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May 8, MileHighHotCut.

The Rockies train kept rolling when you sent me the following at 9:47 central daylight:  Another MileHighHotCut.  And moments later you added this for emphasis:  !!!

Jake Arrieta and the Cubs got on a plane early this morning to fly to Denver for tonight's game against Antonio SenZatela and the Colorado Rockies.

...

We did some Yanks at Reds.  Rookie Davis was struggling, Tanaka looked alright.  But I switched to Nats at O's, in time to see Harper take a ball four and Ryan Zimmermann fan on a change from Kevin Gausman.  Now it's Daniel Murphy with two on and two out.  The Oriole broadcast likes what it's seeing from Gausman—this could be his inflection point, nowhere to go but up after getting tossed for hitting Mookie Betts with that 76 m.p.h. curve in Boston.

I switch to the Mets.  Pence flails at a deGrom offering, down on strikes, completing a fanning of the side.  Commercial break in progress.  It is not a full slate today—there are ten total games.  Thirty-five minutes until the 'Cut.  I didn't sleep much and I'm into the vodka so I might 'Cut chronicle only by way of the LaZarus method tonight.  A text knocks on my phone door.  It's from you, but not about baseball.

Back to Reds-Yanks.  It's sacrilege and desperation of memory but Rookie Davis, physically, reminds me of the late José Fernández.  The build, the beard, throwing from the right side, the spinning finish.  Votto shifts and gets dirty to his right, 3-1 to retire Headley.

deGrom fans Arroyo, 87 m.p.h. change  Seventh strikeout, one out, top of the fourth.  It's 2-1 Giants, though, Posey on second after poking a double down the first-base line.  He walks Gillaspie, 73 pitches through 3 2/3 innings.  Gorkys Hernandez now.  The Mets broadcast on deGrom, "He's not sharp, he's not on top of his game."  But he gets Gorkys with his eighth strikeout.

Bryan Price lifts Rookie D after 4 1/3, two on.  It's 19:47 central daylight, time for the 'Cut but I toggle over to it and it's delayed.  What are the Cubs thinking at this moment, bone weary, ready but tired?

It's 20:44 central, the 'Cut is yet to start, delayed now by an hour.  I went back to Nats at O's.  Gausman threw about 115 pitches over 7 IP, 8 K, 1 BB...game score 72.  O'Day came on, Harper went oppo on a high fastball.  It was 6-3 and not compelling.  Giants at Mets is tied 3-3 bottom seven.  I didn't realiZe Crawford was on the DL.  Arroyo is 0-for-3 tonight with 3 Ks.  Okert pitching, Strickland warms.  I am not long for this night.  Bruce strikes out on a slider.  Okert stays on to face the righty, Wilmer Flores.  The Mets broadcast opines on the "non-move."  Flores, 9.  To the eighth.  deGrom was 6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 11 K, 2 HR, game score...52.  Posey got him in the sixth (3).  Addison Reed works to Posey now, can of corn to Bruce, 9.  Arroyo is next.  It seems he has cooled after a fast start.  Back-to-back sliders for strikes.  Another, another—both out of the zone, no swings.  Fastball away, 91 m.p.h.  Reed hasn't walked a man yet...this year.  He gets Arroyo to swing through another slider.  Keith H says, "That'll drive you to the nearest bartender—ha!"

Brach on to close in Charm City but it's not so easy.  With two on Wieters tweets a double to right center.  Murphy scores.  This green pen has been so good to me but it's about done.  Darn.  The game ended in a flash.  Trea Turner came on to run for Wieters at second.  Bryan Goodwin grounds to first, FO 3, That Chris Davis then sees Turner has broken for third but Lind at third has not headed for home.  Davis ran at Turner...eventually Davis himself tags out Lind between third and home.  What's up with Turner?  Slow start, hurt, cycles in a 'Cut in Colorado and then nearly cycles again the next day, but since then he has been quiet.  The Nats podcast I listen to says he hasn't looked quite right at the plate of late.

Bottom line:  I'm flagging.  Has the 'Cut commenced?  No.  Darn-it.  Goodnight for now and maybe 'til tomorrow.

Post-Script.  

The game never did start.  It was postponed.  There was a bunch of hail in Denver and then a lot of rain.  The game has since been slated to be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader, scheduled for today, May 9.



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