[Westheim]

Raccoons (34-47) vs. Indians (42-40) – July 3-6, 2023

This was the second series between the two teams in 2023, and the first had not gone all that well for the Raccoons, who had been swept in a 4-game set in Indy to begin the month of May, scoring a very characteristic less-than-four runs per game, and with less-than-four I actually mean not-even-three. Sure, the Indians had their own baggage, and these were actually the two most inept offensive teams in the league. The difference between 11th place and 12th place in runs scored – and hold on to something there – was an appalling 44 runs, though, or in runs per game, the Indians’ 3.9 R/G to the Coons’ not quite 3.4 R/G. The Indians’ pitching was average, and their run differential was -16, but hey, more easy wins were coming up for them over the next two weeks with eight games against Portland.

Projected matchups:
Rico Gutierrez (5-6, 4.44 ERA) vs. Jordan Caldwell (4-5, 2.77 ERA)
Travis Garrett (2-1, 3.16 ERA) vs. Manny Ortega (3-7, 4.06 ERA)
Jesus Chavez (5-8, 4.53 ERA) vs. Alvin Smith (5-4, 4.24 ERA)
Jonathan Shook (1-3, 6.23 ERA) vs. Tom Shumway (9-2, 2.78 ERA)

Three right-handers, then Shumway, the southpaw. Jordan Caldwell appears to me to be the most miserable creature in baseball right now. His and Shumway’s ERA are the same, and yet Shumway has a record better by 4.0 games compared to him. Caldwell was also pitching on short rest after the Indians’ double header on Thursday.

The reason for Shook pitching was less that he deserved another chance and more the fact that the All Star Game was coming up, along with the assorted 3-day respite from horrendous baseball, and with an off day the following Monday the Raccoons could delay finding a new fifth starter until July 22. Maybe something would crop up on the waiver wire? Fun fact: Shane Walter’s first stint with the Coons came off waivers by the Crusaders. Walter was still on the DL right now, but we were planning on his return for as early as Tuesday.

Game 1
IND: LF Faulk – 1B M. Rucker – SS Matias – RF C. Martinez – 2B Rolland – CF D. Morales – 3B Janes – C Calhoun – P Caldwell
POR: CF Stevenson – SS Bullock – RF Graves – 3B Nunley – LF Newman – 2B Stalker – C Delgado – 1B Cardona – P Gutierrez

Yup, here were assembled the CL’s offensive paupers. Through three innings, teams totaled one base hit, and that was a single by … Gutierrez. Nothing came of that of course, while Gutierrez faced the minimum through three, walking Cesar Martinez in the second, but getting a double play to accelerate the inning. Well, somebody had to score at some point, and of course it was the Indians, getting three men on with two outs in the top of the fourth. Raul Matias walked, then scored on singles by Martinez and Jaylen Rolland. Gutierrez got Danny Morales to ground out, but that was it for him. He left the game with discomfort in his leg, because the good news never stop with this team.

The second the Coons’ starter was out of the game, they found the bats. Zach Graves’ leadoff jack tied the score at one, and they got three soft singles to drop in to score two more, with Nunley, Stalker, and Cardona landing the H’s. Kevin Surginer was in to go a few innings, because maybe we could make his arm fall off as well, and it didn’t go so well in the fifth. Cardona made an error to begin the inning after just driving in the go-ahead runs, and Justin Calhoun singled after that. Caldwell’s bad bunt erased two, but A.J. Faulk still landed a 2-out single to score a run and get the Indians back to 3-2, but the Raccoons had now sniffed blood, or plainly the fruity nut bar in Caldwell’s pocket. Stevenson drew a leadoff walk, followed by Bullock’s terrible grounder that nevertheless was so poor that a hustling Erik Janes couldn’t make a play and Bullock had an infield single. Graves’ single to left scored Stevenson, 4-2. Nunley struck out, but Will Newman’s RBI single ended Caldwell’s stint, even though Graves was caught in a rundown on the play and erased for the second out. Rafael Urbano replaced Caldwell, threw a bean to Tim Stalker, and Stalker didn’t miss it, blasting his sixth home run of the season to extend the score to 7-2. Surginer allowed another run (this one earned) in the sixth after walking a pair, but the Coons answered with two in the bottom 6th against Urbano, who knocked Cardona to start the inning, and allowed another walk and a single as the Coons zoomed ahead 9-3, and after both teams scored in every half-inning of the middle innings, they reverted to the first three innings’ hardly-stuffed, slumping sock-wielders that couldn’t touch a pitchers. That score after six, maintained by Moore and Devereaux for the Coons, was also the final. 9-3 Raccoons. Graves 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Stalker 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Gutierrez 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K and 1-1; Devereaux 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K;

Kevin Surginer picked up the W in relief, pitching 1.2 innings.

Interlude: waiver claim / roster moves

While there were no early news on Rico Gutierrez’ injury, there was still movement initiated by the Raccoons in terms of roster moves, for several reasons. Chief among them was a waiver claim executed on Tuesday, which saw the Raccoons add the Cyclones’ INF Raul Claros (.340, 2 HR, 20 RBI). Claros, 29 and left-handed batter, only played in 38 games this season, so the .340 clip was perhaps a bit hysterical. He had however been a productive player for the Bayhawks for as long as he had been there, but had slumped after a trade to the Rebels in ’22.

The Coons also activated Shane Walter from the DL, and also activated Cory Dew from his rehab assignment to St. Petersburg, which had lasted almost four weeks and 11 appearances to make sure he was fully back to normal before throwing him into serious games.

Demotions hit Dwayne Metts, Jon McGrew, and Guillermo Aponte, who were 2-for-31 between them. In the cases of Metts and Aponte, this involved putting them on waivers, as neither had options.

We were going with a short bench and an extra men in the pen here to free up Adam Cowen in case we need a spot starter on Saturday.

Also, Raul Claros couldn’t stop smiling for his team photo. Yay, I’m on the Coons! Kill me. [see below]

Raccoons (34-47) vs. Indians (42-40) – July 3-6, 2023

Game 2
IND: CF D. Morales – SS Janes – LF Genge – RF C. Martinez – 1B M. Rucker – C Calhoun – 3B J. Jackson – 2B B. Reyes – P M. Ortega
POR: CF Stevenson – 2B Claros – 1B Walter – RF Graves – LF Newman – SS Stalker – C Tovias – 3B Bullock – P Garrett

Both teams stranded two and didn’t score in the first inning, which included Raul Claros’ first base hit as a Critter, a 1-out single. Graves was hit by a pitch, but Newman couldn’t get through. The Arrowheads took a 1-0 lead in the second inning; after “Tragic” Travis had already put two aboard, Daniel Bullock misfired Ortega’s bunt to load the bases. Danny Morales hit a sac fly to center to plate Justin Calhoun for the game’s maiden counter. This was nearly the only “excitement” in the game for the first five innings. The Raccoons amounted only to one additional base hit through five, and Garrett held the Indians rather short, despite using way too many pitches in the process. He needed 113 pitches just to get through six innings, and that included allowing another unearned run in the sixth that put the Indians ahead 2-0, and again on a sac fly, that one by Calhoun, while the error was on Walter, dropping a throw by Bullock. The Indians moved on to 3-0 with Danny Morales’ homer off Joe Moore in the seventh, and when Zach Graves doubled to the base of the fence in left center to start the bottom of the seventh it was – by far – the best at-bat the Raccoons had delivered in this game so far. Alas, nothing ever happened after that. Graves was stranded, sadly, and the Coons tried to get a few outs from Cowen before putting him in the freezer in the eighth inning, but all he did was despairingly loading the bases. Cory Dew made his season debut in that spot, and somehow made it out allowing only a sac fly to the opposing pitchers, stretching the score to 4-0. Ortega would finish the game on the mound with a 3-hit shutout against the terrifically terrible Raccoons. Claros drew a walk to begin the bottom 9th, and that was it – Claros ended up 75% of the team’s offense in his debut for them. 4-0 Indians. Claros 2-3, BB; Garrett 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, L (2-2); Dew 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K;

The Druid came back with the news on Wednesday morning as far as Rico Gutierrez was concerned. He had found him suffering from a mild hamstring strain. While the Druid recommended against letting Gutierrez start on Saturday, because that would interfere with the treatment of letting snails crawl over and slime onto the leg in question for the next six days, there was no concern that Gutierrez wouldn’t be able to go after the All Star break.

So that means it’s Cowen on Saturday, which will be its very own special bit of fun, and after that we’ll probably close shop and move to Idaho where nobody knows us.

Meanwhile there was another roster move. Jarod Spencer was activated from the DL, with Manuel Cardona sent to AAA after batting a paltry .239/.282/.299.

Game 3
IND: CF D. Morales – SS Janes – LF Genge – RF C. Martinez – 1B M. Rucker – 3B J. Jackson – C Parks – 2B Rolland – P A. Smith
POR: CF Stevenson – LF Spencer – 1B Walter – RF Graves – 2B Claros – 3B Nunley – SS Stalker – C Tovias – P Chavez

The Critters would land two base hits in each of the first two innings. Spencer and Graves ended up stranded in the first, and in the second Stalker moved to third base after Tovias’ single, then came home on Jesus Chavez’ sac fly for the first run in the game. More was to come against Alvin Smith in the bottom 3rd, as the Indians’ right-hander walked Graves, who took his first base of the year before easily scoring on Claros’ double into the leftfield corner. Tim Stalker would also find that nook with two outs for another RBI double, and the Indians bailed out of the frame with an intentional walk to Elias Tovias and then getting Chavez to pop out on the infield, now down 3-0.

The Indians weren’t much of a threat for the first four innings – actually the only Indian to reach base in the first four did so on Shane Walter’s error, Lowell Genge in the very first inning. But Justin Jackson and Jalen Parks hit singles through the right side of the infield (which was not very strong defensively in this configuration), going to the corners, and Jaylen Rolland hit a deep drive to left that Spencer managed to catch up with on the track, holding Rolland to a sac fly. Chavez faced the pitcher with two down, threw a wild pitch at 1-2, but whiffed Smith on the next pitch to get out of the frame with a 3-1 lead. In turn, Smith drilled Chavez to begin the bottom 6th, which at least was about the last action for Smith in the game. Stevenson flew out to right against him, after which Urbano was in the game again. It had been Urbano against whom the Critters had really picked it up on Monday, and Urbano started with a free pass to Jarod Spencer, an odd sight for sure. Walter also walked, filling the bags, but Graves lined out to Rolland and Claros struck out to end the inning. Chavez was no worse for wear and actually went on to deliver pretty much his best outing of the season, completing 7 2/3 innings on 101 pitches. He allowed two hits only in this start, and when Brett Lillis replaced him for a 4-out save, he allowed two hits right away. Singles sent Tony Ruiz and Morales to the corners, but Bob Reyes grounded out to Bullock at short. Daniel had entered with Lillis in a double switch and also hit a leadoff single to left center in the bottom 8th, stole second, and the Indians walked Stevenson intentionally to set something up. Spencer indeed grounded to short, but the Indians got only one out at second, and both runners would score on Zach Graves’ 2-out double to deep right. More runs was good, because Lillis had a wonky day and allowed three more hard balls in the ninth inning. Only one, Rucker’s 2-out single, escaped the defense though, and the Raccoons scratched out their second win of the series. 5-1 Coons. Graves 3-4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI; Claros 2-5, 2B, RBI; Stalker 2-3, BB, 2B, RBI; Bullock 1-1; Chavez 7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, W (6-8);

This was the first lineup assignment for Matt Nunley this year in which he did not bat cleanup.

You say that about a player with a .610 OPS and then you wonder why you’re over .400 at all – barely.

Never mind the unfamiliar environment, he still managed to go a familiar 0-for-4.

Game 4
IND: 3B J. Jackson – SS Janes – LF Genge – RF C. Martinez – 1B M. Rucker – C Calhoun – CF Faulk – 2B Rolland – P Shumway
POR: CF Stevenson – 2B Spencer – 1B Walter – LF Newman – SS Stalker – C Delgado – 3B Nunley – RF Alfaro – P Shook

What would kill Jonathan Shook first? The green blips on the weather radar, or his complete and utter lack of stuff and skill? He entered the game with 19 walks in 21.2 innings and effortlessly managed to walk two more right in the first inning, including Jackson to start the game, and he would later score Jackson with a wild pitch. The Indians stranded pairs in both of the first two innings, without scoring in the latter, but they took Shook apart – and rightfully so – in the following inning. Lowell Genge offered a leadoff single, after which Shook expertly walked the bases full. Justin Calhoun drove in two with a single, and A.J. Faulk hit another single to restock the bases, in a 3-0 game, with nobody out. Shook wouldn’t get another out, but stuck with another bushel of runs. Jaylen Rolland doubled to centerfield to empty the bases, and Shook was gone after that. Joe Moore took over and threw out Rolland at third base on Shumway’s bunt. Moore collapsed after that as well, allowing singles to Jackson and Janes, then walked a pair after that to get hooked. Surginer replaced him, walked Calhoun to push in another run, walked Faulk to push home ANOTHER RUN, then drilled Rolland.

At that point, the crowd was heckling its own teams outrageous lack of spine, while the Indians were giggling ferociously after throwing a tenner onto the board in the third inning. It was an 11-0 game when Shumway struck out to end a 16-man inning, and after three innings the opposing pitcher had come to the plate three times – sobering times indeed. By the way, Shumway retired the Critters in order the first time through. When a Coon, Stevenson, reached in the fourth, it was on a Rolland error, and Spencer immediately hit into a double play. Newman and Stalker hit hard fly balls in the fifth inning, which was nominally a worthwhile effort, even though Genge and Faulk, respectively, caught both of them. It took them until the sixth to break up Shumway’s no-hit bid, with Omar Alfaro singling into shallow left. Graves hit an infield single behind him, and then Stevenson hit into a deuce to Rolland. They actually did score in the inning after that. Spencer hit a single, stole a base, and scored on Tovias’ pinch-hit single. Whoo, a rally! 13-1 Indians. Tovias (PH) 1-1, RBI; Kipple 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K;

There are no words. We issued 12 walks and drew zero.

Of course Shook (1-4, 7.99 ERA) was taken behind the shed and shot between the lights after the game. How could he not be? We could pick from between four tack-on outfielders in AAA that had all already been in Portland this year, and without exception had batted under .200 in up to 27 at-bats: Devin Mansfield (.118), Brian Perakis (.111), Greg Borg (.150), and Frank Santos (.111). The nod went to a centerfielder, and between those we took up Santos, allowing Borg to get regular at-bats in AAA instead. AAA SP Trevor Taylor was waived and DFA’ed to get Santos onto the 40-man.

Raccoons (36-49) vs. Canadiens (26-58) – July 7-9, 2023

It could all be worse. It could all be worse. We could be them. We could be them. But, boy, it SMELLS in here. And you can’t tell whether it’s the Elks covered in their northerly **** stains, or whether it’s the Raccoons’ gangrenous paws that are starting to become very odorant. The Elks had the second-worst batting average in the league, while scoring the fourth-fewest runs. Their real issue was pitching though, with the worst rotation and an ERA north of five, coupled with a bullpen that couldn’t and wouldn’t cope. They had lost six of eight to Portland so far this year, but at this point everything was fair game against the Critters.

Projected matchups:
Chris McKendrick (1-3, 2.48 ERA) vs. Andy Purdy (1-3, 4.44 ERA)
Adam Cowen (1-2, 3.40 ERA) vs. Randy Jenkins (3-9, 4.44 ERA)
Travis Garrett (2-2, 2.77 ERA) vs. Tim Sloan (4-10, 5.91 ERA)

121 innings between our three guys this year, which was fewer than half the three right-handers’ total that the Elks would send up. The Elks had also devolved Man-su Kim (.262, 0 HR, 6 RBI) on their way here, sending him to Topeka for two prospects.

Game 1
VAN: 1B Jon. Morales – CF Coca – LF A. Torres – C Holliman – SS Calfee – RF Houghtaling – 3B Rickard – 2B Crosby – P Purdy
POR: CF Stevenson – LF Spencer – 1B Walter – RF Graves – 2B Claros – 3B Nunley – SS Stalker – C Tovias – P McKendrick

Three hits, a homer, a double play, and a Nunley error, ultimately resulting in one run was the story of the first inning, with the substantial parts being Jonathan Morales’ single to left, Tony Coca hitting to Stalker for two, and then Alex Torres’ homer to left. Matt Nunley, mired in a slump that was well into its second month, tied the game in the second with a homer, and was the first Coon to reach base. It was Matt’s first long ball in more than two months even. While Nunley’s blast was the only Raccoons success at the plate through five innings, the Elks continued to bludgeon McKendrick for eight base hits and two walks, but did what .310 teams do and failed to convert their chances when they had them. Through five, the score was still tied at one, although McKendrick wasn’t exactly going out of his way to fool anybody. He struck out only two batters through five, got two more in the sixth, although Purdy was included in that total, and Jeremy Houghtaling hit another single off McKendrick, who was done after the inning after 107 unimpressive pitching.

Baseball, however, was a cruel beast that wouldn’t care for your tears. When Omar Alfaro batted for McKendrick, he whammied a Purdy pitch for a homer. It was the Coons’ second hit, both dingers, and they were now up 2-1 despite trailing 9-2 in base knocks. Top 7th, Cory Dew drilled Coca and allowed a single to Torres, but struck out the other three batters he faced, keeping the lead alive. All the Critters needed now was some village idiot to burn down the eighth inning bridge to Lillis, and luckily Billy Brotman was on hand to walk both Jeremy Houghtaling and Bobby Rickard at the beginning of the eighth inning. Devereaux replaced him, nibbled himself to two outs before walking the bags full against PH Dave O’Rourke, and then got Coca to pop out to short on the first pitch, stranding another three Elks in what was by now a game that was casting a smile on my face, and not a good-natured smile. Things only got worse for Vancouver in the bottom 8th, with Matt Nunley clocking a 3-2 pitch by Purdy for a leadoff jack. Purdy would unravel for singles allowed to Stalker and Newman, walked Stevenson, and allowed another run on Spencer’s sac fly to center. Walter grounded out, and then came Lillis, allowed a single to Torres, walked Ryan Holliman, and suddenly the tying run was up with nobody out, which was when Nunley shone with the glove, snagging a dazzling bouncer by John Calfee, tapped third base, and threw to first in time for a 5-3 double play. Houghtaling struck out as the Elks’ souls were trampled to conclusion. 4-1 Blighters. Nunley 2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Alfaro (PH) 1-1, HR, RBI; Newman (PH) 1-1; McKendrick 6.0 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, W (2-3);

In six home runs this season, Nunley actually has two multi-dinger games. The other 2-HR game for him? Of course against the Elks, April 29 in Elk City.

Game 2
VAN: 1B Jon. Morales – CF Coca – LF A. Torres – C Holliman – SS Calfee – RF Houghtaling – 3B Rickard – 2B Crosby – P R. Jenkins
POR: CF Stevenson – 2B Spencer – 1B Walter – LF Graves – 3B Nunley – SS Bullock – RF Alfaro – C Delgado – P Cowen

Alex Torres’ single and Ryan Holliman’s double, both with two outs, scored the Elks a run in the first, and I didn’t have a good feeling about starting Cowen to begin with, but it was the only non-dumb move at this point. The Critters had Stevenson on with a leadoff single, but he was caught stealing to keep them short in the bottom of the first inning. The hope before the game was that Cowen could somehow drag his bum through five innings in a semi-respectable state – and he actually did that. He allowed two runs on five hits and two walks, which was a decent line, really. Adrian Crosby plated the Elks’ second run, a 2-out single in the fourth inning that was actually the third consecutive 2-out batter reaching base at that point. The Coons were invisible for four innings until Omar Alfaro homered in the bottom 5th, actually creating a 4-way tie for the team home run lead, joining Nunley, Stalker, and Tovias with six apiece. Cowen batted to end that inning, had a quick sixth and ventured into the seventh, with Bobby Rickard reaching on a soft single that found a crease. Two outs followed, after which O’Rourke batted for Jonathan Morales again and hit a really soft blooper to right, but it was too soft for Alfaro to reach, dropped near the rightfield line, and allowed Rickard to score for an extra run, 3-1. Joe Moore replaced Cowen and struck out Coca to end the inning then.

The Critters got the tying runs aboard in the bottom 8th. Jenkins issued a 4-pitch walk with one out to Tony Delgado, and after that Claros pinch-hit and dropped a single into shallow center. Alas, some doofus would always hit into a double play. That doofus was Stevenson, and the following inning it was Nunley, making an error that allowed Jeremy Houghtaling to migrate to third base after walking against Kipple and stealing second with nobody out. The run scored on Hiroaki Ryu’s double play grounder, batting for Crosby, but the Coons would also find another double play themselves in the bottom 9th, Shane Walter grounding to second base to kill Spencer’s leadoff walk. J.R. Hreha wound up with the save when Graves fouled out. 4-1 Canadiens. Alfaro 2-3, HR, 2B, RBI; Claros (PH) 1-1; Cowen 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, L (1-3);

Game 3
VAN: 1B Jon. Morales – CF Coca – LF A. Torres – C Holliman – SS Calfee – RF Houghtaling – 3B Rickard – 2B Crosby – P T. Sloan
POR: CF Stevenson – 2B Spencer – 1B Walter – LF Graves – SS Stalker – 3B Nunley – RF Alfaro – C Tovias – P Garrett

In another truly “Tragic” display, two of Travis Garrett’s first three pitches in the game where drilled for triples by Morales and Coca. It got hardly any better for him after that, with Torres’ RBI single, his 22nd stolen base of the year, a pitch finding Holliman’s belly, then another stolen base by Torres, with Holliman moving up. Calfee flew out to Graves in shallow left, but Graves wouldn’t reach Houghtaling’s blooper that fell for an RBI single, and then Houghtaling stole a base. Garrett, clearly unnerved, walked Rickard to fill the bases, allowed a fourth run on Crosby’s sac fly, and then had to thank Nunley for a good play on Tim Sloan’s fast grounder that finally ended the inning. In a really quick one, the Elks would be done with Garrett after 2.2 innings, knocking him out on Tim Sloan’s 1-out, 2-run double to right, with the third runner aboard, Crosby, being thrown out at home plate by Alfaro. Cory Dew got Morales to pop out, closing Garrett’s line at six runs on seven hits and three walks. The ****ing Elks stole SIX bases off him and Tovias.

The Raccoons didn’t trail 6-0 though – but merely 6-1. Zach Graves had tripled in the bottom 2nd and scored on Stalker’s groundout, so we were reeeeally in the thick of things here still. Frank Santos hit a leadoff double in the #9 hole to begin the bottom 3rd, and was stranded on second base. And the leadoff men would continue to reach base and never score for Portland. Graves drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, and Stalker hit into a double play. Alfaro and Tovias reached base to begin the bottom 5th, and between Santos, Newman, and Spencer, the Coons had lots and lots of hot air blowing out of their ears. Their spirits defeated, they would not reach base at all in the sixth.

In what was the umpteenth cavalcade of relievers this week, the Raccoons’ pen held up for a remarkably long time until allowing another run. Calfee homered off Moore to begin the seventh to extend the Elks’ lead to 7-1. Alfaro singled in the bottom of the inning. Tovias hit into a double play. It was all a bit too much to take, really, and they didn’t squeeze a few more runs out of Sloan until the last innings. Sloan, a pitcher with an ERA near six when the game began, pitched a complete-game 8-hitter, something that was not particularly noteworthy on its own, but neither was the team he did it against. The Raccoons scored single runs off him in the eighth and ninth, some small ball first, doubles by Nunley and Alfaro later, but it was all just too little, too late. 7-3 Canadiens. Delgado 1-1; Alfaro 3-3, BB, 2B, RBI; Santos (PH) 1-2, BB, 2B;

In other news

July 3 – The Aces acquire SP Brian Leser (2-6, 3.38 ERA) from the Blue Sox in exchange for a prospect.
July 3 – A fractured rib will cause SAC CF Justin McAllester (.286, 7 HR, 31 RBI) to miss the month of July.
July 4 – At the steep price of five prospects, the Loggers pick up the tab on Pittsburgh’s SP Pedro Hernandez (5-7, 3.20 ERA). The trade includes three ranked prospects, foremost #23 CL Jose Ornelas, who has reached AAA.
July 5 – MR Troy Charters (2-1, 2.98 ERA) is sent from the Miners to the Scorpions in exchanged for 1B Josh Keen (.322, 10 HR, 47 RBI).
July 5 – The Cyclones trade SP Jay Schimek (7-6, 5.65 ERA) to the Stars for two prospects.
July 5 – The Stars sink the Scorpions in a 14-3 rout, plating nine runs in the third inning for a decisive lead. DAL INF Raul Maldonado (.331, 1 HR, 42 RBI) has four base hits, all singles, and one RBI.
July 6 – BOS CF/LF Adrian Reichardt (.276, 8 HR, 38 RBI) could miss up to two months with a separated shoulder suffered in a game against the Crusaders.
July 7 – The Condors acquire NYC SP Jeremy Waite (9-2, 3.42 ERA) for two prospects, including #66 OF Pedro Torruellas.
July 8 – The Loggers trade SP Chris Sinkhorn (7-6, 3.64 ERA) to the Gold Sox for LF Carlos de Santiago (.188, 1 HR, 4 RBI) and #20 prospect Jose Jaramillo, a corner outfielder with power in AA.
July 8 – The Crusaders enter the bottom of the ninth inning down 5-3 to the Indians, but walk off on home runs by Andy Schmit, D.J. Fullerton, and Ivan Flores (.300, 5 HR, 38 RBI), 7-5.
July 9 – The Gold Sox’ and Stars’ 14-inning game in Dallas ends on Danny Flores scoring on DEN MR Alex Morin’s (4-3, 4.76 ERA) walkoff balk.

Complaints and stuff

Hah, the Loggers. Never not funny.

The Raccoons meanwhile actually sneaked a player onto the CL’s All Star roster. Who’s the only player neither hurt nor sucking? Right, Brett Lillis. This is his second All Star team after making it in 2019, which you might remember was also the year of his first Coons stint, but he was not acquired from the Cyclones until a couple hours before the trade deadline on July 31. The price back then? Alex Duarte and two prospects you’ve never heard from again.

Cookie Carmona could have come off the DL by Sunday, but we sent him to AAA on rehab instead so he could busy himself a bit over the break and get some warmup at-bats.

The Raccoons signed a pair of position players in the international free agent period and were done with that, with the total expenses amounting to a shocking $21,500. We will be able to splurge again next year, unless our budget is slashed by another few million by then.

Fun Fact: Matt Nunley is in his 11th season in the major leagues and has played 11,393.2 defensive innings in that time – all at third base. This is the highest amount of defensive innings played by a Raccoon that never appeared at a second position.

Second-highest? Tetsu Osanai, spending all of his 10,829 defensive innings with the Raccoons at first base. Adding in his time with the Elks and Pacifics, he played 14,078.2 ABL innings, also exclusively at first.

Only very few Raccoons have spent more innings in their Furball tenure at any position. Of course there is Daniel Hall, who dwelled in leftfield for 15,080.1 innings. Also, Neil Reece, camping in centerfield for 12,357.2 innings. And that is the list. Reece finished in leftfield eventually after he had lost all his range, and Dan The Man was displaced to rightfield late in his career when Vern Kinnear came up and had not much of an arm to toy with. Hall also erred into first base and centerfield on rare occasions.

Far-out-of-leftfield Fun Fact: The first MLB game I ever saw live was an MLB.tv free game of the day on June 16, 2011, Mets facing the Braves, an R.A. Dickey start in Atlanta that went ten innings and ended on D.J. Carrasco’s walkoff balk. Back then, I had little to no clue about most aspects of the game, and was very confused when there was some shouting and pointing at the Mets’ pitcher, that Braves guy on third base raced home and the Braves were jumping up and down for no apparent reason. I’ve been going over the game log of every walkoff win in the ABL for years to find one, and finally Alex Morin delivered!