Happy 75th Anniversary to the Golden Gate!
We were pleasantly surprised to find that the weather predictions were dead wrong, and not only as it clear, it was almost hot out in the Sunset! The numbers were somewhere in the 10-11 range, and Johnny started for the wily home squad, Satch, raring to go for the visitors. The arm sure felt good, after a long layoff, but the first inning proved to be an early Waterloo, as the homers ran up a impressive tally of runs, some earned, some not so much.
Richie on the first at bat lined a clean single to center and everyone else followed suit. Triples were also a popular option. Johnny once again proved his prowess with a number of shut down innings that gave no succor to the visiting squad. Defensively, the teams had their moments, some amazing, some lucky, some standard. Both sides benefited from good scoops and plays at first from Duane and Adam.
Eventually, Satch got his rhythm down and even struck out the side, 3 of 6 K's for the day. It all was crackling along well, and then I twisted my ankle coming out of the batters box and that was the end of my pitching for the day. Oh well, I went out on a high note. Snyder came in for the visiting squad but could not find the dish, and after hitting a few and almost winging a few more, he walked off in the middle of his second inning and handed the ball off to Tony. Tony took us the rest of the way and got the job done efficiently.
Johnny stayed in, did his job and handed off to Mitch, who had not gotten a chance to do much hurling in the past few months, he did well. The homers kept tacking on runs, and the visitors kept missing opportunities, eventually the game turned into a laugher, somewhere in the neighborhood of 14-3? We started a 3 inning exhibition game after the regular 9, as we had gone so quietly through the game that we still had time, but couldn't manage to win that one either.
Highlights
* Johnny pitched stellar ball all game, getting out unscathed from a bases loaded jam at one point!
* We had the pleasure of Robin for the second week in a row, made a great catch in left and got her first MBC RBI.
* Daniel had the baddest ass headfirst slide into home I have seen in a while, and then ripped his pants on a later home slide....Aiden ribbed him for it for the rest of the game.
* Richie and Tony both made great delayed plays at SS to get the runner just in time
* Jay had some quick snares at 3rd, and hit a double (triple with an error), all the time cursing his rotten luck. Thanks also for the contribution of new shinguards to the MBC kit.
* Bob was hitting stingers all day, as lead off hitter
* John McG had a big extra base hit
* Loren had a rare off day, striking out twice! Wish I knew Johnny's secret.
* Satch had several hits, exclusively to the left side infield.
* Loren got caught in a pickle at third, after ignoring the "Nonononononononononono" sign. He scored eventually on fielder's interference, remember if you don't have the ball, you can't be in the base path.
* Gaspar caught my only well hit fly ball of the day, he was camped out in left like he knew where it was going to go
* Gaspar also had a clean drive up the middle, in defiance of the shift
* Daniel made a full extension diving catch at second, play of the game!
* Mitch hit one left handed to the gap!
* Bob caught several in center and announced that the batter had been Bobbed!
* Let's all remember to be civil, and courteous out there, arguing with strikes and balls and other calls is petty, we are there to hit, play and for EVERYONE to have a good time and enjoy themselves.
* Remember the rules, both written and unwritten. In case you don't know, I found this. Obviously, some of them don't apply, but others are very cogent:
UNWRITTEN RULES OF BASEBALL
1. Never put the tying or go-ahead run on base.
2. Play for the tie at home, go for the victory on the road.
3. Don't hit and run with an 0-2 count.
4. Don't play the infield in early in the game.
5. Never make the first or third out at third.
6. Never steal when you're two or more runs down.
7. Don't steal when you're well ahead.
8. Don't steal third with two outs.
9. Don't bunt for a hit when you need a sacrifice.
10. Never throw behind the runner.
11. Left and right fielders concede everything to center fielder.
12. Never give up a home run on an 0-2 count.
13. Never let the score influence the way you manage.
14. Don't go against the percentages.
15. Take a strike when your club is behind in a ballgame.
16. Leadoff hitter must be a base stealer. Designated hitter must be a power hitter.
17. Never give an intentional walk if first base is occupied.
18. With runners in scoring position and first base open, walk the number eight hitter to get to the pitcher.
19. In rundown situations, always run the runner back toward the base from which he came.
20. If you play for one run, that's all you get.
21. Don't bunt with a power hitter up.
22. Don't take the bat out of your best hitter's hands by sacrificing in front of him.
23. Only use your bullpen stopper in late-inning situations.
24. Don't use your stopper in a tie game—only when you're ahead.
25. Hit behind the runner at first base.
26. If one of your players gets knocked down by a pitch, retaliate.
27. Hit the ball where it's pitched.
28. A manager should remain detached from his players.
29. Never mention a no-hitter while it's in progress.
30. With a right-hander on the mound, don't walk a right-handed hitter to pitch to a left-handed hitter.
31: MBC specific: Don't swing when runner is stealing
Don't look Back,
S. Paige
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