2025

STANS VIEW

Roving Reporter Stan Silverman�s Observations.


Good day sports fans. Today, at Digilio Field, 
Meadowbrook took on A&R in the deciding semi-final 
contest to see who would face Country Corners for the 
championship. The 10 o�clock game started promptly at 
10:23. And it was cold. So cold that I saw a lawyer
with his hands in his own pockets. I heard someone 
suggest that if you think it�s cold today, 
just wait until the very last game, 
two or three weeks from now.

Steve Lynch was at the game, taking his usual 
insightful photos that reveal the athleticism 
and raw emotions of the moment. Steve and I have
Press Passes that allow us to roam all over the 
spectators� side of the batting cage, as long as 
we don�t get in the way. We have really earned 
some privileges.

I spoke to Stan Smilkstein about going deep 
into all 3 league playoffs. He brushed 
it off and said that he had great 
teammates. Modesty.

Bob Diggelmann, Joe Was, Jack Baxter and 
I watched Tom Borell ask for better 
batting practice pitches. They said that 
this helps the batter learn the strike zone. 
Ohh, so that�s how you do it. None of the 
batting practice pitchers wore a mask or used 
a screen. They were pitching to the strongest 
hitters of the three leagues and the pitches 
were being laid in for them. I�m not sure how 
these pitchers find big enough cups.

Vic Feit told me that he found an old picture 
of us from our old Greenbaums Team, 5 years ago.
 Mark Battistoni asked John Cacciola where he 
played when he was a young man. You don�t want 
to hear the answer. Rick Sierra thought that I 
looked like Carl Kolchak, The Night Stalker. 
He asked if I had found any vampires.

The wind was gusty. Reggie Dolson and Mike Cring 
discussed that it might be a good day to hit to 
right field. I spoke to Big John McGowan about 
how he might pitch under these conditions. 
He said that the pitcher would need to adjust 
the height and location of the pitches thrown.

Brooksie caught a high infield popup for the 
first out and the game was underway. A wind 
blown fly ball fell into right field. It could 
be a tough day in the outfield. A&R scored 2 
runs in the top of the first. Meadowbrook 
scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first.

Gary Lasko was at the game. He told me yet 
another Dad Joke. He�s got a million of them. 
Tommy Mirande sidled up to me and asked what 
I was writing. I almost dropped my crayon.

The wind seemed to pick up when Meadowbrook 
was up. I�m thinking conspiracy theory. 
A Meadowbrook baserunning gaffe, two men 
on third base, turned into another run for them.

The new Stan Fence is under construction at Whitesell. 
Hopefully it�ll keep the golf balls on their 
side and the softballs on our side and save me 
from having to walk over to collect my fouls.

Joe DiChiara reached up and swatted a high pitch 
the opposite way. Dan Diesing almost threw a runner 
out at first. He did throw one out a second. 
Moseman to Cring to the catcher to catch a runner at home.

If Mark Battistoni had one Hall of Fame vote 
for either Don Mattingly or Thurman Munson, 
he�d pick Mattingly.

Rodney Deloatch told me something that he made 
me swear was off the record. Speaking of off the 
record, Gerald Freer is in my phone as 
Gerald Pizza Time. I�m in his as Stan Cub 
Reporter. John Cacciola and I are now in each 
other�s phones as Stan and John Softball, 
respectively. Don�t ask me anyone�s numbers,
 it�s off the record. I have to protect my sources.

Mark Battistoni and Dan Sopchak had an in 
depth conversation about infield flies and 
what part of the body needs to pass the line
 for a runner to score. Steve Lynch said that
 the odds are 50/50 that a Monday League pop 
up between the pitcher and first baseman would 
be caught. Battistoni and I talked about the 
1980�s Mets and how they could have won more 
pennants if they hadn�t enjoyed so much 
refreshing Coke. Then Mark, Dan Sopchak and
I talked about how big muscular football and
 baseball players have a propensity to get injured.

Gary Lasko and Frank Goberish discussed the 
different kinds of softballs available and how 
the leagues pick them to try to prevent injuries.

In the seventh inning, Rob MacIsaac asked me 
the score and who was winning. I told him that
 it was 11-3 and the 11�s were winning.
 Vic Feit and I disagree over the importance 
of recognizing players who earn RBI�s. 
I mark them in the scorebook.

Reggie Dolson gave me a lesson on how to play 
first base after a runner was safe at first 
after a bad throw. Move over Ben Rice, 
I�m coming for you.

Game over. Final score- Meadowbrook 11- A&R 3. 
Meadowbrook takes the series 2-1. Doc Rinucci 
predicts a good series between Meadowbrook and 
Country Corners starting Tuesday October 27.

I congratulated Joe DiChiara on winning the game 
and series. I asked him if he was going to Disney. 
Brooksie heard and said � Why go to Disney when 
we have so many Goofy guys here already.�

Victor Quinton suggested that instead of playing 
into November, we could play make up 7 inning 
double headers. A large majority of guys stay 
for Tuesday Bar B Que and fellowship anyway so 
why don�t we just play 2 shorter games with 
sufficient notice and avoid playing in the 
cold late fall days. Something to think about. 
Sounds good to me.

That�s all Folks.