OOTP Blitz 25: Solo RTS meets Moneyball [Archive]

Young Drachma

10-30-2024, 02:22 PM

Seems I might have finally found a dynasty format that I can sustain for a bit, or at least this is the idea. Having done all of the typical DC-type things in this world I'm currently playing including moving teams around, screwing up histories and adding hella international leagues all over the world, it's currently 2061.

I've been using this save for a few OOTP versions, it started in 2024 where I retired all of MLB and refilled it with entirely fictional players of my own making, then gradually started adding international leagues to make it work for me more.

I'm starting a new OOTP dynasty with a twist - using a "Blitz" format (akin to chess) that transforms the game into something closer to real-time strategy. Apparently I did this back in 2015, too. (https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/showthread.php?t=261065)

Back then, it was fast-sim style so I played without injuries and I was aiming to get through an entire season in 15 minutes. I wouldn't do that now, I'm more interested in the strategy and also, I played the season with injuries now to create more randomness.

Instead of micromanaging every detail, I'll have just 6 moves per season
(15 minutes each)

The Format

- 6 moves per season (15 minutes each)
- High injury rates during regular season
- Talent Change Randomness: 150+
- Limited intervention creates organic storylines
- Both teams share the same move pool

TIME VIOLATION SYSTEM:*

First Violation:

- Lose next available move
- Highest rated healthy player suspended 30 days

Second Violation (Same Season):

- All penalties from first violation
- $10M budget penalty next season
- Must make a positive countermove for division rival

I'm planning to take over two teams, I was going to do both in MLB but ended up deciding not to. We'll be with the Cardinals and the San Juan team in the Federal League.

The St. Louis Cardinals(MLB)

- Last World Series: 2011
- 15 playoff appearances since 2023
- Only 2 division titles in that span
- Goal: Restore this storied franchise to its former glory
- No financial constraints besides the $150M salary cap

The San Juan Toucans(Federal League)

- Never posted a winning season since 2051 inception
- Operating under strict $25M salary cap
- Perfect laboratory for extreme Moneyball tactics
- Initial strategy: Complete teardown and rebuild

Like I said, this is a different world. MLB has 36 teams. More on those later.

The World of 2060

This universe features a rich tapestry of international leagues, from the winter ball powerhouse in St. Lucia to the emerging talents in the African-based Federal League.

MLB sits atop the pyramid with 36 teams, but talent flows globally through:, here's what the rest of the world looks like:

- Federal League (Africa's premier competition)
- Traditional powers (Japan, Korea, Cuba)
- Emerging markets (India, Australia, Central Europe)
- Winter major leagues (St. Lucia, Mexican)

Will the Cardinals return to October glory? Can the Toucans find success through analytics? Can I manage both teams effectively with such limited moves?

Let's find out.

First move coming soon...

Young Drachma

10-30-2024, 02:24 PM

PRE-MOVE 2061
I want to get the Cardinals into contender status sooner than later. The last 3 years ahve not been good, despite a mid-table payroll, they’ve won 73, 68 and 81 games respectively. It doesn’t help that the 20-team playoffs have gone away and we’re back to just 12 teams, so they can’t even sneak in substandardly.

It’s been an absymsal few decades for a once-venerable franchise in baseball, since 2023 here’s how things have gone, 15 playoff appearances, 4 division titles (2024, 2025, 2034, 2046) and zero NL pennants. Nearly 50 years without a World Series appearance is hard to imagine and yet, that’s where the Cardinals in this shifting baseball universe.

We’re going to build on what they have using our moves.

The San Juan Toucans meanwhile have been all over the place, they went from Atlantic City to Montreal and now in San Juan for the last 4 years. They have the 4th lowest payroll in the federal league, next year almost no one on this team is under contract after 2061 season, so they’re a perfect team for a rebuild. I’ve spent almost no time in the Federal League besides occasionally looking at players, so it’ll be very weird to figure out how to build a winning team there without spending money.

My goal is partially to get better at this analytics shenanigans in 2024, while IDing some weird thing I want to arbitrage around, sign players like that and then see if it works or not. It’s purely an experiment and I don’t particularly care if they win or not, though it’d be fun if we’re able to do that over time. For this first season, I’m going to conserve most of my time by letting San Juan mostly operate on auto-pilot, but I’m not going to sign any of their existing players to new deals, I might make trades to get rid of guys since everyone is in a walk year save for the prospects and aggressively tank while I get a sense of what I want to do with this team.

We’re going to use our first season (2061) to focus on the Cardinals and getting them back into shape.

Young Drachma

10-30-2024, 02:29 PM

2061 SEASON LOG
St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) & San Juan Toucans (Federal)

OFFSEASON LOG 1 - NOV 17, 2060
Time Remaining: 1:35

CARDINALS MOVES:
- Signed St. Lucia MVP IF/OF Pinwheel Brown (23)
- Landed Japanese CF Monta Matsui (32) - 7y/$216M + $32.5M posting
- Added veteran IF depth with Rodriguez (34), 2y/$5.2M
- Inherited AI signings: RP Avery, SS Lindblad

TOUCANS MOVES:
- Flipped Hite/Burnett to St. Lucia for SP Mejia
- Committing to full rebuild, minimal intervention

OFFSEASON LOG 2 - JAN 4, 2061
Time Remaining: 4:27

CARDINALS MOVES:
- Landed SP Urban Henry after protracted negotiations
- Final terms: 5y/$232.9M
- Sets rotation anchor for contention window

COUNTERMOVE 1 (81s):
- Signed C Smokey Gonzales (Cuban League) for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Blue Jays emerging as potential AL threat
- Due to some past history silliness on my part, Carolina & Toronto had mixed up histories, so I swapped all their players back and changed the franchise names for 2061.

More Notes:
- Henry signing depleted remaining budget
- Playoff roster taking shape
- Will monitor winter league FAs for mid-season depth
- Toucans rebuild on hold during Cardinals push

SEASON LOG 3 - April 27, 2061

CARDINALS (21-17, 2.5 GB)

TEAM NOTES
The interesting thing about playing this way, is knowing how far to let things go early in the season. We have the highest payroll in baseball thanks largely to the Urban Henry signing, but we also inherited a few outfielders the Cardinals had who are on overpriced contracts relative to their performance, but they're young guys and I suspect they wanted to lock them up early. I'd hoped to sim through to the draft, but I needed to stop in and at least see how the team was doing.

One of them is 28-year old LF Spencer Van Doren (.282/.383/.483, 141 wRC+, 3.4 WAR in 2060) who is in the 1st year of an 8-year $156.3 million extension that he signed the year before we got here. He won a Gold Glove in 2056 and a Silver Slugger in 2057, but I think he strikes out too much. A Cardinals 1st rounder (21st overall) in 2055, he's clearly delivered on his promise as an in-house talent, but I think I can get recoup some value for him if packaged in a deal whether it's prospect capital or fixing our problem with catching. I don't love that we're using him as a leadoff hitter.

I decided to make some lineup changes, something I don't normally do because I want to assess what sorts of moves I want to make before the All-Star break when the Federal League is over and there are some guys on the market. We don't have any money to spend, but if I can move an expensive outfielder contract, I can free up some cash to really fix the offense. As composed, this team could miss the playoffs and that's a really bad idea.

Offensively, the team is doing okay, we're 3rd in the NL in Batting WAR (7.1) to start out the year, 6th in Defensive efficiency and our starters ERA is 3rd (3.13). Where we're struggling is the bullpen, currently 12th (4.28) and so I'm going to want to look at fixing that. I think the bottom of the lineup is also really struggling, as I have defensive guys holding down the fort (Catcher Ray Van de Veer .240 SLG & SS Justin Lindblad, .212 OBP)

I don't allow myself to make trades before mid-May, it feels a bit unrealistic.

I have 3 moves left this season, the draft will be one of them and I'll try to sim to the All-Star break within that same timeframe just so I have a sense of where we are. If I have any time left, might start shopping some guys, but it might not work out.

I'll use a move at the trade deadline for sure and then we'll have to save one last move for September in case we're in a situation where we need it because the team is in a pickle or there are injuries I need to account for. It's not clear simming whether that's the case, which is a bit problematic.

TOUCANS (28-40-4, 14 GB)

TEAM NOTES
The FL season is wining down, it ends in late May and the Toucans are poised for another last place finish in the WL East Division. The trade I made this off-season for SP Algenis Mejia, whose last major league appearances came with the Cubs back in 2054 and spent the last six years in St. Lucia paid off. The 35-year old ace has navigated leading a bad team pretty well, going 5-10 with a 3.51 ERA/88 FIP-, 1.3 WAR and 12 QS, despite abysmal run support (1.8 RSG) by our anemic offense. He's a guy that might provide some stopgap support during the MLB season once he's a free agent after the FL season ends.

Young Drachma

10-30-2024, 06:10 PM

SEASON LOG #4, MAY 15, 2061

CARDINALS (34-20, 1st in NL Central)

On balance, it worked out how I was hoping it would. I did some lineup reconfiguring and it worked. I moved Spencer Van Doren from leadoff to 3rd in the lineup, he's now batting cleanup but it worked extremely well with Japanese import Monta Matsui (.288/6 HR/25 RBI) having a respectable for MLB season and playing leadoff for us. St. Lucian star Pinwheel Brown is our leading hitter (.335/12 HR/40 RBI) and bats 3rd. First baseman Chase Zuniga leads the NL in RBI (51) and is on track for a 4 WAR season.

Offensively, we're among the Top 5 in the NL outside of HRs including Runs scored, OBP, OPS and WAR. Pitching remains our strength as our starters lead the league in ERA, but our bullpen needs a lot of help, currently 11th in the majors in ERA.

DRAFT NOTES
I stopped to look at the draft. One of the things I did during the recent iterations of this save before I opted for this format was to improve the intake of Latin American players into the game. For whatever reason, I had far fewer Dominicans coming through my league in the last 20 years, so I wanted to rebuild that link, as well as fix the Puerto Rican baseball pipeline, as I have fond memories of that from the 80s.

That said, it initially created a wave of very young talented Dominican players entering the majors all a bit too young and I've had to actually make them a few years older so I don't have a glut of 18 year old super players proliferating my league and turned on an 18 year old age limit to MLB.

Anyway, the Dominican players and Puerto Rican players are all part of the draft, as part of my robust feeders pipeline in-game that stocks enough players for an 80-round draft (I miss that about baseball, too.)

KEY DRAFT PROSPECTS
The Cardinals had the 18th pick, there are some decent college prospects in here but two standouts from the DR are the ones I'm most interested in. Oscar Regalado, a starting pitcher who I think would be a very valuable bullpen arm for us right now. He spent the last 3 years at Texas after not being drafted out of HS. College stats are fickle for pitchers in this league, but he had a 7.7 K/9, 108 ERA+ and 1.54 WHIP.

OF Leuri Ramirez, who was actually the 6th overall pick in 2058 by the Giants, but he failed to sign. He had a great college career winning National Player of the Year in 2059, an All-American selection and .390/.464/.776 slash line with 160 wRC+ this past year at the University of Washington.

DRAFT RESULTS (MOVE #4)
We ended up picking Regalado, it's just not everyday you have someone with 5 pitches ready go and with our bullpen woes right now, I don't really have the luxury of taking a bat that might take a while to adjust to major league pitching.

I was going to use a countermove to keep Ramirez out of the NL, but it seems like for whatever reason, the AI absolutely hates guys who have difficult signability and prefer prospects with lower potential. I think this is a flaw based on the fact that my leagues play with higher than average ratings, and the game doesn't really know what to do with it, but it's still not logical behavior.

Nonetheless, we're past the supplemental round and into the 2nd round and another 16 teams pass on Ramirez, meaning that I'm indeed going to take him. The AI wanted me to take Arizona State OF A.J. Barringer, who hit .470 during his senior year of HS, but didn't make the lineup at ASU.

NEXT STEPS
Drafting used all of my 4th move, so we're down to two moves left this season to get me through a hopeful post-season appearance for the Cards, I hope the offers I made were good enough to get everyone on board, as I won't be able to waste another move trying to make another offer.

Given that Van Doren is playing so much better, I'm less inclined to move him, that contract is a bargain relative to his production, though he'd be worth a haul on the open market. We really need to improve our offense at catcher and middle infield, unless we're just going to double down on defensive options, but all we can really hope to do is look at the market.

I'm going to be simming all the way to the trade deadline or nearby, to see if we can bolster the lineup for a post-season run. We use a ladder style playoff system, and we currently are fighting the New York Mets for the top seed, there's a strong incentive to win as much as possible because 1) rust doesn't exist in OOTP and 2) it means fewer games we have to play to potentially win a World Series.

TOUCANS UPDATE
Still in last place, I haven't checked in on them this move, I'll focus on them in the off-season and I might cut them loose for now, it's a lot easier to manage just one club and the Federal League job is so different and I don't enjoy the context switching. I think at some point I'll add a 2nd club because I like the challenge and the different lens, but I need to get a better handle on this first club before I do that.

I have a separate GM profile for them anyway, so I'll just resign when the season is done.

Young Drachma

10-30-2024, 09:41 PM

COUNTERMOVE, JULY 4TH 2061

CARDINALS (60-35, .5 GB, +6.5 WC)

I stopped to do a countermove to check things out, wanting to stall on actually making moves until closer to the deadline.

I decided to look at teams very far out of the race to see if there are some moves I could make on behalf of a team but doing so swiftly, given that we don't get a lot of time you really only get one deal to make to scope out.

In this case, Montreal (53-42) is 7 GB in the NL East and .5 GB in the Wild Card race. Even though they're my competition, I'd love to get them into the post-season if we can, so I went trolling from the out of contention teams to bolster their situation, except they are 31st in farm system so it'll be tough to help them out.

They acquired three players from Boston for prospects including SP Calvin Reitmeier (4-7, 3.61), OF Gabe Braithwaite (.380 SLG) and infielder Christian Wood. They needed some depth and this should help, though not sure it'll be enough to get them into the post-season.

LEAGUE STANDINGS - JULY 4, 2061

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB
Toronto 56 44 .560 -
Baltimore 52 50 .510 5.0
Cleveland 51 50 .505 5.5
New York 46 54 .460 10.0
Boston 43 58 .426 13.5

Central Division
Team W L PCT GB
Minnesota 58 43 .574 -
Carolina 54 47 .535 4.0
Milwaukee 52 49 .515 6.0
Detroit 49 51 .490 8.5
Indianapolis 40 61 .396 18.0

Western Division
Team W L PCT GB
Sacramento 57 43 .570 -
Seattle 51 49 .510 6.0
Portland 41 59 .410 16.0
San Diego 40 60 .400 17.0

Southern Division
Team W L PCT GB
Nashville 61 39 .610 -
Houston 53 47 .530 8.0
Texas 48 52 .480 13.0
Kansas City 43 57 .430 18.0

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB
New York 63 38 .624 -
Montreal 56 45 .554 7.0
Philadelphia 56 46 .549 7.5
Washington 46 54 .460 16.5
Atlanta 37 63 .370 25.5

Central Division
Team W L PCT GB
St. Louis 64 37 .634 -
Cincinnati 63 37 .630 0.5
Chicago 54 47 .535 10.0
Louisville 45 56 .446 19.0
New Orleans 45 56 .446 19.0

Western Division
Team W L PCT GB
San Francisco 50 50 .500 -
Vancouver 49 51 .490 1.0
Los Angeles 47 53 .470 3.0
Arizona 46 54 .460 4.0

Mountain Division
Team W L PCT GB
Salt Lake 54 46 .540 -
Colorado 52 48 .520 2.0
Albuquerque 45 55 .450 9.0
Calgary 41 59 .410 13.0

Next Move: Trade deadline maneuvering, aiming for that crucial #1 NL seed for playoff positioning

Young Drachma

10-31-2024, 02:32 AM

MOVE #5 - JULY 18, 2061
Cardinals (67-40, 1 GB, +8 WC)

I had to make my pre-deadline move here because I would prefer to see what's on the market and try to position us for some better usage out of whatever rentals I can get my hands on. One side effect of the smaller playoffs is that the trade market goes bonkers at this time of year.

With not a lot of time to do tons of shopping, I opt for just seeing what's on the trade block and who we can bring in. We could use additional offense, a bullpen arm or two and depth. Farm system is Top 5 now thanks to our recent draft picks, and I have a few players who we inherited from the old regime who are ready to get promoted and either would be good depth guys or trade bait, depending on which way I want to go.

We make a blockbuster with the struggling Padres (43-64) that brings us 1B Owen Nielsen (.251/.309/.414, 12 HR, 45 RBI in 90 games), CF Liam Bright (.244/.312/.364, 5 HR, 13 SB), veteran RHP Chase Benjamin (5-10, 5.30 ERA, with San Diego retaining salary), and C Ralph Judd (.140/.222/.217) for depth. We give up some interesting young talent but no elite prospects - two Single-A players with potential (LHP Garcia with a 1.50 ERA and 1B McGowan hitting .267), Double-A outfielder Jordan Avery (.309/.429/.436 with good speed), and two MLB-ready pieces in Jace Coulter (.250/.279/.312) and Julian Vo (.143/.143/.143 in limited time).

That deal didn't take long, so we still have another few minutes to see what else we might be able to do. Nothing really materialized, but I decided to shop 3B Terrance Adkins, a 20-year old who has not yet cracked the lineup — he's not ready — but would do well someplace he can develop and not on a contender where we need someone to fill a spot right now.

He's the 7th best prospect in baseball, so I can't just give him away, but I'm opting to sell high here rather than see if he's going to develop in a few years well after this window of winning might be gone. I don't know if anyone is offering me anything when I shop him worth moving him and we might just have to roll with what we have right now, I'm about out of time to figure something else out and it's not clear to me what else I can really do — realistically — without dealing a bunch of players and/or taking on bad contracts to do it. Rentals are cool, but I hate trading top prospects for them unless it's something truly elite.

[COUNTERMOVE]
I bought some time freezing the clock. Sacramento signed 30 year Cuban OF Kaka Machado, the Solons have been bouncing around Northern California and Vegas over the past few decades and they're now in 1st place in the AL West and this is a big moment for them to establish themselves, so I want to see if they can do it.

AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division: Tight three-team race with Toronto (56-50) leading Cleveland by 1.0 and Baltimore by 1.5
Central Division: Minnesota (60-48) leads Carolina by 3.5
Western Division: Sacramento (61-46) comfortable with 6.0 game lead on Seattle
Southern Division: Nashville (64-42) leading Houston by 6.0

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division: Mets dominating at 69-39, 9.5 ahead of Philadelphia
Central Division: Cincinnati (68-39) leads us by 1.0, Cubs 9.5 back
Western Division: Giants (55-52) barely ahead of Vancouver by 2.0
Mountain Division: Salt Lake (57-49) leads Colorado by 2.0

These standings are particularly crucial because of our league's unique ladder-style playoff format. Unlike traditional MLB playoffs, teams face an increasingly difficult path based on their regular season finish:

The two worst qualifying teams meet in a single Wild Card game
The winner faces the next worst playoff team in another single elimination game
That winner advances to a Best-of-3 LES against the next team up
The survivor then faces a better seed in a Best-of-5 Division Series
Finally, whoever emerges from this gauntlet faces the #1 seed in a Best-of-7 LCS
The pennant winners then meet in a Best-of-9 World Series

This makes our current position (67-40) and the tight race with Cincinnati (68-39) and the Mets (69-39) absolutely critical. While we're safely in playoff position at 8 games up on the Wild Card, winning the division - and potentially claiming that #1 seed - would mean avoiding the brutal ladder climb through multiple elimination games

Young Drachma

10-31-2024, 03:10 AM

MOVE #6 - JULY 25, 2061
Cardinals (71-41, +0.5, 2nd Seed)

I changed my mind about holding onto this move for late-season insurance. With our strong position - now leading Cincinnati by half a game and guaranteed the #2 seed in our ladder-style playoff format - I decided to be aggressive and use our final move before the deadline. We send Terrance Adkins (#5 prospect in baseball), along with two other Top 100 prospects in CF Dusty Fergus (#195) and 2B Olier Johansson (#99) to the Yankees in exchange for All-Star infielder Sandy Cook and veteran pitcher Joachim De Los Santos.

Cook (.324/.423/.470, 13 HR, 8 SB) is a significant addition - a 3-time All-Star having a 5 WAR season who can play multiple infield positions. He's arbitration eligible but controllable, making this more than just a rental move. We also got them to include De Los Santos (8-10, 3.84 ERA, 150 IP) in his walk year to add pitching depth.

The prospect cost is steep - headlined by one of baseball's elite prospects in Adkins - but this feels like the right balance between going for it now while still maintaining long-term stability. Taking Cook's arbitration rights means this isn't purely a win-now move, and his versatility gives us lots of lineup options.

The standings show why this move made sense - we've edged ahead of Cincinnati by half a game, the Cubs have fallen 8 games back, and we're actually ahead of everyone except the Mets (74-40) in winning percentage. Getting Cook could be the difference-maker in avoiding the longer playoff path through the ladder format.

I hate using our last move this early (July 25th), but sometimes you have to strike when the right deal presents itself. Between this and our earlier Padres trade, we've significantly upgraded the roster for the stretch run without mortgaging everything for rentals.

AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division: Toronto (59-53) holding slim lead over Baltimore (1.5) and Cleveland (2.0)
Central Division: Minnesota (63-51) ahead of Carolina by 2.0
Western Division: Sacramento (64-49) comfortable with 4.5 game lead
Southern Division: Nashville dominating at 69-43, up 7.5 on Houston

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division: Mets pulling away at 74-40, 10.5 ahead of Philadelphia
Central Division: We've taken the lead (71-41) by half a game over Cincinnati (71-42), Cubs 8.0 back
Western Division: Giants (57-56) barely above .500 but leading
Mountain Division: Salt Lake (59-53) up 2.5 on Colorado

The Mets remain the team to beat overall, but we're sitting with the second-best record in baseball and in prime position to avoid the ladder format's gauntlet by securing one of the top seeds. The Yankees (52-60) being 7 games out in the AL East likely helped make them willing to deal Cook despite his strong season.

Young Drachma

10-31-2024, 05:39 PM

LEAGUE REPORT, NO MOVES

The next sim we'll get is the post-season sim, which at least we know the Cardinals barring a collapse are headed to the post-season again, a triumph but also expected after spending like we did this off-season and coupling that with the players who were here already.

I don't know how the post-season will work out. On one hand, I want to run it fast-sim style where I set the rotation/lineup and then we run it all together at once without injuries on. Alternatively, I could feel like getting a bit more immersed and running it series by series could make the post-season feel more rewarding, I will be very annoyed if I could have made a strategic adjustment between series that would've helped things not go poorly in the end.

I'll ponder that later, though.

STATUS REPORT
September 16, 2061
CARDINALS: 99-62 (Tied for NL Central lead)

I'm not sure if my trade deadline gambit paid off or not. The team went 18-9 in July, but stumbled to 14-14 in August. We've been 9-5 this month, but I think most importantly I was building a roster that could survive a post-season run, and I feel like we have that. Joachim De Los Santos (0-3, 9.24 ERA in 3 G) has not had a good few weeks, and Sandy Cook (.236, .723 OPS) has also not been great, but I still prefer their veteran presence over a 20-year old. If I were manging more slowly, I'd have just gotten by with a veteran player and held onto the prospect, but in fast-sim it's just not worth being that precious.

Today is the last day of the regular season, we ended it -- fittingly -- with a 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. We've split this series and today, on Friday September 16th we'll play for the NL Central crown and the 2nd seed in the National League.

PLAYOFF BOUND
There are still a few races yet to decide, but many teams have punched their post-season ticket.

Sacramento and Seattle are battling for the AL West title, Detroit and Toronto hold 1 GB advantage on Houston for the AL Wild Card, with the Mariners two games back, meaning their only pathway to the post-season is through the AL West title.

In the National League, I mentioned the Reds and my Cardinals are tied at 99-wins apiece for the NL Central, the winning of their game today will win the division. Montreal won the other NL Wild Card. Salt Lake, San Francisco and the Mets won their respective divisions, the 88-win Phillies will miss the post-season.

GAME 163 DRAMA
One of the things I like about bringing in the 4-division era and limiting wild cards is bringing back the tiebreaker games. We’ll have 2 in the AL, both for the AL West title (Sacramento and Seattle both finished at 84-78) and a separate showdown for the AL Wild Card with (Toronto and Houston both at 85-77) Houston and Seattle will host. Winners will advance to the playoffs, losers will go home.

CARDINALS BACK IN THE POST-SEASON
We achieved our first aim, getting the Cardinals back into the playoffs for the first time in 4 years. This NL Central crown is the club’s first division title since 2046 and only our 3rd division title in 27 years. We’ll dig more into the club during the season summary after the post-season ends, but this is still great. I expected it, but the depth really made this year work despite the injury waves that hit.

TIEBREAKER GAMES
Both road teams won the tiebreakers, Toronto knocked off the Astros 7-2, and Sacramento won a nailbiter in Seattle, 1-0,

2061 REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division W L PCT GB
Baltimore Orioles 90 71 .559 -
Toronto Blue Jays 85 77 .525 5.5
Cleveland Guardians 78 84 .481 12.5
New York Yankees 74 87 .460 16.0
Boston Red Sox 66 95 .410 24.0

Central Division W L PCT GB
Minnesota Twins 87 74 .540 -
Detroit Tigers 86 76 .531 1.5
Carolina Pilots 82 80 .506 5.5
Milwaukee Brewers 81 80 .503 6.0
Indianapolis Arrows 68 93 .422 19.0

Western Division W L PCT GB
Sacramento Solons 84 78 .519 -
Seattle Mariners 84 78 .519 -
Portland Stags 78 84 .481 6.0
San Diego Padres 69 93 .426 15.0

Southern Division W L PCT GB
Nashville White Sox 93 69 .574 -
Houston Astros 85 77 .525 8.0
Texas Rangers 80 81 .497 12.5
Kansas City Royals 74 87 .460 18.5

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
Eastern Division W L PCT GB
New York Mets 101 60 .627 -
Montreal Expos 94 68 .580 7.5
Philadelphia Phillies 88 74 .543 13.5
Washington Senators 68 93 .422 33.0
Atlanta Braves 61 101 .377 40.5

Central Division W L PCT GB
St. Louis Cardinals 100 62 .617 -
Cincinnati Reds 99 63 .611 1.0
Chicago Cubs 87 75 .537 13.0
Louisville Spires 74 87 .460 25.5
New Orleans Pirates 73 88 .453 26.5

Western Division W L PCT GB
San Francisco Giants 84 77 .522 -
Arizona Diamondbacks 80 81 .497 4.0
Los Angeles Dodgers 75 86 .466 9.0
Vancouver Angels 73 88 .453 11.0

Mountain Division W L PCT GB
Salt Lake Bees 87 74 .540 -
Colorado Rockies 78 83 .484 9.0
Albuquerque Coyotes 76 85 .472 11.0
Calgary Cannons 64 97 .398 23.0

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS AT CINCINNATI REDS
GAME ID: 15232 - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2061 - GAME LOG
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Louis Cardinals (100-62) 0 0 0 6 0 2 1 0 0 9 12 0
Cincinnati Reds (99-63) 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 10 1

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE CINCINNATI BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. Brown 1B 5 1 2 1 0 1 3 .331 26 84 R. Collins 3B 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 .282 14 65
S. Cook SS 5 0 1 2 0 1 3 .235 6 25 C. Rodríguez DH 4 1 3 0 0 0 2 .254 4 60
J. Cordero 2B, 3B 5 1 1 2 0 2 1 .375 17 97 A. Vazquez CF 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .265 15 62
L. Ramírez LF 4 1 0 0 1 1 0 .294 17 64 B. Smith RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 6 .323 25 107
S. Van Doren CF 5 2 2 0 0 2 1 .280 24 74 D. Anderson C 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .298 14 68
B. Amobi RF 4 0 2 1 0 2 1 .254 8 44 S. Joyce 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 .270 22 72
M. Matsui 3B 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .311 14 53 M. Curran LF 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .271 22 88
a-J. Husted PH 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .179 3 11 T. Kinnett 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .234 8 38
b-A. Rayburg 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .154 1 4 M. Caines SS 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .209 3 10
C. Zuniga DH 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 .239 16 64
R. Judd C 4 1 3 1 0 1 0 .172 5 12
Totals 39 9 12 9 2 10 14 Totals 34 2 10 2 3 6 20

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE CINCINNATI PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
L. Willingham W 6.0 10 2 2 1 4 1 103 4.22 K. Yoshikawa L 3.2 5 6 3 1 4 1 55 4.20
E. Ramos SV 3.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 41 3.51 L. Gandarilla 1.2 2 1 1 1 4 0 34 4.29
N. Townsend 2.2 5 2 2 0 1 0 40 3.43
G. Koch 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 0.

FIXED THE SEEDING
I decided I don't like cheap division champions both getting into the playoffs AND skipping ahead of teams that won more games than them. So I'm keeping the ladder format, but I'll have to manually set the playoff matchups since OOTP automatically does it where wild cards are lower on the ladder than division champions.

Division champs do get home field if they play any wild cards though.

Here's the seeding for the '61 playoffs
AL
Nashville
Baltimore
Minnesota
Detroit
Sacramento
Toronto

NL
Mets
St. Louis
Cincinnati
Montreal
Salt Lake
San Francisco

Young Drachma

10-31-2024, 05:54 PM

2061 PLAYOFFS

NL WILD CARD RD 1
San Francisco def. Salt Lake 2-0 (10)

AL WILD CARD RD 1
Toronto def. Sacramento 12-2

NL WILD CARD RD 2
Montreal def. San Francisco 1-0

AL WILD CARD RD 2
Toronto def. Detroit 3-1

NL ELIMINATION SERIES
Game 1: Cincinnati def. Montreal 13-1
Game 2: Montreal def. Cincinnati 7-4
Game 3: Cincinnati def. Montreal 7-1

AL ELIMINATION SERIES
Game 1: Minnesota def. Toronto 10-5
Game 2: Minnesota def. Toronto 4-3

So we're going to have another date with the Reds in the Division Series, not totally surprising or unexpected. We won the season series 11-9, besides knowing we're fresh and our rotation is largely intact, I can't really picture how this will go. We've been going back and forth all year, this one could go all 5 games.

Young Drachma

10-31-2024, 07:33 PM

2061 PLAYOFF RUN - ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES vs. CINCINNATI
Game 1: CARDINALS 2, Reds 1
- Urban Henry (W) goes toe-to-toe with Kennedy
- Logan Cash saves it in the 9th
- Small ball victory with no HRs

Game 2: CARDINALS 4, Reds 3
- Kelly Gibbons delivers strong start
- Cash gets another save
- Takes 2-0 series lead at home

Game 3: Cardinals 3, REDS 6
- S. Wallace outduels Benjamin
- Nielsen homers in loss
- Reds get back in series

Game 4: Cardinals 5, REDS 13
- Nightmare at Crosley Field
- Willingham roughed up
- Series evened at 2-2

Game 5: CARDINALS 6, Reds 4
- Henry goes 7 strong for second win
- Brown/Amobi/Cordero all homer
- Cash gets 2 huge innings for save
Series MVP: Pinwheel Brown

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES vs. NEW YORK
Game 1: Cardinals 4, METS 6
- Regalado struggles early
- Brown hits two homers in loss
- Mets take home field

Game 2: CARDINALS 5, Mets 4
- Judd shocks with 2 HRs
- Nielsen adds key blast
- Cash saves Fawcett win

Game 3: Cardinals 2, METS 5
- Henry suffers first playoff loss
- B. Brown homers for Mets
- NY takes 2-1 lead

Game 4: CARDINALS 2, Mets 1
- Garner brilliant in spot start
- Small ball manufacturing runs
- Cash with clutch 2-inning save

Young Drachma

10-31-2024, 09:23 PM

Young Drachma

10-31-2024, 09:58 PM

This series & team have made me appreciate playing games out more because of the control factor than I used to care about.

We lost the NLCS to the defending champion Mets (I had a save where we were up 3-2 but that got crashed)

Game 5: Mets 2, Cardinals 0
Game 6: Mets 4, Cardinals 1

On one hand, it's a bummer I thought we could beat the odds this year. On the flip side, this is a team that we refurbished on the fly. There's still more work to do.

I'll do a comprehensive season summary, but on balance i'm okay with how this year went. The core will be back and I think that we can finish the job next year. This drought is a really awful thing for a once-proud franchise, but no one can look at this season and argue that we're anything but on the right track again.

Young Drachma

10-31-2024, 10:14 PM

2061 WORLD SERIES
Minnesota Twins (88-74, 1st AL Central) (AL) v. New York Mets (101-61, 1st NL East) (NL)

Twins AL pennants: 9 (1965, 1987, 1991, 2032, 2034, 2035, 2041, 2043, 2061) World Series titles: 4 (1987, 1991, 2032, 2035)

Mets NL pennants: 11 (1969, 1973, 2000, 2015, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2045, 2058, 2060, 2061)
World Series titles: 6 (1969, 1986, 2024, 2025, 2060, 2061)

GAME 1: Twins 5, Mets 3
GAME 2: Twins 6, Mets 2
GAME 3: Mets 5, Twins 4
GAME 4: Mets 3, Twins 2
GAME 5: Twins 5, Mets 1
GAME 6: Mets 3, Twins 2
GAME 7: Twins 9, Mets 3
GAME 8: Mets 3, Twins 0
GAME 9: Mets 3, Twins 0

The nine-game World Series is the truest test of mettle, in a sport that's a coin flip. No flukes in a 9-game test, you gotta get it done. Mets do that and get the repeat to end 2061 for their 6th title in franchise history, in their 100th season of Mets baseball.

Young Drachma

11-03-2024, 08:00 PM

The Machine Awakens: The Cardinals return to the postseason
2061 Season In Review

The ghosts had grown restless in St. Louis. Four years of October silence - an eternity by Cardinals standards - had settled over Busch Stadium like an unwelcome fog. Not since 2057 had playoff baseball graced these grounds, and the drought had begun to feel less like an aberration and more like an identity crisis for baseball's proudest National League franchise. The last time the Cardinals had won 100 games, in 2015, most of their current roster hadn't been born.

But baseball, like life, moves in cycles. The 2061 Cardinals didn't just break their playoff drought - they shattered it with a thunderous 100-win campaign that announced the franchise's return to baseball's elite. Led by a rookie who seemed to step out of a baseball fever dream and a veteran pitcher staging his own renaissance, these Cardinals restored the shine to baseball's best-preserved machine.

Pinwheel Brown arrived in St. Louis with the kind of expectations that can crush young careers. He left his rookie season as an MVP, having achieved something no player in baseball history had done before: a .400 batting average combined with 123 stolen bases. The 24-year-old first baseman didn't just hit - he reimagined what was possible on a baseball field. Every at-bat became an event, every base hit a prelude to stolen base attempts that brought crowds to their feet.

"He's playing a different game than the rest of us," marveled teammate José Cordero, who authored his own breakout season with a .375 average. "The speed, the contact - it's like he's operating on a different timeline than everyone else."

But if Brown represented the future, Urban Henry was the bridge from past to present. At 37, the right-hander delivered one of the most dominant pitching seasons in recent memory: 22 wins, a 2.10 ERA, and 297 strikeouts. Paired with Kelly Gibbons (18-6, 2.33 ERA), Henry gave the Cardinals the kind of rotation frontline that had been missing during their playoff drought.

The regular season unfolded like a gradually building crescendo. The Cincinnati Reds pushed them to the final week, winning 99 games themselves, but the Cardinals' consistency - that old organizational hallmark - proved the difference. When victory 100 was secured in the season's final series, it felt less like an accomplishment than a restoration. This was, after all, what Cardinals baseball was supposed to look like.

October began with promise. They dispatched those same Reds in a tense Division Series, with Henry bookending the series with gems that recalled the franchise's greatest playoff moments. The New York Mets awaited in the Championship Series, and for a moment, it seemed the drought-breaking season might become something more.

But on a crisp October night at Citi Field, the dream ended. Domingo Durán spun seven masterful innings, limiting the Cardinals to just four hits and a single run. Rowan Kendrick, who would be named series MVP after hitting .391, delivered key RBIs as the Mets built their lead. When Leuri Ramírez doubled and scored on Sandy Cook's sacrifice fly in the seventh, it provided only momentary hope. The Mets' Hayden Hasenjager closed the door over the final two innings, and just like that, the season was over.

The sting of falling short will linger, but the broader picture remains bright. Brown's historic season signals the arrival of a generational talent. The farm system teems with promise - Asher Novak and Reggie Lozano headline a prospect group that should keep the pipeline flowing. Even the financial picture is robust, with attendance over 3.7 million justifying a payroll approaching $190 million.

Most importantly, the Cardinals rediscovered their identity. The lost years since 2057 had begun to feel like a new normal, the 46-year wait for another 100-win season a weight too heavy to lift. But these Cardinals proved that excellence, while never guaranteed, remains embedded in the organization's DNA.

As winter descends on Busch Stadium, the ghosts have grown quiet again. Not because they've been exorcised, but because they've been replaced by something more tangible: hope. The drought is over. The machine is humming again. And in St. Louis, that's always been enough to warm even the coldest offseason nights.

Young Drachma

11-03-2024, 09:15 PM

Back to a 2nd team

After a year away from running a 2nd club, I'm going back in again. This time, I'm going to take over the Portland Stags in a parallel storyline. heading into their 30th season, the Stags were once an expansion success story, but the last few years ownership changed and they've stopped spending and developing in-house talent. they've made 12 playof f appearances in franchise history, won the NL pennant in 2044 before losing to the Angels in the World Series (then Anaheim, now Vancouver) but won the World Series in 2038 (NL) and 2051 (AL) and since then have struggled to gain a foothold, their last postseason appearance was in 2055.

i'm going to take them over as well, but the difference is, I'm only allowed to spend (for now) just 4.4% of the top team's payroll. We'll see what it's likely to develop players, make trades and arbitrage our way to a semblance of respectability knowing the team is at the bottom of the barrel. While I could obviously just go overseas and bring guys over, that'll only be allowed in years when the owner lets us spend more and I have a spreadsheet for this. Right now, the owner is cutting $35.8 million from our books and our team budget was set to $44 million for next year according to our sheet. It means I can't acquire anyone that costs money, we'll likely just trade anyone and go radically down for prospects and see where that lands us.

Luckily, my league has a vibrant pipeline of Latin American players who actually enter the draft, part of why St. Louis was good from the jump was two draft picks from the DR who were immediately able to join the lineup. Not sure if the next drafts will have anyone that useful, but I'm saying that this won't be quite as dire a situation as a real life in-game rebuild because I have lots of talent pathways around the world at my disposal, so long as I acquire them when they're cheap and trade them before they hit arbitration.

We'll see how long I can run with that parallel story line, but getting the run the Cardinals how I want should make it a bit easier.

For the Stags, the house rules will be much simpler:
- Cannot ever have a team payroll over 5% of the highest payroll in MLB
- Cannot sign or trade for a player with an OVR over 60
- Players 39+ in age are exempt

The idea here is mostly to see how well I can develop guys over the course of a storyline, something I've done in online leagues but not much in solo leagues because I don't usually run storylines like this for myself and keep track. I'm curious in my league that has so many players in international leagues, whether there's an arbitrage opportunity among those > 60 OVR players (I don't play with scouts, so ratings I see are accurate) and if it's possible with good defense, and targeting a particular kind of talent whether you can build a team that's more successful than they should be.

Because of the lack of other restrictions, I can throw the kitchen sink at different strategies and types of players to see how this plays out and it lends itself to playing fast, since we're gonna suck.

Here's what some Stags bloggers think of our current predicament

Look, we all knew the Stags' ownership change was going to bring pain, but $44 million? That's not a budget, that's a dare.

Let's break down exactly what Portland's looking at here, because the numbers are wild. They've got $55.1M already on the books for 2062, which means they're going to have to shed at least $11M just to hit their mandated ceiling. That's before we even talk about trying to add any talent.
The most pressing issues:

Jaxson Tiller is about to get expensive. Like, really expensive. We're talking about a 23-year-old who just popped 39 homers, and his arbitration estimates start at $7.3M in 2064 and climb to $10.3M. In a normal world, you'd be extending this guy yesterday. In Portland's new reality? He's probably their best trade chip.

The League Minimum Legion: The Stags are carrying 21 guys at $900K, which sounds great until you look at their arb projections. Troy Goggans jumps to $4.6M in 2064, Marc McCoy to $5M, and Mel Johnson eventually hits $5M by 2066. Even Matías Santana, their 18-year-old prospect, projects to cost $7.5M by 2067.

The 2065 Nightmare: If they stood pat (they won't), their payroll would hit $94M in 2065. That's more than double their budget. The front office probably breaks out in cold sweats just looking at that number.

Here's what's fascinating: Portland actually has some interesting young talent. Goggans showed real promise, McCoy had 179 hits, and Yago Gonzalez (.313 BA) can clearly play. But they're going to have to get creative - and by creative, I mean "trade everyone before they get expensive."

The model here might be the early 2000s Cleveland teams who mastered the art of trading players two years before free agency, or the Tampa Bay approach of the 2020s where no one was untouchable if the price was right. But even those teams had more financial flexibility than these Stags.
The good news? Latin American talent still enters the draft in this league, which means Portland could theoretically find MLB-ready talent without the usual development costs. The bad news? Everyone else can too, and they can actually afford to keep those players.

We're about to watch one of the most fascinating experiments in recent baseball history. Can a team compete while spending less than 5% of what the big boys do? Can you build a winner when you have to treat arbitration like a death sentence?

The really wild part? Portland's done this before - kind of. They won it all in 2038 and 2051, made the Series in 2044. But that was with a real budget. This? This is like trying to build a house with popsicle sticks and hoping nobody notices it's not made of wood.

Get your popcorn ready. Whether this works or fails spectacularly, it's going to be one hell of a show.

Young Drachma

11-03-2024, 09:42 PM

Here's St. Louis stats & financials. Yes, I deliberately overpaid Urban (Legend) Henry to sign here, I'd been watching him for a decade and wanted to take over a team years ago to sign him. I steered the trade from the Yankees to Texas I thought he could take the Yanks to a title but they didn't, so he went to Texas (with Mark Wleh) he led the Rangers to a title and now they're mostly trash too. When I saw he was going to be a free agent, I wanted the best storyline place for him to go.

He's what made me finally take over a team in this dynasty, so there was never going to be another place for him to go. It was amazing restraint that I just overpaid for him rather than just intervene and put him on my roster.

Van Doren, Willingham and Amobi were all signed to their deals before I got here. I almost traded Van Doren last off-season, but I held on and his value is even more now so he's for sure going out the door. Willingham was a former ace who has seen better days, he's far too expensive as a bullpen guy, I kept him for a year though as a spare part in case injuries arose or for the post-season, he was useful but not $15.8m useful with a player option. Amobi is very young, I think the Cardinals locked him down early to ensure he could be a cornerstone of their rebuild, but I think it was a massive overpay for a kid that hadn't proven anything yet.

Moving them would recapture part of nearly $50m in payroll that I could deploy elsewhere, the 3 of them are about a combined 5 WAR, I feel like I can find that on the open market for that price. I haven't decided whether they'll be prospect dumps -- we're 22nd in the organization ranks -- or whether I'll try to find someone who can fill in gaps to help out.

Van Doren is the prize of the 3, he could command a very nice prospect haul if that's what I wanna do.

Anyway, here's the details on the Cardinals:

Name Age T OVR POT W L rWAR WAR ERA ERA+ FIP- SIERA G SV QS CG SHO IP HR BB K AVG BABIP WHIP HR/9 BB/9 RSG WPA ZR
Urban Henry 38 R 80 80 22 9 11.5 8.9 2.10 199 67 3.11 33 0 28 21 5 274.0 17 96 297 .192 .255 1.04 0.6 3.2 4.7 5.1 1.5
Kelly Gibbons 24 R 80 80 18 6 8.5 5.4 2.33 180 81 3.52 31 0 23 2 0 228.1 22 49 193 .222 .262 1.04 0.9 1.9 3.7 5.1 2.8
Troy Burgess 25 R 65 70 9 6 4.0 3.0 3.28 127 88 4.17 29 1 13 2 0 161.2 16 47 118 .234 .263 1.16 0.9 2.6 3.4 0.5 0.1
Logan Cash 22 L 75 75 4 3 3.0 2.6 1.89 222 50 2.06 56 41 0 0 0 62.0 4 21 87 .172 .257 0.97 0.6 3.0 0.0 3.1 0.4
Chase Benjamin 40 R 65 65 9 14 0.4 2.2 4.94 84 99 4.49 30 0 12 0 0 165.2 19 49 113 .300 .335 1.53 1.0 2.7 3.0 -2.4 -3.3
D.P. Harper 27 R 60 60 7 3 4.3 2.1 1.76 243 72 2.73 67 47 0 0 0 76.2 9 23 89 .208 .269 1.07 1.1 2.7 0.0 4.4 0.1
Oscar Regalado 21 R 80 80 7 7 1.7 2.0 3.92 107 86 3.27 16 0 10 1 0 96.1 10 39 106 .215 .277 1.19 0.9 3.6 4.2 0.3 0.5
Layton Willingham 33 L 50 50 8 0 0.9 1.1 4.22 99 91 3.92 18 0 3 0 0 70.1 8 21 59 .262 .304 1.34 1.0 2.7 5.5 0.8 0.1
Mark Avery 32 R 55 55 1 2 0.5 1.1 3.97 105 64 4.52 31 2 0 0 0 45.1 0 23 37 .220 .277 1.30 0.0 4.6 0.0 -0.8 -0.1
Camden Fawcett 33 L 60 60 4 3 0.6 0.7 2.95 142 83 4.30 38 1 0 0 0 55.0 4 15 38 .236 .271 1.18 0.7 2.5 0.0 0.4 -0.7
Ezequias Ramos 29 R 50 50 2 4 0.5 0.4 3.51 119 111 4.89 11 1 4 0 0 56.1 6 30 41 .222 .248 1.37 1.0 4.8 3.0 -0.2 0.4
Adrian Masri 24 R 50 50 0 0 0.2 0.1 1.35 310 87 5.48 2 0 0 0 0 6.2 0 4 4 .240 .286 1.50 0.0 5.4 0.0 0.0 0.0
Yucary Stewart 24 R 50 50 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.00 999 49 4.35 1 0 0 0 0 2.0 0 0 1 .222 .250 1.00 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Nick Roberts 23 L 45 45 1 0 0.1 -0.0 3.38 124 118 6.30 1 0 0 0 0 2.2 0 3 2 .364 .444 2.62 0.0 10.1 0.0 0.0 0.0
Raiden Garner 24 R 50 50 1 1 -0.2 -0.3 5.60 75 138 5.32 12 0 0 0 0 17.2 3 11 12 .278 .298 1.75 1.5 5.6 0.0 0.2 0.1
Obed Adu 27 R 50 50 0 0 -0.0 -0.4 4.40 95 168 5.81 7 0 0 0 0 14.1 4 5 5 .281 .250 1.47 2.5 3.1 0.0 -0.4 -0.4
Frank Benson 23 R 55 55 3 7 -0.1 -0.8 4.83 87 142 3.81 38 3 0 0 0 31.2 9 16 34 .254 .275 1.48 2.6 4.5 0.0 -2.7 0.8

POS Name TM Age B T OVR POT WAR AVG OBP SLG G GS PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB% SO% TB RC/27 ISO wOBA OPS+ BABIP WPA wRC+ wRAA wSB ZR
1B Pinwheel Brown STL 24 L L 80 80 8.1 .331 .419 .508 161 158 718 614 203 23 4 26 84 140 13.1 7.8 312 8.6 .178 .399 156 .329 5.85 153 44.9 14.8 1.5
2B José Cordero STL 23 R R 80 80 7.0 .375 .445 .591 110 110 476 416 156 33 3 17 97 91 10.9 11.1 246 10.1 .216 .440 185 .397 4.95 181 46.0 -3.1 4.3
SS Sandy Cook STL 27 R R 80 80 6.1 .298 .387 .458 158 157 675 583 174 28 4 19 85 83 12.4 13.6 267 6.1 .160 .372 132 .325 1.05 134 27.7 -3.5 7.4
3B Monta Matsui STL 33 R R 65 65 3.5 .311 .383 .509 122 120 493 440 137 35 5 14 53 80 9.7 12.4 224 6.7 .198 .386 145 .336 2.72 144 26.0 -2.2 -6.5
CF Spencer Van Doren STL 28 R R 80 80 3.2 .280 .351 .476 143 141 613 542 152 30 2 24 74 101 9.6 16.0 258 5.6 .196 .353 127 .299 2.69 122 15.4 -3.3 -4.6
LF Leuri Ramírez STL 21 L L 80 80 1.9 .294 .350 .535 80 80 334 299 88 21 0 17 64 51 8.7 12.3 160 5.9 .241 .375 142 .287 1.47 137 14.5 -4.0 0.6
CF Liam Bright STL 28 L L 70 70 1.3 .240 .313 .363 103 85 387 350 84 23 1 6 25 47 8.5 16.8 127 4.0 .123 .301 89 .280 -0.19 87 -6.8 0.5 4.4
3B JUSTIN LINDBLAD STL 29 R R 45 45 1.2 .213 .248 .317 115 111 363 347 74 13 1 7 28 34 3.6 22.0 110 2.4 .104 .250 56 .258 -2.08 52 -21.4 0.2 16.9
2B Flynn Rodriguez STL 35 S R 50 50 0.9 .244 .308 .328 81 45 221 201 49 9 1 2 21 20 7.7 19.0 66 3.8 .085 .284 77 .297 -0.13 75 -6.9 2.5 2.6
RF Benson Amobi STL 22 L L 60 65 0.9 .254 .302 .376 114 112 417 386 98 21 1 8 44 41 6.0 19.7 145 3.5 .122 .296 87 .301 -1.70 83 -9.0 -1.3 6.8
LF Damian Cook STL 23 R R 65 65 0.8 .290 .336 .490 49 19 107 100 29 8 0 4 17 9 6.5 15.9 49 5.3 .200 .358 126 .316 1.43 125 3.1 -0.4 2.5
C Ray Van de Veer STL 27 S R 70 70 0.4 .218 .296 .333 113 108 426 381 83 20 0 8 44 39 8.9 22.8 127 3.3 .115 .279 75 .270 -1.28 72 -15.1 0.0 -1.8
1B Chase Zuniga STL 24 L R 70 70 0.4 .239 .299 .425 114 80 385 351 84 15 1 16 64 51 7.8 18.7 149 4.3 .185 .311 98 .256 -0.47 93 -3.4 2.2 -1.3
C Tre Martin STL 21 R R 50 50 0.3 .204 .271 .444 19 14 59 54 11 4 0 3 13 6 8.5 33.9 24 3.5 .241 .309 95 .258 0.68 92 -0.6 0.0 0.5
3B Luke Baldwin STL 28 R R 45 45 0.3 .261 .292 .387 44 29 130 119 31 9 0 2 23 11 4.6 25.4 46 4.3 .126 .288 87 .330 -0.02 78 -3.6 0.4 1.1
2B Jon Gallegos STL 18 R R 60 60 0.0 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 .000 .000 100 .000 0.00 100 -0.0 0.0 0.0
3B Dewain Harris STL 21 R R 45 80 0.0 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 .000 .000 100 .000 0.00 100 -0.0 0.0 0.0
1B Marco Ozuna STL 26 R R 45 50 0.0 .000 .000 .000 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 .000 .000 -100 .000 0.00 100 -0.0 0.0 0.0
SS Joseph Williams STL 22 R R 45 60 0.0 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 .000 .000 100 .000 0.00 100 -0.0 0.0 0.0
SP Oscar Regalado STL 21 R R 80 80 -0.0 .283 .295 .300 18 16 61 60 17 1 0 0 2 1 1.6 16.4 18 3.1 .017 .266 66 .340 -0.12 63 -2.8 0.0 0.5
3B Calvin Love STL 27 R R 45 45 -0.1 .190 .271 .333 25 18 70 63 12 3 0 2 6 4 10.0 35.7 21 2.8 .143 .272 67 .278 0.26 67 -2.9 0.0 0.9
C Zion MacDonald STL 29 R R 45 45 -0.1 .000 .167 .000 2 2 6 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 16.7 33.3 0 0.0 .000 .117 -48 .000 -0.04 -37 -1.0 0.0 -0.2
SS Aden Rayburg STL 28 R R 45 45 -0.1 .154 .228 .269 38 13 57 52 8 1 1 1 4 5 8.8 19.3 14 1.8 .115 .226 38 .175 -0.35 36 -4.5 -0.2 0.4
LF Jason Husted STL 21 L L 55 80 -0.5 .179 .270 .346 31 22 89 78 14 4 0 3 11 8 11.2 24.7 27 2.9 .167 .258 70 .204 0.00 58 -4.6 -0.4 0.0
C Ralph Judd STL 29 L R 55 55 -0.7 .150 .225 .247 128 128 480 434 65 9 3 9 34 49 8.8 50.8 107 1.9 .097 .215 33 .304 -4.75 29 -42.1 0.8 2.1
RF Jimmy McLean STL 27 S R 60 60 -1.1 .226 .307 .376 70 43 212 186 42 5 1 7 35 17 9.9 13.2 70 3.9 .151 .293 89 .227 -0.60 81 -5.1 -0.2 -7.6

Pos Name Age 2062 2063 2064 2065 2066 2067 2068 2069 2070 2071
SP Urban Henry 38 $40.2m $45.2m $47.5m $48.5m
3B Monta Matsui 33 $25.2m $35.2m $35.2m $35.2m $35.2m $35.2m
CF Spencer Van Doren 28 $20.8m $20.8m $20.8m $20.8m $20.8m $20.8m $20.8m(P)
RP Layton Willingham 33 $15.8m $15.8m(O) $15.8m $15.8m $15.8m
RF Benson Amobi 22 $14.8m $16.0m $16.0m $16.0m $16.0m $16.0m
RP Mark Avery 32 $7.1m $7.1m
C Ray Van de Veer 27 $6.0m
SS Sandy Cook 27 $4.7m $9.4m(A)
RP Camden Fawcett 33 $4.4m $4.4m
RP D.P. Harper 27 $3.3m $4.1m(A)
2B Flynn Rodriguez 35 $2.5m
CL Logan Cash 22 $2.2m $3.4m(A) $4.2m(A)
1B Chase Zuniga 24 $2.2m $2.4m(A*) $2.8m(A) $3.2m(A)
3B Justin Lindblad 29 $2.1m $6.1m(P)
RP Ezequias Ramos 29 $2.1m $2.6m(A) $3.2m(A)
CF Liam Bright 28 $1.8m $3.0m(A)
C Ralph Judd 29 $1.6m $1.8m(A)
SP Oscar Regalado 21 $1.6m $2.2m $3.0m $4.2m $5.2m $7.0m $7.0m
LF Leuri Ramírez 21 $1.5m $2.1m $2.8m $6.8m $6.8m $8.5m $11.0m $11.0m $11.0m
3B Luke Baldwin 28 $1.2m $1.4m(A) $1.6m(A)
RP Obed Adu 27 $900k $1.2m(A) $1.4m(A)
RP Frank Benson 23 $900k $900k(*) $1.5m(A*) $1.7m(A) $1.9m(A)
1B Pinwheel Brown 24 $900k $900k(*) $7.0m(A*) $11.7m(A) $16.9m(A)
SP Troy Burgess 25 $900k $1.6m(A*) $2.2m(A) $2.8m(A)
LF Damian Cook 23 $900k $900k(*) $1.5m(A*) $1.9m(A) $2.4m(A)
2B José Cordero 23 $900k $900k(*) $7.1m(A*) $11.5m(A) $16.2m(A)
2B Jon Gallegos 18 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $2.0m(A*) $2.4m(A) $3.0m(A)
RP Raiden Garner 24 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
SP Kelly Gibbons 24 $900k $3.6m(A*) $7.5m(A) $11.9m(A)
3B Dewain Harris 21 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $2.0m(A*) $2.4m(A) $3.0m(A)
LF Jason Husted 21 $900k $900k(*) $1.4m(A*) $1.9m(A) $2.6m(A)
3B Calvin Love 27 $900k $900k(*) $1.4m(A*) $1.6m(A) $1.8m(A)
C Zion MacDonald 29 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
C Tre Martin 21 $900k $900k(*) $1.4m(A*) $1.6m(A) $1.8m(A)
RP Adrian Masri 24 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
RF Jimmy McLean 27 $900k $1.4m(A) $1.6m(A)
1B Marco Ozuna 26 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $2.0m(A*) $2.2m(A) $2.6m(A)
SS Aden Rayburg 28 $900k $1.2m(A) $1.4m(A)
RP Nick Roberts 23 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
RP Yucary Stewart 24 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
SS Joseph Williams 22 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $2.0m(A*) $2.4m(A) $3.0m(A)
SP Chase Benjamin 40
TOTAL $180.0m $206.4m $196.2m $212.9m $161.8m $109.1m $38.8m $11.0m $11.0m $0

Young Drachma

11-03-2024, 09:56 PM

For Portland in Year 1, I'm still trying to figure out what my plan is gonna be. We're gonna be doing an aggressive Moneyball thing that if it works well, I'll have probably found a new OOTP talent exploit that probably only works in my leagues because I've got a much bigger world of talent to draw from than a stock one. Unlike my usual leagues, ratings are not as intensely overclocked -- guys under 70 OVR still have a place here -- but it's still a universe where pitchers still throw lots of strikeouts, steals are prevelant & throwing innings isn't a curse word. Offense is still unfortunately the biggest ticket, I'm working on balancing it in future seasons through the league totals so that pitchers can develop better than they have in this big offensive era we've overseen the last 2 decades.

My goal for the Stags is mostly to offload anyone with a pulse financially, try to get back what I can talentwise and aggressively seek out AAAA type guys for the big league roster. In a different style of this kind of dynasty, I'd probably do some shortcut gimmicks to get them back to respectability faster, but I'm genuinely curious what it'll be like to run a major league roster for a few years filled with homegrown prospects, coupled with past-their-prime vets & reclamation projects. Winning isn't the goal here, it's purely about player development and sending guys away once they're showing they can play and team control above all else.

I don't think that'll forever be the storyline here, but I want to run with that one for a bit and see where it lands us.

2061 PORTLAND STAGS
Off-season

Player List
Name Age T OVR POT W L rWAR WAR ERA ERA+ FIP- SIERA G SV QS CG SHO IP HR BB K AVG BABIP WHIP HR/9 BB/9 RSG WPA ZR
Pearl Ritter 27 L 60 65 7 6 2.7 4.3 3.59 119 77 4.02 28 0 14 1 1 168.0 13 29 118 .276 .317 1.28 0.7 1.6 4.0 -0.8 -1.0
Ji-Won Cho 26 R 60 60 14 10 2.3 3.4 4.32 99 89 4.57 29 0 15 1 1 179.1 11 82 140 .277 .329 1.54 0.6 4.1 4.1 -0.4 -2.1
Alex Gibson 26 R 60 60 9 5 2.0 2.1 4.50 95 97 4.35 27 0 12 0 0 146.0 18 35 97 .290 .319 1.39 1.1 2.2 3.6 -1.4 1.7
Ryder Moring 22 R 65 65 2 1 2.2 1.6 1.86 230 60 2.80 55 1 0 0 0 67.2 4 28 86 .205 .293 1.18 0.5 3.7 0.0 1.1 -1.6
Jason Ulmer 24 R 55 65 4 1 1.5 1.2 2.18 196 58 2.19 34 0 0 0 0 45.1 3 17 61 .190 .289 1.01 0.6 3.4 0.0 1.9 1.0
Danny Beard 23 R 60 60 4 4 1.1 1.0 3.27 131 76 3.55 45 4 0 0 0 52.1 5 13 47 .273 .331 1.32 0.9 2.2 0.0 -0.0 1.1
Ricky Kurioka 22 L 60 60 5 2 1.2 0.9 2.58 166 75 2.20 64 1 0 0 0 45.1 6 17 64 .194 .269 1.06 1.2 3.4 0.0 0.5 1.4
Rocky Smith 24 L 50 50 2 2 -0.3 0.7 4.92 87 95 4.54 36 0 3 0 0 82.1 8 36 66 .314 .366 1.76 0.9 3.9 1.0 -1.7 -0.0
John Balsley 25 L 50 55 6 4 0.7 0.7 4.87 88 106 4.12 11 0 7 0 0 64.2 10 23 53 .299 .342 1.52 1.4 3.2 5.1 -0.6 2.4
Frederick White 21 R 55 55 2 3 -0.9 0.5 6.22 69 87 3.04 39 1 0 0 0 50.2 8 16 59 .298 .383 1.54 1.4 2.8 0.0 -0.6 -0.8
Archibaldo Candelaria 24 R 45 45 1 1 0.9 0.4 1.98 217 79 4.90 13 1 1 0 0 27.1 1 4 11 .204 .221 0.88 0.3 1.3 0.0 -0.0 -0.0
Tavell Olive 21 L 55 55 1 3 -0.1 0.4 5.12 84 90 3.16 31 14 0 0 0 31.2 4 18 43 .248 .351 1.52 1.1 5.1 0.0 -0.8 -0.3
Nathan Paulino 27 R 50 50 8 8 0.4 0.4 4.98 86 120 4.49 26 0 2 0 0 124.2 23 38 84 .272 .284 1.38 1.7 2.7 3.3 -2.9 -3.4
Auderico Moran 28 L 50 50 0 1 0.0 0.3 4.91 87 90 3.34 25 0 0 0 0 33.0 4 16 40 .256 .330 1.48 1.1 4.4 0.0 0.1 -0.7
Eli Paugh 23 R 55 55 1 2 -0.7 0.2 6.57 65 90 4.63 21 0 0 0 0 24.2 2 10 18 .257 .296 1.46 0.7 3.6 0.0 -0.3 -1.2
Cal Haynes 27 R 45 45 1 1 0.6 0.1 2.76 153 99 3.55 15 0 0 0 0 29.1 4 12 29 .239 .286 1.30 1.2 3.7 0.0 0.0 0.4
Mason Riedlinger 24 R 45 65 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.00 100 0 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 .000 .000 0.00 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Nash White 22 R 50 65 2 1 0.3 -0.0 3.67 115 107 2.49 17 0 0 0 0 27.0 6 7 30 .224 .258 1.07 2.0 2.3 0.0 -0.3 1.0
Jeremiah Jeppson 26 L 50 50 0 0 -0.0 -0.2 5.40 77 218 2.71 2 0 0 0 0 3.1 2 0 3 .231 .125 0.90 5.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Darik Neumann 27 R 45 45 3 2 -1.2 -0.7 7.02 61 133 4.80 26 0 0 0 0 50.0 10 26 39 .288 .312 1.70 1.8 4.7 0.0 -0.3 -0.4

POS Name TM Age B T OVR POT WAR AVG OBP SLG G GS PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB% SO% TB RC/27 ISO wOBA OPS+ BABIP WPA wRC+ wRAA wSB ZR
SS Jaxson Tiller POR 23 R R 75 80 4.9 .282 .364 .530 158 156 700 610 172 30 2 39 124 96 11.4 13.4 323 6.7 .248 .380 140 .275 2.56 138 33.2 0.8 -11.6
3B Marc McCoy POR 23 S R 80 80 4.8 .287 .365 .526 156 156 707 623 179 38 3 35 101 99 11.0 14.7 328 7.1 .239 .383 139 .294 4.40 139 35.0 0.0 -9.2
1B Troy Goggans POR 25 R R 80 80 4.8 .313 .405 .588 127 124 568 483 151 36 2 31 109 95 11.4 13.0 284 8.7 .275 .421 167 .312 3.34 166 46.1 0.0 -1.3
RF Yago Gonzalez POR 27 L L 80 80 3.3 .313 .372 .507 114 113 522 473 148 36 4 16 61 92 8.0 13.6 240 6.8 .195 .381 137 .339 1.89 138 25.1 -0.7 -2.6
1B Matías Santana POR 18 R R 80 80 2.8 .355 .435 .579 72 67 299 259 92 22 0 12 50 55 12.0 12.0 150 10.3 .224 .437 174 .376 2.60 176 28.1 0.0 0.1
SS Mel Johnson POR 24 R R 60 80 2.4 .273 .392 .430 134 130 548 454 124 21 1 16 69 66 15.9 18.6 195 6.4 .156 .364 125 .319 2.13 127 18.6 0.0 -11.2
CF Niles Sims POR 27 L L 50 55 1.2 .329 .433 .488 54 20 97 82 27 5 1 2 9 14 15.5 16.5 40 8.6 .159 .407 151 .391 -0.13 156 6.7 0.0 -1.0
LF Paul Correa POR 21 L L 70 80 0.7 .263 .325 .480 87 80 360 327 86 18 1 17 46 55 8.1 16.9 157 5.3 .217 .348 116 .275 1.66 116 7.6 -1.8 -6.6
C Lawrence Robison POR 28 S R 65 65 0.7 .245 .322 .352 77 55 245 216 53 8 0 5 23 28 10.2 24.9 76 3.7 .106 .300 84 .314 -1.91 84 -4.4 -0.1 0.2
RF Radley Miller POR 23 R R 40 40 0.1 .300 .364 .700 6 1 11 10 3 1 0 1 5 1 9.1 9.1 7 10.2 .400 .444 181 .250 0.20 181 1.1 0.0 -0.2
2B Ashley Coe POR 23 R R 45 60 0.0 .000 .444 .000 2 2 9 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 33.3 33.3 0 2.5 .000 .316 37 .000 0.15 94 -0.0 0.0 -0.2
1B Alex Eisenmann POR 22 L R 25 60 0.0 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 .000 .000 100 .000 0.00 100 -0.0 0.0 0.0
1B Nicky Swinson POR 22 R R 50 70 0.0 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 .000 .000 100 .000 0.00 100 -0.0 0.0 0.0
1B Josiah Sybert POR 24 R R 50 70 -0.0 .200 .333 .200 7 6 5 1 0 0 0 0 2 16.7 33.3 1 2.8 .000 .266 51 .333 -0.18 61 -0.3 0.0 0.0
LF Payton LaBay POR 21 R L 65 80 -0.0 .250 .307 .412 32 17 88 80 20 4 0 3 17 7 8.0 22.7 33 4.3 .162 .314 94 .293 0.16 93 -0.6 0.0 -2.0
LF Neil Nagel POR 25 L L 40 55 -0.1 .091 .167 .091 6 3 12 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 8.3 16.7 1 0.6 .000 .133 -27 .111 -0.10 -28 -1.9 0.0 0.5
C Bram Brown POR 22 R R 50 80 -0.1 .233 .258 .267 8 8 31 30 7 1 0 0 0 2 3.2 45.2 8 2.5 .033 .236 44 .438 -0.20 40 -2.2 0.0 -0.5
1B Yorki Torres POR 24 L L 80 80 -0.1 .250 .338 .384 86 83 373 328 82 14 0 10 30 47 10.5 26.0 126 4.3 .134 .322 97 .324 -0.71 98 -0.0 0.0 -1.0
CF Ryder Taylor POR 26 L L 50 50 -0.4 .235 .261 .336 120 108 417 396 93 16 3 6 46 38 3.1 13.4 133 2.6 .101 .262 62 .257 -2.17 58 -20.6 -1.8 4.2
CF Garrett Archer POR 25 R R 45 45 -0.5 .176 .205 .271 30 21 88 85 15 2 0 2 7 11 2.3 34.1 23 1.5 .094 .203 28 .245 -0.23 18 -8.6 0.1 0.1
2B Henry Hart POR 29 R R 55 55 -2.6 .235 .300 .331 147 145 577 519 122 12 1 12 57 52 8.1 23.2 172 3.0 .096 .284 72 .289 -2.90 72 -18.2 0.0 -25.2

Here are the financials

Pos Name Age 2062 2063 2064 2065 2066 2067 2068 2069 2070 2071
RF Yago Gonzalez 27 $7.0m
2B Henry Hart 29 $3.5m $3.5m(T)
SS Jaxson Tiller 23 $3.1m $3.1m(*) $7.3m(A) $10.3m(A)
RP Auderico Moran 28 $2.8m
C Lawrence Robison 28 $2.6m
RP Ricky Kurioka 22 $2.0m $2.0m(*) $2.6m(A) $3.0m(A)
1B Alex Eisenmann 22 $2.0m $2.0m $2.0m(*) $3.0m(A*) $3.4m(A) $3.8m(A)
SP Alex Gibson 26 $1.7m $2.0m(A) $2.4m(A)
CF Ryder Taylor 26 $1.6m $2.3m(A)
CF Garrett Archer 25 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
SP John Balsley 25 $900k $900k(*) $1.5m(A*) $1.7m(A) $1.9m(A)
RP Danny Beard 23 $900k $1.5m(A) $1.7m(A)
C Bram Brown 22 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.9m(A) $2.2m(A)
RP Archibaldo Candelaria 24 $900k $900k(*) $1.5m(A*) $1.7m(A) $1.9m(A)
SP Ji-Won Cho 26 $900k $900k(*) $2.4m(A) $3.0m(A)
2B Ashley Coe 23 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
LF Paul Correa 21 $900k $900k(*) $2.2m(A*) $4.2m(A) $6.5m(A)
1B Troy Goggans 25 $900k $900k(*) $5.0m(A) $9.0m(A)
RP Cal Haynes 27 $900k $900k(*) $1.5m(A*) $1.7m(A) $1.9m(A)
RP Jeremiah Jeppson 26 $900k $900k(*) $1.4m(A*) $1.6m(A) $1.8m(A)
SS Mel Johnson 24 $900k $900k(*) $2.4m(A*) $3.8m(A) $5.0m(A)
LF Payton LaBay 21 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $2.5m(A*) $3.5m(A) $4.3m(A)
3B Marc McCoy 23 $900k $900k(*) $5.0m(A) $8.2m(A)
RF Radley Miller 23 $900k $900k(*) $1.4m(A*) $1.6m(A) $1.8m(A)
RP Ryder Moring 22 $900k $900k(*) $1.8m(A) $2.2m(A)
LF Neil Nagel 25 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
RP Darik Neumann 27 $900k $1.4m(A) $1.6m(A)
CL Tavell Olive 21 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.7m(A*) $1.9m(A) $2.2m(A)
RP Eli Paugh 23 $900k $900k(*) $1.5m(A*) $1.7m(A) $1.9m(A)
SP Nathan Paulino 27 $900k $1.4m(A) $1.6m(A)
RP Mason Riedlinger 24 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $2.2m(A*) $2.6m(A) $3.0m(A)
SP Pearl Ritter 27 $900k $900k(*) $2.0m(A*) $2.5m(A) $2.9m(A)
1B Matías Santana 18 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $3.8m(A*) $6.0m(A) $8.0m(A)
CF Niles Sims 27 $900k $900k(*) $1.4m(A*) $1.6m(A) $1.8m(A)
RP Rocky Smith 24 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $2.0m(A*) $2.2m(A) $2.6m(A)
1B Nicky Swinson 22 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $2.0m(A*) $2.4m(A) $3.0m(A)
1B Josiah Sybert 24 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
1B Yorki Torres 24 $900k $2.5m(A*) $4.4m(A) $6.0m(A)
RP Jason Ulmer 24 $900k $900k(*) $900k(*) $1.8m(A*) $2.0m(A) $2.2m(A)
RP Frederick White 21 $900k $900k(*) $1.6m(A*) $1.8m(A) $2.0m(A)
RP Nash White 22 $900k $1.3m(A*) $1.5m(A) $1.7m(A)
TOTAL $55.1m $47.2m $68.5m $94.5m $62.5m $39.3m $0 $0 $0 $0

Young Drachma

11-03-2024, 10:17 PM

The Portland Stags are facing a unique challenge: how to stay competitive under the strictest financial limitations in franchise history. With the ownership imposing a severe budget cap, the Stags have to rely on savvy trades and youth development rather than high-profile acquisitions.

Their latest move—a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies—signals a commitment to this strategy, bringing in young talent with real potential while shedding salary commitments.

The Trade:

In the deal, the Stags sent right fielder Yago Gonzalez (27) and first baseman Troy Goggans (25) to Philadelphia. In exchange, they received five promising young players:

1B Jackson Fiorilli (24): Fiorilli is the centerpiece of the trade. Fresh off a season where he finished second in the National League in RBIs, his .284/.332/.468 slash line with 29 home runs highlights his power and consistency. Although relatively young, Fiorilli has already shown he can produce at a high level and could become a key part of Portland's lineup for years to come.

LF Terell Ford (21): Ford is a high-ceiling outfield prospect with impressive raw skills. Despite a modest .224 average, his .393 on-base percentage and .578 slugging in 161 ABs point to his ability to draw walks and hit for power. Ford’s blend of speed and pop makes him an exciting, albeit raw, addition to the Stags’ outfield.

CF Alvin Peca (21): Known for his solid defense in center field, Peca also provides some offensive upside, hitting .231 with a respectable .316 OBP in 281 ABs. Portland hopes his athleticism and defensive prowess can anchor their outfield as he develops his bat.

RF Pete Chaney (24): With a .275/.336/.440 line and 13 home runs in 480 ABs, Chaney is a balanced hitter who can contribute across the board. He may not have the superstar potential of Fiorilli, but his steady production and strong fundamentals could make him a reliable asset.

SP Odysseus Bermejo (22): A young pitcher with a strikeout-heavy approach, Bermejo posted a 4.77 ERA but struck out 79 batters in just 60.1 innings in A+ ball. He’s a project, but his raw ability offers the kind of upside Portland needs for its future rotation.

This trade represents the Stags' commitment to building around young, controllable players who can grow with the team. Fiorilli, in particular, stands out as an immediate impact bat, offering power in the heart of the lineup without the escalating costs of arbitration or free agency that come with more established players. Yago Gonzalez, while valuable, was becoming too expensive for Portland’s strict budget, and Troy Goggans, though talented, was also trending toward a higher price tag in the near future.

Evaluating the Trade:

While trading Gonzalez and Goggans might sting, adding a young star like Fiorilli, who has already proven he can drive in runs at an elite level, makes the deal easier to justify. Fiorilli has shown he can deliver in clutch situations and has the potential to anchor the Stags' lineup, especially in a cost-controlled environment.

Meanwhile, players like Ford and Chaney bring complementary skills, adding depth to a roster that will need every bit of production it can get from affordable players.

Young Drachma

11-03-2024, 11:05 PM

The Last of His Kind: Celebrating 15 Years of Layton Willingham
By Gordy Metzger, Viva El Birdos

In an age where player movement has become as routine as the seventh-inning stretch, there's something wonderfully defiant about seeing Layton Willingham still taking the mound at Busch Stadium in 2061. Yes, his $15.75 million salary is hefty for a swingman who threw just 70 innings this year. No, he's not the same pitcher who anchored our rotation during that dominant 2053 season. But sometimes baseball value transcends the spreadsheets.

The numbers tell part of the story: 121 wins in Cardinal red, a career 4.10 ERA, and those masterful seasons in the early '50s when he was one of the National League's most reliable arms. The 2053 campaign stands out - a 2.70 ERA, an All-Star selection, and some of the most dominant pitching we've seen in this ballpark. His 15-strikeout performance against Detroit that May remains one of the greatest pitching displays in recent Cardinals history.

But Willingham's true value to this franchise goes beyond his stat line. In a clubhouse that just won 100 games behind Urban Henry's historic season, Willingham provides something increasingly rare - institutional memory. He's the last active Cardinal who remembers the lean years, who was here before our current dynasty took shape. He's seen prospects come and go, watched teammates chase bigger contracts elsewhere, and somehow remained, steadfast as ever.

Sure, the contract that runs through 2066 might make the front office squirm. Modern baseball logic says you don't pay for past performance, and Willingham's best days are admittedly behind him. But in an era where even franchise icons bounce around chasing that last payday, there's something to be said for a player who's been part of the Cardinals story for 15 years and counting.

The game has changed dramatically since Willingham first donned the Birds on the Bat. The mound is different, the ball is different, and the analytics revolution has transformed how we evaluate pitchers. Yet through it all, there's been Willingham, adapting his arsenal, accepting new roles, and remaining a steady presence in an increasingly turbulent sport.

So here's to you, Layton. Your ERA might not be what it once was, but your place in Cardinals history is secure. Sometimes the most valuable thing a veteran can offer isn't found in the box score or justified on the payroll - it's the simple comfort of knowing that as long as #18 is still in the bullpen, some part of Cardinals baseball remains blessedly constant.

Besides, what's $15 million between family?

Gordy Metzger has been covering the Cardinals for Viva El Birdos since 2057. He still maintains that Willingham's slider in Game 3 of the '57 NLCS was one of the filthiest pitches he's ever seen.

Young Drachma

11-04-2024, 12:08 AM

TALKING REDBIRDS PODCAST - EMERGENCY TRADE EPISODE
November 20, 2061

MIKE: "Well folks, just when we thought the Cardinals were going to stand pat, they drop a bombshell on us. The Birds have acquired Mark Wleh from the Rangers in what can only be described as a franchise-altering move. Dan, I'm still processing this one."

DAN: "Mike, this is the kind of trade that shows you're truly all-in. Mark Wleh isn't just any pitcher - we're talking about a guy who's put up a 66.2 WAR over his career. His 2061 season with Texas? Twenty wins, 3.39 ERA, 264 strikeouts. And the advanced metrics love him even more - that 125 ERA+ tells you everything you need to know about his dominance."

MIKE: "The price tag is steep though. Spencer Van Doren, Benson Amobi, Troy Burgess, plus two prospects in René Novas and Geraldo Amado. That's a lot of young talent walking out the door."

DAN: "But here's why I love this deal - it pairs Wleh with Urban Henry at the top of the rotation. You want to talk about a playoff rotation? Those two veterans together... that's how you win in October. And Wleh isn't some rental - he's signed through 2064. Dan, I can't help but think back to that 2058 Rangers team"

MIKE: "That's exactly where my mind went. Urban Henry and Mark Wleh were absolutely untouchable for Texas that year. And now, three years later, the Cardinals have managed to get the band back together. If you're a Cardinals fan who remembers watching those two dominate in the '58 Series, you've got to be ecstatic. The thing that jumps out at me is Wleh's durability. This is a guy who's thrown over 200 innings eight times in his career. Even at 30, he just gave Texas 249 innings. That kind of workhorse mentality fits perfectly with the Cardinals' pitching philosophy."

DAN: "And let's be honest about what we gave up. Van Doren and Amobi are talented, no doubt, but we've been waiting for them to take that next step. Sometimes you have to give up potential for proven elite talent. The Rangers taking on 75% of Van Doren's contract and 75% of Amobi's makes this even more palatable."

MIKE: "This feels like a statement from the front office after that NLCS loss to the Mets. They're saying the window is now, and they're pushing their chips to the center of the table."

DAN: "One hundred percent. And remember - Wleh isn't just great, he's consistent. His worst ERA+ in the last five years is 102. His worst! Most pitchers would kill for that as their average. The Cardinals just got themselves an ace who makes their rotation arguably the best in baseball."

MIKE: "Final thoughts before we take some calls?"

DAN: "When you have a chance to pair two elite starters like Henry and Wleh, you take it. Yes, the prospect cost hurts. But flags fly forever, and this trade makes the Cardinals better right now when they're already a 100-win team. That's scary for the rest of the National League."

DAN: "We've seen plenty of teammates reunited over the years, but rarely two pitchers of this caliber who've already proven they can win it all together. The rest of the National League has to be shaking their heads right now. The Cardinals just took a 100-win team and added a proven ace who has built-in chemistry with their current ace."

MIKE: "Alright, let's take some calls. First up is Tony from South County... Tony, what do you think about getting the other half of that Rangers championship duo?"

Talking Redbirds is recorded live from St. Louis and airs daily on KFNS 590

Young Drachma

11-04-2024, 05:18 PM

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Bernie Miklasz
May 16, 2062

On an unseasonably cool evening at Busch Stadium, as Urban Henry wrapped up his fifth complete game of the season, the scoreboard told a story that even the most optimistic Cardinals fan couldn't have dreamed up: 42 wins against just 12 losses, a start that has the rest of baseball searching for answers.

But the numbers, staggering as they are, only tell part of the story.

This isn't just about the reunion of Henry and Mark Wleh, though their combined 2.70 ERA certainly helps. It's not just about Oscar Regalado's emergence (2.22 ERA, 80 strikeouts in 69 innings) as baseball's next great young arm. And it's not even about the lineup that's producing more consistently than any in franchise history.

It's about Pinwheel Brown stealing 31 bases while hitting .348. It's about José Cordero's .359 average and Leuri Ramírez driving in 49 runs from the outfield. It's about Jon Gallegos emerging from nowhere to post a .936 OPS. This team isn't just winning – they're redefining what Cardinals baseball looks like.

"What makes this group special," manager Bubby Harris told me before yesterday's game, "is how the veterans and young guys have meshed. You've got Henry and Wleh showing these kids what championship baseball looks like, and you've got guys like Brown and Cordero bringing an energy that's infectious."

The numbers are almost comical. Seven regulars with an OPS+ over 120. Three starting pitchers with ERAs under 3.00. Logan Cash hasn't allowed a run in his last twelve appearances. But walk through the Cardinals clubhouse, and you won't hear talk about statistics or projections.

Instead, you'll hear Urban Henry discussing pitch grips with Regalado. You'll see Pinwheel Brown working on baserunning reads with rookie Liam Bright. This isn't just a talented team – it's a team that seems to be actively making each other better.

"The beauty of baseball," Henry said after his last start, "is that it doesn't matter what the computers say you should do. It matters what you do between those lines."

And between those lines, the 2062 Cardinals are doing things we haven't seen since the legendary teams of the 2040s. They're winning with power (Cordero's 12 homers) and speed (Brown's 31 steals). They're winning with youth (Regalado's emergence) and experience (Henry's mastery).

But most importantly, they're winning with a swagger that suggests they don't plan to slow down anytime soon.

The question isn't whether this team can make the playoffs – it's whether anyone can stop them when they get there. And watching Henry and Wleh work their magic while Brown and Cordero rewrite the franchise record books, it's getting harder and harder to bet against them.

In St. Louis, we've seen our share of special teams. But this one? This one feels different. This one feels historic.

And we're only in May.

Bernie Miklasz has been covering St. Louis sports for the Post-Dispatch since 2038.

May 15, 2062 MLB STANDINGS

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Eastern Division W L PCT GB
Baltimore Orioles 35 18 .660 -
Toronto Blue Jays 30 22 .577 4.5
Boston Red Sox 27 25 .519 7.5
Cleveland 28 26 .519 7.5
New York Yankees 18 36 .333 17.5

Central Division W L PCT GB
Carolina Pilots 33 20 .623 -
Minnesota Twins 27 26 .509 6.0
Milwaukee Brewers 25 28 .472 8.0
Detroit Tigers 25 29 .463 8.5
Indianapolis 24 30 .444 9.5

Western Division W L PCT GB
Sacramento Solons 32 21 .604 -
San Diego Padres 27 26 .509 5.0
Seattle Mariners 25 28 .472 7.0
Portland Stags 25 28 .472 7.0

Southern Division W L PCT GB
Houston Astros 29 23 .558 -
Texas Rangers 25 28 .472 4.5
Nashville 24 28 .462 5.0
Kansas City 18 35 .340 11.5

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Eastern Division W L PCT GB
New York Mets 30 23 .566 -
Montreal Expos 28 26 .519 2.5
Atlanta Braves 25 29 .463 5.5
Washington 21 31 .404 8.5
Philadelphia 17 35 .327 12.5

Central Division W L PCT GB
St. Louis Cards 42 12 .778 -
Cincinnati Reds 29 25 .537 13.0
Chicago Cubs 25 28 .472 16.5
Louisville 23 30 .434 18.5
New Orleans 21 32 .396 20.5

Western Division W L PCT GB
San Francisco 29 24 .547 -
Arizona 29 24 .547 -
Vancouver Angels 25 28 .472 4.0
Los Angeles 19 34 .358 10.0

Mountain Division W L PCT GB
Colorado Rockies 36 16 .692 -
Albuquerque 31 22 .585 5.5
Salt Lake Bees 25 28 .472 11.5
Calgary Cannons 22 30 .423 14.0

Young Drachma

11-04-2024, 05:20 PM

PORTLAND BASEBALL PROSPECTUS
May 16, 2062

The Unexpected Contenders: Breaking Down Portland's First Quarter

When we look at the Stags' surprising wild card position, the story starts with their young offensive core. Through 53 games, we're seeing legitimate breakout performances that demand attention:

The Youth Movement
- Matías Santana (.335/.432/.558, 166 OPS+) has been nothing short of revelatory at first base
- Mel Johnson (.319/.434/.500, 152 OPS+) is showing elite plate discipline at second
- Paul Correa (.289/.367/.515, 135 OPS+) looks like a future cornerstone in right field
- Payton LaBay (.333/.366/.590, 153 OPS+) is making the most of limited playing time

The Red Flags
- Marc McCoy (.245/.330/.367, 89 OPS+) has struggled to match his prospect pedigree
- Yorki Torres (.199/.269/.333, 62 OPS+) is showing concerning swing-and-miss issues
- The rotation beyond Bill Ballard (3.32 ERA) is frighteningly thin
- The bullpen features just one truly reliable arm in Ryder Moring (1.66 ERA)

The Financial Reality
The Stags are getting elite production at bargain prices right now. Santana, Johnson, and Correa are all making $900K this year. But here's where it gets tricky:
- Santana jumps to $6.5M in 2065, then $10M in 2066
- Johnson goes from $900K to $3.8M next year
- Correa escalates to $4M in 2064, then $7M in 2065

The Verdict
The temptation to "let it ride" with this group is strong, especially with the fanbase energized. But there's a strong case for selective selling:

Trade Candidates:
1. Jaxson Tiller (.294/.367/.497) - His value will never be higher, and his arb numbers are scary
2. Ryder Taylor - Solid CF with team control, but not part of the long-term core
3. Bill Ballard - Could fetch a premium as a controllable starter performing well

Keep At All Costs:
1. Matías Santana - Potential franchise cornerstone
2. Paul Correa - Too much upside to move
3. Mel Johnson - Elite plate discipline at a premium position

The smartest play might be threading the needle - move 2-3 key pieces while keeping the young core intact. This would give Portland financial flexibility while maintaining their competitive window.

Remember: This isn't about 2062. It's about making sure that when Santana, Correa, and Johnson hit their primes, we have the supporting cast - and the payroll space - to truly compete.

*Analysis by Jeff Wong, Portland Baseball Prospectus. Follow @PDXBaseballPro for daily Stags coverage.*

Young Drachma

11-05-2024, 06:20 PM

BASEBALL NATION QUARTERLY
June 19, 2062

FIRST HALF STORYLINES: BIRDS SOARING, ORIOLES RISING, YANKEES DIVING

The 2062 season has reached its All-Star break, and the story of the year continues to be the St. Louis Cardinals' historic pace. At 57-27 (.679), they're not just leading the NL Central – they're redefining excellence. José Cordero (.369 AVG) and Pinwheel Brown (.325, 15-game hitting streak) have turned the Cardinals' lineup into baseball's most relentless offensive machine.

Division-by-Division Breakdown:

AL East: Orioles Setting the Pace
- Baltimore (58-25, .699) has been nearly unstoppable
- Toronto hanging tough at 47-36
- Yankees' collapse continues at 31-52, dead last

AL Central: Twins Lead Tight Race
- Minnesota (47-37) leads slim
- Carolina (45-38) and Milwaukee (40-43) within striking distance
- Detroit's rebuild continues at 34-50

AL West: Solons Control the Coast
- Sacramento (50-33) living up to preseason hype
- Seattle (42-41) staying competitive
- Portland (40-43) exceeding expectations despite youth

AL South: White Sox Surprise Leaders
- Nashville (44-39) leads tight division
- Houston (43-40) just a game back
- Texas (35-48) disappointing

NL East: Mets Holding On
- New York (46-37) leads competitive division
- Montreal (45-40) within striking distance
- Philadelphia (33-50) in freefall

NL Central: Cardinals' Historic Run
- St. Louis (57-27) on pace for 100+ wins
- Chicago and Cincinnati (both 46-37) fighting for wild card
- New Orleans (32-52) rebuilding

NL West: Giants Lead Tight Pack
- San Francisco (44-39) slim lead
- Arizona (41-42) staying close
- Los Angeles (31-52) shocking collapse

NL Mountain: Rockies Rolling
- Colorado (55-28) dominating
- Albuquerque (46-37) solid
- Salt Lake (45-38) exceeding expectations

Wild Card Races Heating Up:
AL: Toronto (+1) leads Cleveland, Carolina, Houston for final spot
NL: Cubs, Reds, Albuquerque all tied at 46-37

First Half Awards Watch:

AL MVP Race:
- Gabriel Bonilla (BOS): .387 AVG
- Jorge Galo (SAC): .370 AVG
- Matías Santana (POR): .354 AVG

NL MVP Race:
- José Cordero (STL): .369 AVG, 65 RBI
- Pinwheel Brown (STL): .325 AVG, 15-game streak
- Cyrus Edwards (AZ): 24 HR

Key Second Half Questions:
1. Can anyone catch the Cardinals?
2. Will the Yankees' collapse continue?
3. Is Portland's youth movement for real?
4. Can Colorado keep pace in the tight NL race?

The season's second half begins Wednesday. For St. Louis fans, history beckons. For everyone else, the chase is on.

Analysis by Sarah Chen, Baseball Nation Quarterly. Follow @BaseballNation for daily MLB coverage.

Young Drachma

11-07-2024, 10:05 PM

The numbers tell a story, but not the whole story. The Portland Stags sit at 45-46, exactly where you'd expect a team ranking second in OPS (.792) but 15th in starters' ERA (5.14) to land. They're the baseball equivalent of a Rorschach test: look at their +1.0 base running and second-ranked wOBA (.341), and you'll see a sleeping giant. Glance at their 18th-ranked Zone Rating and -56.9 Defensive Efficiency, and you'll see a fundamentally flawed roster.
Welcome to baseball's most interesting deadline dilemma.

The Case for Going All-In (No, Really)
Before you close this tab, hear me out. The Stags' offensive metrics aren't just good—they're elite. Their .345 on-base percentage ranks second in the league, powered by a lineup where six regulars are hitting above .290. Matias Santana (.360) and Jaxson Tiller (.310) have formed one of baseball's most underrated offensive duos, combining for 32 home runs and 123 RBIs.

The rotation, though? That's where things get interesting.

The Rotation Situation
Bill Ballard (9-2, 3.47 ERA) has been the ace this staff desperately needed, but the drop-off after him is steeper than Portland's property taxes. Alex Gibson (6-7, 5.63 ERA) and Pearl Ritter (3-7, 4.99 ERA) have shown flashes, but consistency has been as elusive as an affordable rental in the Pearl District.

The Bullpen Blueprint
Here's where it gets intriguing: the bullpen hasn't been the disaster many predicted. Danny Beard (23 saves, 3.00 ERA) and Ryder Moring (2.02 ERA) have formed a reliable late-inning duo. The middle relief? That's a different story, but it's also the easiest thing to fix at the deadline.
The Wild Card Math
Four and a half games out with three months to play isn't just manageable—it's an opportunity. The teams ahead of them aren't exactly the '27 Yankees:

Toronto: 51-40, but trending downward
Carolina: 49-42, outperforming their run differential
Cleveland: 49-44, with significant pitching concerns

The Money Question
Yes, there's the payroll issue. But consider this: the Stags are drawing well (their batting stats suggest an entertaining product), and a playoff push could energize a fanbase that's been starving for meaningful September baseball since before TikTok existed.

The Path Forward
If the Stags are going to do this, they need:

A mid-rotation starter (their 5.14 starters' ERA screams for help)
Another bullpen arm (the 4.92 bullpen ERA could use a boost)
A defensive upgrade (that -56.9 Defensive Efficiency isn't fixing itself)

The Bottom Line
The Stags aren't just a team on the bubble—they're a fascinating test case for modern baseball decision-making. Their offensive metrics suggest a contender (2nd in wOBA!), while their run prevention numbers scream seller. But in an era where getting hot for two months can turn an also-ran into a World Series team, maybe the real question isn't "Should they go for it?" but rather "Can they afford not to?"

The deadline is coming. The metrics are mixed. But sometimes the boldest move is the right one. For a team with a .792 OPS and a fanbase hungry for success, standing pat might be the biggest risk of all.

Young Drachma

11-07-2024, 10:12 PM

Remember 2051? When gas was cheaper, TikTok was still cool, and the Portland Stags put together the kind of season that makes you believe in baseball magic? That 112-win campaign wasn't just the high-water mark for Portland baseball—it was a glimpse of what this franchise could be. Now, at 45-46, the 2062 Stags find themselves at a crossroads that feels eerily familiar to long-time fans.

The Three Ages of Stags Baseball
The Foundation Years (2032-2037)

Made the playoffs in three of their first six seasons
Never finished worse than 6th
Established a pattern of competitive-but-not-dominant baseball
First playoff appearance in 2032 (86-76)
Built around solid pitching (3.82 ERA in inaugural season)

The Golden Era (2038-2044)

Won their first championship in 2038
Seven straight winning seasons
Division titles in 2039 and 2044
Peak offensive production (.282 batting average in 2043)
Five playoff appearances in seven years

The Modern Era (2045-Present)

The legendary 2051 season (112-50)
Another championship
Dramatic pendulum swings:

112 wins in 2051
61 wins in 2059
Now hovering around .500

The 2051 Blueprint
That 112-win team wasn't just good—it was historically great:

.313 team batting average
Made the playoffs AND won it all
+9 run differential per game

Everything that could go right, did

The Current Reality
The 2062 Stags are eerily similar to many of their predecessor teams:

Current .495 winning percentage (franchise average: .509)
5.04 ERA (franchise average in losing seasons: 4.87)
.273 batting average (franchise historical: .274)

What History Tells Us
Looking at the Stags' 30-year history, a few patterns emerge:

They're never bad for long (longest streak under .500: four seasons)
Their best years come after period of "meh" baseball
When they hit, they hit BIG (see: 2051, 2039)

The Case for Going For It
History suggests the Stags are due. Consider:

Their last significant playoff push came after a similar period of mediocrity
Their batting average (.273) matches their historical norm during successful runs
They've historically turned around pitching struggles mid-season

The Case for Patience
Then again:

Their current ERA (5.04) is closer to their down years
They haven't had back-to-back playoff appearances since 2051-2052
The franchise has historically needed full retools, not half-measures

The Bottom Line
The 2062 Stags aren't the 2051 team—but they might not need to be. This is a franchise that's made the playoffs with less, won with worse, and historically shown a knack for turning "maybe" seasons into "magic" ones.

The current team sits at a familiar crossroads: good enough to dream, flawed enough to doubt. But if 30 years of Stags baseball has taught us anything, it's that this franchise has a habit of making history just when everyone's stopped expecting it.

The only question is: Will 2062 be another footnote in Stags history, or the start of its next golden age?

Young Drachma

11-07-2024, 10:13 PM

Remember when your fantasy baseball team was one closer away from domination? That's essentially where the Portland Stags find themselves, except with real players and actual playoff implications. Let's break down the trade block's most intriguing options, because who doesn't love a good shopping spree?

The Big Fish: Cyrus Edwards (AZ)
If the Stags are serious about October baseball, Edwards is the type of player who moves the needle. His numbers are the baseball equivalent of finding a PS5 on sale:

.313/.410/.626 slash line
174 OPS+ (translation: he's really, really good)
26 homers in 89 games
3.00 WPA (Win Probability Added)

The catch? He's 27, entering his prime, and Arizona probably wants your firstborn child in return. But when you're hitting .313 with a .626 slugging percentage, you're worth at least a conversation about said firstborn.

The Rotation Savior: Cayden Robertson (COL)
If you're looking for the pitching equivalent of finding an original Nintendo Switch in 2020, Robertson might be your guy:

2.96 ERA (150 ERA+)
7.5 K/9 (solid if not spectacular)
2.7 BB/9 (control you can trust)
4.7 WAR (hello, ace potential)

Playing in Colorado and still maintaining a sub-3 ERA is like beating Elden Ring with a Guitar Hero controller – technically possible but impressively rare.

The Steady Hands Club
Several veterans on the block could provide immediate help without breaking
Portland's prospect bank:
Noé García (NYY)

.280/.359/.434 slash line
117 OPS+
Solid 9.3 wSB

The kind of veteran presence that turns "we're trying" into "we're winning"

Stephen McKittrick (ATL)

.233/.322/.438 line
28.1 K% (concerning but manageable)
51 RBI in 85 games

Left-handed power that could play up at Portland's park

The Bargain Bin Heroes
For those who love finding value (looking at you, Moneyball rewatchers):
Kennedy Daka (ATL)

1.8 WAR
.237/.286/.448 slash line
Plus defender (0.6 ZR)

Could be this year's "why didn't we think of that?" acquisition

Jace Goldenstein (MIL)

.283/.328/.462 slash line
114 OPS+
3.5 wSB

The kind of under-the-radar pickup that podcast hosts love to predict

The Bottom Line

The Stags need to answer one question: Are they shopping at Whole Foods or trying to make magic happen at Trader Joe's? The talent is available, but as with any shopping trip, it's all about budget and priorities.

If they're serious about that Wild Card push (and that .792 team OPS suggests they should be), Edwards or Robertson would be the swing-for-the-fences moves that energize the fanbase. But maybe the smart play is grabbing a García or McKittrick while everyone else is distracted by the bigger names.

Either way, the clock is ticking, and unlike your fantasy league, there's no commissioner's veto to save you from a bad decision. Choose wisely, Portland. The right move could be the difference between October baseball and October golf.

jcard

11-08-2024, 10:43 AM

This is a great dynasty report. Entertaining, informative, and immersive—even when experienced exclusively through the written (well, typed) word. Thank you for sharing.

Young Drachma

11-09-2024, 12:41 AM

jULY 2, 2062

Figured at the halfway mark of the season, might be wise to check in on the defending champs who are once again running the NL East, 7.5 games ahead of the Expos.

The defending champion Mets aren't just chasing history – they're redefining what a modern dynasty looks like. Sitting atop the NL East at 56-37, they've built their success not on superstar power or a loaded farm system (ranked 33rd), but on something far more reliable: an absurdly deep pitching staff that's making the ladder format look almost unfair.

The Rotation That Changes Everything

The numbers are staggering:
- Kitahara: 2.72 ERA, 154 ERA+, 117 K in 145.2 IP
- Watamura: 2.80 ERA, 149 ERA+, 112 K in 144.2 IP
- Friedman: 2.77 ERA, 151 ERA+, 84 K in 107.1 IP

"It's not just the ERAs," one NL scout told The Athletic. "Look at their advanced metrics. Kitahara's 3.67 SIERA, Watamura's peripheral numbers – these aren't guys outperforming their stuff. This is sustainable dominance."

The October Equation

The ladder format's top seed – guaranteeing direct NLCS entry – looks custom-built for this Mets rotation. With three starters posting ERA+ numbers above 149, the ability to skip early playoff rounds becomes almost unfair.

"You're basically asking teams to beat Kitahara, Watamura, and Friedman four times in seven games," a rival pitching coach noted. "Good luck with that when they're fully rested."

The Farm System Reality

Ranking 33rd in farm system strength isn't just a number – it's a mandate. The Mets have to go all-in now. Their core is locked up (expensively), their depth is built for October, but their window isn't infinite.

Deadline Shopping List

Despite their success, clear needs exist:
1. Another power bat (currently 9th in OPS)
2. Bullpen depth (Hasenjager's 4.94 ERA exposing middle relief concerns)
3. Bench reinforcements (particularly right-handed power)

The Sustainability Question

The payroll structure tells a story:
- Heavy investment in starting pitching
- Core position players locked up long-term
- Limited minor league reinforcements coming

This isn't built like traditional dynasties. There's no endless pipeline of prospects, no surplus of young talent. Instead, it's a precisely constructed machine designed for one specific goal: maximizing the ladder format's emphasis on elite starting pitching.

What's Next

As the deadline approaches, don't expect the Mets to stand pat. Their farm system ranking means one thing: The future is now. With three starters performing at historic levels and a clear path to October through the top seed, adding the right pieces could make a third straight title less a hope and more an expectation.

"They've basically created a new blueprint," a front office executive from an AL team said. "Instead of building for sustained success over a decade, they're maximizing a three-to-four-year window with elite pitching and strategic additions. And in this playoff format? It might be the smartest approach anyone's figured out yet."

The Bottom Line

The Mets aren't just defending champions – they're revolutionizing how teams approach championship windows. In an era obsessed with farm system rankings and future value, they've built a win-now machine powered by arguably the best rotation in baseball.

The question isn't whether they can three-peat. The question is: Who can beat this rotation four times in seven games when October arrives?

For a team with two rings, the hunger for a third might be their most impressive feat yet. Because in Queens, they're not just chasing history – they're rewriting the blueprint for how to make it.

Young Drachma

11-09-2024, 01:28 AM

Look, we need to talk about Colorado.

The Rockies are sitting pretty at 58-34, their farm system is ranked first in baseball, and somewhere in their front office, someone's probably staring at a spreadsheet trying to figure out if they should mortgage tomorrow for today. Because here's the thing about having baseball's best farm system while you're also winning: it's like having a blank check and trying to decide if you should actually cash it.

Their system is, frankly, ridiculous:

SS Andy Owens (#2 overall) is doing SS things in Triple-A (.250, 20 HR)
SP James Layton (#10) has 102 strikeouts in 100 innings
SP P.E. Horta (#11) is ready whenever they call
RP David La Casa (#25) is making A-ball hitters look silly

And they're already winning. This isn't fair.

Meanwhile, in the Windy City...
The Cubs' second-ranked system feels like a time bomb waiting to go off. 2B Roger Grimmett (#5) is hitting .337 in Triple-A, which is absurd. SP Calvin Perkins (#15) has a 2.25 ERA in A-ball, and CF Ryder Collom (#78) is the type of prospect who'd be top-40 in most systems. They're 10 games back of St. Louis, but 2063 might be terrifying for the rest of the NL Central
.
The Most Interesting System Nobody's Talking About
Indianapolis might be my favorite farm system to watch right now. RF Raymond Nadeau (#24) is already in the show, LF Charlie Mueller (#39) looks like a future star, and they're loaded with the kind of prospects that make trade deadline discussions fascinating. They're probably not competing this year at 42-51, but they could absolutely wreck the trade market if they decided to sell.

The "What If" Teams
Seattle's system is sneaky-loaded. 2B Danny-David Dailey (#6) has 32 bombs in Triple-A, which is just silly for a middle infielder. SP Sameli Jokinen (#20) could be in their rotation tomorrow if they wanted. At 45-47, they're just hanging around enough to make the next few weeks interesting.

Minnesota's sitting on a gold mine too. SS Justin Yan (#12) is exactly the type of prospect that gets dangled at the deadline then comes back to haunt you for a decade. And they're leading the AL Central, which means their phone lines are probably already burning up.

So Here's The Thing About Colorado
Six years after their last title, the Rockies are facing the best kind of problem. They're winning now. They have arguably baseball's best farm system. And the NL isn't exactly running away from them.

Think about it this way: If you're Colorado, and you're looking at SS Andy Owens raking in Triple-A, you have to ask yourself - is he more valuable as your shortstop of the future, or as the centerpiece of a package that brings back the kind of veteran who puts you over the top in October?
These are the decisions that keep GMs up at night. And with the deadline coming up, someone in Colorado's front office is probably not sleeping much.

Because here's the truth about baseball's best farm system: Sometimes the best thing about having valuable prospects is using them to win now. And if Colorado decides to go shopping, they've got more to spend than anyone else.

The rest of the NL Mountain Division probably doesn't want to think about that too much.

Young Drachma

11-09-2024, 01:50 PM

By Woody Collins
Mile High Sports Chronicle

DENVER — Let's start with the headline: The Colorado Rockies just went all-in.
The first-place Rockies acquired 1B Noé García (.280/.360/.433 this season) and SP Mochi Zavada (8-9, 4.01 ERA) from the Yankees, with New York retaining 80% of Zavada's $24.25M salary and 50% of García's $7.45M deal. The cost? Just their future: 2B Jessie Hayes, top pitching prospect Elmer Horta (#11 overall), SS Jamad Duvall, LF E.J. Lucas, and C Jayden Wood.

This is the kind of move that defines a franchise's trajectory.

García will slot into the 5-hole of an already potent Rockies lineup that's been steamrolling the NL Mountain Division. Zavada, despite some recent struggles, immediately becomes their No. 2 starter – a role they've desperately needed to fill behind their ace.

The money part is clever – the Yankees eating most of Zavada's contract through 2065 makes this more palatable. García's a rental, but when you're 58-34 and haven't sniffed a title since '56, maybe that's exactly what you need.
But here's what keeps nagging at me: I've sat in the press box at Coors for 30 years, and I've seen deadline moves that felt like opportunity and ones that felt like desperation. This one? This feels like both.

Yes, García's bat plays. Yes, Zavada's splitter could be devastating at altitude (when it's working). But Horta wasn't just another prospect – he was the kind of pitching talent that small-market teams dream about. The type that anchors a rotation for a decade.

I remember sitting with Sarah Chen-Martinez when she bought this team, talking about building something sustainable in the Mountain time zone. Hard to square that conversation with shipping out five young players for a rental bat and a veteran arm.

The Rockies are better today than they were yesterday. García's left-handed power will play beautifully in that lineup. Zavada, even in a down year, gives them 180 innings they desperately need. But at what cost?

This is the kind of trade that defines careers – both for the players involved and the executives who make them. If the Rockies are hoisting a trophy in October, nobody will care about Horta's potential or Hayes' promise. But if they're not...

Well, let's just say I've seen enough deadline deals to know that sometimes the trades that look the best in July look the worst in hindsight.

The Rockies are all-in. They've pushed their chips to the middle of the table. In baseball, just like in poker, that's either very brave or very foolish.
We'll know which by October.

Woody Collins is a Hall of Fame baseball writer who has covered the Colorado Rockies since their inception. His column appears Sundays and after significant team developments.

Young Drachma

11-09-2024, 02:01 PM

By Marcus Chen
The Oregonian

JULY 10, 2062
PORTLAND — The math is simple: The Portland Stags sit one game out of a Wild Card spot, have scored more runs than any team in baseball (535), and possess a lineup that's first in on-base percentage (.349) and OPS (.802). But in baseball, simple math rarely tells the whole story.

"We're playing meaningful baseball in July," veteran Matias Santana (.366, 20 HR, 74 RBI) said after yesterday's 6-4 win in Seattle. "That's all you can ask for."

Yet around Pioneer Courthouse Square, the conversation isn't about what the Stags are doing — it's about what they might do next.

With three weeks until the trade deadline, General Manager Maddie Wardell finds herself in an unprecedented position. The Stags, projected by most analysts to finish near the bottom of the AL West, have instead emerged as legitimate contenders, riding a scorching W5 streak and sitting just seven games behind division-leading Sacramento.

"The energy in the clubhouse is different this year," said Bill Ballard (10-2, 3.61 ERA). "We've got something special brewing."

But Portland's success creates its own complications. The team's payroll constraints are well-documented, and the looming arbitration rules — which will impact 25% of players with under four years of service time — mean this might be the only shot with this particular group.
"You have to be realistic about the financial picture," notes Portland baseball historian Sandra Rodriguez. "This isn't just about 2062. It's about whether you can keep the lights on in 2063."

The farm system offers little immediate help. The Stags' 26th-ranked prospect pool, headlined by C Otis Ramírez and SS N.C. May, lacks the type of impact talent that could provide reinforcement down the stretch.

Which leaves Wardell with three options:

Stand pat and trust the team that's gotten them here
Make targeted moves within their financial constraints
Go all-in, knowing a winter fire sale is inevitable

"You don't want to waste opportunities like this," says former Stags executive Thomas Nguyen. "But you also don't want to mortgage your future for three months of hope."

The Stags' immediate schedule — four games against Seattle, followed by a crucial series with San Diego — could influence the decision. But with Toronto and Carolina also fighting for that final Wild Card spot, time is becoming a factor.
For now, Wardell remains diplomatic. "We like our club," she said before Monday's game. "If there's an opportunity to improve, we'll explore it. But we believe in the group we have."

The question is whether belief alone is enough in a season where opportunity has unexpectedly knocked.

Additional reporting by James Washington

Young Drachma

11-10-2024, 05:24 PM

By Marcus Chen
The Baseball Chronicle

The NL-leading Cardinals aren't waiting for the deadline to bolster their roster, acquiring veteran second baseman Miguel Del Angel from Kansas City while retaining 75% of his $20.75M salary. The price? Three prospects, including highly-regarded southpaw Jayson Stine.
For first-place St. Louis (65-35), the message is clear: They're gunning for more than just the Central Division crown.

Del Angel, slashing .303/.352/.492 with 7 homers this season, gives the Cardinals another potent bat in an already lethal lineup. But it's the timing of this move — three weeks before the deadline — that should put the rest of the National League on notice.

"This isn't just about getting better," one NL executive told The Chronicle. "It's about showing the rest of the league that they're ready to deal. The Cardinals just set the market rate for impact bats."

For Kansas City (42-57), moving Del Angel represents a chance to restock their farm. Jayson Stine, Trayvon Harris (.233/.355/.378 in A+), and Bentley Martin (.250/.250/.312 in AAA) provide much-needed young talent for a rebuild that's looking increasingly necessary.

But the real story here might be what this means for other contenders. With St. Louis showing they're willing to add salary and deal prospects early, the pressure now shifts to teams like Colorado (62-37) and New York (58-42).

The trade deadline just got interesting. And we're still three weeks out.

Young Drachma

11-10-2024, 05:44 PM

By Dennis Wertz
The Oregonian

PORTLAND — Remember when we were debating whether the Stags should be buyers at the deadline? Seven games and a franchise-record W12 streak later, the question isn't whether they should buy — it's whether they can afford not to.

The Stags (59-47) have surged into playoff position, holding a 3½ game lead for the final AL Wild Card spot on the back of a blistering two-week run. It's not just that they're winning; it's how they're winning. The offense, led by Matias Santana's otherworldly .367 average (2nd in AL) and 182 OPS+ (tied for AL lead), has transformed the team from surprising contender to legitimate threat.
"The energy in the ballpark is electric," said longtime season ticket holder Janet Wu. "You can feel something special building."

Yet while the Cardinals answered the bell early by adding Del Angel, and the Rockies are rumored to be aggressive in the pitching market, Portland's front office remains quiet. With their +3½ game cushion and the league's hottest streak (L10: 10-0), the pressure mounts on GM Maddie Wardell to supplement a team that's proven it can compete.

The schedule offers no respite: after wrapping up in San Francisco, the Stags face a crucial series in New York against the defending champion Mets. By the time the trade deadline arrives, we'll know if this magical run was a mirage or a message.

For now, Portland finds itself in an unfamiliar position: playing meaningful baseball in late July, holding a playoff spot, and wondering if the front office will match the team's momentum with decisive action.

The clock is ticking. The Stags are soaring. And somewhere in the front office, tough decisions await

Young Drachma

11-12-2024, 09:33 PM

July 19, 2062
By Emma Rodriguez
The Athletic

The signs were there if you knew where to look. The 39-70 record. The aging roster. The depleted farm system. But when the New York Yankees – baseball's most storied franchise – executed what amounts to a full-scale surrender this weekend, it still sent shockwaves through the industry.

"This isn't just a white flag," one AL executive told The Athletic. "This is a complete organizational reset."

In a series of moves that reshaped three franchises, the Yankees traded away veterans Zachary Kendrick, Carter Klassen, Jaxson Rall, and Roger Edwards to the Toronto Blue Jays, receiving a package centered around promising 2B Jack Saunders (.176/.222/.353) and several developmental pieces.

The Toronto Gambit

For the Blue Jays (56-51), sitting 17½ games back in the AL East but just 3½ games out of a Wild Card spot, this represents a fascinating calculation.

"They're buying low on established talent," a rival AL East scout explained. "Kendrick and Klassen aren't having their best years, but Toronto's taking educated gambles that they can recapture their form in a playoff push."

The Blue Jays will retain 70% of Kendrick's $12.1M salary and 75% of Klassen's $13.2M deal, making this as much a financial transaction as a baseball one.

The Broader Impact

What makes this trade particularly intriguing is the timing. With two weeks until the deadline, the Yankees have essentially announced to the market that everything must go.

"This is going to ripple through the entire deadline market," one NL front office executive noted. "When the Yankees become sellers at this scale, it changes the whole equation. Every contender is going to be calling about their remaining pieces."

The Prospect Haul

While Saunders (#72 prospect) headlines the Yankees' return, the real value might be in the volume. Woody Lloyd, Noah Crowell (#126 prospect), and Aspér Marín represent the type of high-upside lottery tickets that rebuilding teams covet.

"The Yankees are basically buying scratch tickets," a scout with an NL team said. "But they're buying a lot of them, and that's how rebuilds often work."

The Blue Jays' Calculation

Toronto's aggression here is notable. In adding multiple veterans while keeping their top prospects, they've threaded a difficult needle.

"This is the kind of move you make when you believe your window is now," a former MLB GM told The Athletic. "They're betting that getting these guys into their system, their analytics, their coaching – it can help them find another gear."

What's Next?

With the Yankees officially entering seller territory, attention turns to their remaining veterans. Multiple sources indicated that more moves are likely coming.

"The Yankees just changed the entire deadline landscape," another AL executive said. "They've got more veterans to move, and now everyone knows they're open for business. This could get really interesting."

For Toronto, the message is clear: They believe they can make a run. For New York, an equally clear message: The future matters more than the present.

In a deadline season that's been relatively quiet, the Yankees just turned up the volume. The only question now is: Who's next?

Young Drachma

11-12-2024, 10:31 PM

The Dominican Republic's grip on baseball's elite talent pool is about to reshape the trade deadline in ways we never imagined.

With Dominican stars already dominating the league – including Jorge Galo (.349), José Cordero (.357), Matías Santana (.371), and Kris Tavarez (31 HR) leading offensive categories, and Jesús Dávilos (14-3, 1.80 ERA) dominating on the mound – two more potential franchise cornerstones find themselves on the trade block.

Archer Fernández and Gabriel Bonilla aren't just trade chips; they're the next wave of Dominican talent that's revolutionizing the game. Their availability, thanks to their current teams' positions in the standings, could trigger a bidding war unlike anything we've seen.

"When you look at what Dominican players are doing across the league, these aren't just good players available – they're potential cornerstone pieces," one NL executive said. "Fernández's combination of contact (90) and power (80) puts him in elite company with guys like Tavarez. Bonilla's ceiling might be even higher."

The Royals (43-62) and Red Sox (53-55) find themselves in enviable negotiating positions. With Dominican talent performing at historic levels across the league, the price for young, controllable stars from the DR has never been higher.
"Look at what Santana's doing in Portland at 19, or Galo in Sacramento," another AL executive noted. "The track record of Dominican talent right now is unprecedented. That makes Fernández and Bonilla even more valuable – we know exactly what this generation of Dominican players can do."

For contenders, the calculus is simple: In an era where Dominican stars are leading both leagues in nearly every offensive category, can you afford not to be in on these trades?

With multiple teams – including the Cardinals (68-38) and Stags (59-47) – looking to add impact bats, the price for the next wave of Dominican talent could reach historic levels.

------

International Market Heats Up As Deadline Approaches: Could Cuban Imports Shift MLB's Balance of Power?

By Marcus Chen
Baseball Weekly

As contenders scramble for reinforcements ahead of the July 31st deadline, three intriguing international signings might have already changed the complexion of the AL playoff race.

The Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros, both hovering around the wild card spots, struck first in the Cuban League market. Cleveland landed LF Adrian Hernandez, while Houston secured SP Trinidad Romero. Not to be outdone, Minnesota plucked SP Sandy Bautista from the St. Lucia League's winter session.

"These aren't your typical deadline acquisitions," one AL scout noted. "You're getting fresh arms and bats who haven't ground through 100 games yet. That could be huge down the stretch."

But the real intrigue might lie with two contenders still searching for that final piece.

The St. Louis Cardinals, armed with baseball's 11th-ranked farm system including CF Asher Novak (#11 overall) and RP Moisés Reyes (#32), have the prospect capital to make a major move. After last year's NLCS disappointment, they're rumored to be aggressive buyers.

"When you look at their system, they could probably land any player they want," a NL front office executive told Baseball Weekly. "The question is whether they're willing to move someone like Novak in a win-now move."

Meanwhile, the Portland Stags find themselves in a more precarious position. Their 25th-ranked system, topped by C Otis Ramirez (#34) and SS N.C. May (#63), offers less flexibility. Their payroll constraints make any significant addition challenging.

"Portland's in a fascinating spot," another AL executive said. "They're probably better than anyone expected, but they can't really take on money, and their system isn't deep enough to get creative with prospects. They might need to decide if they're willing to move Ramirez to get immediate help."

Both teams could be eyeing Kansas City's Archer Fernandez, though his upcoming arbitration numbers ($6.9M in 2063, $13.1M in 2064) might put him out of Portland's reach.

The Cardinals' deeper system could allow them to get creative. Sources indicate they've inquired about package deals that would let them add both a bat and an arm, with Novak as the centerpiece.

For Portland, the path forward is trickier. "They might need to decide if they believe enough in this season to move Ramirez," a scout suggested. "He's their best trade chip, but also their best prospect. That's not an easy call."

With Cleveland, Houston, and Minnesota already making their international moves, the pressure increases on other contenders to respond. The next two weeks could determine whether St. Louis and Portland can find the right deals to keep pace.

Young Drachma

11-13-2024, 12:20 AM

@StagsInsider
Breaking: Stags acquire C E.J. Monaghan from Phillies, paying just 65% of remaining 2062 salary. Cost: 1B prospect Brandon Garner (AA). #MLB #StagsSZN
The Stags Daily Blog
by Ryan Martinez
July 21, 2062
Ok, let's break this down real quick because my notifications are blowing up:
Initial Reaction: We got a catcher! And not just any catcher - one making $13.3M who we're only paying pennies on the dollar for. Front office wizardry? Maybe.
u/StagsFanatic: Wait, we're only paying 65% of two months' salary? Wardell is playing 4D chess while everyone else is playing checkers
u/PDXBaseball: Garner was never making it here anyway. 80 potential but we've got better 1B prospects. This is fine.
u/RoseCityBall: Moving him back to catcher is interesting. Phillies had him in LF which... why?

-----

@StagsInsider
BREAKING: Stags acquire SP Glenn Hayes, SP Stephen Maldonado from Royals for prospect package and OF. Details to follow. #MLBTrade #StagsSZN
The Stags Daily Blog
by Ryan Martinez
July 23, 2062

Two days after the Monaghan deal, and Wardell isn't done yet. Quick thoughts while I process this:
Initial Reaction: Rotation help! Finally! But let's be real - these aren't exactly the arms we were dreaming about.
u/PDXDiamonds: Hayes is literally a 2-month rental and Maldonado... well, at least we're only paying part of his deal next year?
u/StagsNation: Better than nothing. Our rotation needed SOMETHING. But this feels like bargain bin shopping.
u/RoseCityRising: We're officially tapped out money-wise. This is our team for the stretch run. Hold onto your butts.

Look, I get it. These aren't the splashy moves we were hoping for. But let's be real - we're a small market team playing with house money this season. Nobody expected us to be here. Getting Monaghan for basically nothing and adding two arms without breaking the bank? That's... fine?
The concerning part is we're hearing crickets from St. Louis. The Cards are sitting on the 11th best farm system and haven't made a move yet. Meanwhile, we're scraping by with partial salary deals and hoping it's enough.
Anyone else nervous about August?

Ryan Martinez has been covering the Stags since 2058. Follow him @StagsInsider for more updates.

Young Drachma

11-13-2024, 01:23 AM

The Stags payroll is still only $44.26 million, still the lowest in MLB.

KMOX 1120 THE FASTLANE - BREAKING NEWS: Cardinals acquire 2-time MVP Archer Fernandez from Royals for prospect package including Reggie Lozano (#68), Santana Sanchez (#116), Lucas McIntyre, and Jason Husted
LEONARD: "Stop what you're doing, Cards Nation. Just got word from Mo Cordero - Archer Fernandez is coming to St. Louis. Two-time MVP, three-time batting champ, and he's about to slot into the best lineup in baseball. Tony, I'm shaking."
MARTINEZ: "Mike, this is one of those moments you'll remember where you were. Let me put this in perspective for our listeners - in the history of baseball, only three players have won multiple MVPs before turning 24. Ted Williams, Mike Trout, and Archer Fernandez. That's the list."
LEONARD: "And the numbers this year - .332/.448/.572 before the strain. Career .373 hitter. Already at 28.6 WAR at age 23. Lisa in Brentwood, you're on The Fastlane."
LISA (Caller): "Is this real? We get to watch Cordero AND Fernandez in the same lineup?"
MARTINEZ: "That's the thing, Lisa. Cordero's leading the league at .357, and we just added a guy who might be even better. The rest of the NL just collectively shuddered."
LEONARD: "Pete in South County, what's your take?"
PETE (Caller): "We gave up a lot though. Lozano was raking in AAA..."
MARTINEZ: "Stop right there, Pete. You know what separates great teams from good ones? Knowing when to push your chips in. Fernandez isn't just another good player - he's a generational talent. Yes, arbitration's coming - $6.9M next year, $13.1M in '64. For a player like this? That's pocket change."
LEONARD: "Can we talk about October? Because that's what this is really about."
MARTINEZ: "Exactly. This isn't about catching Colorado - we're already up three games. This is about what happens when that NLCS rolls around. About not letting what happened last year happen again. Fernandez changes everything."
LEONARD: "Cardinals baseball in 2062. What a time to be alive. More reactions after the break."

WHB 810 ROYALS REALITY CHECK - BREAKING NEWS: Royals trade franchise cornerstone Archer Fernandez to Cardinals for four-player package
WATSON: "Royals fans, take a deep breath. Alexander Sherman IV just made the hardest call of his ownership - Archer Fernandez is headed up I-70. Ray Thompson's been breaking down the return package all afternoon. Ray, help us process this."
THOMPSON: "Let me be clear - this hurts. But this package is sneaky good. Lozano isn't just another prospect - he's hitting .437 in AAA with plus tools across the board. McIntyre's got three plus pitches and could be a frontline starter. Husted can play right now, and Santana Sanchez was a top-35 guy coming into the year."
WATSON: "Steve on line 2, you've had season tickets since Sherman III took over. What's your take?"
STEVE (Caller): "Danny, my kid's got an Archer jersey. How do I explain this?"
WATSON: "Tell him his favorite player was so good, he brought back four pieces to build our future. That's the reality - we're 47-64, looking at a $7M arbitration bill next year, and our farm system needed restocking. Sometimes the hard call is the right call."
THOMPSON: "And here's what people aren't talking about - that $13.1M arbitration number in '64? In our market? This way, we get value now, reset our timeline, and build around young, controllable talent."
WATSON: "Cards got their man. We got our future. Sometimes that's how baseball works. More calls after the break on 810."

THE HOT CORNER WITH JACK CHEN
KPNW Sports Radio 620
July 24, 2062 - 2:00 PM PST
CHEN: "Alright Portland, huge day of moves across baseball. Stags add some arms, but the bombshell just dropped: Archer Fernandez is heading to St. Louis. Tomas, I can't even process this one."
RIVERA: "Two-time MVP, three-time batting champ, and he's only 23. Part of this Dominican revolution we're seeing - Jack, there are what, eight, nine Dominican players leading most offensive categories right now?"
CHEN: "Entire game's been transformed. Those development academies in La Romana are churning out superstars. Fernandez might be the best of them all - .332/.448/.572 before that intercostal strain. Let's go to Miguel on line 1. Miguel, you're on The Hot Corner."
MIGUEL (Caller): "Jack, as a Dominican baseball fan, watching Fernandez join Cordero in St. Louis... that lineup's terrifying now. Cordero hitting .357, adds Fernandez..."
RIVERA: "And that's the thing - St. Louis already has José Cordero leading the league in hitting. Now they add another elite Dominican bat? The whole complexion of the NL changes."
CHEN: "The price though - Husted, Lozano, McIntyre, Santana Sanchez. That's two major league-ready outfielders plus arms. Tomas, you're okay with this if you're Kansas City?"
RIVERA: "Have to be. Fernandez hits arbitration next year - $6.9 million, then $13.1 million in '64. For Kansas City, this lets them develop these guys without pressure. But for St. Louis? That arbitration doesn't scare them. They're all-in."
CHEN: "Meanwhile, we're trading Taylor for Stock and some arms..."
RIVERA: "Different universes, Jack. We needed pitching, and Stock helps. But watching St. Louis add another elite Dominican bat while we're bargain hunting... that's the reality of our market."
CHEN: "Let's take Sarah on line 4. Sarah, you're on with Jack and Tomas."
SARAH (Caller): "Thanks Jack. The Dominican talent in the league right now is incredible. Santana here in Portland, Galo in Sacramento, Tavarez in Boston, and now Fernandez to St. Louis..."
RIVERA: "It's unprecedented. The league hasn't seen Dominican talent like this in decades. And now St. Louis pairs Fernandez with Cordero? October's going to be something else."
CHEN: "If you're just joining us, massive trade news today. Cardinals land two-time MVP Archer Fernandez, Stags add some pitching depth, and the Dominican takeover of baseball continues.

Young Drachma

11-13-2024, 01:26 AM

BASEBALL WEEKLY PRESENTS: THE PENNANT PULSE
August 1, 2062 - By Marcus Chen

THE POWERHOUSES
• BALTIMORE ORIOLES (82-38): Somehow getting stronger as the season progresses. Their .683 winning percentage isn't just leading baseball - it's threatening the post-integration record. Good luck, AL East.

• ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (76-43): Already terrifying, then added Archer Fernandez at the deadline. The NL Central race is technically alive, but Cincinnati's playing for Wild Card positioning now.

• COLORADO ROCKIES (75-44): Six years removed from their last title, they loaded up at the deadline despite an 8-game cushion. Message sent to the rest of the NL.

THE FASCINATING RACES

AL West Theater
Sacramento (73-46) looked untouchable until Portland (69-50) went nuclear. The Stags, everyone's favorite underdog, are just 4 back with 43 to play. That September series at Rose City Ballpark might be appointment viewing.

NL East Intrigue
The Mets (68-52) lead Montreal (62-58) by six, but there's nervous energy in Queens. The two-time defending champs know six games in August isn't what it used to be.

Mountain Drama
Colorado's cruising, but Albuquerque (67-52) and Salt Lake (65-54) are staging their own compelling battle. Two games apart, six head-to-head matchups left. Wild Card implications everywhere.

THE WILD CARDS

American League
• Cleveland (65-55) leads a five-team logjam
• Carolina (64-55) clinging to the second spot
• Portland hovers if they can't catch Sacramento
• Minnesota (61-59) and Toronto (62-57) within striking distance

National League
• Cincinnati (70-50) has first spot all but locked
• San Francisco (66-53) holding second
• Albuquerque breathing down their necks
• Mets could drop here if Montreal surges

THE DISAPPOINTMENTS
• Yankees (42-78): From Bronx Bombers to Bronx Busts
• Calgary (42-77): Mountain Division cellar dwellers
• Phillies (45-74): Fire sale complete, future uncertain

THE REVELATIONS
• Portland: From afterthought to legitimate contender
• Sacramento: Living up to their preseason dark horse status
• Nashville: Leading the AL South while rebuilding - that's art

Editor's Note: All standings as of August 1, 2062. Six division winners make playoffs, plus two wild cards per league. Division winners with best record in each league advance directly to LCS.

Young Drachma

11-14-2024, 01:58 AM

2062 FINAL DAY DRAMA: NL Wild Card Comes Down to the Wire
By Marcus Chen, Baseball Weekly
While the American League playoff picture is set, the National League's final spot remains up for grabs. Here's what we know:
AMERICAN LEAGUE FIELD SET

Baltimore (101-60) - East champs, top seed
Sacramento (95-66) - West champs
Carolina (89-72) - Central champs
Nashville (83-78) - South champs
Cleveland (92-69) - First Wild Card
Portland (89-72) - Second Wild Card

NATIONAL LEAGUE DRAMA
Today's Critical Games:

Cubs (89-72) vs Montreal
Albuquerque (88-73) at Colorado

Scenarios:

Cubs win: They clinch final Wild Card
Cubs lose + Albuquerque wins: Game 163 in Chicago tomorrow
Cubs lose + Albuquerque loses: Cubs clinch

The Cubs control their destiny at Wrigley, but they're facing a Montreal team that won their division. Meanwhile, Albuquerque has the unenviable task of trying to win at Colorado, where the Rockies are 98-63 and looking to maintain momentum heading into the playoffs.
PLAYOFF PICTURE IF CUBS WIN
NL Bracket:

St. Louis (100-61) awaits NLCS opponent
Colorado (98-63) awaits NLDS opponent
Cincinnati (96-65) vs Chicago/Albuquerque*

AL Bracket:

Baltimore awaits ALCS opponent
Sacramento vs Cleveland/Portland winner

*Final seeding to be determined

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 01:59 AM

2062 MLB SEASON RECAP
By Marcus Chen, Baseball Weekly

DIVISION CHAMPIONS

American League
• East: Baltimore Orioles (101-61) - dominated wire to wire
• Central: Carolina Pilots (90-72) - 2nd division title in 3 years
• West: Sacramento Solons (96-66) - held off Portland's late surge
• South: Nashville White Sox (84-78) - won weakest division in baseball

National League
• East: Montreal Expos (88-74) - edged Mets in September
• Central: St. Louis Cardinals (100-62) - added Fernandez, never looked back
• West: San Francisco Giants (89-73) - consistent all year
• Mountain: Colorado Rockies (99-63) - another dominant season

WILD CARD QUALIFIERS

American League
• Cleveland Guardians (93-69)
• Portland Stags (89-73)

National League
• Cincinnati Reds (97-65)
• Chicago Cubs (90-72)

AWARD CONTENDERS

AL MVP Race
• Matias Santana (POR): .372, 38 HR, 138 RBI
• Gabriel Bonilla (BOS): .370, career year
• Jorge Galo (SAC): .347, elite defense

NL MVP Race
• Leuri Ramirez (STL): .327, anchored league's best team
• Marshal Axford (CLG): .322 in losing effort
• José Cordero (STL): .320, formed deadly duo with Fernandez

PLAYOFF FORMAT REMINDER
• Division winners with best record (BAL/STL) advance straight to LCS
• Other division winners host Division Series
• Wild Card teams play one-game elimination followed by best-of-3 series
• Division Series best-of-5
• LCS and World Series best-of-7

Playoff coverage begins with Wild Card games...

STAGS SURVIVE WILD CARD GAUNTLET
By Ryan Martinez, Stags Beat Writer

Two games. Two road victories. The Portland Stags' improbable season continues.

Game 1: PORTLAND 16, NASHVILLE 7
First Horizon Ballpark turned silent as Jaxson Tiller launched his second homer of the night, part of a three-hit, six-RBI performance that powered Portland past Nashville. The Stags ambushed White Sox starter C. French for seven first-inning runs and never looked back.

Key Moments:
- Tiller's grand slam in the 1st inning
- Mel Johnson goes 3-for-4 with 4 RBI
- Six Stags relievers combine to lock down final 7.1 innings

Game 2: PORTLAND 8, CLEVELAND 6
In hostile League Park, E.J. Monaghan showed why he was one of the deadline's most important acquisitions. The left fielder went 3-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBI as Portland held off a late Cleveland rally.

Key Moments:
- Monaghan's two-run blast in the 1st inning
- Four-run 4th inning highlighted by Monaghan's two-run double
- Danny Beard slams the door with two scoreless innings

Now comes the real test: The AL Elimination Series against Carolina. But for a team that just won two do-or-die road games in three days, nothing seems impossible anymore.

Next Up: AL Elimination Series Game 1 at Carolina, Friday 8:05 PM ET

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 02:12 AM

ELIMINATION SERIES PREVIEW: STAGS vs PILOTS
By Marcus Chen, Baseball Weekly

Two teams that weren't supposed to be here face off in a best-of-three that could define their seasons. The Carolina Pilots (90-72) host the surging Portland Stags (89-73) in what promises to be a fascinating contrast of styles.

TALE OF THE TAPE

OFFENSE
• Portland: MLB's best offense (.281 AVG, .822 OPS, 963 runs scored)
• Carolina: League average (.252 AVG, .749 OPS, 755 runs scored)
• Edge: PORTLAND

STARTING PITCHING
• Portland: 4.91 ERA (14th in AL), struggled down stretch
• Carolina: 4.00 ERA (3rd in AL), anchored by Hutchinson (19-7, 3.00)
• Edge: CAROLINA

BULLPEN
• Portland: 5.00 ERA, but Danny Beard closing strong
• Carolina: 3.84 ERA (5th in AL), Wally Rexford (41 SV)
• Edge: CAROLINA

KEY MATCHUPS

Game 1: LHP Rudy Hutchinson (19-7, 3.00) vs Portland TBA
Hutchinson leads a Carolina staff that ranked 1st in AL strikeouts. He'll face MLB's most potent lineup, led by Matias Santana (.372, 38 HR).

X-Factors
• Carolina: Justin Tarnowski (.335, 28 HR) and Jason Stratton (.298, 31 HR) provide pop
• Portland: Deadline acquisition E.J. Monaghan heating up at right time

HOME FIELD FACTOR
• Carolina: 52-29 at home (.642)
• Portland: 38-43 on road (.469)

PREDICTION
I cannot see a world where we can beat this Carolina pitching situation, we have the bats to compete, but Portland's staff is held up with mostly duct tape & chewing gum. I'm happy and impressed we got this far, with a team that is overachieving, but I suspect the playoff run ends here unless the bats declare otherwise.

Series opens tonight in Carolina, 8:05 PM ET

PLAYOFF MATCHUP: Game 1 Starters Announced
By Ryan Martinez, Stags Beat Writer

When Layton Willingham waived his no-trade clause to join Portland at the deadline, few expected him to be starting Game 1 of a playoff series. But baseball has a way of writing its own stories.

The former Cardinals ace (123-108, 4.09 ERA career) will face Carolina's Rudy Hutchinson (19-7, 3.00) in tonight's series opener. For Willingham, it's a chance at redemption after being relegated to St. Louis' bullpen this season.

"Sometimes you need a change of scenery," Willingham said yesterday. "This team reminds me of my early Cardinals days - young, hungry, nobody believing in us except ourselves."

TALE OF TWO SEASONS
With St. Louis (2062)
• 1-1, 2.93 ERA in 46.0 IP
• Moved to bullpen despite career 4.08 ERA as starter
• 11 years with Cardinals, including 19-win season in 2057

With Portland
• 1-1, 5.71 ERA in limited action
• Veteran presence for young staff
• Fresh arm after limited use this year

"Layton's seen everything," Manager Mike Wilson said. "Having someone who's pitched in big games, who's been an ace - that matters in October. He wanted to be here. He wanted this opportunity."

Against Hutchinson's power arsenal, Willingham will rely on guile and experience. In a series where Portland's offense meets Carolina's pitching, Game 1 might come down to which veteran starter blinks first.

First pitch: 8:05 PM ET at Carolina

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 02:14 AM

Willingham and Liam Bright, an outfielder were both languishing on my bench in St. Louis, Bright was a guy I got last year but didn't really pan out like I'd hoped and had a huge contract, Willingham was a former ace that was here long before I got to St. Louis, I planned for him to retire a Cardinal, but felt like letting him get mopup innings in the bullpen wasn't benefitting a competitor, so I engineered this trade for him and Bright to head to Portland.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 02:23 AM

STAGS SHOCK CAROLINA IN GAME 1: WILLINGHAM, JOHNSON PLAY HERO
By Ryan Martinez, Stags Beat Writer

CHARLOTTE - Sometimes baseball writes poetry. Tonight, it wrote two verses:
A veteran pitcher finding redemption, and a kid from Wyoming delivering the biggest hit of his life.

Layton Willingham, the former Cardinals ace turned deadline acquisition, silenced doubters with five gutsy innings, and Mel Johnson's seventh-inning double proved the difference as Portland stunned Carolina 5-2 to take Game 1 of the AL Elimination Series.

THE BIG MOMENTS

7th Inning Magic
Down 2-1, Portland finally solved Rudy Hutchinson:
- Runners on first and third
- Johnson doubles to left, scoring two
- Flips momentum completely

9th Inning Insurance
Back-to-back homers from Tiller and Bright off closer Wally Rexford sealed it.

The Willingham Effect
"This is why I came here," said Willingham, who scattered 4 hits over 5 innings. "These kids don't know they're not supposed to win. Sometimes that's better than experience."

BY THE NUMBERS
- Paul Correa: 3-for-4, RBI
- Danny Beard: 2 scoreless innings for the save
- Hutchinson: 7.1 IP, 3 ER in tough-luck loss

WHAT'S NEXT
Portland needs one win to advance. They'll send Warren Knight (11-12, 4.08) against Carolina on Saturday.

"We didn't come here to win one game," Johnson said, still soaked from the celebration. "But it sure feels good to get it."

Game 2: Saturday, 4:05 PM ET at Duke Energy Field

GAME 1 - AL ELIMINATION SERIES
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2062

PORTLAND STAGS AT CAROLINA PILOTS

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Portland 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 10 0
Carolina 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 7 0

Winning Pitcher: L. Willingham (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: R. Hutchinson (0-1)
Save: D. Beard (1)

PORTLAND STAGS BATTING
Player AB R H RBI BB K
P. Correa (RF) 4 0 3 1 1 1
M. Santana (1B) 4 0 0 0 0 1
M. McCoy (3B) 4 0 0 0 0 0
P. LaBay (DH) 3 1 1 0 1 0
D. Rael (C) 4 0 0 0 0 1
E. Monaghan (LF) 3 1 1 0 0 0
M. Johnson (2B) 4 1 2 2 0 1
L. Bright (CF) 4 1 1 1 0 1
J. Tiller (SS) 4 1 2 1 0 1
Totals 34 5 10 5 2 6

CAROLINA PILOTS BATTING
Player AB R H RBI BB K
J. Williams (LF) 4 1 2 0 0 0
J. Gurvich (CF) 3 0 1 1 0 0
J. Tarnowski (3B) 4 0 1 1 0 0
J. Stratton (1B) 4 0 1 0 0 0
E. López (DH) 4 0 1 0 0 1
M. Alary (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 1
M. Disla (SS) 4 0 0 0 0 0
B. Barrientos (C) 3 0 0 0 0 0
L. De La Cruz Jr. (RF) 1 1 0 0 1 0
Totals 31 2 7 2 1 2

PORTLAND STAGS PITCHING
Pitcher IP H R ER BB K
L. Willingham (W) 5.0 4 2 2 1 1
E. Ramos 2.0 0 0 0 0 0
D. Beard (SV) 2.0 3 0 0 0 1

CAROLINA PILOTS PITCHING
Pitcher IP H R ER BB K
R. Hutchinson (L) 7.1 7 3 3 2 6
V. Louima 0.2 0 0 0 0 0
W. Rexford 1.0 3 2 2 0 0

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 02:38 AM

HAYES, TIMELY HITTING SEND STAGS TO DIVISION SERIES
By Ryan Martinez, Stags Beat Writer

PORTLAND — The improbable run continues.

Glenn Hayes, one of Portland's deadline acquisitions, delivered six stellar innings and a decisive three-run fifth pushed the Stags past Carolina 4-2, completing a stunning sweep of the AL Central champions. The victory sends Portland to the Division Series against Sacramento.

GAME-CHANGING FIFTH
Tied 1-1 in the fifth, Portland finally broke through against Warren Knight:
- Tiller doubles with two outs
- Johnson singles
- Santana delivers clutch two-run double
- McCoy follows with RBI single

"Sometimes baseball comes down to one inning," said Mel Johnson, named series MVP after hitting .429. "We got the big hits when we needed them."

HAYES STEPS UP
Hayes, acquired from Kansas City in July, scattered six hits over six innings, striking out four. The veteran kept Carolina off-balance all afternoon, allowing just one run before turning it over to the bullpen.

"Glenn gave us exactly what we needed," Manager Mike Wilson said. "Experience matters this time of year."

FINISHING TOUCHES
Despite Williams' solo shot in the seventh off Moring, Jody Foor slammed the door with two scoreless innings for his first postseason save.

The Stags' magical run continues against a Sacramento team that won the season series 11-8. But after winning two elimination games in Nashville and Cleveland, then sweeping Carolina, Portland isn't fazed by anyone.

"Why not us?" Johnson smiled. "Nobody thought we'd be here anyway."

Division Series schedule and rotation to be announced.

CAROLINA AB R H RBI BB K
J. Williams LF 4 1 2 1 0 2
T. Baginski PH 1 0 0 0 0 0
J. Gurvich CF 4 1 2 0 0 0
J. Tarnowski 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1
J. Stratton 1B 3 0 0 1 0 1
E. López DH 3 0 1 0 1 0
M. Alary 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1
M. Disla SS 4 0 0 0 0 0
B. Barrientos C 4 0 2 0 0 0
L. De La Cruz Jr. RF 3 0 1 0 1 1
Totals 34 2 9 2 2 6

PORTLAND AB R H RBI BB K
P. Correa RF 4 1 1 0 0 0
M. Santana 1B 3 1 1 1 0 0
B. Aaron CF 1 0 0 0 0 0
M. McCoy 3B 4 0 1 1 0 0
P. LaBay DH 3 0 0 0 1 0
D. Rael C 3 0 1 0 0 0
E. Monaghan LF 3 0 0 0 0 0
A. Coe 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0
M. Johnson 2B-1B 3 1 1 0 0 0
L. Bright CF-LF 3 0 1 1 0 0
J. Tiller SS 3 1 1 0 0 0
Totals 30 4 7 3 1 0

CAROLINA IP H R ER BB K
W. Knight (L, 0-1) 6.0 7 4 4 1 0
G. López 2.0 0 0 0 0 0

PORTLAND IP H R ER BB K
G. Hayes (W, 1-0) 6.0 6 1 1 1 4
R. Moring (H, 2) 1.0 2 1 1 0 0
J. Foor (S, 1) 2.0 1 0 0 1 2

2B: Gurvich (1), López (1), Johnson (4), Bright (1), Tiller (1), Santana (1)
HR: Williams (1)
SB: Gurvich (1)

Game Time: 3:13
Attendance: 30,491

Portland advances to face Sacramento in the ALDS. Mel Johnson named series MVP (.429, 2 RBI).

Division Series schedule to be announced.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 02:49 AM

The Sacramento-Portland Division Series Is More Fascinating Than You Think

Here's my favorite thing about these Portland Stags: They have absolutely no business being here.

Think about it. They started the season with the 25th-ranked farm system. Their payroll wouldn't cover Aaron Judge's annual Christmas party. Their most reliable pitcher (LHP Glenn Hayes) was Kansas City's castoff. And yet... here we are.

But let me tell you why this series against Sacramento is going to be more interesting than Vegas thinks (Solons -280 favorites).

Five Reasons This Could Get Weird

1. The "Nobody Believes in Us" Factor
Remember the 2019 Nationals? The 2021 Braves? Every year we get one of these teams that just refuses to die. Portland has already won elimination games in Nashville, Cleveland, and Carolina. At some point, this stops being a fluke and starts being an identity.

2. The Jorge Galo Problem
Sacramento's LF is having an MVP-caliber season (.347/.438/.551). He's basically been Ted Williams if Ted Williams also played elite defense. But here's the thing - Portland's terrible defensive metrics? They're actually above average against left-handed hitters. Small sample size theater or a legitimate tactical advantage?

3. The Bullpen Chess Match
The Solons have baseball's best bullpen ERA (3.43). Portland... doesn't (5.00). But the Stags have somehow turned this weakness into strength by being absolutely ruthless about quick hooks. They used six relievers in their Wild Card win. Who needs a good bullpen when you use your entire bullpen every night?

4. The Matias Santana Factor
Portland's 1B is hitting .372 with 38 homers. Sacramento's pitching staff, led by LHP Mike Heraklion (16-11, 4.63), has been more "pretty good" than "great." If Santana gets hot... things could get interesting.

5. The Schedule Quirk
After playing three straight road series, Portland finally gets home games. The Stags were 51-30 at home this year. Small market teams in the playoffs with rabid home crowds? That's usually good for at least one inexplicable win.

The Reality Check

Look, Sacramento won 96 games for a reason. Their lineup is stacked (CF Izan Rodriguez, 3B Bryson Stevenson, 1B Alejandro Palomo are all having career years). But here's the thing nobody's talking about: Portland went 13-10 against the Solons this season.

Let that sink in. The team that wasn't supposed to compete, that everyone wrote off, actually won the season series against the AL West champs. This isn't just about "it" factor anymore - there's actual, tangible evidence that Portland matches up well with Sacramento.

Maybe it's the way Portland's pitchers handle Galo. Maybe it's something about Sacramento's park dimensions fitting Portland's swing patterns. Or maybe - and this is my personal theory - the Stags' "nothing to lose" mentality particularly bothers a Sacramento team that's been pressing to validate their regular season success.

The Prediction

I was going to pick Sacramento in 4. But that head-to-head record keeps nagging at me. The Stags aren't just playing with house money anymore - they've shown they can beat this team.

Portland in 5. I can't believe I'm typing this, but the numbers don't lie. We're officially entering "team of destiny" territory.

Game 1 starts tonight in Sacramento: Portland's RHP Stephen Maldonado (9-15, 6.57) vs Sacramento's LHP Mike Heraklion (16-11, 4.63)

The Stags' Secret Sauce: Breaking Down the 13-10 Edge Over Sacramento
By Bub Gonzales
The Ringer

Let's get weird for a minute and break down exactly how Portland - a team that, again, has no business being here - somehow owned the 96-win Solons this season.

The Park Factor
Portland went 7-3 at Sacramento's Pioneer Park this year. That shouldn't happen. But the Stags' pull-heavy right-handed hitters (looking at you, 1B Matias Santana) seem to love that short left field porch. Meanwhile, Sacramento's lefty-heavy lineup (LF Jorge Galo, CF Izan Rodriguez) loses some advantage in Portland's more spacious outfield.

The Pitching Matchups
Remember when Portland grabbed LHP Layton Willingham and everyone shrugged? Here's why that matters: Sacramento's three best hitters (Galo, Rodriguez, and DH Chandler Graeve) are all significantly worse against lefties. The Stags can now bookend their series with LHP Willingham and LHP Glenn Hayes.

The Chaos Factor
Sacramento is built on structure. They have defined roles. Set lineups. A methodical approach. Portland? They used 11 different pitchers in three playoff games. They'll pinch-hit in the third inning. They'll use closers in the sixth. It's baseball anarchism, and the Solons historically struggle against teams that don't "play right."

The Specific Matchups That Matter
• Sacramento's ace LHP Mike Heraklion has a 6.12 ERA against Portland this year
• Stags' catcher Delvin Rael somehow turns into Johnny Bench against the Solons (.361 in head-to-head games)
• Portland's bullpen ERA against Sacramento (3.89) is way better than against everyone else (5.00)

The Bottom Line
Sometimes matchups just work. The 2001 Mariners won 116 games but couldn't handle the Yankees. The '88 Mets owned the Dodgers until October. Baseball is weird like that.

Portland doesn't beat Sacramento because they're better. They beat Sacramento because they're built - probably by accident - to exploit specific weaknesses in an otherwise superior team.

Will it work in a short series? We're about to find out. But anyone dismissing Portland's chances based on overall record is missing the deeper story. The Stags might be a chaos team, but their success against Sacramento is anything but random.

Game 1 starts tonight. Time to see if the regular season matchup was a fluke or a blueprint.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 02:53 AM

I think Sacramento will beat us in this series, not false modesty. The Solons won the AL pennant in 2046 but haven't gotten back, the franchise has 9 division titles. I think they're overdue for a run at the whole thing and I just can't see our Doordash pitching staff full of castoffs being able to get through the AL's 2nd best offense, but a generally more complete team.

We're beyond playing with house money at this point, and at least it's a best of 5 game series, but this could be a short series.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 03:03 AM

SOLONS STUNNED IN 12: MCCOY'S BLAST GIVES STAGS GAME 1
By Thomas Wu
Sacramento Bee

SACRAMENTO — After five hours and thirteen minutes of October baseball that felt like a prize fight, it was Portland third baseman Marc McCoy delivering the knockout punch.

McCoy's solo shot off Clint Capozzi in the 12th inning silenced a raucous Arco Park crowd and gave the underdog Stags a shocking 10-9 victory in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. The blast capped a 4-for-7 night that included two doubles and three runs scored.

"Sometimes baseball writes scripts you couldn't believe," Solons manager Jack Martinez said. "We had our chances."

Those chances were plentiful in a game that saw five lead changes. Portland jumped out early, chasing Sacramento ace Mike Heraklion after just 3⅔ innings, having tagged him for seven runs. But the Solons, as they've done all season, fought back.

Chandler Graeve's two-run homer in the seventh seemed to shift momentum, tying the game at 9-9. But Sacramento couldn't capitalize on multiple late opportunities, stranding the winning run in scoring position in both the ninth and tenth innings.

"Zane (Grifaldo) had a night - three hits, two doubles," Martinez noted. "Jorge (Galo) will be better than 1-for-6. We're not worried."

The loss spoiled strong performances from several Solons, including Grifaldo (3-for-6) and Kaká Machado (2-for-5). But the night belonged to McCoy and a Portland bullpen that somehow pieced together 7⅓ innings after starter Stephen Maldonado faltered.

"One game," Martinez reminded reporters. "They still have to beat us two more times."

Game 2 features another lefty matchup as Sacramento's Jim Frahm (13-5, 4.59) faces Portland's Rocky Smith (0-0, 15.12).

First pitch tomorrow at 8:05 PM at Arco Park.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 03:03 AM

MACHADO, SOLONS EVEN SERIES WITH STATEMENT WIN
By Wei Chen
Sacramento Bee

SACRAMENTO — If Game 1 was a marathon, Game 2 was a reminder of why the Solons won 96 games this season.

Kaká Machado's thunderous three-run homer in the fifth broke a 4-2 deficit, powering Sacramento to a series-evening 9-5 victory over Portland. The blast highlighted a 2-for-5 afternoon that included a seventh-inning double, as the Solons head to Portland with momentum.

"Yesterday hurt," Machado said of the 12-inning opener. "Today we showed who we are."

The game turned in a fifth inning that encapsulated Sacramento's offensive potential. After Thallo Olivo and Bryson Stevenson singled, Machado turned on a Layton Willingham fastball, sending it deep into the left field bleachers. The Solons wouldn't trail again.

"That's the thing about our lineup," manager Jack Martinez said. "It can explode at any moment."

Jim Frahm, after a rocky start that included Paul Correa's two-run homer, settled in to work 6⅓ solid innings. The bullpen, taxed after yesterday's marathon, got clean work from Jesse Bodine and Bryson Vogel to seal it.

The series shifts to Portland's Civic Stadium for Game 3, where Sacramento's Roger Shearer (12-9, 3.78) faces Portland's Ezequias Ramos (9-10, 7.11).

GAME NOTES
• Anakin Smith added a two-run homer in the eighth
• Jorge Galo drew two walks and drove in two
• Portland's Marc McCoy, hero of Game 1, went 0-for-4
• Attendance: 35,123

"We've got our rotation lined up how we want it," Martinez added. "Now we just need to win two in Portland."

Game 3 Friday night at Civic Stadium, 7:05 PM PT

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 03:22 AM

Stags Take Control of ALDS Despite Rodríguez's Two-Homer Day

PORTLAND -- Even a heroic performance from Sacramento center fielder Izan Rodríguez couldn't prevent the Portland Stags from seizing control of their American League Division Series, as the home team powered their way to a 7-4 victory on Thursday afternoon at Civic Stadium.

The win gives Portland a 2-1 series lead and puts them one victory away from advancing to the League Championship Series.
Rodríguez put on a show for the visiting Solons, launching two solo home runs off Portland right-hander Grant Hayes and adding an outfield assist, but the Stags' balanced offensive attack proved too much to overcome. The Portland lineup racked up 12 hits, with third baseman Marc McCoy delivering the decisive blow -- a two-run double in the fifth inning that put the Stags ahead for good.

"Feels good to get the job done," McCoy said after his clutch hit broke the game open.
The afternoon started promisingly for Sacramento when left fielder Jorge Galo gave them an early 1-0 lead with a solo shot in the first. Rodríguez followed with his first homer in the second inning to make it 2-0, but Portland's offense wouldn't stay quiet for long.

The Stags struck back with three runs in the fourth inning to take their first lead of the game. They added two more in both the fifth and sixth innings, with left fielder Erik Monaghan's two-run homer in the sixth providing crucial insurance runs.

Hayes (2-0) battled through seven innings to earn his second win of the series, allowing four runs (three earned) on just four hits. The veteran right-hander surrendered three home runs but limited the damage by holding the Solons to just one hit with runners in scoring position.

Sacramento right-hander Roy Shearer (0-1) took the loss after being tagged for five runs on eight hits in 2⅔ innings.
Right-hander Dominic Beard closed out the victory with two scoreless innings for his third save of the postseason, setting up a potential series-clinching Game 4 tomorrow at Civic Stadium.

"We're in a good position, but we know this series isn't over," McCoy added. "Sacramento's a tough team and we need to bring the same energy tomorrow."
The announced crowd of 30,765 was treated to perfect baseball weather, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-60s providing an ideal backdrop for postseason baseball in the Pacific Northwest.
Quick hits

- Rodríguez became the first Solon to hit multiple home runs in a playoff game this season
- Designated hitter Peter LaBay continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-5 with an RBI double
- The Stags improved to 2-0 at home this postseason

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 03:22 AM

Rocky Road to Glory: Smith's Shutout Sends Stags to ALCS in Historic Fashion

If you had "career minor leaguer throws complete game shutout to clinch ALDS" on your 2062 playoff bingo card, congratulations—you're either psychic or lying. Yet that's exactly what happened Friday afternoon at Civic Stadium, where starting pitcher Rocky Smith authored one of the most improbable playoff performances in recent memory, leading the Portland Stags to an 8-0 victory over the Sacramento Solons and their first ALCS appearance of the decade.

For six innings, this was the kind of white-knuckle playoff game that sends cardiologists' kids to college. Smith and Solons starter Derek Linard traded zeros through three frames, with both pitchers working efficiently despite the October pressure. The Stags finally broke through in the fourth when centerfielder Luke Bright's double drove in leftfielder Eric Monaghan, who had worked a walk earlier in the inning. That 1-0 score would hold until the seventh, creating the kind of tension that makes playoff baseball both beautiful and unbearable.

Then came the moment that could have unraveled everything. Sacramento's centerfielder Isaac Rodríguez led off the seventh with a triple that had the visiting dugout buzzing. Smith, with all of five career MLB starts under his belt, found himself staring down the barrel of a game-tying situation with no outs. What happened next will be talked about in Portland bars for years: a groundout, a hit batter, and another groundout. Threat neutralized. Civic Stadium erupted.

If the top of the seventh was tense, the bottom half was cathartic. The Stags didn't just break the game open—they took a sledgehammer to it. Seven runs crossed the plate in an inning that featured everything: third baseman Marc McCoy's bases-clearing double, Monaghan's two-run homer, and the kind of sustained offensive explosion that makes you wonder if the baseball gods were just waiting for the right moment to unleash chaos.

The final line for Smith looks like something out of a video game: nine innings, four hits, no runs, one walk, seven strikeouts. Not bad for a guy who hadn't started a single game this season. The win makes Portland the first wild card team in the Ladder playoff era to navigate four rounds successfully, a feat that seemed improbable when they entered the postseason gauntlet weeks ago.

"This team just doesn't know when to quit," said McCoy, who was named series MVP after hitting .389 with six RBIs across the four games. "Rocky exemplified that today. We're not supposed to be here, he's not supposed to be doing this, but here we are."

The victory sends Portland to the ALCS, where they'll face the Baltimore Orioles. But for now, the city can celebrate a historic win and an unlikely hero who chose the perfect moment to pitch the game of his life.

As the champagne flowed in the Stags' clubhouse, Smith stood in front of his locker, still trying to process what he'd just accomplished. "Complete game shutout to clinch it... I don't even know what to say," he managed, before being interrupted by another spray of bubbly from his teammates.

Sometimes baseball writes scripts that even Hollywood would reject as too far-fetched. On a cloudy September afternoon in Portland, Rocky Smith turned fiction into fact, and the Stags' improbable October run lives on.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 11:59 AM

Now the Cardinals are about to get into the act of the post-season after waiting through the first 4 rounds, but this Stags run is why OOTP is so rad, you can really feel the magic of a postseason this unexpected. I have doubted this team -- I'm just simulating the games out -- and save for Willingham's first start, I have tweaked nothing about the lineup or rotation for any of this, they're just getting through on vibes and magic.

I do think the Orioles will end the run, but I just wanted to reflect on this whole season and series, including the very Marlins-esque fire sale that will have to commence after this year, keeping with my storyline. That will be interesting and sad, I'll probably make a new GM that has to deal with that part so it doesn't wreck my current GMs decision history.

Against All Odds: How the Wild Card Stags Crashed the ALCS Party

In an October already filled with implausible storylines, the Portland Stags might have authored the most remarkable one yet. A wild card team that had to navigate the treacherous waters of the Ladder playoffs has now found itself in the American League Championship Series, leaving a trail of stunned opponents and broken projections in their wake.

The numbers tell a story that statistics-minded baseball observers are still trying to process. The Stags entered their Division Series matchup against Sacramento as decisive underdogs – the Solons had won 12 more regular season games and boasted one of the league's most potent offenses. Yet in a series that exemplified Portland's resilient character, the underdogs prevailed in four games, culminating in Rocky Smith's masterpiece that will be remembered in Rose City lore for generations.

"Sometimes the baseball gods have other plans," one AL scout texted Friday night. "Sacramento was the better team on paper, but Portland just refused to play according to the script."

The turning point came in Game 3, when third baseman Marc McCoy's clutch two-run double broke a tight game open, leading to a 7-4 victory that shifted the series' momentum decisively in Portland's favor. Even a two-homer performance from Solons' center fielder Izan Rodríguez couldn't derail the Stags' destiny that afternoon.

But it was Game 4 that crystallized everything special about this Portland run. Career minor leaguer Rocky Smith, thrust into the spotlight by circumstance and necessity, spun a complete game shutout that had even the most hardened baseball observers shaking their heads in disbelief. His four-hit masterpiece in the clincher felt like something out of "The Natural" – except this was real life, playing out in front of a delirious Civic Stadium crowd.

The ironies abound. Portland's path to the ALCS has been paved by unlikely heroes like Smith and timely hitting from a lineup that industry experts considered middling at best. Left fielder Erik Monaghan's emergence as a clutch playoff performer (10 RBIs in the Division Series) and designated hitter Peter LaBay's consistent excellence (.375 in the ALDS) have given the Stags' offense an October identity that few saw coming.

"What makes this team special is that everyone contributes," McCoy said after being named ALDS MVP. "One night it's Monaghan, the next it's Rocky throwing the game of his life. We just keep finding ways."

As Portland awaits their ALCS opponent, the question becomes: how far can this magical run extend? History suggests that wild card teams who survive the Ladder gauntlet often have both momentum and destiny on their side. Whether that proves true for these Stags remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – they've already made believers out of everyone who counted them out.

This October story isn't finished yet. And if the first chapters are any indication, the ending could be something special indeed.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 12:58 PM

NLCS Preview: Giants Head to St. Louis as Cardinals Begin Title Chase

After shocking the Rockies in the Division Series, the San Francisco Giants (89-73) now travel to Busch Stadium to face the National League's top seed, the St. Louis Cardinals (100-62), who earned their way straight to the NLCS through the Ladder system's top-seed bye.

The series opener in St. Louis features the Giants' Logan Purter (14-11, 3.65 ERA) against Cardinals ace Urban Henry (20-11, 3.03 ERA). For the Giants, this marks their fourth different city in the postseason as they've battled through the Ladder format, while the well-rested Cardinals will be playing their first playoff game.

The Cardinals dominated during the regular season, leading MLB in batting average (.273) and on-base percentage (.345). Their offensive attack is spearheaded by centerfielder Leuri Ramirez (.327, 26 HR, 121 RBI) and shortstop José Cordero (.320, 23 HR, 103 RBI). St. Louis's pitching staff, anchored by Henry, finished with the league's best FIP.

The Giants counter with a more balanced approach, led by third baseman Tadashi Takagi (.280, 26 HR, 92 RBI) and an aggressive running game that led MLB in stolen bases. They'll need that speed game working against Cardinals catcher Ray Van de Veer to create scoring opportunities.

"We've got nothing to lose," said Giants manager Chuck Martinez. "The Cardinals earned that top seed and the rest, but we've been playing elimination games for weeks now. We're battle-tested."

Game 1 is scheduled for tomorrow at Busch Stadium, with the Cardinals looking to justify their status as the National League's top seed while the Giants aim to continue their improbable run through the Ladder playoffs.

Key Matchups to Watch:
- Giants' league-leading stolen base attack vs. Cardinals' battery
- Cardinals' MLB-best batting average vs. Giants' 6th-ranked starting rotation
- Giants' Alexis Walker (.269, 51 SB) creating havoc on the basepaths
- Cardinals' Archer Fernández (.318, 26 HR) vs. Giants' right-handed heavy rotation

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 01:00 PM

AP Recap - NLCS Game 1: Cardinals Top Giants 4-1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — In a classic display of veteran prowess, the St. Louis Cardinals' right-hander Urban Henry, 39, delivered a stellar performance to lead his team to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

Playing at Busch Stadium, Henry pitched seven strong innings, allowing just six hits and one run, while striking out five. His performance set the stage for St. Louis to take an early lead in the best-of-seven series.

The game remained a tight contest until the seventh inning, when José Cordero blasted a two-run homer off Giants' starter Jayden Carter, pushing the Cardinals ahead 3-1. Cordero finished the game 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, driving in two runs and solidifying his impact on the game.

San Francisco’s only run came in the third inning, courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Haruto Kikuchi. Despite some hits, the Giants couldn't capitalize on their opportunities, leaving seven runners on base.

St. Louis tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, with Henry handing the ball to closer Leo Cash, who secured the save with two scoreless innings.

Cardinals' manager Wookie Rodgers praised his team's effort, saying, "We played a solid game all around. Urban was exceptional on the mound, and the guys came through with key hits when we needed them."

The series continues tomorrow at Busch Stadium, where the Cardinals will look to extend their lead.

Player of the Game: Urban Henry

Weather: Partly cloudy, 59 degrees, with winds blowing right to left at 11 mph.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 01:01 PM

AP Recap - ALCS Game 1: Orioles Edge Stags 3-2

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles secured a narrow 3-2 win over the Portland Stags in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, with a standout performance by starting pitcher Jesús Dávilos at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Dávilos, a left-hander, pitched seven impressive innings, allowing just one hit while striking out eleven. His dominance on the mound kept the Stags off balance throughout the game, helping Baltimore take a 1-0 series lead.

The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning when the Orioles broke through with a run. They added two more crucial runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Jérémy Bouché, which proved to be the difference.

Portland managed to rally in the eighth with a two-run homer by Pedro Correa, but it wasn't enough to overcome Baltimore's lead. Stags' starter Santiago Maldonado took the loss, giving up three runs on six hits over 6.1 innings.

Orioles' manager praised his team's resilience, saying, "Jesús did what Jesús does, and the team backed him up when it mattered most."

Player of the Game: Jesús Dávilos

Weather: Clear skies, 60 degrees, with winds blowing out to left at 9 mph.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 01:03 PM

AP Recap - NLCS Game 2: Cardinals Dominate Giants 7-1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals took command of their National League Championship Series, defeating the San Francisco Giants 7-1 in Game 2 at Busch Stadium. Right-hander Mark Wleh led the way with a brilliant performance on the mound, delivering seven innings of two-hit ball while striking out nine.

Wleh, who threw 90 pitches over his seven innings, stifled the Giants' offense, allowing just one run. "Mark kept his poise and got the job done," praised Cardinals manager Wookie Rodgers. "He was outstanding."

St. Louis built their lead with two runs in the third inning and two more in the fifth, highlighted by José Cordero’s two-run homer. Cordero finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs, including his second home run of the series. The Cardinals added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings to seal the victory.

San Francisco managed their lone run in the sixth inning on a double by Anthony Walker, but couldn't muster any further offense against Wleh and the Cardinals' bullpen. Giants' starter Darius Packer took the loss, surrendering five runs on six hits over 6.2 innings.

The series now shifts to San Francisco’s Candlestick Park for Game 3, where the Giants will look to avoid falling into a deeper hole.

Player of the Game: Mark Wleh

Weather: Clear skies, 55 degrees, with winds blowing right to left at 11 mph.

Attendance: 47,969

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 01:05 PM

Baltimore Tops Portland 3-0 in ALCS Game 2

BALTIMORE, Oct. 2 (Reuters) - The Baltimore Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series with a 3-0 win over the Portland Stags on Monday. Left-hander Adrián Nuñez dominated on the mound, pitching seven scoreless innings to stifle Portland's offense.

Nuñez, who conceded just two hits and struck out three, set the tone for the Orioles. "I just kind of blacked out and executed my pitches," he said post-game.

Baltimore broke the deadlock in the fourth inning, and added further runs in the seventh and eighth. Dwayne Whitelaw and Javier Cisneros both contributed RBIs, while Portland's offense was limited to just two hits by Nuñez and relievers.

Portland's Liam Willingham, who pitched six innings, was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs (two earned). The series will now shift to Civic Stadium in Portland, with the Stags seeking to avoid a 3-0 deficit.

Player of the Game: Adrián Nuñez

Weather: Cloudy, 56 degrees, with winds blowing out to left at 10 mph.

Attendance: 47,671

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 01:08 PM

LaBay Blasts Orioles, Stags Take Game 3, 19-9

PORTLAND (AP) — The Portland Stags erupted for 19 runs to overpower the Baltimore Orioles 19-9 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Civic Stadium. Designated hitter Payton LaBay led the offensive explosion with a stellar performance, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and a walk. He scored four runs and drove in three, helping the Stags close the gap in the series to 2-1.

The Stags set the tone early with a nine-run second inning. The onslaught began with center fielder Liam Bright’s three-run homer off Erik Nemerov, putting the Stags ahead 4-0. LaBay followed with a three-run homer later in the inning, extending the lead to 9-0.

"It feels good to get this one," Bright told the Portland Herald.

Portland’s offensive juggernaut continued throughout the game, adding another run in the fourth, one in the fifth, seven in the sixth, and one more in the seventh. Third baseman Marcus McCoy added a grand slam in the sixth inning, finishing the game with five RBIs.

Stags' starting pitcher Greg Hayes earned the win, despite giving up five runs over 5.2 innings. Relievers Nick White and Nathan Stock combined to finish the game, allowing four runs but holding on to the substantial lead.

Baltimore's offensive efforts were led by first baseman Jérémy Bouché, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. However, it wasn't enough to match Portland’s relentless attack.

The series continues tomorrow at Civic Stadium, where the Stags will aim to even the series at 2-2.

Player of the Game: Payton LaBay

Weather: Cloudy, 54 degrees, with winds blowing out to right at 7 mph.

Attendance: 31,089

BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 .333 0 0
D. Madden CF 5 1 1 1 0 1 2 .167 1 2
A. Narcisse RF 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .308 0 0
B. Moreno SS 5 2 1 0 0 1 2 .182 0 0
J. Bouché 1B 4 3 3 3 1 1 1 .545 2 5
D. Whitelaw DH 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .375 0 2
J. Cisneros 3B 3 1 2 3 1 0 3 .400 1 5
K. Kobayashi C 4 0 2 1 0 1 2 .455 0 1
K. Richardson 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .111 0 0
Totals 39 9 14 9 2 4 15

PORTLAND BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. Correa RF 4 2 1 1 2 1 1 .250 2 7
M. Santana 1B 4 2 2 2 2 1 1 .311 1 8
M. McCoy 3B 6 2 3 5 0 0 3 .326 2 12
P. LaBay DH 4 4 3 3 1 0 0 .326 1 6
D. Rael C 5 2 2 0 0 1 2 .191 0 4
E. Monaghan LF 5 2 3 3 0 0 0 .341 3 15
M. Johnson 2B 5 2 2 2 0 0 3 .333 2 12
L. Bright CF 4 2 1 3 1 0 0 .205 2 7
J. Tiller SS 5 1 1 0 0 2 3 .293 3 7
Totals 42 19 18 19 6 5 13

BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
E. Nemerov L (0-1) 1.2 6 7 4 0 3 1 51 21.60
R. Moreira 1.1 5 3 3 1 0 1 34 20.25
R. Pitkin 2.1 5 4 4 1 1 0 49 15.43
O. Maness 0.1 1 4 4 3 1 1 20 108.00
U. Gomez 2.1 1 1 1 1 0 1 29 3.86

PORTLAND PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
G. Hayes W (3-0) 5.2 8 5 5 2 3 1 96 4.34
N. White 0.2 4 4 3 0 0 2 21 27.00
N. Stock 2.2 2 0 0 0 1 0 37 4.05

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 01:19 PM

Takagi Hammers Cardinals, Giants Take Game 3

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants kept their postseason hopes alive with a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at Candlestick Park. Third baseman Tadashi Takagi led the charge, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and four RBIs. The win reduces the Giants' series deficit to 2-1.

The Giants exploded for four runs in the first inning and three in the second. Their offense was sparked by catcher Jedidiah Melton, who delivered a run-scoring single in the first inning to make the score 2-1. Takagi's three-run homer in the second inning off Cardinals' starter Omar Regalado extended the lead to 7-3, and the Giants never looked back.

"Every time I go up there, I try and hit a ball hard," Takagi said.

Starting pitcher Fernando Gomez earned the win for San Francisco, allowing three runs on five hits over five innings. Relievers Greg Kelly and Raul Maldonado combined for four scoreless innings to secure the win.

For St. Louis, first baseman Alejandro Fernández and right fielder Dan Cook provided the only bright spots, each hitting home runs. Regalado took the loss, giving up seven runs over just one inning.

Player of the Game: Tadashi Takagi

Weather: Clear skies, 55 degrees, with winds blowing in from left at 16 mph.

Attendance: 43,372

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
J. Cordero SS 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .400 2 5
M. Matsui LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .111 0 1
A. Fernández 1B 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .273 1 1
L. Ramírez CF 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .200 0 2
M. Del Angel 2B 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .000 0 0
S. Cook 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .364 0 1
O. Regalado P, DH4 1 1 0 0 2 1 .250 0 0
D. Cook RF 4 1 1 2 0 1 0 .182 1 2
R. Van de Veer C 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .300 0 1
Totals 31 3 5 3 3 9 10

SAN FRANCISCO BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Walker CF 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 .256 2 3
R. Perry LF 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 .116 0 0
T. Takagi 3B 3 2 2 4 1 0 0 .298 4 11
N. Teske 1B 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 .188 1 2
C. Spires 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 6 .190 0 5
J. Melton C 4 0 2 1 0 0 2 .395 1 9
C. Coleman SS 3 0 1 1 0 1 3 .205 1 5
V. Nez RF 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .132 0 1
H. Kikuchi DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .217 0 1
Totals 28 7 8 7 6 2 18

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
O. Regalado L (0-1) 1.0 4 7 7 4 0 1 55 63.00
G. Osborne 4.0 2 0 0 1 1 0 48 0.00
M. Avery 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 28 0.00
C. Fawcett 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 0.00

SAN FRANCISCO PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
F. Gomez W (2-0) 5.0 5 3 3 3 5 2 76 5.19
G. Kelly H (1) 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 5.40
R. Maldonado 2.0 0 0 0 0 4 0 29 0.90

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 03:45 PM

Almost There: Orioles on Cusp of LCS Triumph After 6-3 Win

PORTLAND (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles took a commanding 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series with a 6-3 victory over the Portland Stags in Game 4 at Civic Stadium. Center fielder Daniel Madden delivered a standout performance, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs to propel the Orioles to victory.

The Orioles' offense came alive in the fourth inning, scoring six runs to overturn an early 3-0 deficit. Designated hitter Kian Soutillan contributed with a run-scoring groundout, while Madden's three-run homer provided the big blow of the inning.

"Trying isn't good enough in this league," said Madden. "You've got to get results."

Baltimore starter Tobias Hercules earned the win, pitching seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two. Ulysses Escarcega and Trevor Flax combined to shut down the Stags over the final two innings, securing the victory.

Portland's early offense was highlighted by shortstop Jack Tiller’s solo home run in the second inning, but they couldn't muster any more runs after the third inning. Reliever Ernesto Ramos took the loss, giving up six runs in 1.1 innings of work.

Player of the Game: Daniel Madden

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 57 degrees, with winds blowing left to right at 8 mph.

Attendance: 31,366

BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 5 0 1 0 0 1 2 .294 0 0
J. Bouché 1B 5 1 2 0 0 1 2 .500 2 5
A. Narcisse RF 4 1 0 0 1 1 2 .235 0 0
B. Moreno SS 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 .200 0 0
K. Soutillan DH 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 .000 0 1
a-D. Whitelaw DH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333 0 2
D. Madden CF 4 1 2 3 0 1 0 .250 2 5
J. Cisneros 3B 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .357 1 5
K. Kobayashi C 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .467 0 1
K. Richardson 2B 4 0 1 2 0 2 2 .154 0 2
Totals 38 6 10 6 1 9 13

PORTLAND BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. LaBay DH 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 .320 1 6
E. Monaghan LF 4 1 1 0 1 0 1 .333 3 15
P. Correa RF 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .255 2 7
M. Santana 1B 3 0 1 0 1 0 4 .312 1 8
D. Rael C 4 0 1 0 0 2 4 .196 0 4
M. McCoy 3B 2 0 0 1 1 0 2 .312 2 13
M. Johnson 2B 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .326 2 13
L. Bright CF 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .186 2 7
J. Tiller SS 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .289 4 8
Totals 32 3 7 3 5 5 20

BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
T. Hercules W (1-0) 7.0 6 3 3 4 2 1 108 3.86
U. Escarcega H (2) 1.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 25 4.50
T. Flax SV (2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0.00

PORTLAND PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
R. Moring 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 23 1.17
E. Ramos L (0-1) 1.1 7 6 6 1 1 1 51 16.20
N. White 2.2 0 0 0 0 3 0 38 12.60
J. Cornelius 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 18 2.25
R. Kurioka 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 8 20.25
T. Leal 1.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 26 3.52

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 05:20 PM

Coleman Blasts Cardinals, Giants Take Game 4, 10-7

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants rallied late to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-7 in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Candlestick Park. Shortstop Clarence Coleman was the star of the night, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs to tie the series at 2-2.

The Cardinals jumped to an early lead, scoring two runs in both the first and second innings. However, the Giants responded with three runs in the second, highlighted by Coleman's two-run homer off St. Louis starter Kevin Gibbons.

San Francisco took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth inning when center fielder Alexis Walker delivered a clutch two-run single off Cardinals reliever Logan Cash, making it 9-7. The Giants added another insurance run, sealing the victory.

"It's the best feeling when you come through for your teammates," Coleman said.

Giants starter Luke Purter pitched 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out four. Reliever Raul Maldonado earned the win, pitching two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

St. Louis's offensive efforts were led by designated hitter Pedro Brown, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and shortstop José Cordero, who added two hits and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Clarence Coleman

Weather: Clear skies, 51 degrees, with winds blowing in from left at 10 mph.

Attendance: 42,893

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. Brown DH 5 2 2 2 0 1 0 .385 0 2
J. Cordero SS 4 1 2 1 1 1 1 .429 2 6
A. Fernández 1B 3 1 2 1 2 1 1 .357 1 2
L. Ramírez CF 4 1 0 0 1 1 4 .143 0 2
M. Del Angel 2B 5 0 2 1 0 1 2 .133 0 1
S. Cook 3B 3 0 2 1 1 0 1 .429 0 2
R. Van de Veer C 5 1 1 0 0 3 5 .267 0 1
D. Cook RF 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 .133 1 2
M. Matsui LF 4 1 0 0 0 2 3 .077 0 1
Totals 37 7 11 6 6 11 20

SAN FRANCISCO BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Walker CF 4 1 1 3 0 0 1 .255 2 6
R. Perry LF 5 0 2 1 0 1 1 .146 0 1
T. Takagi 3B 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 .275 4 11
N. Teske 1B 4 2 1 0 1 1 4 .200 1 2
C. Spires 2B 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .196 0 6
J. Melton C 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 .375 1 9
C. Coleman SS 4 3 3 3 0 0 0 .256 2 8
V. Nez RF 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .175 1 2
a-Y. Rosiaro PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286 0 2
b-A. Patel RF 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000 0 0
H. Kikuchi DH 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 .231 0 2
Totals 34 10 11 10 4 5 16

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
K. Gibbons 5.0 7 7 7 3 2 2 98 12.60
C. Fawcett BS (1) 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 27 0.00
L. Cash L (0-1) 1.0 3 3 3 1 2 0 22 5.40

SAN FRANCISCO PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
L. Purter 4.2 7 5 5 3 4 0 102 4.12
G. Kelly 0.2 0 1 1 1 1 0 15 6.75
J. Stevens 1.2 3 1 1 1 2 0 34 3.86
R. Maldonado W (1-0) 2.0 1 0 0 1 4 0 34 0.75

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 05:57 PM

Orioles End Stags' Cinderella Run, Clinch AL Pennant on Madden's 9th Inning Blast

The Baltimore Orioles are heading to the World Series for the first time since their 2039 championship, after centerfielder Dylan Madden's dramatic two-run homer in the ninth inning lifted them to a 2-1 victory over the Portland Stags, clinching the American League Championship Series in five games.
In a pitchers' duel that lasted most of the afternoon at Civic Stadium, starter Jesús Dávilos delivered eight masterful innings for Baltimore, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six. The performance lowered his postseason ERA to a microscopic 0.60.

"Jesús gave us everything today," said series MVP Jean-Philippe Bouché, who hit a scorching .474 for the series with 5 RBI. "We knew if we could just break through, we had a chance because of how he was dealing."

That breakthrough came in the ninth. With the Orioles trailing 1-0, shortstop Brandon Moreno singled with one out, setting the stage for Madden's heroics. The centerfielder, who finished the day 3-for-4, launched his third homer of the series off Stags reliever Sam Maldonado, silencing the crowd of 31,110.

For Portland, it was a bitter end to a magical run through the Ladder playoffs. Rightfielder Pablo Correa had given the Stags their only run with an RBI double in the sixth, and they seemed poised to send the series back to Baltimore before Madden's blast.

"This team showed incredible heart," said the Stags manager. "From the wild card games through today, they never quit. Baltimore was just better this series."

The Orioles, seeking their fifth World Series title in franchise history and first in 23 years, now await the winner of the Cardinals-Giants NLCS.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 05:58 PM

The Little Team That Almost Could: Looking Back at Portland's Improbable Run

There are seasons fans remember because of championships. Then there are seasons fans remember because of the journey. The 2062 Portland Stags gave their faithful the latter – a rollercoaster ride that will be talked about in Pioneer Square bars for decades to come.

Let's be honest: nobody saw this coming. The Stags weren't supposed to be here. They weren't supposed to survive the new Ladder playoff format. They definitely weren't supposed to be one out away from forcing Game 6 in the ALCS against a 101-win Orioles juggernaut.

But that's why we watch, isn't it?

The story of the 2062 Stags isn't about how it ended – with Dylan Madden's cruel ninth-inning homer silencing Civic Stadium. It's about how third baseman Marc McCoy carried the offense through the early rounds. It's about Eric Monaghan launching moonshots when the team needed them most. It's about journeyman Rocky Smith – five career starts to his name – throwing a complete game shutout to clinch the ALDS against Sacramento.

This team had no quit. Four elimination rounds in the Ladder playoffs? The Stags treated each one like a new challenge rather than a burden. They became the first wild card team to navigate the gauntlet, taking down higher seeds and breaking hearts along the way. The "Cardiac Kids" nickname started as a joke in local media, but by the time October rolled around, it felt more like a badge of honor.

Remember the electricity in the city during that Sacramento series? The way downtown erupted when Luke Bright kept finding gaps in the outfield? The collective holding of breath every time Pablo Correa stepped to the plate in a big moment? That's the stuff that builds baseball tradition in a city.

Sure, Baltimore was better. Their 101 wins weren't a fluke, and Bouché's MVP performance in the ALCS showed why they're heading to the World Series. But the 2062 Stags showed Portland – and baseball – something special. They showed that the new playoff format, rather than being a cruel gauntlet, could be a stage for magic. They showed that underdogs can still bark in modern baseball.

Twenty years from now, we might not remember the exact score of that final game. But we'll remember Smith's gem against the Solons. We'll remember McCoy's clutch hits. We'll remember Monaghan's power surge. And we'll remember how a team that wasn't supposed to make noise ended up giving us one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history.

The 2062 Portland Stags didn't bring home a pennant. But they gave us something almost as valuable: hope. Hope that in baseball, David can still take aim at Goliath. Hope that next year, maybe that ninth-inning homer goes our way.

After all, that's what baseball is all about. And man, what a ride it was.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 06:10 PM

Death, Taxes, & Urban (Legend) Henry: Cardinals Dominate Game 5

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals took a decisive step toward the World Series with a commanding 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at Candlestick Park. The theme of the game: death, taxes, and the legendary performance of Urban Henry.

At 39 years old, Henry delivered a masterclass in pitching, completely shutting down the Giants' offense. Over nine innings, the veteran right-hander allowed no runs on just three hits, striking out five and walking one. His dominance earned him the title of Player of the Game and brought the Cardinals within one win of the World Series.

"Urban was in charge the entire game," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rodgers. "He showed why he's a legend."

The Cardinals' offense came alive in the fourth inning, starting with a two-run homer from right fielder Dan Cook off Giants' starter Jayden Carter. First baseman Alejandro Fernández followed with a two-run shot in the fifth inning, and the Cardinals never looked back.

Fernández finished the game 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBIs, and a walk. Shortstop José Cordero contributed with three hits, three runs, and an RBI. The Cardinals continued to add runs in the sixth and eighth innings, solidifying their lead.

The Giants struggled to find any offensive momentum against Henry, managing only three hits throughout the game. Third baseman Tadashi Takagi provided a brief spark with a triple in the first inning, but it wasn't enough to ignite the Giants' bats.

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 59 degrees, with winds blowing in from center at 12 mph.

Attendance: 43,140

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. Brown DH 5 1 1 0 0 1 1 .333 0 2
J. Cordero SS 5 3 3 1 0 1 0 .474 2 7
A. Fernández 1B 4 1 4 3 1 0 0 .500 2 5
L. Ramírez CF 5 0 1 1 0 2 3 .158 0 3
M. Del Angel 2B 4 1 1 0 1 1 2 .158 0 1
S. Cook 3B 5 0 2 0 0 0 1 .421 0 2
R. Van de Veer C 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 .200 0 1
D. Cook RF 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 .263 2 4
M. Matsui LF 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .059 0 1
Totals 41 7 15 7 2 7 14

SAN FRANCISCO BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Walker CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .235 2 6
R. Perry LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .135 0 1
T. Takagi 3B 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .291 4 11
N. Teske 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .167 1 2
C. Spires 2B 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .184 0 6
J. Melton C 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .372 1 9
C. Coleman SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .239 2 8
V. Nez RF 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .163 1 2
H. Kikuchi DH 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .214 0 2
Totals 30 0 3 0 1 5 9

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
U. Henry W (2-0) 9.0 3 0 0 1 5 0 120 0.56

SAN FRANCISCO PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
J. Carter L (0-3) 5.2 11 6 6 2 5 2 121 5.40
D. Burke 2.0 4 1 1 0 1 0 49 5.68
V. Bilé 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 16 0.00

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 06:40 PM

Hot Stove Tonight - What's Next for the Cinderella Stags?

Transcript from MLB Network's Hot Stove Tonight, featuring analysts Trevor Chen and Maria Rodriguez discussing the Portland Stags' future following their ALCS exit

CHEN: So Maria, the Stags' improbable run is over. $43 million payroll - lowest in baseball - and they made it to Game 5 of the ALCS. The question now is: what do you do if you're Portland's front office?

RODRIGUEZ: That's the fascinating thing, Trevor. They built this team on bargain-bin shopping and 60 OVR players, and somehow it worked. But arbitration's going to push them to around $65 million next year. Even that would only be third-lowest in baseball. Do you try to run it back or do you pull a 2003 Marlins and tear it all down?

CHEN: See, that's where this gets interesting. Their offense is legitimately good. McCoy, Monaghan, Correa - these guys can hit. But that pitching staff? Come on. They needed a miracle complete game from Rocky Smith just to get past the Division Series. Lightning doesn't strike twice.

RODRIGUEZ: But that's what makes this such a unique situation. Most teams that make deep playoff runs with low payrolls - think 2008 Rays, 2020 Rays - they at least had pitching. The Stags did this with basically smoke and mirrors on the mound.

CHEN: Exactly why I'd sell. McCoy's trade value will never be higher. Monaghan just showed he can hit in October. You could restock your farm system overnight.

RODRIGUEZ: You're not wrong about the trade value, but I actually lean the other way. Look at the landscape - Baltimore's aging, the Solons lost key pieces to free agency. Why not run it back with this core and just focus exclusively on finding pitching? The fans just watched this team make history as the first wild card to navigate four rounds of the Ladder playoffs. You really want to tear that down?

CHEN: You know what fans love more than a fun playoff run? Sustained success. This team as constructed, even with marginally better pitching, isn't winning a World Series. Period.

RODRIGUEZ: But that's assuming the goal is winning a World Series. Maybe the goal should be staying competitive while operating under these self-imposed restrictions. They've proven you can build a watchable product on a shoestring budget.

CHEN: A watchable product that's going to get more expensive through arbitration, with no pitching, in a division that's only getting tougher. I love a good underdog story, Maria, but I also love reality. And the reality is this team peaked at the perfect time. Sell high.

RODRIGUEZ: I'll tell you what - let's revisit this at the winter meetings. If they haven't moved anyone by then, we'll know they're trying to recreate the magic. If McCoy or Monaghan is wearing different colors, we'll know you were right.

CHEN: Either way, what they managed to do this year with that payroll... it shouldn't have worked. But for one magical October run, it did.

RODRIGUEZ: And that's why we love baseball, isn't it?

End Transcript

----------------------------

Breaking Down the Miracle Run: The 2062 Portland Stags

The Portland Stags' improbable ALCS run was built on one of baseball's most dramatic offensive-defensive splits in recent memory. The team rode an elite offense and survived with patchwork pitching all the way to Game 5 against Baltimore, proving you can compete even with MLB's lowest payroll - if you're willing to get creative.

The Elite Offensive Core

At the heart of Portland's success was 19-year-old first baseman Matías Santana, who put up MVP-caliber numbers: .372/.443/.633 with a 191 wRC+ and 7.8 WAR. Around him, shortstop Jaxson Tiller (.325/.384/.556, 153 OPS+) and 22-year-old leftfielder Payton LaBay (.306/.373/.558, 150 OPS+) formed a young core that should only get better.

The depth of the offense was remarkable:
- E.J. Monaghan and Paul Correa both posted 119 OPS+
- Mel Johnson contributed a 133 OPS+
- Part-timer Liam Bright delivered a 145 OPS+ in limited action

The Pitching Puzzle

The rotation numbers tell a stark story. Only Norville Stock (152.2 IP, 3.71 ERA) and Ryder Moring (81.1 IP, 1.99 ERA) posted above-average seasons. Glenn Hayes (167 IP, 5.60 ERA) and Stephen Maldonado (176.2 IP, 6.57 ERA) ate innings but got hit hard. Rocky Smith's playoff complete game came despite struggling in limited regular season action.

The key issue wasn't just performance - it was stamina. Beyond Hayes and Maldonado, no pitcher threw more than 100 innings. That's simply not sustainable over a full season.

The Path Forward

With arbitration pushing payroll to $64.5M in 2063, the Stags need a new approach to pitching. The international market presents an intriguing solution.

The financial picture suggests room for 3-4 international veterans at $2-3M each, especially with the offensive core still being relatively affordable. Santana's age-19 season shows there's elite young talent to build around.

The Blueprint for 2063

The strategy seems clear:
1. Maintain the elite offensive core
2. Target international pitchers with proven durability (150+ IP seasons)
3. Focus on strike-throwers who can provide 5-6 efficient innings
4. Implement aggressive pitch count management
5. Create depth through volume rather than top-end talent

The 2062 Stags showed you can win with elite offense and patchwork pitching. For 2063, the goal should be making that pitching more sustainable through international scouting and smart workload management. In a sport where most teams are chasing the same domestic talent, perhaps the next market inefficiency lies overseas.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 06:43 PM

I didn't follow any of my house rules for the Stags, I traded for guys with 60 OVR and we maintained the lowest payroll in baseball but it's basically impossible to run a team in this league with only 5% of payroll since that'd only be around $9.4 million.

I still did play a limited moves game and I bolstered the opposition a lot. The task and question left for the Stags next is whether I let them run it back with payroll thanks to arbitration likely to be somewhere in the $65 million range, up for $43 million this year. That'd still be good for 3rd lowest in MLB. I like the idea of seeing if they can run it back, but I'm also intrigued by a Marlins style firesale. I was hoping they could do what the 2003 Marlins did or even just pull a 2008 or 2020 Rays deal where we go on a run to the World Series before breaking things up.

We could opt to operate like the 2016 Blue Jays where new management comes in and does basically nothing, lets the existing team play and then see what happens, but there's no way this team with this barely passable pitching could win a World Series or make another deep post-season run though the offense is largely off the chart.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals still have to win two more games and i'm just watching helplessly as that takes shape.

I want to do a captains log style dynasty update where I reflect foremost on the Stags season and what's next for the club, tearing it down would be interesting if I was just interested in a full tank job and/or looking for prospects to try all of this again.

I just don't know if I have the interest in doing that, as I kind of like the team we've got right now and I'd be curious with another year of team control and perhaps going forage for some bargain basement pitchers or making a new set of house rules around acquiring new arms whether we could make another run.

That said, has been my most immersive OOTP save for me to play in a long time, documenting is fun but only because it helps me to actually notice what's happening in the game and to account for anything I've done.

I think my off-season plan will indeed be to go look for guys in the foreign leagues. No pitcher in my rotation is has an overall of more than 65, our offense was fueled by a lot of Dominican players that I have going through the draft and a few deadline deals I made to keep the storyline interesting for myself, I've always run my teams similarly.

I'm going to focus on the Cardinals run and see if they can get back to the World Series now, but I'm looking forward to the offseason to see if I can keep this Stags thing going one more year, before the inevitable breakup has to happen.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 06:48 PM

St. Louis Cardinals Win NLCS, Headed to World Series

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals clinched their spot in the World Series with a 3-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals secured the series win, 4-2, behind a stellar performance from pitcher Mark Wleh.

The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning when the Cardinals finally broke through with two runs. Designated hitter Pedro Brown was replaced by pinch hitter Jake Gallegos, who got things started. José Cordero, the series MVP, contributed with an RBI single, and first baseman Alejandro Fernández added a sacrifice fly.

In the eighth inning, right fielder Dan Cook sealed the victory with a solo home run, his third of the series. The Cardinals' pitching staff was lights out, with Wleh throwing seven innings of one-hit ball, striking out seven and walking three. Closer Leo Cash shut the door in the final two innings, securing the save without allowing a hit.

"Two great teams, only one can go on and we're happy that's us," said José Cordero, who hit .435 with a .500 on-base percentage in the series. He also tallied two home runs, eight RBIs, and seven runs scored.

San Francisco struggled to get anything going offensively, managing just one hit in the game. Third baseman Tadashi Takagi struck out three times, and the Giants left three runners on base.

SAN FRANCISCO BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Walker CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218 2 6
R. Perry LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 0 1
T. Takagi 3B 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 .271 4 11
N. Teske 1B 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .154 1 2
C. Spires 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .192 0 6
J. Melton C 2 0 0 0 1 2 2 .356 1 9
C. Coleman SS 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .224 2 8
V. Nez RF 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .156 1 2
a-Y. Rosiaro PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .273 0 2
b-A. Patel RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
H. Kikuchi DH 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .200 0 2
Totals 27 0 1 0 3 9 9

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. Brown DH 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 0 2
a-J. Gallegos DH 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0
J. Cordero SS 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .435 2 8
A. Fernández 1B 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 .450 2 6
L. Ramírez CF 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .174 0 3
M. Del Angel 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .136 0 1
S. Cook 3B 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .364 0 2
R. Van de Veer C 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .182 0 1
D. Cook RF 3 1 1 1 0 1 2 .273 3 5
M. Matsui LF 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .100 0 1
Totals 28 3 6 3 2 3 9

SAN FRANCISCO PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
D. Packer L (1-2) 7.2 6 3 3 1 3 1 108 3.79
J. Weiner 0.1 0 0 0 1 0 0 8 3.18

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
M. Wleh W (2-0) 7.0 1 0 0 3 7 0 100 0.64
L. Cash SV (2) 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 18 3.86

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:02 PM

2062 World Series Preview: A Clash of Historic Powers

For the first time since 1944's all-St. Louis showdown - when the Orioles were still the Browns - these two storied franchises meet in October. The St. Louis Cardinals (100-62) seek their first World Series title since 2011, while the Baltimore Orioles (101-61) chase their first championship since 2039.

Legacy on the Line

The Cardinals' 24th National League pennant gives them a chance to add to their historic total of 11 World Series championships, though their 51-year title drought is their longest since the franchise's founding. Meanwhile, the Orioles are appearing in their 9th Fall Classic (8th since moving to Baltimore), seeking their 5th title overall.

The Matchup

St. Louis dominated the National League with baseball's most efficient offense (.327 team average, MLB-best .345 OBP). Centerfielder Leuri Ramirez (.327/.379/.544, 26 HR, 121 RBI) and first baseman Archer Fernández (.318/.429/.524, 26 HR) anchor a lineup that pressures opposing pitchers from top to bottom.

Perhaps even more impressive has been their postseason pitching. Veteran ace Urban Henry has been nearly unhittable in October, going 2-0 with a microscopic 0.56 ERA. Not to be outdone, Mark Wleh has matched him with a 2-0 record and 0.64 ERA in his postseason starts. This one-two punch has elevated St. Louis's championship hopes from strong to formidable.

Baltimore counters with MLB's best regular season pitching staff (3.62 ERA), led by lefty ace Jesús Dávilos (18-6, 2.44 ERA, 243.2 IP). Shortstop Buster Moreno (.289/.383/.499, 22 HR) spearheads an offense that tied for the AL lead with 231 home runs.

Key Storylines

- The unstoppable force meets the immovable object: St. Louis's red-hot playoff rotation vs. Baltimore's season-long pitching dominance
- Baltimore's elite bullpen (led by closer Uranio Escarcega's 22 saves) against St. Louis's late-inning offensive prowess
- The Cardinals' aggressive baserunning vs. Baltimore's stellar defensive efficiency (.708, 2nd in AL)

Projected Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Henry (STL, 2-0, 0.56 ERA postseason) vs. Dávilos (BAL)
Game 2: Wleh (STL, 2-0, 0.64 ERA postseason) vs. Núñez (BAL)
Game 3: Regalado (STL) vs. Nemerov (BAL)
Game 4: Gibbons (STL) vs. Hercules (BAL)

The Bottom Line

While Baltimore owned the regular season pitching headlines, St. Louis's rotation has found another gear in October. The Cardinals' combination of baseball's best offense and suddenly unhittable starting pitching makes them a formidable favorite, despite lacking home-field advantage.

Baltimore's championship drought and home field edge will provide plenty of motivation, but they'll need to solve the Henry-Wleh puzzle that's stifled everyone else this postseason. Something has to give between these two powerhouses.

Prediction: Cardinals in 6

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:05 PM

World Series Game 1: St. Louis Draws First Blood With 6-3 Win

In the opening game of the 2062 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals managed to seize victory from the jaws of defeat with a late-game rally, overcoming the Baltimore Orioles 6-3. Despite a stellar performance from Orioles' left-hander Jesús Dávilos, who threw 7 innings of two-run ball, the Cardinals took the upper hand in the best-of-9 series.

The Cardinals' hero of the night was shortstop José Cordero, who delivered a crucial two-run single in the top of the ninth inning, putting St. Louis ahead for good. Cordero's hit turned the tide in a tightly contested match that saw both teams struggle to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities.

St. Louis got on the board early, scoring in the second and fourth innings, but it wasn't until the ninth that they broke the game open. Baltimore, despite their 13 hits, failed to convert their base runners into a lead, stranding 15 runners on base.

Closer Leo Cash sealed the deal for the Cardinals with two scoreless innings, ensuring that the efforts of starter Urban Henry, who gave up 12 hits and three runs over seven innings, did not go to waste.

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. Brown DH 4 1 1 0 1 1 0 .292 0 2
J. Cordero SS 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 .407 2 10
A. Fernández 1B 3 0 0 1 1 1 1 .391 2 7
L. Ramírez CF 4 2 2 0 1 0 2 .222 0 3
M. Del Angel 2B 5 0 1 1 0 1 5 .148 0 2
S. Cook 3B 4 0 2 2 0 1 3 .385 0 4
R. Van de Veer C 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .160 0 1
a-J. Gallegos PH 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0
b-R. Judd C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
D. Cook RF 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .240 3 5
M. Matsui LF 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .083 0 1
Totals 35 6 8 6 5 10 17

BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 5 1 2 1 0 1 7 .269 0 1
J. Bouché 1B 4 0 2 1 0 1 4 .478 2 6
a-C. Eggleston PH, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
A. Narcisse RF 5 0 1 0 0 2 1 .192 0 0
B. Moreno SS 4 1 1 0 1 3 2 .217 0 0
K. Soutillan DH 3 0 1 1 1 0 2 .154 0 2
b-D. Whitelaw DH 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .364 0 2
D. Madden CF 5 0 2 0 0 0 3 .360 3 7
J. Cisneros 3B 3 0 0 0 2 2 2 .263 1 5
K. Kobayashi C 5 1 3 0 0 2 4 .435 0 1
K. Richardson 2B 1 0 0 0 2 0 6 .125 0 2
Totals 37 3 13 3 6 11 31

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
U. Henry 7.0 12 3 3 5 9 0 126 1.57
L. Cash W (1-1) 2.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 38 3.00

BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
J. Dávilos 7.0 5 2 1 0 10 0 98 0.82
U. Escarcega BS (1) 1.0 1 1 1 2 0 0 27 5.40
T. Flax L (0-1) 1.0 2 3 3 3 0 0 25 6.75

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:07 PM

Game 2: Raucous Crowd Propels Orioles to 7-0 Victory; Series Tied at 1

Behind a stellar performance from starter Adrián Nuñez, the Baltimore Orioles blanked the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0 to even the series at 1-1. In a game that saw Oriole Park at Camden Yards come alive, Nuñez delivered 7.0 innings of shutout ball, allowing only 2 hits and striking out 4. The Orioles' offense came alive, scoring early and often to secure their first win of the World Series.

Nuñez was in command from the start, and he got the support he needed. Left fielder Sean Van Doren set the tone with a double in the first inning, and center fielder Daniel Madden continued his power surge with a two-run homer in the fourth. Third baseman Javier Cisneros capped the scoring with a three-run homer in the eighth.

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
J. Cordero SS 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .387 2 10
M. Matsui LF 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .077 0 1
A. Fernández 1B 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .370 2 7
L. Ramírez CF 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .194 0 3
M. Del Angel 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .129 0 2
S. Cook 3B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .345 0 4
O. Regalado P, DH3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .143 0 0
D. Cook RF 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 3 5
R. Van de Veer C 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .185 0 1
Totals 29 0 4 0 1 8 9

BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 .310 0 1
J. Bouché 1B 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .423 2 6
A. Narcisse RF 4 0 1 2 0 0 1 .200 0 2
B. Moreno SS 4 1 2 0 0 1 2 .259 0 0
K. Soutillan DH 4 2 1 0 0 0 5 .176 0 2
D. Madden CF 4 1 1 2 0 2 4 .345 4 9
J. Cisneros 3B 4 1 1 3 0 2 0 .261 2 8
K. Kobayashi C 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .370 0 1
K. Richardson 2B 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 .105 0 2
Totals 33 7 8 7 3 9 14

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
O. Regalado L (0-2) 6.0 6 4 4 2 7 1 109 14.14
M. Avery 2.0 2 3 2 1 2 1 35 4.50

BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
A. Nuñez W (2-0) 7.0 2 0 0 1 4 0 92 0.00
U. Escarcega 1.1 1 0 0 0 3 0 21 4.26
U. Gomez 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 13 3.00

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:12 PM

Wasting a Mark Wleh start in the World Series to go down 1-2 is not my favorite, but it's a long series.

GAME 3, 2062 WORLD SERIES
Orioles 4, Cardinals 3 (10 innings)

BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 5 1 3 0 0 1 0 .353 0 1
J. Bouché 1B 3 0 1 1 1 1 2 .414 2 7
d-H. Figueroa PH, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 0
A. Narcisse RF 5 2 2 0 0 0 3 .229 0 2
B. Moreno SS 5 0 0 0 0 1 2 .219 0 0
K. Soutillan DH 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .158 0 2
c-C. Eggleston DH 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .250 0 1
D. Madden CF 5 1 3 1 0 0 2 .382 4 10
J. Cisneros 3B 4 0 1 1 0 2 3 .259 2 9
K. Kobayashi C 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .323 0 1
K. Richardson 2B 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .095 0 2
a-S. Harris PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0
b-D. Williams 2B 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 0
Totals 40 4 11 4 2 13 14
a - S. Harris pinch hit for K. Richardson in the 7th
b - D. Williams substituted for S. Harris in the 7th
c - C. Eggleston inserted as DH in the 8th
d - H. Figueroa pinch hit for J. Bouché in the 10th

BATTING
Doubles: S. Van Doren (5, 3rd Inning off M. Wleh, 0 on, 2 outs) , J. Bouché (4, 3rd Inning off M. Wleh, 1 on, 2 outs) , J. Cisneros (1, 4th Inning off M. Wleh, 1 on, 2 outs) , A. Narcisse (2, 8th Inning off L. Cash, 0 on, 0 outs) , C. Eggleston (1, 10th Inning off C. Colmenares, 1 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: S. Van Doren 4 , J. Bouché 2 , A. Narcisse 3 , C. Eggleston 2 , D. Madden 3 , J. Cisneros 2
2-out RBI: J. Bouché , C. Eggleston , D. Madden , J. Cisneros
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: A. Narcisse , D. Madden , K. Kobayashi
Team LOB: 8

BASERUNNING
CS: A. Narcisse (1)

FIELDING
Errors: S. Van Doren , B. Moreno , K. Richardson
Double Plays: 1 (Cisneros-Richardson-Bouché)

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE

Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. Brown DH 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 .276 0 2
J. Cordero SS 4 2 2 0 1 1 1 .400 2 10
A. Fernández 1B 5 0 1 1 0 0 3 .344 2 8
L. Ramírez CF 5 0 0 1 0 2 3 .167 0 4
M. Del Angel 2B 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 .143 0 3
S. Cook 3B 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 .344 0 4
R. Van de Veer C 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .167 0 1
a-J. Gallegos PH 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0
b-R. Judd C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
D. Cook RF 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .219 3 5
M. Matsui LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .067 0 1
Totals 38 3 7 3 2 7 17
a - J. Gallegos pinch hit for R. Van de Veer in the 9th
b - R. Judd substituted for J. Gallegos in the 10th

BATTING
Doubles: P. Brown (2, 1st Inning off E. Nemerov, 0 on, 0 outs) , M. Del Angel (1, 6th Inning off E. Nemerov, 1 on, 2 outs) , A. Fernández (3, 8th Inning off U. Escarcega, 0 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: P. Brown 2 , J. Cordero 2 , A. Fernández 2 , M. Del Angel 2 , S. Cook , J. Gallegos
2-out RBI: M. Del Angel
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: L. Ramírez , S. Cook 2 , M. Matsui
GIDP: R. Van de Veer
Team LOB: 7

BASERUNNING
SB: L. Ramírez (1)
BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
E. Nemerov 7.0 5 3 2 0 5 0 105 6.23
U. Escarcega 1.1 1 0 0 1 2 0 23 3.52
T. Flax W (1-1) 1.2 1 0 0 1 0 0 29 4.76
PITCHING
Game Score: E. Nemerov 62
Batters Faced: E. Nemerov 27, U. Escarcega 6, T. Flax 7
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: E. Nemerov 9-6, U. Escarcega 1-1, T. Flax 2-3
Pitches - Strikes: E. Nemerov 105-67, U. Escarcega 23-13, T. Flax 29-17
Inherited Runners - Scored: T. Flax 1-0

Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
M. Wleh 7.0 7 2 2 2 9 0 121 1.29
L. Cash BS (1) 2.0 2 1 1 0 3 0 35 3.27
C. Colmenares L (0-1) 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 16 9.00
PITCHING
Game Score: M. Wleh 62
Batters Faced: M. Wleh 29, L. Cash 8, C. Colmenares 5
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: M. Wleh 6-5, L. Cash 0-3, C. Colmenares 1-1
Pitches - Strikes: M. Wleh 121-75, L. Cash 35-27, C. Colmenares 16-10

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:19 PM

BENJAMIN DELIVERS AS THE CARDS TIE THE SERIES

The St. Louis Cardinals delivered a resounding 6-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 4 of the 2062 Fall Classic, evening the series at two games apiece and setting the stage for a pivotal Game 5. With the home crowd roaring, the Cardinals struck early, igniting a three-run rally in the first inning. Archer Fernández got things rolling with a single, and timely hits from Leuri Ramírez and Miguel Del Angel set the table for Ray Van de Veer, whose clutch two-run single provided the spark St. Louis needed.

Cardinals starter Chase Benjamin was masterful, delivering five scoreless innings while scattering just a few hits. Benjamin’s precision pitching and the Cardinals' airtight defense stifled the Orioles' lineup, erasing any early threats. Baltimore’s aggression on the basepaths backfired, with two runners caught stealing, further tilting the momentum in St. Louis’s favor. Benjamin was a late addition to this game, he started his first post-season game of 2062 owing to the Cardinals bye into the NLCS.

The highlight of the night came in the third inning when Damian Cook crushed a towering three-run homer to left-center, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and putting the game firmly out of Baltimore’s reach. Orioles starter Torque Hercules struggled, surrendering six runs in just three innings, while Powell McGowan provided stability out of the bullpen but couldn’t undo the damage.

The Cardinals’ bullpen took over seamlessly from Benjamin, preserving the shutout and showcasing the depth of their pitching staff. Despite a valiant effort by the Orioles to mount a late rally, St. Louis never wavered, locking down a dominant win.

With the series now tied 2-2, both teams are bracing for a critical Game 5.

BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .316 0 1
J. Bouché 1B 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .364 2 7
A. Narcisse RF 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205 0 2
B. Moreno SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200 0 0
K. Soutillan DH 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .136 0 2
D. Madden CF 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .378 4 10
J. Cisneros 3B 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .233 2 9
K. Kobayashi C 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 .333 0 1
K. Richardson 2B 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 .167 0 2
Totals 29 0 4 0 1 8 5

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. Brown DH 4 1 1 0 1 0 1 .273 0 2
J. Cordero SS 5 1 1 1 0 1 3 .375 2 11
A. Fernández 1B 3 1 1 0 2 0 1 .343 2 8
L. Ramírez CF 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 .200 0 6
M. Del Angel 2B 5 2 2 1 0 1 5 .175 0 4
S. Cook 3B 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .314 0 4
R. Van de Veer C 4 0 1 2 0 1 2 .176 0 3
D. Cook RF 4 1 1 3 0 1 2 .222 4 8
M. Matsui LF 4 2 3 0 0 1 0 .147 0 1
Totals 36 10 12 9 4 6 17

BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
T. Hercules L (1-1) 2.2 7 6 6 1 1 1 61 8.38
P. McGowan 3.1 4 3 3 1 2 0 52 8.10
R. Pitkin 2.0 1 1 1 2 3 0 46 10.38

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
C. Benjamin W (1-0) 9.0 4 0 0 1 8 0 98 0.00

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:23 PM

In a thrilling conclusion to Game 5 of the 2062 World Series, the Baltimore Orioles edged the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth. Archie Narcisse played the hero, delivering a deep fly ball off Cardinals reliever Logan Cash to bring home the game-winning run and send the sold-out crowd at Oriole Park into a frenzy.

Baltimore starter Jesús Dávilos was outstanding, dominating the Cardinals over seven innings while striking out 11 and allowing just one run—a solo homer by Miguel Del Angel in the second inning. Dávilos kept St. Louis hitters off-balance with pinpoint command, earning Player of the Game honors for his stellar effort.

The game remained tight throughout, with the Cardinals' starter Ulysses Henry matching Dávilos pitch-for-pitch. Henry went seven strong innings, yielding only a single earned run while striking out seven. Baltimore finally broke through against the St. Louis bullpen in the seventh, as pinch hitter Dave Whitelaw laced an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2.

Baltimore’s bullpen held firm, with Ulises Escarcega pitching the final two frames and allowing just one run to secure the win. St. Louis squandered opportunities late, stranding several runners in scoring position, including a pivotal moment in the eighth when Damian Cook flied out with two on.

The Orioles took control of the series with the win, now leading 3-2 in the best-of-nine Fall Classic. The two teams will clash again tomorrow night at Camden Yards, with Baltimore one step closer to clinching the championship and St. Louis fighting to keep their title hopes alive.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:31 PM

Cardinals Down But Not Out: "We've Been Here Before"

The weight of a 51-year championship drought just got a little heavier in St. Louis. After the Cardinals' 7-1 loss in Game 6, they now face the daunting task of winning three straight against baseball's best pitching staff. But in the visiting clubhouse at Camden Yards, there was no panic – only resolve.

"Baseball's a funny game," Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers said, leaning back in his office chair with the same calm demeanor that's defined his tenure. "Everyone's talking about how we need to win three in a row like it's climbing Mount Everest. You know what? This team won eight straight in May. Seven straight in July. We won five straight to close out September when we needed every one of them."

The decision to start Oscar Regalado (now 0-3, 10.54 ERA this postseason) will be debated all winter if the Cardinals can't complete the comeback. But Rogers' focus remained forward, not backward.

"You win one game tomorrow. Then you win one game the next day. Then you win one more," Rogers continued, the hint of a smile crossing his face. "That's all baseball is – one game at a time. We've got our backs against the wall? Fine. That wall's at Busch Stadium, and I like our chances in front of our fans. This team's got something special about it. Always has. Now we just need to show it three more times."

The Cardinals will turn to their ace Urban Henry in Game 7, hoping to start their own slice of history. No team has overcome a 4-2 deficit in a best-of-nine World Series since 1925. But as Rogers puts it: "Records are made to be broken. Droughts are meant to end. And comebacks? They're meant to be legendary. See you Friday night."

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
J. Cordero SS 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .375 2 11
M. Matsui LF 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .132 0 1
a-A. Novak PH, LF 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 0 0
A. Fernández 1B 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .325 2 9
L. Ramírez CF 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .191 0 7
M. Del Angel 2B 4 0 2 0 0 2 2 .208 1 5
S. Cook 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .286 0 4
O. Regalado P, DH4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .182 0 0
D. Cook RF 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .214 4 8
R. Van de Veer C 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .167 0 3
Totals 32 1 8 1 3 7 15

BATTING
Doubles: J. Cordero (3, 3rd Inning off A. Nuñez, 0 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: J. Cordero 4, A. Fernández, L. Ramírez, M. Del Angel 2, O. Regalado
2-out RBI: L. Ramírez
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: L. Ramírez, M. Del Angel, R. Van de Veer
Sac Bunt: M. Matsui
Team LOB: 8

FIELDING
Errors: J. Cordero
Double Plays: 3 (Cordero-Del Angel-Fernández, Del Angel-Cordero-Fernández, Del Angel-Cordero-Fernández)
PB: R. Van de Veer

BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 5 1 2 2 0 2 1 .292 0 3
J. Bouché 1B 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .341 2 8
A. Narcisse RF 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 .227 0 3
B. Moreno SS 4 0 2 0 0 0 3 .262 0 0
K. Soutillan DH 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .138 0 3
D. Madden CF 2 2 1 1 2 0 1 .372 5 11
J. Cisneros 3B 3 1 1 1 1 0 4 .229 2 10
K. Kobayashi C 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 .282 0 2
K. Richardson 2B 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .167 0 2
Totals 31 7 10 7 5 4 14

BATTING
Doubles: J. Bouché (5, 1st Inning off O. Regalado, 0 on, 1 out), S. Van Doren 2 (7, 7th Inning off O. Regalado, 2 on, 1 out; 8th Inning off M. Avery, 0 on, 2 outs)
Home Runs: D. Madden (5, 7th Inning off O. Regalado, 0 on, 0 outs)
Total Bases: S. Van Doren 4, J. Bouché 2, A. Narcisse, B. Moreno 2, K. Soutillan, D. Madden 4, J. Cisneros, K. Richardson
2-out RBI: K. Soutillan
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: S. Van Doren, J. Bouché, J. Cisneros
GIDP: B. Moreno 2, J. Cisneros
Sac Fly: J. Bouché, K. Kobayashi
Team LOB: 7

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Moreno-Bouché)
OF assists: 1 (Madden(Fernández at 3rd base))

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
O. Regalado L (0-3) 6.2 7 7 5 4 4 1 111 10.54
M. Avery 1.1 3 0 0 1 0 0 24 3.38

BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
A. Nuñez W (3-0) 6.2 8 1 1 2 5 0 95 0.44
J. Stewart SV (1) 2.1 0 0 0 1 2 0 34 0.00

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:42 PM

CARDINALS SURVIVE GAME 7 BEHIND WLEH’S WIZARDRY, SEND SERIES TO DECISIVE GAME 8
By Deadspin Staff Writer Who Definitely Didn’t Have Their Draft Stolen by ChatGPT

The St. Louis Cardinals aren't dead yet, folks. Thanks to an absolutely filthy outing by Mark Wleh, the kind of performance you tell your grandkids about even though they’ve never watched a full baseball game, the Cards trounced the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 in Game 7 of the best-of-nine World Series (we'll never get used to saying that). Busch Stadium was a soggy cauldron of energy, with 48,619 fans refusing to let relentless drizzle—and 47-degree temps—dampen their spirits.

Wleh was unhittable in that way where you wonder if the Orioles collectively left their bats on the team plane. Eight innings, four hits, one measly run, and ten strikeouts. He wasn’t just pitching; he was conducting a master class in “sit down and shut up.” Not a single Baltimore hitter managed to figure him out. He made Bouché, Narcisse, and Moreno—guys who normally get cheers louder than free beer—look like extras in a Little League movie.

Meanwhile, Baltimore starter Evan Nemerov… well. His line—6 innings, 10 hits, 5 earned runs—was the kind of thing that might get your face pixelated in a postgame highlight package. The Cardinals batters were relentless, taking him apart piece by piece like an IKEA coffee table, leaving Baltimore fans to wonder whether they should’ve just gone with the bullpen sooner.

Let’s talk offense. St. Louis wasn’t flashy; they were surgical. Jose Cordero and Miguel Del Angel led the charge, combining for four RBIs that felt less like insurance runs and more like the nails in Baltimore’s proverbial coffin. Lars Ramirez added a dagger of a two-run homer in the fifth, and if there’s a more poetic way to end a wet, miserable night for the Orioles, we don’t want to hear it.

The Orioles' only glimmer of hope came from Kevin Richardson, who doubled in the ninth off a clearly human Mark Wleh. But don’t get it twisted—this wasn’t a “Baltimore rally.” This was more like watching a broken-down car crawl to the nearest exit while Wleh waved from the rearview mirror.

Even the rain couldn’t dampen the vibes in St. Louis. Manager Wookie Rodgers—yes, that’s his real name—gave us this gem of a quote after the game:

“A confident pitcher is a dangerous thing. That’s what Mark is right now.”

Translation: We have a horse, and you’re all screwed.

So, now what? The series is 4-3, and the Cardinals are right back in it, clawing their way out of the hole they dug when Baltimore decided to cosplay as 1970s dynasties for the first six games. Game 8 is tomorrow night, back at Busch Stadium, and if tonight was any indication, the Cards have all the momentum. Or maybe they don’t—this is baseball, and chaos reigns supreme.

One thing’s for sure: The Orioles better figure out how to hit a baseball, or Wleh’s going to have a statue outside Busch by Friday.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:51 PM

The Morning After: Cards Still Breathing, But Who Gets the Ball?

After Mark Wleh reminded everyone why baseball is the greatest sport on Earth last night (8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 10 K in a cold drizzle? Are you kidding me?), we've got the biggest pitching decision since... well, probably since the franchise moved to Sportsman's Park.

Here's our situation: We're down 4-3 in a best-of-nine. Game 8 tonight. Game 9 tomorrow (if necessary). We've got Oscar Regalado lined up for Game 8 (and after his Game 6 disaster, typing that made me break out in hives), and Urban Henry rested for a potential Game 9.

But here's the thing - can we really trust Regalado again? The guy's sporting a 10.54 ERA this postseason and looked about as comfortable in Game 6 as a Cardinals fan at Wrigley Field. And if we lose Game 8, there IS no Game 9 for Henry to pitch.

The case for starting Henry on short rest tonight:
- He's our ace
- He's been lights out all postseason
- If we lose, having him fresh for Game 9 doesn't matter
- The season literally hangs in the balance

The case against:
- He's never pitched on short rest in his career
- If we win WITH Regalado, we have our ace fully rested for Game 9
- Henry's age (39) makes short rest even riskier

Look, I get why Wookie Rogers might want to stick to the plan. The "one game at a time" mentality has gotten us this far. But this isn't May baseball anymore. This is "we haven't won a title since 2011 and we're two wins away" baseball.

My totally unsolicited opinion? You go Henry tonight. Kelly Gibbons has been decent enough to give you a fighting chance in Game 9 if we get there. But you HAVE to get there first. Regalado in an elimination game feels like playing Russian Roulette with five chambers loaded.

The Orioles are wobbling after Wleh's masterpiece. Their confidence is shaken. You hit them with Henry tonight, maybe squeeze 6 strong innings out of him, and you force a Game 9 where literally anything can happen.

But what do I know? I'm just a blogger sitting here in my Cardinals pajamas, trying to figure out how I'm going to explain to my boss why I need to leave early again for tonight's game.

One thing's for sure - Busch Stadium is going to be electric again tonight. After what Wleh did in that rain last night, this city believes. Now we just need Rogers to make the right call with who takes the mound.

What do you think? Should Henry go on short rest? Let me know in the comments below, and remember - no matter what happens, at least we're not Cubs fans.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 07:56 PM

CARDINALS FORCE GAME 9, URBAN HENRY DIES FOR OUR SINS

You know it’s a wild ride when your ace, running on a cocktail of adrenaline and 48 hours of rest, gets shelled for ten hits and six runs and still saves the season. That’s what Urban Henry gave us in Game 8: a gutsy, gory, gasoline-soaked slog that somehow didn’t leave Busch Stadium in flames. Henry didn’t have his best, or even his “meh,” but he gave the Cardinals enough. Just enough to let the bats take over and punch Baltimore right in the beak.

And the bats did their job. Oh boy, did they. Leuri Ramírez said, “Grand slam? Sure, why not?” in the fourth, taking a hanger from Torque Hercules (fake name, terrible result) and parking it somewhere in the Gateway Arch. Ramírez’s five RBIs carried the night, but don’t sleep on Alec Fernández, who had the audacity to follow up Ramírez’s heroics with a two-run moonshot of his own. Not a man alive in Baltimore is sleeping well tonight.

For the Orioles, they got plenty from their big boys—Jean Bouché and Derrick Madden were tearing the cover off the ball—but their pitchers might as well have been throwing BP. Hercules gave up 10 hits in three innings. Ten! That’s a stat line that gets you DFA’d, not starting a World Series game.

So here we are, tied up at 4-4, headed for a Game 9 bloodbath in Baltimore. Anything could happen. Urban Henry might pitch again. Torque Hercules might try to redeem himself (he won’t). Leuri Ramírez might hit another grand slam just to see if he can break science. All we know is it’s gonna be chaos, and it’s gonna rule.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 10:37 PM

Game 9 Preview: History Awaits in Baltimore

After a series that's featured everything from pitching duels to offensive explosions, from rain-soaked classics to momentum swings, it all comes down to this. Game 9 at Camden Yards. Winner take all. The Orioles seeking their first title since 2039 on their home turf, the Cardinals trying to become the first team to win Games 7, 8, and 9 on the road to end their drought stretching back to 2011.

The Pitching Matchup
Baltimore is going all-in with their ace, Jesús Dávilos. The 22-year-old Dominican has been everything you could want in a franchise pitcher, posting a 2.44 ERA over 243.2 innings this season. His postseason numbers have been equally impressive, and now he gets the chance to close it out in front of the Camden faithful.

The Cardinals' starter remains unannounced, but the whispers around the visitors' clubhouse suggest we might see something unprecedented. With Urban Henry potentially available out of the bullpen for the first time in his career, the Cardinals could piece together a "bullpen game" that ends with their ace closing things out.

The Series So Far

Game 1: BAL 3, STL 2
Game 2: BAL 7, STL 0
Game 3: BAL 4, STL 3
Game 4: STL 10, BAL 0
Game 5: BAL 3, STL 2
Game 6: BAL 7, STL 1
Game 7: STL 6, BAL 1
Game 8: STL 4, BAL 2

The Numbers Game
The Cardinals' pitching stats this series tell a fascinating story. Mark Wleh has been otherworldly (1.24 ERA in 29 IP), while Oscar Regalado has struggled mightily (10.54 ERA). Chase Benjamin's perfect 9-inning performance in Game 8 gives the Cardinals hope that they can piece together another masterpiece, even away from Busch Stadium.

The Key Decision
The Cardinals' pitching decision might be the most crucial of the series. Do they start someone like Kelly Gibbons (despite his 12.60 ERA in his one series appearance) and save Henry for relief, or do they roll the dice with Henry on short rest? The bullpen has been solid, with Logan Cash (4.26 ERA) and others providing reliable innings.

The Bottom Line
This series has defied conventional wisdom at every turn. Baltimore dominated early, winning the first three games at home, watched St. Louis steal momentum, but now returns to Camden Yards with a chance to celebrate in front of their home crowd. The Cardinals have won two straight, but must now do something no team has done before - win Games 7, 8, and 9 of a World Series with the final three all coming on the road.

In the end, it might come down to which manager plays their pitching cards right. Baltimore's strategy is clear with Dávilos. The Cardinals' approach - particularly regarding Henry's potential relief appearance - could be the difference between celebration and heartbreak.

History at Stake: Game 9's Place in Baseball Lore
As Baltimore and St. Louis prepare for just the sixth decisive Game 9 since the best-of-nine format returned in 2043, it's worth noting the historical weight of tonight's matchup. This isn't just about two teams seeking to end championship droughts - it's about adding their names to a very select list of teams who've gone the distance in baseball's most grueling format.

Best-of-Nine Decisive Games (Since 2043)

2045: Boise Spuds def. Mets
2049: Brewers def. Sacramento
2061: Mets def. Twins

The Ladder playoff format, reintroduced in 2059, has added another layer of intrigue to this matchup. The Cardinals, having earned their way to the World Series through the traditional path, face a Baltimore team that dominated the American League all season to secure their spot.

What makes tonight particularly special is that no team has ever overcome a 4-2 deficit in a best-of-nine World Series. The Cardinals aren't just trying to end their 51-year championship drought - they're attempting to make history in a format that's seen just three previous Game 9s in the modern era.
The last team to win a decisive World Series game on the road? The 2061 Mets at Minnesota. Before that, you have to go back to the best-of-seven era and the 2036 Dodgers winning Game 7 in Seattle.

Tonight at Camden Yards, we're not just watching Game 9 of the 2062 World Series. We're watching a potential chapter in baseball's evolving history, as two storied franchises face off in a format that continues to produce unprecedented moments.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 10:54 PM

Veterans Chase One More Ring: The Championship Pedigree in Game 9

In a series where history looms large, the handful of players who have felt the weight of a World Series ring could prove decisive in tonight's Game 9. The stories of how these veterans found their way to this moment add another layer of intrigue to an already compelling finale.

The Cardinals' Ring Collection
- Flynn Rodriguez: The most decorated player in this game, with three championships from Cleveland's mini-dynasty of the 2050s
- Urban Henry: Earned his ring with the 2058 Rangers
- Mark Wleh: A three-time champion, winning with the Rockies (2054, 2056) and adding another with the '58 Rangers

The Orioles' Champions
- Adrián Núñez: Part of the Yankees' 2053 championship team
- Torque Hercules: Shared that 2058 Rangers title with Henry and Wleh

But perhaps the most compelling story belongs to Orioles outfielder Spencer Van Doren. The Cardinals' first-round pick (21st overall) in 2055 spent seven years in St. Louis before being dealt to Texas. Now, after a mid-season trade to Baltimore, he has the chance to deny his original team their first title since 2011.

The Rangers Connection
That 2058 Rangers team has become an unlikely nexus of this series, with Henry and Wleh now trying to beat their former teammates Hercules and Van Doren. Henry could potentially close out Game 9 against the very players he once celebrated with.

Experience When It Matters
Combined, these veterans bring eight World Series rings into Game 9. Wleh's masterful Game 7 performance (8 IP, 1 R) showed how that championship experience can manifest in crucial moments. The question now: which of these proven winners will add another ring to their collection?

"You never forget what it feels like to win that last game," Wleh said after Game 8. "But you never forget what it feels like to lose it either. That's what makes Game 9 so special - everyone in both clubhouses knows exactly what's at stake."

For the dozens of players seeking their first championship tonight, they need look no further than their veteran teammates to understand both the glory and pressure that awaits in the season's final game.

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 11:23 PM

Cardinals Shuffle Deck for Game 9: Breaking Down the Bold New Lineup

In addition to the surprising Cho announcement, the Cardinals are rolling out a dramatically different lineup for the most important game of the year. Manager Wookie Rogers has clearly decided that if they're going down, they're going down swinging – and with some fresh faces.

The New-Look Cardinals Lineup
1. SS José Cordero (.386/.444/.561 this postseason)
2. RF Leuri Ramirez (.214/.290/.321)
3. LF Pinwheel Brown (.289/.360/.333, 11 SB)
4. 1B Archer Fernández (.333/.444/.604, 3 HR)
5. DH Chase Zuniga (First postseason appearance)
6. 3B Sandy Cook (.294/.379/.333)
7. 2B Flynn Rodriguez (First postseason appearance)
8. CF Asher Novak (0-for-1 in series)
9. C Ralph Judd (First postseason appearance)

Key Changes
- Inserting the veteran three-time champion Rodriguez at second base
- Giving Zuniga his first start at DH
- Moving Ramirez to the 2-hole
- Complete refresh of the bottom third of the lineup

The Strategy
Rogers appears to be betting on a combination of proven postseason performers (Cordero, Fernández) and fresh legs (Zuniga, Judd) who haven't been worn down by the long series. The inclusion of Rodriguez, with his three rings from Cleveland, adds championship experience to a pressure-packed situation.

The Risk
Starting three players who haven't appeared in the series (Zuniga, Rodriguez, Judd) in Game 9 of the World Series is practically unprecedented. But facing elimination for the third straight game, perhaps conventional wisdom no longer applies.

Combined with the Cho pitching decision, the Cardinals are essentially pushing all their chips to the center of the table with a completely reimagined approach. Sometimes the best adjustment is the one your opponent hasn't prepared for.

"Everyone in that lineup was chosen for a specific reason," Rogers said pre-game. "Whether it's experience, matchups, or just having fresh legs - we believe this group gives us the best chance to make history tonight."

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 11:54 PM

The Cardinals' Game 9 Strategy Was Like Bringing A Plastic Fork To A Gunfight

Look, I get it. When you're desperate, you do desperate things. Like asking your friend who "knows cars" to fix your transmission. Or trying to cure a hangover with more alcohol. Or, if you're the St. Louis Cardinals, throwing Ji-Won Cho out there in Game 9 of the World Series against a goddamn pitching terminator.

Jesús Dávilos didn't just beat the Cardinals last night. He performed baseball's version of a ritual sacrifice, methodically dismembering their offense in front of 47,722 bloodthirsty witnesses. Fifteen strikeouts. FIFTEEN. Ralph Judd went down three times looking so lost he probably needed Google Maps to find the dugout. The entire bottom third of the Cardinals' lineup looked like they were swinging pool noodles up there.

The decision to start Cho wasn't just desperate - it was the baseball equivalent of showing up to a sword fight with a butter knife wrapped in tin foil. By the fourth inning, when Spencer Van Doren (because OF COURSE it had to be their old draft pick) launched a three-run homer that probably still hasn't landed, the Cardinals' master plan had all the structural integrity of a wet paper bag.

But here's the thing: It didn't matter who they started. Dávilos was going to shove that trophy down St. Louis's throat no matter what. The guy threw 139 pitches like he was playing catch in the backyard. The Cardinals managed three hits. THREE. I've seen better offensive performances in Little League games where everyone gets a participation trophy.

The true comedy was watching the Cardinals trot out three guys who hadn't appeared in the series yet for Game 9 of the World Series. Chase Zuniga played third base like he was using Google Translate to understand the position. The error he made in the fourth looked like me trying to do calculus after six beers.

And now the drought continues. Fifty-one years since 2011. The Cardinals have now lost more World Series games than some expansion teams have played playoff games. Their "bold" Game 9 strategy will be taught in baseball courses as "What Not To Do When Facing Elimination, Chapter 1."

But really, what were they supposed to do? Dávilos was dealing like a blackjack player with cards up his sleeve. The Cardinals could have started Sandy Koufax in his prime and still lost, because Baltimore's ace decided to turn Game 9 into his personal pitching clinic.

At least Cardinals fans can drown their sorrows in toasted ravioli and remind themselves that hey, at least they're not the Cubs.

Drew Magary is a contributing editor for Some Website That Used To Be Cool and author of "Why Your Team's World Series Hopes Are Dumber Than A Box Of Rocks."

Young Drachma

11-15-2024, 11:56 PM

2062 WORLD SERIES GAME 9: Orioles 9, Cardinals 2

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
J. Cordero SS 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 .365 2 13
F. Rodriguez 2B 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .500 0 0
A. Fernández 1B 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 .302 3 10
P. Brown DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .265 0 2
L. Ramírez CF 3 0 1 2 0 0 0 .233 1 13
C. Zuniga 3B 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .000 0 0
M. Matsui LF 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 .152 0 1
R. Judd C 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 .000 0 0
A. Novak RF 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 .000 0 0
Totals 28 2 3 2 3 15 8

BATTING
Doubles: L. Ramírez (1, 4th Inning off J. Dávilos, 2 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: J. Cordero, F. Rodriguez, L. Ramírez 2
2-out RBI: L. Ramírez
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: C. Zuniga
GIDP: P. Brown
Team LOB: 2

BASERUNNING
CS: F. Rodriguez (1), A. Novak (1)

FIELDING
Errors: C. Zuniga
Double Plays: 2 (Zuniga-Rodriguez-Fernández, Cordero-Rodriguez-Fernández)
OF assists: 1 (Ramírez(Madden at home))
PB: R. Judd

BALTIMORE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
S. Van Doren LF 5 2 2 3 0 0 4 .270 1 6
J. Bouché 1B 5 0 1 0 0 2 0 .302 2 8
A. Narcisse RF 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .214 1 6
B. Moreno SS 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208 0 0
K. Soutillan DH 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 .158 1 4
D. Madden CF 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .370 5 13
J. Cisneros 3B 4 1 3 3 0 0 0 .261 2 14
K. Kobayashi C 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .216 0 2
K. Richardson 2B 3 1 2 0 1 1 3 .231 0 2
Totals 33 9 11 7 5 4 13

BATTING
Home Runs: S. Van Doren (1, 4th Inning off J. Cho, 2 on, 2 outs), K. Soutillan (1, 7th Inning off C. Fawcett, 0 on, 0 outs)
Total Bases: S. Van Doren 5, J. Bouché, K. Soutillan 5, D. Madden, J. Cisneros 3, K. Richardson 2
2-out RBI: S. Van Doren, J. Cisneros
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: S. Van Doren, K. Kobayashi
GIDP: S. Van Doren, A. Narcisse
Team LOB: 5

FIELDING
Errors: J. Bouché
Double Plays: 2 (Kobayashi-Richardson, Moreno-Richardson-Bouché)

ST. LOUIS PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
J. Cho L (0-1) 3.2 7 6 1 2 2 1 86 2.45
D. Harper 0.2 1 2 2 2 0 0 27 7.36
M. Avery 1.2 1 0 0 1 2 0 29 2.57
C. Fawcett 2.0 2 1 1 0 0 1 21 1.80

BALTIMORE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
J. Dávilos W (3-0) 8.1 3 2 2 3 15 0 139 1.21
T. Kichikawa 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0.00

Young Drachma

11-16-2024, 12:48 AM

The Great Migration: How Tax Breaks and Failed Stadiums Reshaped Baseball's Landscape

Because baseball apparently hasn't had enough chaos in 2062, we're now witnessing one of the most significant franchise relocations in recent memory. Let's break down this fever dream of franchise musical chairs, shall we?

The Tampa Bay Giants: Because Florida Needed More Baseball Drama
In a move that would make Horace Stoneham blush, the Giants are abandoning the Bay Area for... another bay area. After 125 years in San Francisco (and another 75 before that in New York), they're headed to Tampa because their tech bro owner discovered Florida's tax code.

The franchise that gave us Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, and Buster Posey will now play in something called "Publix Park," which I assume will feature pub sub stands instead of hot dog vendors.

The cruel irony? They're moving to a city that's already lost two MLB teams. The Rays vanished into the ether of baseball history years ago, and the Cannons treated Tampa like a bad Airbnb – stayed for a bit, made a mess, then left.

The San Francisco Seals: The Prodigal Franchise Returns
Speaking of the Cannons, they're completing baseball's version of a spouse swap by moving into the Giants' old digs. Let's recap their journey:

2040: Born in Oklahoma City as the Twisters
2043: Moved to Calgary
2048: Hello, Tampa!
2059: Back to Calgary
2062: San Francisco bound

They're basically baseball's version of that friend who can't hold down a permanent address. Though reviving the Seals name – a nod to the historic PCL franchise – is a nice touch. Maybe the eighth time's the charm?

Baseball's new three-division format means saying goodbye to the four-division experiment. The Ladder playoff system remains, giving 12 teams a shot at October glory through a format that looks like someone threw a March Madness bracket into a blender.

The sport that once prided itself on tradition now has teams playing musical chairs across the continent. But hey, at least we still have the Cubs at Wrigley Field. For now.

Winners and Losers of the Great Migration
Winners:

Florida's tax accountants
Publix marketing department
San Francisco hipsters who can now ironically wear Seals gear
The NL East's competitive balance

Losers:

Baseball tradition
The Dodgers-Giants rivalry
Calgary's civic pride
Anyone trying to explain MLB geography to children

Young Drachma

11-16-2024, 10:56 PM

Lowered the financial modifier, to .500 because $40m salaries were breaking my brain.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 12:00 AM

Cardinals' Early Offseason Moves Signal Calculated Refresh After World Series Loss

The ink has barely dried on Baltimore's World Series victory, but the St. Louis Cardinals are already reshaping their roster through a series of interconnected moves that merit careful analysis.

The Dodgers Deal
Cardinals receive:
- RHP Luke Legler (32, 3.50 ERA, 221.0 IP, 2.9 WAR)
- 2B Irv Daniels (24, .285/.358/.446, 16 HR)
- LHP Micah Sheehy (25, 3.57 ERA, 58.0 IP)

Dodgers receive:
- CF Asher Novak (22, #8 prospect)
- 2B Miguel Del Angel (34, .292/.341/.458)
- RF Damian Cook (24, .257/.323/.422)

This is the headliner, and it's fascinating. The Cardinals are clearly prioritizing immediate pitching help with Legler, who provides much-needed rotation stability. Daniels is the sleeper here - a 24-year-old second baseman with a 117 wRC+ and four years of team control. The Cardinals effectively turned an aging Del Angel and two unproven commodities into a mid-rotation starter and their potential second baseman of the future.

The Vancouver Pitching Grab
Cardinals receive:
- RHP Mario Patrascu (23)
- RHP Rollie Cassidy (25, 3.46 ERA in AA)
- RHP Dario Omundson (23, 6.63 ERA in AAA)

Angels receive:
- LF Monta Matsui (34, .259/.326/.392)

This is a classic volume play for pitching depth. Matsui's declining production (93 wRC+) and $17.6M salary made him expendable, and the Cardinals turned him into three young arms. Cassidy's AA numbers are particularly intriguing, with a strikeout rate that suggests potential major league utility.

The Portland Flip
Cardinals receive:
- RP Danny Beard (24, 2.62 ERA, 58.1 IP)

Stags receive:
- RHP Dario Omundson (23, acquired minutes earlier)

This is where it gets clever. The Cardinals effectively turned Omundson, acquired in the Matsui deal, into a proven reliever in Beard, who posted a 2.62 ERA and showed impressive swing-and-miss stuff in 2062.

The Sum of the Parts

Looking at these moves collectively, the Cardinals have:
- Added a mid-rotation starter (Legler)
- Acquired their potential 2B of the future (Daniels)
- Obtained bullpen help (Beard)
- Shed salary (Matsui's contract)
- Accumulated pitching depth (Cassidy, Patrascu)

The key here is how each move connects to the others. They turned aging pieces and prospects into immediate help while simultaneously getting younger at key positions. The loss of Novak (their #8 prospect) might sting, but the overall package represents a shrewd retooling rather than a rebuild.

ZiPS Projection Impact
Early projections suggest these moves could add approximately 4-5 WAR to the 2063 Cardinals, with Legler and Daniels providing the bulk of that value. More importantly, they've maintained their competitive window while adding controllable talent.

This is how smart front offices operate - making interconnected moves that address multiple needs while maintaining both present competitiveness and future flexibility. The Cardinals may not be done dealing, but their early offseason moves suggest a clear plan rather than panic after their World Series loss.

All statistics from 2062 season unless otherwise noted.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 12:48 AM

This will be my last season in Portland no matter what. We'll try to capitalize on this core they've been gifted into and see if we can pull off another run, they'll still be among the bottom teams in payroll and after this year, anyone with a real contract will be dealt.

INTERNAL MEMO - PORTLAND STAGS BASEBALL CLUB
November 18, 2062

To: Baseball Operations Department
From: The Portland Baseball Trust Management Committee
Re: 2063 Payroll Exception

After an emergency meeting of the Trust's beneficiaries, we are making a one-time authorization for a 2063 payroll ceiling of $78 million, with the explicit understanding that this team will be dismantled following the 2063 season, regardless of results.

Context:

Grandfather built this team through careful financial stewardship. For 40 years, he ran the Stags like he ran his lumber mills - watching every penny, making sure costs never exceeded revenue. When he passed, the Trust was structured to maintain this philosophy, ensuring the team would never become a financial burden on future generations.

What happened in October changed things. For the first time since acquisition, the Stags turned a real profit. Merchandise sales are up 300%. Season ticket deposits for 2063 have already exceeded total 2062 sales. The Trust's accountants have run the numbers: we have exactly one year where we can safely operate at a loss before the tax implications become untenable.

Let's be clear: this is not a shift in philosophy. This is a one-time market correction. We're borrowing against future revenue to take one real shot with this young core. After 2063, we return to fundamental principles. The team will be stripped to baseline operational costs. Key assets will be converted to future value. The next generation of Stags baseball will return to grandfather's vision of sustainable, profitable baseball.

The extra $35-40 million for 2063 comes with conditions:
1. Any player contracts must be easily moveable by next offseason
2. No commitments beyond 2063 above league minimum
3. A complete plan for asset liquidation must be in place by July 2063
4. Revenue from increased attendance must be segregated for Trust operations

We understand this decision may seem at odds with the team's traditional operation. Consider it a temporary allowance for market conditions we never anticipated. The Trust's primary obligation remains protecting family interests, not chasing pennants.

Take your shot. But understand - this is it. By this time next year, we go back to being who we've always been.

Signed,
The Portland Baseball Trust Management Committee

P.S. - And no, we're not fixing the bleachers. Grandfather always said cold concrete builds character.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 12:56 AM

Portland Stags Offseason Analysis: Building on a Cinderella Run

The 2062 Stags defied expectations, riding an elite offense and patchwork pitching to Game 5 of the ALCS. With most of their core returning, let's break down where they need to improve to make another run.

The Foundation
The offense is legitimately special:
- 1B Matías Santana (.372/.443/.633, 7.8 WAR) is a 19-year-old MVP candidate
- SS Jaxson Tiller (.325/.384/.556, 4.7 WAR) provides elite shortstop production
- LF Payton LaBay (.306/.373/.558, 3.6 WAR) anchors the outfield
- The team led baseball in AVG (.281), OBP (.354), and OPS (.822)

Critical Needs

1. Starting Pitching
- Randy Parrish (4.71 ERA) is their de facto ace
- Bill Ballard (4.05 ERA) and Chase Benjamin (4.14 ERA) are serviceable but not difference-makers
- Need at least two mid-rotation starters
- Jake Cornelius (1.74 ERA in limited action) deserves a longer look

2. Catcher Upgrade
- Axel Cloutier (.176/.295/.277) and Bram Brown (.223/.317/.360) provided sub-replacement level production
- Position produced -0.7 WAR collectively
- Should target veteran game-caller to handle young staff

3. Bullpen Depth
- DeJohn Baldwin (5.32 ERA) struggled in high-leverage spots
- Need more reliable setup options
- Ryder Moring (1.99 ERA) is the only trustworthy high-leverage arm

The Strategy

1. Pitching Market
- Target international veterans for rotation stability
- Look for bounce-back candidates with proven track records
- Consider trading from position player depth for arms

2. Catching Solutions
- Scan free agent market for veteran defensive specialist
- Explore trade market for young catchers blocked in other organizations
- Don't overpay - defense should be priority over offense

3. Roster Management
- Extend Santana now before price skyrockets
- Consider dealing E.J. Monaghan (.289/.335/.486) while value is high
- Look to package prospects for immediate pitching help

Budget Outlook
With most core players still pre-arbitration or early in arbitration, payroll flexibility exists to add veteran pitching and catching help. The key is not overpaying for mediocre arms just because of desperation.

The Bottom Line
The Stags have the offensive foundation to contend again in 2063. The focus should be on finding 2-3 reliable starting pitchers and a defensive-minded veteran catcher without compromising their long-term flexibility around the Santana/Tiller/LaBay core.

Priority Targets:
1. Two mid-rotation starters with track records of 180+ IP
2. Veteran catcher with reputation for handling young staffs
3. Two reliable setup relievers
4. Utility infielder with defensive versatility

The window is open. Now it's about supplementing the young core with the right veteran pieces to take the next step.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 12:57 AM

Path Forward: How the Cardinals Can Build on Their NL Pennant

After falling just short in the World Series, the Cardinals enter the offseason with a clear championship foundation but obvious needs to address. Let's break down their situation.

Core Strengths
- Elite offense (.327 team average, MLB-best .345 OBP)
- Strong up-the-middle defense (Cordero, Daniels)
- Top-end rotation pieces (Henry, Wleh, Legler)
- Quality bullpen anchors (Cash, Sheehy)

The Lineup Core
- CF Leuri Ramírez (.327/.378/.544, 6.2 WAR)
- 1B Archer Fernández (.318/.429/.524, 5.4 WAR)
- RF Pinwheel Brown (.292/.373/.467, 5.2 WAR)
- SS José Cordero (.320/.397/.489, 4.4 WAR)

Primary Needs

1. Catching Upgrade
- Ralph Judd (.176/.285/.216) was a black hole offensively
- Need veteran presence to handle strong rotation
- Position ranked bottom-3 in MLB in OPS

2. Rotation Depth
- Recent trades improved top-end (Luke Legler)
- Still need insurance behind aging Urban Henry (39)
- Kelly Gibbons (4.90 ERA) isn't a reliable 5th starter

3. Bench Reinforcement
- Utility infield depth behind Cordero/Daniels
- Better right-handed power off bench
- Defensive outfield backup

Strategic Approach

1. Catching Market
- Prioritize defense and game-calling over offense
- Target veterans with playoff experience
- Consider package of prospects for young, controllable option

2. Pitching Development
- Keep developing Oscar Regalado (3.88 ERA)
- Consider 6-man rotation to manage Henry's workload
- Look for one more veteran starter

3. Minor Moves
- Add veteran utility infielder
- Right-handed power bat for bench
- Another lefty reliever to complement Sheehy

Budget Considerations
- Several key players entering arbitration
- Still have flexibility after recent trades
- Can take on salary for right veteran catcher

Timeline
Window remains wide open with core in prime years. Primary focus should be:
1. Stabilizing catching situation
2. Adding rotation depth
3. Improving bench versatility
4. Finding right-handed power

The Bottom Line
The Cardinals don't need an overhaul - they need selective upgrading. Focus should be on catching and complementary pieces rather than dramatic moves. The core that reached Game 9 of the World Series remains championship-caliber.

Priority should be finding the right veteran catcher to handle this staff and supplement the offense. Everything else is about depth and maintaining flexibility for in-season moves.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 01:13 AM

Inside the Trade: Stags Bet Big on Stan Wallace After ALCS Reality Check

When Jesús Dávilos and the Orioles eliminated Portland in Game 5 of the ALCS, the gap between the Stags and baseball's elite became painfully clear: their magical run through the Ladder playoffs had masked a critical lack of frontline pitching. On Monday, they took a massive step toward addressing that deficiency, acquiring veteran starter Stan Wallace in a complex deal with Toronto that could reshape the American League playoff picture.

The full trade breaks down like this:
Portland receives: RHP Stan Wallace (with Toronto retaining 50% of his $10.8M salary), 1B Josiah Gronewald (50% retained), LHP Ezra Ayotte (10% retained), and OF prospect Abdurahman Al-Dahmani

Toronto receives: LF E.J. Monaghan, RHP Stephen Maldonado, RHP Ezequias Ramos, and 1B Nicky Swinson

"When you get as close as we did, you have to be honest about what separated you from teams like Baltimore," a Stags executive told The Athletic. "We needed someone who could go toe-to-toe with an ace like Dávilos in October."

The numbers suggest Wallace might be that pitcher. He posted a 3.61 ERA across 226.2 innings in 2062, with 198 strikeouts. More importantly, he worked at least six innings in 24 of his 32 starts. For a Stags team that was forced to piece together pitching plans throughout their playoff run - including that memorable complete game from Rocky Smith in the Division Series - that kind of reliability could be transformative.

The cost wasn't insignificant. Monaghan (.289/.335/.486 with 25 homers) was a key piece of Portland's offensive core. But with both Liam Bright and Payton LaBay capable of handling left field, and Monaghan's salary set to jump significantly in arbitration, the Stags chose to deal from a position of strength.

The salary retention aspects of this deal are fascinating. Toronto eating half of Wallace's salary and significant portions of Gronewald and Ayotte's contracts allows Portland to add multiple pieces while only taking on about $10M in 2063 payroll. For a team that operated on a shoestring budget in 2062, this represents a significant but not crippling increase.

"The ALCS showed us exactly where we stood," the same executive noted. "We had the offense to compete with anyone. But in a short series, you need horses at the top of your rotation. Stan gives us that."

The real winner here might be Wallace himself. He goes from Toronto's retool to a legitimate contender, and gets to work with baseball's best offense. His career 3.50 ERA at Civic Stadium (albeit in a small sample) suggests the park should play to his strengths as a flyball pitcher.

For Portland, this feels like just the beginning. Multiple sources indicate they're still in the market for another starter and catching help. But acquiring an ace without sacrificing any of their core offensive pieces - particularly MVP candidate Matías Santana - is a strong opening move for a team clearly intent on taking the next step in 2063.

Extra Innings
- Wallace's home/road splits over the last three years suggest he might actually benefit from moving to Civic Stadium's more spacious dimensions
- Don't sleep on Gronewald as a potential platoon bat - his .298/.356/.482 line against lefties could play nicely in a timeshare at DH
- The Stags' rotation now projects as: Wallace, Randy Parrish, Chase Benjamin, Jake Cornelius, with the fifth spot still to be determined

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 01:33 AM

Cards Deal Gibbons to Reds: A Necessary Evil or Highway Robbery?

Look, trading Kelly Gibbons within the division isn't ideal. It's even less ideal when you remember the Reds finished just three games behind us in the Central. But sometimes a deal is too good to pass up, and Chris Carter might just be that deal.

Let's break this down piece by piece:

What We Gave Up:
- Kelly Gibbons (4.90 ERA, 174.1 IP)
- Viktor Tukovic (AA prospect)
- Sansan Estevez (A+ prospect)
- Oskar Hill (AAA outfielder)

What We Got:
- Chris Carter (80 OVR catcher, .263/.315/.496 in 2062)
- Bevin Gordon (2.90 ERA in 59.1 IP)

Here's the thing about Gibbons - we all love the kid, but he got absolutely shelled in the World Series (12.60 ERA). With Luke Legler already acquired and Urban Henry still dealing, moving Gibbons doesn't really hurt our rotation depth. What it does is solve our biggest offensive weakness.

Carter is the real prize here. The 25-year-old switch-hitting catcher has legitimate offensive tools (that 92 power rating isn't a typo), and his 70 catcher framing rating suggests he could help our pitching staff in ways Ralph Judd (.176/.285/.216) never could. The fact that he's making league minimum and won't hit arbitration until 2065? That's just gravy.

Gordon isn't just a throw-in either. His 2.90 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 59.1 innings give our bullpen another power arm, and at 25, he could be part of the relief corps for years to come.

Yes, it stings seeing Gibbons go to Cincinnati. Yes, we might regret this if he figures out his command issues. But after watching our catchers hit like pitchers all through October, it's hard not to love this deal. Carter could be our answer behind the plate for the next half-decade.

The prospects we gave up? Tukovic has upside but he's years away. Estevez profiles as a back-end starter at best. Hill is already 22 and still in AAA. None of them were in our top 15 prospects.

The Verdict:
When you can trade a mid-rotation starter with control issues for a potential franchise catcher AND a high-leverage reliever, you make that deal ten times out of ten. Even if it means strengthening a division rival.

Welcome to St. Louis, Chris Carter. Just don't hurt us too badly when the Reds come to town, Kelly.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 06:03 PM

THE SPIRIT OF THE DYNASTY...BUT MAKING SOME TWEAKS

I've realized I need a more focused way to tell these stories. Baseball seasons are long, and fictional dynasties can get lost in the details.
So here's the new plan: mission-based storytelling. Instead of chronicling every move and moment, we'll focus on specific challenges and their outcomes. Maybe it's "find a catcher for the Cardinals without further depleting the farm system" or "maximize the Stags' one-year window before the mandated teardown." Each update will have a clear goal, the attempts to achieve it, and the results - success or failure.

This approach lets me:

Focus on the most interesting storylines
Keep the narrative moving
Maintain the drama of baseball decisions
Skip the day-to-day minutiae
Still react to and fix issues as they arise

For context: The Cardinals are all-in for 2063, having traded their top prospect in a win-now push. The Stags have one year to dream big before financial reality forces a teardown, after which I'll either find a new team or just go down to managing one again.

I'll still keep doing the dispatches from fans and other color, because I like that sort of thing and it's fun to explore, but I just need to get back to the roots of this storyline in moving a big quicker in seeing how things play out, as I'm finding myself slowing down again with making a single decision, as the clock idea mostly fizzled out as I don't enjoy playing like that, but the general sentiment of the idea -- make a few moves and see what happens -- is kinda where I'm still at.

I think there's a world where I could someday want to play out a dynasty by playing out games one by one, as I like the idea of working with a team throughout the year and seeing the ups and downs, but the baseball season is so damn long, there is something satisfying though about that especially when you get to the post-season with a team, because even when you win, there's something "sad" about knowing that you won't be bringing everyone back and that there's an unknown quantity to the following year and whether you'll ever be able to recapture the magic of the previous year.

It's just the coach in me speaking a bit, too.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 06:17 PM

Cardinals Find Their Depth Through Veteran Acquisitions

The St. Louis Cardinals, still stinging from their World Series Game 9 loss, have addressed their pitching depth in dramatic fashion, acquiring veterans Taner Peterson and Everett Morrow in separate deals while also upgrading their catching situation with Lance Murphy.

The New Six-Man Rotation
1. Urban Henry (20-11, 3.03 ERA)
2. Mark Wleh (14-9, 3.99 ERA)
3. Oscar Regalado (16-8, 3.88 ERA)
4. Luke Legler (13-9, 3.50 ERA)
5. Everett Morrow (11-10, 4.21 ERA)
6. Taner Peterson (9-11, 5.14 ERA)

The most fascinating addition might be Peterson, whose career arc reads like a baseball odyssey. The 37-year-old has pitched for Cleveland, New York (AL), Boise, and San Antonio, compiling over 3,000 innings with remarkable durability (his "Iron Man" injury proneness rating is rare for a pitcher his age). His 5.14 ERA in 2062 doesn't tell the whole story - he's just two years removed from a 2.84 ERA season with New York.

Morrow, acquired separately from Houston, brings a similar veteran presence. His 4.21 ERA across 186 innings in 2062 represents exactly the kind of stability the Cardinals were seeking. More impressively, he's pitched at least 180 innings in seven of the last nine seasons.

The catching upgrade came in the form of Murphy, whose defensive ratings (90 blocking, 81 framing) represent a massive improvement over the departed Ralph Judd. While his .238/.274/.356 line won't scare anyone, his ability to handle this veteran staff could prove crucial.

The Strategy
St. Louis is clearly betting on veteran stability over upside. With a six-man rotation, they can better manage Henry's age-39 season while giving Regalado and Wleh extra rest between starts. It's a luxury made possible by adding two pitchers who've shown they can consistently take the ball every fifth (or sixth) day.

"In a 162-game season, depth isn't just important - it's essential," one NL scout noted. "The Cardinals now have six legitimate starters. How many teams can say that?"

The cost wasn't insignificant - they dealt away several prospects including Troy Charter - but for a team in clear win-now mode, turning future potential into present stability makes sense.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 11:07 PM

As I mentioned, this is my last year running the Stags no matter how their years ago. I'll oversee their fire sale -- or let them exist unabated, I haven't decided yet -- but I'm going to start another 2nd team experience with the Indianapolis Arrows who are going to move after this season.

Nothing new in a league I'd run, where teams move a lot. I tend to like teams in more markets than less, but sometimes teams in small markets that break my immersion make me want to move them. I usually like to think "is this a team I can buy a baseball cap of?" If so, I tend to look for a uniform/logo combo for that club and add them to my MLB game. I feel much less precious about this in purely fictional league saves, but...when I'm doing futurecasting MLB type leagues, I like it to feel like I can imagine it happening.

MLB Approves Arrows' Move to New Jersey as Post-Exemption Era Reshapes Baseball Map
In a seismic shift that continues baseball's post-antitrust exemption reorganization, MLB owners today unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the Indianapolis Arrows. The team will become the New York Knights, playing their home games at a new state-of-the-art facility in the New Jersey Meadowlands beginning in 2064.
The move comes amid a broader reshaping of baseball's landscape in 2063, which has already seen the Giants depart San Francisco for Tampa Bay, the Calgary Cannons become the San Francisco Seals, and the San Antonio Missions transform into the Oklahoma City 89ers.
Tech billionaire Marcus Chen's $2.8 billion purchase of the Arrows ends Indianapolis's brief MLB experiment. The Arrows, who averaged just 2.5 million in attendance despite initial hopes of capturing displaced Chicago White Sox fans after their 2025 move to Nashville, found themselves unable to generate sufficient revenue in a market dominated by Reds fandom.
"While Chicago seemed like a natural alternative given its single-team status since 2025, the unprecedented opportunity in New Jersey proved irresistible," Chen said. "The repeal of baseball's antitrust exemption finally allows us to serve this market of 15 million people properly."
The Knights name carries particular resonance in New Jersey. Despite existing for just four years (2043-2046) in Jersey City, the original Knights captured a World Series title and maintained a dedicated fanbase long after their departure. "That fanbase never died," Chen noted. "They've just been waiting for their team to return."
While the Yankees and Mets initially expressed concerns about market dilution, the absence of baseball's antitrust exemption left them without legal recourse to block the move. As a compromise, the Knights will participate in a modified regional television agreement that, while smaller than their New York counterparts' deals, still dwarfs the Arrows' current media revenue.
New Jersey state officials, led by Governor Sandra Martinez, welcomed the announcement. "While some might quibble about a 'New York' team playing in New Jersey, the economic impact - projected at $450 million annually - speaks for itself," Martinez said.
The Knights will begin play at the 42,000-seat Garden State Ballpark in April 2064, marking the latest chapter in baseball's rapid geographical evolution. With the antitrust exemption gone, more such moves may be on the horizon as the sport adapts to modern market realities.

The Arrows will play their final season in Indianapolis in 2063, closing a chapter that began with their arrival from Vancouver in 2058, which followed their single season as the Mounties after relocating from Mexico City's Diablos franchise in 2054.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 11:39 PM

2063's Most Intriguing Free Agent Market Yet

The Cardinals may be done after their aggressive moves for Alexis Walker, Korean star Yun-Seong Jeon, and their pitching additions, but several teams coming off strong 2062 campaigns still have work to do. Meanwhile, others desperately need these remaining free agents to avoid another season in the WAR cellar.

The Elite Remaining Free Agents

Cyrus Edwards (27, RF) tops the market, seeking $18.1M annually. The former Cleveland star's .301/.365/.512 slash line and age make him the most coveted player available. The Red Sox, coming off a 16.9 WAR season (2nd in MLB), have both the need and resources to add an impact outfield bat.

The pitching market remains surprisingly loaded:
- Jayden Carter (33, SP): 15-10, 3.43 ERA in 2062
- Torque Hercules (34, SP): 2.71 ERA with Baltimore
- Minoru Watamura (34, SP): Consistent mid-rotation arm

Teams That Have "Won" the Offseason

The Seals, despite not yet playing a game in San Francisco, have accumulated 10.2 WAR worth of talent. The Washington Grays (6.6 WAR) and Chicago Cubs (6.0 WAR) have also made significant improvements.

Who Still Needs Help?

The Dodgers (-9.2 WAR) desperately need pitching help - Carter or Hercules would be perfect fits. The Blue Jays (-11.6 WAR) and Solons (-11.9 WAR) need help everywhere; both should be all over Matias Rodriguez (29, LF) and veteran infielders Benny Jimenez and Rex Collins.

The Value Plays

Several contenders could benefit from strategic additions:
- Boston Red Sox: An Edwards signing could push them past St. Louis
- Washington Grays: One more starter could make them legitimate threats
- Portland Stags: Coming off a 5.6 WAR season, another bat could solidify their lineup

Under-the-Radar Names
- Ifan Rodriguez (33, CF): Elite defender with decent bat
- Rex Collins (30, 2B): Could be a bargain for teams needing infield help
- Alejandro Palomo (40, 1B): Perfect platoon bat for a contender

With spring training weeks away and several impact players still available, expect a flurry of moves. The teams that capitalize on this unusually deep February market might just be the ones we're talking about in October.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 11:49 PM

The Prodigal Pitcher Spurns Home for a Dead Team's Name
January 31, 2063
In what can only be described as baseball's latest exercise in geographical gymnastics, Jayden Carter just pulled off the most deliciously ironic free agent signing of 2063. The Clearwater native, fresh off watching his Giants franchise bolt to Tampa Bay, has decided to sign with... San Francisco. Sort of.

The San Francisco Seals—formerly the Calgary Cannons, wearing the historically borrowed name of a Pacific Coast League team that hasn't existed since the Truman administration—just dropped $21.2 million on a 33-year-old starter who could have gone home to Florida with the team he'd spent the last three years with. Instead, Carter chose to stay in a city that just lost its team, playing for a franchise pretending to be something it isn't.

The poetry here is thicker than a fog bank rolling through the Golden Gate.
Carter, whose 3.43 ERA last season proved he's still got enough in the tank to justify that salary, is essentially replacing himself. He's the Giants-turned-Seal, the Florida boy who chose the Bay over the Bay Area's freshly expelled team. His career numbers (352 games, 3.72 ERA with Cleveland, 5.26 with Nashville, and 3.29 with San Francisco) suggest he's either found his groove in Northern California or he's particularly fond of sourdough bread.

The real kicker? This is a pitcher who's spent a decade making batters look foolish with a 1.30 WHIP and 1,940 strikeouts, and he just chose to sign with a team wearing the skin of a minor league ghost over returning to his sun-soaked hometown. The Seals, in their infinite wisdom, have managed to convince a Florida native to skip the homecoming parade and instead help them cosplay as San Francisco's baseball salvation.

This is either the most brilliant piece of franchise theatrics since the Browns became the Ravens and begat the new Browns, or it's proof that baseball in 2063 has finally disappeared completely up its own artificial turf. Either way, Carter will take the mound this spring wearing a Seals jersey, pitching to preserve both his late-career renaissance and San Francisco's tenuous grip on baseball relevance.

The Giants may have taken their playoff hopes to Tampa Bay, but at least the city kept a pitcher who remembers what it means to see fog as a home field advantage. Sometimes, it seems, you can go home again—just not necessarily to the home everyone expected.

Young Drachma

11-17-2024, 11:57 PM

Oscar Regalado's Impending Role Change Could Unlock Elite Potential

The Cardinals are making an intriguing move with their Dominican fireballer Oscar Regalado, transitioning the 23-year-old from the rotation to the closer role for 2063. While role changes often spark debate, the underlying metrics suggest this could be a masterstroke for both player and team development.

Let's start with the obvious: Regalado's pure stuff is elite. With a fastball that sits 96-98 mph and a devastating slider (97 Stuff rating), he possesses the kind of power arsenal that traditionally plays up in short bursts. His 2062 campaign as a starter was solid if unspectacular: 3.88 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a promising 11.3 K/9 across 195 innings. But diving deeper into his profile reveals why the ninth inning might be his optimal landing spot.

The Control Factor
Regalado's main limitation as a starter has been his below-average control (42 rating), which led to a concerning 4.8 BB/9 in 2062. However, his extreme flyball tendency combined with an elite 93 fastball rating suggests his stuff could play up significantly in one-inning stints where he can air it out without worrying about pitch economy.

Two-Way Versatility
What makes Regalado particularly unique is his capability with the bat (.294/.319/.330 slash line across 207 career plate appearances) and defensive flexibility as a left fielder. The role change to closer could actually enhance his two-way value, as the reduced pitching workload could allow for more strategic offensive deployments.

Pitch Mix Optimization
With a 73 HRA rating and extreme flyball tendencies, Regalado's profile actually projects better in high-leverage situations where the ability to miss bats is paramount. His elite slider (97 rating) paired with upper-90s heat creates the kind of two-pitch combo that often dominates in the ninth inning.

The Cardinals' decision to move Regalado to closer appears driven by both necessity and optimization. His 10.8 HR/9 vulnerability as a starter should be mitigated by shorter outings where he can max out his elite stuff without having to pace himself through multiple times through the order.

Projection
ZiPS comparison factors suggest Regalado's new role could yield elite results. Players with similar stuff/control profiles who transitioned to high-leverage roles have historically seen their K/9 rates spike by 1.5-2.5 points while typically cutting their walk rates by 15-20% in single-inning appearances.

If Regalado can harness his elite two-pitch mix in the closer role while maintaining his unique two-way utility, the Cardinals might have just unlocked a truly unique weapon for 2063. The combination of 70-grade raw stuff with defensive flexibility and a serviceable bat makes him one of baseball's most intriguing players to watch this coming season.

The risk of transitioning a young arm with starter potential to relief is always present, but Regalado's specific skill set and development path suggest this could be the rare case where a move to the pen actually maximizes overall value. Factor in his ability to contribute with the bat and glove on his non-pitching days, and the Cardinals may have found their most efficient way to deploy one of baseball's most uniquely talented players.

Young Drachma

11-18-2024, 01:17 AM

The 2063 MLB Season Preview: Four Stories to Watch
With spring training around the corner, let's dive into the projected standings and examine the most compelling narratives of 2063.

The Cardinals' Path Back
After falling in a memorable nine-game World Series, St. Louis (+22.8 WAR) somehow got better. Their projected 103-59 record feels almost conservative given their offseason. Urban Henry and Mark Wleh (projected for a combined 2.88 ERA) front baseball's most formidable rotation, while Archer Fernández (.361/.460/.651 projection) leads an offense expected to score an MLB-best 879 runs. The NL Central race might be over by August.
Portland's Last Dance

The Stags (+5.6 WAR) face an fascinating scenario: one year to win before a mandated teardown. After pushing Baltimore in the ALCS, they've reloaded through creative trades, notably acquiring Stan Wallace (257.2 IP, 2.83 ERA projection). Their 89-73 projection puts them right in the wild card mix, but the real intrigue lies in their trade deadline approach. Will they go all-in knowing it's their last shot?

The Projection Systems Love Boston
Perhaps the winter's biggest surprise is Boston's +19.1 WAR improvement, second only to St. Louis. The projection systems see them as a legitimate threat, forecasting an 86-76 record behind MVP candidate Kevin Tavarez (.381/.455/.739 projection). The question: can their pitching staff, led by van Leeuwen (21-11, 3.36 ERA projection), hold up in a brutal AL East?

The Forgotten Dynasty?
Lost in October's drama was Baltimore's (+3.6 WAR) championship run. Now they're projected for regression (89-73), despite Jesús Dávilos's otherworldly projection (23-7, 1.88 ERA, 13.21 K/9). The computers might be missing something here - their core remains intact, and championship DNA matters.
Other Notable Projections

The Chicago Cubs (+6.0 WAR) are projected for 95 wins but still finish 8 games behind St. Louis
The Indianapolis Arrows (+5.9 WAR) get their final projection before becoming the New York Knights in 2064
The Toronto Blue Jays' projection (-11.6 WAR) represents the largest projected decline

The Bottom Line
St. Louis looks poised for another deep October run, but baseball's new era brings intrigue beyond just wins and losses. Portland's one-year window, Boston's dramatic improvement, and Baltimore's title defense create compelling subplots in what projects as one of baseball's most fascinating seasons in recent memory.

Projection systems cited: ZIPS, Steamer, and MARCEL combined averages

2063 PREDICTED STANDINGS
AMERICAN LEAGUE PREDICTED STANDINGS EASTERN DIVISION
Team W L PCT GB Runs AVG HR SB Runs against ERA K BB
Toronto Blue Jays 90 72 .556 - 745 .253 194 142 699 4.00 1201 528
Baltimore Orioles 89 73 .549 1 675 .245 201 180 626 3.56 1387 440
Boston Red Sox 86 76 .531 4 763 .259 197 111 673 3.78 1180 440
Miami Marlins 82 80 .506 8 696 .238 181 154 711 4.00 1251 465
New York Yankees 81 81 .500 9 694 .247 152 151 732 4.14 1181 520
Carolina Twins 74 88 .457 16 674 .241 170 111 714 3.95 1119 474

AMERICAN LEAGUE PREDICTED STANDINGS CENTRAL DIVISION
Team W L PCT GB Runs AVG HR SB Runs against ERA K BB
Cleveland Guardians 88 74 .543 - 810 .277 178 192 753 4.23 1242 544
Detroit Tigers 87 75 .537 1 759 .261 195 183 744 4.28 1119 558
Nashville White Sox 83 79 .512 5 771 .259 202 226 731 4.20 1041 463
Kansas City Monarchs 81 81 .500 7 793 .258 231 139 812 4.65 1070 490
Indianapolis Arrows 74 88 .457 14 636 .239 177 132 700 3.83 1095 540
Milwaukee Brewers 74 88 .457 14 653 .244 176 105 718 4.06 1100 485

AMERICAN LEAGUE PREDICTED STANDINGS WESTERN DIVISION
Team W L PCT GB Runs AVG HR SB Runs against ERA K BB
Albuquerque Coyotes 90 72 .556 - 719 .250 199 107 611 3.49 1221 453
Portland Stags 89 73 .549 1 800 .265 197 79 705 3.87 1254 440
Texas Rangers 80 82 .494 10 697 .254 167 122 714 4.03 1123 474
San Diego Padres 79 83 .488 11 685 .255 163 89 697 3.85 1194 485
Sacramento Solons 78 84 .481 12 723 .242 182 222 752 4.31 1236 491
Seattle Mariners 63 99 .389 27 614 .241 143 137 779 4.39 1201 453

NATIONAL LEAGUE PREDICTED STANDINGS EASTERN DIVISION
Team W L PCT GB Runs AVG HR SB Runs against ERA K BB
New York Mets 93 69 .574 - 718 .245 173 42 595 3.29 1224 444
Washington Grays 89 73 .549 4 757 .248 206 283 677 3.75 1261 527
Philadelphia Phillies 79 83 .488 14 805 .260 215 171 809 4.66 1266 527
Montreal Expos 78 84 .481 15 602 .228 151 206 662 3.71 1284 419
Tampa Bay Giants 78 84 .481 15 664 .250 147 215 710 4.12 1210 560
Atlanta Braves 76 86 .469 17 691 .247 178 126 768 4.38 1073 513

NATIONAL LEAGUE PREDICTED STANDINGS CENTRAL DIVISION
Team W L PCT GB Runs AVG HR SB Runs against ERA K BB
St. Louis Cardinals 103 59 .636 - 879 .270 199 308 610 3.40 1343 426
Chicago Cubs 95 67 .586 8 735 .243 173 149 604 3.35 1188 433
Cincinnati Reds 87 75 .537 16 749 .252 176 147 646 3.61 1366 504
Houston Astros 81 81 .500 22 739 .248 195 208 769 4.39 1268 521
Oklahoma City 89ers 65 97 .401 38 607 .234 163 103 796 4.49 1253 495
New Orleans Pirates 63 99 .389 40 597 .236 148 104 739 4.18 1196 494

NATIONAL LEAGUE PREDICTED STANDINGS WESTERN DIVISION
Team W L PCT GB Runs AVG HR SB Runs against ERA K BB
Colorado Rockies 85 77 .525 - 689 .242 181 80 641 3.58 1412 589
Salt Lake Bees 82 80 .506 3 634 .245 140 142 694 3.85 1279 528
San Francisco Seals 81 81 .500 4 647 .237 155 112 624 3.47 1275 445
Arizona Diamondbacks 77 85 .475 8 641 .227 178 112 658 3.71 1231 457
Vancouver Angels 75 87 .463 10 728 .243 187 131 787 4.47 1213 473
Los Angeles Dodgers 71 91 .438 14 703 .244 210 80 830 4.75 1193 518

Young Drachma

11-18-2024, 02:42 AM

The Most Awkward Family Reunion in Baseball History Is About to Happen

You know that feeling when you show up to Thanksgiving dinner with your new spouse, only to find your ex sitting at the table because they're now dating your cousin? That's basically what's about to happen at Oracle Park on April 20, 2063, and holy **** is it going to be weird.

It's been exactly 109 days since the Giants announced they were ditching San Francisco for Tampa Bay's superior tax rates. Usually when a team abandons a city, there's at least a decent mourning period before some other franchise swoops in to be the rebound team. But because 2063 is pure chaos, the San Francisco Seals - wearing the old PCL logo like they're the cool historical successor - are already sleeping in the Giants' old bed.

And now? NOW? The goddamn schedule makers, who are either sadists or geniuses, have the Tampa Bay Giants coming back to face the Seals. It's like your ex showing up at your house to get their mail while you're hosting a dinner party with your new partner.

The storylines are absolutely bat****:
- Jayden Carter (2.91 ERA) starts for the Seals after being the Giants' ace literally four months ago
- The Giants still have all their old social media handles because MLB's digital rights agreements are written by drunk toddlers
- Some poor bastard at Oracle Park has to figure out which team gets the home clubhouse
- The Giants' equipment manager accidentally shipped half their stuff to San Francisco out of habit last week

Local sports talk radio is having a collective aneurysm trying to figure out if fans should boo the Giants (who abandoned them) or the Seals (who are basically wearing their ex's clothes). The only thing everyone agrees on is that whoever scheduled this matchup for 4/20 definitely knew what they were doing.

YOUR ABSOLUTELY BAT**** SUBPLOT OF THE DAY: Some fans bought Giants season tickets last September, before the move was announced. Those same seats are now Seals season tickets. There are literally people who accidentally bought season tickets for two different teams in the same seats. The future is stupid.

The Giants are 16-15 and the Seals are 15-15, because baseball has a sick sense of humor. Carter vs. his old team is appointment viewing, if only to watch the broadcast team try to explain this cluster**** to casual fans who just turned on the game hoping to see some baseball.

Drew Magary writes about the future of baseball and other stupid things for [redacted because everything you read in 2023 is owned by a different company in 2063].

Young Drachma

11-18-2024, 02:42 AM

When The Numbers Don't Add Up: Breaking Down the Cardinals' April Struggles

Remember March? When trading for Luke Legler and Chris Carter felt like the final pieces of a championship puzzle? When 103 wins seemed conservative? Baseball has a cruel way of humbling expectations, and April 2063 was a master class in exactly that.

The Good News First

Mark Wleh has been absolutely dealing. His 2.14 ERA across nine starts looks like an ace in his prime, not a guy we thought might be our third starter. The advanced metrics back it up too - 10.9 K/9, microscopic 0.91 WHIP. He's been worth 2.7 WAR already, which would be impressive over a full season, let alone one month.

The offense has some bright spots. Leuri Ramírez (.307/.365/.595) continues to be one of baseball's most underrated stars. Pinwheel Brown (.331/.353/.534) has been a revelation, including 21 stolen bases already. Jon Gallegos (.295/.408/.436) has turned second base from a question mark into a strength.

The Concerning Parts

Urban Henry (5.19 ERA) looks every bit of 39 years old. Our ace has been getting hit hard - a .285 batting average against isn't what you want from your top starter. The projection systems loved our rotation depth; instead, we're watching Everett Morrow put up a 6.75 ERA while trying to hold things together.

The biggest disappointment? Chris Carter, acquired to fix our catching woes, is hitting .209/.280/.326. Those 42 strikeouts in 129 at-bats sting even worse when you remember what we gave up to get him.

The Numbers That Matter
21-20. Eight games back of both Cincinnati and Chicago. Playing .512 baseball when we were projected for .636.

But here's the thing about April baseball - it lies. The same talent that made projection systems swoon still exists on this roster. Legler (3.80 ERA in 4 starts) is just getting settled. The bullpen (Logan Cash, Danny Beard, Mario Patrascu all sub-2.00 ERAs) has been lights out.

What Comes Next

The Cubs and Reds are playing .700 baseball. History says that won't continue. But history also says you can't wait forever to make your move in a division race. May needs to be better than April, or all those bold offseason moves will look less like going all-in and more like going all-wrong.

For now, Cardinals fans are left clutching their coffee mugs and muttering what might be 2063's motto: "It's early. Right?"

When One Year to Get It Right Goes Wrong: The Stags at 17-25

The Trust gave Portland one year to dream big. One season to spend like a real baseball team. The results through April? A 17-25 record, nine games back in the AL West, and the growing realization that sometimes dreams are just that - dreams.

The Stan Wallace Experiment
When the Stags acquired Stan Wallace (and got Toronto to eat half his salary), it looked like the kind of creative move that could define their one-year window. The results have been... mixed. His 4.37 ERA isn't terrible, but it's not the ace-level performance Portland desperately needed. The advanced metrics (3.07 FIP) suggest he's been better than his ERA indicates, but at 9 games back, moral victories don't help much.

The Rotation Blues
Behind Wallace, it's been a disaster:
- Ezra Ayotte: 5.23 ERA, 2.3 HR/9
- Chase Benjamin: 6.50 ERA
- Randy Parrish: 7.60 ERA

That's not a playoff rotation. That's barely a rotation.

The Bright Spots
Paul Correa has been a revelation (.310/.353/.608, 8 HR). Matías Santana, at just 19 years old, continues to hit (.302/.378/.453) like a veteran. The offense isn't the problem - they're scoring runs. They just can't prevent them.

The Cruel Math
What makes this start so devastating isn't just the record - it's the context. The Trust's mandate means there's no "wait 'til next year." This was next year. Every loss in April wasn't just a loss; it was time running out on Portland's one shot at glory.

The Bullpen Band-Aid
If you're looking for hope, the relievers have shown signs of life:
- Ryder Moring: 2.25 ERA
- Nash White: 1.88 ERA
- DeJohn Baldwin: Holding his own as closer

But when you're nine games back in May, good middle relief feels like having premium speakers in a car with no engine.

The Harsh Reality
The Sacramento Solons, picked to finish last, are running away with the division at 26-16. Meanwhile, the Stags are left facing an impossible question: How long do you chase a dream before admitting it's turned into a nightmare?

What Comes Next
May becomes crucial not just for wins and losses, but for organizational direction. If they can't make up ground quickly, the front office might have to consider the unthinkable - starting the mandated teardown early to maximize return value.

For a fanbase that spent the winter dreaming of October glory, watching the season slip away in April has been brutal. The concrete bleachers at Civic Stadium feel colder than usual these days.

Young Drachma

11-18-2024, 01:33 PM

Tale of Two Seasons: Midseason Assessment

As we hit the All-Star break, our two teams find themselves in drastically different positions than anyone expected. Let's break down where the dreams of spring have led us by summer:

Cardinals (44-39, 14 GB in NL Central)
Remember those 103-win projections? Cincinnati (58-25) had other ideas. The Reds have been an absolute juggernaut, pushing the Cardinals into wild card territory despite solid play.

The Good:
- Leuri Ramírez earned an All-Star spot with a monster first half (.338/.384/.611, 15 HR)
- Mark Wleh (2.78 ERA, 132.2 IP) has been everything we hoped
- D.P. Harper (1.65 ERA) emerged as an elite reliever
- Jon Gallegos (.285/.378/.439) made the All-Star team

The Concerning:
- 14 games back feels insurmountable even with talent
- Urban Henry made the All-Star team despite a 4.03 ERA
- Wild Card race is brutally tight

Portland Stags (40-44, 12 GB in AL West)
For a team with one year to dream big, the nightmare continues. But there have been bright spots:

The Good:
- Paul Correa (.319/.379/.596) earned an All-Star spot
- Otis Ramírez (.302/.373/.465) represents hope at catcher
- Both made the AL All-Star squad

The Reality:
- 12 games back of Sacramento
- The Stan Wallace experiment hasn't saved the rotation
- Time running out on their one-year window

The Playoff Picture
Cardinals sit 2 games out of a wild card spot, with serious competition from teams like the Rockies (50-35) and Mets (49-34). It's not what they dreamed of, but October baseball remains possible.

Portland's path is darker. The AL West has belonged to Sacramento (52-32), and the wild card race features better teams ahead of them. The question now becomes: how long do you chase the dream before selling?

Looking Ahead
For St. Louis, the second half needs to be about finding another gear. The talent that prompted those preseason predictions still exists - they just need to unlock it.

For Portland, hard decisions loom. The Trust's mandate to tear down after 2063 means every passing week reduces potential return value in trades. The next two weeks could determine whether they're buyers or sellers.

Beyond the All-Stars: A Complete Look at the Cardinals' First Half

While the spotlight at the All-Star Game shines on Mark Wleh, Urban Henry, D.P. Harper, and Leuri Ramírez, the Cardinals' 44-39 record tells a more complex story. Let's break down what's working, what isn't, and where this team really stands at the break.

The Elite
- Leuri Ramírez isn't just having a good year - he's having a legendary one. His .336/.384/.607 line includes 25 doubles, 8 triples, and 15 homers. The 4.5 WAR at the break suggests we're watching something special.

- Mark Wleh (2.78 ERA, 149 K in 132.2 IP) has been everything an ace should be. His 157 ERA+ and stellar 28% strikeout rate show his dominance isn't smoke and mirrors.

The Pleasant Surprises
- Logan Cash has been nearly untouchable (0.79 ERA in 22.2 IP)
- Luke Legler is settling in nicely (2.52 ERA in 82 IP)
- Jon Gallegos (.284/.375/.439) has provided stellar defense and on-base skills
- D.P. Harper's 1.65 ERA makes him one of baseball's elite setup men

The Concerns
- The catching situation remains dire (Chris Carter hitting .207/.280/.336)
- Irv Daniels (.226/.331/.357) hasn't provided the offensive upgrade hoped for
- Middle relief beyond Harper and Cash has been spotty
- The bottom third of the lineup often looks overmatched

By The Numbers
Starting Rotation:
- Wleh: 2.78 ERA, 4.8 rWAR
- Henry: 4.03 ERA, 1.6 rWAR
- Legler: 2.52 ERA, 2.5 rWAR
- Chávez: 4.88 ERA, -0.0 rWAR
- Morrow: 3.53 ERA, 1.8 rWAR

Key Offensive Contributors:
- Ramírez: .991 OPS, 164 OPS+
- Gallegos: .814 OPS, 121 OPS+
- Fernández: .766 OPS, 109 OPS+
- Brown: .748 OPS, 101 OPS+

The Verdict
This is a good team that could be great. The top-end talent (Ramírez, Wleh, Harper) is playing at an elite level. The supporting cast has shown flashes but lacks consistency. Fourteen games behind Cincinnati feels insurmountable, but the wild card remains very much in play.

Second Half Keys
1. Find consistency from the bottom half of the lineup
2. Get Henry back to ace form (4.03 ERA won't cut it)
3. Sort out the catching situation
4. Keep Pinwheel Brown's stolen base success rate up (33 SB but 12 CS is concerning)

When One Year to Dream Goes Wrong: Breaking Down Portland's First Half

With their one-year spending mandate set to expire, the Portland Stags find themselves at 40-44, their dreams of October glory fading. Let's examine what's gone right and wrong in their "all-in" season.

The Silver Linings
- Paul Correa (.317/.376/.592) earned his All-Star spot with a monster first half. His 158 OPS+ and 13 steals show he's become a complete offensive force.
- Otis Ramírez (.299/.371/.460) has been everything they hoped behind the plate, earning his own All-Star nod.
- Stan Wallace (3.73 ERA in 113.1 IP) has at least been serviceable, even if not the ace they dreamed of.

The Rotation Nightmare
Behind Wallace, it's been apocalyptic:
- Ezra Ayotte: 4.83 ERA, 1.8 HR/9
- Chase Benjamin: 6.11 ERA
- Glenn Hayes: 7.98 ERA
- Orlando Díaz: 7.04 ERA

The Bright Spots
The offense has actually performed:
- Payton LaBay: .269/.338/.449
- Marc McCoy: .273/.356/.475
- Mel Johnson: .255/.358/.423
- Bucky Aaron: .295/.408/.416 in part-time duty

Bullpen Gems
- DeJohn Baldwin: 3.22 ERA, 43.2% K-rate
- Nash White: 1.40 ERA
- Jody Foor: 0.00 ERA (small sample)

The Harsh Reality
This was supposed to be Portland's year to spend like a real baseball team. Instead:
- 12 games back in the division
- Starting pitching ranks near bottom of AL
- Playoff hopes fading fast
- Trade deadline looming with mandate to eventually tear down

The Crossroads
The next two weeks will determine everything. Do they:
1. Stay the course and hope for a miracle run?
2. Start the teardown early to maximize return value?
3. Make one more push with deadline acquisitions?

Players like Correa, Ramírez, and McCoy have trade value. The question is whether the front office has the stomach to raise the white flag on their one shot at glory.

Young Drachma

11-18-2024, 01:34 PM

2063 ALL-STAR SELECTIONS

For the American League, the roster includes:

SP Tommy Calhoun (NYY) - 5-2, 1.96 ERA, 69.0 IP, 0.97 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 1.4 WAR
SP Aiden Dossi (MIL) - 10-3, 2.23 ERA, 121.0 IP, 0.94 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 2.8 WAR
SP Jesús Dávilos (BAL)* - 13-2, 2.36 ERA, 133.1 IP, 0.77 WHIP, 14.6 K/9, 5.8 WAR
SP Emerson Evangelista (CRL) - 7-3, 2.70 ERA, 116.2 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 2.0 WAR
SP Kaiji Konno (BOS) - 6-10, 4.71 ERA, 120.1 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 1.2 WAR
SP Silas Robinson (MIL) - 8-3, 2.48 ERA, 80.0 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 2.0 WAR
SP Jay Schaper (KC) - 10-4, 4.01 ERA, 94.1 IP, 1.34 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 1.0 WAR
RP Pedro Espinosa (NYY) - 1-1, 2.73 ERA, 52.2 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 1.0 WAR
RP Gilbert Goldman (SD) - 2-3, 4.25 ERA, 29.2 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 0.7 WAR
RP Terence Gutierrez (DET) - 6-0, 1.31 ERA, 48.0 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 1.0 WAR
CL Nico Ayala (SAC) - 2-3, 23 SV, 2.57 ERA, 35.0 IP, 0.97 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 1.3 WAR
CL Franklin Loya (ABQ) - 4-1, 16 SV, 2.02 ERA, 35.2 IP, 0.84 WHIP, 16.4 K/9, 2.2 WAR
CL Yose Pinales (SEA)* - 2-2, 23 SV, 0.84 ERA, 32.1 IP, 0.80 WHIP, 17.5 K/9, 1.9 WAR
C Montez Bullock (BOS) - .263/.332/.454, 262 AB, 13 HR, 1 SB, 109 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
C Otis Ramírez (POR) - .302/.373/.465, 258 AB, 7 HR, 130 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
C Kevin Shiraki (ABQ) - .298/.376/.539, 228 AB, 14 HR, 2 SB, 146 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
C J.R. Álvarez (SEA)* - .333/.434/.596, 228 AB, 16 HR, 177 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
1B Chase Burns (NSH) - .319/.407/.574, 310 AB, 21 HR, 158 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
1B Victor Martenson (DET) - .312/.390/.529, 327 AB, 16 HR, 144 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
1B Kris Tavarez (BOS)* - .374/.455/.748, 310 AB, 31 HR, 214 wRC+, 5.6 WAR
2B Jamad Duvall (NYY) - .288/.349/.521, 267 AB, 17 HR, 132 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
2B Chandler Graeve (SAC)* - .338/.438/.629, 237 AB, 16 HR, 6 SB, 180 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
2B Julian Vo (SD) - .294/.353/.517, 323 AB, 18 HR, 6 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
3B Gabriel Bonilla (BOS)* - .382/.457/.628, 301 AB, 10 HR, 6 SB, 182 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
3B Wally Frey (TEX) - .328/.395/.506, 308 AB, 12 HR, 142 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
3B Jay Music (CLE)* - .302/.375/.487, 318 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 135 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
3B Justin Tarnowski (MIA) - .301/.383/.528, 299 AB, 12 HR, 144 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
SS Salvador Almazan (TEX) - .314/.385/.455, 312 AB, 7 HR, 1 SB, 132 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
SS Kim Kjærluff (IND) - .260/.377/.374, 227 AB, 3 HR, 111 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
SS Buster Moreno (BAL) - .319/.414/.570, 263 AB, 18 HR, 10 SB, 156 wRC+, 4.3 WAR
SS T.J. Rodríguez (CLE)* - .373/.435/.572, 327 AB, 8 HR, 35 SB, 173 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
SS Tommy Wright (NSH) - .283/.338/.506, 322 AB, 19 HR, 17 SB, 128 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
LF Jorge Galo (SAC)* - .343/.442/.539, 306 AB, 10 HR, 167 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
CF Boris Chambers (CRL) - .281/.360/.490, 306 AB, 17 HR, 5 SB, 126 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
CF Ezra Smith (IND) - .279/.318/.497, 340 AB, 15 HR, 13 SB, 118 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
CF Lucian Trolinger (NSH)* - .278/.325/.459, 338 AB, 10 HR, 18 SB, 110 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
RF Paul Correa (POR) - .319/.379/.596, 307 AB, 15 HR, 13 SB, 158 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
RF Jason Husted (KC) - .332/.416/.596, 235 AB, 16 HR, 173 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
RF Jaxson Rall (TOR)* - .314/.385/.577, 274 AB, 17 HR, 151 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
RF Gabriel Vitoria (DET) - .373/.444/.589, 319 AB, 14 HR, 22 SB, 180 wRC+, 5.4 WAR

For the National League these players have been selected:

SP Jayden Carter (SFS) - 9-2, 2.38 ERA, 117.1 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 2.8 WAR
SP Kim Hahn (SFS) - 5-5, 4.41 ERA, 87.2 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 1.0 WAR
SP Urban Henry (STL)* - 8-6, 4.03 ERA, 127.1 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 3.6 WAR
SP Shawn Lewis (AZ) - 6-7, 3.19 ERA, 115.2 IP, 0.98 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 3.6 WAR
SP Inigo Montes (CIN) - 8-2, 2.55 ERA, 106.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 7.5 K/9, 2.5 WAR
SP Júlio César Valentin (DCN) - 10-3, 2.38 ERA, 117.0 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 3.3 WAR
SP River Wang (VAN) - 8-6, 3.53 ERA, 107.0 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.2 WAR
SP Freddy Wilson (MTL) - 9-6, 3.70 ERA, 136.1 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 4.1 WAR
SP Mark Wleh (STL) - 7-8, 2.78 ERA, 132.2 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 4.2 WAR
RP D.P. Harper (STL) - 1-1, 1.65 ERA, 43.2 IP, 0.89 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 1.4 WAR
RP Lloyd Neal (MTL) - 1-2, 2.11 ERA, 47.0 IP, 0.94 WHIP, 5.0 K/9, 0.6 WAR
RP Walt Roth (NOL) - 1-2, 3.18 ERA, 51.0 IP, 1.35 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 0.8 WAR
RP Giovani Smith (NYM) - 5-3, 5.06 ERA, 26.2 IP, 1.57 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, -0.1 WAR (Injured)
CL Neil Johnson (CIN) - 0-1, 27 SV, 1.01 ERA, 35.2 IP, 0.76 WHIP, 13.4 K/9, 1.9 WAR
CL Zach Kasky (NYM) - 3-0, 24 SV, 1.08 ERA, 33.1 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 15.4 K/9, 2.3 WAR
CL Ric Maldonado (TBG)* - 2-2, 26 SV, 1.32 ERA, 41.0 IP, 0.78 WHIP, 19.5 K/9, 3.3 WAR
CL Alejandro Marte (COL) - 0-0, 6 SV, 1.42 ERA, 6.1 IP, 0.47 WHIP, 19.9 K/9, 0.5 WAR (Injured)
C Daxton Anderson (CIN) - .261/.348/.416, 238 AB, 7 HR, 4 SB, 105 wRC+, 1.5 WAR
C Seitaro Hara (ATL)* - .257/.330/.412, 257 AB, 11 HR, 104 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
C Jedidiah Melton (TBG) - .243/.341/.380, 255 AB, 6 HR, 1 SB, 100 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
C Jojo Nowak (SLC) - .209/.284/.430, 86 AB, 3 HR, 90 wRC+, 0.2 WAR
1B Clint Donovan (AZ) - .323/.403/.571, 294 AB, 16 HR, 1 SB, 163 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
1B Adrián Hernández (VAN) - .287/.404/.564, 275 AB, 21 HR, 1 SB, 144 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
1B Wyatt King (CHC) - .295/.351/.537, 315 AB, 16 HR, 7 SB, 137 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
1B Esteban Reyes (OK) - .298/.335/.592, 309 AB, 24 HR, 1 SB, 143 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
1B Matt Roberts (COL)* - .271/.396/.518, 284 AB, 17 HR, 137 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
1B Júlio Viramontes (DCN) - .341/.409/.600, 305 AB, 19 HR, 11 SB, 169 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
2B Fozzie Fazenbaker (DCN)* - .280/.369/.595, 232 AB, 19 HR, 15 SB, 155 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
2B Noé García (CHC)* - .283/.374/.466, 311 AB, 14 HR, 122 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
2B Vic Koepke (HOU) - .312/.355/.536, 263 AB, 15 HR, 2 SB, 140 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
3B Tadashi Takagi (TBG)* - .332/.401/.534, 292 AB, 13 HR, 17 SB, 149 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
SS Diego Cardoso (LAD) - .320/.378/.589, 241 AB, 18 HR, 157 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
SS Dylan DeMarco (NOL) - .276/.343/.512, 297 AB, 16 HR, 6 SB, 110 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
SS Kojuro Enomoto (COL)* - .266/.358/.478, 274 AB, 15 HR, 1 SB, 126 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
SS Jon Gallegos (STL) - .285/.378/.439, 305 AB, 9 HR, 12 SB, 126 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
LF Mick Hedman (COL) - .302/.341/.498, 325 AB, 13 HR, 5 SB, 124 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
LF Anthony Payne (PHI) - .294/.353/.489, 282 AB, 12 HR, 4 SB, 127 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
CF Brian Butler (CHC) - .292/.333/.484, 308 AB, 14 HR, 1 SB, 115 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
CF Leuri Ramírez (STL)* - .338/.384/.611, 314 AB, 15 HR, 12 SB, 163 wRC+, 4.4 WAR
CF Artémio Vazquez (CIN)* - .318/.409/.582, 292 AB, 18 HR, 8 SB, 162 wRC+, 4.1 WAR (Injured)
RF Marshal Axford (SFS) - .297/.358/.505, 313 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 136 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
RF Desi Quinones (CHC) - .320/.459/.449, 247 AB, 2 HR, 6 SB, 141 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
RF Izan Rodríguez (LAD) - .274/.374/.455, 288 AB, 12 HR, 4 SB, 125 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
RF Paddy Walker (NYM)* - .330/.413/.526, 270 AB, 11 HR, 12 SB, 159 wRC+, 3.8 WAR (Injured)

Young Drachma

11-18-2024, 02:17 PM

Emergency Pod Energy: Making Sense of the Cardinals and Stags at the Break

Are we sure the Cardinals and Stags are good? Like, actually good? We're doing that thing again where we're trying to convince ourselves that two teams with obvious fatal flaws can somehow figure it out in the second half. Let's break this down, Bill Simmons style.

The "Oh No, We Might Have Made a Huge Mistake" Cardinals

Here's my favorite stat: The Cardinals are 23-20 at home, 21-19 on the road. They're basically the same team everywhere! That's either impressive consistency or depressing mediocrity, depending on how many prospects you traded away for this performance. (Spoiler: They traded all of them.)

The thing nobody wants to talk about? Their run differential is actually pretty good! They're outscoring opponents by a decent margin, ranking top-3 in the NL in both ERA (3.53) and batting average (.260). This feels like one of those teams that should be better than their record, but then you look up and realize they're 14 games behind Cincinnati and you're like "wait, what?"

The Mark Wleh thing is real (2.78 ERA, 149 K in 132.2 IP). The Leuri Ramírez thing is definitely real (.336/.384/.607 with 48 extra-base hits!). But we're officially at the "Are we sure Urban Henry isn't washed?" stage of the season (4.03 ERA at age 39), and that's concerning.

The "We Had One Year to Get This Right" Stags

This might be my favorite subplot of the 2063 season. The Trust finally lets them spend money, and their rotation immediately posts a 5.81 ERA. That's not just bad - that's historically bad. It's like they ordered a rotation from Wish.com.

But here's the thing nobody's talking about: Their offense is actually incredible! They're slashing .277/.354/.457 as a team. Paul Correa is having that classic "guy who breaks out the year before his team has to trade him" season (.317/.376/.592). Even their catcher, Otis Ramírez, is raking (.299/.371/.460).

The "What Would You Do?" Game

If I'm running the Cardinals, I'm making one more push. You've already traded away your future - might as well go down swinging. They need another starter (Henry's peripherals are scary) and maybe a catcher who can hit above .207 (sorry, Chris Carter).

The Stags? This is brutal, but they have to start taking calls. The Trust's mandate means this team is getting torn down regardless - might as well maximize the return. Correa, Ramírez, and Stan Wallace could bring back actual prospects. Sometimes you have to know when to fold 'em.

The Weird "What If?" Scenarios

What if the Cardinals had just... not traded away baseball's #8 prospect? What if the Stags had spent their one year of real money on, I don't know, pitchers who can actually pitch? These are the questions that keep fans up at night.

The verdict

We're watching two teams who went all-in with very different definitions of "all." The Cardinals mortgaged the future for a wild card race. The Stags got one year to dream and turned it into a nightmare. The real winners? Cincinnati and Sacramento, who are probably wondering how they became the AL West/NL Central powerhouses while nobody was looking.

Are we sure this isn't the darkest timeline?

Young Drachma

11-18-2024, 05:40 PM

Baseball Doesn't Care About Your Cinderella Story

This was supposed to be the Indianapolis Arrows' funeral march. Their lame-duck season before relocating to New Jersey, where some tech bro consortium led by Ethereum millionaire Devon "Web3" Watson paid $2.1 billion to move them to a yet-to-be-built stadium in Newark. Instead, they're leading the AL Central with the third-lowest payroll in baseball ($38.1M), because the sport occasionally likes to punch you in the gut while grinning.

The worst part isn't that they're good. The worst part is that Indianapolis has collectively shrugged. The Arrows are drawing fewer fans than the damn Phillies, who are actively trying to lose games. Just over a million people have bothered to show up at midseason to watch a first-place team, because why get attached to something that's already got one foot out the door?

It's 2003 Montreal Expos all over again, except MLB isn't actively sabotaging this team - reality is doing that job just fine. The new ownership group has made it clear there will be no additional spending. The deadline will come and go without reinforcements. The cruel mathematics of baseball say this team should regress, and management seems perfectly content to let that happen.

This is what happens when the sport treats its teams like NFTs to be flipped rather than civic institutions to be nurtured. The Arrows are winning despite a payroll that wouldn't cover Aaron Judge's breakfast tab. Their starting rotation, led by Avery Prescott (2.70 ERA) and Estefan Cuello (3.26 ERA), is putting up numbers that would make Sandy Koufax blush. Raymond Nadeau (.297/.373/.441) is having the kind of season that usually leads to a statue outside the ballpark. Instead, it'll probably lead to a trade to a "real" contender.

The fans aren't stupid. They know this ends with moving trucks and heartbreak. Better to keep your distance now than watch your team win just enough games to make leaving hurt more. The incoming owners talk about "market inefficiencies" and "optimization strategies" while the current team is actually winning baseball games despite having a payroll that makes the Pirates look like the Yankees.

Baseball is the only sport where success can feel like a curse. The Arrows are proving they can win with nothing, which means the new owners will probably give them exactly that when they reach Newark. The few thousand diehards still showing up to games are watching their team win while dying, like a star burning brightest just before it collapses.

Somewhere, Omar Minaya is watching this and nodding knowingly. At least MLB had the decency to kill the Expos' dreams officially. Indianapolis just has to watch their team succeed while knowing every win brings them closer to goodbye.

The Arrows open a three-game set with Detroit tomorrow. Tickets are available. Lots of them.

Young Drachma

11-18-2024, 05:41 PM

Should the Orioles Consider the Unthinkable?

When the final out of the 2062 World Series settled into Dylan Madden's glove, the Baltimore Orioles looked poised for a dynasty. Fast forward to the 2063 All-Star break, and they're 41-43, sitting 4 games back in a suddenly combustible AL East that features the surprising Red Sox and Marlins atop the division.

The easy narrative would be to chalk this up to a championship hangover. But the underlying metrics suggest something more concerning: this might be who the 2063 Orioles actually are.

The Warning Signs
- Run differential suggests they're playing to their record
- Rotation ERA has risen from 3.45 (1st in AL) to 3.99 (3rd)
- Team OPS down 42 points from 2062
- Only Jesús Dávilos (13-2, 2.36 ERA) performing at 2062 levels

The Farm System Opportunity
Here's where it gets interesting. Despite going all-in for their 2062 title run, the Orioles still possess baseball's 8th-ranked farm system. This creates a fascinating strategic opportunity that most defending champions don't have: they could actually sell high on certain pieces and potentially extend their competitive window rather than watching it close.

Trade Candidates With Value
- Spencer Van Doren (.291/.351/.500, 11 HR)
- Buster Moreno (.317, 18 HR, 50 RBI)
- Rod Pitkin (8-6, 4.11 ERA)

The Case for Retooling
1. AL East suddenly looks like a gauntlet
2. Farm system could become elite with right moves
3. Core pieces still young enough to build around
4. Could acquire MLB-ready talent rather than pure prospects

The Projection Systems' View
ZiPS gives the Orioles just a 24% chance of making the playoffs, down from 76% in preseason. More concerningly, their three-year projection has declined significantly since Opening Day.

The Smart Play
Rather than watching their window potentially close, the Orioles could thread the needle: sell high on certain pieces, restock the farm system, and potentially compete again as soon as 2064 with a more sustainable core built around Dávilos.

Comparables
The 2019 Red Sox faced a similar decision after their 2018 title. They chose to half-measure it and ended up worse off. The Orioles have the opportunity to be proactive rather than reactive.

The next two weeks could define the franchise's trajectory for the next half-decade. Sometimes the boldest move is being willing to take a small step back to take two steps forward.

The Verdict
If the Orioles can get premium returns for players like Van Doren and Moreno while keeping their core intact, they should strongly consider it. Their farm system strength gives them a unique opportunity to retool without rebuilding - an opportunity most defending champions never get.

Sometimes you have to be willing to make the unpopular move to make the right one.

Young Drachma

11-19-2024, 06:28 PM

I already figured out my spinoff of this dynasty, right now I'm still too invested in reporting the outcomes and no one really cares but me. So I'm going to divest from Portland after this year as I mentioned already and my new 2nd team are going to be the Yankees. Except, we'll be committed to them becoming a barnstorming team half of their home dates and I'll use their roster for all sorts of weird experiments like "what would it look like to have a roster of 40-50 OVR guys on a big league team" or "can a whole team of international players be competitive across a whole season?" Or maybe just some odd sabermetrics immersion, since I'm still not as good at referencing that stuff as i should be.

I obviously am always notorious for moving teams in my dynasties and given I'm adding a third New York team again, I felt like this was also a funny way to get myself to get through some seasons faster while also getting to try some stuff out.

I might just end this storyline at the end of the season and go straight into the Yankees storyline, but will continue to run updates of the familiar players and franchises as things advance. It'll also allow us to delve a bit into the history that's lapsed since 2023 when this league started, we've had some crazy stat eras in this universe because I hadn't really stabilized the statistics in the earlier versions of the game and so, for instance the all-time strikeouts record has been long broken and other weird things like that (though not home runs)

Anyway, there's way more to delve into in this universe, I mostly just want to futz more quickly, but managing a good team makes me less inclined to do that so I'm gonna take a bad team over and write about it, because being weird right now might be more fun, then I can god-mode all of the storyline stuff that I care about around the margins while we watch from the cheapseats from Omaha or Boise or wherever else I might make them visit.

Baseball's Death Star Goes Mobile, and Everyone's Getting Paid to Like It

The New York Yankees, baseball's most insufferably successful franchise and walking monument to pinstriped hubris, just sold for $12.8 billion to a group of people who think baseball teams should operate like Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. And the worst part? They might not be entirely wrong.

Laverne Ng, the impossibly Yale-educated managing partner of Quantum Frontier Partners who probably relaxes by hostile-takeovers of family-owned bakeries, spent 47 minutes Thursday explaining why baseball's most valuable franchise should spend half its time wandering the countryside like a barnstorming circus act from the 1920s. She used terms like "experiential revenue optimization" and "globally scalable entertainment vehicle" while old-time Yankees beat writers quietly died inside.

"The Yankees aren't just a baseball team," Ng explained, somehow managing to sound both condescending and evangelical at once. "They're a premium content platform with unprecedented brand elasticity. We're simply unleashing their potential from the artificial constraints of geographical permanence."

In other words, the Yankees are about to become baseball's first touring franchise, because apparently nobody at MLB headquarters had the courage to say "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard" when someone suggests turning the sport's most valuable team into a baseball version of Phish.

The plan, as far as anyone can decode it from the PowerPoint slides filled with charts that only go up, is to split the Yankees' home games between Yankee Stadium and a series of yet-to-be-announced venues across the globe. The Stadium itself will be transformed into what Ng calls a "365-day entertainment destination," which presumably means charging $45 for craft beer while showing Yankees highlights on the jumbotron year-round.

MLB's owners approved the sale unanimously, primarily because they were all too busy counting their own potential franchise valuations after this deal. When you sell the Yankees for $12.8 billion, suddenly every owner gets to add a zero to their own franchise's theoretical worth. It's the kind of math that makes billionaires giddy.

Bryce Romney IV, Quantum's head of "Legacy Asset Transformation" and someone who definitely has strong opinions about yacht manufacturers, insisted this is the future of sports entertainment. "We're not moving the Yankees," he said, straightening his Hermès tie. "We're expanding their footprint to match their cultural significance." The fact that this footprint now includes charging $500 for premium tickets in cities to be named later is, presumably, just a happy coincidence.

The Bronx, predictably, is taking this about as well as you'd expect. Local business owners around the stadium are furious, fans are threatening to cancel season tickets they've had since Mantle played center field, and politicians are writing strongly-worded letters that will be immediately recycled by Quantum's army of lawyers.

But here's the thing that makes this whole absurd venture just crazy enough to work: The Yankees actually might be the only franchise that could pull this off. Their brand is so culturally embedded, their mystique so artificially amplified, that they might actually be more valuable as a touring act than a traditional baseball team. They're baseball's Rolling Stones – everyone wants to see them once, even if half the audience is there ironically.

"The Yankees transcend baseball," Ng insisted, probably while mentally calculating the markup on limited edition market-specific merchandise. "We're not bound by convention. We're creating a new paradigm for sports entertainment."

The saddest part? She's probably right. In a world where teams routinely blackmail cities for stadium funding and treat fans like walking credit cards, turning baseball's most famous franchise into a touring roadshow isn't even the most cynical thing to happen to baseball this decade. It might not even be the most cynical thing to happen this week.

When asked about concerns that this plan fundamentally alters the nature of what a baseball team means to its community, Romney offered the kind of response that only someone who summers in the Hamptons could deliver with a straight face: "We're not altering tradition. We're amplifying it. The Yankees belong to the world now."

The Yankees will begin their transformation in 2064, and god help us all, because if this works, every private equity firm with a Bloomberg terminal and a PowerPoint license is going to start eyeing other franchises. Baseball teams as touring acts. What's next – timeshare ballparks? Pay-per-view batting practice?

Actually, don't answer that. Someone at Quantum Frontier is probably already working on the pitch deck.

Young Drachma

11-19-2024, 07:59 PM

BRONX BOMBERS GO BARNSTORMING: Yanks' $12.8B Sale Plots Wild 2064 Tour

STADIUM STUNNER: PINSTRIPES HIT THE ROAD

The ghost of Miller Huggins must be spinning in his grave.

In a jaw-dropping $12.8 billion deal that makes cryptocurrency look stable, the Yankees were sold to Quantum Frontier Partners yesterday, with plans to turn baseball's marquee franchise into baseball's first touring road show. And if you think that's crazy, wait till you hear where they're playing.

"The post-antitrust era demands innovation," declared Laverne Ng, the Stanford-polished managing partner of Quantum, speaking from a Stadium suite that costs more than your house. "Baseball's territorial restrictions are relics of the past. We're writing the future."

TOUR DE FARCE?

The 2064 "Yankees Worldwide Tour" reads like a geography exam written by a baseball executive having a fever dream. The schedule includes stops in:
- Omaha (Because nothing says Yankees baseball like corn fields)
- Minneapolis (Still bitter about losing the Twins to Charlotte)
- Indianapolis (Last stop before the Arrows fly to Jersey)
- Boise (Former home of the two-time champion Spuds, who've moved more times than your cousin who can't hold a job)
- Oakland (Where the A's are just a distant memory)
- Louisville (One-year wonder)
- London's Lord's Cricket Ground (Tea and crumpets with your hot dogs, guv'nor?)

"Each city represents a unique chapter in modern baseball's evolution," Romney explained, definitely not pointing out that most of these places are baseball's equivalent of abandoned movie theaters.

BRAVE NEW WORLD

Thank (or blame) the Supreme Court's landmark 2059 decision in "Martinez v. MLB" that finally killed baseball's antitrust exemption. Since then, franchises have been playing musical chairs faster than prospects getting traded at the deadline.

Just ask Boise fans, who went from celebrating two World Series titles to watching their beloved Spuds bounce to Louisville, then San Antonio, before finally landing in OKC. Or check with Minneapolis, still nursing its wounds after the Twins packed up for Charlotte faster than you can say "ya sure, you betcha."

MONEY TALKS

Baseball Commissioner K. Hansen Antonetti (no relation to the case that blew up the old system) called the deal "a natural evolution of baseball's territorial flexibility." That's corporate speak for "someone's about to make it rain."

The plan calls for maintaining just 41 games in the Bronx, with the rest scattered across what Quantum calls "emerging and legacy markets." Because nothing says "legacy market" like Boise, Idaho.

BY THE NUMBERS

- $12.8B: Sale price (more than some countries' GDP)
- 7: Cities on the inaugural tour
- 41: Games staying in the Bronx
- 40: Games on the "Premium Market Tour"
- 2: World Series titles won by the now-extinct Boise Spuds
- ∞: Number of fans saying "Back in my day..."

BOTTOM LINE

Twenty years after the A's became baseball's first modern casualty, the sport has transformed into something Babe Ruth wouldn't recognize unless he was really, really squinting. Teams hop cities like kids playing hopscotch, the antitrust exemption is as dead as the spitball, and now baseball's most storied franchise is going on tour like they're opening for Taylor Swift's granddaughter.

But here's the real kicker – in this brave new baseball world, it actually makes a twisted kind of sense. Since Martinez v. MLB opened the floodgates, we've seen two-time champs play in three different cities in as many years (looking at you, Spuds), the Twins trade Minnesota nice for Carolina BBQ, and now the Yankees are about to play home games at a cricket ground.

WHAT'S NEXT?
- Detailed tour schedule (once MLB figures out how time zones work)
- Stadium modification plans for seven different ballparks
- Souvenir jerseys in more varieties than Baskin-Robbins has flavors
- More moving vans than a college dorm in September

One veteran baseball exec, speaking on condition of anonymity because he's not insane, summed it up: "First the Spuds win it all twice and bounce around like a pinball, now the Yankees are going on tour. I'm starting to think that 2059 Supreme Court decision might have had some unintended consequences."

Ya think?

Young Drachma

11-19-2024, 11:00 PM

Paint or Get Off the Canvas: Why the 2063 Cardinals Can't Afford to Wait

Remember how 2063 started? The fresh paint was barely dry on what looked like a masterpiece in the making. Mark Wleh and Urban Henry were going to anchor a rotation that would dominate the league. The front office had their brushes out all winter, making the subtle touches that turn good teams into great ones. We were all thinking about October before Opening Day.

Funny how baseball humbles you.

Now here we sit, deadline bearing down like an 0-2 fastball, and the Cardinals are scrapping for a wild card spot in the unforgiving Ladder system. The masterpiece? It's looking more like a paint-by-numbers kit with missing colors.

Let's be clear about what we're watching: Leuri Ramírez is putting up MVP numbers (.330 AVG, .573 SLG) that would make Stan Musial nod in approval. Pinwheel Brown and Archer Fernández are doing their parts. Wleh has been nothing short of brilliant (13-9, 2.48 ERA), making hitters look foolish with the kind of consistency that makes you think of Gibson.

But it's not enough. Not when you're fighting for your playoff life. Not when last year's Game 9 loss in the World Series still stings like a hangover that won't quit.

The front office is doing what front offices do – weighing options, counting costs, thinking about tomorrow. It's admirable, in a way, like a chess player thinking six moves ahead. But this isn't chess. This is baseball, and flags fly forever.

Yes, the bullpen has moments. Everett Morrow and Micah Sheehy can lock it down when everything clicks. But "when everything clicks" isn't a strategy – it's a prayer. And prayers don't win pennants.

The outfield needs depth. The lineup needs another big bat to protect Ramírez. Sandy Cook and Jon Gallegos are fine players, but "fine" doesn't get you through the gauntlet of the Ladder playoffs. Ask the 2062 team about that.

Here's what the front office needs to understand: The 2006 Cardinals didn't win by playing it safe. The 2011 team – our last taste of championship champagne – didn't get there by being prudent. They got there by seizing their moment.

This is our moment.

The trade market has options. The international circuits are buzzing with talent. The Cuban Winter League, the emerging powerhouses in Africa, the Australian summer league wrapping up – there's talent out there if you're willing to be bold enough to grab it.

To the front office: Stop painting in watercolors when the moment calls for oils. Stop thinking about 2064 when 2063 is right here, begging for attention. The fans who pack Busch Stadium aren't interested in five-year plans. They want October glory, and they want it now.

Wleh isn't going to keep dealing forever. Ramírez isn't going to hit .330 until he's 40. Urban Henry (12-6, 4.17 ERA) and Bob Chávez (7-6, 5.00 ERA) are what they are – good pitchers who need help.

The deadline is coming. The talent is out there. The moment is here.

Paint the masterpiece, or get out of the studio.

Young Drachma

11-19-2024, 11:05 PM

2063 STANDINGS AS OF JULY 29, 2063

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Eastern Division W L PCT GB
Boston Red Sox 67 53 .558 -
Carolina Twins 65 55 .542 2.0
Miami Marlins 61 57 .517 5.0
Toronto Blue Jays 61 57 .517 5.0
Baltimore Orioles 58 60 .492 8.0
New York Yankees 43 75 .364 23.0

Central Division W L PCT GB
Nashville White Sox 67 51 .568 -
Cleveland Guardians 64 54 .542 3.0
Indianapolis Arrows 59 61 .492 9.0
Kansas City Monarchs 55 63 .466 12.0
Detroit Tigers 51 69 .425 17.0
Milwaukee Brewers 50 68 .424 17.0

Western Division W L PCT GB
Sacramento Solons 78 40 .661 -
Texas Rangers 65 55 .542 14.0
Portland Stags 57 61 .483 21.0
Albuquerque Coyotes 56 62 .475 22.0
Seattle Mariners 57 63 .475 22.0
San Diego Padres 54 64 .458 24.0

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Eastern Division W L PCT GB
Washington Grays 71 47 .602 -
New York Mets 66 52 .559 5.0
Tampa Bay Giants 62 56 .525 9.0
Montreal Expos 56 62 .475 15.0
Atlanta Braves 45 73 .381 26.0
Philadelphia Phillies 43 75 .364 28.0

Central Division W L PCT GB
Cincinnati Reds 79 39 .669 -
St. Louis Cardinals 65 53 .551 14.0
Chicago Cubs 64 54 .542 15.0
Oklahoma City 89ers 55 63 .466 24.0
New Orleans Pirates 53 65 .449 26.0
Houston Astros 52 66 .441 27.0

Western Division W L PCT GB
Colorado Rockies 71 49 .592 -
Arizona Diamondbacks 60 58 .508 10.0
Los Angeles Dodgers 59 61 .492 12.0
San Francisco Seals 57 61 .483 13.0
Vancouver Angels 56 62 .475 14.0
Salt Lake Bees 50 68 .424 20.0

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 01:45 AM

How an Icelandic Arm Might Save the Cardinals' Season

Sometimes the best stories in baseball come from the most unlikely places. Like, say, Reykjavik.

While everyone was focused on the Cardinals' deadline dealing – the River Wang acquisition, the Saul Friedman veteran grab – the most intriguing move might have been the one that raised the most eyebrows: signing 23-year-old Virgill Haraldsson out of the Dutch leagues.

Yes, you read that right. Iceland by way of the Netherlands.

In an era where teams are scouring Cuba, Nigeria, and the Australian summer leagues for talent, the Cardinals found their secret weapon throwing in a country better known for soccer and speed skating. But here's the thing: it's working.

Since joining St. Louis, Haraldsson has posted a 3.78 ERA across 47.2 innings, striking out 27 while walking only 9. The Nordic newcomer has shown the kind of poise you don't expect from someone whose career path reads like a geography final: Tucson to Baltimore to Iceland's European Baseball Championship squad and then to the Dutch leagues.

Compare this to Portland's deadline approach – swapping minor leaguers like baseball cards and picking up Eli Russell from Miami's scrap heap – and you see why the Cardinals' front office deserves credit. While other teams were working the phones for the usual suspects, St. Louis was watching grainy footage of Dutch league games, betting that talent can come from anywhere.

Haraldsson's journey – from the Federal League to the European Championships to the heat of a pennant race – is the kind of story that makes baseball special. He's not just surviving; he's thriving. His last outing against Salt Lake showcased a pitcher who belongs, European pedigree and all.

The lesson here isn't just about Haraldsson. It's about imagination. While Portland played it safe and somehow stayed in the race through sheer stubbornness, the Cardinals got creative. They looked where others wouldn't, found talent where others didn't think to look.

In a season where the Cardinals needed everything to break right to catch Cincinnati, maybe their best break came from a country known more for its northern lights than its baseball highlights. Baseball's next frontier might not be where we expect it to be.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to learn how to pronounce "Reykjavik" correctly before my next radio hit.

Left For Dead at the All-Star Break, Portland's Making The Impossible Look Routine... Again

If you'd told anyone in mid-July that we'd be talking about the Portland Stags and the playoffs in the same breath come September, they'd have assumed you were hitting the microbreweries a bit too hard. They were meandering through a mediocre season, the defending American League champions looking nothing like the squad that rode Rocky Smith's miracle complete game to the ALCS last October.

Then they did something truly radical: absolutely nothing.

Well, almost nothing. While contenders were wheeling and dealing, the Stags' biggest moves were shipping Layton Willingham back to St. Louis for prospects and picking up Eli Russell from Miami's bargain bin. The kind of moves that make fans check if their season tickets are refundable.

And yet here we are. The Stags are 77-70, firmly in the Ladder playoff hunt, playing the kind of resilient baseball that made them last year's darlings. They're seven games over .500 since the break, climbing back into relevance with all the subtlety of a cat burglar wearing tap shoes.

How? That's the beautiful part. They didn't do it with splashy acquisitions or desperate trades. They did it by trusting the same core that got them here last year. By believing that sometimes the best move is no move at all.

The rotation, patched together with duct tape and dreams after Willingham's departure, has somehow held together. Emil Briones came off the IL looking like a new man. Troy Charter, called up from Triple-A Eugene with zero fanfare, has been throwing like someone who took personal offense at not being on prospect lists.

Meanwhile, teams that loaded up at the deadline are watching the Stags in their rearview mirror, getting closer by the day. Sacramento's got a lock on the division at 94-53, but in the wild Ladder format, all you need is a chance. Portland proved that last year.

"We've been here before," said manager Xavier Thompson, master of understatement. "These guys know what it takes. Sometimes chemistry isn't about adding ingredients – it's about letting what you have simmer."

That simmer is now a full boil. The Stags aren't just hanging around; they're playing their best baseball when it matters most. The same stadium that hosted last year's ALCS might get another taste of October baseball, and they did it their way – by standing pat when everyone expected panic.

It's a lesson in patience in a sport that increasingly has none. While teams like St. Louis were scouring Dutch leagues for arms (credit where it's due – that Icelandic kid can deal) and throwing prospects at every available veteran, Portland doubled down on what got them here.

Is it sustainable? Who knows. But they said the same thing last year when Portland entered the Ladder playoffs as underdogs. All they did then was make history as the first wild card team to navigate four rounds.

The schedule isn't kind – they've still got six against Sacramento and that crucial series with Texas looming. But the Stags have made a habit of doing things the hard way. Why stop now?

Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. Sometimes faith in what you've built pays off more than a deadline shopping spree. And sometimes, just sometimes, being left for dead at the All-Star break is exactly where you want to be.

Baseball's funny that way.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 01:47 AM

September's Gauntlet: Analyzing the Final Stretch for Two Contenders

With one month left in the regular season, let's break down the remaining schedules for both the Portland Stags and St. Louis Cardinals as they push for Ladder playoff positions.

Portland Stags (77-70)
Remaining Schedule Breakdown:
- 4 vs San Diego (66-83)
- 3 at Baltimore (74-75)
- 2 vs New York Yankees (57-90)
- 4 at Texas (80-67)
- 3 vs Sacramento (94-53)

Strength of Schedule Analysis:
The Stags' path is fascinating. They open with four against the struggling Padres, which could be crucial for building momentum. However, the meat of their schedule is brutal: that four-game set in Texas (Sept 10-13) could effectively decide their wild card fate, as the Rangers are one of their primary competitors for a Ladder spot.

The three-game series against Sacramento (Sept 14-16) looms large, but the Solons may have the division wrapped up by then and could be resting players. The schedule makers did Portland a favor by giving them the Yankees in the middle of this stretch – those two games against the AL East cellar-dwellers could be vital breathing room.

St. Louis Cardinals (84-63)
Remaining Schedule Breakdown:
- 2 at Salt Lake (66-81)
- 3 vs Atlanta (62-85)
- 4 vs Oklahoma City (67-80)
- 4 vs New Orleans (61-86)
- 3 at Cincinnati (97-52)

Strength of Schedule Analysis:
If you're the Cardinals, you're looking at this September schedule and trying not to smile too obviously. Outside of those three games against the division-leading Reds, St. Louis faces nobody with a winning record. The four-game sets against both Oklahoma City and New Orleans should be particularly advantageous – those teams are a combined 56 games under .500.

Playoff Implications:
The Cardinals, currently holding the first NL wild card spot (+3 over Nashville), have a clear path to securing their Ladder position. Their schedule difficulty is bottom-tier until that final Cincinnati series, which might not even matter for seeding purposes.

Portland has the tougher road, but they've been here before. Last year's historic run through the Ladder playoffs started from an even more precarious position. The key stretch will be September 10-16: seven games against Texas and Sacramento that could either cement their comeback story or end it.

Key Factors:
- Portland's head-to-head with Texas could swing the AL wild card race by 4+ games
- St. Louis has 13 straight games against sub-.500 teams before facing Cincinnati
- Both teams finish their scheduled games by September 16th, leaving potential makeup dates or tiebreakers

Projected Finish:
- Cardinals: 92-70 (8-7 in remaining games)
- Stags: 84-78 (7-8 in remaining games)

The Cardinals should cruise into the Ladder playoffs barring a complete collapse. For Portland, it likely comes down to that Texas series – win 3 of 4 there, and the miracle run continues. Split or lose it, and last year's ALCS appearance might be their last taste of October for a while.

Remember though: We said the same thing about Portland's chances last September, and all they did was make history.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 04:43 PM

The Trade That Keeps On Giving: Rangers' Path Back to Postseason Built on Bold Moves

ARLINGTON - Sometimes the best trades are the ones that hurt the most at first. Just ask the Texas Rangers, who in November 2061 shipped their ace Mark Wleh to St. Louis in a blockbuster deal that had the fanbase reaching for the Tums. Less than two years later, as Texas (90-72) prepares for their first postseason appearance since 2061, that trade – and its ripple effects – look like the foundation of a renaissance.

"You never want to trade a pitcher like Mark," says Rangers GM Bill Howard, watching batting practice before a crucial September game. "But sometimes you have to take two steps back to move forward."

Those steps back included not just the Wleh trade, which brought in a package including Spencer Van Doren, but the subsequent flip of Van Doren to Baltimore that netted Jay Taylor. Taylor has been a revelation in right field, hitting .311/.353/.463 with 20 home runs.

The Rangers didn't just rebuild – they reloaded. The rotation, led by Troy Burgess (18-7, 3.55 ERA) and Ulisseo Delgado (9-16, 4.72 ERA), has been steady if unspectacular. But it's the offense that's carried them back to relevance.

Wally Frey (.293/.362/.469, 24 HR, 101 RBI) has emerged as an All-Star caliber third baseman. Salvador Almazan (.299/.372/.445) has provided Gold Glove defense at shortstop while setting career highs across the board. And Kyle Hoffman (.302/.380/.467) has given the lineup the left-handed thunder it desperately needed.

"We knew we had talent," says manager Jack Reynolds. "It was just about finding the right mix."

The bullpen, anchored by Bernard Carter (2.43 ERA, 81 K in 63 innings) has been arguably the team's biggest strength. They're 61-12 when leading after six innings.

Two years ago, watching Wleh head to St. Louis felt like watching the future walk out the door. Instead, it opened a window that Texas has deftly climbed through. Now they're back in the Ladder playoffs, where anything can happen.

"Mark's doing great things in St. Louis," Howard says, nodding at the scoreboard showing the Cardinals' own playoff position. "But I'd say this worked out pretty well for everyone."

As Texas prepares for their first playoff game next week, it's hard to argue with that assessment. Sometimes the best trades really are the ones that hurt the most – at first.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 04:45 PM

ST. LOUIS - Second Half Shows Cards' True Colors As Wleh, Ramírez Lead Charge to Postseason

The calendar said July 15th when the Cardinals trudged into the All-Star break looking nothing like a team that had pushed Baltimore to nine games in last year's World Series. At 44-39, they were treading water in a division the Reds were threatening to run away with.

Then something clicked.

"Baseball's funny that way," says skipper Wookie Rogers, leaning back in his office chair at Busch Stadium. "Sometimes you just need to let a team find itself."

What the Cardinals found was their stride. Since the break, the Redbirds have posted a scalding 50-29 mark, matched only by Toronto's surge in the Junior Circuit. Leading the charge has been Mark Wleh (20-10, 2.33 ERA), whose acquisition from Texas two years ago is looking more pivotal with each dominant start.

"Mark's been everything we hoped for and then some," says pitching coach Tommy Wilson. "When he takes the ball, you can feel the confidence in our dugout."

But it's been more than just Wleh. The midseason additions of River Wang and Icelandic sensation Virgill Haraldsson solidified a rotation that needed depth. The bullpen, anchored by Logan Cash (1.31 ERA in 41.1 innings) and veteran Saul Friedman (2.78 ERA), has been lights out in the late innings.

At the plate, Leuri Ramírez has put together an MVP-caliber campaign (.333/.397/.596, 27 HR, 129 RBI). The speedy Pinwheel Brown (69 steals) and Spencer Van Doren (.281, 27 HR) have given the lineup the kind of balance it lacked early.

"This team reminds me of our '85 club," says longtime Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon. "They just keep coming at you, different hero every night."

Tomorrow's wild card matchup against either the Mets or Cubs kicks off what the Cardinals hope will be another deep October run. With the new Ladder format, they'll need to win four rounds to reach the Fall Classic again.

"Last year taught us what it takes," says first baseman Archer Fernández (.286, 105 RBI). "That Game 9 loss in Baltimore still stings. But maybe that's what we needed."

The Cardinals have been here before - 11 World Championships and counting. But it's been 52 years since the last one, a drought that feels particularly long in a city that measures success in rings.

"These fans deserve another parade," Martinez says, glancing at the championship flags flying beyond center field. "And this team? They just might be the ones to give it to them."

- By Dan O'Neill
SPORTING NEWS

CARDINAL NOTES: St. Louis is 37-19 in one-run games... Urban Henry (14-10) has pitched better than his 4.27 ERA indicates... The Cards are 61-12 when scoring first... Jon Gallegos (.282, 24 SB) has solidified the leadoff spot... The team's 50 post-break wins included a 13-game winning streak in August.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 04:52 PM

Ancient Rivals Meet Again: Cubs, Cards Put 162 Games On The Line

ST. LOUIS - The old saying goes that you can throw out the records when these teams meet. Tonight at Busch Stadium, they literally will.

After 162 games, after the Cubs' triumph over the Mets in the first round of the National League Ladder playoffs, baseball's oldest rivalry adds another chapter. One game. Winner heads to Washington. Loser goes home.

Mark Wleh (20-10, 2.33 ERA) takes the ball for St. Louis against Chicago's Paul Graef (14-10, 3.04 ERA) in a matchup that has old-timers reminiscing about Gibson vs. Jenkins.

"These teams know each other like brothers know each other," says Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "Seven and seven head-to-head this year. Couldn't script it better."

The Cardinals and Cubs split their 14 regular season meetings, each club going 4-3 in the other's park. But St. Louis' scorching second half (50-29 post All-Star break) earned them home field for this winner-take-all showdown.

"That crowd's going to be something else," says Cubs skipper Joe Maddon IV, whose grandfather managed some classics in this rivalry. "But our guys have been playing elimination games for a week now. We're battle-tested."

The matchups are fascinating. Cardinals' MVP candidate Leuri Ramírez (.275, 2 HR vs Chicago) has struggled against Cubs pitching, while Chicago's Melvin Garza (.391 vs STL) seems to save his best for the birds on the bat.

Both teams come in hot - St. Louis winning 8 of their last 10, Chicago fresh off eliminating New York. The Cardinals' potent offense (769 runs, 2nd in NL) faces a Cubs staff that allowed the second-fewest runs in the league.

"Going to come down to who blinks first," says Cardinals first baseman Archer Fernández (.315 vs Chicago). "One play, one pitch could be the difference."

The winner gets Washington in the Division Series, but nobody's thinking that far ahead. Not with 52 years of rivalry, pennant races, and October heartbreak hanging in the crisp autumn air.

"Cubs-Cardinals in October," Martinez says, shaking his head. "Doesn't get any better than this."

CARDINALS NOTES: St. Louis is 50-31 at home... Wleh is 2-1 with a 1.08 ERA vs Chicago this year... Pinwheel Brown (.309 vs Cubs) has been a particular thorn in Chicago's side... The Cardinals' bullpen posted a 2.89 ERA in September... This is the first postseason meeting between these teams since the old Division Series format in 2015.

CUBS NOTES: Chicago is seeking their first World Series title since 2016... Noé García leads the team with 5 HR vs St. Louis this season... Cubs are 19-11 in one-run games on the road... Graef has never started a playoff game... Chicago's defense led the NL in efficiency.

By Bob Hummel
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 04:58 PM

Unlikely Hero Shuts Down Cubs as Cardinals Roll Into Washington Series

ST. LOUIS - Baseball has a way of choosing its heroes. On a crisp September evening at Sportsman's Park, with 52 years of championship drought hanging in the balance, Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers didn't turn to Mark Wleh or Urban Henry. He handed the ball to Taner Peterson.

All he did was throw the game of his life.

Peterson's masterful complete-game shutout, backed by a relentless offense, propelled St. Louis to an 8-0 victory over the Cubs in the National League Wild Card game. The win sends the Cardinals to Washington for the Division Series, while Chicago heads home wondering what hit them.

"Some nights, you just know," said catcher Yun-Seong Jeon, who contributed an RBI double. "Taner had everything working. The Cubs never had a chance."

Peterson needed just 113 pitches to craft his gem, scattering six hits while walking none and striking out two. The efficiency was stunning - 72 strikes in 113 pitches, inducing weak contact all night as 23 of 27 outs came via ground balls or fly balls.

The offense made sure Peterson's brilliance wouldn't go to waste. Alexis Walker set the tone with a 4-for-5 performance that included a triple and two stolen bases. Pinwheel Brown drove in three runs, while Archer Fernández and Sandy Cook each delivered crucial doubles.

The game turned decisively in the third inning. Leading 1-0, St. Louis erupted for four runs, highlighted by Walker's triple and Fernández's two-run double that chased Cubs starter Paul Graef. Three more runs in the sixth put the game out of reach, turning the final innings into a coronation.

"This team's been through a lot," said Rogers, who's been pushing all the right buttons during the Cardinals' second-half surge. "Last year's World Series loss, the slow start this year. But nights like this make you believe."

For Chicago, it was a bitter end to a season that saw them fight through the first round of the Ladder playoffs. Desi Quinones had two hits including a double, but the Cubs couldn't string anything together against Peterson's precision.

The Cardinals now head to Washington for Saturday's Division Series opener, their dreams of ending the 52-year championship drought very much alive.

CARDINAL NOTES: The shutout was St. Louis's first in postseason play since 2056... Walker's four hits tied a franchise postseason record... The Cardinals turned two double plays behind Peterson... The team improved to 51-31 at home this season... Brown's three RBIs gave him 70 for the year... Rogers improved his postseason record to 12-8 with the victory.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 05:02 PM

Kraker Quiets Cardinal Bats as Washington Takes Game 1

WASHINGTON - The ghosts of Walter Johnson were smiling at Gibson Stadium Saturday night. So was Tony Kraker.

The Washington right-hander stifled the Cardinals for seven masterful innings, leading the Grays to a 5-1 victory in Game 1 of the National League Elimination Series. The win puts St. Louis in the precarious position of needing to win two straight to advance.

Cardinals ace Mark Wleh (0-1), so dominant during the team's second-half surge, found himself in trouble early. Washington's Julio Viramontes delivered a two-run double in the first inning, and Fozzie Fazenbaker added another run-scoring double in a two-run third that pushed the lead to 4-0.

"Mark wasn't as sharp as we're used to seeing," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "But give Washington credit - they had a plan and executed it perfectly."

Wleh battled through eight innings, striking out seven, but two wild pitches and an uncharacteristic error by first baseman Archer Fernández didn't help his cause. The Cardinals' defense, usually reliable, picked a bad night to show cracks.

The St. Louis offense, so potent in Wednesday's Wild Card win over Chicago, couldn't solve Kraker. Alexis Walker managed another stolen base and Pinwheel Brown doubled, but the Cardinals stranded 10 runners, going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

"We had our chances," said Brown. "But Kraker made pitches when he had to. Sometimes you have to tip your cap."

Washington's Yuki Yokochi set the tone from the leadoff spot, reaching base three times and stealing a base. The Grays played classic National League baseball - taking extra bases, moving runners over, and capitalizing on mistakes.

The series continues Sunday night with Urban Henry taking the mound for St. Louis in what amounts to a must-win game. For Rogers and his Cardinals, the 52-year championship drought now faces its stiffest test yet.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 05:03 PM

Dominican Lefty, Extra-Inning Magic Keep St. Louis Alive in Nation's Capital

By Thomas Boswell III
Washington Post Staff Writer

The problem with ghosts is they don't always cooperate. On a night when 31,693 packed Gibson Stadium hoping to see Washington clinch its first playoff series since returning to the District, the Cardinals reminded everyone why they were in the World Series last October.

Behind Victor Santoyo's masterful eight innings and a 10th-inning rally, St. Louis forced a decisive Game 3 with a gutsy 3-2 victory over the Grays. The Dominican-born lefty, making just his sixth start of the season, delivered the kind of performance that turns playoff series.

"Sometimes baseball chooses unlikely heroes," said Grays manager Calvin Robinson. "Tonight, it chose their guy."

Santoyo scattered five hits over eight innings, his only real mistake a seventh-inning fastball that Fozzie Fazenbaker deposited into the right field seats to tie the game at 2-2. But even that couldn't derail what might have been the most important start of his career.

The Cardinals struck first when Irv Daniels (3-for-4, triple, double) continued his torrid series in the opening frame. Washington answered immediately on Fazenbaker's RBI single, setting up what would become a classic October pitchers' duel between Santoyo and James Whaley.

St. Louis had chances - oh, did they have chances. They stranded 12 runners, hit into two double plays, and even had Leuri Ramírez thrown out at home on a brilliant throw from Yuki Yokochi in left field. But in the 10th, they finally broke through.

Ramírez, who earlier had tripled, led off with a double against Dylan Powers. After an intentional walk to Daniels (replaced by pinch-runner Kion Mansour), Spencer Van Doren delivered the go-ahead single that silenced the crowd.

Urban Henry, normally a starter, worked two perfect innings for the win. The veteran right-hander needed just 20 pitches to send the series to Monday's winner-take-all Game 3.

"This team's got more lives than a cat," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "But we've got one more hill to climb."

For Washington, it was a bitter reminder of how cruel October baseball can be. Whaley deserved better, working seven strong innings. Fazenbaker (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) continued his assault on Cardinals pitching. But the Grays' offense, so potent in Game 1, managed just five hits.

Tomorrow night, these teams will play for a trip to the Division Series. The Grays will send Kenny Marshall to the mound. St. Louis hasn't announced their starter.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 05:07 PM

Cook's Homer, Willingham's Redemption Send St. Louis Through in Nation's Capital

By Thomas Boswell III
Washington Post Staff Writer

Layton Willingham stood in the visitors' clubhouse at Gibson Stadium, champagne dripping from his graying beard, and smiled. "Full circle," said the 35-year-old lefty, who helped Portland to the ALCS last year before returning to St. Louis. Tonight, his seven gutsy innings helped the Cardinals survive a 6-4 thriller over Washington to advance to the Division Series against Colorado.

The Grays didn't go quietly. Júlio Viramontes' two-run homer in the ninth off Urban Henry sent shockwaves through the visiting dugout, but the Cardinals' 6-2 lead proved just enough cushion.

Series MVP Sandy Cook delivered the biggest blow, a two-run homer in the eighth that looked like insurance but proved to be the difference. The shortstop finished the series batting .438 with six RBI, none bigger than his blast off Jorge Valentin.

"Sandy's been our rock all year," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "When we needed a big hit, he delivered."

The pivotal sixth inning saw St. Louis break a 1-1 tie with three runs, highlighted by Yun-Seong Jeon's bases-loaded double. The rally started innocently enough with singles by Archer Fernández and Pinwheel Brown, but Valentin's control abandoned him at the worst possible moment.

For Washington, it was a bitter end to a promising season. Viramontes went 4-for-5 with three RBI in a heroic final effort, and Yuki Yokochi added two more hits to cap an outstanding series (.417). But the Grays' inability to deliver the big hit - they stranded nine runners - proved costly.

"This one will sting for a while," said Robinson, watching the Cardinals celebrate on his field. "But I'm proud of how we fought until the last out."

The Cardinals now head to Colorado for Thursday's Division Series opener, their dreams of ending a 52-year championship drought still alive. The Rockies won the season series 4-3, but October has a way of writing its own scripts.

"Nobody gave us much chance after Cincinnati ran away with the division," said Rogers. "But here we are, still standing. These guys just don't quit."

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 05:27 PM

The Art of Excess: St. Louis's Unconventional Path to Postseason Dominance

By Joe Strauss
The Athletic

When the Cardinals trudged off the field after last October's World Series loss to Baltimore, the blueprint for 2063 was already forming in Wookie Rogers' mind. The problem wasn't talent – it was depth.

"Those late innings killed us," says a Cardinals front office executive who requested anonymity to discuss internal strategy. "We'd get six strong from our starter, but bridging to the ninth was like walking a tightrope."

The solution? Flood the zone with starting pitchers.

Over the past nine months, St. Louis has systematically accumulated arms that blur the line between starter and reliever. The results were on full display in their NLDS sweep of Colorado, where the Cardinals showcased their embarrassment of pitching riches:

- Saul Friedman, acquired from the Mets, transitioned seamlessly to relief
- River Wang, plucked from Vancouver, brings starter's stamina to middle relief
- Layton Willingham, the prodigal son who spent 11 years in St. Louis before helping Portland to last year's ALCS, returned home
- Luke Legler, part of the blockbuster Asher Novak trade with Los Angeles, provides multi-inning flexibility despite missing six summer weeks
- Stewart Abdul-Salam, the former Indianapolis ace acquired at the deadline

But perhaps the most intriguing conversion has been future Hall of Famer Urban Henry. The 40-year-old St. Lucian native – owner of 10 Cy Young Awards, 2 MVPs, and 14 All-Star selections – has embraced a closer's role that would have seemed unthinkable for a pitcher of his stature.

"I always wanted to be a guy who could shut the door," says Henry, whose only World Series ring came with Texas in 2058. "So when Skip [Rogers] asked me if I was down to try this, I was pumped. The bullpen is a rockin' place."

The numbers tell the story. In the NLDS sweep, Cardinals relievers allowed just one run in 8.1 innings. More importantly, Rogers had multiple multi-inning options for every situation. When Taner Peterson needed help in Game 2, Henry was there for two perfect innings. When Mark Wleh tired in Game 3, Henry again slammed the door.

"Last year, we might have one guy who could give us length in relief," Rogers says. "Now I've got five or six. Makes my job a lot easier."

The strategy required significant investment. The Novak trade sent their top prospect to Los Angeles. Deadline deals depleted the farm system further. But for a franchise seeking its first title since 2011, the cost was worth it.

"We saw what happened last October," says the executive. "You can have the best rotation in baseball, but in modern playoffs, you need more. You need options."

As St. Louis prepares for their third straight League Championship Series, those options appear limitless. Their bullpen isn't just deep – it's starter deep. And that might make all the difference in their quest to end a 52-year championship drought.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 05:48 PM

Statement Series Has St. Louis Dreaming, But Tougher Tests Await

By Buddy Miklasz
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The champagne was flowing at Sportsman's Park Friday night, but there was something different about this celebration. More subdued. More focused. The Cardinals have been here before – four straight League Championship Series appearances tell that story – but this team feels different.

"We're not done," said series MVP Yun-Seong Jeon (.625, 2 HR), voicing what everyone in a Cardinal uniform was thinking. "There is still a lot to accomplish."

The NLDS sweep of Colorado was clinical, almost surgical in its execution. Three games, three different formulas:
- Game 1: Taner Peterson dominates for 7 innings, Urban Henry slams the door
- Game 2: Stewart Abdul-Salam and Logan Cash combine for a 3-2 nailbiter
- Game 3: Mark Wleh carries a shutout into the eighth before Henry finishes again

"This is what we built for," says manager Wookie Rogers, whose bullpen machinations have been masterful. "Different guys, different roles, same result."

But beneath the sweep lies both promise and warning. The Cardinals managed just 19 hits across three games. Leuri Ramírez (.222) hasn't found his MVP-caliber stroke. The defense turned eight double plays, masking some offensive struggles.

"We know we can be better," says first baseman Archer Fernández. "You don't get rings for Division Series sweeps."

He would know. Last October's World Series loss to Baltimore still stings in this clubhouse. The 52-year championship drought hangs like autumn fog over the Gateway Arch. And while this team appears better equipped for October – particularly in the bullpen, where Rogers now has a surplus of former starters at his disposal – the road gets considerably harder from here.

The Cardinals' path to ending their championship drought will likely run through either Cincinnati (103 wins) or Washington (93 wins). Neither will be impressed by a sweep of a Rockies team that looked overmatched at times.

"Every series gets tougher," says Henry, the 40-year-old future Hall of Famer who's reinvented himself as a playoff closer. "That's why they call it a climb."

But there are signs this might be different than past October disappointments. The pitching staff allowed just five runs in three games at offense-friendly Mile High Stadium. Sandy Cook continues to deliver clutch hits. The defensive alignment, particularly up the middle, has been spectacular.

"We're playing complete baseball," Rogers says. "Pitching, defense, timely hitting. That travels in October."

The Cardinals will need all of it and more as the stakes raise. But for now, they can appreciate what they've accomplished while keeping their eyes on the larger prize. The champagne Friday night was just a prelude – if everything goes according to plan.

"Nice to win it," Henry says, his St. Lucian accent thick with emotion. "Better to win what comes next."

Buddy Miklasz has covered St. Louis sports for more than four decades. He can be heard weekdays on 590 The Fan.

Breaking Down the Numbers for Your NLCS Daily Fantasy and Betting Needs

After nine straight playoff appearances and two recent World Series titles (2057, 2059), the 103-win Reds host the surging Cardinals in what promises to be a fascinating NLCS matchup. Let's dive into the numbers that matter for both DFS players and bettors.

DFS Targets (Regular Season vs. Opponent)

Cardinals Hitters vs. Reds:
- Leuri Ramírez: .327/.375/.577, 5 HR in 14 games
- Sandy Cook: .375/.400/.525, 15 RBI in 14 games
- Pinwheel Brown: 8 SB in 14 games, .344 OBP

Reds Hitters vs. Cardinals:
- Matthew Curran: .321/.365/.679, 6 HR in 14 games
- Artémio Vazquez: .299/.340/.487, 12 runs in 14 games
- Chuck Fettkether: .333/.412/.567, 8 RBI in 14 games

Pitching Matchups & DFS Value

Game 1:
STL Victor Santoyo (Away splits: 3.92 ERA)
vs
CIN Landerson Valdez (Home splits: 2.85 ERA)

Game 2:
STL Taner Peterson (13-2, 2.15 ERA)
vs
CIN Inigo Montes (1.98 ERA in last 7 starts)

Game 3:
CIN Zach Bailey (2.75 ERA at home)
vs
STL Layton Willingham (3.21 ERA in September)

Key DFS Stats:
- Reds hit .338 vs LHP (best in MLB)
- Cardinals bullpen: 2.90 ERA (MLB best)
- Reds at home: 5.8 runs per game
- Cardinals on road: .265/.338/.441

FanDuel Series Prices:
Reds -145
Cardinals +125

Best Series Props:
- Over 6.5 total games (-115)
- Artémio Vazquez over 7.5 hits (+100)
- Leuri Ramírez over 2.5 RBI per game (+135)
- Total series runs over 58.5 (-110)

First Game Props:
- First inning run: Yes (+145)
- Landerson Valdez over 6.5 Ks (-115)
- Matthew Curran to homer (+320)
- Both teams to score 3+ runs (-125)

Series X-Factors:
1. Reds' MLB-best .691 home winning percentage
2. Cardinals' 7-game playoff winning streak
3. Head-to-head season series: Reds 8-6
4. Cardinals' converted closer Urban Henry (0.00 ERA in 6 playoff appearances)

The Pick:
Reds in 7 (-145)
Cincinnati's dominant home record and balanced lineup give them a slight edge in what should be a back-and-forth series. Expect several one-run games and late-inning drama.

Note: All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference. Please gamble responsibly.

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 05:49 PM

Cards Scratch Out 2-1 Win as Henry Slams Door in Cincinnati

By Rick Hummel
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

CINCINNATI - For all the talk about power arms and potent lineups, Game 1 of the National League Championship Series came down to the little things: A sacrifice fly, a stolen base, and a 40-year-old closer slamming the door.

The Cardinals grabbed the series opener 2-1 at Great American Ball Park on Monday, manufacturing runs in classic National League style while Victor Santoyo and Urban Henry combined to silence baseball's most prolific offense.

"That's playoff baseball," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "Sometimes you have to win ugly."

The Cardinals struck first in the opening frame when Alexis Walker led off with a double, moved to third on a Leuri Ramírez single, and scored on Spencer Van Doren's sacrifice fly. That run would hold up until the eighth inning, when Trevor Clark's RBI double finally got Cincinnati on the board against Santoyo.

But the Cardinals had one more small-ball rally in them. Walker worked a leadoff walk in the ninth against Reds closer Neil Johnson, and after some crafty baserunning that saw him take third on Archer Fernández's single, he scored the winning run on Van Doren's second sacrifice fly of the night.

"Alexis is our spark plug," Rogers said of his centerfielder, who reached base twice and scored both Cardinal runs. "When he's creating chaos on the basepaths, good things happen."

The real story was Santoyo, who scattered five hits over 7⅓ innings before giving way to Henry. The veteran closer, who earlier this week spoke about embracing his new role, recorded the final five outs for his third save of the postseason.

"Urban's seen it all," said catcher Yun-Seong Jeon. "Nothing fazes him anymore."

The Reds threatened in the ninth when Tezer Chapman singled with one out, but Henry calmly retired Bill Smith and Chuck Fettkether on fly balls to preserve the win.

NOTES: This was the first 2-1 game between these teams since June 2062... The Cardinals have now won eight straight playoff games dating back to last year... Landerson Valdez took the tough loss despite eight strong innings... Game 2 features Taner Peterson against Inigo Montes... The teams combined to strand 13 runners.

KEY MOMENT: With runners at first and second and one out in the ninth, Henry fell behind Vazquez 3-1 before battling back for a crucial strikeout. "That's why he's going to Cooperstown," Rogers said of his closer.

WHAT'S NEXT: Game 2, Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park. First pitch scheduled for 8:05 PM ET.

From Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati

Young Drachma

11-20-2024, 05:53 PM

From Command to Crisis: How the Cardinals Lost Control of the Series

The numbers tell a cruel story: Two one-run leads lost, one error at the worst possible moment, and suddenly the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves trailing the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in the National League Championship Series.

Thursday's 5-4 gut punch at Sportsman's Park followed a similar script to Tuesday's 3-2 loss in Cincinnati. In both games, the Cardinals held leads late. In both games, those leads evaporated in crushing fashion.

"Baseball has a way of humbling you," said a visibly frustrated Wookie Rogers, who declined formal postgame questions but offered that brief comment before departing.

The final inning of Game 3 epitomized the Cardinals' sudden reversal of fortune. Leading 4-2 entering the ninth, Urban Henry – so dominant throughout the postseason – surrendered a game-changing double to Tristan Martínez before Daxton Anderson's go-ahead single silenced the crowd of 33,586.

"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug," said Irv Daniels, whose eighth-inning two-run homer had given St. Louis what seemed like a commanding lead. "Today we were the bug."

The collapse overshadowed another strong start from Mark Wleh (7 IP, 2 ER) and wasted a breakout performance from Chuck Fettkether (4-for-5, 2 RBI).

How quickly things change. Just 48 hours ago, the Cardinals were celebrating a Game 1 victory and dreaming of a 2-0 series lead. Now they're facing the very real possibility of watching Cincinnati celebrate at Sportsman's Park.

The series pivoted in Game 2 when Matthew Curran scored two runs on a critical error in the sixth inning, turning a 2-1 Cardinals lead into a 3-2 deficit. Inigo Montes made that lead stand up with seven masterful innings.

"We've been resilient all year," said catcher Yun-Seong Jeon. "No reason to stop now."

The Cardinals will turn to Palmer Moore in Game 4, hoping to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole. Cincinnati counters with Zach Bailey, who posted a 2.75 ERA at home this season.

BY THE NUMBERS:
- Cardinals have led in all three games
- 14 runners left on base by Cincinnati in Game 3
- Henry's ERA has risen from 0.00 to 4.66 in his last two outings
- Reds batting .333 with runners in scoring position in series

WHAT'S NEXT: Game 4, Friday at Sportsman's Park. First pitch scheduled for 8:05 PM CT.

"We're not done," said Alexis Walker, who reached base three times in Game 3. "But we better start writing some different endings to these games."

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 03:18 AM

Homecoming Kings: Former Cardinals Return to Lead Game 4 Victory
By Rick Hummel
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Baseball has a way of bringing people home. Just ask Layton Willingham, who spent his first 11 seasons in Cardinal red before last year's detour to Portland's ALCS run. Or Spencer Van Doren, whose journey from St. Louis to Texas to Baltimore's pennant winners and back again reads like a baseball odyssey.
Thursday night, both returned the favor to their original club, leading the Cardinals to a series-evening 6-2 victory over Cincinnati in Game 4 of the NLCS.
"This place... it's just different," said Willingham, who threw 8⅓ masterful innings in his first postseason start since returning from Portland at the deadline. "When you spend 11 years somewhere, it becomes home. Coming back here, especially for games like this, it just feels right."
Van Doren, who watched last year's World Series from Baltimore's dugout before returning to St. Louis this season, sparked the offense with a second-inning double and scored the game's first run. He later delivered a key RBI single in the decisive seventh-inning rally.
"Spence and Layton, they understand what October baseball means in this city," said manager Wookie Rogers. "There's something special about guys coming home."
The Cardinals broke open a tense 2-1 game with a four-run seventh against Palmer Moore and Goose Koch, featuring:

Pepper Reid's RBI single
Leuri Ramírez's two-run hit
Van Doren's run-scoring single that capped the rally

Willingham made that lead stand up, scattering 10 hits while walking just one. When he finally tired in the ninth, Urban Henry got the final two outs to preserve the win that squared the series at 2-2.
"Last October, I was trying to get Portland to the World Series," Willingham reflected. "Now I'm back where it all started, trying to bring a championship back to St. Louis. Baseball's funny that way."

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 02:03 PM

Back-to-Back Pennants: Cardinals Blast Reds 8-2, Set Sights on Ending 52-Year Drought

By Bernie Miklasz
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

CINCINNATI - The ghosts of 2062 still linger, but these Cardinals are determined to write a different ending.

One year after watching Baltimore celebrate a World Series title on their field, St. Louis punched their return ticket to the Fall Classic with an emphatic 8-2 victory over Cincinnati at Crosley Field. Series MVP Alexis Walker (.389, 6 runs) and Leuri Ramírez (2-for-4, HR, triple, 4 RBI) led an early offensive explosion that silenced the crowd of 40,156.

"Last October left a bad taste," said Walker, who reached base three times in the clincher. "We've got unfinished business."

The Cardinals wasted no time, jumping on Inigo Montes for three first-inning runs. After Walker walked and Archer Fernández singled, Ramírez launched a two-run homer. Two batters later, Spencer Van Doren made it back-to-back shots for a 3-0 lead they would never relinquish.

"That first inning set the tone," said manager Wookie Rogers. "After two tough games here earlier in the series, we needed to throw the first punch."

Taner Peterson delivered seven strong innings, allowing just two runs while scattering seven hits. The only blemishes were Artémio Vazquez's solo homer in the fifth and Jimmy Ray Horne's RBI single in the sixth.

The knockout blow came in the sixth when Ramírez's bases-loaded triple made it 6-1. Urban Henry, the 40-year-old future Hall of Famer seeking his second World Series ring, closed out the final two innings.

"We're halfway there," said Henry, who won his only championship with Texas in 2058. "But this city's waited 52 years. We've got to finish the job this time."

For Cincinnati, it was a bitter end to a 103-win season. The Reds dominated the regular season but couldn't solve the Cardinals' pitching staff when it mattered most.

NOTES:
- Cardinals outscored Reds 26-12 in final three games
- Peterson lowered his postseason ERA to 1.10
- Team will seek franchise's 12th World Series title

UP NEXT: The World Series begins next weekend. St. Louis awaits the winner of Sacramento-Toronto.

"Last year taught us getting there isn't enough," Rogers said, champagne dripping from his cap. "This time we finish the story right."

From Crosley Field in Cincinnati

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 02:08 PM

The Mad Scientist of St. Louis: Inside the Mind of Baseball's Most Daring Manager

By Wright Bernstein
Esquire

Wookie Rogers sits in his office at Sportsman's Park, feet propped on a desk that's seen three generations of Cardinal managers before him, and grins like a man who knows something you don't. He usually does.

"Everyone thought I was crazy," he says, remembering the conversation that changed the Cardinals' season. "Here's Urban Henry, future first-ballot Hall of Famer, 10 Cy Youngs, two MVPs, and I'm asking him to be my closer. Who does that?"

Wookie Rogers does that.

The 40-year-old Henry, St. Lucian accent thick with emotion, remembers the conversation differently: "Skip just walks in, puts a bottle of rum on my locker - good rum, the kind you can only get back home - and says 'Want to make history?' When Wookie asks like that, you listen."

History, indeed. Henry has transformed into the kind of closer that makes other managers weep, recording crucial saves throughout the Cardinals' march back to the World Series. But that's just one piece of Rogers' fascinating puzzle.

This is a man who turned Layton Willingham's homecoming into poetry, bringing back the veteran lefty who spent 11 years in Cardinal red before last year's Portland sojourn. Who orchestrated Spencer Van Doren's return via a circuitous route through Texas and Baltimore. Who built a bullpen full of converted starters because, as he puts it, "anyone can get three outs - I want guys who know how to get twenty-seven."

"The thing about Wookie," says bench coach Tommy Herzog (yes, that Herzog's great grandson), "is he sees baseball differently. While everyone else is playing chess, he's playing three-dimensional chess. In space. Probably upside down."

The stories are becoming legend. There's the time he called for a pitchout on a 3-0 count in the ninth inning of a one-run game because he "saw something in the third base coach's left ear." The runner was going. There's the famous "BBQ Summit" where he solved Mark Wleh's early-season struggles over eighteen hours of slow-smoking ribs. "Best manager I've ever had," says Wleh, "though my cholesterol hasn't been the same since."

But it's the Henry decision that defines Rogers' tenure. Moving a future Hall of Famer to the bullpen could have backfired spectacularly. Instead, it might bring St. Louis its first championship since 2011.

"People overthink baseball," Rogers says, pulling a weathered scorecard from his desk. It's from his minor league managing days, covered in a cryptic system of dots and dashes that look more like quantum physics than baseball. "The goal isn't to be the smartest person in the room. It's to put people in positions to be their best selves."

He pauses, that grin returning. "Though being the smartest person in the room doesn't hurt."

The Cardinals are four wins away from ending their 52-year championship drought. Their manager is either a genius or a madman. The line between the two, as Rogers would tell you, is probably just a matter of perspective.

And that bottle of rum that convinced Henry to become a closer? "Still haven't opened it," Henry says. "Wookie says we're saving it for something special."

One gets the feeling they won't have to wait much longer.

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 02:55 PM

History vs. Destiny: Breaking Down the 2063 Fall Classic

By Jeff Sullivan
FanGraphs

When the 2063 season began, nobody predicted a World Series matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and Sacramento Solons. The Cardinals weren't even supposed to make it through the new Ladder playoff format. The Solons? They were expected to be good winning their 3rd straight AL West title, but they weren't on anyone's list to win the AL but they capitalized on the opportunities and leveraged their bye into a defeat of the Toronto Blue Jays in 6 games in the ALCS.

Yet here we are. Let's break down what promises to be a fascinating series.

How They Got Here
- Cardinals: Made history as first Ladder-era team to advance from wild card to World Series, going 11-4 through four rounds
- Solons: Won 99 games, dominated Blue Jays in ALCS behind MVP Zane Grifaldo

Offense

The Cardinals (.265/.338/.403, 2nd in NL hits) and Solons (.269/.348/.422, 3rd in AL runs) are more similar than they appear. Both teams rely on balanced attacks rather than pure power.

Key Matchups:
- Leuri Ramírez (.333/.397/.596, 8.2 WAR) vs Jorge Galo (.364/.454/.572, 8.3 WAR)
- Cardinals' MLB-best 196 SB vs Solons' strong catch-and-throw backstops
- Chandler Graeve (37 HR, 130 RBI) vs Cardinals' predominantly left-handed staff

Edge: Even

Starting Pitching

The contrast is stark:
- Cardinals: Led by Mark Wleh (20-10, 2.33 ERA, 10.2 WAR)
- Solons: Balanced rotation featuring Minoru Watamura (14-12, 3.71 ERA)

Edge: Cardinals

Bullpen

The series could hinge here:
- Cardinals: MLB-best 2.90 bullpen ERA, led by converted starter Henry
- Solons: Walt Cliff (2.57 ERA) and Nico Ayala (2.82 ERA) form lethal late-inning combo

Edge: Cardinals

Defense
- Cardinals: +34.7 WAR on defense, led by Alexis Walker in CF
- Solons: Middle of the pack defensively but excellent up the middle

Edge: Cardinals

Intangibles
- Cardinals seeking first title since 2011
- Solons looking for franchise's first championship
- No head-to-head meetings in 2063

The Call
Cardinals in 6. The combination of Wleh, that transformed bullpen, and Ramírez's scorching bat proves too much. St. Louis ends its 52-year drought and validates Rogers' unconventional moves.

One Strange Fact
These teams have never met in interleague play since Sacramento reclaimed the Solons name in 2061. First World Series matchup between teams with zero regular season meetings since the 2039 Fall Classic.

Numbers courtesy of FanGraphs. For more analysis, visit fangraphs.com

Hot vs. Hot: Breaking Down Cardinals-Solons By The Postseason Stats

By Jeff Sullivan
FanGraphs

The numbers that matter aren't from the regular season anymore. Let's dive into what these teams have actually done in October:

Playoff Heroes So Far

Cardinals:
- Alexis Walker: .389/.450/.537, 12 runs in 13 games
- Taner Peterson: 3-1, 1.10 ERA in 32.2 IP
- Urban Henry: Reinvented as closer with 1 save, 3.65 ERA in high-leverage spots

Solons:
- Zane Grifaldo: ALCS MVP hitting .593/.607/.926
- Chandler Graeve: .444/.522/.944, 7 RBI in 6 games
- Walt Cliff: 6 saves, 2.57 ERA as closer

Key Storylines

1. The Henry Experiment
Rogers' bold move to convert future Hall of Famer Urban Henry to closer has been a masterstroke. The 40-year-old has embraced the role, getting crucial outs in the Cardinals' march through the Ladder playoffs.

2. Peterson's Renaissance
While Wleh is still the ace, Peterson has been untouchable this postseason (1.10 ERA). His success gives Rogers flexibility with the rotation.

3. Grifaldo's Moment
After a solid regular season, the Solons' shortstop has gone supernova (.593 in ALCS). Can he stay hot against St. Louis's left-heavy staff?

Matchup to Watch
Cardinals' bullpen creativity vs Solons' late-inning approach. St. Louis has masterfully deployed former starters in relief roles while Sacramento relies on more traditional bullpen usage.

X-Factor
Leuri Ramírez (.292/.393/.458 this postseason) vs Jorge Galo (.273/.385/.364 in ALCS). Both left-handed hitters will face tough matchups throughout.

Prediction
Cardinals in 7. Henry gets the final out as St. Louis ends its 52-year drought in dramatic fashion.

Historical Note
First World Series featuring a team that came through the Ladder format. St. Louis had to win 11 games just to get here - they're 3 wins from completing the most improbable championship run in baseball history. It's their 2nd straight NL pennant (21 in franchise history) after going 50 years without a World Series appearance.

Sacramento won their 3rd AL pennant in franchise history, they joined MLB in 2040 and lost in Game 9 in the 2046 World Series to Milwaukee, in 2052 they were the Las Vegas A's and got swept by the Colorado Rockies. They've been back in Sacramento for a 2nd stint since 2060, after being here from 2040 until 2052 with stops throughout the Bay Area before their return.

All postseason statistics through League Championship Series

Hot vs. Hot: Breaking Down Cardinals-Solons By The Postseason Stats

The numbers that matter aren't from the regular season anymore. Let's dive into what these teams have actually done in October:

Playoff Heroes So Far

Cardinals:
- Alexis Walker: .389/.450/.537, 12 runs in 13 games
- Taner Peterson: 3-1, 1.10 ERA in 32.2 IP
- Urban Henry: Reinvented as closer with 1 save, 3.65 ERA in high-leverage spots

Solons:
- Zane Grifaldo: ALCS MVP hitting .593/.607/.926
- Chandler Graeve: .444/.522/.944, 7 RBI in 6 games
- Walt Cliff: 6 saves, 2.57 ERA as closer

Key Storylines

1. The Henry Experiment
Rogers' bold move to convert future Hall of Famer Urban Henry to closer has been a masterstroke. The 40-year-old has embraced the role, getting crucial outs in the Cardinals' march through the Ladder playoffs.

2. Peterson's Renaissance
While Wleh is still the ace, Peterson has been untouchable this postseason (1.10 ERA). His success gives Rogers flexibility with the rotation.

3. Grifaldo's Moment
After a solid regular season, the Solons' shortstop has gone supernova (.593 in ALCS). Can he stay hot against St. Louis's left-heavy staff?

Matchup to Watch
Cardinals' bullpen creativity vs Solons' late-inning approach. St. Louis has masterfully deployed former starters in relief roles while Sacramento relies on more traditional bullpen usage.

X-Factor
Leuri Ramírez (.292/.393/.458 this postseason) vs Jorge Galo (.273/.385/.364 in ALCS). Both left-handed hitters will face tough matchups throughout.

Prediction
Cardinals in 7. Henry gets the final out as St. Louis ends its 52-year drought in dramatic fashion.

Historical Note
First World Series featuring a team that came through the Ladder format. St. Louis had to win 11 games just to get here - they're 3 wins from completing the most improbable championship run in baseball history. It's their 2nd straight NL pennant (21 in franchise history) after going 50 years without a World Series appearance.

Sacramento won their 3rd AL pennant in franchise history, they joined MLB in 2040 and lost in Game 9 in the 2046 World Series to Milwaukee, in 2052 they were the Las Vegas A's and got swept by the Colorado Rockies. They've been back in Sacramento for a 2nd stint since 2060, after being here from 2040 until 2052 with stops throughout the Bay Area before their return.

All postseason statistics through League Championship Series

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 03:04 PM

The Unlikely Hero: Cordero's 12th-Inning Single, Henry's Gutsy Relief Push Cards Past Solons

By Jon Kepner
The Athletic

SACRAMENTO - The story of the 2063 St. Louis Cardinals has been about unconventional choices and unlikely heroes. Game 1 of the World Series gave us both.

José Cordero, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning, delivered the game-winning single in the 12th. Urban Henry, the future Hall of Famer turned closer, worked four high-wire innings of relief. And the Cardinals grabbed a 2-1 victory over Sacramento in a thriller that stretched four hours and 31 minutes at Arco Park.

"Every night, someone different," said manager Wookie Rogers, whose decision to convert Henry to relief has defined this postseason run. "José's been waiting for his moment. Urban's been embracing new moments all October."

The teams traded early punches. Sacramento struck first when Chandler Graeve's double scored Jorge Galo in the opening frame. Leuri Ramírez answered with a solo shot off Hank Shim in the sixth, his second homer of the postseason.

Then came the chess match. Henry entered in the ninth and navigated through trouble in the 10th when Galo doubled but was stranded. The 40-year-old veteran threw a career-high 72 pitches across four innings, stranding five Solons baserunners.

"Skip asked how I felt after each inning," Henry said. "I kept telling him, 'Let me finish this.' When you've waited this long for a World Series moment, you don't want to let go."

The breakthrough finally came in the 12th. After Spencer Van Doren walked and Yun-Seong Jeon singled, Cordero – who spent most of the season in Triple-A – laced a single to right that brought Van Doren home.

Logan Cash, the third St. Louis pitcher, struck out two in a perfect 12th for his third save of the postseason.

Lost in the late drama was another stellar start from Mark Wleh: seven innings, five hits, one run. The Solons stranded 15 runners, going 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

"That's October baseball," said Solons manager Buddy McGrady. "Sometimes you have to tip your cap. But we'll be back tomorrow."

NOTES:
- Cardinals improve to 12-4 this postseason
- Henry's four innings were his longest career relief outing
- Ramírez had three of St. Louis's eight hits
- Teams combined to turn five double plays
- Game 2: Taner Peterson (3-1, 1.10 ERA) vs Minoru Watamura (0-0, 3.71)

From Arco Park in Sacramento

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 03:26 PM

Sacramento Strikes Back: Watamura Silences Cardinals as Series Shifts to St. Louis

SACRAMENTO - After 12 innings of nail-biting tension in Game 1, the Sacramento Solons decided Game 2 would follow a different script.

Minoru Watamura threw eight masterful shutout innings, Thalio Olivo launched a two-run homer, and the Solons evened the World Series with a commanding 5-0 victory over St. Louis at Arco Park on Friday night.

"That's the Minoru we've seen all year," said Solons manager Buck Martinez of his 35-year-old starter, who scattered four hits while striking out six. "He had everything working tonight - location, movement, changing speeds. Just a clinic."

Sacramento broke through in the fifth when Anakin Smith scored on a wild pitch from Cardinals starter Victor Santoyo. The real damage came an inning later when Roland Diaz singled and Olivo followed with a towering blast to left that made it 3-0.

"The pitch was up," said Santoyo, who allowed three runs in 5⅔ innings. "In this ballpark, against these hitters, you can't make that mistake."

The Solons added insurance in the seventh and eighth, taking advantage of some uncharacteristically shaky Cardinals defense. Zane Grifaldo's triple and Chandler Graeve's infield single pushed the lead to four, and Jaxon Walker's RBI single capped the scoring.

For St. Louis, it was a night of missed opportunities. They put runners in scoring position in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings but couldn't break through against Watamura, who lowered his postseason ERA to 2.57.

"Some nights you just tip your cap," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "Watamura had everything working. We'll regroup and be ready for Game 3."

The series now shifts to St. Louis for three games, with Mark Wleh set to face Gavin Vasquez in Sunday's pivotal Game 3.

From Arco Park in Sacramento

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 04:04 PM

The Persistence of Memory: An October Night at Sportsman's Park

By Roger Angell
The New Yorker

There is something almost painterly about baseball in mid-October, when the lights catch the last wisps of evening settling over an infield, and 33,576 souls collectively hold their breath between pitches. On Sunday night at Sportsman's Park, as a crisp 50-degree breeze rustled through the left-field flags, the St. Louis Cardinals and Sacramento Solons collaborated on what might be called a miniature - a 2-1 game that felt both urgent and unhurried, like a conversation between old friends who know time is short.

Taner Peterson, the Cardinals' 38-year-old left-hander, worked with the precision of a watchmaker: six innings, five hits, six strikeouts. His only mistake - a fastball that Chandler Graeve deposited into the right-field seats in the second inning - seemed less an error than a tribute to the essential fallibility of all human endeavor.

The Cardinals, those eternal October protagonists, answered immediately and then decisively. A sequence in the third inning involving Spencer Van Doren's run-scoring groundout had all the dramatic economy of a haiku - runner on third, less than two outs, contact play executed with the kind of precision that would have made Branch Rickey smile from whatever celestial bleacher seat he now occupies.

In the dugout, Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers maintained the stoic demeanor of a man who has seen too many October nights to be rattled by their whispers. His bullpen machinations - Bevin Gordon for the seventh, the converted starter Urban Henry for the final six outs - had the elegant inevitability of a well-structured sonnet.

The Solons, those transplanted wanderers who have finally found their home in California's capital, threatened occasionally but never quite solved the riddle of St. Louis's left-handed craftsmen. Even Zane Grifaldo's double in the third inning felt more like punctuation than proclamation.

In the end, it was Henry, the 40-year-old St. Lucian whose reinvention as a closer has been one of this postseason's most compelling narratives, who brought the evening to its logical conclusion. His two innings were a master class in the art of preservation - of both a one-run lead and the delicate tissue of history that connects every World Series game to all the ones that came before.

The Cardinals now lead this best-of-nine series two games to one, but that feels almost incidental to what we witnessed: a baseball game that managed to be both completely of its moment and somehow timeless, played in a park named for the sporting goods company that once equipped generations of Missouri youngsters with their first gloves.

Some nights, baseball remembers what it's supposed to be. This was one of those nights.

Roger Angell has been writing about baseball for The New Yorker since 1962.

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 04:16 PM

Willingham's Complete Game, Nine-Run Fifth Have Cardinals Eyeing First Championship Since 2011
By Rick Hummel
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The fifth inning began innocently enough Monday night at Sportsman's Park. It ended with the Cardinals halfway to ending their 52-year championship drought.
Powered by a nine-run explosion in the fifth and Layton Willingham's masterful complete game, St. Louis demolished Sacramento 11-1 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-nine World Series.

"Sometimes baseball just snowballs," said manager Wookie Rogers of the decisive fifth inning. "Once we got rolling, you could feel the energy in this ballpark. These fans have waited 52 years. They deserve nights like this."

The frame started with Sacramento leading 1-0 on Alejandro Palomo's solo homer. Then the floodgates opened. Alexis Walker's three-run blast off Jim Frahm gave St. Louis the lead. Before Sacramento could catch its breath, Yun-Seong Jeon launched a three-run shot of his own against Dilan Schupp. When the dust settled, the Cardinals had sent 12 men to the plate and scored nine times.
But the story was Willingham, whose return to St. Louis at the deadline has proven prophetic. The 35-year-old lefty, who spent his first 11 seasons in Cardinal red, scattered three hits while striking out 11 in a 142-pitch gem.

"This place is special," said Willingham, sweat still dripping from his cap. "To be back here, in October, with a chance to be part of something historic... you couldn't write it better."
The series shifts back to Sacramento Wednesday, with the Cardinals needing two wins in the next five games to secure their 12th championship. For a franchise that's waited more than five decades, the finish line is finally in sight.

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 04:34 PM

SACRAMENTO 5, ST. LOUIS 4: Series Lead Cut to 3-2 as World Series Heads Back West
By Bob Nightengale
USA TODAY
SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Solons aren't ready for their story to end just yet.
Withstanding a dramatic ninth-inning rally that included Jon Gallegos' pinch-hit two-run homer, the Solons held on for a 5-4 victory Wednesday night at Sportsman's Park, sending this best-of-nine World Series back to California with St. Louis leading 3-2.

"We needed every one of those early runs," said Solons manager Buddy McGrady, whose team jumped out to a 5-2 lead after two innings. "Against that lineup, no lead feels safe."
Minoru Watamura worked seven masterful innings, Chandler Graeve drove in two runs, and Nico Ayala survived a white-knuckle ninth for his first save of the series.

The Solons ambushed Cardinals starter Victor Santoyo early, scoring twice in the first on singles by Graeve and Thalio Olivo. They added three more in the second, highlighted by another Graeve RBI hit and aggressive baserunning that had the Cardinals' defense on its heels.

St. Louis struck back in the second when Pinwheel Brown and Pepper Reid strung together hits to plate two runs, but Watamura locked in after that, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters he faced.
"Give Minoru credit," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "We had chances early but he made pitches when he had to."

The real drama came in the ninth. After Yun-Seong Jeon doubled, Gallegos crushed a pinch-hit homer to make it 5-4. Alexis Walker followed with a double to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Ayala got Archer Fernández and Leuri Ramírez to preserve the win.

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 04:38 PM

ST. LOUIS 3, SACRAMENTO 1: Cards Can End 52-Year Drought Saturday
By Bob Nightengale IV
USA TODAY

SACRAMENTO — Mark Wleh stood in the visiting clubhouse at Arco Park, a towel draped over his shoulder, and allowed himself the smallest of smiles.
"One more," he said quietly. "Just one more."

The Cardinals are indeed one win away from ending baseball's longest active championship drought, defeating Sacramento 3-1 Thursday night behind Wleh's masterful seven innings to take a 4-2 lead in the best-of-nine World Series.
Irv Daniels, whose turnaround has mirrored the Cardinals' October surge, delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single in the third. The second baseman finished 3-for-3 with three RBI.

"Sometimes you just know it's your night," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "Mark had that look in his eyes from the first pitch."
Wleh scattered six hits while striking out nine, the only blemish a sixth-inning RBI single by Chandler Graeve. Urban Henry, the 40-year-old converted starter turned playoff closer, worked two perfect innings for his third save of the series.
"Their guy was dealing," said Solons manager Buddy McGrady. "We had our chances early but Wleh kept making pitch after pitch."
Leuri Ramírez collected three hits including two doubles for St. Louis, which can clinch its first title since 2011 Saturday night at Sportsman's Park.
GAME AT A GLANCE

Turning point: Daniels' third-inning single broke it open
Key stat: Cardinals pitchers have held Sacramento to three runs in last two games
Web gem: Pinwheel Brown's throw nails Anakin Smith trying for third in fourth inning

UP NEXT
Game 7 Saturday at St. Louis, 8:05 p.m. ET: Gavin Vasquez (0-2, 1.71) vs. Taner Peterson (4-1, 1.16)

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 06:17 PM

The Night The Clock Struck Now: St. Louis Ends Half-Century Drought With Classic Cardinal Baseball

By Dan O'Neill
St. Louis Globe-Democrat

The ghosts started stirring around 10:42 PM Central Time.

Bob Gibson. Lou Brock. Stan Musial. They'd been waiting 52 years for this moment, watching as generation after generation of Cardinal teams got close but couldn't quite get there. Tonight, finally, they could rest. Tonight belonged to Urban Henry, World Series MVP. To Archer Fernández, whose first-inning homer set the tone. To Wookie Rogers, the manager who rebuilt an entire pitching philosophy around the radical idea that sometimes your best starter belongs in the bullpen.

"When you play for championships," Henry said afterward, champagne dripping from his St. Lucian accent, "you have to play better than the team in the other dugout."

Simple as that. Except nothing about this was simple.

The Cardinals didn't just win their 12th World Series title Saturday night at Sportsman's Park. They exorcised demons. They rewrote narratives. They proved that sometimes the biggest payroll in baseball is worth every penny if you spend it right.

The final score – Cardinals 4, Sacramento 1 – feels almost pedestrian. The journey to get there was anything but.

Start with Henry, the 40-year-old future Hall of Famer with 10 Cy Youngs and 14 All-Star appearances who agreed to become a closer because, in his words, "Skip asked me to help." All he did was throw two perfect innings to close out a championship, his 99-mph fastball still humming through the October chill.

Or Pinwheel Brown, who stole two bases in the eighth inning like he was Lou Brock reincarnated, manufacturing the insurance run that let 33,742 fans finally exhale. This is what Cardinals baseball looks like when it's played right – pressure on the bases, airtight defense, and pitching that makes you wonder if Gibson is still lurking in the shadows.

"We played better than the other team," Rogers said afterward, grinning like a man who knew this was coming all along. Maybe he did.

After all, it was Rogers who assembled this bullpen of converted starters – Luke Legler (3.2 solid innings), Virgill Haraldsson (the win), and Henry (the save). It was Rogers who kept running Yun-Seong Jeon out there behind the plate even when the offense wasn't there, trusting the defense would be worth it.

But mostly, it was Rogers who understood that ending a 52-year drought requires more than talent. It requires belief. His Cardinals didn't just believe – they knew.

They knew when they survived the Wild Card game against Chicago. They knew when they dispatched Washington in the Division Series. They knew when they outlasted Cincinnati in an epic NLCS. And they definitely knew when Fernández's first-inning homer disappeared into the right field seats, the kind of moment that makes you wonder if someone upstairs was finally tired of waiting.

"This city deserves this," said Leuri Ramírez, two hits on the night keeping the offense moving. "These fans deserve this."

They got it. Oh, did they get it.

When Henry struck out George Navarro to end it, Sportsman's Park erupted in a way that probably registered on seismographs. Fifty-two years of waiting collapsed into a single moment of pure joy. Players dogpiled. Fans hugged strangers. Somewhere, you have to believe, Stan the Man smiled.

The parade route is already being planned. The champagne hasn't stopped flowing. And in living rooms across St. Louis, grandparents are telling grandchildren about 2011, about Gibson in '64, about all the moments that led to this one.

But this moment? This belongs to Henry, to Rogers, to a team that decided 52 years was long enough.

The clock struck midnight on the drought. The ghosts can rest easy now. The Cardinals are champions again.

And somewhere, in a quiet corner of the clubhouse, a future Hall of Famer from St. Lucia held the World Series MVP trophy and smiled. "Now," Urban Henry said, "my career is complete."

So is St. Louis.

Dan O'Neill has covered St. Louis sports for four decades. He can be reached at [email protected] or found wherever Cardinal fans are celebrating tonight.

GAME 7 - 2063 WORLD SERIES
SACRAMENTO SOLONS AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
GAME ID: 15596 - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20TH , 2063 - GAME LOG
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Sacramento Solons 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0
St. Louis Cardinals 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 X 4 13 0

SACRAMENTO BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
K. Machado RF 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .156 0 1
Z. Grifaldo SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .426 2 4
b-R. Diaz PH 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .333 0 1
c-J. Walker SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 2
J. Galo LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .186 0 3
C. Graeve DH 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .409 3 14
B. Stevenson 3B 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .178 0 2
T. Olivo 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .158 2 5
A. Smith C 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .174 0 1
A. Palomo 1B 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .135 2 3
a-G. Navarro PH, 1B 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .100 0 0
T. Kobayashi CF 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .250 0 3
Totals 33 1 7 1 2 8 13

a - G. Navarro pinch hit for A. Palomo in the 7th
b - R. Diaz pinch hit for Z. Grifaldo in the 8th
c - J. Walker substituted for R. Diaz in the 8th

BATTING
Home Runs: A. Palomo (2, 3rd Inning off L. Legler, 0 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: K. Machado 2, C. Graeve 2, B. Stevenson, A. Smith, A. Palomo 4
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: J. Galo, B. Stevenson
GIDP: G. Navarro
Team LOB: 7

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Palomo)
OF assists: 1 (Kobayashi (Gallegos at 2nd base))

ST. LOUIS BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Walker CF 5 0 1 1 0 1 6 .346 1 6
A. Fernández 1B 3 1 2 1 1 1 0 .225 1 8
L. Ramírez LF 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .312 2 11
I. Daniels 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .271 2 11
a-J. Gallegos PH, 2B 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500 1 2
S. Van Doren DH 3 0 1 1 1 1 2 .183 1 8
Y. Jeon C 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .353 3 11
S. Cook SS 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .264 1 8
P. Brown RF 4 1 2 0 0 1 5 .258 0 7
P. Reid 3B 2 0 0 1 1 1 5 .246 0 5
Totals 32 4 13 4 4 6 23

a - J. Gallegos pinch hit for I. Daniels in the 7th

BATTING
Doubles: L. Ramírez (4, 1st Inning off G. Vasquez, 0 on, 1 out), S. Cook (4, 4th Inning off G. Vasquez, 1 on, 0 outs)
Home Runs: A. Fernández (1, 1st Inning off G. Vasquez, 0 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: A. Walker, A. Fernández 5, L. Ramírez 3, I. Daniels, J. Gallegos, S. Van Doren, Y. Jeon 2, S. Cook 2, P. Brown 2
2-out RBI: A. Walker, S. Van Doren
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: A. Walker 3, S. Van Doren
Sac Fly: P. Reid
Team LOB: 9

BASERUNNING
SB: P. Brown 2 (8)
CS: A. Walker (7), I. Daniels (3)

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Daniels-Cook-Fernández)

SACRAMENTO PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
G. Vasquez L (2-2) 5.1 8 2 2 4 4 1 114

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 07:08 PM

Baseball Finally Has Its Vezina Trophy. Here's Why That Matters.
By Sarah Chen
The Ringer | Oct. 21, 2063

For decades, baseball's most cerebral position has lacked proper recognition. Until now.

The inaugural Deacon White Award winners were announced yesterday, with Montez Bullock of the Red Sox and Smokey Gonzales of the Mets taking home the hardware, and it feels like baseball has finally figured out how to celebrate what makes catching special. Not just special in the "wow, what a great athlete" sense—we have plenty of awards for that—but special in the "this person is basically an on-field pitching coach who also has to block 100-mph sliders in the dirt" sense.

Let's start with the obvious: This award was long overdue. While the Barry Bonds Award (formerly Silver Slugger) celebrates offensive excellence and the Gold Glove supposedly honors defense (when it's not just going to whoever hit .300), catchers have never had an award that truly captures the complexity of their role. The Deacon White Award changes that, emphasizing the aspects of catching that fans rarely see but managers obsess over.

Take Bullock, for example. The Red Sox backstop doesn't put up the gaudy offensive numbers that typically grab headlines—he slashed a modest .261/.332/.432 this season. But his 8.5 framing runs and 36.4% caught stealing rate tell a different story. In an era where advanced metrics have quantified the previously unquantifiable, Bullock's excellence behind the plate saved more runs than most cleanup hitters drove in.

"The position has evolved so much," says former MVP and current MLB Network analyst Marcus Chen. "We're finally measuring things we used to just feel. Framing, game-calling, staff management—these are huge parts of winning baseball that historically got overlooked because they weren't easily quantifiable."

The National League winner, Smokey Gonzales, represents perhaps an even purer example of what the award celebrates. His batting line (.211/.304/.293) wouldn't get him noticed at a high school showcase. But his league-leading 16.3 framing runs and stellar 3.97 CERA (Catcher's ERA) made him the cornerstone of the Mets' dominant pitching staff, which projects to lead the NL East in 2064.

"It's like hockey's Vezina Trophy," explains Mets pitching coach Devon Williams. "Nobody expects goalies to score goals. We evaluate them on how well they prevent them. Catchers should be viewed similarly—their primary job is run prevention and staff management. Everything else is gravy."

The award's criteria reflect this philosophy:

- 40% game management (CERA, framing, staff handling)
- 30% run prevention (caught stealing, deterrence, passed ball prevention)
- 15% field generalship (range, efficiency, positioning)
- 15% overall impact and durability

Notice what's missing? Offense. Completely absent from the primary criteria. This isn't an oversight—it's the point.

"For years, we've had this cognitive dissonance in baseball," says sabermetrician Dr. Julia Patel. "We know catching is perhaps the most defensively and strategically demanding position, yet we kept evaluating catchers primarily on their offensive output. The Deacon White Award finally aligns recognition with reality."

The timing feels particularly appropriate. In an era where automated strike zones have been widely discussed (though not yet implemented), the art of catching has paradoxically become more sophisticated. Modern metrics have revealed just how much value an elite defensive catcher can provide, even if they hit like, well, a typical catcher.

Both Bullock and Gonzales embody this new archetype. Their contributions won't show up in fantasy baseball stats, but they're the kind of players that analytics departments dream about and pitching coaches fight to keep. For the Red Sox, Bullock's game-calling has been crucial to their projected 86-win season in 2064, while Gonzales has been the quiet force behind the Mets' emergence as division favorites.

The award's namesake would likely approve. Deacon White, baseball's first great defensive catcher who revolutionized the position in the bare-handed era, understood that catching was about more than just stopping the ball. It was about game management, strategy, and the subtle arts that turn good pitchers into great ones.

As baseball continues to evolve, the Deacon White Award stands as recognition that some of the game's most valuable players are the ones whose contributions often go unnoticed by casual fans. It's an acknowledgment that excellence behind the plate involves much more than what shows up in the box score.

And for Bullock and Gonzales, it's validation that in baseball, like in life, some of the most important work happens behind the scenes.

Next week: Are the Yankees actually going to play a series at Lord's Cricket Ground? A deep dive into baseball's first touring franchise.

Young Drachma

11-21-2024, 11:41 PM

Arrows Point East: Six Years of Big League Baseball Ends in the Hoosier State
By Dakota Reynolds
Indianapolis News-Reporter | October 23, 2063

The last baseball has been thrown at Victory Field, and this time, there's no next season to look forward to. At least not one with Indianapolis across the chest of the home team.

The Indianapolis Arrows, after six tumultuous years of major league baseball marked by financial struggles and a microscopic $34.5 million payroll (second-lowest in MLB), are heading east to New Jersey, where they'll reclaim the New York Knights' legacy, a club that only existed for 4 years but won the World Series in 2043 in the National League.

The move marks the end of a brief but complicated relationship between Indianapolis and Major League Baseball—a story that began with promise but ends with familiar questions about what might have been.

"You can't help but feel like we're leaving something unfinished here," says Theron Simmons, the team's longest-tenured player and unofficial ambassador to the community. "I've been here since 2059, seen the highs and lows. The fans, despite everything, they made this place home. That's what hurts the most—leaving them behind."

The numbers tell a stark story. From an opening day crowd of 47,212 in 2058 that had civic leaders dreaming big, attendance steadily declined to this year's average of 25,088—though stadium workers whisper the real numbers were far lower.

"Some nights it felt like we were playing in front of friends and family," Simmons admits, glancing around the emptying clubhouse. "But the ones who showed up? They cared. They really cared."

Local restaurateur Hawk Blackburn, whose "Arrow's Rest" sports bar became a pregame institution, points to deeper issues: "We were always the bargain basement team. When your payroll is lower than some team's injured list, that sends a message to the fans."

There is, however, a silver lining for baseball-starved Hoosiers. The Yankees' revolutionary touring schedule for 2064 includes stops in Indianapolis, meaning major league baseball will return, albeit wearing different pinstripes.

"It'll be fun to see them," Simmons reflects, packing up his locker for the final time, "but nothing like seeing a team that's your own. Still, at least they're gonna visit. That's something, right?"

"The Yankees coming through is like getting to see Bruce Springsteen on tour," says longtime usher Beatrice "Grandma B" Washington, who hasn't missed a home game in six years. "Sure, it's exciting, but it's not the same as having your local band playing every night."

The Arrows' journey to Indianapolis was itself a study in baseball's modern nomadic nature. Born as Mexico City's entry in the upstart Federal League, the franchise spent one season as the Vancouver Mounties before landing in Indianapolis—a city that just four years earlier had hosted the Cleveland Guardians during their flood-induced exile of 2054.

"That Cleveland season actually hurt us in the long run," admits former Chamber of Commerce president River Mackenzie. "It created this illusion that we could support major league baseball without the necessary corporate infrastructure or committed local ownership. We saw the crowds for those games against the Yankees and Red Sox and thought that would be our normal. It wasn't."

The Arrows' peak came in 2060, when a surprising 78-84 season and an exciting core of young players briefly captured the city's imagination. But as those players were traded away or left via free agency—a constant reality for a team with a bottom-feeding payroll—the writing appeared on the wall.

"The hardest part was watching other teams come in here and take over our ballpark," says Destiny "Diamond" Rodriguez, who ran the popular "Arrow Head" fan club. "When we played the Cardinals or Cubs, it felt like a road game. That's when you knew we were in trouble."

As crews began dismantling the "Home of the Arrows" sign late Thursday night, a small group of fans gathered outside Victory Field, spontaneously breaking into a final rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Among them was Simmons, who'd slipped out of the clubhouse one last time to join the impromptu farewell.

"This city deserved better," he said quietly, watching the letters come down. "Maybe the Yankees stopping by next year will help heal some wounds. But Indianapolis deserved its own team—one that was actually trying to win."

The Arrows' final ledger in Indianapolis: 973 wins, 1,271 losses, zero playoff appearances, and countless questions about what might have been had things gone differently in the Hoosier State. Next spring, they'll be someone else's team, playing in someone else's city, wearing someone else's history on their sleeves. And Indianapolis will join the growing list of cities that can say they once had major league baseball—even if it was never really theirs to keep.

"At least we got to be part of The Show," Simmons reflected, signing one last autograph for a young fan outside Victory Field. "Even if it was just for a little while."

Young Drachma

11-22-2024, 12:44 AM

YOUR Third New York Baseball Team Is Here Whether You Like It Or Not
By Lon Walters
Newark Evening News | October 23, 2063

So you're getting a baseball team, New Jersey. Not just any baseball team—the Indianapolis Arrows, who were previously the Vancouver Mounties for like eight minutes, who were previously some Federal League team in Mexico City that probably played in a converted parking lot. But wait! They're actually becoming the New York Knights, who used to be a thing here before becoming the Miami Marlins (again), after their weird-as-shit four-year New York stint where they SOMEHOW WON A GODDAMN WORLD SERIES while playing in what was essentially a converted Amazon warehouse.

Welcome to modern baseball, where franchise histories are more tangled than your grandmother's yarn collection.

BUT GUESS WHAT? Nobody gives a shit about any of that because NEW JERSEY IS GETTING REAL LIVE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL at the newly christened ShopRite Stadium (Jesus Christ), and people here are legitimately LOSING THEIR MINDS about it.

"Are you kidding me? The Knights coming back? That's like finding out your high school crush who got super hot after graduation is moving back to town," says Tony DiNardo, 47, who has already purchased season tickets despite not knowing a single player on the roster. "I don't care if they've been bouncing around like a ping pong ball. They're ours now."

But can the New York metro area support three teams? According to Dr. Rachel Suarez, head of sports economics at Columbia Business School, that's the wrong question entirely.

"Being the third team in New York is worth $50-75 million more annually than being the only team in most other markets," she explains, probably while looking at spreadsheets I wouldn't understand. "The death of baseball's antitrust exemption basically turned MLB into a game of musical chairs where New York has three chairs and everyone else is fighting over the leftovers."

Speaking of leftovers, let's talk about that $34.5 million payroll the team is carrying over from Indianapolis. THIRTY-FOUR POINT FIVE MILLION. There are individual Yankees making almost that much to sit on the injured list and post about crypto. Will new ownership open the checkbook now that they've got that sweet, sweet NYC market money?

"We're exploring all options to field a competitive team," says new Knights CEO Bradford Winston III, which is exactly what every rich asshole says right before they don't spend any money.

But here's the weird part: nobody seems to care! The pre-sale for season tickets is already through the roof, and the team store had to stop taking orders for custom jerseys because they ran out of the letter 'K'.

"Look, we've been watching the Jets and Giants play in Jersey forever while pretending they're from New York," says longtime Newark resident Maria Vasquez. "At least this team is actually claiming us."

And what about those Yankees and Mets fans? Are they worried about losing market share to *checks notes* a team that lost 82 games in INDIANAPOLIS last year?

"The Yankees going on tour probably will weirdly help us, but no, I doubt you'll see much fan changing save for the Jersey folks who hopefully get invested in their new team," says local sports radio host Darius "The Fury" Thompson. "Though honestly, the Knights could probably fill half their stadium with just people who hate both the Yankees and Mets."

Let's be real: This whole thing is absolutely insane. We're taking a failed experiment from Indianapolis, slapping a recycled name on it, and dropping it into the most crowded sports market in America. The roster currently has a payroll lower than what it costs to rent a one-bedroom in Manhattan. The stadium is named after a supermarket chain that your dad swears has "the good cold cuts."

And yet...

There's something kind of beautiful about the pure chaos of it all. Baseball's post-antitrust world is a lawless frontier where teams bounce around like superballs in a dryer, the Yankees are basically becoming the Harlem Globetrotters, and somehow, SOMEHOW, Newark is getting major league baseball back.

Will it work? Who knows! But the last time the Knights had a brief, bizarre stint in the New York area, they won a World Series that historians still can't explain. In 2063's completely unhinged version of baseball, that almost makes perfect sense.

Besides, the ShopRite Club Level better have one hell of a deli counter.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article claimed the Knights' previous stint in New York lasted three years. It was four years. This reporter regrets not being able to forget those four years entirely.

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 09:58 PM

FINAL DAY DRAMA: History Awaits in Toronto as Wild Card Race Goes Down to Wire
By Howard Jensen
Chicago Herald Baseball | September 16, 2064

As the sun sets on the 2064 regular season, baseball saves its most compelling drama for last. Tonight's Toronto-Nashville showdown at Rogers Centre will determine the final AL wild card spot, while the Albuquerque Coyotes stand on the precipice of their first playoff berth in franchise history.

PLAYOFF PUZZLE
The Coyotes (89-72) need just one win to clinch their first postseason appearance in their five-year existence. Even with a loss, they're guaranteed at least a tie for a wild card spot, as tonight's Toronto-Nashville winner can only reach 89 wins. For a franchise that started from scratch in 2060, it's a remarkable achievement.

"Five years ago, we were picking jerseys and office furniture," says Coyotes GM Sarah Martinez. "Now we're one win away from playing October baseball."

RENAISSANCE SEASONS
This year has been defined by dramatic turnarounds. The Philadelphia Phillies, after consecutive 100-loss seasons and back-to-back #1 draft picks, have shocked baseball by claiming their first NL East crown since 2048. The Miami Marlins, thirty years removed from their last World Series and three decades since their last division title in South Florida, have rejuvenated baseball in Miami with a 91-win campaign.

The Vancouver Angels, relocated from Orange County, captured their first division title in their new home, while looking for their first championship since 2044.

CENTRAL DOMINANCE
The Chicago Cubs (95-66) emerged atop baseball's deepest division, claiming their first Central crown since 2060 but still seeking their first World Series title since their historic 2016 victory. They'll face stiff competition from the Reds, making their remarkable 10th straight postseason appearance and hunting for their first title since 2059, and the defending champion Cardinals, who maintained excellence despite a quiet offseason.

In the American League, Cleveland secured back-to-back Central titles, continuing their dynasty that saw three World Series victories (2050, 2052, 2055) during their remarkable 2049-58 playoff run.

MVP RACE
Detroit's 21-year-old phenom Gabriel Vitoria (.387/.451/.650) and Boston's slugging sensation Kris Tavarez (.399/.485/.712) have staged one of the most compelling MVP races in recent memory. Vitoria's 9.9 WAR edges Tavarez's 8.5, but Tavarez's 39 homers and 144 RBIs might sway voters.

CY YOUNG BATTLE
Boston's Kaiji Konno (2.67 ERA, 9.7 WAR) and St. Louis veteran Urban Henry (3.01 ERA, 9.6 WAR) lead a packed field that includes Cincinnati's Alexander Nolan (3.00 ERA, 8.7 WAR).

ROOKIE WATCH
Washington's Roberto Bessi (.361/.461/.562) leads a stellar rookie class, while Salt Lake's 19-year-old pitching prodigy Amadei Ramírez (3.10 ERA, 5.9 WAR) has exceeded all expectations.

PLAYOFF PICTURE
AL Division Winners: Texas (99-62), Cleveland (90-71), Miami (91-70)
NL Division Winners: Chicago (95-66), Philadelphia (92-69), Vancouver (84-77)

Wild Card Race:
- Portland, Cincinnati, St Louis & Washington secured
- Albuquerque controls destiny (+1)
- Toronto/Nashville winner claims final AL spot

The Rangers, making their 6th postseason appearance in 8 years, enter October as favorites, while Washington looks to bring the capital its first World Series appearance since their 2028 triumph over Houston.

But first, all eyes turn to Toronto tonight, where baseball's regular season will end with either historic heartbreak or jubilation. For Nashville, Toronto, and Albuquerque, a season's worth of work comes down to nine innings of baseball.

As Coyotes manager Diego Ramirez put it: "Five years of building, 161 games of grinding, and it all comes down to this. That's baseball at its finest."

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 10:05 PM

2064 was run entirely with the AI, I didn't make any changes to any of the clubs this year and removed my human managers.

Toronto Blue Jays Claim Final AL Wild Card Spot in Thrilling Finish

TORONTO (Toronto Sun) — In a dramatic Game 162, the Toronto Blue Jays seized the final AL Wild Card spot with a nail-biting 7-6 victory over the Nashville White Sox at Skydome. The win ensures the Blue Jays' place in the 2064 playoffs, capping off a season full of ups and downs.

Toronto took an early lead with two runs in the first inning, but Nashville responded with a five-run third inning, seemingly seizing control of the game. The Blue Jays, however, refused to go quietly, inching back with runs in the sixth and eighth innings.

The ninth inning proved to be the decisive moment. Down by one run, Toronto's Shawn Devaney led off with a crucial single, followed by a double from Tetsuya Yamagata that tied the game. With the crowd on their feet, Brett Brown stepped up with an RBI single, giving the Blue Jays a walk-off win and sending the fans into a frenzy.

Shawn Devaney was the standout performer, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored. His steady presence at the plate kept the Blue Jays' hopes alive. Starting pitcher Santiago Herrera battled through eight innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, but it was reliever Rick Randle who earned the win, despite allowing a run in the ninth.

Albuquerque Coyotes Clinch First Playoff Berth with Victory Over Portland Stags

PORTLAND (AP) — In a historic moment for the Albuquerque Coyotes, the team secured its first-ever playoff berth with a thrilling 5-2 victory over the Portland Stags in the final game of the regular season. The win catapulted the Coyotes to the AL Wild Card spot as the 5th seed, marking a significant milestone in their five-year franchise history.

The Coyotes started strong with two runs in the first inning, courtesy of a solo home run by Ruben Monroe and an RBI single by Justin Zavala. Despite a quick response from the Stags, who tied the game with a two-run homer by Connor Hooper in the second inning, Albuquerque's pitching held firm.

Che Mohammad delivered a stellar performance on the mound, pitching eight innings and allowing only two runs on eight hits while striking out seven. His efforts earned him the win and Player of the Game honors. Bernardo Guzman closed the game with a perfect ninth inning to secure his 41st save of the season.

Albuquerque broke the tie in the eighth inning with a clutch two-out double by Matthew Zavala, driving in two runs. Monroe capped the scoring with a triple in the ninth, scoring on an error by Portland's shortstop.

For the Stags, Elias Briones pitched valiantly but ultimately took the loss, surrendering three runs (two earned) over 7.2 innings. Portland's defense faltered with three errors, contributing to their defeat

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 10:31 PM

2064 PLAYOFFS

Albuquerque Coyotes Prepare for Showdown with Portland Stags

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Fresh off their dominating 16-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card game, the Albuquerque Coyotes are set to face the Portland Stags in another one-game, winner-take-all Wild Card showdown. The winner of this high-stakes match will advance to the AL Elimination Series against the Cleveland Guardians.

Albuquerque's emphatic win over Toronto showcased their offensive firepower, with Jaime Ormsby leading the charge. Ormsby went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Justin Zavala and Jared Bédard each contributed two home runs to the Coyotes' cause. Starting pitcher Marty Spencer delivered a complete game, striking out six and allowing three runs over nine innings.

Now, the Coyotes turn their attention to the Portland Stags, who will be looking to avenge their regular-season finale loss to Albuquerque. The Stags boast a formidable lineup and a strong pitching staff, setting the stage for an intense battle.

St. Louis Cardinals Win NL Wild Card Game, Set for Showdown with Cincinnati Reds

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The defending World Series champions, the St. Louis Cardinals, took another step towards repeating their title with a 5-3 victory over the Washington Senators in the NL Wild Card game. The win propels the Cardinals to an all-NL Central showdown against the Cincinnati Reds in a one-game wild card tilt, with the winner advancing to the NL Elimination Series against the Vancouver Angels.

St. Louis showed their resilience and clutch performance in a tightly contested game. Center fielder Alexis Walker led the charge, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs. His offensive contributions were crucial in securing the win for the Cardinals.

Washington started strong, scoring two runs in the first inning with a home run by José Viramontes. However, the Cardinals quickly responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first, courtesy of Walker's two-run homer. The Senators added another run in the fourth inning, but St. Louis' pitching staff held firm, allowing no further runs.

The Cardinals took the lead in the sixth inning with a double by Walker and added insurance runs in the seventh with a two-run home run by Brad Bridge. Layton Willingham earned the win, pitching seven solid innings with five strikeouts, while Wei-Yin Yuan secured the save with two innings of scoreless relief.

The Cardinals now set their sights on the Cincinnati Reds for an all-NL Central clash, with the winner advancing to face the Vancouver Angels in the NL Elimination Series.

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 10:49 PM

AL WILD CARD GAME 2

ALBUQUERQUE COYOTES AT PORTLAND STAGS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH , 2064
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Albuquerque Coyotes 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 7 0
Portland Stags 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 X 4 11 0

ALBUQUERQUE BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
R. Monroe 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333 1 3
S. Ansong SS 5 1 2 2 0 0 2 .300 1 3
J. Hahn RF 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .667 0 0
J. Bédard LF 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 .667 2 2
a-V. Ceban PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 0 0
c-B. Abernathy 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
J. Zavala DH 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .333 2 5
M. Zavala 1B 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .429 0 1
b-T. Jones PH, LF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0
A. Fierro C 4 0 0 0 0 4 2 .125 0 1
J. Ormsby 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .444 1 2
E. Ferguson CF 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .375 0 1
Totals 33 3 7 3 4 8 14

a - V. Ceban pinch hit for J. Bédard in the 8th
b - T. Jones pinch hit for M. Zavala in the 8th
c - B. Abernathy substituted for V. Ceban in the 8th

BATTING
Doubles: J. Hahn (1, 8th Inning off N. White, 0 on, 0 outs)
Home Runs: S. Ansong (1, 1st Inning off S. Wallace, 0 on, 1 out) , J. Bédard (2, 4th Inning off S. Wallace, 0 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: S. Ansong 5 , J. Hahn 3 , J. Bédard 4 , J. Zavala , E. Ferguson
2-out RBI: S. Ansong
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: S. Ansong , J. Zavala , T. Jones
GIDP: J. Bédard
Hit by Pitch: R. Monroe
Team LOB: 8

BASERUNNING
SB: E. Ferguson (1)

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Ormsby-Ansong-Zavala)

PORTLAND BATTING LINESCORE
Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
P. LaBay DH 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .250 0 0
N. Pasa SS 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .250 0 0
M. Santana 1B 4 2 3 3 0 0 0 .750 2 3
M. McCoy 3B 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .250 1 1
M. Johnson 2B 3 0 2 0 1 1 2 .667 0 0
C. Hooper LF 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 .333 0 0
O. Ramírez C 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .250 0 0
B. Aaron CF 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .250 0 0
P. Correa RF 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .000 0 0
Totals 33 4 11 4 1 8 18

BATTING
Doubles: M. Santana (1, 1st Inning off M. Moreno, 1 on, 1 out) , B. Aaron (1, 4th Inning off M. Moreno, 0 on, 1 out)
Home Runs: M. Santana 2 (2, 3rd Inning off M. Moreno, 1 on, 0 outs; 7th Inning off M. Moreno, 0 on, 2 outs) , M. McCoy (1, 5th Inning off M. Moreno, 0 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: P. LaBay , N. Pasa , M. Santana 10 , M. McCoy 4 , M. Johnson 2 , C. Hooper , O. Ramírez , B. Aaron 2
2-out RBI: M. Santana , M. McCoy
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: P. LaBay 2 , M. Johnson , B. Aaron
GIDP: C. Hooper
Sac Bunt: C. Hooper
Team LOB: 7

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Pasa-Johnson-Santana)

ALBUQUERQUE PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
M. Moreno L (0-1) 6.2 10 4 4 1 6 3 101 5.40
N. Hanna 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 19 0.00

PITCHING
Game Score: M. Moreno 43
Batters Faced: M. Moreno 30, N. Hanna 5
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: M. Moreno 8-5, N. Hanna 1-1
Pitches - Strikes: M. Moreno 101-73, N. Hanna 19-15
Balk: M. Moreno

PORTLAND PITCHING LINESCORE
Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
S. Wallace W (1-0) 7.0 6 3 3 3 6 2 108 3.86
N. White SV (1) 2.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 37 0.00

PITCHING
Game Score: S. Wallace 56
Batters Faced: S. Wallace 29, N. White 9
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: S. Wallace 6-8, N. White 2-2
Pitches - Strikes: S. Wallace 108-60, N. White 37-20
Hit Batsmen: N. White

NL WILD CARD GAME 2
Cardinals Advance to NL Elimination Series with 6-2 Wild Card Victory

CINCINNATI (AP) — The defending champion St. Louis Cardinals held off the surging Cincinnati Reds on Sunday night, earning a 6-2 victory in the National League Wild Card Game at Crosley Field to advance to the NL Elimination Series.

Powered by a dominant performance from designated hitter Archer Fernández, who went 3-for-3 with a home run and a walk, the Cardinals broke open a tight game late, scoring three insurance runs in the eighth inning. Fernández’s solo homer in the sixth off Reds starter Alex Nolan gave St. Louis momentum in a contest defined by pitching duels and timely hitting.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Fernández said. “This team has been through so much, and we’re not ready to let go of this dream just yet.”

Cardinals starter Luke Legler silenced the Reds’ bats for much of the night, tossing seven innings of two-run ball while scattering six hits and striking out six. He received ample support from his defense, which turned two key double plays to keep Cincinnati at bay. Reliever Wei Yuan retired all six batters he faced in the final two innings to seal the win.

St. Louis broke through in the fourth inning with back-to-back doubles from Noel Hudon and Spencer Van Doren to take a 2-0 lead. While Cincinnati clawed back with a two-run sixth, thanks to RBIs from Art Vazquez and Daxton Anderson, the Cardinals’ bullpen shut the door from there.

Nolan, who shouldered the loss for the Reds, allowed six runs on 11 hits over 7 1/3 innings. Despite his struggles, Cincinnati’s defense contributed two double plays to limit further damage.

The Reds, making their 10th consecutive postseason appearance, saw their season come to a disappointing end as the Cardinals capitalized on every opportunity.

“We gave it everything we had,” Reds skipper Travis Kendrick said. “This group has been special for a long time, and I’m proud of the fight they showed tonight.”

With the win, the Cardinals will now face the Vancouver Angels in a best-of-three NL Elimination Series. Game 1 is set for Tuesday, as St. Louis looks to continue its title defense against a formidable Vancouver squad.

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 10:57 PM

AL ELIMINATION SERIES
Game 1: Portland 14, Cleveland 4
Game 2: Cleveland 6, Portland 2
Game 3: Cleveland 5, Portland 4 (CLE wins series 2-1)

NL ELIMINATION SERIES
Game 1: St. Louis 7, Vancouver 5 (14 innings)
Game 2: St. Louis 4, Vancouver 2 (STL wins series 2-0)

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 11:05 PM

Cardinals Survive Wei-Min Yuan Experience, Force Game 5 Despite Universe's Best Attempts To Screw Them
By Ray Patel | 10:45 PM ET

Sometimes baseball gives you poetry. Sometimes it gives you Wei-Min Yuan trying his absolute hardest to set $500 million worth of St. Louis dreams on fire.

The Cardinals forced a Game 5 in their NLDS showdown with Philadelphia, beating the Phillies 9-5 in a game that felt like watching someone try to defuse a bomb while wearing oven mitts. After Urban Henry (who's apparently made of whatever they used to build the original iPhone) left with an injury in the second inning, Yuan entered and immediately decided to make things interesting by turning a comfortable lead into baseball's version of a trust fall exercise.

The good news: Henry's injury is apparently minor (just two days of rest needed), which is the baseball equivalent of your car making a horrible noise but then the mechanic says it's just a loose cup holder. The bad news: Yuan's 6.48 ERA this postseason suggests he might be trying to speedrun his way into Cardinals infamy.

But hey, the offense showed up! Archer Fernández (3-for-3, 4 RBI) continued his one-man crusade against Philadelphia pitching, while Alexis Walker added his second homer of the series. The Cardinals basically decided that if Yuan was going to make things interesting, they might as well score enough runs to make it not matter.

Special shoutout to Dominic Morin, who came in and struck out five over 3.1 innings of relief, basically telling Yuan "this is how you're supposed to do it" without actually saying it. The kind of performance that makes you wonder if the Cardinals should just pretend all their relievers are closers and work backwards.

Tomorrow's Game 5 will determine who gets to face the Cubs in the NLCS, in what could either be an classic NL Central showdown or another chance for Philadelphia's rebuild to prove that tanking works (their consecutive #1 picks send their regards). The Cardinals will presumably have their entire bullpen available, though fans might want to invest in blood pressure medication if Yuan starts warming up.

At least Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers has a sense of humor about it all. When asked about Yuan's performance, he just smiled and said "We won." Which is manager-speak for "I need a drink."

The decisive Game 5 starts at 7:05 PM ET tomorrow. The Cardinals are hoping Henry's quick recovery is a good omen. The Phillies are probably hoping Yuan gets another chance. Baseball is weird like that.

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 11:27 PM

Cardinals-Cubs NLCS Set After St. Louis Survives Phillies: The Ultimate October Rivalry Begins
By Howard Jensen
The Athletic | October 2, 2064

In the end, it came down to Layton Willingham, eight gutsy innings and a whole lot of Cardinal Devil Magic™.

The defending champion Cardinals punched their ticket to a fourth straight NLCS Thursday night, outlasting Philadelphia 4-3 in a nail-biter that sets up baseball's dream scenario: Cardinals vs. Cubs, with a pennant on the line and history hanging in the balance.

"You couldn't write it better," Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers said, still dripping from the customary champagne shower. "Us and the Cubs, October baseball, everything on the line. This is what you live for."

Willingham, who's becoming this generation's Bob Gibson in October, scattered 10 hits over eight innings while surrendering just three runs. It wasn't pretty—Philadelphia threatened in seemingly every inning—but it was effective. The type of performance that defines Cardinals playoff baseball.

"Sometimes you just have to be a little bit better than good enough," Willingham said, ice pack already wrapped around his shoulder. "Tonight was about surviving and advancing. That's October baseball."

The victory sets up what might be the most anticipated NLCS in recent memory. The Cubs, seeking their first World Series appearance since their drought-breaking 2016 title, against the defending champion Cardinals, who ended their own 48-year championship drought last season.

"You've got two teams that know exactly what that weight feels like," Rogers noted. "We carried it for 48 years. They're still carrying it from '16. Something's got to give."

The Cardinals' path here wasn't easy. After taking Game 1 against Philadelphia, they dropped two straight, including a heart-wrenching 10-inning loss in Game 3. But as they've done so often, they responded, with their offense exploding for nine runs in Game 4 before Willingham slammed the door in Game 5.

Spencer Van Doren, who took home series MVP honors with a .444 batting average, put it simply: "We don't know how to quit. It's not in our DNA."

Now comes the real test. The 95-win Cubs have been waiting, rested and ready. The Cardinals have been here before—four straight NLCS appearances prove that—but this one feels different. This is Cubs-Cardinals in October, with everything at stake.

"Look, we know what this means," Rogers said, pausing to consider his words carefully. "It's not just another series. It's Cubs-Cardinals. It's history. It's everything this rivalry has been building toward for a century."

For the Cubs, it's a chance to end a 48-year championship drought that, while not as long as their infamous 108-year wait, has become increasingly painful. For the Cardinals, it's an opportunity to prove last year wasn't a fluke while potentially denying their archrivals the same joy they experienced in 2063.

"These teams, these cities, they've been waiting for this moment," Van Doren said. "Cubs-Cardinals for the pennant? That's baseball heaven right there."

The NLCS begins Saturday in Chicago. Willingham will likely take the ball in Game 3, but for now, the Cardinals will savor this victory and prepare for what promises to be an epic showdown with their oldest rivals.

As one Cardinals veteran put it, watching the celebrations wind down in the visitors' clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park: "The Phillies series was great, but Cubs-Cardinals in October? That's what legends are made of."

Baseball's oldest rivalry is about to write its newest chapter. The only question is: will it be Cubbie blue or Cardinal red holding the pen when it's over?

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 11:31 PM

Cardinals Draw First Blood: St. Louis Stuns Cubs with Back-to-Back Masterpieces at Wrigley
By Danny Rosenthal
The Athletic | October 5, 2064

The Cardinals didn't just take two games at Wrigley Field. They made a statement.

Behind Urban Henry's gutsy Game 1 performance and Mark Wleh's complete game shutout in Game 2, St. Louis methodically dismantled Chicago's dreams of early NLCS momentum, winning 6-4 and 8-0 to silence the Friendly Confines and take absolute command of this series.

The only dark cloud in an otherwise perfect weekend for St. Louis: shortstop Billy Bridge suffered what appeared to be a significant arm injury in Game 2 while making a throw. But even that couldn't dampen the Cardinals' swagger as they head home with a 2-0 series lead.

"You come to Wrigley hoping for a split," Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers said. "To take both games? That's beyond our wildest expectations. But this team... this team just has that something special."

Henry set the tone in Game 1, scattering 10 hits over eight innings while working out of several jams. The 41-year-old veteran threw an astounding 153 pitches, the kind of old-school performance that defined Cardinals' October baseball for generations.

"Sometimes you just have to empty the tank," Henry said afterward. "It's October. There's no tomorrow in October."

Wleh followed that up with an even more dominant showing in Game 2, spinning a seven-hit shutout that felt like a direct challenge to Cubs' mythology. On a night when the wind was howling out to center at 11 mph, Wleh kept everything on the ground, recording 13 groundball outs.

Spencer Van Doren, continuing his torrid postseason, went 4-for-8 across both games with a home run and triple, pushing his playoff batting average to an otherworldly .444. Noel Hudon added five hits and four RBIs in the two games, as the Cardinals' offense systematically dismantled Chicago's vaunted pitching staff.

"They're just better than us right now," Cubs manager Diego Ramirez admitted after Game 2. "But we've got three games at home if we need them. This series is far from over."

The Bridge injury looms large over the Cardinals' celebration. The shortstop hurt himself making a routine throw in the fourth inning of Game 2, immediately grabbing his arm in pain. Pepper Reid, his replacement, walked twice and scored two runs, but Bridge's potential absence could reshape the series.

"We'll know more tomorrow," Rogers said about Bridge. "But this team has faced adversity all year. Next man up, that's always been our philosophy."

The series shifts to Busch Stadium for Game 3 on Tuesday. The Cubs, trying to end their 48-year World Series drought, now face the daunting task of winning at least two games in St. Louis to bring the series back to Wrigley.

For the Cardinals, who ended their own lengthy championship drought last year, these two games felt like a continuation of that magic. Even with Bridge's injury, they head home knowing they're just two wins away from a return trip to the World Series.

"Last year taught us something important," Van Doren reflected after Game 2. "You don't get many chances to make history. When you do, you better grab them with both hands."

The Cubs have been here before—they overcame a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 World Series. But against this Cardinals team, playing with this kind of confidence? They might need more than just belief to turn this series around.

As one Cardinal put it, watching the Cubs' faithful file out of Wrigley after Game 2: "Maybe some curses are meant to last a little longer."

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 11:42 PM

Ageless Medina Leads Rangers Back to Fall Classic as Texas Dynasty Takes Shape
By Robot Passan
ESPN | October 9, 2064

When the Rangers signed 39-year-old Domingo Medina last winter, it seemed like a luxury addition for a team that won 99 games. Instead, it might have been the final piece of a budding dynasty.

Medina, owner of three World Series rings from Cleveland's dominant 2050s run, went 2-0 in the ALCS as Texas dispatched their opponent in five games, securing their third pennant since 2058. For the Cuban-born veteran, it's a chance at ring number four, but this one would be special.

"In Cleveland, I was the young guy learning from veterans," Medina said after the clincher. "Now I'm the old man trying to show these kids what October baseball is all about."

The Rangers' route to 99 wins and the AL's best record was a masterclass in organizational depth. Their lineup boasted six players with over 2.5 WAR, led by Salvador Almazan's breakout 6.6 WAR campaign (.314/.377/.493) and 23-year-old Wally Frey's emergence (4.9 WAR, 28 HR).

But it's their pitching depth that truly sets them apart. While Medina (13-9, 4.39 ERA) provided veteran stability, the staff was anchored by Sandy Bautista (20-8, 4.17 ERA) and emerging ace Troy Burgess (15-10, 4.28 ERA). The bullpen, featuring 22-year-old phenom Tanzan Takagi (2.25 ERA in 76 innings) and his devastating splitter, proved nearly unhittable in October.

"This team is built differently than our 2058 championship squad," says Rangers GM Sarah Martinez. "That team relied on star power. This group is deeper, more versatile, and maybe more dangerous."

The numbers back that up. Texas led the AL in runs scored (944) while posting the league's second-best ERA (4.30). Their +190 run differential was baseball's best, and their 54-27 home record proved Globe Life Field remains baseball's most formidable fortress.

For Medina, who saw his Cleveland dynasty win three titles in six years (2050, 2052, 2055), the parallels are striking.

"You can feel when a team has that special something," he says. "In Cleveland, we knew we were building something lasting. Here in Texas, with this core? This could be the start of something even bigger."

The Rangers will await the winner of the Cubs-Cardinals NLCS, but they've already made history. They're the first AL team since the 2050s Guardians to reach three World Series in seven years.

"Domingo's been telling us stories about those Cleveland teams," says Almazan, who led the team with a .314 average. "But we're trying to write our own history now."

The foundation is certainly there. Texas boasts baseball's deepest lineup, a rotation that goes six deep, and a farm system still ranked among baseball's best. Medina sees echoes of his Cleveland days, but with one key difference.

"Those Cleveland teams were built to win then," he says. "This Rangers team? They're built to win for a long time."

As Texas awaits their National League opponent, the question isn't just whether they can win it all this year—it's how many times they might win it all this decade.

For now though, they'll focus on the immediate task: trying to secure the franchise's third championship. And for Medina, who's seen just about everything in his 14-year career, there's something poetic about chasing one more ring at 39.

"Baseball's funny like that," he says, smiling. "Sometimes the end of one story is just the beginning of an even better one."

Ageless Medina Leads Rangers Back to Fall Classic as Texas Dynasty Takes Shape
By Robot Passan
ESPN | October 9, 2064

When the Rangers signed 39-year-old Domingo Medina last winter, it seemed like a luxury addition for a team that won 99 games. Instead, it might have been the final piece of a budding dynasty.

Medina, owner of three World Series rings from Cleveland's dominant 2050s run, went 2-0 in the ALCS as Texas dispatched their opponent in five games, securing their third pennant since 2058. For the Cuban-born veteran, it's a chance at ring number four, but this one would be special.

"In Cleveland, I was the young guy learning from veterans," Medina said after the clincher. "Now I'm the old man trying to show these kids what October baseball is all about."

The Rangers' route to 99 wins and the AL's best record was a masterclass in organizational depth. Their lineup boasted six players with over 2.5 WAR, led by Salvador Almazan's breakout 6.6 WAR campaign (.314/.377/.493) and 23-year-old Wally Frey's emergence (4.9 WAR, 28 HR).

But it's their pitching depth that truly sets them apart. While Medina (13-9, 4.39 ERA) provided veteran stability, the staff was anchored by Sandy Bautista (20-8, 4.17 ERA) and emerging ace Troy Burgess (15-10, 4.28 ERA). The bullpen, featuring 22-year-old phenom Tanzan Takagi (2.25 ERA in 76 innings) and his devastating splitter, proved nearly unhittable in October.

"This team is built differently than our 2058 championship squad," says Rangers GM Sarah Martinez. "That team relied on star power. This group is deeper, more versatile, and maybe more dangerous."

The numbers back that up. Texas led the AL in runs scored (944) while posting the league's second-best ERA (4.30). Their +190 run differential was baseball's best, and their 54-27 home record proved Globe Life Field remains baseball's most formidable fortress.

For Medina, who saw his Cleveland dynasty win three titles in six years (2050, 2052, 2055), the parallels are striking.

"You can feel when a team has that special something," he says. "In Cleveland, we knew we were building something lasting. Here in Texas, with this core? This could be the start of something even bigger."

The Rangers will await the winner of the Cubs-Cardinals NLCS, but they've already made history. They're the first AL team since the 2050s Guardians to reach three World Series in seven years.

"Domingo's been telling us stories about those Cleveland teams," says Almazan, who led the team with a .314 average. "But we're trying to write our own history now."

The foundation is certainly there. Texas boasts baseball's deepest lineup, a rotation that goes six deep, and a farm system still ranked among baseball's best. Medina sees echoes of his Cleveland days, but with one key difference.

"Those Cleveland teams were built to win then," he says. "This Rangers team? They're built to win for a long time."

As Texas awaits their National League opponent, the question isn't just whether they can win it all this year—it's how many times they might win it all this decade.

For now though, they'll focus on the immediate task: trying to secure the franchise's third championship. And for Medina, who's seen just about everything in his 14-year career, there's something poetic about chasing one more ring at 39.

"Baseball's funny like that," he says, smiling. "Sometimes the end of one story is just the beginning of an even better one."

AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME 1: Texas 5, Miami 2
GAME 2: Texas 3, Miami 1
GAME 3: Texas 9, Miami 2
Game 4: Miami 5, Texas 2
Game 5: Texas 9, Miami 1 (TEX wins series 4-1)

Young Drachma

11-23-2024, 11:53 PM

Cubs Two Wins Away From History After Busch Stadium Blackout
By Maude Wright
The Athletic | October 8, 2064

They say the ghosts of baseball past never really leave us. In St. Louis this week, they've been working overtime.

The Chicago Cubs, still carrying the weight of their post-2016 World Series drought, stunned baseball with consecutive shutouts at Busch Stadium to take a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven NLCS. Ken Marrufo and Luke Vargas, names that might now join the pantheon of Cubs October heroes, combined to silence a Cardinals offense that had seemed unstoppable just days ago.

"We've got two more to win," Cubs manager cautioned after Game 4's 4-0 masterpiece. "Against the defending champions, in a seven-game series, that might as well be a million."

He would know. The Cardinals have made a habit of dramatic comebacks, including last year's run to their first title since 2016. But something feels different about these Cubs, a team that won 96 games behind a perfect blend of veteran savvy and youthful exuberance.

Wyatt King (.335, 24 HR, 123 RBI) has been the offensive catalyst, while the pitching staff, anchored by the emergence of Marrufo (2.90 ERA) and Paul Graef (3.31 ERA), has proven deeper than anyone expected. Now they sit two wins away from a chance at nine-game World Series, where the American League champion Rangers await.

"This team reminds me a bit of our 2016 group," says Cubs ambassador Kyle Hendricks, one of the heroes of that drought-breaking title. "They have that same quiet confidence, that belief that no moment is too big."

The historical weight is impossible to ignore. While 48 years isn't quite the 108-year albatross the Cubs carried into 2016, it's been long enough that an entire generation of Cubs fans has grown up knowing their team only through stories of that magical run. The subsequent decades have seen the Cardinals claim multiple titles (including 2062 and 2063), while the Cubs have watched their drought grow old enough to start its own family.

"We're not thinking about 2016 or any other year," says King, whose clutch hitting has become the stuff of North Side legend. "This is our moment, our chance to write our own history."

The series shifts back to Wrigley Field for Game 5, where Trinidad Romero (12-10, 4.33 ERA) will try to close it out against the Cardinals' ace Urban Henry. A Cubs win would set up a potential clincher in Game 6.

But baseball has a way of writing its own stories, and few rivalries have produced more dramatic chapters than Cubs-Cardinals. St. Louis has won five World Series since Chicago's last title, part of a golden age that has seen them remain baseball's model franchise.

"We've been counted out before," Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers said, his voice carrying the weight of a team that's made October baseball its second home. "Game 5 is all that matters right now."

For Chicago, the ghosts of 2016 linger everywhere: in the ivy at Wrigley, in the stories fans tell their children, in the increasingly urgent quest to create new memories. Two more wins would give them that chance, in the form of a nine-game World Series against a Rangers team seeking its own piece of history.

But first, they have to finish off their oldest rivals, a task that's proven as difficult as exorcising any curse. As one Cubs veteran put it after Game 4: "The hardest win is always the next one. Especially in October. Especially against these guys."

The weight of history awaits. For Cubs fans, it feels all too familiar.

Young Drachma

11-24-2024, 12:00 AM

Cardinals Restore Order: Henry, Cash Slam Door on Cubs' Comeback, Push St. Louis One Win From Second Straight Series
ESPN | October 9, 2064

ST. LOUIS — After 18 scoreless innings and whispers of a historic collapse, the defending champion Cardinals reminded everyone why they've owned October lately. Urban Henry made sure of it.

The 41-year-old veteran overcame a rocky first inning to deliver eight masterful frames, and Logan Cash emerged from bullpen exile to slam the door in the ninth, as St. Louis held off Chicago 6-4 to take a 3-2 lead in the NLCS. The defending champions are now one win away from their fifth straight NLCS triumph and a date with Texas in the World Series.

"That first inning, when they put up four? That wasn't about to be our story," Henry said, ice adorning his shoulder after a 118-pitch effort. "Not in this ballpark. Not with this team. Not in October."

The Cardinals, who dominated the series' first two games before being shutout in Games 3 and 4, found their offense again when they needed it most. Billy Bridge's two-run homer in the third started the comeback, and back-to-back shots from Spencer Van Doren and Noel Hudon in the fourth announced that the Cardinal offense was very much alive.

"Sometimes you need a reminder of who you are," Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers said. "We're the defending champions. Today we played like it."

The story of the night, though, was the resurrection of Cash. The closer from their 2062 title run, relegated to mop-up duty this season, came out firing in the ninth. Two strikeouts, fifteen pitches, and suddenly the Cardinals were heading to Chicago with a chance to clinch.

"Logan's been in every situation imaginable," Rogers explained of his decision to return Cash to the ninth inning. "October isn't about regular season roles. It's about winning."

For the Cubs, who seemed on the verge of a stunning comeback after two dominant shutouts at home, the task now becomes monumental. They'll need to win two straight at Wrigley Field to prevent the Cardinals from reaching their second straight World Series and fifth in six years.

"We showed what we're capable of in Games 3 and 4," Cubs manager said. "Now we just need to do it twice more."

The historical weight is impossible to ignore. The Cubs haven't reached a World Series since their drought-breaking 2016 title. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are attempting something that's only been done twice this century - repeat as National League champions. Only the Mets, with their back-to-back titles in 2024-25 and again in 2060-61, have managed the feat in the modern era.

"Everyone talks about the Mets' dynasties," Rogers said after the game. "But we're trying to write our own history here. This team isn't done yet."

"Everyone's been waiting 48 years for us to get back," said Cubs first baseman Willie King. "But nobody in this clubhouse is done fighting."

The series shifts to Wrigley Field for Game 6 on Saturday night. The Cardinals, one win away from another pennant, will try to avoid a winner-take-all Game 7. The Cubs, meanwhile, will try to channel the spirit of 2016, when they overcame their own 3-1 deficit to win it all.

And Henry? He'll ice that arm and be ready for Game 7—if needed. At 41, these moments are precious. But on this night, he pitched like a man who expects to have at least one more chapter to write in his October legend.

"The Cubs gave us their best punch," Bridge said in the celebratory Cardinals clubhouse. "We took it, and we're still standing. Now we get to show them why we're the champs."

Game 6 awaits at Wrigley Field, where the ghosts of 2016 still linger. But these Cardinals seem intent on writing their own history—one that ends with another trip to the World Series.

Young Drachma

11-24-2024, 12:06 AM

No Doubt About It: Cardinals Demolish Cubs at Wrigley, Return to World Series in Style
The New York Times | October 11, 2064

CHICAGO — In the end, there was no drama, no tension, no hint of the ghosts of 2016. The St. Louis Cardinals simply kicked in Wrigley Field's door and walked straight into the World Series.

Behind Mark Wleh's complete game masterpiece and an 18-hit offensive barrage, the Cardinals demolished the Cubs 10-1 on Saturday night, clinching the National League Championship Series in six games and earning a chance to defend their World Series title against the Texas Rangers.

"We didn't want to leave any doubt," said Noël Hudon, who was named NLCS MVP. "After those two shutouts here, we needed to remind everyone who we are. I think we did that tonight."

The reminder came early and often. The Cardinals scored in seven different innings, turning the historic confines of Wrigley Field into their personal batting practice session. They tagged Cubs starter Paul Graef for eight runs in 6⅓ innings, a crushing end to Chicago's dream of ending their 48-year World Series drought.

But the story of the night was Wleh, who delivered perhaps the most dominant clinching performance in Cardinals' postseason history. The right-hander scattered six hits across nine innings, striking out nine and never allowing the Cubs' offense to build momentum.

"Mark was simply incredible," Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers said. "In this ballpark, with that wind blowing out, against a team fighting for their lives? That's as good as it gets."

The victory sends St. Louis to their second straight World Series, where they'll face a Rangers team seeking their first title since 2058. For the Cardinals, it's a chance to become the first National League team since the 2060-61 Mets to win consecutive championships.

"We're not done yet," said Spencer Van Doren, who collected three more hits in the clincher. "Texas is a great team, but we've got some history of our own we're trying to make."

For the Cubs, the loss extends one of baseball's more peculiar droughts. Since breaking their 108-year championship curse in 2016, they haven't returned to the World Series. On this night, in front of 42,596 increasingly quiet fans, that wait was extended at least one more year.

"They were just better," Cubs manager said simply. "Sometimes in baseball, there's no deeper explanation needed."

The Cardinals' path to the clincher was emphatic. After dominating the series' first two games in St. Louis, they weathered Chicago's two shutout victories at home, regained control with Henry's gutsy Game 5 performance, and then delivered this exclamation point at Wrigley.

"That's what champions do," Rogers noted. "When you get knocked down, you get back up swinging. Tonight we swung until there was nothing left to hit."

The nine-game World Series against Texas begins Tuesday. The Cardinals, seeking to add another chapter to their October legacy, will have home-field advantage. After tonight's performance, they look ready for the challenge.

"Nine games to glory," Hudon said, clutching his MVP trophy in the champagne-soaked visitors' clubhouse. "That's all that's left."

As the Cardinals celebrated under Wrigley's ancient grandstand, the Cubs could only watch and wonder. Their drought continues, while St. Louis marches on toward another potential championship.

Baseball can be cruel that way. Just ask the 42,596 who filed out of Wrigley tonight, dreams of 2016 fading into the crisp October air, while the Cardinals' dynasty dreams remain very much alive.

Young Drachma

11-24-2024, 12:30 AM

2064 World Series Preview: The Trade That Shaped October
Baseball Prospectus | October 13, 2064

Sometimes baseball's butterfly effect plays out in ways that would make a storyteller blush. When the Rangers shipped Mark Wleh to St. Louis in 2061 for a package centered around Spencer Van Doren, it seemed like a classic deadline rental. Three years later, both players will face off in a nine-game World Series, with Van Doren back in Cardinal red after his own circuitous journey through Baltimore.

ROTATIONS

The Cardinals' three-headed monster of Urban Henry (3.01 ERA, 155 ERA+), Wleh (3.18 ERA, 147 ERA+), and Layton Willingham (3.61 ERA, 130 ERA+) gives them the most formidable playoff rotation since... well, since their own staff last October. Henry's age-41 season has been particularly remarkable—his 0.99 WHIP and microscopic 1.7 BB/9 suggesting that command artists can still thrive in the long-ball era.

Texas counters with depth over star power. Their rotation posted the AL's second-best ERA (4.30) while working in one of the league's most challenging home environments. The key? A remarkable ability to limit damage—their 149 home runs allowed ranked third-best in the AL despite their park factors.

Advantage: Cardinals

LINEUPS

The Rangers' offensive machine led the AL in runs (944) while finishing second in batting average (.285) and OPS (.801). Their balanced attack features six regulars with 2.5+ WAR, led by Salvador Almazan's breakout campaign (.314/.377/.493) and Wally Frey's emergence (28 HR, 4.9 WAR).

St. Louis's lineup is more top-heavy but equally dangerous. Alexis Walker's MVP-caliber season (.299/.412/.467, 7.6 WAR) and Van Doren's power surge (27 HR in 141 games) anchor an offense that ranked second in the NL in OBP (.344). Their defensive excellence—particularly Walker's +18.9 ZR in center—gives them extra value.

Advantage: Rangers (slightly)

BULLPENS

The Rangers' relief corps posted the AL's best ERA (3.15) and highest strikeout rate (9.8 K/9). The emergence of 22-year-old Tanzan Takagi (2.25 ERA in 76 innings) gives them the kind of multi-inning weapon that becomes crucial in a nine-game series.

The Cardinals counter with a resurgent Logan Cash, whose return to the closer role in October has stabilized their late-inning hierarchy. Their 5.31 bullpen ERA during the regular season is concerning, but October baseball often renders regular season numbers meaningless.

Advantage: Rangers

DEFENSE

This is where the series might be won. The Cardinals' defensive metrics are stunning—a +45.7 Zone Rating leads the NL, with particular excellence up the middle. The Rangers are solid (+14.2 ZR) but not exceptional.

In a nine-game series where every extra out matters, the Cardinals' defensive advantage could prove decisive.

Advantage: Cardinals

X-FACTORS

1. The Nine-Game Format: With potentially nine games over 11 days, rotation depth becomes crucial. The Cardinals' top-heavy staff might be tested.

2. Globe Life Field: The Rangers' home park played surprisingly pitcher-friendly this year. Will that hold in October?

3. Mark Wleh vs. His Former Team: His 1.36 ERA this postseason suggests he's ready for the moment.

PECOTA PROJECTION
Cardinals in 8 (54.2% chance of winning)

The model loves the Cardinals' run prevention and sees their defensive excellence as the separator in what projects to be a tightly contested series. The nine-game format actually works in their favor—their superior top-end pitching gets more opportunities to impact the series.

But here's the thing about baseball in 2064: The Rangers' 99-win season wasn't a fluke. They led the AL in run differential (+190) and their balanced roster construction might be better suited for the extended series format.

PREDICTION
Rangers in 7. Sometimes the numbers lie. Texas's offensive depth and superior bullpen will prove decisive in what shapes up to be an instant classic.

Young Drachma

11-24-2024, 12:38 AM

The House That Oil Built Couldn't Hold Us: Cards Finally Crack Texas Code, Bring Series Back Where It Belongs
By Mickey O'Connor
Riverfront Times | October 21, 2064

Look, we get it. Globe Life Field is a perfectly fine spaceship of a ballpark, all gleaming and climate-controlled like some baseball biodome. But after three games of watching our Cardinals look about as comfortable there as a vegan at Salt + Smoke, something finally clicked in Game 6.

Maybe it was the $18 craft beers that finally numbed the pain. Maybe it was the realization that you can actually win baseball games in a building that looks like a rejected design for an Amazon fulfillment center. Whatever it was, our boys finally cracked the code, grinding out a 4-3 victory that sends this nine-game marathon back to the friendly confines of Busch Stadium.

"We just got tired of that damn train horn," joked Noël Hudon, referring to the Rangers' victory celebration sound effect that had tortured Cardinals fans through Games 1, 2, and 5. Hudon, who's been hotter than July on the Landing during this series, delivered another clutch hit because apparently that's just what he does now.

But the real story was the top of the eighth, when the Rangers finally discovered that their wunderkind reliever Tanzan Takagi is, in fact, human. The kid had been basically unhittable all October, but Alexis Walker—who's becoming to Rangers fans what David Freese was to Texas supporters back in the ancient times—delivered the double that silenced 41,728 people simultaneously. Well, except for the pocket of red-clad lunatics in section 214 who'd been drowning their sorrows in Texas BBQ and overpriced domestics.

The victory sets up what could be an epic homecoming at Busch. Games 7 and 8 (thanks, Rob Manfred's ghost, for this nine-game fever dream) will be in St. Louis, where the Cardinals have outscored Texas 20-4 in this series. Mark Wleh gets the ball in Game 7, and if you're looking for narrative, try this on: Wleh facing his old team with a chance to push the Cardinals to the brink of back-to-back titles.

"The Rangers are a great team," said manager Wookie Rogers, mastering the art of saying nothing while saying everything. "But there's something special about October baseball in St. Louis."

Young Drachma

11-24-2024, 12:51 AM

Full Circle: Fernández Walk-Off Puts Cardinals One Win Away, Burgess' Return Ends in Heartbreak
By Marcus Reynolds
St. Louis Post-Dispatch | October 22, 2064

ST. LOUIS — In a World Series defined by its circular narratives, Game 7 delivered perhaps the most poetic chapter yet.

Archer Fernández's walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth gave the Cardinals a dramatic 4-3 victory over Texas, turning what had been Troy Burgess's triumphant return to Busch Stadium into another chapter in St. Louis's October story. The Cardinals now lead the series 4-3 with a chance to clinch at home Thursday night.

"Baseball has a way of writing these scripts," said Cardinals manager Wookie Rogers. "Troy pitched his heart out tonight. But Arch... well, that's why we play nine innings."

Burgess, who went to Texas in the blockbuster Mark Wleh trade three years ago, seemed poised to play spoiler against his former team. He held the Cardinals to two runs over seven masterful innings, leaving with a lead that seemed destined to force a Game 8.

But the Cardinals, as they've done so often this October, had other ideas. After Alexis Walker's RBI double in the eighth tied it against Rangers closer Tanzan Takagi, Fernández led off the ninth by launching a 2-1 fastball into the St. Louis night, sending 49,031 fans into delirium.

"The atmosphere was electric all night," said Spencer Van Doren, who's experienced both sides of this rivalry after his own journey from Texas to Baltimore and finally back to St. Louis. "These fans deserve a chance to see us clinch at home."

Layton Willingham earned the win with eight solid innings, recovering from Wally Frey's first-inning two-run homer to keep the Cardinals within striking distance. River Wang worked a perfect ninth, setting the stage for Fernández's heroics.

"When you trade for a guy like Wleh, you're giving up pieces you love," Rogers said, referencing the 2061 deal that sent Burgess, Van Doren, and three others to Texas. "But nights like this remind you why you make those moves."

The Rangers' Salvador Almazan continued his torrid series with three more hits, pushing his average to an astounding .452. But Texas managed just seven hits total against Willingham and Wang.

Game 8 is scheduled for Thursday night at Busch Stadium, with Mark Wleh taking the mound against Domingo Medina. One more win would give St. Louis back-to-back championships.

"We're not done yet," Fernández insisted, still buzzing from his game-winner. "But man, what a way to set it up."

In the quiet visitors' clubhouse, Burgess could only shake his head. "That's October baseball," he said softly. "Sometimes you're the hero, sometimes you're on the other side. But what a game to be part of."

Indeed. And now the stage is set for even more drama, with Wleh getting a chance to clinch against his former team.

Baseball in 2064. Still writing stories that seem too perfect to be true.

Young Drachma

11-24-2024, 12:55 AM

BACK-TO-BACK: Legler's Gem Clinches Second Straight Title for Cardinals
By Marcus Reynolds
St. Louis Post-Dispatch | October 23, 2064

ST. LOUIS — In the biggest decision of his managerial career, Wookie Rogers trusted his gut over conventional wisdom. Like so many of his choices this October, it proved to be exactly right.

Luke Legler, not Mark Wleh on short rest, took the ball in Game 8 of the World Series and delivered seven masterful innings as the Cardinals defeated Texas 4-1 to claim their second consecutive championship. When Logan Cash recorded the final out, 49,213 fans at Busch Stadium erupted in a celebration that could be heard all the way to the Arch.

"Sometimes the obvious move isn't the right move," Rogers said amid the champagne celebration. "Luke's been building toward this moment all season. He deserved this chance."

Legler allowed just two hits and one run—a solo homer by former Cardinal Benson Amobi—while striking out six. The 34-year-old veteran, who began the season as the team's fifth starter, ended it by outdueling Texas rookie Woody Chen in the biggest game of the year.

"This team, this city, they deserve everything," said Legler, wiping champagne from his eyes. "To do this at home, in front of these fans? You can't write it better."

The game wasn't without early drama. Billy Bridge's first-inning ejection for arguing strikes could have rattled a lesser team. Instead, Noël Hudon (3-for-4, RBI) and Dary Santoso (two-run double) picked up the slack, breaking open a tight game with a three-run seventh inning that had Busch Stadium shaking.

"That's Cardinals baseball," said Archer Fernández, named World Series MVP after a stellar series at the plate. "Someone goes down, someone else steps up. That's why we're champions. Again."

The victory puts St. Louis in rare company as just the second National League team this decade to win consecutive titles, joining the 2060-61 Mets. They did it as a wild card team, proving that October magic sometimes means more than regular season dominance.

Cash, working his sixth game of the series, closed things out with two pristine innings. When V.J. Taylor's drive to deep left settled into Spencer Van Doren's glove for the final out, the celebration began.

"Logan's been everything we could have asked for and more," Rogers said of his closer, who recorded his sixth save of the series. "From seventh-inning guy to closing out the World Series? That's a Hollywood story."

For Texas, it marks a bitter end to a 99-win season. Salvador Almazan's incredible .422 series average wasn't enough to overcome a Cardinals team that seemed destined to make history.

"They're champions for a reason," Rangers manager Sarah Martinez said. "Sometimes you just have to tip your cap."

As fireworks exploded over Busch Stadium and fans refused to leave their seats, the magnitude of the achievement began to sink in. Back-to-back titles. A wild card team that refused to die. A pitching decision that defied convention but defined a champion.

"St. Louis is a baseball town," Legler said, his voice hoarse from celebrating. "Tonight we gave them something to remember forever."

Forever, indeed. The 2064 Cardinals just wrote their names into baseball immortality, right next to their 2063 counterparts.

Two straight titles. One unforgettable October.

Baseball in St. Louis. Still writing stories that seem too perfect to be real.

Young Drachma

11-26-2024, 01:38 AM

FINAL DAY FEVER: Multiple Races, Countless Possibilities Mark Season's End
By Buster Olney III
The Sporting News | September 16, 2065

They'll be scoreboard watching in four different cities today, with playoff hopes hanging by threads so thin you can barely see them. But they're there, those mathematical possibilities that keep baseball fascinating until the very end.
In the American League, three teams – the New York Knights (85-76), Kansas City Royals (85-76), and Milwaukee Brewers (84-77) – are separated by one game in the wild card race. A three-way tie remains possible, which would create the kind of chaos baseball executives both dread and secretly love.

"You spend 161 games getting here," said one AL executive, "and it could all come down to what happens in Detroit of all places."
Indeed, the Royals visit the cellar-dwelling Tigers (65-96) while the Brewers face Minnesota (76-85) and the Knights – seeking their first playoff berth after relocations from Mexico City to Vancouver to Indianapolis and finally to Newark – battle the Yankees (88-73) in a game dripping with narrative.

Meanwhile, the Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies, both 85-76, face off for the NL East crown in a winner-take-all showdown. The loser goes home, as the Chicago Cubs have already secured the third wild card spot behind Los Angeles and Houston.

"In 40 years covering baseball, I've never seen a final day with this many permutations," said veteran broadcaster Jim Palmer IV.
The day marks the end of several remarkable streaks. The St. Louis Cardinals (82-80) will miss the postseason for the first time since 2061, ending their run of consecutive World Series appearances. The Los Angeles Dodgers (90-71) will return to October for the first time since 2058, while the Yankees could make their first appearance since 2059.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the Oklahoma City 89ers (88-73) – who just five years ago were the Boise Spuds – are playoff-bound for the first time since relocating. The Houston Astros (89-72) end a 14-year drought that dated back to 2051.

"Baseball's changing," said another executive. "The old powers are fading, new ones are rising. Days like today remind you why we love this game."

First pitch in all four crucial games is scheduled for 3:05 ET. By dinner time on the East Coast, we'll know who's in and who's going home.

Young Drachma

11-27-2024, 01:15 AM

JERSEY STAKES: Yankees-Knights Showdown at ShopRite Stadium Headlines Season's Final Act
By Jimmy Sullivan
New York Post | September 16, 2065

Today at 1:05 ET, baseball's most complex divorce settlement gets another chapter when the Yankees cross the Hudson to face their unwanted neighbors at Newark's ShopRite Stadium. The stakes? Just about everything.

The Yankees (88-73) and Marlins (88-73) enter the season's final day deadlocked atop the AL East. While both have clinched playoff spots, the division title—and more importantly, that precious third seed in the ladder playoffs—hangs in the balance. The Marlins face Cleveland at the same time, meaning scoreboard watching will be a two-city affair.

But for the host Knights (85-76), this is pure survival. Tied with Kansas City for the final wild card spot and just a game ahead of Milwaukee, Newark's adopted sons need a win in their own building to guarantee at least a tie for that last playoff berth. Lose, and they'll be checking scores from Detroit and Minnesota faster than you can say "PATH train schedule."

"Playing in our house changes everything," said Knights manager Diego Ramirez, whose team has somehow turned their converted warehouse of a ballpark into a legitimate home-field advantage. "The Yankees might have the history, but we've got ShopRite's finest behind us today."

Sam Conteh (20-9, 2.49 ERA) takes the ball for the Knights against Jesús Luna (4-6, 6.43) in a pitching matchup that looks as lopsided as the two franchises' trophy cases. But in 2065's version of baseball, anything can happen—especially in Newark.

"We're not just playing for playoff seeding," said Yankees manager Bubby Waters, probably wondering how his GPS routed to this game. "Any time you play in the metro area, pride is on the line."

The Knights' Raymond Nadeau (.311, 30 HR) has turned ShopRite Stadium's cozy confines into his personal launching pad. The Yankees' Terrance Adkins (54 HR) would probably have 70 if he played here full-time.

First pitch can't come soon enough. The Yankees are playing for division glory and playoff positioning. The Knights are playing for their very survival. And both teams are playing for New York/New Jersey supremacy, whether the Yankees want to admit it or not.

BY THE NUMBERS:
- 2: Cities where the AL East will be decided
- 1: Games the Knights have to win to survive
- 2.49: Conteh's ERA (best in whatever division Newark ends up claiming)
- 3: Potential teams in a wild card tie if chaos reigns
- 1.05: First pitch time ET (so at least traffic won't be terrible)
- ∞: Number of New Yorkers who still can't believe Newark has a team

Young Drachma

11-27-2024, 01:37 AM

FINAL DAY DRAMA: Smith's Five Hits Lead Knights Into Game 163
By Tony Chen
Newark Star-Ledger | September 17, 2065

The most important day of the Knights' season turned on the unlikeliest of heroes. Ezra Smith, carrying a .217 average into the final game, channeled his inner Ty Cobb with a franchise record-tying five hits as the Knights downed the Yankees 4-1 to force a Game 163 against Kansas City.

The win, coupled with the Marlins' 4-1 victory in Cleveland that clinched them the AL East crown, sets up tomorrow's winner-take-all showdown at ShopRite Stadium, where another sellout crowd will push the Knights' season attendance past 2.9 million in their cozy confines.

Sam Conteh (21-9) continued his masterful season with eight dominant innings, striking out 10 Yankees and allowing just four hits. The Knights' home field advantage for Game 163 was secured by their superior intra-division record (41-31 vs. the Royals' 36-36), giving Newark one more chance to experience playoff-adjacent baseball.

Game 163: Newark's New Knights Chase Their Own History
By Vincent Scoleri
Newark Star-Ledger | September 17, 2065

Baseball's a funny game. Twenty years after the Marlins' brief but glorious sojourn as the New York Knights ended with a move back to Miami, Newark's newest tenants—a franchise that's hopscotched from Mexico City to Vancouver to Indianapolis—are trying to write their own chapter in Tri-State baseball lore.

Game 163 wasn't in the original script, but nearly 2.9 million fans through the turnstiles of ShopRite Stadium suggests this marriage of wandering franchise and baseball-starved market might just work. Tomorrow's crowd of 36,789 gets to help decide if there's October baseball in their future.

Saul Friedman (12-11, 3.47), who won rings with both the Mets and Cardinals, takes the ball against Kansas City's Mateo Mata (5-7, 4.15). If Friedman delivers, the Knights would turn to Mark Wleh—owner of two Cardinals rings and one Rangers championship—in the ladder playoffs, where teams have been climbing their way to glory since 2059's format restoration.

"This city knows playoff baseball," said Knights manager Joe "Bubby" Waters, though he's talking about a different franchise's memories. "We're trying to make our own history here."

The Royals bring generational hunger to ShopRite Stadium. Kansas City hasn't seen October since 2058, hasn't celebrated a championship since 2026's ladder playoff run. Their drought has outlasted most of their fans' marriages.

The matchup is perfectly balanced—identical 86-76 records, a 3-3 season series split, two franchises trying to outrun their pasts. Only the Knights' superior intradivision record (41-31 vs. 36-36) gives us tomorrow's venue.

For the Knights, it's a chance to prove their nomadic days are over. After struggling to draw flies in Indianapolis, they've found passionate support in a market that's been craving its own team since those other Knights headed back to Miami. For the Royals, it's about ending four decades of frustration.

"Sometimes you have to wander a while before you find home," said Friedman, who's seen enough October baseball to know what this means to both cities.

First pitch is 1:05 ET. Bring your hope. Baseball's newest tenants in the Garden State are trying to grow some roots, one sellout crowd at a time.

Young Drachma

11-27-2024, 01:48 AM

OCTOBER KNIGHTS! Newark Celebrates as Game 163 Victory Sends Knights to Playoffs
By Vincent Scoleri
Newark Star-Ledger | September 17, 2065
The roar started the moment Yohanny Almonte's double hit the right field corner and didn't stop until long after John Proulx recorded the final out. Another sellout crowd of 36,689 at ShopRite Stadium created the kind of thunderous atmosphere that only October promises can generate.

The Knights are playoff bound.

Behind Saul Friedman's gutsy seven innings and Almonte's bases-clearing double in a decisive fifth inning, the Knights punched their ticket to the postseason with a 5-1 victory over Kansas City in Game 163. Tomorrow, they'll head across the river to face the Yankees, but tonight belonged to Newark.

"This crowd carried us all year," said Friedman, who scattered seven hits and allowed just one run despite constant traffic on the basepaths. "When this place gets going, there's nothing like it."
The decisive moment came in the fifth. After the Royals pitched around Trent Brooks to load the bases with two outs, Almonte turned on a 1-2 fastball from Mateo Mata, clearing the bases and sending ShopRite Stadium into a frenzy that could be heard all the way to Market Street.

"I've never heard anything like it," said Almonte. "The fans have been incredible all season. This was for them."
The Knights drew 2.9 million fans this season, establishing themselves as one of baseball's strongest markets with consistent sellout crowds. Today's 36,689 might have been the loudest yet, willing Friedman through several jams and erupting when Proulx closed things out in the ninth.

"This city lives and breathes baseball," said manager Diego Ramirez. "Tonight we gave them a reason to dream even bigger."

Mark Wleh (21-9, 2.96 ERA) gets the ball tomorrow at Yankee Stadium as the Knights begin their journey through the ladder playoffs. But for one night, Newark celebrated its team and the promise of more baseball to come.
"Tomorrow's another challenge," said Friedman. "But tonight? Tonight we celebrate with the best fans in baseball. They've earned this just as much as we have."

Young Drachma

11-27-2024, 01:59 AM

PinstripeAlley.com | September 18, 2065

So we're really doing this, huh? After blowing the division on the last day, we get to start our playoff journey against Newark in a win-or-go-home game. And if we win? We're still just on the first rung of this ladder nightmare.

Let's talk about what we're facing today. The Knights are throwing Mark Wleh because of course they are. Dude's been absolutely dealing all year (21-9, 2.96) and they got to save him for us thanks to yesterday's Game 163 win. Meanwhile, we're countering with Jason Bates because *looks at rotation* yeah, that's what we've got.

But here's the thing - Bates has actually been decent in the Bronx. And our lineup, when it's clicking, can absolutely wreck even the best pitching. Terrance Adkins didn't hit 54 bombs by accident.

The really annoying part? This is just the start. Win today, and we get the Rangers, then Miami. Win that, and Toronto's waiting. Win THAT and maybe we finally get a real series against Portland. I'm never gonna be used to the ladder, this is so stressful man.

The good news? The Knights had to burn through everyone except Wleh just to get here. Their pen is running on fumes while Broome and Morgan are fresh and ready to lock down anything close.

Look, nobody's happy about being in this position. But you want to win the World Series? Today's just step one of about forty-seven. At least we're starting at home.

First pitch 3:10. Bring your heart medication. This is going to be stressful.

Young Drachma

11-27-2024, 02:37 PM

STAGS RULE 2065: Portland Claims Title as New Stars Emerge
Baseball Weekly | October 25, 2065

The Portland Stags punctuated their 99-win season with a World Series championship, defeating the Houston Astros in five games to cap off a postseason run that included victories over Toronto in the Division Series and Miami in the ALCS.

Led by MVP Matías Santana (.381/.452/.616, 28 HR, 108 RBI), the Stags dominated with a combination of offense and pitching. The 21-year-old first baseman's 239 hits and 114 runs scored paced an attack that was complemented by a pitching staff featuring Emil Briones (18-2, 2.52 ERA) and José Bustamante (15-12, 3.78).

AWARD WINNERS

AMERICAN LEAGUE
MVP: Matías Santana, Portland (.381, 28 HR, 108 RBI)
Cy Young: Sam Conteh, NY Knights (21-9, 2.45 ERA, 303 K)
Rookie of the Year: Sam Conteh, NY Knights
Eckersley Award: D.J. Janson, Nashville (40 saves, 2.10 ERA)
Deacon White Award: Edgar Hernandez, Texas (7.85 RNG, 3.85 CERA, 3.1 ZR, 5.8 FRM)

NATIONAL LEAGUE
MVP: Donny Parsons, Houston (.311, 30 HR, 121 RBI)
Cy Young: Ric Maldonado, Tampa Bay (20-9, 3.34 ERA, 367 K)
Rookie of the Year: Walter Huber, Washington (15-9, 3.02 ERA)
Eckersley Award: Lou McNulty, Los Angeles (41 saves, 1.33 ERA)
Deacon White Award: Smokey Gonzales, Mets (6.1 ZR, 1.333 EFF, 3.88 CERA, 18.2 FRM)

The year saw several remarkable individual achievements, including Yankees third baseman Terrance Adkins launching 54 home runs and Tampa Bay's Tadashi Takagi stealing 60 bases while hitting .329/.416/.561.

PLAYOFF RECAP
Wild Card: New Orleans over Chicago
Wild Card: NY Knights over NY Yankees
Wild Card: Oklahoma City over New Orleans
Wild Card: Texas over NY Knights
Elimination Series: Washington over Oklahoma City (2-1)
Elimination Series: Miami over Texas (2-1)
Division Series: Washington over Los Angeles (3-1)
Division Series: Miami over Toronto (3-1)
League Championship Series: Houston over Washington (4-2)
League Championship Series: Portland over Miami (4-2)
World Series: Portland over Houston (5-2)

Among the year's breakout stars were Cincinnati's Artémio Vazquez (8.6 WAR) and Milwaukee's Naci Pasa, who earned a Gold Glove at second base. The Knights' Conteh became just the latest pitcher to claim both Cy Young and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.

Portland's championship run featured stellar defense from Gold Glove winners Troy Charter (P), Paul Panuellos (SS), and Bucky Aaron (CF), while the offense generated consistent production throughout the playoffs.

The Stags finished the regular season with a 99-63 record before powering through the postseason behind Santana's MVP performance and a pitching staff that limited Houston to just 11 runs in the five-game World Series triumph.

Young Drachma

11-27-2024, 02:59 PM

The Knights of New York: A Tale of Two Aces

When Sam Conteh won the 2064 Ahinfo Trophy as the West African Baseball League's top pitcher, leading the Koidu Kings to their third straight Eastern Division title, few expected his next stop to be the New York Knights, playing their home games in Newark's revitalized downtown. But the signing of Mark Wleh – a three-time Cy Young winner and one of baseball's most dominant pitchers of the past decade – changed everything.

"The game in Africa today? It's unrecognizable from when I left," Wleh says from the Knights' clubhouse at their state-of-the-art ballpark. "Back in '53, I had to prove myself in Japan first because scouts hadn't caught up to how much African baseball had grown. Now? The WABL is sending players straight to MLB every year."

Wleh would know. His path from Liberian prodigy to future Hall of Famer included a detour through the Japanese leagues, where he dominated for the Kyoto Apollos before Colorado made him their ace. What followed was one of the most remarkable careers in modern baseball history: five World Series championships – two with Colorado in '54 and '56, one with Texas in '58, and two more with St. Louis in '63 and '64 – three Cy Young Awards, and over 3,000 strikeouts. His 213 wins and career 3.15 ERA have him destined for Cooperstown on the first ballot.

"People thought I was crazy," Wleh admits, reflecting on his decision to join the fledgling Knights – in their 2nd year in the Tri-State area after moving from Indianapolis after six years, now carrying the name of the brief-but-beloved 2040-2043 team that captured both the city's heart and a World Series before transforming back into the Miami Marlins. "But I saw what the Knights could be. There's room in this market for three teams. The fans here remember that 2040 title. They know baseball."

What Wleh couldn't have predicted was how his signing would help land Conteh, who had just completed one of the most dominant pitching seasons in WABL history for Koidu. The 27-year-old had followed Wleh's career closely, watching him rack up accolades across multiple pennant races while African baseball continued its meteoric rise.

"When I was coming up through the Kings' academy system, Mark was already a legend," Conteh says. "The WABL now has analytics, development programs, everything MLB has. But Mark was part of the generation that proved African players could dominate at any level. His success opened doors for all of us."

The Knights' front office had hoped Wleh's presence might help attract other top talent to their new franchise. But landing Conteh, the reigning WABL strikeout king, exceeded all expectations. Their combined success – Conteh's Cy Young Award and Wleh's runner-up finish (21-9, 2.96 ERA season at age 34) – has given the Knights instant legitimacy in the hyper-competitive New York market.

That connection to the community has helped both pitchers thrive. Conteh's historic rookie campaign, featuring a no-hitter against Baltimore and a pitching Triple Crown with 21 wins, a 2.45 ERA, and 303 strikeouts, validated both his talent and the WABL's growing reputation as an elite league.

"Twenty years ago, African players had to prove themselves elsewhere first," Conteh reflects. "Mark changed that. He didn't just succeed – he dominated. Three Cy Youngs, five rings, punched his ticket to Cooperstown. Now the scouts know – the best African players can compete anywhere. The game has grown so much back home, and it's beautiful to see that recognized."

As the Knights head to their first playoff appearance, their two aces have already succeeded in making the franchise feel like more than just New York's third team. In a region known for its baseball passion, they've given fans something new to believe in – and reminded the baseball world that greatness can be found wherever the game is loved.

"Just don't ask them which jollof is better," laughs Mama's Kitchen owner Aminata Bangura from her restaurant in Irvington, where both pitchers have become regulars. "That's the only time I've seen those two disagree about anything."

Young Drachma

11-28-2024, 12:16 AM

Alright folks, strap in because I've got some news that's gonna make you spit out your morning coffee. The MLB, in all its infinite wisdom, has decided to kick the ladder playoffs to the curb once again. That's right, the format that everyone loved to hate is getting the boot, and we're going back to the Wild Card Series.

For those of you who haven't been paying attention (and who can blame you, really?), the ladder playoffs have been a thing since 2059. But apparently, seven years is enough for the powers that be to realize that maybe, just maybe, it's not the greatest idea to have the best teams sitting around twiddling their thumbs while the bottom-feeders duke it out.

So here's the deal: starting next season, the three wild card teams and the weakest division champion will face off in a best-of-five series. The winners will then move on to the Division Series, which will also be a best-of-five. The LCS stays at seven games, and the World Series will still be a grueling nine-game affair, because apparently, we all love watching grown men in tight pants play baseball until our eyes bleed.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "But wait, didn't we used to have a Wild Card Series before?" And you're right, we did. But back then, it was only a best-of-three, which was about as fair as a rigged carnival game. Teams complained, and rightfully so, because who wants to see their season end after just three games?

But here's the thing: even with the ladder playoffs, which were supposed to be this great equalizer, the best teams still dominated. They just had to wait around longer to do it. And the networks? They hated it. Turns out, people don't want to watch a bunch of mediocre teams play meaningless games while the big boys sit on their hands.

So, in a move that surprised absolutely no one, the MLB has decided to go back to the "normal" playoff format. And by "normal," I mean the one that everyone was used to before the league started messing with things.

Look, I get it. Change is hard. And the ladder playoffs were supposed to be this revolutionary thing that made baseball more exciting. But let's be real: nothing makes baseball more exciting than watching the best teams go head-to-head in a do-or-die series. And with the Wild Card Series back in play, that's exactly what we're going to get.

So buckle up, baseball fans. The playoffs are about to get a whole lot wilder.

Hank McGuire, Rocky Mountain News

Young Drachma

11-28-2024, 04:16 PM

PATH TO GLORY: A Subway Series Unlike Any Other
By Jonathan Katz and Sofia Rodriguez
New York Times

Four years ago, when the Arrows left Indianapolis for Newark, skeptics questioned whether the New York market could support a third team. Now, as the newly-christened Knights prepare to face the Mets in what local wags are dubbing "The PATH Series," those doubts seem quaint.

The symmetry is almost too perfect. The Knights (92-70), playing in their gleaming Newark ballpark, represent the game's future: a relocated franchise finding instant success in its new home. The Mets (92-70), just two titles removed from their 2061-62 dynasty, embody baseball's cyclical nature—rebuild, contend, repeat.

"People forget how hard it is to get here," said Mets veteran SP Taner Peterson (23-3, 2.57 ERA) who was part of the Cardinals most recent back-to-back titles before signing with the Mets and becoming their ace two years ago. "Two years ago, we lost 80 games. Now we're four wins from another title."

The Knights' path through October has been electric. After dispatching the Tigers in the Wild Card round, they stunned Portland and outlasted Texas to reach their first World Series in franchise history—a feat they never achieved in 45 years in Indianapolis.
The Mets, meanwhile, rode Peterson's historic season and CF Vittorio Giancana's (.322, 9 HR, 84 RBI) emergence to hold off Washington in the East. After sweeping past Chicago and St. Louis, they're seeking their third title in six years.

"This city's seen Subway Series before," noted longtime baseball historian Robert Chen. "But a series between Queens and Newark? That's new territory."

The matchup itself is fascinating. The Knights boast baseball's second-best offense, led by SS Samet Daiu (.326) and a deep rotation fronted by reigning AL Cy Young winner SP Sam Conteh (14-8, 3.61). The Mets counter with Peterson, the likely Cy Young winner, and baseball's best defensive outfield.

Game 1 features a pitching matchup for the ages: Peterson versus Conteh at Citi Field. For the first time, the 7 train and PATH train will carry equal weight in October baseball.
"Two New York teams, separated by the Hudson," mused Knights GM. "Sometimes baseball writes its own stories."

The World Series begins Monday night in Queens.
Game 1: Knights (Conteh 14-8, 3.61) at Mets (Peterson 23-3, 2.57), 8:05 PM ET

Young Drachma

11-28-2024, 04:41 PM

The Three-Borough King: Baseball's Last Renaissance Man
How a Canadian CPA Became New York's Most Unlikely Baseball Legend

By Gretta Urschel
ESQUIRE Magazine, October 2066

There's something oddly poetic about finding Saul Friedman in the gleaming offices of the New York Knights, the newest jewel in the Big Apple's baseball crown. At 40, his 6'7" frame still cuts an imposing figure, though these days he carries himself with the measured precision of someone who's logged over 3,000 innings across a remarkable two-decade career, and two All-Star appearances.

"Please don't ask me to do your taxes," he says with a laugh that fills the room, before I can even broach the subject of his famous side gig. It's a line he's clearly delivered countless times, but it still carries genuine mirth. Friedman, nicknamed "The Accountant" – a reference to both his CPA license and a now-ancient Ben Affleck film from the 2010s – might be the last true renaissance man in baseball.

His career numbers read like a CPA's dream ledger: 198 wins against 152 losses, a stellar 3.64 ERA across 562 games, and an astounding 2,678 strikeouts. But it's the story behind those numbers that makes Friedman's journey unique, particularly his transformation into a clutch postseason performer.

Before becoming the only player to don the uniforms of all three New York-area teams, Friedman built his foundation in the heartland. His longest tenure came with the St. Louis Cardinals – 227 games over multiple stints, accumulating 59 wins and establishing himself as one of the game's most reliable arms. It was with the Cardinals where he earned his second World Series ring in 2063, coming over in a deadline deal that proved crucial to their championship run.

His time in San Diego was equally impressive, appearing in 128 games and maintaining a solid 3.55 ERA. But it was in New York where Friedman's legend truly took shape. His journey through the city's baseball landscape reads like a grand tour of the sport's most demanding stages: a season with the Yankees (31 games, 3.76 ERA), three years with the Mets – including a memorable World Series title in 2061 – and now, in what might be his final act, steering the upstart Knights.

"The championships in St. Louis and with the Mets, they're different flavors of the same joy," he reflects, his Canadian accent still detectible after two decades in the States. "But there's something special about winning in New York. The energy, the scrutiny, the passion – it all adds up to something bigger than just baseball."

That mathematical mindset has served him well across his career. Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, his parents insisted he continue his studies even as he worked his way through the minor leagues. "Baseball isn't guaranteed," they told him, words that would prove prophetic in the most unexpected way.

"I'd study balance sheets on the team bus," he recalls. "My teammates thought I was crazy. Maybe I was. But there's something about understanding numbers, about making them work for you, that translated to the mound in ways I never expected."

Now, in what he acknowledges might be his final season, Friedman finds himself with the Knights, trying to bring a championship to Newark. At 40, his fastball doesn't have quite the same zip, but like any good accountant, he's learned to make adjustments.

"Baseball's a game of numbers," he muses, "but it's also a game of stories. Every pitch, every inning, every season – they're all entries in a ledger that adds up to something bigger than just wins and losses."

As our conversation winds down, I ask him about the pressure of potentially closing out his career with New York's newest team. He smiles, the kind of smile that suggests he's already run the numbers and likes what he sees.

"You know what they say about accountants – we're at our best when the pressure's highest. April 15th, October baseball... it's all the same. It's just about making the numbers work in your favor."

For Saul Friedman, baseball's most numerically-inclined philosopher king, those numbers have added up to something remarkable: a career that's spanned three boroughs, two professions, and countless memorable moments. As he chases one final title with the Knights, it's clear that regardless of the outcome, his ledger is already rich with the kind of stories that make baseball magic.

This story appears in the October 2066 issue of Esquire Magazine.

Young Drachma

11-29-2024, 01:05 AM

2066: The Year Baseball's Numbers Told Unexpected Stories

In the climate-controlled confines of modern baseball stadiums, 2066 produced a season where traditional powers were challenged, new stars emerged, and the game's statistical boundaries were pushed in ways few predicted.

The Three-Way Dance in the NL Central

Perhaps no division better exemplified 2066's competitive balance than the NL Central, where the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs finished in a dead heat at 91-71, with the Cardinals technically claiming the division through tiebreakers. The Cincinnati Reds (85-77) kept the pressure on well into September, creating a three-team race that captivated the midwest.

"You couldn't take a day off," said one NL Central manager. "Every series felt like October baseball."

Rangers' Offensive Revolution

The Texas Rangers (93-69) didn't just win the AL West – they revolutionized offensive baseball. Their league-leading 931 runs scored represented a perfect marriage of analytics and execution. More impressively, they did it with remarkable balance: six different players drove in at least 80 runs, with J. Major (115 RBI) leading a deep lineup that wore down opposing pitchers.

The Peterson Paradigm

The Mets' Taner Peterson didn't just dominate – he redefined pitching efficiency for the modern era. His 2.57 ERA led baseball, but it was his microscopic 1.02 WHIP that turned heads. "He's eliminated the concept of a comfortable at-bat," said one opposing manager. In 210.1 innings, he struck out 170 while walking just 46 – the kind of control that analytics departments dream about.

The Rise of Nweke

Vancouver's Shola Nweke brought back memories of Rickey Henderson, swiping 75 bases with an efficiency rate that made analytics departments reconsider the value of speed in modern baseball. More impressively, he did it for a Vancouver Angels team (89-73) that stayed in the NL West race all season.

Tajti's Double Vision

While home runs dominated headlines, Salt Lake's Kozma Tajti mastered the art of the double. His 72 two-base hits didn't just lead baseball – they represented a throwback to a different era of hitting. Combined with 229 total hits, Tajti proved that gap power still has a place in modern baseball.

Eastern Promises

Both New York teams won 92 games, with the Knights taking the AL East and the Mets claiming the NL East. But it was the Washington Senators who provided the surprise, pushing the Mets until the final week and finishing with 91 wins. The three-team race between the Knights, Tigers (90-72), and Brewers (90-72) in the AL playoffs added another layer to an already compelling October story.

Statistical Anomalies

- Salim Demir's .495 OBP represented the highest in either league
- The Rangers scored 931 runs despite not having a 40-home run hitter
- Joe Sheridan's 37 homers led all of baseball in a year where power numbers were surprisingly modest
- Portland's Matias Santana hit .376 while only hitting 14 home runs, proving contact hitting isn't dead

The Next Frontier

As teams head into the offseason, the 2066 season offered a glimpse of baseball's evolving future. Whether it's the Rangers' balanced offense, Peterson's precision pitching, or Nweke's baserunning renaissance, the game continues to evolve in ways that both honor its past and push toward its future.

The numbers tell stories, but in 2066, they told us something more: baseball's golden age isn't behind us. It might just be beginning.

Young Drachma

11-29-2024, 07:51 PM

The afternoon sun slants through Dodger Stadium's left-field pavilion as Urban Henry, age 43, throws his trademark cut fastball in the bullpen. His nephew Diego, barely half his age at 22, watches with the same wonderment he had as a child in their backyard in New York. The scene seems implausible, yet here they are—baseball's most decorated active pitcher and his protégé, now teammates in Dodger blue.

"I still can't believe it sometimes," Diego says, his Puerto Rican accent mixing with New York cadences. "Growing up, he was already a legend. Now we share a rotation."

Urban's journey to Los Angeles reads like magical realism. After 17 seasons, 341 wins, two MVPs, and an unprecedented ten Cy Young Awards, he shocked the baseball world by signing with the Dodgers just before Opening Day 2067. The team that had gone from perennial contender to occasional playoff participant suddenly had baseball's most dominant arm of the past quarter-century.

"The game gives you maybe one or two moments to write your own ending," Urban reflects, wiping sweat from his brow. His 6'2" frame, still carrying a solid 195 pounds, shows little sign of age. "When I heard Diego was here... well, some things mean more than just adding to your statistics."

The family connection runs deeper than most realize. Diego's mother Letitia, Urban's half-sister, moved from Puerto Rico to New York when Diego was young. Urban became not just an uncle but a baseball mentor, teaching Diego the intricacies of pitching in the same Queens neighborhood where he himself learned the game.

"Every kid dreams of throwing like Urban Henry," Diego says, now sporting a 3.76 ERA in his sophomore season. "I just had the advantage of him actually teaching me how."

The Dodgers' gambit has paid early dividends. They've only made the post-season once in the last 9 years, and they lead the NL West at the trade deadline. Urban, displaying his characteristic efficiency, has posted a 14-6 record with a 3.65 ERA. More telling is his 1.24 WHIP—at 43, he still ranks among baseball's most precise practitioners.

"Age is just a countdown someone else keeps," Henry says, a sentiment that echoes through his career statistics. His 341 wins place him 11th all-time, alongside names like Young, Johnson, and Mathewson. But it's the modern context that staggers: in an era of five-inning starts and bullpen specialization, Henry has remained a throwback to when pitchers were expected to finish what they started.

The possibility of bringing the Dodgers their first title since 2042 alongside his nephew seems almost too scripted. Yet in baseball, as in family, the most meaningful stories often write themselves.

"Every time I see him on the mound," Diego says, watching his uncle prepare for another start, "I remember being that kid in the backyard. Only now the whole world gets to watch too."

Urban adjusts his cap, ready to take the field for another start in his storied career. The shadows are growing longer at Dodger Stadium, but baseball's ageless wonder isn't done writing his story. And this time, it's a family affair.

Young Drachma

11-29-2024, 07:54 PM

Editor's note: I didn't create Diego Henry or even edit his name, he was just apparently a prospect from Puerto Rico on the Dodgers unbeknownst to me. When I decided to unretire Henry, I wanted to make sure he went to a good team since it didn't make sense for him. Since the San Francisco Giants, his original team moved to Tampa -- and aren't very good -- I opted against that idea, and the Seals, their successors were also in my head, but the Dodgers having not won a title in a while made me think they were a good place to send him and so, I did that without knowing if they'd be any good or not.

Seeing another Henry in the rotation made the whole thing an absolute no brainer and I just retconned their connection. Sometimes, the game just makes magic happen.

Young Drachma

11-29-2024, 09:16 PM

THE RENAISSANCE OF JESÚS DÁVILOS
By Bob Ryan (Special to The New Yorker)
September 16, 2067

NEWARK, N.J. — In the visiting clubhouse at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Jesús Dávilos sits in front of his locker, a small smile playing across his face as he reflects on a journey that would make Joseph Campbell proud. The hero's journey, they call it. Well, this one's got enough plot twists to fill a dozen mythologies.

The story begins in Baltimore, where from 2061 to 2063 and led them to the 2062 World Series title, Dávilos authored one of the most dominant three-year stretches in pitching history. Three straight Cy Young Awards. A perfect game against Seattle with 17 strikeouts. A devastating five-pitch arsenal anchored by a triple-digit fastball and a splitter that disappeared like a magician's handkerchief. He was the game's most complete pitcher, equally capable of painting corners or powering through lineups.

But baseball, as it often does, had other plans.

"You never expect to reinvent yourself," says Dávilos, now 27, his voice carrying the weight of wisdom earned the hard way. "But sometimes the game chooses your path for you."

The transformation from ace to closer wasn't exactly planned. After Baltimore, there was the ill-fated stint in Philadelphia, where his ERA ballooned to 5.80. A trade to New Orleans was supposed to be the reset button, but Dávilos found himself in setup purgatory, his golden arm tarnishing in the seventh inning.

Enter the Knights, defending American League champions, playing in their adopted home of Newark. Their scouts saw something others missed: the makings of an elite closer in the way Dávilos had simplified his approach, ditching his secondary pitches to focus on a devastating fastball-cutter combination.

"He reminds me of Rivera," says Mark Wleh, himself a three-time Cy Young winner. "Different borough, same story — a power pitcher who found his true calling with two pitches that nobody can square up. When he comes in for the ninth, you can feel the energy change in the ballpark."

Since joining the Knights, Dávilos has posted a microscopic 0.87 ERA in 41.1 innings, converting 23 of 24 save opportunities. The velocity is still there — touching 100+ mph — but now it's the late movement on his cutter that leaves hitters muttering to themselves on the way back to the dugout.

The Knights' pitching staff reads like a Cooperstown ballot. Their six-man rotation features Wleh, four-time Cy Young winner Taner Peterson (fresh from leading the Mets to a World Series title), and Sierra Leone native Sam Conteh, who captured last year's award after dominating the West African Baseball League. But it's their closer, the former ace who found his second act in the ninth inning, who might hold the key to avenging last year's heartbreaking Game 9 World Series loss.

"There's something poetic about it," Dávilos reflects, watching his teammates prepare for another day at the office. "I used to overthink everything, trying to set up hitters across multiple at-bats. Now it's just me, two pitches, and three outs to get. There's a beautiful simplicity to it."

In baseball, as in life, the most interesting stories aren't about avoiding falls. They're about what happens after you get back up. Just ask Jesús Dávilos, who's writing his own comeback story, one save at a time, in the shadow of the Big Apple. And if the Knights' crystal ball is right, this October might just add the sweetest chapter yet.

Young Drachma

11-30-2024, 05:24 PM

Urban Legend: Henry, 43, Outduels Former Team in Playoff Masterpiece

By Marcus Wheeler
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The rain fell steadily at Busch Stadium Sunday evening, but it couldn't wash away the inevitability of what 47,554 fans were witnessing: Urban Henry, at age 43, was about to beat his former team in the playoffs.

Henry, who dominated for the Cardinals from 2061-2065, returned wearing Dodger blue to deliver seven gritty innings in a 6-3 victory, putting Los Angeles within one win of advancing. While the box score shows three runs allowed, it belies the maestro-like control Henry exhibited in neutralizing the dangerous Cardinals lineup.

"He's seen us in October before," Cardinals first baseman Jon Gallegos said, shaking his head. "Usually he was doing it for us, not against us."

The storylines wrote themselves. The aging legend, back in St. Louis where he crafted so much of his Hall of Fame resume. His nephew Diego, watching from the Dodgers dugout. And Asher Novak playing hero with two home runs and 3 RBIs to support the man who now sits 11th on baseball's all-time wins list.

Henry worked through early trouble, surrendering a double to Gallegos in the first and a bases-clearing double to Salim Demir in the third. But like he has done countless times in this ballpark, he settled in. From the fourth inning on, he allowed just three hits while striking out six Cardinals.

"That's why he's Urban Henry," Dodgers manager Manny Rodriguez said. "Even at 43, even against a lineup that knows him as well as anyone, he finds a way. He's not the same power pitcher he was a decade ago, but he's maybe even more dangerous now. He's an artist."

The victory was Henry's first postseason win since 2064, when he helped lead these same Cardinals to the NLCS. The symmetry wasn't lost on anyone in attendance, especially when Henry tipped his cap to the standing crowd as he walked off after the seventh.

"This place will always be special," Henry said afterward, his graying temples betraying his age even as his performance defied it. "But today I had a job to do for Los Angeles. Baseball's funny that way. Sometimes the best stories are the ones you never saw coming."

For seven innings in the rain, Urban Henry reminded St. Louis why he'll be in Cooperstown. The only difference was the uniform, and the hearts he broke belonged to his former team.

The series continues Tuesday in Los Angeles, where his nephew Diego Henry takes the mound for the Dodgers. His uncle will be watching, as he has since Diego was a child. Only this time, they're both wearing the same uniform, chasing the same dream.

"Some things are bigger than baseball," Urban said, glancing at his nephew across the clubhouse. "But winning in October? That's pretty special too."

On this night, in the stadium he once called home, baseball's ageless wonder proved he still has some magic left. The only question now is how much further he can take it.

Young Drachma

11-30-2024, 05:31 PM

The Trade That Worked for Everyone: Revisiting the Asher Novak Deal Five Years Later

As Asher Novak takes the field at Busch Stadium for Game 2 of the 2067 NLDS, it's hard not to reflect on the seismic trade that sent him from St. Louis to Los Angeles five years ago. The then-22-year-old prospect was the centerpiece of a deal that saw the Cardinals acquire Luke Legler, Irv Daniels, and Micah Sheehy.

With both teams facing off in October, it's time to revisit one of the most fascinating trades of the decade – one that, contrary to conventional wisdom, might have actually worked out for both sides.

The Immediate Aftermath
When the Cardinals shipped their #8 prospect to the Dodgers in November 2062, the baseball world was split. The analytically-inclined crowd saw the potential superstar they were giving up in Novak, while others understood the Cardinals' urgency to maximize their competitive window. St. Louis, sitting at 100-62 and coming off another dominant regular season, was dealing from a position of "win-now" strength.

The Return Package
The Cardinals' haul was a mixed bag of immediate help and unfulfilled potential:

Luke Legler: A steady veteran arm who posted a respectable 3.50 ERA over 221.0 IP in his first season with St. Louis
Irv Daniels: The middle infield stabilizer who, while never living up to his offensive potential (.285/.358/.446 in his first season), provided valuable clubhouse leadership
Micah Sheehy: A project that never quite materialized, now plying his trade in Taiwan

The Novak Factor
For the Dodgers, Novak has been everything they hoped for and more. His development curve proved steep but rewarding, as he's emerged as one of the National League's premier bats. The 14.0 WAR he's accumulated since the trade speaks volumes about his impact.

The Bigger Picture
But here's where it gets interesting: while Novak blossomed into a star, the Cardinals' gambit paid off in its own way. During the five years since the trade, St. Louis captured three NL pennants and two World Series titles. As former Cardinals GM Wookie Rogers, now a television analyst, puts it: "It's hard to really evaluate a trade based just on math. Some of this is psychological, some of it is finding your window. Asher was always gonna be great, but I'm not sure it would've happened with us, he needed to go elsewhere to find that and we needed guys to help maximize that win window. Not to be glib but flags fly forever."

Rogers' point about flags flying forever isn't just a convenient rationalization – it's backed up by the hardware in the Cardinals' trophy case. While the combined WAR of Legler (-5.9), Daniels (-0.4), and Sheehy (0.9) doesn't come close to matching Novak's production, the Cardinals' championship success suggests they achieved their primary objective.

The Verdict

Five years later, this trade stands as a fascinating case study in how baseball deals can't always be evaluated purely on statistical returns. The Dodgers got their ace of the future, while the Cardinals parlayed their return into crucial pieces of two championship runs. As Novak takes the mound tonight against his former organization, both sides can look back at the 2062 trade with a sense of satisfaction – a rare win-win in a sport where most deals produce clear winners and losers.

The results are a reminder that sometimes the best trades aren't about "winning" the deal, but about each team getting what they needed at the right time. For St. Louis, it was about maximizing a championship window. For Los Angeles, it was about acquiring and developing a foundational piece for the future. In that light, perhaps this trade worked out exactly as it should have.

As Rogers noted, flags do indeed fly forever. And while Novak's return to Busch Stadium in October 2067 might stir up "what-if" scenarios for Cardinals fans, those two World Series banners floating above the stadium serve as a pretty compelling answer.

Asher Novak Just Crushed His Former Team's Dreams (and Two Baseballs) in NLDS Game 2

There's something poetic about baseball's ability to craft the perfect revenge narrative. Five years ago, the St. Louis Cardinals shipped a raw but promising 22-year-old prospect named Asher Novak to the Dodgers in a win-now trade that actually, you know, helped them win. Now, on a rain-soaked Sunday evening at Busch Stadium, Novak reminded his former team exactly what they gave up—and put the Dodgers up 2-0 in the NLDS in the process.

The numbers are gaudy enough on their own: 4-for-5, two homers, three RBIs. But it's the timing that makes this the kind of story that has baseball writers reaching for their favorite metaphors. Novak's seventh-inning blast off Cardinals reliever C. Bilh gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game. His ninth-inning insurance shot? That was just turning the knife.

"Sometimes the baseball gods have a sense of humor," a drenched Manny Rodriguez said after the game, probably fighting the urge to look directly into the camera like he's on The Office.

Here's the thing about the 2062 trade that sent Novak to LA: it wasn't bad. The Cardinals parlayed their return into three NL pennants and two World Series titles. Flags fly forever, as former Cardinals GM Wookie Rogers loves to remind everyone from his cushy TV analyst chair. But watching Novak torch your pitching staff in October has to feel like running into your ex at a party and discovering they've become impossibly successful and apparently figured out how to stop aging.

The numbers since that trade tell a story that's less "one that got away" and more "mutual glow-up." Novak has racked up 14.0 WAR in Dodger blue, developed into an All-Star caliber outfielder, and now, at 26, is having his best season yet (.303/.388/.469 with 37 stolen bases, because apparently that's a thing he does now too). The Cardinals got their rings. But on this rainy night in St. Louis, with the Cardinals' season on the brink, it was Novak who looked like the one wearing the crown.

As he rounded the bases after his second homer, Novak kept his game face on. No bat flips. No pointing to the dugout. Just business. But somewhere in the visiting clubhouse after the game, you have to imagine he allowed himself a smile. Sometimes revenge is best served not with a point or a taunt, but with the quiet confidence of someone who knows they just wrote themselves into October lore.

The series heads back to Los Angeles with the Dodgers up 2-0 and the Cardinals reeling. And while St. Louis fans can comfort themselves with those recent World Series banners, they'll have to spend at least the next few days wondering if maybe, just maybe, they should have held onto that kid from Daytona Beach.

But hey, flags fly forever. Even if sometimes they have to wave through tears.

Young Drachma

11-30-2024, 09:19 PM

The 2067 World Series Is Pure Baseball Chaos, Just As We Like It

If you had told baseball fans at the start of the season that the Vancouver Angels—a team operating on the kind of budget that makes Oakland's "Moneyball" era look like the Yankees' Evil Empire—would be going toe-to-toe with the powerhouse New York Knights in Game 7 of the World Series, they'd have laughed you out of the room. Yet here we are, and holy shit is it glorious.

The series, knotted at three games apiece, has been an absolute fever dream. We've had everything: blowouts, nail-biters, and the kind of managerial chess matches that make baseball nerds vibrate with delight. The Angels, transplanted from Anaheim and operating on a shoestring budget that would make a minor league team blush ($36 million!), have somehow matched the mighty Knights punch for punch.

The real story here is how this series has become a masterclass in baseball's beautiful unpredictability. Take Game 6, which played out like a acid-trip version of baseball. Three home runs from Tom Garabedian? The same Garabedian who's been crushing Knights pitching like they personally insulted his mother? Sure, why not! And let's throw in a Joel Bolio homer for good measure, because this series apparently needed more chaos.
The Knights, trying to shake off the ghost of last year's nine-game heartbreaker against the Mets, have looked simultaneously unstoppable and completely vulnerable. Their $200 million-plus payroll (my rough estimate, but come on, look at that roster) has produced moments of brilliance, like Mark Wieh's masterful Game 3 performance, and head-scratching collapses, like watching their bullpen implode in Game 5.

Game 7 sets up as Chris Hodge (0-1, 5.62 ERA in an admittedly small sample size) against Mark Wieh (14-7, 2.79 ERA), which on paper looks like a mismatch. But if this series has taught us anything, it's that paper means absolutely nothing. The Angels have been giving the middle finger to probability all season long, led by their absurd collection of overachieving youngsters and the kind of veteran cast-offs that make you go "oh yeah, that guy!"

The fact that Max Guzman is slashing .309/.354/.766 while making probably what I spent on lunch today is the kind of story that makes baseball beautiful. The Angels have turned into the kind of plucky underdog story that Disney would reject for being too unrealistic, yet here they are, one game away from shocking the baseball world.

Meanwhile, the Knights, loaded with stars like Joel Bolio (.305, 26 HR) and Chase Burns (.296, 20 HR), are trying to avoid becoming the latest victim in Vancouver's improbable "David vs. Several Goliaths" playoff run. Their fans, still nursing the hangover from last year's loss to their crosstown rivals, are collectively stress-eating their way through Newark's entire supply of comfort food.

Whatever happens in Game 7, this series has already cemented itself as an all-timer. It's got everything: the massive payroll disparity, the defending AL champs trying to finally get over the hump, and the team that basically nobody outside of British Columbia (and maybe some nostalgic Orange County residents) believed in.

Baseball, you beautiful, nonsensical sport. Never change.

[Game 7 starts at 7:05 PM EST. Bring booze. Lots of it.]

Young Drachma

11-30-2024, 09:23 PM

The Knights Just Reminded Everyone Why They're The Damn Knights
Well, that was a masterclass in October baseball from Mark Wleh, and suddenly the Vancouver Angels' Cinderella story is on life support. The Knights' ace hurled 7.1 innings of one-hit baseball in a crisp 2-0 victory that felt like watching a python slowly squeeze its prey, giving New York a 4-3 series lead and pushing Vancouver to the brink in this best-of-nine saga.

The game turned into exactly what the Knights wanted: a low-scoring affair where their superior talent could grind down the plucky Angels. Joel Bolio, who's been hotter than a Times Square pizza oven this series, drove in both runs because of course he did. The man is hitting .355 in the World Series, which is the kind of thing that gets you a statue outside Shoprite Stadium if the Knights can close this out.

The real story, though, was Wleh's absolute dominance. The Angels' bats, which had been surprisingly potent throughout the series, looked about as threatening as a butter knife against kevlar. One hit. One! The same Vancouver offense that had been giving Knights pitchers nightmares for six games suddenly couldn't buy a base knock with all the money they're not spending on payroll.

Poor Chris Hodge pitched his ass off for Vancouver, giving up just six hits over eight innings in what should have been a career-defining performance. Instead, it'll go down as a footnote because Wleh decided to turn into Bob Gibson 2.0 for an evening. Baseball can be cruel that way.

The Angels now face the unenviable task of needing to win both remaining games in New York, where 38,421 Knights fans just remembered what it feels like to believe again. The Knights, meanwhile, are two wins away from erasing the bitter taste of last year's nine-game loss to the Mets and finally claiming their first title since relocating to Newark 4 years ago.

But let's not write Vancouver's obituary just yet. This is the same team that's been giving probability the middle finger all season. They're still the same group that walked into the playoffs with a payroll that wouldn't cover the Knights' clubhouse coffee budget and proceeded to tear through the National League like they owned the place.

Game 8 looms large, and if this series has taught us anything, it's that these Angels don't know how to do anything the easy way. The Knights might have the momentum, but momentum in baseball is about as reliable as a politician's promise.

One thing's for certain: the few thousand Vancouver fans who made the cross-continental trek to Newark are getting their money's worth. The rest of us? We're just lucky to be watching.

[Game 8 starts tomorrow night at 7:05 PM EST. Stock up on antacids accordingly.]

Young Drachma

11-30-2024, 09:53 PM

KNIGHTS SLAY ANGELS, BRING TITLE HOME TO NEWARK!
BOLIO, WLEH LEAD STAR-STUDDED STAFF TO GLORY
By Jimmy Edwards
Newark Evening Sun Sports
NEWARK, NJ — Break out the champagne, Newark! Your Knights are 2067 World Series champions!

In a nail-biting 1-0 victory that had 38,170 fans at Shoprite Stadium holding their breath, the New York Knights clinched their first title since relocating to Newark, downing the upstart Vancouver Angels to take the series 5-3.

MVP Joel Bolio, the 23-year-old sensation who hit .364 in the series, could barely contain his emotions. "I could live to 1,000 years old and I'd remember this moment," the West Bloomfield native gushed while dodging champagne sprays.

But the real story? A pitching staff that reads like a Cooperstown ballot.
Mark Wleh, the ageless wonder who's now won SIX rings with FOUR different clubs, showed why he's the best big-game pitcher alive. Taner Peterson, who broke Newark's heart last year with the Mets, pulled the ultimate heel-turn by joining forces with his former rivals to get ring number five.

"Sometimes you can't beat 'em, so you join 'em," Peterson smirked after throwing seven shutout innings in Game 8.

And how about Jesus Davilos? The former three-time Cy Young winner rebuilt himself as a $16 million closer and made it look like a bargain, slamming the door on Vancouver's Cinderella story.

Let's not forget Sam Conteh, last year's Cy Young winner who battled back from injury, or 37-year-old Rudy Hutchinson, who finally got his ring after 12 frustrating years with the Carolina/Miami franchise.
"This one's special," said hitting coach Braxton Woodley, who was part of Newark's last championship team during the Knights' brief first incarnation in 2043. "That team was magical, but this? This is permanent. We're home."

The Knights did it with arguably the worst offense to ever win it all (16th in AL runs scored). But when you're trotting out a rotation full of Cy Young winners and World Series heroes, who needs runs?

For a city that's seen its share of sports heartbreak, this one's sweet. The Knights aren't going anywhere this time, folks. And neither is that shiny new trophy.

Young Drachma

12-01-2024, 03:28 PM

The Potato Kings: Baseball's Great Small-Market Experiment
The New Yorker, December 2067

On a crisp autumn evening in downtown Boise, Idaho, the lights still shine at Memorial Stadium, where Mason Raymond once launched forty-five home runs in a single season and Yuriy Kazan terrorized pitchers during the franchise's improbable 2048 World Series run. The stadium, now home to the Diamond League's Spuds, stands as a monument to baseball's boldest expansion experiment—a twenty-year Major League sojourn that produced two World Series titles, countless improbabilities, and a lesson in the economics of modern baseball.

The original Spuds' story began in 2040, when a consortium of technology millionaires and agricultural magnates brought Major League Baseball to the Treasure Valley. The team's finances were always precarious, despite Boise's explosive population growth during the mid-21st century. The ownership group, led by local tech entrepreneur Barrett Rogers, operated on a shoestring budget that would have made "Moneyball" seem extravagant.

Yet somehow, the team won. Behind the transcendent hitting of Mason Raymond—an Australian left fielder whose .344/.435/.648 slash line in 2047 remains one of the finest offensive seasons in franchise history—and the power of Yuriy Kazan, the Spuds captured World Series titles in 2044 and 2048. They did this while maintaining one of baseball's lowest payrolls, leading then-Commissioner Gio Bartozzi to declare it "the greatest small-market success story since the twentieth century."

The miracle couldn't last. By 2053, the consortium's internal conflicts and chronic underfunding forced the team into the Federal League, baseball's ill-fated third major league. Though they would win a Federal Series title in 2054 and return to the majors until 2060, the writing was on the outfield wall. The team began a nomadic journey: first to Louisville as the Spires, then to San Antonio as the Missions, before finally settling in Oklahoma City in 2063 as the revived 89ers.

"We were always pushing against gravity," says former manager Troy May, now a Diamond League scout. "The talent was there—look at Raymond's numbers, look at what Kazan did in the power alleys. But you can't run a Major League franchise on dreams and potato futures."

The stadium hasn't stayed empty. The Diamond League's Spuds, established in 2064, won their league championship in 2066. The team features a mix of former major leaguers and prospects, playing before crowds that still remember when Enrique García posted a 1.14 WHIP in 2048 and Ian Kelly dominated hitters across multiple seasons.

Now, Macau billionaire J. Jackson Chaung sees in Boise what the original consortium couldn't sustain. With MLB expansion from 36 teams being debated in owners' meetings, Chaung has positioned himself as the potential savior of Major League Baseball in Idaho. "The infrastructure exists," he argues. "The fan base is proven. Baseball needs to return to markets that have shown they can support the game."

Critics point to the dilution of talent and the cautionary tale of the original Spuds. But supporters argue that the demise of the Federal League and the increasingly global nature of baseball talent necessitates expansion. Former Spuds great Mason Raymond, speaking from his home in Queensland, Australia, sees both sides. "We proved you could win in Boise," he says. "The question was never about the baseball. It was about everything else."

In the meantime, Memorial Stadium hosts Diamond League games, its outfield walls still bearing the marks where Raymond and Kazan's home runs once landed. The ghosts of those improbable championship seasons linger in the thin mountain air, waiting for Major League Baseball to, perhaps, give the Potato State one more chance at the big leagues.

Young Drachma

12-01-2024, 05:28 PM

The Old Man and the Arch: Urban Henry's Last Dance Has To Be In St. Louis
By Marcus Denton
Defector | January 2, 2068

The last time Urban Henry pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals, it was weird as hell. Not just for him—though watching the 44-year-old knuckleballer stare in at the birds on the bat from the wrong side of Busch Stadium had its own surreal quality—but for baseball itself. Some things just look wrong, like Pete Rose in a Montreal uniform or Willie Mays stumbling around the Shea Stadium outfield. Henry, in Dodger blue, qualified.

He shut them out that day, because of course he did. Eight innings of four-hit baseball that probably cost the Cardinals home field advantage in the NLCS, which they would eventually lose to the Vancouver Angels in six games. The Angels, who would go on to lose to the New York Knights in the World Series, also dispatched Henry's Dodgers in five, but by then the old man had already made up his mind. If he was coming back—and after 573 starts, 345 wins, and a frankly stupid 5,155 strikeouts, nobody would have blamed him for staying retired—it would be in Cardinal red.

"You spend enough time in one place," Henry told me over the phone from his home in St. Lucia, where he's been working on his knuckleball with local kids, "you start to realize it's not just a place anymore. It's home."

The Cardinals announced yesterday that Henry signed a three-year deal worth $16.8 million, which in baseball terms is basically minimum wage for a future Hall of Famer. But Henry, who first arrived in St. Louis in 2061 and promptly led them to a World Series title, isn't here for the money. He's here because watching the Cardinals fall short last year—their first missed pennant in three years—made him realize he had unfinished business.

"The thing about Urban," says former Cardinals manager Troy May, "is that he's one of those rare players who actually gives a shit about the name on the front of the jersey as much as the one on the back. Maybe more."

That's the kind of quote that usually makes me want to vomit up my morning bourbon, but with Henry it rings true. This is a guy who threw 269 complete games in an era when most pitchers need a therapist to get through the seventh inning. A guy who retired in 2065, came back in 2067 just to see if he could still do it, and then decided that if he was going to keep playing this stupid game into his mid-40s, he might as well do it in the place that matters.
The knuckleball helps. Henry developed it late in his career, and now it's his primary weapon—floating up there at 65 mph like a butterfly with vertigo.

The Cardinals are betting $16.8 million that the pitch will keep dancing for three more years. Henry's betting that it'll be enough to bring one more pennant back to the foot of the Arch.

Either way, at least he'll look right doing it.

Young Drachma

12-04-2024, 08:10 PM

SPUDS COMING HOME! BASEBALL'S GREATEST CINDERELLA STORY GETS NEW CHAPTER
Macau's J. Jackson Chaung Brings MLB Back to Potato Country
By Wally Marshell
Idaho Statesman Times Sports
BOISE, IDAHO — The house that Mason Raymond built is getting its tenants back.

In a landmark announcement that electrified the Treasure Valley, Macau billionaire J. Jackson Chaung confirmed his purchase of the Oklahoma City 89ers and their return to Boise as the Spuds for the 2070 season, reviving one of baseball's greatest small-market success stories.

"The infrastructure exists. The fan base is proven. Baseball needs to return to markets that have shown they can support the game," said Chaung, whose acquisition ends a disastrous decade of private equity ownership that saw the franchise bounce through Louisville, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City like a ground ball on Memorial Stadium's infield.

The move returns professional baseball to the city where Australian slugger Mason Raymond blasted 45 homers in a single season and Yuriy Kazan terrorized pitchers during the magical 2048 World Series run. It's a far cry from the original consortium led by tech entrepreneur Barrett Rogers, who operated on a shoestring budget but somehow delivered two World Series titles.

"We were always pushing against gravity back then," says former manager Troy May, now a Diamond League scout. "But the talent was there – look at Raymond's numbers, look at what Kazan did in the power alleys. Now Boise's grown into a major market, and they've got an owner with real resources."
The team will join the AL West, with the Texas Rangers moving to the NL Central. Memorial Stadium, which has hosted Diamond League baseball since the Spuds' departure, will undergo extensive renovations while maintaining the outfield walls where Raymond and Kazan's home runs once landed.

Speaking from his home in Queensland, Australia, Raymond himself endorsed the move. "We proved you could win in Boise," the slugger said. "The question was never about the baseball. It was about everything else. With Chaung's backing, they can finally do it right."

For a generation of fans who grew up watching Enrique García post his brilliant 1.14 WHIP in 2048 and Ian Kelly dominate hitters across multiple seasons, this feels like more than a homecoming. It's redemption.

The potato is back where it belongs. And this time, it's got the financial backing to stay firmly planted in Idaho soil.

PIRATES SET SAIL FOR STEEL CITY RETURN
Historic Franchise Ends New Orleans Sojourn, Returns to New Riverfront Park
By Enid Marcotte
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pirates are coming home, and this time they've got Sidney Crosby Jr.'s gold-plated backing.

In a seismic shift that realigns baseball's landscape, the New Orleans Pirates will return to Pittsburgh for the 2070 season, docking at the newly constructed Riverfront Park after a decade-long southern excursion that produced more questions than playoff appearances.

"Pittsburgh is Pirates baseball," said Crosby Jr., part of a star-studded ownership group bringing the Bucs back home. "The city has never been the same without them, and now we're giving them a cathedral worthy of 138 years of history."

The return ends a frustrating New Orleans chapter that saw just two playoff appearances (2065, 2068) and failed to recapture the magic of Pittsburgh's glory days. The franchise hasn't won a division title since their back-to-back crowns in 2051-52, and their last World Series triumph in 2027 feels like ancient history.
Riverfront Park, a $1.2 billion marvel rising along the Allegheny, promises to blend the intimacy of old PNC Park with modern amenities. The left field view still features Pittsburgh's iconic skyline, but now includes climate-controlled seating and what ownership claims will be "the most technologically advanced fan experience in baseball."

"We're not just bringing back baseball, we're bringing back hope," said Mayor Wally Harper Jr., who spearheaded the stadium project. "The Pirates belong on the three rivers. They always have."

The move comes as baseball experiences a return to traditional markets, with the Boise Spuds also announcing their homecoming today. But Pittsburgh's baseball heritage – dating back to 1882 – carries a different weight.

For a franchise that's seen more downs than ups since their last championship, this feels like a fresh start. The question now: Can Crosby Jr. and company do what the New Orleans ownership group couldn't – build a winner?

The Steel City is ready to find out.

PIRATES BY THE NUMBERS:

138: Years of franchise history
43: Years since last World Series title (2027)
19: Years since last division title (2051)
2: Playoff appearances in New Orleans (2065, 2068)
5: World Series championships
$1.2B: Cost of new Riverfront Park
10: Years spent in New Orleans

Young Drachma

12-04-2024, 08:29 PM

THE KNIGHTS' NEW YORK EXODUS: BASEBALL'S TERRITORIAL WAR CLAIMS A VICTIM
By Rachel Hammond
Wall Street Journal
The New York Knights' fairy-tale run in Newark has come to an abrupt end, not with a pitch but with a gavel.

In a landmark ruling that sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball, Federal Judge Eleanor Katzmann ordered the Knights to vacate the New York metropolitan market by 2070, siding with the Yankees and Mets in their joint territorial rights lawsuit. The decision, which includes $480 million in damages if the Knights remain in the market, effectively forces the defending World Series champions to relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina.

"The repeal of baseball's antitrust exemption in 2065 didn't nullify existing territorial agreements," explained sports law expert Martin Chen of Columbia Law School. "The court found that MLB's approval of the Knights' move to Newark in 2064 materially damaged the Yankees' and Mets' market share."

The ruling marks a bitter end to the Knights' brief but spectacular tenure in Newark, where they captured the 2067 World Series behind Joel Bolio's MVP performance and assembled one of the most decorated pitching staffs in baseball history. Their departure leaves a $1.2 billion hole in Newark's downtown redevelopment plan, centered around Shoprite Stadium.

"This isn't just about baseball," said Newark Mayor James Wilson. "The Knights represented Newark's renaissance. Now we're losing them because New York's billionaire owners couldn't handle the competition."

The team's ownership group, led by tech entrepreneur Victoria Chang, initially planned to appeal but faced a stark financial reality. The damages would have exceeded the franchise's estimated value of $3.8 billion, forcing a choice between bankruptcy and relocation.

Charlotte, which has aggressively pursued MLB expansion since 2060, emerged as the obvious landing spot. The city's new $2.1 billion uptown stadium project, originally intended for an expansion team, will instead host the relocated Knights.
"While we're devastated to leave Newark, Charlotte offers an exciting new chapter," Chang stated. "The infrastructure is ready, the market is untapped, and the Knights' winning tradition will continue in North Carolina."

The ruling raises questions about baseball's post-antitrust landscape. With territorial rights now enforceable through federal courts, similar suits could reshape MLB's geography. Industry insiders suggest there could be other suits.

For Newark, the loss cuts deep. Season ticket holders have filed a class-action suit, and local businesses near Shoprite Stadium estimate $200 million in lost annual revenue.

Meanwhile, Yankees president Brian Cashman IV defended the lawsuit: "The New York market has supported two teams for over a century. A third team wasn't sustainable for anyone."

The Knights will play their final Newark season in 2069, ending a brief but memorable chapter in baseball history. Their departure marks not just the end of MLB's three-team experiment in New York, but potentially the beginning of a new era where baseball's territorial battles are fought in courtrooms rather than boardrooms.