[Questdog]

Thursday, September 19, 2002

Yesterday, on our off day, Rick Woodell, came to see me. Earlier in the season, he refused to go to Vancouver (A), if you recall. And then he was complaining that he wasn't in the starting lineup. Well, he did not go to Vancouver (A) and we did not cut him and he we even put him in the starting lineup against right-handed pitchers. But now he is complaining that he should not be batting 2nd, but should be batting 3rd or 4th.... I asked him if he really thought that he was a better run producer than Fernando Mexicano and Glenn Snowden. He said that if he was batting in their spots, he'd put up just as good of numbers as they have. I laughed in his face. I didn't mean to be mean; it was just an involuntary reaction... He demanded that I trade him immediately. I pointed out to him that the trade deadline had passed and that no trading was allowed until after the World Series. He said that we weren't going to the World Series, so we should be able to trade right now. I told him to take it up with the Commissioner.... And I think he might... Meanwhile, I will put him back on the bench and see how he likes that...

Also, P Chuck Purnell (26-L) was sent back to Vancouver (A) to help them with their pennant drive. He's not going to help us any. RP Ken Powell (31-R) was recalled.

We are back home in beautiful Portland to play our final home series of the year, a 4 game set against the Oakland Oaks. They just beat the Stars 2 games at home. We are 6-4 against them on the season, but they swept us in 3 games the last time they were here, May 31 - June 2. They are 6th in the PCL in scoring with 4.20 runs per game (Portland is 7th with 4.17).. They have scored 10 more runs than we have in 1 more game. The Oaks are 12th in fewest runs allowed with 4.47 per game (Portland is 6th with 3.99). Their run deferential is -40 and ours is +27.

Oakland Oaks (78-74 .513 22.5 GB in 3rd place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (74-77 .490 26 GB in 4th place in the PCL West)

OAK: Greg Ware (26-L 18-7 2.74) All-Star vs. POR: Bobby Johnson (23-R 11-11 3.03)

Ware is 1-0 against us in 2 starts. 16 IP and 18 SO. He was their closer last year, but has adapted well to starting. He lost his last start, but only gave up 1 run and 3 hits in 7 IP. The Oaks were shut out.

Johnson went 8.1 innings last time out and only allowed 2 runs, but got a no decision. According his pattern of starts, he is due to get pummeled...

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
OAKLAND
1: RF Gerry Elliott (29-L .266-546-5-43-.726) Sprained knee 89 BB/28 SB
2: CF John Trent (30-R .253-553-12-59-.714) 20 SB
3: LF Javy Puente (31-S .308-582-36-103-.906) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star
4: 1B Tim Metts (26-L .272-500-36-109-.911) 31 2B/73 BB/40 SO
5: C Al Burrell (38-R .221-444-11-53-.625)
6: SS Jim Byrum (29-S .251-529-4-46-.639)
7: 3B Jack Reynolds (28-R .223-166-4-14-.656)
8: 2B Alexis Montoy (35-S .236-106-3-18-.617) 3 BB
9: P Greg Ware (26-L .234-77-0-4-.578) All-Star

I know this will jinx him, but I have to report it anyway:
Puente and Metts are a combined 4 for 38 (.105) with 0 HR vs. Bobby Johnson
On the other hand, SS Jim Byrum and 2B Alexis Montoy are 6 for 17 (.353) with 2 HR

PORTLAND
1: CF Jack Hinckley (26-R .291-399-2-31-.693)
2: 2B Juan Rojas (23-S .241-349-1-25-.599)
3: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .288-545-35-107-.902)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (25-R .309-551-36-104-.948) 2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove
5: C Jim Shippy (31-R .283-392-8-49-.761)
6: SS Dave Risinger (26-R .276-366-6-38-.684)
7: RF Jose Julio (28-R .243-292-3-26-.606)
8: LF Fernando Martinez (27-L .256-383-16-56-.715) Gold Glove
9: P Bobby Johnson (23-R .118-76-0-2-.334)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Multnomah County Stadium
Weather: 69 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 9 MPH blowing in from right
Attendance: 9,849

Top of the First:
Gerry Elliott grounds out to 3rd. John Trent flies out to deep left. Javy Puente grounds out to 2nd! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Jack Hinckley walks on 4 pitches! Juan Rojas takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4! P Greg Ware does not habitually have control issues; his BB/9 is only 2.2. Fernando Mexicano doubles over the center fielder's head and Hinckley scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs, so Glenn Snowden is compelled to strike out... And he does... Jim Shippy should also be a strikeout victim according to the Beaver Code of Etiquette, but he grounds out to 2nd and Rojas scores and Mexicano goes to 3rd. 2 to 0, Beavers! Dave Risinger grounds out to 3rd.

Bottom of the Second:
Jose Julio takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Fernando Martinez grounds a hit to right and Julio heads to 3rd, but Gerry Elliott throws him out... P Bobby Johnson lays down a bunt along the 3rd base line and Jack Reynolds fields it and throws the ball away for a 2 base error! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Jack Hinckley does not follow the Beaver Code of Etiquette, but declares that he will be even more polite and lines out to short and they double Martinez off at 3rd.... Only one batter made an out in the inning...

Top of the Third:
Alexis Montoy leads off with a double grounded down the left field line... P Greg Ware bunts and P Bobby Johnson tries to get the out at 3rd, but the throw is late and everyone is safe... Gerry Elliott grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Montoy scores. 2 to 1, Beavers.

Bottom of the Third:
With 1 out, Fernando Mexicano doubles to right center. Glenn Snowden beats out an infield hit. Jim Shippy swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles down the right field line! Mexicano scores! 3 to 1, Beavers! And once again, Dave Risinger finds himself up with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs... He is the ultimate follower of the Beaver Code of Etiquette.... Surprise! He swings the bat! Surprise! He hit the ball! Surprise! With the infield in, his ground ball scoots through to left center for a hit and both runners score!! 5 to 1, Beavers! That sends 18 game winner, P Greg Ware, to the showers! New pitcher: Jim Coyne (31-R) with a 4.13 ERA in 65.1 IP. PH Brian Mitchell (21-L) flies out to left. Fernando Martinez pops out to the catcher...

Bottom of the Fifth:
Fernando Mexicano doubles down the left field line! His 3rd double of the game! Glenn Snowden grounds a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit. Jim Shippy lines out to short and they double Mexicano off at 3rd... That is twice that has happened today... Dave Risinger grounds a hit to center. A wild pitch moves the runners up. Brian Mitchell grounds out to 2nd...

Top of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Jim Byrum lines a hit to left. Jack Reynolds grounds a hit to center and Byrum goes to 3rd. The Bullpen gets going. Alexis Montoy lines a hit to center and Byrum scores... 5 to 2, Beavers. PH Kenny Giachino (25-L), a rookie batting .278 with 2 HR in 36 AB, strikes out looking! Only the second K of the day for P Bobby Johnson. Gerry Elliott doubles down the left field line and both runners score... 5 to 4, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Roy Huls (21-R). John Trent flies out to deep left!

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Tadayoshi Date (23-R), a rookie with a 4.55 ERA in 31.2 IP. Glenn Snowden is up and I am thinking a home run would be nice to give us a 2 run cushion with Javy Puente and Tim Metts coming up for the Oaks next inning, but Snowden strikes out... But Jim Shippy hits a home run to left!! 6 to 4, Beavers!

Top of the Eighth:
Javy Puente doubles down th left field line. Tim Metts strikes out looking! Al Burrell grounds out to third! Jim Byrum grounds out to short!

Bottom of the Eighth:
PH Don Neumann (32-S) skies one to left and Javy Puente just plain drops the ball for and error! Jack Hinckley takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. With 1 out, Fernando Mexicano grounds a hit to right and Neumann scores! 7 to 4, Beavers! Glenn Snowden grounds a hit to left and the bases are loaded with 1 out for Jim Shippy. Wish he would have saved that home run for now... He walks to force in a run! 8 to 4, Beavers! Dave Risinger walks on 4 pitches to force in another! 9 to 4, Beavers! They stick with the rookie pitcher... Brian Mitchell strikes out... 2 down. Fernando Martinez takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4, believe it or not, and forces in another run! 10 to 4, Beavers! Now they make a pitching change. New Pitcher: Jerry Loring (28-R) with a 5.77 ERA in 73.1 IP. 1.11 ERA last year in 57 IP. 0 HR allowed last season, but 10 this year. Don Neumann up again and he swings at a 1-2 pitch and clears the bases with a double to left center!! 13 to 4, Beavers!!!! Jack Hinckley strikes out.

Won - 13 to 4

We had 15 hits and made no errors
Oakland had 9 hits and made 3 errors

Bobby Johnson (W 12-11) went 6.2 innings, allowed 4 runs, 8 hits, no walks and struck out 2. He threw a WP.
RHP Roy Huls (H 3) went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.
RHP Ken Powell pitched 1 perfect inning.

Greg Ware (L 18-8) went 2.1 innings, gave us 5 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks and struck out 2.

CF jack Hinckley drew 2 walks and scored 2 runs. 2B Juan Rojas had a hit and a walk and scored a run. 3B Fernando Mexicano had 4 hits with 3 doubles, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden had 3 hits and scored 2 runs. C Jim Shippy hit a double and his 9th home run of the season, drew a walk, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI. SS Dave Risinger had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had 3 RBI. RF Jose Julio drew a walk in his only PA. LF Fernando Martinez had a hit and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. PH Don Neumann hit a double, scored a run and had 3 RBI.