Results tagged ‘ James Robbins ’
No Playoffs For You!
For the first time in 2003, the West Michigan Whitecaps will not be playing in the post season and competing for the Midwest League crown. The seven consecutive appearances is a franchise record, though, and shows a commitment to the farm system by the Detroit Tigers. The ‘Caps lost to the Fort Wayne TinCaps on the last day of the season 7-2, to end their bid for the final Wild-Card spot in the MWL’s Eastern Division. Not even the presence of the famous San Diego Chicken could give them a little luck.
“It’s definitely tough,” first baseman James Robbins told the Grand Rapids Press. “Especially from where we started with that slump in the beginning of the season. And then to grind it out and put ourselves in position like we did at the end of the season and today to make the playoffs. The postseason is always something you want, and it hurts a little right now.”
Robbins helped his club out, by driving in Nick Castellanos in the eighth inning of the final game to make it 3-2, but the bullpen couldn’t hold on.
‘This leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Castellanos stated. “We had such a great team win (Sunday), and we definitely thought the momentum was on our side. But they ended up getting hits when it counted and at the end of the day the scoreboard didn’t favor us. It sucks.”
The Whitecaps finished the season with an overall record of 70-69 winning 11 of their last 16 games. As disappointing as the loss is, I like the attitudes of the players. It’s good to see them not taking things for granted and wanting to win as a team. It really speaks well as to the character of these guys. Castellanos also tied Robert Fick’s record for hits in a season with 158. Good luck to him next season, as I’m sure he’ll probably at least be in Double-A. Hopefully we can make it to next year’s opening day, too, as we’ll be missing our baseball throughout the winter.
Photos courtesy of the West Michigan Whitecaps and Grand Rapids Press
Hurray for Opening Day
Heading downstate, I wasn’t very optimistic about this game actually taking place, as all the weather reports called for thunder storms. The baseball gods must have felt generous, though, and after the first three games of the season were postponed from Lansing, the Whitecaps and Lugnuts were finally able to kick the season off in Comstock Park. The sun was shining as I packed the kids kid in the car. The boys stayed back at my sisters due to illness, so I got to spend the day at the ball park with my favorite girl (my daughter, not Avril Lavigne). The weather was sunny as we played catch in the parking lot before the gates opened at 11:00 a.m. When we were finally let into the ball park our sences were overloaded with the smells of popcorn, hot dogs, and freshly cut grass as we recieved out free hats and found our seats. Lily played at the park for a bit before we got in line for autographs on the field at 12:15 p.m. They only allowed about fifteen minutes on the field, so we had to hustle to get her baseball and cards signed. Lily did get to meet the Tigers number two prospect Nick Castellanos and former Major Leaguers Ben Oglivie and Ernie Young. The rest of the day was perfect for baseball, topping low 80′s (a record high for the ‘Caps openers) with a nice breeze for us to enjoy the action.
The game itself was a real pitchers duel, with the Whitecaps winning 13-12 with a walk-off hit in the ninth. Trailing 12-7, they scored the last six runs of the game for the win. West Michigan battled back with a seventh inning two-run homer by Luis Castillo, and a three-run shot by James Robbins to even the score in inning eight. In the ninth inning, Dixon Machado stole second and scored the winning run on a two-out base hit by Rob Brantly. Machado was 4-5 on the day with a stolen base and three runs scored. Brantley went 2-4 with the home run and a two-run double. Bruce Rondon came on in the ninth to close the door and earn the win.
I simply can’t wait for the next ball game we can make it too. Just another month until our trip in May, which will include a Whitecaps game, too.
Photos property of M.I.B.
Minoring In Baseball
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