Saturday

Just back from Washington. . .

I was wrong. Not about the guys being optimisitc, or about spirits being up, just that the Grizz would still be playing. I certainly didn't think the umpires would play such a prominent role. Not making excuses, just saying way too much influence on a game that should have been decided by the players on the field.

I'll write some more about the season in a day or so. For now thanks to everyone who listened on a nightly basis, and for those that sent e-mails from all over! I certainly appreciated it. I hope I accurately conveyed the games, and emotions/feelings that go along with them! I had a great year. This was a talented and dedicated group of players/coaches!

Friday night pre-game

Backs against the wall. . .or something like that. Use whatever cliche you care to, the Grizzlies need to win, or their tremendous 2007 season will come to a disappointing end. I have a good feeling about tonight. I didn't say the series. . .I said tonight. The guys are in great spirits and nobody seems ready to be finished. Hollenbeck has pitched well against the Grizzlies this year-14 innings, 15 strikeouts. But, they beat Hollenbeck once this year (with Toro on the mound and in this park!) and the other time the Grizzlies faced him-they won the game though Hollenbeck didn't get the loss. Plus remember Albert Ayala with the Rascals? He shut the Grizzlies down twice. The third time, he lasted 1.1 innings the third time he faced this team.

The playoffs are weird, in any sport, often it is a team that does something they haven't done all year and they win because of it. Sometimes a team that isn't supposed to win does. (See '06 Cardinals or '03 Grizzlies) Only time will tell what this team can do. These guys aren't thinking about anything but tonight.

I'm optimisitc. I think everyone is. I'll write again post-game.