Game Summary

The Superbas lost a nail-biter to Bank of the West Tuesday evening in what was the most productive offensive game of the season so far. The Superbas gave up eight runs in the first inning, only to take the lead twice later in the game with the help of 21 hits, but could not hold the lead as they lost 18-15.

Six Superbas players had multiple hits, including the Bash, er, Grace brothers who had four hits apiece. On top of his two singles, second baseman Dyelan Grace homered, doubled and drove in six runs. Leftfielder Eric Grace had four singles and scored four times.

Third baseman Andy Orr broke out of his season-long slump with three hits, including two doubles and two runs batted-in. Pitcher Brooks Ramsdell and centerfielder Chris Leo each added two singles, a double and an RBI. First baseman Mike Atiyeh cleared the bases in the second inning with a three-run double.

The Superbas plated seven runs in the second inning, and scored at least one run in every inning. Every player registered a hit and scored a run.

Ramsdell pitched a gem, only allowing one walk, and kept the Superbas in the game throughout the slugfest, and made a habit of throwing first-pitch strikes, much to the delight of the local cougars. Shortstop Jeff Wisniewski played solid defensively and Grace and Leo shined in the outfield.

D-Grace left the game following his double in the last inning with a possible injury to his Achilles. The extent of his injury is unknown at this time. Pressed for comment, Coach Wisniewski let loose a series of curse words and then pleaded with the lord that D-Grace recover quickly. “Dyelan is a major cog of our offensive machine, however prolific that machine is or is not. Any time off — if he comes back at all — will be a huge deal, devastating. Now get the f#@k out of my office.”

Atiyeh struck out on fouls in the fifth inning. Catcher Joe Gray struck out swinging in the sixth and final inning.

Defensive Players of the Game: Brooks Ramsdell and Jeff Wisniewski.
Offensive Players of the Game: Eric Grace (4-5, 4 R, RBI), Dyelan Grace (4-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 6 RBI) and Andy Orr (3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI).

Box Score

Inning-by-Inning

1st Inning.
Ramsdell singled.
Leo singled. Ramsdell to second.
Gray grounded into double play to the pitcher. Leo out. Ramsdell to third.
Grace singled. Ramsdell scored.
Wisniewski singled. Grace to second.
D-Grace singled. Grace scored. Wisniewski to second.
Atiyeh popped out to third.

2nd Inning.
Orr flied out to left.
Ramsdell singled.
Leo doubled. Ramsdell to third.
Gray singled. Ramsdell scored. Leo to third.
Grace popped out to second.
Wisniewski walked. Gray to second.
D-Grace singled. Leo scored. Gray to third. Wisniewski to second.
Atiyeh doubled. Gray, Wisniewski and D-Grace scored.
Orr doubled. Atiyeh scored.
Ramsdell doubled. Orr scored.
Leo grounded out to the pitcher.

3rd Inning.
Gray grounded out to the pitcher.
Grace singled.
Wisniewski flied out to left.
D-Grace homered. Grace scored.
Atiyeh popped out to third.

4th Inning.
Orr doubled.
Ramsdell flied out to right. Orr to third.
Leo singled. Orr scored.
Gray grounded into double play to short. Leo out.

5th Inning.
Grace singled.
Wisniewski singled. Grace to second.
D-Grace popped out to short.
Atiyeh struck out on foul balls.
Orr singled. Grace scored. Wisniewski to second.
Ramsdell grounded out to the pitcher.

6th Inning.
Leo grounded out to third.
Gray struck out swinging.
Grace singled.
Wisniewski walked. Grace to second.
D-Grace doubled. Grace and Wisniewski scored.
Atiyeh flied out to left.

End of game.

• We have next week off. Get some rest.

  – We cannot be this bad. It isn’t possible. We always have that one inning where the bottom seems to falls out.

  – Our next game is another 6:15 game, our third of the season (out of four).

  – The lineup will be overhauled (again) in time for next game, with a bit of a flip.

  – The pitcher should try to cover first on balls hit to the right side of the infield (first and second base side). The pitcher should also back-up the catcher on throws home.

  – We did a much better job in the field overall, and hitting cutoffs specifically.

  – I will try to post updated batting statistics and leaders every two games (so not this week, but after next game).

  – Chatter has started about the possibility of the Superbas playing in the upcoming fall league. If you are interested, let me know as the season winds down. The fall league costs less but we would play fewer games. We’ll try to get a sponsor, of course. I can think of one, rhymes with “benjeo.” (On a side note, one of our designated hitters has nearly lost all his hearing from the noise associated with his work. Would someone higher-up at his company, say, an associate, please make sure to get Wright Cole some ear protection.)

  – Higher thought sessions at Bambino’s (located at Willow Pass and East Olivera) includes free pizza if eight Superbas show up after the game. (Just a little something we worked out with the owner last night as we continue to develop our “outreach” program for troubled youth in Concord, which is pretty much all youths in Concord. We’re also trying to convince the owner to sponsor the Superbas, but apparently they want to sponsor a “winner.” I asked him if he’d ever seen Major League, and he said that he doesn’t care for Martin Sheen or any of his children.)

  -Jeff

Game Summary

The Superbas’ losing streak reached five this season (and eight overall) as they lost to a hostile Pit Crew, 20-5, on Tuesday evening at Concord’s Willow Pass Fields. A handful of cougars were in attendance.

The Superbas stepped-up their defensive play in last night’s game, especially in the later innings. In fact, if it weren’t for a disastrous second inning (among many other things), the outcome may have been different. Solid defensive play was highlighted by the up-the-middle tandem of second baseman Brooks Ramsdell and shortstop Jeff Wisniewski. Outfielder Tim Evans made several key plays, including a double play with Wisniewski.

The Grace brothers made their mark offensively as each homered in the losing effort. Outfielder Dyelan Grace hit a solo shot in the second and centerfielder Eric Grace lined a three-run home run in the third. Ramsdell and pitcher Kevin Ghalambor each added two hits and a run scored. First baseman Mike Atiyeh had an RBI double.

Rightfielder Jesus Espinoza struck out looking in the second.

Defensive Players of the Game: Brooks Ramsdell, Jeff Wisniewski and Tim Evans.
Offensive Players of the Game: Eric Grace (2-3, HR, 3 RBI) and Dyelan Grace (2-2, HR).

Box Score

Inning-by-Inning

1st Inning.
Ramsdell singled.
Ghalambor singled.
Grace popped out to second.
Espinoza struck out looking.
Atiyeh lined out to third.

2nd Inning.
Wisniewski grounded out to short.
D-Grace homered.
Cole singled.
Gray grounded into fielder’s choice to short. Cole out.
Leo walked. Gray to second.
Orr grounded into fielder’s choice to short. Leo out.

3rd Inning.
Evans singled.
Ramsdell doubled. Evans to third.
Ghalambor popped out to third.
Grace homered. Ramsdell and Evans scored.
Espinoza grounded out to second.
Atiyeh walked.
Wisniewski flied out to center.

4th Inning.
D-Grace singled.
Cole lined out to third. D-Grace out.
Gray grounded out to the pitcher.

5th Inning.
Leo flied out to right.
Orr popped out to the pitcher.
Evans flied out to center.

6th Inning.
Ramsdell grounded out to the pitcher.
Ghalambor singled.
Grace singled. Ghalambor to third. Grace advanced to second on throwing error.
Espinoza popped out to second.
Atiyeh doubled. Ghalambor scored. Grace to third.
Wisniewski grounded out to short.

End of game.

Where ties exist in the leader board categories, there is only one tie-breaker: plate appearances. For general batting statistics (e.g., H, RBI, HR), the player with the lesser number of plate appearances is the leader. For averaged statistics (e.g., BA, SLG, RLS), the player with the greater number of plate appearances is the leader. The top four leaders in each category are shown. Where there are ties that exceed the fourth spot in the category, the number of players with that statistical value are shown (not just the leader as defined above). This is in order to show scale and reference.

The calculation for the minimum number of plate appearances is a hybrid formula I derived from the Major League Baseball (MLB) requirement. MLB states that “in order [for a player] to qualify for batting titles in averaged categories, a player must average at least 3.1 plate appearances for every game his team has played.” (Source: ESPN.com)

Figuring that we are playing softball, and are certainly not playing in a league similar in reputation or authority as MLB, I took the average number of games played by the team’s players, and multiplied that by 3.1 plate appearances per game, and then multiplied that value by 7/9, since we play 7 innings (compared to the 9 innings played in MLB). As a result, the minimum plate appearances requirement is a moving target, but allows for players to miss a game here and there, and still qualify with the minimum number of plate appearances. The formula looks like this: PA_min = G_avex(3.1)x(7/9) = G_avex(2.4).

The average number of games played, itself, is a tricky statistic. In general, the value can be calculated by totaling the player-games played for the entire season and then dividing by the number of players on the team, G_ave = ΣG/N. However, this is only true when the team has been together for the entire season, i.e., players were not added or subtracted during the course of the season. In the case that a player is added or subtracted, the average number of games played should be weighted accordingly. For example, if a player was added halfway through the season, his games played should be multiplied by 2 for the calculation of G_ave.

Additionally, G_ave should be kept unrounded through the calculation. The final value of PA_min should be rounded to the nearest whole number (which may require some judgement). I am currently working on the theory that the cut-off point should be one-third and not the typical one-half.

I had considered using the median of games played in place of the average. An average is what I call a “dirty statistic,” and in general, the median will provide more “useful” and “accurate” information, but that is in the case of relatively large sets. The sets (in this case, the number of players) I am dealing with are in the range of 15 to 20, and the median loses its value with such small sets.

There is a little-known and underused statistic in baseball called “Run Production (RP)” which is the numerator in this statistic I created. Run production accounts for all of the runs a player has scored and the number of runs a player has batted-in (minus the number of home runs, which is duplicitous, as it adds a run and an RBI for the batter). This stat, in my opinion, is most insightful on a player’s “net worth.” I took this run generation and divided by the number of plate appearances (not the number of at-bats), and called it the “Total Run Production Index” or “TRP,” pronounced “trip.”

In reality, the TRP is the likelihood a run will score every time a player comes to the plate. For example, if a player has a TRP of 1.000, that player averages an RBI or a run-scored (or a solo home run) every plate appearance; if a player has a TRP of .500, there is a 50% chance that he will knock in a run or come around to score each time he comes to the plate.

I like to refer to the “Contribution Percentage,” better known as the “Red-Legged Superbas Index” or “RLS,” as the “slugging percentage on steroids.” The Slugging Percentage (SLG) is a useful statistic as it determines your average hit value — be it a single, double, triple, etc. (If your SLG is 2.000, you average a double.) Major League Baseball (MLB) employs another statistic, which should be considered useless, the On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage (OPS). What the actual meaning of this statistic is I will never know. Is there spatial meaning, MLB? (It is a made-up statistic so commentators can comment on stats with values greater than 1.)

It was my desire to create a “highly-inflated” statistic for the softball team to try to capture the “true contribution” of all players. For this statistic, the Red-Legged Superbas Index (RLS), I give credit to all forms of offensive contribution — be it a home run or a walk, a double or a sacrifice fly; everything counts. The only item that hurts a player is a strikeout. So, I took the numerator of the SLG, the total bases reached on hits, and added to it the number of walks, the number of times reached on error, and the number of sacrifice hits, and subtracted the number of strikeouts. I then divided this crazy sum by the number of plate appearances. In the absence of walks and sacrifice hits, the SLG is equal to the RLS. If a player strikes out, the SLG can actually be greater than the RLS; in general, however, the RLS tends be greater than the SLG, as designed.

The rationale for the RLS, in my opinion, can easily be defended. If you reach base on an error, how are you not “contributing?” If you walk, how is that not, effectively, a single or a “total base value of 1?” Same goes with sacrifice hits. The only debate may be with the subtraction of strikeouts as it may be unfair to punish those who strikeout. (Is a strikeout any less effective than, say, a popup to the pitcher?) But hell, this is softball.

On a further note, I was originally planning on adding the number of times a runner advanced (a statistic I called “A”) to the numerator. For example, a flyout to right and the runner at second tags to third, or a groundout to second and the runner advances to third on the play. But the logistics of keeping the books to that degree of accuracy was overwhelming.

• We are historically bad.

  – We are certainly better than how we are playing, but that is not saying much, and it doesn’t help any. Let’s try to salvage the season, win a few games, and bust some playoff hopes for the other teams. And then let’s get drunk.

  – Our next game is at 7:20. Phew.

  – The re-tooled lineup worked very well yesterday. If we didn’t have that one muther-fuckin inning, we would have all had another at-bat or two. I plan on continuing to re-tool. Once again, if you have ideas on the lineup, please let me know (and feel free to remain anonymous).

  – It is my understanding that we do not need to practice, since only three players (myself included) showed up last Sunday.

  – I had never witnessed a 1-5-4 double play until last night.

  – Where are the women? Eric Grace’s improved livestock surely cannot be all that’s available to root for the Superbas. (And whatever happened to Dom No. 24?)

  – No one struck out last night, the first time this season. That being said, we already have $50 from this year’s fundraiser and $80 from last year (although collection will be an issue, I know), so planning for the end-of-the-year bash has begun. Tim Evans has mentioned that his place may be available (in Walnut Creek), and B.H. Bronson Johnson has a place (in Napa) that should do fine as well. (If we continue to strikeout at our current rate, we may have enough cash-on-hand to host two fests.)

  – I have posted the batting statistics and batting leaders through the first four games (a tad earlier than I had planned, but oh well). The statistics include the RLS and TRP, two stats that I have created. I have defined the two thoroughly on the website (see Explanation of Batting Statistics), but I will post the definitions to the blog shortly. I will also post the definitions of the minimum number of plate appearances and how I break ties on the leader board.

  – Direct quote from our second baseman during last night’s higher thought sessions following the game at the bar/pizzeria at Willow Pass and East Olivera: “They didn’t call him Magic Johnson for nothing.”

  -Jeff

Game Summary

Another game, another starting pitcher, another loss for the lowly Superbas. The Superbas suffered their most humiliating loss in franchise history as they bowed down to a group of geriatric farmhands, Censored, in the early game at Concord Willow Pass Fields on Tuesday evening, 25-8.

The Superbas had the lead heading into the bottom half of the fourth inning, but as fate would have it, the bottom fell out for the Superbas.

Offensively, every Superbas player down the lineup either registered a hit, scored a run, or knocked in an RBI. Shortstop Jeff Wisniewski homered to lead off the second inning. Catcher Joe Gray had two singles, two runs scored and an RBI. Outfielders Eric Grace and Chris Leo had two singles apiece. And leftfielder Tim Evans, who seemed lost at times defensively, kept his hot bat with a single, a triple, and two RBI.

Starting pitcher B.H. Bronson Johnson pitched well following a shaky first inning, and made a great play on a line drive up the middle. Relief pitcher Kevin Ghalambor relieved Johnson in the fifth inning, but following nine balls on nine pitches and two runs scored, Johnson returned to the mound.

The defensive highlight of the game was a play at the plate on a throw from centerfield by Leo. Wisniewski played solid defensively.

Defensive Player of the Game: Jeff Wisniewski.
Offensive Players of the Game: Joe Gray (2-3, 2 R, RBI), Chris Leo (2-3, 2 R) and Tim Evans (2-2, 3B, 2 RBI).

Box Score

Inning-by-Inning

1st Inning.
Ramsdell flied out to right.
Grace singled.
Ghalambor singled. Grace to second, advanced to third on throwing error.
Cole hit sacrifice fly to right. Grace scored.
Atiyeh flied out to left.

2nd Inning.
Wisniewski homered.
Johnson grounded out to the pitcher.
Gray singled.
Leo singled. Gray to second.
Evans singled. Gray to third. Leo to second.
Espinoza hit sacrifice fly to left. Gray scored.
Ramsdell singled. Leo scored. Evans to third.
Grace popped out to first.

3rd Inning.
Ghalambor grounded out to third.
Cole singled.
Atiyeh singled. Cole to second.
Wisniewski grounded into fielder’s choice to the pitcher. Cole out. Atiyeh out.

4th Inning.
Johnson singled, advanced to third on throwing error.
Gray singled. Johnson scored.
Leo singled. Gray to second.
Evans tripled. Gray scored. Leo scored.
Espinoza popped out to third.
Ramsdell hit sacrifice fly to right. Evans scored.
Grace singled.
Ghalambor grounded into fielder’s choice to second. Grace out.

5th Inning.
Cole flied out to left.
Atiyeh grounded out to third.
Wisniewski popped out to second.

6th Inning.
Johnson grounded out to short.
Gray grounded out to short.
Leo flied out to left.

End of game.

• “What is losing?” Losing is a disease… as contagious as polio. Losing is a disease… as contagious as syphilis. Losing is a disease… as contagious as bubonic plague… attacking one… but infecting all. But curable. Now, I want you to imagine… you are on a ship at sea…

  – 6:15 games are tough. They are tough to get to, tough to get warmed up for, and 6:15 is just a plain old shitty time for a softball game. We have three more 6:15 games this season, including next week.

  – Wright Cole has sponsored a practice for this weekend. It will be Sunday at 10am at Willow Pass Fields. I’ll post the details shortly.

  – I won’t say the most important thing is to have fun, it isn’t. We are here to win, but let’s have fun doing it.

  – To reiterate, the second baseman is in charge of positioning the rightfielder, and the third baseman is the captain of the infield on all cutoffs. We’ll go over some of this at practice.

  – B.H. Bronson Johnson turned down dinner with the mayor to make the last game.

  – If it seems I get upset, it may be one of two things, I’m an asshole making things worse, or I’m just messing with you. I’ll leave it up to you to figure it out. Some people know me better than others and understand my “humor” (I can barely call it that), but that is what it is. No hard feelings.

  – I’m telling you, the bar at Willow Pass and East Olivera is the place to be after the game. Besides the higher thought that is prevalent (taking two, not one, but two Viagra pills, and then operating heavy machinery leads to some crazy hi-jinx), the owners are brand new and are selling the place like mad. Look for some pasta dinner specials.

  -Jeff