BONUS BLOG - We are the Cleats!

Intro

This is a true "bonus BLOG" in that I didn't know I was doing one until part way through the day.  First off, I didn't know it was The Wild that the Cleats were playing when Frank asked me to sub or I might have said no.  Just what I need ANOTHER game against The Wild! 

So, being that this is kind of last minute, the intro isn't so much a story but just something that I spend WAY too much time thinking about.  As many of you know, I'm a bit of a "language prude".  That may seem odd to some of you as my grammar is spotty, spelling atrociouse (yes I spelled it wrong on purpose) and my adept use of slang has become legendary.  However, when it comes to the spoken word, I think I hear things that others don't.  And that's okay, I rarely point it out...but I still can't stop myself from hearing it. 

A couple of examples of what I mean before I go on to my current favourite. 

People using words that don't exist such as "irregardless" (regardless does what you want irregardless to do), "anyways" (the correct word is anyway) and "brang" (brought will do just fine). 

Then there are oxymorons. These are words or phrases that are in conflict with themselves, like "calm winds", "criminal justice" or "current history".  They aren't wrong....just sort of funny. 

Now the current phraseology that is sticking out like a sore thumb to me is called "antioxymorons".  These are phrases in which two words have redundant meanings.  The big problem (for me) is that I'm hearing them ALL THE TIME and I can't escape it!

Examples?  So glad you asked, I have plenty!!!

1. back away - Really?  'back' wasn't enough?
2. young child - Which of course distinguishes from all the old children.
3. dig down -  Saves you the time wasted by digging up.
4. yell loudly -  Soft yellers bug me anyway
5. factual information -  If it isn't factual isn't it 'misinformation'?
6. ice cold  -  Obviously from the department of redundancy department.
7. gambling casino  -  Very different from the lawn mowing casinos.  ???
8. honest truth  -  If you need to reinforce the truth you're lying anyway.
9. multiple choice  -  If you have a choice doesn't that necessitate that there is more than one option?
10. gruesome murder  -  Yeah, I usually go for the cute and cuddly type murders.
11. glue stick -  Hmmmm.  What does glue do?  Stick.  Good marketing!

The Speech

Being a former Grisslie, interim Captain Rob McCarron, understands the value of a good pregame speech.  And while a good one wasn't available, he hastily threw this one together.  Click on the song name to hear the musical stylings of the Go-Go's hit, "We Got The Beat".  By the way, Robbie has a lovely voice!

They Watch the 'Cleats

See the people walking down the street
They have to stop and wonder at our feat
They are hooked and they don’t wanna go
And now they’re clapping in time

As they watch the ‘Cleats
We are the ‘Cleats
Yeah
We are the ‘Cleats!

See Rob Legault, he’s looking so cool
They call him Tom, Steve and Rob, he’s got ‘em all fooled
Then you got Peters fielding out of his mind
And Joseph’s hitting on a line

As they watch the ‘Cleats
We are the ‘Cleats
Yeah
We are the ‘Cleats!

Go-Go McCarron give us a chance
Do the Pully and put us in a trance
Do the Dane and hit it to the fence
That's when we fall in line

As they watch the ‘Cleats
We are the ‘Cleats
Yeah
We are the ‘Cleats!

JoBu is in the act, Bundi on attack
Curtis is swinging what looks like an illegal bat
Paul and John collide
There’s no Ringo or George to be found

As they watch the ‘Cleats
We are the ‘Cleats
Yeah
We are the ‘Cleats!


The Game

So, in all honestly, I've been hearing Dusty Cleats smack for most of the season.  A 2-12 record is tough to take for sure.  But I look at the roster and I see good names, good players, good bats, good 'D' and I can't figure what the problem is.  The conversation in the clubhouse for other teams is generally making fun of the Cleats (sorry, if it wasn't you, then it would be someone else, and you know that!) and then it invariably ends with, "but they actually have a good team, they'll come around". 

If its any consolation, while 14th place sucks you're two wins from being tied for 10th!!!

I'll get to the actual game in a moment, but as a sub, here is what I saw from the Dusty Cleats last and remember that this is simply one person's point of view.  

The infield combo of Scott (SS) and Curtis (2B) has potential to be really good.  It was the first time that they had played together in those positions so it was a little awkward, but they both have very obvious ball sense and balls that 'should' have been stopped and kept on the infield were.  The timing on the short throws to the bag will come. 

Paul looked really comfortable in right field as did Bob (or Steve, or Rob, or Tom, does anyone actually know his name?) in left.  Paul got burned by a shot over his head that I think was pretty much uncatchable no matter who was out there. 

Beyond that, everyone else was pretty much in their regular positions and overall the team seemed really comfortable defensively.  By my count, we probably gave away 4 free outs in the game (plays that could or should have been made) which I would say is below average for the league.  But defense wasn't the problem; the sticks were!!!

There are some sweet swingers on the Cleats.  Cliff, Rob, Johnny T.  Curtis made good contact as did Bob and Paul had the most solid hit I've seen him have so far this year (remember that stroke Pauly, its a keeper).  I've heard it said that the Dusty Cleats are snake bit and last night was evidence of that.  There were numerous hard hit balls that left the bat looking like a hit but found a fielder standing in the perfect position to make a play.  Added to that, Scott, Cliff and Brad are all hurting and are at varying levels of "unable to run".  So the fielders choices that we hit into were many, and the chances to beat out an infield hit were few. 

The game itself did not start well.  The first three Wild players reached and the bases were loaded with none out.  Then Bob (P.) got an out at the plate on a comebacker and Curtis got an out on an infield fly and we were suddenly an out away from getting out of the mess.  However, a single scored 2 runs and another single reloaded the bases.  A fly out then got us out of the inning and all in all, it was a pretty good escape act. 

The Cleats went 3 up and 3 down in the first. 

No runs were scored in the 2nd inning and the Wild were shut out in the third as well.  The 3rd was big for the Dusty Cleats because we had our first base runner !!!  Sadly, two fielders choices later, we were back in the field. 

The Wild scored 3 in the fourth and were up 5 nothing in a game that moving along quickly. 

The game was 8-0 heading to the 7th inning when the Wild pushed across their final two runs to make it a ten nothing shutout.  But the Cleats came to bat in the 7th was a purpose. 

And we made it interesting!

The score sheet shows that we scored 4 in the seventh, but it I really thought that it was more like six.  Obviously I was wrong, and it didn't really matter because we needed 4 AND 6 to even get a tie!  The best moment for me was with runners on the corners and two out and down to his last strike, Paul smoked a ball over short to keep the rally going. 

It was a good game overall and lots of fun to play with those guys.  If the Cleats can get healthy for September they have the defense and the bats to make some noise!