Opening Game Slugfest

Well this year's season started without much fanfare as four of the game's veterans met at Nance Bradd's field. Like most outings,there were hits that could've been caught,and catches that could've been hits,lots of close calls and plenty of whiffs.

The weather was a bit cool and damp as the Commish took the mound with (R) Dave playing the field (American Leaguers). Glen and Kurt,representing the national league,wasted little time getting players both on base and back home for 3 earned runs. Glen went 2 for 5 (two singles) while Kurt hit two singles and a double and had two RBI's.

Due to the shortage of players,Glen was forced to pitch (and be pitched-to) underhand.

On the mound,Kurt reminded everyone why he the 3-time reigning MVP as he gave up one single to Dave and otherwise struck out the side. NL 3 –AL 1.

Dave followed the tough pitching clinic by striking out Kurt. Glen smacked a single but Kurt hit into a double play off of a foul ball. Glen ended the inning with a ground-out.

Tossing underhand,Glen went I,2,3 as the Dave and Pete hit two up and one down for outs.

The next inning the national leaguers expanded their lead as Kurt went 3 for 4 with an RBI and one K while Glen hit 1 for three with fly-outs against Pete's pitching.

Bottom 3 rd ; Kurt was again stingy giving up one hit to the commish and otherwise striking out Dave twice and forcing the commish to ground out.

Uncharacteristically,Dave (R,Ohio) allowed a run* thanks in the top of the 4 th thanks to a double by Kurt and three singles by Glen,in that order.

Glen continued to be hot on the mound mixing up his pitches with high arcs to the wild-eyed hitters. The commish knocked in their first run with a double with runners on 2 nd and third.

N. 4 –A. 1

The next inning blew chunks for the commish as he gave up 3 singles and 2 trippies to Glen and Kurt. Kurt went four for 5 with a triple and lotsa balls into his meadow. Dave almost had a ball in the deep right recesses of the field when while dodging bushes he actually had his hands on the ball,a ball that somehow missed the edge of the triple wall. The ball slipped out for Kurt's triple. Glen went 2 for 4 also with his triple. The Commish pointed to the heavens as he struck out Kurt to end the inning for the second time in the game.

10 –1.

Then things got more interesting as Dave (R) and the Commish had a rally against Kurt. The commish went 3 for 5 including the season's opening tater (and two K's) and Dave pounded 3 singles with one whiff. Bases left full,but with a new score; 10 –4.

Top of the 6 th proved to be uneventful as Dave (R) again re-found his stride - despite giving up a single to Glen,he retired the side.

Down 10 –5,the American Leaguers knew they needed to hit Glen,something that had been tough to do all day. They proceeded to pound out 11 hits and win with a walk-off single by Dave (R) 12 –10. The Commish went 5 –6 while Dave (R) went 6 –7. Somehow,someway,the Nat's had 11 runs.

Glen made a reasonable comment while wearing unreasonable pants. He said that teams shouldn't fuss about pitching to and hitting underhand pitching - and he was right. There would be no game without it and the advantages out way the disadvantages.

Glen 10 for 20 No strikeouts either way. Forced 5 fly-outs. Gave up 8 runs. 4 RBI's. Kurt 13 for 21 8 k's for and against. Gave up 3 runs and 7 hits. Hit 6 RBI's.

Dave 11 for 19 Threw 6 K's. Hit 4 RBI's. Had 6 hits in a row. Whiffed 4 times. Pete 11 for 19 Gave up 9 runs. Threw 2 K's. Had 7 RBI's. Whiffed 4 times.

Although the score was 11 to 12,one run was not written down and there were confusing N.L. stats. There is a run that wasn't recorded by the Nats but it was chalked. *There is also a controversy as Dave doesn't recall giving up a run to the Nat's and was shocked,when,while trying to figure out the opponents run tally,the commish asked him if he gave up 1 or 2 runs. Dave said none,but there was clearly,much to the dismay of Dave,at least 1.

Look to get back to the asphalt next week for week 2. Hopefully stats will be to keep the sanity and the score sheets!

Commish

Final Tune Up

Matt: "I can't stay long.  I'm a short timer today."
Kurt: "Why?"
Matt: "Yes."
Kurt: "Why are you leaving early?"
Matt: "That's right."
Kurt: "What's the reason?"
Matt: "The Y."
Kurt: "That's what I'm asking you! Why are you taking off early?"
Matt: "Uh-huh. Y, like you said."
Kurt: "I don't even know what I'm talking about!!"

All while Peter drew some groovy-wavy lines. Then we played with rookie of the year candidate, and fellow St. Louis Cardinal fan, John, joining Kurt against Peter and Matt.  An NL vs AL matchup that used to only occur in Spring Training.

Before I had to take my kids to the Y,  the AL had thumped Kurt for five hits and plating 2 runs in the top of the first.  Matt worked around two singles in the bottom of the first. John took the mound in the second inning and got Matt to line out to Kurt....

And after that I have no idea what went on.

I do know that the Commish has declared the real season starts next Saturday, March 31, 2012.  Don't miss the pomp and pageantry that is the Wiffle Opener.  See ya!

That Time in the Spring..

When the pitchers are still ahead of the hitters. Still you'd think the "Designated Hitters" should be able to eke out at least a run off the "Prime Ministers." But no, really there were only two jams ("D" gave up two hits and worked out of it, "M" gave up three singles in his second inning on the bump, and worked out of it). "H" had good stuff for his first outing, moving all kinda-ways, and "P" was the same consistent "P".

And there was also Theory this past Thursday, in which Brent, Kurt, Dave, Glen, Peter and Chris helped Tim cry in his beer over the Mountaineers. An extra bonus "Huzzah!" to Brent for Driving Designatedly. I'll have the stats link up in the next week or so; for now here's how it's looking:

Name	T	G
Mosser	4	1
Eldridge	3	1
Mackintosh	3	0
Berwald	2	2
Anderson	2	0
Baker, T	2	0
Cebulash	2	0
Lindsay	1	2
Meindl	1	0
Gutekunst	0	1
Ha	0	1

Why it's hard to find new players

True story: There was a big blue Cadillac parked right in the middle of Nance Bradds Field this morning; apparently there was a Father/Child two-on-two basketball program going on in Smith gym.  So I went in to see if he could find the owner and ask for it to be moved.

In the gym there was a gentleman tallying up the team standings, and feeling a definite kinship with this discerning Man of Stats, I told him I was seeking the owner of the blue Cadillac parked outside.  The man shrugged and said he had no idea, lowering my esteem for him.  But next to him was a boy who said, "Blue Cadillac? That's ours." The boy then called to his grandfather who came over.

The grandfather asked me if the lot was being closed or if there was going to be work there.  I told him no, and that if he could just back it up a couple of lengths, it would be out of the way for the group of us about to play Wiffle Ball.  The Grandfather said, "Oh, yeah!  I read about you guys in the Register! You had the awards dinner. I liked how you did that."

He then very happily moved his car and Peter signed autographs "for his grandson."

Then we played four chilly innings of spring training wiff!!  Matt and Kurt took on the assembled faculty of Springboro High School: Peter and Rookie of the Year candidate Kevin Gutekunst!

Well the homestanding Lumberjacks weren't terribly hospitable to the visiting Panthers, running up a score of 16 to nothing by game's end.  Mosser was in midsummer form at the plate, making only 2 or 3 of the outs all morning (out of 12 total) and being only a triple shy of the cycle.  Matt made those other 9 or 10 outs but along the way did hit for the cycle including a Grand Slam (not involving the basketball hoops).  Most, but not all of these runs were off new guy Kevin, who we hope will return despite having to face the Kurt Mosser, two-time defending League MVP, from the batters box and the rubber in his debut.

For the most part everyone was working on finding the right release point and getting their timing back in the batters box. So there was a game but no stats.  Here's where we stand:

Name	T	G
Mosser	3	1
Eldridge	2	0
Mackintosh	2	0
Anderson	1	0
Baker, T	1	0
Berwald	1	1
Cebulash	1	0
Lindsay	1	1
Meindl	1	0
Gutekunst	0	1

Typical Cactus League score.

Updated Theory Stats

Another week, another Theory at Tanks. This past Thursday six were gathered for fellowship and ales. Matt had a Sprite and considered ordering the Peanut Butter and Jelly until he learned that it came "Avec Crusts".


Take a gander at the stats, now...

Name	T	G
Mosser	3	0
Eldridge	2	0
Mackintosh	2	0
Anderson	1	0
Baker, T	1	0
Berwald	1	0
Cebulash	1	0
Lindsay	1	0
Meindl	1	0

Mosser and Eldridge atop the standings. Again. We need to get out on the asphalt soon and take these guys down a peg or tw.... Oh, never mind.