Comeback Player of the Year: Matt Swetz
Most Improved: Lonnie Petril
Offensive Player of the Year: Brandon Culp/Anthony Ciccone
Defensive Player of the Year: Rob Galvanek
Pitcher of the Year: Jason Fetter
MVP: Tony Casale
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Comeback Player of the Year: Matt Swetz
Most Improved: Lonnie Petril
Offensive Player of the Year: Brandon Culp/Anthony Ciccone
Defensive Player of the Year: Rob Galvanek
Pitcher of the Year: Jason Fetter
MVP: Tony Casale
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Gentlemen –
(Joe why are you putting 2 spaces after a period!?!)
I think Joe did the right thing here. I also think the player in question is probably ineligible. Generally, I agree with how Joe runs the league. He’s fair and honest, and I’d never want to put up with the kind of shit he does.
Maybe it’s because I can remember when our league played 3pm double headers at Cornell, and we operated at a loss for six years that I don’t really have an issue with most of the problems we have today. However, I do think there is room for our league to improve, but I’m just happy to be playing and without Joe putting all this time and effort into the League there wouldn’t be a Ducks.
The Ducks might have just been eliminated by a team with an illegal player, but whatever. That’s not why we lost games 2 and 3. We made more mistakes than West View did, and we didn’t capitalize on some opportunities. I will reiterate that I’m not 100% West View had a guy who only played 4 games on their roster, but I didn’t want to bother with the protest and all the bullshit and maybe be wrong. We play in an adult league that is marketed as one for players of all ages and abilities, and if teams feel the need to bring in guys for the playoffs then that’s pretty weak. I know because I’ve done it, and it feels shitty.
In the TC Jones era, we brought Pitt club guys in all the time. It was fun. No one really cared. They were all Bill Franciscus, and we worked within the roster rules to have them eligible for playoffs. Again, against the spirit, but within the letter of the law.
In 2011, TJ Zarewicz played maybe 4 regular season games for us, then played for us in the playoffs legally. He plays on the WOLFPACK now for some reason. In 2012, after the 5 game minimum was created, DeFillippo was on our roster from the start of the season, played for us and in the Daily News league, and only appeared in 4 games as a Duck and then played in the playoffs where he drove in the winning run in a 2-1 win over the Militia. I lied to the Militia manager’s face when called out on this and I feel shitty when I lie to people. I don’t do it much. Tremmel, I’m sorry for lying and cheating in 2012. I’m even sorrier for playing TJ over guys who had been on the Ducks for 4 years and deserved a chance to play in the playoffs that season.
I think the first instance of Zarewicz in 2011 was a worse thing for me to allow as a manager, than the instance with Flip, even though it was legal and the 2012 instance wasn’t. For the sake of the other guys on the team anyway, it caused a rift. I considered Flip a teammate, and TJ as a guy who came in and played catcher for us. Both good guys and good ballplayers.
A big reason why I wanted to drop down to Single A was to avoid feeling pressure to pull shady roster moves at the expense of guys who had been there all year. We were legit this season.
I’d like to open this up for discussion below. I ask that anyone commenting on this identify themselves.
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South Oakland lost 5-0 to the WOLFPACK Wednsday night in Carrick.
We scored zero runs, I think we only allowed one or two earned runs, but that was enough.
The Ducks only had two men in scoring postion all game. Not a great offensive night without our leadoff and five hitters. Their pitcher was lights out. Galvanek, Gwin, Hartranft and Sorosky (2) had hits for the Ducks, and that was it.
I think I’m pulling for the Lions in the finals. Their home field is more interesting.
***
This wasn’t the way we would’ve liked the season to end, but I’m more optimistic about the core group of players we have and the state of the team big picture-wise than I have been in years. This was the most fun I’ve had playing baseball since 2008.
We won a lot of games, many on the last at bat or by one run in come from behind fashion. With a few pieces we should content for the championship again, and I think moving ahead we will always be right there, quacking and playing teams tough as long as we can keep the nucleus intact. Feathers and bills and such. Green and gold. We were really close. Next year Garrett will announce games from the press box in Spring Hill, and maybe podcast play-by-play of our games. That would dominate the Lions fancy webpage with ther robot game recaps! Maybe we can get a decent writer on the blog. Though, Ciccone offered to write up team by team season previews before next season, so look for them in late March!
For next year, we need to figure out what youth leagues have all the city permits so we can get better time slots and help get PSL off the baseball fields. There are so many softball fields. Quit ruining our mounds, and trashing our batter’s boxes! Slow pitch softball is the worst.
Anyway, thanks for reading and thanks for a great season.
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It looks like we will play tomorrow night some time.
If it weren’t for the scheduling mix up last Saturday, this series would be over, one way or the other. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow. This could take forever.
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Expect to play tomorrow sometime after 7pm.
Time and place TBD.
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Ducks, WOLFPACK Game 3 is postponed due to unplayable field conditions.
Plan on playing tomorrow, sometime after 7pm.
Field and Time TBD.
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Ducks vs. WOLFPACK Game 3 has been moved to Sunday night, 8:30pm at Moore Park.
I’m really glad I my team had to drive all the way to Jefferson Hills today to not play a game because the field was double booked. What a way to spend a morning.
Jefferson Hills’ coach was unaware of the youth softball tryouts that were scheduled for noon today, when he told the commissioner the field was available.
It Looks like the Lions swept the Titans. So the winner of tomorrow’s game will play North America for the championship.
In AA news, the Black Sox were eliminated. The Cherokee, I think, are in the finals and will play the winner of the Bulldogs vs. Jefferson Hills/West End.
Ducks vs West View, Game 3 will be Saturday at noon at Beedle Park.
Beedle is far, and the Liberty Tubes are probably closed. Give yourself plenty of time to get there.
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Game 3 will be played Saturday, time and place TBD
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