Sorry for the delayed recap, fellas. I had a ton of work today and while pouring through the Mickey Mouse privacy policy and stripping out my company's name from our websites is really quite uplifting, I much rather would have been writing this summary. Anyway, here it is...Great win!
Back to back wins. One was a 50 run marathon. The other was a nip and tuck duel to the finish. On the surface, the games unfolded in drastically different fashions but when you boil it down, these last two games have one thing in common. Fight. Poise. Grit....And I am not just talking about the umpire!
I'll say it. This team has lacked a certain passion at times during the past few years. But something seems different this season. Heartfelt emails from Collins, Dubs and Hansen prior to the start of the season seemed to conjure up some emotions and it has carried onto the field.
Last week Rohin walked softly but carried a big stick. This week, after laying out for a ball at short, Seltz popped his shoulder in like Riggs and muttered "I'm too old for this shit", like an aging Murtough - but still managed to stay in the game. Taped leg and all, Jon started the 6th inning rally with a solid poke to RCF. This team is banged up and now even a roster of 12 looks too small, but somehow we pulled out another one. Seltz - way to stick it out! Rest up!
The Yogi of Shattered Dreams put it well last night. After the game, Jerry looked lonely without Duff but uttered something quite profound. "You know.....everybody hits, we win.....And sometimes we even win when everybody doesn't hit". Well said, Jerry.
This was not the prettiest of wins as we reverted back to some old habits, leaving 6 men on base through the first 3 innings. Terribly discouraging but we never let this one get away and came through when it counted. As a team, our stats were not gaudy, but the W is what matters and this game was not without some heroes.
Jeff D - our very own Ramon Martinez. Although some would not choose him as their #1 shortstop, Jeff stepped up where needed in the field and once again continued his torrid hitting, going 3-4 with 3RBI, 1 run and a walk. Jeff had our first RBI of the game and knocked in the last 2 insurance runs to cap a magical 6th inning. He's our player-manager, a hitting machine, a feisty presence and went gambling after the game last night. Did I say Ramon Martinez? My bad, I meant to say Pete Rose!
Offensively, Jeff I and Robbie also led the team, each with 3 hits and combining for 3R and 3RBIs. Having this kind of production peppered through the lineup was huge last night as we were able to spread only 16 hits throughout the whole game. Who's leading the team in triples? That blur sliding into 3rd is our very own cleanup hitter, Ed Lover who scampered for a three-bagger for the second consecutive game. As for Robbie, his last hit was his most important, with a seeing eye bloop into shallow center that plated the game tying run and was our turning point of the game.
Defensively, the gold glove goes to CC in CF. With only 3 outfielders, Craig patrolled a vast area in center and made several put outs at full speed, including an acrobatic diving catch. Great effort out there, flashing some fine leather.
For me though - I split the virtual gator. Imagine for a moment that you are in the Brother Jimmy's skybox awaiting a plate of frickles. Conjure up the thought of a sassy southern waitress coming over to the table with a tray of disgusting shots. Now lift your glass to your lips and give a cheers to BP and Hans for their efforts this week.
Perles pitched great. After a week's rest he was firing the ball in with gusto and kept this game close, after watching us strand runners in scoring position throughout the first half of this contest. At the plate, BP was huge, reaching base 3 times, scoring twice and plating two huge insurance runs as part of the 6 in the 6th.
The Joel jersey was cursed but after years of misery, the universe evens itself out and now Hans has brought new life to that wretched uniform. After the game, Jeff exclaimed, "You've earned your Shattered Dreams stripes, my friend. Welcome (and why don't you come to Citi Bar? they have really good Chicken Tenders, a pool table and the bartender looks like Tracy Morgan)!". And now one of our new additions has cemented himself as a key player on this squad. Another 2 hits, 2 RBI and 5 Jack and Gingers for Hans, including the game winning RBI: a solid, clutch 2 out shot that opened the floodgates of victory. If Collins didn't already have it trademarked, I'd call you "Big Time".
All in all, the offense was stagnant at times, but as a team we cobbled together a hard fought victory. 70% of our hits were singles and we left 9 on base. But we played small ball and showed patience at the plate, drawing 5 walks and keeping the carousel moving. Not the prettiest of victories, but we kept it close and, in the end, showed some classic SD magic. We've had this fire before but we've also seen it fizzle out at times. I think it's different this year, but only time will tell.
In the meantime - this is fun. Let's do it again next week.
I am issuing an early roll call (in case we are short again)
It's officially my first day at Disney on Monday, but i am most excited to take a trip to the real Magic Kingdom on 111th and 1st. Who needs to fly to Epcot when you can go to TJ#3 for a $2 subway ride and play with the most storied franchise in Yorkville?
6:30PM, Monday vs. Blue Star Jets. I'm IN. Anyone else up for it?
SD4L
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