Fox Sports guy Brady Tinker throws out the first pitch of the Grand Prairie Airhogs game.
DFW Sports Beat host, Brady Tinker is shown here throwing out the first pitch at a Grand Prairie Airhogs game last Friday night. The bizarre thing is, his camera man had an issue with his video, so this is the only video of him tossing the pitch that I know of. I sent him an e-mail with a link to this post, maybe we’ll get some props on Thursday night’s show.
I made the trip to Fort Worth’s LaGrave Field today to watch the Grand Prairie Airhogs play the Fort Worth Cats. I was interested in going because not only did I want to see some good baseball, but I wanted to see the grand old field that has been such a big part of history, not only for Fort Worth, but for Major League Baseball.
As usual, I get to the game a couple of hours ahead of time so I can get a feel for the place and see what stories I can comment on. I got into the gates ok, but wasn’t allowed to go on to the field which was sort of a bummer since I pretty much have free reign at the QT Park in Grand Prairie, but hey, I got in ok so that was ok.
As I was standing by the Airhog’s dugout, Mr. Dick Smith the General Manager of the Cats came down to have a chat with me. It was really nice of him to do that.
I know the Cat’s have had some financial issues and I didn’t really want to bring that up at this point, but I am hopeful everything is ok with this team financially since it’s been such a big part of the local history.
Today was more about baseball, apple pie, and the American way rather than discussion negative aspects of a poor economy. It was about time to play baseball, and I was soaking it all in. After all, it’s Memorial Day weekend. It’s time for a break to pause and reflect how great this country is. It was great to hear Mr. Smith say he enjoys life, he gets to “come to the ballpark everyday.”
It was so hot, so summer already. That’s just part of baseball. The wind dies down to nothing, the sun beats down unmercifully, and there is no rain for miles. The dust jumps up from any slight disturbance and you know it’s just the beginning of summer. Shade is a premium now, and there isn’t that much shade at 1:00 at LaGrave Field.
The game is about to start, and I am thankful for so many things. The chance to spend some off time at a ball field during a long weekend celebrating. I shot this video and it pretty much sums up how I was feeling, and I’m so thankful for this great country and baseball.
Well kids, I’m about to take off and go watch some baseball and get out of the house for a while. This weekend is going to be filled with cookouts, and swimming, and the celebration that is the beginning of summer. But before I go, I just wanted to wish everyone a good Memorial Day, and please take a moment to remember our troops that paid the ultimate sacrifice. We honor you.
How incredible. It’s the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, you come to the plate and hit a grand slam. You trot around the bases in glorious jubilation so pumped that when you jump up to land on the plate to you know, make it official with all of your team mates around, you break your ankle?
Wow. You just can’t make this stuff up people.
Kendry Morales took a leap toward home plate and all of a sudden, a jubilant trip around the bases turned into a deflating trip to the disabled list. Morales broke his left leg after hitting a game-ending grand slam in the 10th inning of the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-1 victory against Seattle on Saturday.
Morales landed awkwardly when he jumped on home plate and twisted his left ankle. He had to be carted off the field and taken to the hospital. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
“It’ll change the way we celebrate,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before the extent of Morales’ injury was known. “It sure was exciting, but you always wonder if it’s an accident waiting to happen. This is definitely unfortunate. We’ve just got to wait and see what we’re dealing with. We’ll know more information as the night moves on.”
There is a minor league team here in the Dallas area call the Grand Prairie Airhogs. A good team leading their division and it’s always fun for me to be able to go out and spend the evening taking in some baseball. I always take my iPod Nano in case I can catch some thought-provoking video. I wasn’t disappointed.
Wow, I never expected that but hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I truly am grateful I was given press credentials to the Airhogs team! What better way to spend a summer’s evening than watching baseball. I love the mascots too.
All in all, I always have a blast at these games because I never know what’s going to happen next.
Oh, and one more thing. I like right before the game starts, they have a tradition of the air siren from this show:
Finally. It finally appears as if this sale of the Texas Rangers is indeed going to happen. It’s going to go through a voluntary bankruptcy to pay off some creditors, but at least it looks like it’s really going to happen.
The club filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Fort Worth on Monday, a process they hope will transfer ownership from Hicks Sports Group to Rangers Baseball Express, headed by Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg and club president Nolan Ryan. The new owners want to be in place by the trade deadline on July 31, so that if the club wants to try to acquire reinforcements, they’d have more money in place to do so.
The plan would guarantee the lenders all of the $75 million owed by the club itself. The intention is to remove the club from the dispute and pave the way for the sale to be completed through the courts. Any additional proceeds, which should total a little more than $280 million, would go to HSG to pay the lenders. That’s still well short of the entire $525 million amount that was defaulted on last March. It’s likely that won’t satisfy the creditors, who would then be dealing with HSG to recoup more money. Some of that could be accomplished through the sale of the Stars and any other HSG assets.
The list of creditors filed with the court includes Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who was traded six years ago and is still owed $24.9 million in deferred compensation. Kevin Millwood ($12.9 million), Michael Young ($3.9 million), Vicente Padilla ($1.695 million) and retired players Mickey Tettleton ($1.4 million) and Mark McLemore ($970,000) are also on the list. So are a gaggle of vendors.
This should put Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg in the owner’s drivers seat by mid summer. Amen.
So I went to a Rangers game last night and the Chicago Cubs were in town for a 3 game series at the Ballpark in Arlington. This series was getting lots of publicity, a la New York Yankees and I wondered why. I mean, we’re talking the Cubbies right? I wondered what the attraction is/was. Probably the most hard luck sports franchise (besides the Rangers) that has ever put on a baseball uniform. I couldn’t wait to get out t the ballpark to find out what the attraction was.
Ahhhh, now I see. Local fans that are distant Cubs fans maybe? See, I guess I’m sort of old-school. I mean come on, which team do you really support? Can sports fans be fans of multiple teams? I guess it’s possible.
So anyway, I took some additional video of the great night at the ball park. The Rangers won 2-1 by the way, and that made it extra nice.
That hot dog was finger-licking good! As you may or may not know, I’ve been on a limited diet for almost a year, and I’ve finally gotten to where I can eat again. I kind of need to watch it though.
It was a great night of baseball. I love it!
I really hope the Rangers get sold to Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg soon, we Rangers fans deserve a chance at some great baseball.
