Playoff Spot, Here We Come

“That’s how NOT to give up.”

Rob Linn said it best after Tuesday night’s battle in Brighton with the Braves.

For anyone who watched the first five innings of last night’s game, I’m sorry you saw the worst of it. The McKay Club was seemingly down and out, falling into a 6-1 hole fueled by bloops, errors, bad base running and a lack of energetic, inspired play in the field. After I exited during the fourth inning, my head was low, I’ll admit to it. At the time, we were chasing four runs and it looked like another abysmal night under the lights at spacious Rogers Park.

But in some odd reoccurrence of events, we managed to rally back for yet another come-from-behind-win up in the airy, affluent City of Brighton. Almost two weeks to the day, our very own McKay Club watched a lead ebb away like the outgoing tide to the Black Sox of Brighton, only to come back to win it in the seventh. And much like last night, a late surge was necessary to fuel a must-need win, a win that keeps us in the center of that playoff picture.

It reminds me of Back to the Future II, where Marty is looking at the picture of himself and his family fading quick but he saves the day, watches them reappear on the photograph again and everything is good once again in The Future. We were that family fading away quick, almost totally invisible. Maybe we had an arm or a leg left. That was it. That was until we got saved and reappeared. What a relief…

There were so many heroes last night, I really don’t know where to start. It was a team effort to bring us back into the picture, that’s for damn sure. We were all but off the photo for good after our captain got ejected for, what do you call it exactly, yelling at the umpire? Whatever it was, he was tossed and the game seemed to be going down hill faster than the Jamaican bob sled team. Our boy Nando Trindade wasn’t feeling the bad vibes though, as he launched a liner down the left field line. It rolled, skipped, rolled some more and by the time it stopped, our faux first baseman had himself a three run homerun which cut the lead to 6-4.

It was at that point precisely when our bench got up to congratulate Nando, looked at each other and thought collectively “hey, this game isn’t over, let’s go!” Nando’s first career Yawkey League homerun couldn’t have come at a better time. That awoke the sleeping giant known as the McKay Club. In the blink of an eye, the game was a game again, not just us pretending and going through the motions.

Now I can’t write anymore until I mention the total wildcard of this game, Joe Ceurvels. I don’t know what to say really. Here’s a guy who before last night had thrown one inning all season. One inning. Warming up the other pitchers became a regular activity until last night when Joe came in to get the final two outs of the fourth inning and then proceeded to pitch two hitless innings that we needed more than anything. It takes a lot of patience and dedication to wait 27 games to get a chance to pitch meaningful innings, but Joe did it and last night it was a Godsend.

Last night was a show-me game, and we showed last night. We showed it to our selves once again how to come back and win a game. Dan Ciooca -- who is a bulldog by the way -- showed us all how to tie a game in the top of the seventh inning with a 2 RBI single through the left side of the infield. That gave Ciocca 24 RBI on the season and about 700 clutch hits so far this year. What a beast. Jackie Owens showed us how to win a game, smacking an 0-2 pitch up the middle to drive in the game-winning run in the eighth inning (his biggest hit of the season in my books). And Adam Kulis showed us how to close out a game, going two scoreless innings of relief to get us one win closer to a spot in the playoffs.

What a night at the ball park. Just when you think we’re out of it, we pull you back in. It’s like one of those movies with a stellar cast but a soggy plot. You’re about to shut it off and go watch ESPN News, but then the movie takes a turn for the better and all the sudden your eyes are glued. That’s the McKay Club in a nutshell. We’ll make you cringe sometimes, and maybe once in a while you’ll want to walk away but when it comes down to it, we fight ‘til the end.

And besides, with loud obnoxious individuals like Rob Linn and Chris Deane, why wouldn’t you want to watch us? Tune in next time, Friday night, Ronan Park, 7:30. You just never know what you’re going to see happen.

Two Firsts in One Game For Young Sox Pitchers

It was last night at Jacobs Field in Cleveland that marked the return of Jon Lester. We all know and will always remember his heroic story, his battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and his victory over it.

I am fairly certain in my statement when I say that everyone reading this right now has heard all the details about the disease and how Lester was treated successfully and has made a full recovery. And most of you watched the Red Sox-Indians game last night – maybe not with as much emotion as Jon Lester’s mom – and saw what most Sox fans had been waiting for since spring training: a chance to see Jon Lester pitch in the big leagues again.

Well, there he was last night, the center of attention atop the loneliest circle a baseball field has to offer, surrounded by almost as many Red Sox fans as Indians fans. Lester came through with the win, his first in the Major Leagues since he was diagnosed with Aniplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.

Here was his pitching line: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR. 96 pitches, 55 strikes.

Lester got the win, and all the publicity. Of course he did, and it was well deserved publicity. What he has accomplished was extremely courageous and there will probably be a five minute long, ear-ringing, foot-stomping standing ovation for him when he takes the mound at Fenway Park for the first time since his return. There’s actually a good chance that Fenway will collapse from all the excitement.

But what got lost in the shuffle of Jon Lester’s return in my vision was a 25 year-old fire-baller from right around the corner. West Roxbury, actually.

After logging 79.2 innings of relief for the Boston Red Sox over parts of three seasons, Manny Delcarmen got his first career major league save. Usually this would just be a nice story about the local kid who grew up a Red Sox fan, had talent, got drafted and pitched for the home town team. A dream come true of course.

But for me, my teammates, the other teams and all the alumni of the Yawkey Baseball League, we’re collectively proud of Manny Delcarmen for putting us on the map for future talents that happen to swim through the kettle known as the Yawkey League.

The next time someone happens to ask me or anyone else who happens to play in the Yawkey League, how the talent is, we can say to them:

“You know who Manny Delcarmen is?”

“Yea, the set-up man for the Sox.”

“Well, he played in the Yawkey League when he was 18 years old.”

Now, I wasn’t there to face him, and I’m glad I wasn’t because I may have soiled myself in the process. He was an elite Yawkey League player, but nonetheless, there are still a few guys on my team that can say that they played against him before the spot light shone bright on him.

The key to Delcarmen’s successes this year has been simple. He’s throwing first pitch strikes on a consistent basis and he’s locating his pitches. That’s really all you have to do to be successful at the Major League level. And throwing 95 miles and hour seems to help too.

The point of this is to be proud that you have a chance to play in the Yawkey League. Whether you’re a potential Yawkey league HOF’er, a middle of the road guy or you’re just sitting on the bench waiting for your chance to play, think about who sat down on that very same bench at one point in the past.

And you never know when another Manny Delcarmen or Rich Hill is going to appear in the Yawkey League, leave his impression and give you another name to drop on your friends in the future.

Getting Back Into The Swing Of Things

Drum roll please . . .

Cue the trumpets . . .

I know it’s been a while, but I had to make a grand entrance.

After about a two week hiatus from the time of my last blog post, a lot of teammates of mine were asking about the blog.

Where has it been?, they asked me. ‘It’ has been dormant and now that I am back from a short vacation and finally have the energy to string together coherent thoughts, here ‘it’ is.

Dana, you may have been writing more than I have recently and good for you. But now it’s my turn to write and your turn to read. It’s funny though, because when I was writing more consistently, there was rarely a mention of the blog at the games. From time to time, a comment and a remark about it, but nothing over the top. But over the past week, the questions have been rolling in asking where it is, why I haven’t posted any thing lately. Well, if I knew all of you (mostly my teammates and anybody else who happens to browse over it from time to time) read my blog consistently, I would be more inclined to write on a consistent basis. I love writing these things, but if I knew my readership was this large, it would be that much more inclined (don’t worry Deano, I just deflated my head).

Before I get to my main topic, I would like to thank my coach and the host of The Boston Baseball Heads show, Dave McKay for having me on as a guest this past week. Appearing on television and being able to discuss the game of baseball with him, Medford Maddogs pitcher and statistician Sean Gildea and all around baseball mind Al Ditilio was a fantastic experience and I hope to return to the set of the show and make another appearance. Thank you Dave for giving me the opportunity to promote what I am doing right now, I greatly appreciate it.

Now to the matters at hand, what you’re here for.

Since the Yawkey League All-Star break is upon us, I figured it was time to hand out some mid-season awards to our guys. Even though the McKay Club’s record is hovering just over .500 at 13-11, there is plenty to be happy about in the Land of Awards. We have a few athletes in our midst who have been going above and beyond, proving to both our team and to the entire Yawkey League that our McKay Club has some stardom within it.

In the game of baseball, pitching is key to success. You know that. Actually, why am I even telling you this? You already know it. Well, because it needs to be reiterated. The pitching staff of the McKay Club in 2007 has been pretty good overall with our team ERA under three at 2.91, hovering around the middle of the Yawkey League pack.

But there has been one guy who has stood out for us, and more so in recent weeks. He doesn’t have all the innings, or all the strikeouts, or that extra giddy-up on his fastball that some other pitchers may have. But what he may lack in those categories he more than makes up for in his win-loss record, his ERA and his WHIP (walks + hits / innings pitched). Of all the pitchers that have made significant contributions for the McKay Club this season, Adam Kulis is the only one not to have a loss to his credit.

His record stands at 3-0 in four starts and two relief appearances and his ERA is below two at a stymie 1.81. The numbers that really jumped out at me were the minimal walks and low WHIP. In 27 innings pitched Adam has allowed only five walks and his WHIP is .926, good enough for third in the entire Yawkey League. What also stood out to me was his stellar performance against the East Boston Bluefish and Yawkey League K-man Kyle Jones. In the game, Adam needed only 79 pitches to go the distance in a 1-0 quickie of a game in which he allowed only two hits and one walk. Half way through the season, my pitcher of the year for the McKay Club has to be the soon-to-be married Adam Kulis. Good luck with the wedding Adam, and don’t tighten those shackles too much.

Next up for me has to be the defensive whiz of the team. They say it in some professional sports that defense wins championships. In the game of baseball, defense doesn’t single-handedly win them, but it certainly helps a bunch. The teammate I am choosing for this award is probably the best at his position I have ever had the pleasure of playing with. His range is amazing, his jumps on balls are impeccable and it just seems as though every game he makes at least one play where you have to say to yourself ‘wow’.

What Jackie Owens has been lacking at the plate this year he has more than made up for in his stellar defensive play in centerfield. In 19 games so far this season, Jackie has 28 putouts, the most of our outfielders. He has not made an error, or even come close to one for that matter. To his credit he has collected two outfield assists, but could have more than that. Many teams don’t run on his arm for fear of being gunned down. I for one have been saved by Jackie Owens while on the mound more than once this year and I’m sure most of our other pitchers have as well. So I tip my cap to you, Jack, and I thank you for your top-notch play in the outfield. You are the Defensive Whiz of the 2007 season so far.

Did I mention that he’s got a Gold Glove to his credit as well? Icing on the cake baby.

Now, I left the first half MVP for last because I respect him tremendously and I didn’t want you to know who he was until the end. This guy has been doing it all for the McKay Club this season so far. If you play with us, or have played against us, you probably already know who I’m talking about. You might have seen him at first base. Or maybe it was second? Some may have caught a glimpse of him at short or third. If it was early in the season, you caught him in right field or even on the pitcher’s mound.

Yea, he’s even been there.

Versatility aside, Dan Ciocca has been an offensive force this entire season and his numbers back it up. Through 22 games, number 11 has been number one on the McKay Club. Ciocca is batting .379 while slugging a robust .579 thus far. His 19 RBI, not including last night’s game versus West Roxbury landed him third in the Yawkey League. He is also tied for third in the league with seven doubles and has one mammoth homerun against the tops dogs of the league Somerville.

All the versatility in the infield hasn’t hurt his defense either, as Ciocca has only committed five errors while collecting 35 assists (first on the team) and 34 put outs (second on the team).

The majority of Dan’s RBI’s have been difference makers in games as well. Any time there is a big spot for him to plate a few runs, he’s there to get the job done, just ask the opposing team. Now, some of this credit has to go to the three gentlemen (and it pains me to call them gentlemen by the way) ahead of him in the line-up. Dana Levensaler, Rob Linn and Chris Deane have been getting on base for Danny so he has these RBI opportunities. I know I would have heard it from at least two of them if their names were not mentioned within this piece. Ever since our line up was shuffled to get Ciocca in the clean-up spot, it has been nothing but good news for us and bas news for opposing pitchers. The first half MVP of the McKay Club goes to Mr. Versatility himself, Dan Ciocca. Just don’t let him be your wingman and Tom English’s. Just ask Dana.