#21---CLE @ MIN, 5/31/2005

With apologies to any friends or family of Juan Gonzalez, I thought this was one of the funniest games I had ever seen, solely for an event in the top of the first inning. Gonzalez had signed with the Indians during the off-season, and on team-controlled outlets like the radio and TV broadcasts, his return was much-anticipated. An injury during spring training was a blessing in disguise for the Indians, as it allowed Grady Sizemore to make the trip north with the team, and he was a big reason why the team shot into contention.

Nonetheless, after missing nearly two months, Juan Gone was set to make his debut in the Metrodome. A two-out single by Travis Hafner allowed him to bat in the first. After working the count to one and one, he hit a feeble grounder to third and jogged down the line as Michael Cuddyer threw him out. Even this was too much, though, as he pulled him hamstring. He would never play for the Indians again, or anyone else for that matter.

Watching this on TV, I had an actual LOL moment. I felt bad for Gonzalez of course, but I wasn’t particularly concerned about the effect on the team, and after the silly hype, it was hilarious.

From that point, the game wasn’t bad either. CC Sabathia went eight efficient innings, allowing three runs. Ben Broussard and Victor Martinez went deep for the Tribe to provide three of their four runs. Ron Gardenhire was ejected for arguing balls and strikes after the third pitch of Jody Gerut’s sixth inning at bat; this is the first sheet I’ve posted which shows off my symbol for a managerial ejection.

#20---BOS @ BAL, 4/4/2004

This was a Sunday night opener (I don’t recall if it was the opening game of the MLB schedule or not, with the recent trend of opening every other year or so with an overseas series, and am too lazy to check) in which the eventual world champion Red Sox fell to the Orioles 7-2. Pedro Martinez yielded three runs in the third, but was otherwise fine, working six and fanning five. Sidney Ponson made a lot of pitches (112) for allowing one run in 5 2/3. Mike Timlin was rocked in the seventh to put the outcome of this mundane opener out of doubt.

#19---PHI @ FLA, 9/24/2003

For much of 2003 and 2004 (and for 2008-) I used an Excel version of my usual scoresheet, which is on display here. Otherwise, the scoring remains very much the same, as it will through 2005.

Much more fun is examining the game through the scoresheet. This late-season game between the Phillies and the eventual world champion Marlins had serious playoff implications (Florida held a one game lead over Philly for the wildcard), and matched two young righties: Brett Myers and Josh Beckett. Florida got the better of it, touching up Myers for five runs and leading 6-0 entering the eighth inning. Through the first seven, Beckett had a two-hitter, with two walks and seven Ks. But Philadelphia was not conceding, as the first four batters in the inning knocked out hits and knocked Beckett from the box. Michael Tejera could not stop the bleeding, and Chad Fox was summoned with runners at first and second and still nobody out. A wild pitch put the tying run in scoring position, but Fox coaxed a sac fly and got another fly before walking Jimmy Rollins. He managed to strike Chase Utley out to wriggle out of the jam with the lead intact 6-5. Ugueth Urbina had a 1-2-3 ninth and Florida moved closer to the playoff berth.

#18---South Carolina v. Texas, 6/22/2002 (College World Series championship game)

I kept a scoresheet as I watched the national title game between the Gamecocks and the Longhorns. Texas jumped out with three tallies in the first inning and went on to win 12-6. Notable names later in the professional ranks (or for being as of yet unsuccessful first round picks in three cases) include Brian Buscher, Drew Meyer, and Landon Powell for South Carolina and Omar Quintanilla and Huston Street for Texas.