CANCELLED!

The June 28 games scheduled vs. Meddowe BBC have been cancelled.

Meddowe have suffered several injuries and are dealing with a depleted roster. Besides, the forecast is looking like rain-rain-rain on Sunday.

According to Orator Team President Vintage Joe Vigorito, the games could potentially be rescheduled later in the year.

It slips away at Seaside: O's blow two leads, swept in doubleheader

6/22/08
Bridgeport Orators vs. Waterbury Connors
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GAME 1, LOST: Connors 14 - Orators 5
GAME 2, LOST: Orators 8 - Connors 15

The O's were backed up by solid pitching from Jeff "Bones" Webster and Adam Bellagamba. A sloppy inning in both games saw two leads squandered and two holes dug that the Park City never ended up climbing out of.

The 10th Inning...with Jay "Papi" Ortiz

Whether he's knocking in runs, diving to stop line drives, or faking runners back to the bases by spiking a ball full force into the dirt, Jay "Papi" Ortiz is always "The Guy" for the Orators. The short scoutsman has been a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball. Also his tabloidesque relationship with Gentleman Ben has combined to have the left side of the infield become Bridgeport's answer to Brangelina.

In recent weeks, while the Park City has battled inconsistency, Papi's been out of the lineup. He was placed on the DL with severe case of the love bug - turns out he was recently married and honeymooning. Then came back and actually prioritized his real life job over the team, leaving many pundits to worry if Papi's superstar play is leading to a prima donna nonchalance. So come on Papi, what's the real story?

KEEP IT VINTAGE: I understand you were recently married and didn't show up to play baseball that weekend - what gives? Barkeep showed up on his wedding day... Looks to me like you may not have your vintage priorities in line.
PAPI: Dude My Wife is hot! I am the luckiest man alive this century...err last two centuries? Barkeep set very high vintageness playing on his wedding day. Them Irish boys are great when it comes to drinking and being vintage ballists. Us um...eh...ahhh..."Latino's" are great lovers and slick in the field. To be honest the only reason she married me is for my base ball abilities. Oh and because of my Huge Muscles! I actually did put my Orator Uniform on and was all set to play but this just turned my wife on and... Well, I did get to play in my Orator Uniform. Did I mention my Wife is hot?

KIV: Many felt India was worse off for being controlled by the Bharatiya Janata Party. But since the Indian National Congress in recent elections won back the Lok Sabha, have you really felt there's been tangible change? And do you think the Rajya Sabha would ever truly cooperate with progressive Lok Sabha legislation anyway?
P: Dude, my wife is hot! We were a little busy so I must have missed that. Rajva Sabha she sounds hot too. I'll have to see if My Wife would be into that!

KIV: ...By the way did it sound like I knew what the hell I was talking about right there?
P: Phewww I was lost and turned on at the same time there. You really sounded intelligent for a minute. I was really surprised.

You should talk to Gentleman Ben. He is very worldly, he's always talking about conquering Mexico and Russia. Maybe he's been in India these last few weeks. Word around town is he hasn't been spotted on the field lately.

KIV: You're known as a pretty fiery guy whose emotions run high on the field. You seem like the type of guy who would cry at the end of Rudy. True?
P: Wow, just because I'm Latino you have to call my fiery? I see where we stand with each other. I definitely run on high octane when I'm on the field but I'm very mellow and laid back off the field.

Maybe it has to do with watching Ben try to play third base or thinking about one of Vintage Joe's million emails. But yeah I cried. You have Notre Dame Football and the dorky kid from the Goonies: I love Notre Dame football and that kid just can't act but his stunt double did get that sack.

KIV: How'd you hear about the vintage game and what made you join the Orators? To try to make this interview more exciting can you add a bank robbery and police chase somewhere in there. Thanks.
P: I'ts actually kind of crazy. I was living a poverish life in Puerto Rico. We simply had no money for gloves but we have such a passion for this game we play anyway. One day we played a game near the port where the cruise ships come in and this beautiful blonde lady kept screaming "go Papi" every time I made a play. I noticed her gringo husband always had a hot dog or pretzel or our native dish Mofongo in his mouth. So I would scream back Viva el Gordo! He looked displeased or maybe it was heartburn.

Anyway after the game I gave the beautiful blonde an autograph and a kiss on the cheek. That's when I saw El Gordo approaching. I thought if he sits on me I may miss the next game so I ran for my life. El Gordo was swifter than he appeared though. I tried to lose him in the market with all the food around. I hid with the cantaloupe thinking he'd never be interested turns out to be his favorite and he caught me. El Gordo was actually our own Vintage Joe and he just needed a shortstop who could play without a glove. He promised me Bridgeport would be just like living in Puerto Rico just a little colder. El Gordo speaks the truth! Plus my wife worked with him when he started the team.

KIV: In high school, you were an outfielder, now you're an infielder. What's the transition been like? Also talk about what it was like to have to stop using a glove.
P: It's kind of funny actually, I played shortstop in Little league until I was about 10. I joined a new team and the coach's son played shortstop so I got moved to third base. One game timeout was called and the kid on third base was tying his cleats off the base. Our catcher decided that he should throw the ball to me anyway and I saw the ball coming at my chest so I put my glove up the ball ricocheted up into my eye and I spent five days in the hospital.

I played with that team until high school and my coach never let me play anywhere but centerfield again. By that time I was pretty well known for my centerfield abilities I was never very pretty but I made more plays than Willie Mays and Joe Dimaggio combined. Vintage ball shows me I always coulda been an infielder/ I throw the ball just as hard as I did in the outfield but the short distance makes it look like I actually have a strong arm (that's our little secret though right?)

Not having a glove makes me look better than I am or maybe it's playing between Ginger and Ben. I just wish I had bigger hands. All my talent is in my knickers!

KIV: Please end this interview doing your best sammy davis jr impression. GO!
P: I knew a man, Bojangles, and he danced for you
in worn out shoes.
With silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants,
the old soft shoe.
He jumped so high, jumped so high, then he lightly touched down.
I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was
so down and out.
He looked at me to be the eyes of age,
as he spoke right out.
He talked of life, he talked of life. He laughed, clicked heels instead.
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles,
dance!

Take that Barkeep!

Did I mention my wife is hot?

KIV: Aye lad. You did...

The 10th Inning is a series of posts where we profile and interview Bridgeport ballists and other vintage personalities.

Poll of the Week: The Blame Game

Hartford gives Orators the blues

6/14/08
Bridgeport Orators @ Hartford Dark Blues
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GAME 1, LOST: Orators 9 - Dark Blues 13
GAME 2, LOST: Orators 14 - Dark Blues 32

(note: scores are "unofficial." -ed.)

Next game

Orators @ Hartford Dark Blues

1861 double header or 1861 and a 7-inning 86 game.
(70's game seems to have been cancelled)

When: Saturday June 14, first pitch 10:30 a.m.

Where: Henry Park, Vernon CT

Directions to Henry Park from south:
I-84 to exit 67.
Turn left off the exit onto Rt. 31.
Turn left onto Rt. 30/Hartford Turnpike
Bear right onto South Street
Entrance to Henry Park will be about 1/2 mi down the road on your right.

Poll of the Week: Some groovy rule changes

(Non) Captain's Corner: 6/8 road trip to Hartford

Each week, we speak with team Captain Matt "Howitzer" Lungariello on the game of the week. But Matt wasn't there this weekend and I feared other captains and Team Prez Vigorito wouldn't respond to my interview requests in time for my self-imposed deadline of today. So instead, I interviewed Ginger Kirkpatrick (pictured above). He's not a captain or anything, but I knew he'd respond to my e-mail comparatively quickly.

KEEP IT VINTAGE: I know you're not a captain but I'm interviewing you for the Captain's Corner this week, since Matt wasn't there and the other guys take too long to respond to my e-mails.

Why do I think you will respond more quickly?
GINGER: I don't know because, in truth, I'm actually quite busy. You have to understand, I'm kind of a big deal.

KIV: So what went wrong with the guys the other day?

G: Aside from several missing people, nothing, really. We just played a better team. They could rake. Brian and I kept saying, "Oh, geez" as we watched yet another dart sail deep into the gap. But Kurt braved it out on the mound, and I believe added 3 hits. He's really been hitting some nice line drives, which is what we need in this lineup. Cap filled in at short and then pitched, and Matty "the Conspicuous Canine" Ayotte pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Brian had the hit of the day, when he temporarily felled the leftfielder and possibly threatened his offspring. And Gozer scored something called a "run."

KIV: Do you think the switching between rules has any impact on the team?
G: Nah. Come on, we gotta be able to play '80s ball, too. What do we need, a tee?

KIV: (Well I just meant you need more pitchers and catchers, your pitchers have to be able to work the strike zone more not to mention fielders and hitters have to be adjusted to higher speed of play, but moving on...) Do you think there's any chance Obama chooses me as his runningmate?
G: Well, some say he should pick a woman to help broaden his appeal. So, yes.

KIV: Another rule switch this weekend. How do you think the boys will hold up?
G: I'm not even sure what the '70s game - or as I call it, "Ulysses S. Grant" ball - consists of. Is it like 60s ball, but now freed slaves can play, too? Carpetbaggers get only 2 strikes? Players are subject to random testing for morphine use? (These late 19th-century jokes doing anything for you?)

KIV: Well, no...

1880's struggles continue as depleted Orators handled in Hartford scorcher

6/8/08
Bridgeport Orators at Hartford Senators
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1880's rules, LOST: Orators 1 - Senators 11

Poll of the Week: Most Vintage, round 2

Orators-Newtown coverage

The Newtown Sandy Hooks' website has posted a recap of our June 1 doubleheader.

As usual with the Hooks site, there's some fantastic photos taken by Ray "Shutta" Shaw. Give yourself a vintage treat and check out the breakdown here.

I particularly like the picture where it looks like I am giving Pops Vigorito grief. I was framed!

Captain's Corner: 6/1 "A Tale of Two Games"

Each week, we will catch up with Team Captain Matt "Howitzer" Lungariello (pictured above) on his thoughts regarding the game of the week.

On June 1, it was certainly the tale of two games. In the first, the Orators' bats slumbered while sloppy defense left them in a hole they never climbed out of. The team rebounded in the second game of the doubleheader jumping out to an early lead and never looking back. The team scored over 20 runs in what was their best offensive game of the season. They managed to end their 6-game losing streak and get hitting displays from guys like Barkeep Donnelly and Ginger Kirkpatrick.

So let's see what El Capitan says:

KEEP IT VINTAGE: Let's be blunt - Ginger's been hot at the plate. Is he juicing?
HOWITZER: If you're not cheating, you're not trying. We aren't currently testing for steroids since they haven't been invented yet.

I just hope that he would share it with the other players on the team if he was getting some decent stuff.

KIV: The team's beaten Newtown before but this was the first official victory against them. How important is that?
H: It's very important. We have lost a few one run games to them, and I know that our guys really wanted to win and put it behind them. A good way to get that first win is by scoring 20+ runs. We really put game 1 behind us and hit the ball very well in game 2.

KIV: The team is still .500 at home. After just two wins, is it too early to say the team plays better at home?
H: There's no question that we play better at home. Most of the guys get to sleep a little longer, and spend a little less time driving before gametime. That works both ways also. The team that we are playing had to wake up a little earlier and drive a little extra. It messes up your body. No one likes to sit in the car too long.

KIV: After showing some life in game 2, I'm sure building on that momentum is important? What does the team have to work on to have more victories?
H: I hope we can carry it over. It would be nice if we were playing a 1860's game this weekend, we looked pretty sharp in game 2 last week.

This weekend we will be playing 80's rules, so it will come down to pitching. Hopefully, we get a few pitchers to show up on Sunday.

KIV: What's the status with Cap and the other injured guys how they coming along?
H: All our injuries are day to day at this point. We are going to keep a close watch on Paul's hammy. That will be a problem all year, we just have to be smart about it. Ginger always plays through it, and last week we had to remove GentleBen who had problems with both legs. Cap is just about healed, its really up to him when he feels comfortable playing again. Irish is ready to go, and Big Dawg has a cut on his hand but it wont effect his knuckleball.

A Seaside split: O's stomp out losing streak at home

6/1/08
Bridgeport Orators vs. Newtown Sandy Hooks
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GAME 1, LOST: Newtown 11 - Orators 3
GAME 2, WON: Orators 23 - Newtown 14