Tag Archives: Arrogant Bastards

2016 First Period

Asian Tsunamis vs. Arrogant Bastards

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Game 1
Hamels v Warren…AT would open the scoring in the 3rd on a Grandal solo HR & Raburn 2 run HR to get enough runs for Warren who would go on for a CG win.  Panik hit a solo HR in the 6th (Ginger Jesus had one turned back later that inning) for the AB’s only run.  Cabrera hit a solo HR in the 7th.  Brach came on in the bottom of the 8th to get worked over for a 4 spot….2 run HR by Valencia and then back to back jacks by Espinosa and Ramos.  Final score 8-1 as the AB’s manage just their first run in 21 innnings.
Game 2
Scherzer v Cueto.  Cueto woul again go the distance as the AB’s up their scoring prowess to 1 run in 30 innings of play as they drop this game 3-0.  Joey Bats clubs a 2 run jack in the 2nd and Valencia adds a solo in the 5th to complete the scoring.  Both teams finish the first 2 games a combined 1 for 25 with RISP.  So clutch.
Game 3
Miller v Nola.  Trout ends the draught w/ a lead off HR to start the bottom of the 1st for the AB’s.  TS bounces back in the 3rd w/ successive RBI singles by Cabrera, Bogaerts, and Hundley to push their lead to 3-1.  The AB’s answer in the 4th w/ a pair of solo HR’s from Big Papi and Forsythe.  The game would remain 3-3 until the bottom of the 9th when Martin reached on a 2 out error, was replaced by Swihart, who scored on H&R double by Forsythe for the walk off win.  Thornton picked up the win (His FOURTH of the season!) while Hendricks took the loss.
Game 4
Salazar v Zimmerman.  The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 5th when the AB’s put together a crooked number.  Papi doubled, Forsythe singled him in, Gardner got a H&R single, stole 2nd, Russell grounded into an E6 scoring Andrus who ran for Forsythe and then Trout hit a Sac Fly to LF plating Gardner.  Cabrera hit a solo HR in the 6th and then drove in Espinosa (pinch running for a plucked Duda) to cut the lead to 3-2.  Thornton came on in the 9th to get the last out and pick up a save and a series split for the AB’s.

Game Notes
Not much to say AB’s went 4 for 26 w/ RISP while the AT’s went 4 for 25.  AT’s did manage 9 HR’s but 6 came in game 1.
AB’s upped their team average for the year from .196 all the way up to .197
With the Stars and Bees left to play the AB’s are currently at 16-12 and will probably try to play a series next week – right now Wednesday looks like the best day but we shall see.

2016 First Period

Arrogant Bastards vs. The Plague

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Game 1
Gibson v. Hamels.  The Plague would kick on the minimal series scoring in the top of 2nd with a Santana BB, a Lawrie double, an Escobar RBI ground out (1B 5 rolls F2 or it’s a DP) and a 2-run SECOND COLUMN HR by Billy Hamilton.  The AB’s would get one back in the 3rd on a solo HR by Addison Russell.  Scoring for the game would be completed in the bottom of the 4th when the AB’s got a double by Papi, single by Piscotty, and a 3-run HR by Russell Martin to take the lead.  Then Panik, who singled, was tripled home by Mike Trout as the AB’s bat for the cycle in the inning.  Hamels, Dyson, Melancon and Davis secure the win for Hamels and a save to Davis as Gibson takes the loss. 5-3 AB’s.
Game 2
Matz v. Scherzer.  Both pitchers would go the distance in this game.  The AB’s open the scoring in the first on a 2-run HR by Trout.  In the top of the 4th Brantley would counter for the Plague with a 2-run HR of his own.  In the 6th Kipnis would score the game’s deciding run on an RBI double by Brantley.  The AB’s manage a Piscotty double in the 6th as their only hit after the 1st.   Both teams only manage 4 hits the entire game. 3-2 Plague.
Game 3
Ramirez v. Miller.  Trout leads off the game with a HR to give the AB’s an early 1-0 lead.  It would be all Miller would need in this one.  Agone made it 2-0 in the 3rd by singling home Russell.  Panik hit a 2-run HR in the 4th to push the lead to 4-0.  And in the 6th Piscotty would single home Papi to end the scoring as the AB’s cruise to a 5-0 win.  The Plague again manage only 4 hits as Miller gets a CG ShO as Ramirez takes the loss. 5-0 AB’s.
Game 4
Sanchez v. Salazar.  Game 4 would prove to be yet another shutout and yet another 4-hit performance by The Plague.  However, this time Kiermaier’s single in the 5th plates Brantley for The Plague’s first run; and then in the 6th, Kipnis hits a solo HR (Second column, of course).  The AB’s can’t manage to get a key hit with runners in scoring position as they waste 5 BB’s, but only manage 2 singles as Sanchez, Rivero, Manship and Paps combine for a 2-0 shutout.

Notes
The AB’s go 6 for 28 in the series with RISP while the Plague only manage 3 for 16.
The AB’s are now hitting .196 as a team but somehow have managed a 14-10 record.
The AB’s pen got a much needed 3 game break as they are well rested for the pending tsunami that is coming on Friday.

Tomorrow night the Tsunamis kick off their season v. the Wahoos here at AB’s park.  First pitch is slated for around 5.  AB’s owner will be at his own practice and probably miss the first two games.  Instructions will follow to the two managers with a few rules for them to follow.  I’m hoping to come home to two fully clothed managers…but won’t be surprised if I don’t.  Good seats are still available.  Flyers/Caps at 7pm.

2016 First Period

Speakers vs. Arrogant Bastards

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Clyde welcomed Brian with open paws shortly after 4:30 as the Speakers took the short trip to visit the AB’s last evening.  Ballpark eats for the evening would include pizza from Italian Delight, a craft beer from Pottsville and Hershey and a  couple of Black Buttes from Oregon.

Game 1
Archer v Karns (making his AB’s debut).  The teams remain scoreless until the bottom of the 5th when a 1-out single by Ginger Jesus plates Trout and a 2-out single by Parra plates Agone for a 2-0 AB’s lead.  Kris Bryant would hit a 2nd column solo HR in the top of the 7th and a 2-out single by Betts would chase Karns.  Cedeno would come in to face Kolten as BDUB put his Wong away and sent Chris Young to the dish who greeted Cedeno with a ringing double to score Betts and tie the game at 2-2.  The game would remain that way until the bottom of the 14th (as neither team even cared to get a key hit with a runner in scoring position) when Russell Martin (inserted into the game due to the ‘new ED Rule’ when he was SLATED to START game 2 anyway!!!) rolled a lead off 66-1 that was not pulled back by Mi Familia (+22) for a 3-2 back-to-back games walk-off win for the AB’s.  Brach got the win going one inning, as he was the last man out of the AB’s pen (3rd time this season in 17 games the AB’s used their entire pen….7th extra inning game in 17).

Game 2
Severino v Scherzer.  Both pitchers would go the distance in this game.  Severino would only give up a solo HR to Big Papi in the 2nd (it would be the AB’s LAST HR of the series)…but in the top of the shutdown 3rd, Rizzo would hit a 2-out 2-run HR to put the Speakers up for good 2-1.  Odor hit a 2nd column solo HR in the 5th and Cespedes added an RBI single plating Machado in the 6th.  Mookie Betts lead off the 9th with yet another 2nd column HR to finish the scoring for a 5-1 Speakers victory.  Severino struck out 8 while walking 3.

Italian Delight – Sicilian with half sautéed onions and half pepperoni was served up for both managers to enjoy.  Clyde tried to have some but was unable to break the rules this time…

Game 3
Miller squares off against Harvey.  Both pitchers mow through the first 3 innings, but with 2 outs and Trout on 1st base in the 4th, Ginger Jesus comes through with a 2-out hit-and-run double to plate Trout for a 1-0 AB’s lead.  In the bottom of the 4th Posey leads off the shutdown inning with a single and one out later Cargo jacks a potential HR for a 2-1 Speakers lead….but Miller (+32) turns it back to a double.  Rajai Davis hits a shallow pop to CF and Schwarber K’d to end the Speakers threat.  Melancon would come on in the 7th with runners on 1st and 3rd, but Simmons would ground into a DP.  The Speakers also got a runner to 2nd with no outs in the 8th, but Rizzo didn’t move from 2nd.  Davis came on in the 9th to preserve the 1-0 shutout and win for Miller as Harvey took the tough luck loss going the distance.

Game 4
Salazar faced his former team v Martinez.  Again the game was scoreless until the 3rd when a single by Agone plated Trout for a 1-0 lead.  The game remained 1-0 until the Speakers (I just couldn’t get them out of the house fast enough) opened up in the 5th.  Let’s just say BDUB got his Wong out!!!  Two BB’s started the mess in the 5th and they advanced to 2nd and 3rd on a comebacker to the box.  Salazar then threw the Wong pitch as Wong lined a 2-RBI single to give the Speakers a 2-1 lead scoring Cargo and Moooookie.  After another single by Simmons, Rizzo belted yet another 2nd column 3-run HR for a 5 spot.  The AB’s did show life in the top of the 6th as walks to Longoria and Papi, followed by an RBI double by Swihart, made it 5-2…. Speaking of 5-2, that was score of the next play as Pillar grounded to 3rd, but Machado threw Papi out at home (totally unrealistic on multiple levels)…. But Forsythe followed with a ringing double to score Swihart and Pillar and cut the lead to 5-4.  In the bottom of the 6th with two outs, Betts hit a solo HR (I believe it was yet ANOTHER 2nd column HR – honestly I stopped keeping track…) to make it 6-4.  The AB’s would seal their fate in the game in the 7th and bring in Cody Allen. In hindsight, it was the first Wong managerial move that came back to possibly bite us through the first 20 games.  Allen once again threw the Wong pitch as Wong led off with a double, Simmons singled him to 3rd, and Rizzo singled in Wong.  Allen got the next two Speakers, but then surrendered a 2-out double to Cespedes and then an RBI single to Cargo, which upped the lead to 10-4.  Forsythe did get an RBI single in the top of the 8th after two BB’s by Martinez, but Jeffress came in to get the final out.  Allen then BB’d the bases loaded in the Speakers 8th and with 2 outs, Posey singled in Wong and Rizzo for a 12-5 lead and Speakers win to garner the series split.  Martinez won it and Salazar took the loss.

Notes
I have the Speakers going 7 for 28 w/ RISP (7 for 10 in game 4….head scratcher).
AB’s went 8 for 25 w/ RISP for the series.
Speakers are now 7-5; AB’s are 12-8.
Hitting .198 as team.
I don’t have much more to add…just happy I’m 12-8 in the most bizarre 20 game start I’ve had since I’ve been rolling in this league.

Personal

Arrogant Bastards vs. Unhinged Wahoos

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The bizarre start to the AB’s season continued on last evening in Linglestown as the Wahoos finally broke spring camp, hopped aboard their rocket ship and ‘crash’ (ok, maybe the AB’s did the crashing) landed in Rascal’s litter box…. BTW, Rascal greeted his company with purrs and a kicking dump!!!

And away we go….

Game 1
Hamels v Cole… In the bottom of the first Joe Panik and Kevin Pillar crash into each other and Panik is killed for the series while Pillar gets to continue on.  So the AB’s play with a 24-man roster for the final 35 innings of the series!!!  The game is scoreless until the 5th when the AB’s get a Pillar single followed by a stolen base.  Forsythe walks; and with 2 outs, Trout reaches on an error by Soler plating Pillar.  Agone follows with an RBI single only to be outdone by a Ginger Jesus 3-run jack to cap off a 5-run inning for the AB’s.  Fowler hits a solo shot in the bottom of the frame and Edwin would double home Eaton in the 8th.  But Cody Allen comes on with 1 out in the 9th to save the win for Hamels while Cole takes a tough luck loss.  5-2 AB’s.

Game 2 delayed by Mother’s Subs.

Game 2
Scherzer v Kluber… Again the game is scoreless until the 5th when the Wahoos bust out with a Blanco walk, Crawford single, a McCann 2-RBI double, Eaton singles in a run but is later cut down at home by a Trout to Andrus to Swihart hook up…. But it’s a 3-0 lead until the top of the 8th…which didn’t end until the bottom of the 8th was over.  Look, I said it bizarre.  With two outs we forgot to have Kluber have his 5 point bump for 7 consecutive innings, so what was the final out by Parra with runners on 1st and 3rd became an RBI single to cut the lead to 3-1.  Up steps Bret Gardner who rolled a 33-0 followed by a 2nd column 7, which plated only 1 run instead of possibly two.  The AB’s went 1-2-3 in the 9th as Andrew Miller saved it for the winner Kluber as Scherzer took the loss.

Game 3
Miller v Burnett… The scene shifts to the AB’s home park and bizarre takes on a new meaning… again.  The Wahoos plate a run in the first on a lead off double by Fowler and RBI single by Abreu.  They had a BB and another hit in the inning but somehow only managed 1 run.  Trout led off the bottom of the 1st with a single and later scored on a 1st and 3rd comebacker to the pitcher by Big Papi.  In the 2nd a foul pop over by the AB’s dugout became another crash test for dummies as Agone ran over Russell Martin…. Agone left the game while Martin was done for the series.  AB’s go the rest of the game with a 22 man roster (remember Panik?).  With 2 outs in the 2nd, the Wahoos load the bases on walks; and with Arenado up, a ball bounds away from Swihart who hustles after the ball and fires to Miller covering the dish for the final out.  In the 4th Blanco leads off with a walk and tries to score on a double by Crawford, but this time it’s Trout to Russell to Swihart as Blanco is gunned down at the plate.  In the 6th, Blanco hits a 2-out double and again tries to score–this time on a single by Crawford–but is gunned down once again by Trout (3rd OF assist of the series).  In the bottom of the 6th Big Papi gets a HR turned back (+31).  But in the bottom of the 7th Kevin Pillar hits a 2nd-column solo HR for the 2-1 AB’s lead to make a winner out of Matt Thornton with a save for Wade Davis.  Burnett takes a tough luck loss.

Game 4
Salazar v Iglesias… Once again the teams remain scoreless until the 5th when the Wahoos break through with back-to-back HR’s by Soler (a -12 gift HR) and Dozier for a 2-0 lead.  In the bottom of the 6th the AB’s load the bases with a BB, BB, E3…, but the Wahoos turn a rare play double play to limit the AB’s to only 1 run in the inning.  The game remains 2-1 until the bottom of the 9th when Forsythe leads the inning off by getting plunked by Miller.  Andrus follows with a hit and run 63 single to put runners on the corners with no one out.  Trout rolls an 11-1 and Miller fails to turn it back as Mike drops his dice and makes a beeline for Rascal for comfort.  AB’s walk off with a 4-2 win to make Matt Thornton the winner again as Miller suffers the loss.

The AB’s stretch their record to 10-6… and may look for an opponent for next week.

Like I said the bizarre continued…the injuries, the rare plays, 4 Wahoos cut down at the plate in the series, and 3 timely home runs for the AB’s that basically won the series in a total team effort for the walking wounded.

2016 First Period

Arrogant Bastards vs. Eliminators

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“Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand.”
― Leo Durocher

Game 1
Hamels squares off against Volquez…neither would factor in the decision.  The AB’s muster 2 solo HR’s (still trending…) from AGone while Cutch drives in Pollock and Correa drives in Cutch 2 innings later.  This one would go….wait for it….EXTRA INNINGS!!!!  Back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the 12th by Adam Jones and Ethier give the Eliminators a 3-2 walk-off victory.  Wilson picks up the win while Brach suffers the loss.  The Elim’s leave 13 on as they just set the tone for the start of a crazy series. The AB’s only muster 5 hits but extend the Solo HR streak to 9.

Game 2
Scherzer faces Ventura…hold on tight boys; this one is gonna be a bumpy ride.  Trout grounds to 2nd to start the game and the AB’s then go BB, BB, BB, single, BB, single, runner picked off 1st w/ bases loaded, single, single, and Trout ends the 5 run 1st w/ a grounder back to the box.  I mean you see that kind of inning every game, right?  In the top of the 2nd Parra leads off and reaches on a Correa error, AGone doubles, Stanton BB’s and then Ortiz hits into an RP (well it is the most bizarre play in my brain) DP on a grounder to 3rd – Donaldson steps on 3rd and throws to first and the AB’s get a 6th run to push the lead to 6-0.  Stop and think about that DP for a second…ok, moving on.  A Correa 2-run 3rd inning HR caps a 3-run inning for the Elims to trim the lead to 6-3.  In the 4th the Elims go single, single, single, single, fly out, 3-run HR to take an 8-6 lead.  Stays that way until the top of the ? when with 2 outs Parra hits…wait for it…the AB’s 10th solo HR to start the season to cut the lead to 8-7.  Still with 2 outs AGone BB’s as Giancarlo Stanton steps up and says…enough is a enough…and he belts a 2 run HR (NON SOLO…TIME TO PARTY IN THE STREETS…WHERE IS NEAL COTTS?) to put the AB’s up 9-8.  But in the bottom of the 8th, a 2-out double by Donaldson rips Wade Davis’ heart right from his chest as Cutch walks home to tie it at 9-9.  Guess what?…we go EXTRA INNINGS!!!!   Forsythe leads off the 10th w/ a single and steals 2nd on a failed H&R attempt. Andrus SAC’s him to 3rd and Mike Trout delivers with a single (HIS ONLY HIT OF THE SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).  2 batters later Trout would score on an AGone RBI double.  In the bottom of the 10th the Elims go single, BB, BB to load the bases with no one out.  Donaldson hits a SAC fly plating Pollock and with 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd Heyward rolls an error number to the SS…now Addison Russell had to the enter the game to play 2nd base due to some other moves earlier, so Elvis Andrus was at SS as an 8.  Elvis fielded one and threw out Heyward to save the game. (It was the 2nd time in the game that Elvis fielded one on an error play).  GEE WHIZ…the AB’s win in 10, E-O-LEVEN to TEN.  Winner is Jansen with a save for Dyson as Gott gets the loss.

Game 3
As if the first 3-plus hours of action weren’t enough the scene shifted to the AB’s turf as Miller took on Lester.  The AB’s took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd on a 2-out RBI single by Elvis Andrus.  Shelby Miller retired the first 10 batters he faced; and then, he went to church (see the quote…again).  The next 8 Elims go double, BB, fly out (YEAH WE GOT 2 OUTS!!!!), double, single, BB, BB, double clears the bases, double scores the guy that cleared them, and a fly out to end the inning!!!  TOUCHDOWN Eliminators!!!!!  7-1 Eliminators.  Jones drives in 2, Ethier 1, Castillo 3 and Pollock 1.  In the bottom of the 4th, Forsythe gets a 2-out double to plate Gardner and then Stanton comes up to jack a 3-run HR to cut the lead to 7-5.  Both starting pitchers are downgraded. . .just like in GAME 2.  In the 6th, Stanton drives in another run with a 2-out single to make it 7-6; and in the 7th Russell Martin hits a solo HR to TIE it up AGAIN in the series 7-7.  GUESS WHAT?  WE GO EXTRA INNINGS!!!!!  Quick note – Shelby Miller actually settled in to go a much needed 8 innings for the AB’s as EVERY relief pitcher for the AB’s was on the clock…FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT GAME!
Adam Jones led off the 11th with a solo HR, Martin dropped a foul pop (in 11 games he caught a 14, 12, and now an 11 inning game); and with 2 outs Forsythe made an error, Heyward pinch ran, stole and scored on yet another 2 out hit by Castillo…nothing mustered from the AB’s in the bottom of the 11th and the Elims hold on for a 9-7 win.  O’Day gets the W while Jansen takes the L.

Game 4
As Speakers manager Brian ‘BDUB’ Williams looked on – in attendance for a beer and some advanced scouting – two former Speakers squared off in game 4 as Salazar and Felix ‘The King’ Hernandez feared taking the bump.  Fear? Who wants to pitch on this night?  Parra leads off (Trout dropped from that spot) with a double and, after a fly out, AGone coaxes a 1-out BB. Up steps Mike Trout who–even though he is scuffling–legs out a fielders choice to keep the inning alive.  Up steps Big Papi who deposits The King’s next pitch into Clyde’s poop-filled yard (Bill has moved out…management needs to poop scoop) for a 3-0 AB’s lead.  The AB’s would tack on 3 more in the 3rd on 3 BB’s, a SAC fly RBI by Ortiz and 2-out 2-run double by Swihart.  AGone would plate Addy Russell in the 4th for a 7-0 lead.  The Elims would not go quietly as Freddie Freeman jacks a 2-run shot in the 5th and Pollock double home 2 runs in the 7th to cut the lead to 7-4.  Kevin Pillar would hit a 2-out solo HR in the 8th to give the AB’s an 8-4 cushion and a series split.  Salazar picks up the win as The King suffers the loss.

Series Notes – series took nearly 5.5 hours to play.
AB’s went 11 for 34 w/ RISP hitting .324 while the Elims went 14 for 50 (YES FIFTY) for a .280 clip.
AB’s hit .229 overall in the series but out-homered the Elims 8-5.
AB’s used 16.2 innings of RP as the Elims used 15.2.
Elims out-hit the AB’s 44-35…but it was a roll fest…I’m still spent the next evening.

AB Quick Notes
7-5 after 3 very different series.
35 innings of bullpen used mostly due to 6 of the 12 games going extra frames (about 12% of overall BP used as 13% of the season is completed).
AB’s played 8 consecutive 1 run games from games 3-10 going 5-3 in those contests.
Mike Trout is hitting .104 but is tied with Parra for most runs scored at 8.
Quite possibly the strangest start to one of my seasons since I’ve seen in this league.