Any Given Sunday - The Sequel

[NYY #23]

Indianapolis Ravens (9-7) @ Texas Longhorns (9-7)

First a note about the Dallas Texans, who finished with an identical 9-7 record, but didn't get included in the tie breaker round. Last year I manually fixed it, but I'm going to let the tie breakers be scheduled in the game, even if that is unfair to teams like the Texans.



Duane Newton was named Player of the Game after holding the Longhorns to 2 runs on 7 hits while striking out 9. At the plate Newton also doubled, drove in 2 runs, and scored 2 runs.

Joe Swaim and Bill Grimes each drove in two runs for the Ravens with Roberto De La Cruz hitting a home run.

[NYY #23]

Enrique Perez of the Denver Bears hit .400 for the first time in his career with a .431 batting average. The 29 year old has come close previously hitting .390 in 1905 and is a career .374 hitter.



35 year old 1B Davey Elder never hit higher than .280 during his career, but became a member of the .400 club this year hitting .407.



Ty Cobb is still just 20 years old playing for the San Diego Sailors and hit .400 for the first time in his career with a .403 batting average. Last year Cobb hit .364.



29 year old Julian Garcia of the Philadelphia Liberty hit .435 this year, his first year as a full-time starter. While Garcia hit .444 last year it was with only 9 at-bats.



31 year old Angel Pagan hit .426 this season for the Minnesota Muskies, his first time joining the .400 club. His previous high batting average was .327.

[NYY #23]

This story should be pretty familiar, as Erik Crawford of the Titans won the Pitching Triple Crown for the second year in a row with 13 wins, a 2.20 ERA, and 161 strikeouts.

[NYY #23]

New York Titans - 6th playoff appearance, 1 Championship
Pittsburgh Rivercats - 4th playoff appearance, 0 Championships
Buffalo Blizzard - 4th playoff appearance, 0 Championships
Indianapolis Ravens - 4th playoff appearance, 0 Championships
Orlando Wizards - 5th playoff appearance, 0 Championships
Denver Bears - 6th playoff appearance ,0 Championships
Minnesota Muskies - 2nd playoff appearance, 0 Championships
Tampa Pirates - 4th playoff appearance, 1 Championship
Brooklyn Saints - 4th playoff appearance, 1 Championship
San Francisco Legion - 3rd playoff appearance, 1 Championship
Seattle Angels - 4th playoff appearance, 1 Championship
Carolina Breakers - 5th playoff appearance, 0 Championships

[NYY #23]

Indianapolis Ravens (10-7) @ Orlando Wizards (11-5)



Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth Troy Osborn stepped to the plate with two men on and hit a three run walk off home run to give the Wizards a 4-3 win over the Ravens and advance to the next round of the playoffs. The 22 year old Osborn was ranked as the #37 prospect in baseball before the season and hit .246 with 4 home runs and 10 RBI in his first full season.

40 year old Ben Howell picked up the win for the Wizards while striking out 7.

[NYY #23]

Pittsburgh Rivercats (10-6) @ Buffalo Blizzard (10-6)



Robbie Mitchell was named Player of the Game after going 4-5 at the plate with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored as the Rivercats beat the Blizzard 11-7. Jesus Marquez picked up 2 hits and drove in 4 RBI for the Rivercats.

[NYY #23]

Tampa Pirates (10-6) @ Brooklyn Saints (10-6)



Alex Sandoval hit a two run homer in the first inning, and three run homer in the sixth to win Player of the Game as the Pirates defeated the Saints 9-3.

Leroy Unicume may be 40 years old, but with a complete game allowing 3 runs and 7 hits he outpitched 29 year old Christian Oliver who allowed 9 runs in 7 2/3 innings to take the loss.

[NYY #23]

San Francisco Legion (10-7) @ Seattle Angels (11-5)

It was just last year that the Angels lost 14 games during the regular season, but they gave hope to bad teams everywhere this year with an 11 win season, and today advanced to the Division Round with a 3-2 win over the defending Champion Legion.



Martin Smith picked up the win for the Angels with a complete game, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 7 hits. Smith struck out 8 and walked 1.

[NYY #23]

Denver Bears (11-5) @ Orlando Wizards (11-5)



40 year old Ben Howell is hot right now, and continued his hot pitching with a complete game win allowing 1 run and striking out 8 to win Player of the Game as the Wizards beats the Bears 3-1 to advance to the ABC Championship Game.

22 year old Troy Osborn continued his hot postseason with a 3-4 night and 2 RBI. The Wizards hope their dynamic duo of age and youth can continue to lead them through the playoffs.

[NYY #23]

Pittsburgh Rivercats (10-6) @ New York Titans (13-3)

Last year the Pittsburgh Rivercats eliminated the New York Titans in the ABC Championship Game in eleven innings, and this year the Rivercats would eliminate the Titans in the Division Round with a big 9-1 win.

Jamie Weaver and Jesus Marquez would each homer for the Rivercats and drive in 3 runs.



Bryan Hayes would pick up Player of the Game honors with a complete game two hitter, striking out 10 batters.

It was another disappointing end of the season for the Titans and Erik Crawford. In 12 playoff starts Crawford is 6-5 with a 4.96 ERA.

[NYY #23]

Seattle Angels (11-5) @ Carolina Breakers (12-4)



Martin Smith was named Player of the Game after striking out 9 batters in 8 1/3 innings while allowing 3 runs on 3 hits. Smith added a single and scored a run.

Jorge Rojas singled and drove in two runs for the Angels.

Rey Ray took the loss for the Breakers after giving up 5 runs in 9 innings. During the regular season Ray never gave up more than four earned runs in a game.

[NYY #23]

Tampa Pirates (10-6) @ Minnesota Muskies (12-4)



Leroy Unicume became the second 40 year old starting pitcher to advance to a League Championship Game after the Pirates won 4-3 over the Muskies. Unicume would pitch 9 1/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 13 hits while striking out 4.

Bailey Cooper had two hits and drove in two runs for the Pirates.

Jose Lozano took the loss for the Muskies after pitching 10 innings while striking out 11.

[NYY #23]

Pittsburgh Rivercats (10-6) @ Orlando Wizards (11-5)



The veteran Ben Howell pitched a complete game four hitter, allowing one run and striking out 5 to win Player of the Game as the Wizards advance to the Championship Game after beating the Rivercats 2-1.

Ricardo Ortega doubled home a run for the Wizards, and German Martinez delivered the walk off ninth inning double to end the game for the Wizards.

[NYY #23]

Tampa Pirates (10-6) @ Seattle Angels (11-5)

Trailing 4-1 the Pirates had a big seventh inning in which they scored 4 runs on 4 hits to take the lead, and the Pirates would go on to win 6-4 to advance to the Championship Game. The Pirates got big RBI singles in the inning from Leroy Unicume, Ramon Rivera, and Alex Sandoval, who drove in two runs.



Leroy Unicume would earn his third win of the postseason despite allowing 4 runs on 10 hits and 4 walks.

Angels starter Martin Smith set the Angels' playoff record with 12 strikeouts, despite taking the loss.

[NYY #23]

Tampa Pirates (10-6) @ Orlando Wizards (11-5)

The Tampa Pirates would be playing for their second Championship, while the Orlando Wizards would be playing for their first Championship.

The game would feature a battle of 40 year old starting pitchers with Leroy Unicume (9-6, 3.08) getting the start for the Pirates and Ben Howell (9-3, 3.98) making the start for the Wizards.

The Pirates would score first in the second inning when Ben Cooper drew a walk and came home to score on a fielder's choice. They'd add a run in the fifth when Kenny Rush doubled and scored on an error.

The Pirates would blow open the game in the sixth with a three run inning, with RBI doubles by Bailey Cooper and Eric Martin, and an RBI single by Kenny Rush.



Leroy Unicume would pick up the win with a complete game, striking out 9 while allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. Unicume did set a playoff record with his bat, but it's a record that he didn't want, striking out 5 times in the game.

Congratulations to the Pirates who became the first team to win two World Championships.

[NYY #23]

ABC Gold Gloves

Pitcher
Rusty Conklin (Cleveland Lakers)

Catcher
Roberto Román (Orlando Wizards)

First Baseman
Bill Gibson (Pittsburgh Rivercats)

Second Baseman
Agustín Núñez (San Diego Sailors)

Third Baseman
Reese Brown (Dallas Texans)

Shortstop
Augusto Rodríguez (Cleveland Lakers)

Left Fielder
Pippino Bonizo (Dallas Texans)

Center Fielder
Héctor Rivera (Denver Bears)

Right Fielder
Robbie Mitchell (Pittsburgh Rivercats)

NBC Gold Gloves

Pitcher
Josse Crispim (Chicago Blues)

Catcher
José Rodríguez (Chicago Blues)

First Baseman
Cliff Brewer (Seattle Angels)

Second Baseman
Tucker Miller (Michigan Wolverines)

Third Baseman
Chad Miller (Arizona Wildcats)

Shortstop
José García (Arizona Wildcats)

Left Fielder
José López (Seattle Angels)

Center Fielder
Larry Worley (San Francisco Legion)

Right Fielder
Joe Walsh (Arizona Wildcats)

[NYY #23]

ABC Silver Slugger Awards

Pitcher
Erik Crawford (New York Titans)
.278/.344/.333, 54 AB, 0 HR, 0 SB, 96 wRC+, -0.0 WAR

Catcher
Lamberto Crisci (New York Titans)
.348/.387/.606, 66 AB, 3 HR, 0 SB, 173 wRC+, 0.8 WAR

First Baseman
Leonardo Estrada (San Diego Sailors)
.256/.522/.628, 43 AB, 4 HR, 1 SB, 207 wRC+, 1.0 WAR

Second Baseman
Cipriano Padilla (Los Angeles Bombers)
.375/.471/.536, 56 AB, 2 HR, 7 SB, 161 wRC+, 0.9 WAR

Third Baseman
Reese Brown (Dallas Texans)
.365/.446/.857, 63 AB, 8 HR, 3 SB, 253 wRC+, 1.8 WAR

Shortstop
Adalberto Doll (New York Titans)
.375/.452/.688, 64 AB, 5 HR, 4 SB, 201 wRC+, 1.0 WAR

Left Fielder
Gavvy Cravath (Indianapolis Ravens)
.304/.466/.571, 56 AB, 3 HR, 6 SB, 177 wRC+, 0.7 WAR

Center Fielder
Luis Ramos (Buffalo Blizzard)
.313/.397/.594, 64 AB, 5 HR, 9 SB, 180 wRC+, 1.3 WAR

Right Fielder
Enrique Pérez (Denver Bears)
.431/.477/.810, 58 AB, 5 HR, 0 SB, 258 wRC+, 1.0 WAR

NBC Silver Slugger Awards
Pitcher
Christian Oliver (Brooklyn Saints)
.286/.286/.339, 56 AB, 0 HR, 0 SB, 50 wRC+, -0.5 WAR

Catcher
León Ortíz (Philadelphia Liberty)
.279/.353/.541, 61 AB, 4 HR, 0 SB, 146 wRC+, 0.8 WAR

First Baseman
Tom Lacy (Philadelphia Liberty)
.300/.351/.571, 70 AB, 5 HR, 1 SB, 145 wRC+, 0.6 WAR

Second Baseman
Bruce Burns (Chicago Blues)
.380/.475/.580, 50 AB, 2 HR, 3 SB, 185 wRC+, 0.8 WAR

Third Baseman
Miguel Martínez (St Louis Lions)
.284/.333/.537, 67 AB, 5 HR, 1 SB, 139 wRC+, 0.6 WAR

Shortstop
Ángel Pagán (Minnesota Muskies)
.426/.521/.869, 61 AB, 8 HR, 2 SB, 278 wRC+, 1.5 WAR

Left Fielder
Lee Wall (San Francisco Legion)
.338/.382/.732, 71 AB, 6 HR, 5 SB, 209 wRC+, 1.3 WAR

Center Fielder
Dave Ware (Carolina Breakers)
.323/.427/.500, 62 AB, 2 HR, 10 SB, 154 wRC+, 0.7 WAR

Right Fielder
Miguel Cardenas (St Louis Lions)
.317/.397/.833, 60 AB, 9 HR, 3 SB, 238 wRC+, 1.1 WAR

[NYY #23]

The Rookie of the Year Award is one that doesn't always work out as it should, but this year the winners both did qualify as rookies.



In the ABC it was Mark Cruz of the Bombers who won the Rookie of the Year Award after hitting .360 with 3 home runs, 6 RBI, and 14 runs scored.



Julian Garcia of the Liberty was named Rookie of the Year in the NBC. The 29 year old second baseman hit .435 with 2 RBI, 7 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases.

[NYY #23]

Erik Crawford of the Titans won his second straight, and third overall Pitcher of the Year Award. Crawford was 13-3 with a 2.20 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 139 innings and 4.6 WAR. Crawford won his second straight pitching Triple Crown.

Bill Egan (4-3, 2.73 ERA) of the Buffalo Blizzard finished second while Christy Mathewson (8-8, 3.97) of the Longhorns finished third in voting.



Like Crawford in the ABC, Rey Ray of the Breakers won his second straight, and third overall Pitcher of the Year Award. Ray went 12-4 with a 1.77 ERA while striking out 142 batters in 142 innings, and had a 4.7 WAR.

Finishing second in Pitcher of the Year voting was Leroy Unicume (9-6, 3.08) of the Pirates with Christian Oliver (10-6, 2.67) of the Saints finishing third.

[NYY #23]

28 year old 3B Reese Brown of the Dallas Texans was named Most Valuable Player in the ABC after hitting .365 while leading the league with 8 home runs and 26 RBI. Brown scored 15 runs, stole 3 bases, and had a WAR of 1.8. This was Brown's first MVP Award, and he has previously won 2 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Slugger Awards.

Finishing second was another third baseman, Jose Palacios of the Bears who hit .381 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI. RF Robbie Mitchell of the Rivercats finished third after hitting .396 with 4 home runs and 9 RBI.



Shortstop Angel Pagan of the Minnesota Muskies was named MVP in the NBC after hitting .426 with 8 home runs and 22 RBI. Pagan led the league with 17 runs, 26 hits, a .521 OBP, a .869 SLG, and a 1.389 OPS. It was Pagan's first MVP, and best season of his career for the Minnesota fan favorite.

Lee Wall of the San Francisco Legion finished second after hitting .338 with 6 home runs and 17 RBI. In third place it was Miguel Cardenas of the Lions who hit .317 with 9 home runs and 12 RBI.