[Westheim]

Raccoons (17-13) vs. Cyclones (18-12) – May 8-10, 2007

Here came a team with good pitching. Yikes. They ranked tied for second in runs allowed in the Federal League, while also scoring the second-most runs (outscoring the Raccoons 165 to 103 …). There really weren’t all that many weaknesses on this team and the Cyclones might be a good bet to return to the playoffs this year. They were suffering from a number of injuries, but so far it didn’t hurt them in their efforts to lead the FL East.

Projected matchups:
Kelvin Yates (2-0, 3.05 ERA) vs. Santiago Chavez (1-1, 4.05 ERA)
Raúl Fuentes (3-1, 3.63 ERA) vs. Luis Guerrero (3-1, 2.70 ERA)
Kenichi Watanabe (2-2, 1.80 ERA) vs. Richard Williams (3-2, 5.22 ERA)

Guerrero is a left-hander.

Game 1
CIN: 2B Berman – 3B Bond – LF D. Morris – CF Bailey – 1B Gilbert – RF A. Johnson – SS A. Gomez – C J. Silva – P S. Chavez
POR: SS Flores – LF Castro – 3B Sharp – C Bowen – 1B Quebell – RF Mays – 2B Nomura – CF Trevino – P Yates

The Critters took a first inning lead on a solo home run by Tomas Castro, his second of the year. Vic Flores would add his third dinger of the year in the third inning, also extending his hitting streak to 16 games, but that was about all the Raccoons did offensively. Meanwhile, Yates had the jitters. Despite a warm applause from the home crowd whenever he came out to deliver an inning, he randomly burst into wild episodes, which resulted in the bases being loaded with one out in the fourth, with a single and two walks responsible for that. Avery Johnson plated a run with a sac fly to Trevino before Gomez’ grounder to Flores ended the inning. When Nomura and Trevino hit back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom 7th, it shot our hit output all the way to five on the day. Crespo hit for Yates, flew out, and Flores did the same. Kevin Bond didn’t miss a game-tying homer by all that much in the top of the eighth, banging a double off the top of the rightfield wall against Ed Bryan. Dan Morris ended the inning with a groundout to Quebell. It was still a nail biter when Castro drew a walk off Qi-zhen Geng in the bottom 8th, stole second (after getting thrown out once earlier), and then scored on Geng’s error. Craig Bowen had grounded to the right side, Ray Gilbert made the play, a good throw to the pitcher, but Geng had it dink off his glove. That’s how we all know Qi-zhen Geng’s efforts: not worth the oxygen consumed. The Raccoons had Quebell put on intentionally, but Yoshi would plate both runners with a 2-out single up the middle to break the score open. 5-1 Critters. Castro 2-2, 2 BB, HR, RBI; Nomura 2-4, 2 RBI; Yates 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, W (3-0); Bryan 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K;

Game 2
CIN: LF D. Morris – C J. Silva – 1B Gilbert – RF Bailey – 2B Berman – SS A. Gomez – CF MacGruder – 3B Banda – P Guerrero
POR: SS Flores – LF Castro – 3B Sharp – 1B Quebell – RF Black – 2B Sato – CF Crespo – C Wood – P Fuentes

As the Raccoons’ offensive ineptness continued, the first meaningful action of the game didn’t come until the fourth when Gilbert doubled and Berman singled to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead on the lefty Fuentes. The Raccoons got their chance soon enough in the bottom of the inning. Castro led off with a single before Luis Guerrero lost the strike zone and walked Sharp and Quebell. Of course the team couldn’t buy a hit in such a situation, but still took the lead. Black hit a sac fly to plate Castro, Sato walked, and Crespo’s groundout was just barely good enough to bring home Sharp. The Cyclones intentionally walked Bobo Wood and his toothpick to get to Fuentes, who duly grounded out.

Fuentes was in trouble in the sixth again. Gilbert led off with a single into center before Will Bailey hit the ball with the bottom of the bat and clonked it into the ground about one foot away from home plate. Wood nabbed Gilbert at second base, but Bailey made it to first base safely. Dennis Berman then fired a liner into deep right for a double. Luke Black got a good bounce off the wall while the Cyclones waved Bailey around third base. Black to Quebell to Wood – out! Fuentes struck out Aurelio Gomez to starve Berman at third base and we continued to lead 2-1. In the eighth Marcos Bruno offered a leadoff walk to Dan Morris before Julio Silva hit a horrendous bunt right back to Bruno, who started the double play, and Gilbert grounded out to short. Flores led off the bottom 8th with a single after going 0-3 so far, but we also found our way into a double play, Bowen the culprit, hitting for Quebell with Guerrero still dealing for Cincy. No, the score remained 2-1, and it was on Angel now. Rain began to fall (it’s Portland after all; oops, rhyming again), and the inevitable Berman doubled to the left corner with one out. Gomez singled, putting runners on the corners. At 0-2 on MacGruder, the game was shortly delayed for rain that soon stopped. MacGruder finished his strikeout, and then Al Graves pinch-hit, a .286 lefty with 14 AB and no homers. Was Angel still good? His third K of the day was answer enough. 2-1 Coons! Sharp 1-2, 2 BB, 2B; Sato 1-2, BB; Fuentes 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, W (4-1);

PHEW!! Boys! I … I can’t … can you please …!!

We had four hits in this game. How few hits can you have and still win games fairly regularly? Well, depends on whether you lead your league in allowing the least runs, which we now do. Least runs scored, least runs allowed. We’re the ****ing 1980s Indians.

Game 3
CIN: 2B Berman – 3B Banda – LF D. Morris – CF Bailey – 1B Gilbert – RF A. Johnson – SS A. Gomez – C J. Silva – P R. Williams
POR: SS Flores – LF Castro – 3B Sharp – C Bowen – 1B Quebell – RF Black – 2B Nomura – CF Trevino – P Watanabe

Both teams scored in the first, 1-1, and we had a 35-minute rain delay by the second. Visit Portland, the City of Precipitation!

Yoshi Nomura slipped, fell, and couldn’t get up in the third inning, and while the Raccoons score two runs on four hits in the bottom 3rd, Watanabe was instantly barraged for three runs on five hits in the top 4th. Offense! Whoah! Too bad the other team was ahead 4-3. Watanabe didn’t get past the fifth inning, then had to watch his team not making contact against Williams, who was really everything but a strikeout pitcher, but ran up seven K’s through six innings. Yet then came the bottom 7th, and Vic Flores led off with a triple to center, and Tomas Castro’s single to center tied the score at four. Castro stole second base, and Berman got a bad hop on Sharp’s bouncer and had it get past him into centerfield, and Castro scored! Colby Kirk, who was in the line for the win after relieving Kaz and ending the top 7th, did a quick and merciless eighth on the Cyclones, who still relied on their pitching rubber chicken, Williams, even on 119 pitches and proven non-success. But, ah, that soft lineup… Williams managed to strike out Flores with his 130th pitch to end the inning without a threat having developed. Angel got to face the bottom of the order, and nobody got on. 5-4 Furballs! Flores 2-4, BB, 3B, 2B; Castro 2-4, 2B, RBI; Sharp 3-4, 3 RBI; Quebell 2-4; Kirk 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, W (2-1);

Whoah! What a sweep! They are juuuust sooooo squeaking past the opposition! For how long can that go well? By the way, here come those division leading Indians.

Yoshi Nomura had banged up his elbow. No serious damage, just a mild sprain. He’s still out for a week. DL’ing him might not get us anywhere pleasant, either…

Raccoons (20-13) vs. Indians (22-12) – May 11-13, 2007 – NEIL REECE APPRECIATION & BOBBLEHEAD DAY ON SATURDAY

The Indians were 3-0 against the Raccoons this season. They scored the second-most runs in the CL, and allowed the third-fewest, but didn’t we just swipe away such a team? Plus, they’re without Ron Alston again (but they didn’t need him the first time around, either…).

Projected matchups:
Jose Dominguez (0-3, 5.94 ERA) vs. Curtis Tobitt (6-0, 2.15 ERA)
Nick Brown (2-2, 4.07 ERA) vs. Patrick Moreau (1-3, 8.03 ERA)
Kelvin Yates (3-0, 2.78 ERA) vs. Ramiro Gonzalez (2-4, 3.43 ERA)

No, Kel, everything’s fine, no need to sweat. Stop sweating now. Don’t shiver, either. STOP IT NOW!!

No, ugh. No. No crying either!

Game 1
IND: CF P. Javier – RF B. Miller – C Paraz – 3B Fugosi – 1B S. Stevens – LF A. Solís – 2B J. Miller – SS J. Lopez – P Tobitt
POR: SS Flores – LF Castro – 3B Sharp – C Bowen – 1B Quebell – RF Black – 2B Sato – CF Trevino – P Dominguez

Odds weren’t in our favor, despite Vic Flores hitting a triple into the right center gap in the bottom 1st and scoring on Sharp’s groundout for a 1-0 lead. Even when we added another run, Quebell coming home on Trevino’s sac fly in the second inning, and got to 2-0, odds still weren’t in our favor. Dominguez was still in the game… As was to be expected, Paco Javier homered with Jose Lopez on base in the third, and we were tied again, and the odds weren’t in our favor.

Yet, Tobitt didn’t have it, and was actually out of the game before Dominguez! The Coons ruffled him for two takeback runs in the bottom 3rd, and then we had Trevino on base in the bottom 4th for Vic Flores, who took a rip, sending a ball soaring, soaring, OUTTA HERE!! The score jumped to 6-2 (and Flores was again a double shy of the cycle), and that was it for the reigning Pitcher of the Year!

But Dominguez. That ****ing ****tard. Top 5th, Bill Miller singled, and Jose Paraz went deep. Then Fugosi tripled. And now the second starter got yanked, with the tying run at the plate and nobody out. Kaz came in, conceded the run on a groundout, then walked Angel Solís. He threw two wild pitches to move the tying run to third, then saved his bacon by striking out Jose Lopez, 6-5. And what’s that? Rain.

The Coons had two on in the bottom 5th before Sato hit into a double play, and Kaz started the top 6th by retiring reliever Manuel Reyes before the rain sent the game into a delay (once again). It remained in suspended animation for 80 minutes, then the baseball gods chuckled and lifted the cloud cover, and play resumed. We got Trevino on in the bottom 6th (and had Kirk hit for there was still some distance to cover…), and Flores landed a hit to knock out Reyes, but it was “only” a single. Castro’s grounder was lost in translation by Simon Stevens, scoring Trevino, before Sharp was walked intentionally to load the bases for Bowen against lefty Dane Sanders. Bowen ripped into the first pitch he saw, a hot racer up the middle and into center for two runs! 9-5! Black plated a run with a groundout and Sato then singled to get the score to 11-5! Holy whiskers!!

After that display of squeezing as many singles as needed into open ground, the air kinda got out of the game. After Colby Kirk put on the leadoff batter in the top 7th, Rockburn got in, allowed another single, then retired nine straight batters on the way to a long save. The Raccoons had another chance in the bottom 8th, but Quebell delivered a double play. 11-5 Furballs! Flores 4-5, HR, 3B, 2 RBI; Bowen 3-5, 3 RBI; Quebell 4-5, 2B, RBI; Rockburn 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, SV (2);

Woot, woot!! We’re half a game out of first place, and we got our 1-2 punch coming up. Could life be any sweeter in Critterland?

Game 2
IND: CF P. Javier – RF B. Miller – 1B S. Stevens – C Paraz – 3B Fugosi – LF A. Solís – 2B J. Miller – SS J. Lopez – P R. Gonzalez
POR: SS Flores – LF Castro – 3B Sharp – 1B Quebell – RF Black – C Bowen – CF Trevino – 2B Sato – P Brown

Paraz drove a ball to deep right in the first, but Black got to it before Brownie could incur early damage. There would be a high fly like that in every inning against Brown, who also walked a pair in the second and clearly was not where we would want him to be. But the Indians didn’t get those drives to fall in, while the Raccoons didn’t even get a hard hit ball until the fifth, but Black’s drive to left was caught by Solís. The Raccoons were held to one hit (Sharp’s single in the fourth) through half a game by Gonzalez. Paraz hit another long drive in the sixth, this time to left. Castro caught it on the warning track, inning over. Uaah, the tension!

Neither team amounted to a run through seven. Brown started the eighth on 100 pitches, but after Jose Lopez (R, .310) were the pitcher and two more lefties atop the lineup. Lopez grounded out, but Gonzalez was not removed and also grounded out. But then PH Jesus Rivera drew a walk off Brown, ending his day. Bryan appeared to face Bill Miller, and the resulting home run shattered Neil Reece Appreciation & Bobblehead Day to shards. Bryan got booed relentlessly. Gonzalez was still in the game in the bottom 9th, facing the 2-3-4 batters with a 2-0 lead. Castro’s single knocked him from the game, bringing in Leonardo Sosa, who struck out Sharp, Quebell, and also the faintest hope that the team might actually able to compete for a prize in anything that was not a lottery. 2-0 Indians. Mays 1-1, 2B; Brown 7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, L (2-3) and 1-1;

Arf. Vic Flores’ hitting streak also ended at 19 games, the longest streak in the CL this year.

Apart from the competitive failure, the day was a blast for the attendance (18,588), which got a crisp 2:30 contest with festivities before and after. Before included bobbleheads for the first 15,000 people in attendance (and none left over, apart from the extras Maud had ordered for everybody in management and for the faithful Capt’n Coma guys and other sponsors), and Neil Reece and his family assembled on the diamond (in brisk weather) before the game and honored by former and current players (David Vinson, Scott Wade, Marcos Bruno, and Daniel Sharp offering their thoughts) and a certain GM that was almost reduced to tears and gave Reece a manly hug. Twice.

After the game, fireworks, which I didn’t quite enjoy, biting into a piece of wood while manically stabbing Ed Bryan’s face in the yearbook.

Game 3
IND: CF P. Javier – RF B. Miller – C Paraz – 3B Fugosi – 1B S. Stevens – LF A. Solís – 2B C. Aguilar – SS J. Lopez – P Jimenez
POR: SS Flores – LF Castro – 3B Sharp – C Bowen – 1B Quebell – RF Black – CF Crespo – 2B M. Gutierrez – P Yates

Both teams scratched out a run in the first inning. Yates issued a 2-out walk to Jimenez (2-2, 3.26 ERA) in the second with a man already on, but luckily Paco Javier grounded out to Gutierrez to end the inning. The Coons then took the lead on J.C. Crespo’s homer in the bottom 2nd, 2-1. Yates however struggled as badly as Brown had the day before. Bill Miller and Paraz reached on hits in 3-ball counts to start the third inning. Fugosi hit into a double play to Sharp and Stevens grounded out to Flores, but our co-aces were just not acing…

Luke Black homered to get the bottom 4th underway, bringing the score to 3-1. And while Yates’ potential damage got suckered up by the #1 defense in the CL, the Raccoons actually rediscovered their power stroke now, with Tomas Castro hitting a mammoth shot to dead center in the bottom 5th, collecting Flores and running the score to 5-1. Somehow, nobody knew how, Yates went seven. Colby Kirk took the ball in the eighth and retired the 1-2-3 left-handed- and switch-hitters. The score remained 5-1 into the ninth, and we tabbed Marcos Bruno to get three outs from the 4-5-6 batters. Err, or maybe not. Fugosi singled, Solís walked, and we went on to Angel. Casas struck out Cesar Aguilar before Lopez hit a hard grounder to Sharp, who corralled it, threw to first – out! 5-1 Coons! Castro 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Sharp 2-4; Yates 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, W (4-0);

In other news

May 10 – VAN CF/RF Enrique Garcia (.238, 1 HR, 8 RBI) has suffered a shoulder strain and might not be back before the All Star Game.
May 10 – DEN RF/LF Pedro Pujols (.286, 3 HR, 13 RBI) is also bound to miss over a month with a strained hammy.

Complaints and stuff

Are we somebody or are we nobody? Can’t make up my mind. I won’t get over my head over a 22-14 record just yet, because we were 18 over .500 a few years ago at the end of May and - … well ten years of losing have to come from somewhere, right?

We are on our first longer string of games this year, having completed six of sixteen. Our next ten games are against teams with a collective 45-65 record. We’ll see how that goes after going 5-1 against division leaders this week.

Man, that loss Brownie took stinks. He wasn’t good, but Ed Bryan is horrendous.

Yoshi is expected to miss at least three, maybe four more games, so, all of the series we’ll play against the Loggers, potentially. He’s not been good with the stick so far, but his defense is quite good.

By the way, our defensive efficiency is BY FAR tops in the ABL. A .737 EFF is 19 points higher than that of the next-best team, the Bayhawks.

And you know who leads the FL in wins? A certain obese feline.