Ducks (12-7) at Gray Bats (3-17) 3pm Pie Traynor Field BP: 12-1:30 at PItt
Naturally these guys have added some players at the deadline. They are still a joke - collectively.
if we lose to a 3-17 team down the stretch when we really need to right the ship and get our bats going into the playoffs we should disband.
Why keep score if winning doesn't matter?
We have to win out and get help to get the 2 seed. We can't overlook anyone. We've lost to some terrible teams this year. We've beaten some very good teams this season.
Gotta have it today.
Abe Lincoln is back in a warm-up game for the Confederacy on Monday Bad News for the Gray Bats.
Ducks vs Rebels 8 am John Herb Field. Everyone will be well-rested no doubt. No Dr. Jones, Captain America is running the show. Gies is in charge of the helmets. Bring money if you still owe me, or the league.
If you don't realize the scope of this game, talk to Britton and rick about the history here. We'll see where we're at tonight. This team took 2 of 3 from us last year, in embarrassing fashion. They ended our season. 2009 offers a clear slate. The Black Sox don't think there's any way they can lose tonight. They probably didn't think they'd lose to the Hurricanes either.
Working nights sucks. See you around the 4th inning.
Say it ain't so, Kenny. Black Sox lose 3-0 to revived Hurricane Carter squad. The B-Sox were able to acquire a $200 sponsorship from a local car dealership
(profanity)
The Hurricanes are no joke, the Black Sox are still among the Pgh NABA's elite.
The Gray Bats lost 7-6 in dramatic fashion to the Warriors.
GrayBats Blog Recap Nice Zeppelin reference. Hopefully that guy singer will remind us of a 6-year old matt capps.
"Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser" --Vince Lombardi
The Warriors are like an old man who is tougher than he appears. He has that old man strength and is bitter and angry at everyone. The Gray Bats were without two of their top players. Ben Sorosky was in the process of getting robbed at the Ducks Golf Classic, and some other kid who pitches at UPG was busy being pissed he has to spend 4 years in Greensburg.
the Ducks Eagles and Owlz have yet to play, and mother nature is plotting against the Ducks tonight.
The South Oakland grounds crew will call in reinforcements to do everything they can to get the field playable by 8:45
the rain has to stop immediately.
Naturally I blame the bad weather on our commissioner.
There has been plenty of pre-season bs about new pitchers, and time spent courting free agents who flaked. It's hard to find something else to blog about in the middle of October.
This Duck's season is not about who we didn't get; It's not about who decided to play for old man Zalewski, who has to spend the summer driving up to Butler to play ball, or who Team Typo courted away from South Oakland. It's not about who the Owlz found in the "Who's Who of Western Pennzylvania College Baseball Players, or the Black Sox improved pitching staff and the return of Matt Slavonic. It doesn't matter who Larry thinks he's going to trot out behind Sorosky during our Saturday 8am game in a few weeks. It doesn't matter what The Don Henleys or the confederacy have up their sleeves after pillaging a very deep draft class.
It's about our team; who coach Bombay rolls out behind our starting pitcher on opening day.
Would it be gratifying to have added three pitchers who used to pitch in the minors and roll over everyone in the league? Sure. But it will be more gratifying to win with the guys we've got. To lament missed opportunities to add players is an insult to the names on our roster.
Our division accounts for five league championships: Two by the Kenny Powers', and one apiece by the Owlz, Confederacy, and Ducks respectivly.
This season is all about gearing up for the playoffs, the new format allows everyone to make the post-season. To put ourselves in position to make a run at the title. The title that the Owlz will not let go of easily, a title the Black Sox think is rightly theirs, and that the rest of the league thinks they have just as much of a shot at as the team with the snarky blog and the gay photoshops.
I have a feeling that the sentiment around the league is that we aren't as good as we say we are, that we overrate ourselves, that we're all talk, that while I'm blogging they're injecting Winstrol, taking BP, and calling up Jose Canseco. That's fine. We got one line on the league site's season preview a blurb about new players or something. OK. Maybe we're not as good as we think. It's a possibility.
We can't start quacking each other off before we take the field.
I do know that to play our team is to play South Oakland; a part of town that's dirtier and grittier than the Pitt brochures will ever let on or that most kids have the misfortune of discovering.
The last time I'll talk about myself all season:
All I ever tried to do when I coached the Ducks was to embody the character of the team. To lead by example: to refuse to be out-hustled, to initiate contact, to do something to help the team win even when I'm over-matched--especially when I'm over-matched. To be a tough out.
To play hard all the time.
If you can't play ball that way, go find a hackie sack and a bag of mushrooms.
I write the retired numbers on the brim of my hat. Those guys wish they could still play on this team. If they had just one more game to play on the Ducks, how would they approach it?
I've never gone into an at-bat thinking I can't hit the ball hard somewhere, and I've never gone into a game expecting to lose. I've never gone into a season without the goal of winning a championship.
Individually, each game this season is winnable. Some games we may have to be mistake free and get some breaks to win, but we will not be out-hustled or out-worked.
Some games are won on the strength of big plays, but more games are lost becuase of walks and errors on defense, and by giving away outs on offense. Base running mistakes, bad at-bats, poor fundamentals.
This year's team fundamentally solid, and has big play potential.
Strong up the middle, power at the corners.
The staff has some depth, (Novak) and they'll have a defense they can trust.
It's been great to play alongside some of the top talent in this league during the fall and winter, and I look forward to the Blues tourney in AC. But, for now, it's all business and all Ducks. In between the foul lines, when the ump shouts "play ball", I have no friends who don't wear green and gold. (power-blue on occasion.)
*** Your 2009 South Oakland Ducks
The Ducks bid a fond farewell to Garrett Moore, who will play in the over 28 league this season.
New players alphabetically:
Tony Casale inf. Cheese util. Darren Daulton C. DB Award Winner, "Mantis", P Depo, 1b Jesse Smith's friend Matt, util Mike Watson, inf.
(If I forgot you, you haven't been at practice, haven't paid any dues yet, or I'm a joke.)
Out of Retirement
Britton Dickey, inf.
Returning Players
everyone else.
Our backups have backups. Teams need role players, the playoff format will allow coach Jones to get everyone playing time. Ultimatly though, we need to find out our best lineup, and get those guys in shape down the stretch for the playoffs.
The competition for PT will make everyone better.
Dave Roberts,
A pinch runner sparked the Red Sox miracle comeback in the ALCS a few years back.
Teams need role players, and we have to trust that Dr. Jones has the team's best interest in mind.
Easy for me to say, I don't sit much, but I work hard to get better, to keep up with the influx of talent in the league.
There will not be any cake-walk games this season. Every team has a chance.
That's all we can ask for, and it's all we're given a chance to compete this summer. If we want the championship we have to take it.
"Get busy livin'
(Jesse Smith for MVP, the campaign starts now) 4/20/09
*** Pittsburgh Blues starting pitcher Ben Sorosky is pitching for Pitt Greensburg against some poor unsuspecting college, at Pitt-Main's field today at 1pm. Should be some good baseball.
The blues are rounding out their roster for the Memorial Day Tournament in Atlantic City. Ben Sorosky is now the Pittsburgh NABA Tournament Director, I'll be assisting him until he finishes with school ball. ***
Ducks, Make arrangements to get your money in to Coach Jones.
We owe the league the rest of our $2,000 by tomorrow, and we need to get our uniforms ordered asap.
I'm posting this to get the auto-play Tenacious D youtube off the front page. So my five loyal readers won't have that thunderbolt sound as they anxiously check for new posts. I won't do that again. Now Cream is at the top.
For those who don't know yet, Drastic rule changes have been implemented for the 2009 season. Everyone will make the playoffs. There is no limit on innings pitched per week during the regular season.
The best part of everyone making the playoffs, is that it should lead to more playing time for bench players. The downside is some crap team with one good pitcher can get lucky in a one-game playoff before losing to in a 3 game series.
The no innings limit benefits teams who don't have depth at pitching.
The Gray Bats could not be happier.
(look at that ecstatic twinkle in the one functioning eye)
Where were these rules two years ago when South Oakland had one good pitcher and played everyone on the roster and lost a shit-load of games?
Whatever, in a way I like the move towards a more recreational atmosphere, especially as the players get better, and the quality of play rises, as it most certainly has and will continue to do, it's really not a big deal. The Ducks voted against this addendum. The baseball will be more intense because the product will be better.
The cream will still rise to the top.
There will be less bullshit as a result, no proposals to throw games in order to keep teams out of the playoffs.
(No room for Shoeless Joe in the hall? no room for this joke of a human being. If every team in the NL West made the playoffs, it would have made betting on his own team a lot harder, if not pointless. Every game he didn't bet on his team was logically a bet against them. Worse than steroids. )
On to the previews.
The Hebrew Oilers: Last season: 2nd place Allegheny Conference, lost in ACCS to Warriors 2-0.
The Warriors swept the Oilers in convincing fashion in the Allegheny Conference Finals last season. Then Roy Hobbs went to the NY Knights, and Wayne Gretzky signed with the LA Kings.
2008 PItcher of the year, Jason Ashcroft is no longer an Oiler, but apparently they picked up some guy from the Rakers, who will take his spot at the top of the rotation.
Last year the Ducks beat the Oilers 15-0 when they threw their number two starter, but when Ashcroft pitched in an early season matchup, South Oakland lost 3-2 on a bloop single in the bottom of the seventh. Jason is a difference maker.
He won the innagural game of the Pittsburgh Blues, pitching a complete game 4-3 victory over the Lancaster Illusion in D.C. last summer. He threw a no-hitter against teh Bulldogs in the Campbells Conference Wild Card Game He's moving east to become a dentist or something. Godspeed, Jason.
(Props to the Oilers for the The Natural refernce in their name)
There's no way their new ace is as good as Ashcroft. This could be bad news for the Oil.
(and the Campbell's Conference reference in their logo)
They are pretty solid up the middle, their shortstop hits homeruns at a Kenny-Raylian rate, I think he led the league last year. Their catcher can hit, and they have a couple Asian players, one is significantly better than the other, but I forget which one. Im sure they got better in the draft.
This team has traditionally been really bad, but they made a drastic improvement last season. The Allegeheny is basicaly the Warriors and everyone else, so they will battle the Bulldogs for second.
The Ducks will probably play the Oilers once this seaosn, so that's one loss for them right off the bat.
***
The Wheeler Warriors Last Season: Allegheny Division Champions lost Championship 2-1 to Owlz
I haven't read the book. it is appaently a video game now too. The movie is alluded to by The Wu-Tang Clan in this song. listen for it, ODB is on it. 36 Chambers is one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.
This should be the Warriors' logo
I give the Warriors all the credit in the world, for breaking down societal barriers and becoming the first team with an openly gay couple as co-managers.
(Steve and Jason, comiserate after a tough loss to the Owlz in the Championship.)
Craig Boley is having shoulder surgery, may miss some time, he was kind enough to give us a few words about the upcoming Warriors' season. He's anxious to get back on the field.
These guys have had the same core group of fundamentally sound, solid players for five years. They keep adding pitching, that's why they win 80% of their games. Basically how it works is they get one or two dominant pitchers, who barely break the minimum innings pitched necessary to be added to the playoff roster, then you face them in the playoffs, and your more surprised, confused, and hurt than that time when you woke up next to a dude after a night of blackout drinking. Unless you're the Owlz then you're ready for it.
Last year the Warriors to the Owlz in the finals on the last at bat. They beat the Ducks 7-4 or something.
Their head coach makes a lot of enemies, some people think he's a dick, they could just be homophobic.
Rumors floating around the fall-ball circut, (and we know how reliable they are) had overbaugh and doyle going to the Oilers, this would shift some of the balance of power. Due to this the Oilers were going to be my sleeper team to lose in the finals, but Ashcroft is gone, so if I had to pick one team in this conference to unseat the Warriors, I like the Bulldogs. If anyone can do it these guys can.
***
Keep reading, both of you, for the next round of NABA Team Previews featuring the defending champion OwlZ, and the Black Sox.
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
***
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.
***
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?
Here are the Ducks 2008 team awards as chosen by Manager of the Year, TC Jones, who also wrote the summaries.
Team MVP: Nick Homa.
Without a doubt Nick deserves the MVP award. Not only was he arguably the leagues best pitcher, but he put up pretty good offensive numbers too. Without Homa we would have been an under .500 team.
Offensive Player of the Year: Ben Gwin.
This may have been the hardest award to pick. I think this award could have easily gone to Chris Wojoton or Jesse smith, but I chose Ben Gwin because of his clutch and timely hitting. Any time we needed to drive in important runs, Gwin was the one to do it. The +20 RBIs on the season prove it.
Defensive Player of the Year: Coby Kolaja.
Can we argue with the diving catches, the flowing hair, and the absolute cannon of an arm? I don't think so. Coby Kolaja surprised everyone on the Ducks with his good reads and surprisingly accurate outfield arm.
Quack Talker of the year: Jim Spagnola.
I give this award to the Duck who made his presence felt with his verbal antics. It was a close call between Jim and Rick Whalen (both had particularly disgusting topics to ponder on the bench), but my decision was made after Spagnola called out an "F--- You" to an opposing pitcher after getting a hit.
Duck of the year: KT Murphy.
I give this award to the Duck who best accepted his position on the team as a role-player. KT was at every game and never complained. He was also our most timely pinch hitter and made the most out of every opportunity he got.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Garret Moore.
To be honest, at the beginning of the season I wasn’t sure how much time I would be able to get this man. But his hustle and ability to put the baseball in play during at bats gained him the starting role as the DH.
Quack.
