Monday, June 30, 2008

Catfish P Jeremy Hall named SAL Pitcher of the Week

Jeremy Hall, SAL
Pitcher of the Week.
Photo: Columbus
Catfish
Columbus Catfish P Jeremy Hall was recognized today by the South Atlantic League for his performance last week.

Hall was named SAL Pitcher of the Week today, the 2nd Catfish pitcher to earn the honor this season.
Jeremy Hall, Columbus
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO
Hall was dominant over eight innings Wednesday against Charleston, yielding three hits and a walk while punching out eight in the winning effort. The only run allowed in Columbus' 6-1 win came off reliever Kevin Boggan in the ninth, after Hall had left the game. It was the 6-foot-3 right-handers' second consecutive decision (and win) after he opened the season with six-straight no-decisions in games he started.
Hall is the 2nd Catfish pitcher to earn the honor this season. Teammate Jason Ragan was named Pitcher of the Week on April 13.

Oh by the way: Hall's first appearance after receiving the honor? Tonight, he's starting pitcher for the Catfish as they take on the Rome Braves in Rome. Rome's starting pitcher? Atlanta Braves P Mike Hampton.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Catfish sweep Rome





Stephen Vogt homers for the Catfish

Stephen Vogt homers for the Catfish.


The second half run continues for the Columbus Catfish.

The Catfish turned 13 hits into 11 runs as they swept the Rome Braves tonight, 11-2, taking both games of the short series.

TiVo upgrade

I operated on my TiVo recently.

Elective surgery.

My TiVo got a hard drive enhancement.

When we got the TiVo a couple of years ago, it was the smallest, cheapest one they had. In fact, it and a year of TiVo service were the cost of a year of TiVo service. For all practical purposes, it was free.

And small.

It held 40 hours of programming.

But here's the thing: you know how when you buy a VHS tape (remember those?) it might say "6 hours?" Well, that's at standard quality. Most VCRs have (or had) 3 speed settings. The slow setting allowed you to get 6 hours out of a tape. The medium speed setting let you get 4 hours. And the fast setting let you get 2 hours.

And, the faster the speed setting, the better the quality; likewise, the slower the setting, the lower the quality.

Same thing with TiVo. The 40-hour capacity on our TiVo is for basic quality. TiVo has 4 quality settings. And at the best quality, the capacity is only about 10 hours.

You'd think that's plenty, but it wasn't.

For instance, The Wife likes her soap operas, or, as we say here Down South, her "stories."

We also record some other programs. And we like to set several up to keep until we delete them. Otherwise, when the TiVo gets full, it'll delete the older programs. And, if that happens, we might miss something.

We don't get to watch everything right off, you see. Busy and all. So, while on the one hand, TiVo can record more than we can watch, on the other hand, it records it all at basic (low) quality.

And, even then, we still do, on occasion, watch everything it's recorded.

So, a newer, bigger TiVo might be in order, huh?

Well, yeah. Or, just maybe, an upgrade to the current one.

So, a DVR upgrade might be in order. Which, of course, meant me going to DVRUpgrade.com.

TiVo upgradeBought a new hard drive. And it wasn't hard to follow the upgrade procedures. And, now we have a bigger, better ... same ... TiVo.

We new have 177 hours of best quality. That translates to 626 hours of basic quality.

And, with the new TV, we're recording everything at best quality.

Which means that, on Sunday afternoons, I get to sit with The Wife, watching As The World Turns or Guiding Light. All day long.

You know, at first, this whole upgrade seemed like a good idea.

I'm not so sure anymore.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Catfish walk off win win

Maiko Loyola scores winning run vs Rome
Maiko Loyola scores winning run vs Rome.
The Rome Braves played long ball. The Columbus Catfish played baseball.

Baseball won.

Rome scored 4 runs on 4 solo home runs, but the Catfish used singles, walks, stolen bases, and wild pitches to scratch out 5 runs -- the final run coming in the bottom of the 9th -- as the Catfish won 5-4 tonight.

Catfish dog Charleston

The Columbus Catfish sent 11 batters to the plate in the 5th inning as part of their 12-run, 15-hit performance Friday night.

The Catfish beat the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees) 12-3., winning the series and holding on to 1st place in the South Atlantic League Southern Division.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Catfish split split double header with Charleston

The Columbus Catfish split a split double header with the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees) Thursday.

Last Saturday, in Columbus, a game was suspended in the 2nd inning because of rain. The game concluded Thursday ... in Charleston ... and was followed by a second game.

The good news is the Catfish outscored Charleston 2-1 in both games Thursday. The bad news? The 5 runs Charleston scored last Saturday counted. Charleston ended up winning the suspended game by a 6-2 score. The Catfish won the other game, a 7-inning contest, 2-1.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Catfish stay undefeated, beat Charleston 6-1

The 2nd half surge continues for the Columbus Catfish.

P Jeremy Hall continued his dominance of the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees), throwing 8 innings of 3-hit ball, not allowing a run, and striking out 8 to help the Catfish to a 6-1 win over Charleston on Wednesday night.

In 3 games against Charleston this season, Hall has pitched 17 innings, allowing one earned run on 9 hits. Both his wins this season have come against Charleston.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Catfish sweep Savannah

Though they've only finished 4 games in the SAL 2nd half, the Columbus Catfish are where no other team in the league is right now: undefeated.

The Catfish beat the Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets) 3-2 for the 2nd night in a row Tuesday, as they maintained their perfect record and completed a short series sweep.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Catfish beat Savannah in 10

After being no-hit for over 7 innings, the bats finally came alive for the Columbus Catfish Monday night, who squeezed out a 3-2 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets).

It was a game where both starting pitchers pitched well enough to win. And neither did.

Catfish starter Alex Cobb went 6 innings, allowing a run on 6 hits, but left the game down 1-0. Savannah P Nick Carr went 7-1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 1 hit.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Catfish rained out

Golden Park field conditionsSome things never change.

The Columbus Catfish lost a pair of games today because of the weather.

And it wasn't raining.

Yes, it rained earlier in the day. But it wasn't raining this afternoon.

And, because of the condition of the field, they couldn't play baseball.

The outfield was a mess. Water was standing in places, and flowing in others.

Golden Park field conditions

Which is not uncommon for Golden Park. It drains poorly. Has for years.

The shallow part of the outfield is often okay. In fact, the Catfish players were able to get in a practice despite the condition of the field.

Catfish practice

Infield practice, too. The infield is usually in pretty good condition, since the grounds crew usually gets the infield covered quickly.

Catfish practice

The problem, though, is the deep outfield. It doesn't drain well, and when games are called on account of the field conditions, it's that part of the field that's in an unplayable condition.

So, the Catfish lost a couple of games. Saturday night's game went nearly 2 innings before the rains came.

And the conclusion on Sunday, plus the regular scheduled Sunday game, are gone now. Well, not exactly gone. They'll play those games in Charleston, since the RiverDogs won't be back to Columbus.

The Catfish get to play the games. But not in Columbus.

Once again, Columbus baseball fans ... the few of us there are ... lose out.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Wet dogs and baseball

Catfish rained outNeither the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees) nor Mother Nature wanted to cooperate with the Columbus Catfish Saturday night.

Charleston scored a pair of unearned runs as they took a 5-0 lead over the Columbus Catfish Saturday night.

In the bottom of the 2nd, the Catfish were trying to get back into the game when the rains came.

The umpires tried to finish the innings, meeting briefly when the rains picked up, but had to send the teams to the locker room.

Wet dogs at the ball parkIn the mean time, the planned "Bark in the Park" activities were dampened by the rain.

Several fans were participating in the promotion, and dogs were everywhere in the ball park.

When the rains came, wet dogs were everywhere.

The Catfish will try again twice.

The team will play Sunday afternoon at 4:00, finishing the 9-inning game before playing a 7-inning contest that will conclude the series. The staff will re-schedule the "Bark in the Park" promotion for a later date.

Update: Sunday's doubleheader is canceled. They'll make the games up in Charleston later in the season, since Charleston won't be back to Columbus this season ... or ever. The "Bark in the Park" promotion will be held on July 12.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Catfish late inning fireworks down Charleston

The 2nd half is still early -- just two games -- but its beginning is way different than the 1st half for the Columbus Catfish.

A back-and-forth game went down to the wire, and a 6-run 8th inning secured the 11-8 win over the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees) Friday night.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Catfish open second half with win over Charleston

Columbus Catfish LF Reid Fronk went 3 for 4, a double shy of the cycle, to help lead the Catfish to a 5-3 win over the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees) Thursday night.

The win opened the SAL 2nd half, essentially starting the season over for the Catfish, who finished in next-to-last place in the division in the first half.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Catfish owner admits move to Bowling Green

In April, we reported that the Columbus Catfish had applied to move to Bowling Green, KY following this season. Earlier this month, the owner of the Catfish reported the same thing.

Everybody knew it was going to happen, and an official involved with the South Atlantic League confirmed to us in April that the application had been filed, but not acted upon.

WBKO in Bowling Green reported recently that Art Solomon, who heads a group that bought the Catfish this season, said he'd be bringing the Catfish to Kentucky for the 2009 season.
"I think people know the Columbus team won the South Atlantic League last year. We certainly hope to bring a winner here," says Solomon.

The team will play a 70-game home schedule at its new stadium that is expected to house 5,700 people.
So, what now for Columbus? Either independent baseball ... or no baseball.

The Atlantic Coast League is looking to start play in 2009, and wants to move into South Coast League cities, such as Aiken and Anderson, SC, Macon and Albany, GA ... and Columbus.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

I'll have 8 pounds of chocolate and a small Diet Coke

8lbs of chocolate and a small Diet CokeThe Wife and I went to Pensacola this weekend. More about that later.

But, on the way back, we stopped for gas at Greenville, Alabama.

And, at that exit, there's a Russell Stover outlet.

So, like a couple of kids in a candy store, we walked around, pointing, wanting this, wanting that. And, when it was all done, we didn't get that much.

They had a special on the Whitman Samplers. So, we got 8 12-ounce boxes.

And a pound of pecan clusters.

And various other small items.

Gifts, you see.

No, really. They were gifts.

Anyhow, we got up to the register, and I noticed they had a fountain Coke machine. So, I ordered a large Diet Coke.

They didn't have any large cups.

What did they have?

Small cups.

"Well, then," I said, "I'll have this 8 pounds of chocolate, and a small Diet Coke."

So, we got our stuff and left.

We drove back towards the house, me sipping on my Diet Coke.

And, we got back to the house with around 7 pounds of chocolate.

Oh, did I say the chocolates were gifts?

They were.

Mostly.

I had to counter that Diet Coke with something.

Catfish edge Savannah

Columbus Catfish P Jesse Darcy owns the Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets). In less than a week, he's pitched 12 innings, allowed no earned runs, and struck out 9. Oh, and has a 2-0 record. And that's against Savannah.

That includes his performance Monday night, when the Catfish edged Savannah, 2-1 in Savannah.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Catfish take series from Rome

Following a heartbreaker the night before, the Columbus Catfish scored late to take the finale of the series with the Rome Braves, 5-3. The win gives the Catfish the series, 2 games to 1.

Catfish fall to Rome in 11

The Rome Braves bounced back from a pounding the night before to edge the Columbus Catfish 3-2 in 11 innings on Saturday night.

The extra-inning loss spoiled another good outing from Catfish starter Alex Cobb, who left the game with the lead after 6 innings.

The Rome Braves got on the board in the first inning after CJ Lee doubled and later scored on a Freddie Freeman RBI groundout for the 1-0 advantage. In the fourth inning, Columbus' Shawn Williams singled, Chase Fontaine walked, and Greg Sexton reaches on a fielding error allowing Williams to tie the game. Fontaine later scored on a groundout to give the Catfish the 2-1 lead. In the seventh Rome tied the game 2-2 on a Yohan Silva home run (2) to right field.

Rome claimed victory in the 11th inning after Michael Fisher reached on an error and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Benji Johnson. In his first game back as a Rome Brave since being recalled from extended spring, Samuel Sime then lined a single to center scoring Fisher for the 3-2 victory.

Rome reliever Cory Gearrin gets the win (3-1) while Austin Hinkle takes the loss (0-1) for the Catfish. It was the first home victory for the Braves since May 1st.


The series wraps up Sunday afternoon. The Catfish head to Savannah for 4 games starting Monday.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Catfish sack Rome

When in Rome ... kick some serious butt.

The Columbus Catfish, who had dropped 19 of 23 ... including a 12-in-a-row streak just a few days ago ... broke out big time, clobbering the Rome Braves 11-1 Friday night in Rome.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Catfish blanked by Savannah, 5-0

After stopping their losing streak at 12, the Columbus Catfish ended their winning streak at one.

The Catfish dropped a 5-0 decision to the Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets) tonight, to finish a miserable home stand that came on the heels of a miserable road trip.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Catfish snap losing streak, blank Savannah





Catfish break losing streak

Catfish celebrate after breaking minor league baseball's longest losing streak of 2008.


It's been so long, I almost forgot what it felt like.

Winning a baseball game.

The Columbus Catfish broke a 12-game losing streak today, beating the Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets) 2-0 in front of a crowd of 1,416, most of whom were school-age kids.

Is it racist to call Barack Obama a "surrender monkey?"

Just wondering.

Be careful what you wish for

So Barack H. Obama has claimed enough delegates to be considered the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party.

Isn't that just peachy!

For a conservative like me, it actually is.

You see, Obama, a liberal's wet dream, is the worst possible candidate the Dems could put up against John S. McCain, III, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Obama is a first-term Senator that was elected after the Republican, Jack Ryan, dropped out over a sex scandal. As a Senator, he's pushed through such major initiatives as ... the "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006," as well as ... well, that seems to be it.

Oh, in fairness, he has supported some initiatives that failed. Like the "Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007," a cut-and-run piece of legislation that helps make Obama the darling of our nation's enemies.

Yeah, that's his experience.

John McCain will eat his lunch based on that factor alone.

Obama being the standard-bearer of the Democratic party means that the Republicans will keep the White House for another 4 years.

I, for one, am pleased.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

One bad inning gives Catfish a dozen straight losses

It took just one inning ... a really bad inning ... to send the Columbus Catfish to their 12th consecutive loss Tuesday night.

The Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets) slugged 5 home runs -- one a 3-run shot; the others, solo shots -- in the first inning to stake a 7-0 lead. The Catfish fought back, but weren't able to overcome the deficit, falling 7-4 to Savannah.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Catfish lose late to Savannah

Another good pitching performance wasn't enough for the Columbus Catfish to break out of their losing streak.

Alex Cobb pitched 7-1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, striking out 4, but took his 4th loss of the year as the Catfish dropped a 2-1 decision to the Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets) tonight.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Catfish swept, losing streak at 10

Catfish vs GreenvilleThe losing streak has now reached 10 games.

The Columbus Catfish fell behind by 5 runs, but fought back, only to lose by a run with the tying run in scoring position.

The loss to the Greenville Drive (Red Sox) meant another sweep, and the 10th straight loss by the Catfish, 7-6 this afternoon.

Blood

Giving bloodGave blood today.

The Columbus Catfish had a Red Cross Bloodmobile set up at the ball park today. And I stopped by to give blood.

I've given blood since ... gosh ... 1976, I guess. I don't remember giving in high school. But, after I graduated, I participated in blood drives.

When I was at the radio station, we'd do remote broadcasts from blood drives and such. And, naturally, I'd participate.

After I went to work in Jacksonville, I didn't give as often. In the Army, they'd have blood drives, and naturally, I'd give then.

After leaving the Army, I haven't given much. They do have blood drives at work, but the seem to often coincide with times I'm not there. Not always, but much of the time. But, I have given when they have drives on dates and times I'm there.

However, last time, timing didn't work out.

But, today, I had the chance. And stopped by and gave blood.

Now, my blood type (A+) isn't rare. It's the 2nd largest type (34%), behind O+ (38%). My red blood cells are useful to only 37% of the U.S. population, but it's some help, at least.

If your blood type is O, your red blood cells are most useful. O+ red blood cells can be taken by 84% of the population, while O- can be used on 100% of the population.

But all types are useful. Not just for red blood cells, but for platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate.

So, if you can, give blood.

Catfish drop 9th straight

The Columbus Catfish losing streak is now at 9.

The Greenville Drive (Red Sox) handed the Catfish their 9th consecutive defeat 6-2, Saturday night.