[Westheim]

Raccoons (72-83) @ Canadiens (99-56) – September 26-29, 2050

One more week of pain. I took Honeypaws from the office, went by the nearest cookie store, filled the trunk, and went home to try and suffer through it with a modicum of dignity. The back-to-back CL North champs were first in runs scored and second in runs allowed, and were up 9-5 on the Coons this year.

Projected matchups:
Victor Salcido (13-7, 3.56 ERA) vs. Mario Godinez (13-6, 3.04 ERA)
Kyle Brobeck (2-1, 5.26 ERA) vs. Bill Drury (2-3, 4.95 ERA)
Jason Wheatley (10-11, 3.93 ERA) vs. Danny Orozco (16-12, 3.86 ERA)
Victor Merino (6-18, 4.35 ERA) vs. Bill McMichael (22-7, 2.49 ERA)

Two from the right, two from the left, and probably 30-10 runs for *those guys*.

Game 1
POR: SS Lavorano – 3B Crispin – 1B Maldonado – 2B Waters – C Gonzalez – LF Watt – CF Lamotta – RF Samples – P Salcido
VAN: CF Escobido – 1B J. Wheeler – LF Toohey – C Julio Diaz – 3B Burgos – SS Mullen – RF Tomasello – 2B DeMarco – P Godinez

The first crate of cookies was opened in the second inning, in which the damn Elks put a 3-spot on Salcido, starting with a homer from Jesus Burgos. Tyler Tomasello singled, Nick DeMarco walked, Salcido threw away a grounder, and all in all three runs scored until Jeff Wheeler flew out to Lamotta in center. Lamotta also scored the first run for Portland, being singled home by Lonzo with two outs in the top 3rd. That was it for offense for most of the game. Through six innings, both sides had just three base hits cobbled together, and the score was still 3-1. Crispin made it four hits for Portland with a leadoff single in the seventh, but was stranded on second base eventually once Tomasello dashed into the gap to retire Ruben Gonzalez by snagging his liner. The Elks also got their fourth hit in the seventh inning, but it was a 2-run homer by Nick DeMarco after Tomasello drew a leadoff walk. Salcido retired Godinez, then from the game, and Danny Cancel gave up another run by putting on Angel Escobido, and then a 2-out RBI single by former Critter Bryce Toohey, who was hitting .254 with 14 homers and was lusting for more rings.

Top 8th, Godinez out of the blue put Watt, Lamotta, and Samples on in sequence *and* to begin the inning. I had my reservations, but Honeypaws got his hopes up once more. And we got closer – Puckeridge drew a bases-loaded walk, Lonzo plated a run with a groundout, Crispin added an RBI single, and Maldo a sac fly at least, but that was still a run short – but that tying run was at third base with two outs. Matt Waters walked against Sam Heisler, but Ruben Gonzalez flew out to Tomasello. Sterling Henderson’s 2-out RBI single, pinch-hit, drove in a run against Eloy Sencion that went on Danny Landeta’s ledger in the bottom 8th, though, to the deficit deepened again to two runs, and Sam Gibson didn’t even give up one to the Coons in the ninth. Ricky Lamotta hit a 1-out single, everybody else just made easy outs. 7-5 Canadiens. Crispin 2-4, 2B, RBI; Lamotta 3-4; Samples 1-2, BB; Puckeridge (PH) 0-0, BB, RBI;

(looks over to Honeypaws’ spot, which is empty)

(looks around)

Honeypaws, I know you’re in my cookie bag. I can see your tail.

Game 2
POR: LF Watt – SS Lavorano – 3B Crispin – C Gonzalez – RF Puckeridge – 2B Castner – CF Lamotta – 1B Van Hoy – P Brobeck
VAN: CF Escobido – 1B J. Wheeler – RF Outram – C Julio Diaz – 3B Burgos – SS Mullen – LF Tomasello – 2B DeMarco – P Drury

A first-inning, 2-out rally scored a run for Portland as the Coons got a Crispin single, Gonzalez walk, an RBI single from Pucks, and another walk from Castner before Ricky Lamotta left the bases loaded with a groundout. Elk City got a leadoff double in the bottom 1st from Angel Escobido, who then got himself caught stealing third base right away. Julio Diaz hit another one of those in the second though, and he was not inclined to tempt fate that way anyway. A Jesus Burgos single and a groundout from Dan Mullen brought in the tying run instead, but at least Burgos was stranded on base.

Brobeck hit a single in the top 4th, but that led nowhere as usual, while he gave up four straight hits in the bottom 4th to get whacked for three runs by Burgos, Mullen (triple), Tomasello, and DeMarco. Add in a run-scoring wild pitch, and there went another bag of cookies. And another bottle of Capt’n Coma for me, and because I was kind, I also poured some in a bowl for Honeypaws. Brobeck shone more with offense – after Ricky Lamotta bounced a ball off the warning track and into the stands for a ground-rule double to open the top 6th, and advanced on Evan Van Hoy’s groundout, Brobeck hit a fly to deep right to give Jerry Outram, the menace, something to do, but Lamotta easily scored from third base for a sac fly.

The rookie Brobeck went seven innings in the end and remained on a 4-2 hook, but he also finished the outing by striking out the side of Drury, Escobido, and Wheeler – after getting only two strikeouts in the previous six frames. The Raccoons got a Pucks triple into the right-center gap to begin the eighth, but then Castner and Lamotta made embarrassing outs. (gulp-gulp-gulp!) But Van Hoy was alert and snapped a 2-out RBI double, putting himself in scoring position as the tying run. Matt Waters pinch-hit for Brobeck… but popped out to end the inning. Sam Heisler put the Critters away in the ninth. 4-3 Canadiens. Watt 2-4, BB; Crispin 2-5; Puckeridge 2-4, 3B, RBI;

Sigh.

From here, it was the final outing for all the starting pitchers.

Quick glance at the draft board. We currently held the #8/9 pick tied with the Knights, and were half a game behind the Loggers and two ahead of the Indians in fifth place in the North.

Game 3
POR: SS Lavorano – 3B Lamotta – 1B Maldonado – 2B Waters – CF Puckeridge – RF Glodowski – C Jimenez – LF Sivertson – P Wheatley
VAN: SS Mullen – 1B J. Wheeler – RF Outram – LF Toohey – C Julio Diaz – 3B Burgos – CF Burkhart – 2B DeMarco – P Orozco

A throwing error by Maldonado allowed Tim Burkhart to score in the third inning for the first run in the game, after Burkhart had snuck a single through the right side to begin the inning. Orozco had yet to concede a base runner, but did so by allowing a single to Lonzo in the top 4th. Maldo doubled home the runner to tie the game, and Orozco then lost the next two batters in full counts to bring up… ugh, Glodowski. Another full count – another walk, and a 2-1 lead…! Yay, Glodowski! …and then Juan Jimenez spanked a ball to short for an inning-murdering double play, and Outram, the old terror, drew a leadoff walk, Toohey singled, and a Burgos single got the tying run home off Wheats in the bottom of the same inning anyway… Burkhart hit into a double play to kill that inning with runners on the corners as well, at least, but with a DeMarco double and a Mullen single the damn Elks took a 3-2 lead in the fifth…

Top 6th, and with a third cookie bag ready to be torn open and gobbled as animalistically as possible and necessary, the Coons opened with a soft Lamotta single, and then a Maldo wallbanger in left for a double. The tying and go-ahead runs were in scoring position with nobody out. Waters struck out. Pucks struck out. I tore the bag open and stuck my head in it, only to find Honeypaws had already nibbled his way into it from the other side. Mutual hissing ensued, while unwatched and almost forgotten, Matt Glodowski beat Burkhart in deep center for a 2-out, 2-run double…! YAY, GLODOWSKI!!

Wheats tip-toed his way around two singles in the bottom 6th, then bunted Sivertson and his leadoff walk to second base in the top 7th. A scratch single by Lonzo put runners on the corners. Lamotta, the miserable bum, found another double play to fail into, and in turn DeMarco reached on a Maldonado error in the bottom 7th, pinch-runner Alex Soto stole second, reached third on Jimenez’ piss-poor throw, Wheats nicked Tomasello in the #9 hole, and a sac fly by Mullen tied the score at four. I screamed into the cookie bag. Jeff Wheeler found a 5-4-3 double play which Lamotta turned vigorously to save his bacon from impending wrath waiting for him 300 miles due south.

With Tim Abraham pitching in the eighth, Matt Waters drew a 1-out walk. Seymour batted for Pucks against the righty, but popped out. Oh well, no decision for Wheats…! Unless Glodowski found a silly lucky hit for a third time in the g-LODOWSKI! Homer to left! Coons on top again!! And Jimenez hit another one right after! Maybe Wheats would now finish .500 after all (what a success that would be…..), but the Coons needed another six outs from Sencion, who got two before putting Julio Diaz on with a 2-out single in the eighth, and then Willie Cruz, who was called on without much fuss or middle relief. Burgos hit a single off him, but Burkhart flew out casually to end the inning. Doubles by Crispin and Lamotta even added a run against right-handed Nate Henderson in the ninth inning, while Cruz retired the Elks in order. 8-4 Raccoons! Lavorano 2-5; Lamotta 2-5, 2B, RBI; Maldonado 2-5, 2 2B, RBI; Glodowski 2-3, BB, HR, 2B, 5 RBI; Crispin 1-1, 2B; Wheatley 7.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W (11-11);

Mikio Suzuki was added to the roster off the DL at this point, although he didn’t actually fly out to Vancouver with a lefty on the mound and would instead go straight from Portland to Indy with me.

Game 4
POR: SS Lavorano – CF Lamotta – 1B Maldonado – 2B Waters – C Gonzalez – RF Glodowski – 3B Crispin – LF Samples – P Merino
VAN: CF Escobido – 1B J. Wheeler – 3B Burgos – LF Toohey – SS Mullen – C T. Phillips – RF Burkhart – 2B DeMarco – P McMichael

Lonzo stole his 64th bag in the first inning, but was left on base when Waters whiffed, while Merino, up against an all-righty lineup, saw Escobido reach on a Maldo error, steal second, and get home on a 2-out single by Toohey that got through between Waters and Lonzo. Mullen singled, Merino walked Tims Phillips and Burkhart to walk in a run as well, DeMarco hit an RBI single, and when McMichael grounded to Waters, he threw the ball away for a 2-base, 2-run error. Escobido struck out to end the inning, the Elks up 5-0 (all runs unearned), still laughing over all the Raccoons’ ***********. It was hard times for cookies and booze around me now for sure.

Merino was gone after 85 pitches in four innings, giving up an earned run in the final frame he pitched for the Coons in 2050 – or ever, if he stepped near a window or on a balcony with me in sight during out weekend in Indy. The hole only deepened after his departure. Tim Phillips took Mike Snyder deep for a run in the fifth, and Snyder and Porter conspired to give up three more runs in the sixth. By the eighth I was on the way to the airport. I missed all of the Coons barely breaking up McMichael’s shutout with an out to spare when Puckeridge landed a pinch-hit sac fly in the ninth inning… 10-1 Canadiens. Castner (PH) 1-2;

By the time the weekend arrived, the Raccoons had clinched at least a tie for fifth place if they got swept by the Indians, who were three games back by then. We entered the weekend tied with the Loggers for fourth.

The best pick still obtainable was the #6 selection, and we split the #8 and #9 picks with the Loggers right now, but could still accidentally win our way to an unprotected pick.

Raccoons (73-86) @ Indians (70-89) – September 30-October 2, 2050

Misery. What else was there to say? Indy has lost five in a row, but they led the season series, 8-7, and were somehow rather respectful in terms of runs scored and surrendered, seventh in the CL in each and with a -30 run differential that was far less rancid than the Coons’ -77 marker coming in.

Projected matchups:
Bubba Wolinsky (6-13, 4.22 ERA) vs. Alfredo Llamas (5-7, 6.04 ERA)
Victor Salcido (13-8, 3.63 ERA) vs. Tan Brink (12-12, 3.38 ERA)
Kyle Brobeck (2-2, 5.23 ERA) vs. Bill Quinn (5-6, 3.10 ERA)

Only right-handers in that injury-ravaged rotation, with Bill Nichol and Paul Medvec both on the DL, along with certified pest and kitten-drowner Aaron Brayboy and Hugo Acosta.

Game 1
POR: LF Watt – 3B Crispin – RF Maldonado – 2B Waters – 1B Van Hoy – CF Suzuki – SS Sivertson – C Raczka – P Wolinsky
IND: CF A. Mendez – SS de Castro – RF B. Quinteros – 3B B. Anderson – 1B M. Gilmore – LF R. White – C Poindexter – 2B N. Fernandez – P Llamas

Both teams scored their first runs with a 2-run single by their catchers, Raczka putting the Coons ahead in the second, while Manny Poindexter got teams even in the fourth, until Nick Fernandez whacked him home with a double to un-tie the game. Ed Crispin drove in the tying run with two outs in the fifth – that tying run was actually Wolinsky, who had drawn a 2-out walk – but also cocked up a new 4-3 lead for the Arrowheads with a throwing error in the bottom 5th. Your basic last-place playoffs…

Except that the bottom dwellers in the Coons lineup kept stirring. Van Hoy and Suzuki reached base in the sixth, and Mitch Sivertson tied the game with a sac fly. Raczka singled home Suzuki, 5-4, and Bubba even draw another walk, but was forced out by Watt and Crispin struck out to leave runners on the corners. Wolinsky failed to see out the bottom of the inning, however, putting Rusty White and Nick Fernandez on the corners with two outs. PH Vinny Marin singled the game tied again facing Hitchcock before Angel Mendez grounded out.

The seventh saw Martino Barbiusa nick Maldonado, which was the 26th time old Maldo got plunked on the season and by now he was getting grumpy. He stole second base out of spite – only his second theft of the season – but was stranded in scoring position anyway. Instead Alex de Castro and Bill Quinteros ticked singles off Hitchcock to begin the bottom 7th, went to the corners, and while Bobby Anderson found a 6-4-3 double play, that still got the go-ahead run home for Indy. Jeff Castner had an abortive pinch-hit single in the eighth, and the Coons were still a run in the rear in the ninth inning against September call-up Cesar Suarez (they really weren’t trying to win, huh?). The Coons’ 2-3-4 went in order… 6-5 Indians. Raczka 2-4, 3 RBI;

First loss of the year for Hitchcock, and the second game in which Lonzo didn’t appear.

The Loggers lost as well, and we were still in reach of tying Indy for the #6 pick, while actually tying the Loggers and Scorpions for the #7 through #9 picks. The Rebs, Condors, and Knights were all just one game ahead, but the unprotected pick threat was gone now with a Caps win on Friday.

Game 2
POR: SS Lavorano – 3B Crispin – RF Maldonado – 2B Waters – LF Puckeridge – CF Suzuki – 1B Van Hoy – C Jimenez – P Salcido
IND: CF A. Mendez – SS de Castro – RF B. Quinteros – 3B B. Anderson – C DeFrank – LF R. White – 1B E. Ortiz – 2B N. Fernandez – P Brink

The middle game was about who could scatter the most runners in the least helpful fashion, and through five innings, both teams were level with five runners and zero runs scored. The Coons had four hits and a walk off Brink, but had not even reached third base, including a double play hit into by Suzuki and a runner caught stealing in … Suzuki.

Salcido’s season ended with one out in the bottom 6th when he suddenly walked four in a row, although he didn’t walk in a run. He *balked* in a run, which was infinitely more stupid and thus better. Ponce struck out Rusty White, but gave up a 2-out, 2-run single to Edwin Ortiz before restoring whatever order there was still to restore, now down 3-0. Puckeridge got on, stole a base, and scored on a Suzuki groundout in the top 7th, but that was of course not gonna make up the deficit. The eighth and ninth were wholly wasted, however, and the game (and the season series) was lost. 3-1 Indians. Puckeridge 2-4;

Still in reach, the #6 pick. We held sole custody of the #7 pick ahead of the season close-out. Three teams, the Loggers, Condors, and Scorpions, were all a game ahead, so the worst we could end up with now was a miserable dice roll for the #10 pick.

Polibio O’Higgins reported back for duty ahead of the finale. My, wasn’t I thrilled…

Game 3
POR: SS Lavorano – 3B Crispin – 1B Maldonado – 2B Waters – CF Puckeridge – C Gonzalez – RF Glodowski – LF Sivertson – P Brobeck
IND: CF A. Mendez – SS de Castro – RF B. Quinteros – 3B B. Anderson – C DeFrank – 1B Briscoe – LF Hare – 2B N. Fernandez – P Quinn

Brobeck’s first few starts had been nice, the last few not so much. Here he had a clean first inning, then filled the bases in the second without allowing a hit, drilling Bobby Anderson and walking Joe Briscoe and Josh Hare. Nick Fernandez hit into a double play to kill the effort for the Indians, though. Angel Mendez also found a double play in the third after Bill Quinn’s leadoff single to center. Speaking of double plays, when Crispin drew a leadoff walk in the top 4th, Maldo found one to smack a grounder into as well…

A Puckeridge bomb to lead off the fifth actually broke the ice, and remained the only run for a while longer as nobody could hit anything much. The Coons had three base hits through seven innings, and the Indians didn’t even get that far. When Bobby Anderson landed a 1-out single in the bottom 7th, which was the Arrowheads’ second knock in the game, but was then also doubled up by Ray DeFrank. Brobeck got three groundouts for a quick eighth, and technically had enough juice left to send him back out for the ninth inning, but, man, wouldn’t we like a tack-on run? Quinn finished nine with a 3-hitter, though, and Philip Locke pinch-hit for him to begin the bottom 9th. And Brobeck? Ah, Bro-what-the-heck! He was back out there too, entering on 96 pitches. Locke flew out to Pucks. Rusty White struck out. And Alex de Castro…? Fly to shallow right, Pucks coming on – and the snag! It was a shutout!! 1-0 Blighters! Puckeridge 1-3, HR, RBI; Brobeck 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, W (3-2);

In other news

September 26 – The Miners clinch the FL East by just sitting idle, as the Blue Sox split a double-header with the Capitals when they would have needed a sweep to stay alive.
September 27 – CIN RF/LF/1B Sal Montecino (.285, 11 HR, 32 RBI) hits a home run for the only score in a 1-0 win over the Miners.
September 29 – Titans and Indians establish a 1-1 tie by the second inning and don’t resolve it until the 16th with a 2-out RBI single by BOS 1B Elias Rodriguez (.265, 2 HR, 19 RBI) for an eventual 2-1 Boston win.
October 2 – The Canadiens’ regular season ends with a walkoff homer by OF/1B Tyler Tomasello (.253, 10 HR, 60 RBI) to beat the Crusaders, 1-0.

FL Hitter of the Month: RIC LF/RF/1B Alex Marquez (.324, 17 HR, 69 RBI), hitting .410 with 5 HR, 17 RBI
CL Hitter of the Month: OCT OF Juan Benavides (.279, 20 HR, 97 RBI), batting .292 with 4 HR, 24 RBI
FL Pitcher of the Month: WAS CL Ryan Dow (7-8, 2.74 ERA, 37 SV), closing for a 2-0 record with 2.16 ERA and 15 SV
CL Pitcher of the Month: VAN SP Bill McMichael (23-7, 2.44 ERA), dominating for a 5-1 record with 2.51 ERA, 20 K
FL Rookie of the Month: WAS SP Troy Ratliff (5-0, 3.63 ERA), hurling for a 4-0 record with 1.93 ERA, 19 K
CL Rookie of the Month: NYC UT Omar Sanchez (.294, 1 HR, 39 RBI), poking for a .369 mark with 9 RBI

Complaints and stuff

Well, wasn’t that an unlikely highlight to finish the season from Kyle Brobeck, only acquired in June for Armando Herrera? Didn’t make the previous six months of pain worth it at all, but I’m not complaining… any more *now*.

We did finish tied with all of the Loggers, Scorpions, and Condors, though, so knowing our luck we’d have the #10 pick out of the #7 through #10 picks…

Now, would the Thunder please knock off the damn Elks?

Fun Fact: Lonzo has four stolen bases for every walk drawn for his career.

81 bags to 20 walks, precisely. It got a *wee* bit better in the second half with him drawing the odd walk, and while he’s generally enjoyable and a plus defender at short anyway, it would be really great if he could figure out either of how to draw another 30-40 walks or to hit at least .300 …