First a Word About Jackie Robinson

I usually refrain from editorializing on this site, but before I get to today's write up I must say a word about today's 60th Anniversary Tribute to the debut of Jackie Robinson.

As a middle class white guy born in Hutchinson, KS (not exactly a hot bed of racial strife) in 1966 I am one generation too late to really understand the strife that Jackie Robinson and players from his time and the many years to come would have to endure. I always grew up with African-American friends, teammates, and classmates. I always thought that everyone was equal and cannot imagine a time when it could have been any different.

This past year I made my first trip to Cooperstown to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the most touching area for me was the area dedicated to the Negro Leagues and the struggles that many early African-American players endured. I found myself fighting back tears (if that makes me girly, then so be it) as I read hate mail sent to players of that era, and found myself wondering how that could have ever been.

However, the sad fact of the matter is I have friends and members of my family that I hear representing the same type of thought, though not nearly as extreme, to this very day. As much progress has been made in sixty years, there is still a long ways to go to achieve true equality and understanding in this country. I only hope that the memory of Jackie Robinson and his struggles, as well as the struggles of Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and the many other pioneers in the game of baseball is not forgotten and this country can continue to move forward in the quest for equality.

Now onto today's Threshers news....

Pitching Once Again Leads Threshers to Victory

Andrew Carpenter Shines on the Mound for Seven Innings

On Sunday afternoon the Clearwater Threshers wrapped up the series against the Lakeland Tigers with a win behind seven very strong innings from Andrew Carpenter. This was Carpenter's second appearance of the year, but his first start as he was forced to appear out of the pen earlier in the year becuase of rehab starts from Freddie Garcia and Jon Lieber.

Just like in his first appearance Andrew earned player of the game honors going seven innings giving up no runs on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. He now owns an impressive 0.82 ERA in 11.0 innings of work for the season.

One night after putting up 10 runs the offense did not sit the game out as the team managed to put up five runs today. JUst like last night it was a four run fifth inning that made the big difference for the team. After getting their first run in the third of of singles from Matt Thayer and Greg Golson then walks from MIke Spidale and Jeremy Slayden the team really got going in the fifth.

As in the third, Matt Thayer would get the team going by reaching base to lead off the inning, this time via a free pass. He then moved stole second and scored two batters later off of a Mike Spidale double. Jeremy Slayden then singled to score Spidale and Slayden himself scored on another double, this time from Welinson Baez. Baez would score after John Urick reached and the Lou Marson drove him home on a single.

Lakeland mounted a small rally in the ninth getting two runs off of closer Brett Harker, but it proved to little too late as the Threshers would prevail 5-2.

The Threshers head to Tampa on Monday for a three-game set against the Yankees before returning home on Thursday to face the division leading Sarasote Reds for the first time this year.

NOTE: Whoops I just realized I never put in the offense stats for last night's game. I was so psyched about Dan Brauer's pitching I got side tracked. Despite being equally impressed with Andrew Carpenter's game today I did manage do get the offensive stats up today.