The Johnny Vander Meer of Not Swinging

Sun drenched, heat soaked, baked out like sauerkraut.  This week's game contained all of the usual friendly rivalries, but really we were all battling one common enemy:  the heat.  It was unrelenting.  First guys on the mound got to pitch in the shade at least but then that was it.  Just sucking on heat index til the last strike was mercifully recorded and we could all slink away to go sip ice water in our respective ACs.  

Commish showed up bright and early to set things up and pick teams, but then had to immediately beat it to go attend to some important day drinking---er, I mean "event planning" for Walker's impending nuptials.  Which I'd not known about, congrats big guy!  

Gamewise, it was a fun seesaw affair with three lead changes.  The Vaunted Vans plated two in their first frame but then the Happenin' Halens harangued them for four to grab the lead.  Then it was tied, and finally the Visitors were Victorious with one last ribbie that would prove the gamewinner.  Teams were well-matched all around but it wouldn't have been a one-run squeaker if the Home Team Homies hadn't been so brilliant in the field.  Zack pulled off a rare legit slapback play beyond the wall to convert a Brad HR into a triple which ended up saving a run.  But this week's DRS leader was clearly "Tyler Wells" Andy who strapped on the velcro suit and turned in three, count em three, Gorilla Glue™ stickyfinger nabs-o-the-day.  Who says ballplayers aren't athletes!    

Re the blog title:  I took two consecutive pitches without swinging which Zack guessed was probably an all-time personal record.  Which led to me dubbing myself the titular character.  

Adrian, Brad, Eric, Jeff  -  7

Andy, Jim, Rodney, Zack  -  6

HRs  -  Jeff (2), Andy

Rookies Rippin' It

Nance Bradds Field saw a morning game as ooey-gooey as a Bill's frosted sprinkle in the sun, but it didn't seem to slow down the new guys.  OWAC welcomed Rodney to the league and he marked his debut by homering in his first-ever game, which is pretty hard to do against veteran pitching.   It would also turn out to be his team's only run.  On the Home Team side, Mason, also a freshmen, also klonked a nice longball.  Which is exactly one more HR than Zamonski hit today.  Or last season.  Or the season before that...  Speaking of rookies, cameo appearances today included Zack's cute-as-a-button son who, although refusing to cheer on the old man, is showing some early promise as a fielder.  Go kid!    

Tree Rule Reference:  today the tree rule came into play---or almost did, if JD had caught it falling out of the branches.  I was sure I remembered we'd altered the rule to allow for falling out of the tree catches to be an out but Commish disagreed and upheld the automatic homerun interpretation.  However...while writing this blog I happened to stumble back across a blog writeup from Oct 17, 2020, "Spank You For Your Service", which appears to indicate that then-Pete disagrees with now-Pete.  It has been five years after all, plenty of time for a wiffle rule to become urban legend, then regular legend, legend to become myth etc.  In any case see what you think, seems at least worth revisiting.  Especially if players not named Jeff are gonna be mashing tree shots as well.  Who did hit that one today btw?  

https://thisweekinwhiff.blogspot.com/2020/10/spank-you-for-your-service.html

Eric, JD, Rodney, Zack  -  1

Andy, Mason, Walker  -  7

HRs:  Andy (2), Mason, Walker, Rod Carew Argent King Stewart Dangerfield