[DD Martin]

Last two weeks of April 2055

Chicago Architects (9-3) @ Toledo Neptunes (4-8)
Friday April 16th through Sunday April 18th
Played at Toledo’s Ballpark of Toledo (catchy name)

Big early season series as we match up with the club that won the regular season crown on an extra game and then who we beat in 6 games in the US Division Series. The Toledo Neptunes are off to a rough start but have won 3 of their last 6 to improve to 4-8 on the season. The Architects come in riding high on the wave of the GLBL best early season offense with a record of and leading the GLBL’s USA division by a game over Duluth.

Chicago leads the all-time series with Toledo 499-343 so 1 more win and that’s 500 against the Neptunes. Last season Toledo won the exciting 145 game of the season to take the season series honors 13-12.

Toledo recently acquired the left handed hitting 1B David Kenney (35) who hit 238/331/760 100 OPS+ 16HR and 58 RBI’s to shore up their offense. They sent a minor leaguer and Duluth retained 100% of Kenney’s $6,000,000 salary. In Duluth Kenny was 2 for 14 in the early going. Since arriving to Toledo, Kenny is hitting 10-33 with a home run. The Neptunes have a very good starting pitching staff led by Nick Keddy, LHSP Carlos Perez and Christopher Bouchard.

Probable Pitching Matchups
Chicago @ Toledo
Val Imbert 2-0 0.67 ERA vs Carlos Perez 0-2 6.35 ERA
Bill Lutz 0-1 12.00 ERA vs Christopher Bouchard 1-1 2.92 ERA
Jose Cedeno 2-0 3.05 ERA vs Warren Townsend 0-1 3.00 ERA

Game 1
Friday April 16th, 2055
A - 33,803

Toledo 11 Chicago 5
Last season’s USA playoff teams have had very different starts to their season, but the Neptunes take a step towards evening out their fortunes. David Kenney homers in the third and the fifth. Casey Cowley goes 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles, runs, and RBIs—oh, and a stolen base. Chicago starting pitcher Val Imbert struggled in this going just 3.1 IP giving up 8H 5ER 1BB 3K and 2HRA Toledo 11, Chicago 5.

1B R Osborn 2-4 2BB R, RF J Ashley 2-4 BB R RBI SB, DH J Aranda 2-4 R, RBI BB
Chicago HR - Mauel Gonzalez (1)

Game 2
Saturday April 17th, 2055
A - 30,496

Toledo 6 Chicago 1
Toledo’s Christopher Bouchard (8 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K) takes a shutout into the ninth, where he gives up a solo home run to Thomas Arnaud. Luckily for him, his teammates had already scored six times. Dusty Murphy hits a two-run home run. Chicago SP Bill Lutz was bombed again to fall to 0-2 with a 14.29 ERA. Big blow for Toledo as recently acquired 1B David Kenny stumbled and fell down running the bases and broke his kneecap. He will miss the remainder of the season.Toledo 6, Chicago 1.

C, S White 3-4, 3B T Arnaud 3-4 HR R RBI
CH HR - 3B T Arnaud (5)

Game 3
Sunday April 18th, 2055
A - 34,815

Toledo 9 Chicago 5
The Architects are trying to salvage a game out of this series and they get off to a hot start as the Architects take an early 5-1 lead. It didn’t last long as the Neptunes score a quick five in the fourth. A quick five? Yes, they score five runs in an inning that sees just 13 pitches total! All six hits come on the first pitch. Was José Cedeño tipping his pitches? Toledo 9, Chicago 5.

RF J Arnada 3-5 R, C S White 2-3 R RBI BB, 2B K Noseworthy 2-4 RBI
CH HR None

Summary - After this series things had suddenly tightened up in the US Division. We were now 9-6 and Toledo was almost 500 at 7-8. When we went into this series we were hoping to increase the 5 game lead we had on Toledo and instead it dropped to 2 games. These two clubs will likely be neck and neck all season long.

Next things don’t get any easier as we start games with Canadian clubs who we went 9-15 last season and have had the number of most if not all US clubs over the first 3 seasons I had been a part of the GLBL.

Chicago Architects (9-6 2nd place in US Division) @ Toronto Maples (6-9 tied for 5th in Can Division)
April 19th and 20th
Ontario Ballpark

The Maples are another team with a very good starting rotation and has the “best pitcher” in the GLBL Motoyuki Inoue. Inoue (27) was signed as a big International Free agent in February 1952 to a blockbuster deal for 6 years and a mind popping $232 million dollars. He enters his 4th season with Toronto with a 37-33 record and 3.65 ERA while leading the GLBL in strikeouts each of his first 3 seasons in the league (688 K’s). He is signed to Toronto for 2 more seasons after this, but will then also not be quite a free agent. Right now his projected arbitration estimate is over $48 million for the 2058 season. If he doesn’t sign an extension, expect a very lively bidding war for his services when he is eligible to be a free agent (2059 at age 31). The Maples also signed former Architect SP Dan Floyd in the off-season when we couldn’t come to terms with the 40 year old. He ended up with a 1 year $12 million dollar deal, which is half the salary he was asking us for and he wanted 4 years.

On offense they are led by CF Peyton Coffman and free agent signee DH Rick Barnard who we poked around with in the off-season.

Toronto is one of the few clubs that holds an edge in the season series match with us, winning 73 and losing 69. Last year we managed to win 1 out of 4 against the Maples.

Pitching Matchups
Chicago @ Toronto
Yale Hulbert 1-0 6.28 ERA vs LHSP Harvey Moore 0-3 7.13 ERA
John Moore 1-0 5.28 ERA vs Caleb Wilson 1-0 1.64

Game 1
Monday April 19th, 2055
A- 21,008

Chicago Architects 4 Toronto Maples 1
Chicago’s Yale Hulbert (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K) gives up a run in the first, but that’s the only run that Tects pitchers allow. Simon Lefevre and José Aranda homer for Chicago. Chicago 4, Toronto 1.


3B K Noseworthy 2-3 R, RBI, BB, LF S Amsden 2-4, SS Lefevre 2-4 HR R, 2RBI
CH HR - SS S Lefevre (1), DH J Aranda (4)

Game 2
Tuesday, April 20th, 2055
A- 13,337

Chicago 3 Toronto 2 10 innings

Only 13,337 fans showed up but they were treated to a great pitching duel between Chicago’s John Moore and Maples Caleb Wilson. Peyton’s Coffman eighth-inning double drove in the tying run, sending the game to extra innings. In the 10th, Reagan Osborn and José Aranda single, with Osborn taking third. Thomas Arnaud hits a sac fly. Chicago 3, Toronto 2.

SP J Moore 7.2IP 8H 2R 0BB 7K’s, RF J Ashley 2-5 DB, 1B R Osborn 2-3 2BB 2R, DH J Aranda 2-5 DB, C S White 2-3 DB
CH HR - None

Summary - So we went on the road north of the border and swept the short 2 game series with Toronto. Maybe we can manage a successful trip to Canada for once. C Sean White was injured in this game, and was removed as just a precautionary measure. He shouldn’t miss any time and we will see how he feels tomorrow when we start a 2-game series with Owens Sound.


Chicago Architects 11-6 T-1st in US Div @ Owens Sound Waveriders 9-8 2nd in Can Div
April 21st and 22nd 2055
Waveriders Park

Owen Sound got off to a hot start to the season but has lost 5 straight. Hopefully we are catching them at a good time. The Waveriders were the 2nd place team in the Canadian Division last season and lost their playoff series against eventual World Series Champion Thunder Bay in 6 games. Chicago leads the all time series with the Waveriders 76-64 and went 2-2 last season.

The Waveriders boast a quality #1 and #2 SP duo of Maynard Nicholson and Jonathan Honore. On offense they are led by 4-time all-star and 3 time Lake Superior Player of the Year award winner 1B Pablo Parrel (26).

Probable Pitching Matchups
Chicago @ Owens Sound
Val Imbert 2-1 3.24 ERA vs Colin Millar 1-1 12.34 ERA
JJ Walker 1-0 4.50 ERA vs Maynard Nicholson 1-1 8.36

Game 1
Wednesday, April 21st, 2055
A- 23,659

Owen Sound 4 Chicago 3
The Waveriders snap a five-game losing streak. Chicago takes a 3-2 lead into the eighth, where a single, a hit batsman, sac bunt, and Josselin Leroy two-run single give the Waveriders the lead and the win. Owen Sound 4, Chicago 3.

DH J Ashley 2-4 HR R RBI, RF J Aranda 2-2
CH HR DH J Ashley (2)

Game 2
Thursday, April 22nd, 2055
A- 23,560

Owen Sound 6 Chicago 1

Starters J.J. Walker and Maynard Nicholson toss dueling shutouts for five innings. The Architects finally get to Nicholson in the sixth, scoring once. The Waveriders finally get to Walker in the sixth, scoring four times. Mark Matchim hits a three-run home run. Nicholson (6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K) gets the win. Walker gets his first start of the season in place of Bill Lutz and is solid through 5 but gets roughed up in the 6th but still a quality start with 6IP and 3ER. Chicago only manages 3 hits off Nicholson. Owen Sound 6, Chicago 1.

CH HR - None

Summary - So we get the first 2 in Toronto and then the bats go silent at Owens Sound as we lose both. But 2-2 on the road against Canadian clubs that have hammered us the last 3 seasons is a decent sign. With an 11-8 record we are tied for 1st with Duluth and lead both Toledo and Traverse City by a game.

We don’t get a well deserved off-day until after we host Toledo. This will mark 13 straight games played once this series is completed. So far Toledo won the first 3 games of the season series so it would be great if we could hold serve at home and sweep them.

Toledo Neptunes (10-9 T-3rd US) vs Chicago Architects (11-8 T-1st US)
Friday April 23rd, through Sunday April 25th 2055
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

Probable Pitching Matchups
Toledo vs Chicago
Warren Townsend 0-1 5.52 ERA vs Jose Cedeno 2-1 4.74 ERA
Walt Connel 1-0 2.00 ERA vs Yale Hulburt 2-0 4.95 ERA
Nick Keddy 2-0 2.67 ERA vs John Moore 1-0 4.30 ERA

Game 1
Friday, April 23rd, 2055
A- 36,811

Toledo 12 Chicago 9
A pitchers duel it was not! Toledo’s Uncle González homered in the previous two games. Tonight, he homers twice. Dusty Murphy hits a three-run home run of his own—his ninth on the season. The Neptunes three and four hitters both drive in four runs. Toledo wins its 4 straight against Chicago to start off their season series in 2055. Toledo 12, Chicago 9.

LF M Graves 2-5 DB, R SB, RF J Ashley 3-5 2DB, 2R 1RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-4 TP, BB 2R RBI, C S White 2-4 HR, R RBI
CH HR - C S White (3), 3B T Arnaud (6)

Game 2
Saturday, April 24th, 2055
A- 36,744

Chicago 6 Toledo 3
For the first time in five games, the Architects beat the Neptunes. Cris Luna, Reagan Osborn, and Prowler Ashley homer. Ashley’s homer goes for two, and he also doubles in a run. Chicago 6, Toledo 3.

SP Y Hulburt 5.2IP 4H 2R 1BB 8K’s, RF J Ashley 2-4 3RBI, R, DB, HR, 1B R Osborn 3-4 HR, R RBI 2SB, LF M Graves 1-2 BB, 2SB 2R
CH HRs - CF Cris Luna (1), 1B R Osborn (4), RF J Ashley (3)

Game 3
Saturday, April 24th, 2055
A- 37,374

Toledo 11 Chicago 8
Rubber game of this 3-game set. Chicago’s Kent Noseworthy hits three doubles and drives in four, but eight Tects runs would not prove enough. Luis González hits his fifth home run in five games. Dusty Murphy becomes the first player to reach double-digit home runs this season. Oh, and L-Gon’s and Murphy’s home runs come on consecutive pitches in the sixth, drive in a total of four runs, and give the Neptunes the lead. Toledo 11, Chicago 8.

2B K Noseworthy 3-4 3DB R 4RBI, RF J Aranda 2-5 DB, R, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 2R BB, DH M Graves 2-4 R SB
CH HR - 1B R Osborn (5)


Summary - At one time we were 9-3 and things felt great, but now 12-11 and losing 5 out of 6 games against Toledo and things are not as rosy as they just were 10 days ago. We desperately need the off-day on Monday before hosting Detroit for 3-game series to wind down the month.

Detroit Thunderbirds (8-14 5th place in US) vs Chicago Architects (12-11 3rd place US)
Tuesday Apr 27th-Thursday April 29th 2055
Chicago Pier IV Grounds

The Thunderbirds are an interesting team. They have a good young prospect 1B in Mal Johnston who is a 21 year old switch hitter. So far in his rookie season he is hitting 362/416/1053 with 6 HR and 11 RBI’s. Definitely an early player to watch in the US rookie of the Year race. Right now Mal is about the only bright light in the Detroit lineup that is struggling to score runs.

On the pitching side of things we will see off-season acquired FA LHSP Dwayne Miller. Again we were really looking to sign Miller because we lack a lefty SP and Miller is only 30 and has been a steady pitcher over his career. Another good SP for Detroit is Bill Clary who was one we tried to acquire last season. Clary is only 27 and his only real drawback is occasional wildness.

Probably Pitching Matchups
Detroit vs Chicago
LHSP Dwayne Miller 0-2 6.33 ERA vs Val Imbert 2-2 3.80 ERA
LHSP Brian Miller 1-1 4.50 ERA vs JJ Walker 1-1 4.08 ERA
RHSP Joe Davis 0-3 4.50 ERA vs Jose Cedeno 2-2 5.40 ERA

Game 1
Tuesday, April 27th, 2055
A - 33,547

Chicago 6 Detroit 1
A first-inning Art Loder home run is the only run that Chicago’s Val Imbert (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 K) would allow. For the Architects, Kent Noseworthy and José Aranda hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth. Aranda also singles in a run. Cris Luna and Prowler Ashley each double in a run. A big win to try and end the first month on a good note. Chicago 6, Detroit 1.

SP V Imbert 7IP 4H 1R 0 BB 9K’s (W 3-2), LF S Amsden 305 DB R, RF J Ashley 2-4 DB(16), R, RBI, DH J Aranda 3-4 HR, R 2RBI, 3B C Torres 3-4 R, SB
CH HR - 2B K Noseworthy (4) DH J Aranda (5)

Game 2
Wednesday, April 28th, 2055
A - 35,772

Detroit 7 Chicago 6 (10 Innings)
Let’s pick things up in the eighth. Detroit’s Dah-Lin Tah hits a two-run homer, extending the T-Birds’ lead to 6-3. In the bottom of the eighth, Kent Noseworthy and Sean White homer on consecutive pitches—heck, the balls land in almost the exact same spot. Both home runs are lined down the right-field line and barely make it over the wall, with Noseworthy’s traveling 339 feet and White’s traveling 333. Anyway, Noseworthy’s came with a man on, so the Tects scored three runs and tied the game. In the 10th, Alan Stout gets plunked, and Trace Brunel doubles him in. Detroit 7, Chicago 6.
LF S Amsden 2-4 HR, DB R 2RBI BB, 3B T Arnaud 3-5 DB RBI, C S White 2-5 HR, R RBI, SS W Dunse 2-5 DB 2R

CH HR - LF S Amsden (1), C White (4), K Noseworthy (5)

Game 3
Thursday, April 29th, 2055
A - 34,222

Chicago 17 Detroit 6
The T-Birds scored four in the first. Thankfully for Chicago, their bats were warmed up and ready to rip. Chicago’s Cris Luna hits a three-run home run in the second, but the real damage comes in the third where the Tects score eight. Prowler Ashley leads off the inning with a triple—he’s had a hit in 21 straight games, by the way. Matt Graves hits a three-run homer. Chicago follows that up with, yawn, a five-run fifth, and Ashley hits a solo home run in the sixth. Chicago 17, Detroit 6.

LF M Graves 2-6 HR 2R 3RBI SB, RF J Ashley 2-4 TP, HR 3R RBI 2BB SB, 1B R Osborn 2-5 DB, BB 2R RBI, DH J Aranda 3-5 3R RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 3R, 2RBI BB, C S White 3-5 HR 2R 4RBI, CF C Luna 1-4 HR R 4 RBI
CH HR - CF C Luna (2), LF M Graves (2), C S White (5), RF J Ashley (4)

Summary - Well we take 2 out of 3 against the hapless T-Birds but we were left seeing that loss in game 2 of the series. We have 1 more game in April against last place Milwaukee. It would be nice to end a up and down month on a winning note.

Friday April 30th 2055
Milwaukee Eagles (9-16 6th US) vs Chicago Architects (14-11 T-2nd US)
Chicago Pier IV Grounds
A- 37,366

LHSP Donald Hubbard 1-2 6.75 vs Yale Hulburt 3-1 4.56 ERA

Game 1

Terrible news in Chicago where Yale Hulbert, pitching against his old team, leaves the game in the fourth inning. After the game, word came that he will need elbow ligament reconstruction surgery. It will be a year before he pitches in the big leagues again. As to the game, Logan Herring hits a two-run double and Eric Molina a two-run home run. Milwaukee 7, Chicago 2.
CF C Luna 2-3 BB R
CH HR 1B R Osborn (6)

Summary - We end the month on the worst possible news. Not only did we lose to the lowly Eagles, but we lost our best SP in Yale Hulburt for a year. This is a huge blow to our season and while we have starting pitching depth, we definitely didn’t need to lose Hulburt. With a record of 14-12 and spending as much money as we are, Mr. Bocquet Jr. is mad as hell. But we will deal with him later, the first order of business is what to do about the starting pitching. We have SP Joe Johnson who was 15-5 4.19 ERA last season and is 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA at AAA the likely candidate to come up. SP Bill Lutz could go back into the rotation, but his ERA is still north of 10 at 11.81 in 4 games (2 starts and 2 relief appearances). Another candidate is veteran SP Augusto Gonzalez who we signed to a minor league contract, but he had opted out of his minor league deal (sim timing). We work to re-sign him next week.

So what started out as a great start 9-3, fizzled to a 5-9 finish to the month to end up 14-12 and in a T-3rd place.

Chicago Architect Player is announced as top Hitter in April

To Jim Ashley, age is just a number.
He may be 35 years old, but the Chicago Architects right fielder proved in April that he's still got what it takes to compete at an elite level.

With a .407 average, 4 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 25 runs scored, Ashley had all the numbers that counted and has won the USA Batter of the Month award. He also ends the month on a 20-game hitting streak.