TPG believes in T.E.A.M.…...TPG vs FXF

T -  Together 

E -  Everyone

A - Achieves

M - More

As one of TPG's Co-mangers this year one thing that I've learned is that softball is a TEAM game.  If you believe in your team and play together to have fun then no matter what the outcome is …YOU ARE A WINNER!  That is what TPG has always tried to preach and promote and nothing exemplified that more than this game in which we played as a T.E.A.M.

Due to a schedule switch from a Monday game to a Tuesday game TPG headed into today's match up against rival FXF without one co-manager and key starters who represent the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th hitters in our potent lineup and for any team that is something really hard to overcome. …. AND Not only that, TPG was in jeopardy of not having enough players to field a team ……  but no worries T.E.A.M TPG knew that they had the deepest and most talented team in the league and that even without the starters, the rest of the team would just have to step up and answer the call.

As game time approached Co-Managers Simon "4Ever" Yeung and Princess "of the Phillipines" Salvacion arrived at the field at 5:29pm just in time for the first pitch of the game.  With their arrival TPG now had a full starting team of 10 players.   

The first 2 innings was a very tight defensive game for both teams as TPG and FXF had runners in scoring positions but both failed to score a run.  Then came the top of the 3rd Inning when TPG's bats woke up……with the Bases Loaded and one out, Rookie SS, Chris "It's about GaaaaD Damnnmm time"Gutierrez came to bat and hit a bases clearing triple that scored the first 3 runs of the game.  Chris wasn't done yet as he added 2 more RBIS later to add to his total of 5 RBIS for the game.  The rest of the T.E.A.M contributed to the effort as Andreas "Maybe he really is a super athlete" Karales (2-2, 2B, 2BB, 2 runs), Stephen "I don't know how to read a subway map so that's why I was late" Dargo (2-2, 1 RBI) and Hernan "The Italian Stallion" Graziano (2-2, 2BB, 2 Runs) kept the offense moving.   

T.E.A.M TPG played solid Defense the rest of the way with Key plays from LCF -Omar "Da Stache" Bustamante, 3B- Frank "Maybe he was a Tank in his heyday" Lew and as always solid pitching from Hernan "The Italian Stallion" Graziano.

Game ball goes to......... T.E.A.M TPG with all around solid efforts from a shorthanded group and more importantly playing as ONE.  In the end TPG extends its winning streak to 3……TPG wins 6-2.  On to the next game.

TPG Toughness ...….TPG vs HH

Anytime someone puts on a TPG uniform we like to think that player will epitomize the toughness that we look for as one of our players.  We don't back down from any trash talking and we def don't get intimidated by anyone on the field.  That's how we play the game……….Now you may think that is easy to say when your LCF is the size of a mountain or when your 6'-10" short stop casts a shadow longer than the empire state building but today no one exhuberated that toughness more than Rookie 2nd Baseman, Chelsea "Crying is for the weak" Cheng.   Now the image below may be too violent for kids so parental advisory beware……

In the top of the 1st inning, an HH player lines a sharp and hard hit ground ball that went spiraling towards 2nd base and on a bad bounce struck our 2nd baseman in the left eye/nose causing her to see STARS not named Taylor Swift.  Medical staff, Derrick "The Mouth"Blocker rushed onto the field to check up on her…... Chelsea was still standing but had to leave the game for that top first inning for medical attention.   HH scored 3 runs in the top of the first.  

TPG responded in the bottom of the 1st inning with 6 straight hits lead by LCF, Danny "I do look like Mike Trout" Etkin (3-3, 2B, 3B, 3 Runs, 2 RBIs).  But what was the true highlight of the inning was Chelsea returning to bat, nose bruised and all and of course against medical staff, Derrick's advise to sit, Chelsea responded with a sac RBI, which contributed to a 6 run 1st inning.   

The second inning started with back to back walks which was the beginning of another offensive onslaught lead by SS, Ed "The Skyscraper" Ballast who hit a bases clearing double (2-3, 2B, 2 Runs, 5 RBIs) which contributed to 5 more TPG runs.  The TPG offense was hitting its stride for the first two innings as the all around team contribution hit 13 of 19 with 2 BB and 11 Runs.  

Game ball goes to who else?  Chelsea for embodying the toughness TPG represents and for not giving up….oh and Danny and Ed also had a good game…..if you think going for a combined 5-6 with 5 runs and 7 RBIs is good?

Final Score TPG 12-7 in 4-1/2" innings due to expiring time.  Hats off to the entire team for a well played game.  

So it begins.........TPG vs GS/A+1

Coming into the SLAM 2015 Season, TPG softball came in with a different feel....  With Legendary TPG Manager, Josh Ginsburg retiring to the west coast for sun, fun and…..Golf, the TPG Softball Team was now under a new look 3 Co-Manager system in which Princess, Simon and Derrick each took on different roles to work as a cohesive unit to lead the charge in the new season.   With 12 rookies on the roster, the TPG management core had to re-create the team chemistry it once had last year mixing the veterans with the new guys (and gals). 

I wouldn’t necessarily call it a bad 1^st  game but TPG Opening day  didn’t go so well as the new managers tried to figure out how to place the new team into the right roles.  Looking back at Game 1…..it was a learning experience for the managers from Derrick “the Mouth” Blocker trying to figure out how to do the score card to Princess “the hardest woman to pitch to in the game” Salvacion and Simon “Not the Kung Fu Panda” Yeung trying to manage the new line up. 

Heading into Game 2 against undefeated GS/A+1 (1-0)…..TPG could not go 0-2 to start the season with the schedule only getting tougher.  It wasn’t looking good before the game as a few starters were unable to make the game due to other commitments so the Rookies had to step up and show the league what they got and that’s exactly what they did!  Leading the attack was Rookie 3^rd baseman and lead off hitter, Steve “THE GREEK FREAK” Aspitois who went 3-4 with his first HR of the season.  The veterans also did its job as well with Norman “THE BEST AUSSIE IN THE GAME RIGHT NOW” Ha (4-4, 2B, 1 RBI, 2 Runs) and Andreas “The Self proclaimed Super Athlete” Karales (4-4, 2B, 2RBI, 2Runs) were just picking their spots.  Solid and key defensive plays by Rookie SS, Chris “Mr. Wonders“ Gutierrez and LCF, Eladio “ AY MARIO ” Victoria that only allowed 3 runs.  The game featured many key plays from other rookies as Chase” The MACK TRUCK” Hodge stepped up to the plate with 2 outs in the 5^th inning with a hustling slide into first base to beat out a close play to keep the inning alive which lead to 6 runs and Rookie Kathy “I don’t own a” Kia advancing the winning run into scoring position in the bottom of the 6^th.  Great team contributions all around……

Game ball goes to starting Pitcher Hernan “The Italian Stallion” Graziano who struck out 4 in 6 innings and who also contributed to the offensive attack with solid hitting (3-3, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI and 3 runs). 

Final Score TPG in a 14-3 Mercy Victory.  Hats off to the team for a great game!

 

This One's For You Jerry Franzese

Last week team TPG found out some sad news.  Our star 3B Tony "Married to the Firm" Franzese lost his father Jerry during the off season. Tony is not just one of the best players on the field, but he's also the epitome of a family man - often bringing his wife and kids to the game. While we never met Jerry, it was obvious from the very first time we met Tony that his father was someone special.  So just like Tony's been there for us all these years, we felt like we needed to be there for him last night when we took the field against PEA. A few minutes before first pitch the team handed Tony a card, shook his hand, and said let's win this one for your pop.

After shutting down PEA in the top of the first (highlighted with a stellar double play by RF Frank "The Veteran" Lew), TPG threatened to put up a big number, but some clutch defense ended the first with bases loaded and only one run scored. During the course of a season, there will always be ups and downs. A team that looks championship bound one day might struggle to get a single out the next day. The real test comes when you face adversity, and the true measure of success is in how a team overcomes such challenges. For the next 3 innings the PEA lineup showed off their power, and scored 9 unanswered runs while the TPG bats went quiet. After 4 innings played, TPG found themselves losing 9-1 with daylight quickly evaporating.

Would TPG fold their hand, and give up? Was this going to be one of our worst losses in many years? Time to regroup, make some substitutions, and remember Jerry. A different TPG team took the field in the top of the 5th, ignored the previous four innings, and played ball. P Hernan "The Terminator" Graziano kept his focus and shut down the PEA lineup holding them scoreless for the next two innings. TPG batted in the bottom of the 5th, and after a couple errors and two ground ball outs TPG had two runs in with two outs and the top of the lineup coming to bat. EH Norman "Cricket" Ha continued his (now two year long) hot streak, and blasted a HR (those Cricket players sure are fast).  Five consecutive singles later, a two out rally, and 6 runs scored. A brand new day. Heading into the 6th, the ump announcing this would most likely be the last inning due to darkness, and TPG was trailing 9-7.

We were pumped. You could feel the energy. PEA tried to rally for some insurance runs in the top of the 6th, but TPG escaped the inning and took the plate down 2 in the bottom of the 6th. Our first batter reached on an error, and the next two made outs. So TPG was down 9-7, runner on 2nd, two outs, and C Princess "Senior Moment" Salvacion at the plate. Have you ever tried to throw strikes to Princess? Well the PEA pitcher could not, and princess walked. Top of the order, and fresh off his HR blast, Norman walked and we had bases loaded, two outs with last year's league MVP Justin "Yoga Pants" Aharoni at the plate. A bullet single, and Princess is held at 3rd. Down 1. Two outs. Bases loaded. And who steps to the plate? Of course it is Tony. With his father looking down from above, Tony ripped a game winning, bases clearing double, and at the end of 6 TPG was on top 11-9.  The game was called due to darkness, and the score was final as 10 unanswered runs resulted in one of the greatest comebacks in team history.

This one's for you Jerry Franzese. You will be missed. 

TPG Jumps off to a solid 2-0 start to begin a cold 2014

It felt like the coldest winter on record. It was almost the snowiest winter. As March rolled on, we all kept waiting for some sign that hibernation was over, and that one day - just maybe - we could go back outside again. And then March ended. And there was still snow on the ground in people's backyards. What happened to that whole "out like a lamb thing?".  But now it is April, and April held promise. Not just because we were officially well into Spring. No. For all of us, April holds promise for one reason alone - that's when the SLAM season starts.

After receiving the news that two-time league female MVP Lynee Hastings had taken a job and moved to Mexico, our heads were down.  Perhaps there was one advantage however of such a long, cold winter... In 2014 we have one of the largest rookie crops in memory, with enthusiasm and excitement stemming from rookies all the way to the TPG Graphics & Branding Studio (who designed our new jerseys) and TPG Marketing Department (who is launching a softball social media campaign).

Opening day for TPG was Thursday April 17, and our opponent was FXF. To say we have had some heated games against them in recent years would be an understatement. Game time temperature was in the 40s, and players were literally losing feeling in their toes. This was the game where the new TPG players were about to make a statement to the league that this might finally be our year. New pitcher Hernan "The Terminator" Graziano stepped on the mound and started throwing the type of accurate heat that we have come to expect from the elite teams in this league. And as 5:29 struck, new CF Danny "The Mover" Etkin arrived on the field. You know that moment when you see a player and all you can think of is that you hope he is not playing for the other team?  Yeah. He's playing for us. And no, we did not hire Mike Trout, even if he might look like him. And also no, that foul ball he hit in his first at bat didn't actually knock over a tree several blocks away. SLAM is a coed league, and with diversity becoming the standard in the Architecture and Design industry, TPG is proud that 3 of the 6 new rookies are women.

In what felt like the longest game in history (okay, we were really cold), a battle was fought and the rust was obvious.  Errors on both sides of the field led to a TPG victory of 13-10, and at the end both teams were just happy to leave the field without any injuries.  Notable performances included a 4-4 day by EH Norman "Cricket" Ha, a spectacular diving catch by CF Danny "The Mover" Etkin, and SCF Johanna "Softball is Fun" Devia finally showing the rest of the outfield how you are supposed to hit a cut-off man.

Game 2 was only 4 days later as TPG took the field against RRA/DBB.  This game couldn't be any more different than game 1.  With the extremely underrated RRA/DBB Pitcher Geoff Prisco throwing dominating stuff, TPG was held scoreless for 4 innings. But Geoff was matched with a dominating performance by TPG Pitcher Hernan "The Terminator" Graziano, and after a home run saving catch by LCF Luis "Dancing with the Stars" Herrera the game was 0-0 after 4 innings of play.  When RRA/DBB finally got on the board in the top of the 5th with a SAC fly, TPG needed to get the rally caps going.  RCF Simon "Kung Fu Panda" Yeung hit a game tying double, and EH Andreas "The Athlete" Karales came through with a key ground ball to get the go ahead run.  Clinging to a 2-1 lead, Hernan "The Terminator" Graziano brought his game to the next level and completely shut down the opposing team.  Four insurance runs in the top of the 7th make this game look a lot less exciting than it was, as the final score ended 6-1 in favor of TPG.

Playoff Atmosphere

Rainouts.  Twice.  At two different times in the regular season the heavily anticipated match up between last year's championship teams was postponed due to rain.  So when TPG vs. RAMSA was rescheduled for the final game of their respective regular seasons, the league worried that one of the best games of the year would end up being meaningless.  But 2013 would not be such as season.  Even though the league already knew who the 6 playoff teams would be, not a single seed had been confirmed, and every one of the three games played on Great Lawn last night would have crucial postseason implications.

Great Lawn 4 saw SS take on GSA, needing a win and a RAMSA loss to clinch the #1 seed.  SS showed up to play and won easily 12-2.  In post game interviews, SS would admit to paying more attention to the sounds they heard coming from Great Lawn 3, the other field where RAMSA was embroiled in one of the toughest regular season double headers ever.

Before yesterday's games, RAMSA pitcher David "Bucket List" Solomon was quoted during an exclusive interview: "make no mistake about it, we will be out there for blood against KPF going for the win and run record".  David was referring to the history books that are embodied in the official league website.  Having allowed only 12 runs in 8 games this season, RAMSA needed to give up a total of 12 or fewer runs in their final two games to secure the single season record for runs allowed per game. Resting his arm for game 2, David Solomon sat back and watched his 3rd string pitcher shut down a potent KPF lineup, giving up only 3 runs, and winning the game 6-3.

All eyes would now be on RAMSA's game 2, the match up of the year vs TPG.  In what would be described by many people as a "playoff atmosphere", this game would not disappoint.  A sell-out crowd filled the seats as TPG fans came out to witness this event.  It turned out that this game would be audience participation night as TPG Fan Of The Year Marc "The Fan" Hoeflich lent his sneakers and jersey to DH Norman "Cricket" Ha who arrived at the game looking stylish in his jeans and boots, apparently expecting a photo shoot instead of a softball game.

Heading into the game, two records were at stake.  The RAMSA runs allowed per game record has already been mentioned.  But TPG had their sights set on a record as well.  If TPG scores at least two runs against RAMSA, they would be the new runs scored per game record holder.  If you have been paying attention, you would now be realizing that we had a bit of an epic confrontation.  The all time best defense was facing off against the all time best offense.  Who would prevail? Does defense and pitching really beat offense in SLAM softball?  We were about to find out.

A scoreless first inning set the pace, and made it clear from the start that this would not be an easy victory for either team.  RAMSA scored one unearned run in the second, and it was 1-0 at the end of two innings. Before we get carried away with the whole offense vs. defense thing, let's not underestimate RAMSA's ability to score runs as well.  In fact, when the day would end, RAMSA would find themselves as the #2 scoring team in the league.  With two more runs in the top of the 3rd, and their defense holding strong, RAMSA took a 3-0 lead heading into the 4th inning.  TPG held their own in the top of the fourth, and came to bat in the bottom of the inning needing 3 runs to tie the game.  Back to back singles by 3B Tony "Married to the Firm" Franzese and SS Tommy "Guns" Anderson, followed by a walk to EH Elliot "ET" Grochal, and TPG had a rally going with bases loaded and nobody out.

In the biggest at bat of the game so far, TPG RCF Ray "Big Ray" Dominguez blasted a shot to center field that had SAC fly written all over it.  Over the years RAMSA's outfield has been among the league's elite, so when a miscommunication caused Ray's ball to drop, two runs scored, and both benches were in shock.  1B Lynee "The Natural" Hastings ripped a SAC fly ball to LF, and the game was tied 3-3.  DH Norman Ha followed up with a single, reaching second on an unsuccessful RAMSA throw to 3rd trying to stop Ray from advancing with one out.  LCF Dave "Speedy" Beauchamp hit a clutch RBI ground out, and at the end of 4 innings played, TPG took their first lead of the game 4-3.

This lead would be short-lived, as RAMSA jumped right back with 3 runs in the 5th, and TPG came to bat in the bottom of the inning down by two runs.  Before the 2013 season started, David Solomon shared his bucket list with the SLAM Talk writing staff.  One of the items on the list is to make it through an entire SLAM season without walking TPG C Princess "Peanut" Salvacion.  Sorry Dave, but your bucket list item will have to wait another year.  Princess led off the 5th inning with a walk, and was followed immediately by a walk from 2B Omar "No Practice" Cevallos.  A SAC fly by Tony Franzese, followed by an RBI infield single from Tommy Anderson, and the crowd went wild with a tie game after 5 innings.

2 innings left to play.  TPG defense held RAMSA scoreless in the top of the 6th, and came to bat looking for blood.  Ray Dominguez started us off with a leadoff single, and then advanced to 2nd on a SAC fly.  For the second time this game Dave Beauchamp ripped a go ahead RBI, and TPG took a one run lead to the 7th inning.

The pressure was mounting.  Darkness was setting in.  Every ump from all of the other games at Great Lawn showed up to watch the last inning of this epic battle.  Scratching their way through the 7th, RAMSA came through big and tied the game, 7-7.  So it comes down to this.  Bottom of the 7th.  One run to win.  Princess Salvacion led off with her second walk of the game, followed by a single from Omar Cevallos, and TPG had two on and no one out.  An infield fly, and one out later TPG still had runners on first and second.  A long out to RCF by Tony Franzese and both runners advanced.  Two outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd, and last year's league MVP Tommy Anderson at the plate.  Shocking the crowd, David Solomon threw Tommy one strike, before four pitches that were nowhere near the strike zone.  Bases loaded, 2 outs, tied game.  And last year's pitcher of the year won the battle, getting a game ending ground out to 3rd.  Final score 7-7.  A tie game.  In the process 2 records were set.  RAMSA is now the modern era single season runs allowed per game record holder at 2.20.  TPG is now the modern era single season runs scored per game record holder at 12.30.

RAMSA will enter the playoffs as the #1 seed, playing the winner of the 4/5 series.  And TPG will be the #3 seed, with a first round series against either KPF or GA.

Game balls go to both no one and everyone at the same time.  This was truly a team effort on both sides of the field, and hat's off to RAMSA and TPG for one of the most exciting games you will ever see.

See you in the playoffs.

A Loss, a Touchdown, and a Dramatic Win

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.