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luckymann · 05-24-2021, 02:41 AM

Connecticut Colonials (33-26) @ New Jersey Stallions (34-25)
Comcast Field – Jersey City, NJ; 1.05 pm
NJER: Ed Walsh (7-1, 3.51)
CONN: Urban Shocker (5-6, 4.74)

Hello again and thanks for tuning in to today’s Game of the Week, I’m Nik Hill and today we are bringing you two sides who look like they’ll be right amongst it at the pointy end in the North Division, the New Jersey Stallions and the Connecticut Colonials.

An extremely tight race in the North at the moment, with just the solitary game separating the Stallions from both Boston and their opponents this afternoon, so there is plenty on the line in this one. The home side has been in great form of late with 8 wins from their past 10, and will be incredibly hard to beat here at Comcast, where their record so far is a crisp 24-9. The Colonials, on the other hand, have just come off the boil a bit in recent weeks, and will be looking to turn that around and avoid being swept in this series.

Ed Walsh is on the mound for the Stallions today, and he has been among the league’s best hurlers so far with a 7-1 record and a nice ERA of 3.51. He’s the sort of pitcher who doesn’t look like much from afar, but he’s got a plus screwball that sets up his other pitches really well. The Colonials have got Urban Shocker going for them, a real nibbler who doesn’t give you much to hit but who can get into trouble if his radar is off and he has to come back in to the main part of the plate. Which version of him are we going to see tonight?

Future superstars everywhere you look in this league, although with this young man you can probably remove the word “future”, he seems to have arrived at this league as a full-formed ballplayer, doesn’t he Jules?

Juliana Scott: He certainly does, Nik, I’m talking to George Sisler, the Stallions’ first-baseman. George, thanks for giving us your time. A first-baseman now but it wasn’t always so—you began your career as a pitcher at the University of Michigan and only transitioned into a position player while you were in the minors. Why the change?

George Sisler: Well it became pretty obvious as I worked my way up the ranks that I didn’t really have the arm to take me very far. But I’d always hit OK so my skipper started playing me at first on my off-days until it just seemed a better fit for me and the team.

JS: Any chance of you taking the mound in this league?

GS: No thank you, ma’am – not with the guys I’d have to pitch to (laughs).

JS: Yes, that’s true. There sure are plenty of tough outs here. How would you pitch to yourself if ever given the chance?

GS: I’m gonna plead the fifth on that one, Juliana, the pitchers are already tough enough to get hits off without me giving them the inside running (laughs). I’d put myself out of a job if I did.

JS: Well we don’t want that. This is a really strong squad the Stallions have got and you’ve started the season well. Can you give us some insights into how a group of players that barely know one another can gel so quickly in the way yours seems to have?

GS: Two words: Dustin Pedroia. On his urging, we sat down as a group – no coaching staff were present – on the first day of camp back in January and just shot the breeze for a couple hours. This became a nightly thing after our field drills were done for the day. When camp broke a month or so later, we were as thick as thieves. And he’s always going around making sure everyone’s doing OK, talking guys up if they’re in a bit of a slump, putting out the fires that inevitably spark up. Dusty would be the first to admit he’s not as talented as most of the other lads in this league, but if I was putting a team together from scratch he’d be one of the first guys I’d pick, it’s that simple. He is the heart and soul of this side, and goes out there and leads by example, hustling every play no matter the situation or score.

JS: Wow, that’s some lofty praise indeed. Tell us about Cristobal Torriente, he looks a fantastic talent.

GS: Oh, yeah, he’s one right out of the box all right. We call him Ese, which is apparently Spanish for “buddy” but also means SA - Silent Assassin. He’s pretty shy our Cristo and struggles a bit with the language, but he just gets it done over and over again with a minimum of fuss. The perfect number 3 hitter, hard contact to all fields with plenty of pop, a great eye and fantastic game smarts, you know? He’ll assess any situation in a flash and invariably make the right play at the right time.

JS: And George, just before I let you go, tell us about playing under Wilbert Robinson.

GS: Sometimes a really good ballclub can be spoiled by having the wrong type of manager. Some groups need handling, need constant fine-tuning—micromanaging I think they call it. If we had a manager like that I reckon we’d run into problems along the way. We’ve got a pretty driven group of guys at this club and Uncle Robbie is the perfect skipper for us. First and foremost he trusts us and never lets us forget it. So if you make a mistake or don’t get something done he’ll just let it pass or gently remind you what was needed of you in that situation, always with a real casual tone and positive spin, you know? The closest to harsh words you’ll get from him is come on son, you know you’re better than that or something along those lines. His background as a player means he understands that the nature of this game contains a lot of failure, so he makes sure you’re always looking to succeed. Every play. Every pitch. Every at-bat.

JS: It certainly seems to be working so far. Good luck tonight George and thanks for talking to us.

GS: My pleasure, thanks for having me.

JS: Undoubtedly one of the premier ballclubs in this league, Nik, and I couldn't agree more with your statement that the Stallions will be right in the thick of things come playoff time.

Indeed Jules, they just don’t seem to have any obvious weak spots. Thanks for that, and folks we’ll be right back with tonight’s first pitch.

TOP 1ST
A strong start by the visitors as Henderson leads off with a walk, swipes second and moves around to third on a Crawford groundout. Williams hits a dribbler back to the pitcher, who throws it over to first for what should be a routine second out, only for Sisler to flat out drop it, scoring Henderson. Larkin then singles and another one by Schang knocks Williams in.
Connecticut 2, New Jersey 0

BOTTOM 1ST
A hit to Sisler but nothing doing for the Stallions.

TOP 2ND
Just one hit for Connecticut.

BOTTOM 2ND
The home side gets one back when Pedroia walks and advances to third on a single by Porter, then comes home on a Kaline SF.
Connecticut 2, New Jersey 1

TOP 3RD
Walsh disposes of them in order.

BOTTOM 3RD
The home side gets into motion again, with Sisler sparking the rally with a leadoff single. Torriente also singles and they are both in scoring position when Cano comes to the plate with two out. Cano duly singles them both in as New Jersey takes the lead.
New Jersey 3, Connecticut 2

TOP 4TH
The Colonials waste no time in responding, as McPhee triples and scores on a single by Darrell Evans to tie it at 3.
New Jersey 3, Connecticut 3

BOTTOM 4TH
Shocker gets his first 1-2-3 inning of the game.

TOP 5TH
Just another hit by Schang.

BOTTOM 5TH
Shocker looks to have found his groove with another clean inning.

TOP 6TH
No dramas for Walsh.

BOTTOM 6TH
Once again Shocker sends them down in order.

TOP 7TH
Another three-up, three-down frame for Walsh.

BOTTOM 7TH
Shocker retires the two men he faces but Colonials manager Connie Mack opts to go to the pen, with Cicotte called into action. He finishes off the inning without incident.

TOP 8TH
Nothing doing for the Colonials.

BOTTOM 8TH
Cicotte gets two away without any problems but then serves up a gopher ball to Frank Robinson to put the home side back on top. That seems to throw him as the Stallions get two singles, then he misplays a come-backer to load the bases. A Kaline single plates two of the runners as New Jersey pinches a break within the shadows of the winning post.
New Jersey 6, Connecticut 3

TOP 9TH
A solo shot by Bob Johnson with one out gives Connecticut a sniff and ends Walsh’s game as Uncle Robbie summons Jim McCormick from the bullpen. He concedes a single to Henderson, the first hitter he faces, but he’s retired on a fielder’s choice by Freeman. Sam Crawford then grounds out to second to end the game and give New Jersey the win and series sweep.

BOTTOM 9TH
X

New Jersey 6, Connecticut 4 (final).

WP: Ed Walsh (8-1)
LP: Eddie Cicotte (4-4)
SV: Jim McCormick (5)
POTG: Ed Walsh 8.1 IP / 8 H / 4 ER / 5 K.

Not much to say with that game, really, the Stallions just timed their run perfectly to get home in a tight one. Walsh did what was required of him, namely keeping the Colonials’ big names quiet for the most part, with Freeman, Crawford and Williams a combined 0-for-13. And the Stallions hitters’ were better in the clutch, which in the end proved the difference between two pretty evenly-matched teams.

Another real treat in store next Sunday when we head to Vegas, baby, to see the Lizards take on Portland and, if you aren’t already familiar with Omnibus Park, then get ready for a baseball stadium like you’ve never seen before. Thanks again for tuning in, see you next week!

Apologies, no lineups screenshot because genius boy forgot to take one...

05-24-2021, 02:41 AM	#169
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,512	Game of the Week – Sunday, June 4 1961 Connecticut Colonials (33-26) @ New Jersey Stallions (34-25) Comcast Field – Jersey City, NJ; 1.05 pm NJER: Ed Walsh (7-1, 3.51) CONN: Urban Shocker (5-6, 4.74) Hello again and thanks for tuning in to today’s Game of the Week, I’m Nik Hill and today we are bringing you two sides who look like they’ll be right amongst it at the pointy end in the North Division, the New Jersey Stallions and the Connecticut Colonials. An extremely tight race in the North at the moment, with just the solitary game separating the Stallions from both Boston and their opponents this afternoon, so there is plenty on the line in this one. The home side has been in great form of late with 8 wins from their past 10, and will be incredibly hard to beat here at Comcast, where their record so far is a crisp 24-9. The Colonials, on the other hand, have just come off the boil a bit in recent weeks, and will be looking to turn that around and avoid being swept in this series. Ed Walsh is on the mound for the Stallions today, and he has been among the league’s best hurlers so far with a 7-1 record and a nice ERA of 3.51. He’s the sort of pitcher who doesn’t look like much from afar, but he’s got a plus screwball that sets up his other pitches really well. The Colonials have got Urban Shocker going for them, a real nibbler who doesn’t give you much to hit but who can get into trouble if his radar is off and he has to come back in to the main part of the plate. Which version of him are we going to see tonight? Future superstars everywhere you look in this league, although with this young man you can probably remove the word “future”, he seems to have arrived at this league as a full-formed ballplayer, doesn’t he Jules? Juliana Scott: He certainly does, Nik, I’m talking to George Sisler, the Stallions’ first-baseman. George, thanks for giving us your time. A first-baseman now but it wasn’t always so—you began your career as a pitcher at the University of Michigan and only transitioned into a position player while you were in the minors. Why the change? George Sisler: Well it became pretty obvious as I worked my way up the ranks that I didn’t really have the arm to take me very far. But I’d always hit OK so my skipper started playing me at first on my off-days until it just seemed a better fit for me and the team. JS: Any chance of you taking the mound in this league? GS: No thank you, ma’am – not with the guys I’d have to pitch to (laughs). *JS: Yes, that’s true. There sure are plenty of tough outs here. How would you pitch to yourself if ever given the chance?* GS: I’m gonna plead the fifth on that one, Juliana, the pitchers are already tough enough to get hits off without me giving them the inside running (laughs). I’d put myself out of a job if I did. JS: Well we don’t want that. This is a really strong squad the Stallions have got and you’ve started the season well. Can you give us some insights into how a group of players that barely know one another can gel so quickly in the way yours seems to have? GS: Two words: Dustin Pedroia. On his urging, we sat down as a group – no coaching staff were present – on the first day of camp back in January and just shot the breeze for a couple hours. This became a nightly thing after our field drills were done for the day. When camp broke a month or so later, we were as thick as thieves. And he’s always going around making sure everyone’s doing OK, talking guys up if they’re in a bit of a slump, putting out the fires that inevitably spark up. Dusty would be the first to admit he’s not as talented as most of the other lads in this league, but if I was putting a team together from scratch he’d be one of the first guys I’d pick, it’s that simple. He is the heart and soul of this side, and goes out there and leads by example, hustling every play no matter the situation or score. *JS: Wow, that’s some lofty praise indeed. Tell us about Cristobal Torriente, he looks a fantastic talent.* GS: Oh, yeah, he’s one right out of the box all right. We call him Ese, which is apparently Spanish for “buddy” but also means SA - Silent Assassin. He’s pretty shy our Cristo and struggles a bit with the language, but he just gets it done over and over again with a minimum of fuss. The perfect number 3 hitter, hard contact to all fields with plenty of pop, a great eye and fantastic game smarts, you know? He’ll assess any situation in a flash and invariably make the right play at the right time. *JS: And George, just before I let you go, tell us about playing under Wilbert Robinson.* GS: Sometimes a really good ballclub can be spoiled by having the wrong type of manager. Some groups need handling, need constant fine-tuning—micromanaging I think they call it. If we had a manager like that I reckon we’d run into problems along the way. We’ve got a pretty driven group of guys at this club and Uncle Robbie is the perfect skipper for us. First and foremost he trusts us and never lets us forget it. So if you make a mistake or don’t get something done he’ll just let it pass or gently remind you what was needed of you in that situation, always with a real casual tone and positive spin, you know? The closest to harsh words you’ll get from him is come on son, you know you’re better than that or something along those lines. His background as a player means he understands that the nature of this game contains a lot of failure, so he makes sure you’re always looking to succeed. Every play. Every pitch. Every at-bat. *JS: It certainly seems to be working so far. Good luck tonight George and thanks for talking to us.* GS: My pleasure, thanks for having me. *JS: Undoubtedly one of the premier ballclubs in this league, Nik, and I couldn't agree more with your statement that the Stallions will be right in the thick of things come playoff time.* Indeed Jules, they just don’t seem to have any obvious weak spots. Thanks for that, and folks we’ll be right back with tonight’s first pitch. TOP 1ST A strong start by the visitors as Henderson leads off with a walk, swipes second and moves around to third on a Crawford groundout. Williams hits a dribbler back to the pitcher, who throws it over to first for what should be a routine second out, only for Sisler to flat out drop it, scoring Henderson. Larkin then singles and another one by Schang knocks Williams in. Connecticut 2, New Jersey 0 BOTTOM 1ST A hit to Sisler but nothing doing for the Stallions. TOP 2ND Just one hit for Connecticut. BOTTOM 2ND The home side gets one back when Pedroia walks and advances to third on a single by Porter, then comes home on a Kaline SF. Connecticut 2, New Jersey 1 TOP 3RD Walsh disposes of them in order. BOTTOM 3RD The home side gets into motion again, with Sisler sparking the rally with a leadoff single. Torriente also singles and they are both in scoring position when Cano comes to the plate with two out. Cano duly singles them both in as New Jersey takes the lead. New Jersey 3, Connecticut 2 TOP 4TH The Colonials waste no time in responding, as McPhee triples and scores on a single by Darrell Evans to tie it at 3. New Jersey 3, Connecticut 3 BOTTOM 4TH Shocker gets his first 1-2-3 inning of the game. TOP 5TH Just another hit by Schang. BOTTOM 5TH Shocker looks to have found his groove with another clean inning. TOP 6TH No dramas for Walsh. BOTTOM 6TH Once again Shocker sends them down in order. TOP 7TH Another three-up, three-down frame for Walsh. BOTTOM 7TH Shocker retires the two men he faces but Colonials manager Connie Mack opts to go to the pen, with Cicotte called into action. He finishes off the inning without incident. TOP 8TH Nothing doing for the Colonials. BOTTOM 8TH Cicotte gets two away without any problems but then serves up a gopher ball to Frank Robinson to put the home side back on top. That seems to throw him as the Stallions get two singles, then he misplays a come-backer to load the bases. A Kaline single plates two of the runners as New Jersey pinches a break within the shadows of the winning post. New Jersey 6, Connecticut 3 TOP 9TH A solo shot by Bob Johnson with one out gives Connecticut a sniff and ends Walsh’s game as Uncle Robbie summons Jim McCormick from the bullpen. He concedes a single to Henderson, the first hitter he faces, but he’s retired on a fielder’s choice by Freeman. Sam Crawford then grounds out to second to end the game and give New Jersey the win and series sweep. BOTTOM 9TH X New Jersey 6, Connecticut 4 (final). WP: Ed Walsh (8-1) LP: Eddie Cicotte (4-4) SV: Jim McCormick (5) POTG: Ed Walsh 8.1 IP / 8 H / 4 ER / 5 K. Not much to say with that game, really, the Stallions just timed their run perfectly to get home in a tight one. Walsh did what was required of him, namely keeping the Colonials’ big names quiet for the most part, with Freeman, Crawford and Williams a combined 0-for-13. And the Stallions hitters’ were better in the clutch, which in the end proved the difference between two pretty evenly-matched teams. Another real treat in store next Sunday when we head to Vegas, baby, to see the Lizards take on Portland and, if you aren’t already familiar with Omnibus Park, then get ready for a baseball stadium like you’ve never seen before. Thanks again for tuning in, see you next week! *Apologies, no lineups screenshot because genius boy forgot to take one...* Attached Images __________________ HISTORICAL DO-OVERS A'S RED SOX DODGERS CUSTOM SAVES ECLIPSE LEAGUE MOON SHOT LEAGUE EVERYMAN LEAGUE GULF LEAGUE USBA Last edited by luckymann; 05-30-2021 at 09:27 AM.