Corc - For the first time in 2 months, the Hounds game began with a chill in the air. The rain started during warmups and stayed light and constant during the next 3 hours. Few things on a baseball field grind my gears, but the most frustrating thing is to lose a baseball game. There's a big difference between getting beat and losing. When the opposing team hits the ball well and prevents us from hitting the ball well, we get beat. I'm fine with getting beat. When we make errors and give batters free passes, we lose the game. We definitely lost to the Mariners.
There were plenty of Hounds highlights to cap the regular season:
1) Dorf had the second baseman scared and playing on the outfield grass. He took advantage by beating out an infield single to said second baseman.
2) Trav had his second straight dominating performance.
3) Trav came in clutch after nobody brought beer. His Miller 64s helped ease both the walkoff loss and the morning bowel movement.
4) Dorf had about 12 balls hit to him in right field and then when Steveo and I took over there were 0 balls hit to us. The ball loves finding Dorf.
5) Grady hit two huge hot liners. It's been fun seeing him progress during the season.
6) It was also fun seeing other Glynny (Joe) end the season hitting liners.
7) M's outfielders and infielders graciously didn't throw the ball to third on any of my triples so I didn't have to slide. Every time I've slid on that field I've broken a bone so I was glad to not have to slide.
8) Justin ended the season with 9 hits the last 3 games. And he hasn't broken a bat in 4 games. He switched to a composite, but still, its a new record.
Lindy: Extra-inning baseball games: they feel like they will never end, or in some cases, suddenly end, when going on and your body and mind can't sync up to perform as desired, but hours after conclusion of the extras, you almost wish the game was still going because the thrill of competition and extreme focus is so hard to duplicate elsewhere. When driving home from said game, one realizes how incredible it was that the human mind can shut out all other real-life entanglements and stressors, to solely focus on that borderline meaningless men's league baseball game on a perfect sunny 76-degree suburban Sunday.
I love a smooth and extended team infield-outfield, but I have come to accept that that is not a likely occurrence for this team. People show up and get ready in a very staggered manner and before we know it, the umpire is waiting for us to begin play. Today, we started sans two of our top players, Corcoran and Joe Glynn, who are good enough to play on a younger team as well. Well, fast-forward to the 5th inning when we are down 2-1. I, a baseball coach, player and mind who flat-out hates bunting, knew the right thing to do was lay down a bunt with runners on 1B and 2B and no one out. Well, trying to place the bunt strategically didn't work on the first pitch as I fouled it off down the 1B line. As I retreated to the box, I saw savior Corcoran making his way to the field. I immediately thought, "cool, Corc's here. I bet he hit a homer or two earlier today and if he got here 28 seconds earlier, he'd be hitting for me and I would be deemed useless." Second pitch: completely whif on another attempted bunt-for-a-base-hit attempt, instead of simply sacrificing. I always start my round of BP off w/ 1-3 bunts, mainly to track the ball and get my eyes acclimated. There is always the possibility of bunting in a game, but hopefully not. The BP bunts are not against breaking balls, either. Third pitch, nice fastball over the plate and over my swing and a miss. I have accepted striking out in general, but that was a long, slow, irritated walk back to a dugout full of teammates expecting more. The next guy takes his turn while Corcoran quickly changes into his uniform that I washed and brought to the ballyard, clearly my biggest contribution to this team and game today. Tom’s turn to hit is immediate and he still has a pant leg tucked into a non-baseball sock and has an interesting wedgie. Doesn’t matter: that baseballer simply swats a 2-rbi triple to the deep RF gap to score the runners and give us a lead. He is incredible. We expect him to do things like that and he does them! What a talent.
He is human thought: he later came in to pitch, which was a pleasant surprise, but must have been watching a lot of film on Keone Kela as he hit 3 or 4 batters and the Piranhas would swim their way back into the game.
Jackson is a fantastic teammate and presence. I am very happy for him when he does well and he had a gorgeous run-producing double to the same spot as Tom’s triple. For some odd reason, Jackson catches a lot of guff from select teammates about various elements of his game, namely his base running. It was over the top today and while I was batting with him on 2B, I nearly had to call time to tell a fellow Hound to zip their stupid lips.
The Piranhas ended up tying the game at 8 in the 8th. Baseball: I love the numbers. The gloriously stressful 9th and 10th innings would go by with no runs for either squad. I finally hit a ball square for a clean hit on the day, but it wouldn’t be a factor.
Brothers Glynn (Grady and Joe) are two sound defenders up the middle who make us wholly better and they also are regulars on the bases. They both walked to lead off the 11th, moved over on a passed ball/Papa Senart bunt combo and both scored on Justin Ancel’s 5th hit of a very successful day for him! Being in the 3B coaches “box” while big runs like that go by is a thrill. That point toward home plate never gets old.
A quick harmless inning ends a lengthy, well-earned 11-inning 11-8 win for the again-playoff-bound Hounds. Handshakes, fanny-slaps and hugs turn into cold cans, slow unzipping and muffled phone music merriment under a beautiful port wine sunset. Dogs are tuckered out, Hounds are tuckered out, time to go comes too soon, but is the right thing to do. Replaying key moments while trying to fall asleep with a stiff back and cramping hand and ankle is all part of the summer joy of still playing this great game.
I have to wait three long weeks to play again and it is almost sad. Maybe my timing and swing will come back by then. Maybe I’ll practice my bloody bunting.
Corc - I had an hour long reflection written and then I opened a different website and poof! So it goes. Here's the cliff note version:
Extra inning games are always extra fun! Every out is important. I arrived late and there were about 3 total runs through the first half of the game and it seemed that instantly the game changed from a pitchers duel and became a barn burner. Fun stuff. Steveo got on base like 3 out of 6 times and his OBP went down. Gotta get on base 1 more time than him next Sunday or he's taking the OBP crown this year. Grady hit a rocket double and made big plays on hard hits. Justin continues his hot streak and has an outside chance of setting the single season Hounds hits record next game. Vandy, Jax and Senart got in some argument. Jax compared me to George Brett and that made me happy. Lindy did my laundry and hit a rocket over the SS during a big rally, both were very clutch. Trav pitched like 7 innings earlier in the day and still shut the door throwing 2 dominating innings, very impressive for a hurler at any age.
Jax - Tommy could fall out of bed on Christmas morning and hit a line drive.
Corcoran - Big win to clinch a spot in the playoffs! Started with 9 but Scoot came for some much needed reinforcement. Everyone contributed to the W with either the sticks or good defense. Senart got hit with a ball then the ump felt bad for the ball so he didn't let Senart go to first. Steveo got a stolen base and forever lost his non runner status. I must be getting old since I thought I got one pretty good but it went off the fence and I did my best Jim Thome impression. After the game I increased my lobbying to play at Scanlon next year.
Lindy-Scoring runs and winning a game with your mates is always a rewarding thing. As players, we go through spells when we wonder if we will ever get a hit, get on base, or score a run again. When it happens, it feels so good. Tom, of course, has never experienced this. Whether he is healthy, has broken arms or ribs, he still gets 11 total bases a game while the rest of us are satisfied with contributing with 1 or 2. It pretty damn cool to share a uniform and playing fiel with a cat like that. His bat is alive and well, but that base running speed is .... not there yet.
This team has existed for three seasons and all three have featured us earning a post-season trip! We have two more regular season games before we join the intense do-or-die baseball space. Kudos to Trev for doing a very admirable job of playing well, and managing the playing time and bank account for the rets of us to have fun and contribute.
If ToppsNow existed for Sundays in the TCMABL, yes there would have been a card for Tom's big day, but also for Steve-o making a mad Little League dash around the bases AND straight up stealing a base with the best jump out of the beach sand all day!
Also worth recognizing, Papa Senart channeling his focus and skills after getting wronged by the umpire and coming through with (another) well-struck, run-producing hit after a lengthy and adventurous at-bat.
Hounds win! Good Hounds cooler-emptying performance after the W, as well!
Trevor - Have to mention the defensive play of the game when Senart gunned down that guy at the plate 🔥
Steve-o - Dear diary, Tom talked earlier of the words he regretted saying about Jackson's base running skills. Sailors have not not heard worse invectives about the ninth inning incident today.
Corcoran - Hounds drop a nail biter 8-0 against the Mets. Jackson showed playoff hustle and Grady hit a liner double. My ribs cost the Hounds a run in the 9th after I get a 2 out single and can't steal second even thought the first baseman was playing on the outfield grass. Jackson still seems to be my friend and that's all that matters.
Czaia - Dear diary, today I hit the ball 14 inches on the fly up the 1st base line.
Senart -Dear Diary, Tom is back, we can relax and win at least a pair of playoff games in 2019. Also, Barnes is a beautiful baseball field even when losing and not scoring any runs.
Lindy-
2:00pm thoughts-85 and sunny: it’s days like these I dream of for so many repeated Midwest winter days of doom. I never take these summer baseball days for granted.
The rush of putting a baseball uniform on never gets old. It may get tighter as the season goes on as pre-season training and mindful nutrition turns to post-game caloric merriment and abbreviated nights of sleep (more on this later).
That soreness: I am continually amazed that professional ballplayers can get their bodies ready to play and produce every day. I play one game a week and am a pretty healthy lad, but it takes me five days to feel right again, and that’s not counting true injuries. That muscular soreness comes from trying to cut that ball off from reaching the LF corner, backing up that errant throw to 2B, taking that extra base, hitting INF/OF, and taking those violent swings that lead to somehow fouling a ball off your thumb.
Then there is the post-game digestion “soreness” from that extra IPA, that pizza that was so appealing, yet regrettable from the first bite.
Morning will come and I’ll be glad it all took place: sharing a uniform with my pals and competing in an athletic space, which is not common for 36-going-on-37-year old step-dads who are not professional athletes.
3:15pm thoughts-The short commute to our home field is always a bonus. It is another nice part of the game day routine I enjoy and look forward to. I did linger in the car a little longer to a) listen to the Twins rally against Kansas City and b) to get a decent sweat running down the body before I make that joyous walk from the gate in the RF corner toward the 3B dugout carrying a bag and wearing a backpack full of baseball gear my wife mostly questions me needing to purchase. Walking across that green grass on this warm, sunny Sunday and taking in the fact that I am within a baseball field gets my mind to its calmest and happiest place. If I lead the team in any category, it is pre-game, in-game, and post-game stretching. I stretch at home, in the dugout, in the OF, at my position, in my car and really anywhere I need to. Every baseball movement leads to something tightening up. The maintenance required to stay on the field and at least moderately productive is legit.
9:00pm thoughts-As for the game, we faced the mighty Mets. They can hit: we didn’t hit much at all. Not a lot actually happened in this particular game. Well, there was what have become standard mindless games of getting into debates with umpires and opponents that gets nothing accomplished and there was the mind-blowing physical return of one Tomas E. Corcoran. Tom is well-above average at this game and takes chances most don’t consider taking. Sometimes this leads to significant statistical wizardry and sometimes it leads to significant injuries. Tom has a 3-week old broken rib that would keep most breathing beings on the shelf for months, let alone those trying to swing a baseball bat and running, but not this cat. He came back early, fouled off a bunch of pitches and did what he does: hit our hardest base hit of the game: insane and incredible. Then there is our team dad, Adam Senart. The determined and competitive man, who didn’t bother telling any of us it was his 42nd birthday today, continues to wow us with his skills. Not only is he a solid hitter and runner, but he may very be the best RF in the league. He had 6-7 opportunities to make game-throws (he was busy) and every throw was a dart, including a perfect 280-foot strike to the plate to nab a runner. That guy’s arm would make Statcast happy. His ageless production and consistency reminds me another local elder baseball statesman: Nelson Cruz. The senior baseball men leading by example and inspiring us “young” guys to stay after it and keep working.
The Mets have some players, namely Arthur “AJ” Núñez, who is one of those guys that just look right in a baseball uniform. The first pitch he saw today went over my head and off the LF fence in a flash: again, Statcastable moment, which isn’t common at this skill level. I enjoy competing against players of the caliber of Núñez from a pride level, as well as from a fan’s perspective.
6:00am thoughts-As expected, I can’t sleep due to lingering adrenaline from the mental focus that goes with playing a game, as well as that soreness I spoke of earlier. Not expected, getting out of bed every 100 minutes with a sweet little doggy that has diarrhea: poor little hound. Morning comes and baseball has a way of humbling you and getting you to wonder “what if?”...I looked for the inside fastball instead of high and outside, or if I looked for the high and out heater, instead of the inside breaking ball…took too many swings before the game…if I was in the starting lineup would my eyes and hands have been better acclimated…I used a different bat…if Juice had pitched instead? Some of the many what-ifs from one day in the life of playing the game.
9:00am thoughts-I check the standing and stats and chuckle as I realize it is all fun, truly it is. Baseball is hard and is so fun to try to figure out. On to reality, as well as thinking about that next game and continuing to visualize that elusive oppo-taco into the Concordia parking lot!
Corc - As has been the norm this year, every game has featured some sort of crazy. This one was the constant rain. It rained all day, it was raining hard when everyone arrived, and it only slowed down slightly in time for Trevor to convince the umpire to let us start. The Isotopes are always a team we play well against and this year was no exception. Our outfield defense was minus our new speedster Grady but nonetheless Steveo had no problems holding them to just 4 hits. Steveo also added 4 HBP as he is on pace for that single season mark. The Isotopes could have gotten Steveo ejected after that 4th HBP but either they didn't know the rule or didn't care. Steveo always hits people with his offspeed pitches so I don't think people mind the light tap on the elbow if it means a free base. The highlight of the game was the first Hounds grand slam and also my furthest hit in quite some time. Google maps put it at 415 and it ended up rolling nearly to Hamline ave. Scoot parked his car behind a tree in the parking lot and I missed it by just 1 space. It took a good bounce on the asphalt and a good roll and ended up in the grass right before Hamline, Google put it at 523 feet with the generous roll. So if anyone asks, the ball traveled 523 feet.
