SIM COMPLETE - 1989 - Regular Season 23

[Pat]

Looks like I own two BLB teams. One in Wilmington and one in Washington.

Still, we're not a better team than the Bats. It'll be a fight for us to get into the playoffs, and a huge accomplishment if we do.

Wildcats have had my number this year. Funny that the two times this season where my export doesn't go through, I'm playing a series against your team.

I haven't had a winning sim in about a month. I don't see us turning it around. Congrats on the Wild Card.

[Jim]

I think it's safe to say we're out of it...

- For the first time in a long time, dropped out of being in the top spot in the division or WC
- 3rd losing sim in a row
- We're 18-26 in August & September
- Injuries: Brode (out for season), Sanchez (out for 3 weeks), ARod (out for 3 weeks)

Losing your #1 & #2 starters is never a good thing. We've been absolutely killed with injuries this year. Guzman was out for a month, Yi had a major injury and is out for the season. Roger Morgan was out for a while.

I had a feeling we wouldn't go far in the playoffs but we could really use a piece of that playoff revenue!

[BradZ]

I think it's safe to say we're out of it...

- For the first time in a long time, dropped out of being in the top spot in the division or WC
- 3rd losing sim in a row
- We're 18-26 in August & September
- Injuries: Brode (out for season), Sanchez (out for 3 weeks), ARod (out for 3 weeks)

Losing your #1 & #2 starters is never a good thing. We've been absolutely killed with injuries this year. Guzman was out for a month, Yi had a major injury and is out for the season. Roger Morgan was out for a while.

I had a feeling we wouldn't go far in the playoffs but we could really use a piece of that playoff revenue!

Yep, you guys are certainly sprinting toward the finish line like a herd of turtles . . . on crutches.

Second major arm issue for Brode. The first didn't seem to alter him, but shoulder injuries are always a concern.

[Lintyfresh85]

3-4 week. Still in first by 4 games... but I don't like how the team is playing at all.

[BradZ]

3-4 week. Still in first by 4 games... but I don't like how the team is playing at all.

You didn't like the Philly bottom of the league offense going:
Gm1: 17 runs on 22 hits
Gm2: 12 runs on 14 hits


You'll still win the division, but I at least hope we are close enough to make that end of season 4 game head-to-head series matter. The problem is the instant we have a sim where we lose any ground, we're done. If we can keep pecking away at the lead that least week will at least be interesting.

[Pat]

I think we are going to see a Philly-California one-game playoff.

[Lintyfresh85]

I might have to call up Orlin Ariago again.

After all, his career highlight is hitting the walk off two run homer in the 13th inning in the one game playoff that made Z quit the league.

[Ryan]

Our first losing sim of the year. And it was ugly.

Your first? Shit, glad I could help out!

[Lintyfresh85]

I might get flack for this... but if the season ended right now... Joe Aurillo would be my DL MVP.

Not just the Pale Ale.... but the overall MVP of the league.

What a turn around he's led in Syracuse.

[Pat]

13-6?

62.5% quality start?

If there is an MVP on Syracuse, it's Héctor 'Rock and Roll' Carbajal. And if there is a SP winning MVP in the DL, his name is Gil O'Moore.

[BradZ]

I might get flack for this... but if the season ended right now... Joe Aurillo would be my DL MVP.

Not just the Pale Ale.... but the overall MVP of the league.

What a turn around he's led in Syracuse.

His peripherals actually suggest he’s pitching about the same, if not slightly worse than last year.

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<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th></th><th>K/BB</th><th>BB/9</th><th>K/9</th><th>ERC</th><th>RS/G</th><th>BABIP</th></tr> <tr><td>1988</td><td>2.73</td><td>2.86</td><td>7.82</td><td>2.57</td><td>3.15</td><td>.305</td></tr> <tr><td>1989</td><td>2.23</td><td>2.94</td><td>6.56</td><td>2.61</td><td>3.91</td><td>.275</td></tr></table>

I’m not saying he’s not having a good year, he certainly is, but the trend still continues away from being the dominant pitcher that he once was.

[Lintyfresh85]

It has nothing to do with the wins and losses. It's just the attitude shift he brought there.

They have a stopper now... and the rest of the team has seemed to follow his lead.

[BradZ]

Philly Freedom (77-66; 4.0 GB)

2-0 @ California Gm1: 17-5; Gm2: 12-4
0-2 @ Batavia Gm 1: 4-5; Gm2: 5-6
2-1 @ Morgantown Gm1: 6-2; Gm2: 5-6; Gm3: 8-0

All-in-all a decent week. It had the potential to be a great week. We got off to a hot start by just waylaying the division leading Kodiaks in the quick two game set. 29 runs scored in the series and we touched up Wilkerson in game 2 in ways that are unspeakable. It’s the second game in a row against him where we have plated 5 ER, although the previous effort took 7 innings where this week he was gone before he could finish 3. These are the types of things you have to get excited about when you know the inevitable is coming, falling short of winning the division.

The Good

- Our offense came out to play this week

- We picked up 1 game in the standings. The first week from here on out that we lose any ground in the standings we’ll officially be done. CAL’s Magic # sits at 16 with 19 games to go.

- Too many offensive stars to mention them all, but Angelo Opio produced his best week since coming over: .500 | .556 | 1.000 | 1.556; 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 R, 5 RBI

- 4 different batters knocked in 8 RBI this week: Geoff Scott, Jim Newlin, Rule V-er Raul Velez and our new secret weapon Cesar Campoveroe. Campo is out of the dog house and looks like he’s ready to produce . . . at least until he tears his scrotum or somesuch and has to go on the DL for the rest of his days in Philly.

- Ben Irvin bounced back from his abortion of an effort last week to pick up 2 victories this week, posting an ERA of 1.15 over 15.2 IP.

The Bad

-We missed a real opportunity to move up by dropping two at Batavia. Those guys always heat up towards the end of the season and we struggle with them at times.

-I have a few pitchers who appear to be on the verge of hitting the wall, if they have not already done so. I won’t name names, but their roles are being reduced.

What’s Next

-The Stout Two-Step. 3 vs. VIR and 3 @ WIL. The last time we were tasked with these matchups in the same week = 6-0. This week? 0-6 and have a good night everybody.

[Pat]

What’s Next

-The Stout Two-Step. 3 vs. VIR and 3 @ WIL. The last time we were tasked with these matchups in the same week = 6-0. This week? 0-6 and have a good night everybody.

I am desperately needing a repeat performance. Thanks!!!

[Jake]

It has nothing to do with the wins and losses. It's just the attitude shift he brought there.

They have a stopper now... and the rest of the team has seemed to follow his lead.

I agree with others who say that statistically he hasn't been as valuable as it might look at first glance... but I see where Linty is coming from. In real life, a guy who had an off year with a particularly bad second half then got traded to a perennial 3rd/4th place finisher who had never made the playoffs, put up the 4th best ERA in the league of any qualifying starter, and had them with the second best record in their league... there'd be tons of MVP talk. Maybe not Cy Young, but MVP, yes.

If there is an MVP on Syracuse, it's Hctor 'Rock and Roll' Carbajal.

Fairly obvious from a league standpoint, and I'd be surprised if he doesn't win the Slugger, but from a team standpoint... who is the Slammer MVP?

Is is Carbajal? Leads the entire BLB in OPS, SLG, VORP, HRs, XBH, Total Bases... 4th in AVG, 2nd in RC/27, 2nd in RBIs... he's been beastly.

Is it sophomore Clint Underwood? Who, if not for 5 week injury (which slowed down some momentum he had going), would be right there with Carbajal? .353 AVG, .556 SLG, 53.3 VORP... he's been huge.

What about the forgotten man, Greg Josey? Last week, guy hit .474 with 5 HRs, a 1.421 SLG% and a 2.036 OPS in 19 ABs. On the season Josey is hitting .335 with a .958 OPS in only 100 games and 358 ABs. Easily the best season of his career. Never saw it coming, although I was hoping he would rebound a little bit with a change of scenery.

You could definately make the case it's Aurillo. Our only long term starter with an ERA below 4. Went head to head with a lot of aces and came out with Ws. As Linty mentioned.. a true stopper. Is he really a #1 anymore? Probably not. But he's our #1. A true love story, Syracuse and Joe Aurillo.