BONUS BLOG: The Grisslie Award Banquet

INTRO:

Hey!  Happy 200th edition of the BLOG. 
And so ends another Grisslie season. 

This one was interesting to say the least.  We had our second consecutive +.500 season which also makes 3 out of the last 4. 

We started with a 12-5 win over the Dusty Cleats in a game that felt as competitive as last year's finals.  Both teams were in great form for a cold night on May 1st.  I remember walking off the field and telling Rob that I could see both teams back in the finals again.  It was that good a game.  Then our next game, against the Hurtin' Units would see us score 17 runs in a victory.  Who would have known that this would be our highest offensive output of the season (tied later against the Tap Masters). 

The Grisslies looked good with our 2-0 record beating last years finalist and a team that had been a nemesis for a couple of years.  Then the wheels came off.   Losses to the Red Dogs,Tap Masters, Dog Catchers and Dislocated Joints saw us fall to 2-4 before we eked out a win in the rematch against the Dog Catchers.  We would split the next two, losing to the Hot Tub Woody's and beating the Rusty Rebels to sit at 4-5 in the middle of June.

Opening day, the Rocket's Red Glare!

We seemed to be heading back in the right direction.  We weren't really scoring well, but our defense was back to playing under 10 runs a game.  Things looked good.  Then we had our second 4 game stretch without a win.  First was our first of two ties this year against the Lucky Stiffs (12-12),  a 12-9 loss to the Brew Jays, our second 1 run loss to the Red Dogs (8-7) and an thorough pasting at the hands of the Dodge City Rounders (18-14).  Don't let the score fool you, the Rounders napped through the last 3 innings.

A very despondent team sitting in 14th place out of 15 teams on July 3rd.  7th in defense, 12th in offence, 12th in +/-.  Not good.

Then the magic kicked in.  First a win against the Hot Tub Woody's (14-6) WITH Chuck Cragg in the line up, followed by victories over; Gruesome Devils (8-6), Hurtin' Units (9-5), Beer Bros. (12-9), Tap Masters (17-1), Dislocated Joints (10-7), Banshees (12-4), and Dusty Cleats (13-9).   Eight consecutive wins saw us rocket up the standings from 14th to 4th place by August 10th.  We were still mathematically alive for 1st place and only a point behind the two second place clubs.     

The last 3 games saw a loss against the Gruesome Devils (7-3) and a shellacking from Beer Bros. (21-6) surround a 15-15 with the Lucky Stiffs.  Ultimately we'd finish in the 6th spot overall, not a bad come back from 14th. 

It was a year of streaks for us for sure.  Two 4 game winless streaks, a 3 game winless streak, a 2 game winning streak and a 10 game winning streak accounted for 23 of our 24 games.  Here's hoping for one more winning streak in September!
The Grisslie Awards Banquet:

The Grisslies had their 4th annual awards banquet on Thursday August 23rd.  lets look at some previous winners before we critique this years crop.

2010:

• The "clean language in front of kids award" - Danny Chiasson
• The "very nearly awake award" - Brett Mabee
• The "Hang 10 - pool party shorts award" - Cal Steeves
• The "running up Piero's A** award"  - Kevin Boston
• The "super spy versatility award" - Simon Smith
• The "Ingo Bartens award" - Ingo Bartens
• The "John Deere Award" - Tim Osmond.
• The "Cy Young and Attendance award" - Rob Farah
• The "MVP / Sand Angels award" - Piero Del Greco
• The "Anger Management PHD award" - Dave Argue
• The "Fan Support / Fan Attendance Award" - Sue Farah
• The "You actually kind of scare me award" - Bev Steeves
• The "This could have been yours award" - Michelle Farah

2011

• The John Deere Award -  This has nothing to do with this man having been spotted around town from time to time on a tractor.  This award is all about SPEED.  Because, as you know, nothing runs like a Deere!  The 2011 winner of the John Deere Award is Jerry Muirhead! 
• The Everybody Loves Raymond Award - You'll often hear this man saying, "I love you man".  To which other people will usually reply, "Thanks".  Then he'll say, "No, really, I love you man".  The winner of the Everybody Loves Raymond Award goes to, Robert Farah!  
• The Kool & The Gang award - Goes to none other than Gord Robertson!  Why?  Isn't it obvious that when Gord is around its always Celebration Time?  Come on! 
• The "Living Proof of Evolution" Award -  This is a special award usually given to the hairiest man on the team.  We decided this year to widen the qualifying criteria so that other primate factors could be including, such as grunting and knuckle dragging.  In a close race, it was ultimately the silver back gorilla hands of Bob Smith that won out! 
• The Raisin Award - This award goes Jim "Mickey" Mannell.  The Mick spent a lot of time catching this year, then moved to 1st when Gord failed there and really lifted the confidence of the team.  And, he's been hitting line drives all year.  He also has continued to volunteer his field maintenance services for our tournaments which has been a lifesaver for all of us.  Mickey get the Raisin Award, because he's the most deserving of a Raisin pay! 
• The Come Back Player Of The Year - Dave "Don't Call Me Terry" Doucette's return to the league has been epic.  Hitting at a near .700 clip, through a foot injury and keeping Rob under control as pitcher was monumental! 
• The Center of the Universe Award - Rob Farah has had a long run with this award, but this year we decided to change it up a bit.  Dave "the contradiction" Argue has played, second, short, and both centre field positions...a definition of strength up the middle. 
• The TSX award  -  Sometimes the best deal is the deal you never made.  In celebration of trades, the TSX award goes to Sir, Robert Hayward, "the master of mayhem"!  Keep trying Robbie.   
• The Better Way / Red Rocket Award - In recognition of his versatility at high levels between the infield and outfield and his amazingly blinding speed, this award goes to Jim "Catfish" Hunter! 
• The Sybil award  - In recognition of his split personality, this award goes to "For Those About To Rock", Bill Sallustio.  For those that don't know, Bill is kind of a regular guy in real in real life, but more like Andrew Dice Clay on email.   
• The Andre Dawson Rookie of the year Award  -  Andre Dawson, had a rocket arm, ridiculous speed, hit for average and hit for power during his rookie season with the Montreal Expos.  Despite that, this award goes to Stephane Simard! 
• The Alcoholics Anonymous Award - AA is a brilliant program that I don't mean to disparage in any way.  One of its great successes is the engagement of their participant's sponsors.  And one of the Grisslies biggest successes is the participation of their sponsor, Cogveyor and Timmy "Two Beer" Osmond.  (Thanks Tim!) 
• The Jock Award - Goes to Sue-Z-Q Farah who is the living embodiment of an Athletic Supporter. 
• The Necro Fasciitis Award - Goes to Michelle-a-bration Farah who is more than 2 1/2 times a 10lb bag of potatoes smaller than she was at the season's start!  Congrats, you're doing awesome! 
• The Yatch Club Award - Goes to Lynn Robertson and this really has no nautical connotation.  Mostly.  The award is reference to the big anchor (Gord) that she has to lug around with her all the time! 
• The CNIB Award for Outstanding Communication - Can only go to Cathy Smith, who not only prints out the emails that we send, but also changes them to large fonts for Bob and helps pronounce the "big words".  Outstanding!    
• The GrisView Award - Going to the person representing the Grisslie attitude and spirtit, Doug Dwyer! (Thanks Robbie!)

2012

The moment you've been waiting for!  A lot of thought and research went into this, the votes were tallied and put into a hermetically (not hermaphrodite as Rob says) sealed envelop to be released at the Grisslies awards banquet.  This was all under the watchful eye of the accounting firm Woody, Woody and Pecker.  The banquet was held for the 3rd consecutive year at congenial and hospitable hideaway; C.W. Coops.

The Tropicana Award:  Rick Cudnik is the proud recipient of the Tropicana Orange Juice Award!  Tropicana is the 1st name in juice and so is Ricky-Bobby.  If you think he hit those 6 out of the park blasts on rugged good looks alone, we'll....you be wrong.

The Piero Del Greco Versatility Award:  Dave Argue almost did over the course of the season what the legend Del Greco did in a single game, play every position.  Dave played Short, Center Field, Second Base and Pitched and did them all fantastic.      

Rookie of The Year:  It was a close race for a while, but Jeff Sagert pulled it out in the end.  In some ways we're not the easiest club to adapt to and you did a great job with the ball and the shenanigans.

The Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime Award:  So one night I'm at Farah's pretty early in the year and Terry Doucet is over.  We're talking about our clubs and I say, "I never really knew Gary Basso before this year and I'm pretty impressed."  Terry says, "yeah...except...".   I say, "except what?"  He replies, "except he has an eerie resemblance to Dean Martin".

The, are you 42 or 62? Award:  Art Sagert plays the game as hard as anyone.  Almost Polny hard.  He slides into bases that guys 20 years younger never would.  He goes first to third when guys 20 years younger would hesitate.  He makes sliding catches that guys 20 year younger wouldn't get a glove on.  Great season Art and great ball leadership.

The Ancient Chinese Secret Award:  Lance Horgan had a scare a couple of weeks back.  He got home and didn't have his wedding ring.  He spent the morning of the next day in the Keogh outfield looking there and in the dug out, all over the park.  He texted me and called Rob.  I called the Legion and had them on alert.  Then he found it while doing his laundry. 

The 2012;19 but 20 in 2013 Award:  Robert Farah, Esq started the first game of the season with a strike against the Dusty Cleats.  in game 20, 19 games later he opened with ball 1 against the Banshees for the first time this year.  A new Grisslie record has been established starting 19 consecutive games with Strike one!  He'll be shooting for 20 in 2013.    

The Tommy John Award:  The season started with Bobby V. playing 1st base.  He couldn't lift his arm all the way let alone throw.  He couldn't even do the pre-inning throw arounds.  Then he played a little at 2nd and threw underhand to 1st. Then we were in a pinch one night and I asked him to play right field.  On a ground ball I hustled out for the cut off trying to save his arm and his throw damn near took my head off.  The surgery was a success!

The Mr. Grisslie Award: Dave Doucette has really improved his baseball skills and has bounced around a few positions.  The hitting has been consistent too.  But Dave "gets" the whole Grisslie mystic.  He's quiet about it but he's been a huge contributor for us in getting the banner, business cards, bottle tags, note pads and schedules.   He's a Grisslie through and through

The Charlie Hustle Award:  This goes without saying.  Charlie O'Leary had a .554 average on 31 hits at the time I wrote this. He missed 6 games which mean those 31 hits came in 17 games.  Which is damn close to 2 on base per game.  There aren't many 12's that can do that.  Further, there aren't many people who get nearly half their hit by pressuring the other team into quick plays like he does.  Chuckles hasn't given up on a play once this year.   

The Not Again Award:  Last year I wrote a song about Bob Smith called Me and Bobby's Bum Knee.  I waited and waited to use it and as soon as I did, he hurt his knee.  I vowed when he came back there there would be no mention of Bob in the BLOG.  No JINX this year!!!  Well it turns out that I wasn't the jinx after all.  Get healthy and see you in the playoffs Bobby!