National Baseball League

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Valmara: 3rd RU pennant - 1872 1898 1899. 0 Pro Cups

Chicopee: 2nd TU pennant - 1887 1899. 1 Pro Cup

Mike and the Mad Dog – 1899 IPA Pennant Race Recap

Mike: Good afternoon everybody! The regular season is over, and Dog, we got ourselves a fascinating Pro Cup matchup. It's gonna be the Chicopee Braves against the Valmara Vipers. And I'll tell ya right now, these are two clubs coming in with completely different histories and completely different pressures.

Mad Dog: Mike, let's start with Valmara because these numbers are ridiculous! One hundred and twenty wins! One hundred and twenty! In a 154-game season! They finished 120-34, fifteen games ahead of Marston. Fifteen! That's not a pennant race, that's a demolition!

Mike: They didn't just win the Ruthlandian Union. They buried it.

Mad Dog: Buried it! Marston wins 105 games and loses the pennant by fifteen games! Colfax wins 100 games and finishes nineteen-and-a-half back! How often do you see that?

Mike: Almost never.

Mad Dog: Valmara has now won its third Ruthlandian Union pennant—1872, 1898, and now 1899. But here's the catch. Here's the giant elephant in the room.

Mike: No championships.

Mad Dog: None! Zero! Zip! They are 0-for-their-history in the Pro Cup. Last year they got to the Series and lost to Blue Lake in six games. Now they're back immediately.

Mike: And that's what makes this so interesting. If Valmara loses again, people are gonna start asking some uncomfortable questions. Three pennants and no Cups? That's tough.

The Ruthlandian Union
Mike: Let's talk about the rest of the league. Marston wins 105 games and somehow ends up as an afterthought.
Mad Dog: That's how dominant Valmara was. Marston had a season that wins pennants in most years. Colfax wins 100 games. Ranford wins 87. Nobody could touch the Vipers.

Mike: The bottom half was rough. Valka, Glasco, Cold Creek, Fort Benton—none of them were factors.

Mad Dog: Fort Benton especially. Forty-one wins. My goodness. That's a franchise that needs a complete rebuild.

The Tycobbian Union
Mike: Meanwhile, over in the Tycobbian Union, we had an actual race.
Mad Dog: And Chicopee gets it done. One hundred wins, second pennant in franchise history. Their first was back in 1887.

Mike: And unlike Valmara, Chicopee actually has a championship banner.

Mad Dog: Exactly. One Pro Cup already. So when they get to the big stage, there isn't that same burden hanging over them.

Mike: The defending champion Blue Lake Blue Caps gave chase all year but finished at 92-62, eight games behind.

Mad Dog: And that's still a terrific season! Remember, Blue Lake just won the Pro Cup in 1898 and was trying to become only the latest repeat champion. Ninety-two wins is nothing to sneeze at.

Mike: But Chicopee was better from wire to wire.

Mad Dog: They earned it. No excuses. They won 100 games and took the pennant outright.

What Happened to the Traditional Powers?
Mike: Dog, look at some of these names.
Mad Dog: I know!

Mike: Denton City, three-time champion, finishes fourth.

Mad Dog: Eighty-five wins and no pennant.

Mike: Kenwood, the first four-time champion in league history, barely over .500.

Mad Dog: Seventy-eight and seventy-six. Not the Kenwood we're used to seeing.

Mike: Blue Lake, the reigning champs, couldn't catch Chicopee.

Mad Dog: Which tells you how much the balance of power may be shifting.

Pro Cup Preview
Mike: So here we are. Chicopee versus Valmara.
Mad Dog: The best record in baseball against a club that's quietly put together a tremendous season.

Mike: Valmara enters with 120 wins, trying to finally capture the first championship in franchise history.

Mad Dog: And Chicopee is trying to win its second Pro Cup and prove this wasn't just a good regular season story.

Mike: Pressure is entirely on the Vipers.

Mad Dog: One hundred and twenty wins, Mike. If they don't win the Cup, people will remember the failure more than the wins.

Mike: That's fair.

Mad Dog: Meanwhile Chicopee can play loose. They've got the pennant, they've got a prior championship, and nobody's talking about them because everybody's obsessed with Valmara's win total.

Mike: Which is exactly why they're dangerous.

Final Verdict
Mike: Best team all season?
Mad Dog: Valmara. Not close. One hundred and twenty wins settles that.

Mike: Biggest surprise?

Mad Dog: Chicopee taking the Tycobbian Union by eight games over the defending champions.

Mike: Biggest disappointment?

Mad Dog: Gotta be Blue Lake. Not because they were bad—they won 92 games—but because they couldn't defend their pennant after winning the Pro Cup last year.

Mike: And now the stage is set. The Vipers seek their first championship after pennants in 1872, 1898, and 1899. The Braves seek their second title after pennants in 1887 and 1899.

Mad Dog: One club trying to end generations of frustration. One club trying to add another banner. That's what makes October great.

Mike: Chicopee. Valmara. The 1899 Pro Cup is next.

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Mike and the Mad Dog — Pro Cup Game 1 Recap (1899)

Mike: Good afternoon everybody! We are underway in the 1899 Pro Cup, and Mad Dog, if Game 1 told us anything, it's this: Valmara is not carrying around any scars from last year's heartbreak.

Mad Dog: No! No, they're not! Last year they got all the way to Game 6 against Blue Lake and watched the Blue Caps celebrate on their field. This year? They come out in Game 1 and absolutely steamroll Chicopee, 7-2.

Mike: The final score says 7-2, but honestly, Dog, this thing was over in the first inning.

Mad Dog: It was! Chicopee walked into War Memorial Stadium and kicked the ball all over the place. Eight errors! EIGHT! You can't do that in April, you can't do that in September, and you sure can't do it in the Pro Cup.

Mike: The Braves gifted Valmara two runs immediately. Tan-ming Li singled, Adelaide Rayol singled, then the errors started piling up. Before anybody settled into their seat, Valmara had a 2-0 lead.

Mad Dog: And that's the thing. Fareed Tareen wasn't even terrible. He gives up 13 hits, sure, but five of the seven runs were earned because Chicopee's defense was a disaster area. Three errors in the first inning alone! The center fielder made three errors by himself in the game!

Mike: Octavian Dimitru had a rough afternoon in center, no question.

Mad Dog: Rough? Mike, I've seen guys lose the ball in the sun. I've seen bad hops. This was a circus. You can't give a 120-win team extra outs.

Mike: Speaking of 120 wins, let's talk about why Valmara won 120 games. Ruslan Meleshenko.

Mad Dog: Oh, here we go.

Mike: Nine innings. Five hits. Two runs, only one earned. One walk. One strikeout. Complete game.

Mad Dog: And that's vintage Meleshenko. He doesn't need ten strikeouts. He gets ground balls, gets fly balls, works fast, lets the other team get itself out.

Mike: His postseason résumé is becoming remarkable. Last year he pitched brilliantly despite the Vipers losing the Series. Today he looks like the ace of the best team in baseball.

Mad Dog: And don't overlook what he did at the plate! Three hits and an RBI! The pitcher had as many hits as some entire lineups.

Mike: Valmara's offense was relentless. Tan-ming Li went 3-for-5. Adelaide Rayol scored three runs. Ashutosh Reba had two hits and drove in two. Isko Sulit doubled twice.

Mad Dog: That's balance. Nobody hit a home run. Nobody had a five-RBI day. They just kept putting men on base and forcing Chicopee to make plays.

Mike: The biggest inning might have been the third. Chicopee had cut it to 2-1 and had a little momentum.

Mad Dog: Right, looked like maybe they'd settle down.

Mike: Then Haiku Keiki doubles home a run, Sulit reaches on another error, and suddenly it's 4-1.

Mad Dog: And when Valmara put up three more in the fifth, that's your ballgame.

Mike: Let's discuss the bigger picture. This franchise has won three Ruthlandian Union pennants now—1872, 1898, and 1899.

Mad Dog: But zero championships.

Mike: Exactly. That's the story.

Mad Dog: Everybody in Valmara knows it. Great regular seasons, great teams, no Pro Cup. They're tired of hearing about it.

Mike: Meanwhile Chicopee came in feeling pretty good. First pennant since 1887, second in franchise history, and owners of one Pro Cup title.

Mad Dog: And now they're down 1-0 and just committed eight errors in a World Series game. That's a wake-up call.

Mike: The good news for Chicopee is it's only one game.

Mad Dog: That's right. Don't overreact. If they win tomorrow, it's a brand-new series.

Mike: The bad news?

Mad Dog: The bad news is they just got a firsthand look at why Valmara won 120 games. Great pitching, relentless offense, and when the other club makes mistakes, they bury you.

Mike: Final from War Memorial Stadium: Valmara 7, Chicopee 2. Ruslan Meleshenko throws a complete game masterpiece, the Vipers take Game 1, and for a franchise still searching for its first Pro Cup, it's exactly the start they wanted.

Mad Dog: One down. Three to go. And for the first time in a long time, Valmara fans can start dreaming that this might finally be their year.

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Mike and the Mad Dog Recap Game 2 of the 1899 Pro Cup

Mike: Good afternoon everybody! Game 2 from War Memorial Stadium, and Mad Dog, the story is becoming very simple: Valmara wins again, Ruslan Meleshenko wins again, and Chicopee is heading home in a huge hole.
Mad Dog: Huge hole! Massive hole! Down two games to none against a team that won 120 games? Mike, that's about the last thing you wanted if you're a Braves fan.

Mike: Final score, Valmara 6, Chicopee 3. The Vipers take a 2-0 series lead and are now halfway to the first championship in franchise history.

Mad Dog: And here's the crazy part. The final score looks respectable. It wasn't respectable.

Mike: Because of that second inning.

Mad Dog: Exactly! The game was 1-0 Chicopee after the top of the first. Steve Warren scores, Braves feeling good, maybe they steal one on the road.

Then the bottom of the second happens and the roof caves in.

Mike: Six runs.

Mad Dog: SIX RUNS! And once again, errors everywhere.

Mike: Haiku Keiki's two-run double tied the game and gave Valmara the lead.

Mad Dog: And after that, Chicopee just kept handing them gifts. Meleshenko drove in two runs himself. Tan-ming Li hit a two-run double. Before you knew it, it was 6-1.

Mike: That's really been the story of the first two games. Valmara is executing, and Chicopee is making mistakes.

Mad Dog: Twelve errors in two games, Mike.

Mike: Twelve.

Mad Dog: You cannot win a Pro Cup playing defense like that. You just can't.

Mike: What's amazing is Fareed Tareen actually pitched better than the scoreboard suggests.

Mad Dog: Right! Look at the line. Eight innings. Six hits. Six runs, but only two earned.

Mike: Four unearned runs.

Mad Dog: The guy is getting absolutely no help. None.

Mike: Now let's talk about the man who is becoming the star of this series.

Mad Dog: Meleshenko.

Mike: Again.

Mad Dog: Again! Nine innings. Five hits. Complete game. Three runs. No bullpen needed.

Mike: Through two games he's thrown eighteen innings.

Mad Dog: Eighteen!

Mike: He's won both games.

Mad Dog: Both games!

Mike: And he's also driven in three runs at the plate.

Mad Dog: That's what's making me laugh. The ace pitcher is practically hitting like a cleanup man. He's got more RBIs than half the Braves lineup.

Mike: Through two games he's allowed just five total runs, and only four earned.

Mad Dog: And he never looks rattled. That's the thing. The Braves score first today, and he just shrugs. Next thing you know Valmara scores six in an inning and the game's over.

Mike: Let's give some credit to Haiku Keiki. He was the turning point.

Mad Dog: Absolutely. That two-run double changed everything. Chicopee had the lead. One swing later, Valmara's ahead and the crowd is going crazy.

Mike: Tan-ming Li continues to hit. Adelaide Rayol keeps getting on base. Ashutosh Reba contributes again. This lineup doesn't have one superstar carrying everybody.

Mad Dog: No, they're relentless. One through nine. Somebody always beats you.

Mike: Now let's talk series implications.

Mad Dog: Uh-oh.

Mike: Chicopee finally wins its second Tycobbian Union pennant. First one since 1887. Wonderful season. Hundred wins.

Mad Dog: And now they're staring at a disaster.

Mike: Because historically, coming back from 0-2 is difficult.

Mad Dog: Especially when you're going home knowing you basically gave away both games with defense. That's what has to bother them. Valmara's been better, but Chicopee hasn't exactly made them earn everything.

Mike: The good news?

Mad Dog: They're finally getting out of War Memorial Stadium.

Mike: Games 3, 4, and 5 move to South End Grounds.

Mad Dog: If there's any chance of turning this thing around, it starts there.

Mike: Meanwhile, for Valmara fans, you can feel the excitement building.

Mad Dog: Oh, absolutely. Remember, this franchise has won pennants in 1872, 1898, and now 1899.

Mike: But they've never won the Pro Cup.

Mad Dog: Never. Zero championships. Everybody in that city knows it.

Mike: They're now two wins away.

Mad Dog: Two wins away from erasing twenty-seven years of frustration.

Mike: Final from Game 2: Valmara 6, Chicopee 3. Ruslan Meleshenko throws his second straight complete game victory, the Vipers take a commanding 2-0 series lead, and the pressure shifts squarely onto the Braves as the Pro Cup heads to Chicopee.

Mad Dog: Game 3 is everything now. If Chicopee loses that one, Mike, start measuring for the championship parade in Valmara.

Mike: That's exactly right. We'll see you Sunday for Game 3.

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Game 4

Mike Francesa: Alright, Mad Dog, I don't know how Chicopee goes home down 0-2, gets a tremendous effort from Fareed Tareen, gets nine and two-thirds innings from Valmara's ace, commits three errors, and still somehow loses this game. I mean, this was a game the Braves practically handed away.

Chris Russo: Mike, this is a killer! An absolute killer! You're down 2-0 in the series, you finally get home, you scratch out a lead, you battle all afternoon, and then the tenth inning comes and the whole thing falls apart because they can't make routine plays!

Mike: That's the story. The final score is 3-2 in ten innings. Valmara now leads the Pro Cup Series three games to none, and let's be honest—this thing is hanging by a thread.

Russo: And the guy hanging the Braves is Ruslan Meleshenko! Mike, this fella is becoming a legend before our eyes! Two complete-game wins in the first two games, and then he comes out here and throws 157 pitches over nine and two-thirds innings!

Mike: Think about that. He pitches Game 2 on September 29th. Comes back on October 1st. Throws 157 pitches. Gives up seven hits, only one earned run, strikes out six, and wins again.

Russo: Three wins already! THREE! The series isn't even over! That's impossible in modern baseball, Mike!

Mike: And he was everywhere. He got a hit. He scored the tying run in the sixth. He was the Player of the Game again. At this point, Chicopee has no answer for him.

Russo: But Mike, let's give Fareed Tareen some credit too. The poor guy deserves better than this.
Mike: Absolutely.

Russo: Ten innings. Three runs, only two earned. Four strikeouts. He's now 0-3 in the series and has pitched brilliantly! That's baseball cruelty right there.

Mike: He's pitched well enough to win at least one game. Maybe two. Instead he's got nothing to show for it because the Braves keep making mistakes behind him.

Russo: The fourth inning was the first example! Chicopee takes a 1-0 lead and they don't even get a clean hit to do it.
Mike: Right. Brian Isaacson reaches on an error. Jeremias Sopa singles. Then Valmara starts kicking the ball around. Another error brings home the game's first run.

Russo: South End Grounds is rocking! The Braves finally have momentum!

Mike: And then Meleshenko settles right back in.

Mike: The turning point came in the sixth.
Russo: Mainaky! Mainaky was tremendous!

Mike: Exactly. Meleshenko singles. Mainaky singles him home to tie it. Then he steals second. Then steals third.

Russo: Nobody even looked at him!

Mike: And Adelaide Rayol drives him in for a 2-1 lead. Just like that Valmara flips the game.

Russo: That's championship baseball. They put pressure on you every inning.

Mike: Chicopee answered immediately.
Russo: Dimitru's double!

Mike: Exactly. Dimitru doubles, gets bunted to third, and Advani delivers a two-out RBI single. Tie game, 2-2.

Russo: Great response. At that point you're thinking maybe the Braves finally get one.

Mike: But then the game turned into a duel.
Russo: Tremendous duel!

Mike: Tareen and Meleshenko matching each other pitch for pitch. Neither club could break through.

Russo: And then the ninth inning. Valmara gives Chicopee a gift with an intentional walk situation and a runner on second, but Reba gets thrown out trying to steal third. That's another wasted opportunity.

Mike: Both teams kept leaving chances out there. Chicopee stranded eleven men.

Russo: Then comes the tenth. This is where championships are won and lost.
Mike: Sulit reaches on an error by Tareen.

Russo: Then another error by Sukarno!

Mike: Two errors in the inning. No hits. No hard contact. Just mistakes.

Russo: The winning run scores without Valmara getting a hit! You can't do that in October!

Mike: And let's talk about Valmara's defense for a second. They made three errors themselves, but when it mattered, they got the outs.
Russo: McElwain comes in with two outs in the tenth and gets the final ground ball. Bang. Ballgame.

Mike: So here's where we stand. Valmara leads the series 3-0.
Russo: History says it's over, Mike.

Mike: Pretty much. Not mathematically, but practically. Chicopee has played three competitive games. They've lost all three. They've scored just seven runs in three games.

Russo: And now they have to beat Meleshenko's club four straight? Four? I don't see it.

Mike: The Braves are one loss away from watching the Vipers celebrate a championship on their own field. Tomorrow's Game 4 is no longer about momentum. It's about survival.

Russo: And if you're Valmara, you're thinking one thing: finish it. You've got the Braves exactly where you want them.

Mike: Three games to none. One win from the Pro Cup. And the biggest reason is Ruslan Meleshenko, who is putting together one of the greatest pitching performances this league has ever seen.