Only 17 days until the start of the August tournament....I've had a number of inquiries about the Fun Division and that is great! Please keep the requests to be put on a team coming. If you receive an email or txt back from me confirming receipt of your request, then you're all good!
If you want to put a team in one of the SPN competitive division please reach out to Jeff Dancey. You can find contact info for Jeff on the league website ===> HERE
Also, Andy Gee and John Stiff are managing the BBQ and Bar respectively. These are two critical areas for our league fund raising. If you have any particular interest in helping in one of these areas please contact them. If you don't know how, click the tab above called, "August Tournament" and send me your info and I'll get you in touch with them.
INTRO
Oh, I know I'm not alone! There was a time a few years ago when I thought I was the only one who obsessed about this league, the stats, the players, the defensive alignments, the in game strategies, the extra bases...etc, etc, endlessly.
But slowly over the years, more and more of you crazies have come out of the woodwork. There's the ones you expect. Typically younger, stat conscious, somewhat computer savvy. These guys don't care if people know they're into it. Then there's the my age group who have 10 or so years in the league who are caught between getting caught up in the stats and getting caught getting caught up in it. No one wants to be embarrassed! Then we have a 3rd group of older gents who are all over it and don't give a rats a$$ who knows.
In all these demographics are people who couldn't tell you their batting average, when their next game is and call a "catcher" a "back-catcher" (shuddering). It takes all kinds. Its what makes the league great!
So this edition of the BLOG is very specific segment of our league. Its not so much for casual player; because you've probably never been on the BLOG anyway. Its not for the borderline psycho-obsessed player because you don't need any more convincing. No, this is for the person who thinks they MIGHT be addicted to the Old Timers league but needs some help figuring it out.
You Might Be Addicted to T.O.T. If...
- You've coloured beer mugs on your Toronto Blue Jays sheets so that now they look like Tottenham Brew Jays sheets.
- You actually understand that the Grisslies name has nothing to do with bears.
- You chastise your children for pronouncing the "G" Hurting Units. You say, "Its Hurtin' Units, Dammit!".
- You know who "Mr. Floppy" is.
- You can name 20 of the top 25 hitters in the league any given week.
- You call people by their average, "Hey, .820!" (Mark Kolsen)
- In your mind, you still replay that error you made against the Woody's in week 3. The error that would have made a 19-7 loss and 18-7 loss. You KNOW that run could prove costly in plus minus!
- While you like the name Rusty Rebels, you and your friends constantly debate at the Legion which of
Don and Hugh are Rusty and which is the Rebel. - There's a straight chalk line from your couch to the bathroom.
- Three of these: Gatorade, Smokes, Spits, Coffee, Chewing Tobacco, are part of your 'in game' diet regimen.
- You sneak around with the big K-mart sign you bought at the flea market, that you put on people's front lawns if they strike out.
- If you reach base in your first at bat of the game you know your new average before you get to the bag.
- If you don't reach base in your first at bat of the game you know your new average before you get to the dugout.
- You don't mind your wife ogling Rob Hayward. After all, he IS a hell of a ball player!
- You rented all the Batman movies only to discover that there were no bats at all.
- You think that having 3 teams with initials DC (Dusty Cleats, Dog Catchers, Dodge City) is a travesty and as bad as having two Rough Riders in the CFL.
- All your conversations about Doris Casullo start with "When he's healthy ...."
- You're 56 years old and talking openly about approaching the "prime of your career".
- You won't walk to the corner store in a drizzle but you get upset if your game is called in a downpour!
- When its your turn to hit, the music playing in your head is "Eye of the Tiger" as you stride to the plate.
- You and your team mates have created a T.O.T "All - Tall Team" while drunk one night at the Legion.
- You and your team mates have created a T.O.T "All -Short Team" while drunk one night at the Legion.
- You and your team mates have created a T.O.T "All -Ugly Team" while drunk one night at the Legion.
- You and your team mates have created a T.O.T "All -Drunk Team" while drunk one night at the Legion.
- You and your team mates have created a T.O.T "All -Funny Team" while drunk one night at the Legion.
- You and your team mates have created a T.O.T "All -Obnoxious Team" while drunk one night at the Legion.
- You are on 3 or more of the above teams.
- Your wife gives you tips in the bedroom...."Its okay honey, its like hitting off of Derryl Gaudet; you just have to relax and concentrate!"
- Your favourite all time movies are 1. Bull Durham, 2. Bull Durham; 3. Bull Durham. 4. Bull Durham; and 5. Baseketball (just for variety sake)
- You can't understand why your wife doesn't want to renew your vows at home plate with Roman officiating the ceremony?
- Face it, you're wife puts up with a lot; but the poster of the 2009 Wild Championship team HAS TO COME DOWN NOW!
- Still with the wives; your wife has now clued into your budding obsessiveness, she asks you one day over a nice dinner (you have a late game) which is more important, saving her life or or making a diving two out catch in the outfield. Without hesitation you ask the most meaningful quest; "how many runners would be on base in this scenario?.
THE SPEECH
Rob: Hey...
Doug: Robert. Nice work on the "stairway to heaven tune last week!
Rob: I thought you hated that song.
Doug: Oh, I do! But yours was creative. Much better than the original.
Rob: I know.
Doug: You take compliments exceedingly well.
Rob: I know.
Doug: [sigh] So what else is new?
Rob: I'm throwing a change up this week on the song. I'm going with something fairly current.
Doug: Really? something from 1978 maybe?
Rob: No, more like in the last year. Have you heard of Adele?
Doug: Yeah Rob, pretty much everyone has heard of Adele.
Rob: I'm doing her song, "Rolling in the Deep"
Doug: That is a change up! Ok, it'll be good to have something for those that didn't get to see the Glenn Miller Orchestra live at the CNE Bandshell. Anything else going on?
Rob: Well, there's been a little talk about the Grisslies lately
Doug: Yeah, I've noticed.
Rob: You know why?
Doug: I think so, but what are your thoughts?
Rob: Its because I'm awesome.
Doug: Only a fool would argue that Rob. But there seems to STILL be some angst about Bob.
Rob: I can't say I'm surprised, he's playing really well. The fielding, the throwing, the hitting. He's the total package.
Doug: That's true, I won't dispute it. But its luck of the draw right? You can't plan these things, they just happen.
Rob: Yep, you gotta let the noise go, don't worry about it.
Doug: Okay fair enough, I'll shut it out.
Rob: Good. I'm sure every team would like to have a Bob Vienneau. We just got lucky.
Doug: Vienneau? I was talking about Bob Smith.
Rob: Really? He's kind of one dimensional. Only plays one position
Doug: Its a pretty important position
Rob: Why? Is he a pitcher
Doug: Forget it.
And Rob's rendition of "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele that has been reworded to "Another Playoff Sweep". I think Adele would like this. Maybe I'll send it to her and she can re-release it as a club-mix. Music ===> HERE
Another Playoff Sweep
There's a fire starting in my heart,
Reaching a fever pitch and it's swallowing up the park.
Finally I can see the ball crystal clear
Go ahead and swing away and I'll clear the bases bare.
See how I'll leave, with runners all cashed in
Don't underestimate the things that I will do.
There's a Farah pitching at the park,
Fans are reaching a fever pitch and yelling in the dark.
The catch from your glove, remind me of us.
They keep me thinking the Grisslies could win it all
The catch from your glove, it leaves me speechless
I can't help feeling
We might just win it all
Another playoff sweep
You have the game inside your hand
And you played it
To the beat
The Grisslies have a story to be told
But if you knew the truth of it; it'll make your head burn,
Think of this if you start to despair
These are only practice games, its not 'till September that you have to care.
The catch from your glove, remind me of us.
They keep me thinking the Grisslies could win it all
The catch from your glove, it leaves me speechless
I can't help feeling
We might just win it all
Another playoff sweep
You have the game inside your hand
And you played it
To the beat
We might just win it all
Another playoff sweep
You have the game inside your hand
And you played it
To the beat
Throw that ball through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold
You pay me back in kind with a shiny trophy in the fall.
We might just win it all,
We might just win it all,
We might just win it all,
Another playoff sweep
You have the game inside your hand
And you played it
To the beat
We might just win it all,
Another playoff sweep
You have the game inside your hand
And you played it
You played it,
You played it
You played it to the beat
THE GAME
Well, it isn't early anymore. For us I can't use the old standby line, "there's a lot of baseball left". We kind of are who we are. This game featured the number 1 defensive club (Joints) against the number 2 defensive team (Grisslies). They are also #3 and #4 teams respectively in run differential so this looked on paper to be a competitive and close game.
The Joints started out ready to assert themselves. They managed to score 3 in the 1st on the strength of 5 hits. Plating for the visitors were Terry Doucet (4/4, 2); Stef Kapp (2/4,1) and Dave McGovern (2/4, 2). The Grisslies were a little on their heels, but came out flying in their half of the inning counting 4 runs on 5 hits of their own. Scoring for the Grisslies were Doug Dwyer (3/3, 2); Jeff Sagert (2/3,2); Rick Cudnik (3/3, 3) and Lance "Stinger" Horgan (2/3, 1)
Then the game became very "Grisslie-Style". The Grisslies gave up no runs in the 2nd and turned a nice double play. And the Grisslies went in order in their half of the inning. The Joints would count 2 in the second with Doris Casullo (3/4, 1) and McGovern scoring before the Grisslies squelched the uprising by turning their second deuce. The Grisslies would fail to score in the 3rd as well.
5-4; Joints.
The Dislocated Joints weren't quite done. They stretched their lead to 7-4 as Steve Wynnyk (2/4, 1) and Doucet would score. Queue the comeback. The Grisslie 4th inning opened with a Rick Cudnik home run to right field. The Grisslies would load the bases but Ricky's homer would be the only run of the inning.
7-5; Joints
The Dislocated Joints had a lead off single followed by a pop out. The next batter bounced into a inning ended double play as the Grisslies turned their 3rd of the night. The Grisslie 5th was lead off by Bob Vienneau (1/3, 1) who singled to center. Bob, Gary Basso (1/2, 1); Dwyer; Jeff Sagert and Cudnik would score as the Grisslies would recapture the lead.
10-7, Grisslies
The Grisslies would only face 7 batters over the final two innings and for good measure turn their 4th double play of the night.
The game ended like it was expected. Close and good defense. After scoring 7 runs between them in the 1st inning, only 10 more were scored over the final 6. Nice game.
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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