A couple of weeks ago the family went over to Dan’s house with his new dog Cosmo. Peanut had a great time playing with Cosmo until he kind of puppy mauled her. He jumped on her and proceeded to lightly bite her shoulder. All of this wasn’t too traumatizing, and again this was 2 or so weeks ago. R was getting her dressed this morning and as she was putting her shirt on Peanut looked at the shirt and said “This is the shirt Cosmo bit, my shoulder hurt.” Lo and behold it was the same shirt.
Dungeons and Dragons for Baseball Fans:
Over a series of discussions today with Lee (diehard Cardinals fan) we decided to play a mock World Series with my beloved Angels and his Cards. At first via WhatIfSports I had the computer simulated the series for me and the Angels took it in 7 hard fought games, including 2 home team walk off wins (game 7 being one of them). Well this was fun and all but some of the decisions seemed odd, so what did Lee and I decide to do? We are going to simulate the WS with us as managers (simulating Lee as Tony LaRussa, and me as Mike Scioscia, duh). What follows is a recap of the first game we played this evening. To be clear Lee and I are going to be conscious of innings pitched by relievers so to simulate as best we can what might have happened.
It was wonderful weather for the start of the game. 5:05pm west coast time start. The pitching match up was: Colon v. Carpenter, ace v. ace. What more could you ask for?
Here are the highlights:
The Cards got to Colon early which is the key. In the 2nd inning after getting 2 runners on with 1 out the Cardinals got 3 consecutive hits to post a 3 spot on Colon and the Angels. Then in the 3rd Pujols lead off with a double, Colon walked Jim Ed (btw, I hate him), Walker hit into a 4-6-3 double play that for some reason Pujols failed to score on only to be followed with a single by Reggie Sanders to score him.
Score after 2.5 – Cardinals 4 – Angels 0
Bottom of the 3rd Casey Kotchman goes yard to put the Angels on the board and break up the no hitter and shut out (yeah it was just the 3rd inning but still).
Colon starts grooving setting down the Cards in order in the 4th, 5th and 6th. The Angels really failed to post much of an effort wasting a lead off double by one of the 3 Molinas in the game (Bengie).
Top of the 7th the other Molina in the starting lineup (Yadier) gets a single and Virtual Scioscia goes to the pen and taps Donnelly who gets 3 quick outs (7 pitches).
Bottom 7, Molina leads off the inning with another double (probably an inside the park homer for any other player in baseball) and once again is stranded.
Score after 7 – Cards 4 – Angels 1
Top 8 Donnelly continues his groove and sets the Cards down in order (11 pitches). Then the Angles blow it again: lead off triple by Figgins, then ground out, line out, ground out to strand him.
9th inning was pointless as both teams were set down in order.
Cards Win! Tough loss for the Angels who batted: 0-9 with a runner in scoring position.
Cards took home field away and look to game 2 with the pitching match up of Mulder v. Lackey.
Here is the box score:
Sure I am no sportswriter, I am barely an English writer, but stay tuned for Game 2, whenever that occurs. I also invite Lee to recap the game from his perspective in the comments.
9 comments:
The box score doesn't show that I outmanaged Drucker by altering the computerized lineup (which was based on Tony La Russa's preferred batting order for the season). I moved Taguchi from 9 to 2 and Walker from 2 to 5, dropping the 5-7 batters one spot each. I also shook up the bottom of the order by swapping Nunez and Molina at 8 and 9. Seems to have paid off, as the 6-9 guys had an RBI each.
Drucker hates Jim Edmonds, but he turns out to be a classy guy who doesn't play in his own little world, as some may think. Here's what he said (unless Drucker deletes this) after the Cardinals lost to the Astros in the last game to be played at the first new Busch Stadium:
"Did we lose or did we win?" marveled Edmonds. "It's something that you've got to see to believe it. You really do. People back home ask me about this place and I tell them, 'You've got to come see it to believe it.' I don't think you can describe the power of these people that come to the game day in and day out, and the support they give you. It really makes you go out there and play harder, play better and basically be a better person just because you know they're watching."
What Lee failed to mention is that I too juggled the lineup in the 5-8 range, including replacing Finley with Rivera. My changes failed to yield a win but I too performed managing magic. ALSO, using Donnelly and then going to Santana left my bullpen fresh for the next games.
Scoooore Booooard!
This is awesome! I am making this as close as possible to the real World Series by not watching any of the games, and by only reading about them online. Also, I'm betting on them. I just lost a buck.
TO MYSELF!!!!!!!!
You think that's funny, New Jack?
When is Game 2?
Also: I'm not sure what Drucker means by "performed managing magic." I mean, granted: he did some stuff. But if you lose, was it magic? Or just an illusion?
Close - in that case it's called ill-usion.
Post a Comment