GSHAS Fall #7
Great job in a 14-12 win over the Cubs team!! We brought both the bats and the gloves this evening and needed them to get our first victory in a while. Our bats were solid up and down the lineup. Josh and Pete started us off with a bunch of hits, Chris W. smoked a couple of balls into LF, KC crushed a ball deep to left that got caught but also got some hits too, Danny placed the ball in the right spot (apparently almost popping up to the pitcher is a good spot as long as you run it out), Jon got several hits up the middle, Tony hit a ball through the second baseman, and Ron crushed a ball deep to left center that burned the OF. Our baserunning was key too- though Danny got thrown out at 3B, Jon L almost ran up Chris D.’s back but then made it back to second and allowed Chris to score on the wild throw back home. Fundamentally sound!! Nice work, everyone!! There were a ton of great plays in the field. Our OF made lots of plays tonight- Pete, Chris W., and Ron made several nice running catches. Chris D. made some nice throws from the OF (two throws right on line that unfortunately hit the runners, outs in pickle though) and almost had a tremendous diving catch on a shallow pop to left. Pete also laid out for a ball down the RF line, just missing it. The IF made a ton of plays too. Jon L. snagged several hard hit balls down the line, including one that resulted in a perfectly-executed rundown between third and home (nice job KC and Charlie- just like spring training). The first base play was excellent by both Chaz and Josh, including a nice putout with Charlie covering (again like we practiced). Chaz played great at all the IF positions. Tony was a defensive wizard at second base, snagging several balls up the middle and almost turning several DPs. Excellent job!!
OK- on to the scoring. Lots of points assessed this week (I wonder if there is a correlation between points assessed and winning?- maybe those Econ guys should get to work on this topic). I’ve tried to put in the things that I remember but feel free to add/edit via the comments and I’ll update. Danny deferred his drinks until next week and then came up with the “I’m closing on a house excuse” but he and Tony are working together to quench our thirst next week so be sure to stick around for a while afterwards. Bottom line- WE’RE DRINKING!! Also, start thinking of what we want to do for the end-of-the-season celebration in a few weeks. I’m thinking we should rent some boats, go out on the Huron River, party Vikings style!!
Dan W. (5) [providing cold beverages next week or “closing on a house”]
Tony (4.5) [+1 for wild throw to first but at least it bounced near home though more than made up for it with some fine plays around the bag- is helping Danny with the drinks for a “pre-emptive strike”]
Jon L. (4) [+1 for throw just wide of first (I feel a bit guilty for assessing a point to a guy playing with a torn labrum requiring surgery next month)]
Chaz (4) [+2 for ground ball at 1B and SS, balls really smoked at you that inning]
KC (3.5)
John B. (3)
Chris D. (2.5)
Chris W. (2)
Pete (1.5)
Charlie (1.5)
Ron (1) [+1 for popping out to catcher with bases load (self-assessed)]
Josh (1)
Ben W. (1)
Nate (0.5)
Hey- who is this guy and what did you do with the guy with the torn labrum? FYI- the labrum looks sound here and I don’t think this pic looks like you are on the way to visit your probation officer. (you can blame Charlie for this one)
Related Posts (perhaps)
October 14th, 2005 at 11:32 am
Sweet picture!!!
Chaz and I were discussing on the way back to our cars last night that the whole “courtesy runner” situation in the last inning was a bunch of b.s. I sometimes wish I was pitching overhand again, I think that calls for a Bob Gibson moment the next time we face them. That was a total bush league move and I know I shouldn’t get so upset, but we NEVER do anything like that even though we could get away with it. Just like we never intentionally walk anyone (although Charlie is good enough to pitch around someone without “intentionally” walking them) because we play in a league where I don’t think it is justified. Everyone hits and everyone runs (providing there is not an injury).
October 14th, 2005 at 12:30 pm
The “courtesy runner” is a tough issue. The rule is that you can have unlimited courtesy runners, though I thought the opposing team had to agree to it each time. Other teams take advantage of the rule and use it to substitute faster runners for slower ones regardless of injury (rather sheepishly, I once scored 4 runs in an inning after having made the last out of the previous inning). I prefer to use it for legitimate injury situations in the spirit of the law even though the rules do not prohibit us from abusing it. These things certainly have a way of working themselves out in hardball. If it were baseball, I probably would have been ducking after hitting the pitcher in the shin.
FYI- I think the team we beat last night only had one loss and by virtue of our win, Roundtree won the league (undefeated so far at 9-0).
October 14th, 2005 at 12:46 pm
I was talking to Andrea after the game and the guy who was at the plate for the last out of the 6th inning, was also the first guy who batted in the 7th inning. I am not sure if that was a calculated move, or if he just forgot that he had already batted, or because they didn’t have a scorekeeper to remind of the lineup. All three excuses are possible.
I was also insulted by the umpire because when I, playing catcher in the 7th, first brought up the idea that there was something fishy going on with their substitution he dismissed me and thought that I was trying to do something cheap.
Oh well, we won and we get to drink beer on Thursday.
October 14th, 2005 at 1:01 pm
KC- good work on spotting the peculiarities. The whole top of the 7th seemed fishy. Sounds like they had the wrong batter up there and possibly the wrong guy running the bases. As for the umpire, no reason for him to say anything to you, especially when they were the ones doing wacky stuff. Glad we won!!
October 15th, 2005 at 10:17 am
Ok, in all fairness I think I need to be assessed some points for popping out to the catcher with the bases loaded (bottom of the 5th I believe?). This was prior to us taking the lead in the 6th. Doh…..
October 16th, 2005 at 10:42 am
Ron- I forgot about that one!! Thanks for the reminder. I’ve edited to reflect your self-assessment. You’ve got lots of work to do if you want to catch up with the rest of us…