The Ghostbusters fall ball team is still recruiting players, and will begin play on September 9th with an eye towards ultimately bolstering the Ducks’ 2009 lineup. South Oakland Duck, Captain America, Mark “Last Thoughts on Woody” Guthrie will play on Brian Strom’s Orange fall ball team, in an undercover effort to attract free agent pitchers drafted by the Bulldogs assistant coach.
Fall Ball spots are still available sign up here: Fall Ball eslu(new Date(“August 14, 2008 08:04 PM”), ‘new’, 7);
***
NORTHERN AGGRESSION The Pittsburgh Blues all-star team will invade the Virginia boarder on August 30th, and begin their domination of the Blue-Grey Classic, wood bat tournament, which appears to have been named by a person who doesn’t realize the Civil War was not so much a “classic” as it was an abomination. Clearly the darkest time in American history. There’s even a confederate flag on the tournament logo. The tournament takes place south of the Mason Dixon line, and Virginia is the relative latitudinal center of the east coast, but why continue to divide the north and south into Blue and Gray? Why not just call it the North-South Classic? or The Battle for Control of the Area Denoted by a Sudden Shift to a Heavy NASCAR Fan Demographic?
We need to break down these barriers. In addition to a fun weekend of baseball, I’m excited about purchasing cheap tobacco products in Virginia.
The Blues are excited about the addition of Bullpen Catcher, Designated Hitter, Garrett Moore. Moore was the runner up for the Ducks’ 2007 Garrett Moore Hustle award, and the 2008 Garrett Moore Mustache award.
Only two Owlz made it to yesterday’s scrimmage vs. the Blues, which turned out to be a glorified intra-squad with several Ducks taking part in the game. Jesse Smith, Ryan Novak and Eric Lee practiced with the Blues, who have tenured Jesse Smith an offer to travel to Virginia with the team. Novak is unavailable to play in the tournament, because of academic responsibilities. Is Andrew McCray’s knee up to the trip over labor day weekend, (Aug. 30-Sept. 1)? He’d help the team.
The Blues thank Rob Cool for his efforts in rounding up the Owlz, many of whom backed out at the last minute. The Blues may face the Owlz at some point before the Blue-Grey Classic in Viginia.
Thanks to everyone who showed up yesterday, it was a solid practice.
The framework of the Ghostbusters’ fall ball roster was laid out last night. Head coach Ben Gwin was unable to draft as many Ducks as he wanted, due to rules mandating the players who had already paid be taken first.
2008 Avalon Ghostbusters of the North Hills
Head Ghostbuster, Ben Gwin, C, 1b, OF
Dan Morgan, P, Bulldogs BJ Rankin P, inf., Bulldogs Adam Smith, P, inf. Ducks Vinny Gala, 1b, SS, Bulldogs Garrett Moore, of, C, Ducks ——–Free Agents——- Ron Mark Watson Gregg
The Ghostbusters are still looking to add to their already dominant roster. Spots are still available on all NABA fall ball teams. Tell your friends. signup here: Fall Ball eslu(new Date(“August 14, 2008 08:04 PM”), ‘new’, 7);
Howlin’ Wolf has forgotten more about the Blues than Jim Morrison ever knew.
Sad News from Ducks Headquarters SS/2B Andrew McCray is flying south for the late summer, so far south he will traverse the globe and land back home in Erie, PA. The poor Pittsburgh job market has robbed the Ducks of another middle infielder. The same thing happened in 2005 when original Duck #2, SS, Craig Pelat left for Tennessee to find employment. McCray is one of the best infielders I’ve ever played alongside. He was always positive, kept things light. He got fired up to play baseball in a good way.
Birds of a Feather
I know McCray would be fired up about this bit of second hand information: According to all-star pitcher, Duck-on-the-Fence, Ben Sorosky, a conversation similar to this occurred between Ben and Owlz coach Rob Cool:
Rob: I hear[from the Ducks blog] your deciding between the Ducks and the Rakers next season. Ben: yes Rob: Well, if you’d like to play on a Championship caliber team, maybe you would consider playing for me on the Owlz next season. Ben: no Rob: why not? we have sweet uniforms and are the only team in the league with a “z” in our team name. (this may not have been said) Plus we won the championship Ben: Because I’d rather play on a team who beats them, quack, quack. (Sorosky may or may not have quacked upon rejecting Rob Cool’s offer)
*** the Owlz front office has been busy headhunting the best players from around the league. We will see some of them in the Owlz vs. Blues scrimmage on Sunday, 5pm at John Herb Field. With all the new Owlz next season, logic would dictate a few displaced members from the 2008 championship squad.
Despite the swell of support and campaigning from the Ducks blog, Nick Homa finished second in the Pitcher of the Year voting to the Oilers’ Jason Ashcroft. While Ashcroft is a deserving candidate, who lead the league in ERA with a lights out 1.40 mark, he had 20 fewer strikeouts than Homa, and played in a weaker division. Homa came in second by two votes, he led the league with 76 strikeouts, (75 officially)
Ashcroft and Homa are teammates on the Pittsburgh Blues
Others recieving POY votes, Jeremy Barchie, James Fago, and “Duck on the Fence” Ben Sorosky. Sorosky has pledged allegiance to the Ducks should the Rakers fold (Larry, you can join us). If the Rakers do not fold it will take a solid counter offer by the Ducks to lure the all-star pitcher from Cyrila Landscaping and their sweet uniforms. Negotiations will officially start during the winter meetings.
Ducks off season re-acquisition, Jeremy Barchie, has guaranteed the 2009 Pitcher of the Year Award. To Paraphrase an earlier quote by Barchie, “I’m returning to my former team, and I’m taking the Pittsburgh NABA Cy Young..”
A Freudian slip by Blues manager Joe Graff occurred last night at practice when he referred to Blues’ pitchers, Mark Guthrie and Ben Sorosky as “Ducks”.
Another mind numbing debacle is the persistent absence of a Manager of the Year Award. TC Jones is the unofficial 2008 Manager of the Year.
Ducks blog did help secure the MVP Award for the Owlz James Fago.
Congrats, James, there is always a spot for you on the Ducks. Quack.
Join us next post for a recap of some bold smack-hooting by Owlz manager Rob Cool, who dismisses the possibility entirely of any other team challenging for next season’s title. I will take remarks I heard second hand entirely out of context, in order to make the statement sound worse than it may have been. Fast51ball can help iron out any mistakes. Cool led the Owlz to a championship in their first year of existence, he is a fierce competitor who will go to any lengths to strengthen his team. I was a little bit like him when I was his age. I admire his confidence, but anyone who has read any Shakespeare knows too much hubris can lead to one’s demise
Congratulations to this season’s award winners, many of whom I will have the privilege of playing alongside in the Blue Grey Tournament in Virginia.
The Pittsburgh Blues will compete in the 2008 NABA Blue Grey Tournament in Fairfax County Virginia, Aug. 30- Sept. 1. The Rebels will not be represented on our team due to injuries, and treason.
Fairfax County is X-Files territory.
Worst possible team name: “RebelZ”
Thank you to Rob Cool who offered to design our T-shirt and hat logo, despite declining an invitation to play on the team due to academic and collegiate baseball responsibilities.
Baseball and the blues are the two greatest, American contributions to the world at large.
Thirteen years ago today Jerry Garcia died.
I hate hippies, mind you, but the music of the Grateful Dead helped me through some bleak, bleak times, the depths of which I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Listen to some Dead today, even if it’s just one of these songs. I have more bootlegs than your weird uncle the family doesn’t like to talk about if you’re interested.
The best American rock band of all time, depending on whether you count Jimi Hendrix as a band.
The Owlz are the 2008 Pittsburgh NABA Champions. I have no doubt that the only thing on Rob Cool’s mind while assembling his team during the off-season was winning a championship, which he and hiz fellow Owlz did.
The Owlz won both the Division Series and the Championship series on walk off singles in third game of best of three series (once in extra innings). There was some great baseball down the stretch this year.
In 2009, would you rather be on the Owlz, or the team who beats the Owlz on the way to the title? Team of Destiny ’09 is gunning for you next year, Z-Men. Enjoy it while it lasts. Quack, quack.
Seriously, congratulations on a season well played.
Fago for league MVP
Five Years Feels like Forever
The Owlz won the Championship in their first year in existence. The first team to win a championship in its inaugural season; the 2003 South Oakland Ducks.
The Owlz are the first team with a bird mascot to win the Pittsburgh NABA Championship since the 2003 South Oakland Ducks.
The Owlz are the only team with a “Z” in their name to take home the trophy, this may remain fact for some time.
The first team to win the title with a Confederate soldier for a mascot? The 2007 Rebels, who missed the playoffs this season.
***
Here are the Ducks 2008 team awards as chosen by Manager of the Year, TC Jones, who also wrote the summaries.
Team MVP: Nick Homa.
Without a doubt Nick deserves the MVP award. Not only was he arguably the leagues best pitcher, but he put up pretty good offensive numbers too. Without Homa we would have been an under .500 team.
Offensive Player of the Year: Ben Gwin.
This may have been the hardest award to pick. I think this award could have easily gone to Chris Wojoton or Jesse smith, but I chose Ben Gwin because of his clutch and timely hitting. Any time we needed to drive in important runs, Gwin was the one to do it. The +20 RBIs on the season prove it.
Defensive Player of the Year: Coby Kolaja.
Can we argue with the diving catches, the flowing hair, and the absolute cannon of an arm? I don’t think so. Coby Kolaja surprised everyone on the Ducks with his good reads and surprisingly accurate outfield arm.
Quack Talker of the year: Jim Spagnola.
I give this award to the Duck who made his presence felt with his verbal antics. It was a close call between Jim and Rick Whalen (both had particularly disgusting topics to ponder on the bench), but my decision was made after Spagnola called out an “F— You” to an opposing pitcher after getting a hit.
Duck of the year: KT Murphy.
I give this award to the Duck who best accepted his position on the team as a role-player. KT was at every game and never complained. He was also our most timely pinch hitter and made the most out of every opportunity he got.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Garret Moore.
To be honest, at the beginning of the season I wasn’t sure how much time I would be able to get this man. But his hustle and ability to put the baseball in play during at bats gained him the starting role as the DH.
***
My only complaint is that Garrett won an award instead of having another award named after him and given to someone else. ie. the Garrett Moore mustache of the year award, goes to James Spagnola.
I’m just happy to be here, and to be able to help the team.
No individual is bigger than the Ducks, except Rambo.
Manager of the Year sent me the team awards, they’ll be up soon.
I’m going to let Coby’s post sit for a bit. It’s right below this one, it is solid.
His hair was perfect
Here’s Recap of the Warriors victory over the Owlz in Game twoof the championship. Game Three is tonight at 9pm, at John Herb Field. It should be an epic battle. Go check it out if you have time, last night was good baseball.
Owlz Pitcher Scott Dunn broke his arm playing first base in game one. I believe it was his non-throwing arm. The Ducks wish him a speedy recovery. Players of his caliber are good for the league.He strikes me as a good guy who enjoys the game, and plays the right way. He’d fit right in on the Ducks.
South Oakland Ducks Baseball 