Wednesday, September 9, 2009

9/6/09 Cop Field Again, Labor Day weekend, Bay Bridge Closed

It turned out to be a great day, on the drive over I was fearing the fog and the wind would be strong elements to bear, but from some reason the fog ran just south of where we were, and it was all sun (well mostly sun) anyways.

We had 20 at one point, and 18 by the end of the game, one injury (Chad the hammy takes time) and Vivek (BBQ, not a good excuse, but what can you do?). Long lost Phil Snyder, of Utah and now Arizona showed up, as did Connor, Bob's young prospect.

Satch threw another complete game, which some might see as hogging of the mound, but it is out of necessity as I can already see that I am going to miss the next month or so of games, and 4 innings of work just won't satisfy the long drought ahead. As a rematch of last week, Johnny Bartlett started for the home squad and did well again, especially for a man who rode BART for an hour to get to the field. The key to Sunday's game was who's defense was less shitty. Not necessarily a slight to those who played, but it seemed we had a lot of players out of their natural positions, and we are not professional enough to be very versatile when it comes to that sort of thing.

The game started out ok, the visitors scored 3 runs in the first, and the home squad answered back, but then the visitors took off the kiddie gloves and before anyone knew what was happening, it was a 10-2 ball game again. Johnny lasted for the 7th and then turned the ball into Greg, who usually doesn't warm up until he has thrown at least 5 innings. Greg pitched well, ignoring the heckling coming from his own family.

Stronger built and mature than last week, the home squad had a bit more fire in the belly (and we all had some long innings) and by the end of the 8th, the score was 10-9, and Satch was feeling the heat coming from the hungry homers. However, padding was applied, thanks to a 5 run ninth, and while the desire was there, the win was not to be the home squads, and the final tally was 15-9.

Highlights

* Bob HBP +1, a back shot, middle up. He threw his bat afterwards, but we all knew he was smiling inside

* A day of home runs and triples, half power, half dry field, half bad fielding, but kudos to Adam, Roy, Bill, Greg, Bob, and anyone else I missed

* John Carey for sticking through a tough at bat (in which his old man called a knuckleball for the third strike and then laughed maniacally at him) and stroked a legit line drive over third in his last at bat

* Satch struck out on a gorgeous change up from Johnny, slow and inside, perfect! Bastard.

* Tony, Fucking Knuckle BALL!

* Some needed outs in the outfield when they were really needed.

* Adam scoops at first, saving some bad throws and getting those outs

* John Carey again with a long run in left field to track down a fly ball

* Emperor of the North, rent it today at Lost Weekend Video!

* On Greg's triple, I stepped off, appealed, and threw to Nick to tag second, it looked like Greg missed it from where I was standing, and I figured he might be honest enough to admit to it...

* Doc playing, rather than officiating, and getting a nice hit!

* Connor using a cheater stick, luckily no one was killed

* Had a lot of battle counts this game, where I thought I was in the driver's seat, only to give up hits, tenacity is a motherfucker.

Well, it's a 1 year anniversary for me next week, so chances are slim, week after than in Tahoe, week after that a 30th birthday party, so someone write down what happens, and remember to lie frequently and colorfully....


S. Paige

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