Games 3 & 4: Splitting Headache

"The Best Of Times, The Worst Of Times."

• The years first (and definitely not the last) double header saw two very different Bear teams separated by a few minutes rest. And to be truthful, the above captioned picture should be reversed. It was the absolute worst of times in game 1, and a much better time in game 2. 

• Game 3's score sheet looks like someone gave a pen to a two year old to keep him occupied on a flight. Couple of incoherent marks, two very small solid blocks, and the child had a large penchant for the letters "F" and "K". 

• Game 4's sheet is a different story. Resembled a finished SAT exam. Ton of pattern strewn solid blocks and the answer's to all the questions were either R, B, or I. It's going to take me a day and a half to figure the stats out.

• Game 3:
• Bears      2
• Vanguard  9

• Game 4:
• Bears   21
• Whyos   5

Season: 1-3

========================================================== The Positives & Negatives (We're gonna pair 'em up):

• Defense: Sucked Dickens in Game 3. Errors, error's, errors, and extra outs. Piss poor performance all around. Nothing really stood out except that it was bad. Game 4, whole other ball of Madame Taussaude's wax - including some great stops in the infield and one INCREDIBLE catch in right field by Rob "Reply A Week Late" Thompson that pretty much led to WWIII. More on that later.
•  
• Pitching: More sucking of the Dickens in Game 3. A rough start indeed but settled down pretty well towards the end. We just couldn't get any support at the plate. Game 4 was a MUCH better response and it didn't hurt that we were facing hitters that weren't as "talented", if you will. All in all, a good job. Pitching two full games is no easy chore - especially when the ball is wetter than a Bel Mar cougar scouring the Parker House on "college night". 

• Hitting: Uh, prepare to see a pattern here. Game 3 blew ass. Bad. Looking over the book, which looks like I picked up a newspaper in Chinatown, notes only a solid outing by a 3-4 Pete "Beer Snob" Lie. Then there's the "Feast of Game 4". I mean, I don't get it because in all honesty, I think the G4 opposing pitcher was a ton better, but he was tattooed like the Illustrated Man. How does an 11 run 1st inning grab you? Multiple 3 RBI Bears, very few F- some number in the outfield, and no nasty letter K's. Nice response. 

==========================================================

And now it's time for the Bears "Geico Player of the Game Award"! This award is given to the player or players that show outstanding play in the field, at the plate, or in the bar. Whether it be heroic, game saving, or shatting one's pants sliding into third, this award is akin to saving a buddies life in combat.

And now, presenting this weeks winner...  Pete "I Sucked Less Than Everyone Else" Lie!

"14 innings. 8 at bat's. 13 other men faced with a similar situation mailed it in and didn't even use a proper stamp. However, one man stood tall...ish. Facing total suckitude around him, our Centrum sponsored hot corner parlayed his eight chances into 5 singles, a double, one fly out, and a sac RBI. Wasted effort in one game, added to the throttling in the other."

Congratulations you consistent, yet incontinent SOB, you are this weeks Bears "Geico Player of the Game"!!!

==========================================================

It's time for another episode of "Overheard/Thoughts at the Bar".

Buddy: "I have to leave early. My brother's here"

Team: Silence. Mouth's agape. Pin drops heard around the world. 

• Thoughts:

1: I am getting too old for this shit?

2: Did he REALLY leave????

3: Still not a huge fan of those purple bastards.

==========================================================

Other Business: Everyone is pretty much paid up. One peep is light but I will get with him. 

NEXT GAME: DOUBLE HEADER (Wash, Rinse, Repeat)

1st Game: Wednesday, July 1st, 6:10 PM vs. Whyos - Field 2

2nd Game: 7:30 vs. Vanguard.

We're doing the EXACT same thing except Whyos is first. Hopefully the result will be a tad different for at least one of the games. 

Quick Cap Note: For those still reading, if you are, I am taking a bit of a step back. I didn't like how things ended even though we throttled a team. Listen, if people don't like my "style", which is, I will admit, a tad tense at times, I don't know what to tell you. I don't care how far we're ahead, FINISH THE GAME. Some of you just don't have enough experience with this squad to understand we need all the runs we can get 99% of the time. Yes, I may have been a little over worked, and for that I am sorry. Therefore, I am going to let Slavin run things for awhile and see how that plays out. I will be there, but I will be playing where I am told and taking a step back. It's LONG overdue. 

See you tomorrow...

- James Buddy "No Need For A Coronary" Villani

Game 2: Homer George W. BUSH League!

"Bush. League."

Honest to God that's really all I have to say about that game.

Nice fight and all but can't believe what I saw and how it was called. You all know what I am talking about so before I throw this fucking laptop through the wall, lets just leave it at that.

Bears: 5

Coppersmith's: 7

Season: 0-2 ========================================================== The Positives:

Defense: Some pretty spectacular plays out there. One at the dish and one in RCF by John "I Have Chunks of Mays In My Stool" Malosh. I mean, I wish someone had that spectacular catch on tape - and calling it spectacular is an understatement of epic proportions. Both dugouts on their feet in awe. Well done. The rest of the defense in general was pretty good. No major errors that I can recall. 

Pitching: Only allowing 7 runs against a very good hitting team is not bad. They have definitely touched us for more in the past. Bennett, you can give John a quarter for that above mentioned catch! ;)

========================================================== The Negatives: Hitting: Kind of a rough spot in this one. We only plated 5 runs on them. Another nod to Rob "I Hit Them When It Counts" Thompson. An absolute bomb to give us a late lead that was short lived due to the biggest load of horse shit I have personally seen. Once again, that's all I'm saying about that. ==========================================================

And now it's time for the Bears "Geico Player of the Game Award"! This award is given to the player or players that show outstanding play in the field, at the plate, or in the bar. Whether it be heroic, game saving, or shatting one's pants sliding into third, this award is akin to saving a buddies life in combat.

And now, presenting this weeks winner... John "Run It Down!" Malosh!!!

"Trailing by one run lead in the late innings, it looked as though it was about to get a lot worse. The opposing squads 6 hitter stroked an absolute bomb to RCF that was sure to put the game well out of reach. On his horse with reckless abandon, John twisted, turned, and then twisted and turned again before reaching out and snaring the ball - creating what was certainly the best catch the Garment Center League has ever seen!"

Congratulations you magnificent bastard, you are this weeks Bears "Geico Player of the Game"!!!

==========================================================

It's time for another episode of "Overheard/Thoughts at the Bar".

Buddy: "!@#%^#*&^&*&^!!!!" (repeat many times)

 

Thoughts:

1: Decent showing despite the late games.

2: Bear groupies? Already?

3: Those fucking bases need to be anchored.

4: Amy warmed up. A lot.

==========================================================

Other Business: Well done getting your fees in. Only one left. I will need everyones waivers ASAP.

NEXT GAME: DOUBLE HEADER

1st Game: Wednesday, June 24th, 6:10 PM vs. Vanguard - Field 2

2nd Game: 7:30 vs. Whyos.

Both of these games are VERY winnable and we really need them. Let's try and pull this thing even!!!!

- James Buddy "That Bat's Too Heavy" Villani

2009 Season Opener: "They're BAAAACK!!!"

"They're baaaaaaaaack!!!!!!" 

After a LONG delayed spring the 2009 Bears season has officially begun. 

Coming off an extremely successful 2008 (2nd place overall) we're locked, reloaded, financed, and ready to take it that one little step further. With the core intact and a few excellent additions, it's time to make a run like no other.

Game one (well, game three, but I digress...) found us playing one of the two best teams in the league. Tough way to start the year but it's out of the way. It still finds us looking for that elusive season opener as we drop to 0 -1.

Bears: 5

Charter: 12

Season: 0-1 ========================================================== The Positives:

We Got Started: We got out there and got going. It's always hard to get that rust shaken off after a long off season. Especially hard facing Pedro right off the bat. But, its done and time to move forward. We'll play them again. Good chance we may see them in the playoffs. 

Hitting: For the opening game against tough pitching, it wasn't too bad. We had a nice 3 run 4th but just couldn't get it going enough. Quick nod to rookie Rob "Beach and Vagina" Thompson, who after two very big K's, stood tall and jacked one for the teams first HR of the season. Welcome aboard.

Defense: Overall, not too bad. A couple of mental errors that are par for the course the first game out, but in general, we're looking pretty good. Our outfield is absolutely stacked and the infield looks good corner to corner. A quick welcome back to the SS position to Rob "Just For Men" Glaubke. After moving over in 2008 for the good of the team, he slides back in 2009 with nary a peep or complaint. Well done.  ========================================================== The Negatives: The mental errors is really the only thing that hurt us. Don't know if they cost us the game as they are loaded with great hitting, so we'll chalk it up to first game rust and leave it at that. ==========================================================

And now it's time for the Bears "Geico Player of the Game Award"! This award is given to the player or players that show outstanding play in the field, at the plate, or in the bar. Whether it be heroic, game saving, or shatting one's pants sliding into third, this award is akin to saving a buddies life in combat.

And now, presenting this weeks winner... Jeff "Fuck Suburbia!" Fennelli!!!

"Still tall and still hating life outside the island of Manhattan, Jeffrey takes it all in stride and continues to be a lefty star at the plate. Facing the toughest pitcher in the Garment Center League, JF notched a 3-4 night including a first at-bat triple which led to the years first plated run. You may bail on the bar, but you thrive at the dish!"

Congratulations you bitter 'burb bastard, you are this weeks Bears "Geico Player of the Game"!!!

==========================================================

It's time for another episode of "Overheard/Thoughts at the Bar".

Rob G: "I'm thinking about coloring my hair."

 

Thoughts:

1: Real nice showing boys. Let's keep it up. 

2: Tommy O's nice Irish Exit.

3: Car full of 40's, cigars, and Bears.

4: Amy should warm up. I think the Corporate Challenge frazzled her.

5: The locker room is STILL ours!!!!

6: THHEEEE YANKEES LOSE!!! THHEEEEE YANKEES LOSE!!!!!.

==========================================================

Other Business: Well done getting your fees in. Only one left. I will need everyones waivers ASAP. 

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, June 17th, 8:50 PM vs. Coppersmith's.

Um, you remember Coppersmith's right? You know, the ones that beat us in the championship?Yeah, them. Let's not fall into an 0-2 hole and take one back against these guys. PLEASE!!

- James Buddy "Ken, You Drive" Villani