Bulls Being Bludgeoned by Braves

Season: 1-2; Home Stand: 1-2
Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun

Here’s the deal, Atlanta. You’ve got a guy in your system who’s been playing minor league baseball for 10 seasons and has never been called up. Name is Ernesto Mejia. He’s carrying an OPS of 1.916 after 3 games and just 11 at bats. Why don’t you call him up? Right now! Please! If not today, how about before the 11th when the Bulls go to Gwinnett?

OK, Mejia didn’t get around to his dinger until the 8th inning. It really was the home run in the 4th that did in the Bulls. Up until that inning we had the oddity of both pitchers throwing no-hitters. However, the Bulls were looking particularly foolish against the G-Brave’s Rodriguez, who struck out 9 Bulls. The Bulls whiffed 14 times over the evening. Not good.

On the other hand, even in the loss the pitching crew of Matt Andriese, Jeff Beliveau, and C.J. Riefenhauser looked pretty good.

Outside the game —

• I get it that I was probably the only person in the stands who would rather listen to the baseball game than the NCAA tournament. But in that case, how come Kinas and crew even came to work? After a flurry of tweets and emails I learned about the pre-emption, but unsatisfactory alternatives were offered. Way back in the dark ages, the DBAP had a very low power FM station that was an alternative, but HD3? Does anyone have an HD radio? Sigh. Guess it isn’t as bad as the time that a Bulls game got pre-empted for a golf tournament! 
• Short video clip of the Governors’ Cup ring ceremony here.
• Only 1:00 pm game of the year today!

Wrong Guys Hitting the Bull

Season: 1-1; Home Stand: 1-1
Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun

Another pleasant night at the ballpark. Enjoy it folks because there will be a couple of really ugly days before we get to the summer.

Far be it from me to wish a player ill—and it is very early in the season— but do I need to point out that the G’Braves Ernesto Mejia has an OPS of 2.270, 3 home runs, and 6 RBI in two games? Couldn’t he just take a day off? I know it’s early in the season, but maybe?

On the Bulls side, Kevin Kiermaier is off to a very hot start. Two games, two home runs, 4 RBI and several very nice plays out in center field. He just might be the best center fielder we’ve seen in a Durham Bulls uniform.

Otherwise, it was an early season game: Too many errors, too many pitches that got touched for hits.

We did get to see reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo, a Rays rehab project who has been on the Rays payroll for something like a year and a half. This was officially a rehab assignment and we are likely to be seeing a bit of him before the Rays make a decision on where he fits in their scheme of things.

Outside the game —

• I didn’t have anything negative to say about opening day because it was so clearly a work-in-progress. But Mike Birling, the Bulls GM has had plenty to say in an email that went out to everyone who bought a ticket. A classy apology on his part and an offer of a free ticket to any Monday-Thursday game for the rest of the year. But the offer is only on the table from April 7 to April 13. 
• The new video and sound capabilities are very impressive. I’m expecting to see a lot of tweaks to the basic display, but I certainly appreciate the data that are out there. I didn’t notice the display up below where the press box used to be. That’s handy sometimes.
• I’ve got to wonder just how the radio guys are able to call pitches (location and type) from where they now sit. Terrific eyesight? 
• Speaking of the radio, pleased to hear Scott Pose back on the air with Patrick Kinas. They make a pretty good team.
• About the turf: All I can say is that if you didn’t see it 10 days ago (I think I had a webcam shot of it) you have no idea how much progress has been made getting it in shape. We have it on good authority that all should be right for the next home stand. 
• Patience, grasshopper.
• But we sure were looking forward to cup holders, those of us on the front row of the Terrace Reserved sections. Sigh. Maybe part of the next $20 million.
• Great to see the racers back and the Bulls are running a very clever introductory video with the racers on their way back from Spring Training. Choice of the South of the Border parking lot for some shots was inspired. Nuke still having trouble getting across the finish line.

Great Start

Season: 1-0; Home Stand: 1-0
Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun, N&O, Indy Week, WRAL

First game and the baseball was just fine (once the Bulls bullpen went to work).

Neither Chris D nor I were particularly accurate in our lineup predictions. Vince Belnome got called to St. Pete, sat on the bench for about half the game and is on his way back. So we both missed that one. Justin Christian started in left field. We had him as DH, so we both missed that one, too. But we both had Kevin Kiermaier in centerfield (but then we both had him early in the order. Montoyo had him batting #6). We both had Jerry Sands in RF, he started at 1B. I had Ray Olmedo on the list, but in the wrong place. He started at 3B. Chris D correctly picked Cole Figueroa to start at SS and he did a fine job there. We both liked Mike Fontenot at 2B and we were right. Mikie Mahtook started in RF, so we had the right guy, but in the wrong place. Wilson Betemit started in DH slot and did very well. We were both right about the catcher, Roman Ali Solis.

Not bad.

And I could find nothing to fault about the Bulls position players. A lot to like there. A good spread of youth and age. Some power (3 homers last night), some speed (3 stolen bases), decent hands (a double play on the only real opportunity), and a nice running catch by Christian to break the Braves’ back in the 8th.

Mr. Nate Karns was very shaky in his first Triple-A start. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Merrill Kelly, Adam Liberatore, new guy Brad Boxberger, and Kirby Yates started the season much like they finished last season. That is, they looked great. 6⅓ innings of scoreless ball.

How about the park? Very impressive. The crew obviously has been working very, very, very hard to get things in place. More than one commented that they were getting by on only a few hours rest in the last week or so. Give me a couple of more days before detailed comments.

Check out the links above for more stories. Particularly cool is Vince Belnome taking batting practice wearing Google Glasses at the WRAL link.

Opening Day 2014

It looks like the team is ready to go.

Renovations to the park appear to be complete.

Parking may be a problem, so come a bit early.

Don't let the weather prediction keep you from the park.

Play Ball!

Photo credits (Top to bottom) Durham Bulls, 1913; Durham Athletic Park, 1940's; East Durham Baseball Park, 1920's; Hurricane Fran comes inland, 1996.

Lineups

Tomorrow!

A couple of days ago Chris D came up with his opening day lineup.

But we  now know (from Stacy Long) that the scheduled starting pitcher is to be Nathan Karns in what I think will be his first start at AAA. Karns came to the Bulls out of the Washington system. Long also reports the rest of the starting rotation to be Enny Romero, Matt Andriese, Mike Montgomery, and Erik Bedard.

Chris D's list:

1) Kevin Kiermaier - CF
2) Cole Figueroa - SS
3) Wilson Betemit - 3B
4) Vince Belnome - 1B
5) Jerry Sands - RF
6) Mike Fontenot - 2B
7) Justin Christian - DH
8) Mike Mahtook - LF
9) Ali Solis - C


Here's my guesses

1) Cole Figueroa - 3B
2) Kevin Kiermaier - CF
3) Vince Belnome - 1B
4) Jerry Sands - RF
5) Justin Christian - DH
6) Mike Fontenot - 2B
7) Mikie Mahtook - LF
8) Ali Solis - C
9) Ray Olmedo - SS

Who else wants to jump in?

On the Field

Here's a sight we've been waiting for — the 2014 Durham Bulls on the field. 7:00 pm April 1.

Remembering Sidd Finch

Once each year Watching Durham Bulls Baseball invites our readers to take a moment to recall the all-too-brief career of an exceptional baseball player, and horn player of some note, Sidd Finch.

Photo courtesy Sports Illustrated

For those among you who were witness to those unforgettable events back in 1985, this is a chance to bring that gentle young man back from his undeserved obscurity, if only for a brief stay among us. For those unfamiliar with Mr. Finch’s contributions to the game we commend to you the brilliant essay by George Plimpton in Sports Illustrated that first brought this gentle soul to our attention. 

Photo courtesy Sports Illustrated.