[Westheim]

Raccoons (18-11) vs. Stars (16-15) – May 12-14, 2009

Despite the best offense in the Federal League the Stars was lumbering around .500, yet their fifth-best pitching and +42 run differential (better than the Raccoons’ +31!) hinted at some rotten luck that was probably about to end right now.

Projected matchups:
Jong-hoo Umberger (2-1, 2.62 ERA) vs. Edgar Amador (2-2, 2.48 ERA)
Javier Cruz (3-1, 2.95 ERA) vs. Paul Miller (3-2, 3.04 ERA)
Nick Brown (2-1, 1.52 ERA) vs. Victor Bernal (4-0, 4.08 ERA)

Greg Grams was skipped on Monday’s off day, but was slotted in behind Brown for Friday to separate the left-handers in our rotation again, even if that means starting Baldwin on six days’ rest. It’s not like regular rest does him any good either. We get all the Stars’ right-handers in this set, starting with the Fat Cat, who hasn’t fared too well against the Raccoons in the past.

Game 1
DAL: CF C. Morán – 2B H. Garcia – 1B Berman – LF Alexander – C R. Garza – 3B Cowan – RF B. Speed – SS A. Rodriguez – P Amador
POR: CF Castro – 2B Nomura – LF Alston – 1B Quebell – RF Black – 3B Sharp – C De La Parra – SS Roudabush – P Umberger

The Fat Cat didn’t retire any of the first four Coons he faced, already giving us a 2-0 lead before Count Hack had his drive to center of course caught by César Morán. This interrupted the hitting spree only shortly, however, with Sharp and De La Parra also driving in single runs in a 4-run first. In the top 2nd Umberger had a 3-pitch inning, with all three outs going 4-3. While that already indicated some pretty obvious inability to get pitches past anybody, and the Stars finally had their contact result in hits and two runs in the fourth, there were encouraging signs for the team as well, like old Count Hack hitting a solo home run in the bottom 5th. He WAS alive after all! Quebell would also contribute a home run, his ninth, later, as the Raccoons built a 7-2 lead, and there was something to be said about not fooling anybody since Umberger easily went into the ninth inning on a low pitch count, only to get colossally stuck after walking a pair. Law Rockburn relieved him with one out, only to have Baden Speed hit an RBI single off him. With that, it was off to Angel Casas, but the Stars scored two more runs on an Armando Rodriguez single and Yohan Bonneau’s groundout before the game was over. 7-5 Raccoons. Castro 2-5; Nomura 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Alston 2-4; Quebell 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Black 2-4, HR, RBI;

Luke Black ended a string of 15 games without an extra base hit (and some pretty grisly 5-for-41) in this game. And he hadn’t had a multi-hit game since opening week… With that recent development, Matt Pruitt remained on the bench for another day. (I know what I said last week about one-day revivals, no need to get all ethical on me.)

Game 2
DAL: CF C. Morán – 2B H. Garcia – 1B Berman – LF Alexander – RF Bonneau – C R. Garza – 3B Cowan – SS A. Rodriguez – P P. Miller
POR: CF Castro – SS Correa – LF Alston – 1B Quebell – RF Black – 2B Nomura – C De La Parra – 3B Sharp – P Cruz

Before getting a chance at more hitting heroics, Black was charged a tough error in the first inning when a ball bounced off the glove on his stretched-out arm, while on the hustle. The Stars still didn’t score. While he didn’t immediately improve his line with some extra base magic again, Alston plated Correa after the makeshift shortstop’s triple in the first inning and walked in the third to be collected on Quebell’s tenth home run. While that gave Cruz a 3-0 lead, it was a flimsy 3-0 lead. The Stars had only two right-handers in the lineup, and Cruz was insisting on walking one of them, Dennis Berman, whenever given the opportunity. There was plenty of traffic, and the Stars reached scoring position in four of the first five innings, but didn’t score and stranded seven. Cruz started the sixth inning facing three left-handers starting with Bonneau and I didn’t have a good feeling in general. Bonneau led off with a double and scored on Joe Cowan’s single, before Cruz walked that other right-hander, Rodriguez, which got him yanked with the big red hook that was glowing after being held in the fire for an hour. Cruz didn’t even face the pitcher: Donald Sims came in right away, handled a poor bunt by Paul Miller, who was vying for the FL lead in strikeouts with a scorching outing, for a force out on Cowan at third base, before dropping Quebell’s feed to first on César Morán’s grounder. That loaded the bases for switch-hitter Hector Garcia, who was weaker against lefties and in a full count flew out to Alston. Bottom 6th: Alston grounded out, Quebell whiffed, Count Hack smacked one to left – outta here!!

THE ****, HE’S BACK!!

Then we had to blankly stare and see Donald Sims slowly load the bases with left-handed batters in the top 7th. Marcos Bruno appeared with two outs and the tying runs all on base and struck out pinch-hitter Ted Mullins, who was by now approximately 73 years old. The Stars still got a run off Bruno in the eighth when Morán hit a ball into the gap between Black and Castro and easily turned that ball into a triple. Bruno held them at 4-2 however, setting up Casas for another save attempt, facing the same part of the order that had torn up Cruz three innings earlier. This time the result were three groundouts. 4-2 Coons. Black 2-3, HR, RBI;

So Javier Cruz, despite walking five and being rescued in dire danger, clinched the 2,600th franchise win for the Raccoons! (Regular season only, there are only 39 postseason wins, though none since long, long ago)

Also, we stole one here, with the Stars out-hitting us 9-6 and also drawing more walks. That can only mean that Brownie gets slapped with hammers in the third game.

Game 3
DAL: RF Alexander – C L. Ramirez – 1B Berman – CF C. Morán – 2B H. Garcia – LF Cowan – 3B Nakayama – SS A. Rodriguez – P J. Flores
POR: CF Castro – 2B Correa – LF Alston – RF Black – 1B Quebell – 3B Sharp – C De La Parra – SS Roudabush – P Brown

While the Stars changed their rotation a bit to send lefty Jose Flores (3-4, 3.48 ERA) into this game (which also kept Pruitt out of the game), Brownie still led the Continental League in ERA (1.52 over SFB Tyler Sullivan’s 1.55 mark), but not the majors, being out-sparkled by L.A. sophomore Ernest Green’s 0.89 ERA.

Tomas Castro got on base with a single to start the bottom 1st … and that was all the Coons did to support Brownie, still bidding for win #100. No Raccoon would reach base until De La Parra singled in the bottom 5th, by which time Brown had struck out nine but trailed 1-0 after a homer hit by Leon Ramirez in the third. For what it was worth the Stars didn’t get THEIR second hit until Haruki Nakayama lobbed a floater into shallow right for a single in the EIGHTH, but they were still beating Brown soundly… 1-0. Brown finished the ninth inning, refusing to give up the ball until he was almost at 120 pitches, but the inning was perfect and ended with a K to Morán. What would the offense do? Jose Flores also started the ninth, on merely 79 pitches (or three less than Jong-hoo on Tuesday), facing Nomura batting for Brown and lining out to Berman. Castro grounded out to Nakayama before Flores issued his first walk to Correa. That brought up an – in this series – rather unproductive Ron Alston, who grounded out to Rodriguez. 1-0 Stars. Brown 9.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K, L (2-2);

I am so ****ing mad right now, I can’t even bitch.

I am so ****ing mad right now, I can’t even moan.

I am so ****ing mad right now, I can’t even cry.

Raccoons (20-12) vs. Crusaders (22-10) – May 15-17, 2009

The Crusaders had lost two to the Gold Sox before having the third game rained out and rescheduled for June, moving the Coons back to two games out, which was great, since it meant we couldn’t end the week further back than five out. Hooray!

The Crusaders were second in runs scored and third in runs allowed in the league. Their bullpen was the best in the CL, but their rotation was sputtering quite a bit, like a 5+ ERA to reigning pitching king Greg Connor. Their 4.49 starters’ ERA ranked only ninth in the Continental League, but the rainout and their off day on Monday gave them a lot of room to rearrange their starters to do the most damage to the Raccoons, yet they were still all right-handers. We are 2-0 and a suspended 6 1/2 inning effort against them so far this year.

Projected matchups:
Greg Grams (3-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Pancho Trevino (5-1, 2.09 ERA)
Colin Baldwin (1-3, 3.86 ERA) vs. Whit Reeves (4-1, 4.33 ERA)
Jong-hoo Umberger (3-1, 2.95 ERA) vs. Elwood Spurrell (4-0, 3.96 ERA)

Apart from an all-right-handed rotation, and one of their three closers on the DL, the Crusaders were also without Francisco Caraballo (.268, 4 HR, 21 RBI) who was yet to be diagnosed with an injury.

Game 1
NYC: CF R. Pena – SS J. Hernandez – LF M. Ortíz – RF S. Martin – 2B M. Williams – 3B Reece – 1B Batlle – C D. Anderson – P P. Trevino
POR: SS Correa – 2B Nomura – RF Alston – 1B Quebell – LF Pruitt – 3B Sharp – CF S. Trevino – C Esquivel – P Grams

Both pitchers bled runs early in the game, not in a case of a home run parade, but rather lots of people crowding the bases and shoving each other forwards. The Raccoons took a 4-2 lead through three innings, but it was in no way secure and Grams had not a lot of convincing stuff. While Pancho Trevino hit a single off Grams and stole a base, Santiago Trevino also managed a single (his second hit of the season!) and hit a sac fly to extend the lead to 5-2 in the fifth. But somehow (somehow!) Grams made it through seven innings without more damage inflicted on him, although the defense made a few nifty plays, with Pruitt and Esquivel showing some glove especially. The Raccoons were not doing much with the bats once the Crusaders bullpen took over, but Bruno and Casas were pretty much spotless, too, putting this one in the W column, the first one on the way to 2,700. 5-2 Critters. Nomura 2-3, BB; Pruitt 3-4, RBI; Sharp 2-4, 2B; Grams 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, W (4-0);

Brown: 2-2. Grams: 4-0. There is no justice. And I’m ****ing mad.

The Crusaders also placed Caraballo on the DL after this game, once the diagnosis of a hamstring strain became final. He’ll be out for about six weeks.

Game 2
NYC: CF R. Pena – 2B J. Hernandez – LF M. Ortíz – RF S. Martin – 3B Reece – 1B Batlle – SS Ortega – C D. Anderson – P Spurrell
POR: CF Castro – SS Correa – 1B Quebell – RF Black – LF Pruitt – 2B Nomura – 3B Sharp – C De La Parra – P Baldwin

The Raccoons worked the power station early in this game, with Quebell smacking a solo dinger for his 11th of the season (also breaking a tie for second place in the CL with some guy nicknamed “Clockwork”) and Luke Black would romp a 3-piece in the third inning to give the Raccoons a new lead, 4-1, after Baldwin had spilled the earlier 1-0 advantage quickly. Baldwin never really became dominant in this start, also relying on the defense quite a lot, except for his complete evil charming of Roberto Pena, who struck out in all three at-bats against him. Baldwin allowed only three hits – somehow – through six and two thirds before crossing the 100 pitches mark and facing righty slugging catcher Daryl Anderson, when I suddenly remembered that there were still two right-handers in the pen that hadn’t even pitched yet this week. Ted Reese got a grounder to short before being immediately hit for in the bottom 7th. Esquivel singled, but the Raccoons didn’t progress past first base, keeping the score at 4-1. Now, Angel had pitched three of the last four days and I was not inclined to use him unless the score closed a bit. With that, and left-handers up first in the eighth, Sims got another assignment and this time delivered a perfect eighth. The Raccoons had a chance to tack on in the bottom 8th with an Alston walk and a Gutierrez single, but De La Parra struck out to strand a pair for the second time in the game. That handed the ninth inning assignment to Marcos Bruno, facing the 3-4-5 batters and all their collected medals. He walked Martin Ortíz before Stanton Martin and Sonny Reece grounded out. Instead of mopping up Paco Batlle with a fatality, Bruno walked him, bringing up switch-hitter Jorge Ortega (.320 in 25 AB). Was it time for Angel yet? Nah, Ortega had no power, and Angel can always come in to face Anderson. Ortega grounded out on the first pitch, and the Raccoons moved into a tie with the Crusaders atop the CL North. 4-1 Furballs! Quebell 2-4, HR, RBI; Pruitt 2-4; Sharp 1-2, BB, RBI; Gutierrez (PH) 1-1; Esquivel (PH) 1-1; Baldwin 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W (2-3);

We might be t-1st, but I’m still ****ing mad.

There was also an asterisk attached to the fact that Ron Alston walked in the eighth inning. He did so on his off day, having to replace Luke Black after the latter got injured on a tumbling catch. He suffered a hyperextended elbow that would be tender for a week or two, which was the perfect nightmare in terms of what to do with him. He was not out completely, but was DTD, and two weeks is a long time to be hampered. There was no hope in refreshments coming from AAA. Well, there was Jerry Saenz, who was batting not too badly, but he was too weakly armed to play rightfield. Alston there was not much sugar either.

Ugh, that’s a tough one!

Game 3
NYC: CF R. Pena – 2B J. Hernandez – LF M. Ortíz – RF S. Martin – 3B Reece – 1B Batlle – SS Davidson – C D. Anderson – P Reeves
POR: CF Castro – 2B Correa – RF Alston – 1B Quebell – LF Pruitt – 3B Sharp – C De La Parra – SS Roudabush – P Umberger

Paco Batlle’s shot off Umberger put the Crusaders 1-0 ahead in the top 2nd, but by the completion of the inning the score had been flipped with Pruitt singling, Sharp hitting a triple into the gap in right center, and Roudabush driving in Sharp for his first career RBI. Correa tripled in the third, but wasn’t scored, with Ron Alston’s low liner caught by Sonny Reece, who nevertheless was injured on the play and replaced by Marc Williams, who promptly hit into an inning-ending double play when the Crusaders had the Martin Brothers on the corners in the fourth inning. Ron Alston hit a 2-run homer in the fifth, then threw out Roberto Pena at home plate in the sixth on a Julio Hernandez double. Mind though that that double was hit with nobody out and Hernandez moved up to third with the Martin Brothers coming up. Ortíz hit an infield single behind second base that Roudabush couldn’t turn into anything and Hernandez scored, before “Clockwork” gave an 0-2 pitch quite the ride to deep left. But with the outfield playing deep and the bomb just not quite deep enough, Pruitt made the play on the warning track.

Jong-hoo went seven and two thirds before the Martins were up yet again. Martin Ortíz came to bat with two outs and Pena on first base in a 4-2 game, and with Umberger close to 100 pitches and not having fooled anybody in a few innings, I snapped and went to Sims with Bruno in the wings. Bruno took over a tied game once Ortíz had walloped Sims’ first pitch over the rightfield wall with ease, and struck out “Clockwork”.

Robbie Wills cut down Quebell and Pruitt in the bottom 8th before Sharp, unretired on the day, singled softly to right. Yoshi hit for the complete blackout in the #7 hole and lined a single to left on an 0-2 pitch with Sharp staying at second base. Next was Roudabush, whom we couldn’t quite hit for here. He also fell 0-2 behind before making contact and chipping a single to right. Sharp was sent feverishly around third base despite the murder arm of Stanton Martin getting ready to unleash a missile towards home, Sharp ran for his life, rocket coming in, slightly off to the first base side, Anderson throwing himself into the sliding Sharp – SAFE!!!!

Esquivel struck out, handing a 5-4 lead to Angel Casas, who faced Ming Kui, one of the peskiest pinch-hitters we had ever known, and two more left-handers after that. Kui struck out, but Batlle walked in a full count. Zak Davidson sent a terrible drive to left center where Pruitt sold out to catch it, shoved his face into the dirt upon landing, but held onto the ball! Now it was on Jorge Ortega again, pinch-hitting in the #8 slot. He hit a first pitch and rather cheap single to right with Batlle chugging to third base. Melvin Dunn hit for Wills, owning a 1.583 OPS in 12 AB. Angel cut some off that with a K. 5-4 Furballs!! Sharp 2-3, BB, 3B, RBI; Nomura (PH) 1-1; Roudabush 2-3, BB, 2 RBI; Umberger 7.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K;

Who’s number one!? Who’s number one!? The Crusaders didn’t win a game all week, but the Raccoons only lost one. That one…

I’m ****ing mad regardless.

In other news

May 16 – WAS LF/RF Ken Potter (.212, 5 HR, 17 RBI) will spend a month on the DL with a hip strain.

There’s also a drought in Oregon. Not one day of rain all week!

Complaints and stuff

Brownie turned in his 13th career complete game, which I was too ****ing mad to mention on Thursday, and I’m still ****ing mad.

There might be a solution to the Black dilemma in Ham Lake, though. Dave Green has to be put on the 40-man roster anyway this fall, and is batting .303/.400/.461. But even better: last year’s first-rounder Jason Seeley is mashing the cover off the ball, batting .330/.414/.652 with 6 HR and 24 RBI, but I wasn’t seeing him in the Bigs just yet. He got a promotion to AAA, though.

As we’re on AA prospects, SP Hector Santos (one of the last discoveries by good old Vince Guerra) might move up to AAA soon-ish, too. He is 2-3 with a 3.57 ERA and 45 K against 15 BB in 40.1 IP. The BABIP is not quite in his favor. He has not allowed a home run (and only allowed six in 175.2 IP last year in AA). He’s not quite 21 but I will look at him over the next two, three, four starts and then see whether we move him up. That slider. Umm-yum-yum. That slider!

Juan Barrón was on waivers by the Indians this week, but we’re broken. He wasn’t claimed and is now stuck on the AAA Chandler Wild.

And I’m ****ing mad.