Why us?

In what seemed to be the season of destiny for the Ballston Brewers, we checked out in the first playoff game we played. The final more like a lacrosse/football score 20-19, that's right a 20-19 score. The game featured a home plate umpire that had no fucking clue how to track a pitch going over 55 mph, a massive comeback only to be out done by 2, 2 out rallies.

So lets start with the umpire first. We find out later in the game that we got the shitty crew. That's correct the number 1 and 2 teams in all of the 25+ league facing each other, the umpire association sends a shitty crew. The ump sucked for both sides, a little more for us, but overall was horrible. Normal strikes were balls, it was horrendous. I was amazed no one got run for arguing balls and strikes. The field ump even apologized for not putting himself behind. There is strike one against us.

While I don't want this to be Strike 2 it has to be. Waters Field in Vienna, just happens to be our house of horrors. Its a field turf/robo grass field that has seen us play now 2 of our worst defensive games along with having a teammate destroy his ankle there. So dribbler after dribbler are hit, errors ensue and we are faced with a 13-0 deficit after only 2 innings. We find a way to start chipping away. We nickle and dime them, then as a field turf field would play and a little help from the ump, walks and errors start and next thing you know its 16-16.

Strike 3 comes in the form of us putting together 2 innings to take 18-16 and 19-18 leads, only to watch the Cubs rally BOTH times with 2 outs. Strike one didn't help out the cause at all, but when you can't find a way to get one out....

Just wasn't our season. Finish in 1st Place in the division only to be sent home packing in the first game (semi finals). Looks like we have some fuel for next year.

Ask Al

Welcome back to This New House. I'm Al Borland and it's that time for the Ask Al segment you've all waited for. Well that might be a bit stretch, but whatever. Our question of the day comes from Drunk Mike in PG County. Mike asks "Al have you ever noticed friends you thought were close just start to fall off the face of the earth?"

Mike I've definitely seen it, and well I've probably done it to people as well. As we all get older and mature, the core around you gets more defined. People who you thought were close to you just drop off the face and you don't even know why. Mostly its the out of sight out of mind mentality that happens. We are all guilty of it at some point, there just comes a time when you really notice it. It stings because you see the people off getting married, having kids, etc and you hate to have to find out thanks to someones post on facebook about what happened. All I can say is make the best out of the close relationships you have, make sure that if you want them to stand up that you put your effort into them, or else they will go away just like the rest of them. Don't take it personally, you just have to realize that people just do it and it will happen. Another thing is you will really find out who your closest friends are when something awful happens. If you lose a loved one, those that were close to you will be there for you regardless. Also, people that know you and actually give a damn will say something to you. Whether its at the time, or if you happen to run into them on the street almost a year later. That's where you should focus your energy.