[Westheim]

When I came into the office on Monday morning, Dr. Padilla picked me up right away and led me to his little zen garden and showed me how to place little rocks and cubes in aesthetic fashion, then how to rake the white sand around the rocks and cubes to make geometric patterns to sooth the mind.

And when I was sufficiently soothed, he told me that Bubba Wolinsky had torn a rotator cuff and was gonna miss a full 12 months.

And I was so ******* calm, you wouldn’t believe it.

All Star Game

The Federal League wiped the floor with the Continental League in the 2047 All Star Game, taking a 9-1 win. Sacramento’s Nate Culp was named MVP, going 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.

Raccoons pitchers did not participate in the beating, with both Wheats and Lynn pitching scoreless innings when the game was already out of paw. The Raccoons batters didn’t produce any offense, either, however. Maldo went a strong 0-for-4, Toohey 0-for-3, and Armando Herrera 1-for-2 before being pinch-hit for.

Raccoons (60-28) vs. Titans (33-56) – July 11-14, 2047

Up 7-1 in the season series after sweeping the Titans in Boston last week, the Raccoons now got to host them at home for another four games. They were second from the bottom in runs scored, sixth in runs allowed, and just might keep lying down and taking it.

Projected matchups:
Victor Merino (7-6, 3.56 ERA) vs. David Barel (7-7, 3.45 ERA)
Jake Jackson (9-4, 3.40 ERA) vs. Victor Mondragon (4-10, 3.46 ERA)
Jason Wheatley (7-3, 2.96 ERA) vs. Brian Jackson (6-6, 2.65 ERA)
Sadaharu Okuda (7-5, 3.07 ERA) vs. Kyle Turay (5-9, 2.97 ERA)

Barel – one of two southpaws next to Brian Jackson for this set – would make consecutive starts against the Raccoons in consecutive Raccoons-Titans games.

The Coons made roster moves over the All Star Game. Obviously, Bubba Wolinsky went to the DL. Since we did not need a fifth starter on Monday, which was a day off, Carlton Harman (0-1, 6.00 ERA) was returned to AAA as well – we’d probably bring back Baker for next Saturday. Rarely used Ben Coen (.304, 0 HR, 6 RBI) was also optioned.

Comebackers were Bob Ibold and Derek Baskins from their rehab stints; the spare roster spot from using only four starters went to Ken Mills, so no eighth reliever for the time being.

Game 1
BOS: SS C. Jimenez – C Whitley – 1B V. Chavez – RF Ritchey – 2B Galaz – CF T. Lopez – LF Hampton – 3B Kohr – P Barel
POR: SS Adame – CF Herrera – 3B Maldonado – 1B Toohey – RF Pellicano – 2B Waters – LF Mercado – C Gonzalez – P Merino

Barel lasted two batters before having his wrist checked and being removed from the game, left-hander David Barnes replacing him initially, but he was pinch-hit for with Jim Round in the top 2nd when the Titans had runners on the corners against Merino, struggling again facing a mostly right-handed lineup. Round tripled in both runners and the Titans were up 2-0 early, but was stranded at least when Chris Jimenez popped out and Dan Whitley flew out to Mercado. The Coons had five hits and two double plays (Merino, Maldo) in the first three innings, scoring no runs, while the Titans loaded the bags on singles by Jason Kohr and Jimenez, plus Whitley getting plunked with two outs in the fourth. Lefty-hitting Victor Chavez struck out to leave all of them on, though.

Merino needed over 100 pitches through six innings, the 2-0 score remaining unchanged during his tenure. The Raccoons got runners to the corners with two outs in both the fourth and sixth innings, and both times brought up the #9 spot. Merino grounded out to Gerardo Galaz the first time, and Joe Ritchey went back to grab Manny Fernandez’ fly to end the sixth. Porter, Rella, and Bonnie would all pitch scoreless innings (although the latter two each put on a pair of runners) to complete nine frames, but the Raccoons just couldn’t even find second gear and never scored. 2-0 Titans. Herrera 2-4; Gonzalez 3-4; Gurney (PH) 1-1;

Game 2
BOS: SS C. Jimenez – C Youngquist – 1B V. Chavez – RF Ritchey – 2B Galaz – CF T. Lopez – LF Hampton – 3B Kohr – P Mondragon
POR: RF Mercado – CF Herrera – 3B Maldonado – 1B Toohey – SS Adame – LF Fernandez – 2B Waters – C Morales – P J. Jackson

Boston scored first again, with the first three batters all getting hits off Jake Jackson to begin the game. Chris Jimenez singled, but was caught stealing, yet Ryan Youngquist’s double and Victor Chavez’ single were enough for a first-inning run. Chavez went on to double home Jimenez in the third inning, 2-0, while Portland had Adame on base in the bottom 2nd, but he was caught stealing. Bottom 3rd, Waters led off with a single, Morales was nicked, and Jackson bunted the tying runs into scoring position. Mercado’s single to right-center and Herrera’s sac fly to leftfielder Jeremy Hampton each plated one of the runners, while Galaz became the third caught-stealing in the game in the fourth after hitting a leadoff single. Toohey singled in the bottom 4th and was also caught stealing on a hit-and-run with Manny, where Manny swung and missed. What a game…!

Jackson threw a whopping 88 pitches in five innings, then hit a 2-out double in the same frame. Sadly, that one came with nobody on base. Mercado singled afterwards, but Jackson had to hold at third base, and both were stranded when Herrera grounded out to Kohr. Somehow Jackson then pitched two more innings on just 14 pitches, holding the Titans to their tie, while in the bottom 6th both Maldo and Toohey poked in 3-0 counts. Maldo flew out, Toohey reached on a Jimenez error, and nobody scored. Moreno, Curl, and Lynn pitched to complete nine innings for Portland, not allowing a run to the Titans, while the Coons had Mercado and Maldo on base in the bottom 8th, but now Toohey hit into a double play to kill the inning. We sent up 5-6-7 against a tough customer Mondragon in the bottom 9th, with Adame drawing the leadoff walk and getting consequently stranded at first base… The 10th went to Bob Ibold, who came apart quite spectacularly with a infield single, a walk, and a massive 3-run homer by Youngquist…

The Titans sent righty Ben Arner into the bottom 10th, which the Coons opened with a Martell single from the #9 hole, then a Mercado double off the wall in left, bringing back the tying run with nobody out. Armando Herrera’s RBI single brought up Maldo as the winning run – and Maldo was hitless in the game, threatening his 13-game hitting streak. It remained on death’s door when Arner nicked him with a 1-2 pitch, which loaded the bases for “Double Play” Toohey, who popped out to Justin Brooks at first base. No such luck with Adame for Arner, though – the shortstop flicked a single near the rightfield line, and two runs scored to re-tie the game! Jim Cushing replaced Arner, but walked Manny to fill the bases. Derek Baskins would bat for Ibold in Waters’ deserted spot, fell to 1-2, but completed a shocking comeback with a single over the head of Jason Kohr. 6-5 Furballs! Mercado 3-4, 2B, RBI; Adame 2-4, BB, 2 RBI; Baskins (PH) 1-1, RBI; Martell 1-1; Jackson 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K and 1-1;

And I was already boozing!

Game 3
BOS: SS C. Jimenez – C Youngquist – 1B V. Chavez – RF Ritchey – 2B Galaz – CF T. Lopez – LF Hampton – 3B Kohr – P B. Jackson
POR: SS Adame – CF Herrera – 3B Maldonado – 1B Toohey – RF Pellicano – 2B Waters – LF Baskins – C Gonzalez – P Wheatley

Wheats rung up four and allowed two hits the first time through, which sounded better than his struggle the second time through. Yeah, it was “only” three hits, but no strikeouts, and the Titans piled up all those hits into the top 5th, scoring two runs with the knocks supplied by Galaz, Hampton, and Kohr. The tying run was in scoring position at the time, but Brian Jackson popped out and Jimenez went down on strikes after all. The Titans had thus eaten away most of the early 3-0 supplied by Toohey and Maldo homers; Toohey socked a 2-piece in the first, Maldo a solo homer in the third to break the newly established tie for the team lead in bombs with #16. Not trusting Toohey farther than he could throw him, Maldo then whacked #17, a 3-piece in the fifth, driving in Adame and Herrera, who all reached with two outs against Jackson, going up 6-2.

And that was the whole ballgame – three Coons bombs for all the runs, and “Second Half” Wheatley having one blip in the fifth before getting back into his groove and killing the Titans for the rest of the game. He would have retired the last 14 batters in a row, if not for a Maldonado error in the seventh, putting on Tony Lopez, who was promptly caught stealing. 6-2 Raccoons. Herrera 2-4; Maldonado 2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI; Toohey 1-2, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI; Fernandez (PH) 1-1; Wheatley 9.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, W (8-3);

First complete game of the year for Wheatley, and the eighth of his career. The last five had all been shutouts, but I’m not gonna be *that* picky.

Game 4
BOS: SS C. Jimenez – 3B Kohr – 1B V. Chavez – RF Ritchey – 2B Galaz – CF T. Lopez – C Youngquist – LF Hampton – P Turay
POR: RF Mercado – SS Adame – 3B Maldonado – 1B Toohey – LF Fernandez – 2B Martell – CF Mills – C Morales – P Okuda

Okuda issued a walk in three of the first four innings, but only the last one actually cost him something… although you could also put some blame on Manny being old and not catching up to Vic Chavez’ leadoff bloop single in the top 4th, or Morales for putting Ritchey on base right afterwards via catcher’s interference. Galaz walked in a full count to make it three on and nobody out, and the Titans went up 2-0 on Lopez grounding out to first and Youngquist’s sac fly. Portland had only grabbed one hit in the first three innings, but Maldo opened the bottom 4th with a homer socked over the fence in left, 2-1. Toohey singled, Grandpa Fernandez was plunked with a looping 1-2 pitch, and the runners advanced on Martell’s groundout. Ken Mills grounded out to Galaz, but got Toohey home to tie the game at least. Okuda flew out to Ritchey after Morales was bypassed, ending the inning.

Two runs on three hits and an error – that was the total for both teams by the seventh-inning stretch, which was also as deep as Okuda went in the game. He threw 105 pitches and his spot led off the bottom 7th, making for a defensible pinch-hitting move. Gurney grabbed a stick, but popped out. Mercado grounded out, but Adame singled, then stole second base before Maldo got nicked for the second time in the game. Toohey grounded out, though, and Okuda was left with a no-decision. Curl and Moreno put down the 3-4-5 hitters in the eighth, while Turay was still going in the bottom 8th, but ran into a wall of six lefty hitters (Gurney had remained in the game over Toohey) starting with Manny. A Mills single aside, the Raccoons were harmless in the inning, though. Moreno pitched the ninth since he was already hanging around, still keeping the game tied before Gurney would open the bottom 9th against Jim Cushing. He flew out to left as the Coons were retired in order, setting up extras again.

Top 10th, Mike Lynn allowed a 1-out single to Kohr, who was run for with Tom Steffensen, but the pinch-runner was caught stealing by Morales. It REALLY wasn’t the series for base stealers…! Cushing was still out there in the bottom 10th, with Maldo hitting a leadoff double to right to put himself into scoring position as the winning run. Pellicano batted for Lynn, but struck out in a full count. Manny was walked intentionally, while Martell hit a soft single to left with Maldo forced to stop at third base since Hampton came very close to that ball. Three on, one out, and now Ken Mills? We balked, and Baskins pinch-hit instead. The move worked, and Baskins hit his second walkoff single in the series. 3-2 Coons. Maldonado 2-3, HR, 2B, RBI; Martell 2-5; Baskins (PH) 1-1, RBI; Moreno 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K;

In other news

July 11 – The Canadiens acquire 1B/LF/RF Eddie Moreno (.267, 14 HR, 37 RBI) from the Scorpions or the cost of two prospects. The package includes #76 C Keith Redfern.
July 11 – SFW SP Aaron Jones (5-9, 6.00 ERA) is out for the year; the 37-year-old was found to have bone chips in his elbow.
July 11 – CHA MR Jon Landrum (0-1, 1.69 ERA) takes the loss in the 15th inning when he fumbles a groundball that allows Atlanta’s Chris Kirkwood (.269, 1 HR, 4 RBI) to score the winning run for a 4-3 walkoff for the Knights.
July 13 – The Loggers lose SP Victor Padilla (7-8, 4.05 ERA) for the rest of the season; the southpaw has a tear in his labrum.
July 14 – It’s a no-hitter for sophomore CIN SP Austin Wilcox (4-2, 3.49 ERA), who holds the Capitals to nothing in a 6-0 Cyclones win. The difference between Wilcox and a perfect game is a singular walk issued to WAS INF Oscar Tamargo (.266, 2 HR, 7 RBI). This is the fifth no-hitter for the Cyclones after Manuel Garza (1997), Juan Garcia (2008, an actual perfect game), Mike Fernandez (2020) and Ben Lipsky (2039).
July 14 – PIT 3B/SS Ed Soberanes (.321, 12 HR, 56 RBI) is triple shy of the cycle in 3-hit, 5-RBI effort as the Miners drown the Blue Sox, 18-5.
July 14 – It takes an error by outfielder Joe Santry (.286, 0 HR, 2 RBI), filling in at shortstop in the 14th inning for the Wolves, to score *any* run in the Pacifics’ 1-0 win.

FL Player of the Week: PIT 2B/3B Alex Vasquez (.272, 1 HR, 27 RBI), hitting .556 (10-18) with 6 RBI
CL Player of the Week: NYC OF/1B Phil Rogers (.262, 9 HR, 33 RBI), batting .467 (7-15) with 3 HR, 4 RBI

Complaints and stuff

Maldo batted 5-14 with 3 HR and 5 RBI this week, which makes it *hard* to argue against Rogers specifically, and which is about one hit’s difference between me begrudgingly accepting the non-award and me flying to New York on Monday to bang on the door of the League HQ and demanding answers.

That, and Maud giving me a soothing tea first thing Monday morning.

Losing Wolinsky sucks baseballs, and now we have to make do with Jeremy Baker or go to the market after all for the second half. We dropped one of the international amateurs we were after to keep some budget room open, but we’re still waving $875k as of Sunday night at SP Rafael de la Cruz, a 16-year-old Venezuelan right-hander. Note that with $170k spent on the first quartet we signed, and a soft cap of $620k, we’d have to foot another $425k in penalty tax. That means that at the current going rate, de la Cruz would cost us $1.3M and drop our budget space from $2.1M to $817k. We still have over $1M in cash banked up, but Nick Valdes doesn’t like us going over budget…

Or anything, in fact.

Arturo Carreno came off the DL on Sunday, but was sent right back to AAA for the time being.

Next week, the homestand concludes with the Crusaders and Bayhawks.

Fun Fact: Magnificent Maldo is magnificent.

The fact that he didn’t *really* break out until 26 (.324, 13 HR, 54 RBI while missing 39 games in ’40) means that he will be pawesome for longer than usual, right, Cristiano?

Right?

Cristiano, talk to me!!