OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Yet Another OOTP6 Dynasty, Year 2: One Flew Over the Pale Hose

cknox0723 · 07-08-2006, 04:36 PM

FRI 8/4: L 9-2 @ DET - Ace LHP Buehrle (10-7) allows four straight to reach base in the bottom of the second, and three Tigers score in the inning. That's more than enough for mediocre LHP Redman (8-9), who is a step above mediocre today, cruising through the first five innings unscathed. By that time, Buehrle (4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 67 pitches) is long gone, replaced by the pitching equivalent of dancing chimpanzees. Facing a four-nothing deficit that becomes five-one just a half-inning after we plate that first run, our chances for victory are also long gone - as long gone as LF Mike Hessman's pinch-hit seventh inning grand slam, in fact.

SAT 8/5: L 6-4 @ DET - Ryan Franklin, the 35 year old codger, does his typical work, logging six innings of five hit and two run ball, only fanning three but also walking just two. Journeyman Izzy Valdes does his usual thing, coming totally unglued with two outs in the fourth and allowing three runs, two on a single to center by Franklin, one on a wild pitch that allows Yorvit Torrealba to scurry home. He'd reached by being plunked in the shoulder. Funny thing is, the Pale Hose offense is mostly quiet the rest of the ballgame; baserunners reach and baserunners advance, but there's something stopping us from the six or seven run burst that has been so common this season. Right-handed reliever "Mercurial Kiko" Calero is instead the one who bursts, putting the first three men on in the seventh. Trade acquisition Wade Miller is brought on at that point, but pinch-hitter Mike Hessman raps one over the head of third baseman Munson to plate two, giving the .178 hitter six runs batted in over two plate appearances in two days. Right fielder Reed Johnson follows in kind with a knock into center; of course he does, he's hitting 100+ points higher than Hessman, the new Pale Hose killer. Miller is fine the rest of the way, but so is the opposing bullpen. Ramon Vazquez draws a walk to start Proven Closer (TM) Fernando Rodney's ninth inning, and Vernon Wells pokes a two-out single to bring the winning run to the plate. Pinch-hitter Raul Gonzalez, with a chance to keep our engine running, sees a nice 1-1 fastball and smacks the ball hard, but right at first baseman Pena. You may have forgotten the details (I know I have), but you remember that feeling, don't you? These are the ballgames bad teams were born to lose.

We might win a ballgame like this in the future, but former top prospect Chris Scarborough won't be a reason why. Every start he makes for Milwaukee makes me think a little bit more, and his fourth one, a six-inning gem, is no exception. A three-hitter with nine strikeouts, no walks, and one run allowed will do that to you. Funny thing is "Scarborough Fair" still only threw 54 of 92 pitches for strikes, continuing the battle he's fought ever since, well, forever.

And Milwaukee still lost the game, watching a 5-1 lead evaporate like the Wisconsin snow because they are a fifth-place team (technically sixth in this swollen universe) that has enough trouble finding guys to start the game, let alone finish it.

So if we were born to lose a bunch of games to Detroit, at least we can have some solace that Milwaukee will probably suck worse for all of eternity.

07-08-2006, 04:36 PM	#809
cknox0723 All Star Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 1,957	pinched FRI 8/4: L 9-2 @ DET - Ace LHP Buehrle (10-7) allows four straight to reach base in the bottom of the second, and three Tigers score in the inning. That's more than enough for mediocre LHP Redman (8-9), who is a step above mediocre today, cruising through the first five innings unscathed. By that time, Buehrle (4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 67 pitches) is long gone, replaced by the pitching equivalent of dancing chimpanzees. Facing a four-nothing deficit that becomes five-one just a half-inning after we plate that first run, our chances for victory are also long gone - as long gone as LF Mike Hessman's pinch-hit seventh inning grand slam, in fact. SAT 8/5: L 6-4 @ DET - Ryan Franklin, the 35 year old codger, does his typical work, logging six innings of five hit and two run ball, only fanning three but also walking just two. Journeyman Izzy Valdes does his usual thing, coming totally unglued with two outs in the fourth and allowing three runs, two on a single to center by Franklin, one on a wild pitch that allows Yorvit Torrealba to scurry home. He'd reached by being plunked in the shoulder. Funny thing is, the Pale Hose offense is mostly quiet the rest of the ballgame; baserunners reach and baserunners advance, but there's something stopping us from the six or seven run burst that has been so common this season. Right-handed reliever "Mercurial Kiko" Calero is instead the one who bursts, putting the first three men on in the seventh. Trade acquisition Wade Miller is brought on at that point, but pinch-hitter Mike Hessman raps one over the head of third baseman Munson to plate two, giving the .178 hitter six runs batted in over two plate appearances in two days. Right fielder Reed Johnson follows in kind with a knock into center; of course he does, he's hitting 100+ points higher than Hessman, the new Pale Hose killer. Miller is fine the rest of the way, but so is the opposing bullpen. Ramon Vazquez draws a walk to start Proven Closer (TM) Fernando Rodney's ninth inning, and Vernon Wells pokes a two-out single to bring the winning run to the plate. Pinch-hitter Raul Gonzalez, with a chance to keep our engine running, sees a nice 1-1 fastball and smacks the ball hard, but right at first baseman Pena. You may have forgotten the details (I know I have), but you remember that feeling, don't you? These are the ballgames bad teams were born to lose. We might win a ballgame like this in the future, but former top prospect Chris Scarborough won't be a reason why. Every start he makes for Milwaukee makes me think a little bit more, and his fourth one, a six-inning gem, is no exception. A three-hitter with nine strikeouts, no walks, and one run allowed will do that to you. Funny thing is "Scarborough Fair" still only threw 54 of 92 pitches for strikes, continuing the battle he's fought ever since, well, forever. And Milwaukee still lost the game, watching a 5-1 lead evaporate like the Wisconsin snow because they are a fifth-place team (technically sixth in this swollen universe) that has enough trouble finding guys to start the game, let alone finish it. So if we were born to lose a bunch of games to Detroit, at least we can have some solace that Milwaukee will probably suck worse for all of eternity. Last edited by cknox0723; 07-08-2006 at 04:38 PM.