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.
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.
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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.
The Ducks trailed 9-2 heading into the sixth, but rallied for four runs in the inning then South Oakland of the North Side had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the 7th, but after a K, an RBI groundout and another K, the Ducks lost and Kenny Powers effectively clinched the 2 seed, unless the Black Sox lose out, and the Ducks win their last two games.
Full recap by Kenny F_ing Powers sometime Sunday.
We will see them again.
Thanks to all the fans, of both teams, who showed up. We will need more of that, especially in the playoffs. I really thought there was going to be a fight. We may have eclipsed the Sox as the team with the most obnoxious fans. That is a good thing.
Commish, the field ump was texting during the game.
Based on last season's results the league basically breaks up into three classes. While the middle class is still USA 1950's strong, the distance between good and great is growing.
"G"
There are over 60 players in the free agent pool this season, I imagine there will be a few new teams, and possibly the merge of the Phantoms and Hurricanes. The Confederacy will try to hand pick two more guys to fill out their basketball team sized roster. With all the new talent, any team, even the Confederacy, has a chance to be greatly improved.
New additions I don't know about not withstanding, the classes of the Pittsburgh NABA seen through my, biased eyes.
Eating out of a trash can:
Rebels Hurricanes Phantoms
Eating at Arby's: Eagles Matadors Rakers (very little separation here) Eating at TJI Friday's Gray Bats Bulldogs Oilers
Eating at your mom's
Ducks
Eating at Mortons
Black Sox Warriors OwlzZzzzzz
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Not much separates the middle seven teams. Sometimes the match-ups just work well and you catch the Black Sox on an early Saturday morning game. The Rakers swept the Black Sox last season, The Ducks went 2-1 against the Rakers The Black Sox went 2-1 against the Ducks, with two blowout wins. Here is your grain of salt, take it.
Now we are getting to the TJI Friday's section of the league previews.
The Bulldogs: Haven't won a playoff game ever.
The Bulldogs made the playoffs by a half game last season despite the Matadors attempts to sabotage their season.
Mike Martin and Wino have been training hard.
Bulldogs' catcher Joe Graff and pitcher BJ Rankin enjoying desert in Manassas. Rankin's slider is filthy.
The Bulldogs are the epitome of team work
This man is a finely tuned athlete
Viny Gala is the best all around firstbaseman in the league. Defensivly he had a beast of a tournament for the Blues in VA. He can hit the ball a long way. I remeber our time on the Ghostbusters fondly, he hit a triple.
Brian Strom will unveil his Bulldogs blog in the enar future. Sure to be a must read.
Strom Managed the O.C. fall ball team. they will probably add a few players from that squad.
The Bulldogs have another Ghostbuster on their roster
Dr. Dan Venkman is competitor and a top tier pitcher. Not afraid of Ghosts.
The Bulldogs will continue to be competitive.
The Gray Bats will not beat the Ducks this season. Take that to the bank, Sorosky. woooooooooooooooooo.
Manager Larry Zalewski sent up a signal for pitching help and Jeremy Barchie answered the call.
By my estimation, If Larry hadn't formed this team Pitchers, Jeremy Barchie and Ben Sorosky would be Ducks. They are a formidable 1-2 punch, one of the best in the league. Too bad in the 4th inning of every game, Larry will insert the elder statesmen of the team, and when their arthritic knees give out while in pursuit of a fly ball, Barchie and Sorosky will wind up being the victims of many unearned runs.
Apparently, "I want to be a Duck" really means, "I don't want to play for the Rakers"
This is what happens, Larry. (profanity)
Here are links to two other Gray Bats Blogs.Check them out and quack away in the comments section. This blog contains player profiles, which I recommend opposing catchers browse before playing this team in order to better know what to say to distract these guys while up at bat. The over 28 league is calling, Larry.
This is the Gray Bats coach
This is a link to Ben "sit on the change-up" Sorosky's blog, which contains a Gray Bats season preview. (In this preview Sorosky claims Galvanek has a gun. If that's the case we'd better take cover. Sorosky predicts a championship for the Gray Hairs.)
Solid blog work, by one of the Pittsburgh NABA's elite pitching talents. One of the best gifts the NABA has given me is the chance to compete against pitchers of Sorosky's caliber, and take them yard, as I did on 7/26/06 when Sorosky was a Knight. full disclosure, I was 1-5 against Sorksoy last season. 3-8 lifetime, with 1HR and 3 rbi.
In all seriousness, this team will be better than some expect. The big Question: Will Larry's desire to play everyone, and have a team with players of all skill levels ultimatly undermine the talent and the W-L record of the Gray Bats? I smell 4th place in the Monongahela in 2009.
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The Rakers might not exist anymore, I don't even know what's going on with this team. I do know there is a set of sweet uniforms with "Cyrilla Landscaping" written across them. I would imagine those uniforms will return, and the rest of the players form this team will reappear somewhere.
There will probably be two more new teams, one of them will probably be solid, and the other team will be a joke.
I wonder which team the commissioner will put in his conference?
Praying for more juice, just like the Bats
Larry Z wants to be flying high
Graybats Home Run Ball
