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.

Ducks win

Ducks 5, Gray Bats 0


13-0 combined in two games.

Mike Fletcher (2-0) has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings.

Captain America: 2-2, BB, 2 2b, 3rbi
Murphy: 2-3 2 2b
Casale: 3-3, 2 2b
Gwin: 1-3 2b
Gies: 1 rbi
Kolaja: 1-3 rbi
Depo is a beast, may or may not have shit his pants and still played fantastic first base.

The Ducks won without six starters.

The Ducks (11-3) have equaled last season's win total with ten games remaining.

Quack.

full, offensive, recap to follow.

It's possible I crossed the line in some of my comments in past posts, but I stand behind this blog, and won't change the way I write it.

This was a victory for America.



Go Ducks

League Update with apologies to Excitable Boy/the French Connection

Ducks Blog Staff, thanks for picking up the slack while I ran around the East Coast like a moron.
The Blues win in Atlantic City is a very significant milestone for our league.
We were helped emensly by a few of the Owlz playaz.

Will Kenny Powers be able to put his hatred of the Owlz aside and rejoin the Blues along with his arch-nemesis Rob Cool?
The Owlz players played hard, played hurt, and were great teammates.
It was always about Pittsburgh and not about the Owlz.
I did hear a strange noise coming from their hotel room...




Joe Graff had a .700 obp, and was the sparkplug for the team.
Vinny played on one leg and still raked in the semi's.
Brian Strom and Jeremy Barchie had two of the gutsiest pitching performances i've seen outside of Nick Homa, and Adam Smith this season.

Rob Swanger went yard in the semifinals, and had an acrobatic day in the outfield in a must win pool play game.
I got on base 6 of 8 times in the semi's and the finals and only hit the ball hard twice, that's not easy. Thankfully I didn't boot any routine plays in right, or kick them like Brett Hull kicked the puck past Hasek a few years back.

I had a conversation with Rob Cool last year, and he was complaining about not having a catcher...So he went out and got Mike Scoscia's second cousin.

Scott Dunn allowed 2 runs over 14 innings, recorded a win and two saves, hit .490 with 3 home runs, and banged the Metros shortstop's mom during the seventh inning stretch.


Anyone who says they wouldn't stack their team like Rob does if they had the means to do so is delusional.
I don't believe it but I can't fuck with these guyz any more, at least I still have the Confederacy, and two other Bloggers on the staff who probably think I'm lying.

The Owlz haven't seen the best South Oakland has to offer.
That will be the game of the year at the Duck Pond. - not to look ahead or anything -
We can beat that team.
It would be so boring if the Owlz just blew everyoen out of the water, and went undefeated.
Someone has to stop them.
I believe in Dr. Jones

***
Kenny Powers spent his Memorial Day at a cookout.
(profanity)






I got ride the coattails of a great Blues team to a championship in A.C. then watch the Pens win the Prince of Whales trophy.
As a Welshman this makes me proud beyond belief.

A Labor Day tournament to be held in Pittsburgh is in the works, and will most likely feature teams from our league and not the Blues, which means the Ducks would a chance to enter a team in the event.
If you'd like to help out with this email the commish at: Conspiracytof_cktheGrayBats@LarryZwhines.com
if that address doesn't work try:
pittnaba@yahoo.com
We might have to un-retire a few numbers, and call up Barchie, clearly our roster isn't big enough as it is.

There will be a full, narrative recap of last weekend's events written by South Oakland Duck, and fellow Pitt English Department product, Rob Swanger.
***

ducks


Batting Practice at the Pitt IM field: Saturday at 1pm, and Sunday from 12:30-1:30.

2008 Season Retrospective

Buckle up, this is a long post.

The way I always do...

To begin, I wish to thank everyone who participated in the league this season: Especially the managers, players and administrators. Even the Umpires. Another thank you to everyone who has read the Ducks blog, and all the fans who came out in record numbers to support their friends and family in the NABA. Form this Ducks perspective, the league is as stable, and as fun as it has ever been and it is because of your/our dedication.

This past April, I went to john Herb Field to watch tryouts, before the preseason draft. I talked with a few guys from the Warriors.

“I’m amazed the league is still around,” Doug Ryba said. “After the first season I thought for sure it would fold.”

***

"Celebrate five years of marriage with gifts of wood or clocks, the traditional anniversary gifts. Silverware represents the contemporary alternative."

-e.How.com editor

The Pittsburgh NABA’s fifth anniversary season was characterized by unprecedented competitive balance. Expansion brought us the Pittsburgh NABA Champion Owlz, and the Hurricane-Carters, rounding out the league at twelve teams. Only three clubs won fewer than ten games, and only four teams finished under .500.

2008 brought significant change for both the South Oakland Ducks, and the Pittsburgh NABA. South Oakland's return to prominence coincided with a noticeable upswing in depth and overall talent in the league. Not only did the Ducks record their first non-losing season since the 2003 championship team, the Eagles, Rakers, and Oilers all enjoyed renaissance seasons.

I played in the first game in league history (losing pitcher), and have missed only two games in six seasons. Most of the players who are still around from the sandlot days will agree, the league has never run so smoothly and the players have never been this good.

There was a time when if you showed up to watch a game, there was an 89% chance you’d either play in the game or umpire.

Much of the credit for solidifying the Pittsburgh Chapter of the NABA, goes to League President Joe Graff, and his predecessor, Craig “Ultimate Warrior” Boley who laid the ground work during his turn as Commish from 2003-2005.

I am proud of my teammates for the way our team took the change in stride and made the fifth anniversary season of the South Oakland Ducks and the Pittsburgh NABA memorable, and most importantly, enjoyable.

The league is still in its adolescence making one NABA year about 3 human years.

The Bad News

No need to dwell here, the good outwieghed the bad by about 85-15 percent.

About once a month, we saw the sky open up and animosity, controversy and lameness drench the league.

The showers were sporadic, but when it rained, it came down in buckets.

My sources are confidential, and reliable:

Allegations too outlandish to print in this humble blog were aimed at managers and League officials. There were childish actions on the field leading to highly contested ejections, and the umpire situation was less than desirable. Due mostly to a 500% increase in attendance this season, there were a few senseless acts by fans.

Finding a new umpire association is on the agenda for this off-season. Hopefully we can retain the rights to “Right Down Broadway”.

I do not necessarily agree with every administrative decision Joe has made during his tenure, but I know for a fact there was never any conflict of interest or any bias in favor of his own team.

I moved to Pittsburgh in 2002. I did not think I’d play baseball again. To me, the majority of the complaints about the league are akin to a kid complaining about his Christmas presents.

As things continue to become more competitive, and the league’s flaws decrease the problems that remain will be blown out of proportion. This goes for both sides of the fence.

There is definitely room for improvement, but we played a lot of good baseball this summer. The Ducks never wound up as the center of controversy, really, so who knows how I’d feel if we missed the playoffs because we lost a game with no umpires or something to that effect.

Excitable Boys they all said...

If every team was well behaved, played hard in between the lines and went out for drinks with other after the games were over, things would be boring. We’d find ourselves in some kind of Vonnegut-like baseball utopia where everyone turned out to have mind control brain implants and lived on Copenhagen Long Cut ™ and Gatorade.

Without teams like the Confederacy, who can be found in the deep south of the Monongahela Division standings, or the OlwZ, who have the best collection of young talent south of South Oakland, and even the Black Sox who play like an All-State chain gang out on bail, the Pittsburgh NABA would not be anywhere near as fun.

2008 Brookline Black Sox

Without villains there can be no heroes.

A Shakespearean season in South Oakland
2008 South Oakland Ducks (11-9-2) Season in Review.

There was a different buzz around the Ducks' dugout this season, a thick yet understated feeling in the air; a feeling I think I knew in the late 90's when I'd embrace my girlfriend after American Legion games and the smell of pine tar and chew mingled with the scent of shampoo tinged with smoke. Excitement and a harmless sense of freedom which becomes most potent within the confines of a baseball field. A feeling almost drained from memory.

In late June, a loss to the Rebels put us in last place in the division with a 3-7-1 record. That's when the Ducks blog started the 2007 Rockies theme and we took off; going 8-2-1 over our last eleven games, which by my account was the tougher part of our schedule, to make the playoffs on the final day of the season.

The Ducks stretch run of 2008 was unprecedented in our five year existance, and will live forever in Ducks’ lore. We won our last four games to make the playoffs, only to be defeated by the Black Sox in the Wild Card game. The Ducks have as good a chance as any team to unseat
Claudius, the Owlz, from their throne in 2009.

Is it better to have loved and lost...?
There is a feeling of want heading into the off-season. As fantastic and improbable as the season was, there is still unfinished business. The loss in the playoffs has begun to settle like the aftertaste of a stale cigarette. The 2009 Ducks will add an all-star pitcher Jeremy Barchie and have OF, pitching, and catching prospects in the pond system ready to make their 2009 Ducks debut. As the league improves so do the Ducks, as the Ducks improve so must I to keep contributing. So it goes...

There is not much that hasn't already been said about the 2008 season.

Defensive Player of the Year, rookie right fielder Coby Kolaja gave his take...

I've listed all the game recaps before the blog archive at the bottom right of the web page.

Before the season started, Ben Gwin became a father, and TC Jones took over as manager. 2007 Offensive Player of the Year, Adam Oliver, left town.

The season began with nine returning Ducks with more than one year of tenure; Gwin, Smith, Whalen, Moore, Lee Murphy, Pusateri, Campbell and Roth. Jones, McCray, and Guthrie had a cup of coffee with the 2007 squad.

Roth, 2007 Co-MVP, and Pusateri, 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, would only play four games between them. No one has seen them since mid-May, they missed out on a great season. Will they be back next season? Rick played in only a handful of games, Gregg Campbell was touch and go for most of the season. The new blood brought life to the struggling franchise.

Ducks starting short stop Andrew McCray tore a collateral ligament of some sort in April. It was uncertain whether he would play at all, but he wound up being one of our most important players this season, solidifying the second base position, and coming up with clutch hits against the Eagles and the Rakers down the stretch, while hobbling around on one leg. That's leadership.

The highlight of the early going was Garrett Moore’s walk off single to beat the Eagles in the bottom of the seventh.

The Ducks would eventually be awarded a forfeit against the Rebels in the third game of the year. That was the event that really shaped this blog. The Rebels called the umps and the league president to cancel a Ducks home game, after I had spent three hours raking the field during the afternoon before the game. The Ducks were 2-2 before being dominated by the Owlz.

After the 17-2 defeat at the hands of Team Typo, the Ducks played the Matadors at home in what was our most memorable game of the season, the game which became the microcosm of the never say die Ducks. Trailing 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth, we came back and won 8-7 on the Flash’s game winning hit.

That was my best game of the year.

We waddled around for a while losing 4 of 5; three run losses to the Warriors and Eagles, the worst defeat of the year was the 6-5 loss to the Rebels. We lost to a team with eight players because our relief pitcher couldn’t throw strikes, and we didn’t make them take an out in the 9-spot.

While the Confederacy finished dead last in the division, the Ducks never had the chance to beat them on the battle field, they forfeited twice and beat us once.

After losing a heart breaker to the Bulldogs on the last at bat, McCray and Novak were freed from their little league coaching duties and were able to make the rest of the games, and we had a consistent middle infield. Then we went on our run.

I don't feel the need to rewrite the stretch run. It was amazing and I'm happy to have been a part of it.

We have momentum going into next season. The Confederacy must fall, the Black Sox loss must be avenged, the Owlz must go down, and they must go down hard.
2009 Team of Destiny.

BULLET POINTS

• A well rounded team by all means.
  
• Guthrie playing Gregg Maddux to Homa's Roger Clemens en-rout to a 3-1 record this season.
• McCray, playing without knee ligaments, was our most consistent infielder.
• Novak hitting a home run in his first at bat as a Duck.
• Wojton homering against the Phantoms, his former team.
• Wojton's performance in the playoffs

• This post got me beaned

• It's been a long night...
  

• Sign up for Fall Baseball here

• Eric Tans' game tying single in the bottom of the 8th vs. the Phantoms
• Les Gies didn't score a run that wasn't huge, and along with Coby served as a nice foil to the intense Novak.
  
• I second the commendation of K.T. He sat for the entire Matador's game except to pinch run for Coby, he scored a run and Coby re-entered. When I scored the winning run an inning later, he was the first one out of the dugout to congratulate me.
  
• A.Smith dominating the Oilers.
• E.Lee's game winning RBI vs. the Matadors.
• Jesse Smith sharing his Red Man in the Warriors game
• I can't wait to see what Jesse Smith does with a full season's worth of plate appearances
• The outfield defense in the Rakers game
• The late inning heroics of Spagnola, Moore, and Murphy. all three made the most of their opportunities, and brought good energy adn a positive attitude to the team.
• C'mon Sorosky, quack.
  
• My photoshop debut:

• the encore

I'll get better

• The last game against the Bulldogs: 12 batters of domination.
  
• The Ducks front office can sleep when we're dead. Rob Cool of the Owlz is already on a recruiting trip in the Far East. The Owlz play to win, and they have made the league better. Congratz on a stellar season, and for being god sportz about all the "z" jokez.
• Fago for MVP
• Jones for Manager of the Year
• Nick Homa for Pitcher of the Year
• I'll be blogging about the Pttsburgh Blues travel team, featuring myself, Nick Homa, Mark Guthrie, and Duck on the fence, (Fast51ball?), Ben Sorosky. We will scrimmage the Owlz before our trip. We'd love to have some quacking in the stands.

Thank You

My daughter's middle name is Paige

Quack.

Game 23, Exhibition: Spag-tastic Voyage. Ducks 74, Bulldogs -2

profanity in this video

90's hip-hop, I miss you.

The final game, much like the Ducks' sixth season, came and went in a green and yellow blur.
It's going to be odd when 6pm approaches on Monday and it won't be time to get ready for batting practice before leading the caravan to Spring Hill.
The Ducks season opened with a 15-1 loss, and unofficially ended with a 15-3 victory, a nice bookend. It is never fun when a good thing ends, and this season was very good in many ways, but South Oakland went out quacking, in a game that featured the pitching debuts of Ryan Novak, and right-handed specialist, Jimmy Spagnola, by trouncing the Bulldogs in what may have been a preview of next season's championship (barring radical realignment, which is possible).

Dan Morgan started for the Bulldogs

Starting pitcher/middle linebacker, Dan Morgan was headhunting early on, but the Ducks jumped out to an early lead. On the hill for the Ducks was SS, Ryan Novak, who threw five innings, striking out six or seven batters while allowing three runs for his first unofficial Pittsburgh NABA win.

Novak also hit Coby in the groin with a sixth inning curve ball, Novak's curve was so deadly, not only did it paralyze the Bulldogs, it dominated his own catcher who had presumably called for the pitch.

South Oakland lead 5-3 going into the top of the fourth, when Manager of the Year, TC Jones' strategy to bat twelve hitters in the starting lineup paid off. The Bulldogs moved middle linebacker, Dan Morgan, from the mound to first base the Ducks sent twelve batters to the plate and scored seven runs, on a handful of hits putting the game out of reach.


Nick Homa relieved Novak and pitched a scoreless sixth, stranding the bases loaded.

The seventh inning was James Spagnola's NABA pitching debut. Spags pitched a scoreless seventh after catching the first five innings of the game, impressive. The CMU Robot Master will look to break into the rotation next season, and at the very least add depth to the bullpen.

• BULLET POINTS
  
• This was a weak recap. I wasn't paying close attention, it was a fun exhibition and a great way to close out the season.
• Next year we close it out with a championship
  

• Wojton hit seven doubles, and was offered a contract by the league president to play for the Bulldogs next season, which would make him the first paid player in league history.

• Andy McCray nearly went yard then hustled out an infield hit on one leg. He also kept Vaughn relaxed on the mound

• Eric Lee hit a double, and stole two bases
• KT reached base three times, and had a shot down the line ruled foul that appeared to hit the chalk.
  
• The invisible hand played a solid game at short, and actually seemed to enjoy himself. he walked a few times and I'm pretty sure he had a single and an RBI
• Guthrie had two infield hits and played a Jason Bay-esque game in left
• Manager of the Year hustled to reach on an error and was solid at first base.
  
• Coby, "werewolves of london, Griffey junior" Kolaja will wear a cup the next time he catches.
• Novak will probably be next year's set up man. he also had a hit and was on base frequently.
• Brian Strom is a solid pitcher. I had a bad at-bat against him, he kept me off-balance, and got me out on a sensational play by second baseman Vinny Gala, who pounced on my soft liner up the middle like a ballerina going for whatever they go for in ballets. Graceful.
• The Bulldogs are friends' of the Ducks.
  
• the season in review will appear in the next couple days.
  
• I adjusted the blog settings so you don't have to sign up for a blogger account to leave a comment..
• I've decided to keep the blog quacking year round.

***
Around the Pittsburgh NABA

An unfortunate clip of the fans after game three of the Monongahela Championship between the Owlz and Black Sox.



The Owlz won 3-2 in nine innings. It was a great baseball game, somewhat tarnished by the carrying on of the fans.
Black Sox, pitcher Florian pitched six strong innings when he could barely walk, NABA veteran adn friend of the Ducks' pitcher Luke Demsey, worked out of a bases loaded, no outs jam in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. SS, Kenny Rayl made a phenominal play on a would be game winning hit up the middle to save the game in the eighth, but the Sox could not score a run off Dunn, who allowed only one runner while pitching the eighth and ninth innings. Some guy on the Owlz singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.


The Ducks support the Warriors in the finals.
(we've got to keep it Old school, Fago, nothing personal)

Since my selections of Nick Homa for Pitcher of the Year, and TC Jones for Manager of the Year, are unbiased, it's only fair to put an MVP nomination on the blog even though the Ducks are without a serious candidate, due to Jesse Smith's lack of plate appearances.

The Ducksblog votes for James Fago, Owlz, for MVP.
He lead the league in RBI, and pitched and caught at a high level for a first place, division winning team.

MVP

Fago drove in the game tying run when he was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh, in the Monongahela Championship. During game three he dealt with unconscionable taunting at the hands of a well lubricated Black Sox booster club. Good game, and good season, Jimmy.


Rakers Larry, you can come to the Ducks as well if you want.

Team of Destiny 2009, "We're on a mission"

Same old venue, different show.

Before the Wild Card preview it's time for....Around the Pittsburgh NABA

Nick Homa for Pitcher of the Year, TC Jones for Manager of the Year.
(these things are won in the press.)

***

A pitcher on the Oilers threw a no-hitter against the Bulldogs, then the Matadors tried to say both teams cheated and that they should be awarded a spot in the Allegheny Championship, because they won the division last year, and have sweet uniforms.

Why not name your team "The Bulls"? Granted, the Matador usually ends up killing the bull, but its not very humane, bullfighting is disgusting, and unfair. I imagine it is sweet to watch live, though.
Maybe they just wanted to go with a Carmen theme. Bizet is unreal.

Neither the Rebels nor the Matadors made the playoffs this season, after playing in the 2007 Championship.

The League President should mandate the next expansion team name themselves the
"Ghostbusters" or something along those lines. Something, you know, Bill Murray related.

Something you should know about our League President. He dominated me in Dance-Dance-Revolution at the Ultimate Warrior's bachelor party at Dave and Busters.

Footage of me practicing for the rematch

• The Oilers will face the Warriors Wednesday night, at Spring View Field in Game 1 of the Allegheny Division Series.

There's some fierce, bright-yellow smack-hooting on the OwlZzz "My Site News" page. I stumbled over it while I was searching for a pitcher with more strikeouts than Homa. I didn't find anyone.

Speaking of the regular season Monongahela Division Champs...
The winner of tonight's Ducks, Black Sox game faces "Team Typo" on Thurzday.
Those kids can play ball, but that yellow writing gives me a headache.

* * *

"Yours is the cloth mine is the hand that sews time..."

The Ducks (11-9-2) will play the Black Sox (14-8) Tuesday night at 8:30pm at John Herb Field.

South Oakland is 5-3 all time in Pittsburgh NABA post-season play; the Ducks went 3-0 in 2003 and won the title. The next season, South Oakland beat the Maulers in the first round, and took the first game of the best-of-three with the Black Sox before losing by forfeit in game two, and losing game three after a rescheduled rain-out left the Ducks playing with seven guys. that was the end of an era.

In 2005, the Red Dawn Ducks lost to Chris Wojton's Rangers/Phantoms, 14-8 in the first round. It was during that game starting pitcher Matt Swetz took a ground ball to the groin in the fourth inning and continued to pitch three more innings. He wore a cup the next season. Swetz was never the same after that night.

Then it was two seasons of lame duck baseball before TC Jones revitalized the team, leading the South Oakland youth movement into the playoffs for the first time since '05.

I've been here since the beginning. Rick, A.Smith and E.Lee have been here since '05. Everyone else is in their first or second year on the team. We are as good now as we have ever been.

There's no use bringing up the '04 series against the Black Sox, and beating it to death. That time is pertinent only to myself, and a bunch of Ducks who have moved on, and out of Pittsburgh. We did let one slip away, though and it was all down hill from there. I'll tell you stories if you want to hear 'em.

There is no use in evoking images of a return to glory by the Ducks, nor should I cover this post with wistful reminiscence about 2003, the days when Dickman dominated, or sweet double plays and bench clearing brawls from six years ago. I think that would be self-indulgent, and it won't help win the game tonight.

But this team, the 2008 Ducks, can win tonight.

Ducks with game winning RBI this season: Moore, Lee, Spagnola, McCray, Gwin, Homa.

***

Fly together.

Leave it all on the field.

Ghostbusters.

Kenesaw Mountain Landis

Bad News for the Black Sox.

Here's one from The King

The most tragic King since Duncan.

visit videodetective.com for more info

I like this one so I used it again.

click the link below for a great...
quote from Duck legend, and friend Rob Swanger

another link to a brief history of the Ducks-Black Sox rivalry.

The game is scheduled for tomorrow. There is a chance that could change.
This effects both teams equally.
We will know later tonight.

Whenever we play, it's going to be bad news for the Black Sox

Game 22:Nick Homa in, The Color of Money. Ducks 2, Rakers 1

THE DUCKS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS

Nick Homa struck out 14 Rakers, allowed three hits, and drove in the game winning run as the Ducks earned themselves a date with the Black Sox, in the Monongahela Wild Card game, Teusday Night.

This game was a pitcher's duel to end all pitcher's duels. Raker's starter Ben Sorosky threw a complete game five-hitter of his own, striking out somewhere between seven and ten Ducks. Sorosky also went 2-4 at the plate, and scored the Rakers only run on a wild pitch.

The Ducks scored two runs in the second, when Mark Guthrie walked, stole second and advanced to third on Ryan Novak's single to right field.

Novak stole second, and the Ducks had runners on second and third with one out. Guthrie scored on a past ball, Novak advanced to third, and Nick Homa singled him in one out later.

On this day, that was all Homa would need.

The Ducks made the plays in the field, first baseman Ben Gwin let a ground ball, get behind him in the 6th, and second baseman Andrew McCray made the play with Homa covering. Later in the inning, Ryan Novak caught a line drive up the middle, which may have brought the tying run to the plate.

Three Stars of the game:

3: Ryan Novak 1 for 3, run
2: Ben Sorosky(L): 7IP, 4h, 8k, 2-4, run
1: Nick Homa(W): 7IP, 4h, 13k, 1-3, GWRBI

I'll have more on this game and a black sox/playoff preview tomorrow.

Kolaja almost had that one against the fence in left, what an effort.

Game 21: Antietam. Rebels forfeit to Ducks...One game to bind them, one game to rule them all...

Ken Griffey Kolaja III, comes up big, as always.

I wrote this a while back,
South Oakland(5-8-1) has one game before the July 2nd, All-Star break. Due to a recent slump in which the Ducks have lost four of five, by an average of two runs per game, the team finds itself on the cusp of elimination. With ten games remaining (eight against Monongahela Division teams), South Oakland still has a chance to go on a run and sneak into the post-season.

Since then, South Oakland has gone on a 5-1-1 run.
and we find ourselves on the cusp of the playoffs.


Now it comes down to one game

BATTLE FOR THE WILD CARD

VS.

Ducks vs. Rakers
Sunday, 2:30 Avonworth High School Field.
Win and we're in.

Batting practice: Noon, Pitt Field. All hands on deck.



***
How the mighty have fallen.

The defending champion, Monroeville Rebels, are suffering through a 4-16-1 season. The South Oakland Ducks take a 7-0 victory, which sets up a do or die match-up with the Cyrilla Landscaping Rakers, Sunday at 2:30 at Avonworth High Shcool Field. Both teams were operating under the assumption the game would be played at noon, but a mix-up with the Pie Traynor Field permit issuers, lead to a last minute time change, moving the game to 9am. General Lee was unable to rally the troops, and the Rebels surrendered rather than suffer further casualties.

General Lee has had a rough season. The Rebels short-comings this season can not all be blamed on their field general, he can't force his soldiers to arrive to battle on time, and he fights valiantly. No one can take away their championship from 2007. Chances of a repeat, not great. only if four Monongahela Division teams fold.


There are a couple of mercenaries on the Rebels who would look good in green and gold, next season.



The history of the Ducks and .500 baseball, lest we be doomed to repeat it...
South Oakland is over .500 for the first time in almost half a decade. Even the Ducks title campaign of 2003, saw the team finish with a 6-9 regular season record before winning three straight post season games en-route to their coronation as the first Pittsburgh NABA Champions. The Ducks opened the 2004 Campaign 2-0, to put the team at 11-9 overall, but the team finish with around nine wins that season, two or three games under .500.
The Ducks started the '05 season 3-1. before finishing 10-13.

Change starts at the top. TC "Buttermaker" Jones, Coach of the Year.

Indeed.

Bring the Pain.
(video contains profanity)



Bad News for the Rakers

Game 20: The Ducks Abide. Ducks 8, Rakers 4

Talking Heads

South Oakland brought the rakes, and the Rakers brought a duck; a stuffed duck with a make-shift noose. The poor bird spent the afternoon suspended on the back stop staring at the Ducks' dugout. After a brief rain delay, perhaps inspired by their fallen comrade, the Ducks soared over soggy Pie Traynor Field. Everyone contributed, the whole flock. Now the Ducks find themselves in a three way tie for the final playoff spot in the Monongahela Division.

***

Mark Guthrie (3-1) struck out five and scattered eleven hits over seven innings, as the South Oakland Ducks evened their record at 9-9-2, after today's victory over the Rakers. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, South Oakland came out raking. Eric Lee started the game with a lead off single, Gregg Campbell walked and both runners advanced on a double steal. Catcher, Ben Gwin singled in both runners to put the Ducks ahead 2-1. Then...
Kirk Gibson doubled to right, and Gwin scored from first, 3-1 Ducks after one.

It appeared as though the Rakers would figure out Guthrie. The Rakers scored two runs in the second, but were hitting the ball hard, Ben Sorosky hit a line drive right at SS, Andrew McCray, Nick Homa threw out a runner at home after a single to left, and Jeremy Barchie flew out deep to left. Their outs all came on hard hit balls.

The Ducks defense was spectacular, they picked up Guthrie in the middle innings, and stole several runs from the Rakers.

Were it not for two "oh-my-god" catches: the fist by right fielder Coby Kolaja, on a flair to right, the second by Gregg Campbell on a ball which seemed destined to be a triple, the Ducks may have found themselves playing catch-up.

Inspired by the defense behind him, Guthrie settled down, and the Rakers bats became as lifeless as the stuffed Duck hanging from the back stop.

After the second inning this was some of the best baseball, we've seen this season. Both teams battling for their playoff lives, the plays were made, the pitchers were phenomenal, and the intensity was as thick as the mud behind home plate.

Neither team could take controll of the game, the score was tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, then it was time.

McCray continued his domination of the Rakers right fielder, a lead off double put the winning run in scoring position with no outs. Nick Homa laid down a perfect sac bunt, and the muck tripped the Rakers fielder, Homa was safe at first. Eric Tans pinch hit for Ken Griffey Kolaja Jr, and reached on an error. Bases loaded, no outs.

KT Murphy; hitless the last two games, benched against the Eagles, stepped to the plate 0 for 2 on the day with a ground out to the pitcher and a strikeout in his previous two at bats. Redemption.



Barchie left one up, and Murphy made him pay, an RBI single and it was 4-3 Ducks.

Garret Moore drove in another run with a fielder's choice to the right side. with runners on second and third with one out, Adam Smith was intentionally walked to set up the double play.
"Rick" James Spagnola took it personally. In a profanity laced at-bat, Spagnola singled in another run with a shot up the middle, just past a diving Brandon Eberle.

The bases were still loaded for Eric Lee who stomped the life out of the Rakers with his third hit of the day.


Lee doubled to left-center, and the Ducks would take an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
After a lead off single, Guthrie got a double play ball, and the Ducks survived three consecutive two-out singles by the Rakers to hold on for the 8-4 victory; the biggest win in a long time for the storied South Oakland franchise.

BULLET POINTS

Thank you to everyone who came out to watch the game.

• Eric Lee had a heroic game, 3-4 2B, 2RBI...It is possible he also stole two bases and threw out two runners at the plate.
  
• KT had a clutch RBI single late in the Black Sox game, and did it again today.
  
• I think I had the plate blocked on the first play at home, but that last guy was absolutely out at home.
  
• If your going to bring a duck noose to our game, bring an American Flag to the Rebels game, if they show up it will be hilarious. Thanks for your perpetuation of the Confederacy nickname as well.
• Speaking of the Rebels, I told John Tremmel I'd mention that he earned a spot on the Braves farm team. The only catch I've seen that was almost as sick as the one Campell made, was made by Tremmel, a basic Jim Edmonds over the shoulder type grab. Campbell's was tougher, by a hair, and it was definitely in a more important game.
  
• We won this one without our starting SS, our all-star catcher and Wojoton.
  
• Is Wojoton headed to the DH role, given the emergence of Ken Griffey Kolaja Jr. in right?
• How about three consecutive RBI by the 8, 9, 10 hitters: Murphy, Moore, Spagnola.
  
• A Smith is hitting around .400 over the last couple games, the Ducks probably have the best Smith, Smith combination with Jesse and Adam.
  
• Homa had a solid gam at third, and went 1-2 with a run scored.
  
• Guthrie, the Ducks "other " all-star pitcher, leads the team in ERA and is tied for first in wins. I think with two games left it's about time we gave him the "C" on his jersey, we can use....Duck tape. WOOOOOOOOOOO

The Rakers are solid citizens, I wish I could root for them, but we've got a Wild Card race on our hands.

Batting Practice at 6pm at the pitt field tomorrow.

To clarify an earlier error, Bulldog Brian Strom can in fact pitch. I just feel he's a better outfielder than a pitcher, that's my assessment. He struck me out last year, never again.

Peaking at the right time.

Thanks for reading

profanity waring



A somewhat well thought-out Rakers preview and the rest of my thoughts on the win over the Eagles will be up at some point. Right now the all star game is on. Stay tuned.

We missed the home run derby on Monday.
One day at a time, Josh.

Game 19: What a difference McCray makes, Ducks 5, Eagles 3

Nick Homa broke the Ducks single season strikeout record (60 and counting) and Andrew McCray hit what proved to be the game winning single in the bottom of the sixth, as the Ducks (8-9-2) defeated the Eagles (7-9) to remain in control of their own destiny for the final playoff spot in the Monongahela Division.

It was a pitcher's duel early. Nick Homa faced only nine batters through three innings, and Eagles' starting pitcher Don Henley held the Ducks in check for most of the game. In the top of the fourth, the Eagles screeched and clawed their way to a 3-0 lead.

With one out, Joe Walsh doubled and Glen Frey reached on an error, scoring Walsh. Frey would steal second and score on a Bernie Leadon single. Leadon moved to third on an error and scored on a soft liner by Randell Cunningham. Homa induced a Vai Sickahema groundout, and struck out Brian Westbrook to end the inning.
The Ducks tallied a run in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a bases loaded walk by Eric Tans. 3-1 Eagles after five.
The Ducks got to Henley in the sixth. Henley beaned Rick Wailen, who stole second and moved to third on a Mark Guthrie single. Gwin Walked to load the bases for all-star catcher Jesse Smith. Smith came through with a clutch two-run single to center, to tie the game at three. Ryan Novak Walked to load the bases for Andrew McCray...



woo-hoo

The Ducks went ahead 5-3. Homa retired the side in the top of the seventh.

The dramatic come from behind win sets up what amounts to a playoff game with the Rakers (9-9) Sunday at 3pm.

The Ducks' single season strike out record was previously held by Ian Dickman (56).

***
I'll have more on this game later.
Go Ducks.

Black Sox Tonight

I found footage from Bulldog's first baseman, Vinny Gala's, motivational video. For a synopsis of the entire film check out the Bulldog's "My Site News" on the league website.
I am motivated.



A win tonight would put the Ducks just a half game behind the Rakers for the last playoff spot in the division, and help erase bad memories of another early season blowout loss.
We played the Rakers even after losing 17-2 in our first match-up. We lost 15-1 to the Black Sox on opening day.

Bad News for the Black Sox

Game 15: Fireworks, Ducks 15, Oilers 0

A.Smith returned to his all-star form of 2007, tossing a two hit shutout, and going 2-4 with 2 RBI as the South Oakland Ducks rolled over the Hebrew Oilers 15-0 in five innings, at John Herb Field. Smith struck out seven and walked two for his first win of the season.
The visiting Ducks scored five runs with two outs in the first, and didn't look back.
Garrett Moore opened the scoring with a bases loaded single, scoring Jesse Smith and Billy Franciscus and moving Nick Homa to third. Moore advanced to second on a James Spagnola RBI single, then stole third, and scored on a past ball. Smith drove in Spagnola, but was caught stealing to end the inning.
in the second, Wojoton hit a one out single and stole second. Gwin singled in Wjoton, moved to third on a perfectly executed hit and run by J.Smith, and scored on a passed ball, to make the score 7-0. Then Nick Homa started hitting doubles, and the game was out of reach.

I've been up since 6am on three hours sleep, I'm not sure exactly how the other eight runs scored, they just kept coming, and it was glorious. Most importantly, the Ducks committed only one error, on a pick off attempt.



BULLET POINTS

• Jesse Smith looked like he's been playing short stop his whole life. A.Smith shut down the Oilers in the Ducks' most complete performance of the season.
  
• The Oilers had one runner advance past second base the entire game.
  
• Power hitting third baseman, Nick Homa missed his first home run of the season by a foot, when he hit a foul ball deep into the woods beyond the left field wall.
• Garrett Moore: 2-4 3RBI, SB, 1 spectacular catch in right field to preserve the shutout.
• James Spagnola recorded the first three-hit game of his NABA career: 3-4, 2 RBI
• Again, only one umpire.
• What was up with the guy in the White Album shirt?
  
• Those were the best field conditions we've had all year.
  
• I wish "Major League" was on now instead of "Major League II"
  
• Jesse Smith now leads the team in HBP (4), batting average (.467), slugging percentage, (.733), and obp (.615)
• Wojoton stole his first base of the season, he should have ten by now.
• 19 hits, quack.
  

Tomorrow the South Oakland Ducks play the Owlz at 2pm at the Findalay Sportsplex.
The last time the Ducks were involved in such a lopsided game, it was on the receiving end of a 17-2 beating at the hands of the Owlz. Owlz 17, Ducks 2, here's the recap of that game.
The Owlz crush the ball, they are leading the division with a 10-2 record. The "Z" gives them power.
I'll have a full Owlz scouting report later in the day.
It was nice to be on the happy side of a 15-run shellacking.

Game stats: Oilers: 0 - Ducks: 15

More 4th of July Weekend music.

Game twelve: Ducks 6, Hurricanes 5

Without the help of the entire starting infield and two-thirds of the starting outfield, Ducks' Manager TC Jones, patched together a brilliant last-second lineup and led South Oakland to victory. The Ducks (5-7-1) got strong performances from their reserves, and held on for a 6-5 victory over the Hurricanes(2-4). Jones (1-1) pitched five innings for his first victory of the season, Nick Homa recorded the save (3).

Gwin singled and scored on Nick Homa's ground-out to put the Ducks up 1-0 in the first.
The Hurricanes answered with a single and a double in the bottom of the first, tying the game at one. Jones stopped the rally with two strike outs and a ground out to end the first.

In the top of the third, Gwin singled, stole second and scored on Rick Whalen's RBI double.
Whalen also threw a runner out in the bottom of the third.
Were it not for two Hurricane double plays, the Ducks could have run away with it early.
South Oakland lead 2-1 after three and a half innings.

I left for work

Sources say there was a four run rally in the top of the fifth, to put South Oakland up 6-2.
The Hurricanes chipped away, and trailed 6-5 in the sixth. Then Homa came in and shut them down for his third save of the season.

BULLET POINTS

• The Ducks are now one game back in the win column of the 6-5 Eagles, who hold the final playoff spot in the Monongahela Division.
• The fourth place Rakers are 5-5, pending the results of their game today against the Oilers. The Rakers play a double header against the division leading Black Sox (9-1) tomorrow, starting at 12pm at Avonworth High School.
• Coby had an unbillievable day at the plate.
• A. Smith had an RBI single
• KT played a good three innings at second, and the defense as a whole was solid.
• The Eagles played the second place OwlZ (7-2) today (no score posted), and the Matadors tomorrow.
• As this weekend progresses, the Monongahela race will tighten one way or another.
• Here's to a 6-7 log-jam.
• Should the Ducks win tomorrow vs. the Bulldogs, it will be South Oakland's first winning streak of the season.
• The 6-5 victory was the fifth one-run game of the Ducks' season, (3-2).
• The tie vs. the Phantoms will be completed if the outcome will effect playoff seeding.
• The Hurricanes are good guys, and I wish them the best of luck the rest of the season.

The Ducks play Sunday at 6pm at Avenworth High School Field.
There will be a pre-game post by 2pm tomorrow.

Go Ducks.

On Pepper and the Eagles

The Ducks (3-4-1) have a road game against the Eagles (4-3) Thursday at 9pm, at Moore Park in Brookline. A win vaults the Ducks into a tie for third place in the division and gives them a 2-0 record against the Eagles, assuring South Oakland of the first tie-breaker against a tough division opponent.

The Ducks beat the Eagles 4-3 on Garrett Moore's walk-off single, for their first win of the season. That win is the Ducks only division win thus far, South oakland is 1-3 in division play.

"It's been a long night, and I hate the fucking Eagles, man"
-J.L.

Ted Williams, the greatest hitter of all-time, coached the Washington Senators after his playing days were over.

"Pepper is a great warmup game for any hitter, and as a coach I'm going to insist the Senators do more of it"
-Ted Williams

Also, Barry Pepper played Roger Maris in the film 61*

In an unrelated note; there is no excuse for the "Owlz" using a "z" in their name. take a peek at their team page, try not to vomit.

Inspiration.

Game eight: It's all right now, Ducks come from seven down to win in last at-bat.

Ducks 8, Matadors 7


This is the kind of win that can change the course of a season.

The Matadors scored seven runs in the first two innings. Ducks' starter Nick Homa (2-1) was struggling with his command, and the South Oakland infield looked shaky, committing key errors, forcing Homa to throw too many pitches to work out of bases-loaded jams in the first and second.
Entering the bottom of the sixth inning, South Oakland trailed 7-0 and had recorded only one hit, an infield single. Going back to the bottom of the first inning of Sunday's loss to the Owls, the Ducks had been outscored 24-0 over the last nine innings, and at 2-4-1, they were swimming on the fringe of the playoff picture.
For five innings, it seemed as though everything the Ducks hit went to the Matadors' shortstop, who played like Troy Tulowitzki. Homa had settled down, and was lights-out after the second inning. No more than 3 of the Matadors' runs were earned. The Ducks were poised to waste another solid performance, but this time there were no excuses, we had almost all of our regulars in the starting lineup, and we were getting handled by a finesse pitcher and an NL rookie of the year shortstop.
Then it started, it started slowly when Coby was hit by a pitch, then Wojoton was beaned, and Guthrie singled. Ryan Novak drew a bases loaded walk to drive in the first Ducks run, and that was it for the Matadors' starting pitcher.
Just when the Ducks were liking their chops at the chance to face the Matadors starter for the third time, Tulowitzki came into pitch and the infield was shuffled. Troy was throwing noticeably faster than the starter. Jesse Smith welcomed him with a marathon at-bat, fouling off twelve pitches and working the count full before drawing another bases loaded walk, cutting the lead to 7-2, bases still loaded.

Ben Gwin was 1-13 with 2 RBI heading into the game; the worst slump of his baseball existence, earlier in the game he's made an error at first which lead to two unearned runs, he had grounded out weakly in two earlier at-bats, five innings and nothing more than a broken bat for his efforts.


Redemption came in a three-run double to right center. 7-5. Tulowitzki would load the bases on a walk and a hit-batsman, but worked out of the jam by getting CF, Eric Lee to pop-up, and striking out two Ducks. He hadn't seen the last of Eric Lee.

The top of the seventh came and went with a walk, a double play, and a strike-out.
Chris Wojoton lead off the Ducks' half of the inning with an infield hit to deep short, Tulowitzki maybe makes that play, but Chris booked to first, barely beating the throw. Guthrie was hit by a pitch, bringing the winning run to the plate. After a fly-out, and a questionable called third strike, the Ducks were down to their final out.
Gwin came through again, singling to center, driving in Wojoton. Eric Tans drew a walk to load the bases, and Eric Lee came to the plate.
Down by one bases loaded, two outs, Eric Lee was a super hero.
The Play of the Game:
Lee smashed one to the right side the ball hit off the Matadors' first baseman and dribbled into shallow right field, Guthrie scored to tie the Game and Gwin raced around from second to score the winning run.

Comeback complete.






WOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!


Bullet Points:

I've never been so happy to be hitting .250

Gutsy performance by Homa, who was rightfully upset at how we played the first five innings of this game, he hung in there and he bailed us out when a lesser pitcher would have quit. That is leadership.

This is the second game that we've won on our last at-bat.

The Matadors hit seven batters, Garrett almost charged the mound, that would have forced TC to pinch run, no one wants that.

This is our highest run total of the season

The Ducks are undefeated in June

3-4-1 and we're right in the thick of things

We beat a good team, the Matadors are no joke, they play the game the right way

Jim, the pitcher from CMU, does exist. Go Pens.

I don't think they had more than four hits to the outfield.

Game six: Ducks 7, Phantoms 3

The Ducks have finally started hitting. All but two South Oakland players recorded base hits, and the Ducks overwhelmed the undermanned Phantoms at Pie Traynor field, 7-3, to raise their record to 2-3-1.

For the second consecutive game, South Oakland's slow-starting offense has posted seven runs. Coach Jones knocked in his first RBI of the season, and Garrett Moore, Mark Guthrie, and Andrew McCray added extra base hits, to back up Guthrie's solid performance on the mound.
Guthrie (1-0-1)scattered six hits and surrendered two earned runs over five innings.
Nick Homa pitched two scoreless innings in relief for his first save of the season.

The Ducks travel to the Findlay Sports Complex. To play the expansion Owls today, at 3pm. A win would put the Ducks at .500 and move the team into 3rd place in the Monongahela division.
I know little about the Owls and nothing about the Findlay field.

The Owls (2-2) screeched past the Rebels 14-9, yesterday. Knowing the Rebels, I bet they set their rotation to have their ace going against the BlackSox today, still the Owls had 18 hits.
I found this on America's most reputable news source

Supposedly wise, Owls live in barns, and eat rodents.
Number 13 might be coming down from the rafters today, either way, it's gonna be bad news for the Owls.

Bullet points

• Momentum, keep it going, build on it.
  
• McCray hit a Gibsonian shot off the wall in center, 418 feet away
• This was the most complete effort of the season
• showing up is 80% of Pittsburgh NABA baseball
• We still haven't had all our starters at a ganme at the same time, this has allowed coach Jones to get a look at everyone, and get everyone playing time.
  
• Last game marked the end of Gwin's 108 consecutive games played streak.
• the Monongahela Division is Log Jammin' right now, it's going to be a battle all season.