9/11: @ Pirates (67-77/30-39 Hm), win 7-1 - WP: Gallardo (2-0)
I decided to give Yovani Gallardo the start today, instead of Ben Sheets, who has been struggling as of late. He pitched well, lasting seven innings (89 pitches) giving up four hits and striking out eight. He gave up the lone run. Rickie Weeks and Chone Figgins combined to go 5-9 with five runs and four RBIs. Weeks was 2-4 with three runs and two stolen bases, and Figgins was 3-5 with four RBIs and two runs. Fielder hit a solo shot in the ninth, which was nice to see again.
9/12: @ Pirates, loss 3-7 - LP: Jackson (4-5)
Jackson struggled in this game, especially with his command. That happened in the last game he pitched too. He only lasted two innings and gave up five earned runs. Ben Sheets came in for a relief appearance and gave us five very good innings that kept us in the game and allowed us to get within three. He then gave up two earned runs in the final inning he pitched. Prince Fielder had another big day and really seems to be heating up. He went 2-4 with a home runs and two RBIs. Rickie Weeks had another pretty good day going 1-3 with a run and a walk. Corey Hart was 1-4 with a run.
9/13: @ Pirates, win 4-3 - WP: Hendrickson (1-1), S: Turnbow (26)
For some reason the computer manager continues to pull Carlos Villanueva after only 3.1 innings of pitching. I don't really understand this, but the only thing I can think of is that it is because he has a mediocre 73 endurance. I am going to probably try to fix his endurance ratings so that it matches a more realistic number.
9/14: OFF
9/15: @ Nationals (69-78/33-37 Hm), loss 1-3 - LP: Bush (8-14)
Bush went a complete game, pitching eight innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits and one home run. Rickie Weeks had another hit from the lead off spot, although he did get caught stealing third. Jeff Mathis was 1-3 with a run scored, and Bill Hall was 2-4 and appears to be heating up somewhat.
9/16: @ Nationals, loss 2-3 - LP: Kolb (5-4)
We lost this game in a sucky way. Dan Kolb give up a walk to begin the inning. The next guy then grounded to the catcher, but it was basically a swinging bunt so the runner got to second. The next guy grounded to second base, and the runner advanced to third. The next pitch went off the catchers glove and the runner scored on a passed ball. We were only able to scavenge up six hits, and are really struggling to hit the ball at the moment.
9/17: @ Nationals, win 12-1 - WP: Sheets (7-14)
They took Sheets out after five innings, and Gallardo pitched three innings of two hit ball. We hit pretty well today, obviously. Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks had home runs. Geoff Jenkins had two. Jenks was 2-3 with three runs, two RBIs and two walks. Hall was also 2-3 with three runs, two RBIs and two walks. Erick Aybar continued to hit well and was 3-4 with a run, RBI, and walk. It should be noted that Jack Kershner pitched two really impressive innings coming from the bullpen.
Jay's Thoughts: Well, as I said last week this season could not end sooner. Yeah, I know 3-3 isn't bad. I am just ready to make the few changes necessary that are keeping us from being a winning team. Our pitching continues to do well, but the hitting can sure use a lift. I'm getting an idea of where I want to be next season and who I want to be on the team. It definitely will be interesting. We could gain some useless ground on the Cardinals next week, and maybe finish higher the fifth in the Central. We will see though. I think for these final two weeks I am going to go to a six man rotation and start Gallardo as well as the rest of the guys on the staff, and we can see what happens.
Team Stats
Record: 71-78 (3-3)
L10: 4-6
Hitting: .250 - 13 in NL
ERA: 4.68 ERA - 13th in NL
Hitting
Who's Hot: UT Chone Figgins: 7-17, .412/.412/.765, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R
Who's Not: LF Juan Rivera: 5-21, .238/.217/.286, 1 2B, 3 RBI
Pitching
Who's Hot: SP Joe Blanton: 2 GS, 13.0 IP, 8 HA, 4 BB, 8 K, 2.77 ERA, .182 AVE
Who's Not: SP Zach Jackson: 1 GS, 2.0 IP, 5 HA, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 22.50 ERA, .455 AVE
Around the League
Code:
American League Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Boston Red Sox 80 70 .533 - 80-70 0 47-26 33-44 5-5 19-13 12 L2 5-5
Baltimore Orioles 79 71 .527 1.0 80-70 -1 43-35 36-36 5-3 20-20 W2 6-4
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 72 77 .483 7.5 72-77 0 38-36 34-41 7-8 19-23 W3 6-4
New York (A) Yankees 69 80 .463 10.5 73-76 -4 35-40 34-40 6-8 14-24 W2 7-3
Toronto Blue Jays 65 84 .436 14.5 64-85 1 34-40 31-44 6-8 16-28 L3 5-5
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Minnesota Twins 90 59 .604 - 87-62 3 43-31 47-28 12-5 24-19 2 W1 3-7
Chicago (A) White Sox 78 71 .523 12.0 79-70 -1 37-37 41-34 8-6 21-19 L4 4-6
Detroit Tigers 78 72 .520 12.5 78-72 0 39-36 39-36 12-11 22-24 L2 5-5
Cleveland Indians 70 78 .473 19.5 69-79 1 45-29 25-49 6-8 26-23 L1 7-3
Kansas City Royals 64 86 .427 26.5 62-88 2 36-40 28-46 7-10 23-22 W2 3-7
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Oakland Athletics 91 57 .615 - 86-62 5 47-27 44-30 5-4 24-10 9 W5 7-3
Los Angeles (A) Angels 87 63 .580 5.0 83-67 4 43-31 44-32 5-12 27-21 L2 5-5
Seattle Mariners 63 86 .423 28.5 66-83 -3 35-40 28-46 8-8 22-26 L2 3-7
Texas Rangers 62 88 .413 30.0 66-84 -4 31-44 31-44 4-4 11-20 W2 4-6
AL Wild Card
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Los Angeles (A) Angels 87 63 .580 - 83-67 4 43-31 44-32 5-12 27-21 5 L2 5-5
Baltimore Orioles 79 71 .527 8.0 80-70 -1 43-35 36-36 5-3 20-20 W2 6-4
National League Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Philadelphia Phillies 91 59 .607 - 88-62 3 44-31 47-28 4-2 19-15 2 L2 4-6
New York (N) Mets 78 70 .527 12.0 81-67 -3 36-37 42-33 8-10 21-21 W1 5-5
Florida Marlins 77 72 .517 13.5 79-70 -2 38-37 39-35 9-3 22-22 W2 5-5
Atlanta Braves 74 76 .493 17.0 80-70 -6 34-41 40-35 4-8 19-26 L2 3-7
Washington Nationals 71 79 .473 20.0 64-86 7 35-38 36-41 11-9 27-14 L1 4-6
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Chicago (N) Cubs 79 71 .527 - 80-70 -1 37-39 42-32 3-9 16-16 12 L2 5-5
Cincinnati Reds 77 72 .517 1.5 73-76 4 42-35 35-37 6-9 20-18 W2 4-6
St. Louis Cardinals 74 74 .500 4.0 74-74 0 37-37 37-37 13-6 25-19 L1 5-5
Houston Astros 72 77 .483 6.5 73-76 -1 38-36 34-41 5-6 21-19 W2 6-4
Milwaukee Brewers 71 78 .477 7.5 68-81 3 37-37 34-41 8-2 16-15 W1 4-6
Pittsburgh Pirates 69 81 .460 10.0 75-75 -6 32-43 37-38 5-9 21-26 L1 3-7
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Los Angeles (N) Dodgers 83 66 .557 - 83-66 0 39-35 44-31 7-6 22-24 8 W1 8-2
San Diego Padres 76 72 .514 6.5 76-72 0 37-38 39-34 9-3 23-22 L1 6-4
Arizona Diamondbacks 67 82 .450 16.0 64-85 3 39-38 28-44 5-6 24-16 W4 7-3
Colorado Rockies 67 82 .450 16.0 68-81 -1 38-33 29-49 4-8 19-28 L5 4-6
San Francisco Giants 64 85 .430 19.0 69-80 -5 34-41 30-44 8-9 15-25 W1 5-5
NL Wild Card
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
New York (N) Mets 78 70 .527 - 81-67 -3 36-37 42-33 8-10 21-21 13 W1 5-5
Cincinnati Reds 77 72 .517 1.5 73-76 4 42-35 35-37 6-9 20-18 W2 4-6
Florida Marlins 77 72 .517 1.5 79-70 -2 38-37 39-35 9-3 22-22 W2 5-5
San Diego Padres 76 72 .514 2.0 76-72 0 37-38 39-34 9-3 23-22 L1 6-4
St. Louis Cardinals 74 74 .500 4.0 74-74 0 37-37 37-37 13-6 25-19 L1 5-5
Atlanta Braves 74 76 .493 5.0 80-70 -6 34-41 40-35 4-8 19-26 L2 3-7
We have two very close races that are going to be interesting, and that is the AL East and the NL Wild Card. I am really hoping that Florida can pull it off, I must say I am a bit biased towards those small market teams. The Reds wouldn't be bad either, but I'd prefer the Marlins. The Braves have raelly underachieved this season, and it will be interesting to see what happens this offseason there.
What's On Tap?
9/18: @ Cardinals (74-74/37-37 Rd)
9/19: @ Cardinals
9/20: @ Cardinals
9/21: vs Giants (64-85/30-44 Rd)
9/22: vs Giants
9/23: vs Giants
9/24: vs Giants