I wasn't going to post anything, but after some thought, I realized being silent would be doing a disservice to this group of class-act gentlemen.

First, the Giants finished in first place and then defeated the Twins, Marlins and Whiz Kids in the playoffs to win their third straight title. In the past three years, the Giants are 55-3-2 overall, including 15-0 in the playoffs. Two of the losses were mercy-rule losses: 18-4 to the Marlins in 2015 and 17-2 to the Whiz Kids on June 27 of this year. We do know how to lose!

Though we won it again this year, it certainly wasn't easy. The Marlins were an inning away from forcing a Game 3 in the semis and the Whiz Kids battled us to the hilt in both finals games before we eked out 9-5 and 5-2 wins in the best-of-three series. This, without question, has been the most challenging and satisfying season of any in which I've managed in 12 years: I told the guys that I'm proud of the way they handled themselves in a year in which we really struggled health-wise and had other odds and obstacles to overcome.

Mike Lannon suffered a season-ending broken hand just four games into the season. He's not only a great player, but everyone missed his presence the rest of the year. Tom Maney was walking on two really damaged knees all year and he's having yet another surgery on one of them. Yet he played thru all the pains and had some very clutch hits during the season and in the playoffs. Kevin Carpenter broke his pinky and missed three games then could only play OF - late in the season; Pete Geannelis gimped around all year and may need another hip replacement and his elbow gave out pitching against the Marlins in the semis

Our starting 1B-man and great clutch hitter, Will Ferguson, unexpectedly had to take off nearly three weeks to coach the Empire State games basketball team; RFer Doug O'Brey missed nearly three weeks having to take over as coach of the Amsterdam Mohawks in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League ... and Will and Doug's absences were both at the same time late in the season ... Doug's Mohawks wound up winning the title and Will's team took the bronze in the state games ...

... Jerry Solomon injured his oblique and missed most of the season; we were extremely lucky to have him get healthy in time for the finals and he pitched us to the title-clinching win. He took a 5-0 lead into the 7th before finally tiring. To go along with that, "Sol'' attended games in civvies just to get credit toward playoff eligibility. That's true team spirit. He's been in the league seemingly forever and is a true workhorse. He deserved that outing. ...

... Darrell Duncan didn't play in one of the semis games because he was injured and then only played four innings of the final game. He gutted out a Game 1 win on the mound in the finals on basically one healthy leg. Not to mention the death of his dad is still fresh in his mind. The day his father passed during the regular season, we lost to the Whiz Kids, 17-2. We have a special bond on this team and we all simply had our hearts and thoughts on Darrell and his beautiful family that tragic day.

Before the season, we lost one of our two starting catchers, Bill Smith, to begin an umpiring career. OK, no problem, we still have Jeff Teats, who proceeded to tear his rotator cuff before the season started and promptly retired rather than undergo surgery.

Ron Smaka embraced the catching duties despite his own leg ailments and was his rock-solid self all year. Not to mention his father had to undergo heart surgery. Plus Ron also had to work in Hoosick Falls much of the season to help fix the village's water pollution problems. Hoosick Falls ain't close to Voorheesville, so he had to miss several games. So, gimpy Petey G. then donned the tools of ignorance.

Tony Nardacci played injured much of the end of the season and into the playoffs with a cranky hammie and bruises all over both legs. But he gingerly gimped through it and was determined we would succeed. This guy has mojo and we all fed off of him, especially during crunch time. Twenty years he has been in the league and has played at all-star caliber every year. He truly is Hall of Fame caliber. We don't win it without him.

Early in the season, one of our "rookies,'' Tom Maguire, was diagnosed with cancer and had to begin treatments. But he came to every game and played, putting it out of his head for at least two hours a day (plus the post-game sessions). Talk about a gamer - at age 62! Just one year with us and he fit right in. We certainly are all pulling for him to have a full recovery and that he is back on the diamond in 2017.

Then pops, a.k.a. Fred Pidgeon, had two bruised-up legs all year, but came to every game and did what he does best: hit, keep the book and keep us loose.

Several games we had only 9 players on a roster of 15. We had no business winning a title this year, but the guys are so damn tough, determined and resilient that they simply refused to allow the way they play the game to be hampered. I realize that many players on many teams have injuries, personal issues and tragedies. Your steadfastness is to be admired; your losses to be consoled; condolences passed on to your families. But I am so proud of this group that it's beyond mere words.

We had three new players: Maguire, O'Brey and Mark Massaroni. Without them, we couldn't have possibly survived. Mazz was a steadying force. He missed just one game, patrolled CF and hit the ball all year. His engaging personality had a season-long impact on all of us. As an aside, I have been after him for about seven years now. As a basketball referee, I used to see him at several of my games and I tried recruiting him during quarter breaks and at halftime, then sitting with him in the stands as well after or before my game. We go back to the Twilight League in the '70s.

Jim Whitford thankfully was healthy and anchored 3B for us, though family and work commitments prevented him from playing a full schedule. But he's a gamer and helped lead us when it counted most.

So, talk about against all odds. I'm still in disbelief that we actually won this thing. At one point, I told the guys I didn't care anymore. I thought we might have to forfeit a Friday evening playoff game and I didn't care. Then I reminded myself to care because I owe it to the guys who pay money to play in this league and to the guys who made sacrifices all year and because that's a responsibility that comes with being a GM. It was about them and the game and nothing else mattered. Plus, Tom Maney threatened to cut off my post-game vodka intake!

As I told the guys before the season, have fun, enjoy that we can still play this great game and not put the focus on winning, but be competitive and respect the game. After all, there's a perspective here: We're an old-man's league in Albany, N.Y., a mere dot on the globe. Winning a team trophy isn't going to enrich our lives. Who cares? Let's not make it more important than it is. Just enjoy the camaraderie and the post-game sessions, which there were a bunch! Despite all the setbacks, we had fun. Yes, it's nice to win, but it's not the end-all. Conversely, whoever said winning ain't easy, damn they are spot on! Then again, from a quote in a movie, "if it was easy, everyone would do it.'' But what truly is easy is being able to play with true friends, guys you've been on the field with for some 10 years or more. Socializing in the off-season ... all that is easy!

We all know to a man that we have our detractors, but we are all good with it. And that won't change. But to know my guys, you will find out they are all class and play with integrity and honor and respect for the game. And that they have a leader who has their backs at all times and in all aspects on and off the field.

I don't know what one does to thank a group like ours, but they damn sure deserved their fate this year and they damn sure deserve the space on this Bulletin Board.

jim konstantakis
one proud 55 Giants GM