Season Log: Iowa City Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:44 pm

Game three: Country Depablos (93 DC SL – four, CB – four, VSL – one) at Diamondbacks Flores (88 ED SL – one, CH – two)

Lineup:

Comments:

Inning one: the Country scored quickly, with Jack Cust hitting a two-run home run with one out, and Harris following with a homerun of his own, both homeruns coming off of waist high changeups towards the outside of the plate. The Diamondbacks threatened, with Drew hitting a leadoff triple, but three fly outs – one in the infield and two in the outfield, closed out the inning with the Country leading three – zero

Inning two: Spilborghs came to the plate with Huisman on second from an infield hit and Depablos on first, popping the ball over a drawn in infield after failing on two bunt attempts. Spilborghs doubled off the left center field wall bringing home both runners. The next pitch was a waste high changeup down the center of the plate that Erdos put out of the park. The Diamondback starter seem to get lucky when he threw another changeup down the middle of the plate but Cust only singled up the middle and ultimately did not score. Catcher Chris Snyder doubled off the centerfield wall bringing in two runners who were awarded base hits even though they were really misplays by third baseman Schrager. Seven – two Country

Inning three: a Jason Bay two run homerun to close the gap to three, and then later that same inning Tracy double into the right-field corner, allowing Jackson to score. Seven – five Country

Inning four: Erdos smacked a one out double and the Country ultimately loaded the bases with one out, but the next two batters failed to get the ball out of the infield

Inning 5: Jason Bay hit his second home of the day – a solo shot over the left-field wall. Depablos tired and was pilled after giving up back-to-back singles. With the Country reliever Jiang facing Durham, Durham smashed a cut fastball down the left-field line. Schrager just stabbed the ball deep in the third-base hole and was just able to beat the runner runner to third by step for the second out of the inning before striking out Chris Snyder. Seven – six Country

Inning eight: the Country loaded the bases with Huisman, pinch-hitter Sweeney, and Erdos. Jack Cust came to the plate and hit a grand slam in the right field bleachers. That brought in a new relief pitcher who started Harris off with a high change up that Harris deposited into the centerfield bleachers for his second homerun of the day. Another changeup, this one towards the outside of the plate, and Schrager drove it into the right centerfield gap for a triple. Against Merrill, the Diamondbacks reliever waited until his third pitch to throw a changeup up in the zone, and Merrill smacked it over the centerfielders head for an RBI double. 13-6 Country

When the Country took the field the bottom of the eighth, Sweeney, who pinch-hit in the prior inning and was scheduled to lead off in the ninth, had taken Cust's place in right field, Harris shifted from second to first base and Towles was at second, with Merrill being pulled from the game. Bourgeois, a starter who has been in blue or purple condition recently, pitched the eighth and closed out the Diamondbacks, giving up only a single

Inning nine: In the top of the 9th, the Country tacked on another run for good measure when several base hits culminated in an RBI single for Harris. Joba Chamberlain started the night, even though it was a non save situation. A strikeout and two ground balls to second ended the game, 13-6 Country

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:19 pm

6/22 – 24/2009: Iowa City Country versus Minnesota Twins

Game one: Country Pettyjohn (95 DC 2SF – one, SL – one, CB – one, PA – three) versus Twins Brazell (93 DC 2SF – two, SL – two, FL – two)

Lineup:

Jack Cust put the Country on the board with a two run homerun the bottom of the first. The Twins cut that in half on several singles, but the Country extended their lead to 3 when Spilborghs had a two run homerun with Sweeney on base, and then back to back doubles by Schrager and Erdos into right-center field ended the second inning with the Country leading five – one

The Twins threatened in the top the fourth, putting runners at first and third with one out, but Pettyjohn induced a comebacker from Everett on a two seam fastball and Cuddyer was cut down at the plate. A Twin did score when Perez hammered a misplaced Pettyjohn fastball, putting it over the head of Spilborghs in right. Five – two Country

Inning five: A two-out RBI single from Mauer reduced the Country's lead to two runs

Inning 7: the score remained five – three until the bottom of the seventh, when Spilborghs hit his second homerun of the game – this one a solo home run over the left-field wall. Six – three Country

Innings 8-9: 5 consecutive singles with 1 out, including an infield base hit, cut the Country's lead to six – five and Green, who entered in the seventh, was removed in favor of Joba Chamberlain, who closed out the inning on infield popout and a ground ball to short. Not surprisingly, Chamberlain stayed in for the ninth-inning and retired the Twins easily with the help of a nice play by second baseman Harris who ranged far to his left to retrieve the ground ball and make the out at first. Final score: Country six – five

Comments:

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:32 am

Game two: Country Stratton (85 DC SL – three, CB – three, FO-3, SHU – one) versus Twins Blackburn (95 EB SL – three, CU – two, CB – four, CH – two)

Lineup:

Inning two: Jack Cust hit a solo home run in the bottom the second. One out later, Johnson had a sharp single to right and then Hudson slammed a hanging changeup into the second deck of rightfield. Three – zero Country

Inning six: Blackburn held the Country in check while Country pitcher Stratton (normally used as a middle reliever) was outstanding, but tired in the sixth and was relieved by Green, who and the ending quickly. Milledge led off a single and stole second before Erdos hammered a hanging curveball into the right field bleachers for a two run homer, sending Blackburn to the showers. Five – zero Country

When the Country took the field in the seventh, Towles was at second, Schrager at third, and Sweeney replaced Milledge. The Country used solid pitching to shut out the Twins for the rest of the game.

Comments:

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:35 am

The White Sox struck a trade with the New York Mets. The White Sox are sending third baseman Joe Crede (EEECBB), 1-1/2 years away from free agency, to the Mets in exchange for starting pitcher Pedro Martinez (91 FC CU – three, CB – three, CCH – 5, CH – four), 2-1/2 years away from free agency

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:25 am

Game three: Country Bailey (93 EB 2SF – three, DCB – four) versus Twins Liriano (98 CB HSL – five, CH – three)

Roster:

Lineup:

Inning one: Liriano recorded the first two outs quickly, but then he gave up singles to Erdos, Cust, Johnson, & Fields, the last two being RBI singles. Two – zero Country

Inning three: the Twins put runners in scoring position early, but with the help of a play at the plate, Bailey escaped the jam. In the bottom of the third, a Twins misplay at first allowed the Country to score. Cust doubled with one out and moved to third on a sacrifice fly from Johnson. Fields then bounced a ball right by first-base, but Morneau ran right by the ball in order to cover first base. The ball was too close to first for Timo Perez to catch it and the single allowed Cust to score. Had Morneau merely stopped, he would have had plenty of time to field the grounder and beat the slow footed Josh Fields to first. Three – zero Country

Innings four– five: after retiring the first batter, a Morneau single and an Everett double put runners at second and third. Timo Perez laced a shot down the right-field line, but Johnson snagged it for the second out of the inning, and then a week grounder to second base from Punto ended the threat. Liriano did not come out to pitch the fifth. We're told he was experiencing elbow discomfort and middle reliever Rincon (96 CE SL – four) took the mound. Cust took Rincon downtown on a first pitch fastball on the outer half of the plate. One out later, Fields hit his 40th homerun of the season off of another Rincon fastball. Five – zero Country

Inning six: when the sixth inning began, Towles had replaced Fields at third. In the bottom half, Hudson singled, took off for second and was able to make it to third when Spilborghs singled into shallow centerfield. Hudson then scored on an Erdos sacrifice fly. Six – zero Country. When the Country took the field in the seventh, Towles had shifted from third to second and Schrager was manning third-base

Inning seven: Bailey lost his shut out when Lamb hit an RBI single. Bailey exited to a standing ovation. A Morneau single that split the left and right fielders brought in another run before Cuddyer flied out to left. The Country walked Justin Morneau (who was 3/3 so far), choosing to face Everett (who was also 3/3) with the bases-loaded and strategy worked, as Everett grounded an 0 – 2 pitch to third-base. Six – two Country

Jiang, who took over for Bailey in the seventh, pitched the eighth and ninth, closing out the six – two win.

Comments:

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:58 pm

6/26/2009: roster moves

With several starting pictures being in blue or purple condition, as well as bench player Harris, the Country made several roster moves today

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 4:36 pm

6/26 – 28/2009: Iowa City Country versus Cincinnati Reds

Game one: Country Grindell (93 EC CU – four, CB – three, PA – three, HSK – one) versus Reds Guthrie (98 CB SL – three, CB – two, CH – one)

Inning one: the Reds got off to quick start as Freel surprised the Country with a bunt down the third-base line. Another single allowed Freel to get to third and then, after Cora was thrown out on a steal attempt, Dunn homered to right field. The Country cut that lead in half when Hudson led off the inning with a double and came home on a Cust single. Two – one Reds

Inning two: A Dan Johnson leadoff homerun tied the game. It was Dan Johnson's 30th homerun of the season

Inning three: Adam Dunn hit his second home run in as many at-bats when Grindell mis-located his fastball and threw it right down the middle. In the bottom half the inning, Cust hit a solo homerun. Four – three Reds

Inning four: Grindell did not make it onto the field for the fourth inning, being replaced by Stratton.

Inning five: the Country tied the game for the second time today when Erdos singled and went to third on a deep single from Cust. Fields then came up and brought Erdos home on a sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, Huisman and McCurdy got RBI singles. Six – four Country

Inning six: the Country extended their lead as Guthrie began to tire, giving up a two-out double to Spilborghs and then an RBI single to Erdos. Seven – four Country

Inning eight: Stratton was completely shutting down the Reds offense, allowing no runs since entering the game after they scored four. This may have caused the Reds manager to panic a bit as he pinch-hit for Adam Dunn, who hit two to run homers already, going instead with young player Sain (EED) and then pinchhitting for Pat Burrel (EA) with Mark Teahen (DCC). Both pinch hitters were retired and then Thurston made a diving catch of a Hatteberg flyball that appeared would drop in for a single, for the third out.

Inning nine: Chamberlain took the mound in the 9th. A soft ground ball to second, a strikeout, and a fly out to second, and the game was clinched, seven – four Country.

Comments: Huisman was named player of the game for his RBI that put the Country ahead for good. This was Another shaky start for the Country's second-round draft pick from last year and another solid showing from their free-agent rookie from last years draft, Stratton. Grindell only lasted three innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, while Stratton pitched a solid five innings, allowing only two hits.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2012 9:55 pm

Games 2 & 3 with the Reds were blowouts favoring the Country.m following are several highlights:

Game two: Country Depablos (93 DC SL – four, CB – four, DSL – one) versus Reds Harang ( 95 CA to US F – one, SL – three, SLV – five, CH – two)

Harang is a quality starter, but he didnt make it outmof the 3rd inning, which ended with the Country enjoying a 6-1 lead on a Hudson two-run home run and doubles by Spilborghs and Erdos.

Country starter Depablos was not dominant, allowing about two singles each inning, but he made timely pitches and got timely defense, including Thurston making a great grab on a shot from catcher Valentin that appeared to be over Thurston's head.

Against Reds relievers, Hudson hit a other homerun, Cust hit two, including a three-run homerun into the middle tier of the centerfield bleachers. One out later, Johnson took an outside fastball and pulled it over the right-field wall, and Thurston hit his first home run of the year, putting a hanging changeup over the right-field wall. The Country built a 15 – three lead after 6.

Final score: 15 – 6 Country

Game three: Country Jimenez (98 EB CB - two, CH – four) versus Reds Dierdorff (88 DC SL – three, CB – two, FO – four)

Spilborghs hit a two run homerun in the 1st off a forkball dropping waist high into the middle of the plate. Dierdorff continued to work the zone up and down, but kept throwing the ball to the middle the plate and the Country kept singling, sending Dierdorff to the showers with two outs in the first, building a six – zero lead

A Reds homerun had pottle effect, as Cust hit a two run homerun and Johnson hit a solo homerun, building a 9-1 Country lead

Final score: Country win nine – four

Comments:

Awards: the weekly MVP for the week ending June 28 was announced and two Country players made the list. Jack Cust hit 560 with seven homeruns and 14 RBIs during the 12th week of the season and reliever Stratton had two wins, five strikeouts, and an ERA of zero during that time.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:04 am

MIDYEAR REPORT

Thank you for tuning in, folks. Today, will be covering the Iowa City Country. This amazing team, while they have not officially clinched a playoff spot, it is just a question how far ahead of the rest of pack they will be at the end of the season. How are the world champs are doing this?

If you look at the numbers, it is easy to see why the Country are in total command of their season. The Country have the best record in baseball – ahead of the National League Mets by 17 games, ahead of the AL East Yankees by 15 games, and ahead of the rest of their division by at least 23 games. Their pitchers have the lowest team ERA (4.05) in the majors, having allowed the fewest runs, even though they also have the fewest strikeouts. Offensively, their team batting average, total runs scored, total homeruns, and team stolen bases leads the majors. On an individual basis, the Country is making a mockery of the rest of the league.

Jack Cust leads majors in batting average (491), homeruns (66), RBIs (159) and a few other categories. As a team, The Country hold seven of the top eight batting averages in the league and the top 3 homerun hitters so far are on the Country – Cust, Fields (40) and Johnson (33). So when you consider that they are doing a great job preventing opponents from scoring while the Country score a ton of runs, that is an unbeatable combination.
But how did they get here?

It starts with personnel decisions. They had three fantastic free agent signings at the beginning of last year. Dan Johnson has not only been a force at the plate, he's been solid on the field and has provided veteran leadership to this team from day one. They also signed little known Joe Thurston. Thurston provided them with flexibility because he could play 2 positions, and became the starting 2nd baseman in the second half of last season. As the team has improved, Thurston lost his starting job – frankly he played well over his head last season – but he is likely to be a very valuable backup. He is their best outfielder, defensively, and we suspect that once he spends time and learns how to play right field, he will displace Ryan Sweeney as their primary backup outfielder next year. Their last great free-agent signing before the start of last season that people may have forgotten about is third baseman Angel Chavez. Angel did not have the offensive potential to be drafted, but his strong arm really helped solidify a relatively shaky defense, and when Chavez played so well at the beginning of the season – garnering several awards for player of the week and rookie of the month, they were able to parlay that into a trade for a leftfielder/third baseman that was mired in the White Sox minor league system – Josh Fields, who has been solid in the field and absolutely amazing at the plate since being brought up to the majors. Not since Mike Piazza has a player so surprised the league by what they can do offensively.

Other trades have turned out wonderfully, too. A lot of experts were surprised at the number of trades made last year, especially because it seemed that the Country were mainly trading first year players for 2nd year players. In fact, the Country were unloading some players they were not confident would pan out in exchange for players whose potential was a little more clear because they had been in the league for a year or two. Looking at their current roster, their clear successes - Spilborghs, Erdos (who was a rookie), Harris, Milledge, Chamberlain - far outweigh their miscalculations (Angel Sanchez). For example, Spilborghs was not going to be more than a 4th OF for the Rockies for a long time, but he was a significant upgrade over whoever the Country had, and he's become a solid 3-hole hitter who looks to be a potential 20-20 guy this year! He plays a decent OF, but offensively, there are many teams that would kill to have this speedy player with consistent doubles power who always puts the ball in play. Look at Lastings Milledge - from underperforming Nationals CF to leading the league last year in stolen bases and hits! Chamberlain would be stuck as a middle reliever for years in the Yankees system, so in exchange for an aging pitcher - Hideo Nomo - the Country got themselves a solid closer!

And let's not forget what might turn out to be the most lopsided trade since Babe Ruth went to the Yankees: in exchange for a weak-hitting rightfielder who has shown nothing and a pitcher who might make a decent middle reliever, the Country received a dominant reliever who probably should be a closer one day and an OF who appears ready to win the triple crown this year and break every batting record. The Country absolutely fleeced the normally-savy A's, dumping RF Avalos (EFEEEF) & P Frese (90 EC SL-3; CB-1) for Jack Cust & Andrew Brown.

Then there are the offseason moves. The Country showed restraint, putting their funds together to sign the most dynamic 2nd baseman in the League, Orlando Hudson. It took Hudson awhile to get comfortable, but he has been tremendous recently as a lead off power hitter who can bring home the 8th and 9th hitters when they get on. He has also been key to shoring up the defense up the middle that was suspect last season. With the signing of Hudson and the conversion of last year's starting catcher to the current shortstop, the defense and arm strength at short and second have improved from last year's DD (Harris) and ED (Sanchez/Thurston) to CC (Huisman) and BA (Hudson) - a huge jump. A side effect of this deal has been the shifting of Harris from weak SS to the most powerful utility player in baseball. Realistically, Harris would not have played another season at SS, so perhaps it is more fair to say he went from a probable average defensive 2b with solid offense to a very valuable utility player.

With this improved defense, the Country rarely use a drawn in infield, going for the double play instead of the play at the plate. This helps in two ways - 1st, it reduces the likelihood of giving up a "big inning," and 2nd, we've seen time and again pitchers getting that play at the plate, but then giving up RBI singles. By trying to end the inning as soon as possible, the Country's pitchers throw fewer pitches and go longer in games.

The Country also rarely back their infielders up. Remember last year's interesting infield alignment to protect their slow midfielders - where 1st and 3rd played their normal spots, but 2nd and short played deeper? It gave them slightly more range, but they gave up a lot of infield singles because of weak arms. They haven't needed to do that this year, as their SS and 2b are almost always in good position to snag any grounder hit to their side, and this has resulted in fewer infield hits and more double plays.

On the other hand, the Country move their outfielders a lot, conservatively moving OF back against power hitters (A or B) to prevent doubles when no one is on base, and aggressively bringing in the OF against lighter-hitting players (almost always against F power and often against E power if contact is F or less). This cuts down on other teams' power hitters being able to put themselves into scoring position right away and cuts down on bloop hits from weaker hitters.

Those same experts that were surprised at last year's activity were equally surprised at this year's LACK of trade activity. No one was surprised that the team made only one move during free agency - signing the best 2nd baseman on the market, but that their only trades have been to dump a few players to clear some space before the draft and to trade underperforming pitcher Lannan and overpaid middle reliever Deardorff for a cheaper, young starter - Homer Bailey - was a surprise. The young GM ERISA Dude has shown that he can not only know when to pull the trigger on a deal, but also know when to stand pat.

The Country are taking advantage of poor pitch calling by opposing teams. Anyone who watches the Country knows that they hit changeups well, especially when they are thrown over and over, and they also hit pitches in the middle of the plate well, even if they are low or high in the strike zone. Yet, opposing pitchers keep throwing changeup after changeup, and keep throwing breaking pitches that break to the middle of the plate instead of the inside or outside. The pitchers that have done best against the Country have used a lot of fastballs (including cutters and sinking fastballs) and sliders, mixing in the occasional changeup. If the rest of the league does not catch on, the Country batters will continue to feast on changups.

Comments on some of the Country's current pitchers,

A lot has gone right for the Country these last two years. A big part of that is personnel decisions; the other part is players playing to their potential. If this continues, the Country may have a dynasty on their hands.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:59 pm

trade announcements

7/3/2009: Country-Honeybees

Devore (FEDDCE – gold glove)

Rijo (96 DB SL – two, CB – three, FO – three)

Chiaffredo (2B/SS EFDDCD – clutch–2)

Leon (91 DC CU – two, SL – two, CB – four)

Bittner (CECEEE)

Said the Honeybees:

Said the Country:

7/7/2009: Pirates - Mariners

Zach Duke (90 CB SL – two, CB – four, CH – four)

Brad Wilkerson (EBBDEC)

7/9/2009: Mets-Red Sox

Johan Santana (96 CA SLV – five, CCH – five)

Michael Lowell (BBDCDB)

MrLiamcar · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:13 pm

Nice Pickup man!

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:08 pm

7/11/2009: Rumor has it the Astros reached out to the Country to strike a trade.

In exchange for third baseman/leftfielder Josh Fields (DDEBFD), who is currently second in the majors with 42 home runs, and is 26 years old, signed through for more seasons, the Astros have offered backup SS/3b Geoff Blum (EDECDD), a 36-year-old defensive player who is known for having inconsistent throws to first.

We are told that the only delay in country GM ERISA Dude's rejection of this trade was due to the fact that he fell off his chair laughing. We are told that Mr. Dude sustained only minor injuries and should not miss any time.

dishnet34 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:42 pm

ERISA Dude wrote:

We are told that the only delay in country GM ERISA Dude's rejection of this trade was due to the fact that he fell off his chair laughing. We are told that Mr. Dude sustained only minor injuries and should not miss any time.

Best line of the log. Ever. :lol:

BrewersFuzz · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:44 pm

How does he have D power and 42 homers?

ZeroGibson13 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:01 am

I'm pretty sure he meant to put B power.

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Season Log: Iowa City Country

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