In the easy chair with my boots on
Melted whiskey in my hand
I couldn't have been asleep for more than three hours
Time to go to work again
My lineup:
1. Hendu DH .287 .394 .435 113 R in 121 G 2. Alfonzo 2B9 .271 .339 .493 55 2B, 30 HR, 115 R, 104 RBI 3. Jeter SS9 .294 .379 .454 110 R, 112 RBI 4. Walker RF3-36 .297 .394 .576 94 R, 92 RBI in 119 G 5. Sweeney C6+0 .279 .336 .459 53 2B, 85 RBI, 44 E 6. Delgado 1B3 .221 .334 .471 40 2B, 30 HR, 93 RBI 7. Stairs LF2-34 .180 .288 .397 18 HR, 355 AB 8. Caminiti 3B3 .182 .278 .275 9 GIDP 9. Finley CF3-33 .226 .282 .470 32 HR, 85 R, 91 RBIRay Lankford (OF2-33) (.240 .355 .445) got lots of PT in the DH/LF spot. Harold Baines (OF1-25) was drafted for the DH role, but after 30 games of Rickey (OF2-26) in left I decided to drop Baines and pickup Lankford. Rickey could then DH his 26 arm and Stairs and Lankford could split time in left. Delgado was originally in the 5 hole, but all he does is walk, get HBP, or dong, so I moved up singles/doubles hitter Sweeney and his high average. 3B3 Cal Ripken (.340 .363 .588, 65 RBI, 51EBH, 11 GIDP) gave me 86 games of excellence at the plate, while DH/1B2 Erubial Durazo (.291 .390 .538, 14 HR, 44 RBI in 199 AB) gave me 52 games of star power.
The scrubs of the bench included Alberto Castillo C8+3 (.217 .278 .265 in 91 PA), FA pickup 3B4 Aaron Boone (.136 .180 .159), 3B3/CF2-30/2B7/SS6 Tony Phillips (.200 .289 .338), and bench star SS7/2B6/OF2-33 C32 Tony Womack (.294 .357 .510 in 58 PA, 84 steals in 96 attempts, 49 R).
The offense finished 24 runs behind Austin for the league lead and SL record for team runs. While we didn't have the best avg, obp, or slg, we were near the top in each, and numerous other offensive categories.
The defense was decent, but got a bad rap from having major liabilities behind the plate (Sweeney and his 44 errors) and at third (Ripken 15 E, Caminiti 9 E). The rest of the D included Jeter SS9, Alfonzo 2B9, and Finley CF3-33 up the middle, and Walker RF3-36. We had a decent number of double plays despite having by far the fewest walks allowed, opponents' batting average and lowest BR/9.
My rotation was:
Pedro 21HXYZ 26-7 2.52 326 K, 31 CG in 33 GS Fernandez 10GZ 7-7 4.57 183 IP Reynolds 8YZ 11-11 4.81 181.2 IP Astacio 8LXZ 3-11 6.36 131.2 IP Rueter L 6Z 8-8 6.23 146 IPWith a bullpen of:
Hoffman 19GXZ 9-8 3.21 11 Saves, 101 IP Zimmerman 18XZ 9-7 3.56 2 Saves, 126.1 IP Shaw 15Z 8-6 3.74 5 Saves, 98.2 IP Koch 14G 4-1 4.50 2 Saves, 80 IP Sullivan 14+3 3-6 6.09 1 Save, 115.1 IPPedro was obviously the workhorse, with a strong pen to make up for a weak other 4 starters. We ended up second in ERA (4.41 to Ypsilanti's 4.37) and second in runs allowed. Shane had a great first half and slid in the second, Alex gave me innings, Astacio was a nightmare, while Rueter did what we asked of him. I could have handled my pen better, but they had a fine year, other than the Sullivan train wreck.
My team was very similar to the Dreamers were last year, with one stud pitcher, a deep pen, and a high-powered offense. Its actually a fun combination.
The division title meant a first round matchup against Keith's Corisca squad with 82 wins, avoiding the President's Cup winner Chris's 96-win Austin T-Birds.
Game One saw Fernandez going the distance in a 7-2 Water victory. Pedro was going in Game Two, and a 2-0 lead looked very possible. Smoltz outpitched Pedro to take a 5-4 victory and tie the series. Game Three saw the Devils win the battle of relievers 5-3, and things started looking bad for the Water. The Water took Games 4 and 5 to take a 3-2 lead into game Six, with Pedro starting. The Devils won this time in 11 innings, winning 4-3 off Hoffman in the 11th. Game Seven had the Water shorthanded with Sweeney hurt, but we scored early and often for a 12-4 series victory.
We went to the finals, facing Austin, looking for revenge for last year's 4-0 pasting at the hands of Chris' Red Rangers. Austin went up 2-0, including beating Pedro in Game Two, and it did seem like deja vu all over again. Shane Reynolds pitched a masterpiece in Game Three, winning 8-0. The pen hadn't really been used at this point, which allowed me to use them early and often, winning Game Four 7-5 in 11 on Ripken's walkoff dong. We then managed to win Game Five in Austin 3-1 in 10, on Delgado's 2 run shot in the top of the 11th. We headed back to Chilliwack for Game Six, with Pedro on the hill. 0-3 to this point in Pedro starts, I thought we had to win. We spotted Pedro a 7-4 lead after 6, and he couldn't hold it, losing 8-7. Game Seven, Austin, Shane vs. Colon. The Water battered Colon early while the decimated T-Birds relief staff could only watch, and it was 7-2 by the time Colon left in the 5th. The pen brought it home, winning 10-5, and capturing the franchise our 5th Spit Cup, and 3rd in 4 years. Somehow we won despite going 0-4 in Pedro starts.
On the whole, I managed like crap, Walker and Delgado both missing too many games due to HBP, and the bullpen could've done better. But I guess everything worked out, in the end.