PoolMaster BillyC

That's the 'nom de plume' I have been given by OSSS's pals since my pool is so FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!

Some bullet points about my pool:

It is crystal-clear

I have used a grand total of five (5) bags of shock since May!

It is 27' around

I have a radio tuned to WFAN

I have rafts that are muy comfortable

My doggies love swimming in my pool

I clean it religiously

It is FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!

Champs and More

14U Team won summer travel league with a 5-2 win. OSSS played 3B, made some nice defensive plays. Had an RBI Sac Fly and a BB. Season over. As the guy who runs things said "eight of these boys were on the first two 9U teams (OSSS was 8 at the time) and this was their last game in the navy blue". Only fitting they got to hold a trophy.

Taking YSSS to get some additional football gear today. Practice starts Wednesday...he seems pretty pumped.

Mets are absolutely horrific. TG we get a little excitement and a W with the new kid, Matt Harvey. But this is a team falling off the face of the Earth.

I'm playing Words with Friends on my iPhone. Addictive.

Summer Sunday

Just sitting around, getting hot here in North J. Gotta bring OSSS to baseball practice in a few.

Just bought some tix to Miami Marlins - Washington Nationals at Nationals Park for August 5. Mike Morse bobblehead day! There's a Sportscard Convention in Baltimore that week so we will make a couple of days out of it I guess.

YSSS attended a football camp this week. He really liked it which is awesome. I think he's got the perfect demeanor for football so I'm hoping he gets an opportunity this season. Last year (his first) he was basically left on the sidleimes during the games, and the coaching was pretty much non-existent. Since I coach I can assess that situation pretty well.

NY Mets are killing me. We go into All-Star break six games above .500. A week later we are at 47-47. Can't win a thing. Very little in the way of clutch. An outfield full of 4th outfielders. A starting rotation that is decimated. And no hope on the horizon. Not good.

Listening to WFAN this week. Yankee fan calls Mike F. and details how the Yankees need to get King Felixto ensure their absolute dominance of the AL. Rightfully so, Mike tells him "this is why everyone hates Yankee fans". I agree.

The pool looks spectacular. It's like something you would see in a commercial.

Vacation spot this year: Myrtle Beach. Going to look for Kenny Powers spots.

Spent a couple sessions at (not really) local batting cages so OSSS can get his swing down. He looks good. Ready for playoffs. YSSS was absolutely ripping yesterday, even though season was over. Told me "football camp was good for me". Music to my ears.

Adios.

Rises

Saw The Dark Knight Rises this morning, 9:45AM show with YSSS....in the immortal words of OSSS, "Best.Movie.Ever." (he went to the noon show at an IMAX joint). The recommendation is in!

Winding Down

2012 Summer baseball season for the travel players, namely mine.

YSSS's team lost in round 1 of playoffs last night...score was 8-7. He went 1-3 with a walk and a SB, got stranded on 2B twice. He really picked his game up this summer despite the way he was used; he usually batted behind two boys who couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. He finished with a BA around .400 but cut his strikeouts down dramatically, just 3 in 39 plate appearances. Nice. We will work in the off-season so he can come back a better player.

OSSS is playing up on a 14U team that is 11-1 in regular season and gets a bye to round 2 of playoffs on Sunday. He has played well in the field and pitching; he wents 6 innings last night for the win - he ended up 3-0 on mound. His hitting (greatest strength) has dipped. He is struggling right now at the plate after a torrid start...we will hit the cages at least twice before he plays again Sunday.

Football season (August 1) almost upon us. YSSS is looking to make the 1st team of the squad he's on. Attending a football camp this week; hopefully they show him something because his coaches never did last year.

When It Is What It Is But You Thought It Was Something Else

Let's just say that this last 6 weeks or so have shown me who my friends are and who aren't. Sayonara losers.

When it comes to my kids being excluded though...that is it. I have no problem telling you all I would KILL anyone for my kids. No problemo. Not even a second thought.

And remember all...I don't threaten. I act.

Independent MiLB

At TD Bank Ballpark for Somerset Patriots game. 1st time here - nice place for a game.

Top Gear UK

Watching this great show on BBCA... No idea who anybody is, but this may be my new favorite show. They have about 14 seasons so plenty to catch up on.

Chipper

Larry Wayne Jones was born in April 1972, and debuted in MLB for the Atlanta Braves (only team he has ever played for) in 1993. Throughout his career he has been a MET-KILLER of the first order...and I have despised him.

Now, Chipper retires in half a season. I no longer despise him since Atlanta is no longer are biggest nemesis like they were in the late 90's and early 2000's. I look at a guy who was immensely talented, played his whole career for a single team and gave it 100% always. Great player. Braves come to town in August (can't go that weekend) and September, which I will do my best to attend.

First ballot HOF. Get your seat ready.

Hey Tony!

Word from ASG central is that Tony LaRussa (who doesn't manage anymore) has picked Matt Cain to be the NL starter Tuesday night. Something about RA Dickey throwing a knuckleball is part of Mr. LaRussa's decision.

Here's a quick comp:

Cain: 9-3 record, 2.62 ERA, .96 WHIP, 118 Ks, 24 BBs in 120.1 IP

Dickey: 12-1 record, 2.40 ERA, .93 WHIP, 123 Ks, 26 BBs in 120.0 IP

Makes sense to me. I guess that extra 1/3 inning was the deciding factor.
Hey Tony! You effed that one up! Guess that's why you never figured out McGwire was on the juice.

The Break

Finally here (well almost) is the All-Star Break. NY Mets disappoint losing 7-0 vs. the Cubbies. Can't beat the Cubs apparently.

Both boys playing summer travel. YSSS has been ripping last couple of games after some minor adjustments at plate. Looks good. playing corner outfield position, not his first choice but you gotta play somewhere. I'll work with him for next season so he can play where he wants. OSSS has played terrific; had a tough game the other night, looked tired and a little slow. At the ripe age of 14 he's been burning the candle at both ends with social life and work (beach help at local lake). We hit the cages on Saturday to beat the heat a bit so he could work on swing.

An update to my cryptic messages last month...I no longer coach travel. I keep score for the 14U games and keep my mouth shut. Once in a while I will tell the coaches when they have boys out of position, etc. IMO, they coach like it's a LL team sometimes. They don't run cut-offs correctly, nobody knows who has 1st right on fly balls, etc. Kids won't know if they are not told. But team is 7-0 so what do I know, right?

On the 11U front, I sit beyond OF fence for the most part and keep my comments to myself. Lots of stuff to correct, and an early summer season winning-record beating up on bad teams has kind of lulled this team into a cocky direction. They play some good teams over the next week and a half, so they could find themselves mid-pack if they don't adjust. I wish the team and coaches luck. The parents who thought bashing me was OK? They can shove their heads up their asses. A few of the people on the shit-talk patrol have come up to me to apologize...same old thing "I had no idea it would turn into what it did". Tell your story walking.

Which leads me to the way all was handled. I spoke to the guy who runs program, who I considered a good friend. He never reached out to me, I had to do that. But I needed to get it off my mind. Basically told him he did a shit-job handling the situation and a piss-poor job as my friend. Don't think that can ever be repaired to be honest.

The 5th of July

If that wonderful summer holiday, aka Independence Day, falls on any day except a Wednesday, my POW (place of work) gives us 2 days off. But when it falls on the hump, like it did this year...then it's one day, slaves.

So you get that blessed day off and then right back to a (mostly empty) building, since many take this week off it seems. Oh, well.

In North J., we got heat. Oppressive heat. "Africa Hot" as a young Matthew Broderick saidin Biloxi Blues. Both boys have ball games tonight, so hopefully we see a little break later. I won't be coaching those games, as your regulars know. Almost ready to tell that story. Stay tuned.

Happy Birthday

To the OSSS (Oldest Son of SoulSlam), #46 Jack Logan. 14 Years Old today. Wow.

I am his biggest fan. And the proudest dad that could be. Seems like just yesterday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!