Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:28 pm
Yeah, Randy Wolf. The Halos will probably be killing me all this year in the West.
Spring Training, Game 13
Texas Rangers
vs
San Diego Padres
GAME PREVIEW:
Lazy game again, with Nate Gold and Kevin Mahar getting oppurtunities to play. Apart from that, a pretty regular starting lineup with Vicente Padilla starting.
For San Diego, just Craig Stansberry in place of Tadahito Iguchi with Clay Hensley on the mound.
Lineups:
Frank Catalanotto, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Michael Young, SS
Josh Hamilton, CF
Hank Blalock, 3B
Kevin Mahar, RF
Nate Gold, 1B
Jarrod Saltamacchia, C
Vicente Padilla, P
Brian Giles, RF
Craig Stansberry, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Michael Barrett, C
Jim Edmonds, CF
Khalil Greene, SS
Scott Hairston, LF
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Clay Hensley, P
GAME RECAP:
Action starts right away. Kinsler, with Catalanotto on, crushes an inside slider to center for an early 2-0 lead, and is followed up by Hamilton with a booming 431ft shot to right off a high change-up.
After that, things cool down very quickly. Hensley settles down, and with the San Diego bullpen, go perfect until the top of the ninth. 24 batters retired in a row. Sure makes my 14-run game previously look like a fluke.
Meanwhile, San Diego look to peg back the lead, but Padilla is up to the task. He shuts them down for six innings and five hits, but since I look to keep realism by not forcing pitchers to go the distance in spring, I sub him off for Benoit, who promptly serves up a solo shot to Greene. Whoops.
Since I forgot that the pitcher was leading off the next inning, it's a stupid little error I make yet again. He makes a fist of it though, forcing a great catch by Giles for the bloop he hits.
Top of the ninth, I finally break my utterly terrible hitting drought. It's on an error too, as Gonzalez messes up a backhand flick to pitcher recovery. With Hamilton on, I pinch-hit Mahar for Broussard, and he smokes a mistake pitch off the wall for a RBI double, making it 4-1 to the Rangers.
It looked like another insurance run as Fukumori induces a groundball from Barrett with Gonzalez on for two, but the ump calls Barrett safe at first. Washington charges out for a question, and I sub Kaz for CJ Wilson with Edmonds hitting. The move's pretty useless as Edmonds blows the first pitch he sees for a two-run homer, skipping the gap back to 4-3.
Wilson still holds for the win, getting groundouts from Greene and Hairston to finish.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Pitching: B+-Gave up two loose pitches for home runs and a helluva lot of deep flyballs, but still managed to do enough.
Batting: C-Capitalized on the few oppurtunities I had, with two homers and a big double but the rest was shocking. Young went 0 for 4 with 3K's.
Player of the Game: Josh Hamilton-1/4, 2R, HR, RBI-Scored the important run and a homer to boot.
Spring Training, Game 13
Texas Rangers
vs
San Diego Padres
GAME PREVIEW:
Lazy game again, with Nate Gold and Kevin Mahar getting oppurtunities to play. Apart from that, a pretty regular starting lineup with Vicente Padilla starting.
For San Diego, just Craig Stansberry in place of Tadahito Iguchi with Clay Hensley on the mound.
Lineups:
Frank Catalanotto, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Michael Young, SS
Josh Hamilton, CF
Hank Blalock, 3B
Kevin Mahar, RF
Nate Gold, 1B
Jarrod Saltamacchia, C
Vicente Padilla, P
Brian Giles, RF
Craig Stansberry, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Michael Barrett, C
Jim Edmonds, CF
Khalil Greene, SS
Scott Hairston, LF
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Clay Hensley, P
GAME RECAP:
Action starts right away. Kinsler, with Catalanotto on, crushes an inside slider to center for an early 2-0 lead, and is followed up by Hamilton with a booming 431ft shot to right off a high change-up.
After that, things cool down very quickly. Hensley settles down, and with the San Diego bullpen, go perfect until the top of the ninth. 24 batters retired in a row. Sure makes my 14-run game previously look like a fluke.
Meanwhile, San Diego look to peg back the lead, but Padilla is up to the task. He shuts them down for six innings and five hits, but since I look to keep realism by not forcing pitchers to go the distance in spring, I sub him off for Benoit, who promptly serves up a solo shot to Greene. Whoops.
Since I forgot that the pitcher was leading off the next inning, it's a stupid little error I make yet again. He makes a fist of it though, forcing a great catch by Giles for the bloop he hits.
Top of the ninth, I finally break my utterly terrible hitting drought. It's on an error too, as Gonzalez messes up a backhand flick to pitcher recovery. With Hamilton on, I pinch-hit Mahar for Broussard, and he smokes a mistake pitch off the wall for a RBI double, making it 4-1 to the Rangers.
It looked like another insurance run as Fukumori induces a groundball from Barrett with Gonzalez on for two, but the ump calls Barrett safe at first. Washington charges out for a question, and I sub Kaz for CJ Wilson with Edmonds hitting. The move's pretty useless as Edmonds blows the first pitch he sees for a two-run homer, skipping the gap back to 4-3.
Wilson still holds for the win, getting groundouts from Greene and Hairston to finish.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Pitching: B+-Gave up two loose pitches for home runs and a helluva lot of deep flyballs, but still managed to do enough.
Batting: C-Capitalized on the few oppurtunities I had, with two homers and a big double but the rest was shocking. Young went 0 for 4 with 3K's.
Player of the Game: Josh Hamilton-1/4, 2R, HR, RBI-Scored the important run and a homer to boot.
Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:08 pm
DAMN, this is awesome man! cant wait until the regualr season man! Good job!
Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:36 am
Yes, this thing is still going on. Just lazy right now. I have three games to update.
Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:32 pm
Oh good, I was wondering if what happened to this for the past week.
Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:32 pm
Game 14, managed
White Sox 7, Rangers 0
Boxscore
GAME RECAP:
This plain sucked. I mean, I usually do suck at Manager Mode (can't figure out what to use mostly, so it's usually a case of swing away or hit n' run). But this time, I can't even get on base. Facing Contreras at his 06 best, he fans eight, walks two and gives up two hits over eight innings while Mike MacDougal works the ninth.
Meanwhile, Carlos Quentin blasts a three-run homer off Feldman in the sixth and the Sox add three more in the ninth off Guardado (who I've overworked this spring) just to laugh at me.
Spring Training, Game 15
Texas Rangers
vs
Chicago Cubs
GAME PREVIEW:
Plenty of changes. Botts at 1B, again, giving him every oppurtunity. Nelson Cruz up from AAA to play right field, Arias at SS, Taylor Teagarden who's a good prospect comes up from AA to catch. Jason Jennings starting.
For the Cubbies, Fontenot, Ward and Henry Blanco are in for their regulars, with sinkerballer Marquis on.
Lineups:
Frank Catalanotto, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Jason Botts, 1B
Josh Hamilton, CF
Hank Blalock, 3B
Ben Broussard, DH
Nelson Cruz, RF
Joaquin Arias, SS
Taylor Teagarden, C
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Mike Fontenot, 2B
Derrek Lee, 1B
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Daryl Ward, DH
Kosuke Fukudome, RF
Henry Blanco, C
Felix Pie, CF
Ryan Theriot, SS
GAME RECAP:
After a little work in the top of the first, I load the bases on two out with Broussard coming up, who's something like 0 for 50 with RISP this spring. Of course, he blasts a single to center to score for a 1-0 lead. Cruz flies out to end the inning.
Fukudome quickly gets it back with a lead-off homer, and I put two more men on base before Jennings coerces Soriano into a double play with a 2-2 sinker.
In the next inning, I should've thrown Aramis out at home with Hamilton in center, but I messed up the throw and Teagarden has to go to his right, allowing Aramis to score. But it doesn't matter as I set about scoring in the bottom of the inning. Botts rolls one to a diving Fontenot who flips to second...
Safe! Botts also gets to first and Blalock singles to load the bases. Up comes Broussard again: keeps popping up at the wrong time. Fortunately, he gets a good first pitch and swings it over the center-field fence while my mouth drops open in shock.
From then on, it's a cruise-of-sorts. I chase Marquis with Cruz tripling Blalock and then Arias driving him in. Time to check out the kid Teagarden. He's pretty good: catches Theriot stealing with an early read, and narrowly misses on getting Soriano. Also makes a nice catch off a foul pop.
Aramis slams a solo shot to left to pull it to 5-3, but I'm confident that Guardado can close it out.
It was a disaster. Not that I actually gave up the runs, but Blanco smashes a drive into Guardado's leg, shattering it into a million bits. Not really, but as Blalock shows great hustle by running in from third at full-pelt to make the play, Guardado's leg is fractured, which means his spring is finished and I can't overuse him now. Meanwhile, CJ Wilson nonchantantly works the save.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Pitching: B+-Again, two more homers given up but that's a bad habit of mine. Pretty solid work all around.
Hitting: B+-What can I say about Broussard? Got enough runs to secure the win with seven on fourteen hits.
Player of the Game: Ben Broussard-3/4, R, HR, 5RBI-Blalock could've got it for his 1.000 hitting, but Broussard was the difference today.
White Sox 7, Rangers 0
Boxscore
GAME RECAP:
This plain sucked. I mean, I usually do suck at Manager Mode (can't figure out what to use mostly, so it's usually a case of swing away or hit n' run). But this time, I can't even get on base. Facing Contreras at his 06 best, he fans eight, walks two and gives up two hits over eight innings while Mike MacDougal works the ninth.
Meanwhile, Carlos Quentin blasts a three-run homer off Feldman in the sixth and the Sox add three more in the ninth off Guardado (who I've overworked this spring) just to laugh at me.
Spring Training, Game 15
Texas Rangers
vs
Chicago Cubs
GAME PREVIEW:
Plenty of changes. Botts at 1B, again, giving him every oppurtunity. Nelson Cruz up from AAA to play right field, Arias at SS, Taylor Teagarden who's a good prospect comes up from AA to catch. Jason Jennings starting.
For the Cubbies, Fontenot, Ward and Henry Blanco are in for their regulars, with sinkerballer Marquis on.
Lineups:
Frank Catalanotto, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Jason Botts, 1B
Josh Hamilton, CF
Hank Blalock, 3B
Ben Broussard, DH
Nelson Cruz, RF
Joaquin Arias, SS
Taylor Teagarden, C
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Mike Fontenot, 2B
Derrek Lee, 1B
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Daryl Ward, DH
Kosuke Fukudome, RF
Henry Blanco, C
Felix Pie, CF
Ryan Theriot, SS
GAME RECAP:
After a little work in the top of the first, I load the bases on two out with Broussard coming up, who's something like 0 for 50 with RISP this spring. Of course, he blasts a single to center to score for a 1-0 lead. Cruz flies out to end the inning.
Fukudome quickly gets it back with a lead-off homer, and I put two more men on base before Jennings coerces Soriano into a double play with a 2-2 sinker.
In the next inning, I should've thrown Aramis out at home with Hamilton in center, but I messed up the throw and Teagarden has to go to his right, allowing Aramis to score. But it doesn't matter as I set about scoring in the bottom of the inning. Botts rolls one to a diving Fontenot who flips to second...
Safe! Botts also gets to first and Blalock singles to load the bases. Up comes Broussard again: keeps popping up at the wrong time. Fortunately, he gets a good first pitch and swings it over the center-field fence while my mouth drops open in shock.
From then on, it's a cruise-of-sorts. I chase Marquis with Cruz tripling Blalock and then Arias driving him in. Time to check out the kid Teagarden. He's pretty good: catches Theriot stealing with an early read, and narrowly misses on getting Soriano. Also makes a nice catch off a foul pop.
Aramis slams a solo shot to left to pull it to 5-3, but I'm confident that Guardado can close it out.
It was a disaster. Not that I actually gave up the runs, but Blanco smashes a drive into Guardado's leg, shattering it into a million bits. Not really, but as Blalock shows great hustle by running in from third at full-pelt to make the play, Guardado's leg is fractured, which means his spring is finished and I can't overuse him now. Meanwhile, CJ Wilson nonchantantly works the save.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Pitching: B+-Again, two more homers given up but that's a bad habit of mine. Pretty solid work all around.
Hitting: B+-What can I say about Broussard? Got enough runs to secure the win with seven on fourteen hits.
Player of the Game: Ben Broussard-3/4, R, HR, 5RBI-Blalock could've got it for his 1.000 hitting, but Broussard was the difference today.
Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:10 pm
Seems like a two week break didn't faze you. Horribly managed game, but that wasn't your fault.
That hurt. Losing Eddie for the spring. As long as he doesn't miss any more time after that...
Broussard had another nice game for you. I am a bit surprised, too. Not that he's an ex-Mariner.
That hurt. Losing Eddie for the spring. As long as he doesn't miss any more time after that...
Broussard had another nice game for you. I am a bit surprised, too. Not that he's an ex-Mariner.
Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:44 pm
Spring Training, Game 16
Texas Rangers
versus
Colorado Rockies
GAME PREVIEW:
Broussard (no DH) and Young sit out, Botts, Saltamacchia and Arias all play. Gabbard starting.
The Rockies are at full strength: I was too lazy to change things around apart from starting Josh Towers and his shaky ERA.
The game is at Coors and at night, since I got bored of day games at mostly spring venues.
Lineups:
Frank Catalanotto, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Hank Blalock, 3B
Josh Hamilton, CF
Marlon Byrd, RF
Jason Botts, 1B
Joaquin Arias, SS
Jarrod Saltamacchia, C
Kason Gabbard, P
Willy Taveras, CF
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Matt Holliday, LF
Todd Helton, 1B
Garrett Atkins, 3B
Brad Hawpe, RF
Ian Stewart, 2B
Chris Iannetta, C
Josh Towers
GAME RECAP:
Helton fails at defence (actually, not really), but with Blalock on first, he fields a grounder by Hamilton and messes something up, forcing Cory Sullivan to trot on as a defensive sub. I'm supposed to be dancing with joy at this, but as it turns out, it costs me later on.
Bottom of the second, Atkins belts a hanging sinker to center and then Stewart gets home on a double by Iannetta. 2-0 Rockies.
Meanwhile, Towers is eating me for breakfast. Groundball. Flyball. Strikeout. Hamilton flings himself at first but is out by a mile. Sullivan makes a great diving catch off a flat liner.
In the bottom of the fifth, Iannetta singles again, gets to second on a sacrifice bunt and Taveras drives him in. Tulo lines a single into left field where Catalanotto has a short throw, but Taveras is way too quick anyway and it's now 4-0 Rockies.
As it heads into the top of the ninth, things look dead with my offence in an atrocious state and 4-0 down. But Catalanotto singles and Kinsler draws a walk. Blalock bounces the third pitch he hits down the first base line, but makes a crucial error...
The ball lands on his shoulder as he runs to first. One out, men on first and second. Hamilton gets a good high pitch to hit, but he resists temptation going for the homer and just pokes it to right to load the bases.
I pinch-hit Byrd who doesn't look like getting a hit for Michael Young as Brian Fuentes comes on. Young swings towards home-run territory to center...
...but it's caught by Taveras on the wall. Nevertheless, Catalanotto charges home and I send Kinsler for home as well. He barely beats the throw with a wide slide and it's 4-2. Botts doubles to score Hamilton and the buzz gets louder. In comes Manny Corpas. Arias pounds his own double off the wall, scoring Botts and tying the game!
Saltamacchia is walked to bring out the pitcher Feldman. Unfortunately, I have no more pinch-hitters (damn). He does his best, but Corpas makes a catch over his shoulder to end the inning.
The Rockies fight back though, and Feldman gives up consecutive singles, getting Sullivan to third. I walk Iannetta with two out, not wanting to risk him hitting again. Spilborghs, the pinch-hitter flies out to end the inning, as Arias makes the catch with all of Coors hissing at him...
Kinsler singles with one out in the top of the tenth, but is caught stealing second. I think my idea's kinda right though, as Blalock follows it up with a single to Taveras' left. If Kinsler had been at second, he probably would've scored the go-ahead run and Wilson would be saving. Instead, Hamilton grounds out and Feldman keeps going.
He gets rid of dangerman Taveras, who would be nearly unstoppable with the best hitters coming up. But Feldman gives one up to Tulo, a single into center field.
Fukumori is in, and he gives a single to Holliday. Tulowitzki breaks for third and makes it barely, causing Washington to charge out again and complain. And in steps Sullivan.
With the winning run on third, he plonks a single to left to score Tulo and gives the Rockies a 5-4 win.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Pitching: B--Didn't pitch well enough down the stretch, but was okay in general.
Hitting: C-A struggle with exception to the ninth-inning rally.
Player of the Game: Cory Sullivan-2/5, RBI
Rangers Player of the Game: Joaquin Arias-2/4, 2 2B, RBI
Texas Rangers
versus
Colorado Rockies
GAME PREVIEW:
Broussard (no DH) and Young sit out, Botts, Saltamacchia and Arias all play. Gabbard starting.
The Rockies are at full strength: I was too lazy to change things around apart from starting Josh Towers and his shaky ERA.
The game is at Coors and at night, since I got bored of day games at mostly spring venues.
Lineups:
Frank Catalanotto, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Hank Blalock, 3B
Josh Hamilton, CF
Marlon Byrd, RF
Jason Botts, 1B
Joaquin Arias, SS
Jarrod Saltamacchia, C
Kason Gabbard, P
Willy Taveras, CF
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Matt Holliday, LF
Todd Helton, 1B
Garrett Atkins, 3B
Brad Hawpe, RF
Ian Stewart, 2B
Chris Iannetta, C
Josh Towers
GAME RECAP:
Helton fails at defence (actually, not really), but with Blalock on first, he fields a grounder by Hamilton and messes something up, forcing Cory Sullivan to trot on as a defensive sub. I'm supposed to be dancing with joy at this, but as it turns out, it costs me later on.
Bottom of the second, Atkins belts a hanging sinker to center and then Stewart gets home on a double by Iannetta. 2-0 Rockies.
Meanwhile, Towers is eating me for breakfast. Groundball. Flyball. Strikeout. Hamilton flings himself at first but is out by a mile. Sullivan makes a great diving catch off a flat liner.
In the bottom of the fifth, Iannetta singles again, gets to second on a sacrifice bunt and Taveras drives him in. Tulo lines a single into left field where Catalanotto has a short throw, but Taveras is way too quick anyway and it's now 4-0 Rockies.
As it heads into the top of the ninth, things look dead with my offence in an atrocious state and 4-0 down. But Catalanotto singles and Kinsler draws a walk. Blalock bounces the third pitch he hits down the first base line, but makes a crucial error...
The ball lands on his shoulder as he runs to first. One out, men on first and second. Hamilton gets a good high pitch to hit, but he resists temptation going for the homer and just pokes it to right to load the bases.
I pinch-hit Byrd who doesn't look like getting a hit for Michael Young as Brian Fuentes comes on. Young swings towards home-run territory to center...
...but it's caught by Taveras on the wall. Nevertheless, Catalanotto charges home and I send Kinsler for home as well. He barely beats the throw with a wide slide and it's 4-2. Botts doubles to score Hamilton and the buzz gets louder. In comes Manny Corpas. Arias pounds his own double off the wall, scoring Botts and tying the game!
Saltamacchia is walked to bring out the pitcher Feldman. Unfortunately, I have no more pinch-hitters (damn). He does his best, but Corpas makes a catch over his shoulder to end the inning.
The Rockies fight back though, and Feldman gives up consecutive singles, getting Sullivan to third. I walk Iannetta with two out, not wanting to risk him hitting again. Spilborghs, the pinch-hitter flies out to end the inning, as Arias makes the catch with all of Coors hissing at him...
Kinsler singles with one out in the top of the tenth, but is caught stealing second. I think my idea's kinda right though, as Blalock follows it up with a single to Taveras' left. If Kinsler had been at second, he probably would've scored the go-ahead run and Wilson would be saving. Instead, Hamilton grounds out and Feldman keeps going.
He gets rid of dangerman Taveras, who would be nearly unstoppable with the best hitters coming up. But Feldman gives one up to Tulo, a single into center field.
Fukumori is in, and he gives a single to Holliday. Tulowitzki breaks for third and makes it barely, causing Washington to charge out again and complain. And in steps Sullivan.
With the winning run on third, he plonks a single to left to score Tulo and gives the Rockies a 5-4 win.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Pitching: B--Didn't pitch well enough down the stretch, but was okay in general.
Hitting: C-A struggle with exception to the ninth-inning rally.
Player of the Game: Cory Sullivan-2/5, RBI
Rangers Player of the Game: Joaquin Arias-2/4, 2 2B, RBI
Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:48 am
The only way Josh Towers is ever going to pitch better than he did in this game is if I pitch him.
Sullivan was a fluke. Helton probably could've hit a few homers with his wicked slapshot
.
How could Kinsler get home on that? It was dead center, but Taveras has a good arm.
Shouldn't you have put the infield in with that? It was runner on third with less than two outs after all...
Sullivan was a fluke. Helton probably could've hit a few homers with his wicked slapshot
.
How could Kinsler get home on that? It was dead center, but Taveras has a good arm.
Shouldn't you have put the infield in with that? It was runner on third with less than two outs after all...
Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:12 pm
Well, Kinsler is a decent 88 speed, plus Taveras makes the catch about a metre from the wall. It was an absolute fluke I got home, but I figured I couldn't drive in three runs with just one out remaining.
I'm pretty sure the infield does come in automatically in such situations, but Sullivan got the pitch away anyway.
I'm pretty sure the infield does come in automatically in such situations, but Sullivan got the pitch away anyway.
Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:36 pm
Game 17, managed
Rangers 5, Royals 3
Boxscore
Spring Training, Game 18
Texas Rangers
versus
Colorado Rockies
GAME PREVIEW:
Both teams playing nearly full-strength sides: Sullivan playing at his normal position in centre in place for Willy-T, Marcus Giles in second and Ubaldo Jimenez starting.
Murphy leading off again in front of Catalanotto, while Arias starts with Young at third and Blalock off. I think I'll play Bradley earlier than Opening Day soon though.
Lineups:
David Murphy, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Michael Young, 3B
Ben Broussard, DH
Josh Hamilton, CF
Jason Botts, 1B
Marlon Byrd, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Joaquin Arias, SS
Cory Sullivan, CF
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Matt Holliday, LF
Todd Helton, 1B
Garrett Atkins, 3B
Brad Hawpe, RF
Marcus Giles, 2B
Yorvit Torrealba, C
Ryan Spilborghs, DH
GAME RECAP:
The last game I played on this ground was a homerun trotsky, but I'm playing with a keyboard since my 360 controller is broken. This, I don't like since it's difficult to steal bases, and I still can't figure out how to call a cutoff man...nothing happens when I press the button.
In the top of the second, Hawpe crashes a high heater to center for a 1-0 lead.
Spilborghs leads off the next inning with a double, which he gets with a dramatic dive to barely beat the throw.
Holliday rewards the hustle by drilling the second homer of the game to put the Rockies up 3-0. He doesn't even bother running.
I erase all of this in the bottom of the fourth. Hamilton, Botts and Saltalamacchia all pot solo shots to tie the game up at 3. Saltalamacchia's homer is an impressive one, 460ft to right and I captured a video for it, only to leave it on my computer without Internet, and I'm too lazy to get it again.
Botts makes a Keith Hernandez-like diving play to out Spilborghs, which just about seals his position at first. He's been perfect.
But then Sullivan singles and Tulowitzki works up a full count. After two changeups are fouled away, I go for the inside fastball...
I'm never trying that again. Two-run shot, 5-3 Rockies. I'm pissed.
Turns out I don't need to be. Young doubles, Hamilton doubles and Botts comes in to swat his second homer of the game. Byrd follows it up easy as well, 7-5 Rangers.
From there on, it's up for me to hold and/or increase the lead. I load the bases in 7th only for pinch-hitting Catalanotto to ground out to end the inning. But the game breaks open in the bottom of the eighth.
After Kinsler leads off with a single, I pinch-hit Young for Blalock, just for the hell of it. He immediately blasts a two-run dinger to seal the game at 9-5.
As it turns out, Botts and Byrd aren't done. They homer once again, consecutively, and the game ends up 12-6.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Pitching: B--Passable...home runs again but held them off
Hitting: A+-8 homeruns! I guess it was mainly because I faced some pretty weak off-speed pitching, which even with the keyboard, is easy to hit.
Player of the Game: Jason Botts-4/5, 3R, 3HR, 5RBI...no doubt there.
Rangers 5, Royals 3
Boxscore
Spring Training, Game 18
Texas Rangers
versus
Colorado Rockies
GAME PREVIEW:
Both teams playing nearly full-strength sides: Sullivan playing at his normal position in centre in place for Willy-T, Marcus Giles in second and Ubaldo Jimenez starting.
Murphy leading off again in front of Catalanotto, while Arias starts with Young at third and Blalock off. I think I'll play Bradley earlier than Opening Day soon though.
Lineups:
David Murphy, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Michael Young, 3B
Ben Broussard, DH
Josh Hamilton, CF
Jason Botts, 1B
Marlon Byrd, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Joaquin Arias, SS
Cory Sullivan, CF
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Matt Holliday, LF
Todd Helton, 1B
Garrett Atkins, 3B
Brad Hawpe, RF
Marcus Giles, 2B
Yorvit Torrealba, C
Ryan Spilborghs, DH
GAME RECAP:
The last game I played on this ground was a homerun trotsky, but I'm playing with a keyboard since my 360 controller is broken. This, I don't like since it's difficult to steal bases, and I still can't figure out how to call a cutoff man...nothing happens when I press the button.
In the top of the second, Hawpe crashes a high heater to center for a 1-0 lead.
Spilborghs leads off the next inning with a double, which he gets with a dramatic dive to barely beat the throw.
Holliday rewards the hustle by drilling the second homer of the game to put the Rockies up 3-0. He doesn't even bother running.
I erase all of this in the bottom of the fourth. Hamilton, Botts and Saltalamacchia all pot solo shots to tie the game up at 3. Saltalamacchia's homer is an impressive one, 460ft to right and I captured a video for it, only to leave it on my computer without Internet, and I'm too lazy to get it again.
Botts makes a Keith Hernandez-like diving play to out Spilborghs, which just about seals his position at first. He's been perfect.
But then Sullivan singles and Tulowitzki works up a full count. After two changeups are fouled away, I go for the inside fastball...
I'm never trying that again. Two-run shot, 5-3 Rockies. I'm pissed.
Turns out I don't need to be. Young doubles, Hamilton doubles and Botts comes in to swat his second homer of the game. Byrd follows it up easy as well, 7-5 Rangers.
From there on, it's up for me to hold and/or increase the lead. I load the bases in 7th only for pinch-hitting Catalanotto to ground out to end the inning. But the game breaks open in the bottom of the eighth.
After Kinsler leads off with a single, I pinch-hit Young for Blalock, just for the hell of it. He immediately blasts a two-run dinger to seal the game at 9-5.
As it turns out, Botts and Byrd aren't done. They homer once again, consecutively, and the game ends up 12-6.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Pitching: B--Passable...home runs again but held them off
Hitting: A+-8 homeruns! I guess it was mainly because I faced some pretty weak off-speed pitching, which even with the keyboard, is easy to hit.
Player of the Game: Jason Botts-4/5, 3R, 3HR, 5RBI...no doubt there.
Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:49 pm
You should use the keyboard more often. I'm pretty sure that your highest scoring game thus far in this one. 3 HR for Botts, is he highly rated in the game?
Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:59 pm
The keyboard is pretty bad stuff. Hard to steal (no dives), I don't know how to cut-off, no precise aiming of strike-zone meaning painting corners are harder, and it feels as if you can only swing four ways (including bunt) compared to the eight ways available with a control stick. It was only that I was being served up some generous pitches...ones that I know how to hit, meaning I aim up and right and it goes off.
Botts is something like 75/70 hitting stats, pretty decent.
Botts is something like 75/70 hitting stats, pretty decent.
Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:07 pm
Still going strong man, sorry for not checking in lately.. Nice win vs. the Royals but damn 18 spring training games? A lot for a franchise story no? then again this is baseball so it is different. Anyways good luck and keep it up, can't wait for the regular season! 
Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:30 pm
Spring Training, Game 19
Texas Rangers
versus
Oakland Athletics
GAME PREVIEW:
I messed up the boxscores when uploading them to MVPMods, so the boxscore is actually labelled G22. It's a seven-inning game-a lot of the remaining ones I actually play will be 7, with some 9-inning games without extra innings.
Anyway, Vazquez, Murphy and Laird all playing the game, with Kameron Loe getting the start. I'd really like to have Bradley now, so he'll be playing soon rather than till Opening Day.
The A's rest a few players: Crosby, Ellis, etc. Of course Chavez is still dead. Justin Duschscheirer (whatever) starting.
Lineups:
David Murphy, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Josh Hamilton, CF
Hank Blalock, 3B
Ben Broussard, DH
Jason Botts, 1B
Marlon Byrd, RF
Gerald Laird, C
Ramon Vazquez, SS
Travis Buck, RF
Daric Barton, 1B
Jack Hannahan, 3B
Emil Brown, LF
Jack Cust, DH
JJ Furmaniak, SS
Chris Denorfia, CF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Donnie Murphy, 2B
GAME RECAP:
I load the bases in the bottom of the first, but Botts grounds out to end the threat.
With Loe, I serve up a bad breaking ball to Cust, who's 80/70ish against righties and he makes no mistake.
Over the next few innings, I get more and more frustrated. Duchscherer is throwing light heat mixed with some off-speed pitches, and although I'm taking good pitch counts and reading the ball well, I just can't score.
Top of the fourth, Emil Brown steps up and gets a knee-high fastball which he hits into the left-field seats. Cust follows it up with his second homer, and three solo shots has me down 3-0.
I set about chipping away in the bottom of the inning. Botts and Byrd lead off with singles, and then with one out, Vazquez singles to score Botts. Kinsler steps up with two outs and rolls a pitch past third scoring Byrd to narrow the gap to 3-2 with runners on the corners.
The new pitcher, Calero, pitches to Hamilton. On a 2-2 count, he throws him a curveball somewhere on the corner, and is called a strikeout. Washington is furious, and gets ejected again. Rally over.
With Thomas Diamond pitching, Suzuki and Murphy singles, bringing up Buck. He lines one to right field, as Suzuki goes for home...he's not that quick. Byrd's throw is straight and Suzuki is tagged out.
No more runs till the top of the seventh, where the game breaks open thanks to my dodgy keyboard. Since I can't call cut-off men, twice the A's baserunners get home on throws to second for a 5-2 lead to seal it off. Huston Street saves the game on a strikeout by Kinsler, and two deep flyballs by Blalock and Broussard.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Hitting: B-I found the offence, just couldn't drive them in.
Pitching: B--It wasn't the worse performance, but I did send two weaker pitchers on the mound.
Player of the Game: Jack Cust-3/3, 2R, 2B, 2HR, 2RBI-Nice slugging...didn't give him good pitches and it cost me.
Rangers Player of the Game: Ian Kinsler-2/4, 3B, RBI
Game 20, managed
Rangers 8, Mariners 1
Boxscore
Texas Rangers
versus
Oakland Athletics
GAME PREVIEW:
I messed up the boxscores when uploading them to MVPMods, so the boxscore is actually labelled G22. It's a seven-inning game-a lot of the remaining ones I actually play will be 7, with some 9-inning games without extra innings.
Anyway, Vazquez, Murphy and Laird all playing the game, with Kameron Loe getting the start. I'd really like to have Bradley now, so he'll be playing soon rather than till Opening Day.
The A's rest a few players: Crosby, Ellis, etc. Of course Chavez is still dead. Justin Duschscheirer (whatever) starting.
Lineups:
David Murphy, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Josh Hamilton, CF
Hank Blalock, 3B
Ben Broussard, DH
Jason Botts, 1B
Marlon Byrd, RF
Gerald Laird, C
Ramon Vazquez, SS
Travis Buck, RF
Daric Barton, 1B
Jack Hannahan, 3B
Emil Brown, LF
Jack Cust, DH
JJ Furmaniak, SS
Chris Denorfia, CF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Donnie Murphy, 2B
GAME RECAP:
I load the bases in the bottom of the first, but Botts grounds out to end the threat.
With Loe, I serve up a bad breaking ball to Cust, who's 80/70ish against righties and he makes no mistake.
Over the next few innings, I get more and more frustrated. Duchscherer is throwing light heat mixed with some off-speed pitches, and although I'm taking good pitch counts and reading the ball well, I just can't score.
Top of the fourth, Emil Brown steps up and gets a knee-high fastball which he hits into the left-field seats. Cust follows it up with his second homer, and three solo shots has me down 3-0.
I set about chipping away in the bottom of the inning. Botts and Byrd lead off with singles, and then with one out, Vazquez singles to score Botts. Kinsler steps up with two outs and rolls a pitch past third scoring Byrd to narrow the gap to 3-2 with runners on the corners.
The new pitcher, Calero, pitches to Hamilton. On a 2-2 count, he throws him a curveball somewhere on the corner, and is called a strikeout. Washington is furious, and gets ejected again. Rally over.
With Thomas Diamond pitching, Suzuki and Murphy singles, bringing up Buck. He lines one to right field, as Suzuki goes for home...he's not that quick. Byrd's throw is straight and Suzuki is tagged out.
No more runs till the top of the seventh, where the game breaks open thanks to my dodgy keyboard. Since I can't call cut-off men, twice the A's baserunners get home on throws to second for a 5-2 lead to seal it off. Huston Street saves the game on a strikeout by Kinsler, and two deep flyballs by Blalock and Broussard.
Boxscore
Grading and Player of the Game:
Hitting: B-I found the offence, just couldn't drive them in.
Pitching: B--It wasn't the worse performance, but I did send two weaker pitchers on the mound.
Player of the Game: Jack Cust-3/3, 2R, 2B, 2HR, 2RBI-Nice slugging...didn't give him good pitches and it cost me.
Rangers Player of the Game: Ian Kinsler-2/4, 3B, RBI
Game 20, managed
Rangers 8, Mariners 1
Boxscore
Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:53 am
lol...Justin Duchscherer.
Wow, you are one furious manager. Too bad the game doesn't allow you to do Sweet Lou type tantrums.
Home-run prone, your pitchers are. And the keyboard actually came back to bite you that time. How far are you from getting that controller fixed? It does seem like controllers are more fragile than they look.
If not for that solo shot, Loe would've had a pretty good day. But why did you pull him after just 19 pitches?
Wow, you are one furious manager. Too bad the game doesn't allow you to do Sweet Lou type tantrums.
Home-run prone, your pitchers are. And the keyboard actually came back to bite you that time. How far are you from getting that controller fixed? It does seem like controllers are more fragile than they look.
If not for that solo shot, Loe would've had a pretty good day. But why did you pull him after just 19 pitches?
Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:13 pm
I don't know when my controller will get fixed. Actually, it's probably because I'm too lazy to try and fix it myself 
EDIT: Oh look, all I had to do was to take it apart and put some new batteries in. Silly me.
I decided that from now on, I would be playing most pitchers in short outings: it's supposed to be the other way around (you do it mostly early ST, not later on), but I want to finish this before the regular season starts.
EDIT: Oh look, all I had to do was to take it apart and put some new batteries in. Silly me.
I decided that from now on, I would be playing most pitchers in short outings: it's supposed to be the other way around (you do it mostly early ST, not later on), but I want to finish this before the regular season starts.
Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:10 am
Spring Training, Game 21
Texas Rangers
versus
Oakland Athletics
GAME PREVIEW:
Fiddling around with the lineup again, with Byrd leading off, Botts at left, Vazquez, Gold and Laird all playing. John Rheinecker the lefty gets the start.
The A's play a similar experimental lineup with Brown leading off, Barton dropping to the bottom and Cust not playing in favour of Dan Johnson. Ace Joe Blanton starting proceedings.
Lineups:
Marlon Byrd, RF
Ryan Roberts, 2B
Hank Blalock, 3B
Jason Botts, LF
Josh Hamilton, CF
Ramon Vazquez, SS
Nate Gold, 1B
Gerald Laird, C
David Murphy, DH
Emil Brown, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Travis Buck, RF
Dan Johnson, DH
Bobby Crosby, SS
Jack Hannahan, 3B
Justin Knoedler, C
Ryan Sweeney, CF
Daric Barton, 1B
GAME RECAP:
Nobody outside of Laird gets on-base in the first three innings for either side. I get going in the fourth though, when Blalock walks, Botts doubles in and Hamilton pulls a single to score Botts.
Gold drives Hamilton in for a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile, Rheinecker is looking good. His stuff is really useful for me, especially against the Oakland lefties where the slider is unhittable.
I follow it up in the next inning, hitting six singles to score four more runs and chase Blanton from the game with 73 pitches over 4.1 innings. Hamilton continues to hit well, getting his second and third RBIs off this single.
When Hamilton hits a two-RBI single next inning to make it 9-0, things suddenly turn to Rheinecker going for the perfect game.
Knoedler hits a rare bad pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth...
Sweet grab by Byrd and the perfect game is still intact. But Dan Johnson rolls a single past the shortstop to break it up.
But Rheinecker holds for a complete-game three-hitter, and I cruise to an easy win.
Grading and Player of the Game:
Hitting: A-Got men on base, worked 143 pitches and scored them. A nice performance.
Pitching: A+-Possibly the best pitching performance I've had on All-Star.
Player of the Game: John Rheinecker-9IP, CG, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K-Max dominance. He'll make the rotation unless Gabbard pitches better.
Texas Rangers
versus
Oakland Athletics
GAME PREVIEW:
Fiddling around with the lineup again, with Byrd leading off, Botts at left, Vazquez, Gold and Laird all playing. John Rheinecker the lefty gets the start.
The A's play a similar experimental lineup with Brown leading off, Barton dropping to the bottom and Cust not playing in favour of Dan Johnson. Ace Joe Blanton starting proceedings.
Lineups:
Marlon Byrd, RF
Ryan Roberts, 2B
Hank Blalock, 3B
Jason Botts, LF
Josh Hamilton, CF
Ramon Vazquez, SS
Nate Gold, 1B
Gerald Laird, C
David Murphy, DH
Emil Brown, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Travis Buck, RF
Dan Johnson, DH
Bobby Crosby, SS
Jack Hannahan, 3B
Justin Knoedler, C
Ryan Sweeney, CF
Daric Barton, 1B
GAME RECAP:
Nobody outside of Laird gets on-base in the first three innings for either side. I get going in the fourth though, when Blalock walks, Botts doubles in and Hamilton pulls a single to score Botts.
Gold drives Hamilton in for a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile, Rheinecker is looking good. His stuff is really useful for me, especially against the Oakland lefties where the slider is unhittable.
I follow it up in the next inning, hitting six singles to score four more runs and chase Blanton from the game with 73 pitches over 4.1 innings. Hamilton continues to hit well, getting his second and third RBIs off this single.
When Hamilton hits a two-RBI single next inning to make it 9-0, things suddenly turn to Rheinecker going for the perfect game.
Knoedler hits a rare bad pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth...
Sweet grab by Byrd and the perfect game is still intact. But Dan Johnson rolls a single past the shortstop to break it up.
But Rheinecker holds for a complete-game three-hitter, and I cruise to an easy win.
Grading and Player of the Game:
Hitting: A-Got men on base, worked 143 pitches and scored them. A nice performance.
Pitching: A+-Possibly the best pitching performance I've had on All-Star.
Player of the Game: John Rheinecker-9IP, CG, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K-Max dominance. He'll make the rotation unless Gabbard pitches better.
Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:52 pm
Nice. Fixed the controller with...batteries? You use a wireless one? Spoiled guy.
Re-uniting you and your controller seems to have good effects. Whoo! A complete game three-hitter. But only two K's? You think a guy with as unhittable a slider would get a few more guys out. And from the limited times I've seen the real Rheinecker (on TV), he's not exactly what you'd call a contact pitcher.
Too bad about the perfrect game. Ah well, better luck next time, and at least you didn't lose it with one out to go...
Re-uniting you and your controller seems to have good effects. Whoo! A complete game three-hitter. But only two K's? You think a guy with as unhittable a slider would get a few more guys out. And from the limited times I've seen the real Rheinecker (on TV), he's not exactly what you'd call a contact pitcher.
Too bad about the perfrect game. Ah well, better luck next time, and at least you didn't lose it with one out to go...
Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:10 pm
Eh, a 360 wireless controller doesn't cost too much.
Just that I would throw it on the edge of the zone, they'd make contact and ground or pop out weakly.
And I'm kinda getting bored of ST, but I have to wait for MVP 2008 to officially come out before I can start a proper dynasty. I've already lost a couple of boxscores and a few screenies, which annoys me greatly.
Just that I would throw it on the edge of the zone, they'd make contact and ground or pop out weakly.
And I'm kinda getting bored of ST, but I have to wait for MVP 2008 to officially come out before I can start a proper dynasty. I've already lost a couple of boxscores and a few screenies, which annoys me greatly.
Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:21 pm
As it turned out, my harddrive reformatted has cost me a whole bunch of screenies from the last few games. So spring is over, I'm waiting for MVP 08 to come out. For now, I'll write an analysis of spring and projected opening day depth charts.
Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:48 pm
SPRING OVERVIEW
The Rangers have shown flashes of brilliance and flashes of futility in a quirky set of preseason ballgames.
3:31pm CST on Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Rangers open tomorrow at Safeco Field in Seattle against Erik Bedard, and will be hoping that they bring their Dr. Jekyll rather than their Mr. Hyde.
It's been a spring of wild inconsistencies: from 14-run outbursts to hopeless shutouts. Nearly every player has had their poor runs with a few exceptions. But overall, management took enough out of the whole experience to be hopeful that 2008 would be a year where they could get out of the AL West basement.
"We just need to find our best baseball 80, 90% of the time. Our lineup is solid, our staff is solid, our bullpen is solid. I think we can get up there." manager Ron Washington told reporters after the team's final game, an easy win against AA team Frisco.
Ian Kinsler, Hank Blalock, Josh Hamilton and Ben Broussard all recovered from early spring hitting yips to post solid averages. Catalanotto was impressive leading off, David Murphy earned a spot as the fourth outfielder and Jason Botts provided a stunning spring, with consistent hitting and great defence at first, giving him the spot over Broussard, who will be the team's DH. Milton Bradley came back from his freak injury to post a couple of good performances at right-field, and should start there on Opening Day.
Jason Jennings and Vicente Padilla impressed with a few solid starts each. Kevin Millwood looked untroubled in his pitching, while John Rheinecker and Kason Gabbard dueled for the final spot and will slot in as fifth and spot starter respectively. Kazuo Fukumori struggled mightily, but Washington attributes that to him not quite adjusting to American hitters and not finding the shootball which made him so difficult in Japan. Eddie Guardado was typically durable until a fractured leg ended his spring, Scott Feldman surprised with his movement off his sidearm pitches and fireballers Jamey Wright and Frank Francisco held their controls. It is likely that Joaquin Benoit and CJ Wilson will be employed as "platoon closers", according to possible lineups they would face.
And so turning to the opener against the Mariners. It is likely that David Murphy will get the opening day start at left field over Catalanotto. Marlon Byrd may play center field over Josh Hamilton, but Washington said that Hamilton "deserved his spot to start opening day, lefty or not". Kevin Millwood will be ready on the hill for the Rangers, who once again look to keep Ichiro Suzuki from getting on-base with a series of solid hitters coming up behind him.
The Rangers have shown flashes of brilliance and flashes of futility in a quirky set of preseason ballgames.
3:31pm CST on Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Rangers open tomorrow at Safeco Field in Seattle against Erik Bedard, and will be hoping that they bring their Dr. Jekyll rather than their Mr. Hyde.
It's been a spring of wild inconsistencies: from 14-run outbursts to hopeless shutouts. Nearly every player has had their poor runs with a few exceptions. But overall, management took enough out of the whole experience to be hopeful that 2008 would be a year where they could get out of the AL West basement.
"We just need to find our best baseball 80, 90% of the time. Our lineup is solid, our staff is solid, our bullpen is solid. I think we can get up there." manager Ron Washington told reporters after the team's final game, an easy win against AA team Frisco.
Ian Kinsler, Hank Blalock, Josh Hamilton and Ben Broussard all recovered from early spring hitting yips to post solid averages. Catalanotto was impressive leading off, David Murphy earned a spot as the fourth outfielder and Jason Botts provided a stunning spring, with consistent hitting and great defence at first, giving him the spot over Broussard, who will be the team's DH. Milton Bradley came back from his freak injury to post a couple of good performances at right-field, and should start there on Opening Day.
Jason Jennings and Vicente Padilla impressed with a few solid starts each. Kevin Millwood looked untroubled in his pitching, while John Rheinecker and Kason Gabbard dueled for the final spot and will slot in as fifth and spot starter respectively. Kazuo Fukumori struggled mightily, but Washington attributes that to him not quite adjusting to American hitters and not finding the shootball which made him so difficult in Japan. Eddie Guardado was typically durable until a fractured leg ended his spring, Scott Feldman surprised with his movement off his sidearm pitches and fireballers Jamey Wright and Frank Francisco held their controls. It is likely that Joaquin Benoit and CJ Wilson will be employed as "platoon closers", according to possible lineups they would face.
And so turning to the opener against the Mariners. It is likely that David Murphy will get the opening day start at left field over Catalanotto. Marlon Byrd may play center field over Josh Hamilton, but Washington said that Hamilton "deserved his spot to start opening day, lefty or not". Kevin Millwood will be ready on the hill for the Rangers, who once again look to keep Ichiro Suzuki from getting on-base with a series of solid hitters coming up behind him.
Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:48 pm
A little sneak preview:
Crappy photoshop skills right there, but working on it. Should've used layers.
Crappy photoshop skills right there, but working on it. Should've used layers.
Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:58 pm
I've been following this over at MVPmods, but since I post more at this forum I'll comment here.
Pretty nice presentation. Your pitchers do tend to give up a lot of homers though.
I haven't actually tried out any of MVPmods' releases. I'll be checking it out with the release of MVP 08.
Pretty nice presentation. Your pitchers do tend to give up a lot of homers though.
I haven't actually tried out any of MVPmods' releases. I'll be checking it out with the release of MVP 08.
Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:11 am
Seems like way more people at MVPmods are interested in MLB dynasties, you've got quite a fan base over there. Reminds me of this crowded NLSC with plenty of fans dropping in with a comment at an alarming rate.
I haven't bothered to figure out your perseason record, but as said, it had it's high and low. Between controller problems and a reformatting hard drive, it turned out fine. Unfortunately there were no outbreak performance from anyone, but Boots was pretty good. Everyone else gave some great performances, but the pitching was shaky at times.
You started three months early, yet the real MLB still beat you to the start of the season.
Onwards to the regular season!
"This Image or Video has been moved or deleted" -Photobucket
I haven't bothered to figure out your perseason record, but as said, it had it's high and low. Between controller problems and a reformatting hard drive, it turned out fine. Unfortunately there were no outbreak performance from anyone, but Boots was pretty good. Everyone else gave some great performances, but the pitching was shaky at times.
You started three months early, yet the real MLB still beat you to the start of the season.
Onwards to the regular season!
"This Image or Video has been moved or deleted" -Photobucket
Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:26 pm
What? It should be working...eek.
I made the grass a little too green.
I made the grass a little too green.