Are you kidding me?

 

There are really dumb things that broadcasters say. Frequently we exaggerate unnecessarily.

Not everything is "unbelievable." In fact, very little is unbelievable.

That's one that I've largely removed from my bag of tricks on the air. In that same vein is, "Are you kidding me?"

Generally, no.

And yet, last night, I couldn't help myself.

The Gades and Blue Rocks played a pretty standard game for a stretch.

It started as a pitcher's duel. The Rocks put up a run in the fourth and the Renegades answered with two. The Gades added a run in the sixth on an Ezequiel Duran home run and led 3-1.

But in the eighth, things start happening. Just give it a read.

Gage Canning doubles to right-center field. Gilbert Lara lines out to James Nelson. Armond Upshaw walks. Wild pitch by Nick Ernst, Gage Canning to 3rd; Armond Upshaw to 2nd. Justin Connell reaches on throwing error by James Nelson, Gage Canning scores; Armond Upshaw to 3rd. Jake Alu lines out to Brandon Lockridge. Passed ball by Anthony Seigler, Armond Upshaw scores; Justin Connell to 2nd. Israel Pineda pops out to Chad Bell.

So, OK. That kind of inning happens and the game was tied. Pretty basic, but ugly, I suppose.

The game had a chance to be mostly forgettable because the Renegades put the first two of the bottom of the eighth on. Those runners moved up on a balk with one out. 

The Gades came up empty, stranding the two runners on strikeouts.

The Rocks put the leadoff man on in the ninth but he was soon doubled off first. That brought out manager Tommy Shields who expressed his displeasure. I noted on air how he was looking to be ejected.

And he was.

I'll be the first to defend umpires but I'll politely say this crew did not have the best night.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Gades had the "ghost runner" move to third on a passed ball with no one out. Yet three strikeouts followed and that was that.

Onto the 11th. Again, let's read the play-by-play log.

Armond Upshaw starts inning at 2nd base. Justin Connell doubles through the hole at second base, Armond Upshaw scores. Jake Alu grounds out, Anthony Seigler to Chad Bell, Justin Connell to 3rd. Israel Pineda doubles through the hole at shortstop, Justin Connell scores. Drew Mendoza singles to left field, Israel Pineda to 3rd. Jacob Rhinesmith out on a sacrifice fly to Elijah Dunham, Israel Pineda scores. Yasel Antuna walks, Drew Mendoza to 2nd. Gage Canning singles to right field, Drew Mendoza scores; Yasel Antuna to 3rd. Gilbert Lara singles to center field, Yasel Antuna scores; Gage Canning to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Charlie Ruegger replaces Jefry Valdez. Armond Upshaw walks, Gage Canning to 3rd; Gilbert Lara to 2nd. Justin Connell flies out to Isaiah Pasteur.

So, yeah. In total, it's 8-3 after 10.5 innings. Following the first out, on the bouncer in front of the plate by Jake Alu, a close play ensued at first base with the out being recorded. Wilmington hitting coach Luis Ordaz was then ejected for arguing. Only the pitching coach remained in the dugout for the Blue Rocks.

Oh, and did I also mention there was some kind of dustup between the home plate umpire and catcher Anthony Seigler? There was a moment that I thought both Seigler and Hudson Valley manager Dan Fiorito would get tossed. In the end, things calmed down.

Yet, still, it had been a long night. The Gades were down by five and three precious out remained. Time to go home.

Or not. With the ghost runner on second, the Renegades got a walk and a single to load the bases.

In the booth, I mentioned that the tying run was in the on deck circle. I said that if Hudson Valley won the game, it would be among the most improbable victories in the history of the stadium and the team. 

The Renegades got a single to score one. It was 8-4.

But then came a strikeout. Maybe sanity was returning.

Then came a hit by pitch. 8-5.

Then a walk. 8-6.

The bases were still loaded and the tying run was now at second with one out. The Blue Rocks changed pitchers.

The new pitcher promptly threw a wild pitch. 8-7.

The tying run was at third. The winning run was at second. 

I think this was around the point I uttered, "Are you kidding me?" I won't call that my finest moment. I won't call any of this my finest. But it was crazy.

There was still only one out.

The worst thought was only tying as we hit four hours of baseball.

An intentional walk reloaded the bases to set up the double play. The infield came in.

Anthony Seigler came to the plate.

Seigler swung. The ball sailed towards the left field line. The left fielder charged. If he makes the catch, maybe the runner tries to score on a sacrifice fly. Or the runner stays put. If it falls, the Gades tie the game.

There was another option. The ball gets past the left fielder and rolls away. At that point, the runners off third and second score and the game is over.

And that's what happened.

For those still in the ballpark, their cheers were the payoff for a long but crazy night of baseball.

I suppose it wasn't unbelievable. It wasn't gargantuan. It wasn't the greatest game in team history -- but I don't know that it wasn't either.

But it was special. Crazy.

It was a four-hour game. So, will we be back tonight?

Are you kidding me?