On a perfect day for baseball at New Scotland, the Giants and Golden Marlins got together for a well pitched, and well played ball game. Jim Konstantakis started and went all of the way for the Giants, scattering 6 singles and one walk, in his 6 innings, while striking out 5 and giving up just two early inning runs. Jim Ansel started for the Golden Marlins and did not give up a hit in his four innings of work. Jim allowed a lone base runner in the 2nd on an error and a lead off walk to Bobby Bolt in the 4th. Mr. Bolt would come around to be the Giants only run, after stealing second, advancing to third on a ground out, and eventually scoring on an errant pick-off throw from the Marlins catcher. Being only the second game of the season for the Marlins, Mr. Ansel was lifted in the 5th inning, in favor of John Latorre. John kept the Giants scoreless the rest of the way, giving up just 2 singles and a walk, while striking out one, in his 3 innings of work. Both teams displayed the solid defense that is so often found to accompany pitchers that throw so many strikes. Only 3 of 52 batters found their way to first by way of a free pass in this one, as the game was played in a crisp 1 hour and 45 minutes. Mike Clary was the only player on the day to have multiple hits, as he was 2 for 2, driving in the eventual game winning run in the second inning. Tom Maney, Tim Brown, Mike Girard, and Skip Treece were the other Marlins with hits. Doug Reisinger and Steve Lounello had the singles for the Giants. These two teams will meet for a double header on July 22nd, at the Satellite field. If this game is any indicator, it looks like that should be a great day for some quality baseball!
In what was truley a memorable game between the white lines, the best part of it was seeing Skip Treece back on the diamond. And he wasted no time in proving his Hall of Fame worth. He singled to left on a 3-2 pitch in what was one of the great at-bats of the game.
Wow, that is some seriously good managing ~ and against the defending champs to boot... Maybe he'll give me some lessons as I am struggling with the 35's... Quite frankly, I am not enjoying it very much as many of those same issues you mention come up and it's hard to beat any team when you have to juggle all of that, much less one as talented and accomplished as the Giants... Hats off to you Mike...
-- Edited by Marcus Aurelius on Monday 21st of May 2012 11:19:09 PM
recently SocSec eligible Jimmy K. was no slouch either. we had some hits and had to small ball our run in the first inning . Good to see any team accomplish this.( who said his offensive managing mantra was, "small, Big, small"?)
besides the occasional hit (as a result of the great pitching ), both sides showed defensive steadiness more common in July than mid May. . a fun crisp game to be in.
rookie Mgr. Mike Girard had his hands full with 15 players and did the impossible by getting all involved in this close game. hope he can do that when the three absentees show up! Obviously the Golden Marlins bitten by a smallish and injury depleted roster last year wanted to get big. and we did. going big has it pluses but presents another set of challenges. I'd give Mike an A on recruiting and taking a calculated risk in line-up making. yesterday everyone batted no more than twice and we won. How often can any manager say that! jreel rf g-marlins
Thanks for the kind words, but the real emphasis should be on how the players are handling the crowded roster. Not one sour grape in the group, mainly because this is a group of men who are pulling together for a team goal and putting aside individual goals for that pursuit! Take for example: Jim Ansel coming out of the game with a no hitter intact, without a complaint! Truly Jim was putting the big picture in focus and considering his team mate (John Latorre), who had driven an hour to get to the game, just to pitch (not in the batting order). We had six outfielders who shared the time equally, without me even getting involved (Big thanks to Tom Maney and Jim McQuade for their help on that). It truly is a team of team players that want to win more than anything. It has been a pleasure to step in and manage this group. I really look forward to the rest of the season!!!
Thanks again for the kind words!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:12:31 AM
Left early for the Dodger's -Cyclones game, expecting to see the end of the Giants-Marlins game, but was all ready too late. Game was a quick gem,as I heard. Didn't see Skip, but great to hear he is back. Speaking of back,to my surprise,did see TJ Scorsone in Marlin's Teal, after the game. Two all-timers back playing again. Gotta love it.
