#139---LA @ SF, 4/13/2003

This is an example of a bad scoresheet design, with each box broken into a cross to allow for the runner’s progress around the bases to be tracked. My issue with it is that in so doing, it eats up any space in the box to record other details like pitches, and makes it awkward to write outs in which there never is a baserunner--which after all describes about two-thirds of MLB plate appearances. Because of the lack of space to track pitches, I only used this sheet when I had no intention of doing so, as was the case for this Sunday night game between NL West rivals.

On paper this should have been a great pitching matchup, with Jason Schmidt and Kevin Brown, but neither were on top of their game, each allowing four runs and fanning five (in six and five innings, respectively). The bullpens (including a Giant lefty named Troy Brohawn whose name is completely unfamiliar to me) kept things scoreless, including multi-inning outings from each team’s best relievers (Joe Nathan and Fernando Rodriguez for SF, Eric Gagne for LA). In the twelfth, the Giants finally broke through for a two-out rally against Andy Ashby, with Marquis Grissom doubling and Marvin Bernard winning it with a long single to right field.

Of particular interest in any Giant game of this era is Barry Bonds, and though he flew out twice, he did single, draw three walks (one intentional), and swipe one of his six bases for the season.

#138---CLE @ DET, 4/6/2002

This was a non-descript early season game between two teams going nowhere, although the Indians did not act as if they knew that yet. Bartolo Colon, who would be traded to Montreal later in the campaign, was just ok, yielding three runs in 6 2/3 innings while fanning four. This may have been one of Brady Anderson’s best (or even one of his few good) games during his Cleveland career, reaching safely four times, hitting a homer, and swiping a bag.

On the other side, despite his horrible 3.0 career K/9, Nate Cornejo actually had a better K rate than Colon on this day (four in 5 2/3), but he needed 121 pitches. I’ve noted on here before how pitch counts of this type are something that has disappeared from the game in just fifteen years. Also note former #1 pick Matt Anderson working the ninth for Detroit.

#137---KC @ CLE, 6/30/2001

The first thing that stands out about this game is how many home runs were hit. Five from the Royals, all from players you’d pick out now as the biggest names (apologies to Jermaine Dye)--two from Mike Sweeney, two from Carlos Beltran, one from Raul Ibanez. The Indians hit four of their own (two from Juan Gonzalez, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton), but Kansas City’s five run fourth game them a 10-3 lead and they cruised home from there

The Wilson who started for KC was Kris, who I don’t remember at all.