Not everyone likes to be in the BLOG. That is a little rough for me to deal with, but I manage. In fact, I've come to learn that not even every team actually likes it. So today I decided to be fair about it and pass this through one of the other team captains (a random team) and allow them to strike everything that they found to be too personal or perhaps inappropriate. This is what I got back....
I recently had a chance to speak to xxxxx xxxxxxx, star pxxxxr with the XXXXXXXXXXX. In an interview exclusive with the BLOG we had an opportunity to dig into some real character points of the Team.
BLOG: So thanks for taking the time to meet xxxxxx, I appreciate it. I know you're not the hugest fan of the whole "Blog experience".
XXXXX XXXXXX: No problem.
BLOG: So let me starting by asking about your lineup. I couldn't help but notice that you have xxxxxxx xxxxxx, xxxxxx xxxxxx and xxx xxxxxxxx hitting 6th, 7th and 8th. What's the rationale for that?
XXXXX XXXXXX: Well, I think its quite obvious that xxxxxx xxxxx is a speed guy, so anytime we get him on we have a chance to get two bases out of the deal. And of course xxxxx xxxxxx is all about contact and advancing runners, so xxxxx xxxxxx is completely capable of going 1st to 3rd or 2nd to home when xxxxx xxxxxx is up. Then regardless of what they do, xxx xxxxxxx is there for power and power alone. Hopefully with runners on but if not he can drive himself in.
BLOG: Excellent analysis.
XXXXX XXXXXX: Well, I guess that's why they made me xxxxxxxxx!
BLOG: Touche, xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx, touche. So how do you see the last month of the season unfolding for your club?
XXXXX XXXXXX: Its August XX, right now and we're in XX place, XX games back of XX place with a XX and XX record. I think we're well positioned for a move up to XX place and hopefully we're able to pass the XXXXXXXXX xxxxxxxxxxx and the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I think getting into the XX seed will position us well.
BLOG: All good points XXXXXXX. But how do you see yourself fairing once you get there?
XXXXX XXXXXX: Good question. I think we've done well this year against the XXXXX XXXXXX this year and its too hard to see how the rest of the XX Pool will shape up yet, but its fair to say that our schedule should be favourable, but one never knows for sure.
BLOG: Okay fair enough. Let me ask you a question about defense. I noticed that you had XXXX XXXXXX playing XXXXXX XXXXXX in your last game against the XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX. Of course that put XXX XXXXXXX at XXXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXXXXXX at XXXXX XXXX. My question is, do you think that's your best defensive alignment, because it looks to me like you're playing possum waiting for the playoffs.
XXXX XXXXXX: I can see how you would think that. But you have to remember that I was missing XXXXX XXXXXXX who is one of the better defensive XXXXX XXXXXX in the league. Missing XXXXXX kind of put everyone else in their second best position.
BLOG: Thanks, XXXXX. Would you mind if I published a picture of you and the XXXXX XXXXXXx?
XXXX XXXXXX: I wouldn't count on it lasting through the editing process. We'll probably just take a random picture from some obscure team from years gone by and doctor it up.
BLOG: Well regardless, thank you again for your time today, I found this to be very informative.
XXXXX XXXXXX: Great, anytime.
The XXXXX XXXXXX
The SPEECH
Rob: Hi.
Doug: Whoa!!! Whats up with you, you look like you've lost your best friend; or more optimistically, like your cat ran away.
Rob: I'm not in the mood for your shenanigans today. I just found out I have a disease.
Doug: WHAT????
Rob: Yeah, its called Mondegreens.
Doug: Mondegreens? How did you hear about this?
Rob: Well, I was on the elevator at work and this song comes on .... I start tapping my foot to the beat.
Doug: What's unusual about that?
Rob: Nothing, that's normal. But then it gets to the chorus and I naturally sing along.
Doug: Naturally.
Rob: So I'm singing and I get a little carried away, "Wrapped up like a douche; another rubber in the night"!
Doug: [laughing] That's hilarious.
Rob: Its not funny, I must have been off key because the guy beside me on the elevator say to his buddy that I suffer from Mondegreens. [single tear]
Doug: [still laughing] Rob, Mondegreens is just a term for miss heard lyrics. Its not a disease, relax.
Rob: Really? That's a relief because I have more seniority than both those guys put together and I don't think they're in any position to do a diagnosis.
Doug: Probably not. But this might be a good future BLOG topic.
Rob: Seriously, diseases? That sounds a little offside.
Doug: No Rob, not a disease BLOG, a misheard lyrics BLOG.
Rob: Come on, there can't be too many of those. Besides, I'm pretty sure I have the douche one right anyway.
Doug: I'm pretty sure you don't have it right and I can probably think of 5 more right of the top of my head.
Rob: Like what?
Doug: Well the obvious is the Lady Gaga song "Poker Face".
Rob: Isn't that called Poke Her Face?
Doug: See what I mean? No, its Poker Face, trust me.
Rob: I don't know, I'm pretty sure it was the theme song to a movie I saw, I think it was called, "Saving Ryan's Privates."
Doug: Geez....Okay, What about the Bee Gees "More Than A Woman"?
Rob: Are you talking about "Four Letter Woman". [Rob singing]
Doug: You're joking right? Okay, how about another Bee Gees one, you know "How Deep Is Your Love"?
Rob: Puleeze....does the Gerber baby have a curl? Of course I know that song.
Doug: Well you know the line, "And you come to me on a Summer's breeze..."
Rob: [laughing] Now you have MoldyCreams, it goes, "And you come to me in a submarine".
Doug: Wow, that's better than I could make up ..... I think I'm at 3. Oh, while we're on the topic, I've heard you sing this one a few times, Its called "The Safety Dance"; by Men Without Hats; not "Say you can dance". #4.
Rob: I will have to ugoogalize that one.
Doug: And #5, the classic Elton John song....
Rob: Crocodile rock?
Doug: No
Rob: Yellow Brick Road?
Doug: No, [singing] "Hold Me Close Now Tony Danza...."
Rob: [blank stare]
Doug: You don't know that one?
Rob: Yeah, of course....what's the misheard part?
Doug: That is the misheard part?....its really called "Hold Me Close Now Tiny Dancer"
Rob: LIAR!!!! Everyone knows Elton, Sir Elton if you will, wrote that about the guy from Taxi.
Doug: Yes, I believe a future BLOG on this topic will be easy
Rob: Don't you want to know this weeks song?
Doug: Oh, yeah, totally forgot. What do you have.
Rob: I've done a good one of Tom Petty, I Won't Smack Around
Doug: You mean "I won't back down?" That's #6
music ====> HERE
"I Won't Back Down"
Well I won't back down, no but I'll back Barton down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I'll back Barton Down
Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
He might be hitting 927, but I'll keep him from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down
Hey Scotty, please give us just one easy out
Hey I will stand my ground and Barton won't shut me down
Well I know what's right, and I can pitch all night
With a guy that keeps just pushin' me around
But I stand my ground and I won't back down
Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
He might be hitting 927, but I'll keep him from draggin' me down
No I won't back down.
The GAME
Once again I was worried. I've been worried for the Cleats to take off all year and I've seen games (most recently against the Joints) where they were right on the verge. They make me nervous.
We were missing Jeff Sagert, Bob Smith and Rick Cudnik for this game. We picked up Terry Doucet which is great replacement but we were missing our three biggest bats. In fairness, the Cleats were missing Fraser Barrett, Pete Schmagola and Scott Barton so they were up against it as well.
The game started great for the Grisslies and our revised lineup. We got 6 in the first and followed with 4 in the second while only giving up 1. 10 nothing after 2 innings against the last place team should seem like a cake walk right?
Not so much. A combination of our poor hitting and some good fielding by the Dusty Cleats made this game close through 5 innings. One play in particular stands out. I was on third with Dave Doucette up and he screamed a line drive down third that was an easy run scoring double. But Dane Daner made a beautiful back handed stab going to the line to save a run.
By fate or good fortune the Cleats offense stalled in the home half of the inning and we went into the open 6th inning with a scant 12-9 lead. We were able to eke out another run to make it 13-9 before it was time to baton the hatches on defense. We narrowly escaped having to face the heart of the order again and specifically Mark Doyle who was a one man wrecking crew on the night going 3/3 and driving in seemingly every run.
The game ended on a damp night with a 13-9 Grisslie victory as visitors winning streak hit 8 games.
Another hot team in the league are the Gruesome Devils, winners of 4 in a row. They've declared us to be "their next victims". Gruesome indeed!
2 comments:
I know you're talking about XXXXXXX
Would it be much trouble to add win or loss streak for each team on the standings page?
That's a brilliant idea! I'll include it my weekend stats blog, but its too late to change our league standings on the website. Maybe next year though!
Incidentally, I didn't realize the bottom part of the blog was semi-transparent with the black out. Kind of defeats the who purpose. Damit. Apologies and I do mean that sincerely, its fixed now.
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