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After a few days to reflect on our tournament this year, I wanted to send a note to thank all of you for taking time out of your lives to make this happen again. Every year is different, but having some good friends along for the ride makes it one of the highlights of the year for me.
Just wanted to pay a few individual compliments for your performances, it always seems like those just vanish into the ether. Full statistics are available on the team website, www.leaguelineup.com/blazershobbs2012
Comparing stats can be confusing and misleading, but there were so many great performances that are worthy of mention.
First, thanks to our scholarship guys, WIllie, Miguel, Steve and Carlos. It is no exaggeration to say we would not have had the same result without those guys. Their willingness to watch others play allows us to keep the roster fat and our options open. Willie was a beast on the mound, as usual, and gave us every opportunity to contend right into the mid point of that final team, against a really good Omaha team. He also tallied a tidy 0.75 ERA in 24 innings pitched, remarkable. Miguel went the route in that quarter final game, and hung a 2.25 ERA up in 16 innings. He just seemed in perfect control all week. Steve Haugh started that Wednesday game, got dinked up with some seeing eye balls and gave us options that we would otherwise have been without. And my old pal Carlos got back out there and had three hits, and it's been a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get him back out there, so good for you C.
The hitting was fantastic. Dean Hill hit .294, a respectable figure and was low man of the regulars. (He also made some sweet plays at short and second, and stole 3 bags, great tournament Dean! Fellow A Lou Prano had a lot of "good throws", and hit .417, and pitched 3 innings, a great rookie outing, hope he comes back for more. A cut on the foot curtailed his week, but it was fun to find out that they were not chanting Lou, it was actually.....
Another Athletic of distinction was Mark Maznicki, who was his usual hitting self, as well as a great teammate and fun guy to have on the team, always with the supportive words. He hit .400 and drove in 8 runs in 5 games, an MVP candidate if his week hadn't got ut a bit short with work obligations. Another A Joe Hamilla hit.389, and was unscored upon in 6 innings of mound work. He also played a nearly flawless third base alternating with our next honoree, my old buddy Jeff Albertson. Jeff and I first played together in 1992 or 1993, and the dude can still flat hit. .387 with a team leading 12 RBI made him a leading MVP candidate as well. AND he brought his family, which doubled our attendance, thanks to all of them for the support!!
Dennis Smith has been a regular for a few years now, and he is settling in as a stalwart for the Blazers both at home and at Hobbs. He gets a tremendous jump on the ball and made more than a few sparkling plays in left for us. And he was out there A LOT..and oh by the way, he hit .450 and tied for the team lead with 6 stolen bases. Rick $%^&# Sanders was another MVP candidate, and a serious one. He hit .333 in some tough slots in the order, and threw almost 9 innings of effective baseball. Plus pretty damn funny dugout chatter, giving Haughie a run for his money. A great ballplayer and a better friend, thanks for everything Rick.
I always used to tell Matt COnrad he was my favorite player, to get hi to come back, then one day I just felt it, I was in "like". A serious talent behind the dish, still throwing behind wandering runners on the bases, (who does that 50??), blocking up everything and, oh yeah, still managing to hit .474, 1.184 OPS, second on the team. To me, if he had even a decent game on Friday, he probably would have walked away with the MVP honor this year. But he had to go back, and he was missed.
Too bad we didn't have another catcher...oh yeah, some fellow named ADam Bransfield was around, and the defending MVP just keeps on impressing. .414 average, 12 hits, 7 RBI, .919 OPS, just a ripper who wanted to be on the diamond at all times. His catching and playing and all-around energy are contagious, and I hope he continues to be an honorary "BLazer" for years to come. One of my guys, Jeff Shebovsky moved up in age class this year, and what a debut. First, all you need to know is that the dude catered a dinner for his housemates and something to do with :squid" was on the menu, that will get you some heavy consideration for honors right there. He also hit.400, drove in 9 runs, and spent the majority of time playing the premium position of center field. Great job Jeff!
Alfredo JImenez came down again this year, after a late return invitation, and almost stole the show, getting hot late, ending up with a .421 average and 7 RBI after a bit of a slow start. Plus he also manned right field a lot and handles all of his chances flawlessly. Great guy as well, can't say enough good things about Sarge.
In my estimation, these final four were the MVP candidates this year of greatest merit, and you could make a case for any one of the four. George Kerst is one of the Wonders of the World. I've been privileged to watch this gentleman play from the opposite dugout for many years, and once a year, from the same one as his teammate, and he is a cut above, I think we would all admit. Not only can he hit a ton, but he makes all the plays at short (THE premium position for any tournament team. The only thing holding him back this year was an injury he suffered early to his leg, which hampered his play and curtailed his availability. We nurse him through to the extent compassion would allow, and on one leg, he still managed a .391 average, 9 hits, of which 6 were for extra bases, and solid play in the field when we could get him out there. The hole in the lineup and and in the field when he wasn't in there was evidence enough that MVP status is never far removed from his name.
Carlos Padilla, rookie phenom from Nebraska(?) was a revelation this year in his debut. He led the team with a .529 average, 5 stolen bases, some solid play at second and in right, and generally performed like a true Blazer, hoping he will commit to more years!
Which brings me to the final 2. RIc Moots (he never told me what happened to that "K" on the end of his name.) was Mr. Versatility. He pitched 2 scoreless innings, played all over the field, second, OF, may have caught an inning or two, and hit .421 and had a 1.094 OPS, taking 8 walks to lead us in ON Base Percentage. Get on the base in these tournaments and good things will happen, and Ric was the man this time, reaching base an astonishing 62% of the time he came to the plate.
Normally good enough for highest honors, but not this year. MY man, your man, the birthday boy, the straw that stirs the drink, Tony Caruso got the nod this year, and it wasn't difficult. .467 BA, 11 RBI out of the lead off spot primarily, led the team with 14 hits, and a cartoonish 1.333 OPS after 5 of his hits went for doubles and three for triples. Pitched a couple of games, made some great plays in the OF, and was the social organizer, cheerleader on the bench and just made it all the better experience for hi having been there. One of my favorite people and your 2019 MVP Tony Caruso!
So that's it. As Freddie Mercury said,"Another Party's over, I'm left cold sober, baby left me for somebody new, I don't want to talk about it, want to forget about it, want to be intoxicated with that special brew" . And that "brew" is next year. So get ready to "suit up", and thanks again for another terrific week.
