Trip to Northwest Arkansas, Part One
by Royals Nation on May 3, 2009 6:32 PM EDT
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PrintI traveled to AA Northwest Arkansas this weekend, and caught Saturday's contest against the Arkansas Travelers (Angels' affiliate) on Saturday. I will travel out to the ballpark for Sunday's game (4:00 p.m.).
Several notes from Saturday's game:
- Daniel Cortes demonstrated some composure problems (which he had had in the past), shouting and hurling his glove against the bench following a frustrating performance. Cortes allowed three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings....not a bad performance but a particularly frustrating one given walks and defense. It was probably a 'B' or 'B-' performance, overall. His velocity appeared to taper off as the game progressed, and he did not consistently throw strikes, especially early.... It was a cold evening at the ballyard, for the record. Nonetheless, he'll need to improve to advance to AAA and eventually K.C. (hopefully, he'll get a cup of coffee in September).
- '09 Spring Training invitee and third baseman Corey Smith committed two errors, both of which were obvious routine plays. He missed a towering popup and then later let a ball go between his legs.
- The offense looked stale. They drew six walks but struck out ten times, stranded ten runners, and only scored two runs.
- Relievers Victor Marte - a hard-thrower who I thought resembled Octavio Dotel - and Kyle Crist looked good, pitching 1-2-3 eighth and ninth innings.
- The crowd was rather prolific and into the game despite the fact that there were northerly winds blowing, and it was in the mid 50's, overall.
- Tonight was Kila Ka'aihue bobblehead night. Unfortunately, though, I had to blow quite a bit of money on a Naturals hoodie sweatshirt. It was coooold, and I only brought short-sleeve shirts, thinking that Mays in Arkansas were a little more "Sling Blade"-like and a little less "Fargo"-like. (Two good 90's movies).
- Arvest Ballpark is beautiful, although it's seemingly in the middle of nowhere. I encourage everyone with spare time and money to visit the yard.
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Also, I caught the last four innings of the Arkansas-LSU game
A classic rivalry with many ‘09 draft prospects present and playing. More on that to come in a more extensive review. I’ll attend another Ark.-LSU contest on Sunday, along with watching Anthony Lerew take it to the Travelers.
Sorry about the bad weather.
It’s been raining like crazy for several days. Tornado warnings on Friday evening just before the start time for the LSU game. People had to take shelter in the indoor track facility next to the baseball stadium.
Speaking of which, I’m shocked anyone showed up at Arvest given the huge matchup with LSU in Fayetteville, plus the terrible weather.
Today, we are all Honkballers.
A question and a comment
Is a player showing his upset in the dugout after a poor or frustrating performance a sign of “composure problems”? Now, if he’s bitching at his teammates because of their defense, that’s a problem. But if he was upset that he didn’t pitch as well as he wanted to, is it a problem that he didn’t just calmly take it in stride? I’m not saying every player should act out and rant and rave after a poor performance, but I don’t think there’s only one good way to react to such a thing. Some take it calmly with resolve to perform better next time. Some show their dissatisfaction more overtly. As long as he didn’t hit anything with his pitching hand and wasn’t bitching at teammates, I don’t have a problem with it and I don’t know why anyone would.
The immoderate moderator
I see why people have a problem with it but I'm not really going to say much about it.
You want a kid to take it out where the public can’t see him. Go into the clubhouse. As a coach, I always tell my kids that everyone in the stands and on both teams knows you want to succeed. Everyone knows that you’re upset that you failed. Don’t make it only about you and not the rest of the team. To call that kind of attention to yourself is selfish…
But I wasn’t there so I’m not sure what happened so I won’t comment. A little emotion is good, but a water cooler beating isn’t a great thing. You get the idea….
The 2009 Official You Got Rocked by the Royals and Sent to the Minors List
1. Josh Rupe TEX April 17
2. David Purcey TOR May 1
3. Brian Burres TOR May 1
4. Bryan Bullington TOR May 1
smashing a toilet to bits in the Royals locker room after getting blown out isn't good
I’m speaking to you Mr. Andujar.
Royals baseball. Where .260 would be orgasmic.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
agree with this
It’s funny. Some players, like Meche, get complained on if he shows “too little” emotion. So, it can go both ways.
I’d also say though, that if he let’s an emotional outburst like that affect his work afterwards, then it isn’t good. If it’s a way to get it out and get over it, then fine.
Royals baseball. Where .260 would be orgasmic.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
It's simple reall...you're a professional....act like it
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on May 3, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think that a player acting like he's unhappy with a poor performance is unprofessional
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 3, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
shouting and hurling your glove is childish, immature, and unprofessional
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on May 3, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, like jumping up and down and yelling after a win
We’re talking about sports here. You can’t apply the same rules you apply in an office. In sports, players often emote. That’s not a bad thing.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 4, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh geez...Arguing Class 101 in back in session....
I can see where this is heading—hundreds of back and forth comments, numerous block quotes, hours of bickering, a conversation with no end until you just abandon the thread….because if I decide to take this any further with you, I will not stop.
You won’t change my mind, I won’t change yours. There. Trust me…I’m doing us both a favor.
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on May 4, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Ok, thanks
You could have accomplished the same thing (ending the discussion/debate) merely by not responding. Instead, you took the time to teach me a valuable lesson about how the discussions and debates on this website really don’t change anything. You’ve really given me a lot to think about. Thank you.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 4, 2009 3:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, that's exactly what I said. Thank you for not being a jerk about it
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on May 4, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm thinking about traveling down there later this year
Any tips, suggestions, comments that I should check out in the area?
The 2009 Official You Got Rocked by the Royals and Sent to the Minors List
1. Josh Rupe TEX April 17
2. David Purcey TOR May 1
3. Brian Burres TOR May 1
4. Bryan Bullington TOR May 1
Stay in Fayetteville
and check out Dickson Street after the game.
If you were thinking, you wouldn't have thought that.
I am most definitely going there for a few games
So I would also appreciate any advice, suggestions, etc.
WTF, self?
Warden11 is correct.
Dickson Street in Fayetteville is the best non-baseball entertainment option in NWA.
Dickson Street is a collection of bars, clubs and restaurants just outside the Univ. of Arkansas campus. It favors the college scene (I wasted many college years there), but it is a reasonably mixed crowd especially in the summer. If you are looking for shopping or slightly more upscale entertainment, you might want to head north to check out Rogers and the Pinnacle area which is geared more toward business types in town for Wal-Mart related work.
I’d also recommend checking out a college baseball game at Baum Stadium, but there are only a couple of weeks left in the regular season.
Today, we are all Honkballers.
The ballpark does seem to be out in the middle of nowhere,
except that it is really in the middle of one of the worst sprawls in country.
If you were thinking, you wouldn't have thought that.
Well, the stadium is in the middle of a cow pasture on the west edge of Springdale.
But yes, Springdale (Tyson Foods company town) is the midpoint between Bentonville/Rogers (Wal-Mart company town) and Fayetteville (state college town), with all four cities bunched along US 71 / I-540 corridor.
The fun part is, just drive about five miles east or west of the interstate and you are back in the woods.
Today, we are all Honkballers.
1.5 miles from my house
The stadium was built there planning for development all around it. Nowhere else in Springdale city that made sense. Unfortunately, the economy dropped to the crapper right after it was built and ….well, you get the picture.
Russ Gload = Doug Mientiewicz....without the pop
Not sure about the surrounding area in Springdale...
but that plan hasn’t worked out too well for the Truman Sports Complex over the last 35 years. Unless you count the Taco Bell across the street.
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
by Sweep_the_Leg on May 4, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I love that Taco Bell fiercely.
Don’t you diss my pregame* TBell!
*when I’m in KC but can’t afford BBQ.
WTF, self?
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