May 7, 2009 My family and I went out to eat and enjoyed hearing the first inning of the Indians-Red Sox. When we left the car, it was more of the same as the Indians fell behind early 1-0. After dinner, we were on our way to a local mall and an Indians team shop to get tickets for Mother's Day. We thought it was wonderful how the team came up with a way to get to Wakefield. It was now 2-1 and buying tickets seemed more feasible now. I was pumped and was saying "Just hold on, guys" With this year's team, there is not that confidence from my perspective that any lead is safe with the bullpen we have. When I got home, I was amazed that the Indians were THIS BAD! 13-3 just was not what this baseball fan ever wanted to see from the 2009 team. Still, it was what it was. 11-18 was a fact, not a mirage that could be turned around so quickly it seemed. /> May 8th, 2009 I was called about 12 p.m. today. It was my boss from the Indians. "Hey Aaron, can you come in tonight? Someone called off." "Sure, I can do it(I guess)." The thought of working these games these days isn't as thrilling as I imagined due to the play of the club these days. Still, perhaps, I could help them by being there. I was thinking the impossible this season, so far on my way into "the Jake, uh, I mean Progressive Field." Perhaps, they could actually go on a streak. Streak for the Tribe this year...two in a row?" They have to get to ONE, first. I began the night finding out that I would be at Gate C, checking bags and other items for contraband. It went fast. Having this as my first time at this gate, I was amazed of two things. First of all, this activity was a lot faster than I imagined it would be. Secondly, those fireworks sure are loud from where I was standing. My other area where I would be stationed was away from television monitors and away from the field. The toughest moment here was hearing the crowd get so excited at Grady's "swing and a drive, waaay back" and then hearing the moan afterward when Granderson caught it. It was like someone blew up a balloon and then let it go without tying it and having it deflate" PLLLLLLLLLLL. Trying to imagine the sound of the balloon just makes me say UGH, another loss. 11-19. We lost 1-0. After the game, I was not able to see, however, I heard the fireworks. The crowd leaving seemed down. This used to be a series where you would hear and see trash-talking from Detroit and Cleveland fans. Tonight, this swagger was not seen from either side from the fans. However, I was also able to see some of the players tonight. Curtis Granderson was not boastful. He just was quietly confident and smiling from ear to ear. Other Tigers' players were loose, joking and having fun cracking jokes, about what I can't recall. I saw one that appeared especially jovial was Zach Miner as he was telling the others something. I saw one Indians player and one coach as they left too. Masa Kobayashi looked like he was really tired and Luis Rivera looked really down. This last observation told the story. That is all I needed to see to know the story tonight.
We entered the team shop. The game was on and the Indians were able to survive the bottom of the fifth. I was telling someone about Wakefield and how he seems to be like a fine wine pitching better now than in the past. "We used to pummel him. He used to be the one that we used to win against all the time." I thought it was amazing that he could be this effective now. 2-1. Let's get home to see if this can hold up.
Then came the top of the sixth. My wife stopped off at the local wholesale club that we shop at for bottled water, milk and other items in bulk. Before getting there however, Sowers started sounding sour on the radio as he was allowing hitters to get base hit after base hit after base hit. Walking batters also was taking place. The travel time was about 10 minutes and we were not taking the highway. The score went from 2-1 to 4-2 and still no one was out. Ugh! Bring in Masa! His name reminds me too much of Mesa. OH NO! Base hit, base hit, still no one out. Listening to this as your wife went into the store made me want to call her on the cell phone and say "Could you pick up some Pepto-Bismol or Tums in bulk too?" I held off, though. What made it worse was all this went on without GETTING ANYONE OUT!
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