The Mid-Atlantic All-Star Game, held Wednesday at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland was a great game (the CRSCBL won, 2-1) played in a great park by two evenly matched teams. Our seats were fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed the company of the many New Market fans who filled our section. Yet, most, if not all of us in that section left the stadium with a sour taste in our mouths and the reason was simple: VBL Head Coach Lance Mauck and his assistant Mike Bocock of Luray refused to ensure that every player would make an appearance. This game represented the pinnacle of their baseball careers, at least so far; yet 7 players did not appear at all, while 3 more made only token appearances. Neither Rockbridge's lone representative, Alan Watts, nor either of Fauquier's players, Anders Oster and B. J. Martin, saw any action.
Mauck was quoted by Harrisonburg's Daily News Record as saying that he was going to play to win and that, therefore, not everyone would get in. Playing to win is a commendable trait in a manager. (Although bunting with 0 outs in the 6th inning of a tie game is hardly a strategy conducive to winning. Nor is leaving a left-handed hitter in the game to face a southpaw hurler with the bases loaded and Kenny Mickens, a right handed hitter with a .518 OBP and a .558 SLG% on the bench.)
The real problem is that there was no VBL policy in place that would save any manager from himself and mandate that every player make an appearance. If the desire is to have VBL fans attend the game or to watch at home, then it is more than prudent to give those fans a specific rooting interest in the game and that means the opportunity to cheer for their home town representative.
Furthermore, playing everyone is the right thing to do. Winning a meaningless game is nothing compared to knowing that everyone who played, could, 50 years from now, take from his shelf a DVD of this contest and show his grandchildren that yes, he did play in an All-Star game that was on TV. The CRSCBL manager did not take home any trophy and some VBL players did not take home the memories that should have been theirs.
It is sad indeed to think that a rule needs to be in place to make the manager(s) do the right thing. The MLB has been an All Star showcase model for 60-70 years. If you've never managed an All Star team one would think that you would look to the professionals to see how it's done.
Anyway, what was the purpose of this game? To beat the other team? No. It was an opportunity to showoff the awesome collegiate talent assembled on both teams. Talent which shined in a New Market Rebels 12-7 trouncing of Bocock's Wranglers last night. Three Rebels sluggers took round trippers. I guess those Wranglers were a bit worn out from all that play the night before.
Gee, look at that---Staunton lost too in a 9-4 drubbing by Front Royal.
Karma is a harsh mistress, eh fellas?
Adding insult to injury the MASN announcers even commented on the lack of substitutions by the Valley team. So not only have these managers made themselves look like first class horses patoots they have embarrassed the VBL on the national stage.
Next year will see some definite changes in game management guidelines. Thank goodness the VBL will get a "do-over" to try and get it right. It's just a crying shame that those young men left out most likely won't get the same opportunity.
Posted by: Melissa Dodge | July 17, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Charlie weighs in:
It has taken me 2 days to try to digest what happened at the All Star game and I'm left feeling most sorry for the players. Not just the players who didn't play but for the players who did play virtually the entire game. While the coaches had some kind of misplaced agenda of their own I noticed that as each inning drew on the players were hesitant to come out of the dugout and take the field. Obviously those players were well aware that substitutions should be coming and hesitated as if asking "who's coming in for me?" While the coaches made their statement during the game their players will have to take the punishment for the rest of the season. As was exhibited last night with both of their teams losing lopsided games. As the season goes on there will be a highly motivated opponent nearly every night they play. I can only wonder what will happen on Saturday night as Staunton plays at Fauquier.
And while all of this is happening the unfortunate thing was that this was an opportunity to bond as a league and instead we have the opposite. These coaches initially could hear the fans supporting all Valley League players for the first 3 innings. Later the cheers turned to jeers and the calls for substitutions from the fans behind the coaches could not have gone unheard through the last 6 innings. By the end of the game feelings of anger and disappointment took the place of what should have been a celebration of our league and players. This has left an open wound which will take an indefinite amount of time to heal. Hopefully the fans and administration of the VBL will aid in the healing realizing this is about the players and we need to support them. As for those who caused the wound I can only hope that one day they realize the folly of their actions as I'm sure they'll be reminded at every game they play the rest of the season. I doubt it was worth it.
~Charlie Dodge
Posted by: Melissa Dodge | July 17, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Well said Mr. and Mrs. Dodge!
Posted by: Austin | July 17, 2009 at 01:46 PM
The Valley All-Stars were there but next year keep the Little League managers off the field.
Posted by: Al Smith | July 17, 2009 at 08:06 PM
Haha--you hit the nail right on the head there Al!
Posted by: Melissa Dodge | July 18, 2009 at 06:20 AM