After a grueling week of competitive baseball, today was for fun. A 3 inning game vs. the Pirate legends plus a few younger helpers from the Pirate staff including Milt May's son Scott (who once was a highly regarded prospect before an auto accident shortened his professional career, Tom Prince, T, Todd Sauerbeck (former Pirate lefty) and Tom Kison (son of Bruce) and a few Latin American pro staffers.
There were about 200 fans on hand to watch the action on a gorgeous, sundrenched day. Each player was announced before their respective plate appearance. Emmerling had the dubious distinction of facing Sauerbeck who was chucking the pill in the mid-80's speed range. He claims he didn't even see the first two pitches before succumbing to a nasty slider for strike 3. Meanwhile Mathieu got 24 year old Miguel Bautista, a former Latino prospect and Pirate staffer. Mathieu fouled off the first offering of a breaking ball before sending the second pitch (the proverbial "can of corn") into centerfield. Making contact today was a moral victory for most campers who hadn't seen that kind of velocity all week.
Tonights festivities include a social hour, banquet and awards ceremony before we bid farewell to Pirate City. Our bus departs for Tampa airport at 7:30 tomorrow morning.
So long from Bradenton.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
FANTASY CAMP - DAY 5
Last day of play today before we face the Pirate Legends tomorrow in a 3 inning affair.
Team Mathieu took the 5th place game on the chin by a 14-7 count. While Team Emmerling lost an important play-in game in the semi's by a 3-2 score. Both competitors went 1-3 on the day at the plate. That being said the Em takes the batting title from Mathieu by virtue of more official at bats going into the day as Mathieu unfortunately drew 5 walks (3 for RBI's with sacks loaded). So with fewer AB's Mathieu finished at .470, while Em boasted a .478 avg. A true battle to the finish.
Today provided the best weather of the week, sunny skies and temps approaching 70!
Our bodies are feeling their age and getting up from a chair seems a tad troublesome. Nothing 8 more weeks of winter can't mend. We understand the weather blows back home, but we're both missing our wives and families and will be ready to embark on our trek back home on Sunday.
We hope you enjoyed the daily updates...see you all soon.
Dave
Team Mathieu took the 5th place game on the chin by a 14-7 count. While Team Emmerling lost an important play-in game in the semi's by a 3-2 score. Both competitors went 1-3 on the day at the plate. That being said the Em takes the batting title from Mathieu by virtue of more official at bats going into the day as Mathieu unfortunately drew 5 walks (3 for RBI's with sacks loaded). So with fewer AB's Mathieu finished at .470, while Em boasted a .478 avg. A true battle to the finish.
Today provided the best weather of the week, sunny skies and temps approaching 70!
Our bodies are feeling their age and getting up from a chair seems a tad troublesome. Nothing 8 more weeks of winter can't mend. We understand the weather blows back home, but we're both missing our wives and families and will be ready to embark on our trek back home on Sunday.
We hope you enjoyed the daily updates...see you all soon.
Dave
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Day 4 - Another double-header
Team Mathieu faced off against Team Emmerling in a classic matchup this morning with certain bragging rights on the line. My ailing hamstring precluded me from pitching and I had pinch runners as well but stuck it out at 1st base, while the Em platooned at 2nd base.
Team Mathieu struck first via a base on balls to Mathieu with a full count, sacks juiced and 2 out in the top of the third. Team Emmerling tied the game at one before team Mathieu took the lead 2-1 going into the sixth, tot that point Em had slapped a nice single to left and struck out for the first time all week, while Mathieu grounded out to third.
Em comes up with a runner in scoring position and 2 outs and smashed a liner to right field tying the score at 2. At the end of 7, however the score remained tied so we headed to extras. Team Mathieu scratched the go-ahead run on a Bill Buckner like error by their 1st baseman with 2 outs and the sacks full. Team Mathieu held in the bottom half of the inning to hang on for the victory giving them their second consecutive 3-2 victory in as many days.
In the afternoon tilts both respective teams won going away against their opponents. Interestingly enough the unofficial stats have both Mathieu and Emmerling hitting a robust .500 going into tomorrows action.
Mathieu has 2 K's to Emmerling's 1.....could be a long flight home Sunday for somebody!
On Thursday night, tradition has it that each team takes their coaches to dinner. So I'll be saddling up to go out with Hebner and Kison, while Em heads out with May and Candelerria.....should be fun.
So long from Bradenton.
Team Mathieu struck first via a base on balls to Mathieu with a full count, sacks juiced and 2 out in the top of the third. Team Emmerling tied the game at one before team Mathieu took the lead 2-1 going into the sixth, tot that point Em had slapped a nice single to left and struck out for the first time all week, while Mathieu grounded out to third.
Em comes up with a runner in scoring position and 2 outs and smashed a liner to right field tying the score at 2. At the end of 7, however the score remained tied so we headed to extras. Team Mathieu scratched the go-ahead run on a Bill Buckner like error by their 1st baseman with 2 outs and the sacks full. Team Mathieu held in the bottom half of the inning to hang on for the victory giving them their second consecutive 3-2 victory in as many days.
In the afternoon tilts both respective teams won going away against their opponents. Interestingly enough the unofficial stats have both Mathieu and Emmerling hitting a robust .500 going into tomorrows action.
Mathieu has 2 K's to Emmerling's 1.....could be a long flight home Sunday for somebody!
On Thursday night, tradition has it that each team takes their coaches to dinner. So I'll be saddling up to go out with Hebner and Kison, while Em heads out with May and Candelerria.....should be fun.
So long from Bradenton.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
We win.....finally
after an unauspicious 0-3 start, our team knocked off the only undefeated team left this afternoon in a hard fought 3-2 victory. Team Emmerling survived a 14-12 pitchers dual earlier in the day. I witnessed his second put out at the plate and saw him go 3-4.
I only made two trips to the plate in todays only pitchers dual, 1-2 with an RBI single. Sadly in the bottom of the 5th on my second trip to the plate I strained my hamstring trying to beat out an infield single. needless to say Mr. Emmerling his having a good laugh at me now as we play his squad first thing in the morning. The trainer and I are becoming good pals. He is repairing my sore elbow and now we're moving on to the lower extremities. I was hoping to get to the mound again before week's end.
I played first base today and Steve Blass was their first base coach.....let me just say he is hilarious, quite a sense of humor.
Big cookout tonight with all the legends of the '71 World Champs. Aleve and Bud Light later.
I only made two trips to the plate in todays only pitchers dual, 1-2 with an RBI single. Sadly in the bottom of the 5th on my second trip to the plate I strained my hamstring trying to beat out an infield single. needless to say Mr. Emmerling his having a good laugh at me now as we play his squad first thing in the morning. The trainer and I are becoming good pals. He is repairing my sore elbow and now we're moving on to the lower extremities. I was hoping to get to the mound again before week's end.
I played first base today and Steve Blass was their first base coach.....let me just say he is hilarious, quite a sense of humor.
Big cookout tonight with all the legends of the '71 World Champs. Aleve and Bud Light later.
Day 3 - AM posting
During last night's monsoon, Em and I dined with Kent Tekulve, affectionately known as Teke. He closed out game 6 & 7 of the '79 Series.
Today's games have been shuffled due to wet fields, so we thankfully have a single game at 2:00. Weather forecast is excellent for the rest of the week. Em plays at 12:00 while my game is at 2:00 vs. The undefeated Team Blass. We're gonna get smoked!
Tonights festivities include a cookout and autograph session, so it should be fun.
Em is a sore puppy and keeps bowstring my Aleve. Meanwhile my elbow tendon feels like crap.
Official stats posted this morning: Em .333, Mathieu .625
Stay tuned!
Today's games have been shuffled due to wet fields, so we thankfully have a single game at 2:00. Weather forecast is excellent for the rest of the week. Em plays at 12:00 while my game is at 2:00 vs. The undefeated Team Blass. We're gonna get smoked!
Tonights festivities include a cookout and autograph session, so it should be fun.
Em is a sore puppy and keeps bowstring my Aleve. Meanwhile my elbow tendon feels like crap.
Official stats posted this morning: Em .333, Mathieu .625
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Fantasy Camp Day 2
Last Night
the Pirate City bar was hoppin for awhile. Many stories were shared by Dave Guisti, Manny Sanguilen and th Maz after a few drinks. Manny about his signing in Panama, Guisti over his fear of Johnny Bench and Maz over some stupendous double play he turned in the Astrodome. These guys are fun and love to tell stories which makes this great.
Today
Double header squeezed in due to bad weather rolling in later today. Team Mathieu, two more on the chin, 7-5 adn 12-5. Team Emmerling won 13-1 but lost game 2, 7-5.
The down side for my 3-7 day is i got called out on strikes, not once, but twice. Once fooleed by a curveball, the other just a plain bad call. nonetheless, still 6-11 in the campaign. Only pitched to one batter( arm is shot) with sacks juiced and 2 out, got a nice soft grounder to third after a full count to the oppositions best hitter. At that point Kison knew I got no arm left, so i was a one out reliever....i kinda like that role. Just leave me at first base and the cleanup spot!
it is currently raining cats and dogs, so maybe only an afternoon game tomorrow. we can use the rest.
Currently Mathieu 6 for 11, Em, 3 for 11 (counting exhibition game)..however it should be noted that Em is without a K, something he is using against me at this point, and he tagged a dude out at the plate today while catching.
keep you posted.
we'll keep you posted.
the Pirate City bar was hoppin for awhile. Many stories were shared by Dave Guisti, Manny Sanguilen and th Maz after a few drinks. Manny about his signing in Panama, Guisti over his fear of Johnny Bench and Maz over some stupendous double play he turned in the Astrodome. These guys are fun and love to tell stories which makes this great.
Today
Double header squeezed in due to bad weather rolling in later today. Team Mathieu, two more on the chin, 7-5 adn 12-5. Team Emmerling won 13-1 but lost game 2, 7-5.
The down side for my 3-7 day is i got called out on strikes, not once, but twice. Once fooleed by a curveball, the other just a plain bad call. nonetheless, still 6-11 in the campaign. Only pitched to one batter( arm is shot) with sacks juiced and 2 out, got a nice soft grounder to third after a full count to the oppositions best hitter. At that point Kison knew I got no arm left, so i was a one out reliever....i kinda like that role. Just leave me at first base and the cleanup spot!
it is currently raining cats and dogs, so maybe only an afternoon game tomorrow. we can use the rest.
Currently Mathieu 6 for 11, Em, 3 for 11 (counting exhibition game)..however it should be noted that Em is without a K, something he is using against me at this point, and he tagged a dude out at the plate today while catching.
keep you posted.
we'll keep you posted.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Fantasy Camp - Day 1
Actually, it might be considered Day 2 since we officially arrived yesterday 25 minutes before Steeler kickoff. Needless to say night One was a Steeler Tailgate in Pirate City, followed by a few celebratory brews at the bar located in Pirate city.
Day 1 started at 9:00 with a few ground rules, stretching exercises, and a brisk round of batting practice. We then embarked on a 5 inning exhibition game to assess our talents before the official Draft.
The Em and I were on the same team only for that game as we were drafted to different teams. I am on the team coached by Bruce Kison and Richie Hebner
, and the Em by Candeleria and Milt May.
Back to the exhibition game (which Em says doesn't count) probably because he wore the collar!
He shifted on a suspect called strike 3 and grounded out in his two nips. I on the other hand hit a smash passed third and then resched base an an infield throwing error.
I got to pitch one inning retiring the side on 11 pitches.
We had lunch and popped a few Aleves and awaited our draft fates. Game one convened at 3:15. My squad is a tad thin on pitching,. while Em's squad has a plethora. Em went 1-3 with a double, Big Dave went 2-3.
Em's team pitched a combined one-hitter and they whipped their opponent going away 7-0. My squad jumped out 4-0 in the first but took it on the chin 9-5. I came in with the bases juiced and no out inthe fifth...a K, a pop-up and soft grounder thwarted that rally but the damage had already been done. The opponents mustered an unearned run in the sixth and went down in order in the 7th. Final, them 9, us 5.
The trainer is your best friend. 15 minutes of total ice arm will hopefully prepare me for tomorrows hurling. We shall see.
To review, Mathieu 3-5, Emmerling 1-5. Tomorrow is another day with afternoon thundershowers expected. Keep you posted.
Day 1 started at 9:00 with a few ground rules, stretching exercises, and a brisk round of batting practice. We then embarked on a 5 inning exhibition game to assess our talents before the official Draft.
The Em and I were on the same team only for that game as we were drafted to different teams. I am on the team coached by Bruce Kison and Richie Hebner
, and the Em by Candeleria and Milt May.
Back to the exhibition game (which Em says doesn't count) probably because he wore the collar!
He shifted on a suspect called strike 3 and grounded out in his two nips. I on the other hand hit a smash passed third and then resched base an an infield throwing error.
I got to pitch one inning retiring the side on 11 pitches.
We had lunch and popped a few Aleves and awaited our draft fates. Game one convened at 3:15. My squad is a tad thin on pitching,. while Em's squad has a plethora. Em went 1-3 with a double, Big Dave went 2-3.
Em's team pitched a combined one-hitter and they whipped their opponent going away 7-0. My squad jumped out 4-0 in the first but took it on the chin 9-5. I came in with the bases juiced and no out inthe fifth...a K, a pop-up and soft grounder thwarted that rally but the damage had already been done. The opponents mustered an unearned run in the sixth and went down in order in the 7th. Final, them 9, us 5.
The trainer is your best friend. 15 minutes of total ice arm will hopefully prepare me for tomorrows hurling. We shall see.
To review, Mathieu 3-5, Emmerling 1-5. Tomorrow is another day with afternoon thundershowers expected. Keep you posted.
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