The Pastime Baseball League

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by EMSoccerCoach

I'm shocked by that. Even with importing from the first season of rookie qualifications, it's still odd that all these guys have underperformed. If there's a team that should be most improved next year, I'd look at Chicago. They should have the first pick in a draft class that includes Babe Ruth and Pete Alexander. Ruth will import as a hitter, based on 1918. Of course, anything can happen with the draft, particularly with guys who had great first years (see Noodles Hahn being drafted #1 in the inaugural draft). But I would suspect Ruth goes #1, and him, Pujols, Dunn, Hamilton and Teixiera in the same lineup should be incredibly potent pretty quickly. Rusie, Young and Santana should evolve into one of the top staffs in the league. If they don't rebound significantly I'll be stunned.

And I'll be not very happy...

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

And I'll be not very happy...

LOL! I know!

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles
Indianapolis Engines 61-57, 18.5 GB in West Division

August Record 11-12

Leaders

Avg - Jake Beckley .334
HRs - Elmer Flick 16
RBIs - Elmer Flick 84

Wins - Terry Larkin 16
ERA - Charlie Buffinton 3.19
Ks - Charlie Buffinton 172

Top Performance

• SP Jack Taylor threw a 3-hit shutout, striking out 14 and walking 1 in a 6-0 win at Sacramento.

Awards

• RF Elmer Flick was named Northern League Player of the Weekon August 31.

Injuries

• SP Candy Cummings is out for the year with a torn ligament in his forearm
• LF Abner Dalrymple tore his hamstring on July 27 and is expected to be out until mid-September
• LF Fred Clarke sprained his knee running the bases on August 29 and is expected to miss a month.
• CL Joakim Soria suffered a bicep strain and has been put on the 15-day DL. He's expected to be out until mid-September.

Who's Hot

1. RF Elmer Flick .310, 6 HRs, 26 RBI
2. CF Billy Hamilton .317, .456 OBP, 15 steals, 4 HRs
3. SP Pud Galvin 2-1, 2.82 ERA

Who's Not

1. SS Hanley Ramirez .171 1 HR 4 RBI
2. 3B Harry Steinfeldt .154
3. MR Oscar Villareal 8.27 ERA over 11 appearances

Louisville Racers 60-60, 10.5 GB in East Division

August Record 13-12

Leaders

Avg - Dan Brouthers .319
HRs - Dan Brouthers 36
RBIs - Dan Brouthers 103

Wins - Roy Oswalt 14
ERA - Will White 3.86
Ks - Roy Oswalt 180

Top Performance

• Roy Oswalt, but not for why you think. On August 7, yes Oswalt got the win, but his pitching line was not great. 8 2/3, allowing 4 earned runs on 11 hits, striking out 8. But Oswalt went 4-for-5 at the plate, driving in 3.

Awards

• 1B Dan Brouthers was named Northern League Player of the Week on August 24.

Injuries

• NONE

Who's Hot

1. 1B Dan Brouthers .320, 5 HRs, 24 RBI, 7 doubles
2. MR Francisco Rodriguez 3-0, 2.03 ERA in 9 appearances

Who's Not

1. C Joe Sugden .172 average
2. CL Danys Baez 0-4, 5 SV, 7.56 ERA in 10 appearances. 19 H in 8 1/3 IP

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles
New York Heroes 69-48, 1st Place in East Division

August Record 14-9

Leaders

Avg - Roger Connor .330
HRs - Roger Connor 29
RBIs - Jesse Burkett 89

Wins - Jim McCormick 14
ERA - Red Ehret/Harry Howell 3.15
Ks - Harry Howell 182

Top Performance

• RF John Cassidy went 3-4 with 2 homers and 4 RBI and 4 runs in a 14-4 win at Louisville on August 1.

Awards

• 1B Roger Connor was named Northern League Player of the Month for August, the second month in a row.

Injuries

• SS Ed McKean has a torn rotator cuff and is out for the season.

Who's Hot

1. 1B Roger Connor .374 avg, 1.188 OPS, 9 HRs, 19 RBI
2. CF Fielder Jones .357 avg
3. CL Jonathan Papelbon 2-1, 7 SV, 1.54 ERA

Who's Not

1. 2B Aaron Miles .172 avg

Philadelphia Ringers 51-65, 17.5 GB in East Division

August Record 9-15

Leaders

Avg - John O'Rourke .327
HRs - John O'Rourke 35
RBIs - John O'Rourke 82

Wins - Charley Radbourn 13
ERA - Charley Radbourn 3.50
Ks - Satchel Paige 218

Top Performance

• SP Satchel Paige threw a 2-hit shutout, striking out 10 in a 5-0 win against Los Angeles on August 11

Awards

• 3B Ned Williamson was named Northern League Player of the Week on August 17

Injuries

• 1B Charley Jones suffered an undisclosed injury on July 22 after reportedly setting fireworks in his yard. He's expected to be out until late September.

Who's Hot

1. MR Brian Wilson, Brian Fuentes and Jeff Francis 1.53 ERA combined over 29 1/3 innings.
2. SP Satchel Paige 3-1, 2.53 ERA
3. CF John O'Rourke .319 avg, 1.018 OPS, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 9 doubles

Who's Not

1. MR Troy Brohawn 13.50 ERA over 10 appearances
2. RF Heavy Johnson .169 avg

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles

Sacramento Stingers 47-79, 32 GB in Wast Division

August Record 8-16

Leaders

Avg - George Hall.347
HRs - George Hall 33
RBIs - George Hall 83

Wins - Jim Devlin/Guy Hecker 12
ERA - Jim Devlin 3.75
Ks - Jim Devlin 202

Top Performance

• RF Socks Seybold went 4-for-5 with a homer, 2 runs and 3 RBI in an 11-2 win over Chicago on August 22.

Awards

• None.

Injuries

• 3B Sol White, acquired July 29 in a trade, is out for the season with a torn hamstring suffered August 17.
• RF Socks Seybold has been diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back and is out for the season.

Who's Hot

1. CF George Hall .358 avg, .515 OBP with 4 HRs and 14 RBI
2. SP Cole Hamels 1.24 ERA in four starts

Who's Not

1. 1B Travis Hafner .177 avg
2. MRs Jesse Duryea, Carlos Marmol, J.J. Putz and Bill Hutchinson combined ERA of 8.38 in August

Wichita Brigade 80-39, First Pace in West Division

July Record 17-6

Leaders

Avg - Robinson Cano .308
HRs - Robinson Cano 15
RBIs - Robinson Cano 75

Wins - Rube Waddell 21
ERA - Jay Hughes 2.86
Ks - Rube Waddell 264

Top Performance

• 1B Frank Chance had 4 hits, with 2 runs and an RBI in a 10-3 win over Orlando on August 8.

Awards

• SP Rube Waddell earned Northern League Pitcher of the Month honors for August, the third time he's won the award this year.
• 2B Robinson Cano was named Northern League Player of the Week on August 10.

Injuries

• LF Jimmy Sheckard strained his hamstring July 28 and could miss up to two months
• SP Jonas Gaines left the July 30 game with a strained rotator cuff and is expected to be out until late September

Who's Hot

1. SP Elton Chamberlain 4-0, 1.91 ERA
2. 3B Sammy Strang .328 avg, .533 OBP
3. SS George Davis .352 avg, 4 HRs, 19 RBI

Who's Not

1. None

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Alabama Airmen 52-67, 24.5 GB in East Division

August Record 13-10

Leaders

Avg - Joe Mauer .276
HRs - Mike Tiernan 18
RBIs - George Van Haltren 65

Wins - Gus Weyhing 13
ERA - Gus Weyhing 3.14
Ks - Joe Corbett 233

Top Performance

• 1B Mike Jacobs went 5-for-5 with a double, a run and 2 RBI in a 6-2 win at Los Angeles on August 18.

Awards

• None.

Injuries

• 2B Bobby Lowe is day-to-day after rolling his ankle.

Who's Hot

1. SS Jimmy Rollins .304 avg, 5 steals.

Who's Not

1. 3B Bill Bradley .216 avg (nobody particularly good or bad this month for the Airmen, apparently).

Arizona Sandmen 63-56, First Place in West Division

August Record 9-14

Leaders

Avg - Nap Lajoie .316
HRs - Nap Lajoie 20
RBIs - Nap Lajoie 82

Wins - Ben Sanders/Clark Griffith 14
ERA - Ben Sanders 2.75
Ks - Ben Sanders 138

Top Performance

• RF Frog Redus went 3-for-5 with 2 homers, 3 runs and 4 RBI in a 9-3 win over Philadelphia on August 30.

Awards

• None.

Injuries

• RF Willie Keeler is having Tommy John surgery and is out until about the All-Star break of next season

Who's Hot

1. CL Jose Valverde 2-1, 2 SV, 1.54 ERA

Who's Not

1. SS Jose Reyes .217 avg

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Las Vegas Bosses 56-62, 6.5 GB in West Division

August Record 14-9

Leaders

Avg - Juan Uribe .293
HRs - Lip Pike 20
RBIs - Alejandro Oms 58

Wins - Charlie Sweeney 13
ERA -Charlie Sweeney 2.84
Ks - Tommy Bond 239

Top Performance

• 1B Lip Pike went 2-for-4 with 2 homers, 2 R, 2 RBI in a 5-3 win over New Orleans on August 14.

Awards

• None.

Injuries

• None

Who's Hot

1. SS Juan Uribe .295 avg, 8 HRs, 22 RBI
2. SP Carlos Zambrano 3-0, 2.35 ERA

Who's Not

1. C Tom Daly .170 avg
2. SP Jouett Meekin 0-4, 9.14 ERA

Los Angeles Idols 44-74, 18.5 GB in West Division

August Record 5-18

Leaders

Avg - Stephen Drew .313
HRs - Harry Stovey 23
RBIs - Harry Stovey 82

Wins - Brian Lawrence 9
ERA - Brian Lawrence 4.22
Ks - Billy Rhines 131

Top Performance

• 1B Fred Tenney went 4-for-5 with 1 run, 1 RBI in a 6-4 win at Arizona on August 22.

Awards

• None.

Injuries

• 1B Fred Tenney severely sprained his ankle and is out for 3 weeks.

Who's Hot

1. Chad Qualls, Jesus Colome, Carlos Silva 2.08 ERA combined

Who's Not

1. SP John Clarkson 0-5, 7.36 ERA
2. 2B George Scales .170 avg
3. LF Harry Stovey .148 avg

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Memphis Strummers 76-42 First Place in East Division

August Record 15-8

Leaders

Avg - Oscar Charleston .344
HRs - Cap Anson, Oscar Charleston 16
RBIs - Oscar Charleston 101

Wins - Jesse Tannehill 16
ERA -Sadie McMahon 2.49
Ks - Tim Lincecum 218

Top Performance

• 1B Cap Anson went 4-for-4 with 2 homers, 4 RBI and 4 runs in a 17-1 pounding of Sacramento on August 30.

Awards

• CF Oscar Charleston was named Southern League Player of the Week on August 17
• SP Jesse Tannehill was named Southern League Pitcher of the Month of August
• Charleston was also named Southern League Batter of the Month of August, the second time he's won the award this year.

Injuries

• 2B Cupid Childs has a slight fracture of his thumb, suffered August 12, and is due back in the next week.

Who's Hot

1. 1B Cap Anson ..427 avg with 3 homers, 9 doubles, 20 RBI
2. CF Oscar Charleston .393 avg, 3 HRs, 21 RBI, 10 doubles, 26 runs
3. SP Jesse Tannehill 4-0, 1.29 ERA
4. SP Tim Lincecum 4-1, 1.66 ERA

Who's Not

1. LF Josh Willingham .176 avg
2. SP Lady Baldwin 1-3, 6.21 ERA

New Orleans Knights 67-49, 8 GB in West Division

July Record 15-8

Leaders

Avg - Sam Thompson .346
HRs - Sam Thompson 33
RBIs - Sam Thompson 103

Wins - Doc McJames 18
ERA - Doc McJames 1.96
Ks - Doc McJames 203

Top Performance

• SP Doc McJames threw a 7-hit shutout, striking out 8 in a 7-0 win over Arizona on August 17.

Awards

• RF Sam Thompson was named Southern League Player of the Week twice, on August 3rd and August 31.
• LF Eric Hinske was named Southern League Player of the Week on August 10
• SP Doc McJames was named Southern Legaue Player of the Week on August 24

Injuries

• MR Brian Bruney is day-to-day with a blister.

Who's Hot

1. RF Sam Thompson .364, 9 HRs, 21 RBI, 17 runs
2. SP Doc McJames 4-1, 1.85 ERA

Who's Not

• None

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Orlando Orcas 55-64, 21.5 GB in East Division

August Record 11-12

Leaders

Avg - John O'Rourke .279
HRs - Ryan Howard 18
RBIs - Ezra Sutton 80

Wins - Chuck Smith 13
ERA - Sam Leever 3.82
Ks - Francisco Liriano 168

Top Performance

• C Jim O'Rourke went 4-for-6 with 2 runs and 4 RBI in a 7-6 win over Arizona on August 14

Awards

• None.

Injuries

• MR Chien Ming Wang is expected to be out for the season with irritation in his ulnar nerve.

Who's Hot

• None.

Who's Not

• MR Matt Kilroy 10.50 ERA over 9 appearances.

San Antonio Sheriffs 61-56, 1 GB in West Division

July Record 14-9

Leaders

Avg - Scott Podsednik .292
HRs - Jimmy Williams 16
RBIs - Jimmy Williams 74

Wins - Noodles Hahn 15
ERA - Noodles Hahn 2.37
Ks - Noodles Hahn 296

Top Performance

• 2B Jimmy Williams went 2-for-4 with 2 homers, 2 runs and 5 RBI in a 10-3 win over Memphis on August 20.

Awards

• None.

Injuries

• SP George Zettlein suffered a torn ligament in his ankle and is expected back in a couple of weeks.

Who's Hot

1. CL Hideki Okajima 1-1, 8 SV, 0.82 ERA in 11 appearances
2. SP Ted Trent 1.91 ERA over 6 starts

Who's Not

1. SP Brandon Webb 1-3, 7.20 ERA
2. C Yorvit Torrealba .200 avg

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Tensions Boil Over Between New Orleans and Memphis
Hinske, Baldwin Suspended For Fight

NEW ORLEANS -- It's not the closest race, but it may be the most intense.

The resurgent New Orleans Knights trimmed the Memphis Strummers' lead in the Southern League East Division to 6 games with a little more than 40 games remaining, and it seems Memphis may be getting a little tired of hearing how much trouble they are in.

In game two of a four-game tilt, New Orleans took a 5-3 lead on a sixth inning 2-run homer by Curtis Granderson. After going 2-2 on the next batter, Eric Hinske, Lady Baldwin put a fastball right between the shoulder blades, sparking a bench clearing brawl that took 14 minutes to clear away.

"Why the hell would I hit him 2-2," Baldwin asked incredulously after the game. "They are trying to manufacture an intensity that isn't there," he said, alluding to the still significant distance between them.

"We've trimmed it to 6 games," Hinske said afterward. "They're getting nervous, and he decided to take a cheap shot because he didn't get the job done."

Both players received 3-game suspensions, which Knights manager Walter Alston termed a "joke," as Baldwin wouldn't even miss a start. Hinske, who hit .352 in August, was lost for three games. The Knights lost both of the final two in the Memphis series, putting them back to 8 games.

The teams don't meet again in September, but meet five times in the last two weeks of the season in October.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Up next...the Oct. 1 edition. May be a couple of days...I have some scheduling errors to take care of.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 2, Monday, Sept. 1, 2009 (cont.)

Pennant Race Overview

Northern League East

New York Heroes   69 48 -- 
Charlotte Cougars 64 54 5.5

The Heroes caught Charlotte in late July and opened it up a few more games in August. However, these teams play 7 more times, plenty enough to make things interesting. New York hosts Charlotte for a 4-game set Sept. 11-14, then travels to Charlotte for a 3-game series October 2-4.

Northern League West

Wichita Brigade      80 39 -- 
Indianapolis Engines 61 57 18.5

Indianapolis hosts Wichita for a 20-game series...oh forget it! There's obviously no race here. Wichita will simply be trying to get LF Jimmy Sheckard and SP Jonas Gaines healthy for the postseason.

Southern League East

Memphis Strummers      76 42 -- 
New Orleans Knights    67 49 8

Despite the objections of some - including Memphis - this is a race if for no reason other than New Orleans' surge since its managerial change in June. The teams play five more games, all in October - 3 in Memphis, 2 in New Orleans the last week of the season. There is potential for those games to be moot, particularly with New Orleans starting September with a brutal 15-game road trip. New Orleans has been a great story, but the odds are severely against them.


Southern League West

Arizona Sandmen         63 56 -- 
San Antonio Sheriffs    61 56 1
Las Vegas Bosses        56 62 6.5

Lost because their records aren't great, this is actually the best race in the PBL. San Antonio and Las Vegas went 14-9 in a month that saw Arizona go 9-14 to tighten things up here. They will have plenty of opportunity to knock each other off, though. Arizona has 6 left at Las Vegas and hosts Vegas for 2. Arizona also has 2 at home and 2 away against San Antonio. Vegas is at San Antonio for 4 in September, then hosts them for 3 in October.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Think I may do something a bit different and do newspaper-style game writeups of important pennant race games in September. I'll still do an Oct. 1 edition of PBL Monthly for the stat stuff, but I think the pennant races will feel more like pennant races with a day-by-day type report.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Idol Worship? Not A Chance!
L.A. throws monkey wrench into New Orleans' playoff hopes
Sept. 5, 2009

LOS ANGELES -- They call it spoiler for a reason.

The hopeful pennant race between the New Orleans Knights and the Memphis Strummers took a u-turn in the past two days here as the Los Angeles Idols, long since eliminated from playoff contention, handed the surging Knights their third straight defeat.

Many had suspected the Knights' current road trip, a brutal 15-game stretch, could be their demise. But after New Orleans won their first game in Charlotte Wednesday night, the Knights seemed to get off on the right foot. However, they lost the finale of the two-game set there, then dropped the opener here when starter Jack Chesbro (9-7, 2.77) couldn't get out of the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Brian Lawrence (10-14, 4.11) threw a complete game gem for Los Angeles to take the opener.

But that was nothing compared with what transpired this evening. Up 7-5 behind a shaky Rich Harden (11-9, 4.21), New Orleans skipper Walter Alston tried to push him through the sixth only to watch Los Angeles tie it up on three singles and a throwing error by catcher Jack Rowe that allowed Idols backstop Cal McVey to score.

Harden was pinch-hit for in the top of the 7th, and would have to watch in stunned disbelief as the Knights' bullpen surrendered 10 runs in the 7th on six hits, three walks, an error and a hit batsman.

"All we have to play for at this point is pride and the chance to wreck someone else's season," said McVey (.282-3-38), who had three hits and three RBI on the night.

Across the stadium, Harden lamented his ability to go deeper and refused to throw his bullpen under the bus. "We're in a playoff push here," Harden said. "Seven runs in six innings is not going to get it done. We scored eight runs. That should have been enough to win."

But it wasn't, and the Knights - who two nights ago came into Los Angeles having trimmed the Strummers' lead to 6 1/2 games - now find themselves 8 1/2 games back after Memphis won in Las Vegas the past two nights. That's not just two games anymore.

It's time ticking away.

[EMSoccerCoach]

So I'm poking around the league earlier, just browsing for some cool bits of info to work in to a report or something as I write about the pennant races, and see a staggering stat.

In the PBL, you play the other three teams in your division 26 times over the course of the season. So far, Wichita has played Chicago 22 times. Wichita has won 21 of those games, including 18 in a row. That is just incredible to me.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Power Outage
Cougars' Homer-leader Hines done for season
Sept. 5, 2009

CHARLOTTE -- One arm draped over left fielder Elmer Smith, the other clutched the shoulder of right fielder Mark Teahen as the duo guided Charlotte Cougars centerfielder Paul Hines gingerly down the dugout steps yesterday after an inning-ending grab by Hines. Little did Charlotte know then that their charge on division leading New York could be upended.

Now they do, as doctors have said Hines tore his hamstring on the play. If the Cougars are going to make up their 6-game deficit, they are going to have to do it without Hines' offense.

"I felt a pop on the break," Hines said of his first move toward Chicago pitcher Amos Rusie's looping liner. "It stayed up for me so I didn't have to bust it, because I never would've gotten there."

Smith and Teahen both moved to a hunched over Hines after the third out, before helping him on a long, slow walk in from the outfield.

His team-leading 22 homers and 94 RBI are gone, leaving the Northern League's 5th rated offense without a true power threat. Roger Bresnahan (.270-5-53) will move from catcher to center field, placing light-hitting Jack O'Connor (.226-0-16) into full-time duty behind the dish.

Can the Cougars persevere?

"We don't have a choice," said third baseman John McGraw. "We need to execute."

Charlotte has three more games home against the weak Chicago Hitmen. They will then venture to Indianapolis for a 4-game set before a quick 2-game series in New York next weekend.

And the Cougars' hunt just became much more difficult.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Rockin' and Rollin'
Tannehill does it all as Strummers open division lead to 9

Sept. 7, 2009

LAS VEGAS -- There is little more that Jesse Tannehill could have done in last night's finale of Memphis' four-game set in Las Vegas.

Complete game? Check. Pitch effectively? Check. Hit a homer? Check.

Against a Las Vegas lineup that indicates the Bosses consider themselves out of the playoff race even if others consider them a longshot with a shot, Tannehill went the distance, scattering 8 hits over 9 innings, and contributed a solo shot in the 6th to lead Memphis to an 8-1 win. The victory gave Memphis 3-of-4 in the series and, more importantly, extended their lead over the New Orleans Knights to nine games.

Memphis skipper Harry Wright was thrilled with Tannehill's performance. "Jess had one tough month, and other than that he's been amazing," Wright said of his ace, who is 8-2 with a 1.90 ERA over his last 12 starts.

"I had it all going tonight," Tannehill said afterward. "Including my bat."

The sixth-inning homer was Tannehill's second of the season, and added insurance to a game that had stayed 3-0 since Memphis hit two shots in the first: a solo shot by Deacon White (.325-13-82) and a two-run shot by Ryan Braun (.263-16-67).

Tannehill's was the second half of back-to-backers with second baseman Ben Zobrist, who hit his first homer in his second big league game. Bobby Wallace (.263-10.69) also homered for Memphis.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Down to One
Lamb's walkoff pinch single trims Arizona's lead back to one
Sept. 7, 2009

SAN ANTONIO -- Mike Lamb yearned for this opportunity since he was sent back to the reserve roster two months ago.

Bottom of the ninth, game tied and minutes after learning the Arizona Sandmen had lost their game against Alabama, Lamb stepped in to the box with a chance to help the playoff push.

"I knew I'd be back September 1st," Lamb said after a double into the gap off Orlando Orcas closer Takashi Saito to score Scott Podsednik, giving San Antonio a 5-4 walkoff victory. "And I knew we'd be in the hunt. So I knew I'd have a chance to make a difference."

Lamb had been up with the Sheriffs in July when second baseman Jimmy Williams was put on the disabled list. He went 3-for-11 with a homer during his brief stay. Then the night of his return on Sept. 1, he homered in a 7-3 win at Indianapolis that, for 24 hours, put the Sheriffs in a tie with Arizona for first place.

But Arizona won its next four, and San Antonio lost a game of ground in the process before Lamb's hit combined with Arizona's 8-2 loss to Alabama last night bring the margin back to one.

At the heart of win was Podsednik, who has been a stunner this season. He had a rough August, hitting .241, and skipper Bobby Cox figured it was as good a day as any to give his sparkplug (.298 average, 58 steals) a day off. But in the ninth, Cox called on Podsednik to get things going and he did exactly that, grounding a single through the hole into left.

Podsednik would steal second before coming home on Lamb's gapper.

"I didn't need the day off anyway," he quipped after the game.

He doesn't figure to get any in the coming days, as San Antonio prepares to host four games against a suddenly desperate New Orleans Knights squad that is seeing its storybook comeback slip away.

"We're desperate, too," shot the suddenly productive Hugh Duffy, who hit .318 in August. "We're in a REAL pennant race," his emphasis a blatant dig on the New Orleans story some consider not a story.

Doc McJames (19-4, 1.92) goes for New Orleans against Joe McGinnity (13-11, 3.25) in the opener tonight. Brandon Webb (9-6, 3.76) hurls for the Sheriffs against Nick Altrock (11-14, 3.91) tomorrow, while Jim Whitney (4-5, 4.50) matches up against the Knights' Jack Chesbro (9-7, 2.77) on Wednesday. Strikeout leader Noodles Hahn (16-6, 2.39) pitches the finale for San Antonio against Rich Harden (11-9, 4.12).

[EMSoccerCoach]

The Doctor Is In
McJames Wins 20th As Knights Joust Sheriffs

Sept. 9, 2009

SAN ANTONIO -- For someone who said he wasn't at his best, Knights ace Doc McJames sure was plenty good.

McJames improved to 20-4, scattering nine hits in a complete game shutout victory of the San Antonio Sheriffs to snap a three-game losing streak and lower his league-leading ERA to 1.84 in the process.

"My breaking stuff was good today, but I left a few fastballs up in the zone," McJames said afterward. "Fortunately, they burned me for singles instead of homers."

Sheriffs starter Joe McGinnity (13-12, 3.25) was strong, allowing only five hits over 8 innings, the big blast a 2-run pinch-hit homer by Topsy Hartsel that extended a 1-0 Knights lead to 3-0. New Orleans had scored its only run prior to that in the sixth, when third baseman Lave Cross drove in catcher Jack Rowe on a groundout.

New Orleans was hitless until the fourth, and a Sam Thompson single was their only hit until Rowe's single in the sixth. Two of McGinnity's five walks on the day would push Rowe to third, setting up the first run.

But the real story was McJames, who is 10-2 in his last 12 starts with a 1.57 ERA.

"He is simply the best," said shortstop Ross Barnes, who was hitless to continue his mini-slump kicking off September, though he's still batting .325. "Doc takes the mound, we feel sure we'll win."

The victory trimmed the idle Memphis Strummers' lead back to 8 1/2. They kick off a two-game set against Arizona and ace Ben Sanders (15-8, 2.79) this evening. Playing each other's division rival, you can bet all four teams will be watching the scoreboard very carefully.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Little Things Mean Big Win
Two pinch hits and sacrifice give Strummers extra-inning victory
Sept. 9, 2009

MEMPHIS -- It needn't be pretty.

The Strummers rapped out four hits in the first inning last night against the Arizona Sandmen, scoring two runs on a double play and a wild pitch. They wouldn't score again until the bottom of the 13th, when two pinch hitters would sandwich a sacrifice bunt for the 3-2 victory.

Memphis would load the bases in the first on three straight singles by Cupid Childs, Ichiro Suzuki and Oscar Charleston against Arizona ace Ben Sanders. Cap Anson would ground into a double play, scoring Childs. Then Sanders would uncork a 1-0 wild pitch that let Suzuki score for the quick 2-0 lead.

But Sanders was brilliant after that, throwing 8 1/3 more innings of five-hit ball before leaving with a no-decision. That was brought about by an RBI single by Russell Martin in the fourth that scored Nap Lajoie, and was followed by a game-tying double by George Gore.

Sadie McMahon matched Sanders zero for zero, pitching into the 10th, but would leave with one on in that inning, though Dan McBride would pitch out of it.

Ed Abbitachio was thrown out at the plate after a single by Ryan Braun to end the bottom of the 10th, and neither team would threaten until the top of the 13th. With runners on the corners, two out and new callup Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe at the plate. But Radcliffe wouldn't see a pitch, as Strummers pitcher George Sherill picked off a wandering Frog Redus off first base.

Randy Choate would pitch the bottom of the 13th for Arizona, and Kevin Youkilis would pinch hit to lead off the inning with a first pitch single. Cupid Childs would sacrifice Youkilis to second before Garrett Atkins roped a 1-0 fastball into right field for the game-winning single.

The victory left Memphis with a temporary 9 game lead, and dropped Arizona's lead over San Antonio to a half game pending their matchup last night, which concluded too late to be included in this edition.