Last night the Speakers finished off the Bastards in true championship form by taking games 4 and 5. My team battled as usual; but, I was up against a steam roller of great rolling. but more importantly, better players.

Brian’s continued Draft success finally paid off as homegrown’s like Rizzo, Machado, Bryant, and even Mookie woke up in game 5 – as they all came through. Also the guys that were filtered in from THE ROLLING MATLOCKS were key in the series – Price, Kinsler and Cespedes.

At least the best drafter of young talent in our league picks last every round next year, but it probably won’t matter as splits are splits and stiffs are stiffs to some. I’m still bitter he said Cody Bellinger’s name the round I was finally taking him last year. Totally my fault, I waited too long. You can’t wait on Brian. He will pounce on the future!!!

I’ll wrap up with a story about him pouncing on a little known guy way, way back in the day by the name of Albert Pujols. A decent player, who oddly enough in this league only ever played for the Speakers. Well a former teammate of his on the Speakers, David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz, played his final OOTL game last night.

Papi helped the Speakers win a title or two, as well as the Tsunami’s and the Bastards win theirs. Brian and I think that no player has won more in the OOTL than Big Papi. Well Big Papi and I congratulated the new Champ with this card.

It was a perfect ending an OOTL career, World Series title run and another OOTL season. Congrats again Brian!!!

PS – I just remembered my little pep talk email I sent out prior to the playoffs starting. Man I’m stupid. Lol. Just kidding.

Manager Steve

So the Speakers and AB’s kicked off the OOTL World Series this afternoon.

Game 1 – Arrieta v Santana
Scoreless into the 4th the Speakers get hot as a Cargo single scores Machado and after a Simmons single the 4th consecutive 2 out hit of the inning, a triple, pushes the Speaker lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the 5th Toles plates two on a bases loaded single scoring Forsythe and Trout to cut lead to 3-2. And once again w/ 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th a double by Agone pushes Gardner across the plate to knot the game at 3-3.
In the eighth Gardner executes a perfect 66-0 2nd column 55-1 for a bunt for a hit, but fails to come around. The game goes extra frames and in the 11th the Speakers get a sac fly RBI of Jansen by Simmons to plate Machado to go ahead 4-3. In the bottom half of the 11th the AB’s coax two BB’s as Trout rolls an error number for the LF’er Cargo. Brian drops both dice and the red one is a 4 but the white one slides off the table. In the reroll Cargo drops a 61 which is F2 – single runner on second Stanton scores on the error and F runner Forsythe scores from 1st for a remarkable 5-4 AB’s win.
W-Jansen L Blanton
Game 2 – Martinez v Scherzer
In the top of the 3rd RIZZO jacks a two run bomb to put the Speakers up 2-0. The game remains that way until the bottom of the 8th. After a leadoff BB by Forsythe, Trout follows with a 66-1 for a 2 run game tying HR. The game once again goes extra innings and with 2 outs in the 11th Cespedes rolls an RP for OF2 Stanton who proceeds to kick the ball to Lewisberry for a 4 base error and 3-2 Speakers lead. In the bottom of the 11th Agone greets Blanton with a lead off HR to tie the game as Joe’s +22 can’t turn it back. 2 outs later Forsythe coaxes back to back RP 2 balls to work a walk. Trout then rolls another 66-1 for a potential walkoff HR but this time Blanton turns it back with the +22. But Forsythe keeps motoring around third with a 46 or higher needed to cut down the game winner…Cargo to Simmons to Posey and Forsythe is out at home as a 63 was dropped!!!! Machado leads off the 12th with a HR off Jansen (+34) – manager Steve had contemplated bringing Bedrosian (+55) in but didn’t…Jansen dropped a 55…the Speakers hit another double in the inning so this move really meant nothing. The AB’s got a lead off BB from Ozuna in the 12th but did little after. Speakers win a classic 4-3 in 12 innings.
W-Hand L-Jansen
Game 3 – Maeda v Price
A two out BB by Papi followed by a 66-1 from Stanton puts the AB’s up 2-0. But one out back to back doubles by Bryant and RIZZO saws that lead in half and after Cespedes Ks Cargo belts a 2 run HR for the early 3-2 Speakers lead. Cargo BB’s leading off the bottom of the 4th then scores on a Machado 2 run HR. Simmons doubles and later scores on a single by Kinsler as Stanton kicks the ball to Front St for a 6-2 Speakers lead. In the 5th a Simmons sac fly pushes it to 7-2 Speakers. Stanton hits a solo HR in the 6th for his 2nd jack of the game. But the Speakers add on in the 8th as Bryant’s 2 out single plates Kinsler to make it 8-3. Gattis does hit a 2 out 2 run HR in the 9th but Price goes the distance for the 8-5 win.
W-Price L-Maeda

So the series is off and running and is scheduled to resume Wednesday night, once again, on Carol Dr as Riegle Park has been prepped and decorated for Christmas.
A fun fact with this series is that the Speakers and AB franchise have met 2 other times. Once the Speakers won their 3rd title in 4 years finishing off an incredible run. The other was in last years semi finals. Both series won in 5 games by the Speakers. Will history stay the course or will the tide change for the AB’s? I guess we shall see.
But it’s been a crazy and great series so far.

Manager Steve