Career Statistical Update

Hello friends.

Sorry I didn't get this done over the weekend, but familial duty calls. Anyway, here's your updated career statistics, sorted by at-bats. The On-Base, Slugging and OPS stats may be a little wonky because I don't have career sac-fly numbers. But, I think there's enough at-bats to make the differences insignificant.

Enjoy...and I couldn't include everyone's career stats (they wouldn't fit), but if you have an itch that only knowing Mr. Moore's statistical output can scratch, let me know.

Stats:



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Rambone Title Defense Game IV - Sweet to Repeat

Our final game of the 2008 season was nearly a perfect microcosm of the season. Started slow, scratched and battled our way back, and in the end came up with enough clutch hitting and solid defense to prevail.

A second title in as many seasons certainly wasn't a foregone conclusion, with the title tilt coming against the high-scoring JT Rockets, a team that had pretty much mowed every opponent down with a high-powered offensive attack. Early in the season we had split with the Rockets in one doubleheader and been swept in another. Round 2 of the playoffs brought a slaughter for the mighty Bone, but we were rightfully wary of a letdown. A serene confidence enveloped the Rambone squad before the game; not cocky, but certain in our abilities.

Then we fell behind 11-4 after three innings.

Then 12-5 after four.

But with a steely reserve seen only in the bravest of warriors (we're talking those insane Greeks in that 300 movie), the Boners merely gritted their teeth, knuckled down, and went to work. Although the Green and Yellow had produced some prodigious innings in recent games, the bread and butter of our heroes was a slow and steady pace emphasizing getting runners on base and advancing them a step at a time. Each inning Rambone chipped into the lead at the plate, while holding steady in the field. It wasn't our best defensive effort, but we were able to hold strong when it mattered, limiting damage.

Having regained the lead after the top of the 7th, the mission became to record three outs before the Rockets could score three runs. The scarlet-clad enemy was able to tally a single run, but with a soft liner to shortstop, the game was ended and a champion was crowned.

It was Rambone. Again.

This season was difficult at times. Motivation wavered throughout, and it was a struggle to establish any sort of offensive consistency. But, like the veteran and playoff-tested squad we were, when the games truly mattered, we came through. I'm reminded of the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals who had a difficult regular season but were able to put it together at the right time to hoist the trophy at the end.

So, what's next for the Rambone squad? There's been talk of playing fall ball, but nothing's set in stone. Next year will probably require a jump to the Competitive League after two straight Rec League championships. That will be a definite challenge, and one for another captain. The time and effort required to be "in charge" of Rambone is a luxury I will no longer have next summer, so the torch must be passed.

Special thanks to:

- Bri for keeping accurate and legible stats

- DJ for risking life and limb to fulfill the requirement that every team field a pitcher

- Chad for being my go-to guy when we needed players to fill in

- Said fill-in players, especially Jeremy

- Our loyal and ravenous fans: Mrs. J, the lovely and rapidly-expanding Marie, Darcy, Pete, Nice Guy Eddie and Kristin(en), the Sharlows, the Lipsetts, Esteemed Rambone Alumni Dave, whatever parolees Murda dragged to the game, and those I'm forgetting. You make Rambone all Rambone-y.

Great job guys. It was a blast. And a circus.

Final 2008 stats (career stats will be updated this weekend):



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Rambone Title Defense - Game III

Game 3 was, in a lot of ways, classic Rambone. Well, Rambone circa 2007, at least. Last year, the foundation of our title run was solid pitching, steady defense, and timely hitting. To this point, the March to the Ridiculous Trophy II (c) has been based on knocking the crap out of the ball and beating foes into submission. Thursday's semifinal victory featured more of the former than the latter, but the result was the same.

Interesting facts about Rambone's 5-4 win:

1) Only 9 hits were recorded.

2) 5 of the 9 hits were for extra bases, including 3 triples

3) We hit into 4 fielder's choices

4) 8 of our 21 outs involved the Shelter shortstop, who was a pretty slick fielder.

It was by far our tightest game of the playoffs, and maybe the season. Leading by the slimmest of margins going into the bottom of the 7th and having the first two Shelter batters reach base was not ideal, but we managed to wriggle out of the jam without allowing a run to clinch a spot in the Recreational Division Championship Game.

We have two chances to win one against the JT Rockets. We barraged them pretty good last time, and frankly, we embarassed them in front of their significant others, parents, and children. They're going to be ready to play. So will we.

Let's go get that embarassingly huge trophy, gents.

2nd-to-last stat update:



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Rambone Title Defense - Game II

Entering Game II of the March to Glory, there was probably a general feeling that one of three things would happen to Rambone:

1) Get blown out

2) Keep it close, but fall in the end

3) Keep it close, and steal one in the end

What actually happened:

4) We smoked the crud out of them

The JT Rockets pretty much wailed on everyone this year, scoring a ton of runs and making it look easy. And, after three innings, a 6-3 deficit seemed much larger than a mere three tallies. The Rockets would not cross the plate again, thanks to some fine pitching and defense. But what, you ask, of the deficit? Well, as we've been wont to do lately, we strung together a few innings of continuous hitting to pile up runs. It didn't feel like we won 18-6, but we did. Solid victory all around, gents.

Our destiny is now in our hands. We have home field as long as we keep winning. We have a tough test in our next game (7:30 at Memorial), playing Shelter Insurance, a team we have yet to beat. But, as some of us discussed following last night's contest, the Rambone that faced Shelter before is not the Rambone facing Shelter tomorrow.

Stats (did the best I could through the Taco Bell stains BRI):



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Rambone Title Defense - Game I

After last week's impressive offensive display, it was impossible to expect us to be able to hit with the same success, right? Well, as we began our march to our second ridiculously-enormous trophy, we actually were just as successful, just not as spectacular.

We hit like the Rambone of old: less reliant on the dinger (although dingers are admittedly sweeter), more reliant on hit placement, speed, and timing. In a discussion held over adult beverages the other night, we determined that we had actually finally hit our stride. Lack of practice at the beginning of the year, scheduling quirks and rainouts, lack of managerial skill (YEAH RIGHT) all were bandied about as excuses for our early-season struggles, but we seem to have hit our stride at the right time. 15-4 in 4 1/2 innings was the result.

Game II will be a challenge, against the JT Rockets (dudes who can crank it, and CRANK IT). As long as we can hit it where they ain't, play solid defense, and try to keep the ball in the ballpark, we have a good chance.

Stats update:



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Games 26, 27, & 28 - Thrweep

Or, the Sharlow Show. The Shlow. Yeah.

Apology accepted, Andy. I think everyone remembers your rapid stat-posting abilities from last year...well, the three times you actually did it. Nice job forwarding the playoff schedule, by the by. Life-changing events be damned. The Meyers three (plus father, or "the guy who paid for everything") survived their voyage down the Mighty Meramec relatively unscathed, with only horrendous sunburns, scorched retinas from hillbilly ladies in "bikinis", and a water-logged camera considered casualties.

Anywho, the softball. Yeah, so we can hit. Game 1 of the evening was actually the second half of the Monsoon-out from the previous week, and Chairman Jeff Tse-Tung of the People's Republic of the Batavia Park District elected to begin the game from inning one, as opposed to continuing where we left off the previous Thursday. As the Awayboys (MTV Rock & Jock Softball shoutout), we began the game at the plate. 11 runs later, we held an insurmountable lead. Take note of the double-digit inning...we'll be seeing this again. As the game progressed, we went into our usual funk for a couple innings, allowing the opposition to hang around and believe they were actually in the game. Like a 10 year old who found his dad's Swank stash, we were just messing with ourselves...eventually we put the game away in slaughter fashion.

Games 2 and 3 of the night...there aren't words. Well there are, and here they come. Some Ramboners will remember when teams used to just kill the crap out of us with 30 minute innings and dingers galore. We would've easily beaten those teams Thursday night. It was a hitgasm. A dingerpalooza. A runsplosion. We hit until we got tired of holding the bats and running the bases, at which point we would take the field for a couple minutes, record three outs, then go back to hitting and running again. We hit a ton of dingers in the two games, and I can think of at least 4 more warning-track shots. Sharlow hit 4. J Po hit 2. Mike legged out an inside-the-parker. Butts hit a triple. We looked like one of those features they show on that softball program on Comcast of the fat dudes with bad goattees hitting softballs out of major league stadiums. Best offensive output in the distinguised history of Rambone, no question.

But, that was Thursday. The playoffs are now upon us, and it's time to focus. We ended the regular season well, winning our last four to finish at 16-12. Not spectacular, not horrible. But, we may be hitting our stride at the perfect time. Game 1 of the march to the repeat is at Memorial (yay) at either 7:25 or 8:15, depending on what Duncan Excavating does tomorrow night. If they get swept, we get the 3 seed and play early. If they win a game, we get the 4 and play at 8:15. The way the tournament is set up, if we keep winning, we keep getting to play at Memorial. The downside is we have to the play the Rockets game 2 if we end up with the 4 seed and win our first game...at Memorial. It might be a Josh Hamilton-type display if that happens. Time to defend that comically enormous trophy that resides under a foot of dust in Roper's living room.

Stat update:



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Apologies All Around

I am hearby apologizing for Dain for not updating stats after our amazing "Triple Sweep". He was busy paddling down the Mighty Missippi this weekend in a hollowed out log getting bitten by "skeeters." Stats, I'm sure, will be updated as soon as the Malaria clears up.


Also, go see The Dark Knight.