Wednesday, April 22, 2015

DH... HardCore View... Avoid this trap

This blog is strictly for the Hardcore baseball and softball junkies. I usually don't alienate my audience that quickly (usually by the 2nd sentence), but today I feel like having a good old fashion SB strategy talk about the use of a designated hitter "D.H". The D.H has been debated and debated over and over again in baseball and many players are very valuable and famously served in that role







You No Big Papi
Guys like Martinez and Ortiz are probably Hall of Famers (difference makers).

Advocates Love the D.H as :
  • Offense - it creates runs, entertainment
  • Ability to let older players keep playing and earning
  • Hate seeing pitchers hit
  • Allows pitchers to stay in games longer
Detractors (Purists) argue:
  • It’s not traditional
  • Takes strategy out of the game – bunting, pinch hitting , intentional walks,  pitching changes
  • Creates less emphasis on fundamentals (moving runners over, defense, small ball)
Personally, in baseball I like it the way it is.
  • Nation League No D.H; 
  • American League employs a D,H. 
This creates good old fashion baseball talk and conjecture. Examples include:

  • "This pitcher stuff would be better in the N.L than A.L” or vice versa
  • American League is Stronger
  • What do I do with my D.H in the World Series?
  • D.H do or do not belong in the Hall of Fame (I think they do)
Cool hardcore stuff that all baseball nerds love.

In Softball I am Pro D.H all the way all the time. Simply put from a participation standpoint it allows more players to get in the game. Over a long season this is very important as it gets people involved, at bats, and qualified. However, beware the D.H trap.

Common D.H Traps:
  • Having too many D.H/E.H heck even Catcher, 1B types on a team is a recipe for disaster. This is not a batting cage, Fielding and position flexibility counts.
  • Big Game D.H - When comes to the big games (mostly playoff games or position games late in a season), you should not use the D.H just to use a D.H. In other words, this hitter must be a good hitter AKA a difference maker. For example, Choice Parts D.H last year was John Miranda, we all know what he did in the deciding Game 5 of the Championship

Johnny Blaze from NYPOW Productions on Vimeo.

Difference Maker


Use your D.H wisely both is season and post season. Don't just give it and outs away.

Strictly Hardcore

Mr Perfecto again

As reported in this classic blog almost 6 Years ago Mr Perfect Mickey Peckins threw a prefect game. This past Sunday he did it again :


Congrats Mike. Well Done and deserved.


Never Underestimate him

SB Mr Bill Misses Reunion but Predicts 600

A few months ago the Saturday Night Live 40th Year Anniversary show was aired and it was Excellent








Conspicuously legendary character SB Mr Bill Petey did not appear on the anniversary program and the insider recently caught up with him trying to find out why




600 a confident bold prediction by SB Mr. Bill. Hope he doesn't get hurt getting it done.

Message In A bottle

Love the Classic Police Song "Message in a Bottle"


"I'm not alone in being alone" - very cool line

The bottles used by softball managers and commissioners to send out written messages to players include:
  • emails
  • Texting
  • website postings/notifications
  • social media. 
SB commissioner and manager writing are different because of their audience.

Softball managers are actually "softball alone" as many players never respond or read any of their messages. 99% of players don't read anything a manager writes as it comes with the territory and quite frankly is such a 25 to life sucker loser topic that it disgusts and bores me.

On the other hand, a commissioners audience is mostly managers and nosy whiners/gossipers that read everything. Hell they:
 Highlight
Bold
CAPITALIZED
Underline
Italics, and 
ENLARGE

management's words to use against them at every opportunity it benefits them. It's like when you get arrested "Everything You Say Can and Will be Used Against You".

You know the SB party getting all Good Wife legal technical on the Commish doesn't read their 401k statements, mortgage, lease, or health insurance policy but they will read everything a Commish posted. Sometimes this is justified as some commissioners are shiesty, but overall its mostly people trying to win or just never being happy.

Commissioners have to clear when they write about:
  • Prizes - such a No No to put in writing. 
  • Rules - shirt tuck, shirt rules, line up configuration, under wear size, Mother Fuckers don't care how petty something is, they will remember.
  • Schedules - Always an angle. Always a complaint.
  • Standings - Want them updated in between innings. Hurry Hurry Hurry
  • Promises  - "Modified", "Game Times", etc
  • Hot line/Phone Numbers - Accuracy a must
  • Ban Lists - let's not even discuss. Not worth wasting our life force anymore.
  • Equipment - metal cleats, ASA bats, etc
  • Umpires  - Complain Complain Complain 
  • Protest - ticky tacky weak pussy shit. Play the game
  • Directions - Have you heard of google maps?
  • Pictures - People complain "that picture made me look fat."
  • Videos - people complain "You can't show me playing. I have a lawsuit pending"
  • Prior Year Postings - Mother fuckers can't pay their taxes or fill out a tax form, but they know league rules for 2005 and wonder why it has changed.
  • Etc

Some Commissioners are really good at softball messages and other are well.... you be the judge

Here's my List

Top Ten Writing/Communication Skills for Commissioners or Managers in Softball


10. Bob -  54th Street















Writing Style - Blank Loose Leaf















He puts nothing in Writing. He wants to Win.

9. Fat Freddy Gonzalez Bronx Stars















Writing Style : Ramble, Babble, Repeat.

This is an inside insider joke that goes back many many years. I can't go into detail except to say I ask you all to trust me on this. Sheer comedy.

At the end of the day he wants to make money. More Teams More Money


8. Jack Mulcahy Performing Arts Softball League













Writing Style: Uses Face book Social Media to convey his love for the game. For Example

Scores for April 13 ~
Another beautiful spring day at Heckscher gave us some idea of the season it’s going to be: a great one. And here are the latest scores:
NOON
WHISKEY TOWN downed SAG•AFTRA, 7-3; RJK PRODUCTIONS vacuumed up THE DIRTBAG CREW, 7-0; and BRONX PARADISE hit all the right notes over LOCAL 802 MUSICIANS, 7-1
2PM
LATE SHOW was on time with a 13-0 bleaching of BLONDIES; SPOTTED OWL feasted upon ActorsFCU PRIME TIME PLAYERS, 15-3; and the joke was on LOCAL 802 MUSICIANS PM as undefeated GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB scored three in the 7th to win, 10-9, in the game of the week
See you all out there next Monday. JM

Very Good


7 Inwood/Citysoftball.com




Writing Style: Direct. To the Point. Honest. Professional  Top Tens and Interviews a plus.

One negative is in the past site was slow to be updated. That's my "Mea Culpa". We improved last year as I helped him more gather/post information quickly.

6. Jeff Marcus - Big Apple League


Writing Style: Jeff writes very clearly. In conversations Jeff sometimes he veers off course when you talk to him as he quotes obscure Big Apple trivia, but on the site he tells you what you need to know.

Too bad the website is from 1999 and is outdated basura. Time to come into the 21st Century.


5/4/3. Speaking of Terrible Websites - These two good leagues need an upgrade an:





Fucking outdated and boring. Gotham is probably the best of the bunch

How about some pictures at least? A picture is worth 1,000 words. Something. You get what you pay for on these free/cheap sites. Nothing. Unreadable....hmm.. Do they want it that why?



2. Tony Ferrazo - BMSL

Leagues 6/5/4 should please go to http://brooklynsbestsoftball.com/ for help. As for Tony. He's a self admitted terrible writer. At least he's smart enough to get help.

and the #1 Writing/Communication Skills for Commissioners or Managers in Softball


1. Noble Avenue

Writing Style: None.
Website? None

What is the Internet?

It's a neighborhood league.


This picture is the book they keep score with.


 This is the Old Bronx!














They get a pass. It's a hangout. No rain out phone number needed as when it rains people still go to the park.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Going Through Changes

A one week spring training took place this Sunday in Central Park where many veteran Big Apple players got out to knock off some rust off and take stock of the sweeping changes that have occurred in 2015. On a laid back day the Insider caught up with many players who had mixed feelings:

Some were pumped up and Couldn't Wait for a New Start



Others Modified Advocates were low key and open minded



Some players were not happy, opened up and Let it All out citing Conspiracy Theories that rival those of the Kennedy Assassination




Some were disappointed,  understood the changes, but unfortunately were int erupted by other hurt open pitching advocates who needed to keep letting it out.




At the end of the Day One Man summed up the New Season, legendary Larry Merchant, I uh mean Bobby Fishman



That guy is a trip. Better than TV. And yes I need a new camera man.

Insider Analysis:
These changes were long over due and debated at nausea for 8 years. 10 Man Modified Softball is 10 Man Modified Softball. All other fast pitch softball (sling, open, etc) is 9 man softball. The two don't mix.

There are 5 new teams this year, two or three will be good, 2 or 3 will struggle. At the end of the day play ball. If you have the Love.

As an aside: The Insider would like to apologize to How Israeloff as he gave an excellent interview, but due to budget constraints did not make the final cut. My bad brother I owe you one.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Shoeless Ricky Jackson

The Insider made his debut with his New team Sandlot today with Style, bad style, that is as he forgot his cleats and had to wear his new managers Aneudy Perez  cleat.






That's right the pictures don't lie as I only wore 1  cleat. Oh by the way the cleat was 2 1/2 sizes smaller than my regular size.

Ouch.

Top Reasons I  only Wore 1 Aneudy's cleat

10. Ass kissing
9.  New Team Initiation/Hazing
8. Good Luck

7. Ghetto - Bring A96 to B96 - You Know How We Do!
6. Daddy Overload

5. Stupid
4. Loser
3. Had a sprained left foot and could only fit one Toddler Shoe
2. Softball Whore. Shameless

and the #1 Reason I only Wore 1 Aneudy's cleat

1. No real #1 just pick anything you read 10 thru 2 above and insert here

Welcome Back NYC Softball