If the Cubs yesterday laid an egg, today the Blue Jays fell like Humpty Dumpty and found themselves all scrambled on the beaches of western Florida. It was a disappointing end to the tournament as Blue Jay bats, gloves, and arms all seemed to check out early in a 17-2 drubbing by the Berks County Bombers at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, spring training home to the Baltimore Orioles. The only highlight worth reporting was a bomb to deep left by Tim Borwick. Ed Smith Stadium held it, but neither Satellite nor New Scotland would have back home.
That wraps a rather rough 2014 Florida Fall Classic for the Albany Blue Jays. Though the outcomes and play were often frustrating, the experience, as always, was outstanding. Most of us will soon be heading home to "enjoy" the wintry off-season (though I'm just not sure I'm ready, so I'm heading further south on a big boat for a week). In the meantime, we'll root for the Albany Cubs and Team Albany, both of which have found the going formidable, but have persevered into the playoff rounds starting Friday.
Lastly, many thanks to Artie Gianakos for organizing and leading the Blue Jays, and numerous other teams, both in Albany and on this annual Florida trek. Though rumors of Artie's retirement have been heard before, I think this time he means it. Always inimitable, often infamous, and sometimes maligned, Artie has served the CDMSBL and countless of its members with extraordinary encouragement and loyalty for many years. I don't know if it was fate or dumb luck that when I found my way to the CDMSBL in 2013, after not having played competitive baseball for 30 years, it was with the Blue Jays and Artie Gianakos. Before I had even played a game, he was recruiting me to play in this Florida tournament. Since I have been involved, Artie's teams have not been the best in the league or in Florida...by a longshot...but his love of the game and commitment to both the MSBL and CDMSBL has led to opportunities for numerous men to play, regardless of their background or baseball pedigree. He has been a leader for the baseball "everyman," and I for one will always appreciate and admire him for that.
Curt, All three teams in Florida have had a drubbing -- it comes with the territory of 50-plus year-olds playing nine innings in the hot Florida sun.
You were spot on with your eloquent praise of Artie G. He gave me my first opportunity to play in Florida about six years ago, and if it hadn't been for the Snowbirds team we would have gone winless. There's little mystery to Artie, and he tells it like it is. But you can always count on a smile and a handshake, and a guy who is going to do everything he can to beat you on the field, and congratulate you after. Kudos to AG and the Blue Jays for putting together a team and giving it their best shot.
