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Westheim · 04-07-2023, 05:30 AM

Okay, I think the tears are dry now.

+++

2053 ABL PLAYOFFS

After 162 games and change, the ABL had been whittled down to four teams to compete for the World Championship again.

Overall home field advantage was clinched by the 100-62 Thunder of the CL South, who led the league in runs scored and runs allowed with a +223 run differential and ran away from the field by 13 games. David Barel (21-8, 2.14 ERA) and Zach Boyer (24-4, 2.85 ERA) dominated on the mound, and Ed Soberanes (.305, 23 HR, 93 RBI) and Dave Worthington (.265, 24 HR, 120 RBI) destroyed opposition pitching all year long, with a huge supporting cast to play along. Five different players drove in 85+ runs for that team, the rotation was the best in the league, and the bullpen was rock solid, even though they perhaps lacked that absolute lights-out closer, going with Gustavo Chapa (6-3, 3.02 ERA, 35 SV).

Perhaps their greatest relief was that the 95-68 Crusaders had knocked off the Raccoons in a tie-breaker game for the CL North. While New York had finished second in runs scored in the CL, they had given up the sixth-most runs and had only a +93 run differential, with the rotation notoriously wobbly and finishing with a combined ERA over four. Their best starter by ERA was Jeff Johnson (14-8, 3.35 ERA). And while the offense was very productive, it was low on power, with only three guys managing double-digit homers: Raul Sevilla (.267, 21 HR, 104 RBI), Danny Rivera (.297, 19 HR, 119 RBI), and Prince Gates (.308, 14 HR, 97 RBI), although the latter was still laboring on a groin strain and was uncertain for the start of the CLCS. The lineup also contained CL batting champ Omar Sanchez (.343, 1 HR, 58 RBI), but thinned out at the bottom. The back end of the pen with Ryan Sullivan (6-5, 2.37 ERA, 42 SV) appeared a bit more resilient than the Thunder’s though.

The Capitals took the FL East with a 92-70 record, finishing 3rd in runs scored and 5th in runs allowed, with just a +39 run differential. They were not excelling in any one category; the only major rankings where they even squeezed into the top 3 in the Federal League were runs scored (somehow) and defense. They offered two .300 hitters in Mitch Korfhage (.319, 11 HR, 85 RBI) and Dan Martin (.307, 21 HR, 85 RBI), but their best batter Neville van de Wouw (.289, 27 HR, 79 RBI) was still hampered by a sore shoulder and might not be able to play in the FLCS. On the hill, Bruce Mark jr. (18-7, 2.41 ERA) was as solid as anybody, but after that problems would quickly arise, while in the pen they had a solid back end, but middle relief was a problem, with several guys sporting ERA’s (well) over four in there.

And opposing the Capitals were the 88-74 Gold Sox, who were the four-times defending champions, but clearly on the way out of contention. Except for the Stars, every team finished within nine games of them, and they beat the Wolves by only one game. They clearly had issued, finishing *10th* in runs scored, bailed out by stoically solid pitching that allowed the second-fewest runs in the league, but overall also only amounted to a +30 run differential. In the lineup, Ivan Villa (.281, 29 HR, 102 RBI) was without doubt, and Sandy Castillo (.323, 12 HR, 66 RBI) was a force whenever they could put him on the field without his legs buckling out under him. Notably though, no qualifying batter hit .300 for them, and except for Villa nobody hit more than 13 homers (Blake Mickle, Bill Ramires both hit 13). And despite no injuries to position players to complain about, the bottom of the order looked decidedly makeshift, although shortstop Brent Andrews (.198, 3 HR, 26 RBI) and outfielder Omar Gonzalez (.266, 2 HR, 43 RBI) were the only regulars that had not taken part in at least three of the Gold Sox’ four straight championships. The low runs conceded total was also due to an exceptionally stingy bullpen headed by stalwart Mike Lynn (2-5, 1.64 ERA, 35 SV), while the rotation was decidedly “mid”, with Nick Robinson (14-12, 3.46 ERA) heading the crowd, while Gary Perrone, he of SIX Pitcher of the Year awards, had torn his flexor tendon on Opening Day and had not been seen since, and Tony Negrete was also out.

+++

In terms of playoff appearances, the Thunder tied up with the league-leading Raccoons with 21 October tickets, while the Crusaders and Gold Sox both played their 12th postseason, and the Capitals made their 13th playoffs. There was no shortage of actual silverware assembled here; the four teams combined for 19 previous championships, headed by the Crusaders (7) and followed by the Gold Sox (6), Capitals (4), and Thunder (2).

The Sox were of course in their fifth straight playoffs (and had won four straight titles), and their eighth postseason since 2044, but the Crusaders on the other hand ended a staggering 36-year playoff drought with their tie-breaker win. They previously had won their division eight times between 2007 and 2016, taking two three-peats (2007-09, 2013-15) in that period. The Thunder had most recently played in the postseason in ’51 and had seven participations in the last 11 years, but had not won a championship since 2000. The Caps ended a 17-year drought and a run of 12 straight second-division finishes, with their last playoff appearance in 2035 also marking their most recent championship.

The Crusaders and Thunder had fought for the CL pennant twice before, in 2011 and 2013, with the Thunder ending up with the short end of the stick both times. The Gold Sox and Capitals had never met in the FLCS.

The only prior World Series matchups between those four teams was in 2050, when the Gold Sox defended their title by beating the Thunder in five games.

Consensus was that this was the Thunder’s year, and perhaps they wouldn’t make it close either. Opinion about the FLCS leaned towards the Gold Sox finding some more of that veteran savvy to pip the Capitals, but that they’d definitely come up short against Oklahoma.

+++

2053 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

DEN @ WAS … 2-5 … (Capitals lead 1-0) … WAS Chris Lowe 2-5, 2 RBI;

DEN @ WAS … 3-6 … (Capitals lead 2-0) … WAS Jason Monson 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI; WAS Dan Martin 2-3, 2 BB, 2B;
NYC @ OCT … 5-7 … (Thunder lead 1-0) … OCT Luke Burnham 3-5, 3 RBI;

David Barel (1-0, 3.38 ERA) struggles, allows eight hits and six walks, and somehow the Crusaders can’t knock him off that mound for eight innings. Three double plays hit into don’t help the New Yorkers’ cause.

NYC @ OCT … 1-8 … (Thunder lead 2-0) … OCT Jonathan Ban 2-4, BB, HR, RBI; OCT David Worthington 4-5, HR, 3 RBI; OCT Mike Harmon 2-5, 2 RBI; OCT Alfredo Llamas 9.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, W (1-0);

WAS @ DEN … 2-5 … (Capitals lead 2-1) … DEN Sandy Castillo 3-4, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI;

Castillo almost single-handedly wills the Gold Sox to a Game 3 win after starter John Kennedy leaves with a neck injury in the third inning, while long man Jesus Cardenas puts 3.2 innings of 2-run ball together.

WAS @ DEN … 7-3 … (Capitals lead 3-1) … WAS Chris Lowe 4-5, 2B, RBI; WAS Dan Martin 3-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI;
OCT @ NYC … 17-7 … (Thunder lead 3-0) … OCT Ryan Cox 3-6, BB, 3 RBI; OCT Jonathan Ban 4-5, 2 BB, RBI; OCT David Worthington 3-4, 2 BB, HR, 5 RBI; OCT Mike Harmon 2-5, BB, 2B, 2 RBI; OCT Luke Burnham 3-4, 2 BB, 2 RBI; OCT Mike Allen 3-6, 2B, RBI;

Despite the blowout to zoom out to a 3-0 lead, the Thunder nevertheless have a gear broken out of the clockwork with an injury to SP Zach Boyer (0-0, 6.23 ERA), who is lost for the rest of the campaign with a sore shoulder.

WAS @ DEN … 6-8 … (Capitals lead 3-2) … WAS Mitch Korfhage 3-5, HR, 2 RBI; DEN Ronnie Thompson 2-3, 2 BB; DEN Ivan Villa 2-4, HR, 4 RBI;
OCT @ NYC … 8-6 … (Thunder win 4-0) … OCT Ed Soberanes 2-5, HR, 5 RBI; NYC Omar Sanchez 3-4, BB, 3B, RBI; NYC Aaron Kissler (PH) 1-1, HR, 3 RBI;

DEN @ WAS … 1-4 … (Capitals win 4-2) … WAS Dan Martin 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI; WAS Charlie Hudson 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, W (1-0) and 1-2;

The four-peat Gold Sox manage only four hits against Charlie Hudson (1-0, 1.13 ERA), who went 5-12 with an ERA over five in the regular season.

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2053 WORLD SERIES

(looks at the two rosters) Yeah. Thunder all the way. Despite the injury to Zach Boyer. Thunder all the way.

+++

WAS @ OCT … 1-3 … (Thunder lead 1-0) … WAS Bruce Mark jr. 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, L (2-1); OCT Luke Burnham 1-2, 2 BB, RBI; OCT David Barel 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, W (3-0);

Five walks don’t help Bruce Mark jr.’s cause, but three errors behind him surely didn’t make it any easier on him. The Thunder meanwhile win the battle, but lose Mike Harmon (.368, 0 HR, 6 RBI) to a torn hamstring.

WAS @ OCT … 7-8 (12) … (Thunder lead 2-0) … WAS Chris Lowe 2-4, 2 BB, 3B; WAS Scott King 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI; OCT Ryan Cox 5 BB; OCT Fernando Bonilla 2-2, RBI; OCT Mike Allen 3-5, BB, HR, 2B, 3 RBI;

Ryan Cox sets a league record with five walks in a playoff game before being replaced with Bonilla, who keeps the leadoff spot going 7-for-7 in reaching base *and* walks off the Thunder with a single off Jake White (0-2, 4.91 ERA) in the 12th inning.

OCT @ WAS … 7-6 (Thunder lead 3-0) … OCT Mike Crenshaw 3-5, 2B; OCT Jonathan Ban 2-4, 2 RBI; WAS Jimmy Reed 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI;

OCT @ WAS … 7-5 (12) … (Thunder win 4-0) … OCT Ed Soberanes 4-5, BB, 2B, RBI; OCT Mike Allen 3-5, BB, RBI; OCT Danny Guzman 2-6, 2 2B, 3 RBI; WAS Mitch Korfhage 3-5, BB, 2 2B, RBI; WAS Willie Hernandez (PH) 1-1, HR, RBI;

The champagne is ready to be popped when Willie Hernandez hits a game-tying, sweep-stalling homer off Gustavo Chapa (0-0, 5.14 ERA, 3 SV) to send the game to extra innings, tied at three. Two scoreless innings later, the Thunder obliterate principally Dave Serio (0-1, 9.00 ERA) in the 12th inning, driving four runs across. The Caps can claw back only two in the bottom 12th against Brian Grohoski and Ben Lehman.

+++

2053 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
Oklahoma City Thunder
(3rd title)

04-07-2023, 05:30 AM	#4144
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 14,050	Okay, I think the tears are dry now. +++ 2053 ABL PLAYOFFS After 162 games and change, the ABL had been whittled down to four teams to compete for the World Championship again. Overall home field advantage was clinched by the 100-62 Thunder of the CL South, who led the league in runs scored and runs allowed with a +223 run differential and ran away from the field by 13 games. David Barel (21-8, 2.14 ERA) and Zach Boyer (24-4, 2.85 ERA) dominated on the mound, and Ed Soberanes (.305, 23 HR, 93 RBI) and Dave Worthington (.265, 24 HR, 120 RBI) destroyed opposition pitching all year long, with a huge supporting cast to play along. Five different players drove in 85+ runs for that team, the rotation was the best in the league, and the bullpen was rock solid, even though they perhaps lacked that absolute lights-out closer, going with Gustavo Chapa (6-3, 3.02 ERA, 35 SV). Perhaps their greatest relief was that the 95-68 Crusaders had knocked off the Raccoons in a tie-breaker game for the CL North. While New York had finished second in runs scored in the CL, they had given up the sixth-most runs and had only a +93 run differential, with the rotation notoriously wobbly and finishing with a combined ERA over four. Their best starter by ERA was Jeff Johnson (14-8, 3.35 ERA). And while the offense was very productive, it was low on power, with only three guys managing double-digit homers: Raul Sevilla (.267, 21 HR, 104 RBI), Danny Rivera (.297, 19 HR, 119 RBI), and Prince Gates (.308, 14 HR, 97 RBI), although the latter was still laboring on a groin strain and was uncertain for the start of the CLCS. The lineup also contained CL batting champ Omar Sanchez (.343, 1 HR, 58 RBI), but thinned out at the bottom. The back end of the pen with Ryan Sullivan (6-5, 2.37 ERA, 42 SV) appeared a bit more resilient than the Thunder’s though. The Capitals took the FL East with a 92-70 record, finishing 3rd in runs scored and 5th in runs allowed, with just a +39 run differential. They were not excelling in any one category; the only major rankings where they even squeezed into the top 3 in the Federal League were runs scored (somehow) and defense. They offered two .300 hitters in Mitch Korfhage (.319, 11 HR, 85 RBI) and Dan Martin (.307, 21 HR, 85 RBI), but their best batter Neville van de Wouw (.289, 27 HR, 79 RBI) was still hampered by a sore shoulder and might not be able to play in the FLCS. On the hill, Bruce Mark jr. (18-7, 2.41 ERA) was as solid as anybody, but after that problems would quickly arise, while in the pen they had a solid back end, but middle relief was a problem, with several guys sporting ERA’s (well) over four in there. And opposing the Capitals were the 88-74 Gold Sox, who were the four-times defending champions, but clearly on the way out of contention. Except for the Stars, every team finished within nine games of them, and they beat the Wolves by only one game. They clearly had issued, finishing 10th in runs scored, bailed out by stoically solid pitching that allowed the second-fewest runs in the league, but overall also only amounted to a +30 run differential. In the lineup, Ivan Villa (.281, 29 HR, 102 RBI) was without doubt, and Sandy Castillo (.323, 12 HR, 66 RBI) was a force whenever they could put him on the field without his legs buckling out under him. Notably though, no qualifying batter hit .300 for them, and except for Villa nobody hit more than 13 homers (Blake Mickle, Bill Ramires both hit 13). And despite no injuries to position players to complain about, the bottom of the order looked decidedly makeshift, although shortstop Brent Andrews (.198, 3 HR, 26 RBI) and outfielder Omar Gonzalez (.266, 2 HR, 43 RBI) were the only regulars that had not taken part in at least three of the Gold Sox’ four straight championships. The low runs conceded total was also due to an exceptionally stingy bullpen headed by stalwart Mike Lynn (2-5, 1.64 ERA, 35 SV), while the rotation was decidedly “mid”, with Nick Robinson (14-12, 3.46 ERA) heading the crowd, while Gary Perrone, he of SIX Pitcher of the Year awards, had torn his flexor tendon on Opening Day and had not been seen since, and Tony Negrete was also out. +++ In terms of playoff appearances, the Thunder tied up with the league-leading Raccoons with 21 October tickets, while the Crusaders and Gold Sox both played their 12th postseason, and the Capitals made their 13th playoffs. There was no shortage of actual silverware assembled here; the four teams combined for 19 previous championships, headed by the Crusaders (7) and followed by the Gold Sox (6), Capitals (4), and Thunder (2). The Sox were of course in their fifth straight playoffs (and had won four straight titles), and their eighth postseason since 2044, but the Crusaders on the other hand ended a staggering 36-year playoff drought with their tie-breaker win. They previously had won their division eight times between 2007 and 2016, taking two three-peats (2007-09, 2013-15) in that period. The Thunder had most recently played in the postseason in ’51 and had seven participations in the last 11 years, but had not won a championship since 2000. The Caps ended a 17-year drought and a run of 12 straight second-division finishes, with their last playoff appearance in 2035 also marking their most recent championship. The Crusaders and Thunder had fought for the CL pennant twice before, in 2011 and 2013, with the Thunder ending up with the short end of the stick both times. The Gold Sox and Capitals had never met in the FLCS. The only prior World Series matchups between those four teams was in 2050, when the Gold Sox defended their title by beating the Thunder in five games. Consensus was that this was the Thunder’s year, and perhaps they wouldn’t make it close either. Opinion about the FLCS leaned towards the Gold Sox finding some more of that veteran savvy to pip the Capitals, but that they’d definitely come up short against Oklahoma. +++ 2053 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES DEN @ WAS … 2-5 … (Capitals lead 1-0) … WAS Chris Lowe 2-5, 2 RBI; DEN @ WAS … 3-6 … (Capitals lead 2-0) … WAS Jason Monson 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI; WAS Dan Martin 2-3, 2 BB, 2B; NYC @ OCT … 5-7 … (Thunder lead 1-0) … OCT Luke Burnham 3-5, 3 RBI; David Barel (1-0, 3.38 ERA) struggles, allows eight hits and six walks, and somehow the Crusaders can’t knock him off that mound for eight innings. Three double plays hit into don’t help the New Yorkers’ cause. NYC @ OCT … 1-8 … (Thunder lead 2-0) … OCT Jonathan Ban 2-4, BB, HR, RBI; OCT David Worthington 4-5, HR, 3 RBI; OCT Mike Harmon 2-5, 2 RBI; OCT Alfredo Llamas 9.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, W (1-0); WAS @ DEN … 2-5 … (Capitals lead 2-1) … DEN Sandy Castillo 3-4, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI; Castillo almost single-handedly wills the Gold Sox to a Game 3 win after starter John Kennedy leaves with a neck injury in the third inning, while long man Jesus Cardenas puts 3.2 innings of 2-run ball together. WAS @ DEN … 7-3 … (Capitals lead 3-1) … WAS Chris Lowe 4-5, 2B, RBI; WAS Dan Martin 3-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI; OCT @ NYC … 17-7 … (Thunder lead 3-0) … OCT Ryan Cox 3-6, BB, 3 RBI; OCT Jonathan Ban 4-5, 2 BB, RBI; OCT David Worthington 3-4, 2 BB, HR, 5 RBI; OCT Mike Harmon 2-5, BB, 2B, 2 RBI; OCT Luke Burnham 3-4, 2 BB, 2 RBI; OCT Mike Allen 3-6, 2B, RBI; Despite the blowout to zoom out to a 3-0 lead, the Thunder nevertheless have a gear broken out of the clockwork with an injury to SP Zach Boyer (0-0, 6.23 ERA), who is lost for the rest of the campaign with a sore shoulder. WAS @ DEN … 6-8 … (Capitals lead 3-2) … WAS Mitch Korfhage 3-5, HR, 2 RBI; DEN Ronnie Thompson 2-3, 2 BB; DEN Ivan Villa 2-4, HR, 4 RBI; OCT @ NYC … 8-6 … (Thunder win 4-0) … OCT Ed Soberanes 2-5, HR, 5 RBI; NYC Omar Sanchez 3-4, BB, 3B, RBI; NYC Aaron Kissler (PH) 1-1, HR, 3 RBI; DEN @ WAS … 1-4 … (Capitals win 4-2) … WAS Dan Martin 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI; WAS Charlie Hudson 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, W (1-0) and 1-2; The four-peat Gold Sox manage only four hits against Charlie Hudson (1-0, 1.13 ERA), who went 5-12 with an ERA over five in the regular season. +++ 2053 WORLD SERIES (looks at the two rosters) Yeah. Thunder all the way. Despite the injury to Zach Boyer. Thunder all the way. +++ WAS @ OCT … 1-3 … (Thunder lead 1-0) … WAS Bruce Mark jr. 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, L (2-1); OCT Luke Burnham 1-2, 2 BB, RBI; OCT David Barel 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, W (3-0); Five walks don’t help Bruce Mark jr.’s cause, but three errors behind him surely didn’t make it any easier on him. The Thunder meanwhile win the battle, but lose Mike Harmon (.368, 0 HR, 6 RBI) to a torn hamstring. WAS @ OCT … 7-8 (12) … (Thunder lead 2-0) … WAS Chris Lowe 2-4, 2 BB, 3B; WAS Scott King 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI; OCT Ryan Cox 5 BB; OCT Fernando Bonilla 2-2, RBI; OCT Mike Allen 3-5, BB, HR, 2B, 3 RBI; Ryan Cox sets a league record with five walks in a playoff game before being replaced with Bonilla, who keeps the leadoff spot going 7-for-7 in reaching base and walks off the Thunder with a single off Jake White (0-2, 4.91 ERA) in the 12th inning. OCT @ WAS … 7-6 (Thunder lead 3-0) … OCT Mike Crenshaw 3-5, 2B; OCT Jonathan Ban 2-4, 2 RBI; WAS Jimmy Reed 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI; OCT @ WAS … 7-5 (12) … (Thunder win 4-0) … OCT Ed Soberanes 4-5, BB, 2B, RBI; OCT Mike Allen 3-5, BB, RBI; OCT Danny Guzman 2-6, 2 2B, 3 RBI; WAS Mitch Korfhage 3-5, BB, 2 2B, RBI; WAS Willie Hernandez (PH) 1-1, HR, RBI; The champagne is ready to be popped when Willie Hernandez hits a game-tying, sweep-stalling homer off Gustavo Chapa (0-0, 5.14 ERA, 3 SV) to send the game to extra innings, tied at three. Two scoreless innings later, the Thunder obliterate principally Dave Serio (0-1, 9.00 ERA) in the 12th inning, driving four runs across. The Caps can claw back only two in the bottom 12th against Brian Grohoski and Ben Lehman. +++ 2053 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS Oklahoma City Thunder (3rd title) Attached Images __________________ Portland Raccoons, 95 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 * 2061 * 2071 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.