Tag Archives: Arrogant Bastards

Arrogant Bastards vs. Shartlesville Browns

For the 2nd series of the season the AB’s went limping into downtown Harrisburg, AKA Shartlesville, for their next set against the Browns.  The Browns were kicking off their inaugural OOTL season.

Game 1
The tone for this series was set early as Kershaw squared off against Hamels and neither starter was willing to give an inch.  The Browns would threaten in the 4th and 5th, but Hamels hunkered down to get out of back-to-back multiple-hit innings while the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 8th.  Russell Martin hit a PH double to knock in Gerardo Parra to make the score 1-0.  Hamels pitched a clean 9th for a CG 5 hit shutout while fanning 11 w/ only 1 walk.  Kershaw fanned 10 but took the tough luck loss.  The two teams combined for 8 hits.
Game 2
Gallardo squared off against Scherzer in this game.  Trout led off the bottom of the 1st w/ a solo HR (trending….) for a 1-0 AB’s lead.  Scherzer had a one-hitter through 8 innings as the score remained 1-0.  The AB’s plated an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th on a SAC fly by Longoria which plated Andrus.  Scherzer gave up a leadoff single in the top of the 9th to Odubel Herrera and a call to the pen was made for Wade Davis.  Davis struck out the first two Browns he faced, but w/ two outs Billy Burns jacked a 2-run HR to tie the game at 2-2.  In the bottom of the 10th Mike Trout ended what he started w/ a walk off solo HR (still trending…) and a 3-2 AB’s win.  Thornton got the win while Hunter Strickland took the loss.  The two teams combined for 10 hits.
Game 3
Miller and Big Game James Shields matched up for game 3 as the scene shifted to Shartlesville.  Giancarlo Stanton would open the scoring in the top of the 1st, knocking in Piscotty w/ an RBI single.  But the Browns said, ‘we go early this game’ and immediately bounced back w/ a 2 spot in the bottom half of the 1st.  Singles by Phillips and Burns were followed up w/ a 2 run double by Bruce Hairpin….um, wait….Bryce Harper.  In the 2nd Shelby Miller lost control and walked Harper with the bases loaded to force in Salvy Perez for a 3-1 lead for the Browns.  The game remained 3-1 until the 8th when Stephen Piscotty doubled home Elvis Andrus to cut the Browns lead to one.  The Browns turned to their closer Brad Ziegler in the 9th but after a K to Stanton he walked Big Papi.  Pillar pinch ran and stole 2nd as Parra struck out.  W/ 2 outs Joe Panik delivered a double to plate Pillar and tie the game at 3-3.  In the top of the 11th Kevin Pillar dropped a perfect bunt single to lead off the inning.  He then stole 2nd, was bunted to 3rd by Parra, and then scored on a SAC fly by Panik for a 4-3 AB’s lead.  Mark ‘the Shark’ Melancon came on for the save in the bottom of the 11th as AB fans wondered if there was a closer controversy brewing.  Brach pitched 3 innings for the win while Gilmartin took the loss.
Game 4
Salazar and Wacha would deal for 6 shutout innings a piece as both teams continued to pound the baseball.  But Stanton led off the 7th with a solo HR (trend setting…); then the AB’s went BB, fly out, BB, single, single, and single to push their lead to 4-0.  Salazar pitched a clean 7th to get a bump up in grade just in time to give up a single in the 8th to Burns followed by a 2 run jack by Harper to trim the lead to 4-2.  Davis once again came on in the 9th and surrendered a leadoff double to Herrera followed by a one out single to Phillips putting runners on 1st and 3rd.  Burns then hit a SAC fly to plate Herrera to set the stage for Harper once again.  But this time Davis struck him out to end the game and complete the sweep.  Salazar got the win, Davis the save and Wacha took the loss.

Additional Game notes….
The AB’s went 6 for 24 w/ RISP for a .250 clip while the Browns went 2 for 17 for a .118 clip.
The AB’s hit 3 more solo HR’s as all 7 of their HR’s have now come w/ no one on base.
AB’s are now 5-3 on the young season w/ a .168 team batting average.

The AB’s will host the Eliminators next Wednesday then will be taking the following week off (at least that is the plan).

Arrogant Bastards vs. Lemonheads

Game 1
Greinke and Hamels both go the distance in a 4-2 Heads win.  The AB’s jump out to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd on a gift RP fielding 1 single by Agone plating the fleet footed Big Papi.  In the first shutdown inning of the year Hamels proceeds to give the run back on a double by Belt followed by a single by Bradley (who then gets picked off and tossed from the game for arguing that Hamels balked – replays show that Hamels did balk but under MLB replay rules this is not reviewable).   The Heads erupt in the 3rd on back to back HR’s from Shaw and Martinez plating 3 runs and pushing the lead to 4-1.  Ginger Jesus adds a solo shot (trend begins….) for the AB’s in the 4th – it would be the AB’s last hit of the game as both pitchers settled in the rest of the way.  Hamels K’s 8 and Greinke fans 10.  AB’s go 1 for 6 w/ runners in scoring position (the trend setting has only just begun….).
Game 2
Young battles Scherzer in game 2 but this game would belong to Max as the AB’s get their first shutout and win of 2016 (may be one of the few) 2-0.  Trout hits a solo shot (trending…) in the 1st and Agone hits a solo shot (trending…) in the 4th.  Scherzer scatters 3 hits in 8.1 while fanning 10 Heads.  Davis comes on for the final 2 outs as a 1 out double by Blackmon in the 9th got the AB’s manager worried w/ Max’s -14 HR number.  Blackmon was then picked off 2nd by AB’s catcher Russell Martin and Davis got the final out by fanning Peralta.  AB’s go 1 for 9 w/ RISP (trending continues….)
Game 3
Two 13’s square off in game 3 as Odorizzi outduels Miller for a 4-3 Heads comeback win.  Parra leads the game off in the bottom of the 1st w/ a solo (trending…) HR, then plates a 2nd run in the 2nd on an RBI single for a 2-0 AB’s lead.  Fielder cuts it to 2-1 w/ an RBI single in the 4th but the AB’s get the run right back in the bottom half w/ an RBI double from Pillar plating Parra.  3-1 after 4….with 2 outs in the top of the 5th (queue the shutdown inning music) the Heads go Double, Triple, single from Blackmon, Peralta, and Fielder to tie the game at 3.  In the 6th Walker plates Belt on a Sac Fly for the go ahead 4th run as the AB’s don’t manage a hit after the 4th inning (trend setting…).  Lopez comes on to save it for Odorizzi.  AB’s go 1 for 8 w/ RISP (trending continues….)
Game 4
In 14 innings (Russell Martin catches all 14!!!) the Heads get a 2-1 victory to win the series 3-1.  Buchholz and Salazar pitch well to ND’s as both pens get taxed for the first time this season.  The Heads plate a run in the 4th on a 2 out single by Hechevarria plating Belt.  The AB’s tie it on an RBI single by Turner in the 7th plating Trout.  The game would remain 1-1 until a TWO OUT single by Fielder plates Gomes in the top of the 14th.  Lopez comes on for his 2nd save in as many games as Will Smith (who only decided to show up for the Heads because a Blackmon was hitting leadoff) gets a win, the loss went to Cedeno.  AB’s go 1 for 3 with RISP (trend of one hit a game continues but a .333 average w/ RISP gets us real excited for future run scoring opportunities).

Series notes….
AB’s go 4 for 26 w/ RISP.  All 4 HR’s were solo HR’s.
In contrast the Heads went 9 for 18 w/ RISP in the series.
Heads score 10 runs in the series…7 of the 10 runs were scored w/ 2 outs.    3 of the AB’s 8 runs came w/ 2 outs.

AB’s travel to Shartzville tomorrow night to play the Browns.

Opening Day

Tonight the 2016 OOTL season will kick off as the Bastards travel to Lewisberry to take on the Lemonheads.  2016 OOTL POY hopeful Zack Greinke gets the ball in the opener. He will be opposed by Cole Hamels.

Other pitching match ups are
Scherzer v Young (a former Bastard)
Miller v Odorozzi
Salazar v Buchholz

On Thursday the Bastards will continue their road trip to as they venture to Shartzville for the first time. Same rotation for the Bastards as the Browns counter w/ Kershaw, Gallardo, Shields and Wacha.
I’m gonna make an effort to do series write ups this year…those efforts probably won’t last past this email but goal setting is always a good idea.
BTW Darwin Barney leads the Grapefruit League in RBI’s as he just drove in his 5th run of the day!
Good luck to everyone this season!!!
Steve

Shooting Stars II vs. Arrogant Bastards

Game 1  DeGrom vs. Hamels

First four innings have hits scattered and only threat from the Stars in the first, but no ones scored. Santana with a triple, but stranded there in the third.

Top of five, Kemp lead-off homer turned back into a double. McKenry says, “OH NO YOU DON’T” and smacks a two-run shot that holds up. 2-0 Stars until the bottom of the inning in which the Bastards get two runs on a Turner double scoring Longoria and Santana to tie it up.

Morneau sacrifice fly in the 7th scores Pence for a Stars one-run lead. Bottom of the 9th, two outs: solo shot by Longoria puts us into extra innings.

Top of ten, Morneau hits a HR, TURNED back into a double.  Carpenter sacs him to third. Pedroia tries a sac attempt but a fielder’s choice results. Runner out at home for the second out. CUDDYER says that doesn’t work. Signal is given for the hit-and-run with Pedroia on first. He smacks a double scoring Pedroia and the Stars shut down the Bastards 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.

Stars win 4-3.

Game 2 Fiers vs. Roark

Stars bats are cold in this one with the only scoring threat in the first with two on and one out. No run production at all. Roark and bullpen scatter 6 hits and 8 Ks for the win.

Ortiz scores two runs, hits a double and a homer.  Bastards only other run was scored in the 7th by McDonald pinch-running for Panik.

Bastards Win 3-0.

Game 3 – GAME OF THE SERIES

Stars come home for the next two games. Fister and the entire bullpen are used in this 16-inning classic. The Bastards use 6 pitchers as well.

Stars get a run in the first inning with Crisp scoring on Cervelli’s fielder’s choice. Pedroia rips a HR in the 5th to make it 2-0 Stars.

Bastards get a run in the 8th to cut the lead to 1. Then with 2 outs in the 9th, Suzuki gets a single to tie the game.

Top of 11th with TWO outs AGAIN, Bastards get an unearned run to take the lead. However, the Stars tie it in the bottom of the inning with two singles by Pagan and Morneau.

Bottom of 12, PENCE hits game winning HR. WAIT, TURNED BACK. He does not score on lead-off double.

13th, 14th, 15th were non-eventful. In the 16th, the Bastards get two runs  on doubles by Suzuki and Turner and a single by Santana. Stars get a double play to end the long game.

Bastards WIN the classic in 16 innings, 4-3.

Game 4 – Stars home again – Hammel vs. Lynn

Stanton blasts a HR for the Bastards in the 2nd, but they only muster 3 hits the rest of the game. Stars get a two-run shot by Morneau and Pagan knocks home a third run scored by Kemp in the 4th.

Lynn goes 8 innings. Chapman comes in to the 9th and SLAMS the door.

Stars win 3-1.   Series all tied up going to game 5.

Game 5 – REMATCH of STARS ON THE ROAD – DeGrom vs. Hamels

Stars waste no time in this game. Cuddyer rips a solo shot in the first, followed by a double by Peralta and a TWO RUN SHOT by the “TODD FATHER”.

McKenry leads off the second with a double and later scores on a sac by Holt. Stars get three singles the next three innings and bats go ice cold.

Stanton rips a HR in the 4th to cut the lead to 4-1. 6th inning, Turner leads off with a double. Two walks later, bases loaded. Putnam records the final out by Martin and the threat ends.

Bastards get a one-out HR in the 8th. Wait, turned back, but he scores on a Stanton double. Ortiz K’s to end the 8th.

Hughes comes in to the 9th and closes it out 1-2-3 to retire the Champs’ season and record the first Wild Card Series Win for the Shooting Stars.

Stars win 4-2.

This series is the best series I have played for a long time and ranks up there with the WORLD SERIES against the Asian Tsunamis.

Both teams score 14 runs. Stars hit 8 HRs with 3 turned back; one, a game winner in Game 3. Bastards hit 5 HRs with one turned back.

Fun fact: 3 of 4 HRs turned back scored anyway. The one that did not was a game winner.

Bastards had 19 additional extra-base hits not including the HRs; Stars had just 10.
Stars K’d 45 times; Bastards 47.

ABs at Birds of Pray

G-1  The Birds took advantage of 2 errors in the 2nd by the Bastards to score 4 runs. G. Richards and the pen made them stand up as the Birds got a 5-1 win. Aybar had a 2-run 2nd inning double.

G-2  Bastards take a 2-0 lead on Martin and Ozuna RBIs. But the Birds fight back on Cruz and Aybar RBIs. Birds then get back-to-back-to-back 6th inning doubles from Gennett, Molina and Cruz for a 4-2 lead. Birds hold on behind Ross and the bullpen for a 5-2 win.

G-3 Bastard bats exploded for 5 runs in the 5th and 6th innings off Teheran and the pen, batting 9 men in the 5th. Trout drove in 2 with a 6th inning homer in the Bastards 6-1 win.

Ryan Gennett went 7-11 with 3 doubles & 2 RBIs for the Birds in the series.