FALL SPIN OFF - NEW LEAGUE

Spin offs from successful TV programs are very common.

The Jefferson's were spun off from All in the Family , one of the greatest shows of all times lovable bigot Archie was hilarious.

Laverne and Shirley spun off from Happy Days.

OK let's not mention Joanie Loves ChaChi

Melrose Place spun off of Beverly Hills 90210.

America loves this type of TV.

If TV spin offs can work, then why not in softball?

Since most new TV shows premier in the Fall, then why not in Softball as well?

From the people who gave you Citysoftball.com,

one of the most popular fall leagues in NYC ,

a new softball league will premier this fall called

A96SOFTBALL.COM

This is a Co-Ed league.

Now I know a lot of you guys are snickering and saying COED??

This league will be comepetive, fun, and have enthusiasm.

Don't knock it until you try it.

P.S. Playing with your wife/girl/co-worker/stripper might be a good thing.

Details below

LOB-BALL
SATURDAYS, Double-headers
9am & 11:30am games
All games at Inwood Hill Park
(Isham Street. & Seaman Ave., near 207st Manhattan)
10 Game Season, plus playoffs
League Fee $800, includes umpires & balls for the entire season
Prizes for Champion & Runner-up
Starts Saturday, Sept 6th, 2008

Call Rick for more information 646-337-3535

or email RickySoftball2@yahoo.com

website citysoftball.com

CHRISTMAS IN JULY THANKS TO Mister MAGOO

Last time I checked Christmas was on December 25th each and every year.

On Christmas it is customary that you give family and fiends gifts.

Well Christmas came a little early in the Central Park Big Apple yesterday,
as Head Ump Mr. Johnson and his partner Mr. Washington
handed handed game 1 of the double header to Contact, and then embarrassed and disrespected the game in the nightcap with their blatant incompetence.
(I apologize if I got their names wrong even though they owe West an apology for their poor judgement, effort and performance in today's Championship rematch between West-Contact).

Before I go on, I hate arguing and blaming umps.
Repeat I hate it.
It's weak and childish.
As a part-time ump I give umps the benefit of the doubt. Especially when they hustle.

But Dumb and Dumber yesterday were a joke



The game 1 blotter for the dynamic duo of Johnson/Washington in Game One was as follows:

(1) Virgin tight strike zone - more on this later
(2) The Field Ump - Mr Johnson not being in position to call the tail end of a crucial 7th inning double play and saying "I didn't see it". What ump in his right mind would say that on a play he was responsible for??? Answer: Not a good one.
He pointed to the home plate umpire who was standing behind our catcher to make the call (nice hustle). He said safe of course b/c it was safe to do so and b/c he was too lazy to more from behind home plate.

I bet you Mister Magoo would have saw it.



Mr "Head Ump"Johnson is the worse and he is confrontational.

(3) 1 play later, with the tying tun about to score at home plate umpire - the Lovable Mr Washington does not call the contact batter out at home for not sliding. The contact runner ran directly into the catcher. He said "it was my judgement call".
Give me a break.
The rule is slide or give yourself up.
You have no heart or balls.


(4) Now with the Bases loaded and 1 out, our pitcher throws not 1 but 2 pitches right down the middle to a "Crouching Tiger" Mike Trenk.
Both pitches are called ball.
Pathetic.
Then with the count 3-1 the worse non-call I have ever seen occurred.
Again "Crouching Tiger" Trenk takes a pitch down the middle and walks about 3/4 pf the way down to 1st, then the Lovable Mr. Washinton raises his arm and made the most unsure strike called I have ever seen to not only further provoke everyone but prolong the agony.
Needless to say "Crouching Tiger" Trenk then took another pitch right down the middle that spite full and moronic Washington called ball four.

Wow.

Game 1 gift wrapped and a bow placed on it for Contact.

In that game I pooped up with the bases loaded.
Murphy pitched a gem.
We made errors.
But despite all that we had that game, but the umps took that away from us.
Players decide games not ump.
That bombastic idiot Washington cost us that game.


Now the situation had become goon heaven with everyone angry and upset.
To defuse the situation I asked commissioner Jeff Marcus to switch umpire Washington to another game.But Washington decided to stick around. Our loss, well almost, more on that later

Just when you think things were bad Gama 2 rolled around.

The game begins with Contact scoring 1 run and having a man on 3rd with one out ( 3 Batters have taken their turn), all of a sudden the game stops for well over 10 minutes.

No hits.
No runs.
No errors.
Nada.

Why b/c Contact cleanup batter was not there.
He was off on his bike somewhere.
Contact had not submitted a lineup.
And Mr Magoo umpire stands around and does nothing.
He stands their like officer Bar Brady from South Park "Nothing to see here people Nothing to see"



He doesn't tell the starter to pitch.
He doesn't say batter up.
Nada.

Of course by this point West is mad.
Sorry I meant to say very fucking mad. With good reason.
Allegedly West starting pitcher Jimmy Meyers then asked Mr. Magoo to get the game going and Mr. Magoo told him to don't fing talk to me, Then Meyers cursed at him and Mister Magoo tossed him.
Are you Fing kidding me!!!?!?!??!
You and your incompetent partner blow game one and then you ejected our Starter in the 1st inning of game 2 without a warning after you instigated the situation

It's embarrassing and deplorable.

You Both Suck.

I asked my manager John Sheppard to vote Mr. Magoo out of the playoffs in umpire review. Now I will ask him to get rid of Washington as well.

Then again Mister Magoo is "The Head Ump" so it's tough for him to get a negative review.

P.S. We won game two salvaging our day and keeping our playoff hopes alive.

P.S.S. As a final act of protest we refused to hand the umpires their money and gave the funds to commissioner Jeff Marcus to disburse. They did not deserve any respect

























Between game Wezst manager John Sheppard

WHY SO MUCH RAIN!?!?!?!?!?

Rain outs are part of the game.


I can deal with them, heck at some point most players/teams "pray for rain" for one reason or another. But this year has been fucking horrible.



Not only has it rained like almost everyday, it rains driving to the game, or minutes before a game begins, or during games, or between games, it just rains.

Everyday.

One of the worse rain out I experienced was tonight when 2 hours before game time it rained enough to cancel the game, then when the game was postponed it all of a sudden got nice outside. damn


I'm fucking sick of it.





Top Ten Reasons it Rained so much this year



10. Rain goes perfectly with the recession, high gas prices, the real estate market crash and not to mention unemployment ( which I am still part of ).


9. Prevent me from coming up with new blog topics - OK that's a positive


8. George Bush - I don't know why I wrote that I just felt like blaming that moron again.


7. Softball Gods why have you forsaken us?!?!?!?!?!
We must sacrifice something to get the SB Gods back on our side.
Perhaps a commissioner .. maybe CJ??? from EMS http://www.emsleague.com/


CJCOMMISH@AOL.COM









hmmm . nah I'll pass, I don't like EMS but CJ can live.

6. Softball Gods testing to see which commissioners has the fairest and smartest remake schedule skills or at least the best schedule software to account for all the rain outs.
5. Patience is a Virtue - nice saying made up that is basically telling you to stop complaining - 3rd best corny cliche I can think of that applies to all this Rain
4. Life a Bitch and then you Die - 2nd best corny cliche I can think of that applies to all this Rain
3. Everything Happens for Reason - best corny cliche I can think of that applies to all this Rain
2. Global Warming - OK now I'm really stretching to get 10 items, I'm just stalling for number 1 and .....

and the #1 Reasons it Rained so much this year

1. Make the dry (hopefully) Fall season off the hook.
Citysoftball.com is coming soon plus a spin off Saturday CO-Ed league.
I know shameless plug, but all this rain has left me no choice

4th ANNUAL ROBERT TRILLO SOFTBALL CHAIRTY EVENT JULY 12TH 2008 A MUST DO EVENT EVERY YEAR

Too often we play softball for the wrong reasons - For the money (greed), bragging rights, to embarrass someone else. - We overlook simply having fun.

Well their is plenty of fun at he Robert Trillo Annual Softball game and more importantly it is a good cause as a bunch of guys who grew up above 96th street remember a friend who has passed away.

Read the details of the event below.

If you make it out one time this year this is the event - plenty of softball, food, liquor, prizes, and laughs all day long.

Holler!!!!!!!

Host: Juan Moreiras

Location: Inwood Park (Field #3)Inwood Park (Field #3)

207th and Seaman Ave, New York, NY US

When: Saturday, July 12, 10:00AM

Phone: 917-334-6081

You are invited to the 4th Annual Robert Trillo Charity Softball game(s). This year, we're officially calling it a "Softball-Marathon" where you can play ball all day and raise money for a good cause.

We do this every year to contribute to the Cardinal Spellman High School football team in honor of our good friend, Robert Trillo, who passed away in 2004. This year, we also hope to make a gift in Rob's name to The American Diabetes Association. Robert was a star football player at Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx and also suffered with Diabetes all his life. He was an avid football fan and simply loved playing football for his school.

AS USUAL, THERE WILL BE A RAFFLE AND PRIZES - In that past we've given away an IPOD and a fancy dinner. This year can anyone say IPHONE???

So come and hang out with us at Inwood Park (field #3), see some ol' friends or make some new ones. Get your softball groove on and raise a few dollars for a good cause. The game is Co-ed and you may invite friends. We'll provide some food, drinks and t-shirts, but you should bring your own chairs. We had a great time last year and raised close to $3000.

GET FRIENDS TO SPONSOR YOU FOR EACH INNING YOU PLAY AND HELP US RAISE MONEY.

We will also collect donations that day. If you can't make it, but would like to donate, please send a check payable to Cardinal Spellman High School to:

Juan Moreiras

77 Park Terrace East, D29

New York, NY, 10034

OR via PAYPAL, send donations to jm212nyc@yahoo.com.

DIRECTIONS TO INWOOD PARK:

SUBWAY

A Train to 207st, walk two blocks west to Seaman Avenue. (you'll see the park).

1 Train to 207st, walk six blocks west to Seaman Avenue.

CAR

West Side Highway to Dyckman Street Exit, at 3rd light make left on Broadway. Proceed 4 lights to 207st, make left and go to blocks to Seaman Ave. Start looking for parking!

East Side/ FDR Drive to Dyckman Street Exit (last exit), make right and proceed to 204st. Make left at 204st and go until street ends at Seaman Ave. Right on Seaman Ave and start looking for parking.

If you have any questions, call or write:

Freddy: 917-319-2023, freddynyc@hotmail.com

Juan: 917-334-6081, jm212nyc@yahoo.com

Rick 646-337-3535 rickysoftball2@yahoo.com

Thank You

UNDER THE RADAR RANKINGS

Sure everyone knows the Softball Superstar Celebrities - The John Brown's, the Lou Gonzalez's, the Johnny Castillo, The Elvis's and so forth - their (and other) softball stud reputations are well earned.

But what about those winning player that fly under the radar.
Talented players who most of you don't know about b/c they play in other boroughs or remote locations.

Here is my Top Ten List of Under the Radar Stud Players

10. Chucky Lamantia - Charter Fabric League and Staten Island - this is one fast white boy.
I call him The Flash b/c of his blazing speed.



Looks like a quiet little harmless guy, but when he plays the kid will literally run through a wall for you to win. Dead Pull hitter and an excellent outfielder who can play IF as well. Great Guy.

9. Larry Triollo - Wall Street/ Merrill Lynch - looks like Tony Soprano and is
just as tough as him.



Solid 3rd baseman.
Excellent and True 4-5 Hitter Power.
Not afraid of anyone.
If he is on you team you love him, if he's not you hate him.


8. Nicky Conesco/i - WHO??? - man this Staten Island player is so under the radar that I don't even know the true spelling of his last name. But what I do know is that he is a five tool stud lefty bat. Built like West Legend George Colon, Nicky can also serve as a sling pitcher.
This big little man is amazing in the field and at the plate.
Beautiful short compact power stroke makes him an impact bat in any lineup.

7. Enrique Perdomo - Actually is a Central Park legend. Excellent approach at the plate - can hit the ball with authority to all fields. The guy is in his 50's but defensively plays the field very intelligently. More importantly, as a pitcher has an absolutely filthy knuckle ball. Throws it hard, soft, medium speed, breaks in, out, up, and down and does not tip his pitches or pitch sequence. Unfortunately, does not like to play league games anymore.
It's a shame he's excellent and one of my favorites. I highly respect him.

6. Carlos Castro - Mariners Colgate - will only be 21 later this year.
He's not under the radar anymore as he plays everywhere.
I already have him listed as one of my favorite shortstops (see Classic Shortstop ranking blog)
Off the chart ability - speed, arm, power, instinct, bat speed, pitch recognition.
Should be playing baseball.
The type of player you build your team around.

5. Pito Rifokol - Plays close to home in the Bronx in goon 259th street league for the Maniacs. One of my all time favorite players/persons I've come across in softball.
Original Inwood player and Inwood Hall of Famer.
Is a 5 Tool player and extremely intelligent.
Only downside is that he listens to R&B music all the time, outside of R Kelly adventures I don't follow R&B much



4. Edgar Gonzalez Jr.


Edgar is definitely not under the radar b/c of lack of ability or exposure.
He has been playing NYC softball for years, but has cut back the amount of time he plays the last few years for different reasons.

His talent and ability as a pitcher is unquestionable.
He effectively changes speeds, throws a very good riser, has excellent speed/movement, highly intelligent, and has won numerous championships.
To top it off he is 100% Legal.

When I 1st started playing modified softball I think it took me like 3 years to finally get a clean hit against him.

When he is focused and committed he is a tremendous asset for any ball club.

3. Stevie Rodriguez - Highlanders/Sox/Broadway Stars/Tianos -
Stevie is a beast.
Not scared of anyone or anything.
The Man is indestructible, softball's version of Wolverine


He broke his wrist one season and came back to help lead the Highlanders to the Citysoftball.com 2005 Championship.

He is not exactly under the radar, but I threw him on the list b/c he isn't talked about as much as he should be. The guy has power and plays everywhere at a A+ level.

2. Alex Vasquez - Hurricanes/Merrill Lynch - My #1 Rated NYC Softball Shortstop
Incredible Raw Power.
The harder a pitcher throws the farther he hits it.
His quick hands and balance are the key to his power.
As a shortstop the man is simply Professional!!!
It's amazing to watch him play.

and the Number One Under the Radar Stud Players

1. Ray Ray - Sox Central Park
Such a good player we say his 1st name twice.
When I 1st saw this guy I thought he's OK.
But the more I see of him the more I believe.
Cleanup Hitter Raw Power.
Excellent Second Baseman and can fill in at other positions adequately as well.
Very smart player whose head is always in the game and works very well with his teammates.
A True Keeper.

Honorable Mention
The Other Lou Gonzalez from the Cardinals
- best drunk hitter in all of softball - sorry Aaron your 2nd
Issac "Gubi" Delgado - will never be under the radar b/c he likes to tell everyone how good he is