Damn Gophers

Brian Jung won 21 games in the regular season. He's a 2-time all-star; he's thrown 228+ innings each of the past 3 seasons; he has a career era of 3.57; and he's won 90 games at age 26. For all of these reasons, dyuen's faith in him to start 3 games in the NLCS, including the decisive game 7, was a no-brainer.

But, Jung didn't make it out of the first inning of game 7. In fact, he didn't retire a single batter. After allowing line singles to the first two hitters, Jose Cordero and Magglio Lee hit back-to-back homers. dyuen trudged to the mound and yanked the shell-shocked 26-year old hurler. It was all down-hill from there as Burlington put up 7 in the first and 4 more in the second on their way to a 16-1 Game 7 victory in Mexico City.

A closer look reveals a startling trend with Jung. In the past three regular seasons he's thrown about 230 innings and allowed 22, 18, and 21 home runs in the entire season. However, in the past three post-seasons, 19 home runs in just 69 innings. For his career, he's allowed 24 HR's in 90.2 post-season innings. Clearly, for some reason, October is the month for gophers for Brian Jung. Perhaps he can hire Bill Murray to help him with his problem.

Wreckless Jung ejected, Bandejos in another fight?

BOX SCORE LINK

Hardball Dynasty's

Brian Jung

Twenty Four year old Mexico City starter Brian Jung really came into his own in his 2nd big league season, winning 20 games. As an 18-year old, Jung signed with the New York BadFish (now Augusta) for $14 million. Scouts immediately recognized his talent, but coaches were just as quick to recognize his short temper. In fact, Jung left Japan after the short temper combined with the martial arts training given him by his father kept getting him in trouble.

Jung competed in martial arts throughout his youth until a tragic incident when the Kobra Kai Dojo, visiting from Southern California, met up with Jung at an event in Tokyo. In the semi-finals, Kobra Kai's Johnny Lawrence attempted to injur Jung with an illegal leg sweep. Jung won the match, but was disqualified from the tournament and banned from future competition when he paralyzed Lawrence in an unsanctioned rematch in the parking lot.

Jung turned his attention to baseball which led him eventually to Mexico City after the Augusta coaches ran out of patience for Jung's outbursts, including two fights with teammates. He seemed to have turned it around in Mexico City until game two of the division series. Coming to bat in a tie game (1-1) in the bottom of the 2nd, Jung was called out on strikes, and snapped. He lunged for the umpire. Only the quick actions of Bandejo 3rd base coach J.P. Springer kept Jung from attacking the ump. Second City commissioner was examining tapes of the incident to determine if a suspension was warranted. But the damage was done. The Bandejo bullpen was touched for 6 runs and the upstart Bulldogs squeeked out a victory evening the series and stealing home field advantage.

Playoff Preview (Mexico City)

Mexico City Bandejos (NL South Champs, NL #1 seed)
The Bandejos staged a late season rally to claim their 4th straight NL South title. Incidentally, their 3 WS titles all came after wild card seasons. The Bandejos won 29 of 39 late season games before resting some starters in a 10 of 18 finish.

Hitting:
2b Jalal Rivera (.301-44-131) and RF Del Gil (.304-50-138) power an explosive offense. Season 8 MVP Alex Shibata remains a dangerous force but hasn't been the same since his break-up with Japanese pop star Jun Shibata. His .258 average and 42 HR's are career lows for the 2nd straight season. This season's 124 K's are 28 more than he's had in any previous season.

Team BA: .283
Team HR: 285
Team SB: 138

Pitching:
Ozzie Myers (18-6, 3.32 ERA) and Brian Jung (20-7, 3.31 ERA) form a dangerous 1-2 punch in the rotation. Willie Velazquez (13-4, 3.06) is likely to get the #3 spot for the playoffs despite where some pretty lame eye black. Rob Shields appears to have lost the closer role to veteran Benjamin Ardoin. The end of the bullpen might be the only vulnerability in this perenial contendor.

Team ERA: 3.65
Team SV: 41-65
Team HR Allow: 181