Goat of the Game Blogs

Watching the Brewers this season under hitting coach Jim Skaalen has been brutal at times. While our current rank of 12 in the NL in strikeouts is actaully an improvement from recent years, we still seem to sit back and wait for the home run. Gone is the strategy of a real baseball game. In its place is a bunch of statues on the bases and no plan B when there is a power outage.

It might be somewhat disheartening to know that over the last 10 years, the Brewers average rank in the NL for team strikeouts is 15th of 16 NL teams. In fact, we finished 15th in 5 of those 10 years. -Finished dead last twice, finished 12th twice, and finished 10th once way back in 1998. Like I said, so far this year we’re ranked 12th, but with our recent slump, strikeout totals are soaring as players try to homer themselves out of it. –And while we’re talking league rankings; we’re second to last in sacrifices this year.

In a recent loss to the Reds, we fell behind early and then promptly switched into solo-homer mode to try to get back into it. Needless to say, it didn’t work. The Brewers have a total of ZERO home runs in the last 4 games. Since this is really the only way we know how to score runs, it’s no surprise that we lost 3 of those 4 games.

Fans love the home run. We all know that. The trouble is, home runs don’t always equal wins. Consider this: you have to go all the way back to the 1984 Detroit Tigers to find a team who won the World Series AND lead the league in home runs in the same year. That was 24 years ago.

If that’s not enough to convince you, the consider that in the last 5 years, only 2 teams (the 2004 Yankees, and the 2003 Braves) have lead the league in homers and actually made it into the playoffs (neither made it to the World Series).

We haven’t had a playoff team dead last in strikeouts since the 2004 LA Angels. At least that proves that it CAN be done though. It’s not likely however. The average ranking in strikouts for a playoff team over the last 5 years is about 8th. The Brewers haven’t even sniffed 8th in the well over a decade.

We can look at numbers all day though. The real problem with this team isn’t hitting home runs or not hitting home runs - it’s the failure to attmept anything else. Sure, we are 5th in the league right now in stolen bases, but with the speed up and down this lineup, we should easily be 2nd, if not 1st. Our team batting average is .253, good for 12 in the league. 3 of the 4 teams below us are cleear-dwellars.

..But I’m looking at numbers again.

Next season I’d really like to see a shift in the type of player we put in the starting lineup, as well as the type of coaching staff we hire. Strikeout kings Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall, and Mike Cameron should be let go one way or another. That’s 364 strikeouts between the 3 of them. We really need to reaplce those guys with someone who can put the ball in play.

As for the coaching staff, we really need someone who will institute a better philosphy and get the guys to buy into it. A good part of coaching is getting your players to listen, and with that in mind, we’ve had a string of failures as hitting coaches. Certain players like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder should be able to hack away until they get two strikes on them. Others should probably never “hack away”. Once you have 2 strikes though, you just worry about hitting the ball!

Maybe the Brewers front office should start fining everyone who hits a homerun when they have two strikes on them. Round the bases and get a bill as you cross home plate. Give the money to charity.

We’ve been over the Rickie Weeks debate many times this season.

It still amazes me that there are people out there quick to defend the

guy.It also amazes me that they believe they have proof that he has

been successful.

Let me start out by saying that our current record does NOT mean that

everyone in the lineup has been successful. There is always room for

improvement. -and in this case, there is substantial room.

In order to properly access where Weeks stands among all other leadof

hitters in the NL, I crunched some numbers. Afterall, it’s not fair to just SAY he’s the worst without numbers to back it up.

First, I took your basic offensive stats: doubles, homers, RBIs, stolen bases, batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage of all NL leadoff hitters (one from each of the 16 NL teams). I then divided those numbers by the players number of At Bats to get an average for each stat. This allowed me to rank each of the 16 players in each category. Those ranks look like this –>

From these rankings, we can then rank

the NL leadoff hitters one though sixteen.

Weeks ended up being the 11th best

leadoff hitter in the NL. -or the 6th worst

leadoff hitter in the NL - depending on

how you look at it.

Of course it’s my opinion that Weeks’

ranking in runs scored is helped along

greatly by the lineup behind him.

To back that up, you don’t have to look

much further than the ranks posted here.

Weeks is 11th in the league among leadoff

hitters in on-base percentage, yet he’s 2nd

in runs scored. How could that be? There

are only so many ways a guy gets around

the bases. We can start by looking at his

rank in doubles (12th). That tells us he’s

not starting out in scoring position. Most

of his hits are singles, typical of a leadoff

guy.

Now check out stolen bases (9th).

Considering #1 ranked Reyes has 26 more

stolen bases than Weeks (more than double

Weeks’ total), it’s safe to say Weeks isn’t doing much in that category to help his runs scored ranking. Not to mention, I doubt that anyone who’s watched Brewer games this year can honestly say Weeks is a good baserunner.

So, what else is there? -the lineup behind him of course.

If you take Weeks out of the lineup and plug in someone else with a higher OBP, then we score more runs - and win more games. It’s really common sense. Yet people defend Weeks by saying, “well, he scores runs.” If you don’t even figure in runs scored into the ranking, Weeks drops down to 13th out of 16 NL leadoff hitters.

Another defense for Weeks is that he has potential. While I don’t argue that fact, I wonder why we are still developing Weeks at the major league level while trying to make a playoff run at the same time. - Especially after Nedly And Melvin have both been quoted as saying they no longer do this.

Even so, you’d expect Weeks to show some type of improvement, even at this level, but for the most part, he has regressed.

His batting average (.226 to date) is at an all-time low after hitting .279 in 2006 and .235 last season. That isn’t progress.

His power numbers per AB (1 HR per 40 AB) are much worse than last season (1 HR per 25 AB). Another step in the wrong direction. He walks less frequently than just a season ago (1 walk per 7 AB this year, 1 walk per 5 AB last year). His strikeout rate is up as well to his career worst (1 SO per 4 AB). Even his on-base percentage, key for a leadoff hitter, is just .001 higher than his career low back in 2005 (.333).

If he isn’t making progress and developing here in the majors, why not send him to AAA? People will argue that we have no better options (even though Durham has better numbers across the board), but that isn’t even the issue at this point. If we knew going into the trade deadline that second base was our week spot, why not replace Weeks altogether? The Reds are out of the race and were sitting on Brandon Phillips who will be a free agent at the end of the season. What was the cost for a player like that? His OBP is rather low this season, but the Stripped-down Reds have been asking him to be their cleanup hitter and run-producer this season (.263 BA, 23 HR, 76 RBI). With a better SO rate than Weeks, I have no doubt his OBP would go up hitting in front of Hardy, Braun, Fielder, and Hart.

Of course that’s just one option. It’s likely a Durham and Counsell combination at second base would have been able to top Weeks in just about every offensive category.

Check out some of these splits Weeks has put up this season:

Runners in scoring position: .217 BA, .315 OBP, .359 SLG

Men on base: .203 BA, .300 OBP, .327 SLG

Bases loaded: .231 BA, .231 OBP, .385 SLG

1st time facing SP: .222 BA, .327 OBP, .367 SLG

2nd time facing SP: .258 BA, .317 OBP, .344 SLG

3rd time facing SP: .194 BA, .369 OBP, .366 SLG

vs RP: .229 BA, .322 OBP, .412 SLG

Leading off game: .230 BA, .337 OBP, .379 SLG

Leading off inning: .220 BA, .325 OBP, .387 SLG

vs Power pitchers: .263 BA, .397 OBP, .458 SLG

vs Finesse pitchers: .179 BA, .272 OBP, .291 SLG (this backs up my theory that he can’t hit breaking balls)

At Miller Park: .202 BA, .313 OBP, .306 SLG

I guess the moral of the story here is that it’s possible to win games and even make the playoffs without a decent leadoff hitter, but imagine where we’d be today if we DID have one.

I have to admit, that with a home-based business starting up, my attention has been split. Luckily for me, the Brewers haven’t lost games at a rate like they have in the past. I’ve been able keep up with the polls and blog updates though it hasn’t always been easy.

I went back and checked today and found that we’ve had over 1300 votes for Goat so far this season.  Traffic is up, even considering the long breaks between losses. -which, believe me, I consider a good thing. Although we focus on losses here, we still appreciate the wins. I’ve been searching for features to add to the site which would bring visitors win OR lose. The addition of Brewfn65’s  Hero of the Game blog will help in that regard.

The cartoons have also helped.

Between paintings I’m doing for others, I plan on doing cartoons for the rest of the Brewers’ TV crew, Bill, Brian, Jeff, etc and emailing them to the booth. Hopefully this will trigger some new visitors. I also thought it would be some good publicity to go to another game with a goat sign. Maybe a sign with a player’s cartoon and a mention of goatofthegame. If we make it on TV, we’d get a boost in traffic I’m sure.

Since I am way up in Oshkosh and not sure when I’ll get back to Milwaukee to take in another game, that seems like a great homework assignment for a regular here. If you’re willing to take the sign challenge on, Email me and let me know when you’re going. I can make up a sign and send it your way.

We’ll have to think up a prize for anyone who holds up a goat sign and makes it onto the FSN broadcast. Any ideas out there?

Free personalized cartoon? Free Goat T-Shirt?

If we can turn a profit with increased traffic and ad placement, I’m planning on returning the money to the website. One way to do that is to give out Goat T-shirts as contest prizes (as well as other prizes such as free Brewer tickets).

One other homework assignment for the fans is to send me ideas on winter content. With the off-season soming up fast, we’ll need something to pass the time until spring training.

I want to continue evolving goatofthegame to Brewer fans’ requests. So far, the Standings page, the cartoons page, and the personalized cartoon option were all created on the suggestion of you guys.  Just keep your ideas rolling in!

I have to admit, that with a home-based business starting up, my attention has been split. Luckily for me, the Brewers haven’t lost games at a rate like they have in the past. I’ve been able keep up with the polls and blog updates though it hasn’t always been easy.

I went back and checked today and found that we’ve had over 1300 votes for Goat so far this season.  Traffic is up, even considering the long breaks between losses. -which, believe me, I consider a good thing. Although we focus on losses here, we still appreciate the wins. I’ve been searching for features to add to the site which would bring visitors win OR lose. The addition of Brewfn65’s  Hero of the Game blog will help in that regard.

The cartoons have also helped.

Between paintings I’m doing for others, I plan on doing cartoons for the rest of the Brewers’ TV crew, Bill, Brian, Jeff, etc and emailing them to the booth. Hopefully this will trigger some new visitors. I also thought it would be some good publicity to go to another game with a goat sign. Maybe a sign with a player’s cartoon and a mention of goatofthegame. If we make it on TV, we’d get a boost in traffic I’m sure.

Since I am way up in Oshkosh and not sure when I’ll get back to Milwaukee to take in another game, that seems like a great homework assignment for a regular here. If you’re willing to take the sign challenge on, Email me and let me know when you’re going. I can make up a sign and send it your way.

We’ll have to think up a prize for anyone who holds up a goat sign and makes it onto the FSN broadcast. Any ideas out there?

Free personalized cartoon? Free Goat T-Shirt?

If we can turn a profit with increased traffic and ad placement, I’m planning on returning the money to the website. One way to do that is to give out Goat T-shirts as contest prizes (as well as other prizes such as free Brewer tickets).

One other homework assignment for the fans is to send me ideas on winter content. With the off-season soming up fast, we’ll need something to pass the time until spring training.

I want to continue evolving goatofthegame to Brewer fans’ requests. So far, the Standings page, the cartoons page, and the personalized cartoon option were all created on the suggestion of you guys.  Just keep your ideas rolling in!

1) Fukudome. Well, he started out good. .305/.416 in March and April, but as some predicted, he’s been going downhill since: .293/.388 in May… .264/.387 in June… .167/.222 in July. Pitchers are adjusting faster than he is.

2) Cedeno. While a .269 average isn’t outstanding, it IS for Cedeno. He managed just .203 last year and .245 in ‘06. His .340 OBP is also an out-of-body experience. It was .231 last year.

3) DeRosa. With 11 Hrs already, the Guy is on pace to hit 22 HRs. He only hit more than 11 HRs in a WHOLE season one other time when he hit 13 in ‘06.

4) Jim Edmonds. He has 10 Hrs already. His .232 batting average alone will tell you that his power surge won’t continue for long. In fact, he only hit 12 HRs all of last season. I doubt He’ll hit 20 this year as he’s on pace for.

5) Blanco/Soto. Blanco is hitting .286 in a back-up role. that will drop to something closer to his career average of .225. ..and does anyone really think Soto will hit 32 Hrs this year? I’m not so sure.

6) Dempster. Right now he’s 1.43 UNDER his career ERA -and that’s over a good number of seasons in the bigs. He’s on pace to win 20 games. He’s also on pace to pitch almost 250 innings. He’s never pitched more than 226.1 innings in a season in his entire career and that was way back in 2000.

7) Harden. Pitched 13 games so far (even if only 1 was for the Cubs). He hasn’t managed to pitch 13 games since 2005. Will he last?

Zambrano. Has never won 20 games, but he’s on pace to. He’s on pace to pitch 240 innings.  He’s never pitched more than 223.1 (2005). He’s also on pace to lose only 6 and he hasn’t done that in 3 years. based on career numbers, he’ll lose more and win fewer inthe 2nd half.

9) Lieber. His era is 3.43. He’s never ended a season with an ERA eevn close to that over his 14 year career.

10) Lilly. On pace for 18 wins. He’s never won more than 15. …On pace for 40 starts. -Never started more than 34. - and he’s only done that ONCE. …On pace for 240 IP. -Never pitched more than 207 and only did THAT once as well.

11) Marmol. The guy is on pace to pitch 104 innings and 100 games pitched in relief. His arm will fall off if they don’t slow him down.

12) Kerry Wood. He’s still Kerry Wood. Besides his era being .62 points lower than his career era, he’s also healthy. And we all know that never lasts. He hasn’t been healthy for a full season since 2003.

13) The Cubs. That’s their name, losing is their game. They ARE, afterall, dubbed ‘the loveable losers’ for a reason. The goat? Steve Bartman? Something’s got to give here.

It’s been a while since I updated the blog, so here goes…

I’m debating whether or not to keep the uniform ideas up. I suppose I’ll take them down and revist them later. It seems by the voting that fans aren’t ready for a change in the Brewers’ color scheme. I don’t mind the blue/gold, but I’d like the blue to be lighter (not so black looking) and the gold to be more visible.

In any case, there ARE a few minor changes to take note of. I added a “Recent Rumors” section which will feature the latest Brewer rumors in the form of a headline. Clicking on a headline will take you to the site reporting the rumor. I’m certainly not trying to dive into the baseball rumor business or change the subject of the site. I just thoguht it would be interesting to keep a finger on the pulse of what’s going on. –or what MIGHT be going on the future. If you come across any links to recent rumors, send them my way and I’ll post them.

Besides the Rumors, there are a few minor changes to the layout of the main page. Some more color and such. I also shortend up the Standings to include only the leaders and more recent. With so many 1 GOG players now, the list was getting rather long. You can still see the complete standings on the History page.

While you’re on the history page, you might notice some changes there as well. Nothing major, but I moved some things around and hopefully made things easier on the eyes.

As always, comments/suggestions/complaints are welcome. I’m still searching for additional content to add to make things a bit more interesting for the voters. I have been thinking of doing more with the cartoons, but other than that I’m at a bit of a dead end.

I know there are some great minds out there (afterall, this isn’t a Cubs’ site!), so let’s hear your ideas!

Thanks for stopping in to vote!

I’m not sure why I came to the conclusion that the Brewers needed a new look. -Perhaps being in last place in the division triggered it.

The problem I have with the current uniforms is they are just too plain looking. The Blue is so dark that it amost looks black, and the gold outline is so thin that it isn’t noticable at all.

So I deceided to throw a few new color schemes out there. If you have any ideas for color schemes, please let me know and I’ll put it together.

One thing I think that needs to be changed eventually, is putting ‘Milwaukee’ back on the road uniforms. I also wouldn’t mind seeing an all knew logo.

I think the 1982 uniforms have run their course. The completely different set of colors (compared with the regular uniforms) looks silly. It looks like two different teams really.

I realize that these uniform templates leave something to the imagination. Hopefully you all have one of those. Ha ha. I started making some more detialed images, but came to the conclusion that I’d be working on them until 2012.

I’m not sure if new uniforms would spark and change in play for the Brewers, but it sure couldn’t hurt at this point. -Look what it’s done for the Tampa Bay Rays!

The latest from Brew town is that Bill hall, and his .220 batting average is unhappy about platooning at third base. He was quoted as saying he’d be “under pressure” to get a hit whenever facing a righty now because if he doesn’t, he’ll probably not be allowed to face them anymore.

He made that seem like a bad thing, but it worked so far - He got a single vs right-handed reliever, and former Brewer, Jeff Bennett today.

I can’t sit here and say that a platoon with Russell Branyan is that much better than Hall starting every day. Branyan struck out 4 times yesterday in as many at bats.

Other news includes the signing of Julian Tavarez. If there was one guy I wished would never slip on a Brewer uniform it was him. ..Well, him, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens I guess. No steroid link that I know of with Tavarez, but he is just an unlikeable chap.

Ned Yost is still hanging on by a thread. I ‘ve been saying all along that as long as we win once in a while and avoid the huge losing streak that Melvin won’t have the balls to dump him.

Tonight’s come-from-behind win won’t help rush him out of town either.

It’s sad when you find yourself almost routing for losses, but how much is one win every 3 losses really helping? We need new leadership in there if we ever want to fix this.

Please take a second and leave a comment. There’s no need to log-in or sign-up. Thanks for stopping in!

In my mind, Ned Yost is to blame for the current record and current results on the field as much as any one player. But for this rant, I’m going to stick to the players themselves. Too many of them are under-performing and playing like they have no real purpose out there.

PRINCE FIELDER:I’m starting with you because you’re supposed to be the leader of this team. -You’re not anymore; Braun is. Last year you played with fire, with intensity. Last year you put up numbers and wasn’t afraid to speak your mind. This year you’re doing none of those things. You’re hitting .259 with 6 homers and look like a zombie out there. You commit a costly error and chuckle about it. There is no intensity whatsoever.

Is it a contract issue? If you are putting in anywhere under 100% because you want a bigger paycheck then you really are as dumb as Cubs fans say you are. In case you aren’t aware, putting up terrible numbers will NOT help you in future contract negotiations, no matter WHAT club you’re talking to.

If this is a attitude issue, then perhaps you should play out your contract here in AAA. ..maybe even AA. We ARE in last place. What harm could it really do?

If you don’t want to be the team leader anymore, then fine. But you still have to hit the ball.

WEEKS:You have no business being in the Major Leagues at this point much less leading off every game. You have current management to thank for your playing time. With a couple of hits last night you finally reached the .200 mark in batting average. .200!! -And you’re our lead-off hitter?? 

Look, we all like your potential..your speed…your power..but despite what Corey Hart may say, you are NOT Rickey Henderson. In my mind, you should still be in AAA until you learn to hit for some average. At that time, you should be recalled and should be batting down in the order.

JJ HARDY: is it any coincidence that you’ve played like complete garbage ever since you made that soap opera appearance? I tend to think that you’re a little caught up in the partying and the ladies and have let your game slip. I’m sure it might also be the case, as many say, that you were just playing over your head in the first half of last year and have now come back to earth.

Maybe it’s a little of both. You might not ever be an All-Star again, but at least try to put up decent numbers, hey?

BILL HALL: Admitting to not being able to see the ball while not wearing glasses or contacts for 3 straight years has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve heard in a long, long time. How much are you paid to hit and catch a baseball?? No wonder you failed at the move to CF! You couldn’t see the damn ball coming to you! Are you seriously that dumb?

Now you say you’re wearing your “uncomfortable” contacts, but STILL can’t hit the ball. What gives? If your contacts are THAT hard to wear, then try glasses! Sure, it will be extremely unfashionable, but who the F*CK CARES at this point! Your career is going down in flames here and you’re worried about a fashion statement? You’re playing every day (though I can’t imagine WHY) and you’re hitting .207!!!!!

Let me say that again: our starting third-baseman is hitting .207 for the year.

TEAM:C’mon! you’re payed millions of dollars to play this game! With the talent on this team you should be competing for a championship but instead you’re sitting in last place behind the PIRATES! You’re playing like a bunch of mindless goons and you need some blogger sitting back in Wisconsin to make up a story about your manager getting fired to get you to play with any purpose??

That’s seriously what it takes to get you fired up? Well, guess what, I’m a blogger too and I say Ned Yost should have been fired long ago. I also say you all stink. Is that good enough to “INSPIRE” you to win one more time?

By the way, congrats on finally winning a game and taking out your frustrations on a terrible Pirates team. All you’ve done is prolonge the baseball-life of the second-worst (Dusty Baker is still employed) manager in baseball.

Hello again Brewer Fans!

I thought I should probably update my blog before I head out of town. I’m going with the family up north for our first camping trip of the year. I’ll be away from the website Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and most of Sunday. I’m trying to get a fill-in, but because I use a specific program to make changes to the site, this won’t be easy.

If the site is a bit stale at the moment, I apologize. Please feel free to complain in the comments section below. While I’m away, please jump over to the brewers.com message board and post on the GoatofGame thread. If there isn’t a current poll here, then I will award the Goats when I return based on the posts (votes) on that thread.

Maybe we’ll all get lucky and the Brewers won’t lose any games while I’m gone. …yeah right.

Anyway,I thought I’d throw out some trade ideas and open it up to anyone with ideas of their own. Please don’t tell me though that we should trade Fielder and Braun (you know who you are).

Mark A. said recently that the money is there if Melvin can locate a top starting pitcher. The only way that will happen is by trade. I admit that I don’t know a lot about everyone in the minors, but I imagine the Brewers MAY be willing to part with Gwynn Jr. I think it’s safe to say that the Padres would give a high return on Gwynn Jr. They might not be willing to admit it yet, but they are also pretty far out of the race already (10.5 games back and in last place). The only trouble is they currently have 6 pitchers on the DL. -So they likely won’t be willing to lose another at least until someone gets healthy.

Iribarren (sp?) seems like a candidate to go too. The Crew is obviously sold on Weeks as their second baseman and leadoff guy depsite his many shortcomings. They tired moving Iribarren to CF, but he’d be at least 4th or 5th in the depth chart assuming they hold onto Gwynn. Some say that he’s ready offensively.

I can’t think of too many guys who would be readily available. Like I said though, I’m not an expert on our farm system. Maybe someone acn fill me in a little on who would be good trade bait.

Thanks for stopping in to vote! See ya next week!

Back when I played baseball as a younger version of myself, I had a somewhat memorable play. -And when I say memorable, I don’t mean it in a good way.

I wrote about this on my MilwaukeeBrewers.com profile, so I’ll just copy and past from there:

I was playing baseball back in the 8th grade and the girl I liked just showed up and was watching me at SS from the sidelines. I was beggin for the ball to be hit to me (as I usually do only this time it seemed more urgent). I got my wish. It was a sharp grounder between short and third. The third baseman was about 300 lbs (not kidding) so he had no chance. I put everything into diving to at least knock it down and that’s exactly what i did. I hopped up but couldn’t find the ball. For a moment I panicked until I finally found it right under me. I quickly snatched it up and fired a side-armed strike to my friend playing first base. –It was just in time to beat the runner. I knew I had just impressed the girl and I felt so high. I was cool as a cucumber as i got up and turned to return to my position when i hear the cheering turn to a big “OOOOH!” I spun back around and saw my friend scooping the ball up off the ground. -the umpire emphatically signaling “SAFE”! The jerk caught the ball and then while he was trying to perhaps steal some of my thunder he flipped the ball out of his glove and failed to catch it with his bare hand. The ump took it as a sign he never had control and my play (and future sex life) was ruined. Needless to say, we went on to lose the game after they rallied behind that play. I never got the girl and later tore a muscle in my shoulder knocking me out of baseball forever. I could also link global warming and poverty in general to this very play, but I’ll let you use your imagination for that.

I bring this story up now because I had a somewhat similar experience today. I was playing ball with 3 guys who were at the park (I butted in). There was one out, and the infamous ghost runner at first base. This tall, lanky guy was taking his turn to hit and had been hitting (and scoring) for a while now. (With only 3 fielders with one bing the pitcher, it’s difficult to record outs).

So, as I said, one out, runner on first, and he hits a hot grounder up the middle. Without thinking much (my calling card), I range over to my left and dive, snarring the ball in my glove. I landed akwardly and rolled over onto my left thigh which happens to put me sitting on second base. One out. I continue the rolling motion and somehow throw on to first base without Ryan Braun-ing one. It was kind of a stiff-armed, from-my-backside, while-rolling-over throw that I thought would be so far from first that it would be an embarassment, but it wasn’t. I stopped rolling in time to see it bounce in and out of the first baseman’s glove just before the lanky kid crossed the base.

These being strangers to me, I didn’t say anything but his 2 friends gave him an awful time about it (probably still are). They went on about hiw he screwed up my would-be double play and web gem. My only consolation I guess was that they witnessed it, and my wife, who was at the park did also.

Afterwards I strutted up to my wife and “casually” asked her if she happened to see my play.

She replies: “You mean when you hit the ball far?”

“No. That’s not what I mean at all. I mean when I dove, rolled over, threw to first….(with hope in my voice)”

“No. I was talking to this cute little girl”

Ugh. This is the story of my life. Do something great and someone screws it up. Figure at least someone noticed your effort and they didn’t.

I suppose the lesson here is either a) install hat-cam to record life in case I do something worth remembering…or b) don’t put guys who can’t catch a ball at first base.