[Westheim]

All Star Game

The Federal League scored early and often in an 8-3 win over the Continental League in the 2037 All Star Game. Dallas’ Hugo Acosta was the unanimous MVP, going 4-for-4 with 3 RBI.

Nashville’s Sean Fowler took the W for one inning of work. The loss was on Boston’s Rich Willett, who conceded three runs and retired nobody.

The CL’s early pitchers were so abjectly horrible and yanked early, that Portland’s Yeom Soung got to pitch 2.1 innings (!!) for one run at the end. We would like to thank the CL manager, Boston’s J.R. Floyd, for this service.

Antonio Prieto pitched a scoreless inning. Manny Fernandez started the game in left, but went 0-for-2, while Justin Fowler started the game in center and was 0-for-4 with an RBI.

Trade

In a major trade the day following the All Star Game, the Raccoons picked up Sacramento’s 26-year-old rightfielder Troy Greenway (.302, 7 HR, 24 RBI), who had been held to 45 games so far this year due to injury, but was a 2-time All Star and a Platinum Stick winner. He hit 21 homers in 397 at-bats in ’36. He was a good defensive rightfielder, was not striking out abundantly, but had no speed to speak of – not that we needed more speed. We needed more RUNS.

The Scorpions received a rich package in the deal, containing MR Chris Wise (1-3, 3.38 ERA, 5 SV), #18 prospect AAA 1B Jeff Wilson, #26 prospect AAA Lazaro Cavazos, and #82 prospect A SP Melvin Lucero.

Lucero was the only one that really hurt here. Wilson was highly ranked, but at 24 couldn’t hit his way out of a ****ing orphanage in St. Petersburg. Cavazos was getting lit up by AAA hitting, and Wise was a piece of the Critters’ pen going all the way back to 2030, was under contract through 2039, but was a) vocally unhappy with his role behind Yeom Soung, and b) had *well* worse numbers this year than ever before. He was walking 4.5/9, up about 50%, and whiffing only 5.3/9, down about 40%. Our Scout guy said his slider had lost bite, and he couldn’t get by on his cutter alone. Yeah, no ****, we’ve seen it!

Greenway came with a contract through 2043 that would pay more than $3M in the last four years, which was something we’d worry about later. Right now we needed the runs.

This was an ALL IN move that could ruin the Critters for years to come. Or win them a ring or two!

The Raccoons optioned a pereptually disappointing Jesus Maldonado to AAA before getting into their first fight with Greenway over his uniform number. He wanted #3, which was Ed Hooge’s, and Hooge wouldn’t buckle. Then he wanted any number ending in 3, but Tony Morales, Cosmo, and David Fernandez were also all hissing. Greenway had to settle for #43.

We’d settle for 43 homers by him in a full season.

Raccoons (48-41) vs. Crusaders (50-40) – July 16-19, 2037

In came the Crusaders, who we now led 5-3 in the season series. This was another battle to the death in the crowded upper corner of the CL North, and the Raccoons couldn’t afford to lose any ground. New York was sixth in runs scored, seventh in runs allowed, and still totally average in almost every aspect.

Projected matchups:
Bernie Chavez (7-6, 3.37 ERA) vs. Geoff Whitehouse (9-3, 2.96 ERA)
Raffaello Sabre (4-4, 4.28 ERA) vs. Brian Frain (5-6, 4.12 ERA)
Bryce Sparkes (9-2, 2.58 ERA) vs. Jeff Turi (7-7, 4.49 ERA)
Jared Ottinger (6-6, 3.46 ERA) vs. Ignacio del Rio (11-5, 2.77 ERA)



Things got complicated immediately with a rainout on Thursday and a double-header on Friday.

Game 1
NYC: CF L. Herrera – RF Botzet – C R. Phillips – 1B K. Henderson – LF Salto – 3B G. Ortiz – 2B Lira – SS Tello – P Whitehouse
POR: 2B Trevino – SS Ramos – LF M. Fernandez – RF Greenway – CF Fowler – 1B Stedham – 3B Myers – C Morales – P Chavez

The first pitch of the double-header was taken for a triple by Lorenzo Herrera, with the runner scoring on a sac fly by Aaron Botzet. Portland got Berto on base with a single in the bottom 1st, he stole second, but even when Greenway walked and Fowler hit a shallow single to left was still on base – and was left there when Jesse Stedham grounded out to Tony Lira. Manny Fernandez then played a Botzet fly into a 1-out triple in the third. While Ryan Phillips lined out to Trevino, Kumanosuke Henderson hit an RBI single, Bernie walked Graciano Salto, and conceded another run on Greg Ortiz’ single before Lira flew out to centerfield.

With all that damage done already, the Raccoons didn’t reach the board until the fifth when Berto singled home Morales with two outs; Tony had drawn a leadoff walk. Fowler and Myers scratched out another run with a pair of hits in the sixth inning, narrowing the gap to 3-2, but Bernie Chavez was knocked out when Whitehouse doubled (…) off him in the seventh. David Fernandez came on with left-handed Andy Montes pinch-hitting, but allowed an RBI single to Montes and a double to Botzet before being sent back to the dugout to think about what he had done. Exit Fernandez, enter Sims, a K to Phillips, but then four balls to Henderson and ultimately an infield single hit by Graciano Salto for another run before Ortiz grounded out after all. That was a lot of misery, two runs for a 5-2 deficit, and then a Manny Fernandez triple to lead off the bottom 8th. Greenway (K), Fowler (F4), and Stedham (F7) all failed abysmally, the runner was stranded, and the Raccoons cashed a loss. 5-2 Crusaders. Ramos 2-4, RBI; Fowler 2-4; Canfield 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K;

Tyler Canfield was about the best Critter in this game, having been recalled briefly after Wise had been traded. ‘Briefly’ being the key here. He’d been told beforehand to not pack more than three sets of underwear.

Game 2
NYC: CF L. Herrera – RF Botzet – 1B K. Henderson – LF Salto – 3B G. Ortiz – 2B Lira – C Duryea – SS Tello – P Frain
POR: 2B Trevino – SS Ramos – LF M. Fernandez – RF Greenway – CF Fowler – 1B Stedham – C Garcia – 3B Pinkerton – P Sabre

Cosmo and Manny were on the corners in the bottom 1st, then were stranded thanks to Greenway fouling out and Fowler grounding to Lira. Sabre looked good until a 1-out single by the opposing pitcher in the third inning. Herrera shot another single up the middle, and Trevino bungled Botzet’s potential inning-ender for an error. Sabre fielded Henderson’s comebacker a lot better, turning a 1-6-3 double play to escape from the bases-loaded jam. Portland in turn took the lead on Manny Fernandez’ 14th homer of the season, a solo shot with two outs in the bottom 3rd. Manny then also robbed a Herrera bomb off the top of the fence in the fifth inning, which would have counted for two with Michael Duryea on second base …!

So while at least ONE outfielder was clicking, the Crusaders were still not defeated. Salto legged out another infield single in the sixth (not bad for a 34-year-old) and stole second (ditto), but was stranded by Sabre after all when Henderson grounded out. Greenway logged his first Coons hit the same inning, a 2-out single with nobody on that led exactly nowhere. Sabre nailed Duryea in the seventh, then got a double play grounder from PH Ben Butz to clean up and maintain the 1-0 lead.

Bottom 7th, Stedham reached base against Frain, bringing about a pitching change with nobody out, with righty Michael Zabek coming on. Stedham advanced on Garcia’s grounder, after which the Coons sent Tony Morales to pinch-hit for Pinkerton. Morales had a 10-game hitting streak and wasn’t keen on blowing it, so doubled to center to raise the score to 2-0. On 92 pitches, Sabre was hit for with Ed Hooge, who flew out, but Trevino got a 2-out single into leftfield and Morales started early and scored, 3-0. Berto grounded out. Antonio Prieto pitched the eighth on eight pitches, but Soung walked Henderson to begin the ninth inning. Salto however spanked a ball at Steve Nickas at third base, and the offensively inept infielder showed that he had a glove and started a 5-4-3. Ortiz singled, but finally Lira struck out to end the game. 3-0 Coons. Trevino 2-3, BB, RBI; M. Fernandez 3-4, HR, RBI; Greenway 2-4; Morales (PH) 1-1, 2B, RBI; Sabre 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, W (5-4);

Greenway’s day: 2-for-7! Now all will be well.

VERY VERY WELL. – SHUT UP CRISTIANO I DON’T WANT TO (sticks fingers in ears) LALALALALALA

Game 3
NYC: CF L. Herrera – RF Botzet – C D. Phillips – 1B K. Henderson – LF Salto – 3B G. Ortiz – 2B Lira – SS Tello – P Turi
POR: 2B Trevino – SS Ramos – LF M. Fernandez – RF Greenway – CF Fowler – 1B Stedham – 3B Myers – C Morales – P Sparkes

After Tony Morales did a boo-boo and hit into a 4-6-3 double play following leadoff singles by Stedham and Myers in the second inning, Bryce Sparkes drove in his own lead with a double to center, scoring Stedham from third base for the first marker on the scoreboard. Trevino matched his feat with a ball hit off the base of the wall in rightfield for another RBI double, Berto hit an RBI single through the right side, and they were on the corners when Manny singled up the middle. Turi, who had lost his last four decisions, faced Greenway, whom he had walked in the first inning, gave up a loud drive to rightfield… but Aaron Botzet caught it near the fence. Almost! And maybe he’ll hit one in my lifetime!

After sparkling for five shutout innings, allowing only two hits, Sparkes came apart in the sixth. Lorenzo Herrera opened with a triple and scored without another Crusader interfering, on a wild pitch. Botzet then singled, but was caught stealing, yet Sparkes walked Kumanosuke Henderson with two outs. Berto had to dive to collect Salto’s sharp grounder up the middle, but it was good enough for the third out; the Coons, however, got the pen going in the 3-1 game, especially with Sparkes’ spot up in the bottom 6th. Rich Vickers whiffed in his spot. Portland got the run back in the next inning when Berto walked, was itching to get going, but was then singled around by Manny and Fowler to score anyway. Greenway lined out to Botzet in between – you could feel him being close to an RBI, and maybe it would still happen this year. Come the eighth and reliever Juan Ponce, Alberto Ramos was on the other end, singling home Myers with a 2-out base hit to left, and sending Preston Pinkerton, who had landed a pinch-hit single, to second base. Manny shoved a single past Ricky Tello to bring around Pinkerton, and thus Greenway got to bat once more with two out and two aboard, but struck out. Top 9th, Tyler Canfield pitched against all experts’ advice. He walked Phillips, but Henderson hit into a double play. Then he loaded the bases with the next three guys anyway. With a 5-run lead in danger, the Raccons sent a replacement righty to face Ricky Tello, Prieto collected a K, and the Raccoons danced off winners. 6-1 Critters. Ramos 2-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI; M. Fernandez 4-5, RBI; Stedham 2-4; Myers 1-2, BB; Pinkerton (PH) 1-1;

Game 4
NYC: CF L. Herrera – RF Botzet – C D. Phillips – 1B K. Henderson – 3B G. Ortiz – 2B Lira – LF Montes – SS Tello – P del Rio
POR: 3B Myers – SS Ramos – LF M. Fernandez – RF Greenway – CF Hooge – 1B Stedham – C Garcia – 2B Vickers – P Ottinger

Both teams got a triple and run(s) in the second inning. Henderson did the honors early to Ottinger, hitting a leadoff triple, but wasn’t scored until Lira’s sac fly, with Greg Ortiz bouncing a ball back to the pitcher. The Raccoons got Hooge on with one out, then saw Garcia bury the ball in the left-center gap with two outs, reaching third base on a healthy dose of defensive ineptitude out there. Rich Vickers then gave the Coons a 2-1 lead with a hard single through the right side in a vain attempt to close in on the .200 mark. Ottie grounded out to end the inning, then walked Ricky Tello to begin the third. After del Rio bunted, he also walked Herrera, and Botzet hit a single. Three on, one out, Ottie unpacked the stuff, finally, struck out Phillips at 2-2, and also rung up Henderson in a full count!

While Ottie’s pitch count got up there fast, the Crusaders had a tooth broken out of the lineup in the fourth inning, when Lorenzo Herrera hurt his wrist diving for and catching a Hooge fly in shallow center. Josh Stephenson replaced him. It was still a 2-1 game when Vickers opened the bottom 5th with a single to left - .200!! - followed by a bunt thrown away by Phillips for a 2-base error, giving the Raccoons runners in scoring position with nobody out. I reflexively reached for Honeypaws, being used to grim disappointment by this team. I wasn’t disappointed … in a way? Myers lined out to short, Berto grounded out to the pitcher, and Fernandez grounded out to Henderson. Nobody scored. The following inning, Henderson opened with a single, Lira singled, and Andy Montes barfed a ball over the wall to flip the score to 4-2 New York. I rolled into a ball on the brown couch, Honeypaws becoming tripped in my midst.

Despite a run falling out of Travis Sims in the seventh, the Raccoons would get the tying run to the plate in the bottom 8th. Berto reached base leading off, but was forced out on Manny’s grounder. Greenway hit a single, bringing Hooge up as that tying run. The Crusaders stuck to del Rio, probably just to tease us, and when the count ran to 3-1, Hooge poked, probably just to tease us. He hit a grounder to third base that Ortiz had to hustle for and couldn’t get a throw off in time, putting Hooge on with an infield single and bringing up Stedham with three aboard, probably just to tease us. Stedham did his royal best to end the inning with a grounder to Lira, the Crusaders just couldn’t turn it. One run scored, runners were on the corners with two out for Garcia, who singled up the middle to make it 5-4, probably just to tease us. At this point we’d hit for Rich Vickers (Fowler was on the bench), but he was 3-for-3 against the still-not-relieved del Rio, and clearly knew *something* … and then he flew out to Montes. What a tease! David Fernandez and Citriniti held the Crusaders away in the ninth, but the Raccoons still had to make up a run against right-hander Eddie Cannon in the bottom 9th… which they didn’t. 5-4 Crusaders. Hooge 2-4; Garcia 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI; Vickers 3-4, RBI; Nickas 1-1;

In other news

July 15 – The Titans get 2B/LF/SS Ross Sibley (.321, 0 HR, 27 RBI) from the Capitals while shipping 3B Bill Moore (.209, 7 HR, 21 RBI) and #24 prospect SP Victor Acevedo to Washington.
July 16 – 33-year-old middle infielder CIN Alex Majano (.268, 0 HR, 17 RBI) lands three hits in an 11-8 win over the Miners to reach 2,00 career knocks. The 2035 FL batting champ and Gold Glover singles off PIT SP Jonathan Dykstra (7-5, 4.38 ERA) in the fifth inning to reach the milestone.
July 16 – The hitting streak of SAC Paul Laughren (.312, 1 HR, 17 RBI) ends at the All Star Game and 20 games in total. The 25-year-old goes hitless against the Gold Sox.
July 17 – In a 1-0 loss to the Indians, nobody in the Canadiens’ lineup gets a base hit; only pinch-hitting LF/RF Vincent Pacheco (.182, 0 HR, 5 RBI) does. IND SP Justin Kaiser (1-4, 3.25 ERA) and CL Tim Thweatt (8-1, 2.36 ERA, 20 SV) have to settle for a combined 1-hitter.
July 18 – ATL 1B Justin LeClerc (.280, 5 HR, 37 RBI) and ATL 3B Chris Maneke (.266, 7 HR, 52 RBI) both drive in five runs apiece in a 12-1 drumming of the Falcons.
July 18 – CIN OF Ken Gibbs (.270, 8 HR, 32 RBI) will miss three weeks with shoulder soreness.

FL Player of the Week: DEN C Danny Zarate (.293, 13 HR, 63 RBI) batting .632 (12-19) with 2 HR, 6 RBI
CL Player of the Week: SFB 2B Mario Hurtado (.312, 1 HR, 39 RBI) batting .714 (10-14) with 3 RBI

Complaints and stuff

.200 with nothing – that was the first week of Troy Greenway at his new workplace. Oh well, just like any good ol’ construction worker does it – show up again next week and start shoveling a completely different hole. – Cristiano, that was before machines did literally anything for us. There were people that literally built roads and houses with their own paws. – Speaking of machines, Maud!? – Maud! – Maud, the wipe machine in the restroom is broken again. It’s been very rough to me! – Why would I ask Slappy? – (Slappy toasts with his bottle)

Bryce Sparkes has the best ERA in the majors, beating out even the FL-leading serial winner Phil Harrington of the Wolves, who have a lead in the FL West, but it’s brittling away.

Trevino still leads the steals table in the CL with a paltry 24. That’s not how I imagined the season would go with this roster, thinking of a stolen base per game (it’s way closer to .7 per game), and instead they have more homers, so perhaps I should shut up.

The Raccoons need a reliever now, because none of the myriad of options in AAA have proven being worth their meal money or over any promise if they haven’t been tried yet. There’s Darren Brown lying around down there, uselessly, but he’s walked 79 batters in 121 innings and I’d rather eat glass.

Fun Fact: Troy Greenway was the #3 pick in the 2030 draft.

That was before we got a prime pick and then Manny Fernandez. 2029 was merely a blow for us, not the full meltdown service yet. The Raccoons’ first-round pick in 2030 was Ed Hooge at #16, and he’s hitting .266/.321/.412 in the majors after 1,141 at-bats. Could we have done better? Yes. Could we have done worse? For sure!