Greatest Game Ever Played?

If anyone read my social media the other day you would know how pumped and crazy I got the last regular season game for the 2018 Super Draft League. Sadly it has come to and end and now the playoffs will begin. But exciting for those following votes are up for certain categories. There should be a new poll each day. Stay tuned for final season results etc. Then up after this season is some drinking tournaments and a new 2018 draft with 16 teams.

Back to the reason I'm writing this. I know it was crazy for me to watch the game that was played but I thought it maybe helpful for some context of what happened for the games and people reading at home to see what happened. This was the last series in the 18 game league. Both teams going were in the same division with same division record. They were 8-8 going into the last 2 game series. If one player wins 2-0 they are into the playoffs as the #2 seed. If a player is 0-2 then he is out and if they split 1-1 they would have to go to a game 3 with the Starting Pitcher 3s on the mound.

The match was between the Mighty Musky Minotaurs and the Rollie Fingers. Nolan Ryan on the mound for MMM and Lance Lynn for Rollie.

On paper it looks to be a clearly one sided match-up. Nolan Ryan is a far better pitcher and with Robin Ventura in the lineup for Fingers maybe he was a little nervous of a fight. Nolan really had no issue going through the lineup of the fingers getting 14ks making sure he was in the Cy Young race and helping his team to an easy 4-1 victory. The MMMs just needed a few runs after leaving lots of men on base to make sure Nolan could coast through all 9 innings. Maybe one crucial error was bringing in wade davis. On paper Wade is a stud but all season has been up and down. Rollie Fingers needed to put his confidence behind him and he let up 3 runs in the 7th. MMM up 1-0 One victory away from the playoffs.

With MMM clearly in the driver seat and Julian Tavarez on the mound you have to feel very confident. Rollie Fingers had to have a good pep talk with his team to get them fired up. Up on the mound for the Rollie Fingers was Henderson Alvarez, who also has been up and down all season. But with a good pep talk maybe he could settle down the fans and pitch a great game.



Well it looks like that pep talked worked! Henderson goes 7IPs allowing only 1ER. And even with a good 7IP from Tavarez allowing the 3ER was enough for Henderson to make this a game. Again the MMMs lefts a lot of people on base and could capitalize until late with a HR from Barry Bonds. The big key to the victory for the Fingers was a late season pick up in Pudge. He belts 2 Hrs and helps lead the Fingers to victory.

After 2 games the series is tied 1-1 OMG that means 1 game playoff baseball with the SP3s on the mound. Could it get any more exciting. Winner take all. Winner goes onto the playoffs and loser has to ride the long bus home! SP3 pitchers look a little more reasonable to score some runs off of. For the MMMs the home team we have Octavio Dotel and for the Fingers we have Robert Person



Not a bad match up. On paper I favor Person because 1 I hate 1-14 Out SPs and 2 and gives up a homerun at 20. But I guess that 6C helps a lot. MMMs pitched him just 4IPs giving up 0ER leaving the game with the score 0-0 to bullpen the rest of the game. MMMs lineup proved too much for Person who was shelled for 4ERs in the following inning with a 2R HR to probably the years MVP in AROD



With the MMMs now up 4-0 it looks like smooth sailing to win this game and make it to the playoffs. Brad Clontz pitches 2 scoreless innings bringing the score 4-0 in the top of the 7th. MMMs brings in Jeff Nelson who has been relatively good all season.



He squares off to face the top of the fingers offense. Abreu leads off with a walk followed by an Altuve single and another walk for Mike Trout. Now bases are loaded for Ivan Rodriguez who was the hero in game 2. He ends up hitting a deep fly ball but caught but was able to get the Sac Fly and score Abreu. Score 4-1. Now goldschmidt up he also ends up walking, bases back to being loaded. MMMs leaves Jeff Nelson in hoping for a double play. Instead troy tulowitski hits a 2R single.

 YAY!

Now the game is 4-3 MMMs still in the lead. Just need to get a double play to get out of the inning. Dave Magadan up to the plate has other ideas. He singles in Goldschmidt to tie the game 4-4. HUGE!!! Jeff Nelson lets up 4 runs in the top of the 7th now the game is all tied up and the series is all tied up. People are on the edge of their seats. Fingers brings in the ever so scary Wade Davis again. Both announcers are puzzled by the decision asking why would you bring this risky reliver in again. But Fingers has confidence in his stud reliever. He easily works through bottom of the 7th making the managers head at ease. Fingers come back to bat again in the top of the 8th. Another lead off walk by Abreu. Altuve gets out. But Mike Trout another MVP candidate hits a 1 out 2B and the speedy Abreu scores. give the Fingers the 5-4 lead!!



MMMs was able to get out of the rest of the inning. Bottom of 8 MMMs was able to get runners at 1st and 2nd with 2 outs but Kenny Lofton gets out to the end the inning. Top of the 9th for the Fingers goes K, O, 1B, O. Nothing crazy to show there. Leading all to the bottom of the 9th inning. With the Home team Minotaurs not leaving the stadium on their feet. They know they have AROD and Barry Bonds up this inning so there is still hope. And whats this Fingers is bringing back out Wade Davis as 4C!!!! both announcers are puzzled but again the owner feels very confident. Paul Molitor up to bat gets a lead off single.... The crowd is on there feet. Big AROD is up followed by Barry Bonds. Pudge goes out to talk to his pitcher and work on the game plan and calm him down. He quickly gets AROD to Fly out and Strikes out Barry Bonds. The air is sucked out of the stadium. This can't be true after a 4-0 lead the Minotaurs are 1 out away from losing at home and missing the playoffs. On the other side Fingers is 1 out away from making the playoffs. Up to the play Russell Martin.



4C vs 10OB and rolls LOW he rolls LOW!!!!! Minotaurs needs a 19 roll on a D20 to tie the game (molitor speed 22 on first) or a 20 to actually win the game. 1-2 he loses the game and anything less than a 19 keeps the game alive to face Justin Morneau who has 0-4 and had 2Ks with bases loaded earlier in the game.  MMMs gears up and fires the swing...


20!!!


Holy FUCK!!! a fucking hot roll 20 ... 5% change and not only hits a HR with 2 outs bottom of the 9th but wins the game and goes to the playoffs!!! With 1 out to go Rollie fingers is left speechless and wade davis can't believe it. It will be a long ride home for the Fingers. But champagne is poppin for the Minotaurs!!!!

That might easily have been the most exciting Showdown game I have ever witnessed with so much on the line. Thank you all for reading and if you want to follow me on Twitter BobBumbarger