The level of interaction between players and fans is much higher in the minors than we typically see in the majors. Some players never quite become comfortable with that (which is understandable), but some seem to embrace and thrive in that environment.
Just ask Justin Bour and Chad Noble. Not that they would give you control of the interview.
I should note, though, that this is not faked, at least not in the case of Bour. Go to a Smokies game a few minutes early and you will see that Bour is one of the most relaxed and enjoyable baseball players to be around. This guy understands the importance of that fan-player connection at the minor league level, and no one does it better. I strongly suspect Chad Noble is cut from that same cloth.
It is possible that we will get another episode of this by season’s end. Noble has been returned to Tennessee from Iowa. Maybe we can get a Bopper and Nobski Playoff Edition?
Or… if we’re going to dream… a Bopper and Nobski edition of the Bleacher Nation Podcast?
Scores From Yesterday
Iowa – It was an ugly blowout loss to the Redbirds. The depressing final was 7-1. Tennessee – This game got wild in the late innings, but Tennessee held on for a 10-8 win. Daytona – The game started, but was suspended after the first inning. It is scheduled for completion today. Kane County – Kane County scored five times in the late innings to force extras, but ultimately lost 8-5 in ten. Boise – Boise needed some wins over first place Salem-Keizer, and they got one in this game. The final was 5-2. Arizona – The offense was effecient but Arizona still lost 4-3.
Performances of Note
[Iowa] Ty Wright walked and hit his first Iowa triple. That pretty much concludes the highlights from this game.
[Tennessee] Javier Baez finished 4 for 4 with two home runs (he is up to 16 with Tennessee) and no strikeouts.
[Tennessee] Arismendy Alcantara walked twice and doubled as part of his 2 for 3 game. He also stole his 28th base.
[Tennessee] Matt Loosen pitched one of his better Double A starts. Over 5.2 innings he allowed 3 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.
[Kane County] Nathan Dorris pitched 4 very good innings of relief to give the Cougars a chance to tie it up. He struck out 4 and allowed just a hit and a walk over 4 scoreless frames.
[Boise] Jose Arias struck out 4 over 3.2 scoreless innings of relief. Jose Rosario (5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K) had a pretty decent start himself.
[Boise] The Hawks managed the win despite not having an extra base hit and drawing just one walk. Yasiel Balaguert, Danny Lockhart, and Lance Rymel did the heavy lifting with a pair of singles each.
[Arizona] Trevor Graham struck out 3 and allowed a run on 4 hits in his 2.1 inning start.
[Arizona] Jeffrey Baez stole his 25th base for the desert Cubs.
Other News
The Smokies had more extra base hits (seven) and walks (four) than they did strikeouts (three). An offense like that will win quite a few games.
Only Jackson and Birmingham remain alive in the Smokies’ division, and the magic number is down to four. Huntsville is still technically not eliminated, but it is all but impossible to see them making that kind of a miraculous run at this point.
Daytona’s magic number is 10, and they still have a comfortable five game lead over second place Lakeland.
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NEWSLETTER
The level of interaction between players and fans is much higher in the minors than we typically see in the majors. Some players never quite become comfortable with that (which is understandable), but some seem to embrace and thrive in that environment.
