Saturday, August 30, 2008

Impeding Impeachment?

Though I try hard to keep things in order and on the up-and-up, there have been a couple times during these games that my brain has lapsed, thus causing teams to appear in innings they shouldn't or to gain or lose runs for no reason whatsoever. I am hoping to keep my position as purveyor of play, though many more foul-ups and I just may be facing impeachment.


Round 1 Match 5 - Voltaire faces possible elimination here in the bottom of the fifth inning where his Brewers are trailing by four runs behind Erin's Orioles. He's decided to go straight down the line of batters, hoping they'll bring him back from the brink of banishment! Number 01 comes to the plate and the pitcher sends him back without so much as a blink. The pitcher dazzles the batter with her mad pitching skills and strikes him out. Up next, Number 03 makes an attempt to turn things around. The pitcher winds, and here's the throw.... It's a hit! The ball rockets to deep left, and the batter easily reaches second - a double. Third up is Number 06. The Orioles get ready in the field as the pitcher launches her pitch. It's a swing and a miss. The next pitch comes in high and tight for a ball. The batter takes the next pitch and watches it sail a bit outside. With the count 2-1, the pitcher has fallen behind. She comes back with a sinker that gets the batter coming up short, sending the ball foul. The 2-2 pitch blazes across the plate as the batter can't connect with it, another "K" for the pitcher.

Two outs and a runner on second, Number 07 is hoping to bring a little luck. Here's the throw... The batter swings and the good luck pours out of the bat into the ball as it soars out of the park for a two-run home run! The Brewers pull within two runs of tying the game with that hit! Just when we thought this one was over, the Brew Crew pulls a two-out two-run homer out of their hats! Number 08 does not want to be the batter that puts an end to Voltaire's tournament play. He steps in and eyes the pitcher. When the ball gets within reach, the batter sends it over the third baseman's head, bouncing in there for a double. We've got two teams here who do NOT want to give up their shot at winning the whole shebang by losing here. Number 09 has the entire first round riding on his shoulders. The pitcher offers up a nicely placed ball, and the batter takes the bait. He sends the ball FLYING deep into the right field corner. He's got an easy double, scoring the runner but he's not stopping there! The fielder throws, but the batter slides in there for a run-scoring triple!

We're now in a 7-8 game with Voltaire still up to bat. Will Erin's girls be able to stave off this attack? Can the Brewers stay in the game long enough to take the lead and finally end this match? I have no idea! Not even upping the ante to six batters at a time has pushed this game to the end. But, I have to say it has been a very exciting game!

Voltaire, go ahead and pick out SIX more spots! You have two outs and a runner on third ready to tie the game: 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 26, 27, 31, 32


Round 2 Match 1 - Chris(M) and Joey are in the top of the second inning where Chris(M) has taken a 1-0 lead and has a runner on third. With only one out, things could go in any direction! The Giants call in Number 10. The Rangers work a great defensive move as the batter hits the ball on the ground. The ball was heading between first and second, but the second baseman made an incredible dive, spun around on one knee and managed to throw the runner out at first. That's two outs and the runner on third is hoping to cross the plate before the third out. Number 06 enters the box for his Giants. The pitcher throws a hanging slider and the batter sends it deep to left. The runner on third scores as the batter comes up with a double. Two down, two scored, and Number 12 is ready to put the Rangers on their rears. And, unbelievably, the pitcher throws the exact same pitch as the last batter, and Number Twelve takes the clue from his teammate and HE gets all the way around the bases to third - back-to-back triples as another run scores!

The Rangers have fallen behind 3-0 here in the second inning. They've managed to get two outs against the Giants and are hoping they can end the inning here. Chris(M) sends in Number 11 for his Giants. The batter sends this one bouncing right back to the pitcher who makes the throw to to first for the out.

Joey's Rangers trail 3-0 as the come to bat in the bottom of the second inning. Let's see if they can generate some hits here!

Joey, which SIX BATTERS will you use to fight back? 05, 09, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32


Round 2 Match 2 - Madding leads 3-1 (I mistakenly made his three runs disappear last go-round) over Dayf. We're in the first inning and Dayf has runners on first and third with just one out in the bottom of the inning. He comes to the plate using Number 28 to get things going this evening. Madding's Cardinals get ready. The pitcher throws and the batter pops the ball up to the second baseman for out number two. Up next is Number 21 to the plate. The first pitch is fouled off into the crowd. The pitcher misses the next two pitches, getting behind in the count 2-1. The next pitch comes in a little high, but the batter goes for it anyway. It's hit deep, but it is straight-away center and the fielder pulls it in to end the inning.

Dayf could not quite get enough done in the first inning to take the lead, but he's got other chances coming up in the game. Meanwhile, Madding's Cardinals come to bat in the top of the second, leading 3-1.

Madding (now that you have your runs back), feel free to pick out your next SIX BATTERS from your Cardinals line-up: 01, 02, 04, 06, 09, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32


Round 2 Match 3 - ChrisB is batting while he waits to see who wins the Erin/Voltaire match. So far, he's got 1 run, a runner on first, and just 1 out. Since there is not another player waiting on his selection just yet, I am not enforcing the 48-hour play selection rule. We'll catch up with ChrisB when he checks in next.


READER TRIVIA QUESTION: Okay, folks! We've got another trivia question for you! Once again, this is open to any readers who are not currently playing in the scratch-of tournament. As before, eliminated players may answer! The prize is a random game-used/auto'd card! Answer by replying to THIS post only. The question: Excluding #42, what are the seven retired numbers from the Indians, and who is represented by each of the numbers?


PLAYER TRIVIA QUESTION: Yeap, you read it right! I am giving away a game-used/auto'd card to any player CURRENTLY playing in the tournament! What player is credited for the Cleveland team calling themselves the Indians? Please respond to this post, and only answers from players currently active in the tournament can answer this one! If you've been eliminated from the tourney, please do not answer this one.

6 comments:

  1. Player Trivia Question: Louis Sockalexis

    It's worked so far. I'm gonna keep going in order. 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20

    ReplyDelete
  2. 18 Harder
    5 Boudreau
    21 Lemon
    14 Doby
    3 Averill
    19 Feller
    455 The Fans (this one sounds shady, 455 sellouts in a row is impressive, but ...)

    I was impressed with the Indian list of HOFers. Like the Mets, Cleveland had many HOFers either start or end their career with them.

    I appreciate the excuse to do a little cheating, um, I mean research.

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  3. It is one of the great disappointments of my life (well, maybe that's overstating it a bit) that #28 Cory Snyder fell short of making that hallowed list.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lets see if I can pull a rabbit out of my cap this inning with this batting order.

    #20 Jeff Kunkel
    #28 David Murphy
    #32 Josh Hamilton
    #15 Gerald Laird
    #27 Frank Catalonotto
    #9 Hank Blalock

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's the all-injured team... 16 (Chris Duncan), 29 (Chris Carpenter), 19 (Tyler Johnson)

    Oh, that's right.. pick SIX. Okay. 24 (Rick Ankiel), 27 (Ron Villone), 22 (Felipe Lopez)

    ReplyDelete