SIM COMPLETE - 2000 - SIM 9

[Clay]

NEXT SIM: Wednesday

***

Next SIM is the Draft.... patience.

[Jake]

4-3 sim to get back to .500.

Still early, and I don't think we can stay in the hunt (not that we're still in it right now). But seeing some decent signs out of the young guys.

[Z]

5-2 week. We like May.

[Jake]

5-2 week. We like May.

It's June.

[BradZ]

In the last two weeks we are 15 for 15 in SB attempts as a team. Since May 1st we're 28/30. Interesting element to our offense that we've never really had before.

[Carlos]

Wow, 15 game losing streak. But really not surprised with this bunch.

[Lintyfresh85]

10 games over .500 and it looks like we may end up missing the playoffs.

[funclown]

Pawtucket 1-6....yep.

Hey look June draft next sim

[fsquid]

Put Roman into the lead off spot and it paid some dividends. He batted .425 in the sim, but I only got 3 SB out of him. Burns and Cosio are trying their best to kick start this team, but it might not be us this year.

[Jimmy]

The year of the injury. Simmons down for the second time. Barnes hurt on a rehab assignment! I like the fact that we are in first place but how long does that last?

We did well enough to have a winning week. It's hard to judge the pitching because NO hit a WEEKS worth of home runs against us in one game. That was fun. If it weren't for Tucker and Torres we would be a sunk ship.

[umd]

The year of the injury. Simmons down for the second time. Barnes hurt on a rehab assignment! I like the fact that we are in first place but how long does that last?

We did well enough to have a winning week. It's hard to judge the pitching because NO hit a WEEKS worth of home runs against us in one game. That was fun. If it weren't for Tucker and Torres we would be a sunk ship.

Break it up!

[Delandis]

SIM 9: Baltimore Bulldogs (37-21)

0-2 vs PHI
2-0 vs BAT
2-1 at CAL

I really expected to at least split against Philly (no offense Brad), especially at home. However, we were able to maintain the tenuous 3 game lead over California by winning the series in San Jose. I'll never complain about a winning week.

THE GOOD

-Another good week for the rookie, Oscar Lerma, as the kid got a taste at leadoff and performed admirably. Lerma went 12/30 for the week with 7 RBI.

-Kyoden Kubota continues to defy the odds with his play at 37 years of age. Batting near .300, Kubota is also posting his best OBP in five years. He's a much better hitter in Phillips Field than away from home, but either way, its great to get production from this future Hall of Famer.

-Following one of the worst months in his young career in May, Mr. Utility: Antonio Trujillo seems to have found his swing again in June. Last week Trujillo went 6/17 including two bombs. We are going to need his production if we stand any chance to keep this lead over California and continue to fight against Washington and Virginia to make the playoffs.

-So far, Basil Petrohilios has been money this year out of the pen. He has only given up 4 ER all season despite pitching in an IL leading 30 games (for relievers). He also leads all relievers with a 1.5 WAR.


THE BAD

-Never brag about a player as they must be required to prove you wrong the following week. This is the case with both Sadaharu Katsura and Wade Coates. Both starters had horrible outings, Katsura gave up 5 ER in just 3.2 IP while Coates surrendered 9 ER in just 4.3 IP. Definitely not something we are used to seeing. Add to that the 4 ER that Raul Guzman gave up in his first 4 innings, and its a surprise we were able to have a winning week.


ON THE FARM

Hector Martinez (OF) found his way back onto the Top 100 list this week. This is very likely to be a very brief appearance since the draft will occur next week.

NEXT UP

-Interleague Play.This go-around, we face the Ale's bottom half with Pittsburgh and Pawtucket coming to town. We usually play pretty well against the DL at home, and I'm pretty happy that we don't have to face Pawtucket in Petoria Park. That stadium is almost the exact opposite of Phillips Field amd is death to my lefty lineup.

Prediction: 4-2

[BradZ]

I really expected to at least split against Philly (no offense Brad), especially at home.

None taken. You weren't facing either Miles or Fitz in that short 2 game set so a split or sweep on your side wouldn't have been a shocking result. Both Flores and Reyes stepped up for us and got us off to a good start for the week. It's frustrating that we immediately went home and dropped 2 straight to CAL before winning 2 of 3 at BAT to somewhat salvage the week.

[Jimmy]

Break it up!

You wish.

[Pat]

Washington Bats (38-20; 1st Place in Stout)


1-1 vs. Morgantown
1-1 vs. Virginia
1-2 vs. Wilmington

Strange. This team continues to be average at home. Not sure what that is all about. That's not the norm for the Bats.

Best Game: First game of the Virginia series, SP Ivan Gutierrez gives up three in the first inning after only recording two outs. The Bats would respond by scoring five runs in the bottom half and the D.C. bullpen would use six players to combine for 8 innings and just one earned run.

Worst Game: First game of the Wilmington series, the Bats fail to capitalize with runners on and the defense kicks the ball around resulting in Blue Wave prospect SP Pat Lombardo's first career BLB win in 26 games, 15 starts.

The Good
-SP Nakazo 'Chuckwagon' Sasaki continues his dominant ways. Although the Bats lost 0-2 to Virginia, Sasaki gave up no runs through eight innings before being pulled. His stats now read 2.23 ERA, .96 WHIP, 78% QS. He's actually been twice as good on the road (1.50) as he has in pitcher friendly Washington (2.86). I also think his leadership has helped second-year SP Travis DuFour a lot. He also has seven quality starts out of nine and DuFour also leads the team in strikeouts with 40, Sasaki second at 38.

-I think the call-up of LF B.J. Jobe has light a fire under OFs Miguel Angel Monchez and Shawn Burton. This week the two veterans combined to hit 14/36, with OPS combined 1.000+. The rookie, Jobe, also hit well, 5/15 with two doubles and continues to cover a lot of ground in the defensive outfield.

The Bad
-First losing sim since the last week of April. Shouldn't cry about a 3-4 week but Virginia is now just two games back and are as hot as anyone at 8-2 over the last 10.

The Ugly
-Two of my lefty SPs have been cold. SP Ivan Gutierrez had another bad loss, this time not making it out of the first inning. One week after being in the "Good" section, SP Kel Murphy loses two games this week. Giving up 5 ER in each of his two starts, one in which he didn't record an out. The two combined to give up 15 of the teams 27 runs scored against them this week.

The Farm
-A week after being mentioned in Delandis' Minor League feature, SP Nick Cortes throws a gem in Triple-A, 8 IP, 3 H, 8 K, 0 ER, 0 BB. His team is in first place, as is the Bats Single-A team. Double-A is 7.5 back.

The Week Ahead
-The DL comes to town. The Los Lunas Javelinas have one 12 of their last 16 and could soon see the return of J.J. 'Crackpot' Black back to the pen after his injury. Also in Gyro's favor, the Javelinas have been better on the road and the Bats have been worse at home. Then we face the division leading Los Angeles Dinos and the return of Derrek Tucker to Washington. The match up features the IL and DL leading teams in BABIP. Both play great defense and can pitch. Prediction: 2-1 vs. Los Lunas, 1-2 vs. Los Angeles. Very low scoring games.