CUP O' JO RETURNS TO THE PEARLS OF WISDOM

The Pearls of Wisdom follows the daily pursuit of America's Game  in the MLB, MiLB, and Indy Leagues by Petaluma area pros.  It starts with the trade and promotion chatter of the Hot Stove Season. If we conjur up enough mojo, a pearlacious peak may be reached with a World Series berth in October. The Baseball Gods delivered in 2008 as The Pearls revelled in the glory of an American League Pennant and a World Series berth for PTown boy Jonny Gomes and his Tampa Bay Rays... and a World Series Win for Santa Rosa's Eric Bruntlett, a Philadelphia Philly.

And so it begins again... the hot stove is simmering and The Pearls has an ear to the ground for winter chatter about the PTown Area Boys of Summer.

Sonoma's Tommy Everidge is busting the lumber and flashing the leather in winter league action for Puerto Rico's Los Gigantes de Carolina. The Pearls daily Cup O' Jo will keep you posted on Tommy's season in the Caribbean as he tries to break through to Triple A in the Oakland A's Ogranization this spring.

A little background on winter ball in the Caribbean. Leagues in Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico form The Caribbean Leagues who play a championship tournament in January to cap off the season.  This year, it will be held in Mexicali, Mexico, just a few hundred yards over the border from San Diego. Three games into the season, Tommy Everidge's Carolina Gigantes are on top of the Puerto Rican League standings and PTownFan thinks a road trip is in order if they make it to Mexicali.  That's a little like calling Tampa Bay for a World Series berth in April of 2008, but you gotta believe.  Viva Las Gigantes!

The Puerto Rican league nearly went kaput at the end of the 2006 season.  Low attendance and shrinking profits forced a year off in 2007 for restructuring with the help of Major League Baseball. A peak at a few of the league rosters reveals some big names from Major League and farm club teams and good opening day attendance.  The Carolina Gigantes were the 2005 and 2006 Champions and play in Roberto Clemente Stadium.  You can bet they're fired up to keep the streak alive.

Tommy has done well, batting .300 going 1 for 3, 2 for 3 and 0-4 in the first three games as the Gigantes first baseman.  And only one K.  He's picking up where he left off mashing for the Midland Rockhounds during the 2008 season. 

Tommy is always one of most popular Pros at Petaluma's annual Camp For A Cure.  We missed him at yesterday's Camp but the signed baseballs he sent were a big hit in the Silent Auction.  The 5th Annual Camp was a hit once again with Brandon Morrow and Jonny Gomes headlining the All Star Coaching Staff.  And, once again, a lot of good was done by hundreds of NorCal families rallying to find a cure for Cancer and Lupus.  Here's hoping that our little camp turns the tide for more Most Valuable Persons like Baseball Betty.

Viva Las Perlas !

The Pearls is grateful to the Beisbol Gods for a few more months of hardball action south of the Border.  The Caribbean Winter League opened last night. The Pearls will become bilingual for the next few months and follow the action in Puerto Rico. Tommy Everidge, a PTown Area Pro, was in the heat of the action with a single to get things going for his team, los Gigantes de Carolina.   Tampa Bay Rays Fans... if there are any farm hands you'd like me to follow during Winter Ball, just hit that comment button and let me know.

Las Perlas will try to keep the recaps short and sweet, but sometimes the Pearls of Wisdom that Google Translator provides are just too precious not to pass along.  I will rustle up my All Time Top 10 from years past for a post next week. To give you a taste, today's post is pure, unedited Googleator.  No doubt, muchas mejores Perlas are in our Winter Ball future.  For your sake, I really hope that Google doesn't get smarter over time because the literal translation of game recaps has been fair fodder for a Letterman Top Ten list in the past.

Actually, I'm just lazy today.  More than a skiff of rain is forecast for tomorrow's Camp For A Cure event and my editing time is trumped by the need to repackage the Silent Auction in a waterproof format !!#!!.???  Aye caramba! 

And... the forecast has scared off most of the bare bones volunteer crew.  If you could lend a couple of hours to a Really Good Cause tomorrow under the Silent Auction tent, I would sure appreciate your help.  You will feel so good about being part of such a good thing.   

So much to do, so little time.  Mas Perlas. 

SANTURCE BEATS CAROLINA IN OPENING THE PUERTO RICAN BASEBALL

The receiver John Pachot Lin batted in the closure of the entry, the 10th home run that gave the Santurce Cangrejeros of the victory by 5-4 over the Carolina Giants on Thursday in the opening match of the season in the Puerto Rican baseball.


Cangrejeros returned to the professional circuit after an absence of four seasons with foot and pulled the campaign law number 70 of the ball in the island, after a recess in the 2007-2008 campaign back on track with the name of Puerto Rico Baseball League.

The ceremonies and an intense downpour combined to delay for over two hours the start of the meeting. (Ed: sound familiar?)

The Carolinian opened the blackboard in the first episode with a double to Ruben Gotay and an error of first baseman Javier Valentin cangrejero.

The hosts will get even stepping on the plate in the third, fourth, fifth and eighth place tickets for the slate 4-1 in Hiram Bithorn stadium.

Carolina responded in the ninth episode with simple box Tommy Everidge and consecutive doubles by Pedro Valdes and the emerging Rey Navarrete, in addition to a high cull Cesar Crespo, enough to match 4-4.

The tie was broken by the 10 entry with a solo home run in Pachot, who left in the ground to the Giants.

The winner was the left-handed pitcher Xavier Cedeno (1-0), who launched the 10th inning and left with Rolas to the table to his three opponents.

Greg Atencio (0-1) took the defeat with a single launch, which launched the Pachot home run.

2008 Camp For A Cure This Saturday, November 8th - Casa Grande HS in Petaluma

We at Camp For A Cure are quick learners. When we see a forecast that includes a 100% chance of a downpour the day of our annual charity baseball camp, we take quick and decisive action.  We held camp in the rain last year and we're still hearing about it.  Commissioner Selig, we feel your pain. Deeply enough to avoid more of it. So...

Camp For A Cure,

rescheduled to Saturday, November 8, 2008

Come on down and give Jonny Gomes a shout and bid on the fantastic loot in our Silent Auction and help raise some moola for a really good cause... cancer and lupus research.

Please see the camp website at www.campforacure.org for updates and more information.

Really? Rays Phillies World Series A Ratings Bust?

The blogs are abuzz about the looming TV Ratings Bust that a Tampa Bay / Philadelphia World Series will bring.  Commenters by the dozen quip, "Who outside these two cities even cares?"

You can bet Major League Baseball and FOX were making room in the vault for a Pink Hat Nation (once known as the Boston Red Sox) and LA Dodgers matchup.  Tradition, 90 million years of drama, star studded camera angles... big buck$.  Even a Rays/Dodgers series would have play off starved fan appeal on two coasts.

But the Rays and the Phillies? The naysayers don't think that anyone outside those area codes knows a thing about 'em, much less care how it turns out.  While this matchup is not the cash cow it might have been, here are PTown's Points To Ponder when fickle fingers find the remote tomorrow night:

1. Good time to buy stock in West Coast Pizza Chains:  An 8pm East Coast start time means mama's gotta cook during the game.  Ain't gonna happen in this house.  Pizzicato, Pappa Murphy's, Old Chicago, and Mary's Pizza are programmed into the speed dialer.  4 games, 4 pizzas.  4,000 miles of cardio at the gym between games.  
2. Not one, but TWO players are repping the "707" in this series: Jonny Gomes does not have a lock on the love from fans to the north.  Eric Bruntlett, the Phillies starting shortstop, was acquired by the Phils last November. Eric, who lives in Santa Rosa, was t-h-i-s close to a karma filled coaching appearance at CampForACure until the Astros called to tell him his cleats would be waiting even further from home in 2008.  I'd say the commute was worth it.
3. America loves an underdog. And the baseball world is full of them.  The Rays "zero to hero" story has a lock on the whole Underdog thing.  But baseball is full of hometown kids made good. There will be 50 of them on the field this week. Each with a network guys they played ball with from Little League on up... with their own legion of fans.  The thrill of a World Series victory with a home town connection. That's got to be good for a point or two in the ratings. Woonsocketians, just a stone's throw from BeanTown know what I mean. (Thanks Bugs and Cranks)
4. "The dog ate my homework" only has a prayer of working on the East Coast: With a 5:00 start out west, there's still lots of time to git 'er done.  But back east, it's bedtime for the little guys before the game even starts. 
5. This series will feature baseball players, not movie stars:  Seriously, it's annoying as hell when the TV dudes eat an entire inning interviewing some Hollywood Hottie DURING THE WORLD SERIES?  But Tampa Bay has a few. Apologies in advance for the predictable cameo appearances of The Great Hulk Hogan and Mike Alstott.   Jonny, 707's Shock Jock, has become somewhat of a hybrid in his 26th Man Role. Half MLB Star, half Papparazi Photo Op.  But at least he's in the dugout.  But seriously Jonny, when you go to meet the president in a few weeks, borrow a shirt OK?

Photo: Getty Images

Pros Rally For A Good Cause At Camp For A Cure

The debate over ALCS Game 5 bullpen management continued to rage at PTownJr's baseball game today. EV-eryone had an opinion. Concensus: huge screwup. I have a feeling Game 6 will bring an (even more) intolerable night of TBS commentary. Those guys are gonna be all over Maddon like a Craig Sager suit.

Joe, just play your game. Make and adjustment and move on.

Speaking of kids and baseball, the 5th Annual Camp For A Cure is coming up.

This is such a neat thing. I hope someday it catches on in
other towns.

Camp For a Cure is a youth baseball camp held each fall that raises funds for The American Cancer Society and Lupus Foundation of America. The camp is staffed by Northern California baseball players (both amateur and professional), pro scouts and high school coaches who donate their time to maximize the camp's potential. Since its 2004 inception, Camp For A Cure has raised nearly $40,000 for cancer and lupus research.

The 5th annual camp will be held Saturday, November 8st at the Casa Grande High School Baseball complex. (Rescheduled from November 1st due to a major rainstorm.) There will be a silent auction from 8-noon and an autograph signing session throughout the day.

The All-Star Coaching Staff will be headlined by Petaluma’s own Jonny Gomes of the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays. (Take a minute to read that out loud. It's pretty awesome.) Brandon Morrow, starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners will also be there along with other Petaluma area pros including Joey Gomes and Chad Fillinger of the Joliet Jackhammers, Tommy Everidge who had a tremendous year with the Midland Rockhounds (Oakland A's organization) and Louis Ott (Detroit Tigers Organization). See the Camp For A Cure website for a complete list of the 2008 Coaching Staff.

Campers pay a requested donation of $50 to attend camp, which includes a Camp T-Shirt and wristband if they register by October 20th. Registration forms are available on the Camp Website, the Athletic Edge Fall Ball Snack Shack on Saturdays and Sundays (Petaluma National Little League field on Kenilworth Drive adjacent to the Fairgrounds) and at the Athletic Edge Batting Cages (260 Water Street, Suite F, Petaluma).

A BBQ and Silent Auction during Camp bring athletes and the community together to battle these diseases. Families are invited to enjoy the BBQ and auction while players hone their skills at Camp. Gloves, bats and other signed memorabilia donated by players, scouts, and coaches were among the most popular sports items in past years. Restaurant certificates, movie passes, and merchandise donated by local merchants kept other auction goers in the bidding.

I'm the Camp's Silent Auction Skipper. If you would like to donate a Silent Auction item, perhaps in honor of a loved one that has battled cancer or lupus, please email me at TanyaSullivan@comcast.net .

The Camp For A Cure Story…

Three area coaches founded Camp For A Cure in 2004.

Paul Maytorena, Dan Leslie, and Gregg Adams were inspired by family members and close friends battling cancer and Lupus. They saw an opportunity to use a life long love of the game to fight back against these tragic diseases. Peers and pros rallied around the idea of a premiere youth baseball camp staffed by volunteers of the highest caliber. Kids signed up by the hundreds to learn from the best baseball talent in the region including Petaluma's own MLB star, Jonny Gomes who lost his high school coach to cancer.

Rays Playoff Bubbly In Bubble Wrap One More Night

PTownJr's Back To School Night topped the priority list last night. However, I managed to follow the ebb and flow of the Rays/Twins game on my most awesome and completely indispensable iPhone. Lot's of flow early. Followed by an ugly ebb. Really, it was more of a victory sucking vortex that swallowed the Rays 8-6 lead in the 9th.

Blowing a late lead has been a mighty rare occurrence this season so let's break it down with the return of The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.

You owe it to yourself to cue the music for this one. Just click that play button on the right:

THE GOOD:

• A five run first!
• Three long balls for Long-o.
• Pena and Navi went yard.
• Pena and Longo went yard back to back, the 8th B2B set for the Rays this year.
• Some fine defensive plays... or so I hear. The iPhone MLB dudes were pre-occupied with the highly offensive top of the 9th.
• The home debut of David Price, the 1st overall draft pick of the 2007 draft. King David went 2/3 of an inning in relief of a somewhat shaky Shields. Coming in with one out and two on, he K'd two tough lefties after giving up a 2 run single.
• Percy pitched a scoreless 8th! !!!!! !!!!! !
• The Rays could clinch a wildcard spot tonight with a win. But only if the White Sox, Jays and Yankees all lose. I hope all 18 eyeballs are on the game and not the scoreboard tonight.

THE BAD:

• A crowd of only 17,298. People! What gives out there? Are all the Back To School Nights in Florida on September 17th? I don't think so!
• Those three long balls of Longo's tied Jonny's Team Record for most home runs in a game vs. KC in July, 2005. C'mon Evan. You're a stud, but is nothing sacred? You already have my vote for Rookie of the Year without raiding the trophy case.
• The dart board Joe is using to pick the Closer Du Jour needs some grease. Or fairy dust. Or something.

THE UGLY:

• The Twins scored 5 in the top of the 9th sparked by some local kid named Span playing in front of the hometown crowd for the first time.
• Delmon Young was among those that piled on. (Remember him? The Skipper got on him for not running out an infield hit last year so he declared a sick day and got himself traded... for Bartlett and Garza. Neener neener.)
• The Twins used a slug bunt to inflict more damange. Gardenshire credited head coach Paul Maytorena of the Casa Grande High School Gauchos for that move. Thanks Paul. You got some 'splainin to do. From now on, you're limited to one copy of the playbook.

Last But Not Least:

The Pearls have become pretty Rays centric of late, but we need to send some love to Brandon Morrow. His latest outing wasn't so pretty so we won't dwell on it, but just want to send the good vibes to a good kid who has pledged more memorabilia for the silent auction at our 2008 Camp For A Cure. More news on Camp coming soon.