Excellent.

Wow. He really can do everything Corey Hart does better.

The outstanding pictures of Jayson Werth continue to roll in on the internets.  There is a create-a-caption contest over on the Yahoo Sports baseball blog, 'Big League Stew' if you have anything particularly witty to say about this pic. The caption above was my entry, inspired by Keith's insightful observation that Werth is everything Hart SHOULD be, but is not.  Oh, and "I hate Jayson Werth" won't win it Spence, sorry.

Updated standings, and a call for some basic stats...

Great time last Friday guys - the beer was cold, the dice were hot, and the cheese was - well, overwhelming.  Hats off to our Commish for his generous nature and sweet hook ups. 


My personal favorite points of the evening:

1)  A despondent Nick exclaiming to the group - "No, Torto's not a nice guy.  Fuck Torto." after losing his second series

2) Mackey describing to me what a "Whitewater Peach" was. There's some imagery I could do with out.

3) The entire group roundly rejecting Spencer's ridiculous claim that he doesn't need to tell anyone what arm his pitchers throw with before they enter the game.

Please note that I've updated the standings and schedule matrix to the best of my ability, and recollection of the evening.  Let me know if there are any errors that need correcting.

I'd also like to post a few stat leaders (Top 5?)  if we can get participation.  Just for a few basic stats, where nothing more than basic counting is involved.  That means HR, RBI, SB, and perhaps K leaders.  I'm guessing that Adrian Gonzalez is the league leader in HRs with 14, if Spence is to be believed.  Throw out your leaders in a comment or an email and I'll get things updated.

Friday PTP Schedule @ Lake Lawn

HERE IS THE SCHEDULE NICK EMAILED TO US. (card subject to change based on alcohol consumption and irrational decisions)

Below is the proposed schedule. This schedule hopes everyone can make it to the Resort by 6:30. Is that reasonable or shall I push that back? I did not schedule games past the 9 PM start...since those games will end 'round the midnight hour. Overly ambitious owners can pair up at that point, if they want...

10 AM -- Fish and Matt

12:30 PM -- Fish and Matt

3 PM -- The Spencer and Matt

6:30 PM -- Keith and Butler
Torto and Matt
Nick and The Spencer

9 PM -- Keith and Matt
Torto and The Spencer
Nick (drunk) and Birthday Boy (really drunk)

Finally On...Steve Lake???

For my first entry on this blog, just wanted to have some fun. I DO NOT remember this card whatsoever. Do you dudes?

APD Update?

Hey dudes! I believe "blogger etiquite" would dictate I post this under Fish's original post, but that conversation seems to have died, so I'll beg the question again - what up with APD? I would love to spend a day rolling some dice - I particularly want to get together with Fish, Matty and Butts. Any takers for the last two weekends in Feb?

Injury Pick-ups

Guys

With 3 guys injuried for >10 games, I have eyed the available cards and selected the following players:

1. Ronnie Belliard - he still hates Milwaukee
2. Willie Harris - he likes Milwaukee because of the beer and cheese
3. LaTroy Hawkins - he signed with Milwaukee, even though he is bad

Fish

Lame Player Nicknames

A blog I check regularly recently pointed out that Baseball Reference.com has professional hitter Todd Helton's nickname listed as "The Toddfather".  Hoping this was true, I quickly checked the link and verified that they do indeed list Todd Lynn Helton as "The Toddfather".  LAME.  Yet he's on my team this NL season, and hell if I'm not going to use this the rest of the way.  I now also plan to mix in the whistling of the 'Godfather theme' periodically before rolls.  Now I consider Baseball Reference.com to be a fairly reputable site, but I get the feeling there is some Wikipedia-type 'unverified' amendments going on here.  Has anyone ever heard of Helton referred to as the 'Toddfather'?  I know I haven't. 

I also found that one of my other bad-ass sluggers, Pablo Sandoval, better known as the Kung Fu Panda - is also referred to as the 'Round Mound of Pound'.  Much better than Captain Cuddles to be sure.  Interestingly enough, they don't list Joe Mauer having any nicknames.  I've personally heard him referred to as the 'Baby Jesus' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' whilst touring around the Twin Cities.  Keep that in mind for the upcoming AL season. 

So check your rosters boys, you may have a hidden gem of a nickname floating out there.  Gotta say though, I like some of the fabricated nicknames best of all though, i.e. "The Reverend Randy Wells", "Ianetta the Beretta", "My Pisano Joey Votto", etc.

Hit and Run

Torto has the rule correctly, but this came up in a game against Nick recently, in regards to hit and run. If you have a guy that has an "A" hit and run, if there is a strikeout on the pitcher's card, it turns into a foul. However, there is a difference between "A" bunter, and an "A" bunter and hit and run - it makes more sense if you look at the example below. And yes, Castillo has a great card Nick!

Voting

Torto

Two questions:

How can we make questions to vote on?

How could there be 6 votes casted on the current question when there are only 5 of us registered for the blog?

Nick's Team - Wha Happnd?

Fish at Nick
Game 1: Carpenter at Cain
Chris Carpenter helped his cause with a two out single in the top of the second, plating Hawpe and Wright. Nick answered with a Council double in the bottom of the third, plating Ryan Howard and Chipper Jones. With great pitching, there would be no more scoring in regulation. In the top of the 10th, Guzmon loaded the bases with a Castillo single, Hanley error, intential walk to Braun, and a walk to Hawpe, driving in a run. Trevor Hoffman took care of the 10th for the save.
Fish Wins: 3-2
Win – Thatcher
Loss – Guzmon
Save- Hoffman
Home Runs: None

Game 2: Hanson at Wells

Ink manufacturers rejoiced at the site of this game – the pitchers in this game did not have their “good stuff.” Wells gave up an RBI single to Lee in the 1st, then three runs in the 3rd with a double from Brad Hawpe. Then Tommy Gun Hanson had a meltdown – he gave up 7 runs in the bottom of the 5th, a majority of the damage done by Ryan Howard with a Grand Slam Home Run. In the top of the 6th, Fukudome pulled on down the line to make the game 7 -7. A solo home run from Derrick Lee grabbed the lead at 8-7 in the top of the 7th. Insurance runs were scored in the top of the 8th – Ryan Braun and Derrick Lee both batted home runs to push the lead to 10-8. Trevor Hoffman took care of the ninth for the save
Fish Wins: 10-8
Win – Wilson
Loss – Vargus
Save- Hoffman
Home Runs: Molina, Fukudome, Howard



Game 3: Oswalt at Maine
Ryan Braun led the game off with a double and a run scored in the 1st. Nick had big inning in the 5th, Adam Dunn capped the inning with a 3 run double. That was all Nick needed to take the game.
Nick Wins: 6-3
Win – Maine
Loss – Oswalt
Save- Broxton
Home Runs: Counsell
MVP of Series: Howard – 7AB, 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 HR, 7 walks

No juice here - just Kosher