A Song For the Tampa Bay ______Rays

Happy Halloween, everyone.



People died at this concert.

Check out the film "Gimmie Shelter"

***

Ghostbusters has to be on TV at some point tonight, or it should have been in the last week, I think I'll watch it tonight.



***

Ghostbusters, be weary this evening. I have filed a grievance with the league office for scheduling our game the day after Halloween, when we will obviously be out late protecting the city from the paranormal.


If the Ghostbusters win in the 9am game, they will face the Orange Crush for the Fall Ball Championship of the Universe
the Crush received a first round bye.

Regular Season Champions

***
They will let anyone into grad school these days.
Starting in January the Ducks blog will be composed by an actual MFA student.
The answer to the lingering question, "does one suddenly transform into a condescending douche-bag when they begin their pursuit of a Master's in Fiction Writing?" is at my fingertips.
Fine Art indeed.


The plan is win two games tomorrow, but the Wild card Game will be managed like there is no tomorrow, or later in the day.



Tomorrow at 9am; Bad News for the Gray Bats.

Schedule Revisions; The Snow is Gone

The Avalon Ghostbusters of the North Hills will play the Gray Bats in the first round of the Fall Ball playoffs at 9am this Saturday at Pie Traynor Field.
The Winner of the 9am game plays the Orange Crush for the Championship at 11:30.

Good for the Phillies and the five friends of mine who make up the anomalous, Tolerable Philadelphia Fans Contingent.
Rob, Guthrie, Hugh, Homa, Jesse, at least you're happy and hungover.

The weather has improved.

I was listening to the post-game and a reporter asked Rays coach Joe Maddon which Rolling Stones song he thought better described how he was feeling, "Shattered" or "Happy"
Maddon said, "Happy".

Well I never kept a dollar past sunset,

It always burned a hole in my pants.

Never made a school mama happy,

Never blew a second chance.

I need a love to keep me happy,

I need a love to keep me happy.

Baby, baby keep me happy.

Baby, baby keep me happy.

Always took candy from strangers,

Didn't wanna get me no trade.

Never want to be like papa,

Working for the boss ev'ry night and day.

I need a love to keep me happy,

chorus

Never got a flash out of cocktails,

When I got some flesh off the bone.

Never got a lift out of Lear jets,

When I can fly way back home.

I'm pretty sure the title is ironic.
anyway, why not dig a bit deeper, Mr. reporter, in your choice of a stones song to describe the feeling of the manager who has just taken a last place team to the cusp of greatness, clearly it is a more complex feeling than either Happy, or "Shattered"--Pride and joy and greed and sex that's what makes our town the best, Pride and dirty dreams are still surviving on these streets..."

Had Maddon picked any other Stones song he would have become my favorite manager ever (he may be anyway), just for reaching out beyond the two choices and showing some knowledge of the band, but I suppose immediately following a World Series loss in a rain-delayed game that spanned four days isn't the best time to be put on the spot about the catalog of a rock band no matter how famous.

At least "You Can't Always Get What You Want" was not mentioned.

In no particular order:

Monkey Man
Torn and Frayed
Shine a Light
Dead Flowers
Lovin' Cup
Bitch
Sway
Stray Cat Blues
Emotional Rescue

Snow

Not much to report, other than the Gray Bats are still going to lose in grand fashion when they take on the Ghostbusters this Saturday at 9am, at Pie Traynor Field. It figures to be a pitchers deul, as the cold weather will will most likely have more of an effect on the batters.

How about that postponed World Series game tonight? The PIttsburgh NABA Fall ball season is on pace to out-last the MLB season.


I write about the Steelers for this subtly-named blog.

SNOW



Santonio Holmes is sick and tired of five-oh runnin' up on the block

Weird Al is Tremendous

I haven't heard the original version of this song in its entirety, apparently it is rather popular.

Bats Head Coach Larry Zalewski has invited Ben Sorosky to pitch against the Avalon Ghostbusters of the North Hills this Saturday. Rumor has it BJ Rankin will start, and Sorosky will pitch in relief.
Rankin will rue the day he was taken from the Ghostbusters roster in an attempt to make the Fall Ball season more competitive.

...I miss you BJ...

I digress.

Zalewski is clearly terrified of the potent Ghostbusters' offense.

Avalon Head Coach Ben Gwin believes in his players, who have been on the Ghostbusters' roster since day one, last week's guest appearance by Rob Swanger not withstanding. (Swanger did file the necessary paperwork with the league for what it's worth)
Starting pitcher Dr.Venkman will get the job done.
Schwartz and Egon Spangler wait in relief if necessary.

For the Bat's bulletin board:
They only have three guys who can hit anyway.
WOOO-HOOO!

***
Coby, I know you've been waiting for this one for a long time



Could've been worse.



The Bats season will end tomorrow.

...

More on the regular season finale

(from left to right, Dan Morgan, Adam Smith, Ben Gwin)

Other write-ups of last weekend's action

GRAY BATS biased RECAP

LEAGUE WEBSITE RECAP:

Ghostbusters earn home field in 1st round of fall playoffs!

FINALLY, NEW MATERIAL ON THE O.C. BLOG

(the 2008 Orange Crush, top row left to right: Brian Strom, Mark (Wino) Wittmer, Christian Necheff, Mark Guthrie; Front row: that kid they have at short who hits doubles, Joe Graff--seriously, Rob Logan, Patrick Piscuini. Not pictured: Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, that kid who plays center and hits doubles, Harry Yeakel)

Mid-season acquisition, Eric "Winston" Lee (far left), is fired up for the playoffs

The Orange Crush have dominated this fall season thanks in large part to the enormous fake breasts of their corner infielders, Joe Graff's scappy catching and astronomical OBP, lights out performances by Ducks/Blues pitchers Christian Necheff and Mark Guthrie, havoc-wreaking plate appearances by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and the Earl Weaver-esque head coaching of Brian Strom. They have coasted to a first round bye and a spot in the championship game.


The Ghostbusters can not afford to look past the Gray Bats, who have an Ace of their own in BJ Rankin, and may call on the services of trade deadline addition, pitcher, Ben Sorosky for the Wild Card round of the playoffs, should Alex Warren's ankle remain swollen, and if Rankin's arm is not in good shape.

Time to talk about myself in the third person for a bit...
Ghostbusters' manager Ben Gwin's approach for regular season has been to bat 12 players and prioritize playing time over winning. During the playoffs, he will bat nine or ten players and put the best defensive team on the field, every one who shows up will play, but the priority will be on advancing to the finals and eventually defeating the Crush.

O.C. catcher/first baseman Harry Yeakel. (sp.)


Dr. Dan "Venkman" Morgan will start on the hill for the Ghostbusters in the Wild Card playoff.

It's an Ace.

BIG THUNDER: Ghostbusters Win Regular Season Finale.

Ghostbusters 4, Gray Bats 1

Pittsburgh NABA legend, and Pitt Greensburg Ace, Ben Sorosky made his pitching debut for the Gray Bats, but Alex Schwartz rose to the challenge, matching Sorosky for six innings, and earning a hard fought win for the Ghostbusters in a classic pitchers duel.

After Sorosky struck out seven of the first ten ghostbusters he faced, the Ghostbuster took the lead in the top of the fourth, Tony Casale walked, and stole second and third, after a failed squeeze attempt, Ben Gwin, who struck out in is first at bat against Sorosky, hit a towering fly ball to right field which was just deep enough to score Casale to give the Ghostbusters a 1-0 lead.

The Ghostbusters led 1-0 on the strength of only one hit, until the Bats used their heightened sonar-like hearing to plate one run in the bottom of the fifth. The Bats loaded the bases on a single an error and a walk, and got a hit form their first baseman, #13, to tie the game at 1.

Schwartz worked out of the bases loaded no-outs jam with only one unearned run.
Rob Swanger robbed Sorosky of a potential go ahead RBI with a diving catch in center.

In the top of the sixth, Vinny Gala led off with a double, Gwin reached on an error after grounding a first pitch change up right at the third baseman, Gala moved to third and Gwin stole second, on the next pitch. Adam Smith walked to load the bases, and Alex Schwartz recorded his first game winning RBI of the season on a bases loaded walk, 2-1 Ghostbusters.

The bases remained loaded, with Gwin on third base, and Sorosky working from the windup.

Giwn stole home on the first pitch to put the Ghostbusters ahead 3-1

Schwartz retired the Bats in order in the bottom of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Joe Graff walked stole second, and scored on Rob Swangers ground out to deep shortstop. To put the Ghostbusters ahead 4-1.

Dr. Dan "Venkman" Morgan shut down the Bats in the bottom of the seventh to record the save.

• The Ghostbusters (4-4) face the Bats (3-5) in a rematch in the first round of the playoffs this Saturday at 9am at Pie Traynor field, the losing team will play the O.C. in an exhibition game at 11:30, the winning team will advance to play the Orange Crush in the Championship November 1st at 9am.
  
• Vinny Gala was 1-2 with a double and scored the winning run.
  
• Rob Swanger was 1-3 with an RBI in his first appearance in a Ghostbusters uniform
• A big Ghostbusters' thank you to Joe Graff for filling in for absent catchers, The Key Master and, Eric P. Graff threw out a runner at 3rd, and scored a key insurance run for the Ghostbusters
  
• Gwin was 0-2, with 1K, 1RBI, 2 SB and 1 run.
  
• Schwartz had the game winning RBI and pitched a gem, 6 IP, 6k, 5h 3BB
• Venkman had his first save of the season and has been the most reliable pitcher, on a tremendous Ghostbusters staff, he also got out of the way when I stole home.
  
• Using the fall season to work on your swing makes it imperative to find other ways to contribute, to hit a flair into right to get a run across and to hustle out a grounder to third and steal home when I was over-matched at the plate is as satisfying as going 3-3.
  
• I was over-matched Sorosky, good game, and that was a sick behind the back play on that grounder up the middle, absolutely sick. See you this weekend?

Baseball is Exciting

I'm trapped, waiting for the UPS guy to arrive with my BWP order between 10:30 and 2pm. I'm sitting in my 3rd floor office neurotically peeking out the window every 45 seconds, terrified I will not hear the buzzer, as I suspect happened yesterday on the first delivery attempt..(gets up and looks out the window) -- nope not the UPS guy. Anyway, How 'bout them Red Sox?

The game last night reminded me of this one from last June

I don't claim to be a Boston supporter, in fact I'd like to see Tampa Bay win the ALCS, but I do have a contingent of Boston fans who are friends, guys who have cheered for Boston since the late 80's-early 90'2 when they were bad, and I am happy for them when the Red Sox win. I'd enjoy a seven game series.

My sister, who was at game five (I asked her to wear Ducks apparel to the game, as she managed to score seats behind home plate and may have been on camera) lives in Marlboro Massachusetts and has happily taken on the Red Sox as her favorite baseball team, while retaining her loyalty to the Penguins and Steelers) which I think is fine since the Pirates have not tried to win since Wade Boggs was still a Sock. The Pirates front office doesn't seem concerned with the team's fans, or filling our city's beautiful stadium with a team that can either win now, or is filled with young talent that is fast, exciting and could perhaps contend in the future their fans so I see no reason why adopting a relevant baseball team to cheer for should be frowned upon, as long as its not the Yankees. Hopefully some of the guys the Buccos received in the Bay/Nady/Marte trades respectively pan out and there is some legitimate reason for hope among the Pirates dwindling fan base. Plus living in the greater Boston area, life is much more pleasent when the local spots affiliates are winning, so when the Boston teams win, my sister's quality of life improves, and that is something I am in favor of.

Oh, and the Phillies won, beating the Dodgers in five games.
I'm a Manny supporter. he was something like 8-9 with runners in scoring position in the NLCS.
He used to sleep in the batting cages overnight, wake up and hit outside sliders for hours. The hard work is evident in his production. He'll be a Yankee.

TV edit.

Go Ghostbusters

Fighting Fire with Water

Ghostbusters(3-4) vs. Gray Bats (2-4): Saturday 11:30 am, Pie Traynor Field.
probable starters: Schwartz vs. Sorosky
The winner of this game will secure home-field advantage for next week's first-round playoff game.
The O.C. (5-2) has clinched a first round bye, heading into their regular season finale.

* * *

Number nine is coming down from the rafters this Saturday, with Garrett Moore's spot in the outfield vacated due to Moore's shoulder injury and his current quest for Nirvana, his spot will be temporarily filled by former Ducks outfielder, Rob Swanger, who looks forward to the challenge of facing Bats ringer Ben Sorosky.

Jimi Hendrix - Fire - More free videos are here

Fire




Water



Jersey unretired






Bad News for the Gray Bats

Ghostbusters Split Double Header

Game 1:
The Avalon Ghostbusters of the North Hills dominated the Gray bats 15-5, after an unfortunate injury to gutsy 'Bats starting pitcher Alex Warren, the Ghostbusters torched the bats bullpen for 12 runs. It seems the only way Warren will exit a game is if he is injured. Warren led off the game for the Gray Bats, and was promptly hit in the leg by A. Smith, who was wild early.

Avalon benefited from great pitching as A. Smith (W, 2-1) and Alex Schwartz, challenging the Gray Bats thanks to an outpouring of run support, combined to allow four earned runs over five innings striking out eight Gray Bats, and hitting four batters.



The Bats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as A. Smith hit three batters in the top of the first.

A.Smith's line: (W) 3 IP, 6K, 3 HBP, 3 H, 2 R.

Footage of plate umpire Kenny Rayl.

In the bottom of the first when Eric "Winston" Lee opened the frame with an infield single, promptly stole two bases and scored on Mike Watson's ground out.



Tony Casale was hit by a pitch and stole second and scored on Gwin's double.

In the bottom of the second, after Watson delivered a bases clearing two RBI double, Casale hit a single to left that eluded the Bats left fielder and rolled to the fence. Casale would score on the three base error.

Avalon broke the game open with a nine run third inning. Mark Kuhns lead off with an infiedl single, and A. Smith, on the heels of Eric Procenti (sp.) walk, roped a single to left loading the bases for Dr. Dan "Venkman" Morgan who drove in a run with a blustering shot to second base which Angry Man mishandled, Alex Schwartz singled in two runsand Winston hit a sacrifice fly to center. Watson was hit by a pitch and Casale singled in two more runs. Gala walked in a run, before Gwin dove in another Ghostbuster with a generously-scored infield single.

"Winston" was 2 for 3 with a sacrifice fly, 2 RBI and six stolen bases.

Ghostbusters manager/outfiedler/catcher Ben Gwin was 3 for 3 with two doubles, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored and a stolen base for Avalon.

Vinny Gala had an RBI on a bases loaded walk.

Dr. Venkman was 1 for 2 with a walk and an RBI single.

Mike Watson was 1 for 2 with three RBI

Gwin robbed BJ Rankin of a hit with a diving catch in left field.



Game 2:
Crush 11 Ghostbusters 1 (Go here for an actual recap)

The Ghostbusters could not string anything together against Crush ace Christian Necheff, who continues his mastery of the Ghostbusters, and of their manager Ben Gwin who is 0 for 6 lifetime against his Blues (and future Ducks') teammate.


Crush utility player, Mark "Captain America" Guthrie hit a doubule a bunch of crap happened, the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man made an appearance, and the Orange Crush picked away at Ghostbusters ace Dr. Venkman scoring 3 runs in the third, one in the fourth and two in the fifth.

yes, I am

While playing catcher, Gwin picked off Necheff at second base, to end the sixth inning with runners on second and third.

Ghostbusters closer Ron Kuhns had minor control problems and the O.C. added four runs in the top of the seventh.




Casale scored the only run for Avalon in the bottom of the seventh.



The Ghostbusters will face the Gray Bats at 11:20 this Saturday at Pie Traynor Field.
In a desperate move, Bats coach Larry Zalewski, has called for reinforcements, and will put friend, teammate and rival, Ben Sorosky on the mound against the Ghostbusters this weekend.

This is what happens, Larry

I took Sorosky yard in 2006, back when we played on a little league field. I was 1-5 vs. the dominant right hander this past season, who pitched one of the best games I've ever been a part of for the Blues in Virginia this past Labor Day weekend.

Breaking News

Text message from South Oakland Ducks' head coach TC "Buttermaker" Jones, received by Ducks' blogger and founder Ben Gwin-- "Christian [Necheff] wants to be a Duck!"

If this holds true the rest of the league is Ducked next season.

Potential rotation listed in chronological order of hopefully heartfelt commitment.

Homa
Barchie
Necheff
Sorosky--c'mon, Benny it will be grand.

Bullpen
Guthrie
A.Smith
TC.Jones
{Shwartz??}

This is in addition to the Ducks' acquisition of infielders Tony Casale and Mike Watson--both are sick.

Domination.

Bring on the Owlz

Rumor has it the Black Sox may have another off-shoot next year, and radical realignment is expected.

The Ghostbusters Ace Dr. Dan "Venkman" Morgan will take on the Crush and new Duck Christian Necheff tomorrow during the second game of the double header.

Game one vs. the Gray bats will be a coin flip (maybe literally) between A. Schwartz and A. Smith to see who gets the start. the other will follow in relief.

Back to my grad school applications.

Quack.

2009 Team of Destiny

Game 5: A Disturbance on the 12th Floor: Ghostbusters, Morgan, dominate Gray Bats, 10-0

I'd better post this before i forget the game entirely...

Highlights of the Ghostbusters first defeat of the Gray Bats

The Ghostbusters avenged an early season 6-5 defeat at the hands of the Gray Bats in grand fashion. Dr. Dan "Venkman" Morgan pitched a complete game shutout, and was the beneficiary of timely hitting and solid defense behind him, as the Avalon Ghostbusters beat the Gray Bats 10-0 in five innings, though the game unofficially ended in a 13-2 victory after seven innings.

Morgan: "You better bring your A-Game this week 'Bats"

Morgan worked out of trouble in the first inning, stranding Bats on second and third, and would later entice his Bulldogs rotation mate, Bats SS, BJ Rankin to ground into an inning ending double play. Morgan stopped a rally before it could start; picking-off an absent minded Gray Bat who had his head down after reaching on an infield hit in the third.


The Ghostbusters started the game with O.C. players Joe Graff, and Patrick in the corner outfield spots. Patrick and Graff added speed to the bottom of the lineup, and Patrick would score th Ghostbusters first run of the game on a stolen base and an error. The 1-0 lead was all Avalon would need on that day, but they would add 9 insurance runs. The offense finally came alive.

Watson and Casale each had two hits. And anchored strong infield play behind Venkman.

Gwin broke his one-for-the fall slump with a single and an RBI.

Vinny Gala ripped a two RBI single to left after refusing to take first base when plate umpire, awarded him first base on an apparent hit-by-pitch.

In the third inning, Garrett Moore finally arrived with Alex Schwartz.

Scwartz promptly drove in 2 runs with an RBI single.

Moore would go 1-2 and reach on an error after long night of busting ghosts, casued him to over- sleep.

• The Ghostbusters are now 2-3 with a chance to get over .500 for the first time this season with the impending sweep of this week's double header.
• Why is that one guy on the Gray Bats so angry all the time? the second baseman/Right fielder, relax. Someone needs to destroy him if they get the chance to break up a double play, then maybe he will have something to scowl and cry about.
  
• BJ's fiance and Joe Graff are both jealous after Rankin made me his woman in the first game, I went 0-5 with 4k's in a guest appearance for the OC, causing me to question my existence.
• 

• This week the Ghostbusters will probably get 4 innings of Rankin (above right, with "friend and teammate" Joe Graff ) and three innings of Alex Warren for the first game of the doubleheader.
  
• Why was Warren left in that game for seven innings? He's a competitor and a good pitcher, but at he must have thrown around 150 pitches, too many for a fall league game, especially the last two innings that didn't even count.
• Watson pitched a scoreless phantom sixth innin, and Casale allowed two runs in the unofficial seventh inning
• the game ended on a sweet play by Adam Smith, who played a solid, aggressive game at 3rd base after being inexplicably pushed into outfield duty for most of the season.
  
• Eric P. had solid game behind the plate, and after moving to the outfield, threw out a runner at second base in the seventh.
  
• We need bats.
• The Ghostbusters won despite playing without Adalino, The Keymaster, who is 5 for 9 on the season.

rumor has it there was a bear in his apartment.

Let's win two this weekend.

Ghostbusters vs. Gray Bats: October 4, 11:30am, Pie Traynor Field

Last Week the Gray Bats beat the Ghostbusters 6-5, thanks to two seven inning runs and a stellar effort by BJ Rankin.

Rankin and life partner Joe Graff fight evil. See video .

The Avlon Ghostbusters of the North Hills look to rebound from last week's heart breaker against the O.C. when they take on the Gray Bats this Saturday. A scheduling glitch has allowed teh Ghostbusters consecutive late games, which is just fine. Ironically and perhaps fitting, the schedule maker plays on the Orange Crush. and will play 9am games back to back weeks.

read about it here

Enjoy the extra hours of sleep.

Read about the Orange Crush's double header last week, written by a former paid journalist.

The Crush team reporter cheats and uses the score book as a reference, he has a thing for journalistic integrity.



I hope the MLB playoffs will be on network TV, so non-cable owning schmucks like myself will be able to take in some of the action.

I'm pulling for a Dodgers vs. Rays World Series.
I would have liked the Twins to win last night, funny how Minnesota is able to put a winning product on the field while the Pirates, who play in a similar market, have subjected their fans to 16 years of irrelevant baseball. This time of year always remind me how painful it is to support a team run by a front office that has no desire to give its fans a taste of October baseball.

More unsubstantiated Ghostbusters 3 rumors, allegedly Bill Murray is on board, and the script will be written by the guys who write The Office.
Could be worse.