Sunday, June 21, 2015

06 Minnesota wins tight 5 game series with 91 Toronto to advance to AL Championship

GM 1 @ Skydome in TORONTO
Boof Bonser vs Jimmy Key

06 Minnesota wins 8-1
WP: Bonser (4-3)
LP: Key (7-3)

HR: Justin Morneau (14), Mookie Wilson (2)
Game MVP: Bonser (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 8 K)



Minnesota comes out and jumps all over one of the top regular season starters in Key with 3 singles and a Sacrifice Fly to put 2 runs up in the 1st inning.  Minnesota has relied on a lot of singles from their light hitting little guys (Bartlett,Punto,Castillo,Tyner,Stewart) and timely power by Morneau and Mauer to sccount for their offense all season long.  And this game they definitely followed that game plan with 12 hits, 11 singles and a HR by Morneau.  Bartlett (4-5, 2 RBI) was a pest all day long including a big 2 RBI single in the 6th to push the lead to 7-1.  Bonser was brilliant on the day as he was never really in trouble allowing just the 1 run on a solo shot to Mookie Wilson in the 3rd. 


 
GM 2 @ Skydome in TORONTO
Brad Radke vs Juan Guzman

06 Minnesota wins 6-5
WP: Denny Reyes (2-1)
LP: Mike Timlin (2-2)
SV: Joe Nathan (18)

HR: Torii Hunter (7), Morneau (15), Michael Cuddyer (4), Kelly Gruber (10)
Game MVP: Morneau (2-4, 2 run, 3 RBI, 1 HR)


Toronto jumped out early in this one with 2 runs in the 3rd highlighted by a John Olerud 2 RBI single and then another run in the 3rd thanks to 3 singles by Devon White, Olerud and Kelly Gruber.  The Twins responded with their power game with a 2 run HR by Hunter in the 6th and a 3 run shot by Morneau in the 7th.  The Morneau HR was huge as Mike Timlin retired the 1st 2 batters he faced in the inning but then struggled allowing singles to Jason Tyner and Luis Castillo.  With Duane Ward scrambling to warm up in the bullpen, the Jays were forced to stick with Timlin to face Morneau.  Morneau made them pay by depositing the 3rd pitch he saw into the right field bleachers to give the Twins a 5-4 lead.  Michael Cuddyer would continue the power hitting for Minnesota with another homer in the 8th to push the lead to 6-4.  That run would prove important as Gruber led off the 8th inning with a HR off Pat Neshek.  But that would be the end of the offense for the Jays as Neshek settled down in the 8th and then Joe Nathan retired them in order in the 9th.




GM 3 @ The Metrodome in MINNESOTA
Todd Stottlemyre vs Johan Santana

91 Toronto wins 4-3 in 10 innings
WP: Tom Henke (1-0)
LP: Jesse Crain (1-1)

HR: Cuddyer 2 (6)
Game MVP: Roberto Alomar (2-5, 2 runs, scored GW run)



Toronto had its back against the wall and looked out to the mound and saw the imposing figure of Twins lefty Johan Santana.  And while Santana (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 K) was on the mound the Jays looked to be intimidated and may have been planning for what to do after the KOD season wrapped up.  The Twins didn't give Santana much offense but the 2 runs they put up, highlighted by a Cuddyer HR in the 4th looked to be plenty.  Then, in what in hindsight looked like a terrible decision, Santana was pulled after the 7th after 102 pitches.  The Jays had put up an unearned run in the 6th after a key error at 3B by Tony Batista, followed by a walk to Olerud and then 2 sacrfices.  Minnesota had relied on its power bullpen all season long and it looked to close out the series the same way.  However, Toronto got a little bit of good luck and capitalized to turn the momentum of the series.  Left specialist Dennys Reyes was called on to start the 8th vs Alomar. Alomar grounded to short but Nick Punto booted the easy play to get the Jays some life.  Reyes then struck out Devon White before giving way to Neshek.  Neshek then induced what should have been an inning ending DP from Joe Carter but Punto, once again, let the ball play him and the Jays had runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out.  With Dave Parker pinch hitting for Toronto, Carter and Alomar pulled off a double steal to get the Jays 2 runners in scoring position.  Parker then came though in the clutch with a 2 run single to give the Jays the 3-2 lead.  The lead looked like it would hold up but with Henke on to close out the game, Cuddyer smashed his 2nd HR of the game to tie the game up and send the game to extras.  Jesse Crain had pitched a scoreless 9th for the Twins so he was left out to start the 10th.  Alomar again proved to be a pest with a lead off single.  The Twins defense then failed them again, as defensive replacement Jason Castro booted another potential DP play at SS to allow the Jays to get the go ahead run to 2nd with no outs.  Joe Nathan was summoned from the pen to put the fire out but Toronto had other plans.  A ground out by Carter moved the runners up which led to an intentional walk to Parker to load the bases and set up the force.  Nathan, however, tried to bury a fastball in on Gruber but it ran too far in and nailed Gruber in the arm to force home Alomar with the go ahead run.   Henke was given a 2nd chance to close the game out and was up to the task by retiring the Twins 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 10th to preserve the win and extend the series.



GM 4 @ The Metrodome in MINNESOTA

Tom Candiotti vs Francisco Liriano

91 Toronto wins 5-0
WP: Candiotti (3-3)
LP: Liriano (6-3)

 HR: John Olerud (8)
Game MVP: Olerud (3-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 1 HR)



 Toronto fed off the energy they ended game 3 with and rode a great start by Candiotti to force this series back to Toronto.  Candiotti (6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 5 K) had the knuckler dancing inside the Metrodome and the Twins hitters seemed mesmerized.  Liriano (5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 6 K) was inefficient with his pitches, needing 114 pitches to get 1 out into the 6th.  The Jays patience and timely hitting, led by Olerud, was able to put up single runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th innings.  A couple doubles by Alomar and White off Matt Guerrier in the 7th followed by a solo shot by Olerud off of Guerrier in the 8th gave the Jays more than enough cushion.  MikeTimlin and David Wells were perfect in the 7th, 8th and 9th to close out the game and force a game 5.



GM 5 @ Skydome in TORONTO
Boof Bonser vs Jimmy Key

06 Minnesota wins 8-3
WP: Bonser (5-3)
LP: Key (7-4)

HR: Justin Morneau (16)
Game MVP: Michael Cuddyer (4-5, 2 2b, 2 RBI, 3 runs)







 
In a rematch of game 1's seemingly lopsided pitching matchup, the Jays once again handed the ball to their ace Jimmy Key while Minnesota looked for Boof Bonser to match his opening game magic.   This time around the Jays jumped on Bonser (6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5 K) early with a run in the 1st inning.  However, it could have been more when Gruber singled home Alomar followed by anothher single by Pat Tabler.  But, Torii Hunter cut Tabler's ball of in the gap and threw a strike to Joe Mauer to retire the slow running John Olerud at home to end the inning and limit the Jays to just 1 run.  Minnesota then came back in the top of the 2nd to take the lead thanks to a key double by Cuddyer and an RBI triple by Nick Punto.  The 3rd was more of the same for Minnesota as Morneau continued to smash the ball with another HR and a couple singles and ground out pushed the Twin lead to 4-1.  After a few quiet innings, the Twins offense picked up again in the 5th putting more hits together off Key (5.1 IP, 12 H, 6 ER),  This time it was a Cuddyer double and a Bartlett Sac Fly that drove home the runs and made it 6-1.  Unlike in game 1 however, the Toronto offense would not just lay down.  They would rally for 2 runs in the 7th chasing Bonser from the game.  Jesse Crain was able to keep it from getting any worse by retiring Joe Carter with 2 runners on to end the 7th at 6-3.  With the Twins pen doing its job in the 8th and the Twins extending their lead to 8-3 in the top of the 9th, all that was left to close out the series was another shut down 9th inning by closer Joe Nathan,  Despite it not being a save situation, Nathan was up to the task and retired the Jays to close out the series and eliminate the pesky Jays team. 
 
TOP PERFORMERS
MIchael Cuddyer (MIN) 8-20, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 Runs, 6 XBH
Justin Morneau (MIN) 9-24, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 Runs
Roberto Alomar (TOR) 8-23, 2 RBI, 5 Runs
Boof Bonser (MIN) 2 wins, 13 2/3 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 13 K


Saturday, June 20, 2015

ALDS: Halos sweep Tribe

The Angels, last in the league in home runs during the regular season, hit nine home runs during this three game series! Cleveland, at the top in home runs during the regular season, hit zero!


You can imagine the outcome. 86 California treated the Indians like a punching bag, thoroughly bashing any hopes of advancement for the 99 Cleveland team. Game One was close, going to extra innings before Bob Boone belted a home run in the 10th to win it. This was a forerunner of nightmarish sights to come for Cleveland fans.

Bob_Boone_CALGame One: “Boone Shot” Cleveland's Bartolo Colon carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and the Indians were up 2-0, thanks to a Kenny Lofton single in the fifth off Mike Witt and a fielder's choice groundout in the seventh after Witt loaded the bases. But Cleveland's joy in this game and in the series would be short-lived. California scored two in the bottom of the inning off a Jack Howell double after Colon had walked a pair, ending his day. The game remained tied at two apiece going into the 10th. California threatened in the eighth to untie it after singles from Boone and Downing, but Paul Assenmacher retired George Hendrick to end the threat.

However, in the bottom of the 10th, facing Paul Shuey, Bob Boone hit a long solo homer to center, 439 feet away, to win it for the Angels, Final: California 3, Cleveland 2.


Game Two: “Moe-Boone” More Bob Boone, who seems to love playing against Cleveland. Dave Burba was pounded for six runs in five innings as Boone and Doug DeCinces both homered for a commanding 5-1 Angels lead. It would only get worse for Cleveland as California would score five more times. Boonie went 4-for-4 with two homers in the game, while DeCinces bookended Boone's feat by also hitting a second homer. Don Sutton went six solid innings for the Angels, only allowing two runs, and got plenty of relief help from Doug Corbett and Terry Forster. Final: California 10, Cleveland 3.


Game Three: “Rupe-It-Up” Cleveland's hopes to stay inRuppert_Jones_CAL the series rested on aging veteran pitcher Charlie Nagy, in his ninth season, as the series shifted east to Jacobs Field. But Nagy was not up to the task. In fact, he was downright ugly. California scored five in the second, one in third, and five more in the fourth to put this one away very early. It was bombs away again for California, as Ruppert Jones hit two homers off Nagy and drove in five for the game, while Reggie Jackson also hit a solo drive to right off the battered pitcher.


Any chance Cleveland had to come back after Nagy's departure in the fourth were dashed by the strong pitching of California's Kirk McCaskill, who went eight innings, only giving up five hits and three cheap runs while striking out 10 Indians. The Angels' Wally Joyner added to the victory party by going 3-for-5, hitting two homers of his own and driving in three. At least Boone didn't get another homer in this game....Final: California 11, Cleveland 3.


With the Angels' sweep, they now face the winner of the Toronto-Minnesota series. Thanks to Douglas for an enjoyable afternoon of baseball for his moonshoot-hitting Angels bunch.
Regards,

Joe Pryweller

NLDS: Braves outlast Nats

NLDS - 2014 Washington vs. 1998 Atlanta

In an exciting 5 game series, the Braves eked (love that word) out the win by taking the final 2 games of series. Let’s take a look back at some of the exciting moments of the NLDS.

Jayson_Werth_WASGame 1 – Washington 6 Atlanta 3

“Werth The Price of Admission”

Braves’ ace Greg Maddux continued his postseason struggles giving up 6 runs in 7 innings. What was more amazing was that he also allowed 4 homeruns. (In real life he only allowed 13 in 251 innings) All were solo shots. Jayson Werth (2), Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos were the long ball hitters.

Werth’s 1st homerun was in the top of the 1st. The Braves answered with 2 homeruns of their own in the bottom of the inning as Chipper Jones and Andres Galarraga went back-to-back off of Jordan Zimmermann. But Zimmerman settled down after that rocky start and held the Braves in check as he went 7.2 innings in picking up the win. Rafael Soriano picked up the save as hopes sank in the ATL.

Game 2 – Atlanta 5 Washington 1Tom_Glavine_ATL

“Tommy Boy”

In a must win game for the Braves, Tom Glavine outdueled Doug Fister to tie up the series at 1. Glavine went 7 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits.

The game was tied at 1 all going into the bottom of the 7th. Glavine led off with a single to right. After retiring Andruw Jones on a deep fly to fence in left center, Walt Weiss singled and the Braves had runners at 1st and 2nd. Chipper Jones doubled off the wall to right center scoring pinch runner Curtis Pride and Weiss giving the Braves a 3-1 lead. They would add 2 more in the 8th to give them a much needed win.

Bryce_Harper_WASGame 3 – Washington 3 Atlanta 2 – 11 Innings

“Harper Valley RBI”

Atlanta looked to have this one in the bag. They scored single runs in the 1st and 2nd inning to take a quick 2-0 lead. John Smoltz had his strikeout pitch going as he struck out 12 in 5 innings. But the Nats batters made him work hard for those strikeouts and Manager Burnette had to make an early call to a questionable bullpen.

On the other hand Manger Weiss allowed Tanner Roarke to imitate those pitchers of yore as he went 9 innings while throwing 147 pitches. After those 2 early runs, he shut down the Braves bats to keep his team in the game.

The shaky Braves pen held the Nationals at bay until the fateful 9th inning. Still leading 2-0, Burnette brought in his closer Kerry Ligtenberg. Wilson Ramos led off the inning with a base hit. Manager Weiss surprisingly let Roarke bat, hoping the pitching magic would rub off onto his bat. Alas, that did not happen as Roarke struck out. Denard Span singled to put runners on the corners. Jayson Werth who led his club to a victory in game 1 doubled to wall in left to tie the game up. Ligtenberg struck out the final 2 hitters but the damage was done. So was the Braves bullpen.

An overworked Russ Springer came on to the pitch the 11th. Craig Stammen, another pitcher hitting for himself, led off with a double. Span singled putting runners on the corners with nobody out. After getting Werth to ground out to second, Bryce Harper lined a single to center to send the faithful home happy.

Nats lead 2-1with game 4 sure to be played in front of raucous Washington crowd.

Game 4 – Atlanta 4 Washington 0Andres_Galarraga_ATL

“El Ghatto Got ‘em”

This was the Denny Neagle and Andres Galarraga show. Neagle went 8.1 innings allowing only 5 hits before tiring in the 9th. This time Ligtenberg was able to get the final two outs sending this series back to Atlanta for the deciding game 5.

Galarraga hit a pair of 2 run homers, one in the 1st and the other one in the 6th to give the Braves all the runs they would need.

Greg_Maddux_ATLGame 5 – Atlanta 4 Washington 1

“Ace in the hole”

This game was scheduled to be played in the afternoon, but the Nationals charter ran into engine trouble and they did not arrive in Atlanta until 5 pm. This was a portend of things to come.

In a rematch of game 1, Jordan Zimmermann was up against Greg Maddux. And for 3.1 innings it looked like neither team would score. Then the fates intervened in favor of Atlanta. Zimmermann looked to twist his ankle as he landed awkwardly after striking out Chipper Jones. The Nats had to bring in Doug Fister on short rest.

The game remained scoreless until the 6th inning. Jayson Werth, yes that man again, took Maddux deep to give them 1-0 lead. Manager Burnette was getting worried as his ace was living up to the commercial that he and his teammate Tom Glavine made in the offseason, Chicks Dig the Long Ball.

Maddux settled down and the Braves bats finally came alive. In the bottom half of the 6th, Ozzie Guillen led off with a single. Chipper Jones doubled him in to tie the game. Javy Lopez singled home Jones and Michael Tucker followed with another RBI base hit and giving the Braves a 3-1 lead.

That was all that Maddux would need. He went the distance allowing only 1 run on 4 hits and no walks while striking out 6.

Chipper_Jones_ATL

Chipper Jones was voted MVP of the NLDS.

Thanks to Marc Weiss for a great series that went down to the wire.

--submitted by Ron Burnette--

NLWC–“Oh, Danny Boy”–Nats 9, Jints 7

NL Wild Card Game
Schmidt vs Roark
WAS 9, SFG 7

Danny_Espinosa_WASIn a see saw battle where the lead changed hands 4 times, the Nats needed a dramatic comeback (4 runs in the 7th) to barely survive and advance.  Both starters were ineffective.  Washington lifted Tanner Roark after giving up 3 runs in 2.1 IP.  Replacement Stephen Strasburg (4 runs 3.2 IP) was worse as Washington dug themselves a deep hole.  The Nats nibbled their way back, but gave up a solo run in the the top of the 7th to once again go down by two.  Then in the bottom of the 7th they exploded for 4 unanswered runs with 2 out.  Danny Espinosa singled in two to tie the game and Denard Span did the same 2 batters later to put them up by two.  Blevins and Storen combined to hold the Jints scoreless in the 8th and Rafael Soriano walked the tightrope in the 9th to close the game out.  Washing sneaks by the Jints and advances to play the #1 seeded Braves.  Rumor has it that Strasburg was going to be left off the LDS roster.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

06 Twins advance thanks to gem by Francisco Liriano

@ HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis,MN

Francisco Liriano vs Aaron Sele

06 Minnesota - 8
00 Seattle - 2

WP: Liriano (6-2)
LP: Sele (2-6)

HR: Jay Buhner (13)
Game MVP: Joe Mauer 2-4, 2 2b, 2 RBI

  Francisco Liriano had been shifted back and forth from the rotation and the bullpen all season long, but with the stakes as high as they had been all season, he was at his best against a very good Seattle lineup.  Liriano (6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 10 K) held the Mariners scoreless until the 7th inning and by that time his offense had backed him with 7 runs.  The Twins offense was lead by 3 hits, including a double and triple, by Michael Cuddyer and 2 hit games by Mauer, Nick Punto and Jason Tyner.  The scrappy Twins lineup was able to break a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the 5th by putting a 5 spot up on Mariner starter Sele (5 IP, 7 H, 5 R).  The key hits in the inning being an RBI single by Justin Morneau and a 2 RBI double by Mauer.  The Mariners offense never really got on track but they did show a little life in the 7th thanks to a 2 run bomb by Jay Buhner that chased Liriano from the game.  However, the stingy Twins bullpen was able to close out the rest of the game thanks to quality appearances by Dennys Reyes, Pat Neshek and Jesse Crain.  KOD save leader Joe Nathan was not needed to close this one out but he did warm up briefly in the 9th in case the potent Mariner offense threatened. 

Next up for the Twins will be a best of 5 series against the AL East winner 91 Toronto Blue Jays.   The Twins will need a starter other than Santana and Liriano to step up and perform or their playoff run may come to an end.

Congrats to Justin Ryan and his Mariner squad for overcoming an 8-14 start to the season to finish in the playoffs.  

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Twins beat O's to gain 4th seed in AL Playoff

The 06 Twins got 2 early runs off Oriole starter Mike Cuellar then relied on Johan Santana and 3 starters to make it stand up. Both Cuellar (3-4) and Santana (8-1)were pitching on 3 days rest but both aces were up to the challenge. Cuellar (6IP, 10H, 2R, 2K) gave up 4 singles and an Earl Williams passed ball in the 2nd inning that accounted for all the scoring the Twins would do on the day. Santana (7IP, 5H, 1R, 4K) was able to make those 2 runs last by keeping Baltimore hitters off balance all night. Bobby Grich was the lone bright spot with a double and a Home Run in the 5th to close the gap to 1 run. Minnesota was able to turn to its dominant bullpen in the late innings to preserve the 1 run lead. First, Pat Neshek got a big K of Tommy Davis after allowing a 8th inning lead off single to Paul Blair. With lefty Boog Powell due up, it was time for lefty specialist Dennys Reyes to trot in from the pen. Reyes was able to get Powell to fly out to left for the 2nd out of the inning with Blair still standing on 1st. With Brooks Robinson due up, it was closer Joe Nathan's turn. Nathan came in throwing strikes but his defense, specifically Jason Bartlett at short, did not help as Robinson and Don Baylor reached base on what should have been inning ending grounders to short. With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Baltimore turned to pinch hitter Al Bumbry. Nathan, however, decided to take care of the 3rd inning himself by mowing down Bumbry and preserving the lead. After failing to add to the lead, Minnesota turned to Nathan again in the 9th to close it out. Nathan was up to the task retiring the Orioles 1-2-3 for his 17th save of the season.

Next up for Minnesota is another 1 game playoff with 2000 Seattle. Minnesota will hand the ball to Francisco Liriano (5-2) for this 2nd straight win or go home ball game.

Thanks to Mark Nixon for getting the game in quickly. Mark did a great job of getting his O's team to this play in game. His team struggled out of the gate and stood at 4-11 after game 1 of our early season series. To end this season at 25-21 took a tremendous 21-10 run that shows the managerial skills that Mark clearly possesses.

Pete
06 MIN

Monday, June 15, 2015

Ah, the playoffs and the tangled we weaved in KOD21

Good News for NL Managers.  Other than a tie breaker for the NL West flag, the NL playoff picture was pretty easy to figure out.

  1. ATL
  2. HOU (Had better Run Diff than SFG)
  3. PIT
  4. WAS
  5. SFG

The AL, on the other hand...Now this is where you needed a slide rule.
The top 3 saw Toronto take the #1 seed, because they had a better divisional record than CLE and took 2 of 3 from CAL in head to head action.  That was the easy part.  The hard part comes when we have to fill 2 WC slots from 3 teams with identical records (BAL, SEA, MIN).  This leads to a two tiered play in scenario.  I used the random # generator and SEA lucked out getting the lowest number.  That meant MIN would play vs BAL in game 1 with the winner hosting SEA for the actual play in game as part of the playoff rotation.  MIN/BAL is considered a regular season play in game to get to the WC play in game.  Seattle, by virtue of the best random # gets the bye, but also gets the lower seed #5..

Here's how the AL's murky post season picture looks:
  1. TOR (Better Div record than CLE and better h2h record vs CAL)
  2. CAL
  3. CLE
  4. Winner of MIN @ BAL
  5. SEA