31
January

Last Series of the Year CC/NH – Part III

peavyAfter an off day yesterday, it was time to resume our last series of the year on the last day of January.  Time for a couple quickies before Mgr. Lucas needed to go to church.  Jake Peavy bested his old team in the opener of the final three games.  Jake went the distance, allowing only two runs, while the Hitmen scored four off of A.J. Burnett, who also pitched a complete game, his 2nd of the series.  B.J. Upton nailed one out for Chicago.  Jake Peavy singled home two runs after Miguel Cabrera was intentionally passed to fill the bases with two out in the 5th, it tied the game at two.  Carlos Delgago got a two-run double with no outs in the top of the 9th, for the game winner.  4-2 Bad Guys!

The Champs obliged Chuck by rolling over, they got nahting.  The combined shutout was tossed by John Smoltz, Matt Lindstrom, & Joakim Soria.  Greg Maddux could sue for no support, as the greybeard went 8 innings, only giving up three runs, Brian McCann lined a two-run gags drunk single with two outs in the 4th & Cabrera ripped a two-out RBI double to pad the lead.  3-0 Bad Guys!

Chuck must’ve prayed for Tedd to start rolling, cuz the numbers changed upon his return.  Mark Buehrle faced off against a limited Cole Hamels in the season finale with the nine game set tied at four, as the Hitmen reeled off a four game winning streak.  Jeff Weaver relieved Hamels after Cole had tossed 2′ scoreless innings.  Chicago took advantage of the sidearming righthander, scoring three in the 3rd (2-run bomb by Nick Swisher & a solo clout by Victor Martinez), two more in the 4th (RBI double by Buehrle & an RBI by Upton on a base knock & 2 SBs), and two more in the 6th off Weaver as he left the game with two runners on & two outs.  Lindstrom walked Upton to load the bases, then Buckeye Nick lined a three run, two out single.  JRoll ripped one over the wall in the 7th off Jon Rauch, for the Champs 9th run of the ballgame.  RBIs for the Northside were a 1st inning RBI single by Ryan Doumit, Jose Valentin doubled home a run in the 4th, and then Weaver helped himself plating Jose with a single.  9-3 Good Guys!

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31
January

APBA Hot Stove: Is it me or is it getting hotter in here?

Our season has pretty much ended in the Illowa APBA League.  We still have a few have a few minor and not so minor details to take care of.  The last electronic newsletter hasn’t come out, we’ll need to vote on our All-League team and most importantly, the playoffs and the World Series will need to be played.  That usually waits till the weekend of the draft. 

That all said, it’s hot stove league for us.  Trade talk is at a high right now.  And with me with the second pick I have a lot of suitors, I tell ya. 

An informal poll here, how many of you in leagues can trade in season?  We toyed with the idea a couple years ago.  A manager even proposed it in our yearly league meeting but quickly rescinded it. 

The feeling among some of us is that it would be too difficult to keep track stats both short term over the year (especially considering our limits rule) as well as long term. 

See, while we do use a fantastic master Excel spreadsheet for our league stats, doing multiple teams for one player might be beyond its scope. 

And for those who do trade within a season, how do you accomplish this with a minimum of confusion? 

 

PS no trades yet for me.. but don’t hold your breath.  I got hot stove fever!

2 comments

31
January

League Profile: Matt Kading Memorial APBA League

Craig Ball writes to plug his league, the Matt Kading Memorial APBA League. 

His update has a bit of bittersweet touch.  The league’s name is derived from a manager who was killed serving his country in Iraq.  Every league has its issues but something like this puts everything into perspective.   

 

League Name

Matt Kading Memorial APBA League
Contact Person Craig Ball
League Website http://www.obaks.com/kading/
Sport Baseball
# of teams 16
Year of inception 2000
Basic/Master/Computer/
Combination		 Computer
Out of the box or with
modifications?		 with modifications
Geographic location USA

 

Craig says:

 

“The Matt Kading Memorial APBA League began as the Roberto Clemente league in 2000. We are an NL-only league. It was renamed after league member Matt Kading after he was killed in Iraq, serving our country. We’ve had several managers throuhout the years, but commissioner Kirt Bennett and a hard-core group of GMs keep this league a lot of fun. We use the DOS version of Baseball for Windows. Check out our league website, you can see all the past league champions, records, etc. Thanks!”

 

thanks Craig!

 

If you want to brag about your league, we’re listening!  Tell us all about the league you are in and we’ll post a profile about it.  In the meantime, read about other leagues who have written in.

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30
January

Last Series of the Year CC/NH – Part II

chase-utleyNorthside Hitmen bats remained relatively silent as the two teams entered into their 2nd third of this nine game series.  There was a 4th inning four run outburst against Greg Maddux, which tied the game at four, the Hitmen runs came courtesy of two two-run blasts one by Hunter “Under Pants” Pence & the other monster shot was Manny being Manny.  The Chicago Champions had jumped off to a four to zip lead via two solo shots by ARod, an RBI double by Justin Morneau, who remained red-hot, and Maddux helped himself with a sac-fly.  Chicago played small-ball in the 6th, CLee got a leadoff double, went to third on a grounder by Morneau, doing his job, Vernon Wells was sent in to run for Lee, and scored on a ground out by Grady Sizemore.  B.J. Upton led off with a double in the 7th & scored moments later on an RBI single off the bat of Nick Swisher.  Cole Hamels was again trailing, this time by a pair.  Dr. Morneau made a house call in the 8th off reliever Matt Lindstrom, with an 8th inning drive.  Maddux got the win, Matt Capps worked a scoreless 9th for the save.  7-4 Good Guys!

Series moves across town to Crackerjack Park, Home of the Chicago Champions.  The wind was blowing out as 5th starter Matt Cain took the bump versus Micah Owings.  The Hitmen scored six runs of Cain before he was pulled in the 5th inning, highlights a 2-run Carlos Delgado bomb and a big fly by Owings.  It became 8-5 when Edgar Renteria took Brett Myers deep for a 2-run homer in the 6th.  Miguel Cabrera doubled home Brian McCann with another in the 7th to make it 9-5.  Justin “Paul Bunyan” Morneau hit a solo shot, his 2nd homer of the game (in the 6th he hit a 2-runner), leading off the 8th, after G-Size K’d, Toni Abreu pinch-hit a double, was pinch run for by Josh Barfield, Joakim Soria was brought in to close it out, but the Champs wouldn’t quit, as Upton doubled home Barfield, and then Nick “Buckeye” Swisher went yard to knot the ballgame at niners.  CLuke was visibly upset in the dugout, throwing his chew, saying, “That’s it!”  After a moment to regroup Rodriguez walked, Vernon Wells singled, both runners moved up on a JRoll groundout, Miguel “Bombon” Olivo was intentionally passed to bring up the hottest hitter in the Champ lineup.  You’re playing with fire, Scarecrow, but Soria induced the Doctor to bounce out, and the top of the 8th was finally history.  With one out and one on in the bottom of the 8th Chase Utley smacked a screaming meanie just inside the rightfield foulpole off reliever Chad Cordero, making it 11-9.  But Chicago wasn’t done, Josh Barfield lined a one out 9th inning double, moved to third on an Upton grounder, Swish walked, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, bringing up V-Dub, when Wells bounced to short the ballgame was over.  11-9 Bad Guys!

The wind continued to blow out as Brad Penny was matched up against Josh Beckett.  B.J. Upton hit the first pitch he saw out to knot the game at one, after one, Utley clobbered a solo blast in the top of the frame.  JRoll gave Beckett a two run lead when the little man launched one with a runner on in the 4th.  But then Josh spit out his lead in the 7th, when he was knocked around for two 2-runners, one by CD & the other by Under Pants, Hitmen up by one.  The game was tied when CLee hit one right between the wickets, as Penny couldn’t get the glove down quick enough, plating ARod from 3rd base.  Remarkably both pitchers were still around, Beckett lasting 9 innings, Penny going 10.  In the 11th Cordero was in there to face pinch-hitter Kenny Lofton, who got a leadoff hustle double, he’s still got wheels, Jose “AK-47″ Valerde relieved Chad Patrick, Edgar “Time to Pay the Rent” Renteria grounded him to 3rd, Under Pants hit a sac-fly, Pence reached base when Sizemore dropped the ball, trying to get an angle for his throw home, and then, that man again, Chase Utley sent one into the night, putting the game on ice.  8-5 Bad Guys!

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28
January

Last Series of the Year CC/NH – Part I

beckettCLuke & I were scheduled to play the first half of our last series Wednesday night, I know the results are to be to the president by today, but that’s not going to happen.  I was surprised to receive a call from CLuke on my cell, even more surprising, the call was from his home phone.  Seems as though he was too sick to work, but okay enough to play some APBA, hmmm.

I called him back from my laptop, using SKYPE, from my Ramada Inn New Port Richey winter home, I’ll be here until mid-February, home for a couple of weeks, back down for Grapefruit League play, home for Playoff, World Series, & Draft Weekend, off to watch some Cactus League play, and then it should be warm enough for me to return north.

Game I: Josh Beckett was on his game against Jake Peavy & the Northside Hitmen.  Peavy left after five, trailing 3-0, Jorge Julio provided no relief, walking in three unearned runs in the 8th.  Beckett threw seven donuts, Boof Bonser added two more.  Miguel Olivo, came into the game after Victor Martinez was injured sliding, batting cleanup, he hit two two-run bombs.  11-0 Good Guys!

Game II: Mark Buehrle was on a short leash as he was pitted against John Smoltz.  Smoltz letup big flies to Grady Sizemore, Carlos Lee, Justin Morneau, & Alex Rodriguez, and John was behind 6-2 going into the bottom of seven.  Buehrle left after five, with the lead, despite a two run missile off the bat of Manny Ramirez.  Jose “AK-47″ Valverde closed it down 1-2-3 in the 9th for the save.  7-4 Good Guys!

Game III: The Champions provided A.J. Burnett with a 5-0 lead before Burnett took the hill, two two-run blasts, one  by ARod, the other by Justin Morneau.  Manny being Manny cracked a first inning two-run homer of his own.  Jimmy Rollins got those runs back, knocking one out, with one aboard in the 3rd, against Brad Penny.  A 5th inning two-run home run off the bat of El Caballo made it 9-2.  Three more Champ runs in the 8th off Julio put it away.  A.J. cruised to the victory, shutting down the Hitmen the last eight innings.  12-2 Good Guys!

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27
January

Ending our miserable 2008 season: Part II

Our Illowa APBA League season has finally come to end.  On Sunday, Brando and I finished our nine game series.  My Twin City Thunderchickens had gotten to a good 3-1 start the weekend before against Brando’s Rising Bamm! Beanos.  Appropriately, we played his home games at his house.  For my home games, we played at the local coffee shop on the University of Illinois campus. 

A big issue with both of us was keeping within our player limits.  With all the high tech tools available to us all year, the last series of the year always seems to be reduced to good ol’ pencil and paper.  After each game, crossing out the at-bats left and writing in the new total for each of the “at-risk” players.  Of course, it didn’t help that we went into extra innings in the very last game.  Fortunately, I stayed within my designated limits. 

As I mentioned in the last posting, a big goal was to see Albert Pujols hit his 40th homerun which he’s done for the past six seasons.  Alas, it was not meant to be.  Pujols hit a homerun in his first game of the season then just couldn’t hit.  That homerun was his only rbi of the series in 22 at-bats. 

Dustin McGowan was the real star of our series.  Dusty Mac pitched 2 complete game wins including a one-hit shutout.  He allowed just 2 runs in 18 innings pitched. 

Our pitching staff is saying goodbye to Rich Hill at the end of the year but he left us a farewell gift.  He pitched 8 shutout innings in his last start to get the win in Game 158.  That was enough to push him up to double digits (only John Lackey with 13 has more). 

End result of the series:  Thunderchickens 5 Bamm! Beanos 4  Our season won-loss record:  65-97.  We can be comforted we missed the 100 loss mark. 

As it turned out, the team tied with us for last place was also playing their January series pretty much at the same time.  Text messages and emails were flying back and forth between me, the last place team’s manager, and the manager who traded for his rookie draft pick.  Now HE obviously had a stake in all this too.

As it turns out, I escaped the cellar, giving me the second pick of the draft.  I’ve made no secret of my love of Geovany Soto.  With Jason Varitek and Ramon Hernandez behind the plate, it’s time to establish a franchise player at that position and he’s the guy.  So the IAL hot stove league should be rather interesting. 

Goodbye 2008… it’s time for a new season. 

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24
January

Ending our miserable 2008 season: Part I

Probably most leagues have finished up their 2008 season.  Not the IAL.  We’re in our last month, fighting out the last playoff spots.  Not me though… my Twin City Thunderchickens went into the month of January tied for last place with the Chicago Highlanders with an ugly 60-93 record. 

As I’ve mentioned before, it could have been worse.  We started the season 17-52 then came alive and played eight series over a period of 77 games where we did not lose a series.  We did manage to peek above last place for one month before getting slapped around last month by rivals Molly Putts Marauders six games to three. 

But to the task at hand… we had a series to play.  I don’t know if it’s by accident or by design but the last nine game series we play is usually against our cross-town rivals the Rising Bamm! Beanos.  Manager John Brandeberry lives in rural Champaign.  I live in Urbana.  We’re good buddies but no punches are pulled when we play. 

Seeing as I’m in the sharing the cellar with another team, I don’t have any playoff aspirations but with nine games left in the season, I do have goals. 

  • Going into January, Albert Pujols had 38 homeruns and 109 rbis.  If Albert can come away with two more dingers, that gives him 40/100 for the first seven years of his Illowa APBA League career.  Ok, yeah I’m tooting my player’s horn a bit but that’s pretty dang incredible. 
  • Staying within my player limits as laid down by IAL rules.  That will be tough.  My players are actually doing ok.  Pujols has to rest a game.  A couple others have at-bat issues but for the most part they are ok.  But the PITCHING!!  Otsuka has one inning left.  Ruddy Lugo has one inning left.  Pat Neshek has five.  Fortunately, a couple starters IP/G are pretty close to 9.0.  Lackey is actually over for some strange reason (guess he’ll be completing his games).

Cynics would probably add “what about that first round draft pick?”.  Yeah, yeah, if I lose big, I get my choice of Soto or Longoria.  But once Brando and I started rolling the bones on Sunday, that competitiveness kicks in and all thought of standings and draft order gets thrown out the window and I just want to play good APBA. 

Which I pretty much did for the four games we played.  

 

Some highlights:

I rested Pujols for the first game and inserted Mike Jacobs in his 1B spot.  Whattyaknow, Jacobs came through with 5 hits and 3 rbis including 2 doubles and a homerun in our 10-2 win.  Now I’m one of these APBA guys that thinks players are more than just cardstock with numbers on them; they’re members of my team.  If they’re going to do that well, I’ll reward them with another start (Pujols’ AB/G for the remainder of the season was kinda low anyway).  Well, in Game 2 he went 0-4 with 2 Ks.  We managed to win that one anyway 7-6.  Rolen’s error in the top oof the ninth started a key rally in that one.

In Game 3, Pujols came back and he was ready.  In order, he hit a triple, double, F8, HBP, and yesss! a HR!  #39.  One more to go!

Interestingly, the number three spot in our order was magical for us in the four games we played no matter who we played (Jacobs, Gomes, Pujols x2).  The number 3 spot went 10 for 17 with 9 rbis, five doubles, a triple, three homeruns. 

We won the first three games (McGowan, Lackey and Glavine got the Ws) and I began to kiss my first pick goodbye when the Beanos Jamie Moyer and Brad Lidge combined to shut us out for eight innings.  Ironically, we DID score one run against Jonathon ‘ACXK’ Papelbon.  It wasn’t enough as we lost that one, 2-1. 

So far it’s Thunderchickens 3, Beanos 1

 

Tentatively Brando and I are scheduled to finish the series and the season tomorrow.  Hoping for Boxcars for Albert. 

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24
January

League Profile: Roberto Clemente Memorial Baseball Association

rcmba John Briggs emailed us about his 15 team mail league, the Roberto Clemente Memorial Baseball Association.  The RCMBA has been around a spell, since 1975.  Six of the 15 teams in the league are based in Pennsylvania or Ohio with others in NY, KY, MI, FL, MD and even as far west as Missouri.

Divisions are named after broadcasters (Caray, Allen and Harwell).  That seems to be a common theme but nice touch.

League Name

Roberto Clemente Memorial Association
Contact Person John Briggs
League Website http://www.rcmba.com/
Sport Baseball
# of teams 15
Year of inception 1975
Basic/Master/Computer/
Combination		 Basic Game
Out of the box or with
modifications?		 with modifications
Geographic location mostly east coast

John says:

“After 34 yrs there is a lot to tell and little space. I think the web site will tell all. A rich history that is all on-line. It’s pretty much out of the box with a little modifications. Rosters are 36. Limits on starting pitchers and defensive use. Summer league and a great commissioner.”

I can empathize.  Our league, the IAL, has been around since 1975.  Once you get talking, the stories can’t stop.

The more league web sites I see, the more I’m impressed by the creative and professional looking web content that APBA leagues display.

On a side topic:  leagues, let’s all keep updated constitutions on our web sites.  I don’t know about you but I enjoy reading through them (I found the RCMBA rules on Free Agency and in-season trading unique since we don’t use them in the IAL) and more importantly, it’s a quick way to share ideas.

thanks John!

If you want to brag about your league, we’re listening!  Tell us all about the league you are in and we’ll post a profile about it.  In the meantime, read about other leagues who have written in.

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22
January

Ice shanties or dice for giants?

dicehouses

Just try to tell me that the person who built these ice fishing houses (on Medicine Lake , MN) doesn’t play APBA.  If not, it’s quite a coincidence. 

Then again, if he were an APBA fan, I suppose he would have made them all sixes.

You can read about the whole project at the Dice Houses Blog.  Lots of cool photos on how they’re being built. 

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17
January

1959 Phils Break 13 month Skid (On the Table top)

The date was December 9, 2007- 13 months ago the last time the 1959 Phillies won a ball game in my 1959 replay. The date in the replay was 5/24/59 and after the Braves scored 1 run in the 11 th inning, Wally Post singling home Ed Bouchee to give the Phils a 5-4 extra inning victory.

Former or was it future Celtic Gene Conley (3-0) went all 11 innings for the now memorable and long ago win besting Lew Burdette (5-2). This gave the Phils an 11-26 record in the replay- no great shakes certainly but it was to get even worse.

The Phils were to go 13 months without another triumph. Admittedly I wasn’t rolling as often as other dynamic replayers do but the Phillies did manage to drop 12 straight games before former NY Giant Reuben (D) Gomez stepped up and pitched a 9 inning shutout to beat Jim Brosnan and the St. Louis Cards 6-0. Gomez got his first win on the season to go to 1-5. He came into the game with a nifty 8.00 ERA! This pushed the Phils ledger all the way up to 12-38 or a nifty .240 winning percentage.

Oh by the way the date on the ’59 calendar is 6/7/59. The date in the real world is 1/17/09- thus this victory was 13 plus months in the making.

Certainly some record of dubious distinction.

Let’s see if they can go for the sweep in game 2 of the doubleheader- scheduled to be played sometime soon.

-Cluke

 

Editor’s note:  Cluke sent me his 1959 replay stats through May so I did a quick and dirty job of converting them to html and put them up on our site.  You can see them here. 

Yikes, F Robbie with 21 homeruns!!

-tbz

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