Racing the Rain

With the weather changing and the clouds starting to drop rain, Team D split our games today losing 3-2 in the morning before pulling out of our slump and winning the afternoon game by a score of 8-7.  The temperatures dropped (to the high 60s) and with the threat of rain, the skills sessions were skipped today and the games were moved up to try to avoid any postponements.  In the first game, our hitting slump continued against against Team A, coached by Rick Knapp, minor league pitching coordinator for the LA Dodgers.  I pitched the first three innings and gave up 2 runs with 2 strikeouts -- I also hit two more batters and walked one, continuing my inconsistent control on he mound.  We took a tie game into the late innings, but could not get a timely hit and lost after Team A got the lead run in the 5th inning.  At bat I was 0-1 with a walk.  After averaging 11 runs per game in our first three games -- we averaged just 1.5 runs for the next two.

In the afternoon, our bats picked up as we came from behind to win 8-7 against

Team C whom we beat on Monday morning.  But not without some close calls.  We fell behind early, but scrambled back and were leading 8-7 in the top of the 5th inning when Team C loaded the bases on three straight walks off our best pitcher, Chris Clark.  With the infield drawn in to try to keep the tying run from scoring, the next batter, Ponce legend Simon Kumkunian, had a great at bat going to a 3-2 count on Chris and then fouling off three tough pitches before hitting a looping liner just over the infield to left field.  Rick McLaughlin scooted in to just behind shortstop to make a lunging catch at the knee for the first out.  The next batter hit a sharp ground ball to our third baseman, Paul Basken, who stepped on third for the second out and threw the batter out at first for a double play.  No runs scored and Chris shut them down in the 6th, finishing with a strikeout of the final batter to preserve the victory.  I was 1-2 at bat, a double that drove in two runs. A light drizzle of rain fell during the afternoon game -- but, with the accelerated schedule to get to the games, we finished for the day by 2:30 (the dentist's favorite time) before the heavier rain started to fall.

The weather forecast is for rain through the night and 70% chance of rain on Thursday -- so the games tomorrow may be in doubt.  We could complain, but folks back home in single digit temperatures won't be sympathetic (I understand that!)

Nuggets:  Our 16 year old ringer, Elliott Sledd, hit two balls out of the park today in batting practice -- the first one clearing the 325 foot sign and the second going about 350 feet over the double fence around the park.  Elliott -- who is a very nice young man with a constant smile -- seems to be having a great time playing with his grandfather and uncle (and they are clearly thrilled to be playing with him.) 

Victor Rodriguez said that he was very impressed by the way Xander Bogaerts handled the pressure of playing during the playoffs and World Series.  Victor thought he showed great patience and pitch selection at the plate during the very intense playoffs - not something you could expect from most young players.

Our catcher, Ironman Walt Lynch, has caught every inning of all six of our games this week -- an impressive performance and stamina, particularly when you realize he has to jump around to catch the off target throws of some of our pitchers (mostly me!)

Team C's Dave Smith (Smitty, who I play with in the weeknight league in DC) suggested to the coaches that I have a urine test to check for performance enhancing drugs because of the hard-hit double I had in the afternoon game.  I told them that shouldn't be difficult, because at our age we have to pee about every 20 minutes anyway.  (They declined to test me and relied instead on the lucky swing theory of baseball.)

Chris Clark (and) the Meatballs!

Tonight, Chris Clark, who is renting a home for the week in Cape Coral, invited about 10 of us for dinner at the house.  He "has been cooking all week" and it showed as he served us gnocchi with homemade pesto; penne arrabiata with Italian sausage; meatballs; chicken with mozzarella; mozzarella and tomato with basil; guacamole; all topped off with cannoli.  Chris is typically very gracious -- regularly hosting an end of the year (or summer) party at his home in Maryland for players on his weekend and weeknight teams and their families.   Tonight he treated us to a great meal and conversation with players from Chris' weeknight team in DC, some other friends he has played against for years, our triple generation squad on Team D, and Arnie Beyeler, coach of Team F (and the Boston Red Sox.)  Arnie had some fascinating insights into the work of major league coaches -- typically from noon to after the end of a night game -- with daily film work on opponents (as much as 5 to 6 hours per day), reports from advance scouts, coaches meetings, and game responsibilities.  It is clear that a ton of what goes into a three hour game at the major league level is not seen by fans (and is a tinch more involved than the average preparation for a Ponce game.)  Arnie was also compelling talking about how the Boston Marathon Day bombing affected the team -- and the response of the players to the victims and the city.  He particularly mentioned the leadership of Pedroia, Gomes, Saltalamacchia, and Ortiz, but said the whole team was 'all in.'

We hope the weather holds for tomorrow so we can get both games in again -- the weather promises to be better by Friday, our final day.