Baseball #16

May 1, 2012

Jim Driscoll to Daniel Gould  

DEAR DAN:   FORGET THE CUBS.  THEY STINK.  THEY HAVE ALWAYS STUNK. THEY ALWAYS WILL STINK.

                       YOU ARE A DREAMER.  TRY REALITY.   I KNOW YOU DON'T DO IT POLITICALLY, BUT WHERE THE CUBS ARE CONCERNED, IT FITS.  

May 2, 2012

Daniel Gould to Jim Driscoll  

Hi JD;
 
You mentioned a year ago something about my being an optimist. It's true! A leopard can't change their spots and with an optimist it is even more difficult.
 
But I also pay the odds. I mean, it has been over one hundred years since the Cubs won the big prize;  obviously they are due...And this year will be the year! Kid you not!!!
 
And, also, as I mentioned that when I moved from St. Louis to Chicago I considered it to be a great opportunity to show my love for the game by selecting the Cubs over the White Sox. I like losers if only because they can put on a good show.
 
Sincerely;
 
Dan

May 2, 2012

Jim Driscoll to Daniel Gould  

Gordie Howe once said:   "Show me a good loser....and I'll show you a loser! "

Nuff said..................................JD  

(PS:  Like Obama, I know what you are saying about the Cubs you really don't believe, in your heart.  

  But like The Big O, it sounds good.)  

May 2, 2012

Jim Driscoll to Daniel Gould  

  SCOOP JOHNSON REPORT  

Dateline:  Surrey, BC >>> Wednesday, May 2, 2012:   

ANGELS OPEN SEASON IN A TOUGH WAY   

Mike Richards' 9-10 year-old Angels have found it tough sledding so far early in the baseball season.

To date they have but one win, in their first seven games. Since our last report they've lost 10 - 8,  to the White Sox, and 13 - 1,  to North Langley.  They have been generally out-hit  by opponents, but the coach is confident their bats will warm up soon. So far "Long Ball" Marcus and Josh "The Juice" have been carrying the team offensively. 

Marcus had a 4 for 4 performance in the 10 - 8 loss, including a double and a triple. And Josh and Buddy added 2 hits apiece. 

Camden had but one hit, but added 3 RBI's in the losing cause. Cooper, Josh Harrison and Tyson added singles.  In the 13 - 1 clobbering, the Angels were no-hit by the N. Langley pitching staff, with Ewen scoring the only run (unearned).  

More successful days are surely ahead, or Coach Mike will surely be feeling the heat from the front office.   

PEE WEE WHITE ROCK-ERS BEGINNING TO COME TOGETHER   

The W.R. Pee Wee team has shown some promising signs as they begin to play in the warmer weather of May. On Saturday, 4/28, W.R. defeated Tsawwassen, 10 -8.  Big Sam delivered a first inning 2-run homer to RF, and the team took the cue from there to pound out a dozen hits, leading to the victory. Lead-off batter Jakob also had a big game, getting 3 hits and scoring 3 times. Dawson added 2 singles of his own, while Ryan, Chris, Josh, Liam and Kevin each contributed one hit.  Ryan and Sam shared the pitching chores, with Josh coming in to face the final 5 batters to get the save. On Monday evening the boys visited Richmond and lost a squeaker, 10-9, giving up the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a 2-out, bases-loaded single up the middle. Josh had 2 hits in this one, scoring 3 runs.  Jakob, Dawson, Ryan, Matt, Gavin and Kevin added singles in a losing cause.  

But on Tuesday night, W.R. poured in 8 runs in the second inning, leading to a 10-5 victory over previously unbeaten Cloverdale.

Ryan went the first 4 innings, and Sam finished up ... neither pitcher allowing any earned runs. Ryan registered his 5th win without a loss, as the pitching rotation combo was again successful.  W.R. managed only 4 hits in the game:  Sam's solid double, singles by Erik and Dawson, and the big blow, a 2-run triple by Liam in that big 8-run inning. The team, now at 8 - 4, seems to be coming together , as the May flowers also begin to bloom !  

THUNDER BATS BEGIN TO PRODUCE   

Sammie's fast-pitch Thunder softball team also seems to be warming up, with their bats beginning to come alive.  The team has gone 3 - 3 - 1 since our last report, but definite signs of an improved offense have been seen. Sammie has brought her average up to .290 with some recent timely hits, getting her first 2-hit game last evening in a wild 11 - 11 tie, that ended when a Thunder runner tried to score the winning run on a wild pitch, with 2 out in the bottom of the final inning, but was nailed 2 feet short of paydirt.  The effort was certainly there, if not the feet,  on the home plate!  Olivia led the offense with a single and a triple, and Camille had 3 RBI'S in the game.  

LUCAS 3 ON 3 TEAM SHORT ON PLAYERS, AND GOALS   

Lucas' Team has had personnel problems over the 2 games since our last report, losing 17 - 5 on 4/27, and 19 - 13,  on 4/29.  In the first loss, the team was missing some key players, and then Sam was ejected in the first period for beating up too many enemy snipers, further reducing the team's ability to provide a competitive opposition. Ryan had one of the 5 Lucas Team goals in that one.  In the latter game, they were out-gunned in a wide-open contest, with Ryan (2) and Sam (3) combining for 5 markers.  In both games, the # 1 goalie, namely Lucas himself, was unavailable, and Sam's younger brother, Harris Shoemaker, filled in as netminder, and, in the process, made some magnificent saves. But he was unable to stem the relentless tide of pucks sent screaming in his direction, despite a most commendable overall performance ... a sort of baptism by rubber!  The team hopes to turn things around, beginning in their next game, in one week.  

                                   =========  SCOOP JOHNSON    =========  

May 3, 2012

Daniel Gould to Jim Driscoll  

Hi JD;
 
...And Vince Lombardi said, "Winning is everything!" or words to that effect...But he was wrong too.
 
One could classify Laurel and Hardy and Buster Keaton as perpetual losers, but that never stopped me from enjoying them.
 
Not to mention, in baseball what can make a losing team interesting is the fact that the game itself consist of three divisions: The teams record; hitting records and pitching. As an example, yesterday the Cubs beat Cincy:  Samardzija went 7 2/3 innings, gave up one run and three hits; Castro was 2 for 4 (.340) ; and LaHair hit his 6th homerun and is batting .381. 
 
Love it!
 
Sincerely;
 
Dan

Photo: Bryan Lahair