Portland Raccoons (ABL)

[Hajew86]

Great story telling. Saito possibly needs a change of scenery.

[Westheim]

Well, Saito won't go anywhere for a variety of reasons:

1) I love him exuberantly
2) He makes a butt load of money and is hard to trade during the year
3) 10/5 rights

Mostly 1) though. It sucks so hard that he won't make it to 250.

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Service announcement: some bloody peasant sneezed on me and I seem to have contracted the plague, or at least a cold (in time for being out of the office, of course), and I am feeling poorly. Can't bother about the grief the Raccoons offer right now, so no updates for another one or two days...

[Westheim]

Still sneezing, but getting better. Are the Coons still going to provide grief?

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Raccoons (8-17) vs. Canadiens (10-14) – May 3-6, 1999

There was something about the Canadiens’ offense that didn’t fit together. Their batting average as a team was .274, yet they were scoring the least number of runs in the Continental League (3.3 R/G). Something appeared amiss. Their pitching was more or less about average.

Projected matchups:
Jose Rivera (2-2, 4.25 ERA) vs. Jose Marquez (3-2, 2.25 ERA)
Kelly Fairchild (1-0, 2.08 ERA) vs. Joe Hollow (3-1, 1.62 ERA)
Randy Farley (2-2, 2.80 ERA) vs. John Collins (2-3, 3.19 ERA)
Bob Joly (1-3, 7.59 ERA) vs. Manuel Hernandez (0-3, 3.33 ERA)

Except for Collins, these are all southpaws.

Game 1
VAN: 2B B. Butler – RF Durán – CF Ledesma – 1B I. Gutierrez – LF Taylor – C J. Lopez – 3B Sutton – SS Duarte – P Marquez
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – 3B Crowe – RF Newton – P Rivera

Mike Crowe drove in the first run of the game with an RBI double in the bottom 2nd. That put two runners in scoring position with one out, but Newton whiffed against Marquez and once Rivera flew out, a good chance was wasted. The teams would alternate scoring runs early on, and the Coons were up 3-2 when Stephen Buell led off the bottom 6th with a triple to right, extending a hitting streak to 15 games. With how the game had gone so far, Buell wouldn’t score. Crowe and Newton both walked, bringing up Rivera with no outs. Do you hit for him? No. He can’t possibly hit into a triple play! Much the opposite, Rivera lined a 1-0 pitch softly into shallow center, and a run was in, and now we could blow this one open. Guerin and Ingall both hit grounders to short, each time getting a man forced out at second, but the Canadiens never turned the double play, nor did they get the runner at home. 6-2, two out, Ingall at first, Reece drew a walk and Gonzalez hit an infield single. Bases loaded again, the Canadiens removed Marquez for Juan Bello, who got Branch to fly out. Rivera put two on in the top 7th and was removed, Donis was tired, and Pedro Perez wasn’t going to complete the AA-to-Bigs jump in THAT situation. Daniel Miller came in, retired Ramón Corona on a grounder, and stuck out Bob Butler to escape the jam. Perez came in in the eighth, though, facing the switch hitter Durán and the left-handers Ledesma and Gutierrez. He drilled his first man in the majors, got the next two, then faced .119 batter Phil Taylor – and was taken way deep. Wade came in, walked the first man he saw before getting out of the eighth, and while the Coons tacked on two runs in the bottom 8th, Wade loaded the bags in the ninth before the Canadiens finally rolled enough balls over to Guerin to get the game into the books. 8-4 Coons. Guerin 2-5, 2B, RBI; Gonzalez 4-4, BB, 2 2B, RBI; Branch 2-4, BB, 2 RBI; Buell 2-5, 3B; Brady (PH) 1-1; Rivera 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W (3-2) and 1-3, RBI;

That one was … tense. You lead 6-2, you feel secure, and then your closer walks three batters over four outs.

Here’s the plan for starters: Kelly Fairchild starts the next game, while Bob Joly will go in game 4. If Joly gets torn open again, he will be demoted to move Esteban Flores into the rotation from AAA. If he holds up, Flores will take the #3 slot from Fairchild (can’t move up Farley right now), and Perez will be demoted as Fairchild returns to long relief.

Game 2
VAN: 2B B. Butler – RF Durán – CF Ledesma – 1B I. Gutierrez – C J. Lopez – 3B Sutton – LF J. Wilson – SS Duarte – P Hollow
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – 1B Castillo – RF Brady – P Fairchild

Iván Gutierrez’ 3-run homer in the top 1st put a dent into Fairchild’s spot start early on and it wouldn’t get much better for him, as he didn’t make it even out of the fifth inning in the game. Trailing 5-1 at that point, Donis came in to face as many left-handers until the scoreboard would spill over, but he actually didn’t put a man on (Castillo did put one on, though) while collecting five outs. Martinez also pitched two innings, while the Raccoons did not threaten Hollow. However, in the bottom 8th, Hollow lost control. He walked Buell, Crowe, and Parker to load the bags with one out, and with Guerin at the plate as the tying run. Guerin lined into right center for an RBI single, bringing up Ingall. Hollow fell behind against him, but Ingall wasn’t satisfied with a mere walk, he wanted to get this game tíed, and did so with a mighty rip to deep left for a bases-clearing double! Hollow was toast, was used for an intentional walk to Neil Reece, then yielded to reliever Pedro Alvarado, who managed to end the inning. Unfortunately, the only live arm we had left to fight in that 5-5 game was Tamburrino’s, and it didn’t shock anybody that he surrendered a run in no time. 6-5 Canadiens. Ingall 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI; Gonzalez 2-5, 2B, RBI; Donis 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K; Martinez 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K;

Buell’s hitting streak is over. Concie has hit in 12 straight games, though.

Game 3
VAN: 2B B. Butler – RF Durán – CF Ledesma – 1B I. Gutierrez – C J. Lopez – 3B Sutton – LF Hudson – SS Duarte – P J. Collins
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – SS Caddock – LF Parker – 1B Michel – P Farley

Iván Gutierrez hit a 3-run homer off Farley in the first inning. Déjá vu anyone? The game matched yesterday’s in an uncomfortably high degree. While Farley went six innings and gave up only four runs, the Raccoons trailed hopelessly against an effective John Collins, who had given up three singles in the first inning, while also striking out three, and only one hit from there through the sixth. Perez was brought in for the seventh, but didn’t retire anybody as the Canadiens blew the game wide open, as all four men that Perez had put on scored once Gonzalez made a critical error at third base that spoiled Jackie Lagarde’s relief attempt. Either way, even light-hitting shortstop Angelo Duarte would hit a 3-run homer off Lagarde in the ninth, denying us even to get through this game without emptying the entire bullpen again. The Raccoons were stomped. 11-1 Canadiens. Ingall 2-5; Brady 2-4;

No matter your ailment, like those not-scoring Canadiens, come to Portland, we can help you.

GIMME MORE CHOCOLATE. NOW.

We made a move prior to game 4. The starting pitching was so desolate, and the bullpen was overworked. It was impossible to mix and match and stuff like that, because all arms were constantly aching. Samy Michel was demoted to AAA to make room for another arm, as we brought up right-hander Manuel Martinez, our 1996 first round pick. He throws fireballs, but he can’t do it for long. He is strictly a 1-inning guy, at most. He rapidly loses his effectiveness once he cools off between innings and then he will get raped.

Game 4
VAN: 2B B. Butler – RF Durán – CF Ledesma – 1B I. Gutierrez – LF Taylor – 3B Sutton – C Lozano – SS Duarte – P M. Hernandez
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – LF Buell – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – CF Newton – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – P Joly

Both teams made it an art to leave runners on in this game. The Raccoons would actually get something done first, with two runs in the bottom 3rd. The Canadiens came right back in the top 4th. Joly was in trouble, one run already home, and the bags full, and he fell 3-1 behind pitcher Hernandez, before the Elk chopped into an out to Guerin. Hernandez would come up with the bases loaded in the 2-1 game in the sixth again, also with two out after we forewent Duarte (who had already gone deep in the series) with an intentional walk. Hernandez this time struck at the first pitch and a less agile fielder than Marvin Ingall would not have gotten the resulting grounder for an out. Brady singled to lead off the bottom 6th, and Crowe was drilled. Joly remained in the game to bunt them over, laid down the ball nicely, and Pedro Lozano threw past first base for a costly error that made it 3-1 Furballs with no outs and two in scoring position. An Ingall single plated the runners, before Buell was also hit by Hernandez. Reece and Crowe were grabbing bats in the dugout to teach Hernandez manners if necessary, but Gonzalez let the wood speak the way it oughta be and dealt the death knell to the Canadiens with a 3-run home run to left. Joly had the best outing of a starter in a while and went eight innings before handing over to debutee Manuel Martinez, who ended up having a spotty debut, giving up a run en route to ending the game. 8-2 Coons. Ingall 2-4, 2 RBI; Buell 3-3, BB, RBI; Brady 2-5; Joly 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, W (2-3);

We sent away Pedro Perez and brought up Esteban Flores after this game.

Raccoons (10-19) @ Scorpions (16-12) – May 7-9, 1999

Over the weekend we hopped down to Sacramento to collect a beating and then head home. This was a top team. They had given up the least runs in the Federal League, and were scoring well, but not quite well enough to match the Warriors at this point, who were four games ahead of them.

Projected matchups:
Kisho Saito (0-5, 7.11 ERA) vs. Steve Rogers (2-4, 3.02 ERA)
Jose Rivera (3-2, 4.00 ERA) vs. Whit Reeves (4-0, 1.82 ERA)
Esteban Flores (0-0) vs. David Castillo (1-4, 5.50 ERA)

Game 1
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Castillo – RF Newton – 3B Crowe – P Saito
SAC: LF F. Sanchez – C De La Parra – RF Humphrey – CF A. Jenkins – 2B F. Rivera – 3B O’Molony – 1B Potts – SS Cerdeira – P Rogers

Guerin singled, Ingall doubled, and then only Reece managed to get a run home, while Gonzalez and Buell popped out lazily in the top 1st. Reece would however leave the bags full in a 2-0 game in the top 2nd, but we got another run in the third inning, and – oh – it started to rain. While the rain would eventually subside, so would a strong start from Saito to this game. He got through four unscathed, then had a man on with two out and a runner on first in the bottom 5th, facing the pitcher – and Rogers took him deep. 3-2. Aaron Jenkins tied the game with a 2-out home run in the sixth then, and when Saito came back out for the seventh, he put two men on and then left. Juan Martinez failed to keep the lead run from scoring, and now Saito was in for the loss once more. No Raccoon set foot on a base the rest of the game. 5-3 Scorpions. Guerin 3-5, 2B, RBI; Crowe 2-4, RBI;

Of course. I’m not the least little bit shocked.

Game 2
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – RF Buell – LF Parker – 3B Caddock – P Rivera
SAC: 1B S. Green – CF Stinton – RF Humphrey – LF A. Jenkins – 3B O’Molony – C Potts – 2B Cerdeira – SS R. Martinez – P Reeves

Rivera was awful, allowing eight hits, four walks, and four runs in five frames, while the Scorpions’ Whit Reeves was zeroed in. The Raccoons had no chance. Once Guerin was thrown out stealing in the first inning, they were shut down in their entirety. Reeves went 7.2 innings, allowed only three singles, and whiffed eight Suckoons. Not that they would get anything done against the bullpen, either. 4-0 Scorpions. Guerin 2-4;

Melancholy. Nah, too weak a word to describe it properly. Basically, I’m Al Bundy standing at the gas station with the piece of cardboard that reads “Shoot me - $12”.

Game 3
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Gonzalez – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – P Flores
SAC: 1B S. Green – C De La Parra – LF A. Jenkins – 2B F. Rivera – 3B O’Molony – CF Stinton – RF O’Day – SS R. Martinez – P D. Castillo

In *some* way we got back on the Scorpions in this one. Flores was shaky early on, and while Cesar Gonzalez had put the Coons up 2-0 with a dinger in the first, Felipe Rivera was able to match that stroke in the bottom half of the frame, and Flores fell 3-2 behind in the second. Top 5th, he came to bat with Brady on second base and one out. I was not a fan of bunting in that spot, so he was told to swing. He swung. Boy, did he swing. One home run later, the Coons were up 4-3, and Flores was visibly cackling with glee as he rounded the bags. When Reece rolled a single between Rivera and Green to lead off the top 6th, that was our first hit that was not a home run in this game, comparing favorably to the 10 men Flores had put on base through five. Not that Reece would score, oh no, he was left on first, and the Scorpions got their revenge soon. Ramon Martinez singled with one out in the bottom 6th, then stole second, then stole third, and Castillo scored him with a groundout to tie the game. Meh. In a 4-4 tie, Ingall doubled to get the top 8th started. Guerin singled, extending his streak to 16 games, putting Ingall on third. Reece fought a prolonged battle with Castillo before drawing a walk. Bases loaded, no outs. COME ON NOW!! Gonzalez struck out. Uh-oh. Lance Branch was next and he put the ball in play. Deep to right center, Stinton was never gonna get this one. The bases were emptied, 3-run double Lance Branch! 7-4 lead, six outs to collect, they’re good, right? You kiddin’?? Donis cocked up a homer to O’Day, and while “Chubby” Martinez got to two outs, he then put the tying runs on, and Wade had to come in. De La Parra floated a ball to shallow right, which Luke Newton managed to catch just off the grass. Newton and Caddock then led off the ninth after entering on a myriad of switches in the last two innings, with Ingall up third. Can we get a decisive blow? Newton got on, but Caddock’s fly was caught by Stinton on the warning track in dead center. Ingall double-played us to the bottom 9th, with Wade trying to not blow up for once. Jenkins led off with a double to left. Didn’t we have it go that way in the Saito start last Sunday? Cerdeira grounded out, moving up the runner, and then O’Molony dumped a ball into shallow right. 7-6, tying run on with one out, and here came old Indian R.J. Stinton and shot a ball into right. Newton made a running pickup as O’Molony dashed to third. Rocket by Newton, nifty grab by Caddock at third, the tag – OUT!!! Surely we’ll be fine now, right? RIGHT??? O’Day doubled to left, Stinton rounded third, and made it home miles ahead of any throw by Stephen Buell. Martinez walked his team off with a single to left. 7-6 Scorpions.

Come on, it’s only twelve bucks! Go ahead and shoot me, for Coon’s sake!!

In other news

May 5 – ATL SP Albert Zarate (2-1, 5.23 ERA) is out for the year with a torn rotator cuff.
May 7 – SFW 2B Dave Heffer (.248, 0 HR, 6 RBI) has sprained his knee and will miss the rest of the month.
May 8 – Tijuana’s Bastyao Caixinha (2-5, 4.25 ERA) celebrates his 200th career win; pitching eight innings in a 3-3 tie against the Warriors, Caixinha gets into the lead with Bill Mosley and David Vinson hitting home runs to lead off the top 9th, and the Condors win 5-3. The 37-year old was signed out of Venezuela in 1979 and pitched for the Titans in his 1984 debut, but had his biggest years in Charlotte in the late 80s, including being named the 1987 CL Pitcher of the Year. Caixinha is 200-174 with a 3.43 ERA for his career.

Complaints and stuff

I was aware of issues, but it shocked me that Lance Branch had managed to catch a whopping 9% of base stealers in the first month of the season. Didn’t get that much better now.

And then you play the not-scoring Canadiens, and they come here and rape you open top to bottom. Three 3-run homers in two games in the middle of that series. Come! On! HAVE SOME SPINE!!!

As we are talking about spine. Kisho Saito has surrendered 14 home runs this season. He surrendered 16 all of last year. He’s on pace for 72 dingers given up this year. Something’s bent here.

And then a most bitter sweep in Sacramento, in which Saito gets blown up late, the team is completely silenced the next day, and then Wade blows another one in the ninth.

Zero fun. It’ zero fun.

[Westheim]

Raccoons (10-22) vs. Cyclones (18-14) – May 11-13, 1999

Strong offense, poor pitching was the order on these Cyclones, which compared unfavorably to our much run-over pitching staff. Their 165 runs scored ranked second in the FL, and while they’re rotation was beleaguered, they were still winning plenty of games. Probably not a playoff team, but certainly enough to sink those puny Furballs.

Projected matchups:
Randy Farley (2-3, 3.27 ERA) vs. Russ Ewing (4-2, 5.64 ERA)
Bob Joly (2-3, 5.83 ERA) vs. Marc Padgett (4-3, 5.68 ERA)
Kisho Saito (0-6, 6.93 ERA) vs. Alfonso Velasco (4-2, 3.21 ERA)

Game 1
CIN: 2B Berman – 3B R. Gonzalez – LF Morris – CF A. Rojas – 1B Maldrum – C J. Silva – RF Horton – SS MacKillop – P Ewing
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B C. Gonzalez – C Branch – SS Guerin – LF Buell – 3B Caddock – P Farley

The Cyclones got chainsawed in this one, as they never even as much as slightly threatened Randy Farley, who was dominant, and only the occasional wildness removed him from the game after eight shutout innings on 116 pitches. Farley had gotten support early with a 2-run first in which a Clyde Brady RBI triple was a key element, and two more in the second via a Caddock homer, before the Raccoons fell asleep at the wheel. They would wake up in time however to completely crash the Cyclones bullpen in the eighth inning, plating six additional runs. Daniel Miller got the last three outs then. 10-0 Raccoons. Ingall 2-4, BB; Brady 2-4, BB, 3B, RBI; Reece 2-5, 2 RBI; Gonzalez 2-4, 2B, RBI; Parker (PH) 1-1, 3B, 3 RBI; Farley 8.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K, W (3-3);

Great, splurged all their run allotment for the series at the first opportunity again, and now the Cyclones will face the squishy part of our rotation …

Game 2
CIN: C J. Silva – 3B R. Gonzalez – LF Morris – RF Bailey – 1B Maldrum – 2B Donaldson – CF Horton – SS MacKillop – P Padgett
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B C. Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Castillo – SS Caddock – 3B Crowe – P Joly

Just like the day before, a triple plated the first run of the game, but this time it was David Horton’s in the top 2nd. Joly – part of said “squishy” part of the rotation – was hittable, but the Cyclones missed their chances, getting only three runs out of ten hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. Joly was removed after hitting Julio Silva and Jackie Lagarde escaped a two on, one out jam in the sixth. The Coons trailed anyway, 3-1, and this time Padgett went eight innings and the Raccoons were uttlery clueless. They didn’t even get the tying run to the plate in the last few innings… 3-1 Cyclones. Caddock 2-3, RBI; Lagarde 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K;

Game 3
CIN: 3B R. Gonzalez – C J. Silva – LF Morris – 2B Berman – RF Bailey – 1B Maldrum – SS Donaldson – CF G. Aguilar – P Velasco
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B C. Gonzalez – C Branch – SS Guerin – LF Parker – 3B Crowe – P Saito

Gonzalez singled to start the game and Saito threw a wild pitch to advance him, but nothing came of that. Bottom 1st, more messy player behavior. Ingall led off with a double, but now Velasco threw a wild one, then walked Brady. Reece grounded to Donaldson, who ran past the ball and everybody was safe, 1-0 Coons. Gonzalez drew a walk. Still nobody out, but the bags were loaded, Brach flew out to left, but Velasco was a big mess already. Guerin singled, 2-0, and then Velasco issued walks to Parker and Crowe, 4-0. Saito had the chance to explode the score already, but he struck out, and Ingall’s pop to short ended the inning. Yet, Velasco didn’t get any better in frame #2, the Coons threw three more runs on the board, and Velasco was purged. Up 7-0, not a cloud in the sky, this was Saito’s to lose, and the Coons didn’t stop there, but hung another three runs on well-travelled long reliever Lorenzo Ángel in the fourth. Saito meanwhile was not fooling anybody, and most at-bats didn’t go very deep. The Cyclones readily made contact, but you were reminded of a start of good old Scott Wade a few years back. Grounder after grounder after grounder, all soft, and with our prime defensive infield, the Cyclones didn’t get a man on until the fifth, when Larry Maldrum singled, and he was instantly removed on a double play. Saito didn’t even get a K until whiffing Douglas Donaldson in the eighth inning. Saito entered the ninth on a 2-hit shutout, with Alfonso Rojas, the pitcher slot, and Ramiro Gonzalez coming up. What’s the worst that can happen? Rojas popped out, Pedro Villa popped out, and then Gonzalez singled to right. C’mon Kisho, stop fooling around. Julio Silva singled right threw Ingall, putting Gonzalez on third base. No! No! It can’t end now! Dan Morris was a left-hander, and Saito’s last man, with Juan Martinez warming up. A patient Morris ran the count to 2-0, then grounded past Saito. Ingall got it, turned, and didn’t get a throw off. Gonzalez scurried home. Martinez came in, drilled Dennis Berman, and then served up a grand slam ball to Will Bailey. 12-5 Raccoons. Gonzalez 2-2, 2 BB, 2B; Guerin 2-4, 3 RBI; Parker 2-3, BB, 2B, 5 RBI; Saito 8.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, W (1-6);

You know, on one hand, I was gonna scream “KIIISHOOOOOOO!!!” after his annual win … and then that happened. He just can’t find peace? I don’t know. However, I am sure the baseball gods had a good chuckle about this one!

We resolved our short bench after this game, and I tried to demote Brad Tamburrino (!!!), but he refused. Those players and their “rights”! So, Manuel Martinez was awarded back to St. Pete after a promising debut, and I’m sure we can find room for him (and Nordahl and Ford) eventually. Samy Michel was recalled for now.

Raccoons (12-23) vs. Loggers (20-13) – May 14-16, 1999

Just like the Coons, the Loggers struggled with wildly different performances from their pitching staff, with some guys locked in as usual, and some being blown up every five days. Their pitching overall was efficient, though, ranking 3rd in runs allowed in the CL, while their offense was only 7th. The Raccoons, with the two most recent blowouts of the Cyclones, have even broken into the upper half for offense in the CL, outscoring the Loggers 157-152 to rank fifth! We will not mention that the Loggers have played two games less, no, no. No.

Projected matchups:
Jose Rivera (3-3, 4.39 ERA) vs. Rafael Garcia (2-3, 3.83 ERA)
Esteban Flores (0-0, 6.00 ERA) vs. Davis Sims (1-2, 8.19 ERA)
Randy Farley (3-3, 2.74 ERA) vs. Simon Walton (4-3, 4.75 ERA)

Walton will be the first and only southpaw we see this week.

Game 1
MIL: SS B. Hernandez – CF Fletcher – RF C. Ramirez – LF Hiwalani – 3B J. Cruz – C L. Ramirez – 1B D. Evans – 2B J. Perez – P R. Garcia
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – RF Parker – 3B Crowe – P Rivera

Offense was slow, with both teams amounting to three singles in the bottom 5th, when the Coons had Chris Parker on second with one out and Rivera batting. Garcia looked stunned once Rivera rammed a double off the wall in center to plate the first run of the game, and next plunked Ingall and walked Guerin. Neil Reece had the chance for a big bang here, but Garcia didn’t give him anything to hit. The count ran full, before Reece finally rolled a grounder to third, and almost fell on his face stumbling out of the box. This looked like a ready-made double play, home and first, but the ball about died halfway up the third base line, and Jorge Cruz was slow to come in and HAD NO PLAY!! All hands safe, Reece huffing and puffing at first, 2-0 ahead, we waited for the inevitable double play, which didn’t come, but neither did another hit and we got only one more run, 3-0. Rivera pitched a strong game, almost like Saito the day before, while the defense actively trying to betray him late in the game. Crowe made an error that put a second man on with one out in the seventh, and Ingall made a catastrophic throwing error leading off the eighth, but Rivera always wiggled out, and then came the ninth, the score still 3-0, and do you go to Wade? Scotty’s recent success was nothing to write home about. Rivera remained in, Cristo Ramirez doubled with one out, and OH MY GOD PANIC!! Hiwalani grounded out, which brought up Jorge Cruz, OPS’ing .858 on the year. Well, it wouldn’t get any easier behind him and he was not the tying run anyway. Cruz took an 0-1 pitch to left, and OH NO RAMIREZ IS TURNING THIRD, and Buell has the ball, Buell goes home with it – THROW IT LIKE A MAN, STEPHEN!! Buell beamed Ramirez out at home, and this one was NOT blowing up late. 3-0 Coons!! Reece 3-4, RBI; Rivera 9.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, W (4-3) and 1-3, 2B, RBI;

Phew. I got a little excited there at the end.

In his 76th start in the majors, Rivera pitched his fifth complete game, and his fourth shutout. Plus, he gave the Coons a chance to actually have a WINNING WEEK. (gasps)

Game 2
MIL: SS B. Hernandez – CF Fletcher – RF C. Ramirez – LF Hiwalani – 3B J. Cruz – C L. Ramirez – 1B D. Evans – 2B J. Perez – P Sims
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – 2B Ingall – LF Buell – 1B Michel – P Flores

The winning week would have to wait. Flores was stripped down to his underpants in the second inning, failing to get anybody out, and was charged for five runs. The Coons got two runs in the bottom 2nd, and then had the bases loaded with no outs in the third – and failed to score. Branch fouled out, Ingall whiffed, and Buell lobbed out to center. Never mind they also left the bags full in the fourth… While Fairchild pitched in long relief into the sixth before getting stuck (yet the Loggers would run themselves out of it when Branch punched out Fletcher trying to steal), the Coons got another leg up in the bottom 6th. Michel singled, Parker singled, and while Guerin flew out, Brady then singled up the middle to get the score to 5-3 and getting Reece up with the tying runs on. Parker and Brady pulled off a double steal much to the Loggers’ surprise, but now Reece didn’t get anything to hit and walked eventually. Bases loaded #3. Gonzalez popped out, Branch rolled out to Perez. Gotta be kidding. And then the game just blew up. Gonzalez made an error to put Hiwalani on base to start the seventh, and then Lagarde would issue three walks. Miller came in, drilled Perez, and the rout was on, four runs scored. And yet, although they trailed 10-4 into the bottom 9th, they got the tying run to the plate. Crowe led off with a single, Michel walked, and Newton singled, bases loaded, no outs. Guerin drew a walk, 10-5, and while Brady grounded out, a run scored, 10-6. Reece then singled to left center, 10-7, and now Gonzalez could tie it if he would magically rediscover how to drill a ball for 400 feet. His infield single didn’t do the job, but upped the tension here, as Caddock stepped in with the chance to walk off his team. Yeah right. He struck out, as did Castillo. 10-7 Loggers. Brady 2-5, BB, RBI; Reece 3-4, 2 BB, 2B, 2 RBI; Crowe (PH) 1-1; Michel 2-3, 2 BB, RBI; Parker (PH) 1-1; Fairchild 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K and 2-2, 2 2B, RBI;

Left the bases loaded … FOUR TIMES. FOUR TIMES IN ONE GAME!!!

We had 15 HITS! They had EIGHT!! And WHO WON THIS GAME???

RAGE.

Game 3
MIL: SS B. Hernandez – CF Fletcher – RF C. Ramirez – LF Hiwalani – 3B J. Cruz – C L. Ramirez – 1B D. Evans – 2B Sullivan – P Walton
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – C Castillo – P Farley

Farley was torn up in the first inning, four runs on six hits, and we would not have a winning week. It was that simple. Farley was crowded while soldiering on into the fifth. The Raccoons were nowhere to be seen but for a nifty play in the second inning. With Buell on third and two down, Castillo laid down a perfect bunt for a suicide squeeze, and Buell scored. After that, not much movement from the Furballs until the sixth. Still down 4-1, Reece and Buell flocked onto base. Crowe came up with two down, having a terrible season batting .212. Well, he upped his stats here, ramming a 3-run homer out of left field, and that tied the game with the Loggers out-hitting the Coons 12-5 at that point. Oh wait a sec – Castillo is stepping in. Pitch, knock, soar, home run, Coons ahead 5-4. Wow. What we failed to find however, was adequate relief, as Jackie Lagarde blew the lead instantly in the top 7th. Jorge Perez decided the game in the ninth with a solo home run off Juan Martinez. 6-5 Loggers. Crowe 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Parker (PH) 1-1, 2B;

Oh, we left the bags full only once in his game, in case you wondered, in the seventh.

In other news

May 10 – Young Buffaloes closer Sancho Rivera (0-0, 8 SV, 0.93 ERA) has torn his rotator cuff and is out for the year.
May 11 – LVA SP Francisco Sanchez (0-2, 3.97 ERA) is heading to Tommy John surgery with a torn UCL.
May 16 – CHA John Woodard (3-3, 5.36 ERA) sparkles in a 1-0 shutout over the Bayhawks, fanning seven and allowing only two hits.
May 16 – The list of starting pitchers out for the year keeps growing fast: IND Chang-se Park (3-2, 3.33 ERA) joins the list with a partially torn UCL and hopes to avoid Tommy John for now.
May 16 – SAL 2B Bryan Andrews (.237, 0 HR, 12 RBI) has a badly broken kneecap and could also miss the entire remainder of the season.

Complaints and stuff

With every month that goes by, the November 14, 1989 trade that saw us acquire a 17-year old Dominican pitcher named Jose Rivera from the Condors for infielder Stephen Hall is looking better and better. And better.

Jose Rivera so far: 78 G (76 GS), 34-21, 2.98 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
Stephen Hall (career): 850 G, 2,923 AB, .252/.335/.354, 31 HR, 323 RBI, 30 SB

Saito has 17 to go to 250. Let’s see, he’s on pace for four wins this year, so … yeah, we will have to extend his contract!

He’s shoddy this year, but he’s not the only one to blame for the pitching staff to rank 11th or 12th in every single category except BABIP (which is not really a pitching achievement) and walks allowed (5th). The offense is all over the place, draws the most walks for the best OBP in the league, and they still don’t score runs. 8th in home runs! WHAT?? Well, if your backup catcher leads the team in dingers, something’s gotta be amiss…

2-week homestand continues next week with the Titans and Condors in town, so we have a splendid chance of dropping under .300 for the year.

[Westheim]

Raccoons (13-25) vs. Titans (24-14) – May 17-20, 1999

I smell slaughter coming upon us with the #7 offense and #1 pitching of the league coming upon us. And for four games. I thought our record was low enough already?

Projected matchups:
Bob Joly (2-4, 5.71 ERA) vs. Sergio Gonzalez (2-2, 3.49 ERA)
Kisho Saito (1-6, 6.22 ERA) vs. Kenny Frye (2-0, 4.25 ERA)
Jose Rivera (4-3, 3.60 ERA) vs. Kent Cahill (4-1, 2.81 ERA)
Esteban Flores (0-1, 10.57 ERA) vs. Jason O’Halloran (4-4, 3.55 ERA)

O’Halloran is the only left-hander they have to offer. Well, we only put up Saito. Will his last start, which I want to call the almost-shutout, be indicative of his future performance? And give or take what you want, but at least we miss Jesus Bautista (7-2, 1.94 ERA)!

Game 1
BOS: SS D. Silva – 2B Henry – RF Thomas – C L. Lopez – 1B G. Douglas – CF Reid – LF Alonso – 3B Baker – P S. Gonzalez
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – 2B Caddock – 1B Michel – P Joly

Slaughter was the call of the day. Joly was struck down, had his limbs dismembered, eyes poked and tongue torn out, and finally his intestines distributed all over the place, as the Titans led this game 10-1 after the top 2nd. Luckily, 50 Cent Beer Night was scheduled for *Wednesday*. Sergio Gonzalez gave up all of two hits while pitching a complete game. 13-1 Titans.

Really not much more to tell here, and I grabbed the last seven innings from the box score only, anyway, having made for the concession stands while the grounds crew had still been busy wiping up the remains of Bob Joly.

I have seen enough of him. Options are Fairchild, and – at AAA – blue chip Ralph Ford (4-2, 4.22 ERA) and Anthony Mosher (5-2, 6.34 ERA). I can see Ford getting torn up but Mosher, seriously? That AAA team was not really scoring plenty, by the way. Don’t know how Mosher can have these numbers at the same time.

As a stop gap, Mosher was called up to replace Joly, who was demoted to AAA. Mosher’s pitching day fell on game 4 in this series, so we would leave him on his 5-day routine, and push back Flores to the bottom spot in the order.

Mosher, a 24-year old southpaw, was the Bayhawks’ first round pick in 1993. He had all kinds of nagging injuries his first two years, before we acquired him for Tim “Suckerface” Mallandain. I don’t expect him to make many starts. I rather expect another nightmare like this one.

Game 2
BOS: SS D. Silva – 3B Nakayama – RF Reid – 1B G. Douglas – C L. Lopez – CF Alonso – LF Baker – 2B Henry – P Frye
POR: SS Guerin – LF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – 2B Ingall – RF Newton – 3B Crowe – P Saito

Saito didn’t appear to be as locked in as in his last start and Daniel Silva hit a double to start the game. Nakayama got on, but Saito would eventually pick him off first base and that helped him to get out of the first inning. Both teams scored a run in the third, before Saito came to bat in the bottom 5th with Newton, who had walked, and Crowe, who had singled, on the corners and no outs. Chance to score, so why would you bunt. Saito still slammed the ball into the ground two feet in front of home plate. Luis Lopez jumped out as Newton scrambled back to third, and threw to second to start a double play. Wait, he threw well over second and into center, Newton scrambled in the other direction, and by the time Luis Alonso had hustled in, Crowe and Saito were in scoring position, but only Crowe would score in the inning. A Douglas triple led to a run in the top 6th to cut the lead back to 3-2 quickly. The Furballs then loaded the bags in the bottom 6th with no outs as Gonzalez and Branch drew walks and Ingall singled to center. Newton doubled to left, two runs scored, Crowe was put on with four wide ones, bringing up Saito, and Frye was still not removed from the game. While he got Saito to pop out, Newton singled to left, and two more runs scored, knocking out Frye. Saito pitched seven and left with a 7-2 lead. Six outs with five runs of lead, sounds doable.

Au contraire.

Donis came in to face Silva, who would have been Saito’s, but I went for a double switch so the pitcher wouldn’t bat in the eighth, and Ingall had been hit for, and that slot was open after seven, and yeah, Donis put Silva on. Then came Tamburrino, struck out one batter, then walked two. Wade came in, and walked a run in. With two down, Baker singled to center, 7-4. Horace Henry was next, struck out every time by Saito, but he took Wade to deep center. Deeep center. Deeeeep – Reece must have gone with warp 8 to get that ball! Top 9th. Vicente Elizondo struck out. Then Silva doubled once more, his fifth hit on the day. Nakayama drove him in with a single. Wade was yelled at by the manager, then got Reid to float out to Reece. Douglas for the money – struck him out!! 7-5 Raccoons. Guerin 2-3, BB, 4 RBI; Saito 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, W (2-6);

I was shaking for some time even after the final out had been collected.

So did Saito.

Game 3
BOS: SS D. Silva – 2B Henry – RF Thomas – C L. Lopez – 1B G. Douglas – CF Reid – LF Munoz – 3B Nakayama – P Cahill
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Castillo – 2B Ingall – LF Buell – 1B Michel – P Rivera

After the Titans left runners on third base in the first two innings, and Ingall gave him a 1-0 lead with a leadoff jack in the bottom 2nd, Rivera again had a Titan at third with two down in the top 3rd. Sick of the tension, he balked him home, game tied. On the next pitch, Luis Lopez lined out softly to Guerin. Then it was the Coons’ time to leave runners on third base, which they did in the fourth and fifth innings, both times with pops to short, Rivera and Castillo doing the honors, but Rivera would come through with a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth, scoring Buell. In light rain then, Dave Reid reached on an Ingall error to start the top 7th. Rivera hit PH Elizondo, and walked another pinch-hitter in Alonso before Donis came in to face Silva with the bases loaded. It hadn’t worked the day before, why would it work now? Silva grounded to Ingall, Guerin couldn’t turn the double play, and the game was tied. A Gonzalez home run gave us a new lead in the bottom 7th, and Donis was still in to face Thomas and Lopez, the switch-hitters, and actually got them both. The score was 3-2 through eighth, but the resolution of the game would have to wait for an hour, as the rain intensified and forced a delay. When the storms had moved past, it was Lagarde’s time to shine. Wade and Martinez both had pitched three of the last four days (Wade for 77 pitches) and were spent. Lagarde was the only rested arm available, and we really didn’t have much beyond him but Tamburrino. Lagarde came through, pitching around a leadoff single by Reid to retire the next three guys. 3-2 Coons. Guerin 2-5; Gonzalez 2-4, HR, RBI; Ingall 3-4, HR, 2 2B, RBI;

Anthony Mosher would make his big league debut with an expended bullpen behind(?) him. We really didn’t have any fresh pitcher, which almost put Flores into a long relief role for this game, which would delay the problem until later in the week at best. We could possibly cobble three innings together. Miller had faced only one batter in game 3, and was possibly available for two frames, but … oh well.

Game 4
BOS: SS D. Silva – 3B Nakayama – RF Reid – 1B G. Douglas – C L. Lopez – CF Alonso – LF Thomas – 2B Baker – P O’Halloran
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – RF Newton – 3B Crowe – P Mosher

Mosher was wild, Mosher was hittable, Mosher was unlucky, Mosher was ripped apart. The Titans got two in the first, two in the second, and knocked out in the fifth with two out and two in scoring position. Lagarde came in, got a bloop from Thomas, but that bloop fell into no man’s land and plated Mosher’s runners to ramp the score to then 6-2. Not that the Raccoons had anything going. The Titans donated them another run in the bottom 7th with a wild pitch plating Buell from third base. However, our bullpen eventually collapsed, and Tamburrino once more was right in the middle of things, being charged with three runs in the eighth. 9-3 Titans. Ingall 2-4, 2 2B; Gonzalez 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Miller 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K;

Cesar Gonzalez relieved Ricardo Castillo atop the home run column with his fifth long ball, hit here in the fourth inning. Also in the fourth, but in the top half, we lost Stephen Buell on a breakneck play. Ya, he better hurry up with getting ouchies, otherwise he won’t make it to the DL four times this year. By the next morning we were sure that he had not hurt himself too badly, but would miss a week with a hand contusion.

Which was bad just as well. I was on the verge of adding a 13th pitcher again because our pitching is so crap, but I can’t get by with a 3-man bench!

Raccoons (15-27) vs. Condors (22-18) – May 21-23, 1999

The Condors were 5th in runs scored and 7th in runs allowed in the league,

Projected matchups:
Randy Farley (3-3, 3.15 ERA) vs. Harry Griggs (3-4, 4.18 ERA)
Esteban Flores (0-1, 10.57 ERA) vs. Woody Roberts (5-2, 1.66 ERA)
Kisho Saito (2-6, 5.74 ERA) vs. Bastyao Caixinha (4-5, 4.76 ERA)

Pitching matchups in each game match in their handedness here, but regardless of all things like matchups, we NEED a long outing from Farley. We NEED to get that bullpen recovered because Flores can be expected to blow up again, and with Saito you can’t be sure this year. Farley NEEDS to go deep into the game, a complete game if I have to say something about it.

Game 1
TIJ: LF Horn – 2B Brewer – RF Wales – 1B Mosley – 3B O’Morrissey – SS Boyle – C Vinson – CF Gorden – P Griggs
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – 2B Ingall – 1B Castillo – LF Parker – P Farley

We needed Farley, and Farley delivered. Although the score was 1-1 quickly with solo shots in the second by Ben O’Morrissey and Lance Branch, neither pitcher gave up a lot over the next few innings, although occasionally one team would advance a runner into scoring position. Farley twice got key strikeouts to wiggle out of such situations, and when Ingall singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom 6th, that appeared to be the difference maker. Farley went through eight without too many issues, leading 2-1. The ninth, depleted bullpen or a dominating starter? Farley, on 90 pitches, remained in there. Mosley soared a flyer to Brady, and O’Morrissey rolled out to short. And then Farley walked Boyle, his first walk on the day. Uh-oh. Vinson up. Ha! Vinson played in Portland for almost TEN years and hasn’t gotten a key hit since ’90! Randy will have Vinson for breakfast! Vinson took Farley’s first pitch to right center, and Brady was waiting for it long before it came down. 2-1 Coons! Branch 2-4, HR, RBI; Farley 9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, W (4-3) and 1-2;

ALL HAIL RANDY!!!

Game 2
TIJ: LF Horn – 2B Brewer – RF Wales – 1B Mosley – 3B O’Morrissey – SS Boyle – C Vinson – CF Gorden – P Roberts
POR: SS Guerin – LF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – 2B Ingall – RF Newton – 3B Crowe – P Flores

Difference between starters’ ERA’s: almost nine. Brace for the worst, and hope for Flores to make it through six for a change. To anybody’s surprise, Flores made it through six in shutout fashion, twice getting key strikeouts with runners on third base to escape jams, but through the top 6th the Raccoons were up 1-0 after a Branch sac fly in the fourth. Flores would not go any further though – for a rain shower forcing a delay north of an hour, knocking him from the game after six. Lagarde pitched the seventh, and Martinez got the eighth, putting a man on third base with two out and Brewer up. You know, we carry Donis, we should use him occasionally. Brewer rolled out to Ingall on the first pitch, and the 1-0 lived on. In the bottom 8th we couldn’t score despite a leadoff double from Luke Newton, so Scott Wade had no cushion, got two groundouts, and then struck out his old friend O-Mo. 1-0 Coons!! Guerin 2-4; Flores 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, W (1-1);

WINNING WEEK!!!! Yes, this is our FIRST this year!

Now for the bad news. Jackie Lagarde had discomfort in his forearm after this game, and it really looked like only forearm stiffness, so it was not another case of season over, but he would have to rest for at least one week. This is where the problem arises. We already play one man short. We can’t play another man short, since I expected the pitching to implode any given day.

So, Jackie Lagarde was heading for the DL, and we added Manuel Martinez again for the time being. The Condors’ Bruce Boyle was also hurt in this game and hit the DL with back soreness.

Game 3
TIJ: 2B Brewer – SS J. Barrón – RF Wales – LF Horn – 1B O’Morrissey – CF Gorden – C MacIntosh – 3B M. Valdes – P Caixinha
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – 3B Crowe – LF Newton – RF Brady – P Saito

The semi-dominating Saito from the last two starts was gone, as the Condors rocked him for four runs in the first three innings. Well, O’Morrissey rocked him for three innings between a 2-out, 2-run double in the first, and a double in the third, in which he scored, while a Guerin error put the leadoff man MacIntosh on in the second, and he was also brought around to score. A 3-run third by the Coons was not enough to make that deficit up. Saito stayed in the game though and the score was still 4-3 into the bottom 6th. Branch – who had killed the third inning rally with a double play – doubled, Crowe singled, runners on the corners with no outs. Between a Newton pop and Crowe being picked off first, they BARELY got Branch home on a Brady sac fly to tie the score. Saito left after seven, and Tamburrino came in, retired nobody, and was taken very, very deep by O’Morrissey for a 3-run home run, and that before a horror ninth in which the Condors plated three more on Fairchild, but only one was earned after errors by Ingall and Gonzalez. 10-4 Condors. Guerin 2-5; Ingall 3-4, 2B, RBI; Reece 2-4, RBI; Caddock (PH) 1-1;

Sigh. Two steps forward, eight steps back…..

In other news

May 22 – Not only did the Loggers CRUSH the Knights, 26-1, but MIL Jerry Fletcher (.384, 1 HR, 20 RBI), who is leading the CL batting race, hit for the CYCLE. The 25th ABL cycle, and third for the Loggers franchise (Emilio Román, 1989; Jim Stein, 1992) comes almost exactly one year after the last cycle in the league, hit for by Tijuana’s Martin Horn on May 26, 1998.

Complaints and stuff

I like the Buell kid, but boy, the long ago last mentioned Jeremiah Carrell bobblehead was WAY less fragile than this boy. We’ll have him checked for brittle bone disease, just to be sure……

The offense was not very good this week. Reece had a bad week, and Lance Branch hasn’t been good for a while. We got SOME good starting pitching, from Farley and Saito once, and also from Flores. The bullpen was a gaping abyss in which all hopes were dropped and vanquished. It continues to be grossly overworked. Juan Martinez is on pace to pitch 78 innings this year, which I deem too high for a reliever. I don’t really want them to pitch more than 60-70 innings, depending on stamina. Well, the starting pitching for the most part this year has not given us a chance to rest guys…

And if Tamburrino doesn’t give up his refusing stance to demotion to St. Petersburg, I will have to think of something. There’s a construction company at the edge of town, the owner of which is named Martini. I’m sure he knows of ways of getting Tamburrino down to the land of fishes…

We had both our 200th win and 200th loss against the Titans this week, in game 2 and 4, respectively.

[Westheim]

Raccoons (17-28) @ Bayhawks (27-18) – May 25-27, 1999

Here was a team that didn’t score too many runs (but still eight more than the Coons), but instead had the single best rotation in the league with a 2.78 ERA. Never mind their messy bullpen. First you have to get one of their guys out of the game…

Projected matchups:
Jose Rivera (4-3, 3.20 ERA) vs. Miguel Diaz (3-2, 3.81 ERA)
Randy Farley (4-3, 2.84 ERA) vs. Tony Hamlyn (5-5, 2.60 ERA)
Anthony Mosher (0-1, 11.57 ERA) vs. Jorge Chapa (4-1, 2.07 ERA)

Ya, good luck with that…

Game 1
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – 2B Ingall – LF Parker – 3B Caddock – P Rivera
SFB: RF Javier – 2B H. Ramirez – 1B Carroll – LF W. Jackson – CF Marquez – C G. Ortíz – 3B J. Martinez – SS T. Smith – P M. Diaz

Lance Branch singled home Guerin with two out in the top 1st to take an early lead, but Rivera wasn’t able to hang on to it. Alfredo Marquez’ 2-out, 2-run single in the bottom 3rd turned the game around in favor of the Bayhawks, and after Branch’s single in the first the Raccoons would not get another hit in until the sixth inning. Then it was Cesar Gonzalez, who came up with a game-tying home run, but the joy was short-lived as the Bayhawks put that run right back on the board in the bottom of the inning. Rivera needed help from Parker, Brady, and Donis to not be crushed in the seventh (with in order: catching Carroll’s deep fly right at the wall; beaming out Hector Ramirez going first-to-third; and popping up Marquez), but it didn’t matter in the bigger context of winning and losing. The Raccoons were unable to get men on base in a sufficient number to pose any threat, even against the beleaguered bullpen they faced in the final two innings. 3-2 Bayhawks. Gonzalez 2-4, HR, RBI;

Game 2
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – 3B Crowe – RF Newton – LF Parker – P Farley
SFB: RF Javier – 2B H. Ramirez – 1B Carroll – LF W. Jackson – CF Marquez – C G. Ortíz – 3B J. Martinez – SS T. Smith – P Hamlyn

Both pitchers came in with quite similar numbers, roughly around 70 IP (Hamlyn a bit over, Farley a bit under), just barely under 1 H/9, 18 walks and some 50 K on the year. The Coons jumped out first again with two runs in the opening frame, on a throwing error and another 2-out single by Branch. Farley put two on with one out, but struck out Jackson and Marquez to get out. The tide would turn, though. The Bayhawks left runners on the corners once more in the fourth, but chopped a run (so, half) off our lead in the fifth. Will Jackson homered to tie the game in the sixth (similar to Gonzalez’ exploits the day before), and the Bayhawks had two in scoring position with two down and Tom Smith up. He was put on intentionally so Farley, who had not struck out anybody since the first inning and had lost his touch by now, could face Hamlyn. In a 2-2 count, Hamlyn made contact and shot a racer to right, but Ingall was able to intercept it and nab Hamlyn at first to keep the score tied, 2-2. Hamlyn, who had struck out nine Inepticoons through six innings, was in a comfortable position now, facing the bottom of the order in the top 7th, starting with the hopeless Luke Newton. One strike, two strikes, oh, contact. Didn’t see that com- … oh, this one is deep, and high, and GONE!! Newton gave the lead right back to Farley, 3-2, but when leadoff man Paco Javier singled in the bottom 7th, he was coming out. Fortunately for Farley, with Juan Martinez pitching, Javier tried to swipe a base and was lasered out by Branch. Unfortunately, that still didn’t mean anything. Donis put Marquez on with a 1-out single in the eighth, and Miller came in for relief, but served up the game-winner to Gabriel Ortíz. The Coons had the tying run on second base with one out in the ninth, but Parker and Brady both whiffed against Ryosei Kato. 4-3 Bayhawks. Ingall 2-4, 2B; Reece 2-3, BB, 2B;

(stares into the darkness after another dispiriting loss)

Game 3
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – RF Gonzalez – C Branch – 1B Michel – 3B Crowe – LF Parker – P Mosher
SFB: LF Walls – C G. Ortíz – 1B Carroll – CF Marquez – 3B J. Martinez – RF Rivas – 2B J. Gomez – SS T. Smith – P Chapa

The game got off just as I had feared. Mosher was besieged and required frequent rescue by the defense, but they couldn’t defend against Dave Carroll’s first-inning no-doubt homer, and some other stuff, and Mosher trailed 2-0 after three, while Chapa was mowing down woodland creatures like a wildfire. Top 5th then, Crowe on third base with one out and Mosher batting. Could he possibly get him in? Mosher took a pitch to deep left, and oh dear lord, it was gone…! Game-tying homer by Mosher, nobody in attendance could believe it, the least so Chapa. The bird would actually be gone from the game before Mosher, leaving in the top 7th with two in scoring position and two down. Jose Matos got Guerin to pop out to left to keep the score tied, and Mosher pitched a quick seventh, however, only fairytales come true (and sometimes rock and roll dreams). Mosher’s bid for a win didn’t, as he walked Jorge Gomez to start the eighth, and with one out the Bayhawks brought left-hander Hector Ramirez as a pinch-hitter, who matched Mosher, so he remained in – and the resulting fly ball beat Neil Reece by a fraction of a hair, fell in for a double, the Bayhawks took the lead, Mosher was removed, Tamburrino loaded the bags, and then Chubby Martinez was dumb lucky enough to get a grounder to Guerin before the game could blow out completely, but this one was in the loss column. 4-2 Bayhawks. Crowe 2-3, BB;

Gonzalez has no RF rating. I figured, Mosher’d get blown up anyway, so why not put him there for a game, get Michel in, and not have two struggling left-handed corner outfielders (or Newton…) in this game against the left-hander Chapa. Gonzalez did very well defensively, even getting an outfield assist. Maybe he’s the reborn Mark Dawson after all?

Never mind that we were just humiliated again and I am slowly losing my will to live ‘round here…

Raccoons (17-31) @ Knights (26-20) – May 28-30, 1999

The Knights were more lucky than anything else, with zero run differential but six games over .500. But you know, the Raccoons weren’t lucky, or skilled, or fortunate, or even at least occasionally in the right place at the right time, so the Knights had a perfect chance to take full advantage of the Suckoons, who undoubtedly were receiving some kind of divine punishment for whatever … I don’t know? Not finishing their plates?

Projected matchups:
Esteban Flores (1-1, 5.93 ERA) vs. Greg Grams (2-5, 6.07 ERA)
Kisho Saito (2-6, 5.52 ERA) vs. Sammy Davis (2-3, 6.23 ERA)
Jose Rivera (4-4, 3.29 ERA) vs. Daniel Perez (1-0, 3.33 ERA)

Look at that rotation, they are even worse than our guys. And now for some actual gameplay.

Game 1
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Parker – 2B Caddock – 3B Crowe – P Flores
ATL: RF Árias – C J. Johnson – 2B Palacios – LF Kinnear – 1B Tinker – CF A. Ramos – 3B J. Munoz – SS Torres – P Grams

Esteban Flores was obliterated in the first inning, with a leadoff homer by Jesus Árias, and then a 3-run job off the bat of Bill Tinker. Although Flores gave up another run in the second inning, he was not removed. If you saw the Coons failing miserably against Greg Grams in their halves of the innings, you knew this game was out of the window already, and that it was better to leave Flores in there to absorb as many innings as possible without emptying the pen into this pointless endeavor. Flores actually made it into the sixth without allowing another run and then left at 90 pitches with an (unearned after a Crowe error) runner on second and one out. Miguel Martinez ended that frame. The Coons trailed 5-2 after sac flies by Reece and Crowe, but they never raised their bats in anger against Grams, who was the luckiest bastard on earth that day. Fairchild was sliced into pieces in the eighth, before the Coons – not that it mattered – took a chunk out of venerable Craig Hansen in the top 9th, but this mass had been read in the first. 8-4 Knights. Guerin 2-5, 2B; Parker 2-4; Crowe 2-2, BB, 2B, 2 RBI;

And that’s how you build a 5-game losing streak! Our record for the year is a 7-game rut, so let’s go.

We finally got Stephen Buell back for the middle game. Will he make a difference? (chuckles)

Game 2
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Castillo – 3B Crowe – RF Brady – P Saito
ATL: CF Árias – C J. Johnson – 2B Palacios – 1B Tinker – LF Taylor – 3B J. Munoz – SS Torres – RF G. Hall – P S. Davis

Saito was on the brink of getting anal-probed by the Knights in the first two innings, but Jose Munoz popped out with the bags full in the first, and Buell and Reece picked balls off the wall in the second, before the Coons put their leadoff men Ingall and Guerin on the corners with one out in the top 3rd. Reece ran a full count against Davis, then put a slow grounder in play. Munoz raced in, but Ingall beat him down the line and Munoz’ hesitation cost him any play. Reece was safe, and another hit could break this up, but we didn’t get one, of course. When Brady made a head-long play on a Bill Tinker liner bound for an RBI double in the bottom 3rd, I sent for some more St. Bernards, because this couldn’t work for nine innings… A Brady sac fly in the top 6th gave us a second run, while Saito continued to tumble. Bottom 6th, Tony Torres doubled over Reece for the first non-routine play that wasn’t made all day. An intentional walk would bring up the pitcher with two outs, but Kinnear was looming on the bench, and – no. Saito pitched to Gerald Hall, Hall homered, and that was that.

(hammers head against the wall)

When I was done with self-mutilation, the Coons had two on and no out in the top 7th. Guerin had doubled and Reece had gotten the open base without fuss for the second time in this series. Although he was in a terrible slump, the Knights were fearing him to break out of it. Gonzalez got Reece forced with a grounder, but the go-ahead run was at third, but Buell struck out and Gonzalez got picked off first base. Saito left after seven with a no-decision. In the eighth, Tamburrino, Donis, and Miller shared responsibility for a bases-loaded jam, but Miller struck out Hall and Jesus Zamora to escape. The top 9th was started with an Ingall single off Kenny Richert. Guerin grounded hard to short, but the Knights failed to turn two, which backfired badly once Gonzalez doubled to center and the racer Guerin easily reached home. Bottom 9th, Wade in, Árias led off with a single, and Palacios added another one with one out. Ramos grounded out, moving the runners into scoring position and by now Kinnear was batting fifth. No-ho-ho. Not today, Vern. Wade was to go after Munoz. First pitch, high fly to deep center, and no chance, not even for Reece… 4-3 Knights. Ingall 2-5; Guerin 3-5, 2 2B;

That night, I failed to go to sleep, pacing up and down the hotel room much to the annoyance of the lovely Belorussian gentleman in the room beneath mine. When he knocked on my door to shout at me at 3:25am, I think I got a death threat.

Hum, would solve some problems.

Game 3
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Branch – 3B Crowe – RF Brady – P Rivera
ATL: RF Árias – C J. Johnson – 2B Palacios – LF Kinnear – CF A. Ramos – 3B J. Munoz – 1B J. Zamora – SS Torres – P D. Perez

Daniel Perez was dismantled uncharacteristically quickly, five runs in the first two innings, including a 2-run bomb by Gonzalez in the first inning. Before Rivera could even finish his second inning, rains soaked the place and forced a 1-hour delay. While Rivera came back to pitch afterwards, he immediately gave up a run, and now we were facing the dire forecast of having to cover many innings with THIS bullpen. In the top 3rd of this 5-1 game the Coons loaded them up, but lost Mike Crowe to some sort of leg injury, before Ingall struck out to leave three men on. Rivera looked rusty when he pitched in the bottom 3rd and was not going to cover five. Fairchild appeared for the fourth, but he was well out of whack, balked and hit a batter the same inning and only got out because of defense. So, which pen would collapse faster? For starters, we had Michel on first base in the top 5th with Kenny Richert trying to get the third out. On a hit-and-run, Brady lined to deep left, out of Kinnear’s spacious reach and Michel made it home on the RBI double. That brought up Fairchild, who grounded past Munoz and the ball made it all the way into the corner for another double. An Ingall single scored Fairchild, and we were up by seven. Messy pitching by Fairchild and a 2-out, bases-loaded, 2-run double by Alejandro Ramos cut the lead back to five the same inning. The Knights had a threat going in the seventh when Miguel Martinez failed to retire people but then ran themselves out of it, and Reece brought home an extra run with an RBI double off Hansen in the eighth, 9-3. By now, we had reached the shallow end of our bullpen, having to give Tamburrino another appearance. This bottom 8th was possibly his first 1-2-3 inning on the year… And then came the bottom 9th, Chubby Martinez came in to pitch, Árias singled, Johnson singled, Palacios walked, bases loaded, no outs, Kinnear next, and oh boy, we’re in the ****s. The remaining pitchers were Donis and Wade, both had pitched the last two days already, and Wade had already blown a game. But here we faced Kinnear, and our left-hander was available, so we sent for him. Kinnear popped out, but Ramos plated two with the bags full for the second time in the game. 9-5, two in scoring position, one out, and how could we possibly not lose this one. Only if the Knights themselves hacked out of it. Munoz popped to left, enough for a sac fly, but then Zamora also popped out and Ingall grabbed that one. 9-6 Raccoons. Guerin 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Reece 3-5, 2B, RBI; Crowe 1-1, BB, 2B; Brady 2-3, 2 BB, 2 2B, 2 RBI;

Crowe has a sore calf that should hobble him the next week. We might want to give Gonzalez a few starts at third to safe Crowe for later.

In other news

May 25 – OCT Vaughn Higgins (3-2, 2.86 ERA) dominates the Indians in a 3-hit shutout. Thunder win, 2-0.
May 26 – MIL OF/1B Jerry Fletcher (.387, 1 HR, 21 RBI) connects for a single in the Loggers’ 6-3 win over the Falcons, bringing a hitting streak to 20 games.
May 26 – Another year, another injury for TIJ LF/RF Dale Wales (.304, 3 HR, 21 RBI), who will be looking from the sidelines for a month with a sprained ankle.
May 28 – Jerry Fletcher is stopped dead in his tracks by the Thunder and goes 0-3 in a 3-2 loss, ending his hitting streak at 21 games.

Complaints and stuff

In good news, Dan Nordahl rejoined the AAA team starting this week. Let’s see what he has got.

And… You know, I WAS going to play two weeks here, but … no. One’s more than enough. There must be some gypsy curse on this team. Only reasonable explanation that remains viable.

[Westheim]

1999 DRAFT POOL

The 1999 amateur draft pool isn’t very good. Well, it is and it isn’t. You will probably not load up on starting pitching in this draft, and there are also no eye-popping catchers. While there is a slew of could-be first basemen, the main prize could be some of the outfielders in the pool. Vince Guerra has gone over the pool the last couple of weeks and here are his 10 or so most favored players:

SP Juan Nunez (12/16/16)

RP Alan Lash (20/15/9)
RP Marcos Bruno (20/13/11)
RP Mike Harvey (20/13/9)

1B/3B/RF Miguel Cortez (17/17/8)
INF Antonio Ramirez (13/15/12)
INF/LF/RF Max Nixon (11/15/13)

OF Juan Valdez (20/18/18)
OF/1B Gerardo Rios (16/20/20)
LF/RF/1B Darwin Tyler (16/13/10)

There is a host of second rate outfielders in there, who will certainly make their way to the majors, but we won’t list another half dozen of them just for completeness.

The main prize seems to be Rios, who is a 23-year old Venezuelan, and who is considered major league ready and a consensus #1 pick. Happy Miners.

The Raccoons will have the following picks: #11, #16, #33, #48, #60, #66, and every 24th pick after #66 thanks to our failure to continue to pay for the services of Manuel Movonda and Werner Turner. I am severely doubting that Valdez, Rios, and Nunez will hang around at #11. Antonio Ramirez is an interesting player and we could possibly get Tyler at #11. I am saving #16 for one of the relievers, which don’t tend to get picked so high.

We also have to look at our needs a bit. You always need pitching, but this draft will only help the bullpen. If I look at our development chart, relief pitchers are not really overrepresented. Dan Nordahl has only been in 10 games this year due to injury, but he’s doing well. Beyond that, our best bet is Miguel Martinez and he’s already up. And there are more players on the AAA roster that are pushing upwards and we will have to make room, one way or another. 1B Albert Martin is having a .920 OPS season in AAA. OF Chris Roberson does have a poor OBP so far (.299) in AAA, but is hitting doubles and home runs since being moved up there a month ago. Then there’s SP Ralph Ford, and also C Julio Mata. And while we had put our money on Mata being our new franchise catcher, he continues to struggle, batting .228/.269/.426 in AAA…

But Martin has to be brought up now, and since he can only (and only barely) play first base, that shoves Cesar Gonzalez to third base, puts Mike Crowe out of a job, and possibly also Samy Michel. It’s difficult. Normally, you’d say, ah, what the heck, we trade away some old guy to make room. Well, tough luck, the Raccoons don’t have any old guys. We currently have 36 players on the 40-man roster (this excludes Miguel Lopez, who’s on the 60-day DL). Of those, there are three guys older than 32: Kisho Saito (38), Scott Wade (37), and Jackie Lagarde (36). Only six more have hit the big three-oh: Neil Reece (32), Juan Martinez (32), Ricardo Castillo (32), Daniel Miller (31), Lance Branch (30), and Marvin Ingall (30). Lopez makes it seven, and there’s still Christian Proctor (31) in AAA. That’s all! The entire organization has four position players 30 years old or older. So, the youngsters are going neck to neck now, and it may not lead anywhere pleasant.

[Westheim]

Did I mention earlier that we’d play 13, 13, and 20 straight games from late April to mid-June? Well, apparently I’m too dumb to count, because here’s an off day on Monday, the 31st, which I entirely missed before, and it’s really 13, 13, 6, and 13. Oh well.

I also bit my tongue yesterday and I can’t even curse properly right now, because my mouth is hurting all over, so this will be a very fun week to come.

Raccoons (18-33) vs. Falcons (30-21) – June 1-3, 1999

Why are we only playing winning teams? Is it that ALL other teams are winning? Regardless, the Falcons were doing it all on offense, with the 3rd most productive lineup in the CL, while their pitching was frighteningly bad, and they were also third-to-last in runs allowed. Which still puts them a step over the Raccoons. The fault was mainly with their 10th ranked rotation, but the bullpen was not great, either, ranking 6th.

Projected matchups:
Randy Farley (4-3, 2.86 ERA) vs. Angel Romero (7-2, 3.35 ERA)
Anthony Mosher (0-2, 7.50 ERA) vs. Terry Wilson (6-2, 3.60 ERA)
Esteban Flores (1-2, 6.63 ERA) vs. John Woodard (3-5, 5.71 ERA)

So to make everything even worse than it already is, we are facing the good part of their rotation, and I have absolutely no hope whatsoever that we will not plunge to .333 in this series.

Game 1
CHA: 2B H. Green – C M. Castillo – 3B M. Hall – RF Mashiba – LF Morton – 1B J. Jackson – CF J. Maldonado – SS C. Boyle – P Romero
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Branch – 1B Michel – RF Brady – P Farley

With Michel on second and two out in the bottom 2nd, Farley singled through Hubert Green, bringing up the top of the lineup, and an Ingall single gave the Coons a 1-0 lead. However, it wasn’t all sugar for the Coons, even though Michel drove home Reece with a 2-out single to make it 2-0 in the third. Farley was constantly pitching in high-ball counts, not hitting his spots at all. He needed 44 pitches for the first two innings alone, and was at 85 after five in a 2-1 game. He was toast after seven innings, and we had to trust a lead that was up to 3-1 after another 2-out RBI Ingall single to the bullpen. Chubby Martinez pitched a quick eighth, and Wade then came out for the ninth, facing mostly left-handers starting with Mashiba. But for once, everything would be fine, the Falcons went down in order, and we actually have a 2-game winning streak going. 3-1 Coons. Ingall 2-4, BB, 2 RBI; Michel 2-4, 2B, RBI; Newton (PH) 1-1; Farley 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, W (5-3) and 1-2;

Our bullpen faced six batters, and none reached. That’s new! Also, if you wanna see a good starter, come to a Farley start. Everything else has a tendency to blow up in dynamite fashion.

Game 2
CHA: 1B H. Green – 2B Brantley – CF Lugo – SS M. Hall – LF Cleveland – 3B J. Jackson – RF Morton – C M. Castillo – P Wilson
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – LF Buell – 1B Michel – C R. Castillo – RF Newton – P Mosher

In the top 1st, Mosher got Green, before Guerin’s throw to first on Ron Brantley’s grounder was dropped by Michel. Rattled, Mosher walked the next two batters, and the Falcons were in business, battering him for three runs in the inning. Mosher wasn’t going anywhere. He was beaten up for six runs in 2.2 innings, leaving a man on first, and Tamburrino was tasked with getting one out to end the inning, with the #9 slot due to lead off the bottom 3rd batting, and managed to get another two runs across, with two men stranded in scoring position by Joe Jackson, in the inning. 8-0 after three. In a stark contrast, the bullpen would not give up a run over the next six innings, not that there was anything to play for. 8-3 Falcons. Ingall 2-4, 2B; Gonzalez 3-4, 2B; Michel 2-4, 2B; Parker 1-1, 2 RBI; Fairchild 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K; Miller 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K;

In addition to the game in general, we also lost Luke Newton, who strained a hamstring and would most likely miss most of June on the DL. There goes a .179 hitter, but Newton was also our primary defensive backup for all three outfielders (not that Reece needed a defensive backup, but anyway…). In any case we needed a centerfielder as replacement, and this brought back Jason Kent from AAA. There he was merely batting .239 with 4 HR and 15 RBI in 134 AB, but we didn’t bring him up to have 100 AB’s over the next four weeks…

I also concluded that Mosher had no business being here (0-3, 9.20 ERA), and sent him back to AAA. Now, Jackie Lagarde would come off the DL in only three days, and would take over the long man spot from Fairchild, who would slide into Mosher’s spot in the rotation. We called up Fred Carlton to cover the few days until Jackie’s return in the bullpen.

Game 3
CHA: 2B H. Green – C M. Castillo – CF Lugo – 3B M. Hall – RF Mashiba – LF Morton – 1B J. Jackson – SS Adams – P Woodard
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Caddock – P Flores

Top 1st, five hits, three runs, another game over. Actually, Gonzalez doubled home a pair in the bottom 1st, so it was technically still a close 3-2 deficit. Mark Hall homered to make it 4-2 in the third, and the Raccoons had something brewing in the bottom of the inning, until Neil Reece hit into a killing double play. Flores failed to navigate the fifth inning, in which Hubert Green hit another dinger, and Flores left with two on and one out. Donis barely managed to clean up the mess, but we were now down 5-2. Top 8th, Chubby pitching, and he wasn’t throwing strikes. Fred Adams drew a leadoff walk, before Cleveland popped out to left. That brought up Green, 3-4, with a homer and a double. Martinez still wasn’t throwing strikes, but Green dug a low pitch out regardless and dished it to center. Reece was never gonna get that one as it ricocheted off the wall. Adams was scoring while Green turned second and made for third, Reece’s throw was late, and Green had now hit for the cycle. While the Raccoons, trailing 7-2, were hanging their heads anyway, the six fans still at the park gave Green a standing ovation. The Raccoons were chopped up, Green ended up 5-6 with 3 RBI, and another horrible day came to a close. 10-2 Falcons. Ingall 3-4; Guerin 2-4; Gonzalez 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI;

The 26th cycle in ABL history is the first for the Falcons and the first against the Raccoons. It comes only 12 days after the previous cycle by Milwaukee’s Jerry Fletcher. June 3 was also the day the Pacifics’ Ethan Gittens hit for a natural cycle in a 9-5 loss to the Warriors in 1978. There has not been a natural cycle hit for in 21 years, by the way. Also, with the Falcons finally getting a cycle, there are only four teams remaining that have never had a cycle OR a no-hitter: the Capitals, Canadiens, Buffaloes, and Scorpions.

Raccoons (19-35) vs. Crusaders (26-26) – June 1-3, 1999

Worst pitching plays host to second-worst pitching. While this is true, the difference between worst and second-worst is a whopping 25 runs allowed. Yes, we are THAT bad.

Projected matchups:
Kisho Saito (2-6, 5.21 ERA) vs. Anibal Sandoval (3-3, 3.28 ERA)
Jose Rivera (4-4, 3.27 ERA) vs. Ramiro Gonzalez (7-3, 3.79 ERA)
Randy Farley (5-3, 2.71 ERA) vs. Hector Lara (3-6, 6.79 ERA)

Game 1
NYC: RF Gonzales – SS Nielsen – LF A. Johnson – 3B Rush – 1B T. Mullins – 2B J. Ramirez – C Clemente – CF Diéguez – P Sandoval
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 3B C. Gonzalez – C Branch – 1B Michel – LF Buell – RF Brady – P Saito

The Raccoons loaded them up in the bottom 1st on three straight singles. No outs, they managed one measly run on a Branch sac fly. Missed chances and such. Saito did not allow a hit through three innings, but heavy rain forced a lengthy delay. Saito was eager to continue in the fourth, but loaded the bases with one out. Daniel Miller came in, got a pop from Theodore Mullins to medium-depth left, and Jeffrey Nielsen tagged and made for home. Buell nailed him at home, so the score remained 1-0, but Saito was out regardless. Miller also pitched the fifth, but a leadoff single by Jorge Gonzales in the top 6th chased him. Carlton came in, was unable to produce anything worthwhile, and Manuel Martinez managed to wiggle out of a bases loaded jam, the 1-0 lead still standing. As we pieced together single outs with our unreliable arms, the offense hadn’t gotten a hit since the third inning, when Ethan Thomas walked Kent and Guerin in the bottom 7th. That brought up Reece, who was in a dire slump and had shed 50 points off his OPS in the last ten days. A towering 3-run homer was possibly remedying some the grief, and it put the Coons up 4-0. Despite using up some relievers to the final breath, we somehow made it through the game without giving up a run. Unfortunately, Saito didn’t feature very big in the final box score. 4-0 Coons. Ingall 2-5; Reece 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Buell 2-4; Parker (PH) 1-1; Miller 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, W (1-1); Donis 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K;

The bullpen continues to be hopelessly overworked, turning in 16.2 innings in the last three days. We NEED Rivera now to have a GOOD game and go at least seven.

Game 2
NYC: 2B J. Ramirez – SS Nielsen – LF A. Johnson – 1B Berry – CF Latham – 3B Rush – RF Olvera – C Clemente – P R. Gonzalez
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B C. Gonzalez – LF Buell – 3B Crowe – RF Parker – C Castillo – P Rivera

After two scoreless innings, the Crusaders got their two first batters on base in the top 3rd with soft singles through the seams on the infield. Gonzalez bunted them over, and while Rivera struck out Ramirez, Nielsen dinked a single into shallow center to plate them both. Johnson would double home Nielsen to make it 3-0 then. The Crusaders added a run in the fifth and an unearned run after a Parker error in the seventh, and the Raccoons were wholly unable to match the pace. In fact, Rivera was the only batter to actually drive home a run, and then scored himself on TWO wild pitches by Ramiro Gonzalez, all in the bottom 5th. So, Rivera went seven rather unpretty innings, trailed 5-2, and there was no hope for him either. Which isn’t entirely true. Bottom 9th, down by three, and down the final out, Jose Hernandez walked Parker. Brady hit for Castillo and slugged a double off the wall, scoring Parker. Suddenly, the tying run came to the plate in Lance Branch, hitting for Chubby. And striking out. 5-3 Crusaders. Castillo 2-3, 2 2B; Brady (PH) 1-1, 2B, RBI;

Marvin Ingall reached the .300 mark with a leadoff single in the bottom 1st, which is remarkable enough to mention it after his HORRIBLE April. Not that he stayed at .300, but … uh … you know. Stuff.

Jackie Lagarde rose from the Dead- … Disabled List in time for game 3, as we returned Carlton – who was wild, wild, and wild in his two appearances – to AAA.

Game 3
NYC: RF Gonzales – SS Nielsen – LF A. Johnson – 1B Berry – CF Latham – 3B Rush – 2B J. Ramirez – C Clemente – P H. Lara
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – 1B Michel – LF Buell – SS Caddock – P Farley

After Farley walked a pair in the first inning, things quickly got ugly in the second. Latham led off with a single, before Rush reached on an error by Gonzalez. The dams opened quickly. Farley walked Ramirez, walked Clemente, and even walked Lara. Gonzales singled home a pair, and when Nielsen drove in another pair, the score was 6-0, there were no outs in the inning, and Farley was sent for the showers. Another run would score on an Ingall error before Lagarde finished the inning to (hopefully, but you never can expect anything with the Suckoons) embark on long relief, which turned out to be three more innings and two more runs on the board. The rest of the game was pieced together with that part of blue-armed shambles in our bullpen that were still breathing on their own. The Raccoons’ offensive accomplishments shall be contracted to the fact that a 6+ ERA pitcher hurled himself a complete game. 9-3 Crusaders. Gonzalez 2-4, HR, RBI; Crowe (PH) 1-1; Martinez 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K;

Complaints and stuff

Entering this week, our pitching was ranked last in every conceivable category besides BABIP (not a pitcher’s stat anyway) and walks allowed. Needless to say that this didn’t get any better this week. Which is kind of a rough turnaround from last season. I still can’t … can’t … fathom just … just how …!?

Also, this week:
SP: 25.1 IP
RP: 28.2 IP

Conserving this for posterity: I had the chance to trade Tamburrino – whom I prefer to call “The Dead Drum” right now while he leads the team in walks(!) – to the Indians for a true scrub in AAA SP Anibal Sanchez. I didn’t pull the trigger. This will have been a mistake.

But even leaving bed in the morning is kind of a mistake that I commit daily, so…

[Westheim]

Raccoons (20-37) vs. Indians (26-30) – June 7-10, 1999

The Indians were outright terrible offensively (reminding longtime followers of this franchise of the mid-80s Indians that never had any offense and still played for the division title every year), but their pitching couldn’t keep up. Despite allowing the fourth-least amount of runs, their 11th-ranked offense did them in completely.

Projected matchups:
Kelly Fairchild (2-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Steve Holcomb (2-4, 4.43 ERA)
Esteban Flores (1-3, 7.33 ERA) vs. David Rios (0-2, 4.70 ERA)
Kisho Saito (2-6, 4.97 ERA) vs. Manuel Alba (6-6, 3.49 ERA)
Jose Rivera (4-5, 3.45 ERA) vs. Dan George (5-6, 2.60 ERA)

George is the only left-hander in this group of opposition. The Indians are also missing Chang-se Park for the rest of the year, so their pitching ranks might come down to earth after all.

Game 1
IND: CF Alarcon – 2B Burgos – 1B M. Brown – LF D. Lopez – C Cicalina – 3B Whaley – RF Paredes – SS Chevalier – P Holcomb
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – P Fairchild

Fairchild’s first pitch went straight into Francisco Alarcon, and trouble appeared to be on, but the Indians didn’t get a hit until the fourth inning, then a Matt Brown double, and Brown only scored aided by a wild pitch. At that point, we still held a 4-1 lead, because while Fairchild was pitching so-so this season, he was a threat with the bat, landing a 2-out, 2-run double in the bottom 2nd, and Buell had added two more runs with a double in the third, in which we threw away a chance to score more when Guerin was thrown out as the lead runner (with Reece behind) in a double steal with no outs. In the bottom 4th, Holcomb shoveled the bags full and was removed as Cesar Gonzalez was due to bat. The Indians went to Cesar Salcido, the former Suckoon, and this was showtime. First pitch, right over the heart of the plate, and Gonzalez was not missing on this one. GRAAAAAAND SLAAAAAAAAMMMM!!!! However, despite being up 8-1, Fairchild failed to navigate the sixth inning. Two runs were already in, the bases loaded, when Daniel Miller came out and finally got the third out from Carlos Paredes. But the Indians were still crawling back in. Miller conceded a run in the seventh, and in the eighth, a Crowe throwing error started the inning and cost an unearned run against Manuel Martinez. That left the score at 8-5 and brought Wade for the ninth. He first faced Chevalier who sent a huge fly to left, which was barely caught by Chris Parker. Wade would recover from an almost-double, though, and struck out the next two batters to end this game. 8-5 Coons. Guerin 2-4, BB, 3B; Gonzalez 1-3, BB, HR, 4 RBI; Branch 1-2, 2 BB, 2B;

I am never tiring of enemy teams bringing up losers like Cesar Salcido to pitch to the #3, #4, #5 guys. Never. I cried enough because of Salcido, and this was heaven.

Cesar Gonzalez hit his ninth home run of the year, leaving him just one off the CL lead (jointly held by Ben O’Morrissey, by the way), and two off the ABL lead. Among three players tying for that in the FL was Salem’s Jeff MacGruder, whom I could have traded for instead of Gonzalez. Well, I still picked well, I think.

Game 2
IND: CF Alarcon – 2B Burgos – 1B M. Brown – LF D. Lopez – C Cicalina – RF A. Roldán – 3B Whaley – SS Chevalier – P D. Rios
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – C Branch – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – CF Kent – P Flores

The Coons got a run in the bottom 2nd before both Flores and Ingall struck out with the bags loaded to end the inning. To be fair, Jeff Kent had only reached on a possible double play grounder that Alberto Burgos mishandled for an error. Through three innings, Flores’ line held one hit, no runs, and six strikeouts, which was something new. But like the Walls of Jericho, Flores sooner or later had to come down. David Lopez’ leadoff jack in the top 4th tied the score, 1-1, and nobody was surprised the least little bit, at least not until Flores managed to starve Urbano Cicalina at third base in the same inning. Inevitably, it was the ex-Coon Matt Brown to drive in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Cicalina still became the man of the game, gunning down Stephen Buell in a steal attempt in the sixth, and taking Tamburrino deep for two runs in the eighth, putting the score at 4-1. The Raccoons didn’t even come close after leaving Gonzalez on third base in the fifth (then the tying run), and went down silently in the end. 4-1 Indians. Buell 2-4; Flores 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, L (1-4);

Game 3
IND: LF G. Flores – 2B Burgos – C Cicalina – 1B D. Lopez – 3B Whaley – CF Maguey – RF Alarcon – SS Chevalier – P Alba
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Crowe – LF Parker – RF Brady – C Castillo – P Saito

Except for the switch-hitter Chevalier, Saito faced all right-handers, and back-to-back RBI doubles by Alarcon and Chevalier soon canned him in the second inning. Mike Crowe was thrown out at home to end the bottom 2nd still in a 2-0 deficit, and nobody was on base when Cesar Gonzalez hit his tenth long ball of the year in the fourth, leaving Saito trailing 2-1. While the Raccoons constantly failed, David Lopez came through with a 2-out, 2-run triple in the fifth, 4-1, and with the bags full and two out in the bottom 5th, Guerin gently flew out to Alarcon. The score was the same when Saito was hit for in the bottom 7th, representing the tying run with two on and one out. Buell whiffed, and Ingall rolled out to short. The Coons would get the tying run up once more, though, in the ninth. STILL trailing 4-1, Parker led off with a double to right that was actually a single misplayed by Alarcon. Brady rolled out, but Castillo doubled into the gap in left center, and Parker scored, 4-2. Branch hit for Miller and came through on a 1-2 count against Raúl Perez, singling to right. Tying runs on the corners, an Ingall single would be sweet. Ingall shot Perez’ first pitch up the middle and into shallow center for an RBI single. C’mon boys, two more bases and Saito won’t lose his SEVENTH of the year! Guerin singled, but Alarcon got the ball home so quickly, Branch had to stay at third base. That brought up Reece, bags full, one out, and he was in a most terrible slump. He couldn’t get a hit right now. But he still drew walks. And he wore Perez out for ball four, forced home the tying run, and Ancient Saito was off the hook. More, Gonzalez needed to gain just one base to walk off here. The Indians brought a left-hander again to face him, Mike Collins, who was much less of a pushover than Salcido. Gonzalez quickly fell to two strikes, before Collins came back into the zone and Gonzalez could make contact. It was not the thundering drive of two nights ago, but a floater that soared over Matt Whaley’s head and then dinked into shallow left. WALKOFF!!! 5-4 Coons! Ingall 2-4, BB, RBI; Gonzalez 2-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Parker 2-4, 2B; Brady 2-3, BB; Castillo 2-4, 2B, RBI; Branch (PH) 1-1;

Gonzalez tied the CL lead for homers, Saito was spared the shame of tying for second in losses in the CL, and we were back to playing .367 ball. Success!

Game 4
IND: CF Alarcon – 2B Burgos – 1B M. Brown – LF D. Lopez – RF A. Roldán – 3B Whaley – C T. Thompson – SS Chevalier – P George
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Branch – 3B Crowe – RF Parker – P Rivera

Rivera and Crowe efficiently derailed the attempt to win the 4-game set right in the first inning, allowing three runs to the Indians, of which only one was earned after another error by a certain third baseman. Rivera was booked for ten hits and four runs through four innings and looked like a loser as the Indians yet again led 4-1 early. Bottom 4th then, two on, two out for Rivera. We would not yet hit for him, and he singled up the middle to load the bases for Ingall, whose patented Ingall single plated a pair and since Crowe going home drew the throw, but was safe, allowed the trail runners Rivera and Ingall to get into scoring position. Guerin fired a liner past Whaley for a 2-run double, and in the blink of an eye the Raccoons had taken a 5-4 lead. Reece kept the line going with a line drive single, and Gonzalez brought home another run with a double – Reece was thrown out at home. An amazing double play started by Guerin was all that kept Rivera in the game long enough to qualify for a win then in the top 5th, keeping the score at 6-4. Alarcon’s leadoff single in the sixth still knocked him out, and Miller finished that inning. Manuel Martinez failed to get through the seventh then, and Lagarde came into a 6-5 game with the tying run on second base in Terence Thompson, who had started the game batting .120ish and was now on base the third time, and two down. Lagarde wild pitched Thompson to third, walked, PH Carlos Paredes, and then bailed out when Jason Kent made a great play on an Alarcon liner ticketed for the warning track and two runs. The Coons failed to get anything going in the late innings. It was left to the pen. Lagarde and Donis pieced together the eighth, somehow, bringing Wade into the 6-5 game in the ninth. He struck out Flores, before Whaley singled. Thompson, undenied on the day, grounded up the middle, where Ingall made a sparkling play, took the ball to second himself, and then whirled it back to first, beating the lead-footed catcher. 6-5 Coons! Ingall 2-5, 2 RBI; Guerin 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Branch 2-4;

I will give the team that much: they did a nice squeeze job the final two games of this series!

Raccoons (23-38) vs. Warriors (35-26) – June 11-13, 1999

The Warriors ranked about average in a lot of categories in the Federal League, 6th in runs scored, 5th in runs allowed, and their run differential was - … well, there wasn’t any. 269-269 on the year. The Coons differential? Minus 56. Why you askin’?

Projected matchups:
Randy Farley (5-4, 3.14 ERA) vs. Arnold McCray (7-4, 2.88 ERA)
Kelly Fairchild (3-0, 4.53 ERA) vs. Neil Stewart (5-5, 5.42 ERA)
Esteban Flores (1-4, 6.23 ERA) vs. Pat Cherry (8-5, 3.91 ERA)

The Warriors’ starters combined for 106 years of age and 1,271 big league starts. I think you can log that under experienced? Also, McCray (1986 FL) and Stewart (1995 CL) were former Pitchers of the Year.

Game 1
SFW: 2B Heffer – SS R. Garza – RF Flygt – CF Hensley – C Melendez – LF Arroyo – 1B Galindo – 3B Petipas – P McCray
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – RF Parker – 1B Michel – P Farley

Apart from the homegrown Heffer and Hensley, the Warriors lineup was full of former CL players, most of which had always hurt the Coons badly. Nobody needed to hurt the Coons today, however, they were hurting all over just by looking at McCray, who sat down the first ten of them, and didn’t allow much after Guerin’s single in the fourth either. By then, Farley was already trailing 3-0, and did so allowing only one hit. He plunked two and walked five, while striking out none in a horrible 6.1 innings appearance, loaded with six runs (five earned) eventually, the last two waved home by a Gonzalez error and Donis’ pitching in general. McCray pitched a 4-hit shutout on 108 pitches. 6-0 Warriors. Crowe (PH) 1-1; Lagarde 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K;

Game 2
SFW: 1B Galindo – SS R. Garza – CF Hensley – LF Arroyo – 2B M. Chavez – RF Moore – C Aycock – 3B Petipas – P Stewart
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Branch – 3B Crowe – RF Kent – P Fairchild

Absurdly, Jason Kent was the first man to reach base in this middle game, with a 1-out walk in the bottom 3rd. He was instantly erased on a steal attempt, though. Two out in the top 6th, neither team had a hit, Stewart(!) singled into right, breaking up a perfect game bid for Fairchild. Next thing you know, Galindo doubles him home. To start the seventh, Fairchild walked Hensley and Arroyo, then drilled Chavez, and the rout was on, as two runs scored. If the opposing pitcher has a no-hitter through six, a 3-0 score is pretty much a rout. Bottom 7th, Gonzalez and Buell sailed easy flies to Hensley in center, and Branch whiffed, but there was something brewing in the bottom 8th. Crowe drew a leadoff walk, before Kent popped it up on the infield, but the ball glanced off Chavez’ glove. Brady was batting next, having entered on a double switch in the top 8th. He lined over Chavez, and there was no chance for Roland Moore to make a play – single, bases loaded, gone the no-hitter. There were also no outs in the inning and the go-ahead run in Ingall was at the plate. Ingall struck out, bringing up Guerin, who worked a full count against Stewart before dishing a fly to right. Oh, this one was sailing, Moore was jumping up at the track, but it was well over his head and bounced off the top of the fence and back into play. Crowe was home, Kent was home, Brady was turning third base and going home, and the throw was late – TIED GAME!! Reece was walked intentionally go get Gonzalez to hit into a double play, but the damage was done. Was it temporary or permanent? Chubby Martinez put two men on in the top 9th, prompting a Wade appearance. While he did dig out of it, it was more on Brady and Guerin making awesome defensive plays, but anyway Jose Sotelo sat down the Raccoons in order in the bottom 9th and we went to extra innings. Two out in the bottom 10th, nobody on, it was Wade’s turn to bat, and I wanted another inning from him. Wade doubled to deep left, which suddenly presented a chance to end the game right here if Guerin could come through, but he lined out to Heffer at second. In turn, Wade was taken deep by ex-Canadian Luis Arroyo in the 11th, but things weren’t over YET. Bottom 11th, down 4-3, Reece led off with a single, and Gonzalez walked against Iván Lopez (not the ex-Coon). And here, everything went to hell. Caddock attempted to bunt, failed, then put an 0-2 pitch in play with a soft floater to Hensley. Meanwhile, Gonzalez was inexplicably running, and was caught far astray of first, while Reece, who had stayed put at second, looked on disbelief. Branch walked, Crowe walked, Kent grounded out. 4-3 Warriors. Fairchild 7.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K;

Nine hits COMBINED for both teams in this game. 12 walks to juice it up, though. And of course the Raccoons failed capitally.

Game 3
SFW: 1B Galindo – SS R. Garza – RF Flygt – CF Hensley – C Melendez – 2B M. Chavez – LF Moore – 3B Petipas – P Cherry
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – RF Parker – 1B Michel – P Flores

While Buell threw out Hensley at the plate to end the top 1st, the Warriors still took a 1-0 lead. Flores had it socked to him for three more runs in the second, and trailed 5-0 in the sixth when he put the two leadoff men on. Manuel Martinez walked the bags full, and walked a run in, and so on. Tamburrino served up a home run to PAT FRIGGIN’ CHERRY in the seventh, and we trailed 7-0 in total shame. Buell drove in a run in the bottom 7th against a so far inpenetrable Pat Cherry, who put the two leadoff men on in the bottom 8th. Things sometimes can go quick. Ingall doubled home a run, Reece singled home a run, Flygt made an error, and suddenly the tying run stands at the plate with one out. That tying run was Lance Branch, who sent a grounder that a niftier player than Chavez would have turned for a double play, but they only nipped Gonzalez at second. Buell sure enough lobbed out to Flygt then. Chubby came out in the top 9th, walk, single, walk … 8-4 Warriors. Guerin 2-4; Reece 2-4, RBI; Crowe (PH) 1-2;

That’s nine straight games of at least four runs allowed (and 11/13 on the month), and oh yeah, they’re 3-6 over that stretch.

In other news

June 8 – The Capitals acquire 35-yr old 1B Bill Mosley (.262, 2 HR, 14 RBI) from the Condors, sending over 34-yr old MR Juan Gomez (0-3, 6.00 ERA).
June 12 – Big moment for MIL INF/LF Rodrigo Morales (.306, 95 HR, 821 RBI). While the Loggers were crushed, 16-9, by the Miners, Morales had two hits, reaching the 2,000 hits plateau with a fourth inning single off Bill Hamilton. The 10th overall pick by the Scorpions in the 1984 amateur draft has logged 1,985 of his hits for Sacramento and Dallas, and is just catching on in the Continental League.
June 13 – NYC SP Anibal Sandoval (4-5, 3.21 ERA) 2-hits the Pacifics in a 6-0 shutout.

Complaints and stuff

Raccoons’ starting pitching this week: 2-3, 43.2 IP, 44 H, 28 R, 24 ER, 19 BB, 26 K
Opposing starting pitching this week: 3-2, 47 IP, 44 H, 22 R, 19 ER, 18 BB, 36 K

Randy Farley’s last two starts: 7.1 IP, 7 H, 13 R, 8 ER, 10 BB, 0 K.

0 K.

Reece slumping, Saito terrible. Farley. As soon as I like a player, they're dying.

[Westheim]

1999 AMATEUR DRAFT

With the #11 and #16 picks (and four more through #66) in hand, we came up with the basic strategy of drafting either Gerardo Rios, Juan Valdez, or Darwin Tyler at #11, and Marcos Bruno at #16. This assumed that at least Tyler would remain at #11. We didn’t actually expect either Rios or Valdez to hang around for our first pick. Bruno would move up to #11 if all three top outfielders were gone by then. We also had an eye on Juan Nunez, but as the single most promising starting pitcher in the draft you could consider him gone by #11 as well. If Nunez were around at #11 and none of the outfielders remained, we’d take Nunez at #11 and Bruno at #16 again. If none of the five players were around at #11, we’d instead throw a tantrum and head for the bar.

The Miners had the first pick to select consensus #1 pick Gerardo Rios, but chose not to, and selected 1B/3B/RF Miguel Cortez, a 21-year old right-handed batter from Arlington, TX, instead. After that, Juan Valdez went at #2, followed by fellow outfielders Martin Covington and Pedro Pujols. The Falcons took SP Juan Nunez at #5. Gerardo Rios fell all the way to #7 and the Knights, and Darwin Tyler fell into our dirty little paws, and we also got Bruno as the first reliever taken in the draft, so things went pretty well.

The only other players remaining from the shorter shortlist published before at our next pick were relievers Alan Lash and Mike Harvey, so we skipped them right there and instead went with an infielder in Matt Love, who has Marvin Ingall-like characteristics of a good contact bat with nice defense (less than Ingall though) and some speed, but not enough to steal double digit bags. And he was from just down the road, in Beaverton!

Lash was gone at our fourth pick, together with another interesting player, LF Fernando Guerra (who reminded me of sadly gone Vern Kinnear). We went with Harvey, and after that it was off to the less juicy desserts.

The pool got picked thin by the fifth round already, with very few, if any, cherries remaining. We picked a wonky starting pitcher in the fifth round, then an inept batter, but fantastic fielding shortstop two rounds later. Taking some risks here and there, the reward could be huge in the end. And I lamented about Conceicao Guerin’s inability to make bat meet ball for years. There were actually relief pitchers from the longer shortlist remaining in the eighth round, but at that point we already had four relief pitchers picked and at some point you need other players.

Vince Guerra picked the last four rounds himself, with pretty much all talent gone.

1999 PORTLAND RACCOONS DRAFT CLASS
Round 1 (#11) – LF/RF/1B Darwin Tyler, 17, from Walker, MI – while his agility and range are pretty limited, he possesses a powerful bat to hit both for average and extra bases
Round 1 (#16) – CL Marcos Bruno, 23, from Grosse Pointe Woods, MI – 99mph fastball, vicious slider from this right-hander should be enough to survive in the Bigs; has actual closer potential
Supp. Round (#33) – 1B/2B Matt Love, 22, from Beaverton, OR – good contact bat with a solid glove and a potential to make the majors quickly
Supp. Round (#48) – CL Mike Harvey, 18, from Wichita, KS – right-hander with a moving fastball and a circle change that keeps batter swinging into empty air
Round 2 (#60) – RF/LF Jorge Rodriguez, 21, from Marcaibo, Venezuela – kid with good power, who could go somewhere if he could just stop hacking at junk; good defense, terrific base stealer
Round 2 (#66) – MR Bob Evans, 19, from Turlock, CA – perilous stuff which has him whiff more than 19 per nine innings in high school ball; nasty moving fastball, poisoned changeup
Round 3 (#90) – C/1B Bob Wood, 18, from Waltham, MA – smart kid, good with his pitchers; the bat looks not too promising, though, and he’s lazy
Round 4 (#114) – MR Ed Bryan, 18, from Westlake Village, CA – southpaw with a curve that he can hit the strike zone everywhere he wants to
Round 5 (#138) – SP Guiseppe Loffredo, 17, from Barquisimedo, Venezuela – there is some potential in this right arm, but also much work upon us to get his slider and changeup working
Round 6 (#162) – C Brian Weeks, 20, from Concord, NC – doesn’t amount to much physically, but is fairly speedy and skilled with the glove, helping his team to turn the running game in its favor
Round 7 (#186) – SS Javier Hernandez, 21, from Toluca, Mexico – he could very well fail to ever get out of A ball because of his puny bat, but he is the most agile shortstop Vince Guerra could find in the draft pool
Round 8 (#210) – 2B/SS Yoshifumi Kino, 21, from Mitaka, Japan – another small bat player, but with speed and agility
Round 9 (#234) – OF Glenn Campbell, 22, from Chino Hills, CA – while agile, he has trouble reading balls in flight, which is bad enough, and he also has zero power in his bat and only walks if the opposing pitcher insists really hard
Round 10 (#258) – C Juan Martinez, 20, from Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. – no obvious path to the majors
Round 11 (#282) – LF/RF Raúl Yzquierdo, 18, from Bayamón, Puerto Rico – Guerra picked him mainly for the chuckles of me mispronouncing and mistyping his name in all attempts
Round 12 (#306) – MR Jesus Sanchez, 21, from Mexico City, Mexico – left-hander giving up home runs to all fields

Bruno and Love were assigned to AA to start their careers, while all other players were sent to A ball. While we moved a dozen or so players around in the system, we also released a good bunch, including most notably 1994 second rounder Carlos Salazar, who wasn’t cutting it in AA ball.

Also, I’m a Mets nut, so I will probably refer to our fourth pick as Matt Harvey more often than not…

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Also, I’m a Mets nut, so I will probably refer to our fourth pick as Matt Harvey more often than not…

Let's hope he can pitch like Matt Harvey!

[Westheim]

Raccoons (23-41) @ Blue Sox (31-32) – June 15-17, 1999

If you came to a Blue Sox game, good luck seeing any scoring. The Blue Sox had the slowest offense in the Federal League, while also allowing the third-least runs themselves.

Projected matchups:
Kisho Saito (2-6, 4.98 ERA) vs. Roy Collier (7-4, 3.00 ERA)
Jose Rivera (5-5, 3.46 ERA) vs. Dennis Fried (4-7, 3.87 ERA)
Randy Farley (5-5, 3.33 ERA) vs. Javier Cruz (3-7, 5.80 ERA)

That’s three right-handers, and I don’t have to tell you about Dennis “Holy Cow What Have I Done!?” Fried.

Game 1
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – P Saito
NAS: LF F. Jones – 2B Valdes – SS Catalo – C J. Rodriguez – 3B M. Carter – RF Madrid – 1B Mahoney – CF Lee – P Collier

Leborio Catalo may have been ailing with pain in his back, but he doubled home Freddie Jones in the bottom 1st to get the scoring going, and the Blue Sox wouldn’t stop, adding single runs in the third and fourth innings. They also hit leadoff doubles off Saito in four of his six innings, and Saito would balk home a fourth run in the bottom 6th. The Coons hit into three double plays in the first six innings and weren’t even on third base once. Somehow, Collier loaded the bags with one run already home in the top 7th, two down, and Saito batting. Chris Parker came out to hit for him, and popped out to Catalo. 4-2 Blue Sox. Ingall 2-4; Gonzalez 2-4, 2B;

Game 2
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Brady – C Branch – 3B Crowe – P Rivera
NAS: LF F. Jones – SS Matthews – 3B Catalo – RF McGuire – 2B Valdes – CF J. Douglas – 1B Lowther – C F. Hernandez – P Fried

In a pitchers’ duel, the Blue Sox held a 1-0 edge through six against a Coons lineup that hadn’t reached base until the fifth inning. Fried was dazzling, it was as simple as that. Guerin happened to chop his way on with a leadoff single in the top 7th. Reece grounded out on a hit-and-run, but Gonzalez tied the game with a single to center that allowed Guerin to score. Rivera faced elimination right away in the bottom 7th, issuing back-to-back 1-out walks, before Felix Hernandez lined into a double play turned by Ingall. Branch and Crowe hit soft singles to start the top 8th. Rivera was left in and bunted them into scoring position. Fried rebounded to strike out Ingall and Guerin. Rivera was done after eight, still 1-1, but Fried came back out to face the meat of our lineup – if there was such a thing. No, there wasn’t, he got three groundouts. Chubby handed a leadoff walk to Catalo, who then stole second unimpeded by either Martinez or Branch, and came around to score on a Valdes single. 2-1 Blue Sox. Gonzalez 2-4, RBI; Rivera 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K;

Game 3
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Branch – 3B Crowe – SS Caddock – P Farley
NAS: LF F. Jones – SS Matthews – 3B Catalo – RF McGuire – 2B Valdes – CF J. Douglas – 1B Lowther – C F. Hernandez – P J. Cruz

Farley’s last two starts had been horrendous (10 BB, 0 K). While he avoided walking the bags full early on, his performance paled in comparison to the alleged pushover Cruz’. He whiffed six through three innings, and when the Coons had Brady on third base in the third inning, Reece flew to deep center, and so deep that it just wasn’t a home run, but an out, and the final out in the inning. The Blue Sox had a good chance in the fifth with two men in scoring position and two outs, but Freddie Jones grounded out to Gonzalez to end the frame. Next thing you know, Clyde Brady’s leadoff jack ends the scoreless tie in the top 6th. Neither pitcher would navigate through the eighth. While the Coons failed to score more against Cruz, who whiffed eleven on the day, Farley allowed two singles in the bottom 8th. Miller came in with one out, facing Catalo, and gave up a bases-loading single in a full count. Next, little Daniel balked in the tying run, and a McGuire sac fly lost this game. 2-1 Blue Sox. Brady 2-3, BB, HR, 2B, RBI; Farley 7.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, L (5-6) and 1-3, 2B;

The unbearable agony is very unbearably agonizing.

Raccoons (23-44) @ Titans (40-26) – June 18-20, 1999

The Titans had just reclaimed the division lead, and with the Suckoons coming in, they were safe for the weekend. They had a 5-game winning streak, were allowing the least runs in the Continental League, and what else do you need to accept defeat before the first pitch is even thrown.

Projected matchups:
Kelly Fairchild (3-0, 4.38 ERA) vs. Kent Cahill (7-2, 2.57 ERA)
Esteban Flores (1-5, 6.88 ERA) vs. Jason O’Halloran (8-6, 3.25 ERA)
Kisho Saito (2-7, 5.06 ERA) vs. Jesus Bautista (10-5, 3.25 ERA)

Game 1
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – LF Buell – SS Guerin – C Branch – 1B Michel – P Fairchild
BOS: SS D. Silva – 3B Nakayama – LF Thomas – RF G. Munoz – C L. Lopez – 1B G. Douglas – CF Elizondo – 2B Henry – P Cahill

The Coons scored as many runs in the first inning as they did in the whole series in Nashville, with Guerin and Branch both driving home a pair with two down. All runs were on Gabriel Munoz and his catching error that allowed Ingall to reach base to start the game. Munoz drew a bases-loaded walk from Fairchild in the bottom 3rd. The Coons hurler walked three in the inning and four that far, and was on a good way to blow his sizeable lead. It was bags full with no outs then for the Coons in the top 5th, and they wouldn’t score, with Branch flying out to shallow left, Michel grounding into a force at home, and Fairchild grounding out. Munoz also homered to start the sixth, cutting the Titans’ deficit to 4-2. Fairchild was hit for with Parker with two on and two out in the top 7th. Parker grounded out, predictably, and in the bottom 7th, Miguel Martinez put a man on with an error. Luis Alonso pinch-ran, and after Silva had already stolen two bags in the game, Branch was hapless against him as well. Martinez walked Nakayama, prompting the entry of Donis to face Thomas, and he walked him. Up came Munoz. Full count, Donis was determined to make this game blow up, and walked him, forcing the score to 4-3. Luis Lopez hit a pressure-relieving gapper for a 3-run double, and we could stop worrying about how we’d possibly lose this game.

Yet not everybody was going down silently. Ingall and Brady somehow got on base in the top 8th and then Reece hit an RBI double that put the go-ahead runs into scoring position for the Coons with no outs. Suddenly, the bottom fell out of the Titans pen, and the Raccoons regained the four runs blown up by Martinez and Donis in the last inning, bringing the score to 8-6. Juan Martinez drilled Horace Henry to start the bottom 8th, but coonskinner Daniel Silva hit into a double play in due time. Bottom 9th. Nakayama doubled leading off, Munoz reached on poor fielding by Scott Wade, and Mike Olson was brushed by a pitch. Bags full, one out, BUT! Reliever John Bennett had to hit, since the Titans’ bench was empty! Bennett put the first pitch in play, grounder to Crowe, to Ingall, to Gonzalez at first. 8-6 Raccoons. Brady 2-5; Reece 2-5, BB, 2B, RBI; Gonzalez 2-5, 3B, RBI; Guerin 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Branch 3-4, BB, 2B, 3 RBI; Crowe (PH) 1-1;

Thank the baseball gods the Titans manager found the booze before the fifth inning and threw away all his bench players before it mattered. The Raccoons can’t win without the opposition being drunk, obviously.

Game 2
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – 3B Crowe – C Castillo – RF Parker – P Flores
BOS: SS D. Silva – 3B Nakayama – LF Thomas – RF G. Munoz – C L. Lopez – CF Reid – 1B G. Douglas – 2B Henry – P O’Halloran

Flores was obliterated in a 6-run second inning. Five runs were unearned after a Crowe error, but Flores had just punched his ticket to oblivion. While nominally the Raccoons remained in the game with a third inning 3-run shot by Cesar Gonzalez, in fact they were no, because they weren’t even close to bringing the tying run to the plate after that. And when they loaded the bags, chasing O’Halloran, Gonzalez made the final out with a harmless pop to short. That was the last chance. The bullpen was broken up by the Titans after that, with three runs on Lagarde and one each on either Martinez. 12-4 Titans. Ingall 3-5; Reece 2-4; Gonzalez 2-5, HR, 3 RBI; Branch (PH) 1-1, RBI;

Would you believe we ACTUALLY out-hit the Titans in this game, 13-10? Goddamnit, SUCKERS!!!

ALSO. We lost Manuel Martinez to an undisclosed injury. Things are getting better all the time here.

Game 3
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – LF Buell – SS Guerin – C Branch – 1B Michel – P Saito
BOS: SS D. Silva – 3B Nakayama – RF Reid – C L. Lopez – CF Alonso – 2B Henry – 1B Baker – LF Elizondo – P Bautista

Saito lacked even basic stuff in this Sunday start, but the Titans failed to pummel him. Well, Nakayama hit a leadoff double in the fourth and he scored in the inning, which was the only scoring through six. The Coons before had left runners in scoring position twice, and weren’t granting Saito any support. Saito singled to lead off the top 8th, and that already was it for that inning, still trailing 1-0. Saito spent 90 pitches to go eight innings, and once Bill Corkum had sat down Gonzalez and Parker, and Guerin - … nope, Guerin singled. New hope? Branch countered the right-hander Corkum, but fell to two strikes quickly. Luis Lopez tried to end the game himself and pick Guerin off first, but his throw was errant and Guerin moved up to second, and NOW a single would tie the game! Branch struck out on the next pitch. 1-0 Titans. Guerin 2-4; Saito 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, L (2-8) and 1-3;

Raccoons out-hit the Titans 8-5.

In other news

June 15 – SAC SP Randy Travis (11-2, 2.83 ERA) 3-hits the Falcons in a 6-0 shutout.
June 16 – 21-year old Buffaloes hotshot Chris York (8-5, 4.00 ERA) 2-hits the Crusaders. Buffaloes win, 3-0.
June 18 – DAL INF Salvador Mendez (.390, 1 HR, 24 RBI) has a 20-game hitting streak going with an RBI single in a 7-6 loss of the Stars to the Pacifics.
June 18 – A fractured rib will keep PIT 2B/3B Thomas Watts (.339, 0 HR, 29 RBI) away from the game for the next month.
June 19 – The Stars lose to the Pacifics again, 5-3, and this time they also kill Mendez’ hitting streak.
June 20 – TOP 1B/2B Georg Spinu (.304, 4 HR, 29 RBI) will be on the DL until late July with a groin strain.

Complaints and stuff

This week, Albert Martin hurt his knee in an AAA game and will miss three weeks. It was about the day I was going to banish Samy Michel and call him up. Of course. Nothing works around here anymore.

And it’s no fun, which I might have mentioned already.

[Westheim]

Raccoons (24-46) vs. Loggers (41-26) – June 21-23, 1999

Our easily flammable pitching corps, still containing Esteban Flores with a hurt Manuel Martinez in limbo, was to face the #1 offense in the Continental League, a mix that was bound to cause some heartaches. Their pitching staff was average, but when you’ve got a +55 run differential in mid-June you’re doing something right.

Projected matchups:
Jose Rivera (5-5, 3.24 ERA) vs. Davis Sims (6-3, 5.47 ERA)
Randy Farley (5-6, 3.26 ERA) vs. Tim Butler (4-3, 3.49 ERA)
Kelly Fairchild (3-0, 4.24 ERA) vs. Martin Garcia (11-2, 1.56 ERA)

That’s no typo with Garcia. Poor Kelly.

Game 1
MIL: SS B. Hernandez – C L. Ramirez – LF Hiwalani – 3B J. Cruz – 2B Morales – CF M. Jones – RF Sanders – 1B D. Evans – P Sims
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Crowe – SS Guerin – LF Buell – C Branch – P Rivera

Cesar Gonzalez’ 12th dinger of the year put the Coons ahead in the bottom 2nd. They went on to load the bags with no outs, and then Branch struck out, Rivera hit a soft fly to Sanders, and Ingall grounded back to the mound – and beat Sims to first! Brady flew out to Jones at the warning track, though, to keep the lead at 2-0. The next inning they left two on, and in the fourth Reece hit into his second double play on the day, with one out and the bags full, and the fifth saw them leave two more runners on base. Rivera had not allowed a hit so far, but walked Sanders to start the sixth and then Drake Evans singled up the middle. Sims bunted into a force at third base, and Hernandez and Ramirez grounded out to keep Rivera alive in the 2-0 team. In the sixth, a Gonzalez sac fly with the bags full scored Ingall and ACTUALLY put a RUN on the BOARD – before Crowe struck out. Rodrigo Morales hit a grounder to Guerin with two out in the seventh and while he legged it out to be safe at first, he pulled something in the process and had to leave the game. Jones made the final out in the seventh. Rivera was then not hit for with Buell on third and two down in the bottom 7th and struck out. Sanders hit a leadoff single the next frame, but was doubled up when backup catcher Miguel Vela grounded to Guerin. Rivera was left in the game for the ninth, having given up only five runners so far. It was a 3-0 lead and Scott Wade was old, and had never quite been Grant West at any age. Bartolo Hernandez and John Shea grounded out easily, but that brought up certified coonskinner Bakile Hiwalani as the final out. He mauled Rivera’s 100th pitch of the game into deep left. Buell had played deep in anticipation of something hard and fast gettin’ there quickly, but would the park hold it? Yes, and so did Buell – a shutout! 3-0 Coons! Ingall 2-4, BB, RBI; Reece 2-5, 2B; Guerin 2-4; Buell 2-4; Rivera 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, W (6-5) and 1-4;

Rivera turns in his fifth career shutout (sixth CG) in his 83rd start in the Bigs. It’s his second SHO this year, following a 7-hitter also at home against those Loggers in May. He got 15 groundball outs this time, which together with his barely 4 K/9 indicate what we have here: a younger Scott Wade, but damn, is he effective!

Game 2
MIL: SS B. Hernandez – CF Fletcher – LF Hiwalani – 3B J. Cruz – 2B Morales – C L. Ramirez – RF Sanders – 1B D. Evans – P Butler
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Crowe – C Castillo – LF Parker – 2B Caddock – P Farley

Farley gave up a run in the first, so no shutout in the middle game. Well, for the Coons at least. They had a prime chance in the bottom 3rd with two men in scoring position and one out, but both Reece and Gonzalez struck out against Butler. The Coons looked a bit lost, until it was the man for the surprise stray homers to tie the game: Steve Caddock’s leadoff jack brought the score to 1-1 in the fifth. Farley singled, and then Guerin zinged a liner into deep center, past Jerry Fletcher. Guerin legged it out for a triple while the dazzled Loggers failed to try to make a play on Farley, who barely arrived at home alive with the go-ahead run. Brady’s grounder was only slowly played by Butler and Brady beat it out to first, with Guerin staying put, waiting to be singled in by Reece. While Gonzalez flew out, Crowe got on to load the bags. Castillo doubled to right, 5-1, before Parker’s RBI single removed Butler for Raymond Léger, who threw an 0-2 pitch wildly past Leon Ramirez to plate Castillo. It took another run, eight in total, for the Loggers to get three outs when Brady struck out. Whoah! Farley went seven, allowing a solo shot to Ramirez in the seventh, before leaving the game. The game would end with Chris Parker throwing out Michael Sanders at home. 9-2 Furballs! Guerin 3-5, 3B, 2 RBI; Brady 2-3, 2 BB, 2B; Michel 1-1, RBI; Farley 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, W (6-6) and 2-2, BB;

We finally got a diagnosis for Manuel Martinez, and it wasn’t pretty. He’d miss another two months with a torn meniscus. That means the DL, obviously. By now I had decided to skip Flores’ turn in the rotation with a conveniently placed off day on Thursday. We called up Bob Joly on Wednesday morning, but Joly had started a game for St. Pete only on Monday, so he wouldn’t be available until the weekend anyway. If Flores had any options, he’d be out already, but maybe you can use him in long relief?

Game 3
MIL: SS B. Hernandez – CF Fletcher – RF C. Ramirez – LF Hiwalani – 3B J. Cruz – 2B Morales – C L. Ramirez – 1B D. Evans – P M. Garcia
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Crowe – LF Buell – RF Brady – C Castillo – P Fairchild

Garcia led the league in all triple crown categories, coming in with 120 strikeouts in June! He went to work immediately, but a Clyde Brady leadoff triple in the bottom 3rd made him stumble. While Castillo grounded out, Brady scored, and the Coons led 1-0. Not for long, though: Rodrigo Morales, still week on the feet with a slight injury, took Fairchild deep for two runs the very next inning. However, rotten luck was on Garcia this day. Guerin led off with a single in the bottom 4th, and the Coons would get infield singles from Reece and Buell before Brady singled to center, re-taking the lead, 3-2 in the inning. But there still would be no sweep for the Raccoons, nor a loss for Garcia. Two down in the fifth, Fairchild failed to retire anybody. Two on, Cristo Ramirez singled in the tying run, and the Hiwalani, held short the whole series so far, broke out with a 3-run homer. It was a close affair regardless in the end. Two errors by Jorge Cruz late in the game allowed the Coons to plate two unearned runs and get back to 6-5, but they starved Gonzalez on second base in the eighth, and Ricardo Medina pitched a perfect ninth to spare his team the embarrassment of getting swept in Portland. 6-5 Loggers. Reece 2-4; Brady 2-2, 3B, RBI; Lagarde 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K;

After this series, Luke Newton came back from his hamstring strain, making Jason Kent expendable, and we also divested ourselves of a struggling Samy Michel. We called up 26-year old 1B/2B George Morris, a left-handed batter, our fifth round pick from the 1995 draft. He wouldn’t get us anywhere, but Michel was overwhelmed by pitching right now, and now it was Morris’ time to prove that he’d be overwhelmed as well. He was on the 40-man roster anyway.

Raccoons (26-47) @ Aces (34-37) – June 25-27, 1999

The Aces were ranking 7th in both runs allowed and scored, with a -12 run differential. Their offense was leaning towards the big hit, and was 11th in OBP, with their pitching also long ball prone, with their cozy ballpark also a factor in this. Apart from that, they were thoroughly average.

Projected matchups:
Kisho Saito (2-8, 4.71 ERA) vs. Carlos Guillén (2-4, 3.21 ERA)
Jose Rivera (6-5, 2.94 ERA) vs. Alfredo Rios (0-0, 7.50 ERA)
Randy Farley (6-6, 3.21 ERA) vs. Jou Hara (7-5, 2.88 ERA)

All pairings match hands, so we get another left-hander up front, and two right-handers after that.

Game 1
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Crowe – RF Brady – LF Buell – C Branch – P Saito
LVA: CF Cote – C Manuel – 3B J. Vargas – RF R. Green – LF Hartley – 1B Granados – 2B Bell – SS Williamson – P Guillén

With runners on the corners and one out, the Coons failed in both of the first two innings. First, Gonzalez hit into a double play, then Branch struck out and left it to Saito to foul out to the catcher. Saito also walked the line of pain from the get-go, and gave up a run in the third for failing to keep Guillén off base leading off. He would strike him out to end the fourth with Ron Williamson on third base, though, keeping this a 1-0 deficit. The Aces removed Guillén after six shutout innings for a pinch-hitter with two on, two out in the bottom 6th, but Saito popped up Enrico Pinto. Saito went seven, still behind 1-0, and I was getting the meat cleaver ready to bludgeon whomever I would be able to grab. The eighth was scoreless, and the Aces sent Charlie Deacon in the ninth. He walked Guerin, and Guerin stole second base on the first pitch to Reece. Reece grounded out, though, and Gonzalez flew out to right. Guerin tagged to go to third – and was thrown out. 1-0 Aces. Reece 2-4; Saito 7.0 IP, 11 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, L (2-9);

That’s two 1-0 losses for Saito in a row. Saito is pissed. So am I.

Game 2
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Crowe – SS Guerin – LF Parker – C Branch – P Rivera
LVA: SS Pinto – CF Hartley – 1B J. Vargas – RF R. Green – C Manuel – 3B Combes – LF McCormick – 2B Bell – P A. Rios

With Ingall on, Brady wisely removed him on a double play before Reece hit a line drive homer to left off the 21-year old Rios. Watch out, Aces. The Suckoons are in town. You can’t lose this if you’re cautious. Between another double play in the second, and five runners left on between the third and fourth, the Coons left a zillion chances to impale Rios unused, and thus only a highlight reel catch by Brady on a Manuel fly to deep right kept the 1-0 lead in place in the bottom 4th. Ultimately, it didn’t matter, because the Aces tied the score the next inning regardless after a leadoff double by Bernard Combes. Top 6th, bases loaded, one out for Rivera, whom I didn’t want to hit for, and so he hit into a double play. They left on two in the seventh, and didn’t even get on in the eighth, and then the Aces sent Tzu-jao Ban into a 1-1 tie in the ninth. George Morris debuted as pinch-hitter for Rivera to lead off, grounded out, and so did Ingall and Brady. Miller’s scoreless bottom 9th sent us to extras, where Ban whiffed Reece before he walked Gonzalez. Caddock hit for an 0-4 Crowe, and doubled over Royce Green in right! Gonzalez was waved home when we suddenly realized that it wasn’t a smart idea with Green in ri- and he’s already out.

(whacks head against wall repeatedly)

Oh, well, still only two out with Caddock on second and Guerin up, so still no chance to score because Caddock is slow and Guerin hits only singles, and HOLY CRAP, Guerin to deep left, deeeep – GONE!!!! 3-1 Raccoons. Reece 3-5, HR, RBI; Caddock (PH) 1-1, 2B; Guerin 3-4, HR, 2 RBI; Rivera 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K;

I will not fail to mention the 12 LOB by the Suckoons, surprise home run off a certified pushover pitcher or not.

I also don’t know what’s it with Caddock, who can’t hit his own weight, but when he gets a hit once a blue moon, it’s always a big one.

Game 3
POR: SS Guerin – 3B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – 2B Morris – LF Buell – RF Newton – P Farley
LVA: 3B Combes – CF Hartley – 1B J. Vargas – RF R. Green – LF Encarnación – C Manuel – SS Williamson – 2B Bell – P Hara

Royce Green’s signature move accounted for two runs in the first off Farley, but in a sudden twist those runs were reclaimed by Luke Newton(!) with a 2-run homer of his own in the second inning. Farley however was knocked around pretty good early on, surrendering seven hits for four runs in the first three innings. The Coons were entirely hapless. Suddenly it was the ninth, they still trailed 4-2 after whiffing nine times against Jou Hara, and now faced Deacon again. Gonzalez’ leadoff walk brought the tying run up, but Branch and Morris both struck out despite countering the right-hander Deacon. Brady singled to left. Crowe hit for Newton and struck out. 4-2 Aces. Guerin 2-4; Brady (PH) 1-1; Joly 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K;

In other news

June 24 – TOP INF Jesus Garcia (.259, 4 HR, 31 RBI) is bound to miss six weeks with a fractured finger.
June 24 – The Canadiens acquire backup LF/RF Jesus Maldonado (.279, 1 HR, 11 RBI in 68 AB) from the Falcons for SP Manuel Hernandez (0-8, 3.86 ERA).
June 25 – LAP LF/RF Anibal Rodriguez (.299, 15 HR, 57 RBI) joins the 2,000 hits club. The 33-year old 1984 first round draft pick, who has spent his whole career with L.A. and is a career .283/.333/.445 batter with 264 HR (6th all time) and 1,037 RBI, hits a seventh inning, 2-run single off Jorge Reyes in a 7-2 win over the Rebels.
June 25 – TIJ SP Juan Lara (4-2, 4.03 ERA) is heading towards Tommy John surgery with a torn UCL.
June 26 – A hamstring strain claims OCT INF Bob Grant (.291, 7 HR, 44 RBI) for at least three weeks.

Complaints and stuff

Comparison between Jose Rivera and Scott Wade through their age 26 seasons (while Rivera debuted two years before Wade, he has also lost more than half of two seasons to injuries already, while Wade didn’t hit the DL until he was 32):
Rivera: 86 G, 84 GS, 36-23, 2.91 ERA, 3.4 BB/9, 4.2 K/9
Wade: 100 G, 99 GS, 42-28, 3.15 ERA, 2.3 BB/9, 4.5 K/9
The comparison largely holds up. Wade has never walked more than 54 batters (in his age 25 season, in 217 IP), while Rivera’s main issue lies there. If you walk batters at a slightly increased rate, you better have the ability to strike out some guys. Wade’s ERA is still worse partly because of a higher HR/9 rate, 0.66 to 0.53.

Extending Kisho Saito was a grave mistake. Not because he’s terrible. His April was, true, but the whole pitching staff was bound for execution in April. No. The fact that he’s 2-9, won’t make it to 250, and will easily break through 200 losses, all of that is ruining all the fun for me. He’s been here forever. Now the baseball gods ruin his lifetime achievements. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it so badly. And it will continue for another 50 starts.

I noticed that I keep typing Miguel Martinez rather than Manuel Martinez. Basically, I can’t memorize names, like, ever, and I can’t keep all those Hispanics apart in my head. We also have a Paco Martinez and a Juan Martinez in the minors in addition to Chubby Martinez. We’ll be last this year anyway, let’s fool around some and call them all up!

[Westheim]

Raccoons (27-49) @ Condors (38-37) – June 28-30, 1999

Although the Condors were clearly above average in both runs scored (5th) and runs allowed (3rd), they were mingling about at the .500 mark. They had a number of injuries on them, including pitchers Juan Lara and Harry Griggs, as well as outfielder Dale Wales (the Daniel Hall of the 90s). Interestingly, their pitching staff, while in the top 3 in most categories, ranked 10th in strikeouts, while the Condors were whiffing the second-most in the league. Last in K's by a pitching staff? Coons.

Projected matchups:
Kelly Fairchild (3-1, 4.79 ERA) vs. Pepe Martinez (1-2, 6.17 ERA)
Esteban Flores (1-6, 6.64 ERA) vs. Jose Maldonado (7-5, 2.16 ERA)
Kisho Saito (2-9, 4.47 ERA) vs. Bastyao Caixinha (6-9, 4.59 ERA)

Game 1
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Brady – C Castillo – 3B Crowe – P Fairchild
TIJ: 2B Brewer – SS J. Barrón – 1B O’Morrissey – LF Horn – RF Reyes – C Vinson – CF Gorden – 3B Wallace – P P. Martinez

Whenever you’re allowing David Vinson, who was batting an awe-inspiring .194, to hit a bases-loaded, 2-out, 2-run single against you, you’re doing something wrong. Kelly Fairchild was one such person, and it happened right away in the first inning. Vinson also gunned down Guerin stealing, as the baseball gods were obviously interfering to worsen a severe heartache I was carrying around. The game was over right there and then. The Raccoons sucked like all hell, while Pepe Martinez easily spun a 7-hitter, whiffing nine. 4-0 Condors. Guerin 2-3, BB; Ingall 2-4, 2B; Newton (PH) 1-1; Morris (PH) 1-2, 2B;

Vinson was 2/2 in nabbing runners, and Reece was 0-2 with two walks, ending a 10-game hitting streak. George Morris’ first big league hit was a double to right.

Game 2
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – C Branch – LF Buell – 1B Morris – RF Parker – P Flores
TIJ: 2B Brewer – SS J. Barrón – 1B O’Morrissey – LF Horn – RF Reyes – C Vinson – CF Gorden – 3B Wallace – P J. Maldonado

In what figured to be a lost game as soon as the anthem was finished, the Raccoons pounded Maldonado for four runs in the first inning with RBI singles by Reece, Buell, Morris, and Parker, before Flores hit into a double play to end the frame. But this was Flores pitching… In the fourth, a 2-run shot by Martin Horn halved his lead, and then Reyes doubled, Vinson walked, Gorden singled home Reyes. Wallace was put on intentionally, and Flores then struck out Maldonado with the bags full and the lead down to 4-3. Then it was VINSON to homer off Flores to tie the score in the sixth. The score was still 4-4 through eight. One out in the top 9th, Reece, 4-4 on the day, came up and singled up the middle, but Gonzalez and Branch made outs. Daniel Miller pitched a second shutout inning to get us to extras. If the Raccoons got up Neil Reece once more, a 6-hitter was in reach! But while Buell got on in the 10th, he was thrown out stealing by Robbie MacIntosh. Reece didn’t come up again. Jackie Lagarde was taken deep by Roman Reyes in the bottom 10th, and the Condors walked off. 5-4 Condors. Reece 5-5, 2B, RBI; Buell 3-5, RBI; Parker 2-4, 2B, RBI; Miller 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K;

(sobs in silence)

Game 3
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – C Castillo – P Saito
TIJ: 2B Brewer – SS J. Barrón – 1B O’Morrissey – LF Horn – CF Gorden – RF A. Rodriguez – 3B Valdes – C MacIntosh – P Caixinha

Saito fell behind in the first, 1-0, and Castillo was up with one out and Buell on third in the top 2nd, and failed to hit the ball further than six inches to be out at first. Saito grounded out, unable to help himself. A Gonzalez leadoff double led to the tying run in the fourth, scored after a wild pitch and a groundout. Saito hung in there, and led off the top 8th with a single, then stared darkly at Marvin Ingall in the box while waiting for the magic to happen up there at first base. An Ingall single moved him to second, and he went to third on a fly to center by Guerin. That brought up Reece with one out – and he popped out. Saito would trot back to the dugout when Gonzalez grounded out to third, of which Saito had a prime view. A furious Saito pitched a complete game – that was not complete because the score was 1-1 after nine. Veteran Andres Ramirez walked Castillo leading off the 10th. Saito was used to bunt him over to second, but we weren’t planning to use him in the bottom 10th. The Coons didn’t score regardless, and Wade took the loss in the bottom 10th. 2-1 Condors. Saito 9.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K and 1-3;

Saito left the park without speaking to anybody, and on the plane was silent the entire flight.

So was I. But I could have chewed stones as hard as I pressed my jaws together.

Raccoons (27-52) vs. Indians (35-43) – July 1-4, 1999

Does it really matter what the other team can and can’t do? The Indians had their score of injuries as well (Tomas Maguey, Matt Whaley, Sandy Ingram, and Chang-se Park were all down), but you know what? It doesn’t matter a lick.

Projected matchups:
Jose Rivera (6-5, 2.80 ERA) vs. Manuel Alba (8-7, 3.28 ERA)
Randy Farley (6-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. David Rios (3-2, 3.59 ERA)
Kelly Fairchild (3-2, 4.75 ERA) vs. Steve Holcomb (3-8, 6.00 ERA)
Esteban Flores (1-6, 6.60 ERA) vs. Nate Lawrence (0-0)

Eight right-handers are scheduled to pitch in this series, including rookie callup Nate Lawrence, who will in all likelihood face somebody in his last major league game. Also, Concie enters July on a 12-game hitting streak.

Game 1
IND: CF Alarcon – RF A. Roldán – 1B M. Brown – 3B D. Lopez – C Cicalina – LF Paredes – SS Chevalier – 2B Lepe – P Alba
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – C Branch – 3B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Brady – 1B Morris – CF Newton – P Rivera

Thanks to an error by the Indians the Raccoons were able to plate two runs, driven in by Brady and Ingall, in the bottom 2nd. Rivera went about his thing, which meant inducing a lot of groundballs and having them collected by the five guys around the infield. Just like Saito had pitched on two hits the day before, Rivera carried a 2-hitter into the deep innings. Guerin drove in an additional run in the seventh to make it 3-0. He walked Jamal Chevalier with one out in the eighth, but Domingo Lepe grounded into a double play. Top 9th, Rivera got Gilberto Flores, before he hit Alarcon in the buttocks. That brought up two left-handers in Roldán and … Matt Brown. Roldán grounded back to the mound, Rivera zinged to second, and Guerin back to first – Brown was not gonna get a chance. 3-0 Furballs. Brady 2-3, BB, RBI; Newton 2-3, 2B, RBI; Rivera 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, W (7-5) and 2-2, 2B;

That’s two shutouts in the last three starts for Josie! It’s his third shutout this year, and the sixth of his career.

In between shutouts the Raccoons played eight games, won only two, and scored 24 runs.

Game 2
IND: CF Alarcon – RF A. Roldán – 1B M. Brown – 3B D. Lopez – C Cicalina – LF Paredes – SS Chevalier – 2B Lepe – P D. Rios
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – C Branch – 2B Caddock – 3B Crowe – P Farley

We had Branch on in the bottom 2nd, when Caddock came up and drilled a triple to deep right, giving Farley a 1-0 lead. Crowe singled to right, 2-0, but the next three Coons made out to end the frame. Not much happened through the top 5th. A light drizzle started as Brady stepped in and singled to lead off the frame. Neil Reece came up, still a bit pissed from the messed up 6-hit attempt earlier this week, and dished a home run to left, 4-0. Farley was still pitching a 2-hitter, but the rain became heavier. And Farley wouldn’t finish the game, but not because of the rain. He loaded the bags in the top 8th with one out, and the left-handers coming up. Donis was brought out, which was always an unwise move with the tying run and power already at the plate. He struck out Roldán – and Brown popped out. With a 4-0 lead we went to Chubby Martinez to pitch the ninth, and he struck out the side. 4-0 Coons. Guerin 2-4; Reece 2-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Caddock 2-4, 3B, RBI; Farley 7.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, W (7-7);

Game 3
IND: CF Maguey – RF A. Roldán – 1B M. Brown – 3B D. Lopez – C Cicalina – LF Paredes – SS Chevalier – 2B Lepe – P Holcomb
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – RF Brady – LF Buell – C Branch – 1B Morris – P Fairchild

Whenever the starters’ ERA add up to more than 10 (10.75 here), you expect a scorefest. The Coons had the bags full with two out in the bottom 1st. Buell drew a walk from Holcomb, and Branch hit a single, 2-0, and then Morris struck out. Fairchild ran into trouble soon enough and the Indians got their first run in the 21st inning of the series. Somehow it was Lepe, who gave Fairchild the most trouble, although he was batting in the arctic zone of the scale, coming in at .125 … he doubled again in the fifth and was on third base for Maguey with two down, and only a big play by Reece in deepest center held a 2-1 lead in one piece. The Coons also left not one, but two in scoring position in the bottom of the inning. It was not a scorefest, but you were chewing on your fingernails either way. In the bottom 6th, Branch and Morris were on base with no outs. Fairchild bunted them into scoring position, but we merely got a sac fly from Guerin and Ingall grounded out pathetically. Bottom 7th, Reece singled, Gonzalez doubled, runners in scoring position with no outs. Again, no RISP hit was in the books, but at the very least the groundouts produced by Brady and Buell each got a runner home… That was a 5-1 lead, which became 5-2 once Lepe took Fairchild deep leading off the eighth. Scott Wade took over from Miller in the ninth, and actually saved a game for the first time in … a fortnight? 5-2 Coons. Ingall 2-3, BB, 2B; Gonzalez 3-3, BB, 2B; Branch 2-4, 2B, RBI; Fairchild 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, W (4-2);

Concie’s 14-game hitting streak was abruptly ended with an 0-4 day against the Indians here. What a shame.

We also exchanged Samy Michel and George Morris again. One was hitting for a .813 OPS in AAA, the other was hitting half his weight up here.

Game 4
IND: CF Maguey – SS Chevalier – 1B M. Brown – 3B D. Lopez – LF Paredes – RF G. Flores – C T. Thompson – 2B Lepe – P Lawrence
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – LF Buell – RF Brady – 1B Michel – C Branch – 3B Crowe – P E. Flores

We were trying to sweep this 4-set, but Flores was no help in the undertaking. The Indians took the lead in the first on David Lopez’ 2-out RBI triple, and the Coons left Guerin on third in the bottom half of the frame. In turn, Marvin Ingall homered with two out in the bottom 3rd, and that tied back the score. Offense turned out to be hard to come by between a debutee and a pushover, but maybe some defensive miscues could help out? Branch on second with two out in the fifth, and Guerin grounded to Lopez, whose throw to first was errant and pulled Brown off the bag. All hands safe, Ingall now batted with runners on the corners, but grounded out to Chevalier. In turn Crowe made an error that put Lawrence on base in the top 6th, but luckily Maguey grounded right into Ingall’s glove for a no-doubt-about-that double play. Bottom 6th, Reece leading off with a grounder to Lopez, and the throw was nowhere near first base! Reece advanced to second on the 2-base error, and there were no outs! But no, no, no cigar. Reece was never moved off second base with a pop out, a lineout, and a groundout. It … all you could do was scream in agony. Brown led off the top 7th with a double, moved over on Lopez’ groundout, as Flores was yanked for Donis to pitch to the switch-hitter Paredes, who was replaced by Tadashi Kan – and Donis donkeyed it, Kan doubled, and everything went up in smoke. Black smoke, strangling your lungs. Not that you wanted to breathe. Lawrence made one more mistake: he hit Buell with two out in the bottom 8th. Brady singled to left, moving the tying run into scoring position and Michel – struck out. The Indians didn’t trust him in the ninth, though. Raúl Perez came out to protect a 2-1 lead. Lance Branch lined out to Lopez, who was now in leftfield. Gonzalez came out to hit for Crowe, but hacked himself an exit ticket. That left it to Chris Parker, hitting for Bob Joly. 3-1 count, he swung, and lined to right for a single. Not dead yet! Guerin! Guerin in a 2-1 count hit a liner to deep right, Ron Alston playin’ there, but he wasn’t gonna get it, as the ball dinked onto the warning track! Parker rounding third, going home, and scoring easily!! Ingall, however, whiffed, and the band played on. While PH Alejandro Roldán singled off Miller in the top 10th, Miller retired the next three, and this was still ours to sweep, and it started with a fairly hot Neil Reece in the bottom 10th, although he was 0-4 in the game, and he was the first of three Coons to go down silently in the bottom 10th. In the bottom 11th, Cesar “Sucker” Salcido was pitching. With one out, we had two on, and Newton came out to hit for Miller. Everything but a double play would help. Sharp grounder hit to short, oops. Tamburrino lost it the next inning. 4-2 Indians. Guerin 2-6, 2B, RBI; Parker (PH) 1-1; Miller 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K;

In other news

June 29 – While Reece didn’t get a chance, MIL SS/2B Bartolo Hernandez (.319, 0 HR, 28 RBI) knocks six hits in a 10-8 win over the Knights. Hernandez drives in a pair in the 32nd 6-hit game in ABL history, and the fourth for the Loggers. The most recent 6-hit performance was delivered by fellow Logger Cristo Ramirez on August 1, 1998.
June 29 – BOS SP Kent Cahill (7-2, 2.85 ERA) suffers a lacerated finger wind-surfing and will miss two weeks. And because the baseball gods have their way with the Titans now, OF Dave Reid (.270, 6 HR, 35 RBI) could be out for the year with a torn meniscus.
June 29 – MIL OF/1B Jerry Fletcher (.344, 2 HR, 31 RBI) also goes down. The 28-year old will miss a month with a broken thumb.
June 29 – SAC OF/1B Sam Green (.301, 4 HR, 32 RBI) will also miss a month with a herniated disc.
June 30 – Another one down: SAC SS/2B Ramon Martinez (.263, 0 HR, 29 RBI) has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not play again this season.
July 1 – And the Titans get hit again: SP Jesus Bautista (12-5, 2.72 ERA) could miss the whole month with a mild hamstring strain.
July 3 – The Axe of Pain keeps chopping: a rotator cuff strain forces LVA SP Jou Hara (8-5, 2.76 ERA) on the DL for the month.
July 4 – The Warriors lose INF/RF/CF Ramon Garza (.307, 3 HR, 46 RBI) for two months with a torn ligament in his thumb.

Complaints and stuff

Only positive comments today. Concie leads the CL (and only trails SFW CF John Hensley) in WAR with a 4.0 mark.

That’s all.

[Westheim]

Raccoons (30-53) vs. Canadiens (35-47) – July 5-8, 1999

The Canadiens were 8th in both runs scored and runs allowed in the Continental League. Their strength pitching-wise lay with the bullpen, which held a 3.14 ERA and third place in the CL. The Canadiens were playing small ball, singling the opposition to death, weren’t hitting home runs at all (34 on the year) and also whiffed at an accelerated rate.

Projected matchups:
Kisho Saito (2-9, 4.18 ERA) vs. Joe Hollow (9-2, 3.20 ERA)
Jose Rivera (7-5, 2.57 ERA) vs. Jose Dominguez (4-10, 5.98 ERA)
Randy Farley (7-7, 3.15 ERA) vs. Jose Marquez (8-9, 4.04 ERA)
Kelly Fairchild (4-2, 4.54 ERA) vs. John Collins (4-11, 4.60 ERA)

Left, right, left, right from the Elks here. And if you look at the first matchup, just how can you not just cry?

Game 1
VAN: CF Ledesma – RF J. Durán – 1B Valenzuela – 2B B. Butler – LF P. Taylor – 3B Sutton – C Lozano – SS Shaw – P Hollow
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – 3B Crowe – RF Newton – C Castillo – P Saito

No offense through four, a leadoff walk by Pedro Lozano coaxed out of Saito to start the fifth spelled doom already. Shaw doubled just over the head of Neil Reece, scoring Lozano, and would score himself as well on a Ledesma sac fly. Down 2-0, Saito was done. In the bottom 5th, Newton’s 2-out double led to Castillo being put on intentionally, but Saito singled to right and loaded the bases, and now there were few things we’d like to see more than an Ingall single. He lined to third, and right to Raymond Sutton. Ledesma’s leadoff jack in the eighth was not remotely important. The Raccoons mustered four hits the entire game. 3-0 Canadiens.

Game 2
VAN: LF J. Durán – 2B Corona – CF Ledesma – SS B. Butler – 1B Valenzuela – RF J. Maldonado – C J. Lopez – 3B Sutton – P Dominguez
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – 2B Ingall – LF Buell – 3B Caddock – P Rivera

As if they were spitting on Saito, the Coons drew two walks to start the bottom 1st, and then had Gonzalez and Branch hit back-to-back moonshots for a 4-0 lead with only one out on the board. Afterwards, the Coons would twice load the bags, once in the third with no outs against Dominguez, and again in the seventh with one out and with Juan Bello on the mound. They managed to add a grand total of one run in those instances, and none outside of them. Rivera went seven innings of 1-run ball, but got into a tight spot in the eighth after a Caddock error and the lefties Corona and Ledesma up. Donis was called in, and finished the inning without any blowups. 5-1 Raccoons. Reece 2-5; Gonzalez 1-3, BB, HR, 3 RBI; Branch 1-2, 2 BB, HR, RBI; Rivera 7.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, W (8-5) and 2-2;

Game 3
VAN: LF J. Durán – 2B Corona – CF Ledesma – SS B. Butler – 1B Valenzuela – RF J. Maldonado – C J. Lopez – 3B Shaw – P Marquez
POR: 2B Ingall – SS Guerin – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – 3B Crowe – C Castillo – RF Parker – P Farley

Farley hit Durán with his third pitch, and failed to retire any of the next four Canadiens either. Somehow, the Elks failed to drown him right there, and a K to Maldonado and popped up balls by Lopez and Shaw ended the inning with only two runs in. The Coons still aced them in not scoring, putting Ingall and Guerin on in the first and never moving them. Gonzalez also struck out leaving Guerin on third in the bottom 3rd, and while they had their moments defensively, like an all-out headlong dive to catch Ramón Corona’s fly and end the frame with Durán on third base in the fourth, done by Stephen Buell, offensively they remained inept. Donis struck out seven between the second and sixth innings, waiting for support he never got, and when he walked three in the seventh, he was yanked on the hook, and an insurmountable 3-0 deficit loomed on the board. One wasn’t sure whether the Suckoons actually tried to lose, but as a matter of fact a leadoff single by Buell in the sixth was the end before they went 0-12 to finish the game. 3-0 Canadiens. Guerin 2-4, 2B;

Game 4
VAN: C J. Lopez – LF P. Taylor – CF Ledesma – SS B. Butler – 1B Valenzuela – RF J. Maldonado – 2B Shaw – 3B Sutton – P J. Collins
POR: 2B Ingall – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – C Branch – 3B Crowe – LF Parker – SS Caddock – P Fairchild

Collins retired the Suckoons in order the first time through the lineup, while they were already trailing 2-0 after a hefty home run by Jorge Ledesma in the top 3rd. Fairchild ended up stomped and worked physically into the mound by the Canadiens and left in disgrace after a leadoff jack by Jose Valenzuela ramped the score to 6-0 to start the fifth inning. Neil Reece was our first baserunner in the game, reaching on a bloop that fell between Maldonado and Shaw in the fourth, and also – nominally – put the Coons within striking distance with a towering 3-run homer in the sixth. The bullpen took it inning by inning and arrived in the bottom 9th still 6-3 behind, and we faced closer Enrico Gonzalez. Guerin drew a walk batting for Branch, and scored from second on a Castillo single with two down. That put the tying run at the plate in … Caddock. Newton was still on the bench, but behind Caddock was the pitcher’s spot. Doomed if you do, doomed if you don’t, Caddock went to bat, grounded out, and all was well in Elkland. 6-4 Canadiens. Reece 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Parker 2-3, 2B; Castillo (PH) 1-1, RBI; Joly 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K;

Interlude: trade

That Thursday night, several things happened. Very quietly, we went back into rebuilding mode. For one reason or another, the assembled personnel was unable to maintain even a modest ranking in its division. We had arrived aiming for 85 wins and unless we played better than .750 ball from now, we’d fall short by a bigger or smaller margin – most likely bigger than big.

So, the first thing that happened was to go into rebuilding mode. Give youth a chance. Purge the elder. (Unless they are somehow irremovable through contractual contractions or personal affections)

I will freely admit that I was working on the trade that surprised the public on Friday morning for a few days during the catastrophic Canadiens contest, and that the last game was no Rubicon that had been crossed. Or rather: the Rubicon had been crossed in a 7-16 April already.

On Thursday, just before midnight, the Raccoons removed $2M in contractual obligations through a trade with the Scorpions, in which we sent C Lance Branch to Sacramento, receiving 1B Mauro Granados and AAA C Gary Fifield in return.

Now close your mouths and let me explain.

Branch was advertised as good all around player, offensively as defensively, coming into the season. None of this turned out to be true. He’s due another $2.3M through 2001, and a rebuilding team doesn’t pay an underperforming catcher such copious amounts. No, no, David Vinson has nothing to do with that, he was on a WINNING team.

Granados, 34, and a former international free agent from Costa Rica, is a prototypical journeyman, bouncing between teams with high frequency. He was traded from Las Vegas to Sacramento in late June, and has now been flipped again. Fifield is a throw-in to bridge the gap to the point where we can call up Julio Mata. A 7th round pick in 1994 by the Rebels, Fifield is as mediocre as catchers come, also batting right-handed, but left-handed swinging catchers are scarce.

Michel was demoted to add Granados, whom I will try to flick for a left-handed reliever or maybe just a pizza, and Fifield was also added to the roster.

Furthermore, Steve Caddock was designated for assignment, batting a crusty .150, and replaced by Tom Goodchild, a 24-year old Quebecois who was initially discovered by the Bayhawks and signed in 1994, but released the same year. We signed him in May 1995. Defensively, he’s standing back of Caddock, but can play all four positions on the infield, and can he really bat less than .150? He’s also a switch hitter.

Raccoons (31-56) vs. Crusaders (41-44) – July 9-11, 1999

Blah blah, some other team that will smother us…

Projected matchups:
Esteban Flores (1-6, 6.14 ERA) vs. Rafael Serrano (3-3, 2.97 ERA)
Kisho Saito (2-10, 4.16 ERA) vs. Anibal Sandoval (5-7, 2.99 ERA)
Jose Rivera (8-5, 2.49 ERA) vs. Ramiro Gonzalez (10-6, 4.18 ERA)

Game 1
NYC: RF Gonzales – SS Nielsen – 1B Berry – CF Latham – 3B Rush – 2B J. Ramirez – LF Olvera – C Clemente – P Serrano
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – 1B Granados – 2B Ingall – LF Parker – C Fifield – P Flores

Two triples, an error, some of this and a bit of that, the Crusaders scored three in the top 1st. Oh well. Guerin singled then, and Brady, too, and then Reece packed a 3-run homer for back-to-back games, and we were tied again! Granados singled in his first AB as a Coon, they loaded the bags, Fifield brought in Granados with a sac fly, and Flores got that 4-3 lead handed for the second inning once he whiffed against Serrano. The Coons added runs, first with an unearned one in the third, and then with Chris Parker’s 2-out, 2-run triple in the fifth to lead 7-4 after five. Unfortunately, the first two Crusaders reached in the top 6th, Flores was yanked, and Miller conceded one of the runs before getting out. Both bullpens shook and wobbled in the 7-5 game in the seventh and eighth, but only the Crusaders’ collapsed, as the Coons put three more runs on them in the bottom 8th. I was cocky enough to have Lagarde bat with the bases full and two outs. He predictably made the third out, but what could go wrong with a 10-5 lead? Well, he could hit the leadoff man in the ninth, perhaps. Said leadoff man, Freddy Jackson, was collateral damage in Jorge Gonzales’ double play, however, and Lagarde bailed out of trouble. 10-5 Raccoons. Reece 2-5, HR, 3 RBI; Granados 2-5, RBI; Ingall 3-4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI; Miller 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K; Lagarde 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, SV (2);

Ten runs now, no runs for Saito later. I know that game, and I’m tired of it.

Game 2
NYC: RF Gonzales – C Clemente – LF A. Johnson – 3B Rush – 1B T. Mullins – 2B J. Ramirez – SS Nielsen – CF Diéguez – P Sandoval
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – 1B Granados – RF Newton – LF Buell – C Castillo – P Saito

Luke Newton rescued Saito in the first, making an awesometastic play on Theodore Mullins’ long fly to deep right with two down and two making for home from scoring position. However, the Coons left two in scoring position (with one out) as well once Gonzalez struck out and Granados rolled out to Ramirez. But really, what Newton did, it didn’t matter. Theo Mullins was not denied the next time, hitting a ringing 3-run homer to left center that put an 11 into the L column for Saito and there was no doubt about it. He trailed 3-0 after all. The fireworks went off again in the fourth, a 2-run homer for Gonzales. Saito struck out eight over six innings, but it was pointless. We put Joly in and waited for the lights to go out. 7-2 Crusaders. Guerin 4-5, 3B; Buell 2-4;

…

Game 3
NYC: 2B J. Ramirez – SS Nielsen – LF A. Johnson – CF Latham – 3B Rush – RF Diéguez – C Clemente – P R. Gonzalez
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Granados – LF Buell – 3B Crowe – C Fifield – RF Parker – P Rivera

Avery Johnson hit a 2-run home run in the first inning. Another game, another piece of rebar into the teeth. And the nuts. But since this was not a Saito start, the Raccoons crawled back in, inept or not. Gonzalez was shaken for four runs in the first two innings, giving Rivera a 4-2 lead – which he didn’t translate into a win. He failed to go three for some tweak in his arm and was removed. With the All Star Game on us, Farley was not going to start until the next weekend, so he (as well as Fairchild) was available for long relief. But for now, Tamburrino finished the third, and was planned in for the fourth, too, but his spot came up with two on and two out in the bottom 3rd, and Clyde Brady hit for him. It was a wise decision: Brady bashed a high liner into deep center which the park failed to hold just barely. Fairchild came in first, faced three batters, which meant three runs after a Bob Rush 3-piece, and then left for Farley to take his place. Randyboy got out of the top 4th up 7-5, and in the bottom of the frame Ingall reached on an error and Reece and Granados singled loaded the bags against Gilberto Salazar with no outs. The wholly inept Stephen Buell fouled out to Clemente, but Crowe worked a walk and Parker singled another run home with two down, 9-5. The Coons reached double digits the second time on the weekend with a Bob Rush throwing error bringing home Ingall in the fifth, 10-5, and thanks to four strong innings in relief from Farley, our bullpen had enough breath to hold up. 11-6 Furballs. Ingall 4-5, 2B; Reece 2-5, 2 RBI; Granados 2-5, RBI; Fifield 2-4, BB; Parker 2-5, RBI; Brady (PH) 1-1, HR, 3 RBI; Farley 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K;

If Rivera goes down - … well, we’re doomed regardless.

All Star Game

The Raccoons – for whatever reason – sent two players to the All Star Game in Carlos Gonzalez and Conceicao Guerin. Concie will go to his first contest, while Gonzalez is in the game for the third consecutive time. The CL roster is dominated by six Bayhawks, while the FL has the Scorpions lead the pack with five players.

The Federal League won 6-2, with SFB Jorge Chapa impaled for four runs in the first inning. Guerin and Gonzalez were only used as pinch-hitters, and only Gonzalez had a – meaningless – hit.

Emergency Room, or How To Kill A Furball

Wednesday morning we knew for sure that the worst fears had come true, and the Jose Rivera had torn a flexor tendon in his elbow. He was out for the remainder of the season, and we would have to see whether he would be back for opening day in 2000.

Am I supposed to grow pitchers out of my big fat – ??

So. Roster movements made included placing Jose Rivera on the 15-day DL, and demoting Bob Joly. We called up southpaw Paco Martinez, a 23-year old Mexican supplemental round pick by the Canadiens in the 1996 draft, who had ended up here as trade-in for Mario Guerrero 13 months earlier.

We also called up Dan Nordahl. You know him, I’m constantly babbling about him and you KNOW I have a picture of him under my pillow for sweet dreams.

Has the future arrived NOW?

Raccoons (33-57) @ Canadiens (39-50) – July 15-18, 1999

The Canadiens are still a better team than us, just like one week ago.

Projected matchups:
Kisho Saito (2-11, 4.33 ERA) vs. Daniel Dickerson (1-1, 2.70 ERA)
Randy Farley (7-8, 3.10 ERA) vs. Jose Marquez (9-9, 3.79 ERA)
Paco Martinez (0-0) vs. John Collins (5-11, 4.52 ERA)
Kelly Fairchild (4-3, 5.35 ERA) vs. Joe Hollow (10-3, 3.23 ERA)

Game 1
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – 1B Granados – 2B Ingall – LF Parker – C Fifield – P Saito
VAN: CF Ledesma – RF J. Durán – 1B Valenzuela – 2B B. Butler – LF P. Taylor – C J. Lopez – 3B Sutton – SS Shaw – P Dickerson

The starting pitchers totaled 60 years of age, with Saito just falling short of a two-thirds majority at 39. Saito was banged for two runs in the first, and a leadoff home run by Gonzalez in the top 2nd healed only half the pain. Saito was torn up regardless of support and didn’t make it through five. Down 4-1, two on, no outs, he was removed for Daniel Miller who somehow tricked his way out of the inning without the runs scoring. Dickerson put the tying runs on base with one out in the top 6th, but the Raccoons only managed an Ingall sac fly. Miller loaded the bags in the bottom 6th, but somehow Donis got a pop from Sutton to end the inning, again with no runs in. That left the Coons down 4-2, and Buell led off the top 7th with a pinch-hit double. Guerin grounded out to third, but Brady singled, putting the tying runs on the corners for Reece. Dickerson’s 3-2 offering to Reece was taken to center by Reece, where Ledesma tried to make an unmakeable play and turning Reece’s single into an extra base. The Coons now had the go-ahead runs in scoring position, as the Elks brought Juan Bello to pitch to Gonzalez, who could to everything but strike out. Or walk. He did that, and Granados, the Man of a Million Trades, came up. Full count, would he strike out? No, Bello was wild and walked him – tied game. Ingall drew another walk, but Parker was dumb enough to hack and struck out. Fifield flew out to left, 5-4 Coons. But… this was Elkland, and Jorge Ledesma’s 2-run homer off Jackie Lagarde put things back into perspective. The Raccoons trailed again – but this game had more swings in reserve. The Canadiens continued to crumble, and one out in the eighth, Guerin hit a single, Brady hit a single, Reece hit a single, the latter tying the score 6-6, and Brady drew the throw but was safe at third, with Reece moving up. Gonzalez was put on intentionally to load them up. The plot failed for Granados driving in a pair with a single to right that Durán just couldn’t reach and then bobbled shortly, allowing Reece to score. Then came Dan Nordahl’s debut in the bottom 8th. His first pitch in the Bigs was taken to right by Bob Butler. Taylor popped out, but he walked Lopez and things were going in the wrong direction again, Chubby was sent in to rescue him, but whom we’re kiddin’? PH Joe Wilson singled, loading the bags. One run came in on Travis Shaw’s single, before Ramón Corona struck out. Up came Ledesma, and Martinez’ second pitch was taken up, up, up – grand slam. 11-8 Canadiens. Brady 3-5; Reece 3-5, 2 RBI; Granados 2-2, 3 BB, 2B, 3 RBI; Buell (PH) 1-1, 2B; Miller 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K;

The agony.

Game 2
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – C Castillo – P Farley
VAN: LF J. Durán – 2B Corona – CF Ledesma – SS B. Butler – 1B Valenzuela – RF J. Maldonado – C J. Lopez – 3B Sutton – P Marquez

Jose Marquez no-hit the Raccoons over five innings until Guerin reached on a leadoff single in the sixth. At that point, the Raccoons trailed 2-0 and our battery had two passed balls and an error between them. Ingall double played Guerin from the bases right in front of Neil Reece’s ninth dinger of the season. One out in the seventh, Castillo on first, Farley swung away and singled through Butler, but Guerin and Ingall left the runners on. Buell was caught stealing to end the eighth. Down to their final out, the Coons got pinch-hit singles from Granados and Fifield in the top 9th off Enrico Gonzalez. Guerin back up. Are you an All Star or not?? He was not. 2-1 Canadiens. Reece 1-2, 2 BB, HR, RBI; Buell 2-4; Granados (PH) 1-1; Fifield (PH) 1-1; Farley 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, L (7-9) and 1-2;

I wasn’t present in person (still banned from travelling to the Land of Elks), but the game was live on cable in Portland. I saw every single second of misery in person.

Then I spent all night ferociously crying.

Game 3
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 2B Ingall – LF Parker – 3B Goodchild – C Fifield – P P. Martinez
VAN: CF Ledesma – RF J. Durán – 1B Valenzuela – 2B B. Butler – LF P. Taylor – C J. Lopez – 3B Sutton – SS Shaw – P J. Collins

Gonzalez and Ingall enabled Guerin and Reece to cross home plate, respectively, in the first inning, giving young Paco a 2-0 lead for his big league debut. His inability to remove batters in 2-strike counts would become a problem for Martinez sooner rather than later, however, as the Canadiens started to crowd him in the second inning and tied the game on a Ledesma sac fly in the fifth. The Coons hadn’t done a lick in the meantime. In the sixth, Martinez was 2-2 on Taylor, Lopez, and Sutton, didn’t retire any of them, and fell behind. Dan Nordahl absorbed another run in the seventh, 4-2 Elks. Top 8th, the Coons hadn’t been in scoring position in what felt like days, but now Buell and Guerin where there with one out and Brady batting. A hit would do, but Brady turned wonderfully into an offspeed offering from Collins and sent the ball to Saskatchewan with a turnaround 3-run homer. This developed into an actual save opportunity for Scott Wade (!!!!!!), who entered a 6-4 game in the bottom 9th and kept his bags clean. 6-4 Raccoons. Guerin 2-5; Brady 1-5, HR, 3 RBI; Reece 2-5; Gonzalez 3-4, 2 2B, RBI; Buell (PH) 1-1;

Dan Nordahl has yet to strike out anybody or pitch a clean inning, but he has a win. Strange game this is.

He is also only one win short of Kisho Saito’s season total, while pitching 123.1 fewer innings…

We made another move before the final game, designating Ricardo Castillo for assignment and giving Julio Mata a plane ticket to Elkland.

Game 4
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – RF Brady – 3B Crowe – C Mata – P Fairchild
VAN: LF J. Durán – 2B Corona – CF Ledesma – SS B. Butler – 1B Valenzuela – RF J. Maldonado – C J. Lopez – 3B Sutton – P Hollow

Top 1st, Hollow walked three batters, enabling Brady to squeeze in a 2-run single before Crowe struck out. The lead held up for zero innings, as Fairchild was hammered for four runs in the first inning, too. Fairchild gave up seven runs in four innings, and while the Coons had the tying runs on base in the second and third innings (without landing a relieving hit of course), by the fourth he had far outrun his pathetic offense. The Suckoons managed to hit into three double plays, Dan Nordahl managed to walk three and concede those runs in a long-lost game, and everything came crushing down with the greatest imaginable force. 12-6 Canadiens. Ingall 1-2, 3 BB; Brady 2-5, 3 RBI; Parker (PH) 1-1;

In other news

July 5 – Fine effort by BOS Jason O’Halloran (11-7, 3.34 ERA): The 27-year old 3-hits the Indians in a 9-0 rout.
July 6 – MIL SP Rafael Garcia (6-9, 4.18 ERA) is out for the year. The 36-year old is suffering from radial nerve compression.
July 7 – Prolific slugger RIC RF/LF Raúl Vázquez (.276, 11 HR, 65 RBI) will need to rest the next two weeks, plagued by back soreness.
July 15 – WAS Ramón Ortíz (11-8, 3.13 ERA) falls a hit short of a no-hit performance, taking the win in a 5-0 shutout of the Buffaloes. Carlos Ramos’ single and Lionel Perri’s walk are everything Ortíz gives up.
July 17 – BOS Bryce Hildred (2-2, 3.93 ERA) 3-hits the Indians, as they are bowled over by the Titans, 11-0.

Complaints and stuff

Yeah, THAT Bryce Hildred. Don’t ask.

I was eyeing the post-All Star break timeframe to debut Ralph Ford (9-3, 4.57 ERA in AAA) in the Bigs. Our 21-year old southpaw has a slight walk issue, but with this season being bound for the history books as most abysmal in franchise history (and 1979 is giving 1999 a good run for its money here) you can start getting him accustomed to the Oregon air regardless. Especially when you are bereft of starting pitching like the Suckoons are. Since we don’t need a closer anyway, I’m close to putting Scott Wade back into the rotation, and on the weekly occasion of a lead of whatever size in the ninth, we can still send out the bloke Tamburrino to blow it. Or – heck – let Ingall pitch. But Ford should be in the rotation up here.

Oh yeah, right, Ford is on the DL now with back pain. In addition to Miguel Lopez and Jose Rivera.

Lance Branch was FL Player of the Week the weekend after the All Star break, 7-12 with 2 HR, 7 RBI.

You can’t do anything but cry.

[Westheim]

Raccoons (34-60) @ Loggers (48-43) – July 20-22, 1999

The Loggers had a strong offense (second in runs scored), but their pitching wasn’t what it used to be until recently, as they ranked a mere 9th in runs allowed. The good news was that we were to come across the squishy part of their rotation, and no Martin Garcia was close to shutting us down.

Projected matchups:
Kisho Saito (2-11, 4.48 ERA) vs. Simon Walton (7-10, 6.05 ERA)
Randy Farley (7-9, 3.05 ERA) vs. Davis Sims (6-7, 5.77 ERA)
Paco Martinez (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Tim Butler (5-6, 5.02 ERA)

Game 1
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – LF Buell – 3B Crowe – RF Brady – C Mata – P Saito
MIL: RF C. Ramirez – SS B. Hernandez – CF Hiwalani – 1B J. Cruz – 3B Morales – C L. Ramirez – 2B Sullivan – LF M. Jones – P Walton

The game was over in the first inning. Saito walked two and Mata failed to dig out a Hernandez grounder to load the bags in no time, and with two outs Leon Ramirez’ bases-clearing double and Terry Sullivan’s home run took care of Saito’s record. Simon Walton pitched a complete game on five hits. 8-1 Loggers.

Interlude: trade

The Raccoons and the Indians struck a deal on Wednesday, exchanging pitchers. The Raccoons trade AAA SP Anthony Mosher (0-3, 9.20 ERA in ML) to Indy for MR Mike Collins (1-0, 1.03 ERA in 22 G in ML).

Collins is a 23-year old southpaw that was a supplemental round pick in 1997. He’s in his rookie season in the Bigs and had some nagging, but small injuries in the last two years.

He will join our bullpen right away in a 7th/8th inning role. Because we don’t need to no closer anyway, Scott Wade moves into the rotation and Esteban Flores is purged and designated for assignment.

In other news, Ricardo Castillo cleared waivers, but refuses his assignment to AAA.

Raccoons (34-60) @ Loggers (48-43) – July 20-22, 1999

Game 2
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 1B Gonzalez – 2B Ingall – LF Parker – 3B Crowe – C Mata – P Farley
MIL: SS B. Hernandez – C L. Ramirez – RF C. Ramirez – CF Hiwalani – 2B Morales – 1B D. Evans – 3B J. Perez – LF Sanders – P Sims

Predictably, Guerin got on, Reece doubled him in, and Gonzalez homered in the first inning. Predictably, since Saito had pitched the other day. 3-0 after one, a terrible throw to first by Mata in the second plated the first run (unearned) for the Loggers, and the Loggers tied the game in the third. Farley continued to be crowded, with the Loggers leaving men on in the fourth and fifth. The Coons had not done anything until they came up with leadoff hits by Reece (single) and Gonzalez (double) in the sixth inning. Ingall merely walked, followed by Parker grounding to third and Reece was forced out at home. From two in scoring position, no outs, the Coons ended up scoring one walk on a groundout to short by Mike Crowe, and only because Morales couldn’t spin around fast enough. While Farley somehow wound his way through seven, he didn’t get any insurance. Donis and Martinez cobbled the eighth together, and now we needed a closer the day we sent Scott Wade to get ready for starting on Friday. Daniel Miller was assigned the ninth, walked Bartolo Hernandez up front, before Reece snagged two soft flies. That brought up Hiwalani, the count ran full with the Logger obviously launching for the fences, until he looked at a sneaker on the corner – and was called out. 4-3 Coons. Reece 2-4, 2B, RBI; Gonzalez 2-3, BB, HR, 2B, 2 RBI; Mata 2-4;

Game 3
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF Reece – 3B Gonzalez – 2B Ingall – 1B Granados – LF Buell – C Mata – P P. Martinez
MIL: SS B. Hernandez – 2B Morales – RF C. Ramirez – CF Hiwalani – 3B J. Cruz – C L. Ramirez – 1B D. Evans – LF Shea – P Butler

Paco Martinez was chopped into fine slices quickly with a first inning solo homer by Morales, and second inning 3-run shot by Drake Evans. While Martinez was massively underwhelming, Butler sat down the first 11 Suckoons until Neil Reece worked a walk. The no-hitter that Butler carried wouldn’t be broken up until Mauro Granados hit a double in the seventh. The Coons loaded the bags with a walk to Buell, but with two outs, Mata struck out. By then, the Suckoons were down 7-0 already. That was the only hit in the upper line on the scoreboard. Butler went eight on a 1-hitter, while Martinez surrendered five runs in five innings and the bullpen wasn’t any better. 8-0 Loggers.

Dan Nordahl had his first big league strikeouts on Leon Ramirez and John Shea.

Raccoons (35-62) @ Thunder (53-43) – July 23-25, 1999

We were actually going up against capable pitching in this series, so after the last experience against crappy pitching we didn’t need to bring our gypsy psychic to Oklahoma to know we were in trouble.

Projected matchups:
Scott Wade (1-5, 2.84 ERA) vs. Fabien Armand (9-4, 3.26 ERA)
Kelly Fairchild (4-4, 5.98 ERA) vs. Lou Corbett (7-11, 4.95 ERA)
Kisho Saito (2-12, 4.83 ERA) vs. Aron Anderson (10-8, 3.32 ERA)

Game 1
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF N. Reece – 3B Gonzalez – 1B Granados – LF Buell – RF Newton – C Fifield – P Wade
OCT: LF Bonneau – SS Grant – 3B S. Reece – RF Barnes – 1B Higashi – 2B Browne – C Briggs – CF D. Henry – P Corbett

Despaired, Wade sunk himself, scoring Bob Grant with a wild pitch in the first inning to fall behind. Of course it wasn’t the only run off him. Lacking any biting stuff he had to wait for the Thunder to get themselves out, which didn’t happen at every important junction of the game. Wade left after Lou Corbett’s leadoff single in the bottom 7th, trailing 4-0. The bullpen failed to get out of the inning, so Wade was charged with five runs eventually. Lou Corbett’s shutout however wasn’t broken up until the Raccoons’ very last out in the game. Evil Gary Fifield tripled home Stephen Buell to soil Corbett’s day. 6-1 Thunder. Ingall 2-4; Fifield 3-4, 3B, RBI;

Game 2
POR: SS Guerin – 2B Ingall – CF N. Reece – 1B Gonzalez – RF Brady – LF Buell – C Mata – 3B Goodchild – P Fairchild
OCT: SS Grant – CF Humphrey – 3B S. Reece – RF Barnes – 1B Higashi – 2B Browne – LF D. Henry – C Briggs – P Armand

The Raccoons had six hits off Armand in the first three innings, but only scored one run, and that only came in owing to a clumsy play by Bob Grant which had Guerin beat out the throw at first and enabled Goodchild to score in the top 2nd. The Coons loaded them up in the inning with two down, but Neil Reece fouled out. Fairchild made it 3.2 innings without giving up a hit before Artie Barnes doubled, but Higashi grounded out to keep the 1-0 lead save through four. He stumbled through five, through six, while everybody knew he wouldn’t get through the game on only one run, being terrible and such. The end came suddenly in the seventh. Man on first, two down, the rookie Dan Henry lined into the gap in right center for an RBI triple, tying the game. Armand struck out the 4-5-6 batters in the top 8th, and Fairchild was yanked in the bottom 8th with pinch-runner Juan Moreno on second and only one out. Donis came in, and got Humphrey to ground out and whiffed Sonny Reece. Top 9th, Mata singled to start the frame. Goodchild bunted him over, but when Granados came out to bat for Donis, the Thunder put him on. George Moore then struck out Guerin before Ingall came up and fired a shot to deep center that Joey Humphrey managed to just get a glove on – but not around it. The ball glanced off the leather and hopped to the wall while Humphrey had fallen down and took time to get behind the errant marble. By the time the ball was brought back in, Ingall was on third base and two runs home safely. Reece failed to get the runner home again, and Miller was tasked with the bottom 9th amidst a sea of left-handed batters. He got three soft balls into play however, and the middle infielders did their grisly work. 3-1 Coons. Guerin 3-5, RBI; Ingall 2-5, 3B, 2 RBI; Buell 2-4; Fairchild 7.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K;

After this game, the Thunder followed up acquiring Joey Humphrey with the addition of our old friend Royce Green. They’re up to something, I can smell it.

Game 3
POR: SS Guerin – RF Brady – CF N. Reece – 3B Gonzalez – 2B Ingall – 1B Granados – LF Parker – C Mata – P Saito
OCT: 2B Browne – RF Bonneau – 3B S. Reece – CF R. Green – SS Grant – 1B Higashi – LF D. Ramos – C Briggs – P A. Anderson

Somehow, the Raccoons scored a run on a Gonzalez double in the first inning, so Saito pitched with something unfamiliar to him: a lead, 1-0. He was wobbly from the start, struggling with control, and was readily hittable for the saber-toothed Thunder offense, which was armed with spiked bats. Bottom 3rd, Browne was on with a walk and two down with Royce Green batting. A wild pitch uncorked by Saito moved Browne to second base, and Saito ended up walking Green. Bob Grant fought in a full count, the runners were in motion on the sixth pitch of the at-bat, and Grant swung through a goose egg to end the frame. Overall, Saito was hardly pitching, merely throwing, plunked David Ramos the next inning, but stumbled out of brewing trouble again. Some insurance would be nice, and Mata singled to start the fifth. Saito’s bunt to Sonny Reece was poor and Reece got Mata nabbed at second base, then turned a double play on Guerin. Top 6th, an actual scoring chance developed when Reece and Gonzalez hit 1-out singles and Reece ended up on third. Ingall was next. Come on, Marv! Ingall single! Ingall single! Sonny Reece turned another double play. Grant and Higashi then sent singles just past Ingall to start the bottom of the inning and Saito went down another time. With a scoring chance in the seventh, Buell hit for Saito and fouled out to end the inning. The game went into extras, where Jimmy Morey walked Crowe and Guerin before Reece seemed to end the frame with a grounder to SS Juan Valentín, but the Thunder failed to make the play and Gonzalez came up with the sacks full and two outs. First pitch, lined out to Valentín. Bottom 11th, Tamburrino was pitching with two out and the winning run for the Thunder on third base. The Thunder had emptied their bench already and couldn’t hit for Morey anymore. Freebie to the 12th, where reliever Vincente Galván was accidentally tumbled over with a Newton single, Brady triple, and Reece single. That was not the end – Galván didn’t retire another batter as he walked Gonzalez and Ingall doubled the runners home. Bottom 12th, up 6-1 after Ingall also scored on a Mata single, and Chubby Martinez put on Browne, put on Bonneau, and put on Reece, who singled home Browne. Green popped out then, hacking too eagerly, and Martinez somehow tumbled out of the jam without collapsing. 6-2 Raccoons. Guerin 2-5, BB; Brady 2-6, 3B, RBI; Reece 3-6, RBI; Gonzalez 2-5, BB, 2B, RBI; Mata 3-6, RBI; Newton (PH) 1-2; Saito 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K; Donis 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K; Nordahl 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K; Tamburrino 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, W (2-3);

In other news

July 24 – The Thunder acquire SAC OF Joey Humphrey (.316, 4 HR, 45 RBI), sending SP Jon Robinson (9-6, 3.65 ERA) to Sacramento.
July 25 – TIJ LF/RF Dale Wales (.302, 3 HR, 30 RBI) goes down to an intercostal strain and will miss four weeks.
July 25 – In a big trade, the Thunder trade for OF Royce Green (.266, 12 HR, 57 RBI) and a minor leaguer, sending over INF John Bradley (.289, 7 HR, 27 RBI) and a non-prospect to Las Vegas.

Complaints and stuff

Neil Reece told me he’s sick of this compilation of losers.

So am I.

[Westheim]

Little update on where we stand. I was butthurt and stung for almost a week after the last update. Then, last week, I worked late on Thursday and didn't want to exhaust myself further on the suckers, then spent Friday night out gaming (but not OOTP ).

Saturday my laptop started to act out. I strongly suspect there is something living in there that doesn't belong (like southpaws named Salcido don't belong on the Coons anymore). I hope it'll be looked at today, because while my anti virus thing gives an alarm, it fails to clean the mess out. Since the laptop randomly chokes up all 8 GB of RAM even when sitting idle, to the point where all you can do is just shutting it off, it'd be a bad time to bring out the Furballs again.

I have the (hopefully not infected) backup pulled to a stick already in case the laptop needs wiping, but I won't subject myself to the hassle of reactivating OOTP on my old laptop unless extensive surgical repairs are necessary to the new one (which is barely nine months old and cost about $2,200 ...) - still hoping to get this resolved in the next few days.

[blazertaz13]

I hope that the computer and save file survive the issue. Then again, maybe it is time to blow up the Coons and start over.

Just kidding as I love see that others end up with the same results that I have.

[Orcin]

Good luck fixing this!

[Westheim]

Just got a call from my repair guy that he is 'confident' that he can solve the issues (yes, several fuzzy beasts had taken up residence in my Laptop and not all of them just wait for you to look the other way and then empty your plate into their own stomachs) today and without wiping everything. In the best case scenario, I'd have the laptop on the weekend.

Tell you something: once you can't play with your loser team, you desperately want to.