Month: May 2009

Game 8 Recap: "Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism": Ducks 5, Rebels 8

2009 Ducks Baseball, NABA, pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball


Before we knew it, it was the bottom of the 5th and the Ducks trailed 6-1.”Ray” Finkle made a diving catch in right. South Oakland Rallied to close the gap to 6-5, in the top of the 5th.
John Tremmel went yard. Chris Feathers doubled in some guy, it was 8-5.
Dan Stell recorded a two inning save, stole a couple bases and singled.
Gwin popped-out to end the game.

We’re at a crossroads here, this will either be a blip on the radar screen as we establish ourselves as an elite team, or we will dick around and be just over .500, and lose to the Gray Bats in the playoffs.

Secret Weapon vs. the Matadors.


Go Ducks.

I’ll give a dollar to the first person to name the author of the quote in the title without using the internet as a resource.

Rebels Week: Day 5

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(must be this didn’t post the first time)
Battle will be upon us at dawn. 

General Jones will lead the South Oakland forces versus the weaker and vastly outnumbered opposition, the Rebels, atop the hill of John Herb. 
Who will be on the hill for the Ducks? Will it be Captain (United States of) America? Or possibly General Jones himself? 
Or, perhaps, Jones will choose to use a secret attack: 

Either way, the Union must be preserved and the opposition defeated. 
This week will be very important to the Ducks as the season moves forward into the meat of the year. It is crucial that the Ducks perform well in their three game weekend in order to catapult them into the looming Memorial Day recess.  It will be tough this weekend with the Rebs, Matadors, and then finally facing off against the Bulldogs at the friendly confines on Monday night, but the Ducks have both the talent, depth, and managerial wherewithal to endure the challenge and depart victorious. 
So tonight, soldiers, eat, drink, and be merry (and rest), as hell breaks at dawn. 
Go Ducks!

Rebels Week: 4th Day.

NABA, pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball
Ducks, bring money this weekend for the remainder of our league dues and the hat money I fronted.

The latest from the Onion

I am a huge hockey fan, and why I like the idea of the “A” and “C” on jerseys regardless of sport.
It’s also why I like playing on a baseball team that can roll three lines.

How ’bout them Penguins!

The Anaheim Ducks force game seven against the Red Wings.

Hurricanes vs. Bruins tonight.
There’s nothing like playoff hockey.
three game sevens out of 4 conference semifinal match ups.
Unbelievable.

***
Three games in three days for the South Oakland Ducks of the North Side.
We are eagerly awaiting the long overdue season debut of Mantis.

***

A fond farewell to Ryan Novak.
Last year he solidified our infield which was in dire need of consistency and played a huge role in our playoff run.

Godspeed.

***

The Rebels will strike at dawn on Saturday, we must stand tall. The Union must remain strong. Our nation can not stand divided.

Rebels Week: Day III

2009 Ducks Baseball, NABA, pittsburgh NABA, who names their team the Rebels?
Which do you most associate with the term, “rebels”?

A message from The Commish:

Its funny that LarryZ voted for the crew of Perry and company at the winter meetings. So did the ducks, and every other team present. There was another option on the table… but we went with perry by a 11-0 manager vote. The suggestion of one ump was never brought up, but it is a welcome topic for next year. As for this year, we have a contract with Perry… if you know of another association willing to send one ump to every game for $50, email pittnaba@yahoo.com

As for scheduling? Talk to your managers. they had the schedule a week before it was released to the public, and were welcome to make any changes themselves. Very few did. Agreed upon league No play dates? Memorial Day Weekend and fourth of July. Hence, the long layoff for most teams in may. As for teams starting later? The Owlz and Matadors could not have physically fielded a team, the majority (not 2-5 players), were still in college. I tried making them last year, and they each forfieted games.

There was a proposition to split them into a separate division… but it was tabled by the managers without even being brought to vote. Them starting later, and having more doubleheaders and 4 games in a three day span seemed liek the only fair comprimise. They could not have fielded teams.

Divisions/Realignment? I’ll take the heat on that. I forgot to put it to a vote after the draft. I will say that the Top teams in the Monogahela have appeared to improve thier teams significantly, while most other teams have made more modest improvements. However, the current configuration was established to maintain some existing rivalies (Warriors/Oilers/Bulldogs & Ducks/Black Sox/Rebels), and try to minimize travel for most teams. That is difficult since there are three guys responsible for getting all the permits (Cool=Findlay, Finkel=Gateway, Graff=everything else)!

The managers make the final decision on everything that happens before the season starts. During the season I make decisions based on what I think is best for the league. I’m not always going to make everyone happy, but I’m trying to do what’s fair and in the best interests of the league.

In short, I spend hours of time trying to make the league run smoothly, with very few offers of assistance. We would not have a league presently if I was not securing umpires, and getting the field permits that I have. I don’t think its perfect, but its the best I can do with the time and resources I have. Want change? Simply talk to your managers, show up at winter meeting where they decide these things… or better yet, offer to help! I’m all for improving the league any way we can!

-“Commish”

A special “thank you” to Gala, Gwin, Strom, Martin, Shukla, Boley, Finkel, Cool, and all managers… all of whom have assisted the league in some form this year. Your time and effort is appreciated.

As always, Don Henley is on the money.
We’d probably be forced to vote the same way again on the umpires.
I just wish they would hold up their end of the contract.
The “Bluez” are going to be unreal this Labor Day.

Thank you all for reading and leaving comments.

It is greatly appreciated.

Quack.

Rebels Week: Day 2.

NABA, pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball, who names their team the Rebels?
Wikipedia Definition of “Rebels“

“One who resists authority”
No wonder they don’t get along with The Commish.

South Park Civil War Episode.

Fantastic Discussion thread a couple posts back.
Thanks for reading.

Larry think the owlz take it too seriously, The Owlz will probably throw their ace at the Gray (0-5) Bats and hurt Larry’s feelings, if his aging mind doesn’t forget about their game.
Black Sox and the Owlz hate each other.
some guy was drafted by the red sox.

I’ve heard viscious comments from members of each team directed at one another, nothing to repeat, but there is a real dislike there.

(logo of the Denver Black Sox NABA team.)

Rebels (1-3) beat the Eagles (2-3), the 7-0 score would indicate forfeit perhaps?
This is a big divisional game sunday, followed by the Ole’s on Sunday, and Team Consipracy at the Duck Pond Monday night.

All hands on deck.
We have great depth, but lack a minor league system to call up players when we’re missing two thirds of the roster.

Standings

18A Allegheny Division – Wood Bat

18A Monongahela Division – Wood Bat

The Black Sox have righted the ship, and stand at 4-2, after a rough 0-2 start.
B-Sox pitcher JT Slavicek is having an OK start to the season.

The Owlz defeated the Matadors, 7-0, probably another forfeit, and are 3-0 after trouncing the Ducks over the weekend.
I recommedn not having a mid-day double header on Mothers Day in the future.
I doubt it was intenional, but that is clearly why we lost – the scheduling, not the 8 errors.

The Gray Bats will be better than their 0-5 record thus far. The have reinforcements on the way.


What ever happened to Pittsburgh NABA legend Mike “Playmaker” Pleva?
The Gray bats could use a player of his caliber, someone put them in touch, it would be for the benefit of all involved.

Confederacy blah blah, rebels, civil war, Jefferson Davis, blah, etc….

This cartoon was banned.
I had nothing to do with the removal of the Rebels blog post, I was actually joking when i said the commisioner removed it as part of The Conspiracy.

Dicey situation brewing perhaps.

Jim Perry could at least pretend to give a shit about our league.
As an insider and a role player in The Conspiracy, I can say for a fact this is not the Commissioner’s fault. The increase in cost for another association is astronomical.
The fact is we don’t know the alternatives to many of the problems that arise during our season, therefore we can’t say they’d be better if some hypothetical solution were in place, there would just be other hypothetical problems.
I don’t agree with every decision made by Joe, (Stacking our division, games three days in a row then a ten-day layoff, woo-hoo) but when i approach him he gives me answers, and the logic behind his “controversial” decisions.

CALL TO ARMS

We need fields, if anyone knows of any fields our league can obtain, email pittnaba@yahoo.com

Baseball is fun.

Quack.

Rebels Week: Day one.

2009 Ducks Baseball, NABA, pittsburgh NABA, South Oakland Ducks Baseball
The Ducks look to rebound after pair of humbling, if not humiliating defeats at the Handz of the Owlz.

Saturday will be here before we know it and we will have a chance to redeem ourselves and get back on track.

In regards to the blog on the rebs mysite news, (which the commissioner apparently removed as part of The Conspiracy”), now, having a chance to respond at a time other than 4am, in a more coherent, manner that doesn’t involve a leftist rant:

  • I should have told our coach to call that game last season.
  • I should not have tried to get a cheap forfeit win two years ago.

We can end the discussion on these topics.
***

Dan Stell is a fierce competitor and one of the top outfielders in our league, he has worked hard to put a winning team on the field, and I can empathize with his, and “Ray” Finkle’s struggles of late.
The have put in a lot of time and effort into the radical reconstruction of their squad.

(Laces out, Dan)

I coached a bad team for a long time.

That said;

Southern Pride is a fierce motivator, and they have a solid core of talent on that team.
The Confederacy must fall this Saturday.

Games 6 & 7: Owlz Ground Ducks

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Things started sloppy for the South Oakland Ducks and quickly headed further south as the Mother’s Day double-header against the Owlz transpired. The game itself was delayed while the teams waited on umpires (who never showed) causing agitation and leaving the game with scrimmage-ish feel.

My memory of the early game is murky, but Homa pitched better than his line will show. The Ducks as a team were guilty of committing countless errors prolonging innings that allowed the hard-hitting Owlz to rack up runs. The Owlz simply do not strike out, forcing the Ducks to field an insane amount of balls, with a final score of 9-1 (I think). Sorry for the lack of recap, but there aren’t really too many highlights.

The second game started off pretty well (an ump did show for this one) for the Ducks as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Nick Homa plated Wojton with a single to right field. The Ducks also staved off a potential rally in the bottom of the inning only allowing 2 Owlz to cross the plate.

The game remained close until the bottom of the third when the floodgates opened as the Owlz put across six runs through monster hits and the Ducks errant ways. The Ducks responded the next inning as Homa hit another run in, closing the gap to 8-2.
Coach Jones came in the pitch in the 4th and the results weren’t any better. The Owlz kept clobbering the ball and the Ducks weren’t helping their own cause. By the time we were heading into the fifth, the Owlz needed only one run to enforce a ten run rule against the listless Ducks. A fly ball that carried over Roland’s head, gave the Owlz that advantage. The final score of both games combined: Owlz 21, Ducks 3.

Bullet Points:
-We were all responsible for this, nobody played up to potential.
-Jones, Smith, and Homa didn’t pitch that bad. The Owlz are the best hitting team in the league (by a country mile) and the defense just wasn’t there.
-The Owlz number 3 hitter (Flip maybe? Something like that) is absolute machine. I’ve rarely seen a hitter of that caliber.
-No excuses.
-Homa had all 3 Duck RBIs.
-Kolaja and Jones were not pleased with themselves and their terrible ABs.
-This umpire thing has become a joke. They are never on time, they don’t show, it’s just ridiculous. People lose jobs for less than this. I would be ashamed if I was the manager of the organization (The umps, not the Owlz).
-A lot of trash has been posted here about the Owlz, but today we must tip our caps, they were by far the better team.
-A special thanks to Speedie’s Pizza of Imperial for their delivery of a feast midgame.
-The Ducks were brought back to reality, but will soon again soar.