Orcin's Story

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Divisional Playoff Series
Houston Stars (88-74) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 3 @ Houston: Ray Alexander (15-9) vs. Michael Irwin (9-13)

Key Moment: Simon led off the tenth with a triple. Sanchez struck out. Dominguez was walked intentionally. A double-switch had regrettably left Garza hitting fourth instead of Morgan, but Filipe Carrego saved the day with a pinch-hit single to drive in the winning run. Edgardo Ordonez struck out the side in the bottom of the tenth inning for his first career save.

Final score: Louisville 5, Houston 4 (10)
Louisville leads the series 2-1.

WP: Garza, LP: Richard, SV: Ordonez
HR: LOU – Rodriguez
Star of the Game: Michael Irwin (HOU) 8 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Other games:
San Diego 7, Milwaukee 6 (San Diego leads 2-1)
Charlotte 8, Detroit 7 (Charlotte leads 2-1)
Charleston 5, Boston 1 (Boston leads 2-1)

[Sal, The Barber]

Sal regrets being so late to remind you, Mr. Orcin, that you can tell Byrne to use a very effective lefthanded reliever in his bullpen for the saves. Yes, he is lefthanded, but he is the best thrower you have in your bullpen. And he has the heart of a penguin!

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

Sal regrets being so late to remind you, Mr. Orcin, that you can tell Byrne to use a very effective lefthanded reliever in his bullpen for the saves. Yes, he is lefthanded, but he is the best thrower you have in your bullpen. And he has the heart of a penguin!

Mr. Jones had already appeared in the game - a high-leverage situation in the eighth.

[beachbomer]

Originally Posted by Orcin

2008 Federal League Divisional Playoff Series
Houston Stars (88-74) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 3 @ Houston: Ray Alexander (15-9) vs. Michael Irwin (9-13)

Key Moment: Simon led off the tenth with a triple. Sanchez struck out. Dominguez was walked intentionally. A double-switch had regrettably left Garza hitting fourth instead of Morgan, but Filipe Carrego saved the day with a pinch-hit single to drive in the winning run. Edgardo Ordonez struck out the side in the bottom of the tenth inning for his first career save.

Final score: Louisville 5, Houston 4 (10)
Louisville leads the series 2-1.

WP: Garza, LP: Richard, SV: Ordonez
HR: LOU – Rodriguez
Star of the Game: Michael Irwin (HOU) 8 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Other games:
San Diego 7, Milwaukee 6 (San Diego leads 2-1)
Charlotte 8, Detroit 7 (Charlotte leads 2-1)
Charleston 5, Boston 1 (Boston leads 2-1)

Wow, big comeback, going down 0-2 would have been a tough row to hoe!

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Divisional Playoff Series
Houston Stars (88-74) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 4 @ Houston: Wallace Trauttmann (15-8) vs. George Brown

Key Moment: Houston RF Bang Ying doubled with two out in the bottom of the first inning. Trauttmann was ordered to pitch around the cleanup hitter Lopez and he walked him. Angel Perez lined a 2-1 pitch into the left field seats for an early three-run lead that was never relinquished.

Final score: Houston 8, Louisville 2
Series is tied at 2.

WP: Brown 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K
LP: Trauttmann 2 IP, 6 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K
HR: LOU – Dominguez, HOU - Perez
Star of the Game: George Brown (HOU)

Other games:
Milwaukee 9, San Diego 2 (series is tied at 2)
Detroit 3, Charlotte 0 (series is tied at 2)
Boston 5, Charleston 4 (Boston wins series 3-1)

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Divisional Playoff Series
Houston Stars (88-74) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 5 @ Louisville: David Harrison vs. Robert Westaway

Key Moment: Cristo Rodriguez led off the seventh inning in a 2-2 game with a base hit. Lefty David Harrison was still pitching and Byrne had nothing but left-handed batters on the bench. He sent Mike Guy up hoping for anything but a double play. Guy slammed a line drive home run to right field for the game-winning RBIs.

Final score: Louisville 4, Houston 2
Louisville wins the series 3-2.

WP: Merced, LP: Harrison, SV: Garza
HR: LOU – Sweeney, Guy
Star of the Game: Mike Guy 1-1, HR, 2 RBI

Other games:
San Diego 8, Milwaukee 1 (San Diego wins 3-2)
Charlotte 7, Detroit 5 (Charlotte wins 3-2)

The League Championship Series pairings are…
Federal League: San Diego at Louisville
Patriot League: Boston at Charlotte

We have a lot of post-season history with the Stallions.
2003: San Diego defeated Louisville 4-3 in League Championship Series
2004: Louisville defeated San Diego 3-2 in Divisional Series
2006: Louisville defeated San Diego 3-1 in Divisional Series
2007: Louisville defeated San Diego 4-2 in League Championship Series

[Jabez54]

Congrats for winning the playoff series ... (you've got this) ...

[Westheim]

Whew, that was closer than I thought.

But what did I say? I almost feel sorry for those Stars, Stallions, and Bombers. Seems to work out

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Championship Series
San Diego Stallions (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

The Pacific Division champion Stallions were #3 in runs scored but only #9 in runs allowed. Their typically strong starting rotation has been decimated by injuries. Their best player is 1B Will Walker (.306/.389/.634, 51 HR, 133 RBI). He is protected in the lineup by veteran LF Jake Mullett (.325/.355/.606, 35 HR, 96 RBI). San Diego was 5-4 vs. Louisville this season.

GAME 1 @ Louisville: Russ Skiffington (16-9) vs. Antonio Luna (19-7)

Key Moment: San Diego was leading 3-1 in the fifth. There were two Louisville runners in scoring position and Tracy Sweeney, who had tripled his last time up, was at the plate. Sweeney was called out looking on a ball that wasn’t even close to the plate. Sweeney argued and was ejected before Byrne could get out of the dugout. I said “key moment” but in fact this was just one incident in a long day of frustration.

Final score: San Diego 4, Louisville 1
San Diego leads the series 1-0.

WP: Skiffington, LP: Luna, SV: Gomez
HR: SD – Mullett
Star of the Game: Skiffington 8 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 3 K

Other games:
Boston 10, Charlotte 0 (Boston leads 1-0)
Nick Smith threw a 1-hitter for the Bombers.

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Championship Series
San Diego Stallions (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 2 @ Louisville: Ennesbek Mkufunzi (10-6) vs. Ray Alexander (15-9)

Key Moment: Lefty Francisco Rodriguez* came in to pitch to the middle of the Stallions order in the eighth, leading 4-3. Rodriguez hit Walker with a pitch to put the leadoff man on base. Mullett singled with Walker stopping at second. Merced came in to face a right-handed pinch-hitter and struck him out looking. Vaughn Marsh was next and Merced struck him out looking also. Dan Coates reached on a cheap infield single to load the bases with two outs. Merced’s second pitch to weak-hitting catcher Pat Lewis was lined into the right field corner and all three runners crossed the plate to give San Diego a 6-4 lead. A solo home run by Bland in the ninth was not enough to change the outcome.

Final score: San Diego 6, Louisville 5
San Diego leads the series 2-0.

WP: Ramirez, LP: F.Rodriguez, SV: Gomez
HR: SD – Hooper; LOU – Morgan, Dominguez, Guy, Bland
Star of the Game: Morgan 2-3, TPL, inside-the park HR, 2 RBI

Other games:
Boston 7, Charlotte 6 - 11 innings (Boston leads 2-0)
Each favorite lost the first two games at home.

* note for Sal: Jones had already been used in the game

[Jabez54]

I know I didn't jinx this ... the team always bounce back ...

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Championship Series
San Diego Stallions (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 3 @ San Diego: Robert Westaway (18-5) vs. Miguel Colon (5-6)

Key Moment: When Byrne wrote Westaway’s name on the lineup card, but seriously...

The score was 2-0. Westaway, who was 3-4 at the plate, led off the fifth with a double. Simon fouled off six pitches and lined a double to left, driving in Westaway. Sanchez singled home Simon and stole second. Sweeney struck out. Morgan was walked intentionally. Bland drove the second pitch he saw into the center field stands to make the score 7-0, way more run support than Westaway would need.

Final score: Louisville 11, San Diego 0
San Diego leads the series 2-1.

WP: Westaway, LP: Colon
HR: SD – Hooper; LOU – Morgan, Dominguez, Guy, Bland
Star of the Game: Westaway 8 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 8 K

Other games:
Charlotte 7, Boston 5 (Boston leads 2-1)

Game Four tomorrow is critical – we don’t want to go down 3-1. Trauttmann will be on a very short leash. Fortunately, Westaway gave the entire bullpen a rest today and we won’t be shy about using them with Luna ready to go in game five.

[JoeyMac]

Mr Orcin, after 79 pages I've finally caught up. You've inspired my own fictional dynasty which has provided me some great entertainment. Any time I lose focus or need ideas I come here. Please carry on with this and best of luck in the FLCS.

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Championship Series
San Diego Stallions (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 4 @ San Diego: Wallace Trauttmann (15-8) vs. Russ Skiffington

Key Moment: Don Lyons led off the San Diego fourth in a scoreless game. He singled to left for the first hit by the Stallions. With one out, Will Walker received a free pass to first base. As Jake Mullett was strolling to the plate, Byrne and Bland came out to the mound to go over how the rookie should pitch to the dangerous San Diego outfielder. Byrne barely got back to the dugout when Mullett launched a three-run homer into the right-field seats. Skiffington just owns us, so the game might as well have been over right there.

Final score: San Diego 4, Louisville 1
San Diego leads the series 3-1.

WP: Skiffington, LP: Trauttmann, SV: Gomez
HR: SD – Mullett
Star of the Game: Skiffington 8 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K

Other games:
Boston 6, Charlotte 2 (Boston leads 3-1)
Nick Smith threw 7 shutout innings for Boston, allowing only 2 hits.

[Westheim]

Oh come on! When even those lowly Bombers are able to follow through on my predictions, how come the Colonels can't!?

How can they score 11 runs for Westaway. 2's always enough for Westy. Save the rest for the other su- ... pitchers!

Uuuh, I have a bad feeling about this ...

[Jabez54]

NO ... No ... no ... I don't even hear the Fat Lady singing, just yet !!!

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Championship Series
San Diego Stallions (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 5 @ San Diego: Antonio Luna vs. Luke Bradley (8-8)

Key Moment #1: Byrne filled out his lineup card, and then hesitated for a moment. At the last minute, he erased the name of Lucio Martinez and filled in Filipe Carrego instead. Call it a hunch, but Martinez did have that snowflake by his name on the roster sheet provided by Paula Dunlap.

Key Moment #2: The game went to the eighth in a 2-2 tie. Morgan led off with a single. Guy forced him at second. Bland followed with another single to move the lead run into scoring position. Carrego was up and he had already justified Byrne’s confidence by reaching base his first three times up. Byrne glanced down the bench at Hartman, but he left Carrego in there. Call it a hunch. The veteran infielder, with perhaps his last shot at a ring, deposited a 2-1 pitch into the seats.

Final score: Louisville 5, San Diego 2
San Diego leads the series 3-2.

WP: Luna, LP: Bradley, SV: Garza
HR: SD – Mullett; LOU - Carrego
Star of the Game: Carrego 3-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Luna’s line: 8 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K

Other games:
Charlotte 3, Boston 1 (Boston leads 3-2)

Lexington SP Matt Henry (14-8, 3.25 ERA) was named AAA Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year-old right-hander will be a minor-league free agent in the off-season unless we can sign him first. Villa says Henry is a “minor league journeyman at best”.

[Sal, The Barber]

Tell the boys that they must refuse to let a guy named after a haircut beat them! Coming from a barber that ought to mean something.

And, by the way, if one of those pitchers doesn't hit this Mullett square in the back with a fastball, Sal is coming out of the stands with his scissors.

We got Westaway in one of the final two games, but which one? And who is on for the other? Does it go Westaway in 6 and Luna back in 7? Sal likes the Louievilles' chances if that's the case.

[Orcin]

2008 Federal League Championship Series
San Diego Stallions (92-70) vs. Louisville Colonels (102-60)

GAME 6 @ Louisville: Miguel Colon vs. Ray Alexander

Key Moment: Alexander had been brilliant through eight innings. Byrne sent him out to start the ninth with a 3-1 lead, but had second thoughts when pinch-hitter John Nelson opened the inning with a single. Byrne made an unusual move by calling for Nat Jones to finish the game against a string of left-handed hitters. Call it a hunch.

San Diego countered with right-handed pinch-hitter Girard Maini. Jones got Maini to ground into a double play. Monty Finley drove the first pitch he saw for a double and it wasn’t over yet with Will Walker at the plate. Byrne stayed with Jones and Walker grounded out to Simon, sending the series to a game seven with Westaway on the hill. San Diego will send Colonels-killer Russ Skiffington back to the mound on short rest.

Final score: Louisville 3, San Diego 1
The series is tied at 3.

WP: Alexander, LP: Colon, SV: Jones
HR: SD – Walker; LOU - Simon
Star of the Game: Alexander 8 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K

Other games:
Boston 8, Charlotte 3 (Boston wins 4-2)

[Sal, The Barber]

Sal's rule: Count on the Penguin Jones.

Sal was nervous just reading the game summary. He is thinking that perhaps he shouldn't come to the park for Game 7. Not sure Sal's heart can take it.