Pre-INTRO
By the time anyone reads this (6am Friday), I'll be taking off from Buffalo on my way to a brief stop over in NYC before heading to a warm breezy beach for the weekend. I don't get many long weekends that aren't either family or baseball, so I'm taking advantage.
So, the inevitable errors that you find in the league stats, my Saturday STATs blog or this BLOG will be repaired, but not until next Tuesday or Wednesday.
Cheers!!!!
THE INTRO
GAME 12???????????????????????
How the hell did that happen? Frig, half the season already over!?!?! Well, sort of. Before I get wistful and lament the half way point, lets remember that there's 12 games left + 3-6 in the HTKP tournament, another 3-6 in the August tournament and another 4-7 in the playoffs in September. So....for some teams there could be as many as 31 games left. And even if you don't do great there's still at LEAST 22 left.
Don't panic!
But still, as the unofficial halfway point, we (we Grisslies that is) tend to do a bit of a review or look ahead. We've done report cards in the past. But this doesn't feel like a good year for report cards. That's primarily because I would fail, so screw it. We've done team building stuff at the mid point before, but I'm not so sure that this is what this team needs. We're kind of meandering through this year. The Grisslies have had a habit in recent years of playing better of than the sum of their parts, that's because the concept of team was always first and foremost. We also have a habit of being one of the worst 1/2 half teams in the league and one of the best 2nd 1/2 teams.
Go figure.
This year, we're playing beneath the ability of the sum of our parts. We're just ever so slightly out of step. There are some real good signs, but no real consistency. So I've been trying to figure out why. Normally, my first reaction is blame Rob. Lets be honest, its quick, its a safe answer and it usually works. But try as I may to foist this on him, I can't really make it stick. He's like Teflon. So my examination brings me to the fact that this team, like all teams, must be built and NOT simply assumed. And we start that building with communication, the round out to understanding and finally end with acceptance. Truly, that's what has worked in the past for us, so its time to do it now.
In an effort to break that ice in communication and keep this BLOG pretty serious, I've taken the liberty of doing a little summary of each of the players so that we can better appreciate each others strengths and weaknesses, kind of a get to know you thing. Here's the run down.
Rick Cudnik:
Nice Nickname: Ricky-Bobby
Other Nickname: Squinty
Positions Played in 2012: Center Field, Shortstop
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: I feel sad for seedless watermelons because they can't have baby watermelons of their own. (sad face)
Favourite TV Show: Ben Franklin and Hitler, The new odd couple. Oh, the antics those two would get into! Hilarious!
Favourite Animal: A Dragon.
Favourite Book: Anything I can colour.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Darts. I'm not really allowed to play with sharp things for obvious reasons, but its still fun.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Probably Bjorn Borg because of that whole Star Trek thing. I would totally assimilate him.
Goal for the rest of 2012: I want to put the "elation" in "Team Relations"
Dave Argue:
Nice Nickname: The Contradiction
Other Nickname: The mustache that rocked the world.
Positions Played in 2012: Center Field, Right Field, Short Stop, 3rd Base, Second Base, Pitcher
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: I don't mind playing beside Ricky-Bobby, I just wish he was mute.
Favourite TV Show: The Fall Guy: I loved this show staring Lee Majors as a crime fighting stunt man with no sense of balance. And he could only run in slow motion. It took forever, but was fun.
Favourite Animal: Probably a schnauzer. I still dig the mustache thing.
Favourite Book: "Miles to go" by Miley Cyrus. It's like it spoke directly to me.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: I'll say soccer in case my wife reads this.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Groucho Marx. (obviously)
Goal for the rest of 2012: I might actually just give it all up and become a handsome billionaire.
Jeff Sagert
Nice Nickname: Sags Other Nickname: Jeffy Pop
Positions Played in 2012: Center Field, Shortstop, 3rd Base, 2nd Base.
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: I soak my hands in pickle brine to build up calluses for hitting. That's why I'm leading all rookies in average (just saying)
Favourite TV Show: The Simpsons. OMG, this show cracks me up. Ashley and Jessica pretending to be singers living with their jailbird dad OJ. Funniest thing ever!
Favourite Animal: My turtles. Cuff and Link.
Favourite Book: Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought, by L. Ron Hubbard. That or the Twilight series.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Anything besides hockey. Hate that game and their stupid 2 assist rule. I think anyone who touches the puck that day should get an assist.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Darius Kasparitis. Did you know that "itis" means "The Friendly Ghost" in Russian?
Goal for the rest of 2012: Give up practicing witchcraft.
Nice Nickname: Dean Martin
Other Nickname: Shooby, dooby doo.
Positions Played in 2012: Left Field, Right Field, 3rd Base
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: I have two secret powers, but I'm afraid that I've already said too much.
Favourite TV Show: The Airport Challenge! Its on the game show network. They have 3 random people work as air traffic controllers and try to successfully land planes. EXCELLENT show!
Favourite Animal: Ricky-Bobby.
Favourite Book: Sex and the City. I was a little disappointed that there weren't any pictures, but still a pretty good book.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Bocce ball. Its a little aggressive at times, but it sure gets your heart going.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: The REAL Slim Shady, not those other Slim Shady's who are just imitating and won't stand up.
Goal for the rest of 2012: I want to catch a ball. No one hits to me.
Doug Dwyer:
Nice Nickname: The Blogger
Other Nickname: Rob's side kick
Positions Played in 2012: Left Field, Center Field, Right Field, 3rd Base, Short Stop, 2nd Base, 1st Base.
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: Most of these BLOGS are really written by Paul Piellusch. Except the really, really, really excessively long ones because he gets bored after about 75 words.
Favourite TV Show: WWF Vs. WWE. There's nothing like animals vs. wrestlers.
Favourite Animal: A Jackalope.
Favourite Book: SPN rules handbook - 2008 edition.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: There are no sports other than baseball, there are only hobbies.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Jean-Luc Picard. No question.
Goal for the rest of 2012: I'm going to start my own religion. More on that later.
Nice Nickname: The "Art" of Hitting
Other Nickname: Jeffy pop's pop.
Positions Played in 2012: Right Field, Left Field, Center Field, 1st Base.
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: I need to have my shoulders iced down after every game due to the pain caused from carrying the team.
Favourite TV Show: CSI, Beeton. Enough said.
Favourite Animal: A Dingo. I just like saying Dingo. Dingo, Dingo, Dingo. Dingo.
Favourite Book: Superman, #703
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Trampoline. If it had become an Olympic sport 30 years earlier, I'd have a medal right now.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Probably Ted Williams, I could give him a few batting tips.
Goal for the rest of 2012: That's tough, considering I've already got my 1500th hit. Probably scoring my 1000th run.
Nice Nickname: Lance Romance
Other Nickname: Jesus
Positions Played in 2012: Center Field, Right Field, 2nd Base.
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: My hair takes a LOT of maintenance. Gel, mouse, hairspray, it costs a bloody fortune too!!!
Favourite TV Show: 90210. The original series. Especially the episode where Donna Martin's Dyslexia is finally properly diagnosed and she gets to graduate. Still brings a tear to my eye. Donna Martin Grad-u-Ates!!! Donna Martin Grad-u-Ates!!! Donna Martin Grad-u-Ates!!! (Frig, now I'm misty)
Favourite Animal: Llama. Not only are they fun to ride, but they make a great Thanksgiving dinner!
Favourite Book: The story of "O". I can't tell you how relieved I was to find out it had nothing to do with Oprah Winfrey.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Parachuting With No Strings Attached, by Plumb Etting. What's life with risks?
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Hugh Armstrong. The legend.
Goal for the rest of 2012: Seriously, I want to finish my movie script and get Hugh Armstrong and Tori Spelling to star in it. Life would be complete.
Nice Nickname: The Gris.
Other Nickname: The Master of Trivia (but only if the answer is Rob Farah)
Positions Played in 2012: Pitcher, Catcher, 3rd Base, 1st Base, Right Field.
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: Really? That's a question? Because I'll admit to just about anything. Did you know I once made a office building out of rubber bands, concrete glue and tacks? And once I wedged bread out of the toaster with a knife...rattled my teeth and I had to lie down for about 45 hours. And when I was a teenager and worked at this tattoo shop, we cleaned the floors and bathroom and all that stuff with bleach. one night when it was my turn to clean the bathroom, I poured a whole bottle bleach in the toilet, then had to pee and passed out from the combination of fumes, got a concussion, and learned an important lesson. I don't remember what the lesson was, but it was important for sure! And this one time.....at band camp....
Favourite TV Show: Crappy Days. A good show about growing up in Rexdale in the 50's with Schlongzie, Hotsie and Boney.
Favourite Animal: The electric eel. Non electric eels SUCK!
Favourite Book: The book of Danno. Remember that book from McGarrett on Hawaii 5-0? Book 'o Danno.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Wow, this takes me back to my youth. Probably stealing cars.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Picasso. I think it would be cool to meet another great artist.
Goal for the rest of 2012: I need to lose 15 pounds. If I can do that, I'll be happy.
Bob Vienneau:
Nice Nickname: Blue Velvet (or) Bobby V.
Other Nickname: The man who put the "Body" in Beeton Auto-Body.
Positions Played in 2012: 1st Base, Right Field
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: I'm really 6 foot 1, but I slouch.
Favourite TV Show: Barney the Carnivore Dinosaur. Those kids never know what's going to hit them!
Favourite Animal: The Unicorn. Which, if I'm not mistaken, had a hair taken from it to to be used in Harry Potter's wand.
Favourite Book: Hilarious Bible Tales and coincidences. Oh, from Barabas to Daniel and the lions. Just try to stop laughing!
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Snooker, which is ironically played on Green Velvet.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Jesse the Body Ventura. And I'd get him do an ad for Beeton Auto Body and call it body on body. I'm clever with words.
Goal for the rest of 2012: Be able to Karaoke 7 Amy Winehouse songs.
Scott Pritchard:
Nice Nickname: The Illustrated Man
Other Nickname: Gordon Sumner.
Positions Played in 2012: Left Field, Right Field
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: I sued the makers of South Park for stealing me life story. Made a FORTUNE!!!
Favourite TV Show: Anything but South Park. Probably Miami Vice Presidents. It didn't last long, but it had Al Gore and Dan Quayle fighting crime and high temperatures in south Florida. Intense man, intense.
Favourite Animal: Sphinx
Favourite Book: An Inconvenient Book. That was all the conservative corporate money grabbing scum buckets could muster in the global warming debate.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: ATV polo. My squad can beat any team on horseback.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: That Norwegian guy that invented cars. Henry Fjord.
Goal for the rest of 2012: Turning Left.
Dave Doucette:
Nice Nickname: DCMT (Don't Call Me Terry)
Other Nickname: SYIDCMT (Seriously You Idiot, Don't Call Me Terry)
Positions Played in 2012: 3rd Base, 2nd Base, 1st Base, Catcher, Right Field, Left Field.
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: I once played a game in my wife's socks and went 5 for 5. Now I always have to wear an article of her clothing when I play. I just found out the rose goes in the front.
Favourite TV Show: American Idle. It follows lazy assed Karaoke singers.
Favourite Animal: Buck toothed - Walamite.
Favourite Book: Easy one. When I was in grade 11, I read: "If God Loves Me, Why Can't I Get My Locker Open?" Changed my life.
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Boomerang. Most people don't know its a point based game with teams and rules and everything. I don't know how to score it or even play it or anything like that. I don't even really even know how to throw a boomerang, but I admire that someone put that much thought into it.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Terry Doucet. I just want to know what all the hype is about!
Goal for the rest of 2012: I have a feeling that I'm going to hit my first home run. And then probably swim across Lake Ontario. Or at least across the Conservation Area pond. Maybe at the narrow part. Right near where you can wade.
Nice Nickname: Chuckles the dog faced boy.
Other Nickname: The dog faced boy.
Other Nickname: Dog faced boy.
Other Nickname: Dog faced
Other Nickname: Dog
Positions Played in 2012: 1st Base, Catcher.
The Most Private thing I'll admit to: No one, and I mean no one, can call a game like me.
Favourite TV Show: King of Queens: Reality show where weekly musical numbers are judged by Richard Simmons and Nathan Lane, the loser is voted off the cabaret
Favourite Animal: What animal do they make minced meat tarts from? I love them!
Favourite Book: How to manipulate authority figures, by Anne Arkie
Favourite Sport other than baseball: Umpire watching. I have a field guide and binoculars for identifying different species of umpires.
If I could meet one person alive or dead it would be: Richard Higham. The only umpire ever banned from major league baseball in 1882 for trying fix a game. I don't really understand why they would kick him out just for trying to fix something though. That part is weird. I just think its noble of him to even try to fix it. But only if it truly was broken.
Goal for the rest of 2012: I too shall fix the game.
Okay Grisslies, there you go. Now you know each other. So lets have a fun second half to the season!
THE SPEECH
Doug: Well I'll admit that I didn't see it coming, but we've gotten some great feedback on the Hotel California song.
Rob: Whoa, whoa, whoa....it sounded like you said "we".
Doug: Yeah.
Rob: Right, because of all the writing you do.
Doug: Why do you get so "its all about me"?
Rob: Because.
Doug: Because WHY?
Rob: Because it IS all about me!!!
Doug: I'm sure this week's song will reflect that?
Rob: Yes, the song is an accurate reflection of the state of things. It is the truth. Don't let that get in the way of your silly stories. By the way, what was with the Polny thing?
Doug: What do you mean?
Rob: It was kind of stupid. Like that whole Brew Jay thing. I was on the phone with Rod Duggan for an hour yesterday. He wants you kicked out of the league. Said he's going to punch you in the face. Again. You need to stick to the truth and realize that your amusing stories and not amusing at all.
Doug: Fine. I'll apologize to Rod, but I think people recognize that it was tongue in cheek. I think Rod actually has a sense of humour. Anyway, what's the title of this weeks version of Rob's truth called?
Rob: Its, called "base running". The fans are going to love this one. Its what they've been waiting for. You see how I build up to these great moments? Its one of my gifts.
Doug: Okay, a short and sweet conversation finally, I love these weeks with 2 games.
Rob: Make sure you mention that I wrote this song.
Doug: Oh, I don't think anyone will miss that fact.
Just when you think that Rob is a little over the top he shows his humble side. And good for him! Here is the famous Billy Idol Song, White Wedding renamed to Base Running. Music ===> HERE for those of you that never learned how to snarl don't have a Rebel Yell.
BASE RUNNING
I'm Robbie Farah and look what I've done
I'm Robbie Farah and I'm a number one
I'm Robbie Farah I'm a superman
I'm Robbie Farah I'm the one who taunts
I'm Robbie Farah, Home Run!
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for some base running
It's a nice day to start again
I'm Robbie Farah what have I done
I'm Robbie Farah and I'm a number one
I can hit baseball so long (so long)
Doug hasn't had a hit in so long (so long)
It time for me to hit another so long
It's a nice day to start again (come on)
It's a nice day for some base running
It's a nice day to start again
Time to cross home now
There is nothin' fair on this field
There is nothin' safe on this field
And there is nothin' sure on this field
And there is nothin' pure on this field
Try and hit it to left on this field
Start again
Come on
It's a nice day for some base running
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day to start again
THE GAME
Well this was our second game against the Red Dogs. The first one was our 3rd game of the year, we were 2-0 at the time, and the Red Dogs beat us 7-6 in a game that we just didn't seem very interested in for some some reason. Now they seem to have hit their collective stride and are sitting waiting for us having won their last three in a row. We came into this eager for the second half of the season to start and licking our wounds from a crappy game against the Brew Jays two nights ago.
Since they beat us 7-6, the Red Dogs have scored 13, 19, 20, 10, 21, 19, 18 and 19 runs in their last 8 games. That averages out to 17.4 runs a game.
Great.
The game started out well for the visiting Grisslies as Art Sagert led off with a single. It was followed by a single from yours truly, then Jeff Sager, then Rick Cudnik, then Rob Farah, then an assortment of force outs and hits and line drives. We ended up with four runs and a good start.
The Red Dogs were shut out in the first and scored one in the second when Gary Cox scored his first of 3 runs on the night. We had a 6-1 lead after the top of the 3rd but the Red Dogs had their only big inning of the night when they pushed across 5 runs. It was their only inning of more than a single run.
The game was cut at six innings due to time, but the Red Dogs came away with a well earned 8-7 win in a competitive but very fun game.
As Rob Farah would say, see you in the finals!
Things to check out:
Check out the Donini Three Stars of the game here ==> STARS
Check out the Dislocated Joints game notes from DTBB & Terry Doucet ==> JOINTS
Check out the Tap Master's game notes from Jason Bowers ==> Tapped Out
Check out the Hurtin' Units BLOG from Jimmer ==> Hannibal Lecter
The League's Official Website ==> League
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