Good Afternoon - 

Pirates, its going to be sunny and 80 degrees on Sunday April 1.
So at 2:00 p.m. I'm going to be at Des Pres Park - please join me.  
Would like very much to have enough to fill positions and take ground balls and fly balls.
Too, get to swing the bats and have pitchers work off the mound.

Update on players roster for 2012 season!  As you can see, including me, there were 21 brave and hardy souls accounted for.  However, I have an update as of today and I need to get commitments on remainder of who is going to play this year. 

Kevin "Game Ball" Bright is on the DL (back) for the season.  He is not going to be able to play at all this year.  He hopes to be back for Fall Ball.  It is my understanding he will be at games to retrieve game balls!   

Rick Braun is not going to be able to commit this year.  He has other commitments and the time it takes for travel to/from Jasper, IN. has been tough.  Hopes to be moving closer in the near future.  Rick, let me say we all appreciate you playing last season and look forward to getting you back on the diamond soon!

Bob Brotzge and Robert Crouch have both indicated they' re not sure they were going to play this year and would let me know.

Jose Cubero and Mike Lucas indicated they are ready for a return to the 2nd most powerful team in the league!  However commitment is still pending!

Jackson Nave - M.I.A., not heard any word whether playing this year or not.

John Denney - is recovering from toe surgery, pins removed and says he will be ready for the season.  No it won't make him run any faster but he can dance the night away!

Juan "Doc" Ortiz - is nursing a arm injury which is limiting his ability and should be ready to play.  However, his left arm is cheating on his right in the mean time!

So if everything remains the same as of today that leaves us with 12 healthy (I use that word carefully) folks ready to play for the Pirates this coming season.  Knowing we have some guys who will be back from injuries (Doc and John) and also waiting for firm commitments from a few folks when then would have a large roster and we'll need it.

Now, these are the rules for 2012, fees and roster requirements.  No Players Added After Start of Season.  All Sunday games will be 9 innings - 2 hrs 45 min and wood bat.  All weeknight games will be 7 innings - 2 hrs 30 min wood or metal.  Run rule is 12 runs after 4 1/2 innings.  If we forfeit game is it cost us $ 120.00 to pay umps!  Any player ejected serves one game suspension on bench in person next game.  Second ejection is 2 game suspension and $ 10.00 fine.  Third time you are gone!  No collisions on base path, slide or surrender.

The season starts Sunday June 3rd and we will play 21 games.  There will be 8 teams in the league this year (Red Sox are up-in-air) and games to be played at Memorial and Shawnee at this time.  However, the search is on for any other fields we can be allowed to play on.  If you know of a field please let me know or Dave Allison, one with lights is a bonus!  The league does pay for the use of the field so there is some money available.

The fee for this year is $ 195.00 a player (14 players) or we can pay a team fee of $ 2700.00.  So depending on the total commitments our fee to play could be less!  I MUST HAVE MONEY, ROSTER AND WAIVER COMPLETED AND TURNED IN BY APRIL 29TH or else we will have no team in the league.  We have 30 days to get this thing done!

The uniform this year will be simple.  It will be gray pants and yellow top!  No whites this year.  For those of you who are new to the team I hope I'm able to retrieve uniforms from retired players, you may have to pay someone for them but it shouldn't be big issue.  I'm also looking into sourcing a new uniform top for the future.

Sorry for the long note but lots to cover.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Go Cards!

And Go Bucs!