Marlins clinch playoff spot, fully healthy for playoff run: Torto vs. Carlo x 6

Poached Marlin anyone? Billy relaxes in the hot tub after a successful regular season campaign.

Last Sunday, our beloved commissioner was gracious enough to meet up with me for a 6 game swing with Carlo's AWOL team.   We met up in the AM at one of the parks along the Root River Parkway, were mistaken for beer delivery guys by a neighboring wedding reception party, and finished up with a late lunch at the Bosch tavern up the road.  Good times - here's a quick synopis of each of the games.

Series 1: Carlo(Nick) @ Torto
Game 1: R.Nolasco vs. R.A.Dickey
Mr. Dickey continued his dominant soft tossing ways, going 7 and 2/3rds and giving up only 1.  Nolasco got beat by the longball, giving up a 2-run shot to league MVP-candidate, Ryan Zimmerman, and another on a deep drive by Josh Thole. 
Torto wins 5-1

Game 2: B.Arroyo vs. W.Rodriguez
The leg kick was working for Carlo's Arroyo - and he kept the Marlins off the board with 5 strong innings. Only a 3-run HR from Miguel Olivo in the 8th kept my squad from getting blanked out, despite getting Jason Heyward back in the lineup.
Carlo wins 7-3

Game 3: T.Lincecum vs. J.Cueto
Faced with matching up against one of the NLs best pitchers, Johnny Cueto uncharacteristically rose to the challenge, and pitched 8 innings of shutout ball, before fatigue gave way to the bullpen for the 9th.  Lincecum did what he does, and pitched 8 and 2/3rds of outstanding ball.  Tied 0-0 until literally the last out of the 9th, Heyward and Zimmerman singled, and A-Gone nullified the jam with his own clutch, and walked the game off with a game-winning single. 
***RECORD ALERT*** - rookie phenom Jason Heyward, broke the single season walk record in this game (37), eclipsing Barry Bonds mark of 36 set by Fish in the 2007 NL season
Torto wins 1-0

After cruising thru that series in record time, Nick and I decided to stay outside in the absolutely perfect weather for series 2, where we strangely enough, found that Carlo's normal home stadium (Colorado) could not be played in due to a major structural flaw discovered - i.e. we couldn't remember where Carlo played.  Luckily Keith's Padres were done and Petco was sitting empty, so we moved the games there.

Series 2: Torto @ Carlo(Nick)
Game 1: J.Garland vs. C.Kershaw
Garland gave a virtuoso performance on the mound, in support of his bid to be the 4th starter in the playoff rotation, and shut down Carlo's bats, giving up only 1 unearned run (on a Luis Castillo error) in a full 9 innings.  Tony Gwynn Jr, filling in for the injured Dexter Fowler, managed to provide lead-off extra-base power (2B & 3B) to set the table for the win in this game.
Torto wins 4-1

Game 2: C.Billingsley vs. R.Dempster
The bats woke up a bit in this one, led by league HR leader, Mike Stanton - who hit 2 jacks in this one to carry the day.  The dismal Chase Utley, relagated to the 8-hole, also cracked a 2-run homer, but his frustrating season continued on when he was ejected late in the game for arguing the strike zone. Billingsley was not sharp, but managed to get himself out of some trouble using his jam and the on a few times.
***RECORD ALERT*** - Young Mike Stanton managed to tie the league single season HR mark with his second longball of this game, which is held by Adrian Gonzalez's 2009 mark (Spencer) of 16 .  
Torto wins 7-2

Game 3: R.A.Dickey vs. R.Nolasco
Now fully fearful of a 'Joe Mauer kicking Roy Halladay' moment, I decided to rest most of my everyday players, with the exception of Stanton (going for that HR record) and Dexter Fowler (just off the DL, needed the work).  Nolasco was dialed in and pitched a 2-hit gem against my B-squad, allowing only 1 run in 6 innings.  The Marlins were just happy to get out healthy from this one.  Stanton couldn't get that last HR he needed for the record of 17, going 0-3 with a walk.
Carlo wins 3-1

So both series were won 2-1, 2-1 by the Marlins.  Season complete and ready to see how things shake out for the playoffs.

Fish vs. Nick at East Troy

Nick and I hooked up for some mid-week PTP action earlier this week. Nick was slightly rattled to begin the games, as it took him about 15 minutes to find his cards (please note his PTP box organization). After that was squared away, the games began:

Game 1: T Wood vs. I Kennedy

Fish’s squad got out to a fast start with Reyes reaching on an error and was scored by “The Hanigans”, followed by a two run home run by Ian Stewart. Uggla would also score in the inning after a walk and a Jim Edmonds RBI double- 4 runs in the 1st. The game was quite until the bottom of the 5th when Nick’s team rallied, Domit double, Morrison single, and a Cargo three run home run. Although Fish would put the game away in the top of the 9th with four runs on singles from Reyes, Stewart and Uggla, and doubles from Hanigan, and Edmonds. Soriano, when the game was well out of reach, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth. Fish wins 9-4.

Win – T Wood
Loss – Kennedy
Home Runs – Stewart, Gonzalez, Soriano

Game 2: Silva vs. Baily

Fish started quickly again, as Votto celebrated coming off the DL with a 2-run home run in the top of the 1st. Nick would score a run in the bottom of the second on a Polanco single and a Geo Soto fielder’s choice RBI. Carlos Gonzalez would tie the game in the bottom of the 5th with a solo home run. The game would stay tied until the bottom of the ninth when Nick rallied off of Billy Wagner, with a lead-off single from Polanco, walk to David Wright, and a walk off single from Omar Infante. Nick wins 3-2

Win – Strasburg
Loss – Wagner
Home Runs – Votto, Gonzalez

Game 3: De la Rosa vs. Oswalt

Oswalt ran into a buzz saw in the top of the 2nd inning which started with a Rasmus solo jack, followed by an Edmonds single, Reyes walk, a Morgan RBI single, Chipper Jones reaching base on a David Wright error, followed by a Votto double – 5 runs would score in the frame. Oswalt would give up one more solo home run to Rasmus before he was through for the day. On the other side of the ledger, De la Rosa went his typical one inning of work, and the bullpen held down Nick’s team until the bottom of the 6th, when Prince Fielder hit a double, Wright singled, as well as Morrison and Heinsky, scoring two in the bottom of the frame. Polanco would hit a three run home run in the bottom of the 8th off of Ryan Madson to bring the game two within 1 run. Nick’s managing skills were questioned when he pulled a double switch to remove Castro on defense, bringing in Infante. The problem was that Infante was his last position player and the pitcher spot was to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Marmol came on in the ninth; however here is his stat line in the inning:
· Walk (to the pinch hitter Kyle McClellan)
· Hit Batter
· Walk
· Strike Out
· Fielder’s Choice (nailed the runner at the plate)
· Walk – walked in the tying run
· Ground out

The game would go into extra’s, and Fish would go ahead to stay with a Dan Uggla double, followed by a Jim Edmonds double. Fish wins 7-6.

Win – Marmol
Loss – Gregerson
Home Runs – Rasmus (2), Polanco

Han Rammed!

Howdy boys. My zombie-like San Diego Padres ventured to St. Louis to square off against Fish’s Votto-less Cardinals on Monday evening. Here’s what transpired:

Game 1: Westbrook @ De La Rosa
This battle of #5’s emphasized offense, with Holliday knocking in a two-run bomb in the top of the 1st. Fish came back with a Chipper RBI in the bottom of the 1st before Keith cracked manufactured 3 runs in the 3rd on a Han-Ram solo shot and RBI’s by Byrd and Holliday. Fish rallied on a 3-run shot on the double-switch with 3B Ian Stewart hitting for the pitcher. Hanley would effectively end the game in the top of the 8th with a Grand Slam off Sean Marshall. Ian Stewart, it should be noted, did hit his 2nd HR of the game in the bottom of the 8th.

Keith – 10
Fish – 5

Game 2: Halladay @ Cain
Fish scored two in the bottom of the 1st on a Colby Rasmus double before Freddy “Mole Face” tied the game in the top of the 2nd with a two run rip. Fish would plate one more run before Han-Ram continued his hot-hitting with a three-run HR in the 5th following a Fred Sanchez RBI. Halladay would go the distance in the victory.

Keith – 6
Fish – 3

Game 3: Jimenez @ Latos
The Padres began game 3 with thoughts of avenging their 3-game sweep at the hands of the Cardinals early in the season. It was not to be, however, as Latos continued is masterful season by skunking the baffled Padres. Fish got two RBI’s from the (now starting?) Ian Steward and two more from the Pujols-free Colby Rasmus.

Fish – 5
Keith – 0

A few notes:

Han-Ram had eight RBI’s in the series, which I would be impressed with if I didn’t recall that Kevin “RBI Mercenary” Youkilis led off last year’s AL season for me with something like 9 or 12.

I am now done with my season, restoring my rightful and valued place as league pace car. I’m happy to take teams or roll a series for anyone as-needed; nothing for me to do but browse through 2010 AL statistics now, friends.

SWEET SASSY MOLASSY! Nick beats Fish in two of three games on the arm(s) of a young phenom(s).

GAME ONE:

What could have been a great pitcher's dual, Oswalt-v-Latos, ended up as a one-sided showcase of a possible Cy Young Award winner. Matt Latos (this manager's pick for PTP Cy) tossed a four-hit, 10 K complete game, while Roy Oswalt lasted just two innings en route to his league leading SIXTH loss of the year.
Fish, more a fan of OBP than SLG, plated five runs in the second inning on six singles and a costly error by David Wright. Fish tacked on an additional two runs in the sixth inning on a Colby Rasmus base-clearing double. The Pujols-hating Rasmus had three hits on the day. The catcher Ryan Hanigan, Joey Votto and Jose Reyes each had multi-hit games.
Fish 7, Nick 1
W - Latos L - Oswalt


GAME TWO:
A Starlin Castro eighth-inning single off Ryan Madson proved to be the game winner in game two's, 3-2, Nick win. Stephen Strasburg earned the win, pitching a perfect eighth, before Luke Gregerson closed the door in the ninth. Tommy Hanson pitched a solid seven innings, but did not factor into the decsion.
Fish scored first in the bottom of three, when, SURPRISE, his starting pitcher Wood bunted in a run (scoring Reyes who tripled). Nick then took the lead in the top of the five on a Erik Hinske two-run bomb. Its fair to note, the "Prinskey Plattoon" (Hinske vs LH and Prince vs RH) has produced 11 HRS so far this year. Dan Uggla drove in Fish's other run on a double. Reyes was 3x3 on the day, a HR short of the cycle.
Nick 3, Fish 2

W - Strasburg L - Madson SV- Gergerson


GAME THREE:
Strassy earned his second straight win, this time pitching four innings of scoreless ball (yes, he needs to rest a while...whoever is playing next), striking out five. Gregerson, again, converted the save, his sixth of the year. Starter, Vicente Padilla, gave up a lone run in his brief four inning appearance. Despite the loss, Fish's team of pitchers (Silva, Peralta and Morgan) struck out a combined nine batters and yielded only two runs.
Omar Infante led off the game with a triple and was scored on a Prince Fielder ground out. David Wright launched a solo homer (that proved to be the eventual difference in the game) in the second inning. Fish scored his only run in the bottom of three on a Chipper Jones single.
Nick 2, Fish 1
W - Strasburg L - Silva SV - Gregerson

Mario at Fish – Welcome Votto!

Before the game, Goldy and I made a trade sending Albert Pujols to Goldy, and sending Joey Votto in return. I was excited to get him into the line-up right away.

Game 1: C Silva vs. Chacin Fish has an early start to the game with a Joey Votto solo home run in the bottom of the 1st, in his first official at bat on Fish’s team. Mario tied the game up in the top of the 2nd with Gomes single and Loney double. Jim Edmonds added a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th, and Reyes scored in the 8th when he doubled and Nyjer Morgan singled him in. Marmol gave up an unearned run in the top of the 9th, but was able to hold to pick up the save – Fish win 3-2.

Win – Silva

Loss – Meek

Save – Marmol

Game 2: De la Rosa vs. Wainwright

Fish started the scoring out with a lead of single by De la Rosa and scored after a Morgan sacrifice bunt and Ryan Hanigan single. Mario answered in the top of the 5th with a Pagan fielder’s choice and Furcal double. In the bottom of the 5th, Joey Votto blasted a 2 run home run to take the lead. The lead was short lasted as Mario scored two runs in the top of the 6th, Ruiz fielder’s choice, Upton double, and a Pagan single. Wainwright scored in the top of the 7th, reaching on a Chipper Jones error, and scored on a bases loaded fielder’s choice. Fish tied the game in the bottom of the 8th on an Uggla single and Edmonds double. However, Billy Wagner could not close out the game. He gave up a walk to Prado, a 3 base error to McGehee and a Ruiz single. Mario wins 6-4

Win – Wainwright

Loss – Wagner

Save – Meek

Game 3: Cain vs. Gallardo

Fish got to Gallardo early. A solo home run in the bottom of the 1st by Votto (3rd of the series). Another run was scored in the bottom of the 2nd after an Edmonds single, consecutive walks to Montero and Reyes, and a single by Cain scored another run. Gallardo, upset after falling down 2-0, hit a solo home run in the top of the 3rd off a deep drive. Dan Uggla hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 3rd. Mario scored two runs in the top of the 4th, with a leadoff single by Gomes and a two run home run by Upton. That lead was quickly answered in the bottom of the frame when Montero singled, Reyes walked, two sacrifice bunts in succession (Cain and Morgan) followed by back to back singles from Chipper and Votto. Rasmus added a double in 5th, scored by a Montero double. Gomes slammed a solo home run in the top of the 8th, and with Marmol on to capture a save, gave up 1 run to Mario, a lead off walked by Loney, scored by McGehee, but fell 1 run short – Fish wins 6-5.

Win – Cain

Loss – Gallardo

Save – Marmol

Series MVP – Joey Votto

Fish at Goldy: Pitchers Unite

Game 1: M Cain vs. J Sanchez

Fish got things started in the scoring column with a solo jack by Carlos Beltran in the top of the 2nd. Pujols had a double in the 3rd inning, and scored on strike out pass ball from Uggla. Goldy scored a run in the bottom of the 4th after a Votto fielder’s choice and a double by McCann – he also tried scoing Werth on the play but was gunned down by Beltran. Fish added another insurance run in the top of the 8th with a Uggla walk and double by Cody Ross. Marmol came on for the save – Fish wins 3-1.

Win – Cain

Loss – Sanchez

Save – Marmol

Game 2: M Latos vs. P Perlfrey

This was a pitcher’s dual. Fish socred the 1st run in the top of the 3rd with a single from Nyjer Morgan, drove in by Dan Uggla. That was all the scoring Mat Latos would need. He took a no hitter into the bottom of the ninth, and was broken up on an umpire base hit – damn you Torto and Spencer! It remainded the only hit of the game. Fish wins 1-0

Win – Latos

Loss – Pelfrey

Game 3: T Wood vs. T Hudson

Travis Wood scattered 9 hits through 6 innings, allowing 1 run in the 4th off a Sanchez double and Hunter Pence Wears Underpants single. Hudson was cuirsing along until a tack was found in his glove in the top of the 7th – and he was suspended for 9 games. Goldy brought on K-Rod to finish the shutout and collected the save, but Fish’s team was ready for a come back. Chipper Jones started in the inning with a leadoff single, a Rasmus single and a Jim Edmonds two run double. Fish wins 2-1

Win – Marmol

Loss – K-Rod

MVP of Series - Mat Latos

Fish at Torto - More Hot Uggla Injection

In typical fashion, Torto and I had a very tightly contested series, rolled in the famous Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wauwatosa Wisconsin. Game 1: T Wood vs. J Cueto

Fish got on the scoreboard first in the top of the 3rd inning with a single from Hanigan, walk by Pujols, RBI single by Danny Uggla, and an RBI single from Chipper Jones. Torto answered in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run from his catcher Olivo. Fish scored another run in the top of the 4th with a Reyes single and Morgan triple – Morgan was thrown out at the plate by Heyward trying to score on a sacrifice fly attempt by Hanigan. Torto tied the game in the bottom of the 5th with a 2-run single by Carroll. He took the lead in the sixth inning when the wheels started falling off of Travis Wood, including 3 walks, 1 hits batsman, and a single in the frame – scoring two runs for Torto. Torto suffered a setback in the bottom of the 7th as Jason Heyward stole second, colliding with the iron man Dan Uggla, injuring Heyward for 4 games – Uggla did not suffer an injury, although the collision ripped his Affliction tee shirt under his uniform. Fish rallied in the top of the 8th off of Romo (not Tony) with for singles – Uggla, Reyes, Colvin, and Morgan, scoring three runs. An insurance run was timely in the top of the 9th on a Rasmus solo home run. Torto rallied in the bottom of the 9th off of Marmol’s wildness; after two hours were collected, Stanton was hit by a pitch, Renteria was walked, and Olivo hit a double, scoring Stanton and Renteria tried to score as well – but was gunned down by the cannon arm of Nyjer Morgan. Fish wins 7-6

Win – Madson Loss – Romo Save – Marmol Game 2: C Silva vs. J Garland

Fish started the scoring in the top of the 2nd with a leadoff walk from Uggla (statistics show that lead off walks score 40% of the time), a double from Edmonds, and a RBI single from Reyes. If it is possible for Silva to be masterful, he was – going 6 innings, giving up 3 hits, no walks, 2 HBP’s, and no runs allowed. In the top of the 7th, Reyes singled and Tyler Colvin had a pinch hit RBI double to score Reyes. In the bottom of the 9th, Marmol was again shaky, allowing a Zimmerman single to lead off the inning, then walking Stanton and Thole in succession. Then Marmol worked his way out - a Milledge strike out, and a Renteria pinch hit RBI fielder ’s choice and a Luis Castillo strike out to close out the game. Fish wins 2-1

Win – Silva Loss – Garland Save – Marmol

Game 3: De la Rosa vs. Billingsley

As you would expect, De la Rosa was wild and getting hit hard, however only gave up 2 runs in the 3 innings – here is his stat line: 3 innings, 3 hits, 6 walks and a hits batsman. There some questionable managing by Torto in the bottom of the 3rd, with De la Rosa’s wildness, he had loaded the bases on walks and base hits, and Torto tried a suicide squeeze with Tony Gwynn Jr. – he struck out on the bunt attempt and Milledge was caught stealing at home plate. Torto had a pinch hit home run from Thole in the bottom of the 6th. Fish tried to tie up the game in the top of the 7th, with a double from Chipper Jones, an RBI single from Uggla, and a base hit from Pujols, but could not get another run in with Uggla stranded on third. Romo collected a save – Torto wins 3-2

Win – Billingsley Loss – De la Rosa Save – Romo Series MVP – Dan Uggla, batted 6-12, 3 runs, 2 RBI’s

Rising from the Dead?

Gentlemen: A grassroots efforts is underway to get a mini-APD going this Sunday morning. I'm proposing 9:30 am at Mario's. All invited. Mario and I are in, Goldy and Fish sound likely, and Torto and Nick are sniffing around the action. How fun will this be? Let's make it happen! Please confirm attendance. If Nick is unable to make it, I'm happy to serve as "backup schedule-maker" in the Commish's stead (you knew I'd claim that duty....) I would also be happy to host and the time is negotiable, but this should work well.

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.