Bullpen call doesn't quite go as planned
Milwaukee Brewers Manager Ron Roenicke went to the mound Thursday night in Atlanta and signaled for a relief pitcher.
It's a rather routine procedure, but the problem was the Brewers didn't have anybody warming up in the bullpen. After a conference between umpires, the Brewers were forced to bring in a relief pitcher and they chose left-hander Will Smith, a former Arkansas Traveler and Northwest Arkansas Natural.
Smith had no warm-up prior to the eight pitches he's allowed for coming into the game, and it showed. He gave up a two-run single to the first batter he saw, and the Braves won 5-4.
Roenicke blamed the oversight on a miscommunication stemming from the absence of pitching coach Rick Kranitz, who was attending a family member's graduation. Kranitz usually is charged with letting the bullpen know what pitcher needs to warm up.
In Kranitz's place, minor league pitching coordinator Rick Tomlin served as pitching coach.
"I feel bad about everything. You can't do that to a player," Roenicke told reporters. "... It's not [Tomlin's] fault. I didn't turn around and tell him to make the call. I just assumed it."
Smith, who spent part of 2010 pitching for the Travs and part of 2011 with the Naturals, said he was warned of the danger of his outing as he reached the mound.
"Ron told me, 'Don't do anything stupid here, Will,' " Smith told reporters. "The home plate umpire told me the same thing. He said, 'Listen, kid, be careful. Take care of yourself.' "
Wrigley diss
Andrew Cashner spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons pitching at Wrigley Field as a member of the Chicago Cubs, but apparently the 27-year-old pitcher wasn't impressed.
Cashner, now with the San Diego Padres, spoke to the Chicago Tribune about the shiny amenities he currently has at Petco Park and the not-so-impressive facilities at his former home.
"[The Padres] have some of the best facilities in baseball," Cashner said. "And Wrigley, it's dumb. ... It's bad. Here, we have one of the nicest weight rooms in all of baseball, a big locker room and things are spaced out. [At Wrigley], you go about your business and make the most out of what what you need to get out of your day."
Baby Bucs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found a new way to market a fan base: Force it upon them before they are old enough to make their own decisions.
In partnership with Tampa Bay area hospitals the Buccaneers have introduced a a promotion called "Bucs Babies," in which the team provides team hats and shirts for babies born throughout May.
Families will receive team gear, a signed photo by Coach Lovie Smith and a chance to win game tickets and sideline passes.
"You are never too young to be a fan," Bucs CEO Brian Ford said," and we are excited to welcome the newest generation of Bucs Babies and their parents to the Buccaneer family."
Quiz
What did Will Smith do in his last appearance at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock?
Answer
Smith combined with Kelvin Herrera for a no-hitter as a member of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on July, 19, 2011.
Sports on 05/24/2014