ya gotta look deeper than the icing for the cake

"Great googly moogly! What are you talking about?"

 

This whole "Banana Ball" thing. Underneath all that crazy clown circus is, really and truly, very good baseball being played, and played by folks who really love the game.

 

"Yeah, I think I stand with Jim Casey on this one."

 

I hear you. The former MLB player was quite firm on that last night when you posted about the upcoming game tomorrow night. He isn't the only one with that opinion, either. The Sweet Caroline girls couldn't stand the circus so they left the Bananas before they left Savannah. Admittedly, I wasn't a fan of their stadium antics... but I do love the baseball they play. That's as solid as anything the Sand Gnats gave us.

 

"How can you tell? There's so much nonsense that you can't pay attention to the game."

 

Pish posh. Here's the real deal: if you don't watch closely, you're going to be left with just the icing and never get to the delectable cake underneath. Just scrape that gooey stuff to the side for those who are just there for the sweets. The real deal below it is fabulous! There's a reason this team has won several championships since they hit this port city. They have talented ball players and the baseball they play is full of heart and truth.

"Sounds like you've had some kind of epiphany."

 

 I have, ever since this game tonight. I think I have the Super Bowl to thank for that, as well as years of sitting with Mister Willie. All of these sports that are thought of as just physical finesse have strategies to their play, just like chess does. They are games of logistics, games of the mind, though that doesn't necessarily mean all these young dudes are geniuses... 'cause they aren't. They don't have the experience yet for mental gymnastics, that's what the coaches are for. The coaches and managers are the ones guiding the players in the moves to be made to advance the game, but it's still up to the men - or women - on the field to execute those moves successfully.

After watching the game-delaying tactics employed by the Chiefs against the Eagles, I have a much better understanding of some of the Banana Baseball Rules. Stepping out of the batter's box? That's an attempt to throw the pitcher off his rhythm and is worth a strike in Banana Ball. Popping out to the mound to chat with the pitcher? That visit is a game delay tactic to grant the pitcher a brief respite and is not allowed in Bananaland, not by the catcher, not by the coach, not by anyone. And the two-hour time limit? That makes sure the game moves right along, so all the fans have a good time and get home before 10 PM.

"You trying to teach me baseball? Like you did with the Rogue years ago, when the Single-A team was still here?"

Oh, that was such a great game with the Peace Guy! Full of laughs and baseball, just like that joke I shared with him! That taught him a little about the sport, too. Education and humor go hand in hand, remember. 

(smile!)

But that was real baseball, not Banana Ball. In fact, I learned tonight that I didn't know the rules as well as I thought for this new, faster, version of the game.

There's one particular issue concerning time that I'm fuzzy on. 

For regulation baseball, 34 minutes is 'lost' for the two-minute team change on the field within, and between, innings. I'm not sure how that time factor is handled by Banana Ball.

I only really caught one such instance. That was the within-inning husband-calling contest. Recognize the emcee? He's the guy in charge of field promotions that I met in Daytona in August! He told me then how much he loved the Bananas! Nice to see he's working with them down in Florida.

"Nice. Okay, stop with the time delays. What's up with the local baseball scene?"

Well, here's the message I sent out yesterday evening. "Baseball on youtube channel @Savannahbananas right now!" along with the photograph here. I alos told them this was the first game of the 2023 Banana Ball World Tour and was being played in West Palm Beach, Florida. I sent it out to lots of folks I've been to baseball games with: Scott, Jeff the Ex (and Amy), first niece Christina, twins' dad Michael, stepmom Bonnie, Tony and Laura, Smitty and Mary. Then I sent it to people who have talked about wanting to attend a Bananas game: orwhi Susan, Emily and Boone, Eric Mitchell, cousin Penny and cuz'n Jeff Powless.

"Hold up! Is that pitcher wearing a cowboy hat? For real???"

Yep! That's Kyle Luigs, Bananas pitching coach as well as Bananas player for at least four years. He's a real ace. I'm kind of surprised he wasn't wearing his boots.

"Uh, huh."

 

He wasn't the only one with a cowboy hat, either.

Here's the pitcher for the Party Animals, another team out of Savannah, with that group sporting one of the alternate names first proposed for the Bananas.

Notice that he's wearing shorts!!!

Tight, clingy, hot pink shorts.

He was wearing them quite well, too.

(smile!)

"Yeah, yeah, we all know you first starting watching the Sand Gnats because of the nice tushes on the catchers."

Hey, it's the same reason I like watching dancing and figure skating!

Makes for sweet dreams, right?

Jolly well right!

(smile!)

Bonnie was the only one to "join me" in watching the game. It was pretty short notice, but I'm hoping more will be there "with me" tomorrow.

 

"Good luck with that. And how did she feel about the game?"

 

Well, why don't you be her and I'll be me and I'll share the textversation we had! The broadcast began at 1855, and first pitch was 1900, when the two-hour clock started counting down to game end. And, yes, I'm using military time, so subtract 1200.

(smile!)

 

*** *** ***

 

2012 bonnie
Crazy, a little baseball and lots of silliness. 

Not my cup of tea, but it seems like it is a hit.

2013 to bonnie
It's crazy fast! Already bottom of the 6th!
[There's only been 75 minutes of play so far. In regulation baseball, that would mean about three innings had been played, if the game was low-hitting.]
 

2014 bonnie
Do they play till someone wins... no ties?

2015 to bonnie
No ties, but play only until the 2 hours is up.

[Not quite, as I learned, but that's for another post, when the game ends in a tie.]

2016 bonnie
What if neither has a point?

2017 to bonnie
That has not happened. These boys are good.
All a team needs is more runs than the other team to 'win' the point for that inning.
Only one team can 'win' each inning.

2020 to bonnie
So, Bananas won 4th and 6th.
Animals won the 5th.
No one scored for first 3 innings, so no points to either team for those.

2022 to bonnie
Animals are up at top of inning, so bananas always have a chance to score.

[Plus, they like to come from behind and have a challenge.]

2026 to bonnie
If both teams score same number of runs in an inning, neither gets the point for that inning.

2032 to bonnie
Animals took 7th. Game tied again, with each team having 2 points.

2034 bonnie
Ok. These guys are not college guys?

2036 to bonnie
These guys are all over the map. 

Regular guys, retired pros, college, whoever wants to play.

[Case in point: 76-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher for the Red Sox, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, stepped in for one inning tonight with the Bananas. That was amazing!]

 

[He wasn't the only retired pro there.]

Another guy, who's name I missed, stepped in to play right field for at least one inning, at the game down there in Florida.]

2038 to bonnie
Bananas left the college league to play 'banana ball' as their full time gig. 

ESPN loves it.

 

[There may be a glitch though, with the City of Savannah. Fans First Baseball was allowed to lease Grayson Stadium as part of a league baseball team. Now that they have left the Coastal Plains League, they may be in violation of that lease. Time will tell.

Hopefully they will be able to stay. They have just purchased a new building, with yellow trim, for their new headquarters, right across from the stadium.]

2056 to bonnie
Bare-chested pitcher!

[What a lithe, limber fellow he is! Reminds me of a favorite former ballet dancer who is one of three reasons I so love "Die Hard".]

2058 to bonnie
Very exciting finish!

[Thanks to an unwritten rule that in the 9th inning, every run scored counts as a point.

That means each team has a chance to really rack up some points!

The Animals scored 2 runs, counted as 2 points, giving them a total of 4 points.

The Bananas, who love the challenge of being the underdog, had 3 runs. Coupled with their 2 points, that gave them 5 points total and ended the game.

Period.

No need to go to three outs, the tie was broken, play was done.

Very nice!]
 

*** *** ***

 

And, yes, that time was correct.

The game was over by 9 PM, as promised in the Banana Ball Rules.

They'll be back tomorrow, same banana time, same banana channel, and so will I.

Who's joining me?

(smile!)