It was a hot and muggy night at the fields, and the action met the heat. Normally we get right to the action but some stories need to be the lead, and this is no question one of those. It has come to League Note’s attention that former player and son of current captain, Jimmy Lefton, Alex “Big AL” Lefton got a “Reds 2021 World Champions tattoo on his rear end. Unlike the Iron Sheik being in the league, this is 100% true (Jimmy has the picture). Somehow this has something to with Barstool Sports and followers on social media. I have no idea. I do know that both Jimmy and Laurie are very proud of him for his dedication.
Now onto the action:
On Field 1 we had Team Grefer vs. Team Wagner
Team Grefer laid the wood to Team Wagner by run rule. When asked for comment post game, Captain Wagner said we had to ask twice if the bats Grefer was using were legal. That says it all. Here’s Kyle for the winners:
We beat team Wagner 18-2 in 5 innings. After some rough offensive performances lately, the bats woke up in a big way. Everyone was hitting last night but the key performances were Joey Huidt, David Wertheim and Adam Cronstein all hitting inside the park home runs, and Howard Goldwasser with a bases clearing double to left field.
Jon Ruben pitched a great game and helped himself out with a triple to center field. The defense was also on point with only 1 or 2 errors.
We look to build some momentum off this win for the final 3 weeks of the season.
On Field 2 it was Team Fogel vs. Team Solomon
Stu for the winners:
Is Team Solomon the hottest team right now?
Team Solomon won a great overall game against Team Fogel, 11-8. It was a back and forth game with Team Solomon taking an early lead on a 2-Run homer by Tyler “MVP” Stansbury. After being down after 3, Harry “Hercules” Misner roped a double off of the wall in LCF with the bases loaded, clearing the bases.. According to Statcast, the ball had a 115 mph exit velo. Team Solomon was down 2 going into the top of 7. Harry and Tyler both got on via single and walk. Stuart ” Captain of the Year” Solomon hit a flare into RCF scoring 1 and Ryan ” Commish For Life” Silverman roped a single scoring Tyler and Stu. Sub Stevie Z came up with a clutch single to right scoring Ryan. Team Solomon scored 5, going up 3 and were able to retire the top of Fogel’s line-up in the bottom of 7.
Great pitching by Mark “Doyle Brunson” Weisser. And a huge put out by (K)Evan “Logan” Weisser in the top of the 7th, throwing out Dan “Everything is so” Green.
After the game, Super Sub Steve Zawatsky had this to say, ” Great Team Win. Its great to play with such a great team like Team Solomon.”
Team Solomon looks to continue its winning ways next Sunday without the heartbeat of their team, Andrew “5th Rounder” Solomon.
And Roger for Team Fogel:
TEAM SOLOMON 12
TEAM FOGEL 9
Not much to say except……another frustrating loss for TEAM FOGEL as they couldn’t protect a two-run lead heading to the seventh inning.
Kudos do go to SCOTT “SHORTY” ADAMS who had two hits and made two nice catches in right field.
It should also be pointed out that DAN “DANNY” GREEN was thrown out for the first time on a bunt. Kudos to EVAN WEISSER for making a nice play….
TEAM FOGEL hopes to break a modest two game losing streak next week vs. TEAM WAGNER and veteran pitcher HOWARD SCHWARTZ…….
NO quotes this week as the media was not allowed in the locker room after the game.
“I’ve got a job to do to report on the game, but also would like to talk to the players and captain. What am I going to use for my story?,” Team reporter ROGER ROSENTHAL said while being escorted out of the locker room area.
One player, MATT “MATTIE MILLS” MILLER said, “We’re not in a good way at this time and words were said in the locker room that can’t be repeated.” He added, “It’s like the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team locker room after a loss to XAVIER UNIVERSITY.”….oh my!!!!!……..STAY TUNED!!!!!
TIDBITS…..
*The friendliest guy in the league for my money is TODD WASSERMAN, but he’s got a bit of a dilemma on his hands…..
He wants to buy another SEAN CASEY bobblehead to add to his collection, but wife GRETCHEN is against it. She thinks he has too many as it is……who wins this one?
**JACOB BRAFMAN, son of MARC BRAFMAN, is quite a baseball player and rumor has it that he may jump ship from TEAM BRAFMAN to TEAM FOGEL for the “right” price. ROSENTHAL might be put on waivers and they would be able to pick up another player. How would that set in the BRAFMAN house?
***And finally, speaking of the younger BRAFMAN, a huge UC fan (he has to be), finally gave in and said that if XAVIER UNIVERSITY was the only school to give him a sports scholarship he would attend the rival school. How would that set in the BRAFMAN house? (The elder Brafman said that Auburn would be the only school he wouldn’t let Jacob attend)
On Field 3 Team Lefton took on Team Brafman
Team Lefton battled all game and came away with a 15-12 win. The top of their order (Matt Leader, Anton, Peter Brownell and Jimmy) I think went a combined 100 for 100. “We got ’em on, got ’em over and got ’em in pretty well,” Lefton said post game. “I was proud of the way we played. On defense, Peter saved the game twice in the bottom of the 7th with two great plays. A backhanded catch and then a long throw from the hole to give us the win. “Handsome” Sam Castellini in RC also made 3-4 big catches. And David ‘BP’ Snyder hit a triple for us which was a big hit earlier in the game.”
For Team Brafman it was nice to have “The Natural” Jeff Weisbrot back in action. Kudos to Ryan “The Hebrew Hammer” Braun for a good game in LF and, as always, Griff for his outstanding hitting and defense. And special mention to Jamey “The Rookie” Drennan for turning two 5-3 DPs to keep Team Lefton at bay.
Finally, on Field 4 it was Team Kamrass vs. Team Wolf Machine
Weston for the winners:
Team Wolf rose to the occasion tonight in a big game with Team Kamrass by defeating them 12-2 in a 5-inning run rule.
Led by another incredible pitching performance by Mike “50 Shades” of Gray, Team Wolf got out to their patented hot start, with four runs in the first, highlighted by a leadoff triple by Michael Askin and an RBI single by Pete Soltesz.
After two runs in the first, Mike Gray shut down the potent team Kamrass offense, allowing only one hit in the last three innings. Team Wolf played strong defense all around with an error-free game.
Going into the top of the fifth up 5-2, Team Wolf scored 7 runs led by Rabbi Yitz’s two-run homer, who is fully back after the first of many, many son’s weddings. Duffy Wolf then built the lead to 10 with a big two-run single. Scott Wolf was seen standing on the bench cheering for his brother, yelling “Booooo yaaaaaa!!!!”, after the play.
Special shoutout to Brian Goldberg for his game-clinching two-run double last week in another Team Wolf win.
League notes:
Happy birthday to former capt Taylor “May the” Schwartz be with you from Chicago
Last week Joel “Hallelujah” Buckley and his wife went away for the first time since his daughter was born. He claims that he missed her very much while they were away. As all parents know, you might miss them but not MISS them that much. But it sounds good on social media, Joel.
If you would like to help Alan out in his garden please reach out to him next week. He is looking for help.
Sad news to report…former player Brian Monk’s father-in-law died following a battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with Brian and Molly
Last night I met Todd “The Mayor” Wasserman’s wife for the first time. She informed me that I was A) full of BS when I told her that Todd played a good game (he did) and that B) no one on my team listens to me when I am barking out instructions, which also sounds about right.
Let’s all hope Ken Groh has a speedy recovery from his broken ankle and calf. Either way it sounds very painful. Get better soon, Ken.
Scott “Dire” Wolf on Friday went to Taylor Swift. He reports that while he still views his first time seeing the double bill of Color Me Badd and Paula Abdul better than this one, Ms. Swift did bring the goods all night. When asked which album he dressed up like, he said Red, of course.
How amazing is this Reds team? They have more stolen bases so far this year than they did all of last year. They have won 7 straight road series for the first time since the Big Red Machine and they could easily have 4 of the top 5 rookies for Rookie of the Year voting. And for those of you that think Votto is washed up and has no value, Will Benson has credited Votto with helping change his swing.
in this week in Roger if you are in the market for a 2022 Reds calendar, he is your guy. Roger also is very upset with the news that the Cyclones are now an affiliate of the NY Rangers and not the Buffalo Sabres. Why? You’ll have to ask him.