KOD 20 AL League Division Series - Seattle vs. Chicago

Game 1, October 4 at Seattle – There was never a doubt that this version of the “South Side Hitmen” could bash the ball around the yard. The question was could the pitching stop opposing batsmen enough? They did in the opening game of the series as Jim Parque (4-2) and two relievers withstood Ichiro Suzuki’s 4 knocks and 10 total hits for the Mariners in a 7-2 White Sox winner. Suzuki singled and scored in the 1^st for the M’s. Chicago went up 3-1 in the 3^rd on a sec fly from Magglio Ordonez and a 2-run double by Jose Valentin. The Sox went up 4-1 the next inning when Carlos Lee (4 hits) singled in Charles Johnson. Seattle closed the gap in the 7^th on a John Mabry pinch sac fly, but Johnson crushed the Emerald City’s hopes with a 2-run big fly in the 8^th.  

Game 2, October 5 at Seattle – The “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas blasted a solo shot in the

1^st for the ChiSox off Ryan Franklin (5-2). It only made Ben Davis and the Mariners mad. Davis crushed a 3-run bomb in the bottom of the frame off Mike Sirotka (3-5) and Seattle was off and running to a 10-4 series tying victory. Randy Winn singled home Jose Guillen in the 2^nd. It stayed that way until the 5^th when John Olerud singled in Bret Boone and Guillen doubled in a pair for a 7-1 lead. The Pale Hose clawed back some with 3 in the 7^th, but the M’s tacked on 3 more in the 8^th for the final tally.

Game 3, October 7 at Chicago – Back on the south side of Chicago, Seattle displayed its own fire power in a 9-5 win. Rey Sanchez banged out 4 hits and drove in 3 from his 9^th spot in the order. After each team pushed a run across in the 2^nd, the Mariners exploded for 4 in the 4^th and 3 in the 5^th to bury the Pale Hose. Sanchez singled, doubled, scored twice and knocked in one during the fray. Guillen drove in a pair in the 4^th and Boone hit a 2-run bomb in the 5^th. Chicago rallied for 3 in the 9^th, but Arthur Rhodes eventually slammed the door. Joel Piniero (4-3) started and won for the Navs. Cal Eldred (2-4) took the loss.  

Game 4, October 8 at Chicago – The Mariners backed the White

Sox firmly up against the wall and looked to finish the massacre, leading 3-0 through the first third of the ballgame. Boone cracked a solo shot and Winn clocked a 2-run smash. Frank Thomas then donned the Superman cape. He doubled in a run and scored a run in a 2-run 4^th inning for the ChiSox. The Big Hurt then powered a 3-run 5^th with a 2-run blast. The Sox would even the series with a 5-3 victory. James Baldwin (5-2) tossed 6 for the win. Keith Foulke nailed down his 24^th save of the season. Freddie Garcia (5-3) was the shell-shocked loser.

Game 5, October 9 at Seattle – Both teams’ hitters seemed to be sleeping after catching the red-eye back to the West Coast. First game starters Jim Parque (5-2) and Jamie Moyer (7-3) were dealing goose eggs. Then, the visiting team awoke and the home club never did. Chicago captured this ALDS with a shocking 8-0 whitewashing. Johnson, Ordonez and Thomas collected RBI singles in the 5^th for a 3-0 lead. Herbert Perry crushed a 3-run home run in the 6^th. Ray Durham doubled home the final two runs in the 8^th. Bill Simas and Sean Lowe hurled the final 2.2 innings to nail down the shutout.

Chicago awaits the winner of the Yankees – Indians for the right to go to the World Series.  

--submitted by Bruce "Not Frank" Thomas--

NLDS: "Suppanman" - Cards wear out exhaused Dbacks to advance to LDS

After a long week waiting for the weather in St. Louis to clear for this 1 game playoff, the 01 Arizona bats decided not to show up and no, sadly, their season is over. Jeff Suppan (6 IP, 4 H, 0 R) was too much for the DBacks bats to fight through. And St. Louis was able to turn their 5 hits into 4 big runs thanks to HRs by Mike Matheny (4) and Jim Edmonds (9). Without Johnson and Schilling available due to having to claw their way into the playoffs, Arizona just didn't have a chance.

Thanks for Bruce Thomas for subbing for Mike.

Good luck to all that are left playing.

Pete

01 ARZ

ALWC - "Say it ain't so Joe" - Saunders flirts w/No-No as Halo pen crumbles to Thomas and company

October 2 at Anaheim – White Sox 5, Angels 4

7 innings of no hit ball

“What Happened”? Heading into the 7^th inning, Joe Saunders and the 2007 Angels were in complete control of this wild Card match-up. In fact, Saunders was hurling a no hitter against the 2000 White and the Halos were leading 4-0.  Casey Kotchman hit a solo homer in the 2^nd to put Anaheim on top. Kendry Morales hit another in 4^th for a 2-0 lead. In the 5^th, Maicer Izturis doubled in Chone Figgins and Vlad Guerrero singled in Izturis. Paul Konerko led off the ChiSox 7^th with a base on balls. It was the fifth free pass issued by Saunders. Manager Dovid Zaner brought in Darren Oliver to preserve the no-no. He retired Jose Valentin, but Herbert Perry followed with the Sox first base knock. Charles Johnson walked to load ‘em up. Chris Singleton hit a scorching liner that was snared by 2B Izturis. Justin Speier was called in to get the third out. He did, but not until after Ray Durham singled to score two. Following a 1-2-3 Anaheim 7^th, Chicago was back at it again with Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez singling off Scott Shields. Konerko grounded into a double play, but Valentin smacked a 2-run blast to tie the game at 4-4. The Angels got a man on in the B8th, but failed to advance him. The White Sox got 2 on, 2 out in the 9^th facing Chris Bootcheck. The “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas worked a full count, then grounded a single through the hole at short and plated Chris Singleton with what proved the be the winning run. Gary Matthews, Jr. led off the b9th with a single, moved to 2^nd on a ground out, but was there at the end when Keith Foulke fanned Guererro. White Sox win 5-4. Chad Bradford, the 4^th of Chicago’s 6 pitchers was the WP. 

The "Big Hurt" with a big "little" shot

--submitted by Bruce Thomas--

White Sox Come Back on Halos to Capture AL Wild Card

October 2 at Anaheim – “What Happened”? Heading into the 7^th inning, Joe Saunders and the 2007 Angels were in complete control of this wild Card match-up. In fact, Saunders was hurling a no hitter against the 2000 White and the Halos were leading 4-0.  Casey Kotchman hit a solo homer in the 2^nd to put Anaheim on top. Kendry Morales hit another in 4^th for a 2-0 lead. In the 5^th, Maicer Izturis doubled in Chone Figgins and Vlad Guerrero singled in Izturis. Paul Konerko led off the ChiSox 7^th with a base on balls. It was the fifth free pass issued by Saunders. Manager Dovid Zaner brought in Darren Oliver to preserve the no-no. He retired Jose Valentin, but Herbert Perry followed with the Sox first base knock. Charles Johnson walked to load ‘em up. Chris Singleton hit a scorching liner that was snared by 2B Izturis. Justin Speier was called in to get the third out. He did, but not until after Ray Durham singled to score two. Following a 1-2-3 Anaheim 7^th, Chicago was back at it again with Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez singling off Scott Shields. Konerko grounded into a double play, but Valentin smacked a 2-run blast to tie the game at 4-4. The Angels got a man on in the B8th, but failed to advance him. The White Sox got 2 on, 2 out in the 9^th facing Chris Bootcheck. The “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas worked a full count, then grounded a single through the hole at short and plated Chris Singleton with what proved the be the winning run. Gary Matthews, Jr. led off the b9th with a single, moved to 2^nd on a ground out, but was there at the end when Keith Foulke fanned Guererro. White Sox win 5-4. Chad Bradford, the 4^th of Chicago’s 6 pitchers was the WP. 

"Bat-ista" - Dbacks sneak past Dodgers in NL WC play in classic !

In a very close game the 01 Arizona Diamonbacks held on for a 4-3 victory over the 13 LA Dodgers. The DBacks turned to an obviously tired Randy Johnson despite The Big Unit pitching an inning of relief in Arizona's regular season finale vs these same Dodgers. Johnson was only able to go 2 innings before asking out with his team trailing 1-0. Manager Daly was expecting a bit more of a fight out of Johnson but quickly turned to plan B Miguel Batista. Batista used not only his arm but his bat to guarantee more games for him and his teammates. Batista went 4 shut out innings and chipped in with a huge RBI single as well the DBacks 3 run 4th inning. The Dodgers did not go quietly as they scored 2 runs off reliever Erik Sabel in the 7th after Batista was removed. Greg Swindell relieved Sabel in a tight spot but was able to get a huge double play to keep the game at 4-3. Both teams threatened over the next 2 innings but timely double plays kept it a 1 run game. Byung-Hyun Kim came in for the DBacks in the 9th to record his 10th save of the short season. Yasiel Puig had a chance with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th to be the hero but he weakly waved at strike three in the dirt to end LA's hopes of extending its season.

--submitted by Peter Daly--

A's take 2 of 3 vs Rangers in battle to not finish 4th.

2002 Oakland and 2011 Texas battled to get out of last place in the AL West, where Seattle and the Angels are fighting for the division title.

Oakland wins game one, scorching Texas starter C.J. Wilson for two in the top of the eighth, as Eric Chavez hits a key double.  The Rangers can't quite come back all the way, despite 11 hits. Mark Mulder moves to 5-1 for Oakland. OAK 6, TEX 5.

Texas wins game two, 3-2, on a game-ending RBI single from Mike Napoli in the bottom of the ninth, off Oakland closer Billy Koch.

Oakland comes back to upend Texas in the deciding game for last place, winning 5-3. Texas starter Derek Holland drops to 0-7 (he won 16 games in real life that year), allowing three runs in the fifth to make the difference. Ray Durham's three run homer in that inning is the big blow for Oakland.

Good series with Andy, and a really fun season to play those 2000 era teams. Best of luck to those of you fighting for a playoff spot, and Happy Holidays!

Regards,

Joe Pryweller

Chicago-Kansas City Put on Royal Crown Show

The AL Central race was the closest in KOD20 this year and the final series between Chicago and Kansas City was no exception. In fact, there were so many twists and turns; and wild, wonderful, heart-breaking moments that I would literally be writing until Christmas if I tried to recap everything.

I have been doing baseball gaming for the vast majority of my life. I think these 3 games were the craziest, most exciting I have yet experienced. Below are the very basics. I would encourage those with a vivid (maybe morbid) curiosity to take a look at the box and pbp from these games. Whew!

Bottom line – I believe Chicago’s 2 wins assure them a playoff spot. If Cleveland gets 1 win against Detroit, they will tie the White Sox, but lose the h2h tie-breaker for the Division Title. If they win 2 or 3, they win the crown outright. However, Chicago’s 22 wins should be enough to earn them the #2 WC slot.  

September 28 at Kansas – Chris Singleton singled home Tony Graffanino and Craig Wilson in the 11^th to lift the White Sox to a 10-8 victory. KC closer extraordinaire Greg Holland surrendered the first two earned runs of the season in the 9^th for a very rare blown save. In fact, Chicago scored 4 in the 9^th to send the game to overtime.

September 29 at Kansas City – Lorenzo Cain’s 2-run homer in the B8 answered the 2-run shot by Singleton in the T8 and the Royals hung on for a 5-4 win.

September 30 at Kansas City – The Royals plate 4 in the b9 to send this one to overtime (sound familiar) dead-locked at 7-7. The ChiSox score 2 in T10 for a 9-7 lead with Paul Konerko doubling in Frank Thomas for the 9^th Pale Hose run. KC loads the bases in the B10 with 1 out. Salvador Perez scores on a passed ball placing the tying run at 3^rd and the winning run at 2^nd. Keith Foulke fans Norichika Aoki and gets Jarrod Dyson to ground to 2B to end it.