NABA Team Previews: The Rebels

The Rebels history is sordid. In 2006 head coach Ray Finkle left, (seceded from) the Black Sox with a few other key players and formed his own team, the Monroeville "Rebels".

The Ducks Blog's history with the Rebels most likely got me beaned last season.

My goal is to lead the league in HBP in 2009,
probably the only single season record within my aging grasp.

Behind the dominant pitching of Robert E. Lee, the Rebels won the 2007 Pittsburgh NABA Championship.

In 2008, the team added two Warriors' defectors, former Braves prospect John Tremmel, and gutsy pitcher/infielder Chris Feathers. However the team lost staff ace, Lee, and the team finished 4-17-1 with head coach lightning-quick center fielder, Jefferson Davis, at the helm.

On his horse, literally.

At the all star break in 2008, the Rebels were in last place, 1/2 game behind the Ducks. Then South Oakland went on a tear to sneak into the playoffs on the last day of the season, while the Rebels effectively surrendered, and finished the season in the Monongahela Division cellar. Given the core of talent on that team, the Rebels collapse was somewhat surprising. Some attribute to the fall to the containment of Pickett's troops in their attempt to Flank Union soldiers at Gettysburg, but not to be ignored is the incredible advantage the North had in both its sheer number of troops, and effective supply lines. Which is interesting since this team has a history of forgetting to let free agent acquisitions (who aren't deemed to be top-tier ) know when their games are.

In 2008 the Rebels led the league in forfeits.

Ray Finkle returns to coach the Confederacy in 2009.

Ray Finkle vows that Dan Marino was to blame for the downfall of the Rebels in 2008, and Monroeville will have a more competitive reliable team in 2009.

In 2007, in a state above the Mason Dixon line, a team was formed named the "Rebels", with gray jerseys and a civil war lookin' guy for a logo.
Unreal.



Who knows what tricks the Confederate leaders have up their gray sleeves this summer.
They can't be much worse.

Projected finish: Last in the Monongahela then dissolved into the Union.

There are a bunch of solid guys on this team, I feel for them.


Quack.

Ducks: Get your money into coach Jones.

St. Patrick's Day Party at Gies and Guthries' on March, 13th.

Practice

Practice Sunday 5pm and Monday 7pm at the Greentree Sportsplex

Pitching Rotation

Marian Hossa

***

A couple links from last season. Good times.

Guthrie vs. Barchie

Homa vs. Sorosky

Good luck to Sorosky and Barchie and the Gray Bats this season.

More later...

Quack.

Ducks News and the first Pittsburgh NABA Team Previews

Ducks, get your league dues into TC Jones.

$50 now, $50 by sometime in March.

Dr. Theodore "Indiana" Jones

434 South Graham St. Apt. #4

Pittsburgh, PA

15232

Practice Sunday at 5pm, and Monday at 7pm at the Greentree Sportsplex

St. Patrick's Day Party at Gies and Guthries; details to follow.
proceeds go to cover booze, and profits go to the Pittsburgh NABA.

I'd like to welcome Gray Bats' defector, first-baseman, "Depot" to the 2009 South Oakland Ducks. No idea what his real name is, but he is represented by these four people. They drive a hard bargain.



I'm not posting any more personnel moves on the blog unless it involves guys who have paid.

League News.




The next league meeting will be held on March 1st.
The major item on the agenda is the playoff format.
Should everyone (presumably 12 teams) get into the playoffs?

I've been a proponent of everyone making the playoffs, mostly because the Ducks were bad for a couple years, and for all teams to make the playoffs was in the Ducks' best interest.
The playoff run last year was the best baseball I've been involved with since I was in shape. The atmosphere was intense, we won something like eight of ten to get into the playoffs, only to lose to the Black Sox.


The idea behind everyone making the playoffs is that it will prevent forfeits by teams who are out of it down the stretch, presumably the teams with 3-17 records will get their guys to games if they are assured a playoff spot.
It was frustrating when we had to scoreboard watch with the Rakers and they would get forfeit wins, and not have to throw Sorosky or Barchie to gain a victory.
However, teams might forfeit if they know the games don't matter on the top end, why hustle to get to a game if the playoffs aren't on the line.
Meaningless late season games will allow teams to set their pitching rotations for the playoffs.
There has to be a way to reward a good regular season, and minimize forfeits.

I propose this format for the 2009 playoffs.
(assuming there are 2 six team divisions)

• The 4th, 5th, and 6th seeds will have to vie for one spot against the 3 seed, and will have to play all play-in games in one day.

• at 9am, seed 6 plays seed 5.
• seed 4 plays the winner, at 12pm
• seed 3 plays the winner of that game in a nine-inning game at 4pm.

At this point we start where we normally would under the current format.

A strong showing in the regular season would still be very important, as it will be pretty hard to win a championship from the lower half of the bracket.

Something along these lines, anyway.

I'm in favor of a preseason double elimination tournament. As a way to basically hold glorified scrimmages.

2009 PITTSBURGH NABA TEAM PREVIEWS
I'm going in reverse order of finish from last year, with expansion teams in the middle of the pack, and the Ducks last. I'm trying for 1 per week until the last week of April.

PREVIEW ONE. ALLEGHENEY DIVISION COMBO PLATTER:

Hurricane Carters (3-19), Phantoms (5-15-2).



The Hurricane Carters enter their second year of existence, and are already suspected of murder due to unreliable, racially-motivated circumstantial evidence.

They have the sweetest uni's of any team in the league, and "Angry Man".

Last season they had trouble getting players to show up to games on a regular basis.

This infuriated Angry Man, turning him into a five foot tower of fury in football spikes. He threw some shit, and cursed a lot at the lack of commitment by his fellow Hurricanes, then proceeded to go 1-4 and play second/shallow right for the seven man squad and commit four errors blaming them on his teammates.

Milton Joyner is a beast.
Rob Logan can hit.

2009 Prediction:
20-4, with a loss to the Bulldogs in the playoffs.
They will have the first pick in the draft, and hopefully can get a full squad to games on a regular basis. They should probably merge with the Phantoms, to ensure themselves of a full lineup. Whatever, they're in the other division, good luck this season.



The Phantoms were invisible after the middle of June last season after a decent start.
Manager Don Stetzer returns with his blond score keeper for a fourth straight season managing the Rangers/Phantoms
they have the worst uni's in the league and therefore would benefit form a merge with the Hurricanes.

Brian Slaviek (sp.) is the second best left handed power hitter in the Pittsburgh NABA (Kirk Gibson-#1) and will probably play on another team this season.
the Phantoms have also lost Angry Man's apprentice, catcher, Mike ____ to the Gray Bats.
This prevents the angriest tandem in league history from taking the field toegether should the teams merge.

Don Stetzer is on a short list of pitchers I've taken yard (it was in a playoff loss, however). He's in good company (Ben Sorosky, Jason Baker--former ranger--no one needs to know the field dimensions in either case).

The best decision Chris Wojoton ever made was leave this team without coersion to play for the Ducks.
The Phantoms/Rangers have a history of losing good talent:
Malone, Baker, Wojoton, Newman, their short tempered catcher.
that's the nucleus of a championship claiber team.

This team has not been the same since Newman left, and its a shame.

the curse of Newman

Stetzer is a solid player, who has been around since 2004, and is probably frustrated as hell at the way things have unfolded for his team. They have a couple other good players as well, that shortstop who pitches is good.

2009 Prediction:
Dissolved into another team, perhaps the Hurricanes, which would be good for them as I have predicted a fantastic regular season for the Hurricanes.

Next week: The Confederacy.

Quack.

Gorundhogs lose

The Gorundhogs are now 1-2-1 after losing to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory 7-1 last night. The Pittsburgh NABA Groundhogs are ready to reverse their so-so fortunes in the playoffs.



Spags pitched well, allowing two hits over six innings. didn't get any close calls.

It's hard to get up for these games. It's good to get in some work. It's too bad we don't have an indoor league full of NABA teams. that would make the games much more competitive, and important. I still hate to lose, and our team is more talented than the five over 28 teams.

Timmy was AWOL last nite.

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Guthrie was the only Ducks to show up and scrimmage with the black sox. he pitched to their batters, and probably dominated.




Ideally we will get at least 5 guys to show up next Monday. Regardless of how you feel about the team that eliminated us last season, they are providing us with an opportunity to get better in the off-season and we should take them up on their offer.

I've played alongside Kenny, Goldie, and Slavonic. They are everything you could ask for in teammates. For whatever that's worth.

I would get more out of seeing their pitchers in Feb than I am getting from the old guys in Trafford, but I'm committed to the Groundhogs, and since I only have two nights off per week, one is for the Groundhogs and the other is Sunday.

That said, turnout for our Sunday practices has exceeded expectations, and practice has been productive.

For the rest of the spring, we will practice Sunday at 5, and with the Black Sox Mondays at 7. Make every effort to get to both.

This will make us better individually and collectively.

I'm going to preview all 12 teams. I planned on doing one per week leading up to the season but I'm short on weeks. I'll figure something out. I'm going to start early in my quest to lead the league in HBP.

Bounty Hunter

Quack.

Away Jersey?

What do you think?

This took much longer than it should have.

Available without numbers in the Ducks Store, makes a great gift.

Quack.

Spagnasty leads Groundhogs to first victory: Groundhogs 10, Giants 3

Joe Graff and his new friend.

Went to Harvard.

Jim Spagnola pitched seven innings allowing 3 runs, on four hits, striking out three Giants, and walking two.

The Pittsburgh NABA Groundhogs Modified Rules Winter Baseball Club played solid defense behind Spags, turning between two and four double plays.

Brian Strom went 3-4, Joe Graff continues to run fast and get on base while recording base hits and drawing walks.

If Ben Gwin and Vinny Gala start hitting at the same time, the Groundhogs will be unstoppable.

Groundhogs mid-season acquisition, Blue Shirt, hit a triple and brought pine tar. The other guy from the Huskies whose name I don't remember is a solid hitter and continues to drive in runs.

The Giants started Jeff Hostetler on the mound for an injured Phil Simms, but he was ineffective early, allowing six runs in the first two innings.

I think Joe got a hit, possibly two.
Strom surprised everyone going without eye black, or sunglasses. blinded by the bright indoor lighting, he relied heavily on his sense of smell, and played an unreal game at third.


The Giants relied heavily on these two, Banjo and Accordion. not the devastating double play combo you might think

The Groundhogs jumped out to a 7-3 lead and added three more in the last two innings.

The game started ominously for the no longer undefeated Giants:
Jimmy Spagmatic hit the first two Giants but they refused to take their free base, leading to a pop out, a walk and a double play for a 1-2-3 first inning.

Then Jeff Kent ate a dead bird


The Groundhogs have scored 16 runs in their last nine innings and are undefeated since, starting pitcher, Jim-bo Spagmania joined the team, he fields the position well, and will contend for a spot in the Ducks rotation while helping to solidify what is shaping up to be a very deep South Oakland bullpen this summer.

Winter Ball Game 3: Groundhogs (0-1-1) vs. Giants (2-0)...Ducks News

Some questions on the minds of the Pittsburgh NABA Groundhogs Modified Rules Indoor Baseball Club:

Will guest player, Blues outfielder, Brian Strom wear his sunglasses inside?
will he go with eye-black?
Or will Strom go with both shades and eye black and intimidate the Giants into a forfeit.


Will someone bring pine tar?

How much beer will be consumed at the pre-game meal?

Is this guy on the Giants?



Bad News for the Giants.

***


DUCKS:

Get your money to Coach TC Jones.

Dr. Theodore "Indiana" Jones

434 South Graham St. Apt. #4

Pittsburgh, PA

15232

Turnout at practice has been great.
The Next practice will be this Sunday at 5pmat the Greentree Sportsplex

Jesse Smith is in the best shape of his life.

Coach knows who has been in attendance.

Those of us who can't attend regularly won't have it held against us, but showing up to practice regularly will be considered when Dr. Jones makes decisions on playing time.

Get your money to TC.

Dr. Theodore "Indiana" Jones

434 South Graham St. Apt. #4

Pittsburgh, PA

15232

There's still a bounty on the mystery commenter, (see the last post. )



If this was someone who randomly stumbled upon our blog, then whatever, but if it's someone from the league their teammates will pay for their actions.
Granted, one of this blog' s functions is to provide a forum for trash talking, we dish out enough that we can certainly take it, but at least be a little creative, and show your team colors.

Quack.

Ducks

I'll buy a six pack of the beverage of your choice for whomever identifies the person who left the comment
at the end of this fall ball post

If they play in the league, we bean their team's best player and their coach but not the person who left the comment.

If we can't figure out who it is and no one comes forward, we bean the best player and coach of every team just to be safe.



Quack.

League Dues

The first team deposit of $500 is due today.

Bring your first $50 installment to practice this evening, or mail it to Coach Jones asap.

Dr. Theodore "Indiana" Jones

434 South Graham St. Apt. #4

Pittsburgh, PA

15232

Practice is at 5pm at the Greentree Sportsplex.

Today's league meeting was rescheduled for next weekend.

Everyone be on the lookout for potential sponsors. It's a bad of a time try to solicit money, but everyone can at least ask their boss and the manager of their favorite bar.

Quack.

Practice, League News

Ducks Practice this Sunday at 5pm
Greentree Sportsplex:
600 Iron City Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15205.

Mapquest that address or click on this link: directions to sportsplex

On Monday at 7pm we'll have a modified, scrimmage game against the Black Sox at the Sportsplex.
it will be the most intense indoor bullpen session with live batters and catchers with hits decided by the coaches that has ever occurred during February in Greentree.

There's supposed to be a league meeting on Sunday.
Get your money to TC,
go to this post for his address.



Sorosky is out of his mind, literally and figuratively:
checkout his GrayBats/Pitt Greensburgh Blog
Good stuff, I admire his confidence.
Quack away in his comment section.



I wrote this about the Super Bowl






Spagnola's T-shirt guy can get us shirts for around six bucks apiece, but we'd have to order 50 of them.
We'd all be on the hook for part of the other 30 or so shirts, (about $10 wholesale in shirts per player) which we could sell to our fans to pay for our own away jerseys.
It's worth considering.
other shirt vendors are in the $9-$12 per shirt range for 30 shirts so the total money is close, but we wouldn't have a wonderful T-shirt surplus to use for fund raising.

We will need to know how many new players we will have by March 1st so we can order green jerseys.


Go Ducks.

Six More Weeks of Winter: Groundhogs rally late, pound Beavers for six runs.

Groundhogs 6, Beavers 6

Jimmy Spagnola made his pitching debut for the PGH NABA Groundhogs Winter League Modified Indoor Baseball Team. He allowed 6 runs, 3 earned, and struckout maybe five Beavers over six innings.

The Beavers did not appear interested in swinging the bat early. The took a 6-0 lead by taking a bunch of borderline pitches, walking and hitting weak grounders that were misplayed by the 'Hogs.

Errors by Vinny Gala and Ben Gwin led to 3 unearned runs.

Having been shutout 6-0 by the Sharks on opening day, and continuing to struggle to string together good at-bats, the Hogs appeared to be reliving the same game over again, entering the bottom of the fourth, the Groundhogs had gone ten Winter League Modified innings without scoring a run. The sleepy atmosphere on the bench and the cold and general lack of intensity provided a creepy sense of deja vu on Groundhog Day. The Beavers were really into the game, they wanted to win badly, while it seemed the Hogs were mostly interested in getting some work in before the start of the spring season.

Then the PNGWLMIBT seemed to grow tired with the bush league antics of the Beavers, and realizing they were all at least 10 years younger than the competition, decided to play baseball. The Hogs scored four in the fourth, one in the sixth, and one in the 7th to comeback and tie the game.

John from the Huskies (I think) drove in the first 2 runs of the season. Then we scored 2 more somehow.

I wasn't paying much attention.

Mike Martin drove in a run in the sixth, and Gwin had the game tying hit in the bottom of the seventh.

I think Martin had two hits, Graff had one, Gala ripped the ball right at guys all game. Spags was on base a lot. Wino had at least a single maybe two, whatever.

I'm out in front of everything. shitty.

I would play for an over 28 team just to beat those guys in the regular season.

Go Groundhogs.

Groundhogs' Day

Groundhogs vs. Beavers
Tonight 9pm, All-America Baseball Center


Bad news for the Beavers