Sunday Pebble Report: Brandon Hynick FTW, Delta Cleary stays hot, plus more

I haven’t kept up with the Sky Sox, but I am trying to catch up in time for today’s game. We are heading to Isotopes Park to watch the game. Don’t hold your breath, but I will try to piece together a few thoughts to wrap up the game from my perspective later tonight or tomorrow.
From what I have read, they are playing well and I am looking forward to seeing Hirsch pitch again. Also, very anxious to see the much talked about Carlos Gonzalez, love the name “CarGo”…
The sun is finally shining here in New Mexico – hope the recent rains stay away and that it will be a nice day at the park. Will be the next best thing to being at Coors Field today. Let’s go Rockies and Sky Sox – let’s sweep a pair from the Dodgers and their AAA Isotopes!

All in all a great evening at the ballpark. For some reason I only seem to catch about one game a year at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque despite the fact that is only an hour from my house. I need to make a point to go more often, it is a gorgeous facility and a very enjoyable place to watch a game. Especially when the road team puts on a great show.
A few thoughts on the Sky Sox from someone who hadn’t seen them yet this season:
Carlos Gonzalez may be the real deal. Nice night at the plate and looked comfortable enough in the big center field. Didn’t like the base running judgement when he was thrown out at third, more on that in a moment.
EY Jr. is fast. Too bad he had an 0-fer and didn’t get to show off his speed on the bases, but his home to first speed made every play a close play.
Mike McCoy is fast too. Faster than he looks. Unlike Gonzalez, he showed base running smarts by going first to third on a routine single and then dashed home on a head scratcher of a play when the Isotopes catcher tried to pick off the runner at first with McCoy half way down the line from third.
Hirsch was efficient. Tough no-decision when the runner he left on third scored on Damian Moss’ wild pitch in the 6th. Hirsh’s velocity was mid-80’s on the stadium gun and he appeared to be in control after hanging one in the first inning that was crushed by Luna for a home run into the picnic pavilion. I didn’t have the sense of how big Hirsch was until I saw him in person.
Sal Fasano had a mixed night. He did hit a home run early that was encouraging. It was a bit of a wind aided home run, but he hit it well enough to go out. His two throws to second on stolen bases were not even close. I couldn’t tell if the stolen bases were his fault or Hirsch’s. I wasn’t that impressed with his arm strength.
Unlike Fasano’s home run, Bellhorn’s slam in the 8th was a thing of beauty. He displayed a great eye by laying off some close pitches in the at bat before absolutely launching his grand slam to the deepest part of the park just left of center.
The most entertaining part of the evening was betwen the top and bottom of the 6th when the manager, Tom Runnells, was ejected from the game. He was coaching 3rd base when Carlos Gonzalez was called out on a strike out/throw out double play as he tried stealing 3rd. I assume he was arguing that the swipe tag applied to Gonzalez missed him, but the throw was so far ahead of the runner that the umpire basically had no choice but to call him out. Maybe the tag missed, I was sitting behind third and I didn’t have a clear look at the play. What made the ejection so entertaining wasn’t the call (or blown call) but the entire scene surrounding the ejection. Runnells and the umpire puffed their chests and exchanged shouts. Some dirt was kicked and there was more shouting. Before long the ejection show took second billing to a frisbee catching dog that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. I couldn’t decide what to watch, the frisbees, the dog, the manager, the umpire – it was a classic Minor League scene. It was a scene that definitely sold a few more tickets as I will surely make it back to the park in the near future.