Power Pros Forum

Prolouge

3/24/08
TEAM MEETING

"Name's Benny Leo. I'm the new owner, and your boss. Before you think anything about me, you need to know that the #1 thing to me is winning. That's it. That's my only rule. Win." Benny was optimistic—it seemed like he was the only one in the room who was.

"Um, Mr. Leo? You know we're in the same division as the YANKEES? And the RED SOX? And the BLUE JAYS? And the RAYS? How are we supposed to win?" That was from Adam Jones. He wanted to establish that this owner wouldn't be any different than the last fifteen.

Benny didn't take the bait. "You know how we're gonna win? You're going to perform. You're going to work harder than you ever have. In your LIFE. Do you hear me? We're going to win because EVERY SINGLE ONE of you is going to listen to every word I say and nothing I don't. Because if you can't do that…" A stunned silence filled the room.

"…then I guess that we'll have to be champions with somebody else." He slammed the door on the way out.

After a few free agent signings and a salary-dump trade, here's the roster:

Orioles 2008 Opening Day Roster

ROTATION AND BULLPEN

Guthrie
D. Cabrera
An. Reyes (From Trade)
James (FA Signing)
Trachsel

Loewen
Burres
Albers

F. Cabrera

Bradford
G. Thompson

Sherrill

LINEUP AND BENCH

B. Roberts--2B
Mora--3B
Markakis--DH
G. Johnson--1B
L. Scott--LF
Huff--RF
Payton--CF
R. Hernandez--C
T. Perez (FA Signing)--SS

Quiroz--C
L. Hernandez--IF
Schumaker (From Trade)--OF

AAA

Patton
Sarfate
Hoey
J. Johnson
Aquino
Bierd
Cherry
Ray

E. Torres
S. Moore
Bynum
A. Jones

I'm not doing agents this time. I'm going to do more of a story log.

Is this for ps2 or wii? Cause if it's for ps2 I can give you a great DH to use...

If he needed players, he would ask.

Oh...ha ha

A new log from BennyBaseball. This should be good!!

Great, I love story logs. Hopefully, you've read this one: http://www.mlbppworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2477
Arguably the best story log ever on this forum.

Yours doesn't have to be as crazy or unrealistic as that one

I think the Orioles will have less murders than the Sinners.

3/30/08
MANAGER'S OFFICE

"It's nice to be a manager again," the newly-hired manager told Benny Leo.

"Only the best," Benny insisted. "I heard the Yankees wanted you, but they had to keep Joe Torre. Why would they let go of him? Of course, we have the 2006 NL Manager of the Year, and his name is Joe Girardi."

"So, what do I need to know about the team?" Joe wondered out loud.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter who they are, it matters that they listen to me. That goes for you too, understood?"

"Yes, Boss."

"Good. Now, they're going to have work ethic, they're going to have heart...and most of all, they're going to win. If that is understood, then they can goof around and have fun. Just so we're clear, I'm not against fun and games, but if they don't care about winning, then we're turning the SUV around, if you know what I mean. They either perform, or they're not going to Disneyland. Make sure they stay loose, but remember their goal."

"Got it. I can put together a good team, Boss."

"I sure hope you do." Benny felt he said what needed to say: He wanted to create a loose environment without losing sight of what was important. He made sure to make specific note of having fun, because he needed them to be happy. If the team was feeling good, they would work together. But if not...

"Because if you don't? Then you will be gone. GONE. Do you hear me?"

"Uh...y-yes, Boss..."

"Good." ...then there would be consequences.

3/31/08: vs.

Guthrie Gem Protected By Scott Homer as O's Win Opener

BALTIMORE—Jeremy Guthrie and Scott Kazmir contested a pitcher's duel for the ages, matching out for out in the game. Both pitchers escaped tight spots, with Kazmir escaping first-and-second three times and Guthrie escaping a bases-loaded situation. However, after getting BJ Upton to ground to short with runners on second and third in the top of the eigth, Guthrie knew he had nothing left in the tank. Thankfully, the first and only run of the game was earned by the O's on a two-out, deep shot to center field by Luke Scott, his only hit of the day. Closer George Sherril was trapped in a tight spot as well in the top of the ninth, as Hernandez gave up a passed ball with runners on second and third. Thankfully, he recovered in time to hold the runners, and they wouldn't score to give Sherril an Opening Day save.

Final: 1-0 O's
W: Guthrie
L: Kazmir
S: Sherril
MVP: Scott, Sherril
HR: Scott

O's

Guthrie (W): 8 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 7 K, BB
Scott: 1-4, HR
Mora: 3-4, 2B, K
Sherril (S): IP, 0 R, 2 H, K

TB

Kazmir (L): 7 2/3 IP, R, 11 H, 5 K
C. Peña: 2-3, K
Longoria: 1-3, 2B, BB, K
Percival: 1/3 IP, 0 R, H

4/2/08: (1-0, 1-0 against OPP)vs. (0-1, 0-1 against OPP)

Markakis Grannie Saves Day For O's

BALTIMORE—After Luke Scott's game-saving shot on Monday, Nick Markakis played hero today, turning a 2-3 pitcher's duel into a 2-7 embarrasment with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth. The Rays would rally it to 4-7 in the bottom of the ninth, but Dioner Navarro wasted his chance for a grand slam, instead popping up to the catcher for the final out.

Final: 4-7 O's
W: D. Cabrera
L: J. Shields
MVP: Markakis
HR: Markakis, C. Peña

O's

D. Cabrera (W): 5 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 3 K, 3 BB
Markakis: 2-5, GS, 2 R

TB

J. Shields (L): 5 1/3 IP, 7 R, 17 H, 0 K
C. Peña: 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB, K
Longoria: 0-4, 3 K, BB

4/3/08: (2-0, 2-0 against OPP)vs. (0-2, 0-2 against OPP)

"One Hell Of A Ballgame:" O's, Down 7, Put Up 10-Spot, Hold On To Lead

BALTIMORE—"It was one hell of a ballgame," manager Joe Girardi told the press after today's game. It was, in fact, Girardi who decided to bench Brian Roberts and Luke Scott after the sixth inning. But in the bottom of the seventh, the team got a hit. And another. And another, and another… Before the fans at Camden Yards knew it, the 9-3 score turned to 9-4, 9-5…The crowd could tell something special was happening after it went to 9-7. But the O's weren't done. They would go on to bump it all the way up to 9-13, scoring ten runs against the dumbfounded Rays. The Rays would score two off of reliever Chad Bradford, but it wouldn't be enough. Sherril came on to get the final three outs of the incredible ballgame.

Final: 13-11 O's
W: Patton
L: A. Reyes
S: Sherril (2)
MVP: L. Hernandez
HR: L. Scott (2), C. Peña (2, 3), BJ Upton

O's

Payton: 2-5, 3 RBI, R
L. Hernandez: 1-2, 2 RBI, 2 R
Mora: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R
G. Johnson: 3-5, 2 RBI, R
T. Perez: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, K

TB

Crawford: 5-5, 2B, 4 R
C. Peña: 2-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 K
BJ Upton: 3-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R

4/4/08
OWNER'S BOX

"Read this headline, George. 'Girardi, Leo Question Sherril's Ability.' Why, now, would we possibly think that, George?"

"Hm." George Sherril didn't know how to answer, so he decided to get straight to the point. "Listen, Boss. I just made a mistake. That's all. Everybody does."

"Oh, you made a mistake? Really? I never would have guessed!". Benny's voice bubbled over with sarcastic venom. "You blew the game. We were up 5-4. And you didn't just give up the lead. You COST US the game. Now, George, I would've been perfectly accepting of that…but tell me, why in the world would we now question your ability? Four games into the season, nonetheless?"

"I haven't the slightest." George was trapped, and he knew it.

"Because, George, Fernando was in a worse situation than you--top 3 of the Seattle batting order with nobody out? He ended that in six pitches! Great Thompson had to clean up YOUR mess…and he got through that like it was nothing! Now, George, do you see wha--"

"But Boss, they wer--"

"No 'but's. The truth is, there are two guys who are after your job. And in regards to the game…if you want to keep your job, we just can't have that."

George nodded, and walked away.

Fernando Cabrera is awesome in this game. He's one of my favorite relief pitchers.

I had a bad feeling about Sherril, but I want to give him a little bit longer.