4/6/14 Crocker Amazon

Back in the game, a glorious thing!  


After a long separation from the Sunday classic, Satch returned to the field of glory.  There have been several games since the last time I wrote, but few that have been documented.  Always welcome a write up if any one feels the desire.  

We were at Crocker Amazon, which I hadn't played at in a few years, however it is sight of one of two legitimate home runs I have hit in the MBC.  Enough about me though.

The field was in its usual tall grass, gopher-holed splendor, and we started 20 minutes late since the game before us seemed to be without end.  Old guys squared off against new guys-ish.  Satch versus Carter, who has improved a lot in his time with the 'ahem' other team.  But he looked good, kept it around the dish, and we were stifled most of the game.  Satch had a pocket full of K's for the day but alas, the old guys defense was at the mercy of the field and our own issues.  At one point I think I counted that each member of the infield, including myself, had at least 2 fielding or throwing errors. 

The visitors weren't just hitting daisy cutters though, there was a lot of well squared knocks as well, and they added to their lead with each passing inning.  By the 4th inning the score was 7-1.  Well, you can't win them all, I guess.  And we didn't.  The game started to slow, but the the sun and the fresh air was unbeatable.  

The homers fell behind 9-2 by the 7th and Satch gave over the ball to Greg.  With the agreement of all involved we decided to move ahead to the 9th inning and get this thing over with.  We had 16 to start and we lost 2 more in the later innings, so it was a case of finishing the game before it was 4 on 4.  We were also joined by an extremely intoxicated guy who had umpired the last game, and had hazy connections to the Roberto Clemente league that the MBC played in back in the early 90's.  So we let him umpire, but his strike zone may have been affected by the 20 beers he had consumed in the stands.

In any case, the homers mounted a comeback of sorts, Carter giving way to Elvin and Mitch, but we came up short in the end, and a final of 9-6 in favor of the new guys-ish, we all headed home.  

Ahh, baseball.

Highlights:

* I got 2 strikes on about every hitter, but couldn't close the deal on the challenge pitch for most of them

* The visitors had four infield "hits" in a row at one point.

* Elvin was picked off at third in a play was an abject lesson is why sliding makes a difference.

* Mike Lattig was "safe" at third in a play that should have been a abject lesson in why sliding makes a difference.

* Couple of new guys were out who seemed to know what they were doing

* The outfield fence in view and my change up were a good mixture for the day

* Adam had bad balls thrown at him all day and he scooped out most of them

* I came up with 2 outs every time I batted

* We had a fill in player from the game before, Fausto, and I felt so bad for the guy.  There were a couple of close plays that he flubbed but made a second effort on, and figured his team would back him up on and say the runner was out.  But both times he wasn't and we didn't.  I am sure he probably wondered why his own team was hating on him so much.  

* The new net above the stadium probably cost us 5 defensive outs

* Loren has managed to slim down and beef up at the same time.

* Gaspar managed to evade the shift each time, with lovely Laura in the stands

* The infield grass appears to be about 5-7 inches above the dirt of the playing field

* Adam took a walk, which hasn't happened in a while

* No one broke an ankle, always a plus at Crocker Amazon

Next week, Big Rec.

San Quentin 2014 season coming up.

S. Paige.