Next batch of signings

Rafael Payro NY Knights 1 year, 10.3 million

Portland Carlos Garrido 3 years, 3.6 mil, Justin Headley 2 years, 3.4 mil, Travis Treanor 2 years, 3 mil

Jesus Valdez to Mars 4 years, 88 million

Seung-ryong Ha 2 years, 2.6 mil to NYC

Drew Ward to STL for 4 years, 76.8 million
Paul White to SPR, 2 years, 33 million

Hollywood, Brandon Bergeron 7 years, 143.5 mil
Ryan Webb to Toronto 2 years, 12.6 mil

Baltimore hires Todd Allen as manager

Tyler Denison to Mars, 3 years, 33 mil
Miguel Tejawa to Denver, 5 years, 127 million.

Portland signs OF Hisashi Kondo to minor league deal with 2.1 million bonus

Andy Moore signs with Mars for 3 years, 55.2 mil
Jason Rosario to Springfield, 2 years, 2.2 million
Jay Bourn to Alaska, 1 year, 5 million

First batch of signings

Yoda Moreno to Phoenix 5 years, 130 million
Rocky Sorensen to Springfield, 2 years, 9.52 million
Won-shik Lee to Las Vegas, 5 years, 85 million
Earl Hickey to Charlotte 3 years, 64.6 million
Sal Rodriguez to Toronto 5 years, 105.4 million
Alan Stewart to Toledo, 2 years, 4.56 million

Gilberto Pantoja to Las Vegas, 3 years, 3 million
Howard Goodwin and Tim Tipton to LV on minor league deals
Tony Guerrero to Las Vegas 3 years, 5 million

Carlos Voltron to Denver, 2 years, 3 million

BJ Lewis to Miami, 2 years, 2.9 million
Shadow Russell to Miami, 1 year, 1.1 million
Sammy Yamamoto to Miami, 2 years, 2.1 million

Ryan McCloud to Charlotte, 2 years, 22.4 million
Bobby Barrios to Toledo, 7 years, 147.6 million

Rule 5 Draft

Players selected in the rule 5 must be kept on the major league roster all season, or else they are returned to their original team.  The draft went as follows:

Mars - RP Michael Neal (from Shockers)
Denver - SS Craig Meyers (Detroit)
SPR - CF Dana Wilson (Mars)
POR - RP Luis Antonio Lopez (Toronto)
LOU - OF Darren Escobar (Charlotte)
GD - RP Rick Peters (St Louis)
LV - 3B Mike Dawson (Springfield)
HAW - C Patrick Rutledge (BA)
Alaska - RP Javier Martinez (Boston)
Utah - RP Eduardo Hernandez (Orl)
FLA - OF Kent Hamilton (Charlotte)
NYC - RP Luis Perez (Texas)
CHI - RP Tim Stevens (Mars)
MIA - RP John Montgomery (PHO)
Denver - 1B Ed Robinson (PHO)

Draft pick compensation

The following players rejected qualifying offers and signing them will require draft pick compensation.  At this point I don't see any way that the game is indicating the difference between compensation and non-compensation free agents, so this post will have to be our guide.

C Yoda Moreno, Jesus Valdez, Humberto Castillo
SS Miguel Tejawa
3B Bobby Barrios
2B Prince Ferreria
OF Bobby Bergeron, Jek Lewis, Drew Ward
P Earl Hickey

These players accepted the qualifying offer of 18 million and return to their teams on a one year deal, some to great surprise:

Utah Doug Dodson
Bay Area Michael Garciajawa, Larry Reynolds
Florida Doug Guzman
Detroit Bjorn Frostad

Edit:  Robert Zoffinger and Oscar Martinez also rejected the Q and will cost a draft pick to sign.

OOTP Awards

Rookie of the year awards go to Toledo's Thomas Romero, who won the batting title with a .349 mark, and Preston Greenfield of Bay Area, who hit .225 with 12 homers and 31 steals.  It was certainly a weak major league class.  Second place went to Carl Rice of LA, who went 9-9 with a 3.56 ERA.  Lee Thompson of NYC took third, hitting .235 in 79 games with strong defense.

In the Superior league James Batts finished second, though he would not leave the award ceremony empty handed.  Kent Garner of the Knights finished 3rd.  The 27 year old, who had signed out of an Independent league, drew 133 walks, hit 15 homeruns, and drove in 102 runs.

In no surprise to anyone, world series managers RJ Duke and Wally Calhoun were named managers of the year.

With no clear starting pitcher in the lead, the Superior League Cy Young award was a surprise as Orlando's James Batts took the award in his rookie season. Batts had a 7-2 record, saved 48 games, and had an ERA of 1.05 in 77 innings.  He did not allow a homerun all season and is the first reliever to win the award since Utah's Henry Rollins.  Chicago's Danny Almonte (18-4) finished second, followed by Miami's Dwight Schrute (48 saves, 1.50 ERA).

Peter Buchanon wins the major league award with a 20-6 record, 2.25 ERA, and 211 strikeouts.  He also won 5 games, including 3 series deciding games, in the playoffs, however this award only considers his regular season stats.  New York's Buddy Dervish (16-3, 1.93) finished second while his teammate Stephen Hamburg (17-10, 232 strikeouts) finished third.

Miami's Devan Arceneaux won the MVP award in his second season with a .345 average, 27 homers, 110 RBI, and a .602 slugging percentage.  Frank Lewis was second (.308-31-106, 134 walks, .463 OBP) and Aaron Moore (28 homers, 109 RBI) third.

In the major league the best seasons were had by players whose teams did not make the playoffs.  Denver's Mark Crawford wins his first award with a .308 average, 33 homers, and he even stole 26 bases.  For Crawford, 35, this was hardly his best season, but some of the best seasons in league history saw him blocked from the award by even better Joe Young seasons.

Bryce Parkman hit 36 homers and finished second, and Larry Brooks hit .344 with 22 homeruns to finish third.

Conan to resign UN post

Conan, owner of the Utah Utes and holder of a national record 810 career homeruns, has resigned in protest from his position as chairman of the United Nations committee for the advancement of primitive peoples to world leadership roles.  Conan is reportedly upset over the firing of Wonder Woman, formerly the UN ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls, and a personal friend of Conan's.

Conan was born to a simple barbarian village in Cimmeria and eventually conquered kingdoms by his own hand.  He issued a statement on Wonder Woman : "I have heard her lamentations. I will help her crush her enemies, and together we will see them driven before us."

A small, elderly wizard wearing a necklace of shark's teeth said that while Conan has no immediate plans to attack the United Nations, it cannot be ruled out.

Buchanon named Player of the Year

Peter Buchanon, one day after pitching his team to a championship, was named The Herman Sports 2016 player of the year.  Unlike the Cy Young and MVP awards, which are based on the regular season only, this publication selects the player who contributed most to his team's regular and postseason success.

Buchanon, including playoffs, made 40 starts and pitched 280 innings.  He won 25 games, losing 6, walking 60 while striking out 255.  His ERA was 2.12.  The bigger the game, the better he pitched.  He was the game 7 starter against both Alaska and Miami, and pitched 15 shutout innings in those games.  

Congratulations to Buchanon.

World Series Game 7

Nothing in sports beats a game 7 and this one will please the baseball purists who enjoy a pitcher's duel, the first 1-0 world series game 7 since Jack Morris beat John Smoltz in 1991.

Peter Buchanon retired the first 2 hitters before running into the only trouble he would face on the day.  Young and Arceneaux singled with 2 out, Buchanon moved them up with a wild pitch, and Rabbitt walked to load the bases.  Buchanon gathered himself to strike out Oswipe Cabrera.

Brad Moulds allowed a 2 out single, but catcher Mathis gunned Howell down at second, the 5th consecutive base runner he has thrown out.  With one out in the 3rd, Mitch Oakenshield lined a pitch down the left field line, just over the wall and out of the reach of Brian Kaat.  The homer travelled all of 336 feet.

The two lefties matched zeros through the 7th inning, neither allowing more than one base runner in an inning.  In the 5th, Mathis again nailed a base stealer, this time Gromit.  Arceneaux doubled with 2 out in the 6th, but Buchanon got Rabbitt on strikes to strand him.

Miami pinch hit Mike Gaston for Moulds in the 8th, Buchanon was rolling and set him, Kaat, and Bass down 1-2-3.  He had thrown 99 pitches through 8 shutout innings.  Dwight Schrute came in for the bottom of the 8th and pitched a 1-2-3 inning with 2 strikeouts.

To the 9th, Wally Calhoun went for defense in left field (Bob King), first base (Chip Atkinson) and brought Grant Hansen in to close things out, despite Buchanon emphatically telling him "I got this!".

Joe Young worked a 5 pitch walk, and due to a depleted bench the 40 year old DH would run for himself.  Arceneaux followed with a single, his third hit of the day.  Peter Rabbitt bunted the runners up, and Oswipe Cabrera was walked intentionally to load the bases.  Enough for Hansen, Florida brought David Tejada in to try and clean up the mess.  Batting for Mathis was Trevor Burton.  Bases loaded, one out, tying run on third.  Burton watched the first 2 pitches sail wide.  He fouled one off, then took a slider for a called strike.  He lifted the 2-2 pitch out to center.  Gromit came in to make the catch, too shallow for Joe Young to attempt to score.

Justin Edwards came up, he had entered the game as a second baseman after Miami pinch hit for starter Forrest Bush.  The only Star left on the bench was weak hitting backup catcher Jim Gwosdz, R.J. Duke then assessed the batting abilities of his pitchers.  Schrute looked on from the on deck circle, but Miami had no better options.  Edwards came to the plate.

Tejada reared back for a 98 MPH fastball, taken at the letters for a strike.  His next pitch was a sweeping slider right at the batter, Edwards prepared to get hit, which would have tied things.  The wicked slider broke across the plate for a called strike 2.  Edwards got a piece of the next pitch, then was able to lay off 2 sliders that started in and broke outside.  He was overmatched, but giving it all he had.  Tejada threw another slider across the plate, and Edwards was able to get a piece, fouling it back to stay alive.  The next pitch was a fastball, high.  Edwards was prepared for the slider and couldn't catch up.  As he swung and missed, the Penguin crowd went wild.

Congratulations to the Florida Penguins, champions of OOTP baseball.  A trophy presentation ceremony is scheduled for later in the week.

Peter Buchanon is the postseason MVP with a 5-0 record in 7 starts, and a 1.48 ERA in 48 innings.  Tejada had a great postseason as well, allowing 2 runs in 12.2 innings, striking out 20 against 4 walks, and collecting 2 wins and 3 saves.

World Series Game 6

Matos and Reyes are on the mound.  Miami scores first in the 2nd inning. Maldonado's error with 2 out and Peter Rabbitt on third gives Miami a 1-0 lead.  In the 4th Arceneaux homers.  In the 6th Joe Young scores from second on a Cabrera single.

Matos pitches 6 innings of 3 hit, one run ball.  Mathis throws out Howell in the 4th and does not allow a stolen base in the game.  He has thrown out the last 4 Penguin runners to try his arm.  In the 6th Howell doubles in Duke to make it a 3-1 game.  Pat Jones pitches a scoreless 7th, then gets the first 2 out in the 8th.  Kevin Davidson gets Howell to ground to first to end the 8th.

Up 3-1, Miami threatens to pad the lead in the 9th.  With one out and 2 on Florida relieves Jesus Alvarez with Oswalt.  Oswalt gets the hero cat Brian to hit into a 5-4-3 double play and keep things close.

In the 9th, Schrute comes on to get Maldonado to ground to short, then strikes out Kawasaki and Gromit.  Final is 3-1 Stars, and we will have game 7.

For Miami Brad Moulds will pitch.  For Florida it will be the ace, Buchanon, with both relief aces Hansen and Tejada rested as neither pitched game 6.  In 6 postseason starts Buchanon is 4-0, his team has won every game he's pitched, and he has not allowed more than 2 runs in any start.

Buchanon's postseason numbers are: 40 innings, 1.77 ERA, 30 hits, 8 walks, 36 strikeouts, 2 homeruns.  As a hitter he is 2 for 9 with a double and walk, has scored 2 runs.

In 4 postseason starts Moulds is 2-1 with a 4.18 ERA in 23 innings.

World Series Game 5

Ezekiel Duke led off the game with a homerun off DeMario.  Florida added another in the 4th as Howell singled, stole second, and scored on a Kawasaki single.  Doug Guzman was on his game, pitching a shutout into the 7th.  He got the first 2 outs, and Florida stood 7 outs away from a world championship.  Peter Rabbitt singled, and Oswipe Cabrera tied things up with a 2 run homer.

In the top of the 8th, Duke reached on a walk but was erased on a strikeout-throw out double play as Conn swung and missed.  After having some trouble throwing early in the series, Miami's Cal Mathis threw out Duke in the 5th and 8th, and Howell in the 6th.

In the bottom 8th, Miami put 2 on with one out.  David Tejada came in to strike out Arceneaux, and get Burton to ground to first.  Travis Howard, in his second inning of work, induced a double play ball from Kawasaki and escaped with no runs.  David Kison pitched the bottom of the 9th and Miami's bottom of the order went down 1-2-3.  Jong-Soo "General" Tso came out for the top of the 10th and got Florida on two grounders and a pop up.

Kison came out for the bottom of the 10th and retired Mathis.  Florida then went to the lefty Nelson to face Brian Kaat.  Nelson knew he needed to get one over to keep the speedy cat off the bases.  Brian jumped on the first pitch and sent it flying towards the right field corner.  Conn Barbarian gave chase, leaped, and crashed into the wall (leaving a Barbarian sized hole that will have to be repaired before next season), but the ball was just out of his reach and into the seats.

Brian Kaat had the game winning hit two days in a row.  For what is probably the first time ever in a world series game, one leadoff hitter homered in the first at bat, and the other leadoff hitter homered to end the game.  At 3-2, we now have a series as the teams move back north to Jacksonville.

World Series game 4

Joel Camels and Steve Harriman matched up in another good pitcher's duel, scoreless until the 5th.  Gromit reached with 2 out, stole second, and scored on an Oakenshield single.

In the 6th, Billy Bass singled, stole second, and with 2 out Daniel Smith singled off Camels to tie the game.  Camels went back out for the 7th and walked Oswipe Cabrera.  After a sac bunt he got Cal Mathis on a groundout to short, and Florida brought lefty relief ace David Tejada in to face Brian Kaat.  Kaat singled in the go ahead run.

Dwight Schrute came on to pitch the 8th and pitched into some trouble, allowing 2 walks and a steal. He pitched out of it though, striking out Conn and Howell.  Back out for the 9th, Maldonado struck out, Kawasaki doubled, Gromit struck out, and Oakenshield grounded to short to end the game.

In a must win situation, Schrute secured a one run game with a 6 out, 4 strikeout, 48 pitch save.

World Series Game 3

Florida's ace Peter Buchanon took the mound against Brad Moulds, and the two lefties traded zeros until the 3rd.  With one on, Ezekiel Duke homered.  Miami got one back in the 5th as Daniel Smith hit a solo homer.  Moulds left after 5 despite a low pitch count and a 5 run, 2 hit, 2 run outing.  Manager Duke preferred to get right handed relievers in for the 3rd time through the order against a Florida team that has mostly right handed batters.  He choose the wrong reliever though in Tom Knight.  Knight allowed back to back singles, then Alex Maldonado took him deep for a 3 run homer.  One walk later, and Gromit took Tim Sullivan deep to make it a 7-1 game.  Chip Atkinson would also homer before the inning came to a close.

Miami loaded the bases with nobody out in the 8th, but Darrell Tibbs came on to strand the runners, and then close out the 9th inning.  Miami lost 8-1 and now faces a 3-0 series deficit.

World Series Games 1-2

The Penguins started the first all-Florida World Series with a bang, specifically a 2 out, 2 run shot by Alex Maldonado off Jered DeMario in the first inning.  Florida added a run in the third thanks to an error and a wild pitch, and 2 more in the 5th on David Baron's homerun.  Doug Guzman scattered 9 hits over 6 2/3 innings but allowed only one run, as pinch hitter Trevor Burton had a 4th inning RBI single.  Pinch hitting that early meant that DeMario only pitched 3 innings.

Miami loaded the bases in the first with 2 out, the 7th with 2 out, and the 9th with 2 out, but failed to score each time.  David Tejada pitched out of the 7th inning jam and struck out the side in the 8th.  Florida would take game 1 by a 5-3 score.

Game 2

Miami struck first off Chris Reyes with a leadoff double by Brian Kaat and an RBI single by Joe Young.  Melvin Ortiz tied the score at 1 with a 3rd inning homer.  Reyes went on to pitch a strong 6 innings, allowing one run, 4 hits, and striking out 6.  In the 7th, tied at 1, Oswipe Cabrera led off with a double, moved to third on a sac bunt, and stood 90 feet away.  Miami gave the sign for a squeeze bunt.  Brian Kaat inexplicably pulled the bat back, the pitch not to his liking, and Cabrera was a dead duck at the plate.

In the bottom of the inning Joey Howell walked, stole second, and scored on a Maldonado double.  That was it for Roman Matos, who took the loss despite allowing only 3 hits, 2 runs, and striking out 8.  Dwight Schrute came on to finish the 7th and keep things close.  In the bottom 8th, Florida added a pair of runs off Schrute with some help by shoddy defense.  Oakenshield took one for the team, pinch hitter Duke singled the Dwarf over to third, then stole second.  Cal Mathis' throw went into center field allowing one run to score and Duke to move to third.  He later came on a Baron sac fly.

Grant Hansen pitched a perfect 9th, striking out 2 to earn the save as Florida won 4-1.

Alaska at Florida, games 6 and 7

Game 6 Florida 8 Alaska 5

Facing Bartolo Fatone, Florida scored 3 times in the second with a Gromit single, Ortiz triple, and Oakenshield homer.  The lead wouldn't last though as in the 3rd inning Joel Camels allowed a pair of 2 out singles and then unwisely pitched to the King of the North.  Robb Stark tied the game with a deep fly to left.

Maldonado doubled in the bottom 3rd to make it 4-3.  That score remained until the top of the 6th.  Joel Camels allowed a pair of base runners to reach, and Wally Calhoun went to the pen for David Tejada.  This decision would earn Calhoun a Francona award.  Tejada struck out the side, stranding the runners.  Tejada hit for himself (striking out) and went back out there for the 7th, and he again struck out the side.

Florida broke the game open with a 4 run 7th.  Tejada went back out for the 8th but was out of gas, allowing 3 hits and a run before David Kison relieved him and ended the inning.  Darrell Tibbs came out for the 9th and got 2 quick outs, bringing up Stark.  The Alaska strongman tapped a weak grounder back to the pitcher, and we have a game 7.

Game 7: Florida 5 Alaska 0

Florida had ace Peter Buchanon on the mound and he did not disappoint.  Alaska went with Brandon Bailey, who matched scoreless innings through 3.  Alaska tried the strategy of running up Buchanon's pitch count with swings and misses, as he fanned 11 through 7 innings.  Bailey, with one strikeout, pitched to contact but the results didn't work out as well as in game 5.

Maldonado, Ortiz, and Kawasaki hit solo homers in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings.  Florida added another in the 6th on a stolen bases attempt throwing error.  In the 7th, Ezekiel Duke hit for Buchanon, drew a walk, stole a base, and scored on a single.  Jesus Alvarez pitched a perfect 8th, and Grant Hansen came in for the 9th.  Stark grounded out, Merkich struck out, and Pandaval grounded back to the pitcher.  Florida will play in the first ever Sunshine state series.

Chicago at Miami game 6

Stars 10 Winds 3

Chicago scored in the first as Tobias Muttonly came home on a Javier Soto flyout.  Danny Almonte shut the Stars down in the first, but gave up the lead in the second mostly due to an inability to field his position.

With one out Oswipe Cabrera hit a slow roller towards the left side of the mound.  Almonte's delivery carried him over to the other side, he was slow to field the ball, and Cabrera beat out an infield hit.  One strikeout later, the same exact play happened off the weak bat of Cal Mathis.  2 on, 2 out, Forest Bush, Brian Kaat, and Billy Bass followed with conventional singles to put Miami up 3-1.

After a single and double in the 3rd, Almonte was relieved having given up 8 hits in 2.1 innings.  Felix Cabrera was able to pitch out of that jam, but the Stars really got busy in the 4th.  Miami scored 6 times off 3 Chicago pitchers, capped by a 3 run triple from Cal Mathis.

Brad Moulds pitched into the 8th allowing 3 runs, and Pat Jones finished the game to send Miami to the world series.

Florida vs Alaska games 3-4-5

Game 3: Florida 5 Alaska 3

Alaska took a 2-1 lead to the 7th against Florida ace Peter Buchanon.  With one out in the 7th, Gromit reached on an error by by 1B Stark.  Ortiz singled, sending Gromit to third, and stole second.  The throw went into center, allowing Gromit to score and Ortiz to third.  Mitch Oakenshield brought in the go ahead run with a fly to center.

Snow Sox tied it back up with a Colvin homer in the bottom of the inning.  In the 8th, Elijah Tebow loaded the bases with 2 outs, then Gromit delivered a 2 runs single to make it 5-3.  After a leadoff single, Grant Hansen came on to get a DP grounder and strikeout.  David Tejada then pitched a perfect 9th for the save.

Game 4: Alaska 4 Florida 3

In a well pitched game by Felix Bacani and Chris Reyes, Alaska took a 2-1 lead to the 7th.  With 2 out and 2 on, David Baron doubled over the head of center fielder Rickey Salazar to score Ortiz and Oakenshield.  Tejada set the Sox down in the 7th.  Kevin Stanfied pitched around a Kawasaki triple in the top 8th.  Jesus Perez had a perfect bottom 8th.  Stanfield allowed a single but no runs in the 9th.  Bottom of the 9th, and Florida went to Hansen to close it.

After a Reggie Rodriguez single, Salazar doubled to put move Reggie to third.  Merkich popped up, and the Panda was walked intentionally.  A walk to Mike Connor tied the game.  Reliever Tyler Nelson got Ed Chaney to ground into a force play, and Adam McClure to fly out.  Cesar Cordero pitched the 10th and 11th, scoreless innings, but had to leave with back spasms.

In the bottom of the l1th the Sox got 4 base runners including a double but could not score.  It went single - double play - single - double - intentional walk - ground out.  Tebow pitched a scoreless 12th.  In the 11th Salazar had a one out double.  Merkich walked, Panda flew out, and Connor singled up the middle to bring Salazar home.

Game 5: Alaska 5 Florida 1

Robb Stark hit a two run homer off Guzman in the first inning.  After that Snow Sox had trouble hitting Guzman as he racked up 10 strikeouts in 6 innings.  They whiffed his pitch count up to 111 and got to the weaker part of the Penguins bullpen as the aces were not 100%.  Meanwhile Tim Garrison, the Snow Sox 5th starter in 5 games, allowed one run on 5 hits over 7 innings.  The Snow Sox had multi hit games for each of their first 4 hitters and won without much drama.

The series goes back to Florida with the Snow Sox one win away from their first ever world series.

Miami vs Chicago games 3-4-5

Game 3: Miami 11 Chicago 2

Jered DeMario pitched into the 8th inning, and Miami blew open a 2-1 game with a 5 run 6th inning. Bass had 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI, and a homer, Forest Bush had 3 RBI after entering the game as an injury replacement at second.  Jeff Powell allowed 7 runs for the loss.

Game 4: Miami 4 Chicago 1

Chicago struck first with a Javier Soto homer.  Miami rocked Ruben Ramirez in the 4th as Peter Rabbit homered and Billy Bass had a bases loaded triple.  That would be the end of the scoring, and Miami's Steve Harriman threw a complete game with 7 hits, no walks, and 2 strikeouts.

Game 5: Chicago 6 Miami 5

Adam Harris and Alfonso Gorin each homered off Roman Matos, and Chicago took a 3-2 lead to the 8th inning after a strong start by Kyle Bonderman.  In the 8th Peter Rabbit singled, bringing on reliever Claude Smith.  Bush struck out on a foul bunt attempt.  Daniel Smith singled, and Brian Kaat flew out to deep left, with Rabbit tagging up and advancing on the play.  That brought on the closer, Sanchez, to face Billy Bass.  Bass walked, loading the bases for Mighty Joe Young.

Young singled, 2 runs scored.  After a walk to Arceneaux, Trevor Burton flew out to end the inning.  Chicago did not score in the bottom 8th, and Sanchez kept Miami off the bases in the top 9th.

Bottom 9th, Dwight Schrute in.  Soto singled, Gorin walked, and Johnny Tusken singled to load the bases.  Pinch hitter Miguel Delgado popped up, Cody Fett struck out.  Miami was now one out away from the world series, but Schrute lost the strike zone against Adam Harris, walking in the tying run.  He found it against Tobias Muttonly and struck him out to end the innning.

In the 10th, a 2 out single by Bass brought Young to the plate, and he doubled to left and put Miami up again.  With a 5-3 lead, Miami went to Tim Sullivan.  Byron Jones flew out, Durazo singled, and Javier Soto struck out.  Once more an out away, Miami went to lefty Kevin Davidson.  Alfonso Gorin popped the ball into right field, but somehow it found a space in between the fielders, got away from Bass and rolled into the corner.  The game was tied and Gorin had a triple.  Johnny Tusken then flew out.

To the 11th.  Bradley Oliver got a fly out, single, and then Doug Gwosdz grounded to first where Muttonly started a 3-6-1 double play.  In the bottom of the inning Davidson walked Jose Isales.  Miami went to righty Pat Jones.  Fett struck out.  Harris singled, sending the runner to third. Muttonly grounded to third with the infield in, the runner held, and Arceneaux got the out at first.  Byron Jones walked, and Jason Durazo lifted a soft liner just over the head of the shortstop to bring in the winning run and send the series back to Miami.

MLCS games 1-2 in Florida

Game 1: Alaska 4 Florida 1

A pitcher's duel between Doug Guzman and Todd Johnson, Conn Barbarian homered in the 6th to score the first run of the game.  That score stood until the top of the 8th.  After 2 outs, David Kison walked Noah Colvin.  Tejada came into the game, and Sancho Pandaval pinch hit for the Sox.  Tejada's pitch was a fat one, and the Panda ate it up and spit it out over the left field wall.  Alaska scored 2 more in the top of the 9th, and after a lead off single Cesar Cordero ended the game with a strikeout and DP grounder.

Game 2: Florida 8 Alaska 3

Penguins broke a 1-1 tie with a 5 run 5th. Alex Maldonado's 3 run homer chased Bartolo Fatone, and the Penguins cruised to victory.  Joel Camels went 5 innings, allowing one run.

SLCS games 1-2 in Miami

Game 1: Chicago 2 Miami 1

Ruben Ramirez pitched 8 innings, Gregor Clegane homered, and Brady Sanchez shut the Stars down in the 9th

Game 2: Miami 7 Chicago 6

Winds took a 6-1 lead into the 9th, with Danny Almonte pitching a gem.  Miami's only run came on a 2nd inning homer by Arceneaux.  In the 9th things fell apart.  Ferreira and Kaat opened with singles, and Joe Young drew a walk.  That was it for Almonte, and closer Sanchez came on.  Arceneaux singled to make it 6-2, and a Billy Bass sac fly made it 6-3.  Sanchez then hung a slider to Daniel Smith, who lined it over the left field wall to tie the game.

Neither team put together a major threat until the bottom of the 11th.  Arceneaux singled after a 13 pitch battle with Claude Smith.  Bass walked, and a Smith groundout moved the runners up a base.  After an intentional walk to Peter Rabbit, Oswipe lifted a fly to medium center.  Arceneaux tagged and slid in headfirst with the winning run.

MLDS: Florida vs. New York Cobra

Game 1: Florida 4 New York 0

Peter Buchanon struck out 9 over 7.1 innings, allowing 4 hits.  David Tejada got the last 5 outs.  Joey Howell homered, Maldonado, Ortiz, and Conn Barbarian each had 2 hits and scored a run.  Florida beat Stephen Hamburg, who allowed 7 hits over 6 innings.

Game 2: Florida 9 New York 6

Florida scored 2 runs in each of the first 2 innings off Buddy Dervish, prompting Bob Zygyk to pinch hit for him in the bottom of the second and turn it into a bullpen game.  New York was able to get a few runs back off a shaky Doug Guzman (5 walks, 4 runs in 5 innings).  In the 4th however Florida blew the game open, scoring 5 runs to push the score to 9-3.  Joey Howell homered and both Guzman and Mitch Oakenshield (on short dwarves legs) tripled.  Jon Papelbrad pitched the 7th and 8th, striking out 5 and allowing no runs to keep things close as NY scratched across a few runs against 6 Florida relievers.

In the bottom 8th, with Florida up 9-6, New York got a walk and a double to bring the tying run up.  Harold Perez struck out Eddie Walker and Keith Lee, bringing up Chad White.  Florida brought Grant Hansen out of the pen, and White lashed a line drive into the right field corner.  Instead of 2 runs, an incredible effort by Conn Barbarian, ending with a diving catch, brought the inning to a close.  Hansen had less trouble in the bottom 9th, with a perfect inning and two strikeouts.

Game 3: NY 3 Florida 0

Sylvanus Tonka pitched a 3 hitter over 8 innings, and Papelbrad a perfect 9th for the save.  Joel Camels pitched well, but Florida's bats did not show up.  Keith Lee and Sal Rodriguez had RBI hits, and Reggie Moye added a 9th inning insurance run with a pinch homer.

Game 4: New York 5 Florida 4

New York scored all 5 runs off Chris Reyes in the first 3 innings, including a 2 run homer by Sal Rodriguez in the 3rd.  Florida tried valiantly to come back.  Alex Maldonado had a 2 run homer off Hamburg in the 4th, and in the 8th Gromit Peveto's 2 run shot off Brian Avila made it a one run game.  After the homerun, Papelbrad came in to strike out Oakenshield and pinch hitter Bob King.

In the 9th, Melvin Ortiz led off with a walk.  David Baron popped up.  Conn Barbarian then came close to winning the series for Florida with a deep drive to left center that just stayed in the park for Jay Bourn.  A single by Howell put the winning run on base.  An exhausted Papelbrad then got Alex Maldonado to ground out to third to end the game.

Game 5: Florida 3 New York 2

Back in New York, the Cobra would have to play this one without Papelbrad being available.  It would turn out to be a real nail-biter, as Cobra president Brad and president-elect Trump watched from the owners box.

Florida scored in the second as pitcher Peter Buchanon lined a 2 out single off Dervish to bring a runner in from third.  In the 4th, New York put runners on the corners with nobody out.  Florida played back for the double play and got it, but the tying run scored.

In the 5th, it was Buchanon again, drawing a lead off walk.  He would end up scoring on a Joey Howell sacrifice fly.  New York, in the bottom of the inning, got a 2 out single by Gonzalo Veres.  Jay Bourn pinch ran and stole second, then scored on pinch hitter Reggie Moye's double.  Innings 6-8 came and went with no score.

Top of the 9th, Mitch Oakenshield doubled with one out, and Florida chose to leave pitcher Tejada in the game.  He bunted the dwarf to third.  New York went to hard throwing Rudiger Rocker to face lefty David Baron.  Baron lined a single into left for a 3-2 lead.

Bottom of the 9th, Tejada struck out Jay Born, Sal Rodriguez, and then faced LaDarrell Piniella, the last man off NY's bench and a weak hitting catcher.  He lifted a medium fly to right, Conn Barbarian took it, and Florida advances to the championship series.

MLDS: Alaska vs. Los Angeles

Game 1: LA 4 Alaska 0

Suzuke Mazdahonda struck out 10 over 7 innings.  LA scored 3 in the first off Brandon Bailey, and chased him after 2 innings.  Damon Lewis had 2 hits including a homer.

Game 2: LA 3 Alaska 0

Brett Edwards struck out 8, allowed 4 hits, and came one out away from a complete game shutout.  Matt King came on to strike out Robb Stark for the final out.  The Snow Sox failed to score in either game and as an 83-79 team that was outscored on the regular season look ready to make a quick playoff exit.

Game 3: Alaska 12 Los Angeles 0

Alaska wakes up, Ryan Hall, Reggie Rodriguez, and Robb Stark each have 3 RBI and a homerun.  Bartolo Fatone pitches 7.1 innings, while the Snow Sox pound Nathan Tabor.

Game 4: Alaska 4 Los Angeles 0

Once again the losing team is shut out.  Brandon Bailey allowed 4 hits over 8 innings, and Cesar Cordero struck out the side in the 9th.  For LA, Mazdahonda pitched into the 7th allowing only one run, but Ray Mohler allowed 3 in the 8th as the Snow Sox took control.

Game 5: Alaska 5 LA 2

A sac fly off Brett Edwards gave Alaska a 1-0 lead in the first.  In the 4th Stark led off with a walk, and moved to third one out later on a Sancho Pandaval single.  After another out moved the Panda up one base Pete Stallone brought both runners in with a single.  Blair Polanco followed with an RBI double to make it 4-0.

LA got 2 runs back in the bottom of the inning on back to back homers by Adrian Sandusky and Chris Hamilton.  Felix Bacani settled down and allowed no more runs through the 6th.  A sixth inning RBI by Panda made it 5-2 and Alaska turned it over to the bullpen with Kevin Stanfield, Elijah Tebow, and Cesar Cordero closing the game out. In the bottom of the 9th Cordero recorded one out but allowed a single and walk to bring the tying run to the plate.

Up stepped Kobe Jones, 38 years old, 3000 hits, future Hall of Famer, making perhaps his final appearance before his hometown fans.  After a 5 minute standing ovation Jones set to work on tying this do or die game up.  Cordero brought the heat, near 100 MPH, and for pitch after pitch Jones fouled the ball back to the screen.  After taking one outside, Kobe took one more swing, over the top of a slider for strike three.  On the next play pinch hitter George Rivera grounded to short, and the Snow Sox come back from a 2-0 deficit to advance.

SLDS: Chicago vs. Utah

Game 1: Chicago 4 Utah 2

Ryan Clark had a 2 runs single in the second and Alfonzo Gorin added a 2 run homer in the 4th.  Ruben Ramirez pitched a strong 6 innings and Brady Sanchez struck out 4 in a 5 out save.  Alex Bronkey went the distance for Utah.

Game 2:  Utah 4 Chicago 0

B.J. Contreras scored 3 runs, though one was all that was needed.  Earl Hickey allowed 5 hits over 8 innings before Chris Grimes resumed his role as the "Saving Ute".

Game 3:  Chicago 4 Utah 3

Utah took a 3-0 lead into the 7th before Chicago rallied to tie it.  Jason Durazo homered, then three straight singles loaded the bases with nobody out.  An inside pitched nicked the Mountain Clegane, forcing in another run.  After a pop up, Steve Werden tied the game with a single.  Gorin grounded back to the pitcher for a force at the plate, and Ryan Clark struck out.  Still tied in the 8th, Chicago went back to Brady Sanchez, who pitched a scoreless inning around a Frank Lewis walk.

In the 9th, Werden doubled off Marcelino Lopez with 2 out, and Gorin drove him home with a single to right.  Sanchez struck out the first 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th.  Contreras singled, but Jose Landry popped up to 3rd to end the game.

Game 4: Chicago 7 Utah 2

Chicago broke a 1-1 tie open with a 5 run 5th.  Steve Werden had 4 hits, Kyle Bonderman allowed one hit over 5.1 innings, and Claude Smith pitched the final 2 innings to close out the series.

SLDS: Miami vs. New York Knights

Game 1: New York 7 Miami 2

Justin Zoolander allows one run while pitching into the 8th.  Kent Garner and Brandon Bergeron each have 2 hits and 2 RBI as New York scores early and Miami never threatens.  Roman Matos (4.2 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs) takes the loss.

Game 2: Miami 9 New York 3

Miami breaks a scoreless tie with a 5 run 4th.  Brian Kaat and Devan Arceneaux each have 3 hits including a homer.  Brad Moulds pitches 6.1 innings for the win, while Odis Robinson takes the loss.

Game 3: Miami 3 New York 2

Billy Bass gives Miami a 2-0 lead with a 2 run triple.  Mick McAndrews ties it up with a 2 run 5th inning homer off Jered DeMario in the 5th.  Miami took the lead in the top of the 9th as Oswipe Cabrera's double off Ron Tejada brought home Daniel Smith from first base.  Dwight Schrute came on in the 9th and struck out the side on 13 pitches to give Miami a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4: Miami 8 New York 5

Joe Young and Prince Ferreira each had 3 hits, while Billy Bass and Peter Rabbitt each drove in 2 runs.  Miami chased Justin Zoolander in the 6th with 10 hits allowed.  Peter Rabbitt crushed a 418 foot homer off Zoolander to the lamentations of his jawa wife, Kate Lewis (sister of B.J. And Justin Lewis).  Dwight Schrute came in to the 9th with an 8-4 lead and allowed a triple and run, but struck out Kent Garner to send Miami on to the next round.