Seattle Defeats Hickory, Saskatoon Stays Alive

The Saskatoon Amigos managed to stave off elimination by defeating the Maui Mashers 7-1.  Saskatoon had control of this game the entire time, putting up two runs in the top of the first.  They added another one in the second and three in the third, leading 6-1 after three innings.  Emilio Romero pitched 8.1 innings of seven hit ball for the victory as William Lawrence was shelled for the loss.

The Hickory Huskers had a chance to come away with a victory in their playoff series against Seattle.  They were ahead 8-5 with two out, two-strikes in the ninth, but couldn't hold on.  With two out and a runner (Anderson) on first, John Hukill singled off of Huskers' reliever Anson Shearing.  Steve Jones then singled to load the bases.  Terry Hubbard then came up, fouled off two two-strike pitches and singled to left, bringing home Anderson and Hukill to make it a one-run game.  Bas Bijkerk then doubled to right, bringing home Jones, tying up the game.  With the score tied, the Huskers brought in Donald Castanon to stop the bleeding and save the season.  With runners on second and third, he got Tyler Thomas to fly out on the first pitch to keep the game (and season) alive.  Hickory failed to score in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.

The Huskers had a chance to win in the 10th when, with two outs, Kareem King reached on an infield single. With Tony Reyes (28SB at AAA) pinch running, Carlos Pais hit a fly ball to deep left-center.  Reyes rounded third and headed for home, but the throw beat him and he was thrown out to end the inning.

Hickory had another chance in the 13th when, facing Bong-Ok Ch'on, with one out, Pais doubled down the right side.  After Joel Riojas sacrificed him to third, Manuel Cardona came up but struck out swinging.

The Monarchs finally managed to push a run across in the top of the 14th on an sacrifice fly by Jonathan Anderson.  Hickory had yet another chance to keep the season alive in the bottom of the inning when, against Mike Campbell, switch-hitter Richard Campion led off the inning with a double to left and went to third on a groundout.  But Campbell shut the Huskers down by getting LaBarre to ground out and striking out Paul Shunk looking, advancing the Monarchs to the Cecil Cup series.

Game 5 of the Maui/Saskatoon series Tuesday night

Zev

Seattle and Maui steam ahead

Zev asked me to pinch commish at the last minute, so no recap from me tonight:

Both Seattle and Maui won, and lead 3-0. There's plenty of time for Saskatoon and Hickory to regroup, however, as we're taking a little Passover break here in the SDMB League commissioners office this weekend.

Game Four will be simmed on Monday night. Will there be a game five on Tuesday? Only time will tell.

Maui, Seattle Trounce Opposition To Take 2-0 Leads

Maui 9-2 over Saskatoon, Seattle 10-3 over Hickory.

Sorry, don't have much time to do a complete recap.

Game 3 on tomorrow night.

Zev

Maui, Seattle Take Game 1 on 4-3 Victories

Maui defeated Saskatoon, 4-3, to take Game 1of their playoff series.  Saskatoon held the lead most of the game, until Maui pushed two across in the top of the ninth on two singles, a HBP, a walk (to force in the tying run) and a sac fly to give them the lead.

Meanwhile, up in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle played catch-up to come from behind and defeat Hickory 4-3.  Seattle tied the game in the 7th on a solo homer by Tyler Thomas and took the lead in the 8th on a walk to John Hukill (who was substituted for pinch runner Ivan Castillo) a wild pitch and a single by Steve Jones.

Game 2 on Wednesday night

Best Player EVER!!!!

So, with a lull in the playoff action and with the 2020 regular season in our rear-view mirror, who's the best player ever?

1. OF Brian Frison (935 career VORP over 13 seasons)
2. SS John Hukill (848.1, 13 years)
3. SP Demarcus Ramirez (831.2, 15 years, Hall of Fame)
4. 1B Dong Lutz (813.1, 15 years)
5. SP Ronald Placencia (813.0, 12 years)
6. SP Chad Nelligan (760.2, 13 years, HOF)
7. SS Ricky Peppers (757.6, 14 years)
8. SP John Okane (752.5, 18 years)
9. SP Christopher Hester (736.5, 13 years)
10. SP Juan Villatoro (719.5, 12 years)

As a free postscript, Nigel Bryant's 110 VORP this year was the sixth best season ever.

1. Roberto Casarez, 2004, 133.9 VORP
2. John Hukill, 2013, 116.1
3. Hukill, 2011, 114.7
4. Casarez, 2005, 112.9
5. Dong Lutz, 2014, 112.6
6. Nigel Bryant, 110.0

Not bad for the kid's second year in the majors.

We'll Try Again Tonight

I'm sorry, folks.  I didn't get home from work until after 11PM last night and, at that point, my wife felt that she had a priority on my time over a game.  I tried to convince her otherwise... but you know how that goes.  :)

We'll try Game 1 again tonight.

Zev

Playoff Schedule

OK, we're here at the postseason.  Congrats to all those who made it this far.

The schedule for the first round of playoffs will be as follows:

Game 1 -- Monday night, Apr 2
Game 2 -- Tuesday night, Apr 3
Game 3 -- Wednesday night, Apr 4
Game 4 -- Thursday night, Apr 5

If necessary, games 5-7 will pick up the following week:
Game 5 -- Monday night, Apr 9
Game 6 -- Tuesday night Apr 10
Game 7 -- Wednesday night, Apr 11.

Good luck to all!

Zev