Arena The Second Baseball Draft

you hate to see it

 

Sunday, June-Lie 24th

Rogers Hornsby hit a two-run homer in the first and Frank Thomas a solo homer in the third, and Let's Play Two took an early 3-0 lead.

But, Game of Throws got an RBI single from Giancarlo Stanton and a three-run double from Andres Galarraga in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead.

And, we were just getting started.

After a few scoreless inning, Game of Throws added to their lead with an RBI ground out from Joe Dimaggio, but Let's Play Two tied it at five in the eighth on an RBI double from Duke Snider and an RBI single from Miguel Cabrera.

In the ninth, a two-run homer from Hornsby make it 7-5, and a two-out single from Yogi Berra made it 8-5. But the drama wasn't done in this game. Not yet, at least.

Trevor Hoffman came on to try to close it out, but gave up three straight singles to start the inning, with Derek Jeter scoring Al Simmons with the third single. A walk to Dimaggio loaded the bases, but a double play ground ball hit by Hack Wilson providing Hoffman with a way out of the inning - an opportunity he would not take. Stanton singled, Jeter and Dimaggio scored, and we were tied at eight.

into the tenth we went, and Let's Play Two took the lead again, through RBI singles from Hornsby and Thomas. This time, they handed the ball to Tug McGraw, who faced the minimum, using a double play to undo a leadoff single, and close it out.

Player of the Game, Brought to you by internet petitions to reshoot a final series of a beloved show: Rogers Hornsby
Final: Let's Play Two 10, Game of Throws 8 (10 Innings)
Win: Gossage (6-1)
Loss: WIlhelm (2-2)
Save: McGraw (1)

Monday, June-Lie 25th

Through six innings, we were being given quite the pitchers' duel with only a two-out RBI double from Ernie Banks in the fourth breaking up a scoreless game, as the teams combined for just five hits in those first six innings.

In the seventh, though, Let's Play Two's bats would break out, and the bullpen for Let's Play Two would not wilt.

With the bases loaded, the pinch hitting Mark McGwire was hit in the head by a pitch, scoring the second run of the game. Billy Williams followed with an RBI single, and Roberto Clemente followed with another one after that. Rogers Hornsby was struck out for the second out of the inning, but Frank Thomas got an RBI single to make it 6-0.

Greg Maddux tossed six shutout innings, giving up two hits and striking out seven, before McGwire pinch hit for him and took one to the noggin. Lee Smith tossed two scoreless innings in relief, and Goose Gossage pitched an eventful, but scoreless ninth.

Player of the Game, Brought to you by internet petitions to reshoot a final series of a beloved show: Greg Maddux
Final: Let's Play Two 6, Game of Throws 0
Win: Maddux (11-3)
Loss: Vaughn (3-6)

Tuesday, June-Lie 26th

When you have Pedro Martinez pitching, you feel pretty good about your chances to win.

When Martinez goes eight innings and doesn't allow an earned run, you feel great about your chances to win.

However, it's just been one of those seasons for Game of Throws.

The only run allowed by Martinez came after a throwing error by Derek Jeter loaded the bases in the fifth. Martinez seemed to rally just fine, though, getting a shallow flyout from Miguel Cabera and striking out Jake Arrietta. But, he issued the walk to Billy Williams, scoring the unearned run, before retiring Roberto Clemente to end the inning.

That was enough to doom Game of Throws, though, because Arrietta, Lee Smith and Trevor Hoffman combined for a two-hit shutout.

Arrietta allowed just one hit in six innings, Smith one hit in two innings, and Hoffman had a perfect ninth to close it out.

Player of the Game, Brought to you by internet petitions to reshoot a final series of a beloved show: Jake Arrietta
Final: Let's Play Two 1, Game of Throws 0
Win: Arrietta (8-6)
Loss: Martinez (9-4)

Wednesday, June-Lie 27th

Having gotten swept at home, Game of Throws had Let's Play Two just where they wanted them - at Wrigley Field.

It would ... not quite play out that way.

Billy Williams got a leadoff inside-the-park home run in the first, Frank Thomas hit a three-run homer in the fifth, and Cy Young was good enough for Let's Play Two to get the home victory.

Young tossed eight-and-two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on nine hits.

Player of the Game, Brought to you by Joe Buck's undying love for Kyle Schwarber: Frank Thomas
Final: Let's Play Two 7, Game of Throws 3
Win: Young (7-8)
Loss: Seaver (4-8)

Thursday, June-Lie 28th

Let's Play Two scored early, and held on late to take another home game.

Frank Thomas, Ernie Banks, and Yogi Berra each had RBI singles in the first inning, and they added four more in the second with another RBI single from Thomas, a two-run double from Banks, and an RBI single from Duke Snider.

Game of Throws would attempt to crawl back into it, with a solo homer from Chris Hoiles in the third, and an RBI single from Hoiles in the fourth. An RBI triple from Joe Dimaggio in the fifth pulled it to within 7-3, but Berra hit a solo homer in the bottom half of the inning, pushing the lead to 8-3.

Snider added an RBI single in the sixth, with Dimaggio and Hack WIlson getting RBI singles for Game of Throws in the seventh, making it just a 9-5 game.

In the ninth, Game of Throws got a leadoff walk and double to chase DIzzy Dean from the game and put the tying run on-deck. But Trevor Hoffman struck out all three batters he faced - Dimaggio, WIlson, and Giancarlo Stanton - to close it out.

Player of the Game, Brought to you by Joe Buck's undying love for Kyle Schwarber: Ernie Banks
Final: Let's Play Two 9, Game of Throws 5
Win: Dean (7-8)
Loss: Hershiser (3-8)
Save: Hoffman (12)

Friday, June-Lie 29th

A Four-run sixth inning, highlighted by a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double from Frank Thomas, helped to stake Let's Play Two to an 8-1 lead after six innings, and a 9-3 lead entering the ninth.

It almost wasn't enough.

With two outs in the ninth, Giancarlo Stanton hit a grand slam home run off of Christy Mathewson, making it 9-7. Mathewson walked Harmon Killebrew, before finally getting the hook. Trevor Hoffman came in and gave up a single to Andres Galarraga, putting the tying run on base. Chris Hoiles singled, scoring Killebrew, making it 9-8, and putting the game-tying run in scoring position. But, Hoffman struck out Ryan Howard to end the game - the pinch hitter's second time being retired that inning.

Player of the Game, Brought to you by Joe Buck's undying love for Kyle Schwarber: Frank Thomas
Final: Let's Play Two 9, Game of Throws 8
Win: Mathewson (3-2)
Loss: Lyle (0-2)
Save: Hoffman (13)

 

Me getting a sweep, then realizing half the league did too:

 

And ... your standings at the All-Star Break

Team / w-l .pct +/- RD

ECB 55-29 .655 +104
AMZ 53-31 .631 +137
USANAS 53-31 .631 +105
PE 52-32 .619 +88

stsp 50-34 .595 +135
SHAQ 50-34 .595 +83
LPT 48-36 .571 -23
MBY 42-42 .500 +1

LAP 31-53 .369 -114
GoT 29-55 .345 -101
H&A 26-58 .310 -142
ATL 15-69 .179 -273


If the season ended today ...

Performance Enhancers would take on Every City Bandwagoners, while Amazings would take on USANAS, meaning only yankee uberfan heels could prevent an All-New York City World Series

Superlatives:

Highest Scoring Team: stone temple seattle pilots (522 runs / 6.2 runs per game), 15 runs better than the second best offense, Every City Bandwagoners
Least Runs Allowed: The Shaqlot (253 runs allowed / 3.0 runs allowerd per game), 66 runs fewer than the second best pitching staff, Amazings
Fewest Runs Scored: Atlanta Rohirrim (285 runs / 3.4 runs per game), 7 runs fewer than the second worst offense, Los Angeles Palms
Most Runs Allowed: Atlanta Rohirrim (558 runs allowed / 6.6 runs allowed per game), 48 more runs allowed than the second worst staff, the Lawfirm of Hornsby & Alarmo

Up Next

The Simulated Summer Classic, the Celebrity Soft Ball Game, and the Home Run Derby

Everyone is in a trade/add/drop window. I do have one small trade that's been finalized already, and I'll try to get details posted tomorrow.

 

**** is that real? Are you the Cleveland San Diego of the boards?

 

I don't think I've won a draft either, have I? Everyone always roots for me to lose for some reason*.


* = the reason is I'm terrible and no one likes me.

 

Perfectly balanced in every way.

 

I know this is late into the game and not really necessary but would anyone be interested in a league discord or something?

 

felt pretty old as i googled what that even is

 

If only you'd scored one fewer run

 

.....is it phone based? Like an app for it?

 

There is a phone app, or in browser, or in standalone desktop app.

 

We have a minor trade to announce ...

dp4m gets:

Babe Ruth (tom's inferior version)
Zack Greinke

cubman gets:

Aaron Judge
Goose Gossage

LloydChristmas gets:

Mark Lemke
Mark Lemke's dog
One Inty Buck
Shirtless JR Smith

Pointy gets:

Mark Mcgwire (Oakland)
Old Hoss Radbourne (and his Twitter feed)
Larry Walker
Alex Sanchez

Tunes gets:

Rube Waddell
Willie Mays Hayes
Maury Wills

a star war gets:

Silver King
Chuck Klein
Naming Rights in Perpetuity for all Stadia used by tom in any and all draft games
Exclusive Rights to the first cut rap video should tom ever win the simulated world series

anakinfansince1983 gets:

Dutch Leonard
Robinson Cano (Yankees)
Luis Tiant

Heels gets:

Lou Gehrig
Randy Johnson (Arizona)

tom gets:

Hugh Duffy
Lady Baldwin
Tris Speaker (Cleveland)
Jimmie Foxx (Boston)
Brook Jacoby (Cleveland)
Randy Johnson (mariners)
Bob Gibson
Steve Carlton
John Olerud
robinson cano (mariners)
Willie McGee
The Curse of the Bambino

 

I feel left out.

Amazing.

 

Hey dp do you want Joss for Babe Ruth just to piss off tom

And definitely not to give both of the narcs the Curse of the Bambino, of course not no

 

Did Tom just draft an entirely new team?

 

once i started trading i just couldn't stop! i ultimately sent 10 players out and got 9 players back. i wanted to try to include all teams, but i just ran out of ideas. i'm pretty sure all of it put together was a lateral move. all the trades i made were actually pretty fair so ultimately my team is basically as good as it was. it was fun though.

 

That seems like more PMs than even I normally do...

 

it was a lot. i think it would have gone differently if any of the first three pitchers who i tried to trade ruth for would have worked out. as it was i was kind of scrambling, then at the end thought i'd given up to much offense so sort of doubled back and did the king for duffy trade at the last minute.

 

Welcome to the First Simulated Home Run Derby!

We selected 16 participants. We assigned them to two teams. We used a random number generator to give them a batting order. We will have them face off 30 times against each other. The top eight individual home run hitters from these thirty games will move on to the final, where they will face the 2018 Baltimore Orioles for ten games, with the most home runs hit being the champion of the derby.

(Note: Team shown does not reflect changes due to the tomtradeapalooza)

Your Participants are:

Chris Hoiles 1993 - Game of Throws
Rogers Hornsby (Cubbie) 1929 - Let's Play Two
Barry Bonds 2001 - Performance Enhancers
Ted Williams 1941 - Newport Beach Motherboys
Hugh Duffy 1894 - Newport Beach Motherboys
Hank Aaron 1963 - The Lawfirm of Hornsby & Alarmo
Yaz 1967 - Amazings
Mickey Mantle 1956 - Every City Bandwagoners

Cal Ripken 1991 - Every City Bandwagoners
Ken Griffey 1997 - Los Angeles Palms
Ken Griffey 2000 - The Shaqlot
Mike Trout 2016 - Amazings
Ernie Banks 1958 - Let's Play Two
Babe Ruth 1921 - stone temple seattle pilots
Babe Ruth 1919 - The Shaqlot
Jeff Bagwell 1994 = The Lawfirm of Hornsby & Alarmo

And they will be facing this pitching staff:

2000 Jose Lima
1986 Bert Blyleven
1997 Jose Mesa
2008 Bartolo Colon
2017 Kevin Quackenbush
2018 Chris Tillman

Note: All games will be taking place at Coors Field.