Sunday, August 3, 2008

Game 23, Exhibition: Spag-tastic Voyage. Ducks 74, Bulldogs -2


profanity in this video


90's hip-hop, I miss you.

The final game, much like the Ducks' sixth season, came and went in a green and yellow blur.
It's going to be odd when 6pm approaches on Monday and it won't be time to get ready for batting practice before leading the caravan to Spring Hill.
The Ducks season opened with a 15-1 loss, and unofficially ended with a 15-3 victory, a nice bookend. It is never fun when a good thing ends, and this season was very good in many ways, but South Oakland went out quacking, in a game that featured the pitching debuts of Ryan Novak, and right-handed specialist, Jimmy Spagnola, by trouncing the Bulldogs in what may have been a preview of next season's championship (barring radical realignment, which is possible).

Dan Morgan started for the Bulldogs

Starting pitcher/middle linebacker, Dan Morgan was headhunting early on, but the Ducks jumped out to an early lead. On the hill for the Ducks was SS, Ryan Novak, who threw five innings, striking out six or seven batters while allowing three runs for his first unofficial Pittsburgh NABA win.

Novak also hit Coby in the groin with a sixth inning curve ball, Novak's curve was so deadly, not only did it paralyze the Bulldogs, it dominated his own catcher who had presumably called for the pitch.

South Oakland lead 5-3 going into the top of the fourth, when Manager of the Year, TC Jones' strategy to bat twelve hitters in the starting lineup paid off. The Bulldogs moved middle linebacker, Dan Morgan, from the mound to first base the Ducks sent twelve batters to the plate and scored seven runs, on a handful of hits putting the game out of reach.


Nick Homa relieved Novak and pitched a scoreless sixth, stranding the bases loaded.

The seventh inning was James Spagnola's NABA pitching debut. Spags pitched a scoreless seventh after catching the first five innings of the game, impressive. The CMU Robot Master will look to break into the rotation next season, and at the very least add depth to the bullpen.



  • BULLET POINTS
  • This was a weak recap. I wasn't paying close attention, it was a fun exhibition and a great way to close out the season.
  • Next year we close it out with a championship
  • Wojton hit seven doubles, and was offered a contract by the league president to play for the Bulldogs next season, which would make him the first paid player in league history.
  • Andy McCray nearly went yard then hustled out an infield hit on one leg. He also kept Vaughn relaxed on the mound




  • Eric Lee hit a double, and stole two bases
  • KT reached base three times, and had a shot down the line ruled foul that appeared to hit the chalk.
  • The invisible hand played a solid game at short, and actually seemed to enjoy himself. he walked a few times and I'm pretty sure he had a single and an RBI
  • Guthrie had two infield hits and played a Jason Bay-esque game in left
  • Manager of the Year hustled to reach on an error and was solid at first base.
  • Coby, "werewolves of london, Griffey junior" Kolaja will wear a cup the next time he catches.
  • Novak will probably be next year's set up man. he also had a hit and was on base frequently.
  • Brian Strom is a solid pitcher. I had a bad at-bat against him, he kept me off-balance, and got me out on a sensational play by second baseman Vinny Gala, who pounced on my soft liner up the middle like a ballerina going for whatever they go for in ballets. Graceful.
  • The Bulldogs are friends' of the Ducks.
  • the season in review will appear in the next couple days.
  • I adjusted the blog settings so you don't have to sign up for a blogger account to leave a comment..
  • I've decided to keep the blog quacking year round.
***
Around the Pittsburgh NABA

An unfortunate clip of the fans after game three of the Monongahela Championship between the Owlz and Black Sox.



The Owlz won 3-2 in nine innings. It was a great baseball game, somewhat tarnished by the carrying on of the fans.
Black Sox, pitcher Florian pitched six strong innings when he could barely walk, NABA veteran adn friend of the Ducks' pitcher Luke Demsey, worked out of a bases loaded, no outs jam in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. SS, Kenny Rayl made a phenominal play on a would be game winning hit up the middle to save the game in the eighth, but the Sox could not score a run off Dunn, who allowed only one runner while pitching the eighth and ninth innings. Some guy on the Owlz singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.


The Ducks support the Warriors in the finals.
(we've got to keep it Old school, Fago, nothing personal)

Since my selections of Nick Homa for Pitcher of the Year, and TC Jones for Manager of the Year, are unbiased, it's only fair to put an MVP nomination on the blog even though the Ducks are without a serious candidate, due to Jesse Smith's lack of plate appearances.
The Ducksblog votes for James Fago, Owlz, for MVP.
He lead the league in RBI, and pitched and caught at a high level for a first place, division winning team.

MVP

Fago drove in the game tying run when he was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh, in the Monongahela Championship. During game three he dealt with unconscionable taunting at the hands of a well lubricated Black Sox booster club. Good game, and good season, Jimmy.


Rakers Larry, you can come to the Ducks as well if you want.

Team of Destiny 2009, "We're on a mission"