Montreal Impact (79-64, .552, 1st NL East) @ Los Angeles Lakers (84-60, .583, 1st NL West)
On a tear since the trade deadline, the Montreal Impact have taken over the NL East – they have a 6-game lead over Pittsburgh Steelers, who, at 73-70, are looking solid to make the playoffs as a wildcard. The Impact make their pay off of pitching – lights out pitching – where they have the #1 Starters ERA, Runs Against, FIP, Pitching WAR, and are 2nd in Strikeouts. Guys like Norm Rodriguez (12-8, 3.00), John Aivazian (10-14, 3.54), and Ferdinand Loving (15-8, 3.74), have all been lights out since the deadline and are looking to be formidable come playoff time. We have them for a three-game set here – in our park – and come into the series in fine form. This, then, could be a preview of the 2075 League Championship Series. Or not. Look, the playoffs in Strangeverse are consistent – consistently weird. Bad, ho-hum, poorly constructed, and otherwise unworthy teams have won more than their share of Championships. So, we could both just as easily get eliminated in the 2nd round. This is a problem with my playoff structure – one that I’ve wanted to change but have been too lazy to do anything about – baseball is all about tradition after all. Of course, since you can’t do it on pitching alone in this league – they have some sticks too – in fact, the heart of their order is powerful – good enough to secure the #6 ranking in the NL – and, in 3B Cleveland Hunter, they have a leadoff guy with speed, fielding acumen, and who has a little bit of pop (16 ding dongs thus far)… this is a test, a tough test, and one that I’ll be putting a lot of stock in as we begin to put the finishing touches on what, by all accounts, has been a pretty rip-roaring season.
145 of 162: John Aivazian (10-14, 3.54) @ Michael Brisk (13-9, 3.80)
This one was a real barn burner – a 1-0 loss for the La La’s, and one where not much of note happened for three hours (unless you love pitching). Montreal steals this one in the top of the ninth on an RBI single courtesy of LF Harlem Peterson (side note: Montreal has a guy named Cleveland and a guy named Harlem – on a scale of 1 to awesome that is stupendous). Aguilar and Cooke collect two hits, respectively, and everyone else pretty much sucked at the plate today. Aivazian gets the complete game shutout while Brisk goes 7 innings of shut out baseball before Bae (who kind of sucks at pitching sometimes) gives up the game winner. Bummer biscuits. Bummer biscuits, for real.
Propers, the, “hmm, that’s interesting”, edition: St. Louis Rams SP Dimitri Pimentel, Vancouver Whitecaps SP Nick Boyer, and Montreal miscreant SP John Aivazian all pitched complete game shutouts today – Pimentel’s was a 4-hitter, while John and Nick both pitched 6-hitters – Nick lost his on an unearned run that plated due to a Mauro Galvan error (it was only his second error of the season – but a big one nonetheless).
ALSO – is it Umble time again? Owen goes 2 for 4 with a double, a homer, 4 RBI, 2 runs, and 2 BB’s in Quincy’s 9-8 win over the Columbia Blowfish in Bush League action – Umble is approaching Bush League legend status with this recent string of rock-solid performances. Like the Boss backed by the E-Street band – he’s got a little something special for the cheap seats.
146 of 162: Jaxson Mottola (6-5, 3.34) @ Dejuan Burns (13-7, 3.74)
Tight contest – where we get a hard-earned win by a score of 3-2 – Dejuan Burns is clutch – goes 7, gives 2 away – and Josiah gets save 14 with the last out recorded on a laser throw from Mullens who catches Easton Thorn trying to stretch an automatic double into a triple. You gotta love the Montreal aggressiveness though… Pepper gets two hits and an RBI, Otto goes 1 for 3, and Cooke turns in a 2 for 4 day. Good food, good fish, good fun.
Props & Judo Chops: 3B Herbert Merritt of the Dearborn Dilly’s went 4 for 6 with a double, a ding dong, an RBI, 3 runs, and a walk in a 14-3 win over the Hagerstown Hummers in Bush League action. The 25-year old pro out and former San Francisco Don spent three years in the St. Louis development system (all in Sugar Land) before his release in 2074 – but, don’t worry, he landed in the Bush League on an outlandish 5.6M contract with the Dilly’s where he is hitting .258 with 19 jacks and 57 RBI.
147 of 162: Norm Rodriguez (12-8, 3.00) @ Case Tunnell (12-6, 3.18)
Case was, well, not great – he gave up three homers, including a grand slam in this one. Otto does his level best to get us back on track in the bottom of the 5th – 2-run jack, #32, to get us to within two… but that effort is wasted when Matt Olson, working in relief, gives up – you guessed it – another Grand Slam – giving Montreal a 10-4 lead. Wild, man. Before it was done, they’d put 2 more on us in their 12-4 win. Gross. Former Laker Sammie Fregoso goes 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI, Otto drives in 3, and Jenkins gets an RBI – Grand Slams for the aptly named Mack Ramirez and Easton Thorn – a tough loss for the La La’s.
Um, you guys, is it Jules Winfield time again? Your boy went 4 for 4 with a double, a triple, 3 RBI, a run, and a walk in the Sunrise Supremos 7-3 win over the Naperville Nibblers. Living the dream, man – hitting .279 now with 21 homers and 79 riblets. Good on him – Jules is legend.