Friday, July 31, 2009

Bulldogs Blog Updated After Week long Bender.

Solid work as always by Dr. Radical & Co. - Calling out Yoda for his indiscretions and giving a grim recap of the Warriors Bulldogs wild card game.

Click on the above link.

If you want the circle jerk of the century check out the Gray Bats Team Awards post on their now fully functional blog.


Sox-Owlz at Moore Park tomorrow night.
winning coach can post a recap if they want, same with the series winning coach.
Canes Warriors play tomorrow as well don't know when or where but its not Moore apparently.

Quack.



Thursday, July 30, 2009

Playoff Update [UPDATED 7-31-09] Warriors 10 - Canes 6

The Warriors have defeated the Fightin's 10-6 in Game 1 of the Campbell Conference Finals.

The reigning intercontinental champs (who are in the unfamiliar role of underdog this series) can wrap up a second consecutive trip to the Finals with a win Saturday, 9pm at More Park.
They want Hulk Hogan.

The Warriors O Doyle out-dueled former Black Sock Chris Recker for the win, Brent Heintzleman (sp.)had a 2-inning save, Rafalski and Joyner each pitched one inning in relief.

The Craig Boley went 2 for 3 with 2BB, and scored 3 times.

Don Stetzer had two hits, and dedicated them to Chris Wojton.

Heintzleman (sp.) hit a ball off the fence in the seventh against Rafalski that cleared the bases plating 3 runs.
Updates in the comment section are welcome.
Where will the Owlz and Sox play if not Moore Park?

The Ducks are still planning our invasion of Erie, and setting our roster for the Steel City Classic.



Robot Duck is looking forward to South Oakland of the North Side's trip to Erie.


  • The Warriors will play the Fightin' Rafalski's in Game 2 Saturday, 9pm at Moore Park.
  • Game 2 of the Owlz Sox series has been pushed back to the weekend.

Our number one priority this off season will be to acquire more fields.





hilarious.

YODA has made an appearance in this comment thread.

Quack.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Robots teaser.





More on robots later.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Wales Conference Final Update: Black Sox 3, Owlz 1

In the series dubbed "The Battle of the Air Horn vs. The Loud Lady Owlz Fan,"
The Black Sox took game 1, 3-1, over the Owlz.

Since 2004 the team that has won game one of the 3 game series has gone on to win 78.3% of the time, according to Pete Chalfin.

The '04 Ducks lost in the Conference finals to the Sox after taking game 1.

Game 2 will pit pitcher of the year candidate Scott Dunn against potentially J.T. Slavicek or whomever else the Sox have.
The Sox have got to be thin on pitching, mayeb we'll get an appearance from the greatest pitcher in the history of organized baseball.

The Sox's lefty pitched well.

neither of these team names can be made into possessive plurals.

the conclusion to this game was not forgone, apparently.

Words were exchanged after the game between two of the best players in the series.

Feel the hatred.

Winner of tomorrow's game and of the series can email me a recap for posting if they want.
Updates from the western conference are welcome also.

***

I'm still sick to my stomach about Sunday's loss.
Just fucking gut-wrenching.

Ill have a season recap after the finals.

Jones will have some team awards.

My picks for Ducks Awards:
MVP: Castle
Offensive player of the year: Captain America
Co-Pitchers of the year: Fletch/Invisible Hand
Defensive Player of the Year: Jesse Smith

Coby is probably hard at work right now on his recap.

The Ducks are in the process of getting our roster set for our trip to Erie for 3 free baseball games at the former home of the Erie Sailors, who when I saw them as a kid were the minor league affiliate of the Marlins, and seeking sponsors for our labor day tournament team.

Expect a call from the good Dr.


Quack.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Playoff Game 2 Recap. Black Sox 6, Ducks 5 final 10innings

Matt Slavonic hit a game winning RBI single in the bottom of the tenth, scoring Jason Goldie from second, and ending the Ducks season.

South Oakland led 3-2 going into the bottom of the 5th, the Sox scored two to take a 4-3 lead.
the Sox would add another run in the bottom of the sixth.

South Oakland tied the game at 5-5 with 2 runs in the top of the seventh.
Dutch drove in the tying run with an RBI fielder's choice.
We needed to take the lead there and we didn't.
Wojton drilled a ball to the gap, and the Sox left fielder was shaded that way, and was able to make the catch.

The Ducks didn't really threaten in extra frames.

We almost turned a triple play.

There's no shame in losing a 10 inning game.
Much better than last year's playoff loss.
It is a whole different kind of pain.

Good season, everyone.

This game will go down in the annals of the Ducks Sox rivalry as by far the best baseball game of the storied series.

I can't believe its over.

Good luck to the Sox and whomever they face in the Conference Finals.

Kenny played so well he was offered a contract with Tampa.





Note: the foul ball call was correct. we looked it up.

here's the rule:


the highlighted part says, "is touched by a player "on" foul territory, it is a foul ball."

there was some uproar over that.

the call was correct.

Its a footnote in the story of a great game, and a bitter sweet season.

If someone wants to go into more detail on this recap that would be great, but I don't have the mental capacity right now.

The Ducks will field a team in the Labor Day Tournament, and will travel to Erie to play a 3 game series against the Erie Adult Baseball League team or team(s) McCray knows the weekend of August 22nd.

I'm looking forward to another solid season recap from Coby.

Quack.

Playoff Gameday [2]:Ducks vs. Black Sox IV.


Ducks vs. Black Sox

3pm

Avonworth High School

The winner will play whomever wins the 5:30 game between the Owlz and Confederacy in the conference finals.

We have a chance to eliminate the Black Sox.

We will face Chalfin again.
The Ducks will start Guthrie or Smith.

We have another great opportunity this afternoon.

we will be a bit short-handed, we need to be better than the sum of our parts today.







Bad News for the Black Sox

Saturday, July 25, 2009

BP Sunday 12-1:30pm

Ducks vs. Black Sox

3pm

Avonworth High School

Playoff Game 1 Recap: Ducks 10, Gray Bats 1


Unofficial line:

Nick Homa CG, 5 hits 8 K's 1ER
Kirk Gibson: 2-3, BB, 1B, HR, 3RBI,
Castle 2-3, SB, 3runs
Depo 1-3, 2B, 2RBI - three ladies after the game.

The Ducks (1-0) advance to the Wales Conference semifinals thanks to a 10-1 win over the Gray Bats (0-1), setting up a rematch with Kenny Powers and the rival Black Sox.

Nick Homa doesn't lose to Ben Sorosky.



The game was scoreless going into the top of the 3rd when Sorosky singled home some dude who hates his coach.

The Gray Bats led 1-0. They had runners on first and second with nobody out.
Ducks' reliever Adam Smith was warming up in the pen, the Bats had their best hitter at the plate, and he infield-flied out.
Homa K'd the next guy, then a ground-out ended the threat.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Ducks scored five runs with two outs.


Gwin singled and stole second, then
Captain doubled to center.
1-1

with the score tied Kirk stepped to the plate...
Gibson drove in what would be the game winning run

2-1 Ducks

Gibson advanced on a passed ball.
J.Smith walked.
Wojton singled in Kirk.

3-1 Ducks

Depo hit a bases clearing double to right-center and the Ducks led 5-1 after 3.

The Gray Bats hit out of order, but weren't called out. I think it was a typo in the lineup card, but this is the playoffs.

Casale led off the 4th with a walk.
Gwin bunted down the thirdbase line, beat the throw to first, which got away from J.Rocker, and Casale scored.

Gwin marked it as an RBI double in the book.

Ducks 6, Gray Bats 1 after 5.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sorosky was relieved trailing 6-1.
Casale walked to start the inning, then a perfectly executed hit and run by Gwin and Casale turned into another RBI double to right for Gwin.

7-1 Ducks

Novak tripled to right to make the score 8-1.

Kirk Gibson's Homerun


McCray is now tied with Gwin and Wojton for the Ducks all-time post season HR record. (1)
He hit one off the dirt mound well past the wall in right field.

The Commish and Strom retrieved the ball
they can attest - it was a shot.

10-1 Ducks.

Homa retired the side in order in the top of the 7th.

i think i missed an inning in the recap.

After all that talk about sportsmanship, the Gray Bats' coach didn't shake hands after the game.

This was the Ducks' day, Homa was better than Lombaradi this afternoon, and the Ducks hit when we had to.
We didn't stop after one inning of offense.
Both teams played hard and with class.

it could have been a different game if that guy makes the diving catch on Captain and if maybe the Bats more guys contributing on offense, but when the dust settled, and South Oakland won by nine [9] runs.

The gin bucket will flow again.

The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side are now 6-4 all time in post season play.

This is the game we've been waiting for since we were eliminated last season.

We knew it was coming all year.

Another shot at Kenny Powers and the Sox for the right to advance to the Conference Finals.
I bet the Sox would have rather played the Rebels or whatever, but they knew they'd get us again, and deep down i know Kenny, and Goldie, BSOX 40, and Chalfin are pumped its us.

The Rebels play the Owlz in the Forgone Conclusion Game tomorrow.
The Bombers crushed the Oilers 10-1, and take on the Fightin's' tomorrow.
The Bulldogs play the Warriors in the other Campbell Conference semi.



Quack.


Playoff Gameday [1]: Ducks vs. Gray Bats.



Wales Conference Wild Card Playoff

3pm, LaRoche College.(Directions)

Ducks (0-0) vs, Gray Bats (0-0)
Projected Starters: Depo vs. Sorosky

"When we got to the ballpark, we knew we were going to win. That's all there was to it. we weren't cocky. I wouldn't call it confidence either. We just knew. Like when you go to sleep you know the sun is going to come up in the morning."


The name of the game is Thunder Dome



two men enter one man leaves

Rumors that LaRoche College has been traded for field prospects for the 2012 season are unsubstantiated.

The regular season may have been "meaningless" but the playoffs aren't.





Abe Lincoln and Ninjas

Depo on the hill


Bad News for the Gray Bats

Quack.

Friday, July 24, 2009

BP - Edit - by gwin

BP
Saturday Noon-1:30pm
Pitt IM Fields

Guys, we can leave no trace of tobacco products at the field.
Since we don't condone the use of such products it shouldn't be too difficult.
Gameday by skip in the AM.

Monongahela First Round
Saturay 3pm
LaRoche Field
Directions

Go Ducks!

quack

The Playoffs Are Upon Us - this got a little long -

The regular season came and went quicker than that time Kenny Powers slept with a Miller Lite Girl.



unrelated clip of Kenny and Ashley Shaffer - that's what we do here.

It has become apparent that recruiting and building a strong team in the off season has become more important than ever.

The Owlz are a good example of this they did an ok job of recruiting a fairly competitive team, the Sox got better two solid pitchers as well,

The Hurricanes went from laughingstock to the Fightin' Rafalski's and a title contender in one winter, and the Ducks added key components as well. Even if a few have been infrequent guests, Dowling, Casale, Watson, and Depo have all helped our team tremendously.
One could make a case for Fletcher as our team MVP, and he was a mid-season acquisition.

The best teams have the best line on players.

But the playoff games still have to be played.
They aren't won during the off season, they aren't won on paper, they aren't won over the course of a 24 game regular season, and they certainly aren't won in online pissing contests - as entertaining and ridiculous as they can be.

Tomorrow, the South Oakland Ducks of the North Side take on the Gray Bats
It's a new season.
The winner gets to play at least one extra game.
That's all the motivation either team, (and any team, in my opinion) needs heading into the post-season.



I'm amazed at the response you have all had to our blog, it makes it much more fun to write when there is a string of comments afterward (whether you think the blog is gay or not), and i think its added another layer of sub-lot to the season.

thank you for taking the time to read my 3rd grade-reading-level typing.
I've tried to include stuff about teams whose players leave comments, and tie it into the Ducks in some manner to keep the core fan base happy.
probably haven't done that all the time.
Anyone who wants to email me a preview of anything playoff related I'll post it if you want.

The Confederacy take on Don Henley and the Eagles tomorrow morning, then the Oilers and Bombers battle it out to earn a spot against the Bright Orange Bullies.
Then at 3pm the Ducks will play a team that has nothing to lose with our season on the line.

The Ducks have not won a playoff game since 2004, when we won game 1 of the conference semi's against the Black Sox.
We've posted the best regular season in Ducks history finishing 8 games over .500.
Since Dr. Jones has taken the reigns, the Ducks are 27 - 17 - 2.

ten games over as head coach

There is some nice symmetry here - in 2007 we had 8 wins, and finished 8-16
Jones has puppeted the Ducks from being 8 games under .500 to 8 games over in 2 seasons.
.333 to .667 winning percentage
So there's hope for the Bats in 2011 - woooooooooo!

In the past week the comments got a bit out of hand, and that will happen.
No one likes being accused of cheating or being delusional or lying or whatever, but that's the nature of the beast.
The week sure flew by, though.



Something i think about often, on a personal and a societal level is the importance of sports.
The name calling and shit talking is just a symptom of how important we take our league, how seriously we take our adult amateur baseball, even when for the majority of us this is the last stop on the block.
About 99% of us are Has-beens and never-will-be's in the major league scheme of things.

The competition has increased dramatically this year, and it has been great, but still many of us don't play in college and don't have a chance to play at a much higher level than this.
So if this league really for a bunch of amateurs, why do we get in 40+ comment long diatribes of who's better and who should keep their mouth shut and who can hit who, and who is a total dick even though they caught an extra inning game during fall ball after apologizing for getting pissed about some bullshit, and tried to make it right by getting behind the plate so their could be a real game in the championship. etc...

In the grand scheme of things this level of baseball is exactly what it is - as much as i hate that phrase - but I'd rather be accused of taking it too seriously than of lacking intensity.
It's a fine line, that will definitely be crossed at times.
There's something about baseball that I need, like a junkie needs heroin, or a Black Sox player needs Miller Lite, and Percocet.



And a lot of wht this blog does is mock that incredible importance we place on our league, while at the same time taking it too seriously, it's impossible not too.
A kind of contradictory self awareness, if you will.
like heroin, i know it's bad for me but i need it.

It's not as if it is some kind of attempt to relive high school or legion glory, it's about the chance to compete and to have teammates again, and to play the greatest game there is at a reasonably high level, for as long as possible.
For some it's a chance to stay in shape until they go back to Baseball Factory Waynesburg University.

So fuck off if you think we go overboard with this, or take it too seriously you may be right, but i still call that erring on the side of caution. There will always be people who disagree with that and its fine.

I find it less ridiculous than the string of comments at the end of any pro sports blog on ESPN.com.
At least we are the ones playing in these games, and while it's not even single-A ball or Independent League ball, it's our baseball it's our league; we started it, we run it, and that allows us to play in it and blog about it.

The Pittsburgh NABA and its players have created our own baseball universe, and between April and August it is important - as far as prioritizing it after obvious things like work and family and school and stuff.
***

Back to the task at hand.

TC has been recruiting since last season ended,
We started hitting in January (believe it or not), and it could all be over tomorrow afternoon.

The Ducks are not ready for our season to end.

Ducks (0-0) vs. Gray Bats (0-0)
Saturday,
3pm
LaRoche College

Getbusy livin' or get busy dyin'.



Quack.








Thursday, July 23, 2009

thursday.

BP at 6:30 if the rain holds off.

Gray Bats have issued a gag order.

Saturday can't get here soon enough.

quack.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Channel 4.





BP today at 6:30
Tomorrow at 6:30

Ducks vs. Gray Bats, wild card game
Saturday, 3pm
at
LaRoche College

tell your friends.

Quack

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Philosophy

Make sure you read the post below this one.

Having a unique point of view, I used to play for the Gray Bats and I currently play for the Ducks, I've been asked to write a commentary on the matchup this week. So, I'm gonna put a plug of Skoal in and hopefully write something worth while.

* The South Oakland Ducks in no way encourage the use of chewing tobacco.

I'd like to start out by saying that Larry is a good coach. He knows as well as anyone where to put his players to maximize their output in the lineup and on the field. I would also like to say that I played for the Gray Bats during the fall. Things were alot more laid back then they were now. I can't comment directly on the way things are handled in the Gray Bat's dugout during this season.

There are three things that a coach must manage successfully in order to be successful: team chemistry, player happiness, and gameday management. A delicate balance of these three things must be maintained throughout an entire season. This is the reason the Ducks are so successful this year.

You wanna see team chemistry? Come to a bar with the Ducks some weekend.


Watch the way our infield flawlessly turns double play after double play.

I've never had more fun playing baseball than I have this summer.



As for gameday management, our record speaks for itself.

I guess what I'm getting at is there's a reason why the Ducks have a 25 man roster. The Ducks have gotten the formula hit on the nail pretty well this season. Yes every team has their bumps in the road and we've had ours, but take this team and throw them into a different system and you don't get anywhere near the same result.

When I played for the Gray Bats I instantly knew I didn't fit in. My heart was set on being a duck pretty much straight away. With the Bats there was no chemistry and there wasn't much going on there. Nothing against the Bats or Larry, but instead of pity and mockery of the Ducks, maybe you should be taking some notes. Enough has been said about Larry's placement in the lineup. Player-managers have taken shit forever, either change or live with it, those are your two options.

So there you have it. Let the comments commence.

Obama vs. Duck Ringtone - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.


Quack

The Hype Machine

I'm going to relay to you guys a little anecdote from my past. Ducks keep it in mind as you talk about this upcoming playoff game.

Believe it or not I was a bit arrogant back in my younger days, but so are a lot of 18 year old boys still in high school. My high school basketball team had just come off a huge win over the Cathedral Prep Ramblers, who were at that time ranked 3rd in the state of Pennsylvania, giving them their first loss of the season on our home court. I remember being in the locker room after that game patting ourselves on the back, trash talking with our chests all puffed out like we were really something special, talking about the state title we were all sure we were bound to bring home come March.

In walks in our assistant coach, he stands there for a couple minutes just listening to us gloat about our stats, our record, and beating a top team in the state. He then said something that has stuck with me every since. He said, "Gentlemen, believe me when I tell you this: What hype builds, hype destroys." Those simple words were all he said before he turned and walked back out.

We were all quick to dismiss him, as would any hot-headed youngster who had just played the game of his life and came out victorious over a top ranked opponent. But sure enough, come March as I stood at midcourt looking up at the scoreboard seeing we are down 6 with ten seconds to go in a playoff game against a team we had manhandled two times before early in the season, that simple sentence our assistant coach muttered the month prior came ringing back.

That night well over six years ago was the last time I let hype and arrogance get the best of me. Nothing in this world is guaranteed, so Ducks as you talk up this game against the Gray Bats be careful not to let the hype get the best of us. The game is still played in between the chalk, and we need to just relax and play our style of game instead of getting into pissing matches with the opponents. If you don’t think the Gray Bats are giving us the proper respect then so be it. What they think of us does not matter, nor should it. We have one job on Saturday and that is to come out and play as hard as we can and leave everything on the field knowing that there was nothing else we could have done to put us in position to win the game. Come Saturday, win or lose (though I am confident we will prevail), I ask all of us to uphold the traditions of this game and be humble in victory or courteous in defeat.

Saturday - Edit -

"When we got to the ballpark, we knew we were going to win. That's all there was to it. we weren't cocky. I wouldn't call it confidence either. We just knew. Like when you go to sleep you know the sun is going to come up in the morning."

Great quote by Swoosh there, I hate to interfere with a nice simple post, but things are getting out of hand.

I don't really believe in bulletin board material in most cases, but this is ridiculous, and i do enjoy keeping Kenny Powers entertained.
From LarryZ in this comment thread:

Hey fag Anonymous, instead of kicking your punk ass why not come on a 20 mile run with me and let's see what you're made of? Yeah right, I thought so. Same for smokin' Ben and any other loudmouth, stats-padder. Show some respect asshole.

Ben, at least I don't pad my stats. I'd say you're probably closer to .200.

And you never take yourself out of games when your batting average sucks either Gwin. I hear stories about your whining and cry-baby shit, so look in the mirror first before you cst the first stone.

I just look at all the attention of my age as flattery. Thanks. Pretty amazing that a 44 year old guy can play better than most disrespectful punks in this league huh? Most of the Owlz team. Just shut up.

I am who I am. If you want me to see me angry, try me. I'll shove some hot chicken soup up your ass.

Ii feel sorry for TC. He's too nice a guy to be a puppet for the Ducks squad.


Our coach is not a puppet.
That's what has me fired up, TC doesn't need your pity.

the Ducks and Gray Bats stats are available online here for comparison. - ours are missing our last 3 games.



How much you want to bet I can slam dunk this tray into the garbage can?




Quack.

Monday, July 20, 2009

D is for Ducks (updated


UPDATE _ DUCKS OWLZ SCRIMMAGE rAINED OUT
BP TOMORROW, and thurs AT 6:30

Gray Bats, Weak, Day 1. Grey Album: Encore.

DUCKS:

BP tonight at 6:30
Scrimmage vs. Owlz tomorrow, details to be announced, asap - Cool feel free to chime in in the comments section or email TC when you know what's going on - .
BP Wed. 6:30
BP Thurs. 6:30



Take one for your team

The Gray Bats are not as bad as their .125 winning percentage suggests.
Baseball is a humbling game sometimes, I've seen weird things happen, just ask the hole in the fence at Pie Traynor.
No one wants their season to end on Saturday.
As a competitor I appreciate the Gray Bats confidence, but still, the Ducks have proven over the course of 24 games to be the better team.
We have also proven in the 3 games against the Gray Bats that we are the better team.
We have to prove it when our season is on the line.


We have seen unreal amounts of trash talking between both teams all season.
There's the Gray Bats manager and his fucking views on censorship - that's another sub-plot.
If i ever hit under .200 when i was coaching i would have benched myself...

He took a shot at the Ducks Blog's affiliation with Abe Lincoln.
Probably because Abe Lincoln was a real leader.




During Fall Ball I edited the Gray Bat wikipedia entry, not sure how that is looking now.
Someone should do that again, and get a screen shot of it...

I watched the entire first season of East Bound and Down yesterday.

I think "Ducks Die Together" is a great screen name, clever at worst...

Dangermouse is unreal.



Foes that wanna make sure my caskets closed


If we want a shot at redemption for the beating we took at the hands of Kenny Powers last season, we must win on Saturday.

Quack.






Sunday, July 19, 2009

{Edit by busy} Scrimmage Teusday

The ducks will scrimmage the owlz Tuesday night at either 6pm or 8pm most likely at Findlay Field. We are in the process of finalizing field availability.

this will be a great way to tune up for the playoffs. Jones hasn't pitched in ten years, and we can all use the extra live at-bats.

Gray Bats Blog is firing away already....

3-21 is the worst record in the history of the Pittsburgh NABA.

scrimmaging a 23-1 [ the best record in league history] should prepare us well.

Also, we will be having batting practice today, Wednesday, and Thursday at 6:30PM at the Pitt IM Fields.

Ducks Finish Regular Season with a Win. Look forward to Playoffs.

The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side finished the regular season with a win over the Bulldogs today at Ohio River Boulevard.


Tony Casale broke out and scored both runs today in the 2-1 victory with two hits.

The Bulldogs struck first to make the score 1-0. The Ducks then tied it up when Casale made it on base and then made his way to third for Ben to hit him in on a sac fly. Casale made it on base again for the second time in the game and scored once again when two errant throws were made on a steal attempt to plate the winning run.


The rest of the game consisted of a great pitching from both sides, BJ Rankin and Mark Guthrie. Captain America came out on top pitching a complete game, only giving up one run, and throwing seven strikeouts.



Ben had an additional single and there was a bevy of infield hits by the bottom of the order. Adam Smith was a machine in left field. He caught everything hit anywhere near him.

Its playoff time. The Ducks look forward to the highly expected game against the Gray Bats on Saturday. I'm sure there will be plenty of talk about this match up throughout the week, but thats for another post.


Walk Like a Duck


Depot Style

Batting Practice tomorrow at 6:30.
Also Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30




This is how the Ducks prepare for Saturday's game against the Graybats.

Ducks win: Ducks 2 Bulldogs 1



Captain America: CG, 4h 1er, 7 k.

Casale: 2 for 3, 2 R
Gwin 1-2, SF rbi
Depo, Gies, and Coby all had infield hits.

Casale scored the game winning run after two consecutive throwing errors by the bulldogs.

The South Oakland Ducks of the North Side finish the 2009 regular season with a record of 16-8.

Recap later.


Saturday, July 18, 2009

Gameday [24] Ducks vs. Bulldogs

Ducks (15-8) vs. Bulldogs (12-11)
12pm
Ohio River Blvd. Field
(right off rt. 65)

The Black Sox (16-6) beat the Matadors [ (11-10-1) by a score of 9-3, and clinched 2nd place on Saturday.

Congrats Kenny Powers.

It is official, we play the Gray Bats in six days.

***

Martin is here






Today's game against the Bulldogs is "meaningless" for both teams.
The Bulldogs (by way of the Matadors forfeiting too many games) have already locked up a conference semi final game against the Warriors, while the Oilers and Bombers will have a play-in game the winner of which gets the Fightin' Rafalski's.




16-8 looks a lot better than 15-9.
Primarily we want to get everyone in and get our pitchers some work.

I have no idea what this is about.


Bad News for the Bulldogs.



Quack.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Ducks & Graybats - Playoff Preview?

The 2009 NABA playoffs are quickly approaching, and matchups are being determined with each passing day. However, one contest looks like it may already be set, with potential epic consequences.


Ducks vs. Graybats
It is coming

Much has been said of the previous meetings between the two teams. Guaranteed victories and threats of retirement have both been parts of the division series. Now it comes down to this.

Playoff time.
With the new format this year, all teams make the playoffs (not counting forfeiting teams) regardless of regular season record. This was voted on by all teams during the offseason, and it passed with little opposition. While there are a number of positives about this format, it takes away some of the intensity of the regular season as well. We all know the great playoff run by the Ducks at the end of 2008.

But now teams in the basement of the division standings have a chance to upset better teams in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Graybats are counting on this.

They are praying for it.

Praying for more juice, just like the Bats

But while much has been said of the previous games, much is expected of the one to come. The Graybats have one vision of what will happen

Larry Z wants to be flying high

The Ducks, however, also have a vision of what is to come



The booted ball has been the calling card of the Graybats all season and now that the pressure of playoffs is upon us, will they perform any better?

Graybats Home Run Ball

Not likely.

The Ducks enter the game ready to dive, dip, dodge, duck...
and smash the cover off the ball.


Get ready for the playoffs.

Quack

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Bulldogs Week: Day 1 (Dog Days,...blah...)

(Is Playmaker our troll?)

The Bulldogs (11-11) are .5 games out of second place.
The Fightin' Rafalski's (15-8) [interesting that 15-8 is the best record over there, huh?] have clinched the Campell Conference regular season title
the warriors (11-9) and Matadors (11-9-1) have 3 and 2 games at hand respectively.
The Ducks (15-8) are most likely stuck in 3rd unless the Matadors, Warriors, and Eagles all beat Kenny Powers, and the Ducks beat the Bulldogs.

UPDATE - The Eagles Beat the Fightin' Rafalskis last night 21 - 5.
Don Henley is a beast.




The Sox can clinch Saturday.
Gray Bats like men.

Friday Night: Get Your Crayons Out!!!

Ducks Pulled Pork Extravaganza and Drink Fest at Dr. Jones' house.


Bring booze, food, or a Ducks donation of $5-1,000,000 to join in the festivities.
no free loaders!!!
8pm-4am
the Ducks know how to throw a Drink Fest.


***

Enter your team in the Steel City Classic.
It will be a great way to extend the season, play against some teams from other leagues, and potentially lose to the Ducks again.






Quack.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Game 23 Recap: Wojton gives 100%. Ducks 5, Bombers 4

The South Oakland Ducks (15-8) had their hopes of a 1st round bye all but eliminated on Saturday night, and entered their final home game against the six-win Bombers with little to play for.

Despite the dramatic nature of the Ducks win, in which Chris Wojton drove in the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh with a walk off bases loaded single to break the 4-4 tie, the post game reaction was somewhat subdued.

This was a trap game if ever one existed, and with the win, the Ducks at least force the Kenny Powers and the Sox to win one of their final three games to clinch the 2nd seed.
The Black Sox (15-6) magic number is 1. A loss by the Ducks or win by Brookline clinches for them.
balls.



The Ducks turned a sweet double play to end the first, The Ducks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom half.


Castle singled Gwin was hit by a pitch, Novak singled, and then Guthrie drove in two with a single up the middle.


The Ducks would go up 3-0 in the 3rd, Gwin was hit by another pitch, stole second, and Captain moved him to third with a well placed ground ball.

Then
Ducks all-star firstbaseman, Kirk Gibson singled to right.

it was 3-0 for a bit, The Ducks turned another great double play, the Bombers got angry when Guthrie made a sick diving catch in center that they said hit the ground, but didn't.

Then the bombers went ahead 4-3 after a couple walks and a chopper got past the Ducks 3rd baseman, and then they hit a double and someone singled.
that sequence may have been spread over 2 innings.

Fletch relieved Smith, with South Oakland trailing 4-3 and held the Bombers scoreless the rest of the way.

The Ducks tied the score in the bottom of the fifth when Wojton tripled home someone, i think, and it was 4-4.
So it was tied in the top of the sixth and Gwin threw out the guy with one sock who tried to go from first to third on a single to left center.
Then Fletcher struck out one of their 3-hitter, and he was pissed.

The Bombers broke at least 2 bats by slamming them down in frustration after strikeouts.

Tied at 4 bottom 7.

Gwin lead off the seventh with a walk, stole second barely, Novak walked, then after an out, McCray walked to load the bases for Wojton who singled off the Bombers secondbaseman who waas pitching at the time.

Wojton also went from 1st to third on a single at one point.
Great game Chris, and Ducks.

one of the bottom 3 recaps of the year.

Can we start the playoffs already?

One more tune up against the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Depo's slider is filthy, beware, Gray Bats...


Quack.