March 15, 2021 FLY-BY-NIGHT BASEBALL ASSOCIATION Vol. 48, Issue 8 Founded in 1974 by David Smith 48 th Season 1974 2021 Commissioner Rob Bruno. Presidents - American League Ed Griffin - National League Bob Figella NEWS AROUND THE LEAGUE: Ed Griffin completed his “INSIDE THE FBN” and for FBN teams it’s a must read. This is edition #20 for Ed. In the first 19 years he’s predicted correctly 76% of the time. “I miss about two a year, said Griffin. Usually it’s the bubble teams that are tough to judge or It’s because I don’t follow my basic rule, don’t include Klee’s!” Below are his predictions: NATIONAL LEAGUE 1) Wall Street - 2) Taxachusets - 3) Allyn Street - 4) Maine - 5) Foggymountain - 6) Hazardville 7) Connecticut 8) Illinois - 9) US Jarheads - 10) Klee's - 11) Burlington - 12) Norwich Before the opening series at Kate Elizabeth Park, manager Jeff Kent put something on the team’s bulletin board. “The NL is much better this year and very interesting. I think the top five teams…all good but aside from Wall Street they all have some holes. Jarheads will crush the ball... but the pitching is horrid!!!” US 9th place!! I think Kemp was trying to get under their skin. As the Jarheads all slapped that message on the bulletin board as they ran out of the locker room and onto the field. All with one thing on their minds, VICTORY. The Jarheads gave it a go but went out and lost the opener, 3-1. US surrendered all of the runs Wall St. needed in the 2nd inning when Wall Street came up with 3 runs on 3 hits. US out hit Wall St. 5-4 but could only score 1 run. After game one Kemp reminder the team that Parris Island was not that far away. If anyone wanted to visit all they had to do was hit like they did in game 1. That did the trick as the Jarheads had 12 hits. But, the Barrons had 15 and had the lead 11-6 going to the bottom of the 8 th inning. Mike Trout had had a big day at the plate. He caught a hold of a fastball for a Grand Slam homerun in the 3rd inning, banged out a single in the 7th inning. Trout slapped a base-hit in the 8th inning as the Jarheads mounted a monster rally in the bottom of the 8th scoring 6 runs to take a 12-11 lead. Wall St. went down without a fight in the 9th. “I wasn’t going to have my day spoiled by having a team lose”, said Trout. In game three Brandon Woodruff pitched a complete game 2 hit shutout for the Jarheads. Woodruff k’ed 13 Barons. “I had good stuff in the pen,” said Woodruff. “I was hoping that I wasn’t going to leave it there.” I guess I didn’t because I threw the ball good from the first pitch on.” In game four, the Jarhead “horrid” pitching showed up as Wall Street easily topped the Jarheads 12-5. “We didn't appreciate the big day Ke'Bryan Hayes had as he clubbed a two-run home run in the 1st inning, doubled in the 3rd inning and doubled clearing the bases in the 4th inning”, said Kemp. “I’ve got to find a pitcher that will throw inside once in a while. You’ve got to move the guy off the plate. Make him uncomfortable. You know, like Gibson would do.” When Hayes was asked about his day he said, “It was just all timing. I had pretty good rhythm at the plate tonight. You've got to take advantage of their mistakes when you can. A couple pitches were definitely up a little bit - right in my zone.” Kemp, “What did I tell ya, to comfortable!” AMERICAN LEAGUE 1)Milford - 2) Lake Wobegon - 3) Louisville - 4) Hotlanta -5) California - 6) Atlanta - 7) Blue Grass - 8) Yorktown 9) Alpharetta - 10) Urpaign - 11) Arsenal - 12) New Hampshire The Yorktown Admirals had the honor to host Opening Day in the American League. The Admirals were known as the “West Jeff Jerks” during the beginning of the FBN. In the first PMB season in 1975, the Jerks finished 95-67, 1 game behind Steve Walters and his Galactic Gladiators in the National League. In the post- season, the Jerks took round one 3 games to 1. They moved into the NL Championship to face Galactic. The Jerks surprised everyone but themselves by sweeping Galactic 3 games to none. In the first FBN World Series they beat Montana 4 games to 1. The West Jeff team went off to college in 1983. When Merk returned in 1986, he was awarded an American League expansion team. He formed the Yorktown Admirals and built a park to honor the Yorktown, its crew and its skipper, the Chester W. Nimitz Memorial Park. After hoisting the original FBN Banner from 1975, the Admirals started 2021 with a sweep over Arsenal. “'It was a lot of fun out there, said veteran, Matt Kemp. To have some of the original Jerks on hand it was amazing. The fans really got into the series early. They gave us a lot of support.” When we asked Merk about the day he said, “We got the victory’s, one at a time. Tomorrow night it’s Urpaign. We both start with 0-0 as the score. Let’s see how that night goes”, said Merk. Some of the original West Jeff Jerks from the 1975 World Series Champions attended the game. Infielders, Steve Garvey, Dave Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey. Pete Rose, Jose Cardenal and Willie Davis who patrolled the outfield. Barry Foote who did the catching. Starting Pitchers were: Buzz Capra, Tommy John, Ron Schueler. The late Don Wilson’s wife was on hand too. Bullpen included Ramon Hernandez, Ken Forsch and Jim Todd. Note: The Admirals went out and took 3 of 4 from Urpaign to start the season at 7-1. Hogs open at home... 1-0 against Arsenal as Zack Godley led the way! Walk off hit by Rendon knocking in Bogaerts! “Well, that’s it.The season is over right”, said Ed Griffin. “What? Another 161 games to go! I was hoping the season had ended after the win.” Gunners cameback to win next 3....NH 1-3 at home. Louisville visits Hotlanta as both teams start the season. In game 4, Hotlanta’s Triston McKenzie out pitched Louisville’s Shane Bieber in a 3-1 game. McKenie had a no-hitter going to the 6 th inning when Adalberto Mondesi singled with two outs to break up the no hit bid. McKenzie after the game: “I felt I had to be perfect out their today. Did you see what Bieber was doing?” Louisville’s Bieber had 17 K’s in 7.1 IP in the losing effort. The teams split the series. MLB MONITORING THE FBN Bud Drapeau noticed that MLB had been monitoring the FBN emails and it apparently agrees with some of the FBN members in terms of bringing back old time baseball. “MLB has lagged behind the FBN on a number of items. We’ve had the dh in both leagues years before MLB will finally do it. Plus, we had wild card teams before MLB decided to implement it. That’s just two items off the top of my head”, said Drapeau. Here are the changes planned for use in different levels of mlb in 2021. Larger bases, 15 in to 18 in, a requirement that pitchers must step off the rubber to attempt a pickoff, a limit of two pickoff attempts per plate appearance, a 15-second pitch clock and an automatic ball-strike system. When Baron manager, Earl Weaver heard about the automatic ball-strike system he said “Let's get the automated umps in the FBN. Barons walked 22 in opening series - "the umps were squeezing us!" said Weaver. Photo of Weaver show the home plate ump the actual size of home plate. TRANSACTIONS: 1. Taxachusetts traded, Austin Riley, John Ryan Murphy, TX #3 and TX #4 to Norwich for J.D. Davis and Yan Gomes. Minus Bonus Points: None Year to Date: AL 1. 2021 –FBN REMAINING CALENDAR DATES: July 1 - Dues Month. League fee of $20.00 is due by July 31st to keep member active. Aug 1 - The date that 2023 Draft picks can be included in a trade. Oct. 15 - Playoffs start. Nov 1 - 1. Send in voting items for review by 6pm on November 13th. 2. Managers can send in All-Star candidates from their team plus the position to be listed on the All- Star ballot. Managers can also send in Rookie of Year candidates from their team. Nov 15-20 1. Voting on the issues to be completed by 6pm on November 20th. For 2021 it will be for League items plus League Presidents. Nov 30th – 1. GM’s report their winter rosters to Bob Figella by 8pm. December – Time to just relax. Happy Holidays with family and friends! .