That's when they say I lost my only friend
Well they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
The long broken arm of human law
Now it always seemed such a waste
She always had a pretty face
I wonder why she hung around this place
Ouch. Jays lose 10-3 to the Rangers.
Recaps:
* Delgado delivers, but Jays fall - Eskew
Delgado hit his 18th home run on Friday night at Ameriquest Field. That is the most home runs by an opponent at the Arlington ballpark. Delgado has more home runs at Arlington than any stadium not known as the SkyDome.
* Rangers ride all over Blue Jays - Ryan
The Jays, swept 11-2, 4-0 and 7-5 here right after the All-Star break, managed a couple of bright spots — another couple of hits by Carlos Delgado, including his 28th home run; a couple of singles by rookie Russ Adams; and a ringing double in the eighth by Eric Crozier, making his first major-league start, this one as the designated hitter.
* Batista goes wild - Ganter
For three years, Rod Barajas was Batista's personal catcher in Arizona. He felt for the Jays rookie catcher.
"I have told everyone since Day 1, Miguel Batista is the hardest guy to catch in baseball,'' Barajas said. "His stuff is so good and it runs all over the place. I always had a tough time catching him. I can imagine what Quiroz felt like. It's tough on a kid."
* Mench powers victory - AP
Mench and Mark Teixeira homered in a six-run fourth inning for the Rangers, who had lost nine of their previous 11. Michael Young had four hits, and Rod Barajas and Mench each added three hits for Texas, which took advantage of the Blue Jays' club record-tying four wild pitches.
Notes:
* Crozier watching, learning - Eskew
Crozier has been watching Delgado intently.
"I told him, 'Don't be mad if I talk your head off,' " Crozier said. "I talked to him about trying to get my nerves under control. I've talked to him about hitting. He's been helpful. I've talked to him a lot about balance and pitch selection. He's not afraid to share information, but I'm pretty sure he hasn't shared all of his secrets."
Crozier, who is 6 foot 4 inches and 200 pounds, was a 41st-round pick out of Norfolk State for the Indians as a senior in 2000. He said he needs to complete one calculus class to graduate with a major in architecture and building.
If I recall correctly, there are very, very few college graduates in MLB - something like 25.
Hopefully Eric has a better time with calculus than I did in college.
*Blue Jays Watch - Ganter
Being a former catcher, interim manager John Gibbons can appreciate better than most the job Gregg Zaun has done when it comes to blocking the plate with baserunners bearing down on him. "He's got no fear,'' Gibbons said. "Some guys do when they're doing that but not him. He's one of those guys who will sacrifice his body."
Zaun was at it again Thursday night bracing himself as he took the throw from Alex Rios in right field as Anaheim's Jose Guillen prepared to put his shoulder into him. Guillen bowled him over, but Zaun held on to the ball for what he figures was his 10th such putout this season.
* Two Mark Guthrie's, one big cheque - Funny story that I caught on the local news the other night apparently is making it through the press now. A Connecticut resident named Mark Guthrie received a check from the Cubs that was intended for the former Cubs pitcher Mark Guthrie. How'd this happen? The CT man works for the Hartford Courant (America's oldest continuously published newspaper!) which is owned by the Tribune Co, which also owns the Cubs. From seeing the man interviewed on TV it looks like the Tribune Co. is making things a lot more complicated than they should, but that's obviously just one side of the story. Of course who would you be more likely to believe, Joe Citizen, or big Corporation?
* In case you missed it yesterday (like I almost did) Robert had an excellent interview with Jerry Howarth.
* Today's Game - Ryan Glynn gets a second start filling in for Josh Towers. Kenny Rogers goes for the Rangers.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040911101816999