OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - A Half Drunk ESPN Brings You a Tourney for Second Chances

Keeks137 · 02-03-2023, 01:32 PM

See top of thread for an overview of this tourney. Thanks for reading!

The Tucson Too Soons vs. The Pittsburgh Crawfords

Video for Games 1-2

Game 1

This series is filled with RBI leaders from the group stage, so it should be a goodun. Another contributor to the goodunness of this one will be that Sandry Koufax of the Too Soons is taking on Leroy Matlock of the Crawfords, who may not be a household name, but should be as he set the Dugs strikeout record with 17 in one game during the group stage. The Too Soons staked themselves to an early 2-0 lead and it took the Crawfords until the 7th inning to get on the board against Koufax as they cut the lead in half and made it 2-1. Hope was short lived however as a three run home run by Nomar Garciaparra in the 8th was the dagger.

FINAL: TUC 7 - PIT 1

Game 2

Very early in the game, Jackie Robinson took a bean ball from the Negro League legends, which you might see as a random 1s and 0s thing, but I see as high drama. We cover this more in the video, but Jackie played a season in the Negro Leagues but wasnt crazy about the experience, while some of the legends of the Negro Leagues were rubbed the wrong way when Jackie was the one to break the barrier. We made history in this game as Tucson pitcher Mark The Bird Fidrych got to take the first swings of his career and recorded his first hit. All that excitement, but no scoring until the 5th when Jackie Robinson gave the Crawfords a receipt for that earlier hit by pitch (see, high ass drama), and cracked the scoreboard first with a two run home run putting the Too Soons up two. Josh Hamilton also homered, as he did in game 1, and Fidrych didnt need much more insurance that as he went 7.2 IP and gave up only 2 hits.

FINAL: TUC 5 - PIT 1

Video for Games 3-5

Game 3

This should be another stellar pitching matchup as Pittsburgh sends Satchel Paige against Tucsons Smoky Joe Wood, likely the two best pitchers in the group stage. Well, today, Paige had the advantage as Cool Papa Bell and Rap Dixon both collected 2 RBIs. The Too Soons hit back to back dongs in the 8th as Satchel had to come out, but thats where the bleeding stopped. Pittsburgh pulls one back.

FINAL: PIT 5 - TUC 2

Game 4

The Too Soons J.R. Richard would like a do over. As the Crawfords were attempting a sac bunt, he chucked it into the outfield, putting men on first and second with nobody in the third inning. He recorded what would have been outs 2-3 after before any runs crossed the plate. However that fourth out he gave the Crawfords was enough to net Pittsburgh 5 unearned runs, highlighted by a Josh Gibson triple. Josh Gibson actually went YABO this game as he added a grand slam and an additional triple later in the game. That was more than enough to get it done as the Crawfords take a laugher down to even the series at 2.

FINAL: PIT 10 - TUC 2

Game 5

We had a rematch of game 1 with Tucsons Sandy Koufax taking on Pittsburghs Leroy Matlock so the pitching duel that resulted was no surprise. It was 1-1 in the bottom of the 8th with the series momentum hanging in the balance. The Too Soons Jackie Robinson said, Yeah, uh, Ill take me some of that, as he connected for a huge three run blast and that was good enough to take the game down.

FINAL TUC 4 - PIT 1

Video for Games 6-7

Game 6

We talked about grabbing momentum in Game 5. Well, momentum was a long four letter word in game 6 as no one wanted it. Both sides must have been driving automatic because clutch was nowhere to be found as opportunity after opportunity went by the wayside. The Too Soons finally cracked the scoreboard in the 6th and went up 2-0 thanks to some wild pitching out of Roosevelt Davis. That was enough for Mark Fidrych who once again dominated, going 7 IP and only surrendering 3 hits. Pittsburghs stars just didnt contribute enough in the series as Josh Gibson ended the series with a .167 average, Oscar Charleston was at .192, and Cool Papa Bell landed at .208.

So, the Too Soons are the first team through to the championship. Ill be back next Friday with the results of the other side of the playoff bracket.

02-03-2023, 01:32 PM	#6
Keeks137 Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 17	See top of thread for an overview of this tourney. Thanks for reading! The Tucson Too Soons vs. The Pittsburgh Crawfords Video for Games 1-2 Game 1 This series is filled with RBI leaders from the group stage, so it should be a goodun. Another contributor to the goodunness of this one will be that Sandry Koufax of the Too Soons is taking on Leroy Matlock of the Crawfords, who may not be a household name, but should be as he set the Dugs strikeout record with 17 in one game during the group stage. The Too Soons staked themselves to an early 2-0 lead and it took the Crawfords until the 7th inning to get on the board against Koufax as they cut the lead in half and made it 2-1. Hope was short lived however as a three run home run by Nomar Garciaparra in the 8th was the dagger. FINAL: TUC 7 - PIT 1 Game 2 Very early in the game, Jackie Robinson took a bean ball from the Negro League legends, which you might see as a random 1s and 0s thing, but I see as high drama. We cover this more in the video, but Jackie played a season in the Negro Leagues but wasnt crazy about the experience, while some of the legends of the Negro Leagues were rubbed the wrong way when Jackie was the one to break the barrier. We made history in this game as Tucson pitcher Mark The Bird Fidrych got to take the first swings of his career and recorded his first hit. All that excitement, but no scoring until the 5th when Jackie Robinson gave the Crawfords a receipt for that earlier hit by pitch (see, high ass drama), and cracked the scoreboard first with a two run home run putting the Too Soons up two. Josh Hamilton also homered, as he did in game 1, and Fidrych didnt need much more insurance that as he went 7.2 IP and gave up only 2 hits. FINAL: TUC 5 - PIT 1 Video for Games 3-5 Game 3 This should be another stellar pitching matchup as Pittsburgh sends Satchel Paige against Tucsons Smoky Joe Wood, likely the two best pitchers in the group stage. Well, today, Paige had the advantage as Cool Papa Bell and Rap Dixon both collected 2 RBIs. The Too Soons hit back to back dongs in the 8th as Satchel had to come out, but thats where the bleeding stopped. Pittsburgh pulls one back. FINAL: PIT 5 - TUC 2 Game 4 The Too Soons J.R. Richard would like a do over. As the Crawfords were attempting a sac bunt, he chucked it into the outfield, putting men on first and second with nobody in the third inning. He recorded what would have been outs 2-3 after before any runs crossed the plate. However that fourth out he gave the Crawfords was enough to net Pittsburgh 5 unearned runs, highlighted by a Josh Gibson triple. Josh Gibson actually went YABO this game as he added a grand slam and an additional triple later in the game. That was more than enough to get it done as the Crawfords take a laugher down to even the series at 2. FINAL: PIT 10 - TUC 2 Game 5 We had a rematch of game 1 with Tucsons Sandy Koufax taking on Pittsburghs Leroy Matlock so the pitching duel that resulted was no surprise. It was 1-1 in the bottom of the 8th with the series momentum hanging in the balance. The Too Soons Jackie Robinson said, Yeah, uh, Ill take me some of that, as he connected for a huge three run blast and that was good enough to take the game down. FINAL TUC 4 - PIT 1 Video for Games 6-7 Game 6 We talked about grabbing momentum in Game 5. Well, momentum was a long four letter word in game 6 as no one wanted it. Both sides must have been driving automatic because clutch was nowhere to be found as opportunity after opportunity went by the wayside. The Too Soons finally cracked the scoreboard in the 6th and went up 2-0 thanks to some wild pitching out of Roosevelt Davis. That was enough for Mark Fidrych who once again dominated, going 7 IP and only surrendering 3 hits. Pittsburghs stars just didnt contribute enough in the series as Josh Gibson ended the series with a .167 average, Oscar Charleston was at .192, and Cool Papa Bell landed at .208. So, the Too Soons are the first team through to the championship. Ill be back next Friday with the results of the other side of the playoff bracket.