Thanks for Dropping By

The Rhode Island Mavericks journeyed to Fitch Field, spring training home of the Chicago Cubs in Chandler, Arizona, to play the quarterfinal playoff game vs. the San Antonio Yankees. A beautiful, peaceful, sunny Arizona morning contrasted with the churnings in players’ stomachs as adrenalin surged through the players as they prepared for the game. Adrenaline does not flow on command and I must admit to a thrill as the butterflies were zooming as the game time approached. I pondered for a moment how much I enjoyed the fact that playing in a game can still generate the eager anticipation marked by the “butterflies”. The fact the game is a physical contest and mental test requires the player to bring all his resources and energies to bear to perform at his best-especially against an opponent you have learned to respect. When you have the butterflies you know you care about the outcome. Your body is helping you get ready on it’s own .It is not as if adrenaline can be turned on like a faucet And let’s face it you don’t get the adrenaline flowing to go out and walk the dog –even though that might be fun—you get butterflies when you are going to compete against a substantial opponent. I suspect the gladiators had butterflies but they had a much bigger downside than a pitcher. On to the game …

Warming up on Arizona is pretty easy as the high temperature allows one to get loose quickly. With the temperature high a pitcher does not want to “leave it in the pen” nor be unprepared to start. So your faithful correspondent threw until it “felt right”. Primarily a fastball pitcher I threw enough to feel like I had some “Giddy up”. The butterflies were still rolling around and the game began as your Mavericks were the visitors. It is time to play—and I can tell you that 40 guys were there… all excited to be there for this game and focused on the matter at hand.

The Mavs didn’t threaten in the first and I took the mound facing their leadoff hitter , a tall leftfielder who competes in sprints in a senior Olympics. The umpire motioned to play ball and I threw in a fast ball for a called strike one and we were playing. The butterflies began to settle down as now it was time for action …. The next pitch resulted in a shallow fly ball just past second base position which lands safely and the Yankees have a runner. The second batter pushes a bunt to first on the first pitch and your faithful correspondent runs to cover and gets the ball barehanded and tags the runner as he goes by. But the men in blue did not see the tag and the runner is safely perched on first. Yikes 3 pitches and I have two guys on… Up comes a lefty and he takes a stance like he wants to hit the ball 500 feet. But on his first pitch he squares to bunt and I adjust with fastball and throw higher. He pops it up to me and on the grab we have an out but the runners have not strayed too far so negating any chance at a double play. The next guy pops up and then a routine grounder to short gets us out of the inning. But we have learned a few things. We knew from game 3 they were aggressive hitters and now we know they are not afraid to bunt anyone over even with their top hitters.

We are scoreless after 4 innings when the Mavs draw first blood on a couple of singles and a ground ball. After 6 innings the score stands 2-1 and both sides know they are in a battle. As the Yankees begin their 7th your faithful correspondent commits an error that the baseball gods despise. – a leadoff walk. Of course I am aware that the baseball gods are up there watching this and kicking furniture and cursing. We know a bunt is coming so our defense prepares. The bunt comes back to me and I make the play at second giving us a force out. But a subsequent single gives them runners at first and third, trailing by a run. The next hitter flares one to right field which drops in and our right fielder inadvertently throws the ball into the first base dugout giving them a tie and the go ahead runner on third with one out. Now comes the key at bat thus far and I start with a fast ball away for a called strike. I go there again and their hitter hits the ball down the right field line but foul giving me 0-2 advantage. As I get the ball from the ump I think fastball up and in but get a sign for the curve. I think for a second and realize with a guy on third I can’t throw it in the dirt and risk a wild pitch. I also think he might be looking fastball which he has seen all day and yeah the curve might throw him off balance. I go to the stretch and even flare my nostrils and inhale heavily to give the impression I plan to try to throw this as hard as I can. Sometimes pitching is like being in a nature show where animals are posturing before a battle. I wanted to win this fight before it took place.

Sometimes when you are pitching you exist in a slow motion world. Your mind takes in an enormous amount in a split second and imagines outcomes. And so it was with this curve, when I released it I knew it was not going to be in the dirt but it was not at his shoe tops either and then while the ball is in flight you see the hitter move to start his swing you get this awful feeling that he is not fooled a bit and in fact is right on it and then he drills a line drive through the box to center . The Yankees now have the lead 3-2. Runners are still on first and third and we still only have one out. I get a strikeout for the second out but give up another hit to make it 4-2 before we mercifully get the third out trailing now 4-2. Later that night, I was dreaming and the count stood at 0-2 and I got the sign for a curve. In the dream I backed off the rubber and came back to peer in for the sign again and saw the fastball sign –with the indication of location to be up and in-I throw the pitch and a swing and a miss---- too bad it was a dream… the dream did not impact the universe so maybe it was meant to happen this way. They tell us in LOST the universe is self correcting so …


We go to the top of the eighth now trailing for the first time in the game facing their pitcher Javier who is really the opposite in style to your faithful correspondent. Where your faithful correspondent relies mostly on fastballs and the occasional curves and change up, Javier is all curves and changes up with the occasional fastball. He throws strikes and in effect teases hitters to go for pitches out of their zone. Coming to bat for us will be Arthur Frankel our leftfielder, who generally can be found teaching psychology at Salve Regina College. After him is Arty Bedard who does some work at a prison in Rhode Island and then your faithful correspondent. However, our guys with the full Boston accent (pronounced “Bawston” in our dugout) offer the lineup as “Aaahty, Aaahhty and “Moriahhhty.”

Baseball has no clock and you need to get 27 outs to win so we were still alive and ready to attack. Maybe the universe has other plans for us. One of the Artys got on and with one out your faithful correspondent came to the plate. The Yankees knew me by now from 2 hits in the earlier game with them and a single earlier in this game. Javier turned to his outfield and moved them to right thinking I might pull the ball. Then he threw a slow curve away that I ignored for ball one. Javier moves the ball around and then came with an inside fastball. One pitch I have been able to hit since I was 8 is the inside fastball about waist high and here it came. The baseball gods are well aware of that as is the universe. I swung and it felt like I got it all and as I took a step towards first I looked at the right fielder who came in a step or two. I was surprised thinking I hit it harder. Then he threw his arms up in the air and turned around to run for the fence. The ball was way over his head and bounced to the fence at the 350 mark and I ran to third standing up with a triple and bringing us to within a run of tying the game. I have to admit I was delighted with this hit and excited to bring us to within a run. Those of you familiar with the foot speed of your faithful correspondent can appreciate this ball was hit a long way to create a stand up triple. (Thank you for indulging my reporting of this eventJ) The Yankees bring in the infield with one out bringing up our second baseman. Our guy looks at strike 1 and fouls off strike 2 as my pinch runner eagerly awaits his chance to score. But Javier comes in with a clever sinker and gets his strikeout and out number 2. An absolutely huge moment for him and the infield moves back to regular depth. In the dream mentioned earlier I also changed the outcome of this at bat as well but still to no avail.

With two outs in the eighth our centerfielder Paully, a long time phys ed instructor in a school in Rhode Island ,gets a chance to tie it but his grounder to short is easily handled and we go out of the 8th inning , down a run. The Yankees go 1-2-3 and we come to the ninth. Our leadoff guy grounds to shortstop but our next hitter grounds to first and catches a break when the first baseman errs on the throw to the bag. We have a runner. Our shortstop works the count to 3-2 and we send the runner. Strike 3 is the call and our runner barely slides in ahead of the tag. Subsequent discussions center on the location of the pitch being substantially inside but these calls are not reversed even in my dreams. The Mavs are still alive with our Number 3 hitter coming up.

But a grounder to shortstop is handled once again and the Yankees are the winners.
“Thanks for stopping by” they seem to say as we exchange post game high fives and congratulations and they breathe a sigh of relief and feel the inner joy of a hard fought and earned victory.

The San Antonio Yankees go on to win the semi final game 18-2 and the finals 5-4 and earn the champion designation while we are left to our dreams and hopes for next year.


In this aftermath one is always able to reflect on what could have been different to impact the game and in baseball one can do this for numerous plays, pitches, umpire calls and moments. In the end the baseball gods want the best team to win and in retrospect I think the Yankees merited being viewed as the better team. But games are played on the field and players can often rise up to the challenge and find a way to win against a team that may have better players. Pitchers make a big difference but it is still a team game.
Your Mavericks gave it their best effort though. Philosophers often talk about the journey being its own reward as opposed to the destination. It would have been great to win but it was also great to compete against a good team and give it your all. The butterflies serve us well getting up for challenges. I get to walk the dog now but I am already looking forward to next year.

-your faithful correspondent

On to the Playoffs..

The Mavs took care of business today beating the Tri Valley Giants easily, 14-3 to gain the 4th seed in the playoffs. Your Mavs are slated to play the San Antonio Yankees in a rematch of Wednesday's game but with your faithful correspondent slated to pitch this time. The Mavs have been playing much better defensively the past two games and will play their best players at crucial positions in tomorrow's key acton. With a win, the Mavs advance to the semi finals be played and hour after game 1. Winning that second game advances the Mavs to the finals on Saturday.

Your faithful correspondent is optimistic going into tomorrow's clash. Pitching and defense win most games and the Mavs are ready on both counts.

Getting the full compliment of Excitement

Your Rhode Island Mavericks entered day 2 of the tourney with a record of 1-1. Today's opponent the San Antonio Yankees entered with a 2-0 record and took the fiedl first at beautiful Maryvale Stadium. The Mavs failed to score in the top of the first but a single up the middle , an infield hit, and hit batsman loaded the bases full of Yankees in the bottom of the first against Steve "Doc" Parsons. Doc regularly pitches for the Westport Cardinals in the same league as your faithful correspondent and has been coming out here for 21 straight years to play in this tournament. However, despite that experience, all three runners scored and after two full innings the Yankees led 5-0. The Mavs crawled back to within 6-4 but the Yankees added on 4 more to close out their win 10-5 and give the Mavericks their second loss in the tourney. Going into Wednesday's efforts the Mavs have put themselves in "must win" territory for the two games scheduled for Wednesday.

On Wednesday the Mavs were slated to play the Dodgertown West squad that is made up of guys who play at the Los Angeles Dodgers fantasy camp and have arranged to play as a team out here. Wearing Dodger uniforms half of their players wear 32 ( Sandy Koufax's number) but in truth do not resemble the Hall of Famer in any other regard. Jim Scott, another Mavs pitcher from Connecticut, took the ball for the Mavs and took the mound with a good fastball and terrific curve that has earned him the nickname of Cap'n Hook. The Dodgers countered with a crafty lefty wearing Koufax's # 32. After a five innings, the Dodgers held a 5-3 lead and the Mavs were struggling to put together some offense. But two walks and a bunt loaded the bases for the Mavs. A wild pitch scored a run and a fielder's choice tied the score. The Mavs then got a big hit from their catcher, Walter, driving in two more for the lead. The baseball gods punished the Dodgers for the leadoff walks and one hit helped account for 4 runs and the game as Jim Scott tossed a terrific complete game to even the Mavs record at 2-2 and retain hopes for a playoff spot.
The second game found the Mavs hosting the Snowbirds, a team that had yet to win and struggled throughout the tourney. There was a risk of taking them for granted and indeed the Mavs made it exciting . Taking a 7-3 lead into the 9th the Mavs gave up 3 runs to the Snowbirds and the Snowbirds had the tying run at second base and two outs. But a fly ball to left was caught ending the game and the mavs heaved a sigh of relief. The Mavs head into the final day of pool play with a 3-2 record and assured of a playoff spot with a win today against the Tri Valley Giants.
Todays' game against the Giants will feature two team playing with black unforms in 90+ degree heat. I must admit that wearing black in the desert heat might seem an inspired choice to some but your faitful correspondent would prefer white uinforms .

A win today puts the Mavs in the playoffs and all that happens prior to the playoffs is merely prelude. The tournament is a bit an an endurance contest with 6 games in 4 days in 90 degree heat . By week's end injuries and exhaustion emerge and the teams that have endured the best are best situated for the playoffs . Readers can expect your faithful correspondent to be on the mound for the first playoff game should we manage to win today. The Giants are 1-3 going into today and we ought to be able to win this game.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

A beautiful sunny morning at Tempe Diablo stadium was the site of Game 1 of the tourney for the Rhode Island Mavericks as they were set to host the Long Island Braves.Although Clint Eastwood was not present to witness the game "The Good" emerged early as the Mavs jumped to an early 4-2 lead after 4. A couple hits in the 5th ( including a run scoring single from your faithful correspondent) and the lead was 7-2. The Mavericks finished up easily winning 10-3. Your faithful correspondent, excited to be pitching the tourney opener had a terrific game giving up only 4 hits and striking out 10 in going the distance.

Lee Van Cleef played the role of the Bad Guy in the movie and his eyes squinting at at Clint inspired only fear. But the Mavericks wilted in the 96 degree heat and squinting into the bright sky missed several plays that would have made a difference in the game. Bruce Butterfield pitched well in game two against the Hollywood Stars but the problems defensively hurt theMav's chances and he final score went against the Mav's 7-5.

The Ugly element is we had a few guys go down with injury during the day. We have a another game tomorrow afternoon at Maryvale Stadium facing the San Antonio Yankees who went 2-0 today and stand atop the division leader board with the Chicago North Cubs team. At 1-1, the Mav need to win tomorrow to take a step toward a playoff berth. A loss will put a damper on playoff expectations.

This week's " Center of the Universe" Maryvale Stadium

Everyone loves playing on the fields in Arizona. We play Game 3 here at Maryvale Stadium, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. This stadium sure makes you wish you could really play the game well! a beautiful field is a masterpiece. Claude Monet, acknowledged as the founder of French Impressionist painting would have been proud of this landscape and I am thrilled to be playing there.

Arizona Tourney 2008 - World Attention Shifts to Arizona

Tibetan Monks and many others regard Mt. Kailas in Tibet as the earthly manifestation of the center of the universe, the " axis mundi" as it is referred to in Buddhist as well as Hindu cosmology. The baseball gods ( BG's) are rumored to have been trained here and whispers of their sightings in the off season are heard annually as the BG's return like swallows to their roots for refreshment and some spiritual renewal after a long season. The area around this great mountain is the source of four life-giving rivers; the Indus, Brahmaputra, Surlej and Karnali, (a major tributary of India’s sacred Ganges). As a bonus feature, two lakes are situated at the base of the mountain. The higher lake Manasarovar (one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world), is the sacred lake, and is round like the sun. Baseball gods have equated first pitch strikes with this lake. The lower lake Rakhast Tal (one of the highest salt-water lakes) is the devil’s lake and has the shape of the crescent moon. The two lakes represent solar and lunar forces, good and negative energies respectively. The baseball gods have come to equate lead-off walks with the devils lake. BG training is notoriously rigorous and readers of last years blog and the one for Shea's team know the BG's are swift to dispense justice when they witness a transgression. But in the upcoming week, even Tibetan monks shift their focus as the center of the universe moves from Mt. Kailas to Arizona for the annual Men's Baseball World Series Classic starting the 27th of October. In this baseball classic, games will be played where good battles evil and every man is challenged to fulfill his destiny and challenge himself to perform at his highest level. For one week the focus will be trying to win baseball games in an effort to reach the championship round and hopefully prevail there. This year, your faithful correspondent will be playing for the Rhode Island Mavericks. This long awaited tourney will impact basic language meaning as next week as "bailout" will refer to an outfielder catching a drive in the gap with runners on to end a rally and "crisis" will refer to a runner on third late in a tie game with no outs. As Tim McGraw suggested in his song "Live Like You Were Dying" , your Rhode Island Mavericks will be approaching each game with an urgency and determination that will assure their best efforts. Readers may be interested to know the Mavericks are competing an 11 team division with our opponents listed as follows : Canadien Eagles  ( Eagles team is rumored to want to play games at dawn)  Chicago North Cubs  ( hey  Cubs, anbody can have a rough century ! ) Chicago Central Dodgers ( Californians that moved to Chicago?) Dodgertown West  ( I don't think they are bringing  Manny)   Hollywood Stars  ( last years champs--rumored to all play with sunglasses)  Long Island Braves ( our opening game opponent)  San Antonio Yankees ( second day opponent- rumored to shout "Remeber the Yanquis" at critical moments) Snowbirds ( how can Snowbirds play well in 93 degree heat?) Tri Valley Giants ( probably a good team-we played other tri valley teams in previous years)  Tuscon Toros   (  catcher carries a red flag to distract runners)  Only one of us will survive to be crownded champion. This is a reality game with skills!  readers know the BG"s are into merit. They want the best team to win. We will up to the challenge. The link to see daily progress in the standings is here: http://www.scorebook.com/msblws55cen The "season" is 6 games long and the schedule and day to day results can be found here: http://www.scorebook.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L1F7C124A74C8E700344C005+PRD+ENG Playoffs: The 11 team division will end up with 6 teams in the playoffs based on best record which will start next Friday. The top two teams in the division get a bye and then the winners of the quarterfinals play the bye teams in the semi's with the winners playing Saturday for the championship. As a member of "Maverick Nation" you can follow along every day to map your new favorite teams progress. And yes there is a World Series Ring given to the winners! Last year this division was won by the Hollywood Stars who no doubt are looking to repeat. But your Mavericks have other ideas and will face the Stars in the opening day of action. Your Mavericks are about to embark upon an epic journey while trying to thrive or perhaps withstand the admonishing glare of the baseball gods as they try to climb their mountain to the championship game. But one side note is there have been no recorded attempts to climb Mount Kailash as it is considered off limits to climbers in deference to Buddhist and Hindu beliefs. It is the most significant peak in the world that has not seen any known climbing attempts! so there is a tidbit for you next side conversation with your pals.  The Mavericks are boldly taking the climb to our Championship game! Like George Bailey, who was offered the chance to spy on his life by Clarence the Angel, we know the baseball gods observe every move we make. They no doubt are aware of our season long preparations and efforts to  prepare for this tournament . One can only imagine the BG's are viewing us with a stern and critical eye. We say "Let's play ball."