The MVPs of the weekend were, in order: Starlin Castro, Cole Hamels, and Kendrys Morales.
Standings, as always, after the jump:
MVPs of the Weekend (Sept. 18, 19 and 20, 2015)
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Breaking OOTP, Episode 1: PITCHERS vs. HITTERS
When my previous computer died, I lost the International Baseball Competition. I will try again next year. I might still have the original starting files to go on, and if I can find them, I will put them up so that you can do the IBC.
However, from the ashes of the 2015 IBC, there has risen…
BREAKING OOTP!
Yes, Out of the Park Baseball tasks me, so I must have it! I will force it to do things that it was not made to do, things that mankind was not meant to see simulated. Some will answer questions, some will settle scores, and some will push Out Of The Park Baseball to it’s very limits, to see if I can literally cause the game engine to beg for mercy.
(And, yes, this is basically Breaking Madden in OOTP form, you have a problem with that? Oh, and CLICK PICTURES TO MAKE THEM BIGGER.)
TODAY:
PITCHERS
vs.
HITTERS
Yes, for all time, the pitchers have waged war with those at the plate. But now, it is time to finally settle it once and for all, as a team made up entirely of pitchers will play a team made entirely up of hitters. And at the end of the day, ONLY ONE SHALL BE LEFT STANDING…. AFTER THE JUMP:
MVP of Yesterday (September 17, 2015): Mike Trout
Mike Trout had two home runs, one of them a grand slam, and he walked THRICE as well. He’s the MVP of Yesterday!
Standings, as always, after the jump:
MVP of Yesterday (September 16, 2015): Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder hit two dingers yesterday in the Rangers win over the Astros. He’s the MVP of Yesterday.
Standings, as always, after the jump:
Rochester Red Wings Programs of the Past: “Summer Fun in ’81” (and misspelling Cal Ripken’s name)
In this recurring piece, I look at the programs and yearbooks of my hometown Rochester Red Wings. This is the first part of the series.
In 1981, the Rochester Red Wings were, if nothing else, notable. They played in the longest game in baseball history- a 33-inning loss against Pawtucket that was begun in April and finished in June. Cal Ripken played his last full season in the minor leagues for Rochester. Future All-Star and Gold-Glover Mike Boddicker also played for Rochester that season.
So it’s as good a place as any to begin our look back at Rochester Red Wings programs/yearbooks.
(GO BELOW THE JUMP TO SEE)
World Baseball Classic News for 9-17-2015: Qualifier Pools Announced!
Well, I told you that more news was probably coming, and today it was confirmed, as the World Baseball Classic qualifying pools have been announced! They are (all qualifiers in 2016):
Qualifier 1 (Sydney, Australia on February 11-14th):
Australia
New Zealand
Philippines
South Africa
Qualifier 2 (Mexicali, Mexico on March 17-20th):
Mexico
Czech Republic
Germany
Nicaragua
Qualifier 3 (Panama City on March 17-20th):
Colombia
France
Panama
Spain
Qualifier 4 (Brooklyn on Sept. 22-25th):
Brazil
Great Britain
Israel
Pakistan
—
As you can see, they’ve mixed up the locations (only Panama is a return qualifying host), the pools (no pool has more than two teams that were in the same individual pool last time), and also teams (Pakistan has replaced Thailand). Some things to note here:
- MLB players will be able to participate in Qualifiers 1-3, but not Qualifier 4.
- It is again a modified double-elimination, meaning it’s double elimination until there are only two, at which point it’s a winner-take-all championship game. I’ve always had a problem with this format and feel a straight-up double-elimination would be better, but I understand how the organizers would like the drama of a winner-take-all game.
- Qualifier 4, in Brooklyn, is clearly meant to be a pool of teams that don’t have pro-worthy stadiums in their countries. It’s likely Brooklyn was picked due to New York’s diverse nature, with MLB and the other WBC organizers no doubt hoping that the city’s large Jewish population will turn up for Israel games.
- Looking at this right now, I’d say that Qualifier 2 will probably have the highest level of talent, Qualifier 3 will be the hardest for any one team to get out of, and Qualifier 4 will be the hardest to predict. Qualifier 1, by contrast, looks like it should be a fairly easy draw for Australia.
- I’m somewhat surprised that the Philippines is in Qualifier 1. I had a feeling they might make it an All-Commonwealth pool and have the Philippines be in New York City. At least, that’s what I thought after reading Jon Paul Morosi’s original post before it was official.
So, look in the coming days and no doubt more news will come out and I’ll take a look at some of the teams and other aspects of the qualifying tournament- like Pakistan’s baseball program.
MVP of Yesterday (September 15, 2015): Stephen Strasburg
An excellent night on the hill yesterday for Strasburg, as he gave up just one hit and struck out 14 against the Phillies.
Standings, as always, after the jump:
World Baseball Classic News for 9-15-2015: The WBSC makes it official
The WBSC (the World Baseball-Softball Confederation, formed from the combination of the IBAF and it’s softball counterpart to pool efforts to again make the Olympics) has officially sanctioned the 2017 World Baseball Classic and it’s qualifying rounds. This is mainly a formality that ensures that the official baseball federations are taking part and that it counts for certain international purposes, such as the world rankings.
So, with the tournament now officially official, it seems likely that more WBC news will start coming out soon. So stay tuned…
MVP of Yesterday (9-14-2015): Jayson Werth
Jayson Werth only had two hits yesterday, but they were both homers, helping the Nationals eek out a victory against the Phillies. He’s MVP of Yesterday.
Standings, as always, after the jump:
Over at @HOVG: “Wisdom and Links” looks at #FerrellTakesTheField
Aside
Over at Hall of Very Good, I have a new Wisdom and Links that has the normal links as well as a look at Ferrell Takes The Field.
The Baseball Continuum 