SIM COMPLETE - 1989 - Regular Season 5

[BradZ]

-He loves pitching here.

-I can't believe you didn't mention the fact that this is the first time the Washington-Philly series didn't end 2-1 for the Bats.

Not true. You swept the last regular season series last year, breaking the string of 2-1 WAS series wins. Plus, I was going to mention the series win in my recap, but now you've already done it so why bother. Thanks.

[Pat]

Not true. You swept the last regular season series last year, breaking the string of 2-1 WAS series wins. Plus, I was going to mention the series win in my recap, but now you've already done it so why bother. Thanks.

Good. I saved you some time. None of us read yours anyways.

[Clay]

Virginia Colonials (17-15)
1-2 v Los Alamos
2-1 @ Windy City

THE GOOD

-- Ring My Bell - Mel Woodbury is a professional hitter and it's great to get him back into the lineup. His first week back from injury delivered a .409/.519/.682/1.200 effort including a HR and 6 RBI. He also showed no ill effects of the foot injury swiping 3 bases on the week. Though he was perfect in opportunities, Woodbury's transition to RF may still take some adjusting, but his presense was necessary. Windy City did shut him down pretty well, but he seems to have his form right out of the gate.

-- Viva la Italia - Though his English still isn't perfect, Florian Tosselli is letting his bat do the talking. Another great sim for the young Italian slugger (.471/.571/.588/1.160) making the logjam in the Colonial outfield interesting. Jerry Tracy was sent down to AAA Detroit and Artie Rhodes was relegated to a reserve role for now.

THE BAD

-- Kickin' It Around - The error bug has bitten the Colonials again this sim. Things had improved over the last few, but 9 more errors this week leave the Colonials giving away far too many free swings.

-- Can't Spell Bullpen without BP - The 'Pen continues to get shelled. Virginia now has the distinct honor of having the #1 Starter ERA and the #12 Bullpen ERA.

THE FARM

-- Though not officially part of the Colonial Farm system yet, 4 different Colonial draftees enjoyed some success in early NCAA Playoff Action:

1.2 Pat Robbins (Cal State - Fullerton) - Outdueled in Round 1 by future teammate Agustin Figueroa in the Titans loss to Clemson. Robbins did K 7 Tigers in the effort.

3.14 Del McMillan (Texas) - Went 2 for 4 with a HR in the Longhorns 1st Round win over Oklahoma State.

4.14 Agustn Figueroa (Clemson) - Figueroa showed up Robbins in the Tigers 4-2 win by working 5.1 innings of two hit ball, K'ing 12 and issuing only one free pass.

8.14 Willie Schooley (Texas) - The 'other' Texas 3B that the Colonials took in the draft got the start at DH and took home Player of the Game honors with a 2-3 performance that included a three-run HR and a walk.
McMillan and Shooley's Texas team will move on to face Figueroa's Cleamson squad in Round 2, however, it is unlikely they will face eachother again until batting practice later this season in Blacksburg.

ON-DECK

A day off before returning home to greet Baltimore and explain the ground rules for playing in an Adult-sized ballpark before heading to Carolina to kick off yet another long roadtrip.

[Carlos]

Good. I saved you some time. None of us read yours anyways.

That's sad. I read everyone's. It's how I've learned the league better. I remember sometime early 2009 I asked who a specific pitcher was and someone responded: "Only one of the best pitchers in the league."

I knew then that I needed to start reading more.

[Clay]

Wow... Carlton hasn't issued a walk all season.

Oh wait... oops... I sure hope I didn't just jinx that by mentioning it. My bad.

[Pat]

That's sad. I read everyone's. It's how I've learned the league better. I remember sometime early 2009 I asked who a specific pitcher was and someone responded: "Only one of the best pitchers in the league."

I knew then that I needed to start reading more.

It was a joke. I think Brad is one of the better writers we have here.

Wow... Carlton hasn't issued a walk all season.

Oh wait... oops... I sure hope I didn't just jinx that by mentioning it. My bad.

You had better hope you jinxed him. Still undefeated as a starter, by the way, regular season.

[BradleyB]

Plus we're always good for a big injury that will derail our championship hopes.

kind of a strong word considering how many championships you've won, isn't it?

[Carlos]

It was a joke. I think Brad is one of the better writers we have here.

I know. I think I sounded too serious. Well, I was serious about getting to know the league and how I came about it, but I knew you were joking about not reading Brad's material.

[Jake]

I put the entire Stout division on ignore anyways.

[BradZ]

It was a joke. I think Brad is one of the better writers we have here.



You had better hope you jinxed him. Still undefeated as a starter, by the way, regular season.

That is still amazing to me. Undefeated as a starter after becoming a full time starter at the age of 32. 25-0. Undefeated streak is at 35. The next longest in league history is 18 by one Joe Arredondo. Although, Carlton's teammate Pateshall is quickly approaching that second place mark with an active streak at 16.

[Lintyfresh85]

California Kodiaks (15-17)
1-2 @ Wilmington
2-1 v Washington

THE GOOD

-- Who is that guy? - When you think of the top hitters in the IL, who do you think of? Robert Abbott? Mel Woodbury? What about Galterio Tibaldi? So far in 1989, Tibaldi has gotten off to a scorching start. For the season he's hitting .372/.449/.500/.949. Currently at 10.6 VORP, he's on pace to smash his career high of 23.7 set back in 1982 with Syracuse. He's been amazing so far after two years as a seldom used bench player in 1987 and then as a platoon hitter with recently released Francois Dupuis in 1988. I'm not counting on him to continue his red hot start... but he's a nice story so far.

-- The bats are on FIRE - Week after week I expect for my bats to cool off... yet they continue to shine. What's been the biggest surprise is the amount of walks we have taken. With 141 walks on the year, the Kodiaks are 10 walks ahead of the nearest team in the IL. Add that into the team's overall average of .281, which is good for second in the IL and you have a potent offensive machine that survives on small ball and the occasional home run.

-- When in Roman - Last but not least, I had to throw a shout out to former closer Roman Magueu. After a disastrous start to the season, Magueue threw three shut out innings this past week in the mop up role. While he still walked three hitters, he gave up zero hits and gave me a little hope that there still might be something in the tank for the former two time all-star.

THE BAD

-- It's a HOMER Simpson, cause the pitcher said D'OH! - Kodiaks starting pitching gave up six home runs this past sim. Robby Sears, Joe Toapanta and Chip Snow all found it curtious to help out the opposing team by serving up two meat balls a piece.

-- Sears needs a government bailout - Robby Sears, what hath befell you? After predicting big things for my new #3 starter this year, Sears has been a complete failure. After six starts the 26 year old is 0-4 with a 8.49 ERA and a WHIP of 1.85. UGLY. Not sure what's wrong with him... I'll just have to ride it out until he can finally turn the corner.

THE FARM

-- Aoki is OK - Calling all teams in need of a left handed bat, 1B Yaichiro Aoki continues to rake as he moves up the Kodiak system. In the past three years he's put up the following stat lines:

1987 (A) - .304/.370/.400/.770 VORP of 41
1988 (AA) - .344/.424/.482/.907 VORP of 54.3
1989 (AAA) - .348/.413/.574/.987 VORP of 16.5 in 33 games so far.

Aoki is only 25 years old and reminds a ton of former Kodiak farm hand, and current Indianapolis Clowns OF'er Ivan Garcia. Both were left handed 1B coming out of the draft and both have done nothing but hit their way through the system. Garcia is currently hitting .353/.453/.491/.944 in the BLB for anyone that's wondering.

-- The Human Target - Michael McCaw must of pissed someone off because the poor guy has been getting hit by pitch after pitch after pitch this year. Only 33 games into the year, and McCaw has already been hit by a Lautering Union league high 10 pitches! Not sure how many more will find their target this year... but one thing's for sure; McCaw is a wanted man.

-- AAAA all-stars - Seems my AAA bullpen has decided to transform into world beaters. Sporting a league leading 1.54 ERA, the fire squad has been nothing short of amazing to start the year.

ON-DECK

Three at Davenport and Three back at home versus Windy City. Hopefully my pitching can start to turn around... but I'm not expecting miracles.

[Carlos]

That is still amazing to me. Undefeated as a starter after becoming a full time starter at the age of 32. 25-0. Undefeated streak is at 35. The next longest in league history is 18 by one Joe Arredondo. Although, Carlton's teammate Pateshall is quickly approaching that second place mark with an active streak at 16.

Where ya finding this bit of information there, chap?

[BradZ]

Where ya finding this bit of information there, chap?

Well, I made it up. I find it's easiest to do no research and just present information in a confident manner. Usually people don't ask questions, they just accept it as fact.

[BradZ]

Or, you could go in game to the Stats section (Under BLB - Statistics) and find a link that is called "Streaks" which contains such information.

[Clay]

Well, I made it up. I find it's easiest to do no research and just present information in a confident manner. Usually people don't ask questions, they just accept it as fact.

My marriage is founded on that exact same premise.