World Series 11

WORLD SERIES MVP: .500 avg, 7 for 14, 5 runs, 2 doubles, home run, 4 rbi, stolen base

Hardball Dynasty's

Horacio Martin

Trenton Capitols

vs.

New York Mets R Pond Scum

Game 1: New York 5, Trenton 4
WP: Carlos Nunez (1-0)
LP: Jorge Alvarez (0-1)
SV: Rafael Castro (1)
HR: Dale Pritchett (1), Sammy Mota (1)
Player of the Game: Horacio Martin 3 for 3, 2 runs, 2 bb, sb
Note: Harry Martinez's 2-run pinch hit double in the 8th inning wins the game.

Game 2: New York 9, Trenton 0
WP: Tomas Armas (1-0)
LP: Mark Nakamura (0-1)
HR: Del Campos (1)
Player of the Game: Del Campos 1 for 4, run, 4 rbi, 3-run home run
Note: Armas and ex-Capitol Lonny Gonzalez combined for a 1-hit shutout.

Game 3: New York 10, Trenton 1
WP: Nick Ransom (1-0)
LP: Stewart Roberts (0-1)
HR: Santos Lopez (1), Santiago Santiago (1), Chris Henderson (1)
Player of the Game: Santos Lopez 3 for 4, 2 runs, 5 rbi, 3-run home run
Note: Seven shut out innings for Ransom.

Game 4: New York 5, Trenton 2
WP: Cliff Dessens (1-0)
LP: Steven Morgan (0-1)
SV: Rafael Castro (2)
HR: Horacio Martin (1), Julian Alcantara (1), Mark Garland (1), Kris Jones (1)
Player of the Game: Cliff Dessens 7 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 k, 1 bb
Note: Trenton goes 17 for 123 (.173) and scores only 7 runs in the series.

FINGERS FINAL FOUR / LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

For only the third time in league history the final four teams all won 100 or more regular season games. It happened in Season 1 and Season 6. And in both those occurences, the team with the best overall record never even made it to the World Series.

Salt Lake City vs. Trenton

Season Series: Salt Lake 7-3

Salt Lake 3-2 in one-run games; Tied 1-1 in games decided by 4 runs or more

Salt Lake finished with a franchise-record 104 wins and won their fifth NL West Championship. The franchise also won its first playoff series with a 3 games-to-one victory over Colorado Springs in the NLDS. And even though they are the #1 seed in the NL playing the #6 seed, Salt Lake looks to be the underdog in the NLCS. No Condor player hit more than 30 HRs, not one drove in 100 runs, and only one had more than 150 hits. Most of their hope rests on the pitching shoulders of three players: Boomer Charles, Donald Lee, Willie Ruiz. These three need to own the Caps' potent lineup and hope the rest of the pitching staff hangs tough.

There is no question that Trenton is the most successful franchise in Fingers without a World Series title. The Caps have 11 straight seasons of 100+ wins; 11 straight postseason appearances; five NL East division titles; and three NL Pennants. But again, no championship ring. This postseason, they have disposed of two division winners, and look to throw away another. If chicks dig the long ball, then Trenton has had multiple orgies. They led Fingers with 351 HRs in the regular season, and added nine more in nine postseason games. If a few of their six big boppers (Alex Rivera, Kris Jones, Dale Pritchett, Vasco Torrealba, Billy Strickland, Mark Garland) get hot, this series is over quick.

Scottsdale vs. New York

Season Series: New York 6-4

Tied 2-2 in one-run games; N.Y. 4-0 in games decided by 4 runs or more

For the 5th time in six season the Spartans will be playing for the AL pennant. And for the 5th time the juggernaut New York Mets R Pond Scum stand in the way. In each of the four previous ALCS matchups, the Spartans fell at the hands of their rival. Many times, the Scottsdale squad barely even fought back, posting a 4-16 ALCS record vs. the MaPS. For at least three games this team's success will fall on Norberto Almanza. The Spartans won all three times he started against the MaPS in the regular season (6 ERs in 20 IP). And he will have to lead this team to three more victories in the ALCS for them to have a chance.

New York has owned the Fingers League for six of the last seven seasons. They are on the war path for their second three-peat in what is possibly their last season in New York. Beating the MaPS in a 7-game series has been impossible for any opponent. Only one time in five Championship runs have the MaPS even been threatened during a 7-game series (They faced a 3 games-to-one deficit vs. New Orleans in the Season 9 World Series, and promptly won the last three games). It seems like the only way to stop the MaPS from winning is to have the game not simmed.

Season 11 Playoffs - First Round

American League


El Paso vs. Detroit
Good News: This is the first playoff appearance for both franchises.
Bad News: The winner plays a team on a quest for a second three-peat.
Season Series: El Paso 6-4; Four games decided by less than a run. 9 of ten games was decided by 3 runs or less.
Edge: Slight edge to El Paso. Only because they are the hotter team right now. They've won nine straight and 15 of their last 17.


Cincinnati vs. Boston
Good News: Neither will get the MaPS in the next round.
Bad News: History is against both teams regardless of who wins this series. The Mucklucks have never made it to the ALCS in six playoff appearances. And Boston has made it that far only once in 5 chances.
Season Series: Tied 5-5
Edge: Goes to Boston. The Brawlers lineup should be able to take advantage of the MuckLuck pitching staff. The Mucklucks only have 3 pitchers (1 spot starter, 2 relievers) with an ERA under 4.49 and the team as a whole walked nearly 4 batters a game.



National League


Colorado Springs vs. Portland
Good News: Portland won their 7th division title.
Bad News: Portland faces the 100-win surprise juggernaut from Colorado Springs.
Season Series: Portland 6-4; all four Colorado Springs victories were by 2 runs or less; while five of Portland's wins were by 3 runs or more.
Edge: Colorado Springs. The Rainbow Trout's starting pitching should outpitch Portland's. If CSP's bullpen holds up they win this series.

Trenton vs. Sante Fe
Good News: With at least two games in Sante Fe there should be some offensive fireworks in this series.
Bad News: Sante Fe has never won a playoff series in two tries, and Trenton hasn't lost a first round matchup since Season 4.
Season Series: Trenton 9-1
Edge: Trenton. The Caps have the playoff experience, they have the offensive power to match the Scorchers when the games are in Sante Fe, and they have better pitching.

Hardball Dynasty's

Harry Hinch

In Montreal, Hinch hit his 498th, 499th, and 500th career HRs. The 500th, a two-run shot to left center, came in the top of the sixth inning off of Bryan Patterson (5/7 AM).

2,000 Hits!!!

Hardball Dynasty's

Davey Nieves

2,000th career hit was a line drive single off of Sacramento's Felipe Seanez in 8th inning (5/4 PM1).

Seven Straight Seasons of 100 Wins

New York Mets R Pond Scum (AL) froidl View Hardball Dynasty Profile