The Playoffs and the 2007 Season: It's A Wrap!!!

Nothing starts a season ending wrap up like a picture pun association. Boy oh boy is that University of New Hampshire degree paying off in spades or what!?

Another Bears season has come to a close. 2007 is behind us and its time to reflect and close her down. Lets start with the last two games - yes TWO - that were the 2007 playoffs.

Round 1:

Bears 13

Vanguard 1

Uh huh. That's correct. We plastered those cocky bastards like Pete Lie on a broken wall. Before they even got there they had to things written: a second round roster and us "off". Two huge mistakes. Two six run innings, the 2nd and 5th, and a solo blast by John "30 Blocks Is Too Far" Malosh in the 3rd was more than enough for the measly one they put on us. This was also due to stellar defense and even more stellar pitching by the years MVP Jason "Lord of the Ring" Jones. Putting those clowns away, which, by the way, ended in Ken "Gary Carter" Tsang picking off the runner at first from behind the plate, just made me want to dry hump the bench. Fortunately for everyone, I refrained, and it was on to round 2.

Round 2:

Bears 2

Coppersmiths 4

So, as the score reflects, we came up two runs short of playing Charter for the all the clams in the bay. A frustrating loss for sure but at the hands of the number one team in the league who lost one game only. And not only that, we took them to the wall and kept it absolutely respectable. They were just a little better than us. And I stress a little. We made two or three mistakes they didn't that cost us, but hey, no one dare hang their head. One again, the efforts of #17 can't be hailed enough. Mr. Jones, unlike my midsection as I creep closer to the 4-0, you are SOLID.

And so it ends. The Wednesday jaunts to the dusty grassless meadow of Clinton Dewitt is a memory. But some great memeories were built, a solid team stays in tact, and with just a little work, I see zero reason why we won't be back in the post season in 2008.

Season Positives:

A seven game stretch of no losses that effectively cemented our spot in the post season.

Serious defensive skills.

An amazingly consistent pitcher.

Some great fill ins that I hope become roster regulars.

Brother Jimmy's

Ashley

Season Negatives:

The lights during game one.

Shady league.

The Bears innings.

Error's.

Playing a second game in the wet and cold when penguins would have seeked shelter.

Thursday mornings after Brother Jimmy's.

And now the first time ever, introducing the:

D-BAG's (Distinguised Bear Acheivement Grants)

ROY: Hands down, this goes to Adam "My Knees Hurt" Slavin. Not only did he take over the catching job without batting an eye, we gained a co-manager. Honestly, he helped me a ton behind the scenes that I am forever grateful for.

MVP: In this league, you are nothing without a good pitcher. We have one. #17, the MVP is a no brainer. The consistency, especially in the later part of the year and the playoff run is a large reason we finished 4th overall. Well deserved.

CHS (Can't Hit Shit):

YOU KNOW WHAT? FUCK THIS SITE AND ITS DAMN SPACING CRAP. I HAVE HAD IT.

CONSULT YOUR EMAILS.

Playoffs??!!! PLAYOFFS???!!!!!

PLAYOFFS???!!!! PLAYOFFS???!!!!

Well ladies - word has come down. Read 'em and smile!!! The Bears finished fifth this season by doing EXACTLY what we had to do our last game of the season: WIN.

Here's how it goes:

Finishing Order:

1. Red Wagon

2. Charter

3. Dub Squad

4. Vanguard

5. THE BEARS

6. Heredogs

7. TNT

Playoff Format: Wedensday, August 22, 2007

#1. BYE

#2 (Charter) VS #7 (TNT) Field 1 @ 6:30

#3 (Dub Squad) VS #6 (Here Dogs) Field #2 @ 6:30

#4 (Vanguard) VS #5 (THE BEARS) Field #3 @ 6:30

#1 will play VS the lowest seed on field #2 at 8pm. The next two remaining play at 8 pm on Field #1. Mercy rule is in effect.

So there you have it. We play Vanguard and if you remember, they swept us on what may have been our WORST performance of the year - but the first game was only by 2 and we did it to ourselves.

We are on, I believe, the lefty Heaven field for this game. WE NEED OUR BEST for this one.

ROLL CALL!!!!!!!

Game 8 Make Up: Eight Is NOT Enough

For the Bradford Family, it might have been. Personally, I think that whole retarded clan could have been reduced by a kid or two but then what would they have called it?

Now, I know my reference may confuse some of the younger generation on our roster, but for those that "get it", it's absolutely perfect. Eight was enough for those California living mongrels but it sure the hell wasn't for us. Especially facing the best team in the league and while we're hanging on by the nip of our foreskins for a playoff spot. Let's just say the timing was left than perfect. And so it went, without a second baseman and three outfielders -

Bears - 7

Charter - 15

Record - 6-6-2

The Positives:

Hitting: Yes, believe it or not this was a positive. Especially for Adam "Slippers" Slavin and Jarret "He Really Speaks!" Lew. Tremendous at bats for the both of you facing arguably the best pitcher in the whole league. And the hits came at perfect times and they kept us respectable. Cap tip to John "Dart League Drunkard" Malosh for the absolute bomb in the last inning. Pedro was NOT pleased. Fuck 'em.

Pitching: Again, even though they posted 15 runs on us a lot of it was due to being short handed. Thanks to Ken "I'm Hungry. Always." Tsang for getting us started and big ups to Jason "Lord Of The (lost) Rings" Jones for taking over in the fourth. Not only did it keep us respectable it also gave us nine - which made a HUGE difference.

The Negatives:

Can't really break it down when you field a team of eight for four innings and nine for the remainder. It's just not conducive to winning and the "extra outs" we gave them because we couldn't be in all places at once set off a domino effect of other problems that led to the proverbial 7 run "Bears Inning" in the second. Not. Good. And it leads me to this:

NEW BEARS REFERENDUM:

From here forward - if you have NOT told me you are in by Tuesday morning your spot will be filled by a sub/scrub. If for some reason that changes, or if you show up without confirmation, said sub/scrub will start over you. Period. End of Story.

The above is to avoid last night ever happening again. We are playing the #1 team in the league, we are FIGHTING (and in a few paragraphs, you'll see just how hard we're fighting) to make a playoff spot, and we have eight show? Are you fucking serious??? I understand we have lives and sometimes that gets in the way - but I need to be told and NOT on the day of.

Bar Attendance: Top notch. Showing up at 8:10, leaving much later. And for the love of God, can we please stop drifting into Jakes AFTER Brither Jimmy's?? Rob and Ken = Evil. Oh, I hear there's a rumor that we may be getting a few more to join next week? I will believe it when I see it.

Moving on...

(In Announcer Voice:)

"Short handed and short on recent wins, the Bears trotted barely enough out to cover the dusty bowls of Clinton Dewitt. But one area, left field, was covered like no other. Jose "Fuck Golden Tee" Lora tracked and trailed the ICBM's from home plate - one of which made to to the opposite field dug out - like a Reagan era satellite. The sun was bright, the weather was hotter than the balls of an ape hanging out by the equator, but Jose was hotter. Congratulations Jose, you are this weeks "Bears Geico Player Of The Game"!!!!!!!!!

(racous applause)

Other Business:

Remember what I said about fighting? Do you? Well, that was putting it mildly. I was sent the standings as this missive was being penned and here's the 5-6-7 and 8 teams:

5. Pirates: 7-8

6. Here Dogs: 6-6-1

7. Bears: 6-6-2

8. TNT: 6-6-2

That's right girls - as of right now, we are NOT in the playoffs. And guess what? We play the Here Dogs a double header this Wednesday. Yes, that's correct. Win and we're in. If not, syonarra to a season loaded with potential. Think we can get at LEAST 10?

NEXT GAME:

Wednesday, August 8th, 5:50 PM, Field One - DOUBLE HEADER

Please, for the love of God, let me know as soon as humanly possible so I can field 10. This, as far as I am concerned, is it and I really want a playoff shot.

In closing I just want to say that everyone that played last night did so with a ton of heart. And even though we lost it was a respectable one and I strongly feel at even strength with our best out there we beat them. I'd like another shot in round 1. How about you?

Yours in shitty beer pong performance,

James Buddy "Rib Tip Turds" Villani