WHERE'S THE OFFENSE ???

The season is still very young--10 games old to be exact--but one thing appears very apparent: the defense and pitching is way ahead of the hitting. And the numbers don’t lie.

Just as the number of homeruns are down in Major League Baseball, the new steriod and HGH testing that was implemented in the SLAM League in 2011 appears to have slowed down the vaunted bats of the league. In the 2008 season, there were an average of 17.0 runs per game through the first 10 contests; in 2009 that number dipped slightly to 16.4 rpg through 10 games; and in 2010 the number jumped up slightly to 16.7 rpg through the first 10 games. But this season with new drug testing now firmly in place there have only been a startling 13.6 runs per game. Even more telling, there have been 3 shutouts already this season which equals the number of shutouts in the first 10 games in 2008, 2009 and 2010 combined.

Now some might argue--and I won't disagree--that some maybe the pitching and defense has something to do with this odd trend. And yes, perhaps they are much better in 2011. But still, while defense wins championships, offense sells tickets; and everyone in Central Park is wondering if this unusual trend will continue in a softball league. (Admittedly not likely, but this pitcher sure hopes so!).

So WAKE UP BATS, wherever you are!....or better yet, don’t — see if I care.

Getting in Your Head (TPG vs PCF)

TPG took the field on Monday against PCF/HH, one of the constant playoff competitors in our league. PCF/HH came to the game with a little pay back in mind as TPG won the 2010 regular season match-up to clinch a playoff spot. Coming into the game, TPG knew that PCF/HH's co-manager Carl Pearson had been ejected from their first game of the season. TPG also knew that based on current SLAM rules one more ejection would get Carl suspended for a game. With TPG well into pregame warm-ups and batting practice, the PCF/HH squad arrived at the field led by the always calm and laid-back Cate Foster.

Looking for any advantage TPG could get, TPG Pitcher Derrick "the mouth" Blocker started laying into PCF/HH.

Derrick - "Better keep your cool, Carl, don't want to get suspended".
Cate - "yeah, right, that's real funny".
Derrick - "no seriously, one more ejection and he's suspended".
Cate - "wait, what?!".

As the PCF/HH blood pressure started rising ("don't let him get into your head!", "too late"), TPG finished their warm-ups and got ready for the game.

With the best pitching we have ever seen from Derrick, and two timely bases loaded hits by newcomer Eric "the model" Doherty, TPG pulled off a narrow 9-7 victory that ended after 5 innings due to time and light restrictions.

TPG Game balls go to Derrick Blocker for discovering his fastball, and Eric Doherty for getting bases loaded hits in each of his first two career SLAM league at bats (5 RBI's).

ORANGE

Whats with the Slew of Orange Jersey's this Season ???

PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF...

After finally winning its illusive first SLAM championship six months ago, the HMA/RAMSA softball team aims to do something that many of its predecessors have done: repeat as champions. In the 30 year history of the SLAM League, there have been a somewhat astounding seven (7) repeat champions—most recently by Gensler in 2007-2008--which might dispel the notion that the hardest thing to do in sports is repeat.

With no time to rest on its laurels, the Orange Crush took the field on Thursday, April 21st against Perkins Eastman with the same attitude of a year ago, same stellar defense from a year ago but with a new logo and team hat. With the help of some sloppy defense and well-placed hits, HMA/RAMSA put four runs on the board early with singles by SS Doug Houstoun and 1B Josh Barkan. After a scoreless second inning, 2009 rookie of the year, LF Mike “The Situation” Sargent led off the third inning by hitting his first homerun of the early season—marking the third consecutive year that he hit a homerun on opening day. It was an impressive rope for sure, but not the longest ball of the afternoon. Following a two-year sabbatical from the team to compete in an Iron Man competition, RF Josh Aisenberg made a triumphant return with a two-run bomb to RF in the bottom of the fourth to open up the flood gates. The game would 6 batters later as SCF Eric Hofmann drove in the final run of the afternoon, ending the game 11-0.

Leave no doubt, the champs aren’t giving up this trophy so quickly.

Sometimes it is not the score the counts

TPG took the field last Thursday for their season opener against GSA. With all of the bad weather this spring, no chance for fielding practice meant that this would be everyone's first action of 2011. GSA had a breakout year in 2010 beating TPG in the regular season and finishing only one game out of playoff contention.

Led by manager Ed Bolivar, GSA always has fun on the field. And you know what, that's really all that counts in the regular season of this league. Both teams (TPG and GSA) fielded 3 female players in their starting lineups - a first for this writer to witness in 8 years of playing SLAM Softball. Perhaps it was this lack of testosterone, or most likely it was just because Ed leads a very fun-loving GSA team, but everyone seemed to have fun despite a 13-0 mercy 4th inning victory by TPG.

TPG Game balls go to David Beauchamp (who got his first home run in years), Tony Franzese (two home runs), Justin Aharoni (home run and outstanding defense in the left field "swamp" at Hecksher), and newcomer Sara Laurence (line drive RBI single, RBI sac fly, and an over-the-head catch at 2B).

Send Off

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to see how the Slam Blogger looks like.

We had a nice Opening Day and we had our first player Ejected for the 2011 Season.
Now that's an Opening Day Send Off.................: )

NO LONGER THE BRIDESMAID - HMA/RAMSA CROWNED THE 2010 SLAM LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

"The great champions have all come back from defeat."

--Sam Snead

It has been said that "revenge is a dish best served cold" which is exactly what HMA/RAMSA served up in the form of a sweep on Friday evening in the cold.

For the past three seasons, HMA/RAMSA has entered the SLAM playoffs as the #1 seed but fallen short the past two, including a year ago when SSC picked off HMA/RAMSA in the finals ruining another stellar 10-1 regular season. Following that game the renowned SLAM blogger Scott Habjan proclaimed that "Solomon and the perennial bridesmaids of HMA/RAMSA would ultimately fail to live up to the dream and their hype." And therein lies the motivation and the boulder-like chip on the collective shoulders of the team for the 2010 season. Just as Jordan and the Bulls had to figure out a way to get past the Bad Boys of Detroit in the late 80's so too did the Mighty Orange have to figure out a way past the Bad Boys of SSC. (And that dynasty in Chicago turned out pretty well once they did)

"The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else."
--John Madden

On a balmy 48 degree Friday evening in late October, both teams came to the East River Park fields to conclude another season of SLAM. After several weeks of rainouts (and mysterious issues with the Parks Department) neither team was very sharp on this night particularly on defensive; but in the end, HMA/RAMSA would not and could not be denied their first ever championship.

Once again sporting their orange playoff bracelets embossed with the mantra "LEAVE NO DOUBT", it was only fitting that (Deputy Commissioner elect) Doug Neri got things started in the first inning. Those close to the team will recall that it was Neri's plea to the team in an August email as the playoffs soon approached to leave no doubt this season who is the best team in SLAM. And with one on and one out in the first, Neri roped a 2-run homerun to right centerfield for an early lead. SCC rallied back in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs to tie the game. Both teams exchanged runs in the 2nd inning as they entered the third inning knotted at 3.

As he had all season long, leadoff man extraordinaire Pete Garofalo (1-4, 2 runs) led off the third by reaching on an error which was followed by a Dan Sykes' (2-4, 2 runs) single to set the pace. Both men came home on Brian "New Daddy" Barney's (2-4, 2 RBI) double down the left field line as HMA/RAMSA took a lead they would never relinquish. The hits, walks and errors continued as HMA/RAMSA plated 5 runs in the inning. The fat lady began to clear her throat as HMA/RAMSA took a 9-4 lead into the seventh inning.

"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision."
--Muhammad Ali

Showing there was no quit in the defending champs, SSC mounted a threat in their final at bat at the bottom of the order got on base to start the inning. With one run already home, and two runners on base, 2009 Big Bat and Playoff MVP Steve Vargas stepped to the plate with two outs. Echoes of the 2009 Finals which saw HMA/RAMSA stumble only 12 outs away from winning the title began to resonate from the East River. It was only fitting that (Commissioner-elect) Solomon would have to exorcise his team's 2009 demons against the man that thwarted their season a year ago. And as Steve's ball floated deep into right field, the winds of change blew in from the east just enough for Matt Kirshner to run under the ball and secure it for the final out of the game.

HMA/RAMSA's victory completes a brilliant season capped off by a perfect 4-0 post season. In addition, the victory marks the end of the seven year SLAM-dominance of SSC and Gensler, as the dawn of a new SLAM era could be in the making. Leave No Doubt.

"Great moments are born of great opportunity--and that’s what we have earned here tonight. Tonight, we are the best team out there. This team we are playing tonight is a good team; but we are better. Know this when you step on that field tonight, and they will know it when they step off of it. This is our time ladies and gentlemen. Leave No Doubt."
--Doug Neri's email to the team 3 hours before first pitch