2010 Major League Championship Series

Game 1 Philadelphia at New York:
Rudy Baker (4.2-5-4-4-5-6) vs. Pedro Lewis (6-9-6-6-0-9). Neither pitcher does well and Paul White hits a big HR to give Philadelphia the 6-5 win. Late in the game, Pedro throws inside to SS Jerry Ruiz, causing him to have to leave the game. After the game, Philadelphia learns that the injury to Ruiz is severe enough that he will not be able to play again in the series. For New York, Ricky Buckley will be eligible to return in Game 6. Until then, Manfred will continue to play 2B.

Game 2 Philadelphia at New York:
Philly jumps off to a 3-0 lead in the first, and leads 4-2 in the 8th. Oswalt is much better in this start going 7-7-2-2-0-5. New York cuts the lead in half in the 8th, as Devarez gets the final out with 2 runners on.

To the 9th:
Peter Gibson singles.
PH Dallas Knight Jr. Bloops one to left, SS Jimmy Taylor and LF Mendoza collide, forcing both players to leave the game.
Manfred walks to load the bases.
Keith Lee singles to left to score 2 runs and win the game 5-4.

Game 3 New York at Philadelphia:
Mendoza has been removed from the postseason roster, and is replaced by OF Alex Galloway. Jimmy Taylor will be out until Game 6. Philadelphia patches Mootchie Henson at SS and moves converted LF Ron Foreman back to his original position at 2B. Chris Gruber, normally a 3B will play LF.

Mazdahonda pitches his 3rd straight outstanding game (7-6-2-1-2-6) to improve to 3-0 in the postseason. Roscoe Savage gets shelled (2-7-5-5-0-1) as New York wins 6-3. Chad White and Miguel Cruz HR for NY.

Game 4 New York at Philadelphia:
This was a back and forth game. Chad hits a 2-run HR in the 3rd to take a 2-1 lead. New York rallies for 3 in the 6th, but Philly gets 2 back in the bottom half. Miguel Cruz homers in the 7th to give NY a 6-4 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Philly ties it with the help of a Corey Sloan HR. In the 8th, NY scores to take a 7-6 lead. In the bottom half, Moochie Henson hits a 2 out single, and scores on a Corey Sloan double. No one scores in the 9th, and in the bottom of the 10th, the same 8th inning heroes get it done again. Henson leads off with walk off Benser, and Corey Sloan hits a walk-off HR to win 9-7.

Game 5 New York at Philadelphia:
Pedro Lewis redeems himself for his poor Game 1 performance, and pitches a complete game (9-3-1-1-2-8) to lead New York to the 5-1 win. Chad White and Manfred Mueller hit HRs for New York.

The series returns to New York, with the Cobra having the 3-2 lead. Jimmy Taylor and Ricky Buckley will return to each teams lineup in game 6.

Game 6 Philadelphia at New York:
Oswalt (8-4-1-1-2-6) vs. Steven Hyde (7-8-1-1-1-7).
No score until the 6th, when Rocky Balboni doubles home Sloan with 2 outs. In the 8th, Rudiger Rocker walks the bases loaded with no one out. NY sticks with him, and Balboni hits into the 4-6-3 DP and gets Gruber to pop out to end the inning. However, Philadelphia takes a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the 8th.

In the 8th, Manfred walks and PH Dallas Knight Jr. doubles to put runners at 2nd & 3rd with no outs. Peter Gibson then flies to LF for the 1st out. Manfred comes home to score, but Knight Jr. tries to advance to 3B but is thrown out. Oswalt then gets the 3rd out. The score is 2-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, Devarez to face the top of the NY lineup:

Buckley: ground out to 2B
Lee: fly out CF
Solo: double to LF
White: fly out to LF

And for the 3rd straight year, there will be a Game 7.

2010 Major League Division Series

Game 1 Bay Area at New York:
Due to late season injuries, Bay Area will be playing the first few games without LF Darryl Brown and 3B Leon Mercado, while New York will be without IF Mateo Ozuna until the World Series and will also be without SS and league MVP Brett Solo for game 1. For 1 game, New York elects to play regular 1B Manfred Mueller at SS (he has the strongest throwing arm in the entire league).

New York is able to win game 1 7-1, behind the pitching of Cy Young winner Pedro Lewis (8-8-1-1-2-6), and a 3-4 game with a HR from Chad White. Manfred does not commit an error and helps to turn 2 DP's in the game.

Game 2 Bay Area at New York:
New York annihilates Bay Area 12-1, getting HRs from Brett Solo and Manfred. Mazdahonda goes 6-4-1-1-2-3 for the win.

Game 3 New York at Bay Area:
New York leads 8-3 going into the bottom of the 6th, and then proceed to blow the lead. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Dustin Chavez hits a bases clearing double to make it 8-7. New York adds 1 in the 8th to make it 9-7. In the bottom of the 8th, Bay Area gets a runner on 2nd with 2 out and Papelbrad on the mound. Chavez works a walk, and after a wild pitch, Optimus Minor bloops a single to RF to tie the game.

Both teams fail to rally in the 9th, and after escaping a New York threat in the 10th, New York brings in their closer, Jaret Benser for the 10th. Don Meyers walks and Khalid Kent comes in to run for him. Kent steals 2nd base. After Fred Lewis flies out to LF, Kent steals 3rd. Mercado then lays down the suicide squeeze and Bay Area wins 10-9.

Game 4 New York at Bay Area:
Bryan Curtis pitches on 3 days rest and helps his cause, hitting a the game tying solo HR off Stuart Coppolla in the 5th inning. With 2 outs in the inning, Jack Collins hits a single to left center that gets by Chad White. The error allows Ryan Harris to score from first. The 3-2 lead holds up, and Bay Area wins Game 4.

Game 5 New York at Bay Area:
Pedro Lewis pitches a solid game (7-9-1-0-4-9) and New York wins Game 5 5-1. Late in the game, Ricky Buckley and Keith Lee collide on a bloop hit. Lee is OK, but Buckley will be sidelined for about 11 days.

Game 6 Bay Area at New York:
With 2B Buckley out and no backup IF on the roster, Manfred Mueller plays just a bit further from the 1B bag, and DH type hitter Ted Troskey plays 1B. It's all moot as Mazdahonda pitches shutout ball for 8 innings (8-3-0-0-1-4) and even hits a 2 run HR as well. Brett Solo and Manfred also hit homers as New York wins 5-0. Manfred again plays flawless defense at a foreign position.

New York wins the series 4-2, and will play Philadelphia for the 2nd straight year in the LCS (New York won in 7 games last year).

2010 Major League Division Series

Game 1 Philadelphia at Denver:
Derek Howe dominates, tossing 8 shutout innings of 2-hit ball, and Denver wins 6-0. Alex Maldonado goes 3-4 with a HR.

Game 2 Philadelphia at Denver:
Denver gets off to a 5-2 lead, and knocking Roscoe Savage out of the game in the 4th. In the 5th, Philly ties the game up on a 2-out 3-run HR from Paul White. In the 8th, Philly scores 3 more runs (all with 2 outs), highlighted by a 2-run double from SS Jerry Ruiz. Philly's bullpen does the job as they take Game 2 8-6.

Game 3 Denver at Philadelphia:
Philly's Rudy Baker returns the Game 1 favor, pitching a 4-hit complete game shutout, as Philadelphia wins 6-0. Balboni, Bulger, & Sloan all hit homeruns for Philadelphia.

Game 4 Denver at Philadelphia:
All runs are scored in the 1st 3 innings. Renseller hits a solo HR in the 1st, but Philly puts up 4 in the 3rd, highlighted by a Chris Gruber double. Kyle Bonderman pitches 7 strong innings (7-4-1-1-2-7) and Alex Devarez picks up his 2nd save. Philadelphia now leads the series 3-1.

Game 5 Denver at Philadelphia:
Howe (8-5-3-3-3-3) and Oswalt (7-6-2-2-5-6) pitch well, and Philadelphia takes a 3-2 lead into the 9th, with Devarez coming in to finish off Denver. Gaedell led off with a single, bringing up Howe. Big Cheese pinch hits lefty OF Alex Hamilton, and gives the hit & run sign. Hamilton comes through with the single. Butters then hits a short fly to right that is not deep enough to tag up on. Renseller then singles to right to tie the game. Philly then pulls Devarez in favor of the left Chuck Rader to face the lefty Stan Marsh. Marsh connects for the 3-run HR, and Denver staves off elimination, winning game 5 by a score of 6-3.

Game 6 Philadelphia at Denver:
Philly jumps out to a 5-0 lead on a 2nd inning grand slam from Paul White. Roscoe Savage dominates Denver, pitching 7 shutout innings (7-2-0-0-0-10), with Devarez shutting Denver down in the 9th. Philadelphia wins the game 5-0, and takes the series 4 games to 2.

Superior League Championship Series

Game 1: 5-4 Miami
Bryan Brooks and Larry Patterson each allow 4, and Miami takes the lead in the top of the 9th on Bob Abuee's homer. Belardi saves in the bottom of the 9th.

Game 2: 12-1 Charlotte
Charlie Zito pitches another strong game, and Dave Lefevre has another postseason meltdown, allowing 7 runs while not getting out of the first inning. Jacen Solo tripled and Mike Connor had a homer.

Game 3: 4-3 Miami
Brandon Cohen homered, and Bubba Lewis had 2 RBI as Tom Vercetti wins a tight one.

Game 4: 10-2 Charlotte
Dave Fitzgerald pitches a strong 8 innings, Tim Sullivan is hit hard, and Tommy Miller has 3 hits and 3 RBI.

Game 5: 5-2 Charlotte
Hawks get 3 quick first inning runs off Bryan Brooks, and Miami can never figure out Larry Patterson.

Game 6: 10-4 Charlotte
RJ Duke once again goes to Dave Lefevre, now 40, and perhaps the worst playoff pitcher among the great pitchers in league history. RJ Duke keeps hoping that Dave will finally redeem himself. In what is likely the last start of his career, Lefevre chokes once again, giving up 5 runs in 3 innings. Miami trailed 10-0 after 6 against Cy Young winner Charlie Zito. They score 4 runs in garbage time as Andy Moore and Bubba Lewis homer, and Charlotte heads to the world series. Eddie Cedeno, not known for his power, hit 2 homers in the game. The first was to lead off the game against Lefevre, and he added another in the 6th off Jeff Liefer.

The Hawks will represent the Superior League in the world series for the 4th time, they have one championship.

Superior League Playoffs, other First Round

Game 1: 4-2 Texas
Johnny Jackson pitches 8 innings, allowing one earned run, and Willie Gomez drives in three.

Game 2: 7-2 Texas
Texas scores 4 early runs off Tim Sullivan and wins easily, but lose leadoff hitter Paul Riley and shortstop Alex Guerrero to injury after a late collision. Riley will be missed, as he had 4 hits in this game, and would not return for the series.

Game 3: 3-2 Miami
Bryan Brooks is wild, walking 7, but effective in allowing only 2 runs in 7.1 innings. Andy Moore hits a 2 run homer in the first, and light hitting shortstop Jim Concepcion drives in the decisive run in the 6th. In the 9th Miami closer Bob Belardi has a scare, allowing 2 singles and then walking Greg Cardonia with nobody out to load the bases. He then strikes out MVP runnerup Mark Crawford, and gets Manny Ortez to ground into a game ending double play.

Game 4: 12-5 Miami
Dave Lefevre gives up 4 runs in the first two innings, but leads 8-4 after two. He settles down after that to earn the win. Brian Kaat has 4 hits, Bubba Lewis scores and knocks in 3, and Damon Nkik drives in 4 as the Stars blow out Texas.

Game 5: 7-1 Miami
Tom Vercetti pitches into the 9th, allowing 4 hits and a single run, while the Stars get 7 runs from a balanced attack from the top and middle of the order. Brian Kaat, Bubba Lewis, Andy Moore, and Damon Nkik each have 2 hits, and Bob Abuee was a hit, 2 walks, and scores 3 times.

Game 6: 10-2 Miami
Eli Moreno homers twice, Abuee, Nkik, and Andy Moore each add homers, and Tim Sullivan shuts down Texas to finish the series.

Superior League Playoffs, First Round

Charlotte vs Baltimore

Game 1: 3-0 Charlotte
Charlie Zito gives up 9 hits, but holds Baltimore scoreless.

Game 2: 5-4 Charlotte
Hawks score 3 in the 4th, 2 in the 5th off Doug Lefevre to go up 2-0 in series.

Game 3: 5-4 Charlotte (10 innings)
Kobe Jones homers, Baltimore takes 4-1 lead into 7th behind Jason Baret. In the bottom 7th with one on and one out, Baltimore fails to turn a 5-4-3 double play on Eddie Cedeno, allowing the Solo brothers to work some magic. Jacen draws a walk, and Juan Alou goes to the lefthander Rafael Payro to face Anakin Solo. Anakin hits one out to tie the game. There is no more scoring until the 10th. In the top of the inning, Joe Young and Gehrig Bear single with one out, but Kobe Jones hits into a double play to end the threat. Baltimore brings in closer John LaRusso in the bottom of the inning. Jacen Solo leads off with an infield hit and Anakin follows with a walk. After Mike Kelso lines out to second, Jacen steals third. Mike Connor hits a ground ball into the 3B hole, Kobe Jones makes a desperate diving stop but can't make a play, and the winning run scores.

Game 4: 13-3 Baltimore
Storm Morris returns on short rest to pitch a strong game, and Baltimore finally plays the kind of offense they were used to in the regular season. Bear has a grand slam, and Joe Young, Dave Cronin, and Brett Thompson all add homers.

Game 5: 9-8 Charlotte
Baltimore scores 5 in the third inning to take a 7-0 lead, but can't hold on. In the 5th, Anakin Solo starts the comeback with a 2 out, 2 run homer off Enrique Aguayo. Sergio Perez doubles in Mike Kelso, and Tommy Miller singles in Perez to make it 7-4. In the 7th, Anakin singles to lead off the inning, and Miller hits a 2 run homer to make it a 7-6 game.

Baltimore adds an insurance run in the 8th as Joe Young doubles in Parker Brouthers. In the bottom of the inning, Eddie Cedeno starts with a walk off Craig Haren. This time it's Jacen Solo's chance to show his mastery of the force, and he ties the game with a 2 run homer. John LaRusso came on in relief and pitched 4 strong innings, allowing only 1 hit, to keep the score tied, but after facing 14 batters he ran out of gas and Bob Walker came in for the bottom of the 13th. Eddie Cedeno singles. Jacen Solo grounds into a fielder's choice. Anakin Solo doubles to right, but Dave Cronin gets the ball in quick enough to hold Jacen at third. Mike Kelso is intentionally walked, bringing up Sergio Perez. Sergio ends the series with a single to right past the drawn in infield.

MVP AWOL?

In spite of winning the MVP award, Mighty Joe Young was unable to attend any press conferences today. Rumor has it he is somewhere in his reserve contemplating his future. He did send Kenny a text however: "Awards are nice, but I'm here to win championships. Thank you to the voters."

Kenny isn't one to read into things, but Kenny is pretty sure Mighty Joe will not be back in Baltimore. This could send shockwaves throughout the SL as Kobe is also a free agent AND Juan has said he goes where Joe goes. Could this be the end of Baltimore's run? What will the two-headed giant do? Kenny will stay close to the action and let the readers know as soon as Kenny knows something.

2010 Superior League MVP

The last award of the season to be announced is also one of the closest races. Many experts believed Mark Crawford's all around excellent season (batting title, OPS champ, gold glove defense at a key defensive position, led team to division title) would be enough to secure the award. But that's why voters vote and the results tabulated and why the experts aren't always right. In the end, the monster triple crown numbers from Joe Young sway the voters. Joe wins the MVP for the 2nd straight year and 4th overall. The results:

1. MJ Young 44 (4)
2. M. Crawford 34 (4)
3. K. Jones 15
4. L. Brown 13
5. S. Robinson 11
6. F. Lewis 7
7. R. Ballard 5
8. W. Gehrig Bear 4
9. B. Kaat 2

2010 Major League MVP

The New York Cobra finish 1-2-3 in the balloting, with star shortstop Brett Solo winning his 2nd MVP award in the last 4 seasons. The results:

1. B. Solo 42 (4)
2. C. White 30 (2)
3. P. Lewis 25 (2)
4. J. Cisco 18
5. H. Crowell 6
6. K. Lee 4
7T S. Marsh 3
7T M. Tejawa 3
9T M. Bulger 1
9T B. Johnson 1
9T J. Collins 1
9T M. Solar 1
9T Y. Skywalker 1

Tomorrow, the Superior League MVP will be announced.

2010 Major League Cy Young

Pedro Lewis wins his 2nd consecutive Cy Young, and 3rd overall. He does so in unanimous fashion as well. The results:

1. P. Lewis 40 (8)
2. K. Ijawa 11
3. S. Hyde 6
4. A. Devarez 5
5T P. Williamson 3
5T G. Davis 3
7. Jetstorm 2
8T W. Brusstar 1
8T R. Lewis 1

Tomorrow, the Major League MVP will be announced.

2010 Superior League Cy Young Award Winner

No surprises, Charlie Zito wins the award in near unanimous fashion.

The results:
1. C. Zito 38 (7)
2. H. Jenks 14
3. J. Baret 11 (1)
4. S. Morris 4
5T. E. Corinvar 2
5T. T. Vercetti 2
7. B. Belardi 1

2010 Major League Wookie of the Year

CC Salbacca easily wins this award, and there is a rumor that the award will soon be renamed in his honor.

The final tally:
1. CC Salbacca 35 (7)
2. C. Lewis 16
3T. S. Hamburg 6
3T. A. Medieros 6 (1)
5. E. Duke 3
6. B. Riley 2
7. S. Bell 1

2010 Superior League Rookie of the Year

In a close race, the "Bearrrrrr Jew", Donnie Donewicz wins the award.  

Final results:
1.  D. Donewicz 25 (3)
2.  Manny Ortez 20 (1)
3.  Dwight Schrute 17 (3)
4.  D. Mason 6 (1)
5.  C. Voltron 3
6.  J. Stamler 1

Tomorrow, the Major League winner.