Game Off!

The image here may be a little hard to read...but the AQI in downtown Sacramento is now 177. It is officially "unhealthy." The official league message machine says the 8:30 and 9:30 games are canceled.

The games probably would have been canceled sooner, but the sensor at T street appears to have stopped working at 1:00, when the AQI was only 115 (technically "unhealthy for sensitive groups"). So, the league proclaimed the air quality was "good." That of course was before the inversion layer settled in on the valley and forced the smoky air close to ground level. At 7:00 the sensor finally updated and it was at 177, well above the threshold for unhealthy.

It Sure Looks Unhealthy...

...but it's currently only "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

That haze we all see in the air is smoke from wildfires burning all over the state. The great Central Valley is like a giant bowl...and are we ever in the soup. The smoke is trapped, and we're stuck with it. In the air quality world, the issue is something called PM2.5, aka particulate matter, aka tiny particles of dust and soot that can lodge deep in a person's lungs. As of 2:33 this afternoon, the air quality meter closest to O'Neil field reads 115. According to the Air Quality Index that puts the air at "unhealthy for sensitive groups."


In short, it may look worse than it is. Now, Slugs are sensitive creatures. But the league is convinced we're tough, healthy adults. That means the game is on. "If the AQI goes above 150, I will be calling the league again to beg for our game to be canceled," said Coach Tam.

Truck Stop Visit Causes Softball Gods to Smile

The fueling station at the Sacramento 49rs Travel Plaza is called Liquid Gold, and perhaps that should be slugger Ed Fletcher's new nickname. Fletcher started last Thursday's Slugs v Master Batters game off right with back to back home runs to right. Poor Kim, on base both times Fletcher sent it deep was forced to scurry around the bases with a sweaty man right on her heels.

It all started earlier in the day when Coach Tam visited the aforementioned Travel Plaza to interview truckers about diesel prices. Tam was offered a ride in one trucker's rig and was told by another one that she shouldn't have any trouble getting people to talk to her. She ended those interviews quickly. But the time the coach spent at the fabled I-80 landmark appears to have paid off. Getting hit on by sweaty truckers with 100 oz beverage containers seems to have been just what Coach Tam needed to do to make the Slugs bats golden again.

If the Slugs go 0-8 or 8-0 in a single season the coach has to shower at the Sacramento 49rs Travel Plaza. Coach Kepley did this once 3 years ago after a flawless season, and if not for a late season win in the spring Coach Tam would have had to do the same but with a greater sense of shame.

Victory against the Master Batters was sweet for the Slugs who beat the lame-named team 18-7. And the best part was the amazing batting of every single Slugs player. Ed Fletcher was a standout, but all Slugs made the team proud. For the first time in recent memory they made it through their entire lineup in a single inning. It was glorius.

This week the Slugs meet St. Damien's Beard at O'Neil's field. That is, if the thick layer of smoke blanketing the Sacramento region blows on out before 9:30 Thursday night. At the moment it is unsafe for anyone to breathe outdoors.

Slugs Start Win Streak!

Starting a win streak, is that like the first annual company picnic. Ehhh. Whatever. The Slugs are on a roll. After a very tough spring, the Slugs are quite happy to be in the D2 league thank you very much (even if some of the teams have sponsors and snazzy uniforms).

On Thursday the Slugs met the ERMinators. It was a team of environmental consultants who were new to the league, but not new to softball. The core of the team had played for 5 years in a Rancho Cordova league before making the switch to the Sacramento City League. The Slugs were motivated, but so were the ERMinators.

Initially the league mandated "community bats" slipped up the Slugs, that and the other teams inability or unwillingness to throw strikes. Thanks to Erin's pitching the Slugs were only down by 5 runs in the 3rd inning, when Coach Tam tried to give a motivational speech. It wasn't particularly motivational, but the Slugs kicked into gear anyway. Katherine drove in the tying run, and then it was all over for the environmental consultants.

Final score: 6-5

Victory, sweet sweet victory.

After the game, former Coach Kepley suggested it wasn't too early to start the "Truck Stop Shower Watch." After all, the Slugs own D-2 and this is only the beginning of a win streak. Perhaps Kepley suggested the truck stop showers, because he wouldn't be the one donning the flip flops.

Summer Schedule

There are 8 games in the summer season, no bye's and (aside from Benny's Boozers) a bunch of teams that have never played in the city league before. Let me just say up front, I expect us to kick some real ass this summer. Also, please note several of the games will be played here:



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O'Neil Field is at Southside Park. They don't allow amplified sound, but I've been notified by the league that there is an exception for theme songs...rather, we can't muster enough amplification to be a problem.

WIN 06/12/08 - 8:30 PM - O'Neil Field - Slugs (H) vs ERMinators

WIN 06/19/08 - 8:30 PM - Tahoe Park - Slugs (A) vs Master Batters

SMOKED OUT 06/26/08 - 9:30 PM - O'Neil Field - Slugs (A) vs St. Damien's Beard

WIN 07/03/08 - 9:30 PM - Tahoe Park - Slugs (A) vs Schrute Farm Beets

SMOKED OUT 07/10/08 - 8:30 PM - O'Neil Field - Slugs (H) vs Benny's Boozers

LOSS 07/17/08 - 7:30 PM - Tahoe Park - Slugs (A) vs Erotic Chinchilla

07/24/08 - 6:30 PM - O'Neil Field - Slugs (H) vs Wags Hags

07/31/08 - 9:30 PM - Tahoe Park - Slugs (H) vs ERMinators

08/07/08 - 8:30 PM - O'Neil Field - Slugs (H) vs Benny's Boozers

08/14/08 - 7:30 PM - Tahoe Park - Slugs (A) vs St. Damien's Beard