Hey guys! Just got back from Cherbourg and I just got done my potato dinner. Alex, wins this weeks "Best Comment" with the Ace of Base, F U at the same time asshole, Ian, I'm glad I do not know the words to the "poopy song", Emily, tell Joey he is still numero uno, Dad, I was thinking the same ..."Don't Stray From The Path....", Mom, Love ya and I hope the funnel cake is good while you are in SDC...Man I miss that place, Karly, took the pics for you!, Tiffany, you rock and I am eagerly awaiting your package.
Game 1 BG Woodchucks vs Cherbourg Seagulls
Time: 12:30ish
Weather: Slight Drizzle
Attendance: 30
That's right my peeps. We had spectators today. Even though they are probably wives, girfriends, and kids of Cherbourg, it still felt good playing in front of an audience. Bernie "The Warrior" got the start.
Bottom of the first. We just took it to them. Scored 4 runs off of 3 hits and never looked back. I crushed a double of the wall, 1 of my 4 today, in the first inning massacre. Now let me just tell you about Bernie.....
He threw a no-hitter. This guy still impresses the hell outa me. And I haven't even got to the most impressive part to this guy's day.
We just sprayed hits all over the place and won 17-1. They scored off a walk, steal, and SAC fly. So the no-hitter was still in tact. Arther had the most impressive first game going 4-4 with two doubles and 5 RBI's. Everytime he stepped up to the plate, I yelled at him,
"Relax baby."
After the game, Arther told me that he now really understands what I mean when you have to relax at the plate. You just completely block everything in your mind and think of nothing but the ball coming your way. He said that he wants me to tell him this EVERY time he comes to the plate. He is starting to see the method to my madness. So we are all grins after the first game onslaught.
Olivear picked me up this morning and I told him that we had to get these sandwiches that Chris and I got a week earlier. So it was my treat and we enjoyed some great sandwiches between the games. Now the question was....
Who is going to pitch the next game?
My arm is shot. I threw atleast 50 curveballs on Wednesday's "Curve Ball" practice so I was going to take a break today. Eric's arm was bothering him and Marc, our normal ace, is still on holiday. Then someone spoke up who I never expected or anticipated.
"My arm still feels great!" proclaimed Bernie.
Yes. Bernie. The guy who just got done hurling 5 innings of hitless ball wanted the GAME 2 NOD!!! Now, in the states....this is unheard of. A pitcher starting two consecutive games. This guy is in his late thirties and has the arm of a 15 year old. I had my doubts because we need his arm for later in the season but he persisted on starting game two. He had family in the crowd and wanted to have a day. What is a 23 year old coach to do when a 38 year old guy tells him that he wants the ball? I know you guys are just cringing in your seats. BERNIE GOT THE GAME TWO START!!!
Game 2: BG Woodchucks vs Cherbourg Seagulls
Time: 2:45
Weather: The sun was in full form.
Attendence: 30
Let me just start by saying that the weather for the second game was the best since I have been in France. It felt like summer. I was actually getting hot. The sun was out, a friendly breeze, and the smell of the ballfield. Just great.
I will always know this type of smell. The movie, "Field of Dreams", puts it best when Joe Jackson, Ray Liotta, is talking with Ray Consella, Kevin Costner.
"I miss the grass. The smell of the field. The crowd....the ambience. Have you ever just held a glove up to your face?"
Yes...Yes, I have Ray Liotta.
I wanted to get after these guys the second game and try to get rid of that "Game 2 Laziness". And we did. We scored 2 runs right off the bat.
Bernie took the mound for the second time this afternoon and pitched another hell of a game. I gotta tip my cap to this guy. This guy is a machine. I hope I still have this guy's ability when I am his age. Who knows....I might still be a Woodchuck when I am in my fifties.....Just playin' the game.
The game was a little closer this time but we broke loose towards the latter half. We won 12-2. Another bashing.
During the game I made some friends too. The coach of Cherbourg spoke fluent English and we were bullshitin' to one another during the games. I would bullshit with the other French guys as well. Felt like home. Still being a competitor, but I like to be courteous in any game. I like to put today's wins as "Gentlemanly AssBeatings." Bois Guillaume moves into first place in the Northern Division with the help of a loss of the Montigny Cougars to GIF this sunday. Record: 5-0
Bernie got BOTH wins today and we all celebrated with Heinekens that Bernie brought to the game. I think this asshole was anticipating celebrating before the first pitch was thrown. So we all drank together. Umpires, opposing players and coaches, fathers, and the Woodchucks. I took some pretty snazzy pics as you can see. It felt good to have these kinda celebrations after games. I think the states should adopt it. Who cares if 15 year old are drinking right!? But really, what is the harm in that?
That is the recap of this weekends activities. I will post again soon. Love you guys and miss you with all of my heart. Love you guys. Au revior.
9 comments:
1st!!!!!!!!!! both me and your team!! :) CONGRATS! I'm glad you guys are doing so awesome!! And those beers look pretty tasty!
Hopefully you'll be getting some mail this week!! I hope you like your surprise!
I would like to note that Tiffany and I both have posted before either of your brothers.... talk about slacking. haha
Ok now on to the post! Thank you for the flowers... They are beautiful! hahaha Glad to see you got another sweep! Good to know bullshiting is an international thing... good thing you are so fantastic at it ;-)
Don't kill me but you remind me of my mother... no matter where you go you always find something and someone to talk to.
I agree with Ray Liotta as well. There is just something about the game.... going to catch my frist game of the season on Tuesday. I'll drink a beer and play the dollar in the hat game just for you!
Thanks for another great post! Keep them coming. Karly
Forgot to mention that I love the pics!!! I am glad to see that even half way around the world you still have your sense of humor...I pitty the team! hahah just kidding. Karly
Love the post. Liked the Ray Liotta part, very funny. I like the look on the cherborg coach in the picture--I would have the same look on my face is I had just been gentlemenly assbeaten. Good phrase by the way--It conveys exactly what you wanted it to. Well, While you were in stupid France on the stupid english channel, becomming 1st in france, I was at Silver Dollar City--so there. Did your train home get robbed by moonshiners?? I don't think so. All I have to say to you is "Feu dans le trou!!"--(Fire in the hole)---rest your arm--Ian
Dear Toner:
Gotta love Bernie the Warrior. Pitching two games in a row sounds like what sometimes happened back in the old days of major league baseball, like in the 40's. A note of caution, however.
Word is that the Mitchell commision is contemplating expanding its investigation of major league baseball drug use to, yes!. you heard it first from bob, French baseball. So tell Bernie to lay off the clear and the gel, for a while anyway.
Got to thinking, Bernie is 38years old and apparently still throws a hell of a game. I'm thinking, is there a 36 or so year old guy (who happens to live in the Dallas - Arlington - Ft. Worth area) who might be able to take a leave of absence and give a leg up to the Woodchucks? Guess we'll have to wait and see if his balls are anywhere near as "gran" as Bernie's.
Congrats on the wins. However, to me the best part of the post was your talking about the smells of baseball - can't beat the smell of a good baseball glove.
Loved the pic with the Cherbourg Coach, he has to be a classy guy to do that after you trounced his team. Also, loved the Heinekin pics. You might want to consider taking Bernie aside and telling him he may have started a tradition - i.e., "Bernie, for each game we play you will bring 2 cases of Heinekin to the park."
By the way, your comment about you still might be a Woodchuck in your 50's and still playing the game, I'd simply say you're already a Woodchuck for life, ask Ev.
For my final comment, I'm attempting mightily to keep from using expletives to convey my thoughts to you about the situation. Kind of like John Wayne in the movie where he says "Well, I'm not gonna hit ya, I'm not gonna hit ya, (and then says) Oh, what the hell." and proceeds to hit the hell out of the guy.
Thus, my comment is: "Throw the fucking knuck - stop throwing the curve (which you never had by the way when you were pitching TEN (Yeah, TEN fucking) years ago), and, by the way,
Love, Dad.
congrats on the wins!!! i was just wondering if you guyswere drinking?and yes anthony i could drink you under the table any day.
Tony, maybe next time the woodchucks should drink beer before you play the seagulls! Poor guys getting beat like red headed stepchildren then you make then take pictures. First off, lose the mascot of the seagulls, find yourself a former Drury Panther, and they will contend for the French title!!
Good to hear from ya the other day. I got skype on my home computer and my new iMAC has a webcam. You know what that means...shirtless late night chats! haha - nasby
Good to hear that you are having fun - what the hell are YOU doing throwing curve balls? - knock that crap off - last time I checked it wasn't even May yet and you are already talking about a sore arm - no more curve balls - and no more fastballs - sounds like you don't even need it - it's like pitching against Central - no offense to anyone who played for Central - but hell Tony -
As for making my professional debut in France - I cannot - I threw out my arm trying to teach some kid how to hit a curve ball in numerous batting cage sessions -leaving me with nothing in the tank -
Good post, stop throwing like you are some damn pitcher, have fun and enjoy it - Love you - Al
come on. come on. I need a fix there tony.---ian
Post a Comment