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Old 05-11-2019, 10:50 AM   #231
Bub13
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Maine
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PLAYOFFS 2046

NL Wildcard -- New Orleans takes a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth thanks to a walk, single, and sac fly. Philly, however, ties it up on a sac fly of their own, and we're off to extras. In the 10th, NO goes down on just four pitches, and the Phils produce the following in their half: BB, BB, HPB, F8 (runners hold), WP = win! Philly is off to the league semis, to face division foes Atlanta.

AL Wildcard -- KC vs DET was much less thrilling, tbh. After taking an early 2-1 lead, KC hands it right back thanks to a Sean West (AL HR King) 3-run blast. The Tigers add one more, while holding the Royals to just four hits, and fairly well coast to a 5-2 win. Off to the next round, where they'll face...Hawaii! I swear, it's either Oakland or Detroit for us. Every. Single. Year.


DIVISIONAL ROUNDS
Doesn't it seem like we play Detroit every year? Did I just say that? Let's see...beat them in the ALCS 4-3 in 2045...they beat us in the ALCS 4-3 in 2041...ditto, but 4-1 in 2040...and that's it. Huh. It seems like more. Maybe it's those two hard losses, especially in '41, when we were so, so good and then the bullpen kept pressing the EJECT button in that 7th game. Unnnngh. Okay, we've got a chance to even the score. At least we've got three titles to their, um...none, in recent years.

Having said all that, for an 87-win team, the Tigers look super scary. Offense was a bit spotty, but with characteristic power: 13th in AVG, but 4th in runs and OBP, and 2nd in HR. Ten batters on the playoff roster hit double figures in HR, with Sean West (52), John Sheets (41), and old man CJ Lee (37) leading the way. Pitching was uniformly strong, 3rd in runs, with the 5th-rated rotation and bullpen. Raul Bravo was the ace, but Mike Cote and Jeffrey Foley were better than league average. Closer Alex Castaneda recorded 39 saves and is looking for his 2nd Wilhelm trophy. Although I'm not sure why T.J. Carroll (14-8, 4.39) is in the pen in favor of putting T.J. Bohanan (7-5, 6.02) into the rotation. Injuries: four players are on the DL, but none were prominent during the season, so they're healthy. CJ Lee has a nagging dtd injury, but it shouldn't hamper his batting.

For us, we make just a couple of decisions regarding the playoff roster. Backup OF Nate Flygare, who hit .310 in just 58 AB, is left off in favor of hot rookie Dante Padilla (.400 in 30 AB). We'll roll with four OF, with Glenn Heath (.281 in 32 AB) getting the nod. And, sadly, Rob Hart is left off of the pitching staff, in favor of swingmen Khalil Palmer and Tim Pinksen. Neither of those two were exactly world beaters this year, but Pinks has had some success in the pen of late, and Palmer looks like he's a good choice for LR. Hart had a few promising starts, but never gelled and finished the year with a 7.24 ERA and 64 walks in 98.2 IP. It's a sad day for me, but a necessary one. Sigh. Otherwise, we're healthy save for Taylor Barnett's dtd back injury, which my trainers tell me won't affect his pitching at all. Well okay then.

Game One, Sunday, October 7: Detroit (Mike Cote, 12-12 4.27) @ Hawaii (Eric Jones, 19-3 3.28). We're outhit 9-5, not a great sign for the rest of the series. CJ Lee hits a line drive HR in the 2nd, but we tie it up on a couple of walks and hits in the bottom half. Detroit adds another one right away, tho, with Sean West driving in the go-ahead run. Bottom of the 8th now, same score: runners on 1st and 3rd, and Chris Sanborn is the first playoff hero of 2046 thanks to his smash double into the RF gap, bringing home both runners. Jones goes 6.1 innings, and while not great (8 H, 4 BB), he keeps runs off the board for the most part. Then Stanley (!) and Brown shut things down, with the latter fanning two Tigers in the 9th to end it. Hawaii 3, Detroit 2. HAW leads 1-0

ELSEWHERE: Atlanta takes 13 innings to dink out 5 hits and grind out a 3-2 game one over Philly. Likewise, Portland rides six hits to a slightly easier 3-1 victory over Cincy. The next day, Atlanta bats wake up to the tune of an 11-4 win, taking a 2-0 series lead. Cincy, however, evens their series with a 5-3 win over the Pioneers, paced by a pair of HR and two crucial Portland errors. In the other AL matchup, Milwaukee holds Tampa to four hits, while powering out four HR of their own, to take the first game 7-1.

Game Two, Monday, October 8: Detroit (Jeffrey Foley, 9-9 3.91) @ Hawaii (Ryan Ratliff, 14-5 3.52). CJ Lee starts the scoring AGAIN, with another solo HR, but we break the ice with four in the bottom half, thanks to RBI hits from the bottom four in the lineup. But again, we're outhit, and this time...it costs us. Up 4-2 in the top of the 8th, Rick Ramirez walks a batter then gives up two singles--and IS NOT PULLED--and then a 3-run blast from John Sheets, and it's 5-4 bad guys. Jesus Villalobos adds a solo dinger in the 9th, just to rub it in, and we're all tied. Dang. Detroit 6, Hawaii 4. Series tied 1-1.

ELSEWHERE: Milwaukee's Seth King, an August call-up with zero HR in 2046, becomes a hero in Wisconsin with one 9th-inning swing, putting the Brewers up 2-0. They won this game 8-7, and it's good to see that at least one series is showing some offense. Oh, and in non-MLB news: our AAA affiliate, Santa Barbara, swept the Oxnard Strawberries (BKN) in four to take that championship series. Congrats, guys!

Game Three, Wednesday, October 10: Hawaii (Taylor Barnett, 10-12 4.56) @ Detroit (Raul Bravo, 11-8 3.93). Well, at least CJ Lee didn't hit another homer. But this time Sean West did, a 2-run shot in the 1st. In our half of the third, Masuda finally woke up and smacked his own 2-run blast, but the Tigers dink out another run in their half, and it's 3-2 Detroit after three. Groff puts us back on top in the 5th, with another 2-run homer, but again the other guys scratch out a single run, and tie it up. No one scores in the 6th and 7th, and we can't plate a runner in the 8th. And then that b*st*rd Sean West juuuust gets enough on a line drive for his second HR of the game, this time a solo shot. Down 5-4, we put two runners on in the 9th but can't bring either home, and we're a game away from heartbreak. AGAIN. TO THESE GUYS. Detroit 5, Hawaii 4. Detroit leads 2-1.

ELSEWHERE: Only 8 total hits were recorded in the ATL-PHI game, with Philly turning two late-inning hits and a walk into single runs in the 8th and 9th to take game three 2-1, and stay alive in the series. Meanwhile, Cincy bats finally wake up and pound Portland pitching for 12 hits and 9 runs, to take their game three 9-4. Reds catcher Antonio Chamorro hit two HR, giving him four in the series. Reds up, 2-1. In the AL, Tampa fights back with a big 5-run 4th to avoid the sweep with a 6-3 victory over Milwaukee.

Game Four, Thursday, October 11: Hawaii (Shamar Jackson, 6-3 5.23) @ Detroit (T.J. Bohanan, 7-5 6.02). Here it is, to stay alive. And yes, we're counting on a rookie pitcher to get it done. I can't look... Well, it was scoreless through four. And then with a run already in, Stoneback hits a 3-run blast, followed by a Masuda 2-run shot, and we're up 6-0 just like that. We cobble together another one in the 6th, but leave two runners on. Will that hurt later? Well, maybe, as Detroit yawns, stretches, then plates FIVE in their 6th, thanks mostly to a 3-run HR from that jerk Sean West, and suddenly it's close again, 7-5. We string together several singles in the 7th to bring another run home, but again leave runners in scoring position. And then...it's 2041 all over again. Yep. With two outs--TWO OUTS--in the bottom of the 8th, my former-awesome-closer-to-be Rick Ramirez gives up a single, single, single, walk, WP, and another single to allow FOUR runs and put us in a 9-8 hole. AGAIN. THE BULLPEN. AGAIN. But wait, we're still alive, right? Ninth inning: Sanborn grounds out. Klump walks, but is erased in a Joseph Hart fielder's choice. JJ Simmons comes up, nearly muscles one into a gap, but ends up lining right to third for the final out. That 3B? Why, Sean West, of course. And poof, it's over. Asdf;lkewklkef$%$@%. (A more detailed breakdown of the season is to come. But first, the heavy drinking.) Detroit 9, Hawaii 8. Detroit WINS series 3-1.

ELSEWHERE: The Brewers hold a stout Tampa offense to just four hits, and win in a romp, 8-0, to take the series and get one step closer to their first World Series trip since the Cenozoic Era. In the NL, it's over: Atlanta rode two John Arrington HR to beat Philly 5-2 and take the series 3-1. Meanwhile, Cincy managed just six hits, but got two in the 9th to score the winning run and knock out Portland, 3-2 (also winning the series 3-1).

......

Should be two interesting and entertaining league series. Detroit went to the WS in 2040 and 2041, losing both to expansion teams (first New Orleans, then to Brooklyn). They also lost in 2031, to Richmond. I was a little rough on Milwaukee up there, as they did go to a Series in 2025, also losing to Richmond. So Detroit's last title was 1984, while Milwaukee has zero. In the NL, Atlanta has had recent-ish success: winning titles in 2026, 2030, and 2037. Cincinnati looked like a sure thing in 2042 before losing a heartbreaking series to that year's champion, LA. Their last Series visit came in 1990. So for the newness of it all, I'm pulling for the Brewers and the Reds. Which means the Tigers will win it all.

Game One, NL: ATL 3B Nate Vawdrey's 2-run HR is the key, along with Jose Gutierrez tossing seven 7-hit innings. Atlanta takes the game 4-1.
Game Two, NL: ATL turns 3 8th-inning singles and a walk into two runs to squeeze out this tight affair, 4-2. Atlanta now up two games to none.
Game Three, NL: Down 5-3, Cincy scores in the 8th, 9th, and 10th--on 3 solo HR!--to get on the series board. A 6-5 win, and Atlanta up 2 games to 1.
Game Four, NL: Tight game, with just 12 combined hits, no HR. Cincy uses a pair of singles and a WP to score the winning run in the 6th, for a 2-1 win. Series tied!
Game Five, NL: Despite the home cooking, Cincy manages just five hits and can't hold off two late rallies, as the Braves take it 4-2. Atlanta now just a game away, and heading home.
Game Six, NL: Former Isle (why did I ever trade him?) Ryuma Sato tosses a 6-hit CG for a 3-0 shutout. 13 K for ATL starter Joel Heller in a losing effort. Game Seven incoming!
Game Seven, NL: It's 2-2 in the 7th, when NL hit king John Arrington hits a solo HR, and then ATL adds another one in the 8th. Cincy goes 1-2-3 in the 9th, coming oh so close again. ATL wins!

Game One, AL: Sean West hits ANOTHER homer for the Tigers but they only manage one other hit, while the Brewers turn just four hits into two runs. Game one, Milwaukee, 2-1.
Game Two, AL: Just two hits again for the Tigers, while the Brewers bang five HR and romp to a 12-0 pasting.
Game Three, AL: MIL keeps doing what we couldn't: hit AND pitch, holding off various late Tiger rallies to push this one to the brink, an 8-5 win.
Game Four, AL: Roberto Rivera comes off the bench for a super-clutch 9th-inning 2-run HR to keep the Tigers alive, winning 4-3. Milwaukee still a game away...
Game Five, AL: Suck it Detroit! Mario Soto hits his 5th playoff HR, a 2-run shot in the 9th, to stun the Tigers 6-5 and send them packing. The Brewers are going to the Series!!!

......

The 2046 World Series features Atlanta vs Milwaukee, or New Braves vs Old Braves. Or something like that. Both teams won 95 games, and this looks like an interesting match-up. Atlanta's offense was 2nd in the NL; Milwaukee features the AL's best pitching and defense. Atlanta's pitching was not bad, 7th in the NL, but features the probable NL Cy Young winner in Jose Gutierrez. Milwaukee's offense was 6th in runs, but only 17th in AVG and OBP. They were 1st in HR, however, so they get a lot of easy, quick runs. The Brewers have gotten this far despite losing ace SP Jay Russo (8-2, 1.60) back in July, #4 starter Jim Gilbert in September, and closer Edgar Tinajero in August. Milwaukee's top qualified hitter was SS J.J. Dean, at just .255 (although 2B Alan Branham hit .279 and 3B Josh Toombs .285, in many fewer AB). Everybody hits home runs, and three guys topped 30. Atlanta's explosive offense features AL batting champ John Arrington (.365/41/112), and catcher Ken Carter (.291/37/113). Leadoff batter Aaron Blocker went a tidy .312/31/90, and deadline-acquisition 2B Travis Tanner finished at .332. Ace SP Gutierrez is the key to the pitching staff, although the bullpen looks like it can be exploited, with closers Bobby Bustos (22 SV, 5.05 ERA) and Jason McCully (14, 4.40) failing to dominate in that role. My pick: whoever gets the timeliest hits will win. I think Milwaukee's power will sway in the end. Brewers in 7.

GAME ONE: MIL gets a 3-run home run, but just three other hits, as Gutierrez does his job. ATL rides 9 hits and a pair of 2-run HR to take this one, 5-3. ATL 1 MIL 0
GAME TWO: More pitching! Only 13 combined hits, but this time MIL gets two HR, and ATL can't get anyone past second. Shutout, Milwaukee, 4-0. ATL 1 MIL 1
GAME THREE: ATL outhits MIL 10 to 6, but all six Brewer hits go for extras and they knock out the Braves SP in the 4th. A solid 6-2 win for the Brewers here. ATL 1 MIL 2
GAME FOUR: The offenses wake up, with 25 combined hits. ATL scores all its runs in the 6th and 7th, and limits the damage done by multiple MIL rallies, to win 9-6. ATL 2 MIL 2
GAME FIVE: ATL hits for the cycle in the 1st, scoring 4 times, then holds on late to take this one 6-4. Four of MIL six hits go for extras, but they need more runners! ATL 3 MIL 2
GAME SIX: ATL scores early and often, including 2 Arrington HR, and Matt Young tosses a 5-hit complete game, for a cakewalk 9-0 win. MIL just couldn't hit after all. ATL 4 MIL 2

The Atlanta Braves are your 2046 World Series champions! This is the 7th title in franchise history, the last coming in 2036. They're now 4-1 in the WS in this dynasty (since 2014). It's possible they could get a fun Triple Crown: World Series Champs, NL MVP, and NL Cy Young winner.

Oh well, to the off-season now.
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Last edited by Bub13; 05-11-2019 at 10:51 AM.
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