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Westheim · 01-13-2017, 10:46 AM

2016 ABL PLAYOFFS

Three quarters of the 2016 playoff field were identical with that of 2015, with only the 101-61 Pacifics disturbing the peace, yet their league-best record also saw them take home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Built entirely around pitching in their current form, the Pacifics had two of the very best starting pitchers in the Federal League, Brad Smith (17-8, 2.56 ERA) and Ernest Green (16-9, 2.69 ERA), with a pretty good supporting cast in Bruce Mark (18-10, 3.55 ERA) and Ozzie Pereira (15-12, 3.36 ERA). With a pen presided over by Arturo Lopez (5-3, 1.07 ERA, 43 SV), the Pacifics had allowed the least runs in the FL by a healthy margin, but their offense had not been very good, reaching only eighth position in terms of runs scored. They were almost completely power-starved, with only Jimmy Roberts (.312, 20 HR, 100 RBI) having any remote star aura around him, and only one more double-digit home runs hitter in Tom Reese (.232, 13 HR, 65 RBI). Their mark of 83 homers ranked 11th in the FL. They had one significant injury, with starting shortstop Marc Thompson (.237, 7 HR, 47 RBI) going to miss the FLCS, although he could be back in time for the World Series, should it come to that.

Opposite the Pacifics were the 95-67 Miners, repeat winners in the East. Their team was more or less constructed the other way round, with the second-most runs pumped out in the Federal League (almost 5.1 per game) in exchange for mediocre starting pitching that was headlined by Fred Dugo (15-12, 3.27 ERA) and youngster Pedro Hernandez (17-10, 3.44 ERA), followed by a sharp drop-off that even extended to the bullpen. While they had only allowed the third-least runs overall, their rotation especially had barely reached a league-average ERA, and their defense was also at best average. In turn, they had led the FL in home runs, with five double-digit swatters, led by Dave Carter (.287, 36 HR, 125 RBI) and Bartholomeu Pino (.244, 28 HR, 89 RBI). Also still going strong was veteran Dave McCormick (.349, 16 HR, 83 RBI). The Miners also had one injury, to setup reliever Tommy Wooldridge (4-2, 3.20 ERA, 3 SV), who tore a big hole into a patchwork bullpen.

Pitching rules in the playoffs, they say. The Pacifics might overcome the Miners on the strength of their rotation, but they will probably take six games to do so.

In the CLCS, the 100-62 Crusaders had taken yet another CL North title, and again it had been everything but exciting in September in that division, which had seen five teams over .500, but none close to New York. They had finished third in runs scored, but first in runs allowed, although their +143 differential in runs was not as huge as in some prior years. A decade later, there were still remnants of the old team that won three titles in a row from 2007 through 2009 around, most notably Martin Ortíz (.276, 27 HR, 86 RBI), but they were missing one other ageless veteran in Francisco Caraballo (.298, 7 HR, 42 RBI), who was out with a ruptured MCL, and also ace pitcher Curtis Tobitt (5-4, 3.32 ERA), who had had Tommy John surgery in June. The remainder of their rotation was strong neverless, headed by Jaylen “Midnight” Martin (17-6, 2.86 ERA), and they also had a deadly closer in Salvadaro Soure (7-1, 1.21 ERA, 45 SV), who led the best bullpen in the league. Offensively, power was dispersed throughout the lineup, from the #1 to the #8 position. The latter was expected to hold Alex Rivas, who hit 18 homers during the season and drove in 81. If you have that guy as #8 hitter, you can easily make it to your fourth title in a row.

Just like last year, the 92-70 Condors had squeezed into the playoffs by a single game. Not heading the league in any major, basic metric, they were fifth in runs scored and fourth in runs allowed, which didn’t exactly radiate with greatness. They had led the league in stolen bases and that was pretty much it. No glaring weaknesses, but no major strengths. Their rotation for the playoffs held four pitchers with ERA’s between 3.32 and 3.81, which was good, but not great, and bizarrely their two better pitchers Manuel “Doom” Rojas (10-13, 3.32 ERA) and Kevin Woodworth (10-14, 3.40 ERA) had both turned losing records, while Michael Colvard (16-8, 3.80 ERA) had led the team in wins. Zack Entwistle had saved 45 games for them but only with a 2.53 ERA, and while they also had qualified setup relievers, the middle relief was murky. But the worst for Condors fans was yet to come, as they had lost slugger Jimmy Eichelkraut (.285, 31 HR, 83 RBI) to a knee sprain one week before the end of the season and their lineup now lacked bite entirely. Catcher Jose Vargas (.284, 12 HR, 69 RBI) led the power department, and outside of Ron Eroh (.312, 4 HR, 25 RBI) nobody had even come close to batting .300.

The Crusaders could not only become the first team to win four consecutive World Series (none other than them has even won three, and they did it twice), but also only the third team to win four consecutive pennants. The others were the 2001-2004 Titans (who won three titles) and the 1990-1993 Capitals (who won two). Given the Condors’ lack of oomph, the Crusaders look like a virtual lock for the Big Show.

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2016 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Condors @ Crusaders … 2-0 … (Condors lead 1-0) … TIJ Mike Gershkovich 3-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI; TIJ Zach Boyer 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 H, 1 BB, 6 K, W;

Condors @ Crusaders … 13-3 … (Condors lead 2-0) … TIJ Craig Dasher 3-5, 3B, 2 RBI; TIJ Mike Herrera 5-6, 2B, 2 RBI; TIJ Mike Gershkovich 3-6, 2 RBI;
Miners @ Pacifics … 4-3 (11) … (Miners lead 1-0) … PIT Tom McWhorter 2-4, BB, 2 HR, 3 RBI; LAP Brad Smith 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 17 K;

Brad Smith’s 17 strikeouts are a new record for a playoff game, breaking NYC Jaylen Martin’s 16 K mark put up in 2015. It is only the third playoff game ever in which a pitcher strikes out more than 11. POR Nick Brown had whiffed 13 in a game in 2010.

Miners @ Pacifics … 3-4 … (series tied 1-1) … PIT Bartholomeu Pino 2-4, 2 RBI; LAP Oliver Torres 3-4;

Crusaders @ Condors … 5-1 … (Condors lead 2-1) … NYC Miguel Salinas 3-5; NYC Martin Ortíz 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI;

Crusaders @ Condors … 7-9 … (Condors lead 3-1) … NYC Winston Jones 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; TIJ Mike Herrera 3-5, 2B, RBI; TIJ Craig Abraham 2-2, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI;
Pacifics @ Miners … 5-4 … (Pacifics lead 2-1) … LAP Ross Irvin 3-5, 2 2B; LAP Ernest Green 7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, W and 3-4, 3 RBI; PIT Lowell Genge 3-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI;

Crusaders @ Condors … 1-2 … (Condors win 4-1) … NYC Jaylen Martin 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K; TIJ Zach Boyer 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K; NYC Salvadaro Soure allows a single to Dan Jones with one out in the bottom 10th. Jones steals second base and scores on Matt Keeler’s double into right center to clinch the pennant for the crass underdog
Pacifics @ Miners … 9-10 (10) … (series tied 2-2) …

Keeler is a 27-year old backup piece with 26 regular season hits in the ABL and a negative career WAR.

Pacifics @ Miners … 10-1 … (Pacifics lead 3-2) … LAP Jimmy Roberts 3-4, BB, 2 RBI; LAP Bobby Torres 2-5, HR, 4 RBI; LAP Brad Smith 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, W;

Miners @ Pacifics … 6-3 … (series tied 3-3) … PIT Bartholomeu Pino 1-4, HR, 4 RBI; PIT Tim Prince 3-4, 3B; LAP Foster Leach 3-3, BB, 2B; LAP Errol Spears (PH) 1-1, RBI;

Pino’s slam (following a Torres slam in game 5) negates the Pacifics’ first-inning, 2-0 lead and extends the series to the maximum distance.

Miners @ Pacifics … 0-6 … (Pacifics win 4-3) … PIT Tom McWhorter 3-4; LAP Bobby Torres 2-4, HR, RBI; LAP Ernest Green 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, W;

The Miners’ hits are all for singles, and they never even reach second base, erasing two singles with double plays, with one runner getting caught stealing.

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2016 WORLD SERIES

After a raging upset of the triple-defending champions from New York, the puny Condors made it to the World Series for the third time in their existence, and for the first time in 26 years. They have never won a World Series, falling to the Stars and Capitals, respectively, in their 1988 and 1990 appearances. Their chances on a title are certainly far greater than ten days ago, but they still aren’t great, given that they now face another team that ranked first in runs allowed in their league, and they are still without Jimmy Eichelkraut, who suffered a setback and will not be available for the series.

The Pacifics, who hold home field advantage in this Southwest Series, are in the show for the third time as well, but they were successful in their only two previous attempts in 2011 and 2012, beating the Crusaders and Thunder, respectively. Other than the Condors, the Pacifics have everybody available for the World Series, and are looking forward to continuing their perfect record in World Series appearances.

Overall, the Continental League holds 20 World Series titles, with 19 for the Federal League. This is the closest geographically that two World Series contestants have been to another since the 1989 Oregon Brawl between the Wolves and Raccoons.

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Condors @ Pacifics … 0-3 … (Pacifics lead 1-0) … LAP Brad Smith 8.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K, W;

A second-inning single by Roland Lafon and a fifth-inning walk drawn by Dan Jones is all that the Condors offense manages to put up against Smith.

Condors @ Pacifics … 1-3 … (Pacifics lead 2-0) … LAP Tom Reese 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; LAP Ozzie Pereira 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, W;

Pacifics @ Condors … 2-1 … (Pacifics lead 3-0) … LAP Oliver Torres 3-4, 2B, RBI; LAP Bruce Mark 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, W; TIJ Michael Colvard 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, L;

Pacifics @ Condors … 6-1 … (Pacifics lead 4-0) … LAP Oliver Torres 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI; LAP Mike Getchell 2-3; LAP Ernest Green 8.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W;

Green no-hits the completely outmatched Condors for 7.1 innings before Dan Jones hits an inconsequential double. A leadoff single by Craig Dasher in the ninth leads to a 2-out run on Mike Gershkovich’s double, but the Condors get only one more pitch from reliever Edwin Balandran, on which Jose Vargas pops out to short.

This is only the fourth World Series to end in a sweep, and the first of the millenium. The other such occurrences were in 1977 (Cyclones vs. Bayhawks), 1986 (Blue Sox vs. Knights), and 1999 (Bayhawks vs. Warriors). On the other hand, World Series have gone to seven games 13 times in ABL history.

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2016 World Series Champions
LOS ANGELES PACIFICS
(3rd title)

01-13-2017, 10:46 AM	#2133
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 13,760	2016 ABL PLAYOFFS Three quarters of the 2016 playoff field were identical with that of 2015, with only the 101-61 Pacifics disturbing the peace, yet their league-best record also saw them take home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Built entirely around pitching in their current form, the Pacifics had two of the very best starting pitchers in the Federal League, Brad Smith (17-8, 2.56 ERA) and Ernest Green (16-9, 2.69 ERA), with a pretty good supporting cast in Bruce Mark (18-10, 3.55 ERA) and Ozzie Pereira (15-12, 3.36 ERA). With a pen presided over by Arturo Lopez (5-3, 1.07 ERA, 43 SV), the Pacifics had allowed the least runs in the FL by a healthy margin, but their offense had not been very good, reaching only eighth position in terms of runs scored. They were almost completely power-starved, with only Jimmy Roberts (.312, 20 HR, 100 RBI) having any remote star aura around him, and only one more double-digit home runs hitter in Tom Reese (.232, 13 HR, 65 RBI). Their mark of 83 homers ranked 11th in the FL. They had one significant injury, with starting shortstop Marc Thompson (.237, 7 HR, 47 RBI) going to miss the FLCS, although he could be back in time for the World Series, should it come to that. Opposite the Pacifics were the 95-67 Miners, repeat winners in the East. Their team was more or less constructed the other way round, with the second-most runs pumped out in the Federal League (almost 5.1 per game) in exchange for mediocre starting pitching that was headlined by Fred Dugo (15-12, 3.27 ERA) and youngster Pedro Hernandez (17-10, 3.44 ERA), followed by a sharp drop-off that even extended to the bullpen. While they had only allowed the third-least runs overall, their rotation especially had barely reached a league-average ERA, and their defense was also at best average. In turn, they had led the FL in home runs, with five double-digit swatters, led by Dave Carter (.287, 36 HR, 125 RBI) and Bartholomeu Pino (.244, 28 HR, 89 RBI). Also still going strong was veteran Dave McCormick (.349, 16 HR, 83 RBI). The Miners also had one injury, to setup reliever Tommy Wooldridge (4-2, 3.20 ERA, 3 SV), who tore a big hole into a patchwork bullpen. Pitching rules in the playoffs, they say. The Pacifics might overcome the Miners on the strength of their rotation, but they will probably take six games to do so. In the CLCS, the 100-62 Crusaders had taken yet another CL North title, and again it had been everything but exciting in September in that division, which had seen five teams over .500, but none close to New York. They had finished third in runs scored, but first in runs allowed, although their +143 differential in runs was not as huge as in some prior years. A decade later, there were still remnants of the old team that won three titles in a row from 2007 through 2009 around, most notably Martin Ortíz (.276, 27 HR, 86 RBI), but they were missing one other ageless veteran in Francisco Caraballo (.298, 7 HR, 42 RBI), who was out with a ruptured MCL, and also ace pitcher Curtis Tobitt (5-4, 3.32 ERA), who had had Tommy John surgery in June. The remainder of their rotation was strong neverless, headed by Jaylen “Midnight” Martin (17-6, 2.86 ERA), and they also had a deadly closer in Salvadaro Soure (7-1, 1.21 ERA, 45 SV), who led the best bullpen in the league. Offensively, power was dispersed throughout the lineup, from the #1 to the #8 position. The latter was expected to hold Alex Rivas, who hit 18 homers during the season and drove in 81. If you have that guy as #8 hitter, you can easily make it to your fourth title in a row. Just like last year, the 92-70 Condors had squeezed into the playoffs by a single game. Not heading the league in any major, basic metric, they were fifth in runs scored and fourth in runs allowed, which didn’t exactly radiate with greatness. They had led the league in stolen bases and that was pretty much it. No glaring weaknesses, but no major strengths. Their rotation for the playoffs held four pitchers with ERA’s between 3.32 and 3.81, which was good, but not great, and bizarrely their two better pitchers Manuel “Doom” Rojas (10-13, 3.32 ERA) and Kevin Woodworth (10-14, 3.40 ERA) had both turned losing records, while Michael Colvard (16-8, 3.80 ERA) had led the team in wins. Zack Entwistle had saved 45 games for them but only with a 2.53 ERA, and while they also had qualified setup relievers, the middle relief was murky. But the worst for Condors fans was yet to come, as they had lost slugger Jimmy Eichelkraut (.285, 31 HR, 83 RBI) to a knee sprain one week before the end of the season and their lineup now lacked bite entirely. Catcher Jose Vargas (.284, 12 HR, 69 RBI) led the power department, and outside of Ron Eroh (.312, 4 HR, 25 RBI) nobody had even come close to batting .300. The Crusaders could not only become the first team to win four consecutive World Series (none other than them has even won three, and they did it twice), but also only the third team to win four consecutive pennants. The others were the 2001-2004 Titans (who won three titles) and the 1990-1993 Capitals (who won two). Given the Condors’ lack of oomph, the Crusaders look like a virtual lock for the Big Show. +++ 2016 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Condors @ Crusaders … 2-0 … (Condors lead 1-0) … TIJ Mike Gershkovich 3-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI; TIJ Zach Boyer 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 H, 1 BB, 6 K, W; Condors @ Crusaders … 13-3 … (Condors lead 2-0) … TIJ Craig Dasher 3-5, 3B, 2 RBI; TIJ Mike Herrera 5-6, 2B, 2 RBI; TIJ Mike Gershkovich 3-6, 2 RBI; Miners @ Pacifics … 4-3 (11) … (Miners lead 1-0) … PIT Tom McWhorter 2-4, BB, 2 HR, 3 RBI; LAP Brad Smith 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 17 K; Brad Smith’s 17 strikeouts are a new record for a playoff game, breaking NYC Jaylen Martin’s 16 K mark put up in 2015. It is only the third playoff game ever in which a pitcher strikes out more than 11. POR Nick Brown had whiffed 13 in a game in 2010. Miners @ Pacifics … 3-4 … (series tied 1-1) … PIT Bartholomeu Pino 2-4, 2 RBI; LAP Oliver Torres 3-4; Crusaders @ Condors … 5-1 … (Condors lead 2-1) … NYC Miguel Salinas 3-5; NYC Martin Ortíz 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Crusaders @ Condors … 7-9 … (Condors lead 3-1) … NYC Winston Jones 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; TIJ Mike Herrera 3-5, 2B, RBI; TIJ Craig Abraham 2-2, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI; Pacifics @ Miners … 5-4 … (Pacifics lead 2-1) … LAP Ross Irvin 3-5, 2 2B; LAP Ernest Green 7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, W and 3-4, 3 RBI; PIT Lowell Genge 3-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Crusaders @ Condors … 1-2 … (Condors win 4-1) … NYC Jaylen Martin 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K; TIJ Zach Boyer 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K; NYC Salvadaro Soure allows a single to Dan Jones with one out in the bottom 10th. Jones steals second base and scores on Matt Keeler’s double into right center to clinch the pennant for the crass underdog Pacifics @ Miners … 9-10 (10) … (series tied 2-2) … Keeler is a 27-year old backup piece with 26 regular season hits in the ABL and a negative career WAR. Pacifics @ Miners … 10-1 … (Pacifics lead 3-2) … LAP Jimmy Roberts 3-4, BB, 2 RBI; LAP Bobby Torres 2-5, HR, 4 RBI; LAP Brad Smith 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, W; Miners @ Pacifics … 6-3 … (series tied 3-3) … PIT Bartholomeu Pino 1-4, HR, 4 RBI; PIT Tim Prince 3-4, 3B; LAP Foster Leach 3-3, BB, 2B; LAP Errol Spears (PH) 1-1, RBI; Pino’s slam (following a Torres slam in game 5) negates the Pacifics’ first-inning, 2-0 lead and extends the series to the maximum distance. Miners @ Pacifics … 0-6 … (Pacifics win 4-3) … PIT Tom McWhorter 3-4; LAP Bobby Torres 2-4, HR, RBI; LAP Ernest Green 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, W; The Miners’ hits are all for singles, and they never even reach second base, erasing two singles with double plays, with one runner getting caught stealing. +++ 2016 WORLD SERIES After a raging upset of the triple-defending champions from New York, the puny Condors made it to the World Series for the third time in their existence, and for the first time in 26 years. They have never won a World Series, falling to the Stars and Capitals, respectively, in their 1988 and 1990 appearances. Their chances on a title are certainly far greater than ten days ago, but they still aren’t great, given that they now face another team that ranked first in runs allowed in their league, and they are still without Jimmy Eichelkraut, who suffered a setback and will not be available for the series. The Pacifics, who hold home field advantage in this Southwest Series, are in the show for the third time as well, but they were successful in their only two previous attempts in 2011 and 2012, beating the Crusaders and Thunder, respectively. Other than the Condors, the Pacifics have everybody available for the World Series, and are looking forward to continuing their perfect record in World Series appearances. Overall, the Continental League holds 20 World Series titles, with 19 for the Federal League. This is the closest geographically that two World Series contestants have been to another since the 1989 Oregon Brawl between the Wolves and Raccoons. +++ Condors @ Pacifics … 0-3 … (Pacifics lead 1-0) … LAP Brad Smith 8.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K, W; A second-inning single by Roland Lafon and a fifth-inning walk drawn by Dan Jones is all that the Condors offense manages to put up against Smith. Condors @ Pacifics … 1-3 … (Pacifics lead 2-0) … LAP Tom Reese 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; LAP Ozzie Pereira 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, W; Pacifics @ Condors … 2-1 … (Pacifics lead 3-0) … LAP Oliver Torres 3-4, 2B, RBI; LAP Bruce Mark 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, W; TIJ Michael Colvard 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, L; Pacifics @ Condors … 6-1 … (Pacifics lead 4-0) … LAP Oliver Torres 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI; LAP Mike Getchell 2-3; LAP Ernest Green 8.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W; Green no-hits the completely outmatched Condors for 7.1 innings before Dan Jones hits an inconsequential double. A leadoff single by Craig Dasher in the ninth leads to a 2-out run on Mike Gershkovich’s double, but the Condors get only one more pitch from reliever Edwin Balandran, on which Jose Vargas pops out to short. This is only the fourth World Series to end in a sweep, and the first of the millenium. The other such occurrences were in 1977 (Cyclones vs. Bayhawks), 1986 (Blue Sox vs. Knights), and 1999 (Bayhawks vs. Warriors). On the other hand, World Series have gone to seven games 13 times in ABL history. +++ 2016 World Series Champions LOS ANGELES PACIFICS (3rd title) Attached Images __________________ Portland Raccoons, 92 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 * 2061 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.