Freds 11, Marvins 7
The Marvins had early leads of 3-0 and 5-3, but the Freds scored 5 times in the bottom of the 4th to open an insurmountable lead. The Marvins did succeed in making it nearly impossible for the opposing fielders to tell who was batting. Ken Walker was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI for the Freds, Josh Balsam drove in the go-ahead run, and Jeff Appell picked up his 7th win and lowered his ERA to 2.71.
Freds 4, Marvins 3
In the bottom of the 7th, the Marvins loaded the bases with no one out and a run already in. However, Jim O'Connor (12-8) induced Tony Connor to pop out, and then Havelock Hewes lined into a double play, as Freds SS Ian Parfrey made a diving stop and then doubled Alex Rodriguez off of second. The game was a pitchers' duel all the way, with Jim O'Connor scoring the go-ahead run on a dropped fly ball in the 5th inning.
Freds 4, Marvins 2 (5 innings)
Laura Stoeth (7-9) picked up her first win since July 11, allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run. The Freds scored all of their runs with 2 outs in the 4th inning, starting with Ken Walker's solo bomb to deep center. Parfrey then doubled to left. Sam Magnus walked, Joe Geller singled to center for the go-ahead run, and Jeff Appell ripped a 2-run double to left for the final margin.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Halloween Theme Game: Fred's vs. Marvin's
On Sunday, October 31 we will have the rare pleasure of playing on Halloween. As a tribute to two of our most sartorial unique players, we will celebrate the holiday by dividing players into "Marvin's" and "Fred's." Players are asked to dress as Fred Lang (major league uniform shirts and caps) or Marvin Cohen (rumpled dress shirt...) I expect that only about 20 % of us will put out the effort to participate. But about 50% of us could dress the way we usually do and have enough elements of a Fred or a Marvin to be easily grouped. Other players will be divided in a way which will make the teams even.
Before announcing the game, I talked with Marvin, who called the game a "Wardrobe Roast." The idea was originated in one of the Riverdale bound cars on Sunday afternoon and conveyed to me yesterday by Tony Connor. Bring your cameras.
Before announcing the game, I talked with Marvin, who called the game a "Wardrobe Roast." The idea was originated in one of the Riverdale bound cars on Sunday afternoon and conveyed to me yesterday by Tony Connor. Bring your cameras.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
GAMES AND NOTES OF 10/24
SFLOI record broken! Freddy Melendez won his 44th game of the season in today's Game 3, breaking Joe Gerber's record of 43 wins as a player in 1995. Zach Nilva has 41 wins this season, so it isn't guaranteed that Freddy will keep the record for very long. Freddy currently holds a 1.5 game lead in the pennant standings.
As for the games themselves, Tony Connor and Josh Balsam stacked their side with Riverdale players, but dropped a tripleheader to Ian Parfrey and Havelock Hewes's Brooklyn-Manhattan squad.
Melendez 7, Appell 4
Freddy Melendez (13-8) prevailed in a contest that was tied at 1 after 6 innings. Ian Parfrey's 2-run double to shallow right broke the tie in the top of the 7th, and then the floodgates opened. Melendez's team scored 6 times, and then had to hold on in the bottom of the inning when Sam Magnus smacked a 2-run HR to left-center. Alexander Rodriguez was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI for the winners.
Hewes 2, Martinez 1
Havelock Hewes (12-18) won a pitchers' duel. Parfrey had an RBI single in the 1st, and Alexander Rodriguez tripled to right-center in the 5th, and came around to score on a throwing error. Havelock's only spot of trouble came in the bottom of the 5th, as two singles and an error loaded the bases. Jaime Orochena's groundout drove in a run, a walk to Eric Schulman reloaded the bases, and Sam Magnus grounded out to end the inning.
Rosengard 7, Stoeth 3
Dave Rosengard (5-7) was in control throughout, and didn't allow an earned run. Nel Yomtov's 2-run HR to left in the 5th (on an 0-2 pitch with 2 outs!) broke open a 1-run game, and Rosengard's team scored 3 more times after that, taking advantage of two key outfield errors. Rosengard retired Marvin Cohen and Zach Nilva on grounders to snuff a 7th-inning comeback.
As for the games themselves, Tony Connor and Josh Balsam stacked their side with Riverdale players, but dropped a tripleheader to Ian Parfrey and Havelock Hewes's Brooklyn-Manhattan squad.
Melendez 7, Appell 4
Freddy Melendez (13-8) prevailed in a contest that was tied at 1 after 6 innings. Ian Parfrey's 2-run double to shallow right broke the tie in the top of the 7th, and then the floodgates opened. Melendez's team scored 6 times, and then had to hold on in the bottom of the inning when Sam Magnus smacked a 2-run HR to left-center. Alexander Rodriguez was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI for the winners.
Hewes 2, Martinez 1
Havelock Hewes (12-18) won a pitchers' duel. Parfrey had an RBI single in the 1st, and Alexander Rodriguez tripled to right-center in the 5th, and came around to score on a throwing error. Havelock's only spot of trouble came in the bottom of the 5th, as two singles and an error loaded the bases. Jaime Orochena's groundout drove in a run, a walk to Eric Schulman reloaded the bases, and Sam Magnus grounded out to end the inning.
Rosengard 7, Stoeth 3
Dave Rosengard (5-7) was in control throughout, and didn't allow an earned run. Nel Yomtov's 2-run HR to left in the 5th (on an 0-2 pitch with 2 outs!) broke open a 1-run game, and Rosengard's team scored 3 more times after that, taking advantage of two key outfield errors. Rosengard retired Marvin Cohen and Zach Nilva on grounders to snuff a 7th-inning comeback.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
We Look at Softball Thru Rose Colored Glasses
The game is ugly sometimes. You cannot make Appell stop worrying about his ERA; you cannot make Martinez stop wanting to win so badly that he chews out his teammates. You can't make Havelock stop coming up with bizarre proposals in the tradition of Jonathan Swift suggesting we eat the poor, that even he doesn't take seriously. You can't make me unfocus on breaking at least one record in this damn game, and spending my lunch hour figuring out how to reach 1,000 RBI's before Tony Connor does.
We are so intense we forgot how to have fun playing? Some of us never knew how. It's fun when the ball does what you want it to, and the wins and the stats pile up. I have a respect for the people whose tenure in this game has an aversion to success. I couldn't handle it. I ain't no Mother Teresa.
The game polices itself. Havelock is waiting for Godot. No help there. No one else can pull the bat from the stone. If you come to play, you accept this. You take the crookeds with the straights, as Troy Maxson said. Can we figure a way to curb the worst tendencies of competition without neutering it completely?
Can we accept that within the rules of the game, we have the right to get every inch out of our talents, and celebrate that, instead of looking for ways to take away that edge and artificially level the playing field?
We are so intense we forgot how to have fun playing? Some of us never knew how. It's fun when the ball does what you want it to, and the wins and the stats pile up. I have a respect for the people whose tenure in this game has an aversion to success. I couldn't handle it. I ain't no Mother Teresa.
The game polices itself. Havelock is waiting for Godot. No help there. No one else can pull the bat from the stone. If you come to play, you accept this. You take the crookeds with the straights, as Troy Maxson said. Can we figure a way to curb the worst tendencies of competition without neutering it completely?
Can we accept that within the rules of the game, we have the right to get every inch out of our talents, and celebrate that, instead of looking for ways to take away that edge and artificially level the playing field?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
GAMES OF OCT 17
Nilva 12, Rosengard 10
This was a seesaw battle, as Zach Nilva (5-4) allowed 6 runs in the bottom of the first, and Dave Rosengard allowed 6 in the top of the second. The game was tied at 10 in the top of the seventh when Jaime Orochena booted Ken Walker's grounder, allowing 2 runs to score. Rosengard was victimized by 8 errors, and 9 of the 12 runs were unearned. Zach Nilva helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. Alexander Rodriguez was 3-for-3 with an RBI double in a losing effort.
Martinez 6, Hewes 3
Derek Martinez was in control throughout and improved to 5-6 on the year. Martinez helped to break a 1-1 tie in the 5th inning by getting caught in a rundown between first and second. He got safely back to first as Nel Yomtov came in from third with the go-ahead run. Hewes unraveled and allowed 3 2-out runs afterwards. Eric Schulman was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the victory.
This was a seesaw battle, as Zach Nilva (5-4) allowed 6 runs in the bottom of the first, and Dave Rosengard allowed 6 in the top of the second. The game was tied at 10 in the top of the seventh when Jaime Orochena booted Ken Walker's grounder, allowing 2 runs to score. Rosengard was victimized by 8 errors, and 9 of the 12 runs were unearned. Zach Nilva helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. Alexander Rodriguez was 3-for-3 with an RBI double in a losing effort.
Martinez 6, Hewes 3
Derek Martinez was in control throughout and improved to 5-6 on the year. Martinez helped to break a 1-1 tie in the 5th inning by getting caught in a rundown between first and second. He got safely back to first as Nel Yomtov came in from third with the go-ahead run. Hewes unraveled and allowed 3 2-out runs afterwards. Eric Schulman was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the victory.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Rule Change Proposal - hats off to our outfielders
For a man of my modest skills, I have received a number of tributes. You might think that having a pitching award named after oneself, a-la Cy Young, would epitomize a life of glorification. Not so. I know I'm not really the best pitcher in our league, just the one who you see the most. The greatest compliment I ever received was the passing of "the Havelock Rule," which dictated that on the third foul ball after a two-strike count a batter is out. I forced this rule into being by using my skill as a foul-ball hitter to work 63 walks in a season. Some will say that the rule was passed not so much to take away my advantage in getting the free passes as it was to stop losing the time my ten-minute at-bats would take. I know better. My skills, along with others, such as Bobby Naranjo, were so overwhelming that the league changed the rules.
Today, the league faces the same sort of dilemma in regard to solidly hit balls landing fair in the outfield, which our talented crop of outfielders turn into force-outs at first or second base. Whereas years ago these were conceded as hits, now Zach Nilva, Alex Rivera, Derek Martinez, Ian Parfrey, Brian Hernandez, and others, are routinely firing strikes to first and getting outs. This development has been particularly debilitating to our older hitters who still have the skill to guide a line-drive to a vacant spot in the outfield, but don't possess the power to make the outfielders play back in fear of balls hit over their head or the speed to beat the throws. As a result, we have Gil Schmerler hitting .198, me at .227, Paul Geoghan at .250, Dave Rosengard at .231 and Marvin Cohen at .082. Just as it was bad for the game to have me getting on base via walks at such a high rate, I think it has now become bad for the game that our slower players are getting on-base at such a dismal rate.
I propose that we instigate a rule to automatically award first base to any hitter who hits a ball which lands safely in the outfield and to award a safety at any base that additional runners are forced at as a result of the hit.
I imagine that support of this rule will break down on a largely generational basis, as players tend to vote their self-interests. I never voted for The Havelock Rule. But I trust that, should the rule be passed, our outfielders will take it as the greatest of compliments.
Today, the league faces the same sort of dilemma in regard to solidly hit balls landing fair in the outfield, which our talented crop of outfielders turn into force-outs at first or second base. Whereas years ago these were conceded as hits, now Zach Nilva, Alex Rivera, Derek Martinez, Ian Parfrey, Brian Hernandez, and others, are routinely firing strikes to first and getting outs. This development has been particularly debilitating to our older hitters who still have the skill to guide a line-drive to a vacant spot in the outfield, but don't possess the power to make the outfielders play back in fear of balls hit over their head or the speed to beat the throws. As a result, we have Gil Schmerler hitting .198, me at .227, Paul Geoghan at .250, Dave Rosengard at .231 and Marvin Cohen at .082. Just as it was bad for the game to have me getting on base via walks at such a high rate, I think it has now become bad for the game that our slower players are getting on-base at such a dismal rate.
I propose that we instigate a rule to automatically award first base to any hitter who hits a ball which lands safely in the outfield and to award a safety at any base that additional runners are forced at as a result of the hit.
I imagine that support of this rule will break down on a largely generational basis, as players tend to vote their self-interests. I never voted for The Havelock Rule. But I trust that, should the rule be passed, our outfielders will take it as the greatest of compliments.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Boxscore of Game 2, 10/10/2010
Away 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0-- 8
Home 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1-- 9
Away
pos player ab r h bi bb so avg
P Z.Nilva 7 1 2 0 0 0 .456
RF D.Martinez 7 2 2 1 0 0 .450
CF K.Walker 7 2 5 1 0 0 .548
3B S.Magnus 6 1 2 2 0 0 .302
SS F.Melendez 6 0 2 1 1 0 .484
LF G.Lawrence 7 0 2 0 0 0 .364
2B A.Connor 7 0 1 0 0 0 .385
OF F.Lang 7 2 2 0 0 0 .242
C D.Rosengard 6 0 2 0 0 1 .231
2B-- Magnus (4)
SF-- Magnus
DP-- Melendez
Home
pos player ab r h bi bb so avg
SS J.Orochena 7 2 5 0 1 0 .447
OF D.Weiss 7 1 3 0 1 1 .370
CF A.Rivera 7 2 3 1 1 0 .443
LF I.Parfrey 6 1 3 2 2 0 .536
1B S.Cipriano 7 0 2 2 0 0 .299
RF A.Rodriguez 6 2 4 0 1 0 .625
3B J.Appell 7 1 2 0 0 0 .361
2B G.Schmerler 7 0 1 0 0 1 .198
P.Geoghan 2 0 0 1 0 0 .250
P H.Hewes 7 0 1 0 0 0 .227
2B-- Orochena 2 (12), Rivera (29), Parfrey (14)
3B-- Rodriguez (1)
ip h r er bb so era
Z.Nilva L,4-4 13.0 24 9 6 6 2 3.89
H.Hewes W,11-17 14.0 20 8 4 1 1 5.03
Scoring
Top 1
S.Magnus doubled to left, D.Martinez scored
F.Melendez singled to right-center, S.Magnus scored
Away 2, Home 0
Bot 1
I.Parfrey singled to left, J.Orochena and A.Rivera scored
Away 2, Home 2
Top 2
D.Martinez singled to left, F.Lang scored
S.Magnus hit sac fly to center, Z.Nilva scored
F.Melendez reached on fielding error, D.Martinez and K.Walker scored
Away 6, Home 2
Bot 4
J.Appell reached on throwing error, A.Rodriguez scored
P.Geoghan grounded out to right field, J.Appell scored
Away 6, Home 4
Bot 7
S.Cipriano singled to left-center, D.Weiss and A.Rivera scored
Away 6, Home 6
Top 9
F.Melendez singled to right, K.Walker to third, on throwing error, K.Walker scored
Away 7, Home 6
Bot 9
J.Appell reached on throwing error, A.Rodriguez scored
Away 7, Home 7
Top 10
K.Walker singled to left, F.Lang scored, Z.Nilva out at home, K.Walker out at second
Away 8, Home 7
Bot 10
A.Rivera singled to shortstop, J.Orochena scored
Away 8, Home 8
Bot 14
I.Parfrey doubled to right-center, on throwing error, I.Parfrey scored
Home 9, Away 8
Home 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1-- 9
Away
pos player ab r h bi bb so avg
P Z.Nilva 7 1 2 0 0 0 .456
RF D.Martinez 7 2 2 1 0 0 .450
CF K.Walker 7 2 5 1 0 0 .548
3B S.Magnus 6 1 2 2 0 0 .302
SS F.Melendez 6 0 2 1 1 0 .484
LF G.Lawrence 7 0 2 0 0 0 .364
2B A.Connor 7 0 1 0 0 0 .385
OF F.Lang 7 2 2 0 0 0 .242
C D.Rosengard 6 0 2 0 0 1 .231
2B-- Magnus (4)
SF-- Magnus
DP-- Melendez
Home
pos player ab r h bi bb so avg
SS J.Orochena 7 2 5 0 1 0 .447
OF D.Weiss 7 1 3 0 1 1 .370
CF A.Rivera 7 2 3 1 1 0 .443
LF I.Parfrey 6 1 3 2 2 0 .536
1B S.Cipriano 7 0 2 2 0 0 .299
RF A.Rodriguez 6 2 4 0 1 0 .625
3B J.Appell 7 1 2 0 0 0 .361
2B G.Schmerler 7 0 1 0 0 1 .198
P.Geoghan 2 0 0 1 0 0 .250
P H.Hewes 7 0 1 0 0 0 .227
2B-- Orochena 2 (12), Rivera (29), Parfrey (14)
3B-- Rodriguez (1)
ip h r er bb so era
Z.Nilva L,4-4 13.0 24 9 6 6 2 3.89
H.Hewes W,11-17 14.0 20 8 4 1 1 5.03
Scoring
Top 1
S.Magnus doubled to left, D.Martinez scored
F.Melendez singled to right-center, S.Magnus scored
Away 2, Home 0
Bot 1
I.Parfrey singled to left, J.Orochena and A.Rivera scored
Away 2, Home 2
Top 2
D.Martinez singled to left, F.Lang scored
S.Magnus hit sac fly to center, Z.Nilva scored
F.Melendez reached on fielding error, D.Martinez and K.Walker scored
Away 6, Home 2
Bot 4
J.Appell reached on throwing error, A.Rodriguez scored
P.Geoghan grounded out to right field, J.Appell scored
Away 6, Home 4
Bot 7
S.Cipriano singled to left-center, D.Weiss and A.Rivera scored
Away 6, Home 6
Top 9
F.Melendez singled to right, K.Walker to third, on throwing error, K.Walker scored
Away 7, Home 6
Bot 9
J.Appell reached on throwing error, A.Rodriguez scored
Away 7, Home 7
Top 10
K.Walker singled to left, F.Lang scored, Z.Nilva out at home, K.Walker out at second
Away 8, Home 7
Bot 10
A.Rivera singled to shortstop, J.Orochena scored
Away 8, Home 8
Bot 14
I.Parfrey doubled to right-center, on throwing error, I.Parfrey scored
Home 9, Away 8
SFLOI PLAYS 14-INNING MARATHON
Melendez 7, Appell 5
Freddy Melendez improved to 12-8 on the season, as his team scored 4 times in the first and never looked back. Zach Nilva was 2-for-3 with a home run, and Tony Connor was 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Alex Rivera was 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 runs scored for Appell's side.
Hewes 9, Nilva 8 (14 innings)
There was talk of playing a tripleheader, but we decided to just play Game 2 forever instead. As is his usual custom, Havelock Hewes gave up 6 runs in the first 2 innings (only 2 of them earned), and then masterfully held Nilva's team to 2 runs over the final 12 innings while his team battled back.
Sal Cipriano lined a 2-run single with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game at 6. In the bottom of the 8th, Nilva escaped a bases-loaded 1-out jam by retiring Don Weiss and Alex Rivera on short fly balls. Ken Walker singled and later scored on a throwing error in the top of the 9th, and Nilva got the first two outs before Alexander Rodriguez tripled to right-center, and came around to score on an infield grounder when Marvin Cohen failed to hold on to a high throw. In the top of the 10th, Ken Walker's single to left plated Fred Lang, but Zach Nilva was tagged out in a rundown between third and home, and Walker was out advancing to second to end the inning. Alex Rivera's 2-out infield single to deep short scored Jaime Orochena in the bottom of the inning, after Orochena had just beaten out a hustle double earlier in the inning. Rivera was gunned out with the winning run by Glen Lawrence on Sal Cipriano's single. Nilva escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam in the 12th when Don Weiss led off with a single and reached third when it got past RF Derek Martinez. Afrer two intentional walks, Sal Cipriano popped out, and Alex Rivera was inexplicably caught off of second base. Jeff Appell grounded out to end the inning. Finally, Ian Parfrey led off the 14th with a double to deep right-center, and scored when the relay throw to third ended up in the dugout. If anyone knows of an SFLOI game that went longer than 14 innings, let me know. I've never played in a game longer than 11.
Offensive stars in the long game were Jaime Orochena (5-for-7, 2 doubles), and Alexander Rodriguez (4-for-6, 3B) for Hewes's team. Ken Walker was 5-for-7 with an RBI for Nilva's team.
Freddy Melendez improved to 12-8 on the season, as his team scored 4 times in the first and never looked back. Zach Nilva was 2-for-3 with a home run, and Tony Connor was 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Alex Rivera was 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 runs scored for Appell's side.
Hewes 9, Nilva 8 (14 innings)
There was talk of playing a tripleheader, but we decided to just play Game 2 forever instead. As is his usual custom, Havelock Hewes gave up 6 runs in the first 2 innings (only 2 of them earned), and then masterfully held Nilva's team to 2 runs over the final 12 innings while his team battled back.
Sal Cipriano lined a 2-run single with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game at 6. In the bottom of the 8th, Nilva escaped a bases-loaded 1-out jam by retiring Don Weiss and Alex Rivera on short fly balls. Ken Walker singled and later scored on a throwing error in the top of the 9th, and Nilva got the first two outs before Alexander Rodriguez tripled to right-center, and came around to score on an infield grounder when Marvin Cohen failed to hold on to a high throw. In the top of the 10th, Ken Walker's single to left plated Fred Lang, but Zach Nilva was tagged out in a rundown between third and home, and Walker was out advancing to second to end the inning. Alex Rivera's 2-out infield single to deep short scored Jaime Orochena in the bottom of the inning, after Orochena had just beaten out a hustle double earlier in the inning. Rivera was gunned out with the winning run by Glen Lawrence on Sal Cipriano's single. Nilva escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam in the 12th when Don Weiss led off with a single and reached third when it got past RF Derek Martinez. Afrer two intentional walks, Sal Cipriano popped out, and Alex Rivera was inexplicably caught off of second base. Jeff Appell grounded out to end the inning. Finally, Ian Parfrey led off the 14th with a double to deep right-center, and scored when the relay throw to third ended up in the dugout. If anyone knows of an SFLOI game that went longer than 14 innings, let me know. I've never played in a game longer than 11.
Offensive stars in the long game were Jaime Orochena (5-for-7, 2 doubles), and Alexander Rodriguez (4-for-6, 3B) for Hewes's team. Ken Walker was 5-for-7 with an RBI for Nilva's team.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The Steal Rule
Previous posts have debated the increased pitching speed that has appeared in SFLOI over the past few years. What occurs to me is that there is no downside to a pitcher winding up and flinging it as hard as he or she can. Not the ricochet off the top of the backstop, bruises to the umpire nor fear of the hit-by-pitch free pass dissuades the fastball chucker. There are always consequences in baseball. An outfielder playing too shallow to cut off the line drive risks seeing the ball sail over his head. The outfielder who plays too deep gives up many doubles and extra bases. The slow pitch pitcher must use guile and throw pitches that are not strikes risking walks to get outs. So what is the risk to the fast pitcher? How can we even the score?
Enter the SFLOI Steal Rule.
1) For pitchers designated as "fastball" hurlers base runners are allowed to steal. This rule DOES NOT apply to non-fastball pitchers.
2) Runners cannot leave the base until the ball is released by the pitcher (option is until it crosses the plate).
3) Players can advance on passed balls and wild pitches (rule would be suspended with certain players who can only play catcher).
4) Catchers may attempt pick offs at first (Pitchers cannot pick-off since the runner can't leave until the ball is thrown).
4) A pilot game is proposed for Hastings in 2010 with full adoption to be voted at the winter meeting
5) Added bonus is rule adds strategy to the game and the hit and run play
I look forward to a lively debate.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The View From the Batter's Box, Part I
While Marvin is certainly our resident philosopher, I will admit to having spent most of the last three years thinking about hitting. It has done wonders for my batting average but has probably ruined the swings of half a dozen people I've talked to. The batting title is within my grasp this season, though Freddy Melendez scares me with his right-field power and disciplined approach, and he swings with a sort of precise gusto, if you will, embodied in the 3-run triple he clubbed off of me to end yesterday's game one.
I have also learned the advantages of a right-field swing, though when I see Don Weiss standing there and inwardly grinning at the thought of a line drive coming his way, I realize that given time a defense will adjust to anything. Anyway, I take pride in the ability to hit line-drive singles between the first and second baseman, and I am always on the lookout for the pitch that can be blasted right down the line and over the head of an unfortunate right fielder for a home run.
I have thought a lot lately about batting slumps, as I have gotten into one-- not a terrible one, where I am adrift at sea in an open boat and starving to death for want of a hit, but a more pernicious sort of slump where I find myself wasting several at bats a day-- flying out on a first-pitch chicken-dance changeup from Havelock; deciding to pull no matter where the pitch is and then popping out; that sort of thing. This season has seen far more horrible slumps-- Marvin going 4-for-108 at Heckscher; Alex Rivera's 20-for-74 midsummer; Fred Lang's recent 5-for-63 freefall on the heels of a 16-for-29 hot streak that involved a batting tip from Phil Ciccone and a lot of sharp grounders into the shortstop hole. And Havelock's whole damn season; Bob Holzwasser's as well, until the day he went 5-for-7 and then tore a groin muscle... so I am 11-of-32 in September. No biggie, right? I suppose not, but I find the feeling of wondering what the hell's wrong with my swing for six days of the week and then going out on the seventh to fuck up some more just as unpleasant as everyone else.
Slumps can be physical or mental or some combination thereof. Dipping the back elbow is a good way to get under everything. Thinking too much about placing the ball can be equally deadly. Injuries can cause slumps, though they can also cause hot streaks. I think Alex's slump may have been caused by the conundrum posed by his role as a top-of-the-lineup hitter-- should he take pitches like a #2 hitter or be aggressive like he wants to be-- so, for a little while he took strikes and swung out of the zone, with a resulting dip in average. Lang's slump was at first a natural reaction to an unnatural hot streak, but he got frustrated and dug himself in deeper. I thought to myself last week, a lot of slumps are caused by swinging too aggressively. So my first time up Sunday, I was struck out looking by Jim O'Connor. Lately I've been considering acupuncture, or maybe going back to drinking too much on Saturday nights. Hangovers sometimes lead to a meditative approach to hitting.
As you may have seen from the leader boards, the race to break records is once again on. Joe Gerber's marks of 103 runs and 139 hits may possibly fall. Gerber had 376 plate appearances in which to achieve this; Zach and Freddy and myself will be lucky to get much over 300. I'm not asking for an asterisk for Gerber. I just want good weather until 2011.
I have also learned the advantages of a right-field swing, though when I see Don Weiss standing there and inwardly grinning at the thought of a line drive coming his way, I realize that given time a defense will adjust to anything. Anyway, I take pride in the ability to hit line-drive singles between the first and second baseman, and I am always on the lookout for the pitch that can be blasted right down the line and over the head of an unfortunate right fielder for a home run.
I have thought a lot lately about batting slumps, as I have gotten into one-- not a terrible one, where I am adrift at sea in an open boat and starving to death for want of a hit, but a more pernicious sort of slump where I find myself wasting several at bats a day-- flying out on a first-pitch chicken-dance changeup from Havelock; deciding to pull no matter where the pitch is and then popping out; that sort of thing. This season has seen far more horrible slumps-- Marvin going 4-for-108 at Heckscher; Alex Rivera's 20-for-74 midsummer; Fred Lang's recent 5-for-63 freefall on the heels of a 16-for-29 hot streak that involved a batting tip from Phil Ciccone and a lot of sharp grounders into the shortstop hole. And Havelock's whole damn season; Bob Holzwasser's as well, until the day he went 5-for-7 and then tore a groin muscle... so I am 11-of-32 in September. No biggie, right? I suppose not, but I find the feeling of wondering what the hell's wrong with my swing for six days of the week and then going out on the seventh to fuck up some more just as unpleasant as everyone else.
Slumps can be physical or mental or some combination thereof. Dipping the back elbow is a good way to get under everything. Thinking too much about placing the ball can be equally deadly. Injuries can cause slumps, though they can also cause hot streaks. I think Alex's slump may have been caused by the conundrum posed by his role as a top-of-the-lineup hitter-- should he take pitches like a #2 hitter or be aggressive like he wants to be-- so, for a little while he took strikes and swung out of the zone, with a resulting dip in average. Lang's slump was at first a natural reaction to an unnatural hot streak, but he got frustrated and dug himself in deeper. I thought to myself last week, a lot of slumps are caused by swinging too aggressively. So my first time up Sunday, I was struck out looking by Jim O'Connor. Lately I've been considering acupuncture, or maybe going back to drinking too much on Saturday nights. Hangovers sometimes lead to a meditative approach to hitting.
As you may have seen from the leader boards, the race to break records is once again on. Joe Gerber's marks of 103 runs and 139 hits may possibly fall. Gerber had 376 plate appearances in which to achieve this; Zach and Freddy and myself will be lucky to get much over 300. I'm not asking for an asterisk for Gerber. I just want good weather until 2011.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
GAMES AND NOTES OF 10/3
Starting next week (Oct 10), and until the end of November, we're at East 10th Street and FDR Drive, 10:00am.
Ian Lebowitz is now the all-time SFLOI leader in batting average after getting his 1000th plate appearance today. He is batting .502 lifetime. Chris Hall is now second at .496.
O'Connor 10, Parfrey 9
Freddy Melendez's 3-run triple to right-center gave Jim O'Connor (11-8) a walkoff win. O'Connor led 2-0 after 4 innings when the bats woke up. Each team scored 4 times in the 5th, and Parfrey's team added 5 more runs in the 6th to take a 9-6 lead. O'Connor helped himself by going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. On the other side, Parfrey was 3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI.
Melendez 15, Stoeth 6
Freddy Melendez (11-8) finally got some run support, and was 4-for-4 with 4 runs scored. Dave Sommers was 3-for-4 with 6 RBI, Zach Nilva added 3 hits, and Brian Hernandez drove in 3. In a losing effort, Alex Rivera was 2-for-4 with his 6th HR of the year, and Phil Ciccone was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Ian Lebowitz is now the all-time SFLOI leader in batting average after getting his 1000th plate appearance today. He is batting .502 lifetime. Chris Hall is now second at .496.
O'Connor 10, Parfrey 9
Freddy Melendez's 3-run triple to right-center gave Jim O'Connor (11-8) a walkoff win. O'Connor led 2-0 after 4 innings when the bats woke up. Each team scored 4 times in the 5th, and Parfrey's team added 5 more runs in the 6th to take a 9-6 lead. O'Connor helped himself by going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. On the other side, Parfrey was 3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI.
Melendez 15, Stoeth 6
Freddy Melendez (11-8) finally got some run support, and was 4-for-4 with 4 runs scored. Dave Sommers was 3-for-4 with 6 RBI, Zach Nilva added 3 hits, and Brian Hernandez drove in 3. In a losing effort, Alex Rivera was 2-for-4 with his 6th HR of the year, and Phil Ciccone was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
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