This post brings the latest update in the Sim League series, after the first playoff round. Old posts are below:
- Introduction to the league and rules
- Eastern Conference Teams
- Western Conference Teams
- Update after Game 40
- Update after Game 80
- Update after Game 100
- All-Stars
- Update after Game 120
- Update after Game 141: No-hitter!
- Update after Game 153
- Update after Game 159
- Full Season Update - after Game 162
- Awards and Playoff Preview
Game 1:
Rick Ankiel allowed a first inning run, as Ron Gant tripled in Brent Mayne to give Tucson a 1-0 lead. Ankiel loaded the bases in the top of the 2nd, but struck out Erubiel Durazo on his own chart to get out of the jam unscathed. He was lights out after, going 6 IP with just that run allowed and striking out 12. Randy Johnson pitched for Tucson, and gave up a 2 run single in the bottom of the third to #9 hitter Gabe Kapler. Frank Thomas added on to the lead, singling off Johnson in the top of the 7th to score Bobby Abreu. Johnson was pulled after 8 IP, allowing 3 and striking out 10. Matt Mantei came in to pitch the top of the 9th for Tucson, and allowed a 2 run shot to Frank Thomas that extended the lead to 5-1. Tucson was unable to score against Ray King in the bottom of the 9th, losing the first game of the series at home, 5-1.
Anchorage 5, Tucson 1
W: Rick Ankiel, 1-0
L: Randy Johnson, 0-1
Player of the Game: Frank Thomas, 4-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
Game 2:
Tucson jumped out to a 5-run lead in the top of the first, as the first 6 batters reached base against Ron Villone, runs scoring on a 3-run homer by Ron Gant and a 2-run single by #9 hitter Keven Sefcik. Villone was pulled after putting the first two batters on in the top of the 4th, but 5th starter Paul Byrd, pitching in relief during the playoffs, allowed both runs to score on a 2-run double by Robin Ventura. Gant’s 2nd homer of the day, a solo shot off Byrd in the 6th, extended the lead to 8-0. Anchorage got one back in the bottom frame on an RBI single by Mike Sweeney, the only run allowed by starter Tony Armas Jr., who went 6 IP. Paul Byrd’s relief outing ended after loading the bases with 1 out in the top of the 9th. Ray King came in and promptly allowed all three to score, two on walks to Sefcik and Durazo, and one on a single to Brent Mayne. Gant knocked in Sefcik on a sacrifice fly. C0 Scott Service struck out the side in the bottom of the 9th, evening the series at 1.
Tucson 12, Anchorage 1
W: Tony Armas Jr, 1-0
L: Ron Villone, 0-1
Player of the Game: Ron Gant, 4-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 R
Game 3:
With the series tied at 1, game 3 matched Steve Traschel for Anchorage against Pat Rapp for Tucson. Butch Huskey hit an RBI single for Anchorage in the top of the 2nd, to take the lead, but Traschel gave the lead back an inning later on an RBI single to Ron Gant followed by a bases loaded walk to Jeff Frye. Mike Sweeney hit a solo shot for Anchorage to tie the game in the top of the 5th. In the bottom of the 5th, Trachsel put the first two runners on, and was quickly pulled for closer John Rocker. The early hook paid off, as Rocker went 1-2-3, striking out 2. In the top of the 6th, Ray Durham tripled and scored on a ground out by Huskey to give Anchorage the lead again. That was all Anchorage needed. Rocker came back out for a second inning and struck out all three batters he faced. Ray King, Dan Micelli, and Todd Jones each went 1-2-3 in the final three innings, completing an incredible 15 up, 15 down performance by Anchorage’s bullpen that propelled them to the series victory. They now go on to face Calgary in the wild card play-in round.
Anchorage 3, Tucson 2
W: John Rocker, 1-0
L: Antonio Alfonseca, 0-1
SV: Todd Jones, 1
Player of the Game: John Rocker, 2 IP, 0 baserunners, 5 K, came in with the go ahead run on 2nd and no outs.
Game 1
Barry Zito started against Greg Maddux, two starters similar in both cards and degree of difficulty I had in acquiring them - they were both among the foils it took the longest for me to find. Both starters had clean firsts, but Zito got in trouble in the top of the 2nd when he allowed a 2-run double to Julio Lugo, giving Ottawa a 2-0 lead. With bases loaded later that frame and 2 outs, Olerud hit a ball that almost went out, but was caught on the track (FB with a 15), and Zito escaped the inning without further damage. He settled down after that, retiring 15 of the next 16 batters he faced, and leaving with a solid line of 7 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 BB. Unfortunately for Zito, Maddux was even better. He threw 7 shutout, and came out again in the 8th. Cal Ripken Jr. put the first pitch over the fence to cut the lead in half, and he was quickly pulled. Scott Strickland and Rick Aguilera closed out the game for Ottawa, giving the road team a 1-0 lead in the series.
Ottawa 2, Charlotte 1
W: Greg Maddux, 1-0
L: Barry Zito, 0-1
S: Rick Aguilera, 1
Player of the Game: Greg Maddux, 7+ IP, 1 R, 4 H, 5 BB
Game 2
Game 2 matched two pitchers who dominated in the regular season, Scott Elarton for Ottawa and Sterling Hitchcock for Charlotte. Sean Casey put Charlotte on top 1-0 with a solo homer off Elarton in the top of the 1st. In the top of the 2nd, #9 hitter Rey Sanchez hit a 2 run double on Elarton’s chart to extend the lead to 3-0. Charlotte threatened again two innings later, as Elarton walked 2 batters with 2 outs, but Rondell White was cut down at the plate trying to advance on an Alomar single. The next few innings had few base runners for either side. Hitchcock was shut out through 6, before allowing three hits and a run in the 7th. Closer Jeff Shaw came in with one out and two on to protect the 2 run lead. He got Jason Kendall to ground into a fielder’s choice, walked John Olerud, and then allowed a big 2-run single by Henry Rodriguez to tie the game. The bottom of the lineup struck again for Charlotte in the 8th, with #8 hitter Greg Vaughn breaking the tie with a 2-run single of his own off Jose Santiago. Shaw came back out in the bottom of the 8th, got two quick outs, but walked the next two batters. John Franco came in, got the final out of the 8th and went 1-2-3 in the 9th to tie the series at 1.
Charlotte 5, Ottawa 3
W: Jeff Shaw, 1-0
L: Jose Santiago, 0-1
S: John Franco, 1
Player of the Game: Sean Casey, 2-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Game 3
Charlotte scored in the first again, as Roberto Alomar singled and stole second, and Sean Casey drove him in with an RBI single off Frank Castillo. #9 hitter Rey Sanchez hit another RBI double in the 2nd, and Charlotte led 2-0. Castillo settled in after that, allowing just 2 more hits and no runs over innings 3-6. Ryan Rupe pitched even better for Charlotte, allowing just one run in 6 IP, on an RBI single by Henry Rodriguez in the top of the 5th. Charlotte’s pen shut Ottawa down the rest of the way, other than a Bubba Trammell 1-out double against Jeff Shaw, but the score held, and Charlotte moves on, winning both the game and the series 2-1.
Charlotte 2, Ottawa 1
W: Ryan Rupe, 1-0
L: Frank Castillo, 0-1
S: John Franco, 2
Two division rivals, the 82-80 Anchorage Huskies and the 86-76 Calgary Polar Bears, faced off for the wild card play-in to determine who would advance to the division series to match up against Las Vegas.
Game 1:
Bobby Abreu led off the series with a triple off of Jeff Suppan, and Alex Rodriguez knocked him in with a sac fly to start the scoring for Anchorage. In the top of the third, Abreu walked to bring up A-Rod. A-Rod finally had his first hit of the playoffs, as he crushed a 2-run homer to extend the lead to 3-0, all three runs driven in by him so far. Calgary got one back in the bottom of the third, with Andruw Jones singling in Doug Mirabelli off of Albie Lopez. In the top of the 5th, Frank Thomas hit a 3-run homer for Anchorage, bringing the score to 6-1. In the bottom of the 7th, Delino DeShields got thrown out at the plate after a Doug Mirabelli single, and Albie Lopez left after 7 IP of 1 run ball. Closer John Rocker replaced him in the bottom of the 8th. Rocker, who had been brilliant against Tucson, allowed a 2-run single to Scott Rolen to cut the lead to 6-3. In the top of the 9th, it was Calgary’s closer Gabe White’s turn to falter. A-Rod led off the inning with a solo homer, and Ray Durham singled in Frank Thomas. Ray King came in to the game in the bottom of the 9th, up 8-3. Tony Clark and Ben Petrick pinch hit for Royce Clayton and Doug Mirabelli to start the inning. Both got on with hits, before Scott Rolen knocked in his third run of the game and Hammonds walked with the bases loaded. No more damage was done, and Anchorage won game 1.
Anchorage 8, Calgary 5
W: Albie Lopez, 1-0
L: Jeff Supan, 0-1
Player of the Game: Alex Rodriguez, 3-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI
Game 2
Game 2 matched Rick Ankiel against Livan Hernandez. The game was scoreless until the top of the 5th, when Ankiel allowed a 3-run homer against the red-hot Scott Rolen. In the top of the 8th and the score still 3-0, Anchorage brought closer John Rocker into the game. Just like in game 1, Rocker struggled, allowing a solo homer to Rolen. Livan Hernandez, on the other side, was brilliant, scattering 7 hits over a complete game shutout as Calgary tied the series.
Calgary 4, Anchorage 0
W: Livan Hernandez, 1-0
L: Rick Ankiel, 0-1
Player of the Game: Livan Hernandez, CGSO, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Game 3:
Paul Wilson gave up four straight advantages to start the game, to Bobby Abreu, Alex Rodriguez, Mike Sweeney, and Frank Thomas, but managed to not give up a run, and settled in after that. Ron Villone started for Anchorage. He was awful against Tucson, but started the game fine until the third, allowing an RBI single to Scott Rolen and a 2-run homer to Jeffery Hammonds. Calgary added to the lead with an RBI triple by Andruw Jones in the top of the 5th. Villone was pulled, and replaced by Micelli. Micelli got out of the inning, but put 2 on in the top of the 6th before being replaced by John Rocker. Rocker, for the third straight time this series, had trouble, walking Royce Clayton and Will Clark, the latter scoring a run. Wilson left after 6 shutout, and Rhodes threw a shutout 7th. Calgary was rolling until the top of the 8th, when their closer Gabe White struggled again, allowing a 3 run homer to Frank Thomas to cut the lead to 5-3. In the top of the 9th, Felix Rodriguez allowed a game-tying 2 run homer to Butch Huskey. In the bottom half, Todd Jones allowed an advantage to Rolen. Rolen, who had been on fire all series, got out. Next batter Hammonds got the advantage as well, but he only managed a double, and Jones was able to end the inning without allowing a run and send the game to extras. Mark Wohlers allowed a double to Olmedo Saenz in the top of the 10th, but stranded him there. Because Villone got pulled early, Anchorage was low on relievers, and went to Anthony Telford in the bottom of the 10th. Delino DeShields doubled to start the inning. Trot Nixon then walked off the game and the series with a ground-rule double, sending Calgary to the division series.
Calgary 6, Anchorage 5
W: Mark Wohlers
L: Anthony Telford
Player of the Game: Trot Nixon, 2-4, BB, walkoff RBI 2B
- Game 1: Charlotte @ Providence
- Away pitcher: 01 BS Darryl Kile (14-11, 3.87 ERA)
- Home pitcher: 01 BS Pedro Martinez (18-5, 1.75)
- Game 2: Charlotte @ Providence
- Away pitcher: 01 PR Barry Zito (16-12, 3.53)
- Home pitcher: 00 PR Brian Anderson (8-12, 4.51)
- Game 3: Providence @ Charlotte
- Away pitcher: 01 PR David Wells (11-9, 5.14)
- Home pitcher: 00 BS Sterling Hitchcock (14-7, 2.93)
- Game 4 (if necessary): Providence @ Charlotte
- Away pitcher: 00 PR Vladimir Nunez (12-9, 3.89)
- Home pitcher: 00 PR Ryan Rupe (15-10, 3.35)
- Game 5 (if necessary): Charlotte @ Providence
- Away pitcher: 01 BS Darryl Kile (14-11, 3.87)
- Home pitcher: 01 BS Pedro Martinez (18-5, 1.75)
- Game 1: Memphis @ Birmingham
- Away pitcher: 00 BS Omar Daal (17-7, 3.34)
- Home pitcher: 00 BS Mike Sirotka (19-9, 3.05)
- Game 2: Memphis @ Birmingham
- Away pitcher: 00 BS Pete Harnisch (12-8, 3.68)
- Home pitcher: 01 PR Bruce Chen (12-7, 4.31)
- Game 3: Birmingham @ Memphis
- Away pitcher: 00 BS Dave Mlicki (9-13, 5.04)
- Home pitcher: 01 BS Tom Glavine (11-14, 3.89)
- Game 4 (if necessary): Birmingham @ Memphis
- Away pitcher: 01 PR Ben Sheets (11-5, 4.48)
- Home pitcher: 01 BS Kris Benson (10-15, 4.06)
- Game 5 (if necessary): Memphis @ Birmingham
- Away pitcher: 00 BS Omar Daal (17-7, 3.34)
- Home pitcher: 00 BS Mike Sirotka (19-9, 3.05)
- Game 1: Calgary @ Las Vegas
- Away pitcher: 01 BS Adam Eaton (14-9, 5.14)
- Home pitcher: 01 PR Matt Morris (14-7, 3.38)
- Game 2: Calgary @ Las Vegas
- Away pitcher: 00 BS Jeff Suppan (15-11, 3.66)
- Home pitcher: 01 BS Mike Hampton (13-9, 4.73)
- Game 3: Las Vegas @ Calgary
- Away pitcher: 00 PR Octavio Dotel (13-8, 4.79)
- Home pitcher: 01 BS Livan Hernandez (16-8, 4.33)
- Game 4 (if necessary): Las Vegas @ Calgary
- Away pitcher: 01 PR Carl Pavano (12-6, 3.58)
- Home pitcher: 01 PR Paul Wilson (9-9, 3.56)
- Game 5 (if necessary): Calgary @ Las Vegas
- Away pitcher: 01 BS Adam Eaton (14-9, 5.14
- Home pitcher: 01 PR Matt Morris (14-7, 3.38))
- Game 1: Portland @ Albuquerque
- Away pitcher: 00 PR Kerry Wood (13-9, 3.18)
- Home pitcher: 00 BS John Halama (19-11, 4.26)
- Game 2: Portland @ Albuquerque
- Away pitcher: 00 BS Andy Ashby (14-13, 3.18)
- Home pitcher: 00 BS Wilson Alvarez (15-10, 4.02)
- Game 3: Albuquerque @ Portland
- Away pitcher: 00 BS Jason Schmidt (9-10, 5.14)
- Home pitcher: 00 BS David Cone (13-10, 3.85)
- Game 4 (if necessary): Albuquerque @ Portland
- Away pitcher: 01 PR Shawn Estes (14-6, 4.62)
- Home pitcher: 00 BS Jamie Moyer (14-13, 3.63)
- Game 5 (if necessary): Portland @ Albuquerque
- Away pitcher: 00 PR Kerry Wood (13-9, 3.18)
- Home pitcher: 00 BS John Halama (19-11, 4.26)
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