Happy Father's Day & Two Fan Club Updates

*** Introduction ***

First, a personal note: in memory of Mindy’s father, who joined us in Section 5 for many Senators games, our daughter Abby, her fiancé Matt, and Adam and Brittany (our nephew and his wife) planned a miniature golf marathon for yesterday. Ten of us (including Adam’s parents and two of Mindy’s other sisters) played three courses. Another niece and her boyfriend joined us for the first leg at Adventure Sports; Mindy’s younger sister and her husband met us for the last one at Water’s Edge in Bird in Hand.

In between, I won a free game at Boulders Miniature Golf in Mountville. However, Adam and his mother tied for best overall score during this first annual event. They will share the new traveling trophy until next year.

Beforehand, all of us were presented with tourney t-shirts, which garnered attention from others much like on my annual baseball trips. We completed our day with a late lunch at Bird in Hand Family Restaurant.

Happy Father’s Day, Pop! We think you may have had a hand in convincing the Creator to provide yesterday’s fantastic weather so your family could enjoy so much fun together.

*** Update #1 ***

 
Our June meeting will be held one week later than usual to accommodate this week’s Senators home game. The Senators have been on quite a roll, haven’t they? We want to be able to support them on their weeklong home stand.

Set your calendar for Tuesday, June 24th for that next meeting, when we can celebrate the Senators’ current win streak and hot June play. Our guest speaker will be Ray Klein, who will share “Tales of a Major League Vendor”.

Join us at the New Cumberland American Legion on Market Street. We come to order at 6:30 PM.

*** Update #2 ***

Vice-President Jeanne Jacobs has finalized details for a weekend bus trip to see the Senators play in New Britain, CT. We’ll leave from the Radisson Hotel parking lot on Saturday morning, August 16th, enjoy that evening’s game, stay at the Holiday Inn Express, take in Sunday afternoon’s game, and return home Sunday evening.

$175 per person includes your transportation, tickets to both games and your hotel stay. Please call Jeanne at 717-774-2730 if you have any questions.

*** Epilog ***

After church today, Abby and I plan to spend time together; and then, I plan to call my dad. All of us look forward to celebrating his 80th birthday early next month.

He’s taught me so much over the years. I’m thankful for his experience. I’m also grateful to have such a terrific role model. (Did you ever wonder where I get my sense of humor?)

Here’s hoping your Father’s Day will enrich you today, either by spending time with a special male in your life or by recalling special memories. As PA announcer Chris Andree states before every game, “Or both!”

 

Brian Williams
President

 

Lots to Celebrate

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Let's begin by looking backward. This week marks the one-year anniversary of our Ultimate "Ultimate" Baseball Trip. Mitch Mansfield and I trek 2,500 miles to witness nine baseball games (all in different parks) in eight days. If you have a few minutes and care to read about our adventure, start here.

Secondly, we welcomed my friend, fellow baseball aficionado and former umpire, John Ingiosi to Metro Bank Park to last night's Senators game. John worked in this area for many years and is now enjoying retirement with his wife near Hustontown, PA.

I look forward to next time John visits for a game. So should the Senators.

Last night's game began like so many recent games: a 1st inning rally puts our team in an early hole. However, Omar Poveda settles in and holds the Fightins. The Senators battle against the Phils' pen, finally pushing across the eventual game winner on an 8th inning wild pitch with two outs. The Sens relief corps closes the door in the 9th by pounding the strike zone following a couple of bloop singles and an intentional pass.

5-4 final in a steady, light drizzle. It's a crisply played game, too, as the special Wednesday evening fireworks start to light up the cloudy sky before 10 PM.

Rewinding a bit, the evening at the ballpark begins with another celebration. The Fan Club recognized AJ Cole for winning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week a few weeks ago. Long-time Fan Club member Mitch Grafton presented AJ with his award.

Managerial Loss

I usually give managers a pass when it comes to in-game strategy. Most field generals go by the book, but I appreciate those who play on-field chess by gut feeling.

Today, I'm still steamed over last night's 14-inning debacle at Citizens Bank Park. Not because the Phillies are going anywhere this season, but because of a managerial decision that can only be described as nonsensical.

In the bottom of the 13th inning, the Phillies have the winning run at 3rd base with two outs. Granted, they'd already stranded that winning runner at 3rd numerous times during the game.

This time, facing an exhausted pen (from the previous night/morning's extra inning affair), the Phils' manager decides to stick with his only fresh arm -- at least it was fresh before tossing an incredible four innings of 3-up 3-down baseball. (When's the last time we could say that about any Phillies reliever?)

Instead of allowing Jeff Manship to take a seat and bask in the glory of a potential win as a reward for his perfect outing, John Mayberry, Jr. is called back from the on-deck circle. Manship is summoned to take a few cuts. He'd already struck out earlier in the game during a typical Phillies rally: 1-2-3, out-out-out.

This time, he battles. Manship fouls a couple of pitches straight back before grounding a ball up the middle. In his quest for a walk-off infield single, Manship comes up lame as Ruben Tejada rifles a throw to beat him and continue to the 14th inning.

Except Manship can't pitch any longer. In fact, his reward for four perfect innings and a better at-bat than we see from many Phillies who are overpaid to hit, most likely will include a stint on the DL.

With Antonio Bastardo warming in the pen, the rest is purely predictable. A leadoff four-pitch walk to a .200 hitter (Tejada) who never walks. A two-out RBI single from David Wright one pitch after Tom McCarthy mentions how poor he's been in those situations.

Then the Phils leave the tying run in scoring position in the bottom half. Another L. Another reliever asked to go above and beyond, succeed, and then suffer the consequences. Another hitter thinking, "My manager has that little confidence in my abilities?"

A confidence builder? Pfffft.

On a positive note, MLB finally welcomes young Oscar Taveras and he delivers a game-winning homer in his second AB for the Cardinals. Oscar's barely old enough to order a drink and he's already making an impact on a Major League field.

Remember when the Phillies had prospects?