It may not look like it here, but I am writing during the Vipers off-season. Bookmark 7th Inning Stache and follow me on Twitter to keep up-to-date on my thoughts on Pete Rose, the MLB salary cap, Calgary weather, and more (I’m going to squeeze some Vipers stuff in there, so don’t tell anyone in case I get busted).
You should be able to find out which writer I am from the featured writers page.
Wish me luck. Go Vipers!
The hallowed grounds steal the show on a national broadcast
The outfield (Fehlandt Lentini’s office)
It’s a good time to be a sports fan in Calgary, says Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun and those unfunny bus bench ads for Jack FM (“like free mittens!” hahaha!):
In a world in which we often neglect to stop and smell the roses, now might be a good time for Calgary sports fans to take stock. In consecutive weekends, the Stamps and the Flames went undefeated against their biggest rivals and provincial counterparts. Both have stellar records as does Canada’s second-ranked Hitmen and the nation’s third-ranked Dinos football team. None of this is to mention Calgary is also host of the defending NLL champion Roughnecks and of next month’s Grey Cup. Drink it in Calgary — these are good times.
I wonder which professional sports team in Calgary Eric “France” Francis is forgetting? Could it be a 2009 league champion with a league MVP and the top manager to their credit?
Eric Francis, a sports reporter by trade, may not recognise or care about professional baseball in this city, but our professional baseball players do care about their fans. Check out this comment we received from Calgary Vipers ace pitcher Joe “The Cobra Clutch” Sergent:
thanks for putting the site up for us players to look at and even get pictures and videos that we wouldn’t be able to get if it wasn’t for your support. all the players look at it and have a blast with what you write. you make us feel like big leaugers. thank you for doing this and hopefully we will be able to repeat next year!!
The members of the Independent Baseball All-Star Team (technically speaking, the Baseball America All-Independent selections for the 2009 season) were recently announced, and the Golden Baseball League finds itself represented by four players – three of them Champion Vipers. Not surprisingly, they’re four players that are well known to this blog. Here’s a list of the players, as well as what we’ve learned about those players thanks to Ten Prairie Sticks:
Congratulations to these four players, and an extra tip-of-the-cap to the three Indy All-Stars who are members of your 2009 GBL Champion Calgary Vipers.
I was working on a long-winded post with charts and graphs the detailed Nelson’s Castro’s 2009 GBL prowess – specifically when compared with A.J. Valentine, who I considered to be his stiffest competition this season. The GBL surprised me, though, with its speed in naming Nelson Castro the 2009 GBL Player of the Year.
For the 2009 GBL season [Nelson Castro] was named Player of the Month for July and had an outstanding entire season as he led the league in batting with a .410 mark… In addition, he led the league in Triples with 10, Stolen Bases with 33, Slugging Average at .646, and Hits with 123. He was second in the league with 81 RBIs and 80 Runs Scored and also pounded out 11 HR which was just one off his all-time season high. He is considered one of the top defensive shortstops in the league and was key to the Vipers winning the 2009 GBL Championship.
I guess it was an easy choice for them, too.
Congratulations to Mr 410
There was a great post-mortem article on the 2009 Calgary Vipers in the Calgary Herald earlier this week. Vipers president John Conrad was interviewed with regards to the Vipers financial situation. Here’s what I found interesting:
You could argue that a lot of factors affected attendance. Game time temperature (shown on the chart as well) certainly looks like it played a role. Remember that Peter Young stepped down on June 11th, and he was considered by some to be a polarizing figure. For the record, though, attendance in 2009 grew at a faster rate than the temperature rose – so weather wasn’t the only factor. The Vipers did some things right in 2009 as the season wore on when it came to selling tickets.
Videos from the Calgary Vipers’ Golden Baseball League Championship-clinching game. Check out the photos and commentary, too.
The last pitch and ensuing celebration:
The presentation of the MVP award (Golden Bat), GBL Cup, and Championship Banner:
On a personal note, as a sports fan, this was my favourite moment of fandom. Congrats to the Vipers!
The hallowed grounds of Foothills Stadium filled with 2212 die-hards fans. Certainly not the largest crowd of the season, but it was the loudest.
Fehlandt Lentini takes off like a bullet and steals third base in the bottom of the fifth. They scored it a wild pitch, but we all know he had third anyways.
Sergio Pedroza’s grand slam in the bottom of the sixth was (no kidding) the hardest, fastest, highest and longest hit home run I’ve ever seen – anywhere.
After driving in the second run of the game, Kit “Mint on the” Pellow drove in three more for good measure. He raised his playoff batting average by almost 40 points in the championship game. He also looks like my uncle-in-law (who was in attendance, and agreed).
Pedroza scores on a Pellow single in the fifth. Like the first inning and the sixth inning, the Vipers put a four on the board in the fifth.
“The Bat From The Hat” Drew Miller set the tone from the first game of the playoffs. In the second season he batted .355 including going 2 for 5 in the final game.
GLROTY Colin Moro did whatever it took to get on base during the final game. Call it a Colin Moro hat-trick: one hit, one walk, on hit-by-a-pitch (and three runs scored).
PC Evan Greusel adds to his legend. The winning pitcher of record during the clinching game got a standing ovation after 5.1 innings of solid work. Greusel took a come-backer off the hand in the third, but he powered through.
The hallowed grounds of Foothills Stadium goes under the lights with the Vipers comfortably in the lead. The bats were dialed in. The Vipers bats chased Tucson Toros’ ace RHP Lorenzo Barcelo after only 3.1 innings, and the Toros had to use six pitchers in total.
The scouting report on Rick “Big Hit” Guarno out of AA was that he was a defensive specialist that couldn’t hit. The scouts were half-right. Guarno lead the high-powered Vipers offense with a .483 batting average in the playoffs, hitting in all eight playoff games.
Wilver Perez was a welcome addition to a team that seemed to have a new third baseman every week. He drove in a run in that huge first inning.
Colin Moro comes in to score (again) in the bottom of seventh on a hit by “The Real #14″ Jorge Mejia as Fehlandt Lentini looks on. This was the 18th of 18 runs for the Vipers last night. Not bad for a big game, eh? Oh yeah, Feh went 4 for 5 and scored 4 runs in the big game, too. Yeah, that’s right. Where’s that loser hometown heckler now? “Hey Fehlandt, remember me?”
How did Bonafide Mr 410 Nelson Castro ply his trade in the clinching game? 3 RsBI, .750 OBP, and three runs scored. Hats off to who should be eventually named the 2009 GBL MVP.
Champagne celebration…
…more champagne celebration…
…and more champagne celebration.
Slider joins in the fun.
Closer Mac Suzuki gets mobbed by Yuki Matsumoto (I think).
Rapture.
Presented by commish Kevin Outcalt (not in picture), the Vipers get the championship banner. Owner Jeff Gidney can be seen in the white sweater with the Canada flag. Team booster Billy looks on proudly. Manager Morgan Burkhart just got his Gatorade shower from Joe “The Cobra Clutch” Sergent.
The DMID of Castro and Mejia do a lap with the championship banner…
…lap 2.
The Vipers drink from the GBL Cup.
Rick “Big Hit” Guarno and the GBL Cup.
The Final Score, and a thanks from management.
Aftermath. Congratulation, Vipers!
GBL on OSC
