tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12921617455801732902012-02-16T06:16:54.219-05:00Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-21340553008555399872009-06-18T13:18:00.012-04:002009-06-18T14:43:53.008-04:00

When names like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Bobby Orr and Jim Brown are brought up, what comes to mind? I'd venture a guess that topics such as shooting your self in the leg, dog fighting, womanizing, and other random sexual transgressions aren't first. For me, these great athletes that our fathers grew up reading about in the newspaper and seeing on TV were iconic

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-42251439476537049202009-06-05T13:20:00.001-04:002009-06-05T18:26:40.889-04:00

Question for you: what do Nick O'Keefe, Brian Curran, Adam Kulis, Jim Farrell and Brian Millea have in common?Answer: earlier this week, they all plunked one batter or more in South Boston's 9-5 win over the McKay Club. It was a weird game that saw a first inning grand slam by Kent Anderson, some poor base running and flaring tempers.While it was fun on the bench, trying to figure out what

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-17657137644435430042009-02-06T10:37:00.000-05:002009-02-06T11:14:17.150-05:00

If you haven't been here in a while, no need to worry – nothing has changed. There have been no aesthetic changes to the Yawkey League News and Action blog.But now, in the doldrums of February, with snow blanketing our splendid playing surfaces and the bitter cold freezing nipples at an alarming rate, there is news coming from the bowels of the YBL. As many of you probably already know, the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-67540522879182350282008-08-17T22:56:00.000-04:002008-08-17T23:23:06.854-04:00

As a silhouette of oranges, pinks and blues cascaded across the evening sky in left field at Trum in Somerville, you could sense that a great game would ensue. The Alibrandis would not go quietly into the night, down one games to nothing in a best of three series against the Bluefish of East Boston.It took only one lucky hop for Somerville to find it's bearings and beat the Bluefish 4-1 in front

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-8343455796255229332008-08-17T11:35:00.000-04:002008-08-17T11:39:01.554-04:00

Now that’s the way baseball playoffs should be: Crisp, quick and full of pitching duels. I love pitching. Especially great pitching. The winning pitchers in the game ones (Sandini, East Boston; Tenney, South Boston; Del Rio, Malden; Christina, Brighton Brewers) combined for 26 innings. Only 12 hits were surrendered and no runs or earned runs were allowed by the fantastic foursome.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-64060061240140217022008-08-11T17:36:00.000-04:002008-08-11T18:36:50.926-04:00

With weather that Seattle residents and the Irish are used to, I figured a few photos of worse scenarios would be a good way to uplift the spirits of the Yawkey League faithful.Check these out:This is a Field in Zionsville, Indiana. This is the wretched destruction that happened in May of 2002.And you thought Ronan Park had pooling water...Speaking of Ronan Park... This photo was taken by

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-2039221755343998412008-08-07T13:46:00.000-04:002008-08-07T16:34:47.336-04:00

With all but one playoff spot sewed up (thanks again, Mother Nature), I figured it was time to preview a few of the upcoming playoff match-ups, compare teams and make first-round predictions.The first round should be like a UFC fight: quick, and fun to watch.first up . . .#2 Somerville Alibrandis vs. # 7 Revere Rockies2007's Champion takes on a team that got bounced in the first round last season

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-36183066075917611362008-07-31T15:06:00.000-04:002008-07-31T17:38:07.179-04:00

Prior to July 14, the last time Eamonn McDonough threw a pitch in the Yawkey League was the last time we were this upset with Manny Ramirez. On August 5, 2006, McDonough, the Medford Maddogs' ace at the time, pitched against the Revere Rockies and was hit hard, allowing five runs on 14 hits over seven innings. He absorbed that 5-2 loss and the 14 hits he allowed (a career-high through two-plus

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-49332799697161818392008-07-23T17:14:00.000-04:002008-07-23T17:50:16.498-04:00

If Yawkey League umpires were as good as MLB umpires, then they wouldn't be in the Yawkey League, they'd be at Fenway, Wrigley or Petco Park doing games there.I know the umpires in this league can be frustrating and they leave something to be desired, but you have to play the hand you're dealt. It sucks at the time, I know. We've all been through it at one time or another, but just keep your

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-23336453337781792312008-07-22T15:18:00.000-04:002008-07-22T18:00:12.476-04:00

Two teams with histories that couldn't be any different. One team with a storied history, one trying to make its own.Somerville wrote the YBL book on winning championships, while Malden is looking for their own chapter. Only their second season in the Yawkey League, the Bulldogs have put a strangle hold on the number one seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs thanks to their 22-

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-82737843740488899892008-07-03T16:18:00.000-04:002008-07-03T18:28:29.220-04:00

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

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-34928230846854116772008-06-25T15:41:00.000-04:002008-06-25T18:22:26.642-04:00

Idiot Nation.You all know what I'm talking about. 2004. The biggest come back ever. Kevin Millar's Jack Daniels shots. Pokey's flip. Mientkiewicz's own hidden ball trick. Johnny Damon's hair.The players involved in the Red Sox' 2004 World Series victory had the most chemistry, camaraderie, togetherness, stick-to-it-iveness, goofiness and team-wide buffoonery that I have ever seen in my

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-47398846495676759602008-06-17T15:22:00.000-04:002008-06-18T15:44:02.734-04:00

I thought popularity contests ended in high school.But they didn't. I've learned this as I've matured; that life is full of popularity contests and a great example of this is voting for any All-Star team. In particular, for Major League Baseball's All-Star teams.Just because Japan's population is roughly 137 million (holy crap sprawl!), that doesn't give them the right to overload MLB.com with

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-67888366684906195012008-06-10T17:01:00.000-04:002008-06-10T17:08:06.039-04:00

Nick O'Keefe returned to action for the first time in over two weeks, and everything went well. Well, maybe not if you ask him.Nick, being the young, over-zealous whacked-out left-handed pitcher that he is, wanted to continue pitching but after four innings of two-hit, four strikeout baseball and the Beacons having a sizable cushion in the run column, the youngster's evening was through.O'Keefe

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-27463834090048404002008-06-10T14:59:00.000-04:002008-06-10T17:00:29.021-04:00

The old adage in Major League Baseball used to be that experience and service time were more valuable to a team than youth, potential and the exuberance that young (early 20s) players brought to their teams.That may have been true at one point, even as recently as three or four years ago. But once drug testing became prevalent, MLB cracked down on the use of amphetamines by players and the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-21491990705177133092008-06-03T16:15:00.000-04:002008-06-03T17:30:39.284-04:00

Life is busy. We all work for a living, or at least for the summer, those of us in college. Mix work with playing baseball, enjoying life and acting like a college student, and you've got yourself a schedule busier than Bono's.The point here is that I haven't been holding up my end of the bargain. How are you supposed to enjoy and laugh at my writing when it's not there? My point exactly.Now

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-26057566068191726962008-05-14T15:25:00.000-04:002008-05-14T16:24:36.154-04:00

And in the process, beat Revere, 12-3 behind a bevy of walks and a hefty nine-run first inning at Maplewood Park in Malden.After missing the playoffs by three points in 2007 (even though they won 9 out of their last 10 games), the Bulldogs are off to a quick 2-0 start in 2008, outscoring Revere and the Brighton Black Sox a combined 15-2."I think we have the best offense in the league," veteran

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-46265235057909149042008-05-13T00:43:00.000-04:002008-05-13T01:09:39.430-04:00

The Beacons started off 2008 with an under-aged Nick O'Keefe throwing slow curves, "nasty" knuckle balls, according to catcher Andy "Deuce" McAllister and a well-spotted fastball. The Anna Maria College freshman, who was 2-2 with a 4.33 ERA in six games this season for the AmCats, fanned 10 in his Yawkey League debut.O'Keefe walked only one and scattered six hits over six innings before giving

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-48177434772637100942007-08-09T12:27:00.000-04:002007-08-09T13:03:53.950-04:00

"Swing and a pop up . . ."I can hear Joe Castiglione's voice in my head. That's how it ended for the McKay Club this season. On a pop up to the shortstop. 35 games, three-plus months, and a multitude of emotions later, I have to say with some gusto that I had fun this year. Sure, we didn't even make the playoffs. We went 19-16. Ask Rob Linn, Chris Deane, or anybody else on the team and they

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-49954229002265070132007-07-25T15:45:00.001-04:002007-07-25T15:45:54.075-04:00

“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

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-1982150889922792982007-07-24T16:11:00.000-04:002007-07-24T17:53:48.870-04:00

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

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-75610631388830323462007-07-14T12:30:00.000-04:002007-07-14T12:31:56.077-04:00

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

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-84353216622635050862007-06-27T15:47:00.000-04:002007-06-27T15:48:43.492-04:00

A Yawkey League-leading 1.01 team ERA. A .949 fielding percentage, third best in the league. 16 wins, 0 losses. It doesn’t take Albert Einstein or Johannes Kepler to determine which team these stats belong to. Do I even need to say it? For the purpose of this space, I have to. They belong to the Somerville Alibrandis. On the other hand, take a peak at these stats… A .320 team

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-70912048976378816542007-06-18T16:59:00.000-04:002007-06-18T17:14:44.307-04:00

Note: names have been left out to avoid embarrassment.You guys know who you are. It was your average night at the bar. Chatter and background music filled the air as the fresh scents of draft beer flowed through the dimly lit watering hole. It was late in the evening, after midnight when an ordinary evening in an ordinary bar turned into a classic moment to be remembered. After

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-44542520049962756442007-06-10T11:29:00.000-04:002007-06-10T11:30:56.197-04:00

Time for a bit of Yawkey League house cleaning here on the Boston Boy’s Sports Page. Not even a month and a half into the 2007 Yawkey League season, we have already seen one no-hitter by Sean Sullivan of the McKay Club Beacons. He threw against the Cambridge Spinners, striking out 11 in his seven innings of no-hit work. On Saturday afternoon at damp, cool Trum Field Marc DesRoches threw the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-34460604664151179062007-06-08T15:36:00.000-04:002007-06-08T15:41:01.479-04:00

On the 63rd anniversary of D-Day, a defining moment in American history, representatives from all branches of the military congregated in Roslindale to remember those who have fallen in years past, but also to hear two words that everyone was familiar with: “Play Ball!” On Wednesday night Fallon Field hosted an annual All-Star game that pitted the best of Boston’s Yawkey Baseball League

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-87325766744538516382007-06-04T16:05:00.000-04:002007-06-05T17:17:30.416-04:00

June 3rd. A Sunday evening. One would think that in Boston, you could relax for a few hours watching a good ole’ Yawkey League baseball game in just a shirt and pants, maybe a jacket if there was a breeze blowing off of Dorchester Bay. Not last night though. If I were to look behind me into the bleachers last night, I would have seen two girls huddled up in a blanket like a couple hotdogs.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-33021016972137477572007-05-29T16:05:00.000-04:002007-05-29T16:08:29.988-04:00

Well then, back to business as usual. Memorial Day has come and gone. And what a Memorial Day it was. In Boston, we saw weather with timing as impeccable as the Boston Red Sox offense. And speaking of those Red Sox, they just keep sweeping right along as the New York Yankees keep getting swept away. I’m sure that McKay Club outfielder Dana Levensaler won’t be too happy about the Yankees

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-78953559246798012472007-05-11T14:44:00.000-04:002007-05-11T14:46:03.067-04:00

As I sat on the bench at Trum Field in Somerville Tuesday night I had a chance to reflect back somewhat on last season. The weather was nice on Tuesday night, somewhat windy and partly cloudy. And dry. Ask anyone who was there, they saw the dustbowl-esque clouds of faux infield blowing around making the air cloudy and the view impaired. For whatever reason, after I made my appearance in the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-66600069974433935332007-04-25T13:11:00.000-04:002007-04-25T14:02:47.359-04:00

It's just that time of the year. That time of the year when cabin fever begins to set in. That first warm, sunny, breeze swept day where you want to tie up your spikes, throw your hat on, dust off your glove and start throwing, preparing for the season that should prove to better than the last.I’m Ryan Thomas and I live for this time of the year. The Red Sox are in full swing and my team, the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-79472164954649156602007-04-24T11:22:00.000-04:002007-04-24T12:04:03.865-04:00

The inaugural posting for The Yawkey Baseball League and The McKay Club Beacons will be arriving shortly. Don’t go Alec Baldwin on me, calling and leaving threatening messages, you’ll get to read about all the going-ons of my dysfunctional, yet well-balanced team soon enough. But until then, please make it to practice, the games aren’t won in front of the TV or computer reading my blog.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-49853589145776934762007-04-09T16:02:00.000-04:002007-04-09T16:04:27.686-04:00

Mariano Rivera. Joe Nathan. Francisco Rodriguez. Jonathan Papelbon. What do all of these men have in common? If you guessed that they all drive expensive cars, you are incorrect. The four pitchers identified will be their team’s Most Valuable Players at the end of the season. (Sorry A-Rod, Justin Morneau, Vlad Guererro and Big Papi). The glitz and glamour of the Big Leagues is in the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-34739098251144024622007-03-31T11:35:00.000-04:002007-03-31T13:59:42.645-04:00

Expectations can be overwhelming, especially in a city full of passionate fans such as Boston. Expectations can be derived from many different aspects. Many fans set the expectations bar high when a free agent signs a bulky contract. ‘Can he live up to the worth of it’? they ask. Expectations don’t necessarily need to be connected to the almighty dollar sign. In many cases, these

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-20545040589830722772007-03-26T16:28:00.000-04:002007-03-26T16:30:24.639-04:00

Monday March 26 is usually just another day of spring training. Not for Red Sox fans such as myself. Daisuke Matsuzaka is taking the mound today for a his second-to-last start before his regular season-debut in Kansas City. The weather here in Boston is crappy, but in my heart it feels 85 and sunny because I know how good Dice-K is. 1:08: First pitch to Julio Lugo. Lugo is

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-46733973964549990392006-11-20T17:13:00.000-05:002006-11-20T17:19:14.216-05:00

The Boston Celtics started their season an abysmal 1-6. but have won three straight games. How many games can the Celtics win this season? Throw some numbers at me!

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-33351953272033991172006-11-20T12:58:00.001-05:002006-11-20T15:04:06.030-05:00

I couldn’t have asked for a better Monday. Not only is this a three-day work week with a self-indulging football-filled Holiday, but The Boston Sports Scene is rumbling along like a Tanker Truck on the Mass Pike.The New England Patriots shut out a team on the road for the first time in 20 years.The Boston College Eagles won their game vs. Maryland on Saturday, and along with a Wake Forest loss,

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292161745580173290.post-43645172627388253972006-11-20T12:58:00.000-05:002006-11-20T15:04:04.202-05:00

I couldn’t have asked for a better Monday. Not only is this a three-day work week with a self-indulging football-filled Holiday, but The Boston Sports Scene is rumbling along like a Tanker Truck on the Mass Pike.The New England Patriots shut out a team on the road for the first time in 20 years.The Boston College Eagles won their game vs. Maryland on Saturday, and along with a Wake Forest loss,

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695713552392808631noreply@blogger.com0