Wednesday, September 30, 2009

JUDGEMENT DAY

Well, it's here. For the first time in Second City History (I think - too lazy to look), all 4 wild-card series are headed to game 5. A brief re-cap of how we got there.

Baltimore jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the road, bombing 2 Fightin Friar starters including Chico Molina (gm 1 8-3, gm 2 18-1). By the Friars came back on the road behind 8 innings of one-hit ball from Dude Wheeler in Game 3 and a 4-HR attack in Game 4. The road team in 4-0 in this series, which returns to SF for it's thrilling conclusion.

Scranton got 3 in the 9th on a Joe Clarke HR and stranded the potential tie run at 3B in Game 1 against Monterrey. 3 of the first 4 hitters homered in the 2nd as Monterrey cruised to a game 2 win over Neil Henderson. Game 3 dragged on for a grueling 13 innings with only 3 extra inning base runners until Jorge Torres got his first hit of the night, a 2-run, walk-off HR allowed by the creatively named Brad Bradley. Game 4 saw Monterrey escape elimination in a thrilling come-from-behind win with PR Andrew Boyd just beating a throw home to score the go-ahead run on PH Tito Kwon's double. Kudos to manager Brandon Taylor for those two substitutions.

In the NL, San Juan peppered Cheyenne with 19 hits to win gm 1 8-4. Then backup C Willard Hitchcock homered 3 times to secure 7-5 victory in game 2. But, Cheyenne battled back at home winning game 3 8-7 with the despite the potential tie run reaching first with nobody out in the 9th. Game 4 was a Seminole game all the way with Gergie Regan and Adam Henry combing to allow just 1 run on 8 hits.

Perhaps the wildest series has been between Helena and Sioux Falls. The exhausted Dakota sent 36-year old Bartolo Gonzalez to the mind in Game 1 and he rewarded them with shut out innings in a 5-0 win over 3-time Cy Young Rafael Aguilera. The Dakota took a 4-3 lead to the bottom of the 9th in Helena in game 2 before D'Angelo Castillo's 2-run, walkoff HR. Sioux Falls trailed 5-1 in game 3 before a furious comeback, topped off by a 4-run 8th to win 5-4. CF Alex Bennett made consecutive errors in the 9th to bring the tie run to the plate before Victor Chavez redeemed himself by escaping the jam (he had blown game 2). Game 4 once again saw Aguilera on the hill, but he left with the Dakota leading 4-3. However, back-to-back HR's in the 8th and a 3-run 9th salted away the win for the Hound Dogs. Sioux Falls ace, Paul Rhodes takes the hill for the first time in a win-or-go-home game 5 in Helena.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Playoff Preview Season 13

Well, an exciting finish to the regular season saw Mexico City sweep San Juan amidst calls for better insurance to secure a bye and the #2 seed in the NL. Meanwhile, Las Vegas, Helena, Sioux Falls, and Cheyenne all won must-win 162nd games. This completed 6 game streaks to finish the season for both Cheyenne and Sioux Falls. The upshot was that Las Vegas was eliminated on a tie-breaker yielding these first round matchups.

Odds are to win league pennant, all rankings are within league unless otherwise noted.

American League
#6 Scranton Nittany Lions 10-1
Record: 95-67 (AL 2nd wild card)
Offense: 8th: 962 R, .265 Ave (2nd fewest SB)
Defense: 8th: 868 R, 4.89 ERA (244 HR allowed worst of AL playoff teams)
History: 5th consecutive and 6th overall appearance, best finish: WS loser in Season 11
vs.
#3 Monterrey Conquistadors 12-1
Record: 97-65 (winner AL South)
Offense: 7th: 963 R, .295 Ave (.364 OBP trails only KC)
Defense: 6th: 841 R, 4.77 ERA (tandem rotation rocks conventional wisdom)
History: 12th appearance, 9th division title, best finish, WS loser in Season 6

Outlook: Monterrey's tandem rotation meets surprising entrant, with 8th ranked O & D. WCM PICK: Monterrey
-----------
bye
#2 Kansas City Blues 5-2
Record: 102-60 (winner AL North)
Offense: 2nd: 1056 R, .305 Ave (207 HR fewest of playoff teams)
Defense: 3rd: 800 R, 4.56 ERA (.422 Slg allowed & 1123 K's best in AL)
History: 2nd consecutive division title (5 overall), 6 total appearances, best finish: lost ALCS season 11
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#5 Baltimore Dead Homies 8-1
Record: 99-63 (AL 1st wild card)
Offense: 6th: 986 R, .282 BA (219 SB 2nd in AL)
Defense: 4th: 820 R, 4.59 ERA (20 Blown Saves worst among AL playoff teams)
History: 5th consecutive wild card, 10th overall appearance, best finish: WS loser, seasons 2 and 12
vs.
#4 San Francisco Fightin Friars 3-1
Record: 94-68 (winner AL West)
Offense: 5th: 991 R, .293 Ave (hardest AL team to K - 904)
Defense: 1st: 771 R, 4.40 ERA (fewest HR all)
History: 2nd consecutive division title, 2nd appearance, best finish, lost in ALCS Season 12

Outlook: San Fran's excellent pitching and defense meet the speed of Baltimore WCM Pick - Baltimore
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bye
#1 Richmond Confederates 3-1
Record: 107-55 (winner AL East)
Offense: 3rd, 1050 R, 2.83 Ave (337 HR lead league)
Defense: 2nd, 774 R, 4.44 ERA (53-64 SV, tops in AL)
History: 5th division title, 8th consecutive appearance (8 overall), best finish: WS Champs season 9
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National League
#6 Sioux Falls Dakota (15-1)
Record: 89-73 NL 2nd wild card by virtue of tie-breaker over Las Vegas
Offense: 3rd: 831 R, .263 Ave (129 SB 2nd among NL playoff teams)
Defense: 11th: 751 R, 4.30 ERA (219 HR allowed 3rd worst in NL)
History: 1st wild card after 12 consecutive division titles, best finish: WS Champs in Season 7 and 10
vs.
#3 Helena Hound Dogs 9-1
Record: 90-72 Winner NL North
Offense: 11th: 735 R, .265 Ave (193 HRs last among playoff teams, and better only than Pittsburgh)
Defense: 5th: 673 R, 3.73 ERA (172 HR allowed, best in NL)
History: 1st division title, 4th playoff appearance, best finish: never won a division series

Outlook: Exhausted Dakota rotation takes on best pitcher in the game in Aguilera. WCM PICK - Helena
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Bye
#2 Mexico City Bandejos 2-1
Record: 95-67 Winner NL South
Offense: 1st: 869 R, .275 Ave (255 HRs 18 better than any other in NL)
Defense: 2nd: 654 R, 3.68 ERA (.240 OAV tops in NL)
History: 7th straight division title, 10th straight appearance, 10 overall appearances, best finish: WS Champs seasons 4, 5, 6, and 11
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#5 San Juan Crownrificos 5-1
Record: 94-68 1st NL Wild Card
Offense: 12th: 714 R, .257 Ave (25 SB half the next worst team in NL)
Defense: 3rd: 657 R, 3.69 ERA (1184 K's led NL)
History: 11th appearance (6 division titles, 5 wild cards), best finish: WS Champs SEason 1, 2, and 8
vs.
#4 Cheyenne Seminoles 5-1
Record: 90-72 Winner NL West
Offense: 10th: 750 R, .259 Ave (202 SB, 2nd in NL and tops in playoffs)
Defense: 1st: 638 R, 3.63 ERA (172 HR, 452 BB, .383 SLG all led NL)
History: 5th consecutive division title, 6th straight appearance (9 overall), best finish: Lost NLCS seasons 1 and 9

outlook: battle of bad hitting/great pitching teams comes down to the little things, injuries undermine experienced Crownrificos WCM PICK - Cheyenne
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Bye
#1 Burlington Bulldogs 3-1
Record: 98-64 Winner NL East (first non-NL South team with #1 seed in NL)
Offense: 8th: 776 R, .250 Ave (only Pawtucket had worse BA)
Defense: 4th: 666 R, 3.73 ERA (56 SV led NL)
History: 7th straight division title, 7 overall appearances, best finish: WS Champs Season 12

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Hoffman's Injury Leads to Better Insurance for 'Rificos

Billy Hoffman
San Juan
Crownrificos
Age: 29B/T: L/L
Born: Fort Worth, TX
Position(s): P (P)
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San Juan owner wang35 remains distraught over the career and life-threatening condition of ace hurler Billy Hoffman. Hoffman, who was rushed to the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in San Juan after experiencing numbness in his arm during a game in Pawtuckett. Hoffman probably should have been hospitalized in Pawtuckett, but he was denied service when bullpen coach Enrique Matos spoke in animated Spanish when a nurse asked for Hoffman's insurance information. Crownrifico insiders continue to whisper that the bargain-basement plan paid for by the team owner may have put Hoffman at risk since the Pawtuckett medical system is "out-of-network."

Team owner wang35 has been terribly distraught ever since the incident. Wang first learned of the injury when reached on a beach vacation. Upon learning that Hoffman, the 1st round pick of the Chicago Hog Butchers in season 2, faced a life-threatening condition, Wang lost all love for his vacation, completely falling apart. He immediately tanked the "bags" game he was in and wasn't the same for the rest of the weekend. Even a less-than-successful run at the Pai Gow table was not enough to right the dizzied Wang.

He has since set up a charitable organization to treat circulatory disorders in Puerto Rico. He's also allowed Hoffman to use his private jet to see the best experts in the field. Surgery was performed by the same doctors that treated David Cone in New York when he suffered a similar injury. Cone returned from the injury in 1997 and would make the all-star team in 2 of the next 3 years, finishing 4th in the Cy Young voting in 1998.

Hoffman debuted in the bigs in Season 5 and has a career record of 86-62 with 4.00 ERA. He's never made the all-star team in the big leagues

Showdown Series Wrap Up

Four huge series with pennant implication wrapped up this AM. Here's what went down.

Las Vegas swept the Cheyenne Seminoles bringing them to within a game of the NW West Lead. Moose Gates was stellar for 5 innings in Game 1 before allowing a crucial 3-run shot in the 6th to Livan Suarez. Game two saw the Double Downs overcome a 4-2 deficit to win 7-4. A 5-run 4th inning propelled the DD's to the sweep in Game 3.

Mexico City took 2 of 3 from Memphis propelled by 8 shutout inning by Brian Jung in the middle game.

The floundering San Juan Crownrificos righted the ship taking 2 of 3 from Nashville including a thrilling 4-run 9th to force extra innings in Game 1. The 'Rificos won on a bloop single in the 11th by Wil Curtis. Willard Hitchcock powered them to a win in the rubber game with a 3-run homer.

Finally, the Helena Hound Dogs swept the lifeless Sioux Falls Dakota. The Dakota could not find a clutch hit leaving 5 in scoring position in 3-0 loss to Matt Martin in game. Despite getting to ace Rafael Aguilera for 4 runs in game 2, the Dakota staff couldn't hold and 4 more were left in scoring position. Game 4 was more of the same as 5 hit day from D'Angelo Castillo paced a 17-hit attack that propelled the Hound Dogs to the sweep.

The race looks like this right now (1 game later):
NL North - Helena leads Sioux Falls by 2 games
NL East - Burlington has clinched and will get a bye (still fighting for #1 seed)
NL South winner will get the other bye. San Juan leads Mexico City by 1 with Nashville 7 back and Memphis 10 back with 13 to play.
The NL West lead is back to 2 for Cheyenne after Vegas couldn't build on the sweep.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Hutch Making run @ .400

Steven Hutch
Colorado
Mountain Oysters
Age: 30B/T: S/R
Born: Jackson, NJ
Position(s): RF
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Steven Hutch, playing in his 9th season for the Colorado Mountain Oysters is having his best year. Hutch, who will be eligible for free agency this off-season, is currently hitting exactly .400 (229/572). He also has 40 HRs, 152 RBI, and 38 SBs. The career .342 is making a run at becoming only the 2nd .400 hitter in Second City history. Max Lima of the San Juan Crownrificos hit .400 in the inaugural season, by all accounts, a hitter-friendly year. Lima also holds the single season hits record from that year with 242 (since tied by Antonio Chapman. Hutch would need to average about 1 hit per game the rest of the way to break that mark.

An incredible 7 of the top 15 batting averages among qualifying players come from the Colorado Mountain Oysters. Yet, Colorado needs a miracle finish to reach the playoffs, currently sitting 7 games out of their division and 7 games out of the wild-card.

Monday, September 21, 2009

The Dandy Dozen: Tony Baez

Tony Baez
Kansas City
Blues
Age: 31B/T: R/R
Born: Calabozo, VE
Position(s): 3B/1B/2B/OF/DH
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The Resume:
Tony Baez was signed to the largest international free agent contract of season 1. His $13 million bonus remained the 2nd city record until Alex Shibata signed for $14.9 million in season 3. Baez spent just 78 games in minors, debuting that same season with the Salem Grand Salamies. He spent his first 12 seasons with Salem before a trade to Kansas City prior to this season.

Baez appeared in the playoffs an amazing 11 consecutive years, missing for the first time in Season 12. In that time, he is 2nd all time in stolen bases (700) and runs scored (1639) and fourth all time in SB% (732/787) and 5th in hit by pitches (115). Baez's best year was season 6 when he hit .368 with 39 HR's, 145 RBI (all career highs) to go with 43 SB in 45 attempts and 146 runs scored. Baez has made the All-Star team 8 times (only Dick Caruso and Car Brooks have made more), and won 7 silver sluggers (3 in LF, 4 at 2B).

Baez has appeared in 93 post-season games, amassing a .319 career batting average with 15 HRs and 48 SBs in 272 at bats. Baez has made 4 trips to the World Series, winning once (season 3). In those 4 post-seasons, Baez has been at his best, collecting 70 hits in 206 at bats (.340) while clubbing 12 HR's, scoring 65 runs, and stealing 27 of 28 bases. In season 8, he stole 15 bases in the post season without being caught and in season 3 he hit .344 with 5 HR's in 61 AB in leading the Salamies to the title.

The Rest of The Story:
Baez's aunt, Joan Baez is a well-known folk singer. She's been linked to Bob Dylan, and has long supported human rights, the environment, and other causes through non-violent protest.

Tony, however, followed his father's political beliefs and is known around the league as a staunch conservative. Baez is no longer allowed in Venezuela after a publicized spat with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Chavez recently visited Libya to celebrate Moammar Khadafy's 40th year in power. Baez pledged never to play for the Venezuelan national team again, and drives a Chevy Volt, just to ensure that none of his wealth makes into Chavez bank account.


But the real heart of the argument stems back to Chavez' shots at Baez' beloved 2nd sport of golf. When Chavez threatened the Caracas Country Club, Baez took a stand, publicly defying the president for the first time. Their war of words has left bad blood on both sides, leading directly to the revocation of Baez citizenship. The U.S. is said to be considering making Baez a citizen in retaliation.

Friday, September 18, 2009

NL Silliness

The NL playoff picture must have been taken with one of those cameras like Fred Flintstone used because it is BLURRY. Three of four divisions are currently within 3 games. Seven teams are within 3 games of a wild card spot. And there are only 27 games remaining.

In order of probability, you're contendors.

LOCKS
1. Burlington leads the NL East by 13 games and couldn't miss the playoffs if they tried. This will be a 7th straight division title for the defending WS champs. Burlington has the 3rd best pitching/D in the league and the 5th best offense.

2. San Juan has just a 3 game lead over Mexico City in the NL South, they're 7 ahead losing the wildcard. An arm injury has taken out staff ace Billy Hoffman causing a recent slide. Still, their 31-16 record in 1-run games makes them a dangerous, gritty team.

Looking Good
1. Mexico City leads the wild card race and trails San Juan by just 3 games. They've won 8 of 10 and have 10 games remaining against non-playoff contenders.

Leaders at the top of the Stretch
1. Sioux Falls holds just a 3 game lead in the division, and would be 1 up on the 2nd wild card spot. The recent loss of Mac Stevens raises a specter of doubt about a 13-th consecutive division title. The Dakota host Helena in a huge 3-game series starting 9/22.

2. Cheyenne leads the NL West by 2 games over arch rival Las Vegas. They've lost 10 of 14 extra inning games, but are the stingiest staff around. The Seminoles face perennial doormat Pawtucket for the next 7. They must travel to Sin City 3 starting 9/22 however.

3. Nashville is chasing its 4th wild card birth (they've never won the division), but face a brutal 17-game road trip that includes stops in San Juan (80-55), Toledo (65-70), Arizona (66-69), and Mexico City (77-58). They own the worst run differential of teams currently set to reach the playoffs (+53).

The Chase Group
1. Memphis has the poor luck of playing in the deepest division in Second City. They sit just 1 game out of the wild card. Creative management has started 11 different pitchers. The schedule is not kind as they face just 1 sub-.500 team the rest of the way.

2. Las Vegas has been to the playoffs 10 times in 12 seasons, but an impossibly bad 12-22 record in 1-run games reveals a team that hasn't come through in the clutch. They face potential rivals Cheyenne and Sioux Falls at home so a hot finish could find them with an 11th birth.

3. Helena is 3 out of the division and 2 out of the wild card. Three-time defending Cy Young Rafael Aguilera has struggled (by his standards). Helena plays their last 10 and 13 of their last 17 on the road. Of the contenders, only San Juan and Cheyenne have scored fewer runs.

4. Augusta faces a tall order. Of all the teams in the race, they're the only 1 without any shot at a division title. Augusta would have to make up 3 games and leap 4 teams to earn a wild card berth. They have 16 road games remaining, but they're strangely 15 games over .500 on the road and 10 under at home.

The Pretenders
1. Toledo is 9 games out of the North and 8 games out of the wild card. Not looking good.

2. Arizona is 7 games out in the West and 7 games out of the wild card. They face only 1 team under .500 the rest of the way so, no matter what, they will impact this race.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Playoff Position

Well as the season approaches the home stretch there is very little drama left in the AL and gobs of drama in the NL.

Let's start with the boring part. Kansas City is a lock to win the AL North. Monterrey is a heavy favorite to win the AL South. In the AL West, San Francisco holds a 3 game lead over Colorado. Colorado is also 3 games out of the wild card, where Scranton holds the final spot.
(Richmond leads Baltimore by 4 games in the AL East with the runner-up a veritable shoe-in for the wild-card. That means only 1 spot remains up for grabs with Scranton battling the AL West runner-up for the last spot.

Scranton has 7 games remaining with SF (3 road, 4 home), but does not meet Colorado again. Colorado and San Francisco meet by the bay for a 3 game set in the next-to-last series of the season.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Sosa bids for Perfect Game

Hector Sosa
Burlington
Bulldogs
Age: 22B/T: S/R
Born: Tacubaya, MX
Position(s): P (SP2)
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Burlington pitcher Hector Sosa tossed a gem last night against the Sioux Falls Dakota. Sosa struck out 13 in a dominating performance. The drama grew all night, and even the Sioux Falls fans were on their feet to start the 9th. Sosa had retired the first 24 in order. He stuck out Alex Bennett and Geronimo Guerrero to open the 9th, leaving him 1 out away from a perfect game. That left only pinch hitter and Hall of Famer, Rich Clarke. The 22-year old Sosa was pushing 115 pitches when he lost Clarke to a sinker in the dirt on a 3-2 count, losing his perfect game with a walk.

That flipped the order to leadoff man Derrick Quinn. Quinn jumped on the first pitch, ripping a double off the left-field wall, scoring Clarke, breaking up the no-hitter, perfect game, and shutout at the same time. Sosa finished off the complete game by striking out Haywood Lidle for the 4th time.

Link to Box score

Thursday, September 3, 2009

#1 overall pick Abraham Young

Abraham Young
Salt Lake City
Salty Sardines
Age: 18B/T: L/L
Born: Bryan, TX
Position(s): CF
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The Salt Lake City Sardines drafted Abraham Young #1 overall in the Season 13 Draft. Young, 5-tool CF from Bryan, TX, signed for $6.2M and immediately reported to Salt Lake's Rookie league team in Natchez, AZ.

The Background:
Young grew up in Bryan, TX, a city of 65,000 that shares a border with College Station, home of Texas A&M University. Young was raised almost from birth by his foster parents. His foster father, Kevin Skinner, works for Sanderson Farms, one of the largest local employers. Sanderson Farms processes 8.125 MILLION chickens a week at its plants in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. All those chickens require a lot of catching. Skinner is Sanderson's most talented (and now, thanks to America's Got Talent, best known) chicken catcher.

Growing up around a legendary chicken catching father taught Young a few things. "I learned you've got to be lightning quick with your feet and hands. Also, I learned that chicken poop is slippery."

One thing he didn't learn, was book smarts. Young, who's been clocked as low as 4.34 in the 40-yard dash, has never excelled in the classroom. With the Aggies of Texas A&M were pursuing him as a football player, he never really came that close to going. "One of the coaches told me I'd have to pass this SAT test. Shoot, I didn't even know how to spell that." And so, Young took $6.2M and is off on a career in baseball.

The Scouting Report:
Young profiles as super-fast and quite powerful. However, many scouts wonder if his academic difficulties aren't translating onto the playing field. One scout remarked, "give that kid a fastball and he'll put it into the seats. But if he doesn't, look out, because he may not stop running the bases until you tag him out. And you're likely to tag him out because HE REFUSES TO STOP." Another scout told WCM off the record that Young's mental lapses often cause him to forget to use his glove hand when catching fly balls, which leads to an abnormal number of errors.

Still, the talent is there. This kid has hand-eye coordination that's rarely been seen, almost never swinging and missing. He hits the ball hard, and can go get it in the OF, though you're never sure what he'll do with it when he does get it.