Category: Sable baseball

Dynasty 100 Loss All Futility League Report: East Divisions 5-24

The latest of a weekly series on the teams in my Online (or in person) Dynasty baseball simulation leagues I run. All are leagues are currently full but if you have an interest in joining the expanded futility league next season or want to be in the waiting list for the great teams league leave a message in comments.

This week we visit the Dynasty All Pathetic 100 loss league consisting only of teams that lost 100 games in a season. As of today most teams have 10 or less games for their season. All starts are current as of 9:30 PM EST Saturday

American League

1973 Chicago White Sox 1st place

When we last left the 1970 White Sox Tampa Bay was nipping at their heels and how it would end was anyone’s guess. Today barring a historic last minute collapse the White Sox look poised to lock up the AL East. 9 1/2 games up with 11 to play.

Heroes: Bill Melton (.268 35 HR 124 RBI ) and Ed Herrmann (..291 37 HR 103 RBI) are contending for the RBI & HR lead respectively. Meanwhile  Tommy John Quest for 20 wins might come up short, but he’s continues to lead the league in innings and remains in the top five in ERA, wins, K’s and avg against.

Zeros:  When last time we looked Sid O’Brien was hitting a bit better than Bobby Knoop and still is .221 to .219 but also like last time his fielding numbers .927 at 3rd and .947 at 2nd aren’t up to grade. If you want to point to a reason why Chicago might clinch this week starter Barry Moore isn’t one of them at 5-9 with a team worst 6.28 ERA over 25 starts.

Wild Cards: The White Sox are the only team in the AL with an ERA under 4 (3.98) and the biggest part of that is the Solid Defense up the middle provided by Luis Aparicio at short, Bobby Knoop at second base and Ken Berry in Center Field.

Coming Attractions: Chicago only needs two wins to clinch but the schedule won’t help much as they play their final three game home series against the west leading 2008 Seattle Mariners and then finish the season on the road visiting the red hot 1973 Texas Rangers 3 three then head for Tampa Bay for a pair against the 2nd Place 2002 Devil Rays before finishing the regular season in Kansas City with three against the 2005 Royals.

Injury Report: The team is all present and accounted for although pitcher Bart Johnson is a tad overworked. However Manager Ingemi has noted that he will be pitching John on three days rest in order to give him the three starts needed for a chance at 20 wins (currently at 17) that might be a risky move with the playoffs coming up.

2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2nd 67-76 10 GB Tragic number 2

Despite some of the biggest producers in the league Tampa Bay finds itself on the cusp of elimination with 11 games to go. Can their big bats pull off a final miracle to give them that chance?

Heroes: The one two punch of Aubrey Huff who leads the majors in Batting, Slugging, OPS and Hits while leading the AL in OBP and HR & RBI’s is complemented by Randy Wynn who leads the majors in runs while settling for 2nd in the AL in batting, Triples, OPS 3rd in Doubles, 4th in hits and 5th in OPS.

Zeros: Unfortunately while Huff and Wynn taketh , pitchers like starters Joe Kennedy (6-12 5.00 ERA .299 Avg against, Tanyon Sturtze (9-9 5.15 ERA 3.03 avg against ) givith away with a lot of help from the bullpen members like Wilson Alverez (5-7 6.96 ERA 1 sv 4 bs ) givith away.

Wild Card: While I specified Alversz under zeros due to the worst ERA on the team the closing staff in general like Steve Kent (3 saves 5 blown) Victor Zambrano (4 saves 4 blown) and particularly Estiban Yan (23 saves 10 blown) contributed to the Rays having the most blown saves in the AL

Coming Attractions: Tampa is the only other AL east team with meaningful games reaming concluding their final road trip with three in Baltimore to face the 2018 Orioles and 3 more in Kansas City vs the 2005 Royals. Then it’s back home to finish the season with a pair against the 1970 White Sox and 3 vs the 1973 Texas Rangers.

Injuries: If Tampa is Eliminated this week it won’t be due to injuries as all are healthy and ready to play

2018 Baltimore Orioles 59-84 3rd 18 GB

In theory the O’s have a shot to catch Tampa Bay to finish 2nd but their main concerning is keeping that half game lead over Detroit to keep from finishing in the basement and trying to miss the 90 loss mark.

Heroes: Johnathan Villar has been a bright spot on the O’s leading the league in SB with a chance to catch Huff for the Runs lead while 3rd in the league in walks and top ten in OBP, OPS & hits. When they managed to get a late lead closer Mychal Glvens has done the job leading the league with 28 saves while blowing only 4

Zeros: Starters David Hess (7.46 ERA .310 avg against) and Bundy Dillan (6-15) 6.34 ERA .311 avg against have a lot to do with where the Orioles are but according to manager Keith D the range or lack there of of outfielders Trey Mancini, Danny Valencia and occasional lapses by Adam Jones when he plays right have a lot to do with the team’s 5.83 ERA.

Wild Cards: Manny Machado came back to the O’s late in the season but he has made an impact hitting .344 and driving 20 in 22 games. Would a full season have done the trick?

Coming attractions: Baltimore will have a lot to do with how things end with 9 games at home first with a chance to eliminate the 2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3 then 3 vs 1982 Minnesota Twins also dodging elimination then finishing their home season with a pair vs the West leading 2008 Seattle Mariners fighting to keep their lead before traveling to Detroit to take on the 2003 Tigers in three games to decide who will take up the division’s rear.

Injuries: If Baltimore had made it to the playoffs there was a chance that infielder Tim Beckham might have played again this season but as it is Baltimore will have to play spoiler without him.

2003 Detroit Tigers 59-85 4th place 18 1/2 GB

The Tigers are playing for pride and thanks to a late Mets surge prevent themselves from finishing with the worst record in the majors. Can they pass the Orioles to finish 3rd or will they become a byword for futility?

Heroes: Dimitri Young remains one of the most dangerous hitters in the league currently top in in six different offensive categories and in striking distance in batting slugging and OPS. Alex Sanchez 13 Triples leads the league and his .322 avg is good enough for 8th with a chance to go higher.

Zeros: Mike Maroth leads the American league with 18 losses which is not a surprise given his .312 avg against and 6.41 ERA, but Nate Comejo’s 6.53 ERA & .347 avg is worse despite his 11-13 record but even though Gary Knotts 6.18 & .305 avg against his better than both his 3-11 record is a lowlight for the team.

Wild Card: Despite playing in home run friendly Detroit for half their games the Tigers are Dead last in the AL in homers with only 120 so far this season. Meanwhile their team ERA 5.15 is only outdone by the O’s in futility.

Coming Attractions: Detroit will have a lot to do with how the West is won welcoming the 1973 Texas Rangers and the 2008 Seattle Mariners for 3 each at home before their final brief two game road trip to Minnesota vs the 1982 Twins become coming home to face the 2018 Orioles to decide who is the worst team of them all.

Injuries: Everyone is healthy but given their record not sure if that’s good or bad.

National League East

2009 Washington Nationals 96-50 1st Clinched

The Washington Nationals have had the best record in the majors and the only question left is will they get to the 100 win mark. They are the prohibitive favorite for the World Series but in the playoffs anything can happen.

Heroes:Adam Dunn, josh Willingham, Nyler Morgan Christan Guzman & Willie Harris are all leading or in the top 3 of every offensive category except doubles n the mound closer Mike MacDougal has a 1.98 ERA & leads the league in saves (28) only blowing 5.

Zeros: Livan Hernandez has managed to go 5-8 win 30 starts on a 96 win team. I suspect his 6.52 ERA and .323 avg against has something to do with this. Another weak link is reliever Ron Villone who despite his 6-4 record has blown 4 of 6 games with a 5.30 ERA in 65 games.

Wild Cards: How good is this team? Catcher Will Nieves is about the only member of the team not producing big his .258 avg is the team low with only 1 homer and his 49 RBI is the lowest almond any player with more than 200 ab.

Coming attractions: the quest for 100 wins goes on at home with 3 vs the 1998 Florida Marlins and 2 vs the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates before finishing the regular season in NYC with 3 vs the 1967 Mets

Injury Report: Wil Nieves will miss game one vs the Marlins and Austin Kearns will not be available until the playoffs but the question is will the Nats sit key starters vs letting them compete for batting and slugging titles?

1998 Florida Marlins 80-66 2nd place 16 GB Eliminated

In any other division the Marlins would either be leading or in the thick of things but thanks to the domination of the Nationals they will have to wait for expansion next year for a chance at a playoff spot.

Heroes: Edger Renteria is tied for the league lead in runs (115) & 3rd in SB. CLIFF FLOYD is 3rd in the league in RBI’s (116) & hits (179) and top 10 in batting slugging and OPS and doubles.. One the Mound Livan Hernandez is third in ERA (3.02) and 4th in wins, (14) K’s (170) and inning pitched (217 2/3). In the Pen Matt Mantei is not only 15 of 17 in save chances but 9-4 with a 2.28 ERA out of the pen.

Zeros: If you want to point fingers at how Florida ended up eliminated. Simply look at Andy Larkin (0-8 in 30 games 17 starts ERA 7.13 avg .321) and Ryan Dempster (0-6 10 starts 12.16 ERA .420 avg against. If even five of those 14 losses had been wins. Florida would not be eliminated yet.

Wild Card: Florida as a team is only 1 game over .500 in nine inning games but once you get into extras they are 16-3 the best record by far in the majors and that’s after going 2-3 in their last five games in extra.

Coming Attractions: Florida is playing for pride and stats these days with 3 at Washington vs the 2009 Nationals followed by a quick 2 game final homestand vs the 1967 Mets before heading back on the road Pittsburgh to end their season vs the 2010 Pirates.

Injury Report: Veteran Catcher Gregg Zaun will miss the 1st two against the Nats but will be back to finish the season.

2010 Pittsburgh Pirates 73-73 3rd place 23 GB Eliminated

The Pirates can claim a moral victory. For a ling time they had the worst record in the league and fought back to .500 with 8 games to play. If they were in the west they would only be a game out. Can they finish with a record that would have won the west?

Heroes:Aramas Ramirez is leading the league in RBI’s s (179) and top 10 in batting slugging and OPS and doubles.. Brian Giles is hitt .324 (3rd) with an OBP .435 (2nd) OBS of 1.004 (2nd) slugging .569 (2nd) third in runs (113) triples (11) and walks (105) On the mound Dave Williams 2.80 is currently 2nd s (170) as is his WHIP of 1.01.

Zeros: Mike Fetters leads the NL in blown saves with 8 a 40% failure rate. but with an 8.49 ERA that’s to be expected. At the plate Jack Wilson’s triple crown numbers of .218 3HR 39 RBI’s isn’t scaring anybody.

Wild Cards: Pittsburgh offense is driven by the HR their 148 is third in the majors , their .250 team batting avg is however also 3rd worst in the majors.

Coming Attractions: Pittsburgh’s quest for an over .500 record continues in NY with three vs the 1967 Mets then heads for DC for a pair against the 2009 Nationals before they head home to finish vs the 1998 Florida Marlins.

Injury Report: Armando Rios and Mike Lincoln are both out for the year. Damaso Marte will miss the series vs the Mets but Keith Osik will be available by game 3.

1967 New York Mets 58-88 38 GB Eliminated.

For a good chunk of the season there was a real question if the Mets would loos 100 but now they have an outside chance of NOT finishing with the worst record in the majors? Can they pull one final rabbit out of the hat?

Heroes While :Tommy Davis at 179 hits (2nd) and a .320 avg (4th) and 8th in SB is worth a mention The fact that Tom Seaver has won 20 games for the team with the worst record is the majors (tied for 1st with Randy Johnson is astounding. Seaver is 7th in ERA 2nd in Strikeouts (213) 8th in innings, and 1st in fewest HR per 9 innings (0.49) the ONLY non relief category that anyone is beating Johnson in. If it wasn’t for Randy he would be a shoo in for the NL Cy Young.

Zeros: How poor have Jerry Grote and Jerry Bucheck hit? Tom Seaver has a better avg than both. But if you want to choose a zero Well there’s Don Cardwell (5-14) Jack Fisher (3-20) leading the league in losses and Dennis Bennett (5-11) and of course Ron Taylor with 4 saves in 11 chances.

Wild card: How critical is Seaver? The Mets 4.51 ERA is 7th in the 16 team major leagues. remove Seaver and it becomes 4.80 which would be 11th. But when you hit only 67 home runs last in the majors not to mention last in the majors in doubles hits and RBI’s and last in the NL in walks those 20 wins look even more miraclious.

Coming Attractions: The Mets have three at home vs the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates before jetting to Florida for their final away series vs the 1998 Marlins before ending the season vs the 2009 Washington Nationals. Can Seaver finish ahead of Johnson in wins?

Injury Report: The entire team is healthy for those final eight games?

Dynasty 100 Loss All Futility League Report: East Divisions

The latest of a weekly series on the teams in my Online (or in person) Dynasty baseball simulation leagues I run. If you have an interest in joining one leave a message in comments.

This week we visit the Dynasty All Pathetic 100 loss league consisting only of teams that lost 100 games in a season. We are in the home stretch here with about 40 games to go of a 154 game season.

AL East

1970 Chicago White Sox

With 38 games to go the Mariners are just one series away from tying. Can the White Sox continue to hold their lead with a few big bats and and the best pitching in the AL or will a suspect defense at the corners let them down?

Heroes: Bill Melton (29 HR 98 RBI ) and Ed Herrmann (30 HR 80 RBI) may be the 2nd best HR duo for a team but they have made the difference in game after game. Meanwhile on the mound Tommy John has been an innings horse 208 innings, 10 complete games and a respectable 3.72 ERA

Zeroes: Barry Moore has been much worse than his 5-5 record indicates, with a 5.69 ERA and a .296 batting avg against he’s kept many a door open. Meanwhile while Sid O’Brien has been acceptable at the bat when occasionally starting his .933 percentage at 2nd and .930 at 3rd has helped extend plenty of rallies but when it come to bad defense Walt Williams takes the cake with an .897 in left and a 917 in right.

Wild Cards: The best arms in the White Sox bullpen are looking tired as the season nears its end. That could spell disaster shortly.

Coming attractions: The Pale Hose finish a 4 city roadtrip with a pair against the 1st place 1982 Twins before a quick stop at home for a pair vs the 2003 Tigers before heading off to Baltimore for a 4 game series that will likely make or break the 2018 Orioles.

2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Tampa under it’s new manager has risen to within three games of Chicago and on occasion even closer. Can the timely hitting overcome an average pitching staff?

Heroes: No question who the heroes are on this team Aubrey Huff leads the league in batting (.358) Slugging .631 OB+Slugging (1.053) and Runs Batted in. and is top five in Runs, Hits and On Base Percentage. The only reason he’s not a lock for the MVP is teammate Randy Wynn who leads the league in Runs, Triples, Stolen bases 2nd in Avg, .(356) Hits (172) Doubles (37) and is top five in two others.

Zeroes: Estaban Yan may have 21 saves but he’s also blown 8 on the way accounting 4.11 ERA & 6-10 record, and of course a lot of runs don’t help a lot when you have starters Joe Kennedy (6-9 ERA 5.00 AVG .302) and Tanyon Sturtez (7-7 ERA 4.99 Avg .304) helping the other guys along.

Wild Cards: Almost half of their remaining games are against teams currently in or tied for 1st place in a division.

Coming Attractions: It’s two in Minnesota against the 1st place 1982 Twins before a 9 game home stand vs 2008 Mariners (4), 2018 Orioles (2) and the 2005 Royals (3).

2018 Baltimore Orioles

Despite losing their manager early in the season the Orioles still have an outside shot (a very outside shot). Can this ship without a rudder steer itself straight in the closing weeks of the campaign?

Heroes: Jonathan Villar has provided the triple crown numbers for the team (.325, 21HR 71 RBI) while leading the team in runs by more than 40 and stealing 37 bases. While reliever Mychal Givens has proved to be not only a workhorse but one of the best closers in the league with 23 saves with only 4 blown and a 6-2 record to go along with it.

Zeroes: Having a great closer doesn’t help if you can’t get to him and the O’s boast the worst pitching in the AL as David Hess (7.58 ERA 19 HR allowed .316 avg) Dylan Bundy (5.95 ERA 19 HR .305 allowed ) and Andrew Cashner (5.22 ERA .290 AVG 13 HR allowed) just haven’t done the job.

Wild Cards: What as bad as having the worst pitching in the league, having the lowest fielding percentage in the majors (.978)

Coming Attractions: after a pair vs the slugging 1973 Texas Rangers the O’s have 4 at home vs the 1970 White Sox and then start a road trip that begins in Tampa Bay with a pair against the 2002 Devil Rays. If they are to climb back into the race this will be their chance.

2003 Detroit Tigers:

The math still says that the Tigers have a shot but with pitching only slightly better than Baltimore and Hitting that is meh. It will take a real run of luck for these cats to roar into the playoffs.

Heroes: Dimirti Young has been at the top of his game all year with 26 HR 91 RBI a .341 abg and an OPS of .992 On a bad pitching staff Wil Ledezma has managed to put together a 6-3 record mostly from the bullpen with a few starts for good measure and Chris Spurling has thrown 106 innings all in relief with an era under 4 on a team whose ERA is over 5.

Zeroes: While Omar Infante (.205 0HR 25 RBI in 111 games is an obvious choice if you list the Tigers pitching by ERA their four primary starts are at the bottom with only Jeremy Bonderman with an ERA below six (5.45) but Nate Cornejo (9-11 6.14 ERA .343 avg) Gary Knotts (3-10 6.28 ERA 16 HR allowed) and Mike Maroth (6-16 6.75 ERA 24 HR allowed .327 Avg) have been the gifts that keep giving to opposing batters.

Wild Card: Whatever is to blame for Detroit’s problems it’s not the glovework as the Tigers are tied for the best fielding percentage in the league.

Coming Attractions: If Detroit is going to make a move the best time for them is now with a pair at Chicago followed by 4 at home vs the last place 2005 Kansas City Royals and then back on the road for the 1973 Texas Rangers.

National League East

2009 Washington Nationals

The Nationals have dominated the National League since almost the start beginning with a pair of 4 game win streaks to start and never looking back. The only question left is can they sustain this level of winning when the playoffs come around?

Heroes: Adam Dunn has been a monster a the plate with 36 HR and 105 RBI’s meanwhile Morgan Nyjer has not only hit .335 but has stolen 63 bases and scored 96 runs meanwhile John Lannan’s 13-5 record is driven by a .203 batting avg against and 2 k’s for every walk 114 vs 57 (despite 17 HR)

Zeroes: It’s hard to find zeros on a team that has only lost 37 games but while starter Livan Hernandez has given up just one less HR than Lannan he’s also allowed a .312 avg against and a 6.41 ERA on a team that has outscored their opponents by over 175 runs certainly qualifies. How good is this offense? Their “Zero” in the hitting column Elijah Dukes is hitting .235 with 13 HR 83 RBI and 24 doubles. Even their least productive overall hitter Wil Nieves whose .261 avg 1 HR & 39 RBI in 353 AB are not impressive is hitting .315 with runners in scoring position.

Wild Card: Since acquiring their new manager the Nationals who were already solidly in command have won 12 of their last 14.

Coming Attractions: The Nats welcome the NL West with series vs the 1st place 2012 Houston Astros (2) and the 1973 Padres (4) before heading off to a three city Road stand that will take them to Milwaukee, Florida and Pittsburgh.

1998 Florida Marlins

If you moved the Marlins to any other division in the league they would be leading by anywhere from 3 to 8 games instead they find themselves 10 games back with 38 to play. Can they recover?

Heroes: The Marlins have won with pitching (3.72 team ERA) and Starter Livan Hernandez (12-9 2.68 ERA .140 avg .228 avg against) has been the biggest part of an excellent staff, it helps when your closer Matt Mantei is 14 of 16 in save chances with a 9-3 record and workhourse reliever Vic Darensbourg with a 1.51 ERA in 101 1/3 innings and a 9-2 record in relief. Of course Cliff Floyd’s 18 HR and 92 RBI’s haven’t hurt either.

Zeroes: The only dark spot on the rotation has been Andy Larkin (0-7 in 15 starts with an era of 6.63 almost double the team avg. At the plate Derrek Lee has 14 HR but has only hit .201, .180 with runners in scoring position and managed an OBP of .288 while Gregg Zaun has managed only .212 with 4 HR and 44 RBI.

Wild Cards: If you’re going to beat the Marlins you had better do it in nine innings. They are a perfect 15-0 in extra inning games.

Coming Attractions: Florida finishes a home stand with 2 against the 1973 Padres and a pair against the 2002 Brewers before heading on the road to try and knock the 2012 Astros off their perch at the top of the NL West.

2010 Pittsburgh Pirates

After a horrible start the Pirates have somehow managed to make it back to .500. With only 38 games to go can they rally to make a respectable finish?

Heroes: Brian Giles (.327 20 HR 72 RBI) numbers are nothing to sneeze at but for pure power i’s been Aramis Ramierz with 30 HR (2nd in NL) and 117 RBI (1st) that has really done the job

Zeroes: While the injury bug has not been kind to Bronson Arroyo it’s not a good excuse for an ERA 2 full runs over the team avg and a .310 avg .062 above the rest of the staff. Jack Wilson has been a disappointment with a .221 3 28 triple crown line and an OBP under .300 (.291)

Wildcard: The Pirates have been incredibly average everywhere with identical 29-29 records at home and on the road, but have blown 22 out of 56 save chances.

Coming Attractions: Pittsburgh’s quest to go beyond avg continues with a pair vs 2004 Arizona and then 4 at 2002 Milwaukee before they come home for a nine game set that begins with the 1967 Mets

1967 New York Mets

In a league of 100 loss teams the 1967 Mets have been a loser among losers as with 38 games to go they are a single loss away from being mathematically eliminated. Dare I say Amazing?

Heroes: No question who the hero is on this team Tom Seaver is 15-8 with an ERA of 3.36 and 167 K’s vs only 58 walks he’s also pitched 8 complete games which is seven more than the rest of the rotation combined. Despite playing in 103 games Bob Johnson has only managed 167 at bats but in those limited at bats he’s hit .365 with an OPS of .880

Zeroes: At the plate Jerry Grote has been the lowest of the low lights for the gothamites (.170 1 HR 26 RBI in 317 AB) on the mound despite Jack Fisher’s 2-16 record the biggest villains in the rotation are Don Cardwell (4-12 3.16 avg 5.58 ERA) and Dennis Bennett (4-10 6.26 ERA 19 HR in 100 2/3 innings)

Wild Cards: Polhittingly Correct The Mets bats are careful not to offend anyone. They are not only the last in the league in HR, but last in Runs, Doubles RBI’s OBP Slugging and OPS

Coming Attractions: the 1974 SanDiego Padres get the honor of trying to officially eliminate the Mets at their home but if they fail to do so, the 2004 Arizona Diamondback get four chances to do it in Shea before they head off to Houston to face the 2012 Astros.

Dynasty Players Choice League AL / NL Div C Report

The Latest of our reports from my Dynasty Players Choice league by division. Next week we’ll bring you updates from our all futility league but for now. Division C in the Players Choice League:

AL Division C

2015 Kansas City Royals

After a slow start the Royals not only have 1st place in the AL Division C but the best record in the American league. Can their one run heroics (7-3) in one run games continue to keep them on top?

Heroes: It’s hard to pick one hero on this team but but Kendrys Morales is a great candidate. with his team leading .315 avg. 15 RBI while hitting .364 with runners in scoring position. On the Mound Johnny Cueto is 4-0 with a team leading 43 2/3 innings 2 complete games and a WHIP of only 1.17. While Wade Davis is 4-4 in save chances twice as many k’s as BB and has yet to give up an earned run.

Zeroes: Salvador Perez is a reluctant choice for a zero. His .214 avg is last on the team and 17K’s in 84 AB is a lot but he’s driven in 9 runs (.333 with 2 outs & RISP) and has caught 2 of 7 who have tried to steal off him. However there is no doubt about Starters Danny Duffy (1-3) .398 avg against 8.35 ERA and Jeremy Guthrie (0-2 .410 avg against 12.00 ERA) their seven starts are the reason this team is not a lot farther ahead.

Wildcard: Ben Zobrist was hitting .455 with runners in scoring position and .333 with 2 outs and runners in scoring position with 5 HR in only 13 games before going on the DL. Now that he’s back a team expect the teams -2 Run differential to change dramatically, particularly against opponents with a combined 28-33 record.

Coming attractions: A quick 3 game homestand vs the 2009 Yankees is followed by a six game road trip to opposite ends of the Country against the 1988 A’s in Oakland and then the 2013 Redsox in Boston.

1924 Washington Senators

A just over .500 record might be good enough and even stats might be a big improvement over last seasons epic 4-21 finish to the season but if they expect to do better than fighting for the last playoff spot they will have to surge.

Heroes: Roger Peckinpaugh’s 3 HR is more than all he hit last year. Combine that with a dozen RBI, a dozen walks and the team lead in runs despite batting 6-9th and he’s looking good. Tommy Taylor might be a part time player but he’s hitting .297 and shares the league lead in triples with teammate Sam Rice with 4. On the Mound George Mogridge is 4th League ERA (2.38) 2nd in wins (4) 3rd in avg against (.216) and is the reason why the Senators are only 1 1/2 out.

Zeroes: Curly Ogden has been nothing short of disaster both as a starter and a reliever 0-3 8.27 ERA Seven walks and 4 HR allowed vs only one strikeout. Bucky Harris has scored 13 runs but is batting only .234 with a .237 slugging percentage and with .077 avg when leading off isn’t getting the table set. Not that it would matter for Joe Judge whose slump which started at the end of last season keeping him from 100 RBI’s continues. He has only 5 RBI a .237 avg and an anemic .111 avg with runners in scoring position and is hitless with runners in scoring position with 2 outs.

Wild Card: Walter Johnson has been a workhorse 3rd in inning pitched in the league holding batters to a .217 avg (4th) & a WHIP of 1.18 (6th) in the lead while hitting .364 with 1 HR and 4 RBI’s off the bench but only has a only a 3-3 record thanks to a 3.61 ERA and six homers. Will he settle down or will the use of him on 3 days rest mean an average Johnson.

Coming Attractions: The Senators finish a home stand vs the 2009 Yankees, Fly off to Oakland to face the 1998 A’s for a series before beginning a long 21 game homestand staring against the 2013 Redsox.

2009 New York Yankees

After losing six of their first 8 the Bronx Bombers are only a game under five hundred winning six of their last 8. Are they poised to make their move or are the roadblocks ahead too big?

Heroes: Derek Jeter’s .337 avg coupled with his team lead in hits high RBI & runs scored totals coupled with error less play at short are huge although perhaps not as huge as Mark Teixeira’s league lead in HR and 8th spot in the RBI race. Meanwhile on a Pitching staff that has been avg or worse reliever Alfredo Aceves WHIP of 1.09 and 2.87 ERA is a breath of fresh air.

Zeroes: Mariano Rivera‘s four blown saves vs 3 saves and ERA over 5 (5.52) is a big reason why the Yanks are under .500 but with AM Burnett (2-2 6.39 ERA .310 avg against) Andy Pettitte (0-3 6.67 ERA .339 avg against) and Joba Chamberlain (0-2 7.45 ERA .316 avg against) putting up these kind of numbers over 13 starts it’s a wonder there they are only a game under .500. of course Jorge Posada .130 avg and single HR coupled with 6 bases stolen against and two errors doesn’t help much either.

Wildcards: The Yanks are 7-5 in games outside the division but with an unbalanced schedule that can be fatal, however they are a perfect 2-0 in extras.

Coming Attractions: The Yanks get a chance to climb back in the race with a 12 game road trip that starts with a pair of division rivals ahead of them as it takes them to Washington to face the 1924 Senators and the 1st place 2015 Royals before heading off to Chicago to face the 2005 White Sox and Toronto for the 1993 BlueJays

2002 Anaheim Angles

The Angels are one of two teams still without a full time manager and it shows. With both the worst record in the league and the worst run differential is it a lost season or can the Halos turn it around.

Heroes: David Eckstein’s .327 avg and .412 OB is a big reason why he leads the teams in runs and a .333 avg with runners on isn’t bad either (although those five errors haven’t helped) much. On the pitching side Brendan Donnelly has been spectacular in relief with a 3-0 record and a WHIP of 0.91 in 6 games has been one of the few reasons to cheer.

Zeroes: Oh the Agony of choice on this team for this dishonor but let’s begin with starters Kevin Appier (1-4 8.77 ERA .342 avg against ) and Jon Lackey ( 0-1 8.71 ERA only 10 1/3 innings in 3 starts) who haven’t done the job on the mound, while Ben Molina’s 3 errors behind the plate while batting .171 at it have been disastrous.

Wild Card: The lack of a full time manager makes things harder but not as hard as Left handed pitching. The team is 1-9 against southpaws.

Coming Attractions: A 9 game road trip might just be the thing to get their minds off their troubles. They’ll start in Chicago to face the 2004 White Sox head north to Detroit for the 1968 Tigers and then to Cleveland against the defending AL champs the 1954 Indians.

NL Div C

2016 Chicago Cubs

With a team Tied for the 2nd best record in the league and in first place it would seem like smooth sailing for the Cubs however when despite all this you share 1st with another team it looks like this season is going to be a fight from 1st to last.

Heroes: On a Team that’s only batting .232 Dexter Fowler’s .311 avg 2 HR 11 RBI and four triples (2nd in the league) stands out. But with a team ERA of .263 there are a bunch of candidates, so we’ll name John Lackey (3-0 .182 avg 1.98 ERA) and Jon Lester (2-0 2.10 ERA and 31 K vs 11 walks to start) with Aroldis Chapman (1-0 2 sv 22k vs 3 BB and no runs allowed in 11 1/3 ) leads the way.

Zeroes: the only dark spot in the rotation has been Kyle Hendricks with a 4.15 ERA and a 2-3 Record and a fielding percentage of .667. Javier Baez .191 avg and .242 OB is the worst of a bad lot

Wild Cards Despite the 2nd best record in the league the Cubs OBS of .666 is the 2nd worst. Jake Arrieta has been the teams hard luck loser at 1-4 with a 2.06 ERA but he’s had even harder luck in his two away starts with an 0-2 record despite a 1.72 ERA and 21k vs 5 walks.

Coming Attractions: the Cubs put their incredible ERA to the test in Cincinnati against the 1975 Big Red Machine before coming home to face power hitting 2019 Nationals and then Hank Aaron’s 1957 Braves.

1962 San Francisco Giants

The defending division champs want another chance that the Pennant but despite the 2nd best record in game those pesky Cubs won’t give in and Philly is even in the loss column. Can they make some distance.

Heroes: Willie McCovey has been pounding the ball with a .397 avg 7 HR and 22 RBI’s and Felipe Alou at .375 6 HR and 24 RBI is right behind. While on the mound Juan Marichal (3-1 1.93 ERA in six starts) leads the way.

Zeroes: Don Larson two blown saves in two chances are no accident with hitters batting .320 vs him and and a 9.00 ERA. While Bobby Bolin’s ERA is a full run better (7.85) five HR in 18.1 innings means trouble but so does Jose Pagan .170 avg with but a single dinger

Wild Cards: The Giants have feasted on right handers with a 12-5 record and have really shined in day games at 6-2.

Coming Attractions: It’s a nasty road Trip for the Giants: with three in Philly vs the 2008 Phillies followed by a trip to Brooklyn for the 1955 Dodgers and before finishing back in their old stomping ground of New York against the 1986 Mets.

2008 Philadelphia Phillies

Sitting even in the loss column with both the Giants and Cubs The Phillies just on burst away from heading right to the top.

Heroes: Shane Victorino has been an RBI machine driving in 19 with a .326 avg while also scoring a team leading 14. Closer Brad Lidge has been the warrior with 6 saves in 7 chances, a 1.35 ERA and 17k’s in 13 1/3 innings over 13 games. In 19 games Geoff Jenkins is hitting .418 with 2 homers and 12 RBI’s

Zeroes: Kyle Kendrick only managed 14.2 innings in four starts with a 10.43 ERA and 11 walks vs 5 k’s. Rudy Seanez ERA is almost 5 runs better at 5.82 but he’s 0-3 with a blown save in 13 games of unimpressive relief.

Wild Cards: Ryan Howard is only hitting .152 but with 12 hits but with those 12 hits he’s managed 5 HR and 9 RBI while scoring 13 runs.

Coming Attractions: It’s 3 on the road with the 2005 Astros before heading home with a shot at the 1962 San Francisco Giants before heading on the road again first to face the 1975 Cincinnati Reds and the 2019 Washington Nationals.

2005 Houston Astros

A 9-12 start isn’t a disaster this early in the season but with the three teams ahead all in single digits for losses there are a lot of people to pass to get back in this race.

Heroes: Orlando Palmeiro is hitting .362 over 18 games while Morgan Ensberg has managed five homers and 14 RBI’s and an .885 OPS to lead the team in all three categories. Willy Travers 24 hits leads the team and he has 9 SB to go along with it. Roger Clemens has an 1.88 ERA with three complete games and three wins in six starts.

Zeroes: Andy Pettitte’s 4.66 ERA doesn’t sound bad but on a team with an ERA of 3.03 it’s been good for a 0-4 record thanks to six HR allowed, a full half the amount of the entire staff. Meanwhile Brad Lidge has been the opposite of his Philadelphia twin blowing 2 of 3 save chances with a team worst 4.82 ERA. Brad Ausmus .164 avg is the worst on a bad team of those who qualify.

Wild Cards: The good news is the Astros are holding their opponents to a .219 avg with only 9 HR over 21 games. The bad news is they’re only batting .215 with 9 HR themselves.

Coming Attractions: It’s three games at home vs the 2008 Phillies then it’s on the road to NYC 1st to Brooklyn vs the 1955 Dodgers, and then to Shea for the 1998 Mets then it’s south to Florida for 3 vs the 1997 Marlins

Sunday Morning Under the Fedora Media vs Brady, Kyrie addition by subtraction, Tampa Bay Lightning not striking twice, Betts as Ruth Redux and Games on paper vs games on paper

Are we still after last year seeing sports casters saying that even if the New England Patriots win against the hapless Dolphins today that the only question in the playoffs is: “Do the Patriots lose to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs at home or in Kansas city?”

Now don’t get me wrong, Kansas City is a good team and as demonstrated earlier in the year they are quite capable of beating any team including the Patriots, but I can’t think of anything that is more likely to motivate an already great Patriots defense and Tom Brady back into “Deflategate revenge tour” mode than stuff like this.

It’s still very early in the season but I’d like to point out that last year the Brooklyn Nets finished the year at 42-40 with a .512 winning percentage without Kyrie Irving as the 6th seed while the Boston Celtics finished at 49-33 with a .598 winning percentage as the 5th seed in the east with Kyrie irving.

This year Irving left the Celtics and the team is currently the #3 seed at 22-8 with a .733 winning percentage and even with the #2 Miami Heat in the Loss Column. Irving signed with the nets who are currently 16-15 with a .516 winning percentage and 7th seeded in the conference, but more importantly is 12-8 with a .600 winning percentage since an injury sidelined Irving after a 4-7 start.

This man is the anti-Brady

Last year in the NHL during the Regular Season the Tampa Bay Lightning simply dominated the league in a way we hadn’t seen in years until the playoffs came around. I remember driving home after game one listening to sports radio as they declared that despite that loss Columbus had no chance right up until they finished the lightning off.

It’s a year later and the team that managed 128 points, a solid 20 above every other is now currently at 42 points five points behind the last wild card team. Now there are still 46 games to go but it’s an important reminder that you have to take advantage of any opportunity you have because you just might not get another chance.

Speaking of not getting another chance as the year ends and the 2020 season draws near we are still getting “the trade or don’t trade Mookie Betts” debate in Boston.

It’s been a pretty quiet off season for the Red Sox with three players from last world series win (Brock Holt, Mitch Moreland, Rick Porcello ) currently testing free agency and Catcher Sandy Leon traded to Cleveland for minor league pitcher Adenys Bautista. As of today their current offensive depth chart looks like this (via redsox.com):

With the exception of Pedroia this is pretty much the Red Sox offence that tore up the league last year but was betrayed by injuries in the rotation and weakness in the bullpen. Or to put it another way, this team is one closer and perhaps one healthy rotation away from fielding a team more than capable of dominating the American league with a monster offense, a zipper outfield and a rotation as good as any other in baseball.

So to those who say forget 2020 and trade Mookie let me remind all these people who have forgotten the lean times of a little history.

Exactly 100 years ago another Red Sox had an off season at 66-71-1 (one game called after 10 innings never made up) where they had dropped to sixth a year after winning the world series. They decided to get rid of their star right fielder, who could also pitch a bit, before the start of their next season selling him for a price higher than the entire payroll of the the previous year’s team. More money than the combined salaries of the top 8 players in the league.

That team had won five World series in the 20th century at that point, they would not win another.

Now Mookie Betts is no Babe Ruth but the point of the story is when you have a chance to win a World Series take it, because it might be another 86 years before you win another.

Finally as I mentioned before the old table top face to face fantasy baseball league that I started 32 years ago (the year before I got married) was revived this year. Going into Friday I had a record of 8-4 having won my 1st 4 series with a pair of series coming up against two relative newcomers with one season of experience between them both with losing records.

Over the next two days I lost 4-6 including a 9th inning blown save by Kimbrel, a 14th inning marathon, and had a team with Mookie Betts batting 1st and Anthony Rendon hitting 3rd shut out for the final 20 innings of the last two games against a sixteen year old kid who was playing in his 1st baseball simulation league 50 years after I had gotten my 1st baseball simulation game, Milton Bradley baseball for Christmas in 1969 (great game btw you can get it on eBay here) at the ripe old age of six.

This demonstrates a sports rule that extends even to games on paper. No matter what the betting line or the prognosticators say there is a reason why you actually play the games.

Sable/Gerbl Face to Face Schedule Update Umpire crews added

Yes I’m running yet ANOTHER Dynasty baseball league, this one face to face staring Oct 19th in Fitchburg at Zeda’s Pizza. Games are scheduled for 1 pm and visitors and folks interesting in learning the game are more than welcome to show up. Here is the schedule.

And Yes I KNOW there are a lot of things going on with the Bs impeachment stuff and North Korea and Hong Kong and the Democrats and elections and the Vatican and even demons etc etc etc, but there is more to life than that stuff and I intend to enjoy it.

All Series are three games Night Night Day

April

Wk 1

Sea (Patrick) at NYY (Sherwoood)  Ump A a-c
StL (Alvin) at SD (Mike M)  Ump B a-c
SF (Mark Gionet) at Mets (Elliot Gionet)  Ump C a-c
TB (Kennedy) at Washington (Peter) Ump D a-c

Wk 2

NYY (Sherwoood) at SF (M Gionet) F  a-c
Washington (Peter) at Seattle (Patrick)  D d-b
SD (Mike M) at TB (Mike K) E a-c
Mets (E Gionet) at StL (Alvin) C d-b

one day rest

Wk 3

Sea (Patrick) at Mets (E Gionet) D c-a
StL (Alvin) at Washington (Peter) C c-a
SF (Mark Gionet) at SD (Mike M) F d-b
TB (Kennedy) at NYY (Sherwood) E d-b

May

Wk 4

NYY (Sherwoood) at StL (Alvin) G a-c
SD (Mike M) at Sea (Patrick) H a-c
Mets (Elliot Gionet) at TB (Mike K) E c-a
Washington (Peter) at SF (M Gionet) F c-a

one day rest

Wk 5

NYY (Sherwoood) at Mets (E Gionet) I a-c
Washington (Peter) at SD (Mike M) J a-c
SF (M Gionet) at Sea (Patrick) G d-b
TB (Mike K) at StL (Alvin) F b-d

Wk 6

Mets (Elliot Gionet) at Washington (Peter)  I d-b
SD (Mike M) at NYY (Sherwood) J a-c
Sea (Patrick) at TB (Mike K) G c-a
StL (Alvin) at SF (M Gionet) K a-c

one day rest June  Wavers begin

Wk 7

Nets (Elliott Gionet) at SD (Mike M) K d-b
NYY (Sherwood) at Washington  (Peter) L a-c
SF (Mark Gionet) at TB (Kennedy) M a-c
Sea (Patrick) at StL (Alvin) G c-a

Wk 8

SD (Mike M) at Washington (Peter)  N a-c
Mets (Elliot Gionet) at NYY (Sherwood)  O a-c
StL (Alvin) at TB (Kennedy)  P a-c
Sea (Patrick) at SF (Mark Gionet)  K c-a

One day rest

Wk 9

Washington (Peter) at Mets (Elliot Gionet)  O d-b
NYY (Sherwood) at SD (Mike M)  Q a-c
SF (Mark Gionet) at StL (Alvin)  A d-b 
TB (Kennedy) at Sea (Patrick) N d-b

July

Wk 10

SD (Mike M) at Mets (Elliott Gionet) O c-a
Washington (Peter) at NYY (Sherwood) Q d-b 
TB (Kennedy) at SF (Mark Gionet)  B d-b 
StL (Alvin) at Sea (Patrick) C b-d  

3 days rest
———————————  All Star Game

Week 11

NYY (Sherwoood) at Sea (Patrick) D b-d  
SD (Mike M) at StL (Alvin) E b-d 
Mets (Elliot Gionet) at SF (Mark Gionet) F a-c 
Washington (Peter) at TB (Kennedy) G b-d 

Week 12

NYY (Sherwoood) at Mets (Elliot Gionet) E a-c
Sea (Patrick) at Washington (Peter) D a-c 
TB (Kennedy) at SD (Mike M) G a-c
SF (Mark Gionet) at NYY (Sherwood) H d-b

1 day rest

Week 13

Mets (Elliot Gionet) at Sea (Patrick) I c-a
SD (Mike M) at SF (Mark Gionet) J d-b
Washington (Peter) at StL (Alvin) D d-a
NYY (Sherwood) at TB (Kennedy) E d-b

Aug

Week 14

StL (Alvin) at NYY (Sherwoood) I b-d
SF (Mark Gionet) at Washington (Peter) E c-a
TB (Kennedy) at Mets (Elliot Gionet) K b-d
Sea (Patrick) at SD (Mike M) L d-b

1 day rest  

Week 15

Mets (Elliot Gionet) at NYY (Sherwoood) I a-c
SD (Mike M) at Washington (Peter) M d-b
Sea (Patrick) at SF (Mark Gionet) K a-c
StL (Alvin) at TB (Kennedy) N c-a

Wk 16

NYY (Sherwoood) at SD (Mike M) O b-d
TB (Kennedy) at Sea (Patrick) P d-b
SF (Mark Gionet) at StL (Alvin) K d-b
Washington (Peter) at Mets (Elliott Gionet) N b-d

1 day rest

Wk 17

TB (Kennedy) at SF (Mark Gionet) N a-c
SD (Mike M) at Mets (Elliott Gionet) O a-c
StL (Alvin) at Sea (Patrick) P c-a
Washington (Peter) at NYY (Sherwood) K c-a

Sept  Rosters expand waivers end

Week 18

NYY (Sherwood) at Mets (Elliott Gionet) Q c-a
Washington (Peter) at SD (Mike M) A c-a
SF (Mark Gionet) at Sea (Patrick) K b-d
TB (Kennedy) at StL (Alvin) N d-b

1 day rest

Week 19

SD (Mike M) at NYY (Sherwood) B c-a
Mets (Elliot Gionet) at Washington (Peter) C a-c
StL (Alvin) at SF (Mark Gionet)  k a-c
Sea (Patrick) at TB (Kennedy) N c-a

Week 20

Mets (Elliott Gionet) at SD (Mike M) D c-a
NYY (Sherwood) at Washington (Peter) E b-d
SF (Mark Gionet) at TB (Kennedy) N b-d
Sea (Patrick) at StL (Alvin) B c-d

two days rest

NOTE:  Any Divisional or playoff tiebreaker is played on the 1st day unless there is a make-up game scheduled on that day that could affect the playoff picture.  In that case said makeup game is played on day one as a day game and any tiebreaker is played on day two also as a day game.

October Playoffs begin  

Wild Card Single Game (Night) 

Non Division winner with 3rd best record @ Non Division winner with 2nd best record  F  a

One day rest

Best of five series

Wild card winner @  Division champion with best record (2) Day / Night G b-c

Non Division winner with best record @ Division Champion with worst record (2) (night / Day) H c-d

day rest

Division champion with best Record @ Wild card winner (2) night / day G d-a

Division champion with worst record @ Non division winner with best record (2)  (day / Night) H a-b

day rest

If necessary

Wild card winner @  Division champion with best record  Day G b

Non Division winner with best record @ Division Champion with worst record (night) H c

Any playoff day game 4 or 5 automatically becomes a night game if it is the only series still in progress.

two days rest

World Series best of seven

Team 2 at team 1 (2 games) I d-a

travel day

team 1 at team 2 (3 games) I b-d

travel day

team 2 at team 1 (2 games) I a-b

If one or more division winners make it to the world series the surviving division winner with the best regular season record is team 1

If no division winner makes it to the world series the team that played the Division winner with the worst record in the previous round is team 1

Rainout rules.

A Rainout in game one of a series is played as a day/night double header in game 2. (day game)

A Rainout in game 2 is replayed as a day / night double headers on day 3 (Night game)

If there is an off day after game 3 a rainout on day three is played on the travel day. (Day game) This is ALWAYS the 1st choice

If there is no travel day after the series and there is another series between the same teams at the same location then the game will be made up as a day-night double header during 1st game of the next series at that location (Day game)

If there is no travel day after the series and there is

  • 1. another series between the same teams at a different location
  • AND
  • 2.. there is a travel day before or after that series

Then this game is played on that travel day It is a night game if played before the series and a day game if played after.

If there is no travel day after the series and

  • There are no further games between the opponents
  • OR
  • There is a series at a different location
  • AND
  • There is no travel day before or after that series

The game is made up at the 1st open day where neither team has no game scheduled. The game is a day game as it’s assumed at least one team will need to travel to the location of the game and one or both teams may need to travel to the location of their next game.

In all cases but the final one the game can be either played at once or during a regularly scheduled series with the opponent. If this final situation is the case and the players are playing on an off day when they are scheduled to play different opponents that week the players should do one of these three things:

  1. Once they finish their games with their scheduled opponents stay and stay and play the make up game,
  2. Arrive at Zeda an hour or so early and play the make up game then play their scheduled opponent at the normal time. If both the players and the scheduled opponents can stay late then the make up game can start at the normal time.
  3. Find a mutually agreeable time during the two week span between the scheduled series to play the game either at Zedas or at That’s Entertainment or at either players house.

Rainouts during the playoffs

A rainout on the tiebreaker is played the next day.

A rainout during the 1st two games of a playoff series is played on the travel day. It is a day game.

A rainout during the next two games of a playoff series is played on the travel day if necessary if game 3 is rained out and game four produces a winner then obviously game three does not have to be made up. it is a day game.

A rainout during game five of a playoff game is played on the 1st off day. It is a night game.

World Series Rainouts

A Rainout during game 1 or two is played on the travel day as a day game

A Rainout during games 3-5 is played on the travel game, it is a day game unless it is an elimination game, then it is a night game.

A rainout of games six or seven (or both) are played after day seven as night games.

Sable Face to Face League Draft in Fitchburg (liveblog

Round 26 three picks (last round)

Sea:  Michael Taylor Wash of / Armando Rosario SS Mets/ Charlie Blackman Col CF

Mets    Chester Cuthburt KC 3B  /  Max Kepler Minn of / Jorge Polanco SS min
SD    Shane Bieber P Cle /  Brandon Guyer RF cle / Kyler Olsen P Cle
TB    Derrick Rodriguez SP SF /  Cole Colhern OF Cal / Ketel Marte  2b ari
SF  Mark Canha CF Oak  / Joe Musgrove SP Pit / Shin-Soo  Choo Rf Tex
StL   Sean Manaea Oak SP /  Robertson Chirinos  c Tex / Chad Gyorka 3b   StL
NYY   Mike Zunino Sea C / Tim Anderson CWS SS / Freddie Galdis SS SD
Washington Bruce Maxwell C Oak / Jose Castillo LHP SD /  Rougned Odor 2b Tex

Round 25 three picks

Wash:  Jose Abreu 1b CWS / Adeiny Hechavarria NYY ss/ james paxton SP
NYY:  Brandon  Morrow P cubs /  Hyun-jin ryu  LA SP / Kevin Pillar of Tor
StL:  Guillermo Heredia of Sea /   Jorge Alfaro C Philly /  Harrison Baider of StL
Sf :  Cle CF Rajai Davis  /  Ari Yoshihisa Hirano RP /  Brett Philips CF KC
TB :   Kyle Gibson Min P / Min P Jacob Odorizzi / Derek Holland RP SF
SD:   AJ Pollock cf ari /  Daniel Descalso 2b Ari / Chris Owings Ari of
Mets :  Jason Kitmas 2b Cle / K Farmer C LA /  Gregory Polonco of  Pit
Sea:   Evan Gattis C Hou / Noah Syndaggard SP NYM / LF Balt Trey Mancini

Round 24 two picks

Sea   Tyler Clipper P Tor /  Starling Castro Miami 2b
Mets    Brian Anderson Mia RF / Stephen Piscoty RF Oak
SD    2b Ryan Goins KC / RF Roswell Herrera of  KC
TB    Nicholas A. Castellanos of det / 3b Josh Donnalson cle
SF     Jose Ingeles Det ss / Jose Martinez 1b Stl
StL   Jameson Tallion Pitt P /  Atl Dansby Swanson SS
NYY    Andrew Miller Cle P / Dallas Keuchel SP Hou
Washington  Jose Alverez P Calif / Delino Deshields of Tex

Round 23 two picks

Wash   Gio Gonzalez SP Mil /  Manny Pina c Mil
NYY      Didi Gregorious SS NYY /  SP JA Happ NYY
StL:     K Freeland Col /  Rick Porcello p Bos
Sf    E Suarez Cin 3b / Matt Stasi Hou c
TB    Yusmeiro Petit Oak RP /  Jessie Winkler OF Cin
SD   Rick Pietta P Phil /  Jake Arrieta p Phil
Mets   Eddie Rosario LF Min /  Miguel Cabrera OF det
Sea   SP Trevor Cahill Oak Hill /   Marcus Simien SS  OAK

Round 22 two picks

Sea  Kris Bryant Cubs 3b  / Jed Lowry Oak
Mets   Wilson Ramos C Phil /  Keone Kela Pit P
SD    Jackie Bradley JR Bos  /  Ian Kinsler 2b Bos
TB   Bryan  Holaday C  Mia   /  Nick Ahmed SS
SF    Travis  Jankowski OF SD / Alex Wilson P Det
StL   Greg Allen Cle CF /  Rhys Hoskins Phil
NYY  Mike Mousakas 3b Mil  / Nelson Cruz Sea
Washington   Josh Reddick Hou /  Ian Happ Cubs

Round 21  two picks

Wash  Reynaldo Lopez P Chi /  Corey Dickerson OF Pit
NYY    Adam Ottavino Col P /  Ryan Brawn C Mil

StL:     Delin Botances NYY P /  Daniel Murphy  2b/1b Cubs
Sf      Yuli Gurriel IF Hou  /  German Marquez Col P
TB    Kolten Wong 2b StL /  Luis Castello Cin sp
SD   Kevin Keirmaier cf TB  /    Cameron Mavin of Sea
Mets   K Yates SD P / Jason Hayward rf cubs
Sea   Brandon workman Bos P / Tanaka P Yankees

Round twenty (two picks per round)

Sea Albert Amora Jr CF  Cubs /   Chad Greene P NYY
Mets   Daniel Robertson TB LF /  Jay Chavez Cubs P
SD   Matt Kemp OF LA  / Kiki Hernandez utl LA
TB     Seth Lugo mets P /  Andrew McCuchhen NYY OF
SF    Elias Diaz Pit /  Scott Oberg p Col
StL   Nick Vincent Sea P /   Lou Trevino P Oak
NYY   John Holder P NYY / Billy Hamilton of Cin
Washington    Taylor Cole P  LAA / Dakota Hudson StL P

Round 19
Wash Bobby Poyner LHP Bos
NYY  Domingo German NYY SP
StL:  OF Khris Daivs Oak
Sf   Ozzie Alblez 2b ATL
TB   Brock holt Bos
SD  Jhoulis Chacin sp Mil
Mets  Annibel Sanchez Atl
Sea  Brian McCain C Atl

Round 18

Sea Zach Wheeler SP Mets
Mets  Yasmani Grendal C LA
SD  Miguel Rojas  ss Miami
TB    Nathan Eovaldi Bos SP
SF   Jace Fry RP CWS
StL  SP Jose Berrios Minn
NYY   Edwin Encarnacion Cle
Washington   Raphael Devers 3b

Round 17:

Wash Marwin Gonzalez Hou LF

NY  Max Munch LA

StL   SS Paul DeJong Cards

SF    Joey Gallo of Tex

TB Alex Gordon KC

SD  SD Matt olsen Oak 1b

Mets  Travis Shaw Mil 3b

Sea  Clay buckholtz Ari P

Round 16

Sea David Robertson P  NYY
Mets Blane Hardy Det P
SD  Steven Wright Bos
TB   Steve Cishek cubs
SF Sean Newcomb P ATL
StL Xander Bogarts BOS
NYY  Nick Markekus atl rf
Washington  Dee Gordon 2b Seattle

Round 15
Wash Jose Quintana Cubs
NYY Roberto Ozuna Hou
StL: SS Edwardo Escobar Arizona
Sf Cody Bellinger 1b OF
TB Justin Turner LA 3b
SD Eduardo Rodriguez Bos SP
Mets Jared hughes cin P
Sea Blake Treinen p Oak

Round 14

Sea 2b Adam Frazier Pitts
Mets Oliver Perez P Cle
SD Buster Posey C SF
TB Julio Teheran SP ATL
SF Kyle Hendricks SP cubs
StL Scooter Genette 2b cin
NYY Matt Weiters Washington
Wash Jeurys Familia P Oak

Round 13

Wash Craig Kimbrel Bos
NYY Charlie Morton hou P
StL Joe Mauer Min
SF Tomas Telis C TB
TB Joey Wendle 2b tb
SD Jeff Mathas c Arizona
Mets Wade Leblanc Sea
Sea Mike Clevenger Cleveland

Round 12

Sea Tanner Scott Baltimore
Mets Joe Panik 2b SF
SD Sean Dolittle Washington P
TB 3b Johan Camergo Atl
sf Corey Knevel P Mil
StL Yadier Molina C
NYY Jouchieam Soria Mil
Washington Shohei Othani P / DH

Round 11

Washington: LHRP Brad Hand Cle
NYY Brett Gardner OF
StL LF Benentendi LF Bos
SF 2B John Villar Balt
TB RHRP Ryan Braiser
SD Justin Miller Washington
Mets Trea Turner Ss Washington
Sea Kevin McCarthy KC P

Round 10

Sea RP Colin McHugh Hou
Mets Joey Votto CIn
SD SP Miles Mikokes StL
tb RP Raphael Iglesias Cin
sf Seranthony Dominguez Phil
Stl SS Jean Segura Seattle
NYY Steve Stausberg washington
Washington Jose Altuve 2b Hou

Round 9

Washington LHSP Marco Gonzalez Sea
NYY Louis Severino NYY
StL RHP Corey Kluber Cle
SF Mitch Hanager Sea
TB Kenley Janson LA
SD Of Marcel Ozuna StL
Mets David Peralta Arizona
Sea P Ryan Carpenter Det

Round 8

Seattle Giancarlo Stanton NYY
Mets OF Brandon Nemo NYM
SD George Springer HOU
TB Walker Bueller LA
SF Jeremy Jeffress Mil
StL C Salvadore Perez KC
NYY Christian Vasquez C
Washington C Blake Sweihart Bos

round 7

Washington C Martin Maldonado Hou
NYY Aroldis Chapman NYY
StL RHSP Trevor Bauer Cleveland
SF OF Ben Zobrist cubs
TB C Wilson Contraris cubs
SD C Gary Sanchez NYY
Mets P David Price Bos
Sea Matt Carpenter StL

round 6

Sea Addison Russell SS Cubs
Mets Edwin Diaz Sea
SD Inf Javier Baez Chi
TB Whit Merrifield KC
SF M Folynewicz Atl
StL OF Juan Soto Washington
NYY Gleyber Torres NYY
Wash Anthony Rizzo cubs

Round 5

Washington CF Lorenzo Cain Milwaukee
NYY Aaron Judge NYY
StL 3b Matt Chapman Oak
SF Utl Alex Bregman Hou
TB LHSP Patrick Corbin Ari
SD 1B Jesus Aguliar Mil
Mets Roland Acuna JR
Sea Ross Stripling LA

Round four

Seattle JT RealMuto Mia
Mets SP Carlos Carrasco
SD JD martinez Bos
TB Paul Goldschmidt StL
SF Clayton Kershaw LA
StL LHRP Josh Haider Mil
MYY Bryce Harper Washington
Washington 3B Anthony Rendon Wasington

Round three

Washington SS Francisco Lindor Cle
NYY Garrett Cole Hou
StL Sterling Matte Pittsburgh
SF Michael Brantley Cle
TB SP Zach Greinke Arizona
SD Blake Snell TB
Mets RHSP Aaron Nola Phil
Seattle Freddy Freeman Atl

Round Two

Seattle Geraldo Parra OF COL
Mets: Francisco Cervelli Pits
SD 3b Nolan Arenado Col
TB SS Alderton Simmons Angles
SF P Justin Verlander Hou
StL P Chris Sale Bos
NYY 2b 2b DJ Lemhew Col
Washington Max Scherzer Washington

Round 1.

Washington Mookie Betts Bos
NYY Mike Trout Cal
StL Jacob DeGrom Mets
SF Manny Machado LA

Tampa Bay Christian Yelish MIl
San Diego Trevor Story Col
Mets Jose Ramirez Cle
Seattle of Malix smith TB

The draft is about to begin
Draft system is 1-8 8-1

DH both league

round 19 or 21 two picks per round

Dice roll for 1st pick low roll picks

Peter 014 chooes to draft 1st
Sherwood 028 chooses to draft 2nd
Patrick 63 chooses to pick team
Alvin (by proxy) 68 chooses to draft
Mark Gionet 337 draft

Mike Kennedy 383 draft

Mike F 410 draft

Elliot gionet 740 draft

Patrick chooes Seattle Mariners
Elliot Gionet Mets
Mike F Chooses San Diego
Mike Kennedy Tampa Bay

Mark Gionet San Francisco
Alivn St. Louis
Sherwood NYY

Peter Washington

Division Rolls
Alvin 804
Patrick Rolls 456
Mike K 645
Mike F 291
Sherwood 161
Peter 423

Dan League
Elliot Gionet Mets
Mike M San Diego
Sherwood NYY
Peter Washington

Lynn League

Mark Gionet
Alivn
Mike K
Patrick

Last Chance to Join Fitchburg MA Face to Face Dynasty Baseball league before Next Week’s Draft Tomorrow Zeda’s Pizza from 1-5 PM

Tomorrow I will be at Zeda’s Pizza in Fitchburg MA to finalize rules for the Sable/Gerbl face to face Dynasty baseball league.

If you are a fan of Baseball and boardgaming come on down, I’ll demonstrate the game.

The Draft is scheduled for Sept 28th, the tentative opening day is Oct 18th and we will be playing 3 games on alternative Saturdays.

Come on down and find out why Dynasty Baseball is not only the best baseball simulation on the market but one of the best board game for a baseball fan.

Sable/Gerbl Day 14: Yanks dissipates Texas’ Thunder, LA holds off Washington, Vikings Pillage Rivertown, Muffin Men Sweep Boston

NY 7 Texas 2

Giancarlo Stanton’s 1st inning grand slam gave the Yanks and early lead and Chad Green’s Key strikeout helped them keep it and New York managed a split with Texas with a 7-2 win at Yankee Stadium.

Stanton’s 1st inning blast would be almost the only problem Mike Clevinger (L 2-1) would have, coming off of a pair of one out singles by Gleyber Torres and Aaron Judge and a ball that nipped Didi Gregorius in the leg. He would pitch into the 7th keeping his team close and persevering a bullpen tired after yesterday’s extra innings struggle.

Meanwhile Texas slowly started to come back against Lance Lynn kept living dangerously. In the 2nd a Freddy Freeman lead off single was, after two outs followed by a single by Francisco Lindor and walks to Jackie Bradley Jr and Tucker Barnhart the latter driving in the 1st Texas run before Michael Brantley popped out to end the threat at 4-1. Lynn would issue five free passes in the 3rd and fourth putting the tying or go ahead runs on only be saved from disaster by double plays in each inning.

Finally in the 5th when, with Mike Trout on 2nd (walk, PB) Nolan Arenado trotted to 1st via the 9th walk four inning the Yanks brought Chad Green (W 1-0) from the dugout to a round of applause. He would leave the mound with the same when he struck out Baez to end the threat. And while he would give up three hits and 1 run on back to back doubles from Bradley JR and Robinson Chirinos in the 6th in his 3 1/3 innings no member of the Thunder would get a free pass.

The same could not be said for Clevinger’s replacement Rasiel Iglesias who in the 8th would load the bases on walks to Stanton and Brett Garnder sandwiching a single to Neil Walker and would then proceed to walk all three of them with free passes to Romine, Hicks and Torres which would be more than enough to secure the Yankees win.

Notes: NY’s win was their first home win of the season. Texas Catcher Tucker Barnhart left the game after being hit by a foul tip from Aaron Judge in the 3rd. Robinson Chrinos came in to replace him. He is considered day to day and not expected to go on the DL. Despite nine walks in 4 2/3 innings none of the people Lynn walked scored. After scoring 22 runs the day before the teams went a combined 2-19 with runners in scoring position (Texas 1-9, NY 1-10) After the off day Texas heads to Boston while the Yanks welcome the Juneau Muffin Men.

Los Angeles 8 Washington 5

LA hit four home runs and five pitchers managed to hold back several Washington comebacks to earn a split in their series with an 8-5 win.

It didn’t look good for Alex Wood in the 1st. Corey Dickerson and DJ LeMahieu each singled to start the game and Anthony Rendon followed suit but center fielder Corey Bellinger came up throwing to nail Dickerson at the plate for the 1st out. Trevor Story walked to load the bases but Washington came up empty when Josh Reddick hit a hard grounder to second that Kiki Hernandez turned into an inning ending double play.

The Dodgers waited but an inning to take advantage of that squander. as Yasiel Puig took Reynaldo Lopez (L 1-1) over the left field fence to lead off and Yasmani Grandal took him to right center with one out giving the Dodgers a 2-0 edge. In the top of the 3rd the Senators again put two men on without scoring and LA answered with a homer when Hernandez took one down the left field line with Bellinger on second. It was 4-0 and looking good for LA

In the fifth Alex Wood couldn’t hold Washington back any longer Dickerson singled and LeMahieu was hit by a pitch then with one out Trevor Story drilled a double to left Scoring Dickerson and sending LeMahieu to 3rd where he would score on Josh Reddick’s grounder. When Jesus Aguilar walked The Senators had the tying run on 1st and 3rd with two outs. LA opted for Ross Stripling (W 1-1) and he manged to get a two out grounder to retire pinch hitter Nick Markakis keeping the score at 4-2.

In the 6th LA widened the lead. Grandal singled off Bobby Poyner and with oe out David Freese drilled a ball to right center that rolled to the wall. Grandal scored and Freese ended up on 3rd and trotted home on Justin Turner’s pinch singe for a 6-2 lead.

But Washington wasn’t done yet. Trevor Story answered with a one out triple of his on in the 7th off Josh Fields and after a walk to Reddick scored on Jesus Aguilar grounder that erased Reddick making it 6-3. An error by Freese sent Aguilar to 3rd and put Kevin Kiemaier on 1st for Matt Wieters representing the tying run but Freese handed his grounder without incident and the lead stayed at 3 till the bottom of the inning when Gandal hit a two run shot off scoring him and Puig making it 8-3 with only two innings to go.

Washington didn’t go quietly Dickerson singled in the 8th and Rendon doubled deep to right scoring him cutting the lead down to 4 and in the 9th a pair of walks off Pat Venditte put two men on with two men out for pinch hitter Marvin Gonzalez who singled off Scott Alexander (S1) drivng in Kevin Kiermaier who reached on a fielder’s choice putting two men on and bringing the tying run to the plate int the person of Corey Dickerson who was already 5-5 for the day. Alas for Washington the law of averages finally caught up with him as he popped up in the infield to end the game.

Notes: This was LA’s first victory against Washington in 4 tries this season. Washington did not lack chances leaving 14 men on base.
Grandal’s 3-4 with 3 RBI’s and 3 runs scored raised his average over the Mendosa line at .205. Marvin Maldonado went 1-2 with a walk on his 1st day back from the DL while Kevin Kiemaiar was 0-2 with a run scored after coming in to replace Hamilton. Despite a .286 avg which equals Swihart and Wieters combined Christian Vasquez was the odd man out behind the plate. LA welcomes 1st place Rivertown next while Washington visits the Vikings.

Vikings 11 Rivertown 2

Rivertown managed only five hits of Jacob DeGrom while the King Ragnar’s boys scored early and often as the Vikings took the final game of their series 11-2

Trouble game quick for Charlie Morton (L 1-2) in the 1st when after sandwiching a pair of K’s around a Gerardo Parra single served a fat pitch to Anthonly Rizzo who it it over 400 feet to right for a 2-0 lead

Rivertown struck back at once as Jacob deGrom (W 2-1) also made a sandwich of a double to Joey Wendle with a pair of K’s when his pitch to Jose Ramirez caught too much of the plate. Ramierz drove it to right center where it rolled to the wall, Peralta scored easily and Ramirez ended up on third with the red hot Paul Goldschmidt up but on a 2-2 pitch he swung just a tad early popping up third to keep the score at 2-1.

The Vikings came right back Morton hit Wilson Ramos to start the 2nd and Eduardo Escobar launched a ball to right not as far as Rizzo’s but just as out to make it 4-1.

That would be more than enough for deGrom who after a single in the bottom half of the frame would not give up a hit till Ramirez’s solo shot in the 7th, but by then the Vikings had added 4 more runs two unearned on a Eddie Rosario double in the 5th scoring Para who singled and Juan Soto who reached on Goldschmidt’s error and two more on a Rizzo single in the 7th scoring Soto who had singled and Para who had reached on a fielder choice. Whit Merrifield’s three run shot in the 8th sealed the deal closing the curtain on Rivertown’s six game winning streak.

Notes:  All but one of Rivertown’s hits off of Jacob deGrom were for extra bases. Ragnar’s Vikings hit three balls against an 18 mph wind blowing in. Paul Goldschmidt finally had a bad day going 0-4 and committing an error but still ended the game hitting .348 meaning Jose Ramirez 2-4 with 2 RBI’s only managed to bring his avg to .196. Whit Merrifield managed 3 hits and 3 RBI but was caught stealing for the 3rd time this season. Ragnar’s Vikings welcome Washington next while Rivertown travels to LA.

Juneau 7 Boston 5

After a wild nine innings where Boston and Juneau punched out 23 hits against 9 pitchers the Juneau Muffin men punched slightly harder completing the sweep of Boston with a 7-5 win.

The hit parade began quietly in the 1st when Harrison Bader led the game off with a double off Dallas Keuchel (L 1-1) he moved to 2nd on an Andrelton Simmon’s grounder to short and scored on a 2nd Grounder by Mookie Betts and it was 1-0.

In the bottom of the inning Boston began things in earnest. Jose Altuve Singled and with one out JD Martinez shot a double to right, Altuve motored home ahead of the throw to tie the game allowing Martinez to reach 3rd on the throw. but with the infield drawn in Christian Yelich’s grounder to 1st couldn’t socre JD and after a walk to Alex Bergman Jose Berrios K’d Rhys Hoskins to leave it at 1-1.

It didn’t stay there in the top of the 2nd Matt Chapman walked with two outs, Andrew Benintendi singled to center, sending Chapman to 3rd and Buster Posey doubled to right scoring them both and Bader singled to left Driving in Posey and suddenly the score was 4-1.

It wasn’t enough in the Bottom of the 3rd Ben Zorbrist and JD opened the inning with singles and Berrios walked Christin Yelich to load the bases. Alex Bregman hit the next pitch to right falling in for a double Zbrist and Martinez scored easily and Yelich beat the throw clearing the bases and sending Bergman to 3rd and Berrios to the showers.

Yoshihisa Hirano (W 1-0) came in coaxed a grounder from Hoskins to first but Joey Votto bobbled the ball allowing Hoskins to reach and Bergman to score and it was 5-4.

But Keuchel couldn’t hold it, Chapman singled to start the 4th Benintendi walked and a Posey grounder put them on 2nd and 3rd with one out. One out later Simmons singled to left scoring them both and Juneau was back on top 6-5.

Juneau had a chance to increase the lead in the 5th. Brock Holt doubled with one out and with two out Matt Chapman singled to center Holt motored around 3rd but Roland Acuna Jr came up throwing to nail Holt at the plate to keep the deficit at one.

Juneau returned the favor right away. Hoskins walked with one out and JT. Realmuto smashed a double off the wall in left Mookie Betts played bounce off the monster perfectly and Hoskins trying to tie the game was a dead duck.

Boston had another chance in the 7th. Martinez singled to open the inning and with two outs Hoskins was grazed by a Joakim Soria curve. Acuna Jr. guessed a fastball was next and drilled it to left for a single but JD remembering Hoskins fate at the hands of Betts held at third allowing Soria to get out of the inning on a curve the Realmuto missed for strike three.

Betts did more damage in the 9th when with Salvador Perez and Simmons on with a pair of singles, he plated Perez with a single of his own giving Boston a two run edge. In the bottom of the inning Martinez singled to right off Trevor Bauer bringign the tying run to the plate with nobody out but Trevor Bauer (S1) fanned Yelich and despite the speedly David Fletcher running for Martinez the Muffen men were still able to convert the 4-6-3 double play on Alex Bregman’s sharp grounder to end the game.

Notes: Despite 23 hits between the two clubs neither team was able to put a ball out, partially due to the 16 mph wind blowing in. Juneau unexpectedly lost the DH in the 4th when they pulled 2nd baseman Scooter Gennett in the top of the inning shifting Holt to 2nd and putting their DH Andrelton Simmons at short. There was speculation that Gennett might have had soreness after his atbat but Mgr Carden indicated it had nothing to do with an injury. While 7 relievers worked a combined 12 innings giving up 10 hits and a walk between them they only gave up a single run. Juneau takes their winning streak to NY while Boston hosts the Rivertown Raiders next.

Sable/Gerbl Day 13: Texas tags Tanaka, Senators blank Dodgers, Rivertown makes it 6, Holt halts Boston

Texas 12 NYY 10 (11 innings)

Michael Brantley 10th inning single off of reliever Masahiro Tanaka made a loser out of Aroldis Chapman and a winner out the the Thunder as Texas edged NY in a wild game by the score of 12-10 in or the 2nd time.

For four innings it seemed we would have a pitchers duel between Yankees lefty C. C Sabathia who would give up a solo shot in the top of the 3rd to Francisco Lindor and Kyle Freeland who after a walk to Greg Bird to start the bottom of the inning and hitting Adeiny Hechavarria with two out gave up a single to Giancarlo Stanton which tied it up.

But the Wheels started coming off in the 5th for both pitchers. Sabathia started the inning hitting back to back batters (Jackie Bradley JR and Lindor) and then turned an infield single by Yuri Gurriel into disaster when he rushed a throw to 1st in the vain hope of getting him. Bradley & Lindor scored and Gurriel ended up on 2nd. After a Nolan Arenado single sent him to 3rd she scored on a fielder’s choice that erased Arenado and put Mike Trout on 1st. He would go to 2nd when CC hit Freddie Freeman (the 3rd man hit in the inning) and would score on Ryan Brawn’s single to left making it 5-1. That was enough for the Yanks who brought in Zach Britton who closed out the 5th before the rout was on.

Freeland gave one of the four back in the bottom of the inning on a two out single by Glyber Torres that send Mike Judge who had doubled and gone to third on Hechavarria’s single but Britton gave it back when Freddie Freeman (K) would be the only man he would retire out of the seven he would face in the sixth letting Bradley JR (HBP) Lindor (Single) Gurriel (Homer 3 BI) Arenado (single) and Trout (Double) before getting that 1st out. Once Javier Baez singled in both Arenado and Trout it was 10-2 and David Robertson came in with the expectation of saving the bullpen in a rout.

That expectation vanished as having been given a 8 run lead Freeland seemed determined to give it back. Like Briton he would face seven batters in the sixth and like Britton it would be a disaster. Miguel Andujar started it with a homer and Aaron Hicks followed with a single. After Bird k’d Romine singled and Judge walked loading the bases. Heckavarra fielders choice got Judge Freeland his 2nd out (Judge) and NY its 3rd run (Hicks) but Giancarlo Stanton’s single drove in Romine and chased Freeland. Jonny Venters came in with a five run lead needing only one more out to strand the runners and preserve a five run lead.

He couldn’t He hit Torres to load the bases for Luke Volt whose grand slam turned an inning that started as a 10-2 laugher into a 10-9 battle.

He nearly lost that battle hitting Andjar and walking Hicks before Bird who k’d for the 1st out of the inning made the last with a grounder to 2nd.

Now facing a squeaker instead of mop-up time David Robertson came through retiring Texas in the sixth and when Austin Romine doubled off of Keone Kela (B1) to start the seventh and Pinch Hitter Didi Gregorius doubled him in with one out to tie the game he had the chance to be the pitcher of record for a win, but it was not to be. Kela k’ed pinch hitter Walker and retired Torres to perserve the tie if not the lead.

It would stay that way as the teams which had scored 20 runs already could only manage one hit and three walks (one intentional) through the 8th, 9th and 10th. Then in the 11th Aroldis Chapman (L 0-1) Hit Freeman with one out. Baez singled and after a fielders choice erased him and put Ryan Braun on 1st Tucker Barnhart walked to load the bases. Masahiro Tanaka came in to relieve Chapman and Michael Brantley came in to relieve Bradley Jr and poked a single into center field scoring Freemana and Brawn giving Texas a two run lead which would Felipe Vazquez (W 1-0) would hold for the win.

Notes. Other than an intentionanl walk in the 10. Felipe Vasquez would retire all six men he faced the final five by strikeout. A total of six men would be hit by pitches in this game, three by each team and Freddy Freeman twice. Both teams would go 6-16 with runners in scoring position. Texas has played in 3 extra inning games going 2-1 It’s Lance Lynn (1-1) for NY vs Mike Clevinger (2-0) in the finale.

Senators 4 Dodgers 0

DJ LeMahieu and and Corey Dickerson’s solo shots were all that Washington needed as Jose Quintana and Bobby Poyner combined on a four hit shutout blanking LA 4-0 in game of of their two game series.

LeMahieu’s shot of Hyun-Jin-Ryu (L 2-1) put LA behind to start but Ryu and the defense would keep it close spoiling repeated Washington rallies in the 2nd 3rd and in the 7th with some help from Pat Vendette. that would be more than enough as Jose Quintana (2-0) confounded the Dodgers though most of the game

LA’s best chance to tie came in the 2nd. With two out Austin Barnes drove a ball to center. Delino DeShields in his 1st start since being called up playing deep rushed in and dove for the low line drive he missed the ball, Barnes ended upon 2nd and DeShields ended up having to be helped off the field. Cody Bellinger and Ruy walked loading the bases but David Freese grounder ended the threat.

After Dickerson’s solo shot in the 5th LA next best threat came in the sixth. Machado led off with a single, went to 2nd on Christian Vasquez’s passed ball. Matt Kemp walked putting runners on 1st & 2nd with nobody out, but Quintana retired Chris Taylor on a fly and k’d Yasmani Grandal and Barnes to finish it. He would pitch 8 innings only being pulled in the 9th for a pinch hitter Nick Markakis with Billy Hamilton on 2nd after a walk and stolen base. Barnes would muff Markakis grounder which gave Corey Dickerson the chance to single home Hamilton and Rendon the chance to single home Markakis to give Washington a four rather than a 2 run lead to protect in the ninth which was more than enough.

Notes: Delino Deshields was sent for an MRI after the game and even before the results were it was announced that he would be heading for the DL. The only question is if he will be back before the September callups. Martin Maldonado was reactivited from the DL and should be able to start in tomorrow game. With two centerfielders (DeShields & Marte ) on the DL expect to see Kevin Kiermaier called up from the minors to back up Hamilton. With Maldonado becoming the 4th catcher expect to see either Matt Wieters or Christian Vasquez of Blake Swihart sent down to make room for him. Tomorrow LA will throw Alex Wood (0-1) against Washington while the Senators will answer with Reynaldo Lopez (1-0)

Rivertown 4 Vikings 3

Rivertown came back from two deficits and held off a 9th inning Viking assault to come away with a 4-3 victory over King Ragnar’s men for their sixth straight.

the Vikings stuck 1st in the 1st against Jack Flaherty (W 2-0) Whit Merrifield singled to right and immediately stole 2nd and 3rd allowing him to score on Geraldo Parra’s fly to left making it 1-0.

In the bottom of the 3rd Rivertown came back. Jack Flaherty singled to center and was replaced at 1st by Lorenzo Cain on a fielder choice. Cain who had been caught stealing in the 1st was more successful the end time around stealing 2nd and scoring on Paul Goldschmidt’s single to tie things at 1.

They didn’t stay tied for long in the top of the 4th Juan Soto singled, stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on an Anthony Rizzo grounder. After a Ramos walk Eddie Rosario singled to right scoring Soto and sending Ramos to 2nd. Mallex Smith replaced Ramso at 2nd but the Vikings could have saved the swap because Flaherty stuck out Escoba and Segura’s hard shot went right to the shortstop to leave things at 2-1.

In the 6th the Raiders broke through on Garret Cole (L 2-1) David Peralta Tripled in Jose Ramirez who walked and took 2nd on an errant pickoff throw by Cole to tie the game. Nelson Cruz followed with a single of his own and Rivertown was up 3-2. A Yadier Molina single and a Paul DeJong walk loaded the bases for Pitcher Flaherty who would face reliver Vizcaino. With the bases loaded and one out Rivertown surprisingly choose to let Flaherty bat. With everyone running he laid down a bunt in front of the plate, rather than taking the sure out at 1st Diaz dove toward Cruz with the ball but he dodged the tag with a perfect hook slide and the based remained loaded with the score 4-2 and only one out. Rivertown was unable to capitalize further. Cain’s fly to left wasn’t deep enough to score Molina and Matt Carpenter stuck out swinging to end threat. There it stayed till then 9th when Closer Edwin Diaz (S5) gave up a one out gopher to Eduardo Escobar to make it a one run game but Segura lied out and pinch hitter Ramon Laureano stuck out swinging to end the Vikings’ last chance:

Notes: The Vikings stole three bases against Flaherty and Molina while Rivertown managed only one along with a caught stealing. Every stolen base resulted in a run. Flaherty had a single to go along with his rbi fielders choice getting him to the mendoza line. Paul Goldschmidt continues hit hot streak going 2-3 with a walk and a RBI hitting .381

Juneau 5 Boston 4

German Marquez lasted just long enough for Brock Holt’s pinch hit shot to give Juneau the edge as the Muffin Men won their 3rd straight with a 5-4 win over Boston.

Juneau got started early when Jhoulys Chacin hit Andrew Benintendi to start things off. Andrelton Simmons follwed with a single to send him to 3rd and one out later Shohei Ohtani beat out a potential double play ball allowing Benintendi to score the 1st run. Two innings later Juneau again scored on an out, when Simmons grounder drove in Salvador Perez who had doubled and moved to 2nd on Benintendi’s single but once again Chacin was able to get out of the jam without further damage.

In the bottom of the 3rd Boston struck back. J.T. Realmuto led off with a single and Nick Ahmed doubled to right to send him to 3rd. German Marquez (W 1-1) managed to stike out Jose Altuve but Ben Sobrist singled to right scoring both Realmuto and Ahmed and just like that it was 2-2.

In the 4th Boston stuck again. Rhys Hoskins shot a one out single and was replaced on the bases by Ronald Acuna Jr. on a fielders choice. This was key as with two out Realmuto doubled to left and the speedy Acuna Jr motered home from 1st to give Boston a 3-2 lead but the lead didn’t last as Andrew Benintendi connected with a Chacin curve with two out in the fifth and the game was once again knotted at 3.

In the bottom of the 6th Hoskins gave Boston and Eduardo Rodriguez who spelled Chacin the lead again with a towering shot to left over everything but with two outs Benintendi was hit for the 2nd time and Rodriguez was pulled for Collin McHugh (L 0-1) and Juneau countered with Brock Holt for Andrelton Simmons whose shot while not quite as deep as Hoskins came with a man on giving Juno that 5-4 edge. Mookie Betts followed with a double but Ohtani ground out to end the threat.

Joakim Soria came in and retired six straight before walking Alex Bregman to start the 9th. Josh Hader (S1) came in to relieve Soria and with the go ahead run at the plate struck out the side for his 1st save.

Notes: Andrew Benintendi was hit twice and scored both times. Despite going 2-3 with a Home Run Manager LaFlam pinch hit for Rhys Hoskins with Kris Bryant in the 9th. The 1-3 hitters for Juneau went 7-12 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI’s while the 4-9 hitters only manged one hit in 22 at bats. It will be Dallas Keuchel (1-0) for Boston against Jose Berrios (1-0) for Juneau.

Sable/Gerbl Day 12 : Red Sox win the battle of the Bullpens, Juneau sweeps Texas. Goldschmidt unhorses Sir Anthony , LA Hangs on for split.

Red Sox 7 Yankees 6

Boston managed 12 hits and Brandon Morrow held a lead when no other reliever could giving Boston a their 4th straight win and NY their fifth straight loss by a score of 7-6.

NY starter JA Happ proved hapless in the 2nd as JD Martinez singled to right and went to 3rd on Aaron Judge’s error. Alex Bregman followed with a single to center sending Martinez to 3rd. He came home on Kris Bryant’s single to left. After Ronald Acuna Jr. walked to load them up JT. Realmuto drove in both Bregman and Bryant on a single to left and Sending Acuna to 3rd where he would score on a Nick Ahmed double play making it 4-0.

After pitching around another error in the 3rd Happ was tagged again. Acuna singled and Realmuto walked. Another fortunate double play left Acuna on 3rd with two outs but Jose Altuve double to left making it 5-0.

Meanwhile Jameson Taillon pitched 5 strong innings before getting into trouble in the 6th. Aaron Hicks singled and Gleyber Torres followed suit but Hicks went for 3rd and Acuna gunned him down leaving Torres on 2nd with one out. That would be critical as Aaron Judge would take the next pitch over the left field wall making it 5-2 instead of 5-3. Taillon would load the bases with a pair of walks surrounding a hit batsman and a K before getting Austin Romine to fly out keeping the defect at 3.

In the 7th Greg Bird would chase Taillon with a leadoff blast to right making it 5-3. Corey Knebel (W 1-0) could come in and walk Hicks and Torres before surrendering a one out Blast deep into the seats beyond the bullpens in right making it 6-5. The Yanks had a chance to do more damage as Giancarlo Stanton followed with a walk and Brett Gardner did the same with two outs but Romine struck out swinging keeping the lead at 1.

They would again miss that run as Jonathan Holder (L 0-1) wasn’t up to the task of holding a lead either. he gave up a lead off double to Altuve and then with one out a Double to Christian Yelich to tie the game. while he managed to get the dangerous JD Martinez Bregman would follow with a two out single driving in Yelich and Boston was back up 7-6.

That when Brandon Morrow (S1) came in and did what no other reliever to that point had done, hold a lead he would retire the side in order in the 8th and while he allowed a one out walk to Gregorius fanned Stanton and coaxed a game ending grounder from Neil Walker to earn the Save for himself and the win for the Sox.

Notes: 3 of the Yankees seven hits and all of their runs came on home runs. None of the Redsox 12 hits left the yard but six of them came with runners in scoring position out of an incredible 17 chances. Only Ben Zobrist went without a hit or a walk for Boston (0-5). Despite Boston and NY combining for 3 errors in the game all of the runs were Earned. NY finally heads home to open against the Texas Thunder while Boston’s long homestand continues as they welcome the Juneau Muffin men.

Juneau 10 Texas 1

Bryce Harper had his 3rd homer in 2 two games and David Price gave up only run run in 6 2/3 as Juneau won it’s 2nd straight over Texas 10-1.

Juneau started right were they left off the previous day against Zach Greinke (L 1-1) with two outs Mookie Betts doubled and Shohei Ohtani drove him home with a single, not that it would matter as Bryce Harper would take a Greinke curve 418 feet to right for a 3-0 lead.

Yuli Gurriel would answer with a solo shot with one out in the bottom of the inning but it would be the only answer they would have all day as David Price (W 1-0) kept the Texas off balance most innings while taking advantage of fine defense like plays like Harrison Bader’s rocket throw that nailed Mike Trout at 3rd in the 4th when he tried to tag up on a fly to the warning track.

Meanwhile Juneau in general and Harper in particular continued to feast off Texas pitching in the 6th with Simmons on 3rd (HBP) and Ohtani on 1st (Single) Harper drove in his 3rd run of the game. Matt Chapman followed with a triple driving in Ohtani and Harper and scored off of Kolton Wong’s two run shot off of Jonny Venters making it 8-1 Ohtani’s one out double scoring Benintendi (single) and Betts (HBP) in the 9th gave Juneau it’s 2nd straight 10 run game and made Ryan Braiser’s 2 1/3 perfect innings a mere formality.

Notes: Ohtani and Harper both scored two runs while driving in 3. Ohtani on a 3-5 day Harper on 2-4 Despite sweeping Texas Juneau gave up 4 home runs in 2 games and have given up a home run in each of their last 5. Texas was 0-5 with runners in scoring position while Juneau was 5-10. Texas travels to NY for a rematch of their opening series while Juneau heads for Boston.
Meanwhile the

Rivertown 3 Washington 2 10 innings

Washington’s Bullpen wasted an excellent start by Carlos Martinez to blow a 9th inning lead and a single swing by Paul Goldschmidt finished the job as Rivertown swept Washington with a 3-2 win.

It was a game of pitching and close calls as Patrick Corbin for Rivertown and Carlos Martinez dueled. Corbin relying on the K striking out 10 Senators and Martinez aided by great defense

In the 1st DJ Le Mahieu turned a Jose Ramirez Liner that would have put him on 1st and Lorenzo Cain (HBP) on 3rd into an inning ending double play.

In the 4th with men on 1st (David Peralta walk) and 2nd (Jose Ramirez single and stolen base) with nobody out Ramirez struck out Goldschmidt and Before another LeMahieu turned a 2nd double play perserving a 1-0 lead.

That lead came in the top of the inning when Josh Reddick after a two out single beat a wild throw to the plate From Peralta on Anthony Rendon’s double off of Corbin. But over 6 2/3 innings that would be all he would yield.

Meanwhile the defense kept making the big play for Washington. In the sixth with one out Peralta singled and Goldschmidt doubled. Peralta held out of respect for the arms in the DC outfield. With one out and nobody on 1st the infield came in on Matt Carpenter who hit a shot toward first but despite being drawn in Jesus Agular dove to glove the ball in the air and managed to get the ball to LeMahieu before Goldschmidt could get back.

In the 7th the defense would do it again. After a Nelson Cruz single and one out Jeurys Familia came in relieving Martinez. He struck out Paul DeJong but Diego Castillo drove a changeup to left. Cruz didn’t hesitate for moment but neither did Corey Dickerson who fielded it and threw in a single motion nailing him at the plate.

In the ninth the Senators would add some offense Diego Castilo in his 3rd inning of work put a fat pitch over for Josh Reddick that the crosswind just blew into play for the 1st out. Rendon followed with a double and moved to 3rd on Billy Hamilton’s grounder and scored on Agular’s single. The lead was 2-0 Reliever Brad Hand had shut down a Rivertown rally in the 8th with a pair of K’s and Seranthony Dominguez (BS 1 L 0-1) was warned and ready to come if needed. It looked like it was all over.

It wasn’t. Nelson Cruz singled off Hand and was pulled for pinch runnier Ender Incirte. After Yadier Molina was retired on a foul ball Trey Turner walked and when Jose Martinez was announced as a pinch hitter Mgr Ingemi went to the mound. Dominguez was ready but Ingemi decided to stick with Hand. Martinez singled loading the bases and Dominguez came in to face Lorenzo Cain. Cain worked the count to 3-2 and Dominguez threw a ball that most batters in the league would chase, Cruz didn’t and it was 2-1.

With a stikeout pitcher on the mound and fearing a game ending two run single the infield remained back but Washington which had turned so many key double plays that night could only manage one on Ramierz grounder. Turner scored and the game was tied.

Jose Alvarado (W 1-0) came in unwarmed from the pen with a new defense behind him but it didn’t matter, Dominguez, LeMahieu and Dickerson all went down on strikes in the 10th clearing the way for Paul Goldschmidt to win the game with a single swing.

Notes: Rivertown only managed to go 1-11 with runners in scoring position but the senators only had four chances (1-4) None of Washington’s pitchers were pinch hit for in this game while Rivertown sent 3 pinch hitters to the plate (1-3).  Washington travels to LA for a pair while Rivertown will host King Ragnar’s Vikings

Dodgers 6 Vikings 4

Kike Hernandez and Chris Taylor went back to back and the four LA pitchers were able to hold onto the lead they gave them to earn a split of their series with King Ragnar’s Vikings 6-4.

The Long ball came early for the Dodgers as Manny Machado took Ryan Stanek (L 0-1) yard with two outs in the top of the 1st. Jean Segura came right back with a one out blast against Rich Hill (W 1-0) to tie the game before Hernandez and Taylor’s back to back blasts to start the 2nd making it 3-1 The Vikings got on back in the bottom of the 2nd on a Juan Soto single followed by a Eduardo Escobar double with nobody out. When Hill retired Rosario and Culberson the Vikings took a chance and pulled Stanek for pinch hitter Mallex smith Hill coaxed a grounder to keep the game 3-2.

Hill helped his own cause in the 4th off Craig Stammen in the 4th by drilling a two out double to the gap in left center driving in Taylor who walked with one out making it 4-2 and after after a pair of singles by Soto and Escobar put two in in the bottom of the inning again struck out a pinch hitter batting for the pitcher stopping the rally which was key because in the fifth Whit Merrifield’s took him over the left field wall to make it 4-3.

That wasn’t much breathing space for Hill but with one out Justin Turmer pinch hit for him driving a single to left. Cody Bellinger followed with a double and Matt Kemp Crushed a fly ball to center that stayed in the part but was deep enough to score Turner to get the lead back to 5-3.

It looked like LA would break the game open in the 8th off Arodys Vizcaino when after a Yasiel Puig double and a Yasmani Grandal single, Hernandez drove a sinking liner to left but Merrifield made a diving stab that while allowing Puig to tag up for a 6-3 lead kept Grandal on 1st and Hernandez off back allowing Vizcaino to get out without further damage.

That would matter when Jean Segura doubled to start the bottom of the inning and was driven in by a one out double by Wilson Ramos getting the lead back to two and putting the tying run at the plate without on and a man on 2nd off Josh Fields. Pat Venditte came in and walked Soto before Escobar hit into a fielders choice for the 2nd out putting men on 1st and 3rd. Kenley Jansen (s4) came in and retired Matt Kemp to preserve the lead. While he would give up a Whit Merrifield two out double in the 9th he followed it by striking out Segura to perserve the win and the save for LA.

Notes: the Dodger victory evened their record at 6-6. Viking pinch hitters went 0-5 in the game. Machado’s RBI puts him one behind Paul Goldschmdit of Rivertown with 15 while Jansen save ties him with Rivertown’s Edwin Diaz in that category. The Dodgers head home to play the Senators while King Ragnar Vikings head to Pittsburgh to raid Rivertown.