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Westheim · 01-27-2024, 07:25 AM

(politely knocks on door)

Have you heard about our newest joy and timewaster, Palworld? It consumed me whole this week. You may have noticed. No, no, the Coons are alright. I think. (carefully opens the box, takes a peek, closes box) Could have used more holes for fresh air, I guess.

Anyway, playoffs, and then I have to go back and slaugh- I mean, catch pals.

(realizes he’s held his butcher knife in his hand all the while, and quickly hides it behind his back)

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2058 ABL PLAYOFFS

Only two teams won in excess of 88 games this year, and they were joined by two 86-win teams in the playoffs that had found the right time to be just that little bit about average to get into October baseball.

The 102-60 Crusaders had demolished the CL North again, putting up the most runs and giving up the fewest runs in the league. Their rotation was the best in the land, and they had strong defense, and the most prolific power hitters in the CL as well. It was hard to find actual issues with the roster, which had CL home run king Zach Suggs (.284, 29 HR, 103 RBI), rookie Sean Zeiher (.253, 21 HR, 84 RBI), and Raul Sevilla (.279, 22 HR, 89 RBI) in the middle and surrounded by both speed and even more power, like Gunner Epperson (.258, 19 HR, 70 RBI). The rotation was led by Ben Seiter (19-8, 3.37 ERA) and Joel Luera (18-6, 2.76 ERA) and they could afford the luxury to turn a strong starter like Kennedy Adkins (11-4, 2.83 ERA, 20 SV) into a closer mid-season. If you had to find a weak spot it was probably the bullpen, with the back end being a bit squishy at times, but it was hard to poke holes into the roster the Crusaders had going here.

The 86-76 Knights had made it out of the CL South by just two games, and not with all parts still attached, having lost Jon Alade (.253, 7 HR, 39 RBI) and various bit players and relievers along the way. They had produced the second-most runs in the CL, but had also allowed the fourth-most, and even the lineup that remained looked a bit middling, since big power was absent besides CL RBI champion Doug Triplett (.273, 19 HR, 113 RBI). Josh Abercrombie (.294, 7 HR, 96 RBI) and Willie Acosta (.312, 13 HR, 96 RBI) did good jobs, but the Knights shouldn’t get into a home run contest with the Crusaders… or anybody. In the rotation, Jeremy Fetta (10-11, 3.47 ERA) was the only starter with an ERA under four, and he hadn’t even posted a winning record. Vic Harman (17-9, 4.04 ERA) had the best Knights record. The bullpen was exciting in all the wrong way, and they were bottoms in stolen bases.

The Pacifics made the playoffs from the FL West with the same 86-76 record, beating the Stars by one game and almost all of the division by no more than six. This FLCS would not feature a FL leader in any major individual category, even though L.A.’s Matt Diskin (.329, 25 HR, 91 RBI) had sure tried to be competitive in all of them. Jesus Espinoza (.313, 14 HR, 77 RBI) was also productive, but after that the FL’s #3 offense quickly started to become “good but not great” all through the lineup. The team led the league in stolen bases, but also gave up the fourth-most runs in the FL with a pitching staff and defense best described as “average”. Only Andy Overy (16-8, 3.58 ERA) and Josh Clem (11-12, 4.48 ERA) even qualified for the ERA title as the Pacifics struggled with injuries, which limited Ivan Torres (6-4, 3.57 ERA) to 20 starts, but in turn they were healthy *now*, with nobody from the 40-man roster on the DL entering the FLCS.

The 97-65 Blue Sox rather comfortably won the FL East by nine games, ranking fifth in runs scored in the FL, but allowing the fewest runs with a strong rotation, the best pen, and best defense. They also led the Federal League in homers, but a middling OBP meant that there were a lot of solo shots in there. However, they could field no fewer than seven batters with 13+ homers, with three of them – David Johnson (.279, 26 HR, 93 RBI), Nick Nye (.312, 22, 87 RBI), and Andy Metz (.303, 23 HR, 90 RBI) putting up more than 20 each – and six of those seven power players also batted .265 or better. Nobody drew walks, but how many walks do you realistically need? The rotation featured a trio of 3.50-ish ERA players with nearly identical records also: Richard Castillo (16-6, 3.54 ERA) from the right side and Travis Baker (17-9, 3.45 ERA) and Coby Strutz (17-10, 3.43 ERA) from the left.

+++

In terms of playoff appearances, this was the 19th (t-3rd with the Titans) for the Pacifics, the 16th for the Blue Sox, the 15th for the Crusaders, and the 12th for the Knights. 20 previous championships were assembled in the playoffs, with the Crusaders having eight (t-2nd with the Raccoons), the Pacifics six, the Blue Sox five, and the Knights just one, but they were nevertheless very protective of that one.

The Knights returned to the playoffs after two years of finishing second following their 2055 championship run. The Crusaders won the CL North for the third year in a row, and had most recently taken the title in 2056. The Pacifics also made the playoffs for the third year in a row, but hadn’t lifted the trophy since 2032. The Blue Sox were the defending champs, having ended a 17-year playoffs drought in 2057. Even more remarkably, the Blue Sox’ three most recent playoff appearances (2057, 2039, 2037) all resulted in championships.

So the FLCS was a rematch from last season, when the Blue Sox had obviously gotten the longer end of the stick over the Pacifics, but this was the only previous instance of those teams having met in the FLCS. The Crusaders and Knights had met twice in the CLCS in 1979 and 2009, and both times the Crusaders had not only won the series but then also the championship. Either the Crusaders or Knights had been in the CLCS for the last six years in a row, but this was the first time they actually met there in that particular stretch.

Previous World Series meetings between the four teams involved included 1986, when the Blue Sox beat the Knights, 2011, when the Pacifics beat the Crusaders, and last season’s World Series combo in which the Blue Sox beat the Crusaders. The betting conglomerates also clearly favored a rematch of the 2057 World Series for this year, with the Knights being picked to get swept by many pundits and fans.

+++

2058 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

ATL @ NYC … 3-2 … (Knights lead 1-0) … ATL Josh Abercrombie 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; NYC Gunner Epperson 2-4, 2 RBI;

So much for pundits.

LAP @ NAS … 6-4 … (Pacifics lead 1-0) …
ATL @ NYC … 5-3 … (Knights lead 2-0) … ATL Willie Acosta 2-2, BB, 2B, RBI;

LAP @ NAS … 1-0 … (Pacifics lead 2-0) … LAP Todd Eaton 2-3, 3B, RBI; LAP William McColgin 2-3, BB; LAP Jim Reynolds 8.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K, W (1-0); NAS Travis Baker 8.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, L (0-1);

Todd Eaton triples home Steven Heiden for the game’s only run in the sixth inning, which puts both odds-favorites down a combined 0-4.

NYC @ ATL … 4-9 … (Knights lead 3-0) … NYC Raul Sevilla 2-4, 2B, RBI; ATL Marco Nieto 2-5, 3B; ATL Willie Acosta 2-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI; ATL Juan Luna 2-3, BB, 2 RBI;

NAS @ LAP … 9-0 … (Pacifics lead 2-1) … NAS Malik Crumble 3-5, HR, 2 RBI; NAS Nick Nye 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI; NAS Tony Roman 1-4, HR, 4 RBI; NAS Coby Strutz 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K, W (1-0);
NYC @ ATL … 0-6 … (Knights win 4-0) … ATL Marco Nieto 3-5, 3B, RBI; ATL Dan Nork 3-5, 2B; ATL Vic Harman 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K, W (2-0);

Well, sweep they said!

NAS @ LAP … 5-2 … (series tied 2-2) … NAS John Webler 2-4, 3 RBI; NAS Jay Gunderson 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, W (1-0);

NAS @ LAP … 10-8 (13) … (Blue Sox lead 3-2) … NAS Alvin Aguilera 3-4, BB; NAS Nick Nye 2-6, BB, HR, 4 RBI; NAS Josh Bratlien 3-6; LAP Jose Espinoza 3-7, RBI; LAP Matt McInnis 4-6, BB, 2 RBI; LAP Matt Diskin 4-7, 2B, 4 RBI;

High drama in pivotal Game 5 of the FLCS as the teams are tied at five through eight innings, then both score a run in an indecisive ninth before the Blue Sox hit a pair of bombs in the 13th inning with David Johnson (.238, 1 HR, 2 RBI) and Nick Nye (.250, 1 HR, 6 RBI). The Pacifics almost manage to make up the difference in their half of the 13th inning, but Matt Diskin (.417, 1 HR, 6 RBI) falls short of a game-tying grand slam, has to settle for a 2-out, 2-run double, and the game ends with Bobby Anderson (.263, 0 HR, 1 RBI) grounding out.

Meanwhile, the 38-year-old Aguilera has his first four at-bats since August 26, coming off the bench when Andy Metz (.235, 0 HR, 0 RBI) is ejected for arguing strike three in the very first inning. Metz is then suspended for two games, including a potential Game 7.

LAP @ NAS … 12-2 … (series tied 3-3) … LAP Jesus Espinoza 4-6, 3B, RBI; LAP Jesse Sweeney 4-5, BB, 2B, 3 RBI; LAP Josh Cline 3-5, BB, 2B, 3 RBI; LAP William McColgin 2-3, 2 BB, 2B, 2 RBI;

LAP @ NAS … 1-6 … (Blue Sox win 4-3) … LAP Jesse Sweeney 2-3, BB, 2B, RBI; NAS Edwin Flores 3-5, 2B, RBI; NAS David Johnson 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; NAS Coby Strutz 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W (2-0) and 1-3, RBI;

Turns out the Sox do just fine without Andy Metz as another makeshift first baseman – Flores – opens the bottom 6th with a double and then scores on Nick Nye’s single to tie the game, while Johnson then goes yard for the game-winning RBI’s.

+++

2058 WORLD SERIES

Andy Metz returned from the penalty bench for the Blue Sox in the World Series, but the Sox had shed MR Ryan Hogues (6-2, 2.85 ERA, 1 SV) in the FLCS. This injury could probably be compensated for with the offense that remained strong and might yet feast on the Knights’ pitching staff, although that was what people said about the Crusaders’ offense before their series against Atlanta that turned into something like Napoleon’s 1812 Russian adventure.

The Knights stayed just as injured as they were before the CLCS, and were now a bit aloof after dispatching of the Crusaders so easily. They had been idle for six days by the time of Game 1, however, so this could well throw off their timing.

This was thus a rematch of the 1986 World Series, which the Sox had won in a sweep, also after going the full distance in the FLCS, then against the Stars.

+++

ATL @ NAS … 9-6 (10) … (Knights lead 1-0) … ATL Josh Abercrombie 3-6, HR, 2B, 3 RBI; NAS Malik Crumble 2-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI; NAS Andy Metz 2-3, BB, HR, RBI; NAS Nick Nye 2-5, HR, RBI;

Three in the ninth and three in the tenth help the Knights to unpick the Blue Sox’ bullpen after they trailed for most of a game.

ATL @ NAS … 6-1 … (Knights lead 2-0) … ATL Dan Nork 2-3, 2 BB; ATL Josh Abercrombie 2-5, 3 RBI; ATL Doug Triplett 2-3, BB, 2B, RBI; ATL Enrique Ortiz 7.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K, W (2-0);

NAS @ ATL … 6-2 … (Knights lead 2-1) … NAS Tony Roman 3-5, HR, RBI; NAS Tony Ontiveroz 2-4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI; NAS Coby Strutz 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, W (3-0); ATL Willie Acosta 3-4, 2B, RBI;

NAS @ ATL … 3-0 … (series tied 2-2) … NAS Andy Metz 2-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI; NAS Richard Castillo 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, W (1-1);

The Blue Sox go from 0-2 to 2-2. Where have we seen that before?

NAS @ ATL … 4-2 … (Blue Sox lead 3-2) … NAS Nick Nye 2-5, 2 2B, RBI;

ATL @ NAS … 3-4 … (Blue Sox win 4-2) …

In a weird game, the two hits combine for nine base hits, but draw 13 walks off the starters ATL Morgan Aben (0-1, 3.52 ERA) and NAS Levi Harre (1-0, 5.56 ERA) alone, who somehow never suffer enough damage to get removed before the eighth inning. The Blue Sox put four early on Aben, and the Knights spend the rest of the game never quite catching up even as the Blue Sox go through four different pitchers in the eighth inning, in which ATL Gaudencio Callaia () doubles with runners on first and second and the Knights down by a pair. Josh Abercrombie scores, but Doug Triplett is thrown out at the plate with the tying run by Tony Roman.

The Blue Sox hold on with Kevin Hitchcock in the ninth inning and become the first team to successfully defend a title since the Gold Sox’ run of four straight championships from 2049 through 2052.

+++

2058 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
Nashville Blue Sox
(6th title)

01-27-2024, 07:25 AM	#4366
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 13,780	(politely knocks on door) Have you heard about our newest joy and timewaster, Palworld? It consumed me whole this week. You may have noticed. No, no, the Coons are alright. I think. (carefully opens the box, takes a peek, closes box) Could have used more holes for fresh air, I guess. Anyway, playoffs, and then I have to go back and slaugh- I mean, catch pals. (realizes he’s held his butcher knife in his hand all the while, and quickly hides it behind his back) +++ 2058 ABL PLAYOFFS Only two teams won in excess of 88 games this year, and they were joined by two 86-win teams in the playoffs that had found the right time to be just that little bit about average to get into October baseball. The 102-60 Crusaders had demolished the CL North again, putting up the most runs and giving up the fewest runs in the league. Their rotation was the best in the land, and they had strong defense, and the most prolific power hitters in the CL as well. It was hard to find actual issues with the roster, which had CL home run king Zach Suggs (.284, 29 HR, 103 RBI), rookie Sean Zeiher (.253, 21 HR, 84 RBI), and Raul Sevilla (.279, 22 HR, 89 RBI) in the middle and surrounded by both speed and even more power, like Gunner Epperson (.258, 19 HR, 70 RBI). The rotation was led by Ben Seiter (19-8, 3.37 ERA) and Joel Luera (18-6, 2.76 ERA) and they could afford the luxury to turn a strong starter like Kennedy Adkins (11-4, 2.83 ERA, 20 SV) into a closer mid-season. If you had to find a weak spot it was probably the bullpen, with the back end being a bit squishy at times, but it was hard to poke holes into the roster the Crusaders had going here. The 86-76 Knights had made it out of the CL South by just two games, and not with all parts still attached, having lost Jon Alade (.253, 7 HR, 39 RBI) and various bit players and relievers along the way. They had produced the second-most runs in the CL, but had also allowed the fourth-most, and even the lineup that remained looked a bit middling, since big power was absent besides CL RBI champion Doug Triplett (.273, 19 HR, 113 RBI). Josh Abercrombie (.294, 7 HR, 96 RBI) and Willie Acosta (.312, 13 HR, 96 RBI) did good jobs, but the Knights shouldn’t get into a home run contest with the Crusaders… or anybody. In the rotation, Jeremy Fetta (10-11, 3.47 ERA) was the only starter with an ERA under four, and he hadn’t even posted a winning record. Vic Harman (17-9, 4.04 ERA) had the best Knights record. The bullpen was exciting in all the wrong way, and they were bottoms in stolen bases. The Pacifics made the playoffs from the FL West with the same 86-76 record, beating the Stars by one game and almost all of the division by no more than six. This FLCS would not feature a FL leader in any major individual category, even though L.A.’s Matt Diskin (.329, 25 HR, 91 RBI) had sure tried to be competitive in all of them. Jesus Espinoza (.313, 14 HR, 77 RBI) was also productive, but after that the FL’s #3 offense quickly started to become “good but not great” all through the lineup. The team led the league in stolen bases, but also gave up the fourth-most runs in the FL with a pitching staff and defense best described as “average”. Only Andy Overy (16-8, 3.58 ERA) and Josh Clem (11-12, 4.48 ERA) even qualified for the ERA title as the Pacifics struggled with injuries, which limited Ivan Torres (6-4, 3.57 ERA) to 20 starts, but in turn they were healthy now, with nobody from the 40-man roster on the DL entering the FLCS. The 97-65 Blue Sox rather comfortably won the FL East by nine games, ranking fifth in runs scored in the FL, but allowing the fewest runs with a strong rotation, the best pen, and best defense. They also led the Federal League in homers, but a middling OBP meant that there were a lot of solo shots in there. However, they could field no fewer than seven batters with 13+ homers, with three of them – David Johnson (.279, 26 HR, 93 RBI), Nick Nye (.312, 22, 87 RBI), and Andy Metz (.303, 23 HR, 90 RBI) putting up more than 20 each – and six of those seven power players also batted .265 or better. Nobody drew walks, but how many walks do you realistically need? The rotation featured a trio of 3.50-ish ERA players with nearly identical records also: Richard Castillo (16-6, 3.54 ERA) from the right side and Travis Baker (17-9, 3.45 ERA) and Coby Strutz (17-10, 3.43 ERA) from the left. +++ In terms of playoff appearances, this was the 19th (t-3rd with the Titans) for the Pacifics, the 16th for the Blue Sox, the 15th for the Crusaders, and the 12th for the Knights. 20 previous championships were assembled in the playoffs, with the Crusaders having eight (t-2nd with the Raccoons), the Pacifics six, the Blue Sox five, and the Knights just one, but they were nevertheless very protective of that one. The Knights returned to the playoffs after two years of finishing second following their 2055 championship run. The Crusaders won the CL North for the third year in a row, and had most recently taken the title in 2056. The Pacifics also made the playoffs for the third year in a row, but hadn’t lifted the trophy since 2032. The Blue Sox were the defending champs, having ended a 17-year playoffs drought in 2057. Even more remarkably, the Blue Sox’ three most recent playoff appearances (2057, 2039, 2037) all resulted in championships. So the FLCS was a rematch from last season, when the Blue Sox had obviously gotten the longer end of the stick over the Pacifics, but this was the only previous instance of those teams having met in the FLCS. The Crusaders and Knights had met twice in the CLCS in 1979 and 2009, and both times the Crusaders had not only won the series but then also the championship. Either the Crusaders or Knights had been in the CLCS for the last six years in a row, but this was the first time they actually met there in that particular stretch. Previous World Series meetings between the four teams involved included 1986, when the Blue Sox beat the Knights, 2011, when the Pacifics beat the Crusaders, and last season’s World Series combo in which the Blue Sox beat the Crusaders. The betting conglomerates also clearly favored a rematch of the 2057 World Series for this year, with the Knights being picked to get swept by many pundits and fans. +++ 2058 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ATL @ NYC … 3-2 … (Knights lead 1-0) … ATL Josh Abercrombie 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; NYC Gunner Epperson 2-4, 2 RBI; So much for pundits. LAP @ NAS … 6-4 … (Pacifics lead 1-0) … ATL @ NYC … 5-3 … (Knights lead 2-0) … ATL Willie Acosta 2-2, BB, 2B, RBI; LAP @ NAS … 1-0 … (Pacifics lead 2-0) … LAP Todd Eaton 2-3, 3B, RBI; LAP William McColgin 2-3, BB; LAP Jim Reynolds 8.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K, W (1-0); NAS Travis Baker 8.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, L (0-1); Todd Eaton triples home Steven Heiden for the game’s only run in the sixth inning, which puts both odds-favorites down a combined 0-4. NYC @ ATL … 4-9 … (Knights lead 3-0) … NYC Raul Sevilla 2-4, 2B, RBI; ATL Marco Nieto 2-5, 3B; ATL Willie Acosta 2-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI; ATL Juan Luna 2-3, BB, 2 RBI; NAS @ LAP … 9-0 … (Pacifics lead 2-1) … NAS Malik Crumble 3-5, HR, 2 RBI; NAS Nick Nye 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI; NAS Tony Roman 1-4, HR, 4 RBI; NAS Coby Strutz 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K, W (1-0); NYC @ ATL … 0-6 … (Knights win 4-0) … ATL Marco Nieto 3-5, 3B, RBI; ATL Dan Nork 3-5, 2B; ATL Vic Harman 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K, W (2-0); Well, sweep they said! NAS @ LAP … 5-2 … (series tied 2-2) … NAS John Webler 2-4, 3 RBI; NAS Jay Gunderson 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, W (1-0); NAS @ LAP … 10-8 (13) … (Blue Sox lead 3-2) … NAS Alvin Aguilera 3-4, BB; NAS Nick Nye 2-6, BB, HR, 4 RBI; NAS Josh Bratlien 3-6; LAP Jose Espinoza 3-7, RBI; LAP Matt McInnis 4-6, BB, 2 RBI; LAP Matt Diskin 4-7, 2B, 4 RBI; High drama in pivotal Game 5 of the FLCS as the teams are tied at five through eight innings, then both score a run in an indecisive ninth before the Blue Sox hit a pair of bombs in the 13th inning with David Johnson (.238, 1 HR, 2 RBI) and Nick Nye (.250, 1 HR, 6 RBI). The Pacifics almost manage to make up the difference in their half of the 13th inning, but Matt Diskin (.417, 1 HR, 6 RBI) falls short of a game-tying grand slam, has to settle for a 2-out, 2-run double, and the game ends with Bobby Anderson (.263, 0 HR, 1 RBI) grounding out. Meanwhile, the 38-year-old Aguilera has his first four at-bats since August 26, coming off the bench when Andy Metz (.235, 0 HR, 0 RBI) is ejected for arguing strike three in the very first inning. Metz is then suspended for two games, including a potential Game 7. LAP @ NAS … 12-2 … (series tied 3-3) … LAP Jesus Espinoza 4-6, 3B, RBI; LAP Jesse Sweeney 4-5, BB, 2B, 3 RBI; LAP Josh Cline 3-5, BB, 2B, 3 RBI; LAP William McColgin 2-3, 2 BB, 2B, 2 RBI; LAP @ NAS … 1-6 … (Blue Sox win 4-3) … LAP Jesse Sweeney 2-3, BB, 2B, RBI; NAS Edwin Flores 3-5, 2B, RBI; NAS David Johnson 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; NAS Coby Strutz 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W (2-0) and 1-3, RBI; Turns out the Sox do just fine without Andy Metz as another makeshift first baseman – Flores – opens the bottom 6th with a double and then scores on Nick Nye’s single to tie the game, while Johnson then goes yard for the game-winning RBI’s. +++ 2058 WORLD SERIES Andy Metz returned from the penalty bench for the Blue Sox in the World Series, but the Sox had shed MR Ryan Hogues (6-2, 2.85 ERA, 1 SV) in the FLCS. This injury could probably be compensated for with the offense that remained strong and might yet feast on the Knights’ pitching staff, although that was what people said about the Crusaders’ offense before their series against Atlanta that turned into something like Napoleon’s 1812 Russian adventure. The Knights stayed just as injured as they were before the CLCS, and were now a bit aloof after dispatching of the Crusaders so easily. They had been idle for six days by the time of Game 1, however, so this could well throw off their timing. This was thus a rematch of the 1986 World Series, which the Sox had won in a sweep, also after going the full distance in the FLCS, then against the Stars. +++ ATL @ NAS … 9-6 (10) … (Knights lead 1-0) … ATL Josh Abercrombie 3-6, HR, 2B, 3 RBI; NAS Malik Crumble 2-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI; NAS Andy Metz 2-3, BB, HR, RBI; NAS Nick Nye 2-5, HR, RBI; Three in the ninth and three in the tenth help the Knights to unpick the Blue Sox’ bullpen after they trailed for most of a game. ATL @ NAS … 6-1 … (Knights lead 2-0) … ATL Dan Nork 2-3, 2 BB; ATL Josh Abercrombie 2-5, 3 RBI; ATL Doug Triplett 2-3, BB, 2B, RBI; ATL Enrique Ortiz 7.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K, W (2-0); NAS @ ATL … 6-2 … (Knights lead 2-1) … NAS Tony Roman 3-5, HR, RBI; NAS Tony Ontiveroz 2-4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI; NAS Coby Strutz 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, W (3-0); ATL Willie Acosta 3-4, 2B, RBI; NAS @ ATL … 3-0 … (series tied 2-2) … NAS Andy Metz 2-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI; NAS Richard Castillo 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, W (1-1); The Blue Sox go from 0-2 to 2-2. Where have we seen that before? NAS @ ATL … 4-2 … (Blue Sox lead 3-2) … NAS Nick Nye 2-5, 2 2B, RBI; ATL @ NAS … 3-4 … (Blue Sox win 4-2) … In a weird game, the two hits combine for nine base hits, but draw 13 walks off the starters ATL Morgan Aben (0-1, 3.52 ERA) and NAS Levi Harre (1-0, 5.56 ERA) alone, who somehow never suffer enough damage to get removed before the eighth inning. The Blue Sox put four early on Aben, and the Knights spend the rest of the game never quite catching up even as the Blue Sox go through four different pitchers in the eighth inning, in which ATL Gaudencio Callaia () doubles with runners on first and second and the Knights down by a pair. Josh Abercrombie scores, but Doug Triplett is thrown out at the plate with the tying run by Tony Roman. The Blue Sox hold on with Kevin Hitchcock in the ninth inning and become the first team to successfully defend a title since the Gold Sox’ run of four straight championships from 2049 through 2052. +++ 2058 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS Nashville Blue Sox (6th title) Attached Images __________________ Portland Raccoons, 92 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 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.