The Rundown: Grace Joins D-Backs Coaching Staff, Bleachers and Cardinals Demolished

Photo of Bryan O'Donnell Bryan O'DonnellOctober 17, 2014

Growing up in the ’80s and early ’90s and worshiping the Cubs, I was understandably a pretty big Mark Grace fan. He didn’t hit as many home runs as Ryne Sandberg or Andre Dawson, but I liked his grittiness and dependability. And that he was a doubles machine.

I was also happy to see Grace get a ring with the Diamondbacks in 2001 after starting a rally against Mariano Rivera in Game 7 of the World Series.

Flash forward to present day, and Grace is taking his hitting talents back to the desert. Yesterday he was named assistant hitting coach for the Diamondbacks.

Grace joins a bunch of other Cubs connections on the Diamondbacks’ coaching staff: Mike Harkey (always such a disappointment) is their pitching coach, Dave McKay is the first-base coach (after holding the same role with the Cubs) and Henry Blanco is the bullpen catcher.

Those are some deep cuts in Cubs history.

AFL Wrapup

Cubs prospects fared well in the Mesa Solar Sox’s 6-2 win on Thursday. Dan Vogelbach went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Addison Russell (back at shortstop) went 1-for-4 and also scored two runs.

On the mound, Ivan Pineyro went three innings, giving up no runs on four hits. He struck out three. Zach Cates added two scoreless innings.

Giants take out Cardinals

The San Francisco Giants will meet the Kansas City Royals in the World Series.

I never would’ve thought I’d be writing that sentence a couple of weeks ago. What a strange, and great, playoffs it’s been.

The Giants won 6-3 on a walk-off home run off the bat of Travis Ishikawa. It was a really neat moment, especially coming from a guy who was almost out of baseball earlier this year.

It was also awesome that this happened against the Cardinals.

The home run came off Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha, who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 26. Somewhat of an odd decision by manager Mike Matheny to go with Wacha there, as he was clearly rusty.

The World Series should be really entertaining, if for no other reason than being able to watch the Giants’ masterful Bruce Bochy manage against the Royals’ Ned Yost.

Tear Down this Wall

Demolition work on the iconic Wrigley Field bleachers began Thursdays. Quite a weird sight:

https://twitter.com/WrigleyBlog/status/522804499648618496

Now for some reason I want to listen to Pink Floyd.

Photo of Bryan O'Donnell Bryan O'DonnellOctober 17, 2014
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