GLBL - Chicago Architects - The Quest for the Owner not to Fire Me

[DD Martin]

Week 2 2056 Season
The Earlier Wackiness of a Long Season

After dropping the first game of the series against Toledo, we were hoping to get a bounce back. Heading into game 2 of the series both clubs were 4-3 and surprisingly in a 4-way tie for first place with of all teams the Traverse City Bears and the Detroit Thunderbirds. All 4 clubs were 4-3 and pre-season favorite Duluth was off to a slow 2-5 start with the usual cellar dweller Milwaukee in 5th just a game off the pace.

Big games and here they are

Game 2- Saturday April 15, 2056
Chicago 4-3 @ Toledo 4-3
Val Imbert 1-0 3.18 vs LHSP Harvey Moore 0-1 9.53
A - 33,700

The Neptunes scored five runs in both the third and the fourth. In the third, Mark Waddell doubled with the bases loaded, clearing them. In the fourth, Carlos Montaño doubles in two. Elsewhere in the game, Waddell adds an RBI single to his ledger. Montaño adds another RBI single and an RBI triple. Both players drive in four. Toledo 13, Chicago 7.

DH J Asley 2-4 HR, 2R RBI SB, CF C Luna 2-4 DB 2RBI's
HR's - CH 2B J Lambert (2) DH J Ashley (2), Tol none
POTG - Toledo SS Carlos Montano

Game 3- Sunday April 16, 2056
Chicago 4-4 @ Toledo 5-3
Joe Johnson 0-0 13.50 vs RHSP Christopher Bouchard 0-0 3.60
A - 33,785

The Neptunes sweep the Architects, and they do so in convincing style. Christopher Bouchard (8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 9 K) pitches into the ninth and gives up just one run. Toledo’s Xing-Fu Sen goes 4-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored, and five RBIs. Philippe Labbé and Mark Wadell also homer. Toledo 11, Chicago 1.

Just 6 hits so nobody deserving of any mention
HR - Tol 2B X Sen (1) 1B P Labbe (2) RF M Wadell (3), CH none
POTG - Toledo 2B Xing-fu Sen

Summary - Talk about not showing up. We gave up 24 runs and neither starting pitcher looking like they deserved to be on the mound. This is a typical Toledo game where they win by 5+ runs, the problem was the won the 1-run game in game 1. The Architects started out losing the first 3 against Toledo and 5 out of 6 before turning it around to win 13 of the last 18. We hope this will be the same pattern this season.

For whatever reason 1B Reagan Osborn has not shaken out of his slump 9 games in. He is hitting a very un-Osborn like 134 with no home runs and only 4 RBI's. He has to heat up at some point....right?

It's early so we won't get too alarmed about our pitching. The bullpen has been torched so far this season to the tune of a 7+ ERA. The starters outside of Jose Cedeno have been rather lackluster, but they are only 2 times around for them (except for Bill Lutz who has just gone once as the #5 SP).

Chicago Archiects (4-5 T-4th USA) @ Detroit Thunderbirds (5-4 T-2nd)
Monday April 17th - 19th 2056
Thunderbirds Park in Detroit

So the Architects are licking their wounds after suffering a tough 3 game sweep at Toledo. They are looking up at a lot of teams that likely won't be in front of them when the season ends, but for now its just time to get to work.

Detroit is off to a good start behind their top 2 pitchers, Bill Clary, and Joo-seok Kim. Those guys have kept the runs down to a minimum early and given the T-Birds hitters a chance to win some games.

Detroit is led by last season rookie of the year 1B Mal Johnston (459 2-8), RF Stan Gillis (300 0-2) and LF Melvin Akerval (354 2-10)

Game #1 - Monday April 17th 2056
Chicago Architects (4-5) @ Detroit T-birds (5-4)
Bill Lutz 0-1 4.76 vs Brian "Hotwire" Xian 0-0 4.05
A - 21,592

The Tects scored three in the fifth and three in the sixth. Cris Luna’s two-run home run and David Kenney’s solo home run scored those three sixth-inning runs. It wasn't a thing of beauty but the Architects break their 3 game losing streak. DH David Kenney stated "Any win is a good win." Chicago 8, Detroit 5.

SP Bill Lutz 5.2 4H 2R 2BB 3K W 1-0, LF S Amsden 2-4 HR R RBI, BB C J Duran 2-5 DB RBI, DH D Kenney 2-5 HR R RBI, CF C Luna HR 2R 2RBI
HR - CH LF S Amsden (1), CF C Luna (1), DH D Kenney (1), Det HR CF F Bernier (1)
POTG - Chicago Cris Luna (2)

Game #2 - Tuesday April 18th 2056
Chicago Architects (5-5) @ Detroit T-birds (5-5)
Jose "Pongo" Cedeno 2-0 2.25 vs RHSP Bill Clary 1-0 1.59
A - 20,108

Chicago’s José Cedeño (8.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K) retires the first nine batters he faces. A single breaks up the no-hitter, but a double-play quickly erases that base-runner. He walks a runner in the fifth and the sixth, but both of those are also erased on double plays. He faces the minimum through six. In the ninth, he gives up a one-out double before finally getting pulled. Detroit’s Bill Clary (5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 K) pitches pretty well himself, but he gives up two runs in the fifth. The first scores on a hit batsman, a sac bunt (with the runner safe at first), a wild pitch, and a sac fly. A Rodeo Leroy single plates the second run. This game was all about Cedeno!!!!Chicago 2, Detroit 0.

2B J Lambert 2-4 BB R 2SB
HR - None
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (3)

Game #3 - Wednesday April 19th 2056
Chicago Architects (6-5) @ Detroit T-birds (5-6)
Julio Castro 0-0 4.22 vs RHSP Joo-Seok Kim 0-0 1.80
A - 18,816

The T-Birds strike first, scoring four times in the second. Dai-Lin Tah hits a two-run single, and Trace Brunel hits a two-run double. Joo-Seok Kim (6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K) strikes out the side in the fourth and takes a one-hit shutout into the seventh. He gets pulled after giving up a second hit, a single. Rodeo Leroy then promptly doubles off the bullpen arm to drive in the Tects first run of the game. Chicago scores three more times, and Detroit takes a 5-4 lead into the ninth. A single and two walks load the bases. A pop out to short and a strike out put the T-Birds one out from victory. Samuel Amsden steps to the plate. He works a full count, and then…… he raps a single to left! The runners were going with the pitch. The tying run scores from third. The winning run easily makes it home from second. Chicago 5, Detroit 4.

CL P Wright SV (4) 1IP 1H 0R )BB 0K, LF R LeRoy 2-3 2DB 2R RBI BB, PH S Amsden 1-1 DB 2RBI
HR - None
POTG - Detroit SP Joo-seok Kim

Summary - So we slip and slide our way out of Detroit with a 3 game sweep that puts us back into sole possession of 3rd in the USA just 1 game behind Toledo and 1/2 behind the upstart Bears.

Thank God for SP Jose Cedeno. He has certainly done his share in the early season with 3 starts and 3 Player of the Game nods. On the season Cedeno is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA giving up just 10 hits in 20.1IP.

1B Reagan Osborn has managed to drop his average even further to 130 and is still looking for his first home run of the season. Knowning Osborn he will rebound and by seasons end he will hit 330/400/900+ with 25+ home runs and 90+ RBI's. But it would be nice if we could see some of that now instead of later.

DH Jose Aranda was doing well on his rehab assignment, but took a knock on his shoulder diving into 2nd base. He was hitting 280 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI's in 7 games and we were preparing to bring him up for the Duluth series. We will have to give him another week off and then see where he is, but that will put his return after the Duluth and Canadian teams 2 2-game series at best.

[DD Martin]

Bring on Canada, no Wait on Second Thought Don't!!!!!

After an up and down road trip that saw us go 5-4, we received a well deserved off-day before hosting one of the two clubs that figure to be our chief rivals once again, the Duluth Sea Gulls.

Duluth Sea Gulls 4-8 6th place USA vs Chicago Architects 7-5 3rd place USA
April 21st -23rd 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

Most are wondering what is going on to start the season with Duluth. While teams all have their 2-week stutters, Duluth wasn’t expected to come out of the gates this slow. Some say it is the young guys who were rookies last season having an early sophomore slump. Others wonder if the pitching will hold up and if Billy Hill can shake off the stench of having been of 6 straight losing seasons in Milwaukee.

One player to watch out for is 1B Jorge Rangel who was the super international free agent last season. Rangel set a GLBL record for walks last season while hitting 246 but with a 413 OBP. He added 25 home runs and if he can cut down on his strikeouts (led the league with 191 which was the 8th highest total of all time). Rangel seems to be of the age and wild hacking that he could set the record for both walks and strikeouts in a career. If he plays long enough he has a chance at both, especially the strikeout mark. But when he connects, he can put a charge into the ball and most expect that he will improve on his run producing numbers this season.

Chicago leads the all-time series 489-376 and last year Chicago won the season series 13-11 and swept Duluth in the playoffs 4-0

Game #1 - Friday April 21st 2056
Duluth Sea Gulls 4-8 vs Chicago Architects 7-5
LHSP Tim Gross 1-0 2.57 vs Val Imbert 1-1 9.35
A - 37,178

A back-and-forth affair in the Windy City. Duluth’s Jorge Rangel hits a two-run homer in the first. Chicago tied the game in the second on four singles and a bases-loaded walk. The game remains tied through six. In the seventh, Rodeo Leroy gives Chicago their first lead of the game with his fifth home run of the season. In the top of the eighth, Duluth took the lead on Rangel’s second two-run home run of the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Juan Durán re-ties the game with a monster home run to dead center field. The game goes to extras tied, 4-4. In the 11th, pinch-hitter George Goff goes yard for the Gulls. An error, a double, and an Alejandro Escobar single scored a second run. In the bottom of the 11th, the Architects put two men on with one out, but they couldn't find the critical hit. Chicago ended up with 18 hits in the game, but could only muster 4 runs. Duluth 6, Chicago 4. 11 Innings


2B J Lambert 3-6 RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-5 BB, LF R Leroy 2-6 HR R RBI, DH D Kenney 3-6 R, 3B K Noseworthy 2-4 2BB R
HR - CH LF R LeRoy (5), C J Duran (1), Dul 1B J Rangel 2 (4), PH-LF G Goff (1)
POTG - Duluth 1B Jose Rangel

Game #2 - Saturday April 22nd 2056
Duluth Sea Gulls 5-8 vs Chicago Architects 7-6
RHSP Billy Hill 0-1 4.85 vs Terry Noble 0-0 8.31
A - 36,875

Chicago’s Terry Noble (9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K) goes the distance, getting stronger as the game goes along. He retires 14 of the final 16 batters he faces. The Tects put the game away early, scoring seven times in the second. Prowler Ashley singles in two, and Reagan Osborn—who has gotten off to a terrible start this season—hits his first home run of the season, driving in three. Chicago 10, Duluth 1.


RF J Ashley 2-4 R 3RBI, C J Duran 2-3 2R RBI,
HR - CH 1B R Osborn (1)
POTG - Chicago SP Terry Noble (1)

Game #3 - Sunday April 23rd, 2056
Duluth Sea Gulls 5-9 vs Chicago Architects 8-6
RHSP Emmanuel “Tricky” Lucas 0-1 6.30 vs Jose “Pongo” Cedeno 3-0 1.33
A - 37,061

Cedeno has his first rough start of the season as Duluth doesn’t let him get through the 5th (4.2IP 7H 5R, 0BB 8K) as he gives up 3 home runs. Those are the first home runs Cedeno had given up this season. Duluth ties the game, 6-6, in the eighth when pinch-hitting Sean White singles in Walker Dunse. In the bottom of the eighth, Chicago’s David Kenney hits a two-run home run, and Kent Noseworthy hits a solo home run. Closer Pat Wright pitched the 9th giving up a hit and walk but no runs to pick up his 5th save. Chicago 9, Duluth 6.

C J Hunt 2-4 R 2RBI, SS K Noseworthy 2-3 HR BB R RBI
HR - Dul - 3B D Barron (1), LF C Wright (3), DH C Sanchez (6) CH HR 1B R Osborn (2), 2B J Lambert (3) DH D Kenney (2) SS K Noseworthy (1)
POTG - Chicago DH David Kenney (1)

Summary - First 3 games are in the books against Duluth and taking 2 out of 3 works just fine. We have 21 more games against these guys and Toledo and we will have to do better than the 2-4 record we had the first time around. Toledo will be here in a few weeks and we need to be ready for them.

The first time through the USA league sees us have an 9-6 record overall with the aforementioned 2-4 against Duluth and Toledo and a 7-2 mark against the alleged bottom feeders (Detroit, Milwaukee and Traverse City). The Bears aren’t following the script so far though as they are also 9-6 and we have a 3-way tie at the top. Toledo, Chicago and Traverse City shared the lead with Duluth bringing up the rear at 5-10 already 4 games back.

Could 1B Reagan Osborn be starting to snap out of an early season funk? He hits two home runs in this series and if we can get his bat going that bodes very well for the Architects.

While being in a 1st place tie is a fine start to the year, the sweep by Toledo still is hanging in our minds. They thoroughly whipped us 30-13 in those 3 games with only 1 game close. That and our next 4 games are against Canadian clubs and the USA division record against Canada is not good in my 4 previous seasons in the GLBL. Most experts feel that with the off-season of Toledo, Chicago and Duluth that maybe that gap has closed a bit, but we shall see. We get a home series against the 2-time defending champions Thunder Bay at home and then 2 away against last place Kingston up north.

We will have the first 3 of the 4 games today.

Thunder Bay Caribou 8-7 3rd in Canada vs Chicago Architects 9-6 T-1 USA
April 24th and 25th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

Thunder Bay leads the all time series 73-71 and took 3 out of 4 games last year in the regular season. The two clubs met in the GLBL Fall Classic and for the 2nd year in a row Thunder Bay won 4 games to 2. Chicago would like to reverse this trend this season.

Things are a bit different at least in the early going with Thunder Bay this season as they look almost mortal offensively. The club that has bashed its way to 176 wins and 2 World Series titles the last 2 years, isn’t scoring as well as they have in the past. They are 5th in Canada in runs scored and have a negative run differential (-11) so far this season. Still they are extremely dangerous with the bats as they are 2nd in Canada with home runs, and 1st in walks. They just aren’t getting the timely hits they usually do.

On the pitching side they rely heavily on starting pitchers RHSP Ralph Baxter and LHSP Carlos Perez. We will get the misfortune to see both in this series.

Game #1 Monday April 24th 2056
Thunder Bay 8-7 vs Chicago 9-6
LHSP Carlos Perez 1-1 2.45 vs Julio Castro 0-0 2.87
A - 36,573

It’s a rematch of the Championship, and the result is the same. The Caribou score 11. Emerson Coleman goes 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored. John Calder goes 3-for-4 with a double, two walks, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Ron Hinton homers. Thunder Bay 11, Chicago 8.

DH J Ashley 2-5 TP HR 3RBI R, RF T Stone 3-4 HR R 3RBI
HR - TB 2B R Hilton (1), CH DH J Ashley (3), RF T Stone (1)
POTG - Thunder Bay RF Emerson Coleman

Game #2 Tuesday April 25th 2056
Thunder Bay 9-7 vs Chicago 9-7
RHSP Ralph Baxter 1-1 3.00 vs Val Imbert 1-1 6.75
A - 32,360 (lowest of the home season so far)

Maybe some Architect fans had this game figured out and stayed home. The Caribou sweep the two-game set. With the game tied, 2-2, in the seventh, Sean Lane hits a two-run double, then gets doubled in by Ron Hinton. Thunder Bay 5, Chicago 2.

SP V Imbert 5.2IP 4H 2R 5BB 4K’s, LF R LeRoy 2-3 HR R 2RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-3 BB
HR - CH R LeRoy (6) TB -none
POTG - Thunder Bay SS Jimmy Wesman

Summary - Same old story, Thunder Bay beats Chicago. At least we are keeping our heads above the 500 mark at 9-8. Next is a road trip to Kingston to take on the Comets who are in 5th place in Canada. Maybe we can sweep them and keep pace with Toledo?

After this game 1B Reagan Osborn is finally up to 200 on the season. He can’t wait to get out of April. My prediction for his May batting average is 345

Chicago Architects 9-8 T-3rd in US @ Kingston Comets 6-11 5th in Canada
April 26th and 27th 2056
Kingston’s Comet Field

Chicago leads the all-time series 76-68 and swept last year's series 4-0.

Game #1 - Wednesday April 26th, 2056
Chicago Architects 9-8 vs Kingston Comets 6-11
Bill Lutz 1-1 3.97 vs RHSP Sam Goerts 0-1 5.40
A - 13,117

Kingston’s Johnny Peterson hits a grand slam. Scott Skiffington and Stepháne Duret hit solo home runs. Snake Eyes Fuller doubles in two and scores three runs. The Comets scored 13 runs on 12 hits. Sam Goerts (4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K) and three relievers held the Tects to a run on five hits. Kingston 13, Chicago 1.

CF C Luna 2-3 BB
HR - Kin 2B J Peterson (4), PH P Skeffington (1), RF S Duret (1)
POTG - Kingstons 2B Johnny Peterson

Summary - I hate Canadian teams. We can’t beat the good or the bad ones. Osborn’s back below 200 and we have fallen into a 9-9 trap. Lots of things to consider here and we have started looking for a real SS. Pablo Farrulla managed to hit 240 last season and with his defense that was fine. While it's early, he is hitting a pathetic 118 and that spot in the order is a black hole. Between him hitting under his wife’s weight and Sandoval striking out 25% of the time in AAA and not progressing as we had hoped, it might be time to do something drastic and no owner Bocquet Jr. will not like it.

3B Thomas Arnaud is still on the DL with his tummy muscle. It doesn’t look like he will get back before the Duluth series.

[DD Martin]

The End of April

The Architects will finish up their brief 2-game series against Kingston. At 9-9 the club could surely need a win to get back above 500. We are at least assured of starting the season against the Canadian clubs with a sub 500 record having gone 0-3 so far against Thunder Bay and Kingston.

Before the game we optioned RF Tom Stone to AAA and brought up some infield depth in 2B/U Larry Davis. Stone has done nothing wrong and is looking like a likely lock to take over the RF position full time once Jim “Prowler” Ashley’s contract is over. But with SS Pablo Farrulla looking completely lost at the plate and Kent Noseworthy playing more 3B with Travis Arnaud’s annoying pulled abdominal muscle, and spelling Farrulla some at SS we needed more depth. Stone will be back up sooner rather than later, but we need to clear out the log jam in the outfield.

Game #2 - Thursday April 27th 2056
Chicago 9-9 vs Kingston 7-11
Terry Noble 1-0 3.38 vs LHSP Cal Henry 0-0 4.76
A - 14,165

Picking things up in the seventh. Chicago’s Prowler Ashley singles in two to give the Tects a 6-4 lead. Kingston gets a run back in the seventh (Wyatt McBride RBI single) and then re-ties the game in the eighth (Billy Peters RBI single). In the bottom of the ninth, Kingston loads the bases with one out, but Pat Wright induces a groundout and a fly out to get out of the jam and send the game to extras. In the 10th, Rodeo Leroy doubles, Prowler Ashley walks, and Juan Durán doubles them both in. Chicago 8, Kingston 6. 10 innings

2B J Lambert 2-5 R, E, 1B R Osborn 2-5 HR DB 2R RBI, RF J Ashley 2-4 R 2RBI BB, C J Duran DB HR R 3RBI
HR - CH C J. Duran (3), 1B R Osborn (3) Kin SS R Fuller (2)
POTG - Kingston SS Roland Fuller

Summary - The Architects salvage a game in Kingston and it was a good thing because they next travel to Duluth to take on the preseason favorite who look to maybe have righted the ship climbing back to almost 500 at 9-10 after a terrible start.

1B Reagan Osborn has his average up over 200 at 203 and managed to hit his 3rd home run. Maybe he can start to finally pick up the slack and give a helping hand to LF Robert LeRoy who has carried the club during the first 3 weeks offensively.

Chicago Architects 10-9 T-3rd USA vs Duluth Sea Gulls 9-10 5th place in USA
April 28th - 30th 2056
At Duluth’s Sea Gulls Park

What a way to end the month. This is a big first month series with two teams trying to find their traction before Toledo runs away and hides with the division. Earlier we won 2 out of 3 against Duluth and right now that 1 game is the margin between the two clubs. Duluth has been a constant thorn in Chicago’s side ever since I arrived to start the 2052 season. The Duluth GM was the long time Architect’s GM who built a dynasty and now he is trying to do the same with Duluth. He’s done a very good job getting Duluth who finished the 2051 season in 4th place with a 73-71 record.

One thing to note about the USA vs Canada games, the USA clubs without much help from the Architects managed to win the 1st round 13-11. Still a long way to go but the Canadian clubs have dominated this for at least the past 4 seasons. Last year the Architects were the only US club to finish 500 against the Canadian clubs.

Game #1 - Friday April 28th, 2056
Chicago 10-9 @ Duluth 9-10
Jose “Pongo” Cedeno 3-0 2.88 vs RHSPEmmanuel “Tricky” Lucas 0-1 8.03
A - 39,765

Chicago’s José Cedeño (6.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K) pitches into the seventh and holds the Gulls scoreless. He deserved a better fate…..Rodeo Leroy hits two home runs. Joe Hunt hits one. Chicago takes a 7-0 lead into the eighth——where Duluth rallies for seven runs! Five walks and a hit batsman provide the base runners. George Goff triples in two, Noah Jenkins and Derrick Drew single in runs, Lee McAskill singles in two, and Mark Matchim draws the fifth and final walk of the inning. It comes with the bases loaded, and it ties the game. Chicago wins anyway. In the 11th, Joe Justice and Juan Durán homer. Chicago 10, Duluth 7. 11 Innings. After the game LF Robert LeRoy was quoted as saying “The key is not trying to do too much.” It isn’t known if he was speaking about teammate 1B Reagan Osborn or not, but LeRoy has certainly done plenty hitting 419 with 8 home runs and 27 RBI’s.

LF R LeRoy 3-5 2HR 2R 4RBI’s, 2B J Lambert 2-6 2TP, R. SS K Noseworthy 2-5 RBI, CF J Justice 1-1 HR R RBI
HR - CH LF R LeRoy 2 (8), C J Hunt (2), CF J Justice (1), C J Duran (3) Dul - none
POTG - Chicago LF Robert LeRoy (4)

Game #2 - Saturday April 29th, 2056
Chicago 11-9 @ Duluth 9-11
Julio Castro 0-1 5.00 vs RHSP Will McNeely 1-2 2.05
A - 39,721

Gulls pitchers hold the Architects bats to two runs. Unlike so many other teams today, the Gulls also remember to score more than one run. In this case, they score three. Diego Barrón singles in a run, and Carlos Sánchez goes 4-for-4 with a two-run triple. Duluth 3, Chicago 2.

SP J Castro 6IP 10H 3R BB 4K, DH D Kenney 2-3 DB BB
HR - CH LF R LeRoy (9), RF J Ashley (4) Dul - none
POTG - Duluth RF Carlos Sanchez

Game #3 - Sunday April 30th, 2056
Chicago 11-10 @ Duluth 10-11
Val Imbert 1-1 5.75 vs RHSP Chris “Gator” Collier 2-0 2.05
A - 39,710

Duluth’s Jorge Rangel hits a two-run home run in the first, and those two runs stand up for most of the game. Chicago manages one run in the third: Kent Noseworthy homers. In the ninth, with two out and two on, Chicago’s Cris Luna singles in the tying run. In the bottom of the ninth, two walks set the table for Sean White, who singles in the winning run. Duluth 3, Chicago 2.

SP V Imbert 8.1 8H 3R BB 4K,
HR - CH SS K Noseworthy (2) Dul - 1B J Rangel (7)
POTG - Duluth SP Chris “Gator” Collier

Summary - And that was the end of the month of April. A somewhat frustrating start to the season for both Duluth and Chicago. Some might think it is fitting that 2 of the clubs that were projected to be in the first division are in a 3-way tie for 3rd place with Traverse City at 11-11. Who is in 2nd place behind Toledo? Would you believe the club that we swept 2 weeks ago, the Detroit Thunderbirds who are sitting at 13-9 and just a game behind Toledo at 14-8.

One thing I don't care for is our record in 1-run games. This was a stat that we dominated last season going 28-11 in 1-run games. With the two 3-2 losses to Duluth our record in 1-run games this season is 1-4. That doesn't bode well for this club in my opinion.

It looks like 3B Thomas Arnaud will be back for the next series against Traverse City on Tuesday (Monday is an off-day). With that the club will option back 2B Larry Davis to AAA. Tom Stone will also be back for a few games before we bring up the back again from the DL DH Juan Aranda. Aranda will get 3-4 games at AAA and then he will come up and Stone again will go back down. To make room for Stone’s return we DFA OF/U switch hitter Samuel Amsden. I doubt he will get picked up and we will send him (if he accepts it) to AAA, While his “scouting reports” are not highly thought of, I like this switch hitter, but it was probably a mistake in re-signing him this season. He will not receive arbitration next off-season.

Speaking of bad financial mistakes, this one looked so good 2 years ago but also my patience has about worn out with P JJ Walker. You would think with that name his stuff would be Dynomite, but sadly he has lost control of his pitches and this is a contract that we will likely have to eat. It’s not too much because we structured it with 2 options and one was a vesting option but he will likely be DFA when Yale Hulburt comes back from the DL and rehab assignment. With the slow start Hulburt might only get 2 starts at AAA before getting summoned which would put his arrival time right around May 20th.

What is also not making me feel good is the tremendous amount of walks the Architects have issued. So far Architect pitchers have given up 82 walks (5th in the USA league) and the only club in the entire GLBL with more walks is Milwaukee with 106. Right now the club is walking almost 4 per 9 innings. Where is the problem, well several spots but the bullpen is drawing most of the fans ire. The bullpen group (or the kerosene brigade) has an ERA of 7.17 which is again 5th in the US behind those Eagles of Milwaukee. The starters thanks mainly to SP Jose Cedeno are more respectable at an ERA of 4.48 which is 3rd in the USA. No wonder we are anxiously awaiting SP Yale Hulburt’s return and hoping that SP Curt Hopkins is ready. The bullpen doesn't look good, even our stalwarts are off to bad starts (Wright and Stott). Our best RP by ERA is 41-year-old RHRP Ken Shannon with a 5.11 ERA. We will give John Moore a start in this next series , this will send Terry Noble back into a middle relief role. Hopefully we can find some combination that will work in this era of the super ball in the GLBL.

Speaking of Hopkins, he is pitching exceedingly well for the AAA Saugatuck Joes who are 17-6. Hopkins in 4 starts has pitched 30IP which is a much average per start than his previous seasons. He is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.10. If anyone on the Joe’s staff deserves an opportunity, it is Hopkins. And he almost got it for the next week, but the decision was made not to rush him or the DFA of JJ Walker.

[DD Martin]

Rodeo LeRoy Wins Awards

On the good news side of things LR Robert “Rodeo” LeRoy won 2 awards this week. First he won the hitter of the week award.

Robert Leroy is respected by most Chicago Architects fans for his no-frills style of play. The 31-year-old left fielder went about his business with vigor last week to grab the USA Player of the Week honors. He compiled a .360 average (9-for-25) with 4 home runs, 8 RBIs and 8 runs scored. This season, Leroy has hit 9 home runs and posted a .390 batting average.


Then he was also awarded the Hitter of the Month award. He has followed up quite nicely from his MVP season last year in Canada.

Robert Leroy battered USA pitchers all April and wound up taking home the Batter of the Month Award.

"I've been around the Great Lakes Baseball League long enough to know you really have to work hard day in and day out to be able to put up this kind of consistency," the 31-year-old Leroy told reporters. "I put in a lot of work, even on the days I might not take the field, and it's always nice when everything comes together for me like it did this last month." In 21 games, Leroy hit .390 with 9 home runs, 28 RBIs and scored 20 runs.

Thank goodness we signed LeRoy, he has kept us a float while 3B Thomas Arnaud spent most of the month on the DL and 1B Reagan Osborn has continued to struggle with the bat. Even with all those struggles Chicago has still scored the most runs in the USA division during the first month of the season. Just think what this lineup could do with a healthy Arnaud and Aranda along with Osborn regaining his stroke. That makes me feel pretty good about things.

Now I just need to watch out that we don’t wreck him. He is looking dog tired and thankfully we have an off-day on Monday May 1st, but he will also get a day off on Tuesday May 2nd. We have been riding him very hard but we also need to be a little more careful of our $157 million dollar man.

[DD Martin]

Big Battle in TC in Early April

As the calendar turns to May we are sitting at 11-11 and frustration has begun to set in. While we are by no means out of anything and we have a lot of talent coming back this week and by mid-May, it's the way we are playing. SP Jose Cedeno and LF Robert LeRoy are basically saving the club. Yes there are others who are playing well but there are a lot of proven guys who have not exactly gotten off to the type of starts we are accustomed to.

1B Reagan Osborn has never been in such a slump at any time in his first 3 years in the league. He has been twice runner up to TC OF Earl Foote for the USA MVP award, but this year he’s off to a 193/292/641 stat line with just 3 home runs and 9 RBI’s. Not exactly the type of stuff we are used to here with Osborn. Whether its the impact of bringing in a big time hitter that is affecting him or something else, the fact is we need Osborn to be that key hitter.

Another somewhat disappointing performance has been the play of C Juan Duran. He is highly rated and pegged as the 5th best position player at the start of the season. Now maybe that was high praise for a 24-year-old who hasn’t had a complete season of big league ball, but he has been the heir apparent to be the starting catcher the last 2 years. Injury derailed his start of last season, but he played in 35 games last season and hit 302 so our expectations at least had some backing. To start this year he’s hitting 242 and again we are not overly concerned about him, but backup C Joe Hunt who is asking for more playing time might get some more than he has. So far Duran has started 65% of the games and maybe he will get a few more starts. By no means are we moving away from Duran or considering trading him, but he is worth keeping an eye on.

SS Pablo Farrulla was never known for his hitting, but he was traded to the Architects last year and got off to a very good start. He settled down as the season wore on but still hit 240 for the season last year and with his glove that was acceptable. To start off this season though Farrulla has completely lost his way with the stick having an OPS+ of (17). While it’s still very early, this is the area we are focusing on. We don’t really have anyone else at this point unless we move John Lambert over to SS or Kent Noseworthy. They would be adequate defenders but with most of the pitching staff struggling with BABIP, we need good defense at SS and Lambert is much better as a 2B. So we are looking but the choices are very few who are available.

We had the best offense for most of April but cooled off a bit with the Duluth series when we scored just 4 runs and lost 3-2 in the last two games of that series. Last season those were games that we won 70+% of the time. This year that hasn’t been the case so far. I am hoping that with 3B Thomas Arnaud back (he only appeared in 6 games in April), DH Jose Aranda will be back on May 5th and the real Reagan Osborn we hope will make an appearance sometime in May, preferably sooner than later.

There are guys that have done well and some of the youngsters that we have put in positions have gotten off to nice starts. Last year John Lambert was a super sub as he is very versatile in the field. He hit 282/358/840 with 3 home runs, 11 RBI’s 20 runs scored and has stolen 12 out of 13 bases in the leadoff spot. He has taken over the stolen base mantra that we have been known for with OF Matt Graves not starting and only appearing in 4 games in April. His fielding has also been pretty good so far with 2.0 ZR and 1.103 EFF, but he has committed 5 errors so far. Not too alarmed about that as this is really his first shot at being the everyday 2B.

Another player who struggled a lot in his first couple of seasons was CF Cris Luna. Luna hit just 201 his first season in 2054 once he came up and was pretty much the full time CF last season where he hit 249 on the season. There was improvement as the 2nd half of last season saw him hit around 290 and this season he is off to a solid start hitting 280. I did wish he would draw a few more walks, but his glove is good in CF. One thing I like is to be solid defensively up the middle and with CF Luna, 2B Lambert, SS Farrulla and C Duran we should be very good defensively up the middle. We are 2nd defensively in the USA division but of course the team with the great pitching and right now the best offense (Toledo) is also the best defensive team by defensive efficiency ratings.

Pitching wise we are 5th in ERA with a ghastly 5.34 ERA and the bullpen topping out just a hair over 7 in ERA. It’s not just one or two guys either, it’s the whole bullpen. Last year RP Larry Stott had a rough start to the season with an ERA over 11 in his first 3 games and then pitched in 44 more games last season and had an ERA below 1.00 in those 44 games. This season he has give up 4 home runs in 8 IP. Everyone is looking for pitching so just finding other arms at this point in the season is not very likely. We do have some pitchers at AAA who are doing well and they might get a chance pretty soon if things don’t improve. JJ Walker, despite his contract, is looking at being DFA, but nobody will pick him up. Hulburt will return soon so that is about how long Walker has to show he can do anything besides allow people to get on base and score against him. That WHIP at 2.17 is just not something that will stay up long.

Thankfully Monday May 1st is an off-day. It will give me a chance to really see who is and isn’t available in several areas, but I am not expecting a lot of for sale signs posted after 1 month. Too many clubs still think they have a shot, unrealistic perhaps but they are hanging around.

Chicago Architects 11-11 @ Traverse City Bears 11-11
May 2nd-4th 2056
Traverse City’s The Den

The Architects took two out of three during the opening week of the season at home from the Bears, but they have hung around at 500 so far. I don’t think they have the pitching to hang around, but so far this season their pitching is better than ours as they have an ERA below 5!!!!

So far this season we are 7-7 on the road, while the Bears are 4-2 at home.

Game #1 - Monday, May 2nd 2056
Chicago @ Traverse City
John Moore 2-0 4.66 vs RHSP John Nelligan 1–1 4.50
A - 31,929

The Bears rough up the Tects in John Moore’s first start of the season. Billy Harris doubles in the first of three third-inning runs and, in the sixth, hits a three-run homer, Wally Whitaker singles in two. John Nelligan (6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K) and two relievers hold Chicago to a single run. Nelligan has been one of the few Bears pitchers over the years that seems to give us occasional fits. Traverse City 9, Chicago 1.

LF M Graves 2-3 BB SB, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 DB
HR - CH C J Duran (4) TC - C B Harris (2),
POTG - Traverse City C Billy Harris

Game #2 - Tuesday May 3rd, 2056
Chicago 11-12 @ Traverse City 12-11
Joe Johnson 0-1 8.74 vs RHSP Bradley “Hurricane” Sentner 0-1 6.41
A - 33,644

The Architects come into today one game below .500. Rodeo Leroy does his part to get the Tects back to even. With former Architect Bradley Sentner on the hill this should have been a game where the Architects lit up the scoreboard. Unfortunately only Robert LeRoy does that early. He goes 5-for-5, singling in a run in the third and doubling in the middle of a three-run eighth. That eighth inning puts Chicago ahead, 4-1. Traverse City comes back. Leroy’s old teammate Hamilton teammate, Ewan Heseltine, steps up in the bottom of the ninth. His three-run home run ties the game, 4-4. On the first pitch of the 10th, Rodeo Leroy homers, his fifth hit of the game. In the bottom of the 10th, a walk, two singles, and a sac fly re-tie the game. In the 11th, Pedro Farrulla, who comes into today batting a dreadful .117/.179/.133, hits his first home run of the season. Chicago 6, Traverse City 5. 11 innings

SP J Johnson 6.1IP 5H 1R 2BB 6K, RP T Noble 1IP 0H 0R just 8 pitches save #1, LF R LeRoy 5-5 2DB, HR 2R 2RBI’s, C J Hunt 2-4 RBI, SS P Farrulla 2-4 HR 2R RBI,
HR - CH SS P Farrulla (1), LF R LeRoy (10) TC - PH E Heseltine (1)
POTG - Chicago LF Robert LeRoy (5)

Game #3 - Wednesday May 4th, 2056
Chicago 12-12 @ Traverse City 12-12
Jose Cedeno 3-0 2.30 vs RHSP Walt Bader 0-1 2.45
A - 32,518

Chicago’s John Lambert and Thomas Arnaud start the game with a single and a two-run home run. José Cedeño (8 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 B, 4 K) makes those two runs stand up. The Tects do give him a couple of late insurance runs: Kent Noseworthy singles in a pair. Chicago 4, Traverse City 1.

CF J Lambert 2-5 R SB, 3B T Arnaud 2-5 HR R 2RBI, LF R LeRoy 3-5 DB R
HR - CH 3B T Arnaud TC - none
POTG - Jose Cedeno (4)

Summary - We escaped out of the Den 2 out of 3 and now are 4-2 on the season against TC. LF Robert LeRoy got a day off in game 1 and just pinch hit going 0-1, but in games 2 & 3 he went 8-10 with 2HR, DB but just scored 3 runs and only drove in 2. Thankfully between him and SP Jose Cedeno we got out of town winning the series. It’s a familiar theme but I can’t pitch Cedeno once in every series. Cedeno’s IP is 2nd in the US division trailing Toledo’s Nick Keddy by just ⅓ of an inning.

So far our pursuit of help has not turned up anything although there are a couple of possibilities. We will see if anything comes from them, but I do favor one deal over the other at this point. The John Moore start in game 1 of the series was a major disappointment. But we also brought back into the rotation Joe Johnson who was much more like himself. Johnson will stay in the rotation and we will decide between Moore and Noble the next time around.

I have been toying around with the idea of bringing up SP Curt Hopkins from AAA who had a great month of April going 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 30 IP. But then wanted to see what he would do in another start or two. His next outing lasted just 1 ⅔ IP with 7 hits and 6 runs given up. “Flounder” is going to be a major pitcher for us, but I still just don’t think it is quite his time yet. In any deal we are talking about Hopkins is on the untradeable list as he’s a LHSP and the #12 prospect and the players I am looking at do not rank as good enough to deal him.

DH Jose Aranda will make his much awaited debut as the club heads to Milwaukee next to take on the Eagles who are not flying high. In 10 rehab games between stints on the DL, Aranda hit 207/422/1.017 with 3HR and 13 RBI's. We need his left handed bat in the lineup.

[DD Martin]

More May Home Games with Last Place Milwaukee
and First Place Toledo!!!!!

Time to makeup some ground!!!!!!!

Milwaukee Eagles 7-18 last in the US vs Chicago Architects 13-12 T-3rd in US
Friday May 5th - Sunday May 7th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

When is a “big” series against a last place team really big? When your club is scuffling and trying to find its footing and separate itself from a logjam of clubs. While we knew Duluth would be hanging around with us likely chasing Toledo, we did not expect both Traverse City in the mix and chasing Detroit. But that is the situation the Architects find themselves in. Chicago could really use a sweep or at least a series win here as Toledo comes rumbling into town next, and that is a BIG series.

The Eagles rank 5th in the US in runs scored led by C Cecil Phillips who re-signed with the club after winning the GLBL title last year in Thunder Bay. Phillips (33) has spent most of his career in Milwaukee having been the Eagles 1st round pick (#5 overall) in the 2043 draft. One has to wonder if he is questioning his decision to resign with his old club.

The Eagles have the worst pitching staff in the GLBLwith their starters giving up an ERA of 5.75 on the season. They are the only bullpen in the US that is worse than the Architects, as their bullpen ERA stands at an ugly 8.86 (YIKES).

The Eagles come into this series having lost 7 straight games.

Game #1 -Friday May 5th 2056
Milwaukee 7-18 vs Chicago 13-12
RHSP Kent Bennett 1-1 3.42 vs Julio Castro 0-3 5.52
A - 37,183

Milwaukee’s Luo-Lang Petit triples in a run, then scores on a sac fly. Teammate Kennelly Mulford hits a three-run home run. Kent Bennett (6.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K) shuts out Chicago for nearly seven innings. Milwaukee 5, Chicago 1.

LF R Leroy 2-4 HR R RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-4
HR - Mil SS K Mulford (3) CH LF R LeRoy (11)
POTG - Future Chicago SS (we hope) Kennelly Mulford (personally I would have gone with SP Bennett)


Game #2 -Saturday May 6th 2056
Milwaukee 8-18 vs Chicago 13-13
LHSP Arthur Tiller 1-1 4.76 vs SP Val Imbert 1-2 5.12
A - 36,492

Chicago scores three in the first, with Rodeo Leroy hitting a two-run home run. Milwaukee comes back, one run at a time, tying things back up, 3-3, in the sixth. In the seventh, the Tects took the lead on three walks and a sac fly. Chicago 4, Milwaukee 3.

SP V Imbert 8IP 6H 3R 2ER 2BB 4K, LF R LeRoy 2-3 HR R 2RBI, C J Duran 2-3 R BB
HR - Mil C C Phillips (2), CH - LF R LeRoy (12)
POTG Chicago SP Val Imbert (1)

Game #3 -Sunday May 7th 2056
Milwaukee 8-19 vs Chicago 14-13
RHSP Jon Atkinson 1-3 8.10 vs Terry Noble 1-0 3.91
A - 37,039

Chicago’s Terry Noble (8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K) pitches eight shutout innings. Cris Luna and John Lambert hit two-run home runs. Luna also singles in a run. Chicago 6, Milwaukee 0.

LF R LeRoy 2-4 DB, C J Hunt 2-4 DB 2R RBI, CF C Luna 3-4 HR R 3RBI
HR - CH 2B J Lambert (4), CF C Luna (2) Mil - none
POTG - Chicago SP Terry Noble (2)

Summary - Huge game out of swingman veteran Terry Noble who won his 80th GLBL game in his career. While sweeping the last place Eagles was the desired hope we ran into Kent Bennett who was definitely dealing. We have had our eyes on Milwaukee SS Kennelly Mulford for some time. He will be expensive both in salary as he has 2 more arbitration years left and in prospects to likely acquire him. The internal discussion is ongoing, but don’t be surprised if we do engage in those talks seriously.

Monday May 8th - off day at home in Chicago

Toledo Neptunes 18-10 1st place in US vs Chicago Architects 15-13 4th place in US
Tuesday May 9th through Thursday May 11th, 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

Today we begin a huge 3-game series with the Toledo Neptunes at home.

The Neptunes are playing .643 ball this season, compiling a record of 18 wins and 10 losses. They are leading the South of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 166 rank tied for 1st in the USA, their .298 batting average ranks 2nd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 115 runs (2nd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.04 which ranks 2nd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.79, ranking 3rd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 3 wins and 0 losses.

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Nick Keddy (Age: 29, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. RP Ricardo Valentín (30, 4.5, 4.5)
3. SP Christopher Bouchard (29, 3.5, 3.5)
4. 1B Eric Molina (29, 3.5, 3.5)
5. SP Harvey Moore (32, 3.0, 3.0)

The Neptunes swept us at their place earlier in the season, it would be great to return the favor here.

Game #1 - Tuesday May 9th, 2056
Toledo 18-10 vs Chicago 15-13
LHSP Harvey Moore 3-2 5.71 vs Jose Cedeno 4-0 2.06
A - 37,636

The Neptunes scored three in the fourth, with Carlos Montaño doubling in two. The Architects scored three in the bottom of the fourth, with Reagan Osborn hitting a two-run home run. The Neptunes scored two in the fifth, with Ken Armour tripling and scoring. The Tects wait until the seventh to respond. There they score three. Rodeo Leroy singles in one, and José Aranda doubles in two. Chicago 6, Toledo 5.

2B J Lambert 2-5 R, LF R LeRoy 2-4 2R RBI, SS K Noseworthy 2-4 DB R RP B Lutz 2.1IP 2H 0R 3BB 4K
HR - Tol none CH 1B R Osborn (4)
POTG - Toledo SP Harvey Moore

Game #2 - Wednesday May 10th, 2056
Toledo 18-11 vs Chicago 16-13
RHSP Christopher Bouchard 4-0 1.24 vs Julio Castro 0-3 5.52
A - 37,441

The bottom of Toledo’s order shows some muscle. Paul Jackson and Jean-Paul Richard both homer in the second, with Jackson’s home run plating three runs. That’s enough for Christopher Bouchard (7 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K). He wins his fifth game of the season and has so far been the front runner for the US Pitcher of the Year. Toledo 4, Chicago 2.

2B J Lambert 2-5, LF R LeRoy 2-3 HR R RBI BB, C J Hunt 3-4 DB RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-4
HR - CH LF R LeRoy (13), Tol CF P Jackson (2), C J Richard (1)
POTG - Toledo SP Christopher Bouchard

Game #3 - Thursday May 11th, 2056
Toledo 19-11 vs Chicago 16-14
RHSP N. Keddy 1-1, 2.95 ERA vs Joe Johnson 0-1 6.11
A - 37,441

The Neptunes hit six home runs. Schnozz Park and Luis González each hit one; Mark Wadell and Philippe Labbé each hit two. Terrible start for Johnson who looked great in his last outing. Chicago isn’t giving LF Robert LeRoy enough support, he can’t do it all by himself. LeRoy is hitting 452 on the season with 13 home runs and 36 RBI’s and leads the GLBL in all 3 categories. Toledo 12, Chicago 4.

LF R LeRoy 2-4 2DB 2R RBI BB, DH J Aranda 2-4 DB
HR - Tol 2B S Park (2), 3B L Gonzalez (3), RF M Wadell 2 (7), 1B P Labbe 2 (6) CH - none
POTG - Toledo 1B Phillippe Labbe

Summary - Toledo got the best of us again so we split the 6 games at home 3-3 against the 1st Neptunes and last place Eagles. At 17-15 the Architects are in the thick of the US race tied for 2nd place with Duluth and Detroit. All 3 clubs are 4 games back of the front-running Neptunes 21-11. Hamilton leads the Canadian division with a GLBL best 23-9. The Mounties have been on fire all season ever since their rush to the playoffs last year. One one point the Mounties were 57-57 last season (and they were below that mark at one point) but since that time the Mounties went 22-8 to close out the 55 season and with this year's 23-9 they are 45-17 over their last 62 regular season games.

After the series with the Neptunes we made a call with Milwaukee and engaged in serious talks with the Eagles about acquiring their SS Kennelly Mulford. We made progress in those talks and we hope to have an announcement soon on his acquisition.

1B Reagan Osborn has had a rough start to the season, but he is 1 home run away from hitting the 100th in his career. Hopefully it comes soon and he can get going as this club needs his bat to start making a difference.

We have also sent SP Yale Hulburt on a rehab assignment. We are looking at possible activation after 2 or 3 starts at AAA. Somewhere between May 17th and 20th will be his likely call up to rejoin the big league rotation.

Next up on our schedule is a home series against Detroit which the Architects swept in Detroit earlier this year and the club would certainly like to do that again at home. So far against the teams that were called the bottom of the USA division (Detroit, Traverse City and Milwaukee) the Architects have an 11-4 record against those clubs. I felt that we needed to win 50 games against these 3 to have a realistic chance at the top of the league. So a sweep would definitely put the club on that pace and target. But if we don’t start at least splitting games with Toledo it might be a moot point.

After the Detroit series the club will begin its 2nd set of games against Canadian clubs with 2 games at Toronto and then 2 more against red-hot Hamilton. So far this season we are 1-3 against Canadian teams.

[DD Martin]

Big matchups continue in the tight USA Division

Friday, May 12th through Sunday. May 14th 2056
Detroit Thunderbirds 17-14 vs Chicago Architects 16-15
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

Big matchup with Detroit as the Architects enter this series 1 game behind both Detroit and Duluth who are tied for 2nd place. Toledo is up 4 games on us and leading the division. So far this season the Architects are 3-0 against Detroit sweeping the first series of the season in Detroit several weeks ago.

Detroit’s offense has scored 171 runs and rank 2nd in the USA, their .300 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 146 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.18 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.77, ranking 2nd.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP T. Noble (2-0, 2.90 ERA) vs RHP J. Kim (1-0, 4.35 ERA)
RHP J. Johnson (0-2, 7.06 ERA) vs LHP D. Miller (3-2, 4.97 ERA)
RHP J. Cedeño (4-0, 2.86 ERA) vs LHP B. Miller (1-3, 7.33 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Bill Clary (Age: 28, Overall : 3.0, Potential: 3.0)
2. RF Stan Gillis (30, 3.0, 3.0)
3. 1B Mal Johnston (22, 3.0, 4.0)
4. LF Melvin Akerval (26, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Joo-seok Kim (27, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Friday May 12th 2056
Detroit 17-14 vs Chicago 16-15
RHSP Joo-seok Kim 1-0 4.95 vs Val Imbert 2-2 4.42
A - 37,066

Chicago’s Val Imbert (7.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K) and John Moore (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) shutout Detroit. Joe Hunt hits two home runs. But the game’s best performance probably belongs to 22-year-old Tom Stone, who goes 4-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and five RBIs. Three of those RBIs came on a bases-loaded double. Chicago 9, Detroit 0.

2B J Lambert 2-4 DB TP BB 2R, RF T Stone 4-4 DB R 5RBI, C J Hunt 2-4 2HR 2R 3RBI, SS P Farrulla 2-4dB 2R
HR - CH C J Hunt 2 (4) Det- non
POTG - Chicago RF Tom Stone (1)

Game #2 - Saturday May 13th 2056
Detroit 17-15 vs Chicago 17-15
LHSP Dwayne Miller 3-2 4.97 vs Terry Noble 2-0 2.90
A - 36,999

Chicago scores the first four runs, Detroit scores the next five. Chicago’s Reagan Osborn ties things up in the seventh by doubling in Joe Justice. Dai-Lin Tah gives Detroit the lead again in the eighth by doubling in Trace Brunel. The T-Birds take a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth. Osborn singles in the tying run. With the bases loaded and one out, José Aranda flies to right. Kent Noseworthy makes it home without a throw. Chicago 7, Detroit 6.

2B J Lambert 2-3 DB 2R 2BB, 1B R Osborn 3-5 DB TP 2RBI’s, CF C Luna 2-4 HR R 2RBI, DH J Aranda 3-4 RBI
HR - Det LF M Akerval (3), CF F Bernier (2), CH - LF R LeRoy (14), CF C Luna (3)
POTG - Detroit LF M Melvin Akerval

Game #3 - Sunday May 14th 2056
Detroit 17-16 vs Chicago 18-15
LHSP Brian Miller 1-3, 7.33 ERA vs Jose Cedeno 4-0 2.86
A - 36,999

The Architects sweep the T-Birds behind Chicago’s top pitcher Jose Cedeno who goes 8IP allowing 8 hits and 3 runs with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. Reagan Osborn hits a two-run home run. Joe Justice hits a two-run single. Thomas Arnaud singles in Osborn and triples and scores. Chicago 7, Detroit 3.

C J Duran 2-4 R, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 TP R RBI, 1B R Osborn 1-2 HR 2R 2RBI 2BB
HR - Det LF M Arkerval (4), CH 1B R Osborn (5)
POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (1)

Summary - The Architects move to 6-0 against Detroit who is still at 500 despite the woes against Chicago. With the win Chicago moves to 19-15 and into a 2nd place tie with Duluth with both clubs trailing division leading Toledo by 2 games.

It was sure nice to see 1B Reagan Osborn get a POTG nod. It was his first this season and it came at a great time in support of SP Jose Cedeno who moves to 5-0 on the season with a 2.94 ERA. Osborn has upped his average to 226 on the season and now has 5 home runs along with 18 RBI’s.

With the close of this series the season has gone through 2 of the 6 rounds of inter-division play. Against the US division the Architects are 18-12 now but the 1-3 mark against the Canadian clubs continues to haunt us. And we have games against two Canadian clubs on the road to start off this new week.

Monday, May 15th and Tuesday May 16th 2056
Chicago Architects 19-15 T-2nd US @ Toronto Maples 17-17 3rd place in Can

Next up is a 2-game series on the road against the Toronto Maples kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent:

A slight pitchers park, Ontario Ballpark has room for 40000 fans.

With their record standing at 17 wins and 17 losses, the Maples have a winning percentage of .500. They are in 3rd place in the North of the Border, 6.0 games behind the leader. The Maples are playing well at the moment, having a 5-game winning streak going. Their number of runs scored of 156 rank 5th in the Canadian, their .288 batting average ranks 2nd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 166 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.78 which ranks 5th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.60, ranking 1st.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
LHP J. Castro (0-4, 5.71 ERA) vs RHP M. Inoue (4-2, 3.31 ERA)
RHP V. Imbert (3-2, 3.68 ERA) vs RHP E. Hale (2-2, 8.42 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Motoyuki Inoue (Age: 28, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. 2B Carlos Figueroa (30, 4.0, 4.0)
3. CF Peyton Coffman (28, 3.5, 3.5)
4. LF Dwayne Adams (33, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP José Cardona (26, 3.0, 3.5)

This is the first meeting of the season against Toronto. In the overall all-time series Toronto leads 75-69. Last season the two teams split the 4 games played.

Game #1 Monday May 15th, 2056
Chicago 19-15 @ Toronto 17-17
Julio Castro 0-4 5.71 vs RHSP Motoyuki Inoue 4-2 3.31
A - 19,419

Chicago’s Júlio Castro (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K) and John Moore (3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) hold Toronto to one run and three hits. A slow start of the season for Inoue so far this year only being 4-3 after the tough decision today. Chicago 5, Toronto 1.

RF J Ashley 2-4 HR R RBI, SS P Farrulla 2-4 DB 2RBI BB
HR - CH RF J Ashley (5), Tor - none
POTG - Chicago SP Julio Castro (1)

Game #2 Tuesday May 16th, 2056
Chicago 20-15 @ Toronto 17-18
RHP Val Imbert (3-2, 3.68 ERA) vs RHSP Ed Hale (2-2, 8.42 ERA)
A - 16,401


In the eighth, three Maples singles and a sac fly score the tying run. The game is still tied, 3-3, in the 13th. And here we get a play that I don’t understand. Here is how it’s listed in the game log: 3-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F
SINGLE, rundown, safe at 1st
After that single (?), two more singles bring the runner around home. Chicago 4, Toronto 3. 13 innings

SP V Imbert 5.1IP 4H 2R 4BB 1K, 2B J Lambert 4-7 2DB, HR 2R RBI, DH J Aranda 2-4 HR R RBI, CF C Luna 2-5 TP BB
HR - CH DH J Aranda (1), 2B J Lambert (5)
POTG - Chicago 2B John Lambert (1)

Summary - Huge wins in Toronto put the Architects at 21-15 and in a first place tie with Toledo with Duluth in 3rd place 1 game behind. That is the way this season is going to be I believe and it still feels like a 3-team race but Detroit is hanging around so that makes them a dangerous club.

After the game the Toronto GM and I started talks about several players. Toronto is feeling the pinch of being over-budget and well we are feeling the pinch but not over budget….yet. The conversations were good in regards to a potential blockbuster type of deal, but that will have to wait.

We did make another deal that addressed our clubs perhaps biggest weakness and that was the bat at SS. While Pablo Farrulla’s glove is among the better ones, his bat has been a black hole most of this year. After today’s game he had brought his average up to 190 on the season (up from a season low of 118 just several weeks ago). While this move that we made might not be a big one to many, it felt big to us. Several factors went into this decision.

1.) We are a contending team now and while we had hoped prospect SS Cristo Sandoval would be ready to start the season with the big league club. But his September cup of coffee going 2-29 with 15 strikeouts had made us concerned his bat was not ready. So Farrulla stepped into the full time SS role that we only intended to have him in the 2nd half of last season. He played solidly for us last year and earned his spot on the roster, but we wanted that spot to be a backup in the middle infield. Because he had to start, we decided to sign veteran former Architect Kent Noseworthy to a deal to back up 2B, 3B and SS.

2.) Sandoval is not ready and through the first part of the season he is hitting just 245 at AAA with the Joe’s. His strikeouts continue to be a concern as he is 25+% of the time.

Chicago Strikes a Deal to Bring SS Kennelly Mulford to Architects

So to solve the problem, we struck a deal with the Milwaukee Eagles. In the deal we acquired SS Kennelly Mulford (27) who was hitting 304/354/811 with the Eagles. He is a very good defensive SS with good range. To make the deal the Architects had to send several top end prospects, including 3B Jesus Hernandez (20 prospect #35) and OF Don Hill (22 prospect #48). The Architects also sent former starting OF Matt Graves who led the GLBL in steals last season but had dropped out of the starting outfield mix with the emergence of Tom Stone and the free agent signing of LF Robert LeRoy. Also going in the deal was minor league SS Pedro Santana (21).

With the acquisition of Mulford we immediately began negotiations to sign him to an extension to buyout his last 2 arbitration seasons and his first 4 years of free agency. This would give us some payroll certainty with the SS position.

While this move seems to indicate that we are giving up on SS Cristo Sandoval, that is not true. If Sandoval can put it all together he would be brought up and between them I could see a Sandoval/Mulford partnership up the middle with either playing either 2B or SS. Now if we did that it would move current 2B John Lambert to the super sub role that he enjoyed last season, but he would still be playing a starter amount of games since he can play in so many different positions. But I don’t think based on where things are at right now that we are concerned about having to move Lambert around.

Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn Named USA Player of the Week

Chicago fans have something to crow about today as Chicago first baseman Reagan Osborn nabbed the USA Player of the Week Award for his performance over the last seven days.

"I know there are times when it's hard to lay off pitches. Everyone goes through stretches when he's too eager to put the ball in play. You know, though, I feel like this past week I was able to get in the right frame of mind and just let things come naturally," said Osborn.

He posted a .429 average (9-for-21) this past week with 2 home runs, 7 RBIs, and 3 runs scored.

Currently Osborn is batting .226 with 28 hits and 5 home runs. He has knocked in 18 runs and scored 19 times.

[DD Martin]

Top Teams of Both Divisions on the Road Next

We stay north of the border going from Toronto to face the club that has set the GLBL on fire this season, no not Thunder Bay. It is the Hamilton Mounties who have taken off like a rocket and with a 25-11 record. After two games there we head back state side with a big match up with first place Toledo.

Wednesday May 17th and Thursday May 18th 2056
Chicago Architects 21-15 T-1st in US @ Hamilton Mounties 25-11 1st in Canada

Today we begin a 2-game series with the Hamilton Mounties on the road.
A neutral park, Harbour Field has room for 40000 fans.

With their record standing at 25 wins and 11 losses, the Mounties have a winning percentage of .694. They are leading the North of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 211 rank 1st in the Canadian, their .292 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 154 runs (tied for 1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.03 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.32, ranking 3rd.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP T. Noble (2-0, 3.62 ERA) vs RHP J. Murdock (1-2, 3.52 ERA)
RHP J. Johnson (0-2, 7.06 ERA) vs LHP G. Rodríguez (3-2, 6.86 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 2B Li-ping Chin (Age: 29, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. SP Sean Moore (28, 4.0, 4.0)
3. SP Yakumo Hasegawa (38, 3.5, 3.5)
4. DH Glen Dickie (30, 3.5, 3.5)
5. RF Wilson Meléndez (30, 3.0, 3.0)

Chicago leads the all-time record with 80 wins against 64 losses. Last season Hamilton won all 4 meetings.

Game #1 - Wednesday May 17th 2056
Chicago 21-15 @ Hamilton 25-11
RHP Terry Noble (2-0, 3.62 ERA) vs RHP Joe Murdock (1-2, 3.52 ERA)
A - 23,412

In the ninth, Chicago ties the game, 4-4, on a single, two walks, and a sac fly. In the 10th, Hamilton wins it on a Maurice Calhoun double, a Glen Dickie single, and a Tom Corson walk-off single. Hamilton 5, Chicago 4. 10 Innings

C J Duran 2-4 DB 3R BB, SS K Mulford 2-3 TP R 2RBI BB,
HR - none
POTG - Hamilton SP Joe Murdock

Game #2 - Thursday May 18th 2056
Chicago 21-16 @ Hamilton 26-11
RHSP Joe Johnson (0-2, 7.06 ERA) vs LHSP Gabriel Rodríguez (3-2, 6.86 ERA)
A - 23,451

Hamilton’s Gabriel Rodríguez (6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K) gets back to his winning ways after a recent string of disastrous starts. (How disastrous? Today’s performance lowers his ERA to 5.96.) Li-Ping Chin and Charlie Schultz both hit two-run home runs. That’s the rookie Schultz’s second major-league home run. Bet he’s glad that he’s in the majors making some real money, not the peanuts he made in the minors. Hamilton 5, Chicago 3.

LF R LeRoy 2-4 DB
HR - CH DH J Ashley (6), PH J Justice (2) Ham - 2B L Chin (5) LF C Schultz (2)
POTG - Hamilton SP Gabriel Rodriguez

Summary - Disappointing but not totally unexpected. Hamilton has the best record in the league and at home are a very tough team to beat. They have now won 6 straight games dating back to last season against the Architects. That is something that we will need to turn around in several months when the Mounties go to Chicago. But with the two losses we really need to pick up the pace against Toledo. They have won 5 out of the first 6 games just like last season. We’d like to see the start of what we did last season and win 13 of the last 18, so let’s start here.

While our club and Toledo slept walked through the Canadian games (Chicago is 3-5 on the season against Canadian teams and Toledo is 2-6), Duluth continues to record from their 5-10 and has gone 7-1 against Canadian clubs. Duluth has taken over 1st place in the US.

Heading into this series we welcome back SP Yale Hulburt from his 12 month injury rehab. He will get a start in this series in game #2.

Chicago Architects 21-17 T-2nd in the USA @ Toledo Neptunes 21-17 T-2nd
Friday May 19th through Sunday May 21st 2056

We have a 3-game series on the road against the Toledo Neptunes kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: We will meet in Ballpark of Toledo, which seats 40000 and plays like a slight pitchers park.

Going 21-17 so far this year, the Neptunes have compiled a .553 winning percentage. They are in 2nd place in the South of the Border, 1.0 games behind the leader. The Neptunes are on a cold streak, losing their last 6 games. Their number of runs scored of 225 rank 1st in the USA, their .290 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 166 runs (2nd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.05 which ranks 2nd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.14, ranking 2nd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 5 wins and 1 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP J. Cedeño (5-0, 2.94 ERA) vs LHP H. Moore (3-2, 5.91 ERA)
RHP Y. Hulbert (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs RHP C. Bouchard (5-0, 1.25 ERA)
RHP V. Imbert (3-2, 3.65 ERA) vs RHP N. Keddy (2-2, 3.27 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Nick Keddy (Age: 29, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. RP Ricardo Valentín (30, 4.5, 4.5)
3. SP Christopher Bouchard (29, 3.5, 3.5)
4. 1B Eric Molina (29, 3.5, 3.5)
5. SP Harvey Moore (32, 3.0, 3.0)

On the injury front. Thursday, May 18th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: 3B Thomas Arnaud was injured in a collision at a base. The Diagnosis: sprained thumb. He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks. Not a great situation for us to have Arnaud again on the DL. IF Larry Davis has been recalled from AAA to take Arnaud’s place on the roster.

Game #1 - Friday May 19th 2056
Chicago 21-17 @ Toledo 21-17
RHSP Jose Cedeño (5-0, 2.94 ERA) vs LHSP Harvey Moore (3-2, 5.91 ERA)
A - 39,794

The Neptunes’ losing streak continues. Chicago’s José Cedeño (8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K) holds Toledo’s bats quiet. Chicago’s bats are anything but. John Lambert homers twice. Juan Durán and Cris Luna homer once. Durán also hits a bases-loaded triple and finishes the day with five RBIs. Chicago 9, Toledo 1.

2B J Lambert 2-5 2HR 2R 2RBI, RF T Stone 2-4 RBI SB, SS K Mulford 2-3 BB,
HR - CH C J Duran (5), CF C Luna (4), 2B J Lambert 2 (7) Tol - none
POTG - Chicago C Juan Duran (1)

Game #2 - Saturday May 20th 2056
Chicago 22-17 @ Toledo 21-18
RHSP Yale Hulbert (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs RHS P Christopher Bouchard (5-0, 1.25 ERA)
A - 39,937

The Neptunes snap their seven-game losing streak as Chicago SP Yale Hulburt only goes 2.2IP giving up 6 runs and 4 earned on 5 hits and 3 walks. Paul Jackson homers, and Christopher Bouchard (6.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 11 K) strikes out 11. Toledo 6, Chicago 4.

RP B Lutz 1.2IP 0H 0R 1BB 0K, RP J Moore 3.2IP 0H 0R 1BB 2K
HR - Ch - none Tol - RF P Jackson (3)
POTG - Toledo SP Christopher Bouchard

Game #3 - Sunday May 21st, 2056
Chicago 22-18 @ Toledo 22-18
RHsP Val Imbert (3-2, 3.65 ERA) vs RHSP Nick Keddy (2-2, 3.27 ERA)
A - 39,682

Toledo’s Eric Molina hits a two-run home run, Luis González hits two two-run doubles (and a sac fly), and Paul Jackson hits a two-run double. Nick Keddy had given up 11 runs over his previous three starts, but he returns to form today (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K) as Toledo takes the rubber game and moves ahead of Chicago in the standings. Toledo 11, Chicago 1.

RF T Stone 2-4 2DB, CF C Luna 2-3 R
HR - CH - none Tol - 1B E Molina (11)
POTG - Toledo 1B Eric Molina

Summary - The series against Toledo got off to a good start with that big first game win, but then quickly turned and now we are 2-7 against the Neptunes on the season. Toledo’s GM stated at the beginning of this season changing last season's results was more about beating Chicago head to head than worrying about 1-run games. Last year Chicago win 14 out of the 24 matchups after Toledo won 5 of the first 6. In those 14 wins were 6 of Chicago’s 29 1-run wins. So far mission accomplished for the Neptunes.

Veteran SP Yale Hulburt made his triumphant return after a year on the shelf. His return against Toledo was a rough one as he only managed to last 2 ⅔’s innings as the Architects lost 6-4.

Off day - Monday May 22nd

Trade Announcement

Chicago pulls the trigger on its biggest deal maybe ever under current GM

The Architects are known especially the last several seasons as being wheelers and dealers and despite not having won the GLBL World in his previous 4 seasons, Chicago GM Martin is pulling out all stops this year. The question is did he pay too much?

The Architects sent a huge package to the Toronto Maples for SP Motoyuki Inoue (28 RHSP). Not only was the package big, the Architects have assumed Inoue’s big contract for the rest of this season and next with an arbitration year after that. Inoue’s contract calls for $38 million this season and $36 million next, which will put the Architects over budget by an estimated $13+ million this season and maybe as much as $20+ next season. Only playoff revenue could save the budget concerns and that is what this move is all about.

Going to the Toronto Maples are the following players. Veteran RF Jim Ashley (36 $20 million) will be with the Maples. Our understanding was to make this deal even come close to working, Ashley had to be involved to help offset some of the salary of Inoue.

Also going to Toronto are prospects LHSP Ruben Marin, RHSP Brad Sellers, SS Cristo Sandoval, 2B Bob Tobin and RHSP Oleg Bartolomej who was in the clubs international development training center. Chicago also acquired OF Salvatore Bernard.

With the trading of SS Sandoval and 2B Tobin it appears Chicago is banking on the middle infield combination of SS Kennelly Mulford who was just acquired from Milwaukee and breakout 2B John Lambert to be their double play combination for at least the next 5+ seasons. At one point many observers felt that Tobin and Sandoval would be that future keystone combo. Did the Architects run out of patience? Not so claims the clubs GM “When your in a world title window which I feel we are squarely in, you make bold moves to win it all. That’s what we have done here in acquiring both Mulford and Inoue. We are looking to win it all now!”

When asked about the payroll concerns Martin shrugged them off stating “We feel these moves are the keys to putting us over the top to win it all. If we do what I think we can do the money issues will work out just fine. I’m not worried about payroll in the future, I just concentrate on the current year. We make the playoffs and it will all work out just fine.”

Inoue who has won 2 Canadian Pitcher of the year awards with Toronto but is only 4-4 on the current season with a disappointing Maples club who thought they’d be in a title run season after the moves they made last season. Inoue will likely start when the Architects come home to open a huge 9-game homestand against the Traverse City Bears, he will not make the road trip to Milwaukee to face the Eagles.

When Chicago Owner Gregory Bocquet Jr. was asked to comment on the addition of Inoue he appeared optimistic. “We just acquired the best pitcher in baseball, no offense to our friends in Toledo, but everyone knows Inoue is the best. The fans are ecstatic about the deal.” When asked about rumblings of budgetary concerns the owner briskly stated “Inoue results will more than cover the financial investment in any salary. I expect tickets will be hard to find and merch sales will likely explode. But let me make this clear, this is about winning and bringing home a World Title to the fans of this great city!”

After walking away from the reporter the owner said in hushed tones to his GM on the phone. “This had better work Martin, you know the consequences of failure. You have put me in a bad spot with the press and fanbase.”

[DD Martin]

Last place Milwaukee and then home for 9 big USA Division Games

Chicago heads to Milwaukee for 3 games against the last place Eagles. With a record of 22-19 the Architects are looking to rebound from losing 4 out of their last 5.

Tuesday May 23rd through Thursday May 25th 2056
Chicago Architects 22-19 3rd in the US @ Milwaukee Eagles 12-29 6th in the US

We have a 3-game series on the road against the Milwaukee Eagles kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: We will meet in The Nest, which seats 40000 and plays like a slight pitchers park.

Going 12-29 so far this year, the Eagles have compiled a .293 winning percentage. They are in 6th place in the South of the Border, 12.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 192 rank 5th in the USA, their .275 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 251 runs (6th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.68 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 6.78, ranking 6th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 2 wins and 4 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP J. Johnson (0-3, 6.75 ERA) vs RHP M. Emery (2-4, 4.30 ERA)
RHP J. Cedeño (6-0, 2.70 ERA) vs RHP M. Belding (0-5, 7.15 ERA)
RHP T. Noble (2-0 4.23 ERA) vs RHP K. Bennett (3-1 2.84 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. C Cecil Phillips (Age: 33, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. 1B John Crosby (28, 2.5, 2.5)
3. SP Mike Emery (23, 2.5, 3.0)
4. SP Kent Bennett (26, 2.5, 2.5)
5. RF Luo-lang Petit (25, 2.5, 2.5)

Game #1 - Tuesday May 23rd, 2056
Chicago 22-19 @ Milwaukee 12-29
RHSP Joe Johnson (0-3, 6.75 ERA) vs RHSP Mike Emery (2-4, 4.30 ERA)
A - 20,906

The Architects get off to a bright start, scoring twice in the first, but Mike Emery (5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K) and three Eagles relievers hold the Tects scoreless thereafter. The game heads to the bottom of the ninth tied, 2-2. With one out and runners on first and second, Milwaukee brings in Mohamed Raoul to pinch-run at second. He promptly steals third, then beats the throw home when John Crosby flies to center. Milwaukee 3, Chicago 2.

2B J Lambert 2-4 R SP J Johnson 5.2IP 5H 2R 4BB 5K
HR - None
POTG - Milwaukee SP Mike Emery

Game #2 - Wednesday May 24th, 2056
Chicago 22-20 @ Milwaukee 13-29
RHSP Jose Cedeño (6-0, 2.70 ERA) vs RHSP Mitch Belding (0-5, 7.15 ERA)
A - 23,463

In the ninth, Chicago’s John Lambert ties the game with a solo home run. In the 10th, two singles and a Cecil Phillips sac fly wins the game for the Eagles. Milwaukee 3, Chicago 2. 10 Innings

SP J Cedeno 7IP 8H 2R 3BB 6K, RP L Stott 2IP 0H 0R 3K, 2B J Lambert 1-1 HR R RBI
HR - CH 2B J Lambert (9) Mil - none
POTG - Milwaukee SP Mitch Belding

Game #3 - Thursday May 25th, 2056
Chicago 22-21 @ Milwaukee 14-29
RHSP Terry Noble (2-0 4.23 ERA) vs RHSP Ken Bennett (3-1 2.84 ERA)
A - 26,134

Chicago’s Rodeo Leroy and John Lambert both hit two home runs. Leroy’s two home runs are both two-run home runs. Lambert, hitting leadoff, hits a pair of solo home runs. Cris Luna chips in with a three-run home run. Chicago 11, Milwaukee 4.

SP T Noble 6IP 5H 2R 1BB 3K, 2B J Lambert 3-4 TP 2HR 2R 2RBI, BB SB, 1B R Osborn 2-5 DB 2R RBI, LF R LeRoy 2-4 2HR 2R 4RBI BB, C J Hunt 2-5 R, SS K Mulford 2-5 R
HR - CH - LF R LeRoy 2(16), 2B J Lambert 2 (10), CF C Luna (5)
POTG - Chicago LF Robert LeRoy (6)

Summary - Losing the first 2 games of the series against Milwaukee (3-2 in both) felt like we hit rock bottom. At 22-21 and losing 6 of the last 7 things were starting to feel a little bleak as the offense who relied on LF Robert LeRoy so much was not scoring suddenly. We are still really awaiting 1B Reagan Osborn to really wake up. He has been a bit better this month so far hitting 224. But then in game 3 against the Eagles the club’s bats woke up.

Now we need to carry this into a very important 9-game homestand against Traverse City, Detroit and Duluth. Winning each series would be great, but going 7-2 would be exactly what this club truly needs.

Fans will get to see the first look of our new SP Motoyuki Inoue (58-44 3.40 ERA career, with 2 all-star game appearances and 2 impressive and shinny Canadian Pitcher of the Year Awards). Inoue has led the GLBL in strikeouts each of the last 4 seasons with a total of 997 K’s in just over 4 full seasons.

Traverse City Bears 20-24 5th place in US vs Chicago Architects 23-21 4th place in US
Friday May 26th through Sunday May 28th 2056

TheTraverse City Bears, our next opponent, come to town in an upcoming 3-game series, and here are the stats.

With their record standing at 20 wins and 24 losses, the Bears have a winning percentage of .455. They are in 5th place in the South of the Border, 6.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 211 rank 4th in the USA, their .278 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 241 runs (5th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.79 which ranks 4th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.69, ranking 5th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 2 wins and 4 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP M. Inoue (4-4, 3.63 ERA) vs RHP W. Bader (1-3, 3.72 ERA)
RHP Y. Hulbert (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs RHP J. Hall (2-3, 4.19 ERA)
RHP J. Cedeño (6-0, 2.69 ERA) vs RHP D. Moss (2-1, 3.13 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. RF Earl Foote (Age: 27, Overall : 5.0, Potential: 5.0)
2. CF Cal Braud (28, 4.0, 4.5)
3. CF Ben Marshall (32, 3.0, 3.0)
4. SP John Hall (29, 2.5, 2.5)
5. 2B Alexis Martin (26, 2.5, 2.5)

Game #1- Friday May 26th, 2056
Traverse City 20-24 vs Chicago Architects 23-21
RHSP Walt Bader (1-3, 3.72 ERA) vs RHSP Motoyuki Inoue (4-4, 3.63 ERA)
A - 37,141

Making his first start in an Architects uniform, Motoyuki Inoueu (8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K) gives up an unearned run in the first, then retires 13 straight Bears batters. Rodeo Leroy homers, and Tom Stone, 22, goes 3-for-4 with a double and two ribbies. Chicago 5, Traverse City 1.

CL P Wright 0.2IP 0H 1K S (9), RF T Stone 3-4 DB 2RBI,
HR - TC None CH - LF R LeRoy (17)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (1)

Game #2- Saturday May 27th, 2056
Traverse City 20-25 vs Chicago Architects 24-21
RHSP John Hall (2-3, 4.19 ERA) vs RHSP Yale Hulbert (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
A - 37,006

In the bottom of the first, an error and two walks load the bases. Chicago’s first hit of the game is Joe Hunt’s grand slam. Chicago’s offense wakes up and smashes 17 hits as RF Tom Stone is having quite the “official” rookie season hitting 388 so far. SP Yale Hulburt wins his first game in over a year (5.1IP 3H 3R 3BB 7K). Chicago 13, Traverse City 5.

RF T Stone 2-4 HR 2R 3RBI BB SB, 2B J Lambert 1-5 2R RBI BB 3SB (20), LF R LeRoy 2-4 2R BB, CF C Luna 3-4 3DB 2R RBI BB, 3B K Noseworthy 2-5 DB R RBI, C J Hunt 2-5 HR 2R 4RBI
HR - CH C J Hunt (5), RF T Stone (2), TC LF B Tomiak (4)
POTG RF Tom Stone (2)

Game #3- Sunday May 28th, 2056
Traverse City 20-26 vs Chicago Architects 25-21
RHSP Dave Moss (2-1, 3.13 ERA) vs RHSP Jose Cedeño (6-0, 2.69 ERA)
A - 37,150

Chicago’s José Aranda hits a three-run home run and a one-run double, but he gets no further help from his teammates. Traverse City’s Cal Braud hits a two-run home run, Earl Foote hits a solo home run, Pedro Villegas scores on a sac fly, and Wally Whitaker singles in a run. Traverse City 5, José Aranda 4.

LF R LeRoy 3-4 DB 2R, DH J Aranda 2-3 DB HR 4RBI R
HR - CH DH J Aranda (2) TC - CF C Braud (5) RF E Foote (7)
POTG - Chicago DH Jose Aranda (1)

Summary - The start of the homestand goes 2-1 against the Bears and we will take that, but another 1 run loss. We are better than this. The Architects are 6-8 in 1-run this season and that is a category that we dominated last season going 29-11.

Putting our faith in 2B John Lambert has been a great call this off-season. We let 2B Walker Dunse leave via free agency and Lambert has more than filled the bill at the keystone position hitting 293/355/909 with 10 home runs, 23 RBI’s 42 runs scored and 20 out of 22 stealing bases from the leadoff spot in the lineup. He has more than done what we had hoped he could do.

RF Tom Stone has taken over since the trade of Jim Ashley and he has also been very good to start the season. Hitting 373/413/923 with 2 home runs 23 RBI’s and 13 runs scored in 110 plate appearances. Now that he is up full time with the Architects you will figure on him getting enough plate appearances to qualify for rookie of the year consideration if he keeps this going.

LF Robert “Rodeo” LeRoy Wins Player of the Week

Robert Leroy is respected by most Chicago Architects fans for his no-frills style of play. The 31-year-old left fielder went about his business with vigor last week to grab the USA Player of the Week honors.

He compiled a .391 average (9-for-23) with 3 home runs, 6 RBIs and 7 runs scored.

This season, Leroy has delivered 66 hits in 169 at-bats for a .391 average with 17 home runs. He is getting on base at a .453 clip and his totals also include 46 RBIs and 38 runs scored. This year Leroy has played in 44 games.

[DD Martin]

After two weeks off for the Holidays we get back at it. The Architects and the GLBL have still been playing ball and we will start to get caught up this week.

Back to Division Play with 6 Big Games

Heading into Memorial Day we have a big home series against the Detroit Thunderbirds (25-22) who are still annoyingly hanging around. Not only are we tied with them in the standings, we find ourselves in a 3-way tie with Toledo at 3 games back of 1st place Duluth.

May 29th through 31st 2056
Detroit Thunderbirds 25-22 T-2nd in US vs Chicago Architects 25-22 T-2nd US
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

We have a 3-game series at home against the Detroit Thunderbirds kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent:

Going 25-22 so far this year, the Thunderbirds have compiled a .532 winning percentage. They are in 4th place in the South of the Border, 3.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 249 rank 3rd in the USA, their .283 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 236 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.96 which ranks 5th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.04, ranking 3rd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 0 wins and 6 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP V. Imbert (3-3, 3.74 ERA) vs LHP D. Miller (3-2, 4.72 ERA)
RHP T. Noble (3-0, 4.09 ERA) vs LHP B. Miller (3-4, 6.28 ERA)
RHP M. Inoue (5-4, 3.21 ERA) vs RHP B. Xian (1-4, 6.85 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Bill Clary (Age: 28, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 3.5)
2. RF Stan Gillis (30, 3.0, 3.0)
3. LF Melvin Akerval (26, 3.0, 3.0)
4. 1B Mal Johnston (22, 3.0, 4.0)
5. SP Joo-seok Kim (27, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Monday May 29th, 2056
Detroit 25-22 vs Chicago 25-22
LHP Dwyane Miller (3-2, 4.72 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (3-3, 3.74 ERA)
A - 35,052

Detroit scored six runs in the first: four walks, a two-run Trace Brunel double, a walk, and a three-run Dai-Lin Tah double. Chicago starts to chip away the lead, but Detroit puts up a five-spot in the sixth with former Architect Art Loder hitting a grand slam. Detroit 14, Chicago 11.

RF T Stone 4-5 DB HR 2r 4RBI BB SB, 1B R Osborn 3-3 HR R 2RBI 3BB, C J Duran 2-5 RBI, SS K Mulford 2-5 DB R, LF J Justice 3-4 DB HR 2R 2RBI BB
HR - Det DH A Loder (6), RF S Gillis (4), 1B M Johnston (9), CH - 1B R Osborn (6), DH J Aranda (3), CF J Justice (3), RF T Stone (3)
POTG - Detroit RF Stan Gillis

Game #2 - Tuesday May 30th, 2056
Detroit 26-22 vs Chicago 25-23
LHP Brian Miller (3-4, 6.28 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (5-4, 3.21 ERA)
A - 37,016

Chicago’s Reagan Osborn kicks off the scoring with a two-run home run in the first. Chicago scores four more times in the first four innings, then goes hitless the rest of the way. Motoyuki Inoue (6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K) wins his second start as an Architect. The Tects bullpen nearly blows it. Chicago 6, Detroit 5.

HR - Det none, CH - 1B R Osborn (7)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (4) 2 with Chicago

Game #3 - Wednesday May 31st, 2056
Detroit 26-23 vs Chicago 26-23
RHP Joe Davis (1-1 1.95) vs RHP Yale Hulburt (1-1, 7.88 ERA)
A - 36,461

Chicago’s Joe Justice, José Aranda, and Joe Hunt all homer. Justice also singles in a run. Kent Nosworthy hits a two-run double. Chicago takes two of three and takes a one-game lead on Detroit in the Wild Card race. Chicago 10, Detroit 4.

DH J Aranda 2-3 DB HR 2R 2RBI BB, 3B K Noseworthy 2-4 2DB 2R 2RBI, CF J Justice 2-4 HR R 3RBI
HR - Det C J Seldon (1), CH - CF J Justice (4), DH J Aranda (4), C J Hunt (6)
POTG - Chicago DH Jose Aranda (2)

Summary - After a lousy first game the Architects came back strong and took 2 out of 3 against Detroit and ran their record to 8-1 against Detroit. 1B Reagan Osborn had 2 home runs in the first two games and hopefully he is coming out of his season long siesta and will have a great June. This club could surely use his bat.

What we could also use is some consistent pitching. It’s been very shaky of late and the concern is growing and I am feeling justified in giving up so much to get Inoue. If he and Cedeno can anchor our rotation and with Yale Hulburt hopefully starting to get into the season after a year off, things could be looking up.

The team is happy to have an off-day tomorrow especially in front of a big series against Duluth.

Off Day June 1st

June 2nd through June 4th 2056
Duluth Sea Gulls vs Chicago Architects
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

After taking 2 out of 3 against Detroit this could be the most important series of the 1st half of the season. We are at home against US leading Duluth and we trail them by 4 games. If we could somehow pull off a sweep of this series, we could go into the 3rd round of Canadian crossover games just 1 game out of first. That is a big ask as Duluth has been on fire since they started the season 5-10. Since then they have gone 26-9 and are by far playing the best ball in the US Division and have closed the gap on Hamilton who sits at 33-17.

Today we begin a 3-game series with the Duluth Sea Gulls at home.

With their record standing at 31 wins and 19 losses, the Sea Gulls have a winning percentage of .620. They are leading the South of the Border. The Sea Gulls are playing well at the moment, having a 3-game winning streak going. Their number of runs scored of 235 rank 5th in the USA, their .265 batting average ranks 6th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 212 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 3.61 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.79, ranking 1st. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 3 wins and 3 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP J. Cedeño (6-1, 3.05 ERA) vs RHP W. McNeely (5-2, 2.98 ERA)
RHP V. Imbert (3-4, 4.61 ERA) vs RHP C. Collier (4-3, 3.36 ERA)
RHP M. Inoue (6-4, 3.20 ERA) vs LHP T. Gross (4-2, 3.54 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 1B Jorge Rangel (Age: 25, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 4.0)
2. 2B Carlos Figueroa (30, 3.5, 3.5)
3. CF Carlos Sánchez (25, 3.0, 3.5)
4. SP Chris Collier (24, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Billy Hill (34, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Friday June 2, 2056
Duluth Sea Gulls 31-19 vs Chicago Architects 27-23
RHP Will McNeely (5-2, 2.98 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (6-1, 3.05 ERA)
A - 37,063

The Gulls win their fourth straight and their eighth game in their last nine. Reagan Osborn has a good game in defeat. He goes 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. Derrick Drew’s two-run double in the sixth turns a 6-5 deficit into a 7-6 Gulls lead. Duluth 8, Chicago 6.

1B R Osborn 3-4 2HR 2R 4RBI, DH J Aranda 2-4 DB R
HR - Dul none, CH - 1B R Osborn 2 (9)
POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (2)

Game #2 - Saturday June 3rd, 2056
Duluth Sea Gulls 32-19 vs Chicago Architects 27-24
RHP Chris Collier (4-3, 3.36 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (6-4, 3.20 ERA)
A - 36,891

Chicago’s Kennelly Mulford homers and singles in a run. John Lambert singles in two. Motoyuki Inoue (5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K) doesn’t have his best stuff, but he does have enough to pick up his third straight win as an Architect. Chicago 5, Duluth 4.

2B J Lambert 2-4 2BI BB, LF R LeRoy 2-4 R, SS K Mulford 2-4 HR 2R 2RBI, 3B K Noseworthy 2-4
HR - Dul C K Waters (3), CH - SS K Mulford (1)
POTG - Chicago SS Kennelly Mulford (2) 1 with Chicago

Game #3 - Sunday June 4th, 2056
Duluth Sea Gulls 32-20 vs Chicago Architects 27-24
LHP T. Gross (4-2, 3.54 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulburt (2-1, 6.20 ERA)
A - 37,631

Duluth scores the first five runs; Chicago scores the last six. The winning runs come in the seventh, where Rodeo Leroy and David Kenney singled in runs. Chicago 6, Duluth 5

3B L Davis 3-5 DB R 2RBI, DH J Aranda 2-4 HR R RBI, CF C Luna 2-4 DB , 2B P Farrulla 3-4 R
HR - Dul CF L McAskill (3), CH DH J Aranda (5)
POTG - Chicago 3B Larry Davis (1)

Summary - Not exactly the result we had hoped for, but we did get 2 out of 3. Toledo climbed ahead of the Architects into sole possession of 2nd place by a game. We remain 3 games out of 1st place. There is not much more we can do as financially we are now strapped and we have spent a lot of the prospect assets that I was willing to move. Hopefully we can get 3B Arnaud back and with this last week we saw Reagan Osborn start to heat up as he won player of the week.

Player of the Week in the USA

When it came to hitting the baseball, Reagan Osborn was in a class by himself in the USA this past week. Nobody did it better.

The outstanding first baseman for Chicago tagged opposing pitchers for a .400 average and was voted the Player of the Week Award. Included in his stats were 8 hits in 20 at-bats, 4 homers, 6 runs scored and 8 RBIs.

In the 2056 season Osborn is hitting .229 with 9 home runs.

I still can’t believe he is hitting 229 at this point in the season. The good news is he can truly only go up and I hope he can take the rest of our team with him.

I added the pictures of our financial situation, I will get more into that as we continue to catch up to the league.

[DD Martin]

Oh Joy more Canadian team Games

We began the last round in the first half of the season against our enemies from up North of the Border. So far this year after last year’s breakthrough 12-12 record against Canada, the Architects are a disappointing 3-5. At least we are taking on 2 sub-500 teams in Windsor and Owen Sound, maybe we can get lucky and split these 4 games, or maybe dare we hope to win 3 out of 4. We could certainly use the boost.

Windsor Vigilantes 21-32 last in Canada vs Chicago Architects 29-24 3rd in the US
June 5th and 6th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

We have a 2-game series at home against the Windsor Vigilantes kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent:

Going 21-32 so far this year, the Vigilantes have compiled a .396 winning percentage. They are in 6th place in the North of the Border, 13.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 278 rank 3rd in the Canadian, their .285 batting average ranks 4th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 308 runs (5th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.85 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.33, ranking 5th.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Y. Hulbert (2-1, 8.40 ERA) vs RHP M. Yoshida (2-3, 5.44 ERA)
RHP J. Cedeño (6-1, 3.42 ERA) vs RHP D. Floyd (0-5, 5.16 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Tatsukichi Fujimoto (Age: 23, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 4.0)
2. 1B Craig Hargrove (32, 3.5, 3.5)
3. LF Mark Easson (23, 3.0, 4.0)
4. 1B Alain Colle (28, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Jimmy Burnett (26, 2.5, 2.5)

Game #1 - Monday June 5th 2056
Windsor 21-32 vs Chicago 29-24
RHP Matsusuke Yoshida (2-3, 5.44 ERA) vs RHP Terry Noble 4-1 4.88
A - 37,607

For those paying attention and clearly I was not as I neglected to hit send on my export. So because I have been using daily lineups, I didn’t correct the fact that Terry Noble pitched in yesterday's game. No surprise here that he got bombed. The GM/Manager is an idiot, which after spending so much money I am sure our owner agrees.

This game was over almost before it began. Windsor scored seven times in the top of the first. Chris Allen does the most damage, swatting a three-run homer. This made for a rather relaxing start for Matsusuke Yoshida (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 K).Chicago scraped together just 5 singles in the game, at least 3 members of the bullpen pitched well. Windsor 8, Chicago 1.

RP J Johnson 3.2IP 1H 0R 1BB 3K, RP J Castro 3IP 1H 0R 3K, RP K Shannon 1IP 0H 0R, C J Hunt 2-3
HR - Win 3B C Allen (6), CH - none
POTG - Matsusuke Yoshida

Game #2 - Tuesday June 6th 2056
Windsor 22-32 vs Chicago 29-25
RHP Dan Floyd (0-5, 5.16 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (6-1, 3.42 ERA)
A - 37,167

Chicago’s Rodeo Leroy has a huge day. He goes 5-for-5 with two home runs, two doubles, four runs scored, and five RBIs. José Cedeño (7.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K) doesn’t do so bad himself. Chicago 10, Windsor 2.

LF R LeRoy 5-5 2DB 2HR 4R 5 RBI, 2B J Lambert 2-4 R RBI BB, RF T Stone 3-4 DB 2R 2RBI BB, SB, SS K Mulford 2-5 DB R
HR - Win 1B C Hargrove (13), CH - LF R LeRoy 2 (19),
POTG - Chicago LF Robert “Rodeo” LeRoy (7)

Summary - Will save our comments for after the Owen Sound 2-game series and wrap up Canada for the first half of the season.

Chicago Architects 30-25 3rd in US @ Owen Sound Waveriders 25-30 4th in Canada
June 7th and 8th 2056
Owen Sounds Waveriders Ballpark

Today we begin a 2-game series with the Owen Sound Waveriders on the road. The Waveriders play their games in Waveriders Ballpark, which can be described as a slight pitchers park. The building seats 40000 fans.

With their record standing at 25 wins and 30 losses, the Waveriders have a winning percentage of .455. They are in 4th place in the North of the Border, 10.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 252 rank 6th in the Canadian, their .275 batting average ranks 5th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 238 runs (2nd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.58 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.20, ranking 1st.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP M. Inoue (3-0 1.89) vs RHP J. Honoré (4-5, 4.92 ERA)
RHP V Imbert (4-2 5.88) vs RHP P. Arthur (3-4, 4.91 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Maynard Nicholson (Age: 25, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. 1B Pablo Parrel (28, 4.0, 4.0)
3. LF Josselin Leroy (37, 3.5, 3.5)
4. C Prímio Lebrim (27, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Ilies Kieffer (26, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Wednesday June 7th 2056
Chicago 30-25 @ Owen Sound 25-30
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (3-0 1.89) vs RHP Jonathan Honoré (4-5, 4.92 ERA)
A - 28,832

Owen Sound’s Jonathan Honoré (6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K) out-pitches Chicago’s Motoyuki Inoue (3.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). Inoue picks up his first loss as an architect. Owen Sound’s Cruz Torres goes 4-for-4 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI. Rodney Collins singles three times, steals two bases, scores once, and drives in one. Owen Sound 6, Chicago 2.

5 hits and that is it
HR - CH 1B R Osborn (10) OS - none
POTG - Owen Sound SP Jonathan Honore

Game #2 - Thursday June 8th 2056
Chicago 30-26 @ Owen Sound 26-30
RHP Val Imbert (3-4 4.61) vs RHP P. Arthur (3-4, 4.91 ERA)
A - 25,983

In the eighth, Andrés Rodríguez singles in two, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 Waveriders lead. In the ninth, Chicago’s David Kenney doubles, moves to third on a ground out, and scores on a sac fly to left. Tie game, 4-4. In the 10th, Yves Moreno doubles, moves to third on a wild pitch, then gets thrown at home on a squeeze bunt attempt. By the way, the bunter reaches first but gets picked off to end the inning. In the 14th, Reagan Osborn, who finishes the game with four bases-on-balls, singles, and Rodeo Leroy doubles him in. But not so fast! In the bottom of the 14th, Pablo Parrel walks, and Prímio Lebrim doubles him in. Tied game, 5-5. In the 15th, Spencer D’Urberville reaches second base on a throwing error by the shortstop. He moved to third on a sac fly to left (?), then scored the winning run on a Maynard Nicholson single. Owen Sound 6, Chicago 5. 15 Innings

1B R Osborn 1-2 2R 4BB, LF R LeRoy 2-6 2DB 2RBI BB, C J Hunt 2-5 DB R SP V Imbert 6.2IP 5H 2R 2BB 1K, CL P Wright 3IP 4H 0R BB, K, RP J Moore 3IP 2H 1R 2BB K
HR - CH SS K Mulford (2), OS - none
POTG - Owen Sound SP Paul Arthur

Summary - To summarize this set of 4 games in a few words….I hate Canada!!!! With this set of games going 1-3 and now 4-8 on the season it will take a huge effort to get out of the hole we are digging ourselves in these games. Duluth is 9-3 against the Canadian clubs and Toledo improved to 5-7 after this set of games. One reason why Detroit is hanging around, they are 8-4 in the Canadian games. Clearly the Architects are not doing their part in trying to help the USA clubs win the inter-divisional series for the first time in my 5 seasons running Chicago.

With this Canadian failure we are now 4 games out of 1st place and 3 games behind Toledo for the Wildcard and Detroit while sub 500 at 28-30 is nipping at our heels just 2 games back of us. Maybe the bright side of things is we are heading back to the US and to Detroit where we have gone 8-1 against the Thunderbirds so far this season and negating their Canadian record advantage. A big series for both clubs, for Detroit they could move into 3rd place with a sweep. For the Architects we could pick up some lost momentum after the 4 games with Canadian Clubs.

And not winning that last game that went 15 innings and taxing our bullpen only figures to cause us pain elsewhere.

Chicago Architects 30-27 3rd in the US @ Detroit Thunderbirds 28-30 4th in the US
June 9th through 11th 2056
At Detroit’s Thunderbird Park

We took a look at the Detroit Thunderbirds, our next opponent in an upcoming 3-game series, and here are the results. A neutral park, Thunderbirds Ballpark has room for 40000 fans.

The Thunderbirds are playing .491 ball this season, compiling a record of 28 wins and 29 losses. They are in 4th place in the South of the Border, 6.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 303 rank 3rd in the USA, their .285 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 308 runs (4th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.45 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.35, ranking 4th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 1 wins and 8 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Yale Hulbert (2-1, 8.40 ERA) vs LHP Dwayne Miller (4-3, 4.88 ERA)
RHP Yale Hulbert (3-1 6.86 ERA) vs LHP Bryan Miller (3-5, 7.41 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeño (7-1, 3.33 ERA) vs RHP Joe. Davis (1-3, 3.68 ERA)

Yes, as you see again, I didn’t hit export again!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Bill Clary (Age: 28, Overall : 3.0, Potential: 3.0)
2. RF Stan Gillis (30, 3.0, 3.0)
3. LF Melvin Akerval (26, 3.0, 3.0)
4. 1B Mal Johnston (22, 3.0, 4.0)
5. SP Joo-seok Kim (27, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Friday June 9th, 2056
Chicago 30-27 @ Detroit 28-29
RHP Yale Hulbert (2-1, 8.40 ERA) vs LHP Dwayne Miller (4-3, 4.88 ERA)
A - 28,045

Juan Durán caps a four-run Chicago first with a two-run home run. Yale Hulbert looked to be back in form (6IP 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K) and three Tects relievers make those runs hold up. Chicago 6, Detroit 2.

RF T Stone 2-4 DB 2R, LF R Leroy 2-4 R, RBI, BB, DH L Davis 2-4, SS Mulford 2-3
HR - CH C J Duran (6), 1B R Osborn (11), Det - 1B M Johnston (11)
POTG - Chicago SP Yale Hulburt (1)

Friday, June 9th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: SS Kennelly Mulford was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: hip flexor strain. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 2 days. Mulford left the game but was able to start the next day.

Friday, June 9th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: Thomas Arnaud has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 4 weeks.

Game #2 - Saturday June 10th, 2056
Chicago 31-27 @ Detroit 28-30
RHP Yale Hulbert (3-1 6.86 ERA) vs LHP Bryan Miller (3-5, 7.41 ERA)
A - 23,818

Detroit scored four in the first, with Art Loder hitting a two-run slam. Chicago ties things in the third, with Tom Stone hitting a grand slam. The Tects then take a 5-4 lead in the fifth. There only lead of the game is quickly erased. The T-Birds score six times in the bottom of the fifth. Melvin Akerval homers, Loder singles in a run, Dai-Lin Tah and Alan Stout single in runs, and Larry Thomson singles in two. Detroit 11, Chicago 6.

DH L Davis 2-2 2BB 2R, LF R Leroy 2-4 RBI,
HR - CH RF T Stone (4), Det - DH A Loder 2 (8), LF M Akerval (7)
POTG - Detroit DH Art Loder

Game #3 - Sunday June 11th, 2056
Chicago 31-28 @ Detroit 29-30
RHP Jose Cedeño (7-1, 3.33 ERA) vs RHP Joe. Davis (1-3, 3.68 ERA)
A - 25,100

The T-Birds score twice in the first, twice in the second, and twice in the third. Mal Johnston and John Nichols homer. Art Loder singles in a run. More surprisingly, he steals two bases. Detroit 9, Chicago 6.

RF J Justice 2-5 DB HR R 3RBI, SS Mulford 1-4 3RBI
HR - CH - RF J Justice (5) Det - 1B M Johnston (12), CF J Nichols (9)
POTG - Detroit DH Art Loder

(Loder was an Architect at one point early in our run here. He seemed to take joy in causing us pain these last 2 games.)

Summary - So after our 4-2 homestand we come out and drop 3 out of 4 against Canadian teams and then drop 2 out of 3 against a Detroit team that we were 9-1 against. With that 2-5 week things have certainly tightened up but not in a good way. We are clinging to 3rd place 1 game ahead of the Thunderbirds, but now find ourselves 6 games behind 1st place Duluth and 5 games behind 2nd place Toledo. The race for 3rd is not one that we as an organization are interested in.

The setback in 3B Thomas Arnaud’s recovery certainly can’t come at a worse time. Nor can the several fumbles in our pitching assignments (that’s on me). We need to get the ship righted and quickly before the All-Star Break or this 2nd half of the season could be a painful lesson in money spending and it not paying off. I don’t regret the Inoue deal, nor the Mulford deal honestly. I think those deals will pay off in the future if they do not this season. But it is time to pull up the boot straps and get serious if we are going to clear any of this payroll burden I have saddled the club with.

[DD Martin]

Duluth and Toledo up next then Milwaukee

As we close in on the All-Star break and the mid-way point of the season, the Architects have a big series at 1st place Duluth and then 6 home games against 2nd-place Toledo and then last place Milwaukee visits. But first is an off-day on Monday June 12th.

June 12th - Off-day

June 13th-15th 2056
Chicago 31-29 3rd place USA @ Duluth Sea Gulls 36-24 1st Place in USA

Still before the halfway point but this feels like a big series on the road against Duluth as we then follow that up with 3 games at home against Toledo. The two clubs that are ahead of us in the standings, this could be a real Make……or Break week

Today we begin a 3-game series with the Duluth Sea Gulls on the road. We will meet in Sea Gulls Field, which seats 40000 and plays like a ballpark slightly favoring hitters.

Going 36-24 so far this year, the Sea Gulls have compiled a .600 winning percentage. They are leading the South of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 291 rank 5th in the USA, their .267 batting average ranks 6th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 264 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 3.95 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.65, ranking 1st. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 4 wins and 5 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Val Imbert (3-4, 4.41 ERA) vs RHP Will McNeely (5-3, 3.93 ERA)
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (7-5, 3.51 ERA) vs RHP Chris Collier (4-4, 3.84 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeno (7-2 3.54 ERA) vs LHP Tim Gross (4-2, 4.09 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 1B Jorge Rangel (Age: 25, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 4.0)
2. 2B Carlos Figueroa (30, 3.5, 3.5)
3. CF Carlos Sánchez (25, 3.0, 3.5)
4. RP Pedro Saldaña (25, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Chris Collier (24, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Tuesday June 13th 2056
Chicago 31-29 @ Duluth 36-24
RHP Val Imbert (3-4, 4.41 ERA) vs RHP Will McNeely (5-3, 3.93 ERA)
A - 39,710

Chicago’s José Aranda sets the tone with a three-run home run in the first. Teammate Rodeo Leroy goes 4-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Chicago 13, Duluth 8.

LF R LeRoy 4-4 HR 2R 2RBI BB, 1B D Kenney 3-5 HR 2R 3RBI, CF J Justice 2-5 DB HR 2R 3RBI
HR - CH DH J Aranda (6), 1B D Kenney (3), LF R LeRoy (20), CF J Justice (6) Dul - none
POTG - Chicago LF Robert LeRoy (8)

Game #2 - Wednesday June 14th 2056
Chicago 32-29 @ Duluth 36-25
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (7-5, 3.51 ERA) vs RHP Chris Collier (4-4, 3.84 ERA)
A - 39,847

Duluth’s middle infield was a problem at the beginning of the season, but promoting Jeff Beasley, 24, seems to have solved the problem at shortstop. Today, Beasley goes 3-for-4 with two home runs (one of which was a grand slam), three runs scored, and five RBIs. In 84 at-bats this season, he’s hitting .321/.380/.607. Teammate Rick Barnard also goes yard twice, and Carlos Sánchez hits a three-run home run. Duluth 12, Chicago 5.

SS Mulford 3-4 HR R 2 RBI
HR - CH SS K Mulford (3), 1B R Osborn (12), Dul - SS J Beasley 2 (6), DH R Barnard 2 (2), CF C Sanchez (5)
POTG - Duluth SS Jeff Beasley

Game #3 - Thursday June 15th 2056
Chicago 32-30 @ Duluth 37-25
RHP Jose Cedeno (7-2 3.54 ERA) vs LHP Tim Gross (4-2, 4.09 ERA)
A - 39,741

Duluth’s Tim Gross (7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 7 K) earns his fifth win. Tim Goyette, 22, hits his first major-league home run. Congrats, Tim! Carlos Figueroa singles in a run and hits a sac fly. Duluth 4, Chicago 3.

1B R Osborn 2-4 DB 2R, LF R LeRoy 2-4 2DB RBI
HR - CH CF C Luna (6) Dul - C T Goyette (1)
POTG - Duluth SP Tim Gross

Summary - The Architects seem to often have trouble with Duluth SP Tim Gross and once again he does enough to pick up a huge win for the Sea Gulls. RP Larry Stott (1-1) lost his one, giving up a walk and a hit in the 8th. Last season we won this type of game, this year we lose them all too often. Even with the loss we have played the Sea Gulls even up during the first half with both sides winning 6 each. Now we have to change the directory of our season matchup with Toledo where the Neptunes have won 7 out of 9 games.

Toledo Neptunes 36-27 2nd place in US vs Chicago Architects 32-31 T-3rd US
June 16th through 19th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

After dropping 2 out of 3 in Duluth, this series is our chance to get back into things with Toledo. We are 4 games behind Toledo right now and getting this season series back on track (like last season at this point) would be a huge step in the right direction.

Today we begin a 3-game series with the Toledo Neptunes at home.

The Neptunes are playing .571 ball this season, compiling a record of 36 wins and 27 losses. They are in 2nd place in the South of the Border, 2.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 358 rank tied for 1st in the USA, their .280 batting average ranks 2nd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 286 runs (2nd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.20 which ranks 2nd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.20, ranking 2nd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 7 wins and 2 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Yale Hulbert (3-1, 8.31 ERA) vs RHP Nick Keddy (6-2, 2.83 ERA)
RHP Terry Noble (4-2 5.88 ERA) vs RHP Christopher Bouchard (7-2, 3.06 ERA)
RHP Motoyuki. Inoue (7-6, 3.70 ERA) vs RHP Warren Townsend (7-3, 4.06 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Nick Keddy (Age: 29, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. RP Ricardo Valentín (30, 4.0, 4.0)
3. SP Christopher Bouchard (29, 3.5, 3.5)
4. 1B Eric Molina (30, 3.5, 3.5)
5. 2B Xing-fu Sen (25, 3.5, 4.0)

Game #1 -Friday June 15th 2056
Toledo 36-27 vs Chicago 32-31
RHP Nick Keddy (6-2, 2.83 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (3-1, 8.31 ERA)
A - 36,381

Too much SP Nick Keddy (6.2IP 4H 1R 2BB 6K) and not enough (good) SP Yale Hulburt. Toledo takes a 2-1 lead into the sixth, where Hulburt loads the bases and makes a huge mistake as Luîs González hits a grand slam. Toledo 7, Chicago 2.

LF R LeRoy 2-4, CF C Luna 2-4 HR R RBI
HR - Tol C JP Richard (6) CH - CF C Luna (7)
POTG - Toledo SP Nick Keddy

Game #2 -Saturday June 16th 2056
Toledo 37-27 vs Chicago 32-32
RHP Christopher Bouchard (7-2, 3.06 ERA) vsRHP Terry Noble (4-2 5.88 ERA)
A - 36,361

Toledo’s Luis González goes 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Xing-Fu Sen hit three RBI singles. Christopher Bouchard (8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K) picks up his league-leading eighth win of the season. The Tects scored five in the ninth, but they needed four more. Toledo 10, Chicago 6.

1B R Osborn 2-5 HR R 2RBI, 3B K Noseworthy 2-3
HR - Tol 3B L Gonzalez (7) CH - 1B R Osborn (13), DH J Aranda (7)
POTG - Toledo 3B Luis Gonzalez

Game #3 -Subday June 17th 2056
Toledo 38-27 vs Chicago 32-33
RHP Christopher Bouchard (7-2, 3.06 ERA) vsRHP Terry Noble (4-2 5.88 ERA)
A - 36,186

Chicago’s SP Motojuki Inoue was sailing through the game when he left the game in the 5th inning with an injury (4.2IP 1H 0R 2BB 4K). After Inoue leaves the game we pick things up in the sixth. Chicago has a 2-0 lead. Toledo’s Luis González doubles in a run, then scores the tying run on Xing-Fu Sen single. Chicago comes right back with a run of their own: Juan Durán reaches base on an error, then comes around to score on a single and two groundouts to second. In the eighth, Toledo’s González strikes again. He singles in the tying run. Eric Molina scores the winning run on sac fly. Toledo 4, Chicago 3.

POTG - Toledo 3B Luis Gonzalez
Special Note - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue was injured while pitching

Summary - Wow…………..This club completely crapped the bed, losing their last 5 games against the teams in front of them. Just an inexcusable performance by a team that felt like they were going back to the playoffs and perhaps their 3rd straight World Series at the beginning of the season. Coming home and playing like this, I’m at a loss for words. It is a total system breakdown and after these 6 games we are now 6 games behind 2nd place Toledo for the Wildcard, Detroit has even snuck in front of us.

Second time this week that RP Larry Stott has come in and given up the winning runs late. This time he blew the save and we lost another 1-run game. The kind we used to win and we did that a lot against Toledo last season.

Sunday, June 18th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: SP Motoyuki Inoue was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: tender shoulder. Fortunately for the Architects this is a day-to-day injury expected to last 4 days.

We definitely dodged a bullet there. Could Chicago have won this game if Inoue had been able to go farther? He certainly had the Neptunes number through his 4 ⅔ innings giving up just 1 hit. The bigger thing is we have to hope this isn’t the start of an issue with Inoue who has been very resilient in his career just having 3 minor injuries and none of them that landed him on the DL. With the off-day on Monday he could have probably pitched the 3rd game against Milwaukee but we will see how he is doing and then make a decision before any games against Traverse City to end the first half.

Monday June 19th - Much needed off-day as far as games. The team is taking extra batting and fielding while the pitchers are going over scouting reports etc for the last 6 games before the All-Star Break. They also received quite the tongue lashing from the Manager.

Milwaukee Eagles 21-45 last in the US vs Chicago Architects 32-34 4th in the US
June 20th through June 22nd 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

The players are starting to concern me. The club is below 500 now and is in very clear danger of digging a hole too big to overcome in the 2nd half. With 6th-place Milwaukee now at home for 3 and then off to 5th-place Traverse City to end the first half, we need a really big turn around starting now.

Today we begin a 3-game series with the Milwaukee Eagles at home.

Going 21-45 so far this year, the Eagles have compiled a .318 winning percentage. They are in 6th place in the South of the Border, 19.5 games behind the leader. The Eagles are on a cold streak, losing their last 3 games. Their number of runs scored of 294 rank 6th in the USA, their .272 batting average ranks 5th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 391 runs (6th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.37 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 6.25, ranking 6th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 4 wins and 5 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Jose Cedeno (7-2 3.65 ERA) vs RHP M. Belding (1-5, 6.28 ERA)
RHP Yale Hulbert (3-2, 8.78 ERA) vs RHP K. Bennett (4-4, 3.55 ERA)
RHP John Moore (3-1 3.46 ERA) vs RHP J. Atkinson (2-5, 6.40 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. C Cecil Phillips (Age: 33, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. 1B John Crosby (28, 3.0, 3.0)
3. RF Luo-lang Petit (25, 2.5, 2.5)
4. SS Alexandre Gasnier (24, 2.5, 3.0)
5. SP Mike Emery (23, 2.5, 3.0)

Game #1 Tuesday June 20th 2056
Milwaukee 21-45 vs Chicago 32-34
RHP M. Belding (1-5, 6.28 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeno (7-2 3.65 ERA)
A - 31,993

It’s appropriate that, for the 10th Anniversary of the league, we get a matchup of the league’s first big rivalry: the Milwaukee Eagles and Chicago Architects. These two teams squared off in four of the first five USA League Championship series. In the fifth, Chicago’s Joe Hunt homers. In the sixth, Milwaukee’s Cecil Phillips hits a two-run single. In the seventh, Hunt hit a two-run home run. SP Jose “Pongo” Cedeno reverts back to early season form and to pick up his 8th win of the season (8IP 6H 2R 1BB 6K W 8-2) Chicago 3, Milwaukee 2.

C J Hunt 2-3 2HR 2R 3 RBI
HR Mil - none CH - C J Hunt 2 (8)
POTG - Chicago C Joe Hunt (1)

Game #2 Wednesday June 21st 2056
Milwaukee 21-46 vs Chicago 33-34
RHP K. Bennett (4-4, 3.55 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (3-2, 8.78 ERA)
A - 31,533

Rodeo Leroy hits a three-run home run, Joe Hunt hits a three-run double, and ex-Eagle Yale Hulbert (7.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 B, 7 K) holds his old team quiet. Chicago 8, Milwaukee 1.

LF R LeRoy 3-5 HR 2R 3RBI, 1B R Osborn 1-3 DB 2BB 2R, 2B R Lambert 2-4 R BB SB
HR - Mil - none CH - LF R LeRoy (21), CF C Luna (8)
POTG - Chicago SP Yale Hulburt (2)

Game #3 Thursday June 22nd 2056
Milwaukee 21-46 vs Chicago 33-34
RHP J. Atkinson (2-5, 6.40 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (3-1 3.46 ERA)
A - 32,416

Chicago catcher Joe Hunt goes 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, three RBIs, and four runs scored. José Aranda, John Lambert, and Reagan Osborn also homer. SP John Moore also makes his return to the starting rotation after a very successful stint to start the season in the bullpen after he came back from injury. Moore goes 7IP allowing 4 hits, 3 runs which just 2 were earned walking 1 and striking out 8. Chicago 13, Milwaukee 3.

SP J Moore 7IP 4H 3R 2ER 1BB 8K W (4-1) , RF T Stone 2-5 2DB 2R RBI, 1B R Osborn 3-5 HR 2R 2 RBI, LF R LeRoy 2-5 2 DB R 2 RBI, C J Hunt 4-5 2HR DB 4R 3RBI, SS K Mulford 3-4 RBI BB, SB
HR - Mil none, CH - C J Hunt 2 (10), DH J Aranda (8), 2B J Lambert (11), 1B R Osborn (14)
POTG - Chicago C Joe Hunt (2)

Summary - Just what the doctor ordered, a home series against last place Milwaukee. That makes things feel a little better as the Architects are back above 500 with a 35-34 record. Just three more games until the All-Star Break and we are back into a tie for 3rd place and clawed a game back on Toledo. Now standing 5 games back of the wildcard spot.

[DD Martin]

Last 3 Before the All-Star Break
Could we find a way to get back in this thing?

At least our Tingley Park AA club is showing some fight, quite literally.

Toby Harris of the Ajax Lumberjacks and Logan Smith of the Tinley Park Thoroughbreds will be on the sidelines for a few days. They have been suspended for 5 and 3 games respectively by the league office for causing the bench-emptying free-for-all at the recent Lumberjacks-Thoroughbreds game at Pickering Park. Neither player had any comment about the suspensions. Both clubs told BNN Harris and Smith will begin serving them soon. Harris is batting .312 with 16 home runs and 41 RBIs this season. Currently Smith has a record of 1-0 with 20 strikeouts and 5 walks in 21.1 innings and a 3.38 ERA.

I’d like to see a little fire from the big leaguer’s like that. Maybe we are on the right track now finally after sweeping Milwaukee? What am I saying, it was Milwaukee. But like I said at the beginning of the season we need to really capitalize on our games with the "perceived" lower division clubs. So far this season the Architects are 9-3 versus Detroit, 8-4 against Milwaukee, and 6-3 against Traverse City. I said we needed to win 50 against these clubs out of 72 games and right now the club is 23-10. So far the mission is mostly accomplished against this group, but with our struggles against Toledo 2-10 and Canada 4-8 we might have to win 55 games (55-17). That is a tall ask against any group of teams, even ones that are "perceived" lower division clubs (and Detroit is not following that script.)

Chicago Architects 35-34 4th place in US vs Traverse City 33-36 5th place in US
June 23rd-25th 2056
Traverse City's The Den

Today we begin a 3-game series with the Traverse City Bears on the road.
A slight pitchers park, The Den has room for 40000 fans.

With their record standing at 33 wins and 36 losses, the Bears have a winning percentage of .478. They are in 5th place in the South of the Border, 9.0 games behind the leader. The Bears are playing well at the moment, having a 4-game winning streak going. Their number of runs scored of 348 rank 4th in the USA, their .278 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 356 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.40 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.53, ranking 5th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 3 wins and 6 losses.

Time to make some hey against the Bad News Bears!

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (7-6, 3.52 ERA) vs RHP Walt Bader (1-6, 3.86 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeno (8-2 3.53 ERA) vs RHP John Hall (4-4, 4.11 ERA)
RHP Val Imbert (4-4, 4.59 ERA) vs RHP Jeremy Laybolt (1-3, 7.33 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. RF Earl Foote (Age: 27, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. CF Cal Braud (28, 4.0, 4.5)
3. CF Ben Marshall (32, 3.0, 3.0)
4. SP John Hall (29, 3.0, 3.0)
5. LF Barney Tomiak (29, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Friday June 23rd 2056
Chicago 35-34 @ Traverse City 33-36
RHP M. Inoue (7-6, 3.52 ERA) vs RHP W. Bader (1-6, 3.86 ERA)
A - 39,786

The Architects scored six in the fifth. Reagan Osborn and Joe Hunt hit two-run singles. José Aranda hits a two-run home run. The Tects add five more in the seventh. They score those five on just two hits. An infield single and a double started the inning. Four walks, an error, and two wild pitches plate the five. Chicago 12, Traverse City 5.

SP M Inoue 6IP 4H R 10K W 4-2, 1B R Osborn 2-4 2R 2RBI BB, DH J Aranda 2-4 HR 2R 3RBI BB
HR - CH DH J Aranda (9) TC - RF E Foote (9), 2B P Cruz (3)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue

Game #2 - Saturday June 24th 2056
Chicago 36-34 @ Traverse City 33-37
RHP Jose Cedeno (8-2 3.53 ERA) vs RHP John Hall (4-4, 4.11 ERA)
A - 39,730

Traverse City’s Earl Foote hits a two-run homer and a two-run double. Pedro Cruz goes 4-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. TC SP John Hall scatters just 5 hits in 5.2IP allowing just 1 run. Traverse City 8, Chicago 4.

LF R LeRoy 3-5 2DB 2R, 1B R Osborn 2-3 R 2BB, SS K Mulford 2-3 DB HBP
HR - CH C J Hunt (11) TC - RF E Foote (10)
POTG - Traverse City RF Earl Foote

Game #3 - Sunday June 25th 2056
Chicago 36-35 @ Traverse City 34-37
RHP Val Imbert (4-4, 4.59 ERA) vs RHP Jeremy Laybolt (1-3, 7.33 ERA)
A - 34,746

The Architects take an 8-5 lead into the eighth. There, the Bears rally for six. Roger Geddes hit a two-run double, Cal Braud a two-run single, and Ben Marshall a two-run single. Traverse City 11, Chicago 8.

RF T Stone 2-3 RBI, PH L Davis 1-1 2RBI, CF C Luna 3-4 DB 3R
HR - CH 3B K Noseworthy (4), TC - DH B Marshall (7)
POTG - Traverse City DH Ben Marshall

Summary - This series feels like a microcosm or the entire first half. Architects club the opponent in the first game scoring 12 runs. In the second game the offense and pitching fall asleep at the wheel and then in the third game the offense wakes up and the pitching just gets smashed.

At 36-36 there was no way we felt before the season that we would be in this position. That feeling even went further away when we picked up (at a high cost) SS Kennelly Mulford and SP Mutoyuki Inoue. But here we are and we are left scratching our heads why this club can’t seem to put it all together.

Chicago has the best hitter in the GLBL during the first half of the season LF Robert “Rodeo” LeRoy who also won the MVP in Canada last season. While 1B Reagan Osborn has been slumping at the plate he is still on pace to hit 28 home runs and drive in 84 RBI’s, but we need more coming from somewhere. Maybe when 3B Travis Arnaud, who has spent more time on the DL than on the field this year comes back we can get back to winning games. We also could use a return to first 2 months form of RF Tom Stone and 2B John Lambert who both struggled in June. Stone cooled off in June but still hit a respectable 270 for the month. Lambert hit just 211. Also not exactly tearing the cover off the ball is DH Jose Aranda who is hitting just 211 on the season albeit with 9 home runs while playing just 40 games.

On the pitching side we need more from our top 3 in Motoyuki Inoue, Jorge Cedeno and Yale Hulburt. Now with Inoue he being Japanese hasn’t spent a lot of time in the US, and he has been said to be slow to adapt. He came out strong in his first 4 games but has really not been himself after that shoulder flare up a couple of weeks ago. We need him to be our #1 like he has been throughout his career. Cedeno came out of the blocks on fire this year and has noticeably slumped in June with an ERA over 6.50 for the month. The bullpen has also not been great this season outside of RHP John Moore who is moving to the rotation for the 2nd half of the season after 2 fine outings late in June.

On paper this club looks really good, with good starting pitching, excellent up the middle defense and 2 guys who are always around the MVP conversation in LeRoy and 2 time runner up Osborn.

USA Player of the Week

Chicago fans have something to crow about today as Chicago catcher Joe Hunt nabbed the USA Player of the Week Award for his performance over the last seven days. "I know there are times when it's hard to lay off pitches. Everyone goes through stretches when he's too eager to put the ball in play. You know, though, I feel like this past week I was able to get in the right frame of mind and just let things come naturally," said Hunt. He posted a .417 average (10-for-24) this past week with 5 home runs, 15 RBIs, and 10 runs scored.

At the moment, Hunt is batting .310 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs. He has played in 37 games and scored 26 times.

Summary - Hunt is really having a great season in a complete job sharing role. I have to admit that I was looking for Hunt to catch 40-50 games this season, but the way he is hitting, and the way Duran is not hitting, they have both played about 50%. I wish I could try and extend him but two things are in the way. 1.) He's wanting to test free agency after the end of the season probably because we are at 500 and in 4th place. I can't blame him for that. 2.) We just have no budget space (especially if we don't make it to the playoffs to sign him anyway.

He has been put on the trade block because maybe one of the teams fighting it out would like to have a power heavy lefty catcher. I can see several fits for him and he's inexpensive. We will see if any team will step up and take him on.

[DD Martin]

2056 GLBL All-Star Game Festivities

Final All-Star Voting

Included below are the final voting results for the USA All-Stars. The top vote getter at each position, as well as the top 3 starters and relievers, will be included on the final roster for each team. The top player, Robert Leroy, received 4,559,918 votes.

CATCHER
1. Cecil Phillips, Milwaukee Eagles: 2,356,393
2. Ken Armour, Toledo Neptunes: 1,254,385
3. Juan Durán, Chicago Architects: 1,212,917

FIRST BASE
1. Mal Johnston, Detroit Thunderbirds: 2,923,306
2. Jorge Rangel, Duluth Sea Gulls: 2,378,707
3. Reagan Osborn, Chicago Architects: 2,329,043

SECOND BASE
1. Paul Larocque, Detroit Thunderbirds: 2,444,342
2. John Lambert, Chicago Architects: 2,160,931
3. Cory Seguin, Milwaukee Eagles: 1,458,152

THIRD BASE
1. Luis González, Toledo Neptunes: 2,033,053
2. Alexis Martin, Traverse City Bears: 1,679,256
3. Thomas Arnaud, Chicago Architects: 1,650,920

SHORTSTOP
1. Larry Thomson, Detroit Thunderbirds: 1,642,067
2. Carlos Montaño, Toledo Neptunes: 1,451,035
3. Alexandre Gasnier, Milwaukee Eagles: 773,526

LEFT FIELD
1. Robert Leroy, Chicago Architects: 4,559,918
2. Gray Dijkstra, Toledo Neptunes: 1,858,588
3. Melvin Akerval, Detroit Thunderbirds: 1,621,304

CENTER FIELD
1. Cal Braud, Traverse City Bears: 2,266,521
2. Cris Luna, Chicago Architects: 1,775,479
3. George Goff, Duluth Sea Gulls: 1,617,661

RIGHT FIELD
1. Earl Foote, Traverse City Bears: 3,786,371
2. Stan Gillis, Detroit Thunderbirds: 2,757,669
3. Mark Wadell, Toledo Neptunes: 2,165,178

DESIGNATED HITTER
1. Eric Molina, Toledo Neptunes: 3,242,943
2. Carlos Sánchez, Duluth Sea Gulls: 3,202,551
3. Ben Marshall, Traverse City Bears: 2,155,975

STARTING PITCHER
1. Nick Keddy, Toledo Neptunes: 1,606,829
2. Christopher Bouchard, Toledo Neptunes: 1,128,988
3. José Cedeño, Chicago Architects: 1,128,524
4. Val Imbert, Chicago Architects: 1,018,970
5. Bill Clary, Detroit Thunderbirds: 912,063

RELIEVER
1. Pat Wright, Chicago Architects: 1,198,736
2. José Árias, Duluth Sea Gulls: 993,880
3. Santiago Costa, Toledo Neptunes: 961,775
4. Quincy Cooper, Toledo Neptunes: 872,854
5. Pedro Saldaña, Duluth Sea Gulls: 579,607

His career numbers show Leroy is currently carrying a .301 lifetime batting average with 224 home runs and 752 RBIs.

Included below are the final voting results for the Canadian All-Stars. The top vote getter at each position, as well as the top 3 starters and relievers, will be included on the final roster for each team. The top player, Jamal Amador, received 3,653,791 votes.

CATCHER
1. Prímio Lebrim, Owen Sound Waveriders: 1,930,436
2. Thomas Gilles, Thunder Bay Caribou: 1,722,789
3. Thibaud Lacroix, Hamilton Mounties: 1,121,879

FIRST BASE
1. Craig Hargrove, Windsor Vigilantes: 3,476,883
2. Pablo Parrel, Owen Sound Waveriders: 2,337,632
3. Dusty Murphy, Toronto Maples: 2,187,847

SECOND BASE
1. Carlos Figueroa, Duluth Sea Gulls: 3,012,912
2. Li-ping Chin, Hamilton Mounties: 2,705,243
3. Johnny Peterson, Kingston Comets: 2,140,823

THIRD BASE
1. Yves Moreno, Owen Sound Waveriders: 2,241,645
2. Michael Jackson, Thunder Bay Caribou: 1,576,268
3. P.J. Harper, Hamilton Mounties: 1,555,044

SHORTSTOP
1. John Calder, Thunder Bay Caribou: 1,974,421
2. Wyatt McBryde, Kingston Comets: 1,914,304
3. Casey Cowley, Toronto Maples: 1,809,150

LEFT FIELD
1. Jamal Amador, Thunder Bay Caribou: 3,653,791
2. Dwayne Adams, Toronto Maples: 2,611,885
3. Kurt Patrick, Windsor Vigilantes: 1,915,064

CENTER FIELD
1. Peyton Coffman, Toronto Maples: 3,034,098
2. Robinson González, Thunder Bay Caribou: 3,023,239
3. Mike Webster, Kingston Comets: 2,104,847

RIGHT FIELD
1. Wilson Meléndez, Hamilton Mounties: 2,048,967
2. Carlos Alomar, Windsor Vigilantes: 1,737,203
3. Colin Henry, Toronto Maples: 1,519,160

DESIGNATED HITTER
1. Glen Dickie, Hamilton Mounties: 3,074,751
2. Josselin Leroy, Owen Sound Waveriders: 2,387,285
3. Mark Easson, Windsor Vigilantes: 1,752,440

STARTING PITCHER
1. Sean Moore, Hamilton Mounties: 2,564,092
2. Motoyuki Inoue, Chicago Architects: 2,410,270
3. Yakumo Hasegawa, Hamilton Mounties: 2,150,876
4. Roland Fuller, Kingston Comets: 1,520,486
5. Ilies Kieffer, Owen Sound Waveriders: 1,456,837

RELIEVER
1. Roberto Terraza, Thunder Bay Caribou: 3,154,010
2. Rich Quick, Owen Sound Waveriders: 2,410,219
3. Harvey Sokhakian, Kingston Comets: 1,657,964
4. Tony Wilbraham, Hamilton Mounties: 1,497,588
5. Talbot Bergeron, Toronto Maples: 1,449,131

Career-to-date Amador has rung up a .314 average, played in 1156 games and collected 292 doubles, 28 triples and 269 home runs.

All Star Game Week

This year the All-Star game is in Duluth and it seems appropriate that the club with the best 1st half record is hosting the game.

The full All-Star Game rosters have been announced.

It's All-Star Game time -- time for the superstars to shine! Every year Great Lakes Baseball League takes a break in the schedule to play the annual All-Star Game. It's a battle of the superstars -- the Canadian All-Stars versus the USA All-Stars. The All-Star Game will spotlight the best hitters, the best pitchers and the best fielders, all doing battle against one another, all trying to prove their league is best.

The Canadian roster will feature these outstanding players:

SP Talbot Bergeron (TOR) - 4-2, 2.18 ERA, 45.1 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 0.9 WAR
SP Yakumo Hasegawa (HAM) - 6-4, 3.66 ERA, 115.2 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 2.7 WAR
SP Cal Henry (KIN) - 1-0, 3.32 ERA, 62.1 IP, 1.38 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 0.8 WAR
SP Jonathan Honoré (OWS) - 7-5, 4.11 ERA, 81.0 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 2.0 WAR
SP Ilies Kieffer (OWS) - 4-5, 3.69 ERA, 83.0 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 1.8 WAR
SP Sean Moore (HAM)* - 6-2, 3.40 ERA, 82.0 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 1.7 WAR
SP Maynard Nicholson (OWS) - 6-3, 3.53 ERA, 63.2 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 1.9 WAR
RP Chris Andrews (OWS) - 1-0, 2.74 ERA, 46.0 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 0.5 WAR
RP Emmett Dodman (TB) - 2-0, 3.45 ERA, 44.1 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 0.6 WAR
RP Rich Quick (OWS) - 1-4, 2.29 ERA, 51.0 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 1.2 WAR
RP Harvey Sokhakian (KIN) - 3-0, 5 SV, 1.37 ERA, 26.1 IP, 1.37 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 0.5 WAR
CL Roberto Terraza (TB)* - 5-1, 1.52 ERA, 65.0 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 2.6 WAR
C Thomas Gilles (TB) - .264/.322/.503, 193 AB, 13 HR, 100 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
C Prímio Lebrim (OWS)* - .262/.351/.437, 206 AB, 8 HR, 1 SB, 106 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
C Bob Norman (TB) - .343/.384/.582, 67 AB, 5 HR, 143 wRC+, 0.7 WAR
1B Craig Hargrove (WIN)* - .339/.414/.602, 274 AB, 18 HR, 1 SB, 164 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
1B Dusty Murphy (TOR) - .277/.348/.523, 256 AB, 13 HR, 4 SB, 118 wRC+, 0.9 WAR
1B Pablo Parrel (OWS) - .280/.359/.512, 246 AB, 11 HR, 3 SB, 120 wRC+, 0.8 WAR
2B Li-ping Chin (HAM) - .322/.386/.487, 261 AB, 7 HR, 8 SB, 126 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
2B Tom McNayr (WIN) - .311/.368/.484, 244 AB, 9 HR, 122 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
2B Johnny Peterson (KIN) - .296/.369/.523, 260 AB, 14 HR, 17 SB, 123 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
3B Yves Moreno (OWS)* - .289/.347/.446, 249 AB, 9 HR, 106 wRC+, 0.6 WAR
SS John Calder (TB)* - .299/.379/.441, 261 AB, 9 HR, 112 wRC+, 0.9 WAR
SS Ron Watkins (OWS) - .337/.414/.464, 196 AB, 3 HR, 5 SB, 131 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
LF Dwayne Adams (TOR) - .323/.386/.519, 260 AB, 12 HR, 2 SB, 137 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
LF Jamal Amador (TB)* - .313/.386/.580, 262 AB, 16 HR, 141 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
LF Josselin Leroy (OWS) - .318/.362/.565, 239 AB, 13 HR, 136 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
CF Bill Arnold (KIN) - .363/.423/.517, 267 AB, 10 HR, 148 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
CF Peyton Coffman (TOR)* - .316/.360/.489, 225 AB, 7 HR, 6 SB, 118 wRC+, 1.7 WAR (Injured)
CF Robinson González (TB) - .288/.342/.558, 267 AB, 20 HR, 123 wRC+, 0.8 WAR
RF Carlos Alomar (WIN) - .332/.385/.446, 271 AB, 1 HR, 6 SB, 116 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
RF Wilson Meléndez (HAM)* - .270/.372/.473, 237 AB, 9 HR, 2 SB, 122 wRC+, 1.6 WAR
RF Mike Webster (KIN) - .298/.372/.532, 265 AB, 12 HR, 129 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
DH Glen Dickie (HAM)* - .311/.402/.518, 251 AB, 13 HR, 2 SB, 134 wRC+, 1.5 WAR


And the USA roster will have these elite performers:

SP Christopher Bouchard (TOL) - 8-3, 3.05 ERA, 100.1 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 2.9 WAR
SP José Cedeño (CHI) - 8-3, 4.03 ERA, 102.2 IP, 1.36 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 1.8 WAR
SP Tim Gross (DUL) - 6-2, 3.80 ERA, 85.1 IP, 1.55 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 1.1 WAR
SP John Hall (TC) - 5-4, 3.95 ERA, 86.2 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 2.0 WAR
SP Motoyuki Inoue (CHI) - 8-6, 3.40 ERA, 100.2 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 2.9 WAR
SP Nick Keddy (TOL)* - 8-2, 2.66 ERA, 101.2 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 3.3 WAR
SP Emmanuel Lucas (DUL) - 5-1, 3.72 ERA, 82.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 1.9 WAR
RP Kevin McAskill (TC) - 3-3, 14 SV, 2.97 ERA, 36.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 0.7 WAR
RP Pedro Saldaña (DUL) - 2-1, 2.37 ERA, 38.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 0.6 WAR
RP José Árias (DUL) - 3-2, 4 SV, 3.25 ERA, 27.2 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, -0.1 WAR
CL Santiago Costa (TOL) - 1-1, 4 SV, 3.13 ERA, 23.0 IP, 1.35 WHIP, 3.1 K/9, -0.2 WAR
CL Pat Wright (CHI)* - 3-6, 13 SV, 4.45 ERA, 28.1 IP, 1.48 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 0.5 WAR
C Ken Armour (TOL) - .277/.333/.445, 119 AB, 5 HR, 103 wRC+, 1.0 WAR
C Joe Hunt (CHI) - .312/.358/.609, 138 AB, 11 HR, 145 wRC+, 1.5 WAR
C Cecil Phillips (MIL)* - .310/.382/.470, 200 AB, 7 HR, 1 SB, 127 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
1B John Crosby (MIL) - .299/.353/.504, 254 AB, 10 HR, 12 SB, 123 wRC+, 1.5 WAR
1B Mal Johnston (DET)* - .345/.405/.510, 261 AB, 12 HR, 141 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
1B Eric Molina (TOL)* - .326/.444/.643, 230 AB, 18 HR, 5 SB, 171 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
1B Reagan Osborn (CHI) - .249/.369/.478, 245 AB, 14 HR, 9 SB, 110 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
1B Jorge Rangel (DUL) - .274/.446/.597, 226 AB, 19 HR, 1 SB, 142 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
2B John Lambert (CHI) - .268/.337/.471, 272 AB, 11 HR, 24 SB, 106 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
3B Luis González (TOL)* - .301/.355/.467, 259 AB, 7 HR, 117 wRC+, 1.5 WAR
3B Larry Thomson (DET)* - .286/.339/.398, 231 AB, 5 HR, 18 SB, 92 wRC+, 1.6 WAR
SS Paul Larocque (DET)* - .346/.379/.500, 260 AB, 9 HR, 24 SB, 128 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
SS Kennelly Mulford (CHI) - .313/.378/.488, 201 AB, 8 HR, 1 SB, 130 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
LF Gray Dijkstra (TOL) - .321/.378/.482, 224 AB, 4 HR, 10 SB, 121 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
LF Robert Leroy (CHI)* - .399/.459/.767, 258 AB, 21 HR, 3 SB, 209 wRC+, 4.6 WAR
LF Mark Wadell (TOL) - .303/.383/.471, 261 AB, 9 HR, 11 SB, 124 wRC+, 0.9 WAR
CF Cal Braud (TC)* - .320/.352/.492, 244 AB, 8 HR, 15 SB, 118 wRC+, 1.5 WAR (Injured)
CF Cris Luna (CHI) - .306/.366/.503, 193 AB, 8 HR, 2 SB, 120 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
CF Carlos Sánchez (DUL) - .324/.365/.598, 281 AB, 19 HR, 19 SB, 139 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
RF Earl Foote (TC)* - .349/.425/.574, 258 AB, 10 HR, 13 SB, 158 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
RF Stan Gillis (DET) - .335/.407/.518, 251 AB, 6 HR, 141 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
RF Luo-lang Petit (MIL) - .320/.378/.463, 231 AB, 5 HR, 120 wRC+, 1.4 WAR

Chicago is very well represented in the All-Star game with 9 players being named. Of course there are the two guys who were named starters by winning the votes for their respective positions in LF Robert LeRoy and CL Pat Wright. They are joined by CF Cris Luna who has finally had the breakout year we have been looking for. SS Kennelly Mulford who started the year in Milwaukee. 2B John Lambert, C Joe Hunt and 1B Reagan Osborn also were selected. Finally pitchers Jose Cedeno and Motoyuki Inoue joining the squad.

Home Run Challenge

Sea Gulls Field was the site of the 2056 Home Run Challenge. This year, Jorge Rangel beat a group of elite sluggers to win the event. In the final round, the Duluth Sea Gulls first baseman went mano a mano against teammate Carlos Sánchez, defeating him by a score of 13-10. Interesting that two Duluth players were in the finals against each other on their home field.

"I expected Carlos to give me his best shot," said Rangel. "I had just enough good swings to beat him."

In his 207-game career Rangel has tagged 180 hits with 37 doubles, 1 triple and 44 home runs. His lifetime batting average is .253 with 120 RBIs and 142 runs scored.

2056 GLBL All Star Game

Great Lakes Baseball League put its best players on the field today, and the game certainly showed that. In the annual Midseason Classic, the Canadian came out over the USA by a final score of 9-6. Leading the way for the Canadian All-Stars was center fielder Robinson González. "I go out there and do my best every game, All-Star game or not," the star said after his great show, going 2-for-2 in the contest.

During his career, González has hit .295 with 820 hits, 162 home runs, 435 RBIs and scored 452 runs.

After the Game back in Chicago

After the game prior to heading into the 2nd half of the season we had a couple of players come talk to the field manager.

I am not happy with my role on this team and have been frustrated lately. I think I am good enough to be the closer and hope that you take steps to rectify the current situation.

Ken Shannon

Answer - Gee Sorry Ken but your pitching is pretty lousy so far this season and honestly you are lucky to still be with the club. My advice is, figure out why your old ass is struggling so much or just retire.

Why - Shannon has so far pitched to a 6.06 ERA and has lost the #4 spot in the bullpen despite John Moore being promoted to the rotation (Moore was in a key setup role). Shannon was DFA after the meeting and we will see if anyone wants his $2.1 million 2nd half salary.


I am not happy with my role on this team and have been frustrated lately. I think I am good enough to be a part of the starting lineup and hope that you take steps to rectify the current situation.

David Kenney

Answer - Gee Dave you have somehow started 23 games for us this season and been in 40. You're doing great at drawing walks (24 in 115PA’s) but your 212 batting average isn’t screaming play me more. My suggestion is to go out there and start hitting. There was a reason you were available so late in the spring and signed just a $1.4 million dollar deal and right now I’m feeling cheated. I will see if anyone is interested in picking you up because the last thing I want in our clubhouse is someone who is unhappy with their individual playing time and not more concerned with the club's general lack of success this season.

David was put on the trade block, no big shock there were no takers. His future is basically tied to Travis Arnaud coming back in the 2nd week of July. If he hits in the meantime a little, we might not DFA as his salary savings isn’t that much.

Summary -Sigh I don’t have time for crybaby ballplayers who aren’t holding up their end of the bargain. Why can’t you guys be more like C Joe Hunt who signed a 1-year deal and is thriving and looking for more next season.

My suspicion is that Kenney will be DFA when Arnaud comes back from injury. We will keep 2B/3B/1B Larry Davis who is at least hitting (280) in his partial playing time since he was recalled.

[DD Martin]

Club Finances
It’s not looking good if we don’t win!!!!

One the eve of the start of the 2nd half of the season the Architects are sitting in 4th place with a 500 record of 36-36. I knew this season would be a tough fight with Duluth and Toledo, but I didn’t expect to be 500 and behind Detroit with the Bad News Bears nipping at our heels.

Before I get into the finances of the season we said goodbye to RP Ken Shannon as we designated him for assignment with the hopes that someone might take a chance on his contract remaining for this season (roughly $2 million if anyone picks him up). It’s not a big savings but at this point being projected to be $14 million in the red for the season, every little bit helps. What would really help would be if we could get everything clicking and make a run for the playoffs. That is a tall order being 5 games behind Toledo, but not impossible. It would take getting off on the front foot in the 2nd half with 3 games at 1st-place Duluth.

Replacing Shannon on the staff is not the pitcher many would have predicted. I am resisting the temptation to bring up LHSP Curt Hopkins who is a AAA All-Star and has gone 7-2 this season with a 2.82 ERA. Hopkins feels he is ready but our scouts and AAA staff are telling me to be patient and not rush him. While the numbers are great he did struggle last season in a late callup. So for now I am going to pass on Hopkins because I don’t feel the need is great for SP with Yale Hulburt back. No the results haven’t been great for Hulburt but it feels like he is starting to round into form a bit. So instead of 21-year-old Hopkins coming up we are opting for a P who has been pretty successful in his own right and that is 25-year-old RHP Kieron Alpin (8-1 3 saves 3.51 ERA in 80IP). Alpin has been starting mostly at AAA (13 starts in 17 games) and he will slot into the bullpen in a long man and middle relief role for now.

To start things off, our attendance is off nearly 6% and I can attribute that to raising ticket prices 5.6% in the off-season (Chicago was in the bottom middle portion as far as ticket prices) to get us up to roughly league average. With the size of this town and our market size and fan loyalty, I didn’t think this amount would impact things but we were off about 3% for most of the early season. With the club's sluggish play, it has been noticeably off against last place Milwaukee where we drew a crowd of less than 30,000. That is an alarming number for a club that averaged 38,652 last season. It’s also not helping our budget issue as we are roughly $27,000 off our last season’s revenue per game and honestly about $100,000 off from where I thought we would be (matching last season's attendance totals). That creates over $7 million off my budget projections for the season, let alone if we miss the playoffs.

The budget for this season, after making our 2nd straight GLBL World Series last year was $178 million, which was $2 million lower than what it was in 2055. Mr. Bouquet Jr. wasn’t going to budge off that because I guess in his mind we didn’t make enough profit last season. We had $13.2 million in extra “cash” so we could exceed our budget by that number and still be okay, and if we made the playoffs add an extra $5 to $15 million in revenue. I really felt this team was playoff worthy and even enhanced our position with the acquisition of SS Kennelly Mulford and SP Mutoyuki Inoue. Since the 2nd deal to bring on Inoue the club has gone 14-17. I was thinking perhaps 19-12 would have been an acceptable record since those deals.

For next year the budget is pegged at again $178 million and I have no doubt that if we don’t make the playoffs that number will go lower by our grumpy owner because of the loss we would show for the season. So the question is do we sell and try to break even, or continue to ride this out with a team that we believe can still make the playoffs. The answer might be a little of both, but we will get into that more in the week or two after the 2nd half starts.

Just looking at the financials for next season our player payroll now is estimated to be $195.6 million. So reducing the scouting and the development will be required but that still adds $10 million and then if we budget $3 million for IAFA that brings out estimated expenses up to $209 million dollars. We won’t be able to sign any free agents above a minimum contract and we won’t be able to offer C Joe Hunt an extension, and he deserves one.

The obvious candidates are finding a trade partner for SP Bill Lutz who will be owed $8.5 million for the 2057 season. Lutz is a league average pitcher most seasons based on ERA+ and is definitely the description of a roll of the dice SP. But with some of the pitchers that are starting in this league, he would be an improvement for some.

We are going to have to eat the contract of JJ Walker. We DFA back in late May and tried to give him away, but he was one I made a mistake too when I was handing out long term deals. In 2054 he pitched to a 4.16 ERA and had an ERA+ of 108. So we decided to take a chance and signed him to a 6-year deal worth $34.1 million in total. Now it does had a team option in year 5 and a vesting option in year 6 both for $9 million so our total commitment was just 4 years and $17.5 million. So besides this year’s sunk cost (he is failing at AAA), we are on the hook for $4 million next year and $7.5 million in 2058. Unless I attach a top prospect in the deal and I am not going to do that, we are stuck with him on the payroll through 2058. Lesson learned on trying to find “cheap” pitchers and going on a big contract.

Other than those two the choices get much tougher because while it looks tough to make the playoffs this season, I am of the mindset that this is still a playoff club in 2057. So parting with either SP Yale Hulburt ($20 million in 2057 and team option in 2058 for $17 million) or team captain SP Val Imbert ($10 million in 2057 and player option in 2058 for $10 million) is harder to swallow. While I do believe that we have the pieces on the team to cover losing one of them or potentially both, I really still want to go all in on next season. We will offer them up and we will see what happens. Hulburt is the better pitcher but is a few years older and the salary is more. Imbert is a league average guy fitting in the back half of any rotation and a team captain.

The real problem comes in 2058. Our projected payroll is estimated at $271.1 million and that is a big black hole financially. If Hulburt is traded that is $17 million off that number. If he is not traded he will have his team option declined most likely. SP Val Imbert has a player option but my guess is he will not exercise it so that $10 million stays on the books. DH/RF Jose Aranda has a player option in 2058 for $29 million (team option in 2059 for $25m so long Jose), but with the injuries he has had last season and now this season, I can’t see him thinking there is a market for him to get that kind of money. I could try and trade him, but the one taker last season (Thunder Bay who has worse financial issues now than I do) and I turned him down. I don’t see them stepping up to take on the contract now, especially with the players union contract being negotiated at present.

That brings us to SP Motoyuki Inoue who is someone I still feel is one of the top pitchers in the league despite his good but not great results so far. When I traded for him the thought was to get him in for this year and next as he was under contract. He then was not a free agent, but would be arbitration eligible for 2058. Our cap guy has put a $54 million dollar arbitration number on him which would shatter league records. I felt that we could sign him to a 6 year deal, low ball the first year and then deal with the large amount in later seasons. But still can I do a deal with him for basically ⅓ our player payroll for one guy. With the financial losses we could be facing, it might not be possible to sign him beyond 2058 so he might be leaving after 2057 as a free agent.

In looking at things unless we swing a major trade, it looks like our financial pain even without signing Inoue to an extension will last until after the 2060 season. We can manage it but my fear is that for my extreme profit owner, he is going to see big losses over the next 5 seasons without any playoff berths of at least $50-$75 million.

[DD Martin]

After the Break Boom or Bust(ed)

After the All-Star break ( and a trip to see my daughter and son in law in Texas) we return to the Architects bid to get the season going in the right direction. Sitting at an unremarkable 36-36 at the midway point of the season was just a situation we had not expected to be in. We went all in with the trades to shore up our SS position with the acquisition of Kennelly Mulford and the trade for Japanese ace SP Motoyuki Inoue who has dominated up in the North of the Border division for 4 years. It’s really is time to make a move or this is going to be a completely lost and frustrating season after going to the GLBL World Series 2 years in a row.

Chicago Architects 36-36 4th in the USA @ Duluth Sea Gulls 44-28 1st in the USA
June 30, 2056 - July 2nd 2056
Sea Gulls Park Duluth

We have a 3-game series on the road against the Duluth Sea Gulls kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: e will meet in Sea Gulls Field, which seats 40000 and plays like a ballpark slightly favoring hitters.

Going 44-28 so far this year, the Sea Gulls have compiled a .611 winning percentage. They are leading the South of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 365 rank 5th in the USA, their .274 batting average ranks 5th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 326 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.09 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.98, ranking 1st. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 6 wins and 6 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (4-2 3.03) vs LHP Tim. Gross (6-2, 3.80 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeño (8-3, 4.03 ERA) vs RHP Billy Hill (6-4, 4.74 ERA)
RHP John Moore (4-1, 3.33 ERA) vs RHP Emmanuel Lucas (5-1, 3.72 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 1B Jorge Rangel (Age: 26, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 4.0)
2. 2B Carlos Figueroa (30, 3.5, 3.5)
3. CF Carlos Sánchez (25, 3.0, 3.5)
4. SP Chris Collier (24, 3.0, 3.0)
5. RP Pedro Saldaña (25, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Friday June 30, 2056
Chicago 36-36 @ Duluth 44-28
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (4-2 3.03) vs LHP Tim. Gross (6-2, 3.80 ERA)
A - 39,615

The Tim G.’s led the Gulls to victory. Tim Gross (5 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K) and three Gulls relievers hold Chicago to two runs. Tim Goyette homers and hits a sac fly. Home Run Derby winner Jorge Rangel slugs his 20th home run of the year. Rick Barnard homers, too. Duluth 5, Chicago 2.

SP M Inoue 5.1IP 7H 3R 2BB 4K L, RF T Stone 3-5 DB, TP R, 1B R Osborn 2-4 RBI BB SB
HR - CH - none Dul C T Goyette (4), 1B J Rangel (20), DH R Barnard (5)
POTG - Duluth C Tim Goyette

Friday, June 30th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: SS Kennelly Mulford was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: oblique strain. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks. This means that SS Pedro Farulla will take over the everyday SS duties and we will be bringing up a player to join the club on Tuesday in Traverse City

Game #2 - Saturday July 1st, 2056
Chicago 36-37 @ Duluth 45-28
RHP Jose Cedeño (8-3, 4.03 ERA) vs RHP Billy Hill (6-4, 4.74 ERA)
A - 39,650

Chicago scores six in the third. Reagan Osborn singles in two, and Juan Durán hits a grand slam. In the fifth, the Tects scored a pair of insurance runs. Durán doubles in one, and Cris Luna singles in the other. Those insurance runs prove necessary because the Chicago bullpen is a dumpster fire. Chicago 8, Duluth 7.

3B L Davis 3-5 R, C J Duran 2-3 HR DB 2R 5RBI BB, CS, CF C Luna 2-4 R, RBI,
HR - CH - C J Duran (5) Dul - DH J Barnard (6), RF C Sanchez (20)
POTG - Chicago C Juan Duran (2)

Game #3 - Sunday July 2nd, 2056
Chicago 37-37 @ Duluth 45-29
RHP John Moore (4-1, 3.33 ERA) vs RHP Emmanuel Lucas (5-1, 3.72 ERA)
A - 39,608

These two teams go into the late innings tied, 1-1. Chicago takes the lead in the seventh on a David Kenney RBI single. Reagan Osborn extends that lead with a two-run home run in the eighth. Duluth re-ties the game with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Carlos Figueroa walks with the bases loaded, and Rick Barnard singles in the two tying runs. The game goes into extra innings. In the 13th, Jorge Rangel hit a walk-off home run. Duluth 5, Chicago 4. 13 Innings

LF L LeRoy 0-1 4BB R, SP J Moore 7.2IP 6H 3R BB 7K
HR - CH - 1B R Osborn (15) Dul - 2B C Figueroa (4), 1B J Rangel (21)
POTG - Duluth SP Emmanuel Lewis

Summary - Not the way to start off the 2nd half of the season if we are going to make a run. Not only did we lose our SS Kennelly Mulford for 5 weeks, but we also lost 2 out of 3 at Duluth and another extra inning and 1-run game.

On the bright side 1B Reagan Osborn appears to have awoken from his slumber. He was selected as an All-Star but really didn’t have an All-Star 1st half. What I hope that means is his 2nd half is going to be lights out. In June Osborn hit 315/469/1113 with 7 home runs and 18 RBI’s. That is much more like what we see from our stud 1B. He hit 193 in April and 247 in May, so he is definitely trending in the right direction which should be a huge boost to our lineup.

Losing Mulford is not ideal. Farulla is hitting just 208 this season, but he does have a very good glove so we should not be hurt defensively. Still, Mulford I felt was a key piece to our puzzle and he was hitting 305/371/861 with 5 home runs and 20 RBI’s in 41 games. He will be missed.

Another bright spot is we are heading to Traverse City to face the Bad News Bears who are playing better than most “experts” expected with a 35-40 record.

Without any fanfare we brought up 2B/IF Juan Vazquez to take the roster spot of Mulford, at least for a few days. Vazquez will likely make a quick appearance and then be shipped back off when 3B Travis Arnaud returns sometime towards the end of the week.

We also promote recent draft picks SP Oscar Quirk and CL Loren Summers to AA Tinley Park. Both had looked too advanced for a long term stay at Class A ball.

Monday July 3rd 2056 - Thankfully an Off Day to get our house in order

Chicago Architects 37-38 4th in the US vs Traverse City Bears 35-40 5th in the US
July 4th through July 6th 2056
Traverse City’s The Den ballpark

The Architects have been pretty dominant the last few years against the Bears and we definitely needed that boost here right now. Anything other than a sweep would have to be considered a major disappointment if we are going to make any sort of serious run to the playoffs.

The biggest issue with the Bears is that their owner is a skin flint who will not spend any money at all. They have a couple of star OF’s in CF Cal Braud and RF Earle Foote, but Braud is often injured. The pitching is horrendous overall and the Bears desperately need to make a significant investment in the pitching staff moving forward.

In a surprise move we were able to dump a little payroll as former RP Ken Shannon was picked up by the first place Sea Gulls off waivers. That will save us around $2 million dollars on the budget. Now if we can unload some more dead wood and maybe clear our budget deficit

We have a 3-game series on the road against the Traverse City Bears kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: A slight pitchers park, The Den has room for 40000 fans.

The Bears are playing .467 ball this season, compiling a record of 35 wins and 40 losses. They are in 5th place in the South of the Border, 11.0 games behind the leader. The Bears are on a cold streak, losing their last 3 games. Their number of runs scored of 386 rank 4th in the USA, their .280 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 408 runs (tied for 3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.53 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.98, ranking 5th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 5 wins and 7 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:

RHP Motoyuki Inoue (8-7, 3.48 ERA) vs RHP John Hall (5-4, 3.95 ERA)
RHP Yale Hulbert (4-2, 7.15 ERA) vs RHP Jeremy Laybolt (1-3, 6.47 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeno (9-3 3.35 ERA) vs RHP John Nelligan (3-4, 4.57 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. RF Earl Foote (Age: 27, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 5.0)
2. CF Cal Braud (28, 4.0, 4.5)
3. CF Ben Marshall (32, 3.0, 3.0)
4. SP John Hall (29, 3.0, 3.0)
5. 2B Alexis Martin (26, 2.5, 2.5)

Game #1 - Tuesday July 4th, 2056
Chicago 37-38 @ Traverse City 35-40
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (8-7, 3.48 ERA) vs RHP John Hall (5-4, 3.95 ERA)
A - 34,610

Since winning his first three starts as an Architect, Motoyuki Inoue has gone 1-4 in his last six starts. Today he earned that fourth loss with his worst performance yet (3.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 6 K). He gave up two-run home runs to Bernie Stoddart and Cal Braud. (Against the $%#&@! bullpen, Alexis Martin also hits a two-run homer.) Traverse City 9, Chicago 4.

3B L Davis 2-4 ……..
HR - CH 2B J Lambert (12), DH J Aranda (10), 1B R Osborn (16), TC - 1B B Stoddart (5), CF C Braud (9), SS A Martin (10)
POTG - Traverse City SS Alexis Martin

Game #2 - Wednesday July 5th, 2056
Chicago 37-39 @ Traverse City 36-40
RHP Yale Hulbert (4-2, 7.15 ERA) vs RHP Jeremy Laybolt (1-3, 6.47 ERA)
A - 32,883

With the game tied, 4-4, in the eighth, Traverse City’s Dwain Sonier singles in two. Not a lot to say, just another embarrassing loss! Traverse City 6, Chicago 4.

C J Hunt 2-4 DB R SP Y Hulburt 5IP 5H 2R 2BB 4K
HR - CH - RF T Stone (7) TC 1B B Stoddart (6)
POTG - Traverse City 1B Bernie Stoddart

Game #3 - Thursday July 6th, 2056
Chicago 37-40 @ Traverse City 37-40
RHP Jose Cedeno (9-3 3.35 ERA) vs RHP John Nelligan (3-4, 4.57 ERA)
A - 29,933

The Bears sweep the Architects, thereby passing them in the standings . Most of the damage comes in the third, where the Bears score four. Wally Whitaker doubles in Ben Marshall, Earl Foote doubles in Whitaker and Cal Braud, and Barney Tomiak singles in Foote. Traverse City 6, Chicago 5.

2B J Lambert 2-4 DB, TP R RBI, RF T Stone 3-4 2RBI,
HR - CH - none TC - none
POTG - Traverse City RF Earle Foote

Summary - WTF!!!!! What a disgraceful,disgusting performance by the Architects. Getting swept in Traverse City where the attendance went down with each game the Bad News Bears won. There is no chance this club (meaning the Architects) is going to make a playoff run. We sit in 5th place a game behind the stinking Bears and 4 games below 500. With 9 All-Stars and then coming back from the break 1-5….. I suspect the Duluth (who hosted the ASG) locker room manager spiked our drinks with some sort of lethargy tonic. This crap has to stop and stop now. We are the Chicago Architects, the best F’n team in this league’s 40+ year history, but we are playing like we are some highly paid AA team.

Not that things are going to get any better at home as we face 2nd place Toledo, the team we are trying to catch to make it to the playoffs since it seems completely out of the realm of any possibility to catch Duluth now.

Toledo Neptunes 45-33 2nd place in US vs Chicago Architects 37-41 5th place in the US
July 7th-9th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

With my ire at an all-time high in this league, we decided to DFA crybaby backup 1B/DH David Kenney in the hopes that some desperate team would take him (they would not and he would eventually be given his walking papers).

Today we begin a 3-game series with the Toledo Neptunes at home.
The Neptunes are playing .577 ball this season, compiling a record of 45 wins and 33 losses. They are in 2nd place in the South of the Border, 4.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 446 rank 1st in the USA, their .278 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 364 runs (2nd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.37 which ranks 2nd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.37, ranking 2nd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 10 wins and 2 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP J. Moore (4-1, 3.35 ERA) vs RHP W. Townsend (8-4, 4.47 ERA)
RHP V. Imbert (4-4, 4.89 ERA) vs RHP N. Keddy (8-3, 2.91 ERA)
RHP M. Inoue (8-8, 3.87 ERA) vs RHP C. Bouchard (9-3, 3.02 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Nick Keddy (Age: 29, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. RP Ricardo Valentín (30, 4.0, 4.0)
3. SP Christopher Bouchard (29, 3.5, 3.5)
4. 1B Eric Molina (30, 3.5, 3.5)
5. 2B Xing-fu Sen (25, 3.5, 4.0)

Game #1 - Friday July 7th 2056
Toledo 45-33 vs Chicago 37-41
RHP J. Moore (4-1, 3.35 ERA) vs RHP W. Townsend (8-4, 4.47 ERA)
A - 32,682

Chicago’s Rodeo Leroy hits a solo home run. Reagan Osborn hits two solo home runs. John Moore (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K) pitches six strong innings, and the Tects bullpen pitches three perfect frames. Chicago 4, Toledo 1.

1B R Osborn 2-4 2HR 2R 2RBI, DH J Aranda 2-4 DB R , 3B L Davis 2-3
HR - Tol None CH - LF R LeRoy (22), 1B R Osborn 2 (18)
POTG - Chicago SP John Moore (1)

Summary - What a week 2-5 and that embarrassing sweep by the Bad News Bears. My patience is really wearing thin and while the clubhouse seems to be happy, there is an underlying level of something. I’m just not sure what it is and why this $200 million dollar club is losing so much.

In a complete reversal of last year we are playing terribly in 1-run games and extra inning affairs. This points completely to a bullpen that is underperforming in just about every area. RP Larry Stott who finished last season with 44 games of sub 1.00 ERA pitching this season is flirting with a 7 ERA. We have already dumped Ken Shannon onto Duluth in some sort of strange hope that he pitches just as badly for them the remainder of the way as he has for us.

There are moves coming, but we will get back 3B Travis Arnaud in the next day or two, so we will hope that somehow that helps.

[DD Martin]

Tick Tock Tick Tock

So we pick things up after having won a game against Toledo with 2 more on tap. If there is a chance of sweeping the Neptunes now is the time. That would put us just 5 games out of 2nd place.

Game #2 - Saturday July 8th 2056
Toledo 45-34 vs Chicago 38-41
RHP V. Imbert (4-4, 4.89 ERA) vs RHP N. Keddy (8-3, 2.91 ERA)
A - 36,084

Kent Noseworthy leads the charge for the Architects. He goes 4-for-4 with a pair of dingers. He scores twice and drives in two. José Aranda doubles twice and drives in three before leaving the game late with an injury. Chicago 10, Toledo 4.

RF T Stone 2-4 R, RBI, BB, 2B J Lambert 2-5 2DB, DH J Aranda 2-5 2DB R 3RBI, 3B K Noseworthy 4-4 2HR 3R 2RBI
HR - Tol RF M Wadell (12), 1B P Labbe (13), CF S Rice (2) CH - 3B K Noseworthy 2 (6)
POTG - Chicago 3B Kent Noseworthy (1)

Saturday, July 8th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: RF José Aranda was injured while running the bases. The Diagnosis: strained rib cage muscle. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last 3 weeks. So he should be able to still play, but we are going to make a move to bring up a reinforcement to help Aranda not play every day.

Game #3 - Sunday July 9th 2056
Toledo 45-35 vs Chicago 39-41
RHP M. Inoue (8-8, 3.87 ERA) vs RHP C. Bouchard (9-3, 3.02 ERA)
A - 35,869

On paper, this looked to be a stellar pitching matchup. Christopher Bouchard squaring off against Motoyuki Inoue. Both starters give up five runs. Toledo’s Eric Molina and Mark Wadell homer, with Wadell’s homer doing three runs of damage. Joe Hunt homers for Chicago. The winning run comes on a Jean-Paul Richard RBI single. Toledo 6, Chicago 5.

RF T Stone 2-5, 1B R Osborn 2-4 DB RBI, C J Hunt 2-4 HR R 2RBI
HR - Tol DH E Molina (20) RF M Wadell (13), CH - C J Hunt (12)
POTG - Toledo C Jean-Paul Richard

Summary - Well maybe there is hope, but there would have been a lot more of it with a win on Sunday. We crept to within 6 games of Toledo and that win would have made it 5. I would have felt a lot better if we could have somehow pulled off that sweep. But still we are hanging around. We are back into a tie for 4th as the Bad News Bears are reverting back to their usual form.

At 3-6 since the All-Star Break and 3 games below 500 on the season, it feels like it will be a huge chore just to get ahead of Detroit who stands at 43-39. But if we can reel them in during the next week maybe there is hope.

With the d-t-d injury to DH Aranda, we have decided to bring up for his first taste of big league ball, 1B and corner OF Marc Nakayama (age 24 and prospect #57 overall). On the season, he has shown significant improvement with the bat at AAA this season. He is hitting 275/385/914 with 19 home runs and 59 RBI’s. In looking at him he probably should have been given an opportunity out of spring training, but he is getting his chance to shine here. He will play as we will likely limit Aranda to not playing more than 2 games in a row and he will not start against LHSP’s.

Making way for Nakayama on the roster is utility infielder Juan Vazquez. Vazquez appeared in 9 games but only got 3 plate appearances going 1-3. With 3B Travis Arnaud back and Kent Noseworthy capable of backing up across the infield, Vazquez wasn’t going to get much if any playing time.

Detroit Thunderbirds 43-38 3rd in US vs Chicago Architects 39-42 T-4th in US
July 10th-12th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

We enter 3-game series at home against the Detroit Thunderbirds kicking off today, just 4 games behind the T-Birds in the standings.

Going 43-38 so far this year, the Thunderbirds have compiled a .531 winning percentage. They are in 3rd place in the South of the Border, 8.0 games behind the leader. The Thunderbirds are playing well at the moment, having a 3-game winning streak going. Their number of runs scored of 428 rank 3rd in the USA, their .285 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 415 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.08 which ranks 5th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.84, ranking 3rd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 3 wins and 9 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Joo-seok Kim (5-4, 4.52 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (4-2, 6.69 ERA)
LHP Dwayne Miller (6-5, 3.81 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (9-4, 4.46 ERA)
LHP Brian Miller (4-6, 7.40 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (5-1, 3.17 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Bill Clary (Age: 28, Overall : 3.0, Potential: 3.0)
2. RF Stan Gillis (30, 3.0, 3.0)
3. 2B Paul Larocque (25, 3.0, 3.0)
4. SP Joo-seok Kim (27, 3.0, 3.0)
5. 1B Mal Johnston (22, 3.0, 4.0)


Game #1 Monday July 10th, 2056
Detroit 43-38 vs Chicago 39-42
RHP Joo-seok Kim (5-4, 4.52 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (4-2, 6.69 ERA)
A - 29,768 (season low)

The T-Birds score six out of the box, with José Díaz doubling in the first two and Larry Thomson homering in the last two. Two innings later, Thomson hits another two-run home run. Detroit 10, Chicago 3.

2B J Lambert 2-5 HR R RBI,
HR - Det SS L Tompson 2 (7), C D Tah (7), CH - 2B J Lambert (13)
POTG - Detroit SS Larry Thomson

Game #2 Tuesday July 11th, 2056
Detroit 44-38 vs Chicago 39-43
LHP Dwayne Miller (6-5, 3.81 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (9-4, 4.46 ERA)
A - 27,040 (season low)

Chicago’s José Cedeño (7.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 11 K) wins his 10th game of the season. Thomas Arnaud, in his third game back a month plus on the injured list, hits his first home run since his return. Welcome back, Thomas. Chicago 3, Detroit 1.

2B J Lambert 2-3 RBI
HR - Det none CH - 3B T Arnaud (4)
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (5)

Game #3 Wednesday July 12th, 2056
Detroit 44-39 vs Chicago 40-43
LHP Brian Miller (4-6, 7.40 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (5-1, 3.17 ERA)
A - 30,086

Detroit’s John Nichols hits a three-run home run in the first. In the second, Paul Larocque and Mal Johnston singled in runs. Thomas Arnaud does his best to get Chicago back in the game—he goes 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs—but gets little help from his teammates. Detroit 5, Chicago 4.

3B T Arnaud 4-5 2HR 2R 3RBI
HR - Det CF J Nichols (10) CH - 3B T Arnaud 2 (6)
POTG - Chicago 3B Thomas Arnaud (1)

Summary - Wasted Opportunity!!!!! With an opportunity to climb up the standings, the Architects once again fell down in a heap. Another 1 run loss and this time it was 2 costly errors 2B Kent Noseworthy which caused the most damage. SP John Moore wasn’t his best but 2 of the 5 runs he gave up were unearned.

Dropping 2 out of 3 means we are now 5 full games behind Detroit for 3rd place and 8 games off 2nd place and currently wildcard Toledo. Duluth is a full 12 games ahead and catching them feels more than a pipe dream. We are clinging to 4th place ½ game ahead of Traverse City. Thankfully Milwaukee is 13 games off our pace so we shouldn’t have to worry about falling down to last place.

In another move to just save pennies, we made a trade. We shipped 2054 playoff hero and AAA C Chi-yong Lee to Duluth who seems to be picking up all our scraps for AAA journeyman 3B Josh Hopkins. We don’t expect much out of Hopkins and this was a nod that Lee wasn’t going to be our starting or backup catcher next season. He was owed $950,000 next season and with any GLBL service time would be eligible for arbitration. We felt we had equal options and cheaper options long term in the organization.

Chicago Architects 40-44 4th in the US @ Milwaukee Eagles 28-56 6th in the US
Friday July 14th - 16th 2056
Milwaukee’s The Nest ballpark

A good time to face the worst club in the GLBL as we go to Brew Town to face the Eagles. Milwaukee as you will see below in the scouting report does nothing well. Last in offense, last in pitching, they have earned their porous record. They did sign C Cecil Phillips who we had coveted in prior years as he returned to the Eagles after winning a ring with Thunder Bay.

We have a 3-game series on the road against the Milwaukee Eagles kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: The Eagles play their games in The Nest, which can be described as a slight pitchers park. The building seats 40000 fans.

Going 26-58 so far this year, the Eagles have compiled a .310 winning percentage. They are in 6th place in the South of the Border, 26.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 364 rank 6th in the USA, their .270 batting average ranks 6th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 521 runs (6th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.64 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 6.65, ranking 6th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 4 wins and 8 losses.

The first two games of this series will be included in this report.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (8-9, 4.17 ERA) vs RHP Jon Atkinson (2-8, 6.29 ERA)
RHP Yale Hulbert (4-3, 7.68 ERA) vs LHP Arthur Tiller (4-4, 5.79 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeno (10-4 4.26 ERA ) vs RHP Mike Emery (4-9, 5.69 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. C Cecil Phillips (Age: 33, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. 1B John Crosby (28, 3.0, 3.0)
3. RF Luo-lang Petit (25, 2.5, 2.5)
4. SP Mike Emery (23, 2.5, 3.0)
5. SP Kent Bennett (27, 2.5, 2.5)

Game #1 - Friday July 14th 2056
Chicago 40-44 @ Milwaukee 28-56
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (8-9, 4.17 ERA) vs RHP Jon Atkinson (2-8, 6.29 ERA)
A - 28,233

Milwaukee’s Alexandre Gasnier goes 5-for-5 with a home run, a double, and two runs scored, but his effort is not enough. Chicago’s Reagan Osborn hits a two-run home run, a sac fly, and drives in a run with a ground out. John Lambert doubles, triples, and scores twice. Chicago 8, Milwaukee 5.

SP M Inoue (5-5 4.66 with Ch) 5.2IP 6H 2R 2BB 6K, 2B J Lambert 2-6 DB, TP 2R RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-4 HR R 4RBI, LF J Justice 3-5 DB R
HR - CH 1B R Osborn (19) Mil - SS A Gasnier (6), LF R Hiscock (6)

07/14/2056 3B Larry Davis was injured being hit by a pitch (Chicago @ Milwaukee) The Diagnosis: knee contusion. This is a day-to-day injury expected to last one week. Poor timing for Larry on this injury as we decide we need the player spot for the last game against Milwaukee and the upcoming Canadian Games. He will be sent down to recover (and sinisterly slow his arbitration clock. I don’t like doing that but we do have a budget issue to deal with and every dollar counts according to our owner.).

Game #2 - Saturday July 15th 2056
Chicago 41-44 @ Milwaukee 28-57
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (8-9, 4.17 ERA) vs RHP Jon Atkinson (2-8, 6.29 ERA)
A - 25,517

Chicago’s Yale Hulbert (8.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K) nearly pitches a complete game shutout. Only three batters reach base against him: two batters single, and one reaches base on an error. Milwaukee’s Arthur Tiller (6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 5 K) took his own shutout into the seventh, but John Lambert led off that inning with a home run. Cris Luna adds a two-run home run the next inning. Chicago 4, Milwaukee 0.

RF T Stone 2-4 R, SB LF R Leroy 2-4 DB (33)
HR - Mil none CH - 2B J Lambert (14), CF C Luna (9)
POTG - Chicago SP Yale Hulburt (3)

Summary - It is so nice to see Yulburt have a great game. Two outs from a complete game shutout. With the way our bullpen has been pitching we need that type of production from our starting pitchers.

The stress of this season has really hit and hit hard. We optioned C Juan Duran to AAA today. The reasons were several. 1.) Joe Hunt came into my office a few days ago and was a bit upset about playing time. Through the first 84 games Duran (216/317/726 8HR 27 RBI’s) had started 44 and Hunt (309/364/956 12HR 40RBI’s) who had started only 40. In this case of a player not happy I couldn’t argue. I was going to try and trade Hunt since he was only on a 1-year contract and we would not be able to re-sign him next season, plus he was right. He should be starting at least 65% of the time (I like to rest catchers). 2.) Duran (24) who is our future at catcher for this club, needs to get his bat worked out. He is only 24 years old but again this might have been an arbitration avoidance decision. Duran has GLBL big league service of 1 year and 113 days. He might still be a Super Two type player but I’m looking to push salary down the road where I can. And the way he has been hitting all season, this isn’t exactly unjustified.

With Duran’s demotion maybe being a public scapegoat sort of deal, it allowed us to bring up a guy that we signed in the off-season for $1 million for 1 season in C Guo-Quiang Lee who is a left handed 33 year old catcher. Not a great defender but a reasonable left handed bat. He is another guy who we won’t be able to re-sign unless we can get him for the minimum and that might be possible, but we have another option as well.

With the other “Lee” being traded that opened the door to promote C Doug Hill who had played well (369 AA this season) in the minors and deserves to be the backup C honestly. He will get his shot but he will move up to AAA where he has hit successfully before (391 last season). He is a bit angry that he is not in the majors but he will probably get a call up when the rosters expand or if we can trade Hunt. We will actively attempt to trade Hunt up until the deadline.

We also released malcontent 1B/DH David Kenney after nobody thought his $1.4 million salary (cut for more than half to around $650,000 for the remainder of the season) was worth it. We will just eat his salary and cut our losses. In fairness to Kenney his attitude wasn’t bad other than he wanted more playing time. But honestly he just wasn’t going to get it with Reagan Osborn at 1B and rookie Marc Nayakama hitting well since he was called up.

With Davis going down to AAA to “rest” his injury, we brought back up UIF Juan Vazquez.

My patience was also starting to really wear thin with another player who will be named soon.

[DD Martin]

Thank God for Milwaukee

We pick things up with the last game with the Eagles before we get to play some games north of the border.

Game #3 - Sunday July 16th, 2056
Chicago 42-44 @ Milwaukee 28-58
RHP Jose Cedeno (10-4 4.26 ERA ) vs RHP Mike Emery (4-9, 5.69 ERA)
A - 24,532

Both starters pitch six shutout innings. Milwaukee’s Mike Emery (6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K) runs into trouble in the seventh. He gets one out, but then gives up a double and an intentional walk. He gets pulled. The bullpen tries to put out the fire with gasoline. José Aranda doubles in two, and Pedro Farrulla singles in one. Chicago’s José Cedeño (8 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K) gives up two runs, too, but he gets the win. New backup C veteran Guo-quiang Lee gets his 1st hit (double) as an Architect. Chicago 4, Milwaukee 2.

CL P Wright S (18) 1IP 0H 0R, LF R LeRoy 2-4 HR R RBI
HR - CH LF R LeRoy (23) Mil - CF L Petit (7)
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (6)

Summary - That felt good even if the sweep was only against the floundering Eagles. With the wins in Milwaukee we are back to within a game of 500 at 43-44 (Never thought I would say those words this season). Now we need to head to Canada and face a Windsor team who was in the thick of things early but has fallen off badly and is in last place in Canada.

Nice to see LF Robert LeRoy get a home run. July hasn’t started out great for LeRoy but he is still the leader for the US MVP award and is a shot at the triple crown.

On a side note our former SS 38-year-old Simon Lefevre somehow won the Canadian player of the week honors this week with the Kingston Comets. Simon went 6-10 with 3 home runs (how cow) and 7 RBI’s while scoring 5 runs. On the season in just 24 games the veteran has hit for a 412 batting average and 4 home runs and 21 RBI’s. Way to go Simon!!! Kingston has probably been the surprise team of the season so far in the GLBL. They have been in the top 2 spots for the last 2 months and they have a good chance of making the playoffs for the first time since the 2046 season.

Chicago Architects 43-44 4th place in the US @ Windsor Vigilantes 35-52 6th in Canada
July 17th and 18th 2056
Justice Field (Windsor Ontario)

Today we begin a 2-game series with the Windsor Vigilantes on the road. A neutral park, Justice Field has room for 40000 fans.

With their record standing at 35 wins and 52 losses, the Vigilantes have a winning percentage of .402. They are in 6th place in the North of the Border, 15.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 441 rank 4th in the Canadian, their .284 batting average ranks 3rd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 510 runs (6th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.64 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.44, ranking 5th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 1 wins and 1 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP J. Moore (5-2, 3.30 ERA) vs RHP T. Kiyomizu (2-1, 4.72 ERA)
RHP V. Imbert (5-4, 4.63 ERA) vs RHP T. Fujimoto (6-7, 5.36 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 1B Craig Hargrove (Age: 32, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 3.5)
2. SP Tatsukichi Fujimoto (23, 3.5, 4.0)
3. LF Mark Easson (23, 3.5, 4.0)
4. SP Dan Floyd (41, 3.0, 3.0)
5. RF Carlos Alomar (26, 3.0, 3.0)

Not much else to say but let’s go get 2 and get over 500 again!

Game #1 - Monday July 17th 2056
Chicago 43-44 @ Windsor 35-52
RHP J. Moore (5-2, 3.30 ERA) vs RHP T. Kiyomizu (2-1, 4.72 ERA)
A - 22,462

Chicago’s John Moore (8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K) tossed six shutout innings before giving up a run in the seventh. Windsor’s Tohaku Kiyomizu (6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K) also tosses six shutout innings, but he gives up two runs in the seventh and gets the loss. Joe Hunt singles in those two runs. Marc Nakayama adds a pair of bonus runs with a ninth-inning homer. That is Nakayama’s first major-league home run in his young career. Congrats, Marc! With the win the Architects climb back to 500 on the season 44-44. Chicago 4, Windsor 1.

LF R LeRoy 2-4 2R, PH/DH M Nakayama 1-1 HR R 2RBI
HR CH - DH M Nakayama (1)
POTG - Chicago SP John Moore (2)

07/17/2056 RF José Aranda was injured while running the bases (Chicago @ Windsor) The Diagnosis: torn hamstring. He's expected to miss about 2-3 months. Not that Aranda was having a great season but this is just more salt on the wound. Guess I am glad we brought up Nakayama when we did and he is hitting well. He just became the fulltime DH for the rest of the season. Since we are mid-sim we will make a decision on a replacement for Aranda soon.

Game #2 - Tuesday July 18th 2056
Chicago 44-44 @ Windsor 35-53
RHP V. Imbert (5-4, 4.63 ERA) vs RHP T. Fujimoto (6-7, 5.36 ERA)
A - 25,584

Windsor takes a 2-1 lead into the ninth, where Chicago’s Tom Stone singles, John Lambert lays down a perfect sac bunt, and Reagan Osborn singles in Stone. In the bottom of the 10th, the Vigilantes load the bases on three straight singles. Mark Easson comes to the plate… and pitcher Pat Wright (3-8 19 saves) balks in the winning run. Windsor 3, Chicago 2. 10 innings

RF T Stone 2-5 R, 1B R Osborn 3-4 RBI
HR - CH LF R Leroy (24) Win - CF M Easson (14)
POTG - Windsor SP Tatsukichi Fujimoto

Summary - The Architects continue to find ways to lose 1-run and extra innings games. This time a balk by our All-Star closer.

Tough to see our former prospect LF Mark Easson hit a home run against us. We traded Easson back in 2054 when we had both Easson (then the #4 prospect) and Cris Luna (then the #2 prospect) as our CF’s of the future. We chose to keep Luna for his better defense in CF over Easson as we acquired SP Jose “Pongo” Cedeno in that deal. Easson had a better start with the bat in his career as Luna struggled to find his hitting groove during 2054 and 2055, but this year Luna is making a much better showing hitting 288 with 9 home runs and 37 RBI’s. Easson currently is hitting 297 and has blasted 14 home runs and driven in 54 RBI’s as Windsor’s cleanup hitter. In that deal we ridded ourselves of the salary of P Al Pellerin who has been on and off the DL quite a bit and when healthy hasn’t been a league average pitcher. We also sent veteran LF Javier Castillo in a move to clear some payroll space for the acquisition of Cedeno. Castillo is now in the AAA system of Toledo after signing as a free agent in the off-season this past year.

Chicago Architects 44-45 4th in US @ Thunder Bay Caribou 45-44 3rd in Canada
July 19th and 20th 2056
Thunder Bay’s Caribou Field

Time to visit our nemesis of the past two World Series, Thunder Bay. Both clubs this year are hovering around the 500 mark and are currently on the outside looking in at the playoffs. Thunder Bay won the first 2 games this season and of course beat us 4 games to 2 in each of the 54 World Series and 55 World Series. If we think we have budget problems, the Caribou’s payroll is of legendary status at $292.6 million this year and as things stand are projected to be over $300 million next season.

The Caribou boast the best RP in baseball much of the last several seasons as Roberto Terreza is 6-1 with a 2.07 ERA.

We have a 2-game series on the road against the Thunder Bay Caribou kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent: We will meet in Caribou Field, which seats 40000 and plays like a ballpark slightly favoring hitters.

Going 45-44 so far this year, the Caribou have compiled a .506 winning percentage. They are in 3rd place in the North of the Border, 6.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 474 rank 2nd in the Canadian, their .275 batting average ranks 5th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 493 runs (5th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.08 which ranks 5th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.90, ranking 4th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 2 wins and 0 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (9-9, 4.12 ERA) vs LHP Carlos Pérez (2-9, 5.40 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeno (11-4 4.13 ERA) vs RHP Jason Connel (11-4 5.71 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. CL Roberto Terraza (Age: 33, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. LF Jamal Amador (33, 4.0, 4.0)
3. SP Ralph Baxter (35, 3.0, 3.0)
4. CF Robinson González (30, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SS John Calder (27, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Wednesday July 19th 2056
Chicago 44-45 @ Thunder Bay 45-44
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (9-9, 4.12 ERA) vs LHP Carlos Pérez (2-9, 5.40 ERA)
A - 34,652

With the game tied, 3-3, in the eighth, Thunder Bay loads the bases. Michael Jackson hits a sac fly, and Ron Hinton hits a three-run home run. Thunder Bay 7, Chicago 3.

CF C Luna 3-5, 1B R Osborn 2-4 R BB, DH M Nakayama 2-5 R, C J Hunt 3-5 RBI
HR - CH 2B J Lambert (15) TB - CF R Gonzalez (24), DH S Lane (15) 2B R Hinton (12)
POTG - Thunder Bay CF Robinson Gonzalez

Game #2 - Thursday July 20th 2056
Chicago 44-46 @ Thunder Bay 46-44
RHP Jose Cedeno (11-4 4.13 ERA) vs RHP Jason Connel (11-4 5.71 ERA)
A - 29,179

In the second, Chicago sends 12 men to the plate. Joe Hunt hits a grand slam. Rodeo Leroy singles and hits a three-run homer. Hunt drove in a couple more runs later in the game, giving him six RBIs on the evening. Leroy goes 5-for-5 and scores three runs. Oh, Jose Cedeño (8.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K) finishes the game one out short of a complete-game shutout. Chicago 14, Thunder Bay 0.

2B J Lambert 3-6 DB R, LF R LeRoy 5-5 DB HR 3R 3RBI, 3B K Noseworthy 2-5 DB R RBI, CF C Luna 2-5 2R, C J Hunt 3-5 DB, HR 2R 6RBI
HR - CH C J Hunt (13), LF R LeRoy (25) TB - none
POTG - Chicago LF Robert “Rodeo” Leroy (9)

Summary - So at least we pulled out 1 game with a complete blasting of Thunder Bay 14-0. That game felt like a whole season worth of frustration that just came out of everyone.

With the injury to Aranda who will be out for the rest of the season, we placed him on the 60-day DL (not that we are close to having all 40 man spots taken up, but who knows who we will bring up down the stretch. We decided to take a flyer and purchase the AAA contract of 26-year-old OF/1B Quentin Helmer to replace Aranda. Helmer is a lefty so he will slot in (for now).

RP Larry Stott is the player who has drawn my ire of late and not for coming in asking for a better role or more playing time. Stott (1-5 7.07 ERA) has been our #2 guy in the bullpen all season long and with his previous track record has deserved that role. This season has been a complete mess for Stott as he pitched ⅓ innings and gave up 4 hits and 4 runs in that loss against TB. His ERA is above 7 now on the season and his lack of good work this year has been one of the biggest issues with the lack of success in our bullpen. If I could send him down to AAA I would but Stott has no options years left. Last off-season we signed him to a large extension (for a reliever) so we are not going to DFA him. For now he will be moved into a lower leverage situation and pitch in mop-up duty while we try to get him straightened out.

I should go back to having P Joe Johnson start games. He has kind of taken over the role that P John Moore had earlier this season being the #3 or #4 guy in the bullpen. If I put him back in the rotation who would I move out? I mean Moore has been our best SP since he joined the rotation. Cedeno has had a very good season, and I mean you can’t take out Inoue. For a #4 SP Val Imbert is our team captain and he is right around a league average guy. We might try and shop him to see if anyone tries to take him. It wouldn’t take a huge deal and his contract is for $10 million next season. I also don’t feel like taking Yale Hulburt out of the rotation even if his ERA is high (part of that is my fault for the bad rotation management earlier this season). He was off for a whole season and I really want to let him get his stuff together. We have a big investment in him for next season at $20 million and then he has a team option for $17 million for the 2058 season.

Despite our bleh record this season, I really do think this is a team capable of winning it all next year as we sit. I don’t see a big off-season of movement unless we try to get creative because our owner demands it (and he might).


Milwaukee Eagles 27-64 last in the US vs Chicago Architects 45-46 4th in the US
July 21st -23rd
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

Last time we faced the Eagles in Milwaukee we swept them and things felt right in the world for at least 3 days. We desperately need to do that again to get back over 500 and make ourselves a serious threat to make the playoffs. Hard to believe the Eagles are playing worse than before we last met them, but that season to date winning percentage is down to 297 which means they are likely to lose 100 games at this pace.

We have a 3-game series at home against the Milwaukee Eagles kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent:

With their record standing at 27 wins and 64 losses, the Eagles have a winning percentage of .297. They are in 6th place in the South of the Border, 30.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 394 rank 6th in the USA, their .269 batting average ranks 6th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 574 runs (6th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.79 which ranks 6th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 6.59, ranking 6th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 4 wins and 11 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Mike Emery (4-10, 5.52 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (5-3, 6.39 ERA)
RHP Mitch Belding (1-9, 7.10 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (6-2, 3.06 ERA)
RHP Kent Bennett (5-8, 3.96 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (5-4, 4.48 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. C Cecil Phillips (Age: 33, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. 1B John Crosby (28, 3.0, 3.0)
3. RF Luo-lang Petit (25, 2.5, 2.5)
4. SP Mike Emery (23, 2.5, 3.0)
5. SS Alexandre Gasnier (24, 2.5, 3.0)

Game #1 - Friday July 21st 2056
Milwaukee 27-64 vs Chicago 45-46
RHP Mike Emery (4-10, 5.52 ERA) vs RHP Yale Hulbert (5-3, 6.39 ERA)
A - 36,961

Let’s pick things up in the sixth, where Milwaukee’s Luo-Lang Petit hits a three-run home run and turns a 6-5 deficit into an 8-6 lead. In the seventh, Chicago’s Reagan Osborn triples in two, tying the game, 8-8. In the eighth, Milwaukee scores a run and momentarily re-takes the lead. Also in the eighth, Chicago got a two-run home run from Rodeo Leroy. Tects lead, 10-9. In the ninth, with two outs and two on, Cory Seguin singles in the tying run. The game goes to extra innings. In the 10th, Milwaukee’s Randy Hiscock doubled in two runs. The Eagles go on to vict— —in the bottom of the 10th, with two on and one out, Chicago’s Guo-Quiang Lee hits a walk-off three-run home run. Chicago 13, Milwaukee 12. I’m exhausted. 10 Innings

2B J Lambert 2-5 R RBI BB, RF T Stone 2-5 DB 2R RBI BB, 1B M Hakayama 2-4 R RBI C G Lee 2-6 HR R 3RBI, DH Q Helmer 0-1 3BB 2R RBI, PH R Osborn 1–1 TP 2RBI
HR - Mil RF A Gonzalez 2 (3), CF L Petit (8)
POTG - Milwaukee LF Randy Hiscock CH - LF R LeRoy (26), C G Lee (1)


Game #2 - Saturday July 22nd 2056
Milwaukee 27-65 vs Chicago 46-46
RHP Mitch Belding (1-9, 7.10 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (6-2, 3.06 ERA)
A - 37,385

The Tects offense exploded and scored eighth in the seventh. Cris Luna, Reagan Osborn, and Thomas Arnaud all homer in the inning. Osborn’s does the most damage, driving in three. Chicago 9, Milwaukee 3.

SP J Moore 6.2IP 6H 3R 1BB 7K, RP R Herschel W (1-0) 2.1IP 1H 0R 2K, RF T Stone 2-5 R, 1B R Osborn 2-4 HR R 3RBI BB, 3B T Arnaud 2-5 HR R 2RBI, C J Hunt 2-4 2R, CF C Luna 2-2 HR R 3RBI 2BB
HR - Mil None CH - LF R LeRoy (27), CF C Luna (10) 1B R Osborn (20), 3B T Arnaud (7)
POTG - Chicago CF Cris Luna (4)

Game #3 - Sunday July 23rd 2056
Milwaukee 27-66 vs Chicago 47-46
RHP Kent Bennett (5-8, 3.96 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (5-4, 4.48 ERA)
A - 37,478


The Architect's offense is red hot. They scored 14 more runs today, giving them 50 runs in four games. Cris Luna and John Lambert hit two-run home runs. Luna also hits a two-run double. Lambert also hits two singles, walks twice, and scores a total of four runs. Joe Justice goes 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and five ribbies. Chicago 14, Milwaukee 4.

SP V Imbert W (6-4) 5.1IP 5H 1R 1BB 7K. 2B J Lambert 3-4 HR 4R 2RBI 2BB SB (29), RF T Stone 2-5 DB R, LF J Justice 3-4 2DB 2R 5RBI BB, 3B T Arnaud 2-3 R RBI 2BB, CF C Luna 2-5 HR R 4RBI
HR - Mil 1B M Raoul 2 (7) CH - CF C Luna (11), 2B J Lambert (16)
POTG - Chicago 2B John Lambert (2)

Summary - So overall a successful week. We were 2-2 against Canada which is always a win for us and 3-0 against Milwaukee who we have won 10 straight games against. We only have 6 more games against them this season and are currently 14-4 on the season. If we could just play Milwaukee say 20 more times maybe we could sneak into this thing.

The offense has been on fire the last 4 games scoring 50 runs. Of course we had to make that Friday night game interesting and go 10 innings but we pulled it out.

Now it's time to take on 1st place Duluth at home next. We keep hovering around and we have closed the gap on 3rd place Detroit as we are just 1 game behind them. We have fallen off the Wildcard pace by 9 as Toledo has gotten hot and is actually only 1 game out of first.

We have tried DFA the following players of the last week hoping that someone would accept their contracts. Veteran LHP Julio Castro (39) was signed as insurance while we slowly worked back in with John Moore and waited for Yale Hulburt to come back from his year-long absence. While he has done alright in the bullpen, he would be happier starting games, but the fact is if I can’t find a spot for Joe Johnson who won 22 games the last 2 seasons, Castro is out of luck. We also hoped that someone would take on the contract of Bill Lutz who has 1 more season on his deal at $8.5 million. Not even a freebie on the waiver wire could entice anyone to take a chance on him. His ERA+ is 101 so he is a league average pitcher who has gained 1.0 WAR in mostly relief work this season. His walks are down from last season as well.

[DD Martin]

The Trade Deadline
Would Chicago be able to make any deals?

Duluth Sea Gulls 58-36 1st in the US vs Chicago Architects 48-46 4th in the US
July 24th-26th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

And this is a big series, but it feels like I keep saying that. Last time against Duluth we went 1-2 at their park. Now we need to at a minimum do the same if not sweep them. A sweep and I could feel like we might finally have some momentum to this up and down roller coaster season.

Today we begin a 3-game series with the Duluth Sea Gulls at home.

The Sea Gulls are playing .617 ball this season, compiling a record of 58 wins and 36 losses. They are leading the South of the Border. Their number of runs scored of 510 rank 3rd in the USA, their .282 batting average ranks 2nd. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 419 runs (1st) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.26 which ranks 1st. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.59, ranking 1st. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 8 wins and 7 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Emmanuel Lucas (6-1, 4.01 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (9-9, 4.05 ERA)
RHP Will McNeely (7-5, 4.17 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (12-4, 3.87 ERA)
RHP Chris Collier (7-5, 4.28 ERA) vs RHP John Moore (6-2 3.14 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. 1B Jorge Rangel (Age: 26, Overall : 3.5, Potential: 4.0)
2. 2B Carlos Figueroa (30, 3.5, 3.5)
3. RF Carlos Sánchez (25, 3.5, 3.5)
4. RP Pedro Saldaña (25, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Chris Collier (24, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Monday July 24th, 2056
Duluth 58-36 vs Chicago 48-46
RHP Emmanuel Lucas (6-1, 4.01 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (9-9, 4.05 ERA)
A - 37,683

Chicago scored three times in the first. John Lambert triples, Reagan Osborn homers, and Thomas Arnaud also homers. Motoyuki Inoue (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K) tosses five shutout innings, but he runs into trouble in the sixth. Inoue gives up a single and a double. He gets pulled, and reliever Júlio Castro promptly gives up a three-run home run to Jorge Rangel. That’s Rangel’s 30th home run of the season. Tie game, 3-3. Chicago re-takes the lead in the seventh. Joe Justice singles, steals second, and scores on a Guo-Quiang Lee single. Duluth immediately strikes back and takes their first lead of the game. Rangel singles in a run, and George Goff doubles in two. Duluth leads, 6-4. But two batters into the bottom of the eighth, the game is tied again. Osborn hits his second home run of the game, a two-run shot. Tie game, 6-6. The game goes to extra innings. Duluth takes the lead in the 10th. An error, a sac bunt, an intentional walk, and a sac fly put runners on the corners with two outs. Goff singles in the leading run, and Walker Dunse doubles in two more. Duluth leads, 9-6. In the bottom of the inning, with two outs, Rodeo Leroy hits a two-run home run, trimming Duluth’s lead to 9-8. Thomas Arnaud comes to the plate, representing the tying run. He flies out. Duluth 9, Chicago 8.

1B R Osborn 3-4 2HR 3R 4RBI BB, CF J Justice 3-4 DB R SB, SP M Inoue 5.1IP 5H 2R 0BB 7K’s
HR - Dul 1B J Rangel (30) CH - 1B R Osborn 2 (22), 3B T Arnaud (8), LF R LeRoy (28)
POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (3)

Game #2 - Tuesday July 25th, 2056
Duluth 59-36 vs Chicago 48-47
RHP Will McNeely (7-5, 4.17 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (12-4, 3.87 ERA)
A - 37,728

Chicago’s John Lambert leads off the bottom of the first with a solo home run. Later that inning, Thomas Arnaud doubled in a run. José Cedeño (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K) gives seven strong innings, and he leaves the game with his team leading, 6-1. It’s 7-2 in the top of the ninth, when Duluth rallies. A single and two walks load the bases with nobody out. Rick Barnard walks in one run. George Goff singles in a second. A sac fly scores a third. A walk re-loads the bases. With the bases loaded, the tying run on second, and one out, Colin Wright… grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. Chicago 7, Duluth 5.

RF T Stone 2-5 R, 2RBI, SB, 1B R Osborn 2-4 2R, 2SB, LF R LeRoy 2-4 DB (35), RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 DB, 2RBI, SS K Noseworthy 3-4 DB 2R, DH Q Helmer 3-4 RBI
HR - Dul none CH - 2B J Lambert (17)
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno

Game #3 - Wednesday July 26th, 2056
Duluth 59-37 vs Chicago 49-47
RHP Will McNeely (7-5, 4.17 ERA) vs RHP Jose Cedeño (12-4, 3.87 ERA)
A - 30,654

Things are looking good as the Tects plate five in the first, with Marc Nakayama hitting a three-run home run. This is Nakayama’s second career home run. The Gulls chip away at the lead. In the fifth, Rick Barnard ties the game, 5-5, by singling in a run. In the sixth, Carlos Figueroa puts the Gulls ahead with a two-run single. Duluth 7, Chicago 6.

DH M Nakayama 2-4 HR R 3RBI
HR - Dul 2B C Figueroa (8), CH - DH M Nakayama (2)
POTG - Duluth 2B Carlos Figueroa

Summary - So we lose the first game in extras (again) by 1-run and then another 1-run game. Last year we were winning these games and this year it's quite the opposite. Our lack of success against Toledo and to a lesser extent Duluth plus the sub-500 record against Canada and our inability to win close games is killing us. That is what we will need to sort out for next season.

In some minor moves we released two veteran OF’s who served us no purpose in CF Karel van de Linde and LF Samuel Amsden who we had DFA 2 months ago but when no one picked him up we sent him to AAA where he did not earn a spot back with the big club.

Thursday is an off-day but there is little time to lick our wounds, we have the Bad News Bears coming to town and with the way they have played against us recently I am going to have to stop calling them that.

Traverse City Bears 46-51 5th in the US vs Chicago Architects 49-48 4th in the US
July 28th-30th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

The Bears have managed a winning record against us so far this season which is just completely unexpected. A team with this pitching staff shouldn’t be within 3 games of our club, but they are and it is of our own doing. We just need to go out there and start winning a series at a time. We have Toledo next so the win now and often mantra is up.

We have a 3-game series at home against the Traverse City Bears kicking off today. Here is my report on the opponent:

The Bears are playing .474 ball this season, compiling a record of 46 wins and 51 losses. They are in 5th place in the South of the Border, 14.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 502 rank 5th in the USA, their .279 batting average ranks 4th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 512 runs (3rd) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.35 which ranks 3rd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.90, ranking 5th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 8 wins and 7 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP John Nelligan (3-5, 4.58 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (6-4, 4.32 ERA)
LHP Christopher Gore (3-2, 3.88 ERA) vs RHP Bill Lutz (2-2 4.69 ERA)
RHP Walt Bader (3-8, 3.96 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (9-9, 4.03 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. RF Earl Foote (Age: 27, Overall : 4.5, Potential: 4.5)
2. CF Cal Braud (28, 4.5, 4.5)
3. CF Ben Marshall (32, 3.0, 3.0)
4. SP John Hall (29, 3.0, 3.0)
5. 2B Alexis Martin (26, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 - Friday July 28th, 2056
Traverse City 46-51 vs Chicago 49-48
RHP John Nelligan (3-5, 4.58 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (6-4, 4.32 ERA)
A - 37,423

Chicago’s Joe Hunt hits an RBI single and a three-run home run. RP Larry Stott picked up his 3rd win (3-5) of the season, but still pitched lousy. CL Pat Wright picked up his 21st save. Chicago 7, Traverse City 4.

1B R Osborn 2-4 DB 2R BB, C J Hunt 2-3 HR 2R 4RBI BB, SP V Imbert 5.2IP 6H 2R 1ER 2BB 6K’s
HR - TC 3B W Whitaker (3) CH - C J Hunt (14)
POTG - Chicago C Joe Hunt (3)

Game #2 - Saturday July 29th, 2056
Traverse City 46-52 vs Chicago 50-48
LHP Christopher Gore (3-2, 3.88 ERA) vs RHP Bill Lutz (2-2 4.69 ERA)
A - 37,469

Traverse City’s Earl Foote ties the game, 5-5, in the eighth with a solo home run. Chicago’s Joe Justice wins the game in the eighth with a two-run home run. Chicago 7, Traverse City 5.

PH/CF J Justice 1-1 HR R 2RBI, 2B J Lambert 3-4 HR R RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-3 DB R RBI BB, LF R LeRoy 2-4 DB R RBI
HR - TC RF E Foote (13) CH - 2B J Lambert (18), SS P Farrulla (2), PH J Justice (7)
POTG - Chicago 2B John Lambert (3)

Game #3 - Sunday July 30th, 2056
Traverse City 46-53 vs Chicago 51-48
RHP Walt Bader (3-8, 3.96 ERA) vs RHP Motoyuki Inoue (9-9, 4.03 ERA)
A - 37,899

Traverse City takes a 3-2 lead into the ninth, where they score three more runs. The first five Bears batters finish the game with precisely two hits each. Architects managed just 6 hits against the now 4-8 SP Bader. Traverse City 6, Chicago 2.

C G Lee 2-3 RBI
HR - TC RF E Foote (14), CH - none
POTG - Traverse City SP Walt Bader

Summary - Well that is a start. We won 2 out of the 3 series at home and went 6-3 over the 9-game homestand. We really needed to go 8-1 to make some real noise but it's a step in the right direction. Once again the bullpen blows up and we lose a game we should have won. This time it was veteran RHP Terry Noble (who we also tried to DFA but no one bit). At least RP Larry Stott didn’t give up anything in his ⅓ of an inning. Maybe he’s remembered how to do it, let’s hope August is a ray of sunshine for Stott and our bullpen in general.

On the trade front we had a few discussions and one was around either SP Yale Hulburt or SP Val Imbert. Thunder Bay was trying to steal Hulburt who I still have some feeling that he will be okay next year. In the end Thunder Bay went after another veteran P in Kevin Simonin from Windsor. He got him cheap, but I don’t think that was the move to make if they were serious about getting into the North of the Border playoff race.

The other potential deal was with the upstart Kingston Comets who were very interested in C Joe Hunt. With Hunt on a 1-year deal and without us trading someone to shed salary at the deadline, we had no ability to offer Hunt an extension. While the conversation with Kingston was good, we just didn’t get a deal done in time that we both could agree on. We were not giving Hunt away, and I believe if we had more time we could have worked it out. So he will get August to play pretty much 75% of the starts at catcher for us. If we make a run I am sure he will be a big part of it and if not he will get to pad his stats for his next contract next season with someone.

July 31st, 2056
Trade Deadline Day

We also start a 3-game series at Toledo which will be included to end this round of games.

Game #1 - Monday July 31st, 2056
Chicago 51-49 @ Toledo 60-40
RHP Jose Cedeno (13-4 4.05 ERA) vs RHP Christopher Bouchard (11-4 4.09 ERA)
A - 34,232

Another game that looked good on paper with the pitching matchup that clearly did not materialize. Neither starting pitcher made it through the 5th inning as Toledo led 8-6 heading into the 6th. Toledo takes an 8-6 lead into the eighth. Chicago’s Tom Stone hits a two-run home run, tying the game, 8-8. In the bottom of the eighth, Stephen Rice walks, Carlos Montaño doubles and Ken Armour singles them both in. Toledo 10, Chicago 8.

RF T Stone 4-5 HR 3R 3RBI 2SB, 3B T Arnaud 2-5 DB 3RBI, DH M Nakayama 2-4, SS P Farrulla 2-4 2R SB
HR - CH 1B R Osborn (23), RF T Stone (7), Tol - DH E Molina (25), 2B X Sen (9)
POTG - Chicago RF Tom Stone (3)

Summary - More Frustration against Toledo as we just can’t seem to beat these guys this year. I suppose it is payback for how we took care of them in the 2nd half of last season, winning 13 out of the last 18 and having 6 1-run wins.

Everytime I see DH Eric Molina hit a home run against us it reminds me that we could not get a deal done with him even though we were trying last off-season. We were hamstrung by the Jose Aranda contract which right now is feeling like kind of a bust. There is always next year but Aranda has been having difficulty with injuries now 2 straight seasons and will wind up on the DL past the end of the regular season.

We signed veteran RF Jim Harris, not so much for his bat but for his clubhouse presence. He is a rare prankster and we had signed him last year and brought him up late in the season to try and relax the club. Not sure if this club is pressing and just having a bad season but we figured we would give it a shot. Sent down was DH/OF/1B Quentin Helmer who hit 333 in 18 at-bats and had a 400 OBP. He will get some more time when rosters expand.

Speaking of the clubhouse, the team atmosphere is "ecstatic" which has me a bit confused. The club is 51-50 and trying to find their footing. This is not a clubhouse that I would think would be ecstatic but they are.

I generally try to have a happy or better clubhouse in all my teams. I like good character guys and tend to dump the bad apples. The worst this club has is 1 selfish player RP Larry Stott (figures) and 1 unmotivated player in CF Cris Luna. Former RF Jim Ashley was also selfish, but we set him to Toronto in the Inoue blockbuster deal. If we had the coaches on in this league I would probably be firing the manager because this season has been such an epic disappointment. That might seem harsh but if the clubhouse is so happy with a 500 record then we likely need a manager like Dick Williams to come in and kick some butts. But we will try the prankster and see if this club can’t loosen up and get on a role. We are down to 43 games and it just doesn’t feel like we are going to get out of this a few over 500 a few below mud we are stuck in.

[DD Martin]

Last Gasp for the Season?

After that game with Toledo where we lost (again), things are feeling pretty down in the Chi-town front office. But the clubhouse is as happy as a lark to be 500 and just bobbing along (I really need Dick Williams in the clubhouse). If the Architects can somehow steal both of the next two games, I’m saying maybe there is a chance……..

Game #2 - Tuesday August 1st, 2056
Chicago 51-50 @ Toledo 61-40
RHP John Moore (6-2 3.43 ERA) vs RHP Patrick Fernandez (2-1 3.60 ERA)
A - 34,307

Chicago’s Tom Stone ties the game, 2-2, with a solo home run in the fifth. In the seventh, Marc Nakayama doubles in a run, and Stone hits a sac fly. Big win for the Architects! Chicago 4, Toledo 3.

SP J Moore 8IP 9H 3R 0BB 5K W, CL P Wright 1IP OH OR S (23), C J Hunt 2-4 R, SS K Noseworthy 2-3 2R BB
HR - CH RF T Stone (8), Tol DH E Molina (26)
POTG - Chicago SP John Moore

Game #3 - Wednesday August 2nd, 2056
Chicago 52-50 @ Toledo 61-41
RHP Val Imbert (6-4 4.16 ERA) vs LHP Harvey Moore (8-6 5.34 ERA)
A - 34,306

Let’s pick things up in the seventh, when the teams are tied, 1-1. Chicago’s Cris Luna hits a solo home run. Chicago leads! Toledo’s Schnozz Park doubles in two. Toledo leads! Next inning, Reagan Osborn homers. Tie game, 3-3! It’s still tied, 3-3, in the 12th, when Toledo’s Luis González hits a walk-off solo home run. Toledo 4, Chicago 3. 12 innings

SP V Imbert 6.2IP 6H 2R 1BB 5K, 1B R Osborn 2-5 HR R RBI, LF R LeRoy 2-5 DB R. C G Lee 3-5 DB, RBI, CF C Luna 2-5 HR R RBI
HR CH CF C Luna (12), 1B R Osborn (24), Tol - 3B L Gonzalez (17)
POTG - Toledo SP Harvey Moore

Summary - And with that extra inning 1-Run loss that feels like that was a cinematic way to say goodbye to the 2056 season. The club’s inability to close out 1-run games and lose in extra innings is the story of the season. So it just seems fitting to write RIP on the playoffs for 2056. Any eulogies will be done after the season.

We still have 41 games left and we are 10 behind the Neptunes for the wildcard and 12 behind Duluth. Neither team seems to be set to go on any massive losing streak, and we sure aren’t looking like we are going to get off the 500 merry a go round either.

International free agents are now available to be bid on and I am sure several teams will bid excessively to sign some 16 or 17 year old who can’t legally drink, smoke or vote. The Architects have $3 million in the budget, but if we don’t sign anyone that decreases our loss by $3 million. We might sniff around the edges for a player if we can, I won’t rule out signing 1 player. Don’t expect to see the club spending $3 million either.

Thursday August 3rd - Off-Day

On this off-day though we learned that our AA club Tinley Park was eliminated from the playoffs. It has been a very down season at Tinley Park and for the first time I am dealing with some solid prospects upset with the club’s record. That hasn’t been a problem much in the past seasons. Something we will need to review for next season.

Chicago Architects 52-51 4th in the US @ Detroit Thunderbirds 53-50 3rd in the US
August 4th-6th 2056
Detroit’s Thunderbird Park

It would be nice to catch and pass Detroit once and for all this season. The Thunderbirds have really exceeded any expectations I had for them this season. The guess was that they would be in a dogfight for 4th with Traverse City somewhere around 10 games below 500. So they are doing much better than that.

We begin a 3-game series with the Detroit Thunderbirds on the road.
We will meet in Thunderbirds Ballpark, which seats 40000 and plays like a neutral park.

With their record standing at 53 wins and 50 losses, the Thunderbirds have a winning percentage of .515. They are in 3rd place in the South of the Border, 11.0 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 545 rank 4th in the USA, their .284 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 557 runs (5th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.19 which ranks 5th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.94, ranking 3rd. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 5 wins and 10 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:

RHP Motoyuki Inoue (9-10, 4.07 ERA) vs LHP Brian Miller (6-7, 7.35 ERA)
RHP Jose Cedeño (13-4, 4.05 ERA) vs RHP Joe Davis (5-7, 4.80 ERA)
RHP John Moore (7-2 3.43 ERA) vs RHP Bill Clary (7-7, 3.73 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Bill Clary (Age: 28, Overall : 3.0, Potential: 3.0)
2. RF Stan Gillis (30, 3.0, 3.0)
3. 2B Paul Larocque (26, 3.0, 3.0)
4. 2B Trace Brunel (33, 3.0, 3.0)
5. SP Joo-seok Kim (27, 3.0, 3.0)

Game #1 -Friday August 4th, 2056
Chicago 52-51 @ Detroit 53-50
RHP Motoyuki Inoue (9-10, 4.07 ERA) vs LHP Brian Miller (6-7, 7.35 ERA)
A - 36,856

Chicago’s Motoyuki Inoue (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 8 K) has been lackluster since the All-Star Break, but he returns to form today, taking a shutout into the seventh. He gets plenty of support. The Tect’s scored four in the first and five in the sixth. Marc Nakayama hits a grand slam. Chicago 11, Detroit 1.

RF T Stone 2-5 2R, 1B R Osborn 2-5 R, DH M Nakayama 3-5 DB, HR 2R 5RBI, LF R LeRoy 2-4 2DB (39) R RBI BB SB, CF C Luna 2-5 2HR 2R 2RBI
HR - CH 2B J Lambert (19), CF C Luna 2 (14), DH M Nakayama (3)
POTG - CH Marc Nakayama (1)

Game #2 -Saturday August 5th, 2056
Chicago 53-51 @ Detroit 53-51
RHP Jose Cedeño (13-4, 4.05 ERA) vs RHP Joe Davis (5-7, 4.80 ERA)
A - 39,670

Can the Architect’s forge their way into sole possession of 3rd place? Not on this day. Detroit’s Melvin Akerval hits a three-run home run in the fifth inning. And in the sixth inning. Detroit 11, Chicago 4.

2B J Lambert 2-5 DB R, LF R LeRoy 2-5 DB RBI
HR - CH none Det - 3B T Brunel (7), LF M Akerval 2 (12), RF S GIllis (11)
POTG - Detroit LF Melvin Akerval

Game #3 -Sunday August 6th, 2056
Chicago 53-52 @ Detroit 54-51
RHP John Moore (7-2 3.43 ERA) vs RHP Bill Clary (7-7, 3.73 ERA)
A - 39,670

Detroit’s Bill Clary (6.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K) and Joe Brown (2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K) shutout Chicago. Mal Johnston and José Díaz homer. Larry Thomson doubles, giving him a 20-game hit streak. Detroit 5, Chicago 0.

HR - CH none Det - 1B M Johnston (16) DH J Diaz (11)
POTG - Detroit SP Bill Clary

Summary - The Architects were briefly tied for 3rd place and then dropped 2 games in rather uninspiring fashion. Now we sit in 4th 2 games behind Detroit and just 3 games ahead of Traverse City who sits in 5th. Home for 4 games against Canadian teams starting off with the upstart Kingston Comets.

Kingston Comets 59-47 2nd in Canada vs Chicago Architects 53-53 4th in US
August 7th-8th 2056
Chicago’s Pier IV Grounds

The club begins a 2-game series with the Kingston Comets at home.

The Comets are playing .557 ball this season, compiling a record of 59 wins and 47 losses. They are in 2nd place in the North of the Border, 3.0 games behind the leader. The Comets are playing well at the moment, having a 3-game winning streak going. Their number of runs scored of 594 rank 1st in the Canadian, their .290 batting average ranks 1st. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 561 runs (4th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.23 which ranks 2nd. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 5.61, ranking 6th. When playing against our Architects this season, they have a record of 1 wins and 1 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP Matsusuke Yoshida (6-6, 4.07 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (6-4, 4.08 ERA)
RHP Ralph Lapthorne (4-6, 5.11 ERA) vs Yale Hulbert (5-4, 6.75 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Roland Fuller (Age: 28, Overall : 4.0, Potential: 4.0)
2. 2B Johnny Peterson (25, 4.0, 4.5)
3. CF Bill Arnold (25, 3.0, 3.0)
4. SP Matsusuke Yoshida (32, 3.0, 3.0)
5. CF Wyatt McBryde (24, 2.5, 4.0)

Game #1 - Monday August 7th, 2056
Kingston 59-47 vs Chicago 53-53
RHP Matsusuke Yoshida (6-6, 4.07 ERA) vs RHP Val Imbert (6-4, 4.08 ERA)
A - 34,824

Kingston’s Wyatt McBryde hits a two-run single, a two-run home run, and a one-run RBI groundout. Matsusuke Yoshida (5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K) gives up one single over five innings of work. Chicago loses its 3rd straight and once again falls below 500 at 53-54. Kingston 9, Chicago 1.

HR - CF W McBride CH - none
POTG - Kingston CF Wyatt McBride

Game #2 - Tuesday August 8th, 2056
Kingston 60-47 vs Chicago 53-54
RHP Ralph Lapthorne (4-6, 5.11 ERA) vs Yale Hulbert (5-4, 6.75 ERA)
A - 33,873

Chicago scores four in the fifth. John Lambert and Marc Nakayama homer (with Nakayama’s going for two), and Kennelly Mulford doubles in a run. Architects again even their record at 54-54 with the win snapping a 3 game losing streak. Chicago 7, Kingston 4.

SP Y Hulburt 6.1IP 5H 3R 2BB 7K, 2B J Lambert 2-5 HR R RBI, LF M Nakayama 2-4 DB, HR 2R 2RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 DB 2R, SS K Mulford 2-4 DB RBI
HR - Kin none CH - 2B J Lambert (20), DH M Nakayama (4)
POTG - Yale Hulburt

Summary - Well a poorly played 3-4 week with a 3 game losing streak in the middle. It is safe to say that the playoffs now would take a miracle, but we will go out there and try and win every game on the schedule. This club has pride although we haven’t seen a lot of it lately in my opinion on the field. I need to see more fight in this club.

Shout out to OF/DH Marc Nakayama who has come up and replaced Jose Aranda and hit 319 with 4 home runs and 16 RBI’s in just 80 plate appearances (11 walks). He will be a starter next season and we will give him more looks in the outfield as we wind down the season. It will probably cost Tom Stone some at-bats but Stone has really cooled off in the 2nd half but is still hitting 306 on the season.

There are some great players eligible in the IAFA class this year, but we will not be going all in or even have the ability to bid aggressively. More on that next week.