4/16/14 San Quentin A's vs. MBC

As usual traffic, was moderate to heavy in getting across the bay to the prison.  However, there were enough seasoned veterans that we had at least a fighting chance in the parking lot by 4:45.  Jimmy rolled in, as did Eliot the A's coach(finally) and we went through what was known and what was new. 

The old was no hostage policy, bat limits, no food, tobacco or passing of notes. 

The new part is that they do a full written inventory before and after now, and it's bad luck for Noah and  his three bags full of baseball crap.  Every team member gets to bring one glove (unless you are a catcher or a first basemen), one pair of shoes (no sandals, Nero!) and one set of catcher's gear (they allowed two in case Ed needed to catch, whose legs are apparently too short for the standard gear).  We can bring 4 bats and the coach can bring four bats, so in theory we can bring in 8 bats, since they borrow ours.  That's how I got the War Hammer in this time.

After a wait at the gate, the usual suspicious pawing of our gear and collection of our licenses, we headed for the entry point, to get our wanding and recheck of the gear.  You would think that with all the time wasted doing this, that the prisoners would be ready and chomping at the bit to play.  However, as always, they had finished the calisthenics and were just lounging around.  Eliot went to unlock their gear and somehow another 30 minutes passed where no one was in uniform yet.  We could get a lot more game in, if we weren't always waiting on this kind of stuff....

The game got off to good start, as we walked and walked and Brian Phelps hit a beautiful single to score two, and then we walked some more.  We scored three runs in the first, only to have them taken back plus one in the bottom of the first.  The first innings dropsies were in full effect, and the second hitter of the game hit an in the park home run on a high change up.  Then we had a pitch out victim dead to rights, and couldn't hold on to the ball, bloop, bobble, drop, shake, rattle, Phelps made the wise decision to go behind rather than in front of some guys wandering through left on a hit, our first out finally came due to the infield fly rule (never an auspicious opening).

After that, the baseball gods shined favorable on Satch, to the tune of 6 K's and no runs in the next three innings.  The gods apparently had it in for Kool Aid, the SQ As pitcher, as he walked at least 8 batters, he was sent to the showers (that's a lot more serious in prison, wakka wakka wakka).  Kool Aid gave way to some other thrower who was a little more accurate. 

The end result was a four inning game, the final being 11-4, where we only got 4 hits.  But damnit, it's a win and we were all smiles as we left the prison.

Highlights:

* After what seemed like a very long first inning, our defense was pretty spotless

* Mitch made a couple of much needed catches in center and stole two-three bases?

* Nero went hitless for the first time in SQ, although he should have had a hit on one up the middle that the SS made a great play on

* The new umpire was reputed to be "great" by the A's.  Meh.

* Greg had a play that he considered blocking the plate, then quickly thought better

* I hit a guy, just barely, and we all ignored it and he went on with his at bat.

* Report was, some convict called me Satchel.  Good to know my name rings out in the yard....

* Red is gone, Otter is gone, there was a wholesale clearing of a lot of the players for various infractions and transfers.

* No one was thrown out from right field

* I struck out the guy who hit the homer off me, with a wicked curve ball.  Greg said he was talking up his own game in the batters box.

* The change up was again the delight of the inmates

* Chris smashed a ground rule double into the Indian prayer garden, for our best hit of the day

* Nero walked from home to home on four consecutive bases on balls

* Vinay, our lone first timer, tomahawked a ball for a RBI

* Elvin brought his white shades and his mismatched socks in again, his player/mascot status becoming more prominent

* I got hit and Jimmy got hit.  For myself, I can say it didn't hurt much and still doesn't.  However, it looks like hell.  This is known as a San Quentin Heart.

Congrats Victorious MBC'ers!  Next time, we may actually play enough to get an official win.

PS- This is the 300th blog post for the MBC, fitting, I would say.  Thanks for reading all 27 of you loyal readers!