Best of Baseball

[Kneeneighbor]

Here is a simple game to kill some time. A tournament will be held between any baseball team of all time. As some of you know there is a baseball sim league that has started here. Well using the same site we can simulate a game between any two teams. Thus a tournament will be held each round being best of 7. The starting pitchers will be rotated on a 3 man rotation for the playoffs unless your team used a 2 man rotation durring the year. Any team can be picked going back to 1885.

Sign ups begin now and the tourny begins as soon as we have a round tournament number. I will simulate and post the results here.

I will take the 1987 Minnesota Twins.

Teams taken
2005 Chicago White Sox
2005 Milwakee Brewers
2004 Boston Red Sox
2003 Boston Red Sox
1987 Minnesota Twins
1982 St. Louis Cardinals
1927 New York Yankees

[Richard DeNiro]

1927 New York Yankees

[Myron Hardy]

My 2005 Chicago White Sox

[FaSho34]

1982 St. Louis Cardinals

[RockOverBoston]

Since they somehow destroyed my team of All Time Greats today; twice, I'll take the '04 BoSox.

<------- This guy wants to play, though, so if you're not going to use the DH, I'd like him at first base.

[Kneeneighbor]

The DH will be decided by the home team. For instance, if the 04 Red Sox were at home against the 82 Cards there would be a DH. If you were at the Cards, no DH. If you were at the 27 Yankees again no DH because there was no DH at the time.

As for home field advantage, it will be decided randomly, as well as where everyone falls into the bracket. I have a program for that. The format will also be 2-3-2 as in the World Series.

[Into the Black]

I'll take my 2005 Milwakee Brewers

[Brian M.]

2003 Boston Red Sox. Just as good as the 2004 version, but too much Grady.

[Kneeneighbor]

We have 7 so far. The sign ups will end tonight so that those who come on for RAW can sign up. If we dont have an even number we will have a bye or two but no big deal. Good luck to all.

[Kneeneighbor]

Okay, looks like we will go with what we have. In an effort to balance out the numbers to 8 I have decided that there will be one more CPU team if you will. The '94 Expos who were robbed of their World Seires by the strike.

There fore the first round matchups are as follows: Team listed second has home field advantage in games 1,2,6,7.

1987 Twins vs 2003 Red Sox
2004 Red Sox vs 2005 Brewers
1994 Expos vs 2005 White Sox
1982 Cardinals vs 1927 Yankees

The best of 7 winners will advance to the next round which will again be a random draw of who faces who and who gets the home field advantage.

Games 1 and 2 of each series will be up tonight. Your predictions are welcome so I will start with mine.

1987 Twins in 7 games
2004 Red Sox in 5 games
1994 Expos in 6 games
1927 Yankees in 5 games

Good luck to all!

[Kneeneighbor]

Okay here are the results of games 1 and 2 of each of the four best of 7s. Before each game I have also provided a brief preview of each team for those of you who are not familiar with each team.

Series 1 1987 Twins @ 2003 Red Sox
The 87 Twins come in with one of, if not the lowest winning percentage of a team to win the World Series. This was not helped by the fact that the Twins failed to win a single game after clinching the division two weeks prior to the end of the season. For the Sox this season will always be known for the decision to leave Pedro in. Will a similar situation arise?


Twins 9 20 0
Red Sox 14 21 1
W: Ramiro Mendoza (1-0)
L: Frank Viola (0-1)
Player of the game (POG): Ortiz 3-6 R 7RBI 2-2B HR

Sox score 5 in the first and lead 9-0 before the Twins answer with 5 in the 5th chasing Pedro from the game before he can capture the win.

Series 2 2004 Red Sox @ 2005 Brewers
The 2004 Red Sox broke the curse. Was it the bloody sock that did it or the players on the field? The Brewers finished the year exactly .500 making them the team with the lowest pct in this tournament. Can Ben Sheets carry them?


Red Sox 3 11 0
Brewers 1 10 0
W: Schilling (1-0)
L: Sheets (0-1)
S: Scot Williamson (1)
POG: Schilling 6IP 1ER 7K

Damon and Ramirez each hit solo HR’s as the Red Sox win. Schilling leaves after 6 and Williamson pitches the last 3 for the save.

Series 3 1994 Expos vs 2005 White Sox
The Expos were heading for the World Series until the strike ended their dreams. Since then the Expos got rid of all their talent and moved to Washington. The White Sox won the Series and ended another curse. Rich on pitching the Sox hope it can carry them through.


Expos 5 15 1
White Sox 1 6 0
W: Fassero (1-0)
L: Buehrle (0-1)
S: Wetteland (1)
POG: Fassero 8.1IP 4K 6H 1ER

The Sox don’t score until the bottom of the 9th as the Expos take the lead early and use it to strangle out the Sox.

Series 4 1982 Cardinals vs 1927 Yankees
The Cardinals pull of the series win and were only a bad call away from winning a second in 85. This Cardinals team was the beginning of a very good decade. The 1927 Yankees speak for them selves. The best winning percentage in this tournament and the most potent offence.


Cardinals 11 12 0
Yankees 1 4 0
W: Joaquin Andujar (1-0)
L: Waite Hoyt (0-1)
POG: Andujar 1ER 4H 2K

Tied 1-1 entering the 4th the Cards explode for 6 in the inning as Andujar silences Murder’s Row.

1987 Twins vs 2003 Red Sox

Twins 8 3 1
Red Sox 3 6 0
W: Blyleven (1-0)
L: Byung-Hyun Kim (0-1)
POG: Blyleven 6H 3ER 7K CG

Trailing 3-2 into the 9th BYK enters the game. He hits Giatti who is then thrown out stealing. The Twins still mount a 1 out rally to score 6 showing why Pedro was left in during 2003. The Red Sox were 3 outs from a 2-0 lead, instead it’s a split 1-1 as we head to Minnesota.

2004 Red Sox vs 2005 Brewers

Red Sox 7 7 1
Brewers 6 8 0
W: Foulke (1-0)
L: Turnbow (0-1)
POG: Manny 1-3 3RBI HR

The Brewers lead 4-0 and 6-3 before being overcome in the 10th. The Brewers have played 2 of their best games so far yet trail 2-0 heading to Boston. Sweep?

1994 Expos vs 2005 White Sox

Expos 2 9 1
White Sox 8 11 0
W: Garland (1-0)
L: Butch Henry (0-1)
POG: Garland 9H 2ER 6K CG

The Sox score 3 in the 5th and 3 in the 6th on their way to a split in the first 2 games. This series will change as we go to Montréal where the DH will not be used. Runs will be at a premium.

1982 Cardinals vs 1927 Yankees

Cardinals 3 8 0
Yankees 29 30 1
W: Urban Shocker (1-0)
L: John Stuper (0-1)
POG: Babe Ruth 4-8 5R 9RBI 3HR

That’s not a typo. After dropping game one the Yankees score 39 including 12 in the 5th and 15 in the 8th. It will be interesting to see how the Cardinals rebound. Sure they got pounded but they still managed a split in New York.

And that wraps up the first two games of each series. Looks like things should be interesting as we go on. More results tomorrow.

[FaSho34]

:no: to the Cardinals getting pounded

[Kneeneighbor]

Yes I agree FaSho. Okay so I simed all of the game 3's but its late and im aproaching a deadline for the newspaper I work for and thus work over play so the results with details will be up tomorrow along with game 4's. I would have goten it all done earlier but it was my cousins birthday and I had to make an appearance. Good times were had by all.

GO TWINS and anyone who plays the YANKEES

[Brian M.]

Grady fucks up again by putting in BK over Timlin :nono:. Oh Grady, what are we going to do with you?

Oh well, you're LA's problem now.

[Into the Black]

Looks like I might be out pretty early. I'm hoping for a rally.

[Kneeneighbor]

Without further delay here are the results of the next two games in each series. Barring a 2004 Red Sox sweep of today’s games all series will head into game 5 tomorrow.

2003 Red Sox (1) at 1987 Twins (1)

Red Sox 6 9 0
Twins 3 9 0
W: Arroyo (1-0)
L: Les Straker (0-1)
POG: Nomar 2-4 2R 2RBI

Straker falls apart in the 8th giving up HRs to Ortiz and Nomar which allows the Red Sox to take a 2-1 lead on the road.

2005 Brewers (0) at 2004 Red Sox (2)
Brewers 5 12 0
Red Sox 3 7 0
W: Turnbow (1-1)
L: Arroyo (0-1)
POG: Overbay 2-5 1R

The Brew Crew scores 2 in the top of the 10th to win their first game of the series. As crazy as it sounds they could be up 3-0 now but instead trail 1-2. Turnbow picks up the win after his defeat earlier in the series.

2005 White Sox (1) at 1994 Expos (1)
White Sox 1 6 0
Expos 3 9 1
W: Hill (1-0)
L: Garcia (0-1)
POG: Hill CG 6H 1ER

Sox score 1 in the top of the 1st but Expos answer in the 4th with 2 and 5th with 1. Sean Berry is the offensive star scoring 2 of the Expos 3 runs.

1927 Yankees (1) at 1982 Cardinals (1)
Yankees 6 16 1
Cardinals 5 10 1
W: Willcy Moore (1-0)
L: Bruce Sutter (0-1)
POG: Gehrig 2-5 HR 3RBI

Great back and forth game. Tied at 5 in the 11th Willie McGee misplays a Ruth fly. Singles by Gehrig and Lazzre later and the Yankees win.

GAME 4
2003 Red Sox at Twins
Red Sox 5 18 0
Twins 2 4 0
W: Pedro (1-0)
L: Viola (0-2)
S: Kim
POG: Pedro 7.2IP 3H 1ER

Twins lead 1-0 after 1st but Sox score 2 in the 6th and again in the 7th. Viola falls to 0-2 despite pitching fairly well in this game. Sox lead 3 games to 1.

2005 Brewers at 2004 Red Sox
Brewers 7 12 0
Red Sox 8 13 0
W: Williamson (1-0)
L: Turnbow (1-2)
POG: Millar 2-4 2-2B 2RBI

Both teams manage 4 runs in the 8th but the Sox are able to get one more in the 9th for the win. Turnbow gets the loss in his third decision of the tournament. Sox lead 3 games to 1.

2005 White Sox at 1994 Expos
White Sox 6 11 1
Expos 7 10 0
W: Mel Rojas (1-0)
L: Hermanson (0-1)
POG: Juan Bell Walk off pinch hit HR

The White Sox score 2 runs in the top of the 9th to tie the game but Juan Bell pinch hits to lead off the bottom half of the inning and goes yard pushing the White Sox to the brink of elimination on the road. Expos lead 3-1.

1927 Yankees at 1982 Cardinals
Yankees 4 10 1
Cardinals 2 5 1
W: Waite Hoyt (1-1)
L: Andujar (1-1)
S: Wilcy Moore (1)
POG: Hoyt 8IP 4H 2ER

Babe Ruth is held in check but the Yankees take a 2 run lead early and never look back. Moore picks up the save giving him a win and save in back to back games this series. Yankees lead 3-1.

Well there you have it, each series has managed to make it to game 5 but all could be over at that point. I hope that the Cardinals, Brewers and Twins win their games as I like them as underdogs in each. The Brewers could seriously be up 3-0 but fate was cruel to them. I like anyone vs. the Yankees and of course I have to cheer for myself. As for the White Sox/Expos series I am torn both ways but if I had to choose I would go Expos simply because they are a good story and I hate the White Sox.

[FaSho34]

... I hate this game, How did I get the Yankees?

[Kneeneighbor]

Teams were put into a random generator program i have for making tournaments.

[Into the Black]

I didn't really expect the 2005 Brewers to beat any of these great teams put out here. I am a little suprised however at how Turnbow is performing. His ERA was pretty low last year.

[RockOverBoston]

Again, in non-DH games, I want Ortiz at 1B, not freakin' Millar or Olerud or whomever else the simulator has incorrectly assumed is the best choice.

1927 Yankees should walk through this whole field fairly easily, and the '94 Expos are my darkhorse.

[Wedge]

Is it too late to join, because I'd like to see how the 69 O's stack up.

Edit: Oh, nevermind, they have. How I missed those results are beyond me.

[Kneeneighbor]

Again, in non-DH games, I want Ortiz at 1B, not freakin' Millar or Olerud or whomever else the simulator has incorrectly assumed is the best choice.

1927 Yankees should walk through this whole field fairly easily, and the '94 Expos are my darkhorse.

Umm, I am not sure if this was meant as a complaint but he did play first in games 1 and 2. Games 3 and 4 have been in Boston, thus he was the DH and Millar was able to play 1st and win POG honors.

And Wedge yes this has started but when it concludes I see no reason we could not start antoher one. Perhaps with certain stipulations on who can be picked.

[RockOverBoston]

No complaint, guess I'm just surprised he hadn't done anything worthwhile.

Those of us playing in the league have noticed some fairly major flaws with the simulator that are so truly strange, you can't bother attempting to try figuring out what causes them, with one notable exception --

When Kneeneighbor starts up another one of these tournaments, and you're considering picking a team that Billy Wagner had any role on whatsoever, pick another team. It's quite possible that Mr. Wagner raped the programmer's mother, sisters, daughter and dogs.

[Kneeneighbor]

Sorry this hasnt be updated for a few days but I just broke my leg and am still in the feeling sorry for myself stage. Next set of results up tonight I think.

[RockOverBoston]

Shit, better to be sorry for yourself than, I dunno, in crippling pain.

Real life takes precedent, man. No one's gonna really care if you need some time away.

Enjoy the time off and the Vicodin. May as well make the best of a bad situation.