It is easier to swallow losing a championship series knowing that the team that eventually was victorious was the better squad. Kudos to all the Giants as they are well coached, skilled and professionals on and off the field. When you can throw guys like Lounello and Bolt out there for games 2 and 3, you have to like their chances. BTW - Pete threw a heck of a game 1. Depth.
Key play to me was the Mike Labanowski catch over his shoulder in Game 3. Who knows what happens if that ball falls in for a hit.
Proud of our Yankee squad. We played consistent baseball all year. Shout out to our Super Subs like Looney and Izzy. Always a positive attitude and came up big when it mattered.
Thanx for the kind words Rich. Steve led the team all year and in his rookie season as manager was lights out with signs, handling the staff and being his funny ol' self. I know I'm biased, but he's Manager of the Year. He won the regular season, the Labor Day tourney (I know that doesn't count) and the 45 title. Don't know what else anyone has to do.
Three things stand out for this year: - Dick Stark comes to our first game from North Carolina, goes 3-for-3 with a walk and we never see him again (though we do stay in touch). And the guys were all happy he came up and played. They cheered him hard and busted his chops harder.
- Giants pull off the first triple play that I have ever seen in this league in our first game against the Dodgers.
- These are some of the funniest guys you could ever spend a Sunday afternoon with. Mario is hilarious. Ron Smaka is so quick witted and clever and Mark Dabney has one of the most infectious personalities you could ever encounter. We dedicate this title to him after what he went through this year.
Winning the title is not in the top 3 - at least for me.
Stevie is the ONLY choice for manager of the year... Should be unanimous as there is maybe an honorable mention to the other Stevie (Van Gelder) and Brad Buchan for their hard work of recruiting the studs they did and making the Royals a very competitive team this year, but otherwise, it's all Giants and their new skipper...
One more congrats and uh yeah while I know it "doesn't count," but also just getting nipped by you guys in the Labor Day Championship in yet another close game is only making Lex and I hungrier to get ya as we are clearly right there...
Just gotta get a lil more help to get over the hump...
And now we have ALL winter to conjure up a way as we already have the nucleus established and are looking forward to 2014 in a brand new light...
But again, the Giants and Stevie were the clear number 1 team from day one through the very last day of this year and are not only the Champions, but earned and deserve ALL the accolades that go along with it, including whatever "awards" may be associated with doing that...
Glad Stevie got to catch the last out too as the memory I'm gonna have and keep over the winter is Doug yelling from Left as the ball was in flight towards RC and Stevie had a beat on it (Lex actually hit it to boot), "How Fitting"?
Fitting indeed Doug, fitting indeed...
A GREAT Giant year...
I would throw Yankee skipper Rick Caruso in the mix for manager of the year as well - that group never quit in any games, came from behind in many to win, and really didn't use Lex on the hill untill the playoffs. Second place regular season record, and a finals appearance ....hell of a job Ricky!!!
How about considering Tony Grocki of the Shaskys. That team is improving every year and without the services of some big guns like the top teams. If I had a vote that would be mine.
