[Westheim]

Raccoons (48-34) @ Canadiens (35-48) – July 4-7, 2072

The last thing the Raccoons needed was a trip to Frostbite Central, but there they went, merrily, and I went home to Portland for a moist 92 degrees and alternating treatment for my bothers with a fan and a bottle of Capt’n Coma. It was not the weather to be covered in fur from top to bottom. The damn Elks meanwhile ranked fourth in runs scored and second from the bottom in runs allowed in the CL. They had a -4 run differential, disturbingly close to the Coons’ +12 mark, but there were 13 1/2 games between these teams. The Elks would have eight games against the Coons in the next two weeks, giving them ample opportunity to reverse the 3-1 Portland standings in the season series. They had injuries, though, including regulars John Bustillos, Jose Palominos, and Juan Terrazas, although the latter two were about to return any moment, while Bustillos was out for the season. They also had fringe players Steve Roda and Brandon Barber on the DL.

Projected matchups:
Crispino D’Urso (7-4, 3.48 ERA) vs. Guido Branco (4-11, 4.72 ERA)
Jimmy Wharton (8-5, 3.94 ERA) vs. Jay Williams (11-3, 2.47 ERA)
Tony Gaytan (4-5, 4.31 ERA) vs. Adam McDonald (5-5, 3.95 ERA)
Nick Walla (8-2, 3.27 ERA) vs. B.J. Butrico (6-7, 4.94 ERA)

Only right-handers in that Elks rotation.

The Raccoons, having just put Steve Humphries on the DL, would have to fidget with the lineup again. Jesus Morentin was recalled to make up the numbers.

Game 1
POR: CF LeVan – 2B Yocum – 1B Woodley – RF V.D. Morales – LF Hamel – 3B Gonzales – C Rivas – SS McFarland – P D’Urso
VAN: SS Barraza – 2B Ratliff – RF Dille – CF D. Moore – LF Hernandes – 1B Eaves – C Ma. Lopez – 3B Medford – P Branco

Josh Woodley’s solo jack gave the Portland a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but that wasn’t anything that three singles to left by Angel Hernandes, Tyler Eaves, and Daniel Medford could tie up again in the second inning. Branco then hit a liner right back into Crispy Bear’s mitten to end the inning. The 32-year-old Medford tied the game in his first ABL plate appearance in three years, and his first appearance in an ABL lineup since 2068.

Neither team managed much offense after that, as they both scattered three singles across the next four innings, and nobody made it even to third base. Crispy Bear rung up six in as many innings, but also got his pitch count up to 86. Both pitchers then got removed in the top 7th: Branco for nicking Hamel to begin the inning, and then losing McFarland to a 2-out walk with the runner at third base; and Crispy for the Otter to bat against just-arrived lefty reliever Jason Stine. The effect was not as desired exactly, as the Otter ended up walking. LeVan was 0-for-3 in the leadoff spot and the Coons sent Morentin to bat for him, temporarily blinded by his .409 righty stick (in 22 at-bats, cough!) – but: if it’s stupid, but it works, it isn’t stupid! Morentin singled through the left side, and two runs scored, getting Crispy in line for a W! Yocum ended the inning lining out to Medford, and Morentin remained in the game in center after the stretch.

Five minutes later, Crispy was no longer in line for a W, because the Raccoons’ pen immediately exploded. Newhard came in and put Mario Lopez and Medford on the corners for no outs, and when Ben Craig pinch-hit and Rios was sent out to combat the lefty stick, he gave up a 3-run blast. The Elks in turn blew that lead in the eighth; Woodley got nicked and doubled up on a 4-6-3 double play grounder hit by V.D. that gave me a real itch in the naughty spot, but right-hander Raul Salas then walked Hamel and gave up a slicing 2-out single to right to Gonzales. Kevin Dille’s throw to third base was wild, Hamel turned the corner and went home, and the error evened the score at four. Rivas grounded out to strand Gonzales, and the Raccoons didn’t get on base in the ninth inning. The bottom 9th then started almost like the seventh, with the next fool from the pen – Jackson – issuing a leadoff walk to Lopez. Medford hit into a fielder’s choice and Ryan Kiblin flew out, but Roberto Barraza had yet to do anything to justify him being the reigning CL Player of the Week, so whacked a walkoff double over the head of Morentin in center. 5-4 Canadiens. Morentin (PH) 1-2, 2 RBI; Gonzales 2-4; McFarland 1-2, 2 BB; D’Urso 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K;

Game 2
POR: CF LeVan – 2B Yocum – 1B Woodley – RF V.D. Morales – LF Hamel – 3B Gonzales – C Rivas – SS McFarland – P Wharton
VAN: SS Barraza – 3B Medford – RF Craig – 1B Eaves – C Vaillancourt – 2B Barre – CF J. Hill – LF Dille – P J. Williams

The Elks ran up a 2-0 score in the bottom 1st on … pretty much everything, as Barraza got to a 15-game hitting streak with a line drive single that almost took off Jimmyboy’s head on the way to centerfield, a stolen base, a throwing error by McFarland, a wild pitch, Tyler Eaves’ RBI single, a walk to John Vaillancourt, and then a clumsy double play not turned on Tristan Barre before Jaiden Hill flew out to the warning track to leave runners on the corners. The Raccoons began the top 2nd with the bags full and nobody out as V.D. doubled, Hamel singled, and Gonzales got nailed. Rivas fanned in a full count, but McFarland, who had amends to make, tied the game with a single to right-center, bringing home two runs. The inning ended on a K to Jimmy and LeVan grounding out, a steady 0-for-5 since going to the leadoff spot. The bases then were loaded *again* on two hits and a drilled batter in the third inning, Hamel adding the pain after Yocum and V.D. singles. Edgar Gonzales’ sac fly to Jaiden Hill gave the Raccoons a 3-2 lead, but Rivas popped out to leave on a pair. Another run got added in the fourth with two down as LeVan walked, stole second, and then scored on a single by Yocum, who also stole second, but Woodley popped out to end the inning.

The game then moved quickly to the bottom 6th, where the Elks opened with Eaves and Vaillancourt singles against Jimmy and ran Kiblin for the lead runner, which wasn’t even the tying run, but who am I to complain about their stupid decisions when I was utterly confident that we could still out-stupid them? Barre popped out and Hill hit into a fielder’s choice to short, so runners were at the corners for the .233 hitter Dille, who took Jimmy’s first offering to him and bashed it to deep center. It looked like the next score-flipping 3-run homer, but the ball died mid-air and came down in LeVan’s mitten on the warning track, somehow, ending the inning. The Elks had another pair on base in the bottom 7th as Barraza singled and Medford walked, but Jimmy gutted out two strikeouts against Craig and PH Andy Ratliff to complete seven, and also his day’s work, leaving with a 4-2 lead.

The Coons extended their lead to 5-2 when Jack Hamel bashed a leadoff homer off Paul Wolk in the eighth, then burned three bench players for no gains before the inning was over, and then sent out Pedro Valentin to face two right-handers, of whom he plunked half on base before being yanked for McMahan, who retired nobody thanks to a Yocum error and then RBI singles for Dille and Lopez. Rismiller came in, gave up another single to Barraza to load the bases, and then a game-tying sac fly to Medford before striking out Craig; and for the second time in as many games in Elk City, the ******* pen had blown a multi-run lead as soon as they got their grabby paws on it.

Guillermo Arzola, left-hander, was sent into the ninth by the Elks, but gave up three singles to LeVan, Woodley, and Morales to give the Coons a new lead to blow to pieces. Another single by Hamel loaded the bases, but Gonzales popped out for the second out (after Yocum). Sam Brown was next and couldn’t be hit for due to our pinch-hitting shenanigans for no gains an inning earlier – but hit a 2-out, 2-run single through the left side to extend the lead! After McFarland punched out against Salas, the 3-run lead went to Newhard. He got two outs before giving up a homer to Tristan Barre, then walked Jaiden Hill. For crying out loud, BOYS!!! Dille hit a fly to left that sent Hamel back, but the ball came down to him at the edge of the warning track, ending a wicked game. 8-6 Raccoons. Yocum 3-5, RBI; Woodley 2-5; V.D. Morales 2-4, BB, 2B, RBI; Hamel 3-4, HR, RBI; Brown 1-1, 2 RBI; Wharton 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K;

This pen was getting worse and worser.

Game 3
POR: CF LeVan – 2B Yocum – 1B Woodley – RF V.D. Morales – LF Hamel – 3B Gonzales – C Brown – SS Mata – P Gaytan
VAN: SS Barraza – 2B Ratliff – RF Dille – CF D. Moore – LF Hernandes – 1B Eaves – C Ma. Lopez – 3B Kiblin – P McDonald

The bottle got bitten open early on Wednesday as the Raccoons both hit into a double play and then made an error causing Gaytan extra agony in both of the first two innings. Yocum was on both ends of the misery in the first, and Hamel and Woodley split the honors in the second inning. Gaytan also had plenty of pitches missing, but somehow kept the game scoreless through five, even though it already took him 75 pitches to get that far on a 2-hitter. There was no offensive support (but Brown hit into a double play in the fifth), and Dan Moore hit a sharp single off Gaytan in the sixth, but was also left on base.

The Raccoons wouldn’t even score when Ryan Kiblin made not one, but TWO errors in the same inning in the eighth, while Gaytan pitched bravely through eight innings, but looked deeply unhappy with himself and the universe when Kevin Dille drove a ball into the right-center gap that both LeVan and Morales missed, and that then gigglingly rolled away from LeVan while Dille circled the bases and scored the game’s only run on an inside-the-park homer. Woodley slapped a triple in the ninth inning, but with two outs and while ex-Coon Danny Nava struck out LeVan, Yocum, and Morales to kill the game. 1-0 Canadiens. LeVan 2-4; Gaytan 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, L (4-6);

Chad, I’ll need that costume of yours. Maybe if I run around in the sun with that, a terrible heat stroke will put me out of my misery.

(Maud intervenes as he tries to rip the smiling raccoon head off a screaming Chad’s head)

Yocum needed a day off on Thursday, not that this would hurt our valiant failure to score.

Game 4
POR: CF LeVan – 2B Morentin – 1B Woodley – RF V.D. Morales – LF Hamel – C Brown – SS Mata – 3B Luebbert – P Walla
VAN: SS Barraza – 2B Ratliff – RF Dille – CF D. Moore – LF Hernandes – 1B Eaves – C Ma. Lopez – 3B Medford – P Butrico

Straight singles by the 1-2-3 batters gave the Coons a 1-0 lead to begin the game, and then Morales hit into a double play and Hamel popped out to kill the inning, and the Elks answered with their own 3-hit inning in the bottom 2nd, but scored two runs off Walla with a Hernandes single, Mario Lopez’ single, Medford’s RBI double, and another RBI single from Barraza (who had his hitting streak end the day before and was reasonably angry about it). Ratliff then grounded out to end the inning.

Jack Hamel tied the game in the fourth with a solo homer *and* set a lofty new team high for bombs in their 86th game of the year with SEVEN. At the bottom of the order, Mata and Luebbert then snapped 2-out singles, but Walla whiffed to leave them on. The Raccoons also let a Morentin double pass into oblivion in the fifth inning, while Walla held the tie, but was rather unimpressive and needed 83 pitches through five innings.

It took Hamel again to get something going in the sixth inning as he hit a leadoff single. Brown popped out, but Mata hit a double to right-center and that one got Hamel, with an early start, around to score and give the Raccoons a 3-2 lead. Luebbert popped out, and Walla came up to bat again with two outs and a body in scoring position – and this time got him home with a single to center! A strikeout to LeVan ended the inning, and Walla’s heroics didn’t extend beyond 5.2 innings. Dille singled leading off the bottom 6th, but was forced out by Dan Moore. Hernandes grounded out, but Eaves hit a scratch single to put the tying runs on the corners, and the Raccoons made a move to Cam Jackson, who gave up a fly to deep right, but not so deep that Morales couldn’t get to it, stranding the runners.

Morentin doubled, Woodley singled, and Morales walked to load the bases against Butrico to start off the seventh inning, and I was whining for a knockout blow from Hamel, but Butrico rung him up… but then gave up a station-to-station RBI single to Brown and was removed from the game. Stine gave up another run on Mata’s groundout, then popped up Luebbert to second to end the inning, the Coons holding a 6-2 lead at the stretch. We then got three total outs from Jackson, and four from McMahan, who entered with McFarland in a double switch that exchanged shortstops; and then had the bases loaded again with nobody out in the ninth against Stine as the Otter singled in place of Woodley, V.D. got a walk, and Hamel reached on a rare Barraza error. Yocum batted for Brown and hit an RBI single, and Gonzales drew a walk in place of the pitcher to force in another run before the Elks sent a new left-hander, Arzola. Luebbert grounded to third, where Medford tried to start a 5-4-3 double play, but Ratliff dropped his throw at second for another error, and the Elks still hadn’t gotten an out in the inning. McFarland whiffed, and LeVan’s groundout brought in another run, as did a Morentin single to left. The Otter got to bat *again* and singled up the middle, bringing in another run, before Rivas batted for V.D. and ended the 6-spot (almost entirely unearned) with a groundout. Between Valentin on the hill and the Otter out of position at first base, the Raccoons then managed to make the 10-run lead stand up in the bottom of the ninth. It was only a Barre homer and then Valentin ******* the bags full before Dille popped out to Luebbert to give me a heartache. 12-3 Critters! Morentin 4-6, 2 2B, RBI; Woodley 2-4, RBI; van Otterdijk (PH) 2-2, RBI; Hamel 2-5, HR, RBI; Yocum (PH) 1-1, RBI; Mata 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI;

Valentin’s ERA was up to seven-flat now.

Also, Indy and the Crusaders both lost three games to the Titans and Loggers, respectively, so the top three in the division were now under a half-game blanket (and the Loggers lurked just 3 1/2 games out) for our series against the Crusaders, starting a long homestand.

Raccoons (50-36) vs. Crusaders (50-36) – July 8-10, 2072

These teams were tied in the standings, but anything but that in the season series, which the Crusaders threatened to dominate with a 6-3 score as the series began. They ranked second from the bottom in offense, but allowed the fewest runs in the CL, and the Raccoons would probably be back in Struggletown despite an offensive outburst on Thursday. With Bobby Wildman and Adam Dochterman, the Crusaders had injuries only to fringe players.

The Crusaders parted ways with infielder Kyle Reber (.283, 1 HR, 17 RBI) on the way in, as he got traded to the Warriors for outfielder Fernando Aracena (.424, 0 HR, 4 RBI) and a prospect.

Projected matchups:
Steve George (4-2, 4.12 ERA) vs. Danny Ortiz (4-2, 3.01 ERA)
Crispino D’Urso (7-4, 3.33 ERA) vs. Dennis Marck (5-3, 2.74 ERA)
Jimmy Wharton (8-5, 3.78 ERA) vs. Nick Ellis (7-6, 4.17 ERA)

Still only right-handers, so the Coons wouldn’t see a southpaw starter for a couple of weeks here, which was mostly a problem for the George van Otterdijks on the roster.

Game 1
NYC: 2B Way – SS Joe King – 1B Ledesma – RF Donaldson – LF Griffin – C Stephens – 3B Lacatelli – CF DuKate – P D. Ortiz
POR: 2B Yocum – CF Morentin – 1B Woodley – RF V.D. Morales – LF Hamel – 3B Gonzales – C Rivas – SS McFarland – P George

George struck out five and was perfect the first time through the lineup for 36 pitches, but the Raccoons were only marginally more successful on the attack. Yocum hit a single to begin the bottom 1st and then was doubled up by Morentin, and McFarland drew a walk in the third inning and was stranded at second after a bunt by George, who was then put in his place in the fourth inning as Joe Way singled, Joe King reached on an error by Morales, and Justin Donaldson socked a 2-run double with one out. George lost Tony Griffin on balls, and Roy Stephens singled, but Morales now threw out Donaldson at the plate as he tried to score from second. Miguel Lacatelli flew out to center, holding the Crusaders to two runs (one earned).

…which appeared like plenty, because the Coons couldn’t mount anything against Ortiz, and the Crusaders loaded the bases again with their pitcher and all the Joe Schmoes they could muster in the fifth inning before Raul Ledesma popped out and Donaldson grounded out to strand all runners.

George got to the stretch before running out of whoop on account of three walks and eight strikeouts, but the Coons were being 3-hit by Ortiz into the late innings. Rismiller had a scoreless eighth, but Rios got taken deep by Brad DuKate in the ninth inning to tack on a run for New York. Ortiz remained on the mound in the bottom 9th, entering on just *82* pitches. Morentin, Woodley, and Morales disappeared on just FOUR more pitches, and Ortiz had a shutout on just 86 tosses. 3-0 Crusaders. McFarland 1-2, BB, 2B; George 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, L (4-3);

Since Indy kept losing, this one gave the Crusaders the division lead by half a game.

Both teams made deals on Friday night, as the Crusaders acquired Cincy’s 3B/2B Miguel Ramirez (.272, 1 HR, 17 RBI) for backup infielder Robert Ortiz (.200, 0 HR, 2 RBI); and the Indians traded for the Blue Sox’ catcher Pete Gillin (.365, 0 HR, 6 RBI) and cash, paying with #113 prospect SP Craig Lupkoski.

Game 2
NYC: 3B Lacatelli – SS Joe King – 1B Ledesma – RF Donaldson – LF Griffin – 2B Way – C Stephens – CF DuKate – P Marck
POR: 2B Yocum – CF Morentin – 1B Woodley – LF Hamel – 3B Gonzales – RF van Otterdijk – C Rivas – SS McFarland – P D’Urso

Crispy Bear could become the team’s best starter by ERA at the All Star Game if he pitched at least 5.1 innings to qualify and best not give up an earned run (or one at most unless he wanted to go the distance). A leadoff walk to Lacatelli, a wild pitch, a couple more full counts, and then an RBI double by Donaldson put a dent into that plan from the get-go, and the dream was pretty much dead after Stephens doubled, another wild pitch, a DuKate RBI triple, and after a K to Marck and Lacatelli’s inning-ending groundout, already 51 pitches on the clock. Also a 2-0 deficit that was quickly developing into Vinny Morales’ weekly outing. D’Urso was also half the Coons’ offense the first time through, hitting a single in the third inning, but was left on base along with Morentin. Hamel homered to shorten the score to 2-1 in the fourth, and the Otter and Rivas also reached base in the inning, but ended up stranded on a poor out by McFarland and Crispy punching a K.

The top of the Crusaders’ lineup then ended D’Urso’s D’ay with a double, single, and triple with one out in the fifth, chasing him down 4-1. Donaldson lined out to second and Griffin flew out to right to strand Ledesma and his triple against Cam Jackson, and Vinny got the ball after that, but got torn to bits in a 4-hit, 3-steal, 3-run sixth inning already, then gave up a two more hits, two steals, and a run in the seventh. In between Gabe Rivas had hit one of his meaningless solo homers. Fallen closer Pedro Valentin pitched the eighth for a Lacatelli single, a K on King, and a double play grounder by Ledesma, which already made him a hot candidate for the team’s Pitcher of the Week award. Newhard added a scoreless ninth. 8-2 Crusaders. Van Otterdijk 2-4; McFarland 3-4;

The math didn’t quite work out for Crispy Bear after that one…..

Game 3
NYC: 3B Lacatelli – 2B Way – LF Griffin – 1B Ledesma – RF Donaldson – C Marty – SS Roza – CF DuKate – P N. Ellis
POR: 2B Yocum – CF Morentin – 1B Woodley – RF V.D. Morales – LF Hamel – 3B Gonzales – C Brown – SS McFarland – P Wharton

The weather looked like trouble on Sunday, but that was the least of our concerns after Wharton put the top three in the Crusaders lineup on base and they gradually all scored in that top of the first on Griffin’s single, Donaldson’s groundout, and another single by Ryan Marty. Morentin’s triple and Woodley’s RBI single in the bottom 1st made up a run, but the Crusaders and their terrible offense (wink, wink) shrugged and shoveled more runners on the bases, and Ryan Marty then socked a 3-run homer in the third inning that basically put the game away. Jimmy lingered for five before being lifted for McMahan, who pitched just as uselessly, allowed a single to Josh Roza, nailed DuKate, and then gave up an RBI double to the ******* opposing pitcher in the sixth inning. Woodley and V.D. made up a run with 2-out hits in the bottom 6th, so we were only trailing by five at that point. Aren’t they cute?

The Coons scattered a couple more hits in the next two innings while patching pitching with Valentin, Rios, and Jackson, who didn’t give up any late runs. We even got Ellis out of the game after only eight innings, yay! Leo Garcia had the bottom 9th and gave up a leadoff triple to Hamel, who scored on a sac fly by Gonzales, which wasn’t exactly advancing a rally. Our pair of lackluster left-handed catchers then ended the game with meager outs. 7-3 Crusaders. Morentin 2-4, 3B; Woodley 3-4, 2B, RBI;

In other news

July 7 – Salem picks up 2B/OF Gordie Warner (.274, 1 HR, 10 RBI) from the Blue Sox for a prospect.
July 9 – A knee sprain puts Falcons CF/RF Landon Collins (.240, 7 HR, 46 RBI) on the DL for the next month.
July 10 – Capitals SP Ken Nielsen (8-7, 2.90 ERA) has his season end with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow.

Player of the Week (FL): CIN 1B Mike White (.324, 10 HR, 39 RBI), bashing .500 (13-26) with 4 HR, 13 RBI
Player of the Week (CL): MIL 1B/RF/LF Cesar Ramirez (.350, 22 HR, 53 RBI), shooting .462 (12-26) with 2 HR, 8 RBI

Complaints and stuff

Nick Walla was the Raccoons’ only All Star this season, pitching to a 9-2 mark and 3.26 ERA. He was in the top 10 for wins and ERA in the CL, but not strikeouts, but ranked third in BB/9 and fourth in K/BB to pretty up the numbers. The Coons had three starters (Wharton, Gaytan, Crispy Bear) in the top 7 for K/BB, but Walla wasn’t among them. This was his second All Star nomination, consecutively with last year, after getting snubbed throughout his 20s.

The Knights keep offering us catcher Lorenzo Marquez to return to Portland, but he’s 35 and his body is done with baseball. The Raccoons need a catcher though, because this arrangement isn’t working. Sniffing around the Falcons’ Andy Johnson a bit, but they want more prospects for him that I’m ready to burn … yet.

And then we’ll also need an entirely new pen, like every year.

The Buffaloes returned outfielder Eddy Valdez to the Raccoons this week after having taken him in the Rule 5 draft. He had played only six games for the Buffos.* Valdez then tore his ACL three days later and is now out for the season. (looks up at the baseball gods, but doesn’t say anything)

Still bidding on Felipe Salinas, with the price approaching $1.5M, not including a penalty tax hit of $500k+. The Coons could be forced to choose between that young middle infielder and actual improvements to the team they already had. (looks over to the bullpen, brightly ablaze)

Three days off (unless you’re Nick Walla), and then there’d be another ten home games against the damn Elks, Loggers, and Aces.

Fun Fact: 42-year-old Knights closer Ricardo Montoya (3-4, 3.86 ERA, 18 SV) made his 11th All Star Game.

He’s going for the first time since ’66, winning eight nods as a starter for the Warriors, and two more in his two years in New York after that.

He’s also handing out as many strikeouts as he issues walks this year, so this could be the final All Star Game of his 20-year career.

Montoya is 235-122 with a 2.91 ERA and 62 saves in a career of exactly 3,200 innings across 650 games (517 starts), striking out 2,794 batters. He won FL Rookie of the Year honors in 2053, two FL Pitcher of the Year awards in 2059 and 2064 and then a CL Reliever of the Year award in ’65 when the poor Crusaders signed too many starting pitchers and Montoya had to save 43 games for an 0.76 ERA. He won a triple crown in ’59, and in total led the FL in ERA and strikeouts three times each, and also three times in WHIP. For good measure, he got a Platinum Stick in ’55, and last year, after much trying, a World Series ring with the Aces, arriving there only mid-season after a trade from Elk City.

+++

*He played 49 games in AAA for them, which has to be a bug that I probably can’t hope to get fixed in OOTP 16 anymore.