Los Angeles Galaxy (8-4) @ Los Angeles Lakers (8-0)
We didn’t play the Galaxy in 2077 – our interleague play was an odd mix of AL West & AL East teams – and, in all, we went 12-6 against American League opponents. Which means nothing, of course, but represents the only (non)meaningful statistic that we can hang our hat on. This Galaxy team had their struggles in 2077 but came on strong when it counted and managed to secure the last playoff spot after a 1-game playoff against the Golden State Warriors. This is an opportunity that they almost didn’t get and, so far in the 2077 postseason, is one that they’ve not squandered. Led by the #2 ranked player in the Majors,
Heathcote Kinton is their sparkplug – a real “where he goes, we go” type that is capable of giving any pitching staff fits over a 7-game series… he’ll be one to watch for sure. They also have, in SP David Arney & SP Case Tunnell, two of the top hurlers in the league who are both capable of bringing shut-down stuff into any start. Here we are facing a club that can score, defend, and who have a starting 5 that was ranked 2nd in the AL – they’ll give us a run, and even with our recent string of dominant performances, they should offer us our toughest test yet.
Game 1: Medardo Garcia (1-0, 1.89) @ Paul Yeager (1-0, 1.54)
Win, 3-2. Our 3-run outburst in the bottom of the 1st, Led by Ethan’s 2-run double, would be all we needed to secure our 9th victory in a row in these 2077 playoffs. Otto and Hamza both scored, OH HONG went 0 for 3 with 2 K’s in his first World Series game, and both Hamza & Otto jacked bags. Not a lot of offense in this pitcher’s duel – Yeager went 7, Barbaccia gets the hold, and Garcia earns his 1st postseason save.
Game 2: Case Tunnell (0-1, 3.54) @ Newton Weiser (0-0, 4.72)
Win, 5-3. Our 10th in a row… Voorhis hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 3rd, Newton went 7 strong, Barbaccia gets his 2nd save of the postseason, and Rajkumar went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Otto finished 1 for 3, another 0 for 3 day from OH HONG, 3 steals (2x for Otto, 1x for Ethan), and Otto hit his second highlight reel OF Assist with another laser to home – this time making Kinton his victim at the plate. Former Laker, Case Tunnel, couldn’t make it out of the 5th and gave up 5 runs during the game.
Game 3: Michael Brisk (0-0, 6.00) @ David Arney (3-0, 3.00)
Win, 9-3. I don’t even really know what to say at this point – we’ve reeled off 11 straight wins in the playoffs and are peaking at the right time… Ethan went off –
TWO HOMERS, FIVE RIBBIES – Brisky was vintage (worth every penny) in a 7-inning performance where he allows three runs and K’s 6, and Otto scored 3 times in the win. 3rd postseason save for Barbaccia, OH HONG gets two hits (finally), and Voorhis hit a double and a homer in this one. He also did his best Otto impression with an OF Assist to catch Takamoto at home.
Game 4: Dejuan Burns (1-0, 2.84) @ Marco Ortega (2-1, 3.52)
Loss, 3-1. Well, the law of averages says you have to lose at least one game in the playoffs, right? Burns was solid, Ortega was better – and our bats finally went quiet in this one. Another hitless day for OH HONG, Dontrell drove in our only run, and Tony hit his 6th double of the post season. We acquitted ourselves nicely here, it’s just that the Galaxy managed to find a way to get it done.
Game 5: Paul Yeager (2-0, 1.45) @ Medardo Garcia (1-1, 2.49)
Win, 6-4.
LAKERS WIN – TWO-TIME CHAMPIONS OF THE MLB! Tony went 3 for 5 with TWO MORE DOUBLES, and HOMER, and 2 RBIs and HAMZA went 2 for 5 with a homer and 2 RBIs… OH HONG went 2 for 4, Otto scored a run (and hit a double), SAC BUNT for O. Mack, SAC FLY for Ethan, and some fine pitching out of the pen after Yeager got lifted after the 6th. What an absolute gem of a season for the La La’s – now the
KINGS OF L.A.
Notes: Tony Voorhis won the World Series MVP honor – I knew I picked him up for a reason… I really am at a loss here – I honestly didn’t expect to go on this kind of run in the playoffs. In fact, I thought to make the series, despite our regular-season record, was unlikely to give the teams we’d have to go through to do it. Turns out we were up for it… what do I know, anyway? Heathcote Kinton, one of my favorite guys in the ‘Verse, only hit .211 in the series and Case & Arney were trash (10.38 & 16.88 ERAs, respectively). It’s not all good news though…
- Paul Yeager wants to get paid – he’s voided the last year of his contract.
- Tony Voorhis, never a city guy, has also voided the last year of his contract.
- Otto Isaac announced his intent to test the free agent market.
Also, big changes in Vancouver – they’ve fired their GM & MLB Manager. I’m also moving them to the AL West, rebranding them the Vancouver Giants, and, subsequently, moving the Houston Dynamo into the NL West. Looking for a concept to rebrand my Houston club as well… haven’t found anything that I like yet though. This will give me an opportunity to track my own version of the Cascadia Cup each year in the AL West – which, I think, will be fun. Still toying with rebranding my Lakers as the Kings – not sure though… found this logo online and think that it could work. Maybe I’ll use it for a Championship Edition Ballcap to wear on the road – you know, to rub it in…
Some Salary Arbitration cases to consider…- Dejaun Burns – I’m going to let him go…
- Dom Cooke – Offering 7.1M
- Arnold Webster – Letting him go…
- Mario Marshburn – Offering $787K
- Lonzo Gonzo – Offering $880K
- Ethan Mullens – Offering 14.8M
I’ve also extended $15M qualifying offers to Barbaccia, Otto, and Voorhis… I think that I’ll lose Otto in the offseason.
Lastly – some offseason awards…
AL MVP: Pablo Madera, 1B, Carolina Panthers - .373/24/103
NL MVP: Otto Issac, CF, LAL – His 2nd… .302/39/117
AL Pacheco: Abe Meinecke, Seattle Sounders – 20-9, 3.19, 220 K’s
NL Pacheco: Landon Sampson, San Francisco Seals – 13-7, 2.64, 247 K’s
Other Laker winners… Rajkumar took home the NL ROY award, Silver Slugger’s for Dom @ Catcher & Otto @ Center.