Playing out the string
The last part of a very forgettable season
The Architects have 18 games left in the season and are 15 games behind USA co-leaders Duluth and Toledo. The tragic number is just is just 4 games and we are eliminated. Basically the team is playing for pride to finish 3rd and not further embarss themselves. We stand 1 game ahead of Detroit (4th), and just 3 games above Traverse City (5th).
We won't go through all the details of who we play and all of that, its just time to get to the end of the season and watch the playoffs quietly.
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At least my Seahawks won the Super Bowl in dominating fashion. We will just do game recaps as provided by our league commisshioner as always. He is the one who puts the game "articles" together that I use.
The league is having some off-season votes that will address some financial issues in the league although I am pretty sure what we will need to do the next several seasons. I will go into those more as they are decided but let's just call the CBA adjustments, which I am sure the players will not like.
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The club was predicted by the pundits to finish 3rd and win 80 games. We would have to go 16-2 to get to that 80 win number.
Owen Sound vs Chicago
August 30th 2056
A - 32,851
Chicago’s Yale Hulbert (5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K) picks up his eighth win (8-5) of the season. Joe Hunt homers late, but all the earlier Tects runs score on no-fun-to-write-about singles and groundouts.
Chicago 6, Owen Sound 3.
J Hunt 2-4 HR 2R RBI, 1B R Osborn 2-3 R RBI 2BB, LF R LeRoy 2-4 R RBI BB, CF C Luna 3-4 TP 2RBI
HR - OWS - none CH - C J Hunt (16)
POTG - Chicago SP Yale Hulburt (6)
Owen Sound vs Chicago
August 31st 2056
A - 36,079
Motoyuki Inoue (5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K) and four Chicago relievers shutout Owen Sound. Joe Justice homers. Guo-Quiang Lee singles in run, and Kent Noseworthy singles in two. SP Inoue picks up his 3rd straight player of the game award.
Chicago 4, Owen Sound 0.
1B R Osborn 2-4 CL P Wright 1/3IP K S (30)
HR - OWS - none CH - DH J Justice (11)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (8)
Milwaukee vs Chicago
Friday September 1st, 2056
A - 36,905
Lots of late drama. The game goes to the eighth, 2-2. Milwaukee’s Alexandre Gasnier doubles in two. Eagles lead, 4-2. Chicago strikes back. Cris Luna and Joe Justice double in runs, and Reagan Osborn singles in Justice. Tects lead, 5-4. In the ninth, Milwaukee’s Cory Seguin, Randy Hiscock, and William Jones all double. The first two score.
Milwaukee 6, Chicago 5.
1B R Osborn 3-5 DB RBI 2SB, SS K Mulford 2-4 DB R BB, CF C Luna DB R RBI
HR - None
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (9)
Milwaukee vs Chicago
Saturday September 2nd, 2056
A - 37,023
Held scoreless for the first five, the Tects score three in the sixth and six in the seventh. Cris Luna’s three-run home run provides the first set of three runs. The six runs in the sixth score on a bases-loaded hit batsman, bases-loaded base-on-balls, bases-loaded single, bases-loaded wild pitch, and finally a two-run single.
Chicago 9, Milwaukee 2.
CF C Luna 2-5 HR 2R 4RBI, LF R LeRoy 2-4 2RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 R
HR - Mil - none CH - CF C Luna (16)
POTG - Chicago CF Cris Luna (4)
Milwaukee vs Chicago
Sunday September 3rd, 2056
A - 36,971
I had to check that I was on the correct day, because Chicago wins by the exact same score that they won by yesterday. Reagan Osborn’s two-run home run kicks off a four-run first. That home run gives Osborn precisely 30 home runs and 100 RBIs on the season. Nice. I just noticed that teammate Rodeo Leroy already had 31 home runs and 100 RBIs. That is a nice pair to have in the middle of your lineup. Anyway, Joe Hunt also hits a two-run home run. That gives him “just” 17 home runs and 70 RBIs on the season. Considering he’s played in 50 fewer games than Osborn or Leroy, his RBI total might be the most impressive of the bunch.
Chicago 9, Milwaukee 2.
DH J Justice 2-5 2R, RF M Nakayama 2-43R BB, 3B T Arnaud 3-4 R BB, SS K Mulford 2-5 3RBI
HR - Mil - none CH - 1B R Osborn (30), C J Hunt (17)
POTG - Chicago SP Val Imbert (3)
Summary - Before anyone gets too excited that Chicago won 4 out of 5 games at home. It has to be pointed out that Owen Sound is in 5th place in Canada and Milwaukee is dead last in the entire GLBL. Our combined record against these two clubs is 22-6. We stand at 68-63 with 13 games left and we our tragic number is just 1. We head to Duluth next where the Sea Gulls look to wrap up their 1st USA division crown in 36 years (2020 when they also won the GLBL Series).
Chicago @ Duluth
Tuesday September 4th, 2056
A - 39,641
Toledo doesn't clinch a playoff spot after losing their game. However, they do clinch a playoff spot anyway! Duluth’s Carlos Sánchez hits a two-run home run, Joe Hunt hits a two-run double, and Gabin Roux (5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 B, 5K) picks up a win in his very first major-league start. Félicitations, Gabin! The loss eliminates Chicago.
Duluth 4, Chicago 3.
2B J Lambert -23 BB SB (34), DH J Justice 2-4 DB R,
HR - CH - 1B R Osborn (31), Dul RF C Sanchez (27), C S White (9)
POTG - Duluth C Sean White
Chicago @ Duluth
Wednesday September 5th, 2056
A - 39,730
Chicago’s Motoyuki Inoue (6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 10 K) strikes out an even 10 and picks up his 10th win as an Architect, John Lambert doubles in the tying run and scores the leading run on a Reagan Osborn single.
Chicago 5, Duluth 4.
2B J Lambert 2-4 DB R 2RBI BB 2SB (36), 1B R Osborn 2-4 RBI BB, LF R Leroy 2-5,
HR - CH - DH T Stone (9) Dul - 1B J Rangel (44)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (9)
Chicago @ Duluth
Thursday September 6th, 2056
A - 39,895
Chicago’s José Cedeño (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K) wins his major-league leading 15th game of the season. Kent Noseworthy, Marc Nakayama, and Cris Luna homer.
Chicago 12, Duluth 3.
C J Hunt 3-6 2DB R RBI, LF R Leroy 3-5 2R 2RBI, 3B T Arnaud 3-4 2R BB, RF M Nakayama 2-5 HR R 3RBI, SS K Mulford 3-5 DB R RBI, CF C Luna 2-5 HR 2R 3RBI
HR - CH - DH K Noseworthy (8), RF K Nakayama (7), F C Luna (17), Dul - none
POTG - Chicago SP Jose Cedeno (10)
Chicago @ Toledo
Friday September 8th, 2056
A - 39,573
Chicago’s John Moore (7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K) out-pitches Toledo’s Nick Keddy (6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K). Kent Noseworthy’s RBI single in the seventh breaks a 1-1 deadlock.
Chicago 4, Toledo 1.
C J Hunt 2-5 DB RBI
HR - CH - none Tol RF M Wadell (20)
POTG - Chicago SP John Moore (7)
Chicago @ Toledo
Saturday September 9th, 2056
A - 39,610
Having been eliminated, the Architects are suddenly on a hot streak. They score five in the sixth and win their fourth straight. Joe Hunt and Reagan Osborn single in runs. Thomas Arnaud walks with the bases loaded. A two-out miscue by the shortstop lets two more score.
Chicago 5, Toledo 2.
SS K Mulford 2-4 R BB, CF J Ross 2-4 R
HR - CH none Tol - C J Richard (11)
POTG - Chicago SP Val Imbert (4)
Chicago @ Toledo
Sunday September 10th, 2056
A - 39,725
Chicago’s Thomas Arnaud ties the game, 3-3, with a two-run single in the sixth. The next inning, John Lambert hits a solo home run. SP Inoue wins his 11 game with Chicago and 15th on the season.
Chicago 4, Toledo 3.
RF M Nakayama 2-4 DB R RBI SP M Inoue 6IP 7H 3R 1BB 6K, CL P Wright 1IP 1K S (34)
HR - CH - 1B R Osborn (32), 2B J Lambert (23), Tol - SS C Montano (6)
POTG - Chicago SP Motoyuki Inoue (10)
Summary - So where was this all season long. The club has gone 10-2 down the stretch and sits at 73-65 on the season. We have firmly secured 3rd place barring a complete disaster. Winning 80 games is out the window and honestly I didn't even think that would be a challenge this season, especially after picking up SP Inoue and shoring up our SS position with Mulford. But several injuries to SS Mulford and DH Aranda and a terrible season from SU Larry Stott to go along with a terrible record in 1-run games has put us where we are. Duluth has all but clinched the US division crown and they are trying to set a club record for wins (87 is the most and they current sit on 86.).
1B Reagan Osborn has 104 RBI's with 6 games to play and LF Robert LeRoy has 102. Both have a shot at breaking Daniel Huffman's club record for RBI's in a season which sits at 108.
We wrap up the season at home against 5th place Traverse City who is trying to get to 500 and 4th place Detroit who is trying to have a winning season for the first time in 9 years. Personally I hope we can keep both of them from reaching those goals by finishing the season strong. Rookie SP Curt Hopkins who we hope will be a frontrunner for next seasons rookie of the year will get the start in game 1 against TC.
Traverse City vs Chicago
Tuesday September 12th, 2056
A - 39,152
Chicago’s 1B Reagan Osborn hits a pair of long balls and a double. He drives in four but he scores five times. Osborn ties Daniel Huffman's Chicago most RBI in a season with 108. 2B John Lambert doubles, triples, and drives in three.
Chicago 14, Traverse City 2.
CF C Luna 2-4 2R BB, RF T Stone 2-3 DB R RBI, 1B R Osborn 3-4 DB 2HR 5R 4RBI BB, 2B J Lambert 2-4 TP 2R 3RBI BB, C G Lee 3-5 DB R 2RBI
HR - TC - RF E Foote (19), CH - 1B R Osborn 2 (34)
POTG - Chicago 1B Reagan Osborn (7)
Traverse City vs Chicago
Wednesday September 13th, 2056
A - 38,976
Traverse City’s Cal Braud goes 5-for-5. All five hits are singles. He drives in two but doesn’t score even once. Ben Marshall ties the game, 4-4, with a two-run home run in the seventh. Chicago takes the lead on a Rodeo Leroy RBI single. Traverse City takes the lead when Wally Whitaker doubles in a run, then scores on a Bernie Stoddart single. In the bottom of the ninth, Chicago’s Guo-Quiang Lee doubled in Doug Hill. Tie game, 6-6. In the 10th, Thomas Arnaud singles, John Ross doubles, and Joe Hunt singles in Arnaud.
Chicago 7, Traverse City 6. 10 Innings
2B J Lambert 3-3 2DB 2R RBI BB, 1B R Osborn 2-4 RBI (109 club record) BB, LF R Leroy 2-5 HR R 2RBI, CF J Ross 2-5 DB
HR - TC - DH B Marshall (13), CH - LF R Leroy (32), DH K Noseworthy (9)
POTG - Chicago 2B John Lambert (4)
Traverse City vs Chicago
Thursday September 14th, 2056
A - 38,226
The game is tied, 7-7, as we enter the ninth. Traverse City’s Alexis Martin leads off the inning with a triple. Chicago intentionally walks Cal Braud—but Braud is caught napping. Chicago picks him off! They intentionally walk Earl Foote. Barney Tomiak comes to the plate. In what surely will gladden the heart of Traverse City’s General Manager, Tomiak lays down a perfect squeeze bunt. Martin scores. Bernie Stoddart then singles in Foote. Traverse City 9, Chicago 7.
C J Hunt 2-4 DB R, LF R Leroy 2-5 DB 2R 2RBI, SS K Mulford 2-4 R
HR - TC - DH B Tomiak (14), RF E Foote (20), LF D Sonier (1) Ch - none
POTG - Traverse City LF Barney Tomiak
Final series of the season at home against Detroit. Detroit needs 1 win to clinch a 500 season and 2 wins to have a winning record.
Detroit vs Chicago
Friday September 15th 2056
A - 39,035
His first time up, Detroit’s John Nichols slugs a two-run home run. His third time up, he smacks a two-run single. Joo-Seok Kim (6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K) lulls Tects batters to sleep for six innings, taking a shutout into the seventh. He gets yanked after he walks the leadoff man, Tom Stone, and he gets charged with a run when Stone steals second, steals third, and scores when the catcher’s throw to third sails into left.
Detroit 5, Chicago 3.
LF R Leroy 2-4 R, RF K Nakayama 2-4 R, 3B T Arnaud 2-4
HR - Det CF John Nichols (18), CH - none
POTG - Detroit CF John Nichols
Detroit vs Chicago
Saturday September 16th 2056
A - 38,937
For the first time in nine years. The T-Birds will finish the season with a winning record. Dwayne Miller (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K) plays the Sandman and sends Chicago batters to sleep. John Nichols, who homered yesterday, homers today. He has 19 on the season, so you can bet he’ll be trying for 20 tomorrow.
Detroit 4, Chicago 1.
2B J Lambert 2-4 RBI, C D Hill 2-4 DB R
HR - Det CF J Nichols (19) CH - none
POTG - Detroit SP Dwayne Miller
Saturday, September 16th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: SP Curt Hopkins was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: herniated disc (neck). He's expected to miss about 5-6 weeks. This was not the news we wanted to hear about someone that we are counting on. It's not a major injury perse but Hopkins has had a few nagging back injuries the last 2 seasons and that is a concern.
Detroit vs Chicago
Sunday September 17th 2056
A - 38,410
Cris Luna’s two singles drove in three Chicago runs. Tom Stone drives in three via a single and a double. John Lambert’s home run drives in two. The Tects and T-Birds finish third and fourth in the USA, and they’ll likely lose some sleep this off-season, wondering what might have been.
Chicago 9, Detroit 4.
CF C Luna 2-4 R 3RBI, RF T Stone 2-5 DB 3RBI, 2B J Lambert 2-4 HR 2R 2RBI, 3B T Arnaud 2-4 R
HR - Det LF M Akerval (13), CH - 2B J Lambert (24)
POTG - Chicago CF Cris Luna (5)
Sunday, September 17th , 2056 - Chicago Architects: RP Kieron Aplin was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: shoulder inflammation. He's expected to miss about 3 months.
Summary - Long season but we continued my streak of winning seasons in Chicago getting number 5 and finishing with a disappointing 76-68 record. Good enough for 3rd place and we closed the gap on 2nd place Toledo (for what that is worth) shaving off 9 games and coming within 6 of 2nd place.
Toledo had a disasterous run to finish the season going 3-12 in September and losing their last 3 in August. Not too many teams can finish a season 3-15 and hope to win in the playoffs. None the less we wish both Duluth who did win a club record 88th game this season and Toledo the best of luck in the playoffs. Hamilton won the Canadian Division and upstart Kingston who was picked to finish 5th by those know-it-alls that do predictions, finished as the wildcard.
We will do a summary of the season in the next post and what to expect in what will likely be a quiet off-season for the Architects. We have no budget money to go buy much so it will be looking for bargains and maybe trying to pare a little salary off the books. But I do like this team and I do think we will be back and winning the US division next season.