Worst to First - The Sequel

[NYY #23]

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I'll be forced to hang around inside for most of the day, so I hope to finish up the 2037 season, which means that I expect the expansion voting to end today.

As of now San Antonio and New Orleans are in the lead in the American League, with Vancouver in front in the National League with Mexico City and Honolulu tied for the second spot.

I wanted to put out one more last chance to vote reminders, which can be done here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DDn...start=openform

[NYY #23]

While the Expos captured the NL East, our 90 wins was the lowest of any NL Division winner, forcing us into a best of 5 Wild Card round against the Atlanta Braves (90-72).

This may sound stupid, but I'm proud of this team for battling back and making the playoffs. We hit our low point in June after going 10-18, and to see us come back and win the division is real nice. The fans are happy, coming to the ballpark in record numbers, our owner is happy, and I'm happy too.

In a year where a lot of things didn't go right, we made the playoffs for the second straight year. Our pitching isn't lined up for the playoffs, and I'd probably give us a less than 5% chance of winning it all, but I'll take those long odds and just be happy we're here this year.

[NYY #23]

The Braves traded for Jorge Costello during the offseason, and he's rewarded them with a 17-8 season and 2.46 ERA in his final season before free agency. Costello would be making the start tonight for the Braves against Eric Laws. Costello would pitch 8 innings of 3 hit ball tonight, giving up just 1 run on an RBI single by Matt Smalls on the first inning. He definitely didn't do anything to hurt his free agent value.

Laws would give up a solo home run in the second, but was otherwise impressive going 6 innings and allowing 1 run on 5 hits. We'd get 2 innings of solid relief from Jose Ledesma, and Bill Olson would pitch the ninth and tenth inning to keep the game tied at 1.

It would turn into an extra inning battle of the bullpens, with Dale Moir turning in an impressive performance for the Braves, striking out all 6 batters he faced. Julio Mateo would pitch 3 hitless innings for the Expos to counter, before Jesus Franco would come on and pitch the fourteenth.

With the game tied at 1 run the game would head into the bottom of the fourteenth. It wasn't necessarily an offensive explosion, but Julio German and Roberto Colon reached on an error. That brought Howard McDonald to the plate, who had struck out 4 times in 5 at-bats previously. With the count full McDonald would get some redemption with a 3 run walk-off home run to give the Expos the 4-1 14 inning win in Game 1.

[Trebro]

Remember: Anything can happen in the playoffs!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Trebro

Remember: Anything can happen in the playoffs!

Most definitely!

[NYY #23]

Ricardo Moreno gave the home crowd a show today with a complete game two hit shutout to as the Expos went up two games to none with a 4-0 win.

That's right, the Expos scored four runs tonight! Three runs would come off the bat of John Bradshaw, who hit a pair of home runs, with Eric Wolf driving in a run on a double.

The Expos will have a day off tomorrow and head to Atlanta to try and close out the series.

[NYY #23]

Gustavo Hernandez was making his playoff debut for the Expos, and was a victim of bad luck today after pitching a five hitter, allowing just 2 unearned runs after a key error and passed ball led to a two run third. It would be the only runs the Expos allowed in the game, but the Expos would score just one run on a solo home run by Jorge Flores.

With the 2-1 loss the Expos now lead the Braves two games to one.

[NYY #23]

One win away from advancing to the Division Series, the game started off well for the Expos with an RBI single by Howard McDonald giving us an early 1-0 lead, and RBI singles in the second by Juan Camacho and Eric Wolf giving the Expos a 3-0 lead.

With Eric Laws on the mound he'd pitch four shutout innings, and allow the first run of the game for the Braves in the bottom of the fifth. The bottom of the sixth wouldn't start well for Laws after giving up a solo home run to Carlton Hatfield and single to Joe Finch to end his night. Jesus Franco would come on in relief and after retiring the first batter before yielding a two run homer to Jesus Ramirez.

With a 4-3 lead the Braves would get an insurance run in the seventh and go on to win the game 5-4. The series is now all tied up, and we'll head back home with Ricardo Moreno on the mound trying to close out the series.

[NYY #23]

After a complete game two hit shutout in game 2 Moreno would return back home to put on another pitching clinic, throwing 8 shutout innings. His combined playoff line is 17 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 12 K.

He would be an easy choice for Series MVP, and in fact he did win the Series MVP, although the Expos didn't win the series.

The Expos continued with our "Offense is Overrated" campaign, and managed just 5 hits tonight. And it was Jason Muldoon who provided three of those hits, including a pair of triples. Eric Wolf added a triple as well. Two of those triples came with no outs. So the Expos blew two great opportunities to score with the runner just 90 feet away.

Bill Olson came on to pitch the ninth, and took the loss after giving up 1 run on 2 hits. The Braves win three straight games to advance to the Division Series.

The Expos go home as losers in the playoffs for the second straight year. On to the offseason…

[NYY #23]

With the 2037 season in the books, and the St Louis Cardinals crowned World Champions it's time to unveil the new expansion teams. Thanks everybody for voting!

In the American League the two expansion franchises have been awarded to New Orleans and San Antonio. In the National League the expansion franchises will be awarded to Vancouver and Mexico City.

The plan is for New Orleans and San Antonio to begin play in 2040, with Vancouver and Mexico City joining in 2045.

This is still a little tentative, but I'm leaning towards:
Vancouver Kodiaks (logs/uniforms by Fyrestorm3)
Mexico City Conquistadors (logos/uniforms by txranger)
New Orleans Gators (logos/uniforms by knucker/txranger)
San Antonio Texans (logos/uniforms by Pwal)

I'm leaning towards three division of six in each league with the American League looking like:

1) Toronto Blue Jays
2) Boston Red Sox
3) New York Yankees
4) Baltimore Orioles
5) Tampa Bay Rays
6) Carolina Knights

7) Detroit Tigers
8) Minnesota Twins
9) Cleveland Indians
10) Kansas City Royals
11) Chicago White Sox
12) New Orleans Gators

13) San Antonio Texans
14) Houston Astros
15) Texas Rangers
16) Seattle Mariners
17) Los Angeles Angels
18) Oakland Athletics

And the National League:

1) Montreal Expos
2) Philadelphia Phillies
3) Pittsburgh Pirates
4) New York Mets
5) Washington Nationals
6) Miami Marlins

7) St Louis Cardinals
8) Chicago Cubs
9) Cincinnati Reds
10) Atlanta Braves
11) Milwaukee Brewers
12) Mexico City Conquistadors

13) Colorado Rockies
14) Arizona Diamondbacks
15) San Diego Padres
16) Los Angeles Dodgers
17) San Francisco Giants
18) Vancouver Kodiaks

Any feedback on the nicknames or alignment is welcome.

[Trebro]

Looks good--are you planning 1 wild card, 3 or even 5, to go really "MLB likes $$$" crazy?

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Trebro

Looks good--are you planning 1 wild card, 3 or even 5, to go really "MLB likes $$$" crazy?

I'm not 100% sure on that one. With six teams currently making the playoffs I'm leaning toward 3, although I'm considering 5. I do think $$$ drives everything in MLB, so I could see them doing that.

[HerbertMcHoover]

That's a bad way to end another season, but you continue to make progress and that is all that matters! The expansion alignment looks strong.

[rjl518]

how about 2 divisions of 9 with the top 3 teams in the division make into the playoffs...#3 vs #2 in a best of 3 wildcard series...winner of the plays #1 in a best of 5 division series...and so on

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

That's a bad way to end another season, but you continue to make progress and that is all that matters! The expansion alignment looks strong.

It is definitely a bad way to end the season, although I think losing three straight is worse than actually losing the series. The only thing worse is losing four straight, which I've also done.

Thanks!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by rjl518

how about 2 divisions of 9 with the top 3 teams in the division make into the playoffs...#3 vs #2 in a best of 3 wildcard series...winner of the plays #1 in a best of 5 division series...and so on

I like how the playoffs work that way, but I don't see any schedules that match that format. I've done some schedules in the past, but I don't know if I'm ready to tackle that right now because they can be a pain.

[NYY #23]

I feel like we've made good progress in the three years I've been in Montreal, but we need to work towards getting to the next level. I'll be spending this offseason trying to get to the next level.

I should congratulate the Cardinals for their World Series win over the Twins first.

Our owner is mostly happy, and my contract was extended for three years at $1 million per year. Our budget has increased as well. He's set out a couple goals this year -

-Sign Don Webb to an extension
-Acquire a MVP Award winner
-Improve your team runs scored

I'll go on record that the first is not going to happen, at least at the price in years Webb is looking for. My offseason goals are:

1) Find a new hitting coach
2) Replace Cisco Aleman as starting catcher (free agent)
3) Bring aboard an impact bat (Maybe an MVP winner)
4) Complete roster review

The Expos have just under $42 million to spend. We'll see who is out there, but I'm not afraid to go for it. It should be an interesting offseason.

Montreal Expos - 66-96 (.407) 31 GB
2035 - Montreal Expos - 62-100 (.383) 33 GB (Season Score - 1)
2036 - Montreal Expos - 90-72 (.556) - GB (Lost to Cincinnati Reds 4-0 in Division Series, Season Score - 59)
2037 - Montreal Expos - 90-72 (.556) - GB (Lost to Atlanta Braves 3-2 in Wild Card Series, Season Score - 56)

[Ruwisc]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

I like how the playoffs work that way, but I don't see any schedules that match that format. I've done some schedules in the past, but I don't know if I'm ready to tackle that right now because they can be a pain.

I'd definitely be willing to put together a schedule for you. Just let me know how you would want it or post in the schedules forum and I could have it together in a couple of days (as soon as I finish the schedule that I'm working on right now). This is one of the best dynasties on this board, I'd hate to see it hindered because a schedule didn't exist.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Ruwisc

I'd definitely be willing to put together a schedule for you. Just let me know how you would want it or post in the schedules forum and I could have it together in a couple of days (as soon as I finish the schedule that I'm working on right now). This is one of the best dynasties on this board, I'd hate to see it hindered because a schedule didn't exist.

Thank you very much! That would be great, and I'm not in a rush, I've probably got at least a few weeks before I would need it since I need to get through a few years.

I'll post it on the schedule forum, but I was thinking 2 divisions of 9 teams in each sub league. I'm flexible if something would work better, but I'm thinking 12 games against the other 8 teams in the division, 6 against every team in the other division, and 4 interleague series of 3 games. If my math is right that would be 162.

Thanks again so much!

[NYY #23]

The first decision that we made this offseason is declining the option for LF Shusaku Kato. He didn't play much, and hit .256 on the year in 67 games. I was expecting more out of him, but he provided 1.1 WAR. I wish him well, but don't feel it's a good fit to bring the 35 year old back.

I also non-tendered 29 year old Juan Martinez who will become a free agent. His roster spot is more valuable at this point.