Gridiron Greats?

Football teams don't usually play 7-game series, but that appears to be the case in this year's ALCS. The recap so far:

Game 1: Salem kicker Justin Lewis nails a 47 yard field goal with under a minute remaining as the Salamie defense allows just one long TD pass to Slick Black in their 10-7 victory.

Game 2: The Richmond option attack gets rolling with TD runs by QB Angel Mercedes (37 yards), FB Joel Peterson (2 yards), and 5'7 scatback Cody Hall (22 yards) while rolling up 284 rushing yards in a 21-7 win.

Game 3: Defense prevails on a cold, rainy day in Richmond. The 'Feds jump out to a 2-0 lead on a sack by star DE Dick Caruso in the 1st quarter. The special teams fail them though after P Doc Belle pins the 'Feds deep on a coffin corner kick and Richmond can't rush it out of end zone. Then Richmond long-snapper Alan Spencer sails one over the head of the punter for another safety with just 30 seconds to play. Salem wins 4-2.

Game 4: Salem kick Willie Morales hits three of four FG attempts to lead the Salamies to a 9-7 win.

Game 5: Willie Morales misses twice, including a 38 yarder that sails wide as time expires, giving Richmond the 9-6 victory on the 3 sacks by Dick Caruso leading to game winning FG.

Championship re-makes start off with a shelling.

Virgil Chavez Richmond Confederates Age: 23 B/T: R/R Born: Birmingham, MI Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

23-year old Virgil Chavez is by all accounts a star in the making. The key words being 'in the making.' Chavez was lit up on the biggest of stages today by the Salem Grand Salamies. The Salamies touched Virgil for 6 runs in a 2nd inning that featured 4 singles, a double, a walk and a hit batsman. Chavez was lifted in before getting the 3rd out.

The Feds staged a dramatic rally in the fifth, plating 5 off Salem ace Greg Jameson. It was too little too late as the Salamies scored another 3 in the 7th to cruise to a 10-7 win and take a 1-0 series lead.

In the NL, the Sioux Falls Dakota pulled out a thriller in Game One, winning 3-2 behind Paul Rhodes and a strong bullpen effort. Game Two features the return of Dakota ace Bartolo Gonzalez, making his return from an elbow strain that's had him out for two months.

Hardball Dynasty's

Bartolo Gonzalez

Playoff Profile: Richmond Confederates

Richmond Confederates (AL Wild Card #1)
Last year's WS champs didn't win a tough division, but did win 102 games and will be a tough out in Season 10.

Hitting:
The 'Feds sport a more balanced attack that gets on base with impunity but doesn't rely on any one slugger. Six regulars his 30 or more HRs but only Julio Nunez (43) surpassed 40. They run like crazy though with over 250 swipes as a team.

Team BA: .295
Team HR: 295
Team SB: 254

Pitching
3-time Cy Young Award winner Charles Kubinski was imported from Mexico City and he has not disappointed (20-3, 3.75). The rest of the rotation is solid if unspectacular, but the bullpen could be a questions with Peter Hoiles and his 5.70 ERA in the closer role.

Team ERA: 4.42
Team SV: 52-75
Team HR Allow: 239

'Feds Shock Bandejos Again!

Charles Kubinski Richmond Confederates Age: 36 B/T: L/L Born: Towner, ND Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

The Richmond Confederates, the defending champions, who shocked 3-time champ Mexico City in the World Series, fired another shot directly across the bow of dyuen and the Mexico City Bandejos. Three time Cy Young award winner Charles Kubinski signed a 2-year, $17.6M contract with the Confederates last night.

Kubinski, who went 22-4 with a 2.55 ERA last season joins a powerful Richmond team that brings back almost every significant player from last seasn. Kubinski is one of a handful of players to have made the playoffs every season, posting a 16-10 postseason record in 33 appearances (30 starts).

dyuen had this to say, "We'll miss Kraz (SIC). He's been an incredibly valuable asset to the team but the fact is, this guy has more mileage on him that an aircraft carrier hooker." Expecting a 36-year old who's averaged over 250 IP over 9 years (when playoffs are included) is a luxury that Richmond can afford for now.

Richmond Wins!

The Richmond Confederates took home their first World Series title and just the AL's second in 9 seasons. The 'Feds won their 4th straight AL East title and posted the 3rd best mark in the entire world at 115-47. A closer look at how they did it follows.

AL MVP Julio Nunez posted .330 average with 62 HRs, 67 SBs, and 185 RBIs. 4-time MVP and the worlds first 500 HR hitter Dick Caruso put up 45 more dingers to go with his .343 average. Two other hitters (Torres & Peterson) topped 40 HRs and a 5 in all all 100+ RBIs. In addition to Nunez' 67 SBs, Rule V pick Tim Ward stole 73 bases and scored 104 runs.

The pitching staff was aolid and deep. The top 4 starters, Brankley, Sheets, Xaio, and Griggin all won between 13 and 16 games with ERAs between 3.96 and 4.14. The fifth spot was split between 14-game winner Richard Stieb and 11-gam winner Wil Mann. Stieb proved his worth with a revenge victory against his former squad, Mexico City in the World Series. Closer Peter Hoiles was spectacular all year saving 37 of 38 games.

The starters combined to go 8-4 in the playoffs with Marty Brantley posting 3 of the team's 4 losses. Their 4.23 ERA throughout the playoffs is impressive. The offense didn't miss a beat either with Nunez and Caruso each hitting 5 dingers and knocking in 14 runs. Nunez and Ward combined to swipe 17 bases while getting caught just twice. Team averaged nearly 6.5 runs for the playoffs.

So what's in store for this squad going forward? The team had a very reasonable $91 million payroll, so there's some room. Most of the roster is already under contract for Season 10, though a couple of key pitchers could be on the move in free agency. Interestingly, no Confederate 1st round pick played a major role on the championship team, with Brett Karl (season 4) and Slick Black (season 7 sandwich) playing minor roles. The team was built largely through trades with MVP Nunez, closer Peter Hoiles, 3B Jorge Torres, OF Dick Caruso, P Vin Sheets, and P Marty Brantley all coming via deals.

Congratulations to the Richmond Confederates on their first World Series title!