Dynasty League Baseball

[Breeze]

FOFC - Manager Update

I roll over and look at the clock...it's only 3:04 A.M. That's the 3rd time in the last 20 minutes that I've turned to see what time it is. Figuring this is futile and I'm not going back to sleep, I quietly get up, slip on some clothes, kiss my wife gently, then my kids extremely gently (because if I wake them at 3:10 my wife will shoot me and there won't be any opening day for me). I hop in my car and head towards the stadium. The drive takes me about 45 minutes, but at least there is no traffic.

I pull up to the gate and the security guard gives me a strange look. He looks me up and down with a stern look on his face. I then pull out my id. He takes probably 2 minutes looking at the card, looking at me, looking at the card - I want to scream at the idiot, but it wouldn't do me any good. He gets on his walkie talkie and calls someone, who is hopefully at least slightly smarter. He tells they guy my name and is told to let me pass. I give him my best sarcastic smile, tell him 'Thank you' and of course I have to add 'Keep up the good work'.

I park the car, head into the club house, start a pot of coffee and grab the The National Herald to read up on information I already know. I was expecting to find a season preview, but it isn't in the paper. One of the maintenance staff must have snagged it. I sit down and my desk and read through the synopsis of the Spring. I have to admit I'm pretty pleased with my teams peformance. We tied for the league record, and though the wins we were able to accumulate don't count now that the real season is about to start, they do show we can compete. When I finished reading the paper, I turn on ESPN - not to learn anything, but simply to have some background noise. I pull out my stat book from the Spring and begin studying the results.

I'm not sure how long I was working, but I vaguely remember hearing the Sportscenter theme 3 or 4 times, when I'm startled by a magazine being dropped right in front of me. Gasping from the shock, I look up to see Howser standing next to me.

"Thought you might want to read that," he says pointing to the magazine he dropped.

I look down and see The Sporting News - Baseball Season Preview. "Thanks," I said. "This is grreat. I wanted to read the Herald's preview, but someone apparently took it out of the paper this morning."

"I got it a couple days ago, and finished it last night. I figured you might be here early and might want to read it, so I brought it in." Dick turns and start out of the office saying something about getting coffee.

I open the magazine to the middle and find a picture of a basketball player about to dunk. I flip around until I see baseball pictures then I start turning pages slowing until I get to the beginning of the article. Then I start reading...

[Breeze]

Dynasty Baseball League

The Dynasty Baseball League features 14 teams consisting of the greatest players that have every played the game. Ruth, Cobb, Hornsby, Gibson, Paige, Oh, Aaron, May, and many many more. This league is a true baseball fans fantasy. There are 2 leagues of 7 teams:

American League
AL Pre-Americans
AL Post Americans
Old Timers
Negro League 1 Elites
Dead Ball Eras
Japanese HOFers
Late 20th Century Stars


National League
Turn of Century Players
Left Outers
NL Pre-Americans
NL Post-Americans
Negro League 2 Stars
Caribbean All Stars
FOFC All Stars

Each team will play 154 games, 14 against league opponents and 10 against the other league.

...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

Team Breakdowns:

AL Pre Americans

Offense
An offensive team that can hit home runs in any park - including Yellowstone. Power, Power, and more Power with a heart of the order that will feature Ruth, Gehrig, and DiMaggio. This team is so good offensively that powerhouse hitters like Greenberg and Averill won't break the normal starting lineup.

Pitching
Grove is good at the top of the rotation, he'll win his share of games, but the other 7 pitchers are very beatable - it will just be a matter of outscoring the offense.

Starting Lineup
2B - Gehringer
LF - Simmons
RF - Ruth
1B - Gehrig
CF - DiMaggio
C - Dickey
SS - Cronin
3b - Lazzeri

Rotation
Grove
Lyons
Gomez
Mays
Hoyt

Closer
Coveleski

Summary
This team can beat anyone on any day, and if they make it to the World Series will be extremely dangerous in a short series. However, the lack of front line pitching will cost them in the end. They will unable to string together long winning streaks and will come up just short of winning the division.

Prediction: 85 - 69


...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

AL Post- Americans

Offense
The team has Mantle and Williams so the offense will be just fine. A few pretty good table setters in Carew and Brett, but the team has several weaknesses in the line up. Reggie Jackson can hit for power, but he isn't consistent with contact and his defense is sub-par. Robin Yount can help offensively at SS, but his defense is sub-par as well. Killebrew and Carew are liabilities defensively as well. 3 defensive specialists on the bench, Nellie Fox, Brooks Robinson and Phil Rizzuto aren't going to help much with the bat if they are forced to play. For this team to be good the big guns will have to produce a bunch and do it consistently.

Pitching
No front line starter on this team. Feller, Hunter, Newhouser, Ford, Palmer, Ryan - all great pitchers, but it this league they are lacking. Ryan and Feller probably have the best pedigree of the group, but both issue too many free passes and in this league that will kill you. To be successful this staff will have to pitch above their heads.

Starting Lineup
2b - Carew
3b - Brett
CF - Mantle
LF - Williams
1B - Killebrew
RF - Jackson
SS - Yount
C - Fisk/Berra platoon


Rotation
Feller
Ryan
Newhouser
Hunter
Palmer

Closer
Fingers

Summary
This teams defense is terrible, probably the worst in the league, and their defensive replacements are poor hitters for the league. The pitchers issue too many free passes and combined with the poor defense this team will give up runs in bunches. To be successful they will need to get early leads and put in the defensive specialist and then hope to hold on.

Prediction: 66 - 88

... I turn the page...

[Breeze]

Old Timers

Offense
Consistent contact and some aggressive baserunning. This team will put the ball in play with players like King Kelly, Ed Delehante and Cap Anson. A similar type of team and style of play to the Dead Ballers, but their depth isn't as good.

Pitching
Pitching for this team is good, but not outstanding. All of the pitchers in this rotation have a chance to win every time out, but none are completely unhittable for any extended period of time.


Starting Lineup
CF - Hamilton
3b - Kelly
LF - Delehante
RF - Thompson
1b - Anson
2b - McPhee
C - Ewing

Rotation
Clarkson
Keefe
Welch
Radbourn
Galvin

Closer
Spalding

Summary
This team will drive others nuts. They will get hits left and right, frustrate opposing pitchers because they won't be able to get the outs they need to end an inning. They'll take an extra base, and completely wear out their opponents. However, because they lack power, they will have to piece together mutli-hit innings to score, and they'll be able to do it, but not enough to win consistently.

Prediction: 74 - 80


...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

Negro League 1

Offense
Power, Speed, Average and good defense. This team is capable of doing it all, the only draw back is they are a predominately lefthanded hitting ball club that can be succeptable to lefty starters.

Pitching
Great at the top, solid throughout. A great chance to win each and every game. If there is a weakness on this team, it's closing the door.

Starting Lineup
CF - Bell
SS - Lloyd
LF - Charleston
C - Gibson
1B - Leonard
RF - Torriente
3B - Wells
2B - DiHigo

Rotation
Paige
Williams
Rogan
Smith
Foster

Closer
Barnhill

Summary
This team is capable of winning it all. If they can find a way to consistently beat left handed starters, they will be dangerous. Even when they are in slups offensively they can win with speed and defense. However, I think the pitching will come up just short.

Prediction 88 - 66

...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

Dead Ballers

Offense
Like the Old Timers team they will hit teams to death and they will be aggressive on the bases. But unlike the Oldies team, they can hit for power more consistently. Teams will not be able to get out of innings often without having Cobb, Jackson, Speaker, or someone reach base.

Pitching
Walter Johnson is on this team. That's enough to win a fair number of games. Then add in Walsh, Brown, Plank and Chesbro and you've got a great staff.

Lineup
2b - Colliins
1b - Sisler
RF - Cobb
CF - Speaker
LF - Jackson
3b - Baker
C - Chance
SS - Wallace

Rotation
Johnson
Walsh
Chesbro
Plank
McGinnity

Closer
Brown

Summary
Like the Negro League 1 team they are a heavy left handed hitting team, and will need to find a way to overcome tough lefties.If they can - they can win it all.

Prediction 88 - 66


...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

Japanese HOFers

Offense
Pretty good contact, decent power - except for Oh who can hit them out with the best of them. Good defense

Pitching
A little below average across the board

Starting Lineup
Other than Oh hitting 3rd or 4th and Nomura hitting 4th or 5th, there is almost no guessing.

Starting Rotation
Bessho
Sugishita
Inao
Kenada
Nomo

Closer
Sawamura

Summary
They are too average across the board to compete consistently, in fact they could lose 100 games.

Prediction: 58 - 96

[Breeze]

Late 20th Century Stars

Offense
A nice mix. Mostly power, even from typical non-power positions like 2b and SS with Sandberg, Biggio and Ripken available in those spots. Plus there are a few real good contact hitters in Boggs and Gwynn. Henderson also provides a serious speed threat at the top of the order, and Piazza might be the best offensive catcher in the league - his defense might cost him at bats however.

Pitching
Argueable the best in the league. The top of the rotation is 4 deep and all 4 are as good as anyone out there. Plus the relievers are solid.

Starting Lineup
LF - Henderson
RF - Gwinn
3B - Boggs
C - Piazza
1B - McGwire
CF - Puckett
SS - Ripken
2b - Sandberg/Biggio


Rotation
Clemens
Johnson
Maddux
Martinez
Glavine

Closer
Gossage

Summary
Very dangerous team, that can score runs but the pitching would probably allow the team to win even if they couldn't score runs consistently. I expect this pitching will give this team a chance to win it all, in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this team placed 4 pitchers in the top 15 of league ERA.

Prediction 94 - 60


...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

American League Award Predictions

Batting Title: Cobb .370
HR: Ruth - 56
RBI: Ruth - 136
Wins: Johnson - 19
ERA: Clemens 3.08
Svs: Gossage 25

MVP: Ruth
Cy: Johnson


...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

Left Outs

Offense
Power with Foxx, Stargell, McCovey and Kiner, Average with Heilmann, and Speed with Jackie Robinson. This teams offense is not bad. Defense is well below average though

Pitching
This roation is populated with tough gamers who found ways to in their regular careers. In this league, they give up too many baserunners. The rotation is below average.

Starting Lineup
2b - Robinson
C - Cochrane
RF - Heilmann
3B - Foxx
1B - McCovey
CF - Goslin
LF - Robinson
SS - Boudreau

Rotation
Carlton
Sutton
Jenkins
Roberts
Wynn

Closer
Drysdale

Summary
This pitching staff will be good enough to keep the team close, but not good enough to win most games. The hitting will be good enough to keep the team close, but not good enough to win most games. The team is better than their name would lead you to believe, but the name should let you know they aren't a real threat to win it all.

Prediction 71 - 83


...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

FOFC All Stars

I don't want to read about my team yet. I'll hold off till the end...so...

...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

Turn of Century

I start to read this page when I hear Howser say, "Let's go get some breakfast. I'll buy."

"Sure, but you're not buying."

"Good, cause I know how much you eat," Howser teases. "But I will drive."

"Fair enough," I reply.

[StanGunner]

TEASER!!

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by StanGunner

TEASER!!

Actually, I can't remember what I wanted to write about the rest of the teams or can't remember enough names to even fake a rotation and/or starting lineup (read, the information list may not be completely accurate, but it's supposed to be a baseball preview magainze - they are never 100% accurate).

I'm going to try and knock this out tonight and post game 1 results.

[Breeze]

FOFC - Manager Update

While eating my Corn Beef Hash Omlet, Howser and I are talking.

"So what do you think of the magazine so far?" Dick queries

"I've only finished reading through the American League, but it's not bad. They have the Late 20th Century team taking the League, and while I think they could, my money would be on the Dead Ballers."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I like the way the put the ball in play, take the extra base, and they can really pitch. The Negro League 1 team will be all the Late 20s can handle too."

"I've noticed some mistakes," I add.

"I'm sure there are quite a few."

"For instance, I don't think Boudreau starts at SS for the Left Outers. I think it will be Arky Vaughn."

"Probably right. Vaughn is a very dangerous shortstop. Glove's not so great, but all in all I'd take him."

After about 20 minutes of discussing the magazine. Howser asks, "You know what you're going to do with the lineup today?"

"I have a pretty good idea."

"You know we'll be going up against a pretty tough southpaw in Lefty Grove."

"That's who I'm expecting to see." I respond.

"Who we countering with?" Howser probes.

"Babson gets the ball tonight."

We finish breakfast and head back to the office, where I pick up the magazine and resume my reading.

[kingfc22]

Southpaw on the mound = Gonzalez on the bench.

[Sublime 2]

So much for Hunter being the #1 guy. Damn!

4 More spots to hope for.

[Breeze]

Turn of Century

Offense
The Turners are similar in make up to the Old Timers and Dead Ballers, only they probably fall in the middle with regards to offensive ability. More good players than the Oldies and not as many dynamically good players as the Dead Ballers. However, they'll hit the ball, run around the bases and play defense. Again there isn't much power.

Pitching
This pitching staff, like the other two mentioned in the Offensive section above is very good. Like the Dead Ballers who have Johnson, this team has Matthewson. They also have Young and as long as Fire Trucks don't go by Rube Waddle.

Lineup
CF - Keeler
RF - Burkett
LF - Kelly
2B - Lajoie
SS - Wagner
1B - Beckley
3B - Collins
C - Bresnahan

Rotation
Matthewson
Waddle
Young
Joss
Willis

Closer
Nichols


Summary
This team is dangerous and may have a big impact on who wins the league, but they won't win it themselves. Not enough production from the bottom part of the lineup and the great bats on the bench like Duffy won't see enough action to make a significant impact.

Prediction 75 - 79

...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

NL Pre- Americans

Offense
With Rogers Hornsby in the lineup, the offense is going to be at the worst good. Hornsby is arguably the best right handed bat on any team, and he's surrounded by some good players, including table setters Frankie Frisch, who's moved over to SS to accomodate the Rajah, and Traynor. Problem is the lower part of the lineup is inconsistent with it's production.

Pitching
This teams ace, Pete Alexander, like the big train and Matty is as good as it gets. The rest of the staff is suspect. Capable of good things, but also capable of bad.

Lineup
SS - Frisch
3B - Traynor
2B - Hornsby
RF - Ott
CF - Cuyler
LF - Medwick
C - Lombardi
1B - Terry

Rotation
Alexander (as often as possible)
Hubbell
Marquard
Rixey
Grimes

Closer
Dean

Summary
Not enough pitching and the lower part of the line up lacks the punch needed to support Horsby and Ott in the middle. However, they are potent enough to cause numerous problems and will be a force to be reckoned with in the league.

Prediction 80 - 74


...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

NL Post-Americans

Offense
WATCH OUT HERE! These names will strike fear in the heart of any pitcher and they keep on coming. Try on: Morgan, Clemente, Aaron, Mays, Musial, Snider, Schmidt, Matthews, Banks, Campanella, Bench...you getting the idea yet? We could go on...

Pitching
Not up to the hitting standards, but not far off.

Lineup
2b - Morgan
RF - Clemente
1B - Musial
CF - Mays
LF - Aaron
3B - Matthews/Schmidt (platoon)
SS - Banks
C - Campanella/Bench (not a platoon, but probably about equal time)

Rotation
Seaver
Koufax
Gibson
Marichial
Spahn

Closer
Bunning

Summary
This team is good top to bottom. They can hit, play defense, run, pitch, and much more. This team is so good the likes of Billy Williams, Tony Perez, Pete Rose, and Orlando Cepeda won't see much playing time.

Prediction 93 - 61


...I turn the page...

[JAG]

Babson smiled. "Coach, I'm ready to go. I won't let the boys down. I'm gonna really turn it loose now that we're outta spring training."

Damn those NL Post-Americans look brutal.

[Breeze]

Negro League 2 Stars

Offense
This team has quite a lot of speed, and good but not great hitters. They have some power in the middle with Wilson and Beckwith, and even some power at shortstop, which most teams don't, but all in all they are below average offensively.

Pitching
Good pitchers, not great pitchers. Cannonball Dick Redding is probably the best on the team, but he issues too many free passes, a problem that the entire team struggles with.

Lineup
RF - Poles
LF - Allen
SS - Brown
1B - Wilson
3B - Beckwith
CF - Wright
C - Santop
2B - Bankhead

Rotation
Redding
Wickware
Mathis
Brewer
Holland

Closer
Dismukes

Summary
Not good enough to compete on a regular basis. Defense is substandard in the entire infield, and with pitchers that give free passes - this team is in trouble.

Prediction 50 - 104


...I turn the page...

[Breeze]

Caribbean All Stars

Offense
Good balance, but not a great hitting team. Cepeda, Linares and Coimbre will carry this team offensively.

Pitching
Great one two punch at the top with Tiant Sr and Mendez, after that its good at best.

Lineup
CF - Mesa
2b - Pacheco
LF - Coimbre
1b - Cepeda
3b - Linares
RF - Oliva
C - Gonzalez
SS - Concepcion

Rotation
Tiant Sr
Mendez
Cuellar
Tiant Jr
Valenzuela

Closer
Salazar

Summary
Will go as far as the top two pitchers and the middle of the lineup can carry them.

Prediction 71 - 83

...I turn the page....

[Breeze]

It's an Ad for Molson Ice. I look at the hot blonde pictured for a minute then flip back through the section looking for the breakdown on my team.

[Breeze]

FOFC All Stars

Offense
Plenty of power and decent table setters in Blade, Tucker, Nights, and Terp. Not a great contact team however, and that will lead to numerous strike out with runners in scoring position. Look for quite a few runners to be stranded with this team.

Pitching
Arguably as good as any team top to bottom. 3 good pitchers on the back end, may allow Benton Breeze to shorten games. The starting rotation will be difficult to determine, because there are 7 guys who can get the job done. The interesting thing will be how do the 3 that fail to make the rotation perform out of the pen.

Lineup
2b - Blade
CF - Tucker
SS - Nights
LF - Ton
1B - Potpie/Gonzalez (platoon)
3B - Fouts/Palmer (platoon)
C - Bullock/Hays (not a platoon, but will split time)
RF - Gunner/Pflaggstetter/Gazelle - not sure who will fill this spot

Rotation
Babson
Mighty
Nielsen
Hunter
Williams

Closer
Kronside

Summary
This team's offense is powerful and probably consistent enough to generate enough runs to get wins for the pitchers, who are good enough to win every time out.

Prediction 85 - 69

[Breeze]

I scratch my head after reading the preview. "Not bad," I mumble, "but not right either."

I think to myself, as I get up to put my uniform on, they must have written this up halfway through the Spring. With Nights slump at the end of Spring and Gonzalez and Gazelle performing well below the others at their position, they won't be starting. And Mighty pitched great this Spring, but right now Nielsen will get the ball second. As for the 5th starter, I don't think I'm going to name one at this point. I'll use whomevers arm is ready to go when a game rolls around where a 5th starter is needed.

I glance quickly at the projected award winners and see:

BA: Jesse Burkett .354
HR - Aaron 44
RBI - Lajoie 120
Wins - Seaver 19
ERA - Tiant Sr. 3.47
Saves - Kronside 29

MVP - Rogers Hornsby
Cy - Tom Seaver

I walk out and head to the field to watch batting practice.

[Coffee Warlord]

You may as well chisel in Rob Nielsen's name on the Cy Young Award.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Breeze

and Gonzalez...performing well below the others at their position, they won't be starting.

Yeah, baby!

[Breeze]

Game 1 - Monday April 2nd - Pre-Game

Our first game is against the power hitting AL Pre-Americans. As I head to home plate to exchange my lineup card I think about who Miller Huggins has penciled in: Ruth, Gehrig, Simmons, and I start wondering if Ton, Potpie, and Tucker hold the same aura. We swap cards and I head back to the dugout looking at the lineup I throwing out in game 1.

2b - Blade
SS - Terp
CF -Tucker
1b - Potpie
3b - Fouts
LF - Ton
C - Hays
RF - Pflaggstettler
P - Babson

When I get back to the dugout I find Del Crandle the bullpen coach getting some ice in a bag, I get a puzzled look on my face and Sal Maglie the pitching coach laughs. I turn to look at hm and he says, "Babson's throwing bee bees."
He finishes his comment with a wink and walks off.

I smile and take my seat at the end of the bench closest to the plate, so the umpire will be able to hear me when I complain about his calls of balls and strikes.

[Breeze]

GAME 1 - Monday, April 2nd

Top of the 1st Inning
The first inning is noneventful for us. Babon gets Gehringer to line out, Simmons to Ground out and Ruth hits a good shot in the Right Center alley, but it holds up long enough for Tucker to run under.

Bottom of the First
Blade - PO to SS
Terp - weak fly to left
Tucker - weak fly to left

Top of the 2nd
Gehrig - K
DiMaggio - Routine fly to CF
Dickey - hits a smash up the middle but Blade corrales it and is able to throw the slow moving catcher out by a couple of steps.

Bottom of the 2nd
Potpie is robbed by a diving Cronin
Fouts - weak fly to left
Ton - strikes out looking

Top of the 3rd
Cronin - K
Sewell - ground out to Blade who ranged deep to his left to get the ball
Grove - pops out to the catcher

Bottom of the 3rd
Hays gets the first hit of the game a sharp single up the middle
Pflaggsettler walks
Babson sacs them to second and 3rd
Blade walks to load the bases with 1 out
Terp - strikesout
Tucker - pops out weakly to the SS leaving 3 men on base

At the end of 3

Pre-Americans... 0 0 0  
All Stars....... 0 0 0

[JeeberD]

Bah, stupid Cronin...

[Coffee Warlord]

Terp and Tuck! For SHAME!

[Breeze]

GAME 1 - Monday, April 2nd

Top 4
Potpie make a great play to his right and flips to Babson covering to get Gehringer
Simmons - K
Ruth - routine fly to RF

Bottom 4
Potpie - Single over the shortstops head
Fouts - Singles to left, but Potpie had to wait and see if Simmons was going to be able to track it down, so he had to stop at 2nd base.
Ton Walks (and the bases are loaded with no outs)
Hays smacks one down the thirdbase line, Sewell dives and hits the ball knocking it into foul territory, he rushes over to pick it up and rushes the throw to first, overshooting Gehrig and giving a young man in the 3rd row a souvenier. The official scorer rules it a hit with a 1 base error. Potpie and Fouts score.
Pflaggstettler - Sac fly to Left that Simmons misplays. The ball falls in and Ton and Hays both score while Persimmon ends up at 2nd.
Babson sacs him to 3rd
Blade walks
Terp gounds out to 3rd base
Tucker is intentionally walked to load the bases for Potpie (who started this inning) - Jeebs flys out to left field.

The inning ends with the FOFCers putting a 4 spot on the board.

Top 5
Gehrig - K
DiMaggio breaks up the no hitter with a solid single through the box
Dickey grouns into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning

Bottom 5
Fouts flys out to the warning track in RF
Ton walks on 6 pitches
Hays Triples in the right field corner driving in Ton
Pflaggstettler hit another sac fly - this one is caught
Babson draws a walk

And that's all Miller Huggins can stand. He goes to his pin and brings in Red Ruffing.

Blade flys out to left to end the inning.

FOFCers get 2 more runs

Top 6
Fouts takes a hot shot from Cronin and easily throws him out at first
Fouts makes another nice play this time on Sewell
Miller Huggins decides to let Ruffing hit and he delivers with a bloop single over the second baseman.
Gehringer works Babson for a walk
Simmons flys out to shallow left to end the threat

Bottom 6
Terp singles to lead off the inning
Tucker steps up to hit and on the 2nd pitch Terp takes off, Tucker swings and misses at the pitch and Dickey nails Terp by 3 steps. The hit and run fails this time. Tucker then grounds out to Gehringer.
Potpie walks
Fouts flys out to DiMaggio in center

Top 7
Breeze puts Gunner in leftfield

Ruth fouls out to Hays
Gehrig singles
DiMaggio walks
Dickey rips one up the middle, Terp gets a good jump on it, dives, knocks it down and flips it while laying face down in the dirt to Blade in time to erase DiMaggio
Cronin Ks to end the inning.

Bottom 7
Gunner leads off with a weak fly to left
Hays flys to center
Pflaggstettler singles
Babson lines out to Cronin at short

At the end of 7 it's FOFC 6 AL Pres 0

Top 8
Sewell grounds out to Potpie to lead off the 8th
Huggins brings in Appling to pinch hit
Appling Ks
Gehringer flys out to right

Bottom 8
Huggins sends Faber out to pitch
Blade grouns out to Gehrig who makes a nice reach to his right on a hot shot
Terp rips one down the thirdbase line, but Sewell snags and makes the throw just in time
Tucker singles - and steals second, takes 3rd on a wild pitch
Potpie flys out to left

Top 9
Simmons grounds out to Babson
Ruth rips one to right - it's deep and there is no question about it - HOMERUN
ending Babson's bid for a shutout
Gehrig hits a long drive to dead center...
Its' way back there...
A. J. Tucker is at the wall...
He's jumping for it...
He's got it!!!
Babson after getting pumped up at the sight of Tuckers play, blows DiMaggio away on 3 pitches to record a complete game.

[Breeze]

GAME 1 - Monday, April 2 - Boxscore

[1]BOXSCORE: 2001 AL Pre WWII Pre-Americans At 1000 FOFC All Stars      4/2/1900

[1]  Pre-Americans      AB  R  H RBI AVG     All Stars          AB  R  H RBI AVG
  C.Gehringer 2B      3  0  0  0 .000     B.Blade 2B          3  0  0  0 .000  
  A.Simmons LF        4  0  0  0 .000     K.Terp SS           5  0  1  0 .200  
  B.Ruth RF           4  1  1  1 .250     A.Tucker CF         4  0  1  0 .250  
  L.Gehrig 1B         4  0  1  0 .250     J.Potpie 1B         4  1  1  0 .250  
  J.Dimaggio CF       3  0  1  0 .333     D.Fouts 3B          4  1  1  0 .250  
  B.Dickey C          3  0  0  0 .000     K.Ton LF            1  2  0  0 .000  
  J.Cronin SS         3  0  0  0 .000   A-S.Gunner LF         1  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Sewell 3B         3  0  0  0 .000     H.Hays C            4  2  3  2 .750  
  L.Grove P           1  0  0  0 .000     P.Pflaggstettler RF 1  0  1  21.000  
  R.Ruffing P         1  0  1  01.000     B.Babson P          1  0  0  0 .000  
B-L.Appling PH        1  0  0  0 .000                                          
  R.Faber P           0  0  0  0 ----                                          
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
[1]         Totals      30  1  4  1                 Totals      28  6  8  4

A-Subbed Defensively (LF) For Ton In 7th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Ruffing In 8th Inning

Pre-Americans... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 1  -  1  4  2
All Stars....... 0 0 0  4 2 0  0 0    -  6  8  0

[1]Pre-Americans            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA   
L.Grove LOSS(0-1)         4 2/3   5   6   4   7   2   0  90   7.71  
R.Ruffing                 2 1/3   2   0   0   1   0   0  28   0.00  
R.Faber                   1       1   0   0   0   0   0  14   0.00  
[1]Totals                    8       8   6   4   8   2   0

[1]All Stars                IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  
B.Babson WIN(1-0)            9       4   1   1   2   7   1 122   1.00  
[1]Totals                    9       4   1   1   2   7   1

ATTENDANCE- 42,188 DATE- Monday, April 2nd 1900 TIME- Night 
T- 1:34
LEFT ON BASE- Pre-Americans: 4  All Stars:10
DOUBLE PLAYS- Pre-Americans: 0  All Stars: 1
ERRORS- A.Simmons, J.Sewell
TRIPLES- H.Hays(1st)
HOME RUNS- B.Ruth(1st)
STOLEN BASES- A.Tucker(1st)
CAUGHT STEALING- K.Terp
SACRIFICE HITS- B.Babson-2
SACRIFICE FLIES- P.Pflaggstettler-2
WALKS- C.Gehringer, J.Dimaggio, B.Blade-2, A.Tucker, J.Potpie, K.Ton-2,
       P.Pflaggstettler, B.Babson
STRIKE OUTS- A.Simmons, L.Gehrig-2, J.Dimaggio, J.Cronin-2, L.Appling, K.Terp,
             K.Ton
GIDP- B.Dickey
WILD PITCHES- R.Faber
WEB GEMS- Top 9th: A. J. Tucker robbed Lou Gehrig of a Homerun!

[Sublime 2]

Wow....nice outing for Babson

[Breeze]

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD - Monday, April 2nd

Negro League Toos - 2
Pre-Nationals - 8


Post-Americans - 0
Dead Ballers - 7


Old Timers - 2
Negro League Ones - 6


20th Century - 3
Japanese - 2


TOC - 4
Post-Nationals - 10


Left Outs - 3
Caribbean - 4

[Blade]

Great win! Bad night for Blade, though, despite the two walks...

[Travis]

Helluva job boys! Babson, nicely done, very damn nicely done.

[JeeberD]

Great job, guys!

[kingfc22]

WTG Potpie. They walked the bases loaded to face you and all you can do is pop up?

[JeeberD]

I scored the game winning run...can't ask for much more than that.

[JAG]

AP writer Hack Jobb interviews Babson after the game:

Jobb: Bruce, impressive performance tonight. Tell us about the game.

Babson: I think we had a great team effort for our first game. I had a decent game throwing the ball, we had great run support, and our defense probably saved us a couple of runs.

Babson's inner monologue: I am the man.

Jobb: You were Coach Breeze's first choice to pitch. How do you feel you compare with the rest of the staff?

Babson: Well, I happen to think pitching is one of the strongest parts of our team. The way the other guys pitched in spring training, I felt I was fortunate to get picked to lead the staff off, but I don't think Coach could've gone wrong picking any of us.

Babson's inner monologue: ...unless he picked someone other than me to pitch. You think Nielsen could've dominated Ruth, Gehrig, and Dimaggio like I did? I even had two sacs and a walk for Pete's sake! Thank God he let me finish the game.

Jobb: Finally, how do you think the season will go after seeing the team in a real game for the first time?

Babson: I think we have a great chance to be competitive in our division. We have a lot of talent in that clubhouse. But this is only the first game and there's a long season ahead of us. I think we all realize this is only a small step and nothing to get excited about.

Babson's inner monologue: I am getting soooo wasted tonight.

[Chas in Cinti]

Persimmon did everything you can ask of an 8th hitter.... whoo-hoo! Now if only he could've done better in the pole vault... DAMN! Wrong thread again....

[Johnny93g]

Babson is the man!!!

[Breeze]

The National Herald - April 3rd

SPORTS

[1]NEGRO LEAGUE II AT NL PRE WWII
Alltime Players. 0 1 1  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  2  9  2
Pre-Nationals... 0 3 4  1 0 0  0 0    -  8 11  1
Win:Alexander(1-0) Loss:Wickware(0-1)
Homeruns- W.Wright(1st), G.Hartnett(1st), P.Traynor(1st)

Gabby Hartnett blasted a homerun and had 3 RBI and Pete Alexander tossed a
complete game at Booze Field where the NL Pre WWII club beat the Negro League
II Alltime Players by the score of 8 to 2.

Alexander(1-0) pitched a solid game.  He went 9 innings allowing 9 hits and 2
walks.  Neither team managed to score after the 4th inning.  

Frank Wickware(0-1) was the losing pitcher.  He was knocked around,
surrendering 7 runs in 2 and 2/3 innings.

[1]AL POST WWII AT DEAD BALL ERA
Post-Americans.. 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  3  2
Deads........... 3 0 0  0 1 0  0 3    -  7  9  0
Win:Johnson(1-0) Loss:Feller(0-1)

Walter Johnson shut down the AL Post WWII batters on just 3 hits as the Dead
Ball Era Deads beat the AL Post WWII ballclub by a score of 7 to
0.

Johnson(1-0) put on a good performance.  He surrendered only 3 hits and 6
walks in 9 innings.  Dead Ball Era had a total of 9 hits for the game.  

Bob Feller(0-1) was hit with the loss.  He surrendered 6 hits and 4 walks in 6
innings.

[1]OLD TIMERS AT NEGRO LEAGUE I
Oldies.......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  1 1 0  -  2  8  0
Alltime Players. 0 0 0  4 0 0  2 0    -  6 11  1
Win:Paige(1-0) Loss:Clarkson(0-1)
Homeruns- J.Gibson(1st)

Satchel Paige went the distance as the Negro League I Alltime Players defeated
the Old Timers Oldies by the score of 6 to 2 at Black Diamond Pk.

Negro League I came up with 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning with the
help of 5 hits.  They would hold up as the winning runs.  Negro League I
banged out 11 on the night.  

Paige(1-0) finished the game allowing 2 runs in the victory. John
Clarkson(0-1) suffered the loss.  He gave up 7 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings.

[1]LATE 20TH AT JAPANESE LEAGUE
Century Stars... 0 1 0  0 1 0  0 1 0  -  3 11  1
HOF Players..... 0 0 0  0 1 0  1 0 0  -  2  5  0
Win:Smoltz(1-0) Loss:Kaneda(0-1) Save:Gossage(1st)
Homeruns- D.Winfield(1st), C.Ripken(1st), S.Nagashima(1st)

The Late 20th Century Stars edged the Japanese League HOF Players at Nintendo
Field by the score of 3 to 2.

The deciding run was scored by Late 20th in the top of the 8th.  Rickey
Henderson delivered a single.  Henderson was safe at second on a stolen base.
Wade Boggs then delivered a one-base hit.  Mike Piazza stepped in and he
banged out a single.  Mark McGwire stepped into the box and delivered a
base-hit scoring the run.  Japanese League was out-hit by Late 20th, 11 hits
to 5.  

John Smoltz(1-0) was the winner allowing 1 run in 3 and 2/3 innings. Smoltz
got help from Goose Gossage who earned his 1st save.  Masaichi Kaneda(0-1)
was tagged with the loss.  


[1]TURN OF CENTURY AT NL POST WWII
Centuries....... 0 1 0  0 2 0  0 1 0  -  4  9  0
Post-Nationals.. 1 0 0  1 0 2  0 6    - 10 14  0
Win:Marichal(1-0) Loss:Nichols(0-1)
Homeruns- R.Bresnahan(1st), S.Musial(1st)

Roberto Clemente had 4 hits and 3 RBI as the NL Post WWII team topped the Turn
of Century Centuries by a score of 10 to 4 at Big League Field.

Juan Marichal(1-0) earned his pay with a solid performance for Marichal.  He
went 8 innings surrendering 9 hits and 4 walks.  This was a game of many
highs and lows for the home town fans, as the lead kept changing - 5 times in
all.  

Kid Nichols(0-1) absorbed the loss in relief.  NL Post WWII scored big getting
6 runs off him in 2 innings.

[1]LEFT OUTS AT CARIBBEAN
Left Outers..... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 3 0  -  3  8  2
Alltime Players. 0 1 0  0 0 0  2 0 1  -  4  9  1
Win:Luque(1-0) Loss:Wynn(0-1)

Dave Concepcion had 3 base hits and 3 RBI as the Caribbean Alltime Players won
at Paradise Park in dramatic fashion over the Left Outs Left Outers, the
final score, 4 to 3.

Caribbean scored the deciding run in the 9th inning. Omar Linares drew a walk.
Felipe Alou then called for a steal which was successful.  After an out was
recorded, Caribbean continued their aggressive style with another stolen
base.  Caribbean got their 2nd stolen base of the inning.  Concepcion came to
the plate and laced a base-knock making Caribbean victorious to the delight
of the the home town crowd.  Caribbean had 9 hits for the afternoon.  

The victory went to Adolfo Luque(1-0) who went 1 and 2/3 innings, allowing 1
run. Early Wynn(0-1) was charged with the loss in relief.  


[1]AL PRE WWII AT FOFC
Pre-Americans... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 1  -  1  4  2
All Stars....... 0 0 0  4 2 0  0 0    -  6  8  0
Win:Babson(1-0) Loss:Grove(0-1)
Homeruns- B.Ruth(1st)

Brian Babson pitched 9 strong innings as the FOFC All Stars defeated the AL
Pre WWII ballclub 6 to 1 at FOFC Stadium.

Babson(1-0) was very good in the win.  He didn't give up much, just 4 hits and
2 walks in 9 innings.  FOFC totaled 8 on the night.  

Lefty Grove(0-1) was the loser.  He couldn't find the strike zone and allowed
7 walks in 4 and 2/3 innings.  When questioned about his counterpart after
the game, Grove was lavish in his praise, 'It was obvious very early on that
we were going to be in for a long night.  Babson brought his 'A' game with
him - he had good stuff and was able to spot it perfectly.  He probably only
made one or two bad pitches the entire game!

[Coffee Warlord]

Damn. Hellaciously detailed writeups. Rock!

[kingfc22]

Awesome job Breeze.

[terpkristin]

I would like to apologize for my night of binge video gaming the night before the game. I'd had a long day and decided to stay up all night playing video games instead of getting a decent night's sleep. Obviously, this RL thing isn't like a video game. In the video game, I can steal and hit with the best of 'em.

Truly sorry, won't happen again!
/tk

[Breeze]

GAME 2 - Tuesday, April 3rd - Pre-Game

I walk out of my office, go to the dug out and post the lineup for game two:


2b - Blade
SS - Terp
CF - Tucker
1b - Potpie
3b - Palmer
C - Bullock
RF - Gunner
LF - Pflaggstettler
P - Nielsen