The Softball Insider

Thursday, June 11, 2015

It's a C-O-N Spriacy Again.. The Urban Legend grows

Sorry for the delay, but I have been remiss in acknowledging my boy (and Route 123 bus driver)

An Unearned Run No No ? - It was a C O N spiracy

Conspiracy Ray is becoming a bit of an urban legend as he continues to defy the odds and improve. In this age of win now and at all costs I've been one of the biggest culprit in overlooking player development. Ray didn't listen to anyone and just kept getting better and better each and every week as he works hard at his craft. He's been a godsend to Old School on Sundays.

Still throwing a One Run No Hitter is a bit of an oddity and perhaps Conspiracy Ray was a victim of a C O N spiracy:

Top Ten Reasons Conspiracy Theories on why Ray Allowed a Run in his May 17th No Hitter

10. Kennedy Grassy Knoll - Lee Harvey Oswald did not Act Alone

9. Lincoln Tunnel traffic

8. Annoying, Spoiled, and Snobbish Route 123 passengers like Ricky got on his nerves

7, Chris Christie George Washington Bridge traffic controversy has upset Ray for months

6. B.A.S.L is now modified and he got a chance.

5. It's Ricky's fault he was managing.

4. Aliens from outer space interfered on a dropped pop up. Ray considering going to Roswell to investigate 1947 landing. More corny Conspiracy humor, like this blog

3. What's the Inning? What's the Score? Ray's in game analysis

2. Ray though it was a 1-1 count league like Saturday's. That's why

and the Number One Conspiracy Theory on Why Ray Allowed a Run in his May 17th No Hitter

1. It Defies Space, Time, and Logic - like Ray

Keep working brother. You deserve it.

Father of SB Dragons

Best Show on TV is

One of my Favorite Character on the Show is DAENERYS who is fondly known as:

Mother of Dragons

She refers to her Dragon Children" is as follows:

"They will eat you, if I tell them to.
They may eat you even if I don’t.
Children. Some say I should give up on them.
But a good mother never gives up on her children.
She disciplines them if she must.
But she does not give up on them."

I'm the real world, I'm the Father of my own Warrior Dragons

Alexandra and Caley - Hottest set of twin babies

Don't let the cuteness fool you.

They will eat you, if I tell them to. They may eat you even if I don’t. Children.

Some say I should give up on them.

But a good parent never gives up on their children.
You disciplines them if you must.
But you never give up on them."

Ironically in Softball I am also the Father of Dragons

Oliver

Jose Martinez

Albie - good quiet kid

Christian

Gil JR - Good Kid

Manny "Mr. Selfie" Angeles

Alex and Max

Hell Some of my dragons have dragons of their own

Alex loving Ethan

Dragon MAster Alex

As Softball Dragons they all are Young, Talented

Powerful

Enthusiastic Brothers, Free Spirits

Wild, Stubborn

and difficult to teach and control.

Don't know how I became SB Jiminy Cricket,

a "role model" and mentor, but it just happened.

Hell they all drive me crazy, yet they all give me great joy. I give them their freedom ,yet pull back the reins when they get unfocused.Give them confidence, yet keep them humbled.

Young players are important and a driving force, but as DAENERYS said

They will eat you, if I tell them to. They may eat me even if I don’t. Children.
Some say I should give up on them.
But a good softball parent never gives up on their children.

Never

You disciplines them if you must. But you never give up on them."

SB DRAGONS

Monday, June 8, 2015

SB Greatest Player Most Valuable Debate: Past vs Present

In sports people like to compare athletes of different eras and debate who is better. For example,

Lebron James

vs Michael Jordan

So let's have some fun and do this in softball,

SB Greatest Player Most Valuable Debate:

Past John Castillo

Castillo Middle - leading Knockout to their Only Championship

vs

Present John Rodriguez

The Man - J-Rod

I've been sitting on this blog for a while, I guess I was afraid of the backlash and offending J-Rod. But truth be told their is no offending and disrespect intended. Both players were/are great. I admire and respect both players.

It's like picking girlfriends between Sophia Vergara

and Scarlett Johansson

You really can't lose. Even before reading the rest of this blog, everyone knows I'm going to pick Castillo as "More Valuable in Softball".

Castillo was my boy and the reason I was even on many very good teams as people would take me just so they could get him on the team. He was that good.

I'm sure by now all the Castillo haters out there, now Ang "Temper Temper" have stopped reading and are already typing away blasting me on the comment section, but hold on now. Let me carefully present my argument and make myself clear. Then you can counter:

This blog is about who is more valuable, not better, Castillo is Not Better. J-Rod is an M.L.B player.That accomplishment alone earns him the better player title hands down, but is Castillo more valuable in softball and here is why:

Let's Debate and assuming the following for comparison purposes:

Right now - Both Players would play in an open pitching league (B.A.S.L Style 2011-2014)
Right now - Both healthy
Both would play on opposite teams. Together it would be almost unstoppable.
Valuable does not mean better, just means helps you win

OK let's see who is more valuable now:

Speed - Castillo was lazy, not slow. J-Rod hustles and is fast.
Winner J-Rod Big

Arm: Castillo had a good arm, J-Rod arm is excellent
Winner J-Rod solid

Defense:
J-Rod is an excellent Outfielder, Castillo could play any position, if he wanted to.
Winner: Tie - Sorry Castillo was also a solid infielder. Makes this category a wash.

Power:
J-Rod has excellent all fields line drive power. But Castillo perhaps because of his softball experience had all fields diamond to diamond diamond 300+ foot power versus any kind of pitching.
Winner Castillo

Batting Average and On Base Percentage:
J-Rod ridiculous, all fields hitting ability and hustle. Castillo used to piss teammates off when he would slap a single to RF when everyone was playing him deep. Considering Castillo was a righty this one is a toss.
Winner - Tie

Driving in Runs
Winner - Tie - Both 3 hitters on every team.

Pitching
J-Rod not a pitcher. Castillo was a modified and sling pitcher.
Winner Castillo: Big

Softball Experience
J-Rod loses this category by default only b/c he was a M.L.B player, not a softball player. Castillo perennially won triple crowns and batting titles in top softball leagues.
Winner: Castillo by default

Intangible:
Castillo was a wave, if you caught wave at right time he could carry you, if not he would sink you.
Castillo sometimes picked on scrubs, quit, caused headaches. John was moody by nature, he also helped a lot of players get better, like me to an extent. In the end, if you didn't accept him for who he was forget having him on your team.

J-Rod - J-Rod never acts like he was M.L.B. He's confident, but he makes others around him better and never picks on scrubs. J-Rod will get gangsta on someone who talks shit to him or his team, but I've never seen him being the root of the issue. The guy plays hard 100% of the team. Winner.

Winner: J-Rod landslide

Through 9 Categories that's 3 J-Rod 3 Castillo and 3 Ties. Closer than you thought huh in terms of valuable? But this is softball, there are no ties, you play until you win.

Final Category: Intimidation:

Castillo was a beast, whether you hated him or loved him. You knew he was a good hitter, but John could get intimidated or distracted.

On The other hand, people are intimidated by J-Rod. I'm in leagues where people whine and complain
J-Rod should be banned. banning position players? Now I've banned non modified pitchers from modified league, but banning a position player that's fucking ridiculous, weak, and pathetic.

Winner: J-Rod landslide.

Calm down Ang - you win ... lol

Anyway, I still voted Castillo b/c of the pitching ability, but I created a poll for you to vote - Castillo vs. J-Rod most valuable. Please vote and I will post the results.

P.S Hope this blog doesn't make J-Rod hit too many more balls over my head this year. J-Rod is self driven anyway, that's what makes him special. Doesn't matter.

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