Wire rimmed glasses- all the better to draft with tonight.

Woah, no PICTURE DROPPING!

Fresh Valencia Oranges!!! $.99 / dozen. Keither @ Spencer

With the series between border rivals, Keith and Spencer, Keither ends his pitiful season, ans Spencer nears yet another playoff berth. Here's the skinny....


Game 1 Phil Hughes @ Cliff Lee

Keither battered around the Big Red Dog as V-Mart and Adam Rosales connected for solo bombs, and chased Lee from the game following an offensive barrage in the 6th that scored three runs for Keither.
Spencer managed just a solo bomb from A-Rod and RBI fielder's choice from Big Tex.
KEITHER WINS 5-2

W - Hughes 7.2, 6h, 2w, 2er, 3k
L - Lee 6.0, 7h, 5er, 2w, 8k, 2hr
S - Frasor 1.1, h, w, 2k
HR - Rosales, V-Mart, A-Rod


Game 2 MVP Verlander @ Cla Buchholtz

Ultimate pitchers duel in this one. A-Rod's solo bombjack in the 6th was the only run.
SPENCER WINS 1-0. Bucholtz + Joaquin Benoit + Chris Perez = Keither loss

W - Buchholtz 6.1, 7h, w, 6k
L - Verlander CG, 5H, er, 10k, w
S - Perez 1.0, 2K
HR - A-ROD

GAME 3 Jon Lester the Molester @ Mexican Mafia Garza

Keither scored early and often in the 1st as Garza got walk happy. However, Lester had the yips as well, and gave up three in the bottom of the 1st to tie the game 3-3.
Crack Hamilton hit a solo HR to regain the lead for Keith, but Grandyman answered that with a HR in the 3rd to tie the game at 4-4.
To make a long story short, the game went back and forth into extras. Derek Jeter ended up catching the last couple of innings due to pinch-hitting and an injury to Alexi Avila.
In the 11th, a Derek Jeter throwing error at catcher allowed Da Meat Hooks brother to score the winning run. Danny Valencia had 5 hits for Keither in the game.
KEITHER WINS - 7-6 in 11

W - Bailey
L - Jackson
S - Frasor
HR - Grandyman, Druggy Hamilton

Good series from Keither. My team continues to skid into the playoffs having lost 2 of 3 from Mario and 2 of 3 from Keither now.

NL Season Approaches

Once I was in the PTP playoffs, a couple years ago. It was fun.

(better posts will follow. peace.)

2010 AL Playoff Picture Update - Clarity thru W-L Tracking

After the big New Year's Eve-Eve APD, we now have a clear playoff picture.  Clear, as in who in IN, and who is OUT.  Here's where we stand:

With Goldy beating Keith 2-1 on Friday night, and his dominance over Nick (winning 4 out of 6), he clinched clinched his first ever playoff spot. Congrats to you sir.
And with Spencer getting his 19th win of the season over Mario (despite losing the series), he clinched a spot as well.   Fish and myself were in prior to any play on Friday.

So what can happen from here?  The seedings are still very much up for grabs.  Spencer can sew up the top seed with 3 more wins, as he holds the tie-break vs. Fish.  Goldy can slide into the #3 seed, if he wins 2 out of 3 vs. Spencer, as he holds the tiebreaker over Torto (3-3 season series tie, but edge in total runs 28-23). 

And for the record, Nick - who kept claiming all evening that this was the first season he ever missed the playoffs, has a short memory.  He first missed the playoffs during the NL 2009 season, with a sub-500 record of 19 and 23.

Nick vs. Fish – Vlad Makes His Presence Felt

Nick and I knocked out the final series of the regular AL season at Keith’s house. As usual, runs were hard to come by:

Game 1: Danks at Romero
Fish would take an early lead in the 1st inning with a double by Morneau and RBI single by Vlad Guerrero. Michael Young hit a solo home run in the top of the second, to be answered by Nick in the bottom of the frame as B Gardner walked and was singled in by Valbuena. A similar inning occurred in the bottom of the 4th when Gardner walked and Kinsler drove him home with an RBI single. This would be all the scoring that would occur until the top of the 13th inning when Vlad Guerrero hit a solo home run on a deep drive to center (needed to roll greater than 92, in which a 97 was rolled). Fuentes came on to provide the save. Fish wins 3-2.
Win – Thornton
Loss – O’Day
Save – Fuentes

Game 2: Gonzalez at Peavy
Nick got the game started with a baseball single from Kinsler and worked his way around to score on bases loaded walk by Brett Gardner. Fish tied the game in the top of the 7th inning on a solo home run from Vlad Guerrero. Nick would take the lead in the bottom of the 7th on a two run double by Valbuena. In the top of the 8th, Michael Young hit a solo home run and DeJesus scored on a two out CLUTCH double by Alex Rios. This game went into extra innings as well, and the 11th inning was Nick’s undoing, Rios was hit by a pitch, Morneau had a single, Guerrero had an RBI single, Drew bounced into a fielder’s choice, and Michael Young hit a three run home run. Fish wins 7-3.
Win – Soria
Loss – Bard
Save – Thornton

Game 3: Buehrle at Guthrie
Drinky Cabrera hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 1st, to be answered by Michael Young’s solo home run in the top 2nd. Bautista would take over the game with two home runs, a two run home run in the bottom of the 4th and a three run home run in the bottom of the 8th. Nick wins 6-1.
Win – Guthrie
Loss - Buehrle

No Herpes Here! Spencer vs. Fish

Since I'm typing this at work, it's going to be a quick synopsis of the six games that went down in Miltonburg, WI

Game 1 Cliff Lee @ Dallas "Clark" Braden

RBI's from Justin Morneau, Rob Cano, Alex "His name is" Rios and Razor Ramon Santiago were greater than the two solo HRs Spencer got from Derek Jeter and Yunelly the Fly Felly.
FISH WINS 4-2

W - Braden CG, 3H, 2ER, 5K, 4W
L - Lee 7.0, 11H, 4ER, 1W, 5K

GAME 2 Cla Bucholtz @ John Danks

Powered by HRs from Benji Molina and A-ROID, Spencer's bats came alive in this game.
SPENCER WINS 7-3

W - Bucholtz 7+, 4H, 2ER, 4W, 4K
L - Danks 3.0, 4H, 4ER, 4W, 2K
S - Guerrier 2.0, 3H, ER, K

GAME 3 Mexican Mafia Matt Garza @ Gio "Metro" Gonzalez

Great pitchers duel here. RBI singles from Ben Molina and Nick "By Crackie" Markakis were all Spencer needed as Mexian Mafia Garza shut Fish down over 8.2 IP allowing only a solo bomb from Robin Cano. Chris Perez mopped up for the save.
SPENCER WINS 2-1

W - Garza 8.2, 5H, 1ER, 1W, 7K
L - Gonzalez 7.2, 3H, 2ER, 3W, 5K
S - Perez, 0.1

GAME 4 Trev "Making a Mountain out of a" Cahill @ Dan "The Man" Haren

Back at Spencer's Fenway Park, Fish put Spency to nigh-nigh. Cahill and Joakim "not Noah" Soria held Spencer to four hits and a Robin Cano RBI single in the 9th does Spencer in.
FISH WINS 1-0

W - Cahill 7.2, 4H, 3W, 6K
L - Haren 8+, 6H, 1ER, 3W, 6K
S - Soria, 1.1, K, W

GAME 5 Dave Price "is Right" @ Brett Cecil

Tied 4-4 after regulation, Derek Jeter's RBI-double in the 10th won the game for Spencer
SPENCER WINS 5-4

W - J. Benoit 3.0, 2H, 3K
L - Aardsma 0.2, 2H, K, ER

GAME 6 Dallas "Who Shot JR?" Braden @ Clifford Lee

Rematch of the aces saw Spencer knock around Braden this time. SPENCER WINS 4-1 as A-ROD and "B-ROB" Brian Roberts both had 2 RBIs apiece. Cliff Lee scattered just five hits over 8 innings allowing just a Vladdy HR, and Chris Perez struck-out the side in the 9th for the save.

W - Lee 8.0, 5H, ER, 3W, 6K
L - Braden, CG, 9H, 4ER, 8K
S - Perez 1.0, W, 3K

Good hard-fought series. SPENCER takes 4 of 6 games

The Empire Strikes Back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

2010 NL Word Series:
The NL World Series was played at the VanLanduyt household in an around the annual Gravy Bowl. This truly was an exceptional series, worthy of being called the World Series and worth the wait:

Game 1: Billingsley vs. Cain
This game was all about pitching. Fish scored two runs in the bottom of the 4th on a Votto single, an Edmonds double, and a Hanigan single. Torto would score 1 run off of Wagner in relief in the top of the 8th on an error from Chipper Jones, but Marmol would come on to save the 9th. Fish wins 2-1.

Win – Cain
Loss – Billingsley
Save - Marmol

Game 2: Dickey vs. Latos
Game 2 was all about Torto. He scored 8 runs – five driven in by Adrian Gonzalez, with Carrol going 3-5, Gonzalez going 4-5 with two home runs, and Thole going 2-4. A solo home run was generated by Uggla and Edmonds in the loss. Torto wins 8-2.

Win – Dickey
Loss - Latos

Game 3: Wood vs. Rodriguez
An excellent pitching performance was put forth by Wandy Rodriguez. He went 7 innings for a left handed pitching without an earned run, only giving up 6 hits. Torto mounted a rally in the bottom of the 3rd inning, when Randy Rodriguez lined a one out base hit, which was followed by a Dexter the Serial Killer walk, single by J. Carroll, walk by Utley and 2 RBI single by Gonzalez. That was enough for a victory. Torto wins 3-0.

Win – Rodriguez
Loss – Wood
Save - Adams

Game 4: Silva vs. Garland
Torto took an early lead with back to back doubles from Stanton and Thole in the bottom of the 2nd; Dexter Fowler proceeded to line a triple to score 2 runs in the frame but that would be it as Garland attempted a suicide squeeze and failed. Torto would score three more runs in the bottom of the 5th, with a triple from Heyword, RBI single from Gonzalez, and two run home run from Mike Stanton. Fish would muster our three runs with a two run home run from Dan Uggla and a RBI double from Jim Edmonds. A bizarre play occurred in which Jamie Carroll and Jason Heyword collided in the 6th inning due to fan noise. Upon inspection, it was not actual fan noise, it was due to the Miami anthem playing in the background http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHGDP0Gvs3Q. Carroll was hurt for one game and Heyward would be down for three games. Torto wins 6 – 3.

Win – Garland
Loss - Silva

Game 5: Cain vs. Billingsley
Excellent pitching was displayed in this game, which would have been boring for for people who are not in the World Series like Torto and I - I think I just said that. Ryan Zimmermann helped Torto take an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the 1st inning. However, Jim Edmonds, the MVP for the Series, hit a 3 run home run in the top of the 4th to take the lead for good. Marmol would save the game pitching the 8th and the 9th. Fish wins 3 -1.

Win – Cain
Loss – Billingsley
Save - Marmol

Game 6: Latos vs. Dickey
In a rematch of game 2, Torto would get out to an early lead with multiple singles from Zimmerman, Gonzalez, and Thole, scoring two runs. Fish would answer with a three run home run in the bottom of the frame from whom else but Jim Edmonds. The lead would stand until the top of the 7th when a lead off error from Utley to Uggla would allow Zimmerman to plate him with a double. In the bottom of the 7th, Colby Rasmus would hit a double and score on a Nyjer Morgan sac bunt. Billy Wagner would lock it down in the 9th. Fish wins 4-3.

Win – Latos
Loss – Dickey
Save - Wagner

Game 7: Wood vs. Rodriguez
Game seven fireworks started with a walk with Furcal in the bottom of the 1st , with a single by Hanigan, walk to Uggla, Beltran plated an RBI with a fielder’s choice and Ross the Boss plated an RBI to score two runs. Torto quickly answered in the top of the 2nd with a walk to Gonzalez, single to Milledge, single to Randy Rodriguez, and triple to Dexter Fowler. The score was now 3-2. Fish would rally in the bottom of the 4th, with a single by Hanigan, who was out on the base paths by a ground ball by Votto. With Joey Bats on 1st Base, Carlos Beltran hit a one out two run home to take the lead. In the 6th inning, off of Cueto, Furcal would single, followed by hit and run single from Hanigan, an RBI single from Votto, and an RBI double from Uggla. With Wagner and Marmol on in the 8th and 9th, this would be the end of the NL World Series. Fish wins 7 -3.

Win – Wood
Loss – Rodriguez

NL World Series MVP - Jim Edmonds

.386 AVG, 3 Home Runs, 8 RBI's, 2 doubles

NAPPY DOES IT AGAIN (AND AGAIN)!

Above: Nappy being Nappy!

Nick beats Mario, 2-1. Many records, good for me - bad for Mario, were set! Very memorable series.

---GAME ONE---
Future HOFer Jim Thome continued his race for the 2011 PTPVP, launching THREE homers (ties all-time record) and driving in six runs. The stud veteran also added a double, just for good measure. The newly acquired Drinky Cabrera hit a two-run homer and collected three hits. Ian Kinsler went yard as well. With his offense launching bombs all over Seattle, Ricky Romero settled in, tossing a complete game three-hit shutout. In a spot start for Mar, Brandon League becomes the first ever "LONG" to throw a COMPLETE GAME.

NICK 10, Mario 0
W - Romero, L - B.League

---GAME TWO---
This one will be remembered for years! Nick's team puts up 29 runs, on 29 hits, against Mario. The stats are just silly. Mike Napoli hit two grand slams and breaks the all time record for RBI in a game (with nine)! The Birther Luke Scott hit two homers and drove in six. Jose Bautista had four hits, including a homer, and five RBI. Ian Kinsler had five hits; Drinky Cabrera had four hits. C.C. Sabathia was lit up and earns the loss, but Boone Logan will go down in PTP-infamy surrendering 17 EARNED RUNS in ONE INNING of work. Yuck. My team had 11 straight hits at one point and 16 hits in an inning.

NICK 29, MARIO 9
W- Mitre, L - Sabathia

---GAME THREE---
After hitting ten homers and scoring 39 runs in the first two games (both records), my team partied their damn asses off on Saturday night at Pioneer Square in the Emerald City. Did you think they wouldn't? Anyway...my hungover squad managed just two hits vs Carl Pavano during the Sunday matinee (both from Wilson Betemit, who has found god and doesn't drink). Pavano tossed a complete game, striking out seven. Big Papi hit a homer and a double, while Shin Soo Choo added a hit and three runs. Juan Pierre also stole home for Mario.

MARIO 4, NICK 0
W - Pavano, L - J.Weaver

On a Collision Course -- Spencer @ Nick

Who's team met this fate? Read on...

Things got real interesting real quick as Nick and I met for the second AL time, pre-Tort Fort last Friday....

GAME 1 Cla Bucholtz @ Jake Peavy

Within the first four batters of the game, Spencer had rolled three bizarres. The last on resulting in a popup between Wilson Betemit and Matt Joyce. The two collided because Manager Nick does not preach fundamentals and no one called for the ball. Betemit landed himself on the DL for (2 games) and Joyce for the rest of the regular season (21 games).
In the game Nick struck first on a Thome HR. Spencer scored three in the Top of the 3rd, Nick answered with a 3-run Bautista bomb in the bottom of the third.
Spencer reclaimed the lead at 5-4 with a 2-run bomb from Big Bad Tex....Hmmmmmmmmm in the 5th. A Shin Shoo-Choo SAC tied the game at 5-5 in the 6th. Nick "By Cracky" Markakis's 2-RBI single in the 7th proved to be the winning hit. Nick did scratch one more run off of Joaquin "Chris" Benoit in the 8th, but failed in the 9th.

SPENCER WINS 7-6.

W - Benoit 2.0, 3H, ER, BB, 3K
L - Koji Bomb 2.0, 4H, 2ER, 2BB, 5K
S - Chris Perez 1.0, H, 2K
HR - Thome, Bautista, Texieria


GAME 2 - Matt "Mexican Mafia" Garza @ Shawn Marcum

The 2011 AL ERA leader, Shawn Marcum had been eating up the league like Jeremy Jacobs at the high school cafeteria (lol, he had a weight problem). Anyhoo......Marcum in his last start vs. Spencer threw a CG, 3-hitter, so Spencer shifted his lineup and came out swinging bats, like the 1960s Birmingham Police Dept.
The Youkilis Corker (new nickname) smacked a one out single then trotted home on the 2-run crunch from BIG BAD TEX Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Turned out Marcum from the 2011 playoffs was pitching for Nick this game, and gave up another run in the 2nd on a run-scoring 2B buy Yuni E the Fly Fell-E (wait to you see his .AVE in a bit....scorching.)
However....Nick's merry band of future Hall of Famers, Pronks, Quenchers and Chinamen started taking pitches then mashing.
Garza got a little yippy in the 5th as he plunked John "Jaha" Jaso, walked Big Pronk (up from minors) and Bartlett Pears SAC to move the runners. Brett "Hart" Gardner then smacked a run scoring 1B and Jim Thome did the same thing. Spencer's lead now 3-2.
After that, both pitchers actually settled down. AN RBI SINGLE...FROM A-ROD sealed the deal, and Spencer's closer of the day Matt Guerrier made Nick go nigh-nigh the lst two.

SPENCER WINS 4-2

W - Mexican Mafia Garza 7.0, 4H, 2ER, 2BB,5K
L - "Lost ERA lead" Marcum 7.2, 6H, BB, 5K, HR
S - Guerrier 2.0, BB
HR - Big Tex


GAME 3 Dan "The Man" Har-en @ Jeremy "Guttermouth" Guthrie

Spencer was feeling good at this point, a lot was due to the Busch Lite Silo Cans and playing in between a bar and a bowling pro shop, with little lighting.
Action Jackson made love to Vanity, then smacked a lead off single, then stole second. A-Rod got out, Youkilis Corker walked then was forced on a FC by Big Tex. With two out, B-Rob walked the bases loaded. In stepped Nick By-Cracky, out went the baseball. Grand Salami.
A Dominican Daddy Ortiz 2-Run HR the next inning cut the lead to 4-2 Spencer. A Big Pronk HR made it 4-3 Spencer.
In fact, after the first inning Guthrie and Nick's stoppers shut Spencer down.
Nick tied the game in the 5th on a Korean Delight RBI single. Nick took the lead for good in the 7th on yet another Jim Thome bomb. Dude is legit. NICK WINS 5-4.

W - Koji Bomb - 2.0, HBP, H, 3K
L - Benoit - 2.0, H, 2ER, K, HR
S - Feliz - 2.0, 2H, K,
HR -

SPENCER WIN SERIES 2-1. Offically earns nickname of "Mr. 2-1"

Fun series, as always. The environment consisting of a bowling alley, bar w/ curious bartender, restaurant and arcade all together was a little overwhelming, but then I realized how bad Nick's defense and ranges are and I grinned...