[pauwoo]

2074 Season (8/20 – 8/23)
We’ll begin this week with a 4-game set pitting two teams that have gone 3-7 in their last 10 against each other... the NL West has become something of a war of attrition – with Vancouver, San Francisco, Oklahoma City, and Phoenix each trying to weaken the others just enough to sneak into a playoff spot. Vancouver holds 2nd place in the NL West and despite their flaws has consistently found a way to get it done when it matters most – outside of having the consensus #1 reliever in the NL on their club, they don’t rank higher than 9th at any other position. We’re 8-5 against the Whitecaps this year but given our current form, or lack thereof, there are plenty of routes to flipping that on its head for Vancouver. Some financial comparisons – Vancouver has lowered their ticket prices by 11% this season, have seen a 3% decline in season ticket sales, a 5.5% decline in attendance, and a 16% decline in revenue per game. We increased our prices by nearly 10% and while we’ve seen a small decline in season ticket sales our attendance per game has increased by 50% this year which is bringing in 64% more revenue per game year over year. I wouldn’t be surprised if our owner sells high at the end of the year – the guy is 83 years old and his Son is far too interested in weaponizing dolphins to want to take over his Dad’s baseball business.

124 of 162: Game 1 Vs VAN – Listen, beggars can’t be choosers – so a tight 4-3 win is perfectly acceptable right about meow. Brisk gave us 7 innings of solid work – only 3 allowed and 8 K’s, while 1B Jacob Wells finishes 2 for 2 with a HR. We get a little bit here & a little bit there from everyone else – only 6 total K’s for the team and an error charged to LF Cash Crouch – his 3rd with us.

125 of 162: Game 2 Vs VAN – Another 4-3 win for the home team, though this one was a lot more dramatic as LF Dylan Huerta (in for Cash) hits a walk-off solo home run to close it out. Jacob Wells stays hot and finishes 2 for 4, with a well-hit double and 2 RBI’s. Derek got three hits, all singles. Both teams were impatient at the plate – we struck out 12 times, Vancouver returned the favor 11 times. No errors today – hooray for fielding prowess. The win puts us in a two-way tie for 2nd in the NL West with San Francisco.

126 of 162: Game 3 Vs. Van – Ash Newman delivers our first CG shutout of the season in a 5-0 victory for Phoenix. Ash delivered 11 K’s and gave up only 6 hits – phenomenal stuff, and clutch too. Jess Alford goes 3 for 3 with two doubles and 2 runs and Luca Milbrandt (I feel like I haven’t called him out much lately) goes 1 for 4 with a HR and 2 RBI’s. No errors and only 6 K’s – this is fun. We’re showing some signs of life now.

127 of 162: Game 4 Vs. Van – Break out the brooms! A 4-game sweep, at home in front of our fans – doesn’t get much better than that. Del Miller only gives up 2 runs in 8 innings of work and Jacob Wells went 2 for 5 with a double, a home run, 5 RBI’s, and 2 runs. Derek also went 2 for 5 with a HR… as a team we finish with 2 doubles and 2 homers, 6 K’s and only 1 error – man, we needed this.

With this 4-game sweep, we move into sole possession of 2nd in the NL West and are now ½ a game ahead of the 49ers. We face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder next – they are on a 2-game losing streak, have gone 5-5 over their last 10 and are 2 games behind us at 5th in the NL West – no rest for the wicked here, the NL West is crowded, and two games aren’t enough.