Our Boys of Summer APBA League is on its All-Star break now. Last night was the big game between the National League and the American League. For those who want a good recap, check out Shawn Baier’s game summary. Shawn has a career as a sportswriter, in my opinion. Well written sir!
Unfortunately, the National League couldn’t pull it out as the American League pitching kept them down 7-1. The AL’s offense was keyed by a grand slam in the fourth inning, betrayed by my own Urbana Locomotive pitcher Cole Hamels.
The 4th inning call from Shawn:
“The manager decides to keep in Hamels for a bit, as there is activity in the pen. Hamels delivers the pitch to Beltran, Beltran goes and gets this one, and this one is hit, Cespedes is running towards the left field wall, as he watches it disappear into the stands, a Grand Slam for Beltran in front of his home fans of Washington, are you kidding me?!”
Congrats to the AL managers of the Boys of Summer APBA League!
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On a related note, I wish my IAL managers could see my work in the BoS league. My 30 years in that league has been mediocre at best. I know it’s only been a half a season but wow, what a year the Urbana Locomotives are having!
Not only are we topping the NL East by a good 10.5 games with a 51-30 record but we managed to lead all teams with eight All-Stars nominated. David Price, who was a unanimous All-Star choice, leads the way with a 12-3 record and a nifty 2.18 ERA and 123 Ks in 115 plus innings. Hideki Kuroda (10-6, 4.13) and Cole Hamels (9-6, 2.57, 133 Ks and All-Star Game performance notwithstanding) are both doing fine as well.
Offensively, we rely on two hitters. Adrian Beltre is hitting .352 with 15 homers and 61 rbis. We kind of expected that. What we didn’t expect was catcher Carlos Ruiz batting .376 with 12 homers. It was a blow when he went down with an injury for ten games.
Our reliever Jonathan Papelbon (a Twin Cities Thunderchicken too, by the way) is doing a fine job as closer. He’s let up just one run so far this season in 19 innings for a 0.47 ERA with 14 saves.
Yes, IAL, I CAN win.
Finally, many thanks to commissioner Shawn Baier. Shawn puts in a lot of work to make this league what it is. Baier knows his team is a work in progress (his team is 22-57 so far) and despite that, he has the patience of Job when dealing with the rest of us.
