Friday, Feb. 7
Craig's team managed to stay out of the Toilet Bowl game. Even though they lost their final game of the "regular season" they still finished fourth in their division. Doing so puts them in contention for the Trophy (ie: the B-League championship). Craig said they lost 7-1 and they scored their only run on his bases loaded walk. This was his first RBI of the camp and his eighth walk in the regular tournament. He did make an error in left in this game but it didn't matter too much. They played the first round of the Trophy Series and his team lost to Wayne Gross's team by a 4-1 margin. Craig went 0-for-2. Craig did mention that in the morning game, Rick Dempsey went out to play right field with his catcher's glove on because the other team's right fielder was hurt. Sure enough, the first ball hit was hit to right and Dempsey caught it with the big mitt.
Kerry's team had already sealed a position in the Ring Championship series. They were playing for either the first or second seed in the tournament so didn't much care. The team they played in the morning needed the victory to get into the Ring bracket instead of the trophy bracket so they pulled out all the stops, using their ace pitcher. And it paid off because they won 7-0. Kerry said that for his team, anybody who wanted to pitch but hadn't had the opportunity, did so. And he pitched an inning to take some of the pressure off their big guys. He played the outfield, mostly center, for the rest of the game and made a couple of plays there. He commented that he still doesn't handle the corner outfield positions well because he has a hard time reading the ball but he's doing o.k. in centerfield. In the afternoon game, they matched up against Etchebarren's team once again. Etchebarren's team had the best record going into the championships, 6-1-1, with their only loss coming against Grant Jackson's team. Kerry said they put their ace out on the mound and he lasted five innings. (There is a rule in the championship games that a pitcher can pitch no more than six innings total.) Kerry said they took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth and Etchebarren's team scored two runs. His team came back in the top of the sixth and scored three to really put the pressure on and they ultimately won the game 8-3. Kerry played center the entire game and caught three or four balls out there.
So tomorrow, his team will play Jim Gentile's team for The Ring. In his five years in camp, Kerry's never been on a team that went this far before so he's rather excited about it.
Both of the guys have their pro game tomorrow morning. Kerry said he's not going to play since the real thrill there is in batting and he can't bat right now. His team will play the championship game after lunch. Craig's team will be in a consolation game tomorrow afternoon following the pro game. Craig confided that he's going to be "swinging for the fences" in both games. I reminded him that the last time he was there he got knocked into the dirt (by Mark Williamson) when he hit a ball hard, but foul, off of him. The former pros are nothing if not competitive.
The biggest bit of fun has been due to Moe Drabowsky. Craig said that Moe related a story at the morning meeting today. Seems Gary Roenicke was sitting in the clubhouse reading his newspaper and Moe thought this was a bit on the rude side so he set the paper on fire. According to Moe, the flames had to get a foot high before Roenicke realized he had a problem. And during the morning meeting, Jim Palmer tried to give Andy Etchebarren a hot foot using lighter fluid and a matchbook. But he couldn't get it to work. Moe commented on his "amateur status." Moe also apparently melted one of the camper's jackets with the combination of an aerosol can and matches. And he's tossed a couple of smoke bombs into the bathroom as well. So the firebug in him has really made the rounds this year.
Also during the morning meeting, a couple of noteworthy awards. First, Kerry got a gold rope for his play to end the game yesterday-- barehanding the ball and throwing out the baserunner heading to third. Surprisingly enough, that guy did not earn a brown rope for his baserunning accumen (or lack thereof). And Jim Gentile won the "Red Ass" award, so named because of the trouble Gentile got into during last year's camp. Craig said the play that led to the award was due to him. He beat out an infield single and Gentile and one of his coaches came charging out of the dugout yelling at the umpire. Craig noted that the umpire got the call right. He said the umpire was yelling at Gentile to get back in the dugout (using many "colorful metaphors" that shall remain unnamed here) and Gentile was yelling back. So he won the award.
Also, Craig noted that Dave Johnson's son was out throwing to his father on one of the practice mounds. Craig said he's 15 yrs. old and already throwing over 80 mph and in 20 min. threw no more than 10 balls, with all the rest being strikes. He said this is someone to keep your eyes out for a few years down the line.
Finally, Kerry had a chat with Grant Jackson earlier in the week about John Stephens. It should be noted that Grant Jackson was the pitching coach at Rochester this year. Kerry said he specifically asked Jackson if Stephens was capable of getting big league hitters out. Jackson told him "yes" and noted that Stephens is one of those players who will really listen, think about what's been said, and then try to implement it. Jackson taught him a slider and a tighter curve than his big swooping curveball so this should make him a more formidable pitcher. Jackson described Stephens to Kerry as "a thinking man's pitcher" and "a real student of the game." (Those are direct quotes that Kerry asked me to share here.)