..is never as good as the real thing.
We played well at times, we played not so well at times. That's how it goes sometimes, and it could also go the other way. I - I mean we - actually have no idea who won tonight. And it really doesn't matter. What matters is Sunday, when we play the Sabres for real. For keeps.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Sunday, April 24, 2005
First Win
We came out strong and took an early lead that was never relinquished. Final score 8-2. 'Nuff said.
Fine, we'll elaborate. There was some pregame talk of the Playaz having been smoked in their first and only game, so our confidence got a nice boost. After getting four runs in the first, our confidence got another nice boost. We should've built on that each inning, and probably would've if the Playaz had mounted any sort of comeback, but they didn't. So we didn't. So there.
Of course, there was no semblance of a comeback due to the fact that the Indians got another fantastic game from their pitching staff. Chris kept the K's coming early and often, making the batters look like fools. Looking like fools is understandable once you realize that not only did Chris mix up his heat with his junk, he had the presence of mind to mix up his junk with his heat. Player of the game indeed!
And how about the bullpen! Enrique came in during the fourth and promptly shut down a mini-rally. "Rally" = runs scored. "Mini-rally" = no runs scored. After each inning, Jeff, who was to take the mound next, was told that Enrique would go one more. Jeff never made it in. Enrique pitched solid for 4 and two thirds innings to close out the game.
More Enrique praise: Playing heads-up baseball from start to finish, Enrique wasn't just solid on the mound, he was solid on the bases. On one play he hit a single up the middle, took notice of the centrefielder's lackadaisical manner, and stretched it into a double. His next head-up play was even better. On first base, a player who shall remain nameless popped up a foul ball behind the plate. The catcher had a bit of difficulty with it, but ended up making the catch while falling to the ground. Enrique, always thinking, tagged up and made it to second quite easily! Mad props to Enrique.. Keep up the good work kiddo.
The team's batting prowess, which was missing in punch in our season opener, was found in time for today's first pitch. (Rumor has it that it was in Clay's jockstrap all along, but it's important that we stress the word rumor.) By the end of the first inning we had scored more runs than the entire first game. Those timely hits that we needed last game? We found 'em. Brad went the other way for a 2 RBI double down the right field line and several other players picked up single RBIs on their key hits. Rob A showed incredible patience at the plate and picked up an RBI on one of his two walks. Chris was plunked twice, and when he hit his triple, the bases were empty. For those of you who are thinking, 'hey that was no triple! What is Sandra doing?', let us just say that she did not score it a triple. The stat-enterer (no
relation to the horse-whisperer) entered it as a triple. Did you see his hustle? C'mon, show some heart. The guy pitched a helluva game, was plunked twice, and showed great hustle. We are also partial to beautiful head-first slides, à la Pete Rose, which Chris executed perfectly. Therefore, triple.
Rob E, in his first multi-inning game of the season, made an outstanding running catch in the eighth inning. Playing shortstop, he sprinted into left field to make the out. Waddaplay!
It's now time for the line of the day, delivered today by Jeff. Kelly noticed some players using the orange bat and said he thought it was dead.
Jeff: "Kelly, what bat are you using?"
Kelly: "The blue one."
Jeff: "Well, see, it's the blue bat that's dead."
We are the Surrey Indians, signing off.
Fine, we'll elaborate. There was some pregame talk of the Playaz having been smoked in their first and only game, so our confidence got a nice boost. After getting four runs in the first, our confidence got another nice boost. We should've built on that each inning, and probably would've if the Playaz had mounted any sort of comeback, but they didn't. So we didn't. So there.
Of course, there was no semblance of a comeback due to the fact that the Indians got another fantastic game from their pitching staff. Chris kept the K's coming early and often, making the batters look like fools. Looking like fools is understandable once you realize that not only did Chris mix up his heat with his junk, he had the presence of mind to mix up his junk with his heat. Player of the game indeed!
And how about the bullpen! Enrique came in during the fourth and promptly shut down a mini-rally. "Rally" = runs scored. "Mini-rally" = no runs scored. After each inning, Jeff, who was to take the mound next, was told that Enrique would go one more. Jeff never made it in. Enrique pitched solid for 4 and two thirds innings to close out the game.
More Enrique praise: Playing heads-up baseball from start to finish, Enrique wasn't just solid on the mound, he was solid on the bases. On one play he hit a single up the middle, took notice of the centrefielder's lackadaisical manner, and stretched it into a double. His next head-up play was even better. On first base, a player who shall remain nameless popped up a foul ball behind the plate. The catcher had a bit of difficulty with it, but ended up making the catch while falling to the ground. Enrique, always thinking, tagged up and made it to second quite easily! Mad props to Enrique.. Keep up the good work kiddo.
The team's batting prowess, which was missing in punch in our season opener, was found in time for today's first pitch. (Rumor has it that it was in Clay's jockstrap all along, but it's important that we stress the word rumor.) By the end of the first inning we had scored more runs than the entire first game. Those timely hits that we needed last game? We found 'em. Brad went the other way for a 2 RBI double down the right field line and several other players picked up single RBIs on their key hits. Rob A showed incredible patience at the plate and picked up an RBI on one of his two walks. Chris was plunked twice, and when he hit his triple, the bases were empty. For those of you who are thinking, 'hey that was no triple! What is Sandra doing?', let us just say that she did not score it a triple. The stat-enterer (no
relation to the horse-whisperer) entered it as a triple. Did you see his hustle? C'mon, show some heart. The guy pitched a helluva game, was plunked twice, and showed great hustle. We are also partial to beautiful head-first slides, à la Pete Rose, which Chris executed perfectly. Therefore, triple.Rob E, in his first multi-inning game of the season, made an outstanding running catch in the eighth inning. Playing shortstop, he sprinted into left field to make the out. Waddaplay!
It's now time for the line of the day, delivered today by Jeff. Kelly noticed some players using the orange bat and said he thought it was dead.
Jeff: "Kelly, what bat are you using?"
Kelly: "The blue one."
Jeff: "Well, see, it's the blue bat that's dead."
We are the Surrey Indians, signing off.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
A Joke
We had tentatively planned an exhibition game for yesterday morning, but as the weekend approached, rain was expected, so the game was canceled on Friday. Yesterday morning turned out really nice. What are you gonna do?
So, nothing much to report this weekend. All players are enjoying their bye week as it means they get to spend more time with their families.
Here's a joke:
A man and his dog walk into a bar. The bartender sees the dog and says, "Sir, you're gonna have to leave your dog outside." The man responds "But this is a special dog, he can talk", and lifts the dog up onto a stool. The bartender says, "If you can prove that he talks, both of you can stay". The man says "Okay" and turns to his dog. "What do you call the thing on top of a house?" "Roof Roof" "Good. How does sandpaper feel?" "Ruff ruff" "Excellent! Who is the greatest baseball player ever?" "Ruth Ruth" The bartender interrupts, "That's it, I've seen enough. Take your dog and leave please." So the man lifts his dog back down and they head to the door. As the man opens the door, the dog turns to the bartender, shrugs, and says, "Dimaggio?"
So, nothing much to report this weekend. All players are enjoying their bye week as it means they get to spend more time with their families.
Here's a joke:
A man and his dog walk into a bar. The bartender sees the dog and says, "Sir, you're gonna have to leave your dog outside." The man responds "But this is a special dog, he can talk", and lifts the dog up onto a stool. The bartender says, "If you can prove that he talks, both of you can stay". The man says "Okay" and turns to his dog. "What do you call the thing on top of a house?" "Roof Roof" "Good. How does sandpaper feel?" "Ruff ruff" "Excellent! Who is the greatest baseball player ever?" "Ruth Ruth" The bartender interrupts, "That's it, I've seen enough. Take your dog and leave please." So the man lifts his dog back down and they head to the door. As the man opens the door, the dog turns to the bartender, shrugs, and says, "Dimaggio?"
Monday, April 11, 2005
The Starting Block Stumble...
...is a new Olympic event. Who can stumble the greatest? Indians win!
Perhaps it was the rain. Perhaps it was the opposition. Perhaps it was the unique way the stars were aligned. Perhaps it was the lack of team unity during the pre-game "Whoa Bundy" cheer. Whatever the reason(s), our play in Sunday's season opener was less than stellar.
As much as it may have looked like it, being down three-zip going into our first at-bat wasn't our game plan. Being up three-zip going into our first at-bat would've resembled our game plan a little better. Sure it would've been difficult, nigh impossible, but we like to aim high!
We must acknowledge Rob E.'s uncanny ability to notice the sinking ship he was on and jump off early. By getting tossed in his first at-bat of the season, in the first inning of the first game of the season, Edger shattered the previous Indians record, which no one really knew about anyway. Now there's a record that will be tough to break.. Start your office pools now: Who will break the tossed-from-game record? Bonus points if you predict the game.. Maybe Edger shouldn't have said what he said to the ump, but all the same, given how many players we had to start the game, perhaps a warning would've sufficed..
Whilst our sink was shipping.. oops.. that is actually how it appeared in my mind before typing.. scary.. Good thing I wasn't trying to type "cunning stunts". Ahem.. as I was saying, whilst our ship was sinking some bright spots could be seen, mainly on the poopdeck. Even down 9 runs, we didn't consider ourselves out of it.. Strong will? Delusional? We prefer the former.. After scraping together 3 runs we had the bases loaded twice without being able to capitalize.. Chris and Enrique had a couple of key hits to drive in some runs, but a few more timely hits from the entire team and we would've had ourselves a real ballgame..
Team leader Kelly was excellent in the leadoff position, doing his job of getting on base. New guy Shane showed potential, this being his first true game in quite some time.. It'll take some time for him to adjust to the pitch speed here at the big show, but he seemed right at home in the field, catching flies with ease.
With a bye week next weekend, we are looking to have an intensive practice on Sunday, or, alternately, a nice leisurely exhibition game. Whichever one happens, the Langley Playaz better be ready on the 24th, cuz next time, we'll mean business (irregardless of how the stars are aligned).
It should be noted, though not quite sure what to say about it, that the ump got a pitch to the cup. The pitch had quite a bit of oomph behind it and a few players in our dugout chuckled, some more than others. Taking a minute to walk it off, the ump was back to work very quickly. Kudos is due.
Perhaps it was the rain. Perhaps it was the opposition. Perhaps it was the unique way the stars were aligned. Perhaps it was the lack of team unity during the pre-game "Whoa Bundy" cheer. Whatever the reason(s), our play in Sunday's season opener was less than stellar.
As much as it may have looked like it, being down three-zip going into our first at-bat wasn't our game plan. Being up three-zip going into our first at-bat would've resembled our game plan a little better. Sure it would've been difficult, nigh impossible, but we like to aim high!
We must acknowledge Rob E.'s uncanny ability to notice the sinking ship he was on and jump off early. By getting tossed in his first at-bat of the season, in the first inning of the first game of the season, Edger shattered the previous Indians record, which no one really knew about anyway. Now there's a record that will be tough to break.. Start your office pools now: Who will break the tossed-from-game record? Bonus points if you predict the game.. Maybe Edger shouldn't have said what he said to the ump, but all the same, given how many players we had to start the game, perhaps a warning would've sufficed..
Whilst our sink was shipping.. oops.. that is actually how it appeared in my mind before typing.. scary.. Good thing I wasn't trying to type "cunning stunts". Ahem.. as I was saying, whilst our ship was sinking some bright spots could be seen, mainly on the poopdeck. Even down 9 runs, we didn't consider ourselves out of it.. Strong will? Delusional? We prefer the former.. After scraping together 3 runs we had the bases loaded twice without being able to capitalize.. Chris and Enrique had a couple of key hits to drive in some runs, but a few more timely hits from the entire team and we would've had ourselves a real ballgame..
Team leader Kelly was excellent in the leadoff position, doing his job of getting on base. New guy Shane showed potential, this being his first true game in quite some time.. It'll take some time for him to adjust to the pitch speed here at the big show, but he seemed right at home in the field, catching flies with ease.
With a bye week next weekend, we are looking to have an intensive practice on Sunday, or, alternately, a nice leisurely exhibition game. Whichever one happens, the Langley Playaz better be ready on the 24th, cuz next time, we'll mean business (irregardless of how the stars are aligned).
It should be noted, though not quite sure what to say about it, that the ump got a pitch to the cup. The pitch had quite a bit of oomph behind it and a few players in our dugout chuckled, some more than others. Taking a minute to walk it off, the ump was back to work very quickly. Kudos is due.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
The 2005 Season Has Arrived
This is a brand new blog that will follow the exploits of the Surrey Indians (us!) during the course of this season and possibly many many more seasons to come..
You will get an inside look at what goes on in the clubhouse and in the dugout. You also might begin to understand the true meaning behind what is said during infield chatter. You also might not.
As for the rumors of what goes on at practice.. well, this is the place to distinguish between the true and the false.
"What you say here, what you see here, let it stay here, when you leave here... and then we'll blog it!"
Stay tuned..
You will get an inside look at what goes on in the clubhouse and in the dugout. You also might begin to understand the true meaning behind what is said during infield chatter. You also might not.
As for the rumors of what goes on at practice.. well, this is the place to distinguish between the true and the false.
"What you say here, what you see here, let it stay here, when you leave here... and then we'll blog it!"
Stay tuned..
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