‘08 AGAIN?
Near-Full Compliment of Cannons Not Enough as Guns Fail to Fire Against Nats
West Hartford, CT (AP)—Mulligan movies: Films in which a character is given the chance to go back in time in order to do things all over again, to see what life would have been like with as little as a simple change here or there. 17 Again, starring High School Musical’s Zac Efron as Mike O’Donnell, the latest in a long line of do-over pictures (see: Steven Spielberg’s Back to the Future trilogy, a post-Bosom Buddies Tom Hanks in Big, a pre-posterous Lindsay Lohan in Freaky Friday, the incomparable Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, the Jimmy Stewart holiday staple It’s a Wonderful Life, chick flicks, such as Never Been Kissed, Peggy Sue Got Married, 13 Going on 30, et al) was America’s number one box office draw in its first full week of wide release (April 17-April 23). What pulls people to these types of films is that they allow the protagonist to ponder life, the priorities placed upon it and, eventually, to spiritually transcend certain unpleasant situations through self-improvement (an escape from purgatory or a rebirth in Catholicism; selflessness or a reincarnation in Buddhism and Hinduism). Characters overcome personal shortcomings while looking inside themselves realizing that life’s true satisfaction comes from turning outward and concerning oneself with others rather than concentrating solely on one’s own wants and needs. The Connecticut Cannons had seventeen players available under a sultry springtime sun this weekend against the Hartford Nationals but it wasn’t enough and after two tough losses, 4-1 and 8-5, the team would most certainly welcome a mulligan—Carl Spackler: It’s a little harsh. Here cannonball it…cannonball it right back…and then one more time…he’s right on top of it. Cannonball! Cannonball coming, cannonball coming. Ty Webb: No! Carl, can I have a drop…just a drop for myself. That’s fine for me, that’s good.—as it stares up from near the cellar of the CNMSBL A Division standings (scores from the weekend have not all been reported). Is this 2008 all over again, when Newington’s true team amassed tremendous talent during the off-season, but still struggled to a 1-3 start (and worse)? Cannons Manager Matt Celio hopes not: “To be honest, I’ve been pretty pleased with our efforts as a whole to this point. Offensively we are ahead of the game and we have a number of players who are off to fast starts with the bats, something we’ve sorely lacked in past campaigns. We’ve used four pitchers on each of the first two weekends and we’ve had some success. I’d like for us to cut down on the errors [thirteen] and free passes [twenty-three], especially against hard hitting clubs like Hartford and Winsted, because we are making it easier on our opponents to push runs across while taxing our arms by forcing pitchers to waste bullets unnecessarily. It’s a long season and we certainly haven’t pushed the panic button just yet but you can’t get swept in too many of these series because it’s never too early to think playoffs and positioning is more important than ever with the addition of the Wild Card weekend [the league’s bottom four seeds will square off in early August to determine which two teams will move one step closer to capturing the coveted Clarke/Clinton Trophy]. We’re better than our record shows but it’s time to make the rest of the league aware of this fact. Bristol better bring their “A” game.”
Game One was a match-up of two of the league’s premier pitchers, Hartford’s Kevin “Inc.” Rival and Connecticut’s Mike “Old Man of the ‘C’” Patenaude. Righty versus lefty, youth versus experience, killer instinct versus craftiness, tattoos versus Tylenol. Star centerfielder Jason Maule gave the Nation reason to cheer as he led off the game with a deep double against Rival and moved to third on a Bill Balcerzak ground out to the right side. The burly righty then uncorked a fastball that bounced by John “Issue Number One” McLaughlin, allowing the fleet-footed Maule to cross the plate with the game’s first run. Unfortunately for the Cannons, this marked the only time they were able to score as Rival used his plus fastball peppered with off speed pitches to keep the Cannons big bats off balance, striking out at least one batter in every frame on his way to a fifteen punch out complete game performance. Patenaude was nearly as masterful in six innings of work, allowing two runs in each of the first two frames as errors came back to bite Connecticut as they did in the Opener in Week One. Rival ran into trouble in the fourth as the Cannons mounted their best threat, loading the bases with nobody out on a Tom Luby single, a Tom Clark walk, and a Juan Checo base hit, but Drew “Louisiana Fast” McDowell grounded sharply into a 1-2-3 double play and Kevin Quinn went down on strikes to ruin a potential rally. Patenaude (6 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP), wowed the Nats with his work, allowing just one hit over the final four frames but on this day the ageless wonder would simply have to tip his cap to his counterpart who also surrendered just five knocks. “We ran into a buzz saw today,” posited Patenaude. “The kid tossed a gem, threw hard, was right around the plate, and showed why he is a solid pick up for Hartford. That being said, we were right in the game and with a play here or a bounce there we could walk away with a win. The Nationals are a good team but the Cannons are every bit their equal and I hope we get another chance to prove this fact (the two teams are in opposite divisions, meaning a postseason scenario is the only option here).”
Game Two pitted Ricardo “Cosa Salvaje” Vaughñó against Jim “JY Jelly” Yanosy, and it was déjà vu all over again for Connecticut as Maule doubled and scored on a Luby single in the top of the first. Yet the lead was short-lived as Leo Dionicio overthrew first on a two-out ground ball to second and the miscue was followed by former Orioles farmhand Basilio Ortiz’s tater to center as Maule ran out of real estate and tumbled over the tornado fencing, putting the Nats on top, 2-1 after one. Yanosy (2+ IP, 8 R, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 K, 1 BB) was touched for another unearned tally in the second and five additional runs without recording an out in the third as walks, errors and homers led to an early exit. “Jimmy once again gave us everything he had,” said Assistant Manager Mike Weber in a post-game interview with members of the media. “He’s a solid pitcher who is always going to be around the plate. He’s thrown well in his two outings so far this season but he doesn’t have much to show for it [though the Cannons did win his other start on Opening Sunday). Bad luck as balls that are routine outs in almost any other ballpark dropped just out of reach of our outfielders for jacks. The team has liked what we’ve seen from Jim to this point—his mental toughness, ability to perform on baseball’s biggest stage, and versatility with the leather and the lumber—and we expect him to have a huge impact on our future plans both in 2009 and beyond.” Patenaude (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K), it comes as no surprise, was able to enter for an inning of relief, getting a strike out and a double play to limit the damage. Connecticut responded with a run in the fourth on a Luby double, his first extra base hit since returning from back surgery that cost him the entire ’08 campaign, and a Clark RBI two-bagger. The reigning Cannons Patenaude Pitching Award winner took over from the legendary left-hander a pitched a scoreless fourth and the visiting team’s bats were back at it in the top of the fifth. McDowell walked (one of three times he reached on a free pass in Game Two) and Quinn got aboard via an error by third baseman Brian Austin Green. Rookie Rob DePalma worked a walk and his fellow first-year Yanosy collected his first hit as a Cannon, a two-run single stroked through the hole between short and third. Clark allowed runners to get into scoring position in the home half of the fifth but battled to get a pair of fly balls to center and left to end the inning. Connecticut added a single score in the sixth as Checo singled and courtesy runner Clark eventually scored on a passed ball to make the score 8-5. Clark (3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 K, 2 BB) surrendered a two-out single in the bottom of the inning but induced a pop to right to give his team one more chance. DePalma hit a grounder to third and hustled down the line as the throw apparently pulled the first baseman from the bag. However, a bad call at first by Public Enemy No. 1 Umpire Jason Rentas preemptively ended a threat and Connecticut eventually went in order on their way to the sweep (“Who Shot?” J.R. has had several run-ins with the Cannons including several classic regular and postseason confrontations with former pitcher Mike Calabrese as well as the McDowell “ball to the back” incident).
Philosopher George Santayana famously wrote that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” A chance to do things all over again? Sure, the Connecticut Cannons would undoubtedly take Zoltar up on the offer right about now. Yet, the question “What could have been?” now turns to the far more important “What will be?” 2008 and disappointment or 2005—the team’s one championship to this point—and an eventual date with destiny? Toronto Blue Jays’ pitcher Roy Hallady once compared his team’s losing ways to the movie Groundhog Day: “That’s the hardest thing. We sit down [at the beginning of] spring training and we talk about the same things year in and year out and it’s almost like a little bit of Groundhog Day. That definitely gets frustrating because you want to talk about why we’re succeeding, what we’ve done to help us get to the point of where we’re at, and we just haven’t [played at a championship level to this point].” It happes at every level. The purpose of a baseball game is not to play as many innings as possible. The purpose of a symphony, too, is not to postpone the final note. And what of the purpose of life? It’s not about growing old; it’s about coming of age. The Connecticut Cannons are experiencing some growing pains as they “feel things out” in the words of Tom Clark and adapt to new teammates and a new season in general, but there clearly has been growth since the end of the ’08 season. Do overs might be little more than movie magic, but come Sunday the Cannons have the chance to not only improve, but to look inside and find that special something that was missing against the Nationals. So pack your bags for Punxsutawney, pick up a copy of Sparkle, fire up the DeLorean with 1.21 gigawatts of juice, and get ready for reincar-NATION: The Cannonball truly is coming!
Cannons News and Notes: Connecticut takes on Bristol this Sunday at Bristol Eastern High School…limited seating is available via phone (1 800-CANNONS) or internet (ctcannons.blogspot.com); 17 Again’s O’Donnell is a Class of ’89 grad, like former Hall Warriors and current Cannons Celio, Markie, McDowell, McGann, and Weber; Connecticut is averaging 4.0 runs in ’09 while allowing 7.5 runs per contest (the team’s earned run average is 4.26…of the 30 runs surrendered, 16 are unearned); Cannons batters are hitting .271 on the young season while its opponents are hitting just .234; Maule has doubled and scored in the first frame of the last three contests; Clark had the team’s one-hundredth at-bat on the ’09 season, when he led off the sixth inning of Game Two (the five-time Cannons Award winner flied out to center); Markie and Quinn were fitted with the Golden Sombrero on Sunday (three strike outs apiece against Game One star Rival)…Markie has submitted forms to the United States Patent and Trademark Office for his signature “Snap Throw”™ to first after right-handed batters go down via the strike out; Balcerzak broke the team’s first bat of the season: Opponents 2, Cannons 1; across the pond: Connecticut is in contact with representatives for Timmy Olmstead, a six-foot, 175 pound right-hander currently playing professional baseball in Belgium’s first division with the Merchtem Cats…“TKO” describes himself as “a versatile player with above average speed who is game ready tomorrow” (Olmstead expects to return stateside by the end of May, joining the Cannons for the heart of the ’09 campaign)…Olms enjoyed the team’s press release and said his staff will scan the necessary documents so he can pen the paperwork; Weber once again altered the secret formula for Cannonade prior to Week Two’s double header, opting for a combination of Checo Crimson, Leo Lemon-Lime, and 100% Olmstead Orange Juice; Connecticut’s new navy tops were worn for the first time on Sunday…Dionicio ordered two new blue jerseys in different sizes, one XL for game action on the diamond and one L to accentuate his physique for any action he may get off the diamond…the “Dominican Dreamboat” played the first inning of Game Two with a broken zipper, saying: “You Blanquitos are all jealous of what I’m packing in my pants. You don’t have the artifacts down there.”; perhaps proving this point, Patenaude wore the grays he purchased in Arizona: “This was the only size they had,” to which Celio replied, “What, youth large? I can count the number of hairs you have on you b***s.”…the lefty is, in fact, completely shaved; Mike McGann was pegged in the left triceps by Rival in the third inning of Game One: “Now I actually have a triceps,” stated the always affable McGann (Clark immediately referred to “Big Mac” as Rudi Stein, the notoriously weak hitter in The Bad News Bears whom Coach Morris Buttermaker wants to get on base by any means necessary, including the hit by pitch); Celio, Drew Clarke, and Weber each took another DNP; for the second straight Sunday, former Cannon Kevin McGann was spotted in the crowd; Hartford super fan Gunnery Sergeant Bud Weiser was also in attendance; the June 14 double header at Marlborough has been moved up to a 9:00 a.m. start due to a scheduling conflict; Winsted Rifles Manager Paul Graves is still looking for a few players to participate in an “All Star Game” on Friday, May 8 at Fuessenich (7:00 p.m.), a seven inning contest pitting A Division stars against an assembled 40+ team from the northwest corner of the state (Balcerzak and Celio have committed); the third annual Step Up to the Plate Charity Baseball Marathon is scheduled for the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (Opening Ceremonies will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Glastonbury’s Riverfront Park on May 22); after a one year hiatus, Italian-Fest triumphantly returns on Friday, July 31 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Cannons World Headquarters in West Hartford (mark your calendars).
4/26 Studs: Clark (3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 K; 2 for 5, 2B, BB, RBI); Clarke (for delivering the new jerseys, what Chris Barsa calls, “The best uniforms in the CNMSBL.”); Luby (3 for 6, 2B, R, RBI); Patenaude (7 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 K); Yanosy (first hit as a Cannon, 2 RBI)
4/26 Duds: Connecticut Cannons defense (thirteen errors leading to sixteen unearned runs over two weekends); Markie and Quinn (for joining “the Klan”); Yanosy (3 home runs allowed, albeit over the short porch at Conard High…an as yet unseen Stud/Dud duo!)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
SPLITSVILLE
Cannons Salvage Split As Yanosy, Clark Spin Three-Hitter In Game Two
Torrington, CT (AP)—Some splits are good (banana, cheerleader). Some splits are bad (pants, parents). On Sunday, the Connecticut Cannons earned a solid split, taking the nightcap against the Torr-Winchester Rifles 8-6 after dropping the first decision 12-2 via the mercy rule following just five frames. A disappointing end to the 2008 campaign at the hands of these very Rifles led to a busy off-season upgrading a Cannons roster that was only one strike away from advancing to the league finals. Free agents Juan Checo, Drew Clarke, Rob DePalma, Josh Svoboda, and Jim Yanosy joined a solid core of fifteen battle-tested baseballers for another season of spring and summer Sundays in the sun, establishing realistic Connecticut North Men’s Senior Baseball League (CNMSBL) title aspirations for the team and its fervent fans. Although the Cannons played below expectations in the first game and on defense as a whole, winning the second game was a salve for any stinging that loss may have caused. “Opening Day is always exciting and it’s extremely encouraging to come away with a win,” said oft-optimistic Manager Matt Celio in his post-game press conference. “We had another big off-season and it became immediately apparent we’ve added some impact players to an already talented roster. This was our first opportunity to see the team as a whole, and we now have a better idea of our strengths, of which there are many. To be honest, I don’t really see any weaknesses that a few practices won’t take care of: We shook off some rust defensively out on the diamond today but that’s to be expected in April, and with additional repetitions guys will make plays like their capable of. Many of the bats were in mid-season form, our pitchers performed admirably, and it’s obvious we have more depth at this important position than we have in the past. We are without question a much tougher team in 2009, and we’ll be difficult to beat not only next weekend [against the Hartford Nationals] but right on through the post-season. It’s a great time to be a citizen of Cannon Nation.”
Game One found Rifles ace Danny “Taxi” DiVita on his familiar perch atop the mound and he set the big bats atop the Cannons line-up down in order in the top of the first. Checo, off of recent knee surgery, was given the ball for the Cannons but he struggled with his control from the outset as Torr-Winchester was able to push two runs across in the home half of the first frame without the benefit of a single hit (Jeff Weber look-alike Jim Cooke was hit by a pitch after Checo walked the bases loaded and Don Armatino followed with a base on balls before Howie Longhi flied out to Steve Markie in right to end the inning). Unable to generate any offense in the second, the Cannons once again took the field where Checo was touched for three additional runs on a two-out two run single by DiVita and a RBI base knock by Rifles Manager Paul “Have You Ever Seen a Grown Man Naked?” Graves. Connecticut cut into the lead in the third as Drew McDowell led off with a double, Kevin Quinn walked, and Chris Barsa drove in the team’s first run of the season, but Celio’s boneheaded base running blunder, sending pinch runner Svoboda to second where he was cut down by Derek Jeter doppelganger Dick DeVanney, ruined a potential rally. Jason Maule worked a walk and Bill Balcerzak smoked a run scoring single later in the inning but the two tallies were the only runs the Cannons could muster against DiVita. Quinn (2 IP, 7 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 K, 3 BB) relieved Checo (2 IP, 5 ER, 2 H, 7 BB, 2 HBP) after a sixty-six pitch performance and though he was effective, the soon-to-be thirty year old right-hander was betrayed by porous play in the field as the Rifles racked up seven runs—six of them unearned—to build a ten-run bulge, leading to the enforcement of the mercy rule as DiVita closed out the Cannons after only two turns through the order. Celio stated succinctly, “We came out a little flat in the Opener. However, we’ve put together a contender so you simply put it behind you and move on to the next game, a contest we will undoubtedly win.”
Game Two saw Connecticut jump out to an early lead against Torr-Winchester’s newest acquisition, Woody Mayger. Maule led off with a double to left and moved to third on a sharply rapped single by Balcerzak. The speedy shortstop subsequently swiped second and the late throw bounced away from Al “The Godfather” Boucino, allowing Maule to score (Balcerzak moved up another ninety feet on the error). Tom Luby’s run producing ground out to short pushed the Cannons in front by a score of 2-0, providing a cushion for first year pitcher Yanosy. Yet the fielding once again faltered as Cannons infielders committed four foibles in the first frame, in combination with a pair of singles and a free pass, leading to four Rifles runs. Yanosy settled down in the second, allowing only a single base on balls before retiring the hard hitting DeVanney for the third out of the inning. In the third, the Cannons reclaimed the lead as Jason Maule beat out a bobbled ball at short, Balcerzak singed a single and Tom Clark scored both with a one-out double. Checo’s RBI single with two down pushed Connecticut ahead, 5-4, and Balcerzak’s solo blast off of reliever Artie Lange in the fifth gave the visitors a two-run lead again. Yanosy made the advantage hold up, setting down thirteen of the fifteen batters he faced from the first through the fifth. However, the righty rookie started to show signs of fatigue in the fifth frame as he hit the eighty-pitch plateau, allowing a lead off walk to Ronald Burger and a double to DeVanney off the left-center fence to pull the Rifles within one. After a four-pitch walk to DiVita, Celio lifted Yanosy (4.2 IP, 6 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 4 BB) for Clark. A wild pitch, a patented pick-off that skipped by McDowell at first, and a throw back to the mound that bounded into the visitors dugout allowed the tying run to cross the plate and the go-ahead run to move up to third. But in this big situation Clark, the reigning Cannons Patenaude Pitching Award recipient, struck out Billy Dee Williams swinging to preserve the tie, setting up sixth inning heroics from a pair of new recruits. Checo worked a walk, one of only three allowed by Rifles pitchers over twelve innings, and moved into scoring position on McDowell’s base hit. Markie hit a ground ball to third but instead of erasing the lead runner, Longhi opted to throw to second, allowing Checo to reach third safely. DePalma stepped to the plate and played possum with Lange, swinging late on a pair of fastballs, setting up the pitcher to throw a two-strike heater that “Palm Sunday” stroked back up the middle just over the glove of a diving Boucino scoring Checo with the eventual game winner (DePalma humbly said afterwards, “I was just glad I could contribute. I think we have a really good shot with the team we have assembled here.”). Clark walked Graves to lead off the sixth but escaped with a strike out, a fielder’s choice to short, and a pop out to Dionicio at second (“That’s a Blanquito’s ball with a lead late in the game,” joked Celio after the catch). Connecticut tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as Balcerzak and Luby singled and Clark followed with a base hit to left as Celio waved Balcerzak home against Graves. Clark (2.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K, 2 BB) again issued a free pass to the lead-off batter but another strike out and a tailor-made double play from Luby to Dionicio to McDowell preserved the 8-6 victory. Celio gushed over his newest pitching prospect: “Jimmy did a great job of keeping us in the ball game against the big boppers in the Rifles line-up. He pitched with the poise of a veteran and deserves all the accolades afforded him. He is the perfect compliment to our other arms and will really give us a boost on a weekly basis. I’m excited about adding an impact player of his strength and stature before the beginning of the season. Cannons Rookie of the Year is going to be hotly contested in 2009.”
A split decision between the Cannons and Rifles on Sunday in a classic confrontation and the CNMSBL’s nationally televised games of the week. But championships will not be won or lost on warm April afternoons but rather under the sultry, sunny skies of August. The Connecticut Cannons remain positive—as always—and Assistant Manager Weber added: “We made a few mistakes early as a team and the Rifles made them hurt but we bounced back and that shows the kind of character that we expect to define this edition of Connecticut Cannons Baseball. We’re right where we want to be and know we’ll be there when it really counts in ’09.” Dionicio chipped in, “The chemistry is better than ever and that’s important because I like to have fun and win.” There is quite a long way to go before CNMSBL season supremacy can be decided in 2009 but once again the Cannons have used free agency to a greater advantage than any team in the league and the assembled talent that has been stockpiled gives this team a fighting chance against any and all rivals. These moves have positioned the Cannons perfectly as the 2009 A Division campaign got underway this weekend. There is still plenty of baseball to be played at Connecticut takes on Hartford this Sunday at Conard High School in West Hartford…standing room only seating are available via phone (1 800-CANNONS) or the internet (ctcannons.blogspot.com). Splits can be good but sweeps are always great. The Connecticut Cannons expect greatness this season. The chase for the Clarke/Clinton Trophy is under way.
Cannons News and Notes: The Cannons are 2-6 on Opening Day since joining the A Division (there was never any doubt that Game Two would be a win…Bella Celio asked her Magic 8 Ball about the weekend’s outcomes and the telltale tool told her a split was imminent); Connecticut out-hit Torr-Winchester 16 to 11 (Balcerzak, Checo, Clark, and McDowell all had multi-hit days)…the Cannons are hitting .302 after two games, the team’s best batting average this early in a campaign since the 2005 championship season; Balcerzak hit the team’s first home run of the season for the second straight year (he hit two against the Marlins/G-Men in Glastonbury on 6/1/08…when asked about his prediction for the team in 2009, “BB Gun” responded. “Besides a championship? That’s all you need to know.”; Clark wore #0, Rick Weber’s memorial jersey, on Sunday making him the first player to do so since Mike Calabrese in 2007…Clark’s chipper post-game comments about the ’09 edition of the Cannons: “I’m having fun. I think the guys are great. I think the coaches are cute. I think the beer tastes good. Everything is terrific.”; Maule and Quinn played with Yanosy’s light throwing younger brother at CCSU…when asked about his own velocity in comparison, the elder Yanosy stated, “I don’t throw quite that hard.” (if Sunday was any indication, the Cannons could always use another arm!); Luby returned after a one-year layoff due to back surgery: “I’m thrilled to be back. I think we’re going to win it all.”; Borst, Celio, Clarke, and Weber did not see action on Opening Day; Mike McGann, Adam Pallone, and Mike Patenaude were not in attendance…on Friday, McGann was hit in the forehead with a ball off the bat of DePalma (oops, Celio suggested an L screen was unnecessary) but it was car trouble that kept #2 away; Cannons pitchers sawed off two Rifles sticks, including the brilliant breaking of Thunderboy, the bat Williams used to hit his three-run homer in last season’s playoff game, sending Connecticut home for ’08 season; Celio gave Dionicio a pair of Old Hickory batting gloves before the season began…when trying them on, the “Latin Lothario” stated, “These fit just like an extra large Trojan condom.” to which Weber responded, “Really? They’re that loose?”; careful CNMSBL Managers, Dionicio wants to grab your balls!…Dionicio’s Horsehide for Hispaniola campaign is underway: new baseballs can be donated to the “Dominican Dreamboat” and will be delivered to less fortunate Cannon fans in the Caribbean this summer; much to the dismay of the Presidente-drinking Checo and Dionicio, Miller High Life—the Champagne of Beers and Graves’ favorite—was once again named Official Brew of Cannon Nation…Dionicio was pleased with an Opening Day win: “I told Juan [Checo] that it’s always taken us three months to get our first ‘W’[this actually occurred in Week Two in ‘08].”…Dionicio said the Dominican duo drank alone because “we had a special island treat that we didn’t want to share with the white guys.”…the second baseman also wanted his middle infield mate and Buffalo Bills fan Balcerzak to know that, “T.O. is gay!”; Weber went shot for shot with Graves (who then informed any interested bystanders that his team refers to their first base coach, # ½, as “Wee Man” of Jackass fame), though the Cannons Assistant Manager spilled several ounces of Sambuca on his red team pullover, producing a satiny sheen; Graves was asked by reporters before the game how he felt on Opening Day: His four word response, “Fat. No more questions.”; the Graves family once again supplied a post-game spread for members of both teams…“Digger” was heard harping about his hardships: “Yeah, she cooks all this stuff. But then I have to go home and bang her.”…sounds like somebody got the short end of the proverbial stick out in Winsted (yes, short and stick are together in this sentence on purpose); DeVanney and Graves called Maule “the most dangerous and feared hitter in the league”; the Cannons hope to unveil the new navy tops in their triumphant return to West Hartford, the town they called home for three-plus seasons in the middle of this decade, this Sunday; Manager Graves is looking for players—specifically Cannons—to participate in an “All Star Game” on Friday, May 8 at Fuessenich (7:00 p.m.), a seven inning contest pitting A Division stars against an assembled 40+ team from the northwest corner of the state (Glastonbury’s John Skinner has already committed…but let’s not let this stop the Cannons!); the third annual Step Up to the Plate Charity Baseball Marathon is scheduled for the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (Opening Ceremonies will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Glastonbury’s Riverfront Park on May 22).
4/19 Studs: Balcerzak (4 for 5, 1 HR, 1 BB, 4 R, 2 RBI); Clark (2 for 6, 1 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI; 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H); DePalma (I for 1, 1 Game Winning RBI); Yanosy (4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H)
4/19 Duds: Celio for sending Svoboda to second with a four-run deficit (after replacing Barsa with a 1-0 count to Markie…I never thought DeVanney would throw through with a runner on third!); Checo for seven walks and two hit batters in two innings; Clarke for failing to have the new uniforms ready for Opening Day; Dionicio for arriving at Fuessenich Field at 10:01 a.m. (this after Checo offered a ride at 8:25); McGann for allowing his broken down car to keep him away from the first Sunday
Cannons Salvage Split As Yanosy, Clark Spin Three-Hitter In Game Two
Torrington, CT (AP)—Some splits are good (banana, cheerleader). Some splits are bad (pants, parents). On Sunday, the Connecticut Cannons earned a solid split, taking the nightcap against the Torr-Winchester Rifles 8-6 after dropping the first decision 12-2 via the mercy rule following just five frames. A disappointing end to the 2008 campaign at the hands of these very Rifles led to a busy off-season upgrading a Cannons roster that was only one strike away from advancing to the league finals. Free agents Juan Checo, Drew Clarke, Rob DePalma, Josh Svoboda, and Jim Yanosy joined a solid core of fifteen battle-tested baseballers for another season of spring and summer Sundays in the sun, establishing realistic Connecticut North Men’s Senior Baseball League (CNMSBL) title aspirations for the team and its fervent fans. Although the Cannons played below expectations in the first game and on defense as a whole, winning the second game was a salve for any stinging that loss may have caused. “Opening Day is always exciting and it’s extremely encouraging to come away with a win,” said oft-optimistic Manager Matt Celio in his post-game press conference. “We had another big off-season and it became immediately apparent we’ve added some impact players to an already talented roster. This was our first opportunity to see the team as a whole, and we now have a better idea of our strengths, of which there are many. To be honest, I don’t really see any weaknesses that a few practices won’t take care of: We shook off some rust defensively out on the diamond today but that’s to be expected in April, and with additional repetitions guys will make plays like their capable of. Many of the bats were in mid-season form, our pitchers performed admirably, and it’s obvious we have more depth at this important position than we have in the past. We are without question a much tougher team in 2009, and we’ll be difficult to beat not only next weekend [against the Hartford Nationals] but right on through the post-season. It’s a great time to be a citizen of Cannon Nation.”
Game One found Rifles ace Danny “Taxi” DiVita on his familiar perch atop the mound and he set the big bats atop the Cannons line-up down in order in the top of the first. Checo, off of recent knee surgery, was given the ball for the Cannons but he struggled with his control from the outset as Torr-Winchester was able to push two runs across in the home half of the first frame without the benefit of a single hit (Jeff Weber look-alike Jim Cooke was hit by a pitch after Checo walked the bases loaded and Don Armatino followed with a base on balls before Howie Longhi flied out to Steve Markie in right to end the inning). Unable to generate any offense in the second, the Cannons once again took the field where Checo was touched for three additional runs on a two-out two run single by DiVita and a RBI base knock by Rifles Manager Paul “Have You Ever Seen a Grown Man Naked?” Graves. Connecticut cut into the lead in the third as Drew McDowell led off with a double, Kevin Quinn walked, and Chris Barsa drove in the team’s first run of the season, but Celio’s boneheaded base running blunder, sending pinch runner Svoboda to second where he was cut down by Derek Jeter doppelganger Dick DeVanney, ruined a potential rally. Jason Maule worked a walk and Bill Balcerzak smoked a run scoring single later in the inning but the two tallies were the only runs the Cannons could muster against DiVita. Quinn (2 IP, 7 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 K, 3 BB) relieved Checo (2 IP, 5 ER, 2 H, 7 BB, 2 HBP) after a sixty-six pitch performance and though he was effective, the soon-to-be thirty year old right-hander was betrayed by porous play in the field as the Rifles racked up seven runs—six of them unearned—to build a ten-run bulge, leading to the enforcement of the mercy rule as DiVita closed out the Cannons after only two turns through the order. Celio stated succinctly, “We came out a little flat in the Opener. However, we’ve put together a contender so you simply put it behind you and move on to the next game, a contest we will undoubtedly win.”
Game Two saw Connecticut jump out to an early lead against Torr-Winchester’s newest acquisition, Woody Mayger. Maule led off with a double to left and moved to third on a sharply rapped single by Balcerzak. The speedy shortstop subsequently swiped second and the late throw bounced away from Al “The Godfather” Boucino, allowing Maule to score (Balcerzak moved up another ninety feet on the error). Tom Luby’s run producing ground out to short pushed the Cannons in front by a score of 2-0, providing a cushion for first year pitcher Yanosy. Yet the fielding once again faltered as Cannons infielders committed four foibles in the first frame, in combination with a pair of singles and a free pass, leading to four Rifles runs. Yanosy settled down in the second, allowing only a single base on balls before retiring the hard hitting DeVanney for the third out of the inning. In the third, the Cannons reclaimed the lead as Jason Maule beat out a bobbled ball at short, Balcerzak singed a single and Tom Clark scored both with a one-out double. Checo’s RBI single with two down pushed Connecticut ahead, 5-4, and Balcerzak’s solo blast off of reliever Artie Lange in the fifth gave the visitors a two-run lead again. Yanosy made the advantage hold up, setting down thirteen of the fifteen batters he faced from the first through the fifth. However, the righty rookie started to show signs of fatigue in the fifth frame as he hit the eighty-pitch plateau, allowing a lead off walk to Ronald Burger and a double to DeVanney off the left-center fence to pull the Rifles within one. After a four-pitch walk to DiVita, Celio lifted Yanosy (4.2 IP, 6 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 4 BB) for Clark. A wild pitch, a patented pick-off that skipped by McDowell at first, and a throw back to the mound that bounded into the visitors dugout allowed the tying run to cross the plate and the go-ahead run to move up to third. But in this big situation Clark, the reigning Cannons Patenaude Pitching Award recipient, struck out Billy Dee Williams swinging to preserve the tie, setting up sixth inning heroics from a pair of new recruits. Checo worked a walk, one of only three allowed by Rifles pitchers over twelve innings, and moved into scoring position on McDowell’s base hit. Markie hit a ground ball to third but instead of erasing the lead runner, Longhi opted to throw to second, allowing Checo to reach third safely. DePalma stepped to the plate and played possum with Lange, swinging late on a pair of fastballs, setting up the pitcher to throw a two-strike heater that “Palm Sunday” stroked back up the middle just over the glove of a diving Boucino scoring Checo with the eventual game winner (DePalma humbly said afterwards, “I was just glad I could contribute. I think we have a really good shot with the team we have assembled here.”). Clark walked Graves to lead off the sixth but escaped with a strike out, a fielder’s choice to short, and a pop out to Dionicio at second (“That’s a Blanquito’s ball with a lead late in the game,” joked Celio after the catch). Connecticut tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as Balcerzak and Luby singled and Clark followed with a base hit to left as Celio waved Balcerzak home against Graves. Clark (2.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K, 2 BB) again issued a free pass to the lead-off batter but another strike out and a tailor-made double play from Luby to Dionicio to McDowell preserved the 8-6 victory. Celio gushed over his newest pitching prospect: “Jimmy did a great job of keeping us in the ball game against the big boppers in the Rifles line-up. He pitched with the poise of a veteran and deserves all the accolades afforded him. He is the perfect compliment to our other arms and will really give us a boost on a weekly basis. I’m excited about adding an impact player of his strength and stature before the beginning of the season. Cannons Rookie of the Year is going to be hotly contested in 2009.”
A split decision between the Cannons and Rifles on Sunday in a classic confrontation and the CNMSBL’s nationally televised games of the week. But championships will not be won or lost on warm April afternoons but rather under the sultry, sunny skies of August. The Connecticut Cannons remain positive—as always—and Assistant Manager Weber added: “We made a few mistakes early as a team and the Rifles made them hurt but we bounced back and that shows the kind of character that we expect to define this edition of Connecticut Cannons Baseball. We’re right where we want to be and know we’ll be there when it really counts in ’09.” Dionicio chipped in, “The chemistry is better than ever and that’s important because I like to have fun and win.” There is quite a long way to go before CNMSBL season supremacy can be decided in 2009 but once again the Cannons have used free agency to a greater advantage than any team in the league and the assembled talent that has been stockpiled gives this team a fighting chance against any and all rivals. These moves have positioned the Cannons perfectly as the 2009 A Division campaign got underway this weekend. There is still plenty of baseball to be played at Connecticut takes on Hartford this Sunday at Conard High School in West Hartford…standing room only seating are available via phone (1 800-CANNONS) or the internet (ctcannons.blogspot.com). Splits can be good but sweeps are always great. The Connecticut Cannons expect greatness this season. The chase for the Clarke/Clinton Trophy is under way.
Cannons News and Notes: The Cannons are 2-6 on Opening Day since joining the A Division (there was never any doubt that Game Two would be a win…Bella Celio asked her Magic 8 Ball about the weekend’s outcomes and the telltale tool told her a split was imminent); Connecticut out-hit Torr-Winchester 16 to 11 (Balcerzak, Checo, Clark, and McDowell all had multi-hit days)…the Cannons are hitting .302 after two games, the team’s best batting average this early in a campaign since the 2005 championship season; Balcerzak hit the team’s first home run of the season for the second straight year (he hit two against the Marlins/G-Men in Glastonbury on 6/1/08…when asked about his prediction for the team in 2009, “BB Gun” responded. “Besides a championship? That’s all you need to know.”; Clark wore #0, Rick Weber’s memorial jersey, on Sunday making him the first player to do so since Mike Calabrese in 2007…Clark’s chipper post-game comments about the ’09 edition of the Cannons: “I’m having fun. I think the guys are great. I think the coaches are cute. I think the beer tastes good. Everything is terrific.”; Maule and Quinn played with Yanosy’s light throwing younger brother at CCSU…when asked about his own velocity in comparison, the elder Yanosy stated, “I don’t throw quite that hard.” (if Sunday was any indication, the Cannons could always use another arm!); Luby returned after a one-year layoff due to back surgery: “I’m thrilled to be back. I think we’re going to win it all.”; Borst, Celio, Clarke, and Weber did not see action on Opening Day; Mike McGann, Adam Pallone, and Mike Patenaude were not in attendance…on Friday, McGann was hit in the forehead with a ball off the bat of DePalma (oops, Celio suggested an L screen was unnecessary) but it was car trouble that kept #2 away; Cannons pitchers sawed off two Rifles sticks, including the brilliant breaking of Thunderboy, the bat Williams used to hit his three-run homer in last season’s playoff game, sending Connecticut home for ’08 season; Celio gave Dionicio a pair of Old Hickory batting gloves before the season began…when trying them on, the “Latin Lothario” stated, “These fit just like an extra large Trojan condom.” to which Weber responded, “Really? They’re that loose?”; careful CNMSBL Managers, Dionicio wants to grab your balls!…Dionicio’s Horsehide for Hispaniola campaign is underway: new baseballs can be donated to the “Dominican Dreamboat” and will be delivered to less fortunate Cannon fans in the Caribbean this summer; much to the dismay of the Presidente-drinking Checo and Dionicio, Miller High Life—the Champagne of Beers and Graves’ favorite—was once again named Official Brew of Cannon Nation…Dionicio was pleased with an Opening Day win: “I told Juan [Checo] that it’s always taken us three months to get our first ‘W’[this actually occurred in Week Two in ‘08].”…Dionicio said the Dominican duo drank alone because “we had a special island treat that we didn’t want to share with the white guys.”…the second baseman also wanted his middle infield mate and Buffalo Bills fan Balcerzak to know that, “T.O. is gay!”; Weber went shot for shot with Graves (who then informed any interested bystanders that his team refers to their first base coach, # ½, as “Wee Man” of Jackass fame), though the Cannons Assistant Manager spilled several ounces of Sambuca on his red team pullover, producing a satiny sheen; Graves was asked by reporters before the game how he felt on Opening Day: His four word response, “Fat. No more questions.”; the Graves family once again supplied a post-game spread for members of both teams…“Digger” was heard harping about his hardships: “Yeah, she cooks all this stuff. But then I have to go home and bang her.”…sounds like somebody got the short end of the proverbial stick out in Winsted (yes, short and stick are together in this sentence on purpose); DeVanney and Graves called Maule “the most dangerous and feared hitter in the league”; the Cannons hope to unveil the new navy tops in their triumphant return to West Hartford, the town they called home for three-plus seasons in the middle of this decade, this Sunday; Manager Graves is looking for players—specifically Cannons—to participate in an “All Star Game” on Friday, May 8 at Fuessenich (7:00 p.m.), a seven inning contest pitting A Division stars against an assembled 40+ team from the northwest corner of the state (Glastonbury’s John Skinner has already committed…but let’s not let this stop the Cannons!); the third annual Step Up to the Plate Charity Baseball Marathon is scheduled for the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (Opening Ceremonies will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Glastonbury’s Riverfront Park on May 22).
4/19 Studs: Balcerzak (4 for 5, 1 HR, 1 BB, 4 R, 2 RBI); Clark (2 for 6, 1 2B, 1 R, 3 RBI; 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H); DePalma (I for 1, 1 Game Winning RBI); Yanosy (4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H)
4/19 Duds: Celio for sending Svoboda to second with a four-run deficit (after replacing Barsa with a 1-0 count to Markie…I never thought DeVanney would throw through with a runner on third!); Checo for seven walks and two hit batters in two innings; Clarke for failing to have the new uniforms ready for Opening Day; Dionicio for arriving at Fuessenich Field at 10:01 a.m. (this after Checo offered a ride at 8:25); McGann for allowing his broken down car to keep him away from the first Sunday
Thursday, April 16, 2009
GAME ON!
Fifth Winter Meeting Fades; Connecticut Cannons Focus Turns to Torr-Winchester Rifles
Avon, CT (AP)—On Wednesday evening, Connecticut Cannons management met with members of the CNMSBL executive committee and other A Division representatives, made final financial contributions, and submitted the much-anticipated and much-improved 2009 roster in its final form. It’s April and Opening Day is no longer a distant dream but a quickly approaching actuality. At nearly a month old, spring is in full swing and soon enough the latest Connecticut Cannons campaign will be as well as the team looks to make its ninth season its most memorable since joining the league in 2001.
“We definitely made a move this off-season,” Manager Matt Celio stated to a room full of reporters at Cannons World Headquarters on Thursday morning (Monday’s impromptu practice, attended by five roster invitees, did nothing to alter that overriding opinion; additional practices are scheduled for each of the next three days: today and tomorrow at 5:30 and Saturday at 10:00 at Conard High School in West Hartford). “There’s a sense of satisfaction in knowing we did what was necessary this off-season to bring a Cannons championship to Newington in ’09 (Connecticut traded Mark Lynch to the cross town rival Newington Capitals for P Drew Clarke—according to Manager Dave Sacco, the Capitals once again failed to fill their roster with any arms—and released John Mancini and Jack Vanasse…additionally the team hit the jackpot in the free agent market, adding four truly talented ball players: Juan Checo, Rob DePalma, Josh Svoboda, and Jim Yanosy). We brought back the best fifteen players from a team that was one strike away from the finals, addressed needs, and got guys under contract for the long haul. We’re the favorites to win the A Division crown this season but these moves have also solidified our standing as a title threat for years to come. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a part of Cannon Nation.”
The 2009 Step Up to the Plate Charity Baseball Marathon was on Wednesday evening’s docket. On Memorial Day Weekend 2009 (Friday, May 22 to Saturday, May 23), players from all twenty-two teams in the CNMSBL’s A and B Divisions will take part in the league’s third annual 24-hour Baseball Marathon at the fabulous facility at Riverfront Park in Glastonbury, CT. Several Cannons have expressed interest in striking out Cystic Fibrosis, Juvenile Diabetes and Prostate Cancer and hopefully even more Cannons will follow suit as the game approaches (visit the event’s website at stepupct.org). “The Connecticut Cannons are once again ‘Stepping Up to the Plate’ for charity and I hope our faithful fans—the greatest fans in the CNMSBL or anywhere else for that matter—will do the same in support of these deserving causes,” said Celio in a prepared statement. “We hope to see many family members and friends at Riverfront Park for this fun-filled baseball marathon. Please give generously Cannon Nation…hit another homer for charity.”
In just three days, the Connecticut Cannons will once again take the diamond to start another CNMSBL season. Expectations are at an all-time high as the team puts a vastly improved product on the field in 2009, searching for its first A Division title and the coveted Andrew Clarke/Michael Clinton Trophy. The ‘09 season is here…PLAY BALL!
Cannons News and Notes: Assistant Manager Weber said of the Capitals newest free agent acquisition, Lynch: “I hope Mark has an all-star caliber season for the Caps…except when he plays the Cannons. Getting Clarke and picking up DePalma [a catcher with collegiate experience] for the same dollars due to Lynchie means we got the best end of the deal.”; the April 26 double header against the Hartford Nationals will be played at Conard instead of the University of Hartford…the Cannons expect to unveil their new navy jerseys in Week Two in West Hartford, the team’s hometown for three-plus seasons (including the 2005 B Division championship…management announced the club would wear gray pants with the old red tops against the Rifles this weekend)…the site of the post-game gathering has not been determined but among the possibilities are several classic Cannons local haunts: The Elbow Room, Plan B, The Spigot, or West Wings; Tom Luby returns to the team this week after a year off recovering from back surgery…Lubes and Leo Dionicio stopped by Cannons World Headquarters to drop off paperwork on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively (Andy Borst did so on Saturday); Vanasse officially announced he was stepping away from the team on Wednesday after exploring the possibility of returning in the role of closer: “I tried waiting as long as I could before telling you about having trouble paying in the hopes we would miraculously win the lottery…but that obviously didn’t happen. With the possibility of playing this summer dwindling by the day, I hope things will turn around for next summer and instead I am focusing on the Charity Baseball Marathon, which I hope I can still play in. At any rate, this is not a farewell letter by any means: given the expense and travel every weekend last season, I would NOT have played in the league if I wasn’t on the Cannons. [Celio] really knows how to get the team up and running and to keep the energy and enthusiasm level high. I had a blast and I hope things turn around in 2010 in hopes of returning. At the very least I look forward to seeing the guys at [Step Up to the Plate]. Good luck, take care, and win one for # 22.”; Celio's triumphant portrayal of Coach Jack Bolton in Sedgwick Middle School's production of Disney's High School Musical ended on Sunday, April 5; Winsted Manager Paul Graves plans to drink heavily after this Sunday’s double header, regardless of the outcome: “Win or lose, I’m getting f***ed up. It’s Opening Day!”…Graves said his team will bring cold cuts or pizza for the post-game spread…“Digger” also added that he often considers resigning his position as head Rifle so he can join the Cannons: “You guys are the only other team I’d play for and I’m getting sick of the same headaches season after season.”…Web reaffirmed his affinity for the Graves, saying: “Paul’s a good guy…he’s an even better guy when we beat him!”; eight of the ten A Division teams were represented last night (Marlborough and Suffield did not attend).
Fifth Winter Meeting Fades; Connecticut Cannons Focus Turns to Torr-Winchester Rifles
Avon, CT (AP)—On Wednesday evening, Connecticut Cannons management met with members of the CNMSBL executive committee and other A Division representatives, made final financial contributions, and submitted the much-anticipated and much-improved 2009 roster in its final form. It’s April and Opening Day is no longer a distant dream but a quickly approaching actuality. At nearly a month old, spring is in full swing and soon enough the latest Connecticut Cannons campaign will be as well as the team looks to make its ninth season its most memorable since joining the league in 2001.
“We definitely made a move this off-season,” Manager Matt Celio stated to a room full of reporters at Cannons World Headquarters on Thursday morning (Monday’s impromptu practice, attended by five roster invitees, did nothing to alter that overriding opinion; additional practices are scheduled for each of the next three days: today and tomorrow at 5:30 and Saturday at 10:00 at Conard High School in West Hartford). “There’s a sense of satisfaction in knowing we did what was necessary this off-season to bring a Cannons championship to Newington in ’09 (Connecticut traded Mark Lynch to the cross town rival Newington Capitals for P Drew Clarke—according to Manager Dave Sacco, the Capitals once again failed to fill their roster with any arms—and released John Mancini and Jack Vanasse…additionally the team hit the jackpot in the free agent market, adding four truly talented ball players: Juan Checo, Rob DePalma, Josh Svoboda, and Jim Yanosy). We brought back the best fifteen players from a team that was one strike away from the finals, addressed needs, and got guys under contract for the long haul. We’re the favorites to win the A Division crown this season but these moves have also solidified our standing as a title threat for years to come. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a part of Cannon Nation.”
The 2009 Step Up to the Plate Charity Baseball Marathon was on Wednesday evening’s docket. On Memorial Day Weekend 2009 (Friday, May 22 to Saturday, May 23), players from all twenty-two teams in the CNMSBL’s A and B Divisions will take part in the league’s third annual 24-hour Baseball Marathon at the fabulous facility at Riverfront Park in Glastonbury, CT. Several Cannons have expressed interest in striking out Cystic Fibrosis, Juvenile Diabetes and Prostate Cancer and hopefully even more Cannons will follow suit as the game approaches (visit the event’s website at stepupct.org). “The Connecticut Cannons are once again ‘Stepping Up to the Plate’ for charity and I hope our faithful fans—the greatest fans in the CNMSBL or anywhere else for that matter—will do the same in support of these deserving causes,” said Celio in a prepared statement. “We hope to see many family members and friends at Riverfront Park for this fun-filled baseball marathon. Please give generously Cannon Nation…hit another homer for charity.”
In just three days, the Connecticut Cannons will once again take the diamond to start another CNMSBL season. Expectations are at an all-time high as the team puts a vastly improved product on the field in 2009, searching for its first A Division title and the coveted Andrew Clarke/Michael Clinton Trophy. The ‘09 season is here…PLAY BALL!
Cannons News and Notes: Assistant Manager Weber said of the Capitals newest free agent acquisition, Lynch: “I hope Mark has an all-star caliber season for the Caps…except when he plays the Cannons. Getting Clarke and picking up DePalma [a catcher with collegiate experience] for the same dollars due to Lynchie means we got the best end of the deal.”; the April 26 double header against the Hartford Nationals will be played at Conard instead of the University of Hartford…the Cannons expect to unveil their new navy jerseys in Week Two in West Hartford, the team’s hometown for three-plus seasons (including the 2005 B Division championship…management announced the club would wear gray pants with the old red tops against the Rifles this weekend)…the site of the post-game gathering has not been determined but among the possibilities are several classic Cannons local haunts: The Elbow Room, Plan B, The Spigot, or West Wings; Tom Luby returns to the team this week after a year off recovering from back surgery…Lubes and Leo Dionicio stopped by Cannons World Headquarters to drop off paperwork on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively (Andy Borst did so on Saturday); Vanasse officially announced he was stepping away from the team on Wednesday after exploring the possibility of returning in the role of closer: “I tried waiting as long as I could before telling you about having trouble paying in the hopes we would miraculously win the lottery…but that obviously didn’t happen. With the possibility of playing this summer dwindling by the day, I hope things will turn around for next summer and instead I am focusing on the Charity Baseball Marathon, which I hope I can still play in. At any rate, this is not a farewell letter by any means: given the expense and travel every weekend last season, I would NOT have played in the league if I wasn’t on the Cannons. [Celio] really knows how to get the team up and running and to keep the energy and enthusiasm level high. I had a blast and I hope things turn around in 2010 in hopes of returning. At the very least I look forward to seeing the guys at [Step Up to the Plate]. Good luck, take care, and win one for # 22.”; Celio's triumphant portrayal of Coach Jack Bolton in Sedgwick Middle School's production of Disney's High School Musical ended on Sunday, April 5; Winsted Manager Paul Graves plans to drink heavily after this Sunday’s double header, regardless of the outcome: “Win or lose, I’m getting f***ed up. It’s Opening Day!”…Graves said his team will bring cold cuts or pizza for the post-game spread…“Digger” also added that he often considers resigning his position as head Rifle so he can join the Cannons: “You guys are the only other team I’d play for and I’m getting sick of the same headaches season after season.”…Web reaffirmed his affinity for the Graves, saying: “Paul’s a good guy…he’s an even better guy when we beat him!”; eight of the ten A Division teams were represented last night (Marlborough and Suffield did not attend).
MARCH MADNESS
Managers Mull Over, Mouth Off About Much-Maligned Twenty-Six Game Schedule
Avon, CT (AP)—Spring has sprung in Earth’s northern hemisphere and at 42° north latitude, 73° west longitude in Connecticut, Cannon Nation has closed to within four weeks of Opening Day. Winter has waned, the snow has all but melted, a robin or two has been spotted, and as a result baseball cannot be far behind.
Paperwork and bill payments in the form of an initial 2009 roster and the according player fees were the main items on the docket at the fourth Connecticut North Men’s Senior Baseball League (CNMSBL) meeting, attended by representatives from seven of ten A Division teams (Columbia, Hartford, and Windsor were mysteriously missing). Like the third installment of the Grumpy Old Men movies, Bristol’s Gary Calusine and Newington’s Dave Sacco railed against the league’s new twenty-six game schedule, citing issues both economic and elderly. “Six extra games and an extended playoff format puts all teams in the hole for another thousand dollars or more,” intoned an obviously irked Calusine (though this is nothing new). “We should scale things back to a twenty-game schedule: one double header against the other nine teams and a home-and-home with one team based on last season’s standings (Connecticut would square off against Newington in this scenario). Hey, I guarantee you Bristol is going to be able to put a competitive team on the field no matter what but I was just laid off and I don’t have the money to cover this increase.” Sacco stated nasally, “We are an older team (he yet again informed any and all who were interested—meaning nobody—that the Capitals have played in Newington since the late seventies) so it’s tougher to field a competitive squad over several extra Sundays. This favors the younger teams like Connecticut and Suffield.” Winsted Manager Paul Graves fervently argued in favor of extended play, saying in his characteristic northwest corner drawl, “My guys are psyched for more games. Yeah, it’s going to cost more money, but many teams have locked in field dates so changing at this point might not be all that easy.” Cannons coach Matt Celio, along with Glastonbury, Marlborough, and Suffield agreed that the late date made a change difficult if not impossible, but all agreed they would be willing to a twenty-game schedule if A Division President Mike Clinton could alter his already-created team template (Clinton, away on what envoys explained simply as “business,” missed his second straight meeting, as well as Wednesday’s Step Up to the Plate charity gathering). Talks then turned to the proposed three-game series that will likely mark this season’s playoff match-ups as an area where changes could still be made. “Single elimination on Saturday morning for the bottom four seeds,” argued Calusine. “Then the winners make up an elite eight that will play in the afternoon and on Sunday.” Regardless of the decision, seeding is going to be more important than ever and the top six spots will be hotly contested.
“It feels good to get our roster in. It means the season is getting close,” Celio told media members at Cannons World Headquarters on Friday. “Although there are some decisions still to be made in terms of the schedule, our team is built for success in either scenario. As always, I believe no team has made as significant off-season moves as the Cannons have and these additions are going to pay immediate and long-term dividends. We’ve not only improved on paper—many pre-season publications have us picked to win the A Division this year—but in the clubhouse as well. We’re younger, quicker, more athletic, and there is a renewed commitment to excellence. We’ve spent a lot of money signing these new players but it’s all money well-spent. The Connecticut Cannons are better today than at any time since we’ve been in A Division play.”
Today was the first full day of spring. In just twenty-eight days, the Connecticut Cannons will take the diamond against the Winsted Rifles in pursuit of the ultimate prize: the Andrew Clarke/Michael Clinton Trophy. The sun will continue to climb higher and higher in the sky as daylight hour’s increase and the weather warms. This is a time of growth, renewal, and new life. If all goes according to plan the Cannons will put a vastly improved product on the field in 2009. The goal of this team is to never stop getting better. The expectations are for a championship and nothing less. Everything this team hopes to accomplish in lies directly ahead. The Cannons are born again.
Winter Meeting News and Notes: Talks with free agent pitching prospect John Mayette stalled earlier this week, leaving the team looking for one more solid starter to complete the 2009 rotation; team officials opened discussions with Rob DePalma in attempts to add to the already awesome assembled nineteen-man roster…his informational packet was dropped in the mail at the Lasalle Road branch of the West Hartford Post Office earlier today (the team has already had a busy off-season, signing Juan Checo, Drew Clarke, and Josh Svoboda); Mike McGann officially ended (poorly) his months-long relationship with Melissa Lotstein late last week, making him once again eligible for re-election as the Mayor of Manville; Celio’s portrayal of Coach Jack Bolton in the Sedgwick Middle School’s seven-show production of Disney’s High School Musical begins this Thursday (Assistant Manager Mike Weber, McGann, and his brother and former Cannon, Kevin, will attend); Graves said of Celio and his sixty shed pounds, “You’re ready for a thong, dude. You already hit enough doubles off us last season. Are you going for triples now? I’ve gained all you’ve lost. My pants all hurt me. It sucks.”; Celio spoke with his father on the ride to Avon and when he mentioned the meeting his proud papa cracked, “Is this a real meeting or are you just going over to the Mancer’s? If so, you better bring beer…and food.”; a possible cage session at Drew McDowell’s sports complex has been put forth for next weekend; the team has moved ahead with new navy jerseys for the upcoming campaign; Connecticut’s games with new entry Suffield on May 31 will be played at Windsor Locks High School (Suffield Academy, the home field of the Irish, is unavailable until after school is out); with Eastern’s move to Columbia, all teams have the same 10:00 a.m. start time (Leo Dionicio and Tom Luby can now arrive at all A Division fields at 9:55); the fifth and final league meeting of ‘09 will be held in mid-April.
Managers Mull Over, Mouth Off About Much-Maligned Twenty-Six Game Schedule
Avon, CT (AP)—Spring has sprung in Earth’s northern hemisphere and at 42° north latitude, 73° west longitude in Connecticut, Cannon Nation has closed to within four weeks of Opening Day. Winter has waned, the snow has all but melted, a robin or two has been spotted, and as a result baseball cannot be far behind.
Paperwork and bill payments in the form of an initial 2009 roster and the according player fees were the main items on the docket at the fourth Connecticut North Men’s Senior Baseball League (CNMSBL) meeting, attended by representatives from seven of ten A Division teams (Columbia, Hartford, and Windsor were mysteriously missing). Like the third installment of the Grumpy Old Men movies, Bristol’s Gary Calusine and Newington’s Dave Sacco railed against the league’s new twenty-six game schedule, citing issues both economic and elderly. “Six extra games and an extended playoff format puts all teams in the hole for another thousand dollars or more,” intoned an obviously irked Calusine (though this is nothing new). “We should scale things back to a twenty-game schedule: one double header against the other nine teams and a home-and-home with one team based on last season’s standings (Connecticut would square off against Newington in this scenario). Hey, I guarantee you Bristol is going to be able to put a competitive team on the field no matter what but I was just laid off and I don’t have the money to cover this increase.” Sacco stated nasally, “We are an older team (he yet again informed any and all who were interested—meaning nobody—that the Capitals have played in Newington since the late seventies) so it’s tougher to field a competitive squad over several extra Sundays. This favors the younger teams like Connecticut and Suffield.” Winsted Manager Paul Graves fervently argued in favor of extended play, saying in his characteristic northwest corner drawl, “My guys are psyched for more games. Yeah, it’s going to cost more money, but many teams have locked in field dates so changing at this point might not be all that easy.” Cannons coach Matt Celio, along with Glastonbury, Marlborough, and Suffield agreed that the late date made a change difficult if not impossible, but all agreed they would be willing to a twenty-game schedule if A Division President Mike Clinton could alter his already-created team template (Clinton, away on what envoys explained simply as “business,” missed his second straight meeting, as well as Wednesday’s Step Up to the Plate charity gathering). Talks then turned to the proposed three-game series that will likely mark this season’s playoff match-ups as an area where changes could still be made. “Single elimination on Saturday morning for the bottom four seeds,” argued Calusine. “Then the winners make up an elite eight that will play in the afternoon and on Sunday.” Regardless of the decision, seeding is going to be more important than ever and the top six spots will be hotly contested.
“It feels good to get our roster in. It means the season is getting close,” Celio told media members at Cannons World Headquarters on Friday. “Although there are some decisions still to be made in terms of the schedule, our team is built for success in either scenario. As always, I believe no team has made as significant off-season moves as the Cannons have and these additions are going to pay immediate and long-term dividends. We’ve not only improved on paper—many pre-season publications have us picked to win the A Division this year—but in the clubhouse as well. We’re younger, quicker, more athletic, and there is a renewed commitment to excellence. We’ve spent a lot of money signing these new players but it’s all money well-spent. The Connecticut Cannons are better today than at any time since we’ve been in A Division play.”
Today was the first full day of spring. In just twenty-eight days, the Connecticut Cannons will take the diamond against the Winsted Rifles in pursuit of the ultimate prize: the Andrew Clarke/Michael Clinton Trophy. The sun will continue to climb higher and higher in the sky as daylight hour’s increase and the weather warms. This is a time of growth, renewal, and new life. If all goes according to plan the Cannons will put a vastly improved product on the field in 2009. The goal of this team is to never stop getting better. The expectations are for a championship and nothing less. Everything this team hopes to accomplish in lies directly ahead. The Cannons are born again.
Winter Meeting News and Notes: Talks with free agent pitching prospect John Mayette stalled earlier this week, leaving the team looking for one more solid starter to complete the 2009 rotation; team officials opened discussions with Rob DePalma in attempts to add to the already awesome assembled nineteen-man roster…his informational packet was dropped in the mail at the Lasalle Road branch of the West Hartford Post Office earlier today (the team has already had a busy off-season, signing Juan Checo, Drew Clarke, and Josh Svoboda); Mike McGann officially ended (poorly) his months-long relationship with Melissa Lotstein late last week, making him once again eligible for re-election as the Mayor of Manville; Celio’s portrayal of Coach Jack Bolton in the Sedgwick Middle School’s seven-show production of Disney’s High School Musical begins this Thursday (Assistant Manager Mike Weber, McGann, and his brother and former Cannon, Kevin, will attend); Graves said of Celio and his sixty shed pounds, “You’re ready for a thong, dude. You already hit enough doubles off us last season. Are you going for triples now? I’ve gained all you’ve lost. My pants all hurt me. It sucks.”; Celio spoke with his father on the ride to Avon and when he mentioned the meeting his proud papa cracked, “Is this a real meeting or are you just going over to the Mancer’s? If so, you better bring beer…and food.”; a possible cage session at Drew McDowell’s sports complex has been put forth for next weekend; the team has moved ahead with new navy jerseys for the upcoming campaign; Connecticut’s games with new entry Suffield on May 31 will be played at Windsor Locks High School (Suffield Academy, the home field of the Irish, is unavailable until after school is out); with Eastern’s move to Columbia, all teams have the same 10:00 a.m. start time (Leo Dionicio and Tom Luby can now arrive at all A Division fields at 9:55); the fifth and final league meeting of ‘09 will be held in mid-April.
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