Hokies go 3-1 on the week to move to 16-8. They run ruled VCU and then took two out of three against #16 Loserville.
This week Hokies go to Radford on Tuesday at 6pm on ESPN+. The weekend sends to them to face #11 Demon Deacons. Friday 6pm on ACCNX, Saturday is 4pm on ACCNX, and Sunday is 5pm on ACC Network.
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The win Sunday over Louisville was Coach Szefc's 600th win.
Do you know what that big gray wall thing is just behind the center field fence?
Are you referring to the batter's eye?
Yep. Watching baseball for a long time and never heard of it. Goes to show, never too old to learn something new, but I do feel kinda stupid for not knowing about it. I assume that it's common knowledge that I somehow missed picking up decades ago?
Don't worry, I've never heard of it either!
Today I think its common knowledge, but when I was younger I always wondered why stadiums had this gap in center field where no one could sit - it always seemed like such a waste to not let people sit there and enjoy the game. For me it was most prominent at old Yankee's stadium before they moved into the new one across the street.
Old Yankee's Stadium (seats covered in a tarp, off-center, angled)
New Yankee's Stadium (head-on, uniform-ish)
I can't find a specific date when it became required by MLB, but the first use was apparently in 1964 and when it was implemented (see above) it was done after the original construction so for many stadiums for many years it was not implemented consistently. It still isn't, but its been incorporated into new stadium plans for the last 40 years and looks more natural than just added after the fact.
A good example of it being built-in is in Minnesota - built into the stadium design, very symmetrical. The execution of the color, the vines, and the angle of the sun makes it a huge problem during day games. You can see the contrast between the bright batter's eye and the darker seated areas to the left and the right. Ideally this is reversed so that you have a dark background to make the ball much easier to pick up. In Minnesota specifically this has a lot to do with a stark contrast in batting averages and ERA in day games vs. night games.
I never knew it was called The Batter's Eye. I never knew it had a name, really. To me, it was just that area in CF that no one could sit in because the batter wouldn't be able to see the ball.
I'M not that big a fan that I immerse myself in baseball stuff, but truth be told, I never noticed this until this year watching VT games on the computer and was wondering what that ugly gray thing was out there despoiling the nice looking field. Lack of curiosity is the problem here, I guess.
I've always been fascinated by baseball stadiums so as a kid I noticed every stadium had that area. My favorite team is still the Cubs because Wrigley was my favorite stadium. Combined with the fact I watched afternoon games on WGN with Harry Caray. Harry used to crack me up, not only with the 7th inning stretch, but the way he'd talk about random things, and denigrate his own team's players when they screwed up.
"My favorite team is still the Cubs ..."
FWIW, Frosty wholeheartedly approves this post.
I was at the last day game before the first night game at Wrigley while visiting old friends. Had a great time, loved the park, couldn't tell you who they played for the life of me, and got to see Koko Taylor at a blues club that night. Wouldn't want to live there, but Chicago is an interesting city.
But would you want to *fish* there? ;^)
Well, when we arrived that year, the river was emerald green for St. Patrick's Day, and I didn't think that would be too much fun, though it was visually stunning. That big ass lake, though, I could see myself fishing it with an experienced captain, but that's about all I know about it and I certainly wouldn't go there as a fishing destination.
EDIT: Just looked on Google for gits and shiggles and saw that there's a lot of fishing around Chicago, and even fishing in the city. Still, wouldn't go for the fishing, but revised my opinion of what I'd do if I lived there.
I've been to Wrigley twice on one trip. The first night, the game was rain delayed and the power to half the stadium got knocked out. But the jumbotron worked so we sat and watched the Brewers vs Pirates game to wait out the rain delay. Game got pushed to the next day so we went back and watched the Cubs play the Dodgers on a foggy summer afternoon.
Wait were we at the same Cubs Dodgers game in like 2017 or 2018?
Yup. That would have been the time frame.
Obviously we'll never get Harry Caray back, but it's a real damn shame the Cubs don't have a similar situation to what they had with WGN, they really gained a national audience back then. Marquee network sucks.
There are Cubs fans nationwide because of WGN. The Braves had TBS. It's kind of crazy how baseball fandom is like that. I work with a guy who is a die hard Mets fan because the AM radio station that carried Mets games was the one station that broadcasted sports that he could pick up in his room in North Carolina. My dad grew up in Pittsburgh and was a Pirates fan, but in the mid 90s started following the Reds because he could listen to WLW in his truck anywhere in the country.
Beat Radford 6-1 last night. Now 17-8 on the year.
Looking forward to this weekend's series, and my schedule of kid's activities actually looks like I'll be able to watch all three (as long as I remember to tune in).
6pm Tonight on ACCNX against Wake
Boys put up a 9 spot in the top of the 1st and still batting
9 runs on 6 walks. 14 trips to the plate
9-1 through 2
10-1 through top of 3rd. Hokies strand bases loaded in 3rd.
10-1 mid way through 5
11-2 middle of 6th
13-2 bottom of 8th
13-2 final in 8
4pm ACCNX Now 18-8 on season
Starting strong with bats again. Up 3-0 after top of 1st
Great day for baseball here in WS! Hoping the bats stay hot
Hokies lead 7-0 in top of 3rd
Wake crushes a 2 run shot to open the bottom of the 3rd. 8-2 good guys
8-4 now
No lead is safe with this pitching staff. Wind blowing out doesn't help. 8-6 now. Runner on 1st. Still in the 3rd inning
Yeah tough watching these guys
Escape a bases loaded situation to keep it 8-6
Hokies squander a leadoff double in the top of the 4th. Questionable interference call on us for a popup at home plate. Still 8-6. 5 year old is getting antsy. Not sure how long we'll last since this game is taking forever to play.
Crazy they are 1 for 8 with Runners in Scoring Position. Should have blown the doors off this game.
Man, can't get 3 outs. Got a quick 2 then gave up a solo shot. 8-7 now
9-7 still hitting in 5th
Again leaving two runners in scoring position.
Sentlinger leaving with potential injury to throwing arm as if this bullpen wasn't already questionable
Manage to keep them off the board in 5th
Hokies tack on two more in 6th. 11-7.
Wake threatening in bottom 6th though
Get a couple timely strikeouts to send it to the 7th 11-7
Hokies strand another runner at third. Griffen Green, former Hokie, shut them down in 7th.
11-7
Manning puts them down in order to send it to 8th
Manning does it again in 8th. Headed to 9th 11-8. Missed a run scoring somewhere
Jared Davis has really choked in some key at bats tonight. Second time he has been up with 1 out and RISP and struck out. This time included swinging on a pitch that hit him.
Haven't watched much this year, but I gotta say that those matte maroon batting helmets with the orange brim and the old school VT are just 🔥🔥🔥!
Going to bottom of ninth 11-8. Hokies strand TWO MORE RISP
Hokies are now 1 for 13 with RISP.
Left 9 on base.
Manning gets MVP. Goes 4 1/3rd and gives up 1 run.
Hokies first series win over Wake since 2021
Team now 19-8 and 6-5 in ACC Play
The bullpen seems like it's been a long-term issue. Is the college bullpen where the freshman get stuck to hopefully bridge the gap between starter and closer? Do college teams typically have a solid closer and or is it a matter of hoping your starter goes deep into the game and take your chances with the rest of the rotation when they don't?
Seems other programs get steady performances from bullpen pitchers but not sure if it's a talent issue or just perception. To be fair to our pen, Manning stepped in and had a stellar performance last night.
Just getting started on ACC Network, going for the sweep
0-0 in 3rd
As I typed Hokies scored to make it 1-0
Wake is 0 for 9 with RISP so far through 3
Wake scores on wild pitch. Wake still doesn't have a hit today but Hokies have allowed 7 walks.
1-1 after 4
2-1 Hokies in bottom of the 6th
Hokies blow a bases loaded one out opportunity with two straight strike outs.
Still 2-1 to bottom of 7th
Walks haunting Hokies again. A bad defensive play in center with two outs let's runner on first go all the way around to tie it and batter gets to 3rd on a botched throw
Followed by a single. Wake leads 3-2
They get out of inning with no more damage. 11 walks now today and only two hits allowed but losing 3-2.
Hokies fail to score again with RISP and 1 out. Now have struck out 13 times through 8 innings. 13 strike outs in 24 outs. Ridiculous stat of the night.
No damage in the 8th. Going to the 9th 3-2
Hokies tie it up in 9th Lutterman double scores Gibson
Lewis single scores Lutterman
Hokies 4-3. Still not outs. Lewis advanced to 2nd on throw.
LFG
Davis sacrifice fly makes it 5-3
Watson single brings Grady around to score. Grady went to 2nd on errant pick off attempt.
6-3 Hokies
Inning ends on another looking strike out. Going to bottom of the 9th 6-3
Hokies give up triple with two on. 6-5 now runner on 3rd with two outs
Fly ball to Watson.
Game, Sweep 💥 💥 💥
FAM!!!