Worst to First - The Sequel

[NYY #23]

The Expos bounced back with a 17-9 month and now hold a 9 1/2 game lead in the NL East with an even better 19 1/2 game lead in the Wild Card race. We want to win the division though, and I think we're in good shape to do just that.

Former Knight and Expos second baseman Pete Woolford was named Batter of the Month after hitting .302 with 11 home runs, 25 RBI, and 21 runs scored. Former Knight Michael Baldwin struck out 18 batters in a game against the Red Sox.

[mirrf]

It's just amazing how much better this team is than your WS champion Expos team a couple years ago. I don't know if they'll win the WS this year, but they should.

[JaBurns]

Thanks I thought it had to be Virginia Beach but it was driving me to distraction with ERL.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by mirrf

It's just amazing how much better this team is than your WS champion Expos team a couple years ago. I don't know if they'll win the WS this year, but they should.

This is the team that I was hoping the Expos would become. While I'll definitely take it I felt like our World Series win was a little bit premature. I definitely feel much better about our chances this year, which probably means we'll get swept in the first round!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by JaBurns

Thanks I thought it had to be Virginia Beach but it was driving me to distraction with ERL.

Sorry about that!

[NYY #23]

The Expos wrapped up the NL East with a 20-15 finish to the regular season, capping a 107 win season. The 107 wins are the most by any team in Worst to First history, topping the 105 win Carolina Breakers. Our winning percentage is second only to the 103-51 St. Louis Cardinals in 1916. Both of those teams won a World Series. We'll find out soon if the Expos can win our second and I'll go out on top.

Hopefully I'll leave the Expos in as good of shape as the Knights, who haven't won another championship, but have been impressive:



Howard McDonald was named Batter of the Month in September after hitting .373 with a .454 on-base percentage, 8 home runs, 20 RBI, and 17 runs scored.

Joe Kaiser of the Cincinnati Reds swatted career home run number 500 this month, while Carlton Hatfield of the Marlins picked up career hit number 2000. Other milestones include the 300th home run by Orlando Amador of the Twins and 300th home run by teammate Donald Matthews.

Pancho Jimenez of the Braves pitched a no-hitter this month, while Dave Abrams of the Giants slammed three home runs in a game against Vancouver.

[NYY #23]

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off a 3 games to 2 upset over the Los Angeles Dodgers, and will be our opponent in the Division Series. We've played the Brewers six games this year and won three and lost three. The Brewers have the second best offense in the National League, although their pitching has struggled. We did win 16 more games this year than the Brewers.

[NYY #23]

The best laid plans don't always work out. I'm heading out of town this week and planned on trying to wrap up the playoffs with the Expos before I left. Things were unexpectedly hectic this weekend, so not only didn't I get as far as I wanted I didn't even get a chance to start the playoffs.

My trip was extended, so I won't be able to resume until next weekend. But because this is my last year with Montreal win or lose I thought I would try something different and put up my next team to a vote. The candidates:

1) San Francisco Giants 67-95
2) Mexico City Conquistadors 65-97
3) Vancouver Kodiaks 68-94
4) New Orleans Gators 68-94
5) San Antonio Texans 60-102

While the Texans have the worst record, their expected record of 64-98 and more in line with the other expansion teams. I'll include a little info below:











If you'd like to vote I'll take over the team with the most votes by Saturday.

[illeracula]

I'd say the Kodiaks or Texans. I think you will have a longer road to climb with Vancouver, just looking at the top prospects and players... however the Texans owner looks like he could be tough to work with.

Are the Giants the only non-expansion team you haven't taken to the series? How have the eluded your for all these seasons?

My vote:
Kodiaks
Texas
Conquistadors

[ShagVT]

Kodiaks.

You look at them and realize that not only do they have an awful record, the also have an awful roster, lousy prospects, a tiny market, and poor loyalty.

This looks like as much of a challenge as you could get, except perhaps to tack on a really overbearing owner.

[HerbertMcHoover]

I like the Texans. You have some stars to work with, but if you want to go for the challenge, Kodiaks.

[JaBurns]

I vote Kodiaks might be a long haul but I am sure you are up to the challenge.

[NYY #23]

Thanks for the votes. It looks like the winner is the Kodiaks. I'm going to try and get through the playoffs fairly quickly and take over the Kodiaks soon.

Both the Giants and the Dodgers are the only original teams that I haven't won a World Series with, but the Astros, Angels, Rangers, and Rays are the non-expansion teams that I haven't won a World Series with. With the latest four expansion teams that leaves ten teams to go, if my math is right.

[NYY #23]

After going 18-8 with a with a 2.48 ERA during the regular season Eric Laws was our game 1 starter. We gave him an early 1-0 lead when Howard McDonald hit a solo home run in the bottom of the firth, but Laws ran into some problems in the second giving up 4 runs on 5 hits. Laws would be out of the game after five innings, although he didn't allow another run after the second.

The Brewers scored their fifth run of the game against Marv Miles in the sixth, and scored their sixth and final run of the year in the eighth.

Unfortunately the Expos had trouble scoring through six innings, but in the bottom of the seventh Matt Smalls would double, Takahiro Nakamura would single, and Derek Caldwell would hit a sacrifice fly. One batter later Ben Anderson would single in our third run of the game.

The Expos would narrow our deficit to 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth when Bill Dunbar hit a solo home run. Unfortunately that was it for our offense, and we'd fall 6-4 to the Brewers.

[NYY #23]

For six innings it was a pitching duel in Montreal with Denny Campbell allowing no runs on two hits for the Brewers, and Nick Seaton allowing just one unearned run on four hits for the Expos. Both pitchers would leave the game after six innings, and that's when things would get interesting.

Javier Espinosa would greet Expos reliever Sixto Delgado with a solo home run to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead. The Expos would rally in the bottom of the seventh though, with Jorge Flores hitting a one out single, John Bradshaw hitting a double, and Matt Smalls hitting a single that would score our first run of the game, and see Bradshaw thrown out at the plate trying to score from second. With two outs it would be Takahiro Nakamura who would hit a big two run homer to give the Expos a 3-2 lead.

That lead would be short lived though, as the Brewers would come back and score three runs at the top of the eighth to take a 5-3 lead. The Expos would come back and tie the game in the bottom of the eight with two runs after Gonzalo Villarreal would single, Bill Dunbar would double, and Jorge Flores would double in a pair of runs.

With the game tied heading in to the bottom of the ninth Matt Smalls would lead off the inning with a walk and steal second. That brought an intentional walk to Nakamura, a sacrifice bunt by Cisco Aleman, and an intentional walk to Ben Anderson to load the bases. After Jason O'Muldoon grounded out for the second out of the inning it would be Howard McDonald who would single home the winning run.

While the Expos won the game we lost Bill Dunbar to an injury that will have him out to at least the World Series, if we make it that far. He was 5-7 so far during the playoffs with 3 doubles, a home run, RBI, and two runs scored. With Juan Ordonez already out we're going to miss his offense.

I haven't talked about Gonzalo Villarreal too much, but with a 5.1 WAR season he's come up big this year, and delivered a key hit in today's game. His contract is expiring after this year, and while it's not my problem he did send an email saying how much he enjoyed playing in Montreal and wanted an extension. Unfortunately the 30 year old was asking for a 10 year $246 million contract. He won't get that much from the Expos, but if he can find a team to pay him that much more power to him.

[NYY #23]

It's a good feeling when you have a number three starter that was 20-4 with a 2.25 ERA, as the Expos do with Jose Ledesma. Ledesma would allow two runs on four hits while striking out 5 batters for the Expos. He'd be relieved by five pitchers who combined for two innings of one hit baseball with Alex Ball, Marv Miles, Bertolameu Henrich, Sixto Delgado, and Bill Olson getting in the game.

It was an unusual game at the plate for the Expos, who didn't hit any home runs, but scored six runs. The double was our weapon tonight with Takahiro Nakamura hitting two doubles and Ben Anderson and Jason O'Muldoon adding doubles. The Expos now lead the series 2 games to 1.

[NYY #23]

With a 2-1 lead in the Division Series the Expos sent Gustavo Hernandez to the mound and gave him an early 1-0 lead when Randy Andrews drove in our first run of the game with an RBI single. For three innings Hernandez held the Brewers scoreless, but surrendered a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead.

The Expos quickly reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth when Howard McDonald would hit a two run homer. It wouldn't be Hernandez's best day though, as he allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth and another two in the bottom of the sixth and left the game after 5 2/3 innings allowing 5 runs on 11 hits.

Our bullpen made any attempt of a comeback harder with Marv Miles allowing a run in an inning and a third, and Sixto Delgado giving up 3 runs in 2/3 of an inning.

A Matt Smalls single and double by Gonzalo Villarreal scored our fourth run of the game, but the series is now tied up after the Brewers beat the Expos 9-4.

[NYY #23]

With the series tied at two games the Expos needed a win. For four innings it was a scoreless pitching duel between Eric Laws and George Bullock. With the score tied at 0 with two outs in the fifth Laws gave up an RBI double to allow the Brewers to take a 1-0 lead and end Laws' night after throwing 101 pitches. His final line 4 2/3 innings, 7 hits allowed, 1 earned run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

Angel Ramirez came into the game and retired the final batter of the fifth and pitched a scoreless sixth. Bertolameu Henrich would come on to pitch a scoreless seventh and eighth, but the Expos headed into the ninth trailing 1-0.

Jason Ray saved 43 games during the regular season and came into the game to attempt to preserve the Brewers win and quickly retired the first two batters. Down to our final out John Bradshaw would draw a walk, and Matt Smalls would pick up an RBI double to tie the game at 1. Takahiro Nakamura would connect on the next pitch on an RBI double and just like that the Expos would be up 2-1.

With a lead for the first time in the game the Expos gave the ball to our closer, Bill Olson. After going 2-1 with a 1.04 ERA and 50 saves I have a lot of confidence in Olson, and he earned his second save of the postseason retiring the only three batters he faced.

The Expos now hold a 3-2 series lead after a nail biting 2-1 win.

[NYY #23]

With Nick Seaton on the mound the Expos are one win away from heading back to the NLCS. Seaton would make a couple of mistakes today, but would limit the Brewers to 3 runs over 8 innings, giving up 7 hits, walking 1, and striking out 5. It was a solid start, and definitely enough to keep us in the game.

Unfortunately our offense struggled against Brewers' starter Denny Campbell today and only managed five hits. Two of those came in the fourth when Howard McDonald singled and John Bradshaw hit an RBI double to score our first run. Our second run of the game was manufactured in the bottom of the fifth when Takahiro Nakamura singled, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and came home to score on a sacrifice fly.

That was all the scoring we could muster in the 3-2 loss to the Brewers and once again the series is all tied up.

The 107 win Expos will face a must win game seven now. While my exit from Montreal after this season is already determined it would be nice to go out on a high note with another World Series win.

[NYY #23]

It's not a big secret that the Expos have been built on pitching if you've been following along. Jose Ledesma has been a part of the team since the beginning, and got his first shot in the rotation in 2035 going 11-7 with a 2.13 ERA. Despite missing a year with injury he's been a fixture in our rotation, going 79-45 with a 2.71 ERA. He's bounced back and forth between our #3 starter to #2 starter, before settling in as our #4 starter for most of this year. He's never been better than this season though, when he went 20-4 with a 2.25 ERA.

So whether Ledesma is our #3, #4, or something else he's a pitcher I trust during a winner take all game. Tonight was his time to shine though and for 6 1/3 innings Ledesma held the Brewers to 1 run on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 10.

He left the game after 107 pitches with a 3-1 lead and turned the ball over to our bullpen who were just as good. While Sixto Delgado has had a shaky postseason so far tonight he pitched like he did in the regular season and provided 1 2/3 innings of shutout baseball. He's was followed by Bill Olson who pitched a hitless ninth to earn his third save of the series.

Matt Smalls drove in 2 of our 4 runs tonight with a single, while Randy Andrews was a home run short of the cycle in a 4-4 night with an RBI and 2 runs scored, with Jorge Flores driving in a run.

The Expos will advance to the National League Championship Series after our 4-3 series win.