Old School Reunion

When a player retires in baseball they find ways to celebrate their career like:

Commercials ... lol




Retiring Their Number

Gifts

Old Timers Day

Championship Anniversary Party

Hall of Fame Ceremony and Speech

Even in Softball we have Parties and Prizes

In Life we have Reunions, recently I attended my 1983 Grammar School Reunion

at District 12

District 12 - Trendy B96 spot located at an A96 address

1983!

1 Fuck I'm old.

A lot has changed since grammar school

lol

and I had never gone to a Reunion before, but I wasn't nervous.

You see those where hard years for me, probably hard for everyone else too. Growing up in those years I was a fat nerd with so many emotions, so many mood swings, always wanting attention, wanting to be popular, being bullied and being a bully. 

But a few years ago, my 1983 classmates started a St. Elizabeth Facebook page and I was hooked. They welcomed me and everyone else. I didn't feel  hated. I felt accepted. Felt like I belonged. I was drawn to the fact that from those early childhood seeds so many good people had grown. I love their stories, families, and accomplishments. I instantly connected. 

Some people go to reunions to show off their money, looks, success, and families, but at this reunion none of that happened. It was so genuine and good, I felt really good about who everyone else was and the man I have become

The Girls were baptized in St. Elizabeth 2014

 Facebook is a Time machine and magic.

Cindy Alina and Audra - Beautiful inside and Out

John and Yusimi - met in grammar school together over 30 years - True Love

Carola - never played softball in her life - lol - So cool

Michele Clark, pro comedian still stealing my French Fries -

1983 - You still got it

Maybe Catholic School wasn't so bad. We did all right.There is No School Like the 

and to my classmates of 1983 I dedicate this song - Can't Wait to see you again.

Imitation is the Greatest Form of Flattery

David Letterman retired last night.


My love for Top Ten's came from him as during college as I became a big fan of the show during breaks from studying. His witty countdowns probably cost me a couple points off my GPA (back then GPA was more important than my batting average), but I gained so much more than grade point average . I gained laughter.

I went to his show once back in January 1997, Desmond Howard was on, he had just won the MVP for the Packers;  It was cool. I actually met him on the west side highway when we were both stuck in late night traffic, he was very nice and we exchanged pleasantries during an unpleasant traffic jam. As his car pulled away on the Henry Hudson my friend Ed (notoriously frugal) turned to me and said "Why is he paying the Henry Hudson Toll?). I laughed.

He was brilliant till the very last Top Ten. - I've posted this boot leg youtube version of his final Top Ten Last night

Good Stuff

To make David Letterman cooler, he also has a Softball connection




as the Late Show has been a Top Team in the Central Park Performing Arts League for Years (They beat my Bravery in 2012 damn it. Missed that game because of work ...ughhhh)

Commission and Late Show Manager gave Dave the following Tribute on FB yesterday:

Jack Mulcahy added 3 new photos.

Yesterday at 1:44am · Edited ·

Hard to explain what kind of guy Dave is: I mean what can I say that hasn't been said, ad nauseum, over these last 33 years? But this comes close:

When Bill Scheft, a writer on LATE SHOW since 1991 (and a teammate of mine), had his decisive job interview with David Letterman, he recalled, “The last thing I said to him was, ‘I hear your softball team needs a center fielder.’ And Dave says, ‘We need everything.’ I got hired the next day.”

That’s the kinda guy Dave is ~ always keeping it real.

We won two Performing Arts Softball Championships (2012 and 2014) in the three years that Dave has been sponsoring us. We plan on bringing him a third one this year.

I'm happy to have been “owned” by Dave these last few seasons (see YouTube link), and to have been a small speck in the LATE SHOW time continuum.

Thank you and farewell, Dave. We hardly knew ye ...

I'm not going to write a Top Ten for Dave, but will do many more Sb Top Ten's going forward as Imitation is the Greatest Form of Flattery.

DH... HardCore View... Avoid this trap

This blog is strictly for the Hardcore baseball and softball junkies. I usually don't alienate my audience that quickly (usually by the 2nd sentence), but today I feel like having a good old fashion SB strategy talk about the use of a designated hitter "D.H". The D.H has been debated and debated over and over again in baseball and many players are very valuable and famously served in that role

You No Big Papi

Guys like Martinez and Ortiz are probably Hall of Famers (difference makers).

Advocates Love the D.H as :

• Offense - it creates runs, entertainment
• Ability to let older players keep playing and earning
• Hate seeing pitchers hit
• Allows pitchers to stay in games longer

Detractors (Purists) argue:

• It’s not traditional
• Takes strategy out of the game – bunting, pinch hitting , intentional walks,  pitching changes
• Creates less emphasis on fundamentals (moving runners over, defense, small ball)

Personally, in baseball I like it the way it is.

• Nation League No D.H; 
• American League employs a D,H. 

This creates good old fashion baseball talk and conjecture. Examples include:

• "This pitcher stuff would be better in the N.L than A.L” or vice versa
• American League is Stronger
• What do I do with my D.H in the World Series?
• D.H do or do not belong in the Hall of Fame (I think they do)

Cool hardcore stuff that all baseball nerds love.

In Softball I am Pro D.H all the way all the time. Simply put from a participation standpoint it allows more players to get in the game. Over a long season this is very important as it gets people involved, at bats, and qualified. However, beware the D.H trap.

Common D.H Traps:

• Having too many D.H/E.H heck even Catcher, 1B types on a team is a recipe for disaster. This is not a batting cage, Fielding and position flexibility counts.
• Big Game D.H - When comes to the big games (mostly playoff games or position games late in a season), you should not use the D.H just to use a D.H. In other words, this hitter must be a good hitter AKA a difference maker. For example, Choice Parts D.H last year was John Miranda, we all know what he did in the deciding Game 5 of the Championship

Johnny Blaze from NYPOW Productions on Vimeo.

Difference Maker


Use your D.H wisely both is season and post season. Don't just give it and outs away.

Strictly Hardcore

Mr Perfecto again

As reported in this classic blog almost 6 Years ago Mr Perfect Mickey Peckins threw a prefect game. This past Sunday he did it again :

Congrats Mike. Well Done and deserved.

Never Underestimate him

SB Mr Bill Misses Reunion but Predicts 600

A few months ago the Saturday Night Live 40th Year Anniversary show was aired and it was Excellent








Conspicuously legendary character SB Mr Bill Petey did not appear on the anniversary program and the insider recently caught up with him trying to find out why




600 a confident bold prediction by SB Mr. Bill. Hope he doesn't get hurt getting it done.