The Outpost League - Page 4

ifspuds · 01-25-2006, 03:48 PM

June 1, 2015

Bay League Standings

Code:

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk   L10
Marsein          11   7  .611    -    W3   6-4
Deepvale         10   7  .588  0.5    L1   5-5
Lorris           10   8  .600  1.0    L4   4-6
Allison           9   8  .529  1.5    W4   8-2
Tifton            9   9  .500  2.0    W3   7-3
Gentry Hills      8   9  .471  2.5    W1   3-7
Silver Beach      7  10  .412  3.5    L3   3-7
Elliott Springs   6  12  .333  5.0    L3   4-6

League News

This month, the Lorris Greens learned something about the dangers of being on top: everyone comes gunning for you. The defending champs have been incredibly streaky, dropping three straight to the upstart Marsein Knights, before coming back to take the next two. The first four games of that home-and-home series were classics, each decided by a single run before the Greens hung a 7-4 win on the board. They're currently riding a four-game losing streak, which started on a near no-hitter by Gentry Hills ace Broderick Earl. Earlier, Lorris torched Earl and the Scouts for 11 runs, but the big righty struck back, pitching 8 hitless innings before allowing a leadoff single in the 9th.

The Marsein Knights are the real talk of the league right now, however. The young team finished tied for last place at the end of last season, but they're making a lot of noise in the early going this year. Right fielder Mario DeGray is an unstoppable force, hitting a league-leading .459 with a whopping .583 on-base percentage. Marsein leads the league in batting average, walks and runs scored, far outdistancing their closest competitor in the last category. The Knights have put 100 runs across so far, and the 2nd place team, the Deepvale Ferrymen, has only managed 81. The Knights will have to improve their 7th place ranking in runs allowed to keep their lofty perch, however.

Another big mover this month is the Allison Spelunkers. The Cavemen, as their hometown has taken to calling them, are led by third sacker Jeff Anderson, hitting .390/.478/.525, with solid support from a number of players. Even with their ace Kyle Richardson struggling (0-1, 4.95 in his last 3 games), the Spelunkers are a well-balanced team, 3rd in runs scored and 3rd in runs allowed.

League Leaders

Code:

Batting Average                Stolen Bases
M. DeGray (MAR)       .459     J. Leonard (ALL)         5
H. Gervin (DPV)       .458     J. Lutz (ESP)            4
J. Sowder (SIL)       .452     C. Rock (LOR)            4
                               
OPS                            ERA
M. DeGray (MAR)      1.272     T. Allen (SIL)        2.08
J. Sowder (SIL)      1.211     M. Hawkins (TIF)      2.09
R. Lockwood (DPV)    1.209     C. Bonner (TIF)       2.31
 
Home Runs                      Wins
R. Lockwood (DPV)        9     B. Earl (GEN)            7
J. Brown (ESP)           8     M. Little (DPV)          5
6 players tied with      4     Q. Stallworth (MAR)      5
                               
RBI                            Strikeouts
R. Isenhour (MAR)       21     D. Phillips (LOR)       79
R. Lockwood (DPV)       20     K. Richardson (ALL)     74
J. Brown (ESP)          19     Q. Stallworth (MAR)     72
                               
Runs Scored                   
M. DeGray (MAR)         17	
T. Ridnour (MAR)        17
J. Lutz (ESP)           14
H. Gervin (DPV)         14

ifspuds · 02-03-2006, 12:20 PM

Join the Cave Dwellers!
(An advertisement on the Allison Local News Service)

Are you one of those people who keep a newsfeeder with you at all times just to listen for news of our local baseball team?

Do you send Kyle Richardson fan mail?

Have you rigged up a hard hat with a headlamp so you can come to Hillside Park looking like the spelunker on the team logo?

Do you get to the park on game days early enough to not just watch the hometown boys take batting practice, but to watch them arrive at the stadium in the first place?

Do you have your own special routine that you perform every time Jeff Anderson comes to bat, since the last time you stood up, turned around and dropped your hot dog into your beer, he got the game-winning hit?

If you have done any of these things (and we know you're out there), we want you to know you're not alone, and we can help. The Cave Dwellers are the Bay League's first official fan club, dedicated to all things Spelunker. Enjoy special seats at Hillside Park! Take comfort in the companionship of other crazed fans just like you! Be as near to a part of the team as you can be without putting on a glove and taking the field alongside Alton Strong!

If you think the Cave Dwellers are your sort of group, contact founder Peter Walls at 10-1702. We're looking for people just like you!

Hillside Park in Allison has gained a reputation as a very difficult place for visiting teams: the Spelunkers own a sparkling 8-1 home record this season. After last year's mine collapse tragedy, the team put forth a lot of effort to help out the town, and the town has responded in kind, coming out to the park in loud, rowdy throngs. Spelunkers games have turned into the town's favorite party, with fans often gathering outside the park for hours into the evening afterward.

GForce · 02-03-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Join the Cave Dwellers!
(An advertisement on the Allison Local News Service)

Are you one of those people who keep a newsfeeder with you at all times just to listen for news of our local baseball team?

Do you send Kyle Richardson fan mail?

Have you rigged up a hard hat with a headlamp so you can come to Hillside Park looking like the spelunker on the team logo?

Do you get to the park on game days early enough to not just watch the hometown boys take batting practice, but to watch them arrive at the stadium in the first place?

Do you have your own special routine that you perform every time Jeff Anderson comes to bat, since the last time you stood up, turned around and dropped your hot dog into your beer, he got the game-winning hit?

If you have done any of these things (and we know you're out there), we want you to know you're not alone, and we can help. The Cave Dwellers are the Bay League's first official fan club, dedicated to all things Spelunker. Enjoy special seats at Hillside Park! Take comfort in the companionship of other crazed fans just like you! Be as near to a part of the team as you can be without putting on a glove and taking the field alongside Alton Strong!

If you think the Cave Dwellers are your sort of group, contact founder Peter Walls at 10-1702. We're looking for people just like you!

Hillside Park in Allison has gained a reputation as a very difficult place for visiting teams: the Spelunkers own a sparkling 8-1 home record this season. After last year's mine collapse tragedy, the team put forth a lot of effort to help out the town, and the town has responded in kind, coming out to the park in loud, rowdy throngs. Spelunkers games have turned into the town's favorite party, with fans often gathering outside the park for hours into the evening afterward.

This is the kind of stuff that makes this such a great read. Just brilliant.

GH

ifspuds · 02-08-2006, 01:48 PM

July 1, 2015

Bay League Standings

Code:

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk   L10
Marsein          17  14  .548    -    L2   5-5
Allison          16  14  .533  0.5    W3   6-4
Silver Beach     15  14  .517  1.0    W5   7-3
Deepvale         15  15  .500  1.5    W2   3-7
Elliott Springs  15  15  .500  1.5    W2   8-2
Gentry Hills     14  14  .500  1.5    L3   6-4
Lorris           14  16  .467  2.5    L4   3-7
Tifton           13  17  .433  3.5    L2   3-7

League News

While the standings at the outset of July look -- at the top at least -- much the same as they did at the outset of June, with the surprising Marsein Knights atop the pile, there was a lot of shuffling going on this month. The Lorris Greens, for example, held first place early on in the month but now find themselves under .500. At one point, the top team and the bottom were separated by a span of just 2 games. The Silver Beach Whales and Elliott Springs Tornadoes made big moves this month, going 8-4 and 9-3 respectively, doing their part to turn the standings upside down and give them a good shake. The unexpected twists and turns of the second Bay League season have people talking: attendance at the far-flung village of Marsein has started going up, and Allison's strong showing has other teams talking about starting their own fan clubs.

Some player news from around the league:

Lorris's hopes to repeat as Bay League champs took a hit 3 days ago when their ace hurler Dennis Phillips went down with pain in his tricep. He's expected to miss about seven weeks with the injury. Phillips, who was named the Bay League's Top Pitcher last season, was off to another good season with a 4-4, 3.49 line.

Henry "Ace" Gervin is up to his old tricks, inching back into the top 3 spots of the batting leaderboards thanks to a Bay League-record 23-game hitting streak that ended mid-June. The sweet-swinging lefty is still terrorizing Bay League pitchers, but is looking up at Silver Beach's Josh Sowder and Marsein's Mario DeGray. Sowder's season is a particular surprise, as the 28-year old right fielder hit a puny .237 in part-time duty last season. The Whales can thank Sowder's blistering offensive pace for their surge in the standings.

Marsein's lofty perch atop the standings can be attributed to not just DeGray, but an offense that, top to bottom, is lapping the Bay League. The top 3 placers in runs scored are all Knights, and the team's 164 runs scored is 30 more than any other team. If the Knights can find someone besides ace Quentin Stallworth to do some pitching, they could blow the rest of the league out in the second half. Their team ERA of 4.34 is dead last in the league, with only Stallworth below 4.00 among their starting rotation. Maybe they should think about making Amir Oliver a starter: the 34-year old stopper has thrown 10.2 innings without allowing a single run, holding hitters to an anemic .143 average.

League Leaders

Code:

Batting Average                Stolen Bases
J. Sowder (SIL)       .463     J. Lutz (ESP)            7
M. Degray (MAR)       .438     C. Rock (LOR)            7
H. Gervin (DPV)       .419     3 tied with              6
                               
OPS                            ERA
J. Sowder (SIL)      1.236     T. Allen (SIL)        1.65
M. Degray (MAR)      1.174     M. Willis (TIF)       1.97
H. Gervin (DPV)      1.152     B. Edwards (ALL)      2.47
 
Home Runs                      Wins
J. Brown (ESP)          12     B. Earl (GEN)           10
R. Lockwood (DPV)       12     Q. Stallworth (MAR)      8
T. Ellis (GEN)           7     C. Bonner (TIF)          7
J. Sowder (SIL)          7
                               
RBI                            Strikeouts
R. Lockwood (DPV)       32     K. Richardson (ALL)    114
R. Isenhour (MAR)       28     E. Hope (ESP)          107
J. Brown (ESP)          26     Q. Stall	worth (MAR)    107
                               
Runs Scored                   
M. DeGray (MAR)         29	
T. Ridnour (MAR)        22
R. Isenhour (MAR)       22
J. Anderson (ALL)       22
H. Gervin (DPV)         22

ifspuds · 02-08-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GForce

This is the kind of stuff that makes this such a great read. Just brilliant.

Meant to reply to this before I made the last post...

Thanks for the kind words, GForce. Coming from someone whose writing I've enjoyed tremendously, it means a lot. It's my hope that people are interested in the off-field stuff as well as the on-field, so your comments are encouraging. Thanks again.

Vris · 02-09-2006, 12:54 PM

Jeff, might want to fix the League Leaders. It's kinda hard to read.

ifspuds · 02-09-2006, 12:55 PM

It is? Is it too small? It reads fine on my screen...

Dark Horse · 02-09-2006, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifspuds

It is? Is it too small? It reads fine on my screen...

Looks like this:

Every time i call it a game, you call it a business. But when i call it a business, you call it a game!

Maybe a little smaller. Everything else is great. Keep up the good work!

ifspuds · 02-09-2006, 11:28 PM

Now, why didn't anyone tell me it was too small? I've been posting the leaderboards that way the whole time, since they looked fine on my screen.

I took out the size tags... how's it look now?

Dark Horse · 02-10-2006, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Now, why didn't anyone tell me it was too small? I've been posting the leaderboards that way the whole time, since they looked fine on my screen.

Your type of dynasty isn't really about the numbers for me. As long as i could read the story i was fine. But now i can see the numbers, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifspuds

I took out the size tags... how's it look now?

Looks better now. Keep up the good work.

ifspuds · 02-16-2006, 07:00 PM

Excerpts from the Weekly Bay League Report on the Outpost News Service

Ace who? That's what some Allison Spelunkers fans are saying, trumpeting their 18-year old first baseman Walter Sebring as the best player in the game. Walter Sebring, you ask? The kid from that frozen hamlet outside North Reach? What's so great about Walter Sebring?

We'll tell you. The young man can flat out hit. He didn't make his first start for Allison until the month of May, but he joined the Spelunkers' starting lineup for good toward the end of that month and hasn't looked back. Since May 24th, when he went 1-3 in a game against Marsein, Sebring has failed to get a hit in just one game, and is hitting .382 so far this season. Remember that he's just 18 years old, Bay League fans. You'll be hearing a lot from Walter Sebring over the next several seasons.

Speaking of players bursting onto the scenes, meet Matt Willis, Elliott Springs Tornado and the latest winner of Pitcher of the Month honors. The 28 year old only got into 8 games last season for the Tornadoes, throwing 6.1 innings, but he's been pressed into service in the rotation this year and has responded very well, going 3-0 with an ERA of just 1.97. That's all nice, but how about this for a set of numbers to knock your socks off: in 32 innings, he's walked one batter and struck out 22.

In the birthplace of the Bay League, the Tifton Generals are having a rough time of it in their second season. While they can certainly pitch, as evidenced by the fine work of Carlin Bonner and Juggie Hawkins, don't ask them to score any runs for you. You'll only end up disappointed. They don't have a single player hitting over .300, and only third baseman Renaldo Wright is having anything approaching a decent season. But even Wright has to be disappointed with his output, considering he hit .355 last season, good for second in the Bay League, and is at a mere .295 so far in 2015.

Dial your newsfeeders here again next week as we cover the latest news from the Bay League.

Big Six · 02-17-2006, 09:15 AM

I think I'll jump on board as a Walter Sebring fan. I'll submit my Cave Dwellers application soon.

This is a great read, ifspuds. I'll really enjoy following it.

ifspuds · 02-21-2006, 06:36 PM

Nice to have you on board, Big Six! The Bay League is blessed with outstanding first basemen (see a bit more on one of them below), but Walter Sebring looks like he's going to be the heir apparent to the big stars of the league.

July 1, 2015

Bay League Standings

Code:

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk   L10
Marsein          26  21  .553    -    L1   5-5
Elliott Springs  25  21  .543  0.5    W2   7-3
Deepvale         23  22  .511  2.0    W2   6-4
Silver Beach     22  22  .500  2.5    W1   5-5
Lorris           22  23  .489  3.0    L2   4-6
Tifton           22  24  .478  3.5    W4   8-2
Gentry Hills     21  24  .467  4.0    L6   3-7
Allison          21  25  .457  4.5    L2   3-7

League News

At one point in the last month, every team in the league was within 2 games of first place. The lack of a dominant team or teams in the league has people talking across the Outposts, but it's not always positive. "I think it's exciting," said Amanda Dao after her hometown Tifton Generals held on for a nail-biting 7-6 win over first-place Marsein yesterday. "You never know just what you're going to get when you come to the park. We were in last place, and now we're moving up the standings. There's always a chance."

Other fans disagreed. "It's maddening is what it is," said Jason Richardson. "If we're going to have teams fighting it out, I'd much rather it be a couple of great teams with some great stories. Now it's just finding out who can manage to figure something out for a couple of weeks. Where's the fun in that?"

Before the first game was played in the Bay League, people were already talking about who would be the more dominant hitter, Ace Gervin or fellow first sacker Riyad Gomes, who plies his trade for Elliott Springs. Gervin has proven to be the best hitter in the league, while Gomes' name is rarely mentioned any more. However, Gomes boasts a claim to fame Gervin does not: July's Batter of the Month. He hit .441 for the month and is now 6th in the Bay League in batting with a robust .352. The knock on Gomes has been his surprising inability to hit for much power, with just 4 homers this season, but he's certainly getting his share of hits.

Silver Beach's Josh Sowder remains one of the greatest stories of the season. Nearly everyone has been expecting Sowder to come back to ground eventually, but he shows no signs of letting up, still hitting well over .400 and threatening to put his name in the record books with permanent ink. His teammates swear by him, and there's a reason: in close and late situations, Sowder suddenly turns into an unstoppable force, hitting an incredible .722! Sure, it's only in 18 at-bats, but 13 hits in 18 at-bats is still impressive, regardless of sample size.

One milestone that passed without notice was the trading deadline. Not a single player changed hands this season, despite rumors of names such as Lorris's Cliff Rock, Tifton's Carlin Bonner and Gentry Hills' Tarise Ellis on the move to new teams. There is a definite reluctance among Bay League teams to swap players, but even despite the early success of the league, the teams remain very small enterprises, and talking trade takes a lot more time and manpower than most teams seem willing to invest so far.

League Leaders

Code:

Batting Average                Stolen Bases
J. Sowder (SIL)       .452     T. Smith (LOR)          11
M. Degray (MAR)       .386     C. Rock (LOR)           10
H. Gervin (DPV)       .384     S. Nolan (ESP)          10
                               
OPS                            ERA
J. Sowder (SIL)      1.179     M. Willis (TIF)       1.61
H. Gervin (DPV)      1.127     T. Allen (SIL)        2.87
M. DeGray (MAR)      1.077     E. Hope (ESP)         2.93
 
Home Runs                      Wins
R. Lockwood (DPV)       14     B. Earl (GEN)           14
T. Ellis (GEN)          13     C. Bonner (TIF)         11
J. Brown (ESP)          12     Q. Stallworth (MAR)     10
H. Gervin (DPV)         12
                               
RBI                            Strikeouts
R. Lockwood (DPV)       38     E. Hope (ESP)          153
R. Isenhour (MAR)       38     B. Earl (GEN)          153
H. Gervin (DPV)         38     Q. Stallworth (MAR)    143
                               
Runs Scored                   
M. DeGray (MAR)         40	
H. Gervin (DPV)         40
T. Ellis (GEN)          33

Jason · 02-21-2006, 11:39 PM

Just read this whole thread. Excellent, excellent work.

Dark Horse · 02-23-2006, 02:38 AM

ifspuds · 02-24-2006, 04:36 PM

Thanks, DAED... glad you stopped in. Always nice to hear from a reader! And thanks again to Dark Horse, one of the thread's longtime supporters.

Let's catch up with the players taken in the annual draft and see what they're up to in their first Bay League season:

1B Walter Sebring, Allison Spelunkers

Selected first by the Allison Spelunkers, Sebring is already turning heads as the starting first baseman. Still just 18 years old, Sebring is hitting .331 and walking more than he strikes out, which bodes well for his continued success once pitchers stop challenging the youngster as much. His power game is still developing, but the fact remains: he's holding his own at the top level of competition.

LF Matt Roy, Marsein Knights

The Marsein Knights, who are trying to go from tied for worst to all alone in first from 2014 to 2015, have a good one in the 2nd selection, Matt Roy. Coaches have him concentrating on going after pitches more often, and he's shown a surprising ability to put bat on ball. Other teams think highly of the 19-year old outfielder as well, ranking him near the top of up-and-coming players in the league.

P Ahmad Reese, Tifton Generals

Reese, the subject of some controversy when draft selections were made, has been throwing for the top city league team in Tifton, though word is he still needs a fair amount of time down there before he joins the Generals. They could use the help. Despite their recent hot streak, the Tifton squad still ranks near the bottom of the Bay League in both runs scored and runs allowed. There's some worry that Reese is turning out to be a head case. His defense on the mound is considered to be forgetful at best, and he's shown an aversion to working on his stamina. He's got plenty of talent in his right arm, though.

1B Richie Jones, Silver Beach Whales

The jack-of-all-trades Jones doesn't have a lot of weaknesses in his offensive game. He can do everything pretty well, but doesn't excel at any one thing. It seems to be affecting him. The Whales are a bit disappointed with his confidence at the plate, which has suffered as he struggled a bit at the beginning of the season. They think he can turn it around, but there has to be some worry about his future. He's hitting .273 and drawing plenty of walks right now, but the concern is that he's letting too many hittable pitches sail past for strikes.

P Damian Latimer, Gentry Hills Scouts

The hard-throwing Latimer has turned heads with his heavy fastball and smart play, and some have even said he's a better long-term prospect than Ahmad Reese. There are some concerns about his ability to stay healthy, as his mechanics leave those with weak stomachs clutching their shoulders in sympathy. Latimer's already missed some time this season with a stiff shoulder, so the concern seems well-placed.

P Mike Dodson, Deepvale Ferrymen

Dodson has been pitching very well in city league play, but hasn't moved up the ladder at all, despite his advanced age of 24, playing against people 6 years his junior on a regular basis. While Dodson certainly has talent, it'll be a surprise if he manages to have much of a productive career in the Bay League at this point.

CF Lannce Barber, Elliott Springs Tornadoes

Like Mike Dodson, Barber has been mired at the low city league level all season, and isn't showing much sign that he can handle even that, hitting a puny .208, though he does have 6 homers to go with that. The Tornadoes rave about his game smarts, from defense to baserunning, but he looks a lot like a backup outfielder at this point. He's only 20 years old, so he's got a chance to turn into something still.

2B Sherman Wells, Lorris Greens

The 18-year old Wells is the infield counterpart to Lannce Barber, selected just before him in the 2015 draft. His defense draws raves from all that have watched him play second base, and he's one of the smartest players on the field most days, but unless he can figure out something with the bat, his future is cloudy.

Vris · 02-24-2006, 08:46 PM

I just want to say again that this is a fun thread Jeff. You've done very well.

ifspuds · 02-28-2006, 05:44 PM

Thanks, Vris. I'm glad you're still enjoying it, and I'm glad I've found the time to keep it going more regularly!

September 1, 2015

Bay League Standings

Code:

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk   L10
Marsein          36  26  .581    -    W4   7-3
Silver Beach     34  27  .557  1.5    L2   6-4
Elliott Springs  32  30  .516  4.0    W1   4-6
Allison          31  30  .508  4.5    W2   8-2
Lorris           30  32  .484  6.0    W2   5-5
Deepvale         29  33  .468  7.0    L2   2-8
Tifton           28  33  .459  7.5    L2   4-6
Gentry Hills     26  35  .457  9.5    L2   4-6

League News

It's pretty much a two-team race now, and the Marsein Knights are doing their best to see that the race ends as soon as possible. With 8 games remaining in their 70-game schedule, the Marsein Knights are looking good for an amazing turnaround from their inaugural season. The play of Mario DeGray has been the big reason for their outstanding season, and the contributions of Robbie Isenhour can't be overlooked either. Isenhour and DeGray are running 3-4 in batting average and DeGray is challenging Ace Gervin for Top Batter honors. The 27-year old DeGray is a master of going after his pitch, and has a remarkable ability to put the bat on the ball, striking out just 18 times and walking 54. That's in 212 official at-bats, mind you. It's a good thing the Knights are having historic seasons from these two, though, since their pitching staff is practically the laughingstock of the league, dead last in runs allowed.

What are some things to look for in this final month, outside of the chase for the championship?

* Josh Sowder suffered through a miserable August, hitting just .299 to drop his average from .452 at the end of July to .408 at the end of August. Can he break the .400 barrier and put his name in the record books?

* Can Broderick Earl (16-11, 3.25) win Top Pitcher honors for a last-place team in Gentry Hills, or will Quentin Stallworth (14-11, 3.43), the only thing resembling an ace on the Knights' staff, sneak past him? Earl also leads the league in strikeouts with 206, and must be considered the front runner.

* Which Spelunkers team is the real one? After sinking into last place after July's games, Allison has climbed back above .500 and still has an outside chance at catching the front runners. Their phenom first baseman, Walter Sebring is learning something about how tiring travelling around the Outposts for 5 months can be, hitting a weak .222 in August but still drawing loads of walks (.379 OBP).

A number of league records have already been broken this season, including hits (Josh Sowder, SIL), triples (Harold Johnson, TIF), RBI (Roy Lockwood, DPV), runs and walks (Mario DeGray, MAR), pitching losses (Jon Britton, GEN) and saves (Rodney Vaka, SIL). We'll keep an eye out to see if any other top marks are bested as the season winds to an end. The impressive thing about the RBI mark is that Lockwood and two others had 38 at the end of last month, and now Lockwood is 10 RBI in front of Robbie Isenhour, with a total of 60.

League Leaders

Code:

Batting Average                Stolen Bases
J. Sowder (SIL)       .408     M. Smiley (TIF)         14
H. Gervin (DPV)       .387     T. Smith (LOR)          14
R. Isenhour (MAR)     .378     C. Rock (LOR)           12
                               R. Isenhour (MAR)       12
                               
OPS                            ERA
H. Gervin (DPV)      1.105     M. Willis (TIF)       2.39
M. DeGray (MAR)      1.102     J. Chambers (LOR)     2.63
J. Sowder (SIL)      1.038     T. Allen (SIL)        2.95
 
Home Runs                      Wins
R. Lockwood (DPV)       21     B. Earl (GEN)           16
J. Brown (ESP)          16     Q. Stallworth (MAR)     14
H. Gervin (DPV)         15     D. Odle (SIL)           14
T. Ellis (GEN)          15
                               
RBI                            Strikeouts
R. Lockwood (DPV)       60     B. Earl (GEN)          206
R. Isenhour (MAR)       50     D. Odle (SIL)          197
H. Gervin (DPV)         46     K. Richardson (ALL)    192
                               
Runs Scored                   
M. DeGray (MAR)         55	
H. Gervin (DPV)         55
S. Burks (MAR)          43

ifspuds · 03-08-2006, 11:05 PM

In the offices of Michael Hernandez, Chairman of Hernandez Mining Consortium and President of the Silver Beach Whales

"Come in, Jim. Have a seat, won't you?"

Jim Latimer, the field manager of the Silver Beach Whales, had never been to Mr. Hernandez's office. The team owner had been to visit the clubhouse a number of times, sure. In fact, came to visit a little too often. Latimer had started looking over his shoulder at the slightest noise lately, sure that the Big Boss would be looming, right there, that polished smile and laser-sharp gaze boring into his forehead.

Managing the Whales was not for the faint of heart. Even the strong of heart would probably think twice before taking the job.

"Thank you, sir," Latimer replied. The seat offered him had no manacles on the armrests, but it already had the feeling of a primitive torture device. Comfortable, though. And the view of the bay behind Mr. Hernandez's desk couldn't be beat.

Hernandez leaned forward, resting his elbows on his wide desk. The surface, devoid of papers, shone. Everything about the office and the man who occupied it projected absolute control of the surroundings. "You're probably wondering why I've asked you here, Jim. In your shoes, I know I'd be wondering."

Latimer nodded. "Yes, sir. I am."

"My team -- our team, that is -- is playing well down the stretch, I see."

"Yes, sir. Some days I think God himself reached down and blessed Sowder with a year's worth of divine baseball talent." That was no lie. Even Josh Sowder couldn't believe the year he was having, and he damn well couldn't explain it. Might as well be divine intervention.

Hernandez laughed politely, and as the mirth died down, he let silence fall for a few heartbeats before speaking again. "We're going to catch the Knights, aren't you? They're fading, we're on the rise."

Latimer shifted in the chair. This would be a lot easier if the chair weren't so damn soft. Something to keep his mind alert. "It's going to be close, sir. It's possible."

Hernandez steepled his fingers in front of his mouth. Another of those pregnant pauses settled over the office. "Let me make this clear, Jim. My team is going to win a Bay League title before those Tifton oafs of Baxter's even sniff a winning record. Am I making myself understood?"

The team owner leaned forward again, and there was that laser-sharp gaze. Latimer could almost feel his forehead growing warm. "It would be wise of you to win the title this year, Jim. Make sure that you take care of this... requirement now. You wouldn't want anything hanging over your head, would you?"

Jim Latimer wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. Must have taken all the moisture from his mouth and sent it out his pores. The sweat was cool on his hand, but for the life of him, he couldn't work up enough saliva to produce a decent spit. "No sir. No, I wouldn't want that."

OakDragon · 03-08-2006, 11:59 PM

Wow! What a compelling read. Another great dynasty thread to add to my watch list. Keep up the great work, ifspuds.

Something occurred to me as I was reading this. It is interesting how a well-written thread like this can grab the reader's attention and quickly make the reader a "fan" of a fictional baseball team. You've given each team a distinct personality. Somehow, within a few posts, I was already a Silver Beach fan.

Has anyone else had this happen to them when reading a dynasty thread? Interesting phenomenon.

As a "fan" of the Whales, I'd love to give Michael Hernandez a piece of my mind, LOL!

01-25-2006, 03:48 PM	#61
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	June 1, 2015 Bay League Standings Code: Team W L Pct GB Stk L10 Marsein 11 7 .611 - W3 6-4 Deepvale 10 7 .588 0.5 L1 5-5 Lorris 10 8 .600 1.0 L4 4-6 Allison 9 8 .529 1.5 W4 8-2 Tifton 9 9 .500 2.0 W3 7-3 Gentry Hills 8 9 .471 2.5 W1 3-7 Silver Beach 7 10 .412 3.5 L3 3-7 Elliott Springs 6 12 .333 5.0 L3 4-6 League News This month, the Lorris Greens learned something about the dangers of being on top: everyone comes gunning for you. The defending champs have been incredibly streaky, dropping three straight to the upstart Marsein Knights, before coming back to take the next two. The first four games of that home-and-home series were classics, each decided by a single run before the Greens hung a 7-4 win on the board. They're currently riding a four-game losing streak, which started on a near no-hitter by Gentry Hills ace Broderick Earl. Earlier, Lorris torched Earl and the Scouts for 11 runs, but the big righty struck back, pitching 8 hitless innings before allowing a leadoff single in the 9th. The Marsein Knights are the real talk of the league right now, however. The young team finished tied for last place at the end of last season, but they're making a lot of noise in the early going this year. Right fielder Mario DeGray is an unstoppable force, hitting a league-leading .459 with a whopping .583 on-base percentage. Marsein leads the league in batting average, walks and runs scored, far outdistancing their closest competitor in the last category. The Knights have put 100 runs across so far, and the 2nd place team, the Deepvale Ferrymen, has only managed 81. The Knights will have to improve their 7th place ranking in runs allowed to keep their lofty perch, however. Another big mover this month is the Allison Spelunkers. The Cavemen, as their hometown has taken to calling them, are led by third sacker Jeff Anderson, hitting .390/.478/.525, with solid support from a number of players. Even with their ace Kyle Richardson struggling (0-1, 4.95 in his last 3 games), the Spelunkers are a well-balanced team, 3rd in runs scored and 3rd in runs allowed. League Leaders Code: Batting Average Stolen Bases M. DeGray (MAR) .459 J. Leonard (ALL) 5 H. Gervin (DPV) .458 J. Lutz (ESP) 4 J. Sowder (SIL) .452 C. Rock (LOR) 4 OPS ERA M. DeGray (MAR) 1.272 T. Allen (SIL) 2.08 J. Sowder (SIL) 1.211 M. Hawkins (TIF) 2.09 R. Lockwood (DPV) 1.209 C. Bonner (TIF) 2.31 Home Runs Wins R. Lockwood (DPV) 9 B. Earl (GEN) 7 J. Brown (ESP) 8 M. Little (DPV) 5 6 players tied with 4 Q. Stallworth (MAR) 5 RBI Strikeouts R. Isenhour (MAR) 21 D. Phillips (LOR) 79 R. Lockwood (DPV) 20 K. Richardson (ALL) 74 J. Brown (ESP) 19 Q. Stallworth (MAR) 72 Runs Scored M. DeGray (MAR) 17 T. Ridnour (MAR) 17 J. Lutz (ESP) 14 H. Gervin (DPV) 14 __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

02-03-2006, 12:20 PM	#62
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	Join the Cave Dwellers! (An advertisement on the Allison Local News Service) Are you one of those people who keep a newsfeeder with you at all times just to listen for news of our local baseball team? Do you send Kyle Richardson fan mail? Have you rigged up a hard hat with a headlamp so you can come to Hillside Park looking like the spelunker on the team logo? Do you get to the park on game days early enough to not just watch the hometown boys take batting practice, but to watch them arrive at the stadium in the first place? Do you have your own special routine that you perform every time Jeff Anderson comes to bat, since the last time you stood up, turned around and dropped your hot dog into your beer, he got the game-winning hit? If you have done any of these things (and we know you're out there), we want you to know you're not alone, and we can help. The Cave Dwellers are the Bay League's first official fan club, dedicated to all things Spelunker. Enjoy special seats at Hillside Park! Take comfort in the companionship of other crazed fans just like you! Be as near to a part of the team as you can be without putting on a glove and taking the field alongside Alton Strong! If you think the Cave Dwellers are your sort of group, contact founder Peter Walls at 10-1702. We're looking for people just like you! Hillside Park in Allison has gained a reputation as a very difficult place for visiting teams: the Spelunkers own a sparkling 8-1 home record this season. After last year's mine collapse tragedy, the team put forth a lot of effort to help out the town, and the town has responded in kind, coming out to the park in loud, rowdy throngs. Spelunkers games have turned into the town's favorite party, with fans often gathering outside the park for hours into the evening afterward. __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

02-08-2006, 01:48 PM	#64
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	July 1, 2015 Bay League Standings Code: Team W L Pct GB Stk L10 Marsein 17 14 .548 - L2 5-5 Allison 16 14 .533 0.5 W3 6-4 Silver Beach 15 14 .517 1.0 W5 7-3 Deepvale 15 15 .500 1.5 W2 3-7 Elliott Springs 15 15 .500 1.5 W2 8-2 Gentry Hills 14 14 .500 1.5 L3 6-4 Lorris 14 16 .467 2.5 L4 3-7 Tifton 13 17 .433 3.5 L2 3-7 League News While the standings at the outset of July look -- at the top at least -- much the same as they did at the outset of June, with the surprising Marsein Knights atop the pile, there was a lot of shuffling going on this month. The Lorris Greens, for example, held first place early on in the month but now find themselves under .500. At one point, the top team and the bottom were separated by a span of just 2 games. The Silver Beach Whales and Elliott Springs Tornadoes made big moves this month, going 8-4 and 9-3 respectively, doing their part to turn the standings upside down and give them a good shake. The unexpected twists and turns of the second Bay League season have people talking: attendance at the far-flung village of Marsein has started going up, and Allison's strong showing has other teams talking about starting their own fan clubs. Some player news from around the league: Lorris's hopes to repeat as Bay League champs took a hit 3 days ago when their ace hurler Dennis Phillips went down with pain in his tricep. He's expected to miss about seven weeks with the injury. Phillips, who was named the Bay League's Top Pitcher last season, was off to another good season with a 4-4, 3.49 line. Henry "Ace" Gervin is up to his old tricks, inching back into the top 3 spots of the batting leaderboards thanks to a Bay League-record 23-game hitting streak that ended mid-June. The sweet-swinging lefty is still terrorizing Bay League pitchers, but is looking up at Silver Beach's Josh Sowder and Marsein's Mario DeGray. Sowder's season is a particular surprise, as the 28-year old right fielder hit a puny .237 in part-time duty last season. The Whales can thank Sowder's blistering offensive pace for their surge in the standings. Marsein's lofty perch atop the standings can be attributed to not just DeGray, but an offense that, top to bottom, is lapping the Bay League. The top 3 placers in runs scored are all Knights, and the team's 164 runs scored is 30 more than any other team. If the Knights can find someone besides ace Quentin Stallworth to do some pitching, they could blow the rest of the league out in the second half. Their team ERA of 4.34 is dead last in the league, with only Stallworth below 4.00 among their starting rotation. Maybe they should think about making Amir Oliver a starter: the 34-year old stopper has thrown 10.2 innings without allowing a single run, holding hitters to an anemic .143 average. League Leaders Code: Batting Average Stolen Bases J. Sowder (SIL) .463 J. Lutz (ESP) 7 M. Degray (MAR) .438 C. Rock (LOR) 7 H. Gervin (DPV) .419 3 tied with 6 OPS ERA J. Sowder (SIL) 1.236 T. Allen (SIL) 1.65 M. Degray (MAR) 1.174 M. Willis (TIF) 1.97 H. Gervin (DPV) 1.152 B. Edwards (ALL) 2.47 Home Runs Wins J. Brown (ESP) 12 B. Earl (GEN) 10 R. Lockwood (DPV) 12 Q. Stallworth (MAR) 8 T. Ellis (GEN) 7 C. Bonner (TIF) 7 J. Sowder (SIL) 7 RBI Strikeouts R. Lockwood (DPV) 32 K. Richardson (ALL) 114 R. Isenhour (MAR) 28 E. Hope (ESP) 107 J. Brown (ESP) 26 Q. Stall worth (MAR) 107 Runs Scored M. DeGray (MAR) 29 T. Ridnour (MAR) 22 R. Isenhour (MAR) 22 J. Anderson (ALL) 22 H. Gervin (DPV) 22 __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired Last edited by ifspuds; 02-09-2006 at 11:27 PM.

02-09-2006, 12:54 PM	#66
Vris Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: somewhere where I don't know where I am Posts: 3,251	Jeff, might want to fix the League Leaders. It's kinda hard to read. __________________ None Blog it.

02-09-2006, 12:55 PM	#67
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	It is? Is it too small? It reads fine on my screen... __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

02-09-2006, 11:28 PM	#69
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	Now, why didn't anyone tell me it was too small? I've been posting the leaderboards that way the whole time, since they looked fine on my screen. I took out the size tags... how's it look now? __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

02-16-2006, 07:00 PM	#71
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	Excerpts from the Weekly Bay League Report on the Outpost News Service Ace who? That's what some Allison Spelunkers fans are saying, trumpeting their 18-year old first baseman Walter Sebring as the best player in the game. Walter Sebring, you ask? The kid from that frozen hamlet outside North Reach? What's so great about Walter Sebring? We'll tell you. The young man can flat out hit. He didn't make his first start for Allison until the month of May, but he joined the Spelunkers' starting lineup for good toward the end of that month and hasn't looked back. Since May 24th, when he went 1-3 in a game against Marsein, Sebring has failed to get a hit in just one game, and is hitting .382 so far this season. Remember that he's just 18 years old, Bay League fans. You'll be hearing a lot from Walter Sebring over the next several seasons. Speaking of players bursting onto the scenes, meet Matt Willis, Elliott Springs Tornado and the latest winner of Pitcher of the Month honors. The 28 year old only got into 8 games last season for the Tornadoes, throwing 6.1 innings, but he's been pressed into service in the rotation this year and has responded very well, going 3-0 with an ERA of just 1.97. That's all nice, but how about this for a set of numbers to knock your socks off: in 32 innings, he's walked one batter and struck out 22. In the birthplace of the Bay League, the Tifton Generals are having a rough time of it in their second season. While they can certainly pitch, as evidenced by the fine work of Carlin Bonner and Juggie Hawkins, don't ask them to score any runs for you. You'll only end up disappointed. They don't have a single player hitting over .300, and only third baseman Renaldo Wright is having anything approaching a decent season. But even Wright has to be disappointed with his output, considering he hit .355 last season, good for second in the Bay League, and is at a mere .295 so far in 2015. Dial your newsfeeders here again next week as we cover the latest news from the Bay League. __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

02-17-2006, 09:15 AM	#72
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,145	I think I'll jump on board as a Walter Sebring fan. I'll submit my Cave Dwellers application soon. This is a great read, ifspuds. I'll really enjoy following it. __________________ My dynasties: The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell: 2014 inductee, OOTP Dynasty Hall of Fame Kenilworth: A Town and its Team: fun with a fictional league

02-21-2006, 06:36 PM	#73
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	Nice to have you on board, Big Six! The Bay League is blessed with outstanding first basemen (see a bit more on one of them below), but Walter Sebring looks like he's going to be the heir apparent to the big stars of the league. July 1, 2015 Bay League Standings Code: Team W L Pct GB Stk L10 Marsein 26 21 .553 - L1 5-5 Elliott Springs 25 21 .543 0.5 W2 7-3 Deepvale 23 22 .511 2.0 W2 6-4 Silver Beach 22 22 .500 2.5 W1 5-5 Lorris 22 23 .489 3.0 L2 4-6 Tifton 22 24 .478 3.5 W4 8-2 Gentry Hills 21 24 .467 4.0 L6 3-7 Allison 21 25 .457 4.5 L2 3-7 League News At one point in the last month, every team in the league was within 2 games of first place. The lack of a dominant team or teams in the league has people talking across the Outposts, but it's not always positive. "I think it's exciting," said Amanda Dao after her hometown Tifton Generals held on for a nail-biting 7-6 win over first-place Marsein yesterday. "You never know just what you're going to get when you come to the park. We were in last place, and now we're moving up the standings. There's always a chance." Other fans disagreed. "It's maddening is what it is," said Jason Richardson. "If we're going to have teams fighting it out, I'd much rather it be a couple of great teams with some great stories. Now it's just finding out who can manage to figure something out for a couple of weeks. Where's the fun in that?" Before the first game was played in the Bay League, people were already talking about who would be the more dominant hitter, Ace Gervin or fellow first sacker Riyad Gomes, who plies his trade for Elliott Springs. Gervin has proven to be the best hitter in the league, while Gomes' name is rarely mentioned any more. However, Gomes boasts a claim to fame Gervin does not: July's Batter of the Month. He hit .441 for the month and is now 6th in the Bay League in batting with a robust .352. The knock on Gomes has been his surprising inability to hit for much power, with just 4 homers this season, but he's certainly getting his share of hits. Silver Beach's Josh Sowder remains one of the greatest stories of the season. Nearly everyone has been expecting Sowder to come back to ground eventually, but he shows no signs of letting up, still hitting well over .400 and threatening to put his name in the record books with permanent ink. His teammates swear by him, and there's a reason: in close and late situations, Sowder suddenly turns into an unstoppable force, hitting an incredible .722! Sure, it's only in 18 at-bats, but 13 hits in 18 at-bats is still impressive, regardless of sample size. One milestone that passed without notice was the trading deadline. Not a single player changed hands this season, despite rumors of names such as Lorris's Cliff Rock, Tifton's Carlin Bonner and Gentry Hills' Tarise Ellis on the move to new teams. There is a definite reluctance among Bay League teams to swap players, but even despite the early success of the league, the teams remain very small enterprises, and talking trade takes a lot more time and manpower than most teams seem willing to invest so far. League Leaders Code: Batting Average Stolen Bases J. Sowder (SIL) .452 T. Smith (LOR) 11 M. Degray (MAR) .386 C. Rock (LOR) 10 H. Gervin (DPV) .384 S. Nolan (ESP) 10 OPS ERA J. Sowder (SIL) 1.179 M. Willis (TIF) 1.61 H. Gervin (DPV) 1.127 T. Allen (SIL) 2.87 M. DeGray (MAR) 1.077 E. Hope (ESP) 2.93 Home Runs Wins R. Lockwood (DPV) 14 B. Earl (GEN) 14 T. Ellis (GEN) 13 C. Bonner (TIF) 11 J. Brown (ESP) 12 Q. Stallworth (MAR) 10 H. Gervin (DPV) 12 RBI Strikeouts R. Lockwood (DPV) 38 E. Hope (ESP) 153 R. Isenhour (MAR) 38 B. Earl (GEN) 153 H. Gervin (DPV) 38 Q. Stallworth (MAR) 143 Runs Scored M. DeGray (MAR) 40 H. Gervin (DPV) 40 T. Ellis (GEN) 33 __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

02-21-2006, 11:39 PM	#74
Jason Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,855	Just read this whole thread. Excellent, excellent work.

02-23-2006, 02:38 AM	#75
Dark Horse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas! Posts: 2,633	__________________ A Justafan Fan LBA Geo Bahn Rock Hounds fan of the ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE

02-24-2006, 04:36 PM	#76
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	Thanks, DAED... glad you stopped in. Always nice to hear from a reader! And thanks again to Dark Horse, one of the thread's longtime supporters. Let's catch up with the players taken in the annual draft and see what they're up to in their first Bay League season: 1B Walter Sebring, Allison Spelunkers Selected first by the Allison Spelunkers, Sebring is already turning heads as the starting first baseman. Still just 18 years old, Sebring is hitting .331 and walking more than he strikes out, which bodes well for his continued success once pitchers stop challenging the youngster as much. His power game is still developing, but the fact remains: he's holding his own at the top level of competition. LF Matt Roy, Marsein Knights The Marsein Knights, who are trying to go from tied for worst to all alone in first from 2014 to 2015, have a good one in the 2nd selection, Matt Roy. Coaches have him concentrating on going after pitches more often, and he's shown a surprising ability to put bat on ball. Other teams think highly of the 19-year old outfielder as well, ranking him near the top of up-and-coming players in the league. P Ahmad Reese, Tifton Generals Reese, the subject of some controversy when draft selections were made, has been throwing for the top city league team in Tifton, though word is he still needs a fair amount of time down there before he joins the Generals. They could use the help. Despite their recent hot streak, the Tifton squad still ranks near the bottom of the Bay League in both runs scored and runs allowed. There's some worry that Reese is turning out to be a head case. His defense on the mound is considered to be forgetful at best, and he's shown an aversion to working on his stamina. He's got plenty of talent in his right arm, though. 1B Richie Jones, Silver Beach Whales The jack-of-all-trades Jones doesn't have a lot of weaknesses in his offensive game. He can do everything pretty well, but doesn't excel at any one thing. It seems to be affecting him. The Whales are a bit disappointed with his confidence at the plate, which has suffered as he struggled a bit at the beginning of the season. They think he can turn it around, but there has to be some worry about his future. He's hitting .273 and drawing plenty of walks right now, but the concern is that he's letting too many hittable pitches sail past for strikes. P Damian Latimer, Gentry Hills Scouts The hard-throwing Latimer has turned heads with his heavy fastball and smart play, and some have even said he's a better long-term prospect than Ahmad Reese. There are some concerns about his ability to stay healthy, as his mechanics leave those with weak stomachs clutching their shoulders in sympathy. Latimer's already missed some time this season with a stiff shoulder, so the concern seems well-placed. P Mike Dodson, Deepvale Ferrymen Dodson has been pitching very well in city league play, but hasn't moved up the ladder at all, despite his advanced age of 24, playing against people 6 years his junior on a regular basis. While Dodson certainly has talent, it'll be a surprise if he manages to have much of a productive career in the Bay League at this point. CF Lannce Barber, Elliott Springs Tornadoes Like Mike Dodson, Barber has been mired at the low city league level all season, and isn't showing much sign that he can handle even that, hitting a puny .208, though he does have 6 homers to go with that. The Tornadoes rave about his game smarts, from defense to baserunning, but he looks a lot like a backup outfielder at this point. He's only 20 years old, so he's got a chance to turn into something still. 2B Sherman Wells, Lorris Greens The 18-year old Wells is the infield counterpart to Lannce Barber, selected just before him in the 2015 draft. His defense draws raves from all that have watched him play second base, and he's one of the smartest players on the field most days, but unless he can figure out something with the bat, his future is cloudy. __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

02-24-2006, 08:46 PM	#77
Vris Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: somewhere where I don't know where I am Posts: 3,251	I just want to say again that this is a fun thread Jeff. You've done very well. __________________ None Blog it.

02-28-2006, 05:44 PM	#78
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	Thanks, Vris. I'm glad you're still enjoying it, and I'm glad I've found the time to keep it going more regularly! September 1, 2015 Bay League Standings Code: Team W L Pct GB Stk L10 Marsein 36 26 .581 - W4 7-3 Silver Beach 34 27 .557 1.5 L2 6-4 Elliott Springs 32 30 .516 4.0 W1 4-6 Allison 31 30 .508 4.5 W2 8-2 Lorris 30 32 .484 6.0 W2 5-5 Deepvale 29 33 .468 7.0 L2 2-8 Tifton 28 33 .459 7.5 L2 4-6 Gentry Hills 26 35 .457 9.5 L2 4-6 League News It's pretty much a two-team race now, and the Marsein Knights are doing their best to see that the race ends as soon as possible. With 8 games remaining in their 70-game schedule, the Marsein Knights are looking good for an amazing turnaround from their inaugural season. The play of Mario DeGray has been the big reason for their outstanding season, and the contributions of Robbie Isenhour can't be overlooked either. Isenhour and DeGray are running 3-4 in batting average and DeGray is challenging Ace Gervin for Top Batter honors. The 27-year old DeGray is a master of going after his pitch, and has a remarkable ability to put the bat on the ball, striking out just 18 times and walking 54. That's in 212 official at-bats, mind you. It's a good thing the Knights are having historic seasons from these two, though, since their pitching staff is practically the laughingstock of the league, dead last in runs allowed. What are some things to look for in this final month, outside of the chase for the championship? * Josh Sowder suffered through a miserable August, hitting just .299 to drop his average from .452 at the end of July to .408 at the end of August. Can he break the .400 barrier and put his name in the record books? * Can Broderick Earl (16-11, 3.25) win Top Pitcher honors for a last-place team in Gentry Hills, or will Quentin Stallworth (14-11, 3.43), the only thing resembling an ace on the Knights' staff, sneak past him? Earl also leads the league in strikeouts with 206, and must be considered the front runner. * Which Spelunkers team is the real one? After sinking into last place after July's games, Allison has climbed back above .500 and still has an outside chance at catching the front runners. Their phenom first baseman, Walter Sebring is learning something about how tiring travelling around the Outposts for 5 months can be, hitting a weak .222 in August but still drawing loads of walks (.379 OBP). A number of league records have already been broken this season, including hits (Josh Sowder, SIL), triples (Harold Johnson, TIF), RBI (Roy Lockwood, DPV), runs and walks (Mario DeGray, MAR), pitching losses (Jon Britton, GEN) and saves (Rodney Vaka, SIL). We'll keep an eye out to see if any other top marks are bested as the season winds to an end. The impressive thing about the RBI mark is that Lockwood and two others had 38 at the end of last month, and now Lockwood is 10 RBI in front of Robbie Isenhour, with a total of 60. League Leaders Code: Batting Average Stolen Bases J. Sowder (SIL) .408 M. Smiley (TIF) 14 H. Gervin (DPV) .387 T. Smith (LOR) 14 R. Isenhour (MAR) .378 C. Rock (LOR) 12 R. Isenhour (MAR) 12 OPS ERA H. Gervin (DPV) 1.105 M. Willis (TIF) 2.39 M. DeGray (MAR) 1.102 J. Chambers (LOR) 2.63 J. Sowder (SIL) 1.038 T. Allen (SIL) 2.95 Home Runs Wins R. Lockwood (DPV) 21 B. Earl (GEN) 16 J. Brown (ESP) 16 Q. Stallworth (MAR) 14 H. Gervin (DPV) 15 D. Odle (SIL) 14 T. Ellis (GEN) 15 RBI Strikeouts R. Lockwood (DPV) 60 B. Earl (GEN) 206 R. Isenhour (MAR) 50 D. Odle (SIL) 197 H. Gervin (DPV) 46 K. Richardson (ALL) 192 Runs Scored M. DeGray (MAR) 55 H. Gervin (DPV) 55 S. Burks (MAR) 43 __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

03-08-2006, 11:05 PM	#79
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,117	In the offices of Michael Hernandez, Chairman of Hernandez Mining Consortium and President of the Silver Beach Whales "Come in, Jim. Have a seat, won't you?" Jim Latimer, the field manager of the Silver Beach Whales, had never been to Mr. Hernandez's office. The team owner had been to visit the clubhouse a number of times, sure. In fact, came to visit a little too often. Latimer had started looking over his shoulder at the slightest noise lately, sure that the Big Boss would be looming, right there, that polished smile and laser-sharp gaze boring into his forehead. Managing the Whales was not for the faint of heart. Even the strong of heart would probably think twice before taking the job. "Thank you, sir," Latimer replied. The seat offered him had no manacles on the armrests, but it already had the feeling of a primitive torture device. Comfortable, though. And the view of the bay behind Mr. Hernandez's desk couldn't be beat. Hernandez leaned forward, resting his elbows on his wide desk. The surface, devoid of papers, shone. Everything about the office and the man who occupied it projected absolute control of the surroundings. "You're probably wondering why I've asked you here, Jim. In your shoes, I know I'd be wondering." Latimer nodded. "Yes, sir. I am." "My team -- our team, that is -- is playing well down the stretch, I see." "Yes, sir. Some days I think God himself reached down and blessed Sowder with a year's worth of divine baseball talent." That was no lie. Even Josh Sowder couldn't believe the year he was having, and he damn well couldn't explain it. Might as well be divine intervention. Hernandez laughed politely, and as the mirth died down, he let silence fall for a few heartbeats before speaking again. "We're going to catch the Knights, aren't you? They're fading, we're on the rise." Latimer shifted in the chair. This would be a lot easier if the chair weren't so damn soft. Something to keep his mind alert. "It's going to be close, sir. It's possible." Hernandez steepled his fingers in front of his mouth. Another of those pregnant pauses settled over the office. "Let me make this clear, Jim. My team is going to win a Bay League title before those Tifton oafs of Baxter's even sniff a winning record. Am I making myself understood?" The team owner leaned forward again, and there was that laser-sharp gaze. Latimer could almost feel his forehead growing warm. "It would be wise of you to win the title this year, Jim. Make sure that you take care of this... requirement now. You wouldn't want anything hanging over your head, would you?" Jim Latimer wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. Must have taken all the moisture from his mouth and sent it out his pores. The sweat was cool on his hand, but for the life of him, he couldn't work up enough saliva to produce a decent spit. "No sir. No, I wouldn't want that." __________________ Jeff Watson Former dynasty writer and online league player, now mostly retired

03-08-2006, 11:59 PM	#80
OakDragon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Jose, CA USA Posts: 3,494	Wow! What a compelling read. Another great dynasty thread to add to my watch list. Keep up the great work, ifspuds. Something occurred to me as I was reading this. It is interesting how a well-written thread like this can grab the reader's attention and quickly make the reader a "fan" of a fictional baseball team. You've given each team a distinct personality. Somehow, within a few posts, I was already a Silver Beach fan. Has anyone else had this happen to them when reading a dynasty thread? Interesting phenomenon. As a "fan" of the Whales, I'd love to give Michael Hernandez a piece of my mind, LOL!