Bayou Brief: Year in Review

[Reg]

By Scott Plack

11/10/2008 – “The only constant is change,” Tanner mused as he watched the crowds disperse from the celebration parade. The Trendsetters celebrated their 2008 PEBA championship with a bang, including performances from Tom Jones, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Louisiana native Brittany Spears. Jones, a committed Trendsetter fan was joined by cult heroes Jorge “what a catch” Ruiz and The Great Gatesby on a not too terrible rendition of “It’s not unusual.” Fan favorites Cline, Conard, and Hansen may have to be put one the DL for writer’s cramp after marathon session of signing autographs. Conan McCullough appeared at the parade with his arm colored golden with body paint. All around it was a festive affair.

But Tanner was correct in more ways than one. Last year marked the virgin voyage of this great league, and both years presented varying landscapes. The Imperial league demonstrated that any team is dangerous and able to compete (Gloucester, with nods at Florida’s strides, Kentucky’s continued building to success, and West Virginia’s great late season push.) The Sovereign League had a mixed bag, with teams like Crystal Lake so dominate, and teams like Bakersfield defying the odds.

But even closer to home was the fact that New Orleans took a team that won 107 games, and overhauled its offense almost completely. Of the nine starting offensive players in the first game of the PEBA Championship, only three were in the Trendsetter organization during the 2007 season. Those three were Todd Hansen, Leonard Martin and Augusto Valdez and Valdez is set to leave when free agency begins this season. Tanner picked up Conard, Cline, and Gates in the offseason, Gagne, Ruiz and Lewis (via the draft) during mid season. The reloaded version of the Trendsetters won only 97 games but in the tough Dixie league competition, that’s saying a lot. The team then continued to go toe to toe with Arlington and New Jersey to earn the right to represent the Imperial league in the championship.

“Truthfully, especially after the first game, I was afraid Crystal Lake would give us a beat down and make us like it. You know like when the bully is hitting you with your own hand and saying, “Quit hitting yourself, quit hitting yourself…..but our guys stuck it out, and fought back just like they had all year,” mused Tanner.

Tanner indicated that finding the right balance between several factors helped the team be so successful. For example, pitching and hitting, fielding and hitting, veteran and young players, speed and power, always with keeping the bottom line in mind. Also, a major factor was each player keeping in mind the most important part is to play their role and not try to be someone they weren’t. “We didn’t need Gates worried about hitting homeruns; we just wanted him to have good at bats and continue to be outstanding in the field. His addition to the offense was simply added value,” stated Tanner.

Perhaps the best example of a player keeping a team focus was displaced 3B Desi James. James who was the regular at the hot corner in 2007 struggled with an injury earlier and then was replaced by second half phenom Gagne. He could have sulked, pouted and been a source of bad chemistry in the clubhouse. Instead, James embraced his role as a bench player/pinch hitter. In the playoffs he was 6 for 10 with 5 RBI’s with several of the runs batted in making a difference in the game.

With offseason well underway, the motto still rings true, if not somewhat cliché. “The only constant is change, that and the fact that everyone wants their shot at winning the PEBA, just like we want our shot at winning it again,” indicated Tanner.

[Duane]

... And a reminder to all
IL RULES!!!