[Westheim]

Look who’s back! It’s the Masked Menaces!

Raccoons (37-63) vs. Bayhawks (61-36) – July 27-29, 1999

A .370 team going up against a .629 team. Interestingly, they had the best rotation in the league, but the most horrible bullpen. Yeah, we just have to climb over those 2+ ERA guys, nothing easier than that!

Projected matchups:
Randy Farley (8-9, 3.02 ERA) vs. Henry Selph (10-1, 2.91 ERA)
Paco Martinez (0-1, 6.55 ERA) vs. Tony Hamlyn (12-7, 2.51 ERA)
Scott Wade (1-6, 3.58 ERA) vs. Jorge Chapa (7-5, 2.26 ERA)

Game 1
SFB: RF Javier – 2B H. Ramirez – 1B D. Carroll – LF W. Jackson – CF A. Marquez – C G. Ortíz – SS J. Martinez – 3B Valdes – P Selph
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 2B Ingall – LF Parker – C Mata – 3B Crowe – P Farley

The birds from the bay brusquely refused my suggestion to mix teams to have two .500 teams play against each other. So be it. The Bayhawks were right of course. Can’t get an easier sweep! They immediately set out on that conquest, attacking Farley for eight hits and four runs in the first three innings. Farley didn’t live to see the fifth inning for his turn at bat came up with two out and the bags full, down by four, in the bottom 4th. Granados hit for him, and grounded out to Martinez at short. The Bayhawks learned from that close call. As Jackie Lagarde entered the fifth, Carroll doubled, Jackson doubled, and Marquez homered, 7-0, before Lagarde even was close to an out. The Raccoons could be best described as offering token resistance only. 7-2 Bayhawks. Gonzalez 2-4, 2B, RBI; Collins 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K; Nordahl 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K;

Let’s focus on the positive things: back-to-back RBI doubles by Reece and Gonzalez in the bottom 5th. And nobody got himself killed. If we could slightly expand on that …

Game 2
SFB: LF Walls – C G. Ortíz – 1B D. Carroll – RF Javier – CF A. Marquez – 2B H. Ramirez – SS J. Martinez – 3B J. Gomez – P Hamlyn
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – RF Brady – LF Buell – C Mata – 3B Crowe – P P. Martinez

Young Paco gave the outfielders quite the workout early on in the middle game, with Reece and Brady getting in a week’s worth of stretching in the first four innings – but getting to every ball out there. Meanwhile, Guerin’s 2-out RBI single in the bottom 2nd actually gave Martinez a shaky 1-0 lead, which could have been bigger, but Ingall preferred to leave runners on the corners by fouling out to the catcher Ortíz in his at-bat. The Bayhawks got Tom Walls on with a leadoff double in the top 6th and Walls was on third with two down and slugger Paco Javier batting. Javier was a left-hander, just as the Paco opposing him, and after a little pep talk by the pitching coach, the brown-clad Paco prevailed and struck out the white-dressed opposition to end the frame. Still 1-0. The leadoff man was on again in the seventh, and Reece made TWO strong catches in the inning to nurse the 1-0 score forward again. Can we please add something? I won’t stop being funny, right? The tying run came on again with a 2-out single by Ortíz in the top 8th. With the three big bats coming up, it was time to relieve Martinez. The team was out to get him, but I wouldn’t let him take the loss. Daniel Miller and Antonio Donis(!) were lined up to continue the game, Miller facing only Dave Carroll regardless of the outcome. Carroll put a 1-2 pitch into play, but Crowe made the play, inning over. The Coons weren’t even reaching base again, and so I sent Donis to protect a 1-0 lead in the ninth. Insanity, right there. Indeed, Javier reached on a grounder up the middle that Ingall managed to launch and grab, but couldn’t turn into an out anymore: infield single. Marquez sent a hard grounder to short, Guerin was right there, zip-zap, double play! That left Hector Ramirez to be dealt with, and Donis struck him out! 1-0 Coons! Guerin 2-4, RBI; Reece 2-4; P. Martinez 7.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, W (1-1);

While Martinez got his first major league win, Mata threw out his first stealer in eight tries today, nabbing Tom Walls going in the first inning, and also drew his first walk after some 30+ plate appearances.

We will not go into detail about how the Coons’ only run was actually unearned. It doesn’t matter. WHAT A WIN for Martinez!!

Game 3
SFB: RF Javier – 2B H. Ramirez – 1B D. Carroll – LF W. Jackson – CF A. Marquez – C G. Ortíz – SS J. Martinez – 3B J. Gomez – P Chapa
POR: SS Guerin – LF Buell – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – 1B Granados – RF Newton – C Fifield – 2B Goodchild – P Wade

Bases loaded, one out was only got enough for one run on a Granados groundout in the first inning for the Coons, and it came back to bite this time, as Wade was whacked by a 2-out RBI triple off Jose Martinez’ bat in the fourth inning and fell behind 2-1 after we elected to pitch to Gomez, batting .196, rather than take the chances with Chapa and two men on. Wade was pitching to contact – in theory, everything could dink in for a 2-run double. Wade was hit for with two on and two out in the bottom 6th, still down 2-1, but unfortunately I picked Mike “Instant Out” Crowe, who struck out. Mike Collins allowed a run in the seventh, but in turn the Coons got their two leadoff batters in scoring position with one out in the bottom 7th. The Bayhawks went cautiously about Gonzalez and walked him eventually. Bases loaded for Granados, who was 0-2 with an RBI in such situations in this series. And one strike, and two strikes, and – oh – ball in play, but … yeah, nah. He popped out to Ismael Durán manning second base. That brought up sad faces in the few fans still at the park, and also Luke Newton at the plate. Jose Matos, who was pitching the inning in relief of Chapa, tried hard not to make a mistake, but that’s when mistakes happen, and he gave Newton a really fat 2-2 pitch that Newton took to deep right center. Tom Walls looked like he might reach it, but the ball hit the top of the fence a foot above Walls’ glove! Suddenly, life at the park! Newton turned first, turned second, safe with a bases-clearing triple!! Terry Harris replaced Matos, issued three walks and a wild pitch to give the Coons two more runs. Tamburrino and Miller got the stunner to the finish line without major accidents. 6-3 Raccoons! Reece 2-4, BB; Granados 2-5, RBI; Newton 3-5, 3B, 3 RBI; Wade 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K and 1-2;

Raccoons (39-64) vs. Falcons (56-47) – July 30-August 1, 1999

What? Another team so much better than us? When will we face the easy victims?

The Falcons were mostly average, ranking mid-pack in many categories, except for hits (3rd), and somehow also made it to third place in runs scored, despite being 7th in AVG, 8th in OBP, and 10th in OPS. No, they weren’t hitting home runs (t-9th), nor where they stealing bases (8th). It was a mystery.

Projected matchups:
Kelly Fairchild (4-4, 5.58 ERA) vs. Terry Wilson (9-7, 4.38 ERA)
Kisho Saito (2-12, 4.68 ERA) vs. Manuel Hernandez (4-8, 3.26 ERA)
Randy Farley (8-10, 3.19 ERA) vs. Angel Romero (12-7, 3.49 ERA)

In a quirk, we will face three left-handers in this series after finishing the last series against two southpaws already. Moreso, we are looking at Dan Moriarty and Carlos Guillén – two more left-handers! – to start the next series against the Aces! A week’s worth of southpaw opponents. Whew.

Game 1
CHA: 2B H. Green – C M. Castillo – CF Lugo – SS M. Hall – RF Mashiba – LF Morton – 1B J. Jackson – 3B Fugosi – P Wilson
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – RF Brady – LF Buell – 1B Granados – C Mata – P Fairchild

Another game that was about missed chances more than anything else. Both teams left runners on left and right. The Coons started it with Reece failing to convert runner on third, one out, in any meaningful way in the bottom 1st (a situation Clyde Brady would repeat in the fifth), and while we had the bags full in the second and scored two runs, including one singled in by Fairchild, that still ended in disaster when Guerin grounded into a force out at third base, and Ingall, well, Ingall wasn’t doing anything. The Falcons got a a run in the third, but left the bags full in the fifth without scoring. Fairchild failed to navigate the sixth inning, putting Morton on with two out. A wild pitch moved up the runner, and he then walked ex-Coon Joe Jackson. Chubby Martinez got Filippo Fugosi to ground out to keep a 2-1 lead alive. That was as far as luck went in this game. Chubby failed to lay down a bunt in the bottom 6th, then blew the game in the top 7th with four runners allowed. The Falcons took a 3-2 lead. They could have sealed the deal in the eighth with three straight 2-out singles off Dan Nordahl, but Nordahl came back to strike out Jose Lugo to escape. The Falcons expended four relievers in the eighth inning, before handing it to Holden Gorman in the ninth. An Ingall single put the tying run on with one out and Reece and Gonzalez coming up. Reece grounded out, moving Ingall to second. Ingall went to third on a passed ball on the first pitch to Gonzalez. Gonzalez hit the next pitch to left – but right to LF Ralph Wilson. 3-2 Falcons.

No. No, they still suck. And will suck forever.

Game 2
CHA: 2B H. Green – C M. Castillo – CF Lugo – SS M. Hall – LF Cleveland – RF Mashiba – 1B J. Jackson – 3B Fugosi – P M. Hernandez
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Newton – C Mata – 3B Crowe – P Saito

The Falcons put their first two men on in both of the first two innings – and didn’t score. The runners were left in scoring position in the first, and Hernandez bunted into a double play in the second. Then the Coons slapped three singles to start the bottom 2nd, loading the bags … but “Instant Out” Crowe and Saito were next. Crowe however squeezed out a walk, forcing a run home, and while Saito hit into a double play, the run scored from third base. Guerin singled in another run, 3-0, and just seven innings to go for Saito. While the longest-tenured Raccoon dragged himself from inning to inning, the Coons had the bags full with one out in the bottom 5th, then had Buell pop up for the second out and Newton lined out to Cleveland, and we left another pair of runners in scoring position in the sixth when Ingall grounded out to Hall. But the zero in the top row on the scoreboard still remained. Not because Saito was great, but because he got the right amount of help – from both teams – whenever he needed it. A light drizzle began in the top 8th with Joe Morton on first base and one out. Saito retired Green and Castillo to end the inning at 100 pitches and still up 3-0. Daniel Miller was getting warmed up regardless. In the bottom 8th, Mata got on, and then Crowe. One out. We were just about to lift Saito for a pinch-hitter, when the rain stopped. Saito insisted on this being a heavenly sign and that he should bat, so he went out and bunted into a force out at third base. While I was now insisting he study his holy books again, Guerin walked, and brought up Ingall with the bags full. 3-1 against reliever Tom Brooks, Ingall popped one up to right – but Taisuke Mashiba couldn’t find it! It dinked in, and the Coons got another run. That set down Miller for the moment, although Reece flew out to Lugo. 4-0 in the ninth, Saito facing Lugo, Hall, and Cleveland. Ingall nabbed a mildly sharp liner by Lugo for the first out. Hall flew out to Buell. That left the veteran Dale Cleveland, batting .194 this year. He took Saito’s first pitch to the right side, bringing up Mashiba. Okay, we’ll let him have Mashiba, then we’ll go to Miller. Mashiba took a called strike, then watched the next pitch being called a ball low. A foul and another ball later, he fouled off another pitch that vanished in the stands just out of reach of Mike Crowe. Saito’s eye formed narrow slits as he contemplated about his 115th pitch of the game. Mashiba gleamed back through his own slits. After seeing fastballs four out five pitches in the at-bat, Mashiba probably anticipated something slow coming. And indeed Saito tossed him a terrible egg that dropped off right as it crossed the plate. Mashiba, guessing breaking ball all the way, was still caught off guard by the curve, and swung through it. It was Saito’s only K on the day. 4-0 SAITO’S MINIONS!!! Guerin 5-5, 2B, RBI; Ingall 2-5, RBI; Mata 2-3, 2B; Crowe 1-2, 2 BB, RBI; Saito 9.0 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, W (3-12);

KISHOOOOOO!!! SAITOOOOOO!!!

Master Kisho pitched his 51 complete game of his career (582 starts), and delivered his 20th shutout!

I FEEL SO ALIVE!!

Game 3
CHA: 2B H. Green – 1B J. Jackson – CF Lugo – SS M. Hall – RF Mashiba – LF Morton – C D. Smith – 3B C. Boyle – P Romero
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Newton – C Mata – 3B Goodchild – P Farley

Both teams scored two runs in the first, with Ingall homering for the Coons’. Farley again struggled to contain the opposition, especially the right-handers Green and Jackson atop the lineup and fell 3-2 behind in the third. The Falcons chopped Farley up for five runs in six innings eventually. Through seven innings, the Coons merely managed four hits, the fourth of which was a solo home run by Cesar Gonzalez, but they trailed 5-3 and faced Holden Gorman again in the ninth. Gonzalez drew a 2-out walk, and Brady came out hitting for Buell. With Gonzalez in motion, Brady singled up the middle and as Gonzalez drew the throw to third base, but was easily safe, Brady moved up to second. We had the tying runs in scoring position for PH Mauro Granados, who walked, loading them up. Parker then hit for Mata, and was hit by the pitch! With a run being forced home, we came into a predicament here. Next up were the useless Goodchild and pitcher Dan Nordahl and we only had one pinch-hitter left in Gary Fifield. Well, first you gotta tie it, then you can win it, and so Fifield hit for Goodchild. But sometimes you just plain lose. Like when Fifield struck out. 5-4 Falcons. Brady (PH) 1-1;

In other news

July 26 – SAC 1B/3B/CF Jared O’Molony (.278, 5 HR, 39 RBI) faces a long recovery with a broken knee cap. Doctors estimate his time on the shelf northwards of nine months.
July 26 – In a stunner, the Scorpions acquire INF Masaaki Matsumoto (.350, 3 HR, 57 RBI) from the Capitals for SP Steve Rogers (8-12, 3.89 ERA), a minor leaguer and a catching prospect in Tim Ball.
July 27 – The Indians grab INF Adrian Matthews (.269, 4 HR, 51 RBI) from the Blue Sox for MR Jorge Escobar (2-1, 5 SV, 3.43 ERA).
July 29 – The Condors and Buffaloes agree on a 4-player deal that principally sends INF/LF/CF Rory Gorden (.282, 8 HR, 57 RBI) to Topeka in exchange for CL Domingo Moreno (2-0, 6 SV, 1.90 ERA).
July 30 – LVA OF Forest Hartley (.284, 7 HR, 44 RBI) hits a fourth inning double off Indy’s Dan George, reaching the 2,000 hits plateau. The 35-year old Hartley reaches the mark against the team that drafted him 11th overall in the 1983 amateur draft. The 4-time All Star and 1993 Gold Glove winner has played for Indy, Salem, Vancouver, and Las Vegas in a 16-year major league career, batting .291/.328/.429 with 155 HR and 872 RBI. Unfortunately a win was not in the books for him and the Aces on this day, as the Indians walk off in the 12th inning, 9-8.
August 1 – SFW 1B/2B Dave Heffer (.288, 4 HR, 40 RBI) will miss six weeks with a torn meniscus.

Complaints and stuff

Ricardo Castillo refused a minor league assignment. Since he was not getting back onto the big league roster, he was released on Wednesday.

After just returning to the AAA team, SP Ralph Ford managed to get ejected and suspended in his first start. If I had any hair left, I’d pull it now.