2003 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #1

Bengie Molina adds to the Dondero lead with a solo HR in the 7th. Santana gives way to Wunsch in the bottom of the 8th. He does his job, despite two walks. Rivera comes in for the 9th and gets Castle Rock 1-2-3. That is going to be a dynamic back-end of the bullpen for Dondero this season. The final is 4-2, as the combination of Santana (17), Wunsch (20) and Rivera (20) proves too much for the Hounds bats. The Hounds fans go home downtrodden, but we are still confident about the rest of the series.

WP: Santana (1-0)
LP: Pineiro (0-1)
S: Rivera (1)

Dondero threatens in the 7th, getting runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out, but Jose Contreras comes on in relief and gets both Sanders and Thomas to strike out. In the bottom of the 8th, Bonds doubles and Sweeney hits a home run to give Castle Rock its first lead of the game (and the season), 5-3. Quantrill comes on to close it for Castle Rock in the 5-3 victory.

WP: Contreras (1-0)
LP: Gaudin (0-1)
S: Quantrill (1)

The wheels fall off a bit in the top of the 8th for Castle Rock as Armando Benitez and BJ Ryan combine to give up 6 runs to Dondero thanks to two walks, an error by Clayton, one wild pitch and 5 hits across 1.1 IP, leading to four unearned runs. Dondero tacks on two more in the 9th to make it 9-3, as the Oaks score 8 unanswered runs in a collapse by the Hounds bullpen and defense.

WP: Boyd (1-0)
LP: Ryan (0-1)

WP: Benitez (1-0)
LP: Redding (0-1)

But, as I think will be a trend with this team, the Hounds are never out of it. In the bottom of the 4th, they tie it up, thanks to a Randall Simon 3-run homer. But, the Oaks are a resilient bunch too, and they put up 6 runs in the top of the 5th, with a barrage of doubles, to make it 10-4.

Castle Rock shows some signs of life with a Luis Gonzalez homer to make it 10-6, but Valentin provides a two-run shot of his own to make it 12-6 and squelch any plans of a home team comeback. Castle Rock does manage to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th, but Hall can’t do anything with it and the Oaks take the game and the series, by a final score of 12-10.

WP: Johnson (1-0)
LP: Davis (0-1)
S: Wunsch (1)

Hello everybody, I am Vin Scully alongside my broadcast partner this season Tony Gwynn. We are here on the shores of Lake Huron for the kickoff of the 2003 MWWL Season and what a way to start it.
Thanks Vin, I am excited to spend the year with you here on Fox Sports after having been on ESPN previously. Right, you are indeed about this matchup against Chicago and Southlake.

Perennial American League powerhouse Chicago slipped last year, and their GM Corrado went to work in shoring up the weak spots. They come into the season expecting to regain their spot at the top of the Central Division.

This team is built around pitching, specifically anchored by two Cy Young candidates Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens. They ride their starters until they can get to their closer Billy Wagner with a lead then its lights out. Wagner had 20 saves last year with a WHIP of .62. Look for him to double that save total with this refreshed offense.

That offense is geared around MVP candidate Carlos Delgado. Carlos struggled last year as his average dipped to .243. People began to whisper if age was catching up to him. But I saw him this winter in the Dominican Republic and let me tell you his swing looked great. He is going to put a lot of those doubts to rest. Carlos will have a lot of RBI potential as Edgar Renteria, Shannon Stewart, and Phil Nevin should set the table often for him. This Demolition Squad is loaded and ready to destroy, Vin.

Thanks Tony, for a look at the other side of the diamond let’s take it down to our field reporter for this season Gary Miller.

It’s an honor of mine to get the chance to work with two Hall of Famers like yourselves this season guys. This Southlake team is completely different than the team that finished dead last in the American League last year. As you may recall, Carlos Beltran demanded a trade at the All-Star break last year. He met with ownership and was given assurances that the rebuild would be quick. He agreed to stick around, and the front office went to work.
They began the winter with blockbuster trades for stars Nomar Garciaparra and Ichiro Suzuki. They then retooled the rest of the lineup looking for less speed and more power. Offensively they should be much improved. Beltran says he is happy with the changes the front office has made and is looking to put up MVP numbers.

But make no mistake like Chicago this team is built around pitching. However, unlike Chicago this Stealer’s team is bullpen dominant. They have ten arms that could be closers on just about any team, led by former starter turned closer John Smoltz. To get to that deep pen they hope to see Rookie Stud Mark Prior take the next step in his development along with bounce back years from Alvarez and late season pickup Villone.

I spoke to Manager Sarge Stauffer who told me he was considering using relievers to begin a game. Unlike a traditional starting pitcher who goes as deep as he can this person would pitch one or two innings before turning it over to that deep bullpen. He is calling it an “Opener” instead of a starter. It is something to keep an eye on this year. Back to you guys in the booth.

Excellent insight Gary. Tony, what do you think about this “Opener” concept Sarge is working on?

Let me say this Vin, there is a reason Sarge Stauffer has never Won a Manager of the Year award. With consecutive basement finishes in the AL Central his seat is very warm. I think he is feeling the heat because this idea sounds like desperation to me. Vegas oddsmakers have him at 7-1 to not finish the season as the Skipper of this team and I happen to agree with them.

There you have it folks, the stage is set for the 2003 MWWL Season. The sun is shining here, the dome roof is open, there is music in the streets of Southlake and Baseball is Back.

Austin is a place most of the hitters wish they were in today. Anywhere but here, as this is a matchup of dominant pitchers. Chicago will begin the year with Cy Young candidate, the nearly unhittable Pedro Martinez. Southlake will counter with sophomore Mark Prior whom they hope makes the jump into that same Cy Young field.

Beltran began the scoring this year in the bottom of the third. Marlon Anderson doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a two out single from Carlos.
The 4th inning saw both teams lose players. Delgado was drilled with a pitch forcing him out for the rest of the day. Then Blalock was tossed by Joe West in the bottom half of the inning for arguing a strike call.

In the bottom of the 7th with just one down Chicago pulled their ace Martinez despite having only allowed two hits. They brought in former Stealer Terry Adams who was welcomed back by Ichiro with a lead off single. He stole second base and scored when an errant throw by Renteria went by the new first baseman Norton who had replaced Delgado. This made the score 2-0 Southlake.

Chicago threatened in the 8th, when Prior issued a one out walk to Higginson. That was the end of the day for Mark, having gone 7.1 yielding two hits and no runs. Hasegawa gave up a single to the first batter he faced but then was able to get the next two batters leaving the score as it was.

John Smoltz was called on to close out the game earning his first save of the year. A pitchers’ duel to start the year did not disappoint.

Final: Southlake 2-0
WP: Prior (1-0)
LP: Martinez (0-1)
S: Smoltz (1)

The scoring starts early as Beltran singles and scores on Rondell Whites triple to centerfield. A big inning is avoided by Millwood as he catches White sleeping at third and picks him off.
Southlake extends their lead in the fourth inning. With two runners on White gets his second RBI with a single up the middle. Ichiro will follow that hit up with a triple down the first base line scoring two more.

Chicago finally scored their first run of the year on a two out homerun from Nevin in the 6th. That would be the end of the day for Alvarez who goes 5.2 yielding 3 hits and just one run. Mota would come in to finish the 6th and have a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th.

Southlake continued to use their deep bullpen brining in Leskanic for the 8th inning. Bobby Higginson welcomed him to the game with a towering shot that travelled 355 feet into the stands. The Demolition fight had finally woken up. Renteria hit a weak grounder for out number one. But the keen eye of Stewart and Delgado allowed them both to draw walks.
With the go-ahead run now at the plate that was the end of the day for Leskanic. Stauffer called on the veteran Paul Shuey. Facing Nevin who had already tagged one in the 6th, the crowd was concerned. Shuey was able to get a routine flyball to Ichiro keeping the runners in place. He then threw a sinker to Johnson who swung through it to end the inning. It was Johnson’s 4th strikeout of the game.

Bullpen Ace John Smoltz came in for three quick outs in the 9th inning to secure the victory for the Stealers.

Final: Southlake 4-2
WP: Alvarez (1-0)
LP: Millwood (0-1)
S: Smoltz (2)

Rookie jitters may be impacting Waechtler. A hard-hit ball by Beltran results in the first out, but a single by Ichiro and a blast by Nomar make it 2-0 quickly. But the nerves then settled down and the damage was limited.
The Opener concept played well as Chicago went hitless in the first three innings. However, Stauffer pushed his luck too much and Nevin drilled his second homerun of the year to lead off the fourth inning. Mahay was called on to get the next three batters leaving the score 2-1.

Before we could even begin to look at what a mess this game may turn into for the Stealers bullpen, the offense took over. The Stealers would plate 7 men in the bottom of the fourth to pretty much put the game out of reach.

Chicago would get one more hit the rest of the game making any comeback attempt a moot point. Southlake would add three more runs in the 8th inning. Rondell White would finish the day 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs.

Final: Southlake 12-1
WP: Mahay (1-0)
LP: Waechtler (0-1)

With two outs in the third inning an error by Blalock gave Delgado the chance to hit in his first RBI of the season, giving Chicago a 1-0 lead.

Southlake would answer when Encarnacion scored on a single by Nomar.

Villone was pulled after 5 innings giving up just the one unearned run. Southlake went to Leskanic who had no success earlier in this series. Delgado greated him with a lead off single. It looked murky for Southlake, but Leskanic figured it out and got out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the 7th inning Blalock belted his first homerun of the year off Clemens to give Southlake a 2-1 lead. Clemens continued to be The Rocket. He was finally pulled after 7.2 innings giving up just 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 9.

As great as Roger was it would be for naught as Southlake called on Ace Smoltz to close out the 9th inning.

BUT WAIT, the Demolition didn’t get the memo that the game was over. Johnson led off the 9th inning with his first hit of the year to tie the game. The crowd was stunned. Then the impossible happened as Matsui followed it up with a solo shot of his own to give Chicago the lead. Back to Back homeruns to lead off the 9th brought the home town fans to their knees with tears.

Billy Wagner would finish off the bottom half of the 9th to give Chicago their first win of the year.

Final: Chicago 3-2
WP: Wagner (1-0)
LP: Smoltz (0-1)

With two outs in the top of the first inning an error by Nomar opened the door for Chicago. That was followed by a single from Bloomquist and a walk to Higginson to load the bases. Renteria made that error pay off as he singled home two runs for a quick Chicago lead.

A lead off double by Delgado in the third was the end of the day for Tejera. Mateo then was greeted by Nevin with his second homerun of the year and Chicago was off to a 4-0 lead.

The homeruns would not stop for Chicago as Renteria added a solo shot in the 4th to extend the lead. A throwing error by Blalock would give Chicago yet another run in the 5th. It would be their fourth error of the game at that point.

Meanwhile Seo was masterful for Chicago. He goes 6.2 giving up just two runs on six hits.

What could have been a disastrous start to the season turns out no so bad as Chicago takes their second in a row

Final: 6-2 Chicago
WP: Seo (1-0)
LP: Tejera (0-0

MULLETS 4 / 7 / 0
CRABS 6 / 8 / 1
WP – Hudson (1-0)
LP – Rosario (0-1)

MULLETS 7 / 14 / 0
CRABS 5 / 7 / 1
WP – Schilling (1-0)
LP – Zito (0-1)
S – Wagner (1)

MULLETS 4 / 5 / 0
CRABS 3 / 7 / 0
WP – Wolf (1-0)
LP – Williams (0-1)
S – Wagner (2)

MULLETS 10 / 13 / 0
CRABS 6 / 12 / 1
WP – Colyer (1-0)
LP – Fuentes (0-1)

MULLETS 4 / 7 / 0
CRABS 5 / 9 / 0
WP – Worrell (1-0)
LP – Wagner (0-1)