Excuse me, Somerville? I Believe Someone is Knocking on your Door...

What if Somerville didn't win the Championship this year?

What if the Malden Bulldogs weren't trying to surmount Somerville as cockiest team in the YBL?

I saw "it" when the McKay Club faced those Bulldogs last week. That "it" is cockiness. I saw it before the game started when Malden did their full infield/outfield routine. I saw it on their bench, on their players' faces during the game. I heard it in their voices.

They're ready to climb the great Mt. Alibrandi and compete against the most formidable opponent in Yawkey League history. And it doesn't scare them one bit.

Set aside the playoff experience that Somerville has, and their ability to "flip the switch," much like the Detroit Pistons teams of the early 2000's, and Malden is in prime position to knock off the champs from the birthplace of Fluff.

The confidence/cockiness that I had seen in previous years from only Somerville has now made its way farther north into Malden. The Bulldogs are damn good, and they know it. Their swagger this season is unmatched and that's what gives them the legitimate chance at winning it all. Oh, yeah, the pitching staff of Lenny Carter, Adam Del Rio, Evan Tardungo, Mike Steele and Jay Wisner has a bit to do with that too.

With those five arms shouldering the load, Malden's team ERA (1.11), strikeouts (183) and WHIP (1.060) are best in the league and their offense (third in batting, first in runs scored) and defense (best fielding percentage) aren't too shabby either.

It's quite possible that Somerville and Malden could meet in the YBL Championship. Then we would see what wins: the desire to stay atop or the desire to conquer.



Weekly Awards

Mother Nature has once again thrown a monkey wrench into the Yawkey League schedule, as her rain, lightning, thunder, wind and all around meteorlogical tomfoolery have limited the weekly schedule of games. Luckily enough, Sean Gildea was able to stick it in her craw and beat the Brookline Dodgers between thunder cells.

Gildea, the 2006 YBL Cy Young award winner, dazzled on this summer afternoon, fanning 10, allowing five hits and walking only three en route to his second shutout win of the season, a 7-0 decision. In his first start of 2008, the Colby-Sawyer College product shutout West Roxbury, while striking out seven.

His season numbers for a good Medford team are what you'd expect from a pitcher of Gildea's caliber: a 5-2 record, fewer hits than innings pitched, more strikeouts than innings pitched and a K:BB ratio of almost 4:1. His 0.64 ERA is second in the league, his five wins are a tie for first and his 48 punchados are third best, tied with teammate Talal Saleh.

Needless to say, just another notch in a great pitcher's belt of success.

yup, just another complete game shutout. Yawn...



This will be the only week (hopefully) that an offensive player wins Hitter of the Week with only one game played. Jason Recore, batting in the 2-hole for the East Boston Bluefish last week, helped open up the flood gates against the Brighton Braves.

The Blackstone native and Eckerd College alum had a game for himself, going 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored to lead his team to an 11-4 win. The way Recore is swinging this season (.356 BA, 7 RBI in 16 G) is very reminiscent of his 2007 season at Eckerd College (FL) when he hit .307 for the Tritons with 9 doubles and 9 steals.

A lead-off hitter at Eckerd, the 5-foot-9 175-pound second baseman has been hitting in the 2-hole or in front of the clean-up hitter in East Boston's line up this season. His ability to get on-base (.418 OBP) ahead of the Eastie's boppers has been a welcome addition to the Bluefish's order.

With the Fourth of July fast-approaching, not too sure about a report for next week. It's the mid-way point of the Yawkey League's season, so look for my All-Star Break awards next week in place of the regular awards.

Have plenty of fun and take part in drunken debauchery, just don't end up like this guy.