The Pastime Baseball League

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League
September Review (cont.)

Southern League Report

It may not have had quite the heat that the Northern League East race between New York and Louisville had, but the Southern League had a pair of battles to carry it through much of September.

The month began with the Orlando Orcas holding a 1 1/2 game lead over the defending champion New Orleans Knights. But when Orlando started the month 12-3, it seemed New Orleans had been put aside. The Orcas, however, lost their next six, including three straight at home to New Orleans, to make the race tight again. Orlando wouldn't be denied though, winning six of their last seven - including a pair in New Orleans - to lock up the division.

Pitching, pitching, pitching. It all comes down to that, and Orlando got it in the season's stretch run. Tim Keefe and Al Javery each went 4-1, with ERAs of 2.74 and 3.02, respectively. Larry Cheney went 3-1, 3.55; while Bill Hoffer went 3-2, 3.75. Aaron Harang made two spot starts, went the distance in both, won both and posted a 1.00 ERA. Offensively, the Orcas were led by Sam Crawford as always. The star hit .310 with 6 homers and 20 RBI. Buck Freeman hit .383, though was sidelined for 10 days with an oblique strain.

To a man, the New Orleans Knights will say they thought they would catch Orlando. After the sweep, the expected the Orcas to wilt under the pressure of a pennant race. Some will grumble that the losses of Ross Barnes (.311-12-81) and Fred Carroll (.237-5-49), whose defense means more than his offense, hurt them immensely. But that's an oversimplification. The following averages tell the real story: Prince Fielder (.175), Evan Longoria (.213), Lave Cross (.171), Topsy Hartsel (.091) and Jack Rowe (.238). The pitching was good, but not good enough to make up for that.

The Memphis Strummers went 16-11 to get out of the cellar, and while he'll probably fall short of his third consecutive Outstanding Hitter Award, Oscar Charleston (.338-32-105) did all he could, batting .343-6-23 with a 1.092 OPS in September. Cupid Childs and Otto Krueger joined Charleston in posting a .400-plus OBP for the month, and Cap Anson hit .336 with a .387 OBP. But the league's worst pitching staff continued a poor showing, despite good signs from Tim Lincecum and Lady Baldwin.

They closed the gap to within five games briefly, and the fans in Alabama had postseason dreams. In the end, the Airmen ended up in the cellar, where they have resided in each of the PBL's three seasons. Barry Zito's (15-8, 3.97) ruptured finger tendon didn't help, but certainly wasn't solely responsible for the 3-14 stretch in the second half of the month that crippled their season. The bright spot was Jimmy Rollins' 29-game hitting streak, tying Ginger Beaumont of Sacramento for the longest in PBL history.

The San Antonio Sheriffs got within a game and a half of the Los Angeles Idols, and skeptics touted the idea that San Antonio's brilliant pitching would outduel the Idols' awesome lineup down the stretch. In the end, Los Angeles went 15-11, San Antonio went 11-16, and the race was done relatively quickly.

Likely Outstanding Hitter Mike Donlin (.358-32-121) had an abundance of help. That conversation starts with the unconscious September of Southern League batting champion Cal McVey, who batted a ridiculous .505 in September, getting 55 hits in 109 ABs, scoring 30 runs and posting a 1.214 OPS. Justin Morneau hit .371 and Heinie Groh hit .356. As for the pitching: John Clarkson (3-1, 2.32), Scott Kazmir (3-0, 3.09) Larry Corcoran (3-2, 3.32) and Brian Lawrence (2-3, 3.52) showed this team can pitch when it has to, an ominous sign for the awaiting Orlando squad.

San Antonio suffered much the same fate as New Orleans did in the east. Buck O'Neil hit .326 and Jeremy Hermida hit a surprising .307. No other starter topped .270 in September, and while Jimmy Williams' homerless .223 was tough to take, leadoff man Scott Podsednik's .142 was crippling.

The Arizona Sandmen had fallen too far out, but went 35-23 over the last two months to make it to .500 for the season. The shift of Jose Reyes to second base to make room for Willie Wells after the Sandmen drafted Wells before last season now looks like a brilliant move. This tandem is offensive brilliance together atop the order. In September, Wells hit .406 with a .463 OBP and 14 doubles. Reyes hit .366. Adrian Gonzalez continued his development as well, knocking 7 homers and driving in 26 on the month. Ben Sanders went 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA to get to the 20-win for the first time, after winning 18 each of the last two years. He, Anibal Sanchez, Dan Casey and Justin Verlander combined to go 14-6 with a 2.69 ERA in September.

The Las Vegas Bosses are the Sacramento of the Southern League. The franchise is in disarray, wrapping up a putrid 61-101 season after years of 74 and 73 wins. Tommy Holmes hit .341. Chone Figgins hit .282. Next highest? Corey Hart at .240. Hart led the team with 13 homers, though Ryan Howard hit 12 in less than half a season. Jouett Meekin led with 12 wins. Lip Pike, who hit 36 homers last season with 118 RBI, broke his ankle in May hit 10 for the season. There is a lot of work to be done here. It remains to be seen if skipper Danny Murtaugh and general manager Julio Villegas will be around to do it.

AWARDS

Player of the Week
9/5 SS Jimmy Rollins - Alabama Airmen
9/12 SP John Clarkson - Los Angeles Idols
9/19 1B Justin Morneau - Los Angeles Idols
9/26 CF Oscar Charleston - Memphis Strummers

Batter of the Month
C Cal McVey - Los Angeles Idols

Pitcher of the Month
SP Ben Sanders - Arizona Sandmen

Rookie of the Month
1B Justin Morneau - Los Angeles Idols

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

NORTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Wichita Brigade (91-71) vs New York Heroes (96-66)


WICHITA LEADERS

Team Leaders AVG B. Kerr .332 F. Chance .301 M. Moynahan .298 G. Davis .271 F. Isbell .262	Team Leaders HR J. Gibbons 18 F. Chance 14 F. Isbell 12 G. Davis 10 2 tied with 8	Team Leaders RBI F. Chance 101 M. Moynahan 86 B. Kerr 82 G. Davis 75 2 tied with 66
Team Leaders W A. Orth 19 R. Waddell 18 J. Whitney 14 J. Gaines 10 J. Schmitz 10	Team Leaders ERA A. Orth 3.51 R. Waddell 3.98 J. Whitney 4.71	Team Leaders K R. Waddell 275 J. Whitney 143 J. Schmitz 121 J. Gaines 116 A. Orth 101

NEW YORK LEADERS

Team Leaders AVG D. Higham .350 R. Connor .335 J. Burkett .322 J. Viox .289 I. Meusel .288	Team Leaders HR R. Connor 25 J. Burkett 17 D. Wright 17 I. Meusel 14 2 tied with 11	Team Leaders RBI R. Connor 117 J. Burkett 103 D. Higham 86 J. Viox 82 D. Wright 80
Team Leaders W F. Killen 22 B. Byrd 19 J. McCormick 19 B. Drake 11 H. Howell 11	Team Leaders ERA F. Killen 3.04 B. Byrd 3.56 J. McCormick 3.73 H. Howell 4.02 B. Drake 4.99	Team Leaders K B. Byrd 211 J. McCormick 183 B. Drake 164 F. Killen 122 H. Howell 120

SEASON SERIES: New York won 7 of 12

The similarities are striking here, as Wichita and New York represent the best balanced teams in baseball. Wichita scored the most runs in the Northern League, while allowing the third fewest. New York scored the second most while allowing the fewest. Their offenses are built on getting on base rather than the long ball. New York was 6th in homers, Wichita last.

The biggest difference from an offensive perspective is Wichita's speed, where Wichita led the league with 122. Again, balance is the key, as they had nobody in the top five in steals (Hub Collins led with 20) but had six players steal 14 or more.

There's some resentment from the staff in New York, which feels lots of people are talking about Wichita's rotation despite the fact that New York is the staff that allowed the fewest runs and that has a 20-game winner (Frank Killen) and two 19-game winners (Jim McCormick and Bill Byrd). Much has been made of Johnny Schmitz' amazing entry into Wichita's rotation in early August (10-2, 2.09) and the resurgence of Rube Waddell (18-9, 3.98 and 14-5, 3.22 since June 1).

As for injuries, the biggest is New York's loss of closer Jonathan Papelbon, whose 27 saves are sidelined for the remainder of the season. That's a tall order for Sam Weaver and his 5.02 ERA to replace.

This has the makings of a great series. Other than Papelbon, both teams are healthy. Wichita won the first NLCS and went on the win the PBL Championship Series. New York returned the NLCS favor last year, but fell short of the ultimate goal in losing to New Orleans. They look to finish the deal this time around, and the pick here is New York in seven. Roger Connor and Dick Higham are rolling on offense, and the test of the pennant race figures to have New York already in postseason shape...they've done it for a month.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Orlando Orcas (89-73) vs Los Angeles Idols (90-72)



ORLANDO LEADERS

Team Leaders AVG S. Crawford .337 P. Browning .303 H. Wagner .268 B. Freeman .251 P. Chacon .243	Team Leaders HR S. Crawford 27 B. Freeman 21 R. Ludwick 16 P. Browning 15 W. Cruise 12	Team Leaders RBI S. Crawford 128 P. Browning 88 B. Freeman 84 R. Ludwick 68 H. Wagner 58
Team Leaders W B. Hoffer 19 L. Cheney 14 T. Keefe 14 R. Munger 13 A. Javery 12	Team Leaders ERA B. Hoffer 3.46 T. Keefe 3.94 L. Cheney 4.34 A. Javery 4.65 R. Munger 4.67 LOS ANGELES LEADERS	Team Leaders K B. Hoffer 167 T. Keefe 154 R. Munger 128 L. Cheney 124 A. Javery 113

Team Leaders AVG C. McVey .368 M. Donlin .358 F. Tenney .316 V. Stephens .292 H. Stovey .259	Team Leaders HR M. Donlin 32 F. Tenney 30 H. Stovey 28 C. McVey 14 J. Morneau 13	Team Leaders RBI F. Tenney 135 M. Donlin 121 H. Stovey 115 C. McVey 80 V. Stephens 74
Team Leaders W J. Clarkson 17 B. Lawrence 15 B. Rhines 15 S. Kazmir 13 R. Lopez 9	Team Leaders ERA J. Clarkson 3.89 B. Lawrence 4.66 B. Rhines 4.73 S. Kazmir 5.53	Team Leaders K J. Clarkson 178 S. Kazmir 164 B. Rhines 135 B. Lawrence 105 L. Corcoran 95

Season series: Orlando won 7 of 12

That season series figure is what Orlando is hanging to in a series where it seems most people expect them to get mauled. That doesn't make much sense though, not only for reason of the season series, but because only one game separated the two in the standings.

The Idols' offense is intimidating, averaging 5.74 runs per game. The top two in batting average in all of baseball (Cal McVey at .368 and Mike Donlin at .358), two of the top five RBI men (leader Fred Tenney at 135 and Donlin at 121) and three of the top seven (Harry Stovey drove in 115). Add McVey's ridiculous .505 average in September, and the task at hand for Orlando seems daunting. That's not even mentioning the red hot Justin Morneau or Mr. Consistent, second baseman Sammy Strang, who hit .320 with 20 homers yet went virtually unnoticed.

Add to that the fact that L.A. found some pitching in the last month. John Clarkson (3-1, 2.32), Scott Kazmir (3-0, 3.09) Larry Corcoran (3-2, 3.32) and Brian Lawrence (2-3, 3.52) each finished well.

So why should Orlando believe? Skipper Eddie Dyer called the "house money" line a "load of crap," so there goes that argument. Still, the pressure is certainly on Los Angeles here. But remember, as great as their offense is, it's not as though the Idols were a dominant team. This isn't a 100-win powerhouse, particularly considering they share a division with arguably the PBL's worst franchise in Las Vegas.

If Tim Keefe's 5-1 September is a sign he's found himself, he and 19-game winner Bill Hoffer will keep things from getting out of hand. And Sam Crawford (.337-27-128) is capable of putting this team on his back. Pete Browning (.303-15-88) and Buck Freeman (.251-21-84) have shown the ability to raise their game. But a lot of pressure sits on Honus Wagner, arguably the PBL's greatest disappointment since the inaugural draft three years ago. He's gone good month-bad month all season long en route to 103 runs scored despite a pedestrian .268 average. He's an unquestioned catalyst when right. Here, he'll need to be.

A better, more powerful threat, could take Los Angeles out. But right now, they are hitting on too many cylinders for Orlando to get it done. Prediction here is Idols in five.

[PhillieFever]

Lets Get It On!!!

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by PhillieFever

Lets Get It On!!!

It's coming!

Just have to get the end of season awards polls up. Voting will be open through when I get the PBL Championship Series writeup done, probably five days or so.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League
PLAYOFF REVIEW

NORTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Wichita Brigade (91-71) vs New York Heroes (96-66)

Game One: Al Orth (19-9, 3.51) takes the hill for Wichita, while New York counters with Frank Killen (22-6, 3.04).

Killen retires the side in order in the first, and Orth does the same - needing only four pitches to retire the Heroes. A one-out single by Buddy Kerr in the second spurs nothing, and New York gets on the board first when Jesse Burkett leads off the second with a solo homer to put New York ahead 1-0.

Eric Byrnes led off the third for Wichita with an infield hit, and Julio Lugo followed with a single that sent Byrnes to third. Hub Collins exhibited his usual bat control and produced a fly ball to right to score Byrnes and tie the game at 1. Johnny Pesky would battle Killen in a 9-pitch at bat, fouling off five in a row, before flying to left, but Frank Chance singled to move Lugo to third with Jay Gibbons coming up. Killen busted him in, though, and Gibbons popped to short to end the threat.

The next baserunner didn't reach until the top of the fifth, when Byrnes reached on a David Wright throwing error. Collins hit a one-out double, but Byrnes held at third. He would score on Pesky's groundout. Frank Chance would ground one in hole between first and second that Jim Viox dove and knocked down but couldn't make the play, scoring Collins to put Wichita up 3-1.

Irish Meusel led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, but was thrown out stealing second - a play that seemed it could loom big when Viox doubled later in the inning.

From there, Killen was strong, but Orth kept the pace - and thus Wichita held on to the 3-1 lead.

George Davis led off the top of the ninth with an infield single. Byrnes then picked up his third hit of the day, lining a double into the gap in right center to score Davis, put the Brigade up 4-1, and end Killen's day.

Jack Taylor came on to retire Collins, Pesky and Chance to set up the bottom of the ninth.

Orth stayed in, having thrown 14 complete games a logical move. Dick Higham singled to lead off the inning. Roger Connor then flew out to left for the first out. Jesse Burkett topped one in front of the plate and was thrown out at first, Higham moving to second with New York down to its last out.

Irish Meusel ripped Orth's first pitch down the first base line into the corner, scoring Higham to make it 4-2. Pat Mullin then scalded a line drive to center over the outstretched glove of a retreating Chick Stahl. Meusel scored and Mullin pulled in at third to make it 4-3 with the tying run 90 feet away.

Whitey Herzog ventured to the mound and Orth's night was over. Chad Cordero (4-7, 25 SV, 4.39) came on to pitch to Viox, who was 1 for 3 on the day. With the count 1-1, Viox bounced one to third where Johnny Pesky picked it and threw Viox out to end the game and put Wichita in the driver's seat.

Wichita leads series 1-0.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League
PLAYOFF REVIEW

NORTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Wichita Brigade (91-71) vs New York Heroes (96-66)

Game Two: Wichita starts the scalding Johnny Schmitz (10-2, 2.09) against the Heroes' Bill Byrd (19-13, 3.56).

There's no drama to speak of here, as Byrd had nothing as was done after 4+, having allowed nine hits and seven runs, five of them earned. Jack Taylor would get bombed for six runs in 1/3 of an inning, as Wichita rolled to a 15-3 drubbing.

Wichita scored all those runs on 20 hits, without the benefit of a home run. Frank Chance had five hits and four RBI, while Mike Moynahan, Jimmy Sheckard and Buddy Kerr contributed three hits a piece.

Schmitz went the distance, able to cruise after leading 3-0 after one, and 13-0 after 4 1/2.

Wichita leads series 2-0.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League
PLAYOFF REVIEW

NORTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Wichita Brigade (91-71) vs New York Heroes (96-66)

Game Three: The series moves to Wichita with the Brigade up 2-0 and in full control. Jim McCormick (19-8, 3.73) goes for the Heroes against Rube Waddell (18-9, 3.98).

Waddell strikes out Jesse Burkett to open the game and get the crowd raucous from the beginning. But Dick Higham and Irish Meusel each single, and Roger Connor walks to load the bases. Up 1-0 in the count, though, David Wright hammered it hard...right into a 6-4-3 double play to kill the potential rally, slamming his helmet to the ground in frustration.

Jimmy Sheckard led off the bottom of the first with a double off McCormick, who then retired the next two batters to face Jay Gibbons. A lazy fly ball prompted McCormick to start drifting off the mound, but his trip was halted when Pat Mullin dropped the ball, allowing Sheckard to score and putting Wichita up 1-0.

That's how it would stay until the top of the third, when Hughie Jennings reached after Johnny Pesky dropped a popup. Burkett was hit by the next pitch and Dick Higham followed with an RBI single to tie it. Still, with first and second and nobody out, Waddell retired Meusel, Connor and Wright in order to escape further damage.

It wouldn't last. New York sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the 4th, getting a solo homer from John Cassidy, a two-run double from Dick Higham and a two-run homer from Irish Meusel in the process to give New York a controlling 6-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Sheckard led off with a single off McCormick to get Wichita hoping for a comeback. Frank Chance walked in between McCormick retiring Mike Moynahan and Jay Gibbons. But with two out, Buddy Kerr lined an RBI single, George Davis walked to load the bases, and David Dejesus hit a two-run single to make it 6-4. Dejesus would be thrown out trying to steal second, ending the inning, but the damage was done.

Things stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh. After Chance grounded out for Wichita, Gibbons and Kerr singled. Davis flew out but Dejesus walked to load the bases, ending McCormick's night.

Allan Sotheron (2-2, 6.17) came on to pitch to Robinson Cano, freezing him with a 1-2 curveball to end the threat and keep Wichita at bay.

Waddell struck out the side in the 8th, and seemed to be getting stronger each inning since the horrendous fourth.

Sotheron started the bottom of the eighth, but left after Johnny Pesky led off with a single. Bill Drake (11-11, 4.99), relegated to the bullpen for the playoffs, came on to face Jimmy Sheckard. He was greeted rudely, his first pitch deposited into the rightfield seats for a game-tying two-run homer to make it 6-6. He would strike out two of the next three in retiring the side, but a game that seemed to be New York's response to the first two games had become a nightmare.

Waddell began the ninth, but Higham singled for New York to lead off and Waddell left to make way for Jay Hughes (4-11, 6.15). Ed McKean would pinch run for Higham and promptly be thrown out trying to steal second. Meusel grounded out and Connor popped up to shallow center to end the inning.

Buddy Kerr walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth. But he, too, was thrown out stealing, and Wichita couldn't get anything going, sending the game into extra innings.

David Wright led off with a much-needed single, personally. He wa ssacrificed to second and moved to third on a groundout, but Pat Mullin - who made the crucial error earlier in the game - popped up behind the plate to end the inning as Chance squeezed it tightly.

With Drake still in the game, Cano singled to lead off the bottom of the 10th. A wild pitch moved him to second, and Pesky pulled one to first to move him over to third. Drake then intentionally walked Sheckard to create a DP chance. But he pitched to Moynahan rather than walking him to load the bases. Moynahan popped out, bringing Frank Chance to the plate with a chance to win it.

Three pitches later, a mob buried pinch-runner Doggie Miller at home plate after Chance roped a 2-0 fastball into left-center with the game winner, putting Wichita one game away from the PBL Championship Series.

Wichita leads 3-0.

[kenyan_cheena]

Geez, looks like being another disappointing post-season for the Heroes.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League
PLAYOFF REVIEW

NORTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Wichita Brigade (91-71) vs New York Heroes (96-66)

Game Four: David Wright finally broke out, slamming an eighth-inning three run homer.

It was the very definition of too little, too late, for Wichita had an 11-0 lead at the time, en route to an 11-3 victory, a four-game sweep and a brutally abrupt end to a New York season marked by the Heroes winning the best pennant race in PBL history.

Al Orth threw 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball, allowing six hits and striking out five. And New York's surprising decision to bypass ace Frank Killen to pitch Harry Howell (11-9, 4.02) blew up in their face.

Wichita scored one in the first, two in the second, two in the third, two in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the seventh in a 12-hit, 9-walk assault aided by five New York errors. Robinson Cano had three hits and both Buddy Kerr and George Davis had two, including a homer from Davis in the third.

"We picked the worst time to play our worst baseball of the year," New York manager Pat Moran said after the game. "Wichita's a great club, but we didn't put forth our best effort here, and that's incredibly unfortunate."

Wichita catcher Frank Chance was named NLCS MVP, batting .429 with 9 RBI in the four games, including three in the finale.

"We just did what we've done all year. Everyone contributes, we play fundamental baseball and get it done," he said.

Now, it's off to the PBL Championship Series, where the Brigade will try to win their second crown in three years.

Wichita wins series 4-0.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Geez, looks like being another disappointing post-season for the Heroes.

I am STUNNED by this result. Not so much Wichita winning, though I picked NY in 7. But the sweep, with two blowouts...not at all what I expected. Thought this would be a crisp, well-played series.

Maybe that means the other series, which I expected to be a blowout, will be better...

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League

PLAYOFF REVIEW

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Orlando Orcas (89-73) vs Los Angeles Idols (90-72)

Game One: Orlando starts Bill Hoffer (19-11, 3.46) against L.A.'s John Clarkson (17-13, 3.89) here in the opener.

Clarkson set down Orlando in order, setting up the high-powered Idols' first crack at Hoffer. It took four batters for L.A. to get on the board. Sammy Strang and Cal McVey singled to bring up lead MVP candidate Mike Donlin. Donlin grounded out into a force, moving Strang to third. But RBI champ Fred Tenney singled through the hole into right to score Strang and put the Idols up 1-0.

Hoffer escaped further damage and settled in. Clarkson retired the first 10 to face him until a Pete Browning single with one out in the fourth. But he was erased when Sam Crawford grounded into a double play, meaning Clarkson had still faced the minimum.

In the bottom of the fourth, Hoffer got Harry Stovey to ground to third on the first pitch, and Justin Morneau to pop up to second on the first pitch as well. Bill Wright waited for the fifth pitch, and proceeded to knock out 419 feet out of the yard to right-center to make it 2-0 Los Angeles.

Buck Freeman led off the fifth for Orlando with a grounder to short that Vern Stephens muffed. Ryan Ludwick struck out and Benny Kauff grounded into a force before Buck Ewing singled to right, letting Kauff make it to third. But Claude Ritchey grounded to second to end the inning.

Cal McVey hit a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth, and Tenney hit a 2-out triple to bring him home and put Los Angeles up 3-0 after five, with Clarkson cruising.

Pelayo Chacon tapped weakly in front of the plate and was thrown out to start the sixth. But Honus Wagner, Pete Browning and Sam Crawford hit successive singles to load the bases. Freeman flew out to right, scoring Wagner while Browning alertly tagged to third and the game was now 3-1. Ludwick then singled to score Browning and make it a 3-2 game., Crawford moving up to second. Benny Kauff then lined a single to right center to score Crawford and tie the game at 3. Clarkson would then walk Ewing on four pitches to load the bases and prompt a mound visit to settle him down. But Claude Ritchey scalded a single to center to score Ludwick and put Orlando up 4-3. Kauff held at third and was stranded as Clarkson got Chacon to ground out for the second time in the inning. But the damage was done, as 10 batters came to the plate in a four-run inning without an extra base hit to give Orlando the lead.

Handed a lead, Hoffer was brilliant, retiring the next nine batters to face him. Clarkson matched zeroes, but his Idols were now the chasers as they came up with one more shot in the bottom of the ninth.

Hoffer was done, though, despite his perfect last three innings. Takashi Saito (7-8, 25 SV, 3.28) came on to close it out...or try. Morneau blooped a single to left to start the inning. Pete Reiser would run for him. Bill Wright popped up to the catcher for the first out before Saito walked Hank Blalock on four pitches, putting the tying run on second and the winning run on first for Vern Stephens, who was 0-3 at that point. Sammy Strang (.320-20-83) loomed on deck.

Stephens tried to drop a bunt, but put it foul. Surprisingly, he tried again, and again he bunted foul. Forced to swing away, Stephens did something he had done 25 times during the regular season...he grounded into a double play - 6-4-3 - to end it and give the Orcas a 4-3 comeback victory.

Orlando leads series 1-0.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League

PLAYOFF REVIEW



SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Orlando Orcas (89-73) vs Los Angeles Idols (90-72)

Game Two: Orlando grabbed game one, making this an important one for the Idols before heading to Orlando for three. The Orcas start Al Javery (12-12, 4.65), while Los Angeles counters with Billy Rhines (16-14, 4.73).

It doesn't take long for the Orcas to put Rhines and L.A. back on their heels. Honus Wagner rips the first pitch for a single to center. Pete Browning flies out but Rhines falls behind Sam Crawford 2-0 before putting the Idols behind 2-0, as Crawford wallops a ball 430 feet to center for a two-run homer.

Buck Freeman follows with a 10-pitch at bat before singling, then scoring on Ryan Ludwick's double down the third base line. Ludwick would move to third on Benny Kauff's single, but was held, and Rhines would retire Buck Ewing and Claude Ritchey to end the inning.

Staked to a 3-0 lead, Javery walked Sammy Strang to open the bottom of the first. Cal McVey grounded to third, moving Strang to second. Javery then came through big, striking out MVP-frontrunner Mike Donlin. But if one doesn't get you in this lineup the next one will, and Fred Tenney knocked an RBI single to make it a 3-1 game.

The second was uneventful, and both teams stranded a pair in the third.

Orlando was retired in order in the fourth as well, and Los Angeles would chip away some more in the bottom half as Harry Stovey, Justin Morneau and Bill Wright singled in succession to start the inning, the latter an infield hit to load the bases. Javery would buckle down, though, getting Hank Blalock to ground into a double play, a trade Orlando would gladly take there of a run for two outs. Vern Stephens then flew out to left to end the inning with the score 3-2.

Rhines again retired Orlando in order in the fifth, and allowed two runners in the sixth but escaped the jam.

Orlando stranded Ludwick at third in the top of the eighth, unable to cash in on an insurance run most felt they would certainly need.

McVey singled for Los Angeles to lead off the bottom of the inning and moved to second when Donlin banged a grounder to first. Buck Freeman made the play moving toward the line and thought about second but decided to take the sure out.

Javery's day was done there, 7 1/3 innings of two run ball - though McVey was in his book - was as much as anyone could have asked against the Idols' potency. Skipper Eddie Dyer opted to go to matchups at this point.

Lefty Reb Russell (3-5, 3.53) was brought on to face Tenney, who already had driven in three runs in the series' first two games. With the count 2-2, catcher Buck Ewing was unable to handle a pitch, a passed ball that let McVey move to third. But Russell bore down and struck out Tenney swinging through a fastball.

Russell's job was done, and Dyer went to righty Red Munger (13-13, 4.67), who was the odd starter out of the postseason rotation. His task was Harry Stovey, who was 0-for-4 in the opener but already had two hits in this game. Munger got ahead on Stovey 0-2 before throwing three straight balls. Stovey then fouled off a tough slider. He tried the same pitch again, and Stovey skied it to left, where Pete Browning ran back to the track, against the wall, and watched it go out for a two-run homer to bring the L.A. crowd to its feet and give the Idols a 4-3 lead. Morneau would strike out to end the inning, but the damage had been done.

Los Angeles closer Chad Qualls (4-2, 2.85, 19 SV) came on in relief of Rhines, who was brilliant after a rough first inning. Pelayo Chacon struck out, Honus Wagner hit a soft liner to first and Browning struck out swinging to end the game and even the series, as Los Angeles wins 4-3.

Series tied 1-1.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League

PLAYOFF REVIEW

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Los Angeles Idols (90-72) vs Orlando Orcas (89-73)

Game Three: After a day off, the two teams get ready to battle again, heading to Orlando for three games. The Idols send Brian Lawrence (15-13, 4.66) to the hill against the Orcas' Tim Keefe (14-15, 3.94).

Keefe walks Sammy Strang on four pitches to open the ballgame ominously for Orlando, but he's ultimately thrown out trying to steal second and the inning leads to nothing.

Honus Wagner started Game Two ripping the first pitch for a single. He attacks Lawrence's first pitch as well, lining it into the gap in left-center for a leadoff triple. Pete Browning then skies a medium-deep ball to center that's enough to score Wagner and put the Orcas up 1-0.

Fred Tenney stayed hot, singling to lead off the second, but was erased by a Harry Stovey double-play ball. This would be big, as Justin Morneau singled and Bill Wright smashed his second homer of the series to put Los Angeles on top 2-1.

Orlando answered, though, as Buck Ewing hit a solo, one-out homer in the bottom of the second to tie it up at 2.

Los Angeles made Keefe throw 34 pitches in the third - 13 of them in an at bat where Vern Stephens fouled off eight pitches before singling - but didn't score. Lawrence, meanwhile, breezed through the inning.

The next scoring came when Buck Freeman homered to lead off the bottom of the fourth for Orlando to put the Orcas up 3-2.

There would be one hit between then and the top of the seventh, when Hank Blalock singled. Stephens, who couldn't drop the bunt at the end of game one, missed on the first pitch SAC attempt before bunting too hard to third where Claude Ritchey made a great play on the force at second.

Nobody spoke after the game whether it was for discipline or not, but Pete Reiser was sent in to run for Stephens at first. Sammy Strang bounced one through the right side for a single. Ryan Ludwick uncorked a throw to third to get Reiser, but it wasn't in time, and an alert Strang took second on the effort.

But the baserunning would be rendered moot, as Cal McVey launched a three-run homer to put the Idols up 5-3. Mike Donlin then tripled and Keefe would then intentionally walk Fred Tenney in hopes of setting up the double play. Instead, it set up a double, as Harry Stovey put one down the first base line into the corner to score two and put Los Angeles up 7-3.

Red Munger, who gave up the winning homer to Stovey in Game Two, came in and retired Wright and Blalock to end the inning.

Stephen Drew replaced Stephens in the field, and took two groundouts in Lawrence's 1-2-3 seventh.

Munger set the Idols down in order in the top of the 8th, and Lawrence allowed a leadoff single to Wagner but got a double play to halt the inning without incident in the bottom half. Munger then pitched an eventless ninth, as Lawrence took the hill seeking the complete game.

Buck Freeman started the inning with a single up the middle. Ryan Ludwick then followed with a fly ball deep to right that hit the wall, scoring Freeman and leaving Ludwick at second with a double to make it 7-4. With bullpen action going, Benny Kauff hit one down the line that Tenney dove and knocked down but couldn't corral.

That was all for Lawrence, as closer Chad Qualls would enter the game to try and lock down what had become a dicey situation.

Buck Ewing lofted one down the left field line tht fell for a double scoring Ludwick and moving Kauff to third and making it 7-5, with the Orlando crowd now frenzied.

Claude Ritchey then blooped one into left center. Kauff scored and Ewing, getting a great read on the ball, followed him home to score, tying the game at 7. Ritchey, however, tried to take second on the throw and was cut down, clearing the basepaths. Qualls retired Pelayo Chacon and Honus Wagner to end the disastrous inning and send Game Three to extras.

Munger stayed in for Orlando and was brilliant, riding the high of his team's comeback as he struck out the side of Wright, Blalock and Drew.

Qualls stayed in for Los Angeles in a move that surprsied many. Pete Browning led off, stroking a double into the gap in left-center. Three pitches later he was home, as Sam Crawford lined one over short into left center as Browning scored easily, giving Orlando a remarkable 8-7 comeback win and a 2-1 series lead.

Orlando leads series 2-1.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League

PLAYOFF REVIEW

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Los Angeles Idols (90-72) vs Orlando Orcas (89-73)

Game Four: John Clarkson and Bill Hoffer both come back on three days rest as the Idols are desperate to even it up and regain home field advantage, and the Orcas hope to go up 3-1 and take the series by the throat.

We'll pick this one up in the bottom of the second inning. Ryan Ludwick and Benny Kauff both walked before Buck Ewing flew to left. Harry Stovey took a rather nonchalant approach, and Ludwick tagged to third on the play. Claude Ritchey struck out and Pelayo Chacon smacked one to third that Hank Blalock booted. Ludwick scored, Kauff moved all the way to third and Chacon reached as Orlando took a 1-0 lead.

Honus Wagner then kept his aggressive approach of the series, attacking the first pitch again, ripping a fastball down the third-base line for a 2-run double. Pete Browning then singled to center, and when Mike Donlin muffed the pickup Wagner came around to score to give the Orcas a 4-0 lead.

Cal McVey would pick up an RBI single in the top of the third to cut it to 4-1, but Orlando would get an RBI single from Kauff to get the run right back in the bottom half, putting Orlando up 5-1.

Orlando stranded two on in the bottom of the fourth, and Vern Stephens - who has had a very tough series - hit a solo shot in the fifth to make it 5-2.

Clarkson settled in, retiring the Orcas in order in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the sixth, Hoffer retired the first two before Justin Morneau tripled to the wall. That was followed by Bill Wright smashing - who hit 11 homers all season - drilling his third of the series, a 2-run shot to bring Los Angeles within a run at 5-4.

Honus Wagner hit a two-out single in the sixth and stole second before Pete Browning reached on Hank Blalock's second error of the game - the Idols' third of the day. But with Sam Crawford at the plate, Browning was thrown out stealing to end the inning.

The Idols would tie it up off Hoffer in the 7th as Strang hit a one-out triple and Mike Donlin, who had been dormant thus far, hit a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 5.

In the bottom of the eighth, Clarkson struck out Buck Ewing before walking Claude Ritchey. If Wright's power has been a surprise, Pelayo Chacon's 2-run homer that came next was a flat-out shock. But with it, Orlando went up 7-5 and the crowd continued its fever pitch.

Hoffer was left in to start the top of the 9th, though closer Takashi Saito soon began to throw. Vern Stephens led off with a double, but Sammy Strang popped to second. Cal McVey made it a one-run game, though, blooping a double to left near the line to make it a 7-6 game.

Saito entered there, only to be greeted by an RBI single on the first pitch to Mike Donlin. Donlin would be caught stealing second, and Saito struck out Fred Tenney looking, but the game was now tied at 7.

Corcoran stayed in as Orlando came up in the bottom of the ninth. Sam Crawford singled to lead off. Freeman grounded to second, but the only play was to first. Ludwick was then hit by a pitch. When Corcoran got Benny Kauff [B]to sky to center, it seemed he might emerge safely. But the next batter, Buck Ewing, lined a single to center. Crawford came flying around third, but a perfect strike from Pete Reiser, who ran for Wright in the 8th, cut Crawford down at home to send the game to extras.

Saito and Reb Russell combined to hold Los Angeles down in the 10th and 11th, while Corcoran was stellar over both innings, sending the game to the 12th still tied.

Russell faced the heart of the Idols' order in the 12th, getting McVey to fly to center before walking Donlin. Up came Tenney, who was 0-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts on the day. He would bury a hanging 2-2 slider 420 feet away over the wall in right-center to give the Idols a 9-7 lead.

Russell retired the final two batters, and Orlando came up hoping for another piece of heroics.

Corcoran opened the inning, but after allowing a single to Kauff, closer Chad Qualls entered. Ewing bounced one in the hole between and second, but Strang ranged nicely to make the play at first. Ezra Sutton was then hit by a pitch. That brought up Pelayo Chacon, who had hit the huge 2-run shot earlier. This time he dunked a double down the left field line. Kauff scored but Sutton, knowing the great arm of Harry Stovey in left, held. The tying run was 90 feet away, the winning run 180.

Qualls worked inside to Honus Wagner, who topped a 1-0 fastball to third. Blalock, who had made three errors on the game, fielded it cleanly and threw to first for the second out, the runners holding.

Qualls then got ahead of Pete Browning 0-2 before Browning evened it at 2-2. He couldn't even the game though, striking out swinging the end it and even the series with a 9-8 victory.

Series tied 2-2.

[EMSoccerCoach]

OK, rewrote the Game Four writeup. On to Game 5.

[kenyan_cheena]

Always make sure to keep an off-site copy of your dynasty writings.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Always make sure to keep an off-site copy of your dynasty writings.

Thankfully I didn't lose much. I had stopped the Game Four writeup midway because I got pulled away, and I lost the Game Five writeup. Could have been much, much worse.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League

PLAYOFF REVIEW

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Los Angeles Idols (90-72) vs Orlando Orcas (89-73)

NOTE: Partly because I think few people are reading the full game reviews and partly because of time constraints, I'm going to shorten up the game synopses a bit.


Game Five: Except for two half innings, this was a pitchers' duel. But those two half innings were doozies.

The Los Angeles Idols backed starter Billy Rhines with a four-run fifth that gave them a 5-0 lead. They picked up five hits and walk in the inning, including an RBI double from Fred Tenney, an RBI single from Mike Donlin and a two-run double from Vern Stephens.

Orlando scored one in the bottom of the fifth to make it 5-1 before exploding for six runs in a bottom of the sixth during which they sent 10 batters to the plate. Ryan Ludwick and Claude Ritchey each had two-run doubles, and Pelayo Chacon continued his offensive spurt in the playoffs with an RBI single.

Buck Ewing homered in the 8th for Orlando as an insurance run as Al Javery and Red Munger held the Idols in check the rest of the way to give Orlando an 8-5 victory and the series advantage.

Orlando leads series 3-2.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League

PLAYOFF REVIEW

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Orlando Orcas (89-73) vs Los Angeles Idols (90-72)

Game Six: The series headed back to Los Angeles with the Idols, heavy favorites coming into the series, needing to win both games at home to avoid the upset.

In each of the first five games of the series, the team that won has trailed by at least three runs at some point.

Nobody got such a lead this time.

Honus Wagner doubled off Scott Kazmir to lead off the game for Orlando and was singled home by Sam Crawford two batters later. But Los Angeles answered in the bottom half when Fred Tenney blasted a three-run homer off Tim Keefe to put the Idols up 3-1.

Orlando would tie it up in the top of the third on a two-run, two-out single from Buck Freeman, driving in Crawford and Ryan Ludwick.

The Orcas nabbed a lead in the fourth, as Kazmir walked Buck Ewing then allowed a double to Ezra Sutton. Ewing was held at third, but Kazmir uncorked a wild pitch to make it 4-3 Orlando.

Kazmir went 6 1/3, leaving with the score still 4-3, to make way for Mark Buehrle. Keefe had settled in since Tenney's homer, and the game remained 4-3 until Wagner hit an RBI single in the top of the 8th to make it 5-3.

Bill Wright, who already had three homers in the series, faced Keefe with two on and two out in the bottom of the 8th. He would line a single to right center to score one, cutting the deficit to 5-4. But Keefe would retire Hank Blalock next on a popup to short.

Still, Los Angeles felt buoyed by the run, confident their offense could get another in the ninth.

They didn't count on Orlando scoring in the ninth instead, a Ewing groundout scoring Ludwick from third to make it 6-4.

Keefe left to make way for closer Takashi Saito. He retired the first batter before walking Sammy Strang. Cal McVey grounded out for the second out, bringing up leading Outstanding Hitter candidate Mike Donlin, homerless in the series after hitting 32 during the regular season.

Saito's first pitch fastball was met with a crack and the crowd leapt to its collective feet as the ball traveled deep to straightaway center...where Benny Kauff tracked it down on the warning track before leaning against the wall with relief, as Orlando completed the improbable series win, advancing to its first ever PBL Championship Series.

Orlando wins series 4-2.