Locker Room - plaques

Roster plaques for all members of the 2016 Pirates FCCS Team.  We had plenty of fun with these & the eye patches all weekend.  Thanks to my wife D'arcy, for making the fun all possible, looking out for pirate gear has become a non-stop job.  Thanks for sending me to the FCCS, it has been a blast.

Sunday - Game #3 & Game #4

Quick update -

First game against the Phillies. Started off by giving up 4 runs.  Down 4, in the bottom of the 1st, our leadoff hitter struck out, then I singled, stole second and a few batters later, we scored 7.  By the time we were done, final score Pirates 16 - Phillies 6. Mercy rule - yes!

Second game against Yankees #1, the favorite to win the tournament.  They are loaded.  We scored first, I was hit by a pitch, stole second, and came home on a single by Mike Labonowski.  The Yankees tied the score and eventually went ahead 2-1.  First thought, here we go again, a one run loss.  However, in the 6th inning, we scored 3 runs.  I plated the last run with a sacrifice fly to left center field.

Beating the Yankees was the highlight of the weekend for Roy Berger, who attends the Yankees camp.

With the win, the Pirates have locked up the #2 seed for the final tournament day.  We will need to win 3 games on Monday,  Game times, 8:00 am, 11:00 am, and the Championship at 1:30 pm.  Single game elimination on Monday - need to win 3.  The goal is still a possibility.

Saturday - Games #1 & Game #2

Game #1 - vs. Mets #2 (A team that beat us last year - game did not matter)

Day began cool & slightly broken clouds, perfect for getting a game in.  Weather is threatening to move in later.

The photos below show the field prep.  The grounds keepers do a fabulous job keeping the field in tip top shape.  We are fortunate to have our first two games in the Stadium.  Great way to begin the tourney.

We jumped on the Mets right away.  As we scored 3 in the first.  They came back with one in the second and were threatening with the bases loaded, but did not score.  We scored single runs in the next 2 innings. Our team played good defense, we did make some errors, attributed to first game jitters. Mike, our new shortstop, played fantastic - has a rocket for an arm. Dan Hoover, also a rookie, got the big hit to start us off.  David Miller went 3-3, continuing to hit the ball solid.  The big surprise of the day was Wardo, our catcher, who pitched a complete game.  Kept their hitters off balance all day.  Great start - good win.

I went 1-3 and was hit by a pitch. Also was thrown out at home plate attempting to score from 2nd base, it was a perfect relay from left fielder to shortstop to home.  Caught me sliding at the plate.  Was coached up by Spanky - as I should have drifted further from 2nd base on initial contact.  Hats off to the Mets, they executed to perfection, bang - bang play.  Got dirty, which is always a good day at the ballpark.

We had to sit around for 1 game, due to the 7 team vs. 8 team format.  A team is always waiting to play.  You get stiff and slow waiting to play.  We scouted the Twins (who we play in the nightcap) and Phillies.  The Twins won their game 22-0, against the Yankees 2 team, which did not play any defense.  The Phillies won their game 7 -4, against the Mets 2 team, who we beat in the morning.  The Phillies had two guys hit one hop ground rule doubles over the left field fence.  Very impressive.

















More details to follow on the Twins game - gotta get off to throw batting practice.

Twins scored first, not hitting the ball very well.  Popup between second basemen and shortstop was the hit that broke our back, should have been caught.  That hitter eventually scored.

We tied it in the fourth.  I started the inning with a solid single to left.  Then came around to score on hits by David Miller & David Gibbon.  It stayed that way until the 6th, when again the Twins scored without really hitting the ball well.  The first hit came on a flare to right center field, that dropped between David Miller & I.  With two outs a right handed hitter, slapped a ball between our first basemen and second basemen.  I charged the ball, made a decent throw to home plate, that was cut-off by our pitcher!  Looked as though the throw was on line and there would have been a play at the plate.  Oh well.

We got a guy to second in the top of the 7th, but Dan Hoover struck out and could not deliver the run. So our goal of attaining the #1 seed, which would give us a bye on Monday, is gone.  However, the goal of winning the tournament is still within reach.  In fact, this may have been just what we needed to adjust our pitching rotation to be better positioned to win on Monday.  Let's not get ahead of ourselves.  Today we have to play two, which will determining our seeding position for Monday.  The goal being - be the #2 or #3 seed, as we would not see the Twins again until the final.

So if things align well for us - that is what we are aiming for.

Let's Go Bucs!

Friday April 15th - Practice Day

Today's activities started by taking a trip to Clearwater Beach.  They are celebrating the Sugar Sand Festival.  Many cool activities, like sand sculptures, great food, and family activities.  The large shark & inflatable slide were other attractions.  Pier 60 was nice, the Pelicans were everywhere. The day is overcast as shown in the photo of the beach.  The "bird of paradise" was a surprise.  My greatest mentor, Don Wilde, loved the flower.  It made me think of the fond memories I had of him and the lessons I still use today, that were taught so many years ago.

We ate late breakfast at the Tap House, where Nick, Adam, & I enjoyed some appetizers last year.  Place is still the same.

Had to leave by noon, in order to meet the team back at the hotel.  We are leaving as a group for out practice session at the Himes Development Center.  As we arrived, Pirates rookie teams were playing the Yankees.  They won both games, but the highlight was seeing Edgar Varela, manager of the Bristol VA rookie team. He was our first base at the 2014 Fantasy Camp.  Looks great, seems to be enjoying the coaching life.  I reminded him of his offer to shag fly balls prior to a Bristol Pirates game.  The offer still stands - perhaps later this summer.

The team came together well today. The (4) new additions to the line-up hit well during BP and fielded well during infield & outfield drills.  So looking forward to the opening game & comments tomorrow morning - will be tough to sleep.  Thomas Brooks, David Miller, and myself will be meeting at 6:25 am - to get some BP in prior to the 7:30 am clubhouse meeting.



Getting our game faces on - for our scoreboard photos.



Team practice - Let's Go Bucs



After practice, return to the hotel, get ready for our Team Dinner at the Columbia in Yorba City.  Photos of the motley Pirate Team, led by Mike LaValliere "Spanky".  Some of the signs in front of the Columbia - very historical venue, opened in 1905.  Joe D & Marilyn Monroe used to eat here, for those who might care...



Happy Jackie Robinson Day, 42 was the man for so many who followed.

Arrived in Tampa

Arrived in Tampa 11:00 am. Easy access, quick trip the hotel - Sheraton Suites. David Miller, arrived at 11:15 am.  Got the room squared away, had lunch at Maggiano's. Got the necessary water, yogurt, fruit, protein bars, etc.  Did some throwing out in the street between the office next door & the hotel.  Weather is spectacular.  Sunny with big clouds, 82 degrees.  You felt it while throwing.

Blow off day today, other players arriving later today.  Will have dinner tonight with Roy Berger, Dan Hoover, and David Miller.

Here is the schedule for the tournament:

Saturday 9:00 am
Mets #2 vs Pirates  - S1  Stadium
Saturday 3:30 pm
Pirates vs Twins - S1  Stadium
Sunday 9:00 am
Phillies vs Pirates - H1 Player development complex
Sunday 12:30 pm
Pirates vs Yankees #1 - S2 Aux field @ Stadium
Monday  8:00 am - Playoffs
Game #3 - Seed #7 vs Seed #2
Game #2 - Seed #6 vs Seed #3
Game #1 - Seed #5 vs Seed #4
#1 Seed gets a bye

Monday 11:00 am - Playoffs
Game #4 - Seed #1 vs Winner of Game #1
Game #5 - Winner of Game #2 vs Winner of Game #3

Monday 1:30 pm - Championship Game
Winner of Game #4 vs Winner of Game #5

* Home Teams are listed second, except the Championship Game - home team determined by a coin flip.  (Which we won last year - then lost the game)

FCCS 2016 - Off to Florida

The 2016 FCCS Pirates are getting ready to chase another title in Florida.  Some of us are packing this evening and will be traveling on Thursday.  The balance of the team will be arriving on Friday.  Our 1st practice session is on Friday, in the Steinbrenner Complex. The one without the pitching mounds in left field.  Should be a better practice than last year.

Thanks to the Pirates organization for providing Spanky to be our manager.  He is another year wiser and will guide us even better than in 2015.

Sorry to say the Red Sox decided not to return to Tampa this year.  They were an excellent team and their squad will be greatly missed.

So the equipment is packed, the clothes & uniforms, and hopefully enough hard work to win the tournament.  Very much looking forward to what we have this year.

Next entry will be made in Florida.  Enjoy the ride, I know I will...