SIM COMPLETE - 1987 - Regular Season 3

[Andrew]

Next sim: Tuesday

[liquidcrash]

3rd Perfect Game in BLB history this sim.

[Guest]

4-3 sim, not bad.

The Good

I might've found a diamond in the rough in Greg McAngus, he's been great so far.

Goodwin and Noke seem to be turning it around and pitched great.

The guys I was hoping to get a little from (Nazaire, Hampton, Greenham) are giving me a lot.

Carlton has yet to give up a run as closer, knock on wood.

The Bad

Gremades is out for 1-2 weeks, fuck.

Haydon and Buzzell continue to struggle, I don't get it.

I thought my bullpen was going to be fantastic this year, but other than Carlton and Lou, they all suck.

[Spectre]

3-4 sim, I'll take it. Really just need to tread water until Latham comes back.

[BradZ]

3-4 sim, all home games. Not good.

Lost SS G Scott for 4-5 weeks. We are now without our starting RF, 2B and SS. Offense is really struggling. Rochs and Scott were the two lead off candidates we had. With both of them out it's time to get creative.

[Matt]

4-3 sim...our first winning one...we'll take it!

Good
- Stephens is 0-0 but in 3 starts has a 1.65 ERA. Maybe his drop isn't as bad as 1st feared.
- Steve Bing is back and back in the lead off position.

Bad
- MR Ken Bayer (my best young player) is pissed he isn't the closer. We are moving him to closer and moving All-Star Simmonds to setup reliever. If this doesn't work Simmonds will hit the trade block.
- C Hirogo who should be good (OSA and scout loves him) is hitting .149 on the year.

[Gyrodork]

Pig Tales - Week 3

3 - 4: 1 - 2 Vs Storm, 2 - 2 Vs Dinos

We are not getting it done against last-place teams. Bastards are gonna' make me manage all season again.

Happy Thoughts
#5 Starter Phil Gibson and Spot Starter/Long RP Martin Nigo have each shown me a little something early on. So far, "Flex" (Gibson) has indeed proven to be flexible in his move from the bullpen to the starting rotation. He's not ever gonna' make an all star ballot. But if he can keep his ERA at 3.5 or below; I'll be happy as a pig in...Los Lunas. I may have to give Nigo a spot-start or two; based on the way he's pitched so far. Krieger and Goderie each finally had a good outing this sim. So we'll see how all this plays out in the coming weeks. Closson appears to be pitching like his former self. I'll have to watch him later in the season, though.

OF Phil Sephton has hit the ground running, despite an 8-month stint on the D/L. Oh to be young and athletic...

Mr. Grumpy Face
Leadoff hitter CF Chan Salguero has cooled off, and is only hitting .243. C Lucero Iazarry will be platooning with Xever Magano again if he doesn't pull himself up by his jock strap soon.

[mahoney2]

Perfect game against Maine, damn... more to comment on later including the perfect game, a 22 game hitting streak snapped and the DL batter of the week.

[Matt]

Perfect game against Maine, damn... more to comment on later including the perfect game, a 22 game hitting streak snapped and the DL batter of the week.

Hopefully I didn't steal your thunder...I was in the writing mood!

[Carlos]

Back to earth. Kids playing like kids.

[Jistic]

From world champs to one of the worst teams in baseball. Not bad. We're an astounding 3-8 in one run games with the worst bullpen in the IL. This is just like how last year started. Either my whole team is gonna have career bad years, or we're about to go on a legendary tear.

Either way there's nothing more I can do. We're a better team than we were last year, we just haven't shown it.

[Riverman]

This is just like how last year started.

I certainly don't recall you ever being 6-13 and in last place last year. You usually do take a little while to get going though, it seems to me. On the other hand I have had a lot of hot starts. It makes me wonder if there is something in the game for that.

[Clay]

Virginia Colonials (10-9 : 4 GB in Stout)

Record This Week: 4-3

1-2 @ Washington

What Went Right:
- Scored some runs and racked up quite a few XBH's against a good Bats staff.
- Bullpen was decent
- Xalbador 'Meter Man' Medine made his return from a Spring Training injury during Game 3 and played an immediate role in our only win

What Went Wrong:
- The starting pitching continues to struggle. In fact, struggle is an understatement. Arrendondo, Magness and Herrera combined to give up 16 earned runs.
- Danny Nelson went 0 for the series including an embarrassing evening on the 21st where he went 0-4 with 4 K's.
- Missed a golden opportunity to steal some games from a Bats team that didn't play particularly well

3-1 @ Morgantown

What Went Right:
- Brought the power bats out in this series. Medine hit his first 2. Nino added a couple to his total. As well as doubles and triples spreadout throughout the series.
- Artie Rhodes continues to write his IL New Brew resume. Added 10 more hits and 3 SBs this week and leads all IL rookies in most offensive categories.
- Finally! Won an extra inning game for the first time this season.

What Went Wrong:
- Nate Magness lasted only 22 pitches in Game 4 of the series. He faced only 7 batters, gave up 5 ERs and got only one hitter out. Very, very slow start for Magness.
- Overworking Vernon Simmonds. Forced to work 5.1 innings in two games of this series. He was good, but that's too muc work for a $15.0 closer.
- Giving up way too many long balls.

Miscellaneous....
- Pitching has been crazy! We've surrendered the least amount of walks... struck out the most batters... but we're giving up a ton of runs! The starting rotation is the worst in the IL.

- Still like the way this team is playing and think when we get a stretch of home games, we should be able to make some hay in the standings.

- Josh Poling jumps up the OSA Top Players list this week to #14 (+4)

Coming up...
More Stout Division action with 2 each with Washington and Wilmington... then a 3 day visit to California and their 8 fans.

[Lintyfresh85]

California Kodiaks (8-11 : 4 GB in Porter)

Record This Week: 4-3

1-2 @ Batavia

Good:
- Owen Gilbertson showed some wheels with two doubles in the first game of the series
- Bullpen was strong going 12 innings and only giving up four earned runs, 3 which came in one inning
- Conan Wilkerson made his second decent start in a row. I'm not too worried about his output right now, just want to keep him in the rotation

Bad:
- Joe Lopez. 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 ER. He would have lost his spot in the rotation if not for Mack McMurdo going down with the strangest injury of the year award (so far)
- Alberto Grandon, 1/10
- We made Chet Stephens look great. I knew the kid wasn't as bad as the ratings drop said, but it'd be nice if he got healthy against another team

3-1 @ Philadelphia

Good:
- SP went 25 IP, giving up 4 ER.
- Joe Toapanta made his return from inflammation in his shoulder to go 7 IP, 0 runs, 9 K's. WELCOME BACK!
- Alberto Grandon, 3/17, but that was 2 HR's, 1 triple.
- Taking three at Philly is always a good trip

Bad:
- Lost the last game of the series in extra innings. Would have been nice to sweep
- My entire bullpen is dead tired. Had to call up a kid from AAA to lighten the load

Ugly:
- Mack McMurdo has to be in contention for the strangest injury of the season so far. A strained oblique. Now that doesn't sound very weird... but here is the circumstances in which it happened. McMurdo was injured after hitting his second double in two at bats against Joe Aurillo. That's right, a pitcher was injured after doubling twice against once of the most dominating pitchers in the history of the BLB. The doubles occured in back to back innings as well.

Next Week: 2 vs. Baltimore, 2 @ Batavia, 3 vs. Virginia

[Pat]

Washington Bats - Week 3

2-1 vs. Virginia
4-0 vs. Wilmington

The Good
-CF Michio Nago is the hottest hitter in the BLB right now. The IL Player of the Week, Nago is hitting .427 with a league leading 1.169 OPS. He current hits leadoff but if he keeps this up too much longer, he will be moved to the #3 spot.
-The bullpen continues to hold. 4-1 with 12 saves.

The Bad
-Where is the power? Dave Robbins has one homerun so far. This is not the production I expect the rest of the way.

The Ugly
-Lost closer Grant Lewis for three weeks. Lost SP Joe Zazueto for two weeks. This is on top of having two others already on the DL.

---

I really can not complain about this season. Tied for the league's best record at 14-5. Have to take it for what it is worth though, I am just 3-3 on the road. But a 6-1 week against Stout divisional rivals...feels pretty damn good.