My time to brag!!!!!!

OPP,
Feel free to brag away....and NOT just about the hit! We're all so happy for Zach.
Wooooo Hooooooo

Way to go Zach! We're all proud of you!!
Fungo

woooooooooohooooooooooo....go Zach...

don't you think his pitching is enough already?!?!

WAY TO GO!!!

count me in

I'm a Z fan!

Yippee!!! And I've got his autograph!!

I see he took my advise!

I talked to him last week and told him he needed to get a hit.....now that's karma!

ATTA BOY! Love it when pitchers hit!

OPP, even a blind armadillo........ JK Congrats

Cool ... !!!

Say, OPP, does Zach like to hit or prefer not to hit? My kid is afraid of the pitchers at this level ... well, actually he developed that fear during batting practice as an 11 year old when his own dad beaned him ... ...
so I am thinking he is hoping to get traded to an American League team before that happens ...
(Okay Dbacks' fans ... just kidding !!!!!)

Next thing you know they will use him as a pinch hitter! What CAN"T that kid do?!?!

Inquiring minds want to know:

What pitch did he hit?
What was the count?
Which # professional at bat was this?
What was the pitcher's ERA?
What color cleats did he have on?
And did he take it the other way??
If not, WHY THE HELL NOT?

Tell him to be careful....remember what happened to Mark McGwire's pitching career when they found out he could hit!

Congrats OPP!

Zack is making us all proud!

OPP, bet we are going to be reading an article in BA about the hitters in the Eastern League voting unanimously in favor of your son becoming a full time DH. No more trips to the mound for that guy! Congrats.

I can't resist it guys. My dad said he would brag on here, and he sure did. Thanks dad, I appreciate it as always, but I have this urge to brag on myself this time because I am quite proud of my hitting exploits.

I felt like a "professional hitter" guys. I noticed a tendency that pitchers had showed me and I took full advantage of it. I took an 0-1 fastball away from Doug Sessions and drove it down the left field line (thats the other way for us cool people also known as lefties). I do consider it my crowning moment of the season thus far. Although I must admit, for all the conditioning we pitchers do, I was strangely tired after I scored. I thought I was in better shape than that. Oh well, the point is I scored. I helped my team out from an offensive standpoint and man did it feel good! I am now a proud .200 hitter in my professional career, but I have struck out 3 times in 5 at bats....

OPP Jr.---

Zach, when are you pitching this weekend?? Possible appearance in Altoona by PAmom---if it EVER STOPS RAINING!!!!

PAmom,

Saturday 7:05 p.m. Eastern time- I won't be there but I will be listening for your voice in the crowd on the webcast.

OPP

Can you hear me now???

OPPjr,
Back in the "early days" of your career did you match up against Jason Hirsh? He's a local favorite and we were wondering, if you got a chance to hit in that league, how he looked from the batter's box.
Thanks,
CADad

CADad,

Jason and Zach met in High-A early this year. At that level, pitchers are DH'd for in all games. I believe that Zach came out on the long end of his match-up with Jason, but it was a very close game.

OPP

OPP,
Thanks. I realized that he probably didn't bat against him when I thought about the total of 5 at bats and thus added the qualifier. Jason was an early round 2003 draft pick and has done fairly well. Zach has outdone him so far. Hope he keeps up the good work and we get to see them duel in the big leagues someday.
CADad

OPP...Been out of town - just heard the news about your son. Way to go, Zach.

OPP and Jr.---

You've got email!

PAmom,

What e-mail?

OPP

OPP---

I sent an email Sat. to your yahoo address. You didn't get it?? I was trying to figure out how, if I went to Zach's game that night, I could meet him. I couldn't find anyone to take the trek to Altoona with me, though (hubby was out of town)---I know I missed a good one...Phooey!!

Last night Zach got his first career major league hit. I'll bet he was happy about that.

Almost a year to date that he got his first Professional hit!

As long as he keeps winning, I don't think that the Pirate fans care if he goes another year without a hit!

Sure we do! Did you see the big GRIN on his face standing on first? PRICELESS!

6-0 baby, Rookie of the Year is Mista Duke.

Zach - Congratulations on your first major league hit! Funny that THIS is when your Dad chooses to post... . Keep it going OPPJr and know that we are all just loving it

OPP and OPP Jr. Congrats to you both! I've enjoyed getting to "know" you through the website. Look forward to many more posts and excellent outings.

Can't wait until I can make similar posts for my Zach!

Opp Jr,
I was hoping that you would have done it when you played the Marlins! Then I could brag that I saw it in person! I still wnat that ball!
Loved the stuff in SI. You're our fav "fantasy" guy!
Congratulations to you.

OPP - I've been quietly following your son...we are so proud of him and so happy for you.

I surely hope to see him pitch (and hit!) in person someday!

All the best!

OPP, (and opp jr)
One evening when the cold winter winds of Texas are blowing, gather up your thoughts and share with us how Zach’s tremendous success played out from the time he was a pre-high school player up until today. I have always appreciated OPP’s down to earth input and suggestions because he has always seen things as they were, not as he wanted them to be. OPP, You have such a great way of describing events that by doing so you would create a masterpiece on the HSBBW. Thousands and thousand of parents and players look to the HSBBW for direction and understanding during those frustrating but very rewarding years of youth baseball. Telling Zach’s story as you saw it unfolding would serve to be a handbook of benchmarks for those players and parents. Chasing the dream is what fuels the fire in these young men and having a player like Zach Duke leading the way only fans the flames.
Thanks,
Fungo

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
Opp Jr,
I was hoping that you would have done it when you played the Marlins! Then I could brag that I saw it in person! I still wnat that ball!
Loved the stuff in SI. You're our fav "fantasy" guy!
Congratulations to you.

No doubt about it. Zach, best of luck in the Major leagues and live life the way it is supposed to be lived. And the fantasy part is true also, I would venture to say. When you accept you ROTY award, mention HSBBW in your acceptance speech .