Tuesday, October 29, 2024

10/27/24 GGP

Here we are in the post-Bob era.  

The weather was significantly colder and grim with fog swirling about the field, suitable for the cold reality we are all living in....however we had 24 players show up, so maybe Bob leaving was just the kick in the ass that we all needed to start showing up more regular.  Or maybe it's just that time of year.

A return in force of many of the regulars helped us get to the numbers we needed, including the Presley brothers, HR, Gaspar, McG, Phelps, etc.  I was late getting to the game, having had to work out a trade arrangement with the family that found me at a Brentwood pumpkin patch for 3 hours in the morning.  The things I do for baseball.

Sean started for the homers and I got to be on the home team, which was bully for me.  Phelps started for the visitors, so it was lefty on lefty action for most of the first half.  The game was real tight, 1-1 for most of it, and a hard fought tie it was.  Sean, fresh from his trip to the Emerald Isle and beyond, wisely chose to stop throwing after 4 innings, and not stress his rested arm.  I came in and threw a 5 inning save situation.  Luckily, the team had our back and we exploded for 4 runs in the middle of the game.  We sat on that lead for the rest of the game and 2 major cap tips to the homers:

We turned not 1, but 2 double plays to end innings

Mr Tim Presley was a damn All-Star out there: making over the shoulder catches, hitting frozen            ropes, running the bases like Rickey.

I downshifted to the old strategy of give the hitters exactly what they are looking for and watch them fuck it up.  It is amazing how batting practice fastballs will tie someone up so much.  We had about 12 pop flies, one inning all of them stayed in the infield. It works, until it doesn't.  And my back didn't hurt afterwards.

Erasto came in for the visitors and then Aiden mopped up.  Everyone was trying to figure out how to see the ball coming from Erasto's mid-pitch hidden ball trick.  Aiden, we just hoped that when people got hit, it wasn't fatal.  Both of them did fine.

5-1, homers.

Highlights:

* Great to have full squads

* The mound had some clay added it to it, or the olde tyme guys have stopped for the season and aren't fucking it up anymore

* Phelps threw a great game, including a K on yours truly

* Tim P: He literally did it all, MVP.

* We slightly bobbled a ball at 2nd base an that was enough for Aiden to make it safe to first.  That is what speed does for you.

* It's been a while since we had a game where a hit ball disappeared into the fog

* Anna got robbed, but had some nice digs at 1st

* Sean pitched a great game, especially for someone that hasn't thrown a ball in a month

* Adam played all-time defense, which confused us at first but eventually was a nice addition.

* A question posited during the game: Has anyone ever seen a dirty Dodgers uniform?  They are always so bright and white....

* For pitching 5 innings, I am not sure if I threw 60 pitches total...Eeeeeeeeeeeefficiency.

* Santos made several good catches in the outfield, though judging by where he plays most of us, he thinks we can hit it a lot farther than we can

* HR put the bat on the ball and not just to right field, must be all the extra sleep

* Alejandro/Gabe, Diego, Mike N, Anna, that the infield if you want outs

* I am glad that I didn't kill Erasto with a line drive that was as hard as any I have hit recently, he made a great play

* Thanks to McG, Gaspar, Don, Greg for donning the tools

* The GGP parking was splendid!

* Remember- Clocks change this week, I believe next game is 1pm start.

Monday, October 21, 2024

10/20/24- GGP- Bob's Last Game






Bob's final game in San Francisco,  for a time at least. 

Hard to believe that it is really happening.  Bob has been an institution to the game since before I started, and in true MBC form, he came to the game on happenstance and chance.

The word went out this week that it would behoove all those who had a free Sunday to show up and pay their respects.  They came out of the woodwork, that is for sure.  Probably the biggest get was Johnny Bartlett, who has not been out since a 4th of July game back a while, and not regular for even longer.  One sarcastic wag suggested that it might be worth Bob leaving if it meant Johnny started coming out again regular.  Not quite, but it would be neck and neck.  Plenty of regulars and old timers out as well, I think we hit 27 at our high point, luckily, people left early, so the game wasn't too packed.  

It was also decided that it was imperative that Bob do a Campaneris for his last game.  For those uninitiated that means that you have to play all 9 positions in the course of the game.  He did it, and he did it well.

I started for the homers and Sonny for the visitors.  We drew first blood but I had a shitty time on the bump.  I was trying to throw easy, but could not get a comfortable gasp on the strike zone.  So many 3-0 counts.  Add to that my change up was getting hammered when it was a strike, and it was not my best day.  I gave up an in-the-parker, which was walloped to center field. I think by the time that I gave it up after 4 innings, the score was 3-2, visitors.  However, we stormed back and retook the lead with a healthy dose of scoring, and when the dust settled it was 7-3, homers, and at that point, I think we started to let our guard down.

Tony came in and did a great job of righting the ship.  Sonny gave way to Dave, who was throwing hard, and then Mitch.  Tony went out after 2 innings, and Carter came in and seemed to be throwing strikes, but did not fare well.  Partly due to the fact that Ken was blinded by the setting sun at 3rd and made some overthrows, and partly because the visitors hit 3-4 triples.  I also managed to not get even close to the pop fly behind the mound that should have been mine.

I had a wave of nostalgia looking out to the outfield one inning and seeing Johnny, Bob, and JT from left to right.  A trio of MBC'ers if ever there were.  

We went into the 8th trailing 9-7, and could not seem to get back our mojo.  Bob pitched the 8th, and did a fantastic job, holding the visitors scoreless, after a lead off double by none other than Nick Smith.  He even trotted into 2nd ahead of the throw without a care in the world.  Unfortunately, that hubris was short lived, as Nick was gunned down at home, trying to score on an infield hit.

For the 9th, it was more of the same, Greg came in to close, with Bob behind the dish.  Erasto came in for the homers to get the save.  No one on either team did much of anything, and the game ended in a 9-7 final score, visitors.  

Bob was presented with two signed baseballs from the group, a lot of handshakes and hugs, and then there was not much else to do but go home, which is the goal in baseball, right?  

Bob has left an indelible mark on the MBC team, and our game won't be the same without him. Who else is going to stare down an incoming pitch, rather than move out of the way?  Who else is going to try and block a ball with their ear?  Who else is going to make grandiose trophies, and call out horseshit when they see it? Who else is going to ring up their own son, or have 5 complete baseball uniforms to wear? Who else is going to swing from their heels at a knuckleball that they know is coming, and then curse your name as it's popped up to the first baseman?

I have been playing in the MBC for 22 years at this point, longer than some, shorter than others.  It has been one of the constants in my life, and at times I have taken it for granted that the game will always be there when I want it.  As Bob says, this is a SF institution, and needs to be preserved, past and present. I agree.  I hope that there are enough of us out there that can keep it going.  I know for myself, life gets pretty full sometimes, and with all the things you have to keep in your head and on your plate, you sometimes forget that time is the real motherfucker.    And it's only going one direction. So gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

Take care Bob, thank you for you guidance and participation in our little corner of the world.  We'll catch you a little further down the trail....

Barnstorming in CO, anyone?

Highlights:

* We will miss you Bob

* Thanks to all that showed, and Don for making it before the game was over

* Parking sucked.  Damn music festival season.

* There were many big hits: Gabe, Chris P, Diego, New Guy, Patrick, Mitch, Mike N, Bob, Elan

* Greg's hitting tear continues!

* The Yucatan contingent grows and thrives: Santos, Erasto, Marcos

* Bob was not HBP, a gross oversight on the side of the visitors.

* This game had more near-calamities from foul balls than any other game I can think of.  We almost hit a mother and baby, 3 different women walking above, a bike, two players, and a couple that was snuggling on the grass.

* Patrick made a great catch on a foul ball behind the dish.

* JT won the award for most confidant looking near-catch.

* A good old fashioned pickle at home, with Sonny caught in the fracas.

* Let's keep the numbers up as we head into the warm SF season

Monday, October 7, 2024

10/6/24 GGP

 Maybe the hottest game on record, certainly for October.  95 degrees.  Thank god we were on the east field, so the shadows got bigger the longer we played.

Only 12 individuals came out.  Could have been worse.  Thanks to Santos and Erasto for making it at least Havana 6's, and not batting practice.  Now if only we can convince them to sit with the team.... Por favor siéntate con nosotras.

I started for the homers, on the same team as Nadolny and Powell since who knows when.  Greg catching, Santos and Erastos filling out.  I don't think having 2 outfielders really makes that much difference, in fact, I can state that I would be alright with 7-7 with two outfielders, if it made it more enjoyable from a rotation point of view.  

Mitch started for the visitors, and I think we got one run, and then nothing for a while.  Then a few more.  And then I think one more.

I held the visitors scoreless for the first 3 innings, and then they scored one (Mitch of course) and there we sat for the rest of the game,  It was so fucking hot.  The good news is that all the muscles are limber and ready.  You feel like you're going to collapse, but you will play really good until you do.

Erasto came in for the 2-innig save, and John McG and Nick W swapped innings with Mitch.  We stopped at 7 innings, and enjoyed the shade.

Final- 5-1

Highlights:

* Roll Call of the Devoted: Greg, Bob, Nick W, John McG, Chris P. Mike N, Lattig, Mitch, Satch, Santos, Erasto, JT, and a guy on a bike that played for an inning.

* Throwing at 50% is great, especially when you have an infield that can make plays

* The parking was plentiful!

* JT had the unenviable job of playing left field with a bunch of pull hitters.  However, he made a great running catch when it was really needed

* Cap tip to John McG who caught and pitched on a day when both should be avoided

* I missed the opportunity to plunk Bob.  Mark your calendars, October 13th and 20th, and then we are living in a Post-Bob era.

* I made two grabs off the mound that I would not have made had it not been hot. Apologies to JT, who smoked a line drive that should have been a hit

* Cap tip to Greg for catching the whole game, probably with surfing before and after.

*Great to Lattig out, after a long stint on permanent vacation

* Santos made some great catches in left, on the run

* Several double plays made in the game

* Thanks to Nick for the permit organization, and also being my only K of the Day

* Greg had several line drive singles, he's just getting started

* Stay cool!