1/28/15
Softball: Whack-a-Mole
Dear People,
My team baptized Chris Fure's in an enormous vat of pure deacon-approved victim-vinegar, 12-10, and I'm not saying that just because the Furinator himself played as if he had suddenly succumbed to the wrath of a totally capricious God. Still, let the record show that their side did indeed have a solid 8-5 lead as late as the top of the 8th, but then, with one out and two on, Ali's genteel hopper to short ricocheted off Chris' glove and into the outfield beyond, thereby transforming a certain hope-killing double-play into the triggering spark of our spectacular 7-run rally. As you may know, aerobic zeitgeist in motion almost always makes me tingly.
Now, for the record, Chris still had one juicy chance for redemption, with two on and two out in the bottom of the 9th and he himself as the potential game-winning run at the plate. Yet sadly, good'ol Captain Feckless swung full-bore on a curving Steve Bedrick sucker-ball, and as that hit bounced lethargically back to the mound, I couldn't help but think that while talent usually trumps management, no team can survive the weight of their own player-coach in the throes of persistent suckitude. That's not a dig, just an observation---harsh, to be sure, yet fully engorged in the inherent mellow of the contemplative mood.
The point is that real dissage continues to come forth from the Berkeley Department of Parks and Wreck, who, I have to conclude, just isn't that into me. Alas, and despite their promises, I was informed last week that San Pablo has been given to some fascist softball-hating baseball league for the last two weeks of our exile, and even worse, just yesterday I was told that the last available park that the city had assured me was ours---glorious James Kinney Field---is now in fact taken by some fascist softball-hating pre-pubescent softball league. In other words, the very town we call home is clearly out to annihilate us, and they're doing so with mercenaries from my least favorite age-group.
Of course we're an unusually gritty folk by both birth and temperament, so let me be clear; We're not about to curl up and die, but rather, fight back and fight back hard, and we're going to do so by proudly spreading like the feral syphilitic weed that we know that we can be. And therefore there will very likely be a game at Oakland's magnificent Bushrod Field this Sunday at 11, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning.
Resolve . . . Raymond
PS: Some organizational logistics:
1-Bushrod, as you may recall, is actually somewhat less than magnificent, but her grasses are verdant and kindly, and because she's huge with two separate diamonds, the risk of being shut out from a field that we're not reserving remains quite low. Still, I'll scout out a backup or two that morning, and regardless, early arrivals for a 10:30 batting practice are highly encouraged.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bushrod-park-oakland
2-As mentioned last week, the dreaded 'Nanci rules' are currently in effect since we've sold out early for a few weeks in a row. SO, all people should commit as normal (i.e. . . when you're close to certain that you can and want to play), but for this week, if you've been in four consecutive games, I may tell you that you're being automatically wait-listed, at least until I see what demand looks like. Don't take it personally; I cherish each and every one of you like the child I never had (Moreover, about half of those who are wait-listed in this process eventually do get in, and if you do have to sit, you won't be subjected to such barbarity for at least several more weeks).
3-I'm going to SFO this morning, so don't panic if I don't get back to you until this afternoon.
1/30/15
Softball: The Glories of North Oakland
Dear People,
There will very likely be a game at Bushrod Field this Sunday at 11, and as of now there are still three slots left.
If feeling inspired, please try to get there at 10:30 for batting practice since we should try to maximize our odds of seizing at least one of the two diamonds before some shameless cackle of unexpected ne'er-do-wells grab them first. Two other parks will also be scouted beforehand that morning, so while we can't have anything reserved and nothing is certain, the odds of us being totally hosed are very low.
Moxie . . . Raymond 845-7552
PS: To get to Bushrod, take Telegraph to 60th and turn West. . .
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bushrod-park-oakland
BACK