1996 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK 28
| NAME | TEAM | AVG | SLG | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | K | W | IW | SB | CS | HBP |
| SALMON,Tim | CAL AL | .348 | .783 | 6 | 23 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NAME | CLUB | G | W | L | S | ERA | IP | R | ER | H | K | BB | IBB | WP | BK | HB | HR |
| BROWN,Kevin | FWP AL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.42 | 12.2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| NAME | TEAM | AVG | SLG | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | K | W | IW | SB | CS | HBP |
| GONZALEZ,Juan | CIN NL | .520 | 1.200 | 6 | 25 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NAME | CLUB | G | W | L | S | ERA | IP | R | ER | H | K | BB | IBB | WP | BK | HB | HR |
| FINLEY,Chuck | SRB NL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.29 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Stockton Wings @ Blarney Drive Bandits |
|
|---|---|
| Series Preview: | Couple lottery teams wrapping it up. |
| Series Summary: | Stockton wins the first 4 and Blarney takes the last 2 by throwing 18 straight innings of doughnuts. |
Santa Rosa Beach Bums @ Hampton Huskies |
|
|---|---|
| Series Preview: | The long and winding road finally comes to a conclusion … Hampton does not even have the chance to play spoiler as the NL races were all decided about a month ago so it’s a case of going through the motions and trying not to look like a complete putz. |
| Game #1: | Some jerk named Frank Thomas collected three hits including his 42nd home run of the year to pace the Bums to a 4-1 win. Thomas drove in two runs and offered some nice support to Chuck Finley (15-9) who tossed seven strong innings. Finley gave up one run on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts tossed in just for shits and giggles. For Hampton, it was a feel-good story of Mickey Tettleton making the most of the last days of the season. The soon to be ex-ballplayer smashed his 18th homer of the season for the only thing worth mentioning from Hampton. |
| Game #2: | That jerk Frank Thomas was at it again homering twice to lift the Bums to a 6-4 win over the Huskies. Thomas’s home runs were numbers 43 and 44 and the four RBIs that came with it gave him 115 on the year. Thomas’s second homer of the game was especially timely as it came with two out and one on in the top of the 9th and broke a 4-4 tie. Thomas was the beneficiary of TJ Mathews Dante-Esque descent into pitching hell with his ERA steadily climbing over the past several weeks as a result of really godawful pitching. Former Husky Devon White continued to enjoy a full-time playing gig as he smashed home run #18. Tim Crabtree picked up his 29th save with a scoreless 9th. For Hampton, BJ Surhoff drove in a couple of runs with four hits including a double. It’d sure be nice if the Huskies felt like more than one player had to actually contribute in a game. |
| Game #3: | Jim Eisenreich‘s 8th inning grand slam made a not at all close game suddenly close but the Bums hung on to win 10-8. The Bums and Huskies each had six-run innings in this fine pitching display with the Bums making their noise (hahaha) in the 3rd inning against hapless Tom Gordon. Santa Rosa reliever Mark Thompson was Hampton’s 8th inning victim. Devon White had three hits to pace Santa Rose with Ken Caminiti and Greg Gagne each getting two. Caminiti had three RBIs in the game to give him a cool 137 to this point. For Hampton, the team somehow managed to score eight runs with only two people doing anything: Eisenreich had three hits and drove in four and finished a single short of hitting for the cycle. His homer was his 6th of the season. Brian McRae had two hits and an RBI. I suppose I got my wish in that two people did something for a change. |
| Game #4: | Hampton starter Chan Ho Park pitched pretty well, but Kevin Appier was much better as the Royals’ righty handled the Huskies pretty easily in a 3-1 win for the Bums. Appier is going to finish one win shy of the magical 20-game plateau but goes into the post-season sporting a 19-10 record after giving up just one run on five hits and a walk to go with seven strikeouts. John Cangelosi, who has been a huge pain in the ass the whole series, continued to hit and run around the bases like a demon with three more hits including a triple as well as a stolen base. Devon White‘s revenge against his former team also continued with another two hits (double and a triple) and a run scored. For Hampton … BJ Surhoff had two hits including a double and that was about all. |
| Game #5: | Frank Thomas‘s fourth home run of the series was a monster shot into the left-field stands, but it was just icing on the cake as the Bums smushed the Huskies up for the fifth straight game in a 5-1 triumph. Thomas had three hits on the day and scored twice with usual suspects Devon White (three hits, one run, one stolen base) and John Cangelosi (two hits including a triple and a stolen base and a run scored) doing the bulk of the damage. Eric Young‘s two-hit performance was Hampton’s feeble height of offensive performance as Chuck Finley (16-9) and company only gave out a meager four singles and Hampton could only score on Young’s sacrifice fly in the 7th. |
| Game #6: | A game of fitting ends. In the final game of the season and likely his MWWL career, Mickey Tettleton smacked his 19th home run and TJ Mathews descent to pitching hell crescendoed with a four-run meltdown that made a very close game not close as the Santa Rosa Beach Bums completed the sweep of the Huskies with an 11-6 win. Ken Caminiti punctuated the loss with his 37th home run of the year for the Bums as part of a three-hit attack that drove in five runs. Roberto Alomar also had a good game for Santa Rosa going 3/3 with two walks, three runs scored and four runs batted in. Mike Stanley hit his 14th home run of the season in a losing effort. |
| Series Summary: | So a decent but disappointing season ends for Hampton as they showed that while the Huskies are a pretty good team that they can’t play with the big boys. Unfortunately, the sweep by the Bums didn’t do anything to help with a draft position as there continues to be a bit of a parity gap in the leagues. The Huskies finish firmly in third in the NL East at just a bit over .500 (84-78) and at least 20 games out of 1st place while the Bums temporarily lead the division with a one-game edge over the Steel City Sluggers (who are facing Manhattan) and end up at 104-58. Ah well. |
Mexico City Chihuahuas @ Detroit Stars |
|
|---|---|
| Game #1: | Hundley hits 2 HRs and Mex commits 3 errors to lead Det to an 8-4 win; Leiter did not pitch very well but the pen did and picked the victory. |
| Game #2: | Carmona pitches excellent & Fossas and Scott keep Mex to 1 unearned run; Det wins 9-1 Gonzalez with HR. |
| Game #3: | Detroit eeks out a close one with a run in the bottom of the 9th with a 4-3 victory HR Big Mo, Spher. |
| Game #4: | Mexico City gets a gem by Jason Izzy and he pushes his record to a whopping 2-25 as Mex wins 6-2 HR Tinsley. |
| Game #5: | Detroit needed this one in the worst way and late-season acquisition Preito pitched a gem; a 5 hit shutout and Det wins 2-0. |
| Game #6: | Last game of the season, well Det hopes to play a 1 game playoff with Chi; first, they will need this victory and they got it; a combined 8-0 shutout by Al Leiter and 4 RPs combined on a 5 hitter; Now to scoreboard watch… |
| Series Summary: | Detroit wins series 5-1 over Mexico City to force Chi to win 5 or force a 1 game playoff. |
Steel City Sluggers @ Manhattan Gas Hornets |
|
|---|---|
| Series Preview: | The final week of the season and the last place Manhattan Gas Hornets host the first place Steel City Sluggers as the AL East race goes down to the wire. The Sluggers hold a 2 game lead on the Santa Rosa Beach Bums – and magic # of 5. Gas Hornets struggle more at home than on the road (actually have a winning record on the road) – so it doesn’t look good for the Bums. |
| Game #1: | Sluggers do some slugging in the 1st as Tony Gwynn (5), Dave Nilsson (20) and Kevin Seitzer (11) all homer, the last 2 were back-to-back. But they stopped the parade there. And that meant that Tino Martinez cut the gap to 3-2 when he homered (19) in the bottom half. Then the bottom fell out for the Sluggers in the 5th when the Gas Hornets really got to Omar Daal for 6 more runs and an 8-3 lead. Lance Johnson homers (7) in the 8th, but that was it as the Gas Hornets win game 1. SCS 4-10-1 LP Daal (4-4) MGH 8-9-0 WP LaTroy Hawkins (2-2) S Rick Krivda (2) |
| Game #2: | This game waits until the 2nd to get any runs and the Sluggers again draw 1st blood when Ryne Sandberg draws a 2 out walk. Greg Vaughn then singles and Shawon Dunston singles scoring Sandberg. But Manhattan ties it up in the bottom half when Matt Stairs hits a 2 out solo homer (10). Gas Hornets gain the lead in the 4th when Dave Martinez reaches on a 2 base error by Kevin Seitzer and Tino Martinez singles him home. But the Sluggers come back in the 6th when Ryne Sandberg hits a 2 out single to drive in Rusty Greer. Tony Soprano kept Ben McDonald in for the 7th, his pitch count was still low and he was having a good day – but! Garrett Anderson leads off with a double and Dave Hollins creams one that was never in doubt for a 2 run homer (10) and a 4-2 lead. So Terry Mulholland, who would be going to be lifted for a pinch hitter, gets to bat and he doubles! 1 out and Derek Jeter walks, Dave Martinez bounces in a FC but then Tino Martinez fists one to RF for a rbi single and a 5-2 lead. Well, pitchers keep getting left in and in the top of the 8th Mulholland still in and Kevin Seitzer leads off with a double. Rusty Greer follows with a single, Seitzer held at 3rd. Carlos Reyes into pitch, Tony Gwynn into PH and he grounds one that turns into a FC and a run scored 5-3. Dave Nilsson then fans but Sandberg lines one over 3b for a hit and Gwynn is waved home – the play at the plate – OUT! But Benito Santiago took a tough slide and he leaves the game and the season ends for him. But Manhattan still leads, 5-3. And Reyes is able to shut down the Sluggers in the 9th for the save. SCS 3-8-1 LP McDonald (12-10) MGH 5-9-0 WP Mulholland (12-6) S Reyes (2) |
| Game #3: | Well losing the 1st 2 games was not in the plans for Steel City – but they were scoreless through 2 in game 3 when Danny Darwin (starter for today) leads off the 3rd with a single. Lance Johnson singles right behind him. Then Kevin Seitzer singles scoring Darwin and it’s 1-0 Sluggers. Bottom of the 4th Derek Jeter, Dave Martinez, and Tino Martinez start the inning off with singles scoring 1 and then Jason Kendall hits a SF and the Gas Hornets end the 4th leading 2-1. It doesn’t last long, however, as the Sluggers get 2 in the 5th. Sietzer gets a walk, so does Rusty Greer and Tim Naehring follows with a single to load the bases. Don Slaught then hits 1 of his 2 doubles in the game and drives in 2 for 3-2 lead. So we move forward to conserve time – bottom of the 7th, Ernie Young walks, Ray Durham in to PR – steals 2nd. Matt Stairs then grounds to short, Shawon Dunston gobbles it up and then fires it right past Seitzer at 1st and Durham scores to tie the game! On to the bottom of the 9th – Eric Plunk in for Steel City, and Dave Hollins leads off and fights a tight pitch and singles to RF. Lenny Harris in to PR. Durham then bounces one to first and Seitzer boots it – Harris gets to 3rd. Jack Howell in to PH, infield in, it’s blooped toward 2nd, but with the infield in, it has enough on it to drop, Harris scores and the Gas Hornets win their 3rd in a row!! Oh my!! SCS 3-12-2 LP Plunk (6-4) BS Mark Wohlers (3) MGH 4-9-0 WP Jay Powell (6-7) |
| Game #4: | This is not the script Steel City wants to see and they come out in game 4 quickly scoring 3 runs in the 1st. Rusty Greer, Tim Naehring, and Don Slaught all getting rbi hits. A Garrett Anderson rbi double in the 2nd makes it 3-1, then Shawon Dunston‘s gets a rbi single in the 3rd to make it 4-1. Gas Hornets fight back with runs in the 5th and 6th and it’s 4-3 heading into the 7th. With 1 out Naerhing singles (3 hits on the day and 3 RBIs) driving in 1. Ryne Sandberg gets hit with 2 out outs. That’s followed by a WP and Greg Vaughn doubles driving in 2 and it’s 7-3 Steel City. Then in the 8th, they get 3 more! Naerhing gets a 2 out single driving in 1 then Slaught singles driving in 2 and it’s 10-3 Sluggers. But the Gas Hornets chip away a bit in the bottom half when Lenny Harris hits a 2 out rbi double and Ernie Young follows with a grounder that Ryne Sandberg throws away and the inning finally ends 10-5 Sluggers. But the Sluggers aren’t done. Vaughn leads off the 9th with a walk and Kurt Abbott drives him home with a triple. Seitzer then gets a single to drive in Abbott for a 12-5 lead. You know how some late runs in a blow out can end up being meaningful – well, those last 2 were just that. Tony Soprano was cleaning out some itchiness in the 9th – with some good pitchers – but the Gas Hornets were teeing off. Already with 3 runs in and no outs, Jason Kendall comes up with a runner on 1st and he homers (3) to make it 12-10. But you know how they say a homer can kill a rally – well it did, Tim Davis then gets the next batters to end the game! SCS 12-17-2 WP Joey Hamilton (11-5) MGH 10-12-0 LP Sterling Hitchcock (8-12) 22 runs, 29 hits, 11 walks in this game! And Steel City finally gets to drop the magic number – down to 4. |
| Game #5: | Well, we have another nail biter (although the home crowd is not emotionally worried at this point). The team’s traded runs in the 2nd, with Steel City scoring on a Ray Durham error. Jack Howell homers (3) for Manhattan in their half, 1-1. We see 4 scoreless innings – not sure how that happened before the Sluggers take charge with 3 in the 7th keyed by Rusty Greers 1 out 2 run single. Bottom of the 8th, up 4-1, Eric Plunk is called on. Lenny Harris leads off and reaches on a Ryne Sandberg throwing error. 2 outs and Ray Durham walks, Derek Jeter walks, and Jason Kendall singles scoring 2 runs and it’s 4-3 and that’s how the 8th ends. Antonio Osuna comes in for the 9th and gives up a 2 out single to Lenny Harris, but Ernie Young grounds 1 to 3 to end the game, and Steel City wins again, the magic number to 3! SCS 4-9-1 WP John Smiley (16-6) S Osuna (8) MGH 3-5-1 LP Carlos Reyes (5-11) |
| Game #6: | Series and season finale and the Sluggers need a big win. And Omar Daal takes the hill and commands the game. He pitches a 3 hitter over 6 innings giving up no runs. Mickey Morandini singles in 1. In the 2nd. Then in the 7th, still 1 nothing, runners on 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs, Kurt Abbot triples and it’s now 3-0 Steel City! So Mark Wohlers comes in – and he pitches 2.2 innings, 2 hits, and a walk. More on that later. Top of the 9th – Kevin Seitzer singles driving in the 4th run for Steel City. So we go to the bottom half. Wohlers pitching and he gives up a leadoff walk. Then gets 2 outs. Ray Durham singles, Dave Hollins to 3rd. Bring in Antonio Osuna with the tying run in the on-deck circle. Derek Jeter up – he hacks it hard to right-center, oh this has triple written all over it. Lou Frazier in rf races for it reaches out and grabs it for the final out and Steel City managers to come back and win the final 3 games. The finale, 4-0 and the Magic Number is 2 (pending out of town results). SCS 4-10-0 WP Daal (5-4) S Osuna (9) MGH 0-5-0 LP LaTroy Hawkins (2-3) |
| Series Summary: | So, the season ends for Manhattan – still in their rebuilding mode, but their offense was quite good this year, pitching was quite weak. Some notables: Dave Martinez – should be a lock for 2nd in batting with a .371 average (Caminiti too far ahead) Derek Jeter .305/.376/.369 in 152 games looks pretty solid for ROY Tino Martinez followed his MVP season with the following: .313/.375/.472 19 homers and 132 RBIs (and 92 runs). Another outstanding year!Well, we are to the golf course for the offseason – and will see what we can do for next year… |
Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Long Beach Titans |
|
|---|---|
| Series Summary: | Winnipeg and Long Beach split the season-ending series. |
Harper Woods Expos @ Chicago Demolition |
|
|---|---|
| Series Preview: | Harper Woods comes into Chicago for a six-game series. Detroit down 1 game in the standings to Chicago is at home vs. Mexico City. There is a lot riding on these series, let’s see where it takes us. |
| Game #1: | Up by one game on Detroit, the Crime win. Marquis Grissom has 2 Home Runs, 5 RBI’s & single-handled destroys Chicago.Final Score: Harper Woods 8 – Chicago 5Win: Jim Bruske 2-0 (3.60) Loss: Scott Radinsky 3-1(1.40) Save: Dennis Cook #11 |
| Game #2: | Chicago & Detroit all tied up in the standings. Detroit wins their game. Carlos Delgado has 4 Hits & 2 RBI’s. Jeff Cirillo has 3 Hits & Scores 2 Runs. Pete Harnisch is solid for 7.1 Innings before the bullpen surrenders a few, but the Demolition holds on.Final Score: Chicago 6 – Harper Woods 3Win: Pete Harnisch 13-6 (3.41) Loss: Pedro Astacio 14-9 (3.49) |
| Game #3: | Four left to play & the American League Central is deadlocked.
The top of the Expos lineup with Larry Walker, Chilli Davis & Ron Coomer all having solid days, puts the Demolition in trouble as they fall in this one. Detroit Wins & Chicago loses. Stars go up in the Standings by 1 Game. Final Score: Harper Woods 6 – Chicago 2 Win: Mike Mussina 17-13 (3.50) |
| Game #4: | Bobby Witt improves to 13-3 and Cecil Fielder leads the way with 3 Hits. Detroit loses their game so with 2 left to play Chicago & Detroit are now deadlocked in the standings once again.Final Score: Chicago 5 – Harper Woods 4Win: Bobby Witt 13-3 (4.18) Loss: Scott Erickson 13-12 (3.90) Save: Billy Wagner #8 |
| Game #5: | Detroit wins there game as they are up 1/2 a game. Tony Phillips has 4 Hits & 2 RBI’s. Mark Lewis has 2 RBI’s. Chicago wins. With 1 left to play the American League Central is a Dog Fight.
Final Score: Chicago 8 – Harper Woods 2 Win: Tom Thobe 1-0 (0.00) |
| Game #6: | Detroit WINS!. They are up 1/2 a game & Chicago must win to force a game #163, or if the Demolition loses, they are golfing by the weekend.
The Demolition gets off to a big lead 9-1 after 4 innings of play, but the Expos creep back in it as pick up 5 in the 6th & 7th Innings. Chicago answers back with 4 in the 8th. Cecil Fielder Homers & has 4 RBI’s. Eric Davis Homers & has 3 RBI’s. Chicago holds on to win it. Final Score: Chicago 13 – Harper Woods 6 Win: Roger Clemens 13-13 (4.94) |
| Series Summary: | Chicago wins 4 out of 6, but Detroit’s final series was 5 out of 6, so there will be a game #163 in Chicago on Wednesday, September 25th, 1996. Detroit will throw Ismael Valdez (13-12 4.13), while the Demolition will run out Pedro Martinez (14-13 3.67). One Game, Winner take all for the American League Central. This game will be played Head to Head on TeamViewer on Monday afternoon. |
Castle Rock Hounds @ Fort Worth Panthers |
|
|---|---|
| Series Preview: | Panther’s come in 1 game behind the Quakes in the AL West |
| Game #1: | Cy Young candidate, Kevin Brown dominated through 7 plus but the bullpen almost blew it. Paul Spoljaric put the fire out getting his 5th save of the year. Panthers win 6 to 5
Barry Bonds HR 32, SB 44 |
| Game #2: | Rock Hounds got to Hideo Nomo for 4 in the 2nd inning, but he stuck around long enough for his offense to warm up for 8 runs late. Panthers win 8 to 6. Nomo improves to 22-5
Sean Berry HR 13 |
| Game #3: | Kenny Rogers held the Panthers hitless through 5 and although Ft. Worth made it interesting in the 9th Castle Rock held on to win 2 to 1. |
| Game #4: | Another good pitching duel. Ft. Worth scored three times in the 6th off Andy Pettitte including a 2 RBI triple by Edgar Martinez to take the game by a score of 3-1. |
| Game #5: | 5th starter Doug Drabek threw a 4 hit complete game shutout striking out 12 for the Panthers. Ft. Worth wins 4 – 0
Gary Sheffield HR 39 |
| Game #6: | Jose Lima was originally scheduled to start the finale but Kevin Brown was one win away from tying Mario Soto for most single-season wins by a pitcher in club history. Hoping for lots of runs early GM/Manager Jackson told his boys to get some runs early so his Ace could get some rest before the playoffs and the boys from cowtown came through with 6 runs over the first two innings. Brown left after the 5th and again the bullpen made things a little uncomfortable for the Panther bench, but Mike Jackson and Mel Rojas closed the door in the last two innings to preserve the victory. Ft. Worth wins 8 to 5. Kevin Brown finishes 27-3 1.48
Jermain Dye HR 7 |
| Series Summary: | Ft. Worth closes out strong winning 5 of 6. |
Corktown Bootleggers @ DeWitt Tigers |
|
|---|---|
| Series Summary: | Corktown takes the final series 4-2. The Tigers finish 63-99. Corktown finishes 100-62. |
Sugar Land Skeeters @ Cincinnati Outlaws |
|
|---|---|
| Series Preview: | Two teams near the bottom of the standings head to Cincinnati for season-finale. |
| Game #1: | CIN 7-11-2, SLS 4-4-1 Juan Gonzalez 2-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI |
| Game #2: | CIN 8-9-0, SLS 4-10-2 Mike Piazza GS in six-run fourth blows it open. |
| Game #3: | CIN 10-12-2, SLS 4-8-2 Jim Thome GS in sixth ties game, but the Outlaws score the final six runs of the game. |
| Game #4: | CIN 5-11-1, SLS 3-7-0 Scott Karl throws 8 IP, 3 R/E, allowing seven hits and four Ks. |
| Game #5: | SLS 6-8-1, CIN 5-10-1 (10 INN) Ken Griffey, Jr. drives in one of three in the tenth to win it for Skeeters. |
| Game #6: | SLS 12-12-1, CIN 10-12-5 Sugarland races to a 9-0 second-inning lead and the Outlaws commit five errors and still nearly rally. |
| Series Summary: | Cincinnati takes four of six in the final series of the year. |
Michigan Mauraders @ Valdosta Bombers |
|
|---|---|
| Series Preview: | NL East champs (I like the sound of that!) host the hard hittin’ Michigan Marauders. |
| Series Summary: | Bombers win the 1st game and then drop the next 5 to Michigan. Marauders slammed 10 HR’s but the Bombers avoided any injuries heading into the playoffs. Also, Manny came back from another injury and looked sharp going 7-17 with a couple of HR’s
Sadly, Steve Finley fell short of 100 RBI’s (he finished with 99) hitting leadoff about 95 % of the season. |
California Quakes @ Portland Mavericks |
|
|---|---|
| Series Summary: | Portland drops 5 of 6 to California to close out the season. |
Flossmoor Flying Squirrels @ New Hampshire Nighthawks |
|
|---|---|
| Series Summary: | Squirrels and Nighthawks split the final series of the season. Ending a great year for Flossmoor, and an awful year for the Nighthawks. |
Detroit Stars @ Chicago Demolition – Game #163 |
|
|---|---|
| Series Summary: | In a 1-Game elimination / American League Central Division on the line. The teams traded runs until it was tied after 5 & 1/2 Innings at 5 runs each. It came down to bullpens where Mariano Rivera ended up outdueling Billy Wagner by pitching 2.1 Innings of scoreless baseball with 7 Strikeouts. Final Score: Detroit 6 – Chicago 5
Win: Mariano Rivera 5-5 (1.83) |