Power Pros Forum

Series Preview: Honolulu Gunmen (19-19) vs. Kansas City Royals (19-19)
May 12th-14th

Key Players:

Zack Greinke - SP
3-0, 2.68 ERA, 40.1 IP, 54 K
96, B, A, 2SFB(2), SLD(3), SCB(3), CCHG(3), w/RISP 4, Fastball Life 4, Dr. K
Bio: At the ripe age of 24, Greinke is already one of the best pitchers in the game. With a mid-90's fastball, a sharp two-seamer, and three solid out pitches, he has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in the game for years to come.
Analysis: Greinke has been red hot, winning three of his first six starts and not losing any. He's currently 10th in the American League in strikeouts as he has posted a staggering 12.1 K/9. We'll likely face him in Game 3, so our hitters will have to come out prepared.

David DeJesus - CF
.343, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 12 2B, 4 3B, 9 SB
2, D, D, B, D, B, C, Spray Hitter, 2nd Position 4, Throwing 4, Base Running 4, Gd Rain, Aggressive RUN, Gd Eye
Bio: DeJesus, age 28, is an often overlooked but steady center fielder. His speed and base running ability make him a great leadoff man, even if his hitting is nothing more than average. He also plays an excellent center field, with great range and hands.
Analysis: David has started the season with a bang, as he is second on the team in batting average (Mark Grudzielanek, .357) and first in doubles, triples, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and stolen bases. His 12 doubles are good for seventh in the American League, behind 5 different players with 13 and Ichiro Suzuki, who sits atop the leaderboard with 16.

Ross Gload - 1B
.328, 6 HR, 33 RBI
2, D, C, D, C, C, D, Clutch Hit 4, VS Lefty 5, Bases Clearer, Gd Pinch HTR, Barehand CTH, Consistency 2, Pr Rain, Aggressive FLD
Bio: At age 32, Ross has settled in as a solid seven hitter in the Royals lineup. His hitting and fielding skills are each slightly above average, and he hits lefties remarkably well, being one himself.
Analysis: Ross has been the Royals' best power hitter thus far, smashing six home runs and driving in 33 runs.

Projected Pitching Match-ups:

Game 1
Akinori Otsuka (2-1, 5.67) vs. Zohar Jimenez (0-2, 4.38)

Game 2
Johnny Rivera (1-2, 3.06) vs. Luke Miller (0-1, 20.90)

Game 3
Michael Davis (3-0, 3.38) vs. Zack Greinke (3-0, 2.68)

May 12th, 2015

Honolulu Gunmen (19-19) vs. Kansas City Royals (19-19)

Recap

The scoring in this game started early, when the Royals strung together three consecutive hits to score a run off Akinori Otsuka in the bottom of the first. Those hits were then followed by a double that plated two more, giving Kansas City an early 3-0 lead. Otsuka was able to strike out Ross Gload to end the inning, but the damage had been done, and we had our work cut out for us.

To start the second, Matt McCarthy grounded a 3-2 pitch to left field for a base hit. Derek Wayne flew out, but Patrick Warr then doubled to center, setting up a great scoring chance. I held my breath is Donnie Wilde worked the count to 3-1 before crushing a fly ball to right field. I thought we might have tied the game, but it slice foul. Zohar Jimenez returned to the mound with a new ball. I took a deep breath, bowed my head, and heard a crack. I looked up to see David DeJesus and Mark Teahen racing to the left-center field gap. The ball fell, and both runners came across to score. I triumphantly pumped my fist while Zohar, on the first pitch to Steve Bernard, bounced one between the legs of catcher John Buck. Wilde ducked his head and sprinted to third, getting there easily. Bernard took the fourth pitch of his at bat on the ground to second, and with the infield playing in, Wilde was unable to score. Raines grounded out, and we headed into the bottom half down by one.

Otsuka pitched a perfect second, and Jose Medrano stepped up to the plate to lead off the third. Jimenez fell behind 2-0, and Medrano smoked a fastball back up the middle for a leadoff single. I called for a hit and run, and McElroy grounded to shortstop, advancing Medrano to second.

Juan Hernandez grounded one up the middle for a base hit, but Medrano was held up at third. Matt McCarthy then stepped up the plate and nearly hit the first pitch he saw out of the park, but it was caught at the warning track; meanwhile, both runners advanced, and the game was tied at 3. That tied was broken quickly, however, as Derek Wayne blooped a single to left field, scoring Hernandez and giving us a 4-3 lead.

After Otsuka forced three ground balls in the third, the Gunmen offense went right back to work. With the bases loaded and one out, Marcus McElroy lined a single to left field, scoring Steve Bernard. Unfortunately for us, Hernandez then grounded into a double play, ending the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Otsuka extended his streak of outs to nine batters.

To start the fourth, Matt McCarthy and Derek Wayne were each retired quickly; however, Patrick Warr took advantage of a mistake pitch by Jimenez, blasting a home run to left field and forcing the Royals starter out of the game after just 4.2 innings. Joakim Soria came in as his replacement, escaping the inning despite serving up singles to Donnie Wilde and Steve Bernard. Akinori Otsuka picked up something of a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the first two and ending the inning on a David DeJesus caught stealing.

The Gunmen bats failed to make anything of Jose Medrano's leadoff single in the sixth, and the Royals offense regained its life in the bottom half. Mark Grudzielanek singled to start the inning, and Mark Teahen doubled him home. Then, with the count at 1-2, cleanup hitter Jose Guillen drilled a curveball over the left field wall for a two-run homer. Just like that, the game was tied, and I motioned for Devin Edwards to come in out of the 'pen. Edwards worked quickly, getting the first three men he face to ground out, and we headed into the 7th all tied up.

The Gunmen were set down quickly in the top half, and Devin Edwards trotted back out to mound to start the bottom. The first batter he faced, John Buck, laced a line drive into the right-center field gap for a leadoff double. Shortstop Tony Pena then came up to the plate and slapped a grounder up the middle. Medrano raced to his left, and...

"*(censored)*."

The ball nearly grazed his glove as it rolled into center for a single. The slowness with which it was hit prevented Raines from having any sort of a chance at a play at the plate, and the Royals took a 7-6 lead. Edwards, fire in his eyes, struck out the next three batters he faced.

After our 8-9-1 hitters went down in order, I sent Adam Wilson out to pitch the 8th. He sent down the first three batters he saw, and we headed into the 9th needing just a single run. I knew the scouting report: Brett Tomko's ERA is sitting at 10.50, and he's probably one of the worst closers in the league. with the way we'd been swinging the bats, our chances were far from slim.

To start the inning, Marcus McElroy quickly fell behind 0-2. He worked it back to 2-2 and took a grounder down the third base line, but it was fielded on the backhand by third baseman Jeff Jordan. I started to feel more than a bit nervous as Juan Hernandez came to the plate.

Oh, wait.

Juan Hernandez.

I started to get a feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it wasn't the despair I had felt moments ago. Tomko let the pitch fly, and I knew it as soon as I heard the crack of the bat. The ball sailed over Mark Teahen's head in left, and then over the wall behind him. The entire dugout went nuts, myself included. Matt McCarthy sauntered up to the plate and took a few practice swings as Hernandez was busy being mobbed in the dugout.

Tomko, rattled, tossed a meatball on the first pitch. McCarthy swung with all his might, and the ball flew into the air. Back, back, back, and gone! The entire team went crazy again, but McCarthy's faced remained stern as ever as he rounded the bases, almost as if he expected to hit a home run. Tomko was promptly replaced by lefty Mike Miller, who served up a single to Derek Wayne. Wayne advanced to second on a hit and run, and I called for Danny Millwood to grab a bit in replacement of Donnie Wilde. Millwood, with the count at 2-2, lined a base hit to center field. Wayne came around to score, and our lead was extended to two.

On came Rick Allen in the bottom of the ninth, and out went Ross Gload and Miguel Olivo, on a groundout and strikeout, respectively. Tony Pena blooped a single to left, just over the glove of Jose Medrano, but final out was recorded on a grounder to second by David DeJesus.

Final Score:
Honolulu Gunmen - 9
Kansas City Royals - 7

Box Score
Win: Adam Wilson (1-0)
Save: Rick Allen (11)
Loss: Brett Tomko (0-4)
HR: Jose Guillen (5), Juan Hernandez (12), Matt McCarthy (9), Patrick Warr (8)

J. Medrano - 3-5, R, .333
M. McElroy - 2-5, RBI, .305
J. Hernandez - 2-5, HR, RBI, 2 R, .310
M. McCarthy - 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, .253
D. Wayne - 3-5, RBI, R, .327
P. Warr - 2-5, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 R, .263
D. Wilde - 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, .318
PH - D. Millwood - 1-1, RBI, .313
PR/3B - M. Mackenzie - 0-0, .208
S. Bernard - 2-5, .276
C. Raines - 0-4, .279

A. Otsuka - 5 IP, 8 H, 4 K, 6 ER, HR, 6.34
D. Edwards - 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K, ER, 3.86
W: A. Wilson - IP, 2.70
SV: R. Allen - IP, H, K, 8.10

May 13th, 2015

Honolulu Gunmen (20-19) vs. Kansas City Royals (19-20)

Final Score(11):
Honolulu Gunmen - 5
Kansas City Royals - 3

The scoring started in this game quickly, as a Derek Wayne scored on a double play ball in the 2nd inning. The Royals came right back, though, as John Buck belted a three-run homer to left field in the bottom half. In the third, Juan Hernandez and Matt McCarthy went back-to-back for the second game in a row, tying it at three, where the score would stay until the 11th inning.

Things weren't looking good for the Gunmen offense in the 11th, but with two outs, Juan Hernandez singled. Matt McCarthy followed that up with a walk, and Derek Wayne singled to left, loading the bases for Patrick Warr. Warr worked the count to 3-2, then fouled off the 7th pitch. Kauffman Stadium collectively held its breath as the 8th pitch of the at-bat was blooped over the head of Mark Grudzielanek and into center field for a single. Hernandez scored easily, and McCarthy came in right behind him, giving us a 5 to 3 lead. After Donnie Wilde grounded out, I called up Rick Allen to close the ballgame. He quickly retired the first batter, and although he served up a double, made quick work of the final two, picking up his 12th save of the year and putting us two games above .500 for the first time since May 6th.

Box Score
Win: Evan Lorrier (3-1)
Save: Rick Allen (12)
Loss: Luke Miller (0-2)
HR: John Buck (2), Juan Hernandez (13), Matt McCarthy (10)

Whoops, forgot to get the stats.

May 14th, 2015

Honolulu Gunmen (21-19) vs. Kansas City Royals (19-21)

Final Score:
Honolulu Gunmen - 6
Kansas City Royals - 3

We completed the sweep! Thanks to a solid start from Michael Davis, great work by the bullpen, and home runs from McElroy and McCarthy, we've completed a series sweep for the first time since April 13th against the Dolphins and for the second time in franchise history.

Now, it's off to Seattle, where we'll face off against the 16-25 Mariners. Also, at 22-19, we're now just two games behind the AL West leading Angels.

Box Score
Win: Michael Davis (4-0)
Save: Rick Allen (13)
Loss: Zack Greinke (3-1)
HR: Marcus McElroy (3), Matt McCarthy (11)

J. Medrano - 2-5, 3B, RBI, 2 R, K, .325
M. McElroy - 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R, .294
J. Hernandez - 0-4, K, .312
M. McCarthy - 2-4, 2B, HR, RBI, R, .259
P. Warr - 1-4, .275
R. Schapp - 1-4, 2 K, .179
D. Wilde - 0-4, K, .298
D. Millwood - 1-4, R, 2 K, E, .297
S. Bernard - 1-3, 2B, RBI, R, BB, .277

W: M. Davis - 5.1 IP, 4 H, 7 K, 4 BB, 3 ER, 3.60
H: M. Colyer - 2 IP, 2 H, K, BB, 3.75
H: A. Wilson - 0.2 IP, 2.63
SV: R. Allen - IP, H, 7.04

When do you plan on continuing the Preston Greene storyline?

Well, both past storylines were progressing at a much faster pace than the present day one, so I went until I reached a good stopping point in both of them and now plan on just doing game updates for a while.

It could be another month, until the All-Star Break, or until the end of the season. Depends when I get the itch to write.

Alright cool. I was really enjoying the storyline, but the game updates are still great.

November 29th, 2003

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?"

I looked up from my desk. I hadn't noticed until now that Adrian Andrews had entered my office.

"Uh... I'm sorry?"
"I don't know if you're distracted by having a wife or caught up in your home life or what, but whatever the problem is, you need to fix it."
"...What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? I'm talking about this!"

She slammed a newspaper on my desk. The headline read "Schilling Sent to Boston". Adrian continued.

"What were you thinking? Trading away half of the greatest 1-2 punch in baseball for a pitcher coming off surgery and a 23-year old with a career ERA of 4.99? I don't even know who the hell Jorge de la Rosa and Michael Goss are, but they sure has hell aren't Curt Schilling."
"I-I was trying to bring some youth to the team."
"Youth? For *(censored)*'s sakes, Weaver, if you were trying to bring youth to the team you could've traded for players that are worth something."

I wasn't used to being attacked like this, and something inside me snapped.

"You know what, Adrian? There's a reason I'm the General Manager and you're the assistant. And you know what else? Starting now, you're not even that."
"Are you firing me?"
"Get out."

Adrian was furious and began to leave, but turned around before reaching the door.

"You are young, inexperienced, and foolish, and you're going to run both this organization and your life into the ground," she stated firmly before storming out.

I assured myself she was wrong and decided to take the rest of the day off.

Michael Goss?

http://simyard.com/players/profile.php?player_id=924814&tab=SKILL ?

whoa mad drams up in here

That's a pretty cool coincidence. Although the the real Michael Goss wasn't a pitcher.

hey

nice team name

also, YO ADRIAN, you're fired.

I like the tension for the young GM though.

May 27th, 2004
10:15 P.M
SBC Park, San Francisco, CA

I watched from above as Jose Valverde wound up and threw to Damon Minor. Minor, a lefty, hacked at the first pitch and grounded the ball between first and second. Scott Hairston ranged left, but the ball rolled just out of his reach and into right field. Rodrick Reilly next to me watched, stone faced, as Danny Bautista charged in on the ball in a vain attempt to get Bonds at home, but it was useless. I buried my face in my arms as the stadium erupted into cheers.

I felt a pat on my back as I sat motionless. I wasn't surprised or even disappointed. Rather, I felt empty. The front office crew filed methodically filed out of the room. Soon, I was alone.

When I looked up again, the celebration on the field and in the stands was still ongoing. I watched as a container of Gatorade was dumped on Minor during his interview. By this point, the Diamondbacks players had retreated into the clubhouse, so SBC Park was a sea of Giants.

My phone buzzed. "Melissa Weaver".

For perhaps the first time, the thought of talking to Melissa, who had made a habit of calling me after our games, felt like a chore. I considered not answering, but immediately felt guilty and picked up.

"Hello?"
"Hey Matt," her voice was as soft and sweet as ever, but I almost felt annoyed by it. "Sorry about the game."
"Yeah, well, I am too," I replied. The words came out a bit harsher than I had intended.
"I wish the team was at home right now," she said. "I miss you."
"We're back on the 31st."
"I know, but I wish you were here now."
...
"Matty?"
"What?"
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine."
...
"Don't you wish the team was home right now?"
"Why? What difference does it make when we're home? We lose on the road and we lose at home and both happen 81 days a year and the dates don't even make a *(censored)* difference."

There was a pause longer than the previous two. I knew I was being awful, and I knew Melissa didn't deserve this kind of treatment, but I couldn't find it in myself to care. I decided to let Melissa break the silence.

"I suppose I'll get out of your hair then," she finally said. Her voice was sad, but mine remained firm.
"I suppose so."
...
"I'll talk to you tomorrow then?"
"Sure."

I don't know which one of us hung up first, but either way it was pretty quick. I knew I'd *(censored)* up, but I suppressed the guilt I felt creeping up by telling myself it'd all be water under the bridge by the 31st. I exited the room and headed into the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, I began to justify my actions.

I'm not obligated to talk to her after every damn game, and she should understand that sometimes I'm in a shitty mood after a loss like that.

That was a good argument. The sinking feeling in my chest dulled.

And seriously, why does she have to call right after games? She could call any other point in the day, for *(censored)*'s sake.

The remorse continued to fade and was almost gone at this point, which it needed to be if I was ever going to get to sleep that night.

And what was all the fuss about being home today? Baseball teams have road trips. What does she want, for us to play 162 home games a year? What is so special about today that-

I froze. The elevator doors opened, but I remained inside. Slowly, I pulled out my phone and looked at the date, but I already knew.

The elevator doors closed once again as I, leaning against the back wall, slid down into a sitting position and hid my face in my arms.

Oh shit, Matty, you done goofed.

you dunce

good luck bud