The Magpies

[Paulie123]

30 June 2049

Taken from “The Big Book of Baseball Bywords” by BooBoo Berra:

“And now Carlos Zúñiga comes to the plate. The official SCL stats say he’s hitting .140 so far this season. He really does make batting look incredibly difficult.”

- Wade Biggles, play-by-play announcer, MagpiesTV

[Paulie123]

5 July 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 28 and 29

Magpies 4-3 Denver
Magpies 7-4 Denver
Magpies 6-2 Denver
Madison 1-3 Magpies
Madison 2-9 Magpies
Madison 4-5 Magpies

- Pedro Soto smacked 2 HR to beat the Snow Sox to begin the week.
- Madison’s superstar hitter Julián Emery won WL batter of the month with the best monthly performance I can ever remember seeing from any player. He hit .410 with 15 HR and 48 RBIs. 48 RBIs in a single month!
- WL rookie of the month was won by our very own Gonzalo Torralda: .321, 3 HR, 10 RBIs. He has definitely benefitted from me dropping him to #6 in the order and only starting him against righty pitchers.
- In the second game of the series, Iemitsu Ishii hit a homer against Jeremy Williams as we fell into a 4-0 hole in the 1st inning. But the offense steadily chipped away at the Denver pitching and we won comfortably 7-4 in the end.
- Robinson Ortíz earned the series sweep with a dominant 8 innings of 2-hit ball. Soto homered for the third consecutive day. Torralda 3-5, TPL, DBL.
- We are a game behind Madison and now they come for an important series where we can take the division lead.
- The 9-2 win over the Brown Bears was a great all-round team performance. Gianni Hagenaars hit 3-4 with a HR and 2 doubles.
- I’ve signed young catcher Walton White to a 4-year contract extension valued at $10m per year. He was a certain super-2 qualifier for arbitration at the end of the year, and his estimate had soared alarmingly to over $13m. The new contract effectively gives me 4 years of Walton for the price of 3.
- A fantastic week that leaves us leading the North Division and tied with Baton Rouge for the best record in the entire SCL. We are doing a LOT better than I expected. Note of caution: we have 6 wins more than our Pythagorean record.

This week: 6-0
Record: 53-34, 1st place, 2 game lead over Lansing, Madison

[Paulie123]

6 July 2049

The SCL Armchair Almanac, 2049 Edition

HIGHEST SALARIED PLAYERS, 2049 SEASON

C Jimmy Howard (Lansing) - $29.8m
SP Mario Velasco (Providence) - $28.9m
RF David Miller (Albany) - $28.2m
SP Kenny Young (Phoenix) - $27.4m
SP Qing-lai Zhang (Trenton) - $26.4m
3B José Robles (Hartford) - $26.0m
SP Rafael Robles (Albany) - $25.8m
SP António Martínez (Sacramento) - $25.8m
CF Jim Dillman (Annapolis) - $25.3m
SP Donnie Lee (Atlanta) - $25.2m

[Paulie123]

12 July 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 30 and 31

Magpies 3-7 Austin
Magpies 6-5 Austin
Magpies 4-7 Austin
Baton Rouge 2-6 Magpies
Baton Rouge 3-4 Magpies
Baton Rouge 1-5 Magpies

- Gabe Copeland got his 12th save in the 6-5 win over Austin. He has only blown one save opportunity so far this year, and that was before he took over as closer.
- Aurelio Alomar had a difficult game in our final day in Texas: 3 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 BB.
- Madison’s #2 starter and 5-time all-star Tony Casas has strained his hamstring and will miss the rest of the regular season. That will hurt them.
- Kevin Cantrell threw an excellent complete game in the opener versus the Deltas: 9 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. He’s now 10-7, 3.24.
- We fell 3-0 early on in game two against Baton Rouge, but Jeffrey White (2-3, BB) led a great fight back. We’ve now won our last 8 one-run games.
- Another complete game completed the sweep, this time from Jeremy Williams. He finished with 9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. He’s 10-3 with an ERA of 3.26.
- We still have the outright lead in the North Division, and sweeping the Deltas means we have the SCL’s best record.

This week: 4-2
Record: 57-36, 1st place, 1 game lead over Lansing

[Paulie123]

13 July 2049

From: Agamemnon Profitloss, Chief Finance Officer
To: Billy DePodesta

Des Moines Magpies Finance Department
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK REPORT

With the July player trade deadline now less than three weeks away, this report gives you an update on our financial position and spending projections for the two years ahead.

For this year, we are in a good financial position. The trades of Júlio Martínez, Dave Dodd and Carlos Zúñiga have created a significant headroom beneath our $100m player payroll limit. Annualised salary commitments for this year now stand at just under $87m. Our highest earners are Kevin Cantrell, Jeffrey White (both $15m) and Roberto Caro ($10.8m). It means that over the last three years, player payroll has been cut by nearly $100m. I can only thank and congratulate you that this reduction has not translated into any impact on results on the field.

We have an uncertain position for next year, and the picture will only become clearer after the season has finished. We have already agreed contract extensions at increased salary levels for Wesley Weaver, Jeffrey White and Walton White. But the uncertainty stems from Ángel Márquez and Pedro Soto: both are possible super-2 qualifiers for arbitration at the end of the season. They will be right on the borderline of service time. In the scenario that both become arbitration eligible, then on current estimates our payroll projection for next season will be $119m. That would, of course, mean making reductions to our expenditure to stay within our $100m maximum. If neither Márquez nor Soto become eligible and remain on the league minimum salary next year, our projection is $103m. That would still necessitate making an adjustment to stay within our limit, of course, but to a much lesser extent. Allowing Jeremy Williams, Matt Anderson and Bernardo Ramos to depart to free agency in November would remove $10m in payroll from these projected figures.

The following year, 2051, presents a much more challenging outlook. A number of our talented young players will that year reach arbitration eligibility, including Gabe Copeland, Ken James, Gustavo Cruz, Ernesto Solís, Ángel Ochoa and Gianni Hagenaars. We will clearly not be able to afford to retain our current roster for that season. You will need to repeat this season’s strategy of replacing some of our higher earning players with young talents on minimum salary, acquired by trade or through the draft.

[Paulie123]

18 July 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 32 and 33

Phoenix 5-6 Magpies
Phoenix 4-6 Magpies
Phoenix 4-11 Magpies
Magpies 9-4 Carson City
Magpies 1-0 Carson City
Magpies 6-1 Carson City

- Jorge Cruz took the win in a nip-and-tuck first game against Phoenix. Cruz has been terrific all season. He has allowed just 3 runs from 29 innings for a 0.93 ERA.
- In game three, the offense jumped on Phoenix starter Derek Jenkins and it was easy from there. Pedro Soto and Enrique Limón both hit 3-4 with a home run.
- The Carson City series began with another spot start from Gustavo Cruz. Again he was excellent, throwing a complete game (1 of the 4 runs was unearned). Ángel Ochoa hit 3-4 with a triple.
- Wesley Weaver outlasted the Rattlesnakes’ excellent lefty Cedric Gommers the next day, eventually earning a line of 8 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K. Gabe Copeland grabbed save number 15. He has settled immediately into the closer role.
- The rotation is red hot right now and consistently going deep into games. Jeremy Williams ended the week with the latest complete game: 9 IP for 3 hits and just 1 run.
- Despite this 9-game winning streak, the Brown Bears are keeping pace. They’re on a 7-game streak of their own and are also 9-1 over their last 10.

This week: 6-0
Record: 63-36, 1st place, 2 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

19 July 2049

Courteney Aniston-Kudrow
@sonotmyrealname
What a fantastic run we’re on right now! #WellDoneLads #keepitup #Magpies. Totally wasn’t expecting a season anywhere near as good!
1:16PM - 19 Jul 2049

Thor Thundermountain
@norsewarrior
@sabermetricjedi U think Billy might try trade for a topline starter to help us over the second half? I feel not having a shutdown ace could be a weakness in the postseason
1:19PM - 19 Jul 2049

Severino Guadalajara-Smith
@sabermetricjedi
@norsewarrior wouldn’t have thought so. In our financial position it doesn’t make sense to me to give up good long-term prospects to get a rental ace only till the end of the season, and bringing in a longer contract just adds to our budget pressure next year & beyond #skint
1:25PM - 19 Jul 2049

Hank Blunt
@isayitlikeitis
Great stuff #Magpies
1:26PM - 19 Jul 2049

Bart Wardrobe
@MagpiesMad
In Billy I trust! #keepthefaith #Magpies
1:30PM - 19 Jul 2049

[Paulie123]

25 July 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 34 and 35

Bismarck 4-0 Magpies
Bismarck 5-3 Magpies
Bismarck 2-3 Magpies
Magpies 8-1 St. Paul
Magpies 9-0 St. Paul
Magpies 14-2 St. Paul

- The winning run ended at 9 games with the 4-0 shutout versus Bismarck. The Coyotes put up 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning, and our offense couldn’t get anything going.
- Enrique Limón and Ernesto Solís hit late RBI singles to nick the final game of the series.
- Albany’s 33-year-old Luis Batista threw a no-hitter against Annapolis. He was just one walk from a perfect game.
- The 8-1 drubbing of St. Paul was full of good performances. Aurelio Alomar was the standout (yet another complete game, just 3 hits), but Pedro Soto (4-5, DBL), Gonzalo Torralda (2-4, HR, DBL, BB) and Jeffrey White (3-5) also had fine days.
- Jeremy Williams threw his second straight complete game, this time a 6-hit shutout. Our bullpen could do with more work - a nice problem to have. Jeffrey White (3-5, HR) was excellent again.
- Ángel Márquez hit 2 home runs, the first a grand slam, in the 14-2 pounding of St. Paul that rounded off a terrific series. Torralda and Ángel Ochoa each had 3 hits, and Gustavo Cruz’s latest spot start was another excellent one (8.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB).
- What a display in the Rockets series: a 31-3 aggregate score. Okay, the 36-69 Rockets are the worst team in the league, but that is still a hugely impressive statement of intent. This young team is massively exceeding my expectations.

This week: 4-2
Record: 67-38, 1st place, 3 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

25 July 2049

====================
SCLmagpiesnation.com
====================
Cunningham joins Magpies as Anderson departs
By Maggie Pye | 25 Jul | 1,842 comments

With just a few days to go before the SCL trade deadline, GM Billy DePodesta has agreed a swap of minor leaguers with the Sacramento Stingrays. Former Magpies shortstop Matt Anderson, 29, and minor league relief pitcher John Powell, 25, have moved to Sacramento. Both were seen dispensable assets in Des Moines. Anderson had fallen well down the club’s infield pecking order since missing the second half of last season through injury. He had an unsuccessful spell on the roster earlier this year and is headed for free agency in the winter. Powell is a solid pitcher who joined the Magpies via trade 3 years ago, but has been buried beneath the club’s outstanding pitching depth. Both players have joined the Stingrays’ 25-man roster.

In return, the Magpies receive two average prospects. 23-year-old Blair Cunningham is an outstanding defensive catcher who makes good contact with the bat but lacks power and plate discipline. Sources say DePodesta projects him to become a useful backup catcher. Ben Appel, 24, is a hard-throwing reliever with under-developed control. If the Magpies’ coaching staff can be more effective than the Stingrays’ at overcoming this, he could become a useful middle relief option.

[Paulie123]

31 July 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 36 and 37

Santa Fe 4-9 Magpies
Santa Fe 3-13 Magpies
Santa Fe 1-10 Magpies
Magpies 9-5 Salem
Magpies 2-3 Salem
Magpies 3-4 Salem

- Robinson Ortíz looks like he’s finding his best form again. He threw 8 innings of 3-run ball in the opening game of the Santa Fe series.
- The offense is just on fire. Enrique Limón led off the 13-3 victory over the Outlaws, going 4-4 with a triple and a double. Jeffrey White hit 2-4 and is now hitting .335, the best mark in the majors.
- Bismarck shifted Al Elliott and his overinflated contract to Nashville in return for catcher Jorge Flores. I like that move for Bismarck.
- Jeffrey White (4-5) and Ángel Ochoa (3-4) led the charge on yet another terrific day for the offense in the 10-1 win. The lineup’s display even managed to overshadow Wesley Weaver’s complete game, which advanced him to 10-7, 2.62.
- In the last 6 games we’ve outscored the opponent by an aggregate of 63-11. Scintillating stuff.
- Walton White dominated the opening game in Salem, hitting 3-4 with 2 home runs, and scoring 5 runs.
- Jeffrey White hit his 15th homer in the 3-2 defeat to Salem. His SCL-leading average now stands at .343. Ángel Márquez was suspended for the next 7 games after brawling with Ironclads starter Sean Lewis (see next post). Bernardo Ramos will fill in a third base.
- Disappointing to be beaten in the last two games against the Ironclads, but we were overdue a 1-run loss or two.
- We are looking good for a wildcard place at worst: we have a 14-game lead over the Bismarck Coyotes, who are in third place in the wildcard race. But this year I want to finally win the division!
- SCL champions Montgomery suffered a blow with the news that their all-star third baseman Bryan Powell, a former #1 draft pick, has ruptured his Achilles’ tendon and is done for the season. The Cruisers are 2 games outside the wildcard places in the Eastern League and at risk of missing the playoffs with Powell out of action.
- The SCL awards committee clearly took note of our fantastic 23-6 month. Enrique Limón (.343, 6 HR, 24 RBI) won Western League hitter of the month. Were it not for Madison’s Julián Emery, who has 113 RBIs from 111 games and is on track to smash the record for RBIs in a season (146 by Austin’s Joel Tizzard two years ago), I’d back Limón to retain his WL Outstanding Hitter trophy.

This week: 4-2
Record: 71-40, 1st place, 3 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

31 July 2049

OFFICE OF THE STATE CAPITALS LEAGUE COMMISSIONER
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION: ÁNGEL MÁRQUEZ

This notice provides official confirmation from the Office of the State Capitals League Commissioner of the seven-game suspension that has been issued to Des Moines Magpies infielder Ángel Márquez. The suspension will apply with immediate effect, meaning that Mr Márquez will next be available for the first game of the Magpies’ three-game series in Sacramento on 8 August. Mr Márquez has no right of appeal against this decision.

As you are aware, Mr Márquez was struck on his left shoulder in last night’s game against the Salem Ironclads by the 0-2 pitch from Sean Lewis. The Commissioner fully understands the pain and frustration such an event is likely to cause a batter. However, he does not accept that this in any way justifies Mr Márquez’s charge towards Mr Lewis and subsequent fighting, which led to players from both benches taking to the field and remonstrating with one another.

The Commissioner expects all SCL players, coaches and club officials to display due respect to the opposing team at all times, both on and off the pitch. Mr Márquez’s conduct clearly fell short of these standards, and the Commissioner fully supports the decision of the umpiring crew to eject Mr Márquez from the game. The Commissioner is clear that these events portray the players, their teams and the SCL in an extremely negative light. He would be very disappointed to see a repeat of such scenes in the future.

The Commissioner took into account Mr Márquez’s previous good conduct during his SCL career in deciding that a seven-game suspension was an appropriate punishment in this instance.

Yours sincerely,

Rufus S. Bureaucracy
State Capitals League Deputy Commissioner
31 July 2049

[Paulie123]

1 August 2049

onlytheboxscore.com/Magpies
Ángel Márquez has energised the Magpies’ offense
Posted by Edison Whooooosh, @whoooooshman

As May turned to June, the Magpies’ young team stood at 30-27. Their offense was stumbling badly. Only all-stars Jeffrey White and Enrique Limón were getting on base with any regularity, and it was largely thanks to their excellent pitching and defense that they were able to keep their head above the .500 waterline. Since 1 June, they have gone 41-13 and, against most preseason predictions, have the SCL’s best record. So what’s changed?

Answer: Ángel Márquez. In early June, GM Billy DePodesta surprised many by trading his superb closer Júlio Martínez to Albany and getting infielder Márquez in return. The 24-year-old has been red hot since arriving in Des Moines, hitting .294 with 11 home runs in 43 games. But it’s not just his own performance that has transformed the Magpies’ recent form. His arrival has lit a fire under the whole lineup.

Márquez’s production at #5 in the lineup has given greater protection to Jeffrey White at cleanup, and reduced the pressure to score runs from Pedro Soto and Walton White at the #2 and #3 positions, freeing them up to maximise their talent. Márquez has also made the bottom half of he lineup stronger by pushing everyone down a place. A particular beneficiary has been rookie Gonzalo Torralda, who had found life difficult as the everyday #5 hitter, but has played more confidently in the #6 hole and no longer is needed to start against left-handers, who had been stifling him. Meanwhile, the excellent form of new closer Gabe Copeland, an internal promotee, has meant that Martínez hasn’t been missed.

If the Magpies can ride their hot run into the postseason, the trade for Márquez may come to be seen as DePodesta’s best move yet.

[Paulie123]

7 August 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 38 and 39

Lansing 4-5 Magpies
Lansing 5-4 Magpies
Lansing 4-5 Magpies
Olympia 5-7 Magpies
Olympia 0-8 Magpies
Olympia 1-2 Magpies

- The 5-4 loss in game two of the Lansing series was one of those frustrating days of missed opportunities. 12 hits and 3 walks yielded only 4 runs, after we left 11 guys stranded on base.
- Denver’s veteran slugger Vince van der Vloet got hit number 3000 of his stellar career, putting him 8th on the all-time list.
- That’s no typo for the Lansing series: each game finished 5-4. Good to win that series and stop them gaining ground on us (they’re now 6 GB).
- Columbus’s John Glover punched out 16 in a game against Annapolis. Too many of his pitches leak out over the heart of the plate for my liking, but he can certainly make batters swing and miss.
- Trenton’s Alejandro Suárez threw his second career no-hitter against Albany. His previous effort was in 2045 against Annapolis.
- Roberto Caro’s walk-off 2-run home run won the opening game against Olympia, but the real star of the day was Jesús Benítez, who threw 3.1 innings of relief without allowing a single baserunner. After a sticky start to his big league career, Benítez seems to be improving by the day.
- The 8-0 win saw a great display from Gonzalo Torralda: 3-5 and his 10th homer of the year.
- Kevin Cantrell pitched 9 scoreless innings in the 2-1 victory that completed the Olympia sweep. All the scoring came in the 10th inning.
- This is definitely my most enjoyable season as GM so far, because I simply never expected we’d do this well.

This week: 5-1
Record: 76-41, 1st place, 4 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

13 August 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 40 and 41

Magpies 5-1 Sacramento
Magpies 9-7 Sacramento
Magpies 6-0 Sacramento
Denver 1-3 Magpies
Denver 3-4 Magpies
Denver 3-2 Magpies

- Bernardo Ramos has been dire filling in for Márquez at 3B during his suspension. Ramos’s OPS is a woeful .472. Nick Baker, our second pick in last year’s draft, has been called up for his first taste of the big time. Baker is much younger than Ramos, much more defensively versatile (he plays all over the diamond and both corner outfield positions really well), and can hardly do much worse at the plate.
- Baker hit 2 singles on his SCL debut in the 5-1 win over the Stingrays. Wesley Weaver advanced his record to 11-8, 2.72 with a complete game.
- Júlio Martínez will get the big paycheck he wanted next year: Albany have agreed to pay him $13.3m.
- In game two of the Sacramento series, Jeremy Williams and Gustavo Cruz left us in a 7-0 hole after just 3 innings. But we fought back superbly and eventually won it in the 11th inning. Our former starter Del Hill gave up the winning runs.
- Aurelio Alomar was magnificent in the 6-0 win, throwing a shutout where he allowed just 2 hits and 2 walks and fanned 10.
- The star of the opening game versus Denver was Robinson Ortíz, who tossed 7.2 innings for just an unearned run and struck out 8. After an indifferent start to the season, he’s got his ERA down to 3.00. Baker went 2-3.
- The win streak reached 9 with the 4-3 win over the Snow Sox the following day. Jeffrey White got player of the day after going 4-4 with a double.
- The streak ended when Jorge Cruz gave up the winning solo home run in the 9th inning of game three to... Michael O’Quinn.
- We have stretched our advantage over the Brown Bears now to 7 games. On tomorrow’s rest day we travel there for a 3-game series and don’t want to let them close the gap.

This week: 5-1
Record: 81-42, 1st place, 7 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

20 August 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 42 and 43

Magpies 1-2 Madison
Magpies 2-4 Madison
Magpies 6-5 Madison
Austin 2-6 Magpies
Austin 2-3 Magpies
Austin 4-8 Magpies

- Apart from Ángel Ochoa (3-3), Madison starter Cal Rice had our batters’ measure in the series opener.
- It looked like Kevin Cantrell had done what an ace should in the final game, and stopped the sweep with 8 IP for just 2 ER and a 3-run lead heading into the bottom of the 9th. But Gabe Copeland and Jorge Cruz blew the save and took us to extra innings. Terry Lawrence’s RBI single in the 11th got the win back. Ángel Márquez busted out of a mini slump with a 4-6 day.
- Another good outing from Robinson Ortíz beat the Tycoons 6-2: 7.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K.
- Enrique Limón hit a walk-off RBI single in the second game of the Austin series.
- A huge 7-run 3rd inning bagged the victory in the last game against the Tycoons. Márquez smashed their ace Lee Cox for a brilliant grand slam.

This week: 4-2
Record: 85-44, 1st place, 6 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

20 August 2049

====================
SCLmagpiesnation.com
====================
Young Magpies team heads towards the stretch with North Division lead
By Maggie Pye | 20 Aug | 2,762 comments

Magpies general manager Billy DePodesta has told MagpiesNation that believes his youthful team can hold their nerve down the stretch and secure their first North Division pennant since 2035. The club has been a fixture in the playoffs since DePodesta took over the reins, but, despite averaging over 98 wins per season, have had to settle for a wildcard place in each year of his tenure so far.

DePodesta said: “I believe these boys can go on and win the division. They certainly deserve it, they’ve had a magnificent season so far.” DePodesta’s pitching staff have been consistently good all year. The bullpen has an ERA below 3.00, and the team overall has posted an ERA of 3.10. The team’s traditional defensive strength has also been to the fore, despite the departure of key position players Matt Anderson and Dave Dodd, who have been traded. Gianni Hagenaars has excelled in centre field, joining Enrique Limón and Pedro Soto to form arguably the league’s best defensive outfield. The trio of Ángel Ochoa, Roberto Caro and Ángel Márquez have been extremely solid across the infield.

Can they finish the job? Talented though the roster is, what it lacks, however, is experienced veterans. At age 29, pitchers Kevin Cantrell and Jeremy Williams are the old men of the team. And 18 of the 25-man roster are age 26 or under. Some of the young guys do have experience of a pennant race from recent Magpies seasons. They will need to draw on all of that knowledge to see the team home.

[Paulie123]

21 August 2049

(Cutting from SCL Baseball Monthly magazine, July 2049 issue)

SCL BASEBALL MONTHLY

Meet The Player: 10 Facts You Never Knew About... JEREMY WILLIAMS, DES MOINES MAGPIES

1. He was the 56th overall pick in the 2038 player draft.
2. He started out in little league as a hitter.
3. He switched to pitching when he realised he couldn’t actually hit the ball.
4. His favourite holiday destination is Agloe, New York.
5. As a toddler, he used to insist on wearing nappies with “Trenton Colts” emblazoned on them.
6. He once juggled flaming torches in a high school talent contest. He spent 2 weeks in hospital.
7. Contrary to popular rumour, his middle name is not “Babylon”. That would be ridiculous.
8. It is in fact “Mesopotamia”.
9. He is no relation to Tennessee, Ted, John, Serena, Robin or Venus.
10. He hates using text slang and emojis. Obvs. LOL.

[Paulie123]

26 August 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 44 and 45

Magpies 3-1 Baton Rouge
Magpies 3-6 Baton Rouge
Magpies 5-1 Baton Rouge
Magpies 15-3 Phoenix
Magpies 5-4 Phoenix
Magpies 7-0 Phoenix

- Madison’s best starting pitcher, Tony Casas, will be on the DL for 8-9 weeks with a strained hamstring. Casas had the SCL’s third best ERA at 2.06. Definitely advantage us.
- Our week-long road trip opened with Kevin Cantrell throwing 8 innings of 1-run ball to earn his 15th win, and Gabe Copeland nailing save #20.
- Baton Rouge have an 8 game lead in the South Division. We’ve proved to ourselves here that we can beat them in a head-to-head series. Ángel Márquez hit 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, SF.
- Gustavo Cruz made his latest spot start in the 15-3 demolition of Phoenix. He has really shown me the value of having a long reliever who can give a tired rotation an extra day of rest occasionally. The lineup smashed the ball to all corners of the Ballpark of Arizona, with 4 guys hitting homers. We probably should have scored even more: we left 10 men on base.
- Pedro Soto (4-5) and Ángel Ochoa (3-4) were the difference-makers in game two of the Phoenix series.
- The week ended in sublime fashion, as Jeremy Williams threw a magnificent no-hitter. A walk in the 4th inning was all that separated him from a perfect game. He will get a big pay packet when he hits free agency after this season and will deserve it for his three years of fine performances here. His record for us is 43-22.

This week: 5-1
Record: 90-45, 1st place, 8 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

2 September 2049

GM’s notebook - Series 46 and 47

Carson City 7-4 Magpies
Carson City 1-4 Magpies
Carson City 5-6 Magpies
Magpies 5-1 Bismarck
Magpies 5-8 Bismarck
Magpies 1-3 Bismarck

- The opener against the Rattlesnakes was a rare bad day for Kevin Cantrell (2+ IP, 6 H, 5 ER), but at least the bullpen got a bit of work.
- Nick Baker has made a nice start to his Magpies career. After 9 games he’s hitting .308.
- WL player of the week was Jeffrey White, who hit 10-23 with 2 HR.
- After Aurelio Alomar had run into trouble in the 6th inning of the rubber game against Carson City, Ken James threw 3 brilliant relief innings to see us home.
- Day one of our visit to Bismarck was a tight affair until Enrique Limón and Ángel Ochoa went deep in the 8th. Wesley Weaver’s latest quality start took his record to 12-8, 2.73.
- My only September call-up was speedster Zachary Tinter as a pinch-running threat. With the starters going deep into games so consistently I don’t need any extra arms in the bullpen.
- WL pitcher of the month was... Robinson Ortíz! He went 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA. He is playing his way into my postseason rotation (assuming we make it to the division series).
- Kevin Cantrell struck out 13 Bismarck hitters in 7 innings in the rubber game of our series, but took the loss with the offense having a quiet day.
- Next up we host the woeful St. Paul Rockets (48-93) and need to take the opportunity to keep Madison at arm’s length, before it starts to get really nervy.

This week: 3-3
Record: 93-48, 1st place, 6 game lead over Madison

[Paulie123]

3 September 2049

Tony Smashie
@DJTony
What a groovetastic season it’s been from the #Magpies boys! Rock on and see it all the way down the stretch to the finish dudes! #getgroovy #ohbaby
11:43AM - 3 Sep 2049

Zebedee Stethoscope
@glasshalfempty
@DJTony Wiv r inexperience u gotta think well blow it #markmywords
11:47AM - 3 Sep 2049

Ezequiel Snooze
@Ezzzzzzz
@glasshalfempty have faith mate! We have the talent to get that long overdue division title I’m sure #staycalmguys
11:51AM - 3 Sep 2049

Samwise Saruman
@lordoftheswings
@Ezzzzzzz the problem is the Brown Bears have the talent too. Gonna go right to the wire #gottalovebaseball
11:52AM - 3 Sep 2049