Greatest Show on Turf

Shattered Dreams beats Three Borough Bros in Early Season "Must Win"

 

Apologies for not sending the "happy recap" yesterday. I actually re-read the boxscores on the train in the AM but there was so much to write about, I didn't know where to start...With one day for my emotions to settle, I can write w/a clear head and avoid over-dramatacizing our victory this week. And after it has all sunk in....after my jersey has dried off and after my rasberries have started to heal... I do not exaggerate when i say that was a HUGE WIN!

 

This was not just another game. This game would be the talk of the town...the talk of the world. SD was for a long time the Upper East Side's darling. Now - they have extended their reach and their fan base throughout the tri state area. Three Borough Bros - meet the Three 'Burb Bros. Long Island, New Jersy, Westchester and 3 boroughs of NYC represented, Shattered Dreams took the field Thursday night, returning to their "home field" at 128th for the third game of this young campaign. Much like the Mets, the collapse of 2007 has haunted this team at the beginning of 2008. However, from the outset Thursday night, the Dreams looked confident despite the 0-2 start. The field surface may have changed and the broken glass may have been replaced by soccer hooligans but this was still ourfield. Although this was the first time we've played on the revamped field, we looked like a team built for it. Was this the '85 Cardinals or the '08 Dreams? Sometimes it was tough to tell. Forget the '99 Rams, this version of Shattered Dreams might be the Greatest Show on Turf.

 

They'd be talking about this game everywhere...they'd be talking about it in... Africa.

Sparks flew early as the Ghana national soccer team refused to leave the field. Was that Bruce Froehming or a Yorkville ump? This guy didn't take any crap. It was like a three ring circus. Collins, always the diplomat, made like Kofi Annan, tyring to restore peace and avoid an international incident. Our fearless ump jawed at the irate mid-fielder like he was Tommy Lasorda. All the while, Rohin and Jerry calmly hit batting practice lasers into the thick of the controversy. Instead of the calling FIFA, the ump opted for dialing the NYPD. Probably not the call New York's finest expected regarding an "incident" at 128th and 3rd. Three cars responded.

 

Between the raindrops and chaos, the 3BB catcher chatted w/me as the umpire finally settled in for first pitch.

him: "How long have you been in Yorkville? This is our second year. I remember we played you last year"

me (channeling trash talking pro, Jerry): "right. 8 years for us. I remember. we beat you last year. good luck"

Conversation over. play ball. Lead off single quickly followed by Plainview's own Ian Rohin blasting a 2 run shot into the shadows of the controversial soccer net in right center. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

As the rain came down, SD poured it on. Seltz, Collins and Jerry strung hits together in the first followed by an RBI sac fly from Duff, and the Dreams were out to a 4 run lead. The Dreams bats went silent in the next 2 frames and in the real only bad inning of the game for SD, 3BB took a 5-4 lead going into the fourth.

 

All in all, the defense was again solid. Seltz and Flat were reminiscent of Ozzie Smith and Terry Pendelton, playing the turf to their advantage. Flat has been very good early on at the hot corner and Rohin has been a big target, making all of the stretches at first to keep would be baserunners off the field.

 

They'd be talking about this game everywhere....they'd be talking about it in... the 23rd Precinct. As the fourth inning began, the cop car that remained, witnessed an assault! The SD bats awoke again lead by Jeff D and Perles. BP legged out a triple and Jerry, Will and Collins added RBIs for another 4 run rally and a lead the Dreams would not relinquish.

 

Collins showcased his speed, sliding headfirst into second and diving in LCF to squash a 3BB midinning rally. That blur clad in navy blue streaking across the turf was reminiscent of a young Vince Coleman (not the over-the-hill Mets version). Hansen, catching one week and moving effortlessly to RF the next week is our Jose Oquendo and Duff provided the consistency of Andy Van Slyke.

 

The slick fielding strong lefty third baseman for 3BB was tough to get out, but the Dreams again managed to hold the opposition to single digit runs. Giving up just a shade over 5 runs per game, the defense and pitching has been stingy. In the fifth inning, SD added some much needed insurance with 2 more runs giving them 10 for the game and enough to squeak out a 2 run victory (final score definitely should've been 10-8).

 

They'd be talking about this game everywhere....They'd be talking about it on the F train, the LIRR, the R train, the 4/5 and NJ transit...

SD had balance tonight. Eight of the ten players went 2-4. How's that for consistency? The remaining 2 weren't too bad either, as the Metro North Connection of Jerry (3-3) and Duff (1-3) also combined for 4 hits and 3 RBIs. Four players (Perles, Jerry, Rohin and Will) had a pair of RBIs each. Wow!

 

Tension mounted as the rain came down and the lead remained tenuous. But not even the precipitation could dampen our spirits Thursday and wash away a win. 3BB put runners aboard in each of the last 2 innings. In the sixth, I was able to overome my Mackey Sasser-like hiccups early in the game. "Call the police!" - i think their leadoff hitter was robbed! Inning over.

 

We were not going to lose this game. No one on this team would allow it.

Jeff motivated us like Whitey Herzog and played w/the leadership of a young Tommy Herr (not the over-the hill Mets version), sparking two rallies. Perles showed the intensity of a coked-up Cy Young like Joaquin Andujar and closed the game out w/runners aboard.

 

We're back in the win column and ready to roll. We beat a good team and pulled out a gritty victory. I think despite all of the controversy early in the year, it is clear this team has heart. If i may make one other observation - something else seems very clear.

Week 1 we were without Jeff and Collins. 4-3 loss

Week 2 - no Jerry. 4-3 loss

Week 3 - TEN STRONG and a big win

 

The sum of this team is greater than it's parts. I think we all know that. We can bring in ringers as replacements but the heart of this team has 10 pieces.

 

Enjoy the weekend and relish the win, gents. It was a good one.

See ya'll Thursday.

as always....SD4L