Twits Notes: World Series (March 22 at Marblehead)

When I bumped into Randy in Canton at a show (Mil-Ten Plays), Randy would not wish me luck over Harold, stating he was a neutral third party.  But Sam wished me luck and I knew Jed was pulling for CN) due to a trade potentially netting him an extra first rounder.  BTW, I am going to the Washington Street Players “The Curious Savage” (which Randy is in) Saturday April 25th. (Ed note: The Commissioner is also in a play in Ashland, “The Caterpillar” April 9-11, telling the story of meeting Robin and playing Strat-O on our first date, among other things)

This was a back and forth hard fought series going 7 games with game 7 going 14 innings and the winning run scoring on a tired strikeout.  (CN believes that * starters should be unlimited in the playoffs!)

Game 1: 

CN’s right-handed bats took advantage of the cozy Cajun confines for 2 ballpark homers in the 2^nd to go up 3-0.  Willy Harris answered in the bottom of the inning with a 2 run homer on a 1-7 or out roll.  Swanson drove Jose Ramirez home in the 3^rd for CN and 2 runners were left on 2^nd and 3^rd after he stole second and Santander could not come through in the clutch. 

Both pitchers settled in and Lugo was masterful only leaving after 8 with a 4-2 lead.  Judge and Rooker started the 9^th with 2 quick outs but Marsh got a ballpark single to extend the inning (1-12) and then Willy Harris came up again and got the same 1-7 HR or game over roll and knocked it out to tie the game.  A walk and then a C-x and the Gold Glover Raleigh allowed a wild pitch on a 1, and then 2 short singles and a walk later, and NO steals game 1, 5-4 and it was looking bleak for CN.

 Game 2:

Ohtani started the scoring with a solo shot in the 1^st and Rooker answered back with a ballpark homer in the bottom of the 1^st.  CN loaded the bases in the second but could only push one across.  Ohtani led off the 3^rd with a 2^nd solo shot and led off the 5^th with a ball park homer (HR 1-12, roll 16).  NO’s Riley came up in the bottom of the 5^th and hit a 2 run ballpark shot to tie the game.  Harper and Donovan answered with a double a piece to give CN a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the 6^th. 

Ohtani led off (which he did 4 times in this game) the 7^th with a  triple but was thrown out at home on a ground ball in the drawn in infield.  2 quick strikeouts in the 9^th and CN was hoping for a 1-1 series tie coming home.  But Harris once again hit his 1-7 BP HR chance to tie the game at 4-4.  

Extra innings and Harper leads off with Swanson as the ghost runner at 2^nd.  Clase had a prop bet that he could throw a ball to Harper, but he hit it for a long single and CN is up 5-4.  3 quick outs later and it’s the bottom of the 10^th. CN has to hold on and they get Judge to strike out with Profar standing at 2^nd and then it comes down to 2 outs with Bailey at the plate and Chapman on the mound and strike 3.  CN does go back home with a 1-1 series lead just happy to be coming home.

Game 3:

New Orleans struck early and knocked CN down 2 games to 1 after the first game in CN’s quaint band box.  Gil gave up 4 walks in the 2^nd and was tired quickly while only allowing one hit a double out of the infield.  Patrick Bailey was the star of this game as he rolled only in his 2 column and had 2 RBIs and a stolen base (a 2/20 man). 

Game 4:

Harold, sensing weakness scored 3 quick runs off of Lugo punctuated by a Walner triple.  But CN showed resilience as Ohtani answered with a 2-run ballpark bomb and Santander singled in a third run to settle the game back into a neutral tie. Santander came to the plate in the 3^rd and hit his own ballpark bomb to plate Seager and give CN a 5-3 lead.  Lugo looked dominant again striking out 13 and taking the lead into the 8^{tt .} 

Lugo got the first two batters out, but it was not to be as he then allowed 3 runs on a ballpark single and 2 ballpark homers (one by Judge 1-10) and New Orleans looked to take the commanding 3-1 series lead with a 6-5 victory. However, it was not to be, as CN led off their part of the 8^th with 3 straight solo homeruns (1 a ballpark shot for Harper) on the way to scoring 4 and then held on to that lead to knot the series at 2 games a piece. 

There was a pizza interlude and then the action continued with a battle of the lefties.

Game 5:

CN scored 2 in the bottom of the 1^st off of Sale on a 2-RBI Harper double.  Not to be undone, Olson hit a ballpark 2 run homer to tie the game in the top of the 2^nd.  The offenses went quiet and New Orleans loaded the bases with no outs in the 6^th and the pinch hitting Rooker was able to get a run across but that was all.  Once again it was Raleigh who hit a leadoff homerun to tie the game at 3-3 after 8. 

New Orleans looked poised to take the lead after Seager gave up a 2-base error (3 ones on the error dice) getting men to 2^nd and 3^rd with 1 out.  But Slaten was up to the job and got 2 outs to keep the tie going into the bottom of the 9^th.  Jose Ramirez made the first out, but Ohtani worked a walk versus Yarbough and then Harper hit a ballpark single to get men on 1^st and 2^nd with one out.  Ohtani led a double steal and Harold had had enough of game 4 hero pinch-hitter Santander whom he promptly walked to load the bases to face Seager.  Seager hit a walk off 2-run single and CN was leaving Florida with a 3 games to 2 lead.

 Game 6:

It was do or die for New Orleans and they turned to their ace Wheeler and Zack got them to 3-3 with a 2-0 2-hit shutout of the CN offense.

Game 7:

Game 7: Both sides exhausted, and pitchers have the limited innings they have, and CN is complaining that  starred starters should be unlimited.

New Orleans starts the scoring on a Judge double and a Rooker BP homer.  CN comes back right away with 2 solo shots by Duran (ballpark homer 1-12) and Raliegh.  Judge hits a rbi single in the 3^rd to give Harold a lead and Riley after a Cx error hits a ballpark shot to give New Orleans an early 4-2 lead.  

Seager leads off the 6^th with a home run and Trout hits a triple (maybe his last World Series hit) and is driven in by Duran to tie the game at 4-4.  Ohtani walks to lead off the 8^th.  Jose Ramirez singles and attempts to steal 2^nd and the throw sails into the outfield and Ohtani scores the go ahead run.  J Ram is thrown out at home when Ramos hits a hot shot with infield in.  New Orleans comes right back with a solo ballpark homer from Rooker and it is again tied this time at 5, after 8 full innings.

Both teams grind through their bullpens and both cannot get the timely hit.  Steele is in with his final starter innings to try and just hold on as Harold is finally forced to use tired starters from earlier games.  Trout bat has fallen off and Doyle his replacement in CF is the ghost runner in the 14^th inning.  Blanco, the tired game 4 starter and best he has against lefty hitters comes in to face Duran, Harper and Raleigh.  Duran hits a LFx for an out and Harper strikes out…but wait it is a tired strike out and the long single scores Doyle.  Blanco gets Raleigh and Donovan and now CN must hold New Orleans for the final half inning. 

Rojas is the ghost runner and Stallings works a walk.  Semien hits into a double play, so now it is 2 outs man on third and the pitch hitter, the mighty lefty Schwarber, comes to the plate.  And like the mighty Casey poem of yore, when the smoke and dust clears it is the 3^rd out and CN has recaptured the World Series and Jed is jumping for joy as he now has an extra first round pick.

This was a great series, it could have gone either way.  Games for the most part were not decided until late and even the 2-0 shutout and 7-4 blowout had missed ballpark homers and chances that could have decided the games.  And not over-using relievers set up a game 7 for the history books.

Raleigh, who’s card will be even better next year, hit 5 home runs - almost always when they were needed, so he gets the nod as MVP.  Seth Lugo, who pitched into the 8th in both his early starts, could have been the MVP if CN had not fumbled his games. Harold’s Will Harris had 3 homers in the first 2 games and Rooker also had 3 homers and with a little less timely hitting by CN, the New Orleans bullpen might have been the story.

Playoffs: Constantinople vs. North Dakota (at Holliston March 8)

(3/1)

Madaket (Eric) Begins Strong but falters allowing CN into the playoffs

Lugo Starts game 1 for CN and hoped to punch their ticket into the playoffs. He was given a 1-0 lead after 5 innings. In the 6th, he gave up a BB, homerun, out and BP homer to get tired, down 3-1.  With all CN's recent extra inning games, he stayed in and allowed another homer, walk and ball park single to get out of the inning down 5-1.  CN had left men on 3^rd twice already and scared Eric a little bit by back to back clean homers from Devers and Seager to whittle the lead down to 5-3. Lugo kept going tired until Chapman came in the 9^th to give up 5 runs with complete ineffectiveness.  Final score 10-3 and Eric was still alove, needing to win 3 more for his own playoff run.

Game 2 started out differently as CN got a cheap run early off of Skubal when Gurriel ended up on 2^nd due to a 2 base error by Bellinger and then Soto made a catch in RF, and on a rare play Gurriel came round to score as Soto was dazed after hitting the wall. So the 3^rd begins for CN with a Doyle single and then Eric hits Ohtani, bringing up the lefty killer Ramos.  A catcher X for the 3 catcher (Bart) results and he makes the foul out catch.  Then Jose Ramirez hit a second catcher X and a 13 is rolled and it should have been a passed ball but the computer called it a pop out. Tried to undo the play and steal 3^rd.  Failed.  Saved the game. Did multiple things to get the saved game with runners on 2^nd and 3^rd with 1 out and Jose at bat.  But we could not get it to let us continue as multiplayer. So Eric let me just play the game out playing for both sides and announcing the results…  Ramirez hits an out advancing the runners to give CN a 2-0 lead. Kiner-F came up for Eric to start the 5^th and tripled and was driven in by Soto to get the game to 2-1. CN's Suarez started the 6^th and gave up a double, ballpark single (1-10 on a 6) and a walk to become tired immediately leaving the bases loaded for Bido. MK's Turang then squoze and Ozuna scored (1-12 with the throw coming into home from Bido) and the game was all tied up. But Will Smith hit a homer in the 7^th to give CN a 3-2 lead.  Then in the 8^th Jose Ramirez scored on a double by Harper and Tatis was thrown out at home (Great blocking of the plate by Adley) and with a strike out the game was 4-2, CN.  Williams game in for a 2 out save to clinch a playoff spot for the CN Manatees.

Game 3: CN feeling relaxed, tired out Flaherty early as multiplayer play resumed and CN scored 5 runs in the 2^nd inning. Donovan added 2 more runs on a ballpark homer in the 3^rd and Eric went into the pen to start the 4^th inning. Soto hit into a double play to score a run with bases loaded and no outs, and in the 6^th Ozuna hit a solo shot to bring the game to 7-2.  Jose Ramirez hit a 2 run ball park homer (1-10) off of Tanner Scott to get CN up 9-2.  Santana pitched the final 2 innings as was awarded the win by the computer.

Game 4: This one was hard fought and was only important to allow for CN to have a winning record going into the post season. Ragans (CN) gave up an early homer from Neto go down 1-0 but Gurrielhit a BP HR (1-10) off Crochet to tie it 1-1. Eric began the 6^th with an out single, walk and double to tire Ragans.  Bido come in again to save the day for CN but gave up a walk to Alvarez and a single to the pinch hitting Bart that gave Eric and Crochet a 4-1 lead.  Devers hit a 2 run homer off of Yates to get the game to 4-3.  Gaddis (Eric’s best reliever) tried to hold onto the lead and successfully got out of the 7^th as Ohtani hit a clutch out to end the inning.  But Gaddis was tagged with 2 runs in the 8^th as Duran hit a ball park single, Harper singled and then Santander hit a ballpark single. He then struck out Swanson, despite being tired for the 2^nd out.  But with the game tied, Tinoco came in and Raleigh hit a RFx and Soto could not make the play and CN went up 5-4.  Santana went 2 and 1/3 (his arm fell off at that point) and then Williams came in to save Santana’s win. 

(2/28) Randy clinched 2nd place today, beating Oceanus 3 games to 1. In its series, North Dakota was actually rooting for Bay City, but had a ridiculous amount of luck (4 timely righty BP HR's at 1-4) to finish the season 17-3. Today's results mean that Harold has clinched 3rd place.

Tom's magic number is 1. If Eric sweeps, he finishes in 4th place. Otherwise, Tom finishes in 4th place. If Tom sweeps, he ends up at 30-26, same record as Harold. But Harold won 5 of the 8 games for the 3rd place tiebreaker.

...

The tone was set in the 4th inning of the first game. It was 1-1 when Sea Slug Isaac Paredes cracked a 2-run homer off Burnes to make it 3-1. An inning later, it was 4-1 and Paredes came up with the bases loaded and two out. He rolls a 4 on a BP HR (1-4) for the grand slam to make it 9-1. Robin does not give up and a 3-run HR by mutant L. Acuna and 2-run homer by limited Laureano make it 9-6. But Fairbanks, Puk ('the human stain') and Munoz pitch shutout ball the rest of the way, final score 12-6 in this pitchers' park.

Robin's great Paul Skenes takes a 1-0 shutout into the 8th inning of game 2, matched closely by Ober. ND's Betts hits a solo shot to make it 1-1.  In the 9th, pinch-hitter Rob Refsnyder hits a BP homer (1-4) off the lefty Vesia. He rolls a 4 to make it 2-1. Mason Miller pitches a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th for the ND win.

Game 3 featured another ridiculous ND BP HR to win the game and Robin missing a 1-16 HR that could have tied it. She's up 6-4 in the 7th thanks to Sal's and Vlad's 2-run homers. ND has men at 2nd and 3rd none out and Derek Hill has to bat against Uceta, Robin's best reliever--a bad match up. He surprises Robin with a squeeze attempt but it goes to a 1 and 2 count and the squeeze is taken off. Hill rolls a 1-4 BP HR and, you guessed it, rolls a 4 for the 3-run homer to take the lead 7-6. Bottom of the 9th, one out, Vlad rolls a 20 on a HR 1-16 and is out. Final score 7-6, ND, Munoz with the save.

ND jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first on Willson Contreras's roll of a 4 BP HR. (That's 4 in four games, playing with Robin's dice.) Carroll scores the next two runs for BC and it's 3-2 after 6. But Miller and Munoz pitch hitless relief for the Sea Slugs for the sweep and franchise record tying 36th victory. (In researching this question, I discovered that my team name in '09-10 was The Flaming Earthworms.)

...

2/22

...

All teams have played 52 games and get a day off before their final series thanks to Eric's new rule we passed at last year's annual meeting...Draft Day Saturday, March 28.


(2/21) The Mantatees struggled up north on Saturday losing 3 of 4 at Icewind Dale Park in Neverwinter. tightening up the playoff race, with three teams within a game of each other for 4th place.  The CN bats appears to be in cold storage until game 4.

(2/20) It's the Sea Slugs against the Sea Robins! North Dakota, winners of 13 of their last 16 games, closed out a 9-3 homestand winning 3 of 4 over a frustrated Makaket in Plymouth. The Bioluminescent Sea Slugs won two blowouts and split two close games in this rare Friday SOMBILLA match-up.

Game 1 began ominously for Madaket when Kyle Tucker robbed Juan Soto of a homer on the very first pitch. It was ND's first successful HR rob of the season. The game ended up  9-1 laugher as the Sea Slugs tired out Gilbert with 6 runs in the 3rd on a homer by Lindor, 3-run shot by Butler and a solo shot by mutant Pavin Smith. Jackson Merrill (2-run homer) and Betts (solo) made it 5 home runs from 5 different players. Gilbert took it for the team surrendering 4 tired singles. Reynaldo Lopez (4-2) pitched a CG 8-hitter for the win.

ND went up 2-0 in game 2, Ober pitching a 1-hitter through 6 innings. The Sea Robins' Ozuna homered to make it 2-1 in the 7th and Turang homers off Kenley Jansen to tie it in the 8th. Top of the 9th, Ozuna's 2nd HR of the game, this one off Estrada, gives Madaket the 3-2 lead and Gaddis pitches a 1-2-3 9th for the save to tie the series. Yates, Jiminez, Kelly and Gaddis shut down ND on 2 hits over the final 4 1/3 innings. 

MK jumps in front in the first inning of game 3 on Ozuna's rbi double, but a Butler double followed by LF Yordan Alvarez (5e3) misplay of a Tucker fly turns into a double and 2-base error giving ND the 2-1 lead. A Tucker 2-run homer off MK's Flaherty makes it a 4-1 game in the 4th. 3 singles, a walk, and a sac fly score two for the MK Sea Robins in the 5th to make it 4-3. Eric loads the bases with one out in the 6th but ND's Mason Miller comes in and strikes out Bart and Soto. A solo shot by ND's Horwitz makes it 5-3 and Estrada pitches the final two innings for his 4th save.

Game 4 was all Kyle Tucker. He had 3 homers and 7 rbi to lead ND to a 9-2 rout. He thought he had a 4th homer. In the 2nd inning, he appeared to roll a BP homer off Skubal but two innings later it was determined that the stoned ND manager was looking on the wrong side of the card and Tucker should only had had a single. Since 3 outs followed that play in 2nd inning, Eric suggested we just make the HR a single (from the correct side of Tucker's card) wiping a run off the scoreboard retroactively. But it didn't matter as Tucker was unstoppable after that.

Star of the series was Kyle Tucker 10 for 13 (.769), 6 R, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB. In last week's Twits Notes I forgot to name Tucker as the star of the week of that series against Sam. But in the last 8 games, Tucker is 15 for 24 (.625), 6 HR, 17 RBI

Draft Day, Saturday March 28.

(2/19) Just when the Oceanus Assholes were resigned to another draft lottery they took 3 out of 4 from visiting Madaket.  Now Oceanus is resigned to another draft lottery but with fewer things.  There were 3 and a half close games, including an extra inning affair.  Lots of lead changes.

Draft Day, Saturday March 28

(2/18)  It was a satisfying split for Bay City, who returned home after a 16-game road trip to face the Alpacas. (It was not so satisfying for BayCity's fading playoff hopes, however.) 

Game 1 was a pitchers' duel between NW's Wacha and BC's Burnes. All three runs in Neverwinter's 2-1 victory came via solo homers: NW's Westburg (a constant thorn in the side of the Rollers the whole series) and Bregman and BC's Carroll. All runs came in the sixth inning.

Game 2 started with a similar lack of hitting by both teams, but Neverwinter jumped on top to stay in the 6th inning as they scored 2 runs on 3 base hits.  Again, neither team was able to score until the 6th inning. Jordan Westburg hit 3 doubles as the Neverwinter Alpacas topped the Bay City Rollers by a score of 5 to 2. The win was credited to Simeon Woods-Richards, who went 6 and 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs. Ryan Walker  earned the save. Yu Darvish was the loser in what was likely his final SOMBILLA appearance.

The Bay City bats finally came alive in Game 3 (again in the sixth inning), as the Rollers shut out the Alpacas 6-0 on the combined efforts of Cole, Vesia, Uceta, and Robertson. Carroll homered and Witt and Teoscar tripled. Fedde took the loss.

Game 4 was a nail-biter in which, surprisingly, neither team waited for the sixth inning to score. Corbin Carroll collected 2 extra-base hits as the Bay City Rollers defeated the Neverwinter Alpacas by a score of 3 to 2. Bay City rapped out 9 hits for the night, but NW's Realmuto had the only homer of the game. Porter Hodge went 2 innings allowing no runs for the win. Michael Kopech recorded the save.  Nathan Eovaldi took the loss. 

Star of the series for BC was Corbin Carroll, who with no regard for his impending hamate issue, hit .538 with a double, a triple, and 2 homers with 4 RBIs. Special shout-out to captain Sal Perez, who beat out a couple of infield hits against a stunned Gunner Henderson and walked twice in the series.

(2/17) FW continued its late season rally, taking 3 of 4 from New Orleans, a week after doing the same to Constantinople, and moving into third place.

(2/14) The Bioluminscent Sea Slugs opened up a 2 game lead over Harold with a hard fought series win against the plucky Alpacas. I could easily complain about missing two BP homers (1-18) in my only loss, including a roll of 20 on Kyle Tucker's potential game-tying 3-run homer in the 9th, or the fact that Jed's nonfunctioning 'robbing HR rule' has no infected my computer Strat-O, but I won't.

Slightly edited computer wrtieups:

Game 1: One run was the difference at Gackle Park as the North Dakota Bioluminescent Sea Slugs defeated the Neverwinter Alpacas 3 to 2. 
Hunter Brown(4-1) gave North Dakota a solid outing.  He went 6 and 1/3 innings allowing 7 hits and no walks.  Brown got help from Mason Miller who pitched a perfect ninth and was credited with his 5th save. Luke Weaver (0-3) ended up with the loss in relief.  He allowed 3 hits and 1
walk in 2 innings.

Game 2:  Freddie Freeman had a HR and 2 RBI at Gackle Park where the Neverwinter Alpacas beat the North Dakota Bio Sea Slugs by the
score of 4 to 2. Neverwinter jumped on top of North Dakota in the top of the 3rd inning scoringa single run on 2 hits. Neverwinter had 10 hits for the night. Erick Fedde (2-5) got the win allowing no runs in 6 innings. Ryan Walker earned the save, his 7th.  George Kirby(3-2) was the losing pitcher. Kyle Tucker rolled a 20 on his 9th inning 3-run HR chance. 'He gutted it out' Sam said of Fedde.  'I was very impressed by his tenacity.'

Game 3: In his first AB of the season, 27th man callup Trent Grisham went yard at Gackle Park as North Dakota beat Neverwinter by the count of 4 to 1. North Dakota set the tone of the game in the first inning scoring 2 runners on 3 hits.  The early run support proved sufficient for Bailey Ober(5-2) and North Dakota.  That was all the run support Ober required.  North Dakota finished with 13 hits while Neverwinter ended up with 3.  
Mason Miller earned his 6th save.  Nathan Eovaldi(3-6) was given the loss.  He was hit hard and gave up 11 hits and 4 walks in 7 innings.  

Game 4: After Kyle Tucker's grand salami in the 2nd inning off B. Miller, ND thought this game would be a walk in the park. But NV scored single runs in the 3rd, 4td, 5th, 7th, and 8th to stun North Dakota and take a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the 9th.

In a dramatic ending, North Dakota scored the winning runs in the bottom of the 9th inning with 2 runs utilizing 3 base hits.  Jackson Merrill started the inning off right when he lined a base-hit.  Merrill got a great jump and stole second easily. After an out was recorded, Brandon Lowe then doubled bringing in a run to tie the game. Mookie Betts stepped in and he stroked a one-base hit resulting in an exciting win for North Dakota and a raucous post-game celebration by the home town fans.  Despite scoring in 5 separate innings, Neverwinter could not get
the win.  

Kenley Jansen(2-1) got credit for the victory, pitching 1 and 2/3 innings andallowing no runs. Ryan Walker(0-3) was charged with the loss in relief. Arnie was in great spirits in his post-game interview.  Yet, when asked about his feelings after the thrilling comeback victory, he volunteered, 'I'll tell you this much - I know how my counterpart, Sam, feels right now - and it's not very good.  It's terrible when you come up on the short end of one of these!'

...

Remember 27th man callup at game 45, days off games 52 and 56. Draft Day, Saturday March 28.


(2/10) New Orleans takes 3 of 4 from Constantinople, to swap 2nd and 3rd place with each other.

Game 1: CON 8, NO 3.  Even though NO out hits CON 16-9, CON out homers NO 5-0 to take game one.  Lugo with the win, Wheeler the loss.

Game 2: NO 4, CON 1.  NO scores 2 in the first and two in the second which was more then enough as 6 NO pitchers scatter 7 hits.  Estevez the win in relief, Clase the save. Gil took the loss.

Game 3: NO 6, CON 2.  NO opens up a close 2-2 game scoring 4 in the eight to break it open.  NO left an amazing 15 running on base, leaving the bases loaded without scoring in three consecutive innings thanks to Ragans' 9 walks. Smith the win in relief, Suarez the loss.

Game 4: NO 7, CON 3. NO scores in each of the first three innings and didn’t look back.  Sale the win, Clase another save.  Steele took the loss.  Judge hits his only HR of the series. 

Draft Day, Saturday March 28.

(2/7) The Bioluminescent Sea Slugs bombarded the demoralized Assholes 8-3, 7-2, and 9-1 in the first three games of today's series at Gackle Park before Jed's luck finally turned in the finale, 4-1, to avoid the sweep. The series win jumps North Dakota into sole possession of first place, while Jed's thoughts turned to Nick Kurtz and the upcoming SOMBILLA draft.

In game 1, Lawrence Butler cracked two homers off Schwellenbach and Lindor added another to back Reynaldo Lopez (3-2) and his 10 strikeouts.

Game 2: Bailey Ober struck out 13 batters at Gackle Park as North Dakota beat the Oceanus Assholes 7 to 2.

Ober(4-2) was simply too much for the Oceanus batters.  He didn't allow much, just 2 hits and no walks in 8 innings.  North Dakota had 6 hits for the game and Oceanus had 3.  

Hunter Greene absorbed the loss.  He allowed 3 homeruns in 7 innings of work. Jed was upset after the game. (I'll say. And before the game and during the game and during every game and after the series). 'I don't like to complain but did you see that umpires strike zone?', he said.  'Maybe they ought to start calling the strike zone the way it's printed in the rule book.' (His actual comments were far more dispirited).

Game 3: Jed actually jumped out to a 1-0 lead, until the third, when Butler (again, his 4th of the series), Bride, and Tucker went back to back to back to tire out Webb. Newly acquired Red Sox Willson Contreras added another HR in the 9-1 rout as ND out-scored OC 24-6 and outhomered them 10-1 in the first 3 games. Chirstopher Sanchez (3-2) had a strong outing.  He allowed only 7 hits and 1 walk in 9 innings.  North Dakota rapped out 16 hits for the night.  

Game 4: The only close game that actually required strategic managing (as opposed to managing innings and at bats).In an entertaining game at Gackle Park the final score was the Oceanus Assholes 4, the North Dakota Bioluminescent Sea Slugs 1. Oceanus went ahead for good in the 4th inning plating one baserunner using 2 hits.  Josh Hader earned the save with a perfect ninth. The victory went to Dylan Cease who went 5 and 2/3 innings, allowing 1 run. Bryan Woo(2-4) took the loss.  He allowed 3 runs and 5 hits in 5 innings.

Star of the series was Lawrence Butler (whom Jed ordered hit after his 4th home run). 5 for 12 (.417), with 6 runs, 4 HR, 8 RBI and 3 walks.

Draft Day, Saturday March 28. And Jed confirmed he will be there in person!


(2/3) New Orleans takes 3 of 4 from Bay City to pull within a game of first place.

After being swept from North Dakota, New Orleans has been hot, taking 3 of 4 from Bay City and winning 6 of 8 over all.

Computer recaps…
Game 1:  Zack Wheeler mowed down 10 Bay City batters as the New Orleans Ellis defeated the Bay City Rollers by the score of 7 to 1 at Doc Ellis Field. Wheeler simply dominated Bay City.  He didn't give up much, just 4 hits and 3 walks in 9 innings.  New Orleans finished with 11 hits in the victory. The loss was charged to Corbin Burnes.  He was knocked around by New Orleans, allowing 10 hits and 2 walks in 6 and 1/3 innings.  Home runs by A.Judge and M.Semien.

Game 2: Tyler Glasnow went 6 and two third strong innings as the New Orleans Ellis topped the Bay City Rollers by a score of 4 to 3. New Orleans scored 2 runs in the 7th inning.  The big moment was provided by Aaron Judge who thrilled the crowd when he smashed a two-run homer.  Bay City threatened in the 9th but New Orleans was able to put down the rally.   The winning pitcher was Jason Adam who allowed 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning. Carlos Estevez was credited with his 1st save.  David Robertson was the loser in relief.  Home runs by V.Guerrero Jr, R.Greene and E.Suarez(back to back to back, and the next hitter was an HBP, NOT intentional!). A.Judge had the NO HR.

Game 3: Luisangel Acuna smacked 2 homeruns as the Bay City Rollers defeated the New Orleans Ellis 6 to 2 at Doc Ellis Field. Acuna was a seemingly constant irritant to the hometown fans as he provided much of the offense for the visitors.  He ripped a solo home run in the 2nd inning, smashed a solo-shot out of the park in the 7th inning and slapped a one-base hit in the 9th inning.  New Orleans was out-hit by Bay City, 11 hits to 8.  Zac Gallen was the winner allowing 2 runs in 6 innings. Chris Sale(0-1) was charged with the loss.  He served up 4 gopher balls in 7 innings.  Home runs by V.Guerrero Jr, R.Laureano and L.Acuna for BC and A.Riley for NO.

Game 4: In an entertaining game at Doc Ellis Field the final score was the New Orleans Ellis 7, the Bay City Rollers 4. Matt Wallner provided much of the offense. He doubled which plated a run in the 1st inning and belted a three-run homer in the 5th inning.  For the game New Orleans out-hit Bay City 11 to 7.   Ronel Blanco got the win allowing 3 runs in 5 innings. Blanco got relief help from Emmanuel Clase who gained credit for his 1st save.  Paul Skenes was hit with the loss.  Despite the loss, he struckout 14 New Orleans batters in 8 innings.  Home runs by R.Greene and S.Perez for BC and M.Wallner and  A.Riley for NO.

One computer note: Robin astutely observed that there was no chance for Sal to block the plate for a play in game 4 (last number of safe range, first number of out range). Arnie determined that his computer setting was incorrect. A reminder to all computer managers that MAX Rule must be set so you can check "Catcher blocking of the plate".

Draft day, Saturday March 28.

After rolling only two HR rolls in the entire series against North Dakota, New Orleans bats woke up taking 3 of 4 against the Assholes, to jump back into 3rd place.

Computer round ups:
Game 1:  Right fielder Aaron Judge launched 2 homeruns and had 4 RBI as the New Orleans Ellis outscored the Oceanus Assholes 6 to 4. Judge had a good day at the plate.  He hit a bases-empty home run in the 3rd inning and smacked a three-run homer in the 7th inning. Zack Wheeler got the win allowing 4 runs in 6 innings. Emmanuel Clase recorded his 1st save.  Hunter Greene was given the loss.  Although losing the contest, he whiffed 12 batters in 6 and 2/3 innings.  

Game 2: Ketel Marte cracked 2 homeruns and had 5 RBI at Rehoboth Parking Lot where the Oceanus Assholes beat the New Orleans Ellis in 10 innings by the score of 7 to 6. Both teams were tied at 6 runs apiece after nine innings.  Oceanus came out on top in the 10th inning.  James Wood ripped a base-knock making Oceanus the victor and beginning a joyous home town celebration.  Oceanus totaled 10 hits on the afternoon.   Blake Treinen went 2 innings allowing no runs for the win. Griffin Jax suffered the loss in relief.  He was unable to retire a batter giving up 1 hit and no walks.

Game 3: In a one-sided affiar at Rehoboth Parking Lot the final score was the New Orleans Ellis 9, the Oceanus Assholes 3. Oceanus never recovered after New Orleans took the lead in the top of the 4th inning plating 2 runs using 2 hits.  After two were out Matt Olson initiated the scoring spurt when he drew a walk.  Ha-Seong Kim next to the plate and he lashed a single.  Dylan Cease then fired a sharp breaking ball that appeared to cross-up the catcher.  In any event, it got by him and was ruled a passed ball.  Aaron Judge followed and he doubled scoring two teammates.  New Orleans out-hit Oceanus for the game, 10 hits to 5.   Ronel Blanco allowed 2 runs in 5 and 1/3 innings, and picked up the victory. Cease was tagged with the loss.  While he was the losing pitcher, he still struck out 16 batters in 9 innings.  

Game 4: Designated hitter Brent Rooker connected with a home run as the New Orleans Ellis bested the Oceanus Assholes in 10 innings 4 to 2 at Rehoboth Parking Lot. Both teams were tied at 2 runs apiece after nine innings.  New Orleans came out on top in the 10th inning.  After two were out Matt Olson got things going when he blasted a two-run home run.   The win went to Ryan Yarbrough who allowed no runs in 1 inning. Yarbrough got relief help from Emmanuel Clase who gained credit for his 2nd save.  The loss was charged to Joel Payamps in relief.  He gave up 2 runs and 1 hit in 1 inning.  

Draft Day, Satirday March 28

(1/19)

Game 1: The matchup of Lugo vs Burnes started off as a defensive struggle knotted at 0 after 4 innings.  BC got on top 1-0 in the 5^th, but CN came up in bottom of the 5^th and after Trout struck out and got injured for the 2^nd time of the season, they grinded a BB, followed by 3 singles then another BB and BPS to bring up Devers with 3 runs in and the bases loaded. He lined out to bring Burnes within one out of getting out of the inning. But Seager, who had been the 3^rd out twice previously, hit a comebacker to Burnes who threw it over Naylor’s head and into the dugout for 2 runs and Burnes was done for night. Lugo gave up a Ball Park homer (1-10) to BC’s Witt but after a Duran 2-base error he settled in to get a victory 6-2 with Rasmusen in relief.

Game 2: BC's Skenes versus CN's Gil and you would expect this to be the pitcher’s duel but Gil gave up 3 in the first and then Skenes gave up 4 on 2-run shots from Ohtani and Tatis. BC came back to score 4 in the 5^th on back to back homers from Suarez and Naylor to go up 7-4.  CN then batted around in the 6^th to score 5 runs and go up 9-7 as Harper, Nootbar and Ohtani hit homeruns. BC came back in the top of the 7^th to the game at 9-9 on Stephensons 2^nd 2 run double of the game. CN then went up 10-9 on a Stephenson passed ball in the bottom of the 9^th, but Naylor drove in a run with 2 outs in the top of the 9^th and Hodge held CN down to get the game to extras knotted at 10. The ghost runner (Naylor) scored the top of the 10^th on no hits and it was up to Ohtani to tie it up on a double in the bottom of the 10^th.  BC found 2 extra base hits on Chapman’s card in the top of the 11^th to go up again this time by 2 (13-11). Tatis singled in the bottom of the 11^th to get Swanson over to 3^rd.  Harper hit to the 1 SS - Witt - a double play ball that scored a run and Raleigh hit into an out as CN lost 13-12 in an exciting heart breaker.

Game 3: The battle of the lefties - BC's Snell vs CN's Ragans.  BC scored 5 over the 1^st three innings behind homers from Correa, Teoscar and Hays. But then things started to turn as Snell, the human rain delay, started to miss the plate and CN scored 2 in the 4^th, 3 in the 5^th, 3 in the 6^th and 2 in the 7^th behind Harper, Ohtani and Jose Ramirez homeruns, tiring Snell. To add insult to injury, Correa struck out and injured himself for the second time of the season and Albies strckout and also injured himself for the 2^nd time of the season.  CN ended the game with 10 unanswered runs 10-5.

Game 4:  The finale saw Gallen start versus Garret Stone and BC again went up early on a run in both the 1^st and 2^nd, but CN scored 6 runs in the second on homers from Nootbar, Devers and Seager to tire Gallen. It was 10-3 after 5 innings. BC scratched a run in the 6^th and CN came back with a 3-run homer from Donovan to go up 13-4. BC answered back with 3 run Teoscar homer off of Rasmussen to make it 13-7.  BC kept hitting off of the CN bullpen but they held on for a 13-8 win in the quaint band box which is CN 1910 Park.

Albies stayed back from the charter to enjoy the many Aquariums around the Park and noted waterfront amenities.

...

The first game was a pitching duel between Baz and Kirby. Elly De La Cruz homered in the 1st, Carpenter tripled, then Cronenworth knocked him in. After that, ND’s Kirby and 4 relievers held FW scoreless the rest of the way. Baz gave up just 1 run in 6 IP: on Wilson Contrares’ double play after B. Lowe tripled in the 2nd. But Lowe tied the game on a solo shot immediately after Baz exited the game, knotting it at 2-2. In the bottom of the 9th, ND’s Lowe led off with a single, advanced on a ground out, then scored the winning run on a walk-off single by pinch hitter Pavin Smith.

The second game was a seesaw affair, with FW scoring 2 in the 1st, answered by ND’s 4 in the 2nd for a 4-2 lead. FW tied it at 4 with runs in the 3rd and 6th, only to see Paradas’ homer to put ND ahead again in the bottom of the inning. But FW scored 2 in the 8th, with the key hit being a Cowser double. Erceg closed the door with 2 innings of perfect relief, securing the win for Yomamoto.

In the third game, Cowser homered in the 3rd, only to be answered with a Paradas blast in the bottom of the frame (1-1). FW scored 2 unearned runs after a Betts (1e13) error in RF, only to have ND immediately answer again, with 2 runs (3-3). Another Betts error in the 7th led to 1 more unearned run (+2 earned), helped by Cowser and Carpenter homers. Arnie scored a run in the 9th, but left the tying runs on base, losing 6-4. Gausman (8 IP) got the W, Duran the SV.

Things looked bleak for Arnie in the final game, with FW jumping to a 6-3 lead, then adding 2 more runs in the top of the 7th. ND miraculously tied the game (8-8) with 5 runs on homers by Tucker, Horwitz, and Lindor in the of the inning. But FW’s Christian Walker homered to lead off the 9th, and Duran retired the side in order to end the game, and Arnie’s hopes of a split series. (Nick Martinez got the win, despite yielding 5 runs to the first 5 batters he faced. We verified that the 5-runs in one inning tired pitcher rule applies only to starters and Martinez has a relief tired factor of (3) so giving up runs to his first 5 batters faced did not tire him out).

Cowser was the series MVP, with 3 home runs and 6 RBIs.

…

Draft Day, Saturday March 28. Send your stats to Tom.

For some reason CN’s computer game version was throwing off a schedule error that would not allow League Games so Jed kindly hosted.

Game 1:  Muncy got the Assholes started with a ballpark homerun (1-19) to give them a lead.  CN came back in the bottom of the first for a run when Chisholm allowed a 3-base error on a Seager flyball that scored Ohtani.  The game went back and forth as Oceanus would go up 3-1 in the 3^rd and then Ohtani and Duran hit homers in the 3^rd and 6^th to tie the game at 3.  Then Marte hit a 2 run homer in the 7^th to give the Assholes a 5-3 lead, only to have CN’s Ohtani hit a 3 run shot in the bottom of the inning to give CN a 6-5 lead.  Then in the 8^th, Muncy hit his second homer of the game to give Oceanus a 7-6 lead.  Duran answered in the bottom of the 9^th to tie the game at 7 with a leadoff homer but CN's lefty killers could not get to Holton so the teams went to extra innings. Marte came up for the Assholes in the 11^th and hit his 3^rd home run of the game to give them a 9-7 lead and they held on for the win. It looked like it was going to be a long night for Manatee fans.

Game 2:  This game featured a matchup of lefty Ragans (CN) versus the crafty veteran Logan Webb (Oceanus).  Jed got up early again as Marte and Edman hit solo shots in the first to give them a 2-0 lead.  CN however immediately got its first 6 batters of the game on base except for Harper who was sent to the bench on a called strike 3 on a 3-2 count. Santander capped the 6 batters with a 3-run homer to tire Webb.  Webb was staying in to take the beating and as often happens he settled down and after 5 innings he was ahead 8-6, as his team hit Ragans hard and often without tiring him.  However, after all the game 1 OC relief usage, Webb tried for one more inning and that was his undoing as CN had a dink and dunk inning that led to 4 runs and the game was never close again.  (All basically without tired strikeouts and on their own cards so it was really not Webb’s fault).  The game ended 12-9, CN, in another pitcher’s duel.

Game 3:  Stone (CN) versus Swellenbach (Oceanus) and it looked like it would be the first low scoring game. Oceanus scratched out a run after Devers failed to make a 3Bx play, going for a single, but they only got 1 run and left 2 in scoring position.  CN's scrappy Brendan Donovan came up with 2 men on and 2 outs in the 4^th and rolled at 2-4 - got the split roll - for a 3 run shot to put CN up for good.  Duran added a 2 rund shot in the 7^th to give CN the 5-1 victory, with Tom's relief staff doing their jobs.

Game 4:  The deciding game of the series was a preview of Raleigh’s next season as he hit a 2-run homerun in the 2^nd to give CN a 2-0 lead.  Suzuki was able to halve the lead when Lowe singled and stole a base (2-20 guy against the -4 battery) and he scored on the short double from Suzuki. Raleigh hit another 2-run homer in the 5^th to give CN a 4-1 lead.  Suzuki scored a run in the 6^th to again halve the lead to 4-2.  Duran hit a 2-run shot in the 7^th to give CN a 6-2 margin that they would not relinquish as CN won the game and series.

Duran was a wrecking ball, hitting .529 going 9 for 17 with a  walk amassing 5 homeruns, 10 RBI and scoring 7 runs.

-------

Game 21/25:  Soto put Eric up early 2-0 and his pitcher Gilbert struck out the first 7 batters he faced before CN's Tatis missed a ballpark homer. Nootbar doubled to end the K fest - sort of - as Gilbert then struck out 2 out of the next 4 hitters.  Gilbert hit Donovan and then Raleigh hit a home run off Gilbert’s card to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the 5^th.  MK's defensive replacement Happ doubled in a run in the 7^th and then Eric went into hold the line mode. The Manatees' Devers came up with the bases loaded and one out in the 8^th and grounded into a double play looking to book his flight to North Dakota, who has made several trade offers. With 2 outs in the 9^th, CN's Rengifo his a BPS against Gaddis and then was allowed to run 1-12 and ran into the last out of the game. Replay was momentarily considered but then declined.  (In the alternative reality in which he succeeded on the steal the next 2 batters walked and singled tiring Gaddis and Nootbar walked to tie the game and then Tom just stopped).

Eric has a great pitching staff and in his balanced pitcher’s park, the difference among his 3 lefties is diminished and he has an interesting bullpen (2 lefties, dominant righty closer, 2 unbalanced right handed relievers (one each way) and with the new additions CN had a lot to think about. Waking up in the middle of the night lets the team consider and reconsider such lineups and how to the pinch hit from different spots.  So 2 lefty starting pitcher lineups were considered and were solid for days until the final version was created and was unveiled for the last 3 games….

Game 22/26: MK's Crouchet gave up 2 runs in the first inning on a Ramos homer and then Ramirez hit a 3-run homer in the 5^th to put CN up 5-0 as his luck was coming into play. Devers did get a pinch hitting opportunity with the bases loaded and he hit a open double and was thrown out at third while driving in 3 runs. With 2 more solo shots CN wins 11-1 and Stone was the game winning pitcher.

Game 23/27:  MK's Skubal watched Ramos hit a ballpark homerun out for the 2^nd out, but then gave up a single and 2 walks to face Swanson in the clutch who delivered to give CN a 2-0 lead in the first inning for the 2^nd straight game.  Ramirez later scored on a passed ball and then a Skubal error led to a 2-run 6th inning and a 5-0 lead after 6 innings. Eric's Santana hit a 2-run ballpark shot (in any park) off Steele and then the first 2 hitters of the 7^th reached, tiring him completely. Soto tripled to bring the game to 5-4.  With 1 out in the ninth and runners on 1^st and 2^nd (the first one reaching on a 1 on a catcher x with no one on), Soto returned to the plate against Santana and grounded into a game ending double play as CN started to breath again with the 5-4 squeaker to take a 2-1 series lead.

Game 1 was a pitching gem as Lugo pitched 8 scoreless innings to beat the Alpacas 6-0. Devers hit 2 home runs to bring the home team a much-needed win. Raleigh was injured in the 5th inning and for the first time this year CN did not have Will Smith on the bench because he was at the birth of his second child. (Ok technically his son Lawton was born October 2024 right before the World Series, but I had flipped a coin on who would not be on my roster for the series, and he lost. Of course Raleigh was injured, luckily with no ill consequences.)

Game 2 was an offensive showcase for the Manatees as they scored 12 runs to the Neverwinter 1 run. Santander and Ohtani had homers and Donovan had 2 ballpark shots to lead the team. Defensive replacement Brenton Doyle was injured late for 2 games allowing Casas a chance to play in the series.

In Game 3 Steele gave up 7 in the first, but CN does not have the bullpen, so he stayed in and pitched 4 scoreless innings. Meanwhile Neverwinter's Wacha gave up 2 in the first and 4 in the 2nd on a Ballpark 3 run homer from Harper. He had come in for Casas, who was injured in the first inning. The Manatees then tied it in the 5th on a solo shot from Duran (off the tired Wacha). Both tired pitchers left the game after 5 with the game all tied at 7. Suarez, the erstwhile CN closer, starts the 6th inning. He gave up a BPS to Westburg and after an out, Gunnar came to bat and hit a triple to give Neverwinter a 8-7 lead which they never relinquished to make the series 2-1.

Game 4 was the chance for NV to ge a split and CN's Gil looked like he would allow it, giving up 2 singles and 2 walks in the first for the early Alpaca lead. Nootbar hit a 3 run shot in the 2nd, and soon it was 4-2 Manatees. Gil decided to help NV get a series split by giving up a Freeman single, Burger double, Bregman Ballpark Homer sac fly. Then Mullins walked to chase him with 2 men on. At the end of the Alpaca 6th it was 6-4 and looking like an unsatisfying split for the Manatees. Raleigh doubled in the bottom of the sixth, and Ohtani drove him in with a single and with the bases loaded, Seager hit into a double play as the Manatees make it 6-5. But then the 7th happened. 5 of CN's first 6 batters had hits, capped by a Ramos Ballpark Homer on Hurters* card and it was 10-6, CN after 7. Harper got on after a Gunnar error and the Manatees scratched out an insurance run. But Chapman gave up a 2 run double and 2 base error, and Chapman subsequently got tired but the Manatees held on for the 11-8 nailbiter.

Tom, Randy and Robin—my favorite Sombilla peeps besides Sam, Jed and Harold, of course—made the trek to Eric’s leafy palace in Plymouth for an early season bash. In the first set he took 3 of 4 from Robin, and earned a very satisfying split with Randy in the second.

Scores Vs Robin

Gm 1: MK 4-3

Gm 2: BC 6-3

Gm 3: MK 3-2

Gm 4: MK 7-3

Scores vs. Randy

Gm 1: FW 10-7 (11 innings)

Gm 2: FW 8-5

Gm 3: MK 2-0

Gm 4: MK 7-3

For the Sea Robins, Skubal ran his record to 3-0 in 3 starts on the season with another sterling performance, going 7.3 innings, giving up 5 hits, 1 run, no walks and 13 Ks. For the Rollers, Paul Skenes made his Sombilla debut in Game 2. He struck out Soto to start his career, then gave up a double to Bart and a 2-run blast to Alvarez. After that? 6.3 innings without surrounding a hit or walk, to go with 8 Ks. Masterful. 

Scores:

Game 1: OC 3-1

Game 2: MK 3-2

Game 3: MK 5-1

Game 4: MK 5-4

In the first game, rookie Schwellenbach stifled the Sea Robins, tossing 7+ innings of shut out ball. All runs sort of squeaked across the plate, except for Suzuki’s solo blast of Gilbert in the 2nd. 

Games 2 and 4 were tight. Game 2 went 10 innings with Vest getting the win, and Game 4 saw the Assholes chip away at a 5-2 deficit to make it, well, tight. Game 3 was the laugher of the series, and was really over by the 9th inning. 

The computer game turned a 5-4 double play for Jed, which we’d never seen before (or I hadn’t, anyway). With runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs, a hot shot was hit to Ramirez at 3rd, who stepped on the bag and threw to 2nd to complete the DP. After several seconds of bellyaching by Eric, Jed pointed out that shit like that happens in baseball all the time. He’s right, shit like that does happen. But not, apparently, on the board game. Unless I missed that all these years…

...

Send your stats to Tom

Game 1 NV 1-0

Game 2 MK 6-1

Game 3 MK 2-0

Game 4 MK 4-1

A rough day for Sam. He won the first game 1-0, barely. Westburg hit a triple 1 or out to start the 7th off Gilbert, and came home on a Realmuto single. The firm of Miller, Miller and Iglesias pitched a 3-hitter against a sleepwalking Madaket squad. Sam then went on to score just two more runs, one unearned, over the final three games. Not that Madaket blew open any doors. If there was a hitting star it would Ian Happ off the bench, who walked twice, singled and hit a 3-run pinch homer in game 4 to erase NV’s 1-0 lead in the 7th. All starters were stellar.