Poker Night

The first Surrey Indians Poker Night, held Friday, July 29th, 2005 was a success. Seven players, including the host, Kel, came by for some good ol 'fashioned fun. First on the scene was Shane, who apparently is unable to make any team practices or games, but schedule a team poker game and he'll be there before anyone else. Hey Shane, our next poker game is on Wednesday at 6pm. To mix things up a bit, we're going to play that one on the field at Whalley in our uniforms. And, uh, bring your glove, so you have something to, uh, sit on.. Raubert was next to arrive, and, with Lena and Kel's girlfriend Chelsea there as well, play got underway.

It wasn't long before Kel started dominating. Enrique came in to try and shut him down, as he has capably done all season long, but even his best effort was thwarted. Brad, Redge and Andrea arrived soon thereafter, after having spent the day moving. Brad bought in first, and was immediately dealt pocket aces.. Not sure if he won that hand or not, we're thinking yes. A couple of hands later Redge bought in, and, what are the chances, was also dealt pocket aces on his very first hand. Redge then proceeded to increase his chip pile to approximately $14, all the while showing off his belt-buckle bottle-opener. He then cashed out and left, bewildering those who had already had to buy-in again. Brad also did quite well for himself, quickly increasing his worth before plateauing out. We are unable at this time to remember how Brad did on the night, but there's a chance he might drop by with a comment to enlighten us.

Not sure who had to buy in a second time first. It might have been Lena, but Raubert wasn't too far behind. Shane managed to make good mileage out of his first $5, but it slowly dwindled and he was forced to buy in again. After having his first buy-in last him a good couple of hours, his second buy-in lasted a good 10 minutes, possibly less.. Ditto his third buy-in. Meanwhile, Kel, who was still on his first buy-in, was building up a huge chip lead, seemingly insurmountable, or so it seems..

Enrique struggled from the get-go, unable to win any hands. After buying in for a second time, it wasn't long before that too was gone and Enrique checked out.
There were some other players, Kel and Chelsea's friends, but we can't remember how they did (or their names). Let's move on.

Raubert's second buy-in served him well. Or did he serve his buy-in well? Either way, he hit some great hands, including a royal straight on the flop. That's definitely the wrong term for that, but hey, we ain't no pro. As Shane was buying in for a fourth and fifth time, Raubert was mounting a charge and it wasn't long before he was challenging Kel for the chip lead. In our unbiased opinion, Raubert was making his charge with such confidence, charm and grace that it's a surprise that Kel, Mr. Grace himself, didn't just roll over and submit. You know, that wasn't supposed to come across as obscene at all. Again, let's move on.

In the end, Raubert and Kel ended up quite even with a minimal amount separating them at approximately $30 each. Shane had a rough finish, eventually buying-in a total of 6 times ("It wasn't eight was it? Let me check my wallet.") We should probably feel somewhat guilty, as he stuck around longer than he normally would have, since we were playing with his chips. But, as with most things involving shoulds, we don't.

Chris was also there, but only briefly as there was stuff happening back at his place, 14 minutes away. He didn't buy-in. Jordan probably would have been there but he had prior commitments. And, last but not least, apparently Kel's girlfriend Chelsea has balls. We are unsure if that is in the context of poker, or if we just happened to be playing poker.

To see more pictures from Poker Night, click here. Poker Night pics start at the bottom of the first page.

See you all on Wednesday at Whalley. (Shane...)

July 24 2005

AP. - Looks like the Surrey Indians finally figured out how to hit a baseball. A remarkable 21 hits as they cruised to a 15-10 victory. Leading the way was recent pickup Scott, who pounded out four hits. Also in fine form were Chris, Kel, Redge, and Raubert, contributing three hits apiece.

It was clear from the outset that this was not going to be an ordinary Indians game. Leading off the game, Cedge got on base and scored within the first two pitches of the game. He blooped the first pitch of the game into centre, stretching the hit into a double. On the very next pitch he attempted to steal third and was able to score easily as the throw got by the third baseman. The Indians continued to hit the ball to all spots on the field in the first inning, and were only stopped when they reached the maximum six runs.

The pitching staff, consisting of Chris and Enrique, was able to hold the Royals back. A few base on balls and errors weren't enough to knock the Indians off their gameplan, which was to win. That is, in fact, their gameplan every game, but sometimes it gets forgotten by about the fourth or fifth inning.

With the final game of the season coming up on Wednesday August 3rd, the Indians will hope to enter the postseason on a winning streak. Perhaps they should have some pregame music by Redge and Kel, and manage to just barely scrape together nine players by gametime. That combination seems to work for them.

Q+A with Enrique Roblero

Clubhouse Chatter: Who is your favorite baseball player of all-time, and why?

Enrique Roblero: Dennis Martinez "El Presidente"... "El Perfecto" Only mainstream player from my native Nicaragua.

CC: There's a movie about your life. What's the title and who plays you?

ER: Walking Tall starring The Rock, I get to swing a big stick.

CC: What's the first music album you ever bought?

ER: Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill, can't get rap like this no more..

CC: What's the most recent music album you bought?

ER: Can't remember that far back, way before Napster even started...

CC: What is your most embarrassing baseball moment?

ER: Maple Ridge, guy hit the front lawn of the house across the street in left field.

CC: We want to read a good book, what should we read and why?

ER: You're on your own here, I choose not to read ..

CC: Do you have any baseball superstitions?

ER: Always gotta leave my bag at either end of the dugout bench. When I go up to bat, I touch the front right corner of the plate.

CC: What was the best vacation you've ever been on?

ER: Vegas, Hoover dam tour was incredible, being harrased by porn-flyer-handing latinos - very annoying especially when your wife is right next to you.

CC: What is your favorite baseball movie?

ER: 61*, awesome story.

CC: What is your proudest baseball moment?

ER: Couple, holding down Richmond Phillies to one run in the playoffs a few years ago (left the game in the eighth winning 9-8 or something like that -- of course we all know how the game ended), and shutting down the Seattle Mariners for 5 innings in the long weekend tourney 3 years back, we all know how that game ended as well :-(

CC: You have $20. It's the last $20 you can ever spend. How do you spend it?

ER: Not on a book, how 'bout lottery tickets....

CC: Any words of advice for the thousands of young fans who dream of one day playing for the mighty Surrey Indians?

ER: Focus on the positive kids, focus on the positive...

CC: Tell us a good joke. Keep it clean.

ER: A recent Scottish immigrant attends his first baseball game in his new country and after a base hit he hears the fans roaring "run....run!" The next batter connects heavily with the ball and the Scotsman stands up and roars with the crowd in his thick accent: "R-r-run ya bahstard, r-run will ya!" A third batter slams a hit and again the Scotsman, obviously pleased with his knowledge of the game, screams "R-r-run ya bahstard, r-r-run will ya!"

The next batter held his swing at three and two and as the ump calls a walk the Scotsman stands up yelling "R-r-run ya bahstard, r-r-run!" All the surrounding fans giggle quietly and he sits down confused. A friendly fan, sensing his embarrassment, whispers, "He doesn't have to run, he's got four balls." After this explanation the Scotsman stands up in disbelief and screams, "Walk with pr-r-ride man! Walk with pr-r-ride!!!!"

July 21 2005

There was, to our understanding, a practice tonight. Unfortunately, this particular blogger was unavailable to attend due to a work meeting. Perhaps someone who did attend can email me if there was anything exciting to note. If we get emailed, we will put up a new post. If the next post is not about tonight's practice, then it is safe to assume that nothing exciting happened. Actually, it would probably be more accurate to assume that many many exciting things happened, but no one who attended sent an email.

We are guessing that some throws were made, some catches were made, and there may even have been some hitting.. But remember, at this point, that is just a guess. An educated guess, but a guess all the same.

July 19 2005

(Correction: Due to faulty sources, we gave out erroneous information in the posting titled 'July 14 2005'. Cedge was not at the all-star game. He was, in fact, where we all should have been: at the Merritt Mountain Music Festival. We apologize for the error and, to avoid similar errors in the future, we promise that in the future we will all be at the Merritt Mountain Music Festival. Thank you.)

Well well well, look who smoked a liner to right centre for his first hit of the season! None other than The Bigrodboski! Well done old sport, well done. Rod politely declined an offer to keep the ball.

However, what should have been cause for celebration Rod dismissed, as he was understandably upset after yet another Indians loss. All was well until the fifth inning, when the ball suddenly became a hot potato. We could probably go somewhere with the whole hot potato idea, but right now we're really not feeling it. Sorry hot potato, you're short-lived.

It sounds like we've lost one of our players, a pitcher no less, as Lee has informed us he might not make any more games this season due to a new job. In related news, if you have any knitting or sewing questions, don't hesitate to contact Lee, who is sure to have all the answers.

All that is left to say is that we have our opposition right where we want them, ahead by a few metres with their backs to us. Like a pack of wolves, we are ready to pounce and devour. Beware.

Q+A with Chris Ratelle

Clubhouse Chatter: There's a movie about your life. What's the title and who plays you?

Chris Ratelle: Hmmm..."what could have been" starring Rick Ankiel

CC: Who is your favorite baseball player of all-time, and why?

CR: Jim Edmonds, cant nobody carry this guys jock

CC: What's the first music album you ever bought?

CR: cant remember back that far

CC: What's the most recent music album you bought?

CR: buy music....what the....?

CC: Besides baseball, what is your favorite sport to play?

CR: Basketball

CC: What is your most embarrassing baseball moment?

CR: None yet, but as a pitcher anytime i get lit hurts, being out on the mound you have no place to hide

CC: We want to read a good book, what should we read and why?

CR: The artful Dodger by Tommy Lasorda, hey it's Tommys book do I need a reason

CC: Do you have any baseball superstitions?

CR: Yup gotta have the same catcher all the time (love ya Clay)

CC: What is your favorite baseball movie?

CR: It was called "BallsDeep", i think it had Ron Jeremy and Kobi Tai in it, very good

CC: You have $20. It's the last $20 you can ever spend. How do you spend it?

CR: six pack of beer for me and a tin of chew for Lee

CC: What is your proudest baseball moment?

CR: it's a tie, I have two. being picked up to go to Sask twice for the western Canadians, and hitting a 690 foot shot off one of my current teammates a few years back

July 14 2005

A half-team turnout at practice on Thursday. Not so bad. But not so good either.

Plus5. That's our new practice slogan. Anytime there's an error made, whether it's fielding or throwing (or hitting grounders), the errorer must do five pushups. Rather than interrupting the practice, the errorer just says "plus5", while tallying up a grand total in their head. On two occasions JP and The Bigrodboski stubbornly refused to agree on which one of them made the error, both of them adding the plus5 immediately. Pretty sure everyone at practice had to do at least 10 pushups by day's end. Three of our players were justifiably absent. Two of those three were representing the mighty Indians in the annual all-star game. Congrats to Redge and Cedge.

And that's all we have to say about that.

July 10 2005

Pop quiz mass wholes!

1. The Surrey Indians are:
a) struggling
b) improving
c) under-achieving
d) a laughing-stock
e) destined for greatness

2. Kel's fall while -- ("cough cough") - - what? Oh, okay. Kel's extreme wipeout while running home was:
a) tragic
b) embarrassing
c) beautifully orchestrated
d) frickin' hilarious
e) all of the above

3. Our loyal fans deserve:
a) more wins
b) a pennant
c) better entertainment
d) refunds
e) a+b
f) b+c
g) a+b-c+g+(e/a)

4. Our water cooler should be tested for:
a) limes
b) 'roids
c) recently fallen tears
d) morphine

5. On Sunday Redge experienced:
a) his first kiss
b) his second hangover
c) his third alien probe
d) his first multi-inning 0-fer game of the season
e) one hundred percent total consciousness

6. Rookie Jordan was:
a) a star
b) a welcome arrival
c) a stud
d) enh.. okay, I guess, for a guy who hasn't played ball for two years

7. To win some games, the Surrey Indians will need:
a) more hits
b) more runs scored
c) more hits which will lead to more runs scored
d) more runs scored from more hits
e) Tom Drees

Q+A with Rob Edger

Clubhouse Chatter: Who is your favorite baseball player of all-time, and why?

Rob Edger: Robin Yount. Great first name.

CC: There's a movie about your life. What's the title and who plays you?

RE: "The Man Who Married Up". I'm played by Kevin Costner. He is sexy like me.

CC: What's the first music album you ever bought?

RE: Nirvana -- Nevermind........I grew up in the early nineties, wearing two or three plaid shirts at a time.

CC: What's the most recent music album you bought?

RE: Coldplay -- X&Y (clearly I'm a little wimpier than in elementary school)

CC: What is your most embarrassing baseball moment?

RE: When I played for the Orioles I hit a triple to dead centre in Winskill, but tripped and landed a few feet short of third base, knocking the wind out of myself in the process. I couldn't catch my breath in time to drag myself over to third base, so the third baseman ended up tagging me out. I guess it was a double.

CC: We want to read a good book, what should we read and why?

RE: 'No Logo' by Naomi Klein. You cannot read this book without wanting to get involved in social justice. Unless your name is George Bush. And then you just can't read at all.

CC: What was the best vacation you've ever been on?

RE: I took an amazing trip on the eastern seaboard of North America with my family when I was about 15. I got to see the Blue Jays play in Fenway Park, amongst other really cool stuff.

CC: Do you have any baseball superstitions?

RE: Watch me the next time I go to hit. I always draw a line with my right foot, and then dig in with my right foot. Then I simultaneously (gasp) step into the box with my Left foot while touching my bat to the plate. Then I swing my bat back and forth along the top of the strike zone. I've been doing this whole routine since I was 13. I am very very weird.

CC: What is your favorite baseball movie?

RE: Field of Dreams. Kevin Costner is sexy.

CC: You have $20. It's the last $20 you can ever spend. How do you spend it?

RE: I would probably donate it to some starving child in a third world country. You can't really do anything with twenty bucks anyway, and I would think that the feeling you would get from physically handing a ten year old twenty canadian dollars, or the equivalent in their money, would be much better than the feeling you would get from eating 2000 one-cent candies (my second choice).

CC: What is your proudest baseball moment?

RE: When I was 14 I pitched my team to the league championship, even though I got into a collision at first base in the second inning. I just gutted it out and changed my motion so that I didn't have much of a leg kick, because I hurt my knee. After the game I had to take a few weeks to let my knee heal before I could play All-Stars, but during the game my knee didn't really seize up, so I was able to keep pitching. By far my greatest hero moment. Kevin Costner couldn't have done it any better.

CC: Tell us a good joke. Keep it clean.

RE: How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it.

July 3 2005

Because of the Canada Day holiday, there is no game to write about this weekend. Next weekend we face our cross-town rivals, the Surrey Sabres; a matchup that is bound to be far more intriguing than the overrated Subway Series.

For now, be sure to eat, drink and be merry, and be at practice on Thursday, as a participant or just as a spectator, either/or.
Note: Practice is NOT guaranteed, await more details..

Thank you.



















You're welcome.