Minnesota North Stars (12-10, .545, 2nd NL West) @ Los Angeles Lakers (14-7, .667, 1st)
The Bootleg Timberwolves have been something of a nice surprise so far in 2077 – they won four sets in April, including a sweep against San Francisco and currently sit at 2nd in the NL West tied with Phoenix at 2 ½ games back. Sure, it’s early & it, in the larger scheme of things, means nothing, but let’s just enjoy this run while it lasts – in Shawna’s tenure owning the club, this may be the best start they’ve ever had. What’s most interesting, I suppose, is that they are only 12-10 and have the #2 rated offense in the NL with the #4 rated pitching staff. They currently boast a +22 rDiff, have a 7-2 home record, are 3-1 in extras, and are on a 2-game winning streak… it’s that pesky 5-8 record on the road that’s holding them back. SS Sammie Fregoso (.310/3/14) and 3B Aldo Fernandez (.330/6/13) are driving the offense so far (how long can that last?) and recent addition, SP Norm Rodriquez, is off to a solid start – his 2.68 ERA and 167 ERA+ should be yielding a better record than he has so far (1-2), and if he can continue to display this form, it will in time. That they are performing this way while spending $82 million less than their allocated budget could spell disaster for our division this offseason when big names like Julen Morales & Otto Isaac will, likely, declare free agency – the future of these North Stars could be bright, indeed.
22 of 162: Octavio Cervera (1-2, 5.13) @ Michael Brisk (3-1, 1.23)
Loss, 13-4. Homeruns from Otto & Tony could not save us from a brutal performance by Brisky, who gave up 7 runs in 4.2 innings. Otto hit a 3-run ding dong, Voorhis drove one in and scored one, and Hamza got caught with his hand in the honey pot for the 2nd time this season. Errors by Sandoval and Marshburn didn’t help.
Elsewhere: SP Josh Allen (BRK) earned the NL Pitcher of the Month honor for the National League. The former Wyoming Cowboy is quietly putting his best professional season together so far in 2077. He posted a 4-0 record in April with an ERA of 1.40 and 41 K’s. 1B Tom Franzone (PIT) took home the NL Batter of the Month Award - .372/8/24 with 20 runs… The American League gave out awards to, but – pfft… it’s the American League, who cares? OK… SP Jake Renfer (TOR) took home PoTM (4-0, 2.76 ERA) & RF Jordan Maze (DAL) won for AL Batter of the Month (.420/6/22). Maze is 36-years old – no way he keeps this up, he’s got to be tired...
23 of 162: Norm Rodriquez (1-2, 2.68) @ Dejuan Burns (1-1, 3.62)
Win, 4-1. Dejuan went 8, gave up only 1 earned, Pepper hit his 2nd homer, and Barbaccia picks up his 5th save… and just like that, all is right with the world once more. Otto, Hamza, Dom, and Lonzo all K’d twice, Hamza is in double digits for steals now, and we got a yo-yo DP from Voorhis-Cooke… those are always fun.
Elsewhere: 1B Patricio Sanchez (ORL) hit a GRAND SLAM in the top of the 10th against the St. Louis Rams that proved to be the difference-maker in their 4-3 win (St. Louis put 3 up in the bottom of the frame before CL Radoslav Borovsky was able to shut the door in their ill-fated rally. CF D’Andre Merlot, of your CITY OF COMPTON RAIDERS, hit two bombs in our 8-3 win over the Bengals – D’Andre was our 137th pick in the 2073 draft and, at 25-years old, is starting to run out of time in our development system. And… lastly, the Bush League got underway today with a bang – 1B Micky King (HAG) and LF Billy Hollingsworth (HAG) hit a combined 4 ding dongs in Hagerstown’s 10-8 loss to the Columbia Blowfish… let me get this straight – 4 HRs, 14 hits, 8 runs, and the Loss? Yeah, the BL is wacky.
24 of 162: Adrian Hollyfield (1-2, 3.62) @ Newton Weiser (2-1, 2.79)
Win, 4-3. Adrian Hollyfield, whose sister, coincidentally, was named Holly – as in Holly Hollyfield (had to be tough), didn’t get the win despite giving the North Stars 8 innings of solid work where he went pitch-for-pitch against Weiser. They both went 8 & they both only gave up 3… in the end, this one belongs to PEPPER who hit a run-scoring single in the bottom of the 10th off of RP Heath Valdes to walk the North Stars out of town, onto their bus, to board their airplane, and, ultimately, to fly back to wherever it is that they came from. Buh-bye nao…
Note: I did a thing I almost never do…
- Purchased the contract of CF Ned Saucerman from the Beaumont Bullies of the Bush League.
- Purchased the contract of CF Zach Lavoie from the Nolanville 'Nauts of the Bush League.
Both actually have some promise. But, it is most likely that I threw away $500K x2 on these cats – burning money, it’s what I do (ask Pepper).