10 April 2010 - Cocktails at Joes

Chilling at Joes post-ball

Uboat

Profile shot of Dumi

Joe pouring the half-yard (while the bartender for the night looks on)

The half-Yard... Only half for senior citizens.

Upton finishes the half-Yard

Upton and the LOD Jersey

27 March 2010 - More Pictures

Sin

Big Dick

Bumblebee

Johnny Upton

Ripken

Uboat

Geok

Rugburn

Cool Papa (I seem to be blessed to take photos of him striking out)

Mauneau & ChanoPark

Geok hitting Rickey

Horfun hitting Ziegler

Rickey hitting Ziegler

Jor-El hitting Rickey

Slap Hands

Cool Papa down

Getting ready for the team shot

27 Mar 2010 - And then there were twenty

On the Fence (L to R) : Indiana, The Mick
Standing (L to R) : Horfun, Ripken, Rugburn, Rickey, Jor-El, HiTea, Uboat, H, Geok
Knees (L to R) : Mauneau aka VoodooChild, Bumblebee, Sin, Ziegler, Johnny Upton, Dumi, Big Dick, Cool Papa
Sitting : ChanoPark

20 March 2010

Ones: 2nd Jor-el, 3rd Ripken, LF Rugburn, CF H, RF Ziegler
Twos: 2nd Horfun, 3rd Sin, LF Mick, CF Voodoo, RF Uboat
All-time: 1st Rickey, SS DT
Spectators: Indiana, Geok

Final Score Ones 23 : Twos 22

The rain must have scared away most of our numbers, cos we only had 12. At least it had stopped raining by the time we started. If February was the driest month, March might be the wettest. Even with the rain, the ground was still nice and even from the intense heat of Feb. The rain only served to moisten the top layer of grass, making the ball slick. Combined with the hard earth underneath, it was like playing tennis on a grass court. The ball would bounce and take off at high speeds.

Short of numbers meant 2 guys played all-time defense, with 5 per team batting. Rugburn put up one of his classic homerun shows. Drilling them into the gaps between the outfielders. It was a case of hit and run home for both teams as they combined for a total of 43 runs in 9 innings.

Its not that our defense has gotten worse, its just that our bats have gotten bigger. Everyone hits, and hits well now, so short of an ground ball to the infield or a fly ball directly to an outfielder, batters are getting on base, and scoring. We really need to take part in another tournament to guage our progess. Frankly, I haven't seen so many good bats at the same time in one generation of saturday softballers.

No box score this week as I stayed in the field and wasn't able to take notes.

On to next week

13 March 2010

Ones: 1st Upton, 2nd Geok, 3rd Rugburn, SS Indiana, LF Voodoo, CF Dumi, RF Bumblebee
Twos: 1st Uboat, 2nd Jor-El, 3rd DT, SS Ripken, LF Mick, CF H, RF ChanoPark

Box Score:
Ones 6 2 1 4 5 4 0 1 2
Twos 8 1 5 6 1 6 0 0 x

Final Score
Ones 25 : Twos 26

6 March 2010 - Hot, Dry and Dusty

Roster
Ones: Pitch ChanoPark, Catch Uboat, 1st Ziegler, 2nd Jor-El, 3rd Mick, SS Chris, LF Shane/Voodoo,CF Dumi, CF JC, RF Matt
Twos: Pitch Rickey, Catch HiTea, 1st Upton, 2nd Geok, 3rd Indiana, SS Ripken, LF Rugburn, CF Bumblebee, CF Cool Papa, RF H/Sin

Box Score
Twos: 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1
Ones: 3 1 2 3 2 1 0 0 X

Final Score
Ones 12 : Twos 6

Highlights
Top 1: Chris-Ziegler 6-3 dp
Bot 1: Ziegler long solo HR into left-center-field
Bot 1: Rickey gets unassisted dp at first
Top 2: Chris-Ziegler-Mick, 6-3-5 dp, force out at 1st, and bullet throw from Z to mick to tag Geok running into 3rd.
Top 4: ChanoPark steps in to replace Uboat on the mound. Proceeds to pitch 5 & 2/3 shutout innings before allowing a HR to rugburn in the top of the 9th.
Bot 5: uboat 2RBI HR, 'ohshit' moment over Bumblebee
Top 6: JC-Chris-Uboat relay to beat Rugburn's monster hit to homeplate.
Top 9: Rugburn finally gets his monster HR.

Another week of no rain meant the field was dry and dusty. I was half-expecting to see tumbleweeds drift across our outfield. We seriously need a little rain, not too much, maybe a Wednesday or Thursday downpour to moisten the ground.

Upton did it again. He brought another new body to the field. He is amazing. If we could give an MVP for recruiting, it would go to Upton. It's going to be just awful to lose him in May. We definitely need to start planning his farewell party. We have to reinstate the Yard rule, just for him.

We numbered 22 by the 2nd inning, so both teams played with a rover, pitched and caught, and had to sit one out every inning. I honestly don't remember the last time we had such consistent numbers so many weeks in a row. I'm not complaining, its fantastic.

No rain does mean the field is properly hard, and tamped into a nice flat surface with an even bounce. Infield work meant a quick predictable hop into the glove with plenty of time for the throw, but the outfield had to work harder as the ball would take off like a bullet when it hit the ground.

Like the last 2 weeks, lots of double plays from both infields. The quick ground allowed plays to be turned fast and nary a ground ball made it out into the outfield. ChanoPark dominated the Twos from the mound, and from the moment he stepped in for Uboat to the long homerun from Rugburn in the 9th, he did not allow a single run. That's 5 shutout innings. For Saturdaysoftball, that's no mean feat. Worthy of an MBP award. No doubt his defense tightened around him, but his wiry pitches induced many a groundball and infield flyball.

It was the textbook relay in the 6th that sealed ChanoPark's victory. Rugburn hit a liner into right centerfield that took off like a bullet. It should have been a homerun, but somehow JC snatched the ball before it could get behind him. Fired a bullet to Chris who relayed it to Uboat at home to tag Rugburn out. It was textbook and perfectly executed, and morale-sucking for the other team. Rugburn had no chance. He did finally redeem himself with an even more monsterous hit in the 9th, same spot, but further. JC had no chance to get the ball this time.

Another great game. Looking forward to next week.

Game 2
Ones: 2 3 1
Twos: 2 0 4

Final Score
Ones 6 : Twos 6 (Tie game, 3 innings)

27 Feb 2010

Roster
Ones: Pitch Ziegler, Catch HiTea 1st Upton, 2nd Horfun, 3rd Rickey, SS DT, LF Rugburn, CF Dumi/H, RF HiTea/Dumi
Twos: Catch Geok, 1st Uboat, 2nd Ling, 3rd Indiana, SS Ripken, LF Shane, CF Bumblebee, RF Geok/JC

Box Score
Twos: 4 2 2 2 0 1 0 0 0
Ones: 0 0 0 6 0 0 3 2 1

Final Score
Ones 12 : Twos 11

Highlights
Top 4 - Chris-Upton 6-3 DP
Bot 4 - 3 back-to-back-to-back 2 RBI HRs, reminds me of the 'score from home' games we had to play not that long ago.
Bot 5 - Rugburn-Ripken-Uboat, 1-6-3 DP
Bot 7 - 2RBI HR between Bumblebee's legs
Top 8 - Ziegler unassisted DP at 1st
Bot 9 - Chris opposite field walkoff single to score Horfun from 1st

It looks like 2010 is starting out better than we've had in years. We're getting better than average numbers, with a high level of quality play and nice (albeit hot) weather and hard, even ground. Upton has definitely contributed to this with his strong recruiting. We will certainly be very sad to see him go when his term is up. Hopefully the guys he's managed to rope into our little weekend game will stay and play even when he's gone.

It was another week of strong comebacks and flashy glovework. Many a doubleplay was turned, including an unassisted DP from Ziegler. He caught an opposite field liner and pounced on 1st to get the leading runner out. It was a magnificent play, considering that the guy just recovered from knee surgery.

The Twos took an almost unassailable 10 run lead going into middle of the 4th, many a 'mercy' whisper was heard and we were even figuring out who to trade to make the teams even. Little did anyone expect the 3 HRs and 6 runs that were to follow. 6 batters came up and 6 batter scored from 3 2rbi HRs. It was almost like our 'score-from-home' games, not too long ago, were being put into practice.

With the lead whittled down. The Ones tightened up their defense and opened up their offense. An unheardof 0 runs were scored in the 5th, and it looked like the beginning of the end for the Twos when the Ones scored another 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th thanks to a rare E8 from Bumblebee. The One finally pulled even going into the top of the 9th, 11 runs apiece. Three innings of solid defense ensured that the Twos could not get back on board. Heading into the bottom of the 9th holding a tie score, Horfun led off to get on base. Chris then hit a perfectly placed opposite field single (kudos to H for that inspiration from previous week) that scored Horfun for the walkoff victory.

As it was still early (who'd have thought we could finish our first game by 5pm), we decided to go another 3 innings. That was a huge mistake as the sun had practically worn our energy levels to 0. We played on nonetheless, but decided to call it a game after 3 innings and a tied score.

Interestingly enough. Game 2 seemed to be a mirror of Game 1. The Twos took an early lead in the first 2 innings, finally leading 6-0 going into the bottom of the 9th. It was the Ones who came back from a 6 run deficit to tie the game before the end.

Is it wrong to pray for a little rain? Maybe on Thursday or Friday. Just a little mind you, not a lot. Just enough to moisten the ground, not enough to make it muddy.

For those interested, it seems that Febuary 2010 has been the driest month in 140 years.

Second Game
Ones 6 : Twos 6 - Tie 3 innings

Some old team photos

I saw these on Joyce's facebook, and I asked her to send them to me.

I think this was from 2000 or 2001

Front (from left): The-one-who-cleated-Rube, My cousin Jo, Chris, VRman, Mr Slow, Latinis, DY (of DY-would've-got-that fame), Grandpa
Standing (from left): Indiana, The Generalissimo, some folks from NTU, Hassie (in A's Hat), Linda, Some random dude, Guppy, TohHean, Coach(hidden in the back), Sandman, Windmill, Rickey, Rube, Mr Furious, Irish, some other random dude.

This was 2006 or 2007, I think it was when Rickey was on sabbatical
Front (from left): Jason and Diana, Scooterboy, Cool Papa, Clement, Horfun
Standing (from left): Geok, H, The Generalissimo, Indiana, Mick, Superdad, Jeremy, Irish, Bert, Rube

20 Feb 2010 - Tish vs Farts

Lineup
Tish - 1st Upton, 2nd Chano, 3rd Indiana, SS Ripken, LF Shane, CF VoodooChild, CF John, RF JC
Farts - Catch Rickey, 1st Ziegler, 2nd Jor-el, 3rd Rickey/Sandman, SS DT, LF Uboat, CF H, CF Horfun, RF Geok.

Box Score
Tish: 0 10 0 2 2 1 2 3 2
Farts: 2 0 6 7 5 0 0 3 X

Final Score
Tish 22 : Farts 23

Highlights
Top 1: Jor-El to DT to Upton 4-6-3DP
Bot 3: Uboat Grandslam into deep left field
Bot 7: Chano to Ripken to Upton 4-6-3DP
Bot 8: H 3RBI opposite field linedrive HR
Bot 8: Ripken to Upton 6-3 DP

It was a very good day. Clouds were out to filter the sun, field was dry but not overly hard. Numbers did look iffy at 3pm. We did a mental count and it seemed that we only had 10 (Rugburn, Mick, Bumblebee out of town, Ripken banned from playing - ARI rules, Dumi and Sin celebrating CNY.... etc). But as usual, we showed our faith by lacing up and taking the field, and the baseball gods rewarded us with a fantastic turnout.

Thanks to Upton and his inspired recruiting (We haven't seen such wonderful recruiting since Ferrell and Coach). He managed to get almost his entire Tish faculty out for some fun in the sun. We decided to do a Tish vs SAS friendly with a couple of additions from the SAS side. We should have done Film vs Others, but if we had swapped out Voodoo+Indiana for Rickey+Jor-el, the teams might have been a little too lopsided.

As it was, the teams were fairly even, leaning slightly towards the Tish team. With Voodoo's big bat to buffer them. The put up 10 runs in the 2nd to take a monster 10-2 lead. As usual with SAS tournaments and friendlies, the home team did not give up, and came back strong, scoring 18 runs while allowing 4 in the next 3 innings.

Uboat led the charge pulling a bases-clearing grandslam into deep left field. Even Rickey got in on the action, hitting a solo HR that was not charged for fielder's indifference.

The visitors did not let up though. They hammered our centerfield mercilessly, plopping hit after hit into the space between 2nd base and CF. Too deep for the infield to get to, and too short for H (even at full speed). They advanced on every hit and scored from 2nd at every opportunity, closing up the game to a tie by the middle of the 8th. These Tish guys may not be SAS regulars (yet), but they sure showed the SAS spirit.

It was H's bat and DT's glove that finally broke them down. H (continuing her dominance from last week) lined a beautiful opposite field hit straight down the 3rd baseline, past the left-fielder to bring in 3 runs to allow the home team to take a meager 23-20 lead going into the top of the 9th. It was just enough. The visitors then ran into the wall (usually a gappy fence) that was DT's glove who got all 3 outs to secure the final victory.

We definitely need more games (and numbers like this). Here's looking forward to next week.

13 Feb 2010 - Last day of the Year of the Ox

Ones: 1st Ziegler, 2nd Jor-el, 3rd Indiana, SS DT, LF Mick, CF H, RF Geok
Twos: 1st Rickey, 2nd Horfun/Uboat, 3rd Generalissimo, SS DT, LF Ripken, CF VoodooChild, RF Uboat/Horfun

Box Score
Twos: 0 0 0 1 4 1 1 1
Ones: 10 2 4 2 3 1 4 3

Final Score Ones 29 : Twos 8

The weather was way too hot, the ground was way too hard and the ball was way too live. 3pm first pitch and we almost made it. Thanks to everyone who got there in time. First pitch was at 3:15, but it was close. We need to try to do this every week. 3pm first pitch.

The teams looked quite even when Rickey counted off. Who knew the awesomeness that is H would display her majestic bat on the last day of the ox year. H was unstoppable. She hit for a thousand, with 5 HRs, 8 runs and uncountable RBIs. She hit line drives down the right field line, down the left field line. She smacked deep fly balls over the rightfielder's head. Her bat breathed fire, and her feat ran rings around the bases.

On paper, the Twos looked like they had the edge, with a more powerful albeit slower lineup. Who'd have predicted the Ones taking a 10 run lead in the bottom of the 1st. We should have mercyed, but the Twos decided to play on. VoodooChild was traded for Ziegler after the end of the 2nd when the Ones tacked on another 2 runs. Even with the swap, the Twos didn't put a run on the board till the 4th.

H pretty much led off almost every inning, and scored every time. She definitely burned her calories in lieu of CNY feasting. The Twos were unstoppable, piling on the runs. They had their tactics right. The ground was hard, and the ball was live. Instead of pounding deep fly balls, they drove the ball into the ground and let the errors get them on base.

The Twos did managed to get some baby steps into the fray with 4 runs in the 5th, but it was the last time they managed to string together any hits. They were entirely shut down and shut out. The Mick put the nail into the coffin with a final HR in the bottom of the 8th, making the final score 29-8, for a double-mercy victory for the Ones.

Horfun got taken out again, this time at home, by her own team. A perfect relay to Horfun to tag Rickey out at home. Rickey smacked Horfun's glove so hard that she was flung onto the ground, landing on her backside. It was an awful play. The ball dropped out, and technically Rickey scored the run, but no one was going to argue that call. He was out on the tag. Horfun seems to be getting the short end of the straw week after week with the big boys just steamrolling her over. Guys, the woman's got a black belt in taekwondo. You don't want to mess with her.

MBP: H - 8 runs, 5 HRs, 10+ RBI

6 Feb 2010

Ones: 1st Rickey, 2nd Horfun, 3rd DT, SS Ripken, LF Mick, CF H, RF Sin
Twos: 1st Generalissimo/Uboat, 2nd Jor-El, 3rd Uboat/Generalissimo, SS Rugburn, LF VoodooChild, CF Bumblebee, RF Dumi

Box Score

ONES: 0 2 2 6 1 4 3 2 3
TWOS: 0 0 2 8 4 4 0 3 0

Final score: Ones 23 : Twos 21

What a game. Considering that the Twos looked much stronger than the Ones, the score was much closer that it should have been. It was a see-saw battle with both teams fighting hard to take and hold a lead (and failing miserably in the next inning). One might assume that it was an offensive battle since the final score was so high, but it was also tight defense and superb glovework that won the day.

The Ones pulled ahead with an early lead going into the 3rd. At the top of the 4th, it seemed like everything was gelling for the them as they drove in 6 runs to take a 10-2 lead. But it was not to be. No sooner as the teams switched sides, the Twos pounded back 8 runs to tie the game. This set the precedent for the rest of the game as the lead swung to and fro between the Ones and the Twos.

If the Ones scored at the top of the inning, the Twos would answer back in full. If the Twos took the lead, the Ones would swipe it back. It wasn't till the 9th when the Ones finally managed take and hold a 2 run lead for the victory.

Notable mentions. Dumi showed not only his bat, but also his leg speed. Extending many a double into a triple (although his first attempt was foiled one of the best relays in SAS history... more on that later). Ripken hit probably the furthest homerun of his career, deep, deep, deep into right centerfield between H and Sin. Who'd have seen that one coming.

It was as much of a defensive game as an offensive one. No surprises that there were many defensive lapses (this is saturdaysoftball after all), but there were more than a few brilliant plays.

Play of the day belongs to the relay from H to Ripken to DT at 3rd to tag Dumi out. His first at bat, Dumi smacked a liner into left centerfield. He was easily safe at 2nd, but decided to stretch the hit into a triple. H got to the ball, relayed to Ripken at short, who fired a pinpoint missile into DT's glove for the quick tag. Dumi had no chance.

Horfun was sorely (no pun) tested at 2nd as well. Both times on forced-plays at 2. DT fielded the ball and threw for the force out to Horfun. First Jor-El, in an entirely unsupermanfatheresque move bulldozed into Horfun, smashing her into the ground. In the next inning, in an almost identical play, DT threw to horfun, but this time, it was bumblebee, sliding into the bag and sweeping Horfun off her feet (with her landing on his back.)

Gold Glove belonged to the Mick in Leftfield. He was running down everything. No ball in leftfield landed on the ground.

Jack turns One

Little Jack Ezra Daly

The Chaos that is a kids party

"The Winner"

One cake for the kids, one cake for the adults. (The adult cake was 'magic')

Happy Birthday to you....

Chano jr, Tekken Queen, Upton Jr

Jack is not impressed

Jack and his daddy.

Ripken acting all grown up

"You don't have no ice cream!
You didn't get none ! You didn't get none !
'cos you are on the welfare, you can't afford it, you can't afford it"

"I have some ice cream, I have some ice cream,
and I'm gonna eat it all, I'm gonna eat it all..."

"You want some of my ice cream?"

"Psych...

"I'm gonna eat it all.
I'm gonna eat... all... of... my... ice cream.
You cannot have some, you cannot..."

Time to open the gifts.... Jack still not impressed

The best present is the one that's not wrapped.

Jack's ready to shoot some hoops, but we need an MIT trained engineer to open and put together this toy. Oxford Phd Fail

Presenting the Nikoon D95

Present Fail.


Mommy with the Nikoon D95

CHERIOS!!!.. Best..... Gift..... Ever!!!!!

Yeah, That looks like a week's supply for lil Jack.

Uncle Boat gets caught trying to nip one of the gifts.

Really tough to impress this kid.

"Where's my drumset?"

Uncle Ripken trying his 3 pointer (he missed btw)