StLee

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  1. Posted

    Year 3: First Round, Game Five

     

    Goodsprings Slaughters Westside, Wins Series

     
    Jim Jones pitched eight shutout innings, and the Lucky 38s bats were wide awake as Goodsprings whipped Westside 12-0 and clinched the series in five games. 
     
    Jones gave up only six hits and struck out four batters in eight innings. Greg Greer pitched a perfect ninth inning to complete the second straight shutout for Goodsprings. 
     
    Like the day before, the Lucky 38s got what they needed offensively in the first to clinch victory. With one out, Stu Vanstone was hit by a Will Stewart pitch. After LaRue reached on a fielder’s choice, Jesus Martinez hit an RBI double to score LaRue. 
     
    The Lucky 38s added another run in the second. Perry Ferguson and Java Stirfry led off with back-to-back singles. Jorge Garcia was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. With one out, Mike Duncan hit a sacrifice fly to score Garcia and make it 2-0. 
     
    Goodsprings blew the game open in the third. LaRue reached on a dropped fly ball in right field to lead off the inning. With one out, Dennis Shaft hit a two-run blast to make it 4-0. With two outs, Stirfry walked. Garcia singled, followed by a Jim Jones walk to load the bases. Duncan then singled in Stirfry and Garcia to give the Lucky 38s a 6-0 lead. After Dean Brown came in to replace starter Will Stewart, Vanstone hit a three-run home run over the left field fence for a 9-0 advantage. 
     
    In the fifth inning, Goodsprings added three more. Duncan singled to lead off, followed by a Vanstone double. LaRue then singled in Duncan to make it 10-0. Martinez followed with an RBI single for an 11-0 advantage. With one out, Stirfry hit a sacrifice fly for the final 12-0 score. 
     
    The Lucky 38s finished with 16 hits in the game. LaRue and Garcia finished with three hits apiece. Duncan and Vanstone each drove in three runs. 
    Stewart was the losing pitcher for Westside. He pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs, three earned, on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Stewart also had the Sarsaparillas’ only extra base hit. 
     
    Jones, the game’s MVP, was also named the series MVP. In two games, Jones finished 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 14 innings pitched. He allowed only one earned run and 12 hits, walked two, and struck out 12. 
     
    Goodsprings will now face off  against New California Republic in a rematch of the 2285 season. The Bears won the series in seven games.
     
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  2. Posted

    Year 3: First Round, Game Four

     

    Four Goodsprings Pitchers Combine for Shutout

     
    For the first time this series, the bullpen had nothing to do with the final result. 
     
    Willie Miller and three relievers combined to pitch a five-hit shutout in Goodsprings’ 7-0 domination of Westside. The Lucky 38s now have a 3-1 series advantage. 
     
    Miller pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and striking out seven. He was relieved by Donald Bush, who struck out all four batters he faced. Earl Robinson and Greg Greer each pitched an inning to finish the game, allowing no hits and striking out one batter apiece. 
     
    Westside only managed to get two players into scoring position all game, but both runners were stranded at second. 
     
    The Lucky 38s scored all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first. Mike Duncan and Stu Vanstone had back-to-back singles to start the game. With one out, Jesus Martinez reached on an error to score Duncan and Vanstone. 
     
    Goodsprings extended its lead in the sixth with a two-out rally. Martinez started the rally with a double, followed by a Dennis Shaft walk. Westside then put Kevin Blake in to pitch, and he immediately walked Perry Ferguson to load the bases. Java Stirfry then reached on an error to score Martinez. Jorge Garcia followed with a two-RBI double. Stirfry tried to score on the play, but he was thrown out at home to end the inning 5-0 in favor of Goodsprings. 
     
    In the seventh, the Lucky 38s extended their lead more. Tony Smith reached on an error to lead off the inning. After a Duncan single, Vanstone walked to load the bases. Jimmy LaRue then singled in Smith and Duncan to make it 7-0.
    After a pitching change, Goodsprings was unable to manufacture another run. 
     
    Angel Polanco was the losing pitcher. He gave up four runs, two earned, on six hits with two walks and a strikeout in 5 2/3 innings. 
     
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    News and Notes
     
    8.13.87 – Player suspension (Major chem use)
     
    South Vegas reliever Ray “Sledgehammer” Strachan may have ended his career on a low note. The 41-year-old middle reliever was found to have Fixer in his system and will now be forced out of the first 15 games of the 2288 season. Strachan has contemplated retirement, and now that may be a reality for him.

  3. Posted

    Year 3: First Round, Game Three

     

    Goodsprings Rallies in Ninth, Wins in 10

     
    Commissioner Lee sometimes uses the phrase “Deja vu, all over again.” That phrase could not be more correct for what has happened in the first three games of the 2287 playoffs. 
     
    In what could be the same story as Game One, Goodsprings rallied from a three-run ninth-inning deficit to tie the game and then win it in the tenth, 6-5, over Westside. The Lucky 38s now have a 2-1 series advantage. 
     
    Trailing 5-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, Goodsprings faced off with reliever Andrew Dwyer. Perry Ferguson led off with a single. With one out, Jorge Garcia and Tony Smith walked. Mike Duncan then hit an RBI single to make it 5-3. After a wild pitch scored Jorge Garcia and moved Smith and Duncan up a base, Vanstone hit an RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game 5-5. Colm Harrison then came on to relieve Dwyer and got Jimmy LaRue to fly out to end the rally. 
     
    In the tenth, Harrison stayed on to pitch. Dennis Shaft led off with a single, followed by a four-pitch walk by Eddie Pegasus. With one out, Matt England came on as a pinch runner for the slow-running Shaft. Java Stirfry then delivered a walkoff single to score England and give the Lucky 38s the win at home, their first home win over Westside this season. 
     
    “It wasn’t a pretty game,” Goodsprings starting pitcher Bob Jackson said, “but we found a way to win when we needed it most.” Jackson finished the game giving up five runs, three earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts in seven innings pitched. 
     
    Jackson fell behind early in the game. In the top of the first, the Sarsaparillas’ Jeffery Thomason led off with a single. Edward Simpson then followed with a two-run home run to give Westside a 2-0 lead. 
     
    Goodsprings was able to answer in the second. Jesus Martinez led off with a single, followed by a two-run home run by Pegasus, who got the start at catcher over Shaft. Pegasus’ home run was the only extra base hit for the Lucky 38s in the game. 
     
    Pegasus’ start at catcher almost cost Goodsprings dearly because of the fifth inning. Will Robertson led off with a single, followed by a double by Hector Ruiz. Clarence Woods was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. With one out, Simpson hit a simple bloop foul ball behind the plate that Pegasus dropped. Simpson then hit into a 1-2 fielder’s choice. Augusto Rivera then hit an RBI single to give the Sarsaparillas a 3-2 advantage. Bob Franklin then hit a dribbler that Pegasus could not handle, allowing Woods to score. It was the second error on Pegasus in the inning. 
     
    Westside extended its lead to 5-2 in the sixth on Ruiz’s solo home run with two outs. Ruiz finished with the best offensive performance for the Sarsaparillas, going 2 for 4 with a double, home run, RBI, and two runs scored. 
    Clarence Woods, the starting pitcher for the Sarsaparillas, was named the Game’s MVP despite his no decision. He gave up two earned runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts in eight innings pitched. 
     
    Bobby Lorn was the winning pitcher for Goodsprings. He finished with no runs on no hits with two walks and a strikeout in his lone inning of work. 
     
    Duncan and Martinez led the Lucky 38s with two hits apiece. 
     
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    News and Notes
     
    8.12.87 – Player suspension (Major chem use)
     
    Novac outfielder Jim Welch has been suspended 15 games to start the 2288 season due to Fixer being in his system. 
     
    The third-year player, who played his first two season with the Goodsprings Lucky 38s may have been feeling down about watching the playoffs from the stands. We don’t know what he may have used to need Fixer, but he is now registered in the Major Chems Program to start his offseason.

  4. Posted

    Year 3: First Round, Game Two

     

    Westside Returns Favor, Loses in Ninth Inning

     
    The way to define the first two games of the first round of the 2287 Mojave Baseball League playoffs is “shaky bullpens.” 
     
    That’s just what the ninth inning provided in Goodsprings’ 7-5 come from behind victory in Game 2 over host Westside. The series is now even 1-1. 
     
    Trailing 5-4 entering the final frame, the Lucky 38s took on Westside reliever Dean Brown, who was tasked with closing out the game. Goodsprings’ John McDowell led off with a pinch-hit double. With one out, Mike Duncan singled to move McDowell to third. Stu Vanstone then doubled in McDowell to tie the game 5-5. After Jimmy LaRue was intentionally walked and Jesus Martinez struck out, Dennis Shaft hit a two-RBI single for the game’s winning hit. 
     
    Lucky 38 closer Bobby Lorn then came in to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth, but his appearance was almost as disastrous as in Game One. Lorn walked Edward Simpson to lead off the inning. With one out, Dave Griffin singled. After Bob Franklin struck out, Lorn walked Mike Plasmagun to load the bases. William Harris then grounded out to third to end the game. 
     
    The Goodsprings win came on the heels of the bullpen blowing a big lead. The Lucky38s took their first lead in the top of the third. With two outs, Stu Vanstone walked, followed by an RBI triple by LaRue. LaRue then score on a wild pitch by Sarsaparillas starter Will Stewart. 
     
    In the fifth, the Lucky 38s extended their lead. Jim Jones hit a one-out double, followed by a Mike Duncan triple to make it 3-0. Vanstone then hit an RBI sacrifice fly to give Goodsprings a commanding 4-0 lead. 
     
    It was not until the sixth inning that the Sarsaparillas could touch Goodsprings starter Jim Jones. With one out in the inning, Franklin homered to left center field to cut the lead to 4-1. 
     
    Starter Earl Robinson, designated to bullpen duty for the playoffs, then took over in the seventh for the Lucky 38s. Jeffery Thomason hit a one-out double, followed by a single by game MVP Augusto Rivera. Simpson then hit a sacrifice fly t score Thomason, followed by an RBI double by Robert Glass to cut the Goodsprings lead to 4-3. Donald Bush then came in to replace Robinson. 
     
    Greg Greer came on to pitch the eighth, and he too could not find success. With one out, Greer walked Plasmagun, followed by plunking Stan Clark. Mike White then hit a game-tying single. With two outs, Rivera hit an RBI single to give Westside a 5-4 lead heading into the ninth. 
     
    Despite his poor showing, Greer earned the win for Goodsprings. He gave up two earned runs on two hits with a walk in one inning. Lorn earned the save, allowing no runs on one hit with two walks in his lone inning of work. Jones, the starter, gave up one earned run on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in six innings for the no decision. 
     
    Brown was the losing pitcher for Westside, to go along with his blown save. He gave up three earned runs on four hits with a walk and strikeout in just 2/3 innings of work. Stewart started the game and finished with four earned runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings. 
     
    Though each team had twelve hits in the game, no offensive player had amazing numbers. Rivera followed up his record-breaking game with a four-hit performance, probably nudging him towards game MVP honors in voters’ eyes. He finished 4 for 5 with an RBI and run scored. 
     
    Duncan was Goodsprings’ best hitter, going 3 for 5 with a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored.
     
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  5. Posted

    Year 3: First Round, Game One

     

    Goodsprings Blows Ninth-Inning Lead, Loses in 14

     
    Goodsprings closer Bobby Lorn led the Mojave Baseball League in saves with 29, but he also had seven blown saves during the season and a rather high 4.48 ERA. However, none of his in-season struggles compared to his ninth inning in Game One of the 2287 MBL playoffs. 
     
    Leading 6-3 going into the ninth, Lorn only needed three outs to send the Lucky 38s to an early advantage over Westside. Instead, the Sarsaparillas scored three to tie the game and went on to win 8-7 in 14 innings. 
     
    The loss could prove to be the defining point of the series. 
     
    “Nobody is more disappointed in me than me,” Lorn said. “I just ain’t got it today and we lost. I’ll have to do better next time if coach gives me another chance.” 
     
    Westside won the game in the bottom of the 14th after falling behind by one in the top of the inning. With one out, Augusto Rivera hit his third double of the game off reliever Dave Witcher. Edward Simpson and Robert Glass then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Dave Griffin then hit into a 3-2 fielder’s choice to leave the bases loaded with two outs. That’s when one of the two Goodsprings killers, Bob Franklin, stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-RBI, walkoff single to win it 8-7 for the Sarsaparillas. 
     
    Goodsprings thus had two chances to win the game, making the loss even more devastating. In the ninth inning, Westside made its first move. Lorn walked Mike Plasmagun to lead off the inning. With one out, Mike White singled to send Plasmagun to third. Hector Ruiz then off loaded a three-run jack to tie the game at six apiece, chasing Lorn and bringing in starter Earl Robinson in relief. Ruiz’s clutch home run was enough to earn him Game MVP honors despite only getting one at bat in the game. 
     
    In the top of the 14th, the Lucky 38s retook the lead. Dennis Shaft led off with a single, followed by three straight walks to score Shaft. Goodsprings could have blown it open, but Witcher hit into a 3-2 fielder’s choice, followed by a strike out and ground out by Mike Duncan and Stu Vanstone. 
     
    Goodsprings jumped out to an early lead in the game that it held onto until the ninth inning meltdown. In the top of the first, the Lucky 38s got one. Duncan got on base to start the game after being hit by an Angel Polanco pitch. Vanstone and Jimmy LaRue then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Rookie Jesus Martinez followed by hitting into a double play that allowed Duncan to score. 
     
    In the top of the second, the Lucky 38s extended their lead. Perry Ferguson led off with a walk, followed by a Java Stirfry single. With one out, Willie Miller tripled in Ferguson and Stirfry for a 3-0 lead. 
     
    Westside got its first run in the bottom of the second. Plasmagun drew a one-out walk on Goodsprings starter Miller. Stan Clark then doubled to send Plasmagun to third. Mike White then hit a sacrifice fly to score Plasmagun. 
     
    The Sarsaparillas pulled closer in the fifth. With two outs, Rivera doubled. Simpson followed with a two-out single to cut the Goodsprings lead to 3-2.
     
    However, the Lucky 38s had an answer to the Westside score, scoring three in the sixth for a 6-2 lead. Martinez singled to lead off the inning, chasing Polanco from the game. With one out, Ferguson doubled in Martinez. With two outs, and after Jorge Garcia was intentionally walked, pinch hitter Tony Smith hit an RBI single to make the score 5-2. Duncan then hit an RBI single for the final run of the inning. 
     
    In the bottom of the sixth, Griffin hit a solo home run to cut the Goodsprings lead to 6-3 before the ninth-inning rally. 
     
    LaRue and Garcia led the Lucky 38s with three hits apiece. Rivera’s three doubles led the Sarsaparillas in hits and set an MBL record for doubles in an extra-inning postseason game. 
     
    Polanco finished the game with a no decision in the start. He pitched five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Matt Jeffries was the winning pitcher, giving up an earned run on one hit in 1.1 innings with three walks and a strikeout. 
     
    Goodsprings’ Miller also had a no decision. He gave up two earned runs on six hits in five innings with a walk and five strikeouts. Witcher was the losing pitchers, allowing two earned runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in three innings.
     
     

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  6. Posted

    Year 3: Playoffs First Round Preview

     

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    Series Preview
     
    Despite being the consensus preseason favorite to win the Mojave Baseball Legaue, Goodsprings got out to a horrid start, due in part to the health struggles of star outfielder Jimmy LaRue. Couple that with struggles from other players on the team while trying to cope without traded stars Wilfred Buckley and Duane Antqueen, and the Lucky 38s were an unlucky 6-15 to start the season. 
     
    And then LaRue got healthy and some of the Lucky 38ers ended their cold streaks. By the end of the season, Goodsprings surged past the rest of the West Division to easily win the division and clinch the third best record (58-42) in the MBL. 
     
    Westside had a different path to success. After relocating to Westside (former home of the Atomic Wranglers) from Nellis Air Force Base, the Sarsaparillas stayed steady throughout the season, jumping out to an early division lead and never trailing. Westside has been in sole possession of first place the ENTIRE season, starting out 1-0 while the rest of its division was 0-1. 
     
    The strangest part for the Sarsaparillas is that they were not very successful in their new home. Despite finishing with the league’s second-best record (59-41), Westside was only 23-27 at home, while going a league-best 36-14 away from home. Assuming a seven-game series is played, four games in Westside could be interesting. 
     
    The Sarsaparillas won the season series over Goodsprings six games to two. Most of that success came with Westside winning all four games in Goodsprings. 
     
    In the first series, the teams met in Goodsprings on April 19 and 20. The first game was the wildest of the series, as Westside won it 18-15. In the game, Goodsprings’ Dennis Shaft was the star player, going 2 for 4 with a two-RBI triple, three-run home run, five RBI, and two walks. The teams combined for 37 hits in the game. The Sarsaparillas also took game two, winning it 5-3. Angel Polanco pitched six shutout innings to earn the win. Dave Griffin’s two-run, first-inning home run set the pace for the offensive output. 
     
    The teams met again May 10-11 in Westside. The Lucky 38s won their first of the series 2-0 behind Willie Miller’s seven shutout innings and two RBI. Westside won the second game 8-7 in a wild finish. Trailing 6-3 entering the final inning, Goodsprings rolled off four runs to take a 7-6 lead. However, Westside answered with two in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Edwards Simpson, followed by a walkoff single by Augusto Rivera. The Sarsaparillas’ Griffin was the game’s MVP, going 2 for 3 with two homers, a walk, three RBI, and three runs scored. 
     
    The teams returned to Westside June 28-29. Westside jumped out to a 4-1 season series lead with a 9-2 win in the first game. The Sarsaparillas scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take charge and pound Goodsprings’ pitcher Earl Robinson for the second time on the season. Griffin was once again the star player in the game, going 3 for 5 with a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored. The Lucky 38s rebounded the next day, winning 15-6 in their own offensive explosion. Rookie first baseman Jesus Martinez earned game MVP honors by going 4 for 5 with a double, five RBI, and two runs. 
     
    The season series concluded July 18-19 in Goodsprings. Westside won the first game 10-5, scoring six runs in the final two innings, including scoring four insurance runs in the ninth. The Sarsaparillas’ Bob Franklin was 4 for 5 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, five RBI, and three runs scored. In the final game of the season series, Westside took the game 6-2 in 13 innings. Simpson and Franklin each hit two-run home runs in the deciding inning. 
     
    This is a tough series to call. Westside has dominated Goodsprings on the season. However, the Lucky 38s are the hottest team in the league, and it's hard to pick against LaRue and company. We'll take Goodsprings to win it in seven.

  7. Posted

    Year 3: August 2287

     

    Final Standings

     
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    Batting Leaders
     
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    Pitching Leaders
     
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    News and Notes
     
    8.1.87 – Team achievements (Division crowns)
     
    Goodsprings (54-41) used superb hitting in defeating South Vegas 7-3 and clinch the West Division crown. Four players—Mike Duncan, Jimmy LaRue, Dennis Shaft, and Tony Smith—had three hits apiece to lead the Goodsprings charge, including a three-run sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie. 
     
    Former 38er Duane Antqueen led the Vault Boys’ attempt to deny Goodsprings the division crown by hitting two home runs in the game. 
     
    Not to be outdone, Westside (56-39) clinched the Central Division with an 8-5 win over North Vegas. The Sarsaparillas were led by Robert Glass’ 3 for 5 performance with a home run and four RBI. 
     
    Both Goodsprings and Westside will now battle it out for the second seed in the playoffs. The Sarsaparillas have a two-game lead with just five games to play. Westside holds the tie breaker, also, with a 6-2 season series advantage. 
     
    8.7.87 – Team achievement
     
    Westside has been trying desperately to hold off the red-hot Goodsprings Lucky 38s for the second seed in the Mojave Baseball League. Now, with just one game to play in the season, the Sarsaparillas (59-40) have clinched the second seed thanks to a tie breaker in head-to-head competition. Goodprings (58-41) could still tie the Sarsaparillas for the second-best record, but Westside will have the home-field advantage in the playoff series.

  9. Posted

    Year 3: July 2287

     

    Standings

     
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    The division races are all but wrapped up. Of course, New California Republic is the representative from the East Division, as it's documented below. Goodsprings and Westside both have a magic number of 1, meaning only a complete collapse coupled with a division mate's surge can stop them from getting to the playoffs. 
     
    July Awards
     
    Top Batter
     
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    Bob Franklin walked away with the Mojave Baseball League Batter of the Month award for his solid work with the stick in July.
     
    The Westside center fielder hit .306 with 12 home runs, 30 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
     
    This year Franklin has hit 32 home runs and posted a .302 batting average.
     
    Top Pitcher
     
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    Bob Jackson of Goodsprings had an excellent July with a 4-0 record and was selected the Pitcher of the Month in the Mojave Baseball League.
     
    He finished the month with a 1.51 ERA while piling up 37 strikeouts in 35.2 innings and holding opposing hitters to a .205 batting average.
     
    This season Jackson has registered 7 wins and 2 losses in 17 starts with a 3.22 ERA.
     
    Top Rookie
     
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    Goodsprings's Jesús Martínez collected 32 hits to snare the Mojave Baseball League Rookie of the Month for July.
     
    He batted .333 with 6 home runs, 22 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
     
    The 21-year-old is barely old enough to shave, but he could definitely contend for Rookie of the Year if he keeps up this pace.
     
    So far this year Martínez is batting .253 with 11 home runs.
     
    News and Notes
     
    7.11.87 – Team achievement (First place battle)
     
    Almost every casino on the New Vegas Strip has sketched 7/11 pictures and memorabilia inside as some sort of form of superstition of luck from days gone by. For the Lucky38s, that number represents a season-long battle towards first place. Goodsprings, which had an awful first month with a 6-15 record, has now used an eight-game win streak to propel them into first place at 43-35 in the West Division. South Vegas has been hot, too, meaning it took the eight-game streak and a home loss by the Vault Boys to allow Goodsprings to seize control. 
     
    As a healthy team, the Lucky38s may be the most talented team in the league, despite trading away star pitcher Wilfred Buckley and third baseman Duane Antqueen in the offseason. 
     
    7.17.87 – Player retirement
     
    Tops’ young second baseman Mike Murphy received news of his parents’ demise at the hands of a roving Raider band. Their bodies were found, minus heads and limbs, hanging from the rafters of an abandoned farm house. 
    Murphy asked for his retirement papers shortly after learning of his parents’ death, vowing to pursue revenge. 
     
    Commissioner Lee promised he would be vigilant in aiding Murphy’s efforts and would try to commission some NCR robots to aid Murphy. 
     
    “Death is bad enough in the Mojave, but those sick cannibals need to be wiped out,” Lee said. “I’m sorry we lose a young player in the league, but I’m rooting for him to get those ******* **** *** ******* bastards.” 
     
    7.22.87 – Team achievement
     
    It was a quick season for the East Division, but New California Republic clinched the division with its 9-4 victory over Tops. The Bears (58-29) clinched the division with 13 games to go. 
     
    7.25.87 – Player trade
     
    The Freeside Kings traded 29-year-old starting pitcher Ron Franklin to the Tops Mutants, getting 18-year-old minor league center fielder Paul Strong and 18-year-old minor league first baseman Lindy Ludlow in return.
     
    7.28.87 – Player trade
     
    The Camp McCarran Brahmin traded 36-year-old center fielder Joseph Parker and 18-year-old minor league first baseman Art Hyde to the Tops Mutants, getting 37-year-old starting pitcher John Parks in return.
     
    7.30.87 – Team achievement
     
    They already clinched their division just over a week ago. Now New California Republic (63-30) has clinched the league’s best record after the second best team, Westside (55-38) lost a game late to Freeside. 
     
    The Bears, who won the inaugural Mojave Baseball League championship, looks to be even better than their championship form.

  10. Posted

    Year 3: Prospects League

     

    Final Standings

     
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    Playoffs
     
    First Round
     
    Game 1: NCR 2 at 188 4
    Player of the Game: SP Matt Flamethrower, 188, 8 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K
     
    Game 2: NCR 0 at 188 14
    Player of the Game: SP Glenn Brady, 188, 9 IP, CG, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
     
    Prospects League Championship
     
    Game 1: 188 1 at Bonnie Springs 4
    Player of the Game: SP Matt Wiley, Bonnie Springs, 8.1 IP, H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 12 K
     
    Game 2: 188 1 at Bonnie Springs 4
    Player of the Game: SP Casey Barraclough, Bonnie Springs, 8 IP, 2 H, ER, 10 K
     
    Game 3: 188 5 at Bonnie Springs 0
    Player of the Game: SP Glenn Brady, 188, 7.1 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, BB, 9 K
     
    Game 4: 188 7 at Bonnie Springs 8, 11 innings
    Player of the Game: LF Nelson Johnson, Bonnie Springs, 3 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB
     
    Statistical Leaders
     
    Batting Leaders
     
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    Pitching Leaders
     
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    Season Awards
     
    Hitter Award
     
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    Bill Cross of the Nelson RobCo Robots had a fine season this year and today he accepted the Hitter of the Year for 2287.
     
    The 37-year-old right fielder put up a .341 average and a .430 on-base percentage, piling up 109 hits, 15 doubles, no triples, 36 home runs, 88 RBIs and 74 runs scored.
     
    Other votes: 2. Nelson Johnson, Bonnie Springs; 3. George Harris, NCR
     
    Pitcher Award
     
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    The Sloan clubhouse staff referred to him as "the kid" this season. Next year Pat Huber will have to have a new nickname. He earned it after winning the 2287 Prospects League Pitcher of the Year.
     
    Huber made 16 starts this year, winning 9 and losing 3. He threw 108.2 innings, fanned 137, allowed 103 hits and 31 walks, while holding opposing teams to a .241 average as he logged an impressive 2.82 ERA.
     
    Other votes: 2. Matt Flamethrower, 188; 3. Matt Wiley, Bonnie Springs
     
    Best Rookie
     
    2287PLPlayersOldviper_zps7778fabe.jpg
     
    Last spring Jarred Oldviper was happy to just make the Traders roster. He was overjoyed to see the name "Oldviper" on the lineup card, too. Now the 16-year-old 188 first baseman has capped off his debut season by winning the coveted Prospects League Top Rookie.
     
    Oldviper won the award by hitting .308 and collecting 103 hits, 15 home runs, 68 RBIs and 14 walks, along with 52 runs scored and a .339 on-base percentage.
     
    Other votes: 2. Martin Valdes, Sloan; 3. Richard McCarthy, Aerotech
     
    Postseason Award
     
    2287PLPlayersBrady_zps7677d98d.jpg
     
    Though his team could not take the championship over Bonnie Springs, the Traders' Glenn Brady took home the 2287 Postseason Award. 
     
    Brady finished the postseason with a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA in 16 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed nine hits and three walks, and he struck out 18 innings in helping 188 to two of its three postseason wins. 
     
    Other votes: 2. Matt Wiley, Bonnie Springs; 3. Nelson Johnson, Bonnie Springs
     
    Defense Awards
     
    Who are the Defense Award winners? They are the guys that steal outs. They make spectacular plays, but they also consistently make the routine plays. This year in the Prospects League these defensive stalwarts made a name for themselves with their gloves:
     
    Pitcher: Ken Mathis (Nipton Phoenix)
    Catcher: Matt Massey (Boulder City Atomic Wranglers)
    First Baseman: David Schoolskipper (Cottonwood Cove Lakelurks)
    Second Baseman: Francisco Garza (Nipton Phoenix)
    Third Baseman: Chris Andrews (Cottonwood Cove Lakelurks)
    Shortstop: Héctor Ortíz (Bitter Springs Refugees)
    Left Fielder: Gunner Knife (Nipton Phoenix)
    Center Fielder: Bob Conant (Aerotech Tops)
    Right Fielder: Dennis Edwards (Tops Mutants)

  11. Posted

    Year 3: June 2287

     

    Standings
     
    2287 Standings C July 1.JPG
     
    New California Republic (47-22) is running away with both their division (13 games up) and the league's best record (9 games up). With just 31 games to play, it would take a complete collapse for the Bears to either not clinch the best record or not make the playoffs. 
     
    The West Division continues to be exciting and could go down to the final week if things continue the way they have been. Tops and South Vegas are both tied for first place at 36-33 with Goodsprings right behind them at 35-34. 
     
    In the Central Division, Westside (38-31) leads by two games over North Vegas (36-33). The Sarsaparillas have been struggling of late. Luckily for them, the Radscorpions and Camp McCarran have been cold also, allowing Westside to maintain the division lead. Like the West Division, this division could stay interesting all season. 
     
    June Awards
     
    2287 Leaders E July 1.JPG
    2287 Leaders E2 July 1.JPG
     
    News and Notes
     
    6.6.87 – Player suspension (Chem use)
     
    Westside ace pitcher Angel Polanco became yet another Mojave Baseball League star to test positive for chems. It is the second time in Polanco’s career that he has tested positive for chems, though neither has been a serious offense. 
     
    Polanco was found to have RadAway in his system and will serve a five-game suspension. He is 7-2 with a 2.52 ERA in 13 starts for the first-place but struggling Sarsaparillas. 
     
    6.8.87 – Player suspension (Chem use)
     
    It may be a newly-banned chem, but that doesn’t prevent some players from needing their coyote tobacco chew. Jose Rey of Goodsprings was the culprit today, and the backup infielder will have to sit a game because of it. 
     
    6.11.87 – Jimmy LaRue news
     
    Just as Goodsprings is starting to make its move on overtaking Tops for the West Division lead, star player Jimmy LaRue has suffered another setback and will probably work his way through a rehab stint in Sloan for the second time this season. 
     
    “I just can’t quite get into my groove,” LaRue said. “I think it’s best for the team’s chance of winning it all if I find my swing in Sloan. I know the fans and my team want to see me out there, but I have to do what I think is best.” 
     
    If things go right, LaRue could be back in as little as a few days, unless Goodsprings decides to keep him in Sloan for a full two weeks.

  12. Posted

    Year 3: May 2287

     

    Standings

     
    2287 Standings B June 1.JPG
     
    Near the halfway point of the season, all divisions are interesting. 
     
    The team that looks to be the best in the Mojave at this point of the season is New California Republic. The Bears (29-16) have the largest division lead (5.5 games) and are three games better than the next best team in the league. 
     
    That second best team is the Westside Sarsaparillas (26-19). The Sarsaparillas are still struggling in their new home (9-11), but they are by far the best away team (17-8). Just imagine if they had stayed at Nellis Air Force Base for one more season. 
     
    The West Division has proven to be the most interesting and mediocre division so far. Tops (24-21) and South Vegas (22-23) have been going back and forth atop the division all season. Goodsprings (21-24) appeared to be left for dead after the first month, but they have bounced back to challenge for the division. If the Lucky 38s can stay healthy, they appear to have the best all-around talent to take the division. 
     
    May Awards
     
    2287 Leaders B June 1.JPG
     
    News and Notes
     
    5.9.87 – Player fight
     
    He didn’t get the start, but South Vegas ace Ricardo Rodriguez was still heated following the game against Tops. Rodriguez accused Mutants outfielder Dallas Fox of showboating while at the plate, so Rodriguez leveled Fox in the post-game hand shake. Fox retaliated by kicking Rodriguez, causing a small wound on his non-throwing hand. 
     
    Due to the exchange, which was quickly broken up by both teams, Rodriguez will get a five-game suspension, while Fox will sit out two. 
     
    The game was heated because the two teams are battling for first place in the West Division, with red-hot Goodsprings with a six-game winning streak right on their tail. South Vegas won the game 5-2 to take a half game lead over the Mutants. 
     
    5.10.87 – Player suspension (Chem use)
     
    Boulder City ace Brady “Heavy” Childs has been a warrior for his team the last three seasons. This season, the pitcher, who has done everything he could to keep his team competitive, has complained of some chronic pain in his throwing shoulder. He said that his poor start to the season (1-5 with a 5.03 ERA) has been because of the pain, something league doctors have not been able to remedy. 
     
    Childs then decided to take action on his own. Unfortunately for him, Med-X is a banned chem in the league, and Childs will now have to sit the next five games. Maybe then he can recover both his arm and his success. 
     
    5.11.87 – Player trade
     
    The North Vegas Radscorpions traded 27-year-old left fielder Jason Williams to the Camp McCarran Brahmin, getting 38-year-old reliever Michael Miles and 20-year-old reliever Armor Hammer in return.
     
    5.14.87 – Player trade
     
    The Goodsprings Lucky 38s traded 28-year-old catcher Barry Wilson to the New California Republic Bears, getting 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher Bill Adams and 20-year-old minor league center fielder Roger Barrett in return.
     
    5.15.87 – Player suspension (Major chem use)
     
    It took until the second month of the season, but the history books can show that Gomorrah closer Keith White was the first player to be caught with one of the newly-banned chems in his system. 
     
    White, who has been struggling this season with a 4.38 ERA compared to a career 1.72 ERA, had been acting erratically. A chem test revealed that he had the major chem Slasher in his system. Slasher, a concoction of Psycho, Stimpaks, and banana yucca fruit, is considered a highly addictive chem. 
     
    Because of his use, White will now sit the next 15 games, which could help the 13-19 Devils in last place in the competitive West Division. 
     
    5.20.87 – Player injury
     
    Tops outfielder Mike Shapland may not be playing as much for his team this season, but he has been valuable to the Mutants at the plate in his three seasons there. That value will be no more this season, as Shapland has suffered poisoning from a Giant Radscorpion sting, probably ending his 2287 season. 
     
    The injury occurred on the team’s trip from Jacobstown to Goodsprings, where there are quite a few pockets of Radscorpions in the mountains and valleys. There is still no public transportation or sufficient roadways around Jacobstown, which brings up questions about the future of the league in Jacobstown. 
     
    5.27.87 – Jimmy LaRue news
     
    2287 Player news A.JPG
     
    5.30.87 – Player trade
     
    The Goodsprings Lucky 38s traded 33-year-old left fielder Jim Welch to the Novac Dinosaurs, getting 39-year-old reliever Jimmy Ledet and 18-year-old minor league starting pitcher Oliver Hernández in return.

  13. Posted

    Year 3: April 2287

     

    Standings:

     
    2287 Standings A May 1.JPG
     
    Goodsprings was considered a preseason favorite to win the Mojave Series. But, just as Novac did exactly the opposite of what they were expected to do a season ago, the Lucky 38s have started as slowly as a team expected to be good can. Twenty-one games into the season and the Lucky 38s own the worst record (6-15) and sit 7 games behind division leader Tops (13-8). 
     
    The Mutants have to be the early-season surprise. Only 2.5 months from losing their owner, Tops currently sits atop the West Division and only a game behind the league's best record. 
     
    Westside (14-7) is the owner of the best record in the league. The Sunset Sarsaparillas have not taken advantage of their new home park (4-4) but owns a 10-3 record on the road. 
     
    The New California Republic (13-8) looks similar to the team two years ago that won it all. Mostly for the Bears, they have been an offensive juggernaut, led by third baseman Mike Britton hitting a MBL record 12 home runs in April. 
     
    April Awards:
     
    2287 Leaders A May 1.JPG
     
     
    News and Notes:
     
    4.5.87 – Year 3 Begins
     
    The league got off to a thrilling start for the 2287 season with pitching ruling opening day. The most exciting game of the day was Gomorrah’s 1-0 ninth-inning victory over North Vegas. 
     
    In other action, Boulder City and South Vegas drained their bullpens in the Atomic Wranglers’ 3-2, 15-inning victory. Westside stopped Tops with a 3-2 win, and the New California Republic edged out Camp McCarran 4-2. 
    The only two blowouts on the day were Novac’s 9-2 beating of Freeside and Goodsprings’ 8-2 lashing of Ultra Luxe. 
     
    4.6.87 – Player fight
     
    Not everything was bright and fuzzy for the opening day of the Mojave Baseball League. Following Westside’s 3-2 win over Tops, two relief pitchers got into a post-game slap fight that resulted in a short suspension of each player. 
     
    Tops’ Brad Moore was found to be the aggressor and got a five-game boot to start the second game of the series. Matt Jeffries of Westside, who struck out the only batter he faced, received a two-game ban. 
     
    4.6.87 – Player suspension (Chem use)
     
    Novac’s backup center fielder Robert House (we thought we might hear from this guy in a different way) will serve a four-game suspension after testing positive for Steady. 
     
    House flew out in his only at bat in the season opener, so if he used Steady for the game, it didn’t work that well. 
     
    4.7.87 – Player injury (Update)
     
    Goodsprings’ Jimmy LaRue complained of tightness in his elbow. The star outfielder decided to let his injury heal naturally, and it will now cost him some time. 
     
    The Lucky 38s decided to option LaRue to their Prospects League team Sloan for some light work before they will call him back up some time later this month to help Goodsprings compete for a title. 
     
    4.11.87 – Player suspension (Chem use)
     
    Boulder City’s shortstop George Benson has been hitting the ball well. It could be that his hitting was due to the Steady in his system, but now Benson has to sit four games after being caught. 
     
    Boulder City has high hopes that the young Benson can help to keep the team out of the cellar. Perhaps the pressure was too heavy where he feels like he has to perform for the 2-3 Atomic Wranglers. 
     
    4.12.87 – Player injury
     
    Westside’s Lloyd Wolf decided to celebrate his off day by visiting his girlfriend in Cottonwood Cove. Instead, the Sarsaparillas pitcher almost lost his life when he was stunned and mutilated by a rogue lakelurk. 
     
    Luckily for Wolf, his girlfriend’s ripper was handy and she cut the lakelurk in two before it could do the same to Wolf. Unluckily for Wolf, the 37-year-old’s 2287 season is over, and maybe his career, too. 
     
    4.13.87 – Player injury
     
    Camp McCarran’s relief pitcher Bobby Jenkins is a big guy, a really big guy. But as big as a Deathclaw?
     
    That’s what a guard claimed when he took out Jenkins in a shooting. The guard mistook Jenkins for a Deathclaw and sounded the alarm, as well as opened fire on the Brahmin pitcher. 
     
    Because of injuries suffered, Jenkins is expected to be out at least three months, or, for the rest of the season.

  15. Posted

    Year 3: Uniforms

     

    2287A_zpsc5a9362e.jpg 2287B_zps511f5f41.jpg 2287C_zpsd77e12ca.jpg 2287D_zpscd90f395.jpg 2287E_zpse8d69d4f.jpg 2287F_zps45769517.jpg 2287G_zpsa471f520.jpg

     
     
    Michael Angelo's businesses, especially with the opening of the Nuka Cola factory in New Vegas, were busy. But that didn't mean he couldn't design new uniforms and logos for the 2287 season. 
     
    With the relocation of three franchises, Angelo had to change those uniforms. Vault-Tec was now South Vegas, and they changed their road uniforms to indicate their home. Sunset Sarsaparilla moved to Westside, and they added Westside to their road uniforms. Atomic Wrangler moved to Boulder City, adopting the city name on their road uniform. Both their road and home caps changed from the logo to the Atomic Wrangler initials. 
     
    Tops made a change to their uniforms, dropping their orange that clashed with Camp McCarran, and going to gray for their home colors. The Freeside Kings chose a bolder crown logo and added that logo to their caps. Ultra Luxe changed their home jersey to show their team name, White Gloves, and added the White Glove Society logo of masks to their home uniform. New California Republic changed its road jersey from pink to a brown base with pink sleeves. 
     
    In the PL, all teams added a second jersey, and some changed their jerseys. 
     
    H&T Tool Company changed their hats to pinstripe models. The NCR Cubs adopted their parent team's jerseys with the NCR Cubs name added to the jerseys. The Cazadores moved to Bonnie Springs and added the town name to the bottom of their road jerseys.

  16. Posted

    Year 3 Offseason: The Bartender Earns a Name

     

    He was once insignificant, nameless, and just a small cog in the Tops wheel. He was the Bartender when Lee was taking over the Mojave. Little did Lee know was that behind the ruthless conniving that was the Chairmen, one “little” man within the organization saved his caps and finagled his way into the inner circle. 

     
    And, just days after Ebeneezer Swank saw his demise, the Bartender sat in a room of the top remaining members of the Chairmen and made his play into the baseball world. 
     
    Now, don’t misunderstand this story. The rightful next man in line became the owner of the Tops. That man was Tommy Torini. Lee liked Tommy, and Tommy liked Lee, or at least he seemed to, unlike Benny and Swank before him. 
     
    “As we all know, I’m the big boss man now,” Tommy told the motley crew of Chairmen in the room. “The reason we’re here and the reason I brought in Big Bad to the Knee Lee and…what’s your story, Glory?”
     
    “Just call me the Historian,” I said.
     
    “Everybody's got to have some claim to fame,” Tommy replied while scratching at his eye patch. “You can call me the Dancing and Singing Stud Bull then.” He laughed and so did the bedraggled Chairmen. 
     
    “On to the show,” Tommy continued. “You know, the biggest show the Mojave ever did see. I’m talking about Lee and baseball, you see. Now, I ain’t running this place into my own prideful ground like Swankie did. Not me. I’m looking to multiply our caps and make the Tops something it ain’t ever seen: being the tops!
     
    “That’s why some things are going to change, you dig? First, we’re going to work hand in hand with Lee to make this baseball thing work. Second, we’re going to make decisions not based on who’s at the top of the pyramid, but who’s going to make us all more of those little metal caps that makes the world spin round faster than my tap shoes. 
     
    “I have a vision for this casino. We aren’t the everyman’s place like the 38. We aren’t the sex paradise that Gomorrah is. And we most certainly don’t have the class the Luxe has. What we do have is the best entertainers on the strip. 
     
    “But the real reason we’re here, right here, right now, is because I need to give some juice to our baseball side of business. Let me shake out how this boogie’s going to jive. To make the most of our time, we need two things: fans and success. Now I know what the deal with the fans is, but success comes from wins. Wins brings what Lee called the bandwagoners in, and the bandwagoners bring in the caps. We win, we’re in. That’s why I got us a baseball man who has been right under our eyes all this time. Well, right under my one good eye. 
     
    “Everybody, please give it up for the man with the plan, the guy who kept the Aces running smoother than a child bride’s behind, the one, the only Richard Wang.” 
     
    Wang stood up to address the room. He was short and thin with a small voice. But each word rang like a chime in the forest. The men sitting at the table listened and quietly agreed. “Thank you, Tommy. If it weren’t for the Aces, we would already be building the railroads or rebuilding those measly little cities that may not need us anymore in the future. But we still need more to maintain the lifestyle for the new Mojave. 
     
    “I saw something in the baseball league a lot of others didn’t, and it started at the Aces bar. You see, the players want to come in and unwind after a hard day’s work or play. They sit at the bar and talk or drink or try to pick up a jazzy guy or gal in the crowd. And you know for the most part who did what in their day. But not always, not for the right kind of players. 
     
    “I served these men drink after drink, and I noticed what made the difference between the players who were winners and the ones who were losers. There’s that guy Spread in the outfield. It doesn’t matter if he hit a game-winning homer or struck out four times. He held his head high and was ready to move on and win the next day. Then there’s that Wesley guy. Same position, same situation. But if he ****s up one play, he’s in the corner with his head hanging. 
     
    “The way I see it, we need more Spreads and less Wesleys. We need guys who don’t give a **** but still want to go out the next day, whip out their meat, and piss all over the other team. I know I don’t have a lot of time to build up for this year with Swank getting whacked the other day. But I’m going to start making some moves and move this team like a ballet dancer in a bullet fight. Ain’t nobody watching the Tops at the bottoms. We’re going to the tops and I’m getting us the players that we need.”
     
    After the meeting, Lee welcomed the new owner and manager of the Tops Mutants. Lee was positive that the change was positive. He also used his Speech skill to convince the room he had nothing to do with Swank’s death and was just surprised as they were with his assassination.
     
    Below: Tommy Torini, owner, and Richard Wang, general manager
     
     

    Tommy Torini.JPG

    Richard Wang.JPG

  17. Posted

    Year 3: Offseason News and Transactions

     

    I already detailed the Swank Event. The big question was "Why?" The NCR had its team on the move trying to figure out who the culprit was and what it meant for the bigger picture, because, let's face it, the last time any big-time players in the Mojave died it was all Lee's doing. A petite female couldn't be Lee, so who was it it? And why? 

     
    For the time being, there was a replacement owner within the Tops organization, and I will introduce him in my next update. 
     
    Here are news and notes associated with the MBL from January through the beginning of April: 
     
    1.11.87 – Player trade
     
    The Westside Sarsaparillas traded 28-year-old shortstop George Gray and 19-year-old minor league center fielder Brad Gecko to the New California Republic Bears, getting 33-year-old starting pitcher Miguel Rosa in return.
     
    1.16.87 – Player trade
     
    The Tops Mutants traded 29-year-old starting pitcher Miguel Santos to the South Vegas Vault Boys, getting 17-year-old minor league closer Dave Young in return.
     
    2.7.87 – Player personal leave
     
    Gomorrah reliever Doug Campbell and his wife’s joy turned into sadness yesterday, as their young child passed away from unknown reasons. Campbell stated today that he would take some time away from baseball to get his mind right, and would return at some unknown date in the future. 
     
    2.16.87 – Player trade
     
    The Camp McCarran Brahmin traded 33-year-old third baseman Java Stirfry and 19-year-old minor league shortstop Tony Smith to the Goodsprings Lucky 38s, getting 32-year-old starting pitcher David Bennett in return.
     
    2.23.87 – Player injury
     
    Westside received bad news today when reliever Henry Lowe was crushed beneath crates of Sunset Sarsaparilla bottles at the factory near Westside. 
    Lowe, who was 6-5 with three saves and a 3.76 ERA in 2286 for the Sarsaparillas, will now have to have his legs reconstructed. The 33-year-old will be out for the 2287 season and may be done with his baseball career. 
     
    3.2.87 – Player death
     
    Kevin Murphy looked to have a promising young career in the Mojave Baseball League. After being traded midseason from North Vegas to Camp McCarran, Murphy went from being a seldom-used backup to a starter. 
     
    In 97 games in 2286, Murphy finished with a .266 batting average with 16 doubles, 13 home runs, 39 RBI, 39 runs, 28 walks, and 57 strikeouts. And he was getting better by the day. 
     
    Unfortunately, a run in with the Scorpions gang outside Camp McCarran led to Murphy’s demise.
     
    3.10.87 through 3.21.87 – Exhibition schedule
     
    3.10.87 – Exhibition: WestsideSarsaparillas 5 at Ultra Luxe White Gloves 3. Notable: 2B Augusto Rivera, Westside, 2 for 6, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R 
     
    3.11.87– Free Agent Spike - The Scouting Caravans 
     
    We don’t yet know how good they will be, but Commissioner Lee announced today that there are around 50 newly available players in free agency as of today. 
     
    Commissioner Lee said he found players through scouts heading out to areas of California, Arizona, Utah,  New Mexico, and Texas, as well as parts of Nevada outside the Mojave. 
     
    Scouts also reported that Colorado was a tough place to recruit, including the ancient city of Denver where there was nothing there but “man-hungry dogs.”
     
    All 12 franchises will have an opportunity today to watch the new talent play, and then they will draw lots for the rights to pick up any of the players available. Tomorrow we will let you know if any of those players were picked up and where they came from to end up in the Mojave Baseball League. 
     
    3.11.87 – Exhibition: Tops Mutants 0 at South Vegas Vault Boys 3. Notable: SP Tom Nelson, 8 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 K
     
    3.12.87 – Free Agent Signing
     
    There was only one winner after the new free agents’ exhibition game, though that could change in time. Westside signed starting pitcher Luis Alomar who hails from the former state of Oklahoma. Though Alomar is from Oklahoma, he was living in California at the time. He said his family fled Oklahoma and worked their way west, eventually moving to a New California Republic safe zone. 
     
    3.12.87 – Exhibition: Novac Dinosaurs 1 at North Vegas Radscorpions 6. Notable: SP Wilfred Buckley, North Vegas, 7.1 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 12 K
     
    3.13.87 – Exhibition: New California Republic Bears 4 at Goodsprings Lucky 38s 5.Notable: CJeremy Watson, NCR, 2 for 3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R; CF Jimmy LaRue, Goodsprings, 2 for 4, 3 RBI
     
    3.14.87 – Exhibition: Gomorrah Devils 0 at Freeside Kings 6. Notable: Jeff MacTause, Freeside, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, BB, 9 K
     
    3.15.87 – Exhibition: Camp McCarran Brahmin 6 at Boulder City Atomic Wranglers 3. Notable: C Giant Bear, Camp McCarran, 2 for 3, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB
     
    3.16.87 – Exhibition: South Vegas Vault Boys 4, Westside Sarsaparilla 0. Notable: Angel Polanco, Westside, 8 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K; Ricardo Rodriguez, South Vegas, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, 3 K
     
    3.17.87 – Exhibition: Ultra Luxe White Gloves 5 at Tops Mutants 4. Notable: SP Callum Bain, Tops, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 10 K
     
    3.18.87 – Exhibition: Goodsprings Lucky 38s 3 at Novac Dinosaurs 10. Notable: CF Poseidon LastName, Novac, 2 for 5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
     
    3.19.87 – Exhibition: North Vegas Radscorpions 0 at New California Republic Bears 6. Notable: SP Jim Ford, NCR, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
     
    3.20.87 – Exhibition: Boulder City Atomic Wranglers 2 at Gomorrah Devils 1. Notable: SP Sixto Deleon, Boulder City, 8 IP, 8 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K
     
    3.21.87 – Exhibition: Freeside Kings 2 at Camp McCarran Brahmin 13. Notable: 3B Mitch Carter, Camp McCarran, 2 for 3, HR, 5 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
     
    3.24.87 – Player Trade
     
    The South Vegas Vault Boys traded 28-year-old center fielder Floyd Bryant and 18-year-old minor league first baseman David Schoolskipper to the Boulder City Atomic Wranglers, getting 39-year-old starting pitcher José Estrada in return.
     
    3.24.87 – Player Injury
     
    Gomorrah minor leaguer catcher Jamie Reed got into a scrap with a Centaur, resulting in some open wounds and a bad case of radiation poisoning. Reed could miss up to three months recovering.

  18. Posted

    The Historian: Segue 2

     

    Year 3: 2287

     
    The Mojave was changing and progressing so much that the war between the NCR and the Legion seemed like hundreds of years ago. The theme of this time has been simple: progress. People were flooding in from lots of different places just for the chance to live in probably the only really thriving place on the known earth. 
     
    In 2287, more company progress meant more jobs for the people coming into the Mojave. More jobs meant less crime. Less crime meant less depression, chem use, and death. Healthier, safer environments meant more productivity and cooperation. 
     
    Without further ado, here are some companies that started to make traction in the Mojave: 
     
    The New Vegas Steel plant was up and running. Instead of concentrating on things like robots and weapons, the steel company was providing structures for rebuilding damaged and destroyed buildings and supplying Loyal and Jack in their transportation ventures. 
     
    Loyal had four operating small planes in his warehouse and had found enough trainable people to start building passenger planes. He said he did not know if he could live long enough to witness it, but he estimated that passenger planes would be flying the skies by as early as 2290. 
     
    The Samson Rock Crushing Plant, along with the Quarry Junction, was supplying the New California Republic with enough concrete and rubble to improve the integrity of the rails and rebuild sections of roads to make travel much easier. Concrete was also widely available to work on repairing and rebuilding damaged and destroyed buildings, helping communities like Boulder City and South Vegas to thrive. 
     
    People with farming skills were moving into the area, allowing brahmin and bighorn ranches to grow, giving even more food supply to the Mojave. Some farmers even worked on cultivation of crops native to the Mojave, like broc flowers, agave fruit, maize, and jalapeno peppers. 
     
    The railway stations, still exclusively under the control of the New California Republic, were available in more locations for both passenger transport and business transport. The business side was the biggest because steel and concrete, as well as fresh crops, could easily be distributed to the places they were needed. Also, the NCR set up a special commuter baseball train to allow players and fans to travel to available locations. 
     
    The NCR continued its push outside the Mojave. Reports were that there were some places that needed heavy military presence, like Denver. That could mean bad news for the Mojave Baseball League if the NCR took its trooper/baseball players out of the area. Lee considered making a rule that no other soldiers could join the MBL while active. He said he would put the rule into effect if the NCR did move players out of the area. In that case, it was definitely a good thing the president’s brother owned one of the franchises in the MBL. 
     
    RobCo’s online network was fully operational and launched on the first of the year, available to everyone who could access it. For people who could not afford the service or had problems connecting in home from infrastructure damage, they could access the RNC at available network stations in schools, libraries, and community centers. The Baseball News Network division of the RNC was the first to launch with its Mojave Baseball League screen. 
     
    Nuka Cola was now an operating facility. Their concentration was on distribution of existing products and R&D for producing rad-free products, planned to launch in 2289. 
     
    Another California company, Radiation King, moved into the area. They set up their initial HQ in the Nevada Highway Patrol Station just south of Primm. Originally, they explained, the company produced nuclear-age products, like home televisions. The company restructured in California following the fallout by focusing on decontamination ventures. Radiation King said that it would work to decontaminate any irradiated zones in the area to make those places safe to travel through and eventually safe to live. They said that Jack Rabbit Springs could be rad free by 2291 and Camp Searchlight by 2295. 
     
    The Toxic Dump Site between Novac and Nelson had been filled in before, but it still was heavily irradiated, so Radiation King said it would fix that area, too, along with the Old Nuclear Test Site, Vault 34, and an area of Black Mountain that required a radiation suit to travel through. 
     
    All of those things mentioned above affected the MBL in a positive way of some sort, except for the potential loss of active-duty NCR troops. But there was one event that happened in early 2287 that turned the MBL on its head. I will give you an account based on the eye witness reports of the people on duty. 
     
    2.13.87 – Unlucky 13
     
    There was nothing atypical about the day. The Strip carried on as it always did, quiet and recovering at 7:30 AM on a Sunday morning. Ebenezer Swank was milling about smoking a cigarette in the hallway of the 13th floor suites of the Tops Casino. 
     
    A young woman, a bit short and a lot country, walked past Swank in the hallway. She smirked as she passed him. Swank noticed the tight pants and couldn’t resist. 
     
    “Damn, baby,” Swank called out. “I never saw anything like you up here before. What’s your name?”
     
    The young woman turned around. Swank’s two bodyguards were checking her out, too. “You can call me Cheyenne,” she said. 
     
    “Cheyenne. I like that. Want to come in old Swank’s room and have a cup of coffee and shoot the old two-headed bull to start the day?” 
     
    “Definitely,” she said. 
     
    “Ring-a-ding!” 
     
    Swank opened the door to his suite. “Sorry, doll, but company policy. My boys here have to pat you.” 
     
    “Pat away,” she said. The smirk remained on her face as the well-armed boys ran their hands over every millimeter of her body. After they were finished, and she was found to be sans weapons, she and Swank walked into the suite. The door shut and locked out the panting bodyguards in the hallway. 
     
    They stood guard. Ten minutes, twenty, thirty. It was almost an hour before the young woman walked out of the room. “I think I wore him out. He’s asleep now and told me to give you this.” 
     
    She handed the bodyguards a note in Swank’s handwriting: “Boys, I’m taking a rest for awhile to rebuild my energy. Wake me up by noon.” 
     
    The young woman smirked at the body guards. “Thanks for the good time.” She strolled towards the elevator, and she was gone. 
     
    At noon Swank still had not emerged from his room. By that time the early gamblers had started making the Tops tons of caps and it was usually Swank’s job to keep them happy and spending. The bodyguards knocked, and, after a time of no response, one of the guards used his key to enter the room. 
     
    When they found Swank, he was naked and covered in blood. He had been stabbed multiple times with what appeared to be a thin, sharp object, almost like the hairpin that held up the young lady’s hair. A police investigation confirmed that it was indeed a hairpin that did Swank in. They were now on the lookout for a woman who went by the name Cheyenne.
     
    On February 13, 2287, Ebenezer Swank was no more. Lee had to act fast to get things back in order.

  19. Posted

    Year 2 Offseason: Winter Meetings

     

    Mojave Baseball Map smaller.png 

     
    The second offseason in the Mojave saw more changes and more moves. Lee's idea was to convert all teams to the location model over the sponsor model, but he understood why things might remain for some of the teams. Still, with franchise relocation and renaming, the Mojave Baseball League showed that it was not yet carved into a mountain. 
     
    Winter Meetings: 
     
    I. Team Name Changes/Relocations
     
    Three franchises relocated, sending the name changing and need for Michael Angelo brand jerseys yet again. Angelo had already been working on adding a second jersey to each Prospects League team. Now he had to change up a few of the Mojave Baseball League teams, too. 
     
    Vault-Tec relocated from Primm to South Vegas and became the South Vegas Vault Boys. Atomic Wrangler moved from Westside to Boulder City and became the Boulder City Atomic Wranglers. The Sunset Sarsaparilla Fire Ants left Nellis Air Force Base to take the Atomic Wranglers' place in Westside and became the Westside Sarsaparillas. The South Vegas Cazadores had to leave because their parent team took over their stadium, so they moved to Bonnie Springs. Finally, the RobCo Robots were forced to leave Boulder City, so they moved to Nelson and became the Nelson RobCo Robots. 
     
    Primm and the Nellis Air Force Base allowed their franchises to leave with Lee's promise that they would receive a new franchise to begin play in 2288. Locations of their affiliated PL team were not yet determined, though there was talk of adding a second stadium in Freeside, along with possible locations in the secured Fort, a second, smaller stadium built at the Nellis AFB, and Boulder Beach. 
     
    A map of all franchise locations in 2287 has been attached. 
     
    II. Realignment
     
    Along with franchises relocating, it was necessary to realign divisions to maintain geographical integrity. 
     
    In the MBL, there was only one change. The Westside Sarsaparillas moved from the East to the Central Division, and the Boulder City Atomic Wranglers went from the Central to the East. 
     
    In the PL, division alignments changed to the North, West, and East divisions. 
     
    The North Division was made up of: Aerotech Tops, Bonnie Springs Cazadores, H&H Tool Company Reds (play at the Whiskey Rose Caravans Park - note that this is an old map, so it still shows the old name, Crimson Caravans, on the map), and Sloan Quarriers. 
     
    The West Division was made up of: Hidden Valley Ranchers, NCR Cubs (play in NCR Correctional Facility), Nipton Phoenix, and Nuka Cola Westerners (play in Mojave Outpost). 
     
    The East Division was made up of: 188 Traders, Bitter Springs Refugees, Cottonwood Lakelurks, and Nelson Robco Robots. 
     
    III. Rule Changes
     
    The following rules changes were proposed: 
     
    A. Expanding active roster to 26 players. ACCEPTED 27-2.
     
    B. Limiting PL rosters to 35 players. ACCEPTED 19-10.
     
    C. Changing names of league awards. ACCEPTED 26-3. 
    Owners felt these awards were not representative of the feel of the Mojave since they were all named after baseball players only Lee had ever heard of. Therefore the new award names were: Lead Dealer Pitcher Award, New Vegas Samurai Hitter Award, New Kid Award, Return to Sender Defense Award, and Mojave Hardcore Mode Postseason Award. (Author's Note: Minus the "pitcher," "hitter," and "defense" words, these are all real accomplishments in the Fallout: New Vegas game!)
     
    C. Adding more chems to the banned chems list. 
    Some of the chems are hybrid forms. Slasher was added as a major chem. Other chems that have ability-enhancing properties that are now banned include: ant nectar, ant queen pheromones (stronger version of ant nectar), coyote tobacco chew, healing powder, and mushroom cloud. 
     
    Suspension times were not yet determined at the time of the meetings, but slasher was expected to carry a 15-game suspension for first-time use, and all others around 5 games. 
     
    D. The RobCo Network Center would officially sponsor the Mojave Baseball League screen. RobCo would create a division of its RNC to be called the Baseball News Network, or BNN. ACCEPTED 28-1. 
     
    IV. Scouting Caravans
     
    Last year, the league approved scouting caravans to expand beyond the Mojave, as well as holding independent talent camps. Lee gave updates on the scouts sent out in September. 
     
    Baseball camps had been established in and around Shady Springs in California and parts of Texas. Though population was sparse in a lot of the desert areas, preventing full baseball camps, Lee said that scouts were recruiting some players to join the league. 
     
    Since none of the players recruited for the 2287 season were in the Mojave in time for the draft, all players with a signed certificate by a league-approved scout could join the league as a free agent for the 2287 season. Individual scouting reports would be prepared on the players' ability and secret personality reports would be available based on the scouts' investigations and observations. Also, scouts out east were trained to look for signs of Legionaires in disguise.  
     
    Though the California Pipeline was rejected in voting, Lee convinced the owners that it would be a good idea to form a definitive pipeline in California to absorb talent and keep profits higher, lest the more highly-populated California areas form their own baseball league and poach talent from the Mojave. (Author's poll for anyone reading this and willing to respond: If I can get this league to last for, let's say more than six years, do you think it's a good idea to add a competing league in the Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 environments? Or, would you prefer the Mojave to remain the central location of the league? Or, would a spin-off be more suitable? Let me know what you think!) 
     
    V. Winter Meetings Trades
    * = blockbuster trade - highly-rated player traded 
     
    1.1.87
     
    * Boulder City traded 20-year-old SP Julio Cortes to Ultra Luxe for 33-year-old SP Sixto Deleon and 18-year-old MR Pat Jones. 
     
    1.2.87
     
    * Boulder City traded 28-year-old SS George Gray and 29-year-old LF William Harris to Westside for 19-year-old 3B Chris Andrews, 18-year-old MR Eric Gregory, and 18-year-old SP Harry Adams.
     
    Boulder City traded 33-year-old LF John Butler and 19-year-old C Zach Williams to South Vegas for 28-year-old MR Wally Grant.
     
    Camp McCarran traded 16-year-old rookie C Johnny Teague to North Vegas for 39-year-old 3B Francisco Sandeater and 30-year-old RF Ben Bell.
     
    Boulder City traded 19-year-old CF Nate Goff to Freeside for 33-year-old SS Max Rutledge and 29-year-old SP Ronnie Walker.
     
    * Goodsprings traded 35-year-old SP Wilfred Buckley to North Vegas for 20-year-old 1B Jesus Martinez and 21-year-old SP Jim Jones.
     
    Goodsprings traded 26-year-old MR Ronald Cobb for 17-year-old 3B Ben Adams.
     
    The Tops Mutants traded 26-year-old center fielder Zack Cameron to the Gomorrah Devils, getting 17-year-old minor league starting pitcher Rob Cunningham and 20-year-old minor league catcher Santiago Yucca in return.
     
    1.3.87
     
    Boulder City traded 31-year-old MR Lake Water to Tops for 17-year-old MR Tim Burton.
     
    Novac traded 21-year-old RF John Fisher to North Vegas for 19-year-old SP Bill Peterson.
     
    Tops traded 19-year-old SP Billy Robertson to Freeside for 19-year-old CF Bob Conant.
     
    * Goodsprings traded 28-year-old 3B Duane Antqueen to South Vegas for 29-year-old SP Willie Miller.
     
    New California Republic traded 18-year-old 2B Brandon Skinner to Camp McCarran for 17-year-old MR Kane Horton.
     
    1.4.87
     
    Goodsprings traded 17-year-old RF William Sparks to Tops for rookie 16-year-old SP Grognak King and rookie 16-year-old 2B Chuck Wilkerson.
     
    New California Republic traded 38-year-old MR Billy Ross to South Vegas for 37-year-old LF John Stanley.
     
    * New California Republic traded 22-year-old RF Steve Davis to Gomorrah for 27-year-old CL Basket Zapp.
     
    South Vegas traded 20-year-old CF John Wagner to Freeside for 18-year-old 3B Alf DeLayer.

  20. Posted

    Year 2 Offseason: late August - December News and Notes

     

    8.20.86 – Player suspension (chem use)

     
    Freeside’s Cristian Fernandez was found to have Rebound in his system, meaning the minor league pitcher will begin his first three games of 2287 on the sidelines. 
     
    Fernandez was 9-2 with a 5.48 ERA in 111.2 innings pitched for the Nipton Phoenix this past season. 
     
    8.25.86 - League Champions
     
    Vault-Tec is now the champions of the Mojave Baseball League. The Vault Boys defeated the Novac Dinosaurs 4 games to 1 in the First Round and then beat the North Vegas Radscorpions 4 games to 2 in the Mojave Series to become this year's winner. 
     
    Now that the season is over, the league will not test for chems until players report back for spring training. 
     
    9.13.86 – Player news
     
    Sunset Sarsaparilla received bad news from its great but troubled close Carlos Colon. The twice-suspended player, who had a 0.67 ERA and 22 saves, decided to sit out the 2287 season to get himself in order. 
     
    According to a team press release: “Carlos decided that he was having a hard time staying focused. He decided it was best for him to sit out the 2287 season to wander the Mojave and get his life in order. We don’t like it, but we have to accept it. We just hope he stays safe out there.” 
     
    9.21.86 - Player injury
     
    Just a week after losing its closer, Sunset Sarsaparilla had more bad news when shortstop Joe Chase ran into a randy Nightkin. Chase received multiple injuries to his ah um guh ytrzdryts and will be out for at least the offseason and possibly part of the season if he has any complications from his surgery. 
     
    10.5.86 - Player injury
     
    Cliff Worley of Ultra Luxe wanted to visit the site where he had word of an old family honor: the Yangtze Memorial near Goodsprings. Unfortunately for him, a small group of Golden Geckos were nearby, making Worley's memorial trip also life-threatening. 
     
    Luckily for Worley, a young woman, whom he said had a "beautiful smirk," was nearby and Varmint Rifled the geckos to death. 
     
    10.5.2286 - Mojave Draft
     
    Round 1
    Round 1, Pick 1 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: SP Tower Carlson
     
    Round 1, Pick 2 - Freeside Kings: SP Christian Coleman
     
    Round 1, Pick 3 - Gomorrah Devils: SP Josh Horn
     
    Round 1, Pick 4 - Tops Mutants: SP Andy Montgomery
     
    Round 1, Pick 5 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: RF Toy Moriarty
     
    Round 1, Pick 6 - Atomic Wrangler Wranglers: CF Z35 Khan
     
    Round 1, Pick 7 - Camp McCarran Brahmin: RF Dave Green
     
    Round 1, Pick 8 - New California Republic Bears: SP Clark Griffith
     
    Round 1, Pick 9 - Sunset Sarsaparilla Fire Ants: 2B Buster Cherry
     
    Round 1, Pick 10 - Novac Dinosaurs: CF Jim Samuels
     
    Round 1, Pick 11 - Vault-Tec Vault Boys: SS John Sheffield
     
    Round 1, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: C Chris Forceps
     
    Round 2
    Round 2, Pick 1 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: CF Lonnie Doerr
     
    Round 2, Pick 2 - Freeside Kings: SP Eric Holmes
     
    Round 2, Pick 3 - Gomorrah Devils: 1B Jarred Oldviper
     
    Round 2, Pick 4 - Tops Mutants: SP Grognak King
     
    Round 2, Pick 5 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: CF Martín Valdés
     
    Round 2, Pick 6 - Atomic Wrangler Wranglers: CF Clyde Wallace
     
    Round 2, Pick 7 - Camp McCarran Brahmin: CF Jake Cole
     
    Round 2, Pick 8 - New California Republic Bears: C Clark MacDonald
     
    Round 2, Pick 9 - Sunset Sarsaparilla Fire Ants: CF Dan Green
     
    Round 2, Pick 10 - Novac Dinosaurs: SP Leo Walker
     
    Round 2, Pick 11 - Vault-Tec Vault Boys: SS Walter Hamilton
     
    Round 2, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: 3B Jeff Morrison
     
    Round 3
    Round 3, Pick 1 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: SS Fred Hodge
     
    Round 3, Pick 2 - Freeside Kings: RF Mercury Rising
     
    Round 3, Pick 3 - Gomorrah Devils: 3B Joe Davies
     
    Round 3, Pick 4 - Tops Mutants: 3B Richard McCarthy
     
    Round 3, Pick 5 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: SP Dave Schroeder
     
    Round 3, Pick 6 - Atomic Wrangler Wranglers: CL Bill Alexander
     
    Round 3, Pick 7 - Camp McCarran Brahmin: CF Bud Bowen
     
    Round 3, Pick 8 - New California Republic Bears: SP Steven Foster
     
    Round 3, Pick 9 - Sunset Sarsaparilla Fire Ants: 3B Pewter Agave
     
    Round 3, Pick 10 - Novac Dinosaurs: SP Vince Wagner
     
    Round 3, Pick 11 - Vault-Tec Vault Boys: SP Byron Low Ton
     
    Round 3, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: SP Bobby Hutchins
     
    Round 4
    Round 4, Pick 1 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: C Chris Oglethorpe
     
    Round 4, Pick 2 - Freeside Kings: SP Ken Mathis
     
    Round 4, Pick 3 - Gomorrah Devils: C Jeff Walker
     
    Round 4, Pick 4 - Tops Mutants: SP Junior Meyer
     
    Round 4, Pick 5 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: SS Luis Mercado
     
    Round 4, Pick 6 - Atomic Wrangler Wranglers: SP Justin Ingram
     
    Round 4, Pick 7 - Camp McCarran Brahmin: SP Jason Rainey
     
    Round 4, Pick 8 - New California Republic Bears: SP Arthur James
     
    Round 4, Pick 9 - Sunset Sarsaparilla Fire Ants: CF Luis Cerda
     
    Round 4, Pick 10 - Novac Dinosaurs: 3B G10 Khan
     
    Round 4, Pick 11 - Vault-Tec Vault Boys: SS George Everett
     
    Round 4, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: SS Pete Moore
     
    Round 5
    Round 5, Pick 1 - Ultra Luxe White Gloves: 3B Chris Cactus Juice
     
    Round 5, Pick 2 - Freeside Kings: SS António Serrano
     
    Round 5, Pick 3 - Gomorrah Devils: C K95 Khan
     
    Round 5, Pick 4 - Tops Mutants: 2B Chuck Wilkerson
     
    Round 5, Pick 5 - Goodsprings Lucky 38s: SP Bullets Bush
     
    Round 5, Pick 6 - Atomic Wrangler Wranglers: SS Mark Banks
     
    Round 5, Pick 7 - Camp McCarran Brahmin: C Johnny Teague
     
    Round 5, Pick 8 - New California Republic Bears: SS Chris Montgomery
     
    Round 5, Pick 9 - Sunset Sarsaparilla Fire Ants: SP Sami Ekman
     
    Round 5, Pick 10 - Novac Dinosaurs: 1B Jesse Blood Pack
     
    Round 5, Pick 11 - Vault-Tec Vault Boys: SP Lawrence Boucher
     
    Round 5, Pick 12 - North Vegas Radscorpions: SP R.J. Brown
     
    10.22.86 - Player injury
     
    The Mojave Desert is not a place to be trifled with, but what do you do when you have a backed up sewer line in your house and have to delve down into the sewers yourself to fix the problem? 
     
    Well, if you're lucky, you only run into some mole rats, which can easily be killed with a couple of swift thrusts to the head with a lead pipe or baseball bat. 
     
    If you're Vault-Tec's Jack Jackson, you may start to understand why your 35-year-old self is milling about in the minors and not with the championship club. 
     
    According to Jackson, two mole rats in the sewers approached him. He swung his baseball bat at the slow-moving fellows, but . . . whiffed. That gave one of the mole rats enough time to take a chunk of meat out of Jackson's leg before he found his mark and clubbed the critter to death. 
     
    Perhaps someone should work on his swing after he recovers from his leg wound. 
     
    11.9.86 - Player leave
     
    Novac's Mojave Desert Blue has been feeling a bit, wait for it, blue. 
     
    The young closer, who looks like he can play in the Mojave Baseball League at a full-time clip soon, stated that he missed his family and needed to take a trip north to their place. 
     
    There have been rumors of wandering Deathclaw packs near the Northern Passage, so we hope Blue is traveling with a well-armed entourage.

  21. Posted

    Year 2 Offseason: Lee’s Memo

     

    The second offseason was just as busy as the first. There were lots of changes to come in the Winter Meetings. Again Lee addressed the league in a memo with announcements of exciting new and future changes. 

     
    9.21.2286
     
    Greetings, owners! 
     
    Congratulations to Vault-Tec and Leonard Strausser for your masterful postseason run. Also, congratulations to North Vegas and Novac for their postseason appearances. Finally, congratulations to Camp McCarran's PL team Nuka Cola winning the championship. 
     
    This offseason we have some exciting changes to the league. One thing that we have discussed before is that we are going to try to expand our baseball influence to areas outside of the Mojave. Though I have no immediate intention to expanding the league franchises outside of the Mojave, we can find talent elsewhere. Therefore, starting today, I have sent scouts to different secured locations (thanks again, Mr. House, for your spectacular robot army!) in surrounding areas west, north, and east of here. By next year, I hope to have an eligible array of players from California, Arizona, and beyond. 
     
    This offseason, Winter Meetings will begin on January 1 and conclude on January 4. I have a few things I would like to put on the ballot, including some proposed rule changes and discussing the relocation proposals of multiple teams in both the MBL and PL. Also, at the meeting we will officially unveil our brand new Mojave Baseball League screen as part of the official launch in the Mojave to the RobCo Network Center. 
     
    As with everything, stay safe out there and see you all at the end of the year. 
     
    Comm. Lee

  22. Posted

    Year 2: Offseason - Awards

     

    Lefty Grove Trophy (Best Pitcher)

     
    2286AwardsWard_zpsc62f838d.jpg
     
    1. SP – Bob Ward, Novac – 10-3, 1.60 ERA, 162.2 IP, 51 BB, 147 K
    2. SP – Nate Camp, North Vegas – 15-3, 2.34 ERA, 157.2 IP, 47 BB, 118 K
    3. SP – Wilfred Buckley, Goodsprings – 12-5, 2.54 ERA, 145.1 IP, 30 BB, 156 K
     
    Babe Ruth Trophy (Best Hitter)
     
    2286AwardsOKill_zps34665deb.jpg
     
    1. 1B - George O’Kill, North Vegas – .323, 22 2B, 29 HR, 73 RBI, 63 R, 59 BB
    2. 1B – Edward Simpson, Sunset Sarsaparilla – .333, 31 2B, 3 3B, 21 HR, 74 RBI, 72 R, 34 BB
    3. CF - Bob Franklin, Sunset Sarsaparilla – .280, 16 2B, 1 3B, 29 HR, 90 RBI, 69 R, 28 BB, 16 SB
     
    Top Rookie (Best Player Under 23)
     
    2286AwardsRiveria_zpsea287847.jpg
     
    1. 1B – Francisco Riveria, Novac – .304, 17 2B, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 45 R, 21 BB
    2. RF - Angel Serrano, Vault-Tec – .259, 14 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 56 R, 35 BB, 19 SB
    3. 1B - Tom Junktown Junkie, Gomorrah – .291, 19 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 46 R, 9 BB, 22 SB
     
    Mojave Postseason Award (Best Playoffs Performance)
     
    2286AwardsSexton_zpsf0784924.jpg
     
    1. LF - James Sexton, Vault-Tec – 11 G, 46 AB, 17 H (.370 AVG), 4 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 10 R, 5 BB
    2. SP - Tom Nelson, Vault-Tec – 4 G, 4 GS, 2-0, 2.88 ERA, 25 IP, 11 R, 8 ER, 8 BB, 25 K
    3. SS - Joseph Dillon, Vault-Tec – 11 G, 42 AB, 17 H (.405 AVG), 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, 7 BB, 1 SB
     
    Honus Wagner Defense Trophy (Best Defensive Player per Position)
     
    P – Jim Ford, New California Republic
    C – Robert Glass, Sunset Sarsaparilla
    1B – Scary Danny Parker, Atomic Wrangler
    2B – Stu Vanstone, Goodsprings
    3B – Ted Snyder, Novac
    SS – George Gray, Atomic Wrangler
    LF – Mike Duncan, Goodsprings
    CF – Gerardo Makejoo, New California Republic
    RF – Josh Spread, Tops

  24. Posted

    Year 2: Mojave Series, Game Six

     

    22862-6A_zpsbe93e763.jpg 22862-6B_zpsf90775a0.jpg

     
    Rodriguez Dominates Again, Vault-Tec Wins Mojave Series
     
    Game three may have been an epic battle with one unearned run doing Ricardo Rodriguez in. But that had nothing to do with game six, where Rodriguez pitched 8.2 innings of dominant baseball in helping the Vault Boys win the Mojave Series. 
     
    Vault-Tec won 6-1 over North Vegas.
     
    Rodriguez finished the game giving up one earned run on seven hits with five strikeouts. He threw 124 pitches before being pulled with two outs in the ninth after giving up a double and single. Wally Grant finished the game. 
     
    Rich Richmond was the losing pitcher, allowing four earned runs on four hits with two walks in only two innings. 
     
    The Vault Boys jumped out to an early lead on Richmond and the Radscorpions in the top of the first. Angel Serrano led off with a walk, followed by a Tony Donnellson double to move Serrano to third. James Sexton then hit an RBI ground out for a 1-0 lead. Joseph Dillon followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. 
     
    North Vegas also scored in the first. With one out, Kirby Brown hit a solo home run. That would be all the scoring the Radscorpions would have off Rodriguez. 
     
    In the second, the Vault Boys extended their lead. Vaughn was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Rodriguez then bunted him over to second. Serrano then doubled in Vaughn for a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Sexton singled in Serrano for a 4-1 lead. 
     
    Carlos Gonzalez replaced Richmond in the third. MC Mack Walt Williams led off with a single for the Vault Boys. Anthony Savage and Raul Castro then walked to load the bases. Vaughn followed that up by knocking in Williams on a sacrifice fly for a 5-1 advantage. 
     
    The series’ final run came in the ninth. John Mulvaney saw his first action of the postseason in relief for North Vegas. With one out, Sexton and Dillon walked. With two outs, Savage hit an RBI single for the 6-1 final. 
     
    Based on his two-game performance, Rodriguez was named the Mojave Series MVP. In two games, Rodriguez finished 1-1 with a 0.54 ERA. He allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits with a walk and 11 strikeouts in 16.2 IP. Rodriguez did not play in the first round series due to injury.

  25. Posted

    Year 2: Mojave Series, Game Five

     

    22862-5A_zps30485398.jpg 22862-5B_zps4cd26b1e.jpg 22862-5C_zpsdeb30aac.jpg

     
    Vault-Tec Rallies Late, Takes 3-2 Lead
     
    Vault-Tec was just seven outs away from being swept at home and falling behind three games to two. And then, something clicked. A two-out rally led the Vault Boys to an 11-7 game five victory over North Vegas in the Mojave Series. 
     
    With two outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the seventh, game MVP Tony Donnellson got a clutch RBI single to cut the Radscorpions lead to 7-4. After a wild pitch moved Donnellson to second, James Sexton singled him home. North Vegas then pulled starter Nate Camp for Curt Petty. Joseph Dillon answered the pitching change by hitting a single, followed by a MC Mack Walt Williams walk. Anthony Savage then singled in Sexton to cut the lead to 7-6. Raul Castro followed up with a two-RBI single to give the Vault Boys their first lead, 8-7. 
     
    Vault-Tec then pulled away in the eighth. Alex Raines singled to lead off, and Donellson hit a two-run homer, his second of the game, for the 10-7 lead. After a pitching change, Sexton made it back-to-back homers for the Vault Boys for the 11-7 final. 
     
    Each team went back and forth in the early game. With one out in the top of the first, North Vegas’ Kirby Brown reached on an error. With two outs, George O’Kill singled. Bill Cole then singled in Brown and both runners advanced on the throw to the plate. Vault-Tec starter Tom Nelson then threw a wild pitch to score O’Kill and give the Radscorpions a 2-0 lead. 
     
    The Vault Boys answered in the bottom of the inning. Angel Serrano led off with a single, followed by Donnellson hitting a first-pitch homer off starter Nate Camp. That homer tied the game 2-2. 
     
    In the second, North Vegas’ L’il Tony T-Snizzle Hensley led off with a walk. Duncan Whaley then reached on an error by Arlen Vaughn. Camp followed with a sacrifice runner to move up the runners. Squirrel And then hit an RBI ground out to give the Radscorpions a 3-2 lead. 
     
    Vault-Tec again tied the game in the third. With two outs, Joseph Dillon hit a solo home run to straightaway left field to knot the game 3-3. 
     
    The Radscorpions looked to take the momentum for the series in the fifth. And led off with a Walk. With two outs and And at second, O’Kill hit a two-run home run for a 5-3 lead. Bill Cole then singled, followed by an RBI double by Arthur Glass for a 6-3 advantage. After Nelson was pulled for Greg Thompson, Hensley singled in Glass for a four-run lead. 
     
    Thompson was credited for the win. He gave up no runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings. The starter Nelson allowed seven runs, four earned, on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 4.2 innings in the no decision. Wally Grant earned the save by not allowing a run or a hit in 1.1 innings. 
     
    Petty was the losing pitcher. He gave up two earned runs on three hits with a walk without getting an out. Camp, the starter, allowed six earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 6.2 innings in the no decision. All four North Vegas pitchers gave up at least one run. 
     
    Just like North Vegas’ offensive outburst in game four, the Vault Boys’ bats were in sync for game five with 16 total hits. Donnellson was by far the best bat, going 3 for 4 with two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. 
     
    The teams now travel back to North Vegas for game six. Vault-Tec will clinch the series by winning one of the two possible games scheduled.