The following dialogue takes place sometime between the 2nd and 6th inning on the Hanover Park bench:
Jason Liotta had just hit his second home run of the game and Alex Gialanella is digging in on the plate against Jake Porcello
[The Mike of All Trades]: Alex is going to go yard, I can feel it.
[Mitola]: No way!
[The Mike of All Trades]: I have a good feeling, Mitola.
[Mitola]: He didn't even hit one out in batting practice!
[The Mike of All Trades]: There's just something in the air.
[Mitola]: I'll bet you ten dollars, he won't, if you are so confident. If you win, I'll give you ten times that.
[The Mike of All Trades]: I don't bet on the game. By the way, he's going to hit it to left field. And also left of the scoreboard.
[Mitola]: Yea ok!
Alex Gialanella unloads on a Porcello offering and deposits the ball left of the scoreboard in left field and nearly kills a fan in the process. Mitola is speechless and staring at the Mike of All Trades. The Mike of All Trades is not only smart and sagelike, but apparently psychic now too.
BTW, HP stuns the baseball world with a Alex Gialanella sac fly in the 9th inning that ended the score, 7-6 HP over SHP.
This team has a lot of upside and hopefully this year is the year his young guns will break out to superstars. As many already know, I love the B.J. .....Upton that is. He is going to contend for 30/30 this year and will score and drive in 100. He is killer with the 2B/OF eligibility.
Catcher: Ivan Rodriguez
First Basemen: Adrian Gonzalez, Alex Gordon, Carlos Delgado, Aubrey Huff
Second Basemen: B.J. Upton, Orlando Hudson
Shortstop: Derek Jeter, Christian Guzman
Third Basemen: Alex Gordon, Aubrey Huff
Outfield: Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick, J.D. Drew, Ryan Church, Torii Hunter, Jermaine Dye, Carlos Quentin
Starting Pitching: Cliff Lee, Ryan Dempster, Randy Wolf, Brain Bannister, Roy Halladay
Relivers: Jose Valverde, Hideki Okajima, Manny Acosta, Chad Cordero, J.J. Putz
Strengths: This lineup has a quiet source of 280 Hr's, other than Holliday, Dye, or Hunter there aren't that many power hitters, but this team will piece together a ton of dingers. Led by the Captain and Holliday, this team sported a solid team batting average of .283 last year. This lineup drives in many runs as shown by their 1153 RBI's. They will hold their own in steals, not great, but not bad 114 last year.
Weaknesses: Wins could be hard to come by with no bonafide ace on this staff, only Halladay has the potential to win 15+ this year in my opinion. This pitching staff doesn't strike out many people which hurts the K column. This lineup also strikes out a lot, totaling 1586 K's
This has been one of the most anticipated matchups in the Iron Hills Conference. On one hand, the Morris Hill Crusaders possessing the number 5 spot in the Star Ledger and on the other hand, the Hanover Park Hornets, the unheralded, sleeper team that is slipping under the radar. This game was a great game to watch, baseball fans.
The Hornets threw their junior phenom, Greg Baruka, against the Morris Hill ace, Luke Mirabella. This looked like a pitcher's duel on paper, but boy were they wrong. This turned out to be UPSET CITY BABY!!
The Hornets laced up their hitting shoes and sprayed the ball all over the field (with the subtle exception of Matt Rawson, who had accomplished what is rare to see in baseball today, the long sought after Golden Sombrero with 4 K's). The Hornets knocked "the Duke" up for 8 runs. Steven Seminerio went 1 for 4 with a home run, but he hit the ball right on the screws in all four at-bats. James Moran, currently in a platoon situation with Matty Mitola, may have separated himself from the competition with his stellar performance at the plate against one of the Iron Hills Conference's elite pitchers. He had a key hit that started the run eruption. Greg pitched 5 innings and Alex Gialanella closed it out. Alex Gialanella threw a knuckle that broke so sharp to one batter that he made the batter look like "a...[retard] trying to hump a doorknob" This kid is ridiculously talented.
Hopefully the undefeated Hornets will finally get some love from the critics.....well you know what, let the Hornets stay the underdogs for the rest of the season. I can't wait to see the stunned looks on the faces of the high school baseball analysts once they see them making a deep run into the state playoffs. Until next time.....
Robert Jeanette had the 1st overall pick in this year's draft. He chose Hanley Ramirez with that pick, which was controversial. However, I can see Hanley having yet another season like last year with 20/50.
(Lineups updated as of April 7th)
Catcher: Victor Martinez
First Basemen: Paul Konerko, Mark Derosa, Victor Martinez
Second Basemen: Howie Kendrick, Mark Derosa, Felipe Lopez
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Felipe Lopez
Third Basemen: Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Derosa, Troy Glaus
Outfield: Vernon Wells, Jeff Francoeur, Josh Hamilton, Manny Ramirez, Emil Brown, Mark Derosa, Shane Victorino
Starting Pitching: Eric Bedard, Tim Hudson, Justin Verlander, Dustin McGowan, Adam Wainwright, Matt Garza
Relivers: Francisco Cordero, Jason Isringhausen, Peter Moylan, Joaquin Benoit, Al Reyes
Strengths: This team has some pop, they hit 245 HR's combined last year. They also have wheels, combining for 152 steals. The team batting average is a solid .281. This lineup drove in 1027 runs and scored 1049 runs. This starting pitching rotation is nasty. It has two potential AL Cy Young award winners in it, Bedard and Verlander.
Weaknesses: Saves will not be constant as this team has only 2 closers. Cordero's numbers from last year are the ceiling for him this year, he is in a hitter friendly ballpark and he is susceptible to the homerun ball. There is no true stud for which to rely on homeruns for. Paul is the only big time slugger on the team.
The Hornets won their second game of the season 6-1 bringing their overall record to an astounding 2-0. The Cougars tossed their ace, Pat Butler, who pitched great at times, but his defense couldn't make a play for him and his offense was stifled by junior Greg Baruka. The Hornets scored the majority of their runs in a rally started in the 4th or 5th inning by a Robert Jeanette bunt that resulted in a two bag throwing error. Other notables include Adam Flanner going 3 for 3, Steve Seminerio hitting two near-home runs that resulted in two doubles, and a solo jack by Matty Mitola.
Glenn Paladino, injured in the Hornet's first game of the season last week, is now expected to go to the doctor's tomorrow and start physical therapy. The Hornets had another close scare when Super Sophmore Max Litvak stretched for an underthrown ball. Max got up with intense pain and heard a "pop" in his hips. Futher details are uncertain.
The Hornets bring their 2-0 record to the test against Weequahic on Wednesday. Andrew Isslein is the projected starter for the game.
The Hanover Park Hornets started up their home opener with a first pitch by new Hanover Park Regional Superintendent, Mr. Ariloetta. After that pitch, it was all business. Glenn Paladino led the game off with a opposite field double down the line; however, he pulled up to 2nd lame. Expert analysis on the scene suggested a pulled or torn groin. Yours truly entered the game in place of Glenn and I ended up 0 for 0 with 2 walks. Mr. Paladino is expected to miss at least two weeks according to our Athletic Trainer, Heather Peterson. Further updates will follow this entry.
Junior Eric Bodnar and Senior Adam Flanner led the way for the Hornets; hitting a homerun and a 2 run single, respectively, to race out to a 4-0 lead. Senior Jason Liotta pitched a complete game, while letting up a single run, to maintain that margin. The Hornets won in the end, 4-1.
The Hornets have been decimated by early season injuries in years past, namely Joe Dirocco with a broken ankle the very day before the first game against Dover. Hopefully this will not put a damper to very high expectations set for these Hornets, this should be further motivation for that final prize, the Group 2 State Championship.
I will start off the season with a breakdown of my fantasy baseball team in the HP Fantasy Baseball league. I will follow with the 11 other teams in the following teams.
(Lineups updated as of April 1st)
Catcher: J.R. Towles
First Basemen: Ryan Howard, Carlos Pena, James Loney
Second Basemen: Ian Kinsler, Placido Polanco
Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins
Third Basemen: Hank Blalock
Outfield: Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, Brad Hawpe, J.D. Drew, Justin Upton, Nate McLouth
Starting Pitching: Jered Weaver, Jon Garland, Joe Blanton, Zach Greinke, Gil Meche
Relivers: Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon, Bobby Jenks, Joakim Soria, Brandon Lyon, George Sherrill
Strengths: This lineup will post tremendous homerun potential as this group of hitters combined to hit 289 dingers last year, with potential to hit well over 300 this year. Along with the homeruns, this club will drive in and score many runs too, combining to score 1082 runs and driving in 1027 runs last year. This lineup also has speed as they stole 139 bases last year too. The team batting average is a solid .286. This pitching staff is all about winning the SV, ERA, ER, WHIP, L, and BB categories. There is no way to lose SVs with 6 closers. They all are elite options that have great ratios and will not let up many if any runs.
Weaknesses: This team has a ton of people who strike out a lot (i.e. Howard, Dunn, Hawpe, Pena) They combined to strike out a grand total of 1257 times. This team will not win W's and K's as there are no top of the line starters in this team.
