2018 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #26

Carlos_Santana18LuisM_Castillo18Lonnie_Chisenhall18Tyler_Anderson18

 

NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
SANTANA,Carlos VIR  AL .333 .741 6 27 9 2 0 3 5 11 5 3 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
CASTILLO,Luis M. VIR  AL 2 1 0 0 0.00 9 0 0 3 14 2 0 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
CHISENHALL,Lonnie TCP  NL .500 1.167 4 18 9 0 0 4 5 10 0 1 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
ANDERSON,Tyler LBD  NL 1 1 0 0 0.00 7 0 0 3 9 1 0 1 0 0 0

Harsens Island  Walleye @ Jersey  Nor’easters

Series Summary:  Leading Valdosta by 2 games for the second National League wild card the Nor’easters had to play well. Did they ever, they sweep Harsens Island. After three close wins Jersey scores 47 runs on 54 hits in the final three games and clinch the 2nd wild card slot. Oh Boy! I get to play either Columbus or Tempe with their combined gazillion wins.

Rosemere  Renegades @ Long Beach  Dirt Bags

Series Summary:  In a series between the 2 worst teams in the NL, Long Beach takes 4 of 6 from Rosemere to close out the season.

Detroit  Crime @ Tijuana  Bottle Rockets

Series Preview:  Tijuana’s magic number is 1 heading into this series vs division rival Detroit.
Series Summary:  Tijuana roughs up B. Colon in game 2 for the division clinching win!Then both Detroit and Tijuana go into roster management mode in preparation for the playoffs. Detroit wins the series 5-1.

Tempe  Tempers @ Columbus  Explorers

Series Preview:  Final week of the season and the 2 teams with the best records in either league face off in Columbus to decide the NL Central title. Figures that these teams would be in the same division, but the past few years it’s been a pretty decent tandem. But at the same time, this series sees some posturing for the post season and Tempe resting a bunch of guys. Another big question – can Joey Votto reach 200 hits?
Game #1:  Opening game features Hisashi Iwakuma making the start for Tempe and Alex Meyer (formerly a Temper) starting for Columbus. Explorers plate 2 in the 1st and the Tempers match that in the 2nd. But the bottom of the 2nd (and new pitcher Shawn Armstong on the mound) and the Explorers rock the game wide open scoring 4 times including a Matt Carpenter 2 run homer (29). Mike Aviles (5) homers late, but by then it’s 8-3, so 8-4 wasn’t enough. Meyer (6-1) gets the win, Armstrong the loss. Final 8-4 Columbus. Magic # down to 3.
Game #2:  Johnny Cueto vs. Ervin Santana. Columbus gets off to early lead scoring runs in both the 1st and 2nd for a 2-0 lead. Santana is having a strange day – very few hits but no control. He leaves after 6.1 with a 2-1 lead giving up just 2 hits but 7 walks. Luis Avilan gets him out of big jam in the 6th. Then Yusmeiro Petit comes in for the 8th and well, he blows it – he gives up a 2 run homer to Melky Cabrera (15) and the Tempers take the lead. Then they add another in the 9th and Kirby Yates makes it stand up with the save (3) in the 9th. The Tempers are not going down easy or giving up the fight. Magic number still 3 for Columbus.
Game #3:  The next game features a matchup of J Chacin vs. another former Temper, Park Bridwell. And Bridwell has a strong 6 innings of work – 5 hits, no runs, no threats. Joey Votto did get one of the hits as he approaches 200 – that put him at 195. But the only run the Tempers got was on a Marcel Ozuna rbi triple in the 8th. But that made it 4-1 Columbus as the Explorers got 2 in the 1st, another in the 3rd and their final run in the 6th. Eduardo Nunez had the hot bat going 3 for 4 and driving in 2. Bridwell notches the win (11-4) and David Robertson gets the save (42). MAGIC #1
Game #4:  Clinch chance #1 – Jon Lester vs. J.A.Happ. These two guys each go 7 innings, both pitch great, and neither gets a decision. Happ does better between them giving up 4 hits, fanning 9 and no runs in his 7 innings. Lester gives up 6 hits and 2 runs – one of them solo homer by Ryan Zimmerman (34). Zimmerman also drove in the other run Lester yielded – Zimm’s 100th rbi.
8th inning was touchy – Darren O’Day comes in to pitch and gives up a lead-off walk. Yusmeiro Petit then comes in a gets his one batter. Chris Rusin comes in, faces 2 and retires the side. He opens the 9th looking for the save but gives up a lead-off walk. Enter David Robertson, and well, he faces 1 batter, Evan Gattis, who promptly his his 11th homer – for 2 runs and ties up the ballgame! Matt Belisle (former Tempers also) comes in and retires the side. And he retires the side in the 10th and 11th as well – faces 9 batters in 3 innings, giving up a walk, FANNING 6 and getting a DP.
New Tempers reliever Mark Melancon pitches the 10th and then gives up a lead-off, walk-off homer to Paul DeJong (31) in the 11th and Columbus fights off the attempt to delay or prevent a clinching and takes the NL Central in dramatic fashion with the 3-2 11 inning clincher – won on a walk-off homer! Those Tempers are tough, even when resting up.
Game #5:  Now that the excitement is over, Tempe sends Hector Santiago out to face Lance McCullers. McCullers has had an extraordinary year (15-2, sub 3.00) era for the year. Today he goes out there with quite a few reserves behind him, will they give him the support he’s used to? First inning they do as Ian Desmond smacks a 2 run homer (9). But Marcel Ozuna counters with a 2 run blast (26) in the 4th to tie it. Then Columbus regains the lead when Desmond singles in another run in the 5th. But Lance gives up another gopher – this one to Rafeal Lopez (4) in the 6th and it also is a 2 run shot. 4-3 Tempe. Shawn Armstrong pitches the 5th and 6th and benefits from that blast and Nate Vincent goes the final 3 impressively for the save (4). Tempe wins it 4-3. McCullers grooved 2 and it cost him. Joey Votto picks up 2 hits – now at 198.
Game #6:  Final game of the season and Hisashi Iwakuma gets the start again (when you only pitch an inning, your still fresh). Facing him will be the post-season inigma, Josh Tomlin. Tomlin is 12-5 coming into this game (as a 4) and the question running around Columbus is “will he even be on the post season roster?”. Petitions are out in full force either to include him or get a 28th man dispensation!!
Well the game is played and let’s just say Alex Avila finished the year in style. In the 2nd he launches a 3 run homer (9). In the 6th he hits a 2 run homer (10). Tomlin gets through the 1st 5 basically unscathed and comes out for the 6th with 3-0 lead and an upgrade and promtly lets the first two guys get on base and he’s yanked. Matt Szczur walks and Joey Votto doubles – they hold the runner. For Votto, that was his 2nd hit of the game (lead-off single, out at 2nd stretching it) and that makes 200 for the season! So in comes Yusmeiro Petit with no outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd. Melky Cabrera up and he grounds one to the right side that Ryan Zimmerman fields – flips to Petit and they kept Szczur on 3rd. Marcel Ozuna to the plate and he walks to load them up. That mean F Cordero gets to bat with the bases juiced, 1 out. The pitch, he grounds it to Zimmerman at 1st, who stabs it, flings it to 2nd and then back to 1st for the inning ending DP and they get out of the big jam and make Tomlin look real good. Bottom half is when Avila unloaded for his 2nd baked Tater and that was that. Bullpen got the job done the rest of the way for a season ending 5-0 win.
Series Summary:  Fun year in Columbus – they didn’t even have playoff intentions when the season started – good offense (HR, SBs average potential – all top notch) pitching was thin. But then they found out, pitching was thin most everywhere and their’s looked OK. A few trades (next year will be interesting) and they end up with the best record. They are hoping they learned from 2 years ago – on how to complete the picture. But the NL has some serious weapons going into the playoffs – Sacremento is ONE TOUGH COOKIE – and Bethesda showed they can play with anyone. Can dismiss Joisy as they earned their way into the mix. And of course, that TEMPE bunch – they may act like their the underdogs, but they are that EVIL EMPIRE and until they lose a series they are the team to beat. Congrats to all playoff teams for great seasons. And thanks to everyone for making MWBL a great league to play in. And a special nod to Stray for running a great league!

Yonge Street  Stalkers @ Chicago  Mobsters

Series Preview:  Chicago takes on the Stalkers from Yonge Street in a crucial series that could will determine the home field advantage for the American League Wild Card Series.
Game #1:  Alex Bregman is 3 for 3 with a solo Home Run & Carlos Matias Martinez goes 8.1 Innings allowing only 2 Hit, 1 walk while Striking Out 8 for the win.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Yonge Street Stalkers 1

Win: Carlos Matias Martinez11-9 (3.47)
Loss: Tijuan Walker 10-11 (3.88)

Game #2:  Jason Heyward has 2 Home Runs, including a Grand Slam for the Stalkers, but Chicago gets 3 in the 8th & takes the 2nd game of the series.

Final Score: Chicago 7 – Yonge Street Stalkers 5

Win: Chad Green 11-6 (2.24)
Loss: Enny Romero 2-2 (5.52)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #34

Game #3:  2 RBI’s each by J.D. Martinez, Justin Turner & Andrew McCutchen, propel Marcus Stroman to the victory. Stroman went 5.1 Innings followed by seven Chicago relievers.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Yonge Street Stalkers 2

Win: Marcus Stroman 15-8 (3.95)
Loss: Gerritt Cole 11-10 (4.00)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #35

Game #4:  Mikie Matook had 3 RBI’s & J.D. Martinez has a 2 solo Home Runs for Chicago. Jose Quintana has 12 Strike Outs in 5.2 Innings followed by four Chicago relievers.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Yonge Street Stalkers 2

Win: Jose Quintana 14-9 (4.30)
Loss: Michael Pineda 5-9 (5.87)

Game #5:  Justin Turner had a Home Run & 3 RBI’s, Chicago used five relievers after Felix Hernandez was pulled after 2 Innings.

Final Score: Chicago 7 – Yonge Street Stalkers 4

Win: Carlos Ramirez 1-1 (4.91)
Loss: Shelby Miller 2-2 (4.38)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #35

Game #6:  Kris Bryant, Travis d’Arnaud & Scotter Gennett all have Home Runs as the Stalkers take the last game of the series. Chicago rested many of their players as they head into the American League Wild Card Series vs. the Detroit Crime.

Final Score: Yonge Street Stalkers

Win: Tijuan Walker 11-11 (3.83)
Loss: Julio Teheran 7-3 (3.17)
Save: Joe Kelly #15

Series Summary:  Chicago takes the series 5 games to 1 & stays at home to face Division rival the Detroit Crime in the American League Wild Card Series.

Virginia  Sluggers @ Mesa  Solar Sox

Series Preview:  Virginia takes on Mesa. same division, completely different teams. Virginia wins, Mesa loses…alot
Series Summary:  Virginia batters Mesa and takes the series 4-2. 11 RBIs from Carlos Santana. Whit Merrifield went 6-6 in Game #1.

Dallas  Cougars @ Manhattan  Project

Series Preview:  The last week of the long season.
Game #1:  Manhattan 9-7
WP Leiter
LP Corbin
SV Alexander
Game #2:  Dallas 4-2
WP Smith
LP Pomeranz
SV Diaz
INJURY: TALJERON 2 DAYS
Game #3:  Dallas 8-3
WP Golioto
LP Montero
Game #4:  Dallas 3-2
WP Garcia
LP Chatsworth
Game #5:  Dallas 6-1
WP Cashner (CG)
LP Tanaka
Game #6:  Manhattan 6-2
WP Porcello (CG)
LP Corbin
Series Summary:  Dallas takes the series 4-2

Corktown  Cycle @ Bethesda  Bandicoots

Series Preview:  Corktown and Bethesda close out their regular seasons with some interdivisional play. The Bandicoots test here will be to both overcome the strong Corktown pitching as well as avoid the DL with the playoffs looming on the horizon. Milestone-wise the Cycle are after at least their 75th win while Bethesda is in the hunt for perhaps its last 100-win season for quite some time.
Game #1:  Alex Cobb knew he was going to have to toss a gem with nary a first-stringer in the lineup to help him and he did just that – throwing a perfect game for seven innings but settling for a three-hitter as he hung on to win 2-1 over the Cycle.
The Bandicoots scored a run in the 4th and 5th innings on RBI singles by Alen Hansen and Stephen Drew but then were routinely chewed up by the Jose Berrios buzzsaw of starting pitching for Corktown and did nothing from then on.
Corktown’s Richard Urena pinch hit for Emilio Pagan in the 9th and laced Cobb’s offering into the gap. Cobb managed to strike out Chris Taylor but then Michael Tayler smashed one right over 3rd base for a two-bag Urena. Eric Hosmer closed things out with an earth-shattering pop out and cemented the win for Cobb as he improved to a ridiculous 16-2 record. He walked two and fanned five in the game.
Berrios went 7.2 striking out nine and walking just two in a fine performance as he fell to 14-9 on the year.
Game #2:  Robbie Ray may have fallen on hard times in real life, but in the MWBL he continued to dominate finishing out the year by evening his record to 10-10 with a 3-2 win over Bethesda.
Ray only got support from his offense in one inning but it was all he needed.
The Cycle cranked out four of the five hits they would get on the day off Bethesda starter Sonny Gray capped by Michael Taylor’s flyball that went up up and away into the left field stands with two runners aboard. The dinger was Taylor’s 21st of the season. He also was the only Cycle hitter with two hits in the contest – the other was a single – and he struck out twice.
Gray was otherwise pretty darned good in the game fell to 8-10 on the year but managed to get his ERA down to less than 4.00 with the seven inning performance. He struck out seven and walked two.
Ray also lasted seven and gave up four hits, walked two and had 8 strikeouts. He also had two sacrifices at the plate.
Lorenzo Cain doubled for Bethesda which drove in one of the two Bandicoots’ runs on the day which gave him 197 hits on the year.
Game #3:  The Bandicoots gave mid-season call-up Tyler Pill five runs of support early in the game and they would need it as the bullpen faltered late in the game and barely hung on to win 5-4 over Corktown.
Probably the surprise story of the year in Bethesda, righty hurler Pill improved to a perfect 7-0 on the year with a cool 1.90 ERA. In this game, he allowed two runs on six hits in six innings with four strikeouts and a walk. He also singled and scored the winning run in the game.
The lone damage the Cycle count inflict on Pill was a 4th inning homer by Elvis Andrus with Eric Hosmer aboard that made it 5-2.
Adrian Gonzalez got the Bandicoots on the board first with a single in the 2nd inning that drove in Brad Miller who reached on a walk by Corktown starter Daniel (Lou) Gossett.
Gossett’s perfect 1st inning became a distant memory in the 3rd inning as the Bandicoots cranked out four runs against him without him registering an out. The offensive outburst included an RBI double by Lorenzo Cain which gave him 198 hits on the year.
While Tempe had thoughts only on Joey (Who?) Votto getting 200 hits and leading the league, Cain quietly trudged on and added two more hits on the day to give him 200 for the year.
Stephen Drew had two hits as well for Bethesda who had locked away Anthony Rendon for safekeeping before the game.
The lead held steady at 5-2 until the 7th inning when with Austin Brice on the Cycle started their comeback attempt. Brice was able to get the first two hitters out (Chris Coghlan and Tony Kemp), but then Carlos Perez singled and pinch hitter Adam Eaton doubled to make it 2nd and 3rd. The next hitter, Chris Taylor, came within a couple of feet of tying the game as he cranked a ball off the left field wall, but he had to settle for a double and two RBIs with the hit as Eaton and Perez scored easily. Danny Farquhar took over on the mound for Bethesda and got Guillermo Heredia to fly out to left and end the inning.
Brandon Morrow allowed a single in the 9th but then struck out the side to pick up his 12th save of the season.
Game #4:  Anthony Rendon doubled and walked twice and Lorenzo Cain churned out hits 201 and 202 as the Bandicoots held off the Cycle for a 3-1 win.
The Cycle hit the scoreboard early in this one with Chris Taylor leading off the game with a single off Bethesda starter Jake Arrieta and then moving to 2nd on Guillermo Heredia’s ground out to 3rd base. Taylor scampered around to score when Eric Hosmer blooped a ball over the infield and into right making it 1-0 for the visitors.
Bethesda bats couldn’t do much against Corktown’s Tom Koehler until the 4th inning when Rendon knocked in Cain with the first of his two doubles of the day.
Arrieta took matters into his own hands the next inning hitting a line drive single into left that scored Andre Ethier in what might be his last game of his career to make it 2-1.
In the 6th inning, with the bases loaded and none out Jonathan Schoop hit into a double play allowing Rendon to come in with the game’s final run to make it 3-1.
Hosmer and Chris Taylor each had two hits for Corktown while Ethier joined Rendon and Cain with the same feat for Bethesda.
Arrieta finished the season with the win making him 17-10 with one run on just three hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked one. Morrow’s perfect 9th landed him save #13.
Koehler dropped to 5-10 after allowing three runs on eight hits in five innings for the Cycle.
Game #5:  Another game another hit for Cain, but it was Tyson Ross that stole the show with a complete game two-hit shutout as Bethesda topped Corktown 5-0.
Ross (9-6) was far from perfect in the game as he walked four compared to only three strikeouts, but it was an off-day for the Cycle hitter as Ross’s wildness kept them off balance.
Cain’s hit gave him 203 on the year. Joining Cain in the hitting honors on the day were AJ Ellis for hitting a two-run homer in the 3rd off Corktown starter Braden Shipley and shortstop Trevor Story who tripled and drove in two runs on the day. Ellis’s homer was his 7th of the season.
Shipley (4-9) closed out the season allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings with two walks and five Ks.
Jonathan Schoop and David Peralta had two hits each for Bethesda.
Game #6:  AJ Ellis homered for the second straight game to lift Bethesda to a 6-3 win to close out the season against Corktown.
Anthony Rendon scored two runs and doubled twice to give him 50 on the year as well for Bethesda.
Josh Phegley (6) and Chris Taylor (17) blasted homers for Corktown with Phegley’s being the one that put an early end to the day for Alex Cobb after just four innings. OK, part of the was to rest him for the playoffs but the star righty for Bethesda was very shaky in his last start of 2018 with seven hits allowed over the four frames.
Corktown starter Jose Berrios was equally “off”, lasting just seven outs and allowing four runs on five hits and a couple of walks. Berrios finished with a solid 14-10 mark.
Taylor, Phegley and Chris Coghlan each had two hits for Corktown.
Brandon Morrow clsoed things out with save #14.
Series Summary:  Bethesda closes out winning five of six pretty close games against Corktown and ends with a 103-61 record (will be lucky to win 75 next year though with pitching going to the crapper).
Corktown (73-89) finishes 4th in the NL East and looks to pass Bethesda next year in the standings.
2018 STANDOUTS
Corktown may have stumbled and underachieved in the standings but it had nothing to do with the effort put forth on the mound. The Cycle had a very good 3.65 ERA led by Robbie Ray’s 10-10 record and 2.30 ERA over 188 innings. Ray allowed a phenomenally low 92 hits (that’s less than 4.5 per 9 innings) and fanned 224 and should be one of the guys in the running for the NL Cy Young.
Jose Berrios was also solid and led the team with a 14-10 record and nice 3.18 ERA striking out 170 in just under 170 innings.
The Cycle had nothing to complain about when it came to its bullpen where Cory Knebel and Carl Edwards ruled. Knebel led the team with 29 saves and posted a 2.58 ERA over 76.2 innings in which he allowed a miniscule 34 hits. Control was always an issue for Knebel though and he actually walked more (36) than he allowed to reach base via hit. He struck out 83. Edwards notched an even lower 2.24 ERA over 61.1 innings giving up more walks (36) than hits (28). He struck out 66.
The next season those guys will be giving way to Blake Treinen and his career 2018 mlb season. For the MWBL in 2017, Treinen was solid enough as a middle reliever posting a 3.34 ERA over 50 appearances (72.2 innings).
Offensively, Eric Hosmer led things for the Cycle with a .299 average and 27 homers in 613 at bats. He also scored 95 runs and finished with 183 hits and drove in 82. Michael Taylor’s .290 was not only a nice surprise but probably made him the #2 producer on the team. MT smacked 21 homers and stole 13 bases. Elvis Andrus led the team in RBIs (100), steals (18), and doubles (45) and finished with a .262 average. Corktown’s issue at the plate all year was having to rely heavily on guys that did not produce – Chris Coghlan (.203 in 413 at bats, 4 HR, 36 RBIs), Josh Phegley (.208/6/46 in 437 at bats as catcher), Tony Kemp (.204/0/19 in 392 at bats), and Guillermo Heredia (.195/6/36 in 394 AB).Betheda’s mid-season mini-dismantling that saw ace Rich Hill and key setup man Ryan Madson move to greener pastures had the hometown fans wondering if the Bandicoots had abandoned any hope of competing in 2018 although the addition of Jonathan Schoop at 2nd base actually filled the one hole in the daily lineup and ended the Brad Miller-Aledmys Diaz-Carlos Asauje daily lottery for playing time there.
Ironcially, it was Danny Farquhar who came in as an afterthought in the mid-season deals that led the team with a 1.06 ERA albeit over only 17 innings.
Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek were dominant throughout the season and made the dealing of Madson possible especially in light of the emergence for next season of Adam Ottavino and Yoshihisa Harano as bullpen stars. Splitting the closer duties Morrow had 14 saves to go with a 1.51 ERA over 47.2 innings in which he fanned 51 and walked 22 and allowed 22 hits. Cishek had 21 saves in 53 innings in which he threw a 1.53 ERA and gave up just 25 hits and 11 walks.
The biggest surprise on the mound came by way of filler callup Tyler Pill who not only managed to go 7-0 mostly as a starter but held opponents to a 1.90 ERA and was possibly the team’s top starter not named Alex Cobb over the last month.
Cobb was a crazy 16-2 with a 2.65 ERA over 187 innings. He allowed 145 hits, struck out 145 and gave up 50 walks. Not to be forgotten, Jake Arrieta was again steady and even topped Cobb in wins (17-10) and ERA (2.44) over 31 starts. He led the team in innings (202.2) and strikeouts (169) allowing only 135 hits and tossed a no-hitter June 11 versus Pittsburgh in a 4-0 win.
Mirroring real life, starter Sonny Gray was a disappointment with a 8-10 record and 3.93 ERA and had team management questioning his role in the upcoming post-season. Fringe starter Tyson Ross was either brilliant or terrible finishing 9-6 in 17 starts with a 5.37 ERA, but tossed two complete games including one shutout.
Outfielder Lorenzo Cain led the Bethesda offense with a .316 average and 204 hits (I think both are team all-time highs), scoring 95 runs, 27 steals, 12 homers and 61 RBIs from the leadoff spot.
Anthony Rendon had a nice .296/.391/.550 slash line with 26 homers and 90 RBIs in 527 at bats and generally provided stellar defense at 3rd base. A rarity, he finished with more walks (81) than strikeouts (64).
Brought over late in 2017, Logan Morrison was a flop in terms of average (.221) but cranked out a team-high 37 homers and 101 RBIs and routinely provided walkoff wins for the Bandioots. Despite the low after, Morrison posted a .345 On base percentage thanks to a team-high 94 walks.
Perhaps the biggest keys to the team’s offense were the additions of catchers AJ Ellis and Robinson Chirinos who smacked 8 and 17 homers respectively and helped the team to its highest ever 200 home run season total. Ellis hit .278 over 115 at bats and drove in 24 runs while Chirinos hit .257 and had 45 RBIs in 261 at bats and finally provided the team with its first-ever offensive production from behind the plate.FAREWELLS …
Andre Ethier and Stephen Drew appeared in their final games in the MWBL with Ethier going out with an ignominious 0/4 with a strikeout while Drew fared much better with a double, run and an RBI in three at bats.
Ethier (a two-time allstar with Coconut Creek in 2007 and Pittsburgh in 2009) hit 153 homers in a career that started in 2007 with the Crushers. He played just one season in Coconut Creek before moving on to Pittsburgh where he stayed for seven years with the last four in Bethesda. His 1172 hits over those 12 years netted him a .261 lifetime average. His one season in the World Series was in 2016 where he led Bethesda with a .357 average. Arguably his best season was his first in 2007 with the Crushers when he hit .347 over 444 plate appearances with 10 triples and 15 homers.
Drew was a two-time allstar (2009 Brooklyn Ave and 2011 with Manhattan) in a career that also went back to 2007 when he joined MID. Drew was a regular in only three seasons over that timespan with 2009 being his best season where he hit .312 with 192 hits including career best of 14 triples and 21 homers. He finished his season with 1,060 hits and a .244 batting average. His best season for Bethesda was 2016 when he smacked 15 homers in only 279 at bats. He will probably best be known as a sure-thing perennial allstar whose career self-derailed in 2012 when he went from starter to utility guy.
Adrian Gonzalez appeared as a defensive sub and also finished out his great career with Bethesda. The three-time Gold Glove first baseman was a four-time all-star (including once with Northridge and once with Tempe) and winner of the 2015 Home Run Derby. A-Gon finishes with 1862 hits and a .286 batting average over 14 seasons with Northridge, Tempe and Bethesda. He eclipsed the 20-homer mark nine times with a high of 40 in 2010 with Northridge and most recently smacking 38 with Bethesda in 2015 and hit 303 overall. He was the first Bandicoot to reach 100 RBIs and did it twice (110 in 2015 and 104 in 2016) for Bethesda and six times over his career with a high of 140 in 2008. Gonzalez appeared in two World Series (Tempe in 2013 and Bethesda in 2016), but fared poorly hitting only .103

Southwest Detroit  Fighting Chihuahuas @ Motor City  Muscle

Series Preview:  Southwest Detroit comes across town to finish up a brutal season with six games against a disappointed Motor City team that was eliminated from contention last week
Game #1:  MCM 6 – SWD 3

WP: Verlander (16-10, 3.41)
LP: Rowley (0-1, 9.28)
SV: W. Davis (26)

HR: SWD–D. Swanson

Justin Verlander gets his 16th win despite a short and shaky outing. John Hicks and Sal Perez had three hits each for MCM.

Game #2:  SWD 3 – MCM 2

WP: McFarland (1-1, 2.25)[CG]
LP: Bibens-Dirxx (2-5, 4.01)

HR: SWD–J. Jones; MCM–Trout

Jacoby Jones’s HR is the difference, as T.J. McFarland pitches a gem for SWD.

Game #3:  MCM 4 – SWD 2

WP: Leake (15-7, 3.11)[CG]
LP: Fedde (3-23, 7.71)

HR: MCM–S. Perez, Panik, Calhoun

Mike Leake makes the three MCM HRs stand up with a complete-game win.

Game #4:  MCM 5 – SWD 4

WP: J. Wilson (3-3, 3.15)
LP: Enns (2-10, 5.94) [CG]

HR: SWD–Healy; MCM–Kendrick, Ahmed

SWD thought they had one, up by two going into the bottom of the ninth, but Nick Ahmed’s pinch-hit, three-run HR ended it.

Game #5:  SWD 7 – MCM 4

WP: Rowley (1- 1, 7.27)
LP: Miranda (7-14, 4.73)
SV: L. Jackson (2)

HR: SWD–J. Jones

Jacoby Jones has a big day, with a HR, two hits, two runs, and three RBI. Rowley struck out seven in 6 and 2/3 innings.

Game #6:  MCM 15 – SWD 6

WP: Hendricks (18-3, 2.57)
LP: Martes (1-7, 9.52)

HR: SWD–Wieters; MCM–Freese

MCM ends the season with a laugher. Everyone in the Muscle lineup had at least one hit, and everyone but Nick Ahmed had an RBI. But he had three runs scored. Howie Kendrick went 4-5, with three runs and two RBI. Mike Trout added three RBI.

Series Summary:  MCM takes the series 4 games to 2.   There were three CGs in the series.   JaCoby Jones hit two HRs in the series.

Fremont  Cannons @ Coconut Creek  Crushers

Series Preview:  Better luck next year….
Series Summary:  CCC wins the first and last games. FRE takes the 4 in the middle.

Portland  Lumber Jax @ Triple Creek  Patriots

Series Preview:  Couple teams riding into the 2018 sunset with no post season chance.
Game #1:  Kyle Freeland allows just 1 run over 7 innings but couldn’t secure the W as the Lumber Jax pen allowed 2 late runs to send it into extras. Mathis delivered the big blow in the 11th, a 2-run shot, to swing game 1 Portland’s way. The Patriots pound out 17 hits but strand 14 of them.

PLJ 6 TCP 4

W -Coulombe (3)
L – Lucas (1)
S -Duffey (3)

Game #2:  Triple Creek bats stay hot in another 17 hit effort and more of them came with ducks on the pond. Seager was a perfect 5-5 w/ 3 RBI and Chisenhall delivered 2 long balls to lead the Patriot onslaught. To boot, A.J. Griffen finishes his season with an impressive 2-hit complete game.

PLJ 2 TCP 10

W – A.J. Griffin (9)
L – Marquez (18)
S – None

Game #3:  Zach Eflin showed his two-way skills with a 7+ inning effort and 3-run jack. His bomb broke a 3-3 tie in the 6th and greased the skids for Portland’s 2nd W of the series. Galvis pitched in with a nice 3 hit game.

PLJ 8 TCP 4

W – Eflin (4)
L -Feliz (3)
S – None

Game #4:  Hoffman and Newcomb both battled well going 7 innings but it was the visitors with a slim 1 run lead as both pens are called upon. The Patriot pen holds the deficit as their bats pull out a squeaker with single runs in the 8th, 9th and 10th. The top 4 Patriot bats collect 10 or their teams 11 hits.

PLJ 3 TCP 4

W -Goeddel (2)
L -Saupold (4)
S – None

Game #5:  Yet another extra inning game as Portland tallies 4 runs in the 8th to tie things up. No extra base hits for Portland but they find holes at all the right times late in the contest. Marwin Gonzalez delivers the game winner in the 10th to send the hometown crowd home happy.

PLJ 5 TCP 6

W – Stanek (1)
L -Sauplod (5)
S – None

Game #6:  Final game of the season and Triple Creek cranks up the O with 16 hits, 3 of them being the long ball variety. Bellinger and Chisenhall combine to drive in 9 runs and Alex Wood enjoys his best run support of the season. Perez and Galvis have 2 RBI each for the Jax.

PLJ 4 TCP 14

W – Wood (11)
L -Marquez (19)
S – None

Series Summary:  Triple Creek takes 4 of 6 to finish their nearly .500 season on a positive note. Portland breaks the 100 loss barrier and will be hoping for the lottery God to nod their way.

Pittsburgh  Lumber Company @ Sacramento  Capitals

Series Summary:  Sacramento limps across the finish line, dropping 4 of 6 from the far-better-than-their-record-suggests Pittsburgh Lumber Company and watching nearly every arm on our starting pitching staff fall off by seasons’ end.

Selkirk  Steelers @ Valdosta  Snappers

Series Preview:  Valdosta hosted Selkirk in an N.L. Central match up.
Series Summary:  Valdosta takes 4 of 6 and saw some franchise records set. Wins (91), Hits (Ender Inciarte 205) and Saves (Craig Kimbrel 42). They come up a little short for the playoffs but had a fine season anyway in the tough N.L. Central.

Hollywood  Werewolves @ Southbend  Lynx

Series Preview:  Southbend hosts Division winner Hollywood to close out the season. The hope is that it won’t be a complete bloodbath.
Game #1:  Hollywood takes Game 1 behind Kershaw’s 6.2IP of 1 hit ball. SBL lone hit is a Joyce rbi-2b in the B4. Hollywood offense is supplied by Goldschmidt’s 2HR day.
HOL 6, SBL 1
Game #2:  Perhaps the most surprising season I’ve ever had in my year’s of playing APBA BBW is that of A.Banda this year. Banda (a grade 3 starter) tosses a 5 hit shutout for his 21st win of the season. SBL score 10 runs, mostly with the long ball, as Cozart, Forsythe, and Lowrie hit HRs.
SBL 10, HOL 0
Game #3:  The motto here is don’t piss off Hollywood as they kick SBL around in this one. Goldschmidt hits his 47th HR, Gordon picks up 3 hits, Cabrer has 4 rbi, and Morton goes 6 strong innings. Givens gets the 3 inning save. Jaso’s 2-run HR is lone bright spot for SBL.
HOL 9, SBL 2
Game #4:  Hollywood just keeps rolling scoring 9 more runs on 11 hits. Olson hits his 16th HR; Olson, Escobar, and Ianetta each have 2 rbi. Lackey pitches just well enough to get his 15th win.
HOL 9, SBL 4
Game #5:  Once the Hollywood train starts rolling it hard to stop it. HOL puts up 13 runs on 15 hits. Gonzalez has the big day with a HR and 5 rbi. HOL breathes a sigh of relief when Goldschmidt’s injury is only for 1 game. Fister is strong going 5.1 with only 1 unearned run. Altuve gets 2 more hits for SBL.
HOL 13, SBL 1
Game #6:  The season ended with the most exciting game of the series. HOL keeps scoring as they put up a 4 spot in the T1 on a Chapman Grandslam, only to see the SBL score 7 in the B1 keyed by Cozart’s 3-run HR gibing him 100 rbi on the season. in the HOL T2 and Olson rbi-groundout and a Chapam rbi-1b make it 7-6 SBL. HOL ties it with a Cabrera sac fly in the T5. HOL takes the lead in the T6 on a Joyce throwing error. But the SBL retake the lead on an Altuve 2-rbi 2b in the B6. Motte, Santana, and Bradley would close out the game for the SBL as they end the season on a high note.
SBL 9, HOL 8
Series Summary:  Hollywood takes the series 4-2. The fact that Southbend even won 2 is amazing.   Its on to the playoffs for Hollywood and on to the draft lottery for Southbend.

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