Roster finally submitted

5-08-08: The 2008 Washington Generals announced their roster today and here it is:

Mike “Slappy” Spina
John Cleary
Keenan Cleary
Scott Scrabanski

Orland Park Punishers opening day roster is:

Matt “Bull” Spina
Steve Spina
Derek Radek
Jack Neven

By Mike Spina

Game 1

As expected, Steve took the mound for the Punishers. To nobody’s surprise he struck out the side.  Both John and Steve were pitching great early in this game.  Neither team scored in the 2nd and 3rd innings.  With 2 outs in the 3rd inning, Fine Whine broke Steve's no hitter with the Generals first ever team hit.  As you might recall, Fine Whine had the Punishers first ever hit (4-28-07 vs Ft. Phinbone Apaches).  Keenan followed Fine Whine with a strikeout giving Steve 9 strikeouts in 3 innings...ouch! At the end of 4 innings the score was 0 to 0.

Things turned ugly for the Generals in the 5th.  With Fine Whine on the mound for the Generals, Bull hit a slow roller back to him that he booted. Another first for Fine Whine (now also has the 1st career errors for 2 different teams), that's also probably a record of some kind.  Steve followed with a 2 run homer breaking the scoreless duel.  In the bottom of the 5th Steve continued his dominance of the strike zone and shut down the Generals again.  The score after 5 innings was OPP 2 Generals 0.  In 5 innings Steve was cruising with 13 strikeouts and only 2 walks.

Keenan came into pitch for the Generals in the top of the 6th.  The combination of 4 hits, 4 walks and an error resulted in 6 more runs for OPP.  Jack came in to pitch for OPP and had a 1, 2, 3 inning.  The score at the end of 6 was OPP 8 Generals 0.  The Generals decided to save John for game 2 so Fine Whine pitched the top of the 7th.  OPP had 8 hits, 1 walk and the Generals committed 3 errors, 1 by each fielder, to increase their lead to 14. Bull closed the bottom of the 7th with 3 strikeouts to complete the shutout.   Final score OPP 14 Generals 0.

Game 2: Surprisingly, Jack Neven started for OPP in game 2.  Jack would end up pitching the 1st 5 innings of this game.  Jack shut down the Generals in the 1st inning keeping the scoreless streak alive for the Generals.  John Cleary started game 2 for the Generals and gave up a solo homer to Steve Spina.  The score at the end of 1 inning was OPP 1 Generals 0. 

In the top of 3rd, thanks to a costly 2 out error by Steve Spina, the Generals were able to record 2 unearned 2 runs giving them, yes you’re reading correctly, their first the lead.  The Generals were winning 3 to 2!

Now playing like 4 star Generals, they decided to bring in Keenan Cleary in to pitch the bottom of the 3rd.  Keenan struck out 2 of the 1st 3 batters and things were looking good for the Generals. But 2 walks and a big 2 out double by Jack gave OPP the 4 to 3 lead after 3 innings.

With Jack still on the mound for OPP, and the bases full of soldiers, General Fine Whine came to the plate. He stood on the plate and pointed to the left field fence with his bat signaling he was about to hit a grand slam.  The suspense grew as the little white plastic ball left Jack’s hand. And then it happened. Fine Whine hit a 1 hopper back to Jack who then turned a double play.  Whatever life was left in the Generals was over with that 1 play.  They were dead men walking taking the field in the 5th inning.  The usually steady Big John Cleary was even hit hard.  OPP combined 6 hits and 2 walks to score 4 more runs blowing open a once close game.  The score at the end of 5 innings was OPP 13 WG 4.

Game 3: The Generals played Game 3 without Keenan. That hole in the field would be costly for the Generals.  It seemed when the 2nd fielder played the outfield OPP would hit grounders for singles, and when he played short would drop fly balls in for doubles.  Bull started on the mound for OPP. He was his steady self as he pitched 5 shutout innings giving up only 3 hits, 5 walks while striking out 8.  Mike started for the Generals and gave up a lead off homer to Bull and another unearned run.  At the end of 1 it was OPP 2 WG 0.

John was able to shut down OPP in the 2nd inning to keep the score 2 to 0.  OPP scored 5 runs in the 3rd highlighted by 2 homers off of John by Bull. At the end of 3 the score was OPP 7 WG 0. 
Both Fine Whine and John got shelled in what might be the ugliest half hour in Windy City history.  They gave up 5 homers with 3 by Steve and 1 by Bull and Jack each.  The Generals were able to break the shutout with 2 runs when they finally came up to bat.  27 to 2 sure sounds a lot better then 27 to 0, yeah right!  Overall, without seeing the other teams play yet this year, I would have to say OPP is going to be the team to beat this year.  Strong starting pitching plus a batting order of all .400 batting averages, each a HR threat every time they come up to the plate, makes for a team that should make a serious run at the title.  As for the Generals, this butt kicking was a learning experience.  They did not expect to win every game this year and are still trying to figure out what they need to do to improve. However, they will make adjustments and look forward to playing OPP again.  The OPP moves into a 1st place tie with the always tough Apaches.

Final score OPP 27 WG 2.

Other teams may only be a small nuisance but not a factor

5-07-08: While both teams are friendly off the field and will be rooting for each other when they play somebody else, when facing each other all hell can break lose. Bean ball wars may lead to some bench clearing brawls.  I am not at liberty to say how many practices and exhibition games were played between these two teams but I can say that after reviewing all the stats I was really impressed by both teams.  While wearing my Punisher "Old Man" hat, I would like to mention how long one of the many homeruns that Matt Spina hit this spring was.  We play on a block where the homeruns are on 90 plus foot lots.  Matt hit a 2 yard homer which was measured at over 200 feet (longest recorded HR in WCWBL history: C. Hernandez, 129ft).  Also the radar gun was out to see who would win a heater fest between, in my opinion, the 2 top aces of Windy City: Derek Radek and Steve Spina.  Let’s just say that the gun was smoking after that shootout.  I guess you all will have to wait and face them 2 to see who you think won that battle.  At least the Generals will have seen those young guns when the real games begin.  Last but definitely not least is how hot of a bat Jack "Secret Weapon" / "The Grinder" Neven swung this entire spring.  Can somebody say .750 batting average?  Batting title?

New team, familiar faces
-By Mike Spina

5-07-08:  How many teams can say they have somebody as good as Matt “The Bull” Spina as a number 3 starter on its staff?  Maybe only 1 team in the Windy City Wiffle Ball League that I can think of … the newly formed Generals.  Go ahead and laugh but these Generals, under the guidance and proven leadership of Mike "Fine Whine" Spina, are game ready and primed for big things after battling the Orland Park Punishers all spring.  While the Punishers can really bring the heat, the Generals have their own big guns mounted on the mound.  Big Bad John “I Can See” Cleary has pin point control and has a nasty late breaking bender that freezes even top rated batters. Can somebody say rookie of the year?  A fully healthy Scotty Scrabanski, who was the opening day starter last year for the Punishers, is now the anchor of the Generals’ staff.  Scott even agreed to keep his alcohol intake to 12 beers the eve of big games.  That's the kind of commitment I demanded and expect before I agreed to run both these teams.  Does anybody remember the 3 homer game Scott had against the 2007 Thunderbowl Champion Downer’s Grove Aztecs last year? The biggest General news flash is that "Fine Whine" has developed a change up to go along with his 12 mph fast ball!  Just when you’re gearing up for the heater he just might drop the 8 mph change up on you.  Don't forget that the future of the Generals is Keenan (first name unknown), another first year sensation the Generals were able to sign. A lot of teams were after him but he was quoted as saying 'playing and learning from "Fine Whine” has always been a dream of mine."  Is there any doubt who the top GM is in this league?  This all around "Charlie Hustle' type of player just keeps getting clutch hits against top pitching. I see a lot of last years Punishers in this rookie Generals team.  Watch out when playing them.  They just might sneak up and surprise a few teams and with a few breaks might even win a game this year.

By Dave Ringler

4/27/08:  Lonnie “Snoop Drunky Drunk” Rucker (2004-2007) Fat Bastard Champion 2004, Most Valuable Player 2004, Golder Arm Award 2004. Hurricane Lonnie ran the table in his 2004 debut, sweeping the awards and claiming the title with a dominating pitching performance and the game-winning tater in the title game. Since then, he’s had some trouble keeping his beverage full and avoiding pretty distractions, but he’s still one of Windy City’s finest. He’s been known to take a few mid-day naps, ensuring proper rest for his next game matchup.

As of April 30, 2008

TEAM	WINS	LOSSES	%	HOME	AWAY	STREAK
	3	0	1.000	2-0	1-0	W-3
	2	2	.500	1-1	1-1	W-2
	0	3	.000	0-1	0-2	L-3
P	0	0	.000	0-0	0-0	*

Offensive Minimum 10 AB Top 4
HR Galvan, Apchs (9) Schwab, Apchs (7) C. Hrndez, Blldgs  (4) King, Bvrs (4) RBI Galvan, Apchs  (25) King, Bvrs  (24) Schwab, Apchs  (20) C. Hrndez, Blldgs (13)	HITS Galvan, Apchs (33) Matusek, Bvrs (21) King, Bvrs (20) Schwab, Apchs (15)	BA Galvan, Apchs  (.600) Matusek, Bvrs (.583) C. Hernandez (.565) King, Bvrs (.513)
Defensive Minimum 5 innings
IP Schwab, Apchs (11) Matusek, Bvrs  (9) Galvan, Apchs (9) Rucker, Bvrs  (8)	ERA Galvan, Apchs (4.67) C. Hernandez, Blldgs (9.00) Rucker, Bvrs  (9.62) Schwab, Apchs  (10.82)	K Schwab, Apchs (25) Rucker, Bvrs  (18) Matusek, Bvrs (16) Galvan, Apchs (12)

As selected by the team captains

*Indicates league leader

HR theme continues in league play

Payton Park, Start: 2:15 PM End: 3:55 PM (1:40) Sunny, W Wind 3MPH, 72 Degrees

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Beavers	13	3	0	4	0	X	X		20	17	1
Bulldogs	8	0	1	0	0	X	X		9	10	1

King, Bvrs, 2HR/GS (1st Multi-HR of career)
Arias, Blldgs, HR, Cycle
C. Hernandez, Blldgs, HR/GS

4-20-08: He stands easily at 6ft or more. His physique shows signs of either formerly lifting weights or recently just returned to lifting weights after a few years of rest. He is quiet until provoked or if he feels he is a victim of an unjust call. He is Dirty Beaver Keith “L-Train” Matusek and despite his intimidating stature, the Backyard Bulldogs attacked him for 8 runs on 6 hits in the 1st inning that was highlighted by a Cesar “Squeeze” Hernandez grand slam. Mike “Keyboard Bully” Arias (4-6, 4RBI and hit for cycle) also went yard in the 1st, a 2run blast. L-Train did regain his composure and pitched decently through the next two innings giving up only 1 unearned run after a Lonnie “The Professor” Rucker error in the 3rd.  Eric “Ice” King pitched the 4th (2Hits, 0 runs) and Rucker capped off the 5th and final inning holding the Bulldogs to 9 runs. On offense, the Beavers scored 13 runs on 11 hits in their half of the 1st that was highlighted by a King 3 run HR. After scoring 3 more runs in the 2nd off of former Ft. Phinbone Apache (2006) Jeff “The Mouth” Nowak, King went yard again in the 4th with a grand slam, the 4th of his career. Arias held them in the 5th but the damage was already done and the Beavers won their first game of the year 20-9. “I want it to be on record that Mike (Arias) did not drink a beer until the bottom of the 5th!” Beaver captain King said.

GAME 2

Payton Park, Start: 4:05 PM End: 5:50 PM (1:45) Same Conditions

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Bulldogs	1	2	3	4	0	2	0		12	7	2
Beavers	0	6	6	0	0	0	1		13	15	1

Arias, Blldgs, HR
Nowak, Blldgs, HR, Fined $1.00 (O-Fer Club)
C. Hernandez, Blldgs, 2HR, Fined $1.00 (Throwing bat)
Matusek, Bvrs, HR, Fined $1.00 (Throwing bat)
King, Bvrs, HR/GS
Rucker, Bvrs, HR (Walk off)
Gray, Bvrs, HR/GS

Game 2: The Bulldogs scored first in this one when Jeff Nowak walked to score Mike Arias who lead off with a walk. Arias then shut out the Beavers in the bottom of the 1st striking out 2 of the 4 batters faced. After a 2nd inning Rucker error and with 2 outs, Bulldog Cesar Hernandez took John Gray yard for his 3rd HR of the season. Jason Griegel took the bump in the Bulldog 3rd and was rudely greeted by Eric King when he hit a HR with the bases loaded, King’s 5th GS of his career. King was followed by Keith Matusek 2 batters later who hit a 2 run HR. At the end of 3 the score was 12-6 in favor of the Beavers. The Bulldogs narrowed the gap in the 4th scoring 4 more runs on 2 hits. The score remained 12-10 until the Bulldog half of the 6th when they scored 2 runs on a HR by Arias, his second of the year. Hernandez shut the Beavers down in the bottom of the 6th and Lonnie Rucker shut the Bulldogs down in the top of the 7th. Then, according to Beaver Captain King at the post game press conference, Rucker called his shot. “He said I’m going to end this with a walk off right now” King told TT. Rucker tagged Hernandez for his 2nd HR of the year to end the game. The Bulldogs dropped to 0-3 while the Beavers improved to 2-2.

Bulldogs’ Jeff Nowak first inductee for ’08

4-20-08: Second year player Jeff Nowak of the Backyard Bulldogs is the first player to enroll in the “O-Fer Club” in this young ’08 season. Nowak went 0-7 in Game 1 of a double header against the Dirty Beavers. Nowak is also the first person to be penalized $1.00 for not getting a hit per the new rule that a player “shall be fined $1.00 each time he is entered into the O-Fer Club.” Congratulations Jeff!

Tribe takes two in wind-aided double header

Payton Park, Start: 9:20 AM End: 10:30 AM (1:10) Flurries, E Wind 3MPH, 37Degrees

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Beavers	2	0	1	0	0	2	0		5	14	0
Apaches	2	0	1	5	3	1	X		12	12	0

Gray, Bvrs, 100th Career Hit (Schwab-5th inn.), HR
Schwab, Apchs, HR
Galvan, Apchs, 2HR

4/13/08:  In Game 1 of a double header with the Dirty Beavers and Ft. Phinbone Apaches, the wind was blowing from the left field corner to the right field corner of Payton Park. Falling from the thick, gray clouds were light snowflakes. Those who drove by Payton Park must have thought the Beavers and Apaches were insane. Written on the rubber was “Apaches ’06 Champs” and to the right of the plate some vandal scribbled “Beavers”. The pregame talk was not that of the weather. It was talk of Beaver John Gray sitting on 98 career hits. Gray didn’t appear to be physically nervous or anxious to record number 100 however, his play showed something different. It took him his 6th at bat in the 5th inning and the hit could have been recorded an error and nobody would have argued. The Apaches played Jimmy “Chitwood” Galvan just to the right of pitcher Tate Schwab every time Gray batted. Clearly trying to put more pressure on Gray, the Apaches continued to make this defensive shift while reminding Gray he was 1 hit away from a milestone. Gray’s 100th hit went untouched through the legs of Chitwood and dribbled into the street. “It would have been better for him if Eric (King) recorded that as an error because of what he did next” Chitwood told TT. Gray’s next hit was a 2 run HR off of Chitwood. Indeed it would have meant more because Gray’s last HR was his called shot against Chitwood on May 20, 2007. Gray’s 100th hit wasn’t the only thing worth mentioning for the Beavers. Keith “L-Train” Matusek went 7-9 (.778).  Shining for the Apaches in Game 1 was Chitwood who went 9-17 with 2HR and 7RBI. On his tail was 1st year phenom Schwab who had a HR himself.

Game 2

Start: 10:42 AM End: 12:15 PM (1:33) Cloudy, NE Wind 15MPH, 37Degrees

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Apaches	2	3	6	7	2	1	X		21	20	1
Beavers	0	3	0	0	8/	0	X		11	21	0

Schwab, Apchs, 5HR
Galvan, Apchs, 6HR, 1300th Career Hit (Rucker-4th inn.)
King, Bvrs, HR, $1.00 Fine (Throwing Bat)
Rucker, Bvrs, HRMatusek, Bvrs, HR, $1.00 Fine (Throwing Bat)

If you like homeruns then this was the game for you! Fourteen total HR were hit with the Apaches claiming 11 of them. First year Apache, Tate Schwab, claimed 5HR while Chitwood hit 6! Eric “Ice” King, Lonnie “The Professor” Rucker and Keith “L-Train” Matusek all went yard each for the Beavers. It was the Apaches who scored first when the lead-off batter, Schwab, took the L-Train deep to start the game. Instead of going inning by inning, we at Thunder Times will just break the long balls down for you:

• Top 1st: Schwab, Apaches, 1 run HR
• Top 2nd: Galvan, Apaches, 3 run HR
• Bottom 2nd: Rucker, Beavers, 2 run HR
• Top 3rd : Schwab, Apaches, (2) 2 run HR & a 1 run HR/Galvan 1 run HR
• Top 4th : Galvan, Apaches, 3 run HR/Schwab, 3 run HR
• Top 5th : Galvan, Apaches, (2) 1 run HR
• Bottom 5th : Matusek, Beavers, 1 run HR/King 3 run HR
• Top 6th : Galvan, Apaches, 1 run HR

Newest player wants to play forever

4/16/08: Sources from the Ft. Phinbone Apaches tell TT that 1st year player Tate Schwab wants his contract renegotiated. According to a reliable source, Schwab feels that he should be extended right now because he has put up 7HR in only 3 games. Many speculate Schwab is not happy but he assured us that is not the case. “I am very happy and would like to play for the Ft. Phinbone Apaches for many years” Schwab said in a press release. That is relief to Apache Captain Jimmy “Chitwood” Galvan who has had a tough time keeping players. “He can stay as long as he wants because without him I can’t play!” Chitwood said.  Let’s take a look at Schwab’s numbers.

New players, fans and Old Style attended Opening Night

4-06-08: The weather was pleasant. The fans, with exception to Eric “Ice” King, were respectful to the players. The players, except for 1st year Backyard Bulldog Jason Griegel, were donned in their new uniforms. Beer was plentiful and Payton Park was alive with sounds of slapping plastic for the first time in the 2008 season. The 2007 Thunderbowl runner-up Ft. Phinbone Apaches played host to the newly named Backyard Bulldogs.

Playing in his first career game for the Bulldogs was Jason Griegel. Griegel was batted in the #2 spot by team Captain Cesar “Squeeze” Hernandez. In his first at bat he was walked by Apache Tate Schwab.

Schwab was also playing in his first career game. Team Captain Jimmy “Chitwood” Galvan didn’t waste anytime helping get him accustomed to the league as Schwab started the game on the mound. “He asked me if I had any advice and I told him to just throw strikes” Galvan said.

Schwab quickly loaded the bases in the 1st inning and then was rudely welcomed to the league by veteran Hernandez who hit a 3 run triple to left field. Griegel went 0-1 in the 1st with a walk and a strike-out.

               

Punishers punching for the ’08 title
By Mike Spina

3-31-08:  In an earlier preseason Punisher preview that I submitted, I mentioned that the 2008 Punisher squad just might have a few new faces including the possibility of some big name players joining the team.  The rookie Punisher after last year was over realized that they could compete in this league but were missing a little something to push them over the top.  I was on a hunt all off season for some big guns. First, there was the big off season signing of Jack "Secret Weapon" Neven.  Jack was a major addition and improvement for this years Punishers team.  Now that the big story broke today that the current Windy City reigning MVP and Rookie of the Year Derek Radek has joined the Punishers for the 2008 season, the fans in Punisherland are dancing in the streets.  The reports of record high Punisher season ticket sales are currently going through the roof are true.  Negotiations to sign Derek were ongoing for quite awhile and were not finalized until this morning.  Last years DGA squad was a loaded team and they would have been the odds on favorite to win it all again this year.  The Punishers, along with I am sure all of the other Windy City members wish well to Rob Brinkman,Tony Dawson and Phil Svetich. 

The hardest part of being a team captain is when you have to make room for new players.  With the addition of Jack and Derek the Punisher roster is set.  Scotty Scrabanski, who was an original Punisher and still is a Punisher at heart, is currently a free agent.  On any given day any team can beat any team in our very competitive and highly talented league but with these 2 major signings I really like the 2008 Punishers chances of going far in the playoffs.  I am sure Derek and Jack will look good in their new Punisher jerseys.  While the batting order, pitching rotation and playing time still has to be figured out I say let the games begin.  Welcome Derek and Jack and good luck to everybody this season because these Punishers are hungry and ready.

“So the Punishers need two guys who can throw 60+?  Well, I guess if they
do not have any confidence in their own game, might as well recruit some.”

-Keith “Sir Pimps A-lot” Matusek

Steve Spina’s first Thunder Times submission is ballsy

4/01/08: Thunder Times received this submission from Orland Park Punisher Steve Spina last month and promised him we’d post it in the 1st edition for the month of April. It is bold indeed and comes just 4 days prior to the Punishers hosting the 2007 Thunderbowl Champion Downer’s Grove Aztecs. Enjoy!

First, the Orland Park Punishers will easily win the big trophy sweeping every team.

Secondly, I, Steve Spina, will win the Cy Young award.

Thirdly, my brother Matt Spina will take the Triple Crown.

Fourth, my dad Mike Spina, hands down, will win the Whiner award.

Fifth, the Ft. Phinbone Apaches won’t even be a .500 team.

And finally, both I & my brother Matt will have double digits in long balls!

Trio to help Commissioner with certain issues

Some players are close to milestones