Chilliwack Water

SL 2000

***Prologue***

The Chilliwack Water took their name from the Widespread Panic song Chilly Water, whose chorus including the refrain "Chilly Wet Water", so the town of Chilliwack in British Columbia (east of Vancouver) became our SL 2000 residence. It opens with lyrics that seem to describe the SL off season...

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

***Personnel***

I drew the number one pick, and took no-brainer Pedro Martinez (21HXYZ). When it came back to me at the end of the second round, I snagged Larry Walker (14.9 RC/G in 127 games) and Derek Jeter (10.6 RC/G in 158 games as a SS-9).

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 RBI
Ray 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 IP
With 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 IP
Pedro 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.

***Season***

Placed in a division with Steve and Graham, I thought for certain I'd win the crown. Graham's squad didn't look too good after the draft, and Steve's seemed oddly underpowered. I jumped out to a lead early, and sailed smoothly, peaking near the 100 game mark with a lead near double digits. The turning point in the season was the night that Bob's Cuba Road Rage schooled the Water, taking 8 of 10 games. From that point on, it was a battle to the death in the Stanish. It came down to the final 6 game series vs. Steve's Ypsilanti Yips. The Water held a one game lead, and needed to simply split the series to win the division. The Yips took game one, handing Zimmerman the loss and moving into a first place tie with the Water, I believe the first time that had happened since about the 20 game mark. The Water took games 2 and 3, and were a game away from clinching the division. The Yips took game 4 in 13 innings, and still had to win the final two vs. Pedro and Alex to take the division. Game 5 went 11 innings, and the Water scratched a run to win the game and the division. The Yips won the finale to finish 1 game back.

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.

***Capsule***

Another great Summer League season, with my squad fortunate to finish on top. The season seemed to go more smoothly since we extended the length of it, thus reducing the time commitment per month. The Summer League has become a 365-day obsession for me anyways, so it fits my schedule perfectly. I look forward to continued success for the league, and really have no doubts about its future. The other day, I read a post from a 58 year old on the apba mailing list, and I thought to myself "I'll have played over 35 Summer League seasons by the time I'm that age." I truly look forward to it.