The Dog Park

[gemini615]

Yes!!! After repeating the silver leagues 12 times like a bunch of disobedient canines we've finally graduated to gold!
And after a barkdown with the Bulldogs, we're still in the running for another World Series visit.

[gemini615]

It only took 12 seasons, but the Hiram College Terriers are leaving the silver league in style with a shiny new trophy. The Jamestown Jammers tried to throw all lefties at us, but the Terriers have been biting the ankles of lefties all season. It ended in a sweep.

I thought the Terriers would want to parade the new trophy around the Dog Park, but all they seem interested in is fighting over that big stick they found underneath the bleachers.

Whatever, I'm off to celebrate!

[stl jason]

Congrats!

[gemini615]

The Terriers have gotten off to a strong start in the gold leagues and sit at 17-10. When I pulled second baseman Jeff McNeil from a pack 3 weeks ago, all I was hoping was that he would be competent replacement for Sal Bando. He's exceeded my expectations as he's been a hitting machine for me. Not only that, but his overall was an 85 when I pulled him, and now he's a 91. I hope he keeps it up.

Packs Opened- 279
Perfects- 1
Diamonds- 7
Golds- 28
Silvers- 87

[gemini615]

Lucky me

[gemini615]

The 2nd wildcard is still in the equation for the Terriers seeing as we have 5 games against Vegas and 4 games against Heidi left on the schedule. The realist in me doesn't like our odds. The optimist in me just filled the dugout dog bowl with PREMIUM puppy chow.

All in all, it's been a good first season in the gold league.

A few Terrier thoughts:
1. Chris Sale's movement rating of 40 is not ideal going forward. He's been my ace up to this point, but Don Drysdale has the ratings to be my number 1 from gold league on. Hopefully Sale gets his **** together in real life so my card can be better. I've been stashing all the LIVE gold starters and relievers I've been pulling in packs so when the real baseball season ends I can figure out if I should keep or sell them.
2. Jeff McNeil is awesome. I didn't even know who he was until I saw the All star game last month. Sal Bando who? Thanks for all the points. McNeil is way better than you.
3. My team is consistently in the bottom for HR's, but consistently a league leader in Batting Average. I haven't found a better DH option, so 68 Rod Carew is still the guy. Despite him always hitting .300, I secretly feel the game punishes me for having a bronze card. I didn't feel that way in PT19 as guys like Barker and Dierker could be used in Perfect leagues. (yes i know they weren't bronze, but they also weren't diamonds)
4. Despite only making the playoffs 5 times EVER in the history of Hiram College....we've won 3 championships and that's fine with me. If we ever make the playoffs in the future, I like our chances. We seem to know when and when not to sniff posteriors in the playoffs.

[gemini615]

Our first foray into the gold leagues had the Terriers losing a 163rd play-in game to the Atlanta Angry Octopi. We finished a respectable 90-73. I can't complain about that.

Best In Show:
Tiny Bonham 17-8, 3.57 ERA
Justin Turner .304, 19 HR, 100 RBI

In the Doghouse:
Manny Machado .222, 14 HR, 64 RBI

Packs Opened- 303
Perfects- 1
Diamonds- 8
Golds- 34
Silvers- 92

[gemini615]

Look at the Terriers go!
It's like they're all chasing frisbees in a synchronized frisbee routine. 32-15 and a nine game winning streak!
Maddox leads the league with a .353 average, Morton leads the league with 6 wins and a 1.47 ERA.
I can't recall the last time we started a season this well.


Of course, it can only go down from here

[gemini615]

At the break, we're slowly losing our lead in the division. After our red hot start to the season (and me lacing the dugout dog bowl with hot sauce) this was to be expected that we're falling back to the pack.
On a brighter note, a team record 6 Terriers were given accolades for their barking techniques and sent off to the All-star game. The 6 barkers were:
Justin Turner
Kirby Puckett
Gary Maddox
Anthony Rizzo
Charlie Morton
Gerrit Cole

In addition, I sold a Charlie Morton doppleganger Terrier in the AH for 8000, so I have a bunch of points to open packs with.

[gemini615]

What a job by the Terriers this season! We finished 93-69 and won our division. Don Drysdale also scored me 400 points for the most pitching wins with 18.
Hopefully we can keep up our solid play in the playoffs.

[gemini615]

The gold league playoffs were more than the Terriers were ready for as we bowed out in the division series 3 games to 1 against the Durham Trash Pandas.

Best In Show:
Garry Maddox .306 9 HR 80 RBI
Don Drysdale 18-8 3.86 ERA
Charlie Morton 14-9 3.29 ERA

In the Doghouse:
Manny Machado .223 14 HR 61 RBI

Packs Opened- 334
Perfects- 1
Diamonds- 9
Golds- 36
Silvers- 100

[gemini615]

I find it interesting that we bumbled and fumbled through 12 seasons in silver, but yet we're seemingly unstoppable in gold. Go figure. (I'm also prepared to eat my words in the near future lol)

My totally unrealistic Terrier wishlist:

100 Hughie Jennings
100 Elmer Flick

[gemini615]

Team morale has been off the charts lately as our first place lead keeps growing. Before our last game, all the Terriers were huddled around each other in the outfield. I could hear joyous barking as I started approaching to see what was going on. It turns out someone swiped my paper bagged lunch from the locker room fridge and the team was bonding over ripping it to shreds. I could see the remnants of my egg salad sandwich and my swiss miss pudding all over the ground.
As long as we keep winning I guess.
Sigh.


Don Drysdale, Gerrit Cole, and Garry Maddox made the All Star team this season.

[stl jason]

Originally Posted by gemini615

I find it interesting that we bumbled and fumbled through 12 seasons in silver, but yet we're seemingly unstoppable in gold. Go figure. (I'm also prepared to eat my words in the near future lol)

My totally unrealistic Terrier wishlist:

100 Hughie Jennings
100 Elmer Flick

I had a similar experience moving up to diamond level.... had a .517 lifetime winning pct in gold; but a .585 pct in diamond (90+ wins every season for 6 years)

and I fully endorse the wishlist.... wouldn't mind one or both of them popping out of a pack someday

[gemini615]

105-57 is officially the Terriers best record ever! We get the bonus of being the number one seed for the playoffs.
I also scored an extra 400 points for Most Pitching Wins with 18 by Charlie Morton, and 400 points for highest batting average .319 by Michael Brantley.

Everything has been coming up Millhouse for me this year

[gemini615]

The good fortune fizzled out in the Division series against the Atlanta Vacuums as the Terriers fell 3 games to 2. All in all it was a fantastic season and we should have enough points to try out around 42 new Terriers once the final awards are announced.

Best In Show:
Michael Brantley .319 10 HR 70 RBI
Don Drysdale 17-8 2.97 ERA
Charlie Morton 18-8 2.89 ERA

In The Doghouse:
Nobody (well except for whoever stole my lunch from the clubhouse and ripped it to shreds in the outfield)

Packs Opened- 349
Perfects- 1
Diamonds- 9
Golds- 37
Silvers- 102

On a side note, my all Indians team (Ohio City Chefs) are being shipped off to the Perfect Leagues next season. In PT19 they lasted 3 seasons at the perfect level, so if Ohio City can survive at least 3 before they're chewed into little bits and spit back out into Diamond, I'll consider that a success.

[gemini615]

There's a bit of a hangover at the Dog Park this season as we're a mediocre 28-26.
Last season we won a team high 105 games and bowed out in the Division Series, so at the start of 2042 we seem more focused on digging up old buried bones in the outfield.
On the brightside, Don Drysdale is 6-2 with a 2.45 ERA.

[gemini615]

The Terriers have decided they can chase cars after the season is over. At 55-40 the focus seems to be back on baseball.

The addition of Don Drysdale is probably the biggest reason we've had winning records in gold. In silver we piddled around season after season without him.

Drysdale, Cole, and Turner get All Star golden flea collars this season.

[gemini615]

Once again the Terriers were awarded the number one seed after a 103 win season, but once again the Terriers lost in the divisional round. I'm seeing a trend here and therefore will try not to have the best record next year.

Best In Show:

Don Drysdale 20-6 2.58 ERA
Justin Turner .297 21 HR 103 RBI

In the Doghouse:

nobody

Packs Opened- 363
Perfects- 1
Diamonds- 9
Golds- 39
Silvers- 103

[gemini615]

Like any responsible GM I ripped 9 packs to try to find some new Terriers. After numerous attempts by John Jay, Conner Joe, and Jose Briceno trying to sneak onto my team, I got a solid pull with Live 90 Stephen Strasburg. He'll remain on the reserve roster for now, but I'd assume he'll be replacing the first starter or bullpen arm who struggles this season.
Other notable pulls were Gold Rafael Devers, Silver Charlie Robertson, and Iron Unsung Hero Doug Mirabelli. The later two were fetching pretty good prices in the AH and have been sent there to play.

Packs Opened- 372
Perfects- 1
Diamonds- 10
Golds- 40
Silvers- 105

Edit: The silver Charlie Robertson immediately netted me over 3,000 points in the AH, setting his all time record. So thanks to the collector supporting my Terriers