Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Round One - Okay, seriously, I think someone's going home (8/19 update)

Let me start off by stating that Voltaire is correct. In his match with Erin, we are in the bottom of the 2nd, not the top of 3rd inning. Voltaire's the home team, I just got confuzzed.. :-)

In light of recent developments, I have to make a rule addition. There is actually a chance that a card could run out of spaces before a game actually ends (that is, before the last at-bat gets three outs), so if that happens, I will get another card to finish out the inning. The player will choose spots until the final out is played.


Match 1 - Madding's Athletics took over the lead yesterday, and remain at bat with 2 outs. Can MMosley's Blue Jays fend off the 3-2 game? Can Mosely bring in the runner on 2nd before ending the inning? Let's find out! Madding calls Ken Boyer (Number 14) to the plate. The pitcher takes a deep breath and sets up for the pitch. He takes the sign, nods, and throws the ball. Boyer swings and sends a ground ball up the middle for a single. That's runners on the corners with two down. Number 21 (Jason LaRue) comes to the plate, hoping his 'stache will distract the pitcher into giving up another run or two. MMosley looks like he is about to wring the pitcher's neck. The pitcher winds up and throws. LaRue sends the ball careening off the right field wall and pulls a triple out of the at-bat! That scores two runners, making the score 5-2 in the top of third. What was supposed to be Maddings bg send off has become MMosely's worst nightmare. Anthony Reyes (#23) saunters up to the plate. The hometown crowd seems to be thinning here, as many of them have given up hope. Let's see if MMosley's pitcher can give them reason to stay! Here's the throw - the batter swings and misses. Reyes can't seem to find the location, and he misses for strike two. The next pitch comes in high for a ball. Reyes waits for the next pitch. The pitcher throws, and it's a ball low and outside. Fans are standing in the aisles, watching to see if they should stay or head for the parking lot. Here's the wind up. The pitch comes in high and tight for a full count. The entire place has gone dead silent. The pitcher takes a deep breath, and the batter follows suit. Here's the set. The wind-up. And here comes a fastball right down the middle. The batter swings and.... MISSES!

The pitcher retires the side after taking a severe beating here in the third inning. Will the Blue Jays be able to pull themselves back after being down 5-2? Will Madding be able to keep his A's focused on keeping that lead? The tension is off the charts!

MMosley, you've got five players left to choose from. Since you have the final bat here in the game, you can select all five, just put them in the order you'd like them to bat: 16, 18, 19, 28, 32


Match 2 - WhiteSoxCards' Mariners and Joey's Rangers are tied at 0-0 in the top of the 2nd inning. The Mariners have two out and a runner on third. WhiteSoxCards sends in Number 13 to see if he can be a lucky charm. The pitcher is known to have a superstitious streak in him. Will #13 be a good sign or a bad one? He sets. Here's the wind-up, the pitch, and the batter hits the ball on the ground right at the first baseman, who scoops it up and tosses it to the pitcher on first for the ground out to end the inning.

WhiteSoxCards couldn't break the nothing-nothing tie, but he'll get another chance to bat later in the third inning. In the meantime, Joey is hoping his Rangers beats the Mariners to the punch. Grab a snack and watch what happens coming up in the bottom of the second inning.

Joey comes to bat with the game still tied. Which three players will he call to bat: 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32


Match 3 - TasteLikeDirt comes to the plate in the top of the third, trailing 2-0 behind ChrisB's Blue Jays. Will the Braves be able to take the lead? Can they do what Madding did in the other match? Number 28 sure hopes to get things going here! He steps up to the plate as the pitcher finishes up his warm-up. Here's the pitch... The batter swings and sends the ball between the second baseman and first baseman into right for a single to start things off! Let's see if Number 12 can move that runner further down the bases. Joey is hoping his team has given up its last hit of the inning. But, no outs, there's a good chance TasteLikeDirt can get something done here. The pitcher sets up for the pitch as Number 12 takes his stand. Here's the throw... It's another hit! The batter knocks this one into the outfield, dropping it right into the gap for another single! So far we've had two batters and two singles. Looks like the Braves have found a combination that works. The Blue Jays are ready for this trend to be over. What is going to happen as Number 8 comes to bat? Let's see what the pitcher can do. He comes in this time with an off-speed pitch. The batter is not even close to being fooled and he sends this one screaming to the outfield. The centerfielder tries to get a bead on it, but it shoots off the wall toward right. The batter rounds second as one run scores. He heads for third and the throw is too late. It's a two-run RBI for Number Eight to tie the game.

TasteLikeDirt has managed to tie the game here in the top of the third, and has a man left on third to boot. He's got no outs, so all of his next three players will get to make a plate appearance next. The question is: Which three players will he pick? 02, 05, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 26, 29, 32


Match 4 - We're in the top of third inning here as Chris(M) has taken the lead 2-1 over Motherscratcher's Royals. The Royals took out of of the White Sox players. So, with two outs to go, will the White Sox build their lead or will the Royals put an end to their scoring? There's a runner on second, hoping to reach home plate. Chris(M) brings in Number 25. The pitcher takes the sign. Here's the wind-up and the pitch. The ball comes out of the pitcher's hand, hurtling toward home. The batter swings and, well, there is no other way to say this, but there is SOMETHING in the water here at this tournament... The batter ends up on third with a stand-up triple, bringing the runner home and increasing the lead to 3-1 with one out. Feeling pretty good about things, Number 26 walks up to the plate, ready to strike. The pitcher can't believe this is happening and looks on wearily. He's got a job to do, so he gets to it. Here's the pitch. The batter swings, and in some kind of weird space-time warp sends the ball flying to the outfield for YET ANOTHER triple. I have to say, I never expected to see anything like this. Just how many triples can be scored in one day across this many cards!? That's 4-1 now, and still only one out. Chris(M) chooses player Number 27 to bat next. Even I can't watch... Oh, wait, I have to do the scratching... Here we go.... The pitcher winds up and throws. The batter connects and sends this one clear out of the park for a two-run homer! Motherscratcher has got to be shaking his head here.

That's now 5-1 with one out, and Chris(M) is still up to bat. Can the Royals stop the gusher that has sprung up here tonight? We'll find out next time!

Chris(M), look over the remaining players and choose your next three batters: 03, 09, 14, 19, 23, 28, 31


Match 5 - Voltaire pointed out that he is up to bat in the bottom of the second inning. I had mistakenly said it was the third inning. Blame it on late-night scratchcard dust... :-) So, Voltaire comes to bat in the bottom of the second inning, leading 4-0 over Erin's Orioles. Erin has been showing some frustration and disappointment in her players as they have failed to close in on the Brewers. The Brewers are hoping to capitalize on the amazing run of triples being chosen tonight. The lead-off batter is Number 14. The pitcher sets and throws her first pitch. The batter swings and pops the ball into the air. The Orioles shortstop gets under it and she sends the first batter back to the dugout with a pop out. One down and two to go. Can Erin keep Voltaire in check? Or will the next batter do some of his own pounding? Voltaire sends in Number 23 to try and increase his 4-run lead. The pitcher takes her sign from the catcher. Here's the throw. And there's a swing and a miss. The next pitch barely catches the edge of the plate and the ump calls strike. Before the batter knows what's happening, he is sent packing. A strikeout puts the Orioles one out closer to getting out of the inning. Voltaire is not one to go out quietly, though, so let's see if Number 24 can turn things around for them this inning. The pitch comes in low and the batter swings, sending a grounder to the shortstop who makes the throw to first for the final out of the inning. Three up and three down in the bottom of the second.

The Brewers lead 4-0 as we NOW go to the top of third. The Orioles will come in and try to save themselves in the last inning. From what we've seen of third innings so far, it should prove to be one heck of a ride!

Erin, you're up, so choose you three players wisely or randomly or by flipping coins... :-) Here are the gals ready to bat for you: 05, 06, 09, 11, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 32


Match 6 - Welcome back, folks! We're in the bottom of the 2nd inning with 1 out. Kevin's Marlins have shown great potential as they are battling to overcome Dayf's Rockies' lead of 4-3. Meanwhile, Dayf is hoping to end the inning quickly. Kevin checks out the players at his disposal, and chooses Number 20. The batter steps into the box and gets ready. The pitcher asks for a new ball and gets one. The catcher gives the sign. Here's the pitch. The batter meets the ball and it bounces passed the pitcher, but takes a funny bounce toward the second baseman. He makes a diving stop, turn and fires to first just in the nick of time for the out! What an incredible play! As the batter heads back to the dugout, Number 4 heads for the plate. There are two outs and the bases remain empty after the home run shot that seems so long ago. The pitcher has regained all his confidence as he fires in is next pitch. The batter has other plans, however. He swings around and knocks the ball toward left field. The fielder heads back to the track and pulls off an amazing over-the-shoulder catch to retire the side.

Dayf takes over in the top of the third inning. He leads by one run and is hoping some of the 'triple-infused' scratchcard dust works its magic on his batters. Kevin will have to hang on and try to make a late-game comeback.

Dayf checks over his roster and makes his next three selections: 09, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30

6 comments:

  1. That scratch dust is tasting more and more bitter as the game goes on.

    28, 19, 16, 18, 32

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alright, lets go with my favorite number 7, my softball jersey number 15 chosen in honor of Thurman Munson and a random number 22.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Okay ....

    Bring up number 16, 5, and 21.


    Crossing my fingers that these girls don't embarrass me. (Oh, too late)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ahhh! Madden's scratchdust power continues to infuse my team with abilities far beyond those of the mortal scratchcard players.

    3, 9, 14

    ReplyDelete