2016 Sharks Baseball Thread

[johnson2113]

So, I'm behind on cards by about 5 games. We had a tournament this weekend. The first two games on Saturday, they played great and actually got the number 1 see and a bye first thing in the morning.

The Sunday game was something else. We played against a tryout team. They have a sponsor and you can't get on the team unless you tryout. We had already beat them once earlier this season. Unfortunately some of the team didn't show up to play and we lost. That's not the problem. None of the family members are tough on the kids for losing. We all want them to play their best, the problem was with the other team's coaches. And a non-coach.

We have two players next to each other in the lineup. Numbers 4 and 5. The head coach mixed the numbers up and in the middle of our comeback, in the middle of our rally the other team's scorekeeper came out and start raising holy hell. "YOU GOT YOUR LINEUP OUT OF ORDER!"

My brother in law was in charge of running the dugout this game and if there is anybody on this planet who is going to make sure everything is in line, it is him. No one hit out of order, just the numbers were wrong. The Sharks got thrown off by this and our rally started to fall flat.

So this scorekeeper comes over to our side, I'd say he's about 6'2" and starts getting our scorekeeper's face. She's about 5'1". Oh yeah and she's her mother's daughter, Kelby's wife, my sister and Bub and Ryanne's mom. She's like a silo filled with 5 year old black cats and the fuse is down inside the firecracker. He's damn lucky because the only thing between them was a dugout fence full of baseball bats.

Then later in the game one of the Sharks hit the ball to the pitcher, it hit the ground, the pitcher threw it to first and got the runner out. The umpires did a poor job and weren't paying attention. One of our Sharks on base thought he was out so he went to the dugout and then came back out. The other team's coaches started throwing a fit about him leaving the field and coming back out. This cheap, petty garbage didn't go over to well with everyone on our side.

[johnson2113]

But on the bright side my main man hand one hell of a game. He played at the pitcher's positioned and grabbed anything near him and then at catcher he got another great popup out. Made an amazing play on a wild throw from the outfield, threw that helmet off, scooped the ball and chased the runner back to third.

Now, I'm going to say something I've been trying to justify myself and not seem biased. I think I am justified in my feeling about it now.

I'd say there's 4 tiers of players on our team.

The bottom tier - Boys that didn't really seem to care, don't want to be there, and have no interest in progressing. 4 players

The middle tier - I see these guys progressing. One of them is the 110% player, he tries harder than almost any kid out there. Another kid has the skill set to play his role perfectly and the other two, just need to calm down a bit. They just start thinking too fast and make some mental errors, but great players. 4 players

The top tier - Rarely do I see them make errors. Great instincts, great effort, great play. 4 players

I don't know what to call this tier, tier - 1player I try to base it on the performance I've seen from anyone at his position. Every team we've played so far, most of their worst players play his position, good teams, bad teams, tryout teams. It doesn't matter. None of them put in the hustle he does, and the effort they give doesn't compare to him. We've all thrown him popups to practice, I'm throwing as hard and as high as I can and he gets better every time.

I have heard a number of coaches say they haven't seen a catcher, catch a popup. I've seen a catcher do it, twice. Those coaches today may have been real A-Holes, but they were complimenting him the whole game. They were hunting him down after the game to compliment him. I won't be surprised to see some of the teams try to recruit him to play for them. I've seen some excellent players out there, he's head and shoulders above any of them. I could see he was going to be a good player, he's exceeded my expectations beyond what I can begin to imagine. I didn't think he would be the best player on the team, he is hands down the best catcher in his division.

[johnson2113]

Other teams may have sponsors but we have a mascot.




Yolanda, what was Fonzie?

[johnson2113]

This is the one ball he didn't grab this weekend, but he was right on it, just a half step short!

[johnson2113]

A bit of a wild throw from left field, no worries though, the second fastest player on our team is only the second fastest when he is wearing his catcher's gear. I told my folks' Salvy was faster in his catcher's gear to soak the Royals player of the game than anyone else on the field and they thought that was hysterical. I don't think they realized that their little Slavy was that fast as well.



I like to call this base runner's face, the "Oh $hit face, because no catcher in the league is that good!", face.


Just get on back to 3rd base, home plate is mine!


And if you know what is good for your team, don't foul it off!


Let me settle under it!


Go back to the bench!

[johnson2113]

I think the last three games have been rained out! I need some Sharks baseball!!!

I was in the northeast last week, we had planned to be home before our big rivalry game last Thursday. We got delayed on our flight out, got stuck in Philly for 5 hours and didn't make it home. Luckily the game was rained out!!! I was following the App for our fields hoping I wouldn't miss this HUGE (Yuuuuge ) game!!! I didn't but I'm hoping we don't get rained out this week!

[johnson2113]

What a gorgeous night for some baseball. Royals played, OK, Sharks played like they wanted to, like they needed to, like they had to. Bats were on fire, base runners were moving faster than my camera could shoot, defense was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. What a great game by our Sharks.

Let me tell you, blood was in the water and it was a FEEDING FRENZY in Kansas tonight!!!

And we got a new member of the Master Blaster club!!!!!

[johnson2113]

Ok, so I'm going through game pictures. I have two games to go through right now and the second game is processing.

Bad game last night, should have won, don't need to go into it.

The rumor swirling around on the Coconut Telegraph right now is that we will have 3 boys on an All-Star game. One of those boys will be, OUR, the Sharks, my Sister and Brother in Law's son, Papa and Nene's grandson, Ryanne's brother, my nephew, BuffettNews' favorite catcher.

What I'm hearing right now is he will be playing in the All-Star game, he might get an All-Star game RING, and who knows what he gets if they w in. I have no idea what is going on right now.

I'm just a picture taker

[johnson2113]

So, the Coconut Telegraph is in a Feeding Frenzy and we DO have 3 All Stars!

Bub "told" me he was playing in the All-Star game this summer!!! Mom and Dad told him the news and he shared it this weekend. We went to the old school baseball field where his Mom and I played as kids. I think I got his confidence up to hit a homerun, but his defense is definitely what got him into the All-Star game!

[lime rickie]

The rumor swirling around on the Coconut Telegraph right now is that we will have 3 boys on an All-Star game. One of those boys will be, OUR, the Sharks, my Sister and Brother in Law's son, Papa and Nene's grandson, Ryanne's brother, my nephew, BuffettNews' favorite catcher.

[LIPH]

The rumor swirling around on the Coconut Telegraph right now is that we will have 3 boys on an All-Star game. One of those boys will be, OUR, the Sharks, my Sister and Brother in Law's son, Papa and Nene's grandson, Ryanne's brother, my nephew, BuffettNews' favorite catcher.

When I played little league baseball, I was a catcher. I made the All-Star team my second year but they made me play first base instead of catcher in the All-Star game because I'm left handed. I was 10 years old so I didn't argue with the coach.

[johnson2113]

The rumor swirling around on the Coconut Telegraph right now is that we will have 3 boys on an All-Star game. One of those boys will be, OUR, the Sharks, my Sister and Brother in Law's son, Papa and Nene's grandson, Ryanne's brother, my nephew, BuffettNews' favorite catcher.

When I played little league baseball, I was a catcher. I made the All-Star team my second year but they made me play first base instead of catcher in the All-Star game because I'm left handed. I was 10 years old so I didn't argue with the coach.

That's brutal!!!

That goes to a problem I have. These Sharks have been settling into positions they like and they are getting moved around too DAMN much!

I haven't been involved in all the off time so Bub played 3rd the other night. I haven't seen him play anything other than 2nd, pitcher and catcher. I guess they practiced him there, though.

They've also practiced a lot of them team at pitcher. My BIL was telling me the other night after Bub pitched one of the coaches said, "Well, we found our pitcher." I just don't know how he is going to pitch and catch at the same time.

He had a great game the other night. A big double that drove in a couple of runs. His big problem is the time in between. He bruised and twisted an area all of us fellars don't need to discuss.

He is back on his game though.

Got a big game tomorrow morning and a birthday party! It's going to be an insane year! I'm done thinking this is anything but out of my complete and total control!

[johnson2113]

Back towards the end of May I was out of the state. I had everything lined up turhat I could be back in time for the Sharks vs Bulldogs. It was going to be back in time for the Sharks vs Bulldogs. Our biggest rivalry. Our 3rd game of the season. Our rubber gam e of the season.

I was in Maine and our flight in Maine was delayed do to mechanical problems. I spent the next 6 hours in Philadelphia after missing our flight home by about 15 minutes. Luckily tornadoes were dropping all over the place and the game against the Bulldogs was postponed.

Our rubber game against the hated villains, against the worst eight year olds and the worst coaches in the league was postponed.

Last weekend was that makeup game.

The Feeding Frenzy was out in full force and we beat those Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth inning!!!

We have two more regular season games that are interfering with the Guns N Roses concert. I think I'll be able to get one game in of the double header and then our minor league photographer will be running the show. Our head coach dropped the ball on rescheduling the game. So we have a weeknight doubleheader followed by a full season State Championship Tourney!

What?!?!?

Not to mention I'll be out of town photographing another event and then back in town photographing an event then a Sharks game, then drinking myself stupid at Guns N Roses and then a state tourney and then the 4th o July?!!?!?

Well, all I know is the Sharks wanted beat their rivals the Bulldogs and they did.

The Sharks wanted to win!


But they still show the best Sportsmanship in the league at the State Tourney!

[lime rickie]

That is one badass little dude.

[tailgaitingph]

The Feeding Frenzy was out in full force and we beat those Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth inning!!!

Good job Sharks!!

[johnson2113]

That is one badass little dude.

He gets his team fired up!

The Feeding Frenzy was out in full force and we beat those Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth inning!!!

Good job Sharks!!

Thanks!

I'll pass this along to the team!

[johnson2113]

Wednesday night was the last regular season games. A double header and several of us missed the second game for the GNR concert.

The team has been playing great, everywhere! Absolutely crushing the ball.

This weekend is supposed to be the state tournament.

It started on Thursday. We had two games on Friday and we were supposed to have one this morning. The apocalyptic rains, we were supposed to get didn't really happen. All day it wasn't raining and the fields kept putting off games until about 2:00PM. GAMES ON!!! About 15 minutes later they cancelled everything.

So right now as things stand we are playing Sunday morning. Starting pool play Sunday afternoon, and finishing up on Monday. Fireworks are out of the picture, floating in the pool and drinking beer is out of the picture. Let them play, let them play in the rain, let them play in the mud!

[johnson2113]

Ok, Parrotheads!!!!!! I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. I went over to 7-11 and stocked up on 5 Hour Energy and tobacco in the middle of a downpour and a hot lightning storm, thank God, I'm so fit I could run over there and back. Oh yeah I stopped off at the liquor store, too! If I'm going down, I'm going down fighting!

So the schedule is to finish out seeding play tomorrow morning then move into "Pool Play", in the afternoon. I've got Billy Ray's Bloody Mary recipe chilling in the fridge! I've got Fins LIVE from KC on repeat, then I'm going to Motley Crue!!!!! The speaker is charged, it's going tomorrow!!! I've invested entirely too much time, too many pictures, too may photographing calluses on my hands to not be the biggest cheerleader.

So if you, my extended Feeding Frenzy, my Parrothead brothers and sisters, my awesome extended lovers of the Sharks *shhh* extra grandparents, great-uncles, great-aunts, great-family, friends, the people I love as much as my closest friends, my family!!! If you could and are awake at 9:45 Central time throw up since FIN POWER for OUR Sharks, we sure could use it to make sure we continue the hot streak we're on and chase the rain away!!!

[lime rickie]

Sending tons of MA phin power for the Sharks. May you have a Feeding Frenzy!

~~/)~~/)~~/)~~

[johnson2113]

Sending tons of MA phin power for the Sharks. May you have a Feeding Frenzy!

~~/)~~/)~~/)~~

THANKS!