I Don't Know What I'm Doing: The Snap Wilson Dynasty

[Snap Wilson]

Originally Posted by RoyalsBlue

Clutch performance by Martin to keep the BrewCrew celebration at bay. Now the question is will you come back with Barker or possibly use Martinez or Forsch in game 6?

Going with Barker. Unless there's a real good reason against it, I'm a firm believer in leaving the party with the person who brought you. I think their troubles can be chalked up to the fact that the Brewers hit the hell out of right-handed pitching. If I had another reliable lefty starter in reserve, I might consider it, but I don't.

That and their pitchers have been lights out. Our offense has gone the way of the dodo.

[307x]

Aw man don't leave me hanging like this! :P

[Snap Wilson]

Hehe... don't worry. Game Six, a little later today! I try not to manage without my morning coffee.

[Snap Wilson]

WORLD SERIOUS, GAME SIX: Len Barker (13-5, 3.22 ERA vs. Jim Slaton (22-6, 3.78 ERA)

Okay, someone call the men with the white coats and butterfly nets. I'm actually nervous getting ready to play this game. Clearly, I need help.

Top of the 1st
Henderson flies out. Herr grounds out. Molitor... hits a triple! Zeus's Thunderbolts! And Hernandez doubles! Molitor scores, and the Cards are on the board 1-0. Durham flies out to end the inning. St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 0

Bottom of the 1st
Yount grounds out. Davis grounds out. Cooper ties the score on one swing, hitting a 335 foot home run to right. Coop is just killing us. Thomas goes down swinging. St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 1.


You're killing me, Coop.

Top of the 2nd
Nolan hits a two out single, but that's all we get. St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 1

Bottom of the 2nd
Lezcano gets a two-out single, but that's all they get. Tit for tat, Milwaukee. St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 1

Top of the 3rd
Henderson, Herr and Molitor down in order. This is a recording. St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 1

Bottom of the 3rd
Yount singles, but gets thrown out stealing. Davis strikes out to end the inning. St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 1

Top of the 4th
Keith leads off with a double. Durham flies out. Murphy singles, Keith to third! And then Richie Zisk kills us by grounding into a DP. Arrrrrgghhhhh! St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 1

Bottom of the 4th
Cooper, Thomas and Oglivie down in order. Barker's pitching well so far. St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 1

Top of the 5th
Nolan flies out. Ozzie walks. Henderson grounds out, Ozzie to second. Tommy Herr flies to left... but Oglivie can't handle it! Herr reaches on an error, and Ozzie comes around to score! The Cardinals lead 2-1! A cheap run, but we'll take it. Herr steals third base, but Molitor flies out to end the inning. St. Louis 2, Milwaukee 1

Bottom of the 5th
Simmons flies out. Lezcano doubles. Gantner doubles, Lezcano scoring. Tied 2-2. Dammit. Money flies out. Yount doubles, scoring Gantner. The Brewers lead 3-2. I should have known praising Barker was the kiss of death. Davis grounds out to end the inning. Milwaukee 3, St. Louis 2

Top of the 6th
Hernandez flies out. Durham singles. Murphy flies out. Zisk grounds out. Milwaukee 3, St. Louis 2

Bottom of the 6th
Cooper leads off with a single. Thomas strikes out. Oglivie strikes out. Oh, crap. Ted Simmons hits a two-run homer. Crap. Crap crap crap. Milwaukee leads 5-2. Crap. Lezcano grounds out to end the inning. Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 2

Crap.

Top of the 7th
Nolan leads off with a double. Ozzie singles, Nolan to third. Come on, boys. Henderson bunts Ozzie to second. Herr beats out an infield hit, but Nolan has to hold at third. Arrrgh. Come on! Molitor forces Nolan at home! Agggh! Keith don't fail me now. Hernandez... SINGLES! Ozzie scores! Herr comes around to score! The Brewers lead is cut to one! Milwaukee leads 5-4! Durham singles loading the bases! Murphy... flies out. Gah. But we're back in it. Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 4

Bottom of the 7th
Gantner, Money, Yount, down in order! Come on, boys! Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 4

Top of the 8th
Zisk... LEADS OFF WITH A HOME RUN! We're tied! We're tied 5-5! Nolan singles! Ozzie singles, Nolan taking third! Ozzie takes second on the throw. Henderson intentionally walked (oh, they'll regret that). Herr forces Nolan at home (okay, maybe not). Molitor up... WILD PITCH! OZZIE SCORES! Cards lead 6-5! Holy cow! And Molitor... SINGLES! Henderson scores! Cards lead 7-5!Slaton... out of there! Mark Littell, the reliever we traded with Simmons to get Molitor, in to pitch. Hernandez grounds to second, and Herr scores. 8-5 lead! Durham flies out, and the inning is finally over. Four runs! Six outs to go! Cardinals 8, Brewers 5

Bottom of the 8th
C'mon, Barker. One more inning and we'll send for the pen.

Davis doubles. Cooper (yikes)... strikes out looking! One away. Thomas singles, Davis to third. No no no. Oglivie pops up. Two away! Oglivie grounds to second and... NO! An error by Herr! Davis scores. 8-6 Cardinals. Thomas to third. And then a wild pitch! Thomas scores. 8-7 Cardinals. I'm going to go light myself on fire. This is excruciating. Lezcano strikes out to end the inning. Cardinals 8, Brewers 7

Top of the 9th
The goal is insurance runs, people. Let's make it happen. Murphy singles. Good start! Zisk strikes out. D'oh. Nolan strikes out. Double d'oh. Ozzie strikes out. WTF? Who are you and what have you done with the real Mark Littell? St. Louis 8, Milwaukee 7

Bottom of the 9th
Donnie Moore into pitch. Wait, this scenario is faintly familiar. Where's Dave Henderson? Donnie, if we ever needed a save, we need it now.

Gantner grounds out. One away.

Charlie Moore singles. Oh cripes.

Yount grounds out, Moore to second. Gasp. Wheeze.

Dale Davis's at bat, pitch by pitch:

Foul ball. 0-1.
Foul ball. 0-2.
'nother foul ball. 0-2.
Ball. 1-2.
And a fly ball to right! Durham under it and... HE GOT IT! HE GOT IT!

THE CARDINALS WIN GAME SIX, 8-7!!! THE SERIES IS TIED AT THREE GAMES A PIECE! WE'RE GOING TO GAME SEVEN, BABY!

[isuquinndog]

I'm a Cubs fan and I'm excited just reading this.

[CatKnight]

Now THAT was a great game!

[Snap Wilson]

Thanks for the comments, folks. I have to admit, I'm enjoying this way more than I thought I would. The PBP is just a blast to play. It really adds to the atmosphere of the game.

Coming up: Game Seven!

[Sir Lurksalot]

Your writing is a lot of fun to read. Looking forward to more!

[Snap Wilson]

WORLD SERIES, GAME SEVEN: Pete Vuckovich (20-8, 3.82) vs. Larry Sorensen (23-10, 3.07)
I'll admit, I really wrestled with whether or not I should start Vuke or Silvio Martinez here. His numbers over his last five starts: 1-3, 6.27 ERA. The man hasn't allowed fewer than four runs in those games. If he craps the bed in this one, I'm going to have a hard time looking at him on the roster next year. But the man won me 20 games this year and I have an opportunity to have him on the mound for the most important game of the year. I have to do it.

We're going to take this final game three innings at a time. Win or lose, this is going to be a real tough season to top, and I'd like to draw it out as long as possible.

Top of the 1st
Henderson leads off the game with a single. Herr grounds into a DP (grr). Molitor strikes out. St. Louis 0, Milwaukee 0

Bottom of the 1st
Robin Yount singles and Murphy misplays it. Yount to second. Oy. Davis flies out. Yount steals third. Cooper walks. Thomas singles, Yount scoring. Milwaukee leads 1-0. Cooper to third. Arrrrgggh. Vuke commits a balk, scoring Yount. 2-0 Milwaukee. I hate you, Vuke. Oglivie flies out to right. Simmons flies out to center. Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 0

Top of the 2nd
Hernandez, Durham and Murphy go down in order. Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 0

Bottom of the 2nd
Lezcano grounds out. Gantner doubles, and gets called stealing third. Money flies out. Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 0

Top of the 3rd
Zisk strikes out. Nolan flies out. Ozzie grounds out. Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 0

Bottom of the 3rd
Yount singles. Davis forces Yount out. Cooper pops up to short. Thomas singles, Davis to third. Oglivie flies out.

After the third inning, Milwaukee leads 2-0.

[Snap Wilson]

Originally Posted by Sir Lurksalot

Your writing is a lot of fun to read. Looking forward to more!

Thanks a bunch! I enjoy writing it, so I'm glad y'all enjoy reading it.

[Snap Wilson]

Top of the 4th
Henderson leads off with a double. Herr grounds out to short, Rickey holding at second. Screw that, says Rickey, and he steals third base. Henderson grounds to third, Rickey scoring! Milwaukee's lead is cut 2-1! Keith strikes out to end the inning. Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 1

Bottom of the 4th
Simmons beats out an infield hit for a single. Really? Ted Simmons? Lezcano strikes out. And... crap. Gantner doubles, Simmons coming around to score. The Brewers lead 3-1. Money and Yount fly out. Milwaukee 3, St. Louis 1

Top of the 5th
Durham strikes out, Murphy grounds out, Zisk grounds out. Milwaukee 3, St. Louis 1

Bottom of the 5th
Davis leads off with a single. Jesus, Vuke. Coop flies out. Thomas singles, Davis to third. Oglivie flies out to center, Davis scoring. Milwaukee leads 4-1. Sigh. Simmons lines out to second to end the inning. Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 1

Top of the 6th
Nolan beats out an infield hit. What is it with catchers beating out infield hits? Ozzie doubles, Nolan holding at third. Henderson pops up to short. Herr flies out to short left, and Nolan has to hold. Molitor... pops up to first. Damn. Crap. Damn again. Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 1

Bottom of the 6th
Leczano strikes out looking. Gantner flies to right. Money walks. Yount flies out to right. Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 1

At the end of the 7th, Milwaukee leads 4-1.

Sorensen just owns us. He's allowed four runs in 22 innings. If Milwaukee wins, no question who the World Series MVP will be.

[dwardzala]

You F'ing Tease!

Great dynasty write up. Keep up the good work! Now post the last three innings so I can see who won this thing!

[RoyalsBlue]

The Birds have to come back, they have to!

[Snap Wilson]

Alright, this is it, final three innings. Go Cards.

Top of the 7th
Hernandez grounds out to first. Durham K's. Murphy... LAUNCHES IT! A 350-foot shot over the right field fence! Milwaukee leads 4-2. Zisk singles, but Nolan flies out to center.

Bottom of the 7th
Davis flies out to right. Cooper doubles. Another wild pitch. Kee-rist. Cooper to third. Thomas grounds out to first and Cooper scores. Milwaukee leads 5-2. Thanks for crapping the bed yet again, Pete. Oglivie doubles. Simmons flies out to left. Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 2

Top of the 8th
Ozzie leads off with a single. Henderson works the count full and singles, Ozzie to second. Herr pops up to first. Molitor grounds to short, Ozzie to third. Come on, Keith. Hernandez... SINGLES! Ozzie scores! The Brewers lead 5-3. Durham grounds to second. Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 3

Bottom of the 8th
Vukovich plunks Lezcano, who gets caught stealing second. Gantner strikes out swinging. Money flies out to center. Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 3

Top of the 9th
This is it, kids. Three outs left in our season unless we can score here. It was a great year, I just wish my ace could have come up with one decent performance in the postseason.

Bill Castro, their closer, to the mound in relief of Sorensen.

Murphy singles. Good start. Come on, boys.

Zisk works the count, but winds up striking out swinging. One away.

Nolan... singles! Murphy rounds second and heads for third! The tying run is at first base. Come on, guys!

Ozzie... come on, man. Strikes out swinging. Down to our final out.

We'll do Rickey pitch by pitch:

Called strike. 0-1.
Swinging, looped to shallow center, and... IT FALLS IN! Rickey singles! Murphy scores! Milwaukee leads 5-4! Nolan, the tying run, is at second base.

Tommy Herr to the plate.

First pitch... grounds to deep short, the throw, this is going to be close... HE'S SAFE! HE'S SAFE! Nolan stops at third, Rickey at second. Bases loaded! Tommy beats the throw for an infield single! Molitor at the plate, Hernandez on the on-deck circle. We can pull ahead with one swing. *thump thump*

Molitor up:

First pitch... called strike. 0-1.
Second pitch... called strike. 0-2. Gah. Come on, Molly.
Third pitch... ball! Ball one. 1-2.
Fourth pitch... ball! 2-2. I'm dying here.
Fifth pitch... LINE DRIVE! BETWEEN THIRD AND SHORT! HE SINGLES! HE SINGLES! In Comes Nolan! The Score Is Tied! Henderson to third! Herr to second! HENDERSON TRYING FOR HOME! HE'S GOING TO BE SAFE! THE CARDINALS LEAD 6-5! Holy cow! Un-freaking-believable. Unbelievable.

Castro... GONE! Jerry Augustine comes in to pitch. Keith to the plate.

...AND HE SINGLES! Herr rounds third and he comes in to score! Cardinals lead 7-5!

I inadvertently attempt to steal with Keith and fail, and that ends the inning. But the Cardinals lead 7-5! We score four runs in the inning and we're going to the bottom of the ninth! Three outs from a World Championship! St. Louis 7, Milwaukee 5

Whew.... getting a glass of water here.

Okay. Whew.

Okay.

Okay, here we go.

Bottom of the 9th
Donnie... one last save. Again, pitch by pitch:

Yount up to bat:

Called strike. 0-1.
Called strike! 0-2.
Ball one. 1-2.
Fly ball to right field, Durham running in, and he has it! One away!

Dick Davis up:

Ball one. 1-0.
Ground ball to third, the throw to first.... Two Away! One out to go!

And who's up but my personal bete noir, Cecil Cooper. Here we go.

First pitch: Swinging strike. 0-1.
Second pitch: Ground ball to Herr! He throws to first... AND THAT'S IT! THAT'S IT!

THE CARDINALS WIN THE GAME 7-5! THEY WIN THE WORLD SERIES FOUR GAMES TO THREE!

THE CARDINALS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Unbelievable. Un-f***ing-believable. What a game. What a series.

Unbelievable. Wow.

[Jordan]

Wow...awesome...This must be pretty incredible for you considering you were such a n00b to the game.

A team of destiny, just like 2006

[Snap Wilson]

Originally Posted by Jordan

Wow...awesome...This must be pretty incredible for you considering you were such a n00b to the game.

It was a hell of a first experience, that's for sure!

[t-bone shuffle]

A really great read.

As an Astros fan, I'm fairly certain you probably cheated to make it happen, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

And you probably know this, but your boy Coop is bench coach in Houston currently.

[chredwdew]

A very good read.

I grew up near STL around the early and mid 80's and Ozzie is also my favorite player. And I would have no problem with you "adjusting" a few ratings to make him live up to his ability.

[Snap Wilson]

Originally Posted by t-bone shuffle

I'm fairly certain you probably cheated

Well as long as you're sure.

No, no cheating. The only time I tried to load a previous save was when I stupidly placed Molitor on the 15-day DL in the middle of the stretch run, only it didn't work for whatever reason. In any event, I'm a little bummed I had this season this early. It's going to be impossible to top.

And you probably know this, but your boy Coop is bench coach in Houston currently.

Yes, and he still looks like a baaad man.



Along with Willie Stargell, Freddie Lynn and Bobby Grich, he was one of my favorite players in the late seventies/early eighties who wasn't either a Cardinal or a Royal. He played, like they wrote about Oscar Charleston, with a stop sign on his chest. People forget how really damned good he was over that period, always showing up in the MVP voting, three Silver Slugger awards. Part of the fun of simming the World Series is "seeing" players like Coop, Ben Oglivie and Robin Yount on the other side of the field.

[Snap Wilson]

Originally Posted by chredwdew

A very good read.

I grew up near STL around the early and mid 80's and Ozzie is also my favorite player. And I would have no problem with you "adjusting" a few ratings to make him live up to his ability.

Haven't done it yet. He came on towards the end of the year to put up respectable numbers without me tweaking anything. Hopefully, the sim lets his true fielding abilities shine through and rewards him with several Gold Gloves.