Notes: Starting off the week right

Managers in and out
By Beth Sass / hereforthesass.blogspot.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Here for the Sass team was left under the care of Clubhouse Manager Rach and Equipment and Uniform Manager Kat. Team Accountant olbiemn and Photographer Kafumbly were both available to help. Monday night, Dawn has class at a local university, and Beth was busy with her non-baseball hobby.

Beth popped into the stadium not long after the game started to the surprise to see Sass outfielder Rocco Baldelli had just hit a home run. Beth was able to congratulate him in the dugout.

Beth was able to catch the last inning of the game from the stands, when the Sass emerged victorious in a 6-3 win over the Destroyers.

“We’re glad to start the week off right, with an excellent performance by our starting pitcher, and an excellent performance by our relief pitcher. Most of our batters were on their game, too. It looks to be an exciting week,” Beth said.

Hit with a pitch: Dawn announced on Monday night that Sass pitcher Rheal Cormier will get a bonus of Mrs. Guilllen's cookies, because he hit blah blah blah Derek Jeter with a pitch.

"What’s so special about Rheal hitting some random guy?" Beth asked, "I've never heard of him."

Beth was assured that Jeter was someone who played for the Yankees and hitting him with a pitch is a good thing. Upon hearing "Yankees", she was immediately in favor of a double bonus.

Ice Cream Sundaes: In honor of the Sass win over Gassner’s All-stars, an ice cream party was held after the game Monday, with the special bonus of DL Vanilla, a rare treat, since it’s only produced and sold in Nice.

“Wow, I missed this,” relief pitcher Justin Duchscherererer said, “I think I’m going to move to Nice for the off-season, just for the ice cream.”

“Fortunately, all the flavors of Sass Ice Cream are so good, and it really was a special treat to get DL Vanilla,“ pitcher Aaron Harang said. “But I swear, if I ever get to pick, we’re having Pancake Cake cupcakes with Pancake Cake ice cream.”

Good news from the DL: Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion has started playing in rehab assignment games with the Nice Nice Guys. Trainers say he is looking pretty good out there, but they really couldn’t put a date on his return. They say he still favors his left ankle. He has insisted that he’s felt no pain, but the trainers are not convinced, and would like to see him play with the forceful style he exhibited earlier in the year.

“I’m really anxious to get back,” e.e. said, “It’s a little frustrating to me, personally, but I know the trainers are trying to do what is best.”

Sass pitcher Grant Balfour who has not seen active playing time since 2004 will start throwing bullpen sessions, bringing up hopes that he could start rehab relatively soon. Because he has not pitched in so long, the trainers have no timetable for a return.

Sass pitchers Tomo Ohka started pitching from the mound, and will be facing live batters in batting practice shortly. If all goes well, he will be put on a rehab assignment, too.

“The fans in Nice are loving all these major league players. They bring forth a quality of play that AA teams don’t usually have,” said Dawn. Dawn’s experiences on the DL in Nice have her very familiar with the fans and community.

Matt Guerrier may be allowed to start tossing the ball next week, although he will not pitching from the mound yet.

“I’m so anxious to get back,” Matt said, “I really want to get back before Grant. I know Grant was Bullpen Boyfriend before me, and I’m kinda afraid of losing that spot.”

Grant is currently leading the Chutes and Ladders competition, but Tomo Ohka is a close second.

Coming up: Tonight, the Sass will send pitcher Aaron Cook out to the mound. In his last outing, he had his best outing of the year, pitching eight innings of one-run ball. The bullpen is reminded that giving up leads that Aaron C. has worked so hard to maintain was not something that pleases the Sass management.