Carlo breaks out the brooms

And not for some Lazy Lake broomball either, friends - this time its for PTP and over Fish no less. 

Here's the series recap I was provided:

Game one. Lincecum vs. Delarosa. Both got off to shaky starts. Colby Rasmus got things started with a two-run jack in the top of the first. Buster Posey answered with a two-run bomb in the bottom of the frame. A shaky Lincecum was chased after completing only three innings and allowing six earned runs. Not one to be outdone, Delarosa lost it in the bottom of the third, walking three and allowing four hits and seven earned runs. That lead would hold. Aubrey Huff added a solo shot in the fifth and ended a double short of the cycle. Buster Posey goes 5 for 5. Carlo wins 12-7
Game two: Kershaw Vs. Cain. Kershaw was largely ineffective allowing four runs in six innings, including a bomb in the third by the hot swinging Dan Uggula. At the plate, however, he delivered a three-run bases clearing double in the second. Cain settled in for a few innings, but Fish fell victim to the big inning again. Matt Cain was torched for seven runs in the sixth inning allowing four hits and three walks. Tulowitzki's three-run shot was the highlight of the frame. Fish chipped away in the seventh with Beltran doubling in two runs, but it just wasn't enough. Carlo wins 12-7 again.
Game three: Arroyo vs. Latos. Early scoring was the theme of the series. Fish raced out to a two-run lead in the top of the first as Rasmus and Edmonds drive in runs. Aubry Huff launched a three-run shot in the bottom of the first to pull Carlo back on top. Arroyo lasted only four innings and was chased after back-to-back doubles by Chipper and Pujols put fish on top 5-3. Latos was lights out, striking out 14 in seven innings. With a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Billy Wagner was called upon to end the game. He allowed a leadoff double to Fukadome. Neil Walker plated him with a single bringing, Carlo within a run. Wagner struck out the next two batters. With two down, Tulo smashed a sinking liner to center. Jim Edmonds and his creaky knees were unable to make the grab, instead allowing the ball to get by for a game-ending triple. Final Score: Carlo 6, Fish 5.
A demoralizing sweep.

Standings and stats updated (Fish, get me yours when you can).  Look for a recap of Fish and my series coming soon...

Dice to resume tumblin' on Tuesday - Fish @ Torto

Like so many of our PTP seasons, this one seems to have achieved stagnation.  To keep play moving, Fish and I aim to jump start things Tuesday after work - and roll out our 2nd series of the regular season.  Can anybody slow Fish down?  His lone loss was handed to him by me, but it took a 9th inning base-clearing Luis Castillo triple to do it.  Getting out of that series with one win was tough enough, so it feels greedy to expect more.  Nevertheless, my Marlins will try and make it interesting.    Several questions that mean something to our squads (but probably not to the rest of you), will also be answered:

1)  Will Torto's offense stagnate in the final leg of the regular season with sparkplug tablesetter, Dexter Fower, on the DL for 8 of the last 9 games?

2)  Will the absence of the lights out Joel Peralta in Fish's bullpen hurt his team in the least?

3)  Will Jason Heyward break the single-season walk record (needs only 1 BB to tie, 2 to obtain record)?

So, with this pivotal series going down shortly - maybe this motivates the rest of you to get some games played, or perhaps even schedule another APD.  

Marlins get back on track by sweeping up Dodger Stadium

Billy celebrates the 3-game sweep with a sexy rendezvous in the basement storage area of Dodger Stadium

Eager to get back on track after losing 4 of their last 6 to Fish and Mario, my Marlins busted out of their batting slump in a big way.  After hitting just 2 HRs in the last 6 games, I had a feeling my boys were due.  And were they ever, much to Goldy's dismay.

Game 1: J.Cueto @ L.Hernandez
Weird start to game one, as Utley was tossed from the game after arguing a called 3rd strike in the top of the first.  After that, things got ugly early, as Livan 'didn't have his good stuff, giving up 3 in the 2nd, 1 in the 3rd, 4 in the 4th, and 6 in the 5th. **record alert - most ERs given up in a game, 14 in 5 IP**  Not much else to say other than my guys were hitting the ball all over the place, and out of Dodger Stadium.  Ben picked up 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th on a 3-run Jayson Werth HR, but by then it was already 15-3.  Cueto went the distance, despite being tired the last entire inning.  The Marlins bashed 5 HRs in this one (two off the fat deep drive zone of one Ted Lily) - Heyward, Zimmerman, A-Gone, Stanton, and Cueto. Yup Cueto, add another pitcher to our HR archives.  He hit a deep drive down the left field line (with F-power), and had just enough distance to get the rare 'robbed' option to come up.  The left fielder couldn't pull back in, and Cueto circled the bases.
Torto wins 16-3
**pitcher Johnny Cueto hits HR down LF line with 'F' power**

Game 2: J.Garland @ J.Sanchez
The bats settled down a bit for this game, but the Marlins got out to an early lead and never looked back.  A-Gone hit a 2-run jack in the top of the first, but the Dodgers cut that lead in half on a Dick Weeks triple and Jayson Werth RBI-single.  Zimmerman hit a solo shot in the 4th to bring the score to 3-1.  Then in the 6th, with Utley on 2nd and 2-outs, the skipper decided to put A-Gone on the empty base, and take his chances with Big Mike Stanton.  Stanton made him pay with a 3-run blast, boosting the lead to 6-1.  The Dodgers grabbed 2 runs back in the 8th, but it was too little too late, as Mike Adams slammed the door in the 9th.
Torto wins 6-3

Game 3: C.Billingsley @ M.Pelfrey
Another weird start to this one, as Werth got plunked by Billingsley in the bottom of the first and got into it with John Thole.  Benches cleared and both Werth and Thole got ejected.  The Dodgers then jumped on C-Bill, grabbing a 4-0 lead off a solo shot in the 3rd by Dick Weeks, and a base-clearling double in the 3rd by young Chris Young. This would chase Billingsley from the game.  The Marlins cut the lead in half on a junk RBI slow roller in front of the catcher that out 'ranged' him, followed by a sac fly by Jason Heyward.  The top of the 8th rolled around, and Nick Masset walked Ryan Zimmerman.  A-Gone proceeded to lift a deep drive out of the stadium to tie the game 4-4.  Not to be outdone, Mike Stanton proceeded to bash the ball into the seats as well (no deep drive needed for that one).  Lead 5-4, Torto.  Ben was now thoroughly disgusted with my ridiculous rolls all game (rightly so).  The Dodgers made some noise in the 8th after lefty specialist Madison Bumgarner handled the first two lefty bats in front of him, only to give up a single to Melvin Mora.  Nearly leaving Bumgarner in to face lefty basher, Gaby Sanchez, Torto ran out to the mound and handed the ball to Sergio Romo, who proceeded to get Sanchez to ground out, and then sat the 1-2-3 hitters down in the 9th.
Torto wins 5-4
Torto wins series 3-0 

This was one of those series, where it seemed like every other roll I made came up with a red-1.  Tough one for Goldy to sit through, but he soldiered on. 

**Fun with Stats - the Marlin Midpoint**
-Jayson Heyward has walked 26 times already this season, only 10 shy of the all-time record of 36, set by Fish's Barry Bonds.  He also has a 0.455 OBP, while only batting 0.267

-Mike Stanton is batting only 0.211 in 71 AB, but has belted 8 HRs, including 3 time in back-to-back sequences with A-Gone.

-Chase Utley has been picked off 4 times this season, and stole only 1 base

-As a team, only 5 errors committed

Mario treats Torto to drinks at the Iron Horse... ...and a pair of losses.

Swanky atmosphere, antique motorcyles, and Crown and Coke were a winning combo for Mar

Last weekend, Mar and I met up for dinner, drinks, and PTP.  The evening started out well enough for me, with a great dinner at Pitch's.  We then proceeded over to the Iron Horse Hotel bar to grab some cocktails and roll some dice.  We were surprisingly undisturbed, despite the hoppin' crowd.  And with my 1-2-3 going in a home series, I liked my chances to come out winning 2 of 3.  But that's why we play the games...

Game 1: J.Santana @ C.Billingsley
A pitchers' duel in this one, both Johan and C-Bill were dealling in this one.  My guy gave up only 3 over 9, and ordinarily that would be easy enough for my battery of sluggers to overcome, but it was not to be.  Mario got RBI hits from Carlos Ruiz, Justin Upton, and Martin Prado, while I could only muster a pair of runs. 
Mario wins 3-2

Game 2: C.Zambrano @ R.A.Dickey
Negative from the get go about starting Big Z, Mario's negativity got to the big guy, and he gave up 5 runs in the second, the majority of which came on a bases loaded 2-out triple from Dexter Fowler.  Torto added runs in the 5th and 7th, but Mario patiently chipped away, scoring 4 by the 8th (including a Casey McGehee HR), and making the score 7-4.  Dickey didn't have his sharpest outing, but didn't need it to get his 4th win. Things got a little dicey in the ninth, but Sergio Romo finally settled in for his 6th save.
Torto wins 7-4

Game 3: J.Chacin @ W.Rodriguez
Another pitchers' duel in game 3.  Wandy pitched a gem into the bottom ninth, with the only run given up a solo shot to Casey McGehee.  Torto climbed out of the 1-0 deficit in the 7th, on a Chase Utley 2-RBI single.  With a 2-1 lead, going into the ninth, the game was mine to lose.  Wandy got himself officially 'tired' on a lead off walk, so in came Romo again to save the day.  Not this time.  Mario ripped off 4 straight hits, then another walk, to plate 5 runs, making it 6-2.  Torto picked up a meaningless run in the bottom of the ninth, but still lost the series on the Romo blown save.
Mario wins 6-3
Mario wins series 2-1

Tough to lose the series that way, but Mar earned it.  He kept my big bats at bay, and my clutchy-ness came up empty.  Mar's team might not have the bats to score big most games, but his pitching (Zambrano excluded of course) is solid enough to surprise some.

In Dickey We Trust - Marlins Sweep the Dodgers Out of Town



Robert Alan Dickey is 3 and 0 this season, with a 0.75 ERA. And his hair was perfect.

Thursday night, plucky league newcomer Goldy, hosted my squad of fighting Marlins at his abode for a mid-week PTP roll-up.  After taking 2 or 3 from Keither, Mr. Goldsworthy was feeling pretty solid about his squad.  By the end of the evening, he was ready to toss me out into a snow bank.  And rightly so, for the rolls were coming up Torto all evening, and every jam/on/off/clutch, etc seemed to go my way.

Game 1:  J.Sanchez @ J.Garland
Things got ugly in this game, as my squad had the eye for pitches out of the strikezone, with Sanchez issuing 8 walks in 3 IP, along with a Ryan Zimmerman 2-run bomb.  With Sanchez out, the walks still kept coming, with a combo of J.A.Happ, O'Flaherty, and Ramon Ramirez issuing another 9 free passes in total.  17 walks in only 8 innings.  Obviously this was the root of Ben's problems, and it led to 9 runs.  Dexter Fowler and Adrian Gonzalez alone each walked 4 times.  With this lead Garland got the win. 
Torto wins 9-4.

Game 2:  M.Pelfrey @ C.Billingsley
A 3-run shot from Dick Weeks in the top of the 2nd got Ben fired up again for a spell, but it was quickly quelled by a Adrian Gonzalez Grand Slam in the 5th, followed up immediately by a Mike Stanton solo HR. A-Gone struck again in the 6th with another homer, this time a 3-run shot.  A 2-run Joey Votto HR came in the 8th, but it was too little, too late.  The A-Gone show carried the game.
Torto wins 9-5

Game 3:  T.Hudson @ R.A.Dickey
With Ben's ace on the mound, the chances of avoiding the sweep seemed likely.  But my crafty knuckleballer, Robert Alan Dickey would have none of it.  Dominant in his first two starts, Dickey picked up right where he left off, scattering 3 hits and 3 walks over 7 innings.  Much to Goldy's dismay, Dickey excercised the 'OFF' early and often, saving himself those pesky leadoff baserunners.  Both pitchers dueled deep into the game, but the 0-0 tie was finally broken in the bottom of the 5th, when Dickey helped his own cause, slapping a 2-out RBI single to score Mike Stanton.  An insurance run was picked up in the 8th, on a Zimmerman RBI single.  Daniel Hudson picked up the hold, and Sergio Romo got the save (albeit rocky again).  
Torto wins 2-0

That sweep marks 6 straight wins for my squad.  Might be about time to come back down to reality.  Fish, when do you want to play?

Fun-lovin' Marlins off to hot start



Billy says "its a beautiful day for a PTP series, let's play 3!"

 The 2010 NL season got kicked off for the Marlins this weekend, rolling out 3 series in 2 days vs. Keith, Nick, and Mario. Lots of games played this Saturday, so here's a brief recap of mine...

Series 1:  Torto @ Keith
Game 1 - C.Billingsley @ A.Sanchez
Timely hits from Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward sealed the deal in this one, and Thunder Thighs went a solid 7 in the season opener, and Sergio Romo had a shakey scoreless save.  Keith's Anibal Sanchez got himself ejected (7 games?) for plunking Dexter in the 4th..
Torto wins 5-2

Game 2 - R.A.Dickey @ J.Westbrook
Westbrook gave up 4 by the 6th, while Badenhop gave up another 5 in the 9th, to clinch the win for Torto.  Robert Alan Dickey gave up only 1 over 8 IP, and both A-Gone and Heyward had 3 RBIs each.
Torto wins 9-2

Game 3 - W.Rodriguez @ R.Halladay
Wandy pitched a solid game, but Halladay did what he does, pitch complete game wins to get your team back on track.  Keith won on the strength of a 7th inning 2-run shot by Matt Holliday.
Keith wins 3-2

Series 2:  Nick @ Torto
Game 1 - T.Hansen @ J.Cueto
A wild one to start the Marlins home opener, with Nick scoring 9 over 8 innings, with HRs from Prince, Ethier, and Heisey.  My guys clawed their way back in, culminated in a 6-run 8th inning of Kyle McClellan thanks in large part to a Heyward RBI-single, a  base clearing Ryan Zimmerman double, and a Mike Stanton 2-run HR.  Romo came in and slammed the door to get the save. Get ready to run wild on Tommy Hansen everybody - 4 SBs for my squad in this one...
Torto wins 11-9

Game 2 - V.Padilla @ J.Garland
A tight game all the way, with the Marlins down 3-4 in the bottom of the 9th.  Then Luke 'not Jam' Gregerson had to face my battery of 5 (yes FIVE) clutch bats in a row, which led to Heyward driving in Fowler to tie the game a 4-4.  Nick brough in phenom Strausburg to settle in for a potentially long extra inning affair, but the window was cracked open in the 11th, when Starlin Castro misplayed a ground ball for an error letting Fowler on base.  A few batters later, Mike Stanton walked the game off with the RBI-hit.
Torto wins 5-4 in 11 innings

Game 3 - I.Kennedy @ C.Billingsley
Another tight, well-pitched game left us at a 2-2 draw after 9.  Nick brought in Wilton 'not Jam' Lopez for the bottom of the 10th to face the top of the order, and the clutch bats had their way again.  After giving up singles to Utley and Fowler, Heyward grounded out on the fielders choice, clearing the way for Ryan Zimmerman to walk the game off on an RBI-single.
Torto wins 3-2 in 10 innings

Series 3:  Torto @ Mario
Game 1 - R.A.Dickey @ Y.Gallardo
All Dickey in this one.  The knuckleballer baffled Mario's hitters in this one for the CG, 1-run outing. Adrian Gonzalez's 4-RBI day was more than enough to get the win.
Torto wins 8-1

Game 2 - W.Rodriguez @ J.Santana
Battle of the lefties in this one - and the Marlins stormed out to a 8-2 lead midway thru the 6th, partly due to a tough 3-run, 3-base error by Angel Pagan.  Mario stormed back though in the bottom of the 6th and 7th to make it 8-7.  Jason Heyward made sure that the win was in hand though, with a 2-run shot in the top of the ninth, disappointing the Philly fans for any chance at a comeback.
Torto wins 10-7

Game 3 - J.Cueto @ C.Zambrano
A thoroughly frustrated Mario yanked big Z after only 1 and 2/3rds, but the walks and a solo Mike Stanton HR had him worried.  While Zambrano proceeded to demolish the water cooler and empty bat racks, James Loney got Mar the lead on a 3-run shot off Cueto. Mar added 3 more thru 7, and it was enough to hold off the Marlins rally. Jason Motte made short work of my 5-6-7 hitters, striking out the side in a dominating save effort.
Mario wins 6-5

So far, so good. 7-2 thru 9 games, can't complain about that at all. Go Marlins Go!