Ghost Man on Third: Playoff Preview

GHOST MAN ON THIRD

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH DIVISION
"Kickball. 7.38 out of 10 Norwegian Urologists Can't Be Wrong" 

WEEK EIGHT (For Real): ""Getting older only makes it harder to remember, we are our only saviors. We're gonna build something this summer."

Table of Contents:

I - PLAYOFFS
II – Get Your Freak On
III - Move Into The Light
IV -Perfunctory Playoff Primer
V - Game 1 Recap
VI– Game 2 Recap
VII – Standings & Schedule
VIII – Announcements
IX - Raise a Toast to Saint Joe Strummer.


PART I - "She says it hurts, but it's worth it. Tiny little text etched into her neck it said 'Jesus lived and died for all your sins.' She's got blue black ink and it's scratched into her lower back. it said "damn right I'll rise again.' Yeah damn right you'll rise again."

The moment of truth has arrived; the playoffs. Win and you play once more, and have the chance to etch your name in the rock of immortals. Lose and you are forever (or until next season) cast with the Kato Kaelins, Tom Arnolds, and William Hungs in the chum bucket of loser-dom.

Game 1. 6:30pm. (Referee: ADPI) 

Animal is My Homeboy (8-0) vs. Ball Busters (1-7) 

Game 2. 7:15pm (Referee: Animal is My Homeboy) 

BRB (4-4) vs. ADPI (3-5)




PART II – " We had some massive nights. Every song was right. All that wine was tight. Your friends were pretty cool. And my friends were acting cool."
The end of season brings with it the end of season party. While the details are not yet cemented, my sources tell me that the season end party, which will feature only the MA Commonwealth League, will be a rip-roaring, (kick) balls to the wall, high octone, synergy of food, drink, total awesomeness and bee-bop-a-lula-a-womp-bam-boom. 




PART III -"There are girls that will come to you with comfort in the night. There are nights where it all comes on a little bit too bright. There's a cross and in the center there is a hot soft light."

"It gets late early out here" once quipped former New York Yankees great and walking malapropism Yogi Berra. Fall is fast approaching and the lack of night lights at Lowell field mean that darkness will be in play. It is imperative and essential that the first game start as close to 6:30 as possible so that both playoff games can be played safely and completely. Last week the field was unplayable at approximately 8:30pm. 


Part IV - "Lost in the fog and love and faithless fear. I've had kisses that make Judas seem sincere."

My Not-So-Humble Preview of Playoffs Round 1:

Game 1: Animal is My Homeboy vs. Ball Busters 

On the face of it, this game looks like a mismatch. Animal is My Homeboy has had a 2007 New England Patriots regular season, running the table. Their first week opponent, Ball Busters had the worst win-loss record in the league (but did lead the league in outfield cartwheels and variety of "refreshing" beverages. Did I see sangria one week?). Just by wins and losses alone, this week's game should be a cakewalk for the juggernaut that is Animal is My Homeboy. In fact Lenny, the guy at the bodega across the street from Lowell Park who's a bookie on the side, set the spread at so ridiculous a margin, that well, I can't even print it here. 

However, if you probe deeper in to the Animal season there are some weaknesses. Four of their wins have come in the last at bat, so while Animal is capable of a steam rolling performance like they put on ADPI in week 7, they can be pitched too, and defended against. While this may seem a tall order for a team that only managed one win, and with a negative run differential rivaling that of the Bush Administration's 2008 budget. Still, the Ball Busters in their two regular season meetings played Animal is My Homeboy tough. Two 5-2 losses early in the season, followed by a nail biting 5-4 victory. Ball Busters is just the team of devil-may-care and skill that could pull off the first round upset. 


My Keys To Victory:
Animal is My Homeboy - Get there on time 
Ball Busters - Score runs, Play good defense, and a timely police raid arresting several Animal players for Conspirarcy in an illicit but highly comical ostrich and circus monkey smuggling ring. 


Game 2: ADPI vs. BRB 

This will be the third meeting in this battle of the Acronyms. The first two broke the way of BRB, posting a 4-0 shut out in week 3, and a decisive 6-3 victory in week 6. BRB is the Jeckyll and Hyde team of the league, and their .500 record bears it out. Sometimes they look really, really good. And sometimes they are vulnerable, especially during their 8-2 loss to Ball Busters for their lone win of the season. They lost a tough one to Animal is My Homeboy in week 8. While the loss is heartbreaking, it proved that they can play with Animal, and could be primed for the upset given the chance in the championship game (not unlike another team that wears blue in the NFL).

However they cannot look past the ADPI team. ADPI is another team that has shown bits and spurts of inspired play, and bits and spurts of inspired drinking. Some can look at this team as having the beer glass half full, (hey, who drank my beer?) with three impressive wins on their resume. Others can see the glass as half empty (time for a refill) with the three wins coming against Ball Busters, a big loss to Animal is My Homeboy, and two subpar games to BRB.History would give the edge to BRB, but this pundit is listing this game as a toss up (mainly because he's on ADPI. HA!) 


My Keys to Victory:
BRB - Bounce back like a big red ball from last week's defeat
ADPI - BRB lands on a pin and their big red ball pops. 



PART V - "Do you want me to tell it like boy meets girl and the rest is history? Or do you want it like a murder mystery? I'm gonna tell it like a comeback story."

Game 1 Recap: Animal is My Homeboy 4 vs. BRB 3 


With the perfect regular season on the line for Animal is My Homeboy, BRB was primed and ready to spoil perfection. It was almost the upset of the kickball century, but almost is only good in horseshoes and hand grenades. BRB jumped out to an early lead as they were able to load the bases in the first inning, and score two runs, lead by Marty and Adam off of Animal Pitcher Steve S. A stunning catch by Adam in the outfield in the second inning kept the game scoreless. Good defense usually leads to good offense and in the bottom of the 2nd, BRB's Dave scored with help from Amir to push the lead to 3-0.

In the third inning Animal Pitcher Jen K settled down the BRB offense and gave the Animal offense time to shake off it's sluggish start. Jen K. and Josh B. dueled with BRB pitchers Dave and Brian to keep the game at 3-0 heading into the fourth inning. In the fourth, however, Jen K led off with a bunt single to the left side, and moved to second on a single by Steve S. one out later. Both moved up on a single by Lauren B., and then scored on a base hit by captain Isaac G. After moving up on a fielder's choice, Gerofsky slid into home with the game-tying run on a double by Colleen G. 

After holding BRB scoreless in the top of the inning, the Animals sent Tom C to the plate. After he beat out a bunt single, the runner moved to second on another bunt, this one by Ed T. This was followed by one of the key plays of the game, as Ally R. sacrified movin the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Jeff F. followed a long fly to deep right center, which allowed Tom to tag up, cross the plate and cement the victory and the first perfect regular season in MA Commonwealth League history. 

Holly Monaco and Josh Bob contributed to this report. 

PART VI – "We got to start it off with a positive jam. All the sniffling kids, hold steady. all the clustered up clever kids, hold steady. I got bored wen I didn't have a band, so I started a band. we're gonna start it with a positive jam, hold steady."

Game 2 Recap: ADPI 4 vs. Ball Busters 0 



With both teams all but locked into their playoff positions, the second and final game of the regular season between Ball Busters and ADPI was a laboratory of ideas, as new techniques and strategies, some legal, some not, were tried as both teams attempted to build that precious momentum before heading into the playoffs. The game started like any game should, with cake, as Team ADPI celebrated the birthday ofDuane. Then, probably due to high sugar intake and beer, there was some confusion as to who was the home team and who was the away team. Ball Busters took the field, even though it was their turn to bat, and ADPI was momentarilly to engrossed in the aforementioned cake, brought by Maria to notice. However it was all sorted out in due time, and the game began. ADPI turned in an easy 1-2-3 top of the first. In the bottom of the first, Jim and Ant got on base and Dave drove them in with a single to right. Kate followed with a base hit and Dave and Kate were then driven home by Matt B. to push the lead to 4-0. ADPI then rolled out it's highly innovative, yet highly illegal 12 man defense in the top of the second, suffocating the Ball Buster attack, until the umps realized what they were doing was against the rules. (Like following the law matters under this President's administration.) Ball Busters, even when ADPI was fielding a proper 11 person defense, could not muster much offense. Despite Tara, Mike and Mel, getting on base. Matt B, Duane and Dave shut them down. Jim seemed to catch every ball in the infield and First baseman Brian was on fire, catching every ball thrown his way. The only highlight by the Ball Busters was the defense of Mike H. who made several tremendous plays in the outfield, including catching a ball while Becky was in mid-cartwheel.

Jennie Levangie and Betsy Birns contributed to this report

PART VII - "Charlemagne shakes in the streets. Gideon makes love to the suites. Holly's not invincible. In fact she's in the hospital, not far from the bar where we met that first night." 

Standings

1.) Animal is My Homeboy (8-0-0) 14pts, run diff +21
2.) BRB (4-4-0) 6pts, run diff + 0
3.) ADPI (3-5-0) 4pts, run diff -5
4.) Ball Busters (1-7-0) 2pts, run diff - 20

Schedule for Playoff Round 1, August 7

6:30 - Animal is My Homeboy vs. Ball Busters
(ref -ADPI, equip Jim)

7:15 - BRB vs. ADPI.
(ref - Animal is My Homeboy, equip - Jim) 


PART VIII: - "Everything was spinning and then he came into the chillout tent. They gave him oranges and cigarettes. She got really hot and then she came to in the chill out tent. They gave them oranges and cigarettes."

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements

BOCA BAR: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Boca Bar has been a wonderful partner and sponsor this year for our league. The food is excellent, service friendly and the drinks flow like water. Heck it's even a watering hole for members of the NBA Champion Boston Celtics, so you know it has to be awesome. Show them your appreciation by visiting the Boca Bar after each and every game. 11 Pine Street, Waltham. 

FALL LEAGUE: An email went out to the entire league from WAKA. There will be a fall MA Commonwealth League. Jim will be announcing information soon. Thank you for your patience. 

CHARITY: The official charity for the MA Commonwealth League is the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. Please check out their website: http://www.curealzfund.org/ League-wide fund-raising information will becoming soon to help fight this terrible disease.

WEBSITE: Check out the League site at

https://www.kickball.com/macommonwealth/index.php

Check out the photo albums from league members!

To add your photos email Steve Sweetser at ssweetser@gmail.com

GHOST: As always a copy of this newsletter can be found at the GMOT Blog, along with a ton of other useful information. Also the comments are active, so if you want to trash talk, feel free.

https://www.kickball.com/macommonwealth/gmotweek1.htm


PART IX: " We drink. We dry up. We crumble into dust. We get wet. We corrode. We get covered in rust."

I've always thought that sports was the first drama that people understand. Humans are drawn to drama like bees to honey, Celtic Glen "Big Baby" Davis to the Boca Bar, and Paris Hilton to a night vision video camera. So forgive me for being excited about the playoffs and forgetting to mention this week's band in its normal place. This week's slate of games with all the possibilites for triumph and heartbreak (and possibly more cake) has me as excited as I am about this week's band The Hold Steady.

When I first discovered the band in 2006, my friend described them as "Bruce Springsteen meets Flogging Molly and all they do is talk about Jesus and Getting High." That was an immediate hook for me, and as I've listened extensively to their catalog, they've earned a spot in my music-lovin heart. Also, they are a bunch of unsexy nerds, and seeing unsexy nerds do well, warms the heart of this unsexy nerd. Their most recent album, Stay Positive which was released early in July has been in constant rotation in my ears, filled with gripping word play, fantastic solos, and the constant struggle between hope and desperation, redemption and second chances. That and any band that name drops Joe Strummer and calls him a Saint, gets an A plus in my book. 

The themes the The Hold Steady address in their music brings up an important point that we should all remember heading into this week of games. Moments happen, but then they are followed by other moments. There are times when things may seem lost, when we are at the end, and there is no where else to go. Yet, those times are not the end. There is another moment following, and redemption and second chances are never far away. Yes, this week two teams will have their seasons ended, and all that's left to do is to drink at the Boca Bar, and get your freak on at the End of Season Party. But it's not the end, only a new beginning; a new drama. And frankly that's all anyone can ask for, a second chance.

Rock on and best of luck to all the teams this week. 
- David, Team ADPI