#3 June 1, 2019
Play Ball!
Well, we finally found a window of opportunity on May 29th as forecast by League chief Metrologist, Rainor Shine and we have the aches and pains to prove it.
Weather services seem to be hesitant or flexible in generally forecasting a changeable 2019 summer weather pattern with a tendency to be on the cool wet side. Perhaps the teams with the best “mudders” will prevail, so if you majored in sandbox or gardening this may be your year.
I would like to offer some observation and comment on defensive play since we are getting to know each other a little better. It often amazes me how teams overreact to a potential home run or warning track fly ball by plastering themselves against the outfield fence. This image is best captured if you’re playing the 11:00 am late game and have parked by necessity in the west parking lot. In your journey to diamond one you may see three or four outfielder butts sticking through the chain link fence while a guy who averages one or two home runs a year is at bat. I call this positional play the “Screened Ham Defence”. The problem with the “SHD” is that it doesn’t work.
Last year according to the League website, a total of 16 people during the season hit 36 home runs over the 18 game schedule. This means the home run hitters hit it out 2.25 times on average for the year. Assuming 4 at bats a game, it works out that the home run hitters hit it out 3.12% of the time per at bat,That is not justification for getting intimate with the fence. First of all you need five or six steps to gain an angle or the ability to jump for the ball. Depending on abilities this means stationing yourself a minimum of eight to ten metres in front of the fence. This also allows you to move laterally better and be more effective for the same reasons.
Because of rule changes and other factors this year, let’s assume that the power guys hit it out an average of 5% of the time. That still means that 95% of the play is still in front of you or in the opposite field. Time to leave your imaginary friend behind you to attend to the business in front of you.
Home run hitters are good for Outfielders because they generate more fly balls than the average player and therefore provide more work for ball hawks. The View from Left Field contends that fly balls have diminished in number over time in the League leading to Infielders maintaining that they do all the work..
As a matter of fact a few Shortstops (who will remain nameless for now) have suggested that they do all the work and Outfielders should be charged admission to play because of their more spectator oriented activity.
Scattered Hits
Murray Ross, former First Round Draft Pick from the University of Margaritaville, has been appointed Captain of Crete-Ryan. Al Richman will be showing a little leg as his Shortstop which is good news for Murray and the team. How “Steady Al” got there I haven’t a clue but some people claim Deborah Baillie is to blame.
Mark Cosgrove has signed a no cut contract with Ed’s Salvage. Captain Stew Shonfield acknowledging Mark’s long and distinguished career in the wine business is thinking about creating a “Sommelier at Second Base” presence out of the Infield Rover position .
Mark would offer some pretentious “wine of the week” to passing runners in the hope of slowing them down. This ought to help Mark’s fielding percentage and the Team’s defence . Mark and I worked many wine shows together over the years and ever the promotional guy, he wants to upmarket the club by changing the name to “Le Grand Crew at Ed’s Salvage”.
It’s great to see Bob Belter back as “Umpire in Chief”. If Bob asks for your umpiring assistance, please be generous with your time and support the League. Bob has readied himself by completing the considerable paperwork for the umpiring crew which includes Day Passes, Temporary Absence Permits and Parole Certification.
Les Nalezinski has returned to the field this year as a player after venturing over to “the dark side” as an umpire last year due to some health issues.
He did however get into some controversy as an Umpire over some hotly debated calls on the bases and as a result had to spend some time in the Witness Protection Program. Les credits this time off as an opportunity to physically rehab himself back to playing shape. Les is now looking forward to a complete return to the League as a player, a valued sponsor and as the unofficial advisor to all Umpires. 
That’s the early season View from Left Field.
