Braats first-week leader in fantasy baseball league

Weekend Fantasy Baseball League


I didn't fare to well in my first week as a member of the Weekend Baseball League (WBL). My top fantasy point leaders turned out to be Evan Longoria, Troy Tulowitski  and Kelly Johnson. The trio combined for 83 points.  And I did receive 20 fantasy points from my number one pitcher Roy Halliday, who actually went 2-0 last week, but only one of his victories counted toward my totals. Team Braats leads the league after the first week with 268 points. My team, the Blackbirds, are in ninth place with just 217 points.

The results:

1.  Braats   268  2. Money 4 Nothing   255  3. Desperados   240   4. Wicked Bats   237  5. Batter Up   234   6. Bronx Bombers   229   7. Born Losers   228   8. Italy's Finest   225   9. Blackbirds   217   10. Mungo and  Sons   211   11. Rebels   209   12. Ballers 193

Injury bug hits the Blackbirds

38-and-over baseball at Reid Park


Despite fielding a team with four injured players, the Mountain Blackbirds of the Tucson Men's Senior Baseball League battled back from a 7-2 deficit last night at Reid Park before losing to the Phillies, 7-6.

With just two weeks gone in the regular season, the Blackbirds wasted an outing from righthander Hector Iglecias who went the distance, striking out 15 of 21 batters. Unfortunately, the Phillies picked up a run on two hits in the first inning and added six more in the middle innings before the Blackbirds' bats woke up. The Blackbirds fought back in the bottom of the seventh inning, and  thanks to a bases-clearing single to right center by Tom Bolen pulled within a run and then came right back in the bottom of the eighth as they loaded the bases with consecutive singles from Allen Gillespie, Danny Price and Alex Oropeza.

But with two out, Rick Rochon ripped a shot back to the mound. The ball bounced off the glove of the Phillies' reliever Bill Gardner and into the glove of the Phillies' shortstop who then nipped Rochon at first base to end the game. The Blackbirds return to action next Thursday at Reid Park and take on the Braves. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Price watch:  I went 2 for 4 and drove in a run against the Phillies. Currently 2 for 8 with a run scored and an RBI, with two games in the books as a member of the Mountain Blackbirds. My son, Michael, missed last night's action, but hopes to return next week.

Legendary high school baseball coach speaks at TOTS' Luncheon

Ted Fowler played baseball for Tucson High School and the University of Arizona more than 60 years ago and he coached high school baseball in the state of Arizona for close to 40 years -- his last coaching duty was in 1989.  Now 82 years of age, Fowler has taken to the podium. Although it a slow walk for him from his seat to the microphone, it is certainly worth the wait for the folks in the audience, who are eventually  treated to the pleasure of his company for 45 minutes or so as he talks baseball  --  the sport he obviously loves and a sport in which he has spent a lifetime mentoring many young ball players who were  lucky enough to cross paths with him.

Fowler, who was a  former teammate of long-time Tucson Old Timers'  (TOTS)  club member  Brad Tolson at Tucson High School, the University of Arizona and even the Minot Mallards -- a 1950s semi-pro team out of Minot, N.D.,  spoke at the TOTS'  luncheon today  inside the  Copper Room at  the  Randolph Park Golf Center.   Fowler said he has coached over 800 games in his forty years of work and he said he enjoyed every minute of it.  Fowler, who has gone through his share of knee and hip surgeries, still loves to share his experiences with others and jumped at the chance when asked by Tolson to speak at the TOTS annual luncheon.

According to Tolson, Coach Fowler had a lot more to say. "The stories are endless and I wish we could have had more time to listen to him," Tolson said, just moments after his old friend had left the podium.

Tolson and Fowler go back a long way. They were teammates in  the ManDak League in 1951, the same year that Sachel Page caused quite a stir when he was invited to pitch a few games in the semi-pro league. Fowler, who spent many years coaching the Jackrabbits at Mesa High School,  retired from coaching 22 years ago, after a stint as head coach at Eagar's Round Valley High School. Fowler ended his talk with a few words of wisdom. The words were authored by the legendary collegiate basketball coach Jim Valvano at  the 1993 ESPY Awards.

The  former North Carolina State basketball coach said at the time, "There are three things you should try to do each day ... "If you laugh, you think and you cry, that's a full day."  Today was a good day at the TOTS' luncheon. Coach Fowler certainly made us think and recall the days of old. We certainly laughed and there may have been a tear or two shed as we listened to the gentleman from Phoenix share his memories of baseball and what the sport means to him.

Aces edge Rattlers at Udall Park

60-and-over baseball

The 60-and-over Aces came up with three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning today at Tucson Udall Park and edged the Arizona Rattlers, 11-10.   Dennis Crowley doubled  down the third-base line with the bases loaded to plate two runs to even the score  and Bob Daliege  followed with the game winner when he singled to left center to score Crowley. Reliever Ted Davis, the Aces fourth pitcher of the day, hurled the last two innings and picked up the victory, while the Rattlers' reliever Tom Barrow was saddled with the loss. Davis battled back from bases-loaded jams in both the top of the 6th and the top of the 7th inning to pick up the win. Once again, the Aces jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the early innings, but the Ratters battled back and held the lead 10-8 going into the 7th and final inning. The Aces have now won two of their last  three games from their crosstown rivals.

Price watch: As for me, I went 3 for 4 today, drove in a couple of runs and scored twice. Although, each time I reached base I needed a runner, as I continue to nurse the heel injury. I played well on the field, handling my first five chances, but I did bobble a ball in the top of the 7th inning, which allowed the Ratters to eventually score twice and take the lead.

I finally found the strike zone...

The boys of summer at Udall Park

Hobbling around with an injured right heel, I decided to take the mound today instead of my usual spot at third base in a Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball game. And,  for the first time in a long while I found the strike zone,  as I struck out four, walked three and allowed just one run in a 3-1 win.

I allowed six scattered hits en route to my first pitching win of the year. My right arm got stronger as each inning went by. One of these days I'd like to take the field without any injuries, but at 66, I guess it all comes with the territory. With four more games scheduled for the week -- one tomorrow with the 60-and-over Aces, one on Thursday with the 38-and-over Blackbirds and TOTS' games on Wednesday and Friday, I guess I'll just have to wait and see what I feel like when I get up each morning. Hats off to my catcher today, 63-year-old  Bob Dialege, who caught my offerings superbly for seven innings.

And the Masters title goes to... Bubba!

Bubba Watson won the Masters today at Augusta with a two-hole sudden death playoff win over  Louis Oosthuizen with a recovery shot on the final hole, which was about as unbelieveable as Oosthuizen's double eagle earlier in the day. So, the green jacket goes to Bubba. Congrats, Mr. Watson.

The recent winners at the Masters:

2012   Bubba Watson
2011   Charl Schwartzel
2010   Phil Mickelson
2009   Angel Cabrera
2008   Trevor Immelman

D'backs do it the hard way, but they're 3-0!

T


he Arizona Diamondbacks did it the hard way, but they're 3-0 after a sweep of the San Francisco Giants this weekend at Chase Field. Down 6-0 in Game 3, the D'backs came roaring back and escape today with a 7-6 win, thanks to the hitting of reserve first baseman Lyle Overbay, who went 3 for 4, including a home run to go along with his three RBI, while Wade Miley came on in relief of Josh Collmenter in the fourth inning to pitch four consecutive shutout innings en route to his first victory of the season.

 Congrats, D'backs. Keep it up.