Tournament of Champions: Promotion, Relegation, and Forced Relocation

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - First Round

 

Monday, February 9 games - First Round

 

#46 Louisville 2 vs #19 Charlotte 4 at Phoenix, Arizona

Notes: Kien Chan hit a pinch-hit RBI double and C Buster Posey hit a two-out, three-run home run to lead the Flyers’ eighth-inning comeback over the Thoroughbreds….Brad Hand pitched seven shutout innings, giving up only two hits, walking one, and striking out five for Louisville….Brett Oberholtzer gave up all four runs to Charlotte, earning a blown save and a loss….Charlotte SP Peter Martin allowed two earned runs on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts in eight innings….Shaun Davis pitched the final inning for the save….’Breds’ 3B Albert Pujols went 1 for 3 with a walk in his return. 

 

#45 Las Vegas 2 vs #20 New Mexico 4 at Miami, Florida

Notes: 3B Miguel Cabrera hit a walkoff two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to pace the Suns’ win…. C Evan Gattis also hit a two-run home run in the second inning….1B Dayan Viciedo hit a solo home run and 3B Chris Nelson hit an RBI double in the seventh to tie the game, 2-2….SP Matt Harvey pitched eight innings for the Suns, allowing two earned runs on five hits with a walk and eight strikeouts to earn the win….Cody Allen pitched the ninth for the save….SP Jered Weaver allowed just two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts for the Dealers….Steve Johnson suffered the loss, giving up two earned runs on two hits without retiring a batter….1B Prince Fielder went 0 for 3 in his New Mexico debut. 

 

#40 Mexico City 0 vs #25 Denver 10 at Detroit, Michigan

Notes: Denver leadoff hitter SS Dee Gordon went 3 for 5 with a double, run, four RBI, and a stolen base to pace the win over the newly-formed Mexico City Scorpions….Four Denver pitchers combined for the shutout. SP Francisco Liriano went just 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, while walking three and striking out seven. Tom Milone came in relief to earn the victory….The Scorpions’ Obke Bracegirdle suffered the loss by giving up two earned runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

 

Upset of the Day

#47 Boston 7 vs #18 Memphis 0 at Cincinnati, Ohio

Notes: Boston finished 11th in the Omega League last season, meaning they were not a part of the post season. Their victory over Memphis is thus a huge upset, especially by the large margin….Boston LF Ryan Sweeney was player of the game after going 4 for 5 with two doubles, a run, and three RBI….Hawks’ CF Juan Ramos also contributed on offense, going 3 for 5 with three runs and an RBI….Carlos Bautista was the winning pitcher. He gave up four runs and two walks and struck out four in six innings….Memphis’ Greg T. Smith was the losing pitcher, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in seven innings….The Hound Dogs’ 2B Vasquo Cordido had half of the teams’ hits. No one had an extra-base hit in the four-hit shutout loss. 

 

Other scores: 

 

#34 Portland 1 vs #31 Seattle 4 at Cincinnati

Player of the Game: SP Josh Beckett, Seattle, 8 IP, 4 H, ER, 12 K

 

#42 Pittsburgh 1 vs #23 Buffalo 7 at Nashville, Tennessee

Player of the Game: C Ben J. Johnson, Buffalo, 3/4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

 

#39 Atlanta 0 vs #26 Washington 4 at Nashville

Player of the Game: SP Ietsuna Murakami, Washington, 8 IP, 3 H, BB, 7 K

 

#35 Bronx 8 vs #30 Honolulu 0 at Phoenix

Player of the Game: SP Julian Jimenez, Bronx, 9 IP, CG, 3 H, BB, 6 K

 

#43 Oklahoma City 0 vs #22 Houston 2 at Dallas, Texas

Player of the Game: SP Matt Moore, Houston, 8 IP, 5 H, 14 K

 

#38 Orlando 4 vs #27 Utah 3 at Dallas

Player of the Game: RF Chris Parmalee, Orlando, 1/2, HR, R, 3 RBI

 

#33 St. Louis 3 vs #32 Tampa 2 at San Diego, California

Player of the Game: SP James Shields, St. Louis, 8 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K

 

#48 Indianapolis 0 vs #17 San Francisco 1 at San Diego

Player of the Game: SP Les Harris, San Francisco, 8 IP, 3 H, BB, 12 K

 

#41 Baltimore 3 vs #24 Toronto 2 at Detroit

Player of the Game: 1B Chris Davis, Baltimore, 2/2, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB

 

#36 Cleveland 2 vs #29 Chicago 1, 10 innings, at Miami

Player of the Game: SP Juan Ortiz, Cleveland, 6 IP, 5 H, BB, 5 K

 

#44 Vancouver 2 vs #21 Milwaukee 0 at Virginia Beach, Virginia

Player of the Game: SP Michael Pineda, Vancouver, 7 IP, H, 2 BB, 6 K

 

#37 San Antonio 4 vs #28 Philadelphia 2 at Virginia Beach

Player of the Game: SP Clayton Kershaw, San Antonio, 8 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 4 K

 

Players of the Day

 

Updated Brackets – Winners Bracket

[StLee 19]

Second Qualifying Round Previews

 

I'm itching to go further into this tournament, so previews for Day Two! I'm also trying to work on a power ranking system that spans all leagues. I want to see how well it can work based on a few ideas I have. 

 

Previews

 

Game of the Day

 

#19 Charlotte vs #14 Minneapolis at Phoenix, Arizona

 

Both teams move up to the Alpha League this season, making this game the first match up of AL teams. That also means that at least one AL team will be in the Losers Bracket for the first elimination round. 

 

Charlotte (1-0) defeated Louisville in the first round with a come-from-behind eighth-inning rally. They will need to find more offense against a very tough Blizzard team. 

 

Minneapolis will place ace Alex Cobb on the mound. The 2014 Beta Man of the Year and 2013 GL Pitcher Award winner boasted a 16-6 record with a 3.60 ERA in the 2014 regular season. He was also dominant in playoff and tournament games, going 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA in eight games started. Helping Cobb will be the 2014 BL Master Batter Award winner, Mark Teixeira. In 2014, Teixeira batted .311 with 44 home runs and 119 RBI. He’s joined by formidable stars, RF Dominic Brown and 3B Kevin Youkilis. 

 

The Flyers are expecting to start Tommy Hanson on the mound. In 2014, he posted a 7-9 record with an impressive 2.33 ERA (4th best in the BL). He’s not considered a star pitcher, though run support was the key problem going against him in 2014. Still, he’ll need to be good versus the Blizzard. The biggest offensive weapon for the Flyers is catcher Buster Posey, the star of the first round. 

 

Charlotte is not expected to do much in the AL this season, and may very well find themselves in the basement and relegated in 2015. They get their first chance today, though we’re going to predict a Minneapolis win going away. 

 

Other Games on Day Two

 

 

I notice that the game doesn't know that NOON = PM, not AM. I just went in an edited the schedule to start the game at a different time because 12:05 becomes 1:05 AM each and every time. Guh....

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Second Qualifying Round

 

Tuesday, February 10 games

 

Featured Game

#19 Charlotte 5 vs #14 Minneapolis 9 at Phoenix, Arizona

Notes: Minneapolis scored the final four runs after the Flyers tied the game, 5-5, in the top of the seventh….CF Ron Mansvelt of the Blizzard was the game’s MVP, going 3 of 4 with a double, two runs, three RBI, and a walk….1B Mark Teixeira added another three RBI for Minneapolis on a solo home run in the seventh and a bases loaded double that scored two in the eighth. He was 2 for 5 on the day….The Flyers’ top offensive performer was C Buster Posey. He was 4 for 5, including hitting a two-run home run in the first inning to give Charlotte a 2-0 lead at the time. Posey finished with just one run scored and two RBI, meaning he was stranded on each of his three singles….The Blizzard’s RF Dominic Brown and Charlotte’s RF Orlando Infante each hit solo home runs in the game….Minneapolis reliever Ramon R. Ramirez was the winning pitcher by cleaning up starter Alex Cobb’s seventh inning mess. Cobb was unable to retire a batter in the seventh when the Flyers tied the game. Cobb finished with five earned runs on nine hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in six innings pitched….Charlotte SP Tommy Hanson did not fare well either, despite the no decision. In four innings, he allowed four earned runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Robbie Ross gave up the go-ahead home run in the seventh to earn the loss. Adam Wainwright was responsible for the three runs scored in the eighth inning for an 81.00 ERA. 

 

Game of the Day

New Mexico 4 vs Montreal 5 at Miami, Florida

Notes: Player of the Game, Montreal RF Jesus Gomez, hit the game-tying HR in the 8th. He finished 2 of 4 with a HR, R, and 2 RBI….The Suns’ Travis Wood had a good game up until the 8th inning. He gave up 4 ER on 7 H with 4 K in 8 IP. Cody Allen suffered the loss after giving up the GW HR to the first batter he faced, SS Jorge Rodriguez….1B Prince Fielder led the way for New Mexico, going 3 for 5 with 2 2B, R, RBI. CF A.J. Pollock also went 3 for 5 with a run….RF Wil Myers hit a 3-run HR in the 2nd to cap off the Suns’ 4-run 1st inning. 

 

Close Call Game

#33 St. Louis 1 at #1 San Diego 3, 12 innings

Notes: Catcher Josh Donaldson hit a walkoff two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to help the #1 seed Slammers escape a huge upset….San Diego SP Jose Fernandez pitched six shutout innings in the no decision. Homer Bailey, who pitched two shutout innings in extra innings, got the win….The Lions’ sole run came in the 8th inning. C Alberto Vasquez doubled. Two batters later, RF Eric Thames sacrificed him in off reliever Taylor Tankersley….Vasquez was 3 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. 3B Will Middlebrooks also went 3 for 5 for St. Louis….Lions’ SP Ian Sato gave up one earned run on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout in seven innings. Dustin McGowan suffered the loss for the Lions….Slammers’ CF Jose Marquez led off the game with a solo home run. 

 

Upset of the Day

#31 Seattle 3 at #2 Cincinnati 2

Notes: Ports’ 2B Scooter Gennett hit a solo home run off Cincinnati relief pitcher Andrew Russell for the game-winning home run in the ninth….All three of Seattle’s runs were on solo home runs. LF Knile Davis and 1B Brett Wallace hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning….SP Scott Diamond did not allow a run in seven innings. Jake Petricka, who retired the last batter of the 8th inning after allowing the game-tying run to score, earned the win. Andrew Bailey pitched the ninth for the save….Cyclones’ SP Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up two earned runs—both home runs—on three hits with eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings….Cincinnati leadoff hitter CF Leonys Martin was the leading hitter, going 2 for 4 with a double, a run, and an RBI. He doubled in SS Jesus Vigil for the Cyclones’ first run in the 8th and scored on C Pablo Sandoval’s RBI single. 

 

Upset of the Day 2

#47 Boston 3 vs #15 Brooklyn 1 at Cincinnati

Notes: The top two seeds in the Cincinnati bracket are now off to the losers bracket…Hawks’ RF Alexis Rios earned player of the game honors by going 2 for 3 with a three-run home run in the eighth inning….Boston SP Octavio Fernandez allowed one earned run on just two hits with five walks and three strikeouts in six innings. Angel Villanueva earned the win. T.J. McFarland got the save….Shaun Marcum was the losing pitcher for the Avengers, allowing three earned runs on two hits and a walk. He only faced three batter before he allowed the game-winning home run and was pulled….SP Stephen Strasburg did not allow a run on six hits with five walks and six strikeouts in 6.1 IP….The game featured 13 hits and 13 walks. Brooklyn walked twice as many times as it hit, 6 to 3. 

 

 

Other scores: 

 

#36 Cleveland 4 at #4 Miami 6

Player of the Game: 2B Jedd Gyorko, Miami, 3/4, GS, R, 5 RBI

 

#37 San Antonio 2 at #5 Virginia Beach 8

Player of the Game: LF Carl Crawford, Virginia Beach, 3/4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

 

#38 Orlando 0 at #6 Dallas 6

Player of the Game: SP Jordan Zimmerman, Dallas, 8.1 IP, 6 H, BB, 6 K; 2/4, 2B, R

 

#23 Buffalo 3 vs #10 Los Angeles 11 at Nashville, Tennessee

Player of the Game: RF Mitch Moreland, Los Angeles, 3/4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB

 

#41 Baltimore 5 vs #9 Kansas City 7 at Detroit, Michigan

Player of the Game: C Taylor Teagarden, Kansas City, 2/4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI

 

#30 Bronx 1 at #3 Phoenix 3

Player of the Game: SP Vance Worley, Phoenix, 8 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 9 K

 

#25 Denver 8 at #8 Detroit 3

Player of the Game: SP Danny Duffy, Denver, 7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 6 K; 1/3 2 RBI

 

#22 Houston 6 vs #11 Austin 1 at Dallas

Player of the Game: SP Oliver Perez, Houston, 8 IP, 4 H, ER, 4 BB, 6 K

 

#44 Vancouver 1 vs #12 New Orleans 8 at Virginia Beach

Player of the Game: SP Jon Lester, New Orleans, 7 IP, 7 H, ER, BB, 4 K; 1/2, HR, R, 2 RBI

 

#26 Washington 3 at #7 Nashville 4

Player of the Game: RF Bryce Harper, Nashville, 2/4, HR, R, 2 RBI

 

#16 Oakland 4 vs #17 San Francisco 2

Player of the Game: SP Tim Lincecum, Oakland, 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 10 K; 0/2, R, BB

Note: I screwed up the scheduling of this game. Oakland should have been the home team. However, what’s done is done. So, let’s say that Oakland “chose” to be the away team in this game to try out some strategies they have for the 2015 season. 

 

 

Top Players of the Day

 

 

Updated Winners Bracket

 

Updated Losers Bracket

[Chris 271]

Sorry any posts from today have to come back. I restored from 4am to fix a big issue with forum registration, php and apache server.

[StLee 19]

OK. I'm double posting them, so it's no problem to go and grab them. 

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - First Elimination Round

 

Wednesday, February 11 games

Home team is team that lost in Second Qualifying Round

Road team is team that lost in First Qualifying Round

 

Game of the Day

#28 Philadelphia 9 at #8 Detroit 6, 10 innings

Notes: With the loss, Detroit is eliminated from the 2015 Spring Bowl, marking a quick exit for the #8 seed....2B Cho-rin "Chucky" Lee was named the game's MVP for the Liberty. He went 3 for 4 with a double, a home run, three runs scored, two RBI, and a walk....Teammate Yeow-whye Chung, also a Korean, went 3 for 5 with a home run, three runs, and two RBI....Philadelphia PH Jean-Jacques Lalanne, a 2015 rookie, hit a two-RBI double in the 10th inning to help secure the three-run win....CF/RF Jesus Lopes of the Wolverines led the team in hits with three....RF Luis Franco's two-run home run served as Detroit's only extra-base hit and helped Franco lead the team in RBI with two....Reliever Micky Storey was the winning pitcher for the Liberty, allowing one unearned run on one hit with a walk and a strikeout in two innings....Ian Kennedy started the game for Philadelphia. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout....Detroit starter Carlos Zambrano had a miserable day. In 2.2 innings, he gave up five earned runs on six hits with one strikeout....Pedro Beato was the losing pitcher for the Wolverines after allowing two earned runs on one hit with two walks and a strikeout in one full inning. He gave up the first two runs of the tenth inning with no outs before being pulled for Brandon Workman, who was the pitcher who gave up Lalanne's double.

 

 

Upset of the Day

#30 Honolulu 4 at #2 Cincinnati 0

Notes: The second overall seed and last season's Diamond Trophy winners made a quick exit, going 0-2 in the Spring Bowl. The Cyclones are now eliminated....Honolulu's Patrick Corbin was the game's MVP, going eight full innings, while allowing four hits, walking two batters, and striking out three....Cincinnati's Frederico Olsen was the losing pitcher. In seven innings, he allowed one earned run on five hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts....Cyclones' reliever Joakim Soria gave up the final three runs to the Tropics....LF Nick Markakis both led the Cyclones in hits (two) and had their only extra-base hit (double). Only two other players had a hit in the game....RF Victor Diaz led the Tropics in hits with two....1B Adam LaRoche and SS Higino Branco each had solo home runs....PH Bernardo Perez hit a two-RBI double in the 9th. 

 

Other Scores - Road Warriors!

 

#29 Chicago 10 at #33 St. Louis 3 - St. Louis eliminated

Player of the Game: SS Brian Dozier, Chicago, 2/2 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

 

#45 Las Vegas 4 at #17 San Francisco 2 - San Francisco eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Adrian Alba, Las Vegas, 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

 

#21 Milwaukee 4 at #41 Baltimore 3 - Baltimore eliminated

Player of the Game: 1B Eric Hosmer, Milwaukee, 2/4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB

 

#32 Tampa 8 at #36 Cleveland 6, 10 innings - Cleveland eliminated

Player of the Game: RF Tyrone Bradley, Tampa, 3/5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

 

#48 Indianapolis 9 at #20 New Mexico 4 - New Mexico eliminated

Player of the Game: 1B Josh Boase, Indianapolis, 2/3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

 

#24 Toronto 5 at #44 Vancouver 3 - Vancouver eliminated

Player of the Game: 3B Stephen Lombardozzi, Toronto, 5/5, 2B, R, RBI

 

#40 Mexico City 4 at #37 San Antonio 5 - Mexico City eliminated

Player of the Game: CF Austin Jackson, Mexico City, 3/5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

 

#46 Louisville 3 at #15 Brooklyn 0 - Brooklyn eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Firhoun Murmaba, Louisville, 7.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K

 

#43 Oklahoma City 2 at #23 Buffalo 0 - Buffalo eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Francisco Mats, Oklahoma City, 8 IP, 6 H, BB, 2 K

 

#27 Utah 7 at #26 Washington 4 - Washington eliminated

Player of the Game: PH Shou-xin Lung, Utah, 1/1, GS, R, 4 RBI

 

#34 Portland 8 at #35 Bronx 1 - Bronx eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Mat Latos, Portland, 8 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 8 K

 

#18 Memphis 2 at #19 Charlotte 5 - Memphis eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Aaron Poreda, Charlotte, 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 3 BB, 4 K; 1/1, R, RBI

 

#42 Pittsburgh 4 at #11 Austin 11 - Pittsburgh eliminated

Player of the Game: 3B Antonio Rivera, Austin, 5/5, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI

 

#39 Atlanta 7 at #38 Orlando 2 - Orlando eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Paul Maholm, Atlanta, 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, K

 

Top Performers

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl

 

Updated Losers Bracket

 

These will be the match ups heading into the Second Elimination Round

 

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - February 13 Previews

 

A quick peek at the games ahead: 

 

I don't feel like doing a full preview post, so I just wanted to point out a couple of interesting match ups in the next round of games. 

 

Losers Bracket Second Elimination Round 

 

*I'll try to keep my eye on the 1-2 Korean punch in Philadelphia, along with the rookie Lalanne. I love the double French names. Jean-Jacques in this case. The Liberty travel to 21st seed Milwaukee

 

* I'm curious to see how Honolulu does just one day after knocking off Cincinnati. Here is an example of an impractical game in reality. The Tropics were at Cincinnati. Their opponent, Louisville, was at Brooklyn. Both teams then have to make a very long flight to meet in Honolulu for a game. In real life, they would probably go to Louisville with the Tropics acting as the home team. Whatever. In my world, fast travel is a reality. Too bad that isn't true in real life. My trips to visit family in the States are painfully long, especially with young kids.

 

* Oklahoma City is one of my favorite teams in the league because of their uniforms. I'm curious to see how they fare against a good offensive team in Utah. 

 

* Austin is one of the teams I'm going to watch more of in 2015, especially after they signed 3B Antonio Rivera, one of the stars of the CBA. I don't know that the Savage have a whole lot around Rivera, but they should handle Atlanta.

 

Winners Bracket - Bracket Championships

 

There were eight host cities to the Winners Bracket. While six of the eight games will feature the home team, two will not. Including....

 

* #47 Boston vs #31 Seattle at Cincinnati

Too bad this game could not have been hosted by Phoenix! Then it would be eerily similar to this year's Super Bowl! :friday: This game has the last two of the Omega League teams in the Winners Bracket. One team will move on to the Elite 8, while the other will have to battle its way out of the Losers Bracket for a chance at greatness. 

 

* The Battle for Texas was supposed to be between Dallas and Austin. Instead we get Dallas and Houston. The Bulls were once a successful team in the CBA, but have since fallen on hard times. Winning in Dallas could help to rebuild their confidence. 

 

* #12 New Orleans at #5 Virginia Beach

New Orleans is my hometown team, so I am always pulling for them. I really loved that they went out and tried to grab some quality players to move themselves back up into the Alpha League after having a poor season last year. Troy Tulowitzki is one of the best players in the CBA, so he is worth keeping an eye on. 

 

* #13 Montreal at #4 Miami

These two teams faced off in the Quarterfinals of the 2014 Tournament if Champions, with the Saints pulling off the upset. In this one-off game, it will be interesting to see if the Towers can revenge their disappointment from a year ago, having lost in the Diamond Trophy final series and losing their first round series in the Tournament of Champions.

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Second Elimination Round

 

Thursday, February 12 

 

Losers Bracket – Second Elimination Round

 

Game of the Day

#34 Portland 5 at #19 Charlotte 4

Notes: Charlotte becomes the third AL team, after #2 Cincinnati and #15 Brooklyn, to exit from the Spring Bowl….Portland suffered a huge blow in the game when star LF Brandon Belt was injured. It looks to be a severe shoulder injury, which may last into the regular season….The Pioneers’ RF Teofilo Alonza tripled in the ninth inning and then scored on CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ RBI single for the game-winning run. Nieuwenheis was traded to Portland from New Mexico in the off season. Thanks to his game-winning RBI, along with a 2 for 5 performance with a double, Nieuwenhuis was named the game’s MVP….The Flyers’ Adam Wainwright was responsible for allowing the winning run to score, giving him the loss for the game….Charlotte SP Ramon Leyva allowed four earned runs on five hits with six walks and three strikeouts in six innings….Jose Villa was the starter for Portland. In 7.1 innings pitched, he allowed four earned runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts….Wesley Wright pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowing just a hit, to earn the win. Aaron Loup shut down Charlotte in the ninth to earn the save….1B Matt Adams was the Flyers’ top performer, going 2 for 3 with a double, a run, and an RBI. 

 

Upset of the Day

#39 Atlanta 7 at #11 Austin 4

Notes: Austin was eliminated with the loss. They are the second highest seeded team after #2 Cincinnati to be eliminated from the Spring Bowl….This was a tough game to pick a top player, but the vote goes to SS Mike Aviles of Atlanta. He went 2 for 4 with two runs, an RBI, and a walk….C Ryan Lavarnway had the Blazers’ only extra-base hit of the game, a double. The other seven hits were singles….Savage 1B Miguel Ontiveros was the most successful player at the plate. He was 2 for 5 with a home run, run, and two RBI….Atlanta SP Jo-Jo Reyes allowed four earned runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in four innings. Aneury Rodriguez was the winning pitcher, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two in one inning of work. Sergio Romo had a rocky ninth inning, giving up three singles to load the bases before retiring the last batter for the save….Habrao Caraa was the losing pitcher for Austin, allowing seven earned runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 4.1 innings.  

 

Other Scores

 

#45 Las Vegas 6 at #29 Chicago 5, 12 innings – Chicago eliminated

Player of the Game: 1B Javier Ortiz, Chicago, 3/6, HR, R, 2 RBI

 

#28 Philadelphia 4 at #21 Milwaukee 2 – Milwaukee eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Brandon Duckworth, Philadelphia, 8 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

 

#48 Indianapolis 3 at #32 Tampa 4, 10 innings – Indianapolis eliminated

Player of the Game: SS Andrelton Simmons, Tampa, 2/5, 2B, R, 2 RBI

 

#37 San Antonio 2 at #24 Toronto 5 – San Antonio eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Xavier Rivera, Toronto, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

 

#46 Louisville 2 at #30 Honolulu 3 – Louisville eliminated

Player of the Game: CF Josh Hamilton, Honolulu, 2/4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

 

#43 Oklahoma City 2 at #27 Utah 15 – Oklahoma City eliminated

Player of the Game: C Tom Holz, Utah, 3/6, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Host Bracket Finals

 

Thursday, February 12 games

 

Winners Bracket – Bracket Finals

Played at host stadium

 

Game of the Day

#12 New Orleans 1 at #5 Virginia Beach 2, 11 innings

Notes: CF Carlos Gonzalez hit a one-out solo walkoff home run in the 11th to win the game for the Neptunes….Virginia Beach SP Joham Cari pitched eight scoreless innings before being pulled in the ninth and being responsible for the tying run in the top of the ninth. He finished as the game’s top player, allowing one earned run on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 8.1 innings….Taylor Jordan earned the win for the Neptunes by pitching a perfect 11th inning before the game-winning run….The Gators scored the tying run when C Salvador Perez hit a two-on, one-out RBI double to score PH Robinson Cano from second. RF Carlos Quentin was forced to stop at third, where he remained after 1B Ike Davis hit into a bases-loaded 5-2-3 double play to end the inning….Jose Arredondo was the losing pitcher for New Orleans, allowing the game-winning homer….David Purcey got the start for New Orleans. In 6.2 innings, he allowed an earned run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts….Virginia Beach’s first run was scored on 1B Mike J. Jacobs’ solo home run in the 4th inning. 

 

Upset of the Day

#16 Oakland 3 at #1 San Diego 2

Notes: This was one of only three games in the Winners Bracket where a lower seed won, so this was the obvious pick with no huge upsets….Gorillas’ LF Ryan Ludwick was the game’s MVP, going 3 for 4, including driving in what turned out to be the game-winning RBI on a single in the sixth inning….San Diego’s leadoff hitter CF Jose Marquex had half of the team’s hits on the day, going 4 for 4 with a double and an RBI….One of the great names in the CBA, Boof Bonser, was the winning pitcher for Oakland. He allowed two earned runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in seven innings. Mark Rogers earned the save….Cole Hamels suffered the loss for the Slammers, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings….San Diego C Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run. 

 

Other Scores

 

#25 Denver 4 vs #9 Kansas City 6 at Detroit

Player of the Game: LF Robbie Grossman, Kansas City, 5/5, 2 R

 

#13 Montreal 3 at #4 Miami 10

Player of the Game: CF Andrew McCutchen, Miami, 3/4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB

 

#47 Boston 4 vs #31 Seattle 5 at Cincinnati

Player of the Game: C Jonathan Lucroy, Seattle, 2/4, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB

 

#10 Los Angeles 9 at #7 Nashville 1

Player of the Game: 1B David Cooper, Los Angeles, 3/4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB

 

#14 Minneapolis 12 at #3 Phoenix 7

Player of the Game: LF Angel Pagan, Minneapolis, 3/4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

 

#22 Houston 1 at #6 Dallas 10

Player of the Game: LF Yonder Alonso, Dallas, 4/5, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI

 

Top Players

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Updated Brackets

 

Winners Bracket

 

Losers Bracket

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Third Elimination Round

 

Friday, February 13 games

 

Game of the Day

#27 Utah 4 at #25 Denver 6 - Utah eliminated

Notes: SS Yuniesky Betancourt got the player of the game nod thanks to his part in the Peaks' come-from-behind win. He finished the game 2 of 4 with a double, two runs scored, and a run batted in. He hit an RBI double and later scored the tying run in the decisive sixth inning....Denver SP Tim Stauffer was chased early in the no decision. In two innings, he allowed four earned runs on six hits. Five Denver relievers then combined to only allow one hit, give up four walks and strike out six batters in the final seven innings. MR David Huff was credited with the win, pitching 2.2 hitless innings, while striking out one. Craig Kimbrel earned the save by pitching a perfect ninth with two strikeouts....The Mustangs' Jose Quintana suffered the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on 11 hits with two walks and two striekouts in 5.2 innings. Dan Otero pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing only one hit....LF Matt Holliday and SS Chance O'Rourke each had two hits for Utah, including a double each. Holliday drove in a run, while O'Rourke scored a run....Quintana led the Mustangs in RBI thanks to his two-RBI single in the second inning....CF Ezequiel Carrera, 1B Ruben Amaro, and RF Victor Ledesma all had two hits for the Peaks....LF Benny Watson led off the sixth inning with a triple for the Peaks, scoring soon after on Betancourt's double. 

 

Upset of the Day

#30 Honolulu 6 at #1 San Diego 1 - San Diego eliminated

Notes: The Tropics took a first-inning lead and led throughout the game in knocking off now the top two seeds in the 2015 Spring Bowl, including this gutty win at San Diego....Honolulu C Adrian Maldonado was the Game MVP thanks to his 3 of 4 effort with a double, run, and four RBI. His double was a bases-loaded, 3 RBI effort in the eighth that put the game away....Five different Slammers combined for their five hits. Their only extra-base hit came from 1B Jose Galvan who doubled. He also walked three times and drove in San Diego's lone run....There were a combined 28 strikeouts in the game!!! Nine players struck out at least two times, including the Tropics' LF Elijah Dukes who struck out three times....Honolulu SP Albert Martinez got the win by allowing just one earned run on two hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in six innings....Slammers' SP Hyun-jin Ryu allowed two earned runs on eight hits with 11 strikeouts in seven innings in a losing effort. Neftali Feliz was responsible for the four runs allowed in the eighth inning. 

 

Other Scores

 

#45 Las Vegas 7 at #47 Boston 4 - Boston eliminated

Player of the Game: 2B D.J. LeMahieu, Las Vegas, 2/5, 3 RBI

 

#28 Philadelphia 2 at #7 Nashville 7 - Philadelphia eliminated

Player of the Game: RF Bryce Harper, Nashville, 2/3, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB

 

#32 Tampa 7 at #3 Phoenix 3 - Phoenix eliminated

Player of the Game: RF Tyrone Bradley, Tampa, 2/4, HR, 2 R, RBI

 

#24 Toronto 12 at #22 Houston 4 - Houston eliminated

Player of the Game: 3B Stephen Lombardozzi, Toronto, 3/3, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB

 

#34 Portland 1 at #13 Montreal 2  - Portland eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Ricky Romero, Montreal, 8 IP, 6 H, ER, 4 BB, 4 K; 0/2, R, BB

 

#39 Atlanta 10 at #12 New Orleans 4 - New Orleans eliminated

Player of the Game: 2B Danny Espinosa, Atlanta, 5/5, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

 

Top Players

 

Updated Losers Bracket

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - 4th Elimination Round and Elite 8

 

Saturday, February 14 games

 

Winners Bracket Game of the Day

#5 Virginia Beach 0 at #4 Miami 1, 10 innings

Notes: This game turned out to be the slug fest people wanted, well, except fans of heavy offense, that is....LF Ben Broussard's solo walkoff home run to lead off the bottom of tenth gave the Tropics the victory and a guarantee to be in the final six on the 2015 Spring Bowl....MR Kenley Jansen was the losing pitcher for the Neptunes. He pitched a perfect ninth inning before the unfortunate 10th inning happened, giving him an official line of 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER....Despite not factoring into the final and pitching on the losing team, Virginia Beach's Pedro Valdez was named the game's most valuable player. In seven innings, he allowed four hits, walked three, and struck out two. Taylor Jordan pitched the eighth....Miami's Matt Harrison was the starter but had to leave after four innings due to back soreness. He should be day-to-day for the next week, meaning he may have seen his last action in the Spring Bowl.In four innings, he allowed two hits and struck out five batters....Andy Sisco, who pitched the final two innings, was the winning pitcher. He allowed two walks and struck out two batters. Duane Below and Randor Bierd pitched the middle four innings. Below allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out a batter in his two innings. Bierd only allowed one base runner on a walk in his two innings....The Neptunes did not get a hit in the last four innings....Five players on the Neptunes had a hit apiece, all singles....The same number of players had a hit apiece for Miami. However, in addition to Broussard's game-winning blast, C Joe Mauer doubled in the fourth. 

 

Losers Bracket Game of the Day

#30 Honolulu 2 at #25 Denver 3, 14 innings - Honolulu eliminated

Notes: With one out in the bottom of the 14th, the Peaks started their push. C Paco Velazquez, RF Benny Watson, and 2B Donald Woolhouse all singled to load the bases. The Tropics then inserted Curtis Partch to try to end the jam. PH Derrick Robinson then lined out to left field, causing Velazquez to break for home. Elijah Duke's throw went wild, allowing Velazquez to score the game-winning run....Honolulu RF Victor Diaz had a historically bad day, striking out five times in six at bats. After a guy's fourth strikeout, you have to pull him. Right?...Here is another game where the PotG was not a home run, but I'll just keep it because I'm not sure who else to pick. So, the player of the game was...SP Francisco Liriano, Denver. 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 11 K. Also, he was 1 for 2 at the plate with a run scored....Three Denver players had two hits apiece. C Jorge Amaya and 3B Aramis Ramirez each doubled for the Peaks' only extra-base hits....Tropics 1B Adam LaRoche and C Adrian Maldonado were the only players to have two hits. Both player also doubled once, along with CF Josh Hamilton. Hamilton's double in the seventh drove in both Tropics' runs....Roy Oswalt was the starter for Honolulu. In eight innings, he allowed two earned runs on seven hits with three striekouts....Chad Bettis was the losing pitcher for the Tropics, allowing the bases to be be loaded in the 14th. In 1.1 innings, he allowed five hits, one earned run, and a walk, and he struck out a batter....Kris Benson earned the win for the Peaks by pitching the top of the 14th.

 

Upset of the Day

#31 Seattle 5 at #10 Los Angeles 3, 15 innings

Notes: With one out in the top of the 15th, Julio Moreno singled on reliever Randall Delgado of the Actors. Moreno then attempted a steal and was able to advance to third on C Victor Martinez's erroneous throw. C Jonathan Lucroy then doubled in Moreno and later scored on Mike Morse's two-out single....Despite what OOTP is telling me, I am naming Lucroy the player of the game. He finished 3 of 7 with two doubles, a run, and an RBI. His hit in the 15th was the difference in the game, thus his nod over a no-decision pitcher who gave up three runs. Frankly, I need to quit looking at who is selected as Player of the Game by OOTP....LF Khris Davis also had three hits in seven at bats for the Ports. He doubled and scored a run....3B Mike Gunther led LA in hits, going 3 for 6 with a double....RF Mitch Moreland was the best hitter for the Actors, going 2 for 6 with a double, a home run, a run scored, and two runs batted in....Jake Diekman earned the win for Seattle. He allowed just one hit, while walking one and striking out one in 1.2 innings. Josh Beckett was the starting pitcher. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in eight innings....Jerome Williams was the starter for Los Angeles. In eight innings, he allowed three earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts. 

 

Other Scores

 

#45 Las Vegas 4 at #7 Nashville 5 - Las Vegas eliminated

Player of the Game: 1B Dayan Viciedo, Las Vegas, 3/4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI

 

#32 Tampa 1 at #24 Toronto 2 - Tampa eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Pjotr Mansvelt, Toronto, 7 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Overruled the PotG being the losing pitcher who gave up one more run than the winning pitcher but had better BB/K numbers. 

 

#39 Atlanta 1 at #13 Montreal 2, 10 innings - Atlanta eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Kunihiko Samurakami, Montreal, 6.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 8 K; Injured, thus his early exit. 

 

#16 Oakland 2 at #9 Kansas City 4

Player of the Game: SP Drew Pomeranz, Kansas City, 7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 BB, 8 K; 1/1, R, 2 BB

Notes: Gorillas' pinch hitter Brad Hawpe hit a two-run home run for the only Oakland runs. 

 

#14 Minneapolis 4 at #6 Dallas 5

Player of the Game: 1B Mark Teixeira, Minneapolis, 4/5, 2 2B, HR, R, RBI

Notes: Definitely a case of a guy having a hot game but no other player around him doing a thing to turn that game into multiple runs....RF Jason Heyward hit a three-run home run for the Tycoons in their four-run fourth inning.  

 

Top Players

 

My better list:

1. 1B Mark Teixeira, Minneapolis 

2. 1B Dayan Viciedo, Las Vegas

 

3. SP Drew Pomeranz, Kansas City

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Updated Brackets

 

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Fifth Elimination Round

 

Sunday, February 15 games

 

Featured Game

#13 Montreal 13 at #14 Minneapolis 5 - Minneapolis eliminated

Notes: This was a rematch of last season's Beta League pennant race, where both teams tied atop the division....The Saints surged ahead from a 5-3 deficit in the sixth to tie the game. They then scored four runs each in the seventh and eighth innings to pull away from their rival....Montreal 1B Kole Calhoun was the MVP, going 2 of 4 with two home runs, two runs, four RBI, and a walk....Four other Saints had multiple hits, including 3B Eric Sogard who went 3 of 5 with a double and three RBI....Eight of the Saints' 14 hits were for extra bases: four doubles and four homers....1B Mark Teixeira had yet another big game for the Blizzard. He was 2 for 4 with two home runs, two runs, four RBI and a walk. His numbers matched Calhoun's, but Calhoun got the nod due to his team's victory....RF Domonic Brown had the other extra base hit for Minneapolis, a double. He finished with a team-leading three hits and two runs scored....Neither starting pitcher pitched well in the no decision. Montreal's Matt Cain allowed five earned runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 4.1 innings. The Neptunes' Alex Cobb gave up five earned runs on seven hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 5.2 innings....Jeremy Horst was the winning pitcher, his second victory in the Spring Bowl. He gave up two hits, walked a batter, and struck out one in two innings....Ramon S. Ramirez was the losing pitcher, allowing four earned runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in just 2/3 of an inning. He gave up what turned out to be the game-winning RBI single by Montreal 2B Ian Kinsler before SS Jorge Rodriguez hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning....Kinsler was the other Saints player to homer. 

 

Other Games

#7 Nashville 14 at #16 Oakland 4 - Oakland eliminated

Player of the Game: LF Brandon Moss, Nashville, 3/5, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI

Notes: The Country scored eight runs in the top of the first off Oakland starter Hector Romero....Romero suffered the loss, allowing eight runs, six earned, on four hits with three walks without retiring a single batter....SP Aaron Berg of Nashville had to leave the game in the bottom of the first with a strained triceps, which could linger into the regular season. 

 

#24 Toronto 6 at #5 Virginia Beach 10 - Toronto eliminated

Player of the Game: LF Preston Wilson, Virginia Beach, 2/4, GS, R, 4 RBI

Notes: Wilson's grand slam in the third inning put the Neptunes up 4-2 at the time....The Thunderbirds tied the game, 5-5 in the top of the fifth, but Virginia Beach answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good....Toronto RF Brennan Boesch was 3 for 5 with two runs and three RBI....Neither starting pitcher--Yu Darvish (Toronto) or Juan Saenz (Virginia Beach)--had a decision in the game. 

 

#25 Denver 1 at #10 Los Angeles 12 - Denver eliminated

Player of the Game: SP Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles, 7 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 6 K; 1/3, HR, R, 2 RBI

Notes: RF Mitch Moreland was 4 for 5, all singles, with two runs and two RBI for the Actors....Jordan Lyles suffered the loss for the Peaks. He allowed four runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout in four innings....The Peaks managed just three singles in the game....Of the Actors' 18 hits, 14 were singles. 

 

Top Players

 

Updated Losers Bracket

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - The Last Eight

 

The Spring Bowl is down to eight teams, with four of the top eight seeds still alive. Of course that will change to three alive when Nashville and Virginia Beach meet in the next elimination round. 

 

Of the eight teams left, who do you think has the best shot? 

 

The undefeated:

 

#4 Miami (3-0)

Beat #36 Cleveland, 6-4

Beat #13 Montreal, 10-3

Beat #5 Virginia Beach, 1-0, 10 inn.

 

#6 Dallas (3-0)

Beat #38 Orlando, 6-0

Beat #22 Houston, 10-1

Beat #14 Minneapolis, 5-4

 

#9 Kansas City (3-0)

Beat #41 Baltimore, 7-5

Beat #25 Denver, 6-4

Beat #16 Oakland, 4-2

 

#31 Seattle (4-0)

Beat #34 Portland, 4-1

Beat #2 Cincinnati, 3-2

Beat #47 Boston, 5-4

Beat #10 Los Angeles, 5-3, 15 inn.

 

Fighting to stay alive:

 

# 5 Virginia Beach (3-1)

Beat #37 San Antonio, 8-2

Beat #12 New Orleans, 2-1, 11 inn.

Lost to #4 Miami, 1-0, 10 inn.

Beat #24 Toronto, 10-6

 

# 7 Nashville (4-1)

Beat #26 Washington, 4-3

Lost to #10 Los Angeles, 9-1

Beat #28 Philadelphia, 7-2

Beat #45 Las Vegas, 5-4

Beat #16 Oakland, 14-4

 

#10 Los Angeles (3-1)

Beat #23 Buffalo, 11-3

Beat #7 Nashville, 9-1

Lost to #31 Seattle, 5-3, 15 inn.

Beat #25 Denver 12-1

 

#13 Montreal (4-1)

Beat #20 New Mexico, 5-4

Lost to #4 Miami, 10-3

Beat #34 Portland, 2-1

Beat #39 Atlanta, 2-1, 10 inn.

Beat #14 Minneapolis, 13-5

Edited February 5, 2015 by StLee

[StLee 19]

No one made a prediction, so I'll give mine. Granted, I have the knowledge of already simming ahead, but I did have a prediction long ago. My thoughts were these: 

 

Once Miami came out of its host bracket unscathed, I thought they would win it all. That team is jampacked with talent, and they are tough to beat any given day, especially in a one-game situation. 

 

My other pick was made before I even started the tournament. I thought Los Angeles would lose to Nashville in the Nashville bracket, which they didn't, but they did get upset by Seattle. And then I expected them to tear through all the way to the final. 

 

So, of the final eight, my pick is Miami over Los Angeles for the Spring Bowl.

 

And now onto my report....

[StLee 19]

Spring Bowl - Winners Bracket Final Four

 

Monday, February 16 games

 

#9 Kansas City 2 at #4 Miami 4

Notes: Miami SP Madison Bumgarner dominated from the mound and the plate. In eight innings, he allowed just one earned run on four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. He also helped his own cause by going 2 for 3 at the plate with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and an RBI. He had two of the Towers’ three extra-base hits in the game….CF Andrew McCutchen had the other extra-base hit, a solo home run in the sixth inning….Four of the Sting’s five hits were extra-base hits. 1B Alex Gordon led the team in hits with two, both doubles. He also scored a run….C Taylor Teagarden hit a solo home run in the ninth for Kansas City….Sting SP Eichiro Murakami suffered the loss. In 5.1 innings pitched, he allowed three earned runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts….Kansas City LF Robbie Grossman entered the game with an outstanding .688 (11 of 16) batting average. After going hitless on the day, his batting average dropped to .550 in the tournament. Three of his four outs were strikeouts.

 

#31 Seattle 4 at #6 Dallas 5

 

Notes: With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Dallas PH Michael Saunders singled and then stole second base. Free agent acquisition Bento Podest, leading off and playing 1B in the game, then doubled in Saunders for the walkoff win….The Tycoons’ Jordan M. Zimmerman was named the game’s MVP thanks to a solid pitching effort. In eight innings, he allowed three runs, one earned, on six hits with nine strikeouts. However, Zimmerman did not factor into the decision….The winner of the game was closer Chris Sale, who blew the save in the top of the ninth when he allowed PH Tony Diaz to hit a solo home run to tie the game, 4-4….Scott Diamond was the starter for Seattle. In 8 innings, he allowed four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Reliever Andrew Bailey suffered the loss by giving up the ninth inning run….Ports’ C Jonathan Lucroy was the only player with two hits. He finished 2 of 5 with a run scored….Dallas C Mike Napoli’s eighth inning solo home run seemed to be the game winner at the time, putting the Tycoons up, 4-3. He finished with a game best 2 for 4 with a home run, two runs, and two RBI. Podest also had two hits….RF Jason Heyward drove in two runs on a single in Dallas’ three-run first inning. 

 

Top Players

 

Updated Winners Bracket

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Sixth Elimination Round

 

Tuesday, February 17 games

 

#13 Montreal 3 at #10 Los Angeles 4, 12 innings – Montreal eliminated

Notes: Los Angeles 3B Mike Gunther’s 12th-inning solo shot was good for the walkoff game winner to advance the Actors in the 2015 Spring Bowl. His homer came on a 3-1 Bill Bray fastball that he was able to put into the left field seats….Actors’ RF Mitch Moreland was the top player in the game, going 2 for 5 with a home run (his third of the Spring Bowl), two runs scored, and an RBI….Saints’ CF Drew Stubbs had a miserable game. After he doubled in his first at bat, he proceeded to strike out his next five at bats to tie the Alpha League tournament record for strikeouts in a game….Montreal C Wilson Ramos led the team in hits with three. He finished 3 of 4 with a double, run, RBI, and walk….SS Jorge Rodriguez also had three hits, going 3 of 5 with an RBI….LA pitcher Adam Russell was the winner despite not having a great final two innings. In that time, he allowed three hits, walked a batter, and struck out two….Carlos Cuevas was the starter for the Actors. In 6.2 innings, he allowed two earned runs on seven hits with three walks and eight strikeouts….On the opposite side, the Saints’ SP Francisco Fierro matched up well. He gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts in seven innings. He was not as good at the plate, though, striking out all three times he batted. 

 

#7 Nashville 1 at #5 Virginia Beach 3 – Nashville eliminated

Notes: Virginia Beach SP Wietze Weijman mowed down the competition, allowing one earned run on five hits with a walk and a team-record 12 strikeouts in 7.1 innings. That earned him the win and player of the game honors….The Country’s Juan Nicasio suffered the loss by allowing three earned runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts in seven innings….The Neptunes’ 2B Kyle Seager was the best offensively, earning a third of his team’s hits. He finished 2 of 4 with a home run, run, and two RBI. His third inning two-run homer proved to be the game winner….Nashville RF Bryce Harper saw his amazing 2015 Spring Bowl run come to an end, despite finding the holes in the opponent’s defense yet again. Though no Country player had an extra-base hit, Harper was 3 of 4 with an RBI to lead the team. In six games in the tournament, Harper finished 10 of 23 (.435) with a double, three home runs, five runs, nine runs batted in, two walks, and six strikeouts. He may very well find himself on the all-tournament team.

 

Top Players

 

Updated Losers Bracket

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Seventh Elimination Round

 

Wednesday, February 18 games

 

#10 Los Angeles 5 at #9 Kansas City 6 – Los Angeles eliminated

Notes: Brandon Mauer pitched an outstanding game and the Sting bullpen stamped out an Actor’s ninth-inning onslaught to win it and move on to the final four teams of the 2015 Spring Bowl….Mauer allowed one unearned run on three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings. He also was 1 for 3 at the plate with a run scored….Los Angeles was stung by the loss of starting pitcher Zach Wheeler who was forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury after he completed the second inning. In two innings, he allowed a hit, walked one batter, and struck out two….Wheeler’s replacement, Chris Withrow gave up two earned runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in his only inning of work. He was the losing pitcher since Kansas City never trailed in the game. The Actors used six pitchers in the contest….The Sting’s Aroldis Chapman came on to earn the save after Chris Britton got into a bind, in all giving up four runs in the inning….For the Actors’ ninth, C Victor Martinez led off with a double, followed by Britton walking 3B Mike Gunther. After SS Nicolao Pvoas hit into a 5-4 fielder’s choice, 2B Daniel Descalso singled in Martinez to cut the KC lead to 6-2. PH Mike Zunino then hit an RBI single and every runner advanced on the throw to make it 6-3 with the tying run up to bat. Chapman then came on in relief. After getting CF Tony Morales out, PH Rodrigo Gallegos singled in Descalso and Zunino to cut the lead to one. However, 1B David Cooper hit an easy grounder to 2B Balltesar Jabiri to end the game….LF Robbie Grossman was the only Sting player with multiple hits. He was 2 for 3 with two doubles, three runs scored, and two walks….1B Alex Gordon hit a solo home run in the fifth for the Sting….No LA player had more than one hit. Gallegos’ ninth-inning, two-RBI single helped to lead the Actors in RBI. 

 

#5 Virginia Beach 4 at #31 Seattle 3, 13 innings – Seattle eliminated

Notes: The Neptunes rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the ninth inning, using the long ball to knock off the Pilots in 13 innings….C Devin Mesoraco hit the game-tying two-run home run with one out in the top of the ninth. CF Carlos Gonzalez then found his strength in the 13th inning when he hit a leadoff homer on reliever Daniel Schlereth…. Both Mesoraco and Gonzalez led Virginia Beach with two hits apiece….Seattle had four players with multiple hits. 2B S Gennett led the team with three hits. LF Khris Davis had two hits, including a solo home run in the seventh….Seattle pitcher Luis Silva was the game’s most valuable player despite his team’s loss. In eight innings, he allowed one unearned run on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.He was also 1 for 2 at the plate with a double, along with walking once….Virginia Beach SP Joham Cari gave up three earned runs on nine hits with two walks in 6.1 innings without a decision.  Taijuan Walker was the winner by pitching 1.2 scoreless innings along with two strikeouts. 

 

Top Players

 

Updated Losers Bracket

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Final Four

 

Thursday, February 19 games

 

#9 Kansas City 4 at #5 Virginia Beach 2 - Virginia Beach eliminated

Notes: Sting SP Jose Bernal pitched 6.1 solid innings and 3B Eric Chavez delivered a game-clinching two-run home run in the eighth inning to help secure the victory....Bernal finished up by allowing just one earned run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He then gave way to the bullpen after getting into a seventh-inning jam....The Neptunes' two runs came in the seventh and ninth innings....Chavez had the best all-around hitting day, going 2 of 4 with his homer, a run, and two RBI. CF Jacob Ellsbury also had two hits, going 2 of 3 with a run and a walk....Kansas City's Cape Verdean-born leadoff hitter Balltesar Jabiri only had one hit on the day, a solo home run in the seventh....Virginia Beach C Devin Mesoraco was the only player on his team with two hits. He finished 2 of 4 with a run scored....Neptunes' CF Carlos Gonzalez and 2B Kyle Seager each doubled for the Neptunes' only extra-base hits....Virginia Beach SP Pedro Cortez was the losing pitcher. In six innings, he allowed two earned runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Jeff Locke, who came on to pitch the eighth, allowed a hit to Ellsbury and then the homer to Chavez before being pulled....Chris Britton earned the save for the Sting despite not having a sturdy ninth. He allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout....Kansas City is now guaranteed at least third place in the 2015 Spring Bowl. 

 

 

#6 Dallas 1 at #4 Miami 9

Notes: The Towers used a huge seventh inning to surge past the Tycoons. Pinch hitter Sho Tsukamoto led off with a single on Dallas starter Jake Peavy. PH Alejando de Aza then singled. RF Mike Trout followed with an RBI double to put Miami up 2-1. C Joe Mauer then hit a two-RBI double to chase Peavy. Dallas then sent in Boone Logan to try to stop the Towers’ surge. After intentionally walking CF Andrew McCutchen, Logan allowed three straight singles to 1B Ben Broussard, 2B Jedd Gyorko, and LF Chris Carter. Gyorko and Carter’s singles were for an RBI each. With the bases loaded, Logan then threw a wild pitch to score Broussard and give Miami a 7-1 lead. SS Clint Barmes then hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the seventh and final run of the inning. Casimiro Begonha then came on in relief to end the inning….Peavy was the losing pitcher, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with five walks and five strikeouts in six complete innings. Logan was credited with allowing three earned runs on three hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning….John Danks got the start for Miami but had to leave in the third inning with a sore ankle. He is expected to be ready for other preseason games if needed. In 2.2 innings, he gave up three hits, walked one, and struck out two. Duane Below was the winning pitcher. After he allowed the tying run in the sixth, he was the pitcher on record during Miami’s big inning. In 1.2 innings, he allowed one earned run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts….Trout earned the Player of the Game award. He was 2 for 3 with a double, two runs scored, an RBI, and two walks….Mauer had the only other Towers’ extra-base hit, his seventh-inning double….SS Harvey Shipman led the Tycoons in hits with three, including a double. He scored Dallas’ only run….LF Yonder Alonso had two doubles for Dallas.   

 

Top Players

 

Updated Brackets

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Losers Bracket Final

 

Friday, February 20 game

 

#9 Kansas City 0 at #6 Dallas 5 - Kansas City eliminated

Notes: Dallas SP Ivan Nova pitched eight innings of shutout ball, allowing just three hits and striking out eight, to earn the Player of the Game honors....RF Jason Heyward's solo home run in the second was enough to be the game's winning score....Tycoons' CF Chris B. Young added a two-run home run in the third inning to give Dallas a 4-0 lead at that time. Heyward and Young's homers were the only extra-base hits in the game for Dallas....SS Harvey Shipman singled three times and scored a run for the Tycoons....Kansas City leadoff hitter LF Robbie Grossman had half of the Sting's hits, going 2 for 4 with a double....PH Javier Rodriguez also had a double for the Sting....Drew Pomeranz was the losing pitcher, allowing four earned runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in five innings. 

 

 

Top Players

 

Winners Bracket

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - Final

 

Saturday, February 21 game

 

 

Miami, Florida - 

 

Mike Trout and Joe Mauer lit up the scoreboard at the top of the Miami lineup as the Towers trounced Dallas, 10-1, to win the 2015 Spring Bowl. 

 

The championship match up guaranteed that the Spring Bowl would have its first second-time champion. Miami won the Spring Bowl in 2011, while the Tycoons won it in 2013. 

 

Trout was named the game's MVP after he tied an Alpha League tournament record with four runs scored. In the game, he finished 4 of 5 with a double, a home run, four runs scored, and an RBI. 

 

Mauer also had a stellar game, finishing 3 of 5 with two doubles, a home run, two runs, and four RBI. 

 

In all, the Towers hit five home runs, with 1B Ben Broussard hitting two solo home runs and 3B Brandon Williams adding another solo shot. 

 

The Tycoons' lone run came in the fourth inning when 3B Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo home run. He finished a team best 3 for 4 with a home run, a run, and an RBI. 1B Bento Podest also added three hits. 

 

Miami's Matt Harrison pitched nearly a complete game before tiring out in the ninth inning after 123 pitches. He allowed one earned run on ten hits with five strikeouts in 8.2 innings. Randor Bierd was able to record the final out. 

 

Jordan M. Zimmerman was the losing pitcher. In four innings, he allowed six earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts. Three Dallas relievers pitched the final four innings. 

 

In the bottom of the fifth, Miami was able to turn a tight 2-1 lead into a blowout. Williams started the inning by homering off Zimmerman. Harrison then helped his cause by hitting a single, followed by a Trout double to move him to third. Mauer then doubled both runners in to make the score 5-1. Zimmerman then gave way to reliever Casimiro Begonha. Following a ground out to advance Mauer, Mauer was able to score on a passed ball for a 6-1 Towers' lead. Broussard then hit his second homer to extend that lead to 7-1 before Begonha was able to escape the inning.

 

Miami did have potential bad news in the game when CF Andrew McCutchen had to come out after the fourth inning due to an undisclosed injury during a defensive play. There was no word from team officials about the nature of the injury. 

 

Top Players 

 

Final Bracket

 

Banner

[StLee 19]

2015 Spring Bowl - All-Tournament Teams

 

[StLee 19]

American Developmental Baseball League

 

I have two problems going on in my dynasty that I would like to start cleaning up. For one, there are too many free agents just sitting around doing nothing each year. I don't even have all of the real players in the dynasty since I noticed way too late to add that some players I wanted to follow did not make the cut. If I had intended things differently at first, I may have solved that problem. As it is, I am not going to add retro players into the dynasty. Hell, I just noticed that Pujols had retired only because no team could afford his asking price. That's why I reversed that decision for the 2015 season. 

 

The second problem is that I have a lot of foreigner fictional players coming up through the league who become prominent players, yet very few Americans. In fact, the only one American fictional player I can think of is Axel Darke, and I may have edited him (don't remember) to be American. 

 

Therefore, I am setting up what I am calling the American Developmental Baseball League. It will be a league for Americans only under the age of 35, which may be lowered in the future. Also, it can be considered an independent league for franchises looking to enter the Champions Baseball Association in the future, as well as not permanently retiring teams forced to relocate. My rule will be that the top teams are eligible for the CBA's 2016 expansion, unless they were a relocated franchise. So, for the first season of the ADBL, five teams are competing for two (and possibly a third, depending on Pittsburgh's success in 2015) spots in the CBA. The other team in the ADBL for 2016, Edmonton, is not eligible to enter the CBA. The ADBL will expand in future seasons as well. I have a LOT of free agents in my league, including a lot of real players who have not even been on any team's reserve roster in the five years of the league's history. 

 

So....presenting the league's teams below as well as preseason predictions. Teams will play 20 five-game series in the regular season. Then, all six teams will enter into a playoff mode for the right to win the ADBL Series. 

 

 

Preseason Predictions