Resim Power Alley - #18, Potomac Rage

#18 – Potomac Rage
Owner: Jay H


For a team that averaged 67 wins, this offense was surprise. Led by MVP Lou Gehrig, the Rage also two players top 25 home runs (Al Rosen and Pedro Guerrero) while Steve Evans hit 40 doubles and 13 triples.

The real issue with this team was the pitching staff. With an average starter ERA over 5.00 it was impossible for the offense to make up the slack. Of note, you may recall Zack Greinke’s success in the exhibitions games. His final re-sim line was ugly: 4.90 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 185 IP.

While never a .500 team, in Sim 11 they scored 802 wins while in Sim 20 they gave up just 662. Had their offense and pitching staffs peaked in the same year, they would have won around 85 games.

800 OPS Batters
Rd1 – Lou Gehrig: .304 / .411 / .583, 37 HR, 111 RBI

Sub 4.00 ERA Starters
None

Sub 3.25 ERA Relievers
None

Bust Draft Pick
Rd 3-Dwight Gooden: 10-15, 4.72 ERA

Value Draft Pick
Rd 21-Keith Foulke: 29 IP, 3.09 ERA, 1.25 WHIP

Regular Season Awards - MVP

Greenhorn
(6,1,2)-35 Pts-Lou Gehrig (PR) --- 1.028 OPS, 44 HR, 110 RBI
(2,5,2)-27 Pts-Mickey Mantle (HH)- 0.925 OPS, 42 HR, 141 RBI
(2,4,2)-24 Pts-Tip O'Neill (DC) -- 0.983 OPS, 45 2B, 93 R
(0,0,3)-3 Pts-Duke Snider (DC)
(0,0,1)-1 Pts-Joe DiMaggio (EPL)

The Greenhorn MVP award goes to Lou Gehrig, who, despite playing for the 66 win Potomac Rage, picked up 6 of the 10 possible first place votes. Close behind Gehrig was Helena's Mickey Mantle (2 first, 5 second, 2 third) and DC's Tip O'Neill (2 first, 4 second, 2 third)

Mossback
(4,3,1)-30 Pts-Ted Williams (LDS):.913 OPS, 30 HR, 136 RBI
(3,3,4)-28 Pts-Jimmy Foxx (DB): - .957 OPS, 52 HR, 123 RBI
(1,4,2)-19 Pts-King Kelly (LDS) - .894 OPS, 29 2B, 101 R
(2,0,1)-11 Pts-Norm Cash (JMF)
(0,0,1)-1 Pts-Stan Musial (DWO)
(0,0,1)-1 Pts-Joe Morgan (OFB)

In the closest vote of all time, Ted Williams narrowly defeats Jimmy Foxx 30 points to 28 for the Mossback MVP. Williams was on the division winning Death Speaker squad and while he had a tremendous year, lost some votes to teammate King Kelly, who finished 3rd. The Brews Foxx led the league in home runs but lost a few votes since he played on team out of post season contention.

Norm Cash finished 4th, but had more first place votes than Kelly.

All voting and statistics can be found here.

Great Feats - 8/31 through 9/10

8/31 - Ed Delahanty (HH) gets 5 hits
8/31 - Jason Giambi (P10) drives in 6
9/1 - Monty Stratton (SDP) strikes out 14
9/2 - Sandy Koufax (DB) records an 87 GS
9/2 - Charlie Sweeney (OFB) strikes out 12
9/3 - Larry Dierker (HH) records an 88 GS
9/3 - The Rage defeat the Beau Brummels 23-5; Lou Gehrig (PR) drives in 6
9/4 - Ben Sanders (DC) records an 85 GS and strikes out 13
9/4 - Fanclub defeats the Gargle Blasters 16-9
9/5 - Harry Brecheen (DMO) records an 85 GS
9/5 - Hugh Daily (RKA) strikes out 13
9/7 - Charlie Sweeney (OFB) records an 87 GS

Introducing ATB Diamond Vision

Diamond Vision is a graphical depiction of the overall value of each player. It is based upon the percentile the player falls into for a specific category. For example, the person with the best OBP is in the 100th percentile. Diamond Vision is calculated using four groupings of statistics - On Base, Power (in the form of ISO), Base Running (in the form of DMB ratings for Steal, Jump, and Running) and Defense (in the form of DMB range rating).

The idea for Diamond Vision was pirated from two sources - Mike S, owner of the Lusitania Death Speakers and the good folks at Beyond the Box Score . Mike provided the general idea when trying to the same for his rec Hockey League and BtBS provided much of the methodology speceific to baseball. Thanks!

Each week we'll feature a new player, but to start I'll cherry pick a few of the more interesting ones.

Best Overall Skills
Mickey Mantle is currently the best all around player in the game today. On offense, hee has a well above on base percentage of .380 and hits for plus power. His base running is among the best in the game with Ex scores in Steal Success and Running, while only hampered by his relatively low steal attempt rate. His defense in Center Field is also Vg.


Best Batter
Lou Gehrig currently leads the league in OPS and ATB Value. However, without great base running kills and 'only' average defense, his Diamond Vision chart is heavily skewed to the right



All Power
Mark McGwire is currently 3rd in the league in Home Runs but is a poor base runner and average defender. I thought Jim Thome was a good version Big Mac light too.



Best On Base
Gotta love John McGraw. Awesome on the base baths and getting on base, but absolutely no power to speak of whatsoever. He leads the league with a .465 OBP but has just 6 extra base hits all season long. Gehrig has 59.


All Speed
How about John Ward. Great on the basepaths - 33 SB, decent on base at .359, but not a lick of power to be seen.



All Defense
Luis Gonzalez has made 482 plate appearances for John McDonald, and defense must be the reason. He is an Ex defender but batting just .247 / .313 / .400.


Not Much Going on Here
Hey, as much as we love defense in ATB, does a Vg defender who is batting .265 / .310 / .319 really deserve 430 plate apperances?

Power Alley Week 8

• The DC Chips move up two positions to second overall and now own the best Run Differential in the game.
• The Oathbinders fall out of the Top 5

And as a bonus, here are the luckiest and unluckiest teams as determiend by the difference between the Pythagorean Record and Actual Record:

Unluckiest
-8 Wins: John McDonald Fanclub
-4 Wins: Helena Handbasket
-4 Wins: Sons of Pitches
-3 Wins: Potomac Rage
-3 Wins: Eugene Psycho Llamas
-3 Wins: Dumai's Wells Oathbinders

Luckiest
+7: Rochester Beau Brummels
+4: Willets Point "Mechanics"
+4: Planet 10
+3: Cleveland Steamers

A Stroll Through the List of MVP Candidates

With the All Star Game now just a memory we turn our collective thoughts to the second half of the season, the playoff race, and to a lesser but nonetheless interesting degree, the MVP Race.

Historically, the ATB MVP award has unofficially been limited to batters. This year is no different, but unlike the Cy Young award which is straightforward and presented to the best pitcher on the season, the MVP is given to the batter who is most "valuable" to his team.

Just like in MLB, the term "valuable" is not clearly defined. Owners vote for the MVP in our league, but as the sole voice of ATB, the commissioner does have the ability, even if minor, to steer owners in one direction vs another. Today, I will attempt to do just that!

Below are the current MVP candidates in each league. The criterion for inclusion in the following list is four fold:

1 - Great Rate stats
2 - Great counting stats
3 - Few other great offensive players on the same team
4 - Team in contention

The fourth criteria is the least important, but nonetheless a factor in my mind. While the MVP can and should be awarded to players on a bad team, players on a good team stand a better chance at winning the award.

Greenhorn Candidates
Barry Bonds (Black Diamonds)
.239 / .364 / .574, .938 OPS, 29 HR, 54 R, 71 RBI,

At this point in the season, Bonds might to be considered the front runner for the award in the Greenhorn division. He leads the league in home runs with 29 and is second in Slugging and RBI. The next best MVP candidate on the Black Diamonds is either Jim Gentile (16 HR, .804 OPS) or Fred Lynn (14 HR, .823 OPS). He has one critical flaw however, the left fielder is currently batting .239 and most owners will have a difficult time awarding the MVP to batters struggling to reach .250.

Tip O'Neill/Duke Snider (DC Chips)
.391 / .422 / .579, 1.001 OPS, 5 HR, 47 R, 43 RBI

The next two candidates hail from the DC Chips, which underscores their predicament immediately. Tip is the best batter in the league at this point coming in first in AVG, SLG, and OPS. On the downside, he has relatively poor (for MVP standards) counting stats with 47 Runs (22nd in league) and 43 RBI (25th). Perhaps worse still, O'Neill has serious competition for the award from his teammate, Duke Snider. A great defending center fielder, Snider is batting .322 / .382 / .533 with 13 HR, and 55 RBI.

Mickey Mantle (Helena Handbasket)
.315 / .368 .548, .917 OPS, 22 HR, 62 R, 78 RBI

Mantle combines the best aspects of Bonds and O'Neill into one nice bundle. Though rarely leading the league in any one category, Mantle is very good in almost all of them. He leads the league in RBI, is second in Runs Scored, and 3rd in HR's and Runs Created. He is also Top 10 in OPS and Slugging, while maintaining a very good Batting Average and On Base Percentage.

Joe DiMaggio (Eugene Psycho Llamas)
.361 / .402 / .552, .953 OPS, 16 HR, 47 R, 58 RBI

The final Greenhorn candidate is Joe DiMaggio. A superb center fielder, DiMaggio hits for a high average and gets on base at a prolific clip (5th in league) while still hitting for above average however. However, his R and RBI totals are a bit low and his team is 7 games under .500 and not currently in the playoff picture.

Darkhorse Candidates
Bobby Murcer (Potomac Rage)-.352 / .402 / .524, 13 HR, 68 R, 52 RBI
Lou Gehrig (Potomac Rage)-.305 / .420 / .570, 16 HR, 48 R, 52 RBI
Larry Doby (Boston's Terrier)-.310 / .370 / .550, 15 HR, 51 R, 37 RBI

Mossback Candidates
Ted Williams (Lusitania Death Speakers)
.288 / .411 / .456, .868 OPS, 14 HR, 51 R, 62 RBI

Williams has been on fire of late, vaulting his team to first place in the Mossback Division. He's third in the league in RBI and has the best on base percentage among the Mossback "power hitters". On the downside, his slugging is pedestrian for an MVP candidate and the Death Speaker's lineup is littered with great hitters.

Norm Cash (John McDonald Fanclub)
.304 / .392 / .471, .863 OPS, 14 HR, 53 R, 51 RBI

I am not convinced Cash is a viable candidate. He scores highly in the rudimentary calculation I used to filter out the candidates because a) his team is good, b) he has a good OBP, and c) his counting stats are well above average. Voters will have a difficult time coming to terms with the .863 OPS. Still, he is very good at almost everything, and a lot can be said for that.

Derrek Lee (San Diego Puff)
.300 / .360 / .534, .894 OPS, 16 HR, 54 R, 56 RBI

Despite learning a new position, second base, Lee's offense has been superb. He's 5th in the league in HRs and R, 8th in RBI, and 2nd in SLG, astounding feats when compared with other middle infielders. He has two issues to overcome with respect to voter tendencies - a low OBP and a great teammate in George Sisler (.366 .401 .522)

Jimmy Foxx (Downsouth Brews)
.292 / .394 / .594, .988 OPS, 27 HR, 55 R, 71 RBI

If ever there was a case for a player to be given the MVP award on a team sitting home in October, it's with Jimmy Foxx this season. The Brews have been struggling lately, and are now just a game above .500 after leading the division into late May. The slide has been no fault of the first basemen's however. Foxx leads the division in SLG, HR, RBI, OPS, RC, RC/27, and is 4th in Runs. He is also Top 10 in On Base and hitting close to .300.

Darkhorse Candidates
George Sisler (San Diego Puff) - .366 / .401 / .522, 6 HR, 33, 38 RBI
Nap Lajoie (PG Gargle Blasters)- .358 / .396 / .498, 5 HR, 54 R, 44 RBI
Alex Rodriguez (PG Gargle Blasters)-.276 / .368 / .487, 20 H R, 59 R, 61 RBI

Week 7 Transactions

This was the most transactions ever requested in the history of ATB. Also had three teams in on the same player, twice, also a first time for ATB.

John McDonald Fanclub - Drop Roy Halladay and Spud Chandler

Potomac Rage - Drop Troy Percival

San Diego Puffs - Pick Up All Benton, 1945 and DL Cal Ripken

DC Chips
Drop Darrel Porter and claim Gene Tenace (1975).
Drop Dolph Camilli and claim Nick Maddux (1907)
Drop Steve Howe, Claim Ellis Kinder

Helena Handbaseket - Drop Wally Schang, pick up Wilbert Robinson, 1894

Willets Point "Mechanics" - Drop Pascual Perez, Sign Jimmy Key

Otherton Fishbiscuits
Pick up Fergie Jenkins, Drop Joaquin Soria
Pick up Charlie Radbourn, Drop Gus Weyhing

Great Feats - 6/6 through 6/15

6/13 - Red Schoendeinst (PR) collects 5 hits; the Rage also score 19 runs, tying the league's best of the season
6/14 - Adrian Belre (SOP) drives in 6 on HRs
6/14 - Cannonball Titcomb (P10) strikes out 12
6/15 - Pedro Martinez (JMF) tosses a 5 hit, 10 K shutout for an 87 GS.

Batter and Pitcher of the Week

Harry Brecheen of the Dumai's Wells Oathbinder's is our Week 4 Pitcher of the Week. Brecheen made three starts, winning them all. He pitched to complete games, and lasted into the 8th in the third. His final line: 3-0, 25 IP, 11 H, 3 BB, 13 K, 0.72 ERA, 0.72 RCERA.




Lou Gehrig of the Potomac Rage is the Week 4 Batter of the week. Gehrig didn't put up the counting stats like his ATB XII predecessors, but he was a hitting machine. He bated .409 / .559 / .727, with a 1.287 OPS, 4 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 8 R, and 10 RBI




Previous Players of the Week
W1 - Barry Bonds (SDB) and Tex Hughson (JMF)
W2 - Pete Browning (LDS) and Fred Beene (DB)
W3 - Joe DiMaggio (EPL) and Pedro Martinez (JMF)
W4 - Lou Gehrig (PR) and Harry Brecheen (DMO)

ATB Reliever Strategy Has Changed Forever

The last two seasons ATB has seen a stark change in the relief pitching patterns used by owners. Historically, ATB followed usage strategies much like those employed in MLB today - closers close, setup men are key in the 8th and maybe 7th innings, and the dregs of the bullpen are responsible for mop-up and long relief duties.

Recently however, many owners have put a premium on not just the quality of innings pitched of the pen, but now the quantity of quality innings is equal if not more important. Instead of great setup men and closers, many owners now draft all aspects of the pen early and search for high durability "lights out" relievers.

Some evidence:

• In ATB IX 22 relievers accumulated 90 or more innings.
• In ATB X, the number rose to 28
• In ATB XI again the number rose, this time to 36
• In the current season an astounding 50 pitchers are on pace to exceed 90 innings, despite four less teams than then last season.

This isn't enough to prove anything though. Sure it is obvious long relief is a key aspect of the game now, but it says nothing to the quality of these players. For time out of mind, owners in real life as well as ATB have sacrificed games that seemed out of reach by saving their pen for the next day, and allowed sub-par relievers to mop up the un-winnable games.

Here's the key - the average ERA of the Top 10 pitchers with at least 90 innings pitched has improved for four consecutive years:

The Men Behind The Trend
Here are the standout seasons over the past four years.

Items to note:

• Kent Tekulve and Jeff Zimmerman are the only two pitchers to appear twice
• I personally love the ATB XI Zimmerman role the best. 140 innings, 1.88 RCERA, and he was the full time closer for DC as well as the starting setup man vs both Lefties and Righties.
• How about Ellis Kinder's 17 (!) wins in relief in ATB XI?
• Analyzing their usage we have 11 setup roles, 9 long relievers, and 5 closers

ATB XII
This season there are several high quality long duration relievers. All listed below are on pace for at least 90 innings of work.

• Three qualifying relievers have yet to give up a run: Jeff Zimmerman (20.2 IP for LDS) John Wetteland (18 IP for BT), and Pat Jarvis (17.2 IP for SBD)
• The best RCERA (0.45) belongs to Special Sauce's Jack Quinn
• Several fairly unfamiliar players are having great starts: Fransico Liriano (1.91 ERA for PR), Phil Regan (1.14 ERA for PR), and Houston Street (1.64 ERA for LDS)

Perhaps The DC Chips epitomize this team strategy best, and their very own Frank Killen is the best example of an individuals success. On pace for over 225 innings in the the #1 Long Reliever, #1 Setup vs Lefty, #2 Setup vs Righty, and #1 Closer vs Lefty roles, the lefty has a 1.71 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in 42 innings. Killen proved himself last season for the Fishbiscuits amassing a 1.89 ERA in 148 Innings, and therefore with good reason do we expect he'll keep up a sub 2.00 ERA in an extreme amount of innings. This, coupled with high leverage situations as a setup man and closer, likely make Killen the most important reliever in the game today.

And he's not the only DC reliever used in this unique way. Steve Howe, Joe Neale, and Mike Jackson are all on pace for close to 100 innings of work and have combined for a 1.97 ERA thus far.

More Week 3 Transactions

The Potomac Rage drop Joe Berry (1.1 IP, 3 H) and pick up Mark Prior, 2003. In ATB XI Prior struggled with a 6.68 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP in 98 IP.

Hard Luck Greinke Gets First ATB Win

Prior to each ATB season, owners pour through the stats of the last MLB season to find the next great surprise, almost always a relative unknown when looking at the greats of baseball over the past 130 years.

After the 2009 MLB season many owners had targeted Zach Greinke. His stats with the KC Royals were impressive - 229 IP, 195 H, 55 BB, 242 K.

His ERA+ score was the jewel of the bunch though. At 205, it was the best mark since Roger Clemens 226 in 2005 and the only mark over 200 since 1996 from a pitcher not name Roger or Pedro. In fact, taking Pedro and Roger out of the mix, Greinke is just the 4th starting pitcher since 1968 to score over 200!

The Potomac Rage selected Greinke in the 6th round and the buzz started after a few exhibitions in which he pitched well. To start the season however, Greinke struggled in his first two games. On opening day vs the Eugene Psycho Llamas Greinke lasted just 4 innings giving up 7 hits and 4 runs (2 earned). Five days later vs the Helena Handbaskets he fared even worse - 3.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R. In these two starts the 25 year old struck out just 4 batters.

Two starts ago against Planet 10 Greinke turned it around - 8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 6 K's but again he was tagged with a loss, his third in three starts. On April 21st against Bostons Terrier, everything truly game together. A 5 hit, 11 K, complete game, that was oh so close to being a shutout. His one run was unearned.

It is much to early to tell what kind of ATB career Greinke might turn it. But as of the end of April in year 1 Greinke now has a 2.55 ERA and in 25 innings, has recorded 21 strikeouts against 9 walks. Nice start Zack, and congrats on your first ATB career win.

Starting Lineups and Rotation - Rage

Don't know about the park factors from ATB XI that can effect those real life stats, but on paper this team is tops in the Greenhorn at the moment. A lot depends on the little used Martin and Kenworthy.

Fewest Combined Team Hits in a Game

Lou, have to wonder how long the game between the Power and OFB lasted on 9/20. Only 5 hits from both sides combined, only run scored was the leadoff batter of the game for the Power.

That was from Brian B, owner/operator of the Fishbiscuits. It was a short game obviously, with only 7 total bases given up. I was curious if there were any other games this season where the two teams combined for 7 or less and there were five of them:

6 - Sep 20, Power def. Fisbiscuits 1-0
6 - Jul 4, Neanderthals def. HOWARYA 3-0
6 - May 5, Middle Name def. Black Sox 1-0
5 - Apr 27, HOWARYA def. Rage 3-0

And the best? A 1-0 beauty where, if you can believe it, we're back where we started with another defeat of the Fishbuscuits at the hands of the Power. Back on April 21 Roger Clemens tossed a 1-hit (10 K) shutout, narrowly besting a 2-hit team effort from Randy Johnson, Steve Mingori, and John Hiller.

Mathematical Eliminations

65-72 - Potomac Rage
61-77 - Willets Point Mechanics
57-77 - Otherton Fish Biscuits
44-90 - HEYHOWARYA
41-94 - Wedge Tornado
41-94 - Downsouth Brews

Week 8 Trades

Love the activity this season...

1) The La Chapelle-aux-Saints Neanderthals trade Travis Hafner to the Duke Street Kings in exchange for Reggie Jackson and Chipper Jones. Their stats:

Hafner - .301 / .417 / .539, 16 HR, 46 R, 47 RBI
Jackson - .186 / .291 / .339, 6 HR in 177 AB
Jones - .182 in 11 AB

2) The Potomac Rage ship the hated Kevin Brown to the DC Chips in exchange for Babe Herman.

Brown: 3-9, 6.61 ERA, 80 IP, 101 H, 18 BB, 24 K
Herman - .278 / .340 / .413, 8 HR, 45 R, 51 RBI

Brown, along with Randy Johnson who was traded last week as well, made their first starts with their new teams in Sim 8A:

Brown: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 2 K, Loss
Johnson: 8.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K, Loss

Come From Behind Wins and HR's by Park

Biggest Come From Behind Wins
8 Runs, Rage - 6/9/2009
8 Runs, Middle Name - 5/14/2009
6 Runs, Mechanics - 6/2/2009
6 Runs, Kings - 4/22/2009
6 Runs, Caber Tossers - 5/29/2009
6 Runs, Fanclub - 5/12/2009
6 Runs, Redlegs - 6/17/2009

Biggest 9th Inning Comebacks
5 Runs, Kings - 5/16/2009
5 Runs, Mechanics - 6/2/2009
5 Runs, Redlegs - 7/1/2009

HR Per Game By Park
2.2 - Fulton County Stadium
2.1 - Cleveland Municipal Stadium
2.1 - Yankee Stadium
2.0 - South End Grounds
1.9 - Shea Stadium
1.9 - Jacobs Field
1.9 - Polo Grounds
1.8 - Three Rivers Stadium
1.8 - Camden Yards
1.8 - Fenway Park
1.8 - Crosley Field
1.8 - Metrodome
1.6 - Tropicana Field
1.5 - Miller Park
1.5 - Sportsman's Park III (N)
1.5 - Wrigley Field
1.4 - Briggs Stadium
1.3 - Busch Stadium
1.3 - Comiskey Park I
1.2 - Baker Bowl
1.1 - Palace of the Fans
1.0 - Dodger Stadium
1.0 - Bee Hive
0.9 - Astrodome

ATB XI All Star Backups

Harry Caray Bench
C) Javy Lopez, PR
MI) Roberto Alomar#, CR
CI) Lou Gehrig*, CR
OF) Ted Williams*, JuP
OF) Bobby Murcer*, CR
Bench) Jeff Bagwell, WPP


Vin Scully Bench
C) Mickey Cochrane*, JMF
MI) Fred Dunlap, WMB
CI) John Olerud*, RBB
OF) Willie Keeler*, RBB
OF) Tris Speaker*, DCC
Bench) Willie Mays, BDM

Power Alley - Week 5

Biggest Gain
+5: Potomac Rage
The real standings weren't impacted much by the Rage's 8-7 record, but their underlying performances was superb as the team scored 82 runs and let up just 56. Their +26 Run Differential during Week 5 was the second best in the Harry Caray League. Leading the charge was Dean Chance. The #3 starter went 2-0 in three starts and in 24+ innings held a 1.48 ERA. Fellow starters Dazzy Vance (2.77 ERA), Ben Sheets (3.02 ERA), and Fernando Valenzuela (3.32) were very good as well.


Biggest Loss
-8: Chi Town Black Sox
At 2-12 during Week 5, it was an awful sim for the Black Sox. Just 3.5 games out of first place and 4 games above .500, the team ran into a buzz saw getting swept by John McDonald Fanclub, Warning Track Power, and the DC Chips. They also dropped a 4 games series to the Rochester Beau Brummels. The bats went cold, as a team batting .232 with a lowly .281 slugging percentage. Egard Martinez, Stan Hack, and Luke Appling batted below the Mendoza Line.

How to Blow A Game, by the Cincinnati Redlegs

This deserved it's own post. Jay, owner and operator of the Potomac Rage, pointed me to this box score on his teams miraculous comeback against the Cincinnati Redlegs.

Down 8-0 (!) and getting 4-hit heading into the 8th inning, the Redlegs simply imploded:

8th Inning
Pitching well through 7, starter Cy Blanton hits a wall. He battled lead off hitter Joe Morgan, going to a 1-2 count before coughing up a seeing eye single to left field. Then - on just 4 pitches - 3 singles were sprayed into the outfield by the next three batters, Duke Snider, Mel Ott, and Jimmie Foxx. 2-runs scored and the outcome was still in little doubt, with an 8-2 Redleg lead.

That was all for Blanton, and Nick Maddox (3.97 ERA) came in to relieve him. Maddox struck out catcher Javy Lopez swinging, only to surrender a 3-run bomb to Charlie Keller, a monstrous shot for "Kong" down the right field line.

Maddox was done, and the lead cut to three.

It was Roberto Hernandez's turn, and he chose the 'bend and not break' strategy. He induced Jose Canseco to ground out to 1st for the second out, but gave up back to back singles to Derek Jeter and pinch hitter Chick Hafey, putting runners on the corners. In a curious move, Ryan Braun came in to pinch hit for lead off batter Joe Morgan, but lifted a lazy fly ball to center to end the inning. Plenty of damage was done however, and the game headed to the 9th at 8-5.

9th Inning
Hernandez, despite his struggles, came back out to start the 9th. It seemed like a masterful choice as he retired the first two batters on an easy ground out and short outfield pop-up.

But tt was not to be.

Normally a slick fielding third basemen, Al Rosen booted the third out to keep the Rage hopes alive, with the e-5 putting "Double X" on first. Pinch hitters Charles Johnson and Hanley Ramirez both proceeded hit ground ball singles to left field, both between the shortstop and soon to be goat, Rosen.

With bases loaded and 2-outs, after yielding 4 hits in his last inning of work, Hernandez next walked home a run on 4 pitches. 8-6.

So, what do the Redlegs do next? Keep Hernandez in the game, of course. "Ball 8" and the next run comes in, 8-7.

Finally, Hernandez was yanked in favor of Joakim Soria, but left those inherited runners on each and every base. Soria battled, ran the count to deuces wild - 2 out, 2 balls, 2 strikes - but Hafey again left his mark on the game, and won it with a walk off 2- run single.

To recap the disaster:

8th Inning
-Single
-Single
-Single
-Single
-Starter Yanked
-Strikeout
-Three Run Home Run (8-5)
-Reliever Yanked
-Single
-Single
-Out

9th Inning
-Out
-Out
-E-5
-Single
-Single
-Walk in run #6
-Walk in run #7
- pull the pitcher
- 2-run walk off single

Ouch.