The Career of Julien Henri - A look back in time

[stevem810]

Le Diamant played 9 games to begin the month of August with no less than 5 of them being decided by a single run. The 74-45 Montreal Royals won 2 of 3 but Le Diamant went 5-4 over the 9 game span. Phillipon won his 3rd of the season and is now 3-16. Herve has 7 triples on the year in Le Diamant.

[stevem810]

No surprise.

[stevem810]

It's a good one! The upcoming 3 game set with the Sting Rays will wrap up their season series. Anse d'Arlet just 3-6 against Cap Chevalier.

[stevem810]

There hasn't been any talk of me going to AAA. You know what? I don't want to go. Not until next year. Even with our star catcher Legendre out, we are winning games like crazy. Frederick will be back in about 2 weeks. It will be huge.

But, I want to give credit to Guillaume Gosselin who is not known to be a hitter. Since his promotion from Single A, he is hitting .297. A lot of people don't look at CERA, or even know what it is (catchers Earned run Average), but Guillaume's is 2.86. Frederick, with all his talent, has a CERA of over 4.00. Gosselin is clearly a student of the game and prepares really well for each one. A team needs players like him. Guys that will step in and get the job done.

Being 8 behind the Vigilantes will take some doing to capture first, but, we are in the catbirds seat for the wild card.

The team is off to a great start in August so we just have to keep with it. Stay focused, and play them one at a time.

[BirdWatcher]

Originally Posted by stevem810

No surprise.

I know this feeling well.

[stevem810]

Originally Posted by BirdWatcher

I know this feeling well.

Yeah, our fictional worlds do have their similarities.

[stevem810]

With Herve promoted to the FBL, I don't cover the AAA Waveriders like I used to do. So much to do, just being a ball player AND trying to document for the paper. But, I've found if I organize my time well I usually can get a lot done.

The Waveriders, like most minor league teams, look different every year. A few will move to the Diamonds, some will be released, and others will be promoted from either Basse-Pointe or Le Vauclin.

We'll take a glimpse at the team as it is, today. 18 year old Robert Bour is THE pitcher of our organization, in my opinion, but will be placed on the D.L. which effectively ends his season.

[stevem810]

The Parent team, the Diamonds, made the journey to France as they have 9 games scheduled there. The first six were split down the middle. Star SS, Habid Vial, returned from the DL and made a pinch hitting appearance in the final contest in Fountain Bleu, a 4-2 Le Diamant win. Herve had a pair of hits and a walk.

The previous day saw Le Diamant win 2-0 behind the excellent pitching of journeyman Clement Philippon who is now 4-16. The good news for Clement is he has lowered his ERA a full 2 runs over the past 2 months. The turnaround is highlighted by the graphic provided to me by the news staff.

Of larger import, the Diamonds are now tied for 3rd in the Marintique League.

[stevem810]

Our 5-2 week coupled with the Vigilantes 1-5 week leaves us 5 back in the race for the pennant. A month ago it seemed to be out of the question that we could come in first. No more games with the Vigilantes. We'll need some help.

I pitched twice this week. The first game just 1 earned run, but 6 BB, and 4 total runs. A no decision for me as the Mad Catz scored 5 unanswered runs late to win 9-7. My next game was the final one for the Parrots this week. We won 4-3 as the lads tallied 3 runs in the 9th to earn us the W.

We play Montredon-Lebassonnie (55-70) next. They are in last place in the France AA league.

[stevem810]

Our Diamonds started out the week on the right foot. Angel Lepine evened his record at 8-8 as he shut down the 64-63 Giverny Herons by a score of 4-0. But, the team lost the next six games to drop into last place.

[stevem810]

The team is hot. We are closing the gap each week. The gap? Right now, just 2 games separate us and the Vigilantes who fell prey to a 2-5 week with all the losses at the end of the week.

Le Vauclin fans are going crazy. We are drawing crowds in the five figures. Capacity is 16,900 and lately when I look around the park there are only scattered open seats.

Legendre (C) is back with us and making a difference. Antoine LeRoux continues to defy projections and he keeps on winning with marginal control (since his surgery). The kid still has stuff.

Eight games left to make up 2 in the standings.

[stevem810]

I hate to even write it because it speaks to a lack of belief. With our current group, we think we'll get first place done. This is not the same team that began the year in Le Vauclin.

There is a wild card slot for the team with the best overall record that did not come in first place in their league. Currently, we are that team. Like I wrote above, first place is the goal. That's all the manager, coaches, and players even talk about it.

[stevem810]

What a finish for the parent team! The box scores point to a group who did not 'mail it in'. The players and coaching staff put in a stellar effort as they reeled off 5 straight wins to finish in 3rd place.

The team has 3 legit FBL starting pitchers. The foundation is set.

[stevem810]

The Parrots and Vigilantes are going to the wire.

Beauvis is in the midst of a 2-3 week, on a one game win streak. They will play the last place Aviators at home to finish the season.

The Parrots are 4-1 this week, having suffered a loss at home to the Loudeac Bears. Le Vauclin actually took over first place for one game!

The final game is on the road at Sautrouville (68-69).

[stevem810]

Later tonight, we may have an answer to first place. Either way, we are playoff bound. But, we want first!

[stevem810]

Skip sat me down this game. That's his routine after I have a starting pitching outing. I asked for an exception this one time. He thanked me for my offer and then asked that I keep my head in the game as I looked on from the bench...just in case. I get it.

After 5 the rookie Burke had us in a good place. You can follow along...

[stevem810]

Here is what it looked like from my seat at the end of the bench. We are pulling for the last place Aviators to knock off the Beauvais Vigilantes and help us to the first place position on the final day. Those 4 Vigilante errors had to be haunting them during the game.

[stevem810]

Pinch me!

[stevem810]

Looked impossible, right?

[stevem810]

Frederick and I had quite the friendly competition going down the stretch. Neither of us lost sight of the prize...first place...yet, it was fun to win a batting championship, too. Icing on the cake.