So That Was 2213

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ballmark
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So That Was 2213

Post by ballmark »

A couple of old faces mixed in with last year's playoff teams this season, as the half dozen owners who have been at the top of the SYL the past few years continued their top performance ways in '13. Interestingly, there were only two in-season trades this year - one for a fan-favorite pitcher returning to San Francisco and another between rebuilding clubs adjusting pitching priorities. No blockbusters. Let's take a closer look at the results.

After failing to make the playoffs last year, the Smog front office made some remarks in the press about rebuilding and then went on this year to win more games in the regular season than any other team. However, their win total of 107 simply matched their total from last year, when they finished third in the National League ... suggesting that the rest of the NL is becoming slightly more competitive. The squad dominated the All Star team with six of the nine starters wearing LA uniforms, and all five of the MVP candidates from LA.

Our second highest win total this season came out of Philadelphia, where Eli (ptech) won 105 games with the Knuckleheads. That was four off of last year's pace but enough to hold Atlanta at bay, who came on hard at the end of the season with a massive 10-game winning streak. Philly put six players on the Midsummer Classic roster and could boast of the Cy Young Winner, which is normally a boon in the playoffs ... but not this season.

Over in the American League, the Twins took first place for the second year in a row with 104 wins, their best in the last four years. While they only had four All Stars on the team, they did claim both the Cy Young Winner and the Fireman of the Year. They clearly won games based on team chemistry.

Rounding out our playoff picture this season were those pesky Washington Nits, pushing the Baltimore Breeze out of the frame. Washington chipped 97 victories into the Win column, two more than last season. They totaled up seven All Stars plus the AL MVP in RF Orestes Prince. But would it be enough?

On to the League Championship Series.

In the AL, the Twins - who had a 12-9 head-to-head record against Washington - continued their winning ways and swept the Nits right outta their hair like they were ... well, like they were Nits.

In the National League, oh my goodness. Pitching? Who needs pitching? By the end of the NLCS, both teams were pinch-hitting the batboys and they were stroking singles up the middle. **99** runs were scored between the two teams over the seven game series, with Los Angeles coming out on top on a one-out walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth in front of the home crowd. High drama, indeed!

So today the SYL shall watch a West Coast World Series rematch. This happened recently just back in 2209 when the Smog came out on top. Can the Smog's hitters overcome the Twins Cy Young Winner? Asking it a different way, is the AL Cy Young Winner a better pitcher than the NL Cy Young Winner? We shall see!

WON-LOSS VARIANCE FOR THE REST OF US
Milwaukee = +15 ... holy woo! Most improved club!
Boston = +9 ... second positive year; a threat in '14?
Seattle = +8 ... back on winning side of margin; won't be long, I'm thinking.
Arizona = +6 ... Connor's rebuilds tend to be quick, I've noticed.
Pittsburgh = +4 ... And this year back into positive. Lots of NL positive this year.
Cleveland = <3> ... tiny step back before two more steps forward...?
Baltimore = <4> ... pitching is aging out >>> rebuild or go for one more year?
New York AL = <4> ... victim of Bos/Sea growth...?
Cincinnati = <5> ... last year's +35 was unreasonable; this was expected, yes?
San Francisco = <7> ... rebuild took a hit this year, but they got Weston back!
Atlanta = <9> ... a blip on the radar. Not even a step back.
Texas = <14> ... rebuild continued and it was ugly.
frankum
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Re: So That Was 2213

Post by frankum »

The NY Titans are SO close to being ready!! We took a step back this year trading Jim Wilson to Atlanta for Bud Johnson. Hurt us now but helps us long term! We also had extensive injuries to super stars Art Dean and Frank Marquez. 2-3 years, depending on trades, and we should be competing for a playoff spot!

Congrats to the playoff teams.
ptech
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Re: So That Was 2213

Post by ptech »

The NLCS was totally pitching optional. And clearly we both declined the option.
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ballmark
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Re: So That Was 2213

Post by ballmark »

The World Series was pretty much 8 guys standing toe-to-toe with bats on their shoulders slugging it out, too.

** 75 ** runs over the seven game series. Two games with five homers.

For the Twins:
RF Dan Henry (.185 but 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB)
SS George Darwin (.321, 3 HR, 7 RBI)
1b Mike Garcia (.267, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB)
Catcher Joe McQuaid (.367, 4 RBI, 1 SB)
12 home runs in total, 37 RBI

For the Smog:
RF Grady Madrid (.444, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB)
1b Ned Bell (.148, but 2 HR, 5 RBI)
CF Enrique Ritter (2 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB)
3b Frank Friel (2 HR, 4 RBI)
9 home runs in total, 36 RBI

Ironically, the difference may have been the Twins' RP Bob Garrison, a young (27yo) RP who kind of came out of nowhere to save three of the games!
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