1998 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #1

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
GWYNN,Tony	FWP AL	.400	1.067	3	15	6	1	0	3	3	9	2	1	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
CLEMENS,Roger	CHI AL	1	1	0	0	0.00	9	0	0	2	9	1	0	0	0	0	0

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
JEFFERSON,Reggie	STO NL	.438	.688	4	16	7	4	0	0	2	8	0	0	0	0	0	1

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
MANTEI,Matt	MGH NL	2	2	0	0	0.00	2.2	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0

Harper Woods Expos @ Hollywood Vampires
Series Summary:	Hollywood drops 4 of 5.

Baltimore Blue Crabs @ Santa Rosa Beach Bums
Series Preview:	Santa Rosa Beach welcome the Blue Crabs from Baltimore to the sunny confines of Norwest Florida for the season opener in a five game set.
Game #1:	The Crabs send Woody Williams to the mound to face Bums Smoltz. Crabs score 1st in the 3rd. McLemore drew a walk, Young stroked a beautiful hit-and-run, followed by a Jones RBI single. The Bums answer in the bottom half. Smoltz banged the Bums first hit of the season. Two batters later Hidalgo singled, then Williams walked a couple. Bums break it open in the 5th. Alomar and Hidalgo singled and Thomas went yard, 4-1. Smoltz is removed after the 8th and the Crabs waste no time. Casey lead off the 9th with a homer. But Crabtree sits down the next three. Baltimore 2 7 2 HR: Casey. Santa Rosa Beach 4 7 2 2b: VanderWal; HR: Thomas; IBB: Caminiti. S: Crabtree.
Game #2:	Hershiser will try to get things going in the right direction for the Crabs who faces Bums Rosado. Crabs begin game 2 with bases loaded as McLemore and Young singled, followed by a Jones walk. Two batters later Brogna singled in one. Crabs Stynes lead off the 2nd with a double and Hershiser bunt singled. And with 2-out Jones dropped in a double for two, 3-0 Crabs. With 2-out in the 4th the Bums get one back as Ducey singled followed by a Myers RBI double. Bums make it interesting in the 7th. Becker and pinch hitter May leadoff with a singles and Loretta banged an RBI single, 3-2 Crabs. Alomar then singled to tie the game with still no outs. Then Thomas k’ed and Caminiti grounded into a double play. 3-3. Bums Perez leadoff the 8th with walk and Ducey followed with a single. Followed by a Myers single, Bums 4-3 no outs. Russ Ortiz! Stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter for RP Miller and produced an RBI sacrifice fly. 5-3. True to form Crabs Young lead off the 9th with a homer, 5-4. But Crabtree holds again. Baltimore 4 12 0 2b: Jones, Stynes; HR: Winn; Sb:Winn. Santa Rosa Beach 5 12 0 2b: Perez, Myers; SF: Ortiz; S: Crabtree.
Game #3:	Joey Hamilton will pitch for the Crabs and the Bums call on Javier Vazquez. Crabs Young ripped a homer in the 1st. Sorrento banged a homer in the 2nd for the Crabs, 2-0. As did Wilson. Bums finally get on the board after putting up 7 eggs. After filling the bases, Perez drew a walk, 3-1 Crabs. Baltimore 3 5 0 2b: Sierra; HR: Young, Sorrento, Wilson; S: Yan. Santa Rosa Beach 1 4 0 2b: Loretta.
Game #4:	The Crabs want to keep the momentum going with Avery on the mound against Bums Astacio. Goose eggs until the 4th when the Crabs fill the bases on walks by Batista and Posada followed by singles by Casey and Sorrento. Bases loaded 1-out. Two batter later Quist drilled Avery in the head who will be out for a long time. But 2-0 Crabs. In the 6th with Casey onboard Crabs Sorrento went yard, 4-0. Also in the 6th, pinch hitter Abbott doubled and was doubled home by Young, 5-0. In the 7th the Crabs lose another pitcher also drilled in the head. A pattern is developing. Bums fill the bases in the 8th and score a run on a Stinnett ground out. Baltimore 7 14 0 2b: Young, Jones, Casey, Abbott; HR: Sorrento; HBP: Avery, Suppan; H: Suppan, Worrell. Santa Rosa Beach 1 5 1 2b: May.
Game #5:	Crabs will go with Williams (0-1, 4.50) again to secure the series win against Bums Russ Ortiz. Crabs fill the bases in the 1st on two walks (Casey and Jones) and a weak single by Young with 1-out. But cannot convert. Bums Loretta double and scored on an Alomar single in the 1st. Williams then walked the next two batters before Perez smashed a double. Still no outs. Castillo lifted a sacrifice fly to left to make it 4-0, still in the 1st. Howard batting 0 ends the inning mercifully. Not to be out done the Crabs fill the bases again in the 2nd. Elster and Williams singled and McLemore walked. 1-out. Casey lifted a sacrifice fly to right for the Crabs first run. Thomas adds on for the Bumsin the 5th as he goes yard. Thomas parked another for two more in the 7th, Bums 7-1. Baltimore 1 5 0 2b: Jones; SF: Casey. Santa Rosa Beach 9 11 0 2b: Loretta 2, Perez, Castillo; HR: Thomas 2; HBP: Loretta; SF: Castillo.
Series Summary:	Bums squeak out a home series win.

Chicago Demolition @ Detroit Stars
Series Preview:	The Stars host Chicago whom they beat out last year by 1 game for the American League Central Division. Should be a good one.
Game #1:	Roger Clemens is spectacular (Real & Spectacular) as he goes the distance allowing 2 Hits, 1 Walk while fanning 9 Stars along the way. Eric Davis Homers has 3 Hits, 4 RBI’s to lead the way for Chicago. Final Score: Chicago 7 – Detroit 0 Win: Roger Clemens 1-0 (0.00) Loss: Pete Schourek 0-1 (5.06)
Game #2:	Pedro Martinez is roughed up for 4 Earned (5 Total) Runs in 6.1 Innings. Ismael Valdez goes 7 Scoreless, for Detroit. Mo Vaughn with a Homer & 3 RBI’s leads the way for the Stars. Final Score: Detroit 6 Chicago 1 Win: Ismael Valdez 1-0 (0.00) Loss: Pedro Martinez 0-1 (5.68)
Game #3:	Chicago gets one on a solo Home Run from Eric Davis in the top of the 9th off Mariano Rivera to take the lead. Davis is 3 for 4 with 2 Runs Scored to lead the way for Chicago. Final Score: Chicago 4 – Detroit 3 Win: Scott Radinsky 1-0 (0.00) Loss: Mariano Rivera 0-1 (9.00) Save: Billy Wagner #1
Game #4:	Pete Harnish goes 8 scoreless Innings before handing off the ball to the Chicago bullpen. Tony Clark & Tony Phillips go Back-to-Back in the 4th for the only two Homers of the game. Final Score: Chicago 6 – Detroit 0 Win: Pete Harnish 1-0 (0.00) Loss: Seth Greisinger 0-1 (9.00)
Game #5:	Both teams score a lot of Runs in this one. But the man of the day was Carlos Delgado who went 4 for 6 with 2 Doubles, a Home Run, & 6 RBI’s for Chicago. Final Score: Chicago 4 – Detroit 3 Win: Kevin Millwood 1-0 (7.20) Loss: Hipolito Pichardo 0-1 (27.00) Save: Billy Wagner #1
Series Summary:	Chicago looked to be the better team in this first match-up of the year between long-time rivals. A crazy note for the series was Chicago stole 12 bases in 12 attempts.

Castle Rock Hounds @ Portland Mavericks
Series Preview:	The Portland Mavericks have their eye on the year 2000… the Castle Rock Hounds have aspirations right now, and look to be well poised for a playoff run, with Barry Bonds leading the way.
Game #1:	B1: Portland strikes first with a RBI single by Zeile in the bottom of the first. POR 1 CRH 0 T2: Sweeny singles in Bragg who reached on a two out double. POR 1 CRH 1 B4: Bobby Smith hits a two-run dinger for Portland. POR 3 CRH 1 T5: Royce Clayton answers back with a two-run HR for the Hounds. POR 3 CRH 3 T6: Easley hits a solo HR for CRH. CRH 4 POR 3 T7: Bonds with the solo HR for CRH. CRH 5 POR 3. B9: Portland trying to rally, as Curtis singles home Valentin. 2 outs and runners on first and second for the Mavs, and Will ‘the thrill’ Clark up to bat vs Quantrill. Ball one. Strike one… then Clark hits a dribbler to Quantrill who throws him out for the win. Bonds goes 3-4 with double and HR with a walk and SB.CRH 5 POR 4
Game #2:	B4: With two outs, Easley singles in Gonzalez for the Hounds. CRH 1 POR 0 B5: CRH load the bases with two outs and Tatis up. Eldred gets a big K to get out of the inning. B6: Portland still cannot get on the scoreboard and has just 3 hits so far. B9: Portland still down just 1. Hermanson gets to first two Mavericks out, but Bobby Smith hits it back back back back and over the fence to tie it up. POR 1 CRH 1 T10: Tatis blasts a two-out HR. CRH 2 POR 1 B10: Simas shuts down the Mavs 1-2-3 for the save.CRH 2 POR 1
Game #3:	T1: Bonds scores on a JT Snow double to make it 1-0, then Carter comes up with bases loaded and walks in another run. 2-0 Hounds. T3: Ex-Maverick Joe Carter hits a single driving in two runs for the Hounds. 4-0 Hounds. T6: & T7 Hounds score another in each inning CRH 6 POR 0 T8: Gonzalez hits a three-run dinger for Hounds, who don’t stop there and add a total of 6 runs in the inning. CRH 12 POR 0CRH 12 POR 0
Game #4:	B1: Knoblauch singles and Curtis doubles for PDX. Clark picks up a sac fly. POR 1 CRH 0 B2: Curtis hits a solo homerun for Portland. POR 2 CRH 0 T2: Castle Rock scores two on a Simms single. POR 2 CRH 2 B5: Clark scores from first on a double, giving Portland the lead again. POR 3 CRC 2 T6: Gonzalez scores on a Sheets single, and then Sheets scores on a two-out error, and then Bonds scores on another Simms double. But Castle Rock is not done there, as Easley hits a bomb. CRC 7 POR 3. T8: Simms hits a two-run HR for Castle Rock. Simms is 4-4 with two doubles and an HR on the day.CRH 12 POR 3
Game #5:	B1: Portland gets on the board first with a Zeile single-rbi. POR 1 CRH 0 B3: Zeile gets it done again with single and 2-rbis. POR 3 CRH 0 T6: Hounds start to claw back. POR 3 CRH 1 B6: Jeff Conine gets a two double and 2-rbis. POR 5 CRH 1 T9: Hounds get one more back before the rally fizzles.POR 5 CRC 2
Series Summary:	The Hounds dominate the Mavericks winning 4 of 5.

Fort Worth Panthers @ California Quakes
Series Summary:	A very bad California team drops all 5 to a very good Fort Worth team. With a score of 17-0, it might have been the worst opening day in California team history.

Danbury Mad Hatters @ Michigan Mauraders
Series Preview:	Danbury invades Michigan for a 5 game series to start off the season.
Game #1:	Michigan 7 Danbury 6 (11) Michigan gets a walk-off homer from Bernie Williams. Fafael Palmeiro adds a homer for Michigan as well. Julio Santana with the win in relief. Dunwoody with a huge 4 RBI game for Danbury. Miguel Batista takes the loss in relief.
Game #2:	Michigan 5 Danbury 4 Michigan gets a run in the 9th inning to win the game. Vinny Castilla, Jim Edmonds, and Mike Lieberthal hit homers for Michigan. Carlos Hernandez with a 2 RBI performance.
Game #3:	Danbury 6 Michigan 0 Danbury turns the table and dominates Michigan. Wilson Alvarez and Derek Lowe combine on the shutout. Mike Blowers hits a homer for Danbury. He adds 3 hits.
Game #4:	Danbury 9 Michigan 2 Osborne pitches a strong 6 innings for the win. He adds a hit and a RBI. Turner Ward and Ken Griffey Jr. each hit 2 homers for Danbury. Danbury has 14 hits.
Game #5:	Michigan 5 Danbury 4 Back and forth game. Michigan has lead, but Danbury comes back and leads by 1. Michigan comes back with 2 runs in the 9th off of Taylor to spoil Remlinger’s potential win. Mike Lieberthal had tied the game in the 9th with a homer and Brady Anderson gets the game winning double. Jim Thome with 2 RBIs for Danbury.
Series Summary:	Michigan takes 3 of 5 from Danbury. All three wins were by one run. Griffey hits. 556 with 2 homers for Danbury. Ward with 2 homers and 6 RBIs. Bernie Williams with 2 homers and 5 RBIs for Michigan. Relievers win all 3 game for Michigan.

DeWitt Tigers @ Corktown Bootleggers
Series Preview:	Corktown and Dewitt start the season wondering if somebody can ever dethrone Flossmoor for the East title.
Game #1:	Dewitt had a 5-1 lead. Corktown wins in 12 Innings 6-5.
Game #2:	Dewitt had an 8-1 lead. Corktown was 1 batter from putting his backup players in and the rally began. Corktown wins 9-8.
Game #3:	Dewitt only blew a 1-0 lead this time. Corktown 4-1.
Game #4:	Dewitt takes a 4-0 lead into the 8th. The Bootleggers wake up once again and win this one in the 11th Inning 5-4.
Game #5:	No lead for the Tigers in game 5. However, they did come back from 0-3 to tie it at 3 in the 4th. Corktown quickly added 3 in the bottom. Corktown 9-4.
Series Summary:	Corktown wins the series by taking all 5 games. Dewitt had leads in 4 of the 5 games. 1998 should be another fun year with lots of runs and no leads safe for anybody.

Hampton Huskies @ Manhattan Gas Hornets
Series Preview:	Manhattan opens the 1998 season with hope of going to the World Series – not on their radar last year, but it almost happened. They start their campaign hosting the Hampton Huskies!!
Game #1:	Tim Wakefield gets the opening day nod (over Rick Reed and Matt Morris) and Tim comes through in a big way. He gives up 1 hit through 8 innings and opens the 9th looking for the shutout. His offense has spotted him a 6-0 lead. Wakefield then walks 3 straight batters!! And he’s asked to surrender the baseball. Ricardo Rincon comes on and gets B.J. Surhoff to hit into a DP – a run scores and then he fans Greg Vaughn to end the game. Luis Alicea and Mark Whiten drive in 2 each for the Gas Hornets on their way to victory. HAM 1-1-0 LP Juan Guzman (0-1) MGH 6-10-0 WP Wakefield (1-0)
Game #2:	Hampton wastes no time in getting on the board as B.J. Surhoff blasts a 2 run homer (1) off Rick Reed in the 1st. A Mark Whiten ground out drives in 1 for Manhattan in the 6th and then Trent Hubbard singles in 1 and Garrett Anderson grounds out driving in another in the 7th for a 3-2 Gas Hornets lead. John Wetteland nails down the save in the 9th. HAM 2-6-0 LP Scott Aldred (0-1) BS Danny Graves (1) MGH 3-6-1 WP Matt Mantei (1-0) S Wetteland (1)
Game #3:	OK – this is where Hampton’s road manager makes his 1st bizarre move (and he does it again in another game). Brett Tomko starts and goes 6 innings. He gives up 4 hits and 3 runs (3 walks) and leaves the game with the score tied 3-3. Then in the 8th, the Huskies score twice of Ricardo Rincon including a B.J. Surhoff solo homer (2). So Tom Gordon is called on – he’s their closer (20*, 350 MBF, 46 actual saves). He gets PH Ed Giovanola and then he’s REPLACED!!! Rich Loiselle – also a closer type – but not nearly as qualified as Gordon is called on. Well, he starts out well fanning Ray Durham. But with 2 outs, Derek Jeter singles up the middle, Jason Kendall then walks. And Matt Stairs gets his 1st hit of the year, a double into the RF corner scoring both runners to tie the game! Exit Loiselle, Danny Graves comes in to end the inning and send the game to extra innings. Gas Hornets bullpen does their thing in the 10th and 11th but in the bottom of the 11th, Kendall walks, steals 2nd and then Stairs is given the IW. After a line out, Merced then singles scoring Kendall for the win! HAM 5-9-0 LP Terry Matthews (0-1) BS Loiselle (1) 11 innings MGH 6-10-2 WP Matt Mantei (2-0)
Game #4:	Brian Moehler gets the start for Manhattan and goes the distance tossing a 7 hitter – giving up a homer to – YUP – B.J. Surhoff (3). And the homer was in the 1st inning. However, the Gas Hornets countered that with 4 runs of their own in the bottom half including a Ray Durham solo homer (1) – Durham was 3 for 4, 2 runs/rbis in the game. Luis Alicea also drove in 2 runs and Manhattan plates 6 runs in the game for an easy 6-1 win. Tough break for Manhattan however is an injury that will cost Derek Jeter the series finale and Matt Franco will be out for at least 19 days (and go on the 15 day DL). HAM 1-7-0 LP Tim Belcher (0-1) MGH 6-10-1 WP Moehler (1-0)
Game #5:	Sterling Hitchcock gets the start and lasts 2.1 innings before leaving the game with an injury that will get him a stint on the 7 day DL. Too bad, he was doing well when he left. In the first inning after he leaves, the Huskies strike for 2 runs – 1 of them a solo homer from …. NOPE, it wasn’t Surhoff, it was Greg Vaughn (1). Ricky Gutierrez singles in 2 in the 6th to run the score to 4-0. In the 7th, the Gas Hornets get an unearned run to cut it to 4-1. In the 8th, with Danny Graves on the hill for the Huskies, Manhattan scores 2 including a solo Luis Alicea homer (1). So we go to the bottom of the 9th, Huskies up 4-3 and who comes in to pitch? Tom Gordon (the 20*, 46 actual saves, 350 MBF guy). And again, he gets Ed Giovanola (in for the injured Derek Jeter). And AGAIN – Gordon is lifted after 1 batter – maybe, just maybe, he’s a Giovanola specialist, so far, he’s faced 2 batters this year and it was Gio both times. So Rich Loiselle comes in – Gas Hornets are licking their chops. But Loiselle gets it done this time, although Ray Durham does draw a walk (but is nailed stealing). HAM 4-5-1 WP Carl Pavano (1-0) S Loiselle (1) MGH 3-9-0 LP Jeff Montgomery (0-1)
Series Summary:	So, the Gas Hornets win the series 4-1, but 3 of the games were 1 run affairs (winning 2 of them). And we had some 1st week injuries that will carry forward (well 2 of the 3 will). But we are still happy to start with 4 wins in 5 games no matter how.

Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Long Beach Titans
Series Summary:	Long Beach opens the season by dropping 3 of 5 at home to Winnipeg.

Blarney Drive Bandits @ Stockton Wings
Series Preview:	Stockton opens the season by hosting Blarney Drive for a 5 game series
Game #1:	STO 5 – BDB 4 WP: McCarthy LP: Howry HR: STO–V. Guerrero, Catalanotto Vladimir Guerrero scored from first on Frank Catalanotto‘s hit-and-run single in the bottom of the ninth. It was fitting since Guerrero and Catalanotto accounted for all five Wings’ RBI.
Game #2:	STO 4 – BDB 2 WP: Lieber (CG) LP: R. Johnson HR: STO–Guerrero, Catalanotto; BDB–R. Henderson Vladdy and the Cat again provide the difference as Jon Lieber goes the distance to outduel Randy Johnson.
Game #3:	BDB 9 – STO 7 WP: Aguilera LP: Croushore SV: Howry HR: BDB–Klesko, S. Green, D. Fletcher, D.Palmer This game was tied four different times, but STO could not withstand BDB’s four-HR barrage.
Game #4:	BDB 4 – STO 2 WP: Hampton LP: Florie SV: Howry HR: STO–Guerrero Mike Hampton cruised, as STO couldn’t push a run across until the 7th inning. One came on Vladimir Guerrero‘s third HR of the series. The victory did cost BDB the services of Brian Giles for five games.
Game #5:	STO 9 – BDB 0 WP: R. Mendoza (CG) LP: S. Woodard HR: STO–J. Hernandez Jose Hernandez‘s two-run 2nd inning HR provided Ramiro Mendoza all the offense he needed, though he got much more. Mendoza surrendered only three hits, which is the amount that Frank Catalanotto and Quinton McCracken both collected in the game. Reggie Jeferson added three RBI.
Series Summary:	STO takes the series 3 games to 2 For STO, Vladimir Guerrero had three HRs, Frank Catalanotto had 2 STO got Complete Game victories from Jon Lieber and Ramiro Mendoza BDB’s Bobby Howry had two saves and a loss in the series STO out-homered BDB 6-5, with BDB collecting 4 of their 5 HRs in Game 3. Vladimir Guerrero and Frank Catalanotto accounted for 5 of STO’s 6 HRs

Newark Bears @ Valdosta Bombers
Series Preview:	Newark @ Valdosta for 5 games to open the 1998 campaign.
Series Summary:	Newark takes 4 of 5. Newark has some fantastic pitching so the Bombers had little room for error in the series. Errors (9 in the series), shitty pitching in general and not much offense made for an ugly series for the home crowd. Beware the Bears guys, they are good!

New Hampshire NIghthawks @ Flossmoor Flying Squirrels
Series Summary:	The once mighty Flying Squirrels prove they are average by taking 3 of 5 from New Hampshire.