Arena The First Baseball Draft Game

congrats dp. now bring it!

gm 1 sp: carlton

 

PLAYOFF ROTATION

GAME 1: Gaylord Perry
GAME 2: Roger Clemens

@tom

CURRENT LINEUP:

1) Billy Hamilton (CF)
2) Rogers Hornsby (2B)
3) Larry Walker (LF)
4) Jimmie Foxx (1B)
5) Hack Wilson (RF)
6) Mel Ott (3B)
7) Derek Jeter (SS)
8) Chris Hoiles (C)
9) <PITCHER>

EDIT: PS - I am irrationally excited for the Three Thoughts / Overreaction from the Wild Card / Play-In games...

 

gm 1 lineup

1. mays, cf
2. wagner, ss
3. mantle, rf
4. bonds, lf
5. bagwell, 1b
6. mathews, 3b
7. piazza, c
8. hornsby, 2b
9. carlton, p

 

Three Thoughts

1) Pedro Martinez is god. And so is Pedro Martinez. Clearly, the ****ing Indians should have traded Brian ****ing Giles and Jared ****ing Wright for Martinez back in 1997 and today wouldn't be 70 years plus since the a World Series title. But, clearly, if you have a must-win game, it's hard to go wrong with Pedro.

2) Late season surges, late season collapses, and so much chaos makes for fun baseball. I'm sure fans of the Bandwagoners and Amazings would have preferred less chaos and more time in the post season, but as a neutral fan, that final day was just a **** ton of fun.

3) This season had everything. Heroes that shined when needed most, like Lou Gehrig, and heroes that were wasted like Babe Ruth. Scapegoats like Phil Neikro and the attempt to make Joey Votto and Manny Ramirez catchers. A team that started hot, only to never challenge, a team that sustained high level performance, only to fade right at the end, a team that was buried and left for dead only to rise from the ashes and inexplicably make the playoffs. A team that couldn't win at home, and couldn't lose on the road. A pair of Johnsons. Roger Clemens getting the save in a game that Roger Clemens started. Lou Pinella mismanaging his bullpen and getting tossed from a game. Laments about dead pitchers. And so much more. Add it all up, and it simply proves - baseball is king. Long live the King.

Final Power Rankings:

8 - Furious Fireballs

High Point: Every time Babe Ruth came to the point.
Low Point: The losing streak.
Real Life Comparison: The 1987 Cleveland Indians

7 - L A Palms

High Point: When you won five of seven games, and your most controversial/nitpicked selection - Orel Hershiser - was undefeated
Low Point: Dropping five in a row at home just before the All-Star Break
Real Life Comparison: 2001 Toronto Blue Jays

6 - Every City Bandwagoners

High Point: Surging to #1 in the Power Rankings and looking like you had the inside edge on the #1 seed with just six games to play.
Low Point: Getting swept by DP and forced into a tiebreaker game. But, even though you got eliminated, at least DP didn't eliminate you!
Real Life Comparison: 1995 California Angels

5 - Amazings

High Point: Sweeping Every City to put yourself in full control of your own destiny and with one foot in the playoffs with three games left.
Low Point: Getting swept in the series finale and losing the second tie breaker game.
Real Life Comparison: 1993 San Francisco Giants

4 - Let's Play Two

High Point: Finally winning a home series on Intytober 9th.
Low Point: Losing the first two games of their final season to increase blood pressure and worry around the city
Real Life Comparison: 2018 Dodgers

3 - New York Highlanders

High Point: Sweeping heels to end the season, then winning the tie breaker game to get in the playoffs.
Low Point: The Manny Ramirez / Joey Votto at Catcher era.
Real Life Comparison: 2007 Colorado Rockies

2 - Performance Enhancers

High Point: Lou Gehrig walking off the last game of the season to seal a playoff berth.
Low Point: Getting swept to open the season.
Real Life Comparison: 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks

1 - stone temple seattle pilots

High Point: Being the only team to clinch before the final regular season set of series.
Low Point: Getting swept at home by Let's Play Two
Real Life Comparison: 2001 Seattle Mariners

 

I knew I needed more Pedros.

Amazing.

 

Let's Do This!

Saturday, Intytober 26th

It doesn't matter what the weather is for our 7:10 start time, because we're playing this one in a dome!

Let's go to our booth team and get some insight before the game starts:

Vin Scully: It's a great time of year ... if you can stand it. Both teams have played their hearts out to get here. And tonight, we'see see which one has the the right attitude. To be the best major league player, you've got to have a lot of a little boy's mentality in you.

Harry Caray: I don't know what the big deal is about Cracker Jack. Did you ever go to buy a box of Cracker Jack, thinking you'd get a prize, and then there's no prize?

Ernie Johnson: I think there's a definite edge for stone temple seattle pilots here, since they didn't have to play the tiebreaker game, and could use all the baked in rest to set up their rotation exactly how they want it. There's no doubt the Highlanders would love to have Pedro Martinez pitching games 1, 4, and 7. But, they can't do that. He won't be available until game 3, and if they get there, they might have a really difficult choice on when to pitch him again - game six or game seven. stone temple doesn't have that. I like the edge here both tonight and in the series, and I'm picking stone temple to win both tonight and the series, in six games.

Semifinals Game 1
New York Highlanders at stone temple seattle pilots
Best of Seven Series
National Anthem Sung by: Scott Weiland

Gaylord Perry and Steve Carlton both put their teams in position to win this one, and did about all you could ask your starting pitcher to do.

Carlton took a 2-0 lead into the 8th inning, but with one out, gave up back-to-back homers to Jimmie Foxx and Hack Wilson, tying the game at two, and bringing out Lou Pinella to give him the hook.

Jim Kern relieved, and got Mel Ott for the second out of the inning, but a single and a stolen base by Derek Jeter, and an RBI single from Chris Hoiles gave the Highlanders the lead for the first time all game.

That means Carlton would have a final line of seven-and-one-third innings pitched, two runs allowed on seven hits. And, it meant he would get a no decision.

it also meant Perry would be in line for a no decision. Perry left the game as he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the 7th. He gave up a solo homer to WIllie Mays in the 5th, and an RBI single to Eddie Mathews in the 6th, giving him a final line of 6 innings pitched, 2 runs allowed on 5 hits, and six strikeouts.

And so, with the game firmly in the hands of the bullpens ...

Heath Bell entered to pitch in the top of the eighth. And would exit the game with an infinite era, as he failed to record an out.

Honus Wagner opened it up with a single, and then stole second, before scoring a tying the game on a single from Mickey Mantle. Barry Bonds would single to put men on the corners, and Jeff Bagwell and and Eddie Mathews would each drive in a run on RBI singles, knocking Bell out of the game, but still with two men on base that were his responsibility.

Both would come around to score, as Rogers Hornsby had an RBI single, Willie Mays walked with the bases loaded, and then to top it off, Honus Wagner had an RBI ground out.

Bell's final line: no innings pitched, five runs allowed on five hits. And, a rumor that with that kind of performance, the Every City Bandwagoners will be looking to trade for him in the off season.

Aroldis Chapman entered the game for the top of the ninth, walked Larry Walker, got Jimmie Foxx to hit into a double play, and then struck out Hack Wilson to give game one to the pilots.

Eddie Mathews collected three hits and drove in a pair of runs. Mike Piazza had a night to forget, going 0-for-4 at the plate and striking out twice.

Derek Jeter collected three hits for the Highlanders.

Player of the Game: Heath Bell? No, just kidding - Eddie Mathews
Final Score: pilots 8, Highlanders 3
Win: Kern
Loss: Bell

 

Live look at @dp4m during Heath Bell's appearance

 

Live by the Sim, die by the Sim...

Though why it brought in Bell vs. Benitez I couldn't tell you...

 

benitez pitched the previous inning, but yeah bullpen use remains one of the harder things to predict about the sim.

gm 2 sp: w. johnson

@dp4m

 

Clemens and my same lineup. @tom

 

gm 2 lineup

1. mays, cf
2. wagner, ss
3. mantle, rf
4. bonds, lf
5. bagwell, 1b
6. mathews, 3b
7. piazza, c
8. hornsby, 2b
9. w. johnson, p

 

And got pinch hit for, so he couldn't do another inning.

But, yeah, bullpen use / when to pull a starter is the most bizarre and seemingly random thing in the Sim. It's like they let Terry Francona, but only the years he lets pitchers get drunk and eat fried chicken, Dusty Baker, and Jim Leyland sit down and advise the programmers.

I think I'll have the next two games up tonight. Probably with another potshot at Heels' bullpen

 

Sunday, Intytober 27th

We've got a 4:40 Eastern Start time, and it's a crisp fall day in Chicago, 52 degrees at first pitch, and cloudy all over.

Let's go to our booth team and get some insight before the game starts

Joe Buck: Chicago is the setting for this game, and the teams will play at least three more times after this.

Alex Rodriguez: The key for the Performance Enhancers is me.

Peter Gammons: This is a very large stage for Let's Play Two to still be juggling with a very simple question - can they win at home? It's been frustrating for them, and their fans, all season, and we have reached a place where they simply have to figure that out. What worries me is ... given the history in this stadium, with this city ... can you trust a team to overcome a mental block during a post season game? I don't know that I have a lot of confidence in that. I think you'll see the pitchers trying a bit too hard to make the perfect pitch, and if you miss just a little bit to Lou Gehrig, you'll see those nervous fans become angry as they throw the ball back from the bleachers. And I think you'll see the the batters trying to do a bit too much; swinging for the fences when they just need to advance a runner. Joe Maddon has been there, done that, yes, but there's a lot to overcome, and I don't think they'll be able to do it, especially with how hot Performance Enhancers are. I think Performance Enhancers win at least one of the games to open the series in Chicago, and then close it out at home before needing to face a pressure packed game six or seven back in Chicago.

Semifinals Game 1
Performance Enhancers at Let's Play Two
Best of Seven Series
National Anthem Sung by: Robert Lamm

This game had a bit of everything.

Dramatic home runs. Starting pitchers coming out of the bullpen. A player ejected for arguing balls and strikes. And a pitcher brought in for a six-out save who ended up getting zero outs and blowing the save.

With Let's Play Two 5-3 Joe Maddon called on Brad Lidge in the 8th inning. He gave up a ground-rule double to Joe Mauer, walked Lou Gehrig, and then watched Sammy Sosa hit a homer to right that put Performance Enhancers in the lead for the first time all game.

And that was it for his night.

The drama neither started there, nor ended there.

Way back in the 3rd inning, with Let's Play Two up 2-0 on a 2nd inning two-run homer from Ralph Kiner, Robbie Alomar struck out for the second time in the game, and then was ejected for arguing about it, and would be replaced by Jay Bell.

Later that inning, a two-run double from Frank Thomas put Let's Play Two up 4-0, and it looked like they'd cruise to victory, as Dizzy Dean took a no-hitter into the 7th inning.

But, that 7th inning would bring an end to his no-hit bid, as Lou Gehrig lead off with a single, and then Sosa hit a two-run homer to make it 4-2. Dean's struggles didn't end there, George Foster doubled, Tris Speaker singled, and George Sisler had an RBI groundout. Dean would finish the inning, but be lifted in the bottom of the 7th for a pinch hitter, ending his night at 7 innings pitched, 3 runs allowed on just 4 hits, and 4 strikeouts.

That pinch hitter, Jim Thome, would walk and come around to score on a sac fly from Joe Dimaggio, setting up the 5-3 scoreline in the 8th that we detailed earlier.

But, as we said, the drama didn't end there.

With Bruce Sutter on in relief, Mike Schmidt gave him a rude welcome to the game, hitting a solo homer to left that tied it at six.

Bobby Thigpen would come on for Let's Play Two in the ninth, and let's just say that's probably a decision they want back. Thigpen loaded the bases without giving up a hit, walking Chipper Jones and Gehrig, and hitting George Foster. But, he also recorded two outs, popping up Joe Mauer, and striking out Sosa. So, with two outs and the bases loaded ... Thigpen gave up a single to Tris Speaker and a triple to George Sisler, making it 10-6 for Performance Enhancers, and ending Thigpen's night. Clayton Kershaw was called upon, and gave up a single to make it 11-6, and then got the final out to end the inning.

Down five going into the bottom of the ninth, and with Max Scherzer on for this second inning of relief, the game was in the bag for Performance Enhancers, right?

Scherzer retired the first batter - Bell - on a strikeout. Then gave up an inside-the-park homer to Dimaggio, and then Frank Thomas and Ernie Banks both hit balls that left the yard, making it back-to-back-to-back in the bottom of the ninth.

Scherzer exited, Gagne entered, Wrigley field was rocking, there was one out, and the tying run was on deck.

Mike Schmidt singled to put the tying run at the plate.

But, Ralph Kiner flew out, and Carlton Fisk struck out. And Performance Enhancers escaped with a wild, dramatic win.

Player of the Game: Sammy Sosa
Final Score: Enhancers 11, Let's Play Two 9
Win: Scherzer
Loss: Thigpen
Save: Gagne

 

Sunday, Intytober 27th

We've got an 8:25 Eastern start time, and the inside of a dome for the setting.

Let's go to our booth team and get some insight before the game starts:

Vin Scully: Down 0-1, I think the New York Highlanders are going to be slightly more motivated that the stone temple seattle pilots, because losing feels worse than winning feels good.

Harry Caray: HOLY COW

Ernie Johnson: In this one, you've got to look for a definitive moment. One team is not going to spend nine innings imposing their will and dominating the other team. That's simply not going to happen. Highlanders had their definitive moment in game one, but unfortunately for them, that defining moment was their pitcher giving up the game without getting an out. They've got to be mentally tough and find a way to make a new moment in this game, and one that will positively impact it for them.

Semifinals Game 2
New York Highlanders at stone temple seattle pilots
pilots lead 1-0
Best of Seven Series
National Anthem Sung by: Chris Novoselic

With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, and a runner at second base, this game found the defining moments.

Trailing 1-0 after a Mickey Mantle RBI single in the first, the New York Highlanders knew they had to get out of the inning; stone temple seattle pilots knew this was their chance to blow the game wide open.

Mantle came through again,with an RBI single to score Willie Mays, and Barry Bonds followed with a double to score Mantle and make it 3-0. A walk to Jeff Bagwell put two on for Eddie Matthews, who singled to center, scoring Bonds. Mike Piazza then ripped a double to left, scoring Bagwell, but Larry Walker's throw to the plate arrived in time, and even though Mathews barreled into Chris Hoiles, Hoiles held on to the ball, retiring Mathews and ending the inning.

But, the damage was done, as the pilots lead 5-0.

Walter Johnson wasn't going to let that 5-0 advantage go to waste. He'd give up a two-run homer to Jimmie Foxx in the 6th, and a solo homer to Foxx in the 9th, but otherwise kept the Highlanders in check. He pitched the complete game, giving up three runs on six hits, and striking out eight.

Roger Clemens also went the distance, giving up seven runs on thirteen hits, and also striking out eight.

Mantle ended up with three hits and three runs driven in.

Player of the Game: Mickey Mantle
Final Score: pilots 7, HIghlanders 3
Win: W Johnson
Loss: Clemens

 

I mean seriously, Chris Hoiles?!

Amazing.

 

My sincere apologies to anyone on heart medication who watched game one between LPT and Performance Enhancers

 

I'm as surprised as you are but that season was a) absurd and b) somewhat defensively competent. Posey wasn't getting it done!

Game 3: Pedro
Game 4: Perry

Lineups: Same

@tom

 

gm 3 sp: r. johnson
gm 4: carlton

sticking with the same lineup for both games as well.

 

@cubman987