The Intentional Walk Off

First off, about the title. I don’t think that I was prepared for the windstorm that enveloped me and the others surrounding me in the outfield section when the helicopter flew right over us. Papers were flying, dust was penetrating mercilessly into the eyes of several people in my general vicinity, and I felt like I was about to get blown into left field. And then the fun started…

Does it get any better than Cylo riding an elephant? But I digress.

The real show was on the field, as the Stormers took flight for the first time under new skipper Von Hayes. Things went according to plan for Zack Parker with the first two batters, but then Bridgeport Bluefish catcher Brian Peterson reached based on what the official scorer generously termed a base hit. In my estimation, and I assume in the estimation of other observers, it was a clear error on one Danny Gonzalez. This disturbed me, not so much in that he did not make the play, but in that it was a play he could have made. I did not see effort. I was angry. I was angry that I was angry 3 batters into the season. I immediately prayed it was not an omen of things to come.

After two innings, it appeared my prayers had not been answered. Zack had already thrown 41 pitches and surrendered 2 runs, 4 hits, and 2 walks. The home team, on the other hand, had only forced Bluefish starting pitcher Eric Dubose to throw 25 pitches through two innings, lowlighted by a Danny Gonzalez double play in the first inning, which destroyed the effectiveness of a Michael Woods leadoff walk that had preceded it. I was beginning to fear the worst. Perhaps this team had received too much hype in the preseason. Perhaps the hitting just wasn’t there like I had envisioned it. I was expecting fireworks, and so far I had seen a 3 year old burning his hand on a sparkler. Not my idea of fun.

The tide turned in the top of the 3rd inning. The mood of the game shifted with one at bat. The batter was Danny Gonzalez, and we can consider his effort to be his penance for the early miscues. With Woods on second after a walk and stolen base, Danny worked a 14 pitch at bat, which resulted in a walk for himself. This allowed Brian Stavisky to stride to the plate and lace an RBI single down the right field line. Although the Stormers would only score one run in the inning, this is where the game turned. With the one at bat, Danny forced Bridgeport’s hand in the pitching game. After a 38 pitch 3rd inning, Dubose simply had no gas to go past the 4th. This necessitated the use of relievers Ellison and Eickhorst for Bridgeport, and would lead to Lancaster’s monster of an eighth inning. With Eickhorst already out there, it was clear that Bridgeport skipper Tommy John did not want to use more than 3 pitchers in the first game of the season. Eickhorst got tired, and the onslaught began.

What was a 2-2 game after 7 and a half innings became a 10-2 wipeout. Quite a way to start the Von Hayes era. They say little things win games and championships, and Danny Gonzalez’ at bat tonight was one of those little things. In all, the Barnstormers worked 6 full counts tonight. If this team can stay disciplined at the plate, it can be a fantastic club. If the effort shows up in the field, as it did on Vasili Spanos’ Web Gem quality diving catch in the top of the 5th, this incarnation of the Barnstormers could be a force unseen in the annals of the Atlantic League.