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.