Season Log: Iowa City Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:39 am

August game summaries

[Switched CPU fielding and baserunning to "powerful"]

8/8: Lincecum dominates the Boston Red Sox, allowing one run on six hits as he uses his newly-improved level 5 slider to pitch a complete game. Final score: four – one, Country.

Week 17: for the week ending 8/8, Country SS Huisman was one of the players of the week. During this week, he hit 500 with two RBIs and several stolen bases

8/10: When Nick Swisher almost single-handedly tied the game on a two run double in the second and a solo homerun in the fourth, the momentum seemed to have shifted to the White Sox, and when a Pence solo homerun in the fourth was matched by a Konerko 5th inning homerun, the score remained tied until a Pence RBI double the bottom of the eighth gave the Country a five – four lead, which would stand as the final score

8/11: When the Country jumped out to a six – one lead after four, it seemed to be an insurmountable lead, but big innings by the White Sox in the eighth and ninth innings, including a two run homerun by Konerko, tied the game at seven. In the bottom of the ninth, the second batter to the plate was Erdos, who took a first pitch changeup and put it just over the left-field fence for a walk off opposite-field homerun. Final score: eight – seven, Country

[ Broxton put on 15 day disabled list with elbow pains]

8/12: A pitching duel between the Sox and Country was on display, as the White Sox scored one run in the fifth and took a one – zero lead into the bottom of the 9th, aith their ace, Buehrle, looking to throw a complete game. Erdos led off with a two – two single to right center field, stole stole second, and scored on a Spilborghs double to left center field, bringing up Josh Fields who drove in the winning run with a bloop single too shallow right center. Other then the three hits by the first three Country batters in the bottom of the ninth-inning, they only had four hits all game. Final score: two – one, Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:46 am

8/13 – 15/2010: Iowa City Country versus New York Yankees Series Preview

Preview: The Yankees are in second place in the AL East, trailing the 68 and 48 Red Sox by four games. If the season where to end today, the Yankees would be in the playoffs as a wildcard team, although they are only two games ahead of division rival Rays. The Yankees infield is very formidable, as it has been for many years. Team captain, Derek Jeter, mans the shortstop position as well as anyone, although his arm strength seems to have declined this year. Morgan Ensburg plays a solid third-base, but his offensive power is down slightly this year to a level C. Most would not think it possible, but the Yankees may have actually improved at second base, adding Dan Uggla (DBBEDD) to compete with Robinson Cano (CBCEDC) at second, though Cano remains the starter. And of course, Mark Teixeira is one of the most feared first baseman in baseball. They have declined at catcher, replacing Posada with LoDuca (ECFDDC). All-Star Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are solid in the outfield, although right fielder Gettis (DFFEEE) is weak. Most analysts are scratching their heads at the Yankees starting Gettis in rightfield instead of adding Chone Figgins (BCBFCD) into the outfield mix and, potentially, playing Figgins, Damon, and Matsui.

The Yankees have not sustained their pitching depth as their fans may have hoped. The once great Andy Pettit has declined to a pitcher with little control or stamina, but he still has a fierce cutter, while Mike Mussina has declined so much that he is in AAA. "Moose" still possesses a fierce knuckle curve, but is more suited to short relief these days with his level E stamina. With Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano not developing as the Yankees had hoped, their ace is Wang, followed by Shaun Hill (91 DB CB – three, CH – three, SK – two), Ian Kennedy, and the aforementioned Pettite.

2010 trades:

The Country: For this series, the Country are without set up man Broxton, who went on the 15 day disabled list a couple of days ago, and Jack Cust, sent to the minors to recover from purple condition. The Country's 2nd round draft pick was called up to pitch in middle relief and Josh Hamilton replaces Cust on the roster

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Apr 28, 2013 12:37 pm

8/13/2010 – game one: Country Rijo (97 DB SL – four, CB – three, FO – three) versus Yankees Pettitte (92 FC 2SF – two, CU – five, SL – two, CB – two, CH – two)

Final score: five – four, Country

Game two: Country Depablos (94 DB SL – four, CB – four, VSL – three) versus Yankees Hill (91 DB CB – three, CH – three, SK – two)

Final score: six – three, Yankees

Game three: Country Lincecum (100 DB SL – five, 2SF – three, DCB – four, CH – four) versus Yankees Tankersley (94 DE 2SF – one, SL – two, CH – two)

Inning one:

Inning two

Innings five-six:

Inning eight:

Final score: nine – five, Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Apr 29, 2013 5:40 am

August game summaries

8/23/2010: Country at Rangers. Three times, the Country had runners in scoring position and failed to score, but they scraped together two runs in spite of themselves and then a Cust homer brought in two more in the fifth, while they're starting pitcher, Bailey, continued to pitch a strong game, striking out three batters with his two seam fastball, two with his hard slider, and two with his drop curve, ultimately throwing his first complete-game shutout of his career. Final score, four – zero, Country

8/24: The Country were lucky that when the Rangers put runners at first and second with no out in the top the third, starter James was able to close out the inning with only one run allowed, and when the Country scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth, that was all the runs they would need. Final score: three – one, Country

8/27: In this pitching duel between the AL west division leading Athletics starting pitcher, Tata, and the Country's Rio, the Athletics pushed a run across the plate in the fourth and took a one – zero lead into the bottom of the seventh, when the Country finally put together a rally culminating in a 2 run double from Josh Fields. The Athletics and Country each scored a run the following inning, and that wound up being the final score. Three – two, Country

8/29: With the AL and Western and Central division leaders having their aces duel it out, Tim Lincecum crushed Joey Blanton, as the Country sent Blanton packing in the sixth after building a five – zero lead, and Lincecum ended up pitching a complete game four hit shutout. The Country hit five homeruns – two apiece by Hamilton and Johnson. Final score: seven – zero, Country

8/30: The Rangers Jared Wright pitched well while the Rangers bunched together hits against Country starter Bailey, taking a four – zero lead into the fourth and never looking back. Final score: seven – two, Rangers

8/31: timely hitting by the Rangers, including a three run homerun from Marlon Byrd followed by a 3-run sixth inning gave the Rangers a commanding eight – four lead, but a late inning comeback, including Spilborghs hitting for the cycle gave the country a one run lead entering the bottom of the eighth, but that lead was short-lived, as the Rangers again grouped singles together And took a 10 – 9 lead into the 9th, which wound up being the final score of the game.

For the month of August, Tim Lincecum was named the monthly MVP. In August, Lincecum had 4 wins, a 1.76 ERA, and 25 strikeouts. Lincecum currently leads the American League with 15 wins

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:58 pm

GM-CAP GURU MEETING

GM: OK, so how do we stand currently?
CG: It should be another great year. We are on target to bring in $121 million from regular season games, and our salary expenses are only $32 million again this year.
GM: We renegotiated a bunch of contracts last offseason - how is our total salary the same?
CG: While we increased some salaries, others were reduced, plus we let Milledge go and had several trades where we packaged 2 or 3 players for 1, like with Hamilton (the 1st time), Lincecum, and Pence. Our average per player salary may have increased, but with fewer players on payroll, we are staying even.

GM: $121 million would mean a $20 million drop off from 2009. Explanation?
CG: I'm not sure, but I think the difference is mainly from post-season games. If we go all the way to the World Series, total income should be similar.

GM: Gotcha! Well, with that kind of spread between income and expenses, we shouldn't have a financial problem with offering market value contracts.
CG: Especially if we can lock up our key players long-term.

GM: So, you know which of our players will be FA and restricted FAs. What is their market value?
CG: Here's my report, Sir.

Hunter Pence, 27 (CBDCBC), $400,000

OF Spilborghs, 30 (BBADFD, 4-lefty, 4-clutch), $1 million

OF Erdos, 23 (BDBEDD), $490,000

C McCurdy, 25 (CDECDC) $1 million

SS Huisman, 28 (BDCCCD) $540,000

Andrew Brown, 29 (96 DE SL – four, CB – three, CH – five, Ground ball pitcher) $900,000

Lincecum, 26 (100 DA 2SF – three, SL – four, DCB– Four, CH – four) $900,000

Depablos, 22 (94 DB SL – four, CB – four, VSL – three) $470,000

Rijo, 23 (97 DB SL – four, CB – three, FO – three) $490,000

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:17 pm

September game summaries

9/1: with the rosters expanded, the Country followed their own tradition and played almost everyone who was brought up from the minor-leagues with the exception of two or three "regulars." The minor league players played well defensively, and put runners in scoring position, but we're not able to cross the plate. The Rangers put together a big fifth inning in which they scored three runs. Homeruns by Spilborghs and Fields kept it close, but the Country were unable to get any closer and were swept in the final game, three – two.

9/2 – 5/2010: Iowa City Country versus Seattle Mariners – the Mariners are currently one game behind the Rays and the Tigers in the battle for the wildcard. This season, they were generally quiet on the trade front – exchanging lesser skilled players for lesser skilled players

Game one: Country Rijo (97 DB SL – four, CB – three, FO – three) versus Mariners G Cruz (91 DB SL – two, CB – one, CH – two)

Neither pitcher appeared sharp, each giving up four runs in the first four innings. Rijo was replaced by long reliever Stratton (88 DC SL – three, CB – four, FO – three, SHU – three) to start the fifth. The Country seized the lead in the bottom of the fifth on one of Josh Hamilton's two homeruns, and while the Mariners kept the game close, they could not overcome that deficit.

Final score: seven – five, Country

Comments:

Game two:

Game three:

Game four:

Josh Hamilton was named MVP for the week ending 9/5. During that week, he hit 476 with four homeruns and eight RBIs

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed May 01, 2013 5:45 am

How to Beat the Country: pitching, hitting, & fielding

As the title implies, teams that beat the Country usually need all 3 parts of their game - pitching, hitting, and fielding - to be working effectively because the Country usually play well in all aspects of the game. However, there are several things teams can do to increase their odds of getting a W, and we are going to talk about them.

FIELDING

Other teams' choices to go for the lead runner results in a lot of situations in which everyone is safe and can create a big inning. In a recent example, the Country had runners at 1st and 3rd, 1 out; the Country batter grounded a ball just to the left of 2b - maybe 2 steps away; instead of going for the double play, the SS threw home, the run scored, and it left runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out. The Country's choices show a preference to have a runner at 3rd with 2 out, or to allow a runner to score, but erase all other base runners. This prevents big innings and is an approach that probably should be copied by other teams.

PITCHING

HITTING

MISCELLANEOUS

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed May 01, 2013 9:38 pm

September game summaries

9/8: With the Athletics Joe Blanton facing off against the Country's Rijo, fans of good pitching really got their money's worth as the Country went ahead one – zero in the fourth on a solo homerun from Jack Cust, and it wasn't until the seventh inning against the Country's Broxton that the Athletics were able to tie the game. Blanton continued to pitch well into the 10th inning, when he grooved a fastball that Dan Johnson hammered for what would turn out to be the winning run. Final score: two – one (10), Country

9/9: When Mariners starter AJ Dickey (87 FD SL – one, CB – one, CH – two, KN – one) took the mound against Country spot starter Stratton, we did not expect a pitching duel, but when Dickey failed to make it out the first inning – serving up three home runs on changeups, it gave the country a the beginning of a blowout. Instead, the Mariners pounded the Country pitchers with doubles and a couple of homeruns in the mix, and the Country barely held on to an 11 – 9 victory

9/10: In a matchup between the Mariners ace, Zach Duke, and Country ace Tim Lincecum, Orlando Hudson started the game with a bang – his second game in a row with a leadoff homerun, but a monster fourth inning by Seattle left the Country behind four – one. The Country scored one in the fourth and one in the fifth, with the tying runner thrown out at home plate by Ichiro Suzuki, but Lincecum could not contain the Mariners in the sixth, exiting after allowing two runs to score. With the Mariners leading six – three in the eighth and runners at first and second, Spilborghs entered the game as a pinch-hitter and doubled off the left centerfield wall, bringing in two runs. A strike out and pop out to the catcher by Dan Johnson and Jack Cust stranded the tying runner in scoring position, and then the Mariners taxked on a run in the eighth, sending the game into the 9th inning leading seven – five. That would wind up being the final score

Playoff assessment: the Country clinched the division a while back and probably also guaranteed themselves home-field advantage until the World Series. If the season were to end today, the White Sox would be the wildcard team, as they have the second best record in the AL. The Yankees and Red Sox are currently Tied for the Eastern division lead, both one game back of the White Sox. The Rays have an outshot outside shot at the wildcard, being two games behind both the Yankees and Red Sox. The Western division leading Athletics are four games ahead of the Mariners, and with the White Sox and three Eastern division teams ahead of both the Athletics and Mariners, it seems that the only way for either of those teams to make the postseason is as the division leader.

In the National League, the Astros have a commanding lead – 12 more wins then their Central division rival the Brewers and the other division leaders - the Braves In the East and the Padres in the west. The Braves only have a one game lead over the New York Mets and Florida Marlins in the Eastern division, while the Padres have a two game lead over the Rockies and a three game lead over the Dodgers.

9/11: After the previous day's 12 run offensive demonstration, today's game must have made the pitching coaches smile, as the Mariners hit an early homerun, but the Country took a two – one lead in the third, and then neither team pitching staff allowed any more runs until a ninth inning Fields homer. Harden started the ninth inning with a three – one lead and allowed the tying run to reach base before recording the final out.

Note:

9/12: Today was even more of a pitching duel, as Country starter, James, had a one-hit shutout entering the seventh while the Mariners 2009 draft pick was throwing a two-hit shutout. In the top of the seventh, Dan Johnson singled with one out and then Cust put the country on the board with a two run dinger over the centerfield fence. The Mariners did score a run when Bettencourt doubled and scored on a fly ball that Erdos ran up to and then let drop 2 feet in front of him. Erdos later commented "it was close enough to the infield that I was just coming in to back up Huiseman. I didn't realize our shortstop wasn't going after the ball." James would stay in to complete the game. Final score: two – one, Country

Jack Cust was named MVP for the week ending 9/12. During this week, he hit 385 with 6 home runs and 11 RBIs

9/14: This opening game against the powerful Tigers was tense through the end of the seventh inning, as the Tigers' Willis kept the Country off the scoreboard, except for a fifth inning solo homerun by Fields, while the Country's Grindell was throwing a shut out three-hitter, but the wheels fell off for the Tigers in the eighth , as the Country erupted for five runs and tacked on another in the 9th, while the Tigers took advantage of Country reliever Oliver for 3 runs. Score: seven – three, Country

9/15: This crazy game started off as a pitching duel between the Tigers Galarraga and the Country's Rijos, each looked dominant over the first three innings, until Rijos gave up 2 runs in the third on hits from the Tigers 8-2 hitters. After Hamilton cut the Tigers' lead in half with a solo hr in 4th, the Tigers erupted for 4 runs in the bottom of the inning, taking a six – one lead. The Country then had their biggest inning of the year – an 8 run outburst highlighted by a two run double from Cust and a three run homerun from Merrill. The Country's nine – six lead was short-lived, as the Tigers added another four runs, grabbing a one run lead entering the sixth. Erdos put the Country up by a run with a two run homerun in the 6th, but the Tigers tied it up with a run in the bottom half. When the Country loaded the bases in the seventh with less than two out, but only brought in one run, it marked the second time that game that they were unable to bring in more than one one with the bases loaded and fewer than two out, but they did take a 12 – 11 lead that Jiang, Broxton, and Harden would preserve for the win.

9/16: Some games were just not meant to be won, and the fifth inning when the Tigers got their third bunt base hit of the game, this one against the Country's bunt shift when it was bunted down the third-base line, but Fields, about 1 foot away from the ball, decided to retreat to third-base even though there was only one runner on first at the time, seemed to be one of those games. This seemed to be the case, again, when the next batter grounded a weak ball to second, but for some reason Hudson insisted on racing towards home plate and forcing the Country's right fielder to run to pick up the ball, allowing two runners to score and Granderson to reach third. We give Lincecum credit for maintaining his cool enough to finish off the inning with a strikeout of Vladimir Guerrero and inducing Miguel Cabrera to pop out to the catcher. A two run home run from Orlando Hudson the top of the eighth brought the Country to within a run, and a double from Erdos allowed Cust to score the tying run, coming all the way around from first. In the bottom half of the inning, back to back doubles from Granderson and Guerrero, followed one out later by a Rodriguez single against Country reliever Jiang gave the Tigers a two run lead entering the top of the ninth. The Country were able to add another run when Josh Hamilton knocked in Schrager on a pinch-hit double, but were unable to tie the game. Final score: six – five, Tigers

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2013 8:20 pm

9/17-19: Iowa city country versus Chicago White Sox

Playoff picture: this three-game series is the last time these teams will meet this season. The Country follow this with two series against the Indians, a series against the Royals, and they wrap up their season with a two game series against the Twins. After winning the series against their division rival Tigers, the wildcard is the White Sox to lose, as they are four games up on the eastern division 2nd place Red Sox and well ahead of the second-place Western division Angels. If the White Sox get swept while the Red Sox surge, the White Sox could miss out on this year's post season. The Country are five and one against the Red Sox this season and nine and zero against the White Sox, so they may not have a strong preference as to which wildcard team makes it.

9/17: Game one: Country Bailey (94 DB 2SF – three, HSL – three, DCB – four) versus White Sox Nolasco (95 FC 2SF – one, CB – three, CH – two)

Both starters pitched well, with the Country taking a one – zero lead in the third when Hudson dug a fastball out of the dirt and put it over the right-field wall for what was (at the time) only the Country's second hit of the game. The score remained one – zero until the bottom of the eighth when Hudson looped an RBI single over the head of the White Sox second baseman, allowing Huisman to score. That wound up being more than enough, as Bailey, Brown, Jiang (called in solely to pitch to Jim Thome with the tying run on base in the eighth) and Harden combined for an 8 hit shutout.
9/18: final score, 3-1, White Sox

9/19: 3-2, White Sox

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Fri May 03, 2013 9:54 pm

Country end of season lineup review

As we approach the post-season, we wanted to take a look at the Country lineup. While this is made more difficult by the Country manager's propensity to rest players in blue condition and demote starters in purple condition to recover, and by his working certain rookies into the lineup to test them out, a standard lineup has shown itself, based on the players who usually start when everyone is healthy. Following is that lineup:

Spillborghs, CF (CCADFD): The fastest player on the team, he is hitting over 380, but has been prone to more "off" days at the plate this season than in prior, and is not hitting well in the clutch. He has batted 1st or 3rd most of the season, but has recently been shifted to 6th or 7th as his struggles with runners in scoring position continue.

Erdos LF (BDBDDE): one of the highest on-base percentages for the Country and one of their top base stealers, Erdos has shown a surprising amount of power this year. He successfully fought off Matt Kemp and Josh Hamilton for a starting OF spot, which is quite an accomplishment! He batted 2nd throughout most of the season, but has also batted 1st, 3rd, and 6th.

Hudson, 2B (CBABAB): arguably the most dynamic player in the majors since last season, he is a force in the infield, where he consistently robs opponents of base hits and has a great arm for double-plays, as well as on offense, where he hits for power and average, and is a base stealing threat. He is batting lead off most of the time recently, but has also batted 3rd for much of the season.

Cust, DH (BABCEG): Last year's Triple Crown winner can still carry the team offense for long stretches. He is normally the cleanup hitter, but has shifted to 3rd on occasion.

Fields, 3B (CBEBFD): an above average arm at third, Fields is second in the League in homeruns, mainly because he feasts on left-handers. He often bats 6th or 7th against righties, and 4th or 5th against lefties.

Pence, RF (CBDBCD): their best outfielder has been consistent, if not spectacular at the plate, moving runners-up and hitting decently in the clutch. He is 4th in MLB in home runs, has a batting average over 300, and generally bats 5th against righties and 6th against lefties (when Fields moves up to 4th or 5th).

Johnson, 1B (BBDDDB): Johnson was having an off year offensively until late August, but has been surging ever since; his defense continues to be above average. After the trade for Pence, Johnson batted 7th for much of the year, but has been shifted to 3rd recently when a righty is pitching and Spilborghs is moved towards the back of the lineup.

Huisman, SS (BDCCCD): He's been extremely productive at the plate all year, making some wonder if last year's acquisition of SS DeVore and this year's SS Finnigan was a kick in the pants, although Huisman did not really need one. With his increased production, he was moved from the 9-hole to 8th back in July, and now regularly sees time in the 2-hole. In his second full year since switching to SS, it is hard to imagine the former catcher being anything, but a SS. He makes a dynamic double-play team with Hudson.

McCurdy, C (CDECDC): solid at the plate and behind it, he is throwing runners out at an excellent clip and the balls coming off his bat seem to find holes in the infield more times than not.

Josh Hamilton, CF (DBDDDE, left-2, clutch-4): his surge at the plate after the Country acquired him for the 2nd time this season pushed Kemp down to the miners. His continued hitting and ability to make contact and go the other way against lefties have forced the manager to get him into the lineup at the expense of Erdos (mostly) and Spilborghs. He does not start against lefties, but he also is not removed when a lefty reliever enters the game.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sat May 04, 2013 9:53 pm

September game summaries

9/20: This opening game against the Indians was very tense, as the Indian starter, Sowers, kept the Country off-balance with a five hit one run game through seven innings. The Indians led 2-1 on an RBI single in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth, but the Country scored the tying run in the eighth and then, off of a tiring Sowers, Jack Cust hit the go-ahead homerun in the top of the 9th - a 1-run lead that Harden would successfully protect. Final score: three – two, Indians

9/21: another exciting game in which the Indians lead two – zero after one inning, six – one after four, but the Country came back with one run in the fifth and two runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game before winning it in extra innings. Final score: seven – six (10), Country

9/22: Lincecum pitched well, though he was not his dominant self, allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over six innings. The Indians Carmona was very strong, throwing a two-hit shutout for the first six innings before a seventh inning single by Spilborghs, followed by a stolen base and two (poor) fielders choices allowed Spilborghs to score. With the tying run at second, the go-ahead run at first, and one out, Fields meekly grounded a 3-0 pitch to second for an inning ending doubleplay. The Indians took back their two run lead on a Hafner RBI double. The score remained three – one, Indians entering the ninth inning when Hamilton stepped to the plate with two out, one on, and smacked a one – zero hanging sinker over the right-field wall for the game-tying homerun. In the bottom of the ninth, the Indians put runners in scoring position, in part because Josh Fields did not hurry when retrieving the ball hit down the third-base line and was late in making his throw. Thus, it seemed only fitting when backup second baseman Aaron Hill hit a soft grounder to third that Fields retrieved but was, again, late in making his throw, allowing the winning run to score. Final score: four – three, Indians

Comments: perhaps a sign of the inefficiencies of the countries pitching and defense today was a how the Indians eighth and ninth batters, both boasting contact and power levels of F, went a combined 5/8. This is the 1st game the Country lost this season, entering the bottom of the 9th, tied.
9/24– 26: Iowa City Country at Kansas City Royals

Game 1: 3-2, Country

Game 2:

Game three:

At this point, the post season is virtually set. With five games left in the season, the Yankees magic number is two, while the Athletics clinched the west. The White Sox have won the wildcard race , holding a 6 game lead over the Rays, who overtook the Boston Red Sox, with five games left in the season, while the Western division Mariners lag in the distance. If the playoffs matchups are set strictly based on records, the Country should play the Athletics in round one while the Yankees and White Sox battle each other.

In the National League, the race is much closer. The Astros wrapped up the Central division a while back and it seems that their top rival in the central, the Brewers, have pretty much fallen out of contention for the wildcard. In the East, the Marlins hold a one game lead over the Mets and a two game lead over the Braves win five games left to go. In the West, the Padres hold a three game lead over the Dodgers and a four game lead over the Rockies. it appears that the winner of the Western division will finish with a worse record than the wildcard, which is almost certain to go to the second-place eastern division team

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Tue May 07, 2013 4:28 pm

September game summaries

9/27 – 29: Iowa City Country versus Cleveland Indians

Game one: Country Grindell (94 EB CU – four, CB – three, PA – three, HSK – four) at Indians Francis (91 BA 2SF – two, SL – two, CB – two, CH – two)

Final score: six – five, Country

Game two: Country Rijo (97 DB SL – four, CB – three, FO-three) versus Indians Byrd (90 FB 2SF – two, SL – one, CB – one, CH – two)

A second inning homerun by Josh Hamilton and a third inning double by Hudson that brought in two runs gave the Country to a three – zero lead after 3. Hafner started the fourth inning with a solo homerun. That was the only run that Rijo would allow, but when he exited with runners at first and second in the eighth-inning, Broxton ultimately allowed them to score on a Haffner single. Jorge Posada followed that with an RBI single that brought in the go-ahead run. In the bottom half of the inning, Joe Thurston singled, moved the second on a fielders choice, moved the third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Orlando Hudson. The game remained tied at four until the top of the 13th when reliever Stratton allowed two base hits and then a double. Stratton was unable to shut the Indians offense down, allowing mother to run to score, and sending the game into the bottom of the 9th with the Indians enjoying a three run lead that the Country could not match.
Final score: seven – four (13), Indians

The AL playoffs are set. The Yankees clinched the east, the Athletics clinched the west, and the White Sox clinched the wildcard. In the National League, the Marlins continue to cling to a one game lead over the Mets and a two game lead over the Braves while the Padres only need to win one of their last three games (or one loss by the Brewers) in order to clinch their division.

Game three: Country Lincecum (100 DA 2SF – three, SL – five, DCB – four, CH – four) versus Indians Laffey (89 EB SL – three, CH – two, SFB – one)

Final score: eight – seven (12), Indians

9/30 – 10/1: Iowa City Country at Minnesota Twins (simulated)

Game one: Four – two, twins

Game two: Five – one, Country

Players of the month were announced and Harden was listed as picture of the month and relief picture of the month for September. During this month, he had 11 saves, an ERA of zero, and seven strikeouts

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Tue May 07, 2013 4:47 pm

2010 playoff preview

National League

American League

Why the Country will not win the World Series:

Why the Country will win the 2010 World Series:

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed May 08, 2013 8:58 pm

Playoffs round one: Iowa City Country versus Oakland Athletics

Game one: Country Rijo (97 DB SL – five, CB – three, FO – three) versus Athletics Loaiza (93 FC CU – one, CCH – one, HSK – one)

Final score: four – two, Athletics

Other games: Yankees beat White Sox (eight – two), Mets beat Astros (10 – three), Padres beat Marlins (one – zero)

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu May 09, 2013 6:10 am

Playoffs round one: Iowa City Country versus Oakland Athletics (Cont'd)

Game two: Country Lincecum (100 DA 2SF – three, SL – five, DCB – four, CH – four) versus Athletics Tata (94 FB CB – two, CH – one)

Final score: 3 – 1, Country (one – one)

Other games:

Game three: Country Grindell (94 EB CU – four, CB – three, PA – three, HSK – four) versus Athletics Frese (91 EC SL – three, CB – one)

Final score: five – four, Country (two – one)

Other games:

Game four: Country Depablos (94 DB SL – four, CB – four, VSL – four) at Athletics Blanton (92 BA 2SF – one, SL – three, CB – two, CH – two)

Final score: six – one, Country (three – one)

Other scores:

Division final games:

Power Pros Forum

Season Log: Iowa City Country

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