OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Denver Brewers of the W.P. Kinsella League

BirdWatcher · 11-26-2020, 02:35 PM

Brewers record: 4-2 (week), 86-40, 1st place, MGL (season)

August 20-22, versus Charlotte: 8-7, 5-4, 8-0.

August 24-26, at Detroit: 1-4, 0-3, 5-1.

In game 1 of 3 against the Charlotte Sting in Denver, staff ace Sadahige Kawasaki was not at his best, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits over 6 innings pitched. But his team took him off the hook for a loss with a potent offensive attack led by Joe McPhillips, who went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, and 2 doubles to get to 18 on the season. Brett Taranto was 4 for 4, scoring twice and hitting his 12th triple of 1978. Geoff Bartholomew was 3 for 5 with a run scored and 3 driven in and hit his 10th double. Ben Flynn pitched an effective 2 innings for his 5th hold but then closer Tim Shore (1-0, 1.57) suffered just his 2nd blown save of the season when he allowed 2 runs to the Sting in the top of the 9th, which tied the game. Shore got the win when Bartholomew hit the game-winning walk-off single shortly thereafter.

Game 2 was another 1-run squeaker for the home club. And another walk-off thanks to Geoff Bartholomew, who this time hit his 11th double of the season to win it. It was the rookie shortstop's lone hit, but he did walk once, scored a run, and stole his 2nd base of the season as a Brewer. Erik Sloan got the start and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits over 6 2/3rds innings, not getting a decision. Tim Shore (2-0, 1.52) picked up his 2nd win in 2 days, this time without blemish. Antonio Acuna was 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 driven in and picked up his 9th stolen base (in 9 tries). Josh Schaeffer contributed with a 2 for 3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 HR (16) game, and also picked up his 14th stolen base. Bobby Erbakan got his 10th stolen base and Joe McPhillips threw out 2 runners at third base in this one as well.

After two walk-off wins in a row, the Brewers were happy to get an easy victory in game 3 for the series sweep. Sekien Hamasaki (15-4, 2.37), who had been sliding a bit since a great first half of the season, pitched a real gem in this one, allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4 and throwing 99 pitches in the shutout ("pitched a Maddux").
The offense was highly efficient, scoring 8 runs on just 8 hits (though 5 walks and 2 Charlotte errors helped). Brett Taranto went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 2 walks, and hit his 24th double. Val Guzman had just 1 hit but it was his 9th home run of the season and he drove in 3 runs in the game (2-run HR and sac fly.) And Zacarias Martell's 1 hit was his 4th homer of the season.

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After a day off for travel, the Brewers found themselves in a park that often seems to flummox them, Detroit's East Lake Park. Even though the Detroit Falcons have the overall worst record in the history of the MGL thus far, and even though East Lake Park only slightly favors pitchers, for some reason the Brewers often struggle to score runs here.
And that history played out once again in game 1 of this 3 game series.
The Brewers could only manage a single run on 6 hits against the Falcons veteran right-hander Kantaro Yasui and a fine start by rookie Jim Atwell was wasted. Atwell gave up just 1 unearned run on 4 hits in his 7 innings pitched for a no-decision. Atwell left with a 1-0 lead but relievers Walter Hackler (0-1, 3.24) and Jason Gottula (4th blown save) were unable to preserve it for him. Josh Schaeffer went 2 for 4 and drove in the lone Brewers run in the game, hitting his 22nd double. The Brewers uncharacteristically also picked up 4 errors on the game, with Zacarias Martell not only committing his 8th error (trying to throw out John Hemmah stealing 2nd- Hemmah picking up his WPK leading 54th stolen base) but also suffering his 5th passed ball of the season.

More of the same in game 2 as the Brewers fail to score at all against left-handed former Brewer Hector Hard (who had to leave the game early due to an injury suffered while running the bases) and the Falcons bullpen with veteran closer Lawrence Jones picking up his 24th save. (Another former Brewer, Josh McEwen, pitched 3 solid innings in this one to act as bridge to the closer.) Steve Green (11-8, 3.97) took the loss for Denver, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits over 6 innings. The Brewers got a grand total of 2 hits in this one and both were off the bat of back-up catcher Kirk Patnode. Patnode, a defensive specialist, is once again over-performing at the plate this season, as he has done in 3 of his 4 seasons as the Brewers backup backstop, with a slash line of .309/.382/.385. (So maybe it can't really be called over-performing any more. Maybe the scouts are simply wrong about his bat?)

But in game 3 the Brewers somewhat rediscover their bats and they get a great start from Sadahige Kawasaki (15-6, 2.13) to avoid getting swept by the lowly Falcons. Kawasaki lasted 8 innings, giving up 1 run on 6 hits. The interesting thing about the Brewers offense was that, facing a tough left-hander in Randy Cali, they got their biggest hits from left-handed batters Josh Schaeffer and Val Guzman, while the right-handers in the heart of the order- Brett Taranto, Bobby Erbakan, Antonio Acuna- remained quiet in this one as they had the entire series. (Granted, both Brett and Bobby did finally collect run scoring singles in the 2-run 9th inning.)
Schaeffer, who usually sits against left-handed starters, went 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk, and hit his 23rd double of the season and Val Guzman only had 1 hit but it was a big one as his 7th inning double (22nd of season) broke a 1-1 tie at that point of the game. Jake DiCesare, a switch hitter who prefers to face left-handers, also contributed a 2 for 4, 1 run, 1 RBI game.

The Brewers finish the week with a still 10-game lead over 2nd place Brooklyn. And with September approaching there really is no other team with a reasonable chance to catch Denver. L.A. sits 19 games out in 3rd place and the fading Oklahoma City Diamond Kings are now 24 back in 4th place.

Over in the Shoeless Joe League, the once lowly El Paso Dawgs are hoping to head into the final month of the season on the top of the standings, and currently hold a 3 game lead over Boston and Philadelphia. San Antonio and Columbus are also fighting to stay in the race, both 5 games off the pace.

11-26-2020, 02:35 PM	#371
BirdWatcher Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 4,263	Week 20, August 20-26, 1978 Brewers record: 4-2 (week), 86-40, 1st place, MGL (season) August 20-22, versus Charlotte: 8-7, 5-4, 8-0. August 24-26, at Detroit: 1-4, 0-3, 5-1. In game 1 of 3 against the Charlotte Sting in Denver, staff ace Sadahige Kawasaki was not at his best, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits over 6 innings pitched. But his team took him off the hook for a loss with a potent offensive attack led by Joe McPhillips, who went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, and 2 doubles to get to 18 on the season. Brett Taranto was 4 for 4, scoring twice and hitting his 12th triple of 1978. Geoff Bartholomew was 3 for 5 with a run scored and 3 driven in and hit his 10th double. Ben Flynn pitched an effective 2 innings for his 5th hold but then closer Tim Shore (1-0, 1.57) suffered just his 2nd blown save of the season when he allowed 2 runs to the Sting in the top of the 9th, which tied the game. Shore got the win when Bartholomew hit the game-winning walk-off single shortly thereafter. Game 2 was another 1-run squeaker for the home club. And another walk-off thanks to Geoff Bartholomew, who this time hit his 11th double of the season to win it. It was the rookie shortstop's lone hit, but he did walk once, scored a run, and stole his 2nd base of the season as a Brewer. Erik Sloan got the start and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits over 6 2/3rds innings, not getting a decision. Tim Shore (2-0, 1.52) picked up his 2nd win in 2 days, this time without blemish. Antonio Acuna was 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 driven in and picked up his 9th stolen base (in 9 tries). Josh Schaeffer contributed with a 2 for 3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 HR (16) game, and also picked up his 14th stolen base. Bobby Erbakan got his 10th stolen base and Joe McPhillips threw out 2 runners at third base in this one as well. After two walk-off wins in a row, the Brewers were happy to get an easy victory in game 3 for the series sweep. Sekien Hamasaki (15-4, 2.37), who had been sliding a bit since a great first half of the season, pitched a real gem in this one, allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4 and throwing 99 pitches in the shutout ("pitched a Maddux"). The offense was highly efficient, scoring 8 runs on just 8 hits (though 5 walks and 2 Charlotte errors helped). Brett Taranto went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 2 walks, and hit his 24th double. Val Guzman had just 1 hit but it was his 9th home run of the season and he drove in 3 runs in the game (2-run HR and sac fly.) And Zacarias Martell's 1 hit was his 4th homer of the season. After a day off for travel, the Brewers found themselves in a park that often seems to flummox them, Detroit's East Lake Park. Even though the Detroit Falcons have the overall worst record in the history of the MGL thus far, and even though East Lake Park only slightly favors pitchers, for some reason the Brewers often struggle to score runs here. And that history played out once again in game 1 of this 3 game series. The Brewers could only manage a single run on 6 hits against the Falcons veteran right-hander Kantaro Yasui and a fine start by rookie Jim Atwell was wasted. Atwell gave up just 1 unearned run on 4 hits in his 7 innings pitched for a no-decision. Atwell left with a 1-0 lead but relievers Walter Hackler (0-1, 3.24) and Jason Gottula (4th blown save) were unable to preserve it for him. Josh Schaeffer went 2 for 4 and drove in the lone Brewers run in the game, hitting his 22nd double. The Brewers uncharacteristically also picked up 4 errors on the game, with Zacarias Martell not only committing his 8th error (trying to throw out John Hemmah stealing 2nd- Hemmah picking up his WPK leading 54th stolen base) but also suffering his 5th passed ball of the season. More of the same in game 2 as the Brewers fail to score at all against left-handed former Brewer Hector Hard (who had to leave the game early due to an injury suffered while running the bases) and the Falcons bullpen with veteran closer Lawrence Jones picking up his 24th save. (Another former Brewer, Josh McEwen, pitched 3 solid innings in this one to act as bridge to the closer.) Steve Green (11-8, 3.97) took the loss for Denver, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits over 6 innings. The Brewers got a grand total of 2 hits in this one and both were off the bat of back-up catcher Kirk Patnode. Patnode, a defensive specialist, is once again over-performing at the plate this season, as he has done in 3 of his 4 seasons as the Brewers backup backstop, with a slash line of .309/.382/.385. (So maybe it can't really be called over-performing any more. Maybe the scouts are simply wrong about his bat?) But in game 3 the Brewers somewhat rediscover their bats and they get a great start from Sadahige Kawasaki (15-6, 2.13) to avoid getting swept by the lowly Falcons. Kawasaki lasted 8 innings, giving up 1 run on 6 hits. The interesting thing about the Brewers offense was that, facing a tough left-hander in Randy Cali, they got their biggest hits from left-handed batters Josh Schaeffer and Val Guzman, while the right-handers in the heart of the order- Brett Taranto, Bobby Erbakan, Antonio Acuna- remained quiet in this one as they had the entire series. (Granted, both Brett and Bobby did finally collect run scoring singles in the 2-run 9th inning.) Schaeffer, who usually sits against left-handed starters, went 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk, and hit his 23rd double of the season and Val Guzman only had 1 hit but it was a big one as his 7th inning double (22nd of season) broke a 1-1 tie at that point of the game. Jake DiCesare, a switch hitter who prefers to face left-handers, also contributed a 2 for 4, 1 run, 1 RBI game. The Brewers finish the week with a still 10-game lead over 2nd place Brooklyn. And with September approaching there really is no other team with a reasonable chance to catch Denver. L.A. sits 19 games out in 3rd place and the fading Oklahoma City Diamond Kings are now 24 back in 4th place. Over in the Shoeless Joe League, the once lowly El Paso Dawgs are hoping to head into the final month of the season on the top of the standings, and currently hold a 3 game lead over Boston and Philadelphia. San Antonio and Columbus are also fighting to stay in the race, both 5 games off the pace. __________________ The Denver Brewers of the W.P. Kinsella League-- The fun starts here(1965-1971: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=289570 And continues here (1972-1976): https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=300500 On we go (1977- 1979): https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=314601 For ongoing and more random updates on the WPK:https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=325147, https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=330717 Last edited by BirdWatcher; 11-26-2020 at 02:45 PM.