Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Playoffs Wrapup

Wow.  As FNFT ages (and as I do too), I am coming to realize that when I find the game of baseball most exciting is when I am doing live scoring and updates of FNFT playoff and World Series games.  The real players, except for a few, are mostly going through the motions playing out the season.  They obviously have no clue that their performances, combined in a tangled and random way, are creating something as riveting as sports entertainment gets.  Last night did not disappoint.  It was the closest and most exciting finish to the FNFT playoffs since they were first played four years ago.  I wish I had blogged all of my website updates to have a permanent record of the events.  I will try to recreate it as best I can here.

Brett and Jacob headed into Monday in a virtual dead heat.  Brett led by only one point and both had starting pitchers going.  Madison Bumgarner was up first for Brett and he threw a game for the ages.  Thirteen strikeouts in 8+ innings - 33 points.  The bar had been set.  High.

While that was happening, Joel's "Plan B" pitcher Doug Fister of Detroit was throwing a gem of his own - a 13 strikeout, 36 point performance.  Joel needed to make up a 47 point deficit going into Monday and there was rain in the forecast in Philly which could wipe out his "Plan A" pitcher Cliff Lee.  There was hope.  Still hope.

As the evening games got underway, Yunel Escobar was not in the starting for Jacob.  He had jammed his wrist on Saturday as it apparent that he wasn't going to play.  One hitter down, but one still to go for Jabob - the Rays B.J. Upton.  Upton started the night 0 for 2.

In Philadelphia, the rain held off.  Cliff Lee took the mound and Fister's 36 points were off the board.  Joel Hanrahan, in the mean time, notched a workmanlike save and added 6 points to Joel's total.  He was now only down by 41.  Yipee.  Cliff Lee and Jose Reyes would have to cover that.

Jacob's pitcher was Javier Vazquez.  He chose Vazquez to start over Jeremy Hellickson because of a hot stretch in his last 4 starts.  Hellickson had scored 29 on Sunday which at this point, would have left Jacob just short of Brett's total.

Vazquez started his game with three shutout innings.  Cliff Lee started his game with three shutout innings.  Vazquez gave up a run.  Cliff Lee kept putting up zeros.  Jose Reyes meanwhile was 0 for 2.

Then, in a far corner of the world called Tropicana Field, B.J. Upton hit a solo home run in a meaningless 4-1 game.  Eight more points for Jacob.  Game on.

Cliff Lee kept going.  Clicking off inning after inning of shutout ball.  The 47 point deficit had become 32, then 26, then 18...  Could both Joel and Jacob pull off enormous comebacks on the same night?

Javier Vazquez retired the side on one hit in the 7th inning.  His pitch count was 97 and the Marlins were winning easily.  Assuming a win for Vazquez, Brett and Jacob were now tied at 71.  Jacob needed only one more point for the win.  But the Marlins 107 year old manager Jack McKeon had seen enough.  He pulled Vazquez for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 7th.  Brett wins on the tie breaker.  Eric Hosmer's 12 to Ryan Howard and B.J. Upton's 9.

In Philadelphia, Cliff Lee threw a shutout.  37 points,  One better than Fister.  Joel now trailed John by only three points with Jose Reyes still playing.  The Mets were down to their last ups in the 9th.  Reyes would bat 7th so Joel needed a rally if Reyes was to get another AB.

First batter, David Wright, flied out to left.

Then, more hope. Angel Pagan tripled.

Jason Bay followed with a home run.  Then Nick Evans doubled.  Could it be?

Mets catcher Josh Thole grounded out for the second out of the inning.  It would be up to pinch hitter Willie Harris to keep the inning alive.  Jose Reyes was on-deck.

* * *
I'm sure Willie Harris has flown out to left field many times in his career.  Last night was like most others.  Unbeknownst to him, in a far corner of the world called New Berlin, Wisconsin, a fantasy baseball owner saw his season end with that fly out and I'm sure felt far more horrible than Willie Harris did when he put his bat back in the rack.

* * *

What an outstanding playoffs.  Congratulations to all four teams involved.  There were two losers only because there had to be.  It's a shame.

John against Brett in the World Series.  Game 1 tonight.

Monday, September 05, 2011

Game 5 Update

CC Sabathia racked up 28 points and Matt Kemp, Jhonny Peralta, and J.J Putz all scored in double digits as John posts 76 on Sunday in Game 5 of the FNFT playoffs.  Joel (29 points) will need a minor miracle to make up a 47-point deficit with three players today.

The good news is that his starting pitcher Cwiff Wee is certainly capable of eating up a chunk of that himself.  He was third in FNFT points this season and had 5 starts of 28 points or more.  Lee pitches tonight at home against the Braves.  The bad news is that the weather forecast in Philadelphia calls for a 90% chance of thunderstorms tonight.  Joel's backup SP is recent pick-up Doug Fister of Detroit who pitches this afternoon in Cleveland.

Joel also gets a relief pitcher - either Joel Hanrahan of Pittsburgh or Joakim Soria of Kansas City - plus Mets shortstop Jose Reyes who was given a routine day off on Sunday.  Big games by all players involved will certainly be needed if Joel is to make a run.  If not, John will head to his second consecutive FNFT World Series.

In the other playoff game, Brett holds a 1-point edge over Jacob (38-37) with both teams' starting pitchers going today.  Brett sends Madison Bumgarner of the Giants in a 3:00 p.m. start in San DIego.  Jacob will counter with Javier Vazquez in a 6:00 p.m. start in Miami against the Mets.  Vazquez got the starting nod over Jeremy Hellickson.  Hellickson's 29-point performance will be long remembered if Vazquez implodes.

Jacob also gets B.J. Upton of Tampa Bay who was given Sunday off to make room for one of the Rays outfield prospects, and Yuniel Escobar of Toronto who left Saturday night's game with a jammed wrist and was out of the lineup on Sunday.

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Game 4 Update

Game 4 of the FNFT playoffs will come down to the wire on Saturday.  Barring a disaster by Cole Hamels who pitches Saturday night in Miami against the Marlins, Joel will win Game 4 and force a 5th and deciding game on Sunday.  The weather in Miami calls for a 20% chance of showers in the evening.  Joel leads John by 5 points with John still getting points from a reliever.  None of his 3 RP pitched on Friday.

The other playoff game is far too close to call.  Brett, needing a win to stay alive, gets Michael Pineda of the Mariners who is pitching on the road against Oakland as well as Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Carl Crawford of the Red Sox whom he hopes will pad his slim 2 point lead.  Both Saltalamacchia and Crawford sat out last nights 10-0 drubbing in Texas.  Crawford was a late scratch from that game due to illness.  There was no injury report on Saltalamacchia (shit, I hate typing that name), so probably just a routine day off.  There is no chance or rain in either Oakland or Dallas today.

Jacob will counter with his SP Ian Kennedy of Arizona who will be pitching across the bay from Pineda against the Giants and Tim Lincecum.  He also gets RP points, either Craig Kimbrel of Atlanta or 7 from Antonio Bastardo.

Possible live updates tonight.  This too depends on the weather.  If it's clear I'll be out in Sun Prairie and the Pepsi Nationals Midget races.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Playoffs Update

Both series of the FNFT playoffs are now even at one game apiece and have now become best 2 out of 3 series.  There was a contingency schedule for the World Series if both playoff series were sweeps.  That is obviously not going to happen.

So - Game 3 of the playoffs is Tuesday, August 30.  Game 4 is Friday, September 2.

Game 5, if necessary, will be Sunday, September 4.  Make a note of that.  We have never had an FNFT game on Sunday, but this one will work just like any other FNFT game.  Every team in the Major Leagues has a game scheduled on both Sunday and Monday, Labor Day.  The schedule turns from Sunday to Monday so every team plays a different opponent, but they all play.

Under normal circumstances, I would do live blogging on Saturday night so if you wanted to, you would know before you went to bed whether there will be a Game 5.  However, I'm out of town on Saturday so I won't be able to do updates until my normal time Sunday morning.

As far as lineups go - you will have until the normal time to change your lineup for Friday night's game - noon or whenever (before any games start).  Then you will have from midnight Friday (see next paragraph) until 12 noon on Sunday to set your lineup for Sunday's game.  That noon deadline is hard - games on Sunday start at 12:05.

If you need to set your lineup for Sunday's game BEFORE Friday night, you will need to email it to me.  I will assume that the lineup you have set in the system on Friday night is your lineup for Game 4.  Once I have pulled down the Game 4 lineups (Friday night) I will post a note on the website that it's ok to change your lineup for Sunday's game.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

-13

Joe has been bitching about his relief pitching all year:
"Can I bench all of my relievers?"
"If someone wants a RP that loves F&%kin you up on Friday, Saturday, Tuesday or Wednesdays, I've got one for you."
When I ran the position analysis a couple of games ago, Joe's relievers had scored only 67 points all season - easily the lowest in the league.

Despite that, Joe went into last night trailing in the wild card race by two games.  His hitting was mediocre but Jake's (Jake S.) hitting was worse.  When I did a quick hand tally late last night, Joe was leading Jake 39-28 including 9 points from Joe's #2 RP Jose Valverde and 7 from Jake's #1 RP Craig Kimbrel.  Both have starting pitchers going on Saturday.  Jake declared, "It's over.  I'm not going to win the wild card."  I said, "You could be right."

Enter Ryan Madison - Philly's closer - Joe's #1 RP.

He came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th with the Phils leading 4-2.  A solid save would put Joe in a very good position going into Saturday's games.  But oops, he gave up a single to Jason Werth.  Then another single to Danny Espinosa.  And another to Jonny Gomes.  4-3 Phillies. Wil Ramos, the Nats catcher bunted the runners to second and third, netting Madison his first positive point of the inning.  Jesus Flores pinch hit and was intentionally walked (with Joe muttering 'Jesus Christ' if he was watching).

Ian Desmond then singled, tying the game and eliminating the possibility of a save for Madison.  But he then struck out Rick Ankiel for the second out and had a chance to get out of the inning only a hair below sea level.

Enter Ryan Zimmerman (aka Bob Dylan).  A 3-2 fastball from Madison was send Blowin' in the Wind.  A walk-off grand slam.  And -13 for Ryan Madison.  'Fuck you up' he did.

Now Joe trails Jake by 14 points going into today's games.  Not only must he cover that spread, but beat him by enough to gain 2 games in the standings.  Alexi Ogando goes for Joe and Justin Masterson for Jake.


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Stayin' Alive

All three divisions have been clinched.  John, Joel and Brett are in the FNFT playoffs.  Jake S. goes 0-4 and now leads Joe by only 2 games for the wild card spot.  Gerry is also still in the wild card race but trails by 5 games.

One more Friday, then it's FNFT playoffs.  If a 1-game playoff is necessary to decide the wild card, it will be this Sunday, August 21.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday... maybe

For perhaps the first time ever, the FNFT postseason schedule includes Sunday-Monday games.

If there is a 1-game playoff it will be this Sunday, August 21.  The games from Monday, August 22 will count as they normally would.  Please note that not all MLB teams play on Monday, August 22.  So for those teams not schedules, you will only get the Sunday game.  That's obviously not ideal, but it's really the only way I could schedule it.  The only teams that could possibly be involved in a 1-game playoff at this point are Jake S., Joe and Gerry.  Please plan accordingly.

Also, if the playoffs go to a Game 5, it will be on Sunday and Monday, September 4-5.  That Monday is Labor Day and all MLB teams are scheduled to play both Sunday and Monday.

Similarly, the World Series would conclude with Game 7 on a Sunday too (September 25).  I did this to avoid scheduling the last and second to last days of the MLB season which ends Wednesday, September 28.

Now, if there is no 1-game playoff and if BOTH playoff series end in three games, the World Series start will be moved up to Friday, September 2 and all of the Sundays will be erased from the post-season schedule.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Pennant Race

I drove up Bark Lake Road yesterday which is near my house.  The south side of the road is lined with sugar maples and most of them have a several leaves with bright red tips.  It must be getting close to playoff time in FNFT.

John and Brett are the first two teams to clinch playoff spots.  John may have technically clinched last Friday.  Realistically he cliched in May.  Brett has clinched the Roger Clemens Division and will be making his first appearance in the FNFT playoffs in his third season in the league.

Joel leads the Pedro Martinez Division by 9 games over Gerry.  His magic number is two.  Assuming he wins, this will be his first appearance in the FNFT post-season since losing to Gerry in the World Series in 2002.

Jake S. leads the Wild Card race by 4 games over Joe and 8 over Gerry.  His magic number is 7.  He could technically still catch John for the division title in which case John would then be the wild card.  This would be his first FNFT post-season appearance in eight seasons in the league.

Joe and Gerry are the two teams on the outside looking in.  Gerry would seem to need nothing short of a miracle to pick up 8 games in the wild card race or 9 games in his division race.  Joe trails by 4 in the wild card race - difficult but clearly not impossible.

As for the rest of you... It was just one of those years.  The divide between the top six teams and the bottom six teams never closed.

As for me, I am headed toward having the worst record in FNFT for the second time in three years.  With a championship sandwiched in between.  Weird.  But I'll take it.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

LOOKING AHEAD

I have won my second FNFT Championship.  I am happy.  When this thing started back in 1986, had I known it would survive for this long, I would have guessed I'd have ten of these by now.  But I have two.  Oh well.  And as happy as I am to have them, I'd give them back in an instant if I could know that FNFT was going to be around long enough for me to win another two - at the same pace I've won the first two.

I sincerely hope that everyone will be back to play FNFT next year.  Despite my failings as a fantasy football commissioner, my love for my role as FNFT Commissioner has never been greater.  2011 will mark the 25th season of FNFT.  Think about that.  Every year my goal is to make FNFT better than it was the year before.  I think - if things work the way I'm hoping - next year will be no exception.

I've had an idea swimming around in my head which I have told a couple of people about.  I'm going to unveil it to everyone right now.  To celebrate our silver anniversary, 2011 will be the creation of the:

FNFT Hall of Fame

We play the games just like real baseball does.  Now we will have a Hall of Fame just like real baseball does.

Before the draft next spring, I will distribute the detailed rules and initial FNFT Hall of Fame ballot.  We will vote on which players from the FNFT era are most deserving of induction.  Over the course of next season, I will write a thoroughly researched bio for each of the inductees in my typical grammatically imperfect and sometime humorous fashion and reveal them one-by-one as the season goes on.  They will live in infamy in a special section of the FNFT website and will also have a permanent physical display in bobblehead form which I will dust off for each draft.

We will have different rules for our Hall of Fame - because we can.  In order for a player to be inducted, he must be retired from Major League Baseball (no 5-year waiting period), have appeared on an FNFT roster at some point in his career and played a significant role in the league - however you, as a voter, want to define that.

The class of 2011 will include only three players and we will add one per year thereafter.  This will be a very exclusive club.  I will describe the voting and selection process sometime during the off-season. Voting will be done through secret ballot at the draft.  Be thinking of who you might vote for.

Speaking of the draft, Major League Baseball has altered their schedule for next season.  Opening Day is Thursday, March 31st,  which is actually kind of convenient for us.  That puts the date of the FNFT draft as

Saturday, March 26th, 2011

Let's go with that.

The FNFT website will be open for business all off-season as the baseball season never ends for me.  I will keep the 2010 stats updated and posted up until the draft.  I will also be working on some long planned enhancements to the FNFT roster system and History section of the website.

It has once again been my extreme pleasure serving you as Commissioner.  See you next season.

Tief

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE - GAME 4

You know, I really need to wrap this thing up because I'm going to be up musky fishing this weekend.  Plus, I'm being distracted trying to keep my fantasy football team from winning a game.

Anyway, here are tonight's early returns:

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Buchholz Bos 13 6th inning
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 7 6th inning
1B AGonzalez SD 0 late
2B Kinsler Tex 0 late
SS Andrus Tex 0 late
3B Arod NYY 2 6th inning
OF Granderson NYY 3 6th inning
OF Cuddyer Min 0 6th inning
OF Matsui LAA 0 late
DH Davis NYM 2 8th inning



27





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP Scherzer Ari 0 Wednesday
RP1 Wagner Atl 0
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
C McCann Atl 0 6th inning
1B Cabrera Det 8 6th inning
2B Raburn Det 8 6th inning
SS Infante Atl 1 6th inning
3B Zimmerman Was 2 7th inning
OF Werth Phi 13 6th inning
OF Markakis Bal 0 6th inning
OF Morrison Fla 2 8th inning
DH Dunn Was 1 7th inning



35
900pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Buchholz Bos 15 done - could get L
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 7 8th inning
1B AGonzalez SD 0 late
2B Kinsler Tex 0 late
SS Andrus Tex 0 late
3B Arod NYY 4 8th inning
OF Granderson NYY 3 8th inning
OF Cuddyer Min 0 6th inning
OF Matsui LAA 0 late
DH Davis NYM 2 Final



31





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP Scherzer Ari 0 Wednesday
RP1 Wagner Atl 0
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
RP3 Gregg Tor 0
C McCann Atl 2 8th inning
1B Cabrera Det 9 9th inning
2B Raburn Det 8 9th inning
SS Infante Atl 1 8th inning
3B Zimmerman Was 2 8th inning
OF Werth Phi 16 8th inning
OF Crisp Oak 0 Did not start
OF Morrison Fla 2 Final
DH Dunn Was 3 8th inning



43
I had Markakis in my S/L originally.  It should have been Crisp.

100pm

Last update tonight...

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Buchholz Bos 15 Final
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 7 Final
1B AGonzalez SD 4 3rd inning
2B Kinsler Tex 0 4th inning
SS Andrus Tex 0 4th inning
3B Arod NYY 4 Final
OF Granderson NYY 3 Final
OF Cuddyer Min 0 8th inning
OF Matsui LAA 1 4th inning
DH Davis NYM 2 Final



36





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP Scherzer Ari 0 Wednesday
RP1 Wagner Atl 0 DNP
RP2 Lyon Hou 0 DNP
RP3 Gregg Tor 0 3 - Final
C McCann Atl 2 FInal
1B Cabrera Det 9 Final
2B Raburn Det 8 Final
SS Infante Atl 1 Final
3B Zimmerman Was 5 Final
OF Werth Phi 16 Final
OF Crisp Oak 0 Did not start
OF Morrison Fla 2 Final
DH Dunn Was 7 Final



50

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE

This is likely to be a very long post.  FNFT World Series baseball and election returns on the same night.  A good night to stay home.  Here we go...

630pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL 0 7pm
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 0 Not starting
1B AGonzalez SD 0 930pm
2B Kinsler Tex 0 9pm
SS Andrus Tex 0 9pm
3B Arod NYY 0 0/1
OF Granderson NYY 2 1/1 2b
OF Cuddyer Min 0 Not starting
OF Matsui LAA 0 0/1
DH Peralta Det 0 7pm



2





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 4 1IP K
RP1 Wagner Atl 0
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
RP3 Gregg Tor 0
C McCann Atl 0 0/1
1B Cabrera Det 0 9pm
2B Raburn Det 0 9pm
SS Infante Atl 0 0/1
3B Zimmerman Was 0 0/0
OF Werth Phi 0 0/0
OF Markakis Bal 1 1/1
OF Morrison Fla 0 0/0
DH Dunn Was 0 0/0



5
I'll try to post a similar update every 15 minutes or so and interject BS whenever I feel it appropriate.

Reports say Posada has a routine night off and will return to the lineup tomorrow (unless, of course, he's needed for a pinch hit strikeout later tonight.)

Michael Cuddyer is not in the starting lineup for the Twins despite hitting .467 with 5 HR and 12 RBI against the White Sox starting pitcher, Danks.  Don't know what's up with that.

Cuddyer is in fact playing.  (Thank you Twitter.)  At first base - that's why I didn't see him on the list.  Male pattern blindness.

No way I can do an update every 15 minutes.  It takes almost that long to fill out the stupid thing.

655pm

ADAM DUNN!!!  Two-run jack!  That's what I'm talkin' 'bout baby.

700pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL 0 7pm
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 0 Not starting
1B AGonzalez SD 0 930pm
2B Kinsler Tex 0 9pm
SS Andrus Tex 0 9pm
3B Arod NYY 0 0/1
OF Granderson NYY 2 1/1 2b
OF Cuddyer Min 0 7pm
OF Matsui LAA 0 0/1
DH Peralta Det 0 7pm



2





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 8 2.2IP 2H 2K
RP1 Wagner Atl 0
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
RP3 Gregg Tor 0
C McCann Atl 0 0/1
1B Cabrera Det 0 9pm
2B Raburn Det 0 9pm
SS Infante Atl 0 0/1
3B Zimmerman Was 2 1/1 R
OF Werth Phi 1 0/0 BB
OF Markakis Bal 1 1/1
OF Morrison Fla 0 0/1
DH Dunn Was 10 1/1 R 2RBI HR



22
Travis Wood has given up 2 runs through 3 innings. Looks like I picked the right pitcher.

I had the wrong start time for Detroit - game starts at 7.

Hudson is having a shakey 4th inning - 2 on 1 out.

725pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL 0 7pm
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 0 Not starting
1B AGonzalez SD 0 930pm
2B Kinsler Tex 0 0/0
SS Andrus Tex 0 0/0
3B Arod NYY 4 1/2 R RBI
OF Granderson NYY 5 2/2 R 2-2b
OF Cuddyer Min 0 0/1
OF Matsui LAA 0 0/2
DH Peralta Det 0 0/0



9





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 11 4IP 3H BB 3K
RP1 Wagner Atl 0
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
RP3 Gregg Tor 0
C McCann Atl 1 1/2
1B Cabrera Det 0 0/1
2B Raburn Det 1 0/0 BB
SS Infante Atl 0 0/1
3B Zimmerman Was 3 2/2 R
OF Werth Phi 1 0/0 BB
OF Markakis Bal 1 1/2
OF Morrison Fla 1 0/1 R
DH Dunn Was 11 2/2 R 2RBI HR



30
John is starting to get a little somthing going but I'm holding at about a 20 point lead.

Sucks about Ryan Grant, hey?

Wainwright 2 Ks in the 1st inning.

NICKY MARKAKIS - YARD!!!

Hudson is lights out - 2 more Ks.

ARod goes deep.

745pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL 7 1.2IP H BB 4K
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 0 Not starting
1B AGonzalez SD 0 930pm
2B Kinsler Tex 0 0/0
SS Andrus Tex 0 0/1
3B Arod NYY 13 2/3 2R 2RBI HR
OF Granderson NYY 5 2/3 R 2-2b
OF Cuddyer Min 0 0/1
OF Matsui LAA 2 1/3 2b
DH Peralta Det 0 0/0



27





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 15 5IP 4H BB 5K
RP1 Wagner Atl 0
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
RP3 Gregg Tor 0
C McCann Atl 1 1/2
1B Cabrera Det 0 0/1
2B Raburn Det 1 0/0 BB
SS Infante Atl 0 0/2
3B Zimmerman Was 3 2/3 R
OF Werth Phi 1 0/1 BB
OF Markakis Bal 9 2/3 R RBI HR
OF Morrison Fla 1 0/2 R
DH Dunn Was 12 2/2 R 2RBI HR BB



43
My niece just called.  She's working on some sort of school project and needed the starting lineup from Game 7 of the 1955 World Series.  She said she looked on line for over a half hour and could find it.  Then she figured she'd call me.  (Wonder why.)  I had it on my screen before she finished telling me what she needed.

The Dodgers beat the Yankees in the game 2-0.  Johnny Podres threw a shutout and Gil Hodges drove in both runs for The Bums.

800pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL 4 3IP 3H 3ER BB 5K
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 0 Not starting
1B AGonzalez SD 0 0/1
2B Kinsler Tex 1 0/0 BB
SS Andrus Tex 0 0/1
3B Arod NYY 13 2/3 2R 2RBI HR
OF Granderson NYY 5 2/3 R 2-2b
OF Cuddyer Min 0 0/1
OF Matsui LAA 2 1/3 2b
DH Peralta Det 0 0/0



25





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 19 6IP 4H BB 6K
RP1 Wagner Atl 0
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
RP3 Gregg Tor 0
C McCann Atl 2 2/3
1B Cabrera Det 0 0/1
2B Raburn Det 1 0/0 BB
SS Infante Atl 0 0/3
3B Zimmerman Was 3 2/3 R
OF Werth Phi 1 0/1 BB
OF Markakis Bal 9 2/3 R RBI HR
OF Morrison Fla 1 0/2 R
DH Dunn Was 12 2/2 R 2RBI HR BB



48
Hudson 1-2-3 in the 7th with 2 more Ks.

With 0.2% of precincts reporting, Ron Johnson has 78% of the vote for the GOP Senate primary.  He will win in a slaughter.

Walker up 54-42.

Wainwright has given up 5 runs on 9 hits - still in the 4th inning.  The night is going well.

Another 1-2-3 for Hudson.

830pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL -1 4IP 9H 5ER BB 7K
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 0 Not starting
1B AGonzalez SD 1 0/1 BB
2B Kinsler Tex 1 0/0 BB
SS Andrus Tex 0 0/1
3B Arod NYY 13 2/3 2R 2RBI HR
OF Granderson NYY 6 2/3 R 2-2b BB
OF Cuddyer Min 2 1/2 2b
OF Matsui LAA 2 1/3 2b
DH Peralta Det 1 0/1 RBI



25





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 27 8IP 4H BB 8K
RP1 Wagner Atl 0
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
RP3 Gregg Tor 0
C McCann Atl 2 2/3
1B Cabrera Det 0 0/2
2B Raburn Det 2 0/0 R BB
SS Infante Atl 0 0/3
3B Zimmerman Was 3 2/4 R
OF Werth Phi 2 0/2 RBI BB
OF Markakis Bal 9 2/4 R RBI HR
OF Morrison Fla 1 0/2 R
DH Dunn Was 12 2/2 R 2RBI HR BB



58
Jake just emailed and asked for another invite to the fantasy football league. Did that. I AM HOPPIN' TONIGHT.

Hudson is done.  Reds have 2 on in 9th.  AZ up 3-0 - need to hold on so Hudson gets the W.

Fuck the D-Bags bullpen.

OK - great catch by Upton to finish the game.  Hudson finishes with 32 points.

Wainwright settling in.

Walker-Neumann race is zig-zagging between even and Walker up 10.  It's closer than I thought it would be.

I just killed a centipede.

Wainwright still pitching into the 8th.

920pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL 8 Final (assuming L)
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 0 Not starting
1B AGonzalez SD 1 0/2 BB
2B Kinsler Tex 3 0/0 R 2BB
SS Andrus Tex 0 0/3
3B Arod NYY 13 2/4 2R 2RBI HR
OF Granderson NYY 7 2/4 2R 2-2b BB
OF Cuddyer Min 2 1/3 2b
OF Matsui LAA 3 Final
DH Peralta Det 1 0/1 RBI



38





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 32 Final
RP1 Wagner Atl 0 dnp
RP2 Lyon Hou 0
RP3 Gregg Tor 0
C McCann Atl 2 Final
1B Cabrera Det 0 0/3
2B Raburn Det 2 0/0 R BB
SS Infante Atl 0 Final
3B Zimmerman Was 4 Final
OF Werth Phi 2 0/2 RBI BB
OF Markakis Bal 9 2/5 R RBI HR
OF Morrison Fla 3 1/3 R BB
DH Dunn Was 12 Final



66
I don't see any way John wins this.

They just showed Jim Sundberg in the stands at the Rangers game. Holy fucking shit. The guy weighs about 300 pounds. He was stuffing his puss full of popcorn.

Walker up 52-45.

All these games are going slow.  It seems like Detroit and Texas have been playing for four hours.  Same for the Twins and Sox.

950pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL 8 Final
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 0 Not starting
1B AGonzalez SD 1 0/3 BB
2B Kinsler Tex 7 1/2 R RBI 2BB
SS Andrus Tex 2 1/4 R
3B Arod NYY 13 2/5 2R 2RBI HR
OF Granderson NYY 7 2/5 2R 2-2b BB
OF Cuddyer Min 2 1/4 2b
OF Matsui LAA 3 Final
DH Peralta Det 1 0/3 RBI



44





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 32 Final
RP1 Wagner Atl 0 dnp
RP2 Lyon Hou 0 (4 - Final)
C McCann Atl 2 Final
1B Cabrera Det 0 0/4
2B Raburn Det 2 0/2 R BB
SS Infante Atl 0 Final
3B Zimmerman Was 4 Final
OF Werth Phi 2 Final
OF Markakis Bal 9 Final
OF Morrison Fla 3 Final
DH Dunn Was 12 Final



66
Yankees win.  Yankees wins. Th-uuuuuuuuuuuh, YANKEES WIN!  10-innings.  Carl Crawford is thrown out trying to tag up from 2B and go to 3B to end the game.  What a butt-head.

Walker wins. Walker wins. Sc-aaaaaaaht WALKER WINS!

Wow - totally missed this!  Jorge Posada did play.  And hit a pinch hit home run the motherfucker.  That tightens things up quite a bit.  I'll have another update as soon as the Twins-Sox game is over.  Or maybe when the Tigers game is over.

J.J. Hardy was the player of the game in the Twins game according to the broadcast team.

Tigers-Rangers game is in the 9th.  Peralta batting.

1020pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP Wainwright StL 8 Final
RP1 Wilson SF 0
RP2 Capps Min 0 dnp
RP3 Aardsma Sea 0
C Posada NYY 8 Final
1B AGonzalez SD 1 0/3 BB
2B Kinsler Tex 8 Final
SS Andrus Tex 4 Final
3B Arod NYY 13 Final
OF Granderson NYY 7 Final
OF Cuddyer Min 2 Final
OF Matsui LAA 3 Final
DH Peralta Det 1 Final



55





TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP DHudson Ari 32 Final
RP1 Wagner Atl 0 dnp
RP2 Lyon Hou 0 (4 - Final)
C McCann Atl 2 Final
1B Cabrera Det 0 Final
2B Raburn Det 2 Final
SS Infante Atl 0 Final
3B Zimmerman Was 4 Final
OF Werth Phi 2 Final
OF Markakis Bal 9 Final
OF Morrison Fla 3 Final
DH Dunn Was 12 Final



66
Adrian Gonzalez will be up to bat in a couple of minutes - his last AB.

He's being walked intentionally.

OK, I think I'll wrap it up.  Gonzalez gets another point so it's Tief 66, John 56.  We each get a RP - that's it (unless the Padres game goes extras and Gonzalez bats again).  I'm not going to wait up to see if Wilson or Aardsma go later tonight.  I get 4 from Lyon if Wagner doesn't pitch.  It ain't over, but I like where I'm sittin'.

Scott Walker wins.

Ron Johnson wins.

Tief probably wins.

It's a...

Good Night!