ERA’s Soar with Temperature, B. Dunn closes Gap on MVP Race
by yayo tibideau on 2007-07-31

Rutland Yards, Rutland, MA. Arriving early today to take in the atmosphere of Rutland yards and talk to the players, this grizzled veteran of the press could sense something special was going to take place tonight. Things weren’t looking so well in the morning however. A brutal thunder storm with torrential downpours had ripped through the area Sunday night and part of Monday morning threatening tonight’s 3 game series. The field was in excellent condition as the players were warming up. Said M. Beland, “My hat goes off to the grounds crew, they once again showed why they are the best in their craft. Though, sometimes they like to leave the grass a little longer than usual to make things difficult on the fielders. That’s not the case tonight.” And I couldn’t agree more, but one thing to keep an eye out for is how slick the field is. T. Dunn was asked about his embarrassing defensive play in the field last week, and if he was concerned that the slick conditions could also affect him tonight. “Well, that was a tough play, Childs hit a screamer that I knew was going to fall for a hit. So I just wanted to get a hand on it, and possibly make a play. Why I jumped after knocking it up into the air is beyond me. For one, I only have a 2 inch (at this point, the word C*CK!!! could be heard from many of the players) vertical, and the ball was about 4 feet away from me. I only managed to fall like a sack of potatoes to the ground after that. I have been putting in extra time this week in the field, so look for me to atone for last weeks mishap.” So there we have it sports fans, the temperature is rising at the same pace as the anticipation for this series. Game 1’s opening pitch is at 6:05 pm.

Game 1 pits the cousins Dunn against Greg Childs and Mike Beland. The match-up on the mound is B. Dunn (4-4, 5.09) v. G. Childs (5-3, 6.31). And what a frustrating night on the mound it was for Childs. Dunn helped out his own cause, taking over the game offensively from the first inning. After being completely befuddled two weeks ago when Childs switched things up and pitched to him right handed, that was not the case this eve. “I’ve been spending a lot of time in the film room, studying just how he pitched me that night. I also had the future of the RWL, Liam Dunn, pitching to me in the cages. I think it paid off.”

Here is young Liam coping with a headache much like his father does. AP Photo.

And it most certainly did, to the tune of going 7 for 10 with 6 HR’s and 8 RBI’s. Tim Dunn was also in the zone, going 5 for 10 with 2 HR’s and 4 RBI’s. “He’s usually a tough match-up for me, that sweeping breaking ball is hard to hit when it’s working for him. Tonight wasn’t one of his better nights on the mound.” Or at the plate either. Childs didn’t do anything to help himself out by going 0 for 9. “Embarrassing, absolutely f*cking embarrassing. Print it, I don’t care. This isn’t what these people pay to see, I am disgusted with my performance, on the mound and at the plate.” Mike Beland did his part to try and stay in the game, going 5 for 9 with 3 dingers and ribbies. It just wasn’t enough. Final score: 13-3, not even close. In fact, the only thing that didn’t go right, happened to Bryan in the bottom of the first. While running out to retrieve a ball that was absolutely crushed, Beland went to give Bryan a chop to the chest that would have even made Ric Flair jealous. Not realizing it was a joke, Bryan threw on the breaks, but his feet just kept on going, sending him crashing down, sprawled out on his back. He was alright, and everyone had a good laugh. As a matter of fact, it was the only time Childs was seen smiling this game.


Game 2 saw knuckleball specialist M. Beland (4-4, 6.21) up against the crafty Tim Dunn (8-1, 4.17). Tim has been mystifying on the mound all year, befuddling all he faces. Things didn’t start out for Tim as he was accustomed too. Bryan kept up his torrid pace of handing out souvenirs to the fans in attendance, putting his team ahead 2-0 early. But with Tim feeling his lead for the MVP slipping away, he did what any big time player does. With the bases loaded, Tim said Not today! to Mike on a knuckleball that came in a little flat, sending it 15 rows deep. “He can have the words Big Time printed on his bowling ball all he wants, that was big time.” Those words would come back and haunt Tim though, as Bryan followed that with a grand slam of his own. “That’s alright, he can talk all he wants, I do mine on the field.”

Here Tim thinks what could have been.	Bryan had his game face on after hearing the comments made after cousin Tim’s grand slam

Bryan also stepped it up in the field, robbing Tim of HR with a nice grab leaning over the fence. And that wasn’t it, as both Bryan and Mike piled it on to the tune of 10 for 18 with 5 HR’s and 13 RBI’s combined. Tim was not to be outshined at the plate, totaling 4 HR’s and 8 RBI’s. Greg managed to chip in with an RBI, but his slump continued much to the dismay of his teammates. Final score: 13-9


Game 3 illustrated the passion M. Beland has for the game. With the temperatures where they were at, and the humidity not far behind, he still went ahead and took to the hill again. Childs, still steaming after his performance in games 1 and 2, also took the mound for the second time tonight. It is at this point that I would like to remind my readers of Tim Dunn’s pre-game comments regarding the extra work he had put into his defense. “I have been putting in extra time this week in the field, so look for me to atone for last weeks mishap.” What happens next was not the outcome Tim was looking for. With a runner on first and one out, Bryan sent a screamer right at Tim, he didn’t even have to move. The ball slips through his hands, and just misses going over the fence. Once could see the look of shock on both Tim and Mikes faces. Little did they know just how costly that error proved to be. Childs hammered the first pitch he saw to the opposite field, making Beland pay for Tim’s lapse. But their spirit was not broken, as this was a nail biter throughout. Both teams went back and forth trading blows, just as one started to pull away, the other came right back. It was a 1 run lead for the combo of Greg and Bryan heading into the top of the sixth, when once again, Tim’s cinderblocks for feet cost Mike. Getting a slow break on a grounder, the ball went off the fingertips of Tim, giving Greg another shot at the plate. And that proved to be the backbreaker, as he was all over another knuckleball, sending it way back over the centerfield fence. That made it 10-7 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Mike started things off with a towering shot to straight away center, no doubt about it once it left the bat. On the next at bat, Bryan made the play that ended up saving the game, taking yet another HR away from his cousin. One out, his team down by 2, Mike comes back to crush yet another pitch for his 4th homer of the game. Now visibly agitated, Greg walked Tim on 6 pitches. Not willing to take a chance on a walk-off by Mike, he was intentionally walked. And that was the right move, as Tim sent a dribbler towards Bryan, game over. “Wow, that felt great” said Greg. “To come back with a career game at the plate after the way I have been playing as of late, it just feels great. And a tip of my cap to Bryan, he came up big in the field and at the plate.” Both Tim and Mike were unavailable for comment.

And that does it for yet another unbelievable week in wiffle ball here at Rutland Yards. It seems to either be feast or famine for the bats, and tonight was defiantly feast. But no matter how one cuts it, just about every game this season has been a nail biter. It is now time for this reporter to rest and attempt to recoup for next week series. See you at the Yards.


This story ran on page C1 of the Yayo Times on 07-31-07.
© Copyright 2007 Yayo Times Newspaper