No More Monkeying Around...2013 is History.
I can't believe it's been almost six months since I posted anything on the Hurtin' Units blog. I guess it took me a while to get over the heart break of the playoffs last season. I really thought we had a solid playoff team despite our mediocre regular season.
Our regular season record (as I have brought up on many occasions) was not as bad as the standings would indicate. Sure we had a 10-13-1 record, but 7 of our losses were by only a single run. We finished the season in 13th position. The standings were close and if we could have turned 2 or 3 of those 1 run losses in to wins, we could have finished as high as 5th position.
Even if we had finished in 5th or 6th, I don't know if we could have gone much farther in the playoffs. There were a lot of distractions at the end of the season. We also had a lot of Hurtin' Units on the team.
We were hit by the injury bug throughout the season and even into the playoffs. Mike O. went down with a knee injury early in the season and it really hurt our lineup. Ricky Bobby almost packed it in, at our practice, with a lower body injury. Phil and Dan had injuries near the end of the season (Dan in the playoffs). Ricky L. was fighting a illness which forced him to miss some playing time mid season and others were beaten up throughout the season.
There were times during the 2013 season we looked like we were going to start to compete and make a run at the teams in front of us, but then the wheels would fall off. Sometimes we just can't predict what is going to happen. We looked great on paper (at the draft), but it was just not our year.
Off the field we were an awesome team! There were very few nights, following our games, that the Legion was not over run by Hurtin' Units. We would crunch down handfuls of chips (or other snacks) and drink down jug after jug of refreshing beverage. We had a wing night ( thanks to Mike's lottery winnings) and we had a lot of laughs with the likes of Hags, Sean Connery and Woody. "I live in a van down by the river" was a favorite line used around the legion.
We may not have had the best baseball season, but it was certainly a memorable season and one that I will remember for years to come. Every new season brings a new group together, I enjoyed playing will the players of the 2013 Hurtin' Units team, and wish everyone the best of luck in 2014. See you on the diamond.
And finally, I should send out a congratulations to the Draft Kings who won the championship vs. the Tap Masters in the finals.
When the season ended in September 2013, I started to finish up the blog, but never quite got back to it. I really had no interest in even thinking about baseball back then (not really sure why), and the playoff games got put on the shelf. I have dusted the games off for posting and I have now closed the books on the 2013 season.
OFF WITH YOUR SLEEVES!
Playoff Game #1.
Hurtin' Units vs. Tap Masters
Hurtin' Units lose 19-15
Wednesday September 11th, 2013
Keogh Park- I mentioned a little bit earlier (in the last posting) that the Units split the season series vs. the Tappers. In our most recent game the Units won by a score of 12-7.
I got exactly what I wanted to start this game! We were the visitors, batting first, and we got out to an early lead. With this early lead came some solid defense to start the game. The only problem was it wasn't a large enough lead and our defense could not hold off the Tappers on their second time batting around.
This was not a collapse of the Hurtin' Units defense, this was a good hitting team crushing the ball and finding the holes. This game reminded me of a good ole fashion street fight, fought to the bitter end, and when the diamond dust finally settled it was the wrong team standing.
In the early innings the Hurtin' Units played solid baseball. We scored 9 runs in the first 3 innings. Our defense was solid over these innings, stopping the potent offense of the Masters, but even though we were stopping them, I could see how hard they were hitting the ball. It took until the 4th inning for the Tap Masters to get through the order, but the second time around they really started to hit.
The Tappers would get a 3 run homerun by Rob Rumboldt, this gave his team a real boost and the I think this was the T.O.T turning point.
The Tap Dancers would chip away at the Hurtin' Units lead and in the bottom of the 6th inning they would take the lead for the first time in the game.
In the top of the seventh inning the Units would score 4 runs to take the lead back at 15-12. Unfortunately, the Units could not hold off the powerful bats of the Masters; the Masters would score 4 runs to win the game and 3 more runs for the plus/minus. Final score 19-15 for the Tap Masters.
Notes:
- Units had 2 homeruns in this game; Phil and Woody both went deep to right field.
- Woody was called out for stepping on the home plate board
- Woody injured his calf muscle
- Ricky L. played 3rd base and was awesome.
- Off with your sleeves? Phil suggested we all cut off our shirt sleeves for the next game, some of us were on board, but not all.
Next game Thursday September 12th vs. Brew Jays.
CROSSIN' THE LINE.
Playoff Game # 2.
Hurtin' Units vs. the Brew Jays.
Hurtin' Units win 24-21
Thursday September 12th, 2013
Keogh Park- I was standing on second base, late in the game, and Jays shortstop Rod D. says to me " do you think Mike will have enough ink in that pen", I laughed and thought to myself, it's a good thing we brought extras. I had purchased a package of pens to give out when we filled out the award ballot sheets.
As for Rod's comment, the ink in Mike's pen was being used up at a good pace. The final score in this game ending up 24-21. Lots of little diamonds were filled in on this game sheet; 45 total runs, a long game and the result the Units needed.
On Wednesday evening, following our loss with the Tap Masters, we were at the legion and everyone was laughing, drinking and snacking, for team that just lost we were really upbeat.
After this game against the Brew Jays, back at the Legion, a lot of bitchin' and chirpin' was going on and I felt like I was hearing most of it. The contrast of the two evenings was incredible. We had just won our most important game of the season, we should have been celebrating. I know all I wanted to do was savour the moment.
The win was great and I was really glad that Woody was able to play after the injury he sustained on Wednesday evening.
The game on the field was another intense battle (they should be, this is the playoffs) and the lead seemed to change every inning.
Going in to the bottom of the seventh, the home team Jays batting, the score was 24-18 for the Units. The Units would bend(er) on this night, but would not break. The final 3 outs came on the infield; Phil made 2 line drive catches and one he doubled up at first for the 3 outs and the Units victory.
Notes:
Ricky Lyon didn't cross homeplate line and was called out.
I threw a ball to first, over the head of Hal.
BK argued Rick Lyon being out; suspended.
Bob Mc. (Jays pitcher, Hurtin' Unit alumni) had a struggle pitching, walking numerous Units batters.
Darrell made several excellent defensive plays in the outfield.
The next Hurtin' Units game is Saturday September 14th at 10:30am.
PLAYIN' THE BLUES... FEELIN' GOOD!
Playoff Game # 3.
Saturday September 14th, 2013
Hurtin' Units vs. Blues Brothers.
Hurtin' Units win 12-5.
Coventry Park- At game time we were missing 2 players; Brian was serving a 2 game suspension and Hal was AWOL. The game had started and Hal was missing. I didn't have my phone, but Mike had an old e-mail and sent him a note. A couple of minutes later could be spotted walking toward the diamond, we moved him down to the bottom of the order.
We were the visitors again in this game and we got off to another good start scoring enough runs to put pressure on the Brothers. The Hurtin' Units defense shut the Blues Brothers down keeping them off the scoresheet. The Hurtin' Units would add more runs in the early innings and in the forth or fifth inning the Brothers finally scored a run on a solo in the park homerun by Chris Nyers.
The Units would continue to play a solid game, but in the bottom of the seventh the Blues Brothers would fight back and score 4 more runs. The Hurtin' Units bent a little, but with a strong glove at third base (Ricky L.) the Units would hold on for a well deserved victory.
The Big Banger Theory.
Playoff Game # 4.
Saturday September 14th, 2013
Hurtin' Units vs. the Dogcatchers.
Hurtin' Units lose 21-9
Coventry Park- The Dogcatchers have been giving teams the league trouble all season long. It's difficult to defend against a team that can knock the ball out of the park on a consistent basis. So it really should come as know surprise that when the dust had settled in this game the score was as lopsided as it was.
This game was played on diamond # 3. There really wasn't much wind to speak of and the ball was just flying off the bats of the Dogcatchers.
The first time through the order was a rough one; the Catchers burned the outfielders on several occasions. The second time around the Units played the big bangers better, but balls still got by us.
The Units offensive was not very good; or maybe the credit should go to the Dogcatchers defensive who really played the Units bats well.
In the end, the Units could not keep pace with the power of the Dogcatchers and the Units would be hard pressed to advance in the playoffs.
It was a waiting game to see where the other teams all finished up in the round robin portion of the playoffs and when it was all said and done the Units would squeak in to the final (10th) position and play an elimination game vs. the Dislocated Joints.
One funny little note from this game was when I came up to bat, the umpire asked me " how did you come up with that name?". I assumed he was talking about my name on my shirt and I said " I took a Jim and I put a mer on the end", to give me JIMMER. I wondered after, if he meant the name HURTIN' UNITS, I guess he figured out the name after umpiring this game.
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD.
Game # 5 , Elimination Game
Saturday September 14th, 2013
Hurtin' Units vs. the Dislocated Joints.
Hurtin' Units lose 17-14
Coventry Park- With 2 wins and 2 losses we managed to finish 10th at the conclusion of the round robin. The top six teams were slotted in the quarter finals, on Sunday, and the next four teams would play elimination games to determine the final two teams in the quarter finals. The Hurtin' Units were up against the Dislocated Joints. The winner would go on to the quarters and the loser's season would be over.
Unfortunately, we could not hold off the potent offense of the Joints. The Joints would tally a bunch of early inning runs and the Units couldn't string together much offensive until later in the game. In the sixth inning, the Units actually took a 12-10 lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Dislocated Joints flexed their muscle again and scored another 5 runs to take a 17-12 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning the Units would score another 2 runs, but it would not be enough and the Joints would advance to the quarter finals. The Hurtin' Units season would come to an end.
There would be no Sunday appearance for the Hurtin' Units in 2013. The Draft Kings and Tap Masters would play there way through to the finals. The Draft Kings lead by Chuck and Stike (first year captains) would go on to win the T.O.T championship. Congratulations Draft Kings.
The next day, I was thinking about how many strange things have occurred this season. I thought maybe the Hurtin' Units have somehow been thrown in to bizzaro world. The Units have played some good games, but are being beat by nickel and dime hits. The team has not thrown the ball all over the field, or made egregious errors, we are just being beat by good seeing eye hits and little flares all over the field. This doesn't happen 5 games in a row in the real world. 
Throw in all the strange events around the start of the season (lights at Keogh, Coventry Park #2 field conditions and rain outs in week #2, the reduction of games on the season) and it all adds up to Bizzaro World. 
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