Swept off their feet?

Is there anything better than traveling to an opponents stadium and getting a three-game sweep? Well, actually yes there is.  How about traveling to their stadium and getting a four-game sweep?  That is just what happened as my Rock Cats traveled to New Hampshire to take on the Fisher Cats at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.  Thursday resulted in easy 10-2 win while Friday delivered a 5-1 victory.  Saturday gave me a scare but we managed to win 5-3 and then we closed it out on Sunday, winning 8-2.  For the four-game sweep, we managed to outscore the Fisher Cats 28-8. 

In other news, apparently we may not be playing here in New Britain after next year.  It seems Hartford's mayor announced the city's intent to build a new $60 million stadium for us to leave New Britain and relocate there.  Hmmm.....who knows?

Trouble with the curve? Nope

Monday saw the Altoona Curve invading New Britain Stadium and it was definitely a battle.  We only managed to get three hits against the four Curve pitchers but since two of them were home runs, we won 2-0.  On Tuesday, the Curve got there revenge as they had three pitchers combine for the 4-0 shutout.  In the rubber game on Wednesday, there was never any doubt after we jumped on the Curve for five runs in the first inning.  It was smooth sailing after that as we cruised to an easy 12-0 blowout.  

Just when I was getting used to being back with the team, they head out for a four-game series at New Hampshire. Damn it, I hate being injured. 

Finishing the Fightin' Phils

So the Reading Fightin' Phils came to New Britain Stadium for a friendly three-game series which we managed to win 2-1.  Friday's game was easily won 8-3 as the outcome was never in doubt.  Saturday's game was a snooze-fest as my Cats cruised to an easy 8-1 win. Sunday had us looking for the sweep but Reading had other ideas as they squeezed out a 4-3 win.  Still, it was great to be in the clubhouse and dugout with the guys. I even took some batting practice before the game.  It wasn't pretty as it is hard as hell to hit with a boot on your broken ankle.  Now to get home to watch the Season 7 premiere of HBO's True Blood.

Two weeks since my injury

Yeah, two weeks ago was when I slid into second and my life changed.  It was a normal slide like I have done a thousand times but this time something went wrong.  This time I didn't pop up like normal.  This time I didn't get up at all.  This time instead of popping up, something popped and I fractured my ankle.  Now, two weeks later, I am growing frustrated as I sit at home while my teammates travel around and take to the diamond playing the game I love.  I don't know if I can deal with this much longer.

As for the team, Tuesday began a three game series with the Senators in Harrisburg and we were able to double them up as we won 6-3.  We weren't so lucky on Wednesday as we loss 6-1 and despite jumping out to a 4-0 lead on Thursday, we loss that one too, 6-4.

Now the boys come home for six-game homestand as we welcome Reading and then Altoona to New Britain Stadium. 

Thunder without the storm

The Trenton Thunder came to New Britain looking to rain on our parade but they didn't bring the storm but more like a sprinkle.  After a 7-1 blowout win in Friday's game, we fell 7-6 in a hard fought brawl fest on Saturday. It was a game that had both teams flexing their muscle not only at the plate but in the dirt as well.  This game featured not one but two benches-clearing brawls in the 7th inning.  We managed to win both fights but not the game. A Pyrrhic victory to say the least.  So in the pivot game on Sunday, we fought back to an exciting 8-7 victory thanks to five runs in the bottom of the ninth capped by a walk of single by Ramirez. 

Had an appointment with the Doc today and he seemed to be pleased with how things are progressing.  Hopefully it continues this way. 

No Reading Rainbow

After traveling to Reading, the team had a day off before taking on the Fightin' Phils in a three game series.  Unfortunately there was no rainbow or pot of gold waiting for my Cats as Reading took two of three to win the series. In Tuesday's game, it was a pitching duel which we lost 1-0.  After managing to sneak away with a 6-5 victory on Wednesday before losing a heart breaker on Thursday.  Yeah, the series finally (and rubber game) looked like a win for us until the 9th inning when we gave up a walk-off three run homer.  I'm sort of glad that I wasn't there for that one. 

On the rehab front, I'm still in the boot and on crutches.  I've been working out my upper body and trying to stay in shape but it's hard.  Sometimes I wonder if I was meant to play this game.  Two injuries in just over a month.  It makes you wonder. 

And that's a sweep

While I sit here and mope around on the DL, my boys went to Binghamton and took on the Mets for a three game series and what a series it was.  As you can see by the post title, they swept all three games from the Mets.  In Friday's game, we doubled them up 12-6. Saturday brought about a 7-0 shutout and then to top that, Sunday was a 9-0 shutout.  Solid hitting and great pitching led the way for us.  Great job, guys!!!!

As for me, the swelling is going down and the docs say that there is no ligament damage.  They are pretty optimistic that I will be back in six weeks but until then I'll be on these damn crutches.  I've almost broken my neck twice already.  Wish me luck. 

It's official - 60-day DL

Well, it's official now.  I have been placed on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to yesterday so the earliest I could come back would be August 5th.  We had another CT today to confirm the severity of the fracture.  It is being called a Lateral Malleolus Stress Fracture and it appears to be a stress break of the fibula on the outside of the ankle. The doctors said it is a common injury that could have happened to anyone sliding into a base.  We also had an MRI so they could check the ligaments around the ankle to make sure they weren't damaged.  The initial results doesn't show any soft tissue damage but I will find out more tomorrow.  The good news is, since its a stable fracture, I won't need any surgery or anything.   The bad news is I will be on crutches and a boot for the next few weeks.  As long as there is definitely no ligament damage, the doctor thinks I could be back in six weeks and ready to play in eight weeks.  Let's hope. I'll keep you posted and updated on both the team and my recovery. Man, it's gonna be weird not traveling with the team again. 

Here we go again

No sweep.  No win.  We lost 3-2.  I finished 2-4 again with a RBI and a double.  That double was in the eighth inning and we were trying to start a winning rally.  But that double proved to be costly for me as ended up fracturing my left ankle sliding into second base.  I just got back from the hospital where the CT scans and X-rays confirmed it.  I can't believe it.  I've only been off the DL for a week and a half.  What the hell?  I'm gonna go.  I have rehab to do and by rehab I mean I have a bottle of Jack Daniels calling me. Later.

Ruffling some feathers

2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a solo home run.  That sums up my day as my Rock Cats beat the visiting Akron Rubber Ducks 8-3 before a sold out crowd in New Britain.  The game was never really in question as we jumped out 2-0 in the bottom of the first and then added three more in the 4th.  Akron did manage to plate one in both the 8th and 9th but it was too little too late by then as we were coasting to the win.  This win gives us four series in a row and tomorrow we will go for back-to-back series sweeps.  Hope to see you there.

It's duck season

After having the day off yesterday, we opened a three game series at home against the Akron Rubber Ducks today.  Despite giving up two runs in the top of the 8th, we managed to hold them off for the 9-8 victory.  I finished the game going 2 for 3 with a solo homer, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.  The great news is that our entire lineup joined the hit parade with our three through seven hitters all collecting multiple hits as we racked up 15 hits for our 9 runs. 

Sweeping up on the off day

Today was the series finale with the Mets and tomorrow we have an off day before hosting the Akron Rubber Ducks.  Skip decided that I was pressing too much at the plate and, since I was just a little over a week removed from the DL, maybe I needed a break.  So he sat me today and that will give me two days to get refreshed for Akron.  So what could I do to help the team? I grabbed the broom is what I did.  That's right, I grabbed the push broom as we swept the three game series over Binghamton by winning 4-3 in front of the home crowd.