Bear Dots

Cage is probably wandering around Mendenhall Glacier about now, in a fog, wondering "whatever happened in that Transdyn game last week against the Blue Dots?"

This is because Juneau, Alaska somewhere near Nick's current location on vacation has more fog than anywhere on earth, I believe. It was sure socked in when I was there, and they told me when I took roughly the same Alaska cruise he is on that Juneau has an average of 300 days a year that are foggy and/or rainy.

This reminds me of a story. Of course. You see, I have never seen a bear live in person, outside of a zoo. It is what I call the Great Keep Heffe From Seeing a Bear Conspiracy. Once, in a campground on a motorcycle trip we thought we heard a bear traipsing around but of course it was pitch black that night, no moon. So that one remains a rumor. When I went on that day trip to Mendenhall Glacier outside Juneau off the cruise ship, I was actually able to talk my kids into taking a little hike up above the glacier. Everywhere everyone warned us to watch out for bears. I say yeah right you don't know about the Heffe curse. I watched out, because by then (and now) I wanted desperately to see one before I die.

Well, no bears on the trail, all two or three miles. Whodathunk? We got back to the parking lot where the bus waited to take us back to the boat, and all the people down there, who I might add did not venture out to the trail to see the bear, were all abuzz about the mama and her two cubs down by the lake, a short walk away. Everyone was real scared - "watch out for a mama bear when her cubs are around!". We rushed down there, and just when we turned the corner - no bear to be seen. So the Bear remained elusive and does to this day.

You may be asking, well, what the hell does this have to do with the last Transdyn game? And I answer, well, nothing, but I am just trying to cover that I haven't written about that game for a week now, and with several other games in my mind since, I don't remember much. And to tell you the truth, it is a little harder to write about a loss, that kind of game especially, where we had it in our grasp and let it get away.

No doubt the Blue Dots are very talented and may or may not be cheating with shaved bats. But we have talent too, and even though they took the season series 2-1, we outscored them 47-45. They are two of our three losses, and we are their only loss. We lost this battle but I just hope we get them again in the playoffs - we have beaten them there before.

So it is a little like the elusive bear the last couple of games with them...we missed a couple of balls in the outfield that we normally get, and that cost us a few runs, and we didn't hit like we normally do, and there is your two run loss 12-10. We chased them and they disappeared. There - I did it! I tied in the bear story! Do I get a prize?

The game - it was tight through four innings, 6-4 Bad Dots. They put up five in the fifth, but we answered with six in the sixth, and it was 12-10 going into the seventh. Unfortunately we couldn't score and so it went. Wasted great game from Big D with a homer and a double and a sac fly, and a couple of hits from the usual suspects - Jason, Timmy, RB, Hama, and Woody. The fourth inning summed up our offensive game - three straight hits to start the inning including a booming double by Rams, then three straight fly balls that got two more runs in, but did not extend the inning.

We are OK, we have clinched the playoffs, and have our upcoming revenge game against the Kahunas.to finish the season. I thought we had a slim chance to sneak into first but it would require a lot of help from teams not capable of it most likely, i.e. the Blue Dots would have to lose out. But I just looked - if they do, BASBHAT would end up ahead of us because those teams play each other next week after our game. So we will finish in second or third, and play the loser of that head to head match up in the first round of the playoffs. We have been the lower seed in the playoffs before, in fact just last fall! and we know how that turned out. A good game against the Kahunas would be a good sendoff.

Milestones:

None

My New BFF Muegge: Red 17, Blue 14

No it's not because when the score was 16-14 Red he claimed we only had allowed one earned run (he's the Red pitcher for those that don't know).

Not because he walked the lead off hitter in the bottom of the ninth when we were clinging onto a 17-14 lead, with Gary Tryhorn lurking in the spot to win the game for Blue, and still thought it was no problem.

Not because he got another clutch hit in the eighth and pitched a whale of a game, holding Blue to just a few earned runs.

But because he brought us home-smoked salmon and we had an excellent post victory lunch complete with cheese and crackers and mimosas (yes that technically is whine with our cheese). And some even had a Bud or two.

This game was a nail biter. In the end everyone agreed it was a fun one to play. That's because the biggest lead was seven runs, and Blue came back when we thought they would fold when it got to be 16-9, and our open inning 'insurance' was all of one run to put us up three going into the penultimate inning, and then Muegge walked the leadoff batter to start off the bottom of the ninth. The lead changed hands four times before we moved ahead for good in the sixth. In the end Blue had the tying run on first and winning run at the plate and Tryhorn on deck. Great drama when Brian Black squeezed the line drive to left center for the last out.

For Red is was a game of clutch hits. Of course our superhero Herb Moessing leads off that list. All he did was give us our first lead in the second inning with a clutch two out hit (following same by George Sayatovich to tie it), and then the same thing in the sixth to give us the lead for good. That's right - twice drove in the fourth and fifth runs in an inning with two outs.

Other clutch hits included a double by Mel Burman that should have been a triple but ol' Herb umpiring missed the third baseman coming off the bag for the throw as Mel tried to take third. Or maybe Herb didn't want to share the limelight. It still scored two.

Bob Eddy also had a big two run double in the seventh, and later that inning Howard Davis plated our fifth with a clutch two out smash. Overall the hitting was evenly distributed - everyone had two or three hits.
Add to that a few key plays on defense and that is what made the difference in this close game. The biggest, and the ones that really changed the game were twice Mike 'Pigpen' Fragoso went diving and crawling deep in the 5-6 hole to snare grounders destined for left field, and managed to get a force at second. They both kept rallies from getting out of hand. And your humble author (OK maybe not so much) did his finest Willie Mays impression on a deep fly in right center one inning, and scooped an errant throw in the dirt at first base in another. I also got a key out in the ninth on a popup off first base - one of those that were so routine when you were 30, and now take everything you've got just to move 30 feet to get.

And a smokin' good time was had by all over the post game fish.

Duck Duck Goose

I grew up playing Steal the Bacon, Red Rover, Red Rover, and Kick the Can. In 57 years, I never had had the honor of playing that famous children's game, Duck Duck Goose. Until last night's Conehead game. I mean I didn't even know the rules. So I had to look it up.

Did you know that there are variations with names like "Duck, duck, gray duck", and "Daisy in the Dell" and my favorite, "Mush Pit". Do you suppose that in the late seventies at that first Dead Kennedys concert I went to at Ashkenaz in Berkeley when they started the first mosh pit (yes I was there, at the beginning), they actually thought they were playing a child's game? This places a whole new light on punk rock as we knew it then. Just a bunch of innocent children, completely misunderstood!


But I digress. In yet another blowout, the Coneheads, that group of punks from the East Bay, made the Presidents' Club look like the Dead Presidents, 19-6. We spotted them six runs in the first. A rare stretch of wildness by our fearless leader Joe as he adjusted to the baseball diamond mound at Orinda Sports Park Field 1. We even literally gave them a run. When one of their runners, a new player, stepped on home plate instead of running by, the ump called him out. I was ready to be a hard-ass about it, especially when their coach kept crying about it. But then Ol' G says, "Aw, it ain't gonna matter. We'll still crush them." So I caved in, and sure enough they didn't score again in the inning. Or in the game for that matter. We answered with eleven in our half and the rout was on. Nineteen unanswered runs.


As Sting keeps reminding me, this is because we play defense better than your average slow pitch softball team. Chuck went deep in the hole for a ball to get a force in the first - that is expected. Sting made a great catch after nearly losing his eye on one bad hop single in the outfield that hit him square between the orbs - he has some kind of titanium sunglasses or something, that saved him from possibly serious injury. The best play of the night was probably the Chuck Boogaloo. There was a pop up that you could see Joe was going to have trouble with, and Chuck just kind of snuck in behind him, and flopping like a fish (his legs actually flew up in the air like a fishtail), caught the ball about an inch above the ground. And Greg McAlmost made a great stop at third, but could only throw a short hopper to Larry at first, and he nearly held on for a great play. Even our almosts look good.


Which brings us to the Goose. On offense Chuck started us with a blast to left over the left fielder's head in a rare pull hit - but when he does he has power! We followed with several hits sandwiched around a sac fly by Lefty. I came up and laced a two run single. This is where the fun begins. Chopper sends a blast over the outfielders on the right side. I knew I could jog home, and even though everyone thought I was just that slow, I was, er, conserving energy. Chopper was determined to catch me. And he just about did, just as I came to the line at home. And he gooses me.Well, I have learned my lesson. Next time it will be Duck Duck before Goose. In fact I think I will duck so low, I will just slide across that line, just to be safe. The things I have to bear for your entertainment.


By the way Chopper's homer put us ahead, and became the Game Winning RBI, that obsolete stat I still keep. We went on with consecutive hits by Larry, Markeley, Joe, Don, a sac by Chuck, and more hits from Sting and Greg (a two run double) before we were done in that first inning. And the rout was on. Big night by McKnight and the heffinator, both 4-4. Chopper led the team with four RBIs, and had a rare walk.


The Early Big Game is this Thursday against Cal Bronco. Five players missing - I am working on which subs will play. Everyone who is playing should make sure they are on time. And watch your back if Chopper is hitting behind you. So to speak.

Milestones:

Ol' G               200 r (#15)

McKnight        50 rbi (#26)
Markley           50 rbi (#27)
Markley           100 ab (#27)

Checkerboard Square or the Butterfly Effect

My teammates owe me. Big time. Many of them still work for a living and had to get up in the morning. You see, I did them a big favor. I went 0-fer in another big slaughterfest by JFT over the Creakers Sunday night. Something like 29-3.

If it weren't for my outs, we might still be batting. What happens if you never get to the fifth inning for the slaughter rule to take effect? Theoretically an inning can go on forever. That is the beauty of baseball, er softball. You all owe me for getting you to dinner at a reasonable time. You're welcome.

The right fielder came up to me between innings and said to me that we are impressive, because if he played deep we hit it shallow, and if he played shallow we hit it deep. Uh, yeah, that is what you are supposed to do. I guess that is why we are 9-1 and you are 0-10.

But the strange and curious thing is the avant guard defense employed by the Creakers. It was like this:


                       X                                                                                                          X


                                                      X                                                X
       X
                                          X                                                                                  

                                                                                                                    X                                     X

                                                                               X                                             X


                                                                               X


It looked like a checkerboard last night but now I can see what they were doing. It is the Butterfly defense. Flap your wings! Cast the net! Something may stick!

And here's where we hit the ball:


                       X                 Y                                 Y                                                      X
                                                                                       Y                          Y
                 Y                          Y                                          
                                                      X                                                X                                       Y
       X                                                                                                                 Y
                                          X                               Y                                                   


                                                                                                                    X                      Y              X

                                                                               X                                             X

                                                                                                                
                                                                               X

etc.

When Reggie came up to bat his second time and saw this, now my eyes aren't that good, but I swear there was drool dropping from his mouth as he eyed left center field. Smash! liner to left. On Chopper they adjusted - they moved the right fielder in about 20 feet. Kaboom! Grand slam!

And so it went. We toyed with them for two innings and it was actually only 1-0. Then 15, 8 and 5 run innings followed. The amazing stat in this game is that besides the Slam by Chopper there were only two other extra base hits, doubles by Reg and Randy and Chopper. That's 29 runs on 33 singles and a couple of extra base hits. A testament to consistency. Perfect games by Lefty and Gerry (5-5) and Randy (4-4), nearly perfect by Chuck, Reg, Derek, Haze, and Joe (one out each).

And here is what it has come too. Our own Stink Eye is even bored with shutouts now. He put Derek in to pitch so he could go get our post game beer from the car, and allowed everyone to play wherever. Gerry nearly made another great catch, this time on a smashed liner, and then the next guy hit a legitimate bomb to score a couple of runs. I think they ended up with three. On a rare catch where possibly it was the first time someone called off Chuck, Reg ended it on a schmiddler popup. I'm sure it made their night not to get shutout and have at least a little fun with one rally. We just like fun of a different kind.

Let it Rain in Monte Carlo

If you look up the early history of Major League baseball (OK I have too much time on my hands), you will see that some of the early franchises had multiple names, and changed them often.   For example, the Boston American League team in 1901-7 was known variously as the Boston Americans, Somersets, Pilgrims, and Puritans. In fact all the American league teams were called the Americans at the beginning. There was a team in Cleveland called the Forest Citys, but also known as the Blues or Spiders. They eventually became the Indians. My favorite was when the Reds team in Cincinnati joined the National league, the new Cincinnati entry in the American Association of Baseball was also called the Reds, so they started calling them in some places the Porkers or Kelly's Killers.

Such is the state of the fledgling MDSSL. The Creaker entry is called the Blues sometimes, or Walnut Creek Blue, or sometimes known as the Crackers. At any rate, in a very exciting game today we beat the Concord Red Menace on their home turf at Willow Pass Park 33-28.

If you see that score you assume it was won on offense and to be sure there was plenty. But the key plays of the game occurred during the late comebacks of the Menace. In the seventh, Mike Carlo ranged into shallow left to snare a popup, with an over the shoulder back handed miracle as the ball rattled around in his glove. In the eighth, Dan Rainwater went far to his right to backhand a sharp grounder headed to center field, and flipped it to Carlo at second for a force out. And in the ninth after the flip flop, when Red had the bases loaded with two outs and slugger Kelvin up and the tying run on deck, Kelvin hit a line drive smash high above the shortstop position. Not to be outdone by Rainwater, Carlo climbed the ladder, claimed the ball, and ended the game.

The game started out like a game in San Francisco, some clouds and a lot of wind. The wind was gusting all game long. One time I was watching the grass in right field to see where it was going. A gust came by going straight out, and then made a 90 degree turn to center field. Time after time I misjudged balls in right field; the Menace has a lot more power than the Crackers. And I was not alone. When the Red hitters hit the jet stream, there was no hope for those of us in the outfield.

We came up short of our five runs in the first; the Menace scored five in each of their first three frames. We matched them in the second, third, and fourth. It looked like the first team to blink would lose. When we put up five in the fourth and Red only two, it looked promising but we only had a a one run lead. Scott Starlin came in to pitch, and the game began to turn. We put up another five in the fifth, and then Red blinked with a zero in the bottom half. Due to our generosity, we matched their zero with our own in the next frame. It gave them hope as we only were up 23-17 at that point. But that (and Scott's pitching) only set up the game for the late inning defensive heroics.

Rainwater was amazing with five hits and his proxies scored five runs. He led off three innings with hits and we scored five each time. Brian Black was 6-6. Randy Kramasz had three hits but between them and some deep flies had 8 RBIs (including two on one sac fly). Ray was Ray: 5-5 with six RBIs and a bases loaded walk thrown in. The leadoff hitter and Tom Occhiogrosso were each 4-5 with two walks and five runs scored. Starlin was 4-5 with a sac fly, and the others in the lineup had three hits each (Clay and Carlo). Only one home run, by Occhiogrosso, and Concord must have had seven or so. It was a total team effort, with a lot of stringing together hits and moving players along.

Speaking of which it's time for Coach Banker to get back off the DL and into the lineup. With only 10 players and four outfielders it amounted to player abuse to call for the flip flop as we were only up nine runs going into the ninth. We were tired in the outfield chasing all those monster Red shots. I think he may have thought twice if it were he out there. As it is he showed us no mercy. And to think of what we did for him. I think I will talk to the union rep.

We're Back, We're Bad, and We're Ugly: Red 22, Royal 12

Red loves Field 4. That third base line with the dirt on the outside track, where balls go to roll and roll and roll...it's a beautiful thing. Herb Moessing loves that line. Herb is perhaps our most unassuming player. He rarely says anything, except you can always hear him on defense urging us to think 'what are you going to do with the ball?", and keeping us on our toes that way.   But when he comes up to bat, it always seems to be the pivotal point in the game, and he just makes something happen and often times it is just over the third base bag. Today he came up after we had lost our early momentum and blown a 9-3 lead. We were ahead again, but only 14-12 and it was getting late, in the bottom of the seventh. Bases loaded none out, time to make a statement. I had visions of being the hero, as Herb was supposed to get one run home and then I would come up and clear the bases. But Superman was already at the plate. He scorched a low liner that hit just over the bag, and skipped off into foul ground, and skipped and hopped and rolled almost to field 5. The bases were cleared and Herb hobbled all the way around to third base. It broke open the game, and we were on our way to wiping out our two game losing streak. Never mind that they ruled it a ground rule double, and Herb had to go back to second (injustice, but it's the rules), and Pete D'Alonzo had to go back to third. That just gave me an RBI when I got a hit, but the game might as well have been over then. We finished off the five run inning, and put three more up in the eighth, and shut down Royal over the last three innings to win going away 22-12. Bob Eddy hates the line. He also scorched one over the third baseman's head and by the left fielder before it hit that dirt in that eighth inning - he was content with a double but we screamed that this one went beyond the cone before going into foul ground and poor Bob had to run all the way home with a home run. Poor guy. And then there is Mel Burman. Mel had his son and grand kids in attendance. Before they arrived, he had hit a blast that plated two in the first inning to jump start our scoring, but was cut down trying to make it a home run. What does he do? When the kids were watching, he hit a better blast and made the round trip to become the family hero. It was back to back after Eddy's two run job. The side story in this game is that our defense really won it with several outstanding plays at key times. The infield stood up and got a lot of outs in the shut down innings, the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th, 8th, and 9th. Included was a line drive to Rover Eddy that froze the runner on first, and caused the batter to stop running. Bob is either the world's greatest actor, or we got lucky that he dropped it, as he then stepped on second and fired to first. He even complained of a sore thumb from that scorcher...we will never know for sure.   Hank McDermott made an inning saving catch to finish off one of the early innings scoreless as he went down juggling the ball and scooping it off his belly as he fell. And Bob Muegge started a neat 1-11-3 double play. In the fifth, we got an out on third base as Burman got dirty to corral a low throw. The umps had to confer, but we avoided controversy as the outfield ump actually saw what happened and made the honest call, that Mel controlled the ball in time. I think that Mel was just thinking about playing in a sandbox with his grandkids. In the eighth the team utility player playing first that inning ranged far to his right (for an old guy, this means two steps) to get a nasty hop, and beat the runner to first while Muegge on the mound claimed he was just about to cover first. Luckily the fortunate first baseman didn't hold his breath waiting for that. Other hitting stars included Brian Black who had four straight hits including two doubles, Bill Dewlaney 3-3 with line drives every time as he always seems to do, George the running machine Sayatovich also 3-3, and Muegge with another rope down the line and hobble to second included in his three hits. Kravin and McDermott also had three hits and three RBIs each at the top of the lineup. We're baaaaaaaaaack!

Dreaming of Fields

Opening night - the smell of hot dogs and peanuts and crackerjacks, the beer vendors hawking in the stands...wait that was another time, another place, another era.

This was opening night Coneheads in Orinda 2012, the inaugural game at the new turf field at Wilder Crossroad. The bathrooms were blocked off with a temporary fence from our field, the water fountains didn't work, and the lights won't come on, so the second game was already cancelled. The warm Contra Costa afternoon giving way to the cold foggy breeze coming over the hills from Oakland, and the sun in the first basemens' eyes making every throw from third a danger and a challenge, but I wouldn't change a thing. And the usual result over an overmatched Usual Suspects team to the tune of 32-9 or thereabouts, and it wasn't even that close.

Chuck got the first walk on turf to lead off, Sting moved him along with a liner, and Greg brought him home with a fly ball, and we never looked back. We poured on eight more runs in the first for nine altogether, not quite what I consider a Conehead inning (I think of those as ten or more), but enough to remind the Suspects who is the boss of our games with them. The highlights included a bases loaded two run single by Ol' G, and a three run turf home run by Chopper. Gene finished it with another screamer through the outfield for three also, and when you split the outfielders on the new field we know what the result will be from now on.

In the bottom of the first to further announce the arrival of the new season, Chuck put on his usual display with an all out dive in the 5-6 hole and a force out at third. He came up and there was no dirt on his uniform! Just think he may get rug burn playing at Wilder, but far fewer ripped knee holes from his dives!

We scored every inning, everybody had at least two hits and at least one run scored. Chuck and Derek also went yard, Chuck on a twisting fly curving beyond the reach of the right fielder, and Derek with a blast that split two outfielders, and made it almost all the to the fence, which must be 400 feet there. Gene led the team with six RBIs as he also had a triple, and Lefty, Gerry and Sting failed to make an out between them, five, four, and three hits respectively.

The defensive highlight of the game was in the last inning when everyone had gone to positions other than their normal ones. Gerry ranged far into deep right field to snag the first out. He had a grin a mile wide as he told me that he never even knew the ball was in his glove until he realized it was nowhere else. Like a kid that just discovered he had an extra cache of candy.

First of many great nights in the shadow of the Caldecott Tunnel is my guess.

Extra credit for whoever fesses up that they had the first Conehead hit on the new Wilder field...I want to mark it in the records.

Milestones:

Chuck        900 h (#1)
Chopper    100 h (#20)
Lefty          100 ab (#26)
Lefty          10 2b (#26)

Rolling Lava

OK so we got lucky. We got The Green Lava three times as opponents (although we also get the Blue Dots - see tomorrow night). Combined score 75-15, including rolling Lava 23-4 last Tuesday.

And before I forget - we clinched the three team playoffs for this season with our win. Kahunas can do whatever they want, but even though with a miracle they could finish in the top three, it can't be at our expense no matter what we do in our last two games. It's a great three way race this year with the Blue Dots and BASBHAT (I keep wanting to spell it BASHBAT, can't they spell?), and we are all tied within percentage points right now with two left for us and BASBHAT and four left for the Blue Dots with their rainout and postponement.

The game started out ominously with the Lava pouring on four runs. Jason, who already was nursing a sore knee (we are all a little banged up on this team), gets spiked on a play that should have been an out at second, and then a rare error opens the door for the Lava to come in. But after that Sir Guy shut the door as the youngsters baseball swings came back and so did our defense. Rams had a couple of good catches, one on a knuckling liner right at him in left (which are often the hardest to snag), and one on his shoetops running in on a sinking liner. Hama made a great stop and Mario turned it into a double play as well.

On offense RB continued to stay hot with a double, a single, and yet another shot over the fence in the third. With two games left he is threatening the season records for HRs and RBIs (no pressure).

Hama continued as the super sub with another 4-4. Included was a trademark Marc - he saw the third baseman way off the line and his precision is so fine he put it by him and almost exactly between the two left side fielders, and casually ran to second when it took them a while to retrieve it. He also knocked in a team high four runs. Mario continued his highlight reel with another bomb over the outfielders for an RBI triple 
among his two hits and a sac fly. Monty heated up with a perfect 3-3 night; the top of the lineup was strong as usual with three hits apiece from Jason, Timmy (welcome back!) and Cage. And Heffe got the game winning RBIs with a bases loaded 'game-winner' blooper double that provoked memories of a long ago game only the oldest of the old timers' remember against a team called Memorex.

Huge game this week against the Blue Meanies for probable first place finish and bye in the first playoff round. Bring the A game.

Milestones:

Monty        900 ab (#3)
Timmy        200 g (#6)
Cage          350 h (#6)

Ha-cha-cha-chaaaaaaa!

For some reason, Jimmy Durante and the quote above popped into my mind as I thought about what to write about tonight's game. That's how hot we were.

Just to summarize - we have now outscored the opponents 54-1 in the last three games, including the drubbing we put on the BBQ's tonight 26-0. And 106-12 in the last six of our eight game winning streak. Not all of them have been slouches like tonight's opponent.

Team batting average of .705, a season high along with the 26 runs.

A few contributors had stupendous games. Reg was 4-4 with a walk and included an over the fence homer and two doubles. Chopper was 4-4 with an inside the park round tripper and six RBIs. Big D was 3-3 with a double off the fence, a triple and a walk, and Heffe was the same without the extra base hits. He settled for a patented liner to left and a couple of surgical placements up the middle. Randy, Chuck, Haze, Joe, and Gerry each had three hits, and Ol' G had the magic number four - four times up, four times on, four times scored, and four RBIs. On D, fine running catches in the outfield by slow old infielders Gerry and Heffe after we had a big lead. Heffe showed his cojones by going out for a second inning in RC after getting the Stink Eye, Stink Mouth, and Stink Breath from you-know-who. His writer will probably be shot for this too. Thank god nothing came his way to jeopardize the shutout. Could have gotten ugly.

Of course the awesome defensive play was the game ender. Personally I could not believe how high Randy got for that liner, and how acrobatic it was. The reason he will be rookie of the year will not just be because Randy is the only rookie this year. His defense, his hitting and his demeanor say everything there is to say about being a team player with great talent. I predict he will never get the Stink Eye either.

The hurt we put on the BBQ's tonight should have warranted "Barbequed BBQ's" in the headline. Three years ago the BBQ's upset us on a night we only scored two runs. I don't think any of us will ever let that happen again.

But Jimmy Durante and his schnozzola just played in my head. Ha-cha-cha-chaaaaaaa!

Don't Just Ask Ray.com: WC Blue over Concord Blue Meanies

Matt Cain may have had the attention of the Bay Area and national sports world last night, and most of the national media is in the Bay Area to cover the US Open starting today; but the best game of all broke out this morning in the MDSSL game between the Blue Meanies of Concord and the Walnut Creak Blues. It was a marathon, and ultimately the WC Blues emerged with a 39-33 win.


We scored the maximum five runs every inning but the fourth. In the end because of the flip flop rule, we didn't get our ninth inning, so we scored 39 out of a maximum 40 runs in this game. We shut down Concord in the second, but after we got a lead they kept up with us in the middle innings, scoring seven in the third and fifth when the 'catch up' rule was in effect. Then we wore them down and held them to one run in the sixth through eighth, and their late rally in the ninth fell short.

As you can guess everyone was hot. The battle within the battle was for hitting prowess among the WC hitters. The early hero was Mike 'The Babe" Carlo. All he did today was go 5-5 with five runs scored, and five RBIs, and his first two hits were gapper home runs leading off the second and ending the third. Ever cognizant of the numbers being put up, we kidded him that he could set a team record with five home runs. This cooled him off considerably, and he settled for singles his last three trips to the plate.

The leadoff hitter was also hot; he got six straight hits, and scored five runs and drove in four, and his loudest 'hit' just went foul down the right field line. And Tom Occhiogrosso did his usual thing with four hits and a walk. Randy Kramasz clubbed one to deep left center among three hits, after taking measure with a hard hit line drive right at the left center fielder his first time up. Scott Starlin hit four straight line drives for hits before finally making an out his last time up. Murray Herrimen didn't make an out although one of his ABs would have to be called an error. Still that one brought in a fifth run in the first to set the tone for the game. Everyone else contributed as well.

But the day belonged to Ray Mariadaga. Don't ask him, he is too humble. Like Ray Woodson of KNBR (JustAskRay.com), he could have a web site but it would be called Just Don't Ask Ray.com. He is humble so I will tell you. Ray let Mikey get ahead in the home run race, while driving in three of our first 10 runs in the first and second with singles. And THEN he came to life. He hit three three run homers in his last four trips to the plate, sandwiched around a lead off single to start a rally in the sixth. That's right - altogether TWELVE RBIs for the game. Somewhere there is a Creaker record book up in the sky, and his name was just etched in it forever. Matt Cain - feh. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson - feh. We have Ray Mariadaga.

There wasn't much defense on this day. But a few plays were worth mentioning. Occhiogrosso had a few nice running catches, and one was spectacular. Mariadaga also had a field day, stopping numerous hot shots down the line at third on a very rough infield; in fact on one, he surprised himself so much that he couldn't find the ball in his glove to get the force out at second base. WC turned one double play, a crisp Starlin (at the mound) to Brian Chu to first. Brian had to throw through the runner's head coming at him; luckily the head got out of the way. And finally we actually retired Gary Tryhorn twice, including on a grounder to Chu to end the game.

What a way to break out of our four game losing streak!

Advance Destruction

Since I am now on a tight deadline (Gene told me I had to be more timely with pumping out the posts), I prepared this week's JFT newsletter partially in Advance (get it?). I had two headlines ready: the one above and "Advanced Deconstruction", in case we lost. So now you know, we won in a rout 13-1 over Advanced Construction to take over first place as we now own the tiebreaker over them. More on that, later.

My father is the world's worst pessimist. My mother was an incurable optimist. Which, for those who know me, partially explains some of my confused behavior, which some call a touch of schizophrenia. The point is, I woke up today not knowing whether we should be optimistic or realistic in approaching the game. Advance had handled Pinky's. They were the undefeated team at this point in the season, and had eliminated us last year.

Or you could say, when we play our best game, no one in this league can compete with us. And we would just take it to them. You could be forever unwilling to admit defeat until it happens, like Reggie. By the way Reggie, I loved when you asked anyone if they had nails in the dugout, so we could put them in the Advance's coffin about when we were up 10-1.

As it was, we were on a mission tonight, and everyone was in it together, even late Gene. We busted out with one of our patented bat-arounds for eight in the first. A walk and then six straight hits. Then a two out knock by Randy and 8-0 might as well as been total destruction tonight. When you jump out like that, you just love that you are the visitors.

And then after Advance loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half, the first of a handful of great plays by Lefty. The leadoff hitter dared to challenge his arm, and was toast on a perfect one hopper to Chopper at the plate. From no outs, bases loaded to two outs and no one even on third anymore as the other runners were frozen.

This started the pattern of the game. Two more great plays by Lefty. The next was an even better play. It was a fly ball kind of deep in the gap, and Craig was still moving back when he made a nice catch on it. The same guy, the leadoff hitter that no one likes anyway, tagged up from second on this one; he thought he was fast enough to make it all the way home from second. A perfect throw to Greg as the cutoff, and a turn and a spin and a throw from him and we had the guy hung out to dry.

Memo to Advanced Destruction:

1. Don't run on Craig.
2. Don't try to steal home on JFT down at least 8-0.

It wasn't the last bonehead attempt to take home; neither was it Lefty's last nice play. He made another catch in the gap, and another one coming in hard on a ball. But the topper was the Advanced coach, coming home with what would have been their second run in Derek's inning pitching. It was the closest thing they had to a rally all night, and you guessed it, he stepped on home plate. Talk about your rally killer.

Our bats quieted down quite a bit after the outburst in the first. But thanks to a few hot hitters we tacked on a few to ensure that Advanced never really could get back in the game. Ol' G had a great game, 3-3, and started two of our run scoring rallies, once with a double in the gap up the middle, his comfort zone. Randy had two run producing hits, as did Chopper, and although there is no evidence in the book, I swear he had a double, not a single to plate our last two runs. Hazel must have had the book; he thinks he and everyone else should make every play perfectly out there in the outfield. Speaking of which, he had the other great grab in the RC gap in the third. But it's no fair, his legs are too long and he is too tall, way too much advantage over us short guys. It's no coincidence that I bring him up next, but Chuck was on twice, including a leadoff walk, and Greg and Heffe also chipped in two hits.

By virtue of Pinky's losing to Coronas and our win tonight, we leap-frogged both into first place (by tiebreaker over Advance). But it doesn't change a thing, except our confidence (which is huge). We still have to win one at a time starting with next week against BBQ's. We still owe them and will forever, according to Gerry, for having the temerity to actually beat us a couple years ago and ending our 37 game winning streak or whatever it was. And not sharing their barbeque on top of it. There's your bulletin board material.

And in conclusion our game MVP's words from tonight, when he came into the dugout after two putouts and an assist in the bottom of the first. "I think I shot my wad now."

p.s. according to team historian Judge Gerry, since Chopper gets credit for the putout on the stepped on home plate out, that gives him three for the game and is probably a record for a catcher on a JFT team. Hmmm...wonder if Joe ever struck out three in a game?

The agony and...the agony

The Walnut Creaker Blue MDSSL team played a marathon game against the powerhouse East County entry yesterday. We battled them, had the lead, but ultimately fell short 32-28.

The game marked the resurfacing of our own Randy Kramasz, left fielder extraordinaire. Randy misses the first couple of months every year because he actually has a day job coaching track at a local high school. Now that school is out, he shows up and what does he do? Oh let's see, two home runs (two and three runs, respectively), double, single, walk, and several great running catches to cut off gappers. His only out was in deference to Rusty Druba, who had popped out to the catcher in the first inning. We all say "Be like Rusty", and Randy took it a little too literally and popped out to third once. Now that is respect.

And it's a good thing we have Randy back. We have been decimated by injuries, especially in the outfield. We had only four going in and on a hot day, old farts kind of melt away after a while. Speaking for myself only, of course. I was snakebit one inning - Pete Zakar hits a rare shallow foul popup, and I almost made the catch of my life. The ball was in my glove but wouldn't stay there. Of course he gets a hit instead, and the gates were open for a five run inning. Another inning, Brian Black goes deep on two balls just out of reach. Inches are the difference in a game you lose by this kind of score.

We started out by pretty much shutting down the powerful EC lineup the first time around the order. After two innings we led 6-2, through four 12-7, and through five 16-10. Mike 'Babe' Carlo had a large hand in this. He ended the fourth inning with a blast to left center which would have probably gone for a circuit had it not brought in the fifth run. Mike counted five hits in six at bats in his day.

Tom Occhiogrosso also had a banner day, He made several diving catches in the outfield, and had a homer and two doubles among his four hits plus two walks. It seemed likely that opposing pitcher Nick didn't really want to pitch to him. The slow leadoff hitter also got his job done, with five hits and a walk, scoring five runs.

But the game turned on just too much EC with their relentless onslaught. After we had our last lead, we made the fatal flaw of not scoring for two straight innings. Can't do that against EC; they will keep bringing it. And bring it they did, with 22 runs in the last four innings. Even though we kept it close with a nine run inning in the eighth, we couldn't duplicate that in the ninth when it ultimately mattered.

Overall though it was a great game, great times, great weather. Even great company. We will get them again, someday, although we may have to take out contracts on Zakar and Namanny to do it.

Basb That!

Usually I need an angle to make this entertaining. Not so in Tuesday's Transdyn game. The game itself was the story: We took them apart with our complete game, from our pitching (Sir Guy kept them off balance all night), to our defense (the outfield ran down shot after shot) to our line drive hitters to our power (Big D with a monster 3 run homer).

The result was a 16-9 win over the previous first place BASBHAT team, and it wasn't that close. One thing about them: I think that I (along with many of you) can 'hear' a shaved bat. I didn't hear that thwack all night. I think they are legit. As in legit power hitters. Up and down the lineup they can go yard. But with Bill pitching they hit mostly while reaching and sending only warning track shots. They were either 'can of corns' or our fleet outfield of Rams, Cage and RB ran them down. Even Woody made a nice catch running in on a short one; I heard the opposition say something like 'that guy can really run', almost the rallying cry of 'that old guy can really scoot' from yesteryear.

The infield mostly stood and watched in awe, but Jason did contribute a great stop in the hole and then got a force at second.

Instead of trying for the fences, we just strung together a couple of early rallies to take a commanding lead at 15-5 going into the sixth with about eight minutes left on the clock. Jason performed as usual: he was on all four times including two doubles (a leadoff triple he turned into a double by deciding not to risk it in the beginning of the game, and stretching a single into a double later). RB went 3-4, and his out was the loudest ball all night. The right fielder had no business playing him shallow, and RB hit a shot that did not get more than fifteen feet off the ground. It was like a rocket turned sideways. The fielder was just stunned and couldn't move, and it was hit so hard it just went straight into his glove, like it had laser guidance on it. Mario also stayed hot as he was also 3-4 and was on base when Derek hit his huge three run blast that highlighted the six run third. And in a good sign, Heffe and Coop had a couple of hits and RBIs each and Monty had one of each. The bottom of the order hits, we win.

So it brings us to the end of the game: BASBHAT came up in the top of the sixth down ten with about eight minutes on the clock. And proceeded to have their best rally of the night. But it only netted them four runs, and now all we had to do was bat for about 2 1/2 minutes to run out the clock. And they did a strange thing: brought in a 'quick pitch' artist. That spared us the cowardly but proper strategy of taking pitches, calling time, and generally stalling to avoid another inning and a chance for them to come back. Instead, he kept throwing wild pitches half the time, and also gave some of us the excuse to legitimately call time; quick pitching is just as chicken-shit. And so it went until Derek came up with another run in, but two outs, and only 20 seconds left. You know he just wanted to scorch another one, but he took the final ball, and the game was over.







This leaves us tied with BASBHAT at 7-2 but owning the tiebreaker. And incidentally this was the first time we beat this team in four tries going back to when they were known as Fish Tacos. The Blue Dots are 6-1, and have multiple makeup games. We play them once more and a win there would give us the inside road to first, since we split our first two.

Milestone:

Mario        150 rbi (#11)

Holy Sox! A Shutout

I had lunch with Joe yesterday, to discuss some other softball business about a team called the Coneheads. Some of you may know that name. I bring this up because I mentioned to his StinkEyeness how impressive it is that we had a shutout in Sunday's game (15-0 over St. Matt's, whose new uniforms say "Holy Sox"). I don't care the level of the opponent, it is still slow pitch softball, and it's easy to hit the ball, and most every lousy team scores a run.

But not Sunday.

So I says, Joe, I think that this is only the third time (since I have been on JFT) that we have had a shutout. It's pretty rare, and this being the third time, it's pretty impressive. I looked it up in my records of course. There was this:

Championship game 8/2/2009 JFT 12 Rocco's 0

And there was one that must have been in 2006 where we had a 5 inning no-hitter. I don't have the scores from that year, as I was a fill in.

Well, Joe says (I am paraphrasing), oh no big deal, we used to do it all the time. Just ask Gerry, he is the keeper of the official records on this team. As he is. So I guess I am all wrong, just another day at the office. Ho hum.

Ho hum as we batted around in each of the first two innings.  Ho hum as in highlighted by Chopper clearing the bases with a double to the fence in the first. More ho-hum: Chopper actually took a bases loaded walk for an RBI in the second. So did Hazel, who had a perfect day 1-1 with two walks including an RBI one. Gerry did the opposite of a sort: 2-2 with a walk.

However, this game belonged to the newest JFT player. Randy went 2-3, but the MVP came from two plays in the field at 3B. The memory has faded on one, I think it was a line drive he dove for and caught, but there may have been a throw involved. The one that sticks to the mind like a permanent magic marker image came on a shot late in the game. There was a runner at first. The ball was smashed down the line, and then took a 90 degree bad hop straight up. Somehow our hero got a glove in it and it continued its path up in the air, and toward foul territory. Most of  us are lost at that point, can't find it, and are simply proud to have knocked it down. That would have been enough. Randy quickly not only located it, but grabbed it and fired it to second, where Greg was waiting, stretched out. Greg helped make it a great play on both ends as he snagged a short hop completely stretched out. One of those I wish we had this stuff on film so we could put it on YouTube moments.

The rest was ho-hum except for a little comic relief at the end. After Gene dared a hitter to hit it over his head, and he did, St. Holy Sox had a leadoff triple to try to break up the shutout. If we allowed one run we could bat again. Greg and Ol' G and I had joked about it on way out to the infield; because that was the order we would bat in the bottom of the fifth, and any of us could 'accidently' cost us a run to get more hitting. So of course with no outs and the guy on third the next ball is a smash right at Ol' G. He could have done so many things to get his up. Missed it, thrown it away, fail to hold the runner. But no, G is the consummate pro; he looked him back, fired to first, and we had the first of the three outs we needed to get Joe his shut out. Even if it was his 73rd in the last ten years.

Well boys this Sunday is the real deal. Undefeated Advanced Construction comes to town. To play us. You all know what is at stake, but I'll tell you anyway: The edge on playoff seeding vis a vis who ends up in first place. But it is more than that. It is to make a statement that we are to be dealt with for whoever has notions of getting Cotton this year. Joe says everyone will be there Sunday, so everyone bring your hitting shoes.

The Confrontation

For three years since taking a hiatus from work, I played winter ball and year round with a group of elite senior players on Tuesday and sometimes Thursday mornings. These are the best players in the East Bay 'of a certain age' which translates to over 50. Despite the fact that most are well into their 50s and 60s and even 70s, they could compete easily with players half their age. Even considering that Seniors are allowed to use bats with about 30% more pop than those allowed in 'regular' leagues.

It's been documented that I am not the greatest player; I have no pop (except on very rare occasions), and am generally fairly slow (although I surprise some of them sometimes). This group viewed me as someone that can play, and is pretty good within my limitations. This meant usually batting near the bottom of the order. And they probably wondered why someone who is 5'7" plays first base.

These players play a pickup game twice a week in the mornings more or less for practice for their weekend tournaments, which they travel to, usually somewhere like Reno or Phoenix or Las Vegas, and are sprinkled throughout the year; these are the events for which they play the game. I will probably never be asked to play in them, because I am looked upon as just not quite good enough.

They also field a team in the Pleasanton 'Legends' over 50 league. This team has dominated the league for the last several years. I documented earlier our rain out against coach and pitcher 'E''s team, Boomer's Bangers, in our first time through the schedule. E loads the roster with the elite players, and if one or two or three of them are missing, he just plugs in another very talented player to fill in. I consider many of them friends; despite the perceived attitude around the league that they are elitist, they are mostly good guys.

E is a slightly different story. He actually is a good guy too, but he is very VERY competitive. Some people don't like to be on the field with him. He has been known to argue to the point of absurdity on calls in pickup games that don't matter at all. But one thing about E - if you are on his team he will go to war with you, and always have your back. Whenever he was the (randomly selected) coach in the pickup games, and I was on his team, he would put me leading off; he recognized that even though I may not have the pop of the other players, I usually get on base, and he respects the way I play.

Last week we played them again. It was a ho-hum game - they ended up winning 14-7. But it was the game within the game that was fun for me. We know each other so well from playing well over 100 games with and against each other. I have a book on their hitters, at least the ones I know well, and they think they have the book on me. Lew, the left fielder, plays me 30 feet behind the 3rd baseman. Rick, the shortstop, has no idea where to play me, because if he shades me toward the hole I will go up the middle, and if he plays toward the middle, I will hit the hole. They play me shallow everywhere else.

First time up their rover was playing shallow center, and I hit a fairly sharp liner right in front of him. He fired to first base. I beat the throw by a step or two, and Johnny, the second baseman, says, "where did you get that speed?" Second time up, I frustrated Rick once again by putting it by him in the 5-6 hole. Third time up, the rover had moved into the infield, and I hit a good line drive over his head into center field.

Nothing earthshaking, and Boomer's was well ahead as I said. But it came down to the bottom of the seventh, and I came up with two outs and two on (first and third), and still down seven runs. There wasn't much chance we were going to rally to catch them, but no one likes to make the last out.

Well, first E calls out to the umpire, "Put him on, we never get him out." Of course he was joking. Kind of, they hadn't yet this night. Then I get in the batter's box, and E pretends like he is shaking the catcher off, and trying to 'freeze' me. Finally he is ready to pitch, and just when he is about to, I call for time from the ump. Two can play this game.

Now everyone is having fun. I worked the count with a foul ball and taking a couple of pitches, I don't remember exactly what it was, but finally I got an outside pitch with which I wanted to beat the shift and lace it over the shortstop's head into the huge gap in left center they created by playing me so shallow and with Lew the left fielder pulled way over on the line. Remember I am a lefty who mostly hits the other way.

Instead I did what I do often when I miss the ball, or at least mis-hit it. I hit a blooper into shallow left right along the line, aka a 'heffe' hit. They usually drop for a lucky hit, but not this night. Lew, who had earlier made a rare error (he is one of the speediest guys over 60 I know), and who has had injury problems lately, raced in and dove and caught it on his shoe tops - game over.

Could have been worse - they beat us like 20-1 in the playoffs last year - and after all I did go 3-4. And I have their respect still. But one of these times, like in the occasional pickup game in the last couple of years, I am going to surprise them once again, and hit that gap, and it will win a game.

3 Dot Hiatus

No Transdyn write-ups for two weeks. What's up with that?

It's sometimes a little tough to write after a loss. In the game two weeks ago, we let Blue Dots get too far ahead, and came up short even though we made a late run to make the final score a semi-respectable 15-10. Spiked bats or no, they can just hit the ball, and there were three plays we could have made that the fielders would probably say they should have, and perhaps that made the difference.

Apologies to Big D - who had two hits for five RBIs in a losing cause, including a Grand Salami in the sixth to try to bring us back, and Mario who hit a great gapper triple for two of his three RBIs - but the highlight of the night occurred in the bar while we commiserated together over our brews. For there was the new third baseman of the Nasty Kahunas, and he recognized us. He not only ingratiatingly came up to us with a smile and good cheer, but he bought us a pitcher of our favorite IPA. He is our new best friend.

He seemed to have a good handle on the Big Bad K's. Without repeating his ethnic reference about the troublemakers on his team, let's just say he picked the same guys we don't like. We told him he joined the wrong team - he could fit in with us. And with Pauly and Marc part time, we could use a guy who doesn't mind the hot corner.

Which brings us to last week's game. Neither regular third baseman was there, and Big D was once more forced to play third with the glove on the wrong hand, at least according to conventional thinking. There were a couple of hot shots that went past him that perhaps a really good right handed glove man could have come closer to, but he made two plays that were outstanding to take away hits from Just Screw It, our latest victim. As you might suspect in a tight low scoring game, there were several defensive highlights. In the first, there was Nick's throw out of a guy trying to take third on a single. When will they ever learn, When will they e---ver learn. That one set the tone for the game.

Clutch catches: Monty made a tough catch of a popup behind the plate up against the fence; those are tougher than they look, and that one looked tough. But the clutchest one was late in the game with the tying and perhaps the go-ahead runs on base with two outs, and Woody swooped in from deep right to snare a flare, with a broad swipe across his body - pure desperation and pure talent. Someone once said of Woody, "that old fart can really scoot" which was one of our rallying cries on the old Lyons team. Particularly because he was the youngest guy on the team at the time. But he gets there when it is needed most, that is the bottom line.

Now it is cliche time. That game proved we are a good team, because, on a night we didn't play our best and barely hit, we emerged with a 7-6 win against a team against whom we should have no trouble. Unfortunately, it came at the cost of Timmy at least severely spraining his angle on a non-slide when he tagged up and hustled into second base. Still waiting on the medical report. Sadly or gladly and of course ironically, RB hit it to the fence in the next at bat, and Timmy would have scored from first on the triple. It started what turned out to be our last scoring, but it gave us the two runs we needed to stay ahead the rest of the game. Even though Just screw It rallied for five the next inning, they could only make it 7-6 and Bill and the defense shut them out the rest of the way.

Besides RB's 3-3 including the triple, Woody also stayed hot at 3-3 with game high three RBIs, and Timmy was a perfect 2-2 when he came out. Jason and Mario contributed two hits apiece.

Next up is the first place BASBHAT tomorrow; we are only a game behind them, so a win would tighten up the race considerably. No other option being considered.

Milestone (this has to be the fewest for two games ever):

Mario        30 2b (#11)

El Sol and La Lune

JFT played on the night of the annular solar eclipse. Almost two weeks ago now. I love saying that - annular solar eclipse. Say it fast three times - I dare you. Oh, and extra bonus points if you guess what's wrong with the title of this blog.

The game was about half way over at the peak, 6:37 PDT to be exact. In about the second or third inning, the sunshade started to change. The shadows got really strange and fuzzy. The umps couldn't see clearly - wait, they never do. Strange crescent moon shapes appeared everywhere. The lights came on. There were missiles darting across the sky. A howling was heard.

Wait - the missiles were Derek's bombs to deep right field, and the howling was just reaction to them. Once, then twice for a triple and a home run.

And then, there was the eclipse. The Mayans and other early civilizations may have shrunk away in fear but not JFT. Instead our game started with a good omen. Chopper and Derek were late and we had to start with 10 players. After a couple of pitches, Chopper, who had just arrived, finally tied his shoes and went to catcher, allowing Hazel to go to right and Greg to move to his usual rover position. The very next pitch was hit and produced a little blooper into shallow center that Greg ran back on and caught. There went the chances of the Polar Bears. We shut them out in four innings all together, including the first.

In our first we started with hits by Chuck and Sting and Greg, and then Lefty hit a gapper for two runs (of his team leading four RBIs for the game) and the rout was on. After two it was 7-1 and that was all we needed on our way to an eventual 16-5 win. One of the great highlights was our own Mr. Stink Eye hitting a gapper in the second and going to second on his rebuilt knees - that had to feel good for Joe.

Next up sneaky St. Matt's, and as Joe said in his email, they may have a connection to a higher power (but it won't be enough). Watch out for their coach and left center fielder. I play with Mark on another team, and he doesn't know how to stop on the bases. We should take them down, but they will little more challenging than the last couple of opponents. I'm not saying we should pray - that would be out of character. But perhaps finding one of those Turkish Stink Eye charms, and carrying them tomorrow (I know about these things; I have a Turkish sister-in-law). It will ward off the evil Christians, check it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye