Tentative Uniform Released for 2007

MLY has revealed its uniform design. Presently, the design is open to change and group discussion. However, two elements that will remain regardless are the color scheme and shirt style.  The shirts will be heather grey with navy trim on the collar and sleeves—a design similar to the 2003 uniform. You can discuss the uniform here. 

MLY to Again Explore Expansion Games

The league’s front office has announced that is has officially opened a dialogue with a league in West Bloomfield to discuss possible exhibition games in the coming weeks.  MLY has also said it plans on contacting the Downriver Wiffleball League later in May.

The contacts are part of the ambitious “Back in The Game” project to which MLY President Phil Bradley alluded several months ago in an informal on-line posting to league members.  The crux of the plan calls for a slow yet steady progression of games against other leagues leading up to the Wheeling series in July, with the difficulty of schedule increasing with each cross-league game.  By late June, MLY would like to be playing the Hampton Pirates in a home-and-home stand. 

“Even if we can get a few in here and there, it would be good.  The boys need to get back into the competitive spirit and see some new talent on the field by touring around and getting back in the mix al la Beerfest.” said Bradley.

For Around the League, I'm Kenny Brockelstein.

2007 Opening Day Start of Clark’s Closing Season

The troubled weather forecast for Opening Day may be an immediate snag for the start of the 2007 season, but chilly temperatures on Easter Sunday may be the least of the league’s worries looking ahead beyond April.  Many uncertainties still fill the air regarding player participation this summer.

After searching for definite commitment from players for the past several months, the MLY Commission got its first concrete answer last weekend. However, it was not the response it had hoped for.

 Bud Clark will, for certain, be leaving MLY this summer. Last Sunday in a small press conference Bud Clark formally announced his retirement (for real this time) as he prepares to move to Las Vegas as early as this June.  Clark’s girlfriend will begin a teaching job in Las Vegas while Clark himself is expected to strip for Sacagawea dollars to help offset the living costs he and his girlfriend will incur. Clark was best known for his solid knuckle ball, sinker and 600 mph fastball when playing under flashlight- powered night games.  Actually, Clark was best known for having an overly large tally-whacker.  However, that claim to fame was crushed when, during a Jim Sedlar expose, Clark’s girlfriend uttered those now famous words: “it’s not that big.”  

The loss of Clark will hurt an already stretched MLY pitching staff.  Clark’s recent strong performances in his last several MLYCS and Wheeling Series appearances had put Clark on pace to be one of the league’s record-setting pitchers. Now, the league is searching for a worthy replacement.

Another uncertainty in 2007 is Phil Bradley.  Bradley has been offered a tenitive job as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer.  The job requires a 15-week training session at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia which includes learning immigration laws, trade regulations, arrest techniques, firearms training, and physical conditioning. Customs has yet to notify Bradley when he will be sent to Georgia, but it is likely that it will fall during the summer months, effectively putting Bradley out for the remainder of the year.

The clear cut answer to the loss of Clark’s arm and Bradley’s bat is Brian Sharon.  In his prime, Sharon was both a stellar hitter and pitcher.  However, it has been several years since Sharon quietly departed from the rank and file and in his few token appearances over the last two years his bat has looked slow and his arm inaccurate. 

“Right now it’ll be a big enough task to get Brian to come out more, let alone get him in shape.  In a perfect world a taxi would pull up and a 22-year-old Sharon would step out in some kaki shorts, wearing “broakleys,” a salt-encrusted St. Mary’s hat, and just destroy everything within his parameter, but we know better,” said Stars manager Andy Taylor.

Another name thrown into the mix is former Mott Bear Justin Robinson.  Robinson has spent the past three years playing in the Frontier League, but has been calling Shawn Brown non-stop asking when he can “play some wiffle ball.”

Robinson is a left-handed pitcher with dramatic movement on his fastball and an excellent slider.  At the plate Robinson’s short stride and quick hands helped him bat .466 (three games) in CBL West play last summer.

Regardless of who will replace Clark or Bradley, if needed, one thing is for certain.  MLY’s dwindling ranks have meant dangerous living for some time and now it appears as though a lack of back-up players may have caught up to a league that boasted a player base as large as 21 people as recently as 2000.

The MLY Commission is not letting the gloomy forecast for the future, Opening day or otherwise, spoil an annual tradition on Flint’s south side since 1987.  One bright spot is the expected turn out for Opening Day, which, if high, could be the boost of energy needed to rally participation.  The Commission hopes so.

There is a correction to the homepage graphic which reads Opening Day starting at 1:05 PM.  The correct start time is 12:00 PM.