7/25/12
Softball: Risk (Considerations of Potential Regulatory Reform)
Dear People,
Tony Mac's team beat back my own, 22-18, in one of those emotively draining dramas that reminds us that while we're all out there frolicking in the basic quest for spiritual renewal, we're still a deeply physical species of bone, muscle and other frightfully fragile tissue. I refer you to the top of the 4th, when Dave slammed a lingering Chris Fure spit ball straight up the middle, for while the Furinator made a gallant attempt to ensnare it with his intrepid little knee, I think we all know that this kind of approach rarely goes well. Sure enough, Chris went down fast and hard, but I'm delighted to report that he's now 95% recovered. Moreover, I myself am no longer nauseous, despite having seen his perfectly engorged patella up-close, in all its purplish post-impact Cainitoesque glory.*
Yeah, just like this below, though not quite as tasty-looking…
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Chrysophyllum_cainito0.jpg
Youseef heroically filled in at the mound with nerves of steel, and despite all of our post-trauma jitters, both sides played superbly on their way to a riveting 18-18 tie in the 8th. Then, the random quanta of aerobic fate took another perilous turn as the Macman hurled a rare sinking screwball toward the outside corner (or perhaps it was inside and high-who can really tell?). Jim let loose with a staggering ground ball straight up the middle, which the Macster blocked cold with the toe of his defiant left cleat. But then, in a truly unfortunate trajectory of Newtonian aggression, the ball ricocheted straight toward the sacred scrotal home of his cupless procreative reserves. Yep, you read that right.
Tony, of course, is stoicism personified, and thus he calmly walked off toward the bleachers with nary a peep of pain. I happen to be just a tad more squeamish, yet I think I handled his woe with a certain admirable aplomb. Now it's true that I didn't actually see the impact of this groinal assault (clothes are a beautiful thing), but as I looked into his valiant baby blues in the minutes that followed, I couldn't help but think that this second hero of the mound was enduring his own Cainitoesque glory.*
Yeah, just like this below, though I sure hope not as tasty-looking…
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Chrysophyllum_cainito0.jpg
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The point is-seriously-that we as a community may have an issue on our hands, in that over just the last year, several of our pitchers have been injured by scary line drives, including Chris and Tony as well as, I believe, Alan Brill, Alan Miller and Dave Anderson. As I understand it, we've banned composite bats for men, but other than that, I don't think we've taken any other precautions. I know there are some who would like to also bar double-walled bats, and to even play with softer balls (I have a bunch of new fast pitch balls that are definitely mushier). Yet I also suspect that at least as many people would be opposed since they would say that such policies would significantly reduce the excitement of the game. Personally, I don't have a strong POV on any of this, but if anybody would like to send me their opinions or suggestions, I'd be happy to report back to everyone and/or discuss such things with the group before a game.
Actually, there is one related issue which I do feel strongly about; It's clear that we are suffering more of these hideous injuries as we grow older, and for this additional reason, I would like to think that we as a community-with our score of professional biologists, chemists and other brainy whippersnappers-are united in our determination to stop the aging process, once and for all. And therefore there will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning….Raymond
7/27/12
Softball: Salubrious
Dear People,
There will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11, and as of now there are still four slots left.
Please bring $4 for the field, which for this week only includes a rare post-game aura cleansing bath, complete with sea salt, incense and a generous local blend of medicinal herbs for the vital and well-balanced chakra that you've always craved…Raymond 845-7552
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