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Bub13 · 01-14-2020, 08:08 PM

Twenty-four games in July, only nine at home: twelve-game road trip in the middle of things. And only six games in the division, five at the end of the month. And the All-Star game!

July 1 @ HOUSTON
Finishing up what could amount to an entirely forgettable visit to the Lone Star State.

HAW pitcher: RH Dennis Perry (8-4, 2.81)
HOU pitcher: LH John Odom (1-10, 5.80)

#81: WIN 15-0 ... well that's different

Sixteen hits including three home runs and six walks.... Agajanian makes his debut in the 9th, gives up a walk and a hit, but fans the side.... Halfway through the season and we're on a 106-win pace. I would just take four wins to close out the playoffs.... ELSEWHERE: Cris Frias, last year's NL Cy Young winner, has been good but not great this season, but just fanned 16 Cubs and has 30 K in his last two starts, both complete game shutouts.... Career stats update: Milwaukee's Matt Anderson is barely playing these days, with just 21 hits this season, giving him 2902 in his career. At 39, he'll probably retire this fall and just miss out on 3000 hits. He also leads active players with 547 HR; Cleveland's Paul Foster passed 500 last month, and LA's Vinny Vargas is closing in, with 479. Vargas also now has 100 WAR. On the mound, LA's Eddy Llamas has 219 wins, with Rafael Maldonado (197) and Levi Brady (193) next in line. Maldonado also leads with 97 WAR. Llamas is also 8th in career K (3661), Maldonado 11th (3569). They should end the season at #7 and #8.

July 2-4 vs BALTIMORE
A rare home series for us this month, and our first look at the Birds this year. At 15th in batting and 10th in pitching, it's no surprise that they're in last in the East, 34-44. Star Cesar Alvarenga is a pending UFA, has been on the trade block all season, but is still getting it done: .306/16/51, all team highs so far. The rotation has been a mess (15th in ERA), but the bullpen is the best thing going in the AL, paced by closer Ken Zeolla (16 SV, 0.72 ERA). The manager? Pat Wilson, MLB HoFer and our former manager, now in his second season with the O's. It's not going well for him. Top prospect: SP Pat Karahalios, who is 25 and ranked #125. He's with the big club and is struggling with the rest of the rotation. The prospect pool ranks dead last, 36th. Not a great sign for an already bad club.

HAW pitchers: LH Mike Garfield (8-4, 2.91) / RH Shamar Jackson (8-7, 4.41) / LH Eric Jones (7-4, 4.30)
BAL pitchers: LH Rich Davis (5-6, 4.13) / RH Pat Karahalios (6-4, 5.59) / RH Danny McCanless (6-7, 3.58)

#82: LOSS 1-2 ... we waste a strong outing by Garfield, with Money giving up a solo HR in the 10th...just four hits for us, three in the last two innings
#83: WIN 13-7 ... Goodloe's first career HR is a GRAND SLAM, and Daley and Rangel add 2-run HRs...pitching struggles, as Jackson is wild
#84: LOSS 5-6 ... Jones struggles, and Money loses it in extras...also, something new: two injuries

Not good. Still, we're five up on Seattle, so no ground lost. Yet.... And the injuries: Groff has back spasms, but won't miss any games (day off coming up helps); but Padilla has a pending diagnosis, so stay tuned.... With our bullpen leaking oil, I scout around and find a guy I can get pretty cheap: Richmond's Joe Broussard, who's 35 and making $1.7M in the last year of his contract. He's got great stuff, and solid movement and control. Fastball/splitter combo, and a groundballer. Right-handed. Richmond gets 24-year-old prospect OF Ben Swanner, who's far down on our deep OF list; plus they'll pick up $1M of his remaining contract.... ELSEWHERE: Just past the halfway mark for everyone, and only the Yankees (!) are threatening to run away with their division, at 9 games ahead of Miami. Milwaukee (one game over Detroit) has the smallest divisional lead.... Two more HR for William Swanson, making 32 on the year, and giving him a strong chance at his second straight AL MVP.

July 6-8 vs MIAMI
At 44-37, and would look much better if NY wasn't on top of the world right now. Sixth in runs, 5th in runs against, with a +54 differential. Eight players are on the DL, and only three are likely to come back this season. SS Mario Rivera (.346/16/60) is having an MVP-type season, and is keeping hte offense afloat along with 1B Scott Robertshaw (.270/19/63). The manager is another former Islander, former hitting coach Paul Trashini, now in his second year leading the Marlins. Top prospect: SP Victor Nunez, 23 and ranked #23. Just called up to the big club and made his first career start last week. Solid stuff and control, but lacking in movement and will give up the long ball. System ranks 20th.

HAW pitchers: RH Ryan Ratliff (9-3, 2.55) / RH Dennis Perry (9-4, 2.61) / LH Mike Garfield (8-4, 2.78)
MIA pitchers: RH Francisco Pantaleon (7-6, 3.77) / LH Jason Mangiaracina (4-5, 4.33) / RH Joe Britton (8-0, 2.51)

#85: WIN 5-4 ... strong 11-K effort for Ratliff, although we give up a run in the 9th but hold on...3 hits for Stoneback, including a 1st-inning HR
#86: WIN 8-5 ... another HR for Stoneback, and a GRAND SLAM for Rob Rich...Perry is pulled after 6 IP, and the pen gives up all five runs late
#87: WIN 8-2 ... JJ Simmons HR alert! First of the year...also committed two errors...13 hits for us, plus 4 walks...7 IP, 4 H for Garfield

Surprising sweep, and we gain a touch of ground on the Mariners, now up six games.... Padilla's diagnosis is a torn quad, and he's out for five weeks. We call up OF Scott Barnes, for his first taste of MLB. He's a LHB and will likely see most of his action as a PH. The DH role will be split between Kaz Ueda (RH) and Jerry Cappuccilli (LH). Neither has hit much this season, so time to get it together guys.... Perry strains a calf in his last start, but is only out for a few days.... ELSEWHERE: Cincy's the hot team now, with 7 wins in a row. NYY has extended its lead over Miami (thanks to us) to 12 games.... We took a run at the highest-ranked international FA, Argentine OF Roberto Gomez, starting him with a $5.5M bonus offer. We pulled out after it hit $8M. Detroit took him home in the end, with a $14.1M deal. Crazy. Although he does look really, really good right now.... Cubs ace Rafael Maldonado leads all MLB with 6.2 WAR.

July 9-11 @ TAMPA BAY
Final series before the All-Star break. Tampa is only 13th in runs, and 9th in runs against, with a -14 differential and a 41-44 record. There's power in the middle of the lineup, with 69 HR among four batters. Not much power elsewhere, tho. Five pitchers are on the DL right now, and the bullpen is really struggling. Stud hitter Vance Wise is still listed as the closer, even though he's only pitched two innings this year. Tony Bajoczky is the manager, in his 7th season. Top prospect: Jorge Arriola (19, 2B, ranked #6). If he fully develops, he'll be a stud batter with contact, power, and OBP. System ranks #10.

HAW pitchers: RH Shamar Jackson (9-7, 4.49) / LH Eric Jones (7-4, 4.45) / RH Ryan Ratliff (10-3, 2.61)
TBR pitchers: RH Travis Calhoun (7-4, 2.54) / RH Tony Zuniga (4-8, 5.34) / RH Freddy Trujillo (7-7, 3.19)

#88: WIN 7-3 ... 3-run HR for Frederick, and 3 hits for Daley...complete game for Jackson, giving up 4 hits and just 3 BB
#89: WIN 4-2 ... Groff bangs a pair of doubles and Stoneback adds 3 hits...Jones looks good through 7.1 IP, taking the win
#90: LOSS 2-5 ... we can't come back after a 3-run TBR 1st...Rich homers and drives in our only runs

We reach the break with a 59-31 record, second best in the bigs (half game behind NYY).... And with a seven game lead over Seattle.... Six players have reaced double figures in HR, and although we're only 10th in the AL, our owner is still happy that his Goal to improve our HR total is being met.... ELSEWHERE: Brooklyn has won 7 of 10 and has taken the lead in the NL East from Atlanta. I like that their top three batters are named Moreno-Morano-Moreno.... Ten straight wins for Cincinnati now, and an 8.5 game lead over New Orleans.... Seattle's hopes of gaining ground on Hawaii took a blow with the loss of CF Aaron Harrison (rest of season) and CL Daryl Kennedy (three weeks), added to prior injuries to 2B Jose Rodriguez (two more weeks) and OF Mike Wapner (unknown).

The 2049 All-Star Game was played on the 13th at Fenway Park in Boston. While a number of our players received a ton of votes, only three actually made the team: SP Ryan Ratliff, CL Justin Crowley, and SS Rich Stoneback. This is Stoneback's fifth appearance, Crowley's third, and Ratliff's first. And the result is in: the AL wins 5-1 behind a pair of home runs and some five-hit pitching. Stoneback started and went 3-for-3, scoring a run. Crowley fanned two in his one inning, while Ratliff did not play.

......

TL;DR Version: A back-and-forth spurt, but we still went 7-3 in this stint, and have opened up a seven game lead over Seattle. Stoneback also earned Player of the Week nod, going 10-for-21 with 10 runs. We now head out on a nine-game road trip, come home for one series, then head out on the road again to end the month.

01-14-2020, 08:08 PM	#306
Bub13 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Maine Posts: 748	Twenty-four games in July, only nine at home: twelve-game road trip in the middle of things. And only six games in the division, five at the end of the month. And the All-Star game! July 1 @ HOUSTON Finishing up what could amount to an entirely forgettable visit to the Lone Star State. HAW pitcher: RH Dennis Perry (8-4, 2.81) HOU pitcher: LH John Odom (1-10, 5.80) #81: WIN 15-0 ... well that's different Sixteen hits including three home runs and six walks.... Agajanian makes his debut in the 9th, gives up a walk and a hit, but fans the side.... Halfway through the season and we're on a 106-win pace. I would just take four wins to close out the playoffs.... ELSEWHERE: Cris Frias, last year's NL Cy Young winner, has been good but not great this season, but just fanned 16 Cubs and has 30 K in his last two starts, both complete game shutouts.... Career stats update: Milwaukee's Matt Anderson is barely playing these days, with just 21 hits this season, giving him 2902 in his career. At 39, he'll probably retire this fall and just miss out on 3000 hits. He also leads active players with 547 HR; Cleveland's Paul Foster passed 500 last month, and LA's Vinny Vargas is closing in, with 479. Vargas also now has 100 WAR. On the mound, LA's Eddy Llamas has 219 wins, with Rafael Maldonado (197) and Levi Brady (193) next in line. Maldonado also leads with 97 WAR. Llamas is also 8th in career K (3661), Maldonado 11th (3569). They should end the season at #7 and #8. July 2-4 vs BALTIMORE A rare home series for us this month, and our first look at the Birds this year. At 15th in batting and 10th in pitching, it's no surprise that they're in last in the East, 34-44. Star Cesar Alvarenga is a pending UFA, has been on the trade block all season, but is still getting it done: .306/16/51, all team highs so far. The rotation has been a mess (15th in ERA), but the bullpen is the best thing going in the AL, paced by closer Ken Zeolla (16 SV, 0.72 ERA). The manager? Pat Wilson, MLB HoFer and our former manager, now in his second season with the O's. It's not going well for him. Top prospect: SP Pat Karahalios, who is 25 and ranked #125. He's with the big club and is struggling with the rest of the rotation. The prospect pool ranks dead last, 36th. Not a great sign for an already bad club. HAW pitchers: LH Mike Garfield (8-4, 2.91) / RH Shamar Jackson (8-7, 4.41) / LH Eric Jones (7-4, 4.30) BAL pitchers: LH Rich Davis (5-6, 4.13) / RH Pat Karahalios (6-4, 5.59) / RH Danny McCanless (6-7, 3.58) #82: LOSS 1-2 ... we waste a strong outing by Garfield, with Money giving up a solo HR in the 10th...just four hits for us, three in the last two innings #83: WIN 13-7 ... Goodloe's first career HR is a GRAND SLAM, and Daley and Rangel add 2-run HRs...pitching struggles, as Jackson is wild #84: LOSS 5-6 ... Jones struggles, and Money loses it in extras...also, something new: two injuries Not good. Still, we're five up on Seattle, so no ground lost. Yet.... And the injuries: Groff has back spasms, but won't miss any games (day off coming up helps); but Padilla has a pending diagnosis, so stay tuned.... With our bullpen leaking oil, I scout around and find a guy I can get pretty cheap: Richmond's Joe Broussard, who's 35 and making $1.7M in the last year of his contract. He's got great stuff, and solid movement and control. Fastball/splitter combo, and a groundballer. Right-handed. Richmond gets 24-year-old prospect OF Ben Swanner, who's far down on our deep OF list; plus they'll pick up $1M of his remaining contract.... ELSEWHERE: Just past the halfway mark for everyone, and only the Yankees (!) are threatening to run away with their division, at 9 games ahead of Miami. Milwaukee (one game over Detroit) has the smallest divisional lead.... Two more HR for William Swanson, making 32 on the year, and giving him a strong chance at his second straight AL MVP. July 6-8 vs MIAMI At 44-37, and would look much better if NY wasn't on top of the world right now. Sixth in runs, 5th in runs against, with a +54 differential. Eight players are on the DL, and only three are likely to come back this season. SS Mario Rivera (.346/16/60) is having an MVP-type season, and is keeping hte offense afloat along with 1B Scott Robertshaw (.270/19/63). The manager is another former Islander, former hitting coach Paul Trashini, now in his second year leading the Marlins. Top prospect: SP Victor Nunez, 23 and ranked #23. Just called up to the big club and made his first career start last week. Solid stuff and control, but lacking in movement and will give up the long ball. System ranks 20th. HAW pitchers: RH Ryan Ratliff (9-3, 2.55) / RH Dennis Perry (9-4, 2.61) / LH Mike Garfield (8-4, 2.78) MIA pitchers: RH Francisco Pantaleon (7-6, 3.77) / LH Jason Mangiaracina (4-5, 4.33) / RH Joe Britton (8-0, 2.51) #85: WIN 5-4 ... strong 11-K effort for Ratliff, although we give up a run in the 9th but hold on...3 hits for Stoneback, including a 1st-inning HR #86: WIN 8-5 ... another HR for Stoneback, and a GRAND SLAM for Rob Rich...Perry is pulled after 6 IP, and the pen gives up all five runs late #87: WIN 8-2 ... JJ Simmons HR alert! First of the year...also committed two errors...13 hits for us, plus 4 walks...7 IP, 4 H for Garfield Surprising sweep, and we gain a touch of ground on the Mariners, now up six games.... Padilla's diagnosis is a torn quad, and he's out for five weeks. We call up OF Scott Barnes, for his first taste of MLB. He's a LHB and will likely see most of his action as a PH. The DH role will be split between Kaz Ueda (RH) and Jerry Cappuccilli (LH). Neither has hit much this season, so time to get it together guys.... Perry strains a calf in his last start, but is only out for a few days.... ELSEWHERE: Cincy's the hot team now, with 7 wins in a row. NYY has extended its lead over Miami (thanks to us) to 12 games.... We took a run at the highest-ranked international FA, Argentine OF Roberto Gomez, starting him with a $5.5M bonus offer. We pulled out after it hit $8M. Detroit took him home in the end, with a $14.1M deal. Crazy. Although he does look really, really good right now.... Cubs ace Rafael Maldonado leads all MLB with 6.2 WAR. July 9-11 @ TAMPA BAY Final series before the All-Star break. Tampa is only 13th in runs, and 9th in runs against, with a -14 differential and a 41-44 record. There's power in the middle of the lineup, with 69 HR among four batters. Not much power elsewhere, tho. Five pitchers are on the DL right now, and the bullpen is really struggling. Stud hitter Vance Wise is still listed as the closer, even though he's only pitched two innings this year. Tony Bajoczky is the manager, in his 7th season. Top prospect: Jorge Arriola (19, 2B, ranked #6). If he fully develops, he'll be a stud batter with contact, power, and OBP. System ranks #10. HAW pitchers: RH Shamar Jackson (9-7, 4.49) / LH Eric Jones (7-4, 4.45) / RH Ryan Ratliff (10-3, 2.61) TBR pitchers: RH Travis Calhoun (7-4, 2.54) / RH Tony Zuniga (4-8, 5.34) / RH Freddy Trujillo (7-7, 3.19) #88: WIN 7-3 ... 3-run HR for Frederick, and 3 hits for Daley...complete game for Jackson, giving up 4 hits and just 3 BB #89: WIN 4-2 ... Groff bangs a pair of doubles and Stoneback adds 3 hits...Jones looks good through 7.1 IP, taking the win #90: LOSS 2-5 ... we can't come back after a 3-run TBR 1st...Rich homers and drives in our only runs We reach the break with a 59-31 record, second best in the bigs (half game behind NYY).... And with a seven game lead over Seattle.... Six players have reaced double figures in HR, and although we're only 10th in the AL, our owner is still happy that his Goal to improve our HR total is being met.... ELSEWHERE: Brooklyn has won 7 of 10 and has taken the lead in the NL East from Atlanta. I like that their top three batters are named Moreno-Morano-Moreno.... Ten straight wins for Cincinnati now, and an 8.5 game lead over New Orleans.... Seattle's hopes of gaining ground on Hawaii took a blow with the loss of CF Aaron Harrison (rest of season) and CL Daryl Kennedy (three weeks), added to prior injuries to 2B Jose Rodriguez (two more weeks) and OF Mike Wapner (unknown). The 2049 All-Star Game was played on the 13th at Fenway Park in Boston. While a number of our players received a ton of votes, only three actually made the team: SP Ryan Ratliff, CL Justin Crowley, and SS Rich Stoneback. This is Stoneback's fifth appearance, Crowley's third, and Ratliff's first. And the result is in: the AL wins 5-1 behind a pair of home runs and some five-hit pitching. Stoneback started and went 3-for-3, scoring a run. Crowley fanned two in his one inning, while Ratliff did not play. ...... TL;DR Version: A back-and-forth spurt, but we still went 7-3 in this stint, and have opened up a seven game lead over Seattle. Stoneback also earned Player of the Week nod, going 10-for-21 with 10 runs. We now head out on a nine-game road trip, come home for one series, then head out on the road again to end the month. __________________ Introducing Your Hawaii Islanders!