SIM COMPLETE - 1988 - Regular Season 20

[Andrew]

next sim: Wednesday

[Ryan]

3-3

Clay, I guess that bulletin board material worked, lol.

Well, at least the games were close.

[Delandis]

Harcourt and Jin out the rest of the year. Put a fork in us.

[spot]

Frickin' really? 0-6 is one thing, but to lose not one but 2 games in the bottom of the 9th?

Frickin' really?

[Matt]

4-2

vs. Sin City 2-1
vs. Mississippi 2-1

For the 1st time in the history of the franchise (after more than the opening week) we are not last in the Porter.

Good

- We hit .270 for the week.
- SP Stephens went 8.3 and gave up no earned runs, striking out 4
- De Jesus had 5 walks and only 1 K...love his patience...if only he could teach the rest of the guys
- Another 3 saves for Bayer, 0 ER, 4 K's

Bad

- MR Don Jones got rocked again...2.3 IP, 4 ER
- In the series vs. Miss we scored 5 runs in 3 games

[Spear]

I'll take the 4-2 sim.

Wish O'Loughlin would be productive. I guess that's what I get trading for a veteran at the deadline.

[Jim]

I'll take the 4-2 sim.

Wish O'Loughlin would be productive. I guess that's what I get trading for a veteran at the deadline.

Just saw his stats...that sucks. Have you tried putting him on a shorter leash yet? I think I had him set a few clicks closer to quick to pull for the strategy settings.

[Spear]

Just saw his stats...that sucks. Have you tried putting him on a shorter leash yet? I think I had him set a few clicks closer to quick to pull for the strategy settings.

Good idea, I'll do that now. I have him on the pitch count that you suggested too.

If only all veteran players came with instructions...

[Clay]

Wow... I gave up 12 unearned runs in one game. The Washington Generals of the BLB.

[Carlos]

That Washington series was important to me. All close games so I'm not worried about being swept.

3-3 is fine. Next week should be a 4-2 or 5-1 or I'd consider it a disappointment.

[Gyrodork]

2 - 4. Dealba continues to poop his pants on the mound.

Cali pitches a no-hitter against me, and misses the perfect game by one BB in the 7th.

[Spear]

Cali pitches a no-hitter against me, and misses the perfect game by one BB in the 7th.

Toapanta's second shut out in three starts too. Pretty nice 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation for Cali.

[Jistic]

Fading away like the Summer of '88. What's troubling is my usual reliable starting pitching is getting killed. Bullpen is doing great, and the hitting has picked up nicely. We just can't seem to get all three phases working together.

And I still love Clarence Wetton. I think he had a growth spurt at the break.

[Clay]

Virginia Colonials (67-56)

This Week: 4-2

1-2 @ <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on">Syracuse</st1:City>
3-0 @ <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Indianapolis</st1:City></st1:place>

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Interleague play is now behind us and the Colonials have to be ecstatic with a 10-2 finish against the Domestic League. Absolutely can not “boo hoo” about that kind of season record, though I do feel like I left some opportunity on the table in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Syracuse</st1:City></st1:place> series. But when the dust settles, despite very little help from Hyundai and Los Lunas (as I requested), Virginia was able to claim their share of the IL Wildcard lead. Experts everywhere have to be waiting for the other shoe to fall on this forever pitiful franchise. <o:p></o:p>

What Went Right This Week:

<o:p></o:p>
-- Danny Nelson – ‘Mr. Colonial’ comes back from concussion-like symptoms and turns in one of his best weeks of the season going .391/.462/.652 with 2 HR and 7 RBI. That’s 4 HRs in limited August action leading many to wonder if an actual playoff push has sparked a charge in the Colonials All-Time Leader in nearly every offensive category.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
-- Joshua Poling – Poling had another solid week keeping <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Virginia</st1:State></st1:place> on their game. His 11 for 26 week was the best on the team and left his BA against the DL this season at a robust .530! Poling will be an important cog down the stretch if the Colonials are to make a serious run.. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
-- Power – As predicted going into the week, the Colonials flexed some muscle hitting 7 HRs on the week, which is way up from their recent power draught. Besides Nelson’s pair of dingers, Mel Woodbury hit his team-leading 24<SUP>th</SUP> and 25<SUP>th</SUP> to continue his quiet push for the IL Stout Slugger. Florian Tosselli hit his first career HR off Joe Orozco in Game 2 of the Slammers series, while Cristian Martinez, playing for the injured Yoritoki Maeda, and Rookie Rod Phillips also chipped in one a piece. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
-- Artie Rhodes – Didn’t do anything spectacular this SIM, but I just like to sing his praises. He’s been our most pleasant surprise of the season. He continues to make things happen whenever he is in the game. He swiped three more bags this week to bring his BLB leading total to 34.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
-- Alberto Hernando – Might be the most surprising news of the week as Hernando, who spent nearly the entire season on the trade block, re-upped with the Colonials for two years as Virginia bought out his last two years of Arbitration at, potentially, a huge discount. Hernando’s days of being the #1 Catcher in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State> are likely over, but at $1.2 million per season, he’s a moderately priced Defensive option that gives the Colonials security in case Rod Phillips suffers the dreaded Sophomore Slump.

What Went Wrong This Week:

<o:p></o:p>
-- MISTAKES! – Both losses to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syracuse</st1:place></st1:City> can be tied back to major mistakes. The 1<SUP>st</SUP> loss, a 4-3 tight battle, was highlighted by baserunning errors throughout the game. Normally rock solid on the base paths, the Colonials were gunned down on three steal attempts by Slammers All-Star backstop Teagan Cannell. All three were major rally killers. Artie Rhodes, one of the fastest men in the BLB, also got gunned down at home trying to score from 1<SUP>st</SUP> on a Josh Poling two-bagger. In the second loss, 5 fielding errors cost the Colonials 12 unearned runs and a major ass kicking. Now, that being said, there’s nothing that says the Colonials win those games without those mistakes, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syracuse</st1:place></st1:City> did what they had to do.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
-- The ‘Pen – Despite getting his first two saves of the season since being thrust into the Closer role, George McSwain just hasn’t seemed overly comfortable taking the ball. His shakiness seems to be spreading with other guys like Artie Montgomery struggling to rediscover his control. Barring setbacks, ‘Old Blue’ won’t return till about the last dozen games of the season. This bullpen needs to hold down the fort.

<o:p></o:p>
-- Dale O’Hegarty – Another rough sim continues to show his struggles in August. Hard to complain about a guy hitting .299, but we’ve come to expect a little more productivity from our Captain. Some bad baserunning and fielding errors have many thinking that he’s pressing a little under the pressure of the Race.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
COMING UP!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
39 games to go and the bottom line is there’s never been a season where 120 games in you could say, if the season ended today, the Colonials would make the playoffs. Hell, you can’t even technically say it today as they find themselves tied for the IL Wildcard with Philly. The Colonials and Freedom will still matchup 6 times this season including 3 this week at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Colonial</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State>, however, first has to deal with the Tobs of Carolina.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Carolina</st1:place></st1:City> can not be happy with the way their season has gone, but the Colonials can not and will not overlook them. The Tobs hold a 6-3 advantage on the season heading into their final head-to-head series, something that will weigh heavily on the minds of the Virginia Coaching Staff. Thankfully, the Colonials do at least miss Ezequiel Parongao who always seems to save his best stuff for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Virginia</st1:State></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The Freedom come in to finish the week and the spotlight will be burning bright as they will be likely battling for the Wildcard lead. Southpaws should be on display with the Pitching Probables showing Philly bringing in three straight lefties in their 1-2-3 of Aurillo, Irvin and Nathan, while Virginia counter with the 5-1-2 of McQueen (L), ‘Ironfist’ (R) and ‘The Skull’ (L). Despite being on the losing end of a 4-2 season series, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:place></st1:City> has done a really nice job this season containing former Freedom Superstar Mel Woodbury. ‘Doorbell’ has just one XBH in their 6 head-to-head games and only 3 RBI. His numbers have not even matched those of Orinsuke Takahashi, the young corner OF/1B who was part of the trade that sent him to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State>. Sadly, Joe Arrendondo will miss yet another opportunity to face his old team in this series. Is anyone else smelling a 1-game playoff between these two teams with Arrendondo taking the ball for the Freedom?

[Lintyfresh85]

Solid week. 4-2.

Joe Toapanta throwing the no-no was a real treat to watch. I was trying my best not to think about it as I watched it unfold. Come 8th inning though, I started counting down the outs.

I didn't realize his walk in the 7th inning broke up the perfect game... I had figured he'd walked somebody earlier in the game.

Bats for the most part worked well... would have been nice if Sylvestrie came to play though.

Another odd thing I saw this week was the number of runners I had thrown out on the basepaths. Maybe the IL has weaker OF'er arms, but I've never seen so many guys thrown out in one week trying to take an extra base.