The Portland Roses

[CardsFan2006]

It was 2013, the inaugural year of the American Baseball Association. The league would consist of eight teams (and eight AAA teams):

Eastern Division
Boston Hares (Providence Buccaneers)
Philadelphia Musketeers (Scranton Lawmen)
Memphis Blues (Charlotte Bulldogs)
Jacksonville Wildcats (Tallahassee Cutthroats)

Western Division
Portland Roses (Spokane Honey Bugs)
San Jose Electric Eels (Fresno Dragons)
Oklahoma City Robins (Topeka Cyclone)
Indianapolis Steelers (Bloomington Sunbirds)

The season would consist of 90 games, starting in June (with Spring Training in May).

The inaugural serpentine draft was on February 20.

---

Walter Morris sat in the room. He yawned, and stretched. The flight to Indianapolis had left him tired. He looked up. The debate was still raging, mainly between Al Wright and Caleb Garner, about which pitcher to go with in the first round. Al valued hard throwers, while Caleb was more interested in a control pitcher. The most likely appeared to be 27-year-old lefthander Matt Cash (Caleb’s pick) and 30-year-old Jarred Schultz (Al’s pick). Al had won a great victory by getting Caleb to admit that, yes, Schultz was the better pitcher (but he was too old to be an ace for long, while Cash was in his prime). The argument, however, would not stop. Until:

“Enough,” Peter McCormick said, interrupting Al, who was saying something about Cash’s lack of movement for what must have been the hundredth time. The room quieted as the General Manager spoke.

“Thank you both for your opinions,” Peter said, “I understand how important this decision is, and I still don’t know either way. I think at this point I’m even hoping, just a little bit, that the Wildcats take Cash or Schultz – then at least we’ll know which one we’re picking. You have to just trust me to make this decision. Right now, though, let’s discuss offense.”

The conversation went on for another couple minutes, and then the draft began.

Jacksonville didn’t even pick a pitcher. Second baseman Mike Lindsay was the first pick of the draft. Both factions of the Roses front office seemed happy, if unsure of what would come next. Wright and Garner yelled at each other for the five minutes in between picks. McCormick excused himself two minutes in, complaining of a headache. Walter wished he could leave as well.

All eyes went to the TV as the first commissioner of the ABA, Marlon Valdez, stepped to the microphone.

“With the second pick of the inaugural American Baseball Association draft, the Portland Roses select pitcher Matt Cash.” Cash made his way to the podium and donned a Roses cap, but it went unnoticed by those in the room upstairs. Caleb and Al both yelled – Caleb in joy, Al in anger.

“How could he?” said Al, “How could he pick Matt ****ing Cash over the guy who everyone agrees is the best pitcher in this draft?”

“Well, Cash isn’t thirty,” offered Walter.

“Sure, he has problems with movement, but we can fix those,” Caleb said.

Walter wasn’t so sure about that, but said nothing. With the next pick, Memphis took Jarred Schultz.

The consensus among all those present was that the team should pick a hitter in the second round. But which one? Kurt McCartan, the scouting director, wanted Keith Thomas, a speedy shortstop with potential to be an incredible contact hitter. The trouble was that right now he was twenty years old and solidly mediocre at best, and the Roses were not looking for mediocrity. They were looking for a good young player who was good right now. McCartan’s suggestion was roundly vetoed.

The group decided to narrow who they were considering to young people (26 or below) with good contact skills, according to the scout. This left only sixteen options. Foremost among them appeared to be Kenneth Goeble, a 23-year-old catcher whose weaknesses were his mediocre power and complete and utter lack of speed. Though a couple people expressed doubts, it appeared to most of the team that Goeble was the best option, and he was drafted.

Power-hitting 28-year-old third baseman Ryan O’Keefe, who McCartan saw as a future all-star, was the next pick. There was barely a murmur of dissent from the group.

The draft went on. The next pick by the Roses was a young pitcher named Brandon Becker. The draft was going well so far. Around Round 6, though, a problem became apparent: there were many good prospects, and there were quite a few players who were decent right at the moment. Unfortunately, there was very little overlap. The team took the prospect route in rounds 6 and 7. In the eighth round, the Roses took shortstop Steven Murray. Though not the draft’s best prospect, the 22-year-old was projected to be a very capable player. In the next round, the Roses rounded out their outfield with strong power hitter Joe Wilson. Catcher Stephen Hankins was their next pick – the plan was for him to play first base. And so it went.

Outfield prospect Nolan Chesters was named the fifth-best prospect in the league, while Brandon Becker was placed tenth. There were only a couple positions at which it appeared a fight would occur. One was right field, between Dusty Brown and Gabriel Nunez. Though Brown was the odds-on favorite, Nunez had the advantages of switch-hitting and having a better eye for pitches. The decision made by the management was that Brown would start.

The other position where there was an issue was shortstop. Ramon Cabral, while an okay contact hitter, had no power. Tadashi Nakashima, who the Roses had intended to be his backup, did. Eventually, Jack Ward decided to platoon them, starting Nakashima against LHPs, in Spring Training in May.
“There’s really no question that Dusty will at least start against right-handers during the regular season. The question seems to be, do I platoon them or do I start only Dusty?” wrote manager Ward in his journal in March. The other positions were easy to figure out, although Hankins didn’t like his switch to first, and Murray wasn’t too happy about playing second base while Ramon Cabral took short. The tentative lineup against RHPs (though of course it would be experimented with during Spring Training) was the following:

1. Emory Boswell (LF)
2. Steven Murray (2B)
3. Kenneth Goeble (C)
4. Dusty Brown (RF)
5. Ryan O’Keefe (3B)
6. Stephen Hankins (1B)
7. Joe Wilson (CF)
8. Ramon Cabral (SS)

Against LHPs, the lineup was quite different:

1. Emory Boswell (LF)
2. Kenneth Goeble (C)
3. Steven Murray (2B)
4. Ryan O’Keefe (3B)
5. Joe Wilson (CF)
6. Tadashi Nakashima (SS)
7. Dusty Brown (RF)
8. Stephen Hankins (1B)

Starting in neither lineup were backup catcher Sixto Morales, utility infielder Kevin Brown, and outfielders Nunez and Chesters.

The rotation would of course begin with Cash and Becker. Following that were two mediocre-at-best pitchers, Imrich Hossa and Raul Cruz, and finally 22-year-old Donald Barnes, who, while a good prospect, would not make a good regular starting pitcher at the moment. In Spring Training, Barnes and prospect Quincy Weber would battle it out for the spot. The most pronounced weakness, though, was in the bullpen. The Roses had, in the words of Portland baseball reporter Gregg Knight, “a good closer, two decent middle relievers, and four guys who might be better suited to Little League.”

Spring Training went fine - the Roses went 12-12, which was especially good because they started 1-5, and then 3-7. Spring Training was a decisive blow in favor of Nakashima over Cabral at short, which also let Cabral be a good utility player. Barnes pitched better than Weber as well. Brandon Becker gave the best pitching performance.

The day before the season started, projections were made about how the year would go. The Roses were projected to finish last, with the worst record in the entire league, and by far the worst pitching. Brandon Becker and Dusty Brown were projected to be the best pitcher and hitter on the team, respectively.

[CardsFan2006]

Series 1: at OKC

Game 1 (6/1): Matt Cash (POR) vs. Tomas Gonzales
Matt Cash went eight innings, allowing three runs, all earned. Steven Murray hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to make it 2-1, but Cash gave up a home run in the bottom of the inning that put the Robins back ahead. Their closer shut us down in the ninth. Murray was the only Roses player to get more than one hit. Loss, 3-2; L: Matt Cash (0-1)

Game 2 (6/2): Brandon Becker (POR) vs. Whit Turner
Becker threw five shutout innings, during which the Roses scored four runs. Ryan O'Keefe homered, and Emory Boswell, Stephen Hankins, and Kenneth Goeble all got two hits. In the sixth, Becker allowed two runs, and was taken out after the inning. Tom Brown pitched well in relief, no-hitting the Robins for two innings. Victor Williams allowed a run in the ninth, but got the save. Win, 4-3; W: Brandon Becker (1-0), S: Victor Williams (1)

Game 3 (6/3): Raul Cruz (POR) vs. Carlton Kelly
This game was disappointing. Cruz, who'd pitched well, if not spectacularly, in Spring Training, gave up six earned runs in five innings. Relievers Luis Gonzalez and Ramiro Valdes gave up three runs and one run, respectively. The Portland offense worked well, though - Goeble went three-for-five with a home run and six RBI, and Murray and Boswell both got three hits. It wasn't enough, unfortunately. Loss, 10-7; L: Raul Cruz (0-1)

[CardsFan2006]

Series 2: vs. JAC

Game 1 (6/4): Imrich Hossa (POR) vs. Chet Ferguson
Hossa went seven innings, allowing only two hits and shutting out Jacksonville. The offense didn't do badly either. Kenneth Goeble hit his second home run, and he and Dusty Brown both got two hits. What worries me at this point is the fact that Joe Wilson, the center-fielder, has no hits in all four games - he's 0-for-15 with a couple walks. He should improve soon, but if he doesn't I'll end up playing Cabral in center. Win, 4-0; W: Imrich Hossa (1-0)

Game 2 (6/5): Donald Barnes (POR) vs. Noah Cash
Four hits from both Boswell and Goeble, who is really becoming the team's star, along with seven shutout innings from Barnes, got me to a win in this game. Joe Wilson got his first hit, a solo home run down the right field line in the seventh. Tom Brown pitched two innings of no-hit relief. Win, 6-0; W: Donald Barnes

Game 3 (6/6): Matt Cash (POR) vs. Millard Jenkins
Once again, the opposing team had an easy time hitting Matt Cash. Jacksonville jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first two innings, and tacked on another (unearned) run in sixth. Portland rallied in the seventh, highlighted by a double by Stephen Hankins and a pinch-hit home run by Gabriel Nunez. In the ninth, with the score 6-4, the Roses looked like they could tie it, with runners on second and third and two outs, but pinch-hitter Sixto Morales struck out looking to end the game. Loss, 6-4; L: Matt Cash (0-2)

[CardsFan2006]

Series 3: vs. BOS

Game 1 (6/7): Raul Cruz (POR) vs. Ronnie Petersen
Yes, Becker was next in the rotation, but Cruz was more rested (and has better stamina anyway), so he went, with the goal of getting through five innings. He did that, allowed no runs, and had a low pitch count, so I kept him in for the sixth. Big mistake. He gave up two solo home runs, which tied the game at two. Ramiro Valdes came in in the seventh, and managed to give up five runs. In the bottom of the ninth, the Roses loaded the bases while down 7-3, with two outs. But Sixto Morales (starting today because Goeble was tired) struck out. On the plus side, Dusty Brown homered. Loss, 7-3; L: Ramiro Valdes (0-1)

Game 2 (6/8): Brandon Becker (POR) vs. Corey Oliver
Despite an early 4-1 lead for the Roses (two-run homers from Dusty Brown and Joe Wilson), and later making it 6-2, Tom Brown, who came in after Becker's six innings, loaded the bases and gave up a grand slam to Enrique Delgado to tie the game back up. It stayed 6-6 until the bottom of the ninth, when Ramon Cabral (who starts every other game against RHPs) doubled in Ryan O'Keefe from first. Win, 7-6; W: Barry Clemons (1-0)

Game 3 (6/9): Imrich Hossa (POR) vs. Les Cook
Hossa went six and two-thirds innings, giving up only a solo homer in the seventh. Despite Luis Gonzalez giving up two solo home runs in the eighth and ninth, the Roses still were able to pull out a win on the back of three hits each from Dusty Brown and Joe Wilson, and a home run from Stephen Hankins. Win, 6-3; W: Imrich Hossa (2-0), S: Dhanirama Udutha (1)

[CardsFan2006]

June 10, 2013
Here are the current team power rankings:

Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Oklahoma City Robins (146.0, ++)
2) Indianapolis Steelers (126.0, -)
3) Portland Roses (103.0, o)
4) Boston Hares (99.0, ++)
5) Memphis Blues (78.0, ++)
6) Philadelphia Musketeers (58.0, o)
7) Jacksonville Wildcats (56.0, --)
8) San Jose Electric Eels (52.0, --)

[CardsFan2006]

Unfortunately the game crashed, so I'll have to replay the last Boston game (which I hadn't saved). Expect edits to that post shortly.

[CardsFan2006]

June 16, 2013

The Roses had swept Memphis and won the first two games against Indianapolis to pull within one game of Oklahoma City. Today, they'd play the Steelers for the third time. Then they'd head back home to play against San Jose. Tom Armstrong pitched for Indianapolis, while Matt Cash took the hill against him.

In the top of the first, the Roses left Steven Murray on third, and couldn't score. Matt Cash gave up a hit in the bottom of the inning, but got three outs easily. In the fourth, Murray and Kenneth Goeble singled to start the inning, but Armstrong struck the next three batters out. Goeble returned to the dugout to get his glove, angry.

"What the hell is this? People who aren't me, Emory, or Steve need to do some hitting. Do you really expect to beat Oklahoma City when we only have three guys batting .250? We can't keep doing this." On the throw down to second during the warm-up that inning, Goeble threw the ball over Ramon Cabral's head, into center, where a surprised Joe Wilson picked it up.

The game stayed scoreless through six innings, a real pitchers' duel. In the top of the seventh, Ramon Cabral had a leadoff single. Matt Cash struck out, but Emory Boswell walked and Murray had another base hit to load the bases. Goeble walked in a run, and the Roses were on the board. Another run came in on a sac fly to make it 2-0. This seemed like nothing to the Roses, but to the Steelers, it was insurmountable, when faced with Matt Cash's masterful pitching.

After eight innings, the score was still 2-0, and Cash had thrown just 85 pitches. But Jack Ward was having second thoughts about keeping him in. The top of the Indianapolis lineup was due up next, and it would look terrible to blow a game on an attempt at a complete game. He and Cash talked.

"Look, Matt, can you do it? Because I don't want you in there if you even think you'll give up anything."

"I can't promise anything, but I've handled these guys before, haven't I? I'm not really tired, I can do it again."

"But that's the thing - you haven't really. Jesus Lopez is 2-for-3, and Logan Glover has a hit too."

"You just have to trust me. I have this under control."

"Fine. But I'm keeping Victor up in the bullpen. I'm yanking you if things get tough." Cash was already walking out to the mound.

As it happened, Lopez wasn't a problem - he was an easy groundout. The next batter, Kenny Roberts, struck out. But Logan Glover got a scratch hit, and Ward worried that having the speedy Glover on first would rattle Cash. He picked up the phone to the bullpen. Goeble went out to the mound to talk to the pitcher. Ward put the phone back down - Matt could handle this. The conference finished quickly, and Goeble set up behind the plate. Hooper ran the count to 2-1, then hit an easy ground ball to second. Steven Murray flipped it to Ramon Cabral, and the game was over.

The team converged around Matt Cash, who'd just thrown the first Roses complete game (the second in the league), giving up only five hits. The team hoped it would be the first of many.

The Roses celebrated, but some went quickly into the clubhouse to watch Oklahoma City play the Boston Hares. The Hares had been winning 2-0, then down 5-2, then tied, then down 8-5. But as Ryan O'Keefe, Stephen Hankins, and Tadashi Nakashima watched, the Hares came back, tying the game up in the ninth and then pulling ahead 10-8 in the ninth. The Robins couldn't come back. Portland was tied for the division lead.

After post-game press conferences, manager Ward called the thirteen batters on the team into his office for a meeting.

"Okay, folks, we're a sixth of the way into the season, and we're doing well. But that's no thanks to a lot of you. As Ken said today, all but three of our starters are hitting under .250. Joe, you're hitting .167. Now, most of you are, yes, putting up decent power numbers - Ryan, Dusty, I'm talking to you. But you have to get on base. Right now, I'm shuffling the lineup. Here's what's going to happen. For now, not very much. Joe, you'll sit. Ramon, you'll be in center, and Tadashi, you're starting at short full-time. I will reverse this if necessary, but I don't think we can keep this good record up if so many of us don't hit."

The Roses headed back to Portland.

[CardsFan2006]

So, as you might be able to tell, I got a bit bored with just giving recaps. I'm going to switch to a more fiction-y style of writing for as long as it suits me.

Also, just for fun, here are the walk-up songs for all the Portland players. These are mostly songs I like, which makes them unrealistic as walk-up songs (because the vast majority of walk-up songs are rap, country, or metal - my least-favorite genres). Probably no-one cares, but I figured, why not?

Donald Barnes: Architecture in Helsinki - Contact High
Brandon Becker: R.E.M. - Finest Worksong
Matt Cash: The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize??
Raul Cruz: MGMT - Kids
Imrich Hossa: Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Tom Brown: Coldplay - Clocks
Luis Gonzalez: Phoenix - 1901
Devin Morris: The Strokes - Hard To Explain
Ramiro Valdes: Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Barry Clemons: Tokyo Police Club - Your English Is Good
Dhanirama Udutha: The Vaccines - Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)
Victor Williams: Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Kenneth Goeble: The Walkmen - The Rat
Sixto Morales: Pixies - Here Comes Your Man
Stephen Hankins: Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict A Riot
Tadashi Nakashima: The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Kevin Brown: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Me and Mia
Ryan O'Keefe: Muse - Map of the Problematique
Ramon Cabral: The Replacements - Can't Hardly Wait
Steven Murray: The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations
Emory Boswell: Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Joe Wilson: The Who - I Can't Explain
Gabriel Nunez: Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Nolan Chesters: OK Go - Here It Goes Again
Dusty Brown: Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running

[Jabez54]

Thanks for the effort you put into this Dynasty, mate ... especially, adding in the walk-up songs !!! ...

[Mr. Baseball]

Originally Posted by CardsFan2006

So, as you might be able to tell, I got a bit bored with just giving recaps. I'm going to switch to a more fiction-y style of writing for as long as it suits me.

Also, just for fun, here are the walk-up songs for all the Portland players. These are mostly songs I like, which makes them unrealistic as walk-up songs (because the vast majority of walk-up songs are rap, country, or metal - my least-favorite genres). Probably no-one cares, but I figured, why not?

Donald Barnes: Architecture in Helsinki - Contact High
Brandon Becker: R.E.M. - Finest Worksong
Matt Cash: The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize??
Raul Cruz: MGMT - Kids
Imrich Hossa: Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Tom Brown: Coldplay - Clocks
Luis Gonzalez: Phoenix - 1901
Devin Morris: The Strokes - Hard To Explain
Ramiro Valdes: Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Barry Clemons: Tokyo Police Club - Your English Is Good
Dhanirama Udutha: The Vaccines - Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)
Victor Williams: Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Kenneth Goeble: The Walkmen - The Rat
Sixto Morales: Pixies - Here Comes Your Man
Stephen Hankins: Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict A Riot
Tadashi Nakashima: The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Kevin Brown: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Me and Mia
Ryan O'Keefe: Muse - Map of the Problematique
Ramon Cabral: The Replacements - Can't Hardly Wait
Steven Murray: The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations
Emory Boswell: Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Joe Wilson: The Who - I Can't Explain
Gabriel Nunez: Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Nolan Chesters: OK Go - Here It Goes Again
Dusty Brown: Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running

I had no idea you could do walk-up music! Just found that in the manual! Awesome.

[CardsFan2006]

Normally I wouldn't do this for the very next game, but this was too exciting.

June 17, 2013

The Roses started Raul Cruz, who was doing the worst of any Roses starting pitcher. San Jose went with Luis Luna, who, while leading the league in losses, had mainly just been the victim of a lack of offense on San Jose's part. Joe Wilson started in center - Ward was giving him another day, then taking him out.

Cruz didn't start out well. Two singles, a double, another single, and a sac fly, and the Electric Eels were up 3-0 in the first. Emory Boswell hit his first home run in the bottom of the inning to put the Roses within two, but the Eels scored a fourth run in the third, and another two (unearned) in the fifth. Finally, in the bottom of the sixth, the Roses rallied. Pinch-hitter Gabriel Nunez led off the inning with a double. Steven Murray walked, and Kennth Goeble singled. The bases were loaded, with one out. The crowd was on its feet as Dusty Brown stepped to the plate. Ball. Ball. Strike. Strike. Foul. Finally, a line drive into left center for a base hit. Only one run scored, but the Roses had narrowed it. Ryan O'Keefe was up next, but struck out. Hankins popped up, and the inning was over. The Roses left the bases loaded.

Luis Gonzalez shut the Eels down for two innings. Portland led off the bottom of the eighth with two singles, to put runners on first and third. Ken Goeble reached on an error, but the Roses would take that. A run came in. Dusty Brown singled, Ryan O'Keefe hit a sac fly, and it was a one-run game. Joe Wilson grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Gonzalez continued in the ninth, and got three outs easily. San Jose closer Harlan Frank came in to pitch. He walked Ramon Cabral. Pinch-hitter Sixto Morales singled. The tying run was in scoring position. Emory Boswell also drew a walk. This game was one hit away from being over. Steven Murray was in position to deliver that hit. On a 2-2 count, he singled to left field. Cabral scored, but the incredibly slow Morales stayed at third. Up came Ryan O'Keefe.

O'Keefe had not been hitting wonderfully. Though he'd hit four home runs, his batting average was around .230, and the Roses front office didn't want to be paying $14,000,000 a year for that. He also wasn't doing well in the clutch - he was just 2-for-23 with runners on base, 1-16 with runners in scoring position. He dug in.

Harlan Frank delivered. Ball one. The count ran to 2-2. Frank delivered again. The bat stayed on O'Keefe's shoulder. The count went full. On the next pitch, O'Keefe swung, and hit what looked like a long foul down the left field line. But it didn't go foul, it stayed fair, hitting the foul pole. The Roses walked off, 10-6.

---

After the game, Nolan Chesters was demoted to AAA, where he could have more opportunity to play and develop. Neil Bridges was called up to replace him as fifth outfielder.

[Mr. Baseball]

Normally I wouldn't do this for the very next game, but this was too exciting.

I know the feeling. I usually have to force myself NOT to update the Danger thread more often.

Nice comeback! I love when the underdog delivers.

[CardsFan2006]

Also, random note, my Pythagorean record is 10-6, while my real record is 12-4. I seriously doubt I'll keep up this performance.