Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress
White Sox April Wrap Up
The first month of the 2014 Chicago White Sox campaign is in the books. After a brutal first 2 weeks to open the season, the Good Guys got their act together and closed the month strong, including going 7-3 in their last 10 to end the month with a 13-16 record. While this puts them in the basement of the AL Central, they are only 2.5 behind the first place Detroit Tigers (14-12).
Series Results
Minnesota – L(0-3)
Kansas City – L (0-3)
Colorado – W (3-0)
Cleveland – L (0-4)
Boston – L (1-2)
Texas – W (2-1)
Detroit – Split (2-2)
Tampa Bay – W (4-0) *Included an 18-inning marathon game and 2 walk-off wins
Detroit – Split (1-1)
Series of the Month – Tampa Bay
The Good Guys swept the Rays thanks to good pitching and some timely hitting, especially 1B Paul Konerko and C Tyler Flowers. Chicago won the first game 8-2, with their biggest run production to date. It was game 2 however, where the aforementioned players earned their recognition. Fans were treated to an 18-inning marathon and a battle of attrition, as both bullpens utilized every arm available, including the Rays having to resort to a few of their starters.
The Rays took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 9th and it looked as if the bid for a mini winning streak would not be realized. With 2-out in the bottom of the 9th, 0-4 Paul Konerko stepped into the box. With the count 2-2, he put a charge into one to center-field. It sounded good off the bat, and fans could hear Hawk Harrleson screaming “Stretch!!! Stretch!!!”. Stretch it did, as it disappeared over the CF wall, tying the game up 7-7 and sending the White Sox faithful into a frenzy. It would later be estimated at 445-ft, the longest HR hit this year at US Cellular. The Rays got the next out, and the fans were treated to some free baseball.
Both teams would then battle to stalemate for the next 8 ½ innings, until the bottom of the 18th. With 1-out, Chicago 3B Conner Gillaspie singled to LF. With his bullpen empty, Rays skipper Joe Maddon had to call upon his 5-0 starter David Price to come in a pitch to Chicago C Tyler Flowers. Flowers hadn't been able to buy a hit all night, only reaching base on a walk early in the game. So in he steps, 0-6 on the night, to face Mr. Price. Later after the game, Flowers would say that all he was trying to do was shoot something to RF to advance the runner into scoring position and keep the inning alive.
With the count 2-2, Price tried to paint the outside corner with a fastball... he got a little more of the plate then he wanted. Flowers swung and shot a line-drive to RF. He hit it solid, but it didn't look like it had the height to get out... but it stayed up and kept going. (At this time, I was yelling, “Stretch!! Stretch!!) I let out a Stone Cold, “Hell Yeah!” as it just barely sailed over the fence for the game winner. I'm sure my neighbors didn't appreciate hearing that at 2:30 in the morning.
We took the next game 3-2, and headed into the final game of the series, looking for the sweep. Game 4 would see more heroics from Mr. Flowers. With the game tied 2-2, it would be Flowers who would once again find himself in a position to be the hero. In the bottom of the 9th with 2-out and nobody on, Flowers stepped into the box to face reliever Jack McGee. With the count 2-1, McGee fired and Flowers put a charge into the pitch sending it to right-center. There was no doubt about this one as it had the height and easily cleared the fence for Flowers' second walk-off HR of the series. Lightning had struck again. It gave us the 3-2 win, and secured the sweep.
It was a roller coaster of emotions during this game. However, it was easily the most gratifying win I've had with this year's game. However, those 8 ½ scoreless innings after I tied the game, were some of the most grueling, frustrating, explicative filled innings I've had in the game so far. I couldn't manufacture anything, but luckily my pitching kept a lid on the Rays as well.
Team Notes
SS Alexei Ramirez is doing his part to start the season. He's hitting. .339 with 2 HR, 8 RBI. He's slugging .450 with 6 doubles and 11 runs scored. Rookie 1B Jose Abreu is contributing as well. Hitting .263 with 5 HR, 13 RBI. Scored 12 runs and slugging .442 While C Tyler Flowers overall batting average (.198) is nothing to write home about, he's produced 4 HR (2 walk-offs), 14 RBI and a .395 slugging %. He did most of his damage during a 10-game stretch where he carried the team, hitting .316 and producing all 4 of his home runs and the majority of his RBI. While there are disappointments all down through the lineup, RF Adam Dunn is probably the biggest. He's hitting just .143 with 3 HR, 5 RBI, and a .302 slugging %.
SP Erik Johnson has been the rock so far of the pitching staff. He's 4-1, with a 2.72 ERA, 38 K, and 9 BB. The only other starters with wins are Chris Sale (2-3, 2.23 ERA, 45 K, 10 BB) and Felipe Paulino (2-1, 3.29 ERA, 41 K, 14 BB). Due to not being able to produce early run support for our starters, several relievers find themselves in the win column: Ronald Belisario (1-1, 4.61 ERA, 14 K), Nate Jones (1-2, 1.69 ERA, 18 K), Scott Downs (1-0, 0.82 8 K), Maikel Cleto (1-0, 1.76 ERA, 18 K), Donnie Veal (1-1, 4.91 ERA, 7 K).
MLB Standings - End of April
NL Batting Leaders
AL Batting Leaders
Pitching Leaders
White Sox April Wrap Up
The first month of the 2014 Chicago White Sox campaign is in the books. After a brutal first 2 weeks to open the season, the Good Guys got their act together and closed the month strong, including going 7-3 in their last 10 to end the month with a 13-16 record. While this puts them in the basement of the AL Central, they are only 2.5 behind the first place Detroit Tigers (14-12).
Series Results
Minnesota – L(0-3)
Kansas City – L (0-3)
Colorado – W (3-0)
Cleveland – L (0-4)
Boston – L (1-2)
Texas – W (2-1)
Detroit – Split (2-2)
Tampa Bay – W (4-0) *Included an 18-inning marathon game and 2 walk-off wins
Detroit – Split (1-1)
Series of the Month – Tampa Bay
The Good Guys swept the Rays thanks to good pitching and some timely hitting, especially 1B Paul Konerko and C Tyler Flowers. Chicago won the first game 8-2, with their biggest run production to date. It was game 2 however, where the aforementioned players earned their recognition. Fans were treated to an 18-inning marathon and a battle of attrition, as both bullpens utilized every arm available, including the Rays having to resort to a few of their starters.
The Rays took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 9th and it looked as if the bid for a mini winning streak would not be realized. With 2-out in the bottom of the 9th, 0-4 Paul Konerko stepped into the box. With the count 2-2, he put a charge into one to center-field. It sounded good off the bat, and fans could hear Hawk Harrleson screaming “Stretch!!! Stretch!!!”. Stretch it did, as it disappeared over the CF wall, tying the game up 7-7 and sending the White Sox faithful into a frenzy. It would later be estimated at 445-ft, the longest HR hit this year at US Cellular. The Rays got the next out, and the fans were treated to some free baseball.
Both teams would then battle to stalemate for the next 8 ½ innings, until the bottom of the 18th. With 1-out, Chicago 3B Conner Gillaspie singled to LF. With his bullpen empty, Rays skipper Joe Maddon had to call upon his 5-0 starter David Price to come in a pitch to Chicago C Tyler Flowers. Flowers hadn't been able to buy a hit all night, only reaching base on a walk early in the game. So in he steps, 0-6 on the night, to face Mr. Price. Later after the game, Flowers would say that all he was trying to do was shoot something to RF to advance the runner into scoring position and keep the inning alive.
With the count 2-2, Price tried to paint the outside corner with a fastball... he got a little more of the plate then he wanted. Flowers swung and shot a line-drive to RF. He hit it solid, but it didn't look like it had the height to get out... but it stayed up and kept going. (At this time, I was yelling, “Stretch!! Stretch!!) I let out a Stone Cold, “Hell Yeah!” as it just barely sailed over the fence for the game winner. I'm sure my neighbors didn't appreciate hearing that at 2:30 in the morning.
We took the next game 3-2, and headed into the final game of the series, looking for the sweep. Game 4 would see more heroics from Mr. Flowers. With the game tied 2-2, it would be Flowers who would once again find himself in a position to be the hero. In the bottom of the 9th with 2-out and nobody on, Flowers stepped into the box to face reliever Jack McGee. With the count 2-1, McGee fired and Flowers put a charge into the pitch sending it to right-center. There was no doubt about this one as it had the height and easily cleared the fence for Flowers' second walk-off HR of the series. Lightning had struck again. It gave us the 3-2 win, and secured the sweep.
It was a roller coaster of emotions during this game. However, it was easily the most gratifying win I've had with this year's game. However, those 8 ½ scoreless innings after I tied the game, were some of the most grueling, frustrating, explicative filled innings I've had in the game so far. I couldn't manufacture anything, but luckily my pitching kept a lid on the Rays as well.
Team Notes
SS Alexei Ramirez is doing his part to start the season. He's hitting. .339 with 2 HR, 8 RBI. He's slugging .450 with 6 doubles and 11 runs scored. Rookie 1B Jose Abreu is contributing as well. Hitting .263 with 5 HR, 13 RBI. Scored 12 runs and slugging .442 While C Tyler Flowers overall batting average (.198) is nothing to write home about, he's produced 4 HR (2 walk-offs), 14 RBI and a .395 slugging %. He did most of his damage during a 10-game stretch where he carried the team, hitting .316 and producing all 4 of his home runs and the majority of his RBI. While there are disappointments all down through the lineup, RF Adam Dunn is probably the biggest. He's hitting just .143 with 3 HR, 5 RBI, and a .302 slugging %.
SP Erik Johnson has been the rock so far of the pitching staff. He's 4-1, with a 2.72 ERA, 38 K, and 9 BB. The only other starters with wins are Chris Sale (2-3, 2.23 ERA, 45 K, 10 BB) and Felipe Paulino (2-1, 3.29 ERA, 41 K, 14 BB). Due to not being able to produce early run support for our starters, several relievers find themselves in the win column: Ronald Belisario (1-1, 4.61 ERA, 14 K), Nate Jones (1-2, 1.69 ERA, 18 K), Scott Downs (1-0, 0.82 8 K), Maikel Cleto (1-0, 1.76 ERA, 18 K), Donnie Veal (1-1, 4.91 ERA, 7 K).
MLB Standings - End of April
Spoiler
NL Batting Leaders
Spoiler
AL Batting Leaders
Spoiler
Pitching Leaders
Spoiler
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