The IBL's Chicago Iron Pigs

[gehrig38]

Chicago RF, team MVP, team leader and possible league MVP is looking to add another potential trophy, or crown in this case, on that mantle: The Triple Crown.

But if you value your health you won't go near that conversation when he's around.

"Look, I get paid to WIN games, period. All that other 'stuff' is out of my control, and completely on you guys. If I go 0-4 and we win, it's all good. If I hit 3 bombs and drive in 8 and we lose, what have I done?"

"This game is about winning, period and that's all I care about. I've found these numbers they pay us by, and you talk about, all fall into place when you focus on winning and doing your job."

When it was noted he was having an even better year than he did last year, and what had he done to get so much better?

"I'm in the middle of an amazing lineup. Shoot we got a kid leading off with what, 25 something bombs? Goot is doing what he does, Huddy is as well in addition to busting his ass behind the plate 130 plus times a year. Wes is becoming the bomber we all knew he would and ya, he's smelly to be around but the kid can flat out rake."

Then he added
"We've managed all this without 'the kid', Jean's been out for about the whole year and these guys have rallied and rallied. Damn, I missed a month and they scored more, what does that tell you?"

When asked 'why', and how this has happened he responded with something fans in the windy city love to hear:

"I love this team, I love this city and I love winning. If a triple crown happens, awesome, but I'm going to the plate trying to beat the snot out of the guy with the ball in his hand."

"Those hours you see me in the video room? Weight room? Those are what matter, those I can control."

"Take all this other crap and bug someone else with it, I got work to do."

He's become the best hitter in the game in many folks eyes, and now that he's taken over the lead from LA's Vincente Soto in the batting race there will be no shortage of triple crown conversations around him, and this team.

Alexander is currently 1st in the Coastal League in Batting Average at .344 to Soto's .343, 1st in Home Runs with 38, leading Michigan's Bob Herman by 7, and at 102 RBI's he trails only Soto's teammate in LA Jorge Garza by 1.

But don't talk about that 'stuff'

[gehrig38]

WEEK 21
3 @ New Hampshire (55-69 11 GB CL East)
4 @ Michigan (52-70 20 GB CL West)

GAME 124
Hopefully the last game of the year without SS Jean Chartier.
Bill Alexanders 39th HR, a 3 run shot, backed the pitching of Alfredo Alejandrez (16-7 3.64) who went 7-5-0-0-2-6 in the win. Hugh Collins 1-4 2 RBI’s included 2 stolen bases (19) and Ernesto Gutierrez stole his 23rd and also drove in a run.
CHI 6 NH 1 (71-53 2 GB) +7.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Staten Island 1B Alejandro Villanueva’s 2013 season is likely over. The slugger broke his thumb yesterday and will be out 5 weeks. He upped the ante in 2013, following a 2012 season that saw him hit 264-23-97 in 610 AB’s he went 265-32-94 in just 449 AB’s this year.

SS Jean Chartier was called up and IF Andrew Martin was optioned to Tulsa. I am gambling, again, with no rehab, and thinking I shouldn’t have.

GAME 125
Hugh Collins went 2-5 with his 24th double and 24 HR, driving in 2 and Jean Chartier singled in 2 in his return in part of an 11 hit 7 run night. Bill Alexander, Wes Morgan and Raul Feliz had 2 hit nights. Mark Williams left with a 2-0 lead but Jose Pacheco couldn’t keep the runs from scoring, tying it at 2 in the 7th. Chicago then erupted for 5 in the top of the 8th to win it for Ryan Pennington (3-2).
CHI 7 NH 2 (72-53 1 GB) +8.5 in the WC

GAME 126
Will Butler pitcher well (7-9-3-3-0-3) but 2 HR’s, including 1 a pitcher after Manager Jared Smith went to the mound to see how he was, left him with an ND. Chicago managed 3 runs on 7 scattered hits. Errors from Chartier and Sotolo helped New Hampshire take it 4-3.
NH 4 CHI 3 (72-54 2 GB) +7.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Phoenix (57-68 3.5 GB FL West) MR Luigi Thibaut will miss the next 4 months after having surgery to repair his labrum. The 28 year old spent the 2013 season in AAA after a 2012 season that saw him go 2-0 3 SV 4.63 in 51 games for Phoenix.

Ya, Phoenix is 3.5 back at 11 under!
Sacramento 62-66
El Paso 61-66
Edmonton 60-66
Phoenix 57-68


GAME 127
Trailing 4-3 into the 9th Chicago went like this: Feliz single, Gutierrez on a hit and run drills a 2 run HR, Sotolo singled, Collins grounded out, Hudson walks, Chartier K’s, Alexander singles scoring 2, Morgan HBP, Ferrer double scores 2, Felix F7. 5 runs on 5 hits to turn a 4-3 loss into an 8-4 win! Mike Davis went 6-6-4-4-5-4 and surrendered B Hermans 33rd HR in the 1st. Pennington (4-2) gets the win in 2.1 innings of 3 strikeout relief. Sotolo goes 3-4 with a double and 2 runs, Hudson (1B, 2B), Alexander 2 singles, Ferrer (1B, 2B) and Feliz 2 singles all have 2 hit days.
CHI 8 MICH 4 (73-54 1.5 GB) +7.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Frontier League MVP candidate Dean Strong will miss the next 1-2 weeks with a strained lat. The 27 year old Catcher is following up his spectacular 2012 season (304-37-119) with a superb 2013 that has him at 308-33-100.

GAME 128
Flowers stuggled, again.. But the pen came to the rescue getting huge out after huge out over 3.2 scoreless innings. Pennington (5-2) won it, while Pacheco (H18) and Frank (H12) got the game to Ernesto Cruz for the last 4 outs for his 36th Save. Chicago’s 13 hit attack was led by Eric Hudson 3-4 night. Bill Alexander went 2-5 with his 40th HR and drove in 3. Wes Morgan (17) and Bob Barbour (7) hit solo shots. Raul Feliz went 2-5 and Hugh Collins stole his 20th base, making him a 20/20 rookie.
CHI 7 MICH 6 (74-54 .5 GB) +8.5 in the WC


ORG NEWS
Andrew Martins 22 game hitting streak ended for AAA Tulsa today.

Bill Alexander is tied with Soto for the batting race at .345 and is now tied for the RBI lead with 109.

Bill Hill (DAY) is pacing the FL in both those categories again at 36-114.

GAME 129
The offense explodes for 6 in the first. Morgan (1-5 with an RBI) and Collins (1-1 hurt running the bases on the hit) double, and Dan Weaver drills his 20th as part of a 2-4 2 RBI day. Jean Chartier goes 2-4 driving in a run and Alexander goes 2-5 with a run and an RBI. Alejandrez (17-7) 6.1-3-2-2-3-5 continues his quest to be the 1st 20 game winner in franchise history. Gutierrez steals his 24th.
Hugh Collins will miss the next week with a sore back. I won’t make a move as roster expansion is a week away, if I can manage.
CHI 7 MICH 2 (75-54 .5 GB) +9.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Las Vegas OF Casey Blanchard went 4-5 in a 14-5 win over New Hampshire, and hit for the cycle in the process.

GAME 130
Williams hands van Bodegraven a 5-3 lead with a runner on, and 1 pitch later it’s 5-5 thanks to Dustin McMahon’s 7th HR. But Frank and Potts(3-2) hold Michigan scoreless and Dan Weaver drills a 2 run HR (21) with nobody out in the 9th. Bill Alexander goes 3-5 and scores twice, Weaver goes 2-5 with 2 RBI’s and Raul Feliz goes 3-4 with an RBI and 2 runs.
CHI 7 MICH 5 (76-54 .5 GB) +10.5 in the WC

WEEK 21 NEWS AND NOTES
It’s August 26th so I’ll give a thorough look at everything and everything and every one at the end of the month, including a top down in the organization.

Octavio Vasquez (BRO) tossed a 1 hitter to beat the Tulsa Drillers today. The shutout moved him to 12-8 3.69 on the year, this following a strong 14-10 3.98 2012.

Baron Roberts of West Michigan took home FL PotW honors after he went 12-25 with 4 HR’s and 13 RBI’s. Roberts went 323-33-108 in 603 AB’s last year, and this year is at 334-33-101 after 473 at bats.

Philadelphia 1B Antonio Vargas continued his strong ’13 season by winning CL PotW honors after going 11-21 with 5 HR’s and 13 RBI’s. He’s hitting 325-21-89 on the year.

Corpus Christi OF Martin Walley will miss the next 3 weeks with a strained rib cage. Walley is currently hitting 267-22-56.

Chicago has moved atop the IBL Power Rankings for the first time, at 117.2. Houston is 2nd.

STANDINGS AND STATS STUFF
With about 30 games left here’s a quick look.

Brooklyn leads the FL East at 70-61, 4.5 up on NY.

Tulsa is 72-58, 2 games up on West Michigan and Dayton.

El Paso is 62-68, that’s good enough for a .5 game lead on Sacramento and Edmonton. Phoenix, after their dismal 6-22 April, actually finds themselves IN the race just 3.5 back at 13 games UNDER .500 (58-71)

Philly is 3.5 up on Baltimore at 69-61 in the CL East.

We are now just a half game behind Houston, they’re at 76-53, we’re at 76-54! Never would have guessed that one!

Vegas is dominating the West, at 77-53 (best record in the IBL) they are 13.5 up on 64-67 LA.

West Michigan and Dayton are tied for the FL WC, NY is 5 back, Buffalo and San Antonio 6.5, Staten Island 7.

We are in command of the CL WC, at 76-54 we are 10 up on Baltimore.

The batting races are both close.
In the FL Garza (SI) leads Moore (NY) and Roberts (WMI) 340 to 335 to 334.

The HR race is just as close. Hill (DAY) has 37, Bryant (SI) has 35, and Takahashi (SAC) has 34.

Hill is 12 ahead of Clifton (EDM) in RBi’s 115-103.

Ernie Kelly (DAY) and Chicago’s Alfredo Alejandrez lead the IBL with 17 wins. Bartolo Serrano (DAY) and Raul Gonzalez (HOU) are 2nd at 16. Hell of a 1-2 in Dayton huh?

Thompson (BRO) leads O’Slattery (BAL) 210 to 208 for the IBL K Crown.

Shawn Calhoun leads all IBL Pitchers with a 2.25 ERA. Thompson is 2nd at 2.50 and Kelly 3rd at 2.67.

I’ll do a thorough run through on September 1st.

[kryakyu12]

Still only on page 4, but really enjoying the read so far! Looking forward to more!

[gehrig38]

WEEK 22
3 vs Columbus (59-72 18 GB CL Central)
4 2 Corpus Christi (60-70 16.5 GB CL Central)
After this week we run into division challenger Houston for the final regular season series this year a 2 game set in Chicago.
Class A Belleview clinched their division. They are 76-58 +8.

This week ends on September 2nd, so PotW and stuff will follow a large September 1st update after this post.

GAME 131
14 runs on 16 hits will erase a 5 run 3.2 inning start from your SP. Butler was bad, and the wind was howling out. Frank was the guy pitching when the worm turned and got the W (4-1). Every starter had a hit, and Gutierrez (8) Sotolo (4) and Flores (1) homered. Flores was 2-3 with 4 RBI’s playing 1B as Weaver and then Flores himself went down with injuries. Massi Lorenzelli went 2-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI’s. Chicago stole 5 bases (Chartier 2 (5), Lorenzelli (8), Alexander (2) and Barbour (14). MR Mike Moore was also hurt and will miss the next 3 days.
CHI 14 COL 8 (77-54 +.5!)
We’ve managed to wrestle away the division lead, which considering the Roughriders start, is nothing short of amazing.

LEAGUE NEWS
Michigan Closer Sherwood Jacobs will miss the remainder of the season with elbow tenderness. The 2012 Mariano Rivera Award winner was 3-4 28 SV and a 3.96 ERA.

Given my situation I can’t wait to get a diagnosis on Flores. He’s DL’d and Dave Lawhorn will back up for a week or so.

Mike Moore was also placed on the DL, and KJ was recalled, he’s had a super season closing in Tulsa. Prospect Rafael Flores will close for Tulsa in the meantime.

Also had a huge rash of nicks and scrapes around the minors leagues, something going on with my catchers, lots of juggling.

GAME 132
Ryan Pennington (6-2) can’t hold the lead. Davis (7.1-7-3-3-1-9) goes strong into the 8th before running out of gas, and J Sanchez hits a 2 run shot in the 8th to tie the game. Wes Morgans 2 run double in the bottom provides the margin and Ernesto Cruz notches his 38th save. Former Iron Pig Sean Parker (272-9-59) goes 2-3 with his 9th HR. We manage 13 hits, though 12 are singles. Ferrer goes 3-5 and Barbour, Gutierrez and Sotolo have 2 hit days in what amounted to a patchwork lineup.
CHI 7 COL 5 (78-54 +1.5)

ORG NEWS
Backup Rafael Flores has a strained Achilles and will be out 2 weeks.

LEAGUE NEWS
Phoenix Closer Arthur Newton will miss the next 7-8 months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The 35 year old had a 3.33 ERA and 39 saves last year, and was having a season for the ages this year, with 26 saves and a 0.81 ERA.

GAME 133
The staff gets beat all over the yard. Surrendering 14 runs on 15 hits. KJ’s return is ugly, 6 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and a hit batter. Flowers (8-7) gets hammered for 6 in 3, 5 earned. Clipper starter M Holmes goes 8-10-3-3-0-4 for his 15th (15-9). Weaver goes 3-4 and Chartier and Sotolo have 2 hit days.
COL 14 CHI 3 (78-55 +1.5)

ORG NEWS
Bakersfield OF Flynn Ash went 4-5 and hit for the cycle in an 8-2 win. He scored 3 and drove in 3.

GAME 134
A 3-3 game into the 8th, Hooks 3B Robert McPherson commits his 24th error on the year, allowing 2 runs to score and a Chicago 5-3 win. Sotolo goes 2-4 driving in 2 with his 6th HR, Alexander drives in a run in a 2-4 day and Barbour steals 3 bases. Alejandrez tires in the 7th (6-4-3-3-4-4) and Pacheco (6-4) and Frank (H13) hold into the 9th, where Cruz comes in a 3rd straight day for Save 39.
CHI 5 CC 3 (79-55 +1.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
For the 2nd year in a row LA’s Vincente Soto will try to win a batting title from the DL. Soto will be down for 3 weeks after straining an oblique, leaving him about a weeks worth of games. He currently leads Chicago’s Bill Alexander .346 to .345.

Dayton’s Ernie Kelly won his IBL leading 18th game yesterday, 3-2 over San Antonio. Kelly went 8-9-2-2-1-9 to equal his 2012 18 win season total. Dayton is 3 games behind division leading Tulsa, and tied with West Michigan for the WC lead in the Frontier League.

GAME 135
Hooks SP Antonio Espinoza (6-7 6.33) goes the route in a 2 hitter. 9-2-0-0-0-4. Mark Williams (13-6 4.52) grinds through some bad D and 2 HR’s with a 6-7-6-4-3-6 line.
CC 6 CHI 0 (79-56 +.5)

GAME 136
Will Butler (7-12) comes up small. 3.2-7-5-5-1-2 in a 6-4 loss. Got down early and the offense never kicked in. Morgan his his 18th, and he and Feliz each drove in 2. Sotolo went down running the bases, waiting on word.
(79-57 .5 GB) +10.5 in the WC

[gehrig38]

AUGUST WRAP UP, NEWS AND STUFF
Vegas 51 (80-56 +14.5 CL West) OF Jelmar Walraven will miss the next week, to two weeks, with a strained quad. Walraven is hitting 264-23-90 after a monster 258-30-118 2012. With their lead they can afford to rest him up for the playoffs.

Cy May went 5-6 with a HR (22) and 3 RBI’s in a 13-5 Houston win over Columbus yesterday.

New Yorks Mathew Moore continued his MVP calibder 2013 by adding another award. This time “Frontier League Player of the Month, August” as he hit .362 with 8 HR’s, 22 RBI’s and scored 23 times. This is his 2nd PotM award in 2013 (April).

Columbus Clipper All Star Catcher Dean Strong did the same, taking home his 2nd consecutive Coastal League Player of the Month award after hitting .441 with 12 HR’s and 30 RBI’s, and scoring 22 runs. Strong is having another MVP type season (304-37-119 in ’12) that has him hitting .308-33-100. He’s currently hurt and will likely return to the Clipper lineup in the next 4-5 days.

Brooklyn SP Octavio Vasquez won FL Pitcher of the Month for August. The 24 year old went 5-1 2.56 in 6 August starts with 27 K’s in 45.2 IP and is now 13-8 3.58 on the year. This following a 14-10 3.98 2012 season.

27 year old Vegas right hander Marshall Wall took home CL Pitcher of the Month honors for August. Wall went 5-1 2.72 in August, fanning 31 in 49.2 IP and holding opposing hitters to a .253 avg. Wall is 9-5 3.50 in 16 starts this year after being recalled from AAA Magnum to replace the injured Carter Lee in the 51’s rotation.

Buffalo Bison 2B Pedro Calderon won the FL Rookie of the Month Award for August. Calderon hit .377 with 3 HR’s, 10 RBI’s and scored 26 times. For the year Pedro is hitting .301-4-20 in 123 AB’s.

Fresno rookie Orlando Rios continued his monster freshman campaign, and Rookie of the Year battle with Chicago’s Hugh Collins, by winning the August Rookie of the Month for the Coastal League. Rios hit .333 with 11 HR’s and 28 RBI’s. For the year the 25 year old is hitting .290 with 34 HR’s and 111 RBI’s.

[gehrig38]

In the FL things are tight in 3 races for the playoffs, and stat races are crazy.
Brooklyn has a good hold on the East, with three games left vs all three division teams, they are in complete control of their fate.

Tulsa's surprise season continues, but Dayton is pushing. They see each other for the last time at the end of this week.

Sacramento is the only team near .500 in the lowly west, they play Edmonton and El Paso in 6 of their final 9.

It's looking like Dayton and West Michigan, or Tulsa if Dayton can overtake them, are going to battle for the wild card.

Races for the HR crown and batting title are looking like they'll go down to the wire, and Bill Hill is trying to take his 2nd RBI title, with a good lead righ tnow that will be tough to catch. Runas and Bradshaw will fight it out for the SB title.

Ernie Kelly just won his 18th, but the pitching titles all appear to be close ones, with the exception being Thompson lock on another K title. Calhoun has been consistent all year, and I expect he, Thompson and Kelly will finish 1-3 in the Koufax award race.

[gehrig38]

In the CL Philly is working for another East division crown, though the 13.5 game lead they had last September 1st is gone.
Houston is 9 games better than they were at this time last year, problem is we are 16 games better and this division is going to go to the final weekend if we can't pull it off sooner!
LA was 10 up on Vegas at this time last year, with the leagues best record at 83-53. Vegas is now the IBL pace setter in wins, and will likely be the 1st to clinch this year.
The WC is, for the most part, over. Houston or Chicago is going to win that.
Soto is again battling for a batting title, last year it was Rich Stone (FRE), this year it's Bill Alexander. Soto is banged up again, as he lost last years title while on the DL and failing to qualify, but he's back this week.
Alexander is having an MVP season and trying to become the first CL hitter to win a triple crown.
The pitching races are all close, again the exception being the strike out crown which O'Slattery is likely going to win again. Cruz is dominating and has overtaken Michael Ross (no doubt in part to them moving him into the setup role!)

[gehrig38]

Here's a peek inside the stat races

[gehrig38]

Our overall situation, with our minors and prospects report

[gehrig38]

Here's a deeper look at the Iron Pigs offense, and pitching, as of September 1.

[gehrig38]

GAME 137
Another bad Davis (3-5) start 4.1-8-6-6-2-2 and the offense clawed back close, but never got there. Craig Frank threw 2.2 dominating innings (5 K’s) to hold the line but the damage was done. Ernesto Gutierrez went 3-5 with a 1B, 2B and his 9th HR, scoring twice and driving in a run. Alexander drove in 2, and Morgan went 2-5. Collins stole his 21st. D Evans went 3-4 with a HR (24) and 3 RBI’s in the win.
CC 6 CHI 5 (1.5 GB) +9.5 in the WC

WEEK 22 WRAP UP AND NEWS
2012 CL MVP Bill Hill is pushing for another trophy. He’s barreling towards the finish line and earned FL PotW honors again this week (his 1st this year and 7th overall). Hill went 10-27 with 4 HR’s and 12 RBI’s last week.

Corpus Christi Hooks Edgar Rosa continued his good 2013 season with the CL PotW award. Rosa went 10-27 with 6 HR’s and 14 RBI’s last week. He had 5 HR’s and 11 RBI’s in the 3 game set vs Houston, right before our 3 game series in which he only had 1 HR and 3 RBI’s in 4 games.

ORG NEWS
Denison’s Julio Acevedo blanked Florence in Class A action today. His 1-0 2 hit SHO moved him to 3-4 4.56 since his demotion from Bakersfield.

Chicago is now 4th in the IBL Power Rankings at 102.8 (Houston, LV, Brooklyn)

[gehrig38]

WEEK 23
Chris Dixon (IF) Andrew Martin (IF) Leo Russell (OF) and Afredo Lozano (OF) were called up today. Tulsa is 2 games out of the WC with 5 left, and if they make it I’ll leave folks there to help them, other wise I’ll likely recall anyone on the 40 man, and possibly a MR or two to be added.

OFF DAY
2 vs Houston (80-56 and 1.5 games up on me, a series to wrest control or put myself in a deeper hole, I like where my club is, even though CC took it to us, the off day did us good!)
4 vs Baltimore (69-68 3.5 GB CL East)

GAME 138
1B Art Doane (281-17-61) and 3B Millard O’Reilly (292-22-80) are out of this series. Doane is out for 2 more weeks, O’Reilly 6 more days. I miss Gonzalez (17-9 4.07) and De La Garza but get a slumping Donahue (5-10 4.64) and Billon (5-2 4.58). I’ve skipped Jackson to give Alejandre the ball in the opener, and my only lefty Mark Williams (13-6 4.52) will go game 2.

A perfectly spun and managed game always falls apart when your closer, the last line of defense, doesn’t get it done. I can’t be mad, Cruz has been nails all year but what a time for his 2nd blown save. Alejandrez went 6-5-1-1-2-1, Pennington (H19), Johnson (H1) got it to Frank. Orlando Guerra doubled to lead off the 8th, Frank came in to reliever Johnson, he struck out Dave Miller, intentionally walked Cy May and Cruz came in to face Gus Case. Who then drilled a single to make it 2-2. Juan Amador hit a 3-1 pitch for a 2 run double to make it 4-2 Houston. Lorenzelli’s FC in the bottom made it 4-3, Jose Torres relieved Donahue (6-10 4.58) and nailed down his 11th save. Important to note Wes Morgan went down in the 5th running the bases, still waiting word on how bad.
HOU 4 CHI 3 (79-59 2.5 GB) +10 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Philly’s Antonio Vargas extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a 1-4 day in a 9-1 loss to Michigan.

NY 2B Birger Kjorsvik will miss another week with a sprained wrist.

GAME 139
Played for the tie, and got it. A day after blowing only his 2nd save Ernesto Cruz got back in the saddle, and 3 hitters later he’d notch his first 40 save season. Mark Williams was superb in 7-7-3-1-2-4 and Jose Pacheco and Ryan Pennington (7-2) threw a scoreless 8th. The game was knotted at 3 when Bill Alexander faced SP S De La Garza (3-3), Houston Manager refused to go to the pen and Alexander hit the 1st pitch he saw for a 2 run game winning HR (41). He finished the day with 3 RBI’s.
CHI 5 HOUS 3 (80-59 1.5 GB) +10.5 in the WC

GAME 140
Jean Chartiers 0-4 day turned into a beauty in the 10th. Tied 5-5 the 19 year old took an 0-2 pitch the other way for a 2 out 3 run walk off HR (6). Hugh Collins doubled and tripled, driving in 2 and Alexander and Martin had 2 hit days. Will Butler couldn’t get out of the 3rd (2-6-3-3-3-2) and the pen went 8 IP yielding 2 runs on 7 hits with 8 K’s. Riley Potts got the win (4-2).
CHI 8 BAL 5 (81-59 .5 GB) +11.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Dayton’s Bartolo Serrano tossed a 4 hitter in an 11-0 win over the Tulsa Drillers. The win pulled Dayton within 3 of Tulsa for the Central and kept them 1 game ahead of West Michigan in the WC. Serrano is 18-4 3.81 on the year.

Buffalo’s Shane Lacroix (282-34-101) will miss the remainder of the season after jamming his shoulder yesterday.

Phoenix Catcher Jerry Rouse will miss the next 9 months after tearing his ACL yesterday. The 30 year old has been the Greyhounds primary backup the past 2 seasons going a combined (284/352/405 in 98 games. Phoenix is 63-76 but still 5.5 games behind Sacramento (69-71) in the FL West.

ORG NEWS
Wes Morgan’s diagnosis game down after the game. The Slugger will miss the next 6 weeks, at least, with a sports hernia.

Bah. This is bad, borderline disaster. Believe it or not the defense is as big an issue as the bat. My offense is not swinging it particularly well, but his bat out for any length could be huge. I put him on the DL in hopes he’d heal a bit faster, but going to need someone to step it up.

Tulsa’s season ended and Carlos De La Torre (SP), Jeff Jackson (SP) Walt Thompson (IF) Melvin Watson (IF) and Brian Walker (OF) were called up. CL Jose Torres was added to the 40 man and called up as well.


GAME 141
Rookie reliever Jose Torres spelled a tired Ernesto Cruz and was thrown right into the fire tonight. A 7 run 6th turned a 4-1 deficit into an 8-4 lead and after the pen gave 2 back his fresh arm was the only one in the pen. With the game at 9-6 he came in, gave up a hit to the first IBL hitter of his career (Randolph Boyd) then K’d Juan Torres before walking Lando Jongmans. On a 3-2 pitch he got Antonio Feliciauo to roll into a 6-4-3 DP to notch his first career IBL save. Bill Alexander was the offensive story today. Hitting a solo shot (42) in the 5th and the a Grand Slam (43) in the 7 run sixth to go 4-4 with a double and 5 RBI’s.
CHI 9 BAL 6 (82-59 .5 GB) +12.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Ernie Kelly won his 19th (19-7 2.61) the other day and is now the IBL leader in wins.

Bill Hill has 39 HR’s and 133 RBI’s, both tops in the FL.

Barton Roberts (WMI) leads Mathew Moore .336 to .331 and Curt Whimster (TUL) is 3rd at .330 in the FL batting race.

Joel Runas (TUL) and Ron Bradshaw (SAN) are tied at 43 for the stolen base title.

Bill Alexander is at .343-43-123. The average puts him .003 behind Vincente Soto (LA) and he’s up 5 in HR’s on Bob Herman (MIC) and 9 in RBI’s on Jorge Garza (LA).

Kevin Moore stole his 50th, 1 off his record 51 of 2012.

Antonio Vargas (PHI) has hit in 22 straight.

Raul Gonzalez (HOU) has 18 wins, 1 more than Alejandrez (CHI) and Cecil Watts (CC).

ORG NEWS
Belleview won their opening round playoff series vs the Watertown Supernovas (SAN) 3-0. They face the Oakland Terror (NH) in the semi finals.

GAME 142
Carlos De La Torre got the spot start and pitched magnificently (7.1-5-3-2-1-5). Ryan Pennington (8-2) bridge to Ernesto Cruz who notched his 41st save. Hugh Collins went 2-3 with a solo shot in the 1st (25) and Leo Russell went 3-3 with a 2B and HR (1), scoring twice and driving in 2. Down 3-2 Chicago again rallied late, scoring 3 in the bottom of the 8th to grab the 5-3 lead and the win.
CHI 5 BAL 3 (83-59 .5 GB) +13 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Philly’s Antonio Vargas had his hitting streak stopped at 22 games today.

ORG NEWS
Heavener Sting OF Kyle Robinson (150th round pick in the inaugural draft) went 4-5 in a 12-8 win today, hitting for the cycle in the process. The 20 year old is hitting 310-7-21 in 116 AB’s this season.

GAME 143
Alejandrez goes 6-9-4-4-3-4 and Craig Frank (5-2) gets 9 strong outs. The comeback kids do it again. Down 4-2 in the 9th Hudson walks to leadoff, Collins walks and Jean Chartier loads the bases on a routine grounder that 1B can’t handle. Bill Alexander steps up, in a magical year that’s starting to feel even more magical, and he promptly strikes out. Young Andrew Martin, who’d entered the game in the 8th then lines the first pitch he sees into the gap for a bases clearing, game winning, 3 run double!
CHI 5 BAL 4 (84-59 +.5) BACK IN FIRST!

WEEK 23 WRAP UP AND NOTES/NEWS
El Paso’s Cayden Haynes took home FL PotW honors. He went 10-21 with 3 HR’s and 8RBI’s on the week.

Corpus Christi rookie OF Justin Ryan won the CL PotW award after he went 9-15 with 2 HR’s and 7 RBI’s.

ORG NEWS
Kyle Robinson of Heavener rode his cycle to a Gulf Coast League PotW award. The 20 year old went 14-29 with 2 HR’s and 6 RBI’s.
Chicago moves to #1 in the power rankings at 112.7 (Houston, Las Vegas, Tulsa, West Michigan)

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On 9/9/13 here's the IBL

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WEEK 24
3 vs Las Vegas (84-59 +14 CL West) Tied with your Chicago Iron Pigs for the IBL’s best record!
4 @ Fresno (64-79 20 GB CL West) Rookie of the Year candidate Orlando Rios is mashing! (287-35-114)

I honestly just realized that Chicago was tied for the best record in the league! Wow, that’s cool in a few ways. I’m hyper focused on so many things I missed the most important, wins and losses Given that this is completely unexpected and we’re good far faster than I had planned, my goal is to continue on the path I am on, and try to win while doing it.


GAME 144
Holy cow. In what is becoming a habit, the Iron Pig offense came out flat again. Down 2-1 going into the bottom of the 8th Chicago scored 5 runs on 3 hits 2 hit batters and a walk. Jean Chartiers 7th HR, a 3 run shot, was the back breaker. Mark Williams went into the 8th (7.1-5-2-2-4-6) and Jose Pacheco (7-4) got the final 5 outs for the win. Raul Feliz went 3-4 with an RBI, Dan Weaver went 2-4 with Chartier (12) and Feliz (13) stealing bags.
CHI 6 LV 2 (85-59 +.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
Pittsburgh SP Dan McFadden tossed a 6 hit shut out at Michigan today in an 8-0 win. The 25 year old moved to 5-2 4.77 in 19 games. Pittsburgh is now 4 back of Philly.

West Michigan has picked up 2 games on Tulsa, and is now tied with Dayton, 3 games back in the FL Central. Dayton and West Michigan are now tied for the FL Wild Card.

Edmonton has closed from 4 to 1.5 back of Sacramento in the FL West, still no one at .500.

Vincente Soto is now leading Alexander .346-.340 in the batting race.
Barton Roberts (WMI) has come from back a bit to overtake everyone in the FL batting race at .334, leading Mathew Moore (NY) and Ernesto Garza (SI) by .002.

Ernie Kelly (DAY) is the first IBL pitcher in 2013 to reach 20 wins.

GAME 145
Up against 29 year old Matthieu Cafasso (14-7 3.88 after a 20-9 2.99 2012). He has 146K’s and 28 walks in 174 IP.
Will Butler (8-12) and a host of arms managed to keep a slim lead long enough to get fireballer Ernesto Cruz in the game, where his perfect 9th resulted in his IBL leading 42nd Save. Johnson (H2) Moore(H6) and van Bodegraven (H12) held the lead after Butler (5.2-6-1-1-4-5) gave way in the 6th. Massi Lorenzelli’s 2 run double in the 4th made it 3-0. He finished 2-3 with 2 RBI’s. Cafasso (14-8) went the distance in the loss (8-8-4-4-0-3)
CHI 4 LV 3 (86-59 +1.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
Knights SS Paul Morris went 5-5 in a 7-6 win over Dayton. The 29 year old is hitting .312-4-40 in 301 AB’s this year.

Philly’s Dave Ladd went 1-4 to extend his streak to 20 games in a 7-5 win.

(FOUND A BUG! The game reported Walt Thompson as breaking the single season K record at 230, over Vincent Bray’s 229. They are in different leagues, but Thompson k’d 278 last season himself, so the record is recorded wrong)

ORG NEWS
Belleview won their semifinal round and will now meet the Beulah Valley Aviators (TUL) for the A(S) Title.

GAME 146
Augusto Velez (4-3 4.40) was a bit much today. 3 lone singles was all the offense could muster. Mike Davis (3-6 4.73) pitched well 6-5-3-1-3-3 but Jose Torres gave up a 2 out 2 run HR to the first hitter he saw to make a 3-0 game 5-0. Thomas Hood went 2-4 3 RBI’s and a HR (6) in the win.
LV 5 CHI 0 (86-60 +.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
Dayton is pulling out the stops. Trading 32 year old OF Bryan Mcarthur (388/464/506 in 54 games last year as a backup OF and just 32 games this year) to New Hampshire for 27 year old slick fielding 2B Evan Dunbar and 22 year old minor league OF Johnny Collins. Dunbar has spent 7 weeks on the DL this year and played in just 45 games, going 241/297/392 in 158 at bats. Dunbar will play 2B and hit 9th in the Dayton lineup. The 22 year old Collins has a slash line of 223/312/336 in 103 games in A ball this year. Both players are exceptional defenders and the thought is that Mcarthur adds to a team that is already the fastest offense in the IBL, where he’ll factor in next year. The injury to Dayton SS Edison Henderson was also a factor in this move, as Dayton is 4 games out of the FL Central and tied with division rival West Michigan for the Wild Card. Henderson is expected to miss at least another week, maybe 2.

Raul Gonzalez (HOU) won his 19th, and is leading Cecil Watts (CC) by 1.

Mike Holmes (COL) leads Watts in the ERA race 3.18 to 3.17.

Pittsburgh has moved 3 back of Philly, passing the Railcats, who are now 4.5 back.

Alexander is trailing Soto .346-.336 in the batting race, Philly’s Dave Ladd is now at .330.

GAME 147 (15 left!)
We draw Santiago Medina today (13-13 3.61). We’re giving De La Torre a 2nd start in place of Flowers.

De La Torre pitched like the rookie we expected (4-10-4-4-1-2) but the pen went 5 hitless innings punching out 6. Down 4-0 we got 1 in the 5th, where it stayed until, you guessed it, the 9th. Grizzly closer Jesus Mejia came in to protect a 4-1 lead (Closer Glen Hanna is out the next three days with a virus) and walked Alexander to start the inning. Weaver K’d and then Jean Chartier doubled, to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Raul Feliz hit a soft liner to right that rookie slugger Orlando Rios misplayed, making it 4-2 runners on the corners. Catcher Eric Hudson drilled a first pitch fastball down the left field line, into the 2nd deck for a 3 run bomb, and a 5-4 lead. Ernesto Cruz threw 9 strikes in 12 pitches, K’d 2, and had his league leading 43rd save. Sib van Bodegraven got the win (3-2).
CHI 5 FRE 4 (87-60 +.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
Michigans season continued to free fall as they added 3B Luis Manuel Osorio to their list of DL members. The 31 year old will miss the remaining 2 weeks with torn ligaments in his thumb. He was hitting 270-29-79 in 116 games.

The Fisher Cats put their 4th SP on the DL today. Roberto Salazar, the 23 year old prospect (#10 in the IBL in 2012) will undergo surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. The lefty is expected to be ready for 2014 spring training.

Cecil Watts (CC) joined Raul Gonzalez as Coastal League 19 game winners, those two, with Ernie Kelly (DAY) are vying to be the first 20 gamers in the IBL.

Dayton beats West Michigan 1-0 in the first of a crucial 4 game series, in Dayton, between these two teams. They came into the series tied for 2nd, 3 games back, and tied for the Wild Card. WMI Starter Shaun Calhoun (14-11 2.11) took the loss throwing a complete game (8-7-1-1-3-6)

Ernesto Cruz’s 43 saves are 4 better than Julio Arroyo of Philly, and 1 back of Bill Barlow (DAY) and Greg Patterson (BRO).

GAME 148
Eric Hudsons 2-5 6 RBI day was capped off with his 8th inning Grand Slam (8). Bill Alexander went 2-4 and scored twice, Raul Feliz went 2-3 scored twice and drove in 2 and Ernesto Gutierrez scored 3 times in a 1-3 2 walk day. Alfredo Alejandrez tied the Iron Pigs single season record (Mike Davis 18-8) with his 18th win (18-7 3.57) going 7-3-1-1-3-6. Jack Jackson mopped up with 2 hitless innings.
CHI 11 FRE 1 (88-60 +.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
Dayton made it 2 in a row over West Michigan, this time in a 2-0 win as Thomas Savary (2-4 5.68 sice being acquired from Fresno) tossed 7.2 scoreless innings and Bill Barlow notched his 45th save. Bill Hill’s 46th HR, a 2 run shot in the 3rd, was all the scoring.

THE FL Batting race is now razor thin close. Roberts (WMI) leads Moore (NY) and Garza (SI) .331-.330-.328.

Hill is 4 up on Takahashi (SAC) 46-42 in HR’s, 27 up on Moore (NY) in RBI’s.
Barlow (DAY) and Patterson (BRO) are tied with 45 saves.

Ernie Kelly (DAU) sits atop the wins board at 20, amazingly his strongest competitor is rotation mate Julio Serrano at 18!

Jim Peck (BUF) becomes the 3rd SP in the IBL to reach 200K’s this year.

Shawn Calhoun (WMI) is almost a half run better than the next closest FL pitcher (Kelly) at 2.11-2.56.

Soto has Alexander by .008 (.346-.338), Ladd (PHI) is closing at .334.

Dave Ladd’s hitting streak is now at 23, the longest such streak in the first 2 seasons of IBL play.

The CL ERA race is Holmes (COL) 3.17 Hobbs (LA) 3.19 Watts (CC) 3.22.
Alejandrez trails Gonzalez (HOU) and Watts (CC) who have 19 wins to his 18.
Vegas looks to be the first ‘Clinch’ of the year, they are 12 up with 14 to play (though Chicago, or Houston could clinch a berth with Corpus Christi 12.5 back in the WC).

ORG NEWS
Belleview is tied 1-1 in their championship series.

GAME 149
Too much Steve Taylor (13-13 5.87). The Fresno starter went 8-7-1-1-0-6 and Qi-chen Jungs 3 run homer (15) in the 3rd was all he needed. Mark Williams (13-7 4.29) went 6-5-3-3-5-5. Ernesto Gutierrez went 3-4 in the loss, stealing his 26th.
FRE 4 CHI 1 (88-61 +.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
Dayton made it 3 in a row and Ernie Kelly set a new single season record for wins (21-7 2.59) in a 5-4 win. Kelly gave up 16 hits! In 8 innings of work, and 33 year old Yohann Diffenderffer (ya, that’s his name) spelled Closer Bill Barlow for his 3rd save of the year. Diffenderfer is 9-2 3 SV 2.70 in 63 games covering 86.2 IP, with 105 K’s. Dayton is still 4 behind Tulsa but now 3 up on West Michigan in the WC race.

Brooklyn has opened up the FL East to 9 games over Staten Island.

Sacramento is threatening to get to .500! And is now 3.5 up on Edmonton, 5 on El Paso.

Philly had opened up the CL East to 5 over Pittsburgh, 5.5 over Baltimore.

Chicago now has an IBL best 88 wins, followed by Houston’s 87. Vegas has gone 3-8 in their last 11.

GAME 150
Trailing 3-0 then 4-2 Chicago continues their ‘month of the comeback’. Scoring 3 in the top of the 6th, then allowing 3 in the bottom to trail 7-5, they bust out for 5 in the top of the 7th and hold on for a 10-8 win. Will Butler struggled (5.1-8-5-5-1-0) and the entire pen got in on the action. Frank (H15) Pacheco (8-4) Pennington (H20) vsn Bodegraven (H13) and Torres (H1) put the game in Ernesto Cruz’s hands and after a small hiccup, 2 hits and a run, he nailed down his CL leading 44th save. An 11 hit attack led by Jean Chartiers 3-5 2 run day, included Raul Feliz’s 1-4 4 RBI’s with his 11th HR and Bill Alexander went 3-4 scoring twice and driving in a run. Rookie slugger Orlando Rios went 3-4 with his 37th HR and 3 RBI’s in the loss (he’s now at 320-37-120!)
CHI 10 FRE 8 (89-61 +1.5)

WEEK 24 WRAP UP, NEWS AND NOTES
Dayton 3b Julian Martinez took home FL PotW honors after his 12-23 1HR 3 RBI run. The 29 year old is having a great season, hitting 292-5-65 in 145 games.

Riverhounds 1B Ross Tunstall won his CL PotW award in the past 2 months after he went 9-21 with 6 HR’s and 10 RBI’s last week.

ORG NEWS
We are tied for first in the IBL power rankings with Brooklyn at 113.8 (Tulsa, Houston, Las Vegas)

Belleview is up 2 games to 1 in their best of five championship series.

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Standings, leaders, 12 games to go!

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Going to post the standings, leaders so you don't have to scroll around to compare how everyone's done the past week. Then the Week 25 wrap!

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WEEK 25
3 vs Pittsburgh (74-76 4 GB CL East. Playing the top 2 teams in the east with a likely shot at impacting that race in a big way, which could impact who we play in the post season)
Off Day! (First in three weeks and SORELY needed)
3 @ Philadelphia (78-72 +4 CL East)

GAME 151
Mike Davis gets his start shortened via rain delay and Jack Jackson (3-5) has another stellar relief appearance (4-1-0-0-2-1). Ken Johnson decided to make it a save opportunity after entering the 9th up 6-1, so Ernesto Cruz came in with 2 outs, bases loaded and after a hit, got the final out for his 45th save. Don Weaver snapped out of his funk with a 3-4 day, Hugh Collins did the same in a 2-5 2 run 3 RBI day that saw him hit his 26th HR. Bill Alexander went 2-4, scoring 1 and driving in 1.
CHI 6 PIT 4 (90-61 +1.5)

NEWS AND STUFF
We, along with Houston, became the first to clinch a playoff berth. LA is now 12.5 back in the WC, with 11 to play.

Dayton beat Edmonton 10-3, moving 3 back of Tulsa and keeping West Michigan (8-0 winners over Brooklyn) 2 back in the WC.

Sacramento beat Tulsa to move 1 game under .500, and bump El Paso AND Edmonton to 4.5 back.

Moore (NY) and Roberts (WMI) are tied for the FL batting race at .329
Raul Gonzalez notched his 20th win.

GAME 152
Rookie Carlos De La Torre (0-1) struggled again, and the hurt himself (diagnosis pending). He went 3-3-4-4-3-4. Bill Flowers came in in the 5th and threw 4.2 outstanding innings (maybe my rotation rejects are finding a home as mop ups?). The offense sputtered, managing a run on 6 hits. Hugh Collins stole his 24th base (26HR 24SB his rookie year, I’ll take it! Unfortunately I think Rios has a lock on Rookie of the year). Riverhound starter Carlos Villanueva (11-11 5.12) went 7-5-1-1-1-3 for the win.
PIT 7 CHI 1 (90-62 +.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
Philly’s Dave Ladd set a new hitting streak record, which ended today at 24 games.

The Las Vegas 51’s clinched the Coastal League Western Division title today with a 13-3 win over Michigan. They’ve already equaled their 2012 win total of 87.

Dayton lost 6-4 to Edmonton while West Michigan won 4-3 over Brooklyn.

Sacramento beat Tulsa 6-4 so Tulsa is 3 up on Dayton, 4 on WMI, and

Sacramento reaches .500! 4.5 up on El Paso and Edmonton.

Corpus Christi’s Cecil Watts became the 3rd IBL 20 game winner.

ORG NEWS
De La Torre has an ab issue, and is out for the next 4 weeks…..

The Belleview Rawhides took home the IBL Class A Southern League Title with a 3-1 series win over Tulsa Driller affiliate Beulah Valley Aviators.

Ernesto Cruz’s 45 saves are 1 shy of Sherwood Jacobs IBL record 46.

GAME 153
Hugh Collins (27) and Bill Alexander (45) hit HR’s in the 8th to tie it at 6, from down 6-3, but the pen gives way in the 10th, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Alfredo Alejandrez goes 7.1-5-3-3-3-5 and Ryan Pennington fails to keep it knotted. All told the pen, in 2.2 innings, gives up 6 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. Jose Torres (0-1) takes the loss. Collins, Gutierrez and Chartier have 2 hit days, Feliz steals 2 bases (16).
PIT 9 CHI 6 (90-63 .5 GB) +13 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Dayton beat Edmonton 7-3, Sacramento beat Tulsa 14-4, West Michigan lost to Brooklyn 8-3. Dayton is within 2 of Tulsa, and up 2 on West Michigan in the WC. Sacramento about sealed up their 2nd Western Division title, as they stand 5.5 up with 9 to play. And for goodness sakes they’re over .500!

Bill Alexander is still .006 behind Vince Soto, .344 to .338. Alexander is 5 up in HR’s and 6 up in RBI’s to Rookie Orlando Rios (FRE).

ORG NEWS
Short Season Heavener missed the playoffs by 1 game at 39-37.

OFF DAY NEWS
Philly beats Baltimore to move 4 up on Pittsburgh. We are headed to Philly and then they have 3 AT Pittsburgh.

Moore (NY) Garza (SI) and Roberts (WMI) are all tied at .327 in the FL batting race!

Coastal League Pitcher of the Month Las Vegas’ Marshall Wall threw a 3 hitter vs Michigan yesterday. Wall punched out 7 in moving to 11-6 3.62 in 20 starts this year.

Team trainer Ricco Cotichini is saying 4 weeks for Wes Morgan… That’s looking like I’d need to get into the 2nd round at least, to have a chance at getting him back.

GAME 154
Jean Chartiers 7th inning grand slam (9) turned a 4-2 game into a rout. Eric Hudson went 2-4 with 3 RBI’s and his 9th HR, Don Weaver hit his 22nd. Bill Alexander went 2-4 with a run and an RBI. The offense backed 7 strong innings from Mark Williams (14-7 4.22) 7-3-2-2-3-1.
CHI 9 PHI 2 (91-63 +.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
El Paso’s Bob Park (acquired earlier in the year from Fresno) tossed a 4 hitter over Dayton today, winning 3-0. The win moved El Paso 4 back of Sacramento who lost 6-3 to Edmonton (moving them 4.5 back) and West Michigan’s 7-4 win over NY moved them 1 behind Dayton in the WC, and 3 behind Tulsa who lost 5-2 at Phoenix. Tulsa has lost 4 straight.

GAME 155
Raul Feliz hits a 2 out RBI double in the 8th to tie the game at 3. In the 9th Ernesto Gutierrez gets HBP to start the inning and all is well, but Bill Alexander hits into a DP on the first pitch. No worries, 19 year old phenom Jean Chartier hits an 0-1 fastball off the foul pole to give the Iron Pigs a 4-3 lead that Ernesto Cruz slams the door on, for his 46th save. Alfredo Sotolo (7) and Hugh Collins (28) hit solo shots in the win. Will Butler goes 6.1-3-3-1-6-2 in the ND, and rookie Jose Torres notches his first IBL win (1-1) getting the last 2 outs in the 8th.
CHI 4 PHI 3 (92-63 +.5)

LEAGUE NEWS
Lando Jongmans, Railcat 2B will miss the final 5 games of the season after his ankle injury didn’t respond to treatment, he’s been out for a few days already. He’ll finish the 2013 season at 265-28-81 in 124 games.

Tulsa lost 8-4 to Phoenix. Combined with Daytons 4-2 win over El Paso and West Michigans 9-3 over NY, Tulsa is now just 1 game up on Dayton, 2 on West Michigan. Dayton leads WMI by 1 in the WC. Tulsa has now dropped 5 straight games, going from 4 up less than a week ago, to 1.

Barton Roberts (WMI) Mathew Moore (NY) and Ernesto Garza (SI) remain tied for the FL Batting race at .328.

Raul Gonzalez tied Ernie Kelly with his 21st win.

Bill Alexander is now 10 pts behind Vince Soto for the batting title, and just 1 RBI ahead of Orlando Rios (FRE).

GAME 156
A 2-0 lead evaporates as Ryan Pennington comes into the game in the 7th and surrenders Carlos Arredondo’s solo shot (11) and Raul Flores pinch hit 2R HR (14) in a span of 3 hitters. Bill Alexander makes it all ok hitting a solo shot (46) in the 9th to tie the game at 4. The joy is short lived when Jose Pacheco (8-5) serves up Kevin Peters 29th double and the Freedom walk it off in 10 5-4. Alexander, Feliz and Weaver have 2 hit days and drive in a run each. Feliz scores 2 and steals 2 (19) and Hugh Collins steals his 25th.
PHI 5 CHI 4 (92-64 +.5)

WEEK 25 NEWS AND NOTES
Tulsa beats Phoenix 12-9 to snap their 5 games skid, coupled with Dayton’s 8-2 loss to El Paso and Tulsa moves to 2 games up on both Dayton and the White Caps. WMI beat NY 3-1 for their 3rd win in a row.

El Paso’s loss, coupled with Sacramento’s 5-4 win over Edmonton, moves the River Cats back to .500, and 4 up with 6 to play. Edmonton has 7 left.

Pittsburgh lost a crucial game in the standings after being shut out by 22 year old Ed Lawson of New Hampshire. Lawson allowed 4 hits in moving to 12-15 4.98 on the year.

24 year old OF Caden Haynes of El Paso won his 2nd FL PotW award of the month, and 3rd of the year after he went 12-25 with 2 HR’s and 9 RBI’s. The young outfielder is hitting 298-30-107 after a 2012 season that saw him hit 262-21-78.

Corpus Christi OF Don Evans went 12-25 with 6 HR’s and 11 RBI’s on the week to take home CL PotW honors. Evans is in the midst of another fantasic year hitting 309-33-87 in 130 games. This follows a 2012 when he hit 297-32-84 in 141 games.

Bill Alexander leads the IBL in slugging at .650, .016 ahead of Michigan’s Bob Herman.

Chicago is atop this weeks power rankings at 107.2 (Houston, West Michigan, Tulsa, Dayton)

OFF DAY NEWS
Tulsa beat Edmonton 4-2 to move 2.5 up on Dayton who lost 5-2 to Phoenix. The loss by Dayton puts them .5 game behind West Michigan in the Wild Card.

Brooklyn clinched their first FL Eastern Division crown on their off day. San Antonio’s 8-3 win over Staten Island eliminated the Yankees from contention (never get tired of saying that..)

We moved to a full game up as Cecil Watts (CC) won his 21st game (21-8 3.07) beating Houston 6-2. The 21 wins ties him with Houston’s Raul Gonzalez and Dayton’s Ernie Kelly for the IBL lead.

Orlando Rios (FRE) has tied Alexander in the RBI race at 133.

Vince Soto is 10 pts up on Alexander in the batting race.

In the FL the batting race remains insanely close. Garza (SI) Moore (NY) and Roberts (WMI), in that order, are separated at .328/.327/.326. Roberts is the only one of the three to be in the hunt last year, finishing 3rd at .323, 19 pts behind winner Bill Hill (DAY).

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WEEK 26
The home stretch! Batting titles to be won, races to be decided!

OFF DAY Never a bad thing in September! Not to mention I have a playoff rotation to think about, and line up.
3 @ Columbus (69-87 23 GB CL Central)
3 vs New Hampshire (74-82 7 GB CL East)

FWIW Houston started a 3 game series at Corpus Christi yesterday (lost 6-2) and they finish with 4 at home, versus Michigan.

In the East Pittsburgh has 3 with Philly, and has to sweep or they’re eliminated.

Over in the FL Central West Michigan is 2.5 behind Tulsa and .5 ahead of Dayton in the WC. They have 3 at Buffalo and 3 vs Staten Island to end it.
Tulsa has 2 more vs Edmonton, and 3 vs El Paso
Dayton has 2 left at Phoenix and 3 vs Sacramento
El Paso has to win out, and Sacramento lose out to for El Paso to tie.

GAME 157
This Columbus staff has to suck, because the middle of this lineup, holy crap. 24, 35, 25, 30? That’s the HR totals of their 3-6 hitters led by MVP candidate Catcher Dean Strong (303-35-111).

Alejandrez takes the ball trying to win #19, with an outside shot of 20 if we have to play for something in game 162.

19 runs is a lot for a game right? Then you’d agree it’s a HELL of a lot for 4 innings of baseball. Alejandrez has the worst start of his career 1-4-7-7-6-0 which ends with Dean Strong hitting a grand slam in the 2nd to put Columbus up 7-1. Which our offense snickers at, and drops a 9 spot in the 3rd capped by Leon Russells grand slam (2). Jack Jackson (3-6) can’t hold the lead, surrendering 4 runs, 2 earned after a Lorenzelli error, and the pen buckles down tossing 4 scoreless. I assumed this was a day for big offense but the Clipper pen held our offense hitless over the last 4 innings for the 12-10 win. They got their 12 on 9 hits and 9 walks, our 10 came on 9 hits and 3 walks.
COL 12 CHI 10 (92-65 +1)

RACE NEWS
Sacramento clinched their second FL West Title with an 8-4 win over El Paso.

Tulsa beat Edmonton 5-3, West Michigan lost to Buffalo 5-2 and Dayton lost to Phoenix 6-5. That means Tulsa is 3.5 up on WMI, 4 on Dayton, with 4 to play.
It also means the White Caps are .5 game up on Dayton, 85-72 to 85-73.

In the CL East Pittsburgh DID beat Philly (they have to sweep) and is 4 out with 5 to play.

Garza (SI) moved 2 pts ahead of Moore (NY) in the FL batting race, Roberts (WMI) fell 8 pts back.

Soto leads Bill Alexander by 12 pts in the CL batting race.

Alexander and Rios (FRE) are tied with 134 RBI’s.

Cecil Watts (CC) and Mike Holmes (COL) are tied at 3.07 in the ERA race but Watts suffered a torn labrum yesterday and will be lost for at least 3-4 months! He finished the season 21-8 3.07 with 205 K’s in 222.2 IP.

GAME 158
Up against Mike Holmes (CL ERA leader) who’s 18-9 3.07 on the year. Hell of a season for a team that’s 17 under .500.

Going into the 4th inning I was up 3-0, you know why? I intentionally walked Dean Strong in his first two AB’s, the second time with a runner on 1st, and it worked. Mark Williams tied the team and IBL record with 9 walks btw. The third time he came up, I was up 4-1 with runners on 1st and 2nd, and I had to pitch to him. 4-4 ballgame as he hits his 37th… Williams goes 5-3-4-4-9-2. Potts (6-2) Torres and Johnson throw 4 no hit innings in relief and the offense scores 6 runs off Mike Holmes (18-10 3.30) in the 7th to bust it open. Jean Chartier goes 3-4, Sotolo goes 3-4, scoring twice and driving in 3 with his 8th HR. Alexander hits #47 and Ferrer has 2 hits and 2 RBI’s.
CHI 10 COL 4 (93-65 +1)

RACE NEWS/NOTES
Staten Island OF Ernesto Castro became just the 2nd IBL player ever to have 6 hits in a game. He went 6-7 in a 17-9 Yankee win over San Antonio. The 27 year old is hitting 306-9-47 in 86 games. He was acquired from Fresno in a trade last May.

Tulsa lost to Edmonton 7-3, Dayton beat Phoenix 5-1, West Michigan lost to Buffalo 6-4. What does that mean? Tulsa is 3 up on Dayton with 3 to play, 3.5 up on WMI and WMI has 4 to play.

It also means Dayton is now .5 game up on WMI in the Wild Card.

Pittsburgh beat Philly again 9-4, and is now 3 out with 4 to play.

Garza (SI) is now at .336, 6 pts up on Mathew Moore (NY).

Bill Day reached the 150 RBI mark, again.

Greg Patterson of Brooklyn set a new saves mark with 47, Bill Barlow (DAY) is at 46. Ernesto Cruz is at 46 as well, 5 ahead of Las Vegas Closer Anbar Suhayb.

Our beating of Mike Holmes might have won the ERA title for an injured Cecil Watts. Watts is at 3.17 and only Tommy Hobbs (LA) is likely close enough.

GAME 159
Will Butler is outstanding (9-12 4.96) going 7.2-5-2-2-1-1 and Pennington (H21) gets a huge 8th inning out before Ernesto comes in and goes 1, 2, 3 for save (47). Bill Alexander hits his 48th HR in the 1st, a 2 run shot and Hugh Collins hits his 29th.
CHI 4 COL 2 (94-65 +1)

RACE NEWS/NOTES
Tulsa and Dayton were off, and West Michigan lost to Buffalo 5-1. WMI is now eliminated from the Central, and 1 game back of Dayton in the WC. Tulsa’s magic number is 1 with 3 to play.

Philadelphia clinched their 2nd CL East title beating Pittsburgh 10-6.

So the CL playoff teams are set, with Philly, Chicago, Houston and Vegas set to go. The only thing left is to figure out who the WC is. Whomever wins the Central is likely to have the best record (Vegas is at 91 wins, we have 94, Houston 93).

Raul Gonzalez became the first ever 22 game winner in the IBL yesterday, giving up 4 runs on 13 hits over 8 in a 7-4 win. He’s now 22-9 3.92 on the year.

Greg Patterson (BRO) and Ernesto Cruz are tied with an IBL record 47 Saves.

GAME 160
Mike Davis (7-9-1-1-0-3) got the win (4-6 4.37) and the offense busted out. Eric Hudson went 3-5 with a triple and 3 RBI’s, Jean Chartier went 2-3, Leon Russell went 2-5 with 2 runs, 2 RBI’s and his 3rd HR, Raul Feliz went 4-5 with 3 runs, 3 RBI’s and his 13th HR, Ferrer, Thompson and Lorenzelli all went 2-4 with Lorenzelli driving in 4 with 2 triples.
CHI 13 NH 5 (95-65 +1)

RACE NEWS/NOTES
The Tulsa Drillers clinched their first ever Frontier League Central Division title. After going 71-91 and retooling this winter they won their 90th game and are headed to their first playoffs.

Their win means Brooklyn, Tulsa and Sacramento are going to the playoffs as division winners, with both Tulsa and Brooklyn making their first appearance.

Dayton won 6-4 over Sacramento yesterday, West Michigan lost 7-1 to Staten Island. Daytons magic number for the Wild Card is 1.

Ernesto Garza leads the FL batting race .337 to Mathe Moore’s .332.

Ernie Kelly punched out 10 in a 7.2 inning 6-4 win over the River Cats to join Raul Gonzalez (HOU) as the IBL’s only 22 game winners.

Bill Barlow (DAY) joined Cruz and Patterson with 47 saves.

Vince Soto is likely winning the CL Batting title, he’s now hitting .349 to Bill Alexander’s .335. And Orlando Rios the likely lock for rookie of the year now has 139 RBI’s to lead Alexander by 2.

GAME 161
Jack Jackson was putrid 2.2-6-6-6-3-3 but another huge team effort to get back into it, anchored by the bullpens 6.1 scoreless innings (6.1-4-0-0-2-6). Down 6-0 in the third Chicago rallied for 3 on Bill Alexanders 2 run double, then in the 5th they added three more to tie it up, where it stayed until the 9th. Jean Chartier hit ANOTHER walk off HR (11) giving Ernesto Cruz (3-1) the win. Chartier was 2-4 with 3 RBI’s, Collins 2-4 scoring twice and driving in 1.
CHI 7 NH 6 (96-65 +1!!!) We are a game up with 1 to play!!! HOLY CRAP!

RACE NEWS/NOTES
The Dayton Dragons are heading back to the playoffs. The defending FL Champs took it to Sacramento yesterday, 18-6. Led by 2012 FL MVP Bill Hills 3-4 3 run 4 RBI day, which featured his 49th HR and Bartolo Serrano’s 20th win (20-8 3.76) Dayton clinched the Wild Card.

Today in the short season playoffs, 19 year old Hector Guzman of Coeur D’Alene Lawman (LV) punched out 16 Clearwater Blue Jays. Now that in itself is amazing, but considering this came 6 days after he punched out 15 Newport News Beasts it becomes unreal. You may remember this kid? He was traded from Chicago in May with Sergio Lopez for 2B Melvin Watson. He was the Iron Pigs 6th roundpick in the 2012 amateur draft.

Ernesto Garza (SI) is going to win the Batting title, 337-33- over Mathew Moore of New York.

Bill Barlow (DAY) is tied with Greg Patterson (BRO) at 47 saves.

Alexander will win the HR crown but is 2 behind Rios (FRE) in RBI’s and Vince Soto is going to win the batting title as he’s 14 pts up.

ORG NEWS

Belleview Catcher Clyde Brooks took home the MWL Gold Glove at Catcher.

Carlos De La Torre suffered a setback and will be another 2-3 weeks in coming back. Not sure that’s a big issue as I likely won’t need a 5 if I can make it to the 2nd round.

GAME 162
How bad do I want the division? Alejandrez is lined up to pitch today. But as I study this thing it seems the playoffs are already decided. The best record gets the wild card, and it will be whomever wins our division for both! So spending my ace to win, if I win, would get me 1 more home game in round 1. The wild card cannot have home field so that could mean something later on, but I’m leaning on not throwing him.

[gehrig38]

I can’t start him, I need him for possibly 2 games and he’s not a short rest guy. I start Flowers, and get my cake and eat it too! Flowers (9-7 5.47) SOMEHOW goes 6.2-7-2-2-1-2 and Pennington (H22) gets the ball to Ernesto Cruz with a 4-2 lead, Cruz gets the final 4 outs for his IBL record 48th save! Jean Chartier’s 2 run triple in the 1st put us up and Weaver and Hudson drove in runs before the subs made a mass entry.

CHI 4 NH 2 (97-65 The Chicago Iron Pigs have clinched the Coastal Leagues Central Division title!)

Houston loses 9-7 to Michgan and appears to be going with a 3 man rotation for the playoffs!

Marshall Wall (LV) tosses another shutout. This time over the CC Hooks, 4-0. Wall finishes the season 12-6 3.42.

Phoenix 1B Cris Martinez ends the season on a 5-5 note, with 2 HR’s and 4 RBI’s to end the year at 294-28-97.

Ernesto Garza .336 and Vince Soto .347 win the batting titles.

ORG NEWS
Ha! Denison OF and 2013 2nd round draft choice Eric Coates won the A(N) Leagues Gold Glove, in BOTH Left Field AND Right Field! Never seen that before. Actually there’s a bug, as the game awarded GG to same team guys in A Ball, in different leagues. Leonor Vaudray (2B), Jason Addis (3B), and Ralph Bradford (RF) won gold gloves as well.

[gehrig38]

A look at the FL Final Standings. Pundits nailed this one, only missing on Dayton Tulsa WC/Div winner. Everyone else performed as expected