OOTP Blitz 25: Solo RTS meets Moneyball

[Young Drachma]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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