Always Next Year vs. All In

In 2007 with Boston trailing the ALCS three games to one to the Cleveland Indians Manny Ramirez

was heavily criticized when he said

"Pressure? What pressure? We're confident every day. It doesn't matter how things go for you. We're not going to give up. We're just going to go and play the game, like I've said, and move on. If it doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like the end of the world or something. Why should we panic?"

Classic Manny being Manny, as he and his Red Sox team were a loose, experienced, and confident team that would come back to win seven straight post season games and earn another championship.

The "There's always next year" is a cool baseball/softball saying, but unlike Manny (and other MLB players) in softball we don't have guaranteed big money contracts. Softball is more like the NFL and is a year to year sport where player loyalty/happiness is fleeting commodity. So while "there is always next year" a manager/team/player should also keep in mind that it is possible that "Now will Never Come Again" and would be wise to take an

"ALL IN"

approach to the season and deal with next year, well next year.

90 Feet baby 90 Feet

Last night in the Jersey City Division of the Wall Street League

http://www.eteamz.com/wssl/index.cfm? my team Pershing played game two of a playoff series against Equity. Unfortunately, due to a last second rain out on Monday and circumstances beyond their control the league was left scrambling for a field on Thursday (game day) afternoon. Commissioner William Jommarron did a great job of obtaining a field in association with the parks department at the beautiful Roberto ClementeBaseball Sports Complex in Jersey City

Usually Softball players hate playing on baseball fields b/c the dimensions are confusing for positioning outfielders and infielders. Well that problem got magnified for everyone involved when a gentlemen who physically ran the facility informed us upon our arrival that he would not allow us to put the bases down at 60 feet (ASA distance) b/c he did not want to damage the infield grass. The only way he we could play softball was to play the game uses 90 foot bases - Baseball style.

Without argument we wanted to play so we did it Yes you read that right we played softball at 90 feet

Goddamn that shit is far

but definitely fun

as we were moving all over the place trying to get to the bag without needing CPR. The only distance that was regulation was the pitcher's mound were our unsung and reliable ace Santos led us to victory and a finals appearance.

I would like to say thank you to Pershings #1 fan and score keeper

Jennifer for her help with the pictures and videos (certain game video was too large to upload but thank you for your kind effort).

This 90 feet game was weird, but definitely a memorable softball experience.

Remembering Howie Dixon

Remembering Howie Dixon

Sadly Howie passed away last Friday. He was a good man and a central park legend. He was very well liked/loved by most who knew him and that was evident in his time of need when many players, no players is the wrong word, friends is a better choice, unselfishly gave their time, money, and heart to help him when he needed help the most.

Special guest writer Jimmy Bitros, a friend of Howie for over 20 years, wrote the following Tribute to this good man.

Tribute

"Most of you reading this blog probably never played ball with, never knew, and likely never heard of Howie Dixon. But to those who did know Howie, his tragic death last Friday from cancer will change us forever. He was a kind and gentle man with a mischievous edgy side that never failed to get a laugh on or off the softball field.

He perfected the art of stepping in and out of the batters box between pitches in what is now known as the "Howie Shuffle". But when he focused, Howie was a pesky hitter who always seemed to come through when it counted.Howie was not a young man but when he had a bat in his hand you never took him for granted. He was not an easy out and wore pitchers down with foul balls until he saw something he liked. Then he usually made the most of it. In fact, as ill as he was, just about 3 months ago, in early May, on the very last at bat of his life, he hit a line drive single right up the middle. And then, sadly, Howie did what Howie never did before, he asked for a courtesy runner. He was just too tired and weak to run the bases.

Even when he hit ground balls to the infield he would streak down the line to first base like a man 30 years younger. And on many occasions, I heard a player say "Do you believe how fast Howie is? How old is he anyway?"

Most importantly, Howie was an interesting guy who could talk to anybody about almost anything from baseball and the old negro league to boxing and pop culture. His personality would actually change depending on who he was sitting with at the time. Howie could also drive you crazy during the game. Between his endless good-natured chatter, his Howie Shuffle, and his Pete Rose type stance, every one of Howie's at bats was an adventure.

Most of all Howie loved being behind the plate in his catcher's gear,

arguing calls with the umpire (he and Charlie were very close), distracting batters with his chatter and giving birth to the loving phrase, "Howie Shut The Fuck Up!"

Howie Dixon will be missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. And the longer he is gone, the more we will miss him.
Howie was the kind of Friend that got under your skin... in a good way.. a very good way! So even if you didn't know, never met or even heard of Howie Dixon, you may now better understand why he will be missed by those that did. God Bless Howie Dixon."

Thank you Jimmy. That was perfect. Your the Man.

Howie's wake will take place on Wednesday, August 18 at Owen's Funeral Home, 216 Lenox Avenue at 121st Street from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm followed by services from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

As a special Tribute a very sad insider will keep this post up the next 2 days without interruption in his honor b/c it is so much more than a game.

Rest In Peace Howie

Paparazzi follows Diesel's Playoff Analyst

Yesterday the stars were aligned properly as Diesel finished in 1st place in their Division and earned the number 2 seed overall in the Big Apple Playoffs. The team dealt with slumps, errors, losses, and failure and found a way to make it though the regular season.

Good job but everyone knows the real season begins in the Playoffs. How will Diesel deal with success? Good Question so for the playoffs we brought in championship manager and lead softballinsider.net analyst John Sheppard to discuss strategy with the current Diesel Brain trust (see below)
but like the lovely, talented, and weird Lady gaga

John has no love for the paparazzi.

Despite this incident with the press, Diesel still hopes John comes down to all our games as your are now part of our misfit family.

Last Regular Season Weekend Big Apple League "Rollercoasters, Proper Star Alignment, Recovery, and X factor"

The Topsy turvy roller coaster ride known as the Big Apple Softball League Season concludes this Sunday. The ups and downs, twists and turns, and mood swings of the long season has some of us falling off and trying to get back on the self medicating sobriety wagon.

However, all that really matters now is this very last Sunday before the playoffs as teams are trying to seize the moment and build momentum going into the playoffs. This year is unique in that heading into this last weekend playoff slots 1 through 8 are not yet officially set. A myriad of complicated, wild, and confusing scenarios could occur if the softball stars

are aligned properly. In the end though Al Davis said it best and and everything else will take care of itself.

Teams will be licking their wounds and chops as they smell blood at the finish line by putting their best ten on the field. Going out there and playing your best is a must as anything can happen and it usually does, so hopefully you've generated enough good karma with the softball gods

and things will work out for the best.

As for my team (sorry i couldn't resist), Diesel and our honorable manager

Jimmy Bitros

its been a roller coaster season of recovery, restoring respectability, redemption, and resiliency. Like other teams we will go as far as our defense and pitching carry us, but my heart, gut and experience tell me we need an X-Factor. In the playoffs you always need an X-factor to go your way - a call, the seeding, a break, or a player. Our X-Factor is Gilberto Gonzalez. As John Rosenmiller manager of the two time defending champions Choice "Evil Empire" Parts says "He's a gamer". When focused and happy he can be the softball X-Factor on both sides of the ball we need down the stretch. That's not that big of an if, b/c I know he has pride and will give us a chance on both sides of the ball.