Week One: Summary of Series

Sass…win? Managers stunned
Sass start the year tied for fourth
By Beth Sass / hereforthesass.blogspot.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Here for the Sass Front Office was surprised and stunned as for the first time ever, they started the season with a winning record. The Sass managed to pull off their stunning victory against Mockball Madness--which is owned by league commissioner Nick, who also happens to be dating Sass Co-Owner, Dawn.

"It was an amazing victory," gushed Dawn, after she had consoled Nick on his loss. "Last year we started out with some players who just didn't come through like we thought they would. This year, things are definitely looking up."

The Sass won convincingly with a final score of 9-5-0.

"Of course we didn't tie," said outfielder Adam Dunn, "This is baseball. We don't do that."

The Sass batters marginally beat out the Sass pitching, as the Sass batting took 5 of 7 categories, and the pitching took 4 of 7.

"Both of us managed to be above .500," said infielder Edwin Encarnacion, "So that's pretty good. We're just a bit 'gooder'."

The hitting took the runs (30-29), home runs (9-6), stolen bases (7-1), batting average (.337-.243), and on-base plus slugging (.900-.710), but lost in runs batted in (28-31) and walks (13-25).

"That was definitely an impressive performance. The runs batted in category was very close. However, it seems that plate discipline is something we really need to work," said Sass hitting coach, Micahael Restovich.

After last year's miserable pitching performances, the Sass were quite relieved to see better efforts this year. The Sass pitching took the holds (3-2), ERA (2.72-4.78), WHIP (1.05-1.53), and K/BB (2.21-1.63). They lost in the wins (3-5), saves (3-4), and strike-outs (42-52).

"Nick's boys clearly had a good week," said Beth. "Our numbers in all categories were quite decent, but the categories Nick won were impressive on both counts. Our hats are off to him." Beth went on to tip her cap.

The pitching leaders for the Sass were varied: Wins, Aaron Harang (2); saves, Jonathan Papelbon (2); starter strike-outs, Jason Jennings (12), and relief strike-outs, Jonathan (5); holds, Justin Duchschererererer, Jimmy Gobble, and Darren Oliver (1); starter ERA, Tim Hudson (1.29), relief ERA Jonathan, Jimmy, Ambiorix Burgos and Darren Oliver (0.00); starter WHIP, Tim (0.86), and relief WHIP, Jonathan, Jimmy, and Ambiorix (0.00); and starter K/BB Aaron Harang (3.67) and relief K/BB Jonathan, Jason Isringhausen, Justin, Jimmy, and Ambiorix (infinity, as they did not walk anyone.

"That's quite an impressive group," Sass pitching coach Brad Radke said. "Each one put forth their best effort, and there was not holding back. I'm pleased to be working with this group."

The Sass hitting seemed to be anchored by one person--Adam, who led the team in six of seven categories. Adam's team leading stats were: six runs, three home runs, six RBIs, two stolen bases, five walks, and a 1.357 on-base percentage. Rocco Baldelli also had two stolen bases, and Michael Cuddyer led the team in batting average at .412.

"I started the week very poorly. I usually don't hit well in April at all," Michael said, "I know Beth and I talked on Thursday about the possibility of me just sitting the month out, but she couldn't bear to put me on the bench Friday. I couldn't let her down."

The Sass also beat Mockball Madness in the key competition of "Letters in the Last Name", with a final score of 170-143.

The Sass look forward to their competition in Week Two, the Crash Davis Rerturns, run by JimCrikket. The Crash Davis Returns is new to the league, and the Sass have no record against them.