December 30, 2015

RIP - Outfielders

Three outfielders I really enjoy playing with in this season of Statis Pro have recently passed away...

Carmillo Castillo - November 15, 2015
Eddie Milner - November 2, 2015
Dave Henderson - December 27, 2015

Henderson's death is particularly sad, in that he was a favorite of mine in my youth with his infectious smile and ability to rise to the occasion in key situations.  He's also oddly linked to the first player (I think) to die from the 1984 season; Donnie Moore.  "Hendu" is having a monster year in Statis Pro, now making his success bittersweet...

December 28, 2015

May 15, 1984 - Eighth Inning Comebacks

Game #443 - Toronto Blue Jays, 3 @ Minnesota Twins, 5

The Blue Jays entered this contest riding a six game win streak, so Minnesota knew it had its work cut out for them.

Ernie Whitt started the scoring by blasting a solo homer in the top of the third off starter Ken Schrom.  But the Twins scored two of their own in the bottom half of the inning.  Jim Clancy got himself into a bases loaded jam when Kirby Puckett roped a single to plate Dave Engle and Jim Eisenreich.

Whitt picked up another RBI in the seventh, where he tied the game on a base knock that scored Damaso Garcia.  Toronto took the lead in the top of the eighth when Rance Mulliniks laced a triple that let George Bell cross home plate.  This Blue Jays team has more triples than any other team this season!

It wasn't looking good for the Twins, because Clancy was cruising when he started the bottom of the eighth.  With one out, though, Mickey Hatcher and Kent Hrbek had back to back singles, bringing big Tom Brunansky to the plate.  Toronto brought in reliever Roy Lee Jackson, but Brunansky crushed a three run bomb to take the lead for good!

Winning Pitcher - Rick Lysander
Losing Pitcher - Jim Clancy
Save - Mike Walters
Player of the Game - Brunansky, HR, 3RBI's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Kirby Puckett

Game #444 - Oakland A's, 3 @ New York Yankees, 4

In the top of the first Rickey Henderson singled, stole second, went to third base on a sacrifice fly, and scored on a Carney Lansford single.  But in the bottom of the inning New York tied it back up with a Omar Moreno triple that brought Ken Griffey home.  The Yankees grabbed another run in the second off a Tim Foli double.

In the top of the fifth Steve Keifer tried to bunt his way on base, but reached second on Don Mattingly's first error of the season.  Rickey Henderson drove him home with a single, and then scored himself after another Carney Lansford RBI, giving Oakland the lead.  In the bottom of the sixth, though, the Yankees got an unexpected power boost from light hitting shortstop Bobby Meachem, who cranked a solo shot over the left field fence to tie things up, 3-3.

The score remained knotted until the bottom of the eighth.  With the bases loaded and two outs, Ken Griffey ripped a single off Keith Atherton.  Steve Kemp scored but Rickey Henderson threw out Roy Smalley at home to end the inning.  Despite two batters reaching base in the top of the ninth, Dave Righetti recorded the save for the Bronx Bombers.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Armstrong
Losing Pitcher - Chris Codiroli
Save - Dave Righetti
Player of the Game - Armstrong, 1 2/3 IP in relief, 2K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Dave Winfield

December 19, 2015

May 15, 1984 - Ho Ho Ho

Merry Christmas, friends!  I apologize for the lack of posts as of late, 'tis the season of busyness, family, etc.  My dad comes into town this week for the holiday, so maybe we'll get to play a couple of games during that time.  I hope your Christmas is a good one, on to the games...

Game #441 - Seattle Mariners, 6 @ Detroit Tigers, 5

Lance Parrish hit a bases loaded single in the bottom of the first to put Detroit up 2-0 for a quick lead.  But Ken Phelps hit a solo homer in the second and Phil Bradley scored in the third to knot things up again at 2-2.  By the ninth inning the Mariners were leading by four runs when the Tigers attempted an epic comeback.  Reliever David Beard walked two batters before Alan Trammell crushed a three run home run to bring them within one.  Put Paul Mirabella jumped in and struck out Kirk Gibson to end the game in favor of Seattle.

Winning Pitcher - Jim Beattie
Losing Pitcher - Al Lopez
Save - Paul Mirabella
Player of the Game - Jim Beattie, 8IP, 2R's, 3K's

Game #442 - Texas Rangers, 8 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 3

The injury-ravaged Brew Crew were forced to start four lefties in their lineup against southpaw Frank Tanana, and the results weren't good.  Texas had a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth when a rain delay (Z card!) interrupted the game for 81 minutes.  I decided to let both starters continue pitching, but Jamie Cocanower was tagged for four runs in the top of the fourth, so maybe that wasn't the best call?

Winning Pitcher - Frank Tanana
Losing Pitcher - Jamie Cocanower
Player of the Game - Wayne Tolleson, 4-4, 2RBI's, R, 2SB's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Robin Yount