With All Star Game approaching, my Thunderchickens are missing the ball

Ninety-six games into the season, it’s almost All Star break in the Illowa APBA League and well, it ain’t 2019 anymore for the Twin City Thunderchickens. I played the last summer series in person against Marcus Bunch and his Moline Upperdeckers. I was able to physically transfer the 2019 Manager of the Year plaque to my fellow award winner. Marcus proved to me why he also won the award.

He didn’t just beat me in the nine-game series. He destroyed me.

By my count, my Thunderchickens struck out 118 times in the nine games. That comes to a 13.1 Ks per 9 innings. But when your opponent has a rotation like Verlander (AKZ), Bieber (BXZ), Kershaw (BXZ). Strasburg (BXYZ) and Scherzer (BKZ), that kind of thing is going to happen.

How bad was it?

Kyle Schwarber struck out in every game he started. Javy Baez struck out in all nine games. So did Manny Machado. The kicker was rookie Cavan Biggio. In the seven games he started, Beeg struck out at least three times in every game.

His stats for the series…

1 for 28, 1 HR, 2 rbi, 2 BB, 22 K

We did win one game. Rookie Dakota Hudson pitched a one-hitter for a complete game shutout for his ninth win of the year.

The most frustrating game was Kyle Freeland’s start. Freeland is a DY and I also want to get the most out my D pitching. Freeland didn’t disappoint as he advanced to an A after giving up a first-inning run. However, four glove miscues led to an unearned run and the offense couldn’t get going. Twin City lost 2-1.

IAL All-Star Game is coming up!

The ballot for the All-Star Game is out and managers of the IAL vote for starting position players. The division managers do get to choose the pitchers and bench players.

While I don’t think any of players will be starting, I’m nominating two Thunderchickens this year for consideration as subs.

Dakota Hudson

9-6, 3.91 ERA, 103 K

Leads team in wins and strikeouts

Manny Machado

.254, 26 HR, 76 rbi, 62 runs

Leads team in HR, rbis, runs

Commish, my ballot is submitted. I got a chuckle out of Cavan Biggio (.147/.313/.265, 6 HR, 18 rbis) being on the ballot.

Unfortunately, Marcus is the Country Gents Division manager. I don’t think I impressed him with many of my players.

The IAL All-Star Game is scheduled for September 19th, 2020 and will most likely manifest itself as a hybrid event with some attending in person and some playing online. Marcus Bunch will represent the Country Gents as manager and Rob Moore will skipper the City Boys.