On Tuesday, Florida Atlantic got a big thrill as we played our first-ever game against a Major League team. The score doesn’t matter (especially losing 10-1). All that counts is that our kids had a great time and a big thrill.

Tony LaRussa didn’t play his regulars, but no one really cared. Just facing people who have gotten to the point that every red-blooded American who laces up a pair of spikes hopes to reach was good enough.

The best part was the clubhouse.

Our guys must have gained 10 pounds on Tuesday. There was cereal, fruit, PB&J, juice, coffee, soda and milk. Our kids saw enough Bazooka Bubble Gum to warm the heart of any dentist. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and the morning newspapers rounded out the spread.

After BP, the guys found sodas and subs waiting when they returned to change. No wonder we didn’t steal any bases!

There was pizza for everyone at the end of the day. We may need some uniform alterations.

The game was fun except when they put a six-spot on us in the second. It’s amazing just how good the defense is at that level. The Cards turned one DP so fast, you barely saw the ball.

LaRussa was great. He was up to date on our season and very complimentary toward our players. I thanked him for our first and third offense. He was the subject of a chapter in George Will’s book Men At Work. In it, LaRussa outlined three plays to score a runner from third when you don’t feel that a hit is eminent. He also discussed strategies for making out batting orders. It is all good stuff, and I’ve been stealing from it for years.

Tony introduced me to Jim Leyland, whom he described as “the best baseball man I know.” I was the winning pitcher against Leyland’s Clinton Tigers in the Midwest League playoffs in 1973. We shared stories about some of those guys, including the legendary Moe Hill.

The Cardinals have indicated they want to do this annually.

Twist my arm.

FAU – FIU… Rivalry Week is here.

Wednesday, we rode down to Miami and played the first of four games in five days against the Golden Panthers. We held on to win 7-5 thanks again to a big home run from Rob Horst. Old Man River keeps rolling along.

Robbie Widlansky had a big night subbing at third for Evan Brannon. A bad back has flared up again, and Evan is on the shelf for a while. Woody had a perfect hit-and-run single in the first and later hit a big two-run double in the seventh to extend our lead. Rob’s hit the ball well all spring but generally right at someone.

Will Mann won his second start, and the bullpen did another good job.

We beat a great pitcher in Derek DeCarlo. There were a lot of scouts there to see him Wednesday, and with good reason. I’m just glad we got to him early. Now we have our 1,2, 3 guys set for the weekend. But anything can happen when we play each other.

Friday night…FAU 13 - FIU 1

Baseball is a strange game.

FIU had to scratch its starting pitcher before than game. Normally I wouldn’t mind hearing that, but Andrew Edwards was chosen to start. I had expected Andrew at some point, but wasn’t looking forward to facing him. We recruited him out of junior college and felt we lost a good one in the recruiting game. After a surgery, Edwards had returned to his previous form, and I expected a close game. Instead, we got nine runs on eleven hits. Go figure.

Randy Beam gave us another good outing, giving up four hits and no runs on about 60 over six innings.

Derek Hutton had three RBI with a 3-for-4 night. Jordan Hafer got a start and responded with two hits and two RBI.

So tomorrow, we head back down the road for Game 3 of the Turnpike Series.

Look for a close game.

KC

(photo courtesy of FAU Media Relations Office)