* THAT'S A BIG ASTERISK

*

"When the legend becomes fact...print the legend." The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

In the most pathetic, and albeit predictable, move this blogger has ever seen, the new Q(W)ML has expelled 5-time defending champs Hofbrau from the league. According to sources, the league cited (I shit you not), safety concerns! This comes apparently after a number of Super Flash players joined Hoffy this season. I had always been under the impression that the only requirements for the league were that you be over 18 and be sponsored by a Quincy merchant. I must have missed the meeting where being a really good ball player disqualifies you from a modified softball league.

Now technically, the name of the league is still Quincy Merchant League (QML). I took poetic license (Hey, its my blog. Go get your own if you don't like it) and added the W for White. Apparently, other teams importing guys from the Dorchester and South Boston leagues is fine, but once Hofbrau has more than 2 Dominican's on its squad, everyone's afraid to play against them. And for those of you want to try and lump him in, Nelly is of Puerto Rican descent and is as American as any of us.

So there you have it folks. All legitimate attempts to end Hofbrau's dynasty failed (combining teams, bending long established scheduling rules, etc). So instead of getting better and trying to take the title away on the field, the new 'ahem' "leadership" has simply taken the ball and gone home.

Who's going to take Hofbrau's place? How about the Rockford Peaches. Don't worry, Rosie O'Donnell will bat lefty.

Good luck. My suggestion for the next "champion" is that a new trophy in the shape of an asterisk be the prize. I mean how can a team with any pride accept a trophy with all those nasty "Hofbrau" etchings on it?

Editor's note: I have no bias writing this entry because I retired after last season. Also, anyone who has seen me play knows I'm not including myself in the "really good ball players" group.

At Least This Sal Gets To Retire The Right Way

After three championship seasons with Team Hofbrau, catcher/DH Keith "Sal Fasano" McCray is calling it a career. When we recently caught up with him pumping two feet of water out of his mother-in-law's basement, McCray said, "I had a hell of a time helping Hoffy put the 'nasty' in Dynasty, but I have too many other commitments this summer. I'll be pulling for them to post title number 6."

No word yet on when "Sal Day" will be held. But a post-game beer celebration with a golf cart victory lap around Kincaide for all the fans is not out of the question for such a great champion.

It's within our grasp!

After posting an 8-5 victory Friday night and a 20-5 pounding of Southside Tavern Monday night, Hofbrau has taken a commanding 3-0 QML finals series lead. Hoffy is now one win away from an unprecedented 5th consecutive title.

Game story on games 2 and 3 to follow.

Putting Southside away won't be easy, but Hoffy is looking to put together one more 7-inning effort and finish what it started.

GAME 4, TUESDAY NIGHT, 9:00 p.m. at KINCAIDE. THE TROPHY WILL BE THERE. WILL YOU?

Hoffy Draws First Blood in Finals Opener

In another classic dog fight (Sorry Michael Vick) between Hofbrau and Southside Tavern, Hoffy took the opener of the QML championship series, 12-10.

Things were going smoothly for the 4-time defending champs as they held a 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the 6th. That's when things got interesting as Southside lit it up for 8 runs in the inning to take a 9-6 lead.

Like Tom Brady leading a game winning drive, Hoffy kept its cool and went to work in the 7th for another dramatic come from behind victory. With the bases loaded and one out, Glen Bosse (last year's Hoffy playoff MVP) crushed a grand slam to give Hofbrau the lead. Bosse led the Hoffy attack with 5 rbi. Hoffy added an insurance run to take a 12-9 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Offensive highlights for Hoffy included Franklin batting his natural righty for the first time this season and crushing a home run that may have just landed.

Southside got one run back in the bottom of the 7th before the talented Hoffy outfield closed the door with great catches from Polanco and Tom Fratolillo to end the game.

GAME 2 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18 AT KINCAIDE

Other noteworthy news from Game 1:

* 2 hits each from Dave "Josh" Brolin, Mark Free, Joey Butts and Harp Sing.

* Mark Free giving Joey Butts scary flashbacks by yelling "plenty of room" on a fly out.

* The Bosse family (Glen and Jon specifically) keep the strikeout beers flowing

* T-Frat staying red hot at the plate, including a scorching line drive thud off of Jack's back.

and the highlight of the entire evening:

* Scotty "The Game" Logan showing up with a coffee in his hand, slicked back hair, t-shirt and sneakers. The Game then borrowed Mike Berry's cleats and provided a key rbi in the 7th.

We're baaack!!

Hofbrau advanced to its fifth consecutive QML finals appearance with a 15-7 win over Big Times to sweep the semifinal series.

The game was a continuation from last week's rain shortened game 3.

Team Hoffy must now wait for the winner of the Southside-Paddy Barry's series. PB had jumped out to a 2-1 series lead. Southside responded with a 29-8 pounding of Paddy Barry's to even the series and force a deciding game 5 Tuesday night.

Rain suspends game 3 of semis

After taking games 1 and 2, team Hoffy looked to stay perfect in the post season last night against Big Times.

The game got off to a late start due to a game 3 slugfest between Paddy Barry's and regular season champs Southside Tavern. League officials are still investigating a rumor that the over-under for the game was 67.

When the field was finally cleared after Paddy Barry's taking a 2-1 series lead, Big Times drew first blood with two runs in the top of the first. Hofbrau responded with three in the bottom of the first, capped by a towering home run to right by Hoffy shortstop Franklin. We don't know where it officially landed, but next week I plan to contact the owner of the house and ask if we can put a maroon and gold seat in his yard to comemorate the spot.

Hoffy exploded for 8 more runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by clutch 2 out hits from Tommy Frat and Jim Dennis. Nelly Feliciano provided another to addition to the highlight reel by rounding the bases on what looked like a double to center field.

The rain then intensified to the point where both teams agreed it was enough. The game stands 11-2 Hofbrau in the top of the third inning. Big Times up with a runner on first and one out. The batter at the plate has a 2-2 count.

Hofbrau sweeps Swingers in opening round

Team Hoffy started its championship quest last week with a 2-0 series win over The Swingers.



Game 1 was suspended due to rain with Hoffy up 5-4 in the fourth inning. When play resumed Friday night before the start of Game 2, Hoffy stormed out of the gate, plating 7 runs in the inning enroute to a 13-5 victory.



The teams got right back into it with the 4-time defending champs completing the sweep with a hard-fought 11-6 victory. One area where Hofbrau is noticeably weak is keeping the scorebook. So the stat details are sketchy (like Mike B's scoring technique), but my spies tell me that Ramon and Polanco (double and HR) and Mark Free, Glen Bosse, Greg Harper (3 hits each) come up big in the clutch.


The best news for Hoffy in the playoff run is the return of outfielder Tom Fratolillo. Fresh from his honeymoon, the steady influence hasn't lost a step in right field and has restored the deepest outfield in the league.