Charlie Came Back; Congrats to #25

Charlie Montoyo, May 9, 2011, "Back to the DAP" night

Game 42, May 19, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham, North Carolina
Rochester Red Wings (Minneapolis Twins): 6
Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays): 3
Season: 17-25; Home Stand: 0-1
Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun

Charlie Montoyo was back in the park last night, and that was the best part of a mostly misty and cold evening. We liked everything about Charlie — how he managed the team, his success, his obvious devotion to his family and the game. So it was fun to see him recognized by induction to the International League Hall of Fame and, even better, to see his number 25 retired. More here, here, and here.

Later on he sat in with broadcaster Patrick Kinas during a couple of innings and that was fascinating as well.

The game? Well, this was the first time that I’d seen Justin Marks pitch for the Bulls. Until he served up the home run to the Red Wings’ Adam Walker in the 2nd inning on an 0-2 count I thought he looked OK. After that, not so much. In the 5th he gave up another home run to the same guy who’d tripled in the 1st, Max Kepler. So, certainly not the same as having Matt Andriese on the mound.

The Bulls did avoid another shut out with a very nice three run 8th inning.

Bag Rules!

Somehow the new “security initiatives for 2016” buried on the Bulls website eluded me. When the bag that I’ve been carrying to Bulls games for the last several years was searched I got a bit annoyed. Now that I have found the list, I’d suggest a bit more training for the folks on the gate: it doesn’t say a thing about a thermos of coffee (although the gate guard relented and didn’t make me pour it out). And there was certainly more than a hint that the purpose of the search had less to do with security and more to do with food and drink.

And I get that. I admit that the times we’ve brought in the hibachi and our own hot dogs and hamburgers and coolers of our own beer might have been a little over the top.

Still, very annoying, even as I reluctantly admit it was less so than the last time we went into the PNC Arena (or whatever its most recent name is) over in Raleigh.

Chris D said it best in a comment on this blog yesterday: “A solution in search of a problem.”

Outside the game —

• J. P. Arencibia coming back to Durham? Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times thinks so.