The mighty Casey has struck out...but there's more

Who would have thought that a 1 inning game against the pros could be the highlight of camp, but I think it was close, if not the highlight. Today the Stud Muffins did something that only 2 other fantasy teams have done in 14 years of fantasy camp.

Game recap:
We were the 3rd team to play the pros today and quickly went down in order 1 2 3 against Bob Feller and Dave Burba. (Everyone bats against the pros and then the pros bat) The next set of batters tagged Burba for 3 hits in a row and scored 1 run with a runner getting shot down at the plate. Stud Muffins - 1, Pros - 0. I must add at this point that the pros do not like getting beat and they were down 2-0 in the game before us before coming back to win 3-2. Unfortunately I was batting after the play at the plate and we're ahead. The next 3 batters struck out against Burba. I will take credit though I at least fouled one off!

When we took the field and our junk pitcher was on the mound and faced Manning leading off. Rick grounded back to the pitcher (1 out) Pat Tabler hits a double to wall. Batting 3rd was Dave Burba who grounds out to third (2 out) runner still on 2nd. Cory Snyder then proceeded to ground out to short. BALLGAME! We beat the Pros! Let the celebration begin!

Picture:
Wayne batting against Burba
Pro batting
Celebration
Shaking hands with Feller(under the TV mic)
My new friend - Bob Feller
Shaking hands with Pros

































We now have the first down time of the week so we are spending it by the pool relaxing enjoying the 75 degree weather knowing what is waiting for us back home. Tonight is the awards banquet and unless I win the best player award this is it for this blog. I hope everyone has enjoyed this time as much as we have (OK I know what you are thinking)

We'll see everyone back in the lovely state of OHIO.

Wayne & Beth

Oh...so close!

Heading into today's actions we needed a win and the Chorizos needed to lose and we were in the championship game tonight. We went out and put 5 runs on the board and coasted to a 9 - 3 victory in our game. Then the waiting started. With our whole team looking on the Two Eighters (Jeff Datz & Rick Mannings team) scored two runs in the bottom of the 6th to tie the Chorizos! Things were looking up! Unfortunatly, their pitcher had trouble getting the ball over the plate and after only 1 hit for the inning the Chorizos had scored 3 runs to take the lead going into the bottom of the 7th. Things not looking good! The Two Eighters quickly loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 7th. Things looking better! But we quickly realized that the bottom of the order was coming up. After a pitching change for the Chorizos the Two Eighters were only able to muster up one run and our dream of playing in the championship was gone. It makes you go back and think about the 2nd & 3rd loses that we had and how we should have won at least one if not both of those. We ended with the 3rd best record out of 10 teams.

It looks like I'll end my carrer with a 278 batting average, 5 runs scored and 4 RBI's. Going into this I was going to be glad to just foul of a few and get some balls hit fair. How quickly the competitiveness kicks in and today I thought I stunk and did terrible. Looking at the stats I'm better than 20 other campers and most inportant I have a better batting average than the 2 ladies that played. This is Emily in the picture. Not a bad second basewomen with a very small strike zone. So I guess I did OK.

Tonight when we left the Championship game the D&D Destoyers were beating the Chorizous 7 to 3. Our evening ended with a BBQ at the park.


Tomorrow we will play the Pros in a 1 inning game. We all get to bat and if they score it is over or if we retire the Pros the game is over. Bob Feller usally pitches to two batters, doubt if I'll be lucky enough to hit off him. If no one says they want to I'm going to jump at the chance. (It usally goes to the older guys first)
This is a picture of Feller pitching in todays Pro games. The bottom 4 teams played this afternoon.

Note: to enlarge the pictures double click on them


Here are a few pictuces of the outside and inside of the dining hall at camp.






Tomorrow evening will be the last entry for this blog with hopefully pictures of me getting a base hit off one of the following pitchers, Burba, Waits, Bails, Barker, Bell or Feller.

How will you know if I'm telling you the truth? Remember this is FANTASY CAMP.

Still in the running!

Our first game today was played on the Indians main field at camp. Going down 11 - 3 we came back and tied the game at 12 before losing 16 - 12 after we ran out of pitchers. I was glad the ball was not handed to me. Found out tonight that I was awarded one of the MVP's for this game. Went 1-3, scored once and had 1 RBI. I think what got me the award was the number of times that I ran for the older lame players (we can run for players that bat but cannot run, we even do it for guys that cannot even make it out of the box).

Pic inside the "dugouts" at the main field. The other are like this without the carpet.






During the first game I shattered my bat and was left with only the handle in my hand as I headed towards first. (1st pic) Picked up a new bat at lunch and proceeded to break that one at my second at bat during the second game. We now have 2 extra bats (that look like weapons) to try and fly home from Phoenix







We came back in the afternoon and won 10 - 8 to take our record to 3-3 and second place in our division. If we win tomorrow and the first place team loses we will be in the championship game tomorrow evening! Again I went 1-3 from the plate, batting from the lead off spot with 1 RBI and run scored.

The pictures are of congratulations after a teammates home run and a view of the fields at the complex.


I must say that we have been around a different type of crowd than what we usually are with. While still having fun, it will be great to connect back with people that have the similar values. We have made friends with several couples and sit withthem at events and share stories each evening. The weather continues to be beautiful for ball games....sunny in the upper 60's and supposedly warmer tomorrow. For all of you in cold weather....we will soak up as much sunshine as we can!


We have attached a portion of a video that they show of the highlights each evening. If you look closely you will see a clip of the first bat shattering.


This is a couple of shots of Wayne and Max Alvis. Max was signing prints of painting that Wendell (Wayne's brother) has of Max hanging at his place.

This is what it is all about

Our first game today was against the Chorizos, an undefeated team that didn't need to take infield because "they were good enough". They had averaged 20 runs a game in their first two games and thought they were on the way to the finals on the second day. Enter the Stud Muffins (my team - Hargrove named us) with our 1-1 record. After scoring one run in the first inning we took the field holding them scoreless. In the bottom of the second inning our starting pitcher had to leave the game with after blowing out his arm with the score 3-1 in favor of the Chorizos. Enter Mike "TO" Burns who hasn't played baseball since the 8th grade. Mike throws nothing but slow junk and was the junk working today! The "Muffs" started to fight back scoring runs in the third and forth innings to to tie the game before giving up a run in the bottom of the forth to go down by one. It stayed this way until the bottom of the seventh with 2 outs. The rally started with a 4 pitch walk followed by the next batter getting 2 strikes on him before Mike ripped a bullet up the right center gap for a game tying triple. With Mike on third up came the Z-man (70 something old man that can't run. we provide a pitch runner for him) He proceeded to hit a single into right field and we took the lead 5-4. Now we needed to hold them scoreless and the come back win is ours. Mike puts them down in order to secure the victory! Mike Hargrove commented after the game, "man I never got goosebumps before at a fantasy game but today I did" It made me think of the year when the tribe was always coming back to win games. I went 1-2 and scored a run.


Our second game didn't go as good as the first. Again a coaches pitch game and we lost 11 - 5 to the D & D Destroyers, Dave Burba & Dave Nelsons team. Burba pitched for their team and we had Kevin Rhomberg pitching to us. Who would you rather have pitching to you? A major league pitcher or a utility infielder? Burba's team ripped the cover off the ball with pitches coming in consistently the same speed and location. On the other hand we had pitches coming in at all locations and at different speeds. At least that is my excuse for losing. I was 0-2 for the game (should have had a hit, but the ump was blind, called me out at first).

We are now 2-2 and still in the running for the championship game on Friday. My batting average dropped to 300 with a 1-4 showing for the day. I have now played, right & left field as well as 1st and 2nd base.

Tomorrow we again have two games on the schedule and one Thursday morning to decide the division winner.


While some of the fans have left to get back to the cold of the north we did have Charlie & Janet join the fan gang today for the morning game!

O-Fer Game One, 1-3 Game Two

A cool day in the dessert with the temps in the mid 60's. We started league play today. In our first game we faced a pitcher that hasn't lost in 2 years and got crushed. Josh (pitcher for the other team) throws in the upper 70's and no one could catch up to him. I went 0-2 against him with 2 strike outs ( I did foul one off) and the last one was a knee buckling curve ball, the biggest one I have ever seen! Finished 0-3 with a infield pop up.






This is a picture of morning stretching workouts. They take place every morning before play begins. You would have never thought it would be so hard to get 120 men to do 20 jumping jacks correctly (in time with each other)!





Game 2 went better as we won 8-4. This was a coaches pitch game to save the pitchers arms as we will have 7 games in by Thursday noon. Warmed up Max Alvis and hit off of Kevin Rhomberg. I started out at DH and ended the game playing first base. Went 1-3 with one RBI and a run scored. Defensively I had a stumbling, bobbling, crawling, throw from my knees to second to end the game. There is video evidence to prove this but it will not be shared due to the fear of what others may do with it.













This is as much as you will witness of the SBCK play unless we decide to start charging for viewing the video.

Camp begins!

Today started wtith a 20 minute van ride to the complex, bat selection, stretching and then clinics with the pros on pitching, infield, outfield and batting in the morning. After lunch we had intra squad scrimmages which basically means that they divided us into teams by our locker number and we practice all we had been taught. This was tryout day and I ended up being drafted on Mike Hardgrove's team. This is also the time that my fan club showed up to cheer me on....make snide comments....laugh and take pictures.


My Locker


Waiting for Batting practice.


One on one instruction with Brook Jacoby who is the current hitting coach for the Reds'



1 for 4 with 1 RBI - not bad for a slow pitch softball player


Fan club - I was the only one with 8 fans


My smallest fan!


Beth and "Mudcat" Grant. He stopped and talked to Beth and the rest of my fans for about 45 minutes! Nicest Guy!



This is my fan that traveled the longest distance...what dedication....we really believe it was the warm weather...not me!

Welcoming Banquet and Opening Ceremony

Just thought we would send a quick message tonight after the opening "ceremonies". For those of you who want us to do some name dropping......this evening we shook hands and talked with Rick Manning and Max Alvis. We also talked to Dave Nelson and Super Joe Charboneau in the elevator on our way back to the room. Other big names that are here ...Carlos Baerga, Len Barker, Mike Hardgrove, Charles Nagy, Cory Snyder, Pat Tabler, Jim "mudcat" Grant and Bob Feller will be here tomorrow. Bus leaves at 6:00 am for the training complex.....NO vacation here! (favorite fan bus (Beth) leaves at 9:00!!)

*Note to Wendell - We told Max (we are on first name basis now!) about your picture and he is more than willing to autograph it for you. Max is the 4th one on the left side from the center (orange shirt).