Here Comes The Paragon Baseball League!

[luckymann]

Carolina Triplets v Las Vegas Lizards

Best of nine, Triplets with home-field advantage.

Another Houdini job for the unsinkable Trips with that dramatic walkoff decider. But if there's any side in the PBL than can match them for postseason experience and finding a way to win, it's the two-time champion Lizards, who made short work of KC and should really push Carolina here.

I'm tipping a full nine-gamer here, with the Lizards ultimately just coming up short and the Triplets making it title number five.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Carolina

LIZARDS CLAW THEIR WAY TO ROAD WIN IN OPENER

WP: Ron Guidry (3-0)
LP: Nap Rucker (1-2)
SV: Bobby Mathews (3)


LASV: Willie Keeler 3-4 / 2B / RBI. Bill Dickey 2-4 / 2B / RBI. Jesse Burkett 2-4 / RBI.

CARO: Roger Bresnahan 3-5 / RBI. Dick Lundy 2-4.


PotG: Ron Guidry (LASV)

[luckymann]

Game 2 in Carolina

WALKOFF WIN FOR CARO SQUARES IT UP

WP: Tommy Bond (2-0)
LP: Bobby Mathews (0-1)


CARO: Frank Thomas 2-4 / HR [3] / 2 RBI. Larry Walker 2-5 / 2B / 2 RBI inc walkoff.

LASV: Jose Mendez 7 IP / 6 H / 1 ER / 4 K. Dan Brouthers 2-4 / 2B / RBI. Willie Keeler 3-4.


PotG: George Uhle (CARO)

[luckymann]

Game 3 in Carolina

WAINWRIGHT STRONG, VEGAS GET BACK IN FRONT HEADING HOME

WP: Adam Wainwright (1-0) 7.1 IP / 8 H / 2 ER / 3 K.
LP: Roy Halladay (2-1)


LASV: Martin Dihigo 2-run HR [1]. Barry Bonds 2-run HR [3]. Willie Keeler 2-5.

CARO: Reggie Smith 2-5 / 2B / RBI. George Davis 2-4.


PotG: Adam Wainwright (LASV)

[luckymann]

Game 4 in Las Vegas

LIZARDS GET IT OUT TO 3-1 WITH IMPRESSIVE 4-1 WIN BEHIND DIHIGO

WP: Martin Dihigo (2-0)
LP: Old Hoss Radbourn (0-2)
SV: Bobby Mathews (4)


LASV: Cal Ripken jr 2B / solo HR [1].

CARO: Mel Ott 2-5 / RBI. John Olerud, Reggie Smith 2-4.

PotG: Martin Dihigo (LASV)

[luckymann]

Game 5 in Las Vegas

MAJOR UPSET ON CARDS AS GUIDRY PITCHES A BEAUTY

WP: Ron Guidry (4-0) 7 IP / 3 H / 0 ER / 4 K
LP: Nap Rucker (1-3)
SV: Bobby Mathews (5)


LASV: Willie Keeler 3-4 / 2B. Dan Brouthers 2 2B / RBI.


PotG: Ron Guidry (LASV)

[luckymann]

Game 6 in Las Vegas

LIZARDS DO IT EASY TO PUT TRIPLETS AWAY IN SIX FOR THIRD PBL TITLE

WP: Jose Mendez (1-1) 9 IP / 7 H / 2 ER / 7 K.
LP: George Uhle (0-2)


LASV: Barry Bonds GRAND SLAM [4]. Dan Brouthers 2 RBI. Jesse Burkett 2-3. Willie Keeler 2-5.

CARO: Larry Walker 2-run HR [2]. Frank Thomas 2-4.


PotG: Jose Mendez (LASV)


LAS VEGAS WINS SERIES 5-1
SERIES MVP: Willie Keeler (LASV)

[luckymann]

The Beacons cut long-time Manager Terry Francona. Bob Melvin later replaces him.

And I have decided to go back to making this save of 20 seasons' duration. It'll just make some calculations easier in the recap and I think that's a fairer timespan for these guys.

The final rotation will now take place after the 1973 season.

[luckymann]

Gold Glove

Platinum Stick

Veeck Medal - Manager

NE: Joe McCarthy (Carolina)
SW: Casey Stengel (Kansas City)

Chadwick Medal - Best Reliever

Three now for Eck; four for Tommy.

Adams Medal - Pitcher of the Year

The third for Big Six, Dick's first.

Rickey Medal - Most Valuable Player

Debut wins for both and just the second for a pitcher.

[luckymann]

The usual reports. The North is looking like it's where the action will be, while Buck Leonard is tipped to give the 50 HR mark a real run.

1989 LTMs in place for this season.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Is this finally the year when the Gothams deliver? They've certainly begun strongly and go into June with the PBL's best record at 34-19 and biggest divisional lead. That said, it's still early and still close around the league.


Monthly Award Winners

April

Northeast League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Connecticut): 346 / 6 HR / 29 RBI
• Pitcher – Walter Johnson (New York): 5-0 / 2.52 / 20 K / 39.1IP

Southwest League

• Batter – Alex Rodriguez (Seattle): 237 / 8 HR / 19 RBI
• Pitcher – Jose Mendez (Las Vegas): 4-1 / 1.74 / 29 K / 41.1 IP

May

Northeast League

• Batter – Buck Leonard (Virginia): 336 / 10 HR / 27 RBI
• Pitcher – Kevin Brown (New York): 4-1 / 1.96 / 8 SV / 6 K / 18.1 IP

Southwest League

• Batter – Rogers Hornsby (Portland): 347 / 4 HR / 12 RBI
• Pitcher – Dick Redding (Seattle): 4-1 / 1.38 / 27 K / 52 IP

Weekly Award Winners

April

• 13th: Tris Speaker (Indianapolis) / Barry Bonds (Las Vegas)
• 20th: John Olerud (Carolina) / Jack Clark (Florida)
• 27th: Oscar Charleston (New York) / Harry Heilmann (Atlanta)

May

• 4th: Goose Goslin (Indianapolis) / Luke Appling (Los Angeles)
• 11th: Buck Leonard (Virginia) / Willie McCovey (Kansas City)
• 18th: Jack Glasscock (Connecticut) / Jose Cruz (Atlanta)
• 25th: Wade Boggs (Washington) / Rogers Hornsby (Portland)

Milestones

• 300 HR: Ted Williams

Top 20s by WAR





Standings and Leaders

[luckymann]

First-timers

Sam McDowell, Darrell Evans, Oscar Charleston, Willard Brown, Tom Glavine, Chase Utley, Heavy Johnson.

Every-timers

None, as Clay Kershaw misses out for the first time.

[luckymann]

Idiot Boy forgot to take a screenshot...

[luckymann]

The Commerce Comet stars in the main event.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Apropos of my question in the previous update about New York, the answer is starting to head into negative territory as they come back to the pack without much of a fight. While Indy maintains a healthy break in the East, the sight of Carolina looming in their rear-vision mirror would be a most unwelcome one. A big finish portends. Ted Williams is having a big run toward the NE Triple Crown. He is currently the only player to have achieved this feat, back in 1963.


Monthly Award Winners

June

Northeast League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Connecticut): 373 / 7 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Gerrit Cole (New Jersey): 2-1 / 0.46 / 17 K / 19.2 IP

Southwest League

• Batter – Cody Bellinger (Kansas City): 293 / 7 HR / 18 RBI
• Pitcher – Fernando Valenzuela (Portland): 5-1 / 1.47 / 41 K / 49 IP

July

Northeast League

• Batter – Reggie Smith (Carolina): 316 / 6 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Sam McDowell (New Jersey): 4-0 / 1.41 / 48 K / 44.2 IP

Southwest League

• Batter – Richie Ashburn (Seattle): 389 / 0 HR / 4 RBI
• Pitcher – Tony Mullane (New Orleans): 5-0 / 1.47 / 36 K / 49 IP

Weekly Award Winners

June

• 1st: Frankie Frisch (Washington) / Todd Helton (Florida)
• 8th: Frank Thomas (Carolina) / Joe Williams (Los Angeles)
• 15th: Josh Gibson (Washington) / Thurman Munson (Portland)
• 22nd: Ted Williams (Connecticut) / Dan Brouthers (Las Vegas)
• 29th: Tris Speaker (Indianapolis) / Fernando Valenzuela (Portland)

July

• 6th: John Beckwith (New York) / Toby Harrah (New Orleans)
• 13th: Will Clark (Washington) / Harry Heilmann (Atlanta)
• 20th: Frankie Frisch (Washington) / Bobby Bonds (Los Angeles)
• 27th: Gary Carter (Boston) / Harry Heilmann (Atlanta)

Top 20s by WAR





Standings and Leaders

[luckymann]

As the stretch run looms, things remain incredibly tight across the board, making each win even more important than usual.

KC needs to get a hurry on and this big night from Hammering Hank might just light the requisite fire.

[luckymann]

Not sure I can remember a tighter race across the PBL so far, particularly in the North. We are set for a barnstorming finish.


Monthly Award Winners

Northeast League

• Batter – Tris Speaker (Indianapolis): 411 / 4 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Mickey Lolich (New Jersey): 5-1 / 1.31 / 46 K / 48 IP

Southwest League

• Batter – Dan Brouthers (Las Vegas): 426 / 1 HR / 33 RBI
• Pitcher – Pete Alexander (Kansas City): 4-0 / 1.12 / 38 K / 48 IP

Weekly Award Winners

• 3rd: Turkey Stearnes (Boston) / Scott Rolen (Atlanta)
• 10th: Jeff Bagwell (New York) / Dan Brouthers (Las Vegas)
• 17th: Tris Speaker (Indianapolis) / Willie Keeler (Las Vegas)
• 24th: Willie Stargell (New Jersey) / Hank Greenberg (Kansas City)
• 31st: Nap Rucker (Carolina) / Willie Keeler (Las Vegas)

Standings and Leaders

[luckymann]