FIRST PLACE METS SWEEP MARIO, ONLY SIX GAMES LEFT

Location: Torto’s kitchen table

Food: Tostidos and tasty, tomatoey salsa that Mario said he would “put right over spaghetti noodles” (typical, Mario)

Drink: High Life Light in a bottle. 

GAME ONE (Johnny Cueto vs Dustin Mosely)

Pablo Sandolval hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth to help guide the Mets to a game-one win. The bottom of the order was huge for Nick. Ruben Tejada and Ryan Hannigan each had four hits (all singles) in the game. Mario led for the majority of the game before his bullpen failed him. Rickie Weeks went 4x5 with a homer and Ryan Doumit also hit a home run. 

NICK 8, MARIO 7 (in ten innings)

Win - Marco Estrada, Loss – Venters

GAME TWO (Ryan Vogelsong vs Vance Worley)

Nyjer Morgan, in his first game back after missing the majority of the season with an injury, collected four hits and scored two runs in a game-two, Mets win. New York scored four runs in the fourth on six consecutive singles and another two runs in the sixth on a Todd Helton base-clearing double. Carlos Lee went 3x5 and hit a homer and Doumit added another three hits for Mario’s team. 

NICK 7, MARIO 5

Win – C. Martinez, Save – Putz, Loss – Vogelsong

GAME THREE (Jeff Karstens vs Mat Latos)

Mat Latos has to be one of the best PTP pitchers of all time, right? The fiery youngster tossed a brilliant seven innings, yielding just one run and five hits, while striking out eight would-be batters. The possible league MVP, Matt Holliday, hit two homers for the Mets, securing a three-game sweep. The Mets have now won five of their last six, and have just six games remaining, before what looks to be a deep playoff run. Alfonso Soriano went 2x3 and drove in the lone run for Mario’s struggling squad.

NICK 4, MARIO 1

Win – Latos, SV – Putz, Loss - Karstens 

Time on the injured reserve has allowed the once tightly-wound, Nyjer Morgan (below), to become shockingly calm and much more in touch with his inner-self. This maturation has carried over to the diamond, as well, as Morgan has collected five hits in his first two games back. "Tony Plush" is dead, Morgan joked, as he soflty kicked his feet up, sipped some green tea and grabbed his copy of William Faulkner's Light in August.   

 

Great team, great mascot (Nick at Fish re-cap)

Nick at Fish

Location: Fish’s kitchen, Miltown

Drink: Miller Lite Aluminum bottles

Food:  Connie’s Pizza (low caramelization) and pistachios (unshelled)

GAME ONE (Mat Latos v Matt Cain)

Matt Holliday hit two homers, the second in the twelfth inning off Carlos Marmol, and drove in four runs in a game one win for Nick. Fish’s closer, Fernando Salas, blew a one-run lead in the ninth, forcing the game into extras. Nick Hundley, Carlos Gomez and Carlos Gonzalez all had multi-hit games for Fish. Nick’s injury/field communication issues continue to hurt. For the second time this season, Alex Presley went crashing into the shortstop Ruben Tejada (one game injury), this time injuring himself for the year.

NICK 8, FISH 7

Win – Putz, Loss - Marmol

GAME TWO (Corey Luebke v Jair Jurjens)

Pablo Sandoval and professional beard-grower Todd Helton each hit two homers in the game-two, Mets win. Fish jumped to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first off starter Corey Luebke. Nick pecked away with two runs in the first and two in the third, before an explosive four-run sixth inning. Allen Craig hit a double and a homer and Jeff Baker had two hits and three RBI in the game for Fish.

Nick 10, Fish 6

Win – Estrada, Loss - Mujica

GAME THREE (Jordan Zimmerman v Ted Lilly)

The ever-humble Carlos Gomez hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, off closer and game-one winner J.J. Putz, to help Fish avoid the sweep. The Toddfather hit another bomb, his third of the series. For Fish, Nick Hundley hit a dinger and drove in three.

Fish 7, Nick 6

Win – Bastardo, Loss - Putz  

Nick wins series, 2-1. The first-place Mets continue to roll. The squad scored 24 runs in the series, bombed seven homers and hold on to first place, going into their final nine games. Home field advantage is within reach…

Will this Man Ever Play PTP Again?

Spencer - if you are out there, stop hanging out with Connor McKnight - please contact your friends to play PTP as you are sorely behind

No other way to put it.  You guys need more Billy the Marlin in your life.

Despite the fact that I enjoy the smooth stylings of his voice, it's high-time we got the leering mug of Michael McDonald off the top of our website.  Plus I'm sick of remembering that my team didn't show up for the AL world series.  So here's a rare series update from my solid Marlins squad:

Torto @ Carlo (as played by a very hungover Mario)

Game 1: R.Halladay at Z.Greinke
Not surprisingly, this was a pitchers duel, basically won on two mistake pitches hung by Greinke.  A Stanton solo HR in the 7th, and a 2-run blast by The Prince were enough to get Halladay another W in this, his 5th complete game of the season.
Torto W 3-2

Game 2: I.Kennedy at A.Sanchez
Yet another pitchers duel, all the Marlins could muster in this one was a solo jack by Jimmy Rollins in the top of the 3rd.  Carlo's squad tied it with a solo HR from Aramis Ramirez in the 6th.  Into extras, the wheels came off for Matt Belisle in the bottom of the 10th, giving up a lead off single, and after 1 out, back-to-back walks.  Tyler Clippard was brought in and got the 2nd out, but then yielded a walk-off single to Neil Walker.
Carlo W 2-1

Game 3: J.Collmenter at M.Leake
Runs were hard to come by again for both squads, as solid pitching reigned supreme.  An RBI-single by The Heisey in the top of the 1st was all the Marlins could generate in run support for the young Collmenter.  Carlo's squad answered with an Aramis Ramirez sac fly in the bottom of the frame.  He added on with a Ronny Paulino RBI triple in the 5th, and that would be all that is needed. Marlin Mike Stanton was injured midway through this game in an outfield collision, but only for 3 games. Carlo did lose A-Ram for 8 games, and Mike Leake for his next start in this one.
Carlo W 2-1
Superior pitching/incompetent hitting clearly defined this entire series.

Fast forward a few weeks later, Goldy swung out to the WB for our final series of the NL season. 

Torto @ Goldy (but played at Torto's house)

Game 1: H.Kuroda @ T.Lincecum
Quick start out the gate for the Marlins, with a leadoff Jimmy Rollins HR followed by a Chris Heisey RBI double.  An RBI double by The Prince made it 3-0 in the top of the 5th, but Goldy got one back in the 5th, scoring Shane Victorino from 3rd on a ground ball.  An Omar Infante RBI single provided an insurance run in the 8th, and Latroy Hawkins and Sergio Romo combined for the hold/save combo.
Torto W 4-1

Game 2: J.Saunders @ S.Marcum
The ultimate pitching duel here (this with my crap #5 lefty starter) - tied ought-ought in the 7th, Joe Saunders got into a bit of trouble allowing a pair of singles, and reaching the limit of his endurance.  Tyler Clippard came in with 1 out and inheiriting 2 baserunners.  He proceeded to walk the bases loaded, and then issue a bases loaded walk to Jerry Hairston Jr. (of all guys!?!).  This was the only run scored the rest of the way, and Kensley Jansen came in for the 8th and 9th for the old school save, striking out 5 of 7 batters faced.
Goldy W 1-0

Game 3: R.Halladay @ T.Hanson
Another tight one in the rubber match, which found Halladay going the full 9, but dueling ginger Tommy Hansen and friends to a 3-3 stalemate.  Into extra innings, both teams had their opportunities, with Goldy loading the bases with 2-outs in the 10th, and Torto putting 5 total baserunners on over the 10th and 11th.  Then it went pretty quiet until the top of the 14th, when Mike Stanton (fresh off of injury), hit a lead off double.  Things looked promising, but The Heisey flied out, then Ianetta (the Beretta) walked, followed by a Miguel Cairo ground out to 3rd, forcing out Stanton.  With 2-outs, Omar Infante clutched up and put a base clearing double of the outfield wall (on Bill Bray's card).  Torto brought in Romo to close it out, and he slammed the door 1-2-3.
Torto W 5-3 in 14 innings. 

Solid series, but Goldy just didn't have enough offensive firepower to get by my now seemingly power-drained team. 

Super. Mega. Clutch. Goldy Wins the 2010 AL Title!

The streets of Kansas City (and Harpo's) were blasting some Sweet Freedom following the Goldys' title.

Hola, amigos. How's it hangin'? I know its been a long time since I last rapped at ya ...

Well, as you may have heard, the Kansas City Goldys won the 2010 AL Wisconsin PTP Chapter title. A scrappy 34 year-old who hales from the city that is home to Wisconsin's only Chick-Fil-A won a title in only his second PTP season. How did this happen? Well, it was an amazing journey my friends. Below are all the insane details:

ALDS vs. Spencer

Well, this series had to set the record of amount of time between game 6 and 7 of a playoff series. Spencer and I knocked out the first 6 games of the series at the Bosch Tavern in late February/Early March. The exact dates escape my memory. Due to people having to leave, we were not able to get in Game 7. Game 7 was finally played in late May in a rustic shack in beautiful Boscobel. Details of games 1-6 are a bit fuzzy at this late date, so they don't get much of a write up. Game 7 was truly insane. Goldy had home field advantage, lets get to the recap ...

Game 1: Cliff Lee @ C.J. Wilson
Solid back and forth game to start the series. Goldy manufactured 3 runs in the first two innings but Spencer tied it up in the 4th with a 3-run bomb from Adam Jones. Goldy retook the lead in the 4th on a Ryan Raburn (3-3, 2 2Bs, 1 3B, 2 RBIs) double, but Spencer responded with a run in the 7th on a Teixeira double. Mariano Rivera came in to a tie game and gave up a lead-off 3B to A-Rod of all people who later scored on a Brian Roberts 2-out single. Goldy went down quietly in the bottom of the 9th.
Spencer wins 5-4. Spencer leads series 1-0

Game 2: Clay Bucholtz @ Colby Lewis
Spencer gets a lead-off homer from Derek Jeter and doesn't look back. Goldy cut the lead to 2-1 in the 4th, but Spencer gets 3 Badger Mutual Insurance runs in the 8th and 9th, includin a Teixeira HR to shut the door.
Spencer wins 5-1. Spencer leads series 2-0

Game 3: Francisco Liriano @ Matt Garza
Must win game and Goldy is throwing Liriano? Yikes. Spencer jumps out to a lead on a Youkilis solo shot. Goldy responds with solo shots in the middle innings from Carl Crawford, Nelson Cruz, and John Buck to take the lead. Liriano goes for the complete game but hits A-Rod to lead off the 9th and Craig Breslow comes in to get the save.
Goldy wins 3-2. Spencer leads series 2-1

Game 4: Big Erv Santana @ Dan Haren
A big 3-run bomb from Super Mega Clutch Cruz in the 5th gives Goldy a 4-0 lead. Spencer was able to get 2 runs off Erv in the 8th but Mariano Rivera comes in for the 5-out save. Haren does K 13. Can anyone win at home in this series?
Goldy wins 4-2. Series tied at 2-2.

Game 5: C.J. Wilson @ Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee throws a complete game with 14 Ks and Spencer's 2 runs in the first are enough to win this one.
Spencer wins 5-1. Spencer leads series 3-2.

Game 6: Clay Bucholtz @ Colby Lewis
A 14 inning affair that the scoresheet can't even handle. Goldy jumps out to a 2-0 lead but Spencer ties it up in the 6th. Goldy gets several runners on base but is not able to put a run across. In the bottom of the 14th John Buck got on base with a 1-out single and advanced to second on a ground out. Torii Hunter hits a single that somehow scores Buck, and his attached plow from second. Goldy retired Spencer's last 17 batters to help pull this one out.
Goldy wins 3-2. Series tied 3-3

Game 7: Matt Garza @ Francisco Liriano
After a 3 month break the series is back on and Goldy has Francisco Liriano going again in a must win game? Ugh. A rustic cabin in Boscobel is the setting for what will be the most amazing Game 7 in PTP history. Fish and Torto are guest charters for this one. Fish should have stuck around to avoid future shoulder issues.
Resident coconut banger Francisco Liriano lasts all of 2.1 innings, giving up 6 runs thanks to 3 walks in the 2nd and a 2-run Brian Roberts homer in the 3rd to give Spencer a 6-0 lead. Unsung hero Brandon Morrow comes in to pitch 5 innings of shut-out relief to keep Goldy in the game. Goldy chips away with a John Buck solo shot in the 3rd and a 2-run Carl Crawford 3B to highlight a 3-run 5th to cut the lead to 2. In the bottom of the 7th, Billy Butler hit a 2-out 3-run bomb to give Goldy a 7-6 lead. In the top of the 8th, A-Rod hits a HR that is reduced to a deep drive thanks to the jam and it ends up being a loud out.
Mariano Rivera comes in to close out the series but gives up a lead off homer to Teixeria to tie the game and crush Goldy's spirit. The next batter, Curtis Granderson rolls a HR, but again, Mariano's jam turns this into a deep drive. However, Granderson's A power sends this over the fence to shock the crowd and gives Spencer a 8-7 lead on back to back homers to lead off the 9th. In the bottom of the 9th John Buck walks to lead off the inning. Carl Crawford then walks to put 2 runners on. Torii Hunter then hits into a DP, leaving a runner on 3rd with 2 outs for Nelson Cruz, down a run. Cruz hits a deep drive. Charter Torto calls out the numbers. 54 and over is a home run, so it's about a 50-50 shot. Goldy rolls an 80-something and the series is over. The Goldys win 9-8 in dramatic fashion. A walk-off 2-run bomb to win a game they pissed away in the top of the 9th. A special shout out to John Buck who went 3-3 with a walk and scored 4 runs.
Goldy wins 9-8. Goldy wins series 4-3.

Series MVP: Nelson Cruz. A Game 7 walk-off says it all.

I am a fucking bad ass. I had a pretty damn great 2010 AL PTP season. Too bad i can't judge a fly ball in the real life World Series. 

ALCS vs. Torto

Game 1: Felix Hernandez @ C. J. Wilson
A tight affair kicks off this series. Torto jumps on the board first in the 3rd with a Magglio Ordonez bases loaded walk. C.J. Wilson is able to prevent any more damage by getting Konerko and Beltre to strike out to end the inning. Goldy comes back in the bottom of the 3rd to ties the game on a Nelson Cruz 2-out RBI single. John Buck starts something in the 7th, reaching on a King Felix error which is followed by a walk to Crawford. A Torii Hunter fielders choice puts runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs for Super Mega clutch Cruz. Torto elects to walk him and that comes back to haunt him as Billy Butler delivers a 2-run, 2-out single to give Goldy a 3-1 lead. Mariano Rivera comes in to get the two-inning save. Goldy had no extra-base hits in this game.
Goldy wins 3-1. Goldy leads series 1-0. W: Papelbon (1-0) L: Hernandez (0-1) SV: Rivera (1)

Game 2: Joel Pineiro @ Colby Lewis
Another tight affair. Torto send 8 batters to the plate in the first and scores 2 runs on a Konerko sac fly and a bases loaded walk to Ryan Sweeney. Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer (who Torto detests and will never draft again) drive in runs in the 5th and 6th, respectively, to give Torto a 4-0 lead. Goldy gets on the board with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th thanks to a Billy Butler 2-out 2B. Brian Dunsing comes on for Torto in the 8th and is immediately greeted by a Crawford single and then a 2-run HR from Torii Hunter to tie the game. With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Billy Butler hits a solo shot to win the game and send the home crowd home happy. Parents are now naming their children after Billy Butler in KC.
Goldy wins 5-4. Goldy leads series 2-0. W: Valverde (1-0) L: Slowey (0-1)

Game 3: Francisco Liriano @ Justin Vargas
The series shifts to Detroit but Torto keeps marching out Mariners' starting pitchers. Goldy jumps out to a lead in the top of the 1st on a Nelson Cruz RBI double but Torto comes back with 2 of his own in the bottom of the frame on RBIs from Beltre and his man Mauer. Goldy comes right back and puts 4 on the board in the 2nd thanks to a 2-run 2B from Darnell McDonald, followed by a 2-run blast from John Buck (I fricking love that card, but the 196-356 K zone against righties was a buzzkill) to put Goldy up 5-2. Liriano continues to allow baserunners, and is lifted after 4 innings. Torto responds with 2 in the 5th off Wade Davis on a Beltre HR. Goldy adds some insurance in the 6th and 7th thanks to HRs from Crawford and Longoria to take an 8-4 lead. torto gets one back in the 8th thanks to his man Mauer and grabs an additional run in the 9th, but Rivera is able to shut the door.
Goldy wins 8-6. Goldy leads series 3-0. W: Davis (1-0) L: Vargas (0-1) SV: Rivera (2)

Game 4: Big Erv Santana @ Doug Fister
Really no other way to put this. Goldy's pitching staff got anally violated in this one. Torto also used up all of his offense for the series in this one game. Every starter on Torto's squad had scored by the 4th inning. By the bottom of the 4th it was 14-5. His man Mauer, Elvis Andrus, and Denard Spann led the way with 3 RBIs each. Amazingly Torto scored 18 runs without hitting a HR. Big Erv gave up 6 runs in 1.1 IP, and Brandon Morrow followed with 8 earned in 2 innings. Wade Davis took one for the team and only gave up 4 the rest of the way. Torto's 21 hit attack was lead by Mauer's 4 hits.
Torto wins 18-6. Goldy leads series 3-1. W: Some dude named Anderson (1-0) L: Santana (0-1)

Game 5: C.J Wilson @ Felix Hernandez
A rematch of the Game 1 starters, except this time in Detroit. Goldy gets on the board in the top of the 2nd with an RBI triple from Longoria and a sac fly from Mike Aviles. Torto gets a run back in the bottom half of the frame on a Mauer RBI single. Goldy gets that run back in the 3rd on a Craford solo shot and tacks one on in the 4th when Longoria scores on a wild pitch. Torto grabs 2 back in the bottom of the 4th on a Boring Barton RBI single and a fielders choice to make it 4-3 Goldy. Torto ties it up in the 6th on a Shawn Rodriguez HR. Goldy is able to take the lead in the 8th when Carl Crawford scores on a fielders choice with the infield in. Rivera comes in to close down the game and deliver Kansas City the title but commits an error on the first batter. Torto brings in Orlando Hudson as a pitch runner and he steals second. In an unprecedented move, he lifts the pinch runner after the steal of second to bring in a pinch runner who has a better chance of stealing 3rd (I should note Rivera is a +4). B.J. Upton steals 3rd and later scores on a sac fly to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. With 2 outs in the top of the 10th, Nelson Cruz hits a 2B. Two batters later, Longoria hits a single that scores Cruz and gives Goldy the lead.In the bottom of the 10th Rivera is back on to close this thing out and retires Torto in order to win the title for the Goldys.
Goldy wins 6-5. Goldy wins series 4-1. W: Rivera (1-0) L: Slowey (0-2)

What a season for the young upstart from Racine. Kansas City wins the title without getting a victory from a starting pitcher in the series. The bullpen was key for this team as were the 4 clutch bats in the middle of the order, the good speed on the bases, and a top notch defensive OF. Billy Butler came up huge i the first two games of the series with some clutch hits. Longoria is going to win the MVP award for this series with huge games in Games 3 and 5.

Look at this sweet hat I can wear because I am Evan Longoria. I am going to get so much tail in this thing. Remetee's got nothin' on me, biotches!



It was a well played series by Torto but the rolls just did not go his way. Maybe it was because my neighbor gave him the evil eye as he showed up and told my wife we were partaking in some "hardcore gambling". I also give him credit for coming to my place to play the series.

It was a fun season for the Goldys. Now with a title, I want more and am probably sucked in to this PTP thing for some time.

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE...........

.......2010 AL PTP Champion.  Congrats to Goldy again for taking the crown.  

(Highlander outfit being sent to Goldy via Fedex Tracking number z1000000c4858203)  

Slush Ball Player Of The Year

Stats class should have focused more on baseball than the economy.

Baseball is such an awesome sport.  The statistical analysis is best part.  Don't deny it.

From Jim Caple @ ESPN:

My "I Hate Closers'' Note Of The Week: After Mariano Rivera's possible career-ending injury, Sports Illustrated and other media outlets pointed out how many closers other teams had gone through during Mo's 1997-2011 run, many in double digits. And there is no denying Rivera's longevity, which is what truly sets him apart from closers not named Trevor Hoffman. But there is another, possibly more important way of looking at it: How much did those teams pay for their saves? Fortunately, the excellent baseball writer Masa Niwa did the research. And he found that the Yankees paid an average of $241,000 per Mariano save. The other teams paid $97,000 per save by their "designated'' closers. (The Athletics paid just $59,000.)

And as Sweet Science's Dave Schoenfield found, the ninth inning lead protection success rate was not significantly different between the Yankees from 1997-2011 (97 percent) and the worst team in baseball during the same span, the Pirates (95 percent). The lesson is this. Mo has been durable and successful, but he has also been costly. That's no big deal for the Yankees, who can easily afford a closer who makes only a one- or two-win difference per year. But other teams are better off investing their money in less expensive relievers who will protect ninth inning leads nearly as well, allowing the team to beef up the rest of the roster so it will have more ninth inning leads to protect.

Mar @ Fish --- 2011 final regular season series.  

I realize APD’s are special.  Willow Ufgood was special in the rescue of Elora and the demise of Bavmorda.  But my most memorable PTP series happen at other times.  

There was the time Keith and I carefully opened the door to a random Johnson’s Creek bar mid afternoon.  We were greeted by two patrons yelling at us “New blood, new blood!” It could have been a scene from Willow, these patrons were obviously cast under Bavmorda's spell.  

Or the time a bird pooped on my arm while rolling dice with Dubs at the Milwaukee lakefront (rest his PTP soul, working on a 3-D 2Pac type return to the game.  If you are not familiar, youtube "2Pac Coachella").  

Note: I hate feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic, egg-laying vertebrate animals!!

This past 1st of May was no exception, it was special.  Fish was on the way up to Green Bay and dropped off some Doritos Salsa Verde flavored chips.  Have you tried these yet?  Damn good.  Perfect with Busch Light....right Mr. Cieslenski?  

Along with the chips, we decided to roll some dice. 

Despite an asterisk next to Fish’s 2011 season (unable to draft his own team), I took the first series 2-1 and was optimistic about my chances this time around.   In summary:

Game 1 --- Karstens vs Cain  (both pitchers last 5 innings)

Cain gets roughed up in the first inning with a lead off triple by Emilio Bonifacio, followed by singles from Castro, Braun, Doumit and Bourn.  Fish is not deterred.

A memorable bottom of the 8^th inning will send the game into overtime tied 7-7.  My pitcher Cishek falters walking three batters, hitting one and giving up two singles.  

The game is won in 10 innings with a solo shot by Castro, Mar wins 8-7.

Game 2 ---Dickey vs Jurrjens (both pitchers last 6 innings)

Fish scores in the bottom of the first to take a early 1-0 lead.  An RBI single by CarGo sends O-Hudson across the finest plate any restaurant can serve.  Home plate.  I thought it tasted awful and went back to the kitchen to change the menu.

I serve up a Bonifacio triple in the top of the 3^rd with Braun dishing the RBI single to tie the game up. 

Fish answers with a CarGo home run in the 6^th to regain the lead.  I tie the game with a Doumit home run in the 7^th.   

I finish off another win with a Derek Lee RBI single in the 9^th to bring home the Bourn Supremacy.  Mar wins 3-2. 

Game 3 --- Garcia vs Lilly  (both pitchers last 5 innings)

Other than a 1^st inning home run by Braun, the cards were all in Fish’s favor.  The levee broke in the bottom of the 5^th.  I had a 3-0 lead when Barmes starts thing off with a lead off single.  A CarGo single and doubles by Allen Craig and Votto tie the game up. 

The 6^th inning showed promise with a Ricky Weeks single to send Soriano home.  But that’s where the story ends for me. 

Fish went ahead and blew up the game in the bottom of the 6^th with some highly advanced military equipment, something the A-Team would be proud of.  After a lead off walk and stolen base by Carlos Gomez, two quick outs were registered in the books.  Pinch hitter David Wright steps in to get a single, followed by a single, double and another single from CarGo, Headley and Craig.  

Stick a fork in me.  Headley gets another double in the bottom of the 8^th to eventually cross a freshly brushed home plate by an RBI single from Votto.

Fish wins 9-4.   Mario takes series 2-1.   

With the first pick in the 1958 PTP Draft, I'll take....

Not a whole lot of games going on, so I thought I'd post something to the blog...

Yer guy from PTP posted these cards and I thought some might find them interesting, so I posted them.

Enjoy.

Fish v. Torto - 2010 AL Playoff Series

Our venerable leader in World Series Titles and appearances, Fish, generously found his way out to West Bend on Sunday morning so we could hammer out our overdue Twins/Tigers AL playoff series.  We both expected a very hard fought, tight series.  We got what we expected.

Game 1:  F.Hernandez @ T.Cahill
The  Battle of the Aces didn't disappoint.  Fish scored Matt Weiters on a Robbie Cano RBI double in th 3rd to take a 1-zip lead, and then added 2 more in the 6th on Morneau and Vladdy singles.  King Felix kept it together though, and that was all Fish would get on him.  Scoreless going into the top of 9th, the Tigers rallied, scoring runs on back-to-back RBI doubles from Zobrist and O-Dog Hudson. Hip-hip Jorge pinch hit, and advanced the tying run to 3rd, but Edwin Encarnacion hit a long fly-out to end the game.
Fish wins 3-2, Fish leads series 1-0.

Game 2: J.Pineiro @ D.Price
Pineiro and Price battled as well as their #1 counterparts.  Tigers got on the board early on a leadoff B.J. Upton 2B, followed by a Boring Barton RBI single.  While Fish's hitters were puzzled by Pineiro's stuff, my squad added another run on a Maggs sac fly in the 6th.  2-zip in the bottom of the 9th, and Pineiro had pitched a 4-hit shutout gem but was spent. Darren Oliver came in to deal with the big lefties, Cano and Morneau.  After getting by Cano, Alex Rios singled, and Morneau proceeded to go yard and tie up the game.  Oliver was pulled for Grant Balfor to preserve the tie, but Fish would not be denied on the very next batter, walking off the game on a Vladdy solo-shot.
Fish wins 3-2, Fish leads series 2-0

Game 3: D.Braden @ J.Vargas
Returning to Detroit in dire straights, the Tigers needed a win badly to have any chance of getting to the World Series.  El Tigres jumped out early, getting an RBI single from Boring Barton, followed by a Maggs Ordonez 3-run blast into the savage Detroit night. The lefty Vargas gave up 3- in a shakey 6th, but was able to hold out the rest of the way for the complete game win.
Torto wins 4-3, Fish leads series 2-1 

Game 4: J.Danks @ D.Fister
Building on the momentum from Game 3, the Tigers bats came alive.  A 5-run Tigers 4th inning built on singles and walks was made ruinous by a Michael Young error.  The Tigers went right back to work in the 5th adding 3 more runs, and one more in the 6th.  Fish scrapped back with 3 in the 7th, 1 in the 8th, and 1 in the 9th (a Thames blast), but it was too little, too late. 
Torto wins 8-4, series tied 2-2

Game 5: F.Hernandez @ T.Cahill
The King Feliz had the Eye of the Tiger in this one, giving up only 1 run (Wieters RBI-single) in another complete game effort. Much to the delight of Detroiters everywhere, the Tigers mustered enough offense to sweep all their home games (Mauer RBI single, and Beltre 2-run HR). 
Torto wins 3-1, Torto leads series 3-2

Game 6: J.Pineiro @ D.Price
Now Fish was caught on his heels, and needed his squad to deliver a win to stay alive.  El Tigres got things rolling early with Beltre driving a run across in the 1st, and Sean Rodriguez and Maggs delivering RBI hits. Fish stuck with Price though, and it paid off.  He settled in, and got a solo shot out of Morneau and a couple of RBIs out of Vladdy (single and solo HR).  Holding a 4-3 lead thru 6, my normally solid long, Brian Duensing, got 2 Ks to start the 7th. Then disaster struck. 2-out double from Rios, a Cano HBP, and another Vlad Guerrero HR (3-run shot).  Tack on another insurance run for Fish in the bottom of the 8th, and the Twins fans were believing again.
Fish wins 7-4, series tied 3-3

Game 7: J.Vargas @ D.Braden
The tension was there for both teams in Game 7, but the starters were sharp.  Tigers got on the board early, on a Zobrist RBI single.  The Twinkies countered with a Robbie Cano RBI single.  Braden was spent early into the 8th, and David 'Aaaaaarrrrdsma' came on in relief.  Aardsma walked the bases loaded, got Zobrist for the 2nd out, but then yielded a 2-RBI single to the O-Dog.  Aardsma took the long walk of shame after handing the ball to Manager Fish, relieved by Joakim Soria.  Soria gave up an single to Andrus, loading up the bases again. Daric Barton then hit a dribbler in front of the mound which catcher Rocco Cervelli (error rating of 10) bobbled and threw away.  Another run scored, making it 4-1 Tigers.  Fish got back a run in the bottom of the 8th, but it was not enough.  Grant Balfor finally had a clean outing, getting the last 4 outs of the game, and striking the last two batters out.  Game over.
Torto wins 4-2, Torto wins series 4-3

Series MVP - the lefty Jason Vargas, who pitched 15 innings, giving up 4 runs. More importantly, he delivered huge wins in games 3 and 7. 

Standard celebratory practices were followed in Detroit.
World Series here we come.

Great series with Fish, as usual.  We worked our cards to the fullest.  Jams, offs, A-1Bs, etc.  I don't think we've had a playoff series that didn't go to game 7, and I believe we've split 2-2 on those series overall.  Couldn't be much tighter if we drew it up that way.  Oh, and after we finished our playoff series, we decided to get our 2nd NL series in.  Fish won that one 2-1, so he'll have the update.

Mets pick up two more wins on the road vs Mario

Jordan Zimmerman (above in UWSP uniform), just years removed from playing in places like Superior and Platteville, sure has come a long way from the D3 anybody to a possible Cy Young winner (if teammate Drew Storen doesn't steal it away from him)

NICK AT MARIO SERIES UPDATE

GAME ONE (C. Luebke vs R.A. Dickey)

A Matt Holliday three-run homer in the top of the eighth helped send the Mets past Mario in game one. Doubles by Alfonso Soriano and Martin Prado helped plate two runs for Mario in the second and seventh inning, before starter R.A. Dickey ran out of steam. The Mets bullpen, a considerable strength all season, held down a one-run game. Drew Storen picked up his league-leading fifth win of the season, while J.J. Putz pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

NICK 4, MARIO 2

W – Storen, L – Dickey, SV – Putz

GAME TWO (J. Zimmerman vs J. Garcia)

Nick’s lefty-mashing lineup went nuts (again), while starter Jordan Zimmerman added another bullet-point to his striking resume for the Cy Young Award. The Mets battered Mario’s Jaime Garcia for 6 earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings. Pablo Sandoval, Willie Harris and Ryan Hannigan all had three hits. Zimmerman tossed a complete game, striking out ten batters in the win. Freddie Freeman provided the lone highlight on the day for Mario, hitting a three-run homer in the third inning.

NICK 8, MARIO 3

W- Zimmerman (CG), L – Garcia

GAME THREE (D. Mosely vs J.Cueto)

Johnny Cueto helped Mario avoid the sweep, securing a game three, complete game win against the Mets. Ricky Weeks had three hits, while Ryan Braun added two hits and a RBI. In the loss, Matt Kemp hit a double and drove in two runs and Bryan Peterson added a multi-hit performance to his utterly surprising 2012 campaign.

MARIO 4, NICK 3

W – Cueto, L – D. Mosely

***Editor’s note…Nick went “PTP Ironman” (CHARTING AND SCOREKEEPING) during this series that still clocked in at less than 2.5 hours, because Mario’s “wrist hurt.” Awwww...poor Mar. Does this belong anywhere in the record book, Torto?

Friday Night Lights

Guys

As an update, games were played on Friday night, here is the overview of the outcomes:

Spencer swept Carlo 3-0

Mario beat Fish 2 out of 3
Nick beat Mario 2 out of 3

Fish beat Carlo 2 out of 3

More importantly, Carlo and I conducted two separate trades that were league approved. Meet my new employees:

So the trades were as follows:

Fish gets:
Carlos Gonzalez and Joey Votto

Carlos Gomez and David Wright

Carlo gets:

Lance Berkman and Hunter Pence

Drew Stubbs and Jamie Carroll