Quicksand & Dirty
"You're playing and you think everything is going fine. Then one thing goes wrong. And then another. And another. You try to fight back, but the harder you fight, the deeper you sink. Until you can't move... you can't breathe... because you're in over your head. Like quicksand." -Shane Falco, The Replacements
Yes, our softball team's loss in the playoffs last night has forced me to quote Keanu, and even more than a simple "Whoa."
The undefeated Quick & Dirty, after outscoring opponents in the regular season 160-46, lost to the second place team last night, amid cursing, screaming, and questionable cheating from the other team. And I feel completely responsible in taking all the blame. That quicksand quote? The epitome of our play last night.
Now, while the game is under appeal due to flagrant rule breaking/bending by the opposite team, we had our worst game possible, and while our pathetic bat took some blame, it really all started in the top of the sixth. I had pitched the inning before surprisingly well, but like always, as soon as I'm there for a second inning, I fall apart. I walked the first two batters (both on 3-2 counts, but still), and was then yanked, and sent into right field. I didn't feel too bad, it's one of my usual positions, and I didn't deserve to pitch anymore.
Anyway, after another batter gets on base, the bases are loaded. Power hitter comes up, and jack one to right, and I move into perfect position to catch it... when I misjudge by an inch, and the ball clips the top of my glove, and flies past me. Right center backs me up, but it's too late, as three runs score (how first scored, I have no idea). Cut to three plays later, and a blooper over the infield's head. I run in to pick it up, and realize I'm gonna have to barehand it, but the high grass interferes, and I over run it. A mis-communication with the pitcher causes a wild throw, allowing yet another unearned run in... it was pathetic.
Pathetic enough to get me actually yanked from the field, and I sat for the rest of the game... that was embarrassing.
But that wasn't the end of that inning... nope, my two errors seemed to be contagious, as nearly every player in the field made errors in the next two innings, give more unearned runs than we could keep track of. But still, bottom of the 7th, we need 5 to tie, and by the time I get up, we've already scored two, with one out, and one on base. I'm looking for a base hit, and instead, I somehow jack a monster hit to the edge of the outfield, but one of the star outfielders in the league is there to catch it... run scores, but with two outs, and no power hit up, we were pretty much screwed, and the game was over.
The only good thing is, the playoffs this season are double elimination, so while if we had won last night, we'd only need to win one more game, now we need to win three in a row, 2 of which will be against the team that beat us we lost to.
I cross out beat us because of the cheating issues that are currently being reviewed. In short, the opposite team only batted 10 positions, while playing 15. The ASA rulebook, which is the comprehensive one, clearly states a team can replace line-up people in the fashion of Player -> Replacement -> Original Player, and that's it. The short company database rule does not explicitly write out the limitation (saying a team can , but it also does not say you can do it as much as you want. Discussion was held that in terms of "questionable areas", the ASA rulebook would trump the short list of rules... sadly, the ambiguity will most likely not precipitate a change in the win/lose.
So, anyway, not sure if my piss-poor fielding will mean I'm cut (I'm only partially joking there) but I really need to learn how to field a ball in the grass.
posted by Holz |
5:32 PM |
Rant & Rave, Bitches! (1)
1 Comments:
I could tell you about all the times I've felt the same way you do now but it won't make you feel any better. Shake it off...shit happens...move on to the next game. Sounds like you'll get another chance at them anyway.
I will tell you a couple things, when charging a ball that's rolling towards you in the outfield you must always slow down BEFORE you reach the ball to pick it up. Also, when you're just getting ready to catch an easy fly ball, DON't reach up for it! Make sure your glove is in front of your face or off to one side and watch it go into the glove. But you knew that!
Watching: Lost, Heroes, 24, Criminal Minds Listening: Brobdingnagian Bards Reading: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Playing: Final Fantasy XII Eating: Healthy...er Doing: Running... hopefully Wishing:
Comic Quote of the Week
"It's trying to end the suffering of everything. Do you want to discuss our options? Maybe together we can, you know, workshop?"
"Okay, best way to stop a ten-story godlike monster from destroying existence? I'm gonna go with hitting, you have anything?"
"You took mine."
Wesley and Angel, Angel: After The Fall #15
Who Am I?
Name: Holz Home: Sonoma County, California About Me: I'm a comfortador. See my complete profile
AKA: Ozymandias, DrOzymandias, Darth Angelus, Darque Feonix, Trip McNeely Kicking ass for: 29 years Job: UWing Systems Design Specialist Walking Theme: Believe It Or Not by Joey Scarbury Most watched movie: The Princess Bride Most read book: The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
"Let a man get away with fuckin' you once, you stay bent over so's he can fuck you again whenever he damn well pleases. An' if one man can do it? Another will too. An' another, an' another still. So's being fucked, that's yer life. 'Til who you were, you ain't. 'Cause all you are is an asshole." 100 Bullets #42
