Sometimes us writers need a break. A vacation even. Sometimes things get missed, forgotten, and ignored. The last time you heard from me team TPG was rolling along towards an undefeated season with a 6-0 record and a virtual lock on the SLAM runs scored per game modern era record. But nobody's perfect, right?
Back on July 8, team TPG took the field against SOM/SHCA (SS), and their pitcher of the year candidate Scott Habian. Scott is not only known for his blazing fastball, but also his intense stare, long windup, and deliberate pitching technique. With one eye squinted in the sun, Scott gave up only 3 runs, as the powerhouse lineup of team TPG fell victim. This was a tight game, SS scored 3 unearned runs in the 3rd inning and took a lead they would never relinquish. The defensive play of the game went to SS CF Nick Medrano when he threw a laser to the plate to nail a TPG runner by a step maintaining a 2 run lead. Final score was 5-3, and TPG took their first loss of the year.
A week later, with TPG manager Josh "Roll Call" Ginsburg out of the office, the team took on PCF with the hopes of stopping the losing streak at one. As team TPG arrived at the field, and players stopped chatting long enough to consider warming-up before the game, a sudden realization occurred. TPG 3B Tony "Married to the Firm" Franzese had forgotten our gear bag, and we had no bats, balls, or bases. Oops. With only Tony's heavy 28 ounce bat, and bases borrowed from PCF, the comedy of errors was just beginning. Did I mention that team MVP front-runner LF Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni showed up 20 minutes late wearing a nicely ironed pair of pink shorts, with an apparently lack of interest in playing? Granted, it was a pretty hot day. With Justin sidelined, and last year's league MVP SS Tommy "Guns" Anderson out again due to a heavy workload, TPG would need all the help they could get. But if there is one thing team TPG has proven this season, it is that they have an incredibly deep lineup (can someone say "making a manager's job tough in the playoffs when everyone finally shows up"?). TPG rookie Ron "Touchdown" Burrus was involved in what will most likely go down as the blooper highlight of the year. After hitting a single, the entire world learned about Ron's athletic history. Apparently (and unbeknownst to the rest of the team), Ron is a former semi-pro football player with a 4.34 40 yard dash time (for those scoring at home Robert Griffen III posted a time of 4.41). Unfortunately, Ron's running experience is limited to scoring Touchdowns, where you can just run right through the end zone line. So on the next play as Ron goes racing around the bases he heads into third and forgets to stop ("TOUCHDOWN!"), ending up on the far side of the TPG dugout. With "encouragement" from his teammates, Ron ran back toward 3B, side stepped one PCF player, then juked towards home plate side stepping yet another player ultimately crossing the plate untouched while the TPG bench hummed the lyrics to MC Hammer's "You Can't Touch This". Sadly (yet accurately), Ron was ruled out of the baseline, and his run did not count. TPG laughed their way through the end of the game, winning decisively by a final score of 12-5. Game ball went to TPG SS Tony Franzese as he went 4-4 with a HR and 2 RBIs.
Two nights ago on July 30, team TPG took the field against FXF in what has become a very heated rivalry in recent years. After last season's one run victory ultimately became the reason FXF missed the playoffs for the first time in years, they were faced once again with a win or out scenario against TPG. A win by FXF and they would most likely be TPG's first round playoff opponent. A loss by FXF and their season would be over. This would be the most dramatic and intense game TPG has played all season. With 6 ties or lead changes, this game never saw more than a one run lead at the end of an inning. The game started off shockingly calm, as both teams remained focused on trying to win a closely contested match. Clinging to a 3-3 tie, things started getting testy when some close calls did not go the right way. And after a trash-talking filled bottom of the 5th inning when FXF players apparently needed to release some tension, team TPG came to bat in the top of the 6th with a bit of revenge on their minds. The inning started off with a single by TPG LF Ray "Big Ray" Dominguez, and then SS Tony "Married to the Firm" Franzese came to bat with smoke steaming from his ears. First pitch, and boom, a long blast to deep center field for a go ahead triple, capping a 3-3 day that included 2 triples, and 2 RBIs. With TPG LF Justin "Big Bat" Aharoni sidelined yet again, Tony's 7-7 with 2 triples and a home run over the past two games vaults hims back into MVP discussion. TPG defense held up allowing only one more run, and the final score was a TPG victory of 5-4. FXF's season is over, and TPG has one final game against three time defending champion RAMSA to determine who gets a first round bye in the playoffs. Game Ball went to Tony Franzese as he went 3-3 with 2 3Bs and 2 RBIs.
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