Late posting- Sunday, September 27th

Mike Gaspar gave me a write out of the game from this week, and it sat in my bag for a few weeks while i did not baseball things. So here it is, one of the few times when we did not play amongst ourselves.

MBC vs. Sunset Brewers

Once again there were not enough people for a real game, and facing the long nose of batting practice caused the MBC to make a command decision. As well, there were league guys on the field who wouldn't get off, and we didn't have the people to challenge them to a fight, so we challenged them to a game instead.

Dustin (Cap'n Whiskey to his friends) started on the hill, we played with walks for once, and the Brewers started off the game getting a couple of runs. In true MBC style, we responded by leaving the bases loaded the next inning, and it started to look grim. Then the Brewers lost some players and a trade was manufactured where Tim and myself (Gaspar) were sent to the other side. This seemed to light the fire of the MBC, and soon the rally had brought the score to 6-4 Sunset. A game was forming! OF course, it was short lived, as the Brewers continued to apply the heat, and the final was in the neighborhood of 14-7.

Apparently only one of the league guys was a dick, so that is nice, far below the usual quotient (sorry to all those league guys who play with us.)

West Sunset 10/4/09

I arrived early, dressed in the parking lot, and waited for someone else to show up. It was little while before they did, and slowly the players trickled in to the field. We have had some major problems getting enough people out lately, the last three weeks have seen batting practice, a game against a league team (see above) and a half assed 10 man game. This Sunday started to shape up the same way, and we were stuck at 13. There were five random guys who had been occupying the field and taking grounders and eventually we asked if they were interested in joining us, they did and for a while we had a surplus of people. Oaks Mike showed up late and it was good to see him after a long absence. Doc came to umpire, and did a great job, especially after taking one off the shoulder.

Having not thrown in a month, Satch was hungry to get on the hill and Noah complied as the hurler for the visiting team. The teams were a little uneven as the random guys all wanted to be on the same team, and as a result we had a pretty deep lineup of regulars. First inning aside though, the visitors settled down and held the game at a 5-2 line for most of the middle innings. But that first inning was a rough one, we had five or six hits in a row, some errors from the Randoms.

Somewhere in the third one of the Randoms hit a ground ball to Adam, who Bucknered it pretty good. Satch was loafing over to cover first, and then suddenly Nick Smith had the ball after backing up Adam, and we had a chance to get the guy. Bad news, we didn’t get the out, worst news, the throw went past me and hit the Random guy in the mouth…not pretty, but he was a remarkably good sport about the whole thing, although he was done playing for the day. He stuck around for a while and then tried to leave but his starter was kaput and he was stranded in the parking lot, bad day all around for that guy. His buddies left with him to get him out of there, and our mighty teams were whittled down to the 14.

Satch threw five and after a month definitely felt the time off, the arm felt good, but everything else was thrashed. Bowing out to save for another day, Rojas came in for the long relief and did well. Noah kept hurling, but we got him into a bases loaded jam and then emptied the bags on him, and that put the game out of reach, Oaks came in to pitch the last, but the damage was done and the final was 9-2 or 3?

Highlights

* The Randoms were all nice guys, even after we pummeled their buddy

* Tim (he of the 5th inning arrival) was on time, brought a friend, and hit the shit out of the ball all day, line drives, line drives…welcome back!

* Noah definitely settled down and kept us on a leash

* The Gaspar- Noah battle, which was at least 16 pitches, foul balls and ended with a hit.

* Bob was missing, but Mitch and Brian got plugged

* The wind was blowing out and Satch got one that carried to the short wall.

* Broke another damn metal bat, that $50 investment didn’t last long

* The visitors turned at least three double plays, including an ugly on with Rojas on 2nd (Tony claimed he couldn’t see the pop flyball, but the shortstop ten feet away apparently could see it…)

* I love that Doc compliments the pitch before he calls it (“That was a good one, strike one!” or “Jesus Christ, Strike.”)



Well the wind was blowing cold, fall might be upon us, the game next week is same place, an hour earlier, 2 pm. Come one come all, I will be in Orange county…again…for a wedding…again.



Enjoy,

S. Paige

9/13/09 and 9/20/09

Here is the roundup for the past two weeks, sad as they are, thanks to Mike Gaspar, Johnny Bartlett and Jon Spack for the details:

9/13/09
Here are the ugly details.

- ten guys showed up. i guess the THREAT of rain kept people
away.

- there were about eight sprinklers going in the outfield.
thanks to tony for trying to turn them off. we should
get a credit for the permit.

- asshole league guys on the field. it would have been interesting
if we would have had our normal turnout to see how this conflict
would have been resolved. as it was, we were resigned to infield
practice on a little league field. which i skipped but i'm sure
some fine double plays were turned.

- and one last comment. league guys are DICKS. dirt-bags of course
are the exception



BP only. So sad. I hope it wasn't football that kept everyone home.



9/20/09

About 11 people showed - played a nice 6 inning game with Tony and
Johnny both throwing complete games. Away team won by breaking open
a 2-2 tie in the top of the 6th - all beginning with a 2 out 2 rbi
liner up the middle by Greg. I believe the final score was 7-3.



Lets try to bet a little more on the ball here people, we got a tradition to uphold. Speaking of which, are we in season 17, 18, 19, 20???? of MBC?


S. Paige

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

8/30/09 A Foggy yet Muggy yet Humid yet Warm Day

It was a great homecoming, after too many weeks off, Satch was back where he was supposed to be on a Sunday. And luckily enough people showed up to make it a game, although without the Dirtbags, it would have been rough. The Dirtbags, Chris and Brian and New Guy (Mike?) are a couple, few of fellows from the MBC who have moved on to league play, however, I guess the season is over now and we can expect them back soon.

Johnny and Satch squared off in a classic duel, and neither was in top form, but both went the long haul. Defense might have been on Satch's side for the beginning of the game, but we of the visitors squad had our share of dropped flies and booted balls too. Satch threw a lot of changeups, which seemed to stymie the overswingers on the homesquad.

Everyone got a lot of at bats, Mitch legged out a few close one's, Tony got hit in the foot, John Carey got pissed at a called third strike.

The loudest hit of the game was the New Guy Dirtbag, who took Satch to left, and once it got past our borrowed left fielder, there was no slowing down. By that time, it made the score 10-7, which was great, the majority of the game being the less exciting 10-2 variety.

Same time, same place, next week.

Highlights

* Greg catching the whole game.

* Bob's dance to get out of the way of my pitch, robbing us of a Bob HBP game

* The nastiest knuckleball ever thrown to Chris

* Nero had a nice line drive

* Greg had at least 4 caught foul balls

* The Dirtbags, great to see you again

* Satch struck out looking, which is strange because some might have said it wasn't a strike

* Brian's catch at 3rd to rob his own team of a hit

* Adam's digging it out at 1st

* Nick showing off his hitting ability and rubbing it in that he is still faster than us

Thanks for everyone that showed up, see you again

S. Paige

MBC Game for 8/16/09

As Satch was drinking champagne and making small talk about the remoulade on the white bean medley, apparently there was a baseball game in SF a few weeks back. Our own Mike Gaspar was there. Here's his report:

It was a fairly nice day for our weekly game. The sun was shining in Balboa Park, but off in the distance we could see the fog bank edging closer and closer as the game progressed. We had a good turnout, 16 in all, and even though several regulars were MIA, Dustin brought friends and relations in to fill the holes and the game was on.

Dustin and Noah formed a formidable battery, making it a tough home squad. Mike Lattig, he of the .800 batting average was even a swinging victim. Sean, the tough lefty, went to the hill for the visitors, and was more than up to the task. Both sides went down quickly in the early innings, then in the fourth the visitors scraped together a single and a booted sacrifice bunt, and suddenly the door flew open. Before it was closed 5 runs had scored and the visiting squad never looked back. The Home squaders started a few rallies but could never come close to catching up. As the fog enveloped, our surroundings darkening with the close of another Sunday interval , we were all happy to call it a day....until next weeks game. -Gaspar


See you on the field, Satch is loose, relaxed, tan and lovely....

S. Paige

A Close Game, A Sunny Day

For those of you staring at the endless void of fog and wet right now, it is hard to imagine that just three days ago the City was bathed in sunlight, and happiness. Under these conditions did we, the MBC play our weekly game at Balboa Park.

As karma for the two weeks ago that the game ended early, the previous contest ran over into our time, and so when we did get on to the field, there was a lot of hurry and not much planning on who was on what team. AS a result, the home team had a squad that looked invincible, Lattig, Kvoriak, Mitch, Greg, Nero, Johnny, Satch, New guy Steve, Bob and a surprise guest. And as you may have gathered from the preamble, it was not the massacre that we thought it might be.
Satch was back on the hill, after a week in Orange County (don't ask) and felt loose. There were various new guys shuffling around, including east coasters with sons in tow, two brothers who came out to the Sunset once, and then, Brian Girgus? He showed just to "play catch" and ended up of course playing the whole game, in cutoffs, pendleton shirt and tennis shoes. But it was great to see ol 90% mouth, 10% muscle out there, and he seemed to have remembered how to catch a ball!
The collective bane of our hitting existence was pitching for the other team, Dustin, and for five long innings, we could not get anything started. Every time someone would get on base, there would be some sort of fuckup, or fly out, or usually strikeout, and the threat would be over. Stranded baserunners was our forte. The most egregious was a basesloaded, one out occurrence, and while we are all gentleman with various defects, I think most of us (including some of the opposing team) thought Rick was safe at first. Let us say that the umpire can be swayed by exciting action.

3-1. 3-1. 3-1.


This score haunted us through the game, couldn't score a run. Finally, some luck, Dustin had retired and gave it up to Carter, the new young guy. Carter had some trouble with the strike zone, hit Satch (almost twice), and we finally got some luck to go our. way. We go up, 4-3. Then Dustin showed up and hit the first pitch into Siberia, and the game was tied, 4-4.

Satch gave up after the 7th, and handed Johnny the ball to close it out. Johnny did what Johnny do, which was hold tight, and make the pitches. I have always been amazed, expecially at SQ, that Johnny can get the guys that are the hardest for Satch to get. Different strokes they say.

We go to the bottom of the eighth, we got baserunners. We have seen this situation before. 1st and 3rd. Satch lumbers to the plate with the Pete bat, and slaps a comebacker. It bounces off Carters glove, the run scores, Satch running with all of his might to first, makes it. 5-4. Satch steals second, 2nd and 3rd. Girgus is up, promised he would bunt to keep from striking out again. We all wait for it. It doesn't happen. He strikes out again. Got to come out more often, Brian.

We got to the top of the 9th, clinging to a one run lead. Johnny wipes the sweat from his brow, sets his jaw to granite, and sends the visitors down in order, the game is over, the sun shining, the wind tousling everyone's hair....

Highlights

* Oliver and Doc look to be making a comeback, which is great, once we can get used to a umpire.

* Girgus, just because you are in 5 bands doesn't mean there isn't time for baseball

* Dustin, again with a great game, both batting and pitching

* Mitch at shortstop, while the grounders were a little shaky, Mitch easily saved 5 bloopers from becoming hits

* Sorry to the kid I struck out, its hard to throw light and low sometimes, you made a great play at short though!

* Noah's strike zone that shrunk monumentally once Doc stepped in

* The other kid hit my knuckleball. Don't ask why I was throwing knuckleballs at kids.

* Everyone who fought the sun in the outfield

* Blueberries AND Cuties, thanks Sean!

* Sean's catch in the outfield, although I think there may have been a little drama at the end

* New guy Steve belting one!

* The arrival and departure of Carter and Will, have fun on the East Coast

* Turning double plays, disputed or not, is still pretty cool

* My own terrible base running, that somehow was redeemed by inducing a bad throw (you like that?) and scoring the tying run. I know, I know, but it looked like I was dead in the water, from my stampeding point of view.


Have a great game, out at the Cop Field again, usual time. I'll be in Sonoma, half-feigning good cheer and remarking "Of course I am having fun, what else could I possibly be doing at 3pm on a Sunday!????"

Midnighhhhhht Riiiider,

S. Paige

August 3rd- Golden Gate Park

Satch was dragged and fashed from a Orange County wedding, and really wanted to be there, but it just wasn't gonna happen. Sounded like a good one, and here to relay the day is Mike Gaspar:

It was a nice enough day. A bit overcast. But plenty warm and even a bit of humidity hung in the air. Never the less, as three o'clock came, we still had only thirteen players. Ever hope full we started some infield practice and before too long our fourteenth player showed up and it was game on!

Johnny took the hill for the home team. Resplendent in his A's uniform in honor of Rickey "the greatest" Henderson. J.B. had the good curve working. And had an easy first inning. The visitors sent Noah to the bump and he had the full arsenal going. Especially in the early and middle innings.

Unlike last weeks game this was a tight affair early on. the visiting team scratched out a couple of runs early on, only to see the homers tie then take the lead in the middle innings. The home team then iced it with a barrage of hits and runs in the seventh. The visitors made a comeback try in the ninth. Aided by some shoddy defense on the part of a borrowed player (yours truly) and the fact we decided to take some walks. In the end though the final tally was visitors 7, homers 13. And i dare say fun was had by all !

HIGHLIGHTS:

Brian Cagle: Several hits, including a key two out double that basically put the game out of reach.

Owen: Good day at the plate. Even his outs were "loud".

Johnny: His good pitching kept the visitors in check.

Oliver: Amazing "juggle" catch in right field. Way to keep your eyes on the ball kid.

Noah: Pitched great for five innings. Then lost a little steam but stuck it out the rest of the way.

Doc: Thanks for umping. You did a great job !


See everyone next week, swear to the Maker(s) mark

A

A Game and Then an Exhibition

I don't know if it was the chiropractor, the acupuncture, or the drinking, but somehow Satch put a baseball display on at the cop field on Sunday. 16 solid souls showed up this Sunday, the sun shining and the game before us ended early, so for once we were on the field and warmed up by 3.

Johnny took the mound for the visitors, and was his usual solid self. Unfortunately he had a few hiccups with the defense, and he wasn't helped by the clouting force of the home squad. In hindsight, it was a little unfair balance-wise, but lots of times we have had an all star team set up, that looked unbeatable, and then they never get out of the gate.

Satch was more efficient than usual, and was helped by a great defense. The home squad was knocking down everything that came their way, and before too long, Satch was carrying a perfect game into the fifth inning. The visitors were starting with the bad juju, trying to throw Satch off his game, and eventually Johnny Bartlett (who really deserved a better shake out then he got) stepped up and knocked a gork over second base and the no-no-no was done for. A few batters later, John Nero fought off some fastballs, and waited on a change up (which had been working great up until that point) and laced a line drive to left center. The visitors were on the board. Unfortunately, the score by that point was 11-1, and it didn't improve. By the end of the sixth, it was in the 17-1 range, and the visitors were starting to look gloomy, so Greg (ever the diplomat) offered up a team remix and a three inning exhibition.

The teams were more balanced, Satch kept throwing, and Sean came in for the new visitors, and effectively shut down our offense with one of the nastiest curve balls we have seen out there. It was still 0-0 going into the 3rd, Rojas came in for the home team as relief, with Satch behind the dish (big mistake on the legs). A little trouble finding the plate, a booted ball, a couple of hits, and it was 4-0 with half a inning to go. The home squad managed a run, but in the end, it wasn't enough, and the game(s) came to an end. Nice.

Highlights:

* Not too much to brag about with a lopsided victory but....

* Johnny and Noah were a solid battery, and Noah deserves an extra kudos for a lot of stingers and hardballs in the neck

* Satch had a virtual cycle, at least one of the hits would have been out of park, any park...almost hit a soccer player too

* The diplomat, Greg. Take care of that leg, cuz I can't catch worth a shit

* Gaspar for putting up with Satch, and sticking out behind the dish as long as he could

* Lattig proving that he can hit anywhere

* New guy John, catching and hitting

* Good to see Owen out on a regular basis, welcome home!

Unfortunately the legs are out of wack, even if the rest of me is balanced. Maybe Satch should take a week off (just from pitching of course....)


See you in the fog,

S. Paige

Game Recap (kinda)

Satch was imbibing and debasing himself last week, so when I tried to get the recap, Jon Spack was good enough to provide some tidbits. But he left early, with the game tied, so this may be one lost to the wind. Thanks Jon!

*Sean had a monster home run blast to right field that resulted in a
funny looking no slide/close play at home plate - which brought the
score to 8-1.

*Johnny was cruising early for the home team with a lot of curve balls
and off speed stuff, but then some monster shots from Ryan, Nick
Kinsey, Mike Lattig (and others) tied the game at 8 with a 7 run
barrage. Mike's was a monster home run shot.

*Will started out on the mound for the away team and had some great
heat, but was a bit wild. He settled down nicely in the later
innings.

*Greg was back in action with a sore hammy, and played 2nd and 3rd.
Brian attempted an evil bunt toward Greg at 3rd, but whiffed at the
attempt. Greg had a nice hit up the middle in his first at bat.
Welcome back.

*Nick Kinsey displayed his inner Omar Vizquel, with some consistent
play at shortstop. He had all 3 putouts in one inning

The Lattig Report:

The home team won 11-8. It was an 8-0 game, visitors came back to tie it at 8-8 in the 6th or 7th, and then the home team got it all back.


See you on the bump this Sunday,

S. Paige

West Sunset Bliss

Sunday may have been the most beautiful in a series of beautiful Sundays that we have had lately. And I am not just saying that because Bob came with a truck load of steaks to sell. The beauty was added by the fact that we had 20 guys show up, which is a new record for the West Sunset field, I remember a few years ago that we couldn't get 10. Of course, now that I have said that, I am sure we will be screwed next time.

Greg was still healing from the hammy, but he dropped off the gear, which was kind of him, and we had some new guys that I think Sean had brought, they were young, and we were a little afraid ( we being the elder folk) that the young punks might show us up, or at least show off their non-disabled skills. But they were fine, they blended in and made some mistakes, and we were all friends....

Satch started on the mound for the homesquad, doing what was needed. The mound was in such good shape that it was troubling to pitch off of, as the drop was not the customary three feet that usually happens on our mounds. Our team had some early inning jitters to get out of the way and we dropped a few here and there, and the next thing you know it was 3-1 in the 2nd inning. But no mind, it was a nice day. Unfortunately, Dustin was feeling it as well, and he blew through us like wind through swiss cheese, dropping curves and slurves and cliders and drop balls, when he wasn't throwing the hard stuff...and this all without Jameson (as far as we knew). Our team couldn't seem to get anything going, Satch struck out looking, and we hit a lot of pop flys to Mitch, which is never the way to get a rally going.

After 5, I unfortunately had to leave the mound and the game to get to a BBQ, and so I bid the team a fond farewell and headed out. I got the late inning info from Jon Spack and Lattig, who each accounted for the end. AS for me, a great day, I hope we don't get spoiled on this weather, but then again, what better way to be spoiled.
Highlights the first 6:

* Joe who almost got one out of the yard, I was praying that it would, even if I had to give it up, never seen one go out.

* Dustin triple, single, and pitching performance

* The change up I threw Mitch

* Our umpire, Gregg, making it two in a row!

* The double play to end the first inning threat

Lattig:

Sean picked up for your side and had a solid first two innings, keeping the visiting squad down with his array of speeders and curves. The same held true for the visitors though, as Lattig took the hill and through looper after looper to keep the home squad off balance, and off the scoreboard.

The visitors tacked on a fifth run with some clean hits in the 8th, making it 5-1 heading into the bottom half, and that’s when the fireworks erupted. Bullets off the bats of Catcher John and Sean sparked a three run rally that brought the home nine to within one. Those tallies were quickly answered, however, by the visitors, who rallied behind some timely hitting and keystone coppery from the defense to push the cushion back to 4.

Vivek took to the bump in the bottom half of the frame to close it out, but the home 9 would not go quietly. Four consecutive hits had the game at 8-6 with runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out, but the new hurler wouldn’t break, getting the final three outs before Oliver could find his way home from 2nd, and sealing a thrilling 8-7 victory.

Highlights (from the 6th on):

* Vivek’s first career save.

* Sean peppering the wall in right field.

* A thrilling 9th inning that once again threatened to push us into extra frames.

Jon Spack Notes:

1) Sean was crushing line drives and deep fly balls to right, one of
which would have cleared the fences if he used a metal bat. He may
have even had an inside the park home run if those inside out sweat
pant pockets didn't slow him down,

2) Mike had some gorgeous line drives and sprayed the entire field with hits. His nickname as a pitcher needs to be Captain Hook. That deuce takes 3 minutes to get to the plate and goes from the eyes to the feet. Had a lot of batters off balance.

3) Our team came back in the last inning on some great back to back
hits - but Vivek closed the game out as I was stranded on 2nd base as the tying run.

4) Aaron's wildly fun-to-catch performance, I would describe it as "If you can't take the heat, the kitchen may still come after you." Aaron threw the kitchen sink at every batter he faced. I didn't know it was possible to throw knucklers in curve ball counts or change ups in knuckler counts...but he did it all day.
Thanks for keeping us in the game.



Thanks everybody for making it out, next week at Camp Swampy, someone pay attention, I will be faded in Lake Tahoe

S. Paige

Fourth of July Double header

What a great tradition, is all I can say. And not just because I woke up on Sunday and didn't have to wait 4 hours to play baseball. Loaded down with bags, I wheeled to the park, threw on the gear, and by 11:30 we were in full swing of the 7th or 8th (?) annual 4th of July doubleheader. the old tyme baseballers had a game in the other field, which was cool to see, but I bet they take their shit way too seriously. The families came out, the food was great as always, and per MBC tradition, we forgot essentials such as salt and pepper, but had 6 plates and 7 buns per person.

Bob provided the fine beef cuts from Brandon natural Beef (they do good work!), Johnny, the boudin sausages, and after a short crisis, Rick went on a beer run that kept us afloat for the two games. It was a great turnout, the stands full of fans, the players just full.

Game #1
A overcast, muggy day in the park, the sun peeked through a few times, but for the most part it stayed gray. Satch started on the bump for the home squad, and Will took on the serving duties for the visitors. It is hard to remember, but I think the game was close for a couple of innings, Satch got lit up to begin with, and then settled down. The knuckle ball served me well, and probably saved my arm. Will threw 4 or 5, but had some long innings. The mound was the bane of all pitchers existences, that is for sure, the hole in the landing spot was not helped by the three pounds of sand that the crew filled in. Another new addition was an old hand, Doc, who celebrity umpired the games for us. Strange to have an official, and we kept veto power intact (and used) to make sure that the game stayed on the level. Nice work Doc, come on out again.

John Carey ( that's not the steal sign) led off for the visitors, and did his job well, in addition to being a fine asset in the outfield. Ameila, likewise had a successful day at the plate, good to see the younger generation out there. As for us elder fellows, the creaks and cracks of the early game wore off, and there might have been a beer or two to lubricate a few stubborn muscles. As the game wore on, and the home squad started to run away with it, helped by some messy fielding. Lattig came in time to watch his defense disintegrate.

With the coals getting ready, and the game wearing on, it was decided to forgo the ninth, and end the contest, with a final of 19-9. Lopsided, but the visitors showed some ginger a few times, that let us know that they were still a force to be reckoned with.

Beer. Burgers. Sausage. Beer. Hot dogs. Potato Salad. Beer.


Game #2

We mixed up the teams, and set Greg and Noah to battle out for the second game. Both are long range hurlers, so the first couple of innings saw a lot of pitches. Another high scoring affair, the score went back and forth, never anyone too far ahead. Mrs. Paige brought her best circa 1902 game out, and added a rbi to the resume. The game was saved a few times by some amazing outfield work, Rojas, Stone, Knight, Carey, all tracked down balls that stymied the big rally. The visitors turned at least one double play. Sean and his buddy had showed up for the second game, and Sean took the managerial role and had whipped his team into a frenzy.

Greg, thinking he was still 28 and prompted by the beer, dashed for third and caught a hammy, ending his play for the day. Rojas came in and did fine but struggled with the mound, so Satch came in to finish off the game on 3 hours rest. Going into the ninth, the visitors scrapped and fought and pulled ahead, 14-12. Last gasps for the home team, and the exhaustion was setting in for the the last stand of the day. However, the home team pulled out the big guns, doubles and liners, and with a timely last at bat by Rob (who's rbi won the first game last year) a poke job to left, and the comeback was a final.

A great day for everyone who came out, we should do it more often. I ain't half as sore as I thought I would be.


Highlights

* A great day with family and friends

* The honesty and fair play of the games, especially when our celebrity official (ahem) got the call wrong

* Tony's catch in the outfield, especially amazing because we know he hates to play outfield

* The new additions, Margo and Cason, for making it out

* John Carey, again, why did we wait so long to get you started?

* Bob HBP +1, a classic shot to the posterior, making the day official

* Some long balls were hit, Lattig, Oliver, Nick, Sean's new guy....

* Fine glovework as well by Alexander, Adam's nephew

* No one was hurt by the bumpy gopher field

* Noah's complete game

* The tequila that helped some of us through

* Satch took second at least twice because no one was covering the bag. Its a learning tool. They learn and I am a tool.

* Let's play three!



A great way to celebrate freedom and good friends,

S. Paige

6/28/09 A great day, a great game

There was a lot of fear about this game due to last weeks debacle, so it was a heavy sigh of relief that went up as we found ourselves with 22 players for the match. It was one of the more beautiful days on record, and the wind was blowing out for a change, not that it helped us any. Satch, back in uniform (well, what passes for his uniform) started on the bump for the home squad. Ugly first inning. Somehow I struck out batters for the three outs, but mixed in between were about five walks, four HBP, three runs, two wild pitches, and one blazed out shortstop (my fault as well).

Our own offense was stymied by the masterful pitching of Sean, who owned us for most of the game. He got ground balls, he got flyballs, he got strikeouts. Satch finally settled down, and started to throw up blanks as well, but the visitors tacked on another run in the third, and we continued to spike ourselves and trip over every scoring opportunity that we got (which wasn't many).

Finally we scored a run, got a little self respect, and the game came to life again. Johnny took over for Sean and did what he does best. Dustin, the Jameson Kid, took over for Satch and continued to keep the game from getting any further away.

Then all at once, we had scoring opportunities, and Brian Phelps stepped up and crushed a ball to wayyyyyyyyyyy deep in center. Sean, chasing after it gave the international "That is way over my fucking head" hand signal, and Brian motored around the bases, add a throwing error, and the game was tied, 4-4. And it stayed that way, through the end of the game. Extra innings! Hard fought battle, but finally, Lattig decided to start hitting, which he did with a beautiful triple to the gap, and then Brian Phelps, once more put a ball in the air, down the right field line for the win. Whew.

Highlights

* There was probably 18 strike outs between the four pitchers, but it never really felt like it

* Sean, a fine pitching performance, keeping us completely buffaloed for the first 6 innings

* A bunch of people were HBP, but Bob wasn't one of them

* The return of Ezra, who played like he hadn't missed a week, and made a perfect throw to third to catch Mitch stealing

* The phantom that is Scot Mills, apparently he works on Sundays now, good to see you out there Scot, you should take more Sundays off....

* Our cheering section of half drunk Latins from the last game, and new mothers, wives, girlfriends, and lil'uns.

* A double play or three...

* Mitch playing shortstop much as he plays center, and not letting a thing through

* A double HBP, with a ricochet, hitting Greg after the batter (sorry, that wasn't too funny).

* Helen's first game, she hit well, she ran the bases, she took out Johnny, has all the makings of a professional MBC player. Is she in a punk band yet?

* Addendum to the above, sorry about the strike out, Paul. I needed it, and it's good for your daughter to know that its alright to not succeed sometimes. Remember, a good hitter still fails 7/10 times.

* Chad, who has had some trouble adjusting at the plate, took me deep for a triple, and played a great game in center field. Thanks for coming out and bringing a friend!

* For some reason, the teams were broken down as 12-10....oh well

* The new Redline seems to have some pop, if you like using it, I am open to a $5 donation.


Next week is our Fourth of July annual double header, in GGP. First game at 11:00, bring the family and the beers.

Tip of the cap,

S. Paige

Marathon shutout by Sacramento-born pitcher is one for the record books

Marathon shutout by Sacramento-born pitcher is one for the record books

By Carlos Alcalá


The record has not been broken – and perhaps cannot be.

One hundred years ago today, a young Sacramentan threw the longest shutout by a single pitcher in professional baseball history: 24 innings.

Clarence Henley's 1-0 victory for the San Francisco Seals was, one San Francisco paper said, "the most spectacular game of baseball ever played on the Pacific Coast."

The modern professional is considered strong if he pitches a complete game.

A Texas college pitcher went 13 innings last month, but critics heaped scorn on his coach for allowing it.

Henley pitched nearly twice as many innings, maintaining enough control to strike out six while giving up nine hits and walking only one of the dozens of Oakland Oaks batters he faced.

Clarence "Cack" Henley was born in Sacramento in 1885 and grew up in a brick house that still stands on 13th Street.

His father, Oscar Henley, was a brick mason and built the Henley home about 1880. It is the oldest brick home in Sacramento.

Clarence Henley entered the Pacific Coast League in 1905. He was so tall and thin that he was immediately nicknamed "Slivers."

He threw so hard that it was said the Seals' catcher kept a piece of beefsteak in his glove to cushion the impact of the ball.

Henley had two 30-win seasons, though the feat was easier then because teams played more than 200 games per season, thanks to balmy West Coast weather. (Today's major league teams play 162 games in a season.)

His control was storied, and over the course of his career, he struck out twice as many men as he walked.

His long shutout, though, was a product of the times.

Back then, "pitchers generally started and finished their games," said Marshall Wright, a Massachusetts historian of the minor leagues. "They were expected to do it, and they did."

For today's hurler, said Alan O'Connor, a Sacramento baseball historian, "a good outing's five innings, six innings. It's different."

The players then didn't have year-round training, nor did they have designer steroids.

"Drinking was the only substance abuse," said Wright, "and it wasn't minor."

Once, a group of gamblers got the idea to fix a Seals game by getting Henley drunk, San Francisco Examiner sportswriter Abe Kemp recalled in a 1953 column.

The plan was to bet big that Henley would lose and ensure it by buying him as much nickel beer as he would drink.

He drank a lot.

The gamblers and Henley boozed all night, downing $10 in beer. He was still standing.

They ferried him to the ballpark, Kemp wrote, and "smiled knowingly as he zig-zagged toward the clubhouse in centerfield." Then they made their bets.

Henley wobbled at the start of the game but grew stronger as the game wore on.

He pitched 12 innings of shutout ball that day, and won when he himself homered.

Sheryl Pinto, Henley's granddaughter, still lives in the brick house in Sacramento's Colonial Heights neighborhood where Clarence and his wife, Emily, lived. Clarence Henley built it, Pinto said.

She has held onto photos and clippings her grandmother saved, including this one about the fabled 24-inning game:

"And Henley," the story reads. "Well, he pitched as he never did before. He twirled as clean and great a game as was ever witnessed anywhere.

"You might think that's romancing a bit. Not on your life. If you think a pitcher, no matter how famous, pitched a better game where bat and ball held sway, then you had better tell it to Sweeney," the writer concluded, emphasizing with that old phrase that he would never believe it.

Oaks pitcher Jim Wiggs also shone. He pitched 23 shutout innings before losing.

"Henley's control was far better," William Slattery wrote in the San Francisco Call newspaper, "the tall San Francisco slabster walking only one man, while Wiggs passed six.

"That was with a hard-to-please umpire, according to the Chronicle. "The ball had to cut the plate in the middle to be called a strike."

The two pitchers scattered 20 hits, with several scoring threats eliminated only by dramatic double plays.

June 21- Shitty Batting Practice

I wasn't there, but I hear that it was a real downer at the yard this week. 9 guys showed up, due to the June holidays, and the SQ game the day before (we might want to limit our Saturday games, or just Sat for the Giants....)and then there was another permit snafu, that forced the batters to disband after 4 pm.

No highlights, but i hear Bob got HBP during practice, so it wasn't a total loss of a day (thanks for the steaks, Bob!)

Lets gird up our loins for this weekend and make it a occasion worth remembering.

S. Paige

The philosophy of the MBC game

If there is one certain in life, it is that nothing is certain. I was planning to write an entire entry of circular logic, but I don;t think I have it in me. I will try my best though. The game this week, at West Sunset was a perfect example of how we can be so sure of a game's outcome, that we forget that anything can and always will happen.

We had 18, perfect. We had one of the most beautiful days on record, we had a fan (Stella), and we had a dry but immaculate field. It seemed that a lot of people were hobbled with injuries, knees and hips, and backs and ankles all were twinged with early high vacation living. The way the two teams fell out, it looked like a massacre in the making. If I was a betting man, I might have laid the family fortune on Satch's team. Good thing I only wager on losing poker hands. As a starting lineup, with a one legged Greg on the mound, we had Mitch, Lattig, Satch, Bob, Rick, Adam, Gaspar, Vinay, and the new guy Chad. That is a lot of power, speed and experience to contend with.

This is not to say that Greg's team was not riddled with some talent, but there is no good reason that Lattig, Mitch, and Rick should ever be allowed on the same team. We racked up 4 runs out of the gate, and then we started to slow up for fear of ruining the vibe in the first inning. Big mistake. Satch had missed a week, and started for the visitors, and the arm was feeling good, but Greg's team came right back at me, with a shit load of comebackers (most of which I got a glove on, and ended up screwing up the play) and bloops, and drives, and it was tied up after 1. And I kept making the pitches I wanted to, and to their immense credit, those warriors fought them off and put them in the holes. We had some through the legs and double play potentials that were booted away, which never helps. And a special thanks to Mitch, without whom, I might still be out there pitching, if he hadn't reeled in some long bombs the home squad sent his way.

Back and forth it went through the innings, and when one team had a quick inning, the other did too. 6-4, 8-4, 8-7, flopped 10-8. Then we had that damn 6 out/ 4 error inning that steals all Satch's reserves, and next thing you know it was 14-10. I limped from the field, humbled again, and let Lattig finish the job. Tony had come in for the home squad and shut us down, our once mighty and formidable team shaking their heads in disbelief. And all on a beautiful day.

Shows to go you can't never tell what's gonna happen in between the lines.

Highlights:

* Nick Kinsey, who had at least a couple of extra base hits on the day

* Greg, who managed to pitch through the pain, and lead his team to victory

* Cagle for his pop, and solid defensive infielding

* Tony for timely hitting, pitching and defense

* Vivek, who I got to hit ground balls all day (except for the big fly) and yet continued to get on base somehow

* John, for catching and calling a great game, throwing a man out at 2nd, and with some great hitting

* JT, for a good stretch at first, and some hitting of his own

* Paul, for showing up after being gone for a year or so, hitting and tracking down balls in the sun

* Nick Smith, for the shutter-buggedness, grunts and playing center all day, when we knew he hated it, and still tracked down two of Satch's flies to deep center....

* Mitch.

* Gaspar getting a man of his own at 2nd.

* Bob HBP count, +1, I missed it, but it sounded good. Keep up the good work, Bob!

* We should have paid more attention to how we do our lineup insertions.


A special event of interest, as mentioned, most of us were playing with some sort of malady, which is not uncommon. However, Tony's knee was hurting (although he somehow was ok to pitch two innings later on....) so we allowed a pinch runner. Nick Smith was subbing at 1st base, and so, while commiserating on the bag, the glove was passed, and Tony took the sack, and Nick became the runner. Haven't seen that one before. Score it how you will.


I shouldn't be this sore, but it was a long weekend

S. Paige.


PS:

We can officially start the MBC recruiting drive for Cason Abell Bhatia, he's almost three weeks old now, so I figure less than 8 years until he can be offered a starting position.

Photos from the Park

JUNE 7TH "IT WAS BETTER THAN BATTING PRACTICE

So, our resident photographer, Nick Smith took some great pics for us, and here is the first one that is of your guest summarist, Mike Gaspar with the review of the June 7th game at West Sunset, take it away Mr. Gaspar:

Contrary to what one would think, summertime often means less players show up to the ballgames. As was the case on Sunday. At first it looked real bad. We might have
been resigned to batting practice. Ugh. But lucky for us some late arrivals brought our grand total to 13.

So we improvised. 6 on 7 with a lot of borrowing. We immediately decided to make it a 7 inning affair. A wise decision indeed.

Johnny B. took the hill for the home team and after a shaky start (not much help from the defense) settled into a nice rhythm. Sean the lefty took the bump for visitors and did a great job as well. In the end it was a see-saw affair. the home team was down by a few runs and stranded the tying run at third when the game ended. All agreed we were glad it did not go extras.

Highlights:

* Joe's blast that hit the right center wall on the fly

* Bob NOT getting hit by a pitch for a change (we'll change that, don't worry Bob)

* Having fun outside on a nice day

* The drinking crew was back in force in the parking lot

Who knows maybe this week we'll have 14 ! (We better, even if I have to recruit the drunkards in the parking lot, so if you are reading this, get your ass out to the field this Sunday)

Thanks for the review Mike, Satch will definitely be there!

S. Paige

Players Profile #11 and 12- Dave Johnson and Richard Baluyut

So the Satch ignored his own advice about taking it light on the vices, and drank some liquor tonight. Its Wednesday for gods sake, and I tried to be good, but goddammit, sometimes a man just has to let the demons out. It seemed like a good time to talk about Dave and Richard, and not just because they used to keep me company at the 500 Club on Thursday nights (Open til 2, serving the finest in hipsters, junkies and mission rats). Dave and Richard were a team, I can barely remember a time when they didn't play together, or at least arrive together. They probably deserve their own separate page, but fuck em, they moved to New York just when we had a chance to really break this MBC thing open.


Anyway, Richard and Dave were playing before I showed up, and I quickly figured out that they were two forces to be reckoned with. Dave was a competitor, in one of the first games that I pitched more than the last inning, i remember Dave swinging a bat, while I warmed, up, talking shit, and telling his teammates that "This guy ain't shit." I smiled at him, cuz we were friends, he did not smile back. That's Dave. Serious man. The passion was great, and anyone who was at his final game will tell you that he was very sad to leave the MBC.








Richard may have been more sedated, but by no means less competitive. My vision of Richard continues to be him warming up on the mound with a cigarette drooping from his mouth, his hat placed high on his head, is long, black hair heading in ten ways. That cigarette would stay behind the mound, and sometimes he would get it, sometimes he would leave it for the other pitcher to find. Richard had back surgery, and three weeks later he was back out at the game, not just present, but catching and pitching, much to the chagrin of those who thought he might collapse and never walk again with each pitch.

Dave and Richard were stalwarts in that they could both field any position, and do it well, and it often was that they were the center of one team, and challenged all others to join their cause, or face the thunder. It worked out nicely for the balance of the teams, because both could catch and pitch, play infield and outfield, hit and run.

So a few years ago, they moved to NY, and started the East Coast version of the MBC. From what I hear, they have had some luck in getting quality people out, but the vibe and hours are not the same. They play on Saturday, at 9 in the morning, in Central Park. Dave lugs the equipment down and hopes that enough people show up to make it worth it. I have this awful vision of Dave carrying baseball equipment on to the subway, and seething as he make his long ride. I know he drives, and hopefully it is still the El Camino, but I can't shake the idea of Dave, buried in duffel bags and being harassed on the subway. And from what I hear, more often than not, people flake out. When you have the the years of participation that we do, and the weather, you can make do, but in NY you have a limited window of nice days, when it is not snowing or so hot and humid that no one can stand it.



Richard introduced me to a poker game in SF that was great for a while, and he was a good player, calm in the moment, and willing to bluff his nuts off for the right pot. We had us some great times, and some awful times, but such is the nature of poker and I am grateful. Dave became a regular at the 500 for a time, and I would play Misfits and Link Wray songs for him on the box, and we would talk Pittsburgh, where he hailed from, and I had had a family connection (Yinz want ta ga daaawntawn, enat?)

When they left, a piece of the MBC went with them. I still have a hope that one day we can form a team of players to go to the East coast, meet up with Richard and Dave, Pete and Peter, Ezra, and the rest, tour up to Cooperstown, play a few games and check out the Baseball Hall of Fame. At the very least, it would be a great story.


Time to hit the sack


S. Paige

Player Profile #10- Mike Gaspar

Mike is one of the most stand up guys I have ever met, and that goes well beyond the baseball diamond. He is pleasant to be around, cheerful, and honest. He rides his bike to games when he can, another thing I respect about him, and he is often the quiet difference in a win or a loss. Gaspar has been coming out since before I came to the game, and in my opinion he gets the Most Improved player award for the MBC.

Mike can play every position, except pitcher, but then again he hasn't been given the chance so who knows. He tracks down fly balls, he knocks down grounders, and he does it all with a utilitarian ease. He is dependable behind the dish, calls a fair game, although every once in awhile he can squeeze a pitcher. He can catch 9 is he needs to, and won't complain. He has played in San Quentin a number of times, and wrote up the last visit for the blog (see SQ 5/23 game).

The Gaspar shift has been instituted in the MBC to combat Mike's ability to hit to the opposite field, but it seems even with the knowledge of where he will hit it, he still manages to drop them in. Any new guy who comes out is directed, much to his confusion, to play way in at left when he steps to the dish. And just when you think you have him played perfectly, he drives one up the middle, or even to right.

It is Mike's demeanor that really makes him stand out though, he is easy to talk to, fun to be around, and plays the game like he loves it. It is always a difficult choice on whether to be on Mike's team or opposing him, because he is great as both a teammate and a opposing player. Mike is also one of the few left that actually lives in the Mission, giving us the street cred.

Mike hails from Ohio, and follows the Indians like a true fan; I have found that not only are there a lot of people in SF who come from Ohio, but they all seem to be genuinely decent people. And you can't forget that the Ohio state flag is a baseball pennant....

In any case, it is a pleasure to play with Mike, for he truly embodies the Mission Baseball Club spirit.

S. Paige