HotCuts & Bridges

Dateline Iberia. Yesterday, Thursday April 20, became my first zero in this endeavor. But you were not taking the day off.  At 11:29 central daylight, yesterday morning, you sent me:  PaxCut.  As it turns out, he gave up five runs.  He went opposite Cesar Valdez, a name I did not know, who it seems did not make his major league debut but he had not appeared in the majors since 2010. You sent me a boatload of texts.  About Chris Sale with 13 Ks and I asked about his game score, 91.  "Trout with a jack."  We did listen to CarMart get hit last night.  "Votto with a jack."  "Marp crushed that."  "Thames crushed that even more."  Again!  "Miley threw 8, 2h, 1r, 1bb, 11k."  Ray, my friend, you don't know it—or maybe somehow you do—but you have given me yesterday's entry.  "Siegrist is terrible."  Rain here.  "Toothpick sighting."  I had 14 or so texts from you this morn.  "I just realiZed that the Br...

At 8:44 central daylight I got the word:  KerCut.  And then seconds later:  Against the 1st place Rockies!  It's Tyler Anderson for the Rox, who are at Chavez Ravine tonight. Cradio, it's 2-1 STL.  I sent you, "Fowler with two bombs."  Brewers at Cubs on TV, 3-1 BrewCrew.  I saw a Jett Bandy solo shot off of Kyle Hendricks.  I saw RiZzo pop out a few feet in front of the plate.  The Cubs don't appear to be better than anyone else.  Marp just dropped a throw to him at first.  Something is up with him.  He was picked off by Cole earlier.  Where was he going?  He's in la-la-land.  He missed time with back stiffness.  B-S.  Something's up.  Now Greg Garcia boots one, E-6.  Eighth inning after solid work by Wacha.  Thames walks for a second time. ... In Rolla.  We are getting a taste of the 'Cut as a "LiveLookIn" on ESPN.  Seager grounds out, not a surprise.  B remarks on Ty...

I still have not received word on today's HotCut.  I remarked this morning that today is the first day on the 2017 schedule this far that there is not any early action.  Perhaps this is the reason you have not yet sent word—that you have time and are using it... I should have noted time on the above passage, but it was probably around 13:15 central daylight.  At 14:13 central daylight, you sent the following message: It's the StraightLegHotCut I had to get some clarification as to who.  I checked the pitching matchups and saw Arroyo, no deGrom.  So it is Kevin Gausman and Baltimore heading to the GAB for a standing-scraper series, 18:10 tonight.  We plan to be going to dinner at that time, so... We have been texting some about the evening's action.  I am trying not to be redundant.  First pete, and then re-pete.  I'm watching Nats at Braves.  Harper had a double (2nd of night, 4th of season).  Zimmermann doubled him in—fifth...

At 8:38 central daylight on a Monday you sent this text:  I haven't looked; but today is definitely a PatriotDayHotCut. The game has started.  It's 10:07 central.  It is the knuckleballer Steven Wright for Boston and Blake Snell for visiting Tampa Bay. Wright is in trouble immediately.  Tampa has scored and threatens more, with runners on second and third. ...  I didn't realiZe that the two runs Wright gave up in the first were unearned.  He has settled down, with three innings complete.  Still, his ERA is 9.82.  The Red Sox have scored four runs, including a 2-run single by Andrew Benintendi.  Looking at Snell's line I see that only one of the four runs he's allowed is earned.  I have been listening to this game but somehow tuned the errors out.  I think the scorer is letting these pitchers off light.  [Ed. note: The Tampa error was on a pop fly or soft liner to Brad Miller that Miller simply dropped...it was definitely an...

A Sunday.  At 12:31 central daylight you sent me this text:  BlisterCut. It is Rich Hill at home for the Dodgers.  Visiting are Taijuan Walker and the Arizona Diamondbacks.  We have been texting a bit.  I noted a toothpick sighting, my first of the year.  Quickly Dusty then pulled the toothpick back into his mouth, no'ne the wiser.  You texted me about a Dan Straily-led effort by the Marlins pitchers to no-hit the Mets.  I saw Utley ground out and texted you that he was 46. I'm watching Hill now.  I didn't see him much last year so I've no basis for comparison in my mind.  He is apparently throwing the curve less, which I'm not sure he can do, if he wants to be elite.  Chris Ianetta has homered to dead center.  Top 3 and the bases are loaded.  Orel H says the curves have been hanging.  One out.  I was tuned into Tigers at Indians while gardening.  Hill has walked Lamb, a run scores.  Honeycutt out t...