[abell1198]

Welcome to day one of the 2015 March Madness Tournament. I'm Allan Bell and I'll be guiding you through the days action as it's scheduled by OOTP. First, some ground rules you may want to know. The tournament will have injuries and suspensions turned on, but not drug suspensions. Also, there will be no DH. Scheduling will be similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, with teams playing either a Thursday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday schedule for the first four rounds. The Final Four will play a Saturday-Monday schedule. As a result, only a two man rotation has been set up, with the remaining pitchers placed in the bullpen.

So, let's get to it.

Game 1: Babe Ruth Region

#13 1918 Chicago Cubs vs. #4 1905 New York Giants
Lefty Tyler (19-8, 2.00) vs. Christy Mathewson (31-9, 1.28)

The Giants scored two runs in the first and held a 3-1 lead in the 6th, when they broke the game open with four runs, causing Tyler to be pulled. They added one more in the eighth. The Cubs score three in the top of the ninth to make it look close. Mathewson pitches 8.2, allows three hits, strikes out 10 and walks two.

Final: 1905 NY Giants 8 1918 Chicago Cubs 4


Game 2: Ty Cobb Region

#10 1913 New York Giants vs. #7 1969 Baltimore Orioles
Al Demaree (13-4, 2.21) vs. Mike Cuellar (23-11, 2.38)

New York scored first, plating a run in the top of the 2nd, but Baltimore countered with two of their own in the bottom half. Baltimore added a run in the 3rd, two in the 5th and one in the 6th to take the game, 7-1. Demaree lasts only 4.1. Cuellar goes 8.0, allows four hits, strikes out six and walks none.

1969 Baltimore Orioles 7 1913 New York Giants 1


Game 3: Willie Mays Region

#9 1936 New York Yankees vs. #8 1942 New York Yankees
Lefty Gomez (13-7, 4.39) vs. Hank Borowy (15-4, 2.52)

Personally, I thought it was ridiculous the 1936 Yankees started Gomez. Guess OOTP likes stamina better than performance. Interesting...anyway, the 1942 Yankees take an early lead, scoring two in the 1st and one in the 2nd. In the top of the 4th, Joe DiMaggio triples home Bill Dickey and Lou Gehrig to make it 3-2. DiMaggio then scores on a George Selkirk single to tie the game at 3. Both teams score runs in the 6th, making it 4 all. In the top of the 7th, Borowy gives up a home run to Red Rolfe, ending his day and giving up the lead for good. The '36 Yankees add two more runs in the 8th and win it 7-4. Gehrig and DiMaggio each go 2 for 5 in the win.

1936 New York Yankees 7 1942 New York Yankees 4


Game 4: Ted Williams Region

#11 1953 New York Yankees vs. #6 1910 Philadelphia Athletics
Vic Raschi (13-6, 3.33) vs. Chief Bender (23-5, 1.58)

Philadelphia scores a run in the 2nd and two more in the 6th to take a 3-0 lead, but the Yankees score two in the 7th to close the gap. Raschi last seven innings, while Bender goes eight, but now it's up to the bullpens. As we go to the bottom of the 9th, Eddie Plank is pitching for the Athletics as they hold onto a 3-2 lead. With 2 out in the top of the 9th, New York has Mickey Mantle on 2nd, with Hank Bauer at the plate. Bauer can't come through in the clutch, striking out swinging!!!

1910 Philadelphia Athletics 3 1953 New York Yankees 2


Game 5: Ty Cobb Region

#14 1917 Chicago White Sox vs. #3 1929 Philadelphia Athletics
Eddie Cicotte (28-12, 1.53) vs. Lefty Grove (20-6, 2.81)

Given the pitching matchup, I thought this would be a pitchers duel and it didn't disappoint. Chicago scores a run in the 4th and the 8th innings to hold a 2-0 lead. The manager decides to pull Cicotte after 115 pitches and seven innings of shutout ball. It would prove to be the wrong move. With Red Faber on the mound, Al Simmons singles with one out. Jimmie Foxx steps up to the plate and drives a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left to tie the game at 2. The White Sox, smelling upset, put a runner on 2nd in the top of the 9th, but can't score. Into extra innings we go!!! The Athletics manage to get a man 90 feet away in the 10th, but can't get him home. In the top of the 12th, Eddie Collins doubles and later scores on a Happy Felsch single to give Chicago the 3-2 lead!!! So, Joe Benz is on the mound in the bottom half of the 12th. There's two on and two out. Jimmy Dykes hits a liner past second to score Bing Miller and the game is tied at 3!!! Fast forward to the bottom of the 16th inning. Cy Perkins doubles and advances to third on a wild pitch. Rube Walberg, who is pitching in relief, steps to the plate and helps his own cause by singling home Perkins for the win!!

1929 Philadelphia Athletics 4 1917 Chicago White Sox 3 16 Innings


Game 6: Ted Williams Region

#10 1937 New York Yankees vs. #7 1961 New York Yankees
Lefty Gomez (21-11, 2.33) vs. Whitey Ford (25-4, 3.21)

Mickey Mantle hits a lead off home run in the bottom of the 4th to break the scoreless tie. In the 7th inning, Whitey Ford helps himself by doubling in Yogi Berra to give the '61 Yankees a 2-0 lead. Ford is still pitching in the top of the 9th. He gets Lou Gehrig to ground out to short, but then gives up a single to Bill Dickey. Tony Lazzeri strikes out swinging, bringing up Frankie Crosetti with two outs. Crosetti singles, putting men on first and second with two outs. The manager has seen enough and Ford gets pulled and replaced by Luis Arroyo. Tommy Henrich steps to the plate and flies out to right to end the game.

1961 New York Yankees 2 1937 New York Yankees 0


Game 7: Ted Williams Region

#14 1935 Chicago Cubs vs. #3 1995 Cleveland Indians
Larry French (17-10, 2.96) vs. Charles Nagy (16-6, 4.55)

Neither of the starting pitchers lasted long, as both teams struck early and often. After six innings, the game was tied 7-7. The Indians scored two in the bottom of the 7th to take a 9-7 lead, but the Cubs answered with two of their own in the top of the 8th to tie the game at 9. To the bottom of the 9th we go. Charlie Root is in relief for the Cubs. He promptly walks Sandy Alomar on four pitches and then gives up a single to Omar Vizquel. After a Tony Pena flyout and Kenny Lofton fielders choice, Root settles in with two outs and men on the corners to face Eddie Murray. After watching two balls, Murray finds his pitch and lines it into right to score Alomar.

1995 Cleveland Indians 10 1935 Chicago Cubs 9


Game 8: Willie Mays Region

#12 1998 Atlanta Braves vs. #5 1944 St. Louis Cardinals
Greg Maddux (18-9, 2.22) vs. Max Lanier (17-12, 2.65)

The Cardinals and the Braves trade punches throughout the game, with the Cardinals leading 4-2 going into the top of the 9th. Harry Brecheen is in relief for the Cardinals for the save. He promptly retires Chipper Jones and Andres Gallaraga. With two outs, Javy Lopez doubles. Andruw Jones then gets hit by a pitch. Walt Weiss steps into the batters box and singles home Lopez. So, with the score 4-3, pinch hitter Ryan Klesko steps to the plate. Klesko singles the second pitch he see into center, scoring Jones from second. The game is tied at 4!!! Into extra innings we go. The Braves can't do anything in the 10th, but the Cardinals do. Kerry Ligtenberg enters for his second inning of relief and gives up a double to Johnny Hopp. Ligtenberg then commits an error, allowing Hopp to go to third and relief pitcher Freddy Schmidt to get on base. Stan Musial steps to the plate and works to a full count, then fouls off two more pitches. Musial then lines a ball between first and second to score Hopp and win the game!!

1944 St. Louis Cardinals 5 1998 Atlanta Braves 4 10 Innings


Game 9: Babe Ruth Region

#12 1938 New York Yankees vs. #5 1919 Cincinnati Reds
Lefty Gomez (18-12, 3.35) vs. Hod Eller (19-9, 2.39)

In the bottom of the 6th, the Reds break open a 2-2 tie, scoring a run on a Jake Daubert double. Greasy Neale singles home two more runs in the bottom of the 7th to make it 5-2. The Yankees score one in the top of the 9th.

1919 Cincinnati Reds 5 1938 New York Yankees 3


Game 10: Ted Williams Region

#15 1911 New York Giants vs. #2 1998 New York Yankees
Red Ames (11-10, 2.68) vs. David Cone (20-7, 3.55)

The Yankees score two runs in the 2nd and one in the 3rd to take a 3-0 lead into the 9th. Cone is pulled after only 100 pitches and allowing only three hits in favor of Mariano Rivera. Rivera allows two hits and with two outs, faces off against Art Fletcher, who represents the tying run. Rivera catches him looking and strikes him out for the save!!

1998 New York Yankees 3 1911 New York Giants 0


Game 11: Babe Ruth Region

#9 1970 Baltimore Orioles vs. #8 1954 New York Yankees
Jim Palmer (20-10, 2.71) vs. Whitey Ford (16-8, 2.82)

Palmer and Ford take a pitching duel scoreless into the 5th inning. Palmer gives up three straight singles in the bottom of the 5th to load the bases, but then records two outs. Irv Noren hits the first pitch from Palmer through the hole between short and third to score two runs. It would be all the Yankees would need, as Ford holds the Orioles to two hits. Bob Kuzava comes in for the save and puts the Orioles down in order.

1954 New York Yankees 2 1970 Baltimore Orioles 0


Game 12: Willie Mays Region

#16 1929 Chicago Cubs vs. #1 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates
Pat Malone (22-10, 3.57) vs. Howie Camnitz (25-6, 1.62)

Bill Abstein hits a lead off single in the bottom of the 1st. Abstein steals second and then scores on a blooper single into shallow left field. It's still 1-0 going into the 7th inning, when the Cubs mount a threat by loading the bases with one out. But Woody English grounds into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. The Cubs get a man on base in the top of the 9th, but can't score him either. Chicago strikes out 14 Pirates in the game.

1909 Pittsburgh Pirates 1 1929 Chicago Cubs 0


Game 13: Ty Cobb Region

#15 1963 New York Yankees vs. #2 1927 New York Yankees
Al Downing (13-5, 2.56) vs. George Pipgras (10-3, 4.11)

The '27 Yankees score three runs in the 3rd inning on Lou Gehrig's three run double. The '63 Yankees score a run in the 7th, but that's all they can manage. Downing strikes out 12 in the loss.

1927 New York Yankees 3 1963 New York Yankees 1


Game 14: Ty Cobb Region

#11 1931 St. Louis Cardinals vs. #6 1943 St. Louis Cardinals
Paul Derringer (18-8, 3.36) vs. Mort Cooper (21-8, 2.30)

***UPSET ALERT***
The '43 Cardinals strike early, scoring two runs in the 1st and one in the 3rd. In the top of the 4th, the '31 Cardinals score three runs on five hits to tie the game. It stays that way until the top of the 8th, when the '31 Cardinals score two more runs to take the 5-3 lead. The '43 Cardinals can't recover and the first major upset of the tournament has arrived.

1931 St. Louis Cardinals 5 1943 St. Louis Cardinals 3


Game 15: Babe Ruth Region

#16 1908 Chicago Cubs vs. #1 1906 Chicago Cubs
Mordecai Brown (29-9, 1.47) vs. Mordecai Brown (26-6, 1.04)

Welcome to a game of firsts!! Mordecai Brown becomes the first player in Major League Baseball to start against himself!!! He will also become the first player in baseball history to both win and lose the same game!! It was a pitcher's duel until bottom of the 4th, when Frank Schulte hit a home run to right field with two outs to score the games only run. A rain delay of 56 minutes knocked out both starters after five innings.

1906 Chicago Cubs 1 1908 Chicago Cubs 0


Game 16: Willie Mays Region

#13 1933 Washington Senators vs. #4 1942 St. Louis Cardinals
General Crowder (24-15, 3.97) vs. Mort Cooper (22-7, 1.78)

***UPSET ALERT***
The Senators get to Cooper early, scoring a run in the 2nd and 3rd innings. The real damage came in the 5th, when Washington scored three more runs without recording an out. Down 5-0, Cooper's day is over. The Cardinals score two in the 7th.

1933 Washington Senators 5 1942 St. Louis Cardinals 2

So, there you have it. One day of action, sixteen games, two upsets. The updated bracket is attached below.