Rogers Hornsby Chapter

A dozen Hornsby Chapter members enjoyed conversations about the playoff picture and the brief but heavy rainfall in downtown Austin while munching on Iron Works BBQ on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Topics of discussion included the fine season of the Boston Red Sox, the recent swoon by the Texas Rangers and the National League West Champs Los Angeles Dodgers, who clinched during our meeting.

Gilbert Martinez brought a quiz that challenged members to name, by position, the all-time winningest managers who also had Major League Baseball playing experience. Tom Thayer paced the group with a total score of 20 points (out of a maximum 36 points). For his fine performance, he won a J.R. Richard bobblehead. Try your hand at the quiz by clicking here.

We also scheduled the next meeting of the Hornsby Chapter – it will be at Jim Baker’s house in Cedar Park to watch Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday, Oct. 26. More details to come.

Pictured above: George Springer of the Oklahoma City RedHawks belts a double in the first inning against the Round Rock Express on Saturday, Aug. 24. (Photos by Gilbert D. Martinez)

Ten chapter members and guests gathered at the Dell Diamond for the Round Rock Express’s penultimate home game of the season on Saturday, Aug. 24, and saw the hometown nine drop one to their league rivals, the Oklahoma City RedHawks, 6-3.

A few of the Astros fans in the group were eager to see top prospects George Springer and Jon Singleton, and they did not disappoint. With 37 home runs and 41 steals combined in play with the Corpus Christi Hooks and the RedHawks this season, Springer stretched what should have been a single into a double in the first and later in the game picked up his 42nd steal of the year. He’s trying to become the first minor leaguer to hit at least 40 home runs and steal 40 bases since the 1950s.

Jon Singleton, among the players acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies for Hunter Pence in 2011, has been closely watched this year in the Astros’ farm system. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI. In addition to Singleton, the Astros also acquired pitcher Jarred Cosart from the Phillies for Pence; Cosart was called up last month and has pitched well thus far for the Astros.

Midway through the game, a few of us visited with Mike Capps (pictured below), director of broadcasting for the Express, and his booth partner, former major leaguer Travis Driskill. Many thanks to them for sharing their vantage point during the 5th and 6th innings.

Prior to the game, many in the group enjoyed a barbeque dinner at the Salt Lick.

Pictured below: Mike Capps calls it as he sees it in the Round Rock Express radio booth at the Dell Diamond on Saturday, Aug. 24.

On Saturday, July 20 a group of 30 descended upon the Salt Lick BBQ restaurant in Round Rock for a raucous couple of hours of good food and baseball talk followed by a short trek to the nearby Dell Diamond for the Iowa Cubs vs. Round Rock Express game.

The group of 30 was comprised of 17 members and guests of the Rogers Hornsby Chapter and 13 members of the "Universal Baseball Association," a collection of SABR members from around the country that have gathered at a different minor league site each year since 1991.

With the Express’ 3B Mike Olt’s inning to remember, the Express prevailed in an entertaining game by the score of 5-2.  Olt helped to squelch a Cubs’ threat in the top of the second inning by starting an around-the-horn 5-4-3 triple play and then followed that with a three run home run in the bottom of the frame that pushed the Express’ lead to 4-0.  The Cubs were stymied despite amassing 11 hits and drawing four walks.

Another outing to the Dell Diamond is on tap for Saturday, August 24 as the Express’ wrap up their home season.

A group of 13 members and guests gathered at Iron Works BBQ in Austin to discuss baseball and eat meat.  Both were accomplished in mass quantities.

Topics included the surprising performances thus far in the 2013 season by the Houston Astros (positive surprise), Los Angeles Angels (negative), Washington Nationals (negative), Pittsburgh Pirates (positive) and a few other clubs.  This ties into the results recorded thus far in Jim Baker’s on-going "predicatron" contest in which the person that most accurately predicts the season records for each club is the winner.  Tom Thayer is the current leader in the Hornsby Chapter predictatron contest.

Another topic that was discussed in depth was the recent on-field brawl between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers.

Bill Gilbert presented a relatively benign sounding quiz, "Home Run Leaders by Franchise" that ultimately confounded more than a few attendees.  Jim Baker was the winner correctly naming 21 of the 30 players.

The next meeting will be held on Saturday, July 20.  We are welcoming SABR members from the Chicago area to Austin and will be joining them for a game at the Dell Diamond between the Round Rock Express and the Iowa Cubs following dinner at the Salt Lick BBQ in Round Rock.  Details will be forthcoming.