[Westheim]

Would you have guessed that I had the entire week off? :-P Yeah, that brisk pace of updates will slow down again next week. Unless, you know, I win the lottery.

As rosters expanded, the Raccoons stretched their lines a bit with reinforcements from AAA. Three relief pitchers were added in Nick Derks (2.63 ERA), who had already had a brief cup of coffee in '24, left-hander Matt Wilson (3.48 ERA), a 2020 ninth-rounder that had risen through the ranks slowly and was already 25 like Derks, and perpetual call-up Will West, of the ripe old age of 32, who had made 12 appearances with the Pacifics earlier this year after having been claimed in the rule 5 draft, but who had been returned to the Raccoons some time ago, despite a decent 2.51 ERA for L.A.

Only one bat was brought up at this point … and, well… it was Dwayne Metts, because … ugh.

The 40-man roster had to accommodate West and Wilson, putting Hector Morales and Josh Whitaker, two appallingly mediocre left-handers, on waivers.

Raccoons (73-58) vs. Thunder (66-65) – September 1-3, 2025

Despite sitting in fourth place in the South, the Thunder still had something of a chance to win their division, being only 5 1/2 games out at the start of September. To get closer, they would have to climb over the Raccoons, but these Coons had slim chances to win the season series for the first time since 2021, having lost four of six games to the Thunder so far this year. Oklahoma City ranked second in offense to the Titans in the CL, but also ninth in runs allowed with a thoroughly brittle pitching staff and shaky defense.

Projected matchups:
Dan Delgadillo (1-1, 6.57 ERA) vs. Andy Palomares (15-8, 3.74 ERA)
Rico Gutierrez (8-6, 2.93 ERA) vs. Max Nelson (7-9, 4.17 ERA)
Jesus Chavez (7-7, 3.70 ERA) vs. Jose Vigil (7-3, 5.58 ERA)

Three right-handers, while we'd ignore their southpaws.

Game 1
OCT: LF de Santiago – SS Serrato – 1B Pizzo – CF D. Garcia – RF Sagredo – 3B Flournoy – C L. Riley – 2B Castellanos – P Palomares
POR: 2B Spencer – CF Mora – C Tovias – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – LF Gerace – SS Stalker – RF Mansfield – P Delgadillo

There was quite a stiff wind blowing out in this game, but you barely would have noticed. Alex Serrato hit a solo piece in the first, Tim Stalker hit a solo piece in the second, and Jon Gonzalez put a 2-piece on the board in the third inning. See, barely a homer per inning. Things got a bit better for the pitchers by different means. For a while, Delgadillo managed to get lots of groundballs, including inning-ending double play grounders in the fourth and fifth innings, while Palomares found his stuff and whiffed up eight Coons through six innings. The Thunder scratched out a run in that sixth inning, in which Palomares hit a 1-out single, Carlos de Santiago doubled to left center, and Serrato brought in a run with a sac fly to Devin Mansfield. Delgadillo then got stuck for good in the seventh, with Dave Flournoy and Liam Riley hitting 2-out singles. Flournoy, the tying run, was pinch-run for by Danny Camarillo, and left-handed hurt inflictor Mike Rucker pinch-hit in the #8 spot, so it was definitely time for a left-handed pitcher. Justin Hess came in, got Rucker to two strikes, then served up a 3-run blast anyway. The Coons looked lost against Palomares through eight innings, then didn't fare much better against their former team mate Ryan Corkum in the ninth. Stalker struck out. Otis grounded out. O'Dell grounded to third base, where Dave Garcia had been misplaed to and promptly fumbled the game-ender. The error brought up Spencer, who doubled up the leftfield line, promptly placing the tying runs in scoring position for Abel Mora, a strong 0-for-4 on the day. He got rung up to put this one in the books. 5-3 Thunder. Spencer 2-5, 2B; Tovias 2-4;

Matt Wilson made his major league debut in the ninth inning, whiffing two in a scoreless inning, but it didn't help the Coons reclaim their shot at the season series. This Thunder win put it away for them, 5-2 with two to play.

Game 2
OCT: 3B L. Rivera – SS Serrato – C Burgess – CF D. Garcia – 1B J. Elliott – LF Camarillo – RF Dobbs – 2B Castellanos – P Nelson
POR: LF Spencer – 2B Otis – CF Mora – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – RF Gerace – C Delgado – SS Stalker – P Gutierrez

The Thunder scored again in the first inning, this time with the aid of a leadoff triple by Lorenzo Rivera, who was quickly brought home when Serrato grounded out to Gonzalez behind first base. Gutierrez didn't get to terms at all with the entirely right-handed lineup, allowed another run in the second inning on Camarillo's double, and even though Justin Gerace pulled the score even with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the second inning, plating Nunley from first base, Rico kept getting mobbed. The third inning saw a Lorenzo Rivera single, an RBI double by Serrato, a single by Mike Burgess, then an RBI double by Dave Garcia. Down 4-2, runners on second and third, and nobody out, the bullpen got stirring. John Elliott singled in the runners, after which Gutierrez, in a 6-2 hole, got two outs before Otis threw away Jesus Castellanos' grounder for a 2-base error. Nelson grounded out with another pair of runners in scoring position, finally ending the dismal inning. Gutierrez was removed after Rivera hit another leadoff single in the fourth. Somehow, and through no fault of his own, replacement Nick Derks managed to keep that run on base, despite walking Serrato, drilling Garcia, and surrendering two real rockets in the inning. One was turned for a double play, and one found its way into Otis' glove all by itself…

And that was pretty much the game. The Thunder would face a steady string of right-handed relievers from here on out, and didn't do a whole lot against them. Where Gutierrez had surrendered eight base hits, five relievers (Derks, West, Surginer, Ohl, Lee) pitched six innings of 2-hit ball against Oklahoma. The Coons weren't much better. From the third to the eighth innings, they amounted to more than one base runner exactly once – in the seventh, when Nelson drilled Tony Delgado and walked Tim Stalker – and scored exactly never. The ninth began with singles by Nunley and Gerace, enough to knock out Nelson in a 6-2 game. Against Corkum again, Tony Delgado knocked into a double play IMMEDIATELY, and Stalker's fly to left was no challenge for Camarillo. 6-2 Thunder. Gonzalez 2-4; Nunley 2-4; Gerace 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Derks 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K;

Quick count shows Brotman and Ohl with an ERA of zip in their last 28 games out, still including one unearned run per black pointy nose involved.

Justin Gerace meanwhile is homering once every 20 at-bats. That is a rate that would thrill me for Jon Gonzalez…

Game 3
OCT: 3B L. Rivera – SS Serrato – 1B Pizzo – CF D. Garcia – RF Sagredo – C Burgess – LF L. Davis – 2B Castellanos – P Vigil
POR: 2B Otis – 3B Nunley – C Tovias – 1B Gonzalez – LF Gerace – RF Borg – SS Bullock – CF Metts – P Chavez

The Coons turned two to keep the Thunder at bay, with Sagredo's first-inning double play negating their singles by Serrato and Garcia, and the walk issued to Mike Pizzo by a generally not very convincing Jesus Chavez. Still, the Coons scored first; not in the second inning, which Jon Gonzalez began with a double, and which continued with three pops over the infield or shallow center, but in the third inning, which Dwayne Metts, the scrub of scrubs, led off with a single to center. Rivera misplayed Chavez' bunt as he tried to get the lead runner, grossly underestimating Metts' speed, and Otis then singled to center, allowing Metts to come home from second base. At some point, some idiot had to hit into a double play. That was Nunley, but at least Tovias got a single through between Serrato and Rivera for a 2-out RBI and a 2-0 lead for Chavez. Borg (double) and Bullock (single) grew the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning, but we were still dealing with Jesus Chavez here. Top 5th, Chavez served up a double to the opposing pitcher, balked Vigil to third base, then conceded the run on Rivera's single before letting the outfielders do the rest…

Somehow, nobody quite knew how, Chavez made it through seven innings with little clue and no stuff. The Thunder still couldn't touch him after roughing up Delgadillo and Gutierrez the previous two games. The Coons had a pair on base in the bottom 7th, indiscriminately left them on against a wavering Vigil, then saw Vince D allow a leadoff single to Rivera in the eighth. Serrato lined out to Otis, after which Brotman took over. He whiffed Pizzo, then also had to face the right-handed batter Garcia with a left-hander (Sagredo) behind him. Garcia had 21 homers, so was not to joke around with, but instead knocked a single up the middle. Rivera eagerly turned second base, only to find out that he had grossly misjudged the situation, with Metts' throw arriving at Nunley's when Rivera was halfway. The Coons got him in a rundown, slapped him out, then overwhelmed and ate him. The Coons then batted in the bottom of the eighth inning, getting Gonzalez on due to a Pizzo error, and Gerace as well with a single, by which time a double play was more than likely. Greg Borg fulfilled the ancient duty, but at least shook things up by hitting it so hard at Rivera's skeleton that the Thunder could turn a 5-3 double play. Gerace was stranded at second base on Bullock's groundout to short. At least Snyder saved the game against a plethora of left-handed bats in the ninth… 3-1 Critters. Otis 2-4, RBI; Metts 2-3; Chavez 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, W (8-7);

Raccoons (74-60) vs. Titans (86-47) – September 4-7, 2025

The Coons' chances were mostly academical at 12 1/2 games out, even if they swept the Titans in this series, which was frankly unlikely. While we did hold a 6-5 lead in the season series, oddly enough, we were still no match against this juggernaut of a serial winner, with the Titans ranking first in runs scored and second (to us) in runs allowed in the CL with a baffling +219 run differential. Yes, you could sneak two or three wins from them at times, but good luck in an 18-game season series… The Titans would not be able to seal the division even with a sweep, as there were too many games yet remaining.

Projected matchups:
Jack Sander (9-10, 3.95 ERA) vs. Jeremy Waite (7-11, 3.34 ERA)
Mark Roberts (17-6, 2.31 ERA) vs. Ian Rutter (12-9, 4.85 ERA)
Lance Legleiter (1-1, 2.82 ERA) vs. Julio San Pedro (7-0, 2.93 ERA)
Dan Delgadillo (1-2, 6.16 ERA) vs. Morgan Shepherd (18-3, 2.54 ERA)

No left-handers anywhere near. Dustin Wingo had been on the DL for a while now, and they had nobody else around. Speaking of the DL – they had plenty of personnel on the disabled list. Besides Wingo, the Titans were without Alberto Molina, Hwa-pyung Choe, Adrian Reichardt, Rhett West, Trent Herlihy, and two or three others, and still were hardly missing a beat, even if their fifth starter currently was a Nicaraguan chap named Guillermo Regalado that nobody had ever heard of, but he had a 4-0 record and 1.51 ERA, so what the **** did we know?

Legleiter had come off the DL on Tuesday and would slot into the now-6-man rotation. This came with an asterisk, as we would shift or skip pitchers throughout the month to give Mark Roberts as many starts as possible so he had a fighting chance for any between the ERA, wins, or strikeouts title – or all three of those.

Game 1
BOS: 3B Corder – C Leonard – LF Kuramoto – RF Braun – SS Jam. Wilson – 2B Kane – 1B Elder – CF St. Germaine – P Waite
POR: 2B Spencer – CF Mora – C Tovias – 1B Gonzalez – LF Gerace – 3B Nunley – SS Stalker – RF Mansfield – P Sander

The weather was shoddy from the start, and we had a 30-minute rain delay as early as the second inning, before any runs were scored. Jarod Spencer was frustrated in particular, singling in his first two at-bats, stealing second base both times, and never getting driven in. The Raccoons would still score first, but that didn't happen until the fourth inning. Jon Gonzalez hit a double down the rightfield line to begin the inning, was balked to third base by Waite, and then scored on Nunley's groundout, but Jack Sander got upended immediately. The fifth began with Jay Elder's single up the middle, a double by Adam St. Germaine coming right after that, and while Waite struck out with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Adam Corder drove a ball to centerfield for a 2-run hit, then scored on Yasuhiro Kuramoto's 2-out single to bring the score to 3-1 Titans. Sander was booted and hit for in the bottom 5th after using almost 100 pitches through five messy innings, but things got no better for Portland, with Matt Wilson's second major league outing being one to entirely forget. He walked two, allowed two hits, and drilled Corder, too, in surrendering three runs in the sixth, and then left with two outs and runners on the corners. Surginer came in to face Kuramoto, but allowed a howling 2-run double into the leftfield corner to close Wilson's line at five runs in two thirds of an inning. That was the worst individual performance on the day, although the offense deserved to be whipped collectively, amounting to all of four base hits against Waite, who despite an early rain delay would pitch a complete game for an easy win. There was only one more run in the game, that one coming on Kuramoto's homer off Nick Derks in the eighth inning. 9-1 Titans. Spencer 2-4;

Well, when the Titans say NO, they mean NO.

Next time only anger them in the ninth and let them sleep til then!

Game 2
BOS: 3B Corder – LF Kuramoto – RF Braun – SS Spataro – 1B Elder – C A. Arias – CF St. Germaine – 2B Lawson – P Rutter
POR: 2B Spencer – 3B Nunley – CF Mora – 1B Gonzalez – LF Gerace – C O'Dell – RF Borg – SS Stalker – P Roberts

Roberts struck out the side in the first inning, and also Adam Braun in the ribs on a 2-2 pitch. He hit another guy in the second inning, this time Keith Lawson to load the bases with one out after Alex Arias had walked and Adam St. Germaine had singled. Ian Rutter grounded to the mound for a force out at home, the second out in the inning, after which Corder collected another K for Roberts to wiggle out of the scary inning.

Portland again would score first, and again in the fourth inning, tolling an automatic bell of doom. Gonzalez and Gerace led off the inning with back-to-back doubles for a run. In Gonzalez' case this extended a 10-game hitting streak and was also his 40th double of the season. The abysmal bottom of the order left Gerace on base, with Gerace the following inning lining out to Keith Lawson to strand Spencer and Gonzalez on the corners. The 1-0 lead held up as long as Roberts was around, but Roberts expended 111 pitches in whiffing eight over six innings, spilling four base hits and three knocked-up batters. Roberts' spot came up with the bags full and nobody out as Ian Rutter was making another attempt at getting skinned and turned into a handbag in the bottom of the sixth. Tovias batted for the Coons' ace, but popped out in foul ground. Spencer floated a ball to left that dropped in just ahead of Kuramoto, but only one run scored because Greg Borg had to hold halfway between second and third until the ball dropped in and then Kuramoto had it on the first bounce. Nunley and Mora dismally BOTH popped out, stranding three runners and leaving the score at 2-0 in a game in which they had already knocked ten base hits and drawn two walks. The Coons sent in Ricky Ohl for the seventh, who spilled two 2-out hits, but wiggled out of it, because of course he did; he always did! Vince D and Brotman combined for a scoreless eighth, in the bottom of which Tim Stalker widened the score a bit, doubling home Greg Borg after the latter's leadoff walk. The Titans' Javy Salomon kept the Coons decent at this point and stalled Stalker, who had been in scoring position with nobody out (…!), giving Snyder a save chance in the ninth inning, facing Tim Robinson in the #9 hole, then the top of the order. Robinson grounded out, and Corder and Kuramoto went down on strikes. 3-0 Furballs! Spencer 2-5, RBI; Nunley 2-4, BB; Gonzalez 2-4, 2B; Stalker 1-2, 2 BB, 2B, RBI; Roberts 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K, W (18-6);

That really advanced Roberts' triple crown case, but there was more to do for the Critters, like tearing Morgan Shepherd in half in the Sunday game…

Game 3
BOS: 1B Elder – C Leonard – LF Kuramoto – RF Braun – SS Jam. Wilson – 2B Kane – 3B J. Perkins – CF St. Germaine – P San Pedro
POR: 2B Spencer – CF Mora – C Tovias – 1B Gonzalez – LF Gerace – 3B Nunley – SS Stalker – RF Mansfield – P Legleiter

The Coons amounted to only one base hit in the first three innings, but the Titans were also befuddled by Legleiter's lack of control and didn't get a bat on him until the fourth. Jamie Wilson singled, Mike Kane doubled, and September call-up Justin Perkins plated the first run of the game with a sac fly to Mora. With two outs, the Coons walked St. Germaine intentionally, which had already worked to get out of the second inning when Legleiter had then whiffed San Pedro, but this time San Pedro connected on the 0-2 pitch and singled to center, plating Mike Kane for a 2-0 lead. Elder struck out instead. That was all the Titans could shake out of an erratic Legleiter, but it was enough through six innings. The completely overmatched Jimmy Lee surrendered a run on three hits in the seventh inning, but none of that mattered much given how silent the Coons were. They had gotten two men on in the bottom 4th with singles by Gonzalez and Gerace, but nothing had come of that, and after Stalker's leadoff single in the fifth, Mansfield had kicked the bucket for a double play. They would scratch out a run on singles by Gerace, Stalker, and Mansfield in the seventh inning, but Matt Otis grounded out to Jamie Wilson to keep the tying runs on base when he hit for Lee. The Coons went on to receive a gift run from the Titans in the bottom 8th, where Spencer reached on Wilson's error, stole second, and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The Titans pen collectively allowed hits to Gonzalez and Gerace after that, but Matt Nunley couldn't come through, grounding out to Lawson to keep the Coons down by a run. Vince D held the Titans close in the ninth, bringing the bottom of the order up against left-hander Brent Beene and his 3.62 ERA in the bottom of the ninth. Stalker grounded out, Greg Borg drew a 1-out walk in Mansfield's spot. Brett O'Dell and his power (that we hadn't witnessed yet) were sent to bat as the winning run, and like a winner he crashed a 1-2 pitch into the waiting arms of Jamie Wilson for a game-concluding double play. 3-2 Titans. Gonzalez 2-4; Gerace 3-4; Stalker 2-4, RBI;

Oh well. THIS game will count for the triple crown. You listening, Coons? Morgan must be mauled!

Game 4
BOS: 3B Corder – C Leonard – LF Kuramoto – SS Jam. Wilson – 2B Kane – RF F. Rodriguez – 1B Cornejo – CF Baptiste – P Shepherd
POR: 2B Spencer – CF Mora – C Tovias – 1B Gonzalez – LF Gerace – 3B Nunley – RF Borg – SS Bullock – P Delgadillo

The Titans were ahead almost instantly thanks to Adam Corder's double to the base of the centerfield wall and Keith Leonard's RBI single, with Delgadillo routinely bleeding hits and runs out of every hole in his body ever since returning from rehab in St. Petersburg. Well, it was two hits and a run in the opening inning, but with the division universally agreed to be out of reach, it was Shepherd who was our main focus. Morgan Must Be Mauled!! Spencer led off the bottom 1st with a triple, which was dandy, after which Shepherd, who had a dazzling 110 walks to go with his 194 K as the game got underway, issued a free pass to Abel Mora. Tovias brought in the Spencer run with a groundout, and another groundout moved Mora to third base, from where Shepherd plated him with a wild pitch, giving the Coons a 2-1 lead. Gerace then walked, stole second, and the pressure remained on until released by Matt Nunley hitting an absolute shotgun blast to right-center, a 415-footer into the upper rows of the stands out there! That was four runs on two hits, all earned! Swell job!

Delgadillo continued to struggle, conceding a run in the third that was unearned on his own throwing error as well as a couple of hits sprinkled all over the place. The fourth saw him allow a leadoff walk to Mike Kane, then a single to Fernando Rodriguez that sent Kane to third base. Those were the tying runs, with Shepherd trying hard to patch up that ERA of his. Moving forwards, Delgadillo generated two groundballs to middle infielders, and the Coons couldn't turn the double play neither on Gil Cornejo nor on Tristen Baptiste, while Kane scored even the first time around, making this a 4-3 game. Shepherd grounded out to Spender to end the inning. The lead however went bust for good in the fifth, with Kuramoto singling, stealing (his first of the year…), and scoring on Wilson's single. Don't give him a win, boys! Don't let Shepherd back in the game! MORGAN MUST BE MAULED!!

Yeah, they let him back in the game. The miserable sucker bunch struck out only three times in five innings, which was manageable, but didn't plate another run after the 4-run burst in the opening inning against Shepherd, who was hit for with Rodriguez on third base and two outs. Keith Spataro batted, looked on bemusedly as Delgadillo threw a breaking ball over Tovias' head, and Rodriguez scored on the wild pitch. That gave Shepherd the win – unless the Coons could come back, starting with Lorenzo Viamontes in the bottom 6th. Gerace, Nunley, and Borg went down in order, and it was time for some pills and booze mixed with bleach now… Ricky Ohl's and Billy Brotman's zip-ERA streaks died right after my will to drag myself towards another day as he retired nobody between the top of the order in the seventh inning. Ohl started it, as Corder walked, Leonard singled, as did Kuramoto. Greg Borg logged a ****ing out, throwing out Leonard at third base on that play, but Kuramoto moved up and Corder scored anyway. Time for Billy, who also retired none of the first three batters he faced, surrendering an RBI single to Wilson, a walk to Tim Robinson, and a 3-run homer to the scrap nobody Rodriguez. This 5-spot probably put Shepherd's 19th win in the books and also caused an aneuryism or two to pop in my numb skull as the rest of the game was veiled in a thick fog for me. There was a Delgado sac fly against Dustin Cory in the eighth. There was a Mora sac fly against Dustin Cory in the ninth. But mostly there were tears of rage and despair. 10-6 Titans. Spencer 3-5, 3B, 2B; Nunley 2-3, HR, 2 RBI;

F-****ing-gg –g p-pprssssss.sss ssss—scum!!! (throws empty bottle of booze against the wall, where it shatters)

In other news

September 1 – The Blue Sox lose 4-0 to the Scorpions, being shut out on three base hits by SAC SP Jordan Caldwell (15-10, 4.02 ERA).
September 2 – NYC RF/LF/1B Jamie Richardson (.247, 1 HR, 9 RBI) amounts to five singles and one RBI in the Crusaders' 15-12 see-saw battle against the Bayhawks.
September 4 – LVA 3B/SS Jose Navarro (.256, 1 HR, 27 RBI) drives in six runs on three base hits in the Aces' 14-3 romp over the Falcons. The Aces score all their runs in the last three innings; 5-spots in the seventh and eighth innings, followed by a 4-spot in the ninth.
September 6 – The Stars and Pacifics go back and forth for 18 innings, with both teams scoring in both ends of the 12th and 14th innings, until the Stars secure a 5-4 walkoff win SS Phil Neubecker (.223, 3 HR, 23 RBI) hitting a sac fly in the bottom 18th.
September 7 – Aussie SFB 1B Bob Lloyd (.258, 12 HR, 49 RBI) gives the Bayhawks a 6-3 win over the Thunder with his pinch-hit walkoff grand slam off OCT CL Ryan Corkum (3-7, 4.37 ERA, 30 SV).

Complaints and stuff

Jon Gonzalez has a 13-game hitting streak. Jarod Spencer has 36 steals and has closed within one bag of NYC Lance Douglas. And that is ALL the good news.

After his start on Friday, Mark Roberts led the majors in ERA and the CL by .31 runs over Morgan Shepherd, tied with Shepherd for the lead in wins, and was two behind Shepherd in strikeouts. What an epic battle!

If only the ****ing Raccoons wouldn't have shoved a ****ing win up Shepherd's ****ing *** on Sunday…

Oh well, the story of this franchise. Never ready when it really counts. Never.

Never.

Fun Fact: Jon Gonzalez has 41 doubles on the season, which has him one two-bagger outside of the franchise top 10. The most doubles in a season ever were hit by a Raccoon came off the bat of Adrian Quebell, 49 doubles in the 2010 season.

That is Quebell's only entry in the top 10, which otherwise hold four Tetsu Osanai seasons, including a personal best of 45 doubles in 1989 for third place. Daniel Hall hit 47 in '82 for second place, and there is lots of 44's otherwise. Werner Turner, Mark Dawson, Ben O'Morrissey, and Luke Black all have a single entry in the top 10.

The ABL record for doubles in a season are *65* by Dallas' Hector Garcia in 2010. Quebell's mark doesn't even come up in the top 100.