[Westheim]

Monday was a day off, but for Jason Wheatley it was a day on, coming back onto the roster from the DL after the minimum 15 days. The Critters would slot him right back into the opener for the Indians series on Tuesday, while dropping Jeremy Chaney into the bullpen into a garbage innings role. We were now at 30 players on the extended roster, 15 arms and sticks each.

The only other DL returnees to expect during the regular season would be Ken Mills in about ten days, and Jake Jackson in roughly three weeks, barely enough for one tune-up start or two.

Raccoons (92-44) @ Indians (77-60) – September 3-5, 2047

Tied at six in the season series, the Raccoons continued to struggle against the Arrowheads. They were not scoring runs (bottom there in the CL) except against us, and they were not allowing runs (second-fewest), and especially not to us.

Projected matchups:
Jason Wheatley (11-6, 2.86 ERA) vs. Bill Nichol (14-9, 2.59 ERA)
Victor Merino (13-7, 3.12 ERA) vs. Enrique Ortiz (1-0, 2.89 ERA)
Carlton Harman (0-3, 6.86 ERA) vs. Bill Drury (12-13, 3.05 ERA)

That would be three righties, actual order up for grabs. Ortiz was a rookie filling in for the suspended John Roeder, who was banned from appearing in the series. Either him or Drury would go on short rest on Wednesday against Merino – or somebody else entirely!

Game 1
POR: RF Mercado – CF Herrera – 3B Maldonado – 1B Toohey – 2B Waters – SS Adame – LF Baskins – C Gonzalez – P Wheatley
IND: RF A. Mendez – 2B de Castro – CF B. Quinteros – LF D. Rivera – SS Russ – 1B Massey – 3B B. Anderson – C N. Nunez – P Nichol

Maldo hit a homer in the first inning to set the Raccoons up 1-0, and Toohey hit another hard drive right after him, but that one fell short and into Bill Quinteros’ mitten. Wheats came back solid, although he gave up two singles and two walks in the first three innings, but he also got two double play grounders to cut down on the traffic. The lead went out the window in the fourth, which was down to Wheats nicking Quinteros with a 3-2 pitch to begin the inning, and then Waters dropping Andrew Russ’ pop fly behind second base for an error. The runners pulled off a double steal, and Nate Massey’s sac fly tied the game. Bobby Anderson grounded out to Maldo to keep Russ stranded at third base. Wheats didn’t help himself in the fifth, bunting into a force at second base that got Derek Baskins removed, but with two outs a Mercado double to center and a Herrera single to right actually plated Wheatley for a new 2-1 lead. Nichol walked Maldonado to fill the bases in that tight spot, bringing up Toohey, who flew out to Angel Mendez in deep right.

That lead, too, did not last, and went out the window in unearned fashion, Nick Nunez reaching second base to begin the bottom 5th on a throwing error by Maldonado. The Coons could not keep the catcher on the bases, and Maldo could not bring in Mercado from third base with two outs in the seventh, also flying out to Mendez. Wheats walked Bobby Anderson with one out in the bottom of the inning, then hung one to Danny Diaz, pinch-hitting for Nichol with two outs, and that baseball was never seen again. That was it, a 4-2 deficit for seven innings of work, despite only giving up three hits. Jake Bonnie held the Indians to what they already had in the eighth, but the Raccoons could not scratch the Indians’ pen at all and lost the opener. 4-2 Indians. Wheatley 7.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, L (11-7);

Game 2
POR: RF Mercado – CF Herrera – 3B Maldonado – 1B Toohey – LF Baskins – SS Adame – 2B Martell – C Morales – P Merino
IND: RF A. Mendez – 2B de Castro – CF B. Quinteros – LF D. Rivera – SS Russ – 1B Massey – 3B B. Anderson – C N. Nunez – P Drury

The Raccoons opened the game with back-to-back doubles from Mercado and Herrera and another 1-0 lead, then masterfully stranded Herrera in scoring position with a whole load of nothing from their 3-4-5 batters. Andrew Russ, the premier annoyance on legs, hit an infield single in the bottom 2nd, stole his 31st base of the year, but was stranded at least by Merino, who struck out three the first time through, but still blew the lead in the bottom 3rd on 2-out singles to Mendez (who stole second), and Alex de Castro (who chased him home).

The fourth saw another pair of hits to open the inning for Portland – Toohey and Baskins hitting singles – and then a croaking noise with a pop and a double play grounder. Morales hit a leadoff single in the fifth, and advanced to second even as Merino failed to bunt and was out on a poke grounder. Mercado’s fly moved Tony Morales to third, where he would have remained if Quinteros had not fumbled Herrera’s fly for an error, conceding the go-ahead run. Maldo grounded out to end the inning, but in the sixth, Adame reached with two outs. He stole second, his 32nd bag of the year – HAH!! Eat your hat, Russ!! – and was singled home by Al Martell to go up 3-1. Of course gloating was only to get the baseball gods’ attention and the bottom 6th saw a swift reversal of fortunes. Angel Mendez singled, stole a base, was tripled home by Quinteros anyway, and ******* Andrew Russ got the tying run across, too.

It got worse yet. Maldonado left the game in the seventh inning with a pinch in his back, to be replaced by Ben Coen. It didn’t look *that* bad, but when has it ever not been bad with the Coons!? Merino meanwhile battled himself to a no-decision through seven innings. The eighth was scoreless, Ibold and Curl doing good work from the pen. Tommy Gardner was out for the ninth, after closing out the Coons the day before, but gave up leadoff singles to Martell to left and Morales to right. With runners on the corners and nobody out, we found a spare Matt Waters on the bench to bat for the pitcher, but he struck out, and so did Mercado. Herrera grounded out to – sure – Russ, who also hit a single off Josh Rella in the bottom 9th after Danny Rivera had already reached base leading off, hit by a pitch. Somehow, we didn’t lose right there, Rella getting a pop and a 6-4-3 grounder to escape into extra innings… Losing was left to Preston Porter, who retired Ron Kurtz and Philip Locke in the bottom 10th, but then fell to a Daniel Hertenstein double and a walkoff single by Joe Tindle… 4-3 Indians. Coen 1-1; Martell 2-4, RBI; Morales 2-4; Merino 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K;

Dr. Padilla reported that one week of rest should put Jesus Maldonado back together – as good as new!

Still up by 13 1/2, we might not even manage to suck our way into second place by then…

Game 3
POR: RF Mercado – CF Herrera – 2B Waters – LF Toohey – SS Adame – 3B Martell – C Gonzalez – 1B Gurney – P Harman
IND: RF A. Mendez – 2B de Castro – CF B. Quinteros – LF D. Rivera – SS Russ – 1B Massey – 3B B. Anderson – C N. Nunez – P E. Ortiz

Scrub McHarman continued scrubbing the bottom of the talent barrel, allowing two singles and two walks, including one to Massey with the bases loaded in the bottom 1st, before thankfully Bobby Anderson grounded out to Martell. Somehow that was the only early damage although the Indians were also swinging progressively in good counts, f.e. Quinteros grounding out at 3-0 in the bottom 3rd. Instead, Matt Waters homered to right to tie the game in the fourth, which was only the second Critters hit on Thursday. We got nothing else in the first five, but the Indians got a hanger in the thick part of the zone with two outs, Quinteros on second, and Danny Rivera finding himself unable to decline the invitation, homering to right-center to put Indy up 3-1. Harman did not retire another batter, giving up a triple, single, triple, and walk before getting yanked from the mound. He was not even going to face the PITCHER anymore. Hitchcock was brought in to get the K.

Top 6th, Herrera reached on an error. Two outs, Toohey singled, and then Adame singled, driving home Herrera to undeservedly cut the gap to 5-2. Martell grounded out, though, and the inning ended. The tying run was at the plate again in the seventh after Coen singled – having entered in a double switch with Bonnie – and Mercado got on by means of a de Castro error, all with two outs. Herrera now grounded out, and again we got hoots. The eighth? Toohey hit a soft 1-out single, and advanced on a wild pitch. Adame doubled to center to actually get a ******* run home, 5-3. Pellicano and Gonzalez made easy outs, however. And then the Indians turned Adam Bates inside out for two runs in the bottom 8th and t was all for naught. Swept. 7-3 Indians. Toohey 2-4; Adame 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI;

Here comes the rally!

And next we’re off to Boston, where nothing good ever happens.

Raccoons (92-47) @ Titans (54-86) – September 6-8, 2047

We had really owned the Titans all season long, taking 13 of the 15 games played so far. Thy were bottoms in runs scored, and fourth in runs allowed, and a similar mix had just put the Coons up with a 4-game losing streak. Both teams had shed their third baseman, with Jason Kohr on the DL for Boston. That was it for them, our list was of course still longer…

Projected matchups:
Sadaharu Okuda (12-7, 2.89 ERA) vs. Victor Mondragon (9-14, 3.33 ERA)
Jeremy Baker (3-3, 3.88 ERA) vs. Brian Jackson (9-12, 2.86 ERA)
Jason Wheatley (11-7, 2.85 ERA) vs. Kyle Turay (6-16, 3.29 ERA)

I wondered whether Turay woke up at night, screaming. Anyway, a W here was a real possibility for him, since we currently could not hold our bats straight and liked to sabotage Wheatley every chance we got. Jackson was the only southpaw up for grabs this week.

Game 1
POR: RF Mercado – CF Herrera – SS Waters – 1B Toohey – LF Baskins – 2B Martell – 3B Coen – C Morales – P Okuda
BOS: SS C. Jimenez – C Youngquist – RF Ritchey – CF T. Lopez – 1B V. Chavez – 2B Galaz – LF Hampton – 3B F. Cortez – P Mondragon

Okuda leaked leadoff walks in the first three innings... Joe Ritchey doubled up Chris Jimenez in the first with a grounder to short, but Tony Lopez scored in the second, doubled home by Gerardo Galaz to put the Titans in the lead, 1-0. In the third, Okuda retired the next three after a free pass to Jimenez, who never left first base. In the fourth, for a change, Vic Chavez got to hit a leadoff double to center, and Galaz singled right after that. With runners on the corners, Okuda grabbed a pop from Jeremy Hampton and rung up Fernando Cortez and Mondragon to bail out. By then, the Raccoons had frittered away five hits for no runs of their own, including a leadoff double by Baskins. The bottom 5th was the first inning Okuda retired the leadoff hitter, so of course it was also the one where it fall apart for good, with homers by Ritchey and Chavez blowing up the score to 4-0.

Mondragon pushed the shutout into the seventh before giving up a homer to Ben Coen, but that was of course a solo shot. Hitting with runners on base? How un-coonish! But Mondragon also invited the tying run to the plate in the eighth, AND with nobody out, AND with Toohey getting the first poke after a Herrera single and a walk drawn by Waters. Mondragon ran a full count before walking the big man, ending his own day and in all likelihood the rally, with three on and nobody out now for Baskins against Emanuel Caceiro, left-hander. Pellicano pinch-hit for Baskins, hitting a sac fly, 4-2. Ruben Gonzalez hit for Martell, which drew attention from righty Dave Serio, who got a pop from him and rung up Coen to end the damn inning. And then Kevin Hitchcock and Jake Bonnie exploded for four runs in the bottom 8th… Tony Morales hit a jack in the ninth, but again, that was a solo shot… 8-3 Titans. Herrera 2-5; Baskins 2-3, 2B; Coen 2-4, HR, RBI; Morales 2-4, HR, RBI;

Game 2
POR: SS Adame – CF Herrera – RF Pellicano – 1B Toohey – 3B Waters – C Gonzalez – LF Baskins – 2B Carreno – P Baker
BOS: SS C. Jimenez – C Youngquist – RF Ritchey – CF T. Lopez – 2B Galaz – LF Hampton – 1B Wheeler – 3B Round – P B. Jackson

Alex Adame booked a 1-0 lead for the Raccoons with a leadoff jack in the third inning, but they blew that like they blew everything now. Baker had two scoreless innings with two outs, then allowed straight singles to fill the bases to Jackson, Jimenez, and Ryan Youngquist. Joe Ritchey popped out, but Tony Lopez tied the game drawing a walk, and then Galaz cranked a grand slam to give Boston a 5-1 lead.

Why did the Raccoons never get big hits anymore? Toohey had struck out with two aboard in the first, but at least doubled to park himself into scoring position with Pellicano with one out in the sixth. Waters brought in a run with a groundout, 5-2, but Gonzalez flew out to center. Adam Bates pitched in that bottom 6th, got through without giving up a run, but then also headed for Dr. Padilla with an injury.

While I was ready to cover this game too with a drab blanket of mourning, the baseball gods wished to tease me once more. Ben Arner pitched in the ninth, Boston still up 5-2. Martell drew a walk in place of Moreno in the #6 spot with one out, but Baskins grounded to Galaz. The baseball gods though had Galaz fumble the ball for an error, and the tying run was back at the plate with Mercado batting for Arturo Carreno. A walk loaded the bases for … Jimmy Dalton. Well, double switches, huh? Dalton struck out, Adame grounded out, and the Coons lost six straight. 5-2 Titans. Adame 2-5, HR, RBI; Pellicano 2-4;

(pats Wheats on the shoulder) There’s no hope. Maybe you can get a no-decision. Nah, kidding.

Game 3
POR: SS Adame – CF Mercado – 2B Waters – 1B Toohey – LF Baskins – RF Pellicano – 3B Martell – C Gonzalez – P Wheatley
BOS: SS C. Jimenez – LF Hampton – RF Ritchey – CF T. Lopez – 1B V. Chavez – 2B Galaz – C Cardena – 3B F. Cortez – P Turay

Baskins grounded out to strand Mercado and Toohey in the first, and Mercado hit into a double play to wrap up Adame in the third, as the team remained infuriatingly inept at the dish. Wheats started well before having to sit down after two innings owing to rain. Since the Raccoons would not meet Boston again, the game had to be pushed through five innings somehow, preferably with a winner, but remained scoreless through three.

Baskins and Pellicano hit 2-out singles in the fourth, but then Martell grounded out. It just continued. The fifth began with Gonzalez on base, but he was forced out by a poor bunt by Wheats, who was forced out on Adame’s grounder to Cortez, and Adame was caught stealing to end the inning. Wheats scattered four hits through five innings, getting three double plays turned behind himself, which was at least something for the defense ledger…

Mercado’s double to right that opened the sixth left me with little more than a snort. How would they **** up this one? Waters popped out, which was a good start. Toohey didn’t get a chance and shed blame with an intentional walk, and same for Baskins, who got plunked to put three on with one out. Pellicano struck out, the first K for Turay in the ******* game, and Martell flew out to left. Nobody scored, again.

Wheats went six on just some 60 pitches, but felt tired on account of the long rain delay and was removed thus for Herrera to pinch-hit after Turay nicked Gonzalez to begin the seventh. Herrera flew out, but Adame singled and Mercado walked, filling the stupid bases again with one out. Waters barely hit a sac fly to Lopez, and Toohey popped out… Porter defended the 1-0 lead in the bottom 7th, allowing only a bloop single to Vic Chavez, while Bob Ibold shed only an infield single to Jimenez in the eighth. Waters batted with Adame and Mercado on the corners in the ninth, but grounded out on a 3-1 pitch, tacking on no runs. That brought in Mike Lynn for the first time all week and with no cushion whatsoever. Ritchey grounded out to short, but Lopez singled softly to center. Chavez popped out easily to shallow center, Mercado taking the ball. Galaz struck out. 1-0 Blighters. Adame 2-4, BB; Mercado 1-2, 3 BB; Wheatley 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, W (12-7);

In other news

September 2 – NYC SP Yataro Tanabe (1-4, 6.61 ERA) is out for the season with a sore shoulder.
September 2 – Warriors CF Clay Krabbe (.267, 5 HR, 19 RBI) is out for the season as well, having broken his kneecap.
September 2 – Crusaders and Loggers make for a busy box score, playing 12 innings before the Crusaders prevail, 15-14. NYC C Rick Urfer (.265, 12 HR, 65 RBI) has the most productive day with five RBI, despite being double-switched out after eight innings. 51 players are used in the slog in total.
September 6 – RIC 3B Josh Frazier (.243, 7 HR, 36 RBI) could miss the rest of September with an oblique strain.
September 6 – The Aces score 16 runs on 16 hits in a 16-3 rout of the Bayhawks, including a 10-run sixth inning. LVA LF/1B/RF Rusty Stern (.273, 8 HR, 42 RBI) has the best individual day with three hits and four RBI.
September 8 – It’s a no-hitter! TOP SP Kuniyoshi Nagai (14-9, 3.53 ERA) holds the Rebels hitless in a 2-0 win, walking two and whiffing three batters. This is the third no-hitter of the year, and the second time the Rebs have been no-hit in Topeka *this season* after being on the dire end of Jose Arias’ perfect game in April.

FL Player of the Week: TOP OF Dave Lee (.310, 16 HR, 65 RBI), batting .429 (9-21) with 3 HR, 5 RBI
CL Player of the Week: TIJ 1B/C Jon Mittleider (.304, 3 HR, 32 RBI), hitting .480 (12-25) with 1 HR, 6 RBI

Complaints and stuff

This week sucked.

No big hits in big spots – that might be trouble by October, if we get that far. I am saying farewell to 100 wins. 95 looks like a stretch now.

Next week we can look bad against the Loggers and Thunder, who would be our CLCS opponents unless we can somehow butterclaw the division to the Indians still…

Fun Fact: 14-4 on the Titans for the third straight year – the first time we have posted the identical record in the season series for three straight seasons against them.

The real goody here is that it has only happened against three of our division rivals – never against the Loggers or Indians – and only for the fifth time in total. And then ONLY with the Raccoons on the winning end.

The other instances were three 10-8 seasons against the Crusaders in 1994-96, and three times we did it against the damn Elks. A triple of 11-7 seasons in the same three years, 1994-96, and trios of 10-8 in both 2012-14 and 2036-38.

I take that.