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Sal, The Barber · 02-15-2016, 10:22 AM

3 April 2012
Boise, ID

We start the 2012 season with a short two-game series against Boise. The Braves don’t figure to be particularly good, and our season opener then goes to form. I just love a start like this. Eric Kelham, leading off, walks. Joe Robbins strikes out. Kelham steals second. Andrew Hicks singles, and it’s 1-0. Kelham steals off our old friend, catcher Frank Hankins, who we traded to Boise for a draft pick.

This post is all about Big Frank. Frank is not a great thrower behind the plate, and he was never a great hitter for us. And he’s declining. Still, in his prime, he had some power and a better than average eye. He never hit for a high average, but he was useful.

When Jeff Racine takes the mound in the bottom of the first, with a 1-0 lead, we notice (because we’re not all worried about Boise in general to notice beforehand) that Big Frank is hitting in the number four slot. Frank couldn’t even make our roster this season, and he’s Boise’s clean up hitter. I hope that doesn’t sound too snotty. I’m just trying to lay out the facts.

Racine has a rocky first inning, allowing two singles to start the game. He then gets a strike out, which brings up Big Frank with 2 on and one out. Frank grounds into a DP. We cruise to a 8-1 victory from there.

Today, we’re having deja vu all over again. Jose Vincent starts for us and gives up two singles in the first inning as well. With one out, two on, Frank Hankins comes to the plate. Today, he takes Vincent deep. 3-run homer. And Boise cruises from there, Hankins adding a solo shot later in the game to rub dirt in the wound. Boise wins 7-0.

While I guess this should piss me off, it doesn’t it. Good for Big Frank, I think. We thought he was washed up, traded him for a draft pick, and watched him hit into a DP in a critical spot. And felt good about our evaluation of him. Today, he took that evaluation and shoved it down our throat. Got to like that even when you don’t.

By the way, we have the #1 rated prospect in baseball, outfielder Alfonso “Buzzy” Gonzalez. The odd thing is that we signed him as a free agent this offseason when we just happened to be trolling the free agent board.

02-15-2016, 10:22 AM	#478
Sal, The Barber All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 594	3 April 2012 Boise, ID We start the 2012 season with a short two-game series against Boise. The Braves don’t figure to be particularly good, and our season opener then goes to form. I just love a start like this. Eric Kelham, leading off, walks. Joe Robbins strikes out. Kelham steals second. Andrew Hicks singles, and it’s 1-0. Kelham steals off our old friend, catcher Frank Hankins, who we traded to Boise for a draft pick. This post is all about Big Frank. Frank is not a great thrower behind the plate, and he was never a great hitter for us. And he’s declining. Still, in his prime, he had some power and a better than average eye. He never hit for a high average, but he was useful. When Jeff Racine takes the mound in the bottom of the first, with a 1-0 lead, we notice (because we’re not all worried about Boise in general to notice beforehand) that Big Frank is hitting in the number four slot. Frank couldn’t even make our roster this season, and he’s Boise’s clean up hitter. I hope that doesn’t sound too snotty. I’m just trying to lay out the facts. Racine has a rocky first inning, allowing two singles to start the game. He then gets a strike out, which brings up Big Frank with 2 on and one out. Frank grounds into a DP. We cruise to a 8-1 victory from there. Today, we’re having deja vu all over again. Jose Vincent starts for us and gives up two singles in the first inning as well. With one out, two on, Frank Hankins comes to the plate. Today, he takes Vincent deep. 3-run homer. And Boise cruises from there, Hankins adding a solo shot later in the game to rub dirt in the wound. Boise wins 7-0. While I guess this should piss me off, it doesn’t it. Good for Big Frank, I think. We thought he was washed up, traded him for a draft pick, and watched him hit into a DP in a critical spot. And felt good about our evaluation of him. Today, he took that evaluation and shoved it down our throat. Got to like that even when you don’t. By the way, we have the #1 rated prospect in baseball, outfielder Alfonso “Buzzy” Gonzalez. The odd thing is that we signed him as a free agent this offseason when we just happened to be trolling the free agent board. Last edited by Sal, The Barber; 02-15-2016 at 10:24 AM.