Our team did it. We are in the Yawkey Baseball League (YBL) finals with a 3-1 series win over the Malden Bulldogs. It was a great series and just happy we took it before they came storming back. It's always nice to have good pitching and good hitting lead you to championships rather than relying on one play or one bounce to go your way.

Our playoff pitching has been on FIRE. Team ERA of 1.50. Unheard of. Just stupid good.

Our hitting has been just as good with a team batting average of .320 with 20 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 homerun in 8 games. Also just stupid. We've only been held to less than 5 runs in 2 out of the 8 games and one of those games was a complete-game, shutout performance from our starter.

What does this mean? We're matching up with just as good a team in the finals, but I think we hold the edge on pitching. Their team ERA through the playoffs in 3.27 and their staff is not as deep as ours. I think if we pitch well, the series will go our way.

What does this mean for me? Well, I haven't even thrown yet in the playoffs due to shoulder tendonitis and it looks like I'm slated for game 3 at this point. Hopefully we have no setbacks between now and Wednesday so I can post a quality start.

In the poker world, since my return, I've cashed in 12/49 events I've played including a double cash in last night's daily doubles on FTP. Unfortunately, I've been getting nixed when it comes to the big flip deep, but it happens. Last night was just a case of not building a stack in the dubs. I examined my play only a little and saw that I definitely played weak toward the bubble because of the double cash nerves. Oh well.

Not too worried about poker until this series ends which will probably be next Wednesday. I'll post on how I toss this week!

Wish us luck. I'd like a championship trophy. It's been a long time since I hoisted one. Too long.

The baseball saga continues since we had bad weather cancel 4 straight nights of baseball in Boston. We went up 2-0 in our Best-of-5 semifinal series winning Game 1, 13-3, and Game 2, 2-0. Big hitting night in Game 1, as we went up 4-0 through 3 innings. There was a quick 3 run blip on the radar in the bottom of the 4th before we piled on the runs in the ensuing innings to take it decisively. Game 2 was a pitchers' duel, with both starters throwing complete games, and the only runs came on a 2-out, 2 RBI single in the 2nd inning for us to take the lead. Bottom of the last inning, the opposing team loaded the bases, but with 2-outs, their #4 hitter flew out to DEEP right. Was very close to being a walk-off Grand Slam, but it stayed in the yard.

Game 3 was originally scheduled for Sunday, but then it rained. And it rained on Monday. And it rained on Tuesday. And it rained on Wednesday. Finally sun came out on Thursday, but I couldn't go to the game due to one of my best friend's rehearsal dinner, and we lost 7-5. Game 4 is set for tonight.

As for my shoulder, it was back and ready to go as of last Friday, but our coach wants to play it smart and if I'm good for only one game, he wants to wait until the finals. It's a smart move with how deep our pitching staff is, but if we end up going to a Game 5 I can't even be at the game since I'll be at my buddy's wedding. Here's to hoping we win tonight and that problem doesn't happen.

Now for poker. Pretty boring stuff. I've cashed in 3 out of 17 events on PokerStars and am +$141.80 and cashed in 4 out of 18 events on FTP and am -$151.30.

I haven't been playing well but that's because my wife and I have been so busy scheduling time to travel to 2 weddings, still playing baseball, and my wife's family inherited a home in Rockport from her uncle passing away a few weeks ago. We've been working on the home and trying to figure out the best move: Sell, Keep, Rent, etc. since no one can move in (and frankly it needs a BIG upgrade to modern times).

So I'm out about $10 since starting my path down the poker world again, but that's not that bad. Hopefully will have some time to play more once we win the championship!

Since my last installment of the "Life of a washed up ex-minor leaguer turned poker enthusiast" (I really need a shorter title).

Only a little bit to talk about in the poker world, but a lot to talk about in baseball world:

The first series of the playoffs started with me on the Day-to-Day DL with shoulder tendonitis so obviously I'm bummed to start the best-of-5 series. My coach is a smart guy and understands it's not worth risking a major injury to my shoulder when we have several other capable starters. Since I was slated to be the Game 3 starter, we had to settle for a recently graduated Northeastern reliever to take the hill.

Game 1 went exactly to plan with our fireball righty cruising to a complete game shutout victory. He had been struggling coming into the game so it was a nice "pick-me-up" for the whole team that he tossed 7 strong only giving up 2 hits and striking out 7. A balanced attack at the plate put 7 runs on the board and we took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Game 2 was a continuation of solid pitching and a balanced attack. 1999 Big East Pitcher of the Year, Marc DesRoches, took the hill for us. Marc tossed 5 innings allowing 4 hits and no walks with 8 strikeouts. Our closer then came in and shut the door allowing just one walk and striking out 3. Offensively, ex-Mets minor-league Ted Dzuiba went deep for a 2-run shot in the 4th to put us up 4-0 and give us the cushion to cruise to another shutout victory, 6-0.

Game 3 wasn't a disaster, but the wind was taken out of our sails in the first. Our starter (my replacement) walked two and allowed 2 hits in the first inning to give our opp a 2-0 lead right away. He would calm down and allow just 3 runs on 5 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts, but allowing runs right away causes pressure for the offense. We ended up going into the bottom of the 7th down 3-0 and came alive, but not enough to sweep the series. We scored two runs and our 6 batter came up with the bases loaded and two outs. It wasn't to be though, as he grounded out to short to end the game, 3-2.

Game 4 is tonight and my shoulder is still not responding well enough to take the hill. Hopefully the bats show up and we take the series so I can pitch again this summer. I'm slated to start game 1 or 2 of the second series as long as my shoulder continues on the way to recovery.

It was my buddy's bachelor party on Saturday night and we decided to go down to Mohegan Sun for the night. I ended up playing in the $120 MTT on Sunday and min-cashed in 10th place. Unfortunately, I took a really bad beat with 12 left and was crippled. Blinds at 3K/6K with a 500 ante. Folds around to the cutoff who insta-shoves his last 56K. Fold to me in the BB and I snap call with KK. My KK failed to hold up against A5 as he drilled an A on the flop. I was down to 18K and nothing to hold a prayer on with blinds going up to 4K/8K 1K. I ended up squeaking into the money, but I would've been 2nd in chips with 11 left if my KK held up. Sucks but that's poker.

On the virtual felt, I played just 3 MTTs last night and busted all in ugly ways.

FTP $26 10 PM Turbo: Blinds 50/100. Cutoff raises to 300 with me in the BB with AQ and 2400 so I shove. Cutoff snaps with AK and holds.

PS $8.80 10 PM: 6-max. Blinds 125/250 and folds to me in the SB w/ 44. I raise to 625. BB raises to 1800. I shove my last 6400. He snaps with AK. Bricks until the K on the river to KO me.

PS $2.20 1R1A: Blinds 150/300. Raise from EP to 850. I re-raise on the button with JJ to 2200. EP raise calls. Flop 9-2-3 rainbow. He checks. I shove. He snaps with 99 and I brick out.

Here's hoping yesterday's losses both in baseball and in poker turn to WINS because we need to ship the series tonight!