Once again, spring has sprung. All is right with the world. Men in baseball uniforms that shrunk in the dresser drawer over the winter venture forth on the lush green grass of Riordan High School to start another season. There are new faces, old friends, and on the first day every one has a shot at the mythical title of West Coast Fantasy Baseball Champs. The best part about this weekend was that for the first time in three years, opening day was NOT RAINED OUT. This year FROM THE STANDS will continue to try and capture some of the camaraderie and highlights from each game. We've added a special feature this year: KANGAROO COURT. Coaches have the option to submit their players for judgement at the year end banquet based upon clearly demonstrated acts of buffoonery, forgetfulness, or just plain silly disregard of the manners of our National Pastime. If you have any complaints, talk to your coaches, they gave me your names. One final disclaimer before we begin this years ranting and raving: I do not purport to keep your statistics, if my account differs from your score book do not worry, Michael Simon is the final keeper of your fantasy league statistics. Also, if I get your name wrong or inadvertantly miscall a play you can send me a correction at jprealini@aol.com and I'll print a retraction or correction.... maybe... I do like Sambucca.

In the season opener, Heath Keller struck out 11 '62 Giants in six innings and then watched while Bobby Hartkop and old Tom Sanfilippo walked 10 batters before snuffing a last gasp rally to win. Grizzled Mark Gemello pitched very well over six innings giving up only three unearned runs caused no doubt by those sneaky shrinking uni's from the winter dresser, while Mike Shafer had the honor of giving up this years first home run to Bobby Hartkop. The last inning was an exciting time as the '62 Giants parlayed 5 walks and a hit by Craig Nelson to pull within three runs before seeing Mike Shafer snagged at the plate on a eyelash of a call that many standing only five feet away swore was a missed call; howver the ump is always right even when he's wrong.

Bob Hartkop with a homer and single along with Heath Keller's double and single powered the potent SF line-up. Tom Sanfilippo and JC Penney each launched two powerful lawn darts each to bolster the SF attack with Terry Lee (1B) and Todd West's deep double to right center rounding off the San Francisco hitting. Smart fielding and FIFTEEN '62 Giant stikeouts proved a winning recipe for the Bennett-Lee boys.

Craig Nelson paced the '62 Giants with two singles while Gemello, Realini, Randy Wallace (why does he keep looking at my wife that way?), Vaughn Chagonjian, and Lynn Harkreider each bumped bingles on the day to go with the 15 K's the boys racked up on the day. I think there'll be some serious batting cage action over next weeks bye.

In the second season opener, Mike Miller, Matt Schmuck, and Carl Vargas led Yomuri to an exciting last inning victory in a well played (mostly) game. Millers game-winning double and Tenner's insurance single in the 9th backed up Carl Vargas solid last three innings after Dave Chilcote wore down the boys from Philly with his usual assortment of unusual off-balance pitches. Philadelphia jumped to a quick four-oh lead on the back of some timely hitting and two inning ending double plays. Gary Hooper kept Yomuri in check through the first six for Philly before Rod Oehrlin and Greg Nolan came in to face the late awakening Asian bats.

Tenner led Yomuri with 3 bingles and a double while Mike Miller bolstered Tenner's torrential hitting with a last inning double and an earlier single. Carl Vargas and Chilly each banged out two hits while Craig Nelson earned a three hit day with a single in this second game. The sentimental heat of the day went to Dave THE "Count" Montelatto who returned from a prolonged rehab to bounce a single to mark his return. Welcome back Count.

Ballowe led the A's with two singles and Craig Alexander cracked a double to go along with singeltons by Hooper, Yost, Mello, Gamson, Holder, and Amaral. Philadelphia impressed with some early defensive gems; the two early double plays and a brilliantly executed right field to first base to pitcher to the catcher relay to nab a Giant at the plate; but then succumbed to what could only be described as a bad news bears infield two run homer in the 7th that kept Yomuri within striking distance.

#1. Did Greg Terra really call the rain line on Thursday and wake up Ed Glover? Yep, he did.

#2. Did Steve Bennett really slide (or trip) two feet in front of the plate (towards the pitchers mound!) and knock over the Colonel catching? Did Honey get a sore rib? Yes on both counts, but that's not the gaffe!!! According to Bobby Hayes, the home plate umpire he never touched home plate and the '62 Giants missed it!

#3. Did Ruben Donig really call in and say I can't play, then call back and say yes he could, and then call Terry Lee's cell phone during the first inning and say "I didn't come to the game because you never called back?" Yes on all three counts, but Terry Lee, why didn't you call him?

#4. Mike and Darryl Hughey (Moochy & Baby) were noted by their coaches as perfect specimens of some Gene Replication Study. Tenner observes that Darryl is scared witless staring at Mooch realizing that THAT is what awaits his physique in twenty years. Moochy you are charged with continuing the deteroration of the Hughey gene pool.

#5. Don DeWitt what were you thinking? Don gets a walk and then lays his bat on the plate for who? A BAT BOY? Don where do you think you were? This is Giants FANTASY baseball!!!! I suppose you left your uniform in the team bag for the "clubbie" to wash, too.