The City of False Hope

The Las Vegas Doggs have dropped from supremacy in the EHCC after not making the 2009 playoffs, but was hope restored after a huge victory at the hands of the Arlington Warriors? David Wright isn't quite sold yet, but it doesn't mean he won't enjoy the after-win party.




The City Of False Hope
By: Conor Intabedd/Reno Weekly Rag



Congratulations go out to the Las Vegas Doggs for shutting out the Arlington Warriors 10-0 in their Week 6 match up. This instance was the 8th time the Doggs have scored 10 points on their opponent in team history, an EHCC record. As the team traveled from Virginia to Mexico to face the Hispanics, team manager Roger Lodge tried to keep his players from getting too excited.

"I just told them they need enjoy the win but reminded that their performance against any other team would have brought a completely different outcome. You don't beat many teams when you put up a .237 team average," Lodge told reporters when the team landed in Tijuana on Monday morning.

Many managers and owners realize that the Warriors have a way of giving their opponent a sense of false hope. Take a look at the defending champion Bridgewater Weasels for example, who beat the Warriors in Week 1 by a score of 6-3. Since then the Weasels have only won 1 game, being outscored 20-28 since the Warriors left.

"We were in a good place," Weasels' slugger Ryan Howard told the EhP, "We had just received our rings. We won our home and season opener, we were riding high. I guess we just forgot who we were dealing with."

In 2009 the Doggs faced off against and easily beat the Warriors in Week 16. They were riding high on top of the Eastern Division standings after a solid 7-2-1 road win, but they may have let the win against the Warriors get them too comfortable. The Doggs lost their next 5 games and ended their season on the wrong side of the playoff bubble.

"We won't ever let that happen to us again, "team captain David Wright commented at the after-win party, "We now realize that a win against Arlington is just a win, regardless of the score. It doesn't mean anything more than any other win. Not to take anything away from us, we put up OK numbers last week, but against most other teams...let's just say I feel lucky. Now if you excuse me, I'm next for Karaoke."

The Doggs have been rumored to already be playing for the 2011 or 2012 EHCC title. They've reportedly shopped the likes of Carlos Lee, who isn't helping his trade value with his early season slump, Alfonso Soriano, Barry Zito, who have been a pleasant surprise, and Ben Sheets, all veterans who would like to rack up another title for themselves. One must wonder if after a big win they might feel as though they can compete for the 2010 crown instead, as they currently sit in 2nd place in the Eastern Division standings.

"I mean, it would obviously be nice, but we have to be realistic. There are some very good teams out there. Peoria has put themselves above all others in the East, and just about everyone in the Western Division is a championship contender. I expect we'll compete all year long, and we very well might make the playoffs, but we will need a lot more luck if/when we make it," commented GM Howe Dogg.

The Las Vegas Doggs currently sit in 5th place overall in the EHCC standings, .5 game under .500 with an overall record of 29-30-1. They are 1-1 within their division.


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Las Vegas Doggs' Team Notes


-Roger Lodge is well aware that not making the playoffs two years in a row for a team that has made the playoffs 8 straight years would not only be a tragedy for their fans, but possibly also for his job. "I'm well aware of the situation. I plan to do just enough to not get fired," Lodge told reporters. Probably not the most endorsing phrase he could have used.

-The Doggs signed minor league pitcher Andrew Cashner to a EHCC contract yesterday. They are hoping to give Cashner the call sometime soon. To make room on the their EHCC roster the Doggs' waived part time closer Jose Contreras, as the team feels as though his birth certificate, which states he is 38, is false. Team officials believe him to be 62, and they don't expect him to produce past the end of May.

-Gordon Beckham continues to be benched for Rickie Weeks has he battles a case of "being a huge disappointment".