PLAYOFFS, Day 2 - On Deck

CONVERSA-SHUN

Yeah, its busy.  Yeah, its the playoffs.  But there is always time for a conversation on the Donini Deck at Grisslie-land.  This chat took place Tuesday evening before our game. 

Rob: Wow!  What a start to the playoffs!
Doug: I know.....crazy I tell you. 
Rob:  I've been working the numbers from last night affair and I've come up with some interesting stats that you might want to use in that BLOGity BLOG, BLOG thing you do. 
Doug: Oh really?  I'm always looking for new spins on things.  What did you come up with?
Rob: Well, this is just kind of rough, I haven't done the deep dive yet so you'll have to bear with me. 
Doug: Ok.
Rob:  So the Units won 29-9 and the Woody's and Red Dogs tied at 14s. 
Doug:  Yep, what did you pull out of the stats.
Rob: Well.  I'm just noodling here, but I think that 50% of the playoff games will end up in ties. 
Doug: That ludicrous
Rob:  No, Ludacris is a rapper from "A" town. 
Doug:  "A" town?  When did you get hip?
Rob: I've always been Hip.  Like Hip-Hop-Horray, ho-hay-ho.  Besides I dig "A" town.  I want to give a shout out to all my homies in Aurora! Word!!!
Doug: Aurora?  Yo homeboy....I'm pretty sure "A" town is Atlanta.
Rob:  Atlanta, Colorado?
Doug:  Georgia.
Rob: Close enough.  Are you sure about that though?
Doug: Actually I'm really sure. 
Rob:  Well that sort of explains his song "Welcome to Atlanta". 
Doug:  I'm actually surprised you know anything about Luda.  How did this happen?
Rob: Interweb. 
Doug: You-tube?
Rob:  No.  I'm good.  But I water-ski sometimes.  So one day I'm on the google machine doing some research into qualudes for a project at work.
Doug:  Wait, wait, wait....qualudes?  for a project at work?
Rob: Yeah, qualudes are a sub component under the #5 on a phone pad that cause it to generate either a 770-Hz tone or a 1,336-Hz tone, I'm doing research into trying to figure out a tone in between which will allow to increase phone number bands.
Doug: Ummmmmm.  Who are you?  What have you done with Rob?
Rob:  Very funny.  I have a career you know, I'm not just all WOOHOO fun and games.
Doug:  I did not know this.  So you know that qualudes mean something else too?
Rob: Well, in the business we just call them ludes
Doug: Clearly.
Rob: But when you typo "Ludes Tones" for "Ludas Tunes" on the googlizer, you end up with a rapper from Aurora.
Doug:  Atlanta. 
Rob: You're sure?
Doug: Still sure. 
Rob:  Well we should get to our game.
Doug:  Okay, but if we lose its only because my head is spinning. 
Rob: Word up my brother.


GAMES

(5) Banshees @ (3) Tap Masters - The Banshees didn't play much like the 5th seed their supposed to be.  The visitors were tied with the favoured Tap Masters every inning through 4 and from that point on were always within a run before sawing things off with a 9-9 tie.  The only perfect night on the Banshees belonged to Craig Beatty who was 3/3 for a run scored.  The Tap Masters offense was largely supplied by Paul Doyle who had a great night at the plate going 4/4 and scoring a third of their runs by counting 3. 

(5) Dusty Cleats @ (3) Gruesome Devils -  The Dusty Cleats got the start they needed on the road counting a quick 3 runs in the first.  The would shut down the Gruesome Devils for the first two innings defensively, but couldn't push across any more runs of their own.  The Devils came to life in the 3rd scoring four and followed that with four more in the 4th and five in the fifth.  The Cleats had a three run rally in the 5th but couldn't manage to sustain any offense pressure.  The final was 14-7 for the Devils.  The Dusty Cleats had no perfect nights at the plate but Tim Sullivan and Kevin Boston each scored 2 runs.  The worst damage was inflicted by the bottom of the Gruesome Devils order as Craig Butler was 3/3 scoring 3 times and the playoff monster Cliff Stacey was also 3/3 scoring once.

(4) Rusty Rebels @ (1) Dislocated Joints -  Its time for the Dislocated Joints to get a little love.  They are the only #1 seed to win their opener, downing the Rusty Rebels by the convincing score of 23 - 9.  The Rebels briefly had a 3-1 lead after one inning and then the Joints blew the doors off.  They were led by Emiel Edwards, Dave McGovern and Stef Kapp who were all 4/4.  Emiel scored twice, Stef three times and Dave scored in all four plate appearances!  The only perfect night from the Rusty Rebels was by Mike Ghaney who was 4/4 with a run scored.    

(4) Hurtin' Units @ (2) Grisslies - This was a 2 - 1 game for the Hurtin' Units through 2 1/2 innings before the Grisslies got the lumber out.  The Grisslies used some aggressive defensive alignments to try and slow down the Hurtin' Units offense that had scored 4 touchdowns against the Jays.  The final score was 15-9 for the Grisslies.  The Grisslies had a 5/5 night from Art Sagert with 2 runs scored to got along with a 4/4 performance with a run from Bob Smith.  The Hurtin' Units big bat was provided by Gord Robinson who was 4/4 with 3 runs.  

(4) Hot Tub Woody's @ (2) Beer Bros. - The Beer Bros. became the first team in Pool B to actually get a win!  The Hot Tub Woody's were quiet through 5, scoring only a single run while the Bros. ran up 11 of their own.  Then the Woody's defense woke up allowing only 2 runs over the final 3 innings and the bats accounted for 7 runs over the final 2.  It wasn't enough however as they dropped a 13 - 8 decision.  Peter Holmann had a great night for the Beer Bros. going 4/4 with 2 runs scored.  The Woody's only had one player with a perfect night as well and that was Captain Ed Hopkins who was 3/3 with 2 runs scored!

(3) Lucky Stiffs @ (2) Dodge City Rounders -The Lucky Stiffs came into the playoffs as one of the hotter teams.  The Dodge City Rounders came into the playoffs as the voters 3rd most popular bet to get a bye.  Dodge was shut out in the first two innings before counting 2 in the third.  Then they were shut out in the 4th, 5th and 6th.  Two lousy runs.  The Stiffs were also shut out in the first 2 innings.  They would count in the 3rd, one in the 4th and one in the 5th.  Heading into the bottom of the 7th it was 3-2 Lucky Stiffs.  What a game!  Then Dodge went nuts.  4 consecutive batters reached, then two quick outs, then 5 more batters reached.  When the dust settled it was 9-3 for the the Rounders.  Scott Mason continued his torrid hitting for Dodge City going 4/4 with a run.  Mark Bickford was also 4/4 on the night.  There were no perfect nights in this one for the Stiffs, but a great defensive game nonetheless. 

STANDINGS

A quick note about standings:

• I've included the scores underneath the standings as a reference point.  
• Remember that +/- will not necessarily equal the runs scored minus runs against as there is a maximum of 7 per game. This is why the scores are included so you can see how we got there. 
• Tie breaker sequence is:  (1) Total Points (2 for win, 1 for tie),  (2) +/-, (3) Least Runs Against, (4) Most Runs Scored, (5) Head To Head, (6) Regular Season Standings
• As always, these standings are a 'service' and my best effort.  Apologies in advance if any errors are made.

 

ON DECK

Now things start to get interesting.  The Dog Catchers finally get to play their first game of the post season, for everyone else its game #2.

We open with the Banshees at the Red Dogs (0-0-1) in a 5 Vs. 1 match up.  The Banshees (0-0-1) lost a 11-7 game to the Red Dogs as well as a 7-0 forfeit.  Both teams have a tie through one game, so a win here will be a big upper hand in a division that has only seen one win through 3 games played. 

The Dog Catchers (0-0) open against the Lucky Stiffs (0-1) in a game that you might think would have a lot of runs.  They split in the regular season with the Dog catchers winning 29-6 and then dropping a 14-5 game.

The late games feature another 5 Vs. 1 match with the Dusty Cleats (0-1) taking on the Brew Jays (0-1).  The Cleats split with the league leaders, winning 14-11 and losing 16-2.  The Brew Jays will be trying to recover from an opening night loss to the Hurtin' Units as the Cleats will attempt to rebound from the loss to the Gruesome Devils in their first tilt.  The loser of this game could be in trouble in this division. 

The last game has the #4 seed Rusty Rebels (0-1) at the #2 seed Dodge City Rounders (1-0).  These teams split as well with the Rebels losing a great game 6-3 and then pasting the fourth best team in the league 22-11.