I never got around to a game report for yesterday’s nooner, but here’s the crib notes version: Errors killed a strong pitching outing.

That about sums it up.

The C’s managed nine hits and four runs, and the pitching staff held Salem-Keizer close, with Andrew Bailey giving up only three hits and two earned runs over 6.1 innings, but the D let the game slide at crucial moments, and everything went to Surrey towards the finish.

Today’s effort was much simpler to summarize: Over 6000 people showed up, one of the biggest NWL crowds this year, and the C’s once again crumbled under the pressure to send them all home yawning.

Here’s the game report: Mike Affronti hit a triple. The end.

Okay, that wasn’t strictly it: Prowling Greg Dowling drew a walk. The end.

Just as happened with the last Fireworks Night, and the one before that, the stands filled and the home team got killed. In fact, perhaps it’s time to start canceling the fireworks events, because there’s no point bringing in huge crowds of people who’ve never been to a ballgame before only for the home team to play the worst game of the season for them.

I’m going to suggest that, in 2007, Fireworks Night be replaced with ‘Captain and Tennille Tribute Night’, or perhaps ‘The Vancouver Canadians Salute to Fabio… On Ice’. Maybe we could have a Meet Ben Mulroney day, or a Win a Trip to Tehran contest.

Sarcasm aside, Salem-Keizer’s starting pitcher, Mr Pucetas, was filth tonight, conceding just the one hit over 6 innings while striking out 8 and walking but one batter, while Senor Oseguera threw three innings of perfect ball, striking out three on the way to his second save of the season.

For Vancouver, Anthony Rea was the only pitcher who didn’t leave the game with a 9.00 ERA on the day, instead pitching three innings of 2-hit ball. Jason Fernandez gave up four earned in four, while Commissioner Gordon surrendered two earned over two, to see the bad guys rage on to their pennant with a sweep on the road to follow their sweep at home.

So am I pissed off?

Nah. It’s late season and the guys are playing for nothing more than pride, though the stats each player ends this season with will be used to assess where they’ll play next season (or whether they’ll play next season), so perhaps there’s a couple of guys who need to get a collective move on.

As I roll through the Oakland Athletics minor league fansites, the general consensus is that this year’s Vancouver team is the weakest level of the system. I disagree with that - this Vancouver team has been decimated with promotions to Kane County and received precious little up from Arizona in return.

We are, sad as it sounds, the ass end of the system, and when things get tough elsewhere in the minors for the A’s, it’ll always be short season ball that gets abandoned first. The Arizona players tend not to get promoted unless they’re REALLY needed, because there’s more coaching facilities down there.

The rehabbing players go from Arizona to Stockton because they don’t have to pass through customs to get there. And the best of our best will always - ALWAYS - be sent up at the first opportunity to test them out against more experienced pitching/hitting.

So get used to it, Vancouverites. Embrace the scrappers and the also-rans. Worship the left-behinders and low-draftees. Get your fill of the studs over the week or so they’re here, and pay no mind when they’re gone. Because this is our lot, friends.

We are Canadian.

Note:

	August 31, 2006
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Salem-Keizer 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 6 12 1 Vancouver 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 box | log W: K. Pucetas (6-1, 2.23); L: J. Fernandez (0-2, 2.54); SV: P. Oseguera (2) HR: None.