Season Log: Iowa City Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:59 pm

MrLiamcar wrote:

I like how it is going

Thanks! For this and your later post

Hey, readers. I just tried a 1/2 inning in exhibition mode at expert level and I've got some questions:

1. How do you hit homeruns? Do you just get lucky?
2. For me, it seems like the computer does a tit for tat thing - it seems to know what I'm throwing and the DB hitters can jack any pitch any time - a high cutter tailing in at the top of the zone? Yeah. A sweeping curve catching the outside corner? Yeah.* When you switch to expert mode, does the computer have as hard a time as you hitting homeruns?
3. Do you notice whether a pitcher holds the ball a 2nd longer to differentiate between a fastball and a breaking pitch?
4. When you pitch, do you use the flashing icon as opposed to the baseball option? The flashing option, I think, would drive me crazy.
5. Now that a few hours have passed I may just not remember, but I think the strike zone was not outlined. Is that right?

Thanks for your comments.

* I guess I could be experiencing this because I up the computers batting to all-star.

AnthonyP · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:02 pm

I play on all-star, and it does not present any problems. You just need to get used to it.

ZeroGibson13 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:03 pm

I know expert is very hard, I don't think the CPU has as much trouble as you do

Anthony: Expert, of the three normal difficulties, rookie, normal, expert.

philliesfan134 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:16 pm

ERISA Dude wrote:

MrLiamcar wrote:

I like how it is going

Thanks! For this and your later post

Hey, readers. I just tried a 1/2 inning in exhibition mode at expert level and I've got some questions:

1. How do you hit homeruns? Do you just get lucky?
2. For me, it seems like the computer does a tit for tat thing - it seems to know what I'm throwing and the DB hitters can jack any pitch any time - a high cutter tailing in at the top of the zone? Yeah. A sweeping curve catching the outside corner? Yeah.* When you switch to expert mode, does the computer have as hard a time as you hitting homeruns?
3. Do you notice whether a pitcher holds the ball a 2nd longer to differentiate between a fastball and a breaking pitch?
4. When you pitch, do you use the flashing icon as opposed to the baseball option? The flashing option, I think, would drive me crazy.
5. Now that a few hours have passed I may just not remember, but I think the strike zone was not outlined. Is that right?

Thanks for your comments.

* I guess I could be experiencing this because I up the computers batting to all-star.

I have the CPU at all Expert and so:

1. I hit them a good amount, but the CPU gives you a good challenge, especially if it's a good pitcher like Verlander/Weaver.

2. I don't allow too many homers but I'm thinking it depends on the pitcher and hitter, in most cases.

3. That's something I haven't noticed that, actually. Sounds about right, though.

4. Nope.

5. Not sure.

AnthonyP · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:39 am

ZeroGibson13 wrote:

I know expert is very hard, I don't think the CPU has as much trouble as you do

Anthony: Expert, of the three normal difficulties, rookie, normal, expert.

Ah, okay. I see.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:04 pm

GAME TWO: Iowa City Country Lannan (89 EB SL – three, CB – four, CH – 3) versus Chicago White Sox Vasquez (95 CA SL – two, CB – three, SP – one, CH – three)

Lineup:

Inning one: Swisher took advantage of a hanging curve from Lannon, hitting it deep over the centerfield fence for a solo homerun, which was followed by a Thome homerun off of an inside fastball. When the Country stranded Milledge on second, the first inning ended with the White Sox leading two – zero

Inning two: several singles, fielders choices, and a wild pitch, extended the White Sox lead to five – zero before the Country finally broke through when Harris singled, went to third and scored on singles from Erdos a McCurdy. End of two, White Sox lead five – one

Inning four: Lannan was clearly struggling and ultimately was pulled after giving up a three run homerun to Jermaine Dye. Bottom half the inning, Harris hit a deep double to right center field that brought home Johnson and Fields, who previously singled. A fielders choice and then singles by McCurdy & Hudson closed the gap to eight – five entering the fifth

Inning six: a double bye Ozuna followed two outs later by a Konerko single scored one run. End of six, White Sox lead nine – five

Inning nine: Bobby Jenks started the ninth inning for the White Sox, and quickly recorded 3 outs after giving up a leadoff single to Erdos, ending the game with a Chicago win, nine – five

Comments: Hudson was only 1/5, but three of his outs were well driven deep flyballs that happened to find a White Sox gloves. White Sox starter, Vasquez, pitched well and kept the Country offense off balance, allowing five runs on 13 hits over eight innings.

MrLiamcar · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:26 pm

Nice try, that game was well played by the Sox's offense

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 5:08 am

The Sox have a real tough lineup - solid from 2-8. Thome is a beast, and Konerko, Dye, and Pierzinski are really hard outs for me. I haven't checked, but I'd bet they've got a better OF in their minors than they are using for their #9 hitter - there using a guy with all Es and Fs.

MrLiamcar · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 6:58 am

Ha, bet you got him out a lot

dishnet34 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:35 am

Yeah, the White Sox are a tough team to face, especially in their little league park for a home stadium, because it feels like they're gonna hit a HR any minute.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:27 am

MrLiamcar wrote:

Ha, bet you got him out a lot

Usually. On him and their 1st batter, Ozuna (F power), I pull my OF in to cut down on the bloop singles, though Ozuna's B speed makes that a bit risky. Sometimes, it seems that the difference in these games is whether I'm able to get the easy outs or not. If these little guys get on, the big guns drive 'em in, you know?

ZeroGibson13 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:59 am

I hate the Whitesox in '08. And the Tigers, the Tigers have Cabrera CA, Ordonez AA, and Guillen CB, with even more Sluggers like Polanco BB.

SkittleMonster · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:49 pm

Ugh, I hate the Brewers! 1-7, all of them have the ability to leave the stadium

MrLiamcar · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 5:36 pm

Yeah I hate it whenever you say walk the catcher to bring up the pitcher, and then the pitcher gets a hit :nonono:

...Of course that doesn't happen in AL, but still...

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:53 pm

We had a chance to speak with the Country head coach recent off day. Some excerpts from that conversation:

Q: so, I think what has everyone amazed so far is how almost one month into the season, there has been absolutely no trades consummated by the Country. Nothing in spring training; nothing since the start of the season. Can you comment?

Coach : well, the GM is really in charge of trades so you may really need to ask him, but frankly, at this time last year, we were just looking to field a decent team – players that we thought could grow into real major leaguers. Our goal was that if we found a player we thought was a year or two more advanced than the kids on our roster, we would trade 2 players to get that one more advanced player. We missed on a few and found lightning in a bottle with a few, but at this point, we feel that we have a solid offense all the way through the lineup and really improved our defense, particularly at short and second.

Q: so does that mean the Country will stand pat through the trade deadline?

Coach: well, again, that's the general managers call. Right now, we have such a full roster that we would not be able to make our second draft pick, let alone pick up any undrafted free agents that interested us, so at some point, the general manager and I will probably get together to discuss whether we want to stand pat, release a player, or make a trade for that purpose, alone. Other than that, I think we are pretty happy with our current roster, including giving our minor leaguers time to develop, but if another team makes an offer, we certainly would listen and investigate it.

Q: what has been the most pleasant surprise so far this season?

Manager: well, even though Josh Fields is leading the league in home runs, I am not going to count that as my most pleasant surprise because he certainly showed what he could do last season. I think the most pleasant surprise is the improvement of our pitching staff. They did improve steadily through the end of last season, but their ability to carry that over into this season has been really important to our success. In fact, if I had to pick one reason to explain why we've gotten off to such a great start, I would say it was our pitchers. We knew we had dominant late-inning pitchers, with Shawn Green and Andrew Fireman Brown setting up for Joba Chamberlain, but the ability of our starters to minimize runs has been great! In our first 20 games or so, I would say that we were within one or two runs of our opponents through the sixth inning in most of them, and our starters ability to keep us in the game has been crucial and a wonderful surprise.

Q: can you comment on the starting lineup?

Coach: Sure! We think we have a real dynamic lineup this year. Orlando Hudson is a great pick up – someone with power and speed, meaning he can drive in our eighth and ninth hitters that get on base, and can get himself into scoring position with a double or a stolen base. Then we have Milledge – the guy who led the league in stolen bases last year and was at the top in terms of batting average and hits. He was a great leadoff batter last year, but has been even better as the number two guy. Hudson is able to score on shallow base hits to center, which seems to be Milledge's specialty, and any single of Milledge's is like a double cause he is so fast! Spilborghs is a great combination player – makes good contact, hits great in the clutch, has doubles power and speed to boot. Of course, then we've got our three headed home run monster of Jack Cust, who most people picked to lead the league this year in home runs, Josh Fields, who is currently leading the league in home runs, and Dan Johnson, who led the league in home runs last year. We follow those up with our rookie of the year, Erdos. A solid singles hitter. We finish off our lineup with our shortstop and catcher – two defensive players who are able to make solid contact most of the time. Like I said, we've got a solid lineup from top to bottom

Q: what about Brendan Harris? What was it like having to take him out of the lineup?

Coach: Brendan is a fantastic player – I'd love to have nine players with his heart. Because of his limited range, he knew he was not our solution at shortstop. I do think he was disappointed when we signed Orlando Hudson, as he expected to play second. Frankly, he's worked real hard on his defense and improved his arm and I think he would be a solid second baseman, but true to form, not only has he not complained, but he has performed well as a pinch-hitter, a replacement when guys are not feeling well, and has even done a good job at first base, which he hadn't played before spring training. Brendan gives us an amazing weapon – we have a backup player who can play every infield position, except catcher, and be an offensive force. Of course, we also have JR Towles, who can play every infield position, except first, and would be our best defender at any spot.

Q: is Brendan Harris the most pleasant surprise, in terms of fielders?

Coach: no, I would say the most pleasant surprise has been Huiseman's ability to make the switch from catcher to shortstop. Huiseman moved so well as a catcher, ranging out for foul balls and in to get pop outs and bunts, that we knew he could play that position, but he had to have confidence and we will go we were glad he was able to make the transition smoothly.

Q: is there any place you would like to see improvement?

Coach: well, there are several areas where I like to see some improvement. First, I'd like to see our starters go deeper into games. Second, right now our outfielders are focusing on improving their speed. I am a proponent of that – I generally think that rather than being decent in several areas, players are more useful if they are really good in one area, even if it means they are a little deficient in other areas. That being said it also makes sense for them to focus on their speed since we have the equipment that works real well on increasing that. However, we also have some equipment that slightly improves their defense and I would like to see our outfield defense improve. Other than that, I'd like to see Hudson and Spilborghs get a better understanding of their role in our offense. I think both right now they are looking to be power hitters and we really want them to be singles and doubles hitters. I think that once they stop trying to do too much, they will easily add 2 – 3 more runs per game for us.

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Season Log: Iowa City Country

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