SIM COMPLETE - 1984 - Regular Season 21

[Pat]

Just noticed...

-The 1984 Washington Bats are 16-28 in one-run games. That is the most one-run losses in the entire BLB. To compare, Pitt is 20-16, Hyudnai 24-14, Baltimore 23-13, Philly 24-12.

-My team is also 4-9 in extra innings, tied for worst in the BLB with California. If I was even .500 in one-run games, I would be 70-53, 10 games ahead of Wilmington.

-My pyt. record (based on runs for/against) is 74-49 (best in the IL). And my -10 differential is the worst in the BLB, by far. Luckily, second worst is Wilmington, at -7.

Its as if the game wants my team to lose....

[Matt]

3-3 and Finbow got player of the week! It's nice to have some positive news on my team screen.

[BradleyB]

Its as if the game wants my team to lose....

it's not just the game, the rest of us enjoy it as well.

[Sully]

it's not just the game, the rest of us enjoy it as well.

Agreed.

[Clay]

2-4 Sim... about what I expected. I had hoped to at least win 1 in Pitt, but couldn't make it happen. Playing the good teams close is giving me some confidence though.

Took 2 of 3 from Pawtucket... the last game... WOW... easily one of the weirdest games.

Some of the highlights of just that game:

-- The bottom of the 2nd last exactly 3 pitches:

Bottom of the 2nd - Pawtucket Patriots batting - Pitching for Virginia Colonials : RHP G. Martinez 
Batting: SHB D. Barnett 0-0: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4) 
Batting: SHB A. Nickell 0-0: SINGLE (Line Drive, 78S) 
Batting: RHB J. Longstreet 0-0: Grounds into double play, 6-4-3 (Groundball, 6M)

-- The bottom of the 4th contained not 1... but 2 outfield assists from Tim Murcott

Bottom of the 4th - Pawtucket Patriots batting - Pitching for Virginia Colonials : RHP G. Martinez 
Batting: LHB M. Bernal 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ball
2-0: SINGLE (Line Drive, 4D)
T. Isgar to second
Runner from 2nd tries for 3rd, OUT!
Batting: SHB A. Nickell 0-0: SINGLE (Line Drive, 9S)
M. Bernal to third
D. Barnett to second
Runner from 3rd tries for Home, throw and OUT!

-- Not to be out done... Pawtucket guns out Brian Greenham at the plate the very next inning

-- In the bottom of the 7th, the Colonials walk the first 4 batters that they face... yet the Patriots are only able to cross that one run.

-- In the 8th, James strikes out the side on 9 pitches

Top of the 8th - Virginia Colonials batting - Pitching for Pawtucket 
Pitching: RHP C. James  
Batting: RHB B. Greenham 0-0: Called Strike
0-1: Called Strike
0-2: Strikes out swinging 
Batting: RHB J. Poling 0-0: Called Strike
0-1: Called Strike
0-2: Strikes out swinging 
Batting: LHB W. Harcourt 0-0: Foul Ball
0-1: Swinging Strike
0-2: Strikes out swinging

-- In the 9th, down 7-4, the Colonials send 11 men to the plate, score 6 and go on to win the game 10-8.

In addition, the game also featured 4 Wild Pitches and 2 balks.

CRAZY!!!

[Lintyfresh85]

With 11 games left in the month, and 28 left in September, California has surpassed last years lofty win total of 49 wins. We're currently at 53 wins.

Next is 69 wins that I picked up in my first year way back in '82.

Have a shot... just need to go 17-22 the rest of the way and we'll have posted the best record in my three years here.

[Sully]

Makungu had a great outing against Maine, allowing 1 run in 8 innings. Unfortunately, he was up against O'Moore, who also allowed just 1 run. Maine won it in the 9th with an unearned run.

Alvarez and Romo both put in great weeks. My offense is set for the next few years with Delarruz, Gorrie, Campoveroe, Romo, and Alvarez.

[Clay]

Other Notes from Virginia:

-- Joshua Poling hit .260 this sim with another jack and 5 RBIs.

-- Oyos continues to struggle in August, but has still not lost a decision since last summer.

-- Larry Headington is becoming my Marcus Thames. If you project his numbers out over a full-time workload, they are fantastic... but you just don't always have the room for him everyday. His 10 bombs and 47 RBIs in less than 250 ABs are going to make a case for an interesting competition next spring training. He already pushed Just out of town, but there will likely be a full open competition between him and *HOT* Prospect Jerry Tracy for starting duties next season.

-- 53 wins and climbing. My goal is still 70 and, more importantly, catching Morgantown for 3rd in the Stout...which, with 9 head-to-head games left... that story is yet to be written.

-- Single A and Double A Teams both finished above .500 and in 2nd place in their division. Lot of injuries in the minors this year and very few diamonds in the rough. Will be an intersting off-season to see where some of these cats start next year.

-- 6 home games this week with a Carolina team that has been hot in August and a Philly team that, while a near lock for the playoffs... will be scrambling this week to replace their Superstar bat... something that may not be possible at this point in the season. We should catch Aurillo late in the 3 game... so we expect Colonial Park to be busy this weekend with fans in from Philly and locals who want to catch a look at the phenom.

[Plastic]

3-3 sim, Our 1st sim with more than 1 win in the month of August. The Stout and Bock Divisions are rather close compared to other divisions in the BLB. All of us in the stout are separated by 11 games or less and the Bock separated by 7 games or less. Could be some tight races to end the season.

[Clay]

3-3 sim, Our 1st sim with more than 1 win in the month of August. The Stout and Bock Divisions are rather close compared to other divisions in the BLB. All of us in the stout are separated by 11 games or less and the Bock separated by 7 games or less. Could be some tight races to end the season.

Prediction(s):

Bock:
Windy City holds on to the division...
Davenport finishes 2 games behind...
Carolina passes LA for 3rd, and is within a game of Davenport for 2nd...
Los Alamos spirals in September and finishes last about 7 games back from Carolina...

Stout:
Wilmington and Washington battle back and forth all month... they have 9 games left against eachother and it comes down to that final 4 game series to end the season. I think Wilmington comes into that series with a 1 or 2 game lead in the Stout. Unfortunately, I think Washington's head-to-head advantage over the Wildcats wins out and they take the series and the Stout division.... making Smear even more insufferable than last season....
Virginia catches Morgantown during their late head-to-head series' and finishes in 3rd about 2 games ahead of the Mohawks.

[Sully]

I don't think we can keep pace. Washington has sucked for over 2 months, but we've been even worse during that span. We're showing some signs of turning it around, but the SP needs to be better. We'll see what happens.

[Riverman]

Prediction(s):

Bock:
Windy City holds on to the division...
Davenport finishes 2 games behind...
Carolina passes LA for 3rd, and is within a game of Davenport for 2nd...
Los Alamos spirals in September and finishes last about 7 games back from Carolina...

Stout:
Wilmington and Washington battle back and forth all month... they have 9 games left against eachother and it comes down to that final 4 game series to end the season. I think Wilmington comes into that series with a 1 or 2 game lead in the Stout. Unfortunately, I think Washington's head-to-head advantage over the Wildcats wins out and they take the series and the Stout division.... making Smear even more insufferable than last season....
Virginia catches Morgantown during their late head-to-head series' and finishes in 3rd about 2 games ahead of the Mohawks.

So who is going to win the fight in the Porter genius? And does the loser of that fight still make the playoffs?

[Clay]

So who is going to win the fight in the Porter genius? And does the loser of that fight still make the playoffs?

I give the Porter to Baltimore because I don't think Philly can replace Woody's bat... the only fairly decent bats on the trade waiver block will cost Philly more money than they'd ever be able to recoup... plus the prospect price tag.

I think Philly still holds on long enough to get the WC in a tight, tight race with Davenport. Maybe even like a half game... that kind of tight. Also, Philly still has a shot in the playoffs because their pitching is that strong.

California hols off Batavia for 3rd

Batavia ends up with the #2 pick in next year's draft after not catching Mississippi for the CCC.

[spot]

Prediction(s):

Bock:
Windy City holds on to the division...
Davenport finishes 2 games behind...
Carolina passes LA for 3rd, and is within a game of Davenport for 2nd...
Los Alamos spirals in September and finishes last about 7 games back from Carolina...

I'm very disappointed with this prediction. The sad part is I can't disagree...

[Delandis]

I'm happy with Eddie Just so far. I know its a small sample size, but:

.308, 26 AB, 8 H, 2 D, .400 OBP.

This is while he is still angry at Clay for trading him to Baltimore. I'd like to see if he can do even better happy.