The Half Way Point

Fall Ball Part Trois!!!

I’ve gotta say that its kind of funny now when I talk to guys in the league, particularly the Old Timers. Here is how the conversation usually goes:

“PLAYER X, played like crap tonight….but don’t put that in the BLOG”.

It would appear that my days of flying under the radar (not that radar) are over. Honestly, last night I walked into the “club house” and guys actually stopped talking out of fear that I would repeat stuff! I mean, seriously, have I ever actually sold someone out? Have I ever actually written anything that embarrassed someone? Not counting Tito.

So, have no fear, this only fun. Good comedians take an element of truth and turn it into something funny. I’m not a good comedian. I just make stuff up. If there IS an element of truth, trust me, it was a fluke!

And yes Robin….that is how I roll.

Master Batters Vs M T Cases

We’re off the snide! Seeing our record SOAR to 1-2 was amazing! More so was how we did it! Here are a few highlights:

• Dave played all over the diamond and played great!
• Jason played all over the diamond and played great!
• Doris was his usual solid self at short and keep the infield on their toes + plus he had one AMAZING catch going out to left field.
• Rob Farah pitched a very controlled game and minimized base runners, he only gave up six earned runs.
• Doris, Nathan, Francis, Dave and Rob scored or drove in key late inning runs.
• Jason, Chris, Rocco and Scott were money at the plate and were instrumental in our come from behind rally in the 7^th inning to win.
• Scott subbed for Mark Doyle as our co-captain and demonstrated the humour and leadership needed to keep the team loose.
• I, for the 1^st time this year, caught a ball in the outfield at night at Keogh!!! (sorry Danny, it was bound to happen eventually).

It was a great team win and everyone contributed. We raised enough money in the stands during the game to purchase MD arm patches which we’ll be wearing starting next week. The “MD”, of course, stands for Mark Doyle who is down with Pneumonia and unavailable to play. We are of course wishing Mark a speedy recovery, but want him to remember that our winning percentage without him is .500 and our winning percentage with him is .000

That’s probably just a coincidence though. Get better Mark!!!

Master Batters Batting Stats

On base averages (includes hits, walks, errors and fielders choices)

Rocco 9 for 12 .750

Mark 3 for 4 .750

Chris 9 for 12 .750

Jason 6 for 8 .750

Scott 8 for 11 .727

Dave 7 for 11 .636

Doris 7 for 12 .583

Rob 6 for 11 .545

Kyle 2 for 4 .500

Nathan 2 for 4 .500

Francis 5 for 11 .454

Doug 4 for 11 .363

Master Batters Schedule

Thursday October 1^st

Capers Vs Master Batters 7pm Coventry 7 degrees, 7pm sunset

LOST 16-4

Monday October 5^th

Master Batters Vs Hard At It 7pm Keogh 8 degrees, 6:53 sunset

LOST 23-12

Wednesday October 7^th

MT Cases Vs Master Batters 7pm Keogh 9 degrees, 6:49 sunset

WON 11-10

Wednesday October 14^th

Master Batters Vs Cold Stix 8:30 Keogh 4 degrees, 6:37 sunset

Wednesday October 21^st

Get’er Done Vs Master Batters 7pm Keogh 4 degrees, 6:26 sunset

Wednesday October 28^th

Master Batters Vs Capers 7pm Coventry 3 degrees, 6:15 sunset

Getting to Know You!!!

The jury is out on this feature. Some people are digging it, others not so much. Truthfully the only negative replies I’ve gotten so far are from Danny & Mark who were the subjects of the 1^st two interviews. So be warned before you volunteer.

I recently had an opportunity to sit down with Jeff Shultze….here is how the conversation went.

Me: Jeff, first off, thanks for taking the time to do this interview, it’s much appreciated.

Jeff: No problem.

Me: So a couple of things off the hop. It’s known now that you won’t be coming back next year, which a lot of people are disappointed in & I thought you should know that. Here is your first question: You are known to be a quiet & supportive leader on the field. Does that come from a ‘life philosophy’ or something learned in specifically in sports?

Jeff: Hmmm. I’ll try to make this brief. I think it’s more of a personal philosophy on life, but saying that it, I also think that it is something that is applicable to all aspects including sports.

Me: Wow, sounds kind of deep. Can you expend on what that philosophy is?

Jeff: Sure, I’d be happy to. Basically, the way I see it is, everything in life relates one way or another to Star Wars….

Me: The movie?

Jeff: Its movieS actually, but yes.

Me: Okay, please continue, this is fascinating.

Jeff: So I think in every situation you are given an opportunity to do the right thing or take a ‘dark path’. Basically the question you need to ask yourself at every cross road is “What would Luke Skywalker do” and that way you make sure that you follow the good side of The Force.

Me: {Silence}

Jeff: Are you writing this down?

Me: Oh yeah, am I ever. So you must have a lot of memories over the last couple of years, are there any baseball specific memories that jump to mind?

Jeff: There’s so many that naming one would be an injustice to the rest. I think the fairest thing to say is that the camaraderie of the guys; be they on the same team or opponents, is what stands out most. You know, it’s like when Luke finished his training with Yoda on Dagobah and became the last Jedi Knight. Did he run off and build an army to defeat the Empire? No, he remembered the camaraderie of Leia and Han that was forged through adventures on Tatooine and in The Sky City and rescued them from Jaba The Hut before doing anything else. Yeah, I’d say it’s the camaraderie.

Me: That’s really intriguing. You play Short Stop. I’ve heard a number of people say that you are “deceptively quick”. Where does that come from?

Jeff: I think it’s about anticipation. I’ve played Short for a long time and I’ve talked to a lot of other people who’ve played the position and you just have to anticipate plays. You size up the base runners, who is at the plate, their tendencies as a hitter and you run it through your mind before it happens. Then when it happens you already have the mental picture of it and you’re ready. Sometimes I think I could do it with my eyes closed.

Me: You’re joking about the eyes closed, right?

Jeff: Not really. It’s like when Obi-Wan Kenobi blindfolded Luke and he still managed to deflect four consecutive laser bolts from the remote training droid. It’s just about calmly using The Force to visualize.

Me: Wow, The Force is strong in this one.

Jeff: That’s not funny.

Me: Okay, sorry. So I’m not going to ask you about your favourite movies, because I have a good idea what the answer will be. Instead, lets talk about music. Are there any bands of particular interest to you?

Jeff: Oh sure. I like Jefferson Starship, Electric Light Orchestra, Pilot, Atomic Kitten, The Future Heads, The 5^th Dimension, The Lovin’ Rockets, The Space Project, Star City, Stargard, Stars on 45, Atlantic Star, Tuxedo Moon, Radio Stars, MoonRaisers, Dubstar and The Carpenters.

Me: You seem to have a bit of theme there. Except for The Carpenters, what’s that all about? It doesn’t seem to fit your whole ‘space’ premise.

Jeff: Well, let’s start with the fact that they have a good beat and you can dance to them. But they also sang “Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft”. I have a CD in the car with that song burned on it 17 consecutive times. Great song.

Me: Agreed and you can’t beat Karen Carpenter’s voice. So Jeff, here is a bit of a curve ball for you for the final questions. You can invite any three people living or dead to dinner and have an evening of conversation. Who would they be?

Jeff: Hmmm, I didn’t anticipate that question.

Me: Maybe you should have blind folded yourself and used The Force.

Jeff: Are you making fun of me?

Me: Not really.

Jeff: I think I would invite Jesus Christ because I’d want to know if he knew where it was all going to end up from the beginning. I’d invite Pete Rose because he was the greatest hitter ever. And I’d invite Martin Luther King because he was such an inspirational person.

Me: You’re lying aren’t you?

Jeff: Yes.

Me: Who would you REALLY invite?

Jeff: Boba Fett because he was the most feared bounty hunter EVER, Qui-Gon Jinn because he was the Jedi Master that trained Obi-Wan Kenobi and Logray an Ewok who lived on Endor.

Me: Feel better now?

Jeff: Much.

This concludes our 5 questions with Jeff Shultze!

OUT....