High School Basketball

I have heard rumors that some of our teammates have tried out for their respective high school basketball teams.

I was never allowed to play basketball in high school due to my well earned nick name, as pictured above. I was forced into wrestling.

Solid Heads, Solid Hits

Ted Williams, the greatest hitter that ever lived, he was so good that even as a dead man, his head is frozen!

How 'bout that Joe Ross. He gave us another reason to keep our heads quiet. And maybe quiet is not the word anymore. Yeah it needs to be quiet, but it needs to get there forcefully and be in a strong immovable place.

Every time I talk or should I say I hear Joe talk about hitting, I come away with more gems.


Tempo, rhythm, stability, strong and firm. Wow, I was so jealous of you guys yesterday. I wanted to hit and all I got to do was serve up gopher balls to you guys.


I was impressed with your focus, I was impress with your work ethic. I was impressed with the changes I saw.


Great work, way to get better. Keep working. You guys will be scary this year!

Mickey Mantle, my boyhood hero!

Roger Maris, look at those guns!

And George Brett, the last man to legitimately flirt with .400

And look at the solid position of Jr.

My Hero

Our fearless leader pitched last night for the Escogido Lions. He pitched three innings, gave up three hits, one earned run and struck out two. Jamie has gone to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball. How is THAT for dedication and the pursuit of a dream!

Sort of a Schedule

I hope to finalize the REAL schedule by the end of the week. Sorry, but I have some balls in the air that are making it unrealistic to assign real times as yet, but they should clear up soon.For now here is a loose guideline of the potential for work out dates through the winter.

We have rented RIPS, down by the airport in Burien for the following Sundays from noon to 4:00. Our team will have rotating 2 hour blocks in this schedule and will perhaps have a weekend off in each month. We will go from noon to 2:00 or 2:00 to 4:00 the following weeks:


Nov: 7, 14, 21
January: 9,16,23,30
February 6,13,20,27

Don't Bet Against Him, EVER!

Ben Thomson, former multiple repeat batting contest champion of the world is now competing in the post season high school tennis championships.

You must know the story:

Cinderella story, relative unknown shrimp eater, now about to become the Washington State Singles Tennis Champ!

Calendar impaired (but because of this I DO get to park anywhere I want) Coach Cougan drove all the way out to Soundview field yesterday for the big football game and found the entire Soundview staff working diligently on preparing the field for TODAY"S game. Funny that the entire Soundview grounds crew resembled a bunch of 12 year olds playing a pick-up football game, but who am I to judge how Soundview gets their field ready for a big game.

Anyhow, seeings that I was close to the Thomson home, and as always optimistically wondering whether 10 lbs of shrimp, delivered to his doorstep might entice the future rival to Ichiro to come back to baseball, I gave the Thomson's a call and found that they were not home.

But I did discover that they were out at the UW watching Ben (Ballard High's freshman AND #1 Tennis player) play his first post-season match. Ben won the match in triple-dipple overtime and will continue on his quest for state supremacy.

Good luck Ben, we all know waaaaay better than to ever bet against you - we have scene it too many times.

In related news, Campbell Queen played another meaningless soccer game somewhere. Yes, that is right, he now plays a game in which you cannot use your hands.

!!!!!!!Final Football Showdown!!!!!!!

Game on! This Thursday, October 22, 3:30, Soundview, BE THERE.

No holds barred, no rules, no mercy, one team will win, BE THERE.

Tino and Jake; Quin, Ethan, Nick; Mano un Mano, BE THERE.

There will be blood, there will be guts, there will be cheating, BE THERE

My world will stop, my plans on hold I am going to the showdown of the century, BE THERE

Why this might even be better than the Cascade Jr. High vs Puget Sound Jr. High (the 1970 equivalent of freshman football) show down between two undefeated teams, two teams that had not given up ANY points to ANY other opponent all year, meeting for the final game of the season. (and to ALL you piss-ant Puget Sound Jr. High School readers of this blog, {if you guys can read} Chris Humphries from Cascade Jr. High DID cross the goal line and the game DID NOT end in a 0-0 tie, and you guys know it)

This should be fun, and hey guys, be careful only put the big hits on non MBC players, ie Pierre is up for grabs!, unless he changes his mind!!!!!.

Did Ja Know??

Do you know that you can leave comments on my blog. It is real easy. You click the comment button, a little comment box comes up, you click anonymous, write your comment such as:

"You are all wet Cougan, where do you come up with this drivel"
or

"Wow, I am going to quit school (or my job) and sit around a write poetry for the rest of my life"
or
"Hey Coach, can you post some poems that can help me score with hot chicks?"

After you write your comment you have to type some mystery words into a box and hit "post comment"

Just so you know, if you sign your name to a post similar to the first example I will see to it that
you never play baseball in this town again.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Coach Cougan

Another Poem and Poet to Consider

God bless google. I read many poems as a young man. I loved to read, and surprisingly I loved to read a good poem. But like the people in my life, I am not too good with names. I read things, get into discussions about them and am at a loss when one asks me who the author is. And now, as an older man, a man in such awe of those who write so well, for those who capture life in words so well, I am embarrassed that I typically do not know the author.

But google has changed that for me. Now I remember just tiny pieces of what I read many years ago, type the phrase into google and I get the author, complete works, and I even get things they wrote that I neglected to read at my younger age.

As a young man my reading was undisciplined, haphazard in both what I randomly got my hands on, or what some wonderful English teacher put into my hands; thank you Miss Pesnell (of Memphis), Mr. McCamey (misspelled I am sure of Seattle) and Mr. McFarlane (of Seattle; and who in order to suck up to my wife Peggy not too long ago pretended that SHE was his favorite student and not me).

But I have now discovered that Carl Sandburg wrote many of my favorite poems, and here is a good one.

Thank you Carl Sandburg!

A Father To His Son

A father sees his son nearing manhood.
What shall he tell that son?'

Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.'
And this might stand him for the storms
and serve him for humdrum monotony
and guide him among sudden betrayals
and tighten him for slack moments.

'Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy.'
And this too might serve him.
Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed.
The growth of a frail flower in a path up
has sometimes shattered and split a rock.

A tough will counts. So does desire.
So does a rich soft wanting.
Without rich wanting nothing arrives.
Tell him too much money has killed men
and left them dead years before burial:
the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs
has twisted good enough men
sometimes into dry thwarted worms.

Tell him time as a stuff can be wasted.
Tell him to be a fool every so often
and to have no shame over having been a fool
yet learning something out of every folly
hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies
thus arriving at intimate understanding
of a world numbering many fools.

Tell him to be alone often and get at himself
and above all tell himself no lies about himself
whatever the white lies and protective fronts
he may use against other people.

Tell him solitude is creative if he is strong
and the final decisions are made in silent rooms.
Tell him to be different from other people
if it comes natural and easy being different.

Let him have lazy days seeking his deeper motives.
Let him seek deep for where he is born natural.
Then he may understand Shakespeare
and the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov,
Michael Faraday and free imaginations
Bringing changes into a world resenting change.

He will be lonely enough
to have time for the work
he knows as his own.

Mark Fidrych a/k/a The Bird

I was searching for baseball poems on the Internet. Nothing could be more poetic than a poem about Mark Fidrych. He was special. He played the game with heart, took the nation by storm and never once winced or complained when his story ended in tragedy.

He never made big money, a great rookie season playing for the MLB minimum and then he was done. Went back to Massachusetts drove truck and farmed and died tragically a few years ago when a truck he was working on fell on him.

Need I tell you that the Bird was close to my age, close to my heart and a hero of mine for all the right reasons.

Mark Fidrych, Baseball’s Beloved ‘Bird,’ Dies at 54
Published: April 13, 2009

DETROIT — Mark Fidrych, the golden-haired, eccentric pitcher known as the Bird, who became a rookie phenomenon for the Detroit Tigers in 1976 and later saw his career cut short by injury, died Monday. He was 54.

His death occurred on his farm in Northborough, Mass., Joseph D. Early Jr., the district attorney for Worcester County, said in a statement. A family friend discovered Fidrych’s body beneath a Mack dump truck, Early said. He appeared to have been working on the truck at the time. The Massachusetts State Police began an investigation into the accident, he said.

During the summer of the nation’s bicentennial, Fidrych (pronounced FID-rich), then 21, electrified the baseball world. “He was the most charismatic player we had during my time with the Tigers,” said Ernie Harwell, the veteran announcer, who began broadcasting Tigers games in 1960. “I didn’t see anybody else who was as much of a character as he was."

Fidrych’s record in 1976 was 19-9, with an earned run average of 2.34, the best in major league baseball, and 97 strikeouts. His 24 complete games were the year’s best in the American League. Fidrych was named the rookie of the year in the American League and finished second to Jim Palmer in the race for the Cy Young Award.

Called “the fidgety, 6-foot-3 bundle of nerves” by The New York Times, Fidrych had a mop of golden curls and a gawky gait that prompted a minor league manager, Jeff Hogan, to compare him to Big Bird, the “Sesame Street” character. The nickname — shortened to the Bird — stuck, but his appearance was only one of Fidrych’s vivid traits.
He often talked to the baseball, fidgeted on the mound and got down on his knees to scratch at the dirt. Fidrych would swagger around the grass after every out and was finicky about baseballs, refusing to reuse one if an opposing player got a hit, and rejecting fresh ones he declared to have dents. He liked to jump over the white infield lines on his way to the mound, with a wide, toothy grin that, coupled with his hair, made him easy to spot even from the upper reaches of Tiger Stadium.

“Everybody really had a fondness for this young guy, especially the young girls,” Harwell said. “After he got a haircut, they’d run into the barbershop to see if they could get the curls off the floor."

Mark Steven Fidrych was born Aug. 15, 1954, in Worcester, Mass. His wife, Ann, whom he married in 1986, and a daughter, Jessica, survive him. The son of an assistant school principal, Fidrych attended public and private schools in Worcester and entered the 1974 amateur draft.

But Fidrych, a right-hander, was not picked until the 10th round, and he spent two seasons in the minor leagues before making the Tigers after spring training in 1976.
He threw a few innings as a relief pitcher and made his first start in May. He captured the attention of Tigers fans in his first game as a starter by throwing seven no-hit innings and allowing only two hits in a 2-1 victory against the Cleveland Indians.

A month later, Fidrych pitched the Tigers to a 5-1 victory over the Yankees in a nationally televised game in front of a capacity crowd at Tiger Stadium. Fans, who rocked the stadium with applause, refused to leave until Fidrych came out from the dugout to tip his cap. Weeks later, he was named the starting pitcher in the 1976 All-Star Game. But he gave up two runs and took the loss as the National League won, 7-1.

Still, Fidrych’s reputation grew as the season progressed, drawing near-capacity crowds to stadiums across the country as he performed his antics and kept winning ballgames, falling one short of 20 victories.

The Tigers, who paid him the league minimum, $16,500, for the 1976 season, gave him a $25,000 bonus and signed him to a three-year contract worth $255,000. Picking up a series of lucrative endorsements, including a deal with Aqua-Velva, an aftershave maker (he joked to The Detroit Free Press that “it was a lotion, not an aftershave, because I really wasn’t shaving yet”), Fidrych wrote an autobiography with the author Tom Clark called “No Big Deal.”

But as it turned out, his rookie season was his biggest.

Fidrych sustained two serious injuries as soon as the 1977 season began, tearing the cartilage in a knee while cavorting on the field in spring training, then suffering a rotator cuff injury during an early-season game. “I was playing Baltimore in Baltimore, and about the fifth inning, something happened,” Fidrych wrote. “The arm just went dead."

Fidrych did not have surgery until 1985, but by then his career was long finished. After 1976, he played in only 27 games through 1980. Released by the Tigers in 1981, Fidrych competed briefly with a minor league team owned by the Boston Red Sox.

His lifetime major league record was 29-19, with a lifetime E.R.A. of 3.10, in 58 games, all but two of them starts.

Fidrych went home to central Massachusetts, where he bought a dump truck, becoming a licensed commercial truck driver, and eventually his farm in Northborough, where his family owned a diner.

Fidrych returned to Tiger Stadium in 1999 for ceremonies marking the last game there. A cheer went up from the crowd when Fidrych pawed at the dirt on the mound.

“He was a little naïve, just a sweet kid, really,” Harwell said. “He captured the public’s

imagination.”

And now, the poem that brings it all back. How interesting that it is told via a man with a routine job, a man who could have made this routine job a career, but a man who is striving for more.

I Once Was Mark The Bird Fidrych's Substitute Mailman

David Schaafsma

I know Northboro pretty well

You go door to door every day

You get to know a town well, maybe too well

But for years I was a substitute carrier

On Keigo’s route, the name Mark Fidrych, The Bird

On one of four hundred mailboxes

‘74 pumping gas at the Sunoco

Algonquin diploma in hand

Spring training ‘76―a Tiger

If they want me to be a bat boy,

I’ll do it

Coleman gets the flu,

Bird gets his shot

Retires the first fourteen Indians, two hitter

That summer Ford pardons Nixon

Bird starts the All Star game

The summer of disco,

Mark borrowing

Tommy Veryzer’s i.d. to dance The Fried Egg

You remember what he was like:

When I’m out there the mound belongs to me

Talk to the ball, point where it has to go

Throw back balls that have hits in them

Manicure the mound on hands and knees

Strut around the mound after every out, run on

And off the field every inning

Manager Ralph Houk said, I’ve never seen anything like it

Not even Walter Johnson started this fast

This is how it fell apart, and it always does

But not usually this sudden

Goofing around in center field, spring training ’77

Blows his knee out, cartilage torn

In July, his arm, it just feels dead,

Torn rotator and it’s over

Nineteen wins one season, eight wins the next four years

And just like that he’s done, he’s toast

Summer ‘74 pumping gas and in ‘82

Back pumping gas, glass slipper

No longer fits

A contractor in Northboro today

53, just like me

I like to drive truck, he said when he played

So that’s what he does, commercial trucker

Ten wheeler, hauling gravel and asphalt

Some people say I look like him

Same height, same age, same curly mop of hair in those days

Road trip that summer to see him at Tiger Stadium

Couple kids ask me for his autograph

My buddies have a good laugh as I sign their gloves

I left the P.O. and Northboro in ‘97

Keigo retired and I had the chance to take his route

I would have become Mark Fidrych’s mailman!

But to take any job for ten years

Makes it your career

I had bigger plans for my life

I ran into him just once:

Crazy blizzard winter of ‘95

Three feet of snow,

see a guy digging out mail boxes

As I come with the mail the guy says

I’ll have this dug out in a couple minutes, sir

And I see it was the Bird

Sir, he calls me, a guy who once pitched The All Star Game!

No problem, I appreciate it, I say, and I did

Standing there, with an armful Of Rolling Stones and electric bills

Football News

For all you football fans out there, tonight is the night where Evergreen plays Kennedy. Coach Cougan will be in attendance. If anyone on the team is thinking of going to this game, feel free to give Coach Cougan a shout. Of course Coach Cougan would expect that you are going to the game to support Evergreen and is willing to lend you the appropriate Wolverine gear to make your evening the festive occasion that it should be.

Can't Win for Losing

Ahhhhg, the weather in Seattle. Sorry. When I had to make the call on whether to play or not, the facts were definitely against playing. We had sideways rain going on and forecast for thunder showers. Who was I to know that the weather would clear up.

We will try again next week, and next week I will be more forceful with the weather. The biggest reasons for that will be:

1. I don't think we will have as many guys who will be late or absent, as we did this week

2. The Smith / Cohee's have offered to host a "get together BBQ" at their house after the game.

I want to thank Matt and his lovely wife Lynne for making this gesture. I think this is a wonderful idea for a team with so many new faces. Perhaps this BBQ, and the ability for us all to get to know one another better may be more valuable than playing baseball in September. But one thing I ask of you all as a group; we must stand united in our decision NOT to view the five hour slide show of their summer vacation.

Frank Papasedero

I played college ball for Frank. I loved him and I hated him. He was that kind of man. His south Boston accent offended the New Yorker in me. He pushed, he yelled, he taunted he told you he hated you, he told you how bad you were. But he could also reach into you and make you better. He also had a kind side. And let me tell you, once somebody screamed at you like Frank, laid out all you faults at 80 decibels, when his words were kind they really got through.

At first I always played against him. And even then he made you better. It was no secret that his teams always had the best players. Future big leagues from my generation - Kenny Phelps, Floyd Bannister played for him. And when my crappy little South End teams played his I played my ass off trying to beat him - and did at times. And I always wondered - If he had the best guys, why didn't he ever come after me?

When he was hired at SU he did. He came and got me and I played for him for three years. Three years of having him scream at me, three years of him second guessing ever pitch I called. Three years of having him in my face after a strike out, a passed ball. We argued, we fought, he sent me out there every day. Every summer I had to beg for my scholarship back because inevitably by the end of each season he would tell me he was done with me. And every year I had eligibility, he brought me back.

Years later, when I would take a week off work to work his baseball camps with him he would always introduce me as the best catcher who ever played for him, and I would melt. Coming from him, well that said it all.

Wood Bat Game at Sand Point's Frank Papasedero Field

I have secured Frank Papasedero Field for this weekend and next weekend for our games with Bellevue. Great new TURF field on 65th Street and Sandpoint Way just north of the U of W.

Game time is 1:00, please arrive at 11:15.

This will be a WOOD BAT GAME.

NO METAL CLEATS.

We have 3 families that are bound by an O'Dea picnic at Lower Woodland (1-4) who will be late. Jake will be hunting this weekend. Roster of 14 tells me we just have 9 at game time with more coming late. LET ME KNOW if you cannot be there on time 206-793-0085.

Sunday's Hit Parade

The NEW MBC 15's came out Sunday and collected more hits than Frank Sinatra and Elvis combined. It was a site to behold. TWENTY ONE hits, SIX doubles and THREE balls off the fence. In addition to the hits that fell in cleanly there were line drives and hard hit balls a'plenty. This team swings the bat.

The two doubles each from Tino Peleti (2-5, 3 RBI) and Jake Hawken (2-4, 5 RBI) were no surprises to regular spectators of this team, but it looks like these two will have long ball competition from Quinn Burcham (4-4, 4 RBI and a deep Sac Fly) all year long. There were 12 RBI between these three!

Nick Salle, Nick Reeves, Stuart Fairchild and Riley Duffy each had two hits as well.

The team played fairly solid defense, especially when one considers they had not seen a ball diamond for months.

Excitement also had to be generated over how well this team threw the ball. This team added six new pitchers over last year's roster while loosing just two. And don't forget this team discovered a secret weapon pitcher in Mitchell Smith late last year.

After watching this team in their first outing Coach Cougan was reminded of Karen Moyer's comment at try-outs, "Wow, you have a lot of talent coming to the 15's this year, I expect a lot of wins from this team".

Meet Your New Teamates

We have some new players this year. I thought it would be nice to give a brief introduction of the boys prior to our first game on Sunday.

Here they are:

Above is Nick Salle. Nick is a pitcher/outfielder and last year played for the Puget Sound Stars. Nick will be our only player (and perhaps the only in the league) still in elementary school. Nick is one of the lucky third graders in Mrs. Fletcher's class at Our Lady of the Blessed Left-Handers. He excels in art and is the fastest boy on the playground.

Riley Duffy is another left-hander and another player picked up from the Puget Sound Stars. He pitches and plays first-base and outfield. Riley is a fan of Chick Flicks (loves to cry at movies) and has an extensive bottle cap collection. Other sports that Riley participates in are roller derby and cage fighting.

Quinn Burcham is an outfielder, pitcher and corner infielder and yet another addition from the Puget Sound Stars. Quinn was born in Antarctic and holds dual citizenship. He travels back each December for their Summerfest Athletic Competition and competes well. Last year his penguin project took third place.

Alex Mitchell is our final pick-up from the now defunct Puget Sound Stars. He is NOT related to our returning Mitchell Smith, although they do share a common name. Alex is an infielder. Alex comes from a family of twenty five brothers and sisters and is a world renowned concert tuba player. It is a wonder that Alex can even play baseball as his left foot has only two toes.

Ethan Clements last played for the O'Brien team. Ethan is a pitcher and corner infielder. Ethan is the son of Bill Clements who played with coach Cougan with the Seattle U Chieftains. Ethan's father was know as a hot headed/hot tempered fire ball who played the game with fierce reckless abandon. He was nicknamed Mr. Excitement (or just plain Mr. X) by his teammates as we just never knew when he would explode or otherwise cause trouble. Ethan is a quilter and makes his own clothes. Last year's O'Brien's team played in away jersey's made by Ethan.

Lastly (not pictured, for soon to be known as obvious reasons) we have added Russell Madche. Russell is not pictured because he was born with a rare condition which causes sudden invisibility. Russell is a pitcher, catcher and outfielder and we hope to use his rare condition to steal signs from the other team when he is otherwise unable to play due to invisibility.

First Poem of the Year

It Couldn't be Done
By Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't" but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, as he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one we know has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done, and you'll do it

A nice poem, a better thought and great advice. Do not let others define what can be done. My number one reason for showing you this poem if for the obvious baseball reasons. But don't stop there. Who is telling you what kind of student you are, what kind of classes you should take or avoid taking. What colleges you should set your sites on and other limits in your life.

Two real world examples:

I played ball with a guy who did not figure out what he wanted to be until he was 23 years old. And then he decided that he wanted to be a pilot of all things. EVERYONE told him NO WAY. He was 23, had no military flying experience HAD NOT EVEN HAD ONE FLYING LESSON. Age 23. His competition joined the air force out of high school and had been flying since they were 18. Today he is a pilot with Alaska Airlines (I always look into the cockpit when I enter a plane because I sure as hell do not want to fly on his plane!)

My wife's brother got the notion that he wanted to go to Harvard when he was in high school. Everyone said WHO ARE YOU KIDDING, no one from Evergreen High School in White Center is ever going to get into Harvard. Yet he got in and graduated with honors.

Do not listen to others when setting your goals. Sometimes nice advice is to spare you from the limitations that others have put on themselves. While I agree that you can't have everything, I do believe that you can have anything. It is all a matter of application, dedication and inspiration.

Hello, Welcome to the Start of a New Year

Welcome to the Blog for the 2011 season. Wow 2011 and when I DO write a check I sometimes still start writing 199X. Go figure.

I have decided to keep the blog name as 14mbc for simplicity, ease and the obvious choice, laziness. It may also be helpful to add a sense of history to the blog.

If you are new to the team, WELCOME; if you are a repeat offender, Welcome back. Glad to have you all aboard.

I will be sending out a final roster to you all soon, I cannot do so at the moment as there are still two boys in orbit, and to calm your fears I have been approached by other quality players since the I made my offers and should we need to go back out and search for more players - they seem to be out there. It looks like there was a contraction of teams this year that out flanked the contraction of players.

I am glad you are all still playing, I am glad you are all determined to continue to improve and enjoying this game. Be careful; if you wait too long you just might become a baseball junkie like me.

Tough Loss in Championship Game

As predicted by many the tournament Championship came down to Bellevue vs. Magnolia. Many predicted a high scoring game, which most likely would have favored Magnolia, but the game was a defensive duel and was won 2-1 by Bellevue in the bottom of the seventh.

Tino Peliti pitched well for four innings, allowing just four hits and striking out three. Jake Hawken was effective as well in his three innings, allowing three hits and striking out four. They each yielded a run, and the Mag boys could only match one of those runs.

Down 1-0 in the seventh Mitchell Smith was plunked by a pitch. Speedy Mitchell stole second and was bunted to third by Nick Reeves. The Bellevue bunch wanted no part of Tino Peleti and took their chances with Stuart Fairchild, who clutched up and delivered a sacrifice fly.

Magnolia was held to just four hits, delivered by David Becker, Nick Reeves, Spencer Hogger and John Peterson.

John Peterson was named MBC's tournament MVP. John earned this honor by winning two games on the mound, and batting .750 (6-8) with a double and home run.

Revenge on the Merchants

Our second game of the season, fresh of a superb win over the O'Brien Bunch. Walking tall and proud, we stumbled and had one of most disappointing games of the season. We suffered from a surprise walk off defeat to the Kirkland Merchants. We had a chance of facing them in the 4th of July tournament, but did not. We faced them today and proudly I can write that we defeated them soundly, 7-1.

Nick Reeves mowed for four innings, and could have gone all the way but the tournament rules forbade that, four inning max. Chris Luttinen came in and shut them down the rest of the way.

The lone Merchant run was controversial, and cost Coach Cougan his front row seat. With a runner on slow rolling ground ball was hit to third. After the throw to first (runner safe) the runner tried to move third and was gunned down by Spencer Hogger, the umpire at home called him out. The other umpire (if one could call him that) never saw the play, but remained at first. The Merchants argued the call and asked the home plate umpire to get the base umpire's opinion. But the first base umpire only had an opinion on the play at first (the only play he saw) and replied "safe" and the home plate umpire changed to his call. No amount of sophisticated debate by a (fuming, ranting, spitting mad) Coach Cougan could get the home plate umpire to understand that his partner was answering the wrong question. And I guess the home plate umpire could not seem to understand the base umpire repeatedly saying he did not see the play at third.

Coach Cougan then watched the rest of the game from far away in left field.

Offensively Stuart Fairchild, Nick Reeves, Spencer Hogger and Chris Luttinen all had two hit games. Mitchell Smith, Campbell Queen and John Peterson also added hits.

Complete and Total Admiration

Above; Old, Older, Oldest

I am old.  I am old by the standards that I developed as a youngster.  Waaay old.  At age 14 I made up my mind that I did not want to EVER be 45.  Seriously.  Those were the 60's and we were not supposed to trust anyone over 30, I was pretty sure the revolution WAS going to happen and I for one never wanted to get old.

My parents were old, and in those days; and with my eyes THEY were old.  I never EVER saw my old man in shorts, NEVER saw him move fast, I mean NEVER.  If he had to walk briskly he had to have his hand over his pocket to keep his change from jingling.

In those days Jack LaLane was considered a bona fide FREAK because he believed in exercise.  

And as a boy I had Robin Roberts' baseball card.  Even back then I thought, wow this guy is old, this guy has been around; how does he get anyone OUT?

Maybe you think this way about Jamie Moyer.  If you listen to the press and media, all you hear about is how old Jamie is.  How he gets hitters out with smoke and mirrors.  How he cannot last, how he MUST be living on borrowed time.

Here is my take.  I have always thought this and after today EVEN I came away MORE impressed than ever, but I am old.

Yeah, he only throws 83 or 84 tops.  In the days with closers throwing 99 this sounds like easy pickings.  

Only 83 84.  Well let me tell you, that is plenty fast.  It ain't that bad; most mortals cannot touch it, and even guys like Ted Williams have to concentrate to hit it.  Especially when it is located, especially when it moves.

I have known Jamie for six years now.  I was a former catcher.  I caught guys that were pretty damn good.  Mark Bishop was pretty damn good.  A big winner in college and Mark pitched well into his late 30's for the Seattle Studs Semi Pro team.  Mark was a thinker, a competitor and a scrapper.  I caught Wyatt Tonkin who threw absolute gas and got a cup of coffee with the Braves in the early 80's.  I caught Floyd Bannister, Kennedy High School super star, ASU premier pitcher, and number 1 draft pick of  1976 and Mariner stand out.

I caught Jamie today and he WOWED me.  He hit spots.  HE HIT SPOTS.  He hit spots in long toss. He hit spots from the mound. He made it move in.  He made it move out. He made it  move down.  And he made it move to his spots.  And each time HE CALLED HIS SHOT.  

I have always been a fan, I mean how can I not be, but today I FOUND OUT WHY he still gets big leaguers out.  

COMPLETE AND TOTAL ADMIRATION 

MBC Edges Woodinville to Win Tournament Pool

MBC beat Woodinville 7-6 to advance as Pool B's number one seed.  A trio of Spencer Hogger, Mitchell Smith and John Peterson combined for the win, with John gaining his second win of the day!

And what a day it was for John Peterson, 2-2 with a double in game #1, pitched four two hit six strikeout innings in game #1 and was the star of game two as well.  John was 2-2 in game #2 with a two run home run and RBI single, both with two outs.  He had better eat the same thing for breakfast tomorrow!

Stuart Fairchild, who has spent the entire season bouncing balls off of fences FINALLY got one to travel over the fence with a mammoth blast to left center.  Jake Hawken smacked a triple to right, but came up lame running the bases, he is now listed as day to day.

Magnolia Voted Best 14 Year Old Team in Olympia Area

Last week MBC 14's beat the Capital City Halo's and this week they man handled the South Sound All-Stars.  If we all moved down there we would be kings!

MBC made quick work of it besting South Sound 11-1.  John Peterson was dazzling, but suffered from Coach "Should Know Better" Bishop's comment that John was perfect through two innings.  He ended the game with six K's and allowed only two hits.

John was part of the story offensively as well, both he and Tino Peleti were 2-2, John with a big RBI double and Tino with a grand slam home run.

Stuart Fairchild doubled to the wall as well, and both Campbell Queen and David Becker added hits.

FYI

A quick look at the Koufax standings show us at 10-10 and out of the play-offs. Just so you guys know, I took a look at the other division and noticed that the top two teams in that division are the Stealheads and the Moon Valley team. Life is full of would'a, should'a, could'a's, but I am pretty sure we would have run away with the Cascade Division and be in place to be the team to beat in that tourney.

But I also want to add, I talked some with the Stealhead coach and he confirmed that there were teams in that division that they beat just by showing up, that he had some regrets that his team did not face the level of competition that he would have liked.

So, you got that going for you.

Take a Look at These Averages!

Some highlights from the Tourney


Tino .714, 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 5RBI
Start .353, 2 2B 10 RBI
John .500, 5 RBI
Nick .429
Jake .455, 3 2B
David & Mitchell both .412
Keenan .333, 2B, 5 RBI
Campbell .308, 2B 4 RBI

And this is not official but Mitchell Smith was named Pitcher of the Tourney and will be featured on next year's T-shirt (assuming he can come to financial terms with the Kirkland Merchants)

A Snowman in July Brings End to MBC's Championship Run

Things looked bright for MBC in the Championship game until a rare siting of a snowman on the fourth of July brought their run to an end. Who knew, who could have seen this coming, but an 8 run fifth inning spelled the end for MBC as they lost 12-9.

It was a gallant effort for this team. Low on pitching coming in, the team played five games in four days. Everyone stepped up, everyone did their best, but it was just not enough.

MBC scored first in the second inning. Campbell Queen led off with a single but two infield ground balls left Nick Reeves on first with two out. Jake Hawken then crushed a double into the gap which scored Nick and gave MBC an early lead.

In the third MBC went up 3-0. After two outs Spencer Hogger singled and after another single by Tino Peleti, Stuart Fairchild launched a triple deep into the gap to score them both. What could have been a bigger inning ended on a questionable call (one of TOO DXXN many from the field umpire in my IRATE opinion) at first on Campbell Queen's ground ball.

The Bombers Navy scored two in their half of the third as the field umpire concluded to the surprise of our team that Keenan Heller had not fully secured a ball on a force at second. Apparently he could "sense" that the ball was "loose" in Keenan's glove, grrrr.

Two more runs in the fourth put MBC down as they batted in their half of the fifth. Mitchell was plunked to start the rally and after one out the Bombers had seen enough of Tino and intentionally walked him. I guess that in all the excitement this weekend they hadn't noticed how deadly Stuart Fairchild's bat was as well. Stuart launched a booming double to score them both and Campbell Queen immediately changed places with Stuart with his own double. MBC proceeded to load the bases and then things started to get ugly, for us!

He should'a been released last year, and I am sure he will never be back, but that old stinker Bubba Galush was picked off third, and then in a crazy circus atmosphere that I just do not want to dwell on the SNOWMAN in July appeared and MBC was down 12-5.

There was last minute hope. MBC did make them nervous in the seventh. They scored two runs on hits by David Becker, Nick Reeves, John Peterson and Keenan Heller and had the bases loaded with the Bomber's worst nightmare on deck and in the hole, Tino and Stuart. But it was not to be. A high infield chopper and a race to third base was won by the Bombers, and it was over.

MBC Needs Big Inning to Beat Stealheads

MBC relied on one big inning to beat the Stealheads and advance to the championship game.

The fireworks came in the fourth with MBC down 5-0. Mitchell Smith led the inning off with a walk which was followed by a Spencer Hogger single. Steals put the runners on second and third with Tino coming to the plate. Tino launched a towering home run to bring MBC back to a 5-3 deficit. But the inning was just starting.

Stuart Fairchild then drove a ball to the wall for a double and was scored when Campbell Queen singled. After two quick outs the bats came alive again when Jake Hawken doubled, Chris Luttinen walked and both were doubled home by Keenan Heller. When the dust settled MBC had the lead 7-5.

Oh but things are not so easy for this team and they promptly let the Stealheads right back in by giving up three runs in the fifth.

Mitchell Smith led the MBC half of the fifth off with a big double and was quickly brought home by Tino's next big hit, a triple. Stuart Fairchild then hit a possible sacrifice fly, but a strong throw by the Steelhead left fielder stopped Tino at the plate.

But MBC now had the lead and it was Jake Hawken time, and he did not disappoint. The big guy came in and blew away the Stealheads striking out four in his two innings to seal the deal.

His job was made somewhat easier when after two were out in the sixth consecutive hits by Nick Reeves, Jake Hawken, John Peterson, Keenan Heller and Mitchell Smith gave MBC three more runs.

A Tie is a Big Win For MBC in Final Game of Pool Play

MBC played its last game of pool play knowing it had qualified for a berth in the championship round.  Having the ability to "save" a pitcher, MBC tapped on catcher Mitchell Smith to start the game at pitcher.

What a wonderful surprise.  Mitchell threw 2 1/3 innings of perfect ball before walking his first batter and took a no hitter into the fourth.  This news source is prohibited from describing the events of the fourth inning, but let us just say the circus came to town and set up a tent in the MBC infield.  At the end of the fourth inning MBC's 8-0 lead had become a tie game, 'nuff said.

MBC was rolling in running up the 8-0 lead. Mitchell Smith had three hits, Spencer Hogger, Tino Peleti, David Becker and Nick Reeves had two hits and John Peterson had a hit.

The tie actually gave MBC all it needed to win its pool  and send it them into the Championship Round as the number 1 seed, plus saving some arms for the chore ahead!

Hot MBC Wins Game Two of 4th of July Tourney

Same score, same results, different hero's, MBC wins again against the Capital City Halos.

MBC fell behind 1-0 early, tied it, fell behind 3-1, tied it and fell behind 4-3 before exploding in the fifth to put the game away.

Crafty John Peterson pitched five strong innings bending slightly but never giving in. His grit and determination kept MBC close the entire way. After MBC took the lead in the fifth Jake Hawken came in for a two inning close for the save.

Jake's arm also made a giant play early in the contest. With a their lead off man on first the Halos put on a hit and run. The batter hit a ground ball to third and the base runner kept on running to try to take third. Jake threw a laser beam strike to Keenan Heller to just nab the runner for a double play.

MBC score in the third when Nick Reeves led off with a single. Nick stole second and took third on a wild pitch. After two were out and he looked to be stranded, Mitchell Smith rocked a solid single to score him.

In the fourth a lead -off walk to Spencer Hogger was followed by a mammoth double by Tino Peliti. Tino then scored on David Becker's single.

In the sixth Coach Cougan pulled out his crystal ball to predict good things for the MBC team. After a walk to Keenan the Halos recorded two quick outs. While Spencer Hogger was at the plate Coach Cougan told Stuart Fairchild to "get ready, Spence is getting on and they are going to walk Tino". Sure enough the Halo pitcher plunked Spencer, and would not throw a ball near Tino bringing Stuart up with the bases loaded. Stuart then showed the Halos why he bats behind Tino by driving a ball all the way to the left-center fence to score all three runners.

Jake Hawken then made quick work of the remaining Halos with a two run lead. Jake struck out four in his two innings and brought home the win.

MBC Wins Thriller in Game One of 4th of July Tourney

Big bats, good plays (some bad plays), a lot of arms and timing combine for a win for Magnolia.

Two triples, another pirouette move by Keenan, some first base mystery men and an entourage of four pitchers.

Tino Peleti started and pitched three wonderful innings, but tired in the fourth. Staked with a two run lead going into the fourth a tired Tino gave up four runs to Moon Valley. A tired Spencer Hogger pitched a nice fifth, and Jimmy Sheldrup pitched a solid sixth.

MBC was slow to score. It was not until the third inning, and even then not until two were out that they showed any offense. Hot hitting John Peterson started things with a sharp single and was followed by a walk to Keenan Heller. Mitchell Smith quickly got to two strikes before launching a ball way over the head of the left fielder for a two run triple.

MBC threatened in the fifth by loading the bases, but once again came up empty.

After one out in the sixth MBC tied the game. Tino belted a booming triple (perhaps hitting it further than his home run on Monday) and was promptly driven in by Stuart Fairchild single. After a walk to Campbell Queen, Jimmy Sheldrup singled to load the bases. John Peterson scored a run with his second hit and a walk to Keenan Heller tied the game.

In the seventh Moon Valley had seen enough of Tino and they walked him. After a single by Stuart Fairchild (and a steal) MBC had men on second and third for Campbell Queen. Campbell hit a deep fly to left to give MBC the go ahead run.

John Peterson closed the game out. Coming in with no out and a man on first, John was aided by a great throw by Cambelll Queen to nail the baserunner as he tried to move up on a blocked ball in the dirt. John then retired the side with a pop up and a flyball to center.

Late Rally Falls Short as Light Go Out, Again

Oh the never ending issue of lights at Mag #1. Next year we will fund raise for a BIG generator and some electrical hook-up to override the city.

MBC started slow last night against the Eastlake Tigers falling behind 7-0 before any offensive spark. With two out in the third Chris Luttinen and John Peterson singled and after Mitchell Smith was plunked in the back the bases were loaded. Nick Reeves singled home a run and things were looking great with Tino Peleti coming up. But just like the poem Tino was done in ala Casey and there was no joy in MBCville.

MBC added another run in the fourth when Stuart Fairchild was plunked and Jake Hawken walked setting the table for Spencer Hogger. Spencer singled in Stuart, but as is happening too often lately MBC allowed the Tiger pitcher to wiggle off the hook.

The Tigers took a commanding 11-2 lead in their half of the fifth and MBC came to bat in the bottom of the inning needing two runs to avoid the mercy rule (something we were doing to other teams with high frequency not too long ago). John Peterson lead off with his second hit of the night and after two quick outs things looked grim for MBC with some faint hope for some magic from Tino's bat.

Tino proceeded to blast a ball way way out of Magnolia's field. Tino knocked a blast that went over the right center field fence, estimated by some after the game as at least 375 feet. That woke the team up and with two outs and they rallied for two more runs. A double by Stuart, a walk to Campbell Queen and a single by Jake Hawken accounting for the action.

MBC brought the score back to a respectable 11-6 before the lights went out ending the game early.

Hope is high for the future after this game. The offense seems to be coming back and low on pitching this team discovered that David Becker and Spencer Hogger have been under utilized as pitchers.

Things look good for this team as they head into a series of post season consolation tournaments.

Out, but Hopefully Not Down

Nobody loves you when your down and out. Well we are most likely out of the play offs, but I truly hope nobody is too down. Yes we are all competitive and that is why we play the game and that is why it hurts to lose. We all want to win but lets put it in perspective.

Remember that we ALL took a deep breath in the fall when we decided to elect for the tougher league. I still contend it was the right choice. The quality of play we have experienced in this league is better than we would have seen in the other. We saw better pitching, we faced better hitters and the games were tougher. Don't forget we had a very strong run earlier in the year. If we are looking for excuses I think that our Memorial Day break, combined with a stretch of bad weather kept us off the field too long and perhaps our edge was dulled.

In addition I think we had one other factor that perhaps hurt us more than we let on. We have faced more scheduling factors this year. I think the school year factor of some boys in High School, some not fractured our early ability to function as a cohesive team. I also think LIFE, and by that I mean the all encompassing pulls and strains of the mid-teen athlete impacted us more that we realize.

It is too late to combat these issues at this juncture of the season. At this point I hope we can still keep our heads up and scrap as hard as we can against our remaining opponents and I hope we can look to our 4th of July tourney as a chance for some competitive satisfaction. But as we look towards next year I hope we all can sit back, think about commitment to a cause and look deep into our souls and discover where baseball fits into our priorities.

Loss to Rock Creek Ends MBC's Play Off Hopes

Well you might just say that MBC left their play off hopes on base against Rock Creek. Or you could say their chances were picked-off. Either way you spell it MBC did not get the job done against another team vying for the play-offs.

MBC loaded the bases for the first three innings against Rock Creek and came away with just two runs eventually losing 7 - 3. It was not a pretty site. MBC mixed in but five hits and was given ten walks. Leaving the bases loaded three times and having two (three if you count a bad call by the ump) baserunners picked off was not a recipe for success.

Tino pitched well for three innings and Jake Hawken threw three dominate innings but the story of the day was that Rock Creek's balls found holes and our did not. MBC lined out three times.

Quiet Bats Dim Play Off Hopes

The MBC 14's had a bunch of air taken out of their balloon on Friday night. In a stretch where all games are big, MBC came up short again offensively. The Seattle Bomber's Navy beat them 11-4 to put a giant damper on any play off hopes.

John Peterson started for MBC and it just did not have his good stuff. He battled gallantly for two innings but the strike zone was his enemy and timely hits by pesky Bomber hitters was his down fall.

Nick Reeves relieved and finished throwing four innings. Nick too battled gallantly but was victimized by by seeing eye hits and a minor defensive let down.

MBC's offense sputtered all night trying to get into gear. It wasn't the number of hits but the timing of hits that hurt this team. MBC rattled off 10 hits including a massive triple by Tino Peleti, but they could not get the hits when needed to score enough runs to topple the Bombers.

Facing a run shorted game in the fifth MBC did rally enough to make the Bombers nervous. After a Nick Reeves hit and a walk to John Peterson the Bombers recorded two outs. Always reliable Stuart Fairchild doubled them home. Spencer Hogger scored Stuart with a single and then scored MBC's final run on Tino Peleti's second hit of the game.

Play-off News / Play-off Hopes

Soon we will know. THIS WEEKEND IS HUGE.

Here are the facts, as interpreted by me:

I think these six teams are IN:

Greensox - 2 losses
RIPS Blue - 1 loss
O'Brien - 4 losses
Sting - 3 losses
Stars - 4 losses
SS Black - 6 losses

These five teams are trying for two spots:

WAVE - 7 losses four games to play RIPS Blue is one of them
WOLFPAC - 10 losses - Bellevue and Bombers Blue to play
BEARS - 5 losses BUT 9 games to play in just a week, including OB, RIPS BLUE, SS Black, MBC
US - 8 losses, six games to go, and I think we need to win 6 of them to get in
ROCK CREEK - 8 losses, but 8 games, including OB and MBC
RIPS GOLD - 9 losses, 6 games to go including Sockeyes and Burnstead

I am a realist, pitching right now is kind of low, but if we save our pitching for tonight, tomorrow and the Bears game and do what we can against the Tigers and the Greensox I think 10 losses will get us in.

I think the Wave will sneak in but I do think the Wolfpack will lose one more game, am thinking Rock Creek will lose at least two more (we will have tiebreaker if we beat them) and Gold should lose at least 2 of six games as well.

We need to take care of business tonight and tomorrow and beat the Bears on 7/6 at home. If things come together like they should I think we have a chance to play a win it and get in it game on the last game of the season.......just like last year!

Bob Foster aka Fob Boster aka Fred Flintstone

I moved to Seattle in September 1969 from Memphis TN and immediately started at Cascade Jr High. My mother and I lived in a tiny little house on 116th in White Center. It was about the size of our storage shed. Bob lived just up the hill on 114th in a house twice as big, but he had seven brothers and two sisters. We walked to school everyday back then. I walked right by Bob's house which was named Fosterville on the way to school everyday.

For three weeks in September, based purely on timing, I would be either three steps ahead of Bob or he would be three steps ahead of me. We both walked the same route and we were both in the same home room. And we sat next to each other.

Three weeks and neither of us indicated that we were aware that the other existed.

We both went out for the Jr. High football team. Bob made right tackle, I made right guard.

Three weeks!

Well, we eventually talked and have been best friends ever since. The picture above is from my wedding ceremony to Peggy. In attendance were Peggy, an old friend of Peggy's and me and Bob.

Bob played baseball as well. Bob was the catcher for the local baseball team prior to my moving to town. I did not know this until his father told me that ten years or so ago. I replaced Bob as the local catcher and Bob learned to play first base. Bob batted behind me all through youth leagues and high school. Bob could rake. He held Evergreen High School's record for RBI's for years after graduation. We last played together for a semi pro team my freshman year of college. Bob did not go to college and was soon swept up into the working life.

Sometimes I reflect on our friendship and wonder how we lasted so long. We probably had eight full on fist-fights over the years and they were typical of our first fight.

About two weeks after actually talking to each other and being friends we apparently started to get on each others nerves. Words were said and we both were going down the litany of why the other guy was the dumber guy (both of us conceding we were each fairly stupid). I went too far and remarked on the fact that he wore the same damn pair of pants everyday (way below the belt because both of us were so poor that in fact I wore the same pants everyday). Bob denied this and made the ludicrous statement that "No, these aren't the same pants, I have three pairs just like them." Well I guess when I looked down at the grease spot on his knee and looked back at him he realized what my next comment would be and it was on!

Each time it came to blows, the air cleared, we understood each other a little better and I think deep down we learned something about ourselves. There was something special to have a true friend that you could be real stupid with, make horrible mistakes and yet respect them enough to forgive them and yourself for actions that are part of growing up. And learning how to forgive yourself is probably the most important aspect of growing up.

MBC Sees the Light with Walk-Off Win

MBC 14's won their second straight game in their run for the play-off's beating the CVAC Gators 7-6 in front of a packed house on Saturday night. It was a wonderful night, the stands were full of not only parents but community members out for their evening strolls. It was good to see such a crowd.

Stuart Fairchild agreed to start with the forewarning that he was not at his best. He battled hard for two innings and did what he could to limit the Gators to just four runs. His teammates behind him 100% gave him good defense which included Keenan Heller taking a hot ground ball off his forehead while trying to make a play.

Tino Peleti led off the second with a scorching single that eluded the Gator right fielder enabling Tino to take third. After a walk to Stuart and a pop up out, Spencer Hogger drove Tino in with a ground ball to short. With two out and one run in ,the offense did not quit. Mitchell Smith singled in Stuart and then scored on a towering double by Jimmy Sheldrup.

In the third MBC took the lead. After two quick outs Ben Thomson singled and Tino doubled. With runners on second and third Stuart Fairchild laced a single to score them both.

The Gators took advantage of the MBC pitching staff's mid game wildness to take the lead in the fourth. But after those two runs the Big Guy, Jake Hawken found his groove and mowed for the rest of the evening, recording seven strikeouts over four innings.

Now it remained to be seen whether MBC could come back from a one run deficit over their remaining six outs.

The crowd looked with key anticipation to the MBC sixth. The solid trio of Ben Thomson, Tino Peleti and Stuart Fairchild were due up and these three guys have spelled trouble with a capital T all year to opposing pitchers. The crowd was stunned when the tiring Gator pitcher retired them in order.

In the bottom of the seventh the team the team came out for their final attempt. In the middle of Jake Hawken's at bat a light came on (literally*) and Jake spanked a ball deep into the left field gap for a lead off double. After a walk to Spencer Hogger, Mitchell Smith singled to load the bases. Jimmy Sheldrup hit a funny bouncing grounder to third that caused their reliable third baseman to miss his mark on the throw home and the MBC team had tied the game. With the bases still loaded the Gators managed to get a force at home on the next batter bringing up MR. Walk Off himself, Campbell Queen. Campbell drove a 3-1 fastball deep over the head of the Gator left fielder to end the game and start the pizza eating frenzy.


* Midway through Jake's at bat a concerned citizen noticed that a bank of lights near home plate were in the off position. This safety minded citizen turn the switch on and the rest in MBC history.

Nothing Like a Big Win to Bring Happiness to MBC

Ahhhhh, the sweet smell of success. Boy it seems like a long time since everything went well and it sure did on a beautiful Friday night in Woodinville.

For starters (no-pun intended) our starting pitcher simply mowed through the Bombers offense. John Peterson threw a complete game win allowing just four hits and striking out four. He got in a little trouble in the first with two outs, but pitched out of it and never looked back. A surprised John had superb defense behind him. The outfielders chased down ball after ball and the infield was water tight. Keenan Heller highlighted the night by nabbing a ball up the middle and spinning Jeter-like to throw the runner out at first. MBC played error less ball! It can happen.

After a being blanked in the first inning, MBC came out swinging and scored in every inning. Stuart Fairchild led off the second with a booming double to the wall. Tino Peleti then ATE UP the first baseman with a scorching ground ball the bounced at least ten feet off his glove. Cambell Queen hit a deep flyball to score Stuart and then John Peterson boomed another shot into the left field gap.

Once the floodgates were open it was goodnight Irene for the Bombers. David Becker had two hits, Mitchell Smith, Nick Reeves, Spencer Hogger and Jimmy Sheldrup all had big hits. Chris Luttinen also boomed a huge double into the right center gap for the third double of the game for MBC.

Seattle Stars Stomp on MBC 7-0

Maybe the focus was too much on the defense, maybe the Stars pitcher was too dominant, but whatever the reason MBC lost big to the Seattle Stars at home to continue their skid.

Tino pitched well against this hot hitting team. And the team made good plays behind him. But three big hits led to three big runs in three of his four innings as he tried to keep us close. Nick Reeves followed and did his best to keep us close. Keeping the ball down he seemed to have found an answer and it was not until the defense finally caved that the Stars had the big inning to put the game away.

The real story of the game was MBC getting shut out. MBC threatened in the first (their only inning with multiple hits) with Ben Thomson leading off with a single. Ben was nipped at the plate by a strong rely and bam-bam play while trying to score on Tino Peleti's booming double.

For the rest of the game it was all quiet with the exception of David Becker, Cambell Queen and Stuart Fairchild's singles.

The Wolf is at the Door

One expression of bad things in this world is the description of the wolf at the door. That aptly describes the mood and the condition of this MBC 14 year old team. Shoddy defense has plagued these boys all season and the occasional strong pitching performance and torrid hitting has done its best to overcome these errors. But Saturday in Port Orchard the team could not overcome their worst performance ever losing 8 to 5 while giving up six unearned runs. The team, as a group, decided to add dropping flyballs and errant throws to the mix.

Mitchell Smith and Spencer Hogger had two hit games and Ben Thompson, Nick Reeves, Tino Peleti, Campbell Queen, and Jake Hawken each joined the hit parade. But there was simply nothing the offense could do to overcome the freebies handed out by the offense.

Sub-Par Effort Good Enough for a Purple Win

Our bad defense continued against the Seattle Select Purple team but MBC 14 rallied with just enough offense to win 10-5.

Poor John Peterson got the start and worked four innings allowing just one hit and striking out three. Shoddy defense behind him led to two runs. Chris Luttinin relieved and came in to pitch to a shoe box strike zone and promptly gave up three runs before Nick Reeves could come in to complete the game.

Offensively MBC scored two in the first and three in the third. In the first Nick Reeves singled and was driven in by Stuart Fairchild's single. Stuart took third on Jake Hawken's single and scored via the double steal deal when Jake stole second. In the third the Purple team got sloppy committing two errors which combined with singles by Tino Peleti, Jake Hawken and Spencer Hogger led to our three runs.

As mentioned above, shoddy defense and a disappearing strike zone allowed the Purple team to tie the game in the fifth. In the MBC fifth, Mitchell Smith led off with a walk, stole second and was moved to third on Jimmy Sheldrup's ground out. He looked to be stranded at third with two out until Keenan Heller drove a full count pitch over the left fielder's head to give MBC the lead for good.

Sunday 1:15 Game RAINOUT

AAAAARGGGG

Mirror Mirror On the Wall

Every now and then each of us has to take a good look in the mirror. Just like when we are in a game we need to take a look at the scoreboard. Feedback is necessary. Outside sources like a scoreboard are helpful, but there is no greater feedback than what one gets from a mirror.

Last night we were to have a game. It would have been our first organized baseball experience in about a week. Rain cancelled the game, but the ability to practice was still there. And I am pretty sure that the email cancelling the game indicated that a practice was still in the cards. And four boys showed up for practice and I can only hope that this was matched by four boys somewhere on an island. In the month of JUNE.

I am a goal driven person. I believe that goal setting is the best way to get to where you want to go. It is great to have goals, but goals are meaningless unless we take the time to assess how we are progressing towards the goal. That is what scoreboards are for, that is why feedback is important, that is why we have mirrors.

Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself ...... am I getting to where I want to be?

My high school coach posted this poem EVERY YEAR.

The Man In The Glass
Anonymous

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in you life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you’re a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please-never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

Meeting Old Friends in Citi Park

Look who I ran into at Citi Park!  Mr. Met himself!

And a statue of my all time favorite coach, Casey Stengel, the ol' Professor.  The only man to wear all four uniforms of all four New York team, the Giant, the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets

Defense Catches Up to MBC 14's

Big bats and the occasional flash of leather have masked a problem for MBC too long and on Saturday a price was paid.  The failure to play make routine plays, hit cut-offs, and defend the running game caught up with MBC and brought them down.  

Good pitching stops good hitting and vice verse, as Yogi Berra once said.  He neglected to say good pitching makes bad defense VERY apparent.  Without their now famous ability to score nine runs, the sun shined big on MBC's weaknesses.

Talk radio was all over this team on the drive home.  The Mariners were forgotten and the whole city was ripping coach Cougan and his MBC team.  Four calls stand out in my battered mind.

Randy from Tukwila wanted to know if Coach Cougan even owned a fungo and had ever hit his team ground balls.  Do they ever play catch.  What explains their lack of ability to throw runners out?

Chester from Fall City hinted that Tino Peleti was asleep at his cousin's first communion ceremony and stated that two players told him this in confidence.  It was noted by the talk show host that the rumors could not be verified, but hot headed enforcer Keenan Heller had challenged the two to come forward and fight him behind the dugout!

John from Magnolia (who sounded kind of familiar) said when are these guys ever going to make plays behind their pitchers who are busting their butts every game?

Lastly some old lady from Port Orchard called in and reminisced  about when we only complained about MBC loosing the SECOND game of a double header.

Saturday was not without any good tidings.  In game 1 both Tino Peleti and Jake Hawken were 2-2 with three doubles between them.  Keenan Heller also doubled and Ben Thomson and Stuart Fairchild both had hits.

In the horrible night cap, Stuart's line drive to center kept us from being no-hit, and Jake "Clemente Arm" Hawken was one runner short of the cycle, as he threw out a runner going to third and a runner trying for second both in the same inning.

 

OOOOOH This Makes My Blood Boil

Last night Hanley Ramirez was removed from the Marlins-Diamondbacks game by Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez for not hustling on a defensive play.

Here is what Ramiriz said after hearing he was benched for not hustling, grrrrrr

Do you plan to apologize to the team?
“To who?”
One of your teammates suggested an apology might be good if you did that.
“Do what?”
Apologize.
“For what?”
They thought that you were dogging it chasing that ball.
“We got a lot of people dogging it after ground balls. They don’t apologize"



As the Marlins have a day game today, Ramirez addressed the media about the incident Tuesday morning:

"It’s his (Manager Fredi Gonzalez) team. He does whatever he (expletive) wants. There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s brutal. That’s OK. He (Gonzalez) doesn’t understand that (playing hurt). He never played in the big leagues.”

Gonzalez responded to Ramirez’s comment about him not understanding the situation because he never played in the big leagues.
“He’s right. But I know how to play the game. I played six years in the minor leagues and I know what it takes to play this game and I know the effort it takes to play this game and I know it’s hard to play this game. That’s it.

Gonzalez, according to Marlins reporter Joe Capozzi and Clark Spencer will not put Ramirez back in the lineup until the shortstop apologizes for his comments this morning.

Case you’re wondering, it appears the entire organization, from Ramirez’s teammates to owner Jeffery Loria, are firmly in Fredi’s corner.

Capozzi has this from “clubhouse leader” Wes Helms on Ramirez:

To just flat-out not hustle, that’s one of the things, I can’t cope with that. That’s one of my pet peeves. I can’t stand two things in baseball: Guys who don’t hustle and guys who don’t work. We’re trying to go to the World Series here. We’ve got to have all 25 guys on the same path. “I can’t overlook it. I know people say that’s just the way he is. But you know what? That’s not the way it is. That’s not the way the game’s supposed to be played. And that’s what we want from Hanley.

“We want him to be that guy that goes out there everyday and we can sit back and says that‘s who he is – he’s the one who goes out there everyday and busts his butt and does anything he can for this team. That right there will earn the respect of not only his teammates but everybody in the league.”

Lucky Nine Wins Again with Nine Runs

Okay you baby boomers.  Go get your Beatles albums out, go to the White album, second record, side two, last song.  Play it backwards and you will hear Ringo chant "MBC will always win when they score nine runs".  I am not kidding you, its there.

MBC improved to 7-3 with ANOTHER come from behind 9-8 win over the Puget Sound Stars.  Three games this weekend, three one run games and two victories.  MBC is undefeated when they score nine runs, coincidence or 1968 Ringo prediction; you make the call.

John "we are behind you 80%" Peterson made the start and made it through four inning, getting into a little trouble in the fifth.  Chris Luttinen was splendid in relief and MBC's power arm Jake Hawken closed out the seventh.  In between MBC played adequate defense and benefited from a pure desire play in the fifth inning as Mitchell Smith raced "miles" across right field and made a superb catch just prior to running full bore into the fence, ala Pete Reisier, bouncing off the fence, but holding onto the catch.  Magical!

Offensively MBC went up 2-0 early with a walk to Mitchell, and RBI single from hot hitting Spencer Hogger (2-2, 2B, 3 RBI). Spencer later scored on an RBI single from Mr. Clutch, Ben Thomson (2-4).

MBC soon lost the lead and found themselves down 7-2 in the sixth.  A walk to Tino Peleti (4 walks, they would not pitch to him at all) started the ball rolling. The catcher then interfered with Stuart Fairchild's  swing and Jake Hawken singled to load the bases.  Campbell Queen hit an RBI single, Mitchell walked with the bases loaded and Spencer drove home two more with a booming double.  Mitchell scored to tie the game on Chris Luttinen's infield out.

The Stars walked Tino, again, to lead off the seventh.  Big mistake as Stuart Fairchild then hit a towering triple to the wall in center.  Stuart scored the final and BIG insurance run on Campbell Queen's second RBI hit in as many innings.

Jake Hawken came in throwing bb's in the seventh striking out two to seal the deal.

Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine........

Unfinished Business Haunts MBC in 5-4 Loss

Baseball is a funny and thus wonderful game. Sometimes you win, sometime you loose and you just never know until the last out is made and the last pitch is thrown. It is what keeps us coming back for more, and I hope you all get hooked like I have. It is fun to win, but that is only because it can be so hard to win, and so unpredictable.

MBC and Rips played a fairly quiet game last night. Again two pretty good pitchers went at it with each other. MBC scored first, but not until the fourth inning. Nick Reeves led things off with a single, and after a walk to Tino Peleti and a single by Stuart Fairchild MBC was in business. Jake Hawken then hit an RBI single and Tino came home on Campbell Queen's ground out.

Tino took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but is was hard to notice based on his allowing five walks and the team making a few errors behind him. A lead off walk stole second and third and was looming large at third base with only one out. MBC had a big chance after a blown squeeze play, but failed to nab the runner in the ensuing run down. The runner then proceeded to score on a wild pitch and a close play at the plate. Tino then struck out the batter and the team ran off the field.

As Dirty Harry would say, "I know what you are thinking. Did we get three outs, or only two. In all the excitement, I kind of lost track myself. But seeing how baseball is a powerful game and can blow your mind clear off, you gotta ask the scorekeeper. Did we get lucky, well did we?"

And the scorekeeper said only two.

And oh if we could have just run off the field, things would have been so much better for us.

Tino promptly gave up a double to lose his no hitter and before Nick Reeves could get loose he had walked the bases full. Nick came on to face the pesky Rips lead off hitter who spooned a great pitch and sent it down the right field line, just fair. The spooned ball took a "Bill Buckner" type bounce past our right fielder and poof, we were down 4-2.

MBC responded in the sixth to tie the game. Ben Thomson led off with a single and after Tino Peleti was hit by a pitch they both moved up on when Ben stole third. Ben scored on Stuart Fairchild's ground out and Tino scored on another passed ball.

Rips scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. MBC got a runner to second in the seventh, but could not get the timely hit to tie the game.