[Westheim]

Raccoons (63-80) vs. Titans (92-52) – September 11-13, 2001

Here comes more pain. The final series against the Titans this year promises no rich harvest for the Raccoons, who have split the last series against the Titans, but are 4-11 against them overall in 2001. Why so pessimistic? They have 666 runs scored – they have dark forces on their side. Their run differential is +220, and the Raccoons have trouble scoring since August (although last week was a bit better).

Projected matchups:
Carl Bean (9-12, 4.45 ERA) vs. Jesus Bautista (16-10, 3.20 ERA)
Ralph Ford (10-12, 3.76 ERA) vs. Jason O’Halloran (19-10, 2.82 ERA)
Randy Farley (7-10, 4.64 ERA) vs. Bryce Hildred (6-4, 2.38 ERA)

We keep seeing these three days almost every time we face the Titans. And we are 4-11.

Game 1
BOS: SS D. Silva – CF Garrison – 3B Austin – LF J. Thomas – C L. Lopez – 1B H. Ramirez – RF Elizondo – 2B D. Mendez – P Bautista
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Palacios – CF Reece – 1B Martin – LF Roberson – RF Cavazos – 3B M. Ramirez – C Defrese – P Bean

Silva singled, Garrison singled, Bean balked, and in no time the Titans were up 2-0. Bean was completely horrible and useless, like giving up a leadoff double to Bautista in the fourth inning, and couldn’t get anything done. When Rudy Garrison hit a 2-run homer in the fifth, the score was at 5-0. Bautista had faced one batter over the minimum, and Jorge Defrese had hit into a pair of double plays to keep his pitch count low. The Raccoons were unable to get anything done, anything. Jesus Bautista was not exactly overwhelming, but the Raccoons were heavily crap, and Bautista’s shutout was not broken up until the ninth when Reece singled home Guerin with one out. Martin then instantly hit into a game-ending double play. 7-1 Titans. Guerin 2-4, 2 2B;

Game 2
BOS: CF L. Alonso – 3B V. Flores – 1B Austin – RF Greenman – C Manuel – SS D. Silva – LF Elizondo – 2B D. Mendez – P O’Halloran
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Palacios – CF Reece – LF Cavazos – 1B Sharp – RF G. Flores – 3B M. Ramirez – C Fifield – P Ford

And again the Titans broke through early, scoring one run in the second inning, and in the third the mad ripper Christian Greenman (AVG under .200, but OPS’ing around .800) ripped a 2-run home run. The Raccoons, predictably, hadn’t done anything so far, although they would score one run in the bottom 3rd, then left runners on the corners. Not that Ford was quite as bad as Bean (which will also go into our yearbook…), for he still completed another five scoreless innings, and ended his day by striking out the ferociously hated Daniel Silva, but he didn’t even get close to a no-decision, with Jason O’Halloran having the Raccoons in his mental death trap: they didn’t manage to get a single hard hit against him. They hardly got the ball out of the infield at all, and didn’t get on base in any kind of frequency. They managed a double play in the sixth. After some steady, if unsuccessful, pitching from Ralphie, the bullpen embarrassed itself again in the ninth, when Diaz, Martinez, and Perez combined for two hits, two walks, and a single run thanks to a nifty grab by Guerin that ended the inning. O’Halloran had been hit for and we faced closer John Bennett, who snuffed out the Raccoons in just seven pitches. 4-1 Titans. Reece 3-4, 2B; Ford 8.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, L (10-13) and 1-2, 2B;

So, O’Halloran has 20 wins. When was the last time the Raccoons had a 20-game winner? Answer to this depressing piece of trivia in the comments section.

Game 3
BOS: SS D. Silva – CF Garrison – 3B Austin – RF G. Munoz – LF J. Thomas – C L. Lopez – 1B H. Ramirez – 2B V. Flores – P Hildred
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Palacios – CF Reece – 1B Martin – RF Cavazos – 3B Sharp – LF Parker – C Defrese – P Farley

The game started with an Albert Martin error, and Silva then readily stole second base, encroaching on Concie’s SB lead (although there were two Loggers between them still). Neither this, nor a Guerin error in the third, helped the Titans to score a run, and to continue with freak occurrences, the Raccoons actually scored, and scored FIRST, when Chris Parker hit a solo home run in the top 2nd, after the Coons had left the sacks full in the bottom 1st. The Critters had eight hits in the first four innings, but didn’t score aside from Parker’s dinger, which at some point had to backfire, especially with luckless Farley pitching. Through five, he 1-hit the Titans, but things could blow up any minute. The Raccoons scratched out an unearned run – woo-hoo – in the fifth, but a Luis Lopez home run cut the gap back to one in the seventh. Farley kept going until his 100th pitch was taken for a 1-out single to center by Mark Austin in the top 8th. Diaz came on and got a foul pop from Munoz before walking Josh Thomas. Miller entered now to face Luis Lopez, who went on to become man of the game with his second homer of the day, regardless of the team effort in the ninth that was to come. 8-2 Titans. Reece 4-5, 2B; Sharp 2-4, RBI; Parker 2-4, HR, RBI; Defrese 3-4; Farley 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K;

Titans: 11 hits. Raccoons: 13 hits.

Devastating.

Raccoons (63-83) vs. Falcons (81-65) – September 14-16, 2001

The Falcons were better than in recent years, but they had used quite a bit of luck to end up 16 games over .500, since their run differential was only +29 and neither their offense nor their pitching was very remarkable. They were league average in all important categories. And now they’re lucky again and will go to 19 games over .500. The season series is still tied.

Projected matchups:
Cipriano Miranda (7-13, 4.02 ERA) vs. Manuel Hernandez (10-7, 4.56 ERA)
Nick Brown (2-2, 4.54 ERA) vs. Angel Romero (13-9, 3.56 ERA)
Carl Bean (9-13, 4.55 ERA) vs. Jesus Hernandez (1-3, 5.06 ERA)

Two left-handers, followed by a 24-year old rookie, who was a supplemental round draft pick one year ago. He throws from the right side, and looking at his numbers, I would not have called him up yet.

Game 1
CHA: 2B H. Green – C Chavez – RF Lugo – CF Morton – 1B L. Soto – LF R. Wilson – 3B J. Munoz – SS Moore – P M. Hernandez
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Palacios – CF Reece – LF Roberson – 1B Sharp – RF Flores – 3B M. Ramirez – C Fifield – P Miranda

The Issuecoons matched their entire offensive output in the Titans series here in game 1, and they did so before they went through the whole lineup once, despite a 1-2-3 first. The Falcons took a 1-0 lead on a Ralph Wilson homer, but in the bottom 2nd it was Gil Flores to tie the score with an RBI double, leaving him and Sharp in scoring position and both were collected when Gary Fifield hit his first home run of the season, 4-1. The Falcons struck right back against a harmless Miranda, plating two runs in the third, including an RBI double by Wilson, who would then tie the game in the fifth against a still ineffective Miranda, who left in a tied game with one out and the bags full. Astonishingly, Steve Moore grounded into a force at home against Manuel Martinez, who also retired the pitcher to keep the game tied in this particular inning. Top 6th, Wade pitched, who had already been booked for three runs in less than 10 pitches the day before. Hubert Green singled right through Miguel Ramirez, and then Fifield made a massive throwing error on Fernando Chavez’ grounder. Both runners scored eventually, and the runs were unearned. Those two runs came right back to the Raccoons, though, in the bottom 6th. With two down and starting with Sharp, five straight Coons got on, tying the game at six before Cavazos hit for Wade and left the bags full with a shy fly to center. Then came Bob Joly, surrendered two runs in the seventh, and … and where’s the booze? Joly would pitch two innings, surrendered three runs, and got ahead of one of the 11 hitters he faced. 9-6 Falcons. Flores 2-4, 2B, RBI; Ramirez 2-4, 2 2B, RBI;

Neil Reece has a 12-game hitting streak on. Which is about all this team has currently going for it.

Game 2
CHA: 3B J. Munoz – CF Estrada – RF Lugo – 1B L. Soto – SS H. Green – C M. Castillo – LF J. Cruz – 2B M. Clark – P A. Romero
POR: SS Guerin – LF Cavazos – CF Reece – 1B Martin – 3B Sharp – C Thomas – 2B M. Ramirez – RF Flores – P Brown

The Coons had the first chance with Neil Reece hitting a triple in the bottom 1st, but the Raccoons didn’t score when Martin popped out to short. The Falcons had an all-right-handed lineup, except for Angel Romero, waiting for Nick Brown, who didn’t cope well and was taken deep for a pair of runs in the top 2nd. The slugger was Mark Clark, in his seventh career at-bat. Things didn’t get better in the third, with another two runs coming in on a single, two walks, a wild pitch, and an error by Sharp – his 17th of the year. Brown was limited to four innings, being hit for in a 4-1 score with two on and the bags full in the bottom 4th. Roberson came out, hit a ball to deep right, but Jose Lugo got that. Sergio Vega collected five outs following Brown before the Falcons stuffed the bags with two out in the sixth. Marcos Bruno replaced Vega, his first outing of the week, so he was certainly fresh. He got to 2-2 on Pedro Estrada before Estrada launched a bomb just short of a grand slam, but well beyond Neil Reece’s diminishing reach for a bases-clearing double. Yes, Bruno is in peak shape! The bullpen came apart some more later, while Angel Romero whiffed two hands full in just seven innings. 9-2 Falcons. Sharp 2-4; Gabriel (PH) 1-1;

With the minor league season over, we added Julio Mata and George Morris to the roster, as well as OF/1B Edgardo Torrez. To squeeze Torrez onto the 40-man roster, MR Dan Epps was waived and designated for assignment. Torrez, a 24-year old left-hander, had gone .326/.433/.571 with 32 HR and 80 RBI in AAA this year. He was one of Vince’s international discoveries, dug out in Venezuela in 1997. He would have to be put onto the 40-man roster this year anyway, so we didn’t rush anything here. With our assumed inability to hold on to Ramiro Cavazos this fall, we better test out or stuff. That’s why Miguel Ramirez plays every day now.

Clyde Brady came off the DL as well, and to get him back onto the roster, we had to also waive Dwight Williams, who after four years in AAA had racked up an ERA over 6 this season.

Game 3
CHA: 2B H. Green – C Chavez – RF Lugo – CF Morton – 1B L. Soto – LF R. Wilson – 3B M. Castillo – SS Moore – P J. Hernandez
POR: 3B Sharp – 2B Palacios – CF Reece – 1B Martin – RF Cavazos – LF Torrez – SS M. Ramirez – C Mata – P Bean

Bean issued walks left and right, but the Raccoons scored first, when Palacios plated Ramirez with two out in the third. Reece walked, loading them up before Martin ripped at a 3-1 pitch and lined out to right. Because of course. In the top 4th, bean immediately surrendered the run again, 1-1. Now, Clyde Brady had not been in the starting lineup, but entered the game in the bottom 4th when Cavazos tweaked his back on ripping a double. Torrez was up with no outs and one on, and was drilled in the forearm by Jesus Hernandez – also leaving the game with a bad bruise. The Raccoons loaded them up in the inning before Bean hit into a double play to kill the effort. All the pain for nothing. Bean surrendered three line drive hits, including two doubles for the go-ahead run in the top 5th, and Bean would surrender a home run to Joe Morton before this particular start found a grisly end. On the short end of a 3-1 score in the bottom 7th, the Raccoons crowded Jesus Hernandez when Neil Reece extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a bases-loading 1-out single. Martin lined out in a full count, bringing up Brady for his second AB in almost four months. C’mon Clyde! Show me the magic! Three pitches later, he sat down, and three other Uttercoons did so, too. Bottom 8th, a collection of Falcons reliever loaded the bases with one out again, the last piece being an infield single by George Morris. Danny Sharp came up in that spot, facing righty Tom Brooks, and his single to left plated not only Ramirez from third, but also Concie from second – tied game! Palacios flew out but advanced Morris, giving Reece a chance, and Neil, who was radiating in a clean, white hotness, rammed a single into left to score the go-ahead run! Martin had been removed in a double switch and now Roberson hit for the pitcher Bob Joly, but grounded out. That meant Nordahl time in the top 9th, facing the top of the Falcons lineup. Struck out Green, struck out Chavez, str- nope, no, Lugo put the 0-2 in play to Palacios, to first, and it’s over! 4-3 Raccoons. Sharp 2-5, 2 RBI; Palacios 2-4, BB, RBI; Reece 2-4, BB, RBI; Morris (PH) 2-2;

I like the sound of that. "All the pain for nothing."

In other news

September 11 – While the season is closing in on the playoffs, the Warriors keep losing players. INF Jaime Mateo (.281, 5 HR, 61 RBI) has torn ligaments in his thumb and might miss as much as one month. The Warriors now have half a dozen players on the DL.
September 13 – WAS INF Jose Lopez (.267, 32 HR, 121 RBI) is out for the season with a sprained wrist. He leads the ABL in home runs at this point, one ahead of his team mate Jesus Rivera and Dallas’ Mac Woods.
September 14 – VAN OF/1B Jorge Durán (.304, 1 HR, 49 RBI) has suffered a complicated elbow fracture and is expected to be out for about eight months, and so should sit on the DL until well into the 2002 season.
September 14 – SAL LF/RF Dale Wales (.340, 7 HR, 81 RBI) ends his season on the DL with a strained hamstring.
September 16 – Despite surrendering three runs early, Fabien Armand (17-8, 3.11 ERA) holds on to the lead to help his Thunder beat the Titans, 6-4. The Thunder clinch the CL South despite the Bayhawks drubbing the Indians 13-4, for their seventh overall playoff appearance. They will be the defending champions come October.

Complaints and stuff

Wednesday’s trivia answer: 1995 (Jason Turner) – and it has happened only twice overall.

Usually we go 4-14 against the Titans in all years ending with 4. Maybe we will change to a different pattern now, and go 4-14 against them 4 times and end that run in a year ending with 4. 4 F’s sake.

And this was our week in short form: 16 runs scored, 40 runs allowed. You really don’t need to know a whole lot more. But now I remember what I didn’t miss on Monday and Tuesday. One more: 7 double plays hit into, one double play turned. “All the pain for nothing” should be our new team slogan! We oughta name that ****ing mascot that way! And Maud won’t even LET ME!!

(aggaravated, heavy breathing)

There’s very few pleasant things about this team. Neil Reece comes to mind, batting successfully in 14 straight games (including only five “1s”). Yet he was AGAIN snuffed for CL Player of the Week. Both weeks the winner was an opponent of the Raccoons: MIL Jerry Fletcher and CHA Jose Lugo. Go figure. Yeah well, I know MY Player of the Week, thank you, BNN jerks! For what it’s worth, Neil Reece has risen to *third* place in the CL batting race! Is it mathematically possible to make up 41 points on Oklahoma’s Joey Humphrey in two weeks?

We were 9 1/2 games ahead of the last place Crusaders with 19 to play. And I was wondering just how on earth we could be able to drop below them, because *19*! Well, the team did a phenomenal job this week. Awesome! Keep it going, guys!

Chris Roberson will be shut down before he reaches 150 AB to have him play a full rookie campaign next season. Likewise, we won’t let Nick Brown get even close to 60 IP. I firmly think those are the thresholds to lose rookie eligibility. I bet I am wrong.

All our minor league teams posted losing records this season, with AA Ham Lake and A Aumsville finishing both around 30 games back. We don’t seem to have an awful lot of talent in the low minors, and well, we pillaged St. Pete heavily this year, and they ended up 70-74. And then look at this roster. We NEVER have 36 players on the expanded roster! This year it’s like picking between pest and plague as you compose a lineup…

I know one player I like a ton and who's included in the annual fall "Money Talks" rounds. Our budget situation is most dreadful, but there was some room to make one, at most two significant offers. We made that one offer this week: 4-yr, $3M for - [Maud slams the laptop shut]