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
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
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
*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
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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
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
Monday, July 6, 2009
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
Monday, June 29, 2009
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
Friday, June 26, 2009
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.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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
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
Monday, June 15, 2009
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.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
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.
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
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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
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
Monday, June 1, 2009
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
Sunday, May 31, 2009
A Muggy Foggy Game
Frankly, I thought we were going to have to recruit the old Chinese guy that raids the trash for recycling treasures this week, but ol' Satch was pleasantly surprised by the 17 we had out in the Sunset this week. And a hell of a game was played, a real see-saw battle, with strong pitching, solid and not so solid defense, and all on a day when it looked like we were going to get rainy batting practice.
Satch went the distance for the home squad, Sean started for the visitors. Sean pitched a hell of a game, and had about five or six great plays off the mound. He kept it lively all around the dish, and managed a bunch of strong K's.
For throwing the full 9, I felt like Satch did alright, in fact it seems like I struck out 8 or 9 batsmen myself, with the odd come backer, some soft, some screaming. My life flashed before my eyes after I threw a 3-2 challenge fastball to Lattig, and he ripped it back into my chest. I had enough reaction left in me to get my glove in between me and the ball (thanks for not taking my head off, Mike)
The visitors jumped all over us in the first, and our offense couldn't hit out of wet paper bag for the first three or four innings. Sean kept us off balance, and when we got hits, we could never back them up, we stranded a lot.
Somewhere along the way, Satch got on base, stole second, stole third, and Adam drove in our first run of the game with a towering shot to left. We got one more, and suddenly we were in the game. A few innings later we took the lead on some timely hitting from Vinay, Joe and Gaspar, and for the first time in the game, fortune seemed to be shining on us. Some lucky breaks here and there, and it was the top of the 9th, with us up 5-3.
Then the roof caved in.
A bloop single started a error rally, and before we knew it, we couldn't catch a ball or get an out to save our lives. By the time it was all over, it was 8-5. We limped off the field, and went down meekly in the 9th, with Lattig nailing the coffin shut.
A note on losing. Baseball is one of the best sports to learn how to lose properly. If you think about it, a successful hitter in the big leagues is someone who still fails 7 out of ten times. So you have to get used to failing, it is a important part of the game. As Earl Weaver said, (paraphrasing a bit), "You gotta give the other guy his chance, there's no clock to run out, no plays to run to stall for time, that's why [baseball] is the greatest sport ever." We had our opportunities, Lord knows we did....but the team that prevailed today was the team that maximized some of their opportunities. And I salute them for it.
I would like to say that this attitude helps to soothe the burn of being close to a CG win, and not being able to pull it out. And it does.....mostly....
Luckily, I ain't in this for the glory or the statistics.
Thanks to everyone to made it out, and hopefully Greg and Tony will be back next week. I will have to get the byline from someone else, if anyone is feeling up to the literary challenge.
Highlights:
* Sean, a hell of a game on the mound and in the box, great battle in the later inning
* Lattig, for proving me the dumbest decision maker for the day, in sending him to the visitors team
* Mike and John for catching the whole game
* Chad and Dan, our resident new guys, for making some great catches, and even a hit here and there.
* Lori Bhatia for showing up one day past her due date to support the team ( too bad the kid didn't start his appearance on the baseball diamond, now that would be a MBC story to tell)
* Our other fans, Mrs. Paige included, who braved the foggy day to cheer us on
* The random beerfest in the parking lot before the game, don't know who those guys were, but they looked like they were ready to party
* Bob and John Carey, who didn't make it out, due to Little League team making the playoffs
* The return of Scott and our once a month man, Stoner
* Nick Kinsey, for taking a risk on a pass ball, to steal home, we almost had him, and I think that run pretty much ruined our team's wavering hopes
* The West Sunset field was in immaculate condition
Well, in the end, a great game was played, and another Sunday was in the books. In to June we charge, ready to brave another summer in the fog.
Don't look back, something may be gaining on ya,
S. Paige
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
San Quentin Pirates Game, 5/23/09
And now, our man from the Mission, and resident Indians fan, Mike Gaspar:
well it was time for another match-up between mission baseball club
and the inmates of San Quentin. in this game we were going against the
pirates.
we all met in the parking lot and were happy to at least escape
the fog and cold of san francisco. there were eight of us all told.
(sq is always willing to lend a player or two) in true mission style
we just pieced together a lineup as we waited to get checked in.
fortunately we had some versatile talent on hand and felt pretty good
about our chances. we got checked in record time and after a twenty
minute warm up it was time to play ball.
things started off well for the m.b.c. as we had runners on first and
third with only one out. but a base running blunder by yours truly led
to a double play and snuffed out a would be rally.
Noah took the bump for our side and after a walk and a couple of
bloops the pirates had tallied two runs. but as he would do later, Noah
came up with a key strike out to leave a couple of pirates on base.
the top of the second was our big inning. in truth it was our only
inning. we got a runner to third but alas he was cut down at the plate.
but we still had some fight in us and manged to load the bases. and
a great at bat by our guest player, mike, led to a walk and plated our
first run. the next batter grounded a seventeen hopper up the middle
and a couple of more runs scored. two more base hits followed and
before the third out was recorded we had scored six runs.
but the pirates were able to slowly but surely come back. no major
rallies. just a run here and a run there. some walks a couple of
bloops, but within a couple innings the scored was tied.
meanwhile the m.b.c. bats went a little cold and this, coupled with
the fact that the pirates defense tightened up caused the momentum to shift.
after pitching a gutsy four innings, johnny came into relieve noah.
again the pirates managed to put some crooked numbers (their bats started
to heat up) and before we knew it, it was 11-6 favor of the pirates.
m.b.c. managed a few more threats but to no avail. soon enough we ran
out of playing time and the game was called after seven innings. all
told we were pretty proud of our effort. we only had three or four
errors, our pitchers, though often in trouble, made some great pitches when
they needed them to prevent a blow out. in addition we had some good
determined at bats. just couldn't get the "big hit" when we needed it.
and i think i can speak for the entire squad when i say there was no
place i would have rather been that afternoon. next game is 6-20 against
the pirates and we sure could use a few power hitters. chris, mitch,
mike l. you guys out there?
one last thing. as usual the sq players were very happy to have us there
and i think we even made them sweat it out a little
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Bay to Breakers on a Sunny Day
Well the title says all you need to know about how hard it was to get to the field on Sunday. The upshot was that it was a beautiful day, warm, slight ocean breeze, the Sunset field was well cared for, and we barely scraped a game out of 14 who braved the traffic.
Satch started for the home squad, after taking some resbit for the shoulder, and threw 7, on the light side. Johnny was all the visitors needed, going the distance plus a little extra. After the first inning the score was 5-1, visitors, and I was wondering why it was that my knuckleball was working so well, and yet I couldn't get anyone out with it. I have learned not to try and find logic in the hiccuping butterfly though. Johnny was masterful as usual, shutting down our rallys, and working the counts.
We got a lot of chances to bat, being 7-7, which was good, but in the hot sun, sometimes you would rather have a chance to sit down, which none of us really got to do. The score fluctuated, it was 6-3, then it was 9-5, then it was 11-6, then 11-8. I skulked off the mound and Rojas took over, and shut down the offense. We battled back in the 9th and found ourselves tied up. Extra innings! Hooray. Usually its a good thing, but we were all pretty tired. Johnny's squad small balled a run, on our decision to get the outs, and that ended up being it, with a runner on third, and two outs, Kvoriak ripped a no doubter to left center. Our happiness was short lived as Ralph (newguy) was playing the long ball perfectly, snared it, and thus the visitors were victorious.
Highlights
* Ralph and the other new guy, who had never played with us, for showing up and saving us from Havana 6.
* Johnny, another CG win, you have to be leading the league in these.
* Greg, Bob and John for catching the game on a sweaty hot day
* Mitch, for another stellar defensive game, along with timely hitting (check that shoulder)
* Satch stole three bases....
* The defense for making plays when it counted
* Our lone fan, a lady friend of Nero's, for being vaguely interested
* Rojas and Vivek, who had some great timely hitting, and yet, always seemed to be in the position of stranding a runner on third
* The Krakatoa rally, it worked, maybe for only a run, but it worked dammit.
See you in a few, somebody pay attention next week and fill me in.
S. Paige
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A day in the Golden Gate
The sun was out, we were charged up with missing the game last week, and the parking was not that terrible, or so I heard. We got 19, and those energetic few took the field and established the home team. From the get go, it seemed a little skewed. There was a lot of power and glove men that seemed to be on the visitors, of which yours truly was a part. But it was a team of camaraderie, and we have been proved vastly wrong before when we thought the teams were mismatched, so we gave it a go.
By the end of the third inning, there were grumbles and hems and haws. The score was 11-1, the only run coming from Mitch, who in addition to recording more than half of his teams outs, also legged out a double, stole third, and then came home on a sacrifice. The Jameson kid was on the hill for us, and his mom was in the stands, so there was no letting up on his end. Will hurled his best for the home team, but never got a break, and frankly, faced a lineup that didn't have too many weak spots. Gaspar was more vocal about the inequities and our team agreed, so after the 5th, we brought in two new pitchers, flipped the teams, and started over.
Lo and behold, those who grumbled found themselves leading 5-1. Johnny corralled our team in hitting-wise, and their bats started to come alive against Noah, who had his first loss in a couple of months. The final was 6-3, we stopped after the 6th due to the weariness of the players, and the general feeling that we had played enough. Plus some of us had wives and family in the stands that were cold and wanted to go home.
So a wingding of a game (s), but I am glad that it ended well. A brief note on our game. When and if a game becomes lopsided, lets all try our best to be good sportsmen and not steal bases or take the extra base, or score from second on a single with a 10 run lead. Remember, the guys you fuck over this week, could be your team members next week. It's not a case of giving up, it's a case of not being a dick.
Highlights:
* The Booze Battery doing it again.
* Our larger than average cheering section
* Mitch's extra effort, reading the outfielders and taking the extra base
* Gaspar for staying vocal until he got results, but also having the faith in his team to not want to trade anyone
* Nick Smith, for being the team shutterbug, hope they came out well.
* The defense of the home/visitor team, for sharpening up and locking us down
* Bob, for making it from Treasure Island in time, and sticking around for 20 minutes after he was ready to go home
* The wooden "Pete" bat, which I taped up and got three hits out of
On a sad note, we bid a fond farewell to two of the stalwarts that have been with us. The Hose and the Redline both broke on Sunday, doing what they did best, getting hits. We will never forget....
This Sunday is Bay To Breakers, so you East Bayers may want to take the extra time, and go around the city. See you in the Sunset.
S. Paige
*
By the end of the third inning, there were grumbles and hems and haws. The score was 11-1, the only run coming from Mitch, who in addition to recording more than half of his teams outs, also legged out a double, stole third, and then came home on a sacrifice. The Jameson kid was on the hill for us, and his mom was in the stands, so there was no letting up on his end. Will hurled his best for the home team, but never got a break, and frankly, faced a lineup that didn't have too many weak spots. Gaspar was more vocal about the inequities and our team agreed, so after the 5th, we brought in two new pitchers, flipped the teams, and started over.
Lo and behold, those who grumbled found themselves leading 5-1. Johnny corralled our team in hitting-wise, and their bats started to come alive against Noah, who had his first loss in a couple of months. The final was 6-3, we stopped after the 6th due to the weariness of the players, and the general feeling that we had played enough. Plus some of us had wives and family in the stands that were cold and wanted to go home.
So a wingding of a game (s), but I am glad that it ended well. A brief note on our game. When and if a game becomes lopsided, lets all try our best to be good sportsmen and not steal bases or take the extra base, or score from second on a single with a 10 run lead. Remember, the guys you fuck over this week, could be your team members next week. It's not a case of giving up, it's a case of not being a dick.
Highlights:
* The Booze Battery doing it again.
* Our larger than average cheering section
* Mitch's extra effort, reading the outfielders and taking the extra base
* Gaspar for staying vocal until he got results, but also having the faith in his team to not want to trade anyone
* Nick Smith, for being the team shutterbug, hope they came out well.
* The defense of the home/visitor team, for sharpening up and locking us down
* Bob, for making it from Treasure Island in time, and sticking around for 20 minutes after he was ready to go home
* The wooden "Pete" bat, which I taped up and got three hits out of
On a sad note, we bid a fond farewell to two of the stalwarts that have been with us. The Hose and the Redline both broke on Sunday, doing what they did best, getting hits. We will never forget....
This Sunday is Bay To Breakers, so you East Bayers may want to take the extra time, and go around the city. See you in the Sunset.
S. Paige
*
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Player Profile #9- Mitchell Burnham
This is Mitch.
This is Mitch too. You see how he looks like he is pissed off. That's because he is a competitor. His nickname in high school was Grouchy.Mitch can do pretty much anything. He is what we refer to as a 5-tool player. In the real way. When we actually mean it, and we aren't just trying to impress somebody when we are drunk and blabbing about how we play hardball and softball sucks. He can hit, with power, plays center field to the point that we could probably play with just him out there, is still blessed with speed and he'll slide like Pete Rose if has to, arm that can pitch, throw down to second or stop a runner from advancing, and has fire in his belly to rival the greats.
Not to be too distracted by his baseball skills, Mitch also keeps to a lively social agenda, parties like a rock star, still manages to get to work at 6 am everyday. So, what's that, 9 tool player. And he's a great guy, 10, good sense of humor, 11, and he can grow a sweet beard, 12.
Mitch has been said to be the essential difference in a lot of our games, as you might see from past posts; the Mitch factor can make or break your team. There are certain combinations of players that will not be tolerated, for fear of a complete one sided disaster. Let's put it this way, you get put into the position of choosing up the teams and you get Lattig and Mitch for your team, you're also gonna get at least two of the three guys in corduroys and chucktaylors who we dragged into the game and the stewbum (if his Royal Gate haze allows him).
Mitch is a Davis boy, which is probably another reason that I like him, us Northern California kids understand carbon copy dyed blonds with big asses, small town hicks and valley shitkickers.
If I keep up this love parade I might make him uncomfortable, so let me just say, that it's a pleasure to see him on the diamond.
S. Paige
PS.
Mitch, I know that fulfilling relationships are great, but it's important that you keep participating in some of the other things that you enjoy doing ( like hitting the shit out of a ball and legging out a triple, and making a sliding catch and throwing your helmet). Take it from me, it keeps you interesting, and that's good when you are stuck at some dinner party on a Sunday night....trust me on this one.....
Friday, May 1, 2009
We walked out with our heads up this time....
So, after the ugliness that was the last SQ game, we had a simple plan of what we wanted to accomplish. We were gonna score a run, goddammit, and after that, it was all gravy. The gametime changed from 4 to 5, which robbed us of some daylight, and then the usual problems of waiting around the parking lot ensued. I think it is a bad idea to go into SQ during the shift change, cuz everyone is all edgy and stiff, you would think they worked in a prison or something.
Anyway, the hardass at the second gate wouldn't let Adam in with an expired license, so we pleaded for a while knowing it wasn't going to do any good, and then left our MBC brother at the door, and headed in 8 strong (sorry Adam, get that thing renewed....) A bunch of student teachers were leaving while we were coming in, and one asked if we were intimidated about pitching inside to the team. And the answer, NO. Its part of the game, and the SQ Giants are one of the most stand up, quality hardballers I have ever played against, and they understand that you can't give away a side of the plate cuz you are scared about hitting someone. And since most of them look like they could strike a match in the palm of their hand, the prospect of accidentally hurting someone isn't really worrisome.
The yard was pretty deserted when we got there, and we were 30 minutes late, and the Giants still hadn't gotten their equipment, apparently the "Man" had screwed with the mealtimes, and yard times, due to some sort of non-issue. I don't know how long any of us would last having people tell us when to eat or sleep....Anyway, we warmed up quick and got the game going. We took Noel, a bencher from the Giants, who played right for us, got our first hit, and also was involved in a difficult play at third. He argued, we shut up.
Stretch was pitching for the SQ, since the Saturday game had been canceled, and we called on Johnny Bartlett to once again weave his spell over the convicts. He did a bang up job, a few twists and turns aside, and in the third we actually scored a run, and all of us relaxed. It was a 2-1 game for another inning, then they scored a few more, then we got another one (although we had to plead with the scoreboard to put it up there). Then it was 6-2, and we started to fear that we might be into another long game, but with two on, Chris Powell stepped up and crushed a ball over the left center field, into the guard office. It bounced off the wall and then back over the fence, so those of us on base thought it was still a live ball, so I was chugging as hard as I could towards home, and didn't get to enjoy the moment. 6-5, a real game, the tension on the Giants was palpable, they suddenly realized we had the skills to take this one from them.
We held them for an inning, stranding a guy at third with a failed squeeze play. Stretch suddenly beared down and our offense came to a halt. Their response, small ball. Two perfect bunts cleared the way to our downfall. The men on were in scoring position, when a foul ball was hit down the third baseline. Johnny fielded it, clearly in foul territory. No one called the ball fair or foul. The batter was confused, I was confused, Johnny was confused. The umpires conferred and then told the batter it was a ground rule double. So, it went from foul ball, to ambiguous single, to ground rule double. We might have complained, but we knew better. Then came the flood of gorks, and suddenly it was 11-5, and everyone relaxed. The light was gone, the Giants had 15 minutes to be back in their cells, and we stopped the game in the 7th. We got a little time to talk while there was an alert in the prison, and Stretch presented Chris with his home run ball, apparently the first of the season.
Walking out we felt like a real team, and I bet all of us felt like we had won the game, despite the score. We challenged the Giants, and made them sweat for once, a hard thing to do when you are facing a bunch of lifers. If we had gotten Adam in, who knows how it might have turned out.
Highlights:
* The home run, of course.
* A great defensive game, especially in the outfield to reel in the Giants bats.
* The only really bad baserunning mistake was Noel, who technically isn't on our team. We gotta work on our baserunning.
* Making their defense work, and reaping the benefits in errors, or as we call them MBC hits.
* The pickoff when we needed an out.
* The pitchout that almost was. Since they steal every base they can, it was a smart move.
* Johnny and Greg keeping the Giants uneasy
* Everyone who caught a ball when we needed an out, a welcome change from the last game.
So, the next game scheduled is against the Pirates, who the coach seems to think we will walk all over. In any case, sign up now.
Pray for sun and wind to dry the field for Sunday
S. Paige
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A Windy Day, a Bumpy Field, and Uneven Game
When we play at Balboa, usually we get the Cop field, so named because the police station is directly behind, and we are greeted to the sound of the officers racking their 12 gauges as the shift changes at 5 pm. Not exactly soothing, but better than hassling us.
This Sunday we played the other field, nicknamed Camp Swampy, due to it's lack of drainage after a rain, and the general poor infield character. We had 21 players which was nice, and the game ended up being pretty close, 16-14, I believe, but somehow, the teams seemed skewed. Certainly, each team was resplendent with some talent, but the home squad seemed as though they were a little more grounded, let say.
As SQ looms ahead on Weds, and my week off made me more sore somehow, Satch threw 5 innings and called it a game. Noah took over and proved his shrewdness, and made more of a confident hurler than yours truly. A bitter taste was in my mouth for most of the game, not something I particularly enjoy, and its hard to place my finger on why exactly. Somedays, you are jealous of the other team, because they are playing like a team, or they seem to be having more fun than you, or maybe its just because they have Mitch in the outfield. Greg commanded the bump for the home squad, and did what he does best. Although I must say, I kind of owned him. Lattig came in to finish off, something we don't see as often as we would like.
The uneven start of the game might have had something to do with it, we had a half dozen fly ball outs that didn't get caught, the whole team got the case of the dropsies, dribblers that got by people, and through the first four innings our team had about three baserunners. Meanwhile, the score was entering the 9-1 region. We traded for another outfielder, Stoner, which helped, and our bats started to perk up, before being beaten down once again.
The Mitch factor was defintely the biggest difference, Greg could start walking off the field the second the ball was hit to center field.
Maybe Camp Swampy is on top of a Indian burial ground, in any case its just bad news. It has been scene to broken noses, twisted ankles, a spiking, and stolen equipment. Next week, we have a later start than usual, 4 pm, so maybe that will change things.
Sorry if this post is not the usual fanfare, but as the man said, Sometimes you eat the bar, sometimes the bar, well, he eats you.
Highlights:
* The end of Lattig's 1.000 OBP, stopped at 15-15. Pretty amazing. And I must say that I threw the best 3 pitch combination I have ever thrown at him to snap it.
* Mitch. Sometimes it's just not fair.
* Warren? Noah's new guy, who singlehandedly gave our team hope, by clubbing not 1 but 2 homeruns, 7 rbis, and caught the last few innings with aplomb.
* The return of Richie. Take care of that frame, stay off the skateboard for awhile.
* I got one over Mitch's head. Camp Swampy is good for wind carry. And I started my own OBP streak with a 5-5.
* Nobody took a bad hop to the face, although I took a groin shot on a 2nd base throwdown
* Our team getting the outs when we really needed them
* The home team, for agreeing to 16, when it could have been 23
* Sean, for his midgame pants switcheroo, apprently the Shotwell pants are bad juju, and combined with Swampy, perhaps dangerous.
See you in the Q, for those lively few that can get off early on a Wedsnesday to entertain some felons. Otherwise, Sunday, you know where and when.
S. Paige
PS
I got a update from Bob, John Carey had his first official homerun, a rake to right, and missed hitting the cycle by not getting a single. So, from now on, we might have to start bribing John to play with us. Either than or work out a free agency contract so that the MB club is not thrown into civil turmoil as we fight to land him in our lineup.
This Sunday we played the other field, nicknamed Camp Swampy, due to it's lack of drainage after a rain, and the general poor infield character. We had 21 players which was nice, and the game ended up being pretty close, 16-14, I believe, but somehow, the teams seemed skewed. Certainly, each team was resplendent with some talent, but the home squad seemed as though they were a little more grounded, let say.
As SQ looms ahead on Weds, and my week off made me more sore somehow, Satch threw 5 innings and called it a game. Noah took over and proved his shrewdness, and made more of a confident hurler than yours truly. A bitter taste was in my mouth for most of the game, not something I particularly enjoy, and its hard to place my finger on why exactly. Somedays, you are jealous of the other team, because they are playing like a team, or they seem to be having more fun than you, or maybe its just because they have Mitch in the outfield. Greg commanded the bump for the home squad, and did what he does best. Although I must say, I kind of owned him. Lattig came in to finish off, something we don't see as often as we would like.
The uneven start of the game might have had something to do with it, we had a half dozen fly ball outs that didn't get caught, the whole team got the case of the dropsies, dribblers that got by people, and through the first four innings our team had about three baserunners. Meanwhile, the score was entering the 9-1 region. We traded for another outfielder, Stoner, which helped, and our bats started to perk up, before being beaten down once again.
The Mitch factor was defintely the biggest difference, Greg could start walking off the field the second the ball was hit to center field.
Maybe Camp Swampy is on top of a Indian burial ground, in any case its just bad news. It has been scene to broken noses, twisted ankles, a spiking, and stolen equipment. Next week, we have a later start than usual, 4 pm, so maybe that will change things.
Sorry if this post is not the usual fanfare, but as the man said, Sometimes you eat the bar, sometimes the bar, well, he eats you.
Highlights:
* The end of Lattig's 1.000 OBP, stopped at 15-15. Pretty amazing. And I must say that I threw the best 3 pitch combination I have ever thrown at him to snap it.
* Mitch. Sometimes it's just not fair.
* Warren? Noah's new guy, who singlehandedly gave our team hope, by clubbing not 1 but 2 homeruns, 7 rbis, and caught the last few innings with aplomb.
* The return of Richie. Take care of that frame, stay off the skateboard for awhile.
* I got one over Mitch's head. Camp Swampy is good for wind carry. And I started my own OBP streak with a 5-5.
* Nobody took a bad hop to the face, although I took a groin shot on a 2nd base throwdown
* Our team getting the outs when we really needed them
* The home team, for agreeing to 16, when it could have been 23
* Sean, for his midgame pants switcheroo, apprently the Shotwell pants are bad juju, and combined with Swampy, perhaps dangerous.
See you in the Q, for those lively few that can get off early on a Wedsnesday to entertain some felons. Otherwise, Sunday, you know where and when.
S. Paige
PS
I got a update from Bob, John Carey had his first official homerun, a rake to right, and missed hitting the cycle by not getting a single. So, from now on, we might have to start bribing John to play with us. Either than or work out a free agency contract so that the MB club is not thrown into civil turmoil as we fight to land him in our lineup.
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