Provincial League 09/10 Round 14

Zarney if you are reading this, PLEASE COME BACK!

Bears are GOOOOOONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEE…
No pitchers and no hitters…

Bye bye Bears…

Whats happening in the Hornets Nest? How is TJ’s Arm? He getting the start against the Brewers this weekend?

I’ll second that motion!

Dear Zarney,

Thanks for leaving and giving the rest of the PL teams a chance at the title this year. From what I heard at the bear cage on the weekend, your departure has left a huge hole in the bears pitching staff. The hype on Darracott’s pitching abilities was just that, “hype”. On the other hand Carine played a very good game with a strong pitching performance from Dan the Man. Schurman is still on the 3 year dl, however the Cats have depth this year, something they havent had in the past. Its going to be an interesting rest of the way out. The bears have a tough tough schedule, and Rockingham and Carine have it rather easy. Could be interesting to see where Curtin and UWA finish, ahead of the bears I hope. Oh how the mighty have fallen!!muahahaha!

Who was the kid at left field for Carine on Sunday?? He started off one of the best team plays I’ve seen in baseball for a while. He picked up the ball deep in the outfield and rifled a throw into the Shurmy who relayed to the catcher Hobbs at home plate and tagged out 2 runners going for home. I heard this kid can pitch as well. He also threw a ball into 2nd base from the outfield to beat the runner to 2nd but somehow he was called safe…….

99 percent sure he aint throwing this weekend

With Zarney’s departure it leaves one question, why didn’t Darracott go with him? He is a joke, the highlight of sundays effort was the water cooler. Atleast the strippy socks have us some entertainment, now he is just pathetic. Why are we still paying him.

With the PL Heat team about to be finalized in the coming weeks, who do people think will make the squad?

Remembering that guys like Wishart and Hookway are unavailable and that TJ sounds like he has an injury.

Also who do you think will be the surprise pick.

Road to the finals –
A big weekend if results sees the race for 3rd and 4th spots turn into an intriguing battle between three clubs. Here is a look at how the last five games of the regular season shape up for each of the top 5 teams.

Rockingham 1st: (13 – 3)
Current Position: 3rd
Still to Play: UWA, Kelmscott, Balcatta, Kalamunda, Curtin
I wouldn’t call this an easy run home, although Rockingham have had the wood over UWA for the past couple of years, there is real danger here. After working so hard for two tough wins over the Cats, and with their recent good record against the Whips, it could be easy for the Rams to become complacent this week. Kelmscott and Kalamunda should be gimmes, but the Rangers surprised them last time around and took the points. Balcatta have been a shadow of their former selves but anyone who writes them off is playing with fire, and Curtin although they got up against Wishy, were completely ineffective against Eckley. The Rams have the luxury of being able to manipulate the match-ups to suit them, and although Eckley is not due in the rotation until Kelmscott, they can easily give him two weeks off and pit him against Balcatta & Curtin. On the other hand, it may be prudent not to show him against teams they could conceivably come up against in the finals. Either way the Rams will have learned from their past mistakes and go into each match-up full of confidence.
Prediction: 5 – 0
Finish: 1st

Carine: (12 – 4)
Current Position: 2nd
Still to Play: Kelmscott, Kalamunda, Curtin, Kelmscott, Balcatta
Probably the softest finish to the season of all of the top five. To date the Cats haven’t lost to any of the teams they play in the last 5 weeks. After what was an inauspicious start to the second half, the Cats have made amends with an absolute domination of the Bears. Obviously smarting from the two game loss to the Rams, the Cats will be keen to show they are a force to be reckoned with. I can’t see them dropping games to Kelmscott or Kalamunda, and I don’t think they will worry too much about who they throw against Curtin or Balcatta, with both Hayes and Hookway capable of shutting down either of those teams’ offense.
Prediction: 5 – 0
Finish: 2nd

Balcatta: (10 – 6)
Current Position: 3rd
Still to Play: Kalamunda, Eastern Hills, Rockingham, UWA, Carine
A brutal finish to the season for the Bears, coming up against three teams in the last three weeks each with plenty to play for. The Bears have put in a couple of awful performances in the past 3 weeks only able to rustle up a combined eight hits for no runs against UWA & Carine, while conceding 24 runs and 30 hits. The loss of Zarney has all but killed their chances of making any impact in the finals, and if they can’t find any potency offensively they could find themselves missing out on March action for the first time since I can remember. You’d expect them to get past Kalamunda and Eastern Hills, depending on the availability and/or fitness of TJ, but Rockingham, UWA and Carine have all given them nightmares recently. Reality is the Bears don’t have any quality starting pitchers, the likes of Clarke, Free, Russell & Needham are all capable of getting some cheap outs in relief, but none are capable of shutting a quality hitting line-up down for 9 innings. Offensively the Bears shouldn’t have too many worries, but from the last couple of games against the better teams, you get a sense that their hearts just aren’t in it, and that fighting spirit they’ve always been known for is dying out a little.
Prediction: 2 – 3
Finish: 4th

UWA: (9 – 7)
Current Position: 4th
Still to Play: Rockingham, Curtin, Kalamunda, Balcatta, Kelmscott
Probably the most interesting run home of anyone in contention. The next two games are huge for the fortunes of the Whips, the Brewers and the Bears. An upset win against the Rams, followed by a win against the Brewers will all but seal the deal, as you would imagine UWA can make short work of at least Kalamunda & Kelmscott. Offense wise the Whips are certainly top two if not the best in the league, their lineup being full of experience and plenty of power is certainly formidable to pitch against. Ottey has emerged late in the year as a viable option and the Whips will need to get the best out of him and Goldman for any chance at a big push come March. Any team in the top four underestimating the Whips should do so at their own peril, overlooking them will see you sitting out March action a week early.
Prediction: 4 – 1
Finish: 3rd

Curtin: (9 – 7)
Current Position: 5th
Still to Play: Eastern Hills, UWA, Carine, Rockingham, Eastern Hills
The odds are stacked against the Brewers, who have done so well to get themselves into the position they are currently in. Depending on how the match-ups stack up, the Brewers could potentially close out the season with five consecutive losses. A big problem for the Brewers this season is how they have handled the better pitching in the league, they have recently been shut out by Eckley and Wohlever, and haven’t managed much against the likes of Hayes. Defensively they have been OK, but every now and then they will have a stinker. The quality of their pitching, be it Grigoletto, Johnson or Greaves is not good enough for them to afford anything but to put a goose egg in the E column. They may or may not get TJ this week depending on his health, they’d better hope he is not healthy or their season could be down the gurgler. UWA, Carine, Rockingham are all tough propositions and I can’t see them getting up in any of these games as all three seem to be hitting some form at the right time.
Prediction: 1 – 4
Finish: 5th

TWIB, i’m glad you thought Kalamunda should be a gimme game for Rockingham, and should be a game Carine can’t drop, and a team Balcatta will get past and will be made short work of by UWA, as we aren’t too keen on winning any more games for the season, as we already have our scheduled booked for when the finals are on, which means our top ten players will be unavailable. So don’t worry there is no offence taken from the Rangers over the predictions as that is exactly what we are aiming for :)
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And Zarney come back, to strengthen the Balcatta team, to make these c***y people fear them again.
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Please hand all bribes for percentage booster wins, to Andy, when meeting the umpire before the game, so we are certain how badly we have to lose, as this may be crucial to your final standings on the ladder. All bribes proceeds go to fund our Bunbury Trip.

Also Kalamunda Rangers Provincial Team would like to express our appreciation to the Curtin Baseball Club, in helping our End of Season Funds Pool, to get us to Bunbury… (didn’t anyone find it odd, that in both games, Kalamunda retired the lead, with no runs scored against, to let in 14 runs to nothing, in the second half of both games…)

Firstly let me say that I’m not from Balcatta.
I cant believe some of these comments on the blog. Sure the Bears are down on players losing an import pitcher and players to the mines, but they are and have been a quality outfit for many years.
Carine are full of pop off over their win (thanks Zarney) and they should beat the Bears with the players in Carine’s line-up. A few $$ worth of players there.
Unfortunately for the Cats they don’t show anything major against the good sides. After my mid week game a few weeks ago I watched them STRUGGLE against Rockingham and Eckley.
The reason that you clubs have imports and have changed the way that you view each season is because of the Bears and the want to beat them each year.
Naturally the Tall Poppy Syndrome is relevant here and everybody wants to beat the Bears, me included.
I also hear that Hobbs-Brown is out of here in a few weeks time and won’t be playing finals at Carine. Will this leave a hole in the line-up?
As a player not competing in finals the smart money will be on the Rams regardless of who they are opposing.
As far as the PL Heat team is concerned it will be an interesting selection given who isn’t available to travel.

Freeza,
If you are reading this please don’t go to work on the mines..
I will miss you..
Freeza

As for the hole left when Hobbs leaves. It wont be that big to fill. the kid has struggled to show much consistance with the bat since round 5. Defensively is another story. But as everyone say’s, it opens up opportunities for all the younger talented players at the club to step up. The problem with that is I don’t think any of them have the balls to do it.
Thanks to the bears for the entertaining weekend. Without a doubt one of the best games the cats have played all year, it wouldn’t have mattered who the competition was, they just had everything going there way. It will be interesting to see if they have the strenght to back it up. One of the play’s from left field even had the plate umpire looking twice to catch up with the double tag at home. It was also good to see Hados find some form going 4 from 4 in his return game back in the top side. Just keep it firing.

Tall poppy, I think you’ll find that most teams would have struggled against Eckley the way he was throwing on that Wednesday night, the guy was dialled in!

Also given Hobbs-Brown’s modest .299 average and 19 Ks I’m not sure he’s all that integral a part of the Cats’ lineup. I can think of a couple of guys in the Cats’ reserve side who would be an adequate replacement for him.

All this being said, I agree with over some of the harsh comments regarding the Bears, they have been one of the most sucessful clubs in the league for so long, and they have been the victims of some pretty rotten luck this year, but bring back Mcleod from Wembley and another import next year and you’ve got yourself a premiership quality line up again.

Anyone know why the Balcatta v Kelmscott game hasn’t been added to the results as yet?

Did something happen in the game? Protest maybe??

“I also hear that Hobbs-Brown is out of here in a few weeks time and won’t be playing finals at Carine. Will this leave a hole in the line-up?”
I think it will be filled in with dirt, about as usefull in comparison.

How can anyone write off carine? I recken they will not only make the final, they will win it,I’d put money on it.

Went & watched the Cats V Bears last weekend & could’n't believe how c***y the Cats are in all grades as a club ! Even there PL coach was disgusted & apologized for his clubs actions… I am not associated with Balcatta but common before you pop off make sure you can back it up in the play offs p**** cats… Biggest club in the PL with little silver ware to show for it!!!!!

Freeza come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Freeza come back, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong and I just can’t live without you

Freeza come back….

PL Watcher – whatever mate.
There is a great rivalry between Balcatta and Carine and has been for a very long time.
If Balcatta were winning, i am more than 100% sure that Carine would have been fed so much more than Balcatta were given.
By the way; do your ears work?? Did you hear the filth and abuse coming from Balcattas PL1 dugout during the PL1 game?? Of course we were going to give it back to them!!
Bring on the next Balcatta vs Carine game – best rivalry in the league!!

Hey PL Watcher. I agree wth your comments regarding some of the actions of our lower grade supporters from the bears v cats game. I actually moved away from the group on the hill. It is also fair to say that the bears seem to bring out the best and worst of most cats players. There has been a love hat relationship for as long as i can remember. as for your comment on the silver wear in your cupboard. We have a premiship cup from at least one grade for the last 8 years and I seem to remember loading the trunk with three a few years ago. no we are not still living in the memory of the glory year but it does keep driving us. See ya at the end of March

What the hell are you on about PL Watcher? What you have written doesn’t even make sense.

I assume you may have consumed a few too many brews when you wrote the above comments and English became your second language behind drunkeneess the universal language of all drunks.

P.S. you say no silverware to show, I would have thought that 4 Premierships out of a possible 8 in the last two years wasn’t a bad effort
Has your club done better?

PL Watcher, you are an absolute joke. The bears consistently provide the worst sportsmanship in the league. i am not associated with either club, but the behaviour of the PL1 bears on sunday was out of line. Carine outclassed the bears no question, and the comments directed at a few off the younger Carine players was unacceaptable. Both pitchers in the PL1 game looked 18 or so and really pitched well. It is obvious why Carine would fire up when there PL side played so well and the bears aacted so poorly.

Cat, your criticism off the youngsters at the club pretty much sums up carine. You have wonderful depth with all these kids and you somehow manage to piss them off. I have been around plenty of clubs this year and you by far have some of the best depth in the league. How can a club have so many of there bright lights pissed off?

Observer,
4 Premierships out of a possible 8 in the past 2 years.
Only one PL Premiership in that lot, but hey great effort to beat yourselves in PL3 each year..
Didn’t the Bears beat you in a PL1 GF during that time also, so the majority of your Premierships have been won in the lower grades where you have been lucky enough due to numbers to have young guys playing against veterans…
All power to the Cats..
Nothing like talking about your Silver Ware..
Next you will be telling us how you already have had 4 premiership cups engraved with Carine on them..
You talk about the Bears PL1 attitude to the Carine players, I was at PL Heat training on Wednesday and the Bears PL players were talking about Carine stealing bases when they were 10 runs up..
Go Cats you sure know how to fire up a situation.
We play Carine this week and I can’t wait to see what they offer up in attitude and c***yness..

Not sure if you have noticed when playing at Balcatta but is it a conincidence in the lower grade games that strike calls always go Balcatta’s way when their guys are umpiring? You can give me everything about them being volunteers and things and that is great but they have always looked after their own.

Wow! OK that was strange, Freeza please come back and spare us more dreadful poetry…

Carine (12 – 4) vs Kelmscott (2 – 14)
Likely Match-up: Hookway vs Verbunt
Last time they met: Carine 21 Def Kelmscott 11
The Cats are coming off a huge win over the bears, and will go into this one full of confidence. The dogs put in a brave effort against the Whips and made them go the full 9 rounds. This week should be all about consolidation for the Cats, they’ve been unimpressive in the latter half of the year, and need to prove that they are contenders. Kelmscott got the jump on them last time around and it took the Cats 5 innings to reel them in. The Doggies for whatever reason seem to love the Cats’ pitching and their free swinging style caused some headaches last time around. This time, I don’t think the Cats will take any chances, Hookway will get the ball and they’ll try to get it done in 7. For the Dogs, Verbunt is the man to start, and I think a good idea might be to rotate through their pitchers and not let the Cats get settled.
Prediction: The Cats have too much depth, and will win, but not easily.

Eastern Hills (4 – 12) vs Curtin (9 – 7)
Likely Match-up: Freeman vs Greaves
Last time they met: Eastern Hills 6 def Curtin 0
The Brewers got taught a lesson by the Rams last week, and the Hornets copped a pasting from a motivated Kalamunda. Huge game for the Brewers, and a real let off if the mail about TJ is true. Curtin need this one to keep the pressure on UWA & Balcatta and press for 3rd spot. They could nary afford a brain explosion and boot the ball around against Eastern Hills, who have a habit of making teams pay for mistakes at inopportune times. Johnson is another viable option for the Brewers, but Greaves hasn’t had a lot of work recently and so this outing should serve as a good way to give him some innings coming down the stretch. Offense wise the Hornets need to do what they do best and get their fast balls early in the count, which is what they’ll get if Greaves starts. The Brewers really have to hope that TJ has not made some sort of miraculous recovery, as they have been dominated by hard throwing lefties.
Prediction: Curtin if TJ is not fit.

Kalamunda (5 – 11) vs Balcatta (10 – 6)
Likely Match-up: C Free vs Tieland
Last time they met: Balcatta 28 def Kalamunda 13
The Bears copped a royal spanking at the hands of the Cats last week and the Rangers outplayed a fighting Hornets outfit. Last time these two met it was a slugfest with 41 runs scored, I expect a similar affair this time around. The wheels appear to be falling off the Bear train and it’s not going to get much easier for them. Kalamunda would love nothing more than to make things even more complicated for the Bears by sticking it to them and coming away with a win. This will be an unscientific encounter, it comes down to pure offense, they might as well be done with it and put a pitching machine out there on the bump. The Bears didn’t trouble the scorers much last week and the Rangers piled on 16 against Eastern Hills so it will be interesting to see if these trends will continue.
Prediction: Balcatta, but just.

UWA (9 – 7) vs Rockingham (13 – 3)
Likely Match-up: Goldman vs J Wishart
Last time they met: Rockingham 14 def UWA 3
This week is monumental for UWA, they might as well treat this game as a qualifying final. If they drop this game and Curtin win, it will all but shut the door on their season. Win and the Whips will keep themselves right in the mix and even give them a slim chance of taking 3rd by season’s end. Rocko has been somewhat of a bogey team for the Whips, I can’t actually remember the last time the Whips beat them. Wishy has done a superb job of keeping the UWA power bats off balance in the past and must do so again to ensure the same result. Goldman has to be on top of his game, if his off speed stuff doesn’t work for him he has little chance of making an impact. I can’t wait to watch this encounter as I know for a fact that UWA are champing at the bit to get the monkey of the back, and speaking to those down at Hourglass, they’d love nothing more than to dent the Whips finals hopes. I’m predicting a classic low scoring encounter and won’t be surprised if we see extras.
Prediction: UWA, just because I want the play-off race to keep hotting up.

Silverware, we’ve been through this stupid f*cking argument over an over, we have young guys in low grades because we have a large number of transitional players coming from juniors, deal with it. Would it make you happy if we nominated two PL teams?

As far as stealing when 10 runs up, it was a mistake made by an inexperienced player who was not aware of the score at the time. Ryan Schurman immediately approached the Balcatta dugout and apologised, and the game progressed without any further issue.

Ok Silver Ware, lets set you straight. Carine premierships over the past 5 years.

2005 – D Grade {couple of old blokes, some young kids} (only 2 of the kids are at the club now, both playing low grades)
2006 – D Grade {Same old blokes, a few more old blokes and a few kids, only 3 kids still playing, all in low grades)
2007 – PL2 {whole team of old blokes – just ask Balcatta)
2008 – PL, PL2, PL3 {Huge season for the club, there’s your PL trophy}(PL2 admittably was young, most are at the club playing PL & PL1, PL3 side was the old blokes from the PL2 side the year before)
2009 – PL1 {most of these guys still playing PL1 and occassionally PL}

So there you have it, haven’t really seen too many young “stars” in those low grade premierships myself but please feel free to point them out! Premierships are premierships and regardless of the grade it brings people back to the club each year.

For 2010, who knows what we may be able to win, we haven’t engraved any trophies yet but our 6 teams (all who should make the finals – that’s depth!) will be trying as hard as hell to do so.

Best of luck to you on Sunday!

Silver ware we are going to beat you in every grade this week!! enjoy the drive to Carine and back!! Thanks for the extra motivation!

Well I don’t go for Kelmscott or Carine, But Carine will win cause they go the best player in W.A, The wicked thrower that was positioned at Left Field on Sunday would be one of the best players In Australia, and it runs in the family I hear his little brothers are fantastic at baseball too. Not only that they fantastic at softball a credit to them all.

Regarding the following comments by silverware:

I was at PL Heat training on Wednesday and the Bears PL players were talking about Carine stealing bases when they were 10 runs up..

and

Go Cats you sure know how to fire up a situation.
We play Carine this week and I can’t wait to see what they offer up in attitude and …..

Silverware, are you some sort of ghost? The team playing against carine are the doggies, and their two representatives at the PL heat tryouts (Juice and myself) are like WTF, as neither of us typed that junk.

Anyways good luck this weekend, I look forward to putting the pressure on Carine once more :P