquisition by Manager Nunnari.  His drag bunt was major league as was the hustle that stretched an earlier single into 2 bases!  Our outfield arms are still challenged and they continue to answer by throwing out runners. 
You're NOT seeing double!  Look closely at the two grips.  Starter Adam Brandenburg appears to throw a knuckle curve or a knuckle ball and later throws either a split finger fastball or a change up.

This is exciting baseball.  And it's steady baseball.  Francisco Leandro doesn't hold anything back at bat, on the bases and in centerfield.  Marcos Rodriquez leads the team in hitting and is as solid at first as anyone in the league.  I see one problem and it's not his fault.  He is a solid hitter but hasn't hit a home run.  That's fine for  sure, but he plays a position that is normally reserved for the big, slow footed power hitter.  He's left handed, so other infield positions are out of the question even though he has the good hands and savvy of anyone in the league.

We're still playing with only 2 veterans (the rules allow 4) and we still have a roster spot open.  Assuming we're not being limited for financial reasons, we have to have some big moves in the works.  I know the Mexican League is full of AAA talent and their regular season is just about over.  There may be some other players out there that we're eyeing.  As teams in other independent leagues are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, they may be willing to trade, especially for future considerations.  Another player who can play middle infield and third would be nice.  Of course, pitching is on everyone's radar screen.  Manager Nunnari's moves have been excellent at times—Darby, Palmisano and Reynolds have been great additions.  It would have been nice  to keep Alvarez until we needed his spot. ( I am assuming there are no unpublicized roster rules or personal or contractual concerns that made the release of Alvarez necessary or appropriate at the time it happened.  In other words,  did he have contractual rights to be released by a certain date or did the team release him when it did to give him the best opportunity to catch on somewhere else?)  Too bad we couldn't  find a reserve infielder even with the understanding that it would be for a short time.


Some of us still don't like the musical chairs of American Association baseball rosters.  Of course, Pensacola can't make a unilateral change and go with a set roster.  I'd like to see a league limit on transactions after a certain date—something similar to the MLB trade deadline.  Exceptions would be automatic for season ending injuries, retirements and promotions to affiliated baseball.  I'd also like to see the four veteran rule augmented by adding a "Franchise" player who would be exempt from roster rule limitations.
              

THE TRADE ODYSSEY OF DAN SMITH Former Pelican pitcher Dan Smith has the distinction of being a player traded for himself.  In August of '08 he was traded to Southern Maryland for a player to be named later,  In late September, he was traded to the Pelicans to complete the deal!

Woodstock Weekend remains a great promotion.  The announcer has been an animated  entertainer at times and for a first time attempt, the promotion gets an "A."  I wish they could have turned up the volume for Jerry's Kids—the Grateful Dead tribute band stationed too far away in the left field stands.  Believe me, I know Dead music and from what I could hear, they're good.  The volume was too low.

The Pelicans returned to their winning ways with a 6-0 victory over Ft. Worth.  Did I once say we weren't sure of Lester Contreras' defense because of some earlier throwing errors.  Not tonight.  On a wet, difficult mud field, he played a first rate third base.  His fielding was excellent and his throws accurate.  He also played hurt after a base running injury! 

Catching continues to shine as Lou Palmisano again played a solid game.  Pitching has really become more effective since his arrival.  Passed balls are rare and tonight he backed up first on a throw and was able to throw to a very alert Marcos Rodriquez to double off a runner who had rounded first.

Newcomer Kevin Reynolds had 4 solid hits and ran the bases skillfully.  He hustles.

Manager Nunnari's player moves are starting to look very good.  We've lamented not having a consistent roster to have for the fans to bond with.  At this point, we wonder where we would be without Palmisano, Contreras, Darby and Reynolds.  At this writing, we are a half game out of first place and these new players are playing very key roles!  Well done by manager and players!

Dane DeValk is starting to look like the stopper every good team needs!

Woodstock weekend is a winner.  Unfortunately, rain kept the crowd down but those who braved the elements were rewarded with entertaining announcers and a lively atmosphere.  Now this is on the right track.  Well done!  I hope we pursue more special events and promotions similar to what we've suggested.  It's entertainment and the more fast paced, the more successful!

The hand washing problems behind first base were taken care of for Friday.  Let' hope that problem is solved.

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THE LINCOLN SALT DOGS SIGNED RAFAEL ALVAREZ TONIGHT.  So probably ends the Pelican career of a fan favorite.  He was released by GM Nunnari and signed by Lincoln WHILE PENSACOLA HAD A ROSTER SPOT OPEN AND ROSTER RULES ALLOWED US TO KEEP A VETERAN.   Some fans didn't like the fact he was released on the road and at a time when a roster spot was open.  Alvarez's replacement is hitting .174 with 2 runs batted in.  He has struck out 4 times and has 4 hits in 23 at bats. Twenty three at bats isn't exactly a fair test and he does have 4 steals.  Hopefully, GM Nunnari has a veteran pitcher somewhere in the pipeline to fill the open spot.

The Pelicans lost 12-4 today against Wichita.  We've lost 2 in a row. Our pitchers were rocked for 20 hits but we made no errors.   Baseball is a game of streaks.  The great teams always have a stopper who can take the mound and stop a loss streak before it gets too painful.  Good teams often have that hitter who can carry a team on his back.  I think Chase Burch and Marcos Rodriquez have been our steadiest hitters.  I think there are some live arms ready to step up and replace Kyle Middleton.  Time will tell who steps up.

We're 36-31  and 12-7 in the second half.  We're only 1.5 games out of first.  August could get wild around here!

Some Pelican From The Past

The last I heard... Carlos Mendoza was on the Yankee's AA Trenton farm team... George Branch was out of baseball... Tim Dorn was being seen as a pitcher (not first base) with the Angel's Class A club in Cedar Rapids... Trino Aquilar finished his career at Winnipeg in the Northern League after a knee injury... Juan Rocha is out of baseball... Jose Yepez is with Jimmy Mojica in the Mariners AA West Tennessee team in the Southern League... Todd Androsko last played for El Paso in 2007 and is believed to be out of baseball... Noel Bacca and J.D. Reininger play for the Sioux Falls Canaries... Edwar Ramirez was sent down by the Yankees to their AAA team in Scranton... Rafael Alvarez has apparently yet to sign with another club.  Most independent leagues have roster rules that limit a team to 4 veteran players and he is a veteran.  Presumably, a team would have to release one of its 4 veteran players to sign him.  Most  other teams seem to value and depend upon their veterans...

    I once contacted Steve Jobs with my displeasure with the performance of my latest Mac.  Among other things, I said that I'd purchased my sixth, and  last,  Mac computer.  I got a phone call from his personal secretary.  She talked to me for over 10 minutes and finally said something like, "Now you know you're really not going to give up on us."