Orcin's Story

[MizzouRah]

Good luck Orcin!

[Sal, The Barber]

Sal is not confident with Westaway taking the gas pipe in Game #6. Lucky for you, you have another ace in Luna. What is the pitching plan for the Series? Can Luna start every other game? Ray Alexander hasn't exactly been spectacular. Wait. Sal has an idea. Perhaps you can start Jones on the days you're resting Luna?

[Bumstead]

Good luck! And thank god Byrne is managing the team and not Sal!

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

Sal is not confident with Westaway taking the gas pipe in Game #6. Lucky for you, you have another ace in Luna. What is the pitching plan for the Series? Can Luna start every other game? Ray Alexander hasn't exactly been spectacular. Wait. Sal has an idea. Perhaps you can start Jones on the days you're resting Luna?

The rotation will be Alexander, Westaway, Luna, and Wilkerson. There is no thought of a 3-man rotation this time. If there is a game seven, Luna would be rested and ready. He is the hot pitcher right now.

[Sal, The Barber]

Don't worry, Mr. Orcin. As Sal speaks, he is making up the voodoo dolls in the Admirals uniforms. Sal is even stitching on the correct numbers. If the pitching falters, Sal will take care of it.

[threesportgeek]

Hey Orcin. Long time reader, first time poster. I thoroughly have enjoyed reading this dynasty over the past several days catching up.

The main reason is due to the fact that I have vested interest in the 'Ville being a resident myself. I have recalled many references as a kid in real life about the old Louisville Colonels from relatives of the Colonels playing at Parkway Field by the University of Louisville upon reading. I'm due for haircut. Do you think Sal could hook me up with a high and tight?

This has been an informative and informational read for myself. I look forward to reading more about the Colonels and continuing their franchise saga. Go for #2!!! Great Job!!

Now to wait for the next posting and get started reading on your MLB Extreme Makeover.

[blazertaz13]

Sorry I haven't been around lately, something about real life getting in the way of my baseball life (but that is a story for another day). Good luck in upcoming series, but before the first game starts I need to stop by Sal's. Looks like the pre series cut line in getting really long. :-)

[Orcin]

2006 Continental Baseball Association World Series
Washington Admirals (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (104-58)

The Admirals were #3 in the Patriot League in runs scored and home runs. They have four players over 20 home runs, including former Louisville RF Terrence Banks (.318/.364/.571, 35 HR, 108 RBI). The Admirals were 10th in the Patriot League in runs allowed. Their pitching is mediocre except for closer Lucas Sanders (42 SV, 1.36 ERA), also a former Louisville player. Washington did not play Louisville in the regular season.

GAME 1 @ Louisville: Alfredo Acosta (14-8) vs. Ray Alexander (17-8)

Washington LF Mark MacDonald led off the game with a home run. The Colonels took a 3-1 lead in the third on four hits, including a two-run homer by Bland. Washington tied the score at 3-3 in the fourth on a double by MacDonald. Both Washington runs were unearned after an error by 2B Tom John started the rally.

Akinori Ishikawa, the CBA’s active home run leader with 490, gave the Admirals the lead with a two-run blast in the fifth. Banks followed with a double and that was all for Alexander. Jesus Trejo came in to keep the score at 5-3.

Duncan Bland knocked Acosta out of the game with a three-run shot (his second home run of the game) in the bottom of the fifth. The Colonels loaded the bases and Hartman coaxed a walk to make the score 7-5 in favor of Louisville.

Washington rallied in the seventh, scoring a run to make it 7-6. The Admirals had men on second and third with two out. Pinch-hitter Joe Walden sent a drive to the right-field corner that could have given Washington the lead. Ron Hartman stabbed the ball in the webbing of his glove and then hung on as he slammed into the wall. The unbelievable catch ended the inning with the Colonels still in front.

Hartman’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh gave Brooks an insurance run for the eighth inning. However, Brooks needed a lot more than one run as Terrence Banks blasted a three-run homer to cap a four-run rally by Washington. A fan on the third base side was ejected after screaming obscenities at manager Chad Byrne for not bringing in Nathaniel Jones to face Banks. The unidentified fan was apparently too drunk to remember that Jones had already been used in the game.

The game was then in the hands of closer Lucas “Country Boy” Sanders and the home fans knew that it was over. Banks finished the day 4-5 with a double, homer, and 3 RBI against his old team.

FINAL: Washington 10, Louisville 8
Washington leads the series 1-0.

[beachbomer]

Nothing worse than former players coming back to haunt you. I have a feeling your going to have to make some tough decisions on the rotation before this series is over.

[Sal, The Barber]

Originally Posted by threesportgeek

I'm due for haircut. Do you think Sal could hook me up with a high and tight?

A "high and tight"? Sal is often high and he is tight both with his money and with his alcohol. Sal drinks to get tight as they used to say in the old days. But Sal does not lose his cool when he drinks as Mr. Orcin insinuates in his Game 1 summary. Sal cannot remember exactly the incident to which Mr. Orcin refers, but he is sure he knows when Mr. Jones is and is not in the ballgame. However, Sal must admit, yelling at Mr. Byrne is something Sal cannot help himself from doing.

But to return to the original question. A "high and tight"? Sal has no idea what that is. But come by anyway. Sal has some bourbon and some mint and some ice. We can try a few different things.

[Sal, The Barber]

Sal has remembered a couple more things (See, Sal's memory is top-notch). Sal must say he has greatest respect for Country Boy Sanders. This boy can do 2 things better than Sal: pitch and eat. Sal thinks the only way to beat him is to not see him. Make him pitch the 9th when they are behind by a few runs.

And while Sal still denies forgetting that Jones had already been in the game, Sal would like to point out that Mr. Byrne is supposed to save Jones for the highest leveraged left-handed at bat. Mr. Byrne's powers of anticipation are fatigued. If Mr. Byrne is itching for a fight, Sal is ready to scratch. We will see how well this Byrne can do. He is going to have to be creative with his pitching to pull this series out. And Sal does not think Byrne can be creative.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

Sal thinks the only way to beat him (Sanders) is to not see him.

Absolutely correct!

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

Sal is often high and he is tight both with his money and with his alcohol. Sal drinks to get tight as they used to say in the old days. But Sal does not lose his cool when he drinks as Mr. Orcin insinuates in his Game 1 summary. Sal cannot remember exactly the incident to which Mr. Orcin refers, but he is sure he knows when Mr. Jones is and is not in the ballgame. However, Sal must admit, yelling at Mr. Byrne is something Sal cannot help himself from doing.

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

And while Sal still denies forgetting that Jones had already been in the game, Sal would like to point out that Mr. Byrne is supposed to save Jones for the highest leveraged left-handed at bat. Mr. Byrne's powers of anticipation are fatigued. If Mr. Byrne is itching for a fight, Sal is ready to scratch. We will see how well this Byrne can do. He is going to have to be creative with his pitching to pull this series out. And Sal does not think Byrne can be creative.

Oh, wait... that ejected fan was YOU?

I never would have guessed.

[Orcin]

2006 Continental Baseball Association World Series
Washington Admirals (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (104-58)

GAME 2 @ Louisville: Jose Rodriguez (15-7) vs. Robert Westaway (17-5)

Washington jumped on Westaway for three runs in the second inning. The big hit was a two-run single by the pitcher Rodriguez. The park was suddenly very quiet.

A triple by Bland and a single by Brown gave the Colonels a run back in the bottom of the second inning. Morgan singled home Hartman with a second run in the fourth. That brought the hot hand – Bland – to the plate. He smacked a line drive into the left field seats, giving Louisville a brief 4-3 lead until Washington’s Pedro Rivera tied the game at 4 with a RBI single in the fifth.

Pierre-Louis Simon tripled to drive in Chris Brown from first base in the bottom of the sixth. Cristo Rodriguez was walked with two outs and Olivares pinch-hit for Westaway, who had already thrown 125 pitches. Olivares singled home Simon to make it 6-4 and the crowd finally felt comfortable again. Garza and King held Washington scoreless over the final three innings to secure the “must win”.

FINAL: Louisville 6, Washington 4
The series is tied at 1.

Dallas SP Ronald Austin (20-7, 2.62) was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. The 36-year-old star will miss all of next season.

[threesportgeek]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

A "high and tight"? Sal has no idea what that is. But come by anyway. Sal has some bourbon and some mint and some ice. We can try a few different things.

Pretty much a Whitey Herzog hairdo

[Sal, The Barber]

Originally Posted by Orcin

2006 Continental Baseball Association World Series
Washington Admirals (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (104-58)

GAME 2 @ Louisville: Jose Rodriguez (15-7) vs. Robert Westaway (17-5)

Washington jumped on Westaway for three runs in the second inning. The big hit was a two-run single by the pitcher Rodriguez. The park was suddenly very quiet.

Except for Sal yelling that Westaway was taking the gas pipe again!

And while Sal is critiquing performances ... tell Tom John the Series has started.

[Orcin]

2006 Continental Baseball Association World Series
Washington Admirals (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (104-58)

GAME 3 @ Washington: Antonio Luna (16-5) vs. Juan Hernandez (13-14)

Duncan Bland led off the second inning with his fourth home run of the series. Chris Brown’s two-run homer with two out in the fourth pushed the lead to 3-0. Washington starting pitcher Juan Hernandez left the game in the fifth with elbow pain, and he is listed as questionable for the rest of the series.

The game remained at 3-0 through the eighth inning. Luna was dominant, striking out nine while scattering seven hits and walking one. The only decision for manager Chad Byrne came in the top of the ninth inning. Luna came up to bat with two out and nobody on having thrown 112 pitches. Byrne did not move a muscle and Luna did not look back as he strode to the plate to ground out.

Washington catcher Brian Campbell led off the ninth inning with a home run to left field. Byrne was not in a trance after all, and immediately went to the mound to take the ball from his starter and hand it to his closer George King.

Louisville fans paced in front of their televisions as Terrence Banks made the score 3-2 with a one-out homer to right. There were unconfirmed reports of a small paranormal disturbance outside a downtown business. A local businessman was allegedly making good on his threat to “punish” the manager if Banks were allowed to face anyone other than Jones in a high leverage situation. Fortunately, King retired the next two batters on harmless ground balls to put the genie back in the bottle.

FINAL: Louisville 3, Washington 2
Louisville leads the series 2-1.

[Sal, The Barber]

Can anyone confirm for Sal whether Chad Byrne is walking with the limp? If not, Sal will have to adjust the needle in the voodoo ... oh. Perhaps Sal is saying too much? Don't worry Colonels fans. Sal has learned to do a voodoo lobotomy.

[Orcin]

2006 Continental Baseball Association World Series
Washington Admirals (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (104-58)

GAME 4 @ Washington: Aaron Wilkerson (12-8) vs. Carlos Pereira (8-8)

The Admirals picked up a run on three hits in the first inning, but Pedro Dominguez led off the second with a homer to tie the score at 1. Washington scored two runs in the third to reclaim the lead on a single by CF Gary Dickerson. Dominguez and Bland singled to open the fourth, and Dominguez scored on a sacrifice fly by Brown to cut the lead in half.

The seesaw battle continued as Washington scored another run on a walk and two more hits in the bottom of the fourth. That was the end of Wilkerson’s day. Morgan threw out a runner at the plate to end the fourth inning and Hartman gunned down another runner at the plate in the fifth to keep the score at 4-2. Cristo Rodriguez tied the score again in the top of the sixth with a two-out, two-run homer.

Louisville took their first lead of the game in the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits and a Washington error. Garza finished four innings of shutout relief work in the bottom of the seventh and was in position to get the win. Nathaniel Jones pitched a scoreless eighth inning against a string of left-handed batters (including Banks) for Washington. Chris Brown gave King a day off with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth and O’Daniel mopped up instead.

FINAL: Louisville 8, Washington 4
Louisville leads the series 3-1.


P.S. I just watched my other favorite team cough up a 3-1 lead, so no way that I am getting over-confident here.

[Orcin]

2006 Continental Baseball Association World Series
Washington Admirals (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (104-58)

GAME 5 @ Washington: Ray Alexander vs. Alfredo Acosta

The Colonels jumped on Acosta for two in the first as Morgan doubled and Dominguez followed with a home run. Terrence Banks (there he is again) upped the ante with a three-run blast in the bottom of the inning. Singles by Alexander and Hartman in the third inning led to a run for Louisville and the game was tied at three after three.

Corey Klingensmith gave Washington a 5-3 lead with a home run in the fourth. Pedro Dominguez was not to be denied, and his second two-run homer of the game knotted the score at five. Continuing the fifth-inning rally, consecutive singles by Bland, Brown, and John made it a 6-5 game. Rodriguez walked to load the bases and Byrne sent Lucio Martinez up to pinch-hit for Alexander against left-handed reliever Rodrigo Melendez. Martinez slammed the ball to the warning track in center but it was caught to end the Louisville half of the fifth with the score now 6-5 in favor of the Colonels.

Rob Warren put Washington back in front in the sixth with a three-run homer off David O’Daniel. Washington tacked on an insurance run in the eighth and then you-know-who came out of the bullpen. Sanders retired the side in order and the series returned to Louisville for game six.

FINAL: Washington 8, Louisville 6
Louisville leads the series 3-2.

Lexington SP Mike Yates (16-5, 4.08) won the AAA Outstanding Pitcher Award. The 28-year-old right-hander struck out 199 batters in 194 innings, while walking only 47.

[Orcin]

The suspense is killing you, isn't it.