Walking off no problem for the NumbNutz

McGillicuttys wish Trinh stayed gone

SANTA CLARA -- Suspense. Drama. Emotion. Controversial decisions. Last-minute heroes. A 15-month-old tied up with little food or water. Put these together and you have...no, not the new Superman movie. You have Game 1 of the McGillicuttys/NumbNutz series, a well-attended affair that undoubtedly is one of the best (if not the best) games of the year.

Cav's McGillicuttys...14, NumbNutz 15

NumbNutz lead series 1-0

When BAD ASS originals Lynas and Manning were selected as captains three weeks ago, most members agreed this series had the potential to be one for the ages, and the initial contest did not disappoint in the least.

There were even pregame dramatics--the undrafted Bush, who hadn't played in nearly two months, was the third arrival to Goodson Field. 20 minutes later, a mystery Mercedes rolled up. Theories of the driver ranged from Mr. Goodson to Duane Kuiper. In actuality, it was...Alvin Trinh! Trinh, one of BAB's top sluggers, hadn't played since early March and had only played two games all year, but was ready to go now.

Manning had a choice of Bush or Trinh, and to everyone's surprise he took the former (nothing against Bush but it was assumed Manning would prefer the power hitter over the slick-fielding speedster). So Trinh was a NumbNut.

Moments later, Lynas gathered his team in the dugout and gave this speech:

"There are guys that have more talent than some of the guys I drafted ahead of them, but their is no one I would rather win a series with than this team. Hell, there's no one I would rather lose a series with." (summary)

Manning's club came out swinging in the first inning; with the bags full Sacramento dumped a bases-clearing double to CF to give the McGillicuttys the early 3-0 advantage. In the bottom half they gave it all back, two on a throwing error on 3B Manning (he later would catch or ride the pine in favor of Kuzmiak).

Top 2nd: DaRosa misplays a Bush hit to left into an ITPHR, and the McGillicuttys led once more--until Trinh's two-run single in the bottom half of the inning made it 5-4 Nutz.

The teams took turns exchanging runs and leads thru the 5th. In the top of that inning, with Kuzmiak on 2nd and Sacramento on 1st, Bush  smacked a hit to left. As Kev barreled home, Trinh's relay came in, C Davis braced for the impact--but there was none! "I ain't tryin' to hurt nobody," said the beefy Kuzmiak of his decision not to plow down the NumbNutz catcher, who tagged him out easily--but then uncorked a wild throw to third that allowed all runners to score and give the McGillicuttys an 8-7 lead.

With the score 8-8 in the bottom of the 6th, the Nutz took control with a 4-spot, a 2-run single by Trinh the big hit (despite an entertaining dance, Trinh was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double). The score remained 12-8 Nutz into the 8th.

In that inning, after Matsui lit up Lynas' 3B glove with an absolute seed ("I never even saw it," he said later), Sacramento again dumped a ball to CF. This time Minor misplayed the hop, and two runners raced across! In total the McGillicuttys put up 3, and their deficit was down to one with their big hitters coming up in the 9th. If they could hold the bottom of the McGillicuttys order in check, Manning's ball club would be in good position to reclaim the lead.

In that inning, Trinh singled, and was replaced by Stauffer at first base on a FC. After Lynas was retired on a fly out, up stepped the sulking Davis, who'd started 0-for-3, striking out with two men in scoring position in the 4th to go with the 2-run throwing error. Once the count went to 5 pitches, and 2 swings, the McGillicuttys seemed confident he would K again to end the threat.

Instead, Davis took pitch #6 and clobbered it over the left-centerfield fence for his first longball of 2006! "I was just trying to hit it hard somewhere," said the BAB sophomore of his blast, which provided the NumbNutz with two coveted insurance runs and shifted momentum to the Nutz' dugout going into the final frame.

Manning, however, would not let his team just roll over and die, and he personally did what he could to keep them breathing, puss-doubling in Bush for the McGillicutty's 12th run. The next hitter, Matsui, exploded on an inside pitch and dumped it well over the short porch in left, a no-doubt-about-it blast that tied things at 14. What a game!!

In the bottom of the 9th, after Minor was retired on a grounder, Flores cracked a hard double; two batters later Trinh laced one to left that plated Flores easily to give the NumbNutz a 15-14 victory and the early advantage in the series.

GAME NOTES:

• Lynas' dog Max was in attendance for the game, frolicking around the field prior to gametime and posted in the dugout/picnic tables thereafter. With the win, it was suggested Max be present for every game--the "Max Factor" surely can't hurt.

• In the bottom of the first, with Flores on 1st and Minor on 2nd, DaRosa flew out to LF--only Flores didn't realize the ball had been caught! He'd nearly passed Minor on the base paths before his teammates screamed at him to run back to first. He barely made it.

• Manning's controversial decision to take Bush over Trinh was exacerbated by the fact that Bush had already admitted he'd miss Games 3 and 5, should the series go that far. While things can obviously change, Trinh sounded confident he'd be around for the duration of 2006.

• Bush's incredible diving stop at SS which robbed Flores of a hit in the 3rd, LF Simas' 8th inning falling catch of a Bernal pop fly, BS Yow's long running snare of a Flores foul pop in the 7th and Davis' snags of Kuzmiak/Sacramento foul tips earned them each Gold Gloves.

• In the 6th, LF DaRosa bobbled a Manning flyball, finally squeezing it with his legs before it hit the ground!

• In addition to Davis in the 4th, Bush also K'd in the 7th (Davis let the foul tip fall for strike three). Davis is now alone in 2nd place with 4 strikeouts, one behind Brandon Hamilton.

• Flores played at a position other than 1B or C for the first time in ages, playing an errorless BS.

• Trinh, who finished 6-for-7 with 6 RBI, received BAD ASS of the Game honors, as did Davis for his clutch homer. No Small Penis was named.

• Yow and Davis each photographed the days' events, and Stauffer & Lynas filmed it as well.

• Absent from the McGillicuttys were SS's Nick Collins and Ryan Ledee. The NumbNutz played without SS/OF B-Rid and DH Hamilton. Stauffer bravely took the field in spite of his diagnosis, and played well. JD

* Players of the Week *

BAD ASS of the Day

Alvin Trinh, NumbNutz

6-for-7, 6 RBI, walkoff RBI hit

Skillz Davis, NumbNutz

Crucial 2-run HR in 8th

Gold Glove

Bryan Bush, McGillicuttys

Diving stab at SS

Leland Yow, McGillicuttys

Nice running catch at BS

Brian Simas, McGillicuttys

Fabulous falling catch in LF

Skillz Davis, NumbNutz

Two foul-tip snags, tagout at HP

Small Penis

*None*