by Pete & Kev

Wait 'Til Next Year

The cyclical nature of team sports allows players and fans to take comfort in those words that keep us coming back to play ball. Although the Summer '99 season ended on a disappointing note for The Beat with a bitter 11-7 loss to the Hit Men, many positive aspects of the year stand out giving hope for the future. In posting an overall record of 8-8 after a pennant-contending 5-3 Spring, we put ourselves back on the same track we were on in 1997 when we achieved our first winning season in C-league.

In 1999, we made significant progress considering our dismal 5-11 record (1 win by forfeit) in 1998. That's not to mention the need to radically remake the team after losing something like a million key players as well as my predecessor Wilf Spoon and sparkplug wife/GM Annie. Transitions like that don't come easy. But over the past year and a half, we've assimilated a number of talented new players such as Jim Colletto, Gunnar Rosenquist, Brian Arcuri, Kevin Doyle, and Mark Melin, who contributed breakthrough seasons in '99 and, in addition to the vets, provide us with a solid nucleus for the future. We turned the old order on its head in shaking up the positions in Spring Training and established players at new positions, which made us faster, younger and more sure-handed than before. Veteran prodigal son Greg Lukoski returned from an almost 2-year absence to bring back some of the storied "long hair" chemistry that had been missing since the departure of the Rat Pack in 1997/98.

To be sure, it was a roller coaster season. Chief among the highlights this year was the pennant race against Hammertime in the Spring. Our thrilling upset of the Hammers in game 2 set the tone for an upstart team that started the season 4-1 and entered game 6 of the Spring tied with the mighty ones. Despite the fact we were throttled 20-8 in that game, this rejiggered team got a taste of what it feels like to be in a race.

We also developed a quick-strike offense which enabled us to come back in numerous games in which we were down. Who can forget the thrilling comeback against HGA in the Spring after we had blown a 10-1 lead, but rallied to win a 1-run thriller in sudden death? Or how about game 5 of the Summer against Mars when we ended the 1st inning looking up at a 7-0 deficit, but stormed back with a 7-run 5th to salt away a 16-10 win? Perhaps the most thrilling comeback was the game of little ball we took from the Other Guys 4-3 with another comeback in our last at bat. Then there was the 1st game against the Hit Men when we scored 10 runs in the 3rd to swarm back from a 9-0 drubbing to go ahead, only to lose in disappointing fashion. All in all, The Beat mounted impressive resurrections-from-the-crypt in seven games and won five of them. That's something to build on. Our team batting average was .459, second only to the 1995 DD-champion Beatniks who went undefeated and batted .527 that fateful summer and .480 for the year.

Of course, in any .500 season there have to be some disappointments. Falling to 3-5 and a 3-way tie for last place in division C-6 says it all. But to be specific, don't let it be forgot: the Hammertime pounding to eliminate us from the Spring race, the loss of Mike Buttafuso in yet another east coast defection, the abortive comeback of Palmer, the inability to beat Nicoya when it counted, inconsistent Summer turnout, the heartbreaking one-run sudden death loss to the hated Mars in the Summer, the Hit Men losses, illegal bats and players, and arguments over technicalities with the blues.

The designated starting infield of Moody at 1st, Brian Arcuri at 2nd, Mike "The Pizza Man" Weiss at ss, and MSG at 3rd played together in only one Summer game. In a harsh blow to the team, Pizza Man, who had compiled impressive statistics through the first six games (.567 average, .667 slugging pct., .686 OBP, 12 RBIs, 2 game balls) and looked like an odds-on favorite for the Brass Beat, was forced to miss the final 4 games. After thinking I'd retired from playing the field, I had to play 1st in 4 Summer games and fielded a back-to-the-future infield with an average age of 37 at times. The scrappy Brian, 25, was the glue to an otherwise creaky infield, displaying true grit in filling in solidly at shortstop through the last several games with a severely sprained shoulder.

Tip your cap to Mark "Cottonmouth King" St.Georges, who responded to what he considered a managerial slight in batting him 8th on opening day, to solidify the number 3 spot in the batting order. Mark became the first player in Beat history to be awarded the Brass Beat for the second time--MSG's first Brass Beat season was 1990. Last year's winner, "Big Daddy" Donnell Moody presented the prize to the gum-encrusted one in the traditional ceremony following the Hit Men finale on 10/2.

D presenting to MSG with Pete looking on

MSG put together the single most impressive offensive season since John Palmer won the triple crown in 1992. However, what made this achievement so remarkable is that this is a better team now, playing in a tougher league. Mark set a single season team record with an incredible .667 batting average in over 50 at bats. He also led the team with 34 hits (one shy of Palmer's team record 35 in 1991), 22 runs scored, 22 rbi's, and a .792 on base percentage. Mark scored two game balls, one for a 6-rbi performance against HGA, and holds current team career marks with 244 hits and 193 runs scored.

Cyber-sophomore Jim Colletto looked like a pumped-up version of Will Clark 10 years ago out of the number 5 spot and had a breakout Summer season at the plate. "The Thrill" placed no lower than third in every leader category and won the summer batting title with a whopping .682 average and took home two game balls this year. He finished the season leading the team in slugging percentage at .775 (1.000 in the summer), 1st in home runs with 2, second in rbis with 16, third in batting average at .525 and runs scored with 17, and fourth in hits (21) and on base percentage (.636).

Big D gave honorable mentions to the dynamic pitching duo of Kevin Austin and Dennis "OB" O'Brien in his post-season remarks honoring MSG. This will be remembered as the year we developed a dependable pitching combo of Dennis "OB" O'Brien and Kevin Austin, winners of a combined 3 game balls. When we had the personnel, the ability to throw different pitching looks at the opposition late in the game provided us with a potent weapon since teams in C have proven the ability to adjust to a starter in the later innings. The problem in the Summer was that until the finale in game 8, we didn't have the personnel.

Cap'n Kevin Austin struggled at the plate this summer after posting a .571 spring average to finish an even .500 and fourth on the team. Austin maintains the team's current longest hit streak at 15 games and posted a 6-2 record on the mound while earning two game balls for games in which he posted a combined 2.00 era.

Big D Moody made his usual impressive showing this year leading the team with 8 extra base hits. He placed second in hits (29), runs scored (21), batting average (.558), slugging percentage (.769), and on base percentage (.696) and he tied for third on the team in rbis with 14.

Cyber-rookie Gunnar Rosenquist solidified the catching spot bringing unpredictably different hair and nail colors in addition to an infectious enthusiasm that set the tone for our never-say-die spirit. The "Splendid Stump," as he likes to be called, gained a great reputation with both pitchers and an honorable mention from D-Moody at the post-game awards ceremony for supplying the fire in this current Beat team.

MSG, Pete, D, Doyle, Chris, Brian & BJ

Among the outfielders, another intriguing move for the future involved management's decision to move speedy center fielder BJ Bateman into the leadoff role this Summer. BJ struggled at the plate this year but proved valuable in his new role thanks to his speed, as reflected in his .500 Summer OBP. Veteran Chris Young was named captain of the outfield thanks to his steady defensive play and rebounded in the summer to make an appearance on the leader board with a .419 average, .488 slugging percentage, and tied for third on the team with 14 rbis. Lukie rounded out the leaderboard with 20 hits, 13 runs, and a .563 on base percentage. Greg currently has an 11 game hit streak. 21-year-old rookie sensation Kevin (The Younger) Doyle is making a big statement for next year with a .667 batting average in just four games and showed tremendous range, speed, and a rifle arm in center field.

To sum it up, The Beat was successful in taking its level of play up a significant notch this year over last. However, in order to take it up to the next level, we need to be more confident in the way we approach each game, more consistent in our play, and more focused on the game instead of technicalities and rivalries with other teams. We can't afford to have opposing teams and umpires targeting us, and worst of all disrespecting us, which could happen if we don't tone it down. Let's gain respect by beating these teams next year. We had several games that could have gone either way. If we can convert a few of those next year, we'll be contenders again.

Have a great off-season, enjoy the holidays, the turn of the century, stay healthy, stay in touch and we'll see you in late January to sign the roster.

The 1999 BEAT! Back: Kev, "Kid Kevin", Pete, Donnell, Brian, Chris Front: Gunnar, Mark, O.B., Jim, B.J.

View The BEAT's 1999 Final Batting Statistics

On The BEAT News Archive